A Few of My Favorite Things

Here are just a few of my favorite things about Christmas:

#5- This has been a Christmas tradition since I was little. My mom made this great Bear calendar where the little bear (currently looking in the bookcase) looks all over the house for Christmas and finally finds his family decorating the tree on Christmas eve. My mom gave it to us this year and we loved moving the little bear each day!

#4- My new nativity set that I got for Christmas last year! I love putting up the nativity each year because it's so fun to have the reminder of the TRUE reason for the season to look at each day. It truly does help to bring the spirt of Christmas in our home.

#3- Christmas decorations- I love the lights and the stockings. Now don't laugh...in our home, our decorating is pretty meager since last year was the first year we spent at home and really decorated at all. Usually we head to VA, and let Grandpa do the decorating. The past two years, we've had to add a little each year. Let's hope next year looks even better...

#2- Our cute LITTLE christmas tree. This picture makes it look extra tiny, but Ethan absolutely loves it. And believe it or not, we made it through the entire month without having it knocked or pulled over. I was pretty impressed actually. His very favorite ornament was a green ball which he took off multiple times a day.

#1- Christmas Jammies!!! How cute is this little boy all ready for Santa to come. This year we started a family tradition of unwrapping new Christmas jammies on Christmas eve. We had a great time and all looked FABULOUS of course! Ethan got his early when we were in VA for Thanksgiving, so he got to open two new Christmas books "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Beyond Bethlehem" which is a great one about the birth of Jesus! We loved it!

Stay tuned for pictures from Christmas morning!!!

Merry Christmas To All

From our family to yours, We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that your holiday season brings your family closer together and closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ!

It's so fun to have this technology so that we can all keep in contact with one another and I love hearing from you all when you post comments on our blog. I'm espcially glad we're able to share pictures with our family that lives far away, please forgive me when I get way behind like I am now. I'll try to do better in 2009! Happy New Year!

Too Cute to be Scary...

Halloween 2008

See what I mean??? Is that not the cutest little lion you've ever seen?

Chris & Ethan next to our first ever Malone family carved pumpkin. Kinda sad we've never done it in 4 years of marriage. For the reason, refer to October 2007 post about my husband, the Halloween scrooge.

To top it off, I found out that Chris does NOT like the goop inside the pumpkin at all. He actually made me scoop it all out and didn't even want to be near it. Learn new things about your spouse all the time.


Here is Ethan and his best buddy Superman (ie: Issac) at our church's Trunk or Treat. A truck really comes in handy when you need to corral toddlers. They are having a great time playing drums on the side. Notice the hood is off Ethan's head...unfortunately it didn't cool down as much as we were hoping before Halloween. It is a little ridiculous to be so warm at Halloween.

Luckily, it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather now and it reminds me why we tolerate Arizona summers!

The Ducks, The Zoo, and The Farm

I'm sure you're all thrilled to see something besides info about my Twilight obsession. Not that I can say that the obsession is totally gone, but I am finally getting around to updating my pictures on my computer. We've had quite a few fun activities in the last couple weeks so you're going to have a bit of an overload. (I did just notice that all of our activities have been animal related, does that give you an idea of what Ethan loves these days?!)

My mom came down a couple weeks ago and we spent the morning at the park. We had a great time playing on the playground, walking all over, and the best part, feeding the ducks! Ethan loved being so close (almost too close at times) and had a great time feeding the ducks bread crumbs. We had to keep reminding him that the bread was for the ducks and we had other snacks for him. :)
Then we were off to the zoo. Ethan's Grandpa and Great Grandma got him a zoo pass for and early Christmas present. We are so excited for the nice weather so we can enjoy fun trips to see the animals. Here is our first visit for the year with our friends the Allens and the Allens (not related, what are the chances huh?

Our next adventure was kinda out of the blue. We were home last Saturday just relaxing with not plans (those of you who know me know this doesn't happen all too often, I'm kind of a nazi when it comes to having something to do ALL the time.) Anyways, so it happened we talked to some friends who were headed down to Schnef Farms for the day for the Fall Festivities and we decided to join them. We enjoyed some yummy chili and BBQ, watched some pig races, found our way through a corn maze, visited the petting zoo, and our favorite...the Family bikes. It was a really bumpy ride and it was night when we were riding and they kept turning the lights on and off...it was all really fun! :) Thanks Lee's for the invite!!!

