"O Christmas Tree"

On Monday night we set up our Christmas Tree and Nativity.  It was so funny to watch Maycee.  She was intrigued by the lights, but miraculously never touched them.  Even after the gingerbread men were on.  Well she touched Stephen's "diaper gingerbread man", I told her not to touch and hasn't touched them since.  She stares at it a lot and says "chree!".

Here are some of our pictures from the event.

...Just to explain.

Maycee has never been a cuddler.  Even as a newborn.

When we say "aahhhh" she will sometimes lay her head on our shoulders.

Stephen was attempting this trick on the floor.  She did it every time until the camera came out.

Of course.

Four Fantastic Days in Maycee's Life

I need to explain a few things.

On my side of the family, Maycee is currently the only grandchild/niece.  She has 2 grandparents, 4 aunts, and 3 uncles.  All of which were constantly giving her attention for   f-o-u-r   w-h-o-l-e   d-a-y-s.  I never changed a diaper.  Never fed her.  Never really even gave her any attention...unless Kory had made her cry...Kory you know it's true.  I'm surprised she recognized me when we put her in the car seat to take her home.

Maycee has been awful since coming home.  She has been under my feet and whining ever since she woke up on Monday morning.  She has been missing her constant attention.

We pulled into the farm at 9pm on Wednesday night and things began running.  It didn't stop until we left on Sunday night.

On Thanksgiving day everyone had there own assignments on what we were to cook.  We almost had to start taking numbers to use the oven.

My mom made THE best candied yams I have ever tasted.  She always makes them, but this year was definitely the best.  She also added walnuts!  There were a few disgruntled family members at that decision.  Namely Kory, Stephen, and Karli.  They all fought over the "non-nut" corner.

Charisse made the most beautiful rolls ever.  They tasted amazing!  They were homemade crescent rolls...who doesn't love those?  I think I ate seven of them on Thursday.  I had to do something with the leftover gravy that kept appearing on my plate.

I gave Stephen the camera during the preparation of the feast and this is the awesomeness that was captured on film.

It was really nice to sit down and see everyone around the dinner table...except Krystal and Shane...we missed you guys terribly!!!!

Thursday night Kory and Charisse taught us a new fun game.  Signs.  Wow.  I cannot even believe some of the stuff that my dad got away with in that game.  Poor Karli was the butt of that one...I seriously don't know how Dad pulled that off.  I guess Kelsey was quicker than we expected.

Friday started early...kind of.  We ran out the door at 4:45am to go and catch some good sales for Black Friday.  Honestly, that was the slowest Black Friday I have ever been too!  Since they opened up some stores at 10pm or 12pm the day before, most stores were virtually empty.  We still got some good deals though.  Stephen and I are all about the 50% off of socks and buy one get one free game at Fred Meyer.  I still think that we need to just hole up there.  They give you free donuts and apple juice!

We ended our shopping experience at the traditional restaurant, Perkins.  Mmmm.  Good stuff.  Kelsey and Nathan met us in Pocatello for "breakfast".  I guess they weren't too keen about hanging out with a bunch of crazy people in the early am hours...

Later on we all got the show of our lives.  Karli is amazing!  She performed her humorous solo that she is taking to State on Thursday.  I really wish she would have let me film it.  Then I could have shown it off!  She really was hilarious.  I couldn't stop laughing and was grinning from ear to ear.  KARLI YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

Friday night we played "Would You Rather..."

Fun game...

...You should try it.

Saturday morning Krystal and Shane showed up!  We weren't expecting them until later that night.  After Kory and Charisse had left.  Yeah!

That afternoon Krystal wouldn't let us rest for one minute.  We played Balderdash, ping-pong, and a host of numerous other things that I can't seem to remember right now.

Sunday we were off to church in Rockland.  My parent's building in American Falls is being revamped and they are being sent to Rockland for church until the middle of December.  Everyone took turns holding Maycee in church.  I think Karli had her the most...that is until Sunday School when Dad mysteriously left with her.  He brought her back for Relief Society, screaming her head off with a huge gash in her head and a stinky diaper.  Dad sure knows how to work the system.

Sunday night we left completely exhausted from our Thanksgiving holiday at 6:30pm.

'Til the next together holiday everyone!  We had a blast.

Happy Thanksgiving

On Monday for Family Home Evening, Stephen and I started a "Thankful list".  That night we took turns writing 10 things that we are thankful for.  In the next three days we  each wrote 5 things that we are thankful for.  I wanted to write down our list to remember and hopefully keep this as a tradition.

(All of these things are not in thankful order and definitely not a complete list.)

1. Mommy

2. Daddy

3. Maycee

4. Baby Boy

5. Good Health

6. General Conference

7. The Book of Mormon

8. Personal Revelation

9. President Monson

10. Atonement

11. Container & Packaging Supply

12. Home

13. Brothers & Sisters

14. Parents

15. Temple

16. Ability to have children

17. Opportunity to stay home

18. Fridge

19. Testimony

20. Being financially stable

21. Home Teaching

22. Full Time Mission

23. Ensign

24. Desert Ward

25. Cars

26. Visiting Teaching

27. Relief Society

28. Priesthood

29. Pictures

30. Date Night

Hopefully next year we will be able to add to this.

