HOUSE

So our house is finally starting to look like a house! Just thought I'd post an update! We are still looking at a spring possession....it's so exciting to finally see things coming together!

FRIENDS

One of the things I love about Christmas is getting to see people you don't get to see often! Last night we went to a Christmas party at the Boyd residence in De Winton. We really enjoyed being with friends and playing games. It was a good thing Nana and Pappie offered to baby-sit too....cause we didn't come home until 2 a.m.

Here we all are after playing our traditional WHITE ELEPHANT game.



December 23, 2010
TOP: Steve & Chelsea Spackman, Tyson & Natalie Portwood, Chris James, Matt & Sheena Smith, Brad & Val Currie, Michelle Johnson
COUCH: Brian & Chelsey Howarth, Britney & Elynn James, Danielle & Zak Oakey
FLOOR: Leiah & Cory Lockhart

CRAFTY

So 6 months ago...okay maybe more like 12 months ago I went and bought a ton of googly eyes, snaps, and other crafty items to make my kids a quiet book. Sometime in the spring I actually started working on it and then just last month I buckled down and am now almost done. I am so excited. It took me a while to figure out how I was going to make it, but anyway here is the almost finished product.

WEAVE

BUILD THE TEMPLE and TIC TAC TOE

CATAPILLAR/BUTTERFLY HIDE-A-WAY & DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE

PLUCK/FEATHER THE TURKEY & MINI CAR MAT

BUTTON-ON FLOWERS & TIE A BOW



GLOVE

Once I got the hang of it, it was really fun. My kids better like it!





STROLLING IN STYLE!

I have never had more people offer their opinion on any one thing in my life until I posted my STROLLER DILEMA! I appreciate your opinions by the way, so don't hold back...good or bad! For those of you who are wondering...the unofficial vote was unanimously in favour of buying the stroller! AND...the big news today is.....that I BOUGHT IT! I will be strolling in style as of December 30, 2010 when I can pick up my stroller in Eureka. I know I know you are thinking that you are so influencial in my life! Don't give yourselves that much credit. J/K! But really the deal breaker was the amazing sale I found on Diapers.com   In canada the stroller costs $599.99. Yikes, right? In the States it regualarly costs $499.99 Still Yikes right? Well I just happened to be idolizing it once again today and happened upon a SALE. Diapers.com was selling it for $389.99. Still yikes, but way more affordable and so without hesitation I bought not only the stroller, but the second seat which was on sale for $129.99 and the car seat adapter for $59.99. These prices are all American, so thank goodness for the good exchange rate.

If you are still wondering what I am talking about please feel free to check out my soon-to-be stroller at
http://www.babyjogger.com/ The model I bought is the CITY SELECT! I am so excited!

BABY BRAIN

It's so bad it's not even funny anymore. I don't want to make excuses for my absent mindedness...but apparently "baby brain" is a proven symptom of pregnancy! Either way I am losing my mind. This morning I went to eat my cereal with a baby spoon. Earlier this week I bought the wrong size of diapers. Today I went to return the diapers and pick up some other stuff and forgot my wallet. I frequently walk into a room and can't remember what I am there for. I don't even remember a few minutes later...I never remember. I also appologize to anyone who has tried to have a conversation with me lately. I can't even finish a sentence without forgetting my train of thought. I really wish I could snap out of it, but I think it's hopeless, especially considering...I can't remember where this was going, lol!

TUTU

So maybe this is wishful thinking, but I made this tutu at my ward's SUPER FRIDAY in hopes that maybe I might be able to use it in the future...I guess only time will tell. It's a good movie night craft.

P.S. I guess I forgot to write what I actually spent money on this past weekend...
Honestly it was one of those shopping trips where you really don't know what you spent money on, you just know you're going to get a bill for it later. I do know that I spent $120 in Bath and Body Works. I just love that store! I love their Christmas candles their wallflowers (sandlewood vanilla is a favourite at the moment) and their soaps and lotions. Apparently the store opened at 3 a.m. on Black Friday. We didn't show up until noon...but I know people who were there at 4 a.m. (M.E.J.) lol-a shopping icon really!

