Fall leaves!

This weekend we went to Mom and Daves and Abby got to experience her first time playing in the leaves. She thought the leaves where pretty fun, especially when Mommy and Daddy jumped in the pile with her!

Abby news!

Abby has been getting so big and learning so much lately! She is taking off walking - taking up to 10 steps on her own!!! She will be taking off walking on her own soon! She also is talking lots, she can say, mama, dada, baby, thank you, uh-oh -she suprises me every day when she says something new! Our little girl is getting big so fast!

Happy Anniversary!

Today was Todd and I's 2 year wedding anniversary! On Saturday we went out for a special dinner at Spezia's and then we went to the Arrowhead park and went on a long walk and talked. It's amazing how fast the last two years have went! We feel so blessed to have the love we have with eachother and to have all our friends and family in our lives to share it with us!

Grandma watched Abby while Mommy and Daddy went out on their Anniversary! Abby was making her kissy face in this picture!

Pumpkin Patch!

We went to the Pumpkin Festival at the Apple Orchard! Abby had so much fun checking out the pumpkins. We went on a Hay Ride, and played with the animals at the petting zoo, and of course picked a pumpkin to bring home.

Abby and Mack at the Zoo!

When Kim and Mackenzie where here we took the girls to the Zoo. It was both girls first time at the Zoo. They had a blast! Abby loved watching the animals, especially the bears and the ducks.

The girls where so tired after the Zoo, they both fell asleep with their new stuffed animals from the Zoo as soon as we put them in the car!

Kim and Mackenzie come to visit!

Last week Kim and Mackenzie visited South Dakota! They spent 4 days with us and we had a blast! It was so much fun meeting Mackenzie and hanging out just us girls! Mackenzie and Abby had a blast playing with eachother, it was fun to see a new generation of friendships in the making!

More 9 Month photos

Abby 9 Month Photos

Abby's 9 month photos proved to be the hardest photo shoot yet! First she was scared of the camera and then she was not going to sit for no one! so most of the shots are of her about to crawl away...we of course, still think they are adorable.

Abby is doing really well - she is growing like a weed, and learns something new every day. She loves music and does her little head bob dance, whenever she hears a beat. Her favorite is still patty-cake with itsy bitsy spider a close second. She is also starting to walk - she doesn't quite have her balance yet - but if you put your arms out she will let go and try and walk to you!

She is also working on teething! She is getting her back molars on top and bottom. The left side has came through and the right is on the way. No fun for Abby or Mommy and Daddy - but, who needs sleep anyways?

This winter we have all kind of fun things planned. Abby has got another scholarship for Kindermusik this fall. She loved Kindermusik this summer and I am looking forward to taking her to it again for a new series of classes.

We are also involved in MOPS (Mothers of preschoolers) Once a month MOPS meet and the kids go play and the Mommy's get to have some time to listen to a speaker, do some crafts and meet new friends. I was really scared to leave Abby with someone I don't know for the first time, but Abby was so excited about all the new toys - she took off right away and waved bye-bye! I had tears in my eyes, but she had a blast! Our next meeting is in October, and I look forward to it! We also have some play dates planned with our MOPS table group.

This winter we also plan on going to story time at the library and play time at the community centers - so it's going to be a fun, busy winter! We have made some new friends this summer also, and Abby is loving playing with her new friend Amalee! I am enjoying hanging out with new friends and old and feel really blessed with all the friends I have in my life.

This winter I am looking to just "enjoy the journey" as my daughter grows up so fast, and as friends and family surround my life - it doesn't get much better than this!

Fun Quote!

With the emotional week I had, I got an email today with a fun quote that made me smile - so I thought I would share!


Life is short - Break the rules...forgive quickly...love truly..laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile!

My Dad...

Today was the one year anniversary of my Dad's passing away.....it was a very, very difficult day...I was really shocked at how strong the sad emotions can come back. I just really tried to spend the day remembering my Dad and also remember that he is not in pain anymore, he spent so much of the last year of his life hurting so bad, that right now with God, I know he is happy and pain free.
My uncle Ron (my Dad's brother) sent me this email(below)...and I must have read it 100 times today! It is so true,and is words are so perfect. The love of my friends and family are what sustain me day to day, through good and bad! I love you all! Thanks for being there for me...

My dear, sweet Amy,
Please know that my heart has a very special place for you and I sendyou a big embrace. Give your emotions free range and let the tears come.It is a sad thing you remember and it is natural to be sad over it.Don't resist your feelings. You are God's creature and your tears areHis creation, too. They are therapeutic. They cleanse more than theeyes; they wash the soul. And it honors your father to cry these tears.It is because you have a good heart that you mourn your dad, so let ithappen and know that I love you and so many others do, as well.
With shared sadness and big love,Uncle Ron

more fun at the park!

After we took all the pictures, we had some real fun playing at the park! Abby loves the slides and the swing!!! She thinks she is a big girl and wants to go down the slides by herself!

My favorite pictures

These are my favorite pictures from the park!

Fun at the Park!

This weekend we spent one afternoon at the park! It was a beautiful day and we all had fun! And of course we took lots of pictures to share...

Yummy....Chocolate!!!

Abby had her first "real" taste of chocolate - when Mommy shared her chocolate pudding with her - She LOVED it!!!! Like Mother like daughter!!!

Labor Day....

This Labor day - Todd did a lot of labor......he painted the kitchen and our front entry way!!! It was a LOT of work in the kitchen with all the little areas! I am so proud of Todd - he did an AWESOME job and the kitchen looks great!!