Visit from our family in Utah...

Lots of updating to do. But I am lacking all my family Christmas pictures and so I am jumping ahead to the visit from Ryan's Family until I can get a hold of them. 

We really enjoyed having them here. It was fun to have them in our home and to have them see us in our element. Mavrick of course was the center of attention the whole time but we did manage to do some fun things. 

Wednesday: Ryan's Mom, Dad, Tacy, Jeffrey & Corrin all arrived around 5-6. We were frantically getting everything cleaned cause we had just gotten back from our family reunion that day too. We all hung out at the house that night and Ryan went and got them some southern catfish while I made some Southern Okra which is one of our favorite things to eat. Everyone was pretty tired so we ended the evening about 9 anyway. Russel, Micaela, and Jessica all flew in late that night. 

Thursday: We all met up for "breakfast" around 10:00 in the morning. They stayed at Nellies Cottage which was just down the road that a member rents out for scrapbook retreats and other things. So it ended up being a good deal. We were happy to see everyone but Mavrick was being a little moody that morning. It happens. We just had to keep telling everyone that it wasn't personal he really just likes to let everyone know around him when he is not happy. Haha. =)

We spent the rest of the day pretty much doing nothing, which was nice for a change,  and playing bocci ball in our yard, shooting guns in the backyard, and playing frisbee. Later that evening we went to go see Mission Impossible 3. I didn't LOVE it but I think everyone else enjoyed it. =) After that everyone pretty much went to bed. Ryan and I are night owls so we were like, "What?!" But we understood that they were tired. When you are a parent you learn to go to bed at 12 and get up at 6 and your body just gets use to it. 

Friday: This was our fun day. A few of them went fishing early in the morning and caught nothing! Haha. =) oh well. Better luck next time they come down. Then we all got dressed and headed out to Galveston. It was beautiful on the way there. Such a perfect day. We rode the ferry and that is always Mavrick's favorite part of the trip. After that we headed to go buy Mav some shoes cause we forgot his, walked on the beach...which was beautiful, and then headed to Moody Gardens to go to the Aquarium Pyramid. It was worth every bit to see Mavrick's excitement. Its moments like that, that make every bit of hassel and trip headaches worth it. =) He was running from animal to animal, from exhibit to exhibit! The seals and the penguins were his favorite. He was hilarious. My camera died after the Ferry so I didn't get any more pictures. =(

I wish I had a better picture of this one. It shows how excited he was.I love it. =)

 Everyone thought the Ferry was pretty cool. The seagulls were going nuts and a little to close to everyone head for comfort. Haha. =) We also saw some Dolphins when we were crossing on the Ferry.

Feeding the birds with Daddy.

Notice how everyone is ducking...haha. =)

Saturday: It was our last full day with everyone and New Years Eve.  We spent the day hanging out around the house, making some party decorations, and appetizers. Later that night we went over to my Mom and Dad's to make eggrolls and celebrate New Years with them. Everyone was pretty tired the whole night but Mavrick kept us entertained. We also attempted to make Brazillian Lemonade...ugh! It didn't turn out to well.

Jessica and Mavrick having quality time. 

Eggroll Making!

No party is complete without decorations. =)

Probably shouldn't have let him do this but those balloons kept him entertained for hours! And yes he stayed up till After 12 on New Years. 

It was so much fun to have everyone there. We were missing Brittany, Devin, and Liam (Little Willy is what Ryan likes to call him). I hope next Christmas we can all be together in Utah but we will see. We will have some new additions to the family by then. ;)

Updates from October & Halloween

(Warning: HUGE Post with LOTS of Photos)

October was one stinkin' crazy month! I started working on the first of October. It has been a fun little ride so far. I like working at the store though. I am so much more productive with business stuff when I am not home. When I am home I feel guilty for doing anything that is not involved with Mavrick or pertains to house wife duties. =) So I try to be as productive as possible. But the beginning of the month started off pretty great. 

Mavrick loves to play outside.

The weather was so nice. It is amazing how much more productive Ryan and I are when we have good weather.

We also took a little trip to a local gun show. Ryan was in heaven. It was pretty cool seeing all the ammo and weapons. They had old stuff there and that is what I really liked to look at.

But this is what Mav and I did most of the time. =) Ate popcorn and took silly pictures. 

