autumn iphone

 We took one last walk in our little jackets. 

We will be bundling up until Spring around here.

We are lucky to get such long, mild Autumns in Utah- with only an occasional snow.

 It gets dark so early now... the only good thing about 

that is that usually we get a beautiful, colorful sunset!

 These are all along the roads in my little city.

I think they are so cool looking.

I finally pulled over to take a few pics.

 With the Christmas season here, I finally forced myself 

to get rid of all the pumpkins we grew.

It was hard.

I was even entertaining the idea of painting them 

Christmas colors and making them part of my Christmas decor...

 Our front lawn... I love it!

 Thanksgiving pies.

I made cherry, chocolate and banana cream.

Megs made an amazing apple and pumpkin.

The boys cut these stars out with a (washed) playdough cutter for me.

 Ollie's thankful hat he made at school.

 Cousins- Kenzie and Elliott

Megs and her mini-me Lincoln.

I will miss the fall... it went way too fast.

But I'm looking forward to a peaceful, spiritual Christmas season.

thanksgiving

Kenzie, Elliott & Oliver

 We spent Thanksgiving with Adam's family.

Ames and Cody came in from Vegas.

Megs and Tanner came in from California.

 Christie & Scott and Adam & I came from across town.

The cousins had so much fun playing together.

Elliott didn't want to eat very much before the big meal and ended up only eating a half a grapefruit until dinner at 5:30. He was so hungry and wanted to load up his plate!

I went to town on the mashed potatoes and gravy and rolls...

And I couldn't help having a little taste of all the pies.

Why am I only a pie fan on Thanksgiving?

Lincoln, Collin & Baby Will

Gabby, Christie & Scott

Megs & Tanner

Amy & Cody

Adam & Sini

Little Miss Gabby

 I love that Gabby likes to come to me! :)

cherry, pumpkin, apple, chocolate & banana cream pie

Long day equals sleepy boys.

We had a great day with our family! 

And I loved Adam's turn at saying what he was thankful for... 

it was so heartfelt and thoughtful after everyone thought he would just joke it up. 

cooking with the crew

This is what it looks like when I make cookies... or anything really... in the kitchen.

Everyone wants a turn. 

And sometimes it gets messy. (ALWAYS)

But the boys are (hopefully) learning how to make things.

Every once in a while I make cookies by myself and I'm always amazed how fast, easy and CLEAN it is.
But it's not a big event like when the boys help.
They usually eat so much dough that they don't want a cookie until the next day.
I'd much rather have a hot cookie than the icky dough.
Am I the only one?

Someone's been into the chocolate chips.

yellow submarine

One day we noticed all three boys wearing their yellow submarine shirts.

We love The Beatles around here.

I wish you could see our antics behind the camera helping them smile... mostly for Lincoln.

P.S. We made Ollie and Elliott's shirts from freezer paper and fabric paint- 

I think Adam did most of the work on those two. 

They're sorta cheesy, but they love them.

friends

 Elliott and his friend Noah have so much fun together!

He used to live next-door and they've been friends since they were babies.

They laugh so hard and are so silly.

The other day I saw them bringing all their stuffed toys down from their room,

and into the basement.

I went down to check it out and they had loaded 

everything up in the shower (that we have never used!)

Silly boys.

fall crocus

 I've cut all the flowers back and pulled out all my tomato plants for the winter.

But my fall crocus is in full bloom.

It brightens my day to look out the window at the gray day

 and see bursts of purple peeking at me from the flowerbed. 

The boys love them and are always pointing them out and talking about them.

Thanks to my mom (the master gardener) who suggested I buy them.

Gabby

I can't help calling Gabby-- Gabalicious while she plays at our house.

She is such a cutie and sooo good!

Her dark chocolate eyes and perfect lips are adorable.

She does new things every time we see her... clapping, imitating sounds and crawling fast.

And my sil Christie dresses her so cute!

She's a little fashionista.

Lincoln is learning to play with his little cousin too.

They kind of look alike. 

I think they'll be great friends. 

(She's smiling and looking at Linc in all of these pics.)