Falalala Lifetime

So, I love Christmas time a lot. There is so much fun stuff to do with the family, not to mention all of the delightful food and treats (see previous two posts by Kizzie). However, one thing I loathe about this time of year is the bevy of horrible movies! No channel seems worse in this area than the woman-centered Lifetime Network (with this year's holiday tagline "Falalala Lifetime"). Last year I was disgusted by such movies as "A New Dad For Christmas", "A New Mom For Christmas","A Grandpa For Christmas," "A New Sister For Christmas", or "A New Adopted Turkish Son for Christmas." Ok... I made that last one up... but there were seriously a ton of "A New........ For Christmas" type movies. They make me want to vomit.
Obviously, this problem is easily solved by simply avoiding the Lifetime Network. In reality... not so easy with a wife who seems addicted to these movies. More than once in the last couple days have I caught her not only watching these movies, but setting future movies to record on our DVR. I can understand her being bored, flipping through the channels, and being sucked in by one of these ever so cleverly titled movies. However, going out of her way to find and record such things? That's premeditated pain for her loving husband! I think that she may even find the movies, mentally rate the amount of anguish they would cause me, then make her final selections.
Do they even make man Christmas movies? How about "A Jack Bauer Christmas" or "Chuck Norris Slays Santa" (clever huh? - Networks... I have lots of ideas, give me a call). If nothing else, such movies might provide a nice change of pace from all of the sappy, vomitous, and otherwise repulsive selections. Until things improve, I suppose that I'll just endure it the best that I can, and hope that Kizzie has mercy on me. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

mmmmm....

Andy and I made candy this weekend. Yum!

We dipped pretzels in chocolate, made Snicker's Fudge, English Toffee, and Cookie Dough Truffles.




The "helpers", staying quiet and happy was the best way for them to help!
He was reaching for candy...



Look at those lashes!! I know I'm jealous!

Homemade Christmas

I've been trying to make more gifts this year for Christmas. So after seeing a friends felt food that she made I decided I had to try it. I found felt on sale this week so I started these earlier this week and sewed the last stitch on the last cookie about 15 minutes ago.
I think they turned out great, especially since I'd never done it before, I had to learn 3 stitches and didn't use any patterns.

The only problem will be not giving them to him early!!! I'm SO bad at keeping gifts secret, Andy's last birthday I think I actually talked him into opening his presents from me a couple days early. I can't stand it!
Anyway...here's what I made. Breakfast (bacon, eggs, pancakes), lunch (sandwich makings, bread, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, lunch meat and chips), and cookies.

Turkey Day '08

The pilgrims and the Indians

had a pow-wow a long time ago.

The pilgrims and the Indians
felt like having a party and so.
The pilgrims and the Indians
cooked a turkey and Indian corn.
Sat down and ate together,
and that is how Thanksgiving was born.

This thanksgiving was our first year to make a turkey, and have dinner at our house. The group wasn't big, it was just our little family and our friends, Jordan and Amelia and their boys, but we had good food and fun hanging out.We had stuffing, mashed potatoes (not from a box, impressed?), gravy, jello, cranberry sauce jello stuff, green bean casserole, 2 kinds of yams and rolls. And the turkey of course. Pretty much writing this makes me hungry. Good thing there are leftovers.

I felt so grown up hosting Thanksgiving at our house! We even set up folding tables in the living room, just like at home. It was a lot of fun.

After we ate and got the downstairs spiffed up a bit (Thanks to Andy and Jordan for cleaning up dinner!) we let the little boys play up stairs in Avery's room...and this is what we found. But, they were having fun, so we cleaned it up later.




Later in the evening we went over to Jordan and Amelia's and had the pie portion of our feast. I love pie. There was apple pie, some chocolate chip pie, coconut cream pie, chocolate cream and razzle berry pie (Thank you Marie Calender for some of those!). I felt at least 10 pounds heavier by the time I went to bed last night!!

Here's a short list of things I'm thankful for....
Andy and the boys
Our house
Running vehicles
Good medical insurance
Doctors who know what they're doing
phones, email, blogs, anything that helps me
keep in touch with family and friends that live far away
footed jammies, they look so cute on my baby
D.I., who doesn't love it?!
Friends who like the same things we do
bed time
falling gas prices
Boys who sleep through the night
peppermint ice cream
we get to go home for Christmas!
Andy, again. He's pretty great to me!

And this is what we're doing this weekend....we love Christmas!

Twilight

Andy and I went and saw Twilight on Saturday, over all we liked it. (we both read all the books)

It was good and well done considering they only had a couple hours to tell what the book did so well.

