The Un-Christmas.

A few months ago my husband and I decided that we are not going to buy Christmas presents this year. We actually made the decision a day before the stock market started to crashed. We just looked at our own patterns and new that there has to be a change. So as everyone is running around doing, buying, stressed, we are free. We don't need anything and asked family members not to buys us anything either.

During the past few days I've been having second thoughts on our decision, "we can't give nothing." Well thanks to my BFF I am feeling confident that we made the right decision. I'm looking forward to this Christmas and enjoying my family, food and the peace of the season.

Nine Lords a Leaping?

I never read forwards but I got this in the midst of some tree photos and found it interesting. Drew Loves this song and he makes me read the book we have of it. I have never cared much for it, but now can appreciate it more!

By the way I love these plates from William Sonoma!

Enjoy.

*****Caution this story is not correct****

But Enjoy anyway.

"There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,
swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out
of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?



This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were
not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone
during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning
plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each
element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.



-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.



-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.


-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first fiv e books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhort ation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladi es dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,


Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone"

Fun at The Land.

Where did they go?

The babies are gone...

Prayers of a two year old.

Jackson: "Mama you pray in my bed."
Me: "Ok, what do you want me to pray for?"
Jackson: "Woody"
Me: "Ok. Dear Jesus Thank you for Woody. We love him so much, In your name Amen."
Jackson: "Now Jessie."
Me: "Ok. Dear Jesus, we love to play with Jessie, thank you for her. Amen."
Jackson: "You pray buzz"
Me: "Dear Jesus Thank you for Buzz Lightyear, he is so fun to play with to Infinity and beyond."
Jackson: "Now pray, um, um, Barack Obama."
Me: "Barack Obama? Dear Jesus Thank you for our next president....Amen."
Jackson: "Pray Christmas"
Me: "Dear Jesus, Thank you for your birthday...Amen."

The Best Halloween ever!

Today we had the funnest, fullest day. Since I stayed up until 2am editing and than cleaning I was very tired. But Drew started his day at preschool with a celebration of Fall. They had a pinata and he came home with a ton of candy. Then to pa's pumpkin patch with our friends Aubrey, Austin and Gracyn. Home for some naps, then get ready for Halloween night.

How are ya?

Ok so I have been very separated from the blog world lately. I'm not sure if it is because facebook and my blackberry have been all the media addiction I need, or because I have so much to say that before I'm able to type it, it's over.

I've been reading a really great book called, "Your boy!" It has been pushing me in ways that I couldn't have imagined and I'm loving how God is using the knowledge of parenthood to make me a better person.

The boys are loving life right now. They love each other, Jackson took an extra long nap the other day and when drew noticed he woke up Drew said, "oh Jackson, how you doing buddy?" and gave him a pat on the back. Pretty sweet.

Of course I think the same day earlier, I was angrey at a driver driving 40 MPH on the freeway and Drew yells out from the back, "Want me to get out and kick'em?" I was laughing on the inside, but told him, that wasn't nice.

Mike has a new Job and we are learning how to adjust to the new schedule of life.

Ever After is in the process of editing a lot of family photos and weddings, so I look forward to finishing those in the next few weeks for Christmas orders.

I leave you with some new photos of our life.


Harvest festival at VCHS.


I painted that pumpkin in high school, it's one of the harvest festival booths.


First day of Halloween time at Disneyland.

And the one rainy day when it actually felt like fall.

What the boys were doing moments before we met....

He's growing up.

Last week we started our last year of preschool. I know you may say, it's just preschool, and didn't you start him when he was barely three, you should be ready for this. But I'm not, because the reality is once the big kindergarten, starts, it's over. I remember kindergarten, it doesn't seem that long ago. Well ok it was, but it has gone all too quickly.

So as I try to grab a hold of the last year before it all starts...I am appreciating every moment. I appreciated that I have been able to give to our families income and still stay at home to enjoy his growing up. I am thankful that my friend Becky Kroeze said when Drew was a week old, "they're only little once."

Drew's first soccer game was two weeks ago and that too has made me aware that he is a boy, the toddler is long gone. I was reading a book last night about raising boys and cried through the whole thing. I know I'm being sappy but it's a bridge that I have to cross to get to the other side.
I look forward to the fun that is ahead and cheering him on from the sidelines. It's an awesome job that God has given me to raise two future men and I am going to enjoy every step.

One of those days.

The new schedule for the fall season is here. Yesterday Drew had pre-school while Jackson was at my mom's and then the both of them are there until 4:30. I was able to get several hours of work done. It was good.

Well now my tuesdays are less structured and this is making me crazy. Part of me likes the idea of not having anywhere to go in the mornings, but then it ends up that the kids have a free for all while I'm recouping. This makes for a frustrating afternoon of cleaning up the morning mess.

My solution, every tuesday is going to be an all day Disneyland day. I think if we stay out of the house, no one will make a mess.

Just a thought...any suggestions are welcome.

Inspired.

I was thinking today about why I feel in love with photography. During one of my art classes I discovered the art of photography. This is one of my favorites from the Henri Cartier-Bresson collection.



I've been thinking a lot lately about the art of photography, it's what made me put down a pencil and paint brush and pick up the camera.

Although it's changed a lot in the past 8 years since I fell in love with it. It continues to move me and stretch me beyond myself.

Olympic Summer.

