2013: A Year in Review

Today is the last day of 2013.  I took down my 2013 calendar today, and put up my newly schedule-updated 2014 calendar.  As I was flipping through the old calendar, I thought- hey!  I could do a recap of the whole year's events with this thing!  A lot of people send out a newsletter at Christmas recapping all the years big events, so I suppose this is mine.

-We started out the new year at Andrew's parent's house with a party and some hot tubbing.
-I started my new cleaning schedule that I still stick to today. (Mondays: dusting, Tuesdays: laundry, Wed: bathrooms, Thur: floors, Fri: basement)
-We went tubing at soldier hollow with VoNique, Jared, Venicia, Spencer, Kevin, JaNel, Paul, and Mariam (Sp?)
-We went to St. George/Zion's national park with the Titensors.
-I started keeping track of my cycles (yup, marked it right there on the calendar!)
-We had our 6th anniversary which we celebrated in Moab when I, Laura, Dad, and Vince O. ran the Moab Half Marathon.
-My Grandma Ann got married to Elwood Clark
-We went to a session down town for General Conference in April.
-We took Malcolm to Physical Therapy to see why he wasn't walking yet.  The answer: he just didn't want to.
-I went to Vegas for 4 days with my Mom and Sister and our kiddos.  Where we learned that single parenting bites.  :)
-The Hibberts came and camped out in our front yard in their RV for a few days and stayed for a week.
-We went to Bridget's Ice Skating recital
-Denali turned 1, and had a lemonade party.
-We went to City of Rocks with my family and did a little rock climbing.  (Malcolm had been walking by then.)
-We went to the Scottish Festival.
-I went to girls camp right in the middle of when Ryan's parents were in town and we all went to the big Green Reunion.  Also while I was at Girl's Camp, we gained a new neice.  Ryan's sister gave birth to Soleil while her parents were down here with us!
-We went to my Grandma's annual 4th of july party, and the next day we went to Joes Crabshack, where the infamous post-night shift Ashley quote of, "We should hang out less" came from.
-My cousin Karina got married, and we all went to her reception and then of to Lava where we announced to my family that we were expecting baby #2!
-Malcolm turned 2 and we had a fire truck themed party.
-Laura, Andrew, and Denali moved in and stayed for 6 months.
-I became a charge nurse.
-We had dinner with all my old highschool girlfriends.
-We camped out with the titensors and the ovensons in the Uintas and spent lots of time fishing.  Oh and drove all the way home when Malcolm wouldn't sleep.
-We had a week long vacation camping in Yellowstone with my family.  We celebrated Ryan's birthday while there.
-We went to the state fair with the Titensors and Jordan and Kell.
-Ryan bought a motorcycle, and took motorcycle classes to get his license.
-Brenna had our new little nephew, Asher.  My friend Mara, had her first little girl, Gracie.
-We went to the octoberfest and Ryan and Mal rode the Alpine Slide.  We also watched the BYU/U of U football game.  And Bronco didn't shake hands with Kyle Whittingham afterward, and BYU fans threw stuff at the refs when they left.
-We went to some jazz games and had some game nights with family.
-Ryan started singing with the Utah Voices Choir.
-We went to the Vandenberg Halloween party, and Malcolm was the cutest hobbit ever.
-We enrolled Malcolm in 6 weeks of swim lessons, which he ended up loving.  (We still need to get back in the pool to remind him of his "skills")
-We went to a murder mystery dinner thrown by VeNicia and Spencer, where we laughed--a LOT.
-My Grandma Irene died from ovarian cancer.
-We had thanksgiving at my Grandma McAllister's house.
-Ryan sang with the Utah Voices, and I missed the concert because I had to work.  :(
-Grandma Ann fell down her garage stairs a week before Christmas and remains in the ICU at Mckay Dee with a bad head injury.  Hopefully good news will come of that in the coming new year.
-We had many a fun Christmas party, including a surprise party for Ryan's friend Sean who was visiting from Boston.
-We celebrated Christmas, after I worked a night shift.  It was a pretty low-key day.  We had so much fun watching Malcolm open his presents and play with his new things.  And I would do something, then nap, then do another thing, then nap, then do something else, then nap.  It was fun.

