Christmas Eve

For us, Christmastime is about traditions and family. Now that we have started our own family, Brian and I have decided to start some traditions of our own in addition to the ones we want to keep from our childhood. One of those traditions we want to start is a formal Christmas Eve dinner that has symbolic meaning of Christ's birth.


This year, we hosted a few members of Brian's family. It was a spectacular event that took many days to plan, all day to prepare, a few hours to eat, and an hour to clean up after! It was a beautiful evening.

The 6 course menu included all extremely tasty homemade food. We had an Hors-D’ Oeuvre (Italian Artichoke Bruschetta), Soup (Potato Bisque), Salad (Star of Bethlehem Salad), Sorbet (Zesty Lemon Sorbet), Roasted Prim Rib and Asparagus Spears in bacon & a red fonesca port wine reduction sauce, and topped it all with Dessert (Christmas Bread Pudding)





Brian makes quite the chef! I wouldn't help him do this if it wasn't for his desire to cook and eat good food!

We enjoyed great company while talking about Christmas memories.

We finished the night by opening our Christmas pajamas for Christmas morning...Zoey had already gone to bed, so Jackson helped by opening her present...and we dressed her up later.

Family Photos

Having a good camera makes all the difference! Our good friend Ben came to take family pictures of us on Sunday while we were all dressed in our best. It was Zoey's first appearance at church (we only stayed for Sacrament Meeting because I still worry about her catching something).

These are just a few random pics he took in between family shots. Jackson had the attention span of only a few minutes, so we were luck to get what we could! We kept telling him to say "cheese," which he would, but not while looking at the camera! Then we would tell him to say "cheese" at Ben, meaning for him to look at Ben while saying cheese. So he said, "Cheese....and Ben" (still not looking at the camera)...It was pretty funny.

We're glad Ben could come take the pictures for us....keep an eye out for ones like these on our Christmas Card!

Jack saying "Cheese!". Look at all of his teeth!

Getting to Know You...Christmas Edition

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends....I tag anyone who is interested in getting in on the fun...Tis the Season to be jolly!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I like the paper to match the color scheme of my tree

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. I like tradition- and the smell. Although I do see the benefits of an artificial one- no more taking lights off a dead tree or finding a place to dump it sounds nice.

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. I can't stand the dead tree anymore by then.

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? We had a lot of fun Christmases. But I think my pink Barbie House made by my grandpa is one of them.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Brian

8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...I love to make my own and I love getting a cards in the mail too

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not telling

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone

13. When do you start shopping? After Thanksgiving, but not on Black Friday...I try to avoid the crowds like the plague.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Maybe a white elephant gift

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade yummies

16. Lights on the tree? definitely

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. The words are beautiful

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at Home- cozy fire, hot chocolate, Christmas music...yum! Way better than crowded airports or long car rides!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Nope, but I'm sure I'll learn when I teach Jack the song

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, but Brian likes a Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? P.j's on the 24th, everything else on Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowds, traffic

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I decorate my tree in red and white ornaments. I love my ornaments!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Asparagus and hollandaise sauce

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Clothes...I need some fashion in my life!

Zoey Lynn

It's been almost 2 weeks. I can't believe it. I don't have nearly the pictures of her as I have of Jackson at this age. I'm already getting behind! Her umbilical cord just came off today and I'm feeling that "newborness" already start to leave! They grow so fast. Brian is the best dad ever and he is such a help. I cried when he went back to work, the thought of being home alone with the two was a bit overwhelming!



Although these past few weeks have been, and continue to be, a transitional time for all of us, I have had so much help from family and friends that I don't think I could have survived emotionally without. It's funny how a small, sleepy baby can throw a huge curve in life's routine, but we love her and are grateful to have her in our family. Jackson has had a lot of attention from visitors and that has helped in the transition.

