11-11-11 11:11 and Visits :)

Well it was a terrific birthday - very momentous!  It was great because Steve and I got to go to the Temple and have a nice dinner together - on my dad!  Thanks dad!  At 11:11 I decided I would give Ross 11 kisses - very appropriate I think.  I tried for 11:11 that night to give Steve 11 kisses.  I quite enjoyed spending my first birthday as a mother on 11-11-11.  I wonder what I'll be doing for the next 11-11-11. :)  My dad and sister came and brought 11 presents which were so fun and Steve had given me 11 days of presents.  Spoiled or what!  I had 11 candles on my birthday cake in the shape of 28 which was chocolate from scratch with chocolate frosting...yum!  Everything a girl could ask for. :)

Making 11 wishes because I can do that.  (In my cheesy 5k fiesta shirt.  Yes I got in pjs before we did birthday cake.  I can do that too. ;) )

11-11-11 birthday!  Going to the Temple!  The Portland Temple was so beautiful.  Love it!  P.S. Steve did have a tie - in his pocket. Haha.

We scrunched my dad and sis into our little apartment and had a grand ol' time.  My dad went right to work fixing everything he could think of in our apartment.  I think my favorite was the creaky floors.  He's a miracle worker!  Because of him we now have a new plunger, a hide-a-key, a new air mattress, a fixed cigarette lighter (you know - for all the cigarettes we smoke...okay maybe it's to plug in our gps so we can find the airport!), and he even tried to buy us another shower curtain rod...except for the fact that we already have another one he bought us a couple years ago we just didn't bother to put up!  My dad sure has a thing for shower curtain rods. ;)  Love ya dad!  He spoiled us rotten and has truly attempted to fatten us up even more with all the ice cream and treats he bought.  Good thing Ross isn't allowed to have any or he'd be bouncing off the walls!  
Rach came and was so fun to hang out with too.  I miss that girl!  She's all grown up, but she's still my baby girl sis.  We had a great time taking pictures and playing with Ross (when my dad would let us).  We even played some Donkey Kong on the Wii.  Don't worry Rach - you'll pass the Barrel level someday.  She's a good sport too letting me trickle off all my advice and opinions on her life.  I just have a lot of high standards for her I believe.  And of course - if everyone just followed my advice they would all have better lives. ;)  
We took my dad and sis to Tillamook where we sampled cheese and their cuisine and braved the misting rainy winds at the lighthouse.  We skipped out on the beach due to the cold weather.  It was still pretty though - and the drive was breathtaking with all the colors of fall everywhere.  Sunday we chilled out after church and had some breakfast for dinner - so good.  On Monday I took them to Multonomah falls (are you noticing how we've taken them everywhere we've been...Steve and I need to find some more stuff to do so we can entertain visitors).  They were so beautiful and TWICE the size the were when Steve, Ross, and I went before!  My dad and sis were very impressed and snapped a million pics.  It was pretty fun.  
The time went by way too fast!  Though I'm sure they're happy to go home to their own beds and more than one bathroom...and not having an early rising baby wake them up.  They were good sports and entertained Ross the whole time.  He sure loves them.  Now it's back to getting this baby on his routine...wish me luck!

Starting the pictures off strong with a cute one of Ross.

Pulling and testing grandpa's hair to make sure it's him.

Yep - that's Grandpa Stan.

Okay now give me back your hair!

I told Rachel I would put her to work...here's the evidence. :)

I think I enjoyed putting everyone to work.  Who else agrees that a man in an apron cooking (or cleaning for that matter!) is the hottest thing since sizzling bacon?

My dad and Rach went out snapping pictures of the beautiful leaves.  These are courtesy of them.

Visiting Multonomah Falls.  It was misting like Niagra Falls!

Ross had his rain cover.  He wasn't too fond of it at the moment.

What do you want?

My dad wondered why I always have my Boppy behind him...

This is why...the prevention of permanently bonked heads.

Napping when he can in all the chaos. 

Showing his rough and tough side by wearing daddy's hat.

The Cape Meares lighthouse amidst the misting rain and wind.  Steve's trying to man it by saying no to the umbrella!

Cute sisters and Ross pic.

Giant leaves in a mossy stump.

I couldn't believe my dad AND sister had never played Jenga...it's a classic game!  They loved it...and of course because it was me who lost both games!

Dad strategically taking his turn...

Rachel kept calling Steve the blockhead from this picture.  Great pic of my dad's finger working the magic!

Auntie and Nephew!

Portland on the way to the airport...so pretty!

Dad specifically did NOT want to be seen with this umbrella...which I did not understand since it's red (his favorite color) and all it said on it was New York...well of course we had to get a picture of him with it.

Cheese!!! :)  Haha - get the pun?...haha...get it? :)

We're so romantic - yes - we've still got it after 4 years and a baby. ;)

Putting Rachel to work AGAIN...Ross thinks it's hilarious!

I'm going to make this as hard for you as possible!

