Weekend long playdate for the whole family

A little redundant if you follow Emily's blog but here are some pictures of last weekend. We spent the weekend with Em, Nate and the kids. We had a good time and I've decided weekends are way too short!
I do want to point out the jammies, these are a few of my before Christmas-keep me oh so busy- sewing projects. All on the big side but thats better than small right? The fuzzy hats are homeade gifts from yours truley as well. I was so homemakerishly busy this holiday season! Then I went on strike, but this week I've become friends with my sewing machine once more. (pictures to come...)
Spencer said it was almost too sad to leave Marliegh (who he has nicknamed Charles......it went something like "Marliegh, Marles, Charles" and that is what stuck for him. For her sake I hope it passes and she is not known by many as Charles).
Spencer loves loves loves this baby! He informed me that when we have a baby at our house she has to be at least as cute as Marleigh. (this was after he suggested we just take Marliegh home instead of getting another baby).

This grumpy old lady...

is our house guest right now. This is Rosie. We are watching her for some friends. She is old and grumpy and does not tolerate Molly's wild playing well at all.
She has attached herself to John and sits under his chair or right next to him whenever he's home. When he's at work she is a little lost, I told him he should take her with him when he is gone during the day but for some reason he didn't think it was the best idea I've ever come up with.

Positive, Hopeful!

Inauguration Day is finally here!
I have to say that I feel so happy and hopeful about this change our nation is going through today. I didn't realize just how excited I was to see Bush leave but the relief that I felt when I saw the image of him getting on the plane headed for Texas and waving goodbye was huge.
In addition to the political changes I'm excited to see for our country I also love the idea of a family being in the white house again. I love the idea of these little girls giggling and playing in the white house and that our president and our first lady are so obviously people who have the well being of family in the forefront of their minds.
It is such an exciting time!
Welcome President Obama!

Dena's play day

I love the picture of Tyson! He was so excited to get out the door that he got himself ready. What a good kid!




Last week I was able to get away for a day and go on some "dates". Corie (and Bella) and I sat around and talked and laughed and went to lunch. Oh, and entertained ourselves with the camera because we are always oh so good at that.

Later that night I was able to spend time hanging out with Emily and her family.
All this time with Bella and Marleigh just made me even more baby hungry. I was tempted to put my initials on some cute new outfits Marleigh has so that Emily would remember to pass them on to me when I have a baby girl. (I didn't)
I so needed this "day off" with my friends! I have been so homesick for these girls, it was great to go play and to share their babies for a little while.
Thanks Em and Corie!

Too Cold to Look at the Camera

I have been trying and trying and trying to upload a video and my computer does not think its a good idea I suppose. Computers. Sheesh.
So here are a couple of pictures from the day we took Davey home. We stopped in front of the Tetons for pictures but Spencer was "too cold to look at the camera". Kids. Sheesh.

a few photos from our Christmas break

It turns out while waiting for the video to load for the other post I have PLENTY of time to upload some Christmas photos. Here are a few of our billions of this years pictures!

Taffy Making with Grandpa

Just a note, this post was started days and days ago but I ran out of time uploading the video. I'm trying again. Why does it take soooooo long????????


s

We've had such a fun busy couple of weeks! David was able to stay with us for a week after the girls had to go home and we stayed oh so busy. It was so sad to see the holiday break come to an end and say goodbye to kids!
Here is a little video footage from our annual taffy making night. (I know at one point I comment that it is a 10 minute video and in actuality it is only 3.5ish, I know, I know.)
Making taffy with my dad was always so fun as a kid. Really we mainly watched and kept my dad company while he made taffy but "helped" is a strong word. We were good taste testers though! I love watching our kids enjoy this activity with Big Grandpa too! It has become a Christmas (usually Christmas Eve) tradition and the kids look forward to it and talk about it for months after wards.
Here you go Auntie Liza! You asked for more, and while it may not be just what you had in mind.....
I have many of pictures to post and it will happen soon, I promise. Just not tonight! (As I'm sitting here STILL waiting for this video to upload!!!) It has given me time to read a bit of this: and this and this and to watch some funnies on this. And more, much more. Music has been added to my itunes for my new ipod. Pictures have been uploaded to Facebook. Games have been played with Spencer and Stanton. Still waiting for this video to upload. Sheesh. Seriously? Now I'm to the point where I'm doubting it will be worth it. I'm trying to remember why this 3.5 minutes of footage was going to be worth sharing. Oh me. Oh my.

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.