pumpkin patch!

 

It really isn't fall without a trip to the good ol' pumpkin patch! And it just so happens that this country town has the cream of the crop! I can remember coming to this VERY pumpkin patch with my family when I was a little girl and it's one of my favorite fall memories.  We lucked into a Saturday with [perfect] fall weather and LOVED spending a good chunk of our afternoon picking pumpkins!

Last year Leighton was so little she didn't get to experience the glory of big orange pumpkins!  She loved it this year!

 

love these two.

they keep me on my toes

and especially [thankful] each

and every day.

 



Kashton was like a kid in a candy store! So much to look and and SO MUCH to do! It was nice to have an ENTIRE field for him to run like a little banshee thru.

 

Fall is my favorite.  By far.  So glad I get to make such fun memories with my family!!

Soccer

 

Jackobi was so excited to play soccer this fall! She begged to play, so we decided to let her give it a try.  We quickly learned she didn't love it.  Or even really like it. [obviously shown in the picture below] She loves to kick the ball in the yard when it's just us, but when there's a large crowd, she'd rather stand as far from the action as possible.  "I don't want to get kicked" she says ... can't blame the girl.  She did find another friend, Jett, who was as disinterested in the soccer game as her, so they made quite the pair playing with each other as far from the ball as possible.  They actually became quite fun to watch.  Where soccer didn't go quite as we had thought, by the end of the season Jackobi came out of her shell a bit. She wouldn't full on play, but did manage to participate a bit.  My favorite part of the season, was after their last game.  All the players got medals, and in the car on the way home -- she told how proud of herself she was for sticking it out and not quitting.  We are too!! It was a fun season of soccer! [and quite possibly the last for Miss Jackobi ... she says we should just stick to dance!]

 

:: one week post op ::

 

It's hard to believe it's already been one week since Leighton's surgery.  We've been home for two days now and are making some adjustments.  Leighton is doing really well, she's sleeping better, eating better and having fun playing with her toys again.  Life really is just better at home!  We're still working on pain meds. trying to stay on top of her discomfort, but not just give her medicine around the clock.  She is also taking asprin daily to act as a blood thinner and will remain on that, as well as, her lasix prescription.  I can tell she's feeling so much better, but still needs to rest lots and just let her body heal.  Jackobi and Kashton are really glad to have her home as well! Kashton thinks her oxygen machine and tanks are pretty neat (we're having lots of "fun" teaching him to leave them alone).  And Jackobi is still our good little helper making sure she's always being played with and has her toys.  It feels good to be back together :)

:: hogle zoo ::

During one of our trips to SLC we decided to make a fun day out of things and visit the Hogle Zoo -- it was such a fun, but HOT day! I'm pretty sure we went on one of the hottest days this summer -- we were pushing high 90's -- but the kids were troopers and Jackobi is still talking about it!  Her favorite animals were the elephants (she loved the baby elephant pictured above) and the giraffes.  Kashton liked everything and is a champ at making some pretty comical animal sounds to go along with everything.

Kashton's little cheeks are pretty rosy from the heat, but he was all smiles!  I think his favorite animals were the seals.  Probably just because they would swim right by the glass so he could get a good look. Jackobi liked them too, but inside the seal exhibit were the big sea lions.  I think they were a little too big and too close. They made her pretty nervous.

and just when the heat had gotten to little miss Jackobi ... we rounded the corner to the carousel.

instant mood changer .... she had been asking for it and the train all day.
wish come true. and just in time.

Kashton was a fan as well.  He kept bouncing saying "giddy-up, giddy-up!"

Grandpa teaching Jackobi about the finer things in life :: how to keep cool in the "mist fans" ::  I'm pretty sure we all visited them a time or two before the day was over.

we ended things off with a ride on the train.  it was such a fun day at the zoo. Jackobi and Kashton are both at such fun, inquisitive ages. They're always up for a little adventure - I need to remember to be more like them  and savor the little "adventures" in life.

weekend in Olympia

My cousin Cody married his sweetheart Tiffany in June and on a last minute whim -- we decided to take a quick road trip with my mom to attend. (nothing about a 14+ hour drive is "quick" by all means ... but it was a quick weekend trip :))  It was a great weekend away!

while we were there, we visited the Port of Olympia -- Jackobi picked out her boat :)  we had fun walking around and finding sea shells.

:: my awesome mom & kiddos -- if anyone can make a long weekend in the car enjoyable for 2 kiddo's -- it's this woman!! Thanks for all your help mom!!

Although I didn't get many pictures -- the wedding was beautiful.  Cody & Tiffany seem so happy together. I can't wait to see what the years have to come for their little family!

Mom, Grandma, JoAnn & Lisa @ the reception ::

me & my exhausted kiddos -- they were SO GOOD!!

loved our little weekend getaway!