A Happy Halloween After All

Wow!  This month has been a busy one - Mary's birthday, my niece - Hannah's - wedding, Kantorei concerts (this was very satisfying for me this time), and all the Halloween festivities. 

It has been lots of fun.  But I have to just bring up something that put a major damper on things this month - that is the disappearance and horrific murder of sweet, dear Jessica Ridgeway.  Maybe it is because it was so close to home - or maybe because I'm nursing right now .... maybe because I have my own children now ... I don't know.  But it really got me down and worse - it put fear in me.  Fear to leave my home.  A week or so ago now, we had planned to go to a pumpkin patch with some friends.  I really thought about canceling because it was in Superior near where it all happened.  I even asked my friend if we should maybe go to a different patch.  But I put on my big girl pants and went anyway.  Thankfully as we were leaving, I got a text from Jeff telling me they had found her killer.  In the midst of all this, I wondered, why do we celebrate Halloween?  Are we attracting evil?  I wondered if I wanted to celebrate it anymore.  I told my friend Annabel this, and she said, "Who are you and what have you done with my friend???"   She knows I love Halloween. 

Anyway, I don't mean to be depressing.  I just wanted to share my feelings about it, because I hadn't really yet.  My Mom has always said, "You know you are grown up when you start caring about the world around you."  To be honest, I haven't really cared that much about anyone who isn't me or my family or in my immediate circle.  But maybe I am finally growing up.  I felt so much grief for what poor Jessica must have suffered and for her mother.  I can't even imagine.  I too felt for the killer's mother.  What a horrible thing for her to have to live with now for the rest of her life.  I am grateful she encouraged her son to turn himself in.  What a shock that he was 17!!!!  Weren't all of you shocked!?  What happened to him I wonder? 

After they had him - I felt a lot of relief and finally I felt that I could enjoy this Halloween.  Truthfully, I'm not a huge fan of scary Halloween.  I like a little spookiness.  But I hate scary movies and images.  But I like dressing up.  I love the colors, the incorporation of Fall, and tonight as we were trick or treating - I loved the comradery with neighbors.  It brings people together.  I think that truly IS something to celebrate and be happy about. 

Here are some pics:

First off, Mary's costume... When we first showed Mary her costume, it was pure joy for all of us for quite awhile.  I had to include this mini photo shoot:

Trying the slipper on Daddy

Next up?  My sister Jennifer has her birthday in October and we had our traditional family get together with a Sloppy Joe menu and Halloween songs.  I was in charge of the veggie tray.  I decided to change it up this year and make it into a skeleton.  I ran out of room at the bottom, but hopefully it looks like one anyway.

Thirdly:  Ping Identity's Annual Halloween Bash.  It was so much fun.  Really.  Trick or treat stations for kids, a craft station, a balloon lady, a makeup lady, magic show, dancing (we got some cute videos of Mary), and food.  I always want to dress up the entire family in a family themed costume, but every year it just seems like I can't make the time for it.  I would've loved to dress up little Jonathan as Gus the mouse from Cinderella, but I decided his cute little pilot outfit would suffice.  I took advantage of the makeup person and had her make me a costume of sorts by just painting my face.  I figured it was better than nothing.  The balloon lady made me some ears too that you can't really see in this pic.

 Jeff and one of his buddies, James, with his new little baby.

I decided since I had to go to Party City to pick up balloons for Mary's birthday party - I may as well go with the cat as my costume for the ward trunk or treat (and trick or treating) and bought myself some cheap ears and makeup.  Here is what I came up with.  It reminded me a little of the musical CATS.  I once was offered a swing role in it, which I declined and regret doing so.  Oh well.  Maybe I'll get another chance someday?

This was kind of random and fun . . . One of my cousins on FB posted these necklaces she made and I ordered one of them.  It came in the mail on Monday along with a surprise hair clip for Mary!  It just made my day!  We wore them on Tuesday and unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the two of us together.  But I did get one of Mary at the special library Halloween storytime.  First we made a spider hat and monster puppet and then we listened to storytime.  It was fun.  And I was glad I made the effort to do it.

And finally, the festivities ended tonight with Trick or Treating. BTW, Jonathan wore Mary's old giraffe costume to the ward Trunk or Treat and also tonight. She was over a year old when she wore it though - Granted it was a little short on her in the legs. Still - he's not even 5 months old yet. : ) Isn't he just adorable?



