The Youngest One Bites The Dust

My little brother, the youngest child in the family, got married last weekend. *Tear*. He married a lovely girl named Jill in the St. George temple. Jay and I left our boys with Grandma and Grandpa Durrant and escaped to St. George for the whole weekend....just the two of us. It was divine. It was so fun to be with my family and also to be somewhere just a tad warmer.

Aren't they a cute couple?



So happy for them! Welcome to the Crazies, Jill :) Hope you survive!


I had a great time with all of my sisters. It is a very rare occasion that we are all together.




My beautiful mom :) And some very huge bags under my eyes. Sheesh. Can you tell my baby hasn't been sleeping through the night pretty much since we moved?


Jay's groomsmen tie and my sister's dress matched perfectly. Prom 1991?



In other news, Luke's mullet was getting a little out of control. I hate cutting my boys' hair for the first time. For some reason it makes them look more like a little boy and less like a baby. And then I feel like I need another baby. It is a vicious cycle and I am definitely NOT ready to have another baby. But, it had to be cut.



His hair is so blonde that he just looks bald. Ha!!


Jack got an electric screwdriver for Christmas because he is always stealing Jay's. He is quite skilled with it. Here is the board that he screwed all of the screws into.

Here is a little video of my very talented craftsman.



Luke is really not wanting to walk. He will sometimes, but mostly he prefers to walk around on his knees.

A very Utah Christmas

I am a little behind on the blog and I keep telling myself that it's ok because we just moved, but 3 weeks is probably enough time to get my act together. Better late than never, right?

We had a great Christmas! All of Jay's siblings were able to be in Utah this year. We haven't all been together in 4 years, so it was a ton of fun!

Christmas morning was pretty crazy. 20 people in one room trying to open gifts was insane. But, we loved it!

Can you tell that Jack was just a little excited to start opening?!

Even Luke got into the action. He mostly loved stealing gifts from his cousin's piles and bringing them over to his own. Tricky little thing!


Jack has been wearing this cape and mask pretty much everyday. His self-proclaimed official title is "Big Superman Hero Guy". Thanks to Jolene for the countless hours of entertainment :)



The day after Christmas we made the trek up to Temple Square to see the lights. They were beautiful! So beautiful that I didn't get any pictures of them. Can you tell how happy Luke was to be there?

I had him in about a million layers. He could barely move his arms.


Good things always come in threes. Three of the four siblings in Jay's family had babies all within a few months of each other. All boys. They loved crawling around together and they all liked to pass their toys around, from mouth to mouth to mouth. Yay for germs!!


Aren't they darling?!? (L-R) Truman - 5 months, Henry - 9 months, Luke - 1 yr.


We are loving the new house. More on that later, but this picture was too cute not to post. They were digging up the lot next to us last week and the boys stood at the window for at least an hour just watching. Luke is barely tall enough to see out. He started clapping each time the backhoe got some dirt. It's the little things that count.


During Christmas, we played the most fun game, ever. Just dance on the Wii. I have never really wanted a video game before, but this was awesome, and I really want it. I also got some footage of Jay, which is hilarious, and he is going to be really mad when he finds out I put it on the blog for all to see.

Enjoy!!

Baby, it's Cold Outside!

We have enjoyed a wonderful 2011! We have just made the move from Alexandria, VA. to Lehi, UT. Not the best time to get Christmas cards out. So, here is my half attempt.

Jay just finished his Masters degree in International Affairs at George Washington University. We are so proud of all of his hard work, sleepless nights writing papers and good grades. He is excited to have a little more time to play basketball. He has also planned about 10 different camping trips now that we are back west.

Jack is 3 1/2. He is such a funny kid. He told me today that he wasn't sure he wanted Santa to come tonight because he doesn't want him to eat all of our cookies. He started speech therapy this year and has made vast improvements in his articulation. He is missing his Virginia friends but he is excited to learn to snowboard in Utah. He loves to learn and he loves to play. He asks me for a dog every day and collects hand sanitizer.

Luke just turned 1. I don't think we could have a sweeter baby. He has a charming personality and a knack for destruction. He had a little tumor removed in August and it didn't slow him down for a minute. He follows Jack around all day and can't wait to be able to keep up with him. He loves to eat and he can climb just about anything.

