Merry Christmas

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These Boots are Made for Walking...

Just another normal day in the life of a two year old:

"Ah, Mom's boots. Those look like fun. I will take off my jeans and put them on and run about the house... Yes these are great fun!"

Mrs. Webster

I think it is really funny when kids come up with new words that no one else has ever heard, but yet they use them often. Such is the case with Bella and the new word is 'cuteaful'.

Defination: Something both cute and beautiful.
Usage: She gets dressed in the morning or puts on her play necklaces and says, "It's cuteaful."

Everyday is full of some 2 year old disasters, but most of the time she really is so cuteaful.

Chop, Chop

I have been saying I wanted to cut my hair short for a couple of years and I actually did it! Normally I don't post anything about me specifically, but my sisters have requested some pictures, so here they are. If you don't like it, you don't have to leave a comment; if you think it is ok, then you can leave a nice message :) I like it - I should have taken a picture when I came home from getting it cut, because I can't style it as well, but here I am!

Giving Thanks

If you are reading this, we must be thankful for you and how you are apart of our lives! Thanks for being you! We have so very much to be grateful for and we don't express enough all we have been so richly blessed with. Truly one day isn't enough...

A Book, A Pocketknife and A Screen

What do a book, a pocketknife and a screen have in common? Let me tell you.

Last week Ryan and I had gone to the temple and Ryan's brother Darren was nice enough to watch the kids. They went to bed before we got home and it was quiet when we came downstairs. I was doing a couple things in the kitchen when I hear all of this commotion. Ryan had gone into the kids room and what does he find, but Clark outside in the window well. What was he doing there we ask? Apparently he was reading this book using a flashlight underneath his covers and it was kinda scary. (As a side note on the book - the Librarian had recommended it as a good one.) Anyway, he had heard us come downstairs and thought we were robbers, so he had gotten his pocket knife out of his nightstand, opened the window, cut the screen and had crawled out onto the rocks and was trying to get out of the window well when Ryan found him.

I just don't understand. What was he going to do when he got out? What about Bella? I guess she was just on her own. How would a robber get past Darren and Grandpa (who was also home)? And to top it off, it was only about 40 degrees outside!!

The next morning we had just gotten up and Clark suddenly runs upstairs (in his pajamas). What on earth? He came back with his pocketknife that he had thrown up on the ground above the window. Good thing we didn't forget that!

Not a Baby Anymore

My baby is not a baby anymore. Today I went and got a toddler bed for Bella and tonight the crib went away. It is sad. The day was inevitable but still a bit sad. She thought it was great!! She got in, and then out, and then in, and then out! When I put her down she just jumped out again. We had to talk about how it was still bedtime. Eventually I just had to close the door so it would be dark and she couldn't come out. She didn't cry so I think she knows it is just nighttime. How the time flies by!!

Short update - she stayed in bed until Clark went in to go to sleep - as soon as the door opened she was out of bed and running down the hall! Crazy little girl!

What did we just talk about?

I really don't have anything new to say, but I am just tired of Halloween being at the top of my blog. So I decided I would post about our Family Home Evening last night, since it was quite comical. I was giving a lesson about Manners (I know that everyone else doesn't need this lesson in their house, but we can use it often :) Anyway, we were talking about our Super Hero's including, 'Thunder Thank-you' and 'Super Sorry' etc., when Clark accidently knocked Bella in the head and she fell over and started to cry. Now, since we are talking about this very subject, wouldn't it make sense to lean over and say, "I'm sorry, Bella."? No, too much to ask. Clark had to cry about his arm that got hurt when he knocked her over. I hope that someday our FHE lessons will work, but I don't when that day will be. It is obviously not today.

Happy Halloween

I tried to continue the tradition we started last year of all dressing up to match. It took a lot of convincing and I don't know how many years this tradition is going to last, but we, correction, I, had a good time. We didn't get really great pictures - Clark ran out the door after the only one we managed to take together and I didn't even get one of just him - the candy draw was just too much!

My dad got a few more pictures - luckily. Clark wanted to wear socks with his costume, so he 'distressed' them himself.

Grungy Graphics

My graphics design class ended today - unfortunately - as fast as it started. Too bad. It was really so much fun; there is a whole new world of digital art out there for me to explore. Today I learned how to make things look 'grungy' (if that is a word). There are lots of variations you can do, but this is the one I did after coming home - meaning that I can do it without someone walking me though it step by step...well OK, I followed my notes that I made in class, but still that is pretty good. Here is what I started with...

And this is what I did with it.
Neat huh? I think it is great. If only there was more time in the day that I didn't have to be doing laundry or cleaning, just think what could happen on my computer?! Someday. Perhaps this will encourage the team to do better this weekend!!

Conference

Conference was a few weeks ago but I forgot to post a couple pictures. We went on Saturday when it was cool and wet, but it was great to be able to go to the Conference Center. Ryan stayed home with Bella so Clark, my dad and I went. We were so happy we could go. As always, it was a great meeting and there is a special feeling when you are there. I was telling Cami that I think it can feel the same when you are watching at home, but there is always someone needing something so it is a little harder. Clark had a great time taking pictures before it started, but since they never turn out really great being far away, I am posting only one (if you want to see the 10 others, including the video of the primary choir practicing before the session, just let me know)!

New Class

I found this great two week class that I can take for FREE and it is teaching me how to use my Adobe programs, which I really like, but didn't know how to work very well. It is two hours a day, two days a week. Today was my first class and I learned some neat stuff and I came home and tried out what I learned on this picture and here it is for you to look at. Hopefully I will keep getting better!

