Have a holly jolly christmas

I had a lot of fun this weekend taking some pics for my friend, Larisa. Their little boy is Cooper's favorite bud. They live upstairs and get to play with us all the time, we love it. Anyway, as you can tell I've been a bit camera happy lately...I hope you don't mind all the pics :)

We went to the mall this wknd and Cooper rode this cute little train. You can't really tell by his expression in that picture, but he loved it. The second picture was at Rainforest Cafe for lunch and Dave was tickling the crap out of him. Poor thing, I feel his pain. He gets it from me. We are both extremely ticklish.

Gosh, the last couple weeks have been a whirlwind. We've had christmas stuff and christmas shopping going on. It's driving me nuts that I haven't been totally 'enjoying' this holiday. Usually I just soak it all in, but this year, I am just stressed for some reason. We're leaving for Utah wednesday night (WOOOOOOOOOO!) so I'm trying to get ready for that and get everything done beforehand. I'm also stressing out about our trip. It's hard when we have to jump from home to home and place to place. Sometimes I dread the moving around more than the trip. There's always just so much to get in while we're there. And this trip seems like it will be extra busy. BUT, at the same time I can't wait, since we'll be seeing some of our favorite people....YEA!!!!

A few holiday favorites this year:
-hot chocolate (nothing new, just love it extra this year)
-candy cane joe joes from Trader Joes. Those are pretty much peppermint oreos. A must-try.

-pumpkin spice oatmeal...also from Trader Joe's. I love that place.

-my friend spoiled me with the cutest card holder that are held by glittery snowflakes, and a glitter star for my tree. (I expressed to her my latest obsession of a glittery christmas)
-along with that I found some cute glitter snowflakes at target.
-some of my favorite christmas music: amy grant, sarah mclachlan, celtic christmas, celine dion
-my favorite scents (all oils from the body shop): sugar cookie, gingerbread, and vanilla spice

Alright, we are off on the road tomorrow night. Our first roadtrip to Utah since we've been here. Wish us luck! And until next time...Merry Christmas!

Recap

Saturday night was Dave's work Christmas party. We joined a bunch of people in taking a "party bus". Those are the only words to explain our vehicle. It wasn't a limo and it wasn't quite a bus. Inside it was about the size of a hummer but with plenty of standing room. It was totally nice inside and the music was thumping (which I secretly really enjoyed). Me and Dave were such animals drinking our pepsis. That's as close as we got to being as drunk as everyone else. We got there and they had 2 huge camels you could take your picture with. (The theme of the party was "Rock the Casbah" incase you were wondering about the camels) Some guys were also walking around with monkeys. They were so cute! We ate a nice dinner with live music and then after, we fake gambled for about an hour. They gave everyone a bunch of chips to play with so we ended up playing black jack. I dominated for a bit and then lost every chip. Thankfully I don't do that in real life because I'm quite sure I would gamble my life away. Then there was a dance before our bus came to get us. I, of course, had to join in. I LOVE dances, but when on earth do I get the oppurtunity to? So I took full advantage. Anyway, the night turned out to be fun. And it was kinda fun dressing up (thanks to an affordable H&M) even though I was dreading it the whole week. I forgot the camera but luckily we got one shot in before. And Dave's co-worker took this shot of us by the camel. I could tell that the camel was that man's (the guy that wouldn't get out of the picture) pride and joy. I love his "if you touch him, you die" face.

Saturday we visited our friends, Tiffany and Bryce, who had a baby girl on Friday. This is her second baby and their boy is only 14 months old! She was a complete surprise to them, but Tiffany is someone who can handle it...she's very patient. Here are a few pics I snapped of the precious baby. Newborns always gets me excited for baby #2! And that's not an announcement.

On a last and random note, is anyone watching October Road? Please tell me someone out there is. I love this show and I'm terrified they are going to take it off the air since it's only in it's second season (the first being only 4 episodes). I love the cast and the small town feel of it . I formed a small crush on Bryan Greeberg (the lead) during the first season of One Tree Hill and was stoked when this show came out. Anyway, I am dying to find out who Sam's father is. Wow, that was embarassing. I have got to stop admitting what shows I watch on t.v.