Ready for a chilly walk in his winter 6-12 months coat that just barely fits him!

Basketcase - he's such a clown!

Thanks for a great visit!  We loved having family here!

Ross sure loved his grandpa...he got whatever he want...without reason!

See you soon Auntie Rach!

Remember Remember Good ol' November

I think anyone's birthday month feels like the best month of the year to them.  At least it does to me.  I love November - I love having my birthday in this month -but it's not just because of that.  I think it's because Thanksgiving and Christmas soon follow, and I love the spirit that's everywhere during those two holidays.  Guy Fawkes Day is the 5th of November - one of the random crazy holidays England has celebrating the execution of the man who tried to blow up the Parliament building.  They all set off fireworks like crazy and have bonfires while burning stuffed dummies of Guy Fawkes.  It depended on where you were in the mission whether or not you were allowed to go out and work.  I loved it though because it meant another holiday in my favorite month!  
Things are going well here in the White house...I should say White apartment or flat.  We're really boring people.  Steve goes to school and I keep Ross on his toes...or maybe it's him keeping me on mine.  Ross has been exploring his ability to roll back and forth.  He doesn't really go anywhere since he only rolls one way from his belly to his back and then rolls back to his belly the way he came.  He does, however, use this ability to do 360s.  He likes to scrunch his nose at you while he's smiling now...I'm not sure if it's just because Steve and I do it to him all the time when we're smiling at him.  He's a good little sleeper and has made record distances when it comes to spitting out his food when he's feeling done with the whole thing.  He enjoys playing with his toys - but likes the basket they are in better.  :)
I'm enjoying being 27 for as long as I can.  It's funny how you'd like to try and fight the system of getting older - pushing, pulling, scratching - whatever you can do, but really it's all just inevitable.  Yet - we still do it.  It's like I'm mentally putting forth the effort NOT to be 28...but it's coming...in  two days.  I'm thinking you just keep resisting until you hit 30 and that's where you resort to just lying about your age to everyone and yourself.  I'm still 17 in my mind - no way mature enough to be 28 - yet here we are 11 years later.  Which reminds me - aside from the age progression - this will be the best birthday ever if only for the date!  I remember dreaming of this day since I was a little kid - the whole reason my birthday is the day it is.  11-11-11.  Once every 100 years!  I better be dead or in the millennium.  Steve has been a total romantic and has gotten me a gift every day this month.  11 days of gifts.  So fun!  Like always - he's so thoughtful. :)  I'm trying to decide what to do at  11:11 on 11-11-11.  It's got to be something amazing...I've got two chances that day too.  We'll see what happens.  Anyway - here are some cute pictures of Ross swinging!

 

 

Ross's First Halloween

We had a really great Halloween with Ross.  The day itself went pretty normal - but we dressed up and went to the ward trunk-or-treat...and greatly underestimated the turn out.  We had bought two measly bags of candy that were gone within about 10 minutes of being there.  I had never been to a trunk-or-treat before so I had no idea what to expect.  So instead of feeling like fools sitting there with an empty bowl we wandered around looking at everyone's costumes.  We ended up getting 3 pieces of candy that were encouraged upon us.  I don't really feel like Ross could trick-or-treat since he can't eat any of the candy anyway - and we're not going to mooch off of him because that's weird...at least to us.   I've also learned I have become a very grumpy adult.  I have major issues with teenagers trick-or-treating.  If they are over 12, aren't going to dress up, and hold a backpack out for candy - they can hit the road!  I will openly refuse to give them candy - it's awkward enough them even asking for it.  I guess I'm the grinch of Halloween, but we only had two bags of candy to begin with anyway!  Okay - I'll step off the soapbox. 
It was a really fun night...we got home with no candy and felt bad because there were trick-or-treaters going around the neighborhood too so we zipped to the store to grab some candy quick.  Good thing too since of the two more bags we got 3/4 of it was taken.  It was fun getting trick-or-treaters for once.  We're never get them in our old apartment.  Steve told me the Mexican culture really gets into Halloween - we had lots of Latinos come - they had some pretty cute costumes too.  After Ross went to bed all worn out from being so cute in his costume - Steve and I watched The Ghost and Mr. Chicken - a classic Don Knotts movie and very appropriate for Halloween.  I'm realizing holidays are way more fun with kids - even though Ross is just a baby - we have a reason to make a big deal out of it now. :)  

Pretty much the cutest pumpkin in the world!

He enjoyed sucking on his leaves.

Dad the posh farmer...this was the only hat I could find for cheap!

Ross wouldn't look at the camera...

Halloween family

Waiting for the trunk-or-treaters to come.  Ross is guarding the candy.

So Snow White here is my visiting teaching companion.  I thought, by far, this was the greatest set of costumes I saw.  She looks like she could work at Disneyland!  I bet they'd hire her on the spot!  They have six kids and used a little doll to be Sleepy.  Hilarious!

Our glowing pumpkins. :)

A random hilariously cute picture of Ross in a blanket. :)

Which one's Ross???