Some random pictures

Just found this draft lost in the unpublished world-ooops. So here are some pics from this summer!

Good hair day- this has been rare lately, vain, don't really care

 Michelle wanted to put ALL of her bows in my hair

 This was after her first day of nursery, she would not stay still

 We came home one day and she sat down and started "reading" Goodnight Moon to herself.

 NOSE!

 She thinks it's hilarious to run to the other side of her pack'n'play and smash up against it

 Cute giraffe I crocheted recently for a baby gift

It's winter

Already this winter has been particularly cold and well, that just stinks!!! I am not built for winter! I seriously dislike it but I try to get through it all. On Saturday we got blanketed by snow and it has only been "warming up" to about 20 degrees if we are lucky so, we are still covered in it. And I think it's supposed to snow again later this week. I miss Thailand, and being warm, and tan- but I have never seen the point in tanning beds- I just like being tan because it means that I have been enjoying the glorious sun that makes me so happy. I guess I have to concede that the sun is at least shinning at the moment but it is sooooo stinkin cold!!!! And everything is covered in snow. So yeah, I hate winter but I guess I should get around to the reason I started writing today! I never let Michelle play in the snow last year- because I am a Grinch- and she was tiny and I was worried about her and we didn't have any snow stuff. Most of those things have changed this year so Saturday while Joe shoveled the driveway (and sidewalks because he's an overachiever) I got Michelle all snow-geared (how are you supposed to phrase that?) up and we went outside and let her play for a little bit (while I lamented that my rather nice snow boots are apparently still in West Yellowstone because the last time I was willingly in the snow was before we moved to Vegas....there was a snow mobile involved).

 She still doesn't have gloves and only has 6 pairs of socks so I was mean and didn't let her use those as gloves because that would mean doing laundry a day early (which I ended up doing anyways because she pulled her pants and diaper off when I thought she was taking a nap and peed all over everything then got mad that I had to give her a bath, do laundry and shampoo her carpet-clearly my fault). So since she doesn't have gloves I didn't let her stay out very long- which she was none to pleased about, after a while I gave up and put on Curious George, he tends to make everything better in her world.

Just life

I watched a neighbor kid for a few days and while she was here Michelle and her would grab the throw pillows and blankets and lay down playing who knows what. Now Michelle does it with her baby dolls all the time (by the way, she is OBSESSED with baby dolls).

Also our microwave got well, a little scary so we had to replace it. Luckily we were able to get a great deal and warranty on one from Lowes because of the Veterans Day sale. Also we were so grateful to have an awesome neighbor who helped Joe put it in. It took them a couple hours and lots of runs to said neighbor's house to get yet another tool but ta da! fancy shmancy new microwave that doesn't scare me- truly my favorite new feature.

Halloween!

This year our ward did a trunk or treat on Wednesday. I considered dressing up but decided that I was too exhausted to bother, it's been a crazy couple weeks around here. So we just dressed up our totally adorable 50's girl (I made the skirt. I just pinned the poodle on though because I really like poofy skirts on little girls and wanted her to wear the skirt again ;) ). I was surprised how into it she got! It was cold so I was kind of expecting a melt down but she did great, although she refused to smile. I handed her the candy pail and she carried it the whole time! She would just stare at people until they put candy in it, it was pretty amusing to me.

 Can I just point out that she posed herself for the above picture? Sometimes she is such a cutie pie!

For Halloween we passed out candy and then took Michelle around for a couple blocks. Clearly we are the crazy intense people... ha ha ha. Oh and Michelle got a flu shot for Halloween. Exciting stuff going on here! LOL. But hey, I actually let her have the lolipop afterwards!

Fall

It's probably a sad testament to my blogging commitment when I look at our blog and I am surprised at how little Michelle looks in the most recent pictures. So here is a little bandaid for that situation ;)
To celebrate our 5th anniversary (albeit belated) we went to the temple together. Wait, did I blog that already? eh, who knows.