18 months...and one week

Cooper is 18 months. It came and went so quickly, but I wanted to post a bit about him and how he's growing. This is the stuff that matters...and they grow way to dang fast to keep up. So here's the scoop...it's boring to most people, and long, so read on if you want!

He is still obsessed with eating and milk...he loves milk. He constantly goes to the fridge and points at what he wants. Here are a few of his favorite things:
-cereal (that a boy)
-bananas, strawberries, clementines...pretty much any fruit
-edamame beans
-any mexican food, and anything spicy
-cheese

-craisins

-toast

-quesadillas (spelling anyone?)

-yogurt

He is talking like crazy. A lot of it is jibberish but he knows what he's saying ;) Some of the latest:
-shoe shoe. Every time we're getting ready to go, he runs to his room and grabs his shoes
-ball ball (notice a pattern? For some reason it's got to be two syllables)
-apple

-stacie (ok it sounds like ci ci ,but I love it)

-robbie
-joshy

-jackie
-All day long he goes "mama?" and I'll say "yes?" and he'll tell me something that makes no sense. But I know he's talking to me...and I love it!

-He answers "ya" to everything I ask, or sometimes it's "mmhhhhmmmm" like he's annoyed or something

-choo choo

-ha choo (pretend sneezing)

-owie

He loves to help me clean. Every time I get out the broom he insists on sweeping. We always unload the dishwasher together, and his job is putting the utencils in the drawer. When I clean him up in his high chair, he grabs the paper towel and starts scrubbing the tray.

He got his first hair cut last week from my friend. Finally, I'm not tucking his hair behind his ears constantly.

He loves outside, disneyland, his friend Tino, and most of all he LOVES Dave. Nothing makes him happier.

Every time we leave somewhere or say goodbye he does this cute little wave and blows kisses. He melts my heart.

He loves to run in place (only to copy Dave...and he eggs it on)

Congrats if you've endured this post. Hopefully the next post will be about US at Dave's work party tomorrow night...all dressed up and feeling completely out of our realm in formal wear.

How I miss you, Mizzou

Ok, I have found my new favorite place...and I want to live there. St. Louis, Missouri...the Lou...Nelly's hometown...the number 2 most dangerous place in the U.S. to live. Ok, not for those reasons, but for the reason alone that it is BEAUTIFUL! We went to visit Dave's brother, his wife, and two kids who live there and I fell in love. I would beg them to go on drives just so I could stare at the big beautiful, old, colonial style homes. (f.y.i. the dangerous part is on the east side of the river apparently, but where they live it is safe and So pretty) I kept asking Dave if we could move there. Anyway, the trip was f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c. So relaxing, so fun, so filling, and Cooper had the time of his life with all their toys and cat. It was nice to just stay in one place and do whatever we felt like doing...that is my favorite kind of vacation...no obligations. And thanksgiving dinner was awesome. Sara way to go on your excellent cooking! Mmmmmm...I'm dreaming about her stuffing right now. Ok, back to the point. Here are some pictures...aaaahhhhh.....the leaves were my favorite part. We just don't get falling leaves here...
I love that over-sized coat on Cooper. It's Will's. We had to borrow stuff, since we only brought flip flops and jackets.





































Two of Coop's favorite toys: their tricycle and the train "choo choo" that grandma and grandpa gave him











Grandma Murdock with Coop. I am still jealous of that beanie she found at H&M for $1.00











Me and my two favorite people. We went to Grant's farm this night I promise it was 50 below zero. But we got to see Santa...all worth it.











Dave's brother Chris, his wife Sara, and their two kids William and Libby












Thanks you guys!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

summer. Can you believe this 85 degree weather? I was loving the cool fall air...but this week we were hit with a heat wave. What better way to enjoy it than the beach? I LOVE this time of year for the beach because no one is there. Just surfers. And there's great parking. Coop couldn't get enough of the sand, seagulls and beach toys. I know I take far too many photos of him but I love it...what can I say.

Nothing too much is going on here. We are stoked to fly out to St. Louis next Tuesday for Thanksgiving. Dave's brother, his wife, and their two kids live out there and his parents are flying there from Utah. It will be like a mini reunion! They came out here the past two years for Thanksgiving, so it's our turn to travel. I can't wait to be in REAL fall weather! Just dreading the 5 1/2 hour plane ride...with one layover...and one Cooper. Oh man.

