Check out my Slide Show!

I'm feeling very family-sick lately and since I just learned how to make one of these slides (thanks, Natalie!), I thought I would try it out with some of my favorite family pictures. The thing is, since I'm missing my family so much, it ended up being quite a few pictures. So, I'm just warning you that this is a little bit lengthy.

All I Want for Halloween is My Two Front Teeth

That's right! Bryce finally got tooth!!! Now he just needs to learn how to use it. This is a photo taken at Blake's office Halloween party. One of the offices was decorated like the wild west so we had to get a picture of the kids in their costumes, of course.

A funny Kayli story: Last night we had tacos for dinner. Kayli told me she didn't want to eat the black beans. I told her to eat it so it could make her grow bigger and stronger. It worked and she ate it. Then she asked me if she could go in the cars in the water. It took me a couple minutes but I finally figured out that she was referring to a ride at the fair we went to a month ago.   She couldn't go on most of the rides because she was too short.  So, now after eating her black bean, she wanted to know if she was big enough to ride. I have to keep in mind how literally she takes things before telling her another "mom-ism" like that one again!

They're Heeere!

I finally got the pictures of the kids from their Halloween sitting! Enjoy!

I love this one!

Don't you love the pucker!

He has the cutest smile!

Good Bye, Summer... Hello Fall!!!

Well, it's starting to cool down.  Sort of.  But we have been enjoying fall activities with or without the fabulous weather we should be having.  First and foremost of course, leaf peeping.

Just a random hillside I snapped through Blake's window while we drove.

Not sure about Kayli's monkey face, but we thought the colors looked so beautiful reflected in the water.

We didn't really capture the colors, but aren't they so sweet!?

So many good things to look at--and this one I get to look at year round!

The budding photographer in Blake

But that's not all the fall we've been enjoying...

People set up "scarecrows" all along Main Street in Old Wethersfield.  Kayli quickly made friends with this guy.

She thought each of these babies deserved a good hug

Blake's other wife.

Just kidding! His cousin Melissa came to visit us with her family. It was a short visit because we had Stake Conference but it's always so nice to see friends and family.

Pumpkin Carving! Well, in Kayli's case it's "Pumpkin Painting".  I don't think she'd have much fun carving since I won't let her go near the knife.  

You may be wondering why I gave her a plate full of army green to paint with.  I gave her several lovely colors, this is what they look like when she mixes them all together.  I tried.

The finished products. Blake helped Kayli add a little color to hers.  His is the cat and mine is the ghost. Sadly, they are sitting out in the mudroom now because the landlord ripped up the front porch the day after we did this. 

 Somehow a hole had caved in through one of the steps. He was kind enough to suggest that I use the back door until we have front steps again. Because otherwise I might have just leaped out the front door to go places.

There May be Bugs on Some of You Mugs, But There Ain't No Ticks on Me!

I have Lyme Disease!

So, some of you know that I have been feeling increasingly unwell for sometime now. I finally consented to going to a doctor and we actually got a diagnosis. None of us can remember a time when I was in a place that would have ticks, so it must have been some pretty determined tick. I still have to go back to the doctor to find out all the details. For now I'm on an antibiotic that makes me sicker than the Lyme Disease ever has. I love it! Actually, it is really nice to know what is wrong and that it's curable. Besides what stay in Connecticut would be complete without a tick bite? Lyme Disease was named after Old Lyme, CT after all.

Blake has discovered a method for creating insane amounts of bubbles in the bath. This is good because I'm starting to feel like Kayli is too old for bathtub pictures, but the bubbles make her completely modest. 

Modest is hottest.

Am I a horrible mom if I think it's funny to put things on my children's heads?  Bryce actually thinks it's really funny too.  He always laughs when I do it.

There have been some complications with the on-line version of the Halloween photos of the kids but I will be posting them ASAP.  You may get the actual photos in the mail first.  We bought pumpkins the other day too so you can look forward to pics from the carving/painting whenever we find the time to do it.  I'm pretty excited for Halloween but I'm having a hard time getting into the mode since it's still in the 70's outside.  Grrr.

Husband's a CPA

Deloitte and Touche (Blake's firm) has brainwashed me. I remember when he was in school, I couldn't wait for him to graduate because then we'd have so much time together since he wouldn't have to study. But then he graduated and he still had to study for the first few months to pass the CPA exam. Then I thought life would be great after that, but the busy season hit, and the hours got longer. And longer, and longer. 

Last night Blake called to tell me he was coming home and we were all so excited because he was coming home early!! Then I looked at the clock--it was 6:40! And we think that's early to be leaving the client?!? It is when I didn't expect him home until 9 at the earliest. Yeah, we've been brainwashed.

This is our latest family photo, taken at the Durham Fair.

Kayli and Bryce enjoying a Halloween package from Grandma Roper.  Kayli regularly asks if she can go trick-or-treating.  She is so excited.

Blake and Bryce taking a Sunday afternoon snooze

A mini-Albuquerque reunion! Welcome home, Greg!

Kayli and her friend--made by Aunt Belky. "Look, Mommy! She haves hair braids like me!"

What's in a Name?

"Mommy, can I hold you?" Then with her arms around my neck and patting my back, "Mommy? You remember I love you, Mommy?" 

How did I ever get to be so blessed?