I am still at home with the boys, which is my very favorite thing. I can't imagine a job that would be more fulfilling or more fun. I write for a blog once a week which is a great outlet for me. I am excited to be close to family again, but will miss all of the wonderful friends we made while in Virginia.

I love this season and am so grateful to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,
Jay, Lindsay, Jack and Luke

Battles and Birthdays

Remember how I have almost become a widow quite a few times? Well, just to keep me on my toes, Jay decided to have a scaffold fall on his head. Luckily he is fine, but he wanted to make sure that I shared his battle wound. It was a lot of blood. Even to me.


In happier news, Luke turned 1 this week! I can't believe how fast it went!! I also can't believe how much cake he ate. He isn't afraid to dig in :) I am sad that he almost isn't a baby anymore.

Gypsies

Surprise! We are moving! The time has come for us to say goodbye to the east coast. Jay is done with school on Dec. 15th and still hasn't found a job. Sad, we know. So, we are moving in with Jay's awesome parents who now reside in lovely Lehi, UT until he finds something. So, Utah friends, hold onto your knickers 'cause a party is coming to town! We are sad to leave our friends and our little life we have made here, but we are really excited to be near family, the mountains and decent hair stylists (ok, that last one is just mine).

Since we only have about 2 weeks left, we have been trying to see a few of our favorite places again. Jack and I went to Mt. Vernon on Saturday. Just the two of us. We had a great time and Jack said, "Mom, I sure like going on dates with you". He just melts my soul.



And, since I am an exceptional mother, Jack is wearing my gloves because I forgot his. Nice.


Here is Jack with Aladdin the camel. The sun was in his eyes and he uncovered them for just long enough for me to get a picture.


Jack and Luke have really started bonding. If you can call wrestling and fighting bonding :)


I have been packing, packing, packing. This means that the boys have ample time to get into things while I am not paying attention. Luke is a climber. He moved all of the things off the closet shelves so he could climb them and sit on them. He climbed up onto a packed box to get a better look at himself in the mirror. With a door stop in his mouth of course.



And just for fun, here is a picture of Luke and Jack in the same high chair close to the same age. (I think Jack was a few months older). They are finally starting to look different!! :)

The Nice List

Dear Santa,

I realize I am a bit early this year, but we are moving and I wanted to make sure I got my list out before I forgot.

I have been EXTRA good this year. I hardly ever lost my patience with my children. I never said a bad word (well, at least not any of the REALLY bad ones). I cleaned my house nearly each week. And I only let Jack watch 3 movies yesterday instead of letting him watch a 4th that we both really needed.

I realize my list is similar each year, but I think you might be confused as to exactly what I want. That is why this year, I am including pictures. I will do anything to make your life easier, Santa.


Give Mrs. Claus a hug and tell the elves that they are awesome!

Lots of love,

Linz

P.S. The puppy should count for a whole family gift. I promise to share him. Like I said, just trying to make your job easier!

Halloween Weight

Is it just me or does the food from about mid-September to Christmas just about top everything? Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, spice cake, Kit Kats, Twix, turkey, sugar cookies, ham, potatoes with cream cheese....you name it. Must be the cooler weather that makes me want to turn on my oven and cook. Unfortunately, my baby weight (which is still holding strong) has now been named Halloween weight (thank-you Jack for not noticing how much candy has actually been stolen from your plastic pumpkin). Next month it will be Thanksgiving weight. You get the idea. Oh well. I should just think of it as insulation for a long winter, right? :)

Jack wanted to carve "Jack Skellington" for his pumpkin. Jay did a great job. Very spooky.




Since my kids aren't old enough to think for themselves most of the time, I took the liberty of deciding our costumes. Jack thought it was a great idea. Luke didn't really care. And Jay knows better than to argue :)


Jack loved trick-or-treating. He asked to go again today. Poor kid.


Jack made a great Scarecrow. Thank you to my sisters for once again supplying my kid's costumes :)



Everyone keeps calling Luke a girl. I think Luke is really cute, but I really hope that if we ever have a little girl she looks like me.


Our very sweet neighbor gave Jack his Christmas present early. It is a remote controlled Jeep. The boys love it and I love it because it distracts them long enough for me to make food :)


And lastly, since I just can't get enough of my sweet little Luke.....