Ornament of the year!!!

My super creative, fun-mom, friend told me that each year she makes an ornament for each of her kids so that when they leave home they have a set of ornaments for their own tree... and a little love from their mother. I loved the idea so much I had to steal it. So this last week I made Benson and Shay their first ornament. A sweet little felt birdie.

That same crafty friend came up with this idea... so I copied it too! Aren't they just cute enough to eat.

And my sweet husband let me open my Christmas present just a little early this year.... I couldn't wait. I have been looking at, studying, needing, wanting this since April. I can't believe she's mine. THE SLICE!!! I only got to play around with it for one afternoon to make a few things Christmasy. But I think these festive flakes are adorable. And my Slice worked like a dream.

Sorry about the picture quality... I am having a heck of a time with my camera setting and tree and lights and flash and everything. I have had a great week with these little crafty/festive projects though. Hohoho!!!

The perfect tree...

The 1st Annual Leavitt Christmas Tree Hunt was held today, December 6. And what an event it was. Today will go down in history as one of those days that I never want to forget. It was so beautiful outside. December was definitely in the air, but the sun shined brightly all day. There was about 4 inches of snow dusting Red Lodge... perfect for a 2 year old to run and play. He RAN and giggled and threw snow all day long.

We kicked the day off with a big bowl of Ashli's chili and chips and hot cocoa, and we were ready for the hunt. The whole gang (our good friends the Trombley's were with us) plodded along and scoped out the greenery.
Despite AJ's fears that we would never find a tree good enough to meet my specifications, we did. Only about an hour into our journey.

He man-handled my tree and we tagged it and called it ours. I am tickled with it.


I strapped Shay into the baby back-pack and there she hung out, all bundled up all day. She seemed to enjoy the fresh air as much as we did.

It really was a great time. It was one of those days were I come home and instantly hit my knees to thank my Heavenly Father for the little things. AJ and I fell in love again today, Benson explored and ran and had fun, Shay was her sweet self... and the forest was so clean, crisp, and beautiful. It was a blessed day anyway you look at it...

A few more pictures

Saturday, in Cardston, I went on a hunt for a little white bow for Shay to were with her holiday dress. If you know me, you know that once I get a little, teeny, meaningless idea, I don't give up easily. Yes I did find a little white bow but I also HAD to get this hat for my baldy girl. I think it is so adorable!! I can't wait to get more big flowers for it, btw... a quick thank you to my Sis-in-law for the cute flowers and headbands Shaylee is always sporting. They make my girl stylin'.

From the moment I found out I was having a baby girl, I was just dying to do something feminine and pretty and ruffly. This is it. It took up a good portion of the last two visits to mom's house but it was so worth it to me. Mom, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for being the brains and perfectionist being the project. I know Shay and I will treasure it. Thanks for letting me show off just a little.

Thankful

We just spent the last week from one set of grandparents to the other. It was great to see both of our families. Each time we see them more memories are made and I see Benson bond with them a little more. He is still calling ME grandma. "Thank you, Grandma," he says when I get him something. I guess it could be worse... if I had to be called anything but momma I guess it would be that. Those two ladies love him almost as much as I do. We had a great time. Thanksgiving morning the boys played a little backyard football.

Dinner was great, although little Ben was not. It was naptime and he was grumpy. After dinner, some of us braved our swimming suits (I know, the after dinner belly bulge was definitely in attendance) and took a dip in the hot tub. The cabin is beautiful... for some reason we always have good conversation in there. Friday, AJ and I packed to leave but just as we should be pulling out, Travis called and said he had shot his elk. AJ just had to get in on that, so he drove up to the ranch with the 4-wheeler and helped them get the bloody carcass out. Another bonding experience I guess. So we got a late start but enjoyed our drive through the Flathead and up by Glacier, to another Grandmothers house we go. We didn't get to spend too much time with G-ma and G-pa Leavitt because of Luke's wedding but Benson LOVED grandmas collection of cars and had fun with them. The food, as always, the highlight. We can't wait for Christmas to be back up in Canada in their cozy home.

