Fall Leaves!

The best part about fall is all the leaves. Jensen and Ryley love jumping in them. Our apartment complex has a big job every fall doing leaf cleanup, but it's always so sad when they take them away. We kind of have to compete with the leaf blowers for them to have some fun.

Action shot.

Now you see Ryley, now you don't.

Please don't lick the leaves Jensen.

This is Jensen's "stop" sign. It looks like a karate move.

Momma gets to do the hard part- raking the leaves.

Halloween

Can anyone guess what our family theme is this year? probably not. we didn't put a whole lot of effort into our costumes. Captain Hook is the easiest to spot... if only he would have kept his hook on the whole time. Ryley is tinker bell, not just a princess. Ammon made his peter pan hat himself and I'm dressed as a pregnant Wendy. It was a fun night! It was super warm! But then we got rained out after about an hour. good timing i think.

Ryley was excited to wear makeup for the occasion. Don't get used to it yet girl!

Ryley designed her own pumpkin on the left.

He's making Papa Jensen's lump jaw face.

Ryley just looks possessed.

Fun Fall Fishing

We've been granted some especially nice fall days the last few weeks and so we took advantage of the beautiful weather to have one last boating trip. We drove over to Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's house over in West Virginia, just a few hours away and spent some time on Cheat Lake. The fall colors were spectacular! And it was just fun to be able to see our family!

Ryley insisted on wearing her swimming suit the whole time even though it's not exactly summer anymore.

Jensen got skunked.

Ryley was so excited to catch her first fish! A little perch!

Mommy was REALLY excited to catch a fish too! Way too excited. It's been a long time since I've caught one. We took this one home and ate it for dinner. Ryley ate the eye ball of course. At least they were cooked this time.

Despite the cold water, Ryley wanted to go tubing and she somehow convinced my dad to go with her.

Jensen decided to stay within the comforts of grandma's arms.

Baby #3

We had our ultrasound this past week and got to take a peak at our little baby. I'm 23 weeks along now- Due Feb. 2nd. We didn't find out what gender it is so that it can be a surprise. We thought that might be fun since we already have a boy and a girl. Ryley definitely is voting for a girl. So far, she's come up with Kissy or Missy as a girl name... and Boyly if it's a boy. Any other suggestions?

Ryley's Pony Party

Ryley turned 5 years old and she wanted a My Little Pony birthday party. We went to our favorite park and had some pony games with Ryley's little friends. This is my attempt at a pony cake.


Ryley loved it so that's all that matters.


Jensen helped make the cake too.


We had planned on playing "pin the tail on the pony", but we forgot the pony picture at home... so we played pin the tail on the garbage instead.



She used to only have 3 ponies, but now we have a whole stable full of ponies. Ryley has been playing ponies non-stop since. Jensen likes to play too.

The Longest Vacation

After our trip to Montana, Ammon left to go back to school in Baltimore and we stayed for the next 2 1/2 weeks with Ammon's parents in Utah. We wanted to see my brother before he went into the MTC for his mission to Chile at the end of August. AND we decided to hitch a ride with my parents all the way to the east coast, since they were driving all the way from California to their new home in West Virginia. A long drive. Especially with two kids.

They look so sweet and innocent don't they. Sit next to them in the car for a few hours and you'll change your mind.

While we were in Utah, we went swimming a few times at the Draper pool and Ryley went off the diving board 6 times all by herself. She's like a little fish and can swim all the way to the side without help. She loves goggles.

We must've nearly drove those Poseys mad with all our messes!

Hanging out with the cousins! It was nice to be around so much family for a change.

silly uncle Jon.

The Posey's home ward party (before ammon left). Jensen meets cotton candy. Happy Boy.

Ryley likes face paint.

Oquirrh Temple Open House

It was neat for Ryley to get to go inside the temple. She always wants to go when mommy and daddy go- and this time she could.

Splash park with cousin Kinley

$5 Tuesday at Thanksgiving Point. It was a little crowded and after a 2 hour wait, the kids got to ride a pony. Those smiles made it all worth it!

Bear Lake! Thanks Marde and Ross for letting us stay with you!

My grandma and grandpa Jensen came too! And even my cousin Nessy and John!

Ryley and Jensen really got attached to Corbin and Dexter, it was hard to say goodbye.

Saying a quick hello-goodbye to Jared! See you in 2 years!

Bean Museum in provo. One of Jared's friends hooked us up and we got to see and touch all kinds of creatures...

...even a taratula!

Hiking to Stuart Falls up provo canyon.

Ryley went swimming, of course.

Jensen's favorite part was the cookies.

The journey home took us into Colorado where we stopped to see my brother Jake at the Air Force Academy. We got a tour and even ate cadet food in the enormous mess hall.

Like father like son.

Jensen sure loved all the airplanes. I wouldn't be surprised if he follows in uncle Jake's footsteps. I always said he looked most like Jake.

Then we stopped in Nauvoo, Illinois to see the church history sites and attend the spectacular new temple there!

We took a horse-n-buggy ride around the town for a tour. Jensen was fascinated with the horses, and after studying them for awhile, he reported to me "no hands." Apparently he had just discovered that horses don't have hands. Very observant.

Then, after a quick dip in the Mississippi River, at Ryley's insistence, we went to Carthage.

This is the window where Joseph Smith was martyred. It was quite the somber experience.

It was a great vacation! We were sure happy to get out of the car by the time we got to Baltimore though, and glad to see Ammon again of course!

Montana 2009

Ammon's family has a tradition of going up to Montana almost every summer, where his grandparents live. We've gone with them several years and it's always fun. We did lots of waterskiing and hiking. The lakes and mountains there are beautiful!!


Jensen, helping Daddy drive the boat.


Ryley ate some weird berry on the hike and grew an instant mustache.


Jensen got bit by a spider at night time and woke up looking like Quasimoto (however you spell that).



Ryley went wakeboarding with Daddy. I think by next year she'll probably be able to do it herself.

Ammon, putting up a wall of water.

Ammon's dad is in his fifties (correction... sixties) and can out-ski us all!

The beloved Nautique boat.

The kids loved the rocky beach- throwing rocks is the best fun! And look at that sea of glass... it's like skiing on butter. And yes, Juliana did some skiing herself, but no one got any pictures cause I'm the one with the camera, of course.

We celebrated Jensen's 2nd birthday in Montana. He's still figuring out how to make 2 fingers stick up.

He liked the horses. The first thing he pointed out was the horse's big buggars.

Ryley's little cousin Kinley came up for part of the time and they had so much fun playing together in the cold water.

Ryley stinker-face and Kinley.

The whole big happy family! That's Ammon's mom's parents there in the middle. And yes, I'm expecting, that's not just my big gut sticking out there... mostly my gut, but not all. I think we're due in Feburary, though I haven't had time to see a doctor yet.