Christmas

Christmas is a million times better when you get to watch your little kid open her gifts.  Seriously.  She was so adorable.  She would start pulling off the paper and then start saying “OOOOO,  OOOOO, OOOO”  and start pulling faster.  She then would immediately kiss and hug whatever it was the was in the present.  After kissing the present she would give the closest person a hug and a kiss.  I kept wanting to give her more and more presents because she was so stinking cute.

Christmas Morning VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

On Christmas Eve Will’s family had a little party and a gift exchange.  I was lucky enough to get my own gift which was a Snuggy.  Seriously, love this thing.  Don’t know why I have not purchased one earlier.  I am wearing it now.  Anyways, Addi had a great time opening present and playing.  Jennifer put some bows on her while we were talking and she acted to odd.  She would not move for at least five minutes.  I don’t know if she thought we would yell at her if they fell off or what.

I have the most excellent parents who got me a Bosch mixer as my gift.  I was so excited I started doing the happy dance when I realized what it was.  I have already made some bread (which was decent) and am excited to use it more.  I am like a real live house wife now.  Addi got spoiled beyond belief.  I think she got enough clothes to wear a different outfit for a month.  She got her new favorite book and some blocks from Grandma and Grandpa Randall which she loves.  Auntie Rob got her some cool staking bowls.  As much as I love giving Addi presents it is also very stressful.  She is quite particular about the toys she plays with and I hate when I buy something and she ignores it completey. Our garage is fillied with baby toys and such that she used once.  Anyways I think after all my researching and planning we did good.  She got a stroller that she drags and carrys around the house all day and a little scooter.  She is a little too short for the scooter thing but stills gets on and walks around with it.  Will and I discovered today that if you combine the blocks and stacking bowls you can make some pretty fun games.  I got Will a board game that he played with his friends and really liked.  I am excited to get some people over here and play the game.  We had a good Christmas and it was nice to stay home and not have to worry about traveling.  We had our first family Christmas morning with just us and it was nice. 

Thanksgiving

For some reason I have been putting this post off for a month now.  I don’t know why.  I have a hard time writing about my family without getting sappy and emotional.  I just want my kids (who will hopefully read this) to know what an amazing family have backing them up.  A family that is full of love, service, hard work, fun, crazy ideas, charity, resourcefulness and just plain amazing people. 
For this Thanksgiving we had almost all of my grandparents kids, grand kids and great grandkids.  We spent three days together doing all sorts of things including eating, cooking, quilting, playing games, cleaning and just playing.  Addison discovered this little car and spent almost an entire day in it.  She  had lots of cousins that liked to push her all around the gym.

This is a picture of the family Thanksgiving feast!

Addi was good entertainment during the entire week.


We quilted two quilts for some family’s that needed them.

We played a hilarious game of Family Feud that my cousin Jason put together.  The questions were all based around the family and some answers were really funny.  It was such a great game I would love to do it again.
We had a little celebration for my grandparents because they had recently had their 60th wedding anniversary and my grandpa turned 90.  We watched old videos and it was fun to see them when they were so young.  My cousin Janelle has an amazing bakery in South Jordan called One Sweet Slice. She made a cake for their anniversary and it was perfect.  She said she thought about making a standard fancy cake but that wouldn't really work for my grandparents.  They are not fancy people.  Instead she came up with this spectacular cake which fits them perfectly.  The truck is the first one that they owned when they were married.  The bed of the truck holds missionary tags, the initials of all their kids, hay bales, tiny heads of lettuce, and an little American symbol. Every detail was perfect.  She also made 200 delicious cup cakes for us all to enjoy.

