The Winner Is....

The winner of the beautiful Pregnancy Necklace from Moon Over Maize is Swanny at Swanny's order of chaos! I loved reading all of the comments over the last five days. So many of them brought me to tears and prompted me to hug my kids a little closer. Here is the comment that Swanny left.

first off I have to say the picture on the top of your blog is absolutely PRECIOUS!!!

the best thing about having children is the complete joy they give you. I have 4 children and love them to bits!

I want you all to know that I didn't pick her because she complimented my children. I thought that was lovely but this was completely random.

Congratulations Swanny!

Halloween Fun 2008

these are the neighbor's pumpkins

This was our first 'real' Halloween. Our first year of dressing up and going door to door begging for candy. Daddy's rule is that you have to be able to say 'trick or treat'. Alex can say it, but Mallory can't. By default she got to go too.....and spent the entire time on her Daddy's shoulders.

Here are pictures from last year.

Alex was a train engineer and Mallory was a puppy...a very unhappy puppy. However, she is enjoying the results...she loves M&M's.

stay away from my candy woman!

Our first stop was accross the street to Natalie's house. She is our baby sitter and Alex was so excited to see her that he tried to follow her inside her house. It took a little while to get him to realize that we wanted him to go up to people's homes and receive a treat. I'm sure he thinks we have lost our minds.

don't make me call Nana!

Carving Pumpkins

Happy Halloween!

On Sunday, we had a great time carving pumpkins with Alex. He really got into it and even put aside his pacifier for a short time to get some serious carving done. Calvin assisted Alex in designing the pumpkin. Which would explain why the it has some crazy eye holes.

Calvin and I decided to try out a costume idea....he was dressed as Hugh Heffner. And I was wearing a playboy bunny costume. To bad I am always the photographer.....


Here are our finished pumpkins! I carved the tree pumpkin....have you ever tried to carve a pumpkin in a bustier and 5 inch heels? Note to self: costume idea for next year....Hillary Rodham Clinton!

You may be wondering what Mallory was doing while we were having Halloween fun! She was doing laundry. Poor thing. I see a Cinderella costume in her future....

In case you missed it....I made an awesome loaf of bread this week. And there are only a few more hours to enter my giveaway. Hurry.....

Visit We are THAT Family for the Pumpkin Party!

Christmas in October

Welcome to Christmas in October!

During the last month, I have been VERY busy. I bought our Christmas Cards, I purchased (and returned) and re-purchased Christmas Outfits for the kids. I located and bought a couple more Christmas presents AND my Christmas Pajamas. You will now find plenty of Christmas items in the stores and Disney/Nickelodeon/Noggin are starting to play toy commercials.

Christmas in October: Things to Do!

1. Decide on treats to make (carried over from last month)
2. Purchase most Christmas Presents....small items for baskets.
3. Make list of ingredients for Goodies, start buying.
4. Purchase the kid's Christmas Pajamas.
5. Start Holiday Letter outline.
6. Find and purchase Elves...start notebook of things they are going to do.
7. Go through Christmas Card List...decide who is getting cards this year.
8. Take Christmas picture of the kids to put in the cards. Order photos.

Wow! I have a lot of work to do....I better get busy!

The Crate and Barrel catalog came in the mail yesterday! I found something that I have to have....a Silver Serving Stand! And if you are looking for a bag of coal you will find it there.

This month....it is also time to plan your Thanksgiving Meal and start putting the ingredients on your shopping list. Buying a little during each grocery trip to spread the cost out over the month. I am adding two new recipes this year. Big Martha's Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese and Woven Breadstick Wreaths. The Wreaths are featured in Martha Stewart Living November 2008.

I am so excited for this year's feel good Christmas movie featuring Vince Vaughn! It is called Four Christmases and it looks so hilarious! It starts November 26th....here is the movie trailer!

Come back on Monday for my GIVEAWAY!

No, Not Papa

I was just sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper while the kids' ate their breakfast when Alex started saying....'There's Papa!' Papa is what he calls my Dad.

I couldn't figure out what he was talking about because he often talks about everyone being gone. Dada gone, Papa Gone, Nana gone....

I looked at the back of the newspaper and saw a full page ad for Direct TV. One of the small pictures was advertising for Headline News and a picture of this man.

Anderson Cooper

I guess he does look a little bit like Papa. LOL!

I think it's the hair....

Letting Go

I have had long hair for most of my life. When I was five years old it was down to my rear end, I got gum in it, it was always a mess and my pet Raccoon Racky used to sneak into my room at night and pull it, so my Mom cut it very short. Then no one could tell if I was a girl or a boy.


