Pumpkin Carving

Each year we carve pumpkins. We invite our friends over, have dinner and start figuring out what we are going to do with our pumpkins. As kids, both Andy and I carved pumpkins...but it was huge deal in the Dunn house. They would go to the pumpkin patch, choose the perfect pumpkin and bring it home to carve. Last night, the Bauer-Martinez's and our friend courtney came over. We had a blast. Here are our finished pumpkin works of art. Blake suddenly figured out what to do when we ask her to smile at the camera...this is her BIG smile. Pumpkin Carving Crew

So, now after looking at our beautiful pumpkins, I know you want to carve one of your own...here, carve a virtual pumpkin...just click start on the link.

Things I love today...

This picture...I love seeing friends transformed into mothers
This blog...so much creativity
This book....from the library yesterday...I ordered it weeks ago
This restaurant...the food was way good
This sign...I think this belongs in our house
This artist...so funky
This craft...these will go in the girls' room
This cause...very close to my heart

Shoes

Autumn Picnic 2007, Self Portrait

I have never been a big fan of shoes...I would much rather run barefoot all over the place...a genetic trait I passed on to Blake. In high school, I was the Reef flip flop queen...I wore my Reefs year round which was rather refreshing in the Colorado snow. After high school...I still wore flip flops year round, especially since I was going to school in Southern California. When I moved back to Colorado, I decided that it was time for me to get some good winter shoes...thus started my love with clogs. I got my Birkenstock Clogs a few years ago and each year I can't wait to take them out when the weather starts to cool down. This year I got my Simples...that I love. Soon, when the snow gets deep...I will take out my Faux Uggs from American Eagle. Then, when the tiniest bit of warmth starts to come over Colorado...my flip flops will come out once again.

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The difference in the temperature yesterday, sunny 78 degrees and today, snowy 34 degrees . We woke up to snow falling and by the time we were out of church at 10:00AM...it was sticking to the road. Yes, this is completely normal for Colorado in October. Last year during this time, we had our first blizzard of the year.

Andy loves the snow. He has been wearing his Pray For Snow shirt since early August. I have to make him wash it he wears it so often...some times I have to peel it off him (but I actually think he likes that). He wore it yesterday to our training and he got comments like, "Are you crazy"? or "Nice Shirt." Today, he was finally able to wear his shirt in the snow.

Autumn Picnic

We are trying to make it a tradition to go on an Autumn picnic each year and view the changing leaves. This year, we waited a bit too long and our picnic was way cold. We ended up parking in the mountains and eating our dinner in the back of the car...yes, I know it sounds rather white trash, but we have just been so crazy busy...it was wonderful to get out of town...even if it was only 30 minutes away from town.

Home Again

Well, we arrived home from Washington late Sunday night. Everything went well with the funeral and Andy's grandma seems to be doing OK. It was so good to get to see family and friends. We were able to celebrate Andy's Dad's birthday with him, spend plenty of time with Andy's Grandma, and experience a rainy Oyster Fest where I found the first wine that I like. I do not drink, I can hardly stand the smell of alcohol, but this wine is lovely. It's not your normal wine...it's an apple wine. It comes from Hoodsport Winery, located where Andy grew up. Andy's parents are sending us two beautiful bottles of Apple Wine...I can't wait. We were also able to see our friend on the other side of the lake and spend time with Daniel and Cindy in the beautiful and warm house...I wish we lived closer guys...we would have oh so much fun. On Sunday we spent a good part of the day in Seattle going to the market and the original Starbucks (AKA The Mother Ship). I love Seattle and wish I could spend some more time there exploring the shops and history of the city.

Busy week, good friends, and we're off...

I know it is only Tuesday, but this has been an incredibly busy week. The weekend was nuts...I photographed a wedding on Saturday, spent Sunday trying to get the house ready for our Home Study. Our good friends the Moxley's came out from California for a funeral...it is very sad circumstances, but so good to be able to spend some time with them. Their son, Jack is just a month younger than Blake...I have loved watching them play together...oh the difference between boys and girls!

We also found out that Andy's step-grandfather passed away on Sunday night, so we are off to the Northwest to go to the funeral and spend time with family. His grandfather had been sick with Asbestosis. Please be praying for his Andy's Grandmother.

I will be back to blogging next week with pictures from Washington...all you Sheltonites, we hope to see you!