Now we look on to the next year full of much more fun.  For one thing, we're gonna have a baby!  Ack!  and it's a girl!  We hope to make it to Alaska for a visit, too.  I'm sure we'll camp out some more, and have many more adventures.  Here's to a great year and a great future!

The December Busies

Since I posted on Thanksgiving, the holidays have been in full swing!  We've been a busy bunch.  I can't even remember all the stuff we've been up to.  I've tried to keep track though, so I can record it.  2013 is sure headed out with a bang!

First of all, I've been really busy myself picking up extra shifts.  Because of some sick calls and vacation time, I got an email letting me know my benefits eligible hours were low and that if I didn't bring them up I could lost my benefits at the end of this quarter.  Ack!  There's a baby due in February,  NOT a good time to lose my insurance!  I spent about 3 weeks at about full time.  I was beat!  Then I got the paychecks... Whew!  I should always pick up shifts just before Christmas!  :)

Between extra shifts, we also made it out to some fun stuff.  Allow me to look at my phone's notepad where I keep a log of stuff "to blog".

There was about a week, that every afternoon Mal and I were battling the lines at retail stores.  I went to Costco, seriously, 4 days in a row.  Ugh!  I did the majority of my Christmas shopping online, but there's always something else.  I'm pleased to say that I'm done!  Holla!

Early in the month, we went for one of our favorite traditions of eating sushi and visiting Temple Square with Mary and Vince and Mara and Jae.  Unfortunately, the Horrocks' didn't make it last minute, and we missed them.  The night was freeeeeeezing, but we still managed to have fun.  We brought along Malcomolm, (we usually leave him home for this one) and he provided a very slow light looking pace. Plus plenty of distractions we often forget about as adults.  (Stepping in the snow, brushing all the snow off the planter edges, touching the lights, running down ramps!) We're glad our friends, the Oveson's, came up with such a fun tradition.

This last weekend brought a full Saturday.  Laura threw me a baby "sprinkle" in the morning.  It was so fun to see all the ladies from both Ryan and I's families and some friends too.  They all gave me such great gifts, and though I still feel a little silly having a shower for a second baby (though I'm totally good with throwing them and going to them for other people), I feel so relieved having something to put this little girl into that's not covered in footballs and things. :)  It was such a blessing.  (Thanks Laura!)
That afternoon, I finally got my hair cut.  I say finally, because I needed one so bad!  My last hair cuts were compliments of myself, and then I let it grow and grow and it was just... not nice anymore.  I ended up taking a recommendation from my Uncle, Tom, and while I was there, I saw his wife, Jana and cousin Hailey. Hailey was getting her hair done for a dance later that night.  It's fun to run into people not in a family party setting.  With so many people at a party it's hard to really talk to anyone.
That evening, we headed down to Provo and went to a combined birthday party for Jared and VoNique.  They have birthdays that are right near Christmas and it's hard to fit in yet another thing, so they tend to throw a combo party earlier in the month.  It was fun!  They had everyone come to the Provo Rec center for wally ball, basketball, and swimming.  I participated in the swimming only.  Afterward, we went back to their house for games and food.  It was so fun!  We were Malcolmless, as he was having a sleepover + adventure time with grandma and grandpa and all the cousins that weekend.

The next day we had our annual tradition of a "Scrooge night" at my parent's house.  We did fondue this year though, sort of as a remembering Hibby thing.  Usually we have food that goes along with the parts of the movie.  Though over tired grandkids had to leave early, we managed to stay through the whole evening and enjoyed ourselves completely.

I think that's a fairly complete recap of our lives these last couple of weeks.  I'll try to keep up with my blog with all the soon to come parties and fun and Christmas!

Feeling Christmassy

It's 8 days until Christmas.  I've wrapped presents.  We've visited Temple Square, driven through Christmas lights, watched Christmas movies, sang all the carols... Yet I've felt like that "Christmas feeling" just wasn't there.  
Until today.  Today, I put on some Christmas music, and made Gingerbread cookies.  It's not even something that's a tradition.  I've made gingerbread at total of maybe 2 times in my life.  It just sounded yummy.  It totally did the trick!  There I was, with Malcolm, punching out cookies and listening to the music and it hit me.  Ahhh.... Christmas time.
Mal had a good time too.  He ate so much dough!  I never expected him to like gingerbread so much.  He snarffed a TON of dough! Then licked the frosting off the beaters and frosted his own cookie which he ate completely gone in like 5 seconds.  He loved the sprinkles!
The gingerbread hit the spot and made the whole house smell like Christmas.