Can you believe we are into December already? I love it. I wait all year for the holiday season to roll around. I love that I am going to be with family, that everyone has a glow about them. Maybe it is the chill in their cheeks, but I believe it to be the Spirit of Christmas... the fact that we are thinking of others, and celebrating the birth of our Savior. Isn't it some coincidence that we kick off the season with a whole day to think of those things that we are thankful for. I hope we don't forget those things as the holidays get busy and we are rushing hear and there. I hope we remember, all year, but especially as we honor our Savior, that we have been given so much and have so much to be thankful for.

My new toy.

I just got a new toy that I totally should have waited for Christmas to get... but I never have been good with self-control or surprises. So today I made a cute mini-scrapbook with it. I learned alot and it isn't exactly what I had in mind when I started but i think it is pretty cute. I am sick of making blocks for SundaShop and this is one of my many ideas (it was bought with my etsy earnings btw). Do you think anyone else in the world wants cute little albums? We'll see...

My bind-it-all at work.

Just a quick link to a talented gal with a cool blog. Camille with Simplify. In my next life I am going to be her... or Elizabeth. I hesitate to tell you she is doing a giveaway.

Why

Why does the post office not have a drive-through. I know I am not the only mother who has thought of this.

I've been busy doing...

NOTHING! We have had a slow, lonely, couple of weeks. I guess I have been a little busy, between our etsy store and having a scentsy party, but other than that we have been homebound.


I am sick of politics. And you know there has been too much of it on when your two year old sees a flyer and says, "Bama." He cussed in our house. Just kidding. I don't follow politics enough to say that but we voted for the losers. He can't tell us his own name but he can say "Bama" and "M-cain."


Shay is still a good little girl. She is often smiling. On the other hand, she is getting pretty attached to her mother, which I kinda like, it makes me feel less like the invisible mom. So this holiday season, I am sure she won't go nicely to any of the family we haven't seen in a while. Don't take it personally. She went to the doc yesterday and was in perfect health, a blessing that I take for granted too often.


Ben is talking SO much. We still can't understand what he is saying sometimes, especially when he gets going fast. Sometimes he has such a story to tell. Always about bikes...will there ever be anything else? He has received an F in nursery that last two weeks for hitting and pushing. I don't know why I am admitting that. The leader told me he gets ahold of a motorcycle or car and goes straight to the table where he wants to drive it around. If any other kid approaches the table he gets mad. They have a hard time being mad at him cause they still think he's cute, but I am over that so I may have to go in next week and lay down the law on little B.




We had AJ's birthday last week... I think it was his worst ever. He felt old. He also learned that women don't read minds any better than men do. He wanted a new dirtbike helmet. I didn't get the memo. OOps. And although I would have gotten him anything in the world had I know don't feel too bad for him cause his parents and his in-laws gave him enough money to go buy one himself but he won't. He says they are too expensive. I am confused.


(Since we are updating everyone here.) I am the same. I have long hair...it's red. I like to scrapbook. I miss our families. I love my little kids. I am half tomboy and half girly-girl. I am loving that now-a-days it is girls vs. boys at our house. Even though we are younger and weaker. We always win. AJ says it is because we are cuter.


Thanks for letting me update. We have a great life thanks to all of you.




Taken as I type, right now. Yes he is sitting on her. Yes she likes it.

Boo!

I know it is a week early, but the ward held our Trunk-or-Treat tonight, and after how much work went into these costumes it is a good thing we might get to use them more than once this holiday season.

Benson was very robotic. It was a struggle to get the box on but once it was there he resigned to the fact that his mom is CRAZY and will go to all lengths for a party. The robot had an awesome box-head but he absolutely wouldn't go for that.....compromise.

