AWOL

We had kind of a rough week last week.  Owen decided that night was day and day was not much better.  After a couple of nights waking up to him screaming almost every hour, we decided to start on the cry-out and soothe sleep training this weekend.  So far we have seen great improvement and only hope his schedule will continue to get better each day.

One of my new years resolutions was to really dig in and organize all my favorite recipes.  I can't help but LOVE trying out new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen.  With all the thing's that have been made in our kitchen I've collected some great stacks of goodness, and it's time to put them all in one place.  Brett has advised me to get started on a Tried and Trues-day blog for a while now, but it sounded too overwhelming.  This last week he helped me see how much easier it would be to stay organized on a separate blog, so the work has begun!  I'm really excited to get things organized and easy to locate.  It's a lot of work in the evenings before I hit the pillow, but I'm excited to have this new project.  The blog is currently 'under construction' but once I get it fully in swing the way I want it I'll be sure to let you all know.  So, until I get that blog going this one will be lonely on posts. . . hopefully only about a week.  

A New Year

I realize that it is several weeks into 2012 now, but there was one tradition that had to be done before I could post anything else.  We’ve decided to have the boys create their own art for their room each year.  It’s a fun activity for a couple of hours and they put a lot of thought into how they want to mix the colors.  I think their art is beautiful.  Hyrum and Noah are both very creative and imaginative in their own unique ways.  In case you can’t tell what is on the pictures, Noah decided to draw a skateboard on his and have lot’s of colors.  Hyrum drew a fishing rod, a house, and me riding a skateboard. . .I’m not really sure what this all means for 2012, but it sure sounds fun!

Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, Noah is wearing underwear! It’s been a long week, but we will no longer be buying any size 6 diapers until Owen gets bigger!  Woohoo! First new year’s resolution – Done!

2011 was a great year for us, but I am pretty certain that 2012 will bring us to a whole new level of awesomeness.  Although we are still not fully decided, Hyrum might start kindergarten this year.  Noah will begin Joyschool.  Owen will turn 1.  Brett and I will turn THIRTY! WOA!  This year will be epic, as cool people would say.  One to go down in the books. . . or at least, get posted on this blog.  I am very excited for all that we have going on.  I have a few goals this year: Work out regularly and loose the baby weight, make a new updated cookbook of all my favorites, have more charity, and have an amazing birthday party for Brett and I.  I’m excited for everything this year brings.

 

We struggle with reading scriptures as a family.  We’ve tried over and over again to read the Book of Mormon together, but for one reason or another we end up falling behind.  Usually it’s related to our three little men that just don’t sit still.  This year we’ve decided to approach scripture study a little differently.  Each night before they go to bed we memorize one verse of scripture together.  So far we have been memorizing Alma 32:21.  Hyrum can now lead us in the scripture! Noah has the first half of the verse memorized and can lead us that far, and then needs help.  We are so impressed how much their minds absorb.  The boys love it and initiate it each night.  Even if they don’t remember each verse a week after we’ve begun a new one, it will still be worth it.  Hyrum gets to highlight the memorized verses in his scriptures.  He says he is ‘making his scriptures glow’.  They are such sweet little boys, and they are getting bigger and older each day.  I hope I can always keep every wonderful stage of their lives in my mind.  I never want to forget.  I am so glad for this blog to journal all of these memories.

Photo shoot

I played with our new camera and had a little photo shoot last week.  I have such cute boys.

 

Toys

Life has been pretty fun around our house since Christmas. I really love how well the boys play together. They are two little buddies and when they’re not fighting they love doing everything together. Robot making has been a daily activity for several hours.

Bath time, family, and friends

My boys really love their bath time. It’s one of their favorite things to do and they could literally spend hours in their if I let them. Noah was in the bath at Grandma’s house one of the days we were there and Brett or I would go in every once in a while to check on him. He apparently was having some kind of imaginary battle with a dinosaur and a little person ‘swording’ each other. He was having a blast and Brett managed to capture his moment of battle glory standing on the bath edges above the water in triumph.

Santa came around with some fun things that the boys are loving. Hyrum is such an architect and loves building things and figuring out how things work. He’s been loving his new Magformers. The boys have both been very busy with all the new fun things. Brett and I also have much thanks to give Santa. One of the big highlights is a new camera that we’ve been loving to experiment with. While in Arizona we were so glad that we were able to catch up with some good friends with the traditional Jones Soda. It was so fun! Here is a shot of the men. We also got to attend Brett’s 10 yr High School reunion. I thought it was pretty fun. I was a little sad that I missed mine (scheduled two weeks before Owen’s due date). Brett was voted most changed male.

Now back to reality, work, cleaning, laundry, and home. I’m glad to be back but I miss vacation. We had a great time and it was so nice to have two weeks to just relax and enjoy family and friends.

Joy to the World

It’s so nice having cousins close in age.

Christmas was magical.  We went to church, opened presents, spent time with family and seemed to celebrate Christmas all day long with our individual family, the Partridge Clan, and then again at Great Grandma and Grandpa Longs.  On Christmas Eve we had the boys watch the Luke 2 movie and reminded them of what it was all about.  I hope that behind all the excitement of getting new things they will remember who we owe our thanks too for our Eternal Lives.  Celebrating the happiest birthday in History, we thank God for sending us His son as our greatest gift. 

Before Christmas

December is my favorite month of the year.  I love the music, the anticipation, the preparation, the family time, etc.  One of the biggest perks of working for Adobe is that the whole company closes its doors for two weeks surrounding Christmas.  Paid vacation without using any vacation days is awesome!  We decided to celebrate this year by spending Brett’s time off in Arizona with the Partridge crew.  Just before we left, however we had to make a trip to meet Santa to explain that his delivery would need to be made at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

       

The boys were great on the drive down and they absolutely LOVED spending so much time with their cousins.  I had some fun with my scissors and clippers.  Brett even convinced me to go a little bit crazy on his hair (don’t worry it lasted for less than 5 minutes)

We also got to go caroling to Great Grandma and Grandpa’s house on the eve of Christmas Eve.  Thank goodness for Cassi helping to entertain the mob of little people It’s been a while since I last went caroling, but caroling was a Rushton tradition I remember doing every year for as long as I can remember.  The tradition began in 1843 in Nauvoo.  My ancestor, Lettice Rushton was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from England.  She was a mother of ten children who became blind from cataracts five years before she was baptized.  She immigrated to Nauvoo to be with the other saints.  I can only imagine what kind of woman she was, who while blind still managed to come to the US and travel with the Saints and keep a positive attitude. On Christmas morning 1843 in the cold Nauvoo weather she, along with her family and neighbors, went to the house of Joseph Smith the Prophet and sang.  In the History of the Church, 6:134 it’s recorded Joseph Smith speaking of the event: “which caused a thrill of pleasure to run through my soul.” The music so moved him that he “felt to thank … Heavenly Father for their visit, and blessed them in the name of the Lord.”  It was fun going with the Partridge family and being reminded of my family tradition. The boys also got to make the traditional gingerbread house.