Our Elf Dance

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My sister-in-law, Britanie, showed me this. I think it is absolutely hilarious!

Recent Happenings

Recently, I have been finding myself wondering how RRD convinced me to go back to work for them. In the four short months I had off I managed to suppress the memory of how horribly busy and stressful this time of year is. I know I shouldn't complain, especially with the economy, the fact that I get to work from home, flexible schedule, limited hours (although my work ethic becomes an issue and I still work mega-hours to get my deliverables out) and the pay is really good. Hmmm. . . now I remember how they convinced me. I must admit the hardest part is not working, it is the 11 to 12 hour days that are already starting and the fact that during the most important time of the year my family gets less of me. It is sad to say but at one point in my life I loved Christmas time and now I have to try very hard to not let it become just another thing I have to find time for. My goal this year has been to remember my priorities and to try my hardest to be better about having the Christmas spirit. To be honest, overall it is going well and we have been doing a lot of fun things but I am just too busy to post. So, below are a few snapshots of our recent happenings.

Decorating the Christmas Tree. This is such a fun year because Draven is loving every minute of it!Draven loves the snow and wants to play outside any time we get some. Kurt is such a good daddy and usually takes him outside. Kurt also took Drave to the movie, Bolt, the other day. They are buds!

Draven with the live reindeer.

Kurt trying to keep Audrik warm!

Santa! Draven cracks me up. The line was really long and so Drave just kept hollering, "Santa" over and over again trying to get his attention. Draven also loves to go around saying, "Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!" and of course every once in a while "Trick or Treat" still comes out. . .

6 Months Old

Audrik is 6 months old. I can't believe it. He is a bundle of fun and brings so much joy into our lifes! It is so great to watch him light up when Draven enters the room or to hear his little giggle. I tried to catch him on video but it is just a tiny one - I will try and get a better video of him later. We also found this wonderful jumper for a great deal at Walmart and he loves it. Draven never really cared for the jumper but Audrik loves his and he will jump and jump and jump. He has also recently found his tongue and has started reaching for people . . . so cute!

More Blessing Pics

. I know it is almost two months later but I have been told multiple times that I needed to post more pictures since you can't even see Audrik's face in the previous post. All of my pictures are still on my mom's camera so thank you to Kathleen and Barb for posting there pics so I could borrow some.

Moving

This last weekend went pretty well. Jan (my sister) helped me all day on Thursday and we got a ton packed up. Janet had a great time stuffing Audrik in all sorts of places: the closet, boxes, and anywhere he would fit. It made Thursday a lot more entertaining. Then on Friday we moved everything and got our old apartment cleaned - very impressive in my opinion. We would never have been able to do it without everyone pitching in and helping. My family is the best! I have never been good at asking for help and even when people offer I am bad at taking it, so. . . thank you for just stepping in and being there!

On Saturday we went bowling. It was Draven's first time and of course I couldn't find my camera but Barb took some pictures with her Blackberry so they are a little fuzzy, sorry. I was just happy to have some.

Big News!

I know in previous posts I have discussed the fact that although I am a true planner and really like to be organized - my life just doesn't work that way. Nothing is simple and no matter how well I plan nothing goes the way I envision it to. We are moving in a week (yep, number 7 since we were married almost 7 years ago). This isn't the big news but I should have known something else was coming since we never move without something else happening at the same time. Twice it has been an addition to the family, once I had work meetings (and Kurt packed and moved us), and on and on the list goes.
To the point of this post. . . a few weeks ago I received a very surprising phone call. It was my previous boss from RRD in Thurmont, Maryland. After the pleasantries he came right out and asked if they hired me back on under Thurmont if I would be willing to come back to work. Without a second of hesitation I said NO! Then I had to be the logical soul I am and say but maybe I would be willing to work one to two days a week depending on the offer. Since, he is only working as a contractor for RRD on Fridays he said he would pass the word on. I received an email a week ago offering me a position at 20 hours a week and with a slight increase in pay. So, I made an extremely ridiculous counter offer (in my opinion) thinking they would never go for it. Well, who would have guessed but they called and agreed to all of my conditions and now I am going back to work. Aaaahhhhh. I really don't know what else to say. I have no desire to go back to work but I logically can not say no (they made it nearly impossible). Plus, to be perfectly honest I see the Lord's hand in this and what a huge blessing it will be for my family. We can save for Kurt's doctorate school and it will help in the long run. We are so truly blessed.
Sorry for the rambling . . . you can tell I am still a little shocked :).

Geocaching

Last night we went geocaching for FHE. It was so much fun! Jim and Britanie planned the night and they did an awesome job. We split into three groups and we each had four caches to find. After the caches were found we went back to their house and ate pizza, veggies and angel food cake for Maddie's birthday. I hadn't ever been geocaching before and had a blast!

