Happy Halloween!

Thank you so much Camille Gifford for lending us this adorable outfit! We love our "lil' Punkin"!

We put Macy into her costume the evening she got it and had to take pictures (because I am obsessive like that!). She made so many funny, "scary" faces I wanted to put them all together. Gerald chose the cute ones, and Macy's first Halloween card was born. We are excited to go to the ward Trunk-or-Treat and show off.

Favorites!

So, I am so grateful that Gerald posted with a few pictures of our wonderful trip-- but I had put all of my favorite pictures into a folder he couldn't find.











I cannot say enough about this wonderful trip! Gerald, Macy and I flew to Boise on October 11thand Grandma Cherie and Grandpa Kirk picked us up at the airport, introduced us to chocolate caramel apples at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company, and brought us safely to Blackfoot in a crazy snow storm! Macy traveled so well~she was wonderful on the plane and in the car-- she just lost her patience about 10 minutes outside of Pocatello. She had had enough of eating from bottles and sitting in her chair. After a nice break she did great the rest of the way to Blackfoot.

We loved going to church in Mom and Kirk's ward and seeing all of our friends. Then Grandma Willa came to meet Macy-- they were fast friends! Macy loves Grandma Willa and we got to spend lots of time with her on this trip. Macy also got to meet Grandma and Grandpa Harper and Grandma and Grandpa Clawson. I was not as good as I should have been at taking pictures-- but Macy loved meeting all of her Great Grandparents! She is so lucky to have 6 Great Grandparents! We still need to get to Illinois to meet Grandma Rich.

This trip was so much fun! Thank you Grandma Cherie and Grandpa Kirk for making it happen! We love you so much!

Macy's Photoshoot at Grandma's

Hey bloggers, this is Gerald:

Momma has been busy lately with her travels back from Idaho, so I didn't want to keep our Macy watchers from her newest poses! Here she is in her photo shoot at Grandma's. I took all the pictures, and I am pretty proud of the results. When you have such a beautiful little model, though, you don't need that much skill to get a good shot.











Does this remind you of anything Lacy? Mom always forced us to practice piano, but you were the one who really got upset about it like this! Like Lacy, like Macy. Auntie Martha will show you how to play, Macy!!




This picture was taken after a blow-out in the bathtub. Macy liked being crammed in the sink!



Here are the Aunties, Uncles, and Cousins! We had a nice time showing Macy off to the family!







This is with Macyn Cherie and Grandma Cherie:

Reading List

I LOVE to read! Since Macy was born I have enjoyed stealing moments to myself to read good books-- and I have read some really great ones lately!

My mom bought me The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright (The Christmas Jars) when Macy was born. I loved it. It made me want to be better than I am, and it made me cry. Also it made me want to write a novel. This book reminded me of growing up in a small town where everyone knows everyone and news travels fast. It reminded me that there are some people who are just good and generous. It reminded me of losing a parent, and getting to know them better after they are gone. It was not just sad, it was sweet, romantic, funny, and tragic. This is a great book.


I picked up The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice on the "staff picks" table at our library. It took me back in time to 1950s England. It reminded me of one of my best friends. It made me want to go back to England and it made me want to talk to my Grandma about Johnny Ray. This book took me back to the time when I had to figure out the difference between loving rock stars, loving unattainable older men, and being in love for real. Mostly though, it made me want to dress up and go to fancy parties!


Gerald read The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly for work. As soon as he finished it he said I had to read it. This book was not what I thought it would be. It is a story about teaching people how to dream again-- because reality has usually squashed that out of us by adulthood. It teaches that in order to get what you need from people you must help them to fulfill their dreams. And in order to get what you want from your own life you have to identify your dreams. Because of this book I am dreaming again-- in real, concrete, make-a-plan kinds of ways. If you manage people, or teach them, or interact with people at all, you must read this book. It will change your perspective on motivation!



My Book Club is reading Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray for their October meeting. I won't make it to the party, but I loved the book. It is not what I expected, it was not fluffy. It was a great read, and it made me want to bake, and eat.