Laundry Day

We had a visitor.

This little guy was sitting on our porch a few days ago.

At first we thought he was a gecko.

Then we learned that we have an amphibian expert next door...Shane said it was a salamander.

I love Stephen.

There are many ways that people show their love.

One way to show love is by doing things the other likes to do.

This particular thing that I like to do sends Stephen into a state of fear.  If he had to choose between having a hot poker stick him 100 times or do this thing that I like, I'm pretty confident that he would choose the poker.

However, because Stephen loves me he did it...he took me dancing on Friday night.

Not only did we go dancing, but we took a beginners swing class too!  Not just any swing, but the east coast swing.  Whatever that means.

Honestly, I really like to dance, but I stink.  I really do!  I have two left feet and it takes me forever to understand some of the dancing concepts, but I love it!

We invited some friends to come along with us.  I think we found a good date night.

We had so much fun and it was so great to get out of the house without the little one and do something fun.  We really need to establish a consistent date night.  I think I would be a much happier mom/wife.

Thank you Stephen!  I had the time of my life...I love spending alone time with you.

Punching Bag

I feel like a human punching bag.

This little guy inside of me is definitely more of a kicker than Maycee was.

It seems that every time I sit down or hold still for any brief period of time he is "up and at 'em."

It is almost like he drank a gallon of Kool-Aid and is on a super huge sugar kick.

Sleeping is getting very difficult now as it is starting to keep me up.

Yep, double checked my little ticker.  I am currently 22 1/2 weeks.  Still a ways to go.

I don't think I'll be able to sleep well 'til this kid is 1.

If only Stephen could feel what I feel...

Counted Cross Stitch

I have to tell this back story before I get into the real story.

My mom likes to do counted cross stitch.  However, she isn't very quick about it.  I remember when I was a junior in high school my mom found a pattern that she had to have.  It was a matching pair that would fit perfect in her bathroom.  That pair was finished right when I came home from my mission.

Let me do the math for you...seven years.

IT TOOK MY MOM SEVEN YEARS TO DO A COUNTED CROSS STITCH!!!

When I was pregnant with Maycee, my mom approached me about doing a counted cross stitch for the new baby.  I asked the question.  "Is it going to be ready before my child gets baptized?"

My mom didn't think that was funny.

The cross stitch was done before Maycee was born.

Wow.

Well...my mom was again asking about making another counted cross stitch for our little boy.

While perusing the Joann's website, I found a few that I thought would be cute...for a boy.  When I showed Stephen, he was not impressed.

"Don't they have any that are sports related?  Like a basketball, or a football?"

"No," I replied.  "This one is very boyish!"

This is the supposed perpetrator.

"Well, can your mom at least put in a hunter or something?"  came Stephen's response.

I pulled the mom card, "Nevermind.  I'm picking it."

Ultrasound Appointment

Yesterday Stephen and I had our ultrasound appointment.

We were both super giddy as we were waiting in the waiting area.

I was so sure that Maycee was a boy that this time I didn't say anything.  I had my own little inclinations, but was very reticent to let anyone know.  So I didn't.

As I lay on the table while the ultrasound technician told me what we were seeing in the pictures, I was very quiet and contemplative.  When we saw the sex of our baby I knew what it was before the technician said it.

"It's a boy!"

I shed some tears as I saw our little boy on the monitor.

I remember having the same reaction with our first.

I had a strong feeling that this one was a boy.

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed Stephen and me with these two little miracles!  I can't wait to meet our new little boy.

As the appointment wore on the technician was amazed at the fact that this little boy was stretched out the entire time.  Never once did he tuck his little legs in.  He wanted space.

I guess we won't have a cuddler this time either.

Service Auction

Nothing gets me more excited than our Relief Society Service Auction.

Let me explain.

For the last few weeks we have been gathering "services" that the women would be willing to donate.

This is the e-mail that was sent out to get people coming:

"Sisters,

Tonight is the night! We hope to see you at 7:00 for our yearly service auction. There's some great things being auctioned off and the best part is there's no cash involved! You get this stuff for free!

Here's just a few of the things that will be going to a lucky lady tonight!

1. 1 hr. decorating consultation from the one and only Helena Hafer (she's goood!)

2. 4 hr. babysitting gigs so you can date, Christmas shop, etc. (4 hrs! can you imagine the possibilities!)

3. Free cut and color from our in-house hair stylist Chelsea Blackner!

4. Home organizing and house cleaning! (hands off ladies, i'm going for this one:)

5. Pie making from our world famous cook, Joan Carpender! (if she's not world famous, she should be!)

6. Family Photo session!

and soooo much more! Are you excited yet! Remember, leave your purses at home, because this is all "purchased" with your "good girl" points.

Annnd..... we have our world famous REAL auctioneer Mr. Matt Brasher to keep the bidding flowing (if he's not world famous, you'll think he should be after you hear how fast he can talk!)"

