On the 6th Day of Christmas.....We Made Christmas Cookies

We made Christmas Cookies for Nathan's Home Teaching families. We did sugar cookies and decorated them with different colors. I only had Halloween/Fall cookie cutters, so we used a leaf cookie cutter and after the green frosting it looked just like a Christmas Tree. We also made snicker doodles, but instead of sugar/cinnamon, we dipped them in red or green jello. I think my mom invented that and it makes them look festive and taste soooo good.

Turns out, Nate's HT partner already bought cookies for the families (how often does that happen?---both guys taking care of treats?). So I ended up taking the cookies to my Visiting Teaching ladies Ü.

It took a few tries, but we showed Deacon how to roll them. He would roll a cookie, place it on the pan, then pick it up and eat it Ü. He'd make this cute "rarara" noise while rolling. We think he was trying to say "roll roll roll".

On the 4th Day of Christmas........We Went To See Christmas Lights

For youth group, we planned a trip to Temple Square to see the Christmas Lights. We'd been wanting to go as a family, so Nathan and Deacon came too. It was soooooo cold that night (I think single digits). I bought a bunch of those hand warmer packets that last several hours. They even make some to put in the sole of your shoes to keep your feet warm. Deacon wore two of everything: shirts, pants, mittens, socks, hats, blankets:
Everyone loved his blinking hat (thanks Grandma Jo!)

There were so many people there, we actually never met up with our group! Ooops. So it was just the three of us.

When it got too cold outside, we made our way indoors to the Visitor's Center. There was a huge crowd around The Christus statue.

There were lots of other statues too. Nathan wondered where the original (au natural) Adam and Eve statue was. Inappropriate, I know. Ü

How To: White Elephant

We missed my work Christmas Party this year. But we made it to two parties for Nate; one for the hospital where he does his schooling and one for the hospital where he does X-ray twice a week. Let me tell you what a difference free alcohol made between the two parties, haha. Anyway, we had the same babysitter both nights and she asked at the end of the second night why I kept leaving and returning with the same wrapped gift. So I thought I would do a little tutorial on How To Guarantee You Don't Get A Crappy Gift At A White Elephant Gift Exchange.

Step 1: Staying within the $10 limit, go out an buy a gift that you would actually like to have yourself. Say, for example, a tasteful end table from the housewares section at Ross:

Step 2: Wrap the table in the only bag big enough to cover it. Because of the Pokemon character and the size of the item, people think it must be a gag gift. So they never choose it.

Step 3: Select the gift you brought. Merry Christmas to you.

At the second party, I was almost the last person to go. So nobody had a chance to 'steal' the table from me. But at the first party, that wasn't the case and another mean lady (who obviously had good taste) dared to steal it. Luckily, that was the party where each couple brought two gifts. So, I promptly stole Nathan's gift and made him go steal my tableÜ

At the party where we had to bring two gifts, Nathan refused to choose the other gift we brought. He said it's no fun if you know what it is. So instead of going home with a very nice set of salad plates, serving bowl, and ceramic spoon rest (which all "happen" to match our kitchen very nicely), this is what he chose instead:

"Grillz" Fake Teeth, A Flashing Christmas Wreath Pin, and---I KID YOU NOT---Salmon in Brine

We have two more White Elephant Exchanges this year (one for his family and one for mine). So I just want to give fair warning that I am getting rid of the Salmon Ü hahaha.

Multiple Choice

Multiple Choice Test:

POP goes the _____
A) Weasel
B) World
C) Belly
D) All of the Above

About two weeks ago, OUT OF NOWHERE, my belly started to pop out. This was very disturbing because I'm not prepared to tell my employer I am with child*. I'm barely into my 2nd trimester but I look like I did when I was 5 months with Deacon. But what a difference the hand placement makes! We took one picture with my hand there, and one without. With the hand I look pregnant. Without it......I just look frumptastic. I remembered the "trick" when the babysitter took our picture later that week and I immediately raised my hand to my lower belly. Nathan assumed the same trick would work for his belly, and thus we have this mocking picture:

*=more on this later.

The Softer Side of Hulk.....

Earlier this month we rented The Incredible Hulk. I couldn't help thinking that he had some major anger issues. So imagine my surprise when The Hulk (and the Mills') came to our house for Thanksgiving----and he participated in a peaceful game of Ring Around The Rosie!

