realization

So I've been look at everyone's blogs and I'm seeing images of beautifully decorated Christmas plates carefully packaged and ready to take to friends/neighbors, with a sparkling clean houes in the background, and these are moms with multiple kids, and I'm just starting to have this great realization as I approach my 2nd year of being a mom around the Holidays. I'm not quite sure how to put it, but basically it amazes me what moms do around the Holidays and I'm starting to feel a little pressure. The first year Michael and I were married I decided to do the "wife thing" and make Christmas plates to take around to some family and friends. Well to my surprise, it took an unbelieveable amount of work and effort--I couldn't believe that what was supposed to be fun and simple ended in craziness and stress. Last year (our 2nd year being married during Christmas) I must have been on the crazy train because the DAY before we were supposed to leave for home Michael and I did the following: baked and decorated a homemade cake for Stetson and had his 1st bday party with lots of people over, baked like a million sugar cookies, frosted and decorated them, baked homemade bread to take to friends/neighbors, and of course tried to clean house and pack to leave the next day. Well I think I'm starting to learn my lesson. This year I didn't even feel bad about not taking Christmas treats to friends/neighbors (except sisters I visit-teach) and I left a ton of Christmas decorations in storage because I didn't feel like putting them up then taking them down again. I'm just SO TIRED. Anwyay, I know I'm weak, I'm not in denial of that at ALL, this is just kudos to all you amazing moms who do it ALL. I don't know how you do it.

Stetson turns 2!

Well 2 years ago today at 12:21 pm our lives were changed forever!! Our precious Stetson Simmons Asay came into the world. We had such a fun day today. Stetson was such a happy little man ALL day long, making for an extra special day. We kept it simple this year and went swimming at the rec with Matthew & Charlene, then had pizza at Pizza Hut then came home for cake and presents. It was so fun this year because unlike last year, he actually opened his presents and got excited about it. From gma & gmpa Asay he got a cool book with magnets and a football target game. Matthew & Charlene got him a magnedoodle. Besides me, Charlene's probably drawn the most "bow-bows" (rainbows) for Stetson and they know how much he likes to draw his pictures, letters, etc. So thank you Matthew & Charlene, that was the perfect gift!! Michael & I got him a basketball and of course boring clothes, but he needs them as he's growing out of his old ones too fast.
Michael leaves for work at 5am every day so he didn't get to tell Stetson happy birthday before he left so he called Stetson this morning on his way back to tell him happy birthday. What a sweet dad.
The batteries we bought on the way to the rec didn't work so I didn't get many pics of us at the pool but like usual, Stetson had a ball.
and here is the infamous birthday cake, which should get a post in and of itself. I am too vain to just buy one already made and save myself the many nights I lay in bed previous to his birthday thinking how I'm going to make it work...but it was ALL worth it when I showed him the cake for the first time and he said "Boots!" (the name of the monkey). I was so afraid he wouldn't recognize who it was. Stetson's favorite show to watch is "Dora the Explorer" so I wanted to make a Dora cake, but Michael put the ka-bosh on that because that wouldn't be "manly" enough so we did boots instead. I won't be expecting a call from the culinary arts institute of cakes any time soon. :)
...lighting his candles
This is when we were singing to him--definitely my favorite part of his birthday--he was so happy and excited!

Last time we were at Christian & Jill's, Stetson found a puzzle like this in Carson's room and loved it, so Jill being the very thoughtful/observant girl she is, got him a "fishing puzzle." Thank you, he loves it!

Stetson LOVED his basketball from mom & dad. Happy birthday Stetson boy, we LOVE YOU!!! XOXOXOXO

12 days of Christmas

1 EMBARRASSING MOMENT: Hmmm...dropping my tray in high school OR the many MANY times I biffed it in Rexburg, ID


2 BEST FRIENDS: Michael & my dad


3 THINGS I BUY REGULARLY: milk, diapers, cheese

4 PLACES I WANT TO GO: temple with Michael, Washington D.C. (I think it'd be fun to check out all their museums), Cabo San Lucas AGAIN, and Santa Rosa to see my neices and nephew that I NEVER get to see :(


5 GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR: Be a good mom to Steston and new baby, be more patient, read scriptures more, stop twisting/pulling hair and train better for 5K in April

6 THINGS MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I was born at home, its really hard for me to sleep w/out Michael, I was born on Mother's Day AND share a bday with my older brother, Todd, I HATE needles, especially blood draws, I love getting professional massages


7 THINGS I WOULD NEVER SAY: i hate ross, i don't want you to rub my feet, i don't want to go out to eat, i love waking up early, i love the winter, i wish michael were gone more, i love cleaning the toilet


8 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON: music, smells, lights, thinking about the Savior, presents, christmas movies and egg nog

9 THINGS I SAY TO MY KIDS: stetson do u have poop in your pants? i love you, do you know i love you? want to eat? where's daddy? say please, brush teeth? time to go nigh night and no

10 THINGS I DO A LOT: wash my hands, change diapers, go up and down the stairs, put stetson's books away, blog, kiss stetson, clean, clean stetson's high chair, go to the bathroom and talk to michael on the phone (not at the same time)

11 THINGS I WOULD RATHER NOT LIVE WITHOUT: michael, stetson, my dishwasher, hot water, water PERIOD, my computer, my camera, my flat iron, my face wash, lotion, chapstick


12 PEOPLE I TAG: shay, shan, jill, charlene, rachel, emily s., mandi f., sarah r. & b., laura, rachel & Becky boo (beutler)

Lucky boy!

