Chevy Chase Christmas

Everybody who knows Weston, should know that he loves Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. I think he has really watched it at least 2000 times. We have both always dreamed of doing the old fashioned family Christmas and going and cutting down our own Christmas Tree for some time now. Last year was the first year that we made this "dream" a reality. Some of our friends here have been doing it for years and recommended Mill Hollow as a great place to go. We are hooked and I think this will be a Christmas tradition from here forward.

The atmosphere is wonderful. Not only do you get to rub elbows with the good old country folk but you actually get to find and cut down your tree and enjoy all kinds of fun activities there. They have a hay ride, tire rolling, weiner & marshamallow roast over a bon fire, mud trikes for the kids, etc. It is so fun. Below is some footage from this year's adventure. Pictures don't do it justice. The video is a little choppy because I had to edit a lot to keep this video from being too long. We had a bit of a hard time cutting it down this year so I had a fun time teasing Weston about it....and of course the kiddo's are always the center of the show. Enjoy!

Here is the short version...if you don't want to watch the video:

Slightly leaning to the right..."now THAT there is a TREE!!"

WANTED: Advent Caper

On the 30th of Nov our friends brought us the most darling Christmas advent calender made out of Hershey Kisses. We explained to Warren how it worked and then I put it on top of the fridge...out of sight, out of mind right? The next day I went upstairs to nurse Benjamin and so I was unavailable for about 20-25 minutes. Afterward, when I walked into the kitchen this is what I found. The crime scene (December 1): 24 kisses missing, foil wrappers everwhere, and chocolate finger prints ever so slight. A present but partially opened Reeses peanut butter cup on day 25.
The suspect: Warren Maxwell Hall, male, brown hair, hazel eyes, 3 feet 6 inches, 34 lbs. Has been convicted as a chocolate addict in years past. Please be vigilant and lock up all your chocolate. Suspect is charming, hungry and a seasoned climber.

Thanksgivings Past

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I am so Grateful for my many many blessings. They are far more than I can count on one blog post and probably more than anyone would want to hear about. Like most I am grateful for my family, friends and for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. My life has been filled with so many of His tender mercies and am so Grateful for His love & forgiveness in my life. I am so blind and it is that love that guides me through my life and fills me with Joy.

I have been feeling nostalgic this year of our days in Ann Arbor and all the wonderful memories we made there. This is a video of our first Thanksgiving there. Our Turkey took over 7 hours to cook (we couldn't figure out why) and so we were just killing time. My dad drove down from Pittsburgh to spend it with us. I have had this video for some time but this is the first Thanksgiving that I have actually allowed myself to watch it.

If you are not aware, this Christmas will be five years that my dad died from Lung Cancer. In this video he was sick but he did not know yet. His breath was shallow and his leg swollen but he was diagnosed with phlebitis in his leg and a chest cold by his local practicioner. After his symptoms became increasingly worse they did further tests and he was diagnosed with cancer on December 8th and died just 2 1/2 weeks later. It was a brief battle but another evidence of the Lord's tender mercies, as he did not suffer long. It made me so happy to watch this video and feel so Grateful that I got to spend so much time and share his last Thanksgiving with him just before he died. So... I share this video, which is a tender mercy to me, with you this Thanksgiving Day.

Much Love,

Emily

Gator Country

This weekend was the Young Women Daddy Daughter campout at Brazos State Park. I love my calling and certainly did not want to miss out on the fun. I dragged all three boys along with me...they were good sports to come along. Here is our group: YW, dads & YW leaders. In the morning we took a 5 mile hike around 40 acre lake. Weston pushed Warren most of the way and I packed Benjamin in the Baby Bjorn. My back was a wee bit tired at the end but all made it through. It was such a beautiful area and wonderful day for a hike. In the state park alligators are free roaming and so you have to be fairly cautious. We saw about 9 during our hike. It was pretty cool. This guy was hugemungus and his belly looked as though he just ate his lunch. We are told that there are usually more gators but it is getting pretty chilly (about 45 that day) and so they were fewer in numbers.

