Merry Christmas!!!

It's weird to think Christmas is over and tomorrow is New Years Eve! We've had a great time in Utah so far and have enjoyed the time with family and friends. Here's just a few pictures of the first bit of the trip.

Mac's first encounter with Santa. It didn't go as well as we'd hope, he refused to sit on his lap. Santa kept referring to me as Mac's older sister. I couldn't decide if I should take it as a compliment or be offended.

Mac is obsessed with music and has found a new love...ring tones. He carries around Nat's and Scotty's phone dancing to the music.

Cheese!

Gingerbread House Fun!

This past weekend we went to the annual Blood family Gingerbread House Party. Jaimee makes the ginger bread houses and everyone brings candy and we decorate and eat all night. This has become one of our most fun traditions. We just don't know what we'll do without the Bloods next year:( We have such high expectations every year and yet our houses end up looking pretty crappy. I'm blaming this one on Drew:)
All night Mac kept stealing candy off the tables. It just wasn't worth fighting with him. As you can see he was in rare form, everytime I came up to him he started running away from me or trying to hide his candy.
He ate at least one candy cane, two pieces of licorice, one star burst and a couple of marsh mellows. That's a lot of candy for one little boy who never gets sweets. He was in heaven. Merry Christmas Mac.

The Blood's house was darling and it even had a message for Drew in the back..."Drew Stinks!"

Thanks Blood's for the wonderful night!!!

Here we go again!

12 weeks down only 28 more to go!

Thanksgiving and More

Happy belated Thanksgiving. Wednesday I started cooking and I was really excited to try out some new recipes. Everything was great except for the rolls. Lets just say something didn't work because they looked like rolled up tortillas, I think the yeast was bad. Drew tried to comfort me by saying, "What did you expect, it was your first time making it." See, the first time I make anything it usually doesn't turn out. We had a good laugh and the rolls were the butt of most of the jokes during dinner. Anyway, we spent Thanksgiving with some friends in our ward. The food was great but the company was better. All in all it was a great day.

Last week Mac came down with a cold and it's only gotten worst. Now Drew and I have it so right now we are all home miserable. Got to love the cold season. Four months until the first of Spring!

All day I have been wiping Mac's nose so he decided to wipe mine. It was pretty cute but kind of annoying, now I know how he must feel.

Drew took our car Friday to get the transmission checked. Turned out we needed a new transmission. Ouch!! Not good timing with Christmas coming up. After talking to the head of the Honda dealership they told us that Honda was willing to pay for 75% of the repairs and they might pay all of it. We didn't think they would because our car is a 2002 (6 years old) and we bought it 3 years ago as is. Well, we got a call today saying that Honda is going to pay 100% of the new transmission!! I think we can mark this down as a tithing blessing.

Random Mac

Mac has been doing the funniest things lately. Here's just a few of our favorite moments. If anyone is laughing Mac has to laugh too. He's been imitating peoples laughs and claps for himself after.

Last night we had Spaghetti. Mac LOVED it. He rubbed it all over himself. What a mess!
My oompa loompa (spelling?)
Drew holding Mac up to the ceiling and loving it.
Mac has been loving the mirrors in our home. He goes up to them laughs at himself and then attacks it.

I love this picture. He looks so old.

I found Mac hiding under the bathroom sink. Sneaky little thing.

tag.. six things about myself

When I got tagged I really didn't think I could think of six things that people might not know about me. But after some thought I came up with these....

1. Growing up I would always say I wanted to marry someone who was quite a bit taller than me but also came from a short family. I thought my girls would have some hope being normal. Don't get me wrong I love being tall but 6.0' is plenty tall. Anyways, Drew is 6.6' and the next tallest person in his family is 5.9'. With our luck our boys will get the short genes and the girls will end up being 6.5' which will be great.

2. I'm a home body. I haven't always been but since we only have one car I have become one. When the weather is nice Mac and I take walks, and spend a lot of the day outside, but never venturing off too far from home. Whenever Drew gets back from school I say," I really need to get out of the house." Once we are gone for about a half and hour I'm ready to go back home leaving Drew utterly confused.

3 .My only regret in high school was not playing volleyball. My mom will love hearing that. She tried to get me to play but I was way too involved in soccer. Drew has got me to love volleyball. While dating we played sand volleyball with his friends and now every week we get together with a group and play. I love it.

4. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people leave lights on in empty rooms. I think I get this from my dad. I feel like I go around following people from room to room turning off lights behind them.

5. I love dancing and singing when I'm home with Mac. I have no rhythm and anyone who's heard me sing knows I'm tone deaf but that doesn't stop me from having daily dance parties and singing throughout the day. I'm just worried about the long term effects on Mac.

