Recent Major Milestones...

Emma did it! She is now a “big girl” and has stopped sucking her thumb. We’ve been working with her for a long time, and now she is finally over it (and we hope this is permanent). She was sucking her thumb in the womb, and from the time she was first born, that was the way she calmed herself down. She never took to binkies much, and has always been a thumb sucker. The doctors always just said not to worry about it, not to make it a big deal and she’d grow out of it, but it didn’t seem like she was going to. So we started trying lots of different techniques we heard about, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, we went with bribery. We made a chart for Emma, and said when she went a whole day and night without sucking her thumb (we even checked her during the night), she would get a sticker. When she sucked her thumb, we’d take a sticker off. When she filled out her chart, we would get her a bike. So after months and months of this, Emma just barely finished up and decided she was done sucking her thumb! It was hard for her. We even checked her during the night a few times and if she was sucking, we wouldn’t give her a sticker. She always said “But I didn’t try to suck my thumb, I didn’t know I was doing it!” She just did it automatically. But we had to make sure she got out of that habit. We’re so proud of her! She did it! I hope it stays that way. Go girl, go! She was so excited about her bike! We ordered it online and had it shipped to Walmart, and it actually arrived the day she finished up her chart. So we told her there was a special delivery, and went to pick it up, but didn’t tell her what was in the box. When we got home, she was so excited when we opened it up! She loved the “sweet orange” (her words) and said “We picked the right one!” It is a 16” Mongoose bike, and it should be great! Unfortunately, one of the parts was made wrong, so we couldn’t assemble it all and have to go exchange it. But she wants the same one. We’ll post some pictures here when she gets the entire bike.

Emma's chart we kept on her door. She just woke up when we took the picture, and so she was a little drowsy.

Emma was so excited when we pulled the bike out of the box!Ready to try the bike out!
And Cal is now going in the potty…at least #2 consistently. It has been several months since he’s pooped in his diaper. He always says “Go, go, go!” and starts running to the potty. It’s pretty funny. We never started being proactive with the potty training thing, I wasn’t planning on doing that until he was 2 ½ to 3, but he initiated things, so now we’re getting the ball rolling. He once in a while will go #1 on the potty, but usually he just poops, so we’ve got to work on that one a little more. Emma was so excited and wanted to make him a potty chart, like she had when we were training her. She made one for him, and the next few times he’d go potty, she’d say “Yeah Cal! Let’s get you a sticker for going potty!” to which Cal replied “No!” He doesn’t really care about incentives or rewards, but we do encourage him when he wants to go. We just bought him his first big boy underoos (or briefs, or underwear, whatever you call them…we’re used to calling them panties), which had trucks on them. So we’re going to start here with the potty training thing.

Move over Michael Jordan…he looks like a little underwear model, don’t you think? (:

As for Mom and Dad, we’re moving right along as well!

I won! I won, I won, I won! A major prize! No, not a leg lamp (tee hee hee)but a case of canned fruits and pie fillings, marzipan, marshmallow crème, and almond paste. A few months ago, my mom told me about a cooking photo contest Solo Foods was doing. For this contest, you make one of their recipes listed on their website, take a picture of the culinary creation any way you wanted, submit it, and to my surprise, they chose our photo and contacted me this week. Not to say that my cooking skills are the reason, or my photography skills either, I think it had a little to do with the kids being in the picture that made it so cute! Here’s the picture I submitted, soon it will be featured on their website, solofoods.com.

Dave finished his last final last night for his medical coding classes this semester. He has done such a great job and worked so hard! He only had 6 credit hours this semester, but he was spending more time with these two classes than when he had a full load. So he was always studying, doing assignments or taking tests. He told me this was the longest semester of his life, and we’re all glad it’s over. Good job, hon!

Cal is Two!

It’s hard to believe that Callahan was born two years ago! How fast time goes by! He’s getting so big and cute, learning to talk and do new things each day. It’s so fun to see him grow, as it is with Emma, too. His birthday party was a hit! Cal chose a pumpkin birthday cake. He looked through the cake decorating books and kept going back to the Pumpkin cakes. Emma would try to show him other ones, but he knew what he wanted! So we did a pumpkin theme for our little pumpkin. Cal looking through the cake decorating book.

