Star Valley Happenings

About a week ago, Dusty and I packed up our car to the brim and made the 8 hour trek to Star Valley for the Holidays. For any of you that haven't been to western Wyoming, it's pretty darn frigid in the winter time. So, since we don't want to go outside very often we manage to find ways to kill the time inside. For example, random pictures of everyone. Turns out that the sisters are naturals in front of a camera!








This is basically what Lauren does all day.


Tyson really likes his Grandpa. He loves to listen to men's voices, and Grandpa can really make him laugh hard.


Tyson, Grammie Jewels, and Willy are enjoying If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, one of the best children's stories.

Our Mary and Joseph Party- the basic idea is to celebrate the the Savior by discussing parts of the Nativity story and eating things that He would have eaten.


Items on the menu included olives, goat cheese, pita bread, fish, cake, figs, dates, hummus, pesto, and of course, sparkling grape juice.

Going Postal !!!!

The funniest thing happened to me the other morning. But before I tell the whole story, you need some history. I have been doing some mega shopping on eBay because Tyson is outgrowing all of his 3-6 month clothes. He needed practically everything. So, needless to say, I have been receiving quite a few packages the past week or so. My mail lady is very friendly. I remember chatting with her when I was about a week overdue with Tyson. She was very empathetic, and shared her own pregancy stories with me. Well, she rang the door bell with a bunch of packages ( in Cedar they sometimes come right to your door to deliver the mail) and said "Girl, you are outta control". We laughed together for a minute, and then she said, "let me show you this cool website since you obviously like to find a good deal." She came right on in the house -good thing I had tidied up a bit, and put on a little makeup, and I guess gotten dressed since it was 8:30 am-and showed me the pinching pennies website I have a link to now on the blog. She showed me a little bit how it worked, and showed me how to find all the good deals on the web. Then she was on her way. People, this is a pretty cool website. That was going way beyond the call of duty, but I am glad she did. Perhaps she was all done after delivering the giganormous pile of packages she did to me. Anyways, kind of a fun story..... have a great day.

PS No wonder there are so many jokes about kids looking like the UPS guy. The mail workers are all so darn friendly!! :)

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Notice which fingers he prefers to chew on? Any similarities to someone else in the family?



Check out those eyelashes!


I can't believe how long his hair has gotten- it kindof has a mind of its own.

With Love, Sorcha Boyle

Sorry if you guys get annoyed with these quizzes, they are pretty funny!
Here's a random sampler of a few that I have done.

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

20% Upper Midwestern

5% Midwestern

5% Yankee

0% Dixie

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

First of all, this quiz sounded hilarious. Secondly, I'm glad that nothing else is quite like me, evidently. At least I get to be part of a good joke!

You Are a Fruitcake!

You taste like nothing else in this world. And get ready, you're about to get tossed!

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Can I say that from now on, you'll be hearing a lot from Sorcha Boyle? Forget Frank Schwartz. Sorry Frankie!

Your Irish Name Is...

Sorcha Boyle

What's your Irish Name?

Your Vocabulary Score: A+

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person.

How's Your Vocabulary?

What I've Been Up To

When I got home from Thanksgiving I decided to get out all of our Christmas decorations. I was a little gung ho because I didn't get to decorate our home at all last year since we were busy moving. I put up the tree, the Christmas village, the nativity, and our stockings. We're ready for Santa to come! I have been wanting to add to my little village, so I went to Roberts to buy another house to paint, but they don't sell them any more apparently. Bummer. I guess I will have to find something else to paint. But the houses I do have look great together!



Take a stroll through the town......





I bought some really fun new ornaments at Taipan Trading over the break with Dusty's mom. I couldn't wait to put up my tree when I got home. I fell in love with the brown ornaments, but wasn't sure how they would look on the tree. Much to my delight they look really good with the gold ornaments I already have. Here is the tree. Thanks, Allie, for the glittering leaves you got us for Christmas. They really put the finishing touches on the tree. Also, if any of you know how small our living room is, you should be impressed that somehow we put this giant tree in and manage to still have room for everything else!




Tyson and his cousin Lily had a good time meeting each other. Tyson is just starting to notice and be interested in other babies and children, so he thought Lily was great. When Grandma Hoopes was holding them on her lap, Lily got a little shy and started to cry. Of course, Tyson decided to join in a few seconds later!




We stayed at Dusty's Grandpa Bowers house over Thanksgiving. He was heading up to Boise for the holidays and wasn't there very long, so we had to make sure we got a snapshot of Tys with his Greatgrandfather. Here is Grandpa holding Tyson before bath time!



Here is Tyson with Grandma Hoopes. These are nice photos of her and him together. He sure does have big cheeks that are just so much fun to kiss.

Gratefulness : First Installment

Since this seems to be the time of year to reflect upon things we are so glad to have in this world, I thought I would start a little list. It's pretty random and full of ordinary things, but I guess I don't have many extra-ordinary things! On second thought, perhaps some of these blessings are pretty amazing. Here's for starters:

Family ~ electricity ~ Tyson's laughter ~ clocks ~ ice cold lemonade ~ The Savior ~ game night ~ daffodils ~ Christmas lights ~ prophets ~ ice cream ~ love ~ lullabies ~ water ~ blankets ~ the beautiful earth ~ photographs ~ good books ~ disposable diapers ~ pianos ~ creative people ~ baby clothes ~ science classes ~ gingerale parties ~ morning sunshine ~ scripture ~ written music ~ comfy furniture ~ garlic bread ~ candles ~ tithing ~ umbrellas ~ colors ~ lip balm

First Piano Lesson

I gave Tyson his first piano lesson the other day. We talked about proper finger position, where middle C was, the organization of the notes, and how he "gets" to play the piano for the rest of his life basically. We kind of played chopsticks together, but mostly he pounded on the keys making his own music! I am already playing Christmas music for myself (when I'm home alone since Dusty doesn't think Christmas music should me played until after Thanksgiving). I have so many fun piano arrangements that I can hardly contain myself. The music is "joyful and triumphant". I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

My Latest Projects

Finally! I finished Tyson's stocking. Good thing children don't come around too fast. I can only average one stocking for every couple of years or so because the crosstiching takes forever. I think that it looks really Christmasy and it will match the stockings I made for Dusty and I! You can't see Tyson's name super well because it's done in gold thread (which is horrible to work with by the way; it about made me go insane)



I bought some really cute value fabric and decided to make little totes for everyday things. I think they turned out really great. Lauren thinks I need to give her the polka dotted one, but .... probably won't happen. Sorry Bubbs! (I did tell her that I would help her make one of her own..... We'll see)




I really like the ribbon that matches this bag.



Tyson will really smile big if I hold him in front of a mirror. Then I can catch both of us on camera with big grins!

Tyson and Ayda

On Monday, the 13th, Patrice and Brady delivered little Ayda Bryn. We went over to see them and got to hold her. She is just so tiny. If you don't believe me, check out the picture of her and Tyson. Of course, he is a pretty big 4 month old, but the size difference is pretty amazing.





Tyson has developed some new habits. One of his funniest ones is scratching his head. He only does it with his right hand and really goes to town. I caught this one on camera.