SO EMBARRASSING

Dear Cheryl,

Thank you for not giving me the reprimand I probably deserved after you brought me my son, whom you had to stop from running out in the street. When I start talking, I get distracted and sometimes I lose track of CJ (ask the umps from Bryce's intramural softball games). I know, Mother of the Year, right? I think I'll ask Santa for one of those toddler leashes...not so much for CJ's sake, but for mine. Do you think he'd hate me? Anyway, thank you for your understanding smile as you handed me my winded toddler (obviously from running up the stairs, out the door, and into the unfenced front yard). And thank you for listening to the Spirit who told you to go upstairs. The question is, why didn't I feel that prompting?! Probably because I was too enveloped in discussing, what? I don't even know. Cheap flights? Anyway, it's not like you don't already do enough. The kinder-music class you offer as a service to moms is incredible and I'm sorry that today I was that mom who expects others to watch their kid. I promise, I'll try not to let it happen again. 

Humbly, 

Paige

Dear Tiffany, 

Thank you for letting me borrow your phone to call my husband after I locked my keys in the car. Even though your super hi-tech medical phone thingy went way over my head and you had to do everything for me, from sending a text to dialing the stinkin' number - and I'm sure I was much more of a burden than you let on - I really appreciate you sticking around after music class so that you could help me get things figured out, even though you have two kids of your own and had things to go and do. And thank you for not getting annoyed with me for parking so awkwardly behind you when I got to class. You had to practically grease your car up in order to slide it past mine and the other car parked on the street when you left. You were a lifesaver and your help really meant so much to me!

Sincerely, 

Paige

Dear Bryce, 

Even though I know you were annoyed, thank you for not making me feel like a total idiot when you found out that I had locked our only Honda key in the car, and that on that keychain was the key to our locked townhome as well. Even though we both knew that the only other way to open the car was the clicker, which was inside our locked townhome, and that the only other key to our home (besides the one locked in the car), was also locked inside our home on the keychain that you usually have (but not today), you so thoughtfully bit your tongue. And thank you for even trying to take some of the blame by saying that you knew you should have taken those keys today even though you didn't need them.
Regardless, we both know that I was just being a huge ditz when I unlocked the car door, put the diaper bag (which had my cell phone) and keys on the seat, pushed what I thought was the "unlock" button to open the back door for our kids, and then shut the car door again just as I realized that I had actually pushed the "lock" button. As I stared dumbfounded at the keys on the seat, knowing that only a 1/4 inch of glass separated me from my dignity, I wished there was a rock big enough for me to crawl under.

So thank you for using your break between classes (and even missing a class too) to come and rescue your silly wife. Thank you for the sweet smile that you met me with when you arrived to pick us up, and for your warm hug to let me know that you didn't mind.

Thank you for sharing that great apple fritter with me as we waited for the landlord to unlock our townhome.

I love you!

Paige

Dear Jim,

Thank you for being such a great landlord! I'm sorry that I'm too lazy to get an extra key or two made that we can stash somewhere for just such occasions so that we don't have to drag you from Cheney just to unlock our front door. Thank you for not complaining or even giving a hint of inconvenience, and thank you for trying to not accept our small token of appreciation (even if you were just feigning :) who doesn't love a good gift card to Starbucks?! they have great hot chocolate and apple fritters). Someday I hope to live up to all the tenant-potential I may have!

With much appreciation,

Paige

Dear Mattie and CJ,

Thank you for being so patient with Mommy today. CJ, you sat so quietly on Sis. Shirley's couch as we waited for Daddy. Granted, you were eating a sucker, which you fortunately finished only minutes before Daddy came to pick us up, but you didn't touch anything with your sticky fingers - thank you! And Mattie, thank you for choosing to sleep through the whole ordeal. I know you were starving and absent-minded Mommy locked your bottle in the car with the keys. We both know how upset you would have been had you been aware of this dire situation, so I really appreciate you keeping your opinions to yourself and simply sleeping like an angel.

Love you two!

Mommy

WHEN YOU LEAVE CJ UP TO HIS OWN DEVICES...

...you end up with silliness like this:

...and messes likes this:

(yes, that's peanut butter in CJ's hair)

Despite the clean-up, we love our silly, messy boy!!

ACCEPTED

After praying and fasting, we have decided to officially accept the job offer Bryce received from Jeffers Danielson Sonn & Aylward. And to be honest, after Bryce was offered the internship position last year, we both kinda knew that this is where we would end up after graduation. We are grateful for this wonderful opportunity that awaits us in Wenatchee and cannot wait to start the next chapter in our lives...that is, of course, after Bryce graduates in May and then takes the bar in July :). We most definitely feel the Hand of the Lord in our lives and have faith that we are doing His will and that great blessings lie in store for us in Wenatchee.