These are the some of the happiest times of life.  I feel so blessed!  Hope you all had a Happy Halloween too!

Welcoming Autumn

A couple of weeks ago - on the first day of Autumn, Mary, Jonathan, and I met up with Quinn and Annabel at the corn maze at the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield.  I had a couple of free passes since I became a member of Botanic this year and Quinn and Annabel were totally pleased that I invited them to come.  It was a good thing too, because it would've been much harder for me without them. 
It was a beautiful night and I almost didn't mind so much that Autumn was here.  The moon shone and we had tons of fun.

Here are some pics!

It makes me so happy that Annabel loves Mary.  She tells me this all the time.  And despite his flawless looks, Quinn is quite a goofball!  Love him for it!

Daddy was gone playing with his friends.  So it was just the three of us.  Mary is wearing Annabel's coat.  I stupidly didn't think it would get very chilly.  I was wrong.  But thankfully it didn't matter b/c Annabel saved me. 

Dusk.  It was beautiful.

My sweet Jonathan and his fat cheeks!

The jumping pillow.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Entering the cornmaze.  That thing really isn't easy to get through just FYI!

Spooky night!  Makes me want to break out in one of the perennial Murray classics of this time of year:  "When you're all alone in the country and the night is dark as pitch. 

Don't cry out!  Without a doubt - there's no such thing as a witch!"

Welcome Autumn.  I guess I don't mind you that much after all.  : )

Goodbye Summer

They say the only thing you can count on in life is change.  And though I would love to keep summer here longer, it just won't stay.  Maybe it is because I was inside for a lot of June.  Maybe it is because I was sick last fall with morning sickness.  Maybe it's just because summer is my favorite season.  "Any which way" (as my friend Christina says), I just don't want summer to leave.  But ready or not fall is officially here.

In addition to the fun activities with did while Beckie was here, here are lots of the other "goings on" of this summer.  I'm sorry there are SO many pics!  I just didn't want to leave anything out!



CATHERINE
One of the greatest things about this summer, was that my sister Catherine came over on most Fridays starting in July and helped me take the kids swimming.  I just didn't feel at first like I could do this by myself and keep the kids safe (not to mention you have to wait til you're 6 weeks post partum).  Now that I have done it a few times, I think I could.  But it was so nice to have Catherine come over and help.  She'd help me finish getting Mary ready and with loading the car.  And then afterwards we'd come back to my house and I'd make us all lunch.  We had fun bonding!


Is this not the cutest picture of the two of them?

We are seriously so blessed in Highlands Ranch to have rec centers with indoor and outdoor pools!

And even though he didn't get in, Jonathan dressed for the pool too.

BUNNY RESCUE

Back in June, one day, I happened to go down to the basement and notice a baby bunny that had fallen down the window well.  He was just so cute and helpless and maybe since I had my own new baby, I just couldn't bear to let it die (even though bunnies are a problem 'round here).   

After asking Jeff to help get it out (and not kill it), Jeff tried to set it free, but it got so freaked out in the process that it clawed it's way between the screen and glass for protection.

Eventually, after a lot of effort and basically totally destroying our screen, the little guy was set free and afterward, taunted Jeff in the days after by sitting in the lawn chomping on and destroying our grass.  : )  I'm still glad we set him free though.   


ELLEN
As I mentioned before here, my Mother-in-law Ellen, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May.  I can't even begin to imagine what she has been through to get her health back and so I try to be as understanding as I can.  But we have really missed spending time with Charles and Ellen and Belle (their dog) this summer.  We have gotten to spend a little time with them though and they even watched Mary on our anniversary (13 years) so Jeff and I could go to dinner.  Here is a happy visit we had.  Doesn't she look so cute with her head scarf?

 And here is a picture without her hair (used with permission).  I'm sure that is hard to lose your hair.  However, I think Ellen pulls it off nicely.  To me she looks really hip with that buzzed head!  : )  Now all she needs is some of those big trendy 80's-like glasses that are in right now!

