Time to fly

We're headed to Arizona today to celebrate Christmas with some of my family! Nothing like a toddler on your lap for two flights well past her bedtime- at least I'll have Spencer with me this time!

Okay, people

I need to get serious. I haven't been very good at this blogging thing.

On Monday we went on a family date to the Gateway. We had a buy one get one voucher for Tucanos, so we had a lovely meal full of meat and pão de queijo.

We headed over to Temple Square after that to check out the lights, which is something that we haven't bothered to do for the last 3 years or so (mostly due to fear of being trampled by the crowd near the manger scene.)

This is the only picture I actually got with some lights in it. Abby was in the stroller most of the time, and as it turns out that while Monday night was a pretty good night to go- lighter foot traffic than I remember in the past- it is hard to get a good angle on a picture with both a kid in a stroller and lights on a tall tree.

So here is Spencer explaining the manger scene. We have a few books about the real reason for celebrating Christmas, and so I think she got the gist. Either that, or she is finally used to us saying the words "manger," "wise men," "donkey," and "shepherd" over and over again. She may also be a little confused about the Baby Jesus versus grown up Jesus... she already calls most babies "Abby," I wonder if she'll start calling them "Jesus" too?

Here is the real gem of the evening:

Fun fact: 8 years ago in that very spot- in front of the temple, sitting against the reflection pool, Spencer proposed to me at Christmastime. We were squashed between a pack of teenagers/college kids (when did I get too old to tell the difference between those two?) and a big family, and they all stared to watch as Spencer sunk down on one knee. I have to say I was a little embarrassed, and I quickly said yes and let him put the ring on me.  I am now embarrassed to admit that I was embarrassed, (I don't think it would have been less private unless there was also a spotlight on us) but we ended up okay!

The following is what happens when we justbarely miss our train and have to wait for the next one.

The end.

Thanksgiving

The days preceding Thanksgiving consisted of making cinnamon rolls...

...and of visiting with my parents who drove in for a brief visit from Arizona (it will please my mom to note that Ab was sleeping when my parents came over to see us; she hadn't seen them since September. When she finally woke up she [Abby] went right to her [my mom] and gave her a big, huge smile right away, with no easing-in. She feels this is important to note, as she is the grandmother Abby sees less often.)

Abby has this peculiar habit of not wanting to take her coat off when we arrive at our destination, especially if she isn't 100% comfortable where she is. Often at church she'll make us leave her coat on when we drop her off at nursery, and she is still wearing it when we pick her up.
Thanksgiving day she left her coat on for probably an hour or two until we finally coaxed it off her.

Playing with Aunt Andrea, and Piglet. Piglet is her absolute favorite thing ever. Ever. She loves Andrea too, but not like Piglet.

Mom and Dad stopped by after their dinner at Carries for pie.

There was an injury. Boys playing football in the street. Scrapes on hands and knees. Emergency first aid in the kitchen while the dinner is still being prepared. And after Spencer was all bandaged up and bleeding through his wrappings, he suggests going outside to continue playing. Again. With gashes on each palm and knee. Ask me how excited I was about that idea. Stupid boys.

He is healing nicely, considering where the scrapes are. Abby points to them whenever she sees them and says "owie." I love hearing real words come out in her little voice.

This picture wasn't from Thanksgiving, but it is proof that Mom and Dad came to visit us in SoOgden one more time.
Now that I'm finally feeling better (bronchitis) let's get on to Christmas!

Trying again...

So here I am, although not to blog about things that have been neglected (Thanksgiving, Abby videos, new words, etc...) but to try again to win a dress from Shabby Apple!
I have blogged about it before trying to win something, so don't think me totally lame to try and do it again. Thank you.

Today's giveaway is over at Houghton Happenings, who routinely does TONS of giveaways for mostly kids, but sometimes moms as well. Hence super awesome Shabby Apple giveaway. Go check her out and win a dress!

Thanksgiving

source

Happy almost Thanksgiving and a Flashback

 

Happy Thanksgiving, people. I hope you have a fantastic holiday. I will be seeing both parents and parents in law, and eating pie. What will you do?

It's fun seeing pictures of my daughter from last year, right? I think so. These are exactly one year old.

Love it.

