2012

Some stats on 2012

Family weddings: 3

Major surgeries: 1

Car accidents: 0

Semesters of school: 2

Eardrum ruptures: 2

Favorite place visited: Mount Vernon in DC

Favorite saying: "you've got to be kidding me!" Said waaaay too much by our kids. Followed by "nuts!" from Jack.

Favorite Costco discovery: frozen cherries (Adam), goat cheese (Katie), twist nonfat yogurt at the front (Sam), flushable toilet wipes (Jack), samples (Oliver).

Favorite restaurant: Maize Grill. Which is now gone from the University Mall. So very very sad.

Proud parent moment: our kids cannot identify McDonald's restaurants.

Food victory: our kids eat empanadas.

Favorite pastimes: plants vs zombies, sorry! Just dance 4, chicken foot, anything on the wii. Obviously this all is the boys.

Favorite show: Sherlock

Most annoying thing: dealing with thyroid problems. Still dealing with it. But now it's lack of thyroid problems.

Most frequent food made: German pancakes. Parenting at its finest. It was our go-to meal in DC because we always had the ingredients.

Saddest moment of the year: being homeless. Adam says it was his first day of work he was so worried about me dragging the kids around DC looking for a place to live.

Happiest moment of the year: job offer from IRS!!! Or maybe it was accepting it. Or maybe it was hearing that it pays real money.

This year there was lots of missing home (in DC), wedding planning, sleepless nights, and lots of laughing and fun. Here is to more in 2013, the year of big change!

Pros and cons

Now you know we will be moving to Las Vegas next year. In making our decision here is our lists of pros and cons.

Pros:

Close to family (Utah county, Phoenix and Southern California)

Inexpensive housing

Lots of things to do!

Working for the government has good hours, I will see my husband!

Jack can start kindergarten! He misses the deadline by 2 days here. Nevada is September 30th!

There are really nice areas to raise a family in.

Year round yard sales!!!

The weather. In the winter.

Cons:

The weather the rest of the year. We are not heat people.

"The Strip" culture.

We have to move from Utah county, where our friends and family are.

Having to move period.

THERE IS NO IKEA.

Can you believe it?!?! No Ikea. What am I going to do!

Every time I come to Utah it's going to be a mandatory stop.

At least I'll still have Home Depot.

Also the pros should say that friends and family will drop in frequently to visit.

Well hello.  Here we are at Christmas again.  And again here is my digital Christmas card.

This is us at my sisters beautiful backyard reception.  Taken by the lovely Hannah at Etre Photography. 

Here's an update on us.  You read this blog, you know what's going on with us.

Oliver - yeller

Jack - reader

Samuel - kindergartener

Katie - keep-everything-togetherer

Adam - IRS-er

IRS is technically three words.  

Yes, Adam got a job.  We are so grateful and blessed at this time.  He will be working for the IRS in Las Vegas.

I know all of you who know me are laughing.  I hate Las Vegas.  I hate the desert.  HATE.  But this is what life is about right?  New experiences and new things.  Plus I'll be a few hours drive from Utah home. 

He does not start until next fall, so we won't be moving down for awhile.  He still has to graduate in April and take the bar in July, so we have plenty to keep us busy next year. 

This year was a great one, Washington DC being our highlight.  We had lots of fun and made wonderful memories.

Here's to another great year! 

And if anyone has any info on Vegas, send it our way!

Birthday Cake

Remember that cake class I took?  

Well I was brave and decided to try my own cake for Olives birthday.

I used this recipe for the cake.  Easy peasy.  

It looked like a lump of nothing when I put it in the pan, but baked up beautifully.  

Make sure you use wax paper!  Your cakes will slide out of the pan much easier!

Then I just layered the cakes.  I put the ugliest one on the bottom, a thick slab of buttercream, and then the top, and more buttercream.  I did use a cake knife to smooth the whole thing out.  

 

There are tutorials all over about how to do a "petal effect" cake, which is technically what this is.  Here is a good one if you want to see pictures or watch her video.  

It really is easy!  You should try it.  In no way am I perfect, nor am I aiming to be, but it was really fun to try something different.  And it was pretty good too.  

