12.06.08 - Santa Clause

Santa Clause is coming to town! Actually, he already came and will be coming again a few times before the big day!



Michael and I were invited to a Christmas party by his co-worker and friend Jason Peterson. They hosted a beautiful dinner and Santa came to give candy canes to the children and let them sit on his knee. Last year last was scared of Santa and wouldn't get too close... but this year he wouldn't even stand in line (like the other children were) to wait his turn... he just jumped right to the front and started reaching for the candy (surprise, surprise).



Santa came AGAIN at Michael's work Christmas party at the Country Club. The theme for the party was "ugly sweater" so we all wore the ugliest sweaters we could find (thank you John and Christine for letting us borrow your great finds)! Santa came and gave all the children presents (thank you Brady and Terri for your generosity) and we had a gingerbread building contest! It was a lot of fun.



Although Santa Clause is fun I think it’s important to teach Lance the real reason we celebrate Christmas. We have been setting up our Christmas decorations and have out 16 foot tree (which I am so proud of… ksl.com purchase for $150) Nativity and other holiday decor. I was setting up the Nativity and explaining to Lance that at Christmas we celebrate baby Jesus’ birthday. And just like when other people have a birthday and get presents, on baby Jesus’ birthday everyone gets presents!





I pointed out each of the people in the Nativity and Lance wanted to hold them all and play with them. He especially liked the baby Jesus figurine and the animals.



He picked up the baby Jesus and said, “Happy… to you, Jesus?”
“Yes Lance,” I said, “it’s baby Jesus’ birthday on Christmas.”
Then he started singing the Happy Birthday Song to the baby Jesus figurine while holding it close to his face and hugging it. It was so adorable. He has actually done this a few times this week and every time I am so happy because I really want him to remember that we are celebrating Jesus and all He did for us.

Earlier this week I said to Lance, "Baby sister is going to come out of my tummy soon!" He looked at my tummy, pulled up my shirt, and started yelling, "Baby sisser COME OUT!"

It was too cute and really funny. It's so interesting to think about what must be going through his little head when in comes to stuff like pregnancy. It must be so strange to him. =)

Another fun thing that happed this week is that Lance officially knows his sisters name. We usually just refer to her as "baby sister" but I have told him that her name is Afton. The other day Becca asked Lance, "What is your baby sister's name?"
He said, "Afin Bennett."

I was so surprised because first of all he knows her name is Afton, and secondly he knows that her last name is the same as his! For a two year old who has never been told I thought it was pretty impressive. I also think it's cute that his mispronounces her name... he's going to be a great big brother. =)

11.27.08 - THANKSGIVING

Family photo. We had 2 cameras going at the same time so we aren't all looking at the same camera... just as I had feared.

This Thanksgiving there is so much to be thankful for. Michael and I truly feel blessed that I am healthy and that our little unborn baby Afton is healthy. This has been a pretty scary pregnancy and we are so grateful that things have gone as smoothly as they have. We are planning to go to full term (which didn't even seem like an option a few months ago) and should have this sweet girl in our arms in just 5 weeks!

Michael's job as the C.F.O. of his company is going well and he is still doing many other jobs on the side and all is well. With the economy as turbulent as it is right now we feel very fortunate that his job is steady.

It is great to have the opportunity to take a day to remember what we are thankful for. There are so many things... and, as always, this year Thanksgiving included lots of great food, loving family, and football (all essential of course).

We had 4 official "Thanksgiving Dinners" this year. 2 on the Sunday before Thanksgiving (Ed and Nina and Papa and Grandma) and 2 on Thanksgiving Day (My family and Michael's family).

My family hosted a dinner at home instead of going to Little America. This is the first time that we haven't gone with all the Covey's to Little America in SLC, UT but decided that because of our growing family and business of the day (with in-law activities as well) we would have dinner at home. It was really great and we had a TON of amazing food! Collette and her fiance Kyle Johnston went to be with his family in Georgia so we missed them but were excited for Collette to meet her future family!

Michael's family also had a dinner later that evening which Jennifer and Shae hosted. We had a great time with them and although we were too stuffed to eat anything there it all looked and smelled delicious!

On Thanksgiving morning we had the annual Turkey Bowl with the Covey family with the traditional hot chocolate and donuts (an appropriate way to start the day). =)


Katie and Papa stretching before the big game.

Michael with the kick-off.

The teams and players... ranging in age from elementary student to great-grandpa!

I wasn't able to participate in the Turkey Bowl because of my pregnancy condition (not that I would have been much of an asset anyway) but my mom and I got to hang out with the "Two Boys" Lance and little Johnny and play on the swings and slide and chase them around. The other family members who were able to come and play football included the Wid and Suzy Covey family, the McNairy boys, Papa Covey, and the John and Kathleen Covey family.