I guess I've seen the softer side of Hulk....

(Clockwise: Deacon, Nathan, Hulk, Corbin)

Thanksgiving

The Ring Around the Rosie picture is the only one I took over Thanksgiving. I wish I would have taken pictures of the delicious meal Nathan made: Oven-Roasted Rib Roast, *Real Mashed Potatoes* and Gravy, Sweet Potato Casserole with a Carmelized Pecan topping, Stuffing, Rolls, and Pumpkin Pie. I could only eat one thing on the list (can you guess which one?), but it smelled great and leftovers didn't last long Ü.

We didn't get a chance to go around and say what we are thankful for before we ate. But if we did, it would have gone something like this:
Nathan: My Loving Family
Deacon: "Baa" and "Lees" (bath and leaves)
Aubrey: Phenergan/Premethazine and a 24-hour Pharmacy

The day after Thanksgiving, I received what I jokingly refer to as "Booty Call" visits from my sisters, Monica and Chanda. Both of their husbands have family here. But since they're "technically" here to visit their in-laws, they can only sneak away and see me during down time. So I have to be ready at the drop of a hat if they are able to visit (which isn't hard since I've been stuck to the couch). I'll have to steal some pictures of their visit when they post. Deacon had fun with so many cousins!

Twilight

Nathan's parents had some quick business in town, so they stayed with us overnight. Perfect timing for us to put Deacon in bed and sneak out and see Twilight the day after it opened. I've been going to bed at 8pm lately, so even though it started at 9pm, I felt like we were at the midnight showing Ü. All the midnight showings here sold out so quickly, theaters opened another showing at 2:30 am! On a school night!

Because it was such a low budget film and Summit is still a young production company, I didn't have high expectations. Plus I realize that almost any book is better than it's movie counterpart. Therefore, I was not disappointed. Surprisingly, there were a lot of men in theatre (accompanying their wives and girlfriends). Nathan seemed to be interested and even asked me a few questions. But said he won't be reading the book anytime soon Ü.

****Update: I just saw the most awesome Twilight-inspired Christmas tree on my sister's blog.

Just Because....

Even though Nate is the one who deserves a dozen roses, these showed up for me today. I even started to write a poem about how much he's taken care of me over the last month, but who knew "Twas the Night Before Christmas" had so many lines?!? I fell into a drug induced stupor during the third stanza:

'Twas the month before Christmas, here at the Hunt House
No one was moving---except for my spouse.
I was drugged on the couch, with nary a care.
For thirty-plus days I just dribbled and stared.

He kept me nestled all snug in my bed.
He cleaned and shopped and kept us all fed.
And patience he has, to live with this crap,
While I settle down for my three hour nap.

When out on the couch, I'd groan and clatter,
He'd spring to my side, and swear I'm not fatter.
But my belly is growing, quick as a flash;
My pants are much tighter and causing a rash.

Pool Boy

Some women dream of a shirtless pool boy, I'll stick with my shirtless kitchen boy.

Halloween Party

A couple weeks ago we went to a Halloween party at our church. They do it a little differently here----no children allowed! It's an adult-only dinner party where everyone is assigned to a table and each table has a different theme. Our theme was the Olympics and we could NOT think of a costume. The only ones that came to mind were skin tight body suits or skimpy Speedos. A couple of hours before the party (!) we finally decided on:

Nathan as an Olympic Tourist. I tried to get some shorter shorts on him, but these was as short as he would go. We made a big camera out of a pop tarts box and he had some binoculars around his neck. Ha! He already had the rest of the ensemble in his wardrobe.
I borrowed an idea that my sister Chanda did several Halloweens ago when she dressed as a candle. But I called it The Olympic Torch. I used wire to make my hair stand on end and sprayed it orange. I was even able to rig a shining flashlight to stay in there.

The hosts of our table:

A figure skater and her Russian coach

Another couple at our table.

From the Caveman-themed table, Nathan loved it when this Caveman came in dragging his wife behind him:

From the Politically-themed table, she dressed as The Bailout

Willie-Wonka Table. The lady dressed as Violet rubbed eyeshadow all over her body!

The Young Single Adult Table did Alice in Wonderland. It was the first time I noticed that the twins on the right were really twins! I've only ever seen one at a time before!