So I have been addicted to two things this summer, facebook and the Olympics! I have missed the last two weeks of my sleep because of it. There are two great things that have come out of it, I've been so inspired by the athletes I've hit the gym again and the other are these fun photos of the boys.

Enjoy!

What fun we have...

The Olympics, two macs, sangria and the dickson's.

Going away for a while...

Thank you to my friends Rick and Jamie...I recieved two blog awards this week and I want to pass on such honor, however due to the Hutton Vacation I will be doing that at the end of the week...you can make it like an oscar night to see who will win such awards...

Stay tuned!

Jackson's birthday weekend celebrations.

Jackson had a great birthday weekend! We did all the things of his list of favorites on his birthday...and then had a "small" family party on Sunday afternoon. It was a great time celebrating this little buddy in our lives.

"Golf with daddy?" Yes Jackson today we get to golf with daddy!

"Yeah, Dnand."



Jackson's Rum rum birthday!

With uncle's cool Subaru as the center piece.





Thank you mommy and daddy for my own skateboard!




I really love my skateboard!

Baby Jackson

As I put my "baby" to bed tonight, knowing tomorrow he will wake up and be two, I am really sad. I realized with Drew when he was first in his own room, in his crib, that Parenthood is just a continuation of letting go. It seemed easy to say this of Drew, he was my big boy, and before he was two, we knew he would be a big brother.
I don't feel the same with Jackson. Yes I let him, go however, it's taken me longer. Each stage I am surprised by. I think, "oh are we here already." Maybe because life goes by faster, I don't know, but I really can't believe that he is two. It seems that he is still this sweet, snuggly thing I brought home.
So as I put him to bed, I start to reprogram my thinking of who he is, he's a big boy. He is growing up and all I can do is just continue to let him go.


Happy Birthday Jackson James.
Proverbs 3:5

Jackson is turning 2.

Now I know that a week ago I titled a blog "he's 2" because I've felt the two-ness for the past month, however it happens this Friday. The sweet, sneaky, silly and serious, Jackie James will officially be two.

I can't believe how fast the last year has gone. So on Friday we, the Hutton family will do Jackson's favorite things. The following quotes we hear over and over again.

1. "Watch ooo, ahh-ahh in daddy car?"
So we will be driving to all of our Jackson day celebration in Mike's car and watching Curious George.

2."Want golf with daddy?" "Drew want golf with daddy?"
So we will be going to the driving range as our first stop of the Jackson day.

3. "Want go Dnand, ride buzz, woody?"
Then we will be going to the DCA and riding Toy story Mania.


The food will be pancakes, chicken fingers and fries and lots of fruit.

I expect him to be so excited to be sharing his special day with his two favorite people, Drew and Daddy.

What fun it is to be two!

facebook

I am addicted to facebook. I opened a myspace but never really got into it...I love facebook. I downloaded the facebook/ blackberry application and am a little obsessed.

I trying to attach my blog to facebook and have been having some difficulties.

but I love it!

Swimming Lessons 08

We took swim lessons from Miss Pat last year. She has been doing it forever and really teaches them how to swim. Last year Jackson cried everyday until the last day. Yesterday (day 1) He cried so much I had to bring out the passy. But today he really started to be proud of himself for actually swimming. I'm really excited to see how go he'll be the end of the next week.
Drew did great, he's a fish and is fine tuning the skills.

Drew's Debut!

Drew filmed an episode for yo gabba gabba yesterday. We took some photos but they said we couldn't post them online...

But it was really fun only about an hour and a half and they had a beautiful system in line. When Drew got there they gave him a card and he had to get a sticker for all the different stops he made and he got a prize.

First stop, He went to voiceover...where he said, "I'm drew and I like to dance"...and a few other silly things.
Then he went to wardrobe and makeup
then dance practice.
Then he did a few different scenes in this big stage with lots of lights and him in the center looking the size of an ant.

Then to the green screen shoot, where drew will fly on a crazy flying trophy.

Then to the final stop, a photo shoot where they will turn that into drew riding a skate board.

He did really great. He was a little quite at first, and had a few silly smiles but totally did all that he was asked to do. And he got an awesome yo gabba gabba tee shirt.

It will air in sometime in October, but the new season starts in August. His episode is called the "dress up" episode.

He's Two. Part One.

I stole this title from wittaker woman. She too has a two year old boy...she's on part eleven. Well since Jackson isn't even two yet, he's starting early. See what adventure he got into today...and this was even after my previous post. The day just got better....

What to do, what to do?

Ok so last week my mom made a comment on here about how cute "my girl" will be. No pressure...last night I was told by my dad through tears that he bought "my girl" an old fashion pink tricycle. Again No pressure!

Today is one of those days when I don't know if I want any more children, jackson didn't want to eat and took about an hour to fall asleep. Drew did not sleep, but made his room a mess...so I got to thinking with all this parent pressure, what are my chances of having that girl...well here it is...the all too accurate ancient Chinese calendar.

It looks like I have Sept-Dec and then next year Feb, but that january is just sitting there, wanting me to have another boy....
what to do, what to do?

Cutest Friend Ever!

I found this, and not only is it bring me back to when I was young, but this is one of my bestest friends (the cute blond) Aubrey Wilkinson!

Parkcrest, Parade, and Popsicles

The annual Parkcrest Parade was today. The kids go around the playground a few times and get Popsicles at the end. Very cute to see them all so patriotic.