Our gingerbread house

We bought a gingerbread house kit to do for our family night. Thing 1 was thrilled to make another one, especially since her other one did not get to come home with us. She put more on the house this time then the last time. She did eat her fair share of frosting though.

Visit to Santa

We took Thing 1 to see the Nutcracker ballet, here in town. It was the family length edition- only an hour long versus 2. Before we went to the theater we went to see Christmas Village that is located just around the corner from the theater. We went to see Santa and found a short line of two children ahead of us. What luck. Thing 1 sat right on his lap and was as chatty as a can be. She loved meeting him, as evidenced by the photo, and I loved the lack of a line.

Then we went to tour the homes that are set up around the square. It was really quite elaborate in some of them and so fun for us to look at while we waited for the theater to open.

Would I hit a pregnant woman with a snowball...

OH YES I WOULD! That is what B said as he hit me with a snowball. This picture is of B and Thing 1 getting ready to ambush mom. (I have to put in a disclaimer. Bread the blog and he said I made it sound as if he was the first one to throw the snowball. When in actuality I WAS the one to throw the first snowball. I also did hit him in the back of the head. So not only did I throw the first snowball but it was while his back was turned to me. I never said I fight fair.)
This is Thing 1 waiting for her dad to come back from the back yard to hit him with a snowball. They would take turns "hiding" behind the recycle bin while the other would walk around the garage to the backyard and loop back around to be pelted with a snowball.
I did get a few good hits on B as well. I think it may have helped that I was standing on the deck and could hit him from above. It was a fun way to celebrate the first real snow of the season here in Ogden. Sure we have have had little flurries but nothing that you could do anything with but slip on. This was snowball, snowman, play in the snow till your fingers are numb and nose is pink snow.

ITS CHRISTMAS TIME ITS CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!

I love December. B and I may be celebrating our fifith aniversary together this month but we are spending our 6th Christmas together. The funny thing is- this is the first year we have been able to have a tree. Past years we have always been out of town for the month of Dec, or at least most of it. We haven't wanted to get a tree only to look at it for 5 days and then let it sit in our empty home while we were somewhere else.

We splurged and bought a nice faux tree. I have always had real trees but he has grown up with the fake ones. So B left it up to me as to what we were going to get. (He is so good to me). Well, I found one that actually looks real and isn't just a bunch of pvc pipes with little paper wrapped around it making up the branches. I figured this could be our contribution to the environment this year- one less tree for the landfill. Granted I know all the trees have been cut and if they aren't bought they end up there regardless.

Thing 1 and I decorated the tree and Daddy did the outside of our house. There aren't a lot of lights on outside but enough that when we came home the other night Thing 1 was ecstatic. She exclaimed, "DADDY MADE OUR HOUSE LOOK LIKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE!!!" How easy it is to entertain little ones. We have all enjoyed getting ready for Christmas this year and have been looking forward to the passing of Thanksgiving so we could put the tree up and get everything ready. This is so much fun!!

Thanksgiving with the Lofgrans

Aunt Linds helped all the kids make gingerbread houses. She divided the candy and made the little homes. Thing 1 ate more candy then she put on her house but she had a ball. She loves playing with her cousins and was sad to go to our house. There are so many cousins (three are missing two due to being in WI and one because he is only a year old and napping) and three more on the way. It is a mad house when they are all together, especially since you may notice all but one are girls, but again the kids have fun.

We went to the Burg for Thanksgiving since B had a FOUR day weekend. That and the fact that I was just about to the point I could no longer travel so we wanted to take advantage of being able to go anywhere. After B got off work Wed we finished loading the car and off we went. It is such a short drive compared to how long it used to be or going to Reno. It is always nice to spend holidays with family.

OLD FRIENDS

The kiddos.
Thing 1 took this picture.
Ring a round the rosie. Alex, Autumn's oldest was such a good sport to play with the younger kids.

Some of my dearest friends are in town this week, which has made November just that much better. Krista and Autumn and I met for lunch at Gardner Village to see the elves and eat lunch. It was great watching the kids play together and for us to chat for a bit. Not nearly long enough of a visit.

Tahoe

Thing 1 and her cousins playing in the snow.


Getting warm again after a rough snow ball fight.
The girls loving on their papa. They had so much fun while they were there. Playing in the snow and swimming and playing with each other. Thing 1 loves to be with her cousins.

