As Quick as I Can

I minimized some pictures to send to my sister, so I thought they would be the perfect size for a quick upload.

In September we were able to spend some time at Bryce Canyon. A year earlier I had won the trip through Parenting magazine. We were able to stay for 5 nights at a hotel and it was relaxing and wonderful. We would have breakfast at the hotel each morning and then go out and do a hike, or take a drive when the weather was bad. (There were thunderstorms everyday.) Zarina was excited about the hotel pool. I definitely need to get her some lessons next summer (at the McGill "pool", it's more like a small reservoir. I can't describe it).

Poppy seemed to enjoy her view from the hiking backpack. She would sample any tree she could get her hands on.

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We had family pictures taken back in July. I posted a few on Facebook, and here's a few more. Amy (Thiriot) Sorenson was our photographer.


I love these green doors at the train yard. I knew I wanted a few pictures in front oh them. In the shower that morning I thought, "The red bench from my in-laws would look great." So Brien was nice enough to load it in his truck and bring it along.

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Zarina wanted to be a bat for Halloween, for a few months. Then the Pottery Barn Kids Halloween ad showed up and she changed her mind to a skeleton; the final transformation, a bat-skeleton. That's why she has funny ears on her head. I thought I took a picture with her arms out, to show off her wings, but evidently I didn't. Her make-up changed the 3 times she wore her costume. Halloween night she was so excited by the first trick-or-treaters that she told me there wasn't time for her make-up. I convinced her that no one was going to run out of candy so soon. That night she wanted red eyes and teeth so she'd be "extra scary." While out of town we saw an infant skeleton sleeper and decided that it would be perfect for Poppy. She stayed home with dad and passed out candy. This was the warmest Halloween we had felt in Ely, so we brought the firepit out front and Poppy sat with her dad. I made the pumpkin hats for Zarina and Poppy. Brien says if I make one for him that he'll wear it, but I think that's an empty promise.

Better view of Zarina's costume:
So there! I've posted something. Most of this typing was done one-handed with Poppy on my lap, so forgive the errors.

Life is going pretty well. We paid off our last credit card in September, YEAH! But we blew our Christmas budget, BOO. The key thing is we overspent, but we aren't going into debt for anything. (I'm not trying to brag, too much, but I want to be realistic.)

Zarina loves being a big sister. She is also great at coloring, and sometimes takes it too seriously. I'm trying to help her learn to write her name. Because of her October birthday she won't start kindergarten until 2013, so we have some time.

Poppy is now 8 months old. She rolled over at 4 months and around the 7 month mark she started to really scoot around a lot more. She doesn't get up on her knees and crawl, but she can pull herself forward on her belly. Since we have hardwood floors she actually pushes herself around while sitting up quite a bit.

Poppy had been sleeping in her carseat for naps and at night. It felt strange, but that's where she slept the best and longest. The beginning of November we started to transition her to the crib for sleeping and she's now sleeping through the night in her bed. I think the transition was harder on the parents since we were used to a good nights rest and then had to go back to waking up a few times a night. It's just not fun. She was a little colicky, but that seems to have past now as well. It was/is tough to deal with a baby who cries a lot and is inconsolable. You start to feel a little crazy.

We are feeling excited for Christmas. Brien is more excited for the Tintin movie that comes out December 23rd. He loved reading those comics on his mission. He recently bought some Tintin books in English to read to Zarina.

I'm being called away...