Notice

Hi friends!

The Burton's are now blogging on Wordpress.  You can view our new (not private) blog at:

brazenlyburton.wordpress.com

I just made the switch today, so it's not terribly fancy at this point.  But I did manage to post about a fun Thanksgiving activity that we did!

This blog will remain up but all of our new posts will be at the wordpress site.

Hope to see you there soon!

Ick!

I write a lovely farewell post only to find out that apparently getting a new blog won't fix the problem.

Stay tuned folks.  I will figure this out!  Sorry to bombard your email tonight!  You love me... you'll forgive me right?

Oh No!

Guess what?!?  So tonight I was ready to post some more fun Thanksgiving pictures when BOOM!  Blogger told me I have run out of picture space!  Say Whaaaaa?????  I can't believe it!  I have really used up ALL of my free space???  I have to either 1) never post another picture on my current blog 2) start a new blog or 3) pay money for them to host more pictures.

Guess what I'm choosing?  Ding! Ding! Ding!  You are correct!  We are getting a new blog!  Ugh.  That'll be a project.  You can expect a new "invite," email from me soon!

Man.  I'm kind of sad about this.  I wish this blog could go on forever... it's been a good blog... I feel like a traitor starting a new one.  Although! Now I can have the url address I should have chosen in the first place! 
Unless someone is already using "brazenlyburton.blogspot.com," it will be ours! (Good news!  I just checked and we can use it!)

I feel like I should make some kind of farewell speech to this blog that has served us so well over the past 5 years.  FIVE years.  Wow!  I started this blog with no hope beyond keeping in touch with friends and family.  It has grown to be oh-so-much more than that for me!  I know I just recently asked you to stay with us as we went private.  Will you stay with us as we start another blog?  I hope so!  I'll be sending you an invite either way.

Hope to see you soon at brazenlyburton.blogspot.com.  In the mean time check out my first post, complete with a family picture of what we looked like when I started it! HERE. I'd like to post a family picture of what we look like NOW... as the blog ENDS... but apparently I can't do that!  So I guess this is it!

Loves to all of you!

Ashlee
Blog Author Extraordinaire

And just in case people check this old blog and for some reason need to get a hold of me... my email is:

ashleemb85@gmail.com

Tom the Turkey- Year 4

Do you remember Tom Turkey?  I introduced you to him 4 years ago HERE.  And told you the results of that first year HERE.

The next 2 years we also did Tom Turkey, but I failed to "spill his guts," on the blog. I'm pretty sad about that fact so this year I wanted to be sure and record what everyone was thankful for.

I give you!  Tom Turkey!  Year 4!

I pulled him out one night while the boys were asleep.  When Aly woke up and came down he said "Woah!!!  Who is that cute guy?!?"  Apparently the past 3 years have slipped his memory...

We held a Gratitude-themed  FHE to get things started and then off we went!

This year we recorded blessings after scripture study (although we weren't perfect about doing it every night!)

And before you see the big list I thought I'd show you a few of the boys contributions in their own handwriting.  Aly's handwriting is really improving!:

We read the papers aloud a few days after Thanksgiving. We were supposed to do it Thanksgiving morning but it didn't work out that way.  Woops! The boys had so much fun reading them.  I loved hearing them say "Good one!" to each other, and seeing how pleased they were when one was about them. We laughed at many of the answers, and others were very sweet and touching.

And by way of explanation, I didn't want to forget who gave what answers, so there is a letter next to each one explaining who had written it.  A for Aly, J for Jack, M for Mommy, and D for Daddy.

Without Further Ado... Here's what we were grateful for this year:

Tom's feathers - A 

my Grandma - A 

Heavenly Father - A 

candy/other treats - J 

girls nights and my amazing friends - M 

all my blessings - A 

how baby eats - A 

repentance and the sacrament - M 

my baby - A 

Corey's listening skills - M 

I'm happy for my dad - A

my friends - A 

the temple - D 

my clementines - A 

my toys - A 

Ashlee, the nicest woman in the world - D 

our beautiful world and all it's variety - M 

myself - A 

Jack's jokes - D 

stinky Jack - D 

family - J 

my baby - A 

my house - A 

piano - J 

my CTR ring - A 

my beautiful life! - M 

my bike and the one who bought it - J 

Truman's hair - D 

holidays/birthdays - J 

toilets - J 

my jobs - D 

Heavenly Father/Jesus - J 

pumpkin - J 

Ashlee, the most beautiful woman in the world - D 

my super warm and comfy bed - M 

blogs, cell phones, email - M 

our awesome ward family - M 

Aly's classic one liners that make us all laugh - M 

opportunities to serve - M 

J and A's fantastic primary teachers and leaders - M

my kitchen - A 

spider - J 

ocean - J 

Truman's floofy head - M 

smelly Alaster - D 

Truman's fluffy head - A 

that Corey's hugs make me feel better no matter what! - M 

snow - D 

awesome parenting talks from conference - M 

kisses from Truman - M 

the Savior - M 

pizza/granola bars - J 

the funny things Alaster says - D 

stinky feet - J 

Alaster sharing so much about school with me - M 

our extended family near and far - M 

stinky stuff - J 

conversations with Whitney - M 

my mom - A 

our house - J 

my healthy body - M 

that Jack is becoming a better and better big brother - M 

snake - J 

the commandments - M 

my santa hat - A 

Alaster's laugh - D 

my wifey (so pretty) - D 

holidays and family traditions - M 

my gray hair - D 

Tom the Turkey - A 

hugs - J 

math - J 

my testimony - M 

Chuman (what he thinks he really should have been named...)- A 

on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me 1 bunny, 2 crackers, 3 turkeys, 4 big fat apples, 5 big bananas - J 

chocolate - J

 mom dad - A 

fruit yummy yum yum yum - J 

how baby laughed - A 

Alaster's tender heart - M 

how hard J and A work at school - M 

my school - A 

all my body parts - J 

my Grandpa - A 

my scriptures - A 

school - J 

Tom the Turkey (yes, again... he wanted to write this one every night) - A 

the beautiful language of the scriptures - M 

family - A 

our home - D 

that Corey tries so hard and serves so well in his callings - M 

the dishwasher!!! - M 

candles - J 

recent blessings with Corey's work - M 

Truman's chubby cheeks - A 

how Truman needs me and that I get to hold and comfort him - M

As I read these tonight it strikes me that by no means is this list complete. What a wonderful, wonderful thing to realize.  We are so blessed!

Alaster Quote of the Day 11/17/12

Mom:  Aly, you're supposed to be cleaning.

Aly: But my heart says I should be playing...

First Word and Sound

Guess who said his first word?!?!?!?!?!?!?

My darling Truman boy!  That's who!

(Does his face make you happy?  His face makes me happy.)

Here's how it happened:

So we all know Truman is... difficult... when left at other people's homes.  Well, on Wednesday this week I had to leave him at a brand new place expecting him to struggle as usual (maybe more so since it was a new friend) so that I could go volunteer in Alaster's classroom (something I do weekly... more details on that another day).

I listened at the door when I very first dropped him off and there were no immediate tears.  I had to run but expected when I returned to find a sobby mess of a baby.  BUT not so!  He was fine!  My friend Danielle said he was great!  She even had video of him playing peekaboo with and kissing his daughter!  What?!?

I was so proud I just kept telling him he was a "sweet boy!" a "good boy!"  I'm so proud of my "little boy!"  Then after one "boy," he looked at me and said in the sweetest voice ever "boy." !!!!!  Oh my gosh!  So in the car I tried again... "Truman, are you a sweet BOY?"  ...... quiet in the back of the car...... then...... "boy."

Ah ha ha!  He did it!

The next day I told the boys about it at breakfast and much to their extreme delight he repeated the trick when Jack asked him if he was a sweet boy.  And I'm pretty sure he's done it for Corey once too.

Also... he ooo!ooo!-ed like a monkey this morning.  We have running joke about monkey sounds in our house thanks to a classic Squidward moment that made us giggle.  I was doing it for Truman, who thought it was so funny and then out of no-where he pooched his lips and out the ooo-ooo came!

What a silly boy :)

Primary Program

Oct 21st was our ward Primary Program.  It was wonderful!  And, of course, it was a great excuse to get some nice pictures of our handsome boys.

