Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was an eye-opener to me. We have suddenly found ourselves without a job this holiday season. While we will be just fine, it was really disappointing. But I think we'll be better for it. I didn't know I took so many things for granted. We always say the things that we're thankful for in our prayers, but its entirely different when something is gone wrong and you may not have one of those things anymore.

And it was just another testimony of prayer to me as within a few days, we found some part time hours that will get us through until something else happens.

So this Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm trying to be grateful for all the things that I didn't know I took for granted.

The Movie...

For anyone that has interest in this topic--did you go see Twilight? Did you like it? I thought for a low-budget film, going off a book-it was pretty good. I think I went in with pretty low expectations. I wasn't a huge fan of the guy who plays Edward, but I think its growing on me a little. It wasn't too bad. What did you think?
It made me want to visit Washington. SOOOOOO pretty. I've wanted to take a roadtrip along the northwest coast before, but now I really want to go. So pretty. Or at least wherever they filmed was really pretty.

photo shoot

I got a little bored today so I put Ella in the new winter dress to see if she would work with me a little. No smiles today, but I still think she looks soooo cute in this dress.

Project House

So, since we no longer have any boxes in this house, we are having fun making up projects to get done. There are a few that need to be done and some are just wants. But it is fun to be in a place that we can paint whatever color we want, and decorate however we want. I also realized that I haven't posted any pictures of this house. And I'm OK with taking pictures now that is it somewhat cleaned up, so I will post pictures as we make progress. And hey, I am open to decorating ideas and such, so please make some comments. This is our current project. . . the front room.

So this morning while Ella took a lovely long nap, I went out and put all our leaves in a pile. Can you tell which chore I have put off the longest?

Twilight

Or you could call it Twi-lig-it, like my sister. OK-so I have decided after this week I could possibly have an addictive personality. My sisters, sister-in-law, my mom, several other people I know have all read these books. When they came out at first, I didn't pay attention. I was working, pregnant sick and frankly I didn't care. When I had Ella, I forgot about them and now that things have settled, they have resurfaced. I was at my sisters house one day last week and they came up, and the fact that I had not read them. She then gave me her copy to borrow and read. At first, I could read a chapter, put it down, and pick up the next day, until about half-way through the book. In one week, I have read all four books. Is it bad that I like reading books like that because they are fast, and when I'm done, I could say 'I just read 600 pages'.? So, I want to know-did you like these books? Which was your favorite, and are you going to see the movie? And of course--Team Edward, or Team Jacob?

My amazing sister...

I think all my sisters are amazing, but I was reminded of the talent of one sister in particular yesterday. She is an amazing cook-inherited from our mom I'm sure, and has used her talent in so many ways. She currently works for a lady making cakes of every kind. She decided to enter this cake in a competition and she took Silver! The pictures hardly do it justice, but holy smokes! Pam-You're amazing!

That's Pooky!

Me, my sister and sister-in-law all took the kids to Grandma's for a trunk or treat. This is what we have, from the left to right on each row: Cael, the Fire guy, Henry, the workin' guy, Daisy, the chicken, Jordan, the Bee, and Ella the Monkey. So much fun seeing all of them dressed up, however, we were quite outnumbered. The adults often took turns of holding two children while eating dinner. The trunk or treat was a blast. I'm sure we wore Grandma and Grandpa out in the process, but what memories are made easily, right?
Oh, and as for the title of this post-that is how Henry says Spooky. As in-pooky mountains. We love it!

Cheeks!

Ella has managed to come up with a plethora of new faces for us in the last few weeks. This is just one of them.

I'm trying...

I am currently trying to get myself in the mood for the holidays. I want time to be excited for them, not wait until they are the day after tomorrow. Usually, it is not such a terrible task for me. Ask Phil--I am usually listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies long before Halloween rolls around. This year is a completely different story-its almost making me sad. I cannot seem to get into my groove. Too many things on the brain I suppose. But I LOVE Christmas. It is by far my favorite holiday for many different reasons and I love being excited for it. I am starting to pull out my favorite holiday music-the decorations can wait a few weeks. But I am determined to get all my shopping done, decorations up, and be in a jolly mood before December 1st.

Cousins....

We took our cousins' pictures a few weeks ago. Their liitle boy is a week older than Ella. So we took their picture.

Getting so big...

Our little Ella is getting so big. She is four months away from being one-and that is just weird to me. She's too bald to be one yet. Just kidding. I was looking back at some of the pictures that we took in the hospital. I really need to scrapbook all of that before I forget it, because I will forget it.
She is almost crawling. She tries so hard to go forwards, but she goes backwards instead. Kind of funny until she starts screaming at me like 'stop laughing and help me!' She is so much fun and I'm so grateful to have her and be able to stay home with her.

Fall is here!