Dave surprised me with the Sarah McLachlan Wintersong cd. Totally love it...and recommend it :)

Does anyone feel like the holidays are coming too fast? I don't know why I am stressing. I don't usually, but this year I am. I am not the creative gift giver and it's hard for me to think of gifts! Especially during the holidays. I really want to do a Christmas card this year (picture included)...but will it actually happen?? This intention has always been beat. Speaking of paper...

Found something that makes me happy...these beautiful calenders from a company called Cecily Ink. Wow. I saw an entry on yourheartout.com that introduced me to this company. It was love at first sight. And I must say, that site makes me really appreciate SLC and all it's goodness.

Emergency room: Part Two

Yes that is right. I have been to the emergency room twice now in two weeks for Cooper. I told you about the sad story of me shutting his finger in the door a couple weeks ago leaving his finger nail in two pieces glued together. Well Monday Cooper managed to fall down (nothing new) and bang the crap out of his head on a pile of brick-type stones. We went to the ER and gratefully it wasn't busy. They ended up giving him 4 stitches right on his forehead. And don't be deceived, the purple goose egg directly above his stitches wasn't from that fall. No, that was from another fall two days after that. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I think it's safe to say this is a sign of things to come. He is a bit crazy. He is a boy.











Do you think the band-aid is really noticeable? umm

My life this week...

in a nutshell. This chronic cold of Cooper's has been killing me.

So I had to enjoy some time to myself Saturday morning. I can't tell how you giddy I am about this paper by Making Memories. So many beautiful papers/products in the Noteworthy collection.

Halloween: revisited

Halloween is so much more fun when you can go out trick-or-treating! Well, we only went to a couple homes and to people we know...but still I love getting in on the action and seeing everyone out. It's hard when you live in an apt. complex...not much going on. This past week has been a bit crazy cause Cooper has been sick one day after another, but we've still had fun. We had a couple little pumpkin carving parties, so for one of them I dressed up as a fire fighter (in honor of all the firefighters down here) Well, not really. My friend had a fireman hat and suspenders and I couldn't have been more happy since I pretty much despise dressing up...a hat was perfect for me. And Dave dusted off the old k-mart monk costume from last year. Aren't we such losers when it comes to dressing up? Just ain't our thing. I wish we would've got one picture together though...oh well...our cute little monkey will have to do. I don't think it's possible to get away with just one picture of him...

Cooper and Tino. Two peas in a pod. But can't quite figure out who the other person it
Trick or Treat!

Bubbles, fish and pumpkins

It's been a busy past week. I don't really feel like going into detail...so I'll just show a bunch of pictures to sum it up. Last week Cooper's friend Kaden turned one so we had a little bash for him. Loved the bubble pics. Cooper loved the bubbles more...

Notice the bandage on his right hand? That would be from me shutting his finger in the front door last tuesday. His nail was pretty much cut in half but luckily no stitches...just some surgical glue. Poor thing. He was a trooper.

Saturday we went to Fashion Island...our favorite place these days. Easy go-to place, and always something fun to do. Coop loves the fish pond, but I think he enjoys the birds that fly by more.

Dave hadn't seen the pumkin patch so we had to go again. I could go any day...love that place.

Well because I had to

I think somewhere it's written in stone that you have to take your kid to the pumpkin patch sometime in the fall for pictures. Well, it seems that is the trend anyway. This is the cutest place ever and Cooper loves the goats and sheep so we took a trip for fun. We went along with Kristin and Coop's favorite gal Brecke, and Tracy and Kaelin. There's something about pumpkins that make such a good photo prop...isn't there?
Dave is gone in Chicago for the week (at a training for work) so it's just me and Coop, and I gotta say it ain't so fun when the weather sucks behinds. I'm pretty sure southern California is going to burn down to the ground. We are surrounded by fires. Everywhere. The Santa Ana winds came in and it's been a mess. The weather is dry, hot, windy, and I l0ve the occasional ash that perches somewhere on my face. I've never wanted it to rain so much in my life. So we're stuck inside so we don't inhale the smoke. Hopefully it's better by tomorrow...

Until then good night. Oh and if you're into photography you must check out this site for a little eye candy. Wow...good stuff.

Tagged...

