Saturday, December 29, 2007

End of the Year Review

I felt like since I didn't do a Christmas newsletter, I had to do something. So this is my End of the Year Review.

This is our second year in Logan and we love it here. Chris has one more year of school left and then we are off to who knows where--we are always dreaming up places we could go and things we can do. We are in our third year of marriage and loving it. We had a "fun" experience this summer in California that really tested our relationship and it turned out good. Nothing too drastic--just a lot of stress! We also had a couple of exciting trips to the emergency room. One for Gordon in February (when he choked on a granola bar) and then me in March when I sliced my foot open on our floor heater. But other than those few things 2007 went by pretty uneventful and pleasant.

Chris is in his second year at Utah State University in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning program. This is one of his last projects he did this last semester. It is for a park in Ogden. I wish you could see more detail; it is pretty awesome.I keep telling him how amazed I am by what he can do. I can't wait to see how far he comes in another year. Chris is also currently working part time at Dutro Company doing machine operating. It is pretty boring but it works around his school hours and pays good. He has started playing racquetball twice a week with friends and really enjoys the "personal time" it gives him.


I am busy being a wife and mother. I always told myself that when I stopped working I would cook dinner at night and be a better "stay at home mom." Well, I am no longer working so I try to cook dinner every night and it definitely keeps me busy. I am always looking for new recipes so if you have any that are fast and delicious, send them my way. Gordon really loves to cook and do dishes so it takes me twice as long when he is "helping" me. I am currently expecting our second boy in March so I am trying to prepare our family for when that wonderful event occurs.


Gordon is a toddler; enough said! He has always been happy to please his mom and dad and do what we ask but lately he has developed a bit of an attitude. He has also regressed back to cuddling (which I am happy about). Gordon stopped liking to cuddle when he was very young and it made me so sad but now he loves to cuddle and read books or sing songs. When we sit down to watch a movie, he sits on the couch and pats next to him and says, "a me" - he wants me to sit by him - he then scoots as close to me as he can. It is so cute. He just warms my heart!


I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures of this last year...This is at my brother Jake's wedding last January. I can't believe how young Gordon looks and all of his cousins too.



When we got back to Logan after our long summer in California and we went to Tony's Grove up the Logan Canyon. I just love his face in this picture. He thinks squinting eyes is equivalent to smiling. This is in California on a rare day when we actually had Chris around!This was about a year ago as well. My parents gave this table and chairs to Gordon for Christmas and he thought he was such a big boy sitting in them. I can't believe how much time as gone by. Gordon is learning new things all the time. Before I know it he will be a teenager smarting off to me instead of a toddler smarting off. Yikes!


I love this picture because my little brother used to do this muscle man thing and this picture reminded me of that.

Sorry I got a little carried away with the pictures and the writing...its kind of long. Happy New Year!

Movie Review

I just saw this really great movie, Stardust. It was so cute and good for the whole family. It has romance, adventure, comedy, everything. I couldn't stop talking about how much I loved it the first time I saw it. I think it is my new favorite movie. So if you are looking for a good movie, rent this one. I also saw Enchanted. It is still in the theatres and it was good but I would wait until you can rent it. I have a hard time paying $8.00 for a movie. I don't know if you could get a guy to watch it with you. I went with all my sisters and it was fun. Well, today is Chris's birthday and we are going sledding up in the south hills in about a half hour so I have to go get ready. I will post more later about our Christmas break.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Christmas Traditions

Growing up, Chris's family decorated gingerbread houses every year for Christmas. I was able to participate with his family in this tradition the year we got engaged (2003 - Wow!). Chris takes the art of gingerbread decorating quite serious. He had it all planned out what we were going to do and directed me in the best way to do this or that. It was more "his creation" than "ours." I could tell that it was something that Chris really enjoyed and I wanted to carry the tradition into our family. His mom goes as far as to actually bake the gingerbread; I just bought a kit. One kit. The night came to make our house and it dawned on me that I should have bought two gingerbread kits because I know how particular Chris is. Well, we just decorated one together and it turned out pretty cute. Gordon did really good putting the candy on the roof but after that all he wanted to do was eat it and he thought he was being pretty sneaky too. Well, here are some pictures of our little candy house.


I don't know if I will be able to post again before Christmas; I will try. I am so excited. We will be leaving for Idaho (where both of our parents live) on Friday. Gordon has been talking about Papa for about two weeks now. We have a lot of fun things planned for the holidays and Gordon just loves all his cousins and aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I just know we will all have a good time. Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Christmas Party

We had our ward Christmas party tonight. It was pretty fun. They did a Polar Express theme; you could tell that they put a lot of hard work into it and I was glad I could sit back and enjoy it. I just wanted to post some pictures of Gordon.

I could not believe it but Gordon actually sat on Santa's lap. He wouldn't smile though or even muster a word.

Don't I have just the cutest son?! I know.

Oh, by the way, don't forget to cast your vote for the new poll (down at the bottom of the page).

Monday, December 10, 2007

Blog Confession

Ok, I know everyone is wanting an updated post but I have a little bit of a problem. I realized for about the fourth time in my life that if I can't do something perfect I don't want to do it at all. It's not quite perfectionism, I think it has something to do with laziness. If I am not naturally gifted at something then I don't want to waste my time making it just okay. I have read so many blogs that are funny and witty and just interesting to read no matter what they are talking about. And then I have read some blogs that...aren't that interesting. I just don't want to have a boring blog so I stress about it. I think of an idea for a post and then I say I'll do it when I have time but then when I have time I've forgotten what I wanted to say. My creative vibes are never there when I want them. I am laying down at night trying to sleep and all of the sudden, my creative switch gets turned on and I've got it. But I'm trying to sleep so instead of getting up and posting I lay there and type it out in my head. Literally, I say it in my head and it is so funny! Like this post was sooo much funnier last night. Seriously, this is my dilemma. So what do I do...I guess I will have to get used to the idea of just doing mediocre posts. So this is my promise to you- I will post more often only if you promise to not get your hopes up too high for something really witty and wonderful.