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.

And it really is the ...

Truth

"The biggest mistake I made (as a parent) is one that most of us make... I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of (my three children) sitting in the grass in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."- Author Anna Quindlen, reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments.

I know its late but finally, here is Spencer's 8th birthday party

One thing about not having the internet at home (which is still our status) that is oh so sad is not being able to keep up on my blog or on my blog reading. Tonight on an outing with my computer I get to do a little of both!

Homemade Ice Cream and plenty of laughter and a park to run around in with people you love, what could be better?

Here finally are the pictures from Spencer's party. What a fun day! I think this is the first time that we have had a party on the actual day of his birthday, it being a Saturday this year made that easy, and the first year for at least a couple that Spencer got to have so many of his grandparents and both (well actually 3!) of his parents there with him. That was his wish this year -- a party where everyone would be there and with even a great aunt and uncle and some cousins and 3rd cousins as well as good friends we did a fairly good job of letting him have it.

I love the picture of Emily swinging Cannon to kick the ice cream ball. Such a nice big sister!
Spencer and I made his cake this year, it is a "hunting hill" Spencer says. The hunters left their truck at the bottom of the hill near the river and climbed up to the top to hunt deer and turkey. Such fun decorating but of course it was all for the guests to eat, not the birthday boy who DOES NOT like cake!