BLACK FRIDAY

Last year for Black Friday we started a tradition of going to our cabin in Rexfrod, Montana! It was actually our first official trip out there, so American Thanksgiving will always be special for us. I already know I will love this tradition. Who doesn't love a tradition that includes one free day to shop and spend money. It is especially nice since I am married to a "frugal" accountant. For some reason he never gives me a hard time about spending on Black Friday. Definitely something I am grateful for!

Other things I am grateful for include:

A reliable van with DVD player!
The beautiful winter wonderland we were surrounded by for 4 days!
A husband that likes playing with the kids - it's kind of special watching him interact with his sons! I especially like watching from a window where I can ensure that I stay warm...I hate the cold!
A VISA card and sale prices!
Coming home to a clean home and a lit up Christmas tree
A son who thanks Heavenly Father for the cabin, for Papa's boat, for the fishing boat, and then for Jesus every night!

THOU SHALT NOT COVET

Okay, so I don't usually have a problem with this, but there is a stroller on the market right now and I want it in a bad way. Is that coveting? I'm trying to justify buying it. I mean the thing is amazing. It is a double stroller, comes with car seat adaptor options, bassinet options and the two seats can be rearranged 16 different ways. But I'll be paying $500 for just the single strolelr and then another $150 for the second seat and then another $90 for the car seat adaptor. And at some point I'll want to ad the ride-on option for Peyton. What am I thinking? It's just that my heart is set on this stroller and I am just not sure if I'll ever be satisfied with out it! Here is a picture and a link! But beware, because I don't want to pass on the coveting.

http://www.babyjogger.com/
*the model I like is called CITY SELECT

FAMILY PHOTOS

Wow, I am really catching up on my blogs tonight! If you are family you will get prints of these around Christmas. If you are not family, here are our photos for this year!
Thank you so much Joce! I know my boys are difficult to photograph!

JACK IS ONE!

Time goes by so fast-everyone says that right? But it's true! To be honest, parenting Jack has been more difficult than parenting Peyton. Jack has more needs, and unfortunately for him I am his mom. I'll be the first to admit that I prefer my children to be...independant, but anyway Jack and I have come a long way and he has turned into such a cute kid! (He looked like an old man when he was born). He has a really goofy personality and loves to eat. Food is serious business for him-I wouldn't try eating in front of him unless you intend on sharing. And he loves to wrestle with Peyton and throw a ball around. He's kind of like having a dog that way. I throw the ball...he brings it back. Anyway, we are so excited that he is 1 and look forward to many more years of watching him grow!
Since he is almost a halloween baby I threw him a halloween party! I tried to invite other kids that are also one and have older siblings for Peyton to play with lol. A win win right? All the kids dressed up in their costumes-so cute! Most of them were naked or almost naked by the time they left...lol.
There are so family dinner photos mixed in there too! Jack is one lucky kid!

By the way, thank you to all who came to the party! The kids had a blast! And I have pictures to prove that Jack did get a birthday party! lol...no one can say I'm a bad mom now...right?

EDMONTON ADVENTURE!

Do you ever do things for other people and wonder why you did them? Well last week I hauled my kids to a friend's sealing...it was such a lovely sealing and the kids were great in the car. The next day I decided to drive to Edmonton to hang out with Kiera for the day. Two day trips in a row! What was I thinking??? The drive was hard. Don't get me wrong...the kids were great, I'm just not good at driving by myself for a long time. Anyway, we took the kids to Galaxy Land. They have a few rides that are free for kids that are 2 and under. Peyton loves rides and to see his smile while he went round and round made everything worth while. Still, I don't know how often I'll be making day trips to Edmonton. Here are some pics!

OUR NEW VAN

Everyone likes buying something new right! Well for the past 6 months we have been wanting to buy a van. We had high expectations and a tight budget...so it took a lot longer than we thought! But you know what they say, "good things come to those who wait" so we are excited to finally be van owners! We think we got a great deal too. We ended up buying a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan with 100,000 K (65 m I think). It comes with stow and go seating and a DVD player....and my favourite part - automatic start! No more running out in the cold just to start the car! Winter will be so much nicer. Oh and I forgot...we like the colour too! It's midnight blue...it looks shiny and clean even when it's dirty. There are 7 seats...which is great for a growing family and 5 of those 7 can fold down into storage compartments! That will be great for travelling! Can't wait to go shopping in Kallispell on Black Friday!

