Pre-Halloween Party(s)

Halloween is so much more of a big deal now than I ever remember it being when I was little. I love Halloween, so I won't complain. Let's get started...This year Kate is a cowgirl and Taylor is Dorothy (after deciding that Tinkerbell's outfit was just too itchy).

Kate had a pony birthday party on Saturday morning, which we had to leave early in order to make it to her soccer game. Then, we went to our neighborhood Halloween party and the girls cashed in with pizza, cupcakes, and cookies while mommy and daddy began to turn a very blind eye to all the junk our kids will inevitably eat during this entire week (I don't know how many times already that cookies were served for mealtime). I digress...one hour later we headed on out to our favorite annual trunk or treat, where again, unchecked amounts of candy were eaten. All in all, a very fun Saturday was had and the girls slept in until 9:30 AM on Sunday- a result, I'm sure, from hitting a sugar low in the morning hours!

More festivities to come later this week...

[PH]ISHER PREVIEW ...

My prediction ... the kid on the left (Calvin) will be a rock star someday--if he isn't already

If anyone knows the [Ph]ishers, they know what a fun, stylish family they are--we all had a great time--enjoyed another perfect weather fall morning!

Rachel's mother also got to join us at the end--glad she did ...

Here are a few shots ...

HAWKINS PREVIEW ...

These kids were awesome ... definitely ready to get their pictures taken--I think they could have gone all night. We changed it up a bit--shot in a new location, in the early evening (vs. Highland Park, in the am).

We had a fun shoot--what a nice family!

Daddy and Taylor at the BYU Game

Between mommy's recent injuries and Kate's virus that hit on the morning of game-day, Taylor was the lucky recipient of my ticket to the BYU v. TCU game in Ft. Worth on Thursday night.

She was SO excited to be able to go with Brian- literally, she was jumping up and down and couldn't wait to get on the road. Doesn't she look so cute in her BYU shirt? :)

The BYU fan section was so packed that Brian took Taylor to the TCU end zone, with all of the opposing fans. No worries, they thought Taylor was really cute- they didn't even get mad when she yelled, "BYU, BYU" and threw in a taunting face every once in a while. Despite her best efforts, BYU ended up with a disappointing loss...come to think of it, I think the last time they lost was when we all went to the last BYU game in Tulsa....

CHRISTENSEN PREVIEW ...

What a beautiful morning ...

A great day for football! ... We battled the unusual Saturday morning traffic due to the Red River Shootout/ Texas State Fair but eventually arrived at the park.

What an awesome family. What a fun "job" it was to shoot these kids--dressed perfectly for the fall! It was difficult to select just a few, so I put up a bunch.

Enjoy!

TULUM, QUINTANA ROO & MAYAN MARKETPLACE

guess I need to post this one--Rachel decided to stay back at the hotel and relax while Rob, Nora, and I ventured to Tulum (despite the rain). For a while it appeared we would get some heavy rain while touring Tulum--but we were lucky and dry for the couple hours we were there.

Tulum was epic to say the least ...





Quick trip to the very authentic "mayan marketplace" ...

TRIP TO MEXICO ...

We really had a great time in Mexico ...

Thanks a million to the Robinsons for planning such a great trip and for being such great company. You know you're great friends when you can just sit around and play cards and tell embarrassing stories. They were so helpful, especially after my accident- pushing me in my wheelchair, getting food for me at all the buffets before they served themselves, not laughing at me as I hobbled around the room, and for Nora cutting and dying my hair.

I hope they can get back to a normal life of not always having to use the safety ramps and the long ways in order to find the elevators to accommodate wheelchair-bound me. Thanks again- we look forward to next time!


We were serenaded by our very own mariachi band at La Hacienda.


This is us before the fateful scooter ride, hanging out in Playa Del Carmen. They had tons of souvenir shops and some really colorful buildings that made for some pretty scenery and great pictures.


We did ALOT of this while we were in Mexico...chips, guac, salsa, cheese...yum!




We rode the ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel Island, where we rented the scooters and drove around a bit. While we were waiting to leave, this policeman was hanging out looking for the illegally-parked owner of this scooter. Mr. Tough guy! I love the colorful paper banners hanging from this church- so Mexico! And, this last pic was me and my mode of transportation from the ferry to our taxi in Playa- sweet!


We had one full day of Mexico before I got hurt and we really had alot of fun. Brian and I got there a few hours before the Robinsons and we were so excited to be on vacation that we immediately put our suits on and went snorkeling and then swimming in the pool. It was perfect weather that day and we are so glad we were so anxious to get out in the beginning.

UPDATE

Rachel here...Can I tell you how happy I was to be back in America??? We seriously are so lucky to live in a country where you can trust the medical care and feel so safe in their hands! :)

I went to two doctors on Thursday. It turns out that I have an infection on the road rash on my foot. Ugh. But, I'm on some antibiotics and I return on Monday to see how serious and exactly what type of infection it is. The obvious road block here is that I'm pregnant, which greatly affects the type of medicine that I am able to take. They took the stitches out in my knee, but because the damage is on a joint, it will take more time to heal as I'm moving it and bending it (albeit, very little) all the time.

Both my knee and ankle are very swollen and the skin is still so raw, making it extremely painful to walk right now. But, I know it will get better soon. The doctor told me that I would be able to walk normally in about 3 weeks. I appreciate all of your thoughts, well-wishes, and prayers, of course...Brian is going to post some great pics of Mexico soon so keep looking!