November is the first month that B does not have a single day of call and he even has 5 days off, not including weekends or Thanksgiving day or the day afterwards. So this month has been heaven sent for all of us. Last Friday we left to Reno when B was all done with work and Sat. morning headed to Tahoe. Thing 1 and my family were already at the lodge. They stayed there with us through the holiday and then B and I were all alone for a day or two till my mom brought Thing 1 back to us. It was such a nice break. A vacation away from home is so different then just hanging around the house. I wanted to get away so B didn't get the bug to do any painting and what not around the house. Not that I don't want to finish painting the living area, I just wanted to make sure B got some rest. He works so hard and I just love him so much.

Our anniversary is in Dec on the 21st, but since I won't be able to go anywhere far away we celebrated up in Tahoe. Everything was perfect. It snowed the weekend we got there but later in the week it was clear and even a bit warm. It didn't feel like middle of Nov at all. I can't believe we have been together for FIVE years. It seems like yesterday we got married but so much has happened since then. I love him even more now then I did back then and I didn't think that was possible.

WE SAW A BEAR!!!!!!

While we were there my mom was taking my niece Mikey to the clubhouse and when they got in the garage Mikey said, "Look, Nana, a bear!" Sure enough there was a bear. I always look out my car window like a little kid looking for a bear when we go to Tahoe, but till now I have never seen one. They ran back to the our condo and we watched him from the balcony. He sniffed around outside the parking garage for a bit then ran off down the hill. He was so cute. It was too dark to take a picture unfortunately. He was FAT, perfectly round and fuzzy. We were all on the watch after that though even more then usual just in case he came back. No matter how cute they are I prefer to be at a nice distance from them.

Bye Bye Bugaboo

Two weeks ago we moved Baloo to a farm down in Roosevelt. I know it is the best thing we could do for him and our family but I admit I miss him sooo much. My parents were in town for a day or two and they took Thing 1 with them to Reno. We were headed to Reno that weekend anyway on our way to Tahoe. It was perfect timing. Thing 1 left with Nana and Papa and Baloo and I left for the farm. He was too big to put in the back with Thing 1  He climbs all over her, she screams, he becomes enthralled with the noises and gets her more. There was no way I could drive three hours with that in the back of the car but I couldn't put it off any longer. The morning we were getting ready to leave he got her face and left his mark and I thought to myself, "well that is just the icing on the cake."

When Thing 1 left I told her to love on her puppy because who knows when you'll see him again. I know mean mom, not even telling her that he won't be here when she gets back in two weeks. I couldn't do it though to my parents more then anything. They were already taking her across the Nevada desert, DRIVING, the last thing I would want was for her to be screaming the entire way there about her dog being gone.

When I got home it was sooo quiet. It was eerie to be honest. No little Thing 1 running around and talking up a storm like she usually does and no dog Baloo either. I had 4 days all to myself. So what did I do? Shopped for Christmas. I am all done, at least for Thing 1  I have a few more things to do for extended family and one of Bri's gifts to get finished but other then that I have nothing else to worry about. They are even wrapped. What a nice feeling it is to be done. Normally I wouldn't do it this early but... it is hard enough doing shopping at 7+ months pregnant I know it will be worse at 8+. Not to mention that Thing 1 does NOT understand the concept of a secret. She tells Daddy EVERYTHING. So I had to do most of his shopping while she was gone as well.

Even with all the problems and safety concerns Baloo posed for Thing 1 and the new baby, I still miss my Baloo. When I come home I still expect to see him waiting for me and my heart breaks a little more when I remember he is gone.

Halloween

I have been excited for Halloween all month till now. Saturday I took Thing 1 to the library for a party and she did NOT want to get into her froggie costume, even though she has been telling everyone for the last two months she was going to be a froggie (part of it is due to the fact she had put on her fav pink skirt and didn't want to take it off). So I just put her into a "fairy" outfit. All I had to do was get her wings out and put some makeup on her and wahla.

She had fun though. She looked really cute too if I say so myself. Then again I think she is always cute. While we were there she fished for candy and did some other fun little games. At the end we could have waited in line for half an hour for a cookie or go home and make our own. I asked Thing 1 what she wanted to do and she said make our own. Smart girl.

Then Monday night we had a trunk or treat at our church. Again... she didn't want to put on her froggie outfit so again with the fairy costume. Monday night was even harder to get her into her costume though, consisting of makeup and a headband. She was sooo tired and it was hard for everyone involved. Tonight she is sleeping soundly from a nap that started at 3:30 and who knows when she will wake up. So I think we are going to carve pumpkins instead of going door to door. B= is on call tonight anyways, so it would be just Thing 1 and me anyways. She doesn't need any candy either.