...Now you wish that you could have come...don't you!

Our auctioneer was AWESOME!  I can't even put into words how he did that.  He used to be a used car auctioneer and he was speedy.

Krystal and I ended up putting our heads together to come up with a fun "service" to auction.  We auctioned off a girls night out with fondue, games, and free babysitters (Stephen and Shane) with four friends.

We ended up with eight friends.  It got a little heated.

Stephen and Shane are now a little nervous for their babysitting gig.

Child Straight Jacket

I have decided that children's coats should be sold under the title "Child Straight Jacket".

Seriously!

I think it is hilarious to watch Maycee move around in her coat.  She hates it.  Every time I grab it to put it on she won't give me her arm and vigorously shakes her head "NO".

When she's in her coat, not only does she look like a marshmallow, but she can't really walk around.  I don't understand how they coincide, but she always falls on her stomach when walking in her coat.

BUT she sure looks cute in it!

I know...she doesn't have any shoes on.

Apparently her shoes have the same disease as mine.

I can never find them.

I'm dying.

I just survived 44 minutes and 53 seconds of pure torture.

I changed workout videos this week.

It's killing me.

One week down.

Five months and three weeks left to go.

Oh boy.

Halloween Weekend

 Spanish Fork was a lot of fun...I just hate that drive.

On Saturday night we drove into Orem where they had a pumpkin carving contest displayed.  There were some seriously cool pumpkins.  We took pictures of a few of them.

Maycee also wore her costume.  She is one dang cute ladybug.  I made her put on the gloves because it was cold...those weren't a part of her costume.

Look at the detail on these!  They must have taken all day to carve.  I was in awe.  They looked very difficult.  I guess there is such a thing as a professional pumpkin carver.

They had a cute place all ready to take pictures!

Just in case you can't tell, Stephen and I dressed up as grass to go along with Maycee's ladybug.  We hand made those t-shirts.  Aren't they cool!  I really should have taken a picture of just the shirt.  We worked hard on those things!



Pumpkin carving was up on the docket for Monday.

Brandon and Stephen worked meticulously on their pumpkins.

Our nieces, Samantha and Beth, also carved pumpkins.  The beginners did great, however, Stephen didn't get pictures of the girls' pumpkins.

My official job in pumpkin carving is cleaning out the guts and scraping out the pumpkin.  I am not a fan of carving pumpkins.  Personally, I think that it is way too difficult for such a short and fleeting result.  Besides, I like to feel the guts between my fingers.

This is Brandon's pumpkin.

He said that it broke quite a few times, but we couldn't tell.

This is Stephen's werewolf.  Look at the tiny details!  My man is amazing.

Monday night Brandon and Mitzi took the girls trick-or-treating while Stephen and I maned the door with the candy.  Maycee had a hacking cough so we decided not to take her out and show off her costume.  Good thing we had her wear it on Monday.  We got one wear out of it.

Because of Bethy's peanut allergy, we made it out with all of the good chocolate candy from their trick-or-treating.  Sweet.

The drive on Tuesday morning wasn't as bad as the one on Friday, but we are now glad to be home.

I never really realize how much I love being home until I'm gone for a period of time.

Happy Halloween!

Longest Day E-V-E-R

Wow.

We finally arrived in Spanish Fork, late Friday night.

A LOT later than planned.

We visited Brandon and Mitzi and their family for Halloween and everything seemed to be keeping us away.

We had originally planned to leave for our trip at 8am.  We always leave late, so naturally we left the house at 9am.  As we pulled out of the driveway we noticed that the car was leaking a considerable amount of oil.  I had just changed the oil a couple of days before so we decided to stop at the car place to get it checked out...just in case.

At 10am we found out that the oil pan in my car needed to be replaced and if we had driven it to Utah we probably would have lost all of the oil and seized the engine.  WHAT!!  The car would be fixed by 2 or 3 that afternoon.

Not happening.

Stephen got a ride from one of the employees to our house where he got his car and drove it back to pick Maycee and I up.  We switched everything into Stephen's car and were on the interstate headed out at 10:45am.

We stopped on Logan on our way out and got Stephen a seriously awesome suit for a seriously sweet deal.  Two suits for the price of $250!  Kory introduced us to the sale and we were all on board for each getting a suit and splitting the cost.  Stephen's last purchase of a suit was when he left for his mission...over nine years ago.

He looks hot.

I'll take pictures when we get the suit back.

You'll see.

We were back on the road again at 4pm.

We stopped in South Jordan to pick up a pan for Mitzi at her mom's.  Mitzi's mom also happens to be my Aunt.  I know, it's confusing, don't ask.  So we sat and talked for a while with Aunt Janice and Uncle John.

And cooed over Maycee.

'Cause she's cute.

We arrived at Brandon and Mitzi's and 7:30pm.  Maycee was so done being in the car seat.  As soon as she saw her cousins, Samantha and Beth, she was totally fine.

Here's to a fun Halloween weekend!