Called to Serve

For several months Nate's parents have been getting everything ready to submit their paperwork to serve an LDS mission as a couple.  When they got their mission call in the mail a few weeks ago we had an impromptu family gathering so we could all be there when they opened it up!  

We were the first ones to arrive at the house and 
Mabel was really excited to jump on the trampoline.

Actually, when we got there and she stepped into the backyard she started shaking 
and saying "YAY!" because she was so excited and couldn't figure out 
what she wanted to play on first 
- trampoline? swings? slides?

Nate's mom used to teach preschool so their backyard is a dream. 

 I got on to jump with her....

and she politely sat me down and asked me to please get off. 

In other words she said, "Noooooo, miiiiiine!"

Her favorite phrase.

Flying in an airplane with daddy:

Cake and their call:

Bryan and Jenna brought this fun cake and Jenna made

their name tags:

Mabel loves cousin Jones.

Peek-a-boo with cousin Morgan:

DRUM ROLL PLEASE:

They read a few of our guesses first...

And we made sure that Brady and Becky and family in Alaska could see too:

Just a smidge excited:

Opening it together:

Laughing because they haven't even read anything yet 

and they are crying!

(now you know where Nate gets it!)

taking turns reading every other word:

and they are going to:

Alpine: German Speaking!

(parts of Germany and Switzerland, a small part of Italy, 

and all of Lichtenstein and Austria)

Rick served a mission in Germany when he was younger and 

can still speak pretty fluently in German.  Praying that Georgia

picks it up quickly!

They will be working with the young single adults there.

They leave October 28th and will be gone for 18 months.

A snuggle with the littlest grandbabies who will miss them so much!

Cute baby Emma was with us via Skype too!

Mabel was pretty excited that Grandma put two little candles in the cake 

so she could practice blowing them out. 

We love these two so much and can't wait to hear about the incredible experiences 

they will have as they serve, teach, and grow.

(We will be praying that 18 months goes by fast!)

We think Alpine, Utah sounds like a great alternative if Austria doesn't work out! :)    

(photo taken the night before Nate and I got married 8.05.04 at our wedding BBQ)

Phone Pics

I need to get into a routine with uploading pictures from my phone onto my computer because 

a) the camera on my phone takes really good pictures and

b) I find myself using my phone just as much as my big camera

With Instagram and Facebook I just get lazy.  

Anyway, here are a bunch of recent phone pics:

Mabel's favorite afternoon activity:

Water Painting

 ...which ALWAYS turns into water pedicures and manicures.

 

Even daddy likes a good water pedi.

I love the way she holds my fingers and toes.

 I

It's always more fun when friends join us:

Mabel and Reese

and sometimes we paint inside:

(that face!)

A few weeks ago we met up with Jocelyn and Emri at the Aquarium.

These two had twinner jackets and pants. 

Mabel loves Emri and whenever we see a girl anywhere she says, "Emri!"

Touching the shark:

We met up with some friends at the Cottonwood Rec Center.  

They have an awesome splash area

and Mabel went down this frog slide a zillion times.  

"One more time momma!:

We went to play at Liberty Park one afternoon:

She likes wearing her sunglasses indoors:

 

We met Nate's grandparents for brunch a few weeks ago:

She loves hanging and swinging on things.

She tells me, "Momma, Watch!"

Our friends, the Beachs, moved back to Arizona last weekend.

Mabel and their little girl Xelly were buds 

and every time I walk by their house it makes me sad. 

We decided these two will be penpals. :)

This is the Place!

A few weeks ago we met up with some friends at This is the Place Heritage Park 

to check out their Baby Animal Season. 

I think I was more excited about this than Mabel! 

(Can't I just have a pygmy goat? Please?!)

Cheep cheep lots of chicks! 

The one I picked up pooped on my leg to welcome me to the farm.

Is that face the best or what? 

In total wonder and awe (and a little fear)....

baby animals everywhere!

   

Her signature petting pose: ARMS LENGTH!

Safety first for this girl.

Then a big (pregnant?) momma goat started creepin...

and Mabel was NOT giving up her apple slice!

So the goat settled for licking the stroller instead.

We took a train ride around the park and our conductor told us about the different historic buildings we passed.  He explained what days were like here in Utah during 19th century frontier life.  I want to go back with Nate so we can stop at all the little houses. There is a blacksmith, a furniture maker, a candle dipper, and you can watch someone spinning yarn. My inner pioneer thought it was pretty cool.

What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?

I was baking banana bread scones....

she was making a flour, water, paprika, basil, salt & pepper soup. 

She's ready for her own Food Network show!

Don't quit your day job Nate.

One of my friends re-purposed a big cardboard box 

into this cute little playhouse for her girl.  

So clever right?

So a few weeks ago when we found ourselves with a HUGE box that needed to go in the recycling bin I printed out the picture above from my friend Heather's blog and asked Nate if he could make one for Mabel. I told him I would put all the cute decorations on if he would just cut and tape the cardboard to be in the right shape.

I came outside to find this:

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I laughed really hard. So did he. 

(and Mabel loved her ugly duckling house)

Totally reminded me of these 20 Hilarious Pinterest Fails.

Check it out HERE.