Bill, Dusty and Caleb after finding one of the caches.
The Gang
What a hottie!
Kenzie and Maddie - Maddie turned 4 years old.

Audrik's Blessing Day

We are so blessed! We have such an amazing support group. Thank you so much to everyone who was able to make it. We missed those of you who were to far away or had to work. It was a wonderful day.

Random Pictures

Grandpa Richard and Draven
Uncle Luke and Audrik
Draven and his cape. Draven has loved his bear blankie since he was a baby and it is still his favorite. Randomly, he received two of the exact same blanket so that is a huge blessing! If one is in the wash then we have a backup.

The Last Couple of Weeks

We have had so much fun during the last few weeks - I am so sad I was bad about taking my camera. We took Audrik hiking on the Crimson Trail for his first hike. Draven and him both did well but Kurt and I thought we were going to die :). I seriously hurt for days and, of course, Kurt was fine as soon as it was over.
Then a few days later my dad, Nicole and Dawson (Bill's wife and boy) came down and we went to the park and had dinner. We went to Ryan's place which is our favorite park to go to. My dad was hilarious and so good with Draven and Dawson! He went down the slides, rode in the tire swing, and pretended to be running from the pirates in the wooden boat they have there. I really wish I had my camera because there were some great picture moments.
The following Monday we went up the canyon to third dam to do a hotdog roast for FHE. It had been a yucky day earlier so I was worried it would be too cold for Audrik but it was really nice. Another Audrik first - he seemed to really like the camp fire and just chilled in his stroller. I love campfire and roasted hotdogs!
The best news of all. . . my mom and Bill came home last Thursday. It is so good to have them back from Alaska. Since they got home we have taken the boat out for one last time and also have gotten together for Sunday dinner. I am so glad to have them back!

Heaton David Ledbetter

My good friend and old roommate, Cindy Lu, just had her baby. I know that some of you have also lived with Cin or know her through me so I thought I would share the adorable pics. He was born on September 8th and weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. I am so excited for her and David!

My Little Exhibitionist

Kurt and I have been trying to potty train Draven and, to be quite honest, it hasn't been going well. So far we have had two successful attempts in the toilet and countless accidents. Draven will pee in his undies and then just strip down or lately he will somehow manage to pee on the floor or couch without even getting himself wet. I am not sure how he is managing this since I haven't witnessed the act itself but instead was informed of the situation by the little stinker himself when he came and told me "Momma, I pee on the couch." You can just imagine my joy over that one. Getting to the point . . . the other day we put Draven in his big boy (Lightning McQueen) undies, set the timer for 30 minutes and geared up for another exciting day in the potty training world. Draven really wanted to go outside so Kurt let him out in the play area in the middle of our apartment complex. There are three apartment buildings (a total of 36 apartments) set in a triangle and in the middle there is a grass area and a sand area with play equipment. It is really nice and gated so that it is an enclosed area - plus the bottom apartments (like ours) have access from their back doors. So, after Draven had been playing for maybe 5 minutes Kurt went out to check on Drave and found quite the surprise. Our little angel was sitting in one corner of the sand area "checking out his equipment" with his pants in another corner and his undies halfway between. Kurt about died (lol). I just have to laugh thinking about Kurt's reaction. Kurt hauled Draven inside and told him to come and tell me what he had been doing. I am sure a lot of people either got a good laugh or saw more than they wanted that day.

Kurt and Draven in the common area.

Audrik is 3 Months Old!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was nice. We relaxed, helped move Nicole into her and Bill's new house and took Audrik boating for the first time.

Draven is such a good big brother! He climbed on the couch by Audrik, covered him up, and laid down by him to watch "toons".

Bill and Nicole's house. Super cute!

Their gorgeous view.

Boating with the boys

Jim and Britanie

Friends: Kevin, Megan and Lukas

More Pictures of the Boys. . .

These were taken at the end of July. Which was quite an experience. I did pictures two days in a row because I hated every single picture of Audrik that JCPenney took so I went to Kiddie Kandids the next day for more pictures of the little guy. The first day went fine, other than the fact that I only liked a few of the pictures, but the second day was horrible! It took over two hours to finish because Audrik got hungry and was trying to eat everything in sight so we had to do pictures in installments (letting a few appts get their pictures taken in between the times Audrik would cooperate). I literally lost Draven at least twice. Once he ran out of the bathroom ahead of me and luckily some sweet lady saw him running out of the store and grabbed him (I was grateful but slightly embarassed). The second time he ran off when I was trying to pick out pictures at the end and I finally found him by the front of the mall on the little quarter rides (you know the cars, horses, etc.). Needless to say I don't know how long I will need to get over the whole experience and get the nerve to try it again. Maybe next time I will just be smarter and make another adult go with me.

