Christmas Tag

When do you start listening to Christmas music?
It used to be not until about the 20th of December but I've become less Scrooge-like the past few years and can handle them starting around the first of December. But never after the 25th~!!
When do you put up your Christmas tree?
This year around the 8th or 9th? Usually mid December. Except when Emily was my roommate, then it was late Novemberish.
Favorite Christmas movie?
Elf and Home Alone. But if I had to name just one..........Elf.
Favorite Christmas song?
Has always been "Baby its Cold Outside" but that's more of a 'winter' song and not so much a Christmas song. My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. Right now is Christmas music is wonderful time in my head so they're kind of all my favorite right now. I really really wish I could find a copy of "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"!!! I really need that one!
Favorite Christmas tradition?
Reading Christmas stories to Spencer Christmas Eve by Christmas tree Light with Hot Chocolate. (on Doug's years it happens a few days early.) I also have always loved setting up the Nativity set, as a little girl at my parents house and still now in mine.
Favorite Christmas book?
"Red Ranger Came Calling" by Berkeley Breathed. Seriously wonderful book, if you haven't read it you must go find it. Now. Go. Hurry. Don't miss out on it another minute!
Oh and 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' is good too!
Fun Christmas memory?
As a mom there are so many! The year Spencer, Doug and I did Christmas in Evanston when Spencer was I think 4. Spencer was worried that our apartment didn't have a chimney and so he dumped a whole bag of carrots outside the back door so the reindeer would be sure to stop at our house. That same year Spencer got a note from Santa because one of his gifts had fallen off the sliegh and Santa was going to mail it to him later. Spencer was so excited to check the mail (every 20 minutes) for the next week! He loved getting a letter from Santa! (that was one of the years Spencer was a Godzilla fan and the toys were being sent from Japan (ebay)).


If you were one of Santa's reindeer, which one would you be?
I think this question is just too lame to answer. Seriously.
I tag anyone who wants to do this.....

Our date

We went on a date! John's idea, a day in Jackson. I loved it! I don't know how many times I said, "This reminds me of Mary Lynn!"
Most of the fun was just walking around taking manymany goofy pictures. Really. Many. I'm only posting a tiny fraction. Good day. We even ate at Taco Bell! (exciting for us since there is not one nearby our house).
When it got dark the Christmas lights were so beautiful and walking in them was so nice! All the shops were decorated for Christmas and most were offering cookies and cider to cold shoppers.
It was so nice to get away for a day! We were going to go to a movie but we were having too much fun walking around. So for our whole fun fun date we only spent money on gas and Taco Bell dinner! We are thrifty! :)

winter winter go away

Winter is too long, why isn't fall just a bit longer? I am accepting snow and winter better this year than some years.......but.......
I'm freezing and tired of winter already! I know, I'm whining. It could be much worse, I keep hearing that winters now are nothing compared to 50 years ago. If I hear one more time that I have no reason to complain about winter because it was worse 10, 20, 50, years ago...........!! Sheesh! I am still not fond of winter, even if winter now is oh so mild in contrast with decades ago!
This is a picture of our favorite tree in one of my favorite towns during my favorite season. And my favorite boy sitting under it. Fall of 2005.

We will rock you!

American Idol, the ps2 game, is something we play often at our house. None of us ever really watched the show but we Love the game! We've learned that Emily really is a talented rock star. John and I get points for our enthusiasm and unique style while Em actually gets points for talent and skill. She has become quite the tool in unlocking all sorts of treasures in our video game!
John is going to be not so thrilled that I posted this! Enjoy!

My first crush-no--my first love

.... hands down was Almanzo Wilder. First on T.V. (played by Dean Butler) then later in the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The summer I was 4 years old I wore a "laura dress" all summer, had 2 braids and preferred to answer to 'Laura'. I was so going to marry Almanzo someday. They say you never get over your first love and I'm here to say that is true on many levels!
Secretly all these years I've still been in love with him. Almanzo is the epitome of the nice guy, hard worker, high integrity, sweet guy I've always wanted to be with.
Well, this week I had to admit to my husband that as totally in love with him I am I am also always going to love Almanzo.
The past week, on DVD, we have been watching season 6 of Little House on the Prairie and it has stirred wonderful emotions for me.

A few years after falling for Almanzo, when I discovered Anne of Green Gables, I had a similar experience with Gilbert Blythe from Lucy Maude Montgomery's books (and the show). But that was a tiny little crush compared to my ever burning love for Mr. Almanzo Wilder.

If you've seen John lately you probably assume he's going for the Dean Butler as Almanzo Wilder hair do. It is a coincidence. Or maybe its the hair I'm attracted to! haha.
I need to go to my parent's house and look through my old books, its time to reconnect with my inner Laura.

