Family Milestones

It's been over a month since I've posted anything on the family blog. I wish I had some good excuses as to why...but I just don't. I've been a slacker.

First off we celebrated Halloween...BOO! After many hours and failed attempts I finally finished Noah's costume the morning of Halloween. If you've spent any time with him at all you'd know that he is OBSESSED with phones. We thought one of the best ways to remember this stage in his develpment was to make him into one of his favorite items.

We went Trick-O-Treating with our dear friends the Claysons. Chloe walked and the boys hung out in the wagon. The only way we kept them sitting was giving them Smarties every few minutes. It was a blast!

As for the family milestones...Scott and I are now official adults! We hosted out first Thanksgiving at our home. It was wonderful to have the entire family together for this blessed holiday. I was thrilled that I didn't mess anything up and that the stuffing I made at least resembled my mom's.

Concerning Noah's newest milestone the pictures speak for themselves.

So much for getting a few more minutes at the end of his nap while he talks and sings in his crib.

One other funny photo. Noah's grown bored of riding Mater

himself so he's sharing with Daddy. What a sweet boy!

Feeling the Guilt!

So, I never do these and everyone knows it. Thanks to my fantastic friend Theresa she listed me as one of the most likely to respond. As many of you know, I just hate letting people down so "T" this is for you.

1. Where is your cell phone? who cares (I know, I know, it's two words)

2. Where is your significant other? work

3. Your hair color? red

4. Your mother? fantastic

5. Your father? reliable

6. Your favorite thing? salvation

7. Your dream last night? forgotten

8. Your dream/goal? Heaven

9. The room your in? cluttered

10. Your hobby? scrap booking

11. Your fear? damnation

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home

13. Where were you last night? home

14. What you're not? empathetic

15. One of your wish list items? I-Pod

16. Where you grew up? Reno

17. The last thing you did? Scrapbook

18. What you are wearing? skirt

19. Your TV? obnoxious

20. Your pet? dogs

21. Your computer? frustrating

22. Your mood? good

23. Missing someone? no

24. Your car? Mommy Van

25. Something you're not wearing? watch

26. Favorite store? Target

27. Your summer? quick

28. Love someone? Hubby

29. Your favorite color? red

30. Last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? Yesterday

The seven people that I am nominating for this "award" are below. Complete the questionnaire in one word answers and forward on to seven more (or however many) people. It is quite fun and more difficult than you think. Have fun!

Not laying on the guilty, participate...or not. :-)

An Apple a Day

We went on our annual Apple Hill trip last weekend. I just loved looking at these two pictures and seeing how much Noah changed this last year. My, how the times flies!

One of the orchards we visit is called "High Hill" and they have a pond that people can fish out of. We've never participated but Vada McClelland and Bethany Snyder decided to fish this year. It was hilarious watching all the "city slickers" allowing their children to fish, and then the shock of horror on the parents faces when they realized that they would actually have to touch the fish, take the hook out, and all that goes along with fishing. It was GREAT!

This pumpkin weighed in at 1153 pounds!

Noah and his girls (Vada McClelland and Bethany Snyder)

listening to Blue Grass music at Kids Inc.

Came Summer..,Come Winter

Our talented friend and fellow Christian Brandon Price (www.frombrandon.com) shot this fantastic picture of Noah up at Lake Tahoe this summer during Tahoe Family Encampment. He sent it to me this morning and I just had to share it. He puts my feeble attempts at photography to shame. Make sure to check out his website.

So, yesterday we got our first snow! Whoooopeeeee! It was so exciting to watch it come down and it sure did dump for a October storm. The snow didn't last but we took advantage while we could and played a bit outside. Noah wasn't thrilled with the cold snow it his hands but he'll get over it.

Outside our house.

At my Grandmother's house. I realized that I have very few photos of myself on the blog because I'm usually behind the camera. Thanks GG for the help.

Summer Wrap Up

Now that it's officially fall we've been kicking our outdoor enjoyment into full gear. Scott and I had been trying to get away all summer and go camping...just the two of us. We finally made the time last weekend. We went down to the Carson River for two days. We fished, cooked yummy food, and played A LOT of Scrabble. I'm sure Scott will want a rematch soon because I kicked his butt! We had a blast!

Noah staying with PaPa and NawNaw (my parents) for the weekend. On Friday Mom made an entire dinner out on the campfire at their house. If you've never had some of her dutch oven cookin' you need to invite yourself over.

First piano lessons with Naw Naw.

We went to a GREAT park next to our friends house yesterday. He's getting so grown up!

"Sus Men"

It's been awhile since I've sat down and blogged about this blessed Boutcher life. Life has been full with spending time outside in the dwindling summer days. It's a bit sad to see our nice weather coming to an end but the crispness in the morning air reminds us that skiing isn't far around the corner.

We've been leading a marriage class at our home the last few months called "Homes of Honor" on Friday nights. It's been a great learning experience for us to study more of how God wants us to lead and guide our family and marriage. This Friday will be our last class. Although we're sad to see it come to an end it will be nice to have our Friday evenings free again. Lord willing we will start another class after the New Year.

Noah's starting to talk a bunch! Everyday he picks up more and more words. It's a blast to tell him to say the hardest words we can think of...and he tries them. Our favs are aluminum and rhinoceros. The other day he was sitting on our bed while I was putting away clothes. He bowed his head, closed his eyes and said "Sus Men" translated "Jesus Amen". It was adorable!

Just a few cute pictures to share from the last couple weeks.

He's learned about the pleasure of drinking his cereal milk in the morning.

He gets more of a milk beard than a milk mustache.

Dipping french fries (including face) into ketchup.

A long day.


WWF Boutcher Style.

Helping Daddy drive and fix Uncle Jeremiah's truck.

Future Olympian...Watch out Lance!

My Grandmother (GG) bought Noah an amazing tricycle a couple weeks back. We finally fitted it for Noah (i.e. adding 2x4 blocks with duck tape to the petals). We took him out last night for his first official ride on his big boy bike.

For those of you who haven't been to our house...no we're not letting our 1-1/2 year old ride his bike in the middle of the street. We have a dead end street on the side of the house.