CATCH UP TIME!

WARNING: Long post ahead (but lots of pics)!

So April was a busy month for us. For easter we attempted to go to an easter egg hunt at This is the Place Monument Park. We got there a little late, no where to park, tons of people, cold, no easter eggs left from over 12,000 they had, and long lines so wasn't able to see the easter bunny makes this attempt not so fun. We had asked some friends of ours to come along with there little girl and we felt bad it wasn't such a great experience. We ended up just walking around and seeing what there was and looking at the animals. To add to this day we got back to our car and saw we got a parking ticket. Wonderful! What was supposed to be a free day ended up being more than this adventure was worth. We had to take at least one picture showing we were there!

Over Easter weekend we made a surprise visit to St. George to see Lance's family. We got there late friday night and had to come home sunday. We did a little easter egg hunt for alyssa and gave her an easter basket with a cute outfit and a pail with a shovel and rake, etc in it to play with outside. She didn't know what to think about finding eggs outside in the grass. Once she realized there was something in them she didn't care about any of the other ones she just wanted to eat what was inside. We had a lot of fun while we were there though. alyssa geting a nap in with Uncle Tyson

Finding eggs in the grass she knew to keep them and put them in her bucket

Keri, Alyssa and Landon on Easter (at this point all the grandkids)

The following weekend I had to take my NPTE which is nataional Physical Therapy Examination, it was way hard and way expensive, over $400. I had been studying with a friend every thursday night since last august and we decided to brave it and go take it or we would keep procrastinating. Well thankfully after much studying and prayers---I PASSED! Yea no more studying and I will never have to take that horrible test again. That pretty much took up my whole saturday since it was a 4 1/2 hour test.

The next weekend we went to St. George again. I was giving Sarah a baby shower. It turned out fantastic, or at least I thought so and she had a great turn out. She got lots of cute things for Gracie.

Alyssa chillin in the back seat with her feet crossed on our ride down to St. George

Diesel all comfy riding in the back seat, he travels very well.

We got to go down on Thursday night so we had a little more time. On friday I had to shop for the food for the shower and we went swimming at the rec center in washington. Unfortunately Alyssa wasn't able to go she had been sick with diaherrea and didn't want to chance it.

Saturday was the baby shower so I was up early getting everything ready. A friend of hers made a cake with fondant icing. It looked fabulous, I never had any but heard it was pretty tasty. While all the girls were at the shower the guys went shooting, hit a bucket of balls, and to get a smoothie. They seemed to enjoy it having guy time!

Cake her friend made with fondant icing ( so cute did a great job)

Diaper cake I made for part of Sarah's shower/present
Alyssa and Landon looking out the window at the dogs they loved it and had fun playing together.

That evening we had a BBQ and it was FANTASTIC, they made shish-ka-bobs and they were divine! We had a good time hanging out with everyone and playing games that night.

YUMMY shish-ka-bobs

Sunday we had to get up and pack to leave. We had a little lunch then hit the road. We had a great time visiting and can't wait to go back down (especially since it is warm there and it has been cold and yucky here)

This past weekend we were finally able to work in our yard since we had a day of sun. We got a lot done, yard mowed, garage cleaned out, shed cleaned and organized, and got rid of some junk. We had a little helper throughout the whole thing and she loved every minute of it.

Hard at work! I think she found her new toy today! Broom and dustpan she loved sweeping the ground.

Alyssa loves to show off her outfits and she knows when she is looking cute! Which is always but here she is in her cute dress that Cindy gave to her for Easter! It was adorable on her.

Weekend Extravaganza !

Hello everyone, We have had a very busy month and weekend! This month is a very busy one in the Rutz home. Alyssa B-Day, Lance B-Day, Valentines day, Our 2 year wedding anniversary, and Katrina's, Keri her twin, her nephew B-Day! Crazy huh! Camron, Lance's little brother and his wife Sarah flew up for the weekend to hangout up here. We did some pretty fun things. We went to the bountiful rec center and went swimming Alyssa loved it, we grilled out! OH yeah we have gotten some pretty cool b-day/valentines/ anniversary gifts for each other this year. Lance got a DOG! His name is Diesel, he is a little white dog that is very good and fun. Katrina got a BBQ Grill! It has been really fun, here are some fun pics of our time swimming, pics of the grill and pics of the dog.

Katrina and Alyssa at the pool!

Katrina, Alyssa, and Sarah havin fun in the pool

Cameron and Sarah cheesin' it up and Alyssa eating cheese!

Alyssa showing off her new bathingsuit

Alyssa showing off

One of Katrna's B-Day gifts

Katrina's new grill! We hooked it up to a natural gas hook up it cooks pineapples real good

Alyssa posing with are new dog Diesel( we cut his hair)

Alyssa and Diesel after his haircut

Diesel in his favorite spot! ( Where ever Katrina is!)

