HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER BRIAN OVIATT!!! HE IS 24 TODAY!!!
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Brian's parents called us last Monday to see if we wanted an early Christmas present. They were interested in helping us to organize our kitchen, so they wanted to bring us over a new shelving unit. The one that we had didn't have any doors on the front of it. Vaughn's favorite pasttime was of course, going into the kitchen and throwing everything out of the shelves! That made my un-favorite pasttime cleaning it all up. As you can see, things looked okay, but it was kind of an eye-sore. So, Brian's parents brought over the unit, and for Family night, Brian and I set up the new shelving!

Over the next few days I moved everything into the new shelving and organized it, and it looks ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BETTER!!! I have my food organized just the way I want it, and Munca can't get to it! I don't have to worry about leaving the kitchen door open. I can let Vaughn run free, and I'm not getting after him every second. A wise person once told Ben's wife Emily that a home should be a place where a baby hears "Yes" all the time, not "No". That is so true! I think poor Vaughn was getting frustrated always being told "No". Now things are a lot better! Vaughn is a much happier baby. Now all I have to do is put locks on everything else in the house, and things will be perfect!





Tuesday night was Enrichment. That is just a monthly class that is taught for the women in our church. For this Enrichment Night, we had a craft night. We had several different crafts, and I was able to teach one of them. I decided to go for a very simple, yet fun craft that my Mom taught us kids growing up. It was a little ornament made out of tissue paper rolls and yarn. I thought it would help the ladies have something to keep their kids busy during the holidays!
That night my good friend Shelly Stephen showed up with her mother Beverly Pratt. We had a really fun time as you can see! We talked for quite a while, mostly cracking jokes like we usually do. Thanks for the fun time Shelly!

After Enrichment, I came home and realized it was going to freeze that night. So I parked the car towards the garden, turned the headlights on, and started pulling up my tomato plants. A lady down the street told me that I could put the green tomatoes in the cellar, and they would ripen throughout the winter. Brian came home with Vaughn a short while later and was pretty surprised to find someone in the back yard ripping up the garden. Then he realized it was me, and that didn't surprise him at all!
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On Wednesday, Laura came over to drop off the Honda so I could do some maintenance on it. Vaughn was asleep, and Laura just couldn't resist holding him. They were so cute together!
Vaughn didn't wake up, which really surprised me. I guess he knew it would be the perfect photo-opt!





Thursday was a busy day as well! Our good friend Marianne Firth, who just got married in August, came over for a visit during the day. We had a total blast! She was great to play with Vaughn. She sat with him at the piano and he played until he got really tired, as the picture shows!









I think Vaughn was trying to show off, so he decided to show us that he could play the piano all by himself! I think we're going to have to start him with piano lessons very soon!




















While Marianne was over we got on the subject of spiders and how much I hate them. So Marianne went out to her car and came back in with a huge bottle of bug spray! She was so funny! She told me it was the best stuff ever, and that it would create a barrier that bugs and spiders wouldn't cross. So she went all around our house, inside and out, and sprayed the doorways and windows and all the little nooks and crannies she could find! She was so cute!
For the rest of the afternoon, Marianne and I made Sweet 'n Sour Meatballs and talked! It was one of the more fun days I've had in a long time! By the way, for any of you who want the recipe, it is AMAZING!!!! I think these meatballs are my new favorite food! Marianne also gave me a recipe for German Chocolate Caramel-in-the-middle Brownies. They are to die for. Really, you'll die from how rich and tasty they are! Thanks Marianne for the WAY fun day!!!
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On Thursday evening I went over to Laura's apartment to see her for a little while. I brought Vaughn with me. Laura was just playing around with him, and Vaughn decided to walk! He took a few steps, and then would fall. But he worked his way up to five steps in a row without falling. VAUGHN IS WALKING!!!! So yes, Laura gets to say that he walked first with her. She was pretty happy about that! I didn't have my camera or my video camera with me that night, so here are a few pictures of him just standing.
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Friay was a very fun day for me and Vaughn! We went over to Ben and Emily's house and spent the entire day there! We were there from mid-morning until past 7:00pm I think! Emily was really great to let us come over. She and I have been trying to get together so she could help me make a costume for Vaughn for Halloween. We got the material set out and Emily cut almost all of it out for me, which really helped. She was amazing! I think if I would have cut it out it would have taken me a few hours. But because we were short on time, Emily offered to do it. She didn't even have to trace anything. She just eye-balled it and started cutting!

