family photos

Thanks Kevin, My BIL for taking the pictures. It's funny to see him in action, after a few minutes of trying to get the right angles in the snow, he went to get some snow pants on. I should have known that kevin+camera = photshoot but I wasn't all that prepared with cute, matchy outfits, but I think it helps to have a great photographer. I need to get this Picture he took of the entire brood. I suppose I will post that a bit later on.

cabin in Heber

For Christmas this year, My family and I spent 3 nights at this great Cabin. One advantage of having so many siblings is that we were able to split the cost 7 ways. We did have to find a big enough place to house all of us, and that task was left up to Laurie. She found this place with 8 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. the 2 bedrooms downstairs were lined with bunk beds, one room for the girls one for the boys.

Sam wanted to be brave and sleep with the big boys but he had a little trouble the first night. We ventured upstairs to find me in the middle of the night. He was a little bleary eyed and entered the wrong bedroom. He took my sister-in-law Kym to be his mommy. He hopped up on the bed and she told him sweetly that she was in fact not his Mommy. His resopnse was "You are too you, silly!" When he figured it out, he promply jumped down to find the "real" me.

We spent alot of time just hanging out in the game room, and staying up late playing cards and board games. Not all my family was there, nostly just the Utah ones, although Laurie and Mackenzie flew out.

fun in the snow

The snow up there was fantastic. It was a bit of a nightmare getting up to the cabin that first night. It had snowed like mad and nothing had been plowed. But all that snow made was awesome for snowmobling and playing. The driveway was really long and fairly steep so we had this great place to sled right out the front door. It was super cold but so beautiful up there.

Talent Show

We were dazzled by the vocal styings of cute little neices and nephews. Sam said the talent Show was his favorite part of the whole trip. Lyssa danced, and Sam showed off some of his sweet Kung Fu moves. (I so wish I had some video of that) Luke took some coaxing to get him to perform. He his almost to the age of being "too cool", and little Leah was born to perform.

Laugh Fest

Sophie thinks her brother is hillarious. He doesn't have to do anything to make her laugh, but when he tries, this is the response he gets. We have to be careful; if we aren't paying attention, Sam can make her laugh so much that she stops breathing

Sam showing off his singing skills

Just a bit of cuteness

Sam is and always has been a bit neurotic when it comes to cleanliness. He is Nearly 4 and still wants me to feed him if he is going to get messy, he insists on washing his hands if he throws away a wet diaper, and he freaks out if he has a bugar, I don't think he would even consider the idea of eating it. Today at the store, while I was purchasing my items, he put's his little finger with a green blob on the end of it, in the air abd starting freaking out about the bugar and wanted it OFF! He said, "Mom, can I dust wipe it on your shirt?" ANYWAY! The cleanliness apperantly does not apply when something particularly yummy is at stake. I think this is the messiest I have seen him since his "first foods"days. He was fairly proud of himself when he polished off the mixer, he went to look in the mirror and said, "I yook yike a chocoyate Santa!"

I just thought I would include some cutie pics of the girl too. She just got 2 teeth!

Dentist visit and neverland

Sam had his first dentist appointment. I couldn't beleive how brave he was. I have been prepping him since before Sophie was born, and I was having these visions of screaming, Crying and days of anxiety, I was full on dreading it, but he did so awesome! He was charming all the assitants with his sweet chattiness. He made sure he told everyone that would listen that he was almost 4. (I have an alomost 4 year old.... holy crap!) He did have a hard time with the x-rays and they decided not to tempt his gag reflex any further, but he came out with no cavities so I was happy. 

       

He has been blowing me away lately. He is just so big and grown-up, a little beyond his almost 4 years. He is still as curious as can be but his inqueries are becoming so intelligent. He wants to know everything. His latest interests have been,

-Volcanos, Mummies, The "Real" Santa Clause, karate, Fire fighters, China,... to name a few

Sammy idolizes his dad and wants to be a MAN, right now. He told me today that he didn't need a jacket because he is starting to grow "man" hair on his arms. He  has a new love for steak, and has even been able to go with dad to cover a wrestiling match. His Grandma told him the other day that she didn't want him to grow up and he told her, " but I need to so I can give my mommy grandkids." I said that to him the other day also and his response to me was "I know, we can dust ask heavnee fahder if I can stay yiddow, and I fink he wihw yet us!" If only it were that easy to freeze time and I could keep this little boy that begs me to stay home from work and prides himself on just how tight his hugs are. 

Temple Square

Stevie's new job

So Steve found a part-time job that he is actually enjoying and that doesn't interfere with school.  This is his first published article and he now has his own weekly sports column that he named "Inside the Huddle". I think he is a really great writer and it's fun to see his name published. I'm super pround of him, even if it is small pond. I really enjoyed his blog about it so I will just copy and paste that. 

Sports Writer

I don't want to brag...but I've made it to the bigs! I'm gonna be asportwriter for the Spanish Fork News! What, you're not impressed? With the Spanish Fork News? It's sort of like being the mayor ofWasilla--it may get no respect, but it can be a stepping stone...to things like the presidency...or the Daily Herald. Actually, for someone who has never written anything for the reading public outside of theblogosphere, this is a step in the right direction. I can't host Pardon The Interruption and have my own sports column for some big newspaper without working up the to tum poll. For all of my big fans--mom, wife, 3 year old son, 92 year old grandma--I'll make sure to post links so you can see my scintillating tales about Spanish Fork basketball and...brace yourself...high school wrestling!! Yeah, that's right, wrestling. I may not have let on before, but I'm obsessed withWWF. I had daydreams of marrying Hulk Hulgan, and spending the rest of my life shooting roids' and watching my man bash people with chairs. Alas, I had to forgo that dream for Stacy, but this is an awesome consolation prize. Anyway, stay tuned for mind bendingstories about the unsung heros of the high school wrestling community--one legged victors, hermaphrodite champions....you get the point.

a very happy half birthday!

