Feeling pooped?

Although she will likely hate me for this later in life, I felt this moment needed to be recorded in the Holt family history.  Peyton has been potty-tranied for months.  We put the training seat away and never looked back.  Until...she decided one day that she in fact didn't want to go in the potty.  It was a full week before we got her back into the swing of things and luckily it was in time for our trip to California.  Ever since then however, she has a few quirks.  She uses an ENITRE roll of toilet paper each time, and sits on the toilet FOREVER!!! I have to check periodically to make sure she isn't on it too long or she will get a rash.  The other day I went to check on her and found that she indeed had gone "potty" but had sat there a bit too long for a tired little two year old.  Haha!

I almost got off the hook...

Since before Mat and I were married I have helped with the Jubilee of Trees.  Each year decorating a tree to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the hospital.  Each year, Mat begs me to say no.  It is such a great cause but I admit takes a lot of time and a lot of extra cash out of our pockets.  Last year I made a promise to Mat that I wouldn't volunteer at all.  I kept my promise and loved it!  I didn't get off quite as easy this year.  The foundation called and asked if I would decorate a tree and I declined.  However, I did commit to helping the students at our school decorate their tree for the Jubilee.  I themed it "Under the Same Stars" and had each of the 4th grade students write a letter to the troops and decorated it American style.  It was my favorite school tree to date!  We had a rough time getting down to let the kids look at the trees but finally made it then Sunday of after church.  They had a blast making sand bracelets and gandering at the trees.  Peyton didn't care for it a whole lot since she slept the entire time we were there.  We got to see Santa, even though it took some convincing to get Bailey to go.  Such fun memories and I'm always glad when the Jubilee is OVER!!!

We may not have an income for the month but we have this...

 We had a neighbor a couple of months ago wanting Mat to build two custom beds for her daughters.  I gently nudged Mat into accepting the job based on the fact that I knew if he was building two, he would build three.  What I didn't realize is that even the materials alone for him to build it would cost us more than simply buying her a bed.  Not to mention the hours spent on the bed and not on paying clients projects.  However, our little girl wouldn't have THIS bed!  Made by her daddy with love.

I was so excited to see the finished product.  Not only did he do an amazing job but he also chose the bedding!  What a lucky little girl to have a daddy like that!

Gobble gobble...

All of Utah over the past week, had a lot of anticipation over a storm set to hit the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  From what I hear up north, it didn't hit too hard but nevertheless did make an entrance.  Mat and I watched weather.com as the predicted temps kept dropping and dropping.  We took precautions on Monday night by insulating pipes and the air condensers.  I really have no idea how cold it did get but it was cold enough Wednesday night that we woke up on Thanksgiving morning literally watching all the leaves (that the day before were still all on the tree) cascade off each one.  It had gotten cold for sure.

 Of course the kids went right out that morning and instantly began gathering "their" piles.  This amazingly led to fighting, because of course, how DARE someone try to take some that weren't part of their pile!  Of course this is what prys into my sanity daily.  Also the fact that the temps in the morning hours were still in the 20's and MY kids went out in t-shirts and shorts.  "No mom, it's not THAT cold!"

 Peyton at least put on boots and a coat...

 I spent my time indoors preparing for my first Thanksgiving dinner at our house!  It couldn't have been a more perfect arrangement for me.  Mat's family did all the cooking (they are all AMAZING cooks) and I got to decorate the tables.  I was having some grief with not having all matching plates and no spare $$$ to buy the ones I wanted. 

 I hit the jackpot last week by finding the plates and goblets at a price I could afford...at the DOLLAR STORE!!! Haha!  I also had everyone that would be attending dinner a few days prior send me the top 5 things they were thankful for and the kids glittered pine cones and we stuck our "thankful" feathers into them to make turkeys for the table.

 We had an AMAZING dinner at our house and then quickly loaded the car to go to my parents dinner.  Still full from the first dinner we didn't eat much but ended up staying HOURS at my parents while the kids enjoyed spending time with their cousins.  I love that they would rather play with family than anyone else.

 I love November.  I spend all month it seems recalling everything in my life that I am grateful for.  From the silly things to the most important what it all comes down to is this picture.  One beautiful, happy family!!! We are truly happy.  We have SOOO much to be thankful for!

She's one speedy chick!

 Bailey's school holds an annual "Geckathon".  It is a triathalon for the students who attend Lava Ridge.  Bailey had mentioned it and of course knowing what a quick little bugger she is, we started right away trying to convince her to participate.  After much coaxing and a little bit of bribing we convinced her to give it a try.  She was VERY nervous as the race day grew closer.  She would be swimming 300 meters, followed by a 4-5 mile bike ride, and end it with a 2 mile run.  It seemed like a lot for such a little girl.  I admit I wondered if it would be too much for her.