*****Fast Forward to Halloween*****

I had grand plans of ordering Deacon's costume right after Halloween last year so I could get a good deal.....but I didn't do it. So then I decided to make one for him over the summer....but I didn't do it. Finally, I realized we already had the perfect costume!
I bought this "Baker In Training" apron and chef hat last month for $1 dollar. Deacon loves to help in the kitchen. We thought it would make a good costume. We put some flour on his face and gave him a bowl and spatula to collect candy with.
We only took him to 4 or 5 houses in the cul-de-sac, but that was enough.

He picked the one piece of candy he wanted and left the rest in the driveway.

AZ Visitors

My mom and sister flew up early Sunday morning (last week) for a visit!

I have been so excited this month just waiting for them to come. I was dying to tell them that we are pregnant. So we planned a special Sunday dinner. The menu consisted of Baby-back Ribs, an interesting creation that Nathan made up using Baby Shrimp, and then a salad with lots of Baby Carrots. They noticed the "baby" theme right away.

I took Monday off work. And being the great hostess I am, insisted that one of my guests make breakfast. Brenna made her famous cinnamon-nutmeg french toast. Deacon ate four of them for breakfast and lunch! Although Halloween was a couple weeks away, Brenna is perfecting her sCaRY look:

That afternoon we saw great views up the canyon on our way to Park City. We did a lot of shopping! Then ate dinner at yummy Cafe Rio.

We used free Redbox codes to get THREE movies on Monday night.....and we ended up being so tired that we didn't watch any of them! (The jet lag from AZ to UT is pretty fierce).
Tuesday morning we went for a walk to the city cemetery. I was in charge of youth group that night and was planning a Graveyard Scavenger Hunt so they helped me with ideas. It was Brrrrr---freezing outside!

Kids pick things up so fast! A couple of weeks ago I showed Deacon how to blow on a dandelion and we haven't done it since. As soon as he saw one at the cemetery, he was all over it!
I love how Brenna is trying to pose with him and he has the weirdest look on his face while trying to back away.
I'm pretty sure we did the chocolate factory on Tuesday. Here is some scripture power for sale:
Wheat for Men D&C 89:17
Chocolate for Women M&M 24:7
The tour guide gave us a LOT more free samples than when Nate and I went earlier this year.
Wednesday we went on a walk to the duck pond, but didn't do the whole Lagoon Loop because then we'd be late for.......
.....our "Sisters Lunch" with Jessica and Justina at California Pizza Kitchen. I have never eaten there before and it was delicious! I've seen Aiden and Eva through the power of Blogivision, but they're even cuter in real life! Now if Jess had a blog, I would link to her right HERE.
After lunch my mom helped me sew a baby blanket (early much?) and then we had to say goodbye when I took them to the airport. We had soooooooooooo much fun!!

Pumpkin Family

I almost forgot the best part of the pumpkin patch! We bought little pumpkins and decorated them to represent our family. I especially like the glasses for Nathan and Deacon's little teeth.

Daddy Pumpkin, Big Brother Pumpkin, Mama Pumpkin.....


.....and the little seed that is growing a new baby pumpkin.
Due in Spring 2009! ÜÜÜ

We actually made it to storytime on Wednesday. Deacon liked it, but I was the one who found it entertaining and informative.

They read a couple of children's books about fire safety, then they had firemen come demonstrate how they get ready for a fire. When they were fully suited up with masks and the oxygen tank.....three kids ran out of the room crying and scared. Ü

I got to hold a firehose and shoot water onto the lawn!

The library had a book sale the next day and I was excited to buy a cute board book about firetrucks for 25 cents.

On Friday, we took a family trip to the pumpkin patch. I thought D might be too young to enjoy it, but I should have realized that anything outside is a big hit. They had so many cute things to do! They had a hay maze for the little kids. Here's a picture of Nathan trying to scare Deacon:

We were by ourselves for most of the morning, then there was a huge group of preschoolers who came. Deacon had fun trying to keep up with them as they ran through the maze.


There was a scarecrow gallery.....can you find Nate and Deac hidden in there?
There was this overprotective mom there, she was a real witch!
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We told Deac to pick up this pumpkin. He kept trying and trying, but he just couldn't do it!

I took a total of 80 pictures while we there! But most of them will end up on Deac's blog Ü