Now that I'm six months I....

can sit up all alone

am tolerating cereal... barely

am still waking up twice a night

think my brother is totally hillarious

know who my people are (mommy, daddy, sammy)

love to be held and suggled

am getting up on my hands and knees, and I can do a sort of plank position on just my toes and hands (my mom needs to get a picture of that)

can move around on my tummy

love to tear up magazines

get cuter and sweeter all the time

.... said picture, She is such a yoga baby! That's a darn good down dog.

Her Stats from her 6 month check-up 

Height : 24 1/4 "    Weight:14-5 lbs    Head:42 3/4 '

25%                             20%                      55%

park city retreat

 So this is a little belated but I have been having camera issues but about a month ago I got to go to Park City with the salon girls. Becky pulled her time share connection and we ended up with a pretty great place. We went to dinner at a little mexican resturaunt which served the best Gaucamole I have EVER had. The next morning we totally feasted. Everyone brought something for breakfast. We had eggs, muffins, smoothies, sticky buns, and plenty of treats the night before. The hot tub was nice as was the outlet chopping the next day. These girls are som much fun to be around.

      
kristy, sondra, me, sadee, nicole,                   Hey Boss Lady!                               Andrea's mad that someone becky, emily, and Andrea.                                                                                           ate the last of the caramel popcorn

ch- ch- ch- changes

So after vaciallating over a new look for close to a year now, I took the PLUNGE! Hair is a big deal to a girl. I just wanted to look and feel cuter, and I felt like my hair was my saftey net... I can't get enough of styling OTHER peopls long hair but when it came to my own, it is a totally different story. I actually liked my hair when I did it, but it took so bloody long and generally ended up in a pony tail any way. 

I liked my hair when it looked like this

97% of the time it looked like this

So I did this!!!

WAHOO!!! I feel so liberated! I'm lovin' it!

Hot Wife

This is Steve. Stacy is going to post pictures of her new haircut, but I thought I'd preempt her post with one of my own. She chopped her hair off--shorter than it's ever been. It's like I got a new wife, and I have to say I'm pleased. Not that the old Stacy wasn't good, it's just that her hair could-get-saved-by-the-bell-rhonda-ish at times, so the change is fun. No more near death experiences in the middle of the night when I wake up being smothered by a mass of hair. I've told her that she can't cheat on me--unless it's a professional athlete, one at the all-star level--so I'm not too worried. Between the haircut and her month of turbo jam workouts, she is looking like Stacy before 2 kids, only hotter because she's older. Anyway, I'm not the sentimental type, but this is my way of saying I dig my wife, and I'm lucky to have her.

consumer reports

So I thought I would take a que from Oprah and list some of my favorite things. (sorry there will be no giveaways.) I'm always looking for new yummy things to stock my fridge and pantry with, But I sometimes don't want to try new things without a referral. So, here are a few of my favorites, or staples. Please comment back with your favorites... be specific so I can go buy it!

-turkey bacon, with smoked flavoring. (It is just as tasty and way better for you.)

-Famous Daves rich and sassy BBQ sauce. 

-Nordica low fat cottage cheese. (other low fat taste nasty to me)

-Red Baron thin crust pizza

-target chocolate cupcakes from the bakery

-Macey's fudge brownies, from the bakery (these are dangerous, I can eat the whole pan.)

-Brummel and Brown spreadable butter with yogurt. 

-dreyers, strawberry, slow churned, yogurt blends ( It's on sale 2 for $5 at smiths right now)

-fiber one, oats and chocolate meal bars

..... those are a few of my favorite things. This doesn't have to just be food. I suppose that's what is on my mind right now. 

Congratulations!

I realize I am a little late with my post in my regards but I feel excited about the future and felt the need to post.  Politics can be tricky and I am elated that the election's over. I had a hard time striking the balance of knowing when to voice my opinion and when to keep my mouth shut. I'm an Independent voter and I try not to be swayed too much by negative politics and I just really believe in Barack Obama.  Time will tell of course, he has alot on his plate and I don't believe in blind faith when it comes to government and politicians (even when the politicain claims to be driven by God.) I don't need to go too much into politics themselves... but on a side note, I was surprised at my reaction as I watched John Mccain concede. He was so sincere and gracious and it made me wish we got to see more of that that John McCain throughout the campaign. I think He was also relieved that the election was over. Then to watch Barack Obama with his victory speech, It was amazing to watch history being made. I didn't realize how momentous it was going to be. It's amazing that the first family is a black family. I am excited for the changes to come. I know alot of people around me are apprehensive and dissapointed but I personally feel like this is a positive change for our country. I really hope that Obama will be able to lessen the gap between Demacrats and Republicans.

HAPPY FALL!

                                           
                
                    

Sophina ballerina and Fireman Sam

                   Our Halloween Was so fun this year. Sam had pre-school party during the day. He changed his mind at the last minute and decided to be a fireman instead of Batman, Then changed his mind again for trick-or treating. Sophie is slightly less opinionated and was at the mercy of her mother and her dreams of frilly, girly and fluffy. Mackenzie gave me the idea of dressing her up like a ballerina (that's the nickname I tend to call her.) I generally have big ideas with very little follow through but I actually made her costume (GO ME!) Okay, my mom did help :) 

     Can I just say that trick-or-treating was just as fun for Steve and I as it was for Sam. Over and over we just had these moments of "that is really our kid, is he really that old?" My chest beamed with pride when he remebered to say thank you to each candy giver. Sophie just hung out in the stroller like a super chill baby... go figure. I think she really loves to be outside. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. (I am not pictured, the mystery person is Brooke dressed up as a mobster, she was very convincing.)