We had his family party on Saturday, though his real birthday was Sunday. Everyone in the family was able to make it, except for Randy, who had to work. So it was fun to have the fam all there! Cal would not take a nap that day, until right before six, and slept through the first thirty minutes of his party. First, we ate pizza and salads for dinner, Cal had his without cheese, of course.

The birthday boy!

Kids dancing away!

I made pumpkin pie playdough that looked and smelled like pumpkin pie for the kids to play with, it was kind of fun. Then we played some “Minute to Win It” games, which turned out to be really fun. Even the kids liked trying them. Here's Cal trying it out...

Don't blow it!

Marko doing the bubble Minute to Win It Game!

Kolby was the winner of the Face the Cookie game.

Stacy trying to get the cookie down to her mouth.

And then it was present time. Cal got a bunch of fun things – a “real” kitty that he can pet and bother all he wants from Grandma and Grandpa Ryerse and Julie, Randy and Brian, a dump truck and drums from Grandma and Grandpa Stoddard and Uncle Marko, books from Amy and Kolby, puppets and boots from Mom and Daddy, a train from Jerry & Stacy, a truck from Jeff & Shirley. He’s having a great time playing with all of his presents.

After that, it was cake and ice-cream time. Since Cal has so many allergies, it isn’t easy. But I found a recipe that used a cake mix that didn’t contain milk or egg products, and mixed it with a can of pumpkin. That was it. It was pretty good, but the frosting, made of just shortening, powdered sugar, vanilla, and soymilk, didn’t taste too great, but at least I could decorate with it. The cake cracked while transporting it to Grandma & Grandpa Stoddard’s house, where we had the party. Cal loved the pumpkin cake, he kept wanting to look at it, and loved eating it too. He had some sorbet with it, instead of ice-cream, since that’s what we get him for birthday parties.

Singing "Happy Birthday"!

Eating his "cake" and "ice-cream"!

Having a fun birthday party.

Callahan wanted to wear bows in his hair the rest of the night! On his real birthday, he was in denial that it was his birthday. He kept saying “no, it’s Emma’s!” or "Emma's birthday." It was funny. We took some treats to his nursery class and they sang “Happy Birthday” to him. He is still learning how to put up two fingers, but when asked how old he is he will say “Two!” Happy birthday to our two-year-old little guy!

Gobble gobble!

It’s already been a fabulous Thanksgiving day! It started early, as I woke up to make rolls for two Thanksgivings. I made crescent rolls, turkey bread (bread shaped like a turkey), and orange rolls. It was busy. The kids and Dave watched the Macy’s Thanksgiivng Day Parade. At 11, we were off to Grammie’s to join the family for food and fun. Dave and Suz were down from Washington, and everyone was there, except Adam and Meghan (and they’ll be coming in a few weeks!! Yea!) . It was so nice. I love my family. I sat by Aunt Christie, I love her, and Dave. Great conversation around the table, everyone in our family is so cool. I’ve heard so much complaining from my friends lately about their family drama, and we just don’t have that in our family much. Everyone is so great! Emma and Cal had so much fun playing with all of my young cousins, they love them!

The turkey bread turned out pretty cute! Emma had a blast helping me make it!

The orange rolls, those always go fast!

Is your mouth watering yet?

Emma and Cal sit up to eat. Emma is a turkey girl, and Cal loves jello and mashed potatoes (minus the butter and milk)!

Our family at Grammie's house for Thanksgiving!

Playing with the cousins on the stairs. They're all really my cousins, but Emma calls them "her cousins". She loves them, they're so cute with her!

Emma with her (second) cousin Morgan!

Cal - I love his shirt that says "Feed Me!" Perfect for Thanksgiving!

Emma and Uncle Marko, Emma and Cal have the best Aunts and Uncles!

And then it was time for Thanksgiving with the Ryerse's...we had fun playing with the kids, doing some Rock Band, looking through Black Friday ads, visiting, eating, celebrating Randy's birthday, and watching Christmas Carol. Cal, Kaison, and Emma jumping on their Aunt Julie!

