Halloween

I know that Halloween is officially tomorrow, but tonight was our ward's Trunk-or-Treat, so it felt like it. I love family-themed costumes, and now that we have a little princess, we are just accessories to her costume. This year, we went as Red Riding Hood. It is sort of a Price girl tradition. We have this particular cape that my mom made that each of us (and Dusty) wore several times. I remember when I was little, tripping over the hem while parading around the school. 

Maggie thoroughly enjoyed the evening. I was impressed that she carried her own basket. She figured out the candy quickly, though she would have been just excited for rocks. 

The Pumpkin Patch

This was our one free weekend for months. Mike took his final yesterday, so we got a school-free family time. A trip to the pumpkin patch was a must. It was our first time going, and it was so much fun. Mike took Maggie on the cow train, played hide-and-seek with the hay maze, took the hay ride to pick out a pumpkin, survived the corn maize, and enjoyed wonderful Texan brisket. It was such a perfect family outing.

Sunday Morning Fun

Most Sunday mornings, I am running away cooking breakfast for the 6 missionaries by 8am, clean up, get ready, get Maggie ready, gather my Sunbeam lesson props, and prepare Maggie's lunch and play bag (and Sunday is suppose to be a day of rest). This Sunday was fast Sunday and Mike got back from his meeting a bit early. We were able to sneak in some family play before we took off for church.

Mom of the Year Award. . .Not

First of all, can I just say that I feel like Maggie is growing up so fast. I know that every parent says that, but it just amazes me sometimes. Maggie is really happy in this photo, but that has not been the case for the last two weeks. If she could, I bet she would write a compliant to the MOMs org (if one existed) for how I have been treating her. First, we are trying to table train her (actually eat what we are eating for dinner and not chicken nuggets 6 out of the 7 days of the week). Next, our doctor told us we had to kick the bottle. I have been delaying this for the last 6 months, but yesterday we finally got serious. I wouldn't give her anything but milk in her sippy cup to drink all day. Finally by late afternoon, she caved in. There are still many tears shed over the lack of bottle, but she is doing it. To top all this off, she got two shots, has three teeth coming in, and realized that she can scream really loud during wee hours of the morning, and learned how to master temper tantrums. . . But at the end of the day, that adorable little smile gets me every time.

Our Happenings

First of all, I hate coming up with titles. Especially when my post is a hodgepodge of things.So, sorry for the lame title.

Here is a video of why parents don't need to buy many toys. Kids will always fine better things.

I don't know if nesting has kicked in this early, but I have had the desire to finish all my unfinished projects. Here is our new growth chart. I have wanted to make this for a while. We won't be able to settle down for many years to come, but I didn't want to miss out on seeing our kids grow.

Maggie started nursery!!! You can see her name third from the bottom. As soon as she saw the balls, she took off without even saying bye. Mike really enjoyed being able to listen to the lessons. Sundays are better for all of us now.

Labor Day

We were able to spend Labor Day camping in Palo Duro Canyon with some friends. It was so much fun to be outside. Weather was nice. No fire bans. It was just what we hoped for. Mike had been gone the whole week before, so it was really nice for Maggie to have a ton of Daddy time.

We found a horny back lizard-Maggie was not a fan.

We've hiked the main hike before, so this time, we just took a nice walk along the river (more like a riverbed since it was the end of summer).

I was amazed at how green it was down there (no Oregon, but it was still refreshing).

Jake brought his lizard catching contraption. I guess he went on a lizard camp out where he learned how to catch them and identify them. I was impressed.

Our campsite.

Maggie was in heaven. Dirty and sticky all day long.

The next day, we went into Amarillo to visit the zoo. Maggie's favorite were the snakes.  

I am literally two feet away from the tiger. I could have stuck my finger through the gate, but I got scared. As small as the zoo was, it was pretty incredible how close you can get to the animals and the lack of employees to tell you not too.

Feeding the goats and shoving her hand into their mouths.

After the zoo, we headed over to the McClellan's house for lunch and naps. I want to take Maggie to the splash pad before we went home since we don't have one in Lubbock. She loved it, of course.

It was such a fun weekend. Mike started Internal Medicine the next day and has been so busy ever since. I'm glad we could have a break while we could.

The month of August and we did it!

First of all, we did it. Maggie and I survived a week without Mike. She is tucked into bed, and Mike should be home in about 30 minutes. Woot, woot!! Actually, the week went by pretty fast. Thank you all who talked with me on the phone during moments when I needed someone who would actually talk back to me in understandable English.

Second, I just uploaded the photos from the month of August. 14. I took a total of 14 photos from August. Could this be because there is no major Holidays or birthdays, we do the same thing every day, or I am such an amazing mom that I live every minute in the moment with my daughter. Let's be honest, it was because of the first two reasons. Well, here are a few gems that I was able to capture.

Maggie thinks it is the grandest thing in the world to sit in a "Maggie size" chair. She will eat her breakfast and read her books in it.

She has figured out how to climb up onto things (thank goodness not the table or piano yet). This makes playing at friends' houses and the park more fun.

I did do two photo shoots this month to practice lighting. Maggie is a challenging model, but she does do a mean elephant impersonation.