Well, can you call it fall if it has already snowed? I don't know. I love this time of year though. I think it has become my favorite. Maybe because it is closer to Christmas and Thanksgiving? I'm not sure. So last Friday, I was in the mood to do something fun. So we waited for Phil to get home, then we went to Gardner Village. So much fun. They are all decorated for Halloween and it was fun to walk around.

Catch up time

You can skip this if you please, but Ella is getting soooooo big. I have to post pictures just because it is fun to see her progress!

She is also getting very good at looking right at the camera.

I feel like...

I was dropped off the face of the earth? I guess? Who knew that being without the internet could be so terrible? Not just for the fun stuff, but the every day stuff that I do? Check the bank account, pay bills? Honestly, the last four weeks without the internet have felt very long. What did we do without it?
Well, we are moved into our house. So much fun. We are really liking it. This month was definitely a busy one. We moved in on the first, and we had the long labor day weekend to get everything at least put in the room we wanted it. I won't lie, I have one room downstairs that is still hairy, but I figure if I haven't had to scour it looking for something, it must be things that can wait. But I will get to it. My mom was the biggest lifesaver today and came all the way up here just to watch Ella so I can something done. It was wonderful. I didn't get everything done, but enough to make me feel not quite so unorganized. It would have been done a long time ago-but one of my favorite things about this house got in the way...

Between all the batches that me, my mother, and sister did, we got over 100, yes 100 quarts of peaches and 21 pints of pears. We didn't pick them soon enough, so we lost a few. So, that has kept us busy. And those got finished up just in time to do the grapes! Which I will be juicing. Hopefully they turn out as good as I imagaine them to be.

Which one, which one....

So, I am dreaming up my decorating schemes for our new house. Well, I want a massive amount of pictures, but I know that would be a little cluttering. So, I decided, I want a big one of Ella, and a bigger one of the family. So, my Aunt took some pictures while we were at the family reunion. So, I am having a survey. Which one should go on the living room wall. . .

#1

#2

#3

#4
What do you think?

Shameless Plug

So, I know that there are limited readers of this blog, but I thought I would do this anyway.
I recently started doing Pampered Chef. I am kind of having fun with it. I like organizing the shows and stuff, but I think that I started at a busy time. My sister is getting married this week, we are moving in two weeks, and I'm supposed to have 4 shows done, by the end of the first week of September. He he. I think I overextended myself a little. Anyway, still having fun.
So, my first show is a catalog show and it is going until the end of this week, unless a request for an extension comes in....
Here is how it works! You don't have to go to a show, you don't have to book a show. This is just to see if you want anything! If you do, you can do this-go to www.pamperedchef.com and shop online to see the catalog. Write down what you want, then email me, or leave me a comment and I will call you to get the order. Then, I order the stuff, and I will get it to you.
If you spend 60 or more, you will get your choice of a cranberry colored trivet, or a terry cloth hot pad, which if I would get if I were you. I like it a lot.
Some things to consider. There are some things going out of the catalog-forever from what I hear. The Chillzane series is going out and beginning September 1, several items are going up in price, so if you want anything-buy it now before they go up. If you have any quesitons, just ask!
And-if anyone of YOU want to host a catlog show, or a regular show, you will not believe the host deals for September! Are any of you looking for new cookware? Well, it will be 60% off if you host a show of any kind! Honest, you'd be silly not to host one. If you don't live close by, or you're in driving distance, I can still do a show! You can get a 7 piece cookware set for less than $200.00 (this set is usually 450!) Screaming deal folks! Let me know!

The Bumbo

So, this is one of my favorite baby purchases. We bought this right after she could hold her head up pretty well. She picks and chooses when she likes to sit in it though. Kind of a bummer. But it sure comes in handy some days when she'll let me put her down.

Some Pictures. . .

Ella has taken an interest to the piano and yelling. We think she could be one of those singers that can play the piano at the same time. She's really good.

I've been tagged

This is a first for me, so hopefully this is how you do it...

Four places I go over and over:
I am currently carless so...
1. The bathroom
2. The kitchen
3. My bedroom
4. The couch. That sounds bad

Four people who e-mail me regularly:
1. Mandy
2. My hubby
3. Junk
4. Real Estate Agents-he he

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. Taking a nap.
2. On vacation with my husband
3. Moving in my house
4. In my garden-at my house-which I haven't moved into yet.

Four people I talk to on a regular basis:
1. Phil
2. Ella
3. Mom
4. Dad

Four favorite places to eat:
1. Joyluck
2. Ruth's Chris
3. Cafe Rio
4. Training Table

Two People I tag:
1. Mandy
2. Liz

Good Friends....

So this week, I've had lots of things on my mind, but only one that kept repeating itself day in and day out, so this morning, I decided to act on it. I have a cousin that I haven't seen in probably two years-or least thats how long it feels. She is older than I am and has five kids and look up to her a lot for what she is taking on right now. So, this morning, I called her.
Why am I posting this, you may ask. This just made me realize how grateful I am for friends-family friends, cousin friends, friend friends. I am just grateful for them and how much they can enrich our lives!

