Moose down

Well it's 10 p.m. on Dec. 23 and I just finished wrapping all the gifts. Now I'm on to packing. Greg's got one last pool to do in the a.m. (it got too dark too fast to get them all in today) and then we are off to UT.


Poor moose is still down w/ no lights, we just aren't going to get around to saving him this year...but, the larger question is: what does it say about us that we left the moose laying on his side in the rock river bed in front of our house for weeks?

We're inhumane?
We're lazy?
We're funny?

Just another commentary on the real state of affairs at this house...

Some jolly season highlights

• Cole sang his little heart out at the ward Christmas party (even tho he isn't in the primary yet and didn't know the words...no matter...)

• We made our deliveries (well almost, only 3 remain) and Cole wore his Santa hat and sang his fav. Christmas tune, "Once There was a Snowman."

• Caught Crew under the Christmas tree. The little guy rolled under the tree for a closer look at all the shiny lights and balls.

• Went to visit Santa and took pics on his knee. The boys were pretty darn good considering we waiting for 1 hr at 8 p.m. outside at Town Square.

So, tomorrow we travel with all our gifts in tow, hoping to make it before Santa arrives on his sleigh. We don't have a chimney or snow, so we are headed to UT where we are sure to have both.

Merry Christmas.

Santa Always Answers

All I Want for Christmas

Make your own letter with these free Christmas downloads.

First Family T-Day

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with just our little family of four. We decided to stay home instead of traveling to Utah to be with family and turned down generous invitations from our adopted Vegas family to spend the day together and start a few traditions of our own.

We started with a Holiday Hike...



in our Holiday Hats


Then we came home and made our Holiday Feast (I was too tired to set the dinning room table, so we all dined at the "kids table" in the kitchen). I learned a few things about cooking a turkey like...it takes a lot longer than the instructions tell you...but we like our stuffing crunchy, so it worked out.

Cole and I made our Holiday Toast (really, any reason to toast is good for us).


Later we had our Holiday Pie (thanks to Becky's homemade apple pie filling).


Then had a Holiday Nap (not pictured).

And ended with Holiday Gas (I know a refined lady shouldn't speak so frank, I'm just saying it seems to be tradition around here).

What a great Thanksgiving Holiday!

Apparently God & Santa are Synonymous

In the middle of the day, in the middle of a conversation...

"Stop Mom. Close your eyes. Dad, close your eyes too. Heavenly Father, Santa please bring me a rocket and a see-through back-kak with colors and a clean-up sheen (machine). And a clean-up sheen for Mom too. Amen." - Cole, age 3

I guess we know what we'll be teaching at FHE this week!

P.S. After a trip to Target, add fireman boots to the list.

Is Santa a Forgiving Man?

Mom: "How have you behaved today, Cole? What Should I tell Santa"?
Cole: "I've been naughty."
Mom: "When Santa asks me, I'll have to tell him you've been naughty."
Cole: "No, you don't."
Mom: "You want me to lie to Santa"?
Cole: Pause..."Santa will forgive me."

Milk Chart Reinvented

We added chocolate (oh ya, and fruits, veggies, bread and meats) and upgraded the previous milk chart ...hopefully it will work.

Does this bird look mean or just put out?

I kinda thought he was staring me down when I put him up for display. I think he knows what's next...

I thought about skipping Thanksgiving decorating this year, because Christmas is so much work, I thought we should enjoy it longer, but alas this turkey was boring his eyes into me saying, "the least you could do is put me up on display before you know you..."

So, when I put away the Halloween stuff tonight (ya, I know I'm a little slow) I remembered I had a new pilgrim couple too!

Now thanksgiving just got a whole lot more exciting! Bring on the pumpkin pie. (BTW- I'm the only one in my family that likes pumpkin pie, so if you are interested in a piece, please give me a shout out. Heaven knows I don't need a whole pie to myself. Perhaps I should spare the bird and share a piece with him...a peace offering of sorts, a gesture of my giving heart or maybe just an indication of my dislike of handling raw meat.)

Nonetheless have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm in Africa. You're in America.

That's what I said last night before I drifted off to sleep in our new KING SIZE bed.

Yes, that's right folks we've upgraded...yeah baby!

And it has been a long time coming...

I remember a piece of advice we received, but did not take more than 11 years ago...marriage advice that was oh so on the money... "Whatever you do, spend some money on a good bed. A Good Bed=A Good Marriage."

So, I guess you could say we've renewed our vows with this recent purchase. And I love it (or errrr...I mean him...).

I can't feel Greg move when I sleep, heck I can't even hear him...cause I'm in Africa...or at least it feels like it. I am having a little sadness over not having a cute headboard anymore and I'll need to remedy the tug-0-war that we are still having with a queen-sized duvet, but I can deal.