Playing Rock Band. The kids love it!
Cal, our little nature boy.
The prego picture! Stacy is due mid-March, about three weeks after me!

We thought it would be funny to have the Ryerse men line up and take a picture to document who really has the most hair, since they're always trying to figure it out. The picture is youngest (Brian on the left) to oldest (Dan on the right). I think Dave is in the lead - go babe!

Here are the men from the front!

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm so grateful for all of the abundant blessings I've been given! I have SO much!

Grateful for the Ride...

While studying my scriptures a few days ago, I came across this in my student manual, and just felt the need to share it. I love President Hinckley, and he said this to a group of religious educators in 1973 while he was a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles:

“I meet so many people who constantly complain about the burden of their responsibilities. Of course the pressures are great. There is much, too much, to do…

“Turn your thinking around. The gospel is good news. Man is that he might have joy. Be happy! Let that happiness shine through your faces and speak through your testimonies. ..

“I enjoy these words of Jenkins Lloyd Jones…

“’Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.

“’Life is like an old-time rail journey – delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

“’The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.’”

I am thankful for my ride here on this earth. It’s true there’s so much to do; sometimes discouragement sets in, and sometimes life does feels dull, as President Hinckley said. But I am grateful for the joy and happiness I feel through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my husband, my children, my parents, siblings, and other family members, my friends, neighbors, in my job as a wife and mother, through nature, the knowledge of my identity, my talents, blessings, and gifts I’ve been given, modern conveniences and advancements, freedom, a home and food and the necessities of life, and so much more. I am grateful I can enjoy the journey, and that Heavenly Father sends me multiple reminders daily of His love, in the midst all of the dirty laundry, bad news, burnt casseroles, bills to pay, never-ending dishes, and toddler meltdowns. I am so very grateful for the many things I have and the time I have here on this earth!

Halloween, Halloween, lots of fun on Halloween!

I'll be jumping around a lot! I'm starting with Halloween and moving my way backwards with this blog post. Enjoy!!

Trick-or-Treat day was Saturday this year, and the day started early. While Dave went to his class at the U, the kids and I went with Amy at Kneaders Bakery, which just opened, in Woods Cross for breakfast. It was delicious! We had the stuffed French toast, and Emma had a cinnamon roll. Cal couldn’t really eat anything there. ): But he was happy with his food we brought him and trying to run around. We had a great time together, I love my sis!

That day, we finished up final preparations for our Halloween costumes, painting nails (Cal loved that we could finally paint his nails, he always wants to when Emma and I do), re-applying silver stars to boots, and giving the guitar (that actually hooked up to our phones to play KISS music) a makeover. We played for a while and hung out with everyone. We set my mom up with Facebook. Then Dave got back and we had lunch and talked and made more final touches to our costumes. We have had the best time looking for stuff, making, sewing, and putting together our costumes this year. We love it. For us, we don’t just go buy them. We get creative, stick to a budget, and then go with the theme! It’s made for some great family memories. This week, well, actually month, well, actually, about a year ago, we began preparing for Halloween by making our costumes. We decided to be the rock band KISS as a family, as we are always something together. We always decide long before Halloween. Dave came up with the concept this year, and Emma loved it! I wasn’t so sure at first, but glad we stuck with it. For us, Halloween is no small event. We take it pretty seriously and are hard-core about costumes! We don’t just go out and buy costumes; we work and make what we wear, which makes it fun and challenging. We’ve been ransacking every DI, thrift store, retail place, theatre yard sale, costume shop, family member’s closets, hardware stores and more to get everything we needed to make our costumes. Thanks to all who helped contribute to the cause – Mom for helping work a few sewing things out, and Mom Sue (and Julie) for helping with the makeup and wig department!

And then it was time to rock and roll and get our costumes and makeup on. We put Cal’s hairspray on, he looked so different with black hair! He wouldn’t keep his wig on, so we thought this would be the closest we could get. After my dad saw Cal, he joked “He looks like me at Amy’s wedding!” My dad tries to tell jokes a lot, and usually they are pretty lame, but that one actually was a good one! The morning of my sister’s wedding, he tried to dye his hair, as he realized he was getting some grey hairs. He did it himself, and let’s just say, it didn’t turn out very great. He he! SO that was funny. We took a picture of the two black-haired boys.

