Fall Fun!

 

My last post was on our anniversary and was just a little video for Matt.  I'll start by posting about our anniversary, then just post based on whatever pictures we've taken over the past month.  I am not sure I even remember what we did last week, so it will be a surprise for me as I look over uploaded pictures and realize what needs to be blogged about.  I have full-on late term pregnancy brain (which is a very real thing), which means that my memory and any reasoning, emotional, social, graceful, quick witted, skills I once had are all long gone, and have been replaced by a forgetful, hormonal, exhausted, waddling, slow and aching demeanor that really just wants to curl up and nap.  But I'll do my best to catch up and get rid of the "I can't blog, 'cause I'm too far behind" blues, so that hopefully when this baby does come out of me in a few weeks, I won't be behind.  So, buckle up, here is the big catch-up post!   whhheeeee!!!

 Matt got me the only thing I really wanted for our anniversary which was a few bags of crushed ice from the hospital.  It may sound silly, but I was in HEAVEN.  I am an ice devouring maniac.  It's completely out of control with this pregnancy, and Mayo has the BEST ice.  Best husband ever!

 

 I never posted about General Conference, but I want to just take a quick minute to.  I don't often go into a lot of detail about Matt's and my involvement in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on here, but I want to take a minute to say how much I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for the scriptures that bear witness of Him, and for the modern day prophets and apostles we have.  I love being a part of a community that is dedicated to being a force of goodness, love, charity, and strength. Twice a year we get to listen to  a whole weekend's worth of talks and spiritual messages from the worldwide leadership of our church, when you add in the priesthood and relief society sessions, it ends up being over 15 hours worth of sermons.  That seems like it'd be exhausting and boring, but really it is so uplifting and brings such a great atmosphere and feeling of peace and joy into our home.  I love it.  The church isn't perfect, the people in it are not perfect, and there are definitely times and circumstances that challenge my faith, but I have a deep testimony of the perfect love of God, and of His son, Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for the church and for all that its programs, teachings, members, and leadership does to bring me closer to my divine nature, and to help me to better understand God the Eternal Father.

I hit month 8 of pregnancy and really blew up.  I am big and uncomfortable and just trying not to groan every time I get up and down or waddle when I walk.  I think my next post will be a pregnancy update, so I'll leave it at that for now.

Halloween started approaching and fall started in earnest.  The trees changed colors and are beautiful (I really should take some pictures for all my AZ family who doesn't get to experience a real fall), and the weather cooled WAY down.  We went from highs in the low 70's one week to highs in the 40's the next.  The biting wind has made me realize just how much I am dreading winter.  We've had a few snow flurries, but not enough to stick.  Really barely even enough to notice.  But it does mean that it has snowed all but 4 months this year (June, July, Aug, & Sept we had no snow, but that's it!).  I love the fall and I am NOT ready for it to get cold yet.  I am loving all the fall flavors and decorations everywhere though!  It is awesome to live in a place where practically every home has some kind of decorations/pumpkins outside, it's so festive and fun! 

 

 

Speaking of fun and festive, my amazing friend Vanessa sent me an awesome Halloween package, with a cute gift for baby girl as well.  It was a total surprise and made my month!  Isn't the baby ninja shirt spectacular?!

We of course had our annual pumpkin painting night, which is one of our family's favorite nights of the year!  I am so glad we started this 4 years ago when Lily was just a toddler, we all look forward to it every year, and it's always a fun night.

 We put our pumpkins on our porch, because of the glare you can't really see our spooky glass door decorations and lights, but that's OK I guess.

Last Friday the weather hit 50 degrees, so we decided to go out and take advantage of the "warm" weather, and take some photos.  It was fun.  It didn't end up spectacular or anything, and we weren't super dedicated to it, but we did get a couple of fun images.

These 3 little girls are my whole world.  They are so different from each other and being each of their mommies is a challenge in vastly different ways, but they each make my heart sing, and my soul delight.  I can't wait to meet their little sister in a few weeks and see how being her mommy will be so much the same and so different all together!

My 4 favorite people!  I am so lucky that my girls have such a wonderful daddy.  I swore that I wouldn't have kids unless it was with a good man who would be a great dad.  I felt like I missed out on a whole lot growing up without a dad, and it made me determined that if I ever had kids, they wouldn't feel the same.  I couldn't have made a better choice in Matt.  He is the greatest partner I could've imagined and seeing him grow as a father makes me fall so much more in love with him.  I feel such an increase of love towards Matt for the strength and love and support he has given me through this pregnancy.  I love him more than ever, and I can't wait to see him with a tiny little baby again. He has had to be gone for school a lot, and dedicate a lot of time to research/school work, but he has really tried to make up for it by being a huge help and hard worker anytime he has free time.   Last Sunday, while I threw myself in an exhausted heap on the bed after church, Matt made the dangerous declaration "It's my job as a husband to cater to your pregnant whims, tell me what you need and I'll do it".  I was SHOCKED to hear him make such a bold, indenturing statement.  He totally followed through though and made crepes (for his first time ever) for dinner.  And they were delicious.  

 I finally got around to starting to sew "baby girl" 's baby blanket.  I'll have to find someone here in town with quilting frames, and also actually name the baby before finishing it, but I've got the two sides ready to go!

 The big girls got their school pictures back, first grade and pre-K.  It made me feel extremely old, and super sentimental.  I blame hormones, but really, where does the time go?!  And how do I make it slow down?

 Our church ward had a trunk or treat and it was lots of fun!

 

Poor Izzie got scared in the haunted house and started crying.  She got over it OK though and went back to having a good time!

The Woolley's are an amazing family in our ward.  They always go all out and everything they do is fun and spectacular!  Sister Woolley is Isabel's Sunday School teacher and she is simply fantastic.  Izzie love's her so much and to be honest, I wish I could be in her class too.  They always do something over the top and fun and BIG for the trunk or treat, this year they had a whole pirate ship set up and the kids has to walk the plank to get a treat.  I was disappointed when Matt didn't get a picture from the front of the ship so that you could see the full effect.  It was seriously impressive, and the whole family was of course outfitted like pirates.  It was awesome.

 The kids had a great time trunk-or-treating and got loads of candy, which is great because it means we won't have to walk around too much in the cold on Halloween night!