Sorry about the belly shot, E really loves to show off his belly button!

Is this not the biggest cow you have ever seen???

Not sure what my face is all about but it's one of the few pictures from the evening that wasn't spotted and Ethan was looking at the camera. Does anyone have any ideas of what the deal is w/ my camera and night pictures? Any ideas would be appreciated!

Hope you enjoyed the update! Sorry it took so long...

The Last Two Weeks...

So I'm sure most of you would rather see new pictures of Ethan but unfortunately I haven't taken any recently and here is the reason why.

I know...I'm about 4 years late on catching the Twilight craze but better late than never right? And in the case of this book, definitely glad I got over my "I could never read a book about a Vampire" block and just read it. Probably one of my favorite book series ever and honestly could not put the books down. I read all 4 books in 8 days and honestly would have read them faster if I didn't have to continue with some of my obligations. I even read the beginning of Midnight Sun, Edward's version of Twilight that is on hold at the moment and posted on stepheniemeyer.com because I just couldn't get enough. I've even thought about just starting over and reading them again. If only I could erase my mind and enjoy the suspense all over again. So if you're looking for a good book and haven't read his yet, I highly recommend it. Maybe clean your house before you start, just in case you love it as much as I did. :)

YEAH!!!

Time for a little update on life...

Ethan is now 16 months old and I just can't believe how much fun he is! We have the best time together just laughing and playing. He has such a great personality and is definitely becoming a little "class clown" when he's with his friends. My favorite new word he has learned this month is "YEAH!" Now I'm talking full enthusiasm, response to most questions.

"Ethan do you want to go outside?" "YEAH"

"Do you want to play with your ball?" "YEAH"

"Do you want to have some yogurt covered raisins?" "YEAH" <--these are his absolute fav!

"Do you want to help mommy with the laundry?" "YEAH"

And he really does love doing all those things. Now don't get me wrong, he definitely has his naughty moments. He's very mischievous and loves to explore new things (mostly a good trait.) He also know just when he's getting in to something he's not supposed to and will look right at me then do it anyways. We're also trying to work on food throwing which is definitely the thing that drives me crazy!

Chris is working at the Cattle Company again this year doing their audit. We're just hoping that this year it doesn't take the whole month. The only bonus for him though is that he gets extra time to work out in the evenings since they provide him with a free gym membership. This will help him a ton because he's participating in a Biggest Loser competition with everyone at work and he's looking to cash in on an extra day off if he wins! Either way it's just fun getting an opportunity to go to the gym.

I am working on trying to get some projects done around the house. I finally feel like I got my house in order with most of the everyday cleaning and organizing and now I'm excited to get to work on other stuff. If only I wasn't such a busy body having to socialize all the time I would have never got behind, but then I also wouldn't be me, right? Anyways, this months goals consist of scrap booking and Ethan's baby book. I also have a full calendar of Pampered Chef parties for this month, but if anyone is interested in hosting a fun pre-holiday show in October or November and earning some free Christmas presents for your family and friends post a comment or contact me personally! I'm so happy that this side endeavor is giving me just what I hoped it would. A hobby, fun nights out sociallizing with great people, free products, something non-kid related in my life, and my personal favorite, food!

Is everyone ready for fall or what???

I know Ethan and I are ready to play outside!

Fun in the Sun

All of my out of state family and friends always ask me about the heat and what we find to do to keep busy when it's 110 outside EVERY DAY!!!

Well here is an example of some of our fun in the sun...

If you live in AZ, and haven't been to the Tempe Beach Splash Park, you are totally missing out on some FREE fun! And now that it is Crypto-free we can all enjoy some good ole sanitary fun!

We were actually there on the first day they re-opened after being closed for a few weeks and there were a bunch of news cameras there so Ethan and I got our 3 minutes of fame since they aired the clip on the news 3 times that day.

15 Months & Having So Much FUN!!!

Ethan just turned 15 months old and WOW, what a fun age! We have such a blast together and it is so amazing seeing how much he knows and understands. I'm amazed every day!

