Tidbits

Although she loves fries, tater tots and hash-browns, there is something about a simple, boiled potato that Sydney is fundamentally opposed to.

Really, really opposed.

Liesel went on a hay ride with her Activity Days friends.

Sydney was having a bad day vis a vis potty training and Gita took it upon herself to console her. My favorite part is when she says, "Could you just calm down?" She's so matter of fact, so in control, it gets me every time.

Sydney has been the toughest nut to crack when it comes to potty training. The other day, as I was changing yet another poopy pull-up, she queried, "Mom, are you happy wif me?" I told her I was sad. I want her to be able to take dance and go to preschool, and she can't do any of that if she isn't potty trained. She thought for a moment then started making silly faces at me until I laughed. "Now you're happy again Mom!" Kills me.

This year's flu shots went much more smoothly than last year's. Our pediatrician is still talking about the weeping and wailing from that time.

Ireland was invited on a play date and the sweet girl's mother did crafts with them and sent me pictures. Sometimes I feel like a real slacker of a mom.

They even raked up leaves just so the girls could play in them. Then she texted and asked if Ireland could stay even longer. Yeah, I'm really a slacker of a mom.

The girls do this every time they watch a Universal Studios movie. Every. Time.

Liesel was also invited on a play date to a pumpkin farm. 

She had an absolute blast with her cute friend.

Meanwhile, Brent and I finally cut down the gnarled and overgrown bushes in the back corner of the yard. I've been wanting to do that for years, and unseasonably warm temperatures finally made it possible.

We've been told the previous owners were big baseball fans and the number of balls we found in there proved that to be quite true.

I was so happy to see this pile disappear during brush pick up! For the most part, we are tending to our yard by the inch, but this was a rare occasion where we made some serious progress.

He really is living the dream. Those girls adore him!

Annie left me this sweet note. I came across it on a day when I needed a little lift.

Coming back from seeing Liesel and Ireland off at the bus stop, Gita started running. I told her to slow down or she would trip and fall and she ignored me. Like the prophetess Cassandra, this happened:

This has been such a gorgeous, gorgeous fall! One for the record books.

I took Liesel and Brigitta for a bit of early Christmas shopping. The mall was really hot so we stopped for a bit of gelato.

I came across this old picture from my mission:

That seems like ages and ages ago!