Sweets and Blendtec Treats

These are the cookies that Brian decorated for this years Christmas goodie plates.  I did the candy canes, but he did all the rest.  He's pretty proud of how they turned out. :)

And here is what I have been doing with my brand new Blendtec!  I.am.in.LOVE.  We have been using the wildside jar to take the most amazing frozen hot chocolates and smoothies, but this was our first time using twister jar.

Homemade non-dairy strawberry ice cream

After

Before

And Cocoa-nut almond butter.  Not a single liquid in this one!

Christmas with the Jones' and Mootes

This year, we were able to celebrate Christmas with both sides of our family.  None of this every other year stuff for us! (Which in my opinion is the best way to do it.)  My whole family got together in Utah two weeks before Christmas to celebrate and then we were at the Moote's for actual Christmas Eve and Christmas.  

Jones Family Christmas/Reunion

This was the first time since Lyndsey and Charlie's wedding that we were all together.  Mom and Dad rented a condo at the base of Cottonwood Canyon, and we all spent a long weekend together.  Brian was able to join in the fun once he finished his finals on Thursday.

We decorated cookies, made fudge and peanut brittle, and snacked on some family favorites like chips and onion dip.

Thursday, we celebrated girls day out by wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and getting our nails done.  Later that afternoon, Brian and I found out we were having a baby BOY, but that is all in another post.

We added some new traditions to our Christmas Eve events: A White Elephant Gift Exchange and A Dice Rolling, Oven Mitt Wearing, Single Present Opening Mania a la Smartt Family.

But not all traditions were new...this year's Christmas Eve pajamas were a huge hit!  Everybody got a shirt with a different quote from the movie "Elf."  Thanks Mom and Dad!

And we still celebrated Christmas Eve dinner with English Christmas Crackers and Martinellis.  (Another benefit of 2 Christmas' is 2 holiday hams!)

"Christmas Morning" we opened our stockings and santa gifts (Dre Beats Headphones) and then took turns opening our gifts from each other.  Brian and I were extremely blessed!

We got a 20 cup rice cooker, tons of fun stocking stufferes, a stroller/car seat set from Travis and Mayra, and 2 Blendtec blenders!  Mom and Dad/Brian know me so well that they both got me my #1 present.  We returned one and got an ipad. (Thank you to Mayra and Whitney for taking every single one of the pictures above and then letting me steal them.)

Christmas with the Moote's

This year we had everybody together except for Lee, who is in Afghanistan. I didn't take any pictures at all of course (no Whitney and Mayra to steal from this time,) until after we opened our Christmas presents.  Paul and Judy got us an amazing new camera (Nikon P510) that I am so excited about!  Our old camera has had battery issues for almost a year now, so it has been on my wish list to get a new one for months.  Now we can look forward to taking tons of pictures and video of baby Moote when he arrives!  Here are some of the pics I took after we got the new camera up and running...

Brian playing Angry Birds on our ipad.  I told him not to get too into it, but he did anyway. :)

Ellie got a teaset and LOVED it.  It was cute to see her set it all up and play with her dolls.  As you can see from the background, we were able to watch "A Christmas Story" and also "It's a Wonderful Life" this year.  The only movie we are sad we missed out on was "The Muppet's Christmas Carol."

These two kept us busy during our visit.  It's so fun to see how much they have changed since last Christmas.  They loved opening their presents and playing with them, although they weren't as big on sharing. ;)  They can walk, run, and get into all sorts of trouble now!

Our 2nd Christmas feast.  With 17 people in attendance, an extra table is always needed!

What's the best way to end Christmas celebrations?!?!  Having your mother-in-law take you to go see this...

Thanks for sticking with me through this crazy long post!  This Christmas was definitely one to remember, and there will be some fond memories to look back on later.  Last of all, I'm grateful for the true meaning of Christmas and that both of our families hold Christ at the center of their holiday traditions.  Like the musical says, "To love another person is to see the face of God!"  Christmas means love.

17 Weeks: Our 2nd Anniversary

How far along? 17.5 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 3lbs

 Maternity clothes? Mostly still my regular clothes.  One pair of maternity jeans.

Stretch marks? Nope, I don't think I'm big enough to worry about that yet.

Best moment this week: Tuesday, December 18th, was our 2nd anniversary!  They say the best way to a man's heart is with food.  Brian must think the same goes for pregnant wives, because he sure decided to feed me well!  He woke up extra early to make me waffles with strawberries for breakfast, then he brought me Cafe Rio on my lunch break, and for dinner he took me out to Macaroni Grill (the restaurant that catered our wedding dinner.)  As a part early Christmas gift from my parents/part anniversary gift to ourselves, Brian and I invested in the i-pad 4th generation.  We love it!

Miss anything: Warm weather, the beach, Hawaii... :)

Movement: Not yet.  I read it takes longer to notice movement with your first pregnancy, so it may still be about a month before I notice anything.