This is my favorite! It is so goofy but just seems to really reflect their little personalities.

Brothers

So, I came across Draven's baby pictures and thought it would be fun to compare him and Audrik at this age.

Audrik

Draven

Memory Game

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

Dresden's Baby Blessing

Doug and Jenny blessed Dresden last Sunday. The blessing was beautiful and Dresden looked so good in his little blessing outfit that Jen made him.

Chris and Dresden

Kurt, Dad, Bill and Kendra

Jen and Doug

Mmmm Mmmm Good!

When I was little my parents would take us up the canyon to pick huckleberries. We always ate more than we picked but it was a good time. Then before my parents started spending their summers in Alaska my mom and I would go up at least two or three times, in a two week period, and try and pick as many as possible. Those are some good memories. It was a great time to just talk and spend time together. It has been a while but I finally made it back this year to our huckleberry patch. My dad is down for a couple of weeks to do relief work at Cache Meadow Vet Clinic so we convinced him to join us. It was a blast! Janet's family, my family and dad all went up Saturday afternoon. We picked berries and had dinner together. Then Jan and I decided we just didn't get enough :). So, yesterday Janet, Nicole, Dawson and I all went back up. I have decided we are diehard - since it rained and we still picked and picked and picked!

Bloomington Lake

I love Bloomington Lake. I have been going there since I was a little girl so I have so many wonderful memories of the place. I was a little bummed because they have started to maintain the road and have added restrooms at the trailhead making it a lot more crowded then it used to be. We still had a blast, and it seemed to clear out within an hour or two of us getting there. They also have removed the rope swing and it has been tied on at a lower spot so it is scary (I didn't dare go because it doesn't carry you out far enough) but there is always the cliffs and a great rock to jump off of. If you live in Cache Valley and haven't ever been to Bloomington Lake then I would highly recommend it!!

I DID IT!

I finally told work I am quitting. That's right boys and girls. . . as of 4:00 p.m. on August 15th I am a free woman. This has been a very hard decision, and I am a little nervous, definitely anxious and very very excited! Good thing I have an amazingly supportive husband who has listened to me change my mind about a hundred times. I have been with the company for eight years so it will be strange doing something else. I find a lot of pleasure in what I have accomplished so it will be sad not to see where it goes from here. I also love the liberating feeling and the pleasure I get from knowing I can support my family. This will be a big adjustment for me. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to stay home with the boys but it is a huge change and definitely requires a different mentality. All I can say is . . . bring on the new adventure!

Six Weeks Old. . .

and growing so fast! Audrik now:

• makes cute cooing noises - I love it!
• follows you with his eyes.
• sleeps even better at night (last night was 7 hours).
• and my favorite and most shocking - rolls over. Yep, you read that right. Yesterday he rolled from his belly to his back twice. Craziness!

I have the most amazing support group. I have always known this but it is during times like this that you realize it that much more. I just want to say thank you to everyone for all of the support and love during this fun, new and exciting time in our lives. We have really appreciated all of the visits, phone calls, gifts and words of encouragement. You all are the best!

Our Week At A Glance

This week has been so much fun with a lot going on.
Monday: Family Home Evening, we met up with some of my family in Preston. We had tinfoil dinners and played dominos. I love tinfoil dinners!
Tuesday: This was our weekly water day. We met at Mack park in Smithfield to let the kids play in the creek. Draven had a great time especially with all the rocks to throw.
Maddie, Draven, Dusty, and Wes playing in the creek.






Dusty and Wes.
I had to work hard for those smiles!







Wednesday: To be honest, I can't remember what we did :).
Thursday: One of my good friends took me to lunch for my birthday and I got to run errands that night. (Sounds funny, I know, but running errands is like a break these days).
Friday: My sister, Janet, and I were going to pick peas in Cove but they had plowed the field under so we ended up at McDonald's which was fine because the kids had a good time in the playland. Then we went to a park in Hyde Park. Ohhh - and Jan gave me rice krispie treats, blackberries, and strawberries for my b-day. Yummy! Rice Krispies are my favorite and she made some really good ones!! That evening Draven started throwing up and running a fever (the only bad thing this week) then around 7 p.m. Kurt's parents showed up for the weekend.
Saturday: Played some tennis and spent time with Kurt's parents. That night they took Kurt and I to dinner for my birthday.
Sunday: Who knows, the day is still young. . . but I am now officially the big 30!
Kurt's parents, Carol and Richard, holding Audrik.