The parade of lights

The annual parade of lights was last week. We went and braved the snow, Skunk got pockets full of candy and we had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. It was a cold fun night, it was nice to get out and do something after being sick for days!
The Maverick truck picture is one I had to take just for Emily!

And in my free time..

These are a few of my recent sewing projects that aren't surprises for Christmas so I can share them. I've been at the sewing machine for hours each week and so many Christmas gifts are done and stored away! Such a good feeling! I made these the other day for a competition at a shop downtown. It was a lot of fun! I think I'll make a few more and we'll have new stockings for our first Christmas together as a family~!

Our Newest Family Member......

Her name is Molly. Polix is entertained by her. Spencer is enthralled with her, John secretly likes her (unless she is noisy or has to go outside for those outside needs dogs have) and I am quite fond of her too.
She's 4 months old and is breaking all the rules that dogs at our house have always had to live by. See how she is on the couch? Never before allowed to any canine member of the family before.
Polix, our 80 pound Labradoodle, has always thought he was a little lap dog and having Molly around seems to have strengthened his convictions on the subject. He is even more sure he is tiny like she is now that she's here to show him what she can get away with.

Happy Birthday Deja Loo!

Happy Birthday Deja! You are 10 today and that blows me away! I can't believe a decade has passed since you got here. I was living with your mom and dad and Des when you were born. You were such an anxiously awaited baby~everyone was so excited to meet you. It was wonderful to be there and be able to spend so much time with baby you.
I feel so lucky to be your aunt. I have loved watching you grow into the smart funny girl you are now. You are so on my list of favorite people to hang out with, you always have a way of making people smile. You are so creative and such a good artist. You are beautiful.
You have a lot of really unique qualities that are beyond your years, you have a sensitivity and understanding of people's emotions that most kids don't, you are so caring and loving. This is part of what makes you so good with all animals you meet.
You have a clear view of what you believe is right and wrong and you are intense and strong enough to always want to carry out justice. This is a good good thing, but remember to sometimes take care of you too.
You are a terrific cousin, Spencer loves loves loves playing with you. You guys have always had a strong bond and could play for hours without conflict. One of my favorite times was when we were all at Grandma and Grandpa Moon's for Grandpa's birthday and your mom and I couldn't find you and Spencer, we went looking and found you in Uncle Colin's room with a gigantic pile of weapons between you, guns, bows and arrows, staffs, swords, sling shots...you name it it was there. We stopped unseen outside the door and heard you say "Spencer, I'm sooooo glad you are teaching me how to use all these weapons! I only have a ton of sisters and I needed someone to teach me this important stuff!!!!!"
Spencer is also oh so impressed at how loud you can burp. Indeed, you do burp louder and longer than anyone I've met, and my advise it to choose your company wisely when you let that charm shine through!
I love you so very much, so much more than there are words to describe. Happy Happy Birthday. I hope you have many happy wishes and dreams come true!
Love
Aunt Dena

Beautiful, No?

Occasionally I've had to struggle with being positive about keeping positive thoughts on my positives list about living here. Its just not so easy going home again. And there are many many positives, I just struggle, at times, to keep them in the forefront of my mind.
Here is one that always amazes me. It is so beautiful here. Really so beautiful. Yesterday, needing to get out of the house (where I've been enjoying being chained to the sewing machine and newly acquired serger but still needing a break) John and I took a little hike up to Periodic Springs in the ice and snow. I've been there too many times to count but never in the ice and snow, I've seen it in all the other seasons. The hush and sharpness were a wonderful new experience. The water getting louder then quieter amidst the ice and snow was stunning. A wonderful day.
Today I decided to take advantage of it again before there is too much snow to make it up there. So with mug of hot chocolate and journal in tow the dog and I headed back up the trail, found a nice rock to sit on and write and enjoyed some reconnect with me time like I've not found in months. Wonderful wonderful day.

I woke up and it was a Chelsea Morning

I'm still smiling about a conversation over lunch last week. I just have to share.
My wonderful friend Shanie, her 3 year old daughter Chelsea and I were out to lunch at our local Mexican restaurant. My meal came with tortillas. Here is what ensued.
Chelsea: Whats in that??
Me: tortillas
Chelsea: No, whats in that? (pointing to tortilla warmer)
Me: Tortillas (and I show her)
Chelsea: (so excitedly) OOOHHHHH those!
Me: do you want one?
C: YES YES YES please.
Shanie: Do you want me to put beans on it and roll it up for you?
C: YES YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSS (she was shaking she was so excited by this idea)
Shanie: So you do want beans on it? (Shanie points to the beans)
C: Oh YES YES YEEESSSSS YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! (rather Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally here)
Shanie puts beans on the tortilla, Chelsea sees this and shouts "OH NO!!! NO! NOT THAT!!!!" and so Shanie scrapes them off. Chelsea enjoys her tortilla sans beans.