Showing off his cookie cutter. (Notice the cookie dough smear on his face already.)

Our completed project.  A little combo of gingerbread and sugar cookies.  They were delicious.  I might have eaten 3 or more...

Thanks 2013

Today is Thanksgiving.  Time to count all you have to be thankful for this year.  Here's my list.

1. Being a mom.  It's life changing and the coolest thing I've ever done.  It's not always easy, even with my easy peasy kid.  It's so worth it though!  And this year, we've been baking kid #2.  So count that as a thankful too: getting pregnant with another, and an easier pregnancy than the first.  (Minus that month of back pain, over all it's been pretty good.)

2. Baby kicks.  To go with #1, and because she's been practically summersaulting while I'm typing this.  Though my pregnancies haven't been bad as far as sickness, etc. goes, I'll never claim to love pregnancy.  Baby kicks are a saving grace.  I try to enjoy them for the little time I can.  With Mal I had an anterior placenta, so it seems like this one is moving so much more than he did.  I think I can just feel them better.

3. Ryan. Life would be 10 times not as awesome if it weren't for him.  He's my companion, my best friend, my partner.  I'd be very lost without him being as great as he is.  I made a good choice in a spouse, and I'll always be grateful.

4. Our livelihood.  We're not rich, and never will be, but we have what we need, plus extra.  We get to take the occasional vacation, we get to live comfortably.  Thanksgiving is a good time to remind myself how much we have.  Also how far we've come.  This is probably the first year we have been really good about accounting for every penny spent and kept to our budgets.  Though tracking every cent makes me feel poor sometimes.  Suddenly, things seem to cost so much more because I can say that it's ____ % of the budget all in one item, etc.

5. Our Health.  Aside from a few colds, and my back injury in September, we've been mostly healthy and happy.  If you're sick, everything else is so much harder.  So I'm especially grateful to be healthy and strong.

6. Family.  Yet again, this year Malcolm was babysat on the days I work by family and all for free!  I'm so grateful to my mom, Laura, and  Brenna for being willing to take care of Malcolm while I worked or slept off night shifts. I'm grateful for fun Sunday dinners and that my siblings are some of my best friends. I'm grateful for family close, and family far away.  It was nice to see Ryan's family this past year.  Fun to have the Hibberts stay with us for a while, and a fun family reunion last summer.  We miss them so much.  I'm grateful to have such great in-laws.  Some people have some stories of crazy in-laws and I do not envy them.  I wish my in-laws lived closer!

7. Our home.  Even though caring for our own home can be challenging, I really like it.  I love having a place all our own.  I especially love being able to share it, whether it's with just my visiting teachers or the Young Women.  Or these last almost 6 months that we've shared it with the Titensors.  It's nice to be able to open my home to others.  I'll add to that that I've been grateful for the time we've spent with the Titensors.  It's been fun to spend so much time with Laura and for Malcolm and Denali to play.  I think I will miss them when they leave.

8. The gospel.  Can't count my blessings without counting that one!  It's a wonderful anchor and blessing in our home.  It hasn't always been the easiest year of going to church with a toddler.  I haven't been very good at keeping up with my spiritual feeding either.  I still believe it though, and I know I'm happiest when living the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for my calling in the Young Women's presidency.  Though I claim to be getting burnt out after 4 years in 3 wards' Young Women's presidencies, I know that without the weekly reminders of how I should be living I wouldn't be doing well today.

That's my list, not very long, not at all comprehensive.  It's a good one though.  I hope your thanksgiving is a good one and you remember all that you have to be thankful for.