Here are some of the highlights of Ethan at 15 months:

-FINALLY trying to walk. He can walk about the distance of our living room and is getting more brave every day.

-Has 6 teeth, 4 on top, 2 on bottom. Apparently he is getting his molars...I always thought that the other bottom front teeth come in first but I guess kids can get their molars before.

-Says a variety of words: Da Da, Ma Ma, Ball, Dog, "Du" (Duck), Up (which sounds more like Ba sometimes but his actions say UP), "Dow" (Down), More, "Mo" (for Elmo), and he tries to copy the sounds for other things we say too.

-Still loves to sign and thank goodness for that because he gets very frusterated when I don't know what he wants and I can't imagine what the fits would be like if he couldn't sign and tell me so much of what he wants

-Loves to play with other kids and I'm happy to say still loves sharing his toys with them too

-He is becoming more of a class clown every day, he knows exactly when people are looking at him or think he's funny and loves the attention

-He is very adventurous and loves to climb on everything. He is always trying out new places to see if he can get up on top.

-Loves airplanes and points them out every time he sees or hears them fly over our house (we live right near an airport)

Don't you just love this shot with the little backpack??? Can't you just imagine it on a scrapbook page next to his first day of school picture. Hmmm...that would mean that I would have to start a scrapbook though huh? Someday I'll get motivated...it's on the list of projects somehow it just hasn't made it to the top yet!

Life Outside of Motherhood

Let me start this post by saying this...I absolutely love being a stay at home mom! I wouldn't have it any other way and I especially do not take for granted how wonderful a blessing it is to be in a situation that I am able to stay home and be with my wonderful son.
With that being said, the transition from being a teacher, which often took a lot of time at work, to a mom has left me feeling like I want something else going on besides kid and family stuff. Not a big something, just something little on the side. So an opportunity came along that sounds really fun, Pampered Chef. I've actually thought about becoming a consultant every time I go to a party but now I'm just in a situation that I can actually do it. I'm sure everyone who reads this blog has heard of it. I've been a little wishy washy about doing it but if anyone has ever been to a cooking show they are really fun. A bunch of girls get together, talk, eat (my personal favorite), and get to see awesome products. What could be bad about that right?
I've just been a little worried about the time away from famiy in the evenings, but it's good for Chris to spend alone time with Ethan right? Plus, I want a chance to learn something new and it's fun! Ok, I've decided, it's for sure...I'm going to do it! I'm going to get out of my comfort zone and try something I've never done before. It will be a good opportunity for me to learn to not be nervous in front of my peers right? Anyways, I guess I just need a little support on the endeavor, or words of encouragement (or discouragement if you have a reason for that too.) So if you have any please comment!
Plus, now anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm doing it so if you are due for a fun girls night and want to get your friends together and host a Pampered Chef party then you know who to call, PLUS you get fun free stuff or if there is something that you have been wanting you're always welcome to just place an order without having a party...but the party is just more fun!
I have to say that my biggest worry was about telling people about it and feeling pushy, but since this is my blog and you are reading it then it can't be considered pushy right? hahaha!

Anyways, enough about me...I know most of you probably just want to see pictures of Ethan and I promise those will follow very soon!

Tag Slacker

I know I've been tagged a few times with different questions, so I just picked one and this should count for all of them! Enjoy learning way more info about me than you probably ever wanted to know.

10 years ago- I was 14 years old and a sophomore at Paradise Valley High School. I was a band nerd who played Saxophone (marching uniform and all!) and I swam for the high school swim team. My events were 100 Breaststroke and 200 IM. Too bad I've slacked off on the swimming since high school. Some day I'll get back into it.

5 years ago-Hmmm...Summer 2003, just finished my Sophomore year at NAU, majoring in Elementary Education, working for a Super rich Golf Club/Community where everyone escapes the Phoenix heat and vacations at their summer home in Flagstaff. I worked at the Kid's Club doing camps and taking various hikes and field trips around Flag. Too bad I wasn't into golfing since I could have gone free all summer.

5 months ago- In February, I was enjoying getting to be outside every day. So glad I took advantage of that now that we're all stuck inside. Ethan was 9 months old and had an ear infection that had been there about a month. He finally got tubes that month after trying multiple antibiotics that never worked. He hasn't had an ear infection since!

