Something to put you into the Christmas spirit

Tristan's Baptism

Yesterday was Tristan's Baptism. Tristan was really excited, he even got up early and didn't complain. (He is NOT a morning person) We took pictures before the baptism started.

PS. Why didn't the girl taking the picture (who is also my friend) tell me my skirt lining was showing? Oh well.
The baptism was really nice. I led the music and gave a talk and Jack sung the musical number. I asked Jack if he wanted to practice and he declined. He said he knew the song already. ok... Dad and Jeri came from California, Evelyn and her son Jeff came and my friends Denise and Jeff and their 4 kids drove over an hour from Tooele to come. This was quite a feat because it started at 8:30am. We had brunch at our house afterwords. Brian baptized and confirmed Tristan. I got all choked up... it was really special.

The boys loved seeing Papa and Jeri. They had a hard time when they left. Tristan was blocking the door with his body and Jack was putting stuff in front of it so they couldn't leave. We miss everyone.

Goings on

We've been busy lately. We spent Thanksgiving in Idaho with Brian's family. The kids had a good time and we went and cut down Christmas trees in the mountains. We ended up with no tree (we bought one at the grocery store) and a puppy (see next post).

Tristan is getting baptized on Saturday morning at 8:40!!! Hellooo???? It's frustrating. They split our ward last Sunday and so now we're in a brand new ward where there are no callings, at all. So, we're tagging along with the last ward for the baptism. However, the Primary Pres. doesn't seem to be on the ball. Apparently when you're the last to request a baptism time, you get the first slot. Our stake is really big and I guess that's the only available time. nice. Our "light lunch" afterwords is turning into bagels and muffins. Oh well.

We had Tristan's birthday party at Boondocks Fun Center. He invited 5 friends to go. He had a really good time and seems to be adjusting much better to the move. He even said when we came home that he was glad we moved to Utah.

Cedar and Jack

Getting in the kennel with Cedar was entirely Jack's idea, obviously. The new puppy Cedar is sweet and so soft. She's a pure-bred Golden Retriever. I was a sucker to the kids' pleading in Idaho. We got her from Brian's brother. I'm not sure the wisdom of having a baby and a puppy. You always have to be watching both of them. Luckily the boys (including Brian) watch her pretty well. We've had no accidents so far... (I know, three days, big deal.)

I made this too!

I bought the ornaments at the Dollar Tree store and wired them on a wreath I already had. Cost: $7. Brian put up one of those Command Hooks to attach it to the fireplace.

I made this

I got the idea from here. I made this last night in between cooking dinner, cleaning up, feeding the baby, spelling homework, etc. It didn't take very long. It's supposed to be for Christmas, but I think it's going to live on my bed. You can't tell from my super photography skills, but the pillow is corduroy. So soft.

Things I love

Isn't this wreath cute? It goes with my mountain-living-rustic house. I found it here. I hope to make it this week. I don't know how to make the flowers though.

I went to a boutique and they were selling these ponytail holders. They are really cute. I bought a couple, but think I can make my own.


I found this headband on etsy. It's fun and funky... both words that totally describe me. (sarcasm font). I also bought one with a turquoise flower and a feather. I bought the last one and I couldn't retrieve a picture of that one.

Static Electricity

This is an old picture from a couple of months ago. I was at Jack's soccer game and it was snowing on us. As we were talking we started noticing everyone's hair was doing this. You COULD NOT put it down. Mine was standing up on end too. Freaky... I felt like lightning was going to strike.... but it didn't.
(PS. this is my neighbor.)

Awwkkwwaarrddd

I forgot Jack and the neighbor boy, Trace, at the bus stop on Monday (Tristan was home sick). It's the first time, but in my defense, Monday is early day. Monday? I have to be fresh off the weekend and then remember to pick the kids up an hour early? So anyway... I was nursing the baby looking out the front window and I saw the neighbor boy walk by. Brian goes, "Why is Trace out front?" huh? OH MY GOSH! I forgot the kids. Jack and Trace got a ride home from Jack's friend's mom.
A little later I said to Jack, "So, how was it having Jace's mom drive you home?"
Jack says, in a sing-song, high pitched voice, (hmmm... was he copying me?)
"Awwwwkkkwwwaarrrddd..."

ha ha ha.. he kills me.