HOUSE WORK

We had a TON of work done on our house in July . . . In June we had a bad hail storm  - destroying the roof and other areas of the house and our insurance company said they'd pay to have it fixed!  So since we were getting that fixed, we decided to take advantage of the general contractor and have him fix a few other things we needed done (especially if we decide to move next spring - which we probably will).  Here are all the things we had work done on:  New roof, new cement slab in garage, painted and fixed a hole in the garage drywall plus entire inside of garage painted, new garage door (plus paint), new glass for the sliding door, new kitchen sink, master bath wall paper taken down, walls textured, and painted, new screens on several windows, deck board replaced and deck painted, and AC fixed!  Whew!!!  Truthfully, it was all in pretty bad shape.  And now it is SOOOO wonderful to have it fixed.  It is so beautiful!  Did I forget anything Jeff?

Garage

The new kitchen sink!  I love it.  Now it matches the other black appliances.  : )

 HANNAH and JOSEPH
In July, my oldest niece Hannah got engaged to this cute R.M. (returned missionary) named Joseph!  She is 19!  Pretty young, it's true.  But she has a good head on her shoulders and they seem very in love, so I'm not too worried.  She is gettting married in less than a month now!  Crazy how life can change so quickly! 

Mary trying on "wedding dresses" too.  Doesn't she just look like a little angel here?

 I loved this one too . . . a mini Cinderella.

EMMA

This summer, my niece Emma had some health issues again.  Mono mostly.  But she came through it again like a champ and here she is celebrating her 15th birthday!!!

FUN WITH CHRISTINA

We got to play a few times with my good friend Christina and her darling girls.

 Fun at their house with the blow up water slide, etc. for  Little C's birthday.

 I love this picture of Mary.

Little C loves Jonathan

 BOTANIC GARDENS
 I decided to buy us a membership to the gardens recently and we have already put it to good use visiting them twice and also the gardens at Chatfield. 

I had to take a picture of these beautiful, unique flowers.

 Doesn't Jonathan look so grumpy and cute in this pic?

 Fun times to cherish!

FUN WITH JENNIFER
Even though Jennifer works most of the time now and really doesn't have time to spend with her little sister, I still try to make her squeeze me into her schedule.  We always enjoy our time together even if it isn't very often anymore.  I guess we usually still see each other once every week or two.  We've enjoyed Pink Berry (the BEST frozen yogurt in our opinions), an occasional movie or lunch, or just hanging out.  Here is one day that was fun.  We went to a grand opening of a new trail by Jen's neighborhood.  We walked there (I counted it as my exercise), and ate, and they did a little hayride.  It was pretty fun.

MY BIRTHDAY
So my birthday wasn't really a big deal at all, but I did turn 35 - so I am officially middle-aged!  I thought I'd just share that here.

Here is the new 'do these days.  I kept seeing this "beachy wave" look everywhere and decided my hair would lend itself to it.  It is pretty low maintenance actually.  I just let my hair air-dry after putting in a bit of product and then curl a few curls and that's it!

MY LITTLE DANCER

Mary is still dancing around a lot.  This summer we got out my old point shoes and she had fun playing with them.  After watching "Happy Feet" we also got out the tap shoes too - but I don't have any pics of that.  I do have a little video of her tapping away.

We also got to go see Annabel practice before she left for her national competition.  Mary was pretty transfixed.

And here's Mary trying out her new dance costume from Aunt Julie.  Patriotic fairy maybe?  I love how she's pointing her toe.

SWEET JONATHAN

I caught this sweet smile after Jonathan fell asleep as I was nursing him.

And here are a few others of Jonathan.  He has been grabbing lots, blowing bubbles, cooing, smiling, rolling over a bit, drooling lots, grabbing his feet towards his mouth, and getting bigger and bigger.  He had gotten into the habit of always nursing to sleep. But now he is doing much better about falling asleep on his own.  He also is back to waking up only once a night. So that is really great! 

THE PICTURES OF SUMMER

My sister used a term recently - I can't remember exactly - but it was "picture of summer" or something like that.  Here are some pictures which are just the quintessential scenes of summer. 

What would summer be without ice cream?

Or an occasional rainstorm.  (Mary likes standing on this stump in the neighbor's yard.  It reminds her of the tree in "The Giving Tree" storybook.)

 . . . Trips to the library

And reading as the sun sets. . .

Family Walks

Outside fun with friends . . .

and family.

Goodbye summer.  It has been wonderful!