Tarali's Tidbits...

So I know that I have sort-of slacked the last little while on my blog.  Truth be told, my friends at work who convinced me to start a blog, also convinced me to get on facebook.  So my time has been spent on facebook contacting old friends.  It is so fun.  I feel like I'm so young again finding all these people.  So I'm trying to not be to much of an internet junkie and facebook has been getting all of my attention.  I was spending some time tonight catching up friends blogs and I noticed the my cute friend Tarali had updated her blog.  Tarali spent a little bit of time this year doing humanitarian work in Zambia.  I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this but I was so touched to the core by her most recent post.  Tarali has such a way with words.  It would be worth your time to read it because I am certainly not going to try to repeat it.  It needs to come from her.  Give it a try.  Her link is over there to the right.  

We had a great Christmas!!  We went to dinner on Christmas Eve because who really wants to cook on Christmas Eve?  Then we headed up to Heber for a few days.  Blake was pretty excited about his new toys on Christmas morning.  He wasn't really into opening the presents, more so just playing with them.  On Christmas day we got two feet of snow up in Heber which was so fun.  I haven't seen that much snow in a really long time.  We went to my Uncle's Cabin in Heber on Christmas day, in the afternoon, and we didn't really think we could make it back.  It was a lot of fun.  I have some pictures I'll put on soon.  I hope everyone had a good day.  

So I'm feeling quite Christmasy tonight...although, I'm not really sure why.  We haven't really done anything much exciting, that's why I haven't posted in a few days.  And we still haven't really done anything exciting.  We did hire a babysitter on Friday night, but not until 9.  The mall was open until 11 which was nice.  So we put Blake to bed and finished up our Christmas shopping.  Then on Saturday, we had a hard time keeping Blake out of the snow.  He loves it and wants to be in it all the time.  This means there are BIG temper tantrums when we have to come it.  So, we mainly played in the snow on Saturday...Here are a few pictures of Blake's snow clothes.  He really likes to wear his boots.  He always gets them out of his closet and brings them to me saying, " Boo...Boo.."
Jeff thinks his hat looks like a pom pom...but it keeps his ears warm...

Like Father...Like Son...

I took Blake to the Doctor on Monday because he has had a pretty bad cough for a few weeks.  It turns out they suspect he has asthma.  Just like his Dad....So they put him on breathing treatments and steroids and an antibiotic.  Here is a picture of my drugged up baby taking a breathing treatment.  He does great with them as long as Elmo is close by to help.  Preferably on his feet.  He is such a champ!!Isn't he cute?  They make the mask look like a fish and he looks at it and says, "ishy...ishy...".  I just love him.  

Christmas at our house..

We needed a stocking holder for Blake's stocking this year so Jeff went and found this lovely skull that he purchased for Blake's room to use in place of a stocking holder.  He felt, due to economic conservation mode, why buy one?  This works perfect.  So this is what Christmas looks like at our house....Nice huh?

Early Christmas

I ordered these elmo slippers for part of Blake's Christmas this year.  I didn't really think he was of the age that we needed to hide his presents so I just put them in a closet.  Within half of a day, he had opened the closet and found them.  He came carrying them out saying, "Elmo...Elmo...Elmo..." over and over.  So now the challenge is getting him to take them off at all.  We have to try to convince him to not sleep in them at night.  He loves them.  

Christmas Card

In the 8 and 1/2 years Jeff and I have been married, we have never sent out a Christmas card. So since I started blogging, I thought I could post a Christmas card and count that....since all those that read this are the ones that I would be sending cards to.  I'm new at these collages so some of the pictures didn't fit quite right but you get the picture.  2008 has been a good year.  It has been full with trips to Ft. Collins and Montana, lots of trips to the park, swimming with cousins, and just trying to keep up with Blake.  We also started Nursery this year.  That's what the last picture is on the bottom.  They made some pioneer coats out of paper bags.   He like it for about three minutes then it started to get in his way.   We love him so much and are so grateful to have him.  He bring us so much happiness everyday (well, almost everyday).

It makes me so happy to have reconnected with old friends and to stay in touch with new friends....Merry Christmas everyone!!!  

More Gratitude

So here we are again on Sunday afternoon with nothing to do and nothing to really post about.  Jeff gave the lesson in Elder's Quorum today at church.  Since he wrote my lesson for last month he decided to just recycle.  I see a trend coming on and I don't mind it at all.  Because as it stands...I don't have to ever write a lesson.  SO anyways, as Jeff was practicing his lesson, it got me thinking about Gratitude again.  So here is Gratitude #4.  I hope you aren't bored...

