This is Halloween...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

FROM THE MCLAUGHLAN TRIO

Halloween has always been one of my fav. holidays. I love the weather, the leaves, the pumpkins, the cute kids dressed up. It's just so much fun. And I can't believe it's already over. I've been so busy lately that I didn't get to really enjoy it. I did take a little break from my work tonight to spend with my boys. We went around trick-or-treating (ok so we stopped by our parents house and a friends) I must say my son was the cutest little monkey!!! I thought Austin would throw a fit when we kept his costume on but he actually wore it all night. I wanted to hurry and post this blog so it would be under October (Im weird that way) but here are a some pics of the trio's Halloween.

This is Austin and his girlfriend Katreena -

she was over yesterday for my "Pic-n-Treat"

I think he really does, "Love his Mommy"

Austin's first sucker - oh my gosh he LOVED it.

He got mad when I took it away.

This is Austin and Bradach - Bradach was so adorable in his horse outfit! Austin wasn't to happy in this pic!

Ok so Aaron was a banana for Halloween - it was cute seeing a big banana walk with this little monkey! I know Aaron enjoyed it but he won't admit it!

I love my little monkey man!

He loved Grandma Brendle's leaves - he kept trying to eat them.

Our little Trio

See isn't he the cutest little monkey!!!

This makes me laugh!

We really had a wonderful Halloween - can't believe it's November now! Crazy!

Well hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

Chillin with the Gillins

Sunday night we spent with the Gillins family. We had such a fun time. I don't have much time to blog but I wanted to get all the pics up and it will explain it's self! :) I love family time and I am so thankful I have such a wonderful family!

Austin loves his Aunt Danee - we had to wake him up to carve his pumpkin

Playing a little Wii after dinner

Randee concentrating on her pumpkin - love her face

Mason worked hard on him pumpkins

Austin wasn't sure about putting his hand in

And he didn't like it at all.

Taylor giving Austin kisses - she loves him.

This is what Austin did - he hit Grandpa Dan in the face with the TV remote

The guys working hard - I think they enjoyed it more than the kids.

Austin and Daddy with his finished pumpkin

Our little trio - this is like the best family picture we have. :(

All of the carved pumpkins - look at how Austins glows!

Taylor, Aaron, and Austin - so cute!

We love Sundays with the family! Thanks Jenny for having us over!

Mommy's Little Monkey!

I was so excited to do Austin's pictures this month because I LOVE Fall and Halloween (as you can tell by the new music and layout). I wanted to include the leaves and some pumpkins for his 8 month photos so I decided to just photograph him in his monkey costume and than I just turned into a whole Monkey theme. I LOVE IT! He really is my little monkey. He makes monkey noises and he never sits still....unless he is at Aaron's parents house (don't know why but he always just sleeps when he is there). The little monkey never take naps for me longer than 15 mins!

Isn't my little Monkey the CUTEST! :)

And yes I know my kid needs a hair cut! :) He's got the old man combover!

The Seach for the Great Pumpkin

Thanks everyone for all of the info on the Pumpkin Patches around the area! Yesterday my little buddy and I set out to find the Shoemakers Farm here in Blackfoot; we stopped and picked up Aunt Danee first. It was really easy to find and they had a good sized pumpkin patch. My little buddy is a little young to really understand and take part in the whole pumpkin patch experience but he did have a fun time. He smiled the whole time (or maybe he was squinting because it was so sunny). I really wanted Aaron and I to take him but Aaron left Friday to go golfing in Nevada for a week. But we had a fun time with Aunt Danee. At first we found one that was the right size for Austin is was too small and round. But than we found "THE ONE" it was really Orange and will be big enough to carve. We will wait for Daddy to get back home before we carve though.

Here are some photos from the patch:

Searching with Aunt Danee for the perfect pumpkin

he likes this one but it is to small to carve

Perfect, this one is just right!

Austin's got his pumpkin and he is ready to go!

Brand Spankin New

I am the proud owner of a brand new washer and dryer! I know I never thought a washer and dryer would make me so happy! But about a week ago our dryer started to make this really bad grinding noise - really loud and I could use it anymore. I think it was about 11 years old (or older) and it would take about 3 hours just to dry one load. And the washer would shake really bad and you could see the front of the washer push in and out during the spin cycle, it was pretty bad. They were both really loud, but I was happy to just have a washer and dryer since we went for 2 almost 3 years without any. Jan (Aaron's mom) was sweet enough to just give them to us when they got new ones. I remember how happy I was to get them, and it was nice having them and not having to go to my parents house to do laundry. But now that we have new ones - WOW! I love them. I can actually get most of our laundry done in a day instead of only getting 2 loads done a day. And of course what a nice break it will hopefully be on our power bill. The last 3 months our power has been about $170 every month - YEAH CRAZY! The new ones are Energy Star so hopefully they help out.

It was funny how Gizmo and Austin were so interested in them. Gizmo was a little stand offish at first and he had to sniff them. Austin likes to watch them spin.

My All-A-Dollar Project

I have always wanted to get crafty! I have decided that one of my goals for next year is to make room in my life to be crafty. One of my fav. blogs is Unnecessary Necessities which I have found through my family and friends blogs. I love it and would love to take time out of my life and just do fun projects! I have a list of tons. I have bought so many things for craft projects but have yet to ever do anything. There is the cutest shutter door project on the UN blog that I have been wanting to do (I found the shutters at DI about 2 months ago, and I have yet to get them done). I have even found some cute old chairs at DI to refinish and I have only managed to get 1 out of the 3 done - the red studio chair). I just wish I could find time to do all of these cute things. So that is going to be one of my goals for 2009 (I know I am thinking early - that is a first).

