Fox hat

My friend is waiting to find out the gender for their baby and I wanted to crochet something for their woodland nursery. I found this cute pattern for a little fox. Half way in I started to get discouraged and thought he looked a little stupid. This often happens to me while I crochet. I'm going for adorable, handmade, over-priced boutique, but after staring at something long enough it looks more like ratty, grandma's attic leftovers.

Husband tried to convince me it was cute, but I was still hypercritical.  I decided to whip up the unambiguously cute fox hat real fast. And by real fast I mean 5 episodes of Once Upon a Time, staying up until 2am. J agreed that it was "So cute!" I threw them both in the gift bag with some of my favorite fancy swaddling blankets and called it good.

First Day of Nursery

 I always dress him as adorably as I can because it helps me be a bit more patient as I chase him in the hallways at church. These pictures are out of focus because he never. stops. moving. WE sure do love him though!

The occasional perfect morning

A friend of mine has a daughter in East Valley Children's Theater and they perform plays at the library. They give all the kids a free book so try to go. I invited some friends just in case I had to take M out for being disruptive, but he was actual interested in the actors and watched! It was miraculous.

This isn't even the girl I know but J was happy to take a picture with the Puppetmaster.

We headed to Lee's sandwiches because it was just up the road and I love the weird, yet delicious meats. They are seriously fantastic and very authentic Asian sandwiches. They bake the bread in house.

They make great euro-sandwiches as well. The kids calmly ate a half each. While sitting sweetly in their chairs. It was surreal. So naturally used the moment to take pictures of our food.

 And my sweetlings as well.

I love their smoothies. I ordered the jackfruit and got the kids soursop because I figure I should order fruits I didn't know existed. You can get boba and grass jelly in them so they have the giant straws. I think that made M enjoy it more.

Phoenix Temple Open House

We had the chance to tour this temple twice with old high school friends of Husband. I was nervous to invite them but everyone we invited was excited to go. The second time we brought the kids along because we wanted our whole family together in the temple. M made it about half way before melting down completely, and since I had already seen it all once, I had no problem stepping out. J said her favorite room was the one where people got married :) 

M thought the Christus statue was fascinating.

I love being so close to such amazing buildings and know I am so lucky to have my family forever! Temples allow miracles to happen and I'm happy we could share something so special to us with our friends.

Halloween Boo at the Library

I think this is the last of the Halloween posts. There's a reason why fall is so big for bloggers, so many photo opportunities! There was a trick or treat event at the library, but J had preschool. I figured I took J to stuff like this all the time when she was littler so I decided to go with just M.

He didn't really get the craft idea. He doesn't have the dexterity for scissors (a blessing actually) and just wanted to take the cap on and off the glue stick, which he couldn't do so he just grunted and yelled at me to help him with every 5 seconds.

But he looked so adorable as Spiderman I was happy to do it! Well, for four times.

Then we paraded around the library, stopping for little toys, stickers, and candy. He wasn't quick to pick up on the concept, but he recognized a mini Twix when he got it and wanted to plop down and yell at me to open it. I didn't want to unleash chocolate toddler hands on the library so we had a little disagreement. In the end I gave in and decided he could eat it if I held him.

The last stop on the parade gave us a really nice board book.

 M tried to eat it.

When J found out about our adventure, I expected her to be upset she didn't get to go but she thought it was fair that M went because he didn't get to go to preschool. She was excited to read his new book with him. She inspires me.

Aunt Mona's Halloween Party

Guys, I'm actually starting to learn the names of these members of my extended family. This is an achievement I assure you. J had been looking through the photobooks and jumped up and down when I told her we were going to Aunt Mona's party. Then she asked if we were going to decorate trees (the sugar cone and frosting kind from the Christmas party). She was still excited even though the answer was no.

M had a fever so it was just the two of us and the Elsa dress was too itchy for the moment. That meant my little flamenco dancer came in her dancing shoes.

She was quite excited to draw her pumpkin.

A picture of the witches (I bailed on my Anna costume since I had no Elsa to join me. And I had been dealing with a feverish nonverbal one year old all day).

J made a friend named Sophie, but I have no idea her relation to us.

 Mona knows her way around a tablescape. The stuffed kitty in the upper left has been played with every day since it came home as her prize.

A few days ago J insisted I take a picture of it, "Will you take a picture of me and the kitty. Now one of just the kitty."

We sure love Aunt Mona and her parties!

10 Year Reunion

If everyone you graduated with asks you questions about your high school reunion at every wedding and baby shower you see them at, don't feel obligated to organize it. It doesn't matter that you have a background in event planning and the resources to put one together, you are just setting yourself up for high school-style drama. And you might start a new fitness career three months after working on the reunion and lose much of your free time. You might end up having to cancel the planned reunion everyone voted for because not enough people bought tickets. Then there is the scramble to put together something else right before. Of course, it might just turn out to be a lot of fun because you have these lovely people to catch up with.

P.S. I was an emergency sub for spin class that morning, drove to another gym to teach yoga in my 80's garb, came home and got costumes on the kids for the church party, set up the cake walk at said party, and then came home to change and set up for the reunion. Busiest. Day. Ever.

When I came home after my 80's yoga looking like this, J asked. "Why do you look so awesome?" I had to take a selfie to commemorate the moment, even though my pink blush had worn off and my bangs lost three inches of height.

Horse and Chair

Sometimes I look over at my sweet girl and I can't help but grab my camera. I don't know what feat of imagination inspired this but I'm so happy to have caught it.