Thanksgiving

So, anyone reading any of my family blogs would never know that over Thanksgiving we all got together in Utah and had a wonderful time! I am usually the last to write about family events - hence one reason why I have been named the worst blogger of all times, but for some strange reason I seem to be the first, if the only one to write about our Thanksgiving. None the less.... here it is.

We decided earlier this year that we would rather have Devon take time off and travel over Thanksgiving than for Christmas. Ever other year my mom's side of the family has a large family reunion over Thanksgiving and Devon and I decided we wanted to go. So Devon took a 1/2 day on Tuesday, although we didn't end up leaving until 3:30, and we drove to Mesquite, NV where we had a hotel reservation. The 5 hour car trip ended up taking up more that 7 hours, and by the time we got to the hotel I didn't think that Austin or I could go another mile. The hotel was great. Cheap, but clean. The beds worked, I don't think I even moved that night, and neither did Devon (or Austin for that matter, yeah!) The next morning we got up and of course hit the breakfast buffet. For those of you who don't know Devon skipping an all you can eat buffet - especially breakfast - would truly be a sin, and I think he might really die if I told him no. So we went to the buffet and it was great, probably one of the best I have ever been too. The variety was awesome and the food really good. Unfortunately I ended up leaving half of mine in the parking lot before we left, and the other half on the side of the highway once we started. None the less, we were off to Utah. The trip the second day went well, but being the day before Thanksgiving we hit traffic and it added about 1 1/2 hours to the trip. We finally made it and were greeted by tons of family. A couple of hours after we arrived my parents and little sisters arrived, followed shortly by a "surprise" arrival of my older sister and her family. Pretty much for the next 4 days we just spent hanging out. There were always different activities going on and you could participate - or not. There were movies, Nintendo, games, shopping, eating (there was tons of great food) talking, laughing...everything you could hope for with a family get together. And surprisingly enough, especially with my family, there was NO DRAMA! Nothing happened. Everyone just played and got along and had a great time which is quite the accomplishment since there were about 60 people there ranging in age from 1 - 70 (or however old grandpa is) I had an absolutely wonderful time and so did my husband. Our wonderful vacation was over before we knew it. Sunday morning we got up to go to church and then pack and leave, but I got food poisoning -yuck. I spent the whole morning over the "bowl" puking my guts out. Devon took Austin to church by himself then came home and pack everything, then loaded me up in the car, with plenty of large ziplock bags and off we went to Las Vegas. It was probably the worst day of my life. I couldn't keep anything down, I didn't feel good, couldn't get comfy, plus the moving vehicle didn't help, and Austin decided that he was over the whole car thing. So we finally pulled over, and got some Dramamine for Austin and I, knocked him out so that we could have a little peace a quite, but I didn't take enough to knock me out so I just kind of sat - half dazed. We finally made it to Las Vegas, and the next day (after feeling much better) made it safely home. Although he drive was kind of traumatic for me, I loved the trip and can't wait another 2 years for the next Thanksgiving.

Tutoring

HELP! Tutoring is officially taking over my life! Who would have ever thought? Not me! I have already had to turn away several students and am still working at least 16 hours a week. If I wanted to (which I don't) I easily have enough students wanting to be tutored for me to tutor every day from 3pm - 9pm! It is so crazy. It's hard to turn people away because they need help, and it's good money... but I never even see my husband anymore until Saturdays! It's hard to juggle schedules with tutors, Austin, Devon, church...I just wish that I could set my schedule and leave it, but apparently that doesn't work out so well when students have tests that they are freaking out about. I just wasn't expecting this kind of result. But the good side to it is that I can finally afford the Vinyl Cutter Plotter that I want, and for those of you who are wondering the answer is yes, I am planning on getting in hopefully this week, so if you want stuff for/or by Christmas let me know. Hopefully this vinyl thing will go as well as the tutoring thing. That would be GREAT! But I am not counting on it. Even if I just use the cutter plotter for me and not make any money on it I will still be happy that I got it. I just think vinyl lettering is so cool, and I love it for home decor.

As for other things, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THANKSGIVING!!!! I am SO excited. We leave a week from yesterday and it won't come fast enough. So we are driving from Southern California to Kaysville, Ut. We have decided to do it in two days instead of one so we have a hotel for the way there and one for the way home, and as sad as it sounds my husband is more excited about staying in the hotels then the actual trip. He is so weird sometimes! For thanksgivings it's more like a family reunion for my mom's side of the family. Every other year we have a big Thanksgiving and all my aunt and uncles and cousins come. Almost all of the family is going to be there. I have one cousin that might not come, one aunt who may not make it and a couple of my siblings that can't come, but that still leaves too many people to count! We always have so much fun, and eat good food and play games. I just can't wait!