FAMILY PICTURES

I never cease to be amazed by the talent that surrounds me (I wish I could find a little), and last week was no exception. One of our friends here in Spokane, Ashlee Corrigan (whose husband is a 3L law student as well), offered her time and talent to give us a wonderful collection of family photos. With over 300 to choose from, the following photos are just a few of our favorites. Thank you again, Ashlee!!

click on the grids to enlarge the pics

GROWING UP SO FAST

These days, it seems like CJ is changing everyday. He is constantly learning new words and surprising us with them, and showing us his independence in lots of ways. He must feel empowered by his growing ability to communicate, because he tends to think he will get everything he can ask for :). Here's just a few tidbits of our growing boy:

- When CJ asks to watch a movie, he turns off the big screen tv because he wants to watch it on the laptop or the small portable DVD player

- Paige had gotten used to being called "Bobby," but recently (and finally) CJ started saying "Mommy" instead. It's nice because he still calls Mattie "Bobby," and it was a little confusing sometimes

- CJ used to say "yea" instead of yes - which we loved - but now he says "ok," which is still pretty cute. And sometimes he will precede it with "ummm," so we get "ummm, ok" :)

- Lately, CJ likes to play on the vent in our hallway. He takes toys one by one and places them on the vent and then sits down and plays

- CJ loves to repeat what we say. For example, the other day Paige was driving and she said "holy cow" when we went down a big hill unexpectedly. CJ immediately repeated his mommy and said "cow." On top of that, CJ didn't forget it, and he said it again the next day!

- CJ follows up hugs by saying, "kiss," and gives us a kiss

- When asked, "Guess what," CJ almost always replies, "Papa" (probably because whenever we're going to see Papa we say, "CJ, guess what? We're gonna see Papa." :)

- He has started saying "poop" to get out of things, like his car seat or bed, even though he doesn't actually have a dirty diaper

- When we say prayers with CJ at night, he has started listing people to bless, "Papa, Baba, Kelsey, JJ, Audrey, etc...

- The other night when CJ went to bed and was asked if he wanted to sing a song, he asked specifically for "ABCs." He also wanted to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, so he sang the line "Up above the world so high"

- Lately, CJ has really recognized possessives: "Mommy's hair," "Daddy's sock," "Bobby's shoe," and of course, "Mine." In the picture below, his bobble-head baseball players are sitting on their chair :)



- CJ's been such a good boy and sharing a lot with Mattie lately...unfortunately, most of what he shares is FOOD! :)

We love our little boy so much and have so much fun watching him learn and grow!!

TRYING TO BE BIG LOSERS

Bryce's family started a three month Biggest Loser Challenge on September 14th. Here are Bryce and Paige's results for month one:

Bryce lost a total of 4.6 lbs which is a 2.2% total loss

Paige lost a total of 4.7 lbs which is a 3.3% total loss

Ok, so we're not dropping big numbers like the contestents on the show, but considering our lives don't consist of just working out all day, we're doing pretty well.

Paige is currently tied with Bryce's mom, Sheila for second place, behind Bryce's little sister Kelsey, who is in first place with a 5.4% total loss.

There's a $250 prize on the line here, so we'll try to step it up this next month!

Go Family!!

MILESTONE PORTRAITS

Sorry it took me so long to get these up, Mom! Here are the kids' recent portraits:

CJ's 2 yr picture

Mattie's 6 mo picture

Our attempt to get the two siblings photographed together...

THE BIG 5-0

Bryce's dad, Greg, turned 50 on October 1st. We weren't able to be there on the actual day, but we drove out to Seattle the next day to spend the weekend enjoying Conference and celebrating Greg's special birthday. While we were there we got to...

...give Bryce's dad his birthday gift (it's a memory book with pictures from his life and letters from his family)

...see Bryce's little sister, Kelsey, go to her Homecoming dance

(Paige wanted a pic with just Kelsey because she did Kelsey's hair...it turned out really pretty)

...play at Papa's party

...give everyone a "cheesy" smile


...get stuck under the computer desk


...and most importantly, we got to spend time with Papa!!

GOING BANANAS...

...and squash and biter biscuits

Do we even need to mention how much Mattie likes to eat? :)

click on the grid to enlarge

SWING TIME

Mattie's first time in the swing

GOOD TIMES WITH CJ

"Who wants chocolate?"

CJ's first time on the big boy swing

"Give me that camera"

BATHTUB FUN

Now that Mattie can sit up on her own, she's been taking baths with her brother and LOVES it! This is the first picture we've gotten of them together, and if you notice the green ball in her hands, it speaks loud and clear of Mattie's anything-you-can-have-I-can-have-too attitude she's had toward CJ lately :). For the most part, CJ does ok with it, though we're pretty sure that CJ will probably teach Mattie one of her first words: "Mine."

BECCA'S BABY SHOWER

One of my close friends, Becca Adams, is about to have her third baby - but FIRST BOY - so one of my other close friends, Heather Dobbs, and I got together to throw her a little baby shower.

Becca with all the yummy treats at her shower. Don't you wish you looked as great as she does when you're pregnant (I sure do)?!

Becca with all her fun gifts

All the ladies (minus Polly Anderson, who came later) L-R: Misty Wells, Becca Adams, Mauressa Juassi (and London), Erin Mayfield, me, Heather Dobbs

It was so nice to be able to get together and hang-out with just the ladies (it doesn't happen enough), but it was even better to be able to do something small for Becca. She is such a great mom and wonderful friend that she really deserved it! We love you, Becca!

IT'S NOT THAT BIG...

...but there IS some sort of crafty bone in my body somewhere. Here's the proof:

Baby shower decor (and then the guest of honor took it home with her)

Homemade cake-pops for aforementioned baby shower (we won't get into how long it took me to make these, but I will mention that they actually tasted pretty yummy :)

*I know it may seem like I'm boasting, but really, this post is for personal record only*