Day 303 / 365 - Trick Or Treat

So this is not one of the pictures I took on Halloween, however I love it and I love these two together. I wish we could have gone trick-or-treating with them so I am just looking at this picture and giggling and decided I would post this one instead. {yes a slight cheat} But I don't really care.

Day 302 / 365 - Marshmallow Debate

In winter most people who know me know I have a serious addiction to hot chocolate. It is all I crave all the time. Trying to start this little dude early. He originally got mad because he couldn't drink the marshmallows out, he didn't even want to try it then. But he warmed up to the chocolaty goodness quickly. :)) Enjoy it kid, there is plenty more where that came from.

Day 302 / 365 - Monster Mash

Tonight we made monsters for our friends at daycare. He thought it was fun making them but it was a riot watching him walk into Shirley's and say, "Hey guyyysssss, I have monsters". I think he was waiting for a round of applause or something... he even said, "shwirly, don't worry I have one for you". Hahaha. Needless to say the Play-doh monsters were a hit.

Day 301 / 365 - Pumpkin Reality

Tonight we were to carve pumpkins, however someone had a different plan. Carving pumpkins turned into a love of drawing on his pumpkin and not wanting us anywhere near it. :)) He told us his pumpkin was perfect and didn't need to carve it. Once again, why am I ever surprised that things turn out so different than what we had planned.

Day 300 / 365 - Headed Home {iPhone Picture}

It was a VERY busy weekend filled with love. We are headed home now and this little man has slept just about the entire trip. This was his position for about two and a half hours and it cracked me up and made me just a tad jealous. #imtiredtoo

Day 299 / 365 - Some Moments Need to Last Forever

These boys fill my heart. I feel like my whole person when I am watching them play together. Ryder woke up saying, "I love Ben, because he is my best friend". I hope that these two grow up to be best buds. I can't wait until that moment I hear Ben call our house and say, "Hi Aunt Jessi, can I talk to Ryder". I may literally melt to the floor. 

Day 298 / 365 - Cousins

This picture cracks me up and I have no idea why. Ry was looking too cool in his shades and the rest of them wanted in I guess. :)) Love these boys to pieces. We had such an amazing day at the pumpkin patch and although my little dude was not exactly a "peach" I loved seeing them together and watching Mr. Colin get so excited over the smallest things. I miss these boys but am very thankful for the time I get with them.

Day 297 / 365 - Waking Up To Family

There is really nothing better than waking up with family.  We are sad daddy isn't here to spend it with us, but it is exciting waking up with him in the morning and him saying everyone he wants to see that day. <3 Also, a huge thank you to my beautiful amazing family for scratching out everything they need to do on the weekends we are home and spending every second with us. You guys are wonderful and it means so much that you spend so much time catching up with us.

Day 296 / 365 - Grandma and Papas!

We did it, we are here and we are thrilled! Fall break couldn't have come any sooner, we are ready for a few days with family and of course playing in the leaves.

Day 295 / 365 - Boo at the Zoo

Contrary to what you might be thinking... no he is not pouting because he is embarrassed by his hideous costume. In fact he is quite in love with this costume. He picked it out... {side note - do not let your child just scroll through Google images to find their costume} He loves it, and in his exact words, "it's the perfect one". He is pouting because eyes are on him and he couldn't find the courage to go up and say, "trick-or-treat". It took a little bit and some enticing but he did it and after about 20 minutes of insecurities, he turned it around and had a wonderful time. By the end of the night his goal was to "fill it to the top". Love him and so happy the night was not ruined by his shyness.

Day 294 / 365 - Outdoors

Enjoying some of the magic of being outdoors together. There is something so peaceful about walking in the woods and hearing all the leaves crunch beneath your feet and a chill in the air.

Day 293 / 365 - A Piece of Our Everyday

These little moments I will miss when you get older.

Day 292 / 365 - Adjustments

It's been a tough adjustment from losing Berks for all of us. Especially this four legged friend. He has had a rough time trying to find his place and becoming an old dog child. Tonight I got home from a session and Jarin and Ryder were out doing "boy stuff" so I decided to take Hippo out to the woods to run around with me. He loved it, he was so excited and I vowed to myself I will be much better about getting him out all the time. Love that we have him during this adjustment period. I can not imagine losing a dog and not having one to come home to.

