it's beginning to look a little like christmas...

or at least the tree is finally up! My dear friend Lyns came up for a sleepover and tree decorating party on Saturday. It got a little messy...

But we had lots of fun. And we had a very lovable but very late night party crasher. Little booger. He loved watching us try to put the lights on the tree (pathetic as we were) and was so interested in all the ornaments. Secretly I loved that he was awake for it. There's something that feels a bit magic about putting up a tree and I have such fond memories of doing it with my family growing up. I love that we are starting the same thing with him.

 

This guy has suddenly started to turn into a TWO YEAR OLD [noooooooooo! not yet!]. It is alllll about attitude and mischief around here. Literally this hit over the course of the last week. 

I have a feeling that Max and the tree will be having lots of face time this year. Last year he liked the tree but was not exactly mobile. Therefor we were all in the clear (me, my ornaments, the tree and Max).

Talk about guilty! How funny is my little man- caught red handed!

don't miss it this year...

oh. you better believe i'm going to be there at 9 tonight!

caroline and i are going to go down early to set up her 

GORGEOUS JEWELRY

(she made the necklace I wore on Studio 5 last time)

Last year it was so much fun and I spend WAY too much.

 This is no vinyl party or cookie lee shindig. Everything is handmade and SERIOUSLY cool.

It's a little like Etsy all smooshed into one room. 

oh, and we're not bringing babies. 

can't wait!!!

wishing...

max whispered in my ear this morning that if he doesn't get these shoes for Christmas, he will die. really he did. 

i hope santa has lots of extra money this year... why are all the cute boy shoes sooo pricey?

I love you so much my gif. 

I can't believe you're 16!! wooohoo!

I am so blessed that God gave me 

a little sister

who is also my best friend

so kind

max's idol

a total babe

who leaves me little blog messages

and seriously way too cool

too gorgeous 

and talented for only 16 years...

instead of another little brother. 

Kenz, you amaze me. I love and RESPECT you so much. You are the most beautiful girl I know, inside and out. You have a heart like no one else.  I mean that. 

thankful

for my healthy, sweet, beautiful boy
my best friend, my husband
my crazy family
and that I was able to spend the holiday eating at ONE table with 40 of them
during our little getaway to Sandpoint
which is far more beautiful in the winter than I remembered.

I feel so blessed.

my sister is silly

/>

well hello everyone!!!!! this is jessicas sister Mackenzie!!!! just wanted to say hi. jessica left her blog logged in on my computer so i felt it would be patheticly dumb and lame if i did not take this once in a life time chance to write something!!!! well i love this girl and her fam!!! they are the greatest people ever! i love seeing them and thanksgiving was wonderful! for those of you that live in UTAH.... just wnat you to know that i am jelous...!!! well thanks for putting up with me!!!! love you jess danny and max!!!! 

                Love,    

        Mackenzie E. Rands

p.s. my sister took this amazing pic!!!! 

my lisp is back

check out today's studio 5 clip- you might be on it!

also, please notice my cheesey smile as we open. for sure my best moment.

Thanks Brooke and Darrin and everyone at Studio 5 for having me back. It is always a pleasure!

YAAAAAAAY!

It's finally here!!!

Join us tonight.

WHYYY??

because it is going to be crazy fun

because we have been bustin' our booties to put it all together

it will REALLY help little Karson

I AM AUCTIONING OFF A BIG FATTY PHOTO PACKAGE

there is plenty, and I do mean PLENTY

of other good shiz to bid on if you no likey the pictures I take

the music will be AWESOME!!

I will be there, and I am awesome.

I will hug and kiss you on both cheeks (you know, like the Europeans)

I will be super thankful. 

They will be super happy to see you.

You will be super glad you listened to me.

info HERE

and YES it is after the b-y- freaking -u game. 

the next person to ask will promptly be punched in the face following my response.

consida yaself warned.

because its fun.

max loves to hide in here...

EVERY DAY after we take a shower.

and loves to color!

a max kettle original.

COUNT DOWN TO SATURDAY!

I can't believe the concert is almost here! I can't wait for it to finally happen after MONTHS of planning. Most of you already know the situation from my previous posts about him, but in a nutshell, Danny and I have been on a committe to plan a benefit concert and auction for our little love Karson Riggs, who has SPINAL MUCULAR ATROPHY type I  

PLEASE come to this amazing evening! You don't have to personally know the Riggs to come bid on our MANY fun items (more to come on that..) or just enjoy a concert put on by the amazing Brenn Hill!

For pre-sale tickets, call 

MAREE COTTAM at  801.791.2281

Also, it's not too late to donate ANYTHING to the auction!

Everything helps!

contact me at jesslkettle@yahoo.com if you're feeling generous (and I hope you are).

and here's one more link

www.karsonskause.blogspot.com

halloween

Halloween in Florida was SOOO much fun! We felt oh so authentic being pirates one the beach.  I will apologize in advance for the number of pictures I am posting, it really must be some kind of sin to be this obsessed with your child... and halloween. oh well. 

I got so excited to dress him up that I woke him up from his nap. oops!

the get-up, minus the 'stache and chest hair

WITH the body hair. 

my two favorite pirates!

digging for gold

the  a d o r a b l e hat that he would NOT wear for the life of him. not for ONE second!

just us

 like my tat?

these two scallywags really love eachother. it melts me!

he was just a little protective of his sword!

