My big little Utes fan!

He's little for a football fan BUT such a big boy!! His four month appointment was last week and he weighed in at a wopping 15 pounds! For all of you who understand this, because I didn't before Dylan, here are his stats...it's funny how excited I am to see these numbers at each appointment! He is staying fairly consistent, in the 95th percentile for height, 50th for weight and 90th for that gargantuan cranium (movie reference anyone?!?). If only they had a chart for utter cuteness!!

It's the most wonderful time...

This time of year is so incredibly busy ~ yet so incredibly fun!!

First)))) Ryan and I were married 9 years ago yesterday - how is that even possible?? I mean really, we must have been children when we got married...oh that's right, we were! As seen in the following pic (which I had to SCAN in! We are oldies!!) -->

Love you Ry!!

Second>>> We had our Christmas party with friends last weekend. Thanks Williams for hosting! I made my first turkey, well turkey breast... but still I made a yummy apple cider brine and, if I do say so myself, it turned out fantastic! Of course this party would not be complete without homemade orange rolls, I'm glad you all like them so much!! For some reason most of my pictures are a bit blurry but we still got the all important photo of the ladies. Dylan slept almost the entire time but he woke up to have some fun, he just loves all of the attention!

Finally~~~ Movie night is dedicated to Christmas movies this month! We kicked off with Kristi's choice of Christmas Vacation a classic that I am ashamed to admit I had never seen!!! I know you are asking "how is this possible?!" I didn't realize it either. I could have sworn I had seen it, I knew all of the references but when we sat down and started watching it I timidly admitted this was in fact my first time watching the movie! It was a big moment for all of us! Last week we watched my favorite Christmas Flick - don't make fun - White Christmas. I know it's old and a bit cheesy but I just love it! What a great time.... What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Dedicated: Latvia

We are so excited for Ryan's sister and her family who just found out they will be moving to Latvia for Kelly's work in the Foreign Service. You can read more on her blog but essentially we will be vacationing in Eastern Europe for the next couple of years before they move on to China... It's nice to have things planned for us!!
Love you guys ~ xoxox

Let the festivities begin...

I wasn't very good at taking pictures on Thanksgiving Day but I did get a few of Dylan helping me cook! We had a busy morning making homemade rolls, spinach dip and sweet potato casserole (the best recipe from Ruth's Chris - it's like candy!). This is Dylan learning how to play with the spatula, I say learning because gagged himself a few times at first. This sequence explains it all...isn't that such a sad face!



To get in the Christmas spirit we went to the Old World Market last week in Salt Lake. It was pretty small but I think it's a great idea and this was their first year. We bought Dylan an adorable new hat! After parking at the Gateway we took Trax to the Gallivan Center and then walked down Main Street to Temple Square. It was so fun and festive and Dylan was SUCH a good boy, he really loves being outside!! Along the way we stopped at Lambs Grill Cafe for hot chocolate. I had never been here but it's awesome! I really want to go back and eat there sometime. It's the oldest restaurant in Utah and it really feels like you step back in time, I loved it!

December? Really?

It's hard to believe that December is already here again, especially with this incredible weather! It seems like just yesterday I found out this little guy was on his way (it was 12/04/08) and now he is already 4 MONTHS OLD! He has become a jabber box lately as seen in these cute videos, the second one is kind of long but my favorite! He is also getting pretty good at his hand-eye coordination and sticking everything he can in his mouth. He loves to play on the floor and scoot around, I am sure in no time we will be chasing him all over the place! He is also quite a thinker and spends a lot of time really concentrating on things, he will have staring contests with his toys and watch people when we are out as if he knows what is really going on and we are the ones left in the dark... It's amazing to watch him learn new things every day!

***HAPPY 4 MONTH BIRTHDAY DILLY-DOO!***

What a change!

Here are some new pictures of the shop, for a reminder from a few weeks ago click here. I am so proud of all of our hard work! How awesome are our husbands for refinishing that beautiful floor!?!

My other funny boy...

Here are a few new pictures of Dylan! He is so funny these days!! In fact last night I was laughing so hard...quick story...He was in the tub and I had the hiccups, he was already doing his little squeal laugh and I was laughing with him when I hiccuped SO LOUD it scared him. He looked at me for a second like "what was that!?!" and then started full on laughing, his real genuine laugh! He just wouldn't stop! I was laughing at him and so he kept laughing because I was, it was hilarious! Seriously the cutest thing he has ever done!!

I love his expression in this first photo, I don't know why but he was flexing his arms like this for the last few minutes of the shoot. Do you think he is sick of us taking pictures!? :)

Ay Yi Yi - Who is this guy??

For those of you who know Ryan you know this is very out of character! For some reason he decided to grow a beard, which only lasted about a week and a half (still a record for him), but where would the fun be if he didn't mess around with it a bit when he did finally shave? First a little while with a goatee, no biggie I could handle it, but THEN hilarity ensued when he came out with this! Can you imagine?!? Well you don't have to it's right there but WOW who knew he could be so...um...errr...unattractive!