5 things on my to do list today (Sunday) : Lucky for me I don't even have a to-do list today...gotta love the day of rest! So my day will consist of going to church, finally completing this TAG, reading the last Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book (love the series by the way!), playing with my son, and planning out my week

5 snacks I enjoy-
1. Ice Cream
2. Rice Cakes (flavored and not)
3. Chex Mix (developed a love for this when I was pregnant w/ Ethan)
4. Yogurt w/ granola
5. Coconut Chocolate Chip cookies from Paradise Bakery

5 things I would do if I were instantly a billionaire-
1. Go on a big family vacation, probably a cruise!
2. Buy a new wardrobe (I'm not really liking any of my clothes right now)
3. Buy a house and pay it off completely
4. Save most for future fun, kids school and other needs, and just for a rainy day
5. Give the rest away to charities and to church funds

5 of my bad habits-
1. Forgetting people's birthdays
2. Talking on my cell phone while driving
3. Caring what others think a little too much
4. Not picking up my hair off the floor of the bathroom (I guess shedding comes with thick hair)
5. Overscheduling myself (I have to admit, I kind of like that I do this, I'm not sure that my husband always does though)

5 places I have lived
1. Lynchburg, VA
2. Phoenix, AZ
3. Flagstaff, AZ
4. Mesa, AZ
5. Gilbert, AZ

5 things people may not know about me
1. I love to rollerblade
2. I worked as a waitress at Village Inn during college
3. I married my first boyfriend, who I've known since the age of 8
4. I worked as a Girl Scout camp counselor in Prescott the summer after my first year of college
5. I absolutely HATE scary movies and books and ones that are depressingly sad. I just can't handle either very well.

Ok, Valerie...are you happy now? :)

I tag Tamra, Macey, Elizabeth and Jenny

Don't worry...more pictures to come soon...if I ever remember to take some!

Just One More Trip...Please!

I know we probably didn't deserve it, but we did it anyway! Just days after getting home from our awesome beach trip, I got the idea that we should use the free airline tickets that we earned to go to Virginia and visit family. Chris isn't huge on the last minute planning but he dealt with me as I almost obsessively checked the internet for something to become available. Finally, something came up on Thursday and we packed up and headed out to Virginia on Tuesday! It was a crazy flight schedule with some real nice layovers but it didn't matter because we were just excited that we were able to go! Ethan has grown so much since Thanksgiving when our families had last saw him so everyone had a great time getting reaquainted with him.

Lucky for us, Chris's aunts, uncle, cousins, and grandma were all able to make it up for a big BBQ on Saturday and we got to spend the whole weekend with Chris's bro & sister-in-law and all Ethan's cousins. We had so much fun and even though time flew by so fast, we had to be grateful for the unexpected time we had to spend with everyone! Now we're home and now I REALLY can't plan anymore trips until we go back to VA for Christmas. Wow...that sounds like a long time! Enjoy the pics...

After this trip, Ethan has now been on 10 airplanes...I think that's quite a few for a 1 year old!

Cousins Andrew & Katelyn

Ethan was always curious about what Grandma was doing

Ethan & Great Grandma Malone

Great Aunt Lita

Enjoying a fun family BBQ in our family's beautiful backyard, the deck looks great Grandpa!

Grandpa & all the grandkids together!

Ethan got a quick haircut from Grandma before we came home...can you tell how much he is enjoying it? Surprisingly he never fussed...but doesn't that look say it all?

Check out these two pictures...Above: Summer 2008, Below: Thanksgiving 2007...it's amazing how fast they grow!

Sand Baby, Cold Water, & a Turtle

We just got back from a fantastic vacation to California. We went to Oceanside this year and rented a condo practically right on the beach. This was our first trip to the beach with a baby and it definitely made things different, but we enjoyed all those differences. Ethan even fell asleep in a little tent on the beach one day which allowed me to work on building a HUGE sand turtle (pictured below.) This is definitely the coolest "sand creation" I've ever been a part of creating. All in all, we had a great week playing on the beach, in the pool, ping pong, BBQing, watching HG TV (remember we don't have cable at home!), and best of all enjoying time with family.

Ethan fell asleep while we were packing the cars to head home...I guess it was a tiring and fun filled week for him!