Patch Christmas Party

Last night we went down to Provo for Marty's family's X-mas party! They have such a big family we need to have it at a church. It was really fun. Marty's aunt and sister, Julia, helped put it together. There was food, games and Adonna gave each great grand child treats! Graham says, "Adonna" so cute! She loves it!

I love the picture of all four Patches. They look alike!

Merry Christmas!

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

I think I mentioned that Graham is having issues sleeping at our new house. He is climbing out of his crib (Jack in the box), waking up in the middle of the night, resisting naps, tantrums and waking up early. It has been rough on him and me. The first week here I devoted my days to doing exactly what my sleep book (Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child) said to do. The first day of my sleep-schedule boot camp I put him back in his crib 40 times! The second day 12 times. The third zero. The fourth day 4 times. The fifth day 4 times. I stopped keeping track.

Yesterday he stayed in his crib and that is all I know.

We are still working through it, but I know part of my problem is that I'm trying to do a lot for Christmas and the house and it often interrupts his nap or he gets to bed late. If I follow the book it all seems to work much better. Also, I think that he is just trying to adjust to this new house (as am I) with all its new spaces and noises.

If anyone has any tips I would love the advice!

Thanks!

Sing a Song!

Graham loves to watch this video from Sesame Street! (Singing with the Celebrities) He has turned into quite the singer lately: Elmo, Thomas, and the Kindermusic CD. This is the best video I could get of it, but he sure is cute when he sings!

A tribute to my Mom...

Before moving into our house we lived with my Parents for 6 weeks! My Mom and Dad both loved having Graham around, but my Mom truly never left his side. She read books, played trains, watched movies and even let Graham play in Max's (the dog) water bowl!

Graham loves his Nan and so do I!

Thanks Mom for everything!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving with the Patches was amazing yet again! We had a feast that was 100% Tayva's masterpiece! We helped assemble when we arrived in the morning, but it was a real treat to show up and eat! Thank you Tayva for all your hard work! It was delicious and such a fun day with the family.

Another milestone...

3 paper towels High!

Moving along nicely...

I'm sitting at my kitchen table in my new house eating chips and salsa. (My favorite snack!) Marty is outside shoveling our driveway for the first time and I have a few minutes to take in the week. It has been a busy, crazy week, but we are finally getting settled. (Except Graham hasn't been sleeping well, but that will be another post.) We still have boxes to unpack and so so so much remodeling to do, but it is starting to feel like home. I've been able to cook quite a bit this week and get a feel for this new kitchen. Only two burners work on the stove (Marty said he would fix that) and there was zero counter space. My father in law so ingeniously created a butcher block top to cover our exposed dishwasher Marty installed and a place for the microwave. The home had no dishwasher before because the owner had opted for a wood burning over! Anyway, back to the cooking, it has been fun! And I plan to cook a lot this winter with my lack of friends and family in Salt Lake! So come on over and I will feed you!

Here are pictures of my progress. I'm mostly posting this for myself, to see how much really can get done in a week! I hope to accomplish just as much this week!

Scooby Doo, where are you?

I just found my camera cord in a basket and downloaded my pictures! These ones are killing me tonight! This was a very fun movie making experience we had with Andrea (the hairy thief), Scott, Sadie, Elliet and Luke! It was for the Leaver's Halloween bash. Scooby dooby do!

What's been going on...

Marty called me a few weeks ago and said, "I have a jackhammer in my trunk. Does that turn you on?" I laughed and said, "Yes!" He wants everyone to know his day job hasn't made him soft.

Marty has been working so hard on our new house every single night! We (Graham and I) have been living with my parents and Marty has been living at work and coming home on the weekends. He has been working all day at Cosmic and then all night at the house. But guess what???

We still haven't moved in.

The goal is this week and I can't wait. I miss my husband and am excited to get all our furniture in place and start unpacking. I'll post some pictures soon of the updates to the new house, including our awesome white floor.

If you need a Christmas Tree...

