Merry, Crazy, Christmas!

So here is my Christmas post, and I am posting in reverse chronological because I have five minutes to post this and that's they way I uploaded the pictures. O'well, here it goes.

The day after Christmas we had the crazy idea of going to one of the Smithsonian Museums. (I don't know about you, but when people talked about the Smithsonian I always thought it was one giant museum. Well it's not it's like 13 giant museums) Anyway we chose the Natural History

museum, because that was one of the Girls' favorite back home. It was packed. I couldn't believe all the people.

Here we are at the Museum-

Since many of Scott's class mates are away from family this year we had everyone over at our house. It was a lot of fun, and I have to say the food was amazing. I haven't eaten like that in a while and I made myself sick.

The Spread

Christmas morning-Opening presents with Daddy
The Barbies they asked for
Christmas Eve-In front of the Christmas tree

(Sorry Mom, Adelle picked out the 1970's white Christmas tree, and since she has Daddy wrapped around her finger we sprang for the extra $10 and bought the six foot, white tree. I wanted the four foot green tree, but I was out voted)

Making Christmas Goodies-This was a two day process. Let's just say Gavin was done!
The spread

Hoping Mom will turn her back for one second

That's what it's about
Excited for Cookies
Happy Boy


There you have it our Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful one too!

Found his voice

Random Pictures

Temple from Freeway

Breakfast in bed

Cute kids

In from of the White House

DC Temple

Happy Birthday Adelle!

Daddy Pile

Playing siblings

Bonding with Dad

Handsome Gavin

Happy Gavin

hey this looks familiar. Merry Christmas!

You've GOT to be KIDDING ME!

Let me share with you all how RIDICULOUS this state is about certain things.

Scott and I were so excited to find that the DMV is open on Saturday. We could just go in and get our Maryland drivers license and there would be no stress, because Scott could go on his day off and I wouldn't have to go alone with three kids. Such was not the case!

Saturday- We went in at 10 a.m. and there was a line almost out the door to get a number and no where to sit. We get to the front of the line with kids saying how bored they are and wanting food. We go through our pile of papers and show them all of the needed paper work except a second proof of residency. Car insurance policy, no. If you have a cable bill that would work? What? My car insurance won't work, something I have to have, but my cable bill will work. (I don't have cable and even if I did I wouldn't have a bill for that yet I've lived here three weeks) Okay, what about car purchase paper work, got it. That will work. Yes!

Two hours later...

"Now serving #whatever" we venture to the counter together three kids in tow, and they can't help us simultaneously Scott has to go to a different counter clear across the room.

I sit down hand them my paperwork. The car paperwork will not work. Are you joking? Nope. They sent us away!!!! with a list of acceptable proof of residency.

Last night- We're going through all of our paperwork, what do we have other than our rent agreement for proof every residency. No bill yet, no car title (no license) nothing. We've got our checks maybe that will work, and I have a bill from BGE bingo. Well it's not really a bill it's a letter saying they want my money. That seems like a bill to me right? Wrong!!!!

This morning-I gather my three children, drop Adelle off to school and venture to Glen Burnie in hopes I will not go home empty handed. My license expires Saturday! Unload Lilly and Gavin and head yet again to the DMV (around here MVA) show the lady at the front desk my paperwork yet again I don't have an acceptable second proof of residency. Luckily the front desk lady is much more helpful, yet barely speaks English. This lady sends me to my bank, down the street, to get a bank statement printout. Wait in line another 10-15 minutes they can't do that at a teller. So I meet with a "Finance Specialist" (someone with more power I guess) and she can't print it at her desk she has to go to a...what...a teller. Okay I leave my bank praying that this will work. On the way Gavin's hungry so pit stop feeding, and on our way.

And the verdict is

It worked!! Hallelujah!!!

Welcome, again to Maryland! Gotta love it! I just hope everything works out for Scott when he goes to get his!

Welcome to Maryland!

I knew that moving to Maryland would be a culture shock, and this all came at not surprise, but I just have to share some of the crazy things that we have encounter since living here. First I must share this lovely picture.

Can anyone tell me what this is?

Anyone? Anyone? Here's a hint...

This Ladies and Gentlemen is a milk jug from Costco our here in good old Maryland. When I brought it home Scott thought that I had gone over-board with the mayonnaise .

A couple of other quirky things about this place. The first time we heard a siren we thought there was a cat dying somewhere. The largest most traveled freeway in the DC area is the 495 (many of you may already know) but it is as wide as I-15 in Salt Lake City! Hello, Salt Lake City is really small, and DC is Huge! Making traffic here a really bad word I don't want to say. (Luckily I don't have to go into Virginia for any reason, because when we were looking for a car for Scott we drove there a couple of times, yeah it took like an hour!)

Then this is one of my favorites. There is a highway here called the 32. If you Utahns can imagine Bangerter Highway with out lights. That's what I can compare it too. Speed limit 55mph or 60mph I can't remember. But guess what is on the highway? A Bike Lane!!! A bike lane! Let me tell you I'm going to be riding my bike in that bike lane. Not! I don't want to die!

What's this Lilly?

"Black Salt"

(After Dad's correction it's Pepper)

"Peppermint Salt"

Funny girl!

I'm back!

I have been MIA for the past couple of weeks because I haven't had internet, and I've been a little busy.

A lot has gone down since my last post. The biggest is that we are back together as a family. Yeah! Three months away from Scott was really hard, but we made it and I think we are all stronger as a family because of our separation.

Scott is back in the swing of training, and is doing great! He likes the commute from our house (it's only like 25 minutes, that probably won't last when he starts working in DC). He likes our house, but keeps telling me that maybe we don't need so much space, but I assure him daily that we do. (I think he will really appreciate it when he has to study.)

