We've got a walker!

Of course! He would have to show off for his godparents! OK so these are not the best pictures but you can tell he is taking tiny little steps. (Sorry for the blurriness! I took the photos using the sports setting.)

At the moment

Right Now: Out of my window: Snow everywhere (on the ground), blue sky's and the sun is shinning. Yahoo!

I am wearing: Black Yoga pants, White lace tank, Aqua long-sleeved V neck and sock.

I am hearing: Orion babble and the roar of the heater. (It's -17 degrees outside!)

I am thinking: About the work I need to complete for WB, my scrapbook room is big mess, the kitchen needs to be cleaned and what do I make for dinner.

I am thankful for: A warm home, a wonderful family, parents and in-laws and two great jobs.

I am creating: a recipe box. I will start working on my recipe cards, a Valentine Advent Calendar and Peter's "All About You" Album.

I am going: to finish updating my blog, clean up the kitchen, decide what to make for dinner and start taking down the Christmas decorations.

I am hoping: that my car will start.

I am reading: Nothing at the time, but I want to be reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

One of my favorite things: cuddling on the couch with my husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Take down the Christmas Tree and decorations (I do have to wait until Russian Christmas, I promised my husband, but I can take a few down. He won't notice right?), clean up scrapbook room, go to Party Craft to take a peek at birthday themes for Orion's "First".

My Resolutions Defined

Be ‘Greener’
With all this hype about "Being Green" these days, I thought I would make my contributions. I have come up with my own list on how I can Be ‘Greener’. (I know that once my husband reads this he is going to think that I have turned all “Tree hugger” on him. Honey, I have not! Believe it or not but by doing these few things we will be saving money and I like the sound of that!)
*Add one meatless meal a week
*Shop the Saturday Market
*Using energy smart light bulbs
*Reusable shopping bags

When I was making my list I noticed that there are things I already do to Be ‘Green’!
*Using cold water to wash laundry
*Turning lights off when not in use
*Taking advantage of the sun and opening the curtains and shades during the day
*Turning the water off when not in use
*Washing full loads of laundry
*Wearing your clothes more than once (I know this one may sound gross but I have clothes that I wear just around the house and clothes when I have to go out. When I need to leave the house I change into something nicer and when I get back home I change back into my “house clothes”. The outfit that I wore out will get hung back up.)
*Running full loads in the dishwasher
*Using newspaper and cardboard as fire starters
*Turning the thermostat down when we are not at home or at night
*Using rechargeable batteries

Live Frugally
Dictionary.com defines frugal as “prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful.” With that being said here’s my list to work on this year.
*Eat out less
*Have cook ahead days – make batches of food and put them in the freezer for future use (I love this idea!)
*Homemade gifts for birthdays and Christmas
*Make brown bag lunches for my husband

And of course I already have a list of things I do to be frugal:
*I hardly ever buy name brands
*Batch my errands to save money on fuel and time
*I usually only buy new clothes for the family when they are on sale or on the clearance rack
*I buy inexpensive cuts of meat for crock pot meals
*Most of Orion’s clothes are secondhand
*All of our furniture was secondhand
*Always go to the grocery store with a shopping list
*Try to always eat leftovers
*Buying in Bulk
*Buying books from used book stores
*Re-using my baby food containers and other containers

Have a Clean and Organized Home
Those of you who know me know that I struggle with this but now that we have Orion and I work from home I am going to have a better handle on this.

Cook From Scratch More Often
I love being in the kitchen but over the last couple of years I have gotten lazy in this department. Well I am dusting off my cookbooks and diggin' right in!

Make a Point to Scrap Every Week
I've been scraping for 7 years and the only thing I have to show for it is our Engagement Album, Orion's Monthly Album, random pages and gifts for everyone else. I am so far behind, but yet with scrapbooking there is no such things as being caught up!

Loss weight
I am going to give myself a small goal of 15 lbs. I know that once I beat that I am going to want to go for 30 lbs!

Happy New Year!