 I was in charge of a relief society humanitarian activity where we made cards for a hospice center. They send them to the families of patients who have passed away since they provide end of life care. Anyways, this was my favorite card I made, It's purty.

 Random picture of my cutie Michelle and I one Sunday. We were really cute, someone should teach Joe to take better pictures.

 Michelle LOVES books....

 Enthralled with watching Daddy mow the lawn.

 Pumpkin Patch!

" Helping" plant some tulip bulbs

 Loves the trike a neighbor passed down to us!

The never ending blog post

SO, We have actually had quite a bit going on lately and I don't feel like making a bunch of different posts so this is going to be a never ending blog posts without much detail but probably a lot of pictures. Enjoy. Or not. Whatever, up to you I guess. I'm just posting you decide how to feel about it ;)

On days where I was doing laundry and Joe was working box poor Michelle had to spend several hours bored out of her mind at the theatre. This day we got a soda delivery and she was totally going to put it away by herself.

 Instead Daddy helped. She was so determined!

Hanging out at the theatre, wearing Daddy's constable hat on a Fiddler night

At the beginning of August my parents came to visit us and to see Joe in Fiddler on the Roof. They are so incredibly supportive they have come to see us every year even though we haven't been in the shows. And of course I am always just glad to see them! They also happened to pick the perfect weekend to come because it was the Rod Run (old cars filling the city park) and the Mountain Man rendezvous!

 Apparently Papa's first car (i think) was like this one. Only the last paint job it had had before he inherited it was done with a paint brush. Ask him. He will tell you the correct story.

 Papa and Mommy also introduced Michelle to the 1,2,3 SWING game and she was in LOVE with that. Seriously happy girl.

 She also loved Papa's lemonade. She's a spoiled girl that one.

 Joe had Monday off working box so we drove in the park and then went to the rendevous later. Nice day spent with my wonderful family.

Isn't that green stripe of water so cool?

One day we went to Virginia & Nevada City with the Playmill cast. They are "ghost" towns and it is tradition

 this house is supposed to be haunted but don't we make it look cute :)

 teaching all the mormon kids how to cheat while gambling. lol

 Our favorite part is always the swing!

 Major Joe face right there!

Maggie is a Merrill and she is awesome. We love her.

Then on like the 14th? We came home to Meridian. It was such an awesome feeling to walk into our home and feel, home. It honestly was similar to coming home from home leave. Leaving some people you love behind but returning to where you belong.

 I often let Michelle play with boxes for a couple days before putting them into the recycling (why not? Free toy that encourages imagination? ummm yes!) She and Joe like to turn the ones that are big enough (also the laundry baskets) into cars and he will drive her around the house. It's pretty cute! This particular day she requested a pillow as well. It was quite entertaining to see her snuggle in once it was exactly where she wanted it.

Although we had to leave the summer early we did go back for Playmill Christmas! Of course!!!

Aren't Roger and Heidi so sweet to show her how to work it?

Waiting to see if Santa came! Spoiler alert, he did!

 She has been playing Mini-Mommy a lot lately and she was giving her baby doll a turn driving her car. Seriously two seconds after this picture she patted her head and gave her a kiss.

 So, our backyard neighbor's peach tree hangs in our yard and I went and picked some. I gave one for michelle to carry inside for me. We got in the kitchen and I turned around to see this. She knew what she wanted. So I washed it and gave it right back. She ate the whole thing like that.

 This face has become a new favorite of hers.

I prefer this one :)

Michelle recieved another ball for Playmill Christmas so now we have two about the same size. Joe taught her the "we each hold one and 'run' at eachother then bounce back game" she loves it, maybe because he always lets her win :)

 I bought these bookshelves back in the beginning of May. But with wondering about Joe's job I was worried about putting them up. We finally got them up and I love them! Michelle also loves having access to her books.

P.S. Anybody recognize this gem? Yup. Still have it and still read it and love it. As many times as I read it you would think it would be worn to pieces but it's not ;)

Was THAT long enough for you? Yeah, i'm sure I missed a bunch of stuff....