.family pictures.

You may have remember that I briefly described our family picture experience as the "worst ever".  Not because the photographer was terrible...just our children.  Despite a very uncooperative 2 year old, and a very serious 9 month old, we still managed to get a few keepers.  I love Fall pictures with all the color!

 I love miss Meg's profile

 mr. squinty eyes

 there was a lot of this going on

 and a little of this

 I love this girl!!!

 the last good shot of Finn we could get

and then this is when we knew it was time to call it good.

.seasons.

Even with December a short few weeks away, we are still in full fall and Thanksgiving mode over here.  Sometimes with young kids I wonder what and if I should do anything extra or special to teach because I often feel like it doesn't really register yet, but I decided that for the month of November I would try doing "gratitude leafs".  The first Sunday, I taught a short (emphases on short) lesson on showing gratitude for all the things that God has given us, and introduced the leafs.  At first the leafs consisted of simple things like tractors, snow, pears, and the such, but slowly our chats about what we are thankful for have grown.  Today Finn expressed his gratitude for bagels and cream cheese (his current favorite snack), and other good food that helps him grow.  He then told me that Meg was grateful for flowers because they smelled good.  I like that he interprets what Meg is thinking.  It's been good to see the colorful leafs fill up our glass door and brighten our days with reminders of all the things we've been given.

As far as the kids go...
Meg is in the season of starting to get her legs under her and try walking.  She recently took a few steps all on her own, and has taken to standing long periods of time by herself.  She has also become very curious in the garbage can (I recall Finn did the same thing) and so we have had to get creative in keeping it out of reach.

Finn's season is the one of taking off his pajamas every night and sleeping in only a diaper.  I wonder every night if I'm just wasting my time putting them on him, but I figure if anything it gives him practice on dressing and undressing himself.  He's become both very helpful, and very frustrating all at the same time...how can that be.  I can usually ask him to do something (cleaning up, grabbing Meg's toy from across the room, or grabbing items that are just out of reach.  In the same breath, he will ignore my requests to leave his sister alone, or not to jump on the couch, and just plain whine.  He is pure toddler and I love him!

As far as our season of life, well it's become a bit more complicated, as things often do with more responsibility.  As previously mentioned, we've been feeling pushed in a direction to try and move.

We don't know if it's actually going to happen, but we have faith that God is directing our lives, and that things will happen if they need to.  At first I was really excited about all the prospects, but sometimes looking at the cost of moving, makes me depressed...like how do people actually make the next step.  I suppose that is where my faith will come more into play.  For right now it is out of our hands, and we will just have to see what will happen.
And finally, with all the nice weather we've been having, it seems my roses are confused as to which season it actually is.

 These happy yellow guys are welcomed to stay as long as there is no snow to make me happy.

.falling back & falling behind.

Remember when I actually used to blog... I do.  I would like to blame it all on just being so incredibly busy that I haven't found a moment to sit down and compose a few lines, but mostly, I've just felt distinctly unmotivated.   It might have something to do with the fact that I've felt like crap, haven't exercised in weeks, and have absolutely no energy.  Whatever the reason, I've just decided I needed to  get the last few weeks out before we fall even further behind.  So onto the catch-up.

Family Halloween party/ pumpkin carving/ trick-or-treating

 Hay ride with cousins

 sweet owl Meg

 Finn refused to dance, but loved pulling the wagon around the yard

and then I got suckered into pulling the two of them around the yard

We had a lot of fun as usual with lots of good food, good company, and one of the last perfect fall days of the year.

Finn was so stoked about the pumpkins this year.  Everyday he would ask if we were going to carve the pumpkins yet.  A few days before Halloween he finally got the chance to dig in to the orange gourds.  He wasn't very effective at getting much of the guts out, but he sure had fun trying.  He wanted to do everything...including use the knife (such a boy).  I finally got the drill out so he could drill holes in one.  That kept him happy and busy.

The days leading up to Halloween, we discussed the business of trick-or-treating, and the proper etiquette.  Finn had masted his "trick-or-treat", and was ready to go when daddy got home from work.  We left early, and even though it still required a lot of prompting on what to say and when,  he had a lot of fun.  

 He made sure to give Katie hugs for her candy contribution

 Meg just enjoyed the packaging.
When Meg started fussing, and Finn started whining that his pumpkin was too heavy we knew we were done...easy enough.  We thought it was funny that for a kid who doesn't like chocolate he ended up picking out a lot of chocolate.  I switched most of it out with the candy we had at home so he still had plenty of sugar to consume for all his hard work.

After some pizza and green monster juice, we had a little wrestling match to burn off some of the sugar before bed.

The beginning of November had some pretty beautiful days that we knew were going to be the last of the year, so we had to of course we to do leaf raking and jumping.  That little boys sure loves to rake leaves!

