just a funny boy

man, i love this boy...

this is REAL snow

we don't get much snow here in the PNW. i think our house is exactly 100 feet above sea level (or something like that) and about 3 miles from the bay so that COULD be the reason we never get a white christmas. except THIS YEAR! it dumped and dumped. (forgive the lateness of this news story, i was pregnant AND enjoying the holidays...okay, just lazy).
here's a few pics of the 6-8 inches of white bliss we experienced this year...

oh, and let's not forget the dog my dad saved from the half frozen water ... almost brought my dad to his chilling death this year...

He Went to JARED!

brandon was taking isla on his errands the other day. they are driving up 38th street, going to costco, when isla exclaims "dad, look it's jared!"
brandon looks around scanning the street for a PERSON, doesn't see someone he KNOWS and says, "where isla?"
"right THERE, dad, it's jared. SEEEE." pointing to Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry.
"what?" brandon, still a little confused...
when she starts into the commercial, "he gives her flowers. he takes her to dinner. HE WENT TO JARED."
brandon starts to laugh.
"dad, did you get mom's ring at JARED?"
to which brandon replies, "no."

is this brilliant marketing toward children? or should Jared look at hiring a new writer for their commercials? you decide.

NO Charlie Brown Trees at our house

(at least not this year)


i dragged the family to the schilter family farm again...this time, no pumpkins, just trees. oh, and dirt. both the boys in our family got down in the dirt. maybe you can tell me if you think they had any fun...
isla sizes up the tree she wants...

charlie brown (i mean, macrae) finds his tree.

the boys cut it down. how much does brandon LOVE macrae's help??

let's see, now who is going to carry MY tree all the way back to the car? too bad i had to choose a BIG ONE.

hey guys...i got my stick! wait for me!

the disclaimer...a little update

this goes out to all of you who have been hounding me to blog something.

i am a LOT pregnant...due in a couple weeks. imagine how comfortable i feel every day. yah. oh, and i have been washing, folding, and organizing the new boy's stuff. which means going through the closets and cleaning out the stuff i don't need to make room! i still don't know where we are going to put him after he graduates from my room in a few weeks. the office is an option but it's FULL. oh well, i will figure that out later.

i'm tired. for the last two nights, i got up with macrae in the middle of the night. he has a cold. and then when i went back to bed the contractions started. nothing to get excited about. just lots of discomfort. i knew it wasn't the real deal. nonetheless, it wasn't easy to get back to sleep.

i have a 15 month old baby boy. he's wild and weird. he gets into everything. he needs to be watched and mother-henned. i haven't been to more than the first hour of church in over two months. he's a little crazy. my dad nicknamed him "Lumpy" (not after my favorite club in salt lake) because he always has a new lump on his head or face. no joke. this kid bounces into walls, tables, desks, chairs, whatever...it doesn't phase him...he just keeps on truckin.

it's christmas. i am due soon...and i want to have all my christmas shopping, decorating, and such all done. decorating cookies MIGHT be optional this year, but shopping for brandon and the kids is not. oh, and having it all wrapped is on my to-do list as well. i'm pretty much done already and that feels great. but there are a few loose ends. oh, and the christmas cards will be going out soon!!

aside from all of these things...i am feeling really good! and i'm happy. i can't wait for the boy to get here and join our family!!

keep hounding me to post if you wish...just know i'm not intentionally ignoring my friends.

4-4 photo tag

i was tagged by becky
i guess it's supposed to be the 4th folder and the 4th photo
this was isla on her birthday this year...hanging out the window wearing my sunnies.

having a happy thanksgiving

in my family thanksgiving always meant lots of really good food. oh, and pies, pies, pies. let me just say, my dad is a fantastic cook!! nowadays, not much has changed. i married into a family with the same holiday priorities. my mother-in-law makes martha stewart look like a wannabe. her food is to die for and i love spending time where the food is always cooked to perfection. thus, the need for my other blog (the one i keep private. ha ha)

today, i am thankful for so many things! but i'm going to try and keep this short...a list of 10 will do.

#1.
i have the greatest in-laws. not only, did i marry into the most amazing family! but my brother duff married the most perfect girl! my brother, andrew brought the most lovely sister into our family this summer. and my other brother keith, just got engaged to the sweetest girl, i can't wait until she is my sister, too!!

#2.
my husband. he is smart, funny, incredibly handsome, and makes me feel like i struck gold by having him next to me every night. he is my soul mate and i love him!!

#3.
my immediate family. i was raised by the most amazing parents who taught me to love God, Jesus, and myself. they also never let an accomplishment go unnoticed. and they also taught me about consequences. i have 5 of the most loving siblings. we are ALL best friends. how many people can say that about their sibs? not many.

#4.
living in the northwest. i was raised here and i don't mind the rain, much. i do HOWEVER LOVE the green. we have the most beautiful summers. gorgeous mountains and lakes.

#5.
my faith. as an LDS (born and raised) woman, i am so grateful for the belief that Christ lives.

#6.
being a woman...and that i am a woman in a time when being female sometimes can feel like the uncool, unpopular, and debiliating thing to be. i love being a woman. i love bringing my children into the world. i love being feminine. the job of a stay-at-home mom is NOT easy. believe me, i have done both. some might view what i do every day as boring or mindless. but it is definately everything BUT! my children bring the most joy into my life. and taking time out for them every day brings me no greater satisfaction in my calling in life.

#7.
ancestors. i have a strong heritage of grandparents and great grandparents who came before me and paved my way to be able to enjoy all that i have today. last year my grandma dyer passed away. in my heart i can feel her example of love, kindness, patience, and happiness in her family. i miss her every day but her memory is still with me.

#8.
freedom. a free country to practice my religion, spread my own beliefs, and live as i do. freedom does not come without a price and i am grateful for all who have fought to keep our country free and safe.

#9.
talents. i grew up feeling talented in music, athletics, academics, and such. now, some of my talents are more hard to define. i don't play the violin anymore (brandon complains that i have never played it for him). but, for instance, i'm a pretty good cook and scrapbooker. i'm sure there are many others who are better than me at lots of things. but i don't feel pressure, i just love who i am.

#10.
my babies. when i was pregnant with macrae my family thought it was nothing short of a miracle. when i got isla i thought i had won the lottery. and then my boy came. he's a nut. and lots of fun in his own way. AND lots of work.

there you have it. merry thanksgiving to all, and to all a good dinner!