 

Later we did our trick or treating at a big shopping center kinda like Gateway. This kid looooved the suckers. 

but it kinda wore him out. =)

After we got home, it took Danny DAYS to convice me I really had to take this all down. =(

I had SO much fun making these silhouette plates with Caroline! The whole process was kinda annoying, but they turned out pretty cool. The middle one is my Maxter, the others are an owl, a bat, a witch, and a skull and crossbones. 

The glitter skull was my other little pride and joy, I just covered a plastic skull with glue and dumped black glittler all over it. Next year I want to do it again with pumpkins and burt orange glitter. 

We got pretty attached to the owls and birds everywhere...

just stuck some ribbon and lace on these candles to add a little somethin'

and finally some candles for my antlers!

we also had the BEST Halloween package from my mom waiting for us. It arrived the day after we left! Sad. I will be able to use all of it for next year though! Arent these the best pajamas? THey glow in the dark. Even cuter with the bottoms... But this get-up is pretty great too huh?

Well if you weren't Halloween-ed out before, you DEFINITELY are now!

life's little distractions

there are about 50 jillion things that i actually really neeeeeed to blog about,

like BRITTANY coming, 

or halloween (and the decorations I slaved away over), 

or maybe florida, 

and especially, especially the p r o j e c t  [click on it] i've been working on for three months

(and that I really really really hope you all come to! because it will be amazing 

and make you feel good.)

but it's getting to the point of being overwhelming.

so i did what i always do in just such a situation...

stay up  WAY too late

play on photoshop

with something completely frivilous.

enter new funky framed silhouette.

awesome.

dear mr. president (elect),

congratulations on your sucessful campaign. boy, it was a rough one for all of us and I for one am glad it's over.

listen, while I didn't exactly give you my vote (don't feel bad, Mr. McCain didn't get it either), I now feel it my duty to give you my support, or hey- at least the benefit of the doubt! you seem like a smart, capable man, and I really REALLY hope that your plans for this country work out. I can't say I agree with you on everything, and to be honest, I think the idea of raising capital gains taxes is down right nuts. And sure, I will question your decisions from time to time, because that's MY job as a citizen. But while we don't hold the same view on all the issues, I DO believe that you are going to do your best to do what you think is right for this country. I DO believe that your heart is in the right place. I DO believe that you have what it takes to pull this country together and that you will touch and inspire millions. I am proud to be an American citizen and to see the first black president move in to the white house. Plus I think your wife is going to be a swell first lady. =)

Please know that we will pray for you just as we have prayed for presidents past. As I'm sure you already know, you're going to need it. Though we're hurting right now, this is the most amazing country in the world, but hey, you know that too. Take good care of it. Take good care of us. I think you will. Yes YOU can.

Jessica

p.s. let's at least try to stay somewhere in the middle ground on the moral issues, k? I'd sure appreciate that.

p.p.s. if you happen to run into Sarah Palin, tell her I hope this ins't the end of her appearances on SNL. I actually really like her.

naughty max skips his nap

After we got home from Florida, my little stinker had a tough time adjusting to the time change. After refusing his nap, I brought him into our new office/guestroom to see if he would lay down while I go some work done...

He looked so ridiculously adorable cuddled up in the quilts and pillows that I had to pull my camera out. He immediately started posing! I was cracking up. He kept pulling this big cheesy grin and giggling. 

Now how could I stay mad at my little nap-skipper after that??

I couldn't of course.

back to reality

we're home! florida was so much fun. i have to say i wish i could have stayed another day or two. lots of updates to come on the beach, halloween, disneyworld... i miss it already. 

in the mean time, enjoy my favorite picture of max from the trip.

who doesn't love little tummy rolls?

old hallows eve

Happy Halloween everyone! My little pirate and I are looking forward to some fun on the beach to celebrate. And we'll just see what else Port St. Lucie has to offer for Halloween... hopefully something involving candy I can sneak from Max's bag...

We are having a lovely time, but right now it's killing me that I am away from my so very festively decorated home and all of Max's costume adorned friends! We miss you and the trick or treating fun that must be going on without us. =(

p.s. I have discovered that the key to a happy and successful four hour flight with a one year old is just a weeeeeee bit of Children's Benadryl. =)

Don't judge me.

outta here. happy and sad.

We are leaving this week for the happiest place on earth (the one in Florida). I am so excited! I have been taking a few too many many pictures and working a little too much. I am REALLY looking forward to playing with this kid non stop!

and giving him lots of love and attention. 

ON THE OTHER HAND. I am really sad. really really sad. Because our best friends JUST got here!! And we only get to see them for about 36 hours.

they look like fun, don't they? =(

At least they're sleeping over so we get to soak up the fun for every possible second. But how sucky to leave  when they are still going to be here??! stupid schedules. 

I mean how do you kiss this face goodbye? I was really glad we got to take some pictures of him tonight. Talk about gorgous! I just wanted to eat him up every second today. 

And he loves me too. Of course. 

For some reason I love this shot of Max. I took it with the 17-55 f//2.8 lens I rented for the day and I am now convinced it needs to be at the top of my Christmas list. 

The wide angles are so fun. 

 I think he's saying, "take me to the beach. PLEEAAASE?"

okay. =)