Payton sings a solo...

Today in Sacrament meeting Payton was sitting with the hymnal in her lap just singing away.  Dave leaned over try and get her to quiet down and she says, "Don't shhh me, I am trying to read the book."

Priceless.

Last night when we were all in bed...

So around 5 o'clock this morning Dave and I were awoken by a scratching noise coming from the ceiling. 

Me:  What the heck is that?
Dave:  Nothing, it's just Lincoln rubbing the ball against the side of his crib.
Me:  He isn't even awake.
Dave:  Yes he was, I heard him talking.
(I turn off the monitor and the scratching noise continues)
Me:  It isn't Linc, Dave what is that?
Dave:  Probably a mouse or something.  There isn't anything I can do about it now, I will check it out in the morning.
(Scratching continues....)
Me:  Well, what if the mouse scratches through the drywall and falls into our room.

We listened to that scratching until about 7:30 in the morning.  Ahhhhh!  I guess we will be heading to the store for rat poison unless I can have a conversation with our two outdoor cats (aka the cats that came with the house). 

Fall Festival

Tonight was our ward's Fall Festival.  It was so fun to see everyone in costume. There are some really creative people in our ward and the kids were sooo cute.  I wish I could say that I dressed up in a costume.  But my idea of a costume is my orange zip up jacket and jeans. 

There were loads of activities for the kids.  I was helping to man the dart throwing booth which appeared to be a popular booth.  It was so fun watching the little ones try and do it.  They weren't quite sure how to throw the dart and so they just tossed the thing at the board.  A few of them were lucky and actually popped a ballon but the majority of them either didn't even hit the board or hit it with the broad side of the dart and knocked a bunch of balloons onto the floor.  I think everyone had a good time.

After the activities there was dinner, a soup potluck, and trunk or treating after that.  The soups were so good.  And I am positive a few kids made several rounds to the different cars during the trunk or treat.  ;)

Payton was dressed up as Cinderella, her absolute favorite princess.  She was so pretty.  I even gave her princess hair.  Lincoln was a dragon.  He was so cute! I think Payton really liked coming home with a bucket full of candy.  She kept asking if she could eat all her candy as she had it spread out all over the floor admiring it.

All in all a fun night!

Her princess hair.

How do you know if a play date was successful?

We are finally back in the play date rotation.  I am so excited that everyone is willing to make the trek up to play at our house.

Since it is so close to Halloween I wanted to do something Halloweeny and make something for lunch that was festive.  After searching online for fun activities and Halloween food ideas, I settled for gluing faces on ghosts and pumpkins as a little craft and then making finger sandwiches for lunch.  I think everyone enjoyed the craft and the finger sandwiches seemed to be a hit.

Payton talked about playing dress up with her friends for days leading up to the play date, even planning out which outfits everyone would wear.  She started out as Cinderella and then decided to change half way through the play date...into her Halloween costume from last year.  I cracked up everytime I looked at her.  It was way too small.  I had to take a picture.  Sorry Payton!  Hee!  Hee!

I think if you look beyond the meltdowns, toy tug of wars, and screaming matches everyone had fun.  LOL

Visiting Teaching

Laura Hamish and I were visiting teaching Tracy Marr.  Payton and Laura's son, Caeden, were looking at a figurine that Tracy had up with a bunch of Disney characters on it.  All of a sudden, Payton grabbed Caeden's hands and started swinging him around dancing and singing the Sleeping Beauty song, I Know You.  It took me by surprise.  I think it took everyone by surprise, especially Caeden, his eyes were huge.

Good times!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch with my sister-in-law Jen and her two kids Ethan and Gracie.  It was a blast!

Lincoln ate straw from off the ground.  Payton worked on perfecting her shopping skills and put as many pumpkins and gourds into the stroller as she could. Ethan and Payton ran races through part of the patch yelling "Ready, Set, Go!" then asked other people to say it too.  It was so cute!  They were all exhausted by the time we left.