Nana and her "Two Boys" keeping warm watching the Turkey Bowl.


Lance splashing in the puddle he found.

Playing in the park with Nana.


I think Lance enjoyed the Turkey Bowl... even if the donut was his favorite part.

Johnny likes donuts too... =)

11.21.08 - A DAY IN THE LIFE...

Being a mother is always an adventure... especially with a 2 year old. This week I was able to catch on camera a bunch of funny things that Lance has been doing lately.



Lance loves to put things on his hands, (that could be used like gloves) and head, (that could pass as some sort of hat) and pulling anything and everything out of the cupboards. He loves to wear Michael's work gloves (for cars and the yard) as well as my oven mitts. He continues to think that his cereal bowl is a hat and lately has discovered that our little ice cream maker works well as a "helmet." He is very creative and we have found that sometimes the household items are much more fun than his expensive toys!

He also loves to sing the alphabet (which he is actually doing quite well and no longer skipping the middle 8 letters) and play in the tub. He loves to sing the songs he learns in nursery and requests that Michael and I sing them with him. Some of his favorites are:

Sun beap (Sunbeam)
Temple (I love to See the Temple)
Snowman (Once there was a Snowman)
Knees and Toes (Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes)
Monkey and Alligator (I'm not sure of the title for this song but he LOVES it!)

He has always been my "helper" and has discovered that he can crawl into the dryer and close the door. A couple of times he even requested that I close the door completely so the light turns off and he can't get out. He sat in there for a few seconds and then said, "Mommy?" "Mommy help me peease!" He likes that it echoes inside and while I was folding laundry the other day he was going through every animal noise he knows and repeating it as loudly as he could in order to hear his echo!

I was attempting to continue the potty training process (which has basically come to a complete stop) and after I pulled him out of the bath we went over to his little "George Potty" to see if he would be a "big boy and go potty on the toilet and get a sticker "(which used to cause a lot of excitement). He wouldn't go potty, but he did happily run around naked cheering, "I'm naked, Mommy! I'm naked!" He also decided that instead of letting me fold the laundry and put it back in the basket that he would pretend to take a nap (snoring and all) on top of my nicely folded clean clothes.... dangerous, I know.

Lance was marching around this T-Rex stomping his feet and growling like a dinosaur.

We went to the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum with my BYU roommate Stacy Runia and her son Evan. Stacy got us in for free (thank you Stacy) and we had a great time! Lance and Evan had a fun time doing the children activities and Lances kept pointing and saying in his low-excited voice "Din-saur Bones! Din-saur Bones!" He continues to talk about it and will randomly try to tell people about it.

Evan and Lance finding dinosaur bones!

It's really fun because he is at an age where he remembers a lot and I can prep him for events and he gets really excited. The whole morning before we went to the museum I told him that we were going to go play with baby Evan and see Dinosaurs... he wouldn't stop talking about it with me or any other stranger we saw while we were running errands.

11.20.08 - Grandma Felt

I believe that the veil is very thin and that loved ones who have passed on are very near to those of us who are still living on the earth.

When Lance was just a newborn, and was still having trouble focusing his eyes, I would often be holding him and trying to get his attention to make him smile.

I didn't have very much luck most times but it was always amazing to watch when he would turn his head to look up, start smiling, and have his full attention on someone else. Those little eyes that couldn't seem to focus on mine seemed so intent at that moment. I would always look where he was looking, and there was never anyone there (for my eyes to see), but I really believe that someone from the other side was there with us, catching my little boys attention and making him smile.

Last week we had a similar experience and it was really neat. I was in my bathroom about to take 3 vitamin pills when Lance walked in, look at the pills and stated while pointing to the pills,

"For Grandma Mommy."

I was a little surprised and said, "These pills are for Grandma?"

Lance pointed into the kitchen (where he just came from) and said, "Yes Mommy, for Grandma."

"Do you love Grandma Lance?" I said.

"Yes Mommy!" said Lance.

"Is Grandma here?" I said.

"Yea, over there! Gimme medicine Mommy. For Grandma." He took the pills from me and he walked into the kitchen. "Where Grandma? I no-know?" "Grandma, where are you?"

He walked around the kitchen looking for her and was surprised when he couldn't find her.

Grandma Felt lived in the same home as my parents for the last few years of her life and Lance was able to spend a lot of time with her. He saw her take many medications and obviously associated any pills with her.

My Mom has been praying for Grandma and Grandpa Felt to be near lately and I think they have been. Lance is old enough now to talk and was able to tell me about his encounter with Grandma but I know that it wasn't the first time... if he could have talked when he was just a newborn I know that he would have a lot of experiences to share.

I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel and I know that there is a life after this one. I know that families are forever and that our bonds and relationships stay with us throughout the eternities.

