Happy Birthday Dusty!

Dustins birthday usually falls on or right before or after Thanksgiving. So we were still at his Mom and Dad's this year because it was the day after...yep, that's right...BLACK FRIDAY!!! He's always a good sport about it though, even though most people forget...this year it was his Mom! I came up for breakfast, gave him his birthday kiss and wished him a "Happy Birthday" and she felt so bad she lit a candle and put it in his pancake. We had fun going up the canyon to find the perfect Christmas tree and he wouldn't rest until he found it. It took a good hike and a lot of pulling and tugging and some very wet and exhausted kids, but he did it! It was perfect! The ride home was a little slow with out (HUGE!) tree taking away the jet stream, but it was worth it. The house smelled great when we got it inside and all decorated. We ended the day taking a few family pictures and heading home. Happy Birthday Dusty---We LOVE you!

Over the River and Through the Woods....

Happy Thanksgiving!!! This year we spent Thanksgiving at Dustin's Mom and Dad's. We had a great time! We got there Wednesday night dove right in to a "P.J." party with the kids. I made them all pajama pants (at the last minuet, my first attempt at sewing anything that you can wear---very fun and surprisingly they all fit!) and got them shirts to match. They started out with a pillow fight and ended up watching "UP" on Grandma's projector. They loved it!Thanksgiving Day was full of lots of good food and funny conversation. There was even a "who could wear the silliest sweater contest...I think Ryan won the prize, his even had blinking lights!
After dinner everyone relaxed and enjoyed the company. It was even warm enough outside for the kids to go burn off all the slush they drank...Dustin's parents are finishing their addition and it looks like a real cabin inside. It was fun to go "Over the river and through the woods" to Grandmas for a real old fashion Thanksgiving!

We have much to be thankful for this year, but most of all I am thankful for my family. My little boys and the smile they put on my face each day. I am thankful that we are all healthy and strong. We have been blessed!

29 and staying put!

This year I turned 29 and I have to admit I was just a tiny bit upset that I am almost 30! I know i've told everybody that it's no big deal, but now that I am the one on the edge of the proverbial cliff it's a little unnerving!LOL! This was however a great birthday! And who's to say I can't turn "29" again next year right? My Mom and Holly came down and fussed over me and catered to my every whim. We had great food, a cute cake and a nice visit. Thanks Mom, for making me feel special! Dustin surprised me with the ENTIRE box set of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Women---my favorite show growing up and I am sure he will regret this when I'm glued to the TV and not to the washing machine! LOL! I Love it! Mom gave me all new towels and rugs for my bathroom---something I've needed for a long time and refused to indulge in. It's so fun to have all matching stuff! I got lots and lots of new books so when I get a headache from watching Dr. Quinn I can sit in the tub and read---another one of my favorite pastimes! Dallin and Alex are glad that one more Birthday is done and are couting down the days until Dustin's so that their turn will be next. Thanks everyone, for making my day so special! Let the parties begin!

"Guess what mom..."

Derrick's new thing lately is saying "Guess what Mom?" and then when I say "what?" he says, "I love ya!" I love this. He says is at the most random times, usually when I'm getting after him about something he's done that he shouldn't have, and it pulls me right back to reality and reminds me that this is all worth it. I am thankful for my kids and the things they teach me each day. To be kind and to love unconditionally. Other things Derrick is up to are picking things up off the ground. Everywhere he goes he finds things to pick up off the ground. Weird things, money, BB's, weird rocks. His eyes are constantly scanning the ground for weird objects. He says he "lookin' for treasure" and although the "treasures" are not always pleasant, I love that he is so curious.

This is another funny conversation between him and I in the car...

Derrick: "Mom how did you grow up so big?"
Mom: "I ate all my vegetables."
Derrick: "What are Veg-la-bles?"
Mom: "Things like carrots and celery."
Derrick: "So if I eat a LOT of carrots I'll grow big?"
Mom: "Yes--so we are going to need a LOT of carrots"
Derrick: "Ya, and we're going to need a LOT of dip!"

LOL! Derrick loves to dip anything. If it has ranch dressing on it, he'll usually go for it---even carrots.

Other things I don't want to forget are:

*Zeke's open mouthed kisses. You know when he comes at ya with a big open mouth like he's singing you're in for a slobbery smooch! :D Love them!

*Alex likes to get himself dressed-he doesn't like the shirts I pick out for him anymore.

*Dallin likes to get his own milk on his cereal.

Witchy Witchy, Screamy, Screamy, HAPPY, HAPPY Halloweeny!!!

