Farewell to Fall

Goodbye, Autumn. You were AMAZING this year.

I figured since it snowed this morning

(in a place they say only gets snow maybe once or twice a year)

it was time to say farewell.

We took these a few weeks ago, soaking up some of our last sunshine until the spring...

I had been warned about boys and sticks. But I didn't know it started this EARLY!

Leftover Halloween candy, anybody?

Thought I'd take this along in hopes he'd SIT and give me a real SMILE.

Instead he just kept making this face...

{Jacob, you are the light of my life! Thank you for letting me take so many pictures.

I know I am kind of out of control. But you are just so ridiculously adorable.}

So, let's Talk Football.

Not something you'd expect me to say, right? Right. It was one thing when I was a sophomore cheerleader and pretended to be interested in what a "first down" was. And then it was ok when I went to BYU and did it for the social scene. I admit I went to one game at USC, but I was fine to never hear another vulgar swear word or experience the smell of alcohol and marijuana again in my lifetime.

I don't even watch football on TV. Of course I do my wifely duties and allow Stephen to tell me the scores while I smile and say "cool!" when the team he wants to win is in the lead. But really, I just don't care much. And I completely tune out anything "fantasy football."

Well, this last week there was a bit of a "miscommunication" at Stephen's work. Someone was under the impression he wanted a couple USC vs. OSU tickets. I'll spare you the long story- all you need to know is he knows he never told anyone to buy tickets for him. But Friday when he was leaving work he saw an envelope saying "DAVIS 2 Tickets- please write check to ______ for $150."

What?

I mean, the guy loves his football but to say he was stumped is an understatement.

We were actually offered two free tickets from another source, so we tried selling the pricey pair. Craigslist+lots of phone tag = a buyer.... but unfortunately we made it to the stadium 10 minutes too late. The guy had been offered free tickets from another stranger. While walking to the entrance two other people offered us free tickets.

Ugh. So there we were, stuck with these ridiculously expensive tickets that we didn't ask for while people were just handing them out like they were sticks of gum.

We figured we'd just try to make the best of it. We chugged our hot chocolate outside the gate- 'cause of course they wouldn't let us bring it in. We proudly wore our Cardinal Red and Gold in a sea of Orange and Camoflauge. I ate an "ok" hotdog and some chilli. And in the four hours, USC gave us one touchdown to cheer for. We lost. Big time. And the seats were nothing to write home about.... let alone blog about. :)

All we could do was laugh about it all. And take an iphone photo.

On the way home we couldn't help but think about all the things we could have done with $150. Bought another year's trip to Disneyland? Fly home to Utah? Go to an amazing concert that guaranteed real entertainment? Purchase some christmas gifts for our family and friends?

I mean, shouldn't the tickets be refunded if your team loses and the entire game was quite uneventful?

Too much information, I'm sure. I guess I just wanted to give the above PHOTO it's true story.

Yay for date night!

The end.

7D for 7 Sessions

With the support of some very special people I got an early christmas present this year...

The marvelous Canon 7D

It has become my new "baby". Jacob might be a little jealous. Just kidding- It actually just gives us another excuse to go out and enjoy the outdoors together before all the rain hits. And of course he's still my favorite subject.

*****

November is the "photographer's" crazy time of year. Christmas card photos!! I had multiple requests for sessions in LA so last weekend I flew solo to my old stomping grounds for only 48 hours. I was able to squeeze in 7 sessions! A weekend full of friends, returning clients, and new referrals- It was AWESOME... but I definitely missed my boys back home. I may or may not have cried when I boarded the plane all by myself.

I owe a lot of thanks to those that have helped me get this new hobby up and hopping. It's so fun to think of all that's come from it in just one year. And yes, the more I learn- the more I realize I still need to learn!

I'm a little busy with touching up lots of photos, but I thought it might be fun to show just one favorite from each LA session- just since I'm here and all. More will be up on the photo blog next week, for the few of you that appreciate that sort of thing....

Here's a sneak peek:

I miss you sometimes, California. You have been good to me. See you in December!

The Halloween Post

I just have to share some favorites from this weekend!

Stephen's parents and sister came to town to celebrate the holiday with us and we had a blast showing them around the town.

One of the first stops was the Pumpkin Patch at Davis Family Farm.

We had to take advantage of the short breaks of sunshine.

If it's a good sitting pumpkin it must be a good carving pumpkin right?

The patch was a bit picked over at this point.

But that just made it more fun for Jacob to run around.

He'd lead everyone to the next area we should explore.

{Saying goodbye to the Hayride Driver}

We carved some nifty jackolanterns.

And then got ready to spook!

Bwhah. This picture makes me laugh out loud...

So, my mother in law is a seamstress queen! She made the potato head costumes and helped me with the details to our Jessie and Woody outfits. Its so fun how they really got into it with us!

We decided we'd be the Toy Story 2 crew- since there are 2 buzz lightyears in that one. :)

Jake sure loved being his aunt "mim mee"'s sidekick!

And you know those moments that just make you want to cry they are so adorable? Going trick or treating with Jacob was one of those. He could barely even pretend to say the words- but he knew exactly how to do it. He'd knock then point to the bowl. Then after he'd take the candy and turn to walk away, he'd look over his shoulder, do this sweet wave and say "Bye!"

Sure melted my heart.

Hope you all had a fun Holiday!