Can't keep up!

*disclaimer: if you follow me on instagram, sorry for the repeats!

Still swim weather here in AZ in OCTOBER.  Give me a break!  I'm so over it!

 Emery loves paper!  She always finds a way to climb up  my refrigerator to pull down the girls' artwork and eat it.

 I'm beyond excited to be saving $40/month now that Emery is drinking regular milk!!!  Excited enough to take a ridiculous picture of the formula.  Sad.

 If Sage has a booger in the car, she will hold it on her finger until we get home so I can take it for her.  No matter how long the car ride is.  And she will sit there with her fingers sticking straight up.  It is hilarious to me.

 Took the girls to a little petting zoo...

Oh, Em.  Poor Em.  She cut four teeth in one week about two weeks ago.  Let's just say this is how our week went:

 She was the master tantrum thrower that week.

 quick way to put mom to sleep?  brush her hair.

 I got up one morning to see this.  Charlotte had started her chores and picked out her breakfast.   Such a cutie.

 Another ridiculous picture. (Of my gargantuan big toe.)  But it was my very first time wearing skinny jeans and that obviously deserves a photo.

 Texas Roadhouse with Grandma

 these two are cuuuute together!

 If only you could have heard the conversations going on between barbies in this tent.  Clint makes an excellent Prince Eric voice.

 sweet cheeks

Weekend Hikes

We borrowed a hiking pack from my cousin a few weeks ago and have been putting it to good use.  The weather has been so  nice lately (still too hot for almost November, but whatever.) that we have been spending lots of time outside.  The first weekend we attempted to make it up the Heiroglyphics trail in the Superstition Mountains.  We didn't quite make it but the girls did fantastic. Emery most of all.  She laughed and chatted and made noises the entire time in her cozy little ride.  She LOVED it.  Sage and Charlotte both had their little melt-downs toward the end but for the most part did so great.  

The following weekend we tried something a little closer to home and did Usury Pass trails.  The trails were much sandier and not quite as fun--made more for bikers than hikers-- but it was still fun. The girls pooped out earlier so Clint and I did a lot of carrying, but it was a great afternoon.  I love getting to spend time together on the weekends.

Pics from hike ONE:

my ladies love me

notice the toilet paper?  what a good daddy.

lunch break

Pics from hike TWO:

you know you want to squeeze those cheeks.

Our Week

 Rather than do individual posts about each activity--here is a massive hodge-podge post about the past few weeks.

 Major poo in bed during nap time.  We're talking between fingers and toes, in hair and all over EVERYTHING.

 and a bath to follow

 Lemonade stand with the neighbor kiddos.  They spilled two pitchers of lemonade and sold two glasses.  One to me, and one to their mom.

 The girls have been BEGGING to be mermaids for Halloween this year.  BEGGING.  

I am weird about Halloween.  Here's why:

A) candy is horribly expensive.  I calculate that between our wards' trunk-or-treat, Sage's preschool party that has asked for a bag of candy, and actual Halloween night, we will need $50 worth of candy.  ABSURD.  PLUS, my girls will collect candy and just bring that garbage home where it will taunt me.  And I'm on a no sugar diet that started October 1 and ends January 1.  So candy in the home is not appreciated.  

B) costumes are ridiculously overpriced.  And guaranteed what one kid wants to be one year--the next kid will not appreciate being the following year.  This is why I always borrow costumes.  Until now.  Because after scouring Craig's List and garage sales for two decent mermaid costumes and after calculating the cost of material to make two decent mermaid costumes, it turns out buying them at Costco is just the lesser evil.  And I guess after seeing these two ladies so completely happy and excited to have their coveted mermaid costumes, it is worth it.  

C)  if you've met my girls, you know they are SUPER scared of their shadows.  So just imagine me.  Every week.  At the grocery store.  With these girls.  Grocery stores are overflowing with scary masks, costumes and Halloween paraphernalia.  So most grocery trips end up with me holding a trembling Charlotte on one arm, Sage clinging to my other leg and arm, whilst trying to steer the cart with my nonexistent chest and keep Emery from vaulting out of the shopping cart.  All at the same time.  It makes picking juicy fruit challenging.  So needless to say, I'll be glad when all of the gory junk is taken down!

 I love watching them trick or treat, and I love how excited they get, but for the most part?  Ya.  I think it's a waste.

 Emery's position of choice while watching conference.

 One of our Conference activities.  

Can you guess who colored what?