LITTLE ATHLETE

Peyton never ceases to amaze us. He can dribble a basketball, drop kick a soccer ball and throw a football like the best of them. Here he is playing hockey...we think he has potential! It's going to be tough choosing just one or two sports! On a side note I am totally against hockey! There's no way I am getting up early to bring my kids to early morning practices. Also hockey gear supposedly stinks really bad! This was filmed while Cory was baby-sitting. A huge improvement from the last time he baby-sat when he decided to let Peyton play in the truck with the keys while he had a nap.

SOUP DAY

In each of my pregnancies, so far, I experience the strangest cravings. With Peyton I wanted tomatoes. I ate them like apples. I especially liked the cherry or grape tomatoes because you could pop them and squirt the juices in your mouth. Needless to say, I have a hard time wtih tomatoes now.

With Jack I craved seafood. If you know me well, you know I am an extremely picky eater and would not even touch seafood...but that is what I wanted. As soon as Jack was born I returned to my usual self eating only the occasional salmon.

Baby number 3 has led me to soup. I want soup every day! No specific kinds, but I especially like creamy broths. So today my mom and I made soup. We were supposed to only make one large batch and split it, but somehow I ended up taking home tubaware full of 4 different kinds of soup!

For anyone who is wondering what is on my menu for the rest of the month here is a list. Feel free to stop by for lunch!

Cream of Cauliflower
Chicken, rice and vegie
Potato & Leek

They sound so good just thinking about them!

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

Two weeks went by so fast! And there were so many highlights! Like finding out I was pregnant and watching Cory and other crazies cliff jump and roll down the sand hill. Cory and I both had some great skis despite the choppy water and we loved all of our visiters...you know who you are! The sunsets were beautiful too!

 

ANTS!

My laundry is starting to pile up because of ants. They have taken over my laundry/furnace room and every time I go in there to start a load I spend all of my free time vacuuming them up. It's becomming an obsession. Every half hour there is a new group of hundreds of ants to vacuum up. I keep thinking "how many can there actually be?" And just when I think I've got them all...more appear. I blame it on the queen ants! I've never seen queen ants before, but they have to be at least 3 or 4 times the size of regular ants. I don't even know how the little guys mate with them. They would get crushed as far as I am concerned. I definitely have a grudge against them now! To think that they could populate my wall and precious laundry space with their babies! Soon they will know who the really queen of this home is! Cory is bringing home ant raid today...it better work! (I went to Superstore looking for Ant poison and apparently it's seasonal and out of stock! :| Anyway here are some pics for proof!

These pics don't even do it justice! But you can kinda see that there quite a few queen ants!

SPACKMAN LOCKHART BLITZ

Thank goodness Spackmans' saved the day with their Honda Pilot or we wouldn't have been able to do any boating! The weekend went by so quickly I can't even remember everything, but I know it included...
* two CRAZY toddlers
* spending way TOO much money in Kalispell
* rock climbing with the Prices
* relaxing on the beach
and of course...
* BOATING

These kids look like could be siblings...they are so adorable. Can I say BFF?

I guess the dads look pretty good too!

Yes that is Crew holding on to Steve! The Spackman's start them young!

Father and son bonding

THE CALGARY STAMPEDE

Yehaw! I know the Stampede has come and gone, and I am so late posting photos....but you know what "they" always say..."better late than never" so here are some super cute pics of my cowboys.
My mom and I were determined to get into the Stampede for free, so on Kids Day we got up bright and early and parked in the very convenient handy-capped stall (big thank you to Uncle Pete who lent us his sign) at 8:45 a.m. We couldn't have planned it better. Auntie Meag joined us at 8:55 a.m. lol. Peyton absolutely loved the Stampede. From the rides, to the mini donoughts, to the Super Dogs. We had such a fun day.