Stocking Stuffers!

We had an ultrasound on December 19th. Jake is the only one who peeked, and shortly afterward, he called my good friend and asked her to create something that Santa could put in a little stocking to let the rest of us in on the secret!

Christmas Eve, we hung a teeny tiny stocking, and when we woke up, instead of it being filled, it was laying on top of a good-sized gift box.

Before we opened it, my sister gave us a gift card to Target. Attached was a fun "Spin the Stork" game, and everyone took turns spinning to see what the guesses were for the baby's gender. The the general consensus was that it would be a girl. Except Papa, who after originally guessed girl, then looked at the ultrasound photos and changed his mind because the baby's ear looked like a "boy ear".

My dad HAS always had a knack for correctly guessing what's in a present before he opens it...

Merry and Bright

We were so blessed to have my parents and sisters and brother-in-law spend Christmas with us this year!


There was some X-Country Skiing and playing in the snow,

Delicous food (I assigned everyone a night and NOBODY disappointed!),

Santa visited us a day early, since we wrote him a letter asking if he could please come on Saturday so that we could focus our Sunday on the real reason we celebrate Christmas (I think he understood!),

Uncle Ryan, Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Lucinda & Aunt Kitty,

Papa, Mona and Aunt Nanny, (There is a story behind Papa's face and the cute items he is holding!)

There was, of course, some saving of the world...

And loads of fun just being together!!!

We loved having Papa (and Mona) here!

There was some horseback riding...

And more fun being in one another's company!

We spent Sunday celebrating the birth of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Angels - who are looking rather "sore afraid".

Connor the shepherd and Nanny the sheep.

Mary & Joseph.

We also celebrated the birth of Papa on Christmas Day, 65 years ago! He loves lamb, so that's what we had for Christmas dinner. I must say, it was my best leg of lamb attempt yet, and turned out a little prime-ribbish. Nom!

It was a beautiful visit, but much, MUCH too short! Can't wait for this little munchkin to join our family so everyone has an excuse to come back to the ranch!

Christmas 2011

A sneak preview of the holiday sweetness at our house this year. More to come!

Wordless Wednesday

All for one, and one for all!!!

Oh, Brother!!!

As in, I have a new one, that is!!! Last month, my beautiful little sister married this amazing man in the Monticello, Utah temple.


Our trip to Monticello was a little crazy, but as soon as we arrived, Papa whisked us down to the farm to help feed this little guy:

We held the reception the night before the wedding at a local chuckwagon. It was laid back, relaxed and had such a fun atmosphere!

Ryan and Marilyn with their Niece & Nephews.

The girlies.

The Redd side of the family.

The next day was absolutely beautiful and such a tender, sweet experience to be with my Mar-bud (what I called her when she was teeny tiny) in the temple to be sealed to her sweetheart for time and all eternity. Our sister Lucinda made the absolutely beautiful wedding dress - simple, clean lines, so classic and so Marilyn. She also made her own stunning dress, and little darling vests for the boys (I don't have a photo of us all after the wedding yet.) I worked my tushy off before the festivities to make little bowties to match the vests, a beautiful dress for my Lovebug and a skirt for myself.

It was such a beautiful day and we are so excited to have Ryan as a member of our family! He is perfect for Marilyn and she is perfect for him. Because we hadn't had a chance to meet him at all before the festivities, it was a lot of fun to watch them together and see how they fit like two pieces of a puzzle. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Tobler!!!

Sharing some love with her Auntie Marilyn.

An Announcement:

Love Bug's Birthday!

My little princess turned 6 last month. SIX!!! I swear, just yesterday I was holding her sweet little newborn self in the hospital in Amarillo, TX!


Just as we finished her birthday dinner, I told her I was sure that I heard someone knocking on the door and sent her to answer it. I booked it out the back way trying to get a shot of her reaction to the new bike sitting on the deck. It's all she wanted this year, and she was estatic!


For her dinner, she requested Tortellini Soup and homemade breadsticks (a serious surprise to me, since usually she would rather have mac & cheese than anything else!) And every time we go to the store, she begs me to buy pink snowballs. I never have. For her birthday, I had Jake pick up a huge box full and I stacked them up on the cake plate and stuck candles in them. Easiest birthday cake I've ever made, and though I was worried, she didn't feel one big slighted that the boys got their cake and she got this - I think they were all she dreamed of and more!

Connor picked out a set of Ken doll clothes for her (which I think he was most excited to play with - she was still going on and on about her bike.) Clayton chose a Tangled book for her to read and a bar of Dove chocolate. I think he'll do well with the ladies in later years.

My Big 4 Year Old!

My poor middle child. I didnt realize, but totally jipped him in the birthday photo dept. this year. Rest assured, he got the same awesome treatment as his little brother! I can't believe this guy is already 4. He is so much fun, such an amazing helper, and I love him so much!


Sheriff Clayton, wearing the cowboy shirt Aunt Cindy sent him (that matches Connor's!)


Opening his Buzz Lightyear figurine. Endless Toy Story fun at our house now with Woody, Bullseye and Buzz!

Birthday Boys!

I'm usually pretty good about making sure the boys each have their own special day, even though their birthdays are so close. This year, we opted to let them open their individual gifts on their birthday, but celebrated with family, cake and ice cream on the day that lands smack dab in the middle of their two days. So basically, we partied for 3 days straight!

As a joint gift from Jake and I to both boys to share, we came up with a dress-up box full of superhero costumes to add to their growing collection (and to add a nice bin they can keep everything in under the bed!) After perusing the toy dept. of Wal-Mart, we found a Green Lantern mask & ring set on clearance and gleaned some great ideas to create a Captain America costume (among other things.)


Captain America Costume created from old t-shirts, heat transfer vinyl, a $1 frisbee and more vinyl. Green Lantern costume created also from an old t-shirt and heat-transfer vinyl and fabric paint.


Faster than a speeding bullet! (Hence the blurry picture.) The boys already had Superman pj's.

Clayton modeling the new Superman Cape from the dress-up box. Connor is sporting the reversible one I made for Clayton when he was almost 2 years old.)

The cake. This was my first attempt at carving a cake. It didn't turn out exactly as I envisioned, and I clearly have loads of practice if I want to really do this (Ha!) but the boys LOVED it! (And hopefully it made up for Clayton's birthday 2 years before when he got this cake for his birthday (right after my emergency C-section with Connor) and then Caroline got this one a month later.)

Connor's 2!!!

The boys have birthdays exactly one day apart in August. Connor's is first, and we let him open his presents that evening. I can't believe this baby is already 2!

He was pretty excited about recieving "Woody & Bullseye" from Clayton.


He opened this and yelled "Cowboy shut (shirt)!!!" It was from his Aunt Cindy and is his absolute favorite color.


Caroline bought him a pack of his very own crayons with her own money. I wish you could see the huge smile hiding behind the box!


Also from Clayton: his old Batman figurine (one that Clayton actually recieved for his 2nd birthday, that he is now passing down so that Connor doesn't can have his very own action figures to play with!)