Photo Taken New Year's Eve

Fireworks Courtesy of Nick Hunter

The last couple of weeks I have been thinking about what resolutions I want to tackle for 2009 and here's what I have come up with:

• Be ‘Greener’
• Live Frugally
• Have a clean home
• Cook from scratch more often
• Make a point to scrap every week
• Loss weight

I will elaborate more on my resolutions tomorrow.

Updates

I have been so busy due to work and the Christmas Season this last month that I really had the time to post anything.

Orion is now 23 lbs, 10 oz. and 29 3/4 inches long. He is starting to take steps now, just a couple at a time. I am just dreading the day that he is able to take off!

Our Christmas Tree

He wasn't to keen on Santa but we got a few good pictures anyways

On Christmas Day. What a handsome little boy!

He sure ain't no Handy Manny

Sooo.....this afternoon I get home from work and find packing tape on several of the cabinet's in the kitchen. I asked Peter what was going on and he said that Orion keep pulling things out of the cabinets and that he was tired of picking up after him...lol Welcome to my day honey!!! I bought spring latches the other day just haven't had the chance to install them yet. Do you think that Peter could take the time to install them for me....nope! But his solution was cute.

I guess I might as well face it, my husband is not a Handy Manny! I still love you honey!!!

A Great Start to the Christmas Season

This afternoon Alaina treated us (Tricia, Brandi, Debbie, Bona and I) to The Nutcracker Ballet. It was the first time I had ever seen it or even been to a ballet. I enjoyed it so much!!! The costumes were gorgeous and the little kids were so cute. I have a whole new prospective on tights now that I have seen the guys on stage...LOL

Alaina and I are already talking about going to Annie in March and The Lion King In September.

Orion Update

Orion is 8 1/2 months old now. He weighs 22 lbs. 12 oz. and is 29 1/4 in. long. He is becoming quite the accomplished little boy. He says mama and dada. He is holding his bottle and feeding himself now. And on Wednesday he stood up all by himself with out the aid of anything! One minute he was on the floor playing with his toys and the next minute he was standing amongst his toys! He is eating just about everything Peter and I have for meals (even brussel sprouts). He learned that he can push doors open and closed. Also thanks to my wonderful SIL he has learned to shake his head no. He is is just Mr. Independent!

1st Halloween

I think I had decided what Orion was going to be for his first Halloween even before he was born. I know your probably thinking "what a crazy mom"! I don't blame you. For weeks we had worked on his roar and he would mimick you most of the time. Grandma Debbie made his costume. It is so adorable!!!

I even had the perfect plan of dressing up as Dorothy and Peter as the Scarecrow, but that didn't happen. Oh well, there is always next year!

Arizona Trip Highlights Part 2

My lil Scottie!

Love at first sight? Miss Gloria and Orion were so cute together. They we cooing and chating with each other.

Grandpa helping Orion pet Smookem

Just a little scared of the horse.

Orion was not to fond of riding.

Helping Auntie Melissa carve her pumpkin.

The fruits of our labor. Like the Lion on the end? I did it myself!

With Auntie Melissa. Such a ham for the camera

And a ladies man!!! (Melissa's roommate Brianna)

Arizona Trip Highlights Part 1

I know I am behind on posting these up. It has been non-stop since I have got home. I have sooo many more pictures to post!

Grandpa playing the Banjo

"Is it safe grandma?"

Grandpa taking Orion for a spin around the field

Orion had his first steak at Pinnacle Peak for Grandma's Birthday. The best steak house ever!

Nice tan grandpa

In jail....HELP!

I just couldn't resist a picture of this! LOL

The Carruthers Girls

The Beginning Of Our Arizona Trip

I know that I am a few days late to posting this but, better late then never! Orion did so well on the plane. He didn't cry at all! He just sat back and took everything in. We had a window seat and he was very content with being able to look out it. He didn't sleep very well from Anchorage to Seattle but from Seattle to Tucson he was out the entire flight!

I stepped off the plane and BAM! Heat Wave!!! I instantly started sweating. I was peeling off clothes and chucking my tennis shoes for flip flops. I know that my mom got a good chuckle. Orion has not wore a single pair of socks since we've gotten here!!!

Straight from the airport we went to eat at Olive Garden. YUMMY! I had Grilled Chicken and Gnocchi with Grilled Veggies. It was so good! I can't wait until we get an Olive Garden in AK.

