Our Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

A Lunch Date

A few weeks ago my good friend Jackie and I loaded the kids up and took them out to lunch at Olive Garden. We LOVE the soup, salad and especially those breadsticks! After quite an adventure trying to find the nearest one, we finally made it and had such a great time! Damon and Elise were so adorable!


What a fun lunch!

Running away from the moms

Let's get out of here!
So cute!

Damon and his buddies

Last month we went to a birthday dinner for our good friend Jenny Huguely. Their little boy Michael is one of Damon's best friends. Some other friends (the Gattens) were also there with their kids....their little boy Zach adds to the troublesome trio. They had so much fun playing, running ,and tackling each other. I wish that I had pictures of the tackling....but I only have pictures of them all being best friends.


Zach Gatten, Damon, and Michael Huguely

a bench just his size

The Barn!

Just felt like doing a post today about one of my favorite places. Pottery Barn! I have worked there for almost 3 years now and have loved it. It gives me inspiration on how to decorate when we (eventually) have a house. I especially love the holiday accessories and can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I have loved all the friends I have worked with there and I am so grateful that they basically let me work whenever I want. I hope that I can work there forever. (I wouldn't be able to afford it without my discount anyways!).

Is he cute or what?

My little sis emailed me some new pictures of our new nephew Brayden....and I just had to post them. I know I've been posting a lot lately, (is that good thing?) but we actually have had some fun things going on lately....so here you go.

He's just so cute!

Not a Black Eye

I was visiting a girlfriend who had just had a baby the other night, and I got a phone call from Mike saying I had to come home to see what Damon had done. It definitely wasn't an emergency, but I was still very curious. Here is what it looks like when Damon tries to put my lipstick on as mascara. It of course had to be the "long-lasting" stuff that doesn't just wash off. I got most of it off that night, but it took two days before it was all completely off.

What a Story

I was really touched by this story on my good friends blogs. Adrienne has always been such an amazing example to me, we've been friends for ...well, since 5th grade, so a very long time. We took swim lessons together, used to go running, bike riding, and double dating together. She is a great person, and I think by reading this story you can tell that she is passing that onto her children.....
I really hope that Adrienne doesn't mind me stealing this story from her own blog...I just really felt like sharing it with the people that read mine.....It is really touching. I've read it at least 3 times and have ended up in tears every time.

here you go

"I shared the following story today at our LDS Church Testimony meeting today...
As I was away for a few days this last week, my dad was taking care of my two little boys. They had decided to go to a nearby park to play and get some fresh air. My dad was watching the boys from a distance as they were playing by some shrubs and a chain linked fence.
Out of the blue, Wesley started screaming with urgency, "Abuelo Abuelo!" My dad ran over to see what was going on. The boys had somehow slipped through a gap of the chain linked fence. While they could stand there, they were also immediately next to a 10 foot drop...somehow little Austin has fallen over the edge! Wesley by some miracle grabbed him as he was falling and was literally holding him by one arm. Austin was being fully supported by my sweet three year old. He was holding on as tightly as he could, crouched to the ground and little Austin was just swinging by a limb.
Of course my dad was shocked to see what was happening, but because the area was so small and narrow, he could not reach the boys and where they had placed themselves against this wall. So, he ran around the fence, hopped it and reached them to safety.
The most emotional part for me was not only that my boys lives were at risk, but that Wesley was so alert and quick thinking to reach down and help Austin. Surely a three year old cannot sustain a two year old and so we knew that outside help had come in.
As they were walking home, my dad was very emotional about this mini crisis. Wesley then started to explain more about what had happened to him. He said (this is of course in Spanish but I will translate it, so it may sound funny)...that Jesus had come into his throat and helped him call out for Abuelo. (Me entro el cuello Jesus). He then said that Jesus is his friend, He is his brother, He is strong and that He helped Austin when he fell down. (Jesus es mi amigo, mi hermano y es muy fuerte. Me ayudo).
How else could my toddler completely hold onto the life of my baby Austin without some divine help? Not only that, but Wesley knew who was helping him the entire time and he told Abuelo that he could feel him there with him. I am so so so grateful for an intuitive child who knows that he is loved and watched over by Jesus. More than that, I am so grateful that God allowed me to be a parent to both of my children for a longer period of time. I could have easily lost both of their lives had they fallen and broken their necks.
This story of course came at an opportune time since yesterday was my meltdown. My perspective has been lightened and their lives are ever so fragile to me. All day long Jared and I were praising Wesley for his valient job and how grateful we are for an innocent and caring son who was watching out for his hermanito. "

Damon's New Cousin

Had to do a post to announce our new little nephew, and Damon's new little cousin Brayden Ammon Nordgren. He is my little sister (Tara's) first little baby....and he is ADORABLE if I do say so myself. He was born on September 21. What a cutie! Here are a bunch of pictures...

The New Mom....Isn't my sister cute?

The Proud Daddy! - look at Brayden just staring at his dad...so cute.