Christmas 2009

The month of December was busy busy for us. Jay had work training for the new computer system program that will be used for determining people's assistance. It was 1 whole week. In between that time were several parties and gatherings. The first being the Ward Christmas party the first weekend in December. Cynthia planned it as she was still on the Activity Committee (well or I should say the head of it). Then we had the Christmas Concert with Natalie Cole and each of our family's Christmas party. In between all of that time Jay was busy with the whole ward tithing settlement 'stuff'. All in all the end of 2009 ended with us finishing painting the inside of the home (white walls are now tan) and a wrestling match with an In and Out Burger.

Birthday in the Woods

We ended up having Wyatt's birthday party in the woods. It was part of the Reeves reunion and let's just say Wyatt likes being outside and in the outdoors but not more than a day. I think he just felt out of his element (whatever that is) plus the absence of a nap makes for one cranky kid. He got his favorite thing a golf club. It turned out good though aside from one of his cousins leaving some cheek skin on the road when she fell off a longboard skateboard.

LAGOON

We went to lagoon with Nanci and her family along with cheri and her family and James and Marianne and their family. We didn't know how wyatt would be with the whole process and he really didn't like it. There were alot of people and just so much activity going on I think he was a little freaked out. BUT we did get to go on the ferris wheel which at first he freaked out. But then calmed down. He sure was ok about getting off of it as soon as it was over though. Overall Cynthia ended up leaving early with the kids because Wyatt just got too tired and cranky. Then the rain started and we stood under a tree. Then it stopped and we went on more rides.

Catchup

WOW have I neglected the blog or what. Things just got sooo busy or I just got lazy at blogging. Probably a combo of both. I will try and pick up where we left off which was little valley days. Alot has happened but nothing real exciting just your normal run of the mill stuff. August was Salsa month. We had so many tomatos it wasn't even funny. I think I planted too many plants in one box because they turned in the a mess of tomatos. We had roma's growing into the big boys and beefsteaks. We made several batches of tomatos and finally figured out a few tricks to make it not so runny having causing us to cook it down half a day. Just squeeze a little of the tomato juices out (duh).

2009 Little Valley Days, Mantua, UT

BEST SALSA EVER

Ok maybe not the best but I finally found another good and simple Salsa Recipe:

Ingredients
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes and green chilies (I use rotel brand)
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can whole canned tomatoes (or your own canned equivalent)
4 teaspoons jalapenos (canned,diced, not pickled)
1/4 cup yellow onion (diced)
1/2-3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon sugar

Directions
1 -- In food processor place jalapenos and onions.
2 -- Process for just a few seconds.
3 -- Add both cans of tomatoes, salt, sugar, and cumin.
4 -- Process all ingredients until well blended but do not puree.
5 -- Place in covered container and chill.
6A -- couple of hours of chilling will help blend and enrich the flavor.

** I have added chopped cilantro too if you like that or your can substitue minced garlic for garlic salt and just add salt to taste.

Oh how the time flies..........

Ok so I knew that it had been awhile...and meant to post but just go to busy. The months leading up to Ava's birth/day were getting her room ready...we painted it and basically had to 'de-man' her room since I had been using it as an office for 2 yrs. Cleaned the walls -- painted -- moved stuff out and moved her stuff in.

Then came the d- day -- delivary day -- I will have to post more a different day --

January 2009

WOW has this year started and gone fast - I have to say though that I haven't really kept any of my resolutions. But we have met some of our goals if that makes any sense.

Preschool for Cynthia started back up in January and the sicknesses started for all of us. I was the first one to get the 24 hr flu. Then Wyatt got the croup. Then Cynthia got a cold. Then it all happened again a few weeks later. I think this time we all got colds. So January hasn't been much fun for us.

I got my new ipod -- well new to me -- it is a refurb 3rd gen ipod nano -- I get a discount through the state and wanted this one as it does video. With apple you can rent tv episodes or movies and download them to the ipod. I mainly use it for my podcasts (the free ones). But that meant I did have to part with my beloved 1st gen ipod nano that I got from one of those 'free ipod' sites. Yes this one did work for me. However it took 6 months of harranging (sic) them to get it. Not worth it when I look back on it. But it was fun. I have since checked that site and it is out of business. I think too many people found too many loopholes.

We got our new Wii game - DEAL OR NO DEAL -- we love it -- and more importantly Wyatt LOVES IT -- he will get in his sumo stance and then say "NO DEEEEL".

Cynthia is pretty much over the hump as far as the pregnancy goes. All is well -- she is a little kicker though.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Where has the time gone? That was the phrase most commonly uttered by the Cones this past week. In a flurry known as the holidays it left barely any time to reflect on the year. So to recap here is what we did -- the week of Christmas started with the annual Cone Christmas party hosted by us. All attended except for those out of state (Ma & Pa & Oma) and the Andersens - Ma/Pa did make a conference call to the party so that was nice to have them check in. We had the usual Christmas dinner (Ham, Sides, Dessert) -- then we exchanged gifts and then had a special Christmas Jam session with Brother Jon Jon who so graciously brought his electric guitar and amp with microphone. The younger ones enjoyed singing Karaoke Style while we all sang too. Other hand instruments were available (wyatt and I had the tamborine). Fast forward to Christmas eve where the Jensen's (Cynthia's mom's side of the family) all migrated north about a hop skip and a jump from the north pole (ok not really but seems like it) to the little canyon town called Mantua (just north of Brigham City). It was a great time. Good food and lots of it. After dinner we had a cool story read by Cynthia's Aunt Dineen and then all went home to wait for Santa (or as Wyatt says "DANDA"). Christmas morning was snowing but we all rolled out of bed when Wyatt did around 7:30am and opened gifts. Wyatt got a few of the fisher price little people and a dump truck and some other Car's toys -- his absolute favorite is the Nerf Bowling set we got him.



