Hangin' Around with D

I've captured a few shots lately of what goes on in our place.
Dallin is a crack up. He is always dressed appropriately for the activity he's engaged in.

For example, when he watches Batman on tv, this is what he looks like:

When we play pirates, he looks like this:

Just the other day he was nearly in tears because by putting a jacket on to play baseball outside, it was going to cover up his baseball shirt. So, he found a sweater vest, and prompty layered it underneath the baseball shirt. Warmer? Maybe. Happy? Definitely.

Unfortunately, this sort of dressing-appropriate-for-the-activity has some limits. He will not wear a coat when it's cold outside. He insists on wearing his cool light-up Spiderman shoes everywhere.

Here's a couple shots from tonight. More about Thad later!

Look Who Visited our House (it wasn't Santa)

We're fine. The only thing that burned was the microwave. Everything else in the kitchen is perfect. Now, if you're female and you want more information, keep reading. (Evan always tells me I need to get to the punch-line quicker to know that everything is okay--I guess I like to keep my audience in suspense!)

Last Thursday night I put a bag of popcorn in the microwave, hit 2:45 and ran downstairs to get some soup from my garage. I came back in the kitchen only to have the phone ring. It was Evan checking in before packing up his bags at work. I hear a couple of "buzzz...buzzzzs" coming from the microwave so I turn around and the popcorn is on fire! Completely engulfed. I screamed to Evan that the microwave was on fire. He said something like "okay" but did it in a tone like he didn't believe me. I dropped the phone and started looking (unsuccessfully) for the fire extinguisher. No luck. So, the microwave was still on so I *brilliantly* decide to open the microwave. Wrong move.

Flames shot from the microwave up towards my cabinets. I got my sense back and pushed the door closed and then ran to call 911. Because I'd dropped the phone it was still off the hook, so I bravely ran back into the kitchen. Microwave still on fire.

I called 911 and they told me to get out of the house. I ran down the hall, grabbed my boys, and headed outside. Those were a scary few minutes, because I had no clue if the kitchen was still burning! Fire truck showed up and we think the fire was already out. Evan did come home (surprise--I really wasn't sure if he thought I was joking. Turns out he was just trying to stay calm for me.) Really nice firemen though. They removed the microwave, checked the walls and attic and everything is okay. Phew. Our first fire! Let's hope there's not another.

I wanted to take pictures of them, but was a little shy to ask. Fortunately Evan didn't have any problem asking. So, we had a little photo shoot. What great guys--they were so nice to Dallin.

Thanks Fire Department! (We'll return your screwdrivers soon)

Thad's Baby Blessing

Thanksgiving weekend was just a great weekend. Not only did we have a delicious feast with the Gilstrap crew in beautiful Arroyo Grande, we blessed our darling Thad.

We decided to bless Thad at Sam and Kelli's house. After morning church, we returned to the house where Evan gave Thad a blessing. We started with the song "Families Can Be Together Forever" followed by an opening prayer by Grandpa Gilstrap. After a brief family testimony meeting, Evan blessed Thad. The circle included Grandpa Gilstrap, Grandpa Marquardson, Uncle Sam, Uncle Jim Watkins, and of course Evan.

We concluded with another song and my dad closed with a prayer. It was really special.

Brunch followed.

Thanks to all the family for putting together such a wonderful event, especially Sam and Kelli for hosting. Thad is such a sweet baby; he is so happy, content, patient, and eats and sleeps well. He is just a dream. At this time of year I am so incredibly grateful for this new life. Thad is just a joy.

I am so incredibly thankful to be a mother.

Baby Puj Tub

So, after storing Dallin's big, bulky blue bathtub for about two years, we ended up donating it deciding it wasn't worth the space in our garage anymore. Since Thad came along, I'd been doing the awkward, hold his head up and wash real quick with the other arm in the sink thing. Then I tried the puj tub recently.

It's basically a flat piece of nice, plastic styrofoam (I'm sure it's much fancier than that, but that's how I'd describe it). It has magnetic closures which keep it in the shape to cradle a baby. You'll just have to check out pictures. My first attempt at using the tub was okay. The magnetic closures kept coming undone (maybe my sink is bigger than normal) and the instructions didn't really cover this. It was tricky to figure out if I fill my sink with water and the puj tub? I ended up doing this, but when it came time to get the soap off, I had to drain all the water and run new (which = not so happy baby.)

Attempt number two was much better. I realized my leaving one of the magnetic closures undone made it fit in my sink much better. Because this fits in your sink, I wasn't sure how to put more water in without getting it on Thad (I have two levers to turn on the water). So this time I just kept it running slightly. Still too tricky to wash his hair, so I did that after his bath.

All in all it was so much easier to bathe him having both hands available. I love that it's flat to both dry and store. It's soft too and Thad was comfortable in it. I wish it came with a suction hook to dry out in my bathtub. More instructions could have helped, but I think we figured it out okay.

Check out the Puj Tub for yourself at the new web site exclusively for baby bath tubs!

Seattle November 2009

While Evan worked in Singapore, the boys and I headed to Seattle! We had a wonderful trip with Grandma and Grandpa Marquardson for about two weeks. Seattle has a great children's theater and grandma and grandpa were kind enough to take us to the play If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. It was wonderful!

Seattle is home of lots of great stores, one of them being Packaging Specialties. I'd love to start a store in the bay area--it would be such a hit. My mom watched the kiddos while I took a class on 'Incredible Edibles.' Basically they show you how to use all their packaging (box, within a box, within a tin!) to make goodies look amazing. I'm still learning, but love the inspiration.

Other highlights of the trip included Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, lots of sewing and crafting with my mom, painting my parents bedroom, and being spoiled to workout while mom watched the boys.
Unfortunately, just a few pictures!

Who knew octopus legs doubled as swords??

The flight home.

Thanks mom and dad.

Merry Christmas!

We are loving this time of year! I've done a few festive things that my mom and sis want to see.

First, my advent calendar (this is the best Dallin smile I could get!). This was from Martha Stewart. If any of you want to make this, I'd be happy to share my tips since lots of her steps were either missing or didn't work..

Inside each tin can I included a scripture about Christ, an activity for the day and some chocolate.

My mom and I  used these cookie cutters to bake cookies. Here they are all packaged up.

So after a couple of pretty hectic days crafting, here we are hanging out today. I wanted to blow dry my hair, so I placed Thad on the ground outside my bedroom. Dallin decided Thad needed some toys! What a nice big brother. Merry Christmas!!