Follow-up

I have had a couple people ask me about Bella and her potty training that she almost seemed to do on her own. Less you think that it was that easy, the day after my post she ADAMANTLY refused to sit on the toilet. This wasn't just any refusal; it was an arch her back, stick straight legs, screaming two-year-old refusal. Why? I don't know. Why trick me like that? It has been that way anytime we have mentioned the toilet or tried to go near it. "Do you want to go sit on the toilet?" I say. "NO!" is her response. So we are taking a break from that exercise. I don't want to be frustrated and angry about it, so we will try again later.

Fall Time

Well it has been many years since I have been in a place that has a 'real fall'. Sorry to say Arizona has a lot of good things going for it, but a breathtaking fall is not one of them. Today we drove up into the mountains to see the beautiful fall colors (before it snows up there tomorrow). Wow. It was such a great drive. Unfortunately, Ryan was taking a test and Clark was in school, so it was just my dad, Bella and I. (My dad came for Conference.) Words don't do it justice, so here are some pictures; really there are a lot more pictures - these were my favorites!

Apple Tartlet

I saw this recipe on cooksillustrated.com and thought it looked so good, I had to make them. They were very good. I should have had the tartlet on a nicer looking plate for the picture, but oh well. And really I would love a better camera to take cool pictures with but we will work with what I have! It was fun to try something new. It was not as sweet as a pie, which I liked. A little ice cream on top...what a great FHE treat. And then there is Clark who when I ask, 'What do you think?', his response is, 'It's ok.' More culinary refinement is necessary!

Great Book

I am normally a novel reader. Some of my favorites include, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudiced, certain Grisham novels, Magic of Ordinary Days, Twilight...If I ever find or make time to read I want it to be something I really enjoy and for the most part has a happy ending. Sometimes I read other stuff, but not recently - that is until now! My dad had told me The Price We Paid was really great, so I put it on my list of someday reading. But since it was staring me in the face on my bookshelf everyday I started reading. It was really interesting and very inspiring. I haven't done a whole lot of 'church history' type reading so it was a good branch in a new direction. I finished reading it a couple days ago and have found myself thinking about it as things come up. I was so amazed at the experiences of these early pioneers and even more how they responded to their challenges. Truly amazing. And I enjoyed it enough to keep reading when I got a minute but I wasn't so consumed that I couldn't fix dinner for my family for a few days either! GREAT BOOK! (But if you read a good novel make sure to let me know - I am not giving up reading them!)

A New Wolf

This one isn't part of the "Jacob Black or Sam pack" but it is CLARK who earned his wolf rank in Cub Scouts. He did a great job finishing all the requirements, many of which he did on his own. He also got some great help from his Grandpa and leaders! Many thanks!! He is very happy to have it done but wants to keep working on other badges and beltloops too! Way to go Clark!!

Recent Projects

I like to have projects. Sometimes I tend to get a couple going at a time, which really isn't the best, but here are a couple I have finished recently!!

I have always wanted to try making a rag quilt so I made this one for a friend's new baby. It was fun. I think I would make another...someday.

And It is peach season...my very favorite fruit of the year. We have bought a couple boxes of peaches and have eaten almost all of them. But then I bought another box to bottle. It was good. I did more than just three bottles - it was just the picture I took for your reading benefit! Glad I am done with that for the year too. I still have a few left and I think I am just going to freeze them. Frankly, it is just faster and what is better than fresh peach smoothies all year round?

Surprise!

Last Sunday morning before church I was doing a couple things for RS on my computer, Clark was reading, I am not sure what Ryan was doing and Bella was playing. I went to check on her only to find her with NO clothes on. She had taken off her pajamas and diaper and having a great time playing - I was not so happy about it. I couldn't find any wet spots, so I figured I lucked out on that one! Then today, I was changing her diaper and she threw the biggest fit when I was trying to put one back on. Wow. So we went and sat on the toilet, just because and nothing happened and eventually I got a diaper back on her again. Tonight I gave her some milk and realized that her diaper was still dry, so back to the toilet we went. And...drum roll here...she went pee in the toilet! Amazing. I hadn't really geared myself up for the potty training thing yet, but I guess if she wants to go I will do it! I mean, who really likes buying diapers? That would be great to get off my Costco list! And I would rather having her GO in the toilet than PLAYING in the toilet, which happened a few weeks ago. She didn't like the result near as much!

Bella's Party

Well, there wasn't an official party but here are a few pictures from Bella's birthday.
And here is her cake, which took me a while to even decide how to make. I suppose it doesn't really matter all that much but I wanted one that looked cute in the pictures.



She enjoyed eating it at least!

She wasn't quite sure about presents but she had a good time playing with them once they were out of the box!
I really wanted her to have a little doll and doll cradle, so we built this little cradle and I made the bedding for the inside. Both she and the doll have a good time inside!
I really wanted to post this video that was cute, but long and I just can't seem to get it shortened on this computer, so I am going to have to use Ryan's software sometime, but I just need to get this draft posted! So watch for it...it will be great!

What we love about Bella

Happy 2nd Birthday Bella!!! Wow how the last two years have flown by. I wanted to post things we love about our little sweetie.

1. Bella has the BEST hair! It is so cute when it is done all up and it is great when it is not. Here is just a sampling of a few hair pictures.

This is my favorite. What a classic primping pose. Notice she is sitting IN the sink which is her favorite place to be, when I am doing her hair.

I did help this hair out a bit, but it does tend to be a little crazy by the end of the day, even when I do it in the morning.

Most days we do her hair and there are so many things we can do with it - I am jealous every morning...

2. Bella is such a happy little spirit. She has her not so happy moments like all kids, but she really is a happy little girl and smiles often and especially with Clark - she LOVES her brother!

3. She is has so much fun playing and we have just as much fun watching her. It is fun to see her enjoy herself.

She makes every day better and we are so grateful for her that she is part of our family. I often say, "What would I do without her?" And I just can't imagine!