5 Words

Annabelle can now say 5 words:

• Mommy
• Daddy
• Baby (which has finally been narrowed down to mean anything living that isn't me or Mitchell, it used to be everything that wasn't me)
  
• Bye-Bye
• Mine

It is so cute hearing her talk and she is just so funny. I can't wait to watch her learn more words.

Hives

Yesterday afternoon, after eating some delicious pumpkin pie at the birthday party of one of Annabelle's friends, I broke out into hives. At first I just thought I had an itchy back, but then it spread to my arms, shoulders, and the back of my neck. I haven't itched that bad in a very long time, not since I was having allergy tests and stuff done. We have no idea if it was something in the pie that caused it or if it was something else. I spent all of yesterday evening in bed either sleeping or almost sleeping because of the Benadryl that I had to take to keep the itching under control. We also didn't go to church this morning because the hives were still bad enough that I couldn't have anything touching my back. It was probably around 10 or 11 this morning that I was finally able to have my shirt down and touching my lower back. I still itch a little bit, but it is nothing compared to what it was yesterday. It will probably always be a mystery as to what actually caused the break out...

First Annual Thanksgiving Walk

I decided to start a new tradition for our family this year. I'm calling it our Thanksgiving Walk. The plan is to go somewhere with beautiful, fall colors and walk and talk about what we are grateful for as well as just enjoy the earth Heavenly Father has created for us. I came up with the idea a little too late in the month because most of the pretty colors have faded. It was still nice, though.

Annabelle slept through the whole walk. It was naptime on a Sunday, so she was really tired.

Here is Joseph putting his mittens on. It wasn't cold enough that he needed them, but he likes wearing them.

This was a pretty little waterfall and stream that we saw. We have walked this path up in Provo Canyon many times, but I've never noticed this before. I was wearing my rain boots, so I went and splashed in it just because I could. It was fun.

This is where the little stream splits and goes around a cool looking tree. Hardly any of the trees still had leaves, but it was still a nice walk in a beautiful place.

Music 101

I'm actually really beginning to enjoy my Music 101 class. At first it was a bit boring because we were covering stuff that I had already covered in my other class. But I recently made a friend in the class, her name is Rachel, and we have a fun time sitting together and talking. We are also learning about new things that I didn't know about. It is an easy class for me because I enjoy classical music and I understand how music works pretty well. I think a big part of that is from Popi. When I was a really little girl and we lived with Popi and Grandma, I would play in the living room at night when Popi would listen to classical music and relax in his chair. I felt really embarrassed during the midterm review last night. Without realizing it, I kept raising my hand and answering a lot of the questions, then I noticed that people were starting to turn around and stare at me. I stopped answering as many questions after that because I was worried that people was thinking I was being a know-it-all. I took the midterm today and did really well, though, which was exciting to me. It always feels good when I do well in my classes, especially because I don't usually give them as much attention as I think I should. I'm glad that I am able to be in school and I'm grateful for all the things that I'm learning.

Disney

I just found this awesome site. It's thedisneyprincess.tumblr.com and I really love it. It has thousands of pictures from Disney movies. After spending the last half hour or so browsing it, I feel like crying. That comes from a mixture of two things:

1. I love Disney SO much. I grew up on the movies and they have been an integral part of my life. The movies are so beautiful and the stories are so happy and wonderful. When I daydream, I go to those Disney worlds. Disney movies make me feel so happy.

2. My greatest desire for most of my life (besides wanting to get married and have a family) has been to go to Disneyland. I have dreamt of go to Disneyland since I was a tiny, little girl. As I've gotten older, that dream has become somewhat bittersweet because as I get older, it becomes more difficult for me to realize that dream. I know that someday, I will be able to go to Disneyland, but after waiting 20-ish years, it seems like someday will never come.

For now I will wait and I will instill a love for Disney in my own children.

Smart Joseph

I just wanted to say how proud I am of my cute, little boy. Joseph knows the upper- and lower-case letters about 85% of the time; he still confuses "b" with "d," "k" with "x," and "m" with "n" some of the time. He can count up to 13 and he's figuring out the actually counting of things. He copies me and Mitchell so much and it seems like he can do whatever we can do sometimes. It is definitely a challenge keeping up with him sometimes because he figures out how to get and do what he wants, whether we want him to or not. I can't wait to watch him grow and to watch his talents flourish. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to home-school the kids and I'm excited to help him expand his knowledge and develop his abilities. I'm so grateful for my little Joseph and I love him so much!

Halloween 2011

In all the craziness of yesterday, I forgot to take a single picture. I could get the kids dressed up again, but it just doesn't seem the same.

Annabelle was a cute little pumpkin, Joseph was Spiderman, I was an autumn fairy, and Mitchell was Darth Vader.

Joseph had fun trick or treating for a little while. Annabelle had fun, too, but just because she got to see a lot of people.

It was a good night, but very exhausting.