 Since Bailey was participating Mat and I were asked to volunteer so we didn't really get a chance to see her once she left the pool.  One of the boys in the swimming lane that I was helping with mentioned he didn't have a towel.  I thought I could just sneak into the girls locker room and grab Bailey's since I was sure she would be finishing up with it since she had just gotten out of the pool.  Not only had she dominated in swimming she was one of the first girls on the bikes!  She had already left the locker room when I went in there!  Mat and I rushed from the pool once our time to volunteer was over hoping we could watch some of Bailey's racing.  We called my dad and asked if she was running yet.  He said yes, and she was in the lead!!!  Once we parked we high-tailed it to the school hoping we wouldn't miss her crossing the finish line.  We made it in time to watch her last lap around the running course.  Mat ran up to her and told her she was in first and needed to keep pushing.  He stayed with her until the final stretch and my mommy heart couldn't have been filled with more happiness at seeing my baby girl run that final stretch with no other competitors around her and looking amazingly strong!

After she came across the finish line and we checked her time we realized that a 7th grader who was quite taller and had a bit better bike came in a couple of minutes before her.  We didn't care.  She ROCKED!!! Out of around 40 girls she placed 2nd and Mat and I were bursting with pride over our tiny little girl who left so many in the dust!

Goodbye warmth...I will miss you!

 It is that time of year again.  I detest buying tomatoes at the store!  I'm quite sad to say goodbye to our lovely garden.  Despite the fact that it was more neglected than ever this year, we were still able to enjoy many delicious tomatoes, and other veggies from it.

Soccer season is no over which is also a sad day for me.  I do enjoy having Saturdays free once again but Mat and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching our boys play a fantastic season.  On to basketball I suppose.

 I will miss the warm afternoons spent in our backyard.  I will miss being warm period.

 How grateful I am to have such a wonderful family that truly enjoys working in the garden and enjoys the fruits of their labor as well.

 Goodbye to our green lawn. You will be quite missed!

We love living in Southern Utah with all of it's surrounding beauty.  I love that even mid November we can spend time outdoors in our shorts, barefoot, spending glorious time together.

Shutterfly Promo

I'm copying Rachel and posting about Shutterfly's free 50 card promo if you blog about them.  I've used Shutterfly before for their photobooks and also personalized thank you cards. I've gone through Costco for my Holiday cards previously but Shutterfly's selection is quite a bit better.  I'm planning on ordering my family Chirstmas cards as well as Mat's business cards from Shutterfly this year.  Here's the link if you would like to try it for yourself. http://bit.ly/sfly2010  And a couple of more: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery


I'm thinking this is quite the sweet deal!  I hope it works.  If not, I'm blaming Rachel.  Haha!

Oh the fun of Halloween...

 We had a fabulous Halloween! Caleb originally wanted to wear the boys ghille suit. It is a moss-covered hunting suit and while it looks super cool, it certainly wasn't the best choice to wear in So. Utah trick-or-treating. Maybe if the kids were trucking through a snowstorm. It is one HOT outfit! We brought up the idea of a nerd and he jumped on it. Seriously, he fit the part a little too well.

                                    

 Easton...I love the kid and he comes up with some pretty funny costume ideas.  Last year he was an old man so this year he switched it up to be an old lady in a wheelchair.  We were able to borrow the wheelchair from my parents and my dad brought it over a few weeks early.  By the time Halloween came Easton had mastered the "wheelie" and showed his skills to EVERYONE!  It was pretty impressive that he could wheelie around the school track during the parade I must admit.

 Riley came over to play with Peyton on Halloween which pretty much made Peyton's day.  She LOVES her girl cousins her age and they all get along so well.

 Bailey went from wearing one boy's football uniform last year to wearing a different boys soccer jersey this year.  The boy she borrowed it from wore a Raglan cheerleader uniform to school as well.  Pretty cute.

 The past two years I've had Peyton wearing a tutu skirt for Halloween. I wanted to go a different direction this year but had a difficult time deciding on what she should wear. I never really care for the run-of-the-mill store costumes and have no talent on my own to make one. Lucky for me there are others out there with talent and I was able to order her an handmade "Alice" costume which turned our sooo CUTE! Of course as soon as I ordered it I also had to buy the Alice in Wonderland DVD so that she could fall in love with the costume idea before it even came in the mail. She did of course!

                                                  

Peyton wouldn't cooperate for a group shot as she just wasn't feeling well this year but she did warm up to having her grandpa and cousin Riley take her trick-or-treating around our circle.

 

I loved Halloween but I admit I'm looking forward to the winter holidays.  I'm truly so grateful for so many things this year I feel extra emotional about Thanksgiving coming up and I always love Christmas.  Can't wait.