Austin, oh my. He is being such an ANGEL lately. I really can't believe it. He is so content to play by himself. He just crawls (army style only) around the house but he doesn't get into things that he shouldn't. The only things that are really off limits are the bathroom (because it has the kitty liter box) and the cords for the surround sound. Once he learned - through a couple of trips to time out - that those were off limits he totally stays clear of them and just plays in his own little world. He just crawls around and plays with the kitten and laughs and talks to himself. I just can't get over how good he is being and I hope that it stays this way at least for Thanksgiving.

Well that is all the time I have for complaining and rambling today. Thanks to everyone else who write on their own blogs. I have found a couple of them really enjoyable lately! Good work and keep on blogging.

Good and Bad news

So, my sister-in-law had her baby on Saturday early morning. She woke up at 12:30am and rushed to the hospital, ended up having the baby at like 1:20am or something ridiculous like that. I am so jealous, well kind of. This is one of my sister-in-laws who can't have a epidural so I am glad for her that it went quick. She had a baby boy that was 7.5lbs. Making the count now 4, with 3 boys and 1 girl. They are both healthy and doing well. They were able to come home from the hospital and were doing great, so Britain - the new father went to work on Monday and on the way home from moving pianos his truck was hit and sent him flying off the road rolled over the center divider and into oncoming traffic. It totalled the box van and left him upside down hanging from the seat belt. (with a side note that the box van was brand new I don't even think it was a week old yet) He was able to get the seat belt off and started to crawl out of the truck when he screamed with pain that his back hurt. He ended up being life flighted to the hospital where he has been staying. The doctors say that he has ruptured some of his lumbar vertebrae and they are going to have to go in an do surgery. Poor Britain, poor Dawn. So with all of this happening Devon called me from work today and said that he felt he needed to go home and see his brother, but he can't go this weekend because we are babysitting 3 kids in our ward, so he wants to leave after work today and take tomorrow off and come back late tomorrow night AND he wants to take Austin with him! I'm kind of excited, Austin is almost 1 and I have never been without him for more that a couple of hours, and never over night. I think it will be great! So there it is, the good news and the bad.

That is Britain laying on the ground, and we just found out that their 6 year old son was going to go with him (which he often does) but decided to stay home at the last minute (Thank goodness)

Happy Halloween

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year, but I usually like it because it is Fall, and it is starting to get cool, and the leaves are changing color and everything is wonderful because summer is coming to an end and I can wear and my winter clothes that I love. BUT... aparently we now live in California and here Fall doesn't exist. It just makes me so sad. Everything is still green. Everyday has been in the low to mid 80's and it just doesn't feel like Fall at all. It really makes me sad. I know that some of you may think I am crazy but I really miss Idaho and I can't wait for that day when we go back. - So as a side note I swear Austin gets sick like every month. It is driving me crazy! Not only does he get sick but it is alway something different that I don't have medicine for and I have to go and find something to give him. First it was alergies, then it was nose congestion, then it was cough with chest congestion, now it is just a cough with a runny nose. I am sitting here listening to him cough up a lung and I have nothing to give him until he wakes up from his nap and we run to the store. Poor monster. - Okay back to Fall and halloween, so since it hasn't felt like Fall I have had a hard time getting into the Halloween spirit. But I did make some sugar cookies and "Boo'd" some people in our ward. I was trying a new way to decorate the cookies and I really liked them. Plus, as an added bonus these cookies were made with 1/3 less sugar (on accident) and 1/2 the fat (on purpose) and they still tasted great. Even Devon who is ULTA picky about less fat kind of things really liked them.

They were really fun to make and pretty easy once I figured out the icing.

As for Halloween it's self we really didn't do much. We had a Halloween party on Friday night that Devon and I went to. It was pretty fun. Devon and I dressed up as "Hit and Miss" where he was bindfoled and had a bow and arrows, and I had an apple on my head and then arrows that "missed" on my dress and body. It was pretty funny but for some unknow reason I didn't get a picture of Devon and I togeather, but I know there were some taken I just need to get a hold of them. Sat. we had the ward party and trunker treat, we dresses up again and I think I really scared some of the poor kids in my primary class...oops. Austin dressed up as a little monkey and was so cute. Then on Wed. it was pretty much a regular day. I let Austin wear his costume all day and we had play group at the park and then I tried to run errands and then took him with me tutoring. Once we got home I made some yummy soup and then we put Austin to bed and had some friend over and watched Transformers (which we all really liked) We ended up not having a single trick-or-treater, well kind of. So when the boys went to go get the movie my friend Meg and I were talking and someone knocked on the door. Me thinking it was Devon yelled "come in" then Meg looked at me and said "um, I think it might be trick-or-treaters" I was like crap, don't come in! So I ran up and answered the door and it was a couple of teenager girls who weren't even dressed up. The only reason I gave them candy was because I knew what ever I didn't give them I would end up eating LOL. SO, that was the sum of my halloween and Austin's first halloween experiance. Here are some pict.this is me playing with the Halloween make-up and blood - creepy I know

pictures say 1000 words

Our little nameless kitten
when he is snuggly it is so nice!
his favorite spot in the house
Austin and kitten playing peek-a-boo around the stroller

Austin at the beach - our cool little surfer dude
Austin and I at Santa Cruz

Sometimes our son is more of a diva
Devon and Austin doing some male bonding

hello? is anyone there?