Stetson turns 2 this Wednesday and today Stetson got 2 birthday cards in the mail with $5 bills. We were pretty excited. Thank you gmpa Simmons and gmpa & gma Monk!! :)

husband survey

I wanted to include this picture of Stetson we took last night. You can usually expect some crazy hair-do when Michael gives Setson his bath. :) Tonight it was a mow-hawk.
I love these fun little surveys, and I think you should all do it after you read mine. :)

5 Things he loves

Stetson
me & my big belly :)
his momma
his mom's salsa
working on the farm with his dad

5 Things on his to do list

*go to library tonight and study
*take final tomorrow @ 10 am
*cook us yummy chicken quesidillas tonight
*help me organize our outside storage unit
*drive bus


5 Foods he enjoys

his mom's salsa
any kind of Mexican food
hamburgers & fries
steak
biscuits & gravy (w/ salsa)

5 things you may not know about him

*He comes off as big and tough to some people but he's really a tender heart :)
*He's a really good cook
*If farming paid better he'd rather farm the rest of his life because he likes it so much
*he's really kind/sweet with kids
*he snores REALLY loud

5 quirky thing about him

*After he brushes his teeth he doesn't rinse the toothpaste off with water--he wipes his mouth off on the towel and it drives me nuts
*He gets mad if I leave the milk out for more than 10 seconds--if its not being used it HAS to be put away asap
*He hates shaving so he pretty much just doesn't do it :)
*He doesn't like talking to strangers (asking for directions, asking a sales clerk with help finding something) and he gets embarrassed when I do. funny huh
*He thinks salsa goes with everything

Messiah

Me and Lubby a.k.a. Charlene sang in the Messiah this year and our performance was tonight. I LOVED it. There is such a good feeling that comes from singing such beautiful music.
I'm not sure what happened in this pic... :) lol
me and my very handsome boys

Bathroom blocks

So when I took my shower today, Stetson came waltzing in as usual becaues he's figured out its the best time to get into all the "goodies" mom has stashed under the sink. I tried to deter his attenion and told him, "Stetson, go play with your blocks!" Because they were in his bedroom. Well he must have taken that as, "she probably would like me to bring my blocks into the bathroom and play with them in here!" because not long after I took a peek to see what he was doing and he had erected this lovely statue in the bathroom while I was in the shower. I love this kid. :)
Here's my angel, crooked smile and all. :)

We've been getting lots of snow here in Laramie. Yesterday I bundled Stetson up and took him out for a little while. He wasn't the biggest fan but when we took him out last night to go look at Christmas lights he LOVED it.

This is a fun Christmas survey I found on Janessa's blog. Its fun and gets you in the spirit--you should do it!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly paper

2. Real tree or Artificial? I've always liked real better, but when you live in a 2 bedroom apt, you have to compromise :)

3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever I'm over this nasty cold

4. When do you take the tree down? when we get back from Christmas break

5. Do you like eggnog? LOVE LOVE LOVE it but its pretty high in the kcals if ya know what i mean

6. Favorite gift received as a child? oh man, i thought everything i got was the greatest--i was pretty easy to please, but I remember one year I was obsessed with dolls and had a huge doll collection I got this really big life-like doll that was almost as big as I was.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Probably Michael

8. Easiest person to buy for? Stetson (its pretty easy when they're more into the wrapping paper than the present :)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? 2, neither of which I've set up yet

10. Best Christmas gift you ever received? One year my dad had my friend from high school and I think one other person pick out a bunch of clothes they knew I'd like, and like them I did. I was so surprised and excited to have new clothes I really liked :)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmm...I think fruit cake is gross, my grandma and my mom are notorious for their...interesting presents. Any family members reading this will understand

12. Favorite Christmas Movie (s)Home Alone--it brings back so many memories and ALWAYS puts me in the Christmas mood. Plus it has a great message I think

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as I can, so whenever Michael's available which might not be for a while...anyone wanna go with me?? :)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?? I don't think so

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Egg nog or Christmas sugar cookies

16. Lights on the tree? heck yes

17. Favorite Christmas song? I could never pick one--they're all great

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? probably travel even though last year when we filled EVERY crevice of our little malibou for the trek home after Christmas we vowed never to do it again...lol

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and RUDOLPH Thanks for the answers Janessa :)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I think we have a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? we open pajamas at Asay's Christmas Eve, other than that we open them all Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Can't think of anything.

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We don't really have a set thing we have for Christmas dinner, turkey is always good, so is Jan's spinach salad :)

24. Do you send Christmas cards? We did last year. I think we'll do it every other year.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a bookshelf for all of Michael's school books, couch cover, gift card to the buckle or Ross or Olive Garden:)