Corda Halloween 2010

It started when Ammon was three - our annual trick or treat at Grandpa Derrick's work.

Every year we head down and enjoy their haunted office and fun treats.

2007

When it is all said and done, and we are ready to head home,

We try our best to get a picture of Grandpa and the kids.

2008

This year I was disapointed to not be able to go.

But at the last minute, Andy decided to leave work early and take the boys.

I sent him with camera in hand.

2009

He was instructed to get lots of pictures -

Especially, I emphasized, one with Grandpa.

Now I know my pictures in past years aren't the best.
And yet, I was still a bit disapointed when the only picture that came back to me
Was this:

2010

 Andy explains:

I can only do one thing at a time.

I can take pictures OR make sure nothing in the office gets broken...

NOTHING IN THE OFFICE IS BROKEN!

And the truth of the matter is - they had fun.

Which is what I really wanted.

First Kiss

Another flashback of the past.  Continued from Burger King.

When I think of a romantic first kiss, I envision something outdoors: in the moonlight; in the softly falling snow; in a beautiful rainstorm - something along those lines.  I remember a really great date with Andy where we went downtown to ice skate on an outdoor rink.  Talk about the perfect setting for a first kiss!  I was so frustrated when it didn't happen!  I think I spent the entire night waiting for him to make a move of some sort.  Really, the ambiance of the evening just begged for it.  But the moment never came and I went home just shaking my head and wondering why not.

As it was, our first kiss was while we were watching a movie. Doesn't that sound blah? So unoriginal and boring. The movie was Anastasia, which I think is a cute and somewhat romantic movie, so at least we have that much going for us. But the setting of our kiss isn't what makes it so special.

When Andy was leaving his mission to come home, one of his companions made a bet with him.  Andy wagered that he would kiss a girl before his  friend came home several months later.  The friend said he wouldn't.  The winner owed the other lunch.

I knew nothing about any of this.  When Andy and I started dating, he hadn't yet kissed a girl since returning from his mission.  I was his chance to win the bet!  But he made a conscious decision that he didn't want our first kiss to be cheapened by being a victory of something so superfluous. 

And so he waited.  He waited until he could kiss me in a way that I would always know it was about him and me.  He waited so that I would always know that it had nothing to do with a silly goal he had set before we ever started dating. 

Which is why, on the most perfect night, where the setting was beautiful and just begged for that next romantic step, he held back and didn't kiss me.  And why, just a few days later he did.  He kissed me the very day the bet had  been lost, before the movie even ended.

I guess a first kiss during a movie can be romantic after all.

Continued in Flowers Blossom

Washing Dishes

One thing I have really enjoyed about not having a dishwasher

(OK, probably the ONLY thing)

is when my boys pull a chair up next to me and we do our chores side by side.

Ammon was my first helper(although I didn't take a picture then).

He loves to do things for other people and enjoys jobs that provide companionship.

Peter found that he delights in playing with the water.

And being my little tool-lover that he is, he especially likes scrubbing the dishes.

(Even though I've already washed them and all he needs to do is rinse.)

He takes dishes duty very seriously, but has a lot of fun while he works.

I have found that I spend very little time wishing for a dish-washer

and a surprising amount of time enjoying the fact that I don't have one.

Who would have thought?

Sleep

Picture taken October 20, 2010

6:30 on a Wednesday night.

I was jealous.

Speaking of sleep -

Later that night Andy I received this note from Ammon

as it was thrown into the hallway:

It says:

I can't sleep.

I need a story and a lullaby.

Dad, tell me a story.

Mom, tell me a lullaby.

Love,

Ammon.

Well, that cute little boy got his story and lullaby and blissfully went to sleep after that.

Pumpkin Patch

Just about every year, we head to a pumpkin patch for the boys to pick out a pumpkin.

This year has been hectic, though, and we just haven't made it.

But Grandma Lynn saved the day by having a pumpkin patch in her own backyard!

