0 More pumpkin tending

The pumpkin patch needs lots of TLC & we are glad to give it.
Some of the early ones are starting to turn orange.


Here is the evil tiller that ate Nate's finger tip.

0 A trip to the park

Allie is flanked by her friends Ray & Lexi Sorensen.
(Ray just got the cast off his arm the day before)

1 A jealous moment

Here's Kylie...or "small business".
(Allie has always been known as "big business")

Yesterday Kylie got to ride in an outside swing for the first time.
Allie was quite upset & wanted to ride in the 'baby' swing.
It took a while for her to decide the big girl swing was better than nothing.

Check out Allie's shoes :)
She gets them on the wrong feet more often that not, but doesn't seem to care.
If you think it makes her legs look funny,
then you should see her run (i.e. gallop) that way.
It is Hil-Air-I-ous!
We LOVE you Allie-girl!

0 An artist is born

Allie discovered a new passion at the family reunion last week: PAINTING!
We stocked up on the sale school supplies today to make sure we don't run out anytime soon.

0 Tomatos are ON!

We've been popping cherry tomatoes like candy!

0 New Sleeping Arrangements

Well, we moved Kylie into Allie's room last week and all is well. I have to say I've been shocked at how smooth the transition has been. No sleep lost...at least on the girl's part. It sure is nice to have my living room back. Hopefully we can get the toys out soon!

0 If you want an invite let me know!

I put together a NEW yahoo group for sharing recipes, so let me know if you want to join (I can send you an invitation or you can join on the web page...then I will admit you).

What is a yahoo group you ask? Well it is like a blog, but we can upload/download files to share. Feedback is welcome, lets make meal prep easier for us busy people.

Click here to see the webpage...but you can't access any of the files or messages till you are a member.

0 Yeah! we've made it ...

...past that crucial 7th year. Today is Nate & my EIGHTH wedding anniversary!

Big plans? I think we are going to take Allie to McDonalds for dinner since they were closed Saturday night when we took her (due to a weather related power outage).

0 "Pun -keys"

The pumpkins are growing...well, like pumpkins. Nate is afraid that there aren't as many this year as in years past, but we are always surprised when the vines die down & there are literally millions of orange pumpkins.

0 Sunday afternoon at Grandma/pa's Schwartz's House

Allie reappeared from a silent moment in the bathroom with a new hair-do. What a funny gal! Notice she found two "chaps". Allie has had a thing for chapstick for quite a while. She can smell them a mile away. She still likes lotion, but chap is number one now.
Allie thinks all ouches need kisses, but she is a little tentative around Nate's large bandaged finger.
Kylie is growing leaps & bounds!

0 Weak tummies be forewarned...

Nate had a little accident at the pumpkin farm Friday before last. I have debated posting the photos, but by popular demand here they are. I am warning you though, its not pretty, so if you can't take blood, DON'T SCROLL DOWN!

Nate was adjusting the throttle on the old garden tiller & ...yada, yada, yada ... his finger got a chunk taken out of it. Thankfully his father was out at the farm (about 15 miles from Logan & 10 miles from Smithfield) & was able to drive, so that Nate could push on his pressure point on the way to the ER. I'm sure Nate would have passed out from loss of blood if he had to try to drive stick-shift, ending up off the road. It was completely out of the ordinary for Eldon to be there. We are so grateful!

The doctor had to cut off the end 1/4 inch of Nate's index finger bone to close the wound, but they think he will be able to grow some kind of fingernail in 6-12 months. The last photo shows the fake fingernail they sewed on to protect the nail bed. The stitches will come out right before we come to Rexburg for the family reunion.

A good sign: Nate pitched in the semi-final softball game 6 days later (don't ask Nate about the game-they lost in extra innings).