There were a few things that bothered me and couple scenes that I thought were important that they just glossed over, or left out completely.
I wish they'd done the meadow scene like in the book, they didn't include the blood typing scene which I thought would have been a good one to include and it seemed a little rushed through the whole developing relationship between Edward and Bella. I know they can't fit it all in, but everything just happened so fast, if I hadn't read the book I think it would have been confusing.

I may be the only person to think this, but....I didn't like the actor who played Edward, I thought he'd grow on me. He didn't.
*I thought Jasper looked weird the whole time and his hair was out of control,
*I thought the high school friends were extra ditsy and weird, and the character of Angela was completely opposite of the book, I thought. And it'll be interesting to see how they make the kid who played Jacob seem taller in the following movies, or if they'll get someone else.
*Charlies house was almost exactly as I'd imagined it, for some reason I liked that.
*I actually thought that the guy who played Emmet did really well, and he looked like how I imagined him. He's one of my favorite characters in the book, so I was pleased to have him turn out right
*And I thought the cameo by Stephanie Myer was just awkward, and although it was probably fun for her, it could have been left out.
*One thing that kind of bothered me, which is silly, is the first time Edward takes Bella with him when he runs. In the book it makes her sick sort of and winded. In the movie it doesn't even phase her. That just bugged me a little.
*These are pretty random, sorry!

I'd kind of like to see it again, when we went it was so packed we had to sit on the second row, so it was hard to take it all in, I was moving my head from side to side the entire time in order to try and see everything. But we'll probably just wait til it comes to the dollar theater, or DVD.

Anyway...I really did like it. It's just hard for any movie to be as good as the book. But I'll watch it again.

Something I thought was funny, there were several people that were reading the book during the previews. I just thought it was funny.

Randomness

First - At church today one of our home teachers approached me to see when they could home teach us. When I suggested a few times and he didn't seem terribly interested in he cleverly suggested we just have our home teaching appointment in the church building right after the third hour...weird. So we did.

One word, awkward.

Seriously.

Who does that? We live 2 blocks from the building, would it kill them to come over right after? we waited about ten minutes after church, our home teacher found a room, and we chatted there. It was really weird. Especially since the one that has been our home teacher the longest has actually only come over twice over the last 8 months or so.
So it's not even like we're buddies. Anyway, it was pretty much the most awkward, weird home teaching visit ever. AND...he called Jack a girl...WHAT?
FYI - I have nothing against our home teachers, they're nice. I just thought it was a weird set up. Lets not do it again.

Second - Tonight we were just chillin', when I heard Avery put one of his toys (the joker from a cereal box) in time out. When I asked him what the joker did to be put in time out he responded

"The Joker didn't listen to me!"

Bad Joker...

But at least now I know Avery hears what I say...if only he'd listen to me!

Third - Jack Bauer just broke someone's neck with his leg...I think Andy almost fainted.
(Not because of being faint of heart...but because of his massive crush on Jack Bauer)

I hate batteries

We buy batteries for everything, camera, baby swing, toys, remotes, clocks, and way too many more things to list!
Why can't they last longer?! They die so fast, and cost too much. We've tried rechargeable ones, sure they save money, but I usually wait too long to change the batteries and need them now. So I hate waiting for them to charge, especially if I want to take a picture. NOW.

Anyway, the point being...the batteries have been dead in my camera..for a while. Really I have no excuse...and no new pictures. I probably could have charged the batteries a bajillion times by now, but I didn't.

But in an attempt to save money on batteries we bought Jack a swing that plugs in, so no more buying batteries for the old swing! (the old one died...) And since visiting Silas and Robyn with their fancy plug in baby swing I wanted one...you know, for a long 2 weeks it's been on the top of my "must have's" list. I'm not a very patient person. But it just so happened that Jack's swing broke this week and we found the perfect swing...and voila, no more batteries, and one more thing of my list to get! And an early Merry Christmas to Jack! :)

Anyway....enough about batteries.

Jack had his 4 month check up this week, he's a whopping 12.2 (8th percentile), and 25" (50th percentile). What a fatty. :)

Avery got a flu shot at the same appointment, he was less than thrilled. And I'm pretty sure he thought I tricked him into it. So I bought his love back with a happy meal. I was pleased to see, at least for the time being, that McD's has gone back to the happy meal boxes. Avery loved the box. He was pretty excited, it was his 2nd happy meal ever.
Is it a rule that happy meal toys have to be so annoying they drive parents crazy?!

