Christmas Project

I learned a new skill this Christmas. I've been wanting to learn how to make Christmas stockings for a while but my mom has always done ours. I had the opportunity this year to make them for our fabulous friends, the McNinchs. So complements of Kristen McNinch I have awesome photos of them :) I got them done in the "St. Nick of Time" as Kristen said. They arrived two days before Christmas.





I let Kristen and Sofie choose which one they wanted from the two I made. This is the one Kristen chose.


This is Sofie's.


Jason wanted an all white stocking but I told him it would be boring. I thought this might look better. And lucky for me, he loves it!



So what do you think? Do you think I could make a business out of it?

I'm so glad the McNinch Family liked their Christmas present from us. It was definitely from all of us. I did the work but Dan and Orson let me sit and crochet until they were done. :) Thanks boys!

New Name

I've decided to have a new name for my blog.

Babe in Boyland was a play off of Babes in Toyland... a movie I used to watch when I was little. I thought it fitting. I'm a girl in the middle of 5 boys in my family, I also only had boy cousins my age and now I have a husband, a son , and Oscar, our dog.

BUT...

I've been thinking a lot about what Dan and I have been going through since we got married back in 2007. We've been pummeled with trials and down right ridiculous things and all I can say to anyone now is "we're just trucking along."

So, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." And we're professional lemonade makers! :)

Christmas Eve Party Hat

On Christmas Eve Orson started to do something new and funny. On our routine bath he put his green bucket on his head and wore it as a hat for almost his whole bath. It was so funny I had to take a picture.

Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas

We read I Believe in Santa Claus almost every night this December (mostly because Orson insisted he wanted it read to him). If you haven't read it, you should it's a great way to combine the real spirit of Christmas and kids believing in Santa all in one book. We found out that Orson loves Santa Claus and we thought we would give him the chance this Christmas to sit on Santa's lap. I was thinking we would need to go to a mall and stand in a long line and all that jazz but we got lucky.

At The Orchard we were going to get a treat from Red Mango and as we were coming out we saw Santa Claus. Orson was so excited! Santa was just walking around The Orchard and talking to kids. Orson ran right up to him and this wonderful man scooped him up and sat on the nearest bench to talk to him. Well, that did it. Orson wanted to see Santa again and would say "Claus" every time we were even close to The Orchard. I also wanted better pictures because the first one we took was with Dan's phone and it was nighttime. Not the best combo.

He was such a great Santa. Super nice, real beard, he even curled the sides of his beard and had glitter all over. Magical :)




Thank you Santa Claus for giving Orson a person to believe in :)

Giving Thanks Vacation Part 3

While we were in UT we went to the Temple Square lights in SLC. Little did we know that everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) had the same idea as we did. It took us over an hour to find parking. It was nice to see all the beautiful lights and nativities Temple Square had there. BUT... it was so cold! I don't know what it is about cold with me now. You would think after growing up in Montana I could handle cold but ever since Orson was born (and after living in Florida for a year) I am a major pansy in cold weather. It was frigid and Orson would not keep his mittens on or his blanket so we had to improvise. Thank you Jason and Kristen for taking pictures! I was too cold to get my camera out.

Family photo in front of the temple

McNinch family at the lights


I really miss the D.I. Things just aren't the same in Colorado. We were able to get great toys for Orson and Dan found a portable DVD player for $5 in perfect working condition. Steal of a deal! Great job babe.
Orson and Sofie playing in a car... they look so adorable.


When we left, Orson had picked out a toy drill and Sofie had picked out a cell phone. I thought it was funny how they picked out something so boyish and something so girly.

We also had a photoshoot right before we left with Sofie and Orson in their Halloween costumes. Kristen and I wanted to document that we #1 made our kid's costumes, and #2 that they matched and we didn't plan it at all.

So we have Peter Pan and Tinkerbell


I don't know what they're looking at but I thought it was cute that they were both looking down.



Kristen and Jason, thank you so much for inviting us for the holiday and putting up with us while we were there :) We are so thankful for the friendship that we share!

Also, Kevin and Jessica. We were so glad we got to see you even if it was only for a little while. Dan had a lot of fun with you the day after Thanksgiving! We love you guys!

Giving Thanks Vacation Part 2

Happy Thanksgiving!




After a late night of prep and crafties (see above), Thanksgiving came in great spirits! Kristen made a delicious turkey, among other thanksgiving delights. The kids were being so good playing outside and letting the grown ups get everything ready.


Orson petting the dog nicely after telling him he needed to be nice to Oscar.

Look at those smiles! What cute kids we have!

Kristen and Dan working on the feast.

After all that playing outside, Orson and Sofie took a nap. Which left Kristen and me time to REALLY enjoy a peaceful Thanksgiving dinner. Look at this amazing feast! Kristen the food was delicious and Dan and I were grateful we got to spend time with you and Jason for the holiday!

One of the quirks I have (that I think I picked up from Denein and her scrapbooking) is to take a picture of the holiday food plate. Don't all of these yummies look good?

Everyone sitting down ready to eat. Left to right: Jake (Jason's brother), Kelsey (Jake's gf now fiance), Dan, Jason, Me

"And they'll feast, and they'll feast feast feast feast!"

So everyone was done eating and I still had food on my plate. This is me showing that I had food left because everyone was teasing me. Let me remind everyone of my previous post... I had food poisoning and therefore my stomach must have shrunk. My brothers would be so appalled that I, a Bloxham, didn't finish my Thanksgiving dinner but I really was full! My stomach really did shrink... last thing I'm gonna say.

Sofie feasting on dessert

Orson feasting as well



Snuggling up with Sofie... I love these pictures! Thanks Kristen




So Thanksgiving was a success and we had tons of fun spending time together since we don't get to see each other often. Great day!

Giving Thanks Vacation Part 1

For Thanksgiving 2011 we were able to spend it with the McNinchs. We were SO excited when they asked us to spend Thanksgiving with them.

It started out kind of rocky. We found out it was going to snow in the mountains on the morning we planned to leave so we left for Grand Junction at about 9:30 PM and stayed at my sister Denein's so we would beat the weather. We were able to see some family before leaving for Utah.

Here are my guys sleeping in the car on the way there. They look so much alike. :) Oscar was on the other side of Orson.



We were so relieved when we got to Jason and Kristen's house. Dan wasn't feeling well and we were ready to be out of the car.

Here are our kiddos taking a bath.




I love Sofie's cheesy smile in this picture.


Dan had been taking a nap when Jason got home and after we ate dinner I started feeling pretty horrible. Dan and I got food poisoning before we left. We found out that all of Dan's family got really sick too except Orson and Zander who didn't eat the meatloaf. It was awful!!! I'd never had food poisoning so bad before and it was not how I wanted to spend our vacation.

The next morning Dan and I slept in as much as we could so thankfully Kristen was able to take Orson while we slept. He seemed to have a good time though.

Sitting in bed watching cartoons




Orson and Sofie got along so well and played together all week.


We also watched lots of movies... (mostly because a lot of the week was a sick week, I think Jason and Orson were the only ones who didn't get sick) thankfully our kids will sit through a whole movie.
Orson, Kristen and Sofie chillin on the couch with a good flick. (Finding Nemo, Kung Fu Panda or How to Train Your Dragon were the three favorites)

While Kristen wasn't feeling well, we got to spend some time with Sofie :) Dan is showing Sofie some of Orson's favorite songs on YouTube.


Jason and Orson got to play a lot too :)