I've already had a few little trick or treaters and well, it was a nightmare with Baloo. I have this giant dog trying to jump at the kids while I am trying with one hand to keep him back and the other put the kids' candy in their bags. All the while the dad is just standing there lookin' at me from the street. I'm 7 months pregnant right now, so it isn't like I've just put on a little weight. I'm thinking, "could you at least tell your kid to open the bag so I can put the candy in? COME ON a LITTLE help would be nice right now." Then after I close the door I get my second trick or treaters. WRONG! Same kids, seriously what is the deal.

So I think I am going to get a bowl and put some candy in it outside and leave a note to take some. When it is gone it is gone. That way I don't have to deal with the dog. I can't leave him outside, he'll bark and bark and bark and bark some more. As every kid walks by he'll let me know someone is starting to encroach on his territory, which in his mind is everywhere he can see and then some. Oh it is only 6 and I am already tired and have serious heartburn, not to mention having some contractions from the stress. I am going to get a glass of water and take a break.

GO FIGURE

The pictures above are my Bugaboo (I love how his tail curls up around). Mind you he is still a puppy and will get bigger but can you see the resmeblance between his pictures and the ones below? Also, I can see why they thought he was part lab.

If you have read my blogs on Baloo you may have noticed that we have had a "Bit" of a discipline problem with him, since he came into our home four months ago. I called the lady we got him from, she works with Pet Samaritan here in the SLC area, and explained what we have been dealing with. She explained that they are having similar problems with the the ENTIRE LITTER and profusely apologized. When we got him, we thought he was part Great Pyrenees part Lab. He was found with his mother and litter mates on the side of the road out in the middle of nowhere. Since he looks like a white lab they gathered daddy was a lab because mom is a pyr. Anyways, he doesn't act like either. Pyrs are stubborn but he is ridiculously stubborn. He has no regard for discipline, and in fact he gets really MAD if you do discipline him. Sometimes he nips at my face, not OK. Anyways, they have found out that he isn't part lab but is 60-75% Akbash.

So we now understand Baloo's behavior. He is a herding work dog, bred to be a wild dog taking care of sheep, finding his own food and having very little human contact, not what we had in mind when we got a "family" dog. (Pyrs are herd dogs too but they work really well with children and Akbash take more work to be family friendly. In fact, had they known they were Akbash they wouldn't have placed them in a family's home.) So all this time he has been trying to "herd" Thing 1  He thinks she is a FREAKIN' SHEEP. He pushes her along and nips at her elbows and feet trying to get her to where he wants her to go- we still don't know where that is though. That is why he gets upset with B and I when we scold him for getting her. I mean wouldn't it be a HUGE conflict for you if the very thing you were BORN to do you keep getting yelled at for. Anyways, he needs to be on a farm working with herding sheep and not out children and that is where he is going. I am so excited. Why? I couldn't take the interaction with him and Thing 1 any longer, and I am worried about when the baby gets here. Also, I couldn't take him to the pound, I refuse. We had decided that if we couldn't find a place to put him that we would just keep him in the back yard and he would stay an outdoor dog. Not the ideal situation, for anyone. I couldn't send him to just any other home either because I know the end result would be him being put down. Not many people would love and put up with a nipper and biter they didn't see as a cute adorable puppy, nor would they put up with the horrible discipline issues he has. (We have gone the rounds with this dog. We had hoped that obedience class would help but NOOOOO). I do love this dog but I am so relieved to find out I am not crazy or that I have a dog with mental issues.

We had to get outside

Yesterday morning Thing 1 woke us up at 5:30.

Thing 1: MAMA!... MAMA!...MAMA!...MAMA!

Me: What Thing 1?

Thing 1: Mama, I can't get comfy in my own bed.
(translation; can I come get in your bed?)

Me whispering: B, do you care if she snuggles with us.

B: no, I have to get up now anyways.

Me: Come on in Thing 1.

So in she came. I thought she was going to go back to sleep, seeing how she normally doesn't get up til 8, but no. She was up and wide awake. She stayed in bed with me for a bit but after her dad got out of bed she was up following him around while he finished getting ready for work. I was able to stay in bed for a few more minutes but not many. While I laid there I thought we have to do SOMETHING that will expend some of this energy. B was thinking the same thing. When he said his goodbyes, he gently said you might want to go to a park today.

