CSI St. George

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Merry Christmas!

This is my FAVORITE time of the year!

Summer is amazing but there is just nothing like Christmas!

We put our tree up the other day and I'm in LOVE with it!

A few years ago my mother-in-law gave me a christmas present, she said after christmas she'd take me around to all the clearance sales and get me some stuff to start off my christmas tree and since then my tree has gotten FABULOUS!

Every year we get a new ornament that shows what happened that year!

This year we got a little Woody car for our trip to San Clemente

and...

.mine!.

This one is for my graduation from SUU in photography!

how cute huh!? 

I had been trying and trying to find ornaments for Brandon and I since SUU doesn't make ornaments.

Well I found mine and Brandons is still MIA.

What kind of ornament do you get for someone who has a Business and a Biology degree with a Chemistry minor?...

any suggestions?

My FAVORITE Christmas shop went out of business this year :( so if you know of any cute stores or websites let me know!

I also REALLY REALLY need to get one for Evangelines first Christmas!

this year I did lots of DIY Christmas decorations! 

1- those glittery trees! They turned out super cute and I love them but for those of you who are thinking "oh thats cute! I wanna do those" I recommend you just go buy some at Tai Pans, Pier One, Target etc. 

I thought it would be cheaper to make them...

.it's not.

and it's not worth the glitter I PROMISE!

I'm finding glitter EVERYWHERE!

in my hair

in my bed

in Evies diapers

on our dishes 

in the car!

and I made these

.4 weeks ago.

I had to buy the foam trees ($4 $2 $1) 

and the little glass stands (#1 each) 

White spray paint for the glass stands ($2)

and the spray adhesive ($9 YUP. NINE DOLLARS!)

glitter ($6)

E6000 glue ($3)

= too much

I've seen the really tall trees at all those places I listed from $9-$30

They don't come on the cute white stands but these puppies are not worth making yourself 

ha ha ha 

the stands are my favorite part so I would recommend just buying the stand part and gluing it to one you buy.

2- These fabulous reindeer!

I found them at D.I! They had big google eyes and red puff ball noses so I pulled it all off and sanded them down and made these beauties for a total of $2!

3-the mirror behind them! Brandons mom was taking this mirror to the D.I! It was this gross gold and cream mirror that was all chipped and broken so I salvaged it! 

The paint cost me $1.50 cause I got a sample size for wall paint and the mirror was free! How I painted it makes it look cold and frosty (perfect for winter) in the spring I'll put a brown glaze on it.

big news!

EVANGELINE CAN SIT UP!

She's a champ at it now!

(sometimes charley knocks her over)

but other than that she's awesome at it!

I started taking pics of Evie in front of the tree and this sprung a MASSIVE need for a legit Christmas photo shoot with her! I have JUST what  I want to do in mind!

So the other day I got everything ready for the shoot and went to go get her little white hat that I love 

. and its missing.

It's no where to be found!!!

I've looked all over my house, my car, my moms house, my moms car!

It's gone... I need to go buy another one...

I'm NOT doing the shoot with out that hat!

I CANNOT WORK IN THESE CONDITIONS!

;)

of course after taking pictures of Evie charley felt like she needed to be in the photos too.

as soon as I took Evie down off the ottoman from her shoot 

Charley jumped right up there and gave me this little pose 

ha ha ha

.crazy dog.

Jouex Noel!

You Wouldn't Want To Eat It Either...

So another big milestone in the Valantine home today!We tried RICE CEREAL for the first time and it was obviously...

. a huge success.

I think its safe to say that Brandon & I got more up her nose, in her hair and in her eyes, than in her mouth...

oh, the many adventures in parenting
...

xo Meg,

Shots

I hate shots day at the doctor.Evie is so thin so she feels them really badly and just cries!I always make Brandon hold her during the shots and I cover my eyes in the corner lolThe whole day after shots she is always very mellow and not very smiley or talkativeit's sadShe's brave for her shots though and doesn't cry very much after

Me on the other hand, I have a dentist appointment in the morning for a cavity and i'm DREADING it!wish me luck!
xo meg

Trick or Treat

love,
The Valantines

The 3rd Valantine Wedding

Brandons little sister Aubrey got married on Saturday!She and Brady have been dating on and off for 2 years and Aubs FINALLY decided too keep him!