Love his eyes.

My 23rd birthday was also on the 3rd. For my birthday I got to work a 9 hour day. Haha. But it was nice to come home to a vase of Roses from my husband. I forgot to take pictures of them though. He bought me a new NICE tape measure for work. It was really thoughtful of him. Then my family came over pretty late that night and we had a quick little birthday party with cobbler and ice cream. My parents gave me a gift certificate for some clothes and a "COUPON" that said they would babysit while I CRAFT one day. Haha. =) It was a pretty good day. I also got a little gift the night before from the YW Leaders I serve with.

They looked on my Pinterest Recipe Board and found a recipe that I wanted to try and made it for me and printed it out. Such a good idea/gift.

This is a typical picture of Mav. Yelling, Ball in hand, and throwing them.

I had a fun activity with my Beehives this month. We did a Personal Progress Night about Faith. I compared faith to a Pearl and them we made Pearl earrings. They loved it.

Cute huh?

Love my Young Women. They are so cute.

Also one week I got to hang out with Emma, my niece while her mom and dad "abandonded" her to go on a cruise. Haha. I took her for the whole day and just me and Mavrick and Emma hung out. It was not that bad having two kids. Anyway...I took them to McDonalds and they had a blast playing with each other.

She is so prissy and funny. I love her. =)

Then we took a trip to Sam's Club. Everyone kept asking if they were twins. Haha. We had a lot of fun actually and it was easier than just taking Mavrick by himself. They entertained each other.

Later that month, we got to go "pick up Jessica's Bike from her mission." It was so good to see her. She looked so good & she had never met Mavrick. He was pretty cranky after a 5 hour car ride. But I guess she got to see one side of him. 

Here is a picture of her TRYING to bond with him. He was making it pretty hard for her. Haha. =)

After we met them at their apartment we took them out to eat.

After we departed our ways we found a park for Mavrick where he could play and let out some steam and OF COURSE he was happy and his cute self. We should have gone there first I guess.

This is probably one of my favorite photos EVER!

Just chillin' in the park.

The rest of our month consisted of work and school. Ryan has been trapping alot of animals latley cause they killed all of our ducks. He is so mad and wants to have a stake out this coming up Friday and kill anything that comes onto the property. 

One night we came home and saw 5 fox in our yard. The next night Ryan set out a trap and caught a grey fox. It was kinda pretty.

 

So Ryan killed it and skinned it. The next night he set out some more traps. At one point during the night he just walked around outside around our house and in a matter of 5 minutes saw 5 raccoons, 3 fox, and 2 possums. That night he caught 2 possums and 1 raccoon and shot another one. It was a successful night. I know this killing things sounds harsh but they are killing all our animals. So...not sure what else to do but eliminate them one by one or NUKE the forest. Haha. =)

Just a cute picture of Mavrick sleeping. =)

Halloween

This year I helped decorate for the Ward Halloween Party. It was fun. Jeremy and Ashley cam into town so Liam and Mavrick and Emma all got to go to the party together.

This year we wanted Mavrick to be "Bam Bam." So we thought...hey...why not be Betty and Barney. And I made them.So that is what we were.

Love this photo...Emma was a little 50's girl. =)

Ashely got better photos with her nice camera but Mavrick would not cooperate with pictures or holding his club we made him. But he was the BEST "bam bam" ever. It was a very appropriate costume for him. We actually won 2nd place for the best costumes! Made it a little worth all the frantic sewing and making of the costumes.

Inspirational Picture for our costumes

 

Mavrick's Costume Inspiration

Betty, Bam Bam & Barney! Ryan said so many people said he looked JUST like "Barney Rubble". He was kinda offened. Haha. =)

 

Miss Emma

 

 

Trying to go through the costume parade but he was just interested in balloons.

Truck or Treating was interesting. He still has not gotten the concept yet. The first piece of candy he got was the only one he focused on. A sucker.

Here he is already ripping it open before we get to the 2nd car

He was so tired that he fell asleep eating his sucker. Haha. =)

October all in all was a pretty good month. I am SO EXCITED about the holidays! We will be going to the tree farm this weekend to pick out our Christmas tree and decorating the house. I am going to skip Thanksgiving decorating. Haha. =) More updates to come.