We always seem to get the best pictures at the pumpkin patch. I just need to figure out how to get Payton and Lincoln to look at the camera at the same time.  Here are a few of my attempts.

 I love this face!

 What is he looking at?

 Distracted by the train.

I love it when she smiles!

Lincoln is 9 months old!

Our little man is growing up.  He was 17 lbs 7 oz and was 29 1/6 inches tall.  The doctor wasn't all together happy about his weight.  I guess he didn't gain enough...Ha! Ha!  Yup, you heard me right.  Our little man that eats like a horse must have a hollow leg!

Lincoln is such a happy little guy!  It seems he always has a smile to give.

He is so mobile and is crawling all over the place.  He has even started standing on his own for a few seconds at a time.  Oh boy!

He sticks everything in his mouth and it seems he likes eating carpet.  I find a piece in his mouth at least one a day.

In addition to mama, mamo, ama, dada, and papa he can now say cat.  Dave is so proud... :o)

He loves balls.  He will grab onto one at the begining of the day and hang on to it for the whole day.  Including through naps.

Lincoln's Play Date

My friends and I from Gilroy have been having regular weekly play dates since Payton was a few months old.  I really don't have any friends that I have had since I was little with the exception of one and unfortunately I am horrible at keeping in touch and making that extra effort to go and visit her in Clovis.  Dave, however, is a different story his best friend is someone he has known forever.  I think they have played soccer together since they were 4 or 5 and still do!  They have also worked at the same place for years and years...and years.  I hope that Payton is able to maintain these friendships just like her daddy has with his best friend Johnny.

Payton at 9 months

Well, now that everyone in the group has had their second baby...all within a few months of each other the next generation of friendships has begun.  It is so fun watching Lincoln interact with other kids his age.  He is so...friendly.  LOL  The other day we were having a play date at my friend Cassy's house.  Her son Dylan and Lincoln were playing so nicely with each other.  One would pick up the ball then put it on another toy then the other would pick up the ball and put it back on the toy.  This happened over and over again for a few minutes.  Both with big old smiles having a great time.  I love it!

My sister had her baby

My sister is amazing!  Seven minutes of pushing and out comes this handsome 9 lbs 9 oz baby boy.  I don't think she broke a sweat or even shed a tear.

Welcome Baby Maddix!

Lincoln and Twinkle Twinkle

I just noticed that when I sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Lincoln he opens and closes his hands like I do when I am singing to him.

What a smart boy!

Brennen's Birthday Playdate

This week we had a surprise birthday play date for Brennen Marr.  I told Payton that we were going to go to the Marr's house for the play date and she was really excited.  She was even more excited when I told her that it was Brennen's birthday.  I asked her if she wanted to make a card to take to Brennen and she said, "Of course".  So we worked during Lincoln's nap on a card for Brennen.  She instructed me on what colors we needed to use, what it needed to say, and where to put all the embellishments she wanted to add.  She appeared to be very excited to give it to him.  She carried it out to the car, held it on the ride over, and all the way up to the gate.  But when we went through the gate she froze up and wouldn't even hold the card and then hid behind my legs when we gave it to him.  What a silly girl.

A little later, after she had warmed up to the idea of being there and saw that no one was on the trampoline she wanted to go over and try it out.  It has been a long time since I have seen her with that big of a smile on her face.  I wish I had had my camera with me.  She was laughing and having such a good time.  It made me smile.

Mommy Be Quiet

Payton, Lincoln, and I were sitting at the table eating lunch.  Payton was eating her yogurt when some of it fell off her spoon and onto the table.  I just watched her to see what she would do.  She leaned forward and started licking the yogurt straight off the table.  I couldn't help but laugh. 

It must have just caught me as really funny because I couldn't stop laughing.  She looked up at me and said, "Mommy be quiet, stop laughing at me"

She seems too little to be talking like that.