-I am grateful for the Little People by Fisher Price.  You know, my Mom sent Blake a Nativity Scene by Fisher Price Little People.  It is so great because it keeps him from playing with the other Nativity Scenes I have up.

-I am grateful for the way Blake says "AMEN", but it sounds more like "AMA."  He says it everytime he hears it at church.  

-I am grateful for Target....it is probably the best store ever.

-I am grateful for the Christmas light show at the Patterson's house in our neighborhood.  It has already provided  so much entertainment during the first week of December.  It is so great.

-I am grateful for the nice things that my yoga teacher has to say every Saturday.  This Saturday, she left us with two nice things to think about.  The first was "Be Love."  In all situations in life, "Be Love."  The second was something along the lines of open yourself up to allow blessings and joy come to your in your life.  You deserve it....Isn't she the best?

SO anyways...sorry if your bored with the gratitude list.  I just really feel like it is so important....Have a good Sunday.

Another GIveaway...

Here I am being Greedy again...another giveaway.  This stroller is awesome.  You can go here to see it...maybe this will be my lucky one!!!

Christmas Memories...

So it is Sunday night and we just put up our Christmas decorations.  It feels good considering last year we did not put out one, not one, decoration.  We are sitting down as a family watching Dora and I started asking Jeff what his favorite Christmas memory was.  I thought I would post about it because I thought it was so funny.  Let me give you a little background.  Jeff's mom is a retired nurse.  She worked at the Utah State Developmental Center for like 20 years or something.  She worked directly with the developmentally disabled that lived there.  So when Jeff was 16, in 1994, his sweet mom thought that it would be meaningful if they invited the clients (Or the mentally challenged) that lived at the Developmental Center to come to their house for Christmas day.  Jeff said they really made a day of it.  There was about 12 of them, all older males, that came.  It started in the morning with breakfast, then there was some sort of Christmas gift exchange.  Then they made cookies that were to be delivered later while caroling.  Shiela (Jeff's Mom) had arranged to go caroling at the different members of her families houses with the cookies.  She felt it was best to prearrange this so no-one would get nervous answering the door to a big group of Adult, male, mentally challenged people.  Jeff said it was so funny to go Christmas caroling with them.  They had some strand of bells that apparently everyone wanted to ring.  All the clients were mad when they weren't getting a turn.  He said at one house one of the men loudly exclaimed, "It's my turn to ring the F...ing....bells!!!"  Although his language was much more colorful than mine.  It was a year he has never forgotten.  

Up next...

I think maybe why I haven't posted is because I've been working on a new sewing project.  I am taking a break from quilts, so I thought I would try something new.  One of my new quests in life is to become a little more "green" in my everyday life.  There are so many different small things to make a difference.  I am not trying to be all Al Gore about it....just make some simple small changes.  So I have been picking up all these "Go Green" grocery bags you can get at all the different stores and I love them.  SO I found a pattern for them on line.  I figure if your going to use them you might as well look cute while you are using them.  So that's what I've been working on.  I've learned that my topstitching could use some help but I maybe getting a little better.  I'll post a picture when I'm finished.  

Not exciting

So it has been a while since I posted...really only just like five days, but it feels like it has been a while.  I think it is because not much exciting has happened.  Thanksgiving has come and gone.  We spent it at Jeff's parent's house which is always good.  Dinner is always fantastic.  I was disappointed in myself because I overate.  I thought I would be able to rise above this year and walk away feeling slightly full instead of I need to lay down full.  But I didn't make it.  I feel a little bit better about it because I made it to the gym that morning, so I felt like that counteracted what I ate.  AND, I made it out of the gym with no falls so I would have to say it was a particularly good day.  Then I had to work on Friday.  We are spending rest of the weekend putting up Christmas decorations and all that great stuff.  We, mainly me, are trying to stay out of the stores because we are in Economic Conservation mode.  It makes things not that exciting.  So sorry...if this is boring.  I guess it is just one of those days....Have a great one!!!

Gratitude # 3

So I've been thinking that it is probably time for the next gratitude list.  I was at my yoga class last Saturday and before the class ended my yoga teacher said that we should take time throughout the day to find gratitude for the exact moment we are in.  I love that.  I feel like this is something we should all be making an effort towards everyday.  So then class ended and on my way out of the room, in front of about 45 people I fell.  Yes..I fell.  One of those really embarrassing falls that I'm sure everyone went home and told there family about.  I even have the bruise, one week later to prove it.  It is about the size of a softball and right on my shin.  I struggle to find gratitude for that exact moment, but you know....I'm kind-of  a work in progress.  So here goes my list...