It was an excellent Thanksgiving weekend.  I am thankful to all the people who worked so hard to put this all together.  It was nice to spend time with my cousins that I don’t see often.  I can’t wait to get together again.  The following is an article written in the San Juan Record:
The family of Ruel and Deanne Randall gathered together Thanksgiving weekend for a few days of feasting, renewing acquaintances and celebrating the life of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents.
Ruel and Deanne were the honored couple celebrating 60 years of married life together, and celebrating Ruel’s 90th birthday. Of their 145 posterity 123 were present. Five of these unable to attend are serving LDS missions at this time.
Family came from New York, Georgia, Texas, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and local.
Ruel and Deanne were married October 15, 1951 and were blessed with eight children: Harriet, Julie, Jared, Todd, Barbara, Sanford, Sheldon and Kristin, 43 Grandchildren of which only 22 are married, and 61 great grandchildren, with five more on the way.
The reunion started Thanksgiving evening with dinner of eight turkeys with the trimmings. Followed with a Randall Family Feud show with survey questions coming from family members relating to time and activities and rules from Grandma and Grandpa Randall. Old family reunion videos were watched with some good laughs from the past.
Friday was spent on service projects, cutting wood, making quilts, along with cooking demonstrations on making bread, noodles, yogurt and the goods were taken to needy families.
Friday evening was a time for memories of Ruel and Deanne their legacy and the importance of family ties.
Saturday included a temple session (almost standing room only), more eating and then cleaning of the stake center. They are grateful for being able to use that wonderful facility.
The cake was made by Janelle Randall Brown portraying the pickup truck Ruel & Deanne had when they were first married. The back is filled with reminders of their life together, children, farming, gardens and missions.
Sometime we just have to stop and really focus on what really matters most. Family gatherings seem to do just that.  

Words can not express how much I love these two people.  They are a great example to me and my family.  I hope they know how many people they have influenced in their life.

Game Night

We drove up to Diamond Valley to have game night with Sheldon’s and Kristin’s families. Addi had a great time playing with Ella and Jael while we played Balderdash.  I made an amazing comeback and won the game (and did not cheat).  Will had the best answer of the night which had Sheldon laughing so hard that he had to have Keri read the card.
Ricou Browning was known for being killed by a turnip that was thrown out of a moving car by a vegetable throwing gang.
Great night for the adults and the kids!

The Reason for the Season

We usually go to Tuacahn to watch the live nativity but this year we decided to try something new and venture out to Staheli Farms.  I was glad we did. The nativity is free, they only ask that you bring a can of food to donate as your admission.  I love that they do this for free all month and donate so much food.
They had a small set made of hay and benches and picnic tables set up in front.  It was more personal and intimate in a way.  When we walked outside of our house it was not too chilly but once we got the farms it was freezing and windy.  We bundled up best we could and snuggled together to keep warm.  Will was unprepared and did not bring anything for his head.  He ended up stealing Addi’s snuggle blanket and wrapping it around his head.  He looked rather interesting.  One of our primary kids walked by and Will tapped him on his shoulder to say hello, he must not have recognized Will with his head piece because he cried out for his Mom and ran away!

The program started with a lady singing a beautiful song about Mary.  She had a great voice and it really set the mood.  I love watching a live nativty because it brings me away from all the presents and crafts and craziness to the simple reason we celebrate Christmas.  The  manger seen is so peaceful and perfect.  Most of the actors were kids and they were cute. 
  We did have a slight distraction during the nativity.  Dear Addison could see the llama that was near the manger and she loudly said ‘moooooo’ at least every minute.  It was funny and I could not help my laughing.
After the nativity we drove around to look at the Christmas lights.  Addi would start yelling and pointing whenever we saw a house that was really lit up.  We had a great night and will defiantly go back next year!

December Projects

I love Christmas and especially the projects that come with it!  My friend Wendy and I decided to make wooden trees for the December craft night.  We had quite a few girls come and had a great time.  Everyone's tree turned out so cute. This craft night business is a lot of work but it always ends up being great and is the perfect chance to socialize with other women with out kids!  These trees are 2x4’s cut at different sizes and stacked on their side with paper modge podged on. This is mine and one for my Mom.

This is not really a Christmas craft but whatever.  I discovered this old window pane at my aunt’s house and asked if I could steal it.  I get some hemp twine stuff, glue guned it on and a picture holder is made.  I spray painted the little clothes pins so they would stand out a bit.  I hate that it has to hang on a white wall but sadly renting equals no painting.

And isn’t sad that I had to search my house to find these three pictures (one is our own Christmas card from last year).  One bad thing about digital cameras is that you never have pictures lying around (at least I don’t).

Pintrest inspired me to make a felt tree for Addison.  The picture of the tree had a little girl just playing and playing with the tree.  I thought “this could really entertain Addi, probably need it”.  I dashed to Joanns, purchased lots of felt, put Addi down for a nap and started cutting and glue gunning. After many burns I finally finished.  I need to find a better way to hang it on the wall because my packing tape just is not quite holding up.  Anyways I was so excited for Addison to try it out.  I placed her in front of the tree and she walked away.  I was not about to give up.  I should her how to take the ornaments off and put them back on.  She still does not play with it as much as I would wish. Maybe she is a bit too young. 