Wouldn't you know, AJ and I joined in the fun. As we were driving there I was thinking, " I cannot believe I am doing this." Even some of my best friends didn't recognize me at first glance. I thought the red hair would give it away, but. AJ was supposed to be a sweet, slobbery puppy dog but ended up looking like a K9 version of Kiss... oops. We had fun.

And Little Miss Rodeo is dedicated to you mom. Wish you were here.Yes the boots may be a size big. But I know you'll agree they make the outfit. She was so sweet and such a good sport, just like always.

A Birthday for B

This is his cake. I really wanted to expand my creativity and MAKE my first fancy cake. But I had a crazy week and didn't get around to it. It was a mistake to put a dirtbike on the cake too... that's all he wanted for the rest of the party. He didn't have cake, he didn't get excited about any other presents, he just wanted to drive around both of his new bikes.
Although we did have some good friends over and were thankful for that, we were sad. It is so hard to be here in Billings with no Grandmas or Grandpas, no Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. Someday, maybe.

Saturday Morning Surprise

I know all of you out-of-towners are jealous... especially you- the Willeys.

If my pretty flowers could speak they would say, "Brrrrrr."

The ideal...

The reality.

As you can see I just added a link to MY etsy store. It is pretty lame but I have been making these blocks for years and love to do it so much. Who knows I make some cash. Check it out.

I know I have been terrible about blogging lately. The truth of the matter, we have no news! The kids are great. AJ and I are great. I hope you are too.

Something that I am trying to remember is that "MOTHERHOOD IS IN THE MOMENTS." I am seeing it everywhere this week. Yesterday I found it in a snuggle/snooze with Shay. It was so peaceful to feel her breath, smell the sweetness of my baby girl, and hear the tiny click of her pacifier as she sucked away. I did not want to move an inch. When Benson was attempting a ‘superman’ from the rocking chair to where I was nursing Shay, and we had a crash, I found the moment in his sincere,"Sowwy." And how can I not savor these moments of a happy, beautiful baby with a big pink flower. So I am so thankful for the moments I am so blessed to be a part of...

Well, thanks to all of your good advice Benson is sleeping like a bear in his big-boy bed. He even says he likes it.
Unfortunately I had a bout of the flu yesterday so that put a damper on our weekend. But today we went to the Parade of Homes and of course that left me feeling ungreatful for our little house and dreaming of a day when we might build our dream house. However right now I am living a dream with my little family. Shay is an amazing baby. She is getting so smiley. Bens is doing good to. We are lonely since we haven't seen family in a while.... can't wait to be together soon!

We have had a great week. I have been working toward getting the kids rooms all set up and am so excited that I have gotten a lot done. I will post pictures as soon as we are all finished. We still have to move the computer into our room before Shay can have her own room. Yesterday I painted the old window frame from my grandpas shop and a shelf the cream color that I wanted and tomorrow a friend is coming over to paint Benson's shelf red. We are busy and loving it!!!

Help

We need advice on how to get a two-year old to sleep in a big boys bed????

Bye Bye Summer

It is kinda sad that summer is coming to a close. But on the other hand, I love the fall. I love how refreshing the air is and the crisp mornings. I can't wait for October. Both of my boys have their birthday and I am going to have fun on Halloween. If no one else does I am going to have to plan a party. And yes, the adults will dress up.
We have had a welcomed boring week. Not much to do. I have caught up on projects around the house and done some scrapbooking that needed to be done. It is so important to me that I get my kids childhood down on paper. I never want to forget these days. I know this is such a special time in my life. I feel so blessed to have my kids. A quote I found in a mag the other day really summed it up for me.... "Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

Well, we survived a busy weekend with lots of company. We had a great time. Shay's blessing was beautiful! I am so glad we had family here to celebrate our baby, it gets lonely being here in Billings alone.
Saturday was crazy with shopping and getting ready for Sunday. The girls did their thing and the guys built AJ some shelves in the garage. He was absolutely thrilled. After dinner me and the boys went to the nighttime hillclimb at the BMC. It must have been fun cause we were there until after midnight. We had dinner here Sunday and then took the kids swimming at the hotel. Benson wasn't sure at first but by the end we had to pry him out of the pool. It is so fun to see him discover new things.
Monday we had a big breakfast here and then said goodbye. It always makes us sad to see everyone go. Then I was due for a long nap. This week will be recovery week for me....laundry, naps, groceries, etc. We can't wait for the next event when we will be with those we love again.

