November

November was a great month.  The first weekend in November we went to Park City for a little weekend get away and stayed at a great little condo.

  We played in the pool and hot tub.  Mia got Mia to jump in to Monty.

  We forgot her puddle jumper so she couldn't swim by herself but had fun swimming with her daddy.

 The girls hanging in the hot tub.

 We played on the play ground at the outlet mall.  It was definitely Mia's favorite part of shopping.

 As usual Mia ended up the spoiled one on the shopping trip.

 Contrary to her face in this picture she loves her new hoodie and always wants her "hat" on.

On our way back from Park City we went to Hogle Zoo.

 Mia had fun running around and making animal sounds.

 Getting a lift from Daddy.

 She was a big fan of the kitties.

After our Park City trip we put Mia in her big girl bed.  My dad made the headboard for me when I was about 10 years old and then he made the bed for Mia.

 After an initial melt down she has done really good in her new bed.

 Although sometimes we never know what to expect we'll find her wearing.  Apparently she put her coat around her legs before going to bed.  Notice all the toys in bed with her too.  That happens on a regular occasion as well.

We also tried going to big girl panties as well.  After 3 days of her making messes EVERYWHERE.  We gave up on potty training and will try again later.

 November brought our first big snow storm.

 Mia loved just walking through the snow and looking back at her tracks.

 We built LOTS of Lego towers in November and continue to do it still.  Good thing grandma and grandpa are getting her more Lego's for Christmas.

 Thanksgiving brought pie night with Monty's family.

What can I say they are teaching Mia bad habits early.



We then went to Idaho to have Thanksgiving with my family.  Mia had tons of fun playing with Grandpa.

 Grandma has cool puzzles that are as big as Mia is.

 Uncle Shawn was making a blanket and tied Mia up with the ends.  She thought that was pretty cool.

 The girls hanging in the hot tub.

We got the house decorated for Christmas but I don't have many pictures of that yet but here is one of Monty putting up the lights.

 Eventually the stockings made it to the chimney.

 Getting in the Christmas Spirit.  Mia is very excite about Christmas.  She will tell you that Santa Clause is coming (although I don't think she knows who he is), every day she gets up and wants the lights turned on on the tree and mantle, and she loves looking at the ornaments on the tree and playing with her little people nativity set.

 Mia has missed playing outside so when we were putting up the lights we let her put her coat on and ride her bike.

Until next month :-)

October

We had a fun and busy October.  The month just flew by.  Luckily we had some nice weather the beginning of the month and Monty was able to wash his car and get all the dirt off from the 4-wheeling trip the end of September.  Mia "helped" wash the car but more or less just ended up soaked.

 But Monty definitely helped with the soaking.

 Grandma and Grandpa C were in town from Idaho again for Conference weekend so we went to the zoo on Monday before they left.

 Grandpa showing Mia the elephants.

 Mia loved the bears and threw a fit when I wouldn't let her climb the fence to get in with the bears.

 The big elephant was a favorite.  Since it's cooler now the elephant doesn't spit water out it's trunk anymore, just air, but Mia didn't mind.

 We got to see the baby giraffe that was only 2 weeks old.

 The lion water fountain was super cool.

 I don't think you are supposed to sit on the ape's head but Mia jumped out of Grandma's arms to sit there.

 After we ripped the garden out but before we tilled it Mia had a hay day playing in the grass clippings.

 Heading out with dad to edge the lawn.  Mia loves her back pack and can now climb in it by herself.

 I made play-dough and Mia and I worked on a little Christmas project for her birth mom and grandparents.

 Mia had fun playing but wasn't super cooperative on the project.

 Instead of carving pumpkins this year we decided to paint them.  It worked much better with a 2 year old.

 She had lots of fun being an artist.

 Monty painted a pirate.

 And I pained a clown.

 We were actually surprised Mia didn't end up with more paint on herself than she did.

 Our pumpkin family.

 And of course there was trick or treating.  Mia was a New England Patriots cheerleader. 

 She thought it was more fun to put her bucket on her head.

 Trunk or treating with Tom Brady (Monty in costume)

 Mia got the hang of things pretty quick and then enjoyed her stash.

 Mia is becoming quite the little helper and pushes the bar stools around the kitchen to get up where she wants to be.  She helped Aunt Trina make mashed potatoes.

Our little diva. You can't see it beneath her bib but she had a cute Halloween T-shirt and skirt on. And of course the neighbor's sunglasses which she has become obsessed with.