No picture of the birthday boy eating the cake (I know, I am sure someone in my family has one, but I do not!), but here he is enjoying our favorite apple oven pancakes for birthday breakfast.   

Is my tiny babe really one?  This little man has come out of his shell the past few months.  Who knew we had a little firecracker on our hands. 

I attempted to get a picture with him and the chalkboard.  He was too busy to even sit for a second.

And then he wiped all the chalk off with his shirt while standing up and yelling.

I decided that we were done.

Here is one of his few words.  He is also signing it while yelling it.

 

Love this naughty, loud, busy, sweet, baby.

DC Zoo

I am going through pictures and I just discovered this gem and thought I'd share. 

 

Sam wanted to sit in the Z.  

 And once Jack got up...

all smiles.

It actually makes me miss DC.

Spanksgiving

Despite what I am about to say, I love thanksgiving.

That being said, I want it to move.  Somewhere else in the year.  Like...March.  I feel that the best holidays are squeezed into the last part of the year.  It's too fast and crazy!  Maybe I will just make my feast in March from now on. 

Anyways, it was fun.  I love food.  I love family.  It's good.  We even got to have 2 Brits join us.  Bethany had never experienced a Thanksgiving dinner.  I forget that some things aren't celebrated in the UK.  Adam reminded me they don't celebrate the 4th of July.  Thanks honey. 


We really love food. 

And I made a turkey.  All by myself.  And some of Adam's muscles putting it in the brine, cleaning it out and all the yucky things associated with making a turkey. 

It was beautiful.  Go me!  I mean us. 

Can you see my scar?!  It looks soooooooo good.  And that was only 3 weeks out. 

Love that baby Oliver.

The turkey bird brought my parents Just Dance 4.  What?!  The turkey bird doesn't come to your house? 

So lots of sweating, dancing and......other stuff happened while playing Just Dance.  Lots of fun was had. 

Adam and Sam get really into it. 

This happy face LOVES to dance. 

And this grouchy face loves to be a slug on the couch. 

My cute indian from school. 

Cake class

A few weeks ago I went and did a cake class at Orson Gygi. I wrote a review of the class at Natalme.com. We are doing a giveaway that closes tonight! I totally spaced putting it here. But go over and enter if you'd like to win!

And the class was so. much. fun. I promise you won't be disappointed!

http://www.natalme.com/cake-decorating-with-topsy-turvey-giveaway/

Speaking of Orson Gygi, this was my first time there, and I just went back to buy some fun things. I can't be the only one who thinks this store is like heaven, anyone else in love with it?!?!

And I am trying a cake for little o's birthday next week. I promise to post it here. Good or bad. Wish me luck.

Oh and Orson Gygi didn't pay me to say anything. I am just in love. But sorry Orson Gygi, Costco still takes the number one place in my heart.

Blood! Necks! Wounds!

Every year for Halloween we dress up. I love it. But this year there was no dressing up. It was the scariest Halloween ever. I had a real life neck wound.

Long story short. My thyroid was wigging out. I had nodules and a goiter. Yes, a goiter. And they were growing too fast. So it was time for it to come out.

Oct 30th was the first date they had. Although I love Halloween, I took it. I just wanted it out.

October 30th came and we found ourselves up at LDS Hospital. IVs freak me out. I get so nervous, I had to have oxygen so I wouldn't pass out (I was fasting too), I have them cover it up with bandages, I put it under the covers and refused to look at it.



The best moment from the morning was when Adam had to help me get to the bathroom. I was all IVed up with fluids so he watched all the tubes while I walked to the bathroom. I made a comment about my crazy hair and he said, "people probably will see you and think, 'that lady has at least 50 cats at home!'"

Surgery went well and I was happy to get back to Adam. We had a lot of fun the rest of the evening cuddling in bed watching Netflix.

The next day was Halloween! All my vitals were good so I checked out around 12. We, meaning Adam, was able to take the boys out trick or treating.

So I looked like this.

 

I guess it was a good time to get my thyroid out. It's fall, scarfs are in, and I won't look too crazy lady.

We did take off the gauze last night. I will spare you the gruesome picture of what is underneath. It's much bigger than I thought. I have had the first of what I am sure is many breakdowns.

It's hard. I have a large gash in my neck.