Every time I walked by all the ornaments are on the floor so I pick them up and put them back on the tree.  I figured they just kept falling off, not true. One time as I was putting them all on Addison came by and started ripping them off and saying no each time I tried to put them on.  Apparently she likes naked trees.

This has nothing to do with Christmas but Addison finally says Mom and means it!  She usually only says it when she needs help or wants to be held but I will take what I can get.

Deodorant: The Gateway Drug

As I was getting ready this morning I had my little shadow following me around as usual.  I stood in front of the mirror, lifted my shirt a tad and put on some deodorant, set it on the counter and then started doing my hair.  I look down at some point to see that Addison had stolen the deodorant off the counter, lifted up her shirt and was rubbing it on her belly.  At first I laughed, then it hit me that she is learning and growing way too fast, and then I might have cried a bit.  I am a tad bit emotional lately (think it is time to switch birth control, I bawled while reading the Polar Express to Add tonight).  Anyways, if she is putting her own deodorant on at the small age of 1 what will she be doing at 3?  She will probably just live on her own in the garage and only need me to unwrap the occasional sucker (latest obsession). Also deodorant makes you smell good and boys like girls who smell good, which terrifies me.  The moral of this story is that my sweet innocent little girl can now put on deodorant, which I consider a gateway drug to all grown up and I-don’t-need-my-mommy behaviors.  Lock it up and throw away the key.

Sick Baby

Oh the little one has a cold.  This is probably the meanest thing a Mom has ever said but she acts so good when she is sick and I do like it a bit. She really is and I don’t know why.  The past two days she has thrown limited fits and just plays in her own little world. I am not a completely awful mom and do feel bad when she attempts to cry in her hoarse voice.  She really sounds like a 92 year old smoker.  Sad. 

Setting up the Christmas tree did make her a happy little girl despite the cold. As I setting up the Christmas tree she was watching and caught on to the concept of putting the ornaments on the tree.  She was not too helpful but would actually balance the ornaments on the tree.

After we decorated it she ignored it the rest of the night.  I am certain that when she sees it again in the morning she will attempt to attack but hopefully not too bad.  Hopefully our little sick girl will start feeling better so we can start doing all the holiday activities!

A Few of her Favorite Things

Little Addi goes through phases of different toys and other things but there are three things that are constantly her favorite. 

#1  A pen and paper.  Oh how she loves to draw or even fake draw.  she generally has a pen, pencil, crayon or even a glue stick in one hand and something to “write” on in the other.  She is pretty good about not drawing on the floor and/or furniture but we have had a few rainbow tiles in the kitchen. This particular picture is brought to you by a leadless mechanical pencil and a sample packet of shampoo.

#2 Baking soda and measuring spoons.  She used to help me unload the utensils out of the dishwasher but now she grabs the measuring spoons, heads to the cooking cupboard for the baking soda and then sits down trying to get some out.

#3 The blankey of course (I am unsure if that is how you properly spell blankey).  Oh how she loves them.  She gets all sorts of happy when she finds one and drags it all around the house or holds it in her mouth as she walks around.

Another things she loves lately is giving kisses which I think is one million percent adorable. She puckers up her little lips and “mmmmmmm” until someone kisses her.  I may be partial but I am certain she can be the most adorable little 1 year old when she wants to be.

Oh My Life

I am in a funk.   I feel like everything I do is not enough.  I do not know why I feel like this because I am not getting any of these feelings from Will.  Its actually the opposite.  He always wants me to just watch a movie and take a break.  My problem is a fell like, a break from what?  I have one kid and I still can not keep my house nice and clean.  I work one day a week and have a few projects here and there on the side.  My life is so easy but for some reason it is still hard.  My friend blogged about this same thing a few days ago and then posted this article that she found and I love it.  I love that it says that something that takes a kid free person 15 minutes takes a person with kids 45 minutes.  Also love this quote “I used to want the world, now I just want to use the bathroom alone.”  This quote sums up my day.  When I use the restroom either Addi is crying and banging on the door, brining me random objects or throwing things in the other toilet.  Motherhood can often be a thankless job (especially when said child cant talk).  I have so much respect for the moms that can do it all (although I am certain they feel inadequate at times).  This is not a “I hate being a mom” post.  I do love it.  I love when Addi randomly comes up and gives me a kiss and acts like a complete goof.  Some days are just more difficult then others.  Am I the only one that gets in these funks?