Or try anyway...

A) Haircuts should have been a priority that week.  B) Okay.  That face Jack is making isn't his most charming look, but it is so HIM.  It just makes me giggle!

This one is pretty nice! :

And who doesn't love the Brother Hug pictures?

Truman in his blue and red shirt would have looked great in the photos too, but once that baby steps outside he is off like a rocket!  There is no stopping him!  So we got a nice shot when he was contained:

The Primary Leaders worked extra hard and made a lovely program, and the kids all did great!  Gram, Grampa and Tyler were able to be there to support the boys too which made it all the more special.

We love Primary Program day!

The Greatest

Mid October the "Greatest Show on Earth!"  (Barnum and Bailey Circus... in case you didn't know...) came to town, so the older boys and Daddy made a man-afternoon of it:

By all accounts they had a fantastic time.

Corey said that watching Jack and Alaster enjoy the show was quite entertaining in and of itself.

There was Jack: Hood on, leaning forward, watching intently but not making a sound or showing any expressions during the show... 

and Alaster: Clapping, laughing, reacting, calling out to and cheering the performers on with gusto!

Wish I could have seen them!  But never fear, Truman and I had a delightful afternoon at the house together :)  We didn't think Truman would think the show was so "great," so we stayed home.

When the boys got back Jack and Daddy went on a special Father-Son outing, just the two of them.  I can't tell you how much Jack had been looking forward to this!

The two hopped on their bikes and went out of Winfield for the first time together!  All the way to Burwash Park!  Jack was over the moon.  He and Daddy.  Together.  On a bike adventure!  He thought it was even more fun than the circus.

The Greatest Show on earth has nothing on the Greatest Daddy on earth!

Tonight

True Story:

I have had days with my boys that were so frustrating that I honestly worried if they somehow missed out on that whole ... conscience... thing.  Have you ever had to cling like crazy to the doctrine of "the age of accountability," to make it through your day?  I have!

Another True Story:

I have had many more days that I am sure I was blessed with the sweetest, brightest, coolest, cutest, funniest, handsomest, most talented, and all-around-best boys on the planet.

Today was a day like that.

 

After a lovely dinner, FHE, piano practice (Jack is really getting good guys!) and bedtime routine I sent Jack and Alaster to bed.  A few minutes later both boys came bounding (quite literally... they were bouncing up and down and all around they were so happy and excited!) down the stairs to tell me they had given me a "Midnight Present."  Meaning:  They had cleaned their entire room without me asking.  They had picked up the floor, put a basket of clean laundry away, straightened their beds, cleaned off their "special shelves," and their toy cubbies. It was immaculate!

 

They explained:

 

Aly: "Do you want to know why we did this? Because we just felt like cleaning."  

Jack "FOR YOU."

Aly: "Yeah.  For YOU. And it made us feel so good inside!"

A quick conversation about the Spirit (because of THIS wonderful talk, of course), some heartfelt praise, some big huge loves later... they were back in bed and I went back to doing dishes.

Sometimes life is just grand!

The Halloween Happs

The first chance the boys had to get their Costumes on this year was at the Ward Trunk or Treat!  It ended up being a combined activity with the Champaign Ward and it was wild and crazy!  The boys won the "Porter Rockwell" Award for the "Manliest Costume."  What do you think?  Manly?  I think they are adorable myself, and love that they wanted to be "Brother Ninjas!"

I suppose we could have made Truman a Ninja too, but when Corey and I found this DJ Lance Rock costume we couldn't resist. (Plus babies should be something funny or sweet... don't you agree?)  Yo Gabba Gabba has been called a "Hot Slice of Crazy," and we rather agree... but it's Truman's favorite and we find DJ Lance pretty hilarious sometimes... so DJ Lance it was!

Please note the kiss he unexpectedly gave Daddy (top right) as we desperately tried to get a good picture. (A nearly impossible feat since he didn't want to keep the glasses and hat on, and he wouldn't stay still!)

The Trunk or Treat was a huge success. The boys had fun playing games like Pumpkin Bowling, and they got just the right amount of scared in the Spook Alley!