Autumn and Prarie were SO CUTE, as usual! Autumn was really great to play with Vaughn. She played puzzles with him and just taught him the ropes. They watched part of a show together, and just had fun.

We got a lot of sewing done! While the kids took their naps we really tried to fit a lot in. Emily is making costumes for Autumn and Prarie too. Emily is just the most amazing woman! I swear she is probably one of the most talented women I have ever met. She can do anything! She really helped me to get a great start on Vaughn's costume. I really think I will be able to get it done by Halloween. I can't wait to see what it looks like! Thanks Emily for all of the help, and for letting us trash your house and be there forever! And thanks for not getting sick of us! By the way...PRARIE IS SO ADORABLE!!!!! I love those cheeks!
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On Saturday morning Vaughn woke up with the worst bed head! We couldn't resist a picture!

And just a few more for the road...































We love you all!
Love, Lisa

This week hasn't been too eventful due to sickness in the house. Brian got sick at the beginning of the week and then passed it to Vaughn. I was able to stay away from it until just this morning when I woke up with a sore throat and a little dizziness. We did however go out to a movie on Friday night as a family. We went to a local dollar theater and watched Superman Returns. We thought it was okay for the most part. Vaughn got fussy during the movie so we took turns holding him at the back of the theater. There were some little kids that kept going in and out of the theater, and every time they walked by Vaughn he would shriek with delight. I think he thought the kids were playing a game with him. What a cute little kid!!!! (Above picture: Vaughn's head is so big that his shirts get stuck when we try to take them off!)

We did have a double-date night on Saturday with Brian's sister Amy and her husband Brenden. We went to a local restaurant called Bajios. It was really great Mexican food. We had a great time with Amy and Brenden eating, and then playing games back at our house. We played a 1970's board game version of the Family Feud which was so fun! I think we won because of sheer luck! Then we played Taboo, which was also a lot of fun. We should get some more games because I think most of our games are little kids games! Anyway, thanks for the fun Amy and Brenden!

Speaking of Amy, this is the Amy that is my oh-so-fun bottling companion. She said it would be fun to buy some cheap turkeys when they come on sale during Thanksgiving, and then bottle the turkey meat. We were both excited about the idea, but neither of us had a pressure canner, so we were going to have to borrow one from somebody.....UNTIL NOW! A few weeks ago I stopped at a garage sale on a whim, and found what I thought was a pressure canner. I bought it for $10 and then showed it to our neighbor, who was pretty sure it was a pressure canner. But just to make extra sure, I took it to a local fix-it shop, and they said it was the real thing. They also tested it out for free and told me that although it's an older model, it works just fine! I was so excited! So I called Amy the other day to tell her and she and I made plans for our next bottling adventure. The great thing about bottling meat is that when you need a quick meal you don't have to cook the meat. You can also substitute turkey for most chicken dishes. The other day Amy made a Mexican-type casserole and used bottled turkey meat instead of chicken and you couldn't taste the difference. And the dish was great! So I'm excited for our next bottling project!

We have been trying to get Vaughn used to brushing his teeth at night. He hasn't ever really liked getting his teeth brushed. But in the last few nights he's started grabbing the brush from me, and he won't let me even touch it! He has to be the one to hold the toothbrush. Then he puts it in his mouth and wiggles it back and forth. He's not brushing his teeth of course, but he's making the effort, and it is so cute! Then when I have to take it from him and actually brush his teeth he gets mad and screams. Brian usually holds Vaughn, and I am the one who does the dirty work. After we get his teeth cleaned Vaughn lets out a few more screams just to let us know how unhappy he is, and then I give him back the toothbrush, and he's as happy as can be! We wouldn't trade these experiences for anything!

We love you all! Love, Lisa

Last Tuesday the 3rd, we spent the evening at Brian's parents' house for his dad's 63rd birthday. We had a really good time and enjoyed the coconut cream pies that his sister Julie made for the occasion. I picked up a little cowboy hat for 25 cents at a garage sale down the street a week or so ago. Vaughn loves it! So here's Vaughn wearing his favorite hat and sitting with Grandpa on his birthday!