DIESEL!

Alyssa's 1st Birthday!

Yesterday Alyssa turned one! I know I can't believe it, this year has gone by so fast. She is growing so fast and loves to get into everything she can. For her birthday we had a little party with family. She got lots of presents and tons of cute clothes. She loves all the toys she got and has been playing with them nonstop. She did really good opening the first few presents then got tired of helping but I had plenty other little helpers who love to open presents.

After opening presents we sang Happy Birthday and she got to dig into a little cupcake and she loved every minute of it. She probably would have eaten the whole thing if we would have let her. She got it everywhere and the frosting even turned your fingers and mouth pink and wouldn't come off. So she has pink on her for a little bit.

After Alyssa enjoyed her cake everyone else enjoyed this delicious ice cream cake that was mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate cake. YUM!! After, all the kids just had fun playing with one another and running around. Alyssa loves playing when she has other kids to play with and has so much fun.

Thanks to all that came and supported Alyssa as she turned 1 and to all those who gave her a present. We loved every minute of it.

Later that night after everyone left (Beside Sarah and Camron) who was staying with us for the night coming all the way from St. George which we appreciate very much- thanks- we had fun. We ate a good dinner and then the boys (Lance and Camron) went to see the 3D Avatar and the girls (Sarah, Katrina, and Alyssa) went to see Dear John which we loved. Alyssa slept the whole time which was good since the movie didn't start til 10pm but Lance and Camron switched with me when there movie got out and brought Alyssa home so she could sleep in her bed.

We had a busy fun weekend seeing family near and far and celebrating Alyssa's birthday!!

A little christmas fun!

Christmas morning! This year is our first christmas in our new home, and
Alyssa's first!

Katrina helping Alyssa find all the goodies in her stocking!

Lance and his Santa stocking he thinks he is so cool!

Alyssa opening her first of many christmas presents! Funny thing was all she wanted was the wrapping paper on everything!

Alyssa and one of her cool toys!

This years christmas was a lot of fun! We woke up on christmas morning and had our first little christmas together as a family. Then went to katrina's parents and opened present with them and the Shrank family, and then we had christmas dinner! Later that day we drove down to St. George and had a fun filled weekend with Lance's family! Pictures to come! Thanks to an amazing family on both sides, it was a very memorable christmas!

Present Exchange

Here is the list of present exchange for the rutz family for Christmas 2010!

Lance-Keri
Katrina-Sharmane
Kyle-Tyson
Sharmane-Cindy
Camron-Jim
Sarah-Amy
Tyson-Camron
Amy-Lance
Keri-Sarah
Cindy-Katrina
Jim-Kyle

I drew them out of a bowl then made sure no one had the same people as this last year. Have fun shopping!!

Projects, Family Reunion, and good times!

So this last month has been pretty busy here are some pics of things we have been doing. Alyssa in her cute pj's clapping something she has figured out and loves to do.

Shar, Kyle and Landon came to visit the beginning of November and I am really bad at remembering to take pics so this is the only one we got as they were walking out the door to leave. But it is a good one. We enjoyed having them visit and we had a good time just vegging out.

Mommy and Alyssa watchin T.V. one of the few times she is still and lets you hold her.

Girls night out we did these projets and had a good time.

Calender that you can change the background for holiday/month. (Magnetic board)

Magnets I made to go on the calendar

I made these ornaments to hang on our christmas tree this year since it could use a little more decoration. It says "Snowmen melt my heart" has melted snowman inside.

Cute plate with saying. Way easy to make.

This is our shelf we bought recently and the decorations I have made or just the Give Thanks is what I made.

We hated our guest bathroom with the sliding glass doors on the tub for the shower so we took them down and put up this shower curtain and new decorations. The colors are yellow and turqouise. We love it and it makes it more cheery.

This is all the kids at our family reunion we had a couple of weeks ago doing cute little projects to keep them busy they painted christmas ornaments and made a little foam wreaths with each kids picture in the middle.

Mommy and alyssa at family reunion, she just had woken up so we couldn't get her to smile.

The adults played this game where you had to put these dress ups on and run to the other side of the gym and pass them off to the next person. It was hilarious watching all the "older folk" do this. Quite entertaining to say the least.

Cute nephew Rhett painting his decorations.

The kids kept entertained with all the games and projects this is them doing the cake walk.





This is a video of the family playing elimination. It was lots of fun had by all being together as a family and catching up and seeing people you only see once a year.

We are in trouble!

Sorry we haven't posted lately. It has been crazy in the life of the rutz family! Here are somethings that have been happening lately.

A beautiful trip to sunny Saint George to visit family

Alyssa now has six teeth! (FUN)

Alyssa is the cutest teddy bear around! (Halloween Costume)

OH AND DID WE MENTION SHE IS CRAWLING NOW AND LOVES TO CHATTER !