Happy Halloween

This post is a little unorganized because, well, I didn't feel like making a bunch of different posts. So, here is what we have been up to Halloween week.

Kelsi got to go to a bday party for her friend Jane who turned 2. She had a great time. Bubbles, balloons and cupcakes - can't go wrong.


Here is Kelsi with her cousins Lauren and Joshua all ready to go trick-or-treating.

We went to a family Halloween party and the kids all dressed up and had a great time.

Kelsi and I decorated sugar cookies...or I decorated a sugar cookies and Kelsi ate everything in sight.

Isn't she adorable?

We ditched out on the Trunk-or-treat at the church this year, because three wards = WAY too much candy for Kelsi. I just took her around the block on the culdesac and she got about 10 pieces of chocolate and a toothbrush from our dentist friends (they gave a piece of candy too!)


John and I got to go to a couples Halloween party. We won for best traditional costumes!

We got our pumpkin carving on

The one below is my pumpkin. BOO!

John decorated our front yard for us this year.

You would think that Kelsi would be afraid of this guy, but she would always just say "Hi Doggie".

Hope everyone had fun!

The story of the comb

Kelsi was playing with her comb this morning after I did her hair. I told her that it was time to go to the gym and I proceeded to put on my shoes. As I was putting my last shoe on, Kelsi started yelling "COMB! COMB!" as she pointed to my shoe. At this time, I already had my shoe on and wiggled my toe around and felt no comb. I said "Silly girl, there is no comb in my shoe". She continued to say "Comb! Shoe!"

I got to the gym and started my boot camp class. About 15 minutes into the class, I started doing the box jump and my instructor came up to me and said "Do you know that you have a comb in your shoe?" I looked down and sure enough there was Kelsi's comb sticking straight up right on the outside of my ankle. I told my instructor what had happened and we had a good laugh. She said she wasn't sure if I just kept the comb with me at all times or what!

Sorry, I doubted you Kels!

Worst fear

As most of you know, Kelsi has many phobias. She is scared of being close to vegetation, hates elevators and so on and so on. However, the vacuum seems to have all others beat (well, maybe tied with the lawn mower). Even the mini-vac sends her screaming and crying so hard she is nearly hyperventilating. I don't know when this phase will end, but it has been going on for about 18 months or so and I just don't understand. These pictures are from earlier today. She hides behind her crib in terror.

Forget goblins and witches. Maybe John and I should dress up as a vacuum and lawn mower this Halloween.

Fun on the Farm

This week Kelsi got to go to a little farm down the street. For a small fee, she received a bag full of special food so she could feed the animals. She got to see Horses, pigs, goats, sheep, geese, ducks, chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs & a turkey. Her favorite animal was the horse, of course!

Kelsi wasn't good at feeding the animals. She fed the dog his bone from her hand, but she just threw the food at the other animals.
I tried to get her sit on bales of straw and cute little props that were set up around the farm for picture purposes, but the only thing Kelsi would sit on was a pumpkin.

Kelsi made quick friends. This is Kinzie from her nursery class. Kinzie is like the mom to all the kids in the nursery. She hugs them and says "It's OK, mommy will be back".

It was pretty cute. She just kept saying "hand?" to this other little girl, until she held her hand too! Kelsi misses all her boyfriends in Clarkston, but I think she thinks it is pretty neat to have some girls to play with!

Our little family

Here are a few pics for the grandparents. We were just hanging out the other day and I started snapping away.

She does pretty good on the swing by herself.

Snuggle time with Daddy.

She's quite the lounger.

We love our little girl.

VEGAS BABY!

A few friends of mine and I were able to get away for a weekend Vegas trip. It was very relaxing (well, after we ditched the heels and stuck to flip flops), and I feel refreshed and ready to get back to my wonderful life here with my family. Can't wait till next time! We stayed at the Trump Hotel. It was a beautiful hotel and a wonderful place because it doesn't have a casino, which means NO SMOKING!!! It was so nice to be able to take a deeeeeeep breath once we walked into our hotel and not gag and choke from the rest of the stink of the city. It was a little off the strip (so it had it's pros and cons).

Our bathroom had a built in flat screen into the mirror. It blended right into the mirror. AWESOME.

We toured all the hotels and admired all the beautiful architecture and art.

Rode "the Deuce" (everytime I said it, I could just hear John snickering in my head) as often as we could.

Watched the beautiful Bellagio fountains.

Inside the Bellagio conservatory.

We ate A LOT.

Thanks to John for being so understanding and helpful and to other friends and family that helped out! Much love!

A LITTLE BDAY SHOUT OUT

I wanted to say a little HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my bestest friend Trisha! I hope you have had a wonderful birthday.

You know how when you meet certain people and you just "click"? Well, I think our friendship was destined. We are so very different but on the other hand so much alike. She's the yin to my yang and I miss her very much!

We've talked, laughed & cried (OK, I cried) together. We've gone on fun trips....

Had babies....


Got fancy....

and just have had a lot of fun together.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

John's new toy

I'm making him take out a bigger life insurance policy.... :)

HOTEL CALDERWOOD

We have had a lot of fun the last month playing with our Clarkston friends. First we had the Ponds stay with us for a few nights while they were getting their new floors put in, then the Evans came during the Labor Day weekend (SO good to see them) and then last weekend the Brumes came to visit for a few days while they took their kids to Silverwood. I am so glad that we are staying in touch and that they don't live "too" far away.

Here is Kelsi and Grant (born 5 wks apart) taking on the playground.

Those Brume kids LOVE Kelsi and the boys showered her with attention.

See what I mean about those Brume boys? Even Dave got in on the Kelsi love...

and Kelsi said "right back at ya Dave!"

Hotel Calderwood is still taking reservations! :)

Happy Anniversary

We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary this week! We had company coming in to town so we celebrated our anniversary the night before by going to the Wolf Lodge (best steak I have ever had, by the way) and then taking a walk at sunset on the boardwalk.

I am so thankful to be married to the man of my dreams. He works SO hard for our family and I am proud of his dedication and ambition in his work. He is a awesome father. He is very hands on with Kelsi and loves his little "pumpkin". I love that he takes his priesthood responsibilities seriously and is worthy to do so. I love how he can find humor in almost anything (even if it is inappropriate at times - HA!) It is so funny thinking back on how we met and how fast we fell in love and how fast we got married. It was a whirlwind! But, I wouldn't change a thing and I THINK John would say the same as well. ;)

Where are the dogs?

My Dad keeps asking how the dogs are and WHERE they are, so here you go Dad!

These beds are supposed to be "chew resistant". We'll see....

Ok, how cute is Kelsi walking Lucky???!!! She loved it, and Lucky is so patient.

Giving Lucky some love.

Say CHEESE!

In July, we had our friend Rendy, of "Rendy Tucker Photography" take pictures of Kelsi. Kelsi was a nightmare...but we got a few great ones. Thanks, Rendy! If anyone lives in the Spokane/CDA greater area, look her up at rendytuckerphotography.com