Ever Have An "Ugly Day??"

Well welcome to our Ugly Night!








Need I say more?

The Poofiest Pinkest Party Ever..

It was poofy.. it was pink.. it was perfect.
The poofy due to the tooling overlay on the table and chairs--
the pink because, well..

You get the idea.
And perfect, cause, obviously..

This is Sophie as the breathtakingly blue Cinderella..
And the following is Sophie in her self-created alter-ego that we lovingly refer to as, "The Crazy Princess."

She spent the better part of her birthday dressed as either one, or the other.
We love em' both.
Her and six other little decked out 'princess' friends celebrated her 3rd birthday in all of their furry, sparkly, tiara'd elegance!

She couldn't have been more pleased with the decor and events. She wandered out that morning to her 'Tea Party Wonderland' if you will.. and quietly just stared around in awe, before stating in a whisper.. "It's beautiful."

Anything for my girly girl. Anything.

That Sam-I-Am, That Sam-I-Am.. How We Love That Sam-I-Am.

Look who hit the double digits! Our sweet Sam turned 10 on February 4th.. with some rad new snowboard goggles, a new DS game.. and very large bag of Sour Patch Kids, to prove it!

I have been wanting to post a blog dedicated to our Sammy Lamb for some time.. so now is as perfect time as ever to celebrate the hilarious and unique being that is our Sammy boy.
This picture sums up alot.

The best part about Sam.. is that his mind is always somewhere you've probably never been.. and he's constantly imagining, day-dreaming, and creating out of the ordinary moments.. and um.. sticking pencils through apples-- cause, why not??

So to record a few tidbits about our Sam-a-lamb-a-ding-dong:
Almost since birth.. he has had a skill for getting way more food AROUND his plate, than in his actual, mouth.

He will spend all day in the tub just hanging out.. and ya know.. shoving stuff down the drain..

He is go-with-the-flow-er. A takin' his timer.
And never, ever, a hurrier.

He is a dresser-upper..

An observer..

And a dreamer..

And one of my personal favorite traits of our Lamb.. is that through his big-kid cool.. he is still an excitable, ever-enthusiastic, believing, kid.

Our boy is a skater, a snowboarder.. and lover of all holidays and celebrations. He is a giver of love and affection to his little sister and big dog.. and hugger, snuggler and affection giver to his Mom. He loves his family. He likes when everyone is home together.. just us.. and his deep laughter is silly and contagious.
He loves sushi, and snow, and getting under a blanket after he eats.
Since he was a baby.. I have often said I feel sorry for everyone who doesn't get to raise Sam.. how we love him. How lucky I am to be his Mom. Happy birthday wonderful boy.

Let's Even Things Out Girls..

So I've thoroughly enjoyed everyones bugged list.. but while eating my really tasty salad with avocados on it (they're on sale at Maceys!) I was thinking about just HOW much I love avocados.. and decided to balance my 'bugs' out, I'm listing some things I absolutely LOVE.

1. Avocados. Nuf' said.
2. Birthdays. I like to celebrate the lives of people I like. I'm really glad they were BORN.
3. The way Sam tells me he loves me at least 3 times before he leaves to go anywhere.
4. Fun, big jewelry.
5. Tan feet.
6. Warm sourdough bread with butter.
7. Laughing so hard I get a cramp in my belly.
8. The feeling of being done with a really good work-out.
9. A shower so hot it ALMOST hurts.
10. My husband.
11. My bed. (Sheets fresh out of the dryer make it even BETTER.)
12. The Bachelor/ Bachelorette. Sorry. I do.
13. My kids laughing together. My kids in general.
14. Being at the beach with my siblings.
15. True friends.
16. Buying things for other people.
17. My childhood.
18. New pajamas.
19. Tim McGraw.
20. Picking zits.

Mmmm. Happy just thinking about em all. Go to it girls.. you're all tagged.

I've Been Bug Tagged.. (THIS Is New!)

I've been invited to list 10 things that bug me. Kinda fun to get to be annoyed by request.. so here goes-- I'll try to keep it to 10!

1. Spit gathering in the corners of peoples mouths. I know, they can't help it..
2. Wet towels being left on the end of my bed!
3. How cold my car is at 7 am.
4. Those stringy mens tank tops that a guy wears at the gym. Ya know.. that look like a loose shirt that's been cut into stringy thin straps. Ew.
5. The fact that my dog, who I adore.. sheds.
6. No Target in this town. (It hurts every,single,day.)
7. Mean people.
8. The word "Shut-up." Especially when used on kids, by adults. Every time I hear it happen I wanna call social services.
9. People assuming things.
10.Toys that aren't fun, and don't work right.

Ooh-- I'm having kinda a good time-- just a couple more..

11. Clutter.
12. My boobs after nursing 4 babies.
13. Cooking.
14. How many fat grams a Fish Fillet has in it.
15. Chinzy portions at fancy restaurants.
16. When I wear the wrong underwear jogging and it slides down as I run.
17. When there's not a good country song on my satellite radio.
18. How fast my house gets dusty.
19. The crack in my windshield.
20. The price of nuts. Seriously.