On Wednesday for supper I tried making some homemade bread. Now everybody knows I cannot bake bread! It just escapes me every time! I usually wind up with hockey pucks. But this time it mostly worked out for some reason. I used a recipe for Challah, which is a traditional Jewish bread. I used wheat and white bread, so it didn't rise as much, but we were still pleased with the taste and the look.
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Thursday during the late morning, Vaughn and I went over to Ben and Emily's house for a little while. Vaughn really enjoyed playing with Autumn while Emily and I looked over a pattern for a Halloween costume for Vaughn. By the way, PRARIE IS SO CUTE!!! She has gotten so big! And might I add that her cheeks (on her face) have too! She is a knockout! I'm excited to make this costume since the last time I sewed anything of consequence was in junior high in Home Economics. Emily is being really great to help me with this!


We spent most of the weekend at Brian's parents' house because Brian's sister Rebekah and her family were in town for a visit. Here are a few pictures from over the weekend. Brian's Dad caught Vaughn trying to open the back door with one finger. I love this picture because it shows just how solid Vaughn is. Vaughn was also having a difficult time falling asleep because he was so excited to be with other people. He would not take a nap to save his life. He just stood in his crib and cried, so we finally took him outside to calm him down. We put his cowboy hat on him to make him feel extra better, and Brian's Dad got a shot of him being a very sad cowboy. He just breaks my heart sometimes!









We did get one shot of him looking somewhat happy. But it was only after we had assured him he wouldn't have to nap if he didn't want to.







On Saturday we were watching a show with the family, and Vaughn just couldn't help himself. He had to sit next to his cousin Lael. He absolutely loves her. He kept reaching for her. Here is a shot of Lael, Rebekah (Brian's sister) and Vaughn.








On Saturday morning before we headed back over to Brian's parents' house, I (Lisa) went to play volleyball with our ward (or church) volleyball team! I didn't really know the rules of how to play, so Brian gave me a crash-course, and so did one of the ladies who was there 10 minutes early. It was great! For the first time in my life I actually understood how to play! Our team did really well, and we actually won the tournament! Brian was great to support me. He watched Vaughn the entire time and also took some photos and video.


















Last week I was attempting to get out laundry done. I went outside to get the laundry basket, and there to my surprise was a Praying Mantis! We don't usually see them anymore around here, so I was pretty excited. Unfortunately this one had been injured, probably by our cat Ivan.



On Sunday Rebekah and Jim (her husband) and their kids stopped by after church to say goodbye. We were really surprised because we thought they had already left earlier in the day. We had been saving a watermelon from our garden to share with them, but didn't get to eat it on Saturday. So this was perfect timing! We cut open the watermelon, which weighed over 20 pounds, and we all had some! It was a very sweet watermelon, although it wasn't a very deep pink inside. We were really pleased with how well it grew!



Then last night, Monday night, we had Laura (my sister) and David (her friend) over for Family Night. This is a night during the week, usually Monday night, that families in our church set aside for family time. We teach a lesson, pray, sing, have an activity, and end with dessert! Laura and David had dinner with us before-hand. I cooked a Thai dish called Basil Chicken. David served his mission in Thailand, so I thought it was fitting to serve that dish for dinner! After dinner we went straight to the activity because we were a little late getting started. We played Taboo and Trouble, and it was a blast! Brian and I felt bad though because David and Laura got some words that were just impossible to guess! But we really had a great time with them!















I'm just adding a few more pictures here. Vaughn was ready to get out of his high chair in the picture on the left. He was reaching for us and he just had the most anxious look on his face! And then the one with Brian and Vaughn is pretty cute. Brian was trying to look normal, but he came out looking like he was really mad! Vaughn was concentrating on a show, so he looked a little uptight as well!

And one last one for the road. I'll let you draw your own conclusions about this one!

(WARNING: NONE OF THESE PICTURES GO WITH THE TEXT THEY ARE NEXT TO!!!! WE'RE GOING HODGE-PODGE THIS TIME AROUND. ENJOY!!)
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I always think I'm going to be lacking stories for the next blog entry, but it never happens. I always have something to tell everybody. Well this week was a busy one too! I had just finished doing the blog entry on Monday when I got a call from a lady down the street. She called me to let me know her back yard was full of grapes and they needed picking that night or the next day. I was so excited! So I immediately called Brian at work to tell him the great news. Needless to say, he wasn't as excited as I was, but he eventually submitted cheerfully to the idea of helping me pick the grapes.







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(I hinted that it would be nice for him to help since we would both be drinking the juice!) He was great. I gathered up containers and coolers, and even a little harness with a bucket attached for picking. By the time Vaughn and I got over there it was after 5pm. Brian met us shortly and brought dinner, which really helped! We were able to eat and then get started picking. We picked for almost three hours!