11.17.08 - An Amazing Father

The last couple of weeks Lance has been pretty possessive of his Daddy. Michael will hug me when he gets home from work, or kiss me goodbye in the morning and Lance will grab his hand and pull him away and say "My Daddy, mine!" Or if I am giving Michael a hug Lance will try to push me away and hug Michael where I was.



Sometimes it becomes a game of Tug-of-War where Lance has one hand yelling and laughing, "My Daddy, mine!" and I have the other hand teasing, "My Daddy, mine!" We all laugh and have a great time. Lance sure loves his Daddy and really loves his attention.



He especially loves when Michael is home at night and has time to play with him, wrestle, or read books before it's time to go to bed. A few nights ago I overheard Lance requesting that Michael read the same book over, and over, and over... the book was Rock-A-Bye-Baby and he just loved listening to Michael sing him the song as Lance turned the pages and Michael rocked and held him in the rocking chair.



I am so grateful to be married to a man that is not only a great husband, but a loving and wonderful father as well. I love you Michael.

11.11.08 - COUPON-ING

Because I use this blog as my journal I have to include this entry about the coupon-ing I have been doing lately... maybe it will inspire someone to think, "If Camille can do it, I can do it!"

I have actually spent hours and hours the last few days clipping coupons, organizing them into 18 different categories, putting them in a binder, and creating a grocery list (with the help of http://www.savvyshopperdeals.com/ which is a website that tells me what all the great deals are on groceries on a week by week basis... I'll explain more later).

Albertson's was having a great sale on many items that I had coupons for and in addition to the sale and coupons (which is a great deal) they were having a promotion where if you bought $30 worth of select items - the ones that were on sale - you got $15 off your next order (an additional 50% off... not a bad deal). So I organized my grocery list into 9 groups where the total would equal about $30. That means I had 9 transactions and 9 sets of coupons.... wheew.

So, after spending more than 3 hours at the grocery store, and filling up my cart and going through the check out 3 times (on two different days) these are the benefits:

I spent $104.03 on $427.58 worth of groceries!

I saved $323.55!!! Not too bad... =)



I am definitely learning the "coupon-ing" trade and although it is taking me a lot of time to figure it out and get organized it is really paying off. I find it challenging and exciting... and saving that much money is really rewarding too!

The only way I can even attempt to do this is because of this really great and free information I get by email every week. It tells me what Weekly Deals each store is having and it ranks the deal so I know if it is an okay deal, good deal, or great deal.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to save money grocery shopping, with or without coupons. The website is http://www.savvyshopperdeals.com/ and it is super easy and totally free of charge.



The way to get the coupons is by getting the Sunday Paper. I actually just signed up to get 4 copies of the Sunday paper (I know, I know, it sounds crazy) so that I get 4 copies of all of the coupons. That way next time a great sale happens I'll have enough coupons to get a lot of great stuff for super cheap or free!

I wish that I would have heard about how to do this earlier so if anyone reading this is interested I can tell you even more about it. I can also tell you how to get free stuff without ever clipping any coupons... anyway, hopefully shopping trips like this Albertson's one will be more regular for me and my family and I can start really building up my food storage and saving more money.

I truly feel so blessed in my life and I want to give back. It is important to me to be generous toward others and have found that this is a really great way to do that. Around the holidays there are so many opportunities to give and I really want to help out, so whenever I get free toothpaste, or free food, or whatever, I am going to try to always donate to those in need.

11.05.08 - FIRST SNOW

Lance took a handful of snow and looked at me in question. I told him it was okay to eat it and he was so excited! "Ummm...Yummy!"

Lance woke up this morning, looked out the window and was instantly excited and in awe. It's SNOWING!!!

He must have been too young last year to remember the snow, but this year he is really excited about it. He ran over to the sliding glass doors and said, "Wooooow..." as he watched the snow fall.

"Shoes on Mommy! Shoes on!"
"Coat on Mommy! Coat on!"
"Hood on Mommy! Hood on!" (the hood to his coat)

We ran into his room, put his new jacket and gloves on that Kathy bought for him, (thank you Grandma!) put his shoes on and we ran out the door to play in the snow!


Catching the falling snow.

Trying to catch it on his tongue... sorry Lance you got your Mommy's genes... short tongues make catching snow a lot harder. =)

Our big brown-eyed boy.

WORK, WORK, WORK.

My hard-working boys.

Having a big yard means lots of work. Michael and Lance worked hard on the yard raking leaves for a few hours on Saturday. It didn't snow much that night, but just enough to make the ground muddy and the leaves wet and heavy... not much fun to rake.

Michael has continued to work hard on the yard and recently finished installing our sprinkler system all on his own! Way to go Honey! It is his first time ever doing it and he really spent a lot of time on it. I am so proud of him for tackling such a big project and for saving us so much money by buying all of the supplies and doing the work himself. Thanks Michael. You are the best!