I BeLiEvE in FaIRies

This may sound ridiculous... but I believe in fairies! Tinkerbell is my very most favorite! In Disneyland I just can't get enough of her! So when a new Tinkerbell movie comes out today I just had to get it! I am pretty sure that I am even more in love with her than Ella is. Although, Ella reminds me a little of Tinkerbell, a cute little blonde running about, sweet and sassy, independent and kind. Strange I know! But I just love the idea of there being all sorts of fairies out there helping us, helping mother nature change seasons, helping animals, creating light and color, and spreading a little magic around for all of us to feel. I definitely believe in fairies!

Pumpkins and Pie

Love making family traditions! We go to a fun pumpkin patch each year to choose our pumpkins and then we go out for some pie! YUM!! It's doing these kinds of things as a family that truly make me and Ryan giddy inside! I hope we are creating traditions that our kids will remember and look forward to each year. Happy Haunting!
On the menu tonight:
Pumpkins at Engh Gardens... lots of fun activities for the kids to play on and fun picture opportunities (if only i could get all the kids to look at once; totally impossible)
Mason & Mom: Pumpkin pie
Ella: Chocolate Satin pie
Ryan: Banana cream pie
Claire: A little of everything

LoVe ThiS PiCtUrE!!!

Bits and Pieces

So I was thinking today of some of the things I love about my family... those bits an pieces that make them them...
Mason: He is a Lego genius! He likes the bigger Legos, not the tiny ones, and he builds these awesome tanks, planes, cars, jets, and guns and does it sort of a transformer type thing that can change from one thing to another with the simple thing of changing one or two pieces. It really amazes Ryan and I. What a smart kid! He is also really good at coming up with new paper airplane ideas! He can make a friend anywhere he is.. there has never been a time when we have gone to Mcdonalds, or the park that he hasn't made a new friend. Another things about him that is quirky is that he hates to have his hair gelled up. He has to have it slicked down. If I do it nice before school, the second he is out the door he pushes it all down. Stinker!
Ella: What a great imagination! she can play with a cup of dirt for an hour all by her self. She tells herself stories and make believes all the time. By far she is my best at playing by herself! I love the way she holds her hair out of her face with her two middle fingers. And this girl is princess crazed! Loves to dress up like princesses, play with her princess polys or her princess figurines, watch princess movies, anything with a princess will occupy her for ever! What a girly girl! Not sure where that came from but I love it about her! Can't get enough of chocolate! I think its running through her veins.
Claire: Loves her brother and sister and follows them everywhere. She lights up when they come home from somewhere! I love the way she squishes her face in her blankies and wants to cuddle. I love the way her little bottom lip comes up over the top one when she is blowing on hot food, she giggles all the time and loves to tease. i love the way her whole hand waves bye bye to you! I love seeing her watch my mouth when she is trying to learn how to say something. Loves to be outside walking around. She would walk to entire block if I let her!And I love her intensity, this girl gets what she wants and goes after things! Such a go getter and so smart!
Ryan: He is a really loyal friend, he will never let you feel like you are alone! He has the ability to put everything away and really play with his kids in kid sort of ways! He does that all the time! He loves the prophet Joseph Smith and could tell you so many stories about him. He has a passion for play, work hard play hard! He loves movies and blasting his music like he is 18 yrs old. His smile lights up a room! He has deep passions for his "teams" and cheers for them with lots of enthusiasm. He gets compulsive about the things and people he loves. He is a great husband that I feel lucky to spend eternity with!
Sammy: There never has been a better dog! So therapeutic to pet, never runs off when I leave him in the front yard, loves chasing the ball, loves going for rides in the truck, loves going to Sunnybrook and swimming in the pond, so so so great with my kids, kind, gentle and so handsome! Although, he may be gay, that is still up for debate :) Love my puppy!
I am a lucky mom and wife! there are things daily that I see in my family that I admire... that is just a few of them!

