Lights, Trees & Christmas Countdown...

Blair's sister Tara and her family were in town this past weekend for Thanksgiving. We all got together to see the ZooLights on Saturday. I took my camera in hopes of getting cute pictures but this was as good as it got. And these were while we were waiting in line for it to open!

Sunday before church we got our tree up. I wish I could have Christmas decorations up all year, and I think Jordan does too. This is the first year that Jordan has been really excited about Christmas. It really is for kids isn't it? It makes it so enjoyable for us to watch his amazement with the season.

He is such a HAM!!

Yes, I have become one of "THOSE" people. You know.....the crazy old ladies that dress up their dogs! Tootsie got in on the Christmas fun.

You have to love the Target $1 Spot (where Tootsie got her adorable sweater!)

Daddy was working late tonight so we had to do FHE on our own. I tried to read a story from the December Friend but couldn't even get past the first page because the boys were so anxious to start our Christmas Countdown. Tonight's fun was to write our letters to Santa.

Only 24 days until Christmas!

A happy Saturday...

We have been wanting to get a puppy for awhile now. When I say we, I really mean me. Our last dog passed away the day we moved to Buckeye and it took us awhile to get over it and decide to do this again. Thank goodness Blair gives in to my crazy ideas because somebody is in L-O-V-E with Tootsie!

Tootsie (named by Jordan) is our new little Mini Schnauzer. Dillon is a little less thrilled than Jordan. We have Grandma Karafa over for dinner and she finally coaxed him into touching her. Before that this was as good as it got.

I think Daddy is even in love with her. She has slept all day though which I'm sure helps. Somehow I got stuck with potty duty too...how does that always happen? Here's another cute one for you Beast, when she gets more comfortable with her instant family I'm sure I will have more action shots.

The day started especially happy for me. I don't know what it is about a piece of blue polyester that gets me so excited, except for the fact that I have worked really hard for this. My goal is another one before New Year's!

Mondays are for Mindy...

On Monday if you happen to be around Sonora Street you may smell the delectable scent of baking bread. It is coming from my house. On Mondays I bake bread. I bake bread because it is delicious. I bake bread because it makes me feel all Betty Crockerish. I bake bread because kneading is a time honored stress reliever. I challenge myself by baking a new recipe each week. So far my family has enjoyed wheat bread, homemade pizza, cinnamon rolls, french bread and yesterday Parker House rolls. If you ever come to a holiday feast at the Hunt home you have sampled my Grandma Vowles recipe for rolls. They are delicious plain or with jam or my favorite...honey! YUM! I have only tried to make them myself once (The disastrous 2005 Thanksgiving...they didn't rise much) so my Mom convinced me to give it another go. What do you think Mom?

They may not look it but they tasted great! And the best part is that Mr. Jordan ate one with butter & honey. Yes Mr. I gag down the sacrament bread each week "I don't like bread" Jordan! I told him they were Grandma Hunt's special rolls!

Since Monday's are my day off and Jordan has pre-school I take advantage and do my grocery shopping for the week with only 1 child who is usually in a fairly good mood. Which is very nice because I had to go up and down each aisle at Fry's to make sure I took advantage of the sale. I did have to buy him Twizzlers to bribe him to sit down and behave though!

Monday is also my cleaning day. Kristin asked how I get all my cleaning done with two kids and the answer is I really don't know. For some reason Monday's are my children's best behaved days. And I usually do it while Dillon is asleep. Otherwise this happens while I am at the kitchen sink:

I have been sort of down in the dumps lately and was looking online for a little spiritual encouragement. I have found mine in Julie Beck's talk Mothers Who Know.

There is eternal influence and power in Motherhood.

Mothers who know bear children.

Mothers who know honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants.

Mothers who know are Nurturers.

Mothers who know are Leaders.

Mothers who know are Teachers.

Mothers who know do less.

Mothers who know stand strong and immovable.

I am really trying to live my life with these guidelines. Motherhood is really hard! Being a homemaker and mother......EVEN HARDER! I am especially trying to do less. Especially less TV. Rather than being totally engrossed in some show or another my children's imaginations have been in overdrive. It's great to see them interacting and making their own fun. Even if that means unfolding all my laundry to make a house, or snapping my just purchased new hangers to make swords (and then hiding them in the office because "I thought the office was a good place to hide them"). I love sitting around our table and enjoying a meal, especially now that it has a real live tablecloth. No vinyl or anything in sight! I love reading stories before bed and having both boys know exactly what page Old MacDonald will be on in the Nursery Rhyme book. I really really really want to be a Mother Who Knows!