Day 291 / 365 - My Turn

Last night we went to check out one of my favorite places for a photo shoot the next day. Dad went went us and you better believe I took advantage of it for a couple shots. I love these windows and love that I have a picture with my little in front of them. <3

Day 290 / 365 - Date Night

Tonight I am thankful for friends who know me well enough to demand they are picking my child up from daycare and I am to go have dinner with my husband. I hate to ask people for favors and it is so hard not having any family around... so these friends are so important in my life. <3

Day 289 / 365 - Always On The Wrong Side of the Door

The running joke in our house is our puppies are always on the wrong side of the door. So I though this was important to document.

Day 288 / 365 - Paintastic!

That moment when a sweet little painting turns into a full body disaster. :)) There has been a lot of rain here lately and there is not a lot to do outside. Sooooo we may have had a little messy fun tonight.

Day 287 / 365 - When The Moment Strikes You

I get it kid... when the moment hits you to take the 'perfect' picture you just have to go all in. #clothesornoclothes

Day 286 / 365 - Bath Time Giggles

Bath time giggles are some of the best kind of giggles. <3

Day 285 / 365 - Big Heart

Tonight I asked him if he wanted to walk around and he said, "yes, but Scout come too". I said sure bud. Sure enough he ran around with him and hugged him almost the whole time. Yes he may have 'chucked' him into the long grass a couple times and then ran to ask him if he was ok. Love this kid, and love his big heart.

Day 284 / 365 - Real Life

Our little family enjoyed the zoo today. Thought I would post a little fit shot, to show that it is not always all smiles. :)) We are definitely entering the three's as this seems to be getting a little more "routine". We had a great day and had a private viewing as the zoo seemed to be almost empty.

Day 283 / 365 - Glow Stick Fun

First experience with glow sticks was a hit. :))

Day 282 / 365 - Bedtime

He thinks he is hilarious when we are in mid jammie change and he takes off running with his shirt on his head. He cracks up laughing and says, "you like my hat". He has literally done this since he has been able to crawl, it just doesn't seem to get old. I will miss this one day. <3

Day 281 / 365 - Fall Walks

Just enjoying a little outdoor time with my boys. Love the crunch of fall and the crisp air. By far my favorite season of all.

Day 280 / 365 - Battle of the Artists

Coloring is currently one of the "it" things in this house. Dad has never ever claimed to be an artist but Ry insists they color together. Love the concentration going on here tonight. In this moment they were having a draw off of who could draw Sulley better. Cracks me up that Jarin even has Sulley in hand trying to get him right.

Day 279 / 365 - Small Things

There is nothing special about this picture, but every once in awhile when I am going through my daily routine I find a moment that I want to remember forever. Watching Ryder drive around in daddy's truck is something I hope to never forget. He is the perfect size to prop his feet up on the back of dad's seat and they both sing to Eric Church and get excited about the same songs. They do this finger tap together when they "are feeling it". This moment is so small, but so perfect.

Day 278 / 365 - Bedtime Routine

Tonight (in my most serious voice) I told him we were not going to put off bedtime, no asking me for a snack when the timer went off. He gave me a sweet little, "Ok, mom"  The timer went off and I went to look for him and this is what I found.


 I think he found away around asking me for the snack...

Day 277 / 365 - Twinkle Twinkle

Our nightly routine consists of stars and lots of them. Ryder's great grandma got him this turtle and he loves it. Tonight I changed the batteries and it was "bery bright". He was loving it. He still loves when I sing Twinkle Twinkle to him and he always tries to find the moon.

Day 276 / 365 - Just Letting Go Of Our Daily Dirt :))

Day 275 / 365 - "Hanging Out"

I like be an outdoor family. We are the kind of family that drives around at the end of the day... dad looks for deer, mom looks for landscape photography, and Ry just loves hanging out. There is something so wonderful about those simple car rides. When you ask Ry what we are doing he responds, "just hanging out mom". We may just be "hanging out" but we are together and all in the moment. Makes it even better when we can pull over and watch a pretty sunset.

Day 274 / 365 - Why It Takes So Long

I thought this image did a great job at summing up what it's like to clean with a toddler in the house. I was washing our blankets while dusting the fan and this is what was happening below me... he cracks me up. It may take a lot longer to get a task done but it sure is a lot more fun to do them while they are jumping all around you. I also did not get the fan dusted because we both started jumping on the bed. #thereisalwaystomorrow