...

there are two large ones in a dumpster in Salt Lake!

It was a month ago...

But Graham turned 2!

It was a Super Party!
Our 2nd annual Halloween/ Graham's birthday Party!
Superman, Iron man, and Bat Woman!

Superman teaching Ironman to fly

Halloween represented: Bats and witches!

Graham's Girlfriend Izzy!

Graham's buddy Will!
(sorry for the blur)

Marty is so strong. He is always scaling buildings.

Pinata!!!!!!!

Graham was a natural!

Candy clean-up!


Thanks everyone for coming! It was blast and meant a lot to our little fam!

Packing

I'm so tired! We have been packing and taking up loads to the house in Salt Lake all week and I'm sitting on the sofa waiting for Marty to come home from unpacking another load and I want to vent. So I'm doing it on my blog. Is that okay? I think so. It seems like a good place.

So I guess any moving tips, boxes, or muscles would be of great assistance. But mostly I just want someone to tell me it will be worth moving into a really old house away from my friends and family!

On the positive side, Graham is loving all the boxes! They are making great towers and forts to play with. I also think that falling asleep at night before your head hits the pillow is such a blessing. I've never been a great sleeper, but this week has been awesome!


Thanks for reading this, if your still reading this! You're a good friend!

Nighty, Night!

Twenty Six and Breathtaking

Happy Birthday to Jessica.

Six years ago on her birthday I mounted an all-out celebration. She was turning 20, we had just started dating, and all I knew at the time was how excited I was about her. She was smart, funny, and downright lovely. Her birthdays always remind me of the beginning of our relationship, and I’m more and more grateful every year that I still have her.

Now of course I know more about her, and I’m amazed I ended up with her. It’s hard to imagine all the qualities you’ll need from your wife when you’re young—when your wife is young :). You’re looking for maturity sure. And a spiritual foundation. And someone fun and adventurous. Someone you can talk to for hours on end and love that they’re still talking to you.

But it’s hard to imagine everything you’ll be going through togther. In the first four and a half years of marriage we’ve bought two homes, served in several church responsibilities, given birth to a darling son and raised him for two years, dealt with an enormous health issue, seen specialists and prayed and fasted, toured a country abroad for the more part of a month, watched two complete television movie series, traveled by car and plane here and there, talked and talked and talked, been sick, gone out to eat, counseled family, counseled each other, worried, wondered, worked through various decisions that only we could sort out, survived crazy work schedules, and slowly acted more and more like adults (we’re not completely adults yet).

I know now that the only way life works is if you have a woman wiser than you, more disciplined than you, more resilient than you, stronger than you, more unconditionally loving than you, more emotionally mature than you, funnier than you, more patient than you, more devoted than you, and far more perfect than you. I am amazed—and we’re just getting started—how little I knew about what capacity my companion would need to have in life. I am in awe of Jessica who has all that capacity and plenty to spare. I cherish her and am humbled she’s mine. I am so so fond of her.

Jessica, for the sixth time in our life together, I love love love you on your birthday.

Graham and Ava

A late night with the cousins! Around and around the yard they went!
Graham is such a gentleman, always driving the ladies around.
And Ava? Wild Woman! Watch out Meg!

Safety First!

What in the world! I know, I wondered the same thing!
She put her lips on a (cold) fire pit cover from the night before!

What a scary sight!
Halloween is coming!

Disneyland Marathon

Just a few days before my little sister Suzy was running the Disneyland Marathon my parents bought me a plane tickets to go spend the weekend with her and our other sister Meg. Let's just say we had fun!

Graham and I just waiting for Suzy while she picks up running packet at the Disneyland Hotel!

The meal the night before the race. We have not stopped talking about how good our food was. I ate like I was running 13 miles the next day! We had hummus appetizer, Parmesan cheese bread, pasta, and dessert! I love to eat!

Watching everyone come across the finish line in their Disney attire! It was really fun!

Here she comes! Only a little further...

Go Suz Go!

She did great!