I was tagged by Skye a while ago and just kept putting it off because I have to think with posts like this. Then Milli tagged me so I figured I'd get my butt on it. Here ya're....8 things about me:

1. I am obsessed with cold cereal. I could eat it for every meal of the day...and I usually do, for breakfast and lunch. I am actually enjoying a bowl of Life right now :)

2. I love my boy Cooper so stinking much that sometimes I wonder if I could ever be a good mom to a girl. I worry about having to do her hair and buy her dolls, deal with make-up and girl problems. Hmmmm....I'm sure it will all be fine. Just a thought.

3. To go along with #2, I feel totally un-girly. I don't have a fetish for shoes, purses and accessories. I don't shop unless I need or really want something (usually). I have two pairs of flip-flops I wear all year round...brown and black...and I don't buy new ones until they literally break. I carry a cheap purse and I am terrible at keeping up with my hair and nails. I am trying my hardest to start wearing jewlery. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets drive me nuts. Although I am really trying to wear them more, I hate the fact that I have to try really hard.

4. I am obsessed with the CW (I still want to call it the WB) channel. Well I used to be more when Gilmore Girls was on. But I love ridiculous shows like One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl, and I love America's Next Top Model. You can't help what you love right?

5. I have a love for scrapbooking, photography, decorating, cooking...etc etc. Doesn't mean I'm any good....but I just love loving it. I love finding inspiration through other people's work and trying new stuff. I go from one thing to the next it seems. One week I will love something...then the next is something else. It's so fun finding new things to look forward to.

6. I have a new found crush on Shia LeBeouf. Now Dave teases me any chance he gets.We just rented Transformers and I can't wait to watch it...

7. I am such a nervous eater. My friends have always made fun of me for the way I eat my food. One bite...then tuck my hair behind my ears. One bite...then adjust my bra or something. It's sad but true. My sister has a ridiculously funny impression of me.

8. I LOVE LOVE music. Some songs I have been loving lately...as random as they come:
Incubus-Dig, Anna Molly
Pearl Jam-Black (I think this is truly one of the greatest songs)
Gin Blossoms-Until I Fall Away
Chantal Kreviazuk-Eve
Jack Johnson-Cookie Jar
VAST-Don't take your love away
And pretty much anything by Justin Timberlake lately...he's on fire

Ok, there's me in a nutshell. Now I'm tagging Melissa, Tracy, Jessie, Allie, Vinnie, Ashley, Julie, Whitney

I had to try it...

digital scrapbooking baby. Say hello to my first layout...

I've been wanting to put one together, just to do it, and it turned out to be kind of fun.
The layout is totally simple but that's how I like it....simple and easy. I'm sure there will be more to come, but I can't say I like it more than the real thing ;)
twopeasinabucket.com has a lot of "beginner" advice and I love their cute kits!

$56.00...

is what I paid at the Quiksilver/Roxy warehouse sale for 7 pounds of clothes! Oh man...if I could only explain the joy I felt. My friend Nicole had two tickets to the sale last Saturday and was so kind to invite me! What a treat! It was in Huntington Beach and you could only get in by invitation/with a ticket...and she knew a woman that worked for Quicksilver. Anyway, I got a bunch of great stuff...sweaters, p.j.s, t-shirts, swim shorts, a bunch of little doo-dads, scarves and a zillion hats because they hardly weighed anything! Forgot to mention...EVERYTHING sold for $8.00 a POUND...yes, you heard right...$8.00 a pound. I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time just shoving stuff in my bag because it was so gosh-darn cheap. Anyway, had to share my thrill for the weekend. Nothing makes me quite as happy as a good deal.

Nice relaxing weekend...conference was nice...well when I wasn't asleep or Cooper wasn't needing attention. Gosh I have a problem with sleep and conference. My poor husband is sitting up usually taking notes and I'm sprawled out on the couch or in the kitchen scrounging for food. Growing up in my home, conference equaled food. Nothing was better :)

Friday we were able to attend the temple. It's been so rare since Cooper's been born, we've only been a handful of times. So it's a treat when we are able to go. On Sunday we watched conference and then went to inspiration point in corona del mar and walked around and climbed the big rocks. We love to go there and overlook the water...it's beautiful over there.

p.s. It's pie month at Marie Callenders...$5.99 for every pie!