A Lesson Re-learned

I re-learned a very important lesson today. It's not like I walk around making judgments about everyone I meet, in fact I try really hard not to! But today I learned that I do it sub-consciously at times. I was visiting with someone today and she was telling me some things about herself and they came as quite a shock to me. I had to sit back and ask myself why I was so shocked, why it had such a big impact on me, and why I could scarcely think of anything else for several hours.

I realized that I had been making judgments of her. She's such a happy and energetic person. You don't have to meet her, just see her and it's easy to thinks that she's young and innocent to life's cruelties. Not so. In fact what I learned today rocked me back hard. I couldn't believe some of her life experiences and some of the massive heartaches she has endured. And yet she has maintained such an amazing attitude!

Knowing now what I know, I'm amazed at her attitude, her energy, and her zest for life! It's incredible to me that she has turned around what easily and understandably embitters many people and has lived life exuberantly! I hope not to take blessings in my life for granted, and I hope to live with a more positive attitude. And I hope to keep an open mind to people and save judgments for someone much more wise than myself!

Pumpkin Walk

We missed out on the Pumpkin Patch this year. sniff sniff. Luckily Smiths had some good ones :) I called 2 weeks ago and the lady said "Sorry, the pumpkins are pretty much gone" WHAT?!? How on the ball are people?? The problem apparently was that it frosted early in Logan this year and ruined all of their pumpkins. Sad deal. But we made it to the Pumpkin Walk! And it was a totally different experience than what I had expected. Look how cool this is! I can't believe how talented some people are! And I'm grateful they're willing to share it with untalented people like myself :)Access to the pumpkin walk was shut down so we had to park a ways away and shuttle in. Very cool. PS for all you locals out there, the event is free and so is the shuttling!
How did Jaedyn enjoy it? haha. WELL... the kid only had eyes for the pumpkins that had candles burning in them. Funny girl.


I guess what I was expecting was elaborately carved pumpkins... they had that too all along the path, what I wasn't expecting were the elaborately painted and designed SCENES of pumpkins! Incredible.
I know we all look more terrified in this picture rather than like we're enjoying ourselves... I think it must have been the flash in the dark :)
We're planning on carving our Smith's pumpkins tonight for FHE.... maybe I should buy some candles for them so she can enjoy it :) I LOVE FALL!!!!!!!

My talented little girl. Seriously... who else can drink out of 2 straws simultaneously, milk AND water??? eww.

(BTW: anyone who is interested--- Old Navy is having 50% off their clearance prices right now and we got some killer deals. Not sure if that's just local but it's worth checking out :)

A Little Song for the Day

Naptime... Where did it go?!?

How does a 2.5-3.0 hour nap turn into a 30 minute nap in the course of a week and a half??? Jaedyn isn't 2 1/2 yet... she needs those naps... heck I need those naps! This cannot be normal! This is not a change for the good... HOPEFULLY it's just a phase?!?

My Mod Podge Summer!

So because I skipped so much blogging this summer I want to get rid of the feeling that it's hovering over me. So rather than catch up with many different posts I'm just going to select a mod podge of the best pix and go from there. Hopefully I'll do better through the holidays that are quickly approaching (no promises)

First off a lot of you know we've completed a lot of remodeling on our home. The most drastic difference is the bathroom. Enjoy the pinkness (those are the before shots of course) Sorry I'm not in the mood to post more before and afters, and truth be told, we didn't take great before shots so the afters don't quite do our work justice. Or maybe I just feel that way cuz it took so much work?

That's right. No shower!

Kitchen-before. What you see is what you get folks. That counterspace is literally all the counterspace that was there. How did people survive with more sink than counter???

Jaedyn on rides with her cousin Andie at Lagoon

Jaedyn with 52 mosquito bites on her face. The picture doesn't quite capture the true damage. But the sentiment is there.

I couldn't resist. This is Jaedyn with her little cousin Phaedra. Aren't their little bottoms cute?