Here are some pictures from the last time my camera was living. I guess I'll charge some batteries tomorrow.
Avery, in his true form...food on his face, there's something spilled on his shirt...he probably just finished terrorizing Jack...and the red eye from the camera just helps with the "terrible two's" image. He may be crazy...but he sure is sweet. Sometimes! :)
Jack right before being smothered by Elmo...and Avery. Avery loves to share toys with Jack.
And we have fun with our boys, and someday I'll take some new pictures.

My son makes me proud!

So, I think every guy is allowed to have his man-crushes. In case any of you are concerned in the wake of Proposition 8, I think it behooves me to explain that a man-crush does not imply any sexual attraction, just a masculine appreciation/respect. For those who know me well, you know that arguably my 2 biggest man-crushes are Jack Bauer (we unofficially named our kid after him after all) and Portland Trailblazer and world-great Arvydas Sabonis.
Well, last Christmas Kizzie gave me one of these beauties which proudly sits on my desk at work. So, the other day, Kizzie, Avery, and Jack came to visit me at work. Avery walked into my office and walked up to my desk and said "Hey Daddy, it's Babonis!" Keep in mind that this was done without any coaching of any type on my part. I have probably identified the bobble head in the past, but not this day. It was a proud moment for me though. How many 2 year olds (or adults for that matter) do you know who could identify Arvydas Sabonis? That's right... probably none. Yet another sign that my boy=awesome.

Giveaway fest

Giveaway's are so fun, and someday I might do my own...but for now I'll just pass the word along and hope to get lucky and win something some day!



2 giveaway's a day...for 12 days...awesome.
Go check it out and sign up, I'm crossing my fingers this is my
lucky giveaway...!

Check it out on Tip Junkie

....AND....



Over here, there's about to be an awesome giveaway celebration!
Starting with a Scentsy giveaway!
So be sure to check there often and try and win something!

Sherbet Blossom

Back in the saddle

It's been a while since I've blogged!

We just got back home yesterday after being at Silas and Robyn's for a little over a week. Well, the boys and I were gone that long. Andy left after the first weekend to come back home to work and go to classes, and then came back to pick us up.

We had fun meeting baby Grant, and seeing Mom/Gramma, Avery loved playing with his cousins, and it was so nice to get out of the house and have other people to visit with!

Here are a few pictures from our week.

We ate a lot...

Playing with Gramma

Gramma and the babies (Jack the ginormo baby, and Grant)

Avery loved the little vacuum!

Jack looks HUGE next to Grant!!

My boys and me

Jack and Gramma

He's been smiling for a long time, but he gets camera fright so this is the first good one I've gotten!

baby Grant, look at all that hair!

Boo!

Happy Halloween, yesterday!

On Thursday night we took Avery(dressed in his dragon costume), and Jack, to a haunted train ride in Lindon, he was pretty much freaked out of his mind...and not in a good way! He was excited about riding a train until we got there. And it was dark. And there were people walking around in scary masks. He spent the majority of our time there (which was about an hour, waiting in line and riding the train) with his hands over his eyes and his head buried in Andy's shoulder.
He liked the free popcorn they gave us, and watching a movie for a few minutes while we waited for our turn. Other than that, he was scared and kept saying "scary, not now" or "all done scary train". Sad, but cute!

We gave him candy to make him feel better. It worked.

Here we are waiting

Then yesterday morning I took the boys in their Halloween getup to Andy's office, where they had trick-or-treating at all the different departments. Avery really liked getting candy! by the end he caught on to saying "trick-or-treat" for the most part. But earlier in the day when I asked him what to say when he wants candy on Halloween he thought for a minute and said "please?" (which made me feel great!) I then told him he can say "trick-or-treat" to people today and then thank them. After that I asked him again what to say he thought again and said "trick-or-treat, please...?" What a polite boy!
Avery dressed up as a dragon, and Jack was a turtle, they were very cute. Oh, and Andy wore an Arvydas Sabonis jersey as his "costume".
One of Andy's co-workers was wearing a nasty mask, I think it was a werewolf, when we got there and it pretty well freaked Avery out, his legs were actually shaking! he got over it though, and the guy didn't wear his mask around Avery again.
Candy cures just about anything for a kid.

We were going to go to our ward trunk or treat and then leave right after that to head down to Southern Utah to visit my brother but since Avery made out like a bandit at the office trick or treat thing we decided we didn't need or want any more candy.
So we left about an hour and a half earlier than we had planned. So here we are. Andy is leaving tomorrow evening so he can get back home for work and school, and the boys and I are staying. My Mom is in town to help out down here with my brother's new baby. So we're all just going to hang out this week. Andy will come back and get us next weekend.
Hopefully he won't die of misery and boredom without his awesome wife and adorable boys! :)


Also, Happy Birthday to Sam!! She turned the big 2-4 yesterday!!