C'mon Ride The Train

One day I got a brilliant idea that I'd take Malcolm downtown via the Trax train and we'd visit the library, have some lunch, and go to Trader Joes.  There was a book I had on hold at the Downtown library, and some things I wanted at Trader Joes.  Since they're both right on the Trax route, I thought it would make a fun trip of it.
Oh boy... it happened, but took 10 times as long and was 10 times as frustrating as I wanted it to be.  Malcolm still talks about riding the train, and the "elegator" at the library, so it must have been somewhat successful.
We got to the park and ride lot and walked to the station only to discover they don't take credit cards.  So back in the car we go to the bank that is several blocks away.  I didn't want tons of change from the machine, so I used the teller window.  Thanks to my bad driving skills and my giant belly, I couldn't reach the tube and had to keep opening and shutting my door.  Then on to another park and ride lot near the bank that Oh!  low and behold... takes credit cards. Though it takes credit cards, the machine lacked explanations of what ticket means what, so as I'm deciding and trying to get information, our train comes and goes.  Luckily it's only 15 minutes until the next one, but the minutes keep adding up...
We rode to the library without much of a hitch.  I wanted to look for other books besides the one I had on hold, and while he was waiting, Malcolm got out one of his own books to look at while I searched.  Which we ended up leaving in the stacks but remembering just as we were checking out.  So we took about 4 rides on the elevator up and down and up and down.  They're glass elevators though, so it's fun.  Malcolm insisted I hold him after the first ride.  It's scary being able to see the ground beneath fall away!
Then on to lunch, where hungry Mal was starting to show.  Through some tears, we finally got settled.
The rest of the trip wasn't too eventful, though it was lengthened even more after going to Trader Joes because I had to keep prompting Malcolm to walk.  I couldn't carry him with all those bags plus baby!

We got home just a little after nap time, and crashed! I think next time we take the train, I'll be sure to make it only one stop, and quadruple the time I plan on it taking.

Waiting for the train.  At least the trip to the bank provided us with a sucker to keep him occupied!

Lunch!

Grandma Irene

I've always jokingly bragged that I have extra grandmothers.  My dad's dad was married 3 times so I had a total of 4 grandma's from both sides.  I'm now down to the normal two.  Though I only mean here on earth am I missing them.  My Grandma Irene, my dad's stepmom, passed away after battling ovarian cancer for a while.  She had undergone a couple chemo treatments, but got really ill and was in a lot of pain after the second one.  I actually didn't go to see her during her illness because, believe it or not with all the sick people I see all the time, I preferred to remember her healthy.  She was drugged up and not awake, so I couldn't have talked to her anyway.  I know for other people this wouldn't have been the way to go, but for me, it worked.  

She was a great lady, and I really loved being able to hear about her life from her two daughters and my uncle.  I always remember how funny and full of laughter and smiles she was.  She was an excellent story teller, and I'll miss seeing her these holidays.  I still remember going to her house every New Years Eve and eating fondue and playing games.  Strangely, the smell of Pepsi mixed with ice from a home freezer still reminds me of Hibby.  Because I never drank caffeine as a kid except on New Years eve and it seemed to always be Pepsi with ice.  

Ryan was able to take the day of her funeral off, which was a huge blessing to me.  I had to work the night before, so I was very sleep deprived.  He managed Malcolm during the services so my frazzled brain could participate on only one thing: Grandma Hibby.  

The pallbearers

The cemetery provided a golf cart for those that had a harder time walking.  Malcolm thought it was pretty awesome.

Her casket was really pretty.  

Irene's plot wasn't very far from where my Dad's mom is buried, so we went and visited her grave site after Hibby's services.

First Haircut

Most kids, I'm sure, get a haircut before they are over 2 years old.  My poor bald child
(and likely the next won't have much hair either) had his first haircut this week!  It was long and short in crazy silly ways.  Though I loved his little curls, they just turned into wacky fuzz after one time sleeping on them.  So I took him to a Cookie Cutters where they specialize in cutting kids hair.  I was nervous because I had attempted to cut his hair multiple times before with no cooperation (make that lots of fighting).  But he did great!  Whether it was the stranger factor, or the sitting in the car watching Mickey Mouse, I don't know, but he sat real still and did awesome!

He looks good with it all trimmed up too.