Thank goodness it was short lived ~

Love you Ry!!

A new 135lb friend for Dylan

Dylan with the enourmously awesome Dually!!

I should have mentioned that this is Ashlee's dog, not ours.
I think our dogs could be friends with him though!!

You Belong in 1981

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

What Year Do You Belong In?

I got this from Celeste! Take this fun little quiz and post your results in my comments I would love to see how we all compare! QUIZ HERE

Contagious Giggles

Last Thursday Dylan delighted us with his first real giggles!! So far this sincere laugh can only be coerced by Ryan and I suspect it will stay that way, he's much more funny than I! I am sure you won't be able to contain your own childish giggles listening to this cute little guy
... enjoy...

Weekend Flicks

I don't see many movies lately, our weekends fill too quickly with getting the new business ready and hanging out with friends and family but last weekend I was able to enjoy two excellent flicks!

*FIRST--> A movie I have wanted to see for what seems like years...but you know those movies you just have to see but every time you are perusing for something to watch you forget about it completely?  That is Once for me!  Finally Ryan's family had watched it at a movie night we missed and let us borrow it afterward, it still took me over a week and who knows how many late fees to get to it but I am SO happy I finally did.  Once is a very simple movie, low budget and sincere in it's story telling.  The music is incredible (even The Academy thinks so!) and the connection between the boy & girl appears genuine, perhaps because luckily for all of us viewers, it is!  The creators of this movie where successful in making you feel like you were peering, unseen into the lives of real people, a task rarely accomplished on the big screen.  I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt story, has a passion for music or simply needs a reminder of the personal impact from so many of life's relationships. 

>>>SECOND -- At a very distant position from Once on the movie spectrum  is a film in the unique styling of Baz Luhrmann called Strictly Ballroom.  Reminiscent of the mockumentary style of Christopher Guest, this movie takes viewers behind the scenes of the highly serious and competitive world of ballroom dancing in a way that only Baz Luhrmann can.  It's costumes, make-up, dancing and flair for the dramatic are delightful!  I want to have a party just to dress up like these flamboyant dancers!!  I had seen this movie years ago but got SO MUCH more into this time, thanks Jill for a great pick!  I recommend this movie to absolutely everyone for the colorful scenery, the creative filming and especially a good laugh!

Sending Dylan ~ First Class

My incredibly thoughtful friend Annie gave us these awesome stamps with cute little Dylan on them! It's seriously such a fun and creative idea, I can't wait to use them. Of course they can't be used on trivial things like bills...I'll have to find something special to send.

Thanks Annie ~ I love them!

photo.stamps.com

Two weekends ago...

November 2nd was a big day around here for three reasons...

{first} It was our little man's 3 month birthday ~ where does the time go??


{second} It was also his blessing day. His little outfit with the hat is the same one Ryan AND his Dad were blessed in, how cute is that?! My mom made the beautiful afghan and Ryan's mom made the adorable little sweater. Thanks to both Grandma's and Aunt Kristi for bringing the delicious food and to all of our loving family and friends who came to support.



{third} My mom turned the great big five-oh on the 29th of October and we celebrated 70s style with a surprise family party!!
*** HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM ***


No big surprise we were out by about 6pm!!

~ Linger ~

Ashlee, my incredibly talented "floral genius" friend, started her own floral company last year. She has done very well and I have been hoping for an opportunity to get involved! This last week she invited me to be partner, so here we go...

It's such an exciting time!! We spent the ENTIRE weekend getting the shop ready. It's a lovely and VERY OLD home in Millcreek. It was built in 1891 and needs a lot of work! We took out the carpet and our incredible husbands spent HOURS stripping glue and sanding the floor to perfection!! After all of our hard work this weekend we have it prepped and ready for paint and stain, I can't wait to see the finished product! She has a nice picture of the front on her blog and here is some documentation of the work we have to look forward too...

***Shark Attach***

Halloween is always one of my favorites!! We had so much fun with Dylan this year, even though to be perfectly honest, he didn't seem to care at all! I think he did have fun getting attention and watching the crazy kids run around him but that was the extent of his participation. Halloween day my mom and sister came up to play with him while I worked so we put him in his costume so they could see how cute it was, then that evening we took him to Aunt Jill's, Aunt Barbara's and our neighbor, Marlena's, houses. We were going to do a few more houses but he was pretty worn out by the end of all that, as seen in his sleepy car seat photo! Jim came by to see him as well and Florence was having fun in DC with our nephews. On Saturday we had a fun Halloween party at Chris & Annie's house. It was a great time! Ryan and I dressed up as Lifeguard shark bite victims...get it!?!
Thanks everyone for coming, dressing up and having fun with us!!

Aunt Kristi also got him some adorable racoon outfits and we couldn't resist taking some pictures in the hat!