Merry Christmas!

There's nothing like moving at Christmas

Perhaps dental work, taxes and triathalons are...but not much else comes close! Last Saturday was the big moving day. We had lots of help (thank you Grandma Hutchison, Rachel, Channy, Joe, Rick, Karen, Ashley, Katie, Casey, Jeffrey, Aaron & Matthew) and we got the majority moved into the house in one day. Despite the fact that I got swatted on the behind repeatedly by Jeffrey. Oh yes, did I mention he's 6?

Anyway, this year was truly a blessing. Last year (another Christmas move) we had the help of four missionaries and that was it. And I was pregnant. It was not a pretty sight. Although one Eder threw the dryer up on his back and moved it completely unassisted. What a hoss.

But this year Matt & I donned our financial service institution t-shirts (Morgan Keegan and the dreaded Arthur Anderson) and got to work.



Jacob was so, so, so good. And he wore his pajamas all day.



He is also getting ready for the family Christmas party and his role as co-baby Jesus with Gideon.

After a week in the new place we have settled in quite a bit. Just please don't go in the third bedroom. We have learned about the perils of homeownership and also the joys (the garage).

The best part of all is that the little man seems quite happy here. So happy that last night he slept for 12 hours! Home sweet home.



And yes dad, that is a tree in the background. Merry Christmas!

How does it feeeeel?

To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone.

We will soon forget how it feels, because after two years of apartment-hood we have bought a home! It's a contemporary ranch (slanty house) and a real peach. Here are some features of our new pad.



A mantle (which is just beyond the upper limits of this picture) from which to hang our stockings with care...



A wet bar for hours of shmoozing and golf joke telling...



Two windows, in addition to the fireplace...the man on the left is Connor, our realtor. He unfortunately doesn't come with the home so we wil probably forget to change our filters and have leaky faucets.



How does it feeeel?
To own a slanty home
To have a great big loan
Unlike a rolling stone.

Good Morning Sunshine

We'll be wrapped around your finger

Jacob enjoyed his first Thanksgiving this past weekend and what a fun time we had. He was able to see lots and lots of family and try out the new highchair Grandma Hutchison got him. He was also able to hone some of his gifts of persuasion.

For example, Jacob was an angel in the car as we drove a grand total of 11 hours! (Bless you Mr. Pacifier)





Sooooo, he was entitled to waking mommy and daddy up a lot during the night. Look at that masterful grasp he has on us. He are totally his pawns.



He did sleep a bit, but for most of the weekend he was hopped up on lots of attention, little sleep and green beans. But here's an example of the little Mister when he was asleep. Ahhh.



But two of the best things about this weekend were that:

a. He was adorable the whole time (adding to his skills of persuasion)



and b. mommy and daddy were able to re-live the salad days and go on a date to Harry Potter. We almost could remember what life was like when he was just a big twinkle in our eyes and in mommy's tummy.

"Mommy! Oh, Maaaaah-mee!"

"I could use some help here!"

The other day I heard Jacob cooing after his nap. He usually enjoys a little post-nap time just ootching (as we affectionately call it) and babbling around in his crib. After a few minutes I went in to find...this! Gasp.



and this!



and this!



We think this whole arm escaping act was just a ploy so he could end up in mommy & daddy's bed. Well Jacob, you have to wake up pre-tty early in the morning to pull a fast one on us.

Oh wait, you do wake up early in the morning!

Also...

Check this out...and yes, I do have a handsome, successful husband. We're proud of you babe!

Sunday best and other cute somethings

Very very cute somethings...or something...named Jacob.

Where's my blue ox?

We have stumbled upon an uncanny resemblance between a certain american folk hero and this fine young man here.






Jacob too has acquired some amazing skills & characteristics much like the famous Paul Bunyan.

Most amazingly, their births were quite similar. But also:

He finally will relax in his car seat



He can sit assisted by a boppy



He can have (& win) staring contests with daddy



He can put mommy in a very effective head lock



He can show Winnie the Pooh who's boss



He can drool A LOT



And most importantly, he can be unbelievably cute. Something stinky ol' Paul Bunyan could never pull of.

It's a boy! But not for us...

Gideon Lee Slothower has arrived! We would love to post oodles of pictures of him here, but his parents have started a blog for him and his big sister Maddie!
It is: www.theslothowerfamily.blogspot.com
Check it out and see how cute their kiddies are.

Baby Einstein

While every parent believes and hopes that their child will be a genius and truly amount to something (and make them look like amazing parents)...we know that it is not possible for all children to be so intellectually gifted.

But we think Jacob has a good chance at genius-hood. What do you think?

I Fell Into a Burnin' Ring of Fire

Yes, Jacob was a lion for Halloween. And yes, we actually made him jump through a ring of fire!!!!

Well, not exactly...but we did make one out of red, yellow and orange felt! Matt and I were lion tamers/zoo keepers/safari people. I would have loved for Matt to be decked out in a red coat with tails and black britches as a circus lion tamer, but where can you find the gear? So we opted for more of a safari (or in my case, everyday) look with lion tamer props. We had the ring of fire, a stool to protect us from the ferocious beast and lots of candy. We considered having a whip (very lion tamer) but thought better of it. Here are some pics (the first one's a bit fuzzy) of the big "reveal" at the ward trunk-or-treat.






Jacob seemed to have a great time for a half hour and then dissolved to tears, tears and tears. But judging by this picture, we think he liked his go as a lion. Um, maybe.



But one thing we know for sure is:

He is sooooooo cute.



Awww.

Roll Cougars!

On this lovely fall Saturday afternoon I am on duty. Sports duty. Matt is away today and so it falls to me to update him on the components of a "perfect weekend".

This consists of a win for the Braves (but since they are not in the World Series I don't need to worry with them) and a win for Alabama. Oh yeah, and if he remembers the cougars, a win for BYU.

Even though Matt and I both graduated from and love BYU, the Crimson Tide are still by far Matt's team of choice. And kindof mine too. (Although my memories of having hot chocolate as I shivered through games at dad's side keep me loving those cougars.) So, Matt and I straddle two worlds and we wonder...where will Jacob's allegiance lie? Well, as long as we can dress him, we think with both! (Enjoy his collegiate duds and look closely at the details in the pictures...)

So we say to our blue and crimson teams (and grandpas), Go Tide and Roll Cougars! Or something like that.












And who knows, maybe he'll be wearing other colors someday.