Cal got so worn out, he fell asleep. While he was asleep, he must have been moving around a lot, because this is what I saw when I went up to get him. He looks like a coal miner! Poor boy! Note to self: never buy $2 hair spray from Wal-Mart again.

We went to the in-laws to put our makeup on. That took a while, but it was well worth it. Cal did pretty good this time, and Emma was so excited all day and kept asking when it was time to put her costume and makeup on. Here’s how we turned out.
Dave was Gene Simmons, I was the Star Child, Emma was the Cat Man, and Cal was Spaceman. How do we look?

We went to Bountiful’s Main Street Trick-or-Treating for a little while, which we usually do. Luckily, the rain held out, and so it was a good time. Many were asking to take pictures of us, so we obliged, it was kind of fun to be in the spotlight and see the excitement in others when they saw us. Lots of people honked their horns at us. We were told that these were the best costume’s they’d seen. Many people went to get special treats for us, because the candy in their bowls just didn’t do. We got lots of fun feedback from others. It was quite the night.

My husband…I never thought Gene Simmons was good looking until this man took over!

Rock and roll all nite, and party every day!
Cal and Grandpa walk down Main Street.

We then went to South Davis Jr. High school and went to their Trick-or-Treat event for a little, since it was indoors – warm and dry. They had all sorts of sponsors, there were games inside, food, and a bounce house, and the kids got a huge bag of candy and freebies at the end! It was a lot of fun! We’d never done that one before until this year, but figured, though we had umbrellas, our KISS face paint wouldn’t last long in the rain. The kids loved the bouncy toys!

Emma shooting the turkey down.

Cal rolling the ball.

After that, it was to the Stoddard’s house for the traditional chili, witches broomstick breadsticks, veggies (gotta counteract that sugar somehow, eh?), pumpkin bread, pop, and homemade donuts my mom and Am made. MmmmmMmmm…. Oh, and my mom also had dirt cups…Emma enjoyed making her and eating it. Here she is with Grammie.

Happy Halloween!

Then we went to my mom’s immediate neighbors to see them and trick-or-treat, and then we were back to the Ryerse’s. Emma couldn’t get enough trick-or-treating! And Cal learned how to say “Trick-or-treat!” And they did really well remembering to say “thank you” to everyone, which we practiced. We went to a few of the Ryerse’s neighbors, with Grandma (she was dressed as a Wompa from Star Wars), who we see quite a bit, but some of them didn’t even recognize us! It was hilarious! Then we washed up, and got real clothes back on, which felt good. It’s fun to be a rock star for a few hours, but I don’t know if I could be live in concert every night. The kids watched A Scooby Doo Halloween, which featured the band KISS in the cartoon, which was awesome! Then they zonked out, falling asleep before we could even brush their teeth, probably with visions of cavities dancing in their heads. Dave finished watching the U football game and some other Halloween show, and I fell asleep also before we left for home.

Now, like I said, I'll be moving backwards. Friday, we made Jack-O-Lantern pancakes…with bananas for the eyes and mouth. Emma always gets a kick out of food made fun.

We went to a Halloween party with some friends from our old married’s ward at Katie Park’s house. It was great, thanks Katie! We painted pumpkins, ate snacks, decorated sugar cookies, and played outside!

Emma and Cal loved everything about Halloween this year!

Cal goes and goes until he crashes. I love how he wouldn't let go of his sucker, even after he was asleep.

We love Halloween!

We did our Halloween Party for Preschool. We held it at the church and did a little carnival, and each of the kids were given a punch card. We played all sorts of games, did a few little crafts, and decorated sugar cookies, the kids got a punch at each station and a prize when they completed the game or task, and I tried to tie in learning as well, making the games fun yet educational. It was great fun. The kids are adorable!

Blowing up balloons to make hats and swords.

Wesley decorating cookies.

Logan loved his balloon!

Ghost ball throw.

Hyrum pins the nose on the pumpkin.

Emmy plays Halloween Twister.

Emma making a pumpkin picture frame.

Letter Duck Pond.

