Guitar lessons

Mason is always wanting to play Daddy's guitars. So last night Jeff gave Mason a "basic" guitar lesson, if you can even call it that. Here is Mason showing off his newly learned skills.

Funny face

Cooper is always making this funny face and it makes me laugh.

Cooper's first steps

Cooper took his first steps on Tuesday! He took about three steps before he would fall. By the time we got the camera out, he wouldn't take more than one step. Darn him.

Carving Pumpkins

Tonight for FHE we had Jared, Michelle, and Ethan Patsfield and Kevin, Corrine, Allen, and Carter Meagher over for dinner and pumpkin carving. We had a great dinner, if I do say so myself. (No, I'm not bias or anything, being the chief and all) And we had lots of fun carving our pumpkins.

Allen and Mason, excited to start carving.

Jeff and Mason cut open the pumpkin and scraped out all the guts.

Mason, Jeff, Michelle, Ethan, Allen, Kevin, and Corrine

After the pumpkin was gutted, I had the honor of carving it.

Mason showing off our pumpkin!

All our finished pumpkins! From left to right: Corrine's, The Borders', Kevin's, The Patsfield's.

Project

Yesterday morning, Jeff caught me off guard by asking me if I wanted to install a folding table in our laundry room. This is something I really wanted to have, but I figured it would be A LONG time before Jeff became motivated to put one in.

So we went to Lowes and picked out an already assembled base kitchen cabinet, a sheet of plywood, brackets, vinyl tiles, and a piece of trim to finish up the edge.

Here is the (almost) finished project. All we have to do is put in a back splash and we will be done.

I have already used it to fold laundry. It is a really proficient way to get the laundry done. All I have to do is take the clean laundry out of the dryer, turn around and plop it on the table, fold it, and get it put way. I LOVE IT! Thanks Jeff for all your hard work!

For Uncle Robert

My brother Robert just moved back to town today, after living in various other cities for (I think) close to ten years. Robert has not come home for four years, so he has not had the opportunity to meet Mason or Cooper. So as it became closer to the day of Robert's return home, Jeff and I explained to Mason that he has an uncle whom he has not met, but that he would meet him very soon.

Mason became REALLY excited about meeting Robert. Jeff and I asked Mason if he wanted to make a movie for Robert. Mason said he did and that he wanted to show Robert that he could jump.

So, Robert, this video is for you.

Mason was kinda hard to understand because he was running and jumping so I translated for you:

Bye...See you later, bye...Robert I jump all the time...I run around all the time...Hey Uncle Robert...Watch...Watch Uncle Wabet...Watch...I jump... Robert...I jumped!

Happy Birthday Curtis!

Today is Jeff's Dad, Curtis' birthday. I won't tell you how OLD he is (48) but lets just say he is REALLY OLD. We love you Curtis, you truly are to best father, father-in-law, and Papa.

Happy (48th) Birthday Curtis!

Mason wanted to make this "movie" for you.

What happens when....

you get in a fight with the ledge of the window?

OK- so today Mason jumped off the arm of our leather chair and hit the corner of his eye on the ledge of the window. Since this picture was taken a few hours ago, the bruise has become a deeper purple and his eye has also become swollen.

What is going on? Mason gets his first big injury (to his lip) this last Friday, and now, today this. Truly, he has never (that I can remember) had this big of an injury. I know these two injuries are not that big in comparison to what injuries others have sustained, but for him, these are big.

Cooper's newest do!

I decided to go shorter this time. :)

For Grandpa and Grandma Long

Mason spoke to his Great Grandma Long tonight on the phone, after getting off the phone, he wanted to make a movie for Grandpa and Grandma Long.

Cooper also had a small part in the video. If you watch when he lets go of the couch, he was actually standing all by himself, which is something he still (at 14 months old) has not done very much.

Up to no good...

I guess I'm going to need to start pushing the computer chair every time I am done on the computer.

Zachary and Ethan's Birthday Party

Saturday night we had my nephews Zachary and Ethan's combined birthday party at our house. Zachary turned 3 on the Sunday and Ethan turned 2 on Saturday. Michelle did a Lightening McQueen theme, all the decorations and games were really cute.

These traffic cones were really creative party hats.

Ethan and Zachary playing "pin the lightning bolt on McQueen"

Mason fishing with Mater's hook

Me, Cooper, Alura, and Rachel

Check out the huge mound of shoes from all our guests! Yeah, we had a ton of people at our house.

Alura, Rachel, Bill, Jeff, Britany, and Abby

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Saturday morning we went up to the Harvest House in Green bluff with Jared, Michelle, and Ethan. It was really windy when we got there, so we decided to start off with our favorite tradition, eating fresh pumpkin donuts. Yummy!

Once we were done with our donuts, the wind died down, so we headed over to "pumpkin land" and let Mason pick out the pumpkin he wanted to take home to carve.

Just the right size for Cooper

Too cute!

Cooper approved of the pumpkin Mason picked out!

Being silly!

Mason and Ethan in front of a sign that says, "How tall are you this fall?"

I need to get out more...

Friday night Jeff and I went to Old Navy to try to find him some Khaki pants and jeans. After looking there and not finding any Khaki pants, we decided to head across the parking lot to the mall. We looked around a bit at shoes and I found a really cute pair of boots that were on clearance for $20. While I was paying for my boots, Jeff took Mason and walked the halls. When I met up with them, Jeff told me he had a surprise for me. We walked for a bit and then Jeff stopped at a store, I looked up at the sign and this is what I saw:

Now for anyone who doesn't know what this store is, it is a store owned by someone who is LDS. Everything in the store is modest. **The store does carry a line of spaghetti strap tank tops but they are longer in length, they are meant to be worn under other shirts to either a) give you the "layered look" or b) be tucked in so that when you bend over your back and butt are not exposed to the entire world. So, basically their tees and tanks are meant to expand you existing wardrobe and help women be modest even when the currents styles are not modest.

OK, so back to my story. I was so EXCITED to see this store. See at the North Town Mall all they have is a little kiosk, which only carries their plain tees and tanks (with and without lace on the bottom) I was just telling Jeff when we were walking into the Valley Mall that I needed some new clothes, and that I really wanted some items from Down East basics, but I didn't want to have to pay shipping just to get the clothes here.

I walked into the store and asked the manager working how long had they been in this location. She replied, "Since June". And to that I said, "I need to get out more". Anyways I was able to find a few really cute things for a decent price.

So, for anyone who has not heard of, or has not seen Down East basics full line of apparel, go out to the Valley Mall and check them out! (the store is on the main level)

Crash and Burn

I thought it would be a good idea to let Mason and Alex (a boy I am watching from our ward) ride bikes this morning while Cooper was taking his morning nap. Mason got his helmet on and hopped right on his new bike. While I was getting Alex's helmet on him, Mason fell off his bike and began SCREAMING! Once I got to him and got him up, I realized his lip was bleeding pretty bad. I got him inside and cleaned him up. The top layer of skin on his lip had pealed off and his lip was swollen.

I am really glad this happened to Mason and not Alex, I would have hated to try to explain that one to his mom, whom I just met.