 You know those days when you really should have just stayed home?  This was one of those days.  Our little outings turn into quite the adventures sometimes.  We went to Kneaders for lunch before his haircut, mostly because I wanted to buy rolls.  They were out of the rolls I wanted.  Then as we were eating I realized I didn't have my phone, or a camera of any kind.  I know I'm a little crazy, but I wasn't going to cut Malcolm's hair without at least one picture of the first haircut.  I mean, people save baby hair for crying out loud!  It's a milestone!  :)
I thought to myself, "Did I seriously just drive to Bountiful so I could eat at Kneaders and that's it?!  There's a Kneaders closer to my house and less expensive places to eat! (Although Kneaders is delicious!)"
Luckily, I found a random camera at my mom's house, and absconded it for the afternoon.  So it wasn't all a loss.

I know, third world problems.  Crazy middle class white lady whining.  Sometimes stupid things are frustrating.

More Malcolmisms

I keep a running note in my iPhone of all the silly things Malcolm does or says.  Well, most of them.  He cracks me up more and more as he's able to talk more and more.

Leaving the house with a two year old is... well, those of you who know, know.  So we're in the car leaving for lunch and Malcolm is crying and crying because Ryan had carried him to the car instead of letting him walk.  "Macom walk!"  We ask him if he wants some fries.  He immediatly perks up and smiles and says cheerily, "Yeah!"  then giggles and proclaims, "Macom happy now!"

We were at the luncheon after my Grandma's funeral (post later), Malcolm says to Bridget across the way, "Bridget, a eating a yummy?"
She replies, "Yeah, I like it with butter" (eating a roll)
Malcolm: "Yeah?"
Bridget: "I like butter."
Malcolm: "Yeah?"
It was adorable that he just started up a conversation with his cousin.

After Malcolm picked out cocoa crispies for breakfast, which I called the "Chocolate kind", he started saying "Chocate kind" down low, then "Chocate kind" up really high pitched, then low again, and high again  He told me, "Macom a sing a Chocate kind song!"

(This morning he seemed to be chanting about his stuffed dog "Scout"'s blanket.  He told me he was singing the "Scout's Blanket Song" afterward.)

Once I heard Denali and Malcolm playing in the living room.  Malcolm said, "Hey Denali!  a play peekaboo?"  She said "Yeah!"  and off they ran down the hall to Malcolm's room where they play peekaboo in and out of his tent.

Mal and I were headed to grandma's house.  We had this conversation:
M: See gamma?  See gampa?
A: Yep!
M:  Gampa a loud.
A:  (Laughing) Why do you say Grandpa is loud?
M: Gampa a loud say 'Hi Malcolm!'
(If you've talked to my dad, you'll likely have noticed his normal decibels are adequate for basketball arenas.  Okay, that's an exaggeration, but only a small one.  I come from a family of loud talkers.  I don't dis-include myself from that group either.)

Halloween and other fun stuff

Halloween was lots of fun.  I luckily had a nice co-worker stay an extra hour for me so I could be a part of Malcolm's first time trick-or-treating. I went out with him and the Titensors while Ryan stayed home and gave out treats to the whole 3 groups of trick-or-treaters we had.  Malcolm and Denali didn't waste any time learning how to trick or treat.  It took one experience at one house and they had it down!  Denali was hilarious knocking on the door.  When they opened it, she would just say "nany nany!" (candy).  Every time we left one house, Malcolm would ask, "More candy?  Another house?"  We went around one block of the neighborhood and they had a ton of candy for toddlers to be consuming. 

Our jack-o-lanterns

Denali was a monster, so Laura and Andrew dressed as monsters too.  They were a cute family.

The successful candy collectors.

Malcolm and Denali started swimming lessons this last week.  They're swim lessons that include parents.  Pretty much they're swim lessons that are given by parents.  The instructor gives us something to get them to do, like blowing bubbles, or kicking, and the parents do the rest.  After the first lesson, I was left thinking that I could have done this without paying $35.  But I also would have to pay entrance fees, and wouldn't have the incentive to go twice a week to get Malcolm in the water.  So it really works out.

Malcolm refuses to put his face in the water, but he's pretty good at kicking.  He hates trying to float on his back too.  But he talks about swimming lessons all the time, and I think he has a good time.

