I'm not quite sure how a whole month got away from me- but it did! Let me try and back-track a little bit. 
1. Thanksgiving 
The Hacketts came to visit for Thanksgiving and we had such a good time with them. The kids loved having cousins to play with and show them all about the Lakes where we live.  We had BBQ brisket, chicken, and smoked turkey and then I made a few veggies and sides to complete our feast. 
We loved showing them around the city- Klyde Warren, the trolley downtown, White Rock Lake, the Allen Natatorium, and Central Market. That seems to be a favorite of all our visitors. They even took us to a Japanese dollar store called Daiso.

2. The Ortons come to visit
Some of our very best friends from Dallas moved to Irvine, CA this summer. They were in town for a quick work trip and I got to spend the day at lunch with girlfriends and window shopping at the mall together. It felt so good to pick up where we left. I miss Nikki and her twin babies a lot! We had Pizza with them for dinner and then said our goodbyes until Christmas.

3. A California Christmas
We are heading to California for Christmas this year with my family. I haven't been home in a long while so I'm excited! My parents have been working on a major renovation so I know they're excited to show off the progress at the house. I'm excited to see the tree decorated, walk down Gingerbread Lane, get Golden Spoon with my sisters, an run in the sunshine! 

Our month has been busy with family announcements, our family pictures, teaching Pilates, starting to job- hunt, church callings, and trying to keep runny noses wiped. I've been feeling a lot of things lately, and sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and say "this is too much- I'm not okay with the state of things" but then as I go to bed each night I cannot help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I'm surrounded by little people who love me and need me and a husband who is grateful for what I do all day.

Halloween 2016 (Dallas, Texas)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN from a black kitty cat, a pirate, and a lumberjack!



It's hard to believe but everyone loved trick-or-treating this year! 
Hazel and Henry carried their buckets full of candy until they could no longer pick them up. Henry walked the entire time, determined to do it by himself. HE went up to each door and did it right. By the end of the hour of trick-or-treating Hazel was saying things "Mom, that house isn't even spooky" and " Mom, if the light isn't on we skip that house- they're not home!"

We went to the Arboretum this week- I planned to stay for a couple of hours and get through several activities but we found ourselves in one little garden and we never moved on. The kids have played in here before but we usually move along after a few minutes and before things get too dirty (there's sand and water which is really just a messy combination, right!?)
Hazel and Henry both played in the sand for almost an hour and yes they were filthy but totally engaged in it. 


Then Henry moved over to the water feature and my first thought was that I didn't bring a towel or other clothes so he shouldn't play. But then he ran through that water and his face lit up. I said whatever and watched him soak himself head to toe. He was alive and playing and loved all of it. 



Sure we had to undress and ride home in only a diaper and sure we didn't move on to other fun parts of the Children's Garden but I was content just watching them both play. I realized I probably hurry ourselves through activities just a little too quickly. That was a great morning.

:: hazel ::



1. Loves playing in sand right now but does not like getting cleaned up after.
2. She asks so many thoughtful questions- i feel like I'm having real conversations with her.
3. I  hope I can remember the way her little voice sounds forever.
4. Get to be in the Primary Program in two weeks.
5. She is singing " I love to see the Temple " in a trio and I kinda hope she sings so loud and proud instead of reverent.
6. Only has one pair of everyday shoes that fit her right now- but I"m hesitant to buy more shoes as her feet are growing daily.
7. All week she has said her best thing of the day was dad coming home from her work.
8. Her worst thing all day is that dad has to go to work. 


:: henry ::



1. I bought him some moccasins and he's obsessed. He wants them on inside all day.
2. Still getting out of his crib every few nights. He comes into our room so alert and happy.
3. Usually wakes up a little grumpy from his naps.
4. Wakes up in the morning starving for breakfast though.
5. I cannot feed him enough food- he always is hungry.
6. He's gotten for adventurous in the last few weeks- wanting to climb, run away from me, do the bigger equipment at the park.
7. loves playing in the sand too. This was at arboretum and I watched him just play for an hour.
:: hazel ::


1. We found this magnifying glass at the Perot and she was intrigued.
2. Loves playing our dinner-time game where we ask each person about their best and worst things of the day.
3. Is having grandma and grandpa withdrawals. She told me today "we just live too far away from everyone!"
4. Could sit and read books all day with me.
5. Still haven't decided on a Halloween costume.
6. She got to hold TWO newborns at park yesterday and she was dying. She wants a baby in our family already.



:: henry ::

1. I'm dying at this picture. Henry is seriously the cutest kid.
2. He pooped on the potty yesterday! He kept telling me poops and grabbing his bum so we tried two or three times and nothing. The next time he ran so fast to the potty and did it!
3. We danced and clapped and celebrated hard! He loved it. I'm not sure if I'm ready to tackle potty training yet though.
4. How crazy would that be to have no diapers?!?
5. Loves waving to me from afar and is getting braver at playing alone, like at the Perot or the Park.
6. He's been getting out of bed after bedtime... we put him a quick time-out and take him back to bed.
7. I kind of just want to keep him up and play with him though.

We were so happy to have Grandpa and Grandma Johnson here in Dallas the last few days! They got home from their mission to Hong Kong and Timor Leste just two weeks ago. We enjoyed a day at the Texas Stat Fair, lots of walks, Central Market, and the Arboretum. On Saturday we had lunch at Kylde Warren Park, walked around the Museum of Art, and took the trolley around downtown. We were so happy to see them with the kids and to see Hazel and Henry just adore them. Henry woke up early each morning and snuck right into their bed.
These pictures are only from the Arboretum- but 'tis the season!






^ Brice has wanted to gather pecans all October and he finally did this evening. They've been drying out and I think he intends to actually shell them and roast them,. We'll see what we make with them. ^


I feel like I could sing, yell, and tap-dance out all my excitement. It's been two and a half years of us having only one car that Brice takes to work 19 out of 20 days a month!
We bought a Ford Fusion, barely used with low miles and I wrote the biggest check that I've ever written. It was surprisingly an easy process even with kids in tow at the dealership because we we're paying cash. 
It sure is hard to see that drop in our savings though.
I'm so glad that we have to safe cars and I hope and pray we drive safely! 
We can do hard things- although this is definitely not something I want to do again.

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“No nobler work in this world can be performed by any mother than to rear and love the children with whom God has blessed her. That is her duty.” David O. McKay

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