a blast from the past!

This is Jasmine, we were great friends back in high school and have kept in touch, well not very well, but we try! Anyway, she was in town visiting family and was able to come visit a few times. It was fun to see her and catch up! She is just as great as she was in the past!

Just us girls

So last Friday, Brian and Max made the long drive back to Idaho. I had finals this week and it was the big elk hunt for the boys. So Brian went to a cabin and Max has been having fun at both Grandmothers houses. I have never been away from Max for this long and I am going nuts! You all know how I do with Brian gone- not well at all!- and I am VERY EXCITED to get to see them tommarro!

Lily and I have tried to stay busy.... we spent a few hours each day last weekend in the anatomy lab. We didn't study the cadavers this last section, so she was lucky to spend time up there with me. She loved the attention from the other students. This was her when she found out she was being left behind...

It was actually easy having them gone over the weekend so I could focus on studying, but since Monday I have been going crazy! I had my big final (anatomy) on Monday morning. I totally rocked it and have been gloating ever since. You don't know how intimidating this teacher is and how big her tests are! But I did great. We took the next 2 days off from studying to watch a full season of Grays Anatomy and procrastinate cleaning, I did do a fun craft and some shopping... but most of the time Lily and I just hung out. It was fun to have her all alone, I am afraid she has liked it way to much! I took my last 2 finals today, they were not scary and I did great. So we spent the evening shopping and eating with a girlfriend. I am now procrastinating packing! :)

Here is Lily after a bath. Her hair is just to fun! (This picture is the right direction on my computer, I don't know why it is sideways here.)

Lily fell asleep on the floor playing almost everyday. I think this is how she handles life without a big loving brother.

I found a great store called "Ribbons and Lace" It is great for kids hair decor. I bought some flowers and a few to make! this is actually a poor picture of it, but it is very cute.

Boys day in heaven

The small airport invited the public to get up close and personal with some of the airplanes and helicopters. So Brian took Max and Drew to see the planes or "nomknees" as Max calls them. Why does he call them that? who knows!

memory lane...

2006 1 month old 2007 1 year old

2008 2 years old

Halloween

Scary vampire teeth!!

Our lion pounding pumpkins. This was a fun activity we used to do in preschool.

Our scary ghost and lion at the mall. We went trick or treating at the mall. It was a fun night. Max learned very quickly to say "treat" and smile. When people would comment on what a cute lion he was he would wag his tail and growl. He is such a flirt! We borrowed the Lion from the other Dursts. Max was going to be a skunk again but it was way to hot (85 degrees when we went trick or treating, and I couldn't find it). This is a baby costume that was made for a HUGE baby!

We don't have a picture of Max and Lily together. We took a ton, but neither cooperated!

carving pumpkins

Max was sick the night we planned on carving pumpkins so Brian did it by himself. I don't think he needed help!

This was 3 days later!! We kept it in the house for 2 days, then it went outside because it was getting soft! You have to love the heat!

its all about choices...

so we all make choices all day, everyday...like I choose to blog from 6-7 AM today instead of studying, which was the plan, sleep, or workout...why, who knows, but it was a choice I made... we try to give Max choices with most things. he usually has an opinion and makes a choice. but every now and then we throw in a Ultimatum choice (I know, totally against all love and logic and most behavior modification, child raising books...etc..) such as you can eat dinner or go to bed. It just cracks me up that 1st Max is old enough to understand, and 2nd the look on his face when he jumps to do the "better" choice or 3rd he whispers "no" like if it is said quietly he doesn't have to really do it??? I would love to get into his head.
the other night we were at our cousins house and Max was throwing a huge tantrum (I know, my child? I was shocked also, it must have been his first tantrum) anyway, we put him in the other room on a bed to calm down. For some reason he is compliant enough to stay there, but crying the whole time. so after a few minutes I went in to remind him that he can come out when he calms down. After I tell him this, he puts his hand out, telling me to "stop" and says, "MAD!" and then he told me to go. apparently he was mad at me and needed a little more time. Seriously, he has become hilarious!!!
I am on my lap top or i would post a picture....

this is the most recent photo of my new after second baby body.... seriously though, LOSING WEIGH IS THE WORST GAME! I have 25lbs to go and at least 5 before I can fit into my old "fat" pants. It is horrible! It is so frustrating to work out almost everyday, watch every bite that goes into your mouth for 1 tiny pound!! So I rebelled this week and have consumed more Halloween candy then I should eat this year...now I probably have 30 lbs to go! Anyway the worst part is that I am going to Idaho very soon and i can only SQUEEZE into 2 pairs of pants...so yes, you will all see me wearing the same clothes every other day! (my friends in AZ are used to this, but here I also can squeeze into a pair of shorts..) So tonight is my last night of being a slacker, I am back on track and will do great in the morning...but for now i am going to eat a piece of chocolate..

the State Fair

We spent a day and part of a night at the state fair. This fair was great for kids, the petting zoo was so cool, including a zebra and giraffe! It had a big kids room with trikes to ride, a gym, rocking animals, corn maze..... we picked the day because Thomas the Train was there doing a show. It was lame but cute pictures. We stayed for a hour of the demolition derby before we decided to call it quits. It was fun and there was a ton to see but we both missed the Idaho food...bimbo burgers...fresh funnel cakes...

Our daily moments...

Max thinking he is getting away with something...Max always wants to hold her, which often ends in her screaming and him not knowing what to do...but not wanting to let go...maybe he enjoys her misery a little bit?

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep..... this dress is darling, a gift from a very sweet uncle that thought "Debby's granddaughter needs this" but the hat did make us laugh a little...

The other day, Lily was playing while I studied. She started to fuss for maybe a second and by the time I got to her she had fallen asleep...... Now if she will just do that at 9 pm...

Mesa Temple

We took Ben and Jena to see the temple. We should have done it in the daylight...

No, I am not trying to have my daughters hair.....

Lily's Blessing

Brian blessed Lily on October 19th. Ben and Jena came, also Brian's Aunt and Uncle came with his cousin to visit Nick. Will (born 2 weeks before Lily) was also blessed. We had a nice family get together after. A good friend of mine gave Lily this dress. Right when I saw it, I thought it was perfect for my daughter to be blessed in. But I love it so much that she wore it a lot! It was to her ankles.... they grow so fast! (Devri- thanks for the dress!!) (Karen- thanks for the blanket! it is beautiful!)

This is Stephanie, Max and Drew. Stephanie lives in our complex and is the nicest girl, the boys adore her. Max calls her "knee knee"
Here is Michelle and darling Will.
Ben and Jena

Hey, scroll down to see pictures of the Zoo! I started it a few weeks ago....

my brother Ben and his wife, Jena, came down for Lily's blessing. They came all the way from St. George, Utah, about 8 hours! But we are their favorites! It was a fast weekend but we had fun spending time with them. We hope they come back soon! Every day Max asks for "Hen" and "Henna" (Who knew that "J" and "B" sound so much alike!)