Yesterday Blair was in Flagstaff all day, I think I may have heard him come in sometime around 2:00 am but who could be sure. Normally when Daddy isn't home we skip FHE. I'm not sure why, it really makes no sense. Last night I decided to go ahead and do it without him. Our lesson was about our family being a team and everyone had a position to play. Daddy is the Team Captain. Mommy is Co-Captain etc... Jordan was very worried about our Captain not being home it was pretty cute. We even made up a cheer for our team: 2-4-6-8 who's the team that's really great? Team Karafa! I had to snap a picture of my little Mister's while we had fun, and Betsy and Katie should be proud that we ended the day with 2 boys still wearing pants. It's a huge accomplishment really!

Photo Books!

There is nothing like a good freebie to celebrate my 100th blog post (yeah me!)

Just in time for Christmas! Act fast friends, the offer ends 11/16/08!

http://www2.snapfish.com/info18

Church & Cleaning

The funniest thing happened at Church on Sunday. Well funny to me, but probably a little teeny bit sacrilegious. We arrived our usual 10 minutes late just in time for the sacrament hymn. Jordan was already begging for a snack. The prayer is said and this conversation ensues:
Jordan- Mommy can I have a snack?
Mom- After the Sacrament.
Jordan- What did you bring? Is there a snack in your bag?
Mom- Shush, after the Sacrament.
We have the bread & water and wait for everyone to finish....
Jordan- Now can I have my snack.
Mom- No, now you can think about Jesus until the boys all sit down.
Jordan- Cheez-its? Is that what you brought?
Mom- What?
Jordan- Are the Cheez-its in your bag? Is that my snack?
Mom quietly giggles to herself!

My friends and family who know me well also know that I am probably the World's worst housekeeper! When we moved to Buckeye I thought things would be better but really a bigger house means a bigger mess! My sister and I have made up our own language even. There is clean and then there is MOM CLEAN. Mom Clean is how we would like our house to be everyday, but usually only is when Mom is coming to visit (hence my week's notice).
WELL...
Yesterday I took a sick day from work to stay home with my boys (thanks again for the offer Rachel, I will be calling you about a day in December!) and I had a total Betty Crocker day! The kids and I grocery shopped and then I put on my Afterglow Greatest Hits CD and MOM Cleaned the house. Okay, not the whole house....everything but the bedrooms. That will take awhile! But I wore my apron all day, I scrubbed floors, did 7 loads of laundry (even folded them), made cinnamon rolls, and chicken parmesan for dinner. It was awesome! I think I need to take sick days more often!
That and my husband should admit to letting friends (JOSH) come over to my filthy house when I am out of town more often too!

Saying it LOUD & Proud!

MA-MA!



My lovely little Mister Dillon finally (FINALLY) said ma-ma on Thursday 10/30/08! To me! About me! It was like a dream come true. It was after the ward trunk-or-treat and he hollered at at me through his half cracked window so as I lay my head to my pillow that night I thought maybe it had been a Halloween dream.



Then the children and I piled into the van for our jaunt to the high country and he hollered MA-MA over and over until I would respond. Twas not a dream at all!



I am a very happy mama!

Wrapping up October

The boys really enjoyed Halloween this year. Thursday 10/30 we took them to our annual Trunk or Treat party at church. It was unbelievably hot but still fun! I'm hoping our family photos come out because my camera stunk!

Friday the boys and I headed up Snowflake to enjoy some real Fall weather! They were in heaven. Grandma Hunt has such a fun yard for little boys (picture overload):

Dillon LOVED Uncle Noah's rooster. He was out by the coop as often as possible. And when he couldn't be outside he liked the rooster on Grandma's table.

Grandpa Hunt took the boys and I around the block. We had fun, the boys got tired quickly (YEAH) and only one person mis -took my dad for my husband (EW!)

Dillon was Grandpa's helper for feeding time at the zoo. He even petted the kitty with a little encouragement.

On Saturday we went to Jenni, Megan & Tim's soccer games. We got to see Tim & Megan's team get their first win. I told Tim I was his lucky charm! He and Jordan were fast friends again and almost inseparable the entire weekend. Such cuties!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!