Dear 2011,

I promise to,

Complain less, laugh more.

Not be so OCD about a certain couple of things. 

Be a better Visiting Teacher.

Train and complete some triathlons.

Be more patient with myself and others.

Sew some stuff.

Sincerely, 

Ruth

Happy New Year!

Note to self

Don't always assume a "rainstorm" in California means just a "sprinkle."

Kyle and I went on a somewhat spontaneous weekend trip to Disneyland for our anniversary. We knew it was going to rain a little but had no idea of it's severity.
It down poured! 

FYI- Disneyland + Rain = not so happiest place on earth. We ended up leaving around 3:00 p.m when the wind starting kicking in along with hundreds of other whining children with cold feet. Poor children. 

We tried to make the best of it though and ended up going to some other fun places besides Disneyland.

Rain, rain go away.

Here we are on Space Mountain. This ride just makes me giggle.

The next day we saw the ocean. It was beautiful.

The L.A. Temple. Also very beautiful.

Later, we went to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, the Guinness World Record, and Wax Museum.

Some of these wax people were a little creepy because they looked so real.
Me on the Titanic.

Kyle wanted in on the action too. Oh dear.

Genie time.

All in all it was a fun trip! 

3 years ago today

I married this hunk right here...

And I'm so glad I did. Here is what I've learned about him the past 3 years that I kind of love about him...

* He can deep clean a bathroom like it's nobody's business.

* Forgives easily.

* Good decision maker and never "wishy- washy" about things.

* Looks good in a hat.

* Very smart but never makes me feel dumb (cuz I'm not nearly as smart as him:)

* Can figure out how to make anything, very handy.

* Walks around singing "Let it Snow" in the middle of July.

* Would do anything for his friends.

* Doesn't mind shopping and will go grocery shopping for me. (cuz I hate it)

*Offers to watch Wes while I go to the gym or just have some "me time"

*Eats whatever I cook him.

*Honest. Says it how it is.

*Works very hard and loves his family.

Happy three years Kyle!

We are so awesome:)

Walking and 11 months

Wes turned 11 months old last week and has been walking all over the place. He has recently learned how to run, but sometimes gets a little ahead of himself and totally biffs it. He is quite the dare devil. I can barely keep up with him.

He also had three new teeth come in this past week. Ouch:( Poor little guy. Happy 11 months Wes!

(Sorry I'm a week late)

True meaning of Christmas...

Today I received an email from a lady I taught in my mission. Her name is Claudia and I haven't heard from her in years! I'm am so thrilled to hear that she is still a strong member in the church.

This morning I was doing some Christmas shopping and feeling overall stressed from the holiday' hustle and bustle'. I adore Christmas, but sometimes I have a hard time with the holidays as I lose sight of what Christmas is really about. I find myself feeling greedy, ungrateful, wishing I could afford nicer things, stressing over what to buy people, worrying that they won't like it, being annoyed with others and their greediness, trying to be crafty and making my house look as festive as the next.  In reality I should feel the exact opposite, grateful, happy, and extremely blessed. 

Getting an email from Claudia took me back to her humble home and surroundings. It took me back to all the people I met who didn't have all the latest technologies, the fancy home decor, the trendy clothes, the car, or even a home with more than two rooms. It makes me sick to think of all I have and the ornery little stinker I can sometimes be, especially around the holidays. Claudia never cared about those things, she was happy anyway and she was SO thankful for things that mattered like her family, food, her health, and the gospel. I remember well the two Christmas's I spent on my mission.  They were so stress free and it wasn't hard to remember the true meaning of it. It's funny how when we have less we are more grateful than when we have a lot. I feel like I have to work to remember what is really important in the Christmas season. It's a time to serve and be grateful, and to remember our Savior. So I will try hard to do this. 

Super old picture here. Claudia. Isn't she just cute as a button? Making banana bread:)

He took a step...

well, 6 of them, yesterday (November 28th). 

  I'm sure he'll be running in no time:)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was so much fun this year. We headed up to Brighton and braved the negative degree weather and went skiing. I thought I'd nearly die, I'm not a cold weather person, but we bundled up and it wasn't too bad after I started moving. The boys went in the morning and Val and I went a little later. 

The next day was a lot warmer so we went on a little walk. First time for Weston in the snow and of course I forgot to bring gloves for him so he couldn't do much playing in it.

"I can't put my arms down!"

The sisters. (Minus Suzie. We missed her!)

Getting ready to chow down.

Wes and Will. Playing a little pool "baby style."

 Wes and Nate. (cough) playing with pearls. We won't tell Dad:)

Weston and grandma.

Hanging out. 

Weston didn't think napping was a good idea during the day until 5:00 came around and he completely crashed. Needless to say, he spent his very first thanksgiving dinner....sleeping. :)

'Tis The Season

I caved. I put the Christmas Tree up BEFORE Thanksgiving. I've always been against putting it up too early, but this year I'm more excited for some reason. Maybe it's the bitter cold weather and coming snow that has put me into the holiday/hibernation mode. Or maybe it's the fact that I have a little stink bug to share his very first Christmas with. That's probably it.

Weston was a big help putting up the tree, as you can see.

He loves it and can hardly keep out of it, so it's a lot of 'NO Weston, don't touch!' Get out of there Weston!' Hmm, do they sell Christmas Tree gates?:)

Our Little Cow

Halloween. I'm a little behind here. We had a really fun Halloween this year. We attended a really fun family party and also a trunk or treat in which I hardly took any pictures at either of them. I'm so lame. I guess I need to take more pics to be better at blogging huh. ?

We dressed Weston up as a cow. Kyle and I were farmers. If I'd a known Weston would be called a"girl" the whole night by strangers I would have dressed him up as something a little more masculine:) It must have been the pink ears but it's not like he had udders! Ha ha. He looked absolutely adorable anyway and at least he was called a "cute girl".