I used to spend hours blow drying and curling it when I was a teenager. And then in 8th grade I had a home perm go wrong and I walked three miles each way in the blazing sun and spent my allowance having all my hair cut off. That was also the year that I only wore Grey, Black and Red and loved RATT. Short hair worked for me.

Nice mustache DAD!

The summer before my senior year, I worked outside painting gas meters for Greeley Gas. My long hair was miserable in the Colorado heat, so I cut it into a cute little bob.

What is with these wings? me and Bobbi look like we are about to take off!

I snagged myself a husband with my long blonde hair, my winning personality, my beer drinking abilities and my good birthing hips suitable for producing an heir.


Then I had a couple kids and my hair went curly on me. I tried to embrace my natural brown hair color and then I got highlights earlier this year. NOTE: if you can't make it to the salon every 6-8 weeks, don't get highlights....they look like poop when they grown out. And so here is what I looked like on Saturday right before I left for the salon.


I decided that it was finally time to let go of my long hair. It was no longer working for me and I always looked a mess. I have this vision of the person that I want to be. The Mom and Wife that I want to be and the long messy hair didn't fit the picture in my head.

This is more like it!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Last weekend, we decided to take the kids to a Pumpkin Patch and let them pick a pumpkin. I did some research and found Day Farms in Layton had a hay ride out to a patch for $5 per person. Each of us would get to take home a pumpkin. After consulting the gals on twitter and then doing the math of $20 for 4 pumpkins, vs .60 cents a pound for pumpkins that we would buy at their farmer's market....I decided we would take the ride.


It was a beautiful afternoon and temps were in the high 70's. Perfect Pumpkin Pickin weather! We got on the trailer pulled by a tractor with about 25 other people and we were off. Mallory decided that she was starving and kept trying to jump out of my arms....we fed her M&M's and goldfish crackers to keep her occupied.

When we got to the patch everyone jumped off of the trailer without waiting for the stairs to be placed on the end. It was a mad dash to find the biggest pumpkin you would carry and haul it back to the trailer. Some people then forced their children to sit with the pumpkin to prevent anyone from stealing it. Many people were back to the trailer with their pumpkins before Mallory and I were even off of it. My concern was that we had a time limit or something and I was wasting precious time!


Right away Mallory tripped on a pumpkin vine and got mad. Alex was off like a shot. He was not really hunting for pumpkins but just running all through the pumpkin patch trying to cover as much ground as he could. Finally, Calvin and Alex found us three very nice pumpkins (I picked my own) and we were back on the trailer. And then Mallory's blood sugar finally returned to normal and she realized that we were in a Pumpkin Patch and got all excited.

Coming soon....Pumpkin Carving!

Haven't joined Twitter yet? Here are 50 great reasons that you should!

I Want The Look

When we were in Denver a couple weeks ago, we found ourselves in Cherry Creek shopping for christmas presents. If you have been to Cherry Creek, you know that it is a highfalutin/prominent area and it is home to very trendy shops and restaurants. You will also find many beautiful homes, the Denver Country Club and a Whole Foods Store.


While we were shopping....I saw a lot of very fit looking ladies. Ladies with perfect hair, nails and make-up. What I noticed more than anything was that they were wearing sports/active wear and I kept thinking....WOW....they must have worked out today, look how great they look.


And it got me thinking....if I were to wear workout clothes perhaps people will think I am fit and that I work out? I think I like the idea of people thinking that I workout...even if I don't. I think this is seriously the best idea I have ever had!

Maybe....it would encourage me to workout if I had the outfits.



Photo Credit

Sixth of the Sixth

My friend Jen at Coconut Belly tagged me for a fun meme. The rules are to choose the sixth photo from your sixth album and post it with a brief description and/or the story behind it. I don't have photo albums but I do like to group my photos into albums on iPhoto. My sixth album is titled Labor Day 2006 and this is the sixth picture.


This is me and Alex just minutes after he was born. And is one of the happiest days of my life....April 20 2006! When they laid him in my arms and I saw his beautiful face I just broke down crying. I had wanted to be a Mother since I was a little girl. While my little sister was playing Veterinarian....I was playing house. I was 35 years old when Alex was born and after years of being in the wrong relationships, I had thought my dream might never come true. Then fate brought me and my soulmate together and all of my dreams came true! This picture always makes me cry....I can remember the feeling of giving birth for the first time like it was yesterday. The feelings, the love and the promise of an incredible future. The little boy that lights up my life and makes me so happy that water falls out of my face.

Okay! Now I get to tag 6 sensational ladies!

The Texas Mama
Csquaredplus3
Adventures of a Texas Blonde
Junior Mints & Reeses
It's Shanna...Like Banana
Tatertots and Jello

Serenity

Serenity...the state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled.

