Lucky Eight.

Eight is my favorite number. I'm the eighth child in my family (out of nine), H (for Hannah) is the eighth letter of the alphabet... it's just a nice, even, pretty number.

Well, today is a special day because it is our EIGHTH wedding anniversary. I'm convinced that this year is going to be a lucky one for us. In just over a month it will also be 2018, so YAY for all the 8's!

Landon and I often talk about all the things that had to line up perfectly for us to meet and to fall in love. Obviously there are big things, like we both had to attend BYU. But then there are the small things that just seem too much like fate to be a coincidence. Like how I was supposed to live in Glenwood building number 1, but a few weeks before school started I moved to building number 4 because I met someone at my job who was going to be living there and didn't have a roommate. And how Landon only lived at Glenwood because it was one of the only places that still had openings, and how he happened to live in building number 4. Thank goodness.

We fell fast, and it all came so naturally. We were instantly best friends and I'm so grateful for that foundation for our marriage. We never wanted to be apart, and I'm happy to report we still feel the same way. I can't tell you how many people told me in the early stages of our married life that this would "wear off" and I was just in the "honeymoon phase." Well, sorry to let everyone down, but I actually like my husband and still like to be around him. :)

These past eight years haven't been perfect, and I never want to sound like I'm bragging or not being authentic. Because there have been some pretty epic fights. But at the end of the day, we love each other and we work through our disagreements. We say we're sorry (which is actually SO hard for me to say haha!) We forgive. We try to learn and grow from our mistakes and we try to communicate when we have had our feelings hurt. We compromise. We try to do things to make the other happy. Marriage is all about the big picture, and the big picture is that we love each other FOREVER. Sometimes the small things, like a little fight, can seem big. But when you take a step back, you remember that the person you are SO mad at, is the person you are SO in love with. It doesn't feel good to stay mad, so don't.

This year has actually been a really hard one for us, especially for Landon. I can't go into the details right now but it is health related and he is actually going to NORWAY on Monday to hopefully get better. There's nothing worse than watching the person you love suffer. This problem hasn't just been hard physically but emotionally as well. Landon is such a strong, level-headed, logical person... so to see him so beaten down has been completely heartbreaking for me. There have been many tears and many sleepless nights. But he is SO strong and continues to put on a brave face and go to work every single day, even though it has been extremely hard for him. He does it for me and he does it for Charlie. I couldn't be more proud of him and the person that he is.

Landon Dean, I am so grateful that you found me. I can't believe we have been married for eight years. They have truly been the best and most beautiful years of my life. Thank you for always thinking I'm beautiful, even when I haven't washed my hair in 5 days and have yesterday's make up on. Thank you for being the best dad in the whole world to Charlie. I love watching you love him. Thank you for loving your family with all that you have and for working so hard for us. Thank you for teaching me how to live authentically and for helping me develop self-worth. Thank you for making me laugh every day and for always teasing me and playing with me. Thank you for taking me on a walk every single night (even though I complain about it when it's cold/wet/late).

Thank you just doesn't seem like a big enough word to express all the gratitude that is in my heart for you and the person you are. You will never know how grateful I am for you.

Happy Anniversary, Love!

Halloween Shenanigans.

Landon and I are huge fans of Halloween, so all month we have been doing activities to celebrate. It has been the best because Charlie just makes everything so much more fun! I have a feeling it will just keep getting better as he gets older and understands more.

One of the cute things that Charlie did this year that I never want to forget is that he says, "BOOOOO!" whenever he sees something "scary" (like a skeleton, a jack-o-lantern, etc.) It is the CUTEST thing ever. Gosh, we love him!

Anyway, October is definitely my favorite month, so get ready for a million pictures and videos... :)

Our first adventure was to Gardener Village to check out the witches. Charlie was obsessed with touching all the pumpkins and would say "boo" to the witches (of course). He loved walking around and at one point got really into the music that was playing and showed off his dance moves. He really couldn't be any cuter.

He was mesmerized by the witches hats that were hanging on strings :)

Next up, was Wheeler Farm. There was supposedly a scarecrow "festival" but there were only like five scarecrows and they were pretty lame... but it was still fun to walk around the farm. Charlie loves the animals and would "moo" and "neigh" at them.  

Then we finally got to go to the pumpkin patch. It was seriously the most perfect fall day. Of course Charlie loved all the pumpkins and loved finding rocks. He was a little nervous about the slide, but was so brave! When we were taking pictures by the barn, he was waving to all the people passing and it was the CUTEST thing. He also started waving and clapping when he rode in the wheel barrow like he was on parade or something. He's too much!

A rock in each hand, of course :)

We visited the pumpkin patch one more time after Charlie's 18 month appointment because he was SO brave getting his flu shot. On this trip he decided that the pumpkins were very bouncy, so he had to bounce on them. So funny! We also discovered a tunnel through one of the haystacks.

He weighs 26 pounds (55%), is 33 inches tall (70%), and of course has a huge head (93%!!!!) 

Landon's work does trick-or-treating at his office, which is so much fun because everyone decorates so creatively and of course we scored big on the candy-front. Charlie was ADORABLE walking around in his turtle costume (yep, he wore it last year too). It was so cute watching him carefully choose a candy and then drop it in his bucket. He did such a good job and had a blast. He totally understood the concept and was so excited by all the candy.

The next day we went to Daybreak to go trick-or-treating, because I was determined to have Charlie dress up as many times as possible. It turned out to be much smaller and much more crowded than I expected. But Charlie had so much fun dancing and he even got a balloon, which was very exciting for him. 

The next Halloween activity was a date night for Landon and me. We left Charlie with Nini and Papa and went to Fear Factory. We went last year too, so I would say this year wasn't quite as scary but we still had a lot of fun (except for the part when Landon was POINTING AT ME to tell the Chainsaw man that I was freaked out and to come get me. Little stinker...) It's so much fun getting some one on one time with my love :)

Then it was time to carve our pumpkins and watch Nightmare Before Christmas (my fave). We actually carved them while Charlie was sleeping, but he'll probably be able to help next year. He loved seeing the finished product though! I decided to do a cat (even though I am not a fan) because Charlie loves cats and I love the way he says meow. 

And now we are finally to Halloween! That morning we went to story time at the library with Nini and our friends Aleena and Finn. Charlie did a pumpkin craft with Nini and it was basically the cutest thing watching him help her glue the pieces on. 

Those cheeks!!!

I mean, really?!?!

Babies giving high fives = cutest thing EVER.

And last, but not least, we took Charlie for his first "real" trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. After a few houses he definitely understood what was going on and would get SO excited waiting outside the door that he would squeal and stomp his feet so fast. Everyone just about died over how cute he was! He was very selective about what candy he wanted and was so cute dropping it in his bucket (sometimes very hesitantly!) It was seriously the cutest thing.

When we got home, Charlie had fun going through his candy and probably ate a little bit too much of it too :)

And here's a side by side of the cutest turtle you've ever seen at 6 months and 18 months. We definitely got our money's worth out of this costume! 

It was the best Halloween EVER and I already can't wait until next year :)