We stopped by for a visit and ended up with pumpkins for everyone.

(As well as several for her front porch.)

Thanks, Grandma!

Halloween Project

I picked up these little kits from a craft store the other day.

They were super cheap and came with glow-in-the-dark paint.

On Monday night we sat around the table and enjoyed great gospel conversation

While the boys listened and painted.

It turned out to be a great activity and Ammon and Peter couldn't be more proud of their bats.

Pretzel Turtles



I discoverd this recipe last year and LOVED it.

Shockingly delicious and deceptively easy!

Last year it was a Christmas treat.

This year we've made it twice already:

Once for general conference, and once for a Halloween party.

For general conference we topped them with M&M's which just made it a fun, colorful treat.

For the Halloween party we used cashews and then drizzled orange chocolate on top.

Peter was my helper for the Halloween batch.

Just lay out your pretzels on your baking sheet.

Unwrap Rollos and place on top of pretzels.

Melt in the oven for about three minutes.

Choose your topping to squish down the melted chocolate, and there you go!

So fast, so easy, and seriously EVERYONE at the party asked about how to make them.

I'm addicted.



Fall Break

Last week the boys and I all had Fall Break.

We had cousins visit,

Friends play,

A trip to the Zoo

(With more cousins.)

And even a fun Halloween party.

Sadly, the only time I broke out the camera, was at the zoo.

We went with my red-headed nieces.

(I especially adore them because I wish I had a red-headed girl of my own.)

Aunt Krista made sure we hit all the fun stuff - like the train and the carousel.

The day wore me out, but was fun while we were there!

It was a fun week, but I am eager to be back to the routine tomorrow

When the boys go back to school.

Candy Corn Cupcakes

When we got hit from the neighborhood "Boo"

I decided that it was the perfect time to make Candy Corn Cupcakes.

They were fun to make and a big hit with the family.

First, we ate our cupcakes

(Just to make sure they turned out...)

Then, under Daddy's supervision,

Ammon went out and secretly delivered a few plates of these Halloween treats.

I heard that he was very fast and good at his secret deliveries.

After that, they took a few more plates of cupcakes to friends of ours.

Ammon bragged to his friend about the fun "secret deliveries" he had made.

His friend bragged back, including the fact that he had "secretly" delivered treats to us the night before.

Yup, apparently six year olds can door-bell ditch, but they can't keep their mouths shut.

Corn Belly's

For the most part, I love being in school.

The main thing I don't like is that I am not able to be the full-time Mommy I always dreamed of being.

It hurts my heart, just a little bit, to not only have Peter in pre-school,

but to send him to a babysitter as well.

One thing that has helped ease the hurt is that he has such a great person taking care of him.

I see babysitting, but he see's playdate.

He loves the kids he gets to play with, and he gets to go on the funnest outings.

One time, while I was in class, he went to the zoo.

Every week while I'm listening to my lecture, he attends a dance class.

And last Friday, while I was learning how to program, he went down to Thanksgiving Point.

I haven't actually been to Corn Belly's, but I understand it's pretty fun.

From the pictures, it looks like there were all sorts of activities to explore - and they hit them all!

Thanks Melissa, for taking great care of my little boy.

(And for bringing me awesome pictures, too!)

General Conference

We love General Conference and look forward to it every six months.

We decided to make a real event of it including cooking our first holiday treat of the season.

I also made my traditional cinnamon roles.

(Although between you and me, they didn't turn out very good at all;

Apparently I needed to educate my husband about which flour to buy:

He accidentally got a self-rising flour and the result was NOT tasty at all.)

We played "Conference BINGO"

The boys (all THREE of them) loved munching on the candy corn BINGO markers.

Ammon enjoyed conducting the songs while we watched Grandma Peggy sing with the choir.

Saturday evening we had our night out with the adult members of Andy's family.

It's always fun to shop with the girls while the guys attend their Priesthood meeting.

Afterwards we met at Gecko's for a late dinner.

It was a great weekend!

