Weekend photo sesh

Because who doesn't love more pictures? We went a little snap happy this weekend. And people probably think we're weird for having so many photos of our kids kissing. But seriously, we just say "Give kisses!" and Em goes for it. That girl is gonna be trouble in a few years...

Fall has arrived!

Here in Texas, we don't experience that thing known as "seasons" the way other people do. It's mostly hot, hotter, oh-my-gosh-I'm-dying hot, and slightly less hot. But this weekend we got a rare blessing - a wonderful fall day. Just a little chill in the air, perfect for sweaters and boots.

We also got another wonderful blessing, our sweet family friends drove up from Houston to spend the weekend with us. We took advantage of both those things to make a trip to Sweet Berry Farms. We went last year, but this year was so much more fun now that Em is big enough to really enjoy it. We spent all afternoon playing in the pumpkins, jumping on the bouncy thing, going on hayrides and feeding goats. It was a perfect day! Which means, of course, we took entirely way too many photos. Behold:

For some reason, she thought the pumpkins were hilarious. She kept laughing at them.

So many sweet baby kisses!

Hayride!

I don't know why she holds her arm out like that, but it cracks us up.

Best 25 cents we spent all day.

Mama... so heavy!

Emma LOVED listening to the live piano music. And dancing, of course.

This jumpy thing scared me to death. Emma on it scared other parents, too. She's fearless.

She got some serious air on that thing.

Love her. 

They're going to be best friends.

The best pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

Every time I make these cookies, Hans becomes the most popular guy at work. I can't take any credit for them, it's a recipe I got from my mom many years ago. I don't know exactly where she got it from. And I'm probably going to regret sharing the recipe now because it's my secret weapon. But it's too good not to share.

They are pumpkiny. Soft. Pillowy. Just a hint of spice and chocolatey. They're super easy to make, just be careful not to over-bake. The softer the better. The recipe makes just under four dozen, depending on size. Make them now.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
12 oz. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. I use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, but you could definitely use a hand mixer. Add in vanilla, pumpkin and egg and beat to until mixed.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add all at once to the butter mixture and stir just to combine. Don't over mix! Gently stir in chocolate chips.

Drop onto a prepare cookie sheet (I prefer parchment paper, but greased works). Bake for 16-17 minutes until just starting to brown.

October Conference Printables (Part I)

Hello again, friends!

If you've noticed that I have been a bit MIA lately, there are several things going on over here. But the one you're probably most interested in is that I have been putting together printables from general conference last weekend!

I always very much look forward to conference and feel that I get so much out of it, but this one was exceptional. I don't know why, but I felt the spirit more strongly than usual and more of the talks seemed to resonate with me. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that continues to speak with us in these latter days and grateful for the righteous wisdom of our beloved prophet and apostles. I hope that you had a chance to enjoy this conference as much as I did and that these quotes will find their way onto your bathroom mirror and above your kitchen sink to serve as little reminders of the truth bombs that were dropped on us this weekend. Enjoy!

2014 October General Conference printables (all 12 as a PDF)

Cheryl A Esplin (jpg)

Eduardo Gavarret (jpg)
(Gorgeous wreath and vines graphics from We Lived Happily Ever After. She has many to pick from and they are free for personal use!)

Lynn G. Robbins (jpg)
(Arrow graphics also from We Lived Happily Ever After).

Neil L Andersen (jpg)

Dallin H Oaks (jpg)

Dieter F Uchtdorf (jpg)

Tad R. Callister (jpg)

Chi Hong Wong (jpg)

D. Todd Christofferson (jpg)

Boyd K Packer (jpg)

L. Tom Perry (jpg)

Jorg Klebingat (jpg)

Thanks to Elle Designs for some of the awesome digital papers.

Family photos and everything else

Before we left, we went down to the beach so my dad could take some family photos for us. Photos with an energetic toddler are near impossible. And the sun was a little too strong, so they didn't turn out fantastic. But I'm glad that we have them.

One week in California and she became a perfect, model beach baby

Dat tongue!

These two together is one of the best things ever.

So glad Bapa is her best friend.

And I don't really know where else to put the rest of the photos from our trip, so I'm just going to drop them here. You're welcome ;)

My cute little baby's foot. Squee.

Crazy girl

Even in California we kept our PF Chang's birthday tradition.

She wasted no time making herself right at home at Bapa's house

Including wearing his shoes around the house

You can actually play in the backyard in California! And my cute cousin Ashlie came to play.

Our last dinner at Pacific Coast Grill. Amazing. Thanks so much dad!

The sure sign of a good trip? This the entire way to the airport. Yessssss.

And that was our trip! It was really wonderful and the perfect first family vacation.