And after games it was time for the main event!  Since it was a combined activity Gram and Grampa were there too!  Gram and I manned the trunk and passed out candy to all the darling kiddos, while Daddy and Grampa took the boys around.  NOTE: 2 Wards at a Trunk or Treat = A Boatload of Candy for the Kids.  CRAZY!

We were all totally frozen by the end so we came home, got into comfy pj's, snuggled up under a blanket and ate candy while we watched a couple episodes of Phinaes and Ferb.

The perfect ending to a fun night!

Okay, now about that Baby's Costume... it came in the mail a week or two before Halloween and all of us were dying to see him in it, so we put it on right away. The boys thought it was so funny!  I SO wish the pictures did the thing justice but they really don't!

Truman wasn't the only one to make DJ Lance Faces:

Last weekend Jack and Aly got to go on a special outing with Gram and Grampa to Curtis Orchard.  They came home with pumpkins (they each chose a big one for themselves and a small one for the baby), Apple Fritters, Apple Cider, Caramel Apples and some delicious, sweet, crisp Apples fresh from the Orchard.  We have loved snacking on them!

Curtis Orchard is so fun to visit.  The boys had a great time and loved to tell us about playing on the big blow up slides etc.  Thanks Gram and Grampa for such a fun afternoon!

The following Monday we made good use of those pumpkins during FHE.  We cut and scooped and carved and painted.  For the first year ever Jack actually enjoyed removing the seeds.  Aly was still pretty grossed out by it. The boys made the design for their pumpkins which mom and dad made a reality, and they each painted a small one for Truman.

The final products:

We love roasted pumpkin seeds do you???

Truman and I made a special Halloween visit to a friend of ours that lives in a nursing home.  I didn't think that Mildred (or the other residents) would quite appreciate the DJ Lance costume so we got Alaster's Lion Costume out.  Do you remember how sweet Aly was as a lion!  Ohhhhhh!

Truman was pretty darn cute too.  He was a hit at the nursing home for sure!

Also, he was a hit at home with Daddy and Brothers!

Other fun baby dressing included hand-me-down Skeleton PJ's (also Aly's):

(Yep, that's Yo Gabba in the background... and the picture on the right shows what he most often looks like while watching it.  He's totally hypnotized!)

And new Halloween PJ's from Gram:

Halloween Day I let the boys stay home from school.  Jack and Truman were genuinely sick enough to be home and I thought Alaster's heart would break if he had to go. We spent the day playing Mario Brothers, reading books, cleaning around the house, eating treats, snuggling, and taking care of an ultra-crabby-pants baby.

When Daddy came home the official holiday proceedings began!

Our Homemade Festive Pizza tradition lives on!  This year I opted for the easiest possible toppings.  Using sliced mozzarella, sharp cheddar cheese, and olives Corey and I made pumpkins and ghosts.  The boys loved it!  If we ever do this again though I would double up the cheese slices.  They were too thin for such a hot oven.  The boys still enjoyed, and it was rather yummy. :)

During Dinner Truman showed Daddy his new trick: Sticking out his tongue!

After dinner it was time to get back in costume!

Except not for Mr. Crabby Pants.  :)

First Stop: Gram and Grampas!

Her house was decorated to the hilt, and not only did the boys get a traditional treat from the bowl, but also gift bags filled with all kinds of Halloween Goodies... rings, whistles, paper pads, pencils, toys and balls, treats, homemade mummy chocolate pretzels... wow! What a fun Gram!

And of course she remembered the big kids.... Corey got his own treat bag and I got a darling bucket filled with Lindt Chocolates.  Yummmmmm...

Truman's Bucket was so perfect!  Some treats... some healthy... and we also took home these darling cupcakes.  Too cute!  The one with the eyes is my favorite:

Even though Truman was crabby (just ask Grampa) he couldn't resist some playtime with Uncle Tyler.  The two jumped, and swung, and played!

Corey took Jack and Aly Trick or Treating around Winfield, and I put the baby to bed and handed out candy.  I love Halloween!  I love that we have a lot of international families in our community... handing out candy to kids who had clearly worked hard to learn the phrase "Trick or Treat!" was very fun.

Hope your Halloween was a Safe and Happy one!