A bit later, same table, same lunch.
Shanie and I are chatting.
Out of the blue~
Chelsea: Bears eat Girls.
Me: Really? Bears eat Girls?
C: Yep.
Me: Do they eat boys?
C: No, they eat girls. Bears eat girls.
Me: But not boys?
C: NO they don't eat boys they only eat girls. Bears eat Girls.
Me: What kind of bears?
C: Lion Bears.
Me: Where do these lion bears live?
C: In trees.
Me: In trees around here or far away?
C: FAR FAR Away, in the mountains.
Shanie: What made you think of that?
C: (looking at Shanie as if she is a little slow) Bears.

And possibly my favorite, as we are leaving:
C: Mommy can I have one of those choking things?? Please please can I have a choking thing?
Me: (to Shanie, not thinking I heard correctly) Did she just ask for a choking thing?
Shanie: yes
C: Can I mom? Can I have a choking thing?
Shanie: Ok
And Shanie gets out her change and puts a quarter in the gumball machine. I may never call them gumballs again, to me they may always be "Choking things".

A few ABC's of me

I found this questionnaire on a friend's blog so thought I would answer the questions for fun, and because Spencer wants to help me fill it out.

A - Age: Thirty. That may be the first time since turning 30 that I've seen it in writing.
B - Band listening to right now: Jack Johnson is on right this second but lately I have been on a Counting Crows binge.
C - Career future: I'll be working at my own place. Or being a SAHM, that would be the best if there are any more babies for us? (Spencer thinks I should work at his school so he can see me all day ~how sweet!)
D - Dad’s name: Stan (Spencer says No, his name is Grandpa!)
E - Easiest person to talk to: Depending on the situation its my husband, Emily, Shanie or my dad
F - Favorite type of shoe: Flipity Flops
G – Grapes or Grapefruit: Grapes
H – Hometown: Thayne WY
I – Instrumental talent: I played the piano and the cello but as far as talent goes I'm way better at playing the radio. Spencer says I'll be a great guitar player as soon as I learn.
J – Juice of choice: Worm Juice (I should post the recipe before Halloween eh?)
K – Koala Bear or Panda Bear: With my new Zoo Tycoon pastime with Spencer we like pandas, but koalas would be a fun change
L - Longest car ride ever: from Evanston to here a couple of weeks ago. It is so the LONGEST drive when I'm tired with no cell reception! But really probably the drive to OR or CA from here, or AZ, I dunno.........
M – Middle name: Gary (and Spencer says also Moon now)
N - Number of jobs you’ve had: More than one
O- OCD traits: Let's not rehash the towel folding again. I have found a new one though, the shower curtain must be closed asap after removing myself from the shower. (which is crazy because I always have to peek behind it when I go in to go to the bathroom to check to see if the boogy man is hiding there.
P - Phobia[s]: Besides the boogyman I am terrified of dolls. Spencer says I'm afraid of the house being a mess too. Yep, he knows me well.
Q - Quote: "EMILIO!!!!"
R - Reason to smile: I'm Busy at work this week~! And I have the coolest kids ever.
S - Song you sang last: Lips of an Angel
T - Time you wake up: Around 6:15 on school days, and the weekends its as late as possible
U - Unknown fact about me: I can Flare my nostrils but not nearly to the degree Maria or John can
V - Vegetable you hate: Ham. Oh, is that not a vegetable? Nate, wouldn't Tim say its dairy then since it comes from a farm?
W - Worst habit: Procrastination is definitely the worst!
X - X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, hand
Y - Yummiest food my belly likes: Salmon!
Z - Zodiac sign: Virgo

And take two goes off without a hitch

Isn't this a good look for John? He decided maybe he'll give up tooth brushing and go be a pirate. The day after the party the kids took turns wearing the teeth. Gross. Kids are gross.
Cowboys, but wounded cowboys. The boys had a blast together this weekend.
Spencer tied Natalie's shoe because "thats what nice brothers do".

Jack Sparrow and the Brawny man.

Natalie is so stinkin' cute isn't she?

Witch's fingers. Yum!
Stirring her brew. Seriously, she is so adorable! And so easy going and lovey!
The party was fun, we had some new friends from our neighborhood come and that was a lot of fun, we were glad they accepted the invite! Tia invited some of her Star Valley friends and got to see them for the first time in over a year so she was pretty happy. And A.J. and Jen made the trip over for hunting and the party and it was fun to see them. I'm sure Jen really appreciated John's comments on how HUGE she looks and how he can't believe she isn't due until December. Tact is what boys are known for right?
We made all sorts of fun food, witch's fingers (garlic bread sticks), mummies (bread stick wrapped hotdogs), witch's brew (cider with dry ice), vomit colored popcorn balls, graveyard cake (chocolate "dirt" cake with tombstones and worms), bloody gut salad, Jen brought eyes to eat. Later that night we had Uncle Boone over for a dinner of brains and guts.
We let our inner redneck shine through again with the extra dry ice and blowing up all the plastic bottles we could find. I was worried it would scare off our new friends but they had fun with it too. Being in Wyoming just brings out the hick in your blood right? haha
We spent that night and much of the next day having karaoke revolution contests and playing guitar hero on the PS2. Oh such fun!!
Take two was oh so much more exhausting than take one. I think that is because just having Spencer is much less work than all 5 kids!

