Halloween!

Kesley- my pretty Fairy

Talmage- too cheap to buy a costume when he wasn't going out....so just T

Eden- a fearsome tiger

Wyatt- Darth Vader

Ready to get some loot!

Of all holidays, Halloween is the one that takes me back to my childhood more than any other. I remember the excitement of picking out my costume (usually a plastic sheet with a super flimsy mask), mapping out the neighborhoods with the best candy, and then just completely BINGING on candy for about 5 days (at which time it was ALL gone). Ahh, the memories!

So, Halloween has definitely upgraded over the years. WAY better costumes and better candy (no more of those orange peanuts!). This year, Ben was recovering from back surgery he had had a couple days before Halloween, so I had to call in some "reinforcements" to help with passing out candy and taking the kids out. My parents were gracious enough to help. My dad passed out the candy and watched T. My mom was a trooper and came out with me and the 3 kids in the cold. Kesley and Eden went in early and I was able to take Wyatt out for another little loop. I love that I get to relive my childhood through my kids!

Picking Pumpkins

Our annual Pumpkin Patch trip was FAB! The weather was perfect: A perfect fall day! We went to a farm about 15 minutes away that had a horse drawn carriage with 4 Clydesdale horses to escort us to the (overpriced) pumpkin patch. The only rule to picking a pumpkin: You have to be able to carry it.

Sunriver--My Paradise!

Up top of Lava Butte

Pretty view of river, TONS of mosquitos, and a pointless walk to a faraway falls

Talmage finally taking some steps...at almost 16 months!


Photogenic Kesley lounging on the beach

T-Dog hanging with me on the shore

Ben and kids experiencing a paddleboat for the first time

My childhood vacation home--revisited!

Kids in their own private mini pool

So, in late August of this year on a kind of last minute whim, I decided that it would be fun for our family to get away on a vacation just as a family. My immediate thought was my childhood (and adulthood) favorite vacation spot: Sunriver, Oregon. I spent many years of my childhood roaming the bike paths of Sunriver, spending all my saved up money to binge at Goody's, and go to the pool on a nice hot day. I have SO many fond memories of my days of going to Sunriver as a kid.

For the past several years my Sundwall family has gone every other year there as our family reunion spot. This was the off year but I want my children to have the same fondness for Sunriver as I have (which seems to be happening!).

We got to stay in the home that I remember staying in the most. I hadn't been back to stay in this house for YEARS and years. It was a trip to see my kids sleep in the same bunk beds I did when I was a kid. There are few places that have stayed the same as when I was a kid and Sunriver is one of them. This little utopian paradise!

We had a blast! The Baileys joined us for several days. It was fun to show them all the places I loved so much! We managed to squeeze in several bike rides, pony rides, lava cave hike, pool trips, paddleboats at a nearby lake, and an unsuccesful hike to some falls nearby. My kids enjoyed every minute of it! We also enjoyed playing "Stone Age" with the Baileys every night. Even though I got spanked every game!

Goodbye To Jake....

Jake, Ryan, Wyatt, can't remember, Nick, Logan

Two Best Buddies

Wyatt's best little friend, Jake, and his family moved to Colorado in October. This was seriously devastating...for me especially. It's hard to know that someone who your child loves so much, is not going to be able to make memories anymore. I seriously took it harder than Wyatt. Plus, Kelly, Jake's mom has become one of my favorite friends. Jake and Wyatt met in Preschool and landed in the same Kindergarten class. They are two peas in a pod and get along so well.

As a final goodbye, we had Jake, along with his closest friends over for pizza, Wii, and movie night. The boys had a blast...even if I was choking back tears the whole time!

Mom and T

Having my parents live near us (for the first time in our married life) has been SO nice. My parents moved from Minnesota to Everett about a year and a half ago and I love it. It's so nice to be able to see them often, and more importantly, for my kids to be able to have consistent contact with them. They have had fun memories so far, and I look forward to many more!

Mr. Roboto

In October, just as I was about to throw all our Costco boxes in the recycling bin, Wyatt insisted on creating something with them. He went off to a room by himself and this is what he had concocted! Oh..to have the imagination of a child again!

I'm Going Cyber!

Some of you may know that I have had a business selling stylish, fun purses for the past 4 years. After a lot of thought, I've decided to take my business to the internet! Now, I can reach more people with these fabulous bags! I sell handbags, diaper bags, wallets and key finders.

My website is http://www.mypurseonality.com/


To kick off my grand opening I have a few specials running:



1. Free Shipping on all orders through October 15th!



2. Free Purse Drawing.

• Send my website to 10 of your friends via email, copy me in on the email (purseonality@gmail.com) and I will enter your name to win a FREE purse of your choice. I will draw the winner on Monday October 5th!
• For every 10 people you send my website to, your name is entered into the drawing.
• Example: Send to 50 friends= 5 entries

3. PERMANENT discount to my store:

If you add my store "button" to your blog or website, you will recieve 10% off every purchase you make for as long as you have it on your blog. Go to http://www.mypurseonality.com/faqs to retrieve the blog graphic! Email me back when you have it on your blog, and I will send you the discount code!

Thanks for all of your support and help in spreading the word!!