Finally Updating my Blog

Time to update way overdue! So its been about four months since I updated my blog. Not sure if anyone even reads it anymore, but I like to look back myself at my archives, so I am going to update what we've missed. Sorry for those that are still reading! : ) I will try and be better.

July 2010

Fourth of July

We watched the parade with the Nielsen Family and had a bouncy house/water slide for Connor's birthday at my mom's house. Xander had a blast!

Xander's First Haircut

He was such a big boy! He sat there the whole time. Granted he had a sucker in his hand to help him stay still, but I was amazed at 18 months, he could sit so still.

First Trip To Lagoon

On the 24th of July Xander got to go to Lagoon for the first time. He didn't smile, or wave or react while on the rides, but he was excited to get back on and cried when I tried to take him off. His favorite was the Train and seeing the animals. I so need to take him to the zoo.

August 2010

Dave's Knighting

August 8th, Dave was knighted as a Crown Knight in Amtgard. It takes close to ten years to become a knight. We (Xander and I) were very proud of Daddy! : )

September 2010

Xander's Big Boy Bed

I'd been looking at toddler beds for Xander for when he turned 2 and came across a steal at Sweet Pea Boutique and decided to go for it. So he got a big boy car bed. He has slept every night so far in his big boy bed without getting out of it at all. No problems and he loves it!

October 2010

Alan's Wedding

I flew to Texas the second weekend in October for my brother Alan's wedding. I didn't have my camera, but others took pics. I was only able to get this one picture off of Facebook so far, but as soon as I can get others I will post them.

Pumpkin Patch

Dave and I decided to take Xander to a Pumpkin Patch to pick out his own pumpkin. We came the week before Halloween, so there was slim pickings, but we were still able to find a good pumpkin. Janet Cook from the old 1st ward I used to be in owned the pumpkin patch and let us take Xander's picture by her house and on her wagon. Xander also loved her dog! : )

Halloween

This year we went to Grandma Nielsen's house for Halloween and got pictures taken. Then we went Trick-or-Treating from there. He could only do a few houses, but he caught on quick and was running to the next house. He also thought Grandma's doorbell was fun. : )

Xander Update June 2010

I was just thinking that I haven't really posted much about how Xander is doing and what he is learning, so here is an update on the Xander boy!

Age: 17 months

Weight: 23.2 lbs (and boy does he feel it)

Newest words: Puppy, nose, remote.

Favorite Foods: Bananas, Strawberries, and Hot Dogs.

Body parts he's learned: Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, Hair, Teeth, Feet, Hands, Neck and Elbows. Still working on shoulders, knees, fingers, toes and tongue.

Favorite Toys: his play piano, his play lawnmower, his train, and carrying around a bag full of stuff, to dump out and fill again.

Colors: still working on those.

Animals he knows: Horse, Cow, Duck, Dog, Cat, Sheep.

Cute things he does: he loves to take baby wipes and wipe down EVERYTHING. He will do it for 30 minutes straight. Just cleaning stuff. He is getting pretty good at it, too! Another really cute thing he does is putting his hands over his mouth when he laughs. Here is a video I caught of him doing just that:

He also loves water. Slashing in puddles is the best! And one last thing he loves is sitting on the counter while I do his hair and brush his teeth. He loves playing up there. Not that there is anything that fun up there, but he loves it!

Lippy Words he uses on me: Don't, No (both while pointing or stomping)

But he also loves to give hugs and kisses too, so it all evens out. He is a happy growing boy and is a ton of fun right now. Everyday he is learning and doing something new. We love our little Xander boy!

Salt Wars VII

May 20th-23rd was the Annual Salt Wars event at Castle Park in Provo. It was a great time and we got some exciting news. (I meant to post this sooner, so sorry for the late notice) It was announced that Dave would be knighted August 6th. We are so excited! It has taken Dave 8 years to get the highest honor of the game. Here is a picture of the announcement.

It was three fun days of fighting, friends and food. Of course I have my ladies.

This is my Whiskey and my Dea. Whiskey is one of my Lady Daggers and Dea is my Woman-At-Arms and one of the newest members of the Lady Daggers. Woot!! She didn't have a title, but was given one at this event, so as soon as court was over, BAM, she became one. Here is the happy, smiley, newly made Lady Dagger showing off her belt favor!

Ember also got a title this weekend and we held an emergency Lady Dagger meeting and we made her a Lady Dagger also. So we now have 5 members!! It was the household I started and I am so happy where it has ended up today.

I got to play in a few of the battle games, here I am in my healer garb with my new Hakama pants I made and my new Fitz Guard Tunic. I love my Hakamas they are nice flowey pants that are so comfortable.

At court I was one of the lucky winners of the "Sultan's Touch". We got to sit on these comfy pillows with blankets with a front row seat for court. It was awesome. Here are Roisin and I. We both won and she is another one of my Lady Daggers.

Another part of winning was getting fanned by Whiskey, the Ambiance-O-Crat.

The other cool thing about Salt Wars this year, was I was able to wear my Birthday Present for the first time. Dave finished my belt just in time for the event. I have been waiting with anticipation and finally I got to wear it. He did such a great job on it! I LOVE IT!!

The detail is amazing. It is made of leather and he did all the embossing and painting by hand.

One of the fun things we did at Salt Wars was the Tattoos. I bought a package of fake tattoos and we were on a mission to see just how many people would let us put a tattoo on them. We did pretty good, if I say so myself. Here are my two tattoos.

You can also see my braided hair here. I paid a lovely African lady in Tooele to braid it for me, and she did an excellent job. It took four hours sitting in a chair to put them in. They lasted for a week. And then it took two hours to take them out, but check out my neat hair with the wave in it. I loved it, but had to wash it because I had gone a week without washing my hair. I might invest in a crimper. Do they still make those?

It was a fun time, but I missed my little guy. Xander didn't come, I was too worried how he is mobile but not real steady and there are a lot of hills, rocks, stone, and water for him to hurt himself on. Not to mention the fighting that is constantly going on. I think next year he will be ready to come with me. He stayed with his Aunt Jen and apparently had so much fun he didn't want her to leave when she dropped him off.

Mother's Day Photos

Back in April Melissa and I had pictures taken of Cameron and Xander together, and I didn't want to post any until after we gave out the pictures for Mother's Day, so it would be a surprise. But here are a few of the cute poses.

Dea's Sexy Belt

In Amtgard I finally took a Woman At Arms. And part of asking someone to be your Woman At Arms is making them a belt that is silver and black for them to wear. So I HAD to make her a belt. It was my first attempt at belt making. I took a belt blank, and tooled the design on it, hand painted the front, dyed the back and then attached the loop. I also applied leather sheen on it as well as beveling the edges and using a slicker. I was pretty happy. It took WAY longer than I thought it would. But here are some pictures of the process and the final product on Dea. What a cutie she is! I have to say it turned out really well.

The Eye - War Wound

My sister asked me to post pictures of my eye. I am sorry they are so grotesque. But this is it. I got hit in the eye playing Amtgard over the weekend. In four years, one injury, pretty good. And I do get out and fight every week. It was just a heavier weapon with no give and a big guy wielding it. He felt so bad, and apologized profusely. It was a complete accident and something I realize can happen every time I take the field. Luckily nothing is broken. Yes, I had X-Rays on Monday, and will go to the Opthamalogist on Friday. Let the healing begin!!

This first one is from Monday.

And this second one is from last night, much improved if you ask me.