Park play time

Seriously, I hope swinging never looses its excitement for Hayes. He loves it and I love his reaction. And, I can't get over get over how tall he is getting and looks in these pictures. I dread the day that taking this guy to the park is no longer the highlight of my day. Until then, we will soak up every last second of fun and excitement. 

Sunday best

These two are the cutest boys, especially all dressed up for church. The bow tie really just seals the deal with Hayesie! Geez! He's adorable. 

Family Photos 2014

Our family photos are here and I am obsessed. 

Pumpkins and wagon rides {October 18, 2014}

Seriously, I wasn't kidding my last post about how great these cousins are. 

The kids were down and since its almost Halloween we decided to do some Halloween things, like go to Frei's and choose pumpkins. Frei's is my new favorite tradition for Halloween. It makes me feel like I live in the cutest small town or the village in New York, either way, its perfect. That place is adorable. The pumpkins are the best, and it makes me feel like I'm New York. I love it. 

After ward, we headed to my moms to carve, make pumpkin treats and eat warm bread sticks. My mom is amazing and throws together the perfect Halloween party without ever trying. Which really for my mom is probably the best. She stresses about things and works herself up, and then the times she doesn't think about it, its actually a really awesome party and she didn't ever realize she was having one. She's funny. 

It worked out perfectly that Kate was already here for McKall's birthday concert. It was so fun. Hayes LOVED when Jent showed the ways of getting pulled in a wagon. Stock saw them and could not help himself, he had to jump in too! Seriously, my family is such a good one. 

       

Playing with cousins {October 18, 2014}

I always felt lucky having great cousins growing up. We loved to play together and it was perfect because they were always there on holidays and Sundays and days your parents wouldn't let you play with anyone else. 

I always wanted the same for Hayes. I worried though because Al's kids really are so much older than him and I worried they really wouldn't have much in common. That still may be true, but it hasn't stopped them from loving him and being the best cousins ever. They look after him. They play with him. They chase him. They play on his level. They take turns watching him and trying to make him laugh. They show him how to be a big kid and they are the best cousins I could have ever dreamed of for him. Each one of them loves and plays with Hayes in different ways and each of them shows him something different. They are such a huge blessing to him and to me. These kids are amazing. I love them like they are my own, and seeing them love my child makes my love for them even deeper. Kids are amazing.

 Staelie is amazing. Stockden is amazing. Jentrie is amazing. McKall is amazing.  

Hayes, you have no idea how much you lucked out in the cousin department. These four are as good as they come. I hope Hayes has lots more cousins coming, but right now, He and I are both pretty grateful for these ones, right here right now. 

Comparison {Thoughts I've had lately}

Sam and I have a fun thing we do every once in a while where we drive to Beaver Dam and buy lottery tickets and then spend the whole drive down and the whole drive back talking about what we'd do if we ever won or the things we would never do if we won. We don't take it too seriously, but its fun to dream and talk about things. To be honest, I think every couple dating should play this game because it is very telling about people. So, ask someone to really tell you what they would do with 110 million dollars, and then maybe it will give you a little insight into how they'd spend 10 dollars, or a 100 dollars, or a 1000 dollars. 

Anyways, we talked about things and it got me thinking about this quote "Comparison is the thief of joy." I was really so glad when we were almost home and we both said, really, everything we would want we have, and if we got that much money we may want bigger, new, better versions of the same thing we already have. That hit me pretty hard, that I literally have everything I could ever want already, and I didn't need to win gobs of money to get it. I have had some pretty big "Ah ha!" moments lately. When I was younger I really thought I needed so much stuff. I wanted multiple houses and multiple cars and the best of everything and the biggest best house. I seriously thought I wanted to just have so much money and so many things. Since I've gotten older I've realized that things and stuff equals clutter and chaos and I hate clutter and chaos. Even when we were talking about having more money than we would ever know what to do with, my thought was, well, our house is fine. I like our house. My car is great, maybe I'd need something bigger for more kids, but I'd probably keep my car, because I don't need a new one. 

Such a different thought process than I have ever had. It was nice to see that. It was nice to realize I don't care about living in the "right" area or driving the best car or whatever. All of that really seems incredibly exhausting to me. I look at so many people and think that they spend so much time and so much money to impress people. But who are they impressing? Do they really even care about who they are trying to impress? I heard a saying once that was something like "We spend so much time and money trying to impress people we don't even really like, and Why?" Why do we do that? I know I'm not perfect, but I can honestly say I'm very content in my life right now. I don't need what my neighbor has, and in fact, I don't want it. I am perfectly happy loving my family and doing the things that make me happy. One more quote that I need to put up in my house (along with the one below) is "Always be too busy loving the people that love you, that you don't have time to worry about anything else." 

Dada {October 18, 2014}

So on Saturday Sam went with his friends to Lake Mead for their annul Dirty Lake Mead Mustache trip. Basically, they all grow really gross mustaches and go and wakeboard on Lake Mead all day long. He loves it, and I'll be honest a day alone with Hayes is pretty great for me too. 

Hayes woke up on Saturday and was just being so silly. He also got pretty tired and grumpy too. (I think he felt kind of yucky from his flu shot). But, one gem of the morning was when he went and got his hat and handed it to me. I put it on his head (which normally he won't let me do) and he looked in the mirror and said "Dada!! Dada!" He was SO excited, and lets be real, he does look a lot like Sam with a hat on!! Man, I am obsessed with this kid. 

Zac Brown Band

The concert we went to for McKall's birthday was the Zac Brown Band. It was SO fun! They are incredible live, and that violin player makes me wish I would have practiced a little harder during the 9 years I played. He was AMAZING! It was such a fun night and I am so glad we could go and celebrate such a beautiful girl! We love you Call!!

Cupcake ATM/ Vegas for McKall's Birthday {October 17, 2014}

McKall turned the big 1-6 this year and Ash, Kate, and I decided that we needed to do something extra special for her big day. Ash found us tickets to a concert in Vegas and we went down for the night. We stopped a swig before, obviously. We ate dinner at the Yard house that is over in the Link (by the High Roller). It was a really fun atmosphere. The best part was that there is a Sprinkles Cupcakes in that same area, and they have a CUPCAKE ATM!! I freaked, as pictured. 

It was so fun and tasty.