Fright Night! Read on if You Dare!

Tonight we went to an outrageously spooky Halloween Party, mostly with friends from the ward. Richie was an attractive Magician and Mylie was his sweet little rabbit in a hat. ADORABLE!
















At the party we voted for best costume. The Merrell's dressed as Star Wars characters, and the vote was unanimous for their winning...except for one vote...the one vote that Richie voted for Mylie. I got a good laugh out of that one!



















We also participated in festive games like a Candy Corn Catching contest, a couples Who Could Eat the Doughnut Fastest contest, and a Find the Reeses Pieces in the Pile of Whip Cream contest. I guess all the games were little contests. I accidentally cheated at the Candy Corn game by throwing extra Candy Corn that wasn't my team's to throw.
















Richie was mad that I didn't put more effort into eating the doughnut more quickly...goodness we made a game plan right before that I would hold the hanging doughnut in place while he gobbled it up!





























Richie won the Reeses Pieces contest hands down. He threw his face in the whip cream and came up with the Reeses Piece in .08 seconds flat. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

























To top it all off we had delectable goodies that everyone brought, from taquitos, egg rolls, cookies, and caramel popcorn, to jello eyeballs and pretzel fingers with green cheese fingernails.










Thanks Slivka's for the most funnestest Halloween party EVER!

October Lessons

I've learned a couple things this month. DO NOT carve your pumpkins at the beginning of October in Tucson. I thought I was being all good, gettin' mine carved, ready to show off on our front porch. After day 3 or 4, they were good and ready to throw in the garbage. Molding, warping, collapsing little jack-o-lanterns. Ewwww.

One would also believe that October would bring perfect weather to visit the pumpkin patch. Think again my friends. Not that it's so unbearably hot that you melt like a pop-cycle or fry like an egg on the sidewalk...just uncomfortable enough that you would choose to wear nice, cool, clothing and wear eye protection. But did I think of that? Not so much. I choose a three quarters arm length sweater, dark jeans, shoes and socks. And because I thought this would be an ideal time for a family photo, I also made Richie wear a long-sleeve button up shirt, dark jeans, shoes, and socks. Poor little Mylie was also dressed for a cooler day. It was so bright we couldn't keep our eyes opened very well for a picture. So much for a cute family pumpkin patch picture. Here's the best we could get. Just look at those squinty, watery eyes!!!

A Conversation With Mom

My mom called me last night. She must have been surprised that I answered! The first thing out of her mouth was:

Me: Hello?
Mom: What in the world have you been doing?
My initial thought: HU???
Me: What do you mean?
Mom: Well you didn't answer your phone Thursday night (which was the night of the HORRIBLE BYU game), you didn't respond to my blog post and you're usually the first one, AND you haven't posted for 2 weeks!

I guess I'm in trouble with Mom. Twenty-nine and still getting in trouble. I better get pics of Mylie on here right away before it gets any worse!

Chunky Monkey

Mylie has been so much fun the last couple of days. She's really giggling now which makes me giggle right back. I will eventually get it on video and post it.
Last night she slept from 8:30 until 7:00 this morning. It was wonderful. I only wish it would last. I know that will take time, but something else to look forward to.
She is our chunky monkey! She's a little piglet and never seems to want to stop eating. She's in the 75th percentile for her weight and height.

Yesterday she was lying on my bed when suddenly she rolled from her back to her tummy! I don't know if it was on purpose or on accident, because she hasn't done it since. We'll find out I'm sure!

Me.

I am generally a happy person.
I think about nature a lot.
I know I want more children.
I want a house and all new furniture.
I dislike mean people.
I miss my family in Oklahoma, Utah, Idaho, California, Maryland, and North Carolina!
I fear looking stupid, because I honestly feel like I am!
I feel sleepy.
I hear country music.
I smell my house.
I crave sugar.
I cry on rare occasions.
I usually drive because the car seat base is in my car.
I search for new ways to make money.
I wonder why I can't control my sugar cravings.
I regret not working out every day.
I love Richie and Mylie!
I care about my friends.
I always want to go on vacation.
I worry about Mylie when I am away from her.
I am not usually a worry wart.
I remember events in my life that have been photographed.
I believe I have a good heart.
I dance...no I never dance. I just wish I could.
I sing every day!
I don't always say I love you enough.
I argue when I am not in control of myself.
I write mostly on my blog. It's such a great motivator to keep an online journal.
I win when I control my physical desires.
I lose when I let in to my physical desires.
I wish I were a photographer, artist, or musician.
I listen to Mylie's cries and try to figure out what they mean.
I don't understand math, politics, or science.
I can usually be found at home or outside.
I am scared of somebody coming over when my house isn't up to par.
I need a cook.
I forget almost everything!
I am happy because I choose to be!

