Photo Shoot by Amanda

Last Saturday we were lucky enough to have a family photo shoot with my friend Amanda Burgess from high school who just so happens to live out here in California and has her own photography business.

We met up in Manhattan Beach where we took the first ones. We really wanted to do some under the pier, but I guess it was everyone else's idea too that day. There was a whole line up of people there that day vying for the spot! (Although we must not have gotten the memo that said it was take your christmas card photo day and remember to wear your red sweaters!)

It was such a fun day catching up with Amanda and reminiscing about high school and the people we went there with. If you are reading this and we went to Meridian together you can bet you bottom dollar we talked about you! just kidding. maybe ; )

So as you can see from the above photos, this girl has some serious talent!! She did such an amazing job and was so patient taking pictures with the baby even though he didn't always cooperate. I was really impressed working with her that day and hadn't even seen the finished product yet! When I did I was speechless with how incredible they came out! These are only a few, they all came out so well it was hard to pick and choose my favorites, but you can check them all here as well as the rest of her work.

If you live in the area, (or hey even if you don't, but wanna come visit us) I would highly recommend her!! I'm already planning on doing this again in the future when Sawyer can walk so we can get more fun family photos.

This week I'm thankful for.:

Next Tuesday we leave for our trek to Idaho to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Since I'll be gone over the holiday here are the things I'm most thankful for this week. In no particular order, I am thankful for:

Craigslist and the people on it who want to get rid of perfectly good items like this swing that I got  ridiculously cheap from a lady whose grandkids had used it maybe 3 times.  Not only that but after we purchased the swing the same woman asked if I would want to buy any boys clothing. Heck yes! She sold me two bags full of clothes like these cute overalls he is wearing for super cheap.  Thank you for saving me hundreds.

A husband who participates in raising his children. Who helps with changing diapers, bath time, feeding, and has his child's best interest in mind always.  And one who is man enough that he isn't ashamed to be using my "boppy" :)

For washing machines. Need I say more?

And for a son who has his father's dimples! I'm way jealous because I always wanted some, but never got any and that's not for lack of trying! For your information sticking your fingers in your cheeks for hours doesn't even leave an indent let alone bonafide dimples. In case you were wondering.

Weekend Update

Both Matt and I had quite the weekend! He flew to Alabama to be a groomsmen in his friends wedding. I was planning on staying put at home, but suddenly had the urge to fly the coop. Sawyer and I hitched a ride with my brother Ben who works in Victorville, but lives in Arizona and was going home for the weekend. We got in around midnight on Friday night and I got to see my baby nephew Jett for the first time when he was sound asleep in his crib. I couldn't stop laughing when I laid eyes on him because he looked like a miniature Ben!

Here Mini Matt and Mini Ben -otherwise known as Sawyer and Jett-meet for the first time.

Sawyer looks like he is saying "Who are you?"

But it no time they were best buddies and were linking arms.

I called one of my besties Kim who also lives in Arizona and whom I hardly ever get to see and said "guess where I am!" She came over on Saturday with her daughter Kiya and all the girlies went to lunch.

Kiya checking out the baby. Her mom is going to have a baby girl in February and Kiya is gonna be a great big sister.

Chantal and I at the best place on earth for Mexican food...Cafe Rio. I'm not usually a big fan of mexican cuisine, but their shredded pork salad is scrumptious.

My first outing as a mom with other moms. It was a lot of fun! Ben was originally going to join us, but thought it would look a little fishy him being the only man in the group with 3 women, a toddler, 2 babies, and one on the way! So he and Jett opted to stay home on this one.

Proudly showing off our offspring. There are 4 babies in this picture one of which is in Kim's tummy at the moment.

Saturday night Ben took us to Tempe marketplace to grab some dinner and roll the cousins around in their Bob's. We ate outside and the babies slept pretty much the whole time. There was a moment while Chantal and I were gone ordering food that Ben had to go from stroller to stroller popping binky's in their mouths. I wonder if people thought the poor guy was alone with twins!

Chantal's Dad got them a Bob stroller and Matt's mom and grandma got us one. They are super deluxe jogging strollers that we obviously couldn't have afforded on our own. We might never own a BMW, but our babies get to cruise around in style.

At one point their neighbor brought over their 3 week old daughter for us to watch for twenty minutes. There was babies galore! Boy am I thankful I only had one, and not 3 at once.

Sawyer showing Jett how to catch some Zzzzz's in his crib. Why he will sleep in Jett's crib and not his own at home beats me!

The weekend was a fast one, but I still was able to see Aunt Rosie on Sunday. She drove down from Payson to come meet Sawyer for the first time. It was a lot of fun visiting with her for a few hours before we had to leave Sunday evening to head back to California. There were still a lot of other people I would have liked to see, but it was such an impromptu road trip there wasn't enough time. Hopefully we'll get to go again soon.

Thanks Ben for letting me and a crying baby take over your backseat. Thanks too Chantal for setting up a room for us equipped with a bassinet and a changing table. You guys are the best!

Solution for Lazy Dogs

It came as no surprise to me today when Moxie gave up on our walk, sprawled out on the sidewalk and refused to get up. In the past I would have just picked her up and carried her home which is something I even did when I was nine months pregnant (I'm sure that was a sight to see!) Anytime the temperature is above 80 degrees she has a time span of about 15 minutes that she'll walk and then not a minute more. Today must have been 81 degrees so I should have known it was destined to be a short walk for the pooch. I wasn't about to carry her so my options were…

a) Drag her across the ground like a mop and let her body sweep away all the fall leaves off the sidewalk.

b) Abandon her there with the leash and hope she would eventually find her way home.

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c)

It worked like a charm. She stayed there the rest of the way home and all parties involved ended up content and happy.

Plan B

Luckily for the disgruntled cowboy we went to a garage sale Saturday morning and happened to get a back up costume among other fabulous finds. Although he looks like a cute Christmas elf, what he really is supposed to be is a hot chili pepper.

I was super excited to have found a baby sling too. The lady I bought it from said she could never figure out how to use it, but Matt looked it up online for me and it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. The little dude loves it! It puts him right to sleep and then I have two hands free to actually get some things done around the house.

Plus I think he makes a cute accessory.