We love the Leaves!

Friday afternoon we went up Sundance to ride the lift up the mountain! The leaves were so beautiful, and it was a perfect opportunity to get family pictures! Grandma Harris came with us to enjoy the sights! While we were coming down the mountain on the lift, Lydia was getting squirmy and was trying to get up off my lap. While she was moving, her cute little shoe fell off and down the mountain! We counted the poles down and I took a picture of a landmark, so when we got down they were able to take Brent back up and get the shoe. While we were freaking out about it, we laughed to notice how many other shoes were on the mountain, as well as a bra that had been thrown in a tree! I guess people get pretty crazy up there!

Lydia loves her Daddy!

I love these pictures in the tall grass!

Lydia had fun throwing leaves in the river at Sundance! It was a beautiful day and the leaves were gorgeous! This has always been one of my favorite times of the year - I am definitely a leaf collector! I am glad we were able to get out and enjoy the leaves before the storm hit!

Lake Tahoe Trip and Race

We had such a blast last weekend at Lake Tahoe! We drove out with Shawny Lee (and Celeste and Isaac) Thursday afternoon and had so much fun getting to know them better! We stayed the night at Elko, then drove the rest of the way to Lake Tahoe Friday morning. Joe and Amy had arranged for us all to stay in a really nice "cabin" (a nice house!) in Zepher Cove, with the Frandsen's as well. It was so fun to have lots of kids for Lydia to follow around & it was fun to see everyone! We had fun settling in, then went down to a beach at Lake Tahoe, which was beautiful! Saturday morning was the big bike race - Brent, Joe, and Paul all did really well! We spent the rest of the day sightseeing - Lake Tahoe is such a beautiful place! I would love to go back and spend more time! Sunday morning we left for Utah and drove all day, getting back home around 9:00. It was a long drive, but it was worth it! I threw these pages together quick using Smilebox, just so I could get lots of pictures in!

Check out Karen's Cookies!

I want to tell everyone I know about my friend Karen's awesome cookie site - you have to check it out! If you are interested in Cookie decorating, this is the site for you! Karen has hundreds of awesome cookie cutters you can order on her site (yes, I have been collecting them!) as well as fun cookie kits, baking & decorating supplies, and other decorating items (sprinkles, sanding sugar, etc). Karen gives all of her great recipes for cookies and frosting available for free! She also has free tutorials on how to do everything from mixing the cookie dough to decorating with glaze, and even how to make cookie bouquets! Check out her gallery for hundreds of fun ideas!

Karen and her husband have done an awesome job building their business - it all started with a fun idea that Karen had to help people be able to decorate their cookies like an expert! Karen is so talented - you can tell by all of the awesome cookies she does! I got to live by her and Mike in Portland and am so sad I don't live closer now (I still pick Karen's brain whenever I have the chance)! Her husband designed her website (he has his own business designing websites & does such a great job!) I hope you have as much fun as I have looking through her site again and again! And be sure to tell everyone you know about it!

Here are some cookies I have done using cookie cutters I bought from Karen's site:

Shabby Chic Boutique Photo Shoot

My sister-in-law Angie had a photo shoot for her business, which she recently changed to Shabby Chic Boutique (used to be Baby Fab Accessories). Another sister-in-law, Amber, took the pictures & did an awesome job! Here are some of me and Lydia (who was really tired and not too happy, but we still got some cute pictures)! Angie sells the cute flower clips and tutu that Lydia is wearing, and the hat and flower clip that I am wearing.
Love the baby legs!
This is Lydia having a meltdown . . .
She goes for the hair (always the hair!) . . .And just yanks! Crazy monkey - I am glad Amber got this on camera!

Already a poser!
I love my Lydia!

Lydia's First Steps!

I was so excited that I got this on video - even if it is a bit crazy from my end! Lydia has been walking along furniture and walls really well for a month or so now, and has been randomly standing up on her own for the past couple of weeks. On August 12 she finally took some steps! I missed the first round, but was so glad that I got the second round on video!

Maybe I will write a book someday...

This video just makes me laugh! Lydia had been watching me while I was writing in her journal. She then went over to our computer desk and found a pad of paper and a "pen" (It was actually a container of lead for lead pencils) and then she started "writing". What was the funniest is how she had to get so close to her paper and how pleased she was with herself! Silly girl!

This is another of my favorites - when Lydia started saying "cheese" I was wondering where she got it - I really don't tell her to say cheese when I am taking her pictures. I think she picked it up elsewhere, but now every time I pull out the camera, I hear "cheese!"

Some of our favorite videos of Lydia during her 1st year

This one is hilarious to me - because I had just come home from a great sale at Old Navy and hadn't had a chance to take them out of the bag before Lydia got to them - along with all of her blankets of the shelf! She has always been soooooo busy!

I had been dancing with Lydia before Daddy got home, so he took it over when I was done. Lydia just loves her Daddy, and loves to laugh!

Just the beginning of Lydia's mischievousness! (Warning - this is a long one)

Sitting in a cloud....of kleenex!

And now crackers that daddy left out!

Lydia had lots to say! Silly Girl! (And don't you just LOVE her hair? ha ha!)

Payson Pool