Halloween Party: take one

Well our first Halloween party of the season is under our belt and we're ready for the second installment this coming weekend! We had a great time with our friends Saturday at our party! Hopefully this weekend will be as much of a hit! John's kids are coming this weekend so we decided to do it all again. There isn't a better way to make Halloween last longer than to celebrate it all month long. I always think once is Not enough to get into my costume, and once is far too few times to get kids into their costumes!
After the party guests had gone home (except Abby because she stayed with us most of the evening) John got into science experiment mode and we filled a cider jug with water and dry ice and took it out into the yard to seal it and watch the explosion. It was such a fun juvinille thing for John, my brother Stanton, my parents and myself to do, and such a fun explosive educational thing for Spencer and Abby to do.

A favorite, as far as reading goes

Click Here: Read This!

I don't know why I haven't shared this blog with you before. I love it. Love love love it. I always laugh, or cry or both when I read it and it has become a favorite of mine. Here is one post in particular that I have laughed about and loved recently. But really, her whole blog, so worth the read!

Today

This is what I found (as you will often find at our house) on the ledge of the bathtub after
Spencer's bath. Now, you won't always find cowboys and indians, sometimes you will come across Godzilla and his friends and foes. I decided today just to enjoy it. Not let it frustrate me that I ask him to pick up the tub toys every time a bath ends, not to make him clean them up right then, not to clean them up myself right then. Just to enjoy it. I know in a few years when these little boy in the house moments are gone I'll wish there was a battle being waged from the edge of my tub. So today I'll just enjoy it, and the boy that brings it into my life.

A few of my favorites this month

Halloween is by far my favorite holiday and these are a few of my favorite things to put out every year. I am tempted to leave them up all year but putting them away makes it all the more exciting to get them out again the next year right?

Once I got started with the pictures I realized how many More I could happily post under the category "favorites" , we have so many wonderful Halloween things in our house right now but you'll just have to come over and see for yourself!

We are getting ready for our Halloween party this weekend (we'll call it our first annual Halloween party because for the life of me I cannot think of a reason not to have one every year!) Our preparations are coming along screamingly. We have everything ready to make brains and bloody guts and mummies to eat. Spencer has created a few masterpieces of spooky artwork to hang and today we're making Halloween cookies, popcorn balls and a cd of our favorite Halloween music.

We're ready for our friends to come over in their costumes and celebrate with us!

Yes, that is a werewolf in the last picture, not a turkey.

Lets get Tagged

1. Where You Ten Years Ago?

Ten years ago, October 5, 1998. How was that a whole 10 years ago already?? I was just turned 20, just moving in with my brother Jason and sister-in-law Charlotte, working at Wimpole Street Creations and spending my free time with toddler Destrie and waiting anxiously the arrival of baby Deja. Pre-Spencer. I was deciding what to do with my future. (little did I know that any plan I made would be instantly altered a couple of years later when my heart and focus were all on a little boy). Ten years ago today I would meet my roomie Emily in 3 months and Spencer's dad Doug a couple of months after that, whom without each my life would be oh so drastically different. (and not in the good way)

2. What's on Your To Do List Today?

Sewing projects that at the moment live in my head but need more space than that and will soon be actual items to enjoy.

3. What If you Were A Billionaire?

Aside from paying off my car, my education, Spencer's education, a house and all that obvious jazz I would have a huge savings account, I'd find a few organizations supporting causes I'm passionate about and donate. I would take each of our kids and neices and nephews (and my brothers) to Disneyland for their birthdays every year and I'd be a stay at home mom. (and if John wouldn't miss his job too much he could hang out with me everyday too.)

4. Five Places You have Lived?

Have I really only lived in 3 states? Hmmm, Wyoming (but in 4 different towns in Wyoming so we're almost there), Utah (3 different towns), and Arizona (just the one town there I think)

5. Three Bad Habits?

My Pepsi addiction.
Procrastinating things I really do want to do, like catch up with friends.
Procrastinating things I really don't want to do, like clean the lizard habitat.

6. Snacks You Like?

Popcorn
Corn Nuts


7. Who Will You Tag?
Liza because maybe she'll start the blog she's been wanting to start if she has an Idea for the first blog.
Emily because she's getting so she loves Tags.
And everyone else who wants to play, please feel tagged.