Hiking Timp Cave with Lisa

Lisa came to visit a few weeks ago. She is always up for fun adventures... you can count on a fun filled weekend whenever she come to visit!

This year we decided to hike to Timp Cave. We didn't think it would be that big of a deal. It's only about 1-1/2 miles up. But I guess you could say we were a tiny bit suprised. Not that it was a "hard" hike. But it was pretty straight up the whole time, switchbacks, no carrier for clara, and we all refused to carry jack (he did the whole thing on his own - way to expend some of that energy!), and luckily I packed a few snacks for the kids and a few waters... altough I didn't have it in a backpack, just my purse...?

Nana Lisa and Jack. Clara and her daddy. Nana Lisa and the babes.

Us.

We kept a pretty good grip on this kid the whole time. There were one too many cliffs for him to slide off.

Jack asks about Nana Lisa almost every day... just hoping that she is on another airplane coming to visit. I think I will have to do a paper chain until Thanksgiving... the countdown to Nana!

From the mouth of Clara...

Nana Lisa came to visit last week. She gave me my first baby doll, a stoller, and a pack n play for the baby to sleep in. I thought it was so fun to push the stroller all around the house. Some times it gets stuck, and I freak out... but then my mommy comes to the rescue and she fixes it for me.

I didn't think that I was very good at walking before I had the stroller. But I have practiced so much with it, I decided to try walking without it. And guess what... I can do it! I can walk all by myself, and I think I am pretty good at it!

I love to take my baby on walks. I love my baby. I have officially brought the word "baby" into my vocabulary.

But walking is really hard. So I have to take breaks and get a drink of water.
All right... here I go again. Look at me! Look at me!I am tired. Can I take a break?

Thanks for the birthday gifts Nana Lisa. I think my mom is so happy that I am finally walking!

Halloween....

Excited for Halloween...

1. Jack and I made a paper chain so that he can see how many days are left until Halloween.
2. Our decorations have given our house a name.... "The Spooky House".
3. I am planning a neighborhood Halloween Party... it is going to be awesome!
4. I had to hide Jack's costume so that he doesn't outwear it before Halloween arrives. Clara's costume is complete and adorable.
5. Scott and I don't have a clue what we will be - we will probley decide the night before.
6. I am stocking up on pumpkin. Try adding pumpkin to a protein shake, it's yummy.
7. Hot chocolate and apple cider give me warm fuzzies inside.
8. I am excited to take Jack to a real pumpkin patch this year. No Smiths Market pumpkins for us.... we are all about the real deal.
9. Pumpkin Seeds... always a favorite.
10. The crisp air in Utah is one of my favorites. Coats, hats, scarves... I welcome you with open arms.

WARNING: Tanning Beds

I just read this in OPRAH...

"Are you considering a visit to a tanning salon this winter? Then you might want to condsider this: The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has now moved tanning beds into its top cancer risk category - right alongside arsenic, mustard gas, and tobacco. The researchers' analysis or more than 20 studies, recently published in the medical journal Lancet Oncology, found that all types of ultraviolet radiation (UVA, UVB, and UVC) cause mutations in mice - proof that the radiation is carcinogenic. And there's another sobering conclusion. The risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when tanning bed use begins before age 30. -J.B."

Think about that this winter.

Witches at Garders Village

Of course we went to the witches this year! We will never miss this fun display in October. This was the first year that Jackson "got it"! He knows what a witch is, and didn't know if he should be scared of them or like them. We went with Kristen & Garrett. Jackson loves his Uncle Garrett!
Pretty sure that I am safe to say... Kristen is pregnant! Hoo-ray hoo-ray!

Autumn....

What is so great about Autumn?

The smells. Scentsy Candles. Baking delicous treats. Watching movies during the day. Sewing fun projects. Decorating for Halloween. Halloween Parties. Carving Pumpkins.

LOVE IT!!!!

Currently I am burning Home Sweet Home from the Scentsy collection. Its good, although I would have to say that I like Welcome Home a little more.

I have yet to break out the cupcake pans, and baking recipe books... But I can't wait! Watch out neighbors... I will be visiting freaquently.

Right now Scott is out of town. Jack is at school. Clara is in bed. My house is clean. What does this mean? Chick flick time. One of my favorites... How To Loose A Guy In 10 Days.
Tomorrow I am doing a sewing day with my mom and sisters. We will be creating all sorts of goodies. I have already been to the fabric store and can't wait to sit down with my mom and learn all sorts of new tricks! She is so talented!

(This is one of my favorite links to get ideas from).

The Halloween Decor is not up yet. I think I will do that on Monday for FHE. It will be so fun to have Jacksons help deciding where to put everything.

Halloween parties. I am still trying to figure out what to dress my family as. Jackson of course wants to be a super hero... which I am sure there is no changing his mind. I would love to match Clara to him... but who knows if I will take the time to plan it out. As for me and Scott. Ugh. I am at a total loss. Any ideas?

Carving pumpkins is always so fun. My favorite part is eating the pumpkin seeds afterwards. We will probley go to a patch to pick some out. I am sure I will have tons of pictures, Jackson already freaks out everytime he see's the pumpkins at the grocery store. I might give something like this a try this year:

Hoo-ray for Autumn.

If you have any fun traditions, crafts, treats, or smells that you love... please share!!!!

from the mouth of a 3 year old...

Jackson and I were walking out of the grocery store when we saw a midget pushing the carts back into the store. This is what Jackson said (a little on the loud side):

J: Look how small he is!
M: Yeah.
J: He is really small! Like a baby!
M: (searching for the right words)... but you are small and you are not a baby.
J: Yeah, but he is really small.

Funny Jack.