I've been really busy putting our 2100 square foot home together! This is the biggest place we've lived our whole marriage, and I'm really grateful for the space, and the garage, when we get all the empty boxes out! (Especially when it snows again.) Yes it has snowed already. I guess it is December. Since my life is settling I've been able to work out and because of my nazi husband about my eating I've lost 7lbs since just before I got here! Yeah!!! Pictures coming soon! (Of the house that is, not me.)

Adelle is enrolled in school and that has been an adventure. The school out here is full day Kindergarten, and they have uniforms, which I like, but Adelle struggled with having to tuck her shirts in, and wearing sneakers (she loves her crocs), we had two melt downs about this, but she's on a good schedule now, and we're not having any trouble. She also had her birthday on Saturday, and it

was a good one. Because of all the craziness I didn't get her a birthday present so we went to the store and spent like four hours picking out a toy. Being the cute girl she is she insisted on getting Lilly and

Gavin something too. So both girls got a doll, and Gavin got an outfit. We then went to the DC Temple to see the lights.

Lilly is being so good. Day after day she's being drug here and there and she is so good! She doesn't complain and most the time she just goes along with things, but sometimes she melts down, and at that point I wish that I could get her home for a nap right then and there, but there are always more places to go! She's such a trooper.

Gavin is so happy to have his Dad around. I can't believe how he hasn't been around his Dad for three months and yet he know who he is, and

knows that he is his playmate, and he is all smiles when dad's around (as long as mom is not too far away because I am the "food lady" and a boy can't be too far away from his food right?)

Needless to say it is so good to have my family back together.

New Moon!

Loved the movie! I wasn't as crazy this time around. I had Gavin with me, (I know I'm crazy, but I couldn't miss this) and my pregnant sister wasn't feeling well (she's the only person besides Scott that pulls out my crazy side) Not only that I was up half the night before with Adelle puking! (No swine flu though she's fine. Thank heaven)
Things I liked better-
Edward wasn't so depressing and awkward,
Victoria's hair
Hair and makeup in general! Everyone looked so much better!
Things I didn't like-
The Music (way better in the first)
There were quite a few shots that were dizzying
Okay and Kristen Stewart sleeps weird don't you think? (In both movies)
Overall I would have to say that Chris Weitz did a much better job at directing that Catherine Hardwicke. I liked the second movie so much better over all. I felt Chris captured more of Stephanie's vision. Well he captured more of my vision of what I thought the movies should be.

It's gone!

My Father in law just left with my van!

About a month ago Scott called me and told me that his employers had already bought his ticket to Maryland. So we were racking our brains as to what our plans should be. Should we fly Scott home and drive the van all together, have my dad and brother drive the van with the kids and I or have the kids and I fly out? then fly my dad and brother home? We were going for the first plan when Scott's dad called and volunteered to drive the van and then he could fly home for free because he is a veteran. We were so excited for this plan because a four day trip in the car with 3 children will now be a two hour SLC airport venture, a 4 hour flight to Maryland, and a three hour waiting for daddy's flight to come in at the Baltimore airport. 9-10 hours is better than four days don't you think.

Gavin's Stats

So I really don't have time to be doing this right now, but Gavin's three months and I haven't posted his Stats for his two month check so here they are:

Weight 12 lb 3 oz (75th percentile)

Length 23.5 in (75th percentile)

(He's now 14 lbs)

I love watching this little guy grow!

Adelle's First Day of School

I just realized that I didn't post Adelle's first day of school picture so here it is.

Who thought of year round school?

I really would like to kill them right now! I just get used to having my sweet, cute, very energetic Adelle in school and then they throw her back at me, mocking me, "you entertain her for 24 hours a day!"

To make matters worse we are at my sister's house (while she and her husband are on a cruise) with her wild, unpotty-trained dog, and loud, ornery bird! And it just got cold! The playground I see out the window laughs at me as the wind blows hard and I know the temperature is too cold for playing at a playground. (I just wish I had all of our coats and snow boots at this point.)

Not that I really have time to go to the playground. I wake up cook, clean up, homework, read, cook some more, naptime, etc. (I could go on and on, but I don't need to. Moms you know the drill).

I've also got projects coming out the wazoo! I'm out of here in 11 days! I cannot believe it. Three months are almost over and my new life in Maryland begins, and I don't know how to feel. Grateful to be in my own place, but sad to be away from family. Oh yeah and to have a husband again would be great!

Anyway there are the rantings of a mom who is pulling her hair out! Her kids are bouncing off the walls, she's leaving the only world she's known for almost 27 years in 11 days, and she's cleaning up poop after a stupid dog that refuses to go outside! (I swear he's ADD)

No Phone?

I had the pleasure of seeing my aunt Lynette tonight as she was at my parent's house to wish my mom a happy birthday. As the ladies were sitting around the table Lilly says to my aunt,

"I need to tell you something."

As our attention was turned to Lilly she relayed a story from this past summer. Scott, Adelle, and Lilly went to Lagoon with my brother and sister. (I was home very pregnant.) While at Lagoon my brother's cell phone fell to its death on the roller coaster "Wicked".

As Lilly was telling my aunt how Davy went on a ride and his phone was in his pocket, it fell out and broke, I asked her;

"Lilly, did you go on 'Wicked'?"

She then responded to me in a, "silly mommy", voice:

"No, I don't have a phone."

Happy Halloween!

All Things Scary at the Foutz House.
Monster Gavin


Grumpy Witch
Vampire Adelle

New House

After two days of searching high and low in Maryland for a house for my family I found one (for $1700 a month, welcome to the east coast)

Thanks again Lauren for your hospitality, and will have email for you all soon!