More to see

Some new sessions up on my photo blog.
Doesn't Hadlee have such beautiful eyes? CLICK HERE

Fall Colors~

Two weeks ago, we headed into the mountains for our annual drive with Russ's family to see the changing leaves. The colors were truly breathtaking this year! I absolutely love where we love and being so close to the mountains. I love getting to experience all four seasons, and Fall is definitely my favorite. We kind of did some impromptu family pics...nothing that will make it on to the wall...but at least something capture our family this year. I also tried to get a few of Bennett since his birthday is soon approaching, but I will post those later with the others that I will hopefully be taking of him in the near future. It seems I never get in a full session in with him, since his birthday is at the time of year when I am the busiest with other peoples photos!

It is nearly impossible to get a picture with my three kids together. Don't be fooled by the couple I got that look half way decent. Really, how hard could it be, right? It is ridiculous, really. I feel bad for Russ any time I tell him I want to try to take a picture of the three of them together, since he is always the one that tries to get them to be good, and puts Coy back in his place a million times. I'm grateful for my great husband and that he always puts up with all of my ideas, hobbies, plans, etc. etc.

On another note, I can't believe that it was three years ago today that my dear sister, Amber passed away. I have spent the day reflecting on her and the life that she lived. I'm so grateful for the journal she left on her blog that strengthens me and helps me remember her and feel of her spirit.

 

Last night I pulled out the book my dad compiled of all her entries and have been inspired once again by her testimony. Most of the time, I don't like reading it, because I know it will make many emotions, old and new, come to the surface. It's hard to relive what she went through. It's hard to think of how much time has already passed since she has gone, and how much has changed! It's hard to miss her all over again...It's hard to compare her life to mine, and to think about how if I were her, I would only have a few short months left! I am the exact same age right now that she was when she went on hospice!

 

But all in all, I am SO THANKFUL for my sister, for the time we did have together on earth, and for the legacy she left behind. Today I read words she wrote saying she knew that even though she was going to die and leave this earth physically, she knew she would still be there for all of the events (baptisms, graduations, weddings, etc.) in her family's lives. It was such a great reminder to me to know that she is still here blessing our lives in a way that we may not always be able to see.

 

I love Fall because it reminds me of Amber. She loved the Fall and all that went with it. I can never celebrate Halloween without remembering her and how much she loved that holiday. I think it is fitting that she left us in the Fall because it will always help us remember her at that time and help us feel of her spirit.

 

 

Wrapping Up September~

September was a fun-filled, busy month! Our days have been full with school and preschool, homework, soccer, basketball, dance, piano lessons, library days, appointments, photo shoots, potty training, gardening, reading... and the list goes on! It gets tiring but I don't think I would have it any other way! I feel so blessed to be able to have the wonderful life I've been given. It is so fun to watch each person in our family grow, learn, and accomplish goals. I'm so excited for the arrival of October. It may be my favorite month of the year! Here are just a few pictures from the past few weeks.

Our kids all love books and reading. I found the kids like this one Sunday morning when we didn't have to rush off to church since we had the Brigham City Temple Dedication Broadcast that day. All of the little stuffed animals were given to them by the cute babysitter we had the previous night. She played a game with them and gave them the animals for prizes. My kids thought it was the greatest thing ever.
Coy and Mylie being cute at lunch one day. They have to stick together and are becoming great friends now. We sure miss Bennett during the day, but I'm glad these two get along pretty well and love each other so much.




Coy is such a fun kid. He reminds me a lot of Bennett in many ways, but he definitely has a little personality all his own. He has learned his colors very well now. Before he could say all of them, he would point at things that were pink and call them "Mylie." He would also point at things that were blue and call them "Bennett." And anything that was green he would call "Baby." He now calls every color by their correct name...except for green, he still calls it "Baby." Coy's favorite color is with no doubt, green. But he WILL NOT say the word "green." Furthermore, to this day he WILL NOT say the word "Coy." We will tell him: say "Mommy" and  he will repeat "Mommy." Say "Mylie" and he will echo, "Mylie." And so on with everyone's name in our family. But if we ever say: Say "Coy", he will say "Baby." He calls himself "Baby." No matter how hard I try, I cannot get him to say his name. We'll say to him C-C-C Coy, with much emphasis and exaggeration of the sounds. He will say, "C-C-C Baby." It will be a big deal when one day, he will say the color Green and say his own name. But until then, I just didn't want to forget that silly little thing about him.   *Update: Right after I wrote this entry, my mom got Coy to say "green." So he has been saying it like crazy today, pointing out everything green. Funny thing is, now when I ask him to say "Coy" he pauses for a second and then says "Green." So now his name is "Green."   On another note, I decided to bring some of my hydrangeas in one last time. Lately, each time one starts blooming, the flowers turn whitish-brown rather than turning pink. I thought maybe I'd try to save a couple by bringing them inside. I was thrilled that they did turn pink, and in fact are even bigger and pinker now than they are in these pictures. I love my hydrangea bush!