November so far has been so exciting! But also I have not documented a lot hahaha. WOOPS.

We decorated for Christmas WOOHOO! Graham has become OBSESSED with Play Doh which is so fun. He’s also wildly obsessed with Hamilton music and asks us to play it every time we get into the car. Which I’m totally OK with.

We’ve been loving home church, cooking new recipes, coloring, working working working, doing our gratitude journal, and all kinds of other fun activities.

I’m still running a lot which is awesome, and Graham and I go on walks and feed the ducks and enjoy the weather while it’s still a little warm.

I’m going to be better at taking pictures!!! And we’re geared up for a fun, small and safe Thanksgiving which will be really great.

I’ve had big opinions about the 2020 election. All I will say here is that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris embody so much of what I think is important for our country. Donald Trump has set out to divide us, and I believe that Joe and Kamala will try to bring us together.

Today, we found out they won. Of course there are still votes to count, there will be lawsuits and drama for months and weeks, but it appears that we have great things to look forward to for the next 4 years. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’ve been more open with my politics this year than I ever have before, which has been scary. But it’s been really cool to see people who feel similar and have them reach out. Connections like this have been so important and I think it’s been so crucial for me to understand how people can feel very differently while still having lots in common. I really have loved it.

During all the craziness I took some time for some self-care at the Dry Bar in Utah. LOVED IT. It was such a fun and relaxing time. Can’t recommend it enough!

We had the MOST FUN Star Wars party with my family!

Grandma and Grandpa were Admiral Holdo and Chewbacca

Ben and Kim were Boba Fett and Han Solo in carbonite

Candace, Tommy, and Allison were Darth Vader, a Storm Trooper, and an Ewok.

Liv and Mel were Padme and Leia.

Mom was Rey, dad was Kylo Ren, and Graham was Luke Skywalker.

We ate a TON of delicious food that was perfectly Star Wars themed. We had a great scavenger hunt, went trick or treating at family’s houses, had a dance party, did crafts, and just had the best time all together.

The Target toy catalog came and Graham was SO beyond pumped. He can’t stop reading it and pointing out “folk” (Hulk) and Spider-Man and Captain America and Paw Patrol. He wakes up and asks for his catalog all the time. We also made adorable pom-pom halloween creatures and he’s OBSESSED. He calls them his kids, and loves the little spider the most. He’s getting so good at counting and the alphabet. He had way too much fun playing with his cousins while they were here, running around playing hide n seek and with blocks. They would run around singing “Find a way to play together” the whole time they built towers and it was so adorable.

All month long Graham has asked us to play “Spoopy Scary Skeletons,” the dub step version, and “Let’s jam!” every time we’re in the car. He loves driving by houses that have inflatables and he says “See the ghosties and bad guys?” It’s been super fun. He’s also obsessed with Toy Story of Terror and that makes me so happy.

For Halloween Graham and I went on an adventure to find pumpkins. On Halloween there aren’t a lot of pumpkins left! We finally found some and got some kettle corn too. We carved one and painted the other and it was so great. We spent the evening eating yummy treats, trick or treating at family houses, and watching movies. It was such a fun Halloween.

We have had so much fun with family time! The kids love playing kitchen, blocks, hide n’ seek, tag, and everything else. They were singing “Find a way to play together” from Daniel Tiger the wholeee time they were playing the other day and it cracked us all up!

Graham follows Candace and Tommy around and just wants to be just like them. We help them play hide and seek with Mel and it’s such a blast.

This week we all went to Scary Hill and it was SO much fun! The kids loved golfing and finding their way in the maze, seeing all the “Spooky Scary Skeletons” and more.

In the midst of lots of work, we have had so much fun and Graham is growing up like crazy! He can repeat all of his favorite books back to us, loves singing songs to us, is great at counting and naming colors, shapes, saying the ABC’s, and more. I can’t believe how big he is getting.

COVID has made this really crazy, but we’re grateful for the chances we have to spend time with family, wear masks, spend time outside and socially distant from friends, and more.