We always go to the Tolman Elementary Halloween Carnival. A lot of work is always put into it and it is a blast! They have hot dogs, cider, donuts, and popcorn in the cafeteria. There’s face painting, tons of games, and activities. Here are the kids!

Emma and Cal waiting for the bowling game.

Aunt Julie helped set up and give out gummy worms to the kids. Here she is with the boys. They sure love her!

My mother-in-law, Sue always helps out with that, as she works there. She dressed up as a witch this year, and told stories. She loves dressing up like a witch and loves Halloween, and she was so cute! All of the kids got a kick out of it! Our favorite witch…

Our ward Halloween party was great! We won the costume contest…everyone died when they saw us! Some said we were so cute (though I replied I wasn’t quite sure if “cute” was the right word), others said that these were the best costumes they’d seen before. Some didn’t even recognize us. One of my friends came up and asked me where Dave was. I pointed him out, “That’s Dave?!” she replied, and busted up laughing. Many took pictures of us on their own cameras, especially the parents of the kids who are in Dave’s Sunday School Class. He teaches the 16 to 18 year olds, and many of them were on dates, at a dance, or out with their own friends. Lots of the parents took pics with their phones and sent them to their kids. The parents told us their kids couldn’t guess who Gene Simmons was before they told them it was Dave. Ha! They loved it! We had trunk-or-treat indoors, due to the rain, which was fun. Emma’s been telling her friends for a while who she’s going to be. Even her Primary teachers were a little confused when she told them she was going to be kiss. Emma told me they thought she was going to be a Hershey kiss. Boy, were they surprised when they saw sweet little Emma dressed up like a rocker! Our Bishop loved it and asked on Sunday why we took the face make-up off. Then we had a chili dinner, I made witches breadsticks, shaped like broomsticks, which went fast. The Young Women performed Thriller on stage, which was cool. Then the kids played some games and did face painting. It was a fun night!

Made a few Halloween crafts. Here's one little jar I made. It was fun to make, and easy too.

A few weeks ago, my friend Katrina invited us to a Halloween playgroup at Bountiful 5 Points Park. We made little spiders and mummy crafts. It was a nice, warm day!

The kids decorating cookies - yum!

Emma and Cal making mummies.
Yum! Frosting!

I’ve done a couple of Preschool Halloween-themed classes. At the one, the letter was “H” and the theme Halloween. We did a science experiment with air, and blew up plastic bags, we named Mr. Ghost and talked simply about air and matter a little. We read a Halloween book. We made haunted houses collages out of H’s and other shapes. We made caramel apples and made H’s with the popsicle sticks. We learned the “Halloween” song. We made Halloween countdown chains, using black and orange paper, and put simple activities for the kids to do each day before Halloween on the back. Preschool is so much fun!

Dipping the apples in the caramel.

We always decorate pumpkins. The kids painted theirs (as you can see) and they helped Dave and I carve ours. Here's Cal, after decorating pumpkins.
My KISS pumpkin.

KISS pupmkin in the dark.

Dave's Weber State pumpkin. Great, great, great!

Dave's pumpkin, he did it freestyle. Good job, hon!

The kid's pumpkins. They did a princess and a frog, which was Emma's idea. They painted and used fun foam stickers, and had so much fun! Cal loves to run outside and show everyone his pumpkin and go admire them all!

Hmmm…now what to be next year? How do we top KISS? For us, planning starts long in advance, so when we see something good we need, we can snag it. Any votes? We have lots of ideas we’ve thought of…maybe the Simpsons, M&Ms, Cereal Characters (Tony the Tiger, Honey Smacks frog, Toucan Sam, Capt’n Crunch, Lucky Charms Leprechaun, Trix Bunny), Fingers (since there will be five of us), Scooby Doo cast, Prince Charming & Cinderella, along with the pumpkin and mice, the Muppets, The characters from Green Eggs and Ham ( Sam-I-Am, Green Ham, 2 green eggs), Peanuts characters (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus, Lucy, Sally), or Weather (weatherman, cloud, sunshine, rain, rainbow, snow, lightning). Or we are still thinking of other fun options. Until next year, Happy Halloween bats and ghouls!