This was Warren's first camping trip....well, sort of. We actually stayed at a nearby hotel to sleep BUT it was SO ghetto fabulous that we didn't even use the shower. Plus, we wanted to stay true to character when we returned to the campsite. ;) (Really, we were worried about the baby being too cold because it was like 39 degrees that night). Warren didn't know any different so he thought it was cool. Next time...we will stay in a tent I promise. Warren and I named this one BIG daddy. Fun times. CHOMP.

Spiciest

Every year the Elders Quorum in our ward has a chili cookoff and it is always a great time. This year we had the pleasure of hosting it at our place. As you can see it was a great success and there were many delicious chili recipes to choose from. I regret to say that I did not actually take any pictures of the various pots of chili...totally dumb I know.
There were three awards given: Spiciest (which we took home for the 2nd year in a row), most original & the most delicious. (Ladies above: Lara, Lara, Janelle & Caryn)

We love having the Elders over and so we were happy when they stopped by with an investigator to help us with our taste off. Side note: the last few weeks I have worked tirelessly ripping down wallpaper and painting. Like the new color? I will post before and after pictures but I wanted to wait until I get my window treatments up & the new backsplash put in.
Here is Warren making his very own "chili macaroni" as he named it. He has become quite the little helper in the kitchen. He loves to wear his "chef apron" to help me cook and do the dishes....which actually becomes a bigger mess than if I did it myself......BUT we have so much fun together its all worth it.

FIREPROOF

Yesterday was our 11th Anniversary and I cannot believe we have been married that long! I am starting to feel like an old lady! Anyways, we went to see this movie called Fireproof. It is AWESOME! We BOTH really enjoyed it. It is totally realistic, funny and has a spiritual perspective. If you are looking for a great date night...we HIGHLY recommend it. Oh, just GO and see it ok. You will be glad you did.

The only Theater I could find it playing at in Utah, from Layton to SLC, was Jordan Landing but it would be worth the drive. It seems to be playing most other states/larger cities! If you go see it let me know what you think!

Phenomenal.....

Well... you know how I love dancing and I ran across this performance with Fred Astaire and Elenanor Powell that was recorded in one unedited shot in 1940. It is brilliant. It is said that after this performance Fred Astaire never wanted to be paired with her again because she stole a bit of his dancing thunder. I think they are both phenomenal. Notice that Eleanor Powell is completely dressed with a dress below her knees. I love the innocence, civility and grace. Watch the whole thing...it gets better as it plays.I just love the good old days (even though I didn't even exist yet).

Election Woes???

He He. Enough said.Onesie donation made possible by The Roji (we are SO proud).

Somfin good to eat.....

Sock Monkey anyone? As a kid they always creeped me out a little but I think I will keep this one around for SOME strange reason. I love my BUMBO chair...except this is what happens when mommy leaves me there too long.The fire fighter waiting patiently to go trick or treating. Ready to go mom! Taking a peak at all my tasty treats!!
Daddy coloring my pumkin with me at the Halloween carnival. Charlotte was one of Warren's first friends that we met right after we moved to Texas and every year she comes with us to the Halloween Carnival at the church.
The bubble swat. Hope you all had a great Halloween!

Tres Spookay

I am so excited to announce that the pumpkin snake has finally been given life! For about the last 10 years I have always had this idea of making a snake out of pumpkins for Halloween. For various reasons it has never actually taken place (money, ambition, lack of a front porch, etc)......

Mon night we kicked off FHE by inviting friends over for Chili and Pumpkin Carving. We had a great time. They were so kind as to help me in the gutting of the snake pumpkins and I have to say I am very happy with the results. Weston carved his (back right) and I carved Benjamin's (middle), helped Warren with his (front) and (of course) I am the artist of my super spooky pumpkin snake. Isn't it totally killer??

Warren had a ton of fun and was a good helper......when he wasn't playing.

The Real Thing...

Blessing Day Photos have finally arrived (I know, I know...you have been SO patient).Aren't I the luckiest mom EVER? We have this great deal worked out....I supply the food and he stores it up in his cheeks so I can nibble to my hearts content. So far it is working out perfectly.No outfit is complete without the perfect pair of shoes.
Weston gave a wonderful blessing and it was such a special day. We were grateful Oma & Opa could be with us too. They didn't send us the photos with them pictured with us, so you will just have to use your imagination.

Oh yea...did I mention I am the luckiest mom EVER?

Washington Post - Mensa Invitational

For a good time.....

