13 MONTHS

Millie started walking the first week in October and hasn't looked back.  For the first few weeks of walking she would take a few steps and then crawl a little.  Then she decided that walking was much easier and started sticking to it full time.  It has been fun to see her little walk progress as she has become more confident in her new motor skills.  She loves to chase Phin around and to be able to get to whatever she wants.  She was quite fascinated with this toy at the playground.

She loves to be close to me as well.  One day I was getting dinner ready and she insisted on sitting on the counter right next to me.  If I am cooking...she wants to be up where she can observe exactly what is going on.  She is a pretty picky eater...and insists on feeding herself.  She has really stated to love applesauce in squeezable pouches.  I also pulled out some refillable pouches and she has been loving vanilla yogurt in the morning.  She can only be trusted with a few cheerios at a time...when she is done eating them she tends to flip them all around the kitchen.  She also loves bananas...but again when she has decided she is done she tends to squish the bananas.

She is soooooo ready for nursery at church.  One day I was asked to substitute so I took her with me.  She loved hanging out with Phin and Zoey.  Seth has walked her down the last few weeks to drop of Phin and she has become quite distraught when they turn around to leave.

She loves to crawl up into the stroller when it is parked in our front room.  

She also loves to stand up in the stroller as well...makes me a little crazy.

We also discovered we have to buckle her into her high chair...or this happens.  One day I was at the grocery store and she managed to stand up in the seat there...I have been tightening the buckles quite a bit since that happened.

Millie loves to be around other cousins.  We loved having Spencer and Aaron over one day to play.

Another example of her love of climbing...I wonder who she gets it from.

I love this picture I captured as we were getting ready for church one day.

Phin update:  Phin also LOVES his cousins.  He thinks all kids are his cousins.  When I ask him questions about school he often talks about the other kids saying "my cousins."

He has become quite skilled at imaginative play lately.  He calls this tree in our front yard his "home."  He often pulls things from inside the house to hide under its branches.

He saved up money this month to buy a bug catching net.  It came in pretty handing when a grasshopper came into the house.  Here he is showing off some of his Ninja moves with the net...this month he has become more than slightly obsessed with Ninjango. 

Halloween

The morning of Halloween we had a few friends over to decorate Halloween sugar cookies.  Phin insisted on dressing up as a cowboy.

After the kids had their fill of decorating cookies licking frosting...we headed over to the playground.

That afternoon Seth got home early from work.  We went down to a local care center and did some trick-or-treating.  Then we went on to Main Street.

Our evening was going splendidly until until Captain America needed to make an emergency pit stop...unfortunately Wells Fargo said their bathrooms were for employees only...I think they could have made an exception in this dire situation.  So Spiderman and Captain America made a run for Firefighter park which was about a block away.  Half way there Spiderman threw Captain America up into a fireman hold.  Spiderman was the hero of the day and the Capt made it to the bathroom...although his enthusiasm for trick-or-treating was completely gone.  So we headed to Baskin Robbins for a scoop of their special 1.31 ice cream.  

We walked along Main street on our way back home but didn't stop for any candy...at that point Phin was pretty much done.

Millie managed to gnaw through the Nerds box on the way home...she was pretty delighted with herself.

Once we got home I tried to get a few photos of the kiddos in their costumes.

 

Spiderman was the hero again and got Capt to smile again.

Spidey was a good sport and even posed for a few photos himself.

The Capt decided it would be best to change into jammies and hand out candy the rest of the night.  I think he may have enjoyed handing out candy more than he enjoyed getting it.  Happy Halloween!

Fall Tram Ride

After the family party several of us headed to Snowbird for their Customer Appreciation Days.  Each adult donated 3 items to the Food Bank for a Free Tram ride.

The view from the top was gorgeous!  It was also pretty chilly.

One of my favorite pictures of Seth and Phin jumping down the stairs.

 

What an amazing view...and what amazing kids I have!

Family Halloween Party

Our annual family Halloween party was held on September 29th at Beth's house.  Here is a shot of our whole crew...we were still missing about half of the family. 

Here is our MARVELous family: Spiderman, Thor, Captain America and Wasp.  The Capt happened to be having a melt down at this point...but we think it is important to document meltdowns as well.

Millie loved the swing-set.

We started games after a yummy lunch.  We did a spider race.  We gave each participant a straw and then had them blow the plastic spiders.  We did a soccer version.

We also did a straightaway version.

Aunt Jamie had a fun Halloween Craft.  Phin cut out black vinyl and put it on a Fanta bottle...

to create his very own Jack-O-Lantern.

I participated in the doughnut on a string challenge.

Then we played a game of charades.

We had a great time as always.  We love seeing everyone in their costumes and we love being with family.  To end the post here is a picture of The Wasp with The Gypsy (Grandma Jo)