A Touch Of Tyrell

We like to celebrate holidays to the fullest possible.  We made all kinds of Halloween inspired foods. 🎃 👻  Pumpkin shaped pizzas Jack-o-lantern quesadillas  Halloween sugar cookie Dirt & worms Jack-o-lantern cheeseburgers Pumpkin pancakes Jello brains Skeleton burrito                                               We watched The Nightmare Before Christmas (all of our first times seeing it!) outside and had Halloween popcorn. Pretzels, popcorn, candy corn, white chocolate & sprinkles.  We did it again the night before Halloween and watched Hocus Pocus. Outdoor movie nights is one of my favorite October traditions! The girls looked cute on the Friday before Halloween  Roxy got to wear her butterfly costume to dance too.    Halloween night was SUPER fun!!  It started off a little chaotic and rushed... Everett was SUPER ready to...

They're neighbors, preschool pals, and finally good friends. They've always been friends but now they play and have picnics and talk like they're BFF's!  

I know I've mentioned this before, but I really enjoy that our house is the neighborhood hangout.  I mean, not officially, but it seems like it sometimes. It also seems like our girls have the social lives of teenagers.  *plus Roxy's jack-o-lantern pancake! This week we had countless 'playdates'.  I have gotten really good at being patient, being out of control, being overwhelmed, and being a nice, neighborly mom. It takes a lot and I'm still learning... but it's something I'd like to continue practicing at.  Plus, I really enjoy so much about it.  Like how Carter learned how to do backflips on our trampoline.  It inspired Roxy to keep practicing her tricks :) Often we have friends from multiple families over at the same time and the they before friends! I usually spent a big chunk of time re-organizing and cleaning after they leave, but I'm a busy-body anyways so I don't mind too much.  Plus, sometimes I can get them to cook or clean for me :) I als...

I just love the little people around me. They are my friends and they are who I spend most of my time with.  The neighbor kids happened to come over directly from school today because it was a half day and their dad was still working.  Carter had the cutest drawing of a horse and a cowboy in his backpack! My heart!! I asked him if I could take a picture of it because I just love it so much and think it's incredible for a kindergartner.  Then he proceeded to tell me that "you can eat the leaves on strawberries. You don't need to cut them off" I find so much joy in watching the kids around me grow and develop. It's so fascinating to me and I feel blessed that I get to witness it... especially in the form of a cowboy drawing and a new discovery :)

One of the neighbor girls has really, really been wanting to babysit. I also had an engagement shoot in Scottsdale on a Friday night and Jake thought we could turn it into a date... so we had her come babysit for us.  We were gone for a big chunk of the evening and for bedtime.  I found these notes on Breckie's door when we got home and I LOVED them!!! I know I'm such a nerd for being so obsessed with my kids, but I just am.  **I am not asleep. Mom, I miss you so much and I can't fall asleep but I can write in my journal and lay in my bed and I tried to tell Layla but she said No I have to go to bed at 7:30 You are taking me to the park helping me practice my rollerskates*** And sure enough, the next day she roller staked all around the kitchen and actually got pretty good! I was so proud of her for finding things to do in her room and following the babysitters rules (even though I said bedtime was 8-8:30!) She's growing up so fast!

This was probably one of my favorite birthdays ever.  I felt so loved and so special! It started with a morning bike ride on my new bike Jake gave me the night before.  When I got back, Everett was waiting with a special breakfast he made just for me!! I love this kid so much! He is such a sweet guy and it's unreal to watch him grow up so fast.  It was 100% his idea and he made it all by himself :) I had special decorations: The neighbor girls brought over birthday cards right away and I felt SO loved by them.  Jake gave me TWO birthday cards but didn't write in either of them... he wrote on a piece of paper and then said I could return the cards to Target (because I literally return 50% of what I buy!) It was kind-of one of those "I know you so well" gifts.  He also bought a journal with a lock on it so we wouldn't be tempted to read it ;) *My new bike he drove ALL around town searching for!  The actual day of my birthday was pretty normal. I trimmed the b...