I don't know if it's considered a milestone, but Kayli has finally started naming things. You know how most kids have a doll or a toy that they've given some name like Mr. StinkyFace or Munchie or whatever.  Up until now, Kayli wouldn't do that.  Her dolls are all called, "Baby." She almost got creative with her favorite toy, "Horsey". He is a stuffed horse, in case you couldn't guess. But a couple days ago I heard her playing with some skeleton Halloween decorations, calling one "Lita." The other two are Grandpa and Daddy, but the little girl has a name!

And today we were visited by two ghosts at lunch, a big one named "Avive" and a little one named "Stavive."  I'm not sure where she comes up with these names, but it's fun. Oh, and don't worry, they were friendly ghosts.

Just in Time for Halloween

A little over a year and a half ago, we found these little guys in our recycling bin out back. We were kind of freaked out, but they were outside so it wasn't a big deal. Then a couple weeks ago, a dead one showed up in our back porch. Icky, since it's an enclosed porch, but still not enough to cause concern--it was dead. But then yesterday I saw one scurrying across the living room floor! It ran under a little table that we keep our shoes under. By the time Blake and I looked under it all, the mini-monster was nowhere to be seen.

I looked it up on-line to try to identify it. It's known as a house centipede and the guy said they are harmless and to leave it alone because it eats other bugs. However, I'm not sure I can trust someone who calls himself "Bugman" and thinks it is a tragic crime to kill one of these. Personally, I think I'd rather take my chances with the other bugs. There aren't many of them and they are smaller with fewer legs. Actually, we really haven't had a bug problem here. But suddenly over the weekend we had two spiders and now this.

I'm starting to suspect the landlord again...

Consider the Lilies...

This is a part of a bouquet Blake gave me a few weeks ago. The picture doesn't do it full justice. It was HUGE! And so beautiful. Lilies are one of my favorites but something about their smell reminds me of a cadaver lab. Weird.

It's been a fun weekend in the Roper household. Blake and I went to a performance of Jekyll & Hyde. It was done by a local community theater because it's currently only on tour in Germany. It was so fantastic though. The only bad part was that the guy playing Jekyll and Hyde was WAY too over the top with his performance, in my opinion. Fortunately, he did have a very talented voice and the two lead females were phenomenal. I've been wanting to see this particular musical since some friends introduced me to in college. I still am hoping to see it on Broadway if it ever comes back, but this was a lot of fun. Thanks to my fantastic friends who watched the kids for us so we could really enjoy the evening. The best part of it was that it was my birthday present. My wonderful thoughtful husband thought of this all on his own. That's why I love him so much!

On another note, I'm feeling cheated. I love fall. I spend the rest of the year anticipating it and when it is finally here, I bask in the beauty and freshness of it. The temperature is perfect. It smells so nice. The food is great. It's just wonderful. Yesterday's high was 87. 87 DEGREES!?!? It's October. Last week we had a couple days that were over 90 and humid. Yuck! It hasn't rained in a while so our grass is brown and dead. Ours is the brownest in the neighborhood so we're wondering if our landlord poisoned it in an effort to get us to move out. He used to love us but now thinks we're the worst tennants ever. We're not really sure why. Anyway, I think it's finally supposed to cool down and rain this week, so hopefully I will be feeling better next week and enjoying some true fall weather.

Last night we went for a walk before dinner. When we got back it was dark and Kayli dropped her spider ring (you know, the cheap plastic rings in abundance this time of year) somewhere on the driveway as Blake was carrying her inside. We got a flashlight and looked all over for it but couldn't find it. I told her we could get a new one. I forgot about it. Then we sat down to bless the food at dinner and as I was praying Kayli interjected, "Please bless my spider ring that we couldn't find." So, we prayed that we'd be able to find it in the morning. Honestly, I didn't have high hopes since it was just a cheap little ring and hardly seemed significant to anyone but Kayli. But this morning we were on our way out and there it was at the bottom of the porch steps. It's been pretty windy and it rained a little but somehow that ring was still there. We immediately said another prayer of gratitude--well, first Kayli just yelled, "Thanks, Heavenly Father!" But I was humbled to witness her simple faith and the love that Heavenly Father has for her, that it was important enough for him to help us find that ring because it mattered to her.

Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbean

Kayli is obsessed with carousels.

???

Mommy's Little Helper

Bryce's first bubble bath. Kayli decorated his head with the bubbles.

Story time. This was back when Bryce used to cry all the time.

Bryce's 5 month picture. As you can tell, he got over the crying all the time thing.

The title of this is not a typo. That's how Kayli really sings the song. For those of you not familiar with this little children's song, it's supposed to be "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam." Symbolically, of course, meaning we should let our lights shine forth to the world. She also told me that they learned about "Joseph Sniff" in nursery a couple weeks ago. I guess I need to make sure we're going to the same church. She is pretty funny though--both intentionally and unitentionally.

Bryce absolutely adores her. This is somewhat amazing since she seems to enjoy experimenting with him, seeing how many times she can poke or squeeze his face, or how long she can keep her mouth over his, or if maybe today she is strong enough to pick him up--always lifting him by his head, of course. These things always end when either I come in and discover them, or he starts screaming. But half the time I catch her doing these mischievious things and he's grinning from ear to ear. Makes no sense to me. Yet I am grateful for it because it definitely helps that they like each other so much. They actually play together really well most of the time. She really likes to make him smile and he smiles at almost everything she does, so it works out well. These are just some recent pictures of the two of them. We got their Halloween Pictures done yesterday so you have something to look forward to in a week or two when we get those back.

Can we help it if our kids are so adorable?