More Hudson

This picture is of Hudson's new trick, the "pffffft" spitting noise with his mouth. He chooses the most inopportune times to make this noise. For example, we'll start saying a prayer and all we hear is, "PFFFFTTT". Thanks Hudson. The other night I was lecturing Jack... and Hudson starts in. Then Brian says, "See... that's what Hudson thinks of what you're saying."


All bundled up for winter.




Yumm... cookies.
So cute when he's asleep.

See Amanda... I stopped crying.


All my boys in bed.

Halloween

We started our festivities 2 weeks ago at Hee Haw Farms. We did the corn maze, rode the hay ride, saw Leroy the 1200lb pig and other various things.







We made Tristan and Jack's costumes this year. The Friday before Halloween was CRAZY! I got Tristan ready and drove him down the hill to school. His costume was too bulky for the bus. I stayed at school and watched him parade around then drove home, got Jack ready and took him to school. I watched Jack's parade and then helped in Tristan's class for his party. I drove home... 6 miles up the hill again and when I got home I got a phone call from a lady that was helping at the party. "Hi Allison... remember when I put my keys in your purse? Yeah... they're still there."
So, back down the hill to the school. This time I had Hudson because Brian had some stuff to do. I found my friend and she was helping in Jack's class party. Hudson and I stayed and helped until school was out. I drove my kids home, but we had to go to the bus stop to pick up the 3 other kids that we take home. We stopped by our house long enough for me to run in and pick up a birthday gift and we were off to W. Jordan (40 minutes away) to take Tristan to a birthday party. I had a bad address so we took an hour to get there. By the time I got there, I realized I might as well wait another hour and then take Tristan home. We blitzed out of there in an hour and got home at 6:30. We had a neighborhood party at 6. I fed the baby, put on his costume and we were off.
The party was fun and some different neighbors invited us back to their house to play a board game. (You know how much Brian likes board games *snicker*) We changed the kids at home into their pajamas and went and had a good time. Thank goodness the next day was Saturday, we were beat!
Trick or Treating was fun. It wasn't too cold and we went until the robot costume became unbearable to wear. Apparently it's not ideal for long-term wearing. You can't scratch your nose or even touch your hands together.

Brrrr.....

We woke up to a non-working heater this morning. We suspect that it has something to do with the fact that the power was out for 4 hours on Saturday. Brian, who is very handy, said he can't fix it (we tried the obvious things) and now I'm waiting for the repair man to come. It's very chilly inside my house. It's 40 degrees and VERY FOGGY outside. I tried to take a picture of it... but... it just comes out white and it loses some of the effect. You can only see a few feet in front of your car when driving. scary.
It's a balmy 60 degrees inside my house. I'm wearing 2 shirts and a sweater. I was thinking of some good things about the house being so cold: 1. Hudson has a fever... maybe the cool air is helping?, 2. The Diet Coke I left on the counter for 2 hours was still cold when I finished it off. Ummm... that's about it.

Fancy jacket

So, I got a new fancy jacket from REI last week. Brian says the new jacket is essential for the weather here. The jacket claims to be windproof (to 57mph) and also breathable. Hmmm... how can this be?

More fall color

Bridal Veil Falls. Provo Canyon



We drove the Alpine Loop yesterday. It was really pretty, but we missed the height of fall color. Quite a few of the trees had already lost their leaves. I guess we'll go earlier next year.

Hudson got a new toy

Isn't he cute?!

Our pictures

Check out our pictures on Rogerruthphotography.blogspot.com.
Thanks to Caitlin who recommended the photographer to us. He did a great job. I'm really happy with the pictures.