In a Funk

So this last weekend I needed to breathe, clear my head, and just chill; so I left by myself and headed down to St. George for the weekend. My parents ended up coming down for the weekend as well and playing with me! It is amazing how a little, or a lot, of retail therapy, a lot of good food therapy, and just hanging out with my mom and dad can do for me! We shopped, ate, watched baseball and football games, movies, slept in, rode the bike with my dad, took a Vespa ride with my dad, walked their dogs, chatted for hours with my mom, read a little, just basically was selfish and all about me for a weekend. I felt guilty as I was leaving the driveway saying goodbye to my kids and Ryan but as I got there I realized I did the right thing. I was just at the end of my rope, flipping out at my kids, unable to communicate with Ry very well and just needed to breathe. It was exactly what I needed. I am so grateful for Ryan being willing to let me go and take care of things at home for me for a few days. When I got home on Sunday the house was picked up and all were happy. What a great welcoming!
Do you ever go through this? We are going through some hard trials right now and usually I am able to keep it together and just put my head down and move forward. But not that weekend, things got to me and I couldn't quite pull my self up if I had to worry about taking care of everyone else. So I did what I thought was best, hopefully I made the right choice. I feel better now and am able to take things more head on now, not yell at my kids as much and just be more pleasant with Ry. Sounds pathetic, I know, but I am working on improving and being more happy go lucky! I'll get there. Just needed time to breathe.
PS... I really recommend taking the time to spend some quality time with your parents as adults! So fun to get to know them on different levels, see things from another perspective and enhance your relationship. It was so great just chillin' with mine parents for a few days! I need more of that with them. I think it gave us the chance to really talk and play together because of the no distractions around (aka... my kids demanding their attention.) Anyways, I love them to death and feel so grateful for them and our relationship! As well as for all they have taught me through word and action! I am blessed.

Scarecrow Festival

While I was in St George, my mother-in-law came and grabbed Mason and Ella from Ryan and took them to the Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point. When I got home the next day I heard all about it! They had a great time with their Nana!

October Sports Madness!!!

Just another reason why I love October, besides all the fun Halloween stuff, fall colors, and yummy food to make, October sports are the best! Baseball is in the playoffs, football is well underway, and basketball season starts! The weekends and weeknights are full of eventful TV watching these days! So here is my take on my teams... Baseball- I think I am a little confused in this area. I grew up a Yankees fan. My dad and brothers were all big baseball fans as well as Yankees fans so I seem to have them somewhere in my roots. I married a hard core Red Sox fan and have since then become a big fan of theirs as well. Which in many ways makes me a traitor-oops! But recently I find my heart being pulled towards the Angels and cheering them on. Basically I love baseball and will root for any of those teams at any time. Football is really fun. Ryan is a major Packers fan as well as Brett Favre fan. This year with him coming out of retirement, again, we were disappointed and were wondering what in the world was he thinking, but since then we have had a great time watching him kill it and lead the Vikings to an undefeated season! I grew up loving the Cowboys and still have a special place in my heart for them, as well. Basketball- we love our Jazz! What more can I say. Love love love watching the games and dream of having season tickets one day! So, here's to October and the many fun and wonderful things it brings to us! Go teams!

Oreo Thief

There are so many things about this picture that make me smile... First off, I thought that bag of mini Oreo's were long gone and in the garbage by now. But this afternoon upon hearing Claire wake up from her nap and then having Ella run in there to see her, I waited about another 5 or so minutes before going in only to find that Ella had climbed in the crib with Claire and was sharing the bag of Oreos with her with great big smiles on their faces! "Ella, where did you find those cookies?" "I can't tell you mommy." Apparently she has had her own little stash somewhere. Wonder where she learned that one? Maybe she has caught on to my stash of PB M&M's. I just love seeing those "sisterly" moments between them. I can't wait to see what is next!
PS...Right after this sweet moment I left the room to talk to Mason and Claire must have seen Ella climb out of the crib and caught on quickly how to because all of the sudden there was a big boom and cry. She climbed out! Yep- she is only 13 months and she climbed out!! She's got Mason beet, he was 16 months. I am in for some big trouble now! Lets hope she forgets how!

Wee Witches!

Love the Halloween activities! While the boys were at priesthood the Lund girls headed to Gardner Village for some "Witchy" fun! It is so cute out there... tons of fun stuff for the kids to see and do, pumpkins, treats, dancing, lots of photo-ops, and of course shop shop and shop! I found my new favorite clothing line for girls, Persnickety clothing. So darling and a really great girl who owns and designs the clothes. I think I am going to be doing a home party soon, so keep an eye out. Man, I could have spent a lot of $$$. I also really could've bought both Ella and I witch costumes for this year! They had some really fun costumes! It was a great night and really put me in the mood for Halloween! Thanks for the fun night!