Time for an update

I have a hard time being consistent with blogging.

One week I'm a blogging machine and then don't blog for the following two months. I will do better.

A few weeks ago we had some family pictures taken and they turned out great.

Cutie. We had a hard time getting him to look at the camera and smile he was so busy crawling around, but we got a few.

More pics...

Getting him to hold still was a challenge. This is really what most of the photo shoot looked like...

10 months

I can't believe Weston is just two months short of a year! He has such a sweet and fun personality. He isn't really doing anything new since last month except for he learned how to clap just a few days ago. He is starting to figure out how to go down the stairs now with my help as well. Weston is still a very attentive and busy boy and is curious about everyone and everything. He shakes his head and laughs at me every I tell him no:) He is also a very picky eater. Wes is such a happy boy and we love him so much. Happy ten months Wes!

9 Months

*Weight: 20 lbs (40%tile)

Height: 30 in. (95 %tile)

Head: 18 in. (82%tile)

* has six teeth! two on the bottom and four on top

*still crawling all over the place and into everything.

*just starting to eat real table foods (he never really liked baby food.)

*loves to climb up the stairs.

*is very ticklish.

*loves stuffed animals or anything soft and will bury his face in it and giggle. so cute.

*likes cars and anything with wheels.

*still hates being in his car seat.

*loves other kids and babies, especially his cousins.

*can stand for a little bit on his own.

*very hyperactive in the morning.

*sleeps from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30/7:00 a.m. most nights.

*takes two naps.

*gets excited to see his daddy when he comes home.

*wearing 12 month clothes.

*likes to throw and hit his food rather than pick it up and eat it.

* is very sociable and laughs at other kids to get their attention.

*still LOVES his bath.

*likes to chase his dad or I around the house.

*loves crawling over pillows or on the bed.

*getting lots more blonde hair.

*eyes turning more hazel.

*has the sweetest personality and is such a good boy. can't believe he is 9 months!

I'm new at this...

 Before I even get into this post, please allow my to clarify.  I know I'm suppose to attend church weekly. I love the gospel, and I very much know that it's true. However, attending church with small children seems to be a rather different experience than attending church with zero small children. Why didn't anyone tell it to me straight and seriously warn me about this before?  I remember thinking that children crawling up and down the isles, climbing on the chairs, being taken out into the hallway screaming their darling little heads off could be somewhat of a distraction and frustrating thing for parents, but not that big of deal. Now that it's my turn though, I realize my days of calmly listening to the speaker and actually getting something out of it, even taking notes perhaps, are LONG gone. Am I a bad mom if I am already counting the months before Weston can attend nursery?

Wes is a super good and very happy baby. He has learned to crawl, speed crawl, and move to anywhere he needs to go, and he climbs up and wants to touch EVERYTHING. On top of all that, he is super curious and has so much energy, especially in the morning hours. Kyle and I sometimes nickname him "the ADD puppy."

So, all normal and great things considering his development, but sitting still during church has become a difficult thing for him. I try and read him books, give him toys, put him down to play with a little toy. Yeah, all that lasts for about two seconds. He is all over the place and such a wiggle worm.  He gets frustrated when he sits on my lap still or when I won't let him free to crawl around. I feel like a bad mom when I see other babies his age just chilling so reverently in their car seats or strollers. There is NO way Wes would sit still in that for more than five minutes:) Am I doing something wrong here? 

Oh, Relief Society (his usual nap time). Unfortunately, I'm the only sister with a baby in there so I feel like everyone is staring at me when he gets tired and ornery or makes a noise. An older sister commented to me the other Sunday how she wished she had a baby as an excuse to rome the halls during R.S.  Nice. Very funny. Well, it would be nice to actually listen to the lesson too. 

Hmmm, reading back on this I really do sound like I'm complaining. I don't mean to be. I love my little guy and am so happy to have him. I guess I'm really just wondering what you mommies do to keep your mobile babies still during church? Any suggestions, or is this just all part of the deal, get use to it? 

The Wave/Point and Stubborn Eater

Wes has learned how to wave and point. He points with his whole hand though, not just a single finger. At first, I thought it was just waving but now he puts his hand out towards things like the fan, people, the mirror. It's so cute.

He is also a little stinker when it comes to eating. He has made small improvements over the past months, but this face pretty much sums up how he feels about it.

When I get him to laugh and open his mouth I manage to shove some in there. He is smart though and has figured it out and closes his mouth tight and smiles that way!

Funny boy.

it's what fun is...

Lagoon. It never gets old does it. A few weekends ago (sorry, this is way belated) we spent the day there with my in-laws. The night before we attended the musical, "The Lion King" for my mother-in-laws' birthday. It was spectacular. I wanted to steal every last costume they used for Halloween. Amazing. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let you take a picture inside the theatre, but here are some pictures of our day at Lagoon!

Jeff and Barbara on a crazy ride that I would never step foot in. Makes me nauseous and want to vomit just looking at it! Ha ha! (I'm not so much a crazy ride person)

Taking a rest from our fun filled day.

Amy and Bill.

Eating lunch. Side note: Is it just me or do my calves look humungous! And no, this is not a good thing. Perhaps it's just the angle of the picture and/or my sitting position,or maybe 'skinny, girly legs' will forever be an unattainable trait for me. Just saying.

Jeff and Jhobrea. Thanks to Jho for these pictures! Not sure why this pictures came out smaller on here. It doesn't mean I love you less k.

Wes and grandpa Emmett. Weston has this thing with hats.

Waiting for the train ride....

it's pretty much my favorite ride at Lagoon.

Wes loved it too.

Thanks for all the fun Emmett Family!