Not to be outdone...

Hudson's trick is just as good.

Look what we can do...

The kids came home very excited that the neighbor boys can do the armpit farts (excuse the term. Do you know a euphemism for this?).... They were desperate to learn how. Brian, Jack and Tristan had Man-education tonight. I mean... they can't be only boys at scout camp that don't know how to do this.

To clarify:

1. The pistol shaped hand is essential. According to Jack it helps you successfully do the trick. It also, complete with the pull-back action, looks and sounds like you're shooting a gun.

2. Licking your hand can help get better noise effects.

3. Jack mastered this before Tristan, though Tristan's catching up.

4. Taking your shirt off is also essential... according to Jack. He has been practicing with his shirt on, however, because he wants to show everyone on the school bus. great.

Not going as planned

So, Brian's been sick since we got back from California. Two weeks ago I ripped out all of the nice bushes out of our front yard and gave them to the neighbor. I had purchased 27 new plants and 50 bulbs from an online gardening website. I think I thought they were all going to show up as little plants. Not too little either, because they promise that they were all at least a year old. Soooooo..... on Tuesday all of my plants show up. Brian called me because I was up the street "at the mailbox". I accidentally turned the mailbox trip into a visit to my neighbor's house. Anyway, he called and said, 'Your plants came."
I raced home and there was a single green bag, about 1'X3', on the porch.
"Umm... where are the rest of them Brian?"
He said, "That's all that came."
Hmm. Surely there is some mistake. Maybe just the instructions are in here. Yeah. They were all these tiny, bare-rooted plants. Three of them were sticks with small roots on them.
Wednesday I couldn't plant because the wind was blowing 40mph, so on Thursday I started. In my mind Brian was going to be super helpful and help me amend and turn over all the flower beds. First though, you have to move the 1-2' deep bark mulch that's there. Did I mention Brian's sick? Ugh! It snowed Wednesday night so I felt like I had to hurry and get it done.

Apparently when one is sick... one doesn't feel like gardening.

I've worked at it for a long time. I have it 3/4 of the way done. I've worked while the baby fussed, in a snowsuit, in the stroller. I've worked at it while the snowsuited baby was strapped to my chest in the Snugglie. Try sweeping with the baby in the Snugglie... "Oh sorry Hudson I hit you in the head. Oops. Oh sorry... did it again." I'm running out of steam. I totally rely on Brian to do the difficult manual labor chores. He doesn't get tired. I, on the other hand, poop out.

It's also very unsatisfying. I took at nice yard, ripped it up and planted bare-root plants that don't show above the ground. So, now it looks worse than before. I also don't know how the plants will look next to each other AND I can't tell where I've planted stuff. Hopefully the spring will make it all worth it.

I also was shamed in California when I saw the purse that Amanda had made for Anne. Amanda and I bought the pattern for the purse and the fabric many moons ago, and Amanda has made 2... whereas I've made 0. I told Anne that I was going to finally tackle the purse and she said, "I don't know that I would make something Amanda already made. She's got mad skills with sewing." Ugh I know! I only have mad skills with unpicking... and breaking needles. But... much unpicking and 4 broken needles later... I made the purse and it's SO CUTE!


We've also been trying to finally move in. We re-organized the filing cabinet, moved Tristan's dresser, moved Jack's dresser, moved Hudson's dresser, put the cradle away, set up the crib, put away another box of books and various other household jobs.

While I've gardened, kept house and made a purse this week, oh and I worked in Jack's classroom, I haven't run on the treadmill or gone to exercise class. Oh well.

Winter... the day after fall.

Good thing I took the video early because it's blowing so hard I can't film outside. The deck is also completely covered in snow now.

Fall

The first glimpses of color. These are taken from my front door. I should really wait until afternoon because it's noon and they're a little over-exposed.

Crazy Weather

These have no color retouching. I don't know how to do that anyway... the sky was just spooky.