 Roy and Finn hiding in the leaves

 covering daddy with leaves

 These two have a sweet bond of boyish mischief

 raking the leaves while daddy throws them

 I told him he had to smile...nice...

 I love looking up at the trees with all their color

And here is just a little bit more of what we've been up to the first week of November.

 Meg enjoys the thrills A LOT.  She lives off the adrenaline rush that she gets off of being thrown and tossed in the air.

 Making applesauce.  Looking at my meager canning efforts from this fall (I lost 7 jars of beautiful peaches because I left them on the counter without processing....prego brain), I knew we had to add a few jars of applesauce.  Thanks again to my wonderful mother who supplied the apples and kitchen.

 Our first snow hit at the beginning of this week, and even though it was nothing more then a skiff,  Finn was BEYOND excited to put on his new snow boots and get out to see what it was all about.

I can't wait to see what he will think about some actual snow accumulation.  

He's also suddenly (he's seen a few Christmas trees) got very excited for Christmas.  I keep telling him we have Thanksgiving first, and that we have turkey and all other sorts of yummy things, but he still keeps on insisting on getting a tree.  Soon enough my child, soon enough.

In other news...

Roy was released as Young Men's president.  He had served in that calling for almost 4 years, so it was time for a change.  In the meantime he is just enjoying his free time a little more, and it's been nice to have him home on Sundays.  It seems like it was good timing anyways since our ward was completely split in half last Sunday.  We were expecting some change, but it was quite a big change.  We are feeling like even more, that it is time for us to move and have a change, but we will have to see what happens in the next few months.

As far as baby and me, I've come to peace with this unexpected change, and have started feeling positive and happier about it all.  Feeling less sick and tired seems to have helped my emotional state a great deal, and feeling those babies move for the first time is always exciting no matter what.  I know I'll look back on this and see all the blessings that will come from this sweet addition, so I've gotten over my frustration, and yes even a little anger, and I'm building up anticipation for this little one.

.10.

It's officially double digits around here with our sweet little miss M being 10 months old.  It's been fun to see much more of your personality coming out this month as well as a second tooth (finally after months and months of drool).  With those two teeth, you have really taken on so much more adult food, and prefer to feed yourself.  You are still so little (everything 5% or lower), but you're still so rolly that I don't ever think of you as small.
You have become a major daddy's girl, and cling to him whenever he is around.  He is almost the only person that can get you to smile all the time.  He throws you, and chases you to your hearts content which is the reason I think he's your favorite.
The world is a curious place for you, and you are a true observer.  In true Meg fashion you will sit and watch others around you, taking it all in.  You like to play with your toys and will be aggressive if the mood suits you, but more times then not, you will just move onto something different if a toy is taken from you by one of the little boys.  Your quiet demeanor makes you a pleasant content baby most of the time, but also makes for frustrated pictures as the smiles aren't just given out (unless your daddy is spinning you around in the air).
Despite your stoic manner, your are definitely a happy content baby.  You jibber jabber along with brother as he tells you the finer points of his cars and tractors, and you love sharing your bedroom with a rambunctious toddler.  You have grown quite used to having another little human with you at almost all times, which is good since another little one will be joining us in a few months.  I have know doubt that you will easily adjust to life with another baby because that is just who you are.  We love our little girl so much, and feel so complete with you in our home!

 watching the world around you at the pumpkin patch
So many pictures like this "no smiles"

.more october goodness.

I decided I was done looking at those pregnancy tests at the top of my page, so I'm updating with more of our October adventures.

Last week we made it up to the zoo with Lucas and Emory...or course we didn't realize we planned it for the Friday of UEA weekend, but I suggested we get there as soon as the zoo opened to avoid the crowds, so we fared well enough before 11.  Finn was busy and running like a crazy goose with Emory   looking at the animals, while Meg whined and whined in her stroller (who can blame her, it was her nap time).  Finn was able to ride the carousel again, and loved it.  After the zoo we had a nice, albeit a bit brisk, lunch up Millcreek.  Even though most of the leaves had already fallen it was still a beautiful day.  I tried to get some good pictures of the day, but it was impossible as I had my hands full with busy tired kids.
Speaking of pictures, we took family pictures the next day, and it was pretty much the most painful experience.  If you don't know this, miss Meg is a bit of a stoic personality, and we couldn't buy a smile from her.  Finn is just a busy 2 year old who doesn't do real smiles very often (he prefers the super cheesy, eyes closed grins).  Surprisingly, we got a few good family pictures, and several great ones of Finn.  Meg on the other hand only had about 2 decent photos *sigh* oh well.  We now have some new photos of the family and kids to put up...until next year I suppose.
This week we have a busy docket of Halloween festivities, including the ward carnival that we had on Wednesday.  I finished the kids costumes just in time, and had decided that Roy and I would be costume-less this year.  Roy surprised me by coming home with costumes for us.  I chose the smaller child-sized hot dog, and Roy is a pickle this year....leave it to Roy.  The pickle paid off though, as we won one of the family costume prizes.

