Big Boy!

"Cash Mason" is what Grandpa calls him

Mason's baby locks

My baby boy turns 11 months old tomorrow. Today we went to "Trampa's" house and got his very first haircut! He did good...just the usual curiosity. Dad had a moving target, but I think he did an excellent job. Mason just tried to turn his head like an owl every time Dad tried to cut the hair on the back of his head. He even turned so hard once he rammed his neck into the clippers and got a little nick. He whimpered a little but never cried...he did so good!

I had to hold Mace during, so I couldn't get any pictures. Here are some pictures right after the big hair cut. He was actually being a little poser. With the picture of him holding his hand in the air and laughing, I started to sing him "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and he started to try and do the actions! I didn't know he ever actually payed attention to that!

Cleaning

On Saturday we went over to our house and tried...I repeat...tried to clean up all of the sheetrock dust. To, in fact, get it all up I am sure we will have to vacuum and sweep at least 10 more times. But, oh well, we got more up than not. So we packed up the kids, got some "doughnies" (doughnuts), and brought our brooms and shop vac. We trapped Mason in the playpen, gave Addie a doughnut, and got to work. At least now our furnace is running and it was a balmy 65 degrees indoors...thank goodness for heat!

After a while Josh came up to install our mantel...thanks brotha'! I am very happy how it turned out. We even have an outlet in the top of the mantel so I can plug my garland in at Christmas time and not have to string the lights across the wall to an outlet. I thought this was a brilliant idea.

The finish guys are working today putting up our railing, doors, and mouldings. I can't wait to see every little bit done. Our roof finally is done too. Yeah! I am so excited!

Word of the Day

"Poopaste." (poo-paste) This is what Addie refers to toothpaste as. "More poopaste, more poopaste!" she says. We were laughing our butts off!

Tantrum

I was trying to be a good mom and take my little children to library time yesterday. I feel like it has been crazy with our house being built and I have essentially ignored them while I have been running around, making phone calls, getting measurements, and picking things out. So we headed to the library in Roy (they have the funnest library time...I wish Morgan would be as fun). We did stories, sang songs, did bubbles, and Addie even put her music maker back by herself after our song. (This action in the past however, has created serious tantrum throwing...but she's growing out of it -I thought!) But when it came to our craft we were supposed to cut out little papers and string them on necklaces. I helped Addie learn how to hold the scissors correctly and we did some cutting. But, when it was time to put them back and leave...she would not release her death grip on the scissors. I tried to calmly explain that they weren't ours over her high pitched, blood curdling screams (I'm not kidding). So I finally got them out of her hands and then she started snotting, crying, screaming, and then she finally dropped to the floor face down and kicked her feet. So I was trying to round up Mason, get our belongings, and get her out of the library as fast as humanly possible...without people turning me in for child abuse. It took her 10 minutes to calm down and strapping her in her carseat was our only option. She kept yelling for "scissors". She was crying so hard she couldn't hardly breath. Man...I don't know what gets her to that point and she doesn't do it very often, but when she does watch out! She has to work out of it herself and no amount of spanking or reasoning will work.
So she calmed down and we went into the mall, but she threw another fit in Gymboree because I told her if she got out of the stroller and touched anything she would have to get back in. She kept getting hangers off the racks and so I got her back in the stroller. Which started another tantrum, except this time she saw M&M's in one of those little candy dispensers. So as I was running with the stroller to get out of the mall she was SCREAMING "emee's!" I tried to tell her acting like that isn't how we get things-but no reasoning was happening. Some people that I passed in the mall stared at me like "shut your kid up!" Others looked at me with an understanding smile and some tried to talk to Addie (crazies!). She yelled for "emmees!" until we got out of Weber Canyon.

Mason on the other hand didn't make a peep yesterday...and I'm not kidding. He sat and watched the kids at library time and was fascinated at all the things in the mall. He just stared at his sister in unbelief.

Being a mother yesterday was hard.

Cheeks

So we didn't lose the whole diaper this time, it was just a partial loss. My word! This little child has something with stripping naked...including her diaper. When I opened her door this morning she was standing on her bed smiling at me-you know the smile like she had done something wrong and was hoping you wouldn't find out what it was. Well, so I just told her to come out and have breakfast. It wasn't until she turned around in the kitchen that I saw those little cheeks. I didn't know rather to spank her (because that is what I have threatened every time she takes her diaper off) or take her picture. So guess what I did? Ha! I was on the phone with Andy and she said "Technically, she didn't take her diaper off-don't spank her." So I took her picture. Oh, Addie.

House Update

So...the rock and stucco are completed on our house. I loved the way it turned out. There are always those times after you make your decision that you wonder if you made a giant mistake...but all my fears are layed to rest-at least with the exterior! It all turned out pretty close to what I had pictured in my head.
This next week the mud and tape should be finished up and the finish guy will start. Wish me luck with all my decision making. Buying a house would have been way easier!

Big Girl Bed

It was long overdue...but now it's done. Addie is officially in a big girl bed and she is enjoying this new found freedom! I repeatedly would find her stripped down and naked in her crib after naps and in the mornings. Her clothes would be sprinkled all over the floor and she would be smiling at me like "What?" So we came to the conclusion that if she were in a bed not a crib, instead of stripping because that is all she had to do, she could get out of bed (not that I approve of that) and expend her energy playing with toys instead. She is sleeping in the very same bed I slept in until I moved out of the house. I remember being little like her and laying in bed at night thinking and tracing the lines of the headboard with my finger. Oh to be little!