Finally!

Well, we are finally moving in the direction of home ownership! Yeah!!! We have always been looking for a house. But last weekend, we went to an open house of a house after we found it on the internet. It was darling! As we were talking to the real estate agent there, we told her that we might be interested. She said, "Oh that's great. Well, the couple thats outside is meeting with me on Monday to probably make an offer. How interested are you?" Needless to say, we went home and prayed a lot and did a lot of the deep thinking that makes your head hurt. Sunday night, we called a friend who's wife is a real estate agent and Monday morning, our offer was submitted. Tuesday afternoon-our offer was accepted!! We even low-balled them a little bit. Not a ton. Now we wonder if we had gone lower if they had taken it. One of those things you'll never know but you'll always think about, I suppose. But we are soooo thrilled to be getting into a place of our own. It is in an area we are both somewhat familiar with and we both love it! For the lot that it sits on, we think we are getting a deal. It is on a third of an acre and it has fruit trees! Phil would tell you that is my favorite part, but it just makes it all the better for me! There is a pear tree, peach trees, and we think an apricot, but can't tell. And a great garden spot! I have big plans for this garden. I'm already plotting out next springs planting! I'll for sure be putting pictures on the blog when we move in!

Sleepless in Salt Lake

So-our beautiful little girl loves her binky. I am losing sleep over this-not because I worry about it-but because every time she spits it out, she'll wake up and doesn't stop fussing until she gets it. I feel like I was up half the night last night. I would love to just rid of the thing, but how do I do this without being the wicked mother? She doesn't have a favorite blanket or woobie. She has a thing for skin. As long as she has a finger or arm to hold onto, she is happy. If I take it away, will she find another thing to love? I like that she is comforted by people and not things and I feel like the binky is becoming more of a habit than really a comfort. Any advice?

Husband and Dad

I just wanted to do a post on Phil and how much I love and appreciate him. He is such a good new Dad and has been such a good husband for 3 and a half years now. He is simply wonderful, and I love him to pieces. And so does Ella. She adores him and is so happy to see him after spending a whole day with Mom!

The Grin

I love this grin she does. She still hasn't busted a gutt laughing. I wish she would. It has to be coming-right?

I just thought that this was funny...

So my sister bought these glasses for her little girl at Carters and we thought that we would try them on Ella. Too funny. Doesn't the look on her face say-"Mom, honestly. Why must you do things like this?"

Little Road Trip. . .

Ella experienced her first extended car ride. She and I went to my cousins wedding in Enterprise, UT. If you've never been, its one heck of a dot on the map. It's about 45 minutes west of Cedar City. Honestly, not a single traffic light in the whole city. Kind of old school, but I won't lie, I love the smell of morning there and you can actually see the stars at night.
Anyway, Phil had to stay home to work, so we went with my parents and siblings. I haven't been there for a few years, and it was fun. Brought back the biggest flood of memories I've had in a LONG time.
Ella was a gem both on the way down and back. But I'll tell you what, she was happy to get out of her carseat! She stretched and yelled and played on the floor for a while and is now happily sleeping in her dad's arms.
I also decided on this little road trip that either this summer, or next, probably next year, we are going to see the sights of Utah. Any ideas? ? ? I welcome your ideas. Where have you been fun in Utah that we natives don't think about?

SQUIRT!

So the other night, whilst enjoying an episode of American Idol, I, the mom decided to change the baby's diaper. So I do. It was a doozer. Messier than I had anticipated. So, after I had cleaned up the mess, I stood her up to put the new diaper down and let her air out. Mistake. She was aparently not done yet. We hear this SQUIRT and Phil is laughing and I'll never forget the look on my mom's face. As I put Ella in my lap, I see the lovely yellow-brown puddle of baby poop on my mom's carpet. Did you know that boiling hot water and dabbing at the mess will bring it out?...Lesson learned. - Marilee

May I explain why I was (still am) laughing so hard? Well let me ask you this: have you ever watched a camel spit? - Phil

Girls. . . .

Here are Ella's girl cousins with their grandparents.

Family Photo

This is Ella with her great Grandparents.

Blessing

Ella was blessed on the first most beautiful day of the year! It finally was warm. We were so glad it was nice. Some ate outside and of course, pictures were easy. It was a wonderful day with all the family. Ella looked so pretty in the dress Grandma made for her.

Nothing New These Days

I guess I shouldn't say that. Ella is getting bigger every day. We are constantly amazed at how much she changes every day. We were saying the other day how fast and yet how slow the last two months have gone by. Weird. She is all smiles now and is looking like she could laugh any minute. We hope it comes soon! She likes to talk to us, play on the floor and be held by Mom, Dad, Grandpa and the Grandmas.

The Latest

Our biggest news lately is of course our new little one. We are having so much fun with her. Hope we are aren't doing too bad at the parenting thing. We will post more pictures soon!