Time Out For Women

So I'm a little behind, I meant to post this last week, but just never got around to it. Last Saturday, my mom, sister, sweet baby McKinley, and I went to a Time Out For Women put on by Deseret Book. It was seriously SO amazing! They should have things like this way more often. It was a full day of inspirational speakers and singers and it was much needed. It was so nice to get out and enjoy a day of spiritual upliftment. The speakers were so awesome and the singers had so much talent. We are planning on going next year again. The closest one is in Las Vegas, so we are super excited! Thanks Mom and Beth for a very fun weekend!

She's Walking!

The cutest hot dog in the world :)

So for Halloween Madison was a hot dog...I know awesome right! I found the costume at target for only $15 bucks and I just could NOT pass it up. I thought how cute to have a little toddling hot dog. Then I had another awesome idea...Alan and I could be ketchup and mustard! And so it was.

Our meal of a family...

Alan was (as you can see) VERY excited to be mustard. He is such a good sport to humor me.

Then of course there was Optimus Prime. JD and Madison had a fun time trick or treating together:) Aren't they such cute kids?

So when we got home from trick or treating we pulled into our complex and there was our HOA president, Frank the Pirate, (called as such because he flies a pirate flag on his flagpole...you can see it in the background of the picture if you look closely...) standing on the corner waiting for people to come by to hand candy to. And how fitting for him to seriously be dressed as a pirate. Sadly enough our complex doesn't get many trick or treaters...don't know why (you would know if you have ever been to my house I think :) Anyway so we felt that we needed to show him a little attention so he didn't go to all the work of decorating his porch for nothing.

So we took a few pictures and talked to him for awhile. Nice guy, different, but super nice guy. Overall it was a good Halloween.

In other news, I have the flu. Not so fun. I broke out with a fever early Sunday morning and have been feeling very crappy for the last two days, but tonight I'm doing much better and I'm pretty sure I'm done with the fever. So I'm on the mend, but I went to the doctor today and he said he was pretty sure that because I have it Madison will get it. He started both me and Madison on Tamiflu today and $165 later...seriously...we both should be okay. But please keep us in your prayers. I don't want to have to see my precious little girl as miserable as I have been.

The Mighty Hunter...and good family times!

Alan got his first Buck ever! All week long Alan, along with my dad, brothers, and friends have been hunting from when the sun comes up to when the sun goes down...my mom and I have felt a little abandoned. My dad got his Buck on Saturday, the first day of the hunt, which never happens, and Alan got his on Tuesday. It was kind of a team effort to get Alan's deer down. Reed, Dan, and Alan all shot it, but Alan shot the killing shot. I'm so proud of him! It's a 2X3 so it's even a good size! Good job honey! (Sorry for those of you who don't enjoy looking at a dead deer...)

Here is Reed actually skinning my dad's friend Cory's antelope that he got last week.

This may gross some of you out, but when we were little we would play with the deer feet after my dad cut them off...I know it's a little morbid, but Reed bribed JD with Ice Cream if he would play with them. He was a little skeptical, but he thought he was pretty cool afterward.

It's been so nice to have all of my family in town. Reed and Rachelle have been transfered back out here! So they will live in Las Vegas and we are all so excited for them to be closer. I haven't seen my brother in two years, so that has been very fun! The kids were enjoying crawling all over Alan one night at my parents so I made them pause for a picture. Can you believe how big they are all getting? It's crazy!

We've been trying to show Madison "gentle" and "soft" with baby McKinley. I'm so afraid she's going to grab her and break her, but she is very interested in looking at her and touching her. Here are Rachelle with Madison and McKinley (with Brooklyn on the inside). Can't wait until there are 3 of them to all play together!

You can just tell that Reed is so excited for his little girl to get here. He loves Madison and McKinley so much! I can't wait to see him with his own little girl!

On the first day of the hunt my Mom, Beth, and I decided to take the kids to Pirate Island Pizza to get some energy out. They loved it! JD played some games and won a Twizzler and a little finger monster thing.

Garrett loves to just run around and go everywhere! He's such a little ball of energy.

Afterward we went to a park to sit outside because the weather has been so nice lately. The boys played and the girls sat in the shade. Madison would love to get down and play too, but I told her not until she walks and stops eating wood chips. It shouldn't be too long!

And little McKinley! She's the easiest in the group. I forget how nice it is to just have a baby that lays there and sleeps all day...sigh. Isn't she beautiful?

I feel like I haven't updated about Madison for a long time so I will tell a little about her doings lately.

First of all she is everywhere! She is crawling super fast now and loves to go up (and somewhat down) the steep stairs in my home. She gives me a heart attack because she seriously has no fear. She thinks she can do big people things because other people can, but she isn't always successful. She's fallen a couple times, but has only gone down 1 or 2 stairs. I'm not looking forward to when it will be the entire way down. But there's no keeping her away from them...gates help.

She is trying so hard to walk. She has taken some steps and is getting closer, but she's not quite ready to let go. She has been walking along things forever it seems like, but just won't let go yet.

I've been trying to gradually take the binky away and only give it to her at naps and at nightime. I'm not very good at it because, sad as it is, it's a way to stop the noise...But I really don't want her to be a little addict (although I think it's already happened.) If you have any advice on taking it away, it would be much appreciated.

She was teething last week and was ornery as ever. It is so hard when she teethes. I wish that they would just come through and get it over with. She's happier this week then last, but I know it's not the end of it.

She is getting so big and will be a year old in a month and half. It makes me sad to know that before I know it, she's not going to be my baby anymore, but my little girl. She is so fun and the biggest joy in my life.

McKinley Abigail Olsen

Here she is! My beautiful niece McKinley was born on Monday October 12, 2009 at 12:08 PM. She was 7 lbs. 1 oz. and 19 inches long. She is so beautiful! They came home yesterday and both Beth and baby are doing great! Welcome to the family McKinley! We love you!

Yay Madison!

Pumpkin Carving

Last week Alan decided that he wanted to carve a pumpkin and since there really is no way to keep Madison out of it, we decided to let her just make a mess and play with it :) So we put a tablecloth down and let her at it.

Getting ready to play.

Alan looks like he's karate chopping the pumpkin, but he's not I promise. (p.s. he got his hair cut! Doesn't it look so good!)

She was a little skeptical at first...

But it didn't take long for her to dive in. This is just proof that Madison will truly eat anything...even nasty pumpkin. Also, I wouldn't recommend letting babies eat pumkin...the diaper is horrible the next day. BLECH!