I had a blast doing all their photos! They are such a fun couple(you can see more photos on my blog/website)We had the reception the night before at the Ence homeThey have the most amazing backyard and Aubs made it SO beautiful with all of her wedding decor!All though we all looked good in our bridal party get up I MUST say that Evie looked the cutest!

The night before the reception we were outside setting up and Evies hands and ears were FREEZING!The next day I ran to the store and found this ADORABLE hat for the reception!Needless to say she was a huge hit :)

I FINALLY got a good family photo of us (well kinda, evies got a face on)It was such a special wedding. The Temple Sealer gave them some great advice and had so many good things to say. I'm glad Aubs has such a great man to take care of her now, it takes a lot of worry off Brandon and I. Brandon and I got married in July 2009Cary and Kaili got married in August 2010and Aubrey and Brady got married October 2011... looks like Danis up next summer! ;)
Sorry this post is short but Eve's is ready for bed and is getting mad at me.*nigh nigh*
xo Meg

Best $20 bucks ever!

 My brilliant Mother found a Jumperoo on KSL for $20 so we bought it 

it has been by far the best $20 i've ever spent!

She will sit and play in that thing for HOURS!

(especially if you add some Mickey Mouse Club House to the mix)

I can actually get SOMETHING done now!

.fabulous.

The other day we went to the park and had a picnic so I took my camera and got these 2 great shots :)

My mom is coming down to STG this weekend for Brandons sister Aubreys wedding!I can't wait!more pic to come
xo meg

Rolling Pin...

WellI'm guessing Evangeline learned how to roll over today...She has been getting up on her side pretty good lately but has never quiet made it all the way over.

Today I sat her next to me on the middle of the "chaise lounge" part of the sofa and then started to work at my computer(which is set up on a card table right next to the sofa)I could hear her cooing and talking like always but then I heard a big thud noise and crying....yup.not only did my kid roll over for the first time and I missed it,but she rolled over TWICE and right off the edge of the sofa...

.Sorry Girl.Guess that ends the days of me just leaving you on the sofa!

xolove, Supermom :)

Worlds Worst Mom Award and Sailors BDay

So I attended something I never thought I would in my life....

 .yup.

A dogs birthday party

ha ha ha

This is Sailor Man oh his 6th birthday!

My neighbor Alli is a vet tech and helped deliver Sailors entire litter. 

Sailors mom wasn't around after so Alli bottle fed him and raised this pup from birth.

Needless to say

he's a mamma's boy

(to say the least!)

Alli texted me and asked if Charley would like to come to Sailors birthday party at the dog park

I told her to count us in!

When I heard there would be party hats involved I knew my camera was in too!

She had wrapped presents, party favors, and even a dog friendly cake on paper plates!

. yes .

she put the dogs pieces of cake on paper party plates

ha ha ha

The day was going great until I received the 

"Worst Mom of the Year" Award :(

When I got to the dog park I grabbed Evie

then slung the diaper bag over my shoulder

then slung my camera over the same shoulder

then grabbed my blanket...

unfortunately I didn't UNload in the same order...

this time it went like this..

I laid the blanket out

laid Evie on the blanket 

THEN grabbed the diaper bag forgetting that the next item to unload should have been my camera...

I grabbed my diaper bag strap (along with my camera strap) and my 25 pound camera 

swung around and smacked Evie RIGHT in the face..

She looked terrified for a minute and then started SOBBING!

.worst. mom. ever.

I immediately grabbed her up and started rocking her

luckily I was the first one to arrive at the party because I definitely started to cry too

ha ha ha

I was so upset with myself!

And what DIDN'T help was later when I got home a giant pink bruise started showing up on my poor

beaten childs head :(

She was fussy and sad the whole rest of the day and wouldn't smile at me ONCE! 

Brandon says he's pretty sure she forgives me and will never remember this...

 I said it's only because I took away all of her short term memory..

To make up for my lack of parenting skills I packed up Evie the next morning and we went and hung out with Auntie Malorie on the St. George Marathon route! 

FINALLY it's bearable enough to be outside here!

. so a little back story on "lets go ken!".