6. I love love to travel. I love experiencing new cultures, seeing new things, and trying new foods. Ever since I was little my parents have made it a priority to show us the world. When we were younger our trips weren't exotic, it consisted of mostly California road trips and camping in Southern Utah (which I loved). As the years went on our vacations got further and further away from home. Some of my fondest memories are from road trips and vacations we took as a family. I'm grateful for these memories and the sacrifices my parents made to bring us along even though it probably would have been cheaper, more fun and relaxing without all us kids. Thanks!!!

Rules:
Write 6 things about yourself that others might not know. Then tag 6 people and leave a comment to let them know they have been tagged.


Now I tag...
Kristin Robbins, Jaime Millar, Amber Bodily, Sammy Peterson, Pam Burns and Amber Marcum

Big Weekend!!!

This was a big weekend. First, Drew and I left Mac with a friend and went on our first date since Mac was born! I know we are pathetic. When I dropped Mac off he went right to Debbie and didn't look back. I was little hurt. Right then I knew this would be harder for me than for him. The night was nice but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. While I did enjoy eating at PF Chang's, not worrying about feeding Mac or keeping him quiet, we both missed him and worried if he was being a headache for the Hydes. All in all the night was a success, we found out we can survive a night away from each other and we are looking forward to doing it again...in a few.
Second, Mac is officially weaned! No more nursing! Too much information?

HaLlOwEeN FuN!

Monday night we carved pumpkins with the Reynolds. When I say "we" I mean, me and Jen pigged out on chips and salsa while Adam and Drew did all the work.

Jennilyn and Adam
Halloween night we went to a little get together at a friends house. Everyone brought soup and corn bread. It's nice to have good friends that keep your holidays busy and fun. We didn't take Mac trick or treating this year. I think it's funny when people take their infants around, it's not like the baby is going to eat all that candy:)

Mac found Carson's trick or treat pumpkin and went to town.
For some reason Mac was fascinated with the street. Every chance he got he headed toward the road. I really need to keep an eye on him.

More Visitors!!!

Wednesday night Jed and Drew's mom Rita flew in and we couldn't have been happier. Thursday morning Jed went with Drew to two classes. After that, we all went to Taylor Made horse farm. One of our good friends is a Vet there and he gave us the grand tour. The air was crisp and the leaves were colorful! It was a perfect afternoon. Mac and Grandma Mac walking with Grandma. How beautiful is Lexington?
Jed and Mac checking out some horses




Petting Fleet Indian
A couple of months ago, to congratulate Drew on getting the job in town, Kevin (friend who is a Vet) gave Drew one of Fleet Indian's bridles. Drew's really is obsessed with horse racing.
Friday we went to the race track for more horses:)
Mac loved the horses but HATED the loud cheering! Our attempt at a group picture. Mac refuses to take a good picture.Saturday we had our annual ward Trunk or Treat. Mac dressed up as a dragon. Throughout the night Mac would get scared and start crying. Some of the kids were dressed a little scary!

We had such a great weekend! Thanks to Grandma and Uncle Jed for making the long trip out here and making this weekend so GREAT! Can't wait to see you again in 6 weeks.

This week...

Drew decided to shave his beard. His goal was to make to Halloween so he could be Bob Ross or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (the president of Iran) but we both got sick of the nasty beard.

Everyday this week Drew shaved his facial hair into a different masterpiece. It was funny until Drew forgot he looked ridiculous and got weird looks by the passers by. I'm so glad to have my naked faced Drew back.
Which look is your favorite?

Just recently we found out that Kentucky is famous for its caves. So now that we are calling Kentucky home we decided to get to know this state a little more and visit Carter Caves. The drive was BEAUTIFUL! I know I say that a lot about Kentucky but it's true. Eastern Kentucky is one of the prettiest places I have seen. The leaves had started changing and there's nothing out there but trees. I love fall!

So we took the tour of the caves and "learned" a lot from the over enthused forest ranger:) She kept saying how there was so much life in caves and not to bother all the creatures we'll run into. So the whole hike we were looking for the creatures and all we saw was a couple of tiny Indiana Brown Bats. The ranger was so weird but she really loved her job. Mac, me and the little brown thing on the cave wall is a bat. Exciting!
Friday we went to Boyd Orchards. Mac loved the ride in the wagon. They had a little dinky petting zoo that was pretty stinky. Mac spent most of the time playing on the hay and sliding down the plastic tubes.

The first time MAc went down the tube we sat Mac up and the whole way down he bumped his head on all the little ridges of the tube. We all thought it was funny including Mac.