We have had so much fun in October so far! Ben and Kim and their family surprised us by driving from CA to visit. They knocked on the door and my parents were in SHOCK. It was so fun!

Graham and Mel love playing together. For some reason they wanted to play inside the Pack N Play and Graham started being SO WEIRD. It made me laugh!

Painting pumpkins!

Great Grandpa Dave also drove down from Colorado for a quick visit. He has been really cautious with COVID and so have all of us, so we decided to move our hunkering down together for a little while. It was great for Graham and the other great-grandkids to get to spend some time with him!

We loved watching General Conference, we made some AMAZING food, biscuits and gravy, arugula, hash browns, eggs on one morning, and cinnamon roll waffles the other. We spent time with family too and it was just a great weekend.

Plus, a drive up to see the leaves is always my favorite thing.

This weekend we went to Scary Hill and it was a BLAST. We played mini golf which Graham loved, rode the bumper boats, did the maze, and rode in the tractor. Graham had such a blast and it was so well put together—everyone wearing masks, not too crowded, and just a great time.

Randy passed his first CPA exam!!!!! I COULD NOT be more proud of him. To celebrate we had Chinese food for dinner, and then there was a knock on the door. It was my brother and his family!! They drove from California and surprised us all to come stay for a few weeks. It was honestly SO awesome—I actually knew before that they were coming but the surprise element was SO fun. We’re stoked to hang out with them and do some fun fall activities.

The changing leaves are one of my favorite things in the world. Every fall I love taking drives up into the mountains to catch the leaves as they start to turn to fire. And now getting to show that to Graham is making me love it even more.

We also love pumpkin sugar cookies, pumpkin candles, cozy sweaters, new decorations, and more. I’m obsessed with fall and even though things are strange this year, we’re still having the best time celebrating the seasons.

My hero. My icon. The woman who made things possible for me and millions of women, and men. Who made sure I was able to do anything I wanted with my life.

Ruth is truly one of my greatest heroes. Her partnership with Marty is what I aspire for. Her passion for helping the voiceless is something I share. Her commitment to family motivates me. I want to be more like her. We should all want to be more like her.

She worked harder than anyone I know. She gave more than anyone I know. Up until her dying day, she was fighting to make our world better.

I’ll cry now. And then get to work to keep the legacy she gave me.

Needed some nature after a hard day.

Summer is officially done. We had our last day at Cherry Hill after the crazy windstorm, but it was really sad. The kids have had so much fun playing there this summer and we will miss it.

Graham went from not wanting to go down the big slides and being so afraid to BEGGING to go on the Dragon Slides the whole time and swimming by himself with his life jacket. He’s progressed SO much and has been so brave and willing to try new things. I COULD NOT be more proud of him!

He’s also such a ham hahaha.

We went back to church for the first time in six months! Graham wore his Buzz mask the whole time and did such a good job. Our ward is being so careful and safe and I’m so grateful.

We also stopped by the temple to talk about 3rd Nephi and it was really beautiful to gather there.

Graham loves singing songs (Skina-marink, Mr. Ray’s song from Finding Nemo, If All The Rain Drops, I Am A Child Of God), he’s getting good at naming colors, is obsessed with pushing his baby stroller, loves trains and cars, wants to read the same books over and over, always asks “how was your meeting?” after I’m on a call, tells us to stop being mean or asks us if we understand, and wants to hold my hand before bed. He’s the sweetest kid in the universe and I’m so obsessed with him.

It’s been a weird and wonderful summer and I’m excited to see what the fall brings.

My birthday this year was CRAZY. I had a delicious breakfast in bed, got some awesome presents from the best family and friends, but then the WIND! The windstorm ruined all our plans to go on a hike, to the aquarium, and even go out to eat! But we made the best of it! I had a super relaxed day, we ordered in some delicious food, and watched my favorite shows, and I didn’t have to work!

So even though it didn’t quite go as planned, it was still a fantastic day.

I’m just feeling so grateful for what this year has given me. So much confidence, great friendships, a husband and son I adore, so much time with family, a job I love, things I’m passionate about, and more. I just can’t wait for another great year!