-I am grateful for flowers.  All kinds of flowers.  I had such a good time picking out all the different flowers for my arrangement.  It was so fun.

-I am grateful for good friends.  I have good friends all over my life.  I've got good family friends, that includes you Tanya.  Good work friends.  Good church friends and good highschool friends.  It is so nice to know that they are all a part of my life and it makes me want to return the favor.

-I am grateful for Elmo.  Well, actually Blake is grateful for Elmo, therefore, I am grateful for Elmo.  

-I am grateful for warm weather in November.  When you have a 20 month old that loves to be outside, this makes a huge difference in your life.

- I am grateful for lifestyle changes.  About 8-9 months ago Jeff and I made a lifestyle change and it is so much better for us.  We feel so great.

- I am grateful for fabric... I love fabric.  Actually, I could stack it in a CLOSET and be excited to just look at the stacks.  

- I am grateful for organic and preservative free food.  This goes along with the lifestyle change.  It just feels so much better to eat food like this.

-I am grateful for Harmons and the good quality of food/produce they offer to consumers like me.

So let's not forget to be grateful...and enjoy your Thanksgiving week!!

More Giveaways...

So here comes my greediness again but this giveaway found here is awesome...it is so my style and I really hope I win so I need all the help I can get...Wish me luck!!

I have to share the centerpiece we made for our dinner tomorrow night.... Tarali took her time to come down and help me make it...isn't it awesome???  So yes Natalie...I think it was a success!!

FIrst Real Haircut...

SO I finally decided to cut Blake's hair.  I say it is his first "real" haircut because my sister-in-law Kate did give it a little trim, but we don't really count that.  I know in one of my previous posts I wrote about how grateful I was for Blake's hair and how I couldn't bear to cut it but it was time....here are a few pictures of the before and after....

Before

After

Either way he is so cute but you know...it was probably time.  Don't you love the profile??

NICE....

So this is what happens when you get bored at work with your fellow radiation therapist...notice the pegged legged pants.  I always reluctantly agree to go along with the shenanigans and I am not nearly as charismatic as the rest of them.  I love these girls.  They have all been good friends for a long time.  They make going to work great....And this isn't even the half of them...

Giveaways...

Like I've said before....I am new to all of this but could not help myself with this giveaway I found on Mckenna's blog.  It is fantastic and found here. I love to quilt...which means I love everything about it...the finished project and the fabric....so wish me luck..

Tagged...

Well isn't this exciting... Although I did need some direction from cute Mckenna and she was the one who tagged me.  I'm still new to all of this...so here it goes.  This is my 10th picture from my fourth picture file.  This is cute Blake on the very day we brought him home from the hospital..

Isn't he so cute?  And he was so little.  He was 6.0 lbs when he was born and came home at 5lbs 12 oz. or something like that.  I look at these pictures of Blake's early days and feel so grateful that we are no longer in the newborn phase.  I know at sometime there will be another one but for now, we are great where we are.  I felt I needed to add a few others pictures to show you some more recent ones of Blake.  My how they change...These are from Montana this summer...We love Kim B Photography and all the pictures we get.  

So I am going to tag Rachel Mellor, Kim Burnham with Kim B Photography, and Jinger Miller....aren't you excited?  Don't be aftraid to ask for help..I had to...

Gratitude...#2

Not that I'm trying to do overkill or anything...but while reading and reading the lesson that my husband prepared for me on gratitude...we talked about how important it is to express gratitude often.  I just really feel like gratitude is so important to have.  I feel like it is the basis for everything.  We should be expressing our gratitude even for the small things in our lives.  SO I've decided to make this a regular post on my blog.  What better place to publicly mention those things in my life that I am most grateful for.  Jeff and I used to keep a gratitude journal and it seemed to help always remember all that we are blessed with.  So here is my Gratitude #2 list:

-I am grateful that my lesson is over....such a relief.

-I am so grateful for Blake's scruffy hair.  I think it is so cute and can't bear to cut it.

-I am grateful for the right to vote.  Even though my candidate didn't win, it doesn't matter.  Just that we have the freedom to vote is something to be grateful for.

-I am grateful for our play date yesterday at Kangaroo Zoo...it was so nice to get out and Blake thought it was so fun.

