Halloween

 Since we couldn't go to our annual Halloween Party this year, I couldn't help but reminisce about past Halloween fun. 

2007 - Hulk & Linda Hogan

They're now divorced, but we're not. :)

2008 - Fred & Wilma Flinstone

They rock & so do we.

2009 - Greasers

Love it when Andy does facial hair transformation.

2010 - Donald & Ivanka Trump

With our little piggy bank addition.

2011 - Was going to be Cowboy & Indian

But boo we couldn't go.

But, Macy was the cutest elephant ever. 

She has been fighting this elephant costume over the past few weeks whenever I try to put it on her.  But, she cooperated perfectly.  She loved showing off her costume wherever we went.

 

She's wild in the jungle!

Macy really liked trick-or-treating to the few houses we went to.  By the end of the night she had a death grip on her candy pail!

Phoebee was a cute lady bug!

On the Road

Macy and I spent the past week in northern Utah; I did graduate school fairs from BYU to USU.  We stayed at my sister's home in Riverton (bless her and thank her for having us and for watching Macy every day).  Here's what I learned while away:

• Andy is equivalent to 2 thick blankets - that's how many I had to add to stay warm without his body heat.
• My sister and her family go to bed LATE & SLEEP IN. I envy this but Macy and I are on a completely different schedule.  Their home is so homey & full of lots of love.
• A baby who really misses you while you're away because she's out of her comfort zone makes work seem so ridiculously unimportant.
• I love my little Cedar City with its minuscule commutes and comparatively minor construction.
• Being away from what you know and love sure makes you appreciate it more.
• My very favorite friends are my mom & sisters. I have loved being able to easily do things with them like birthday shopping and corn maze fun (pictures to come soon).
• I love the X96 Radio from Hell Morning Show.  It made my morning commutes bearable.

Witchy Woman

I went to a fabulous witches night in Hurricane that my friend Emily held.  It was a grand time. I actually won Best Witch, one of my proudest moments ;).

Check out my spooky finger nails (black Sharpee).

And my pet crow.

Yes, my Young Womanhood Medallion is in the mix of my necklaces.

Do you love my broom that Andy made out of weeds and a stick!?  So fun.  Since we don't get to go to our favorite annual Halloween Party this year (I'm so bummed about this), I was glad to be able to get witchy and get dressed up for something fun after all! Check out more of the fun at http://kyleandemilyballard.blogspot.com/2011/10/witches-night-2011.html.

Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Petting Zoo & More

We had a little family get away day to Staheli Family Farm in St. George.  The whole place was super kid-oriented and Macy loved it. 

First we got lunch at the Mad Pita - it was so yummy!

Macy loved the petting zoo.

She wasn't so sure about the pig's prickly skin.

This trampoline thing was a riot!

I have never been in a corn maze - it was freaky to me even in the light of day.  I kept hearing noises in the corn stalks - would be so spooky at night!

Pumpkin Patch

And this was randomly Macy's favorite part of the day - playing in the cool sand in the shade. 

It was a great fall family outing - just what we were looking for!

Tastes Like Fall

This fun fall weather has been making me crave all sorts of fall foods.  So much so that I created an entire new label on my cooking blog titled "Tastes Like Fall".  Check out the goods here.

As a result of all these cravings, Macy and I have been getting into it in the kitchen.  We recently made sugar cookies for cousins who are coming to town (Macy is sporting her darling apron and rolling pin from her boyfriend Gus). 

Who needs a play kitchen when you've got the real thing?

 

 

Whew, baking makes this little girl thirsty!

Macy is 15 Months

We keep Macy pretty busy around the house with her chores. ;) 

I sat these items (empty milk jug and Fresca box) by the door to take out to the trash and we turned around and there she was hauling them to and fro in the kitchen!  This little girl is still making us smile.

We got to spend some time with Gigi and Macy even got a fun snowman pancake.  She loved the melty chocolate chips.

Our house has really stayed decorated the same.  Just a few minor adjustments here and there, but she has been very good to leave stuff where it is.  One casualty was this:



The other evening I had just arrived home from Costco and was unloading all of my bulk toilet paper, diapers and such.  I noticed Macy had grabbed my keys and was toting them around the house.  I thought "I need to grab those from her" but my "car full of Costo" somehow distracted my mind away from that thought.  Later that night when I needed to go somewhere, I had to use my spare becuase I still couldn't find the keys.  The next day, we did a thorough search.  Still no luck.  I thought "I should look in the garbage can."  So, I put on a brave face and sorted through some pretty disgusting trash, and lo and behold I did find my keys right there in the bottom of the trash.  Little stinker!  We are noticing that she loves to "put things away" just like here momma but we just don't have her filing system down yet :). 

Macy's latest: She just barely started saying "No" the other day but she doesn't just say "No", she says "No, Mama."  Maybe because she hears me say "No, Macy."


Macy says:


Love u
Tank u
Bye bye
Mumm
Da Da
GiGi
Hallow (Hello)
Owie

She'll say "Mumm" and I'll say "Yes, Macy" and she'll say "Ummmm".  It's so cute because she is being so conversational and probably mimicking what she hears us say but it's also like she just wants our attention and then once she has it, she doesn't really know what to say.

She blows kisses and is very friendly.

Riding Rhinos

When I tell people that we are going riding rhinos, they look at me funny, like we're riding real rhinos.  But, ya know, the UTV's?  We went to Sand Hollow with the Marshalls and the Taylors the other night.  It was pretty and fun.