Carving Pumpkins

At the pumpkin patch Joe picked out the largest pumpkin he could find. Keep in mind that I was with a friend and her baby and had my 2 by myself. You took a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, picked your pumpkins, rode back with them, and were by yourself with your purchase. I usually swallow more than I can chew anyways. I let him get the massive one and he wants one for Lynden and daddy. I convinced him mine was the one at home he'd made at preschool and off we went with 3 pumpkins. *side note-I don't know why Joe loves those glasses, they were baby sunglasses and the lenses are obviously gone and he likes wearing them still :)

Our kids do have clothes, they just don't like wearing them...

Daddy and Joe excited about what they are about to carve

This picture so describes our children...Joe being so cautious not wanting to get any goop on his arm and Lynden trying to eat the goop out of the bowl

Joe wanted Iron Man so daddy set out to carve him

Love it!

Here our are pumpkins...Lynden's, Joe's, daddy's, preschool (mommy's)

Make A Wish Train Ride

Now that I am in YW, I get to do everything that the YW do. Yay! :) Never knew how much they actually did. Long story short, Make a Wish, Primary Children's, Big Brother Big Sister, and wards of the state get to go on this 3 hour round trip train ride and our ward's YW serve the snacks, drinks, and fruit during the train ride. The night before we went down and loaded the trains and the girls got to decorate their cars. The train cars were super nice. I knew Joe would probably never get to ride a train like this so what did I do? I woke him up at 4:30 am to go with me. We stopped at a Circle K at 5 to get me a Dr. Pepper and him a bag of powdered donuts and I'm sure the worker thought, does this lady know it's still dark outside and she has a toddler with her?! Here he is ready to get going!

One of the double decker cars

He was quite the little helper getting the goody bags together.

One of my favs, Sedona. We probably would have been great friends in junior high seeing as we can be a little too honest, sarcastic and our bangs fall into our face. She constantly holds hers though so I always think she is on the phone.

Shea got spiderman painted on her face on the ride over to get the kids, somewhere between 8:30 and 9

Saying Joe has a crush on Shea would be an understatement. She played with him, let him color in her superhero coloring book and kept him out of trouble all day. Sedona and Rachel also kept him occupied when we weren't walking the trains. Imagine people walking the whole time through narrow walkways...almost impossible

Ready for the kids to come on in our green shirts, they were hideous :) I waited until the last possible minute to put mine on because I'm a really good example!

Getting some energy out before the people got on...Every group was told they could bring 75, one brought 130. There was not an open seat! Joe and I needed some fresh air after the ride.

My favorite family. This family was here with the Make a Wish program. Their little daughter had some type of leukemia (the one in the front middle) They were so sweet and I'm glad they got to ride in our car.

Joe loves helping and loves cleaning. He cleaned up afterwards better than some of the girls did!

Rachel, Shea, Emily (Rachel's sister) and me slacking because our car was done.

Joe wanted his face to be painted like Iron Man, but somehow it ended up like Wolverine and he loved his balloon snake.

All the girls and us afterward. 4:30 to 3= exhaustion. Joe fell asleep before we were out of the parking lot. He did so good! I'm glad we got to go together!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a pumpkin patch in Scottsdale with Aubrey and Tate and we LOVED it! It was kind of crazy trying to convince Lynden that it was more fun to stay in her stroller than crawl around! Joe couldn't get enough of the horse riding. He was so happy!

He also got right up and center to pet the donkey

Lynden got to watch while Joe enjoyed the maze

And he made it out to the end! Go Joe!

He is all boy and loved these tractors! He could have stayed on them all day if there hadn't been other kids wanting a turn.

Finally, she was allowed out and got to play in the back of the tractor.

Joe loving the horse, Lynden freaking out

Here is cowboy Joe!

What a sweet boy...had to hold himself up and look into the sun because I wanted one of these ridiculous pictures!

Lynden's 1!

Happy Birthday baby girl! Lynden on her real birthday eating her "mini rose bundt cake"

It's delicious!

Joe helped her blow out the candle. This last year with Lynden in our family has been blissful. She is such a sweet tempered baby and has been easy for us. She usually just goes with the flow. She is an ok sleeper and still a great napper. At 1, she has 2 teeth, 6 less than Joe had! She is such a little peanut and is attempting to walk but doesn't get too far. At her 12 month appointment she weighed in at 19.1 1/4 pounds, 29 inches long and had a head circumference of 17 1/2. We completely adore her!

Lynden's 1st Birthday Party

Lynden's birthday is this weekend, but our weekends for the rest of the month are filled with church stuff, so we kept dropping hints to Grandma and Grandpa that we would LOVE for them to be in town and last weekend worked best. Lynden had her 1st Birthday with a garden theme.

She was excited to have so many big kids there since we have to bribe Joe's friends to be hers also!

Her cake and cupcakes for the guests

Everything was pink, green, yellow and cream. I loved planning this!

Madison, Kylie, Parker, and Taylor...Parker's face says it all! He knows Jen's house has treats so the party must have tons and he is allowed to go for it!

Love Kylie's cute face in this picture!

So proud of herself for standing...giving herself claps

Still just hanging out, but not really wanting to take more than 2 steps yet

Thanks big brother for helping blow out the candles!

Lynden loved the tissue and the presents

Joe loved the presents also

Got some sweet new stuff

Lynden opening her first "pink mini van" picked out by Taylor and Parker, all by themselves

Reading her new girly, sparkly book, "Twinkle Toes."

Getting into it now, Jaycee is rubbing Lynden's head. So cute, she always gives her sweet loves

Love my sweet friends! Nichole, Aubrey, me, Melinda and Jamie. I would be lost in Arizona without these sweet friends...and a couple were missing

Jed, Aubs and Tate...They are moving soon and I get so sad just thinking about it. Steve loves hanging out with Jed as much as I love hanging out with Aubrey. Joe loves their toys and Roscoe and Lynden loves playing with Tate. We will be one sad family!

Daddy prepping her for the cake and getting her undressed

She got herself in and Tate was trying to help lock her in

Relaxing, waiting, and knowing something awesome is coming

The cake was top heavy and so it broke when I placed it down...embarrassing for me, but she might want to know one day.

She was very clean and put her little fingers through the frosting

Then started putting her whole hand through it

Definitely didn't like the cake as much as the frosting

Dainty little princess

Pretty satisfied that she didn't have to watch Joe get the dessert without her

Somehow we got it on her elbow and arm

Oh, I have the best family! I know Chelsea would have been here in a heart beat if she could have, but it was nice for Uncle JK, Uncle Ben, Grandma Sue and Grandpa Joe to make the trip. I always put my mom to work when she gets here. I need to learn to simplify! Love you guys!

I love our little family! We love this little girl and are so happy she is in our family. Happy Birthday party sweet one! Life is so good!