.The Muppets! (updated)

Ambs and Air as

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Kermit and Miss Piggy!
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UPDATE! The Costume Breakdown:

I got my miss piggy wig at Value Village for $10. This is the most expensive part of our entire costumes. I made my nose, ears, and tail out of pink craft foam. Just a little hot glue did the trick! The dress came from my Mother-in-law's bottomless closet, as did the fur wrap. We got the feather boa from our friends at our wedding (Thanks Harkers and Haitsmas!).

I found the frog hat at a second hand store and made a few tweaks to it to look like Kermit. It came with the sweet gloves. I made Air's green collar by cutting up a sheet of felt and reinforced it with hot glue. He already had the green jacket and the pants are his Dad's.

I should mention that Air does a mean impression of Kermit. So good.

Oh Kermie.........

Happy Halloween friends!

.carve-o-ween!

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Gusa Pumpkin Carve 2011
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.T+T Wedding

*inside page of the wedding invitation, designed by Air

We had a fantastic wedding weekend away.

We drove down to Cardston (7 hrs) on Friday morning with Josh and Tessa and we got there before anyone else so we spent a few hours wandering up and down the cute main street going to little shops. It was so much fun.

I so, totally and completely enjoyed seeing the mountains again. I miss them so much in Edmonton…

Everyone else finally arrived at the hotel and we got to spend the rest of the evening in the temple for Tara.

Can I just tell you, the Cardston Temple is probably one of the most beautiful and has the most fantastically stylized design I have ever seen (the style is comparable to my favorite architect/designer, Frank Lloyd Wright). I wish I could go to that temple every time. Why must it be so far away…

and here is our fancy-dancy hotel room:

Probably the best part of the whole trip was the fact that our entire family, including cousins/aunts/uncles were all staying here in the same hotel. We had so much fun hanging out with everyone there.

The next morning we arrived back at the temple for the ceremony. It was an incredible experience.

And then we waited outside…

The happy couple came out shining!

We took lots of photos at the temple (I will be sharing some in a later post).

We had a delicious luncheon there in Cardston and then everyone headed back up north to Rocky Mountain House for the reception—a five hour drive! Needless to say, it was a very tight schedule.

But the reception was amazing

We drove the entire 2 1/2 hours home that night around midnight after take-down… and spent the whole next day in a state of rest from so much excitement.

More, BETTER pictures are on their way!

.I am Cinderella

Last week Air and I sat down after a long day.

Something caught my eye across the room and we both witnessed a mouse quickly jut out from under a door and then go right back the way he came. The door to our laundry room... ugh

I was freaked out.

But the next day I pretty much made best friends with the little guy when I was home alone during the morning and he popped out from under that door about 10 more times. I was scared at first, but then I realized that he must have felt pretty comfortable with me since he stayed out this time. I watched him go behind our furniture and under our computer desk, and then he just sorta hung out there for a while... about 8 feet away from where I was sitting. No big deal.

I started to think of some positive things about having a mouse around.

-he eats all the spiders

-he eats the bugs

-he eats the crumbs we drop in the kitchen

-maybe he’ll make me a dress for the ball?

But mostly I was just thinking of how soon I could get some mouse traps set up and an exterminator in here to mouse-proof our house.

That evening while I was at work Air was on a mission.

He sent me a text complete with a photo: mission phase one complete

And then this one: mission phase two complete

So there were two mice…. and you know what? I haven’t seen a single spider in this apartment for weeks!

So there’s that.

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Hey look, pumpkins are out! I am so excited and getting ready for Halloween!

Costumes are in the works for sure…

.family

It is one of the best things in life to watch your family grow larger and larger, person by person, as time goes by.

Both of my families are always expanding and duplicating, and there will always be room for more. No matter how big we get. I can’t imagine living in a family that never expanded. I would be sad.

That’s what I love to think about as I look at this new family photo.

New people are filling in the vacant spaces we had in photos from the past. It’s wonderful!

You know, I have probably the best family-in-law in the universe, every single person in this family is incredible and I love each of them so much. We have the perfect mixture and balance of personalities between us. I have been so blessed by them.

The only thing that could possibly make this family any better would be knowing we’d be together for eternity. Oh wait.

We’re all headed down to Cardston for Tara's wedding this weekend!

*****SOOO EXCITEDDD*****

.a functioning cog

Air was assigned to head up our ward’s portion of the Edmonton-wide food bank drive for the Church.

We’ve been announcing and planning and routing our area for months, and last week it finally all came together.

Air and I delivered our flyers on Monday night and had so much fun.

On Tuesday I had even more fun when I went out with all of the mutual kids to deliver more flyers for families who couldn’t do theirs.

And then on Saturday we picked up the donations off people’s porches.

It was amazing.

There were so many donations!

I keep thinking of these lines from a song I love by one of my favorite bands, Fleet Foxes:

I was raised up believing I was somehow unique

like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes

unique in each way you can see

and now after some thinking I'd say I'd rather be

a functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me

Isn’t that an incredible line? I’m in love with it, because I agree completely with it.

It is so great to be a part of something bigger than myself, doing small and simple acts, that really don’t seem so small and simple once added upon by all of the other member’s small acts being done.

Everyone in our ward who went out and delivered these flyers and talked to people about the church and the service project was blessed so much. And I know they all felt just as good about it as Air and I did.

It’s an incredible feeling you get from doing something good.

And being a part of something so good.

here, have a listen:

.thanks given

Thanksgiving came early this year, again. Blowing me away... again. It just doesn't feel right at this time of year, I can't seem to get over it! I think it’s because I’m still in denial (a bit) of the fact that winter is coming.

The turkey was delicious, and we thoroughly appreciated every bite! And no matter when Thanksgiving comes, its always a great opportunity to think and to remember my blessings. This year Airbear and I are both grateful that we have our sanity and intelligence. That we can make good choices and keep good relationships with the people we love. These are the things that bring us happiness especially as we deal (everyday) with disabled kids who don’t seem to have the ability to make good choices and keep good relationships. No matter how badly they seem to want it.

I’m also grateful that Air works with all these kids, to help them make their lives better. His work is for a wonderful cause, and every bit of stress he has from it is worthwhile.

Just like every bit of work put into preparing this meal was worthwhile! (thanks Ma Goose!)

We went for a walk after dinner and enjoyed the Autumn leaves.

And here's a little video I made for your enjoyment

Shortly after filming this I was ambushed. Those little stinkers snuck up and threw me into the pile (which I was not planning on jumping into). Ah well. haha

HAPPY AUTUMN FRIENDS!