The day after Halloween we went to a Murder Mystery dinner put on by VeNicia and Spencer.  It was a lot of fun!  I'd only done one before, but this one was way funny!  Anytime you want someone in Ryan's family to imitate any accent it's pretty funny.  In my experience anyway.  The only picture I took was this next one, of the centerpiece.

 

Ryan had raked a giant pile of leaves  in the back yard and Malcolm and I had some fun burying each other in them.

  

Bank sucker!  Eaten at Lowe's.  It was a Saturday, obviously.  We go to that store every Saturday, it seems.  Ryan fixed our washer, though the part wasn't at Lowe's.

Malcolm took over cleaning the baseboards with a toothbrush for me.  It's funny what chores I'm doing that he'll find appealing to participate in.  

Fall Walk

Malcolm and I go on a lot of walks.  It keeps us both sane and in shape.  We went on a really nice one the other day among the changing leaves on the parkway.  The day started rainy and then cleared up just in time for a walk.  I took way too many pictures. 

Stuff we've been up to (aka...posting pictures from my phone)

Of course, if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, some of these will be repeats.  Enjoy!

There's a little community farm run by the local 4H just a block from our house that we visit often.  One day while there (a kind of cold day, you can see), I took some pictures of Malcolm by the door to the chicken house.  

Denali fell into a box, and I'm such a nice aunt, I took a picture of her distress before saving her.

Just my cute little man!

We went to the mall to get cases for our new phones.  They have a new Lego store and Malcolm just dug right in with the big kids there building things.  He would talk to the boys next to him, and even try to hand them pieces.  It was pretty cute.  

I believe this was the day Malcolm ate as much for breakfast as I did.  We're talking multiple pancakes and pieces of sausage.  Pumpkin pancakes... yum!

Malcolm and Denali being "upside down"  It took a few tries to get this picture of them doing it at the same time.

Me, only huger.

Ryan has a motorcycle now,  did you know?  I keep meaning to post about it.  He needed a place to put it during the cold weather months, along with his scooter.  So we got this temporary shed.  It's not as bad of an eyesore as I was expecting.  It was also some good "team building" exercises for us two as we built it together.  ;)

Bridget, on her 5th birthday.  We just sang to her and had cake and ice cream, and her favorite food: French toast.  She got to go to Disneyland for her birthday with Grandma and Grandpa!  (More pictures of that in a second...)

Ry and I finally made it to the temple.  It's been ridiculously long.  I was getting out the family names we have and making jokes on instagram about naming our next child a "family name".

You can't tell, but there's a temple back behind us.  We went to dinner first, then the session.  It was SOOOOO nice!  Love this hubby of mine.

The Young Women made donuts and cheesecloth ghosts for our activity.  Malcolm helped me prep the dough before the activity, and enjoyed eating them after they were cooked too.

One day Malcolm got mail!  He was pretty excited about it.  It was a card from his Great Grandparents in Alaska.  It had Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald on it. He made me read it to him over and over and carried it around with him most of the day.  Good choice Grandma!

This picture makes me smile everytime I look at it.  Laura and I took Denali and Malcolm to Story time at the Davis Library and then to the park.  We had fun in the leaves.  This picture I actually cropped to post on Instagram, but it's kind of funny when I leave my belly in it.

Mom and Dad and Bridget were in Disneyland, like I'd said.  They sent us lots of pictures while we were there, but none were so popular with Malcolm than the ones in Carsland.  Who can blame him?  I'd love to take him.  He'd seriously die!

Dad surprised everyone with his costume for the park's Halloween party.  Bridget was Alice, so he dressed as the Mad Hatter.  He got stopped over and over by just regular people to take his picture, or give him a high five, etc.  It sounded like so much fun!  Great memories for Bridget and her Grandparents.

Mom wearing her costume.

Just me, in Angio.  It's been a while since I've been to a sterile procedure where I had to wear these lovely accessories!

Malcolm and Ryan watching Basketball commentary.  Not even watching basketball--just guys talking about basketball.  Yet Malcolm stayed there all cuddled up to daddy for a good 10 mintues.  It was adorable.

We took Malcolm to the movie Planes at the dollar theater.  He was on the end in a booster seat, eating candy.  I think he had a really good time.  He sat like this for most of the movie, hands folded in his lap and everything.