I will be making this as well. I know it isn't very Thanksgiving-y, but this recipe is tried and true. Spencer loves it (he isn't a big pie fan, and he wants me to make this as often as I am willing.)

Banana Cream Pie

3/4 C sugar
1/3 C flour
1/4 t salt
2 C milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 T butter
1 1/4 t vanilla
4 bananas
graham cracker crust (either homemade or store bought)

In saucepan, combine sugar, flour, and salt. Add milk gradually while stirring. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly, till bubbly. Keep stirring, cook 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
Beat egg yolks. Stir in small amount of hot mixture into beaten egg yolks. Immediately add yolk mixture. Cook 2 more minutes on medium heat, stirring. Take off heat, add butter and vanilla. Stir till smooth consistency.
Slice bananas into pie crust. Top with pudding mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Chill for at least an hour before serving.
Serve with whipped cream.

Sleepy time

I took this video a few weeks ago, right around the time I was trying to figure out exactly when Abby needed to go town for her nap. She has been flirting with dropping her second nap for several months, and recently the last few weeks I've stopped trying to put her down for an afternoon nap because I know she just won't sleep.

This begs the question: when do I start the one long nap of the day? Do I put her down only an hour after I'd have put her down for her morning nap? Before lunch? After? Her tired cues changed from day to day. This resulted in a few fun days of me putting her down for a nap, Abby playing and resolutely not sleeping, taking her out and trying again a few hours later, just to have her play and not sleep again. Usually on those days, the third time was the charm and she finally napped after her two misses. We had a lot of un-productiveness on those days.

And on to the video. She was eating her lunch. I was doing dishes when I looked up and saw her. The camera is shaking because I couldn't stop laughing.

P.S. Cornbread. Cornbread everywhere. On face, in hair, on clothes, in crib.

Baby Abby

This is old news to anyone who has seen Abby recently, or for anyone who sat next to us in church yesterday, but Abby lately only wants to say her own name over and over. This is both amusing to me, and progressive for my little non-talker. I can actually understand what she is saying! She chooses to not say words that she knows, for anyone out there keeping track.
This video was taken 2 and half weeks ago. Her "abby abby abby" has gotten a lot more refined since then. Cause she's a sophisticated Abby.

Back it up

I wanted to back it up a little bit and post about Keena's visit to Utah at the end of October. She was in Utah on a business trip. I think that is pretty amazing, since Utah is hardly the trendy and consumer-driven city like those she normally visits for work... she works for the clothing label Mango, which has super cute clothes and accessories, and has frequently travels all over the US and sometimes out of the country. Mango recently collaborated with JC Penny to develop a line called MNG by Mango, and she was in town with a coworker to oversee how the Utah JC Pennys were doing.

Naturally, we got together with Carrie, Daniel, Colton, and Chloe a few times.

Playing with the kiddos on the stairs at the Gateway

Keena was only in town for 2 and half days, so the afternoon of her last day we braved Gardner Village, which was both fun and a big mistake.

Fun: Awesome decorations, lots of fun stuff going on, cute stores to look through. It definitely puts you in all kinds of holiday spirits... multiple holidays!

Fun: Time to visit with family, really beautiful weather.

Fun: Halloween costumes galore.

Fun: sister time.

Bad idea: Crazy parking. It took us like, 10 minutes to even turn off the street and into the village, then actually park the car. Busy, busy, busy.

Bad idea: SUPER PACKED with SO MANY people. Strollers galore. Every store we went in, we were rubbing elbows with strangers. Don't even think about trying to get into the sweet shops. I was really looking forward to getting some fudge, too.

We made it out alive and hung out until it was time to take Keena to the airport.

It has been so wonderful to be able to see Aunt Keena so much lately, and I know Abby will be excited to see her at Christmastime, too.

And by the way, I own several Mango clothing items, and I love them all. Just sayin'.

Hello Fall

It's been so very nice here lately. Even though the leaves have already gone from green to yellow to red to falling, I feel like fall is only just starting to come. I'm glad it has been warmer than usual, and so is Abby. I am thinking we'll have to take a little walk in the stroller this morning.

It's time for sweaters and hot chocolate and cider and scarves and boots!

Also, it's always a good time to make waffles with your daddy.