random

+ One morning a week or so ago, I decided I'd do a quick 20 minutes of some bodyweight cardio. I've been using FitnessBlender's workouts religiously for quite some time now (and I LOVE them), so I just thought, "Eh, I'll skip the warm up. I'm good." Little did I know. Ten minutes later, my back seized up and I spent the next two days wearing a heat pack, doping up on ibuprofen, and hobbling around like a little old lady. Lesson: I am old and can no longer just "skip" the warm up. 

+ When in St. George, go to Swig, and get a Dirty Dr Pepper (Diet is my jam). Ignore everything they say about sugar and aspartame and death. Dirty DP = worth the risk. Thirty two ounces of risk. Worth it.

+ Remember our little preschooler? Wellllll....she dropped out. She started fuhreaking out every time I dropped her off. And listen - I'm selfish and didn't even want her to go in the first place. So we debated it and decided to just call it good for now and start three days a week next year. She still goes to (and lovessssss) tumbling, and her preschool teacher was super sweet about it and is excited to have her next year.

+ Speaking of tumbling - Annabelle did her first real (unassisted) back walk over while in St. George. I know this means little to most of us, but it's a BIG DEAL. It requires a truckload of bravery plus cannonball shoulders and a core of steel. I'm so excited for her. At tumbling class last week, with the security of the cushy mat below her, she did it over and over and over. Soooo proud. Mommy buttons busting.

+ I don't have my Christmas shopping done. I mention this because usually I do by this point. I have issues. But fall starts and my brain turns to glitter and sparkles and all I can think about is Christmas. I seriously pulled out Michael Buble's Christmas album like ten years ago. Go listen to this. You'll be Christmas shopping in no time. Oh, if you're Christmas card shopping, I've got my stock up in the shop. Click on over here and go crazy. :)

+ Here's a pumpkin cookie recipe for your fall needs. You NEED this recipe. Also, why do we only eat pumpkin stuff in the fall? I'm hereby starting a movement to eat pumpkin cookies year round.

+ Papa Murphy's now has gluten free pizza. Three cheers for elastic waistbands!

+ All you mommies, this article on being brave and somehow accepting that your babies have to grow up in a scary world. Just. I love it.

+ We got Jess a fish for his birthday. It's red, which is important when I tell you the next detail, but only if you are as awesome as us will that detail make sense. His name is Jean-Luc Picard. I know. It is hard to describe how much I pride myself on the nerdiness that pervades in our home. And it's some kind of cute when the girls run to his tank at night and shout a "Good night Captain!"