Adventures of Peter

Peter has been a busy boy lately.

Here are some of his many activities:

Story time with Daddy!
Peter LOVES snuggling up with Daddy while they read a book together.

Coloring time!

Peter enjoyed coloring and was quite proud of his work -

Until it started causing more anxiety than fun.

After a while he became quite concerned with making sure he was exactly in the lines.

That's my three-year-old perfectionist!

Cheesing it up for the camera!

We went out for a family dinner in honor our our ninth wedding anniversary.

Peter asked that we take his picture.

He posed again, and again and again...

Dance class!

The other day Peter tapped me on the shoulder and asked,

"Is today my dance day?"

It was!

On Wednesday morning he attends a dance class at the local library.

He loves it!

Halloween Preview

The other day I took Ammon and Peter to the store.

We were in search of Halloween Costumes.

I came home with the cutest Luigi and Woody I have ever seen.

These boys are bursting with excitement for Halloween.

And when I see them so full of joy, so am I.

Burger King

Another flashback of the past. Continued from First Date.

Nine and a half years later, I am finding that remembering events from our dating life and recalling the cooresponding timeline are two different things.  And so rather than continue "our story" in the order in which events transpired, I will write these memories more according to what is on my mind.  And lately, what has been on my mind is, well, Burger King.

Andy was kind enough to sign up for a Physics class with me, which I had practically begged him to do.  I needed a friend to pull me through it, and he willingly took the job.  In addition to that, he became my main source of transportation and drove me to and from school every day.  A couple of days a week, our friend Brian came as well, but most days it was just the two of us.

We usually got to school early enough to play a couple of rounds of Air Hockey at the institute building.  As a general rule, I won.  (smug grin)

We found that after school we still wanted to hang out together and so we logically offered to start doing homework together.  That expanded into generally having lunch together as well - usually I would cook for him and then we would work on our assignment after we ate.  One day, though, we unexpectedly ended up at Burger King where Andy treated me to lunch.

As we ate, Andy was particularly attentive to me.  He kept asking me questions and seemed completely fascinated by my answers.  He seemed to want to know everything about me - most especially my hopes and dreams and goals for the future.  In some ways the conversation was almost unnerving - his interest was so intense.  But I also got from him a strong sense of approval.  He asked me questions that I hadn't considered - had me talking about dreams I didn't know I had.  I knew, from that day, that Andy would never be interested in changing who I wanted to be, but that he would always be so eager and willing to let me develop myself.  I knew that he could help me grow into the person I wanted to become.

I've been remembering this a lot lately, as I've been reliving the same feelings I had that day.  I so appreciate the husband I have, who not only endures and accepts and helps out with my efforts in school, but who shows genuine enthusiasm in his support.  He brings an energy and excitement to my small little accomplishments that makes me feel so blessed.  He grew up with a dad and brother who program, so one would think that the small little computer programs I write would be no big deal.  I could see how it could even become a bit of an annoyance to him as it sometimes takes me away from our family.  But contrary to my expectations, he always allows me whatever time I need.  When my silly little program is finished he is always quick to come see it in action and tell me how awesome it is.  He cheers at my success and smothers me in compliments.  And once again I find myself feeling like that twenty-something girl sitting in Burger King - feeling adored and supported as I chase those dreams that I didn't even know I had.

We were married nine years ago today.  Happy Anniversary to my best friend!  Thanks for all you do to help make my dreams come true.

To be continued in First Kiss

To be continued...

Block Party

Pictures taken September 18, 2010

Our housing area seems to have at LEAST one big party every month.

Last month we didn't get pictures, but we had a movie in the park.

The boys especially loved the endless supply of cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and sodas.

All while we kicked back on the hillside and watched How To Train Your Dragon.

It was a really pleasant night.

This weekend it was more of a fair atmosphere.

We had games, bounce houses and trucks.

There were lots and lots of different kinds of vehicles all lined up.

And the boys just climbed in and pretended to drive whichever ones they wanted.