I have had the busiest week. We have lots of family coming into town because Shay is being blessed in church on Sunday. Somehow we came up with the genius idea of making a list of the projects we would like to have done by the weekend. Since I am a freak about lists and just have to cross off all of the items, not only have I been cleaning and organizing, I have done several projects outside. So over the last week I have been crazy, literally, and am just now done with all of my projects and am coming back into sanity. I made a great picture collage on our living room wall of our family pics. I find myself just looking at my kids all day.

I don't know how we made such a cute kid... must be AJ's side of the family.

We're back!!! We spent last week welcoming home my cousin from her mission. It was so good to see Linds and see the Spirit of a fresh missionary. Benson had fun with G-ma, Papa John, and Uncle Trav. He grew to be pretty attached to them.
I came home to our family pics waiting. How exciting! Here are some of the best!

"I wanna go fast."

Night at the Fair

We took Benson and Shay to the fair on Friday night!!! Benson absolutely loved it. He loved the big slide and once we saw the race car ride he went crazy. He ran for it and fought his way through all the people in line till he got right up to the front. Luckily for him, his momma has no shame and even though I was 3 pounds over the weight limit, the carny couldn't speak enough English to keep me off of it. I was embarrassed a little, but wouldn't have missed my sons smile for the world. We had a great family date of corn dogs and elephant ears. Thank goodness for the county fair.

Daddy's girl.

This is my little stud a few months ago as we were leaving for church. Notice one of his very favorite things in his hand....mater.

I am brand new to this blogging thing... and need all of the help I can get, but love the idea of my friends and family knowing a little better what I am up to.
We have had the best summer, no year, of our lives. We started 2008 by going on a cruise and AJ and I still look back on it and wish we were on the Navigator of the Seas. We soaked up the sun and put our toes in the sand. It was great.
The next few months weren't good for me though, as I was prego and big. I am the most miserable pregnant person ever (ask AJ if you don't believe me). But then came June and we had our Shay. She is a beautiful, sweet, chubby, mommy's girl... and she sleeps through the night so that makes her even cuter. I love having a tiny baby again.
Benson is at such a cute age. He is talking a ton. Sometimes it is in his own language but he is talking none the less. He doesn't exactly love his baby sister... last week he looked at me and said, "Shay go bye-bye." But I am sure she will grow on him. It is amazing to watch your child learn and grow. This is the best season of my life.
AJ and I just started a new business. Earth Movers Excavation. We are loving the freedom of being our own bosses. Well, I have always been the boss, but AJ appreciates answering to one less person.
We have been so lucky to see a lot of our families this year. It is August so we just had our anual trip to Island Park. AJ's family has a cabin there. We spent most of our time at the Sand Dunes so for two days we were covered in sand. And when I say covered... I mean COVERED. There was sand in places you don't want to know about.
July was busy with a new baby, but I got to go home and spend a week with mom, dad, and T-rav. Benson loved the 4-wheeler and Grandmas big, beautiful lawn. I hope we stay this lucky and get to share our kids with their G-parents often. Speaking of kids, I better go find them.

Me and Benson on my birthday. This was one of my only requests... that I get a good pic of my and my sonny!

Benson at the dunes. He loves sand, dirt, rocks... does this remind you of his daddy at all? I had to ask him not to throw sand at his cousin Rylee at least 200 times. But he was in heaven.

This is our Shaylee. Of course I love getting her all dressed up for church. The little old ladies there love that I polish her tiny fingernails and toes. She is such a sweet baby!