After opening our gifts we headed down to West Valley City to join all those who could make it to the Reeves Ranch on Maple Way for some lunch. After that we headed home and then woke up friday morning with the FLU -- then a cold (BAM BAM or DOUBLE BAM). Not fun at all!!!

ELF

We just showed Wyatt "ELF" and he loves it. He just sits and laughs and mimics him. But he usually doesn't watch the whole thing. He kinda gets bored after the first 1/3 of the movie.

SNOW

We got about 6 inches of nice new christmas snow. It just wouldn't seem like the holidays without it. Clearing the drive was fun ... not really! Now that we are way past November and halfway into December I have to let everyone know I am still alive just not blogging that much. DUH! I noticed with all the other blogs I am following that is kind of an occuring theme. People take Hiatus' every now and then. There is no way I can do a daily blog. I will leave that to others to do. However I kinda wanted to do a weekly one but that just isn't happening either.



Wyatt has become addicted to The Polar Express. Mainly because it has a train in it. His interests lately are trains, anything bowling, and taking the Christmas balls off the tree and throwing them through his basketball hoop. They tend to get stuck though with that hook thing and we end up with a net full of ornaments. He has discovered that chocolate is a pretty darned good tasting thing. This was verified with his downing of an entire package of M&M's at the Reeves Xmas Party. We enjoyed some home made soups, exchanged some gifts, and then went to the zoo to see the lights. It wasn't too cold but luckily the monkeys and other animals were in these indoor buildings. Wyatt loved them -- there were a few of them that looked like "Dexter" from "The Night at the Museum".

Thanksgiving to recap we all migrated up to MANTUA -- pronounced Man-too-aye -- not MAN-too-ah -- I was corrected on that one back when I first heard of it. I made my mom's famous strawberry fruitcubes / ginger ale drink. I think people were skeptical and there were a few that thought it was cubed watermelon? I don't know why but I had to explain over and over how good they were. Half the people there said they were real good and commented this to me. The other half didn't voice it but judging by the fact they were for the most part all gone I would say they like them too. Grandma Reeves turkey was delicious and ofcourse I over ate. Who has will power on that day.

Day after thanksgiving was not too exciting this year. Not like last year where I was called a f***er by some girls who were trying to cut in line at target. I pointed them out to security who pulled them out. Too bad so sad. No this year Cynthia braved the shopoholic crazed heathens. She did get some good loot though. I did go out with Wyatt to the Office Depot to get some cheap dvd+r's then we went out to the Ihop and had some skillet thing. Pretty good at the time but then decided it really didn't get along with my stomach and I had a belly ache for 2 hours. Alot of stupid drivers out that day. Alot of people were also looking for the ever elusive Wii's -- one guy was outside Sam's Club and asking the door greeter if they had anymore because he was going to join sams club for 1 year just to get he wii. Heck I should have bought some and held out selling them til November black friday. I just can't gouge people like that. I have picked up some for my friends but that is about it.

So we are very excited to have a girl. The ultrasound was pretty confident showing no male giblets and this ultrasound lady was the same one who did Wyatt's. Cynthia said she can feel the baby kicking more now. Getting a little cramped in there I guess.

Baby Baby

Ok so we had our ultrasound and got these pics. Somewhat freaky with the whole one eye thing. One is the face and you can see the mouth and eye the other is the side profile of the skull. They had some legs and feet but these were the coolest.

Drumroll please--------------------------

Well I can't say I was surprised at all he won. Even though I didn't vote for him after listening to his acceptance speech I didn't have that "o heck" moment. I think he will be a good president or atleast has the potential to be one. All the internet rhetoric aside he has alot of pressure on him to be that catalyst of change that there is a buzz about and I really don't think he will stick his head in the sand and do nothing. I don't agree with everything he stands for but I think we just have to watch and see how it plays out. He gave a good acceptance speech and I just hope he does what he says and doesn't do anything that will hurt the country.

My Computer Friend

In my office working from home occasionally I pull out the spare buggy computer I am tring to resurrect (I think it has some bad RAM) -- for the most part it works but occasionally crashes -- it works 95% of the time but like I said due to the bad ram it will crash -- I uploaded some blues clues and movies for wyatt and he will sometimes crash in the office and watch his movies like this.

Halloween 2008

We didn't do a whole lot -- our neighborhood meets at the local church parking lot where they have a 'trunk or treak' which is basically a candy tailgating trick or treat party. Wyatt dressed up as STEVE from Blues Clues and his friend Ah-deedee as he calls her (addie) dressed up as a u of u cheerleader. We got a ton of candy and blue didn't even get lost.

Tot and the cell phone!

Occasionally we will let our little guy play the bowling on our cell phone. But there are times he gets bored with that and decides to take pictures. Here are some self portraits he took!

SNOW

Well a few weeks ago it snowed but was gone shortly after -- here is our first snow!

Courage + Believe = Life

I first heard of John Challis on ESPN - his story is amazing yet sad as he lost his battle with cancer last month. May we all live our life and not take anything for granted as this young man did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrVBWdCnys4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut1XjcFRVLA&feature=related

Google Desktop

I have been playing around with resurrecting a surplus pc that I got from a school auction and using some old parts created my franken-pc. I loaded XP on it and found a pretty cool app by google again that puts a 'sidebar' on your desktop that makes it look similar to windows Vista. Here is a screen shot of my vista desktop and notice the sidebar with the clock and stuff on it on the right.

http://desktop.google.com/

it is pretty cool and you can add different gadgets and customize it --- my main favorites would be the analog clock and weather gadget.