-I am grateful for the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey...this book is awesome.  I am so glad that Jeff and I are reading it together.

-I am so grateful for Jeff...He is my everything.  Did you know that he left Priesthood on Sunday to listen to my lesson with his ear to the door?  And then..when I finished..he opened the door just slightly to give me the thumbs up...

-I am grateful for my job.  I love my days at work and I love what I do.  I am grateful to be able to spend my days with patients that are constantly grateful for the small things.  

Don't ever forget to be grateful!!

The longest day ever..

I know I've already posted pictures from the pumkin patch at cornbellies but people keep emailing me more and I thought this was so cute of Blake...even with his snotty nose.  And I know that this is my third post for the day but it seems like it has been such a long day because of daylight savings and we are kind-of bored....

Happy 40th Birthday to my favorite Sister....

She'll be so mad that this is the way I chose to say Happy Birthday but I didn't

have a choice because she hasn't been answering her phone.  I know she has better things to do than to sit home and wait for a phone call from me...so happy birthday.

Happy Halloween....These are the only pictures I have from Halloween.  What kind-of mom am I, I don't even take that many pictures on Halloween.  Blake was a little army guy that worked out perfect because of his gimpy leg.  We could have pinned a purple heart on him and nobody would have known any different.  Jeff decided to paint his face for the trick-or-treaters.  We handed out big candy bars this year that we found on sale at costco.  They seemed to be a hit.  Just an update on the gratitude lesson.  It is finished.... and I feel so good that it is over.  The content was great, the presentation not so great but it is over.  Enjoy the pics...(we did paint Blake's face for the evening as well...his didn't last that long because he thought it was more fun to wipe off the paint than actually wear it..)

Gratitude

Those of you that know me know that the worst thing I would ever have to do in this life is to teach a lesson at church in front of people....real live people.  Well,  it is coming true this Sunday.  I have been thinking about it for a month now, and can't seem to make it feel any better.  It actually makes me physically sick to think about.  I know I need to grow up....SO, my lesson is on Gratitude.  Not to bad of a topic.  It has me thinking about a lot of the little things that I am grateful for.  Let me share this quick quote I found that I feel is so great.  It is by President James. E. Faust.  "A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.  It is an expression of humility.  It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being."  I love that.  So while my fantastic husband, who I think is the only person who really understands what a big deal this is for me, takes time out of his busy week to actually prepare my lesson for me....It has allowed me to think of the things that I am grateful for.  Enjoy:

-I am most grateful for my little family....It took seven years to finally get up the courage to have Blake and I am so grateful to have him.

-I am grateful for my new gym pass that my husband willingly let me purchase even with a two year contract.

-I am grateful for garbage day every week.  It gives us an opportunity to purge our lives and it feels so good.

- I am grateful for the conversations that Blake tries to have with me all day long.  He really thinks he is having a conversation.  It is so cute.

- I am grateful for this picture that hangs on my wall.  Even though it is significant in size I love it.

-I am grateful for Kim B. Photography. We have so many professional

pictures of Blake because of my sister Kim, and her photography.

-I am SO GRATEFUL my husband knows of my fears and is willing to help

me by writting my lesson for me. I love him.

There are so many other things that we all have to be grateful for....Wish me luck on Sunday!!

(Sorry about the way my list turned out...I couldn't quite figure it out and this is as good as you 

are going to get!!)

We got to spend the day with Blake's cousin Craig yesterday.  This is them going for a wagon ride.  They are five months apart and we hope they will continue to be good friends.

Okay...so here is our kitchen.  Jeff and our good friend Randy did most of the work.  They did all of the demolition, put the tile down, painted, and did new baseboards and door casings.  We love our new kitchen.  It makes our home feel totally different.  Sorry the quality of the pictures aren't that great.  

The cast finally comes off...

Blake finally got his cast off on Wednesday.  He was so excited he could move his left leg and I don't think it has stopped moving yet.  Every time I look at him he is shaking it or something.  I haven't taken an after picture yet but here is one from the ER visit and right before we got the cast off.  He is still limping around but should heal just fine.

Cornbellies

We spent Friday night at Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point.  I thought Blake would be a little young for the activities but he loved it.  It held his attention for almost 3 hours, even with his cast.  We went with our friends Randy, Rachel, Brock, and their family and had a great time.  Blake's favorites included the room full of corn kernals and the tractor ride.

I finally decided to get a blog....I have been fighting it for a long time but I got talked into it by my long time friend that I work with, Rachel.  So here it is....enjoy!!