*10*Months*

My baby girl is 10 months old!

Trying to get the monthly picture with Sparkles....

She is in the stage where she is so curious about everything that she just doesn't hold still unless she's asleep.

Other fun facts:

~has been a walker now for about a month. She loves to wander the gym and halls at church.

~has 1 tooth - it cut through on Oct. 7
~says "dat dat" for Dad and "nom nom" for Mom
~waves bye bye

~loves her puff snacks

~likes most any food mixed with bananas
~likes to try to climb things

~plays peek-a-book like a champ, holding her own blanket

~likes to climb up stairs, but won't gp down them
~LOVES music - she will sing along or even bob up and down to dance to the music. During general conference, she came running over and climbed up on my lap during the songs.

Fall in AK

Ok, time is going by way, way too fast! I feel like I'm caught up, and then I turn around and it's 2 or 3 weeks later. Gah! Oh well, I guess the important things are being accomplished. Such as...eating (most days with dishes we didn't have to wash just to use)....sleeping (most of the nights actually in bed instead of on the floor) ....showering...wearing clean clothes (never mind we grab them off the couch).... going to work/school/trainings..... and playing with Baby Sila (of course!)
Yup, I would say that pretty much sums up our fabulous life at the moment! As busy and exhausting as we do become, I know that I wouldn't trade it for anything. This is just one phase of our crazy, wonderful life and everything is for a bigger goal in mind.

We've had a pretty fun fall so far, even in the midst of chaos. We had about TWO weeks with fall leaves on the trees instead of one. It hasn't really been really rainy all day or too cold. I mean, I'm not in my big heavy winter coat yet.

With Scott being super busy with fire training lately, Kasila and I have had a lot of girl time. I really wanted to get out and go do something, but not with just us two. So we invited Katie (a friend and coworker) and her lil 3 year old daughter to go to the Palmer Reindeer Farm for their fall family activities they do on Saturdays. It was tons of fun!

All bundled up!

"mock" pumpkin patch

First pony ride

face to face with a bunny

    

A gorgeous view of Pioneer Peak

      

The gang

Can't go to the Reindeer Farm without visiting the reindeer!  We decided not to go completely in, because they are very friendly and don't really watch where their antlers go.

Happy 26th!

I recently had my 26th birthday... and while it was no where near perfect, it was a sweet day!

Kasila had been having a sick few days, spitting/throwing up after just about every meal, waking up multiple times during the night, and just being way more attention needy than usual. It being a Friday, I had to work and even had a meeting prior to school starting. Also, Scott had school all day and fire training all evening and the rest of the weekend.

Before I headed off to work

However, Scott, being the sweet guy that he is, dropped off a beautiful vase of flowers and a cookie monster cupcake to my school before he headed into Anchorage.

Enjoying my cupcake during lunch.

My students wished me a happy birthday all day, which is always very sweet.

I got to spend all evening with my favorite lil gal, and she didn't throw up :)

Story time!

I also received a lot of birthday wishes through the mail, phone calls, texts and Facebook. I was even spoiled with a home cooked comfort food dinner on the following Sunday!

Kasila {finally, according to Bart} enjoyed some homemade ice cream at the Summers' after the delicious meal

Thanks to everyone who thought of me!

Walking Around the Room

We have a walker! She's been trying all month to walk more than a few steps. After we got back from our trip, she decided it was time.

Just in from a cool evening walk..

Such a cutie, even when I have tons to do and she decides that she must be the center of my attention all evening and night. 

My Best Friend's Wedding

Part of our whirlwind month included a 4 day trip to Waterton National Park in Alberta, Canada for one of my best friends' wedding. This has been a long time coming and I'm so happy that my little family and I were able to be there to share her special day.

However, getting there required some work. Kasila hung out with me in my classroom so that I'd be ready for my sub. Probably needless to say, I didn't really get a whole lot done with this mobile cutie moving around the room.

My best friend and I....a look back

Hanging out in my dorm room at USU,  fall 2006...

Utah Jazz game in Nov. 2007

My wedding Aug. 2008

I have a great many more, luckily for both of us, they are all film developed or not my computer. I love this girl and am so happy that I have had her in my life. Even through move after move, we have stayed in touch and always just pick up where we left off. I am so excited that she finally got to have her special day with a great guy! 

On our way....

The first view of the Prince of Wales Hotel, where the ceremony took place

Hanging out with Daddy 

Ready for the boat ride!

Yum, snacks!

Loving the wind and water in her face...this is a glacier fed lake.

The hotel from the boat dock.

The view from the hotel... the lovely couple stood in front of this view to share their vows.

Probably Scott's favorite part, sorry Christie. He was very excited to be able to see a nice bull elk. There aren't many elk up here in AK. We also got to hear this one bugle and one reply.

Before the ceremony...BBFs since 4th grade!

A view from the balcony before the ceremony

Waiting to walk with the family (since I'm practically a sister).

Sharing of Vows

I really liked the counsel given.

 "I choose you. I choose you over every person and every thing. I choose you." 

A little herbal tea and pound cake after the ceremony. (Not a huge fan of the tea, but figured I'd try it anyway. The cake was delicious!)

My little "sisters"

I'm not sure who, but some started saying that Christie had a twin. Sorry, that is her little sister, not twin.

Jill made a quick trip to Canada to see Christie at her reception.

Hannah Banana :)

Kasila was such a trooper! 

Julie grew antlers!

We had to run back to the house that Christie had been staying at prior to the wedding to pick up Julie's bags for the airport in the morning. Lucky me, Christie was grabbing her bags for her honeymoon :)

At the airport headed home

Yum yum apple juice

For a 9 month old, Kasila has had 11 take offs and landings in 3 different trips. She is the perfect baby to travel with. However, I'm thankful our globe trotting slowing down and having a break.