When Cody was setting it up she was so excited running up and down the hall and telling everyone to come "yeah down on bed!" She got a little nervous after it was actually time to be by herself and go to sleep, so I layed down with her and then replaced myself with all her stuffed animals-then it was okay. She was up at 7 a.m. the next morning in Mom's room (so sorry Mom!) but this morning we got her up at 8:15 a.m. for church. Nap time hasn't gone that great so far...but after I threatened her, I haven't heard a peep out of her!

Husband Tag

HUSBAND TAG
1. Where did you meet your husband? On a blind date that Emilie set up. She said to Cody "Hey! You're tall enough to date my sister!" (Awesome)
2. How long did you date before you got married? 8 months
3. How long have you been married? 7 1/2 years
4. What does he do that surprises you? Nice things like running my bath water, buying me prizes, kissing & hugging me at random, bringing me home a Diet Coke, and planning and buying thoughtful birthday/anniversary gifts.
5. What is your favorite feature of his? Goatee
6. What is his best quality? All his selfless giving of himself to our little family and others
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Honey
8. What is his favorite food? Poppyseed chicken
.9. What is his favorite sport? Football-hands down
10. When and where did you first kiss? The threshold of Dad's doorway-a lovely goodnight kiss on our 2nd date. (He's a real go getter...if ya know what I mean)
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Watch a good movie and snuggle in bed. Bowling is fun too.
12. Do you have any children? Addie Belle and Mason Cash
13. Does he have any hidden talents? He is quite a mathmetician and good at figuring numbers in his head.
14. How old is he? 29
15. Who said 'I love you' first? Him...after that I took him a little more seriously!
16. What is his favorite music? Gangsta music-but I have slowly converted him to Country.
17. What do you admire most about him? The great lengths he is willing to go to provide for our family. Working a 2nd job as a waiter at Red Robin on the weekends so I could stay home was incredible-I love him!
18. What is his favorite color? Green
19. Will he read this? After I tell him to!
20. Who do you tag? Everyone

Tag

8 TV shows I love to watch:

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. American Idol
3. The Office
4. Jon & Kate plus 8
5. A Baby Story
6. Everybody Loves Raymond
7. Survivorman
8. Dateline or 20/20

8 favorite restaurants:

1. Tepanyaki
2. Maddox
3.Famous Dave's BBQ
4. Chili's
5. Hamilton's Steak House
6. Ruby River
7. Tony's
8. Red Robin

8 things I did yesterday:

1. Talked to the sheetrock people
2. Laundry
3. Talked to the cabinet people
4. Talked to the paint people
5. Watched Barney
6. Ate at Red Robin
7. Almost got run over-Seriously
8. Looked around Lowe's with my little family

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. Moving in our new house
2. Addie being potty trained
3. a date with Cody- WITHOUT children
4. A summer vacation
5. French dip sandwiches-tomorrow
6. Our vehicles being payed off
7. my boobs getting bigger and my middle and butt getting smaller
8. Josh and Kim's baby being born

8 things on my wish list:

1. I'm with ya Cam-I wanna go to Hawaii!
2. For our vehicles to be payed off
3. A healthy family
4. Have all my food storage
5. A Mac computer (actually any computer that takes less than 30 minutes to boot up would be fine)
6. A flat tummy
7. Appliances for my house
8. A horse

8 people I tag:

1. Christy
2. Emilie
3. Kristina
4. Lindsey
5. Marinda
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?

Rockin' New Years

Ronald enjoying the Chutney cheese ball (with whole wheat crackers...I might add)

Becky's famous home-made eggnog

Colton putting us to shame

So...the Russell's New Years Eve party was spent rockin' out to the Wii Guitar Hero-World Tour. And yes...most literally we did rock! You will see the various band members trying their luck at guitar, vocals, bass guitar, and drums. Mostly Colton was awesome at everything, Ron was good at guitar, Andy was good at drums, and sadly-only Ben thought Ben was good at vocals (poor guy). Despite a few pelting incidents which involved a small soft sports ball and some human heads...the party was a success! We ate til' we were sick and some of us even partied until 2 am. It's a darn good thing there wasn't alcohol involved or the cops would have had to be summoned. I don't know about anyone else, but I have practicing up on my guitar. When children's nap time comes...I am rockin' out to Aerosmith. So watch out everyone, for the next family gathering some people will be put to shame by my excellent guitar skills!

BRRRR!

Okay...no pictures this time. So it was -1o degrees Fairenheit(is that how you spell it?) this morning in Morgan! I don't know how long it has been...if ever that I can remember being somewhere that cold! (I know I have been a little sheltered) It actually HURT to walk outside. It made me really appreciate having a warm home to come home to, even if it is Mom's house. I just feel bad for all the poor little animals that have to stay outside. We let the dog and cat in the garage at night...but even the garage seems too nippy! Oh well they are out of the elements at least...and no one has died yet...so I would call that a success!

Soon coming? Family pictures. I feel bad because we keep letting all these little moments go by and we aren't capturing them with some nice family pictures. But we have a plan and our highly exclusive, highly paid photographer is ready for us.....thanks Em!