the frost is on the pumpkin

we are embracing the halloween season and have decorated the house accordingly. the kids love any and all halloween decorations. koa, who used to be afraid of his own shadow, really LOVES to go down halloween aisles and be surprised by mechanical skeletons that jump out at passers-by, and he also makes himself useful by pointing out all the "punkins" and "ghostes" that he sees. we have decided to wait till next week to carve our big pumpkins, and the kids cannot wait. we are especially proud that the white pumpkins on the mantel and the corn on the front step came from our garden this year!

and the winner is....

we'll be sending you all something very soon! :)!!

(thanks, jeni & alan and susie for your wonderful comments!)

my new motto

i love it!!

100th post!

these were koa's socks last night - he does so much running around that he wore a hole right through them. (not many of his socks are in good enough shape to hand down to kawelo, but socks and underwear are things that each kid probably wants to be brand new for them, right?) this picture reminds me of spencer w. kimball's quote about wanting his life to be like his shoes: worn out in service. james & i are making a family goal to increase our service and a goal as a couple to follow president monson's advice and find joy in the journey. so, since this is our 100th post and we want to celebrate, we'll have a giveaway! we'll pick someone randomly from the comments on october 10th, and figure out some way to do something service-y and joyful for you! good luck!

it's just not fair

okay, if i were wearing this outfit, would anyone think it was adorable that the buttons are about to pop and the horizontal stripes are only emphasizing belly roundness? i don't think so.

p.s. that gave me an idea: a challenge! who can top this photographic evidence of an outfit that is so incredibly endearing on a baby/toddler, but would be horrific on an adult? sort your photos, people! let's see those pix!

mr. sleeping beauty

i took the boys to the park this morning and now both are sleeping like rocks. i'd really love to get some crafting done, but i just know that the moment i sit down at the sewing machine, some little person would be peeking over my shoulder. so, i'll just settle for watching a movie of my own choosing. that is a beautiful thing in itself.

p.s. kalei is wearing the primary colors today. and, no, nothing matches. c'e la vie!

creative license

lately, kalei has really been enjoying dressing herself. at times, i attempt a suggestion for an alternative outfit or accessory, but mostly i've been biting my lip and letting her have free reign. (well, almost free - i have veto power on sundays - heavenly father might not care what she wears, but i can't allow major clashes in the chapel.) my mom let me dress myself when i was little, and, apparently, i looked like a bag lady 100% of the time, but, as my mom says, clothes are really not that big a deal in the big picture, and she's loving making these choices on her own. win, win! here's kalei's outfit for school today:

she called it her stripey outfit. what can i say? it could be a new classic.

koa loves to go out to wait for the bus with kalei each morning, and he, too, feels the need to accessorize. he requires a jacket (if kalei has one) and a backpack (since kalei needs one) and a snack bag (just like kalei's). are we sensing a theme here? good thing kalei doesn't wear high heels and miniskirts. (and, of course, never will!)

(this is the picture of koa with the least blurring. stillness is not the way of the koa.)