Fortunately, we had great weather. The first thing that came to my mind was something I saw on Camille's blog. Gardner Village. I had never head of it before but was intrigued by the pictures, plus the next day I overheard people talking about the same place. It had to be. So I called Mariah, a friend from college, to see if she and Cooper wanted to come along. She did so it was set.

What a darling little set up. Thing 1 was so enthralled with all the decor. Here are a few pictures of the witches and the wonderful place that helped me stay sane yesterday. Thanks to Camille too, we now know of a great little place to enjoy the holidays even more.
These are just a few of the witches they have all around. It is really quite the ordeal!

In this little set up the green stuff is actually pouring into the cauldron, it has a little steam coming up from the concoction brewing inside and there is a light fire heating it all up below. The witches actually move a little too, they have some prety nasty things in the bottles behind them on their shelves too. So creative and a lot of fun. Thing 1 loved it.

Half Moon Bay

Our second excursion was to Half Moon Bay and to see the pumpkin farms they have there. It was a bit of a drive but the girls had such fun. B flew in the night before so he could come with us. It was his golden weekend and we couldn't have him sit his one free weekend off at home alone.

Uncle Little Brother and Aunt M. Little Brother has such a big head he couldn't ever really get a good picture.The three girls on their ponies. At first Thing 1 was unsure about it, but since her cousin Mikey was going she would go too. Mikey is five and one of the coolest people in Thing 1's eyes. Arden is only two and looks up to Thing 1 the way that Thing 1 admires Mikey. It is fun to watch the three of them. Even though Arden is as tall as Thing 1 is (their father, my brother C is really tall), in Thing 1's eyes she is still Baby Arden, ironic. Both girls are at the age of asserting the fact that they are "BIG GIRLS" and are no longer babies. So funny.

Here the girls are jumping in blow up room/house thing.Mikey and Arden tackling the giant slide, Thing 1 sat that one out. Of course now as she looks at the pictures she wants to go down- go figure.A little train they all went on.

Thing 1, Mikey, Papa and Uncle Little Brother tackled the haunted house. When we asked Thing 1 what she saw inside she said, "BONES.... eating LUNCH!" She liked it and wasn't at all scared. Granted I think she could handle anything if her Papa was holding her.

Apple Hill

Thing 1 and I went to Reno for a week to see my side of our family. It was a great little trip. While we were there we went on several fun excursions. First was to Apple Hill, CA. A quaint little town just on the other side of Tahoe. The town is full of apple orchards and the farmers gather together to have this festival of sorts every year. We were able to see where they make apple cidar and a few HUGE pumpkins. Thing 1 loved it, especially having all the adult attention all to her self.
Here we saw them peeling the apples in a machine that appeared to be at least a hundred years old. They then went to another spot to be made into delicious apple cidar. We also enjoyed fresh caramel apples, apple turnovers and apple crisp. YUMMMM it was all delicious. Thing 1 on a giant pumpkin. As you can see she wouldn't allow Papa to let her go not even a second. Thing 1 and the petting zoo. The little black billy goat was her favorite. He was just her size. I admit he was really cute too, especially compared to the other large ones.


Thing 1 getting to ride with the pumpkins we picked out. She was exhausted by the end of the day.

First Year Retreat

Every year the residency program does a retreat for all the residents. The second and third years are all together and the first years have their own. This year they took us to The Chateaux on Silver Lake in Deer Valley. Lindsay, B's youngest sister, took Thing 1 for the night and we had a blast. It was a beautiful resort and it snowed the night we were up there making for a beautiful morning.

Numbers 1 and 2

Numbers 3 and 4

Numbers 5 and 6

While we were there they had an artist come in and teach us the VERY basics of watercolors and let us give it a try. Out of the 20 of us; residents, faculty and spouses, they picked 6 of our paintings to be judged on to win a prize. Both of our paintings ended up in the top 6- not too hard of a feat considering there aren't many people to begin with. B's painting came in third.

My painting is number 1 and B's is number 5. The winner was number 4, and 6 came in second. I have to admit I was really proud of B, especially if you saw how he started his. He was so disgusted at first and even in the end he didn't know why it was in the top 6. Still we are hoping his medical career does well so we don't have to rely on his artistic abilities to support us, mine either for that matter. Because we would indeed be starving artists.

With the great company, incredible food, fantastic ambiance we really enjoyed our time in Park City and getting away from Ogden for a night.