Ammon had the cotton candy in his hands before I knew what was happening.

We had pizza before they hit the snow cones.

Popcorn got picked up as we toured the trucks.

The boys finished their day by making and launching rockets.

And they both enjoyed the prizes from various games.

It was a lovely, if not gluttonous way to spend the afternoon.

My Baby is Growing Up

Peter just finished his first week of preschool.

He loves it!

The first day we went to meet his teacher he was a little bit nervous.

When we arrived at a building he had never seen before, he asked me to carry him.

Instead I promised to hold his hand and stay with him.
He accepted my compromise and bravely walked in to the unknown.
(I was so proud of him!)

We met the teacher and he immediately was comfortable with his new school.

He played and explored the classroom while I filled out paperwork etc.

He couldn't wait for school to really start.

And so a week later we found ourselves dropping him off for his first real day of preschool.

He was happy as could be.

I felt strange leaving to go home without him.

But I am so extremely happy for him because I know he is having such a great time.

He loves his teachers and all of his new friends.

And I just think he's amazingly brilliant and sweet and adorable.

He here is getting ready to go into class on the first day:

My Amazing Mess of a Boy

Picture taken September 10, 2010

The other day I was looking through my pictures and stumbled upon this shot of Ammon.

It isn't the cutest picture in the world, but when I saw it,

My heart just swelled with the overwhelming love I have for this little boy.

He had come out of the kitchen, where he was making brownies with his dad.

Brownies that were being made in my behalf.

He knows that I think he's adorable when he's a big mess.

One classic picture I have of him in the past is when he was not even quite two years old

and smeared himself with peanut butter.

It was his first attempt ever to make himself his very own sandwich.

He was such an independent guy so early in life.

Another picture of him that I love was dubbed

"Applesauce Monster"

He knows that I think he was adorable as a three year old

who somehow managed to get applesauce everywhere BUT inside his mouth.

Or so it seemed.

And so he came, pleased as punch to show me his brownie mess.

He started to sing a song and do a dance just to enhance the effect of his appearance.

And I see this picture now.

My dancing, singing, messy boy.

With a lose tooth that he spent an entire day clawing out hoping for aother visit from the toothfairy.

But ultimately waited a full week before that visit came.

And I see the skinned elbow and think of how he loves to ride his bike and run and play.

I see the light and joy and love that shines in his eyes.

And know that in that particular moment, he looked like that for me.

I feel so blessed to know this boy.

The moments are fleeting - he grows so fast.

And the love I have felt for him throughout these years

Has grown and been enriched and is still every bit as tender as it was

Before I became a mom.

When I waited in anticipation

For this sweet baby to come and change my life.

Before I knew I was pregnant, Andy gave me a priesthood blessing.

He said that I was going to have a son:

A very special child.

And I did.

Peter

This video is from June 2010.

It's kind of old, but I thought I'd share it anyway.

Peter went through a phase where he pronounced his middle name "Jo-phes".
I thought it was super cute so I wanted to get him to say it on video.
It took me a while, though.
He was kind of in a silly mood.

Labor Day Triathlon

As is hopefully becoming tradition

(this being the second year)

Ammon, Peter and I spent Labor Day morning

Cheering on Daddy in his mini triathlon.

Ammon was really disapointed that he couldn't participate.

He has to wait AT LEAST until next year when he is 7 years old.

We'll see if his swimming is up to snuff by then.

But in the mean time, Andrew participated in the race.

My sister Katy was also in it with her husband and daughter.

Everyone did a great job.

Jeremiah and Andrew came in 2nd and 3rd for their age range.

The morning started out FREEZING cold.

I don't know how they got themselves to jump into that pool!

But it warmed up as the sun came out and ultimately we all had a good time.

Company Party

Andy's department had a fun carnival/BBQ party this past weekend.

It started raining HARD just before we left.

We almost didn't go.

But we're glad we did, because the rain stopped just in time for us to get there.