When it's time to go to bed, it's business. No more do I need to create a divide with my beloved body pillow (acquired during my first pregnancy). No longer will I have to listen to Greg's tall tales about how he was forced to sleep on an itty bitty portion on the edge of the bed. Gone are the days of sore backs and pains (tried the foam mattress, but I am so not a fan...too hot and uncomfortable) Long gone is the dumpster mattress we acquired with the questionable stain (hmmm, now that's a story...) and say good good bye to the "firmest mattress in the world" (seriously that was embroidered on it) from our newlywed days...

Hello KING SIZE Sterns and Foster beauty
And hello soon-to-be new bedding
We are so glad you joined our family. (And no, kids are not allowed!)

Halloween The Movie

Halloween - Part I
(Oct. 30)

Pirate Cole and Seaman Crew follow Captain Dad over turbulent seas in search of treasure...
(We headed over to the Chesnik's for one great family Halloween party)

Pirate Cole tries to overthrow Captain Dad in a battle...
(Before we left, we taught Cole some essential moves)

Pirate Maiden Mom comes to rescue Seaman Crew from the fighting...
(And posed for some photo ops in character)


Halloween - Part II
(afternoon Oct. 31)

A once happy pirate...
(With a new do, thanks to Dad)


Fears he will never find the treasure...and threatens to behead himself...
(was quite pleased with his new cut and attiTUDE)


And falls to his untimely death...
(loves hamming it up for the camera)


Slowly...

And dramatically...DEAD

Halloween Part III
(Evening Oct. 31)

The next day, he is reunited with his pirate family...
(At the ward trunk-or-treat)


And finds again his zeal for life...
(and all his costumed friends)


And vows to continue his search for the hidden treasure...
(in the parking lot of the chapel)


until next year!
(candy bag full and whew, we're done for another year!)

Who Says...

Boys aren't fun to dress up!



Cole really likes dressing up like his brother (at least right now) and I'm having fun with it too.

Another milk post

Losing my milk is the inevitable admission that I can't do everything. And for this I must forgive myself, for so it must be.

Post edit: Wow, that was dramatic.
Post Post edit: Well yes, it has been.

Milk Mom

At 5:30 a.m. yesterday I scribbled out this fine piece of art for our fridge.
I'd just finished feeding the baby and I laid back down for a sec. to closed my eyes and in comes Cole whining "Mama, I want some milk."

Seriously? I just groaned.

This kid can down some milk and I fear that most of his calories come from this white bevvy. I can't believe he's almost 4 and we are still here.

I'd thought of creating a cute little chart with pictures of fruit and veggies and meat...all food groups and having him count what he eats every day to see if we could move toward a more balanced diet. But at 5:30 a.m. this would have to do... One day we'll get to the cute laminated food chart (and I can channel my inner school teacher).

Update: One day down and I've got to say it worked. Only 3 glasses of milk yesterday.

I added lights

Makes it more SPOOOKY, don't ya think?

Octoberfest

We're ready...

Are YOU?


Post edit: If you want to make your own halloween apothecary, download labels on Johnny Love's flickr page. Also check out the Idea Room for more ideas.

We're So Related

Cabin Getaway

Thanks to my iphone (cause you know I forgot the camera yet again) we captured some pics from our weekend trip to the Stewart cabin in Brian Head. We had a great time hanging out with good people in the great outdoors. The Phillips clan were great hosts. We slept comfortably and eat way too much good food.


Cole loved being able to roam free. You would've thought we kept him caged in the city. On our Sat. morning hike he happily sang and gave commentary to anyone who'd listen..."I'm hiking in the mountains" ...."Hey Mom, I'm hiking in the mountains"..."Hey everybody, don't worry I have snacks for everyone" and on and on and on...'



He also (much to my annoyance) took claim to a orange whistle that never left his pocket. Greg's rule of no blowing inside or in someone's face didn't hold. Nor did the no biting rule. Gee, I thought we were past that, but he sunk his teeth into two kids and I had the "use your words instead of your mouth" chat...again...


Crew was a happy hiker. I loaded him into the baby pack and he soon fell asleep. However, I did take one fall (gracefully executed, I must say) and heroically saved my babe from injury (whilst skinning my own shin).



We rode ATVs...Cate got a start up lesson from Earnest and she was on her way...and Cole finally, with some trepidation, mounted the "motorcycle" but only when sandwiched between Greg and I. I held his chest with two hands and after he dismounted he was off to boast to the other "cousins" (really they were just new friends, but he thinks any large quantity of kids must be cousins) about his brave ride.

We took archery lessons and learned about Cate's (and now Collin's) hidden talent with the bow and arrow...and Collin spent most of the day perfecting his skill.


Saturday afternoon we headed to Panguitch lake to do what all boys do...throw rocks in the water...And see the most amazing 6-point elk. He was beautiful. We held our breath and he gave us a look that said "That's right, I'm big." and went on his way (with his two women in tow).


Cate, Barb & Annette taking pictures at the lake while the boys threw rocks.

What a great getaway.