Go Aggies, Go Aggies! Hey, Hey, Hey!!!

As we all know, WE ARE AGGIES at the Fullmer house. We wear blue, we bleed blue.
This weekend we got to cheer at not just one, but two Aggie events.

Friday night was the inter-squad meet. Tom treats a couple of the team members, so we decided to go and support them. It was pretty informal, it was actually held in their work out gym; but there was a good crowd that showed up, and WOW it was fun! After watching the first routine my boys were hooked, and in between events they would have crowd completions. Both Owen and Tom competed in hand stand challenges. After the meet was over, they handed out team posters, which my boys had all the ladies sign, and then they let the kids play in the gym. This was definitely my boys favorite part. The walked on the beams, and rolled on the mats. But their favorite, by far, was jumping into the foam pits. It was nearly impossible to get them to leave. In fact I got Tal's shoes and coat on him, and turn to help Owen with his coat, and the next thing I know Tal had ran across the gym, and jumped back into the pit still wearing his shoes and coat. Yeah, I think I might just need to get him into a tumbling class.

Last night we got to go to the Basket ball game. I love Aggie basketball! There is nothing like the SPECTRUM, the fans are crazy, the team is awesome, the crowd is loud, and the seats are orange. how could you not have a good time? Not to mention that the majority if mine and Tom's courtship happened in the Spectrum, so going to the games always gets me reminiscing.
The boys LOVED the game. I fully expected them to be ready to leave after the first half, but they lasted the entire game. We got to see USU completely trample Western Oregon, and we had the privilege of being part of the crowd that welcomed Danny back (sad story, one of the team members heart randomly stopped earlier this week, and he was in the hospital for 5 days). I really loved watching the crowds reaction when he walked out on the court (don't worry he did not play). Aggie fans may be ruthless to the competition, but the sure did rally around Danny. It was awesome.

Our great Christmas Tree Adveture

While living in Portland we got hooked on the tradition of cutting down our Christmas Tree. Since we moved back to Cache Valley, we have been getting a permit to cut a tree in the forest, which is always fun, but a bit cold for little kids. So when we learned that there was a U-cut tree farm in Far West, we decided to return to the original form of our tree tradition.
The boys thought it was great searching the farm for the perfect tree. And they especially thought it was cool that we got to cut down the tree.

This tree farm just so happens to be a couple of miles from Smith and Edwards Country Store, which Tom had never been to. The store is quite an experience in and of itself... Cowboy stuff, dollar store stuff, outdoor gear, army surplus, it is amazing; if you've never been, you should go. Although a visit to Smith & Edwards is not typically part of our Christmas Tree tradition, we could not pass up the opportunity to climb into a retired tank. Yep I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed the store.

Part of our tree retrial has always been to go get burgers after we get the tree. When we lived in Portland we always went to Calamity Janes, in Sandy, which is pretty close to a ton of tree farms, and also happens to be the worlds best burger joint. Convenient! Sadly, there is no Calamity Janes within 700 miles of us these days, so we had to settle for another hole-in-the-wall greasy-spoon. The restaurant itself was mediocre, but the rebirth of this favorite tradition was great!

Lesson learned

I learned a good lesson this morning. Here it is:

After cutting the kids and hubby's hair, PUT AWAY THE CLIPPERS AND SCISSORS, IMMEDIATELY!

Or else, you two-year-old may get the notion to "fix" his bangs, and end up looking like this:

Happy Birthday Macky-Mac

Yep, today is my little Maxwell's birthday. It is crazy how quickly a year goes by. Especially the first year of life. He has gone from this little lump of a baby to nearly walking, and getting into everything.

I think Mac had a good first birthday. Owen and Tal helped me make a monster cake, and help Tom put together Max's birthday present.

Grandma and Grandpa decided this morning to drive up and visit for the day. When they decided to come, my sister and her family desided to tag along. Because they came, my little brother Cuyler, who lives in Logan desided to drop in. Tom's parents also came over, so we had a very impromptu birthday party. It was so much fun. I am sorry that I did not get the word out to more people, I would hate for anyone to feel left out.

Here are some fun pictures from the day:

Our first Aggie Outing

A couple of weeks ago was USU's Homecoming. Due to our student government and spirit squad involvement we land enough free tickets for us all to go!

This was my boys first football game ever, and they were so excited to go. It happened to be a white out game, so we dawned all the white Aggie gear we could find and were off to the game!

Although I was the first Aggie in the family, I am proud to say that two of my dear brothers have followed suite. And we all happen to be at the game. Who knows the next time this might happen, so I has to take a picture.

Maxwell mad friends with the people in front of us, and insisted on sitting on their laps for most of the first half of the game.

This is then vantage point my brother had of the game.

That is the marching band during half time. Don't they look good? No really, I am particularly proud of how they look. Their uniforms are about 6 years old. While I was serving in ASUSU, I was able to help secure funding for those fancy threads, and boy, let me tell you it was a lot of work. But they look good now.

Bythe way, AGGIES WON!!!!  This year is shaping up quite nicely.

GO AGGIES!!!!

Making bats.

Today we decided to make some bats to decorate the front porch for Halloween.

