All I wanna do is have some fun

The weather during fall time in Utah is tricky. It's fairly cold in the mornings but by late afternoon it is somewhat warm. After gymnastics class one day we went to the park. 

Elise is a little more adventurous than Sadie was at 18 months so both girls enjoy every part of the park. As Elise climbed to the top of the stairs I had a little flashback to when I was 7 months pregnant with her and 18-month-old Sadie made her way up and just sat at the top instead of going down the slide. I had to squeeze my very round self up the skinny staircase, over a few kids, and then carry Sadie back down. A highlight of that pregnancy for sure.

On Saturday morning we went to the play-place at the University Mall because it was only 50 degrees.

Elise climbed right up to the slide. Slides bring her great joy. 

Do you know what this picture is? It's Sadie climbing across those dinosaur bones all by herself. We've been coming to this play place once every few months for a couple years now and Sadie finally got up the courage to climb this alone. Every time we come Sadie wants to climb them but insisted I help. This time I looked over and she was doing it. When I approached her at the end of the climb to tell her how proud I was she was shaking, but very excited. 

Sadie also climbed all around the dino's mouth by standing on the teeth and holding onto the teeth above. She saw some other kids do it and she had a lot of doubts about her ability, but I talked her through it and she was successful. 

I also absolutely love that Sadie has entered the stage where she plays with the kids she meets at the park. On this day she ran around with this pack of kids for an hour. 

Oh, and Elise spotted this ad with Tinkerbell and walked over every 10 minutes to talk to her.

Lifestyle Photography by Sadie Part II

This time Sadie documented a fancy dinner from Arby's on a busy day. Yep, the kitchen is a big mess. It's lifestyle photography. 

The back of Elise

Sadie's sandwich

Eating salad and laughing at Elise

Probably texting Daniel complaining about him being gone

Cleaning Elise up

Only included this for one reason: see that white piece of paper in the middle of the bulletin board? Yeah, that's a summons for jury duty. That is the second time I have gotten jury duty in the 10 years and one month since I turned 18. Last time I was 18 years old. I showed up thinking I'd be there for a few hours and go home, just like my dad said happened to him every time he got jury duty. I not only got chosen for the jury, but I was also the foreperson of the jury (randomly selected). The lawyers for both sides (it was a civil case) were thrilled when an 18-year-old was in charge. 

Risque Pandora Time

Lately Sadie has spent a lot of time listening to Pandora on my phone with Daniel's headphones for quiet time. Apparently this activity does not allow for clothes.  

*Note clothes on the floor

Hairy Situation

Milestone alert! 

Elise's hair has reached the point where I can stick it in piggie tails. When it sticks straight out it must be called piggie tails and not pig tails. The bonus of the piggie tails? They hide her extreme mullet.

 Sadie has reached a milestone with her hair too. She is finally willing to sit still for longer than 30 seconds for me to do her hair. Braided pig tails!

  This may blow your mind. Both of my girls with their hair done in more than a simple half-up side ponytail. I'm not kidding when I say I took this picture solely to document that fact.

Dance Class

We are still loving dance class. Sadie even let me do her hair in a little ballerina bun on top of her head a couple weeks ago. 

 Last week they made Halloween masks in class. 

 It's been a real hit in this house. 

Conference Weekend

This is what it looked like for us

 Oh, maybe paying a little attention.

 No, but at least they are playing nicely together. 

 Nevermind.

Banished to the Lightning McQueen box/car

All About Me

For my birthday in September my sister Hillary gave me a generous gift: a getaway in Midway with Daniel while she watched my kids. Hillary is one great gift-giver. We cashed in on the present Friday night. Daniel got home a littler later than planned so we went straight up to the outlets in Park City. Daniel indulged me in some shopping and then we grabbed dinner and headed back down to Midway so we could catch the rest of the BYU football game in our hotel room. We got there in the dark so when we woke up Saturday morning (after sleeping in, of course) we walked around enjoying the scenic resort grounds. 

I may have also stopped to pose for a few immature pictures as well. Sadie got very excited when she saw this picture of me with the frog.

Midway is one of the most beautiful places all year round, but especially in the fall.

On top of the night away, Hillary arranged for breakfast at the Homestead's restaurant. 

The view from the restaurant was beautiful. Cell phone pictures don't do a great job of capturing it. We stuffed our faces with a delicious meal and then Daniel indulged me again- driving the Alpine loop. 

I've been wanting to do this for a couple years but Daniel had no interest. I kept trying to manipulate him by reminding him it was my birthday weekend and he kept reminding me that I claimed our cruise was my birthday present. But it looks like I won since we did the things I wanted to do. :)

Man, that drive is gorgeous. A little windy in places, so we were both feeling a little nauseous, but well worth it.

Don't know that I convinced Daniel it is something we should do every year, but it sure was beautiful this year.