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We picked white grapes, concord grapes and champagne grapes. I know what you're thinking. Just so you know, they're named champagne because of their color....at least I hope that's why! Brian took Vaughn home a little early and I was there until after 8:30. But while we were picking I got stung by a bee! It hurt so bad! It's been about 17 year since the last time I was stung. I guess I'd forgotten how much it hurts. What I didn't know is that bees actually burrow into the grapes and eat as they go. I guess I had grabbed a cluster that had a burrowing bee. That sting hurt for almost 5 days straight. I guess that's the price to pay for WONDERFUL grape juice!
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I spent the entire next day bottling juice. Brian came home from work and very kindly took Vaughn and watched him while I continued to bottle into the night. I was able to get all of the juicing and bottling done in one day. All together I bottled 61 quarts and my sister-in-law Amy bottled 18. Then on top of that we drank about another quart or two. So all together we got over 80 quarts! I was very pleased! So our entire total for quarts of grape juice bottled this season was over 160 quarts! That's incredible!!! I will say this, I have never bottled so much in my entire life as I have in the last three weeks. I really love it though. I feel like I am helping our little family to have a supply for a rainy day. I feel like I'm really using what we are given. I feel very blessed.
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Tuesday evening I got a very unexpected call from my very good friend Brooke Burbank. I was totally surprised and very happy to hear from her! She was in New York watching a Broadway production about The Wizard of Oz. Her mother Tonya Ashford had flown her there for a belated birthday present, (her birthday is on February 13th). Brooke called me during the intermission to talk, and it really made me feel great that she would think of me! I guess one of the ladies in the production reminded her of me. I hope she played the good witch! Kidding. I think she actually played a wicked witch! If you're reading this Brooke, I LOVE YOU! You're the best!





















On Wednesday Vaughn was playing with a little Fisher Price piano, and he started at C and went down the scale, playing each note twice. He played four notes down the scale and then stopped and turned to see if we were looking. We couldn't believe what we had just seen and heard. We clapped really loudly and yelled, "Yeah Vaughn!" He was so happy that he started clapping and then tried to do it again. But this time he would only play one note, and then whip around and clap. It was pretty cute!

On Thursday Brian let me know that a co-worker of his was trying to get rid of his pool table. He said he would just give it to anybody who wanted it, so guess what? Brian brought it home! His co-worker drove him down to Payson to pick it up, and then he helped Brian to load it onto our back porch. We really need to get into our own home, and a big one! We have so much stuff! We can't even set up the pool table in our house right now. But I guess we will store it until we buy our own home. It is neat though to have something to look forward to using that's so fun!


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Then Friday night I got another surprise phone call. Laura called me from her apartment to tell me that Lindsey was in town for the weekend! I flipped! So around 8:30pm they came over to hang out for a little while. It was actually to see Vaughn, but that's okay! It was so great to see them! The first thing Lindsey said was, "He (Vaughn) is so big!" I guess Vaughn has gotten a lot taller since she last saw him a month ago!





On Saturday we spent the day watching General Conference. For those of you who don't know, our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, hold two conferences each year. They hold one in April and one in October. It is a general conference for the entire church membership around the world. It is quite a spectacular thing actually. They broadcast simultaneously to countries all around the world, and translate the broadcast in over 200 languages!















The leaders of our church, our Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and his Apostles speak and give us counsel. It is a wonderful time to listen and make goals to be a better person! So we watched that all day! Then Saturday evening Brian went to the Priesthood Session of the Conference, which is for men, and I hung out with Lindsey and Laura and Vaughn! I got to go to the Relief Society Session, which is for women, last Saturday.
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So anyway, we had a great time messing around. We made triple layer cookies and watched a movie. We laughed and talked about boys. It was a blast! It is always a real pleasure for me to be able to spend time with my sisters, since it is also a rare event! Vaughn was in a very testy mood, so most of the time he fussed and cried. But he did eventually warm up to everyone.



Then today, Sunday, we spent the day watching General Conference again because it lasts for two days. This time we were watching it at Brian's parents' house. Lindsey came over for a little while and ate lunch with us. She left around 3:00 so she could get back to Rexburg where she goes to BYU-Idaho, my old school!
What a week! I think I need a break, but I have a feeling I'll be just as busy this next week! Love to you all!
Love, Lisa