1st haircut

Today Avery had her first haircut. I know she doesn't have much hair, but it was starting to look like a mullet. She absolutely HATED getting her head sprayed and the ribbons they put on the top. Can you blame her?

Zachary's 3rd birthday

Today is my nephew Zachary Ashton's 3rd birthday. Last year, at my sister's request we marked the day by sending our birthday wishes to heaven on balloons. We enjoyed the experience so much we are just going to make it a tradition. My kids were glad to write him a little note and it sparked a lot of questions about him, his short life, our thoughts on heaven and our desire and belief to see him there someday. Brady wanted to ask him if he has a balloon house since he gets so many balloons his way. And sweet Taylor just wanted to use her new writing skills to say happy birthday (on three separate notes).

Taylor's balloon with three cards doesn't float as fast.

We watched them until they were out of sight. We love you Zach! We hope you enjoyed our birthday cards!

We're getting there, folks.

Looks like our 13 month-old is finally getting some hair.  Too bad she still won't keep a bow on so people are constantly thinking she is a boy.  Sigh.

You know you are dying to see my kids in costumes

Happy Halloween and all that.  Here are some pictures of the kids in all their costumed glory:

No more candy until 2010!

My baby turned one

October 15th was Avery's first birthday.  This is how we spent the day:

A bottle and some Baby Einstein

Lunch with the gals (and Mason)

Cupcakes with Mae

Lots of treats

Awesome 1st birthday balloon

Kisses, hugs and love from everyone we saw.  Except Dad because he was out of town.  Not to worry though, we had a birthday party at the park the week before with lots of friends.

Happy birthday sweet little Avery!

Pumpkin picking

Ever since we've lived in Illinois, we have gone to Eckerts to pick pumpkins on Columbus Day.  It is usually really hot and dusty.  This year it was overcast and chilly, which makes for a more appropriate fall activity.  Last year, I was great with child.  This year the bumpy tractor ride was a lot more comfortable for me and our little Avery got to experience her first pumpkin patch.  Brady always looks for the biggest/heaviest pumpkin and Taylor searches for a little one that isn't dirty.  It's a blast.  Here are some photos.

Yes, I deck my girls out in Halloween gear.  Who doesn't?  And Brady is wearing an orange shirt underneath that jacket lest any of you think I was leaving him out of the festivities.

Proof that these kids do have a mom.  I tend to be camera shy.

No, that is not the pumpkin Brady brought home.  But he would have if I had let him.

I remember...

I was about 5 months pregnant with Brady, in fact we just found we were having a boy.  I was sitting in our apartment in Provo eating breakfast, getting ready for work, watching the early news when they showed smoke coming from the top of one of the Twin Towers.  I have always felt a connection to New York City.  So much so that I worked all of college to get into the internship program that would allow me to work at NBC in Rockefeller Center for a few months in 1997.  So I sat mesmerized watching what they were calling a small plane crash at one of New York's most recognizable symbols..  As the Today Show started and the footage continued I kept watching although I was going to be late for work.  And then I saw with my own eyes the second plane hitting the second tower and I realized that this was big.  I hurried to wake up Brock and couldn't believe I was telling him that airplanes were attacking the World Trade Towers.  We sat in stunned silence and watched as the pieces started coming together about the hijacked planes and wondering what was going to happen next.  I was over an hour late, so I finally got in my car and drove the 45 miles to work, listening to the radio when the third plane hit the Pentagon.  By the time, I got to work the first tower had collapsed and the 4th plane had just crashed.  I remember being scared at not knowing when this would end.  And of course I felt very sad.  I loved New York and I went to high school in the Washington DC area so now two of my favorite cities were under attack.  Of course no one was actually working that day, so we sat in a conference room at FranklinCovey and watched the news.  I was watching live as the second tower fell and I gasped and cried with my coworkers.  It is a day that I will never forget and for some reason I wanted to write it down today.  8 years later and I can still feel the adrenaline of watching those live images.  I still feel very sad for the people that were killed and for their families.  I still feel angry at those that choose to attack us.  And I will always feel proud of our country.  How we came together and fought back to defend our freedoms and the freedoms of those that cannot fight for themselves.  God Bless America.