Fall

Corn Mazes.
Leaves crunching under foot.
Smiling pumpkins.
Food. Football. Family.
Mountains splashed with gold, red, and orange.
Crisp October nights.
Watching the first snow fall.
Sweaters and hot cocoa.


I

Love

Fall.

Thanksgiving Point Gardens

We went to Thanksgiving Point last week in hopes of taking advantage of their $2 Tuesdays, but a few things had somehow escaped my attention: 1) We live in Utah. Everyone has a minimum of 4 children. 2) It was the last few days before school started, everyone had to get in their last summer fling. 3) We live in Utah. The lines were insanely long, much longer than what you would see at an overcrowded Disneyland.

So we ditched the Dino Museum and just sauntered around the beautiful Thanksgiving Point Gardens. And when I say "sauntered" I mean we walked a little, chased Toby down a little, walked a little more - you get the idea. Toby loved it though. Any place where he is free to roam is sure to be a 7th heaven for the Tobester.

"Come on, Dad!"

I want my backyard to look like this someday. :)

So cute.

Just when you thought this post couldn't be any longer, I had to throw in a few more pictures. I found some pics of us at Thanksgiving Pt. last year and Toby is just over 5 months old. Look at how HUGE he is! I miss the chub! (but not the sleepless nights) ;)

New Do

Toby and I got a new look over the weekend. Nick buzzed Toby's hair and I darkened mine. When I first saw my reflection in the mirror I was a little distraught because I thought I looked a little goth, like I should have a nose ring or something. But after Nick has told me several times emphatically that he REALLY likes it (and believe me he wouldn't hold back if he didn't) I am now really enjoying the darker Debbie. :) It's a fun change.

Doesn't he look so grown up now?

Toby looking at me:"What did you do to your hair, mom?"

Our Summer

I have been really bad about posting pictures of some of the things we've done this summer. Here are a just a few of our little excursions:

Boating with Grandma and Grandpa Sibert in Hyrum, UT

Toby was a little unsure about the whole boating experience

We got to be in the Hyrum parade and ride in Nick's dad '56 Chevy

Toby and Me at the Lehi Pool

Toby and his cousin Azia

I had to cover my big, white legs :)

Toby, Grandma Rarick, and Me at Thanksgiving Point Animal Farm

Toby LOVED all the animals there. He had no fear and wanted to pet all of them!

Isn't that the cutest little baby horse?

Toby loved feeding the goats (they kind of scared me personally)

Toby could not get enough of the horses. The picture above was him wanting to ride by himself. He kept pushing my hand away!
Needless to say, it wasn't a pretty sight when the pony ride came to an end. :)

Ew...Scary geese

I Love Sesame Street

So we didn't have TV at all for the first two months we moved into our new house. I have to say it was nice to be able to fill my time with other things, but I will admit I think I had withdrawals from watching the news the most. Also another drawback to not having TV was that Toby was just starting to like Sesame Street (its the only show he likes) and there were times when I just wanted to be able to make lunch or dinner with out him being my little shadow. Finally one day it clicked: Hello?! YouTube! So, right around lunch or dinner I would put Toby in his high chair, place the laptop in front of him, find a Sesame Street clip with a song (he LOVES music, gets bored when they are just talking), and then I would be free to make a culinary masterpiece (or something close to it). Oh the joys of modern technology.

And even though some of the clips were irritating and the songs would get stuck in my head for the rest of the day, there were quite a few that I would actually sit down and watch with Toby. I really like how Sesame Street tries makes their show educational for kids and fun for adults to watch. I wanted to share a few a my favorites so I decided on the clips with Feist, Goo Goo Dolls, and Norah Jones. Hope you enjoy them too!