Anniversaries rock!

Ok, so I'm not a big shopper. This weekend however...I was on fire!
Brandon and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary last friday 10/10/08. And instead of making a big deal about it we decided to spend the day together with the girls and do a little clothes shopping. Lately, I've been very conscious about where our $$ is going and trying not to spend it where I shouldn't. Usually, when I shop I buy for Halle & Taya only, but Friday was all about me.........and Brandon too. I guess I don't shop for myself that often because I rarely find anything I have to have. Or while I'm out I forget that I need something until I get home and then remember. The stars must have been aligned because everything we needed was either on sale or a really great deal! Our luck didn't end that night because Saturday morning we found a lady who was selling brand new furniture in a yard sale (THAT never happens). I picked up a set of chairs for by bedroom for less than half price and some MaryKay for 50 cents a piece (sorry Kimmie).
Well, the shopping was great while it lasted. I'm glad my love for my husband is much more constant than my shopping. I'm greatful for my hubby of eight years and friend for over twelve. Don't know what I'd do without him. He is my rock.

a Birthday a Blessing and a Wedding

Our last trip to SLC was a doozie. Brandon celebrated his 34th birthday, we blessed Baby Taya and Brandon's dad (Mr. B) was married. Why not cram it all into one weekend...? We did, and we added family pictures too! It was great to reconnect with friends and family and be able to relax a bit after the festivities.

Baby Taya is wearing the blessing dress that her Nana made

Love Birds

Mr. B is a LUCKY guy. Arlene sure is a treasure. Halle loves her new Granny!

The trick is getting Halle to smile and look at the camera... two strikes on that one.

Hello Nature

Ok so, if in my next life I had to live as an insect, (there's no hesitation) I would choose to be a dragon fly. I absolutely think they're beautiful. This lovely one flew into our back yard the other day and I had to run for my camera. It wasn't until I got up close that I realized he was missing one of his four wings. I sat and watched him nibble on my Red Yucca for about ten minutes, hearing every bite he took into the blossom. When he finally took off, it seemed effortless for him, even though he was handicaped.

Nature amazes me and I love having time to just sit back and watch. My Chaste Tree's are swarming with bumble bees this time of year. The blossoms are a brilliant purpleish blue which makes them very attractive to bees and wasps. Lucky for us I planted one right by our front door... hmm...

~Spidee update~

Our garden spider died this morning. While we were out doing some yard clean up, Brandon noticed a baby spider in her web. Not knowing he was a she-spider, we decided it was time. Plus she was getting bigger and BIGGER by the day. Brandon was surprisingly sad. He said he felt like he just killed a family member. Personally, I am quite relieved.

Our garden friend... not so itsy bitsy

So, if you know me at all - you know about my plant fettish. If it weren't for my kids and hubby, I'd spend all my time with them. It's a sickness really. In finnishing up our yard last year, we built a garden to hopefully sucessfully raise veggies. Who knew I'd have to learn to share my garden with this guy.

Now, lucky for you I have a great zoom on my camera. If I didn't, there would be no picture. I am terrified of my garden friend but also...fascinated by him! I can't have Brandon kill him because he's eating all the creepy crawlies that could possibly ruin my crop. So, I'm learning to love him. Just last night Brandon threw a moth into his web just so we could watch him hunt. I tell ya, you have to witness this if you have a spidee friend lurking around your house. Seeing it on TV doesn't do it justice. So, next time you're at our place, come check him out. He's fabulous!!

Reunion a la Park City

So, we just returned from another trip up north. This trip was special for us because we were able to introduce Taya to some family members who hadn't met her yet, and we also had a condo in Park City to make it even more fun. Baby Taya and Baby Owen, exactly one month apart in age, had their first introduction and photo shoot. Plus, it was Cooper's 1st birthday (the only boy grandchild on the Pratt side and dang cute at that).

We love our double-smoocher kiss picture with Halle so Nat and Kimmie had to recreate it with Taya
Babies Taya and Owen (future kissing cousins?) Hopefully NOT!

For Halle, there's nothing like popsicles.......and her Morgan

Cooper stole the show with his monkey crawling abilities - on hands and... feet?

Cooper eyeing his cake. He eventually needed a little help from Dad

That's our Halle... :)

It was Halle's bedtime a couple nights ago and as Halle went to pick out some books before bed I hurried to the freezer where an ice cream sandwich was calling my name. I just needed a little bite before the long drawn out bedtime process began. As soon as I turned around there was Halle. "What are YOU having, mama?"
"Nothing..." I said with my mouth full. And with a very serious face Halle said,
"Mama, say ahhh........say ahhh mama."

Days here in St. George can be PRETTY hot, so every once in a while we'll take Halle to the park in the evening. In the car on our way home one night it was dark and Halle kept asking for us to turn on the light. We kept saying no, and giving reasons why we shouldn't have the light on while driving. She insisted again and again and soon we heard, "Turn the light on... I HAVE to see the boogie!" She had picked her nose and wanted to check out her treasure.

Halle is our little marathon runner. She doesn't walk anywhere. She runs from the car to the house, from the couch to the fridge, from the toilet to the sink (well I haven't actually witnessed that one...yet) and her recent run we encountered was in the shower. She was running from one wall to the next, and it went on for about 5 minutes. Unfortunately, I was too slow to get it on video.

Halle and Ellie are best friends these days. We're not sure if Ellie really enjoys being pulled around the house by the collar, chased and cornered with kitchen utensils, and covered with diaper rash cream, leave in conditioner and baby powder. She has been a great little companion for Halle though, and has learned to take the abuse well. When Ellie's had enough I'm glad she snaps softly at her to show her she's reached her limit. Halle usually comes running back to us saying with a sad face, "Ellie bite me. "

Ellie sporting diaper rash cream which is impossible to get out since it's waterproof.