So it's been what, a month so I will be surprised it anyone is still checking my blog, but that is okay...it's suppose to be for me anyway - right? So quite a bit has gone on in the last month. I finally started working. I tutor Geometry 4 nights a week, and algebra one night a week. I have 3 students and I really enjoy it. I'm so glad that Devon is okay to stay home with Austin at nights. It has been working well but we definitely tag team it, and don't spend too much time together during the week but the weekends are always free for us. This is what our weeks are looking like now:

Monday Devon work 5:45-5:00 Stacy work 5:15-9:15
Tuesday " " " - 7:00, Devon church meetings 7:00-8:45
Wednesday " " Devon scouts 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday " Stacy work 5:15-9:15
Friday just Devon works and then we are free
Saturdays Sometimes I have tutoring sessions if someone has a test on Monday and needs help
Sunday Church and I teach /primary

It literally is a tag team, as soon as he walks in the door I am ready to walk out, and visa versa. It's been working well, he doesn't seem to mind it and I love it.

Towards the end of September I went up to Yuba City and helped my mom throw my youngest sister a surprise 16th birthday party. It was a lot of fun. She was SO SURPRISED! It was great! I always love being able to go home. This time I was able to fly - since it was cheaper than driving - and Austin did great!! I still can't believe how good he was. He just sat in his own seat and played with out crying on both flights - like he was 10 or something. I couldn't believe it - I mean usually he is a good boy but this surprised even me. It was WONDERFUL!!

Austin - well let's see, he is now 10 months, and is pretty good at scooting (sp?) around the floor. He still can't crawl yet but and this point I will take anything I can get. He was getting SO FRUSTRATED that he couldn't move around. I don't now what is taking him so long to figure the whole crawling thing out, but I hope he gets over it. Other than crawling he has always hit his development levels early. He ate early he sat early, he rolled early and now is crawling...really late? Whatever, I'm not sure how it all works but at least he is scooting/army crawling now so he is happier. Also, right around 9 months he decided he didn't want to have ANYTHING to do with milk anymore. He won't take a bottle-no matter what is in it, and he won't drink formula- at all. Not hot or cold or in a bottle or in a cup, nothing. So we started him on Whole milk, he will drink it sometimes from a sippy cup but that is it. I am lucky if I can get him to drink 5 oz in a day. I have even tried chocolate milk and he still wont drink it! I have no idea what to do, though I can't blame him...I hate milk! The only way I'll drink it is in my cereal, with some desert (like chocolate - anything!) or as chocolate milk. But I have always encouraged him to drink it and Devon Loves it so I don't know. I don't know what else to do to get him to drink it. If anyone has any ideas let me know :)

We have also recently gotten another addition to our family. He has yet to be named but he is light and dark grey striped and alternates between crazy and snugly. When I got back from Yuba City Devon thought he would surprise me with a kitten. We really can't think of a name for him but we are working on it. In the early mornings and late at night this cat is crazy! He dashes all over the house - bounding like a deer - he thinks our bed is some kind of forest where he can pounce pretend animals while we try to go to sleep. You can hardly keep you eyes on him he moves around so much. Then, the other side of this bipolar kitten is totally snugly, like now, he is curled up on my lap with his little motor running. But if I try to pet him I am sure he will attack. He is pretty good with Austin. The kitten gets really curious and so he will walk right up to Austin and sniff him, Austin LOVES LOVES LOVES the cat but usually scares it by screaming or laughing. When the cat is being mellow he lets Austin come close and pet him and he doesn't mind, but when he is being crazy Austin hardly has a chance even to see him. It has been working out pretty well.

Well that's enough for today, Austin is just waking up so I need to get him out of his crib. I will get back on later and post pictures. I have lots of picture!

Not much here

So, I know I haven't written in a while but I don't feel like much has been going on. We were all able to go home to attend my Grandma Richins funeral, It turned out really well, and I am glad that we were able to go but that's all I really want to say about it. As for us here, things are fine, kind of getting blah. I am definitely getting bored. I just picked up one tutor once a week for Geometry which should be fun. I have also started to index names for FamilySearch.org. Work is going well for Devon, Austin still isn't crawling and is really getting frustrated. I am also pretty sure that he is getting his 1 year molars and is SO CRANKY. That's about it for us. The weather has been nice but I can't wait until Fall really kicks in. I think October may be my favorite month of the year! I love it!

Hopefully one of these days we will get the replacement battery for my laptop and I will start to MSN and Blog more. I hate having to come into the work room and sit on this uncomfortable chair to use the computer. Well that is enough complaining for one day. Hopefully more later.