For the grandparents

The Butterfly and the sad Lady bug (somehow she got cut off in the pic). I copied Cousin Emily's kids face paint of a couple years ago. I had to use my lip liner for something I suppose. We had festivities at the Med school and then at the church for trunk or treating.  I am not so sure Halloween is my favorite holiday, but its fun to dress the kids up...just not to scrape the makeup off before bed.

 Claire lost her skirt....never one to keep clothes on.

No more thumb

Wendy clued me into this gem (Mavala Stop) to help Claire quit sucking her thumb.  I did it about a month ago and it only took about 24 hours and she was done.

See this for details/ inspirational story.

See here for the product of mavala stop!

I painted it on Claire's thumbs while she was sleeping and tried not to laugh when she woke up gagging....makes me sound mean I know, but it only took her sticking her thumb in her mouth 4 separate times to make her quit!

A Ben and Jerry's we will go....

 Our latest family adventure took us to the Ben and Jerry's factory as well as the Cinder Mill. No picture taking was allowed inside the ice cream factory for fear of loss of trade secrets. Claire asked non stop during the tour for "pink ice cream!" The samples they gave us were quite large, so we filled up quick, but claire got her "pink" ice cream afterwards (no artificial colors here, so only actual pink strawberries in the cream appeased Claire desire).

*note* Claire does not actually have Sydney's full weight on her shoulders, but insisted on carrying her.

 Sugar anyone?

 Mooooooooooooooooooooo

 in line for the precious pink ice cream

 cider, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

That's all folks!

Yummy day.

 We went hiking in our backyard before conference. We were determined to make Claire walk on her own, only to carry her more than half the way on our shoulders, oh well.

I get such a high from being in the woods. Maybe its from all the mushrooms we saw. I actually ran a different part of this trail the other day. I'll take you there for a run next summer if you visit me. You would be like..."man this is the prettiest and easiest run I have ever had...what?! We just ran 5 miles?? That felt like 2!"  and I'll say something like, "yeah, that's because we are at sea level or something and you have a high altitude advantage...."

 and more random pictures of our wild cats.

 This below pict is actually commemorating the beginning of our rainy season, or one of our rainy seasons.

 And more pictures of Claire naked holding carrots we GREW!! That was fun. Just don't turn me in for taking pictures of my children as they really are. I can not keep clothes on this child and refuse to fight this fight again and again. Her middle name ain't Roxy for nothing....

p.s. Lyndon does exist, he just doesn't happen to be in a lot of pictures we've taken lately...doh!

For Daddy

We have been home hopping in Utah while Lyndon slaves away at work and home. Here are some pictures for you Lyndon. We love and miss you!!!

Missy's hard work

Missy planted a garden this year and we now have a ton of tomatoes and a few yellow squash.

July is the best month in the whole entire year.

We have been swimming and playing to our hearts content. There are a kajillion lakes in NH & VT and we happen to have super friends that invite us to play.

I actually don't have any pictures of said fun lakes, but here's one of the girls before getting scrubbed of all their grime. And no, that is not blood on Claire- it's marker.

P.S. Lyndon smoked the Boards. I can say that. I'm his wife. He gone and done good.