Lately, when I am with my husband and children and we are just hanging out in the house together...I have been experiencing Serenity. The wonderful feeling that we are protected and happy and have everything we need. We have a home, work, good food and each other. And now I have good friends. Good friends that like coffee and love their families too.

What is this feeling? Could Utah finally be home? We have always said that wherever our family lives is home but it finally feels true. That and my Utah driver's license arrived yesterday.

Edited: Yesterday, after I put Mallory down for a nap, Alex came over to snuggle with me. He does this quite a bit lately and I love it. He put his arm around me, pulled me close into a hug and kissed me. Then he said two words. I happy. Me too, buddy. Me too.

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

“Pooh!” he whispered.

“Yes, Piglet?”

“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw.

"I just wanted to be sure of you.”

– A.A. Milne

I held a baby and I liked it!

My friend Sara asked me to do her a huge favor. She asked me to watch her 6 month old baby girl. I thought about it for half a second and said, 'You betcha'!

It is no secret that I want another baby. Within weeks of Mallory's birth I knew that I didn't feel done. I'm told that lots of women feel this way. That you either feel your family is complete at some point or.....you just don't.

I had Calvin talked into having another for about a day and a half. Then people told him he was too old and crazy. He has been against it ever since. I have tried to talk myself out of it. I really have. I tell myself that I don't have a big enough vehicle for three carseats, right now the children each have their own room, most tables are built for four, hotel rooms are built for four, airplanes are built for three...wait that doesn't work. I wouldn't have the freedom that I have now...which isn't saying much because I rarely go anywhere anyway....but leaving three kids home alone with Daddy is a little different than leaving him with two. There are two of us and two of them.

Then there are those silly Volkswagen commercials where Brooke Shields accuses people of having babies for german engineering. Here is my favorite one.



I have tried to convince myself that two is enough for me. That I don't NEED another baby.

But then, today when I held Sophie in my arms and smelled her little head......

It was heaven!

The Difference

Alex was out of town with his Dad last weekend and it was so quiet around here. Mallory and I did some shopping, and she played with her favorite toys and she read some books. There wasn't any crying or whining and the house was nice and clean and orderly. Here is what the family room looked like all weekend.

Here is what it looked like 30 minutes after Alex arrived home.

By Saturday night, I started to miss picking up toys and the noise that is my little boy. I couldn't wait for him to get home and thought he would be excited to see me. But he just wanted to put his cars, trucks and trains away and organize them just the way he likes them.

Loving An Engineer....

Dungeon run
Into the Darnassus Sun
Swords go round and round
You're on my mind
My sweetheart...
Sleeps alone tonight
Sendin all my gold
Along the DSL wire

They say that MMORPG
Ain't no place to have a family
Right down the line
Its been Azeroth and me
And lovin an Engineer
Ain't always what its supposed to be
Oh girl you stand by me
Im forever yours...Absently.

Coding life
Under the Macintosh world
We all need the iMac
To make us smile
Through space program and time
Always another deadline
Wondering where I’ve been
Lost without you

And being apart ain't easy
On this love affair
Two parents learn to fall in love again
I get the joy
Of rolling my eyes at you
Oh girl, you stand by me
Im forever yours...Absently

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Absently, Im still yours
Im forever yours
Ever yours...Absently

*Adapted from the song Faithfully by Journey

I Love Fall

Fall, is hands down....my favorite season. It usually starts right around my birthday. The temperature starts to drop and the leaves start to turn, and then it is time to bring out the Fall decorations and do my Fall Nesting.

This year I festooned my doorway, fireplace hearth and entertainment center. I love the fall leaf garlands and I like to put them in unexpected places like....the bathroom mirror.

I have always wanted to buy some of those Scare Crows on a Stick but when I see them, they always look kind of odd and I pass them up. This year I decided that I would make my own with my son's outgrown clothes. I decided to call it a Cute Crow. I think it turned out pretty good!


While shopping with my daughter this weekend, we decided to add to our Jim Shore collection and start collecting the Halloween figurines. We brought home this adorable kitty cat! MEOW!


Head over to A Soft Place to Fall and join the party! This is the place to be to find decorating ideas for your home. Get some coffee and join me!

My Cute Crow needs a name....what do you think it should be?

Subscribe to my feed so you don't miss out on my giveaway at the end of the month!

Baby Needs a(nother) New Pair of Shoes!

I made such a mistake yesterday. I don't know if it was because lunch time was fast approaching and my brain doesn't work properly when I have low blood sugar or if it was because I was so overwhelmed with all of the beautiful clothes.

I bought Mallory's outfit in the wrong size! I don't know how I could have picked up all three pieces in the wrong size. It all probably would have fit her but not for very long and I wanted her to be able to wear it for the whole season.