I I don't think that I will posting until I return home. I'll be returning the end of next week. See ya then!

This just made my night!

This last week I have been asking Peter if he will miss Orion & I while we are in Arizona. And every time he has ignored the question. Well, tonight I had just settled on the couch after putting Orion down for the night and Peter settles down next to me and says "I will miss you guys." Talk about tear jerker! That just made the stress of this last week drift away!!!

Honey, I just want to say thank you for this weekend! Thank you for taking care of things around the house and especially taking care of Orion so I may work. I am so glad that you witnessed one of his firsts (pulling himself up on the couch and coffee table).

Oh and honey, we will miss you too!

Picture BOMB!

Here's some pictures from the last 2 weeks.

When you don't have a ball, give 'em an onion!

This look is too cute. Trying to slurp his noodles but not having any luck.

Success!

Great-Grandpa Howie visits from Pittsburgh

First Snow Fall

He loves his tubby time

I think he loves the camera even more!

My two favorite guys

So cute how he throws his head back and laughs! (Can you his 4 top teeth coming in? Trust me they are there!)

The newest employee at Alaska Wild Berry Products - Candy Kitchen

Orion's New Crib

We have finally upgraded Orion to a 3-in-1 crib (courtesy of Grandma Debbie). We had been using a mini crib that we purchased at a yard sale for $25. What a deal! (It is going into storage for the next baby.) We purchased the new crib from the newly remodeled Toys R Us. They just added their Babies R Us section. (I wish they had the new section in 9 months ago when I had my baby shower. They have too much cute stuff!)



We had to wait a month cause they don't keep cribs in stock (blah blah blah). Which the salesman should have told us when we were looking at them!

Our second bedroom has being used as the craft room. One night we put Orion in there to see how he would sleep and he has been in there ever since. So, slowly and I stress slowly, I have been trying to organize the room better so it will make due as his bedroom but yet give me a space to scrap and get crafty. I haven't had much success yet. I have kinda taken over the kitchen table...lol

I have before photos of the room that I will post once I have after photos but please don't hold your breath!

7 Month Update

Orion turned 7 months old yesterday and he is as busy as ever! He crawls all over the place! He really keeps me on my toes. On carpeting he crawls on his hands and knees but on hard flooring he bear crawls. It is too cute!

He now weighs 22 lbs and is 28 3/4 in. long! He sits up all by himself and has even started pulling himself up. We are pretty sure that he is going to start walking really, really soon :s

He has to eat or drink whatever mom and dad have. He is already a Pepsiholic! (I know I am so terrible.) He is cutting his 3rd tooth and is learning how to feed himself which is quite comical to watch.

He claps his hands. We are even teaching him how to "give 5". When you say "jump, jump, jump" he actually tries to jump. He has started making kissing sound and most of the time will copy you when you do it. He will even imitate a cough!

This kid just amazes me!!!

Sorry for not posting recent pictures. I will post some as soon as I can.

Say it ain't so!

I can't believe it! Straight from the National Weather Service:

Tonight... Snow showers. Snow accumulation 2 to 4 inches. Lows in the mid to upper 20s. North wind 10 mph becoming light. (So true! Peter and I were out and about tonight and it started snowing on us! It also snowed a little bit on Sunday. The snowflakes were HUGE!)

Tuesday... Snow showers. Additional snow accumulation 1 to 2 inches. Highs in the 30s. Light winds.

Tuesday Night... Numerous snow showers. Additional snow accumulation 1 to 2 inches. Lows in the lower to mid 20s. Northwest wind 10 mph.

Wednesday... Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs in the lower to mid 30s. Northwest wind 10 mph.


Wednesday Night... Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows 15 to 25. Light winds.


Thursday... Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow! Highs in the 30s.


Thursday Night through Sunday... Cloudy with a chance of rain and snow!! Lows 25 to 35. Highs 35 to 45.


Sunday Night and Columbus Day... Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow!!! Lows 25 to 35. Highs 35 to 45.

A view from my Living Room today

I looked out the window and what do I see???

A Big Hairy Moose Staring at Me!