 Meg...our drooly owl...she popped out her second bottom tooth a month after the first one.

 Daddy the pickle and the owl

 My little minion, and Lilly bug as thing 1 showing their stuff in the parade.  These were the only pictures that Finn would let me get of him.

 Finn especially loved the doughnut eating booth

He even did it with no hands
We had a good time, even if Finn gets completely shell shocked in big crowds and lines of people.  He is very much an introvert like his daddy.
Today we have Meg's 9 month appointment (even though she is nearly 10 months), and scary movie night with Jo Jo.  And tomorrow is the big family Halloween bash...should be lots of fun, and keep us plenty busy!

.a little fall & other BIG things.

October has been a slow month on the ol' blog, but that in no way reflects what has been going on.  First things first, and it's a bit of a doozie-

Yes...big...BiG...BIG surprise (I can't emphasize that enough), baby #3 is on the way due sometime around May 6th.  Don't ask me if I'm excited, because I'm not there yet, and probably wont be for awhile.  The timing seems like it couldn't be any worse, but all I can say is this little one must need to be here, and there is some peace in that.  We thought we would have a little more time to save enough for a house before we were totally busting at the seams, but it will have to wait for a bit longer.   It will probably be the last little Hoffman, and I'm ok with that...especially with being sick, tired, and sore during pregnancy.  I have a lot of mixed emotions about the whole thing that I won't bother getting into, but it's definitely going to be an adventure.

As far as my favorite time of year goes, October has been such a breath of fresh air amidst all the emotional turbulence.  We have been watching the orange gourds in the garden grow and grow with much anticipation.  Unfortunately, someone decided to recently come in and take all eight bulbous pumpkins for their own.  So we will be making a trip to the local patch to procure some new ones this week.

Sunday we celebrated Roy's release from Young Men's president with an afternoon drive up the canyon, a feat we could never have done before as he was usually occupied on Sunday's until later in the evening.  The mountains were cool and damp with low hanging clouds, which made the fall colors seem even more vibrant.

 Finn was more then happy to be climbing up and over all the rocks.

 I love FALL!

Yes, we took a picture with a huge granite rock behind us...good call.

Other fun things we have managed to fit in these past few weeks.
-taking advantage of a free invite to another pumpkin patch, and enjoying a family hayride.
-seeing lots of tractors
-digging through grain for candy...non chocolate of course
-seeing a real life fire truck when we went to grandma Caroline's for conference

little boy heaven

-lots of good walks to feed the ducks (and thanks to good friends for taking Finn while she walks her dog)

Other things that we will be doing before the end of the month...a zoo trip with cousins, lunch up Mill creek to collect leaves, pumpkin carving, scary movie night & dinner, family Halloween party, Ward Halloween Carnival, and of course trick or treating.  It's going to be a full month even if this momma is sick and exhausted all day.

.9.

I often wonder if I'm the only that thinks time is FLYING by way too fast.  I went back and read your birth story Meg, and it feels like it was such a short time ago.  But here we are at 9 months, and you have grown so much!  This past month you have mastered your crawl and get around quite quickly.  It scares me sometimes when I turn around in the kitchen, and you have silently crawled up right behind me.  Besides crawling, you love to pull yourself to standing on anything that is within arms length (i.e. couches, piano bench, train table, any person sitting or lying on the ground).  You have even started taking very timid steps around these objects, so I don't imagine it will be too long before you are walking in some form or another.
You have the sweetest little jabbers that just melt our hears, and makes brother laugh.  You have really latched onto Dadadadadad, and say it quite often with loud excitement.  It mirrors your love of daddy I guess because he's the one, besides Finn, that gets you the most excited.  I have to assume because he feeds your adrenaline need.  You especially love to be put on the couch and roll off over and over again.  It doesn't matter if you go head, feet, or back first, it all brings contented giggles and big smiles.  Another favorite game is clapping your hands, and the other day you discovered that if you slap your thighs you get a similar clapping sound.  Just try and imagine you giving your sweet thigh rolls a giggly slap...we both got a smile out of your discovery!
Mommy just wants to kiss on your sweet baby skin all day.  There is something completely irresistible about baby skin...how it feels and smells is absolutely the sweetest thing in the world.
Besides growing, eating, and sleeping, we just love being around our sweet little girl.  You make us all so incredibly happy, and we LOVE you!

 doing what you like to do best lately...standing like a big kid!

 just take in those thighs...all sweetness

 clapping with mommy

 what?!?

you were very interested in the camera this time around, and had to give the strap a little taste.