It's never going to be the same.

I will be on medication for the rest of my life.

But I have to remember the flip side.

I can breathe!

I can sleep!

I can lay down on any side!

It's a Halloween miracle!

Oh and where were my kids during all of this? My lovely parents and sweet neighbor took my kiddos. I am so grateful for family and friends. Thank you for all the kind messages, calls, meals, and treats! We are lucky to be surrounded by great people.

Adam feeling sad he has never had a hospital visit....what?!

Oliver was Yoda this year...by default.  It's the only little babe costume we have.  

Good thing he's super cute!

Back at it

Okay I am going to get back at this.

My blog is my outlet from my normal mommy life. It gives me a place to laugh about life and show what wild and crazy thigs or projects we, (let's be honest, I) am up to. Unless I drag Mr Dayton into it. I am ready to have it be my happy place again.

Honestly I feel like a crazy lady after I have a baby. I am feeling back to my usual self. It's just been a weird year. Moving. Baby. Washington, D.C. Don't get me wrong, I love it all, it's just been a lot. And that's why I've been gone.

So to kick it off, enjoy this picture of Oliver for Halloween.

And some recent finds. Always a good thing.

Ps I just listed some library carts online to sell. If you're interested let me know.

Hmmmm

I really have no desire to blog anymore. Someone talk me into it.

But here's what we have been up to lately.

 Jack has been learning how to cook himself Mac & Cheese.  No joke. 

Sam played soccer with next door neighbor and best friend Blake

Jack recently got pink eye.  How pitiful is this face. 

Oliver loves to eat.  LOVES.

I did my sister's luncheon for the wedding.  We ate Costa.  Everyone left happy.

And we ate lots of Costa leftovers.  Yum bum. 

Sam loves school, despite his funny face. 

We are now doing FIRES!  Woo hoo!  We love lounging by the fire reading. 

Adam and Greg biked all the way up to the Robers cabin in the Uinta's.   Greg made it the whole way.  Adam stopped at a church and took a nap until we picked him up on our way.  

 

 

 

View from riding up in the mountains on the ranger.  

 

We spent a few days in Vegas with Adam's siblings and spouses.  We loved lounging by the pool. 

 

Jack still is obsessed with Frisbee.  And Joseph is a fantastic uncle always playing with the kiddos. 

We have a babe that is fearless and loves the pool. 

Did I mention Oliver likes to eat?

And this happened.  It was gorgeous and wonderful.  Maybe it will give me incentive to blog to show how awesome we are at doing weddings.  And despite this picture not being good of all of us, I kinda still like it. 

And lastly a good picture of us.  Here we are, all in nice clothes, no snot or chicken nuggets on us, hair done, oh it was lovely. 

Couldn't forget this one.  Mad faces.

Oh and I also turned 2......let's just leave the last number out.  I am twentysomething.  It's been a good few weeks.  Until next time...

Life after DC

I just can't bring myself to put more pictures up of DC.  Bottom line, it was fun.  It was good for us to be all alone with our little family.  Fun times, fun pictures, but you really don't want to see them all right?  Oh and if you're going to DC in the near future, let me know.  I'll tell you all the awesome things to do.  (just FYI, Mount Vernon was my favorite.)

Alright, onto life in Utah.  Ready?

This cute couple is getting married. 



So life is all about wedding planning right now.  Plus a little school.  Sam the man starts Kindergarten at the end of this month.  I know, I can't believe I have a 5 year old either. 

Sam's favorite saying, "Oh Barn." as in barnicles.  as in spongebob. 

 Jack is in love with his doggies.  The little ones are called "baby dogs" and have to be buckled in a seat belt every time we go somewhere.  I love and hate these little dogs.

"Mom take a picture of me and alllllll my dogs."

Oliver is adorable.  What more can I say.  We are smitten.

and he loves sprinklers.

We had a yard sale. 

And we couldn't get enough of this lady.  I think she weighed 89 lbs and 20 of that was hair.  And she bought this fantastic light fixture from the 70's and was stoked about it.

School starts for Mr. Dayton next week.  Boo.  We've had him to ourselves ever since he left the Department of Justice in early July.  But this is the third year!  This is supposed to be the easy year......right?  Here's hoping.