So....we went back to the mall. And they didn't have the sweater or the jeans in her size. I told you stuff goes fast here! I was so irritated. I ended up picking a different outfit that still is from the Holiday Treat line.

I bought the dress and the tights but NOT the shoes. I learned my lesson from her birthday outfit when she wore the dress for 10 minutes and the shoes were too big! I will be purchasing some inexpensive black shoes....because now the new shoes that she got yesterday do not match this outfit.

Or maybe some cute little black boots! Either way....baby needs a new pair of shoes!

****Mallory's Birthday outfit is for sale if anyone is interested in buying it. She wore the dress long enough to have her picture taken and the shoes were worn once. I'll make you a great deal!

Day Out With Mallory

Daddy and Alex left for Denver this morning. I decided that the best way that I know to get over being sad....is Retail Therapy! I take my job as Mallory's Mother very seriously and it is my obligation to teach her the finer points of being a female. I must teach her how to shop, just like my Mother taught me.

The Mormons (General Conference Time) were tucked all snug in their houses today and we had Gymbucks burning a hole in our pocket so we headed to the mall. First.....we needed shoes! OMG SHOES! I explained to Mal that any shopping trip can be saved with a great pair of shoes. I was shocked when I paid the bill and our shoes cost the same amount! Oh my heck!





Once we had some proper footwear, we went to The Quilted Bear. They had so many wonderful holiday decorations, but we restrained ourselves and only bought one item for our Jim Shore collection and Mallory got her very own backpack.



Then it was time! It was time to go to Gymboree. To honor our Mormon Brothers' and Sisters' we were on a mission! A mission to find Christmas Outfits. I know what you are thinking. Christmas? Already? If you read this blog you know that we plan for Christmas for 6 solid months. For example, this week we purchased our Christmas Cards. And people here in the Beehive State have lots and lots of kids. You must buy children's items early or you just miss out. Halloween costumes in Utah...sell out (well the good ones) in early September. You must act quickly or your kid has to wear crap from Wal-Mart!

I am very pleased with what I found but I think I need to go back to shopping at Gymboree online because not having a running total as I shop turned out to be rather...costly. Hi Honey. I didn't really spend that much, just a little tiny bit more than I wanted but once you see Moo in this hat that I got...Oh my heck! It is just the cutest thing and also it was the last one. I. had. to. get. it! Plus, I already discussed it with your Mom and she is totally on my side.

Here is Moo with the loot!

After all of that shopping...we were so hungry! We decided on Chick Fil A and I introduced Mallory to Chicken Nuggets dipped in honey! She loved it! Waffle Fries, not so much.


And then, I introduced Mallory to something that every woman needs (and I still don't have).

Designer Handbags

She was very fond of the Coach handbags..... That's my girl!
Daddy...click on Coach. That is the one Mommy likes.

A busy morning of shopping makes us very thirsty....check out the hat. Seriously! Cute right?




Tonight we are going to eat corn dogs, drink stawberry milk, read Wocket in my Pocket a million times and watch Blonde Ambition staring Jessica Simpson!



Random Utah Fact: According the 2000 Census, Utah was the fourth fastest growing state (at 29.6 percent) in the United States between 1990 and 2000. St. George, in the southwest, is the second-fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, trailing Greeley, Colorado.
Info from wikipedia

Two Years...

Today, is the two year anniversary of moving to Utah. We moved here so that Calvin could accept a very exciting job. We had high hopes for our new home. Hopes that were quickly dashed.

I won't rehash all of the stuff that we have endured since moving here. You can read the archives for that. Besides, I think it's important to focus on the future and not dwell in the past. I have been in denial that this is now our home and I'm ready to truly put that all behind me. Let me tell you how serious I am.


Yesterday....I hung some pictures on the wall. GASP! Yes, I did. I have not done much decorating to our walls...because I wanted to be able to leave this place at a moments notice (okay...Yes, it takes a little more time than that to move) and pulling stuff off the walls would just slow me down.

And today, on the first day of our third year in Utah. I am going to get my Utah drivers license!

On this special day, I would like to thank God for Monica, Loralee and Jen!

Monica's husband works with my husband and they moved the same week we did. We met in the hallway outside of the breakfast room at The Comfort Inn in Ogden.

Loralee found me through a comment on a blog, in which I was bitching and moaning about Utah. She befriended me and explained why things are the way they are here and made me feel much better. She has become a very good friend.

Jen found me through a comment on a blog, in which I was talking about hoping to move to Minnesota. She lives in Minneapolis and emailed me some information. She discovered what city I live in and hooked me up with her best friend who also lives here. I now get together with Sara, every couple weeks and we are becoming great friends!

did you click on GOD? did you think he had a website? i wish he did.....