5 Harry Potter's last book

Last night stood in a line to get a bracelet (we were in the Huffelpuff group),
to stand in another line to get a book (HP7),
to stand in a register's line to purchase said book.
Nate just doesn't understand.
Yes, at 10 past midnight I got the final instalment of Harry Potter (and the deathly hollows).
My friend, Hanne, & I were out of WalMart by 12:30am.
We were so anxious to see what was going to happen that I even read nearly the entire first chapter on the short drive home (she was driving).
Once we got home I dove right in & didn't ever go to bed.
At about 2pm today I finish the last (759) page.
And that includes making breakfast, changing diapers, & feeding the baby!

How was it?
I'm overwelhmed right now.
I've got to let it sink in & then re-read it....but it was awsome!
I am sad that it is all over :(

6 Wonderful photos of Kylie

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

This is my first attempt at Smilebox. Although there is very little room for being creative, I think it is a good FREE way to share lots of photos on blogs.

5 My first attempt at NERO

Sunday I tried out some software I got last year, NERO. I've used it to make a small photo slideshow once, but this was my first attempt with video. All of the clips were taken last week on our FIRST family vaccation with some of our neighbors. I wasn't planning on doing this, so I just worked with the video I had, which wasn't that good. All of us wakeboarders will tell you that the footage doesn't catch us at our best, but hey...at least it is something. I think it will be fun to watch it with the kids in a few years. This short 3.5 min compilation took me about 5 hours (on-&-off), but now that I know how to use the program, I expect to get faster. Hey, it's great family history...right?

1 Yes, it was worth staying up so late!

Last night I went to the midnight, opening night, showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I took my 12 year old niece, Maddie, & joined up with my neighbors Dirk & Hanne...Nate stayed home with the girls. We were at the theater nearly 3 hours early & had fun playing cards to pass the time (photo to come-it is on Hanne's camera).

I have left the previous 4 movies feeling a little disappointed (typical when you see a movie based on a book you loved), but not this time. Despite deviating substantially from the book in terms of many details (how could they not & keep it under 40 hours?), the majority of the plots were by and large very well conveyed. Yes Mom, there were some intense & dark parts, but there was also comedy & romance. I will always prefer JK Rowlings books, but definately give this movie two thumbs up. Now I've got to get packing for our 4 day camping/boating trip we are leaving on in 9 hours. I'll sleep when we get there.

4 Out and about

Yesterday morning I got the bike trailer out for the first time this summer. I was a little apprehensive about putting Kylie in since it can be quite bumpy back there, but she slept through our short ride. Allie loved it and is telling everyone who will listen. Later that day we took the boat to the lake. Allie "got" to ride in the tube again, but I rode with her to keep the tears at bay.

7 My first attempt at Photoshop

My wonderful parents brought an old copy of Photoshop Elements 2.0 when they came for Kylie's blessing Sunday. I loaded it on my laptop & just got a second to play with it. I have been inspired by my sister Ellen. Check out her blog (link at the left).

This is my first attempt. I'm not sure I like it, but I can see how to do things. I hope I get some more time to play later.

P.S. I took the photo of Kylie today.

1 I've got them!!!

Tickets to opening night of Harry Potter : this coming Tuesday at midnight!

When I went to the theater (after play date at the park)to buy my tickets, nobody was there. When I went home to get them online ($1 extra per ticket), they were sold out of the allocated online tickets. At that point the girls were down for naps so I couldn't go back into town, but my darling husband left work to see if the theater had any left...and they did. I am so excited!

Note: I am not nearly as excited for movie #5 as I am for book #7. Books are always better & this is the last :(

2 Nate vs. Kylie

Here is a photo of Nate when he was about Kylie's current age. I am amazed at how much they look alike...especially the upper face. I'd like to think she has my cheeks. What do you think?

We think that Kylie's eyes are going to stay blue. (Allie has chocolate brown eyes... & I think hers had changed by this age)

2 Kylie is REALLY smiling (not just gas)

This morning it was too cute watching Allie & Kylie play in their jammies.