Halloween

Addison discovered the joys of candy and cookies this Halloween season.  She sneakily stole quite a few of these little pumpkin cookies.

For Halloween Addison was a bee.  My aunt invited Addi to a neighborhood party a few days before Halloween.  We got her all dressed up and headed over.  She immediately cried when she saw this

She clung to me until she realized that there was a slide in the back yard.  She watched the older kids climb up it and was certain that she could do the same. 

The older kids started getting annoyed with the little bee that was at the bottom of the slide and started to just run right over her.  I spent the rest of the night attempting to keep her out of the way and off the slide.  She wants to play with older kids but she is just not quite there yet.

The night before Halloween we carved pumpkins.  Addi loved it.  She carried around her little pumpkin while we did ours and kept whacking it with the spoon.  When we got hers but open it was even more exciting for her.  She love sticking her spoon in and out and touching the guts.

Here are the finished products of our carving

Will had to supervise the football players during the college Trunk-or-Treat so we spent the beginning of the night there.  Addi refused to walk in her shoes.  I do not know what the deal was (she has worn them before)  but she seriously would not walk.  She was scared of the people that were dressed up (I don’t judge because I am scared of everything too).  After that unsuccessful activity we headed home.

I figured that we had enough candy and due to Addi’s inability to walk we decide to skip going door to door.  I took off Addi’s shoes, laid a blanket on the yard, got my candy and handed it out the kids.  Once Addi was shoeless  she loved having all the kids come on the lawn to chase around.  She ignored the candy bowl for awhile but once she figured out what it was there was no stopping the candy monster.  She would steal handfuls of Tootise Rolls, shove them in her mouth and run. When I finally caught she had eaten a few (wrappers and all) and the rest was pulled out of her mouth in a gooey mess.  For the rest of the night if I turned my head at all she was grabbing handfuls of candy.  Last year I ran out of candy within an hour and a half.  This year I was a little too prepared.  I now have a giant bowl of candy as well as two bags left over.  It stares at me and I really need to get rid of it before I gain 100 pounds. 

State Champions

My dearest sister, Robin, plays volleyball for Monticello High School.  This year they have been doing really well and we had high hopes for the state tournament.  Rich was the top pick for the title and people thought Monticello would not do much like in years past.  The first two games were pretty simple but the third game against St. Josephs was a nail bitter.  Me and my mom always get nervous when it comes to sports and I was on the verge of throwing up the entire time.  I have a love hate relationship with sports (especially wrestling and volleyball).  I love them but I always got really, really nervous.  My body feels all tingly, I want to throw up, I feel the need to grab my neighbors arm and often yell/scream.  My Dad does not like sitting by me and my Mom because we are just too loud. Finally after many nervous moments they won the semi-finals. I wish I had a better camera to take cooler action shots but alas……

Seriously this girl has ridiculously long legs.

We had some breaks during the games and did some shopping.  The mall had a carousel and my Mom took Addi on a ride. 

Addi hated sitting there about the third minute of the first day.  I had an arsenal of treats and goodies for her but it did not last too long.  Miraculously  my Dad got her to sleep through one game one morning.  During those two days she ate more fruit snacks, candy, ice cream, juice boxes, Gold Fish, Teddy Grahams then any one year old should have.

During the state game both me and my Mom wanted to focus on the game and not worry about Addi.  We brought a LARGE container of popcorn for her and handed her off the to Loren and Ashley.  She spent the rest of the night eating some but mostly throwing it, breaking it, smooshing it, digging in it, dumping it and making a very large mess.  I did not care though, she was happy and not screaming. 

When the championship game came we were could not contain our selves.  The darkened the stadium and had the smoke and the lights going.  The team walked in and we all started screaming.  It was fun to be in such a big crowd of Buckaroo loving fans.  Robin did look a bit nervous as the stood at the net.

During the game Robin played amazing.  The best I, or anyone else has ever seen.  During one volley she blocked at least five spikes and slammed the ball a few times herself.  It was awesome to watch her play at her best.  Monticello beat Rich in 3 games.  The crowd exploded when we got the final point and the crown stormed the court.

Monticello has not taken the state title in volleyball for 26 years (I do believe).  It was awesome to show everyone that this team of girls could do it. I know most of the girls on the team and I am proud that they could work together to earn this. I love coming from a little town where state championships are a big deal.  There is a great sense of community when everyone is keeping track of the team and how they are playing.

 Bucks are #1