  Food cravings: Smoothies!  Brian and I got a Blendtec Blender for Christmas and have been using it nonstop.  Brian has been great at making me vitamin C packed smoothies to help me get over my cold.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing pregnancy related.  Just a cold that doesn't seem to want to go away...I finally went to the doctor on Wednesday and got a z-pak.  My cold is almost gone!

Have you started to show yet: Yes! Baby boy is starting to make his appearance!

  Gender:  BOY!

  Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On. With the cold weather, my ring always seems looser than usual. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Both?  I was pretty miserable at the beginning of the week with my cold, but I was happy that I have such a great husband to take care of me and definitely happy to celebrate 2 years of marriage together.  Plus, who wouldn't be happy to know it is now officially Christmas Break!!?!?!

Looking forward to: Christmas with the Moote's, Les Miserables, and visiting friends.  

Happy Anniversary Brian! I love you and can't wait to start our next adventure together!

It's a....

BOY!

We are so excited!

Weeks 15 & 16: Boy or Girl!?!?!

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Still just 1lb total weight gain at this point.

 Maternity clothes? I just bought my first pair of maternity jeans from Old Navy, but I can still get by using the rubber band trick with most of my jeans.  I will say that the maternity jeans are much more comfortable around the middle. :)

Stretch marks? Nope, I don't think I'm big enough to worry about that yet.

Best moment this week: These past 2 weeks I have been sick with a killer cold, but I am loving putting up Christmas decorations, listening to Christmas music, and sipping apple cider.  Getting to spend a whole Saturday sick on the futon watching "Breaking Bad" with Brian was pretty fun.  I also got released from my calling at church as the Primary Chorister and am now in Nursery until the baby is born!  Wish me luck!

Miss anything: I miss snow sports.  Now that there is snow on the ground and everybody is talking about skiing/boarding the mountain everyday at lunch, I'm a little sad I can't look forward to a little snowboarding to get me through the winter.  I'm probably the only person in all of Park City that wouldn't mind if we had another mild winter!

Movement: Not yet.  I read it takes longer to notice movement with your first pregnancy, so it may still be about a month before I notice anything.

  Food cravings: None this week.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing pregnancy related.  Just a cold that doesn't seem to want to go away...

Have you started to show yet: Yes, although not as much as some of the other women who post pictures at 16 weeks.  I am showing enough that I decided to tell my students by playing a game of hangman that said, "Ms. Moote is Pregnant."  They had some pretty funny reactions.

  Gender: We are going to find out on Thursday!  I still don't have a gut feeling either way, but I'm excited to find out and then start thinking about baby names!  I am letting my students vote in each of my classes, and so far the BOY vote is winning... BOY or GIRL ?!?!?!?!

  Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On. With the cold weather, my ring always seems looser than usual. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  Christmas is always one of my most favorite times of the year.  It's also Brian's finals week, so I am happy that he has made it through another semester.  Only 3 more to go!

Looking forward to: My family's Jones Family Reunion/Early Christmas is this week!  I'm excited to only have a 3 day work week and then a long weekend with my family!  I'm looking forward to lots of games and Cafe Pig, Ham, Chips and Onion Dip, Fudge, and other Christmas goodies.  And I am 100% excited to find out if Baby Moote is a boy or girl on Thursday!  What do you think??!?!

Week 14: Thanksgiving

How far along? 14 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I've gained a pound!

 Maternity clothes? Not yet, but my jeans are starting to get pretty tight.

Stretch marks? Nope, crossing my fingers that I can make it without any till the end!

Best moment this week: Enjoying Thanksgiving Break with family.

Miss anything: I miss not having to wake up to pee in the middle of the night.

Movement: It's still too early I think.

  Food cravings: Turkey, Sweet Potato Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Pecan Pie, Lots of Water

Anything making you queasy or sick: Overeating a little on Thanksgiving Day gave me a stomachache.

Have you started to show yet: I think so!

  Gender: Unknown!  What do you think? Boy or Girl?

  Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy.  I've gotten my appetite back and really, really enjoyed my 5 day Thanksgiving Break.  I had a hard time waking up this morning to go back to work.

Looking forward to: Jones Family Reunion, Finding Out the Gender, and Christmas Break

The First Trimester!

Week 4 - 

I took my first (and so far only) pregnancy test Saturday night, September15th.  I was so convinced that I was pregnant that when I went to buy the test at Walmart, I also picked up some presents for Brian too!  Anyway, I took the test in private and then secretly decorated Brian's side of the closet so that he would be surprised when he woke up to get ready for church.  Too bad I was so excited I could hardly sleep the whole night! I seriously almost woke Brian up twice in the middle of night to just tell him. :)

Anyway morning came, and I swear Brian has NEVER slept in so long for church!  He took forever to get to the closet and didn't understand why I had gotten up so early and gotten ready so quickly.  It was fun to watch his reaction when he finally did open the closet door.  First, he was so focused on ties that he didn't even notice.  Then, he turned and had this total look of confusion for a second before he broke out into a huge grin. (He said at first he couldn't tell if the outfit meant that I WANTED to get pregnant or if I WAS pregnant. :))


Week 5 - 

We started to tell some family.  Since "Baby Moote" will be the first grand-baby on my side of the family, we sent this to my parents in GA to tell them the good news...