Best Quote:

"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial pat. Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who declined the plate, and they all think, 'That person is better than I am. That person has discipline.' But that isn't a person with discipline, that is a person who has completely lost touch with joy. A slice of cake never made anybody fat. You don't eat the whole cake. You don't eat a cake every day of your life. You take the cake when it is offered because the cake is delicious. You have a slice of cake and what it reminds you of is someplace that's safe, uncomplicated, without stress. A cake is a party, a birthday, a wedding. A cake is what is served on the happiest day of your life.

"This is a story of how my life was saved by cake, so, of course, if sides are to be taken, I will always take the side of cake."

I am going to post about the books I read now because every time I read a good book I want to tell people about it. Good books are best when shared with friends; when they are picked apart and related to. I hope you get a chance to read these ones, they are worth every word. And let me know what you are reading, I am looking for recommendations!

Call the 90s! Macy is ready to audition with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch!

So, Papa dressed Macy, sort of... Isn't she a cute little thug?

Lots and Lots of Questions!

1. Do you like blue cheese? No, moldy cheese should always be thrown away.
2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? No, and second hand smoke makes me sick—seriously sick.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Oceanwater—Coconut (but not really coconut)
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment? Always
6. What do you think of hot dogs? There was nothing wrong with a good hot dog, when I was 6 months pregnant.
7. Favorite Christmas Song? I love them all, but “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” jumped into my head.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Carnation Instant Breakfast, Chocolate
9. Can you do push-ups? I could at one time…probably...
10. What is your favorite movie? Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast—most classic Disney.
11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring, and the entire Brighton Collection.
12. Favorite hobby? Taking pictures of my baby.
13. Do you work with people who idolize you? Maybe, but she can’t talk yet to tell me.
14. Do you have ADD? Probably, doesn’t everyone?
15. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? I like ice cream too much.
16. What’s your middle name? Harper, it was my maiden name.
17. Name three thoughts at this moment: 1. Is the baby asleep? 2. Cheap ice cream is worse than no ice cream. 3. I should never have gotten bangs.
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday: Only 1, cheap ice cream—big mistake.
19. Current worry right now? Who should I vote for?
21. Current hate right now? My body.
22. Favorite place to be? Home—more specifically my bathtub.
23. How did you bring in the New Year? At my Aunt Becky’s with my family—Super fun!
24. Where would you like to go? Vienna waits for me!
25. Name three people who will complete this? Uhm, I don’t know—I am doing it because Rachel did.
26. Whose answer do you want to read the most? Anyone’s
27. What color shirt are you wearing? Red
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Yep, but my favorite are crisp cotton.
29. Can you whistle? Kinda, not on tune, and not very loud.
30. Favorite color? Red.
31. Would you be a pirate? Maybe, it looks sorta fun, plus I just read “Voyage of the Dawntreader” so now is a good time to ask.
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don’t, but I sing pretty much anything everywhere else.
33. Favorite girl’s name? Grace
34. Favorite boy’s name? Dallin
35. What’s in your pocket right now? My phone, a dollar.
36. Last thing (Person) that made you laugh? My baby girl, she makes the funniest faces.
37. Best bed sheets as a child? I don’t remember any of mine, but I remember a purple silky pillowcase of my Dad’s.
38. Worst injury you’ve ever had? Torn ACL.
39. What is your favorite snack? Puffy Cheetoes and Dr. Pepper
40. Favorite thing to do on Sundays? Nap
41. Who is your loudest friend? Gerald, no contest!
42. How many dogs do you have? None, I will never have any dogs—But I love visiting them at Charlene’s.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Gerald does… but I am crushing on him too so it is fair.
45. What is your favorite book? I always like best what I’ve read most recently. I just read “The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets”, and “Eat Cake” and they are both awesome!
46. What is your favorite candy? Chocolate and Caramel in pretty much any combination.
47. What is your favorite sports team? Team USA, I’ve only really watched the Olympics lately.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? “I Hope There’ll Be Pine Trees in Heaven.”
49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Feeding Macyn
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? I wish I had blackout curtains.