Here is the Washington Post's Mensa Invitational which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding,subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. What's your fav?

*Here are some of the winners:*

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus : A person who's both stupid and an jerk
3. Intaxication : Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation : Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone ( n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6. Foreploy : Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting lovin.
7. Giraffiti : Vandalism spray-painted very, very high
8. Sarchasm : The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
9. Inoculatte : To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Osteopornosis : A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
11. Karmageddon : It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
12. Decafalon (n.): The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
13. Glibido : All talk and no action.
14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
15. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
16. Beelzebug (n.) : Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
17. Caterpallor ( n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in thefruit you're eating.

The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings forcommon words. And the winners are:

1. coffee , n. the person upon whom one coughs.
2. flabbergasted , adj. appalled by discovering how much weight one hasgained.
3. abdicate , v. to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. esplanade , v. to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. willy-nilly , adj. impotent.
6. negligent , adj. absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a night gown.
7. lymph , v. to walk with a lisp.
8. gargoyle , n. olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. flatulence , n. emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been runover by a steamroller.
10. balderdash , n. a rapidly receding hairline..
11. testicle , n. a humorous question on an exam.
12. rectitude , n. the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. pokemon , n.. a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. oyster , n. a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishism's.
15. Frisbeetarianism , n. the belief that, after death, the soul flies uponto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. circumvent , n. an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewishmen.

Benjamin's Blessing Outfit

This Sunday was Benjamin's blessing day and it was such a special day. Our camera was having a serious malfunction and so we took pics on Weston's dads camera. Well, I meant to take his media card to the store and get a photo cd made before he left but as you can see by the lack of Benjamin photos, it didn't happen. He said he will send the pictures soon. When I get them I will post some for you to see....in the meantime, I thought I would at least post pictures of his blessing outfit. I am extra fond of it because his mamma made it. My search for white linen was fruitless. The fabric stores said it is off season right now (we live in Houston, hello) SO, I bought a white linen table cloth and wa-lah!
It is hard to see but I had his initials (BWH) monogrammed in white. It turned out precious.
Aren't these booties the best? They were blue with white on the toes...that is legal right?

Joy School Field Trip

Last Thursday we headed out to one of the local fire stations for a field trip with Warren's Joy School class. Warren loved every minute and the moms had a great time too. The firemen showing the kids all the cool stuff they use in their trucks to fight fires.
Exploring one of the fire trucks.....meeting the firemen.....
Friends: Ashira, Mary, Crystal, Chloe, Warren, Lily, Annabelle, visitor ?, Rob & James
Fireman Warren.
He thought the firehose was pretty cool. Its all he talked about after we got home.

Watching the fire safety movie with Ashira.

Austin come to me....

Benjamin is 6 weeks old and has been such a pleasant little babe. Weston teased (before he was born) that we couldn't get a better baby than Warren but I actually think that Benjamin is a little easier. His temperment is very similar to Warren's as a baby but he sleeps longer stretches than his big brother did....hopefully I did not just jinx myself.
All tuckered out. Benjamin saddled up for his first road trip. Post Ike, on day 12 of 14 without power we decided to take off for Austin to visit our friends Mike & Cheri for a few days. Benjamin is totally starting to get some chubs on his legs and I couldn't be happier....Warren never got those scrumptous thighs.
Warren, Andy Roo aka Rambo, Amelia & Benjamin playing at the airplane park. I was having a hard time getting all the kids to look at the camera at the same time so I took several shots, doing all the stupid things moms have to do to get their kids attention. Apparently Warren thought I was taking their individual pictures and thought it was his turn. He started to get bugged that Rambo kept saying cheese everytime I snapped a new shot. As pictured below, he finally turned to Andrew, shakes his head and says, "its not your turn for cheeses, everytime Andrew, you say so many cheeses!". Toddler drama at its best.They took us to Central Market for dinner and live music. The food was yummy and the atmosphere was so fun and refreshing. Down a nearby trail the boys found this awesome tree and had a ball climbing and exploring it. If I hadn't had surgery recently I would have climbed it myself.
Da boys.... Andy roo, Mr Warren and Jake the snake hangin out.

Warren and Amelia duck watching with Cheri. We had such a great time and are looking forward to future trips to come!