Andrew Max and Mikaela Rose

We're going to go to Idaho for a visit in October. We just can't wait to see Andrew and Mikaela Rose. We saw them for a while in July, but we miss them so much. Every time we visit Ethan and his family we get sooooooo many pictures of Andrew. He's just so beautiful. Now, there's another baby to photograph, so we come home with twice as many pictures.

We know Andrew will be a talented little boy. He has so much curiosity with our musical instruments. Every time he comes to Grandma's house, he begs Sarah to let him play her cello. This time, her violin was sitting out, so he was content playing with that instead. (He called it a "vi-o-lint.") Couldn't be cuter if he tried. Sarah thinks she's going to get Andrew a cello for his birthday, only if Ethan promises to get him lessons.

He also can "play" the piano for hours on end.

Back in July, we took Andrew to the playground at Jackson School. We got so many cute pictures! We could post them all, they're so adorable, but we won't. :)

And we can't forget Mikaela Rose. She is so gorgeous. (Of course, Sarah thinks she's the most beautiful baby on the planet, only because she looks just like Sarah did as a baby!)

So pretty much, we can't wait to see our family. We love them so, so, so, so much. There's just nothing better.

Fall is Coming

Our weather has been unseasonably warm. Nothing like mid 90's when it's supposed to be mid 60's. But today was the first day where the morning clouds didn't burn away and there's a crisp autumn chill in the air. The leaves haven't changed color yet, but they will soon and we can't wait. Hillsboro is the most beautiful place on earth during the fall season. Sarah set a goal to take the camera everywhere we go so we don't miss a beautiful opportunity to take a picture of the changing seasons.

Top 10 Reasons. . .

#1: She can play one mean game of handball. No. . .seriously. She hasn't played for 40 years and she still has her game on. You do NOT want to cross her on the handball court.


#2: She still likes to color while in a restaurant. Okay. Not really. She was just trying to get little Andrew to color instead of bug Ethan.


#3: Her favorite fireworks are sparklers. We usually buy 100 and go through them in like 5 seconds.

#4: I thought there was no one else who laughed their pants off like Mom and I do. . .but she kept reminding me, "Just wait for our trip to California. You must not remember how much Tracy and I laugh!" Boy was she right. At first, I was confused. How could two people laugh and make ridiculous jokes like Mom and I? But it's sure possible. We just laughed and laughed and laughed.

#5: She looks so cute on the roller coasters at Knott's Berry Farm. Yep, she's the one waving. Adorable.

#6: She wraps my birthday presents so beautifully. It makes me feel so good.

#7: She bought my birthday cake (or shall I say cakes) from Whole Foods. She couldn't resist getting the beautiful mini cakes and tartlets that are all organic and hand made. The perfect cakes for my birthday. I couldn't ask for more. (And the beeswax candles)


#8: She lets me do stupid things like toilet paper Emily's bedroom the night before her birthday. She won't let me toilet paper the neighbor's yard, but Emily's room satisfies my appetite.


#9: Best of all - she loves me so much.

#10: Last one - isn't she so pretty? I have the best mom in the world!

First Day of School. . .a little late. . .I know.

Here's cute little Emily Rose on her first day of 10th grade. She had her outfit layed out the night before. . .she even tried it on to make sure it looked the way she wanted. It's a tradition to have Sarah take her "first day of school" pictures before heading out. Emily gets so frustrated with Sarah trying to make the lighting just right. . .we end up getting pictures with a cross-eyed Emily, a pouty Emily, a sassy Emily or a just plain annoyed Emily. After nearly 27 attempts at the perfect before school picture, here are a few that turned out pretty cute. . .

And of course, in typical Emily fashion. . .red ballet flats. A must have for this season!

But the scariest thing of all is Emily's new book bag.

Clearly Sarah and Mom have rubbed off WAY too much on Emily. Last year, Emily wouldn't be caught dead with a "recycle" bag on her shoulder. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

Enrichment - Evergreen High

This last Wednesday, we had an Enrichment titled "Evergreen High." All the Young Women were invited because it was a back to school theme loosely based on High School Musical. It was so adorable. Everybody got their "class schedule" and the "school picture" taken. They even had little spiral notebooks for taking notes during class.

Later in the evening, there were "after school snacks" which consisted of 20 dozen cookies, baby carrots, apples and little school sized milk cartons.

There were tables in the "cafeteria" decorated according to different school subjects. There was an art table, science, geography, math, english and music. Of course, Sarah was assigned to decorate the music table.

And because Sarah's on the Enrichment Committee, and the only one other than Rochelle willing to humiliate herself in front of the ward. . .she got the be the lunch lady. Hair net and all.