Winter Days

I know you are all SHOCKED that I am blogging before my schedule bi-annual posting! Frankly, so am I. But we did get internet for the time being until another malicious virus attacks and sends us sprawling backwards to the 19th century!

Just a quick snapshot of what's going on at our house this winter.

Ryan has been fixing up a 1907 home so we can rent or flip it. He has been working like crazy and is definitely stressed out of his mind*! He is our hero out there slaying dragons!

Hunter has been reading every A-Z mystery and Jack Sparrow book he can get his little hands on. Sometimes he will read 5 hours in a day! Amazing! I don't remember doing that when I was 7. He is also getting ready to be baptized in April. We have been teaching him about the committment he will be making and he is getting so excited.


Ashton is growing like a weed! He is really working on his thigh cellulite (I'm especially glad to know that in this area he takes after me.... hey beggers can't be choosers! everyone always says all our boys look like Ryan!) He is the most peaceful baby. We are so spoiled! He has been so much fun... makes me want to have 10 more. NOT!!!! (is that saying still 'in' or am I really showing my age?)






And speaking of weeds, I have been burning weeds for 3 days and my eyelashes are singed off as well as a good majority of my bangs! "What is that stench? Oh yeah, it's my hair...." kind of hard to get away from.

Hunter and I have been mucking cow stalls... kind of a 'crappy' job if ya know what I mean.





Ryan took the boys out on the sled and pulled them around with the 4 wheeler the other day on one of the rare days it has snowed this winter. IT has been so mild that we are getting soft!


For Christmas we went down to my parent's house and all my siblings got together. It was wonderful to see everyone. Here's my dad with Ashton.

Our newest arrival

Welcome our newest addition-- Ashton Thomas who was born August 22 @ 11:43 a.m. He weighed 8 pounds and was 20 1/2 inches long. We named his Thomas after Ryan's family. It is a 5 generation family name. And also after Thomas Jefferson. Ryan and I have been studying the founding fathers and have been so grateful for his contribution to our freedoms.

I went natural for this birthing experience. With a midwife and all. I had the baby and 5 hours later was driving home. An let me just say one word for all of you expectant mothers out there... EPIDURAL!!!!! I've used them with my first 3 children but thought I'd test my toughness index with #4 and although I lived through it, I wouldn't ever, no never, no never ever EVER do it the old fashioned way again.
But, Ashton is beautiful and healthy, and we are so blessed to have him in our family. I am really enjoying him. I had forgotten how delightful newborn poop smells. So much better than 2 1/2 yr. old poop.

Teagan is struggling with getting the boot as the baby. Hunter and Connor are enjoying him, but especially that grandma and grandpa are helping take care of them for the first 2 weeks.

Our Summer Happenings

I thought I might strive to do at least one posting bi-annually. I know, I know.. it seems a little over-achieverish, but if one never strives, one never achieves. So here's a quick synopsis of our summer.

Below is a picture of one of Ryan's more successful fishing trips this summer (o.k., so ignore the snow... I guess this was more of an early, early 'spring' excursion). He only had to drive about 40 minutes to get these monsters.


We went hiking a few times this summer, although not as often as we had hoped due to me being pregnant and all. This is a hike we took about 30 mintues from home. The boys had a ball exploring all of the nooks and caves and fossils.





Hunter lost 4 more teeth. Poor guy, he can barely eat.


Hayden (my brother) and his wife Heather (and their 4 children) came to visit us. We had a wonderful time. The kids got along so well. We went to the fair, went up to the mountains where the kids caught wild mice and lizards and gorged themselves on smores, and had many a political talk late into the wee morning hours. We enjoyed their visit immensely and hope they come back soon!!




Every year me and some of my college roommates and friends try to get together for a girls trip. This year we went to Education Week at BYU-Idaho. We spent 4 days in Rexburg, Idaho going to classes in the day and playing and goofing off in the evenings. Here's some pictures of one of our night-time activities. We played the white elephant game with costumes. The costume we ended up with, we had to wear to dinner. Let me tell you, we looked HOT@!




And we can't forget our new kitty, Rosie. She has been so patient as she gets hauled around by the neck by little Teagan. They are the best of pals (at least Teagan thinks so..)



Signing off for another 6 months.... hee hee

Family Foto Shoot

My entire family just had a photo shoot in Utah last month. We did the white shirt thing and my son Teagan, just after the first few pictures were taken, promptly took a little swim in a mud puddle. I won't post the pictures of me crying in the shoots after that. (j/k) Lucky for me, we had an extra white shirt in the car (this is one of the few times when NOT having a tidy car really pays off!)

How well do you know me?

1. Where did we meet? __________________________

2. Take a stab at my middle name?____________________________

3. My favorit color?___________________

4. Color of my eyes?___________________

5. Do I have any siblings?________________

6. What's one of my favorite things to do?_______________________

7. What's my favorite type of music?___________________

8. Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules?_______________________

9. Any special talents?____________________________

10. What are my hobbies?____________________

11. If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing
that I would bring?
_____________________________

Email me, or just reply to my blog. I can't wait to see the answers!

How'd E.T. get so lucky?

I found something that gets me running faster than an M&M trail. So yesterday I heard my son stirring after his nap so I walked into the room to get him and this is what I saw.



A 'worms and snails and puppy dog tails' trail. I followed it and found the culprit.




Too cute to kill. To stinky to kiss. Everyone says, 'Oh, you'll laugh about this later' so I thought I'd do a little experiment and see how long it takes me to laugh this one off. Please submit your guesses. Whoever wins can have one of the little turds I saved in a baggie.

Lucky 4's

O.k.,Melissa tagged me so I've gotta do it...

Four places I go to over and over:
-Taco John's (for taco tuesday and for those 'I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE' days)
-to my laundry room ( Even I can't believe how much laundry 3 boys can dirty)
-out to the kennel to feed the puppies (anyone want to buy a puppy?)
-at night to my boys' room... had to threaten their lives again if they don't stay in bed.

Four places I like to eat:
- Chi Yo Thai (authentic eastern cuisine and the most surprising is it's actually in our home town!)
-cheescake Factory (say hello to lettuce wraps. I love you, i love you, i love you.. nigh unto idol worship)
- somewhere other than home
- Del Taco (chicken soft taco and fish taco. Thanks a lot to Mindy and MSG for taking away my free agency and getting me addicted.)

Four places I would like to be right now:
-super glued to a massage table
-visiting my out-of-town friends and family
- On an all expense paid, month long trip to Europe
- front seats/back stage pass at a Celine Dion concert.

Four TV shows:
-don't get a single station so we only do the movie thing.
- I did start old seasons of Lost which I thoroughly enjoyed, but alas I couldn't control myself and after several sleepless nights saying "just one more episode", I had to let it go.
-Alias (ditto to Lost except for I got through all but the last season)
-Oprah (don't make fun.. they quote her in church all the time. ha!)

Four books I've enjoyed:
-The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
-Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
-Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
-The Walking Drum by Louis Lamour