He really loves her and wants to kiss and hold her all of the time, he just doesn't know how to be gentle about it. Zoey has already been carried upside down, fallen on, and hit on the head a few times...she'll grow to be a tough girl with Jackson around! I just can't keep him away from her. I watch her like a hawk and unless she locked up in her room while sleeping, he doesn't get out of my sight either!

Zoey is an Angel. She's a great sleeper. We hardly see her eyes open. She doesn't like a binky, but hardly needs it. She calms quickly, and only cries if Jackson is too rough or if she's too cold, but when she cries, she has a nice pair of lungs to let us know she's not happy! She has feminine ways already, the way she eats and cries. I can just tell she's totally different from my boy! I love it...a girly girl and manly boy. What more could I ask for?

She's Here!!!

Zoey Lynn Beutler was born November 21st at 12:40 p.m. She was 6 lbs. 13 oz. and 18 inches long. I can't get over how tiny she is! We are so grateful everything went well! I was prepping Brian to be prepared at how different she would look from Jackson, only I was the one who was surprised when I first saw her....it was like looking at his twin! There are definitely some dominate traits that keep popping up in our kids, but anyone can see that she belongs to us! Here is our "before" picture (notice the smile...that wouldn't stay there during labor)!

It's amazing how love grows... I worried about dividing it between Brian, Jackson and Zoey... But if anything is getting divided right now, it's only the time to spend with each one. The love is so strongly there for each one individually! Nothing is shared, or taken away, it only grows stronger. We are just adding it to our family one bundle at a time! That must be where the saying "bundle of love" comes from.....

Our new family of four! I still can't believe she is no longer inside of me. Now the test begins of how well I can manage motherhood while doing night duty AND taking care of a toddler while Brian is gone at work. We are so grateful for all the help from family that we have received. We need a few days of catching up on our sleep after coming home from the hospital. I don't know how anyone could get enough sleep there!

Jackson welcomes a sister! He loves her, for now.... he has no idea she is coming home with us! At the hospital all he wanted to do was kiss her and hold her. It was so cute.

Brian gave Zoey a Mohawk at her first bath....he couldn't resist. At least he put a pink bow on her! I'll have to train him in the ways of "girly-ness."

Going home! Everything swallows her up. I was so excited to get her all dressed up in pink. It's fun to have a girl. She is pretty mellow and sleepy for now. Just what we need to get used to all the changes!

For those of you who don't want to hear about the labor and delivery, I'm just warning you now to stop reading here!

Tuesday, I had a Dr. appointment. I was dilated to almost a 4 and about 60% effaced. I had been there for about 3 weeks. He stripped my membranes at that appointment, hoping it would help bring on contractions (it's what worked with Jackson!), which it did, but they were so minor and far between that I didn't get checked into the hospital until Friday morning around 7:30 a.m.

We got checked in and put on the monitor. My Dr. was there, so he tried to break my water, but Zoey's head was so close to the membrane that he couldn't get it to break (Zoey's head was a little scratched up from his efforts, but she's all better now)! My contractions were about 3 to 5 minutes apart, but I was totally comfortable...nothing I couldn't breath through. I even tried to read a book and nap.

By 11:30, the nurse checked me and I had dilated to a 6. At this point she decided to put an internal monitor on Zoey, and in doing so, it created a hole in the bag of water, so by my next contraction, it broke the water for me. The intention was that this would increase the intensity of the contractions and speed things up. I was joking with her before saying, "let's get this thing going!" The contractions came so fast and so strong immediately after the water broke, that I asked for the epidural. The anesthesiologists couldn't make it to my room on time. Within 20 minutes I had gone from a 6 to complete. I was in the most pain I have ever felt in my entire life. I wasn't prepared to handle it. I tried hard to breath through as much as I could, but the contractions were just too close together that I couldn't regain composure and prep myself for the next round. I remember thinking "make it stop, make it stop," a totally different view than I had shared with the nurse so jokingly only 20 minutes before! As the anaesthesiologist walked in, I was telling the nurses I had to push. At this point, nobody knew how quick I had progressed! I couldn't even believe it. He quickly gave me a high and quick acting epidural, but it only worked enough to keep my legs nice and numb after everything was over! My Dr. didn't even get to the hospital in time...oh well! We will know for next time! I'm just glad it was quick, and she was tiny. I'm also glad that everything went as well as it did.