We ate hot dogs and hamburgers.

Our meals came with prepackaged silveraware/napkins.

Peter felt that the fact that he HAD a fork meant he must USE the fork.

So after some troubling moments, Daddy helped him stick his hotdog.

There were blow up slides, and carnival games.

The boys came home with a bag of "prizes".

There was popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.

Ammon and Peter were in heaven.

And all of this took place at the lake behind Andy's work.

It was a delightful and beautiful evening.

Thanks DiscoverCard!

Conversations With Ammon

A New Season

The weather cooled down for a few days, just as a teaser, and it warmed right back up.

And so it seemed almost without warning that summer was over and school began.

And this year my oldest baby started first grade.

One thing I love about Ammon is his energy.

I was shy and timid and scared.

Not Ammon; he was excited and jubilant.

We planned to get to the bus about ten minutes early.

There, I would take plenty of "first day" pictures while we waited.

I snapped these couple on Ammon's way out the door, but was called back by Peter who was lagging behind.

Of course this cute little guy wanted to do everything Big Brother was doing!

Ammon got ahead of me and when I got to the bus stop, he was in my neighbors van.

The bus had come SUPER early and a couple of us had missed it.

So we drove over to the school together.

When we got to the school, Ammon and his friend jumped out of the van and were off.

I tried to yell for him to wait for me, but to no avail.

I spent the next several minutes scouring the school for any sign of Ammon.

I checked the cafeteria and the playground.

I turned around to heard towards his classroom when I saw he and his friend duck into the library.

Apparently his friend LOVES the library and tends to end up there everytime he disappears.

(Good to know.)

I caught up with them and we headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.

He enjoyed his first meal at school.

It was a fun experience.

Peter was jealous.

He screamed and screamed and screamed the whole time.

He wanted what Ammon had.

The school bell rang and it was time for class.

I intended to walk with Ammon to his room, but he ran ahead.

By the time I caught up with him, Ammon was already in his classroom.

Peter and I headed home.

He was still pretty distraught about not getting to do the things Ammon did.

On our way out, he determined that he wanted a trip to McDonalds.

And on the third day of my school, I already felt the conflict of my own schedule.

 Mom vs Student.

I only had an hour before my own class started.

That wasn't enough time to give my precious three year old the time he deserved.

And that is when Daddy came to save the day.

Andy rushed home from work and spent the afternoon with Peter.

Including, of course, a trip to McDonalds.

I got some much needed organizing done with my schedule.

And Ammon was gone at first grade.

All day.

It was long (for me).

When it was time for school to end, I worried Ammon wouldn't find the right bus.

So I sent my secret spy: Daddy.

He hung out at the school long enough to watch Ammon bounce out with his friends

And climb onto the correct bus with no problem at all.

Then he came home and the three of us waited to hear all about it:

Ammon's first day of first grade.

He loved it!

Brothers

Ammon and Peter taking a bath in preparation for Ammon's first day of school.

And here we found them snuggled up together a few nights earlier.

Ammon had snuck into where Peter was sleeping.

Apparently he fell asleep better when Brother was nearby.

Cuddling

Father and Son

Snuggling together.

Wrapped in a quilt made by Mommy with Great-Grandpa's shirts.

Holding a panda bear (Sergio) that Daddy grew up with.

Leaning against the U of U pillow case, which is a perfect reminder to where we live now.

Timeless memories from the past and present to last forever into the future.

The Farm (Week 10)

We enjoyed an outing with the cousins

to the Farm at Thanksgiving Point.

They had a good time running around and seeing the animals.

Aunt Jen brought quarters to buy food to feed the animals.

Michael, Ammon and Sophia went on a wagon ride with Jen and Quincy.

Kara and I (along with Jack) kept Peter, Kate, Will and Spencer who rode the ponies.

The boys wrestled each other on the grass.

They explored the old "jail" and had fun in the play room.

Everyone had a great time!

Thanks Kara and Jen!