Then we sent this invitation to my siblings....

Week 9 - 

We had our first doctor's appointment!  Brian was a good sport and skipped his first class (a HUGE deal for Brian) to come and see our baby for the first time.  I couldn't believe how clearly we could make out our baby and it's little features.  We even got to see a little foot kick!

Week 13 - 

The last week of first trimester!  Here are some stats from the last 3 months...

How far along? 13 weeks, done with 1st trimester!

Total weight gain/loss: none yet in either direction

 Maternity clothes? not yet...

Stretch marks? nope, crossing my fingers that I can make it without any till the end!

Best moment this trimester: telling Brian and telling family and friends

Miss anything: I miss deli ham and cheese sandwiches, Dr. Pepper, and the idea of hot tubbing

Movement: too early, but I'm definitely starting to feel like something is in there!

  Food cravings: applesauce, bacon, macadamia nuts, mint, rice pudding, apples and peanut butter

Anything making you queasy or sick: broccoli, Little Cesar's pizza, evenings in general (but I've only thrown up once!)

Have you started to show yet: not that anyone really notices but me...what do you think?

  Gender: unknown!  What do you think? Boy or Girl?

  Belly Button in or out? in

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy most of the time, but really tired.  I have had a couple mood swings that Brian can tell you all about. :)

Looking forward to: learning the gender, starting to really show, telling my students at school

Our Little Pumpkin...

That's right.  We are having a baby! 

Renae's Bridal Shower

Saturday, I helped throw a bridal shower for one of my very best friends, Renae.  She is getting married in less than two weeks!  Time is flying by like crazy, but I love her and am so excited for her and Robert to make this big step.  Plus, who doesn't love a party?!?!  Of course,  I didn't even take a picture of Renae and me together, but I do have a couple pictures from the set up.  

The theme was somewhere between fall harvest/Georgia peach.  The menu consisted of butternut squash soup, biscuits and honeybutter/homemade peach jam, and Kim's delicious pecan pie and peaches n' cream cupcakes.

The beverage service consisted of sugar-free (Renae is a diabetic after all...) and regular lemonade served in mason jars with colorful straws. 

And it wouldn't be a real bridal shower without at least one Victoria's Secret bag in tow...

For favors, we had little bags of peach rings with a card attached that read, "Robert's fallen for one Sweet Georgia Peach."  I'm pretty proud of them.  I came up with the saying all by myself. :)

Congratulations Robert and Renae!

Park City in September

Sometimes I forget that people come to Park City for vacation; that they actually choose to spend their precious free time up here in the mountains. (In fact, my brother and two of my best friends have honeymooned or will be honeymooning up here since I came to Park City 3+ years ago!)

I have come to the realization that I totally take Park City for granted.  I don't enjoy all the benefits that come with living in Park City, not even close. Every morning this month, as I leave for work, I see dozens of these things in the sky.  I mean seriously, how places are there in the world where every morning you get slapped in the face with hot air balloons everywhere you turn?!?!

Someday I will take a ride in a hot air balloon...sigh...

Until then, I am determined to start utilizing the amazing scenery and events surrounding me.  Especially the ones that aren't quite so costly.  I'm going to go hike through the fabulous, fiery red and orange leaves; I'm going to go to that one pizza place on Main st. that everybody not from Park City raves about; I'm going to spend time pretending I am a tourist in my own city; I am going to take advantage of the local deals more often.  I may even brave the crowds this winter for Sundance!   Here goes nothing!

Life Lately According to Other People's Pictures

I cannot believe it is already half way through September.  With so much going on, life just seems to be flying by!  Brian and I are both back in school, our tans are faded, and Wednesday morning I even woke up to frost on my car :(

We have been spending a lot of our time working - this school year has been busier than ever, studying - Brian for classes and me for the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam I have to take next Saturday at BYU, and working on Brian's car - it broke down 3 weeks ago, and we have been spending weekends (including this one) down in Highland trying to fix it ourselves. And by ourselves, I mean Brian with the help of his Day. :)

We have had some fun in there too.  We spent Labor Day swimming, eating J-Dawgs, and playing games with friends down in Provo.  Pretty exciting especially because my best friend, Renae, got engaged!  We also have beent to two fun celebrations in honor of Travis' graduation and new job with the Air National Guard in Savannah, Ga.  Here are some pictures of Labor Day fun and the party the Ipince family through for Travis.