When I got to the race I noticed the poster sitting next to Mal and asked "who is ken?"

She said "I don't know? Nate (Malories husband who was running) called me this morning and asked me to make a poster for a guy named Ken, he met him on the bus this morning and none of his family could come down to the race to support him!"

I said "oh that was nice! ... so how do we know who Ken is then?..."

to which Malorie replied 

"oh... I have no Idea?..."

ha ha ha

So we just yelled GO KEN at random segments throughout the morning :)

  Evie LOVES Malorie it is so cute!

Grits came to the race to support as well.

Here are our friends coming into the final mile!Nate (left) ran the last 10 miles or so with a completely blown out leg and was later sent to the hospital .GO NATE!.on the right is Bob and Katie (father daughter) this is Bobs 20th straight year of running the STG Marathon! Go Bob!
xo Meg

Yard Crashers & Pickle Ball

So we are currently living in Brandon's Dads condo that he owns. There used to be a bunch of single guys who lived here before us and they 

(putting it nicely)

TRASHED the place...

So since we've been living here it's been a series of projects

one project being that we don't have a functioning oven

so

.no.

I haven't cooked a meal ONCE since May

... it's been fabulous...

now that it's "cooling down"

(that's St. George talk for 95 degrees)

we've decided it's time to tackle the lawn...

if you can still consider this "a lawn"

Now I guess I shouldn't have, but I put a little soft light on this photo in photoshop and it actually makes this disaster look kinda pretty ha ha ha

don't be fooled...

During the demolition we found lots of treasures!

at least 20 beer bottles

3 different hoses

2 deer antlers 

a back of a truck bed

the screens from every window on the back of the house

and of course

dirty underware...

.lovely.

well after a couple of good weekends and lots of help from our neighbor KC we finally got it done and it looks FABULOUS!

We were sadly going to "zero-scape" the entire yard because the next renters after us wouldn't take care of grass.

I was SO sad because I wanted to have grass for me and E to play on

but I understand that it'll just look like it did in the last pictures after we move out...

but 

SURPRISE FOR ME!

Brandon and my father-in-law decided it would be fine to make Me, Evie and Charley a little grass area to play on for the year!

I am SO EXCITED!

We aren't allowed to play on it  till next week but I can hardly wait!

We moved from Cedar while it was still snowing and we got to St. George JUST as it was too hot to play outside so I have been couped up in a house LITERALLY since last September!

It's amazing how proud I am of my little patch of grass!

I HAVE A LAWN!!

I water him twice a day and make sure Charley doesn't dig in him.

.love.

Since Brandon did all this hard work on the lawn I surprised him and got some "summer clearance" lawn furniture to spruce it up a bit.

We had our BEST friends and (thankfully) next door neighbors Alli and Kc over for a "back yard christening BBQ" that night

.perfect.

next up

my hutch

I'm sure some of you remember my bright blue hutch!

well this hutch is the main focus of my living room and no matter WHAT I do to it it just looks cluttered!

I love to have photos out but i'm SO SICK of frames!

So I decided to do a quick little DIY fixer and I added a clothes line to my middle shelf

I think it turned out really cute!

I still have no rhyme or reason to everything else on the hutch but at least i'm happy with that shelf now 

:)

Yesterday me and Evie FINALLY got out of the house!

(p.s Evie is now a fist chewer.. she'd put both in her mouth at once if they'd fit!)

we went to the park and watched Dad play Pickle Ball with our good friend Stephen.

and

of course

I took a million photos..

this ones my favorite though

ha ha ha ha

.classic.

after 5 intense games Dad was beat so we went to a movie with the In-laws.

Evie is 3 months old!

She is KINDA realizing that she looks far enough above her she can kinda roll on her side

maybe one of these days she'll actually make it to her stomach

She is a VERY social baby

loves to coo and talk to you

(especially if your vietnamese?)

when Brandon is talking she cannot focus on ANYTHING else but his voice

and she only half knows her hands belong to her so we are still looking like a cat fight every morning when we wake up

HA HA HA HA

this face cracks me up

she loves to sit up on the couch

is ticklish in her arm pits

and loves to eat peoples noses

anyway

there is your photo overload from the Valantine family this week

keep 

calm

and 

blog

on

ciao, Meg xo