Little Miss Stubborn!

Mylie is now 9 weeks and weighs 12 pounds! She has gained an average of 8.7 oz a week. She's got chubby little cheeks and legs and arms. We call her our little piglet. She can roll from her back to her side. She smiles a lot and almost has a real giggle. She tries to laugh and it's so cute! She likes to look at books, listen to music and singing, and be held. She likes to go outside and on short walks in her stroller. She doesn't like to be put down much, and she especially hates tummy time. She'll cry for quite a while after that tortuous activity! I put her in my little baby carrier that straps on my body and holds her to do my chores. She likes to vacuum with me. Her favorite toy is a stuffed elephant with different patterns all over it's body and ears. She has something in common with Albert Einstein. When she wakes up or rides in her car seat, she magically has crazy hair! She loves Richie. When I can't get her to sleep, I hand her over to Richie and she's usually out within about 5 min. She is as stubborn as can be. She REFUSES to go down...bed time OR nap time...unless she is breastfed, even if she's not hungry! I didn't even start out doing that, but that's the only way to get her down anymore. Yesterday was awful. She took a 1 1/2 hour nap in the morning, and two 30 minute naps in the afternoon. THEN she wouldn't go to bed until 11:00 pm. She was SO whiny! At her last Dr. appointment he said, "Well you've certainly got a little lady with a personality!" I think he meant to say that she was stubborn. Yeah, he did.























That's some crazy hair for ya!

And for some great news, Mylie is going to have a new cousin in June! That's right folks, Aunt Cassie is pregnant! And not to mention, Aunt Patrice is having a baby girl in November...we can hardly wait!

Mylie is TC!

When I went to Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) my roommates and I loved to use letters to express certain words. For example, TC meant totally cute, or totally cool, GP (this one's bad!) meant gay potential. I'm sorry, but there were a few weird dudes who totally had GP! And yes, we were usually talking about guys when we did this! We did this all the time, and would randomly make up new ones in which our other roomies would have to guess what we were saying...remember this Kim, Lauren, Atalie, Jamie, Kate, and Allie? So today, I found some pictures in which I think Mylie looks TC!

Go Mighty Cougars!

Today was BYU's second game of the season against Washington. Mylie got all decked out in her BYU outfit that Grandpa Kevin and Grandma Joni gave her. The shirt says, "You're Lookin' at One Cute Cougar!"
We went to Uncle Ryan and Aunt Schuyler's house to watch the game, and as you can see, Mylie couldn't wait to watch it!















With the yummy food...















And good company...















Mylie was thoroughly enjoying the game in her daddy's lap.












Until sleepiness got the best of her!












I guess next week we'll have to put more caffeine in her bottle!

What a Blessing!

Mylie was blessed in our ward yesterday! Our wonderful family came: Grandma Joni and Grandpa Kevin, Aunt Lisa, Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Doug, Aunt Rachel and Uncle Troy, cousin Landon, Uncle Ryan and Aunt Schuyler, Great Grandma Wannie and Great Grandpa Pop Pop. We had some great friends attend the blessing as well...Emily and Trymm's family, Richie's classmates: Kim and Jason, Aileen, Becca, Fadyeh, Richie's professor Dr. Lee, and four of my darling students from last year: Shelbi, Robbie, Jack, and Nathanael!
Mylie looked beautiful in the dress that Grandma Eileen gave her.
















This is Mylie with her wonderful grandparents!


Unfortunately, my camera battery died so we didn't get any pictures with Mylie and her great grandparents, Mylie with her aunts and uncles, or Mylie with US! Sad! Hopefully our parents can send us the pictures they got with their cameras.