Big Smiles, Tears, and Fun

First real smile!!! Well, the after smile anyway. Isn't that the most adorable smirk you've ever seen? I really think that the timing of the first smile is more than just happenstance. Sure exhaustion, wondering how long you can go on, and then boom. Smile. "Thanks, mom." And your heart explodes with love. And you think, "Yes! I can do this! I will do this! I will do anything for that smile." And oh what a smile. Huge, gummy, wonderful smile. 

We attended a birthday party for one of our friends, and Darren's baby shower womb mate was there. They are a month apart. We had to grab a picture!

The first weekend in November was our Ward Turkey Campout. Last year we camped and... it was horrible. Well, the boys had a great time. But the actual dinner and company was fantastic!!! This year Ryan had to work and he was so bummed. I decided to be brave and head up for the day with all three kids. We had such a great time! The weather was really nice this year (super cold last year) and they the location was a little different - also much nicer with a big pavilion, tables and benches, and bathrooms! The food was delicious. I did get some leftovers for Ryan to help ease the pain of missing it just a little.

I met Sherlock, my writer's group pal Sarah's dog. He's a sweetheart. 

They played this game where you put a tennis ball on a big pvc pipe and then you try and hit the pole with a frisbee to knock it off. The other team has to either a. catch the frisbee, or b. catch the ball AND the frisbee before they both hit the ground. It was really entertaining to watch. And they were very good sports when Pierscen joined a team and tried to help. Haha!

We wish Ryan could have been there. But it was a great experience and I was proud of myself for braving it on my own. 

Nine weeks pictures! Lots of them. :) 

I also caught Mr. D watching and smiling at himself in the play mat mirror. So dang cute!

He had his 8 week check (at 9 week) and it was... well like this- the whole time. Angry, angry little hornet!

Up to 10 lbs 3 oz. Shots in the legs. Life was just horrible. Poor guy. 

Random happenings: Devry helping daddy. Devry truly loves her dad. He is favorite. No doubt about it. She adores him and it makes my heart very happy. I love seeing them work side by side. He is so good with her. 

Just loved the stark color difference here with the cottonwood and crows. Or Ravens. Probably crows... I just paused this little blurb to look up the difference because I can never remember. Crows are smaller. So yes, I think these are crows. But we do have some massively big black birds around here sometimes... But we will go with crows. 

As a family we went to visit the Botanical Gardens. Ryan doesn't normally get to come with us, but it was a really nice outing. The weather was glorious and he and Pierscen were able to run around together while Devry took a nap in the stroller and I fed Darren. 

I had to include these pictures from the bugarium because I thought they were so cool. Looks like just a couple orchids, right?

Check out that praying mantis! Can you spot it? It's an Orchid Mantis - VERY aptly named. Isn't it incredible? There were a few other species there with camouflage this impressive too. Very neat.  

Like this dead leaf one. Wowza, God's creations are cool!

These squirrels totally made my day. Not going to lie. We were walking down the path and all these berry/cherry things were raining down from the tree. Couldn't figure out why they were dropping so fast, and then I looked up and spotted these guys. I stood there and watched them for a very long time. So entertaining!

Little man didn't wake up until we had made it all the way through the gardens and aquarium. Hello baby blue eyes!

Good memories. 

Halloween and Other Happenings

Six weeks and got the all clear to return to full activity - slowly. Took my first jog and it felt wonderful!

Morning exercise shenanigans with my little lady. 

Love this grumpy gus scowl.

A HUGE accomplishment for mama and baby bear. Getting baby to take a bottle from mom is always the hardest hurdle. But as I am only able to breastfeed for a few months, it is a necessity. It was still a long process to get him to take a bottle willingly, but this first feeding was exciting!

Halloween was a little nuts this year. Pierscen had three hand-me-down costumes that all fit him perfectly this year and would definitely be too small next go around. Lucky for him, he had three different events to attend. So he wore them all!

School Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat: Fireman

Devry wore the Princess dress I found and I curled her hair for the first time ever and it looked so cute! 

And Darren-oh! How adorable is this?! He's a lobster! Have you ever seen a baby lobster costume? I could not resist!

Some random handsome Darren shots:

Next up was the ward trunk or treat. Princess and Winnie the Pooh!

Ryan suggested I wear waders so I could be a fisherwoman and her catch. So stinking cute!

Now this is bound to be my favorite Halloween moment ever. I was sitting in the car with Darren when Ryan sent me the following picture:

He is legitimately stuck. I could not stop laughing! Okay, this would have been funny regardless, but you guys!!!! It's Winnie the Pooh!!!!

This couldn't have been any more perfect than if we had planned it! Silly ol' bear. Too much honey! Hahahaha!!!

More Darren: 8 weeks!

This year my family's pumpkin carving contest theme was America. Wasn't sure what to do with that. So my entries were the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria (Get it? Ship x 3? Yeah it was a stretch) and the McDonald's arch and the Coke. Pierscen did his pumpkin face all by himself. 

Lastly, Halloween night: Buzz and Woody! We were eating dinner before going out to trick or treat and it dawned on me that P wore the Woody costume when he was Devry's age. I casually asked if she wanted to be a Princess or Woody and she very excitedly agreed to be Woody. How cute is that?! The Buzz costume is too small now, so that's why it was a now or never sort of thing. They had a good time but got burned out pretty quickly. Hard to believe, but both those kids were very much ready for Halloween to be over. And so were we!

It was a fun end to the month. And you know what's amazing? I didn't eat a single piece of Halloween candy until several months later. True story!