Anyways I was in All-A-Dollar on my day off and I found these magnetic clips and I had a great idea come over me. And so I bought them and some cute scrapbooking paper and I went home to be a little crafty. I think it turned out pretty well. I am proud of myself (it's a tiny project but I sat down and just did it).

I found these magnetic locker clips of high school musical and I played around with them and scrapbooked the inside and this is what became of it:

I love it! This is now what is on my fridge.

Taking time out to enjoy the little things

I've been so busy with my photography the past month that I haven't really been keeping in touch with anyone. Sorry everyone but things aren't slowing down anytime soon! I feel like I am in my own little world - don't get me wrong I love my photography, it makes me so happy but it's kind of consumed me lately! When Im not shooting sessions I am at home editing. But I can't complain, I am doing something I totally love and have a passion for - I am so lucky!
Today has been a nice little break, I had no session scheduled and I decided to spend half of my day doing what I wanted to do - of course I am blogging and spending some time with my little buddy! Who is the cutest little man ever!

Austin loves the taste of Autum!

Last night I had a photo session in Pocatello. So I called up my cousin Jessie and told her I was coming to town. We decided to get together and spend some time catching up (since we haven't chatted in a while). She met me at Ross Park before my session and we played with Austin on the swings. Jessie was wonderful enough to watch Austin while I did my session. Afterwards we let Austin play in the leaves a little so I could get a couple of pictures of him (of course I am a picture freak). He liked it; go figure all he wanted to do was eat them. I've decided that my boy is a little HAM! He is so easy to take pictures of - I love it! He is so CUTE! I’m such a proud mommy! After the park we went and ate at Applebee's, YUMMM! So much better than leaves! Austin enjoyed some fries and I enjoyed spending time with my cousin!

Thanks Jessie! I love catching up! Austin says we need to do it again - SOON! :)

We love you Jessie!

Austin's First Laptop...or should I say Laptops

Can we say spoiled! I have never seen a baby have so many electronics! :) This is why:

My wonderful 8 month old, Austin, doesn't play with any of his cool toys we have for him. Nothing seems to entertain him - I mean NOTHING! I spend half of my days just trying to entertain him, and keep him out of things. And the only thing he wants to do it play with all the things he shouldn't (go figure, I’m sure that's typical though). The only thing he likes is phones, cell phones, TV controls, and keyboards.

Last night we were at TJ Maxx and I found the cutest baby laptop. It's so cute. You hit the spacebar on it and it makes noise and there is a mouse - that is a mouse and I was hoping that Austin would like it. Well I gave it to him today and he crawled away. The only way he showed any interest was when I put him on a chair so he couldn't crawl away. Gizmo showed more interest in it! So me being curious I pulled out my old laptop and put it on the floor with Austin, sure enough he crawled right to it and started pounding on the keys! Go figure!

So now Austin not only has his own cell phone but he now has a laptop. He better grow up to be electronically smart! Heck maybe even the next Bill Gates - but a lot more handsome! :)

Here he is just staring at it

Gizmo shows more interest

Surprise, surprise he likes the real thing!

Pumpkin Patch Search...

Hey everyone!
Just had a quick question to throw out there.

I really really want to take Austin to a Pumpkin Patch but I don't know if there are any around here.

Do any of you know of any around the area?

Thanks!

8 Months...already?

Wow I can't believe Austin is 8 months today. This past month flew by! He is doing so many new things, I always forget to post the new stuff. He is so active right now, he keeps me on my toes. And the kid rarely takes a nap that is longer than 10 minutes. Since I don't post much as it happens I like to do a little update every month.

Here is what Austin had been doing the past month.

Austin following Gizmo up the stairs. Gizmo loves to run up the stairs and when Austin reaches the top, Gizmo runs back down (mom has to stop Austin)

Austin loves Gizmo as you can tell.
Every time he sees him he gets all excited, jumps, and laughs.
I don't think Gizmo like Austin so mobile.

Austin has been feeding himself crackers for about two months now but I don't think I have posted any pics of it. It's funny, mom loves it because it keeps him occupied. But I have to keep a close eye on him - he eats like his dad sometimes so he chokes.

He still loves his bath time. He gets one in the morning and one at night. Dad likes to give him mohawks!

This is what Austin likes to do when mommy is trying to work. He just has to help type. And now he has a stool he likes to climb on so he can reach better.

I love the bottom picture - he knows he's doing a, "no no".

I finally had to put a barrier in the doorway of the studio because he kept crawling by the stairs and now he just climbs over it - it's time for the safety gates!

Austin climbing over the couch, dad likes to put him inbetween the window and the couch. Austin will stand on the window ledge and pound on the window.

He has been loving the mirror since 6 months but lately he has really been spending more time playing with his reflection. It's really cute.

Just a picture of him getting into things in the office.

He is getting so big - he will be walking all by himself soon.

And one more of Gizmo and Austin playing. Gizmo freaks out with this laser and Austin just laughs at him. Gizmo is his fav. playmate!

And this is one of Austin's 7 month pictures that I have yet to finish. Aaron loves the Cowboys and so we got him his own Romo jersey. I have to say I love this shot because it is Austin's game face!