Tricks and treats were fun this year. They always are. The kids had a blast and we're still fighting over the candy!!!
A few side notes are...
-Derrick couldn't decided what he wanted to be. He finally settled on "Captain Hook", but quickly changed his mind after he broke two swords and didn't have one to carry around. Thank heaven "Buzz Light-Year" was still in the box from last year.
-I'm pretty sure Alex will be "Spiderman" for the rest of his life. We have three Spiderman costumes in three different sizes. He says he wants to be that again next year. This is his favorite holiday---guess why? Candy, Candy and more candy with no limits. He is in heaven!
-Dallin's face was priceless while we were carving pumpkins. He hated the feeling of the gush and was determined to get it all out. He had almost dug a hole to the bottom before we noticed and stopped him.
- Dustin still loves to torture the dog. He made her dress up in her pumpkin costume. It worked out great because she WILL NOT move in the thing so she didn't bark or chase any trick-or-treaters when they came to the door. I know I should tell him not to, but it is hilarious! LOL!

We've been blessed and busy!

I have to start this post off with saying how truly blessed we have been this year. Although it's had it's challenges and there have been times we've wondered how we would manage to get everything done, in the end it all came together. We LOVE, Love LoVe our new house!!!! Dustin has been so busy and truly amazing with his talents as he has worked through each room with my endless wish lists and "favors". I had to post a few of my favorite things and the many changes that have taken place since we moved in. First off and my absolute favorite room in the house---the office! Can you even believe that we have an office? It is fabulous! We got some basic ideas from Melissa's den, and Dustin built in two HUGE desks, shelving all around the room, eight filing drawers and much much more. It is darling and functional. I LOVE it! He asked me if I wanted him to get me a sleeping bag so that I would never have to come out. I almost took him up on it. The picture does NOT do it justice and you'll have to come and admire his talent for building and creating in person, but believe me it's worth the trip! I have wanted a "picture" wall for as long as I can remember and I finally got a wall big enough to catch up with my brain. I bought all these frames at the DI for a total cost of $25 bucks, spray painted them, developed my most favorite random pictures of our family and viola---there you have it. SOOOO cute! We finished a spare bedroom for company, very cozy if I do say so myself. The boys call it "Grandma's room" and are anxious to have her come and try it out. I have been having the most fun decorating all the shelves in this house. It's given me an excuse to buy new holiday decorations and to keep on the look-out for next year, a favorite hobby of mine and now it has a purpose. The best part is I now have a place to put all this stuff. I went to work one Saturday and came home to find storage room shelves nearly done. Dustin is awesome! The funny story behind this one is that while he was building them the boys were as usual asking him (I'm sure more than a few times) what he was building and he kept telling them "bunk beds for you guys to sleep on down here" By the time I got home they were convinced they were sleeping in the storage room on a three bed high bunk bed and they were totally extatic about it. Last week I came home from work to find a built in entertainment center nearly complete and this week the surround-sound was installed (that was on Dustin's wish list not mine :D). It's all too good to be true. We have been blessed with a nice place to live and talent to make it what we need. I couldn't ask for more.

Seriously!?!

Today is laundry day again and SURPRISE...look what I found in Alex's drawer. Seriously!?! Chewed gum---yuck! Half eaten cookies? Does he look like he's starving to you? I give him treats and snacks ALL day long. What is with this kid and hiding food in his underwear drawer?

Put your shoulder to the wheel...

Well they found us...or rather our records were FINALLY transferred to our new ward and we've been put to work. I got called as the 1st counselor in the Young Women program and Dustin is in the Sunday School presidency. Young Womens will be a new experience for me and it's definitely out of my comfort zone, but I work with some great, cute ladies and the girls are really fun! Dustin's excited because his job is to ring the bell on Sunday---something he's always wanted to do---LOL! It's nice to finally be settled in put to work. (I will admit though not having a calling for a few weeks was a nice break ;)

While the boys were hunting on Monday we took a little drive up the canyon with CJ and DeniAnn and took some pictures of the kids in the leaves. These are a few of my favorites...










P.S. Yes---Zeke was bawling most of the time. He cut a tooth on tuesday when we got home. Sad.

Deer Hunt Weekend

It was a busy weekend at Grandma Alldredges. We helped DenniAnn do a fundraiser for her Sterling Scholar project at the boutique. Lots of fun pictures with princesses and girl stuff. (I even found me a cute purse! I've been looking for a good one forever!!!) My Mom and Hollly came and watched the boys---they had a blast! She bought them all "rubber-band" guns that they are still pelting each-other with. A funny side note to that story---I told them all to keep track of their own and when we got home I would put their names on them with vinyl. Alex takes matters into his own hands and finds a marker and writes his name on his own by himself. I guess he wasn't taking any chances with his being stolen by his brothers---LOL!
While the girls were doing girly things the guys were out on the mountain looking for the "Big One". Dustin's dad got one Saturday night and Dustin got a shot at one on Monday afternoon. They had a good time and came home tired and dirty.