Kay..got kinda carried away there! (I feel refreshed gettin' all that out!)
I tag Brynne, Heidi, Emily, and Abby.. GO! (As long as I already broke thre rules.. I also tag anyone who feels like doing it.)

Why, Now?

Disclaimer: I know.. it's almost Febuary.. and I'm posting my 'Christmas Letter'. I actually sent this out, on time even (gasp!) to our out-of-towner friends and family- but just wanted to post it here for journal purposes (cause when it comes to me 'journaling'.. this is it folks.) So feel free to pass on reading the old news. I just trust my words lasting longer here then on my unreliable whacked-out computer that could crash at any moment. That said:

To All Who Make Our Lives Merry And Bright..
Look! We did it! We lived without a dishwasher OR disposal for one whole year! Yes. We have now been livin’ the dream here in Providence, for 12 months, and 10 days.. (roughly.) And if I do say so myself, “We’ve come a long way, BABY!” Our carpeted kitchen, is now tiled. Our mauve drapes, are now blinds. And our flooded basement, is now dry. We have painted, molded, and caulked our way into a lovely liveable-ness we quite enjoy! If nothing else, this home has given us all kinds of FIRST-time ever “opportunities”. Since we have lived here, we have:
*Flood-irrigated in the dead of night. It involves things like galoshes, and headlamps.(And is not related to the INDOOR flooding. Flood-irrigation is actually intentional.)
*Grown a full on garden (O.K. That’s not a “we”, that was all Jasen..)
*Started a COMPOST pile (Ew. Jasen keeps reminding me, it‘s not gross, it‘s organic.)
*Flushed lots and lots of bloated cereal, down the toilet.
So as you can see.. it’s been a big year.
In other FIRSTS.. last season we entered the world of snowboarding (causing myself, to experience another FIRST: My first formal trip to the chiropractor.) We splurged on seasons passes this year and are excited to get back at it with as soon as our local resort gets enough snow. I joined my FIRST gym, am participating in PTA for the FIRST time (kinda over-rated.), and had my FIRST vein stripped. (Exciting stuff!) Jasen put in his FIRST water softener, FIRST toilet, and FIRST wiring. He grew our FIRST pumpkins, corn, beans, carrots, cucumbers, and real life, home-grown tomatoes. (The man’s got skills.) We then tried canning our gorgeous tomatoes, and learned we’d done it wrong, and created our FIRST batch of botulism! Jesse got his FIRST electric guitar, and is totally rockin’ it. Sam was on his FIRST football team and loved it. Bo lost his FIRST (and second, and third, and fourth) tooth, and was equally dramatic, about each and every one. Sophie moved into her FIRST big-girl bed (but has yet to move into her FIRST big-girl panties!) She tried her FIRST sushi, and asked for more. She has also enjoyed her FIRST purse, lipstick, nail polish, tiara, etc., etc…….
And then there’s of course, Roscoe. Our huge, wonderful, adopted dog. He had his FIRST full year of life with a family! (When he’s not rolling in other dogs poop, he is so very good. We do love him.)
As a family, we hiked Zions, and Bryce Canyon for the FIRST time ever, and loved it. We also camped for real, the FIRST (and I’m guessing LAST) time ever, and didn’t love it. (Can you say, bats?)
We also had our FIRST vacation back to the East Coast in 3 years, with all of my darling family. So much fun. It was just perfect, other than me wiping out on a bike for the FIRST time ever. (What is THAT all about?)
We recently took our FIRST trip back home to St. Louis since moving here. Unfortunately, it was under terribly sad circumstances. Jasens sweet Dad, who had just been out to visit us weeks before, passed away very suddenly of a heart attack. So while it was wonderfully cozy and homey to be back with family.. we are sad to the core-- and will miss Grandpa every day.
So there ya have it. Our FIRST full Utah year, and a few of our FIRSTS therein.
For all of our other up-to-date, ever-exciting adventures (I mean honestly, caulk and compost piles.. who can wait for our next big news??) you can find us at www.justjogging.blogspot.com. I gave in to peer pressure and started my FIRST blog.. and have become a full-blown blogging machine. There you can read on about how I’ve started my FIRST budget, made my FIRST decent dinner, and fallen in love with my FIRST vampire. (Try to contain yourselves.)
May your new year be blessed with all kinds of fun FIRSTS! (And when it’s tasty… seconds!)
Lots of love and merry wishes,
The Rees’s

Mini-Me And Her Morning Breath

This morning, which came MUCH too soon (poor Sam-a-lamb-a-ding-dong--he'll love that I shared that nick name with the blogging world-- had the barfs all the live long night.. and hearing, and assisting in, his every half hour erping, did NOT a restful night make..)Sophie came trotting in my room bright and early, and bounced up on top of me in all her halariously matted hair and stinky breathed glory. In efforts to rouse me..she started giving me wet little stinky kisses all over my sleeping face.
As I opened my eyes and smiled at her little morning face three inches from my own.. she clasped my cheeks in her hands, and in perfect imitation of me, exclaimed,
"I love this little face."