Thankful

Well this may be the short version but I had to get even the basics down while it's still November:

Our sweet, gentle, snuggly, baby boy was born just over a week ago. We had the opportunity to be induced at 39 weeks and we took it! He came quickly (like Emma did), start to finish I think we were 4 hours.


This Thanksgiving season I feel very blessed to start another chapter of life with my growing family, a new home-to-be, and one more move. I'm grateful my husband found the perfect home for our family at this time. I'm grateful Parker came quickly and safely with no health issues. I'm grateful Emma is such a big helper and a great big sister. I'm also grateful for my husbands constant loving care over all of us.

I feel blessed to have my mother here with me for this transition with Parker too. She is one of those tender mercies that I'm always praying for. I couldn't be more pleased that she was able to come and help in every way imaginable. It's going to be hard to see her head back home.

Now, on with the pictures:

cute Emma, the big sister.

Olivia likes to snuggle with the baby.

Yup, REALLY likes to snuggle with the new baby.

Last days of Autumn

Emma and I took a few minutes to soak up the last bit of Autumn before the snow came. I'm so glad we did, I think the snow is pretty when it first comes down, but I don't enjoy being in it so we've been parking it inside this last week.

Aquarium

We just love the local Aquarium, I bet I'll drive back up to SLC when they get the new location finished (Dec 2013?)

    The membership is so cheap you go 3 times and it's more than paid for, I highly recommend it.


We met some friends there the other day and I wish I had more pictures but the kiddos were moving so fast all you'd see is a blur.

So here are the couple things my camera did catch:

p.s. Yes that's Emma wearing her halloween costume again, plus her crazy pj pants...don't judge, she's really into picking her own things lately.

This Year for Halloween:

We don't seem to be celebrating the holidays much while in this crazy long transition stage of renting in SLC.

I think Shane was on call for Fourth of July, we celebrated Emma's birthday vs. Labor Day, we didn't buy any real pumpkins for Halloween, we're planning on having a baby for Thanksgiving-no I'm not making a Turkey this year. And as for Christmas, well all my decorations are in storage and I have no plans to get them out!

But I did manage to pick up $3 t-shirts from Walmart and turn them into something so Emma could go to the church 'Trunk-or-Treat'. I really appreciate the church parking lot every year. With Shane working so much it helped me feel safe, I trusted the candy a little more, I felt comfortable leaving my bowl of candy in the trunk (with a sign "one per costume please") and walking away from it! Plus Emma gets to enjoy the festive enthusiasm that is Halloween. It's a win win in my book.

Just in case Emma's crazy leopard pants and cowboy boots threw you off she is 'pinky' the pack man ghost and baby bump is, well, pack man.

Fur Babies...What was I thinking?!

So I got a second cat. It was not on my agenda (nor is it in our rental agreement so don't tell the landlord)!  I was at my whits end with my original cat's behavior and I've looked into all kinds of solutions. We were down to two choices:

1. Get rid of Zoe
2. Get her a playmate

Shane and I agree if you make the commitment of getting a pet you should do everything in your power to keep them a part of your family. If it doesn't work, well than I certainly won't judge a person for finding a new home for their critter. That being said, we got a second cat. Things are looking good currently. There has been a mostly positive change.

Positive:

1. Zoe focuses her energy on Olivia (the new kitty)
2. Zoe no longer bites me or Emma (she rarely bit Shane)
3. Zoe has taken a liking to Olivia (they snuggle and bath each other)
4. Olivia can hold her own when Zoe pounces
5. Both cats eat well and use their littler box
6. Olivia snuggles while I work
7. Zoe has followed Olivia's example of snuggling
8. Zoe even purrs again
9. Zoe doesn't bite my toes at 5am anymore
10. I feel better about trusting Zoe with a new baby coming soon
11. Zoe lets me pet her without biting
12. Emma loves Olivia, splitting her attention between the two cats allows each to have a break from her obsessive loving.

Negative:

1. Shane is allergic to cats, now we have two fuzzy babies
2. I experimented with some cheap kitty litter and that was a mistake (chalky, stinky, and not worth the     four dollars I saved)
3. I have two cats...pretty much I'm becoming a cat lady-gross
4. Now I have two cats that like to run loudly and play tag at 5am   **please note #9**

For the Grandparents

I videoed a few things from Emma's last Tumbling class: 

(she's in overalls and calls her teacher "TEACHER" just FYI)

Autumn

Here in Utah there's a fun display of witches at Gardener Village (not to mention a smoke'n Saturday's market) and I met up with my friend Carlie to enjoy one of the last warm days of Fall.

This is my favorite time of year!