Baby Shower!

I have to say there is a pretty amazing group of sisters in my new ward! In addition to welcoming me with open arms in many ways, last night, they threw a baby shower for me for friends and family and ward members. It was more than I expected! I feel totally overwhelmed at the support I received from women I hardly knew, and those I didn't know at all! I was completely "showered" with well wishes and congratulations and generous gifts for the upcoming arrival of our first girl.

Knowing this will be my last baby shower, I feel so thankful for those who came to show support and excitement for me. This pregnancy has been harder than the last one, and a little evening of celebration over our anticipated arrival was just what I needed! I can't say "Thank you" enough! I'm excited and ready as ever!

p.s. Thanks Gray family for the blessing dress!

Lights Out!

Wednesday night, the power went out at our house for several hours. I remember as a child growing up in Texas, we would have these torrential rain storms that would sometimes cause the power to go out at school. We would all cheer when this would happen...we loved it!

After Jackson started showing frustration when he kept bumping his head on things, I decided to start making it a little fun. We gathered all our candles around the house and lit them. Jackson is fascinated by fire (watch out!) and liked watching the flames flicker. I think he had more fun blowing the candles out then lighting them .

When Brian came home from work, he had the great idea of playing hide and seek in the dark! The catch was, the person hiding had to hide with Jackson. It was easy at first because Jackson had a hard time staying quiet, but towards the end, he caught on to the idea and we actually had to seek for one another. It was a blast! Brian always amazes me at how great of a dad he is!! This game was a hit!

While I taught yoga, Brian bathed Jackson in the dark with some of those florescent bracelets we had left over from Halloween. One of them broke and splattered all over the bathroom walls...but Jackson loved it! I'm glad he was able to turn the "lights out" experience into something fun for him. I'd like him to have fun memories like I did when I was a child.

Little Builder

I have always wondered why Brian can spend so much time at Home Depot. It may be along the same lines as him wondering how I can flip through a Stampin' Up! catalogue a million times.

This was one of those Saturdays where Brian had a checklist of things to pick up at Home Depot so that he could get some things fixed around the house. He took Jackson with him so that I could do some Saturday deep cleaning without "help".

Hours later, I was wondering where they were (but glad I could get so much done while they were away)! When they finally came home, Jackson was sporting a Home Depot Apron and had a leaf press in hand that they had built together! So cute!

Later, they raked leaves in the yard together and played in the big pile (saving a few to press). Fun fall day for Brian and Jackson!

Just a cute Pic

We went fishing with Brian the other weekend and Jackson had a blast throwing rocks in the river. It may have contributed to Brian's lack of catching any fish that day, but we still had fun!

Shout out to my Yogis!

Next week is the last week of the 12 week yoga course I've been teaching. I have to give them each a "high-five" for their efforts! I have to say I'm totally impressed! Way to go for sticking it out, trying new things, and working your butts off....literally! I am totally impressed with the growth I've seen in each of you from week to week.

It hasn't been easy. The first week of class, they called me crazy when I asked them to contort their bodies in a way they weren't used to. I got all kinds of looks from their eyes saying "you want me to do what?!?" It has been fun to the the shock and surprise in their eyes as they realized they could do it! I hope they feel stronger, healthier, more limber, and more open to trying new things!

Last week in my vinyasa class, I showed them one of my favorite poses...crazy eight (not easy when your weeks away from giving birth)! I'm so impressed with everyone who gave it a try. My restorative class has been fun and relaxing. It has been a real treat to teach each one!

Hope I see you in the future! Next round of classes coming soon...