I found totally copied the idea from Martha Stewart. Here is the link.

I cut out the bats from card stock, put my boys in art smocks, gave them paint and brushes, and let them go to town painting their bats.

Now, typically, when my kids have wet paint with in the tips of their fingers, I I believe in strict supervision. However, today my work phone rang right as they start to paint, and well, it is not the most professional thing to have the sweet noise of children in the background of a business call, so I stepped into the other room.

Not sure if that was the best judgement call, because this is what I found when I came back into the room.

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today is Talk Like A Pirate Day. This is one of those little-known-holidays that my mother has always celebrate, so naturally, I too celebrate it with my family.

Beyond talking and dressing like a pirate, it is great fun to inform others about this little-known-holiday. We call this "Pirating." We dress up like pirates, and deliver a yummy pirate snack ( usually Chips AHOY, or PIRATE-Os) to some unsuspecting neighbors. My boys love it; the neighbors think it is great; this is definitely one of the best little-known-holidays!

I love to see the Temple

On Tuesday, the boys and I had the opportunity to go to the Brigham City Temple Open house with my sister and her family. Wow it was neat. The boys thought it was super neat to be able to go inside the temple, and I loved being able to take them. Unfortunately, Tim had to work, so Grammy came with us instead.

Kids say the darnedest things

I love the way kids brains work. They are great at making sense out of the little pieces of information they get, which will usually bring a guaranteed smile to your face.

For example, today Talmage went to the potty all by himself (which is kinda a big deal around here). When he was finished he calls from the toilet, "Daddy, I am all done. And it's a big one, like you! I did a Daddy sized poop!"

Tom was not quit sure if he should be proud or concerned.

Owen also had his own moment today. The boys were eating oatmeal for breakfast this morning. While the boys were eating, Tom told me that once his Dad had him eat oatmeal with ketchup in it. Little Mr. Owen leans over to Tal and says, "Talmage don't ever put ketchup in your oat-milk. Dad's dad did that once, and then he DIED."

Oh my goodness, I could not not stop laughing. I mean, it is true, the sequence of events is accurate. Tom's dad did make him eat ketchup oatmeal, and he did pass away prematurely, but not due to eating discussing oatmeal. It was due to a pulmonary embolism. But I think I am ok with him believing that eating oatmeal with ketchup in it is hazardous for you health. In fact I think it just may be.

Eggs!

Our hens are about 5 months old now. We have the coop almost done, just need to paint one side. And the birds are HUGE! We have known they are close to start laying, it is just a matter of time. Well this morning when I went to check on the ladies, I saw this in the nesting box:

Our first egg ever! (that white one is just a golf ball)

Hurray! One of them has started to lay! I am not sure, but I think it was my Little Buttercup, our Buff Orprington. she was singing last night as she was roaming the yard. Not wanting random eggs around the yard I put her back in the coop. And now we have had our first egg!

Yeah!

This is Pepper, not Buttercup.

Like a Fire is Burning

Well, our turn has come. There have been so many wild fires in Utah this year, we were starting to feel left out. Actually, we were feeling blessed that no fires had broken out in Cache Valley. In fact, my parents visited us yesterday, and I mentioned how lucky we have been to not have to deal with fires, like what seems like every other county has this year.

I guess I spoke to soon. Today, the mouth of Millville Canyon caught fire. It has been quite the spectical to watch. I heard a ton of sirens this afternoon, and they just would not stop. Then our next door neighbor came over to tell us to look out the window, because the mountain was on fire.
What is crazy is that we were just up that canyon not two hours before the fire broke out. We went for a drive up to Leatham's Hollow today after church. It was the first time we had ever been up Millville Canyon, and I feel in love. I honestly think it us the prettiest canyon I have ever been in. I remember seeing these vibrant orange flowers up on the side of the mountain, and thinking that they were the color of fire. Now I am wondering if they were flowers or flames.

As the fire progressed, we realized that we saw some people camping fairly far ip the canyon. Tom got concerned about them, so we drove over towards the command center to tell them about Hornsby people we would guess were still in the canyon. Luckily, the fire is only on the north face of the canyon, so people coming down can still get out.

After talking to the police, we desided to stay and watch a bit. I think all 2000 Millvillians had the same idea. I honestly don't think I have ever seen the streets of Millville so crowded. My boys thought it was so cool to watch the helicopter fill up it's bucket at the local fish hatchery, and go dump it on the fire (any body want some broiled fish?).

It has been about four hours since the fire department responded, and the fire is still burning strong. Hopefully, they get it under controlled soon.

Redneck swimming pool!

Last Saturday, Tom's brother moved. While Tom helped his brother, I watched my cute nephews at my house. One of them had a brilliant idea:

"Aunt Rosie," he says, "can we put the sprinklers down the slide and turn it into a water slide?"

Awesome idea! The kids spent the entire afternoon playing on the water slide.

Sadly, Tom missed out on all the fun. But don't worry, not only did he recreate the water slide, he improved it.

Apparently all you need is a tarp and a few spare pieces of lumber, strategically placed at the bottom of your slide, and PRESTO! you have the coolest REDNECK SWIMMING POOL ever!