I'm, like, really giving.

I just wanted to show off the cute kids my work did Sub for Santa for this year. It was a really great experience and even better that I was the one who actually got to deliver all the gifts. They all spoke about ten words of English and absolutely loved posing for pictures. My co-worker Steve brought his iPhone which they of course didn't want to give back.



Who knew it was so fun to give? I guess all those church leaders I had have always been right.

speaking of late

Does anyone want to go to Chadder's?

better late than never

The Utah Strattons had Thanksgiving. We didn't eat turkey, we didn't go around the table and say what we're thankful for, and we didn't get in any fights. That might have something to do with the fact that only five Stratton's were present. And we had company. If you count Trashley as company. Anyway. It was a lovely holiday. Here's proof:

Dear Slackers,

Please put your Pixie gift suggestions in the document provided by the links in this earlier post. {If you need help, let me know.}

Love,
Mandy

Whole Fam-Damily,

I was contemplating being too AO, but I thought better of it. Actually something went wrong with Megan sending me the info when it switched over to gmail accounts. I am AO to a lot of things, fortunately the family is not one of them, but I wonder if at times I should be AO to them.

As if a marathon wasn't crazy enough!

I know all of you think I'm crazy because of my workout habits. Well, I've decided to take the insanity to a whole new level. You can read all about it here.

chad fell down

click drawing to enlarge

I found this in a box while I was unpacking and thought I'd share the wealth. And, yes, I still laugh when people fall off bikes. Some things never change.

We're Back

Hola Family!

We are basically in our house and now have internet! I have been told that I need to post pics from Halloween. I am also post pictures of my boys playing football.

The house is now a dark brown color with everything (almost) new inside. When we're moved in and out of boxes I'll take pictures and post them.

Trick or Treat

I promised Grandma some Halloween pics. Hope y'all had fun and that your sugar buzz is starting to wear off a little--if you know of anyone in need of a couple of huge bags of candy, send them on over! Happy Halloween!

iEurope

If anyone is interested in my European adventures I put up some pictures and stuff:

Paris
Nice
Cinque Terra
Rome
Bern
Salzberg
Prague
Berlin
Amsterdam
Bruges
London

Pixie Help

If you're like me, you have a hard time picking out presents for your Pixie. {Or, more accurately, you have a hard time picking out presents they haven't already gotten from someone else.} This is my idea. I've made a google doc for each pixie-eligible person in the family. Everyone should have received an email with the 'invitation' to their document. They have access to go in and edit the document as many times as they want. Their pixie can click on their name below to be taken to their most recent wish list. Hopefully everyone has done this and included links where they can. Happy gifting!



Christen
Gary
Melissa
Justin
Michelle
Travis
Aimee
Mandy
Matt
Megan
Josh

{Moms can also include a list of ideas for their children for the grandkids' pixies, too, if they want.}

Please call me "triathlete godess!"

For those of you who are unaware, and I think its most, I did my first triathlon over the weekend. I didn't die (as Mom assumed would happen in the swim) and even had a great time! For a full race report, go here.

Anybody want to join me in my next race? (You'll have a long time to train since I probably won't race again until the spring.)

Our baby's all grown up and going to Kindergarten

Kaytlin's first day of school-Aug. 27, 2007. Thank you Mandy for the constant reminders that I still needed to post these for grandma!
--Aim

We don't need no stinkin' job

Alas, my run at "We screw you just a little less than the other guys" is over. Soon I will join the Stratton tradition of unemployment. Now many of you may have questioned my Stratton heritage by keeping a job for so long and at being moderately successful, but as we have all seen, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Sorry dad.

My boss's boss was gracious enough to pull me in at the end of the work day and thank me for my years of hard work , although he was unsure how many years of hard work I had performed. He said 3 1/2 years, I told him I had been with the company for 4 1/2 years, but you know thinking about it -- maybe he was right about the years of "hard" work. His explanation of the situation was along the lines of blah, blah, blah, blah, someone smart said this and blah, blah, blah, blah I really don't understand what's going on since I got this job from my buddy and blah, blah, blah, blah say something unintelligible and blah, blah, blah, blah this is just as hard on me. His sincerity really shown through or maybe it was the glint off of his $5,000 watch, I'm not quite sure. One could not help but feel his angst as he walked to his new $60,000 luxuary car on his way home to a $750,000 house - poor fellow. I now feel a little selfish and self-absorbed for wondering if Discount Tire would reverse the $144 I charged today for the new tires on the '98 Corolla, good ol' Pearl - she's never let me down, and put me on a payment plan. When I ponder upon my egocentric behavior only one phrase comes to mind, "Let it be known, I am an ars."

In-N-Out Redux

Yes, I know I'm responding late to Mel's post, but I wanted to share my pics of In-N-Out. Does anyone else have any?

California Dreamin'

I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday evening in Riverside (yes, people, Riverside CA) I may be stuck in some hole of a town in California, but there's always an In-n-Out. Yummy! Curious about their "secret menu;" It's not so secret.

PS--CJ, KROQ is still around. In fact, that what I was listening while crusin' through the In-n-Out drive thru.

work in progress

Trav didn't ask me to post these, but I thought everyone might want to see what yet another Stratton family kitchen project looks like:

Uh, terrorist school?

fresh ink

Notice the little butterflies? After I did this, I told them it was only okay because they would never get real tattoos. Chelsi told me "uh yeah, they would hurt really bad" to which Brook replied "duh! they do it with needles!!!" Turns out Justin watches Miami Ink at his house.

He takes after me...

Yes. Graden is drinking pickle juice. I actually wouldn't even do this.

Happy Birthday Gina!!

In case any of you doubted how much of a babe mom is, a friendly reminder.

more house!

Dad asked me yesterday why our house has dead grass. Since Matt was at our new house last night to meet with the inspector, I had him take a few pictures of what it looks like now. Things are moving right along with the financing and insurance and everything. We should be right on schedule to close on August 22. I can't wait!

peace

For good measure, here's a cute pic of Kaytlin from last night. The TM's stopped by for a short visit and Kaytlin decided to rock the socks and flip flops look. One of my favorite things is that you can see Ady in the background running to get in on the action -- she can't let Kaytlin have all the fun!

Happy Summer!

I really miss having a pool. Back when my classmates thought I wasn't white. Back when mom and dad joked that I was a fish. Back when my hair would turn gold at the ends. Back when mom would swim with us...


The kiddie pool we've got now is great and all, but it just doesn't really compare.

With love from KK

Two years running as the most beautiful ballerina with many more to come. I have expanded my horizons out to soccer, but still find time to practice dance, even on the soccer field. One other venue that provides a great audience, music, and opportunity is during Sacrament Hymns. I one day hope to open a dance studio, I already have one pupil - Adyson. I am also grooming a new student, Macee.

I am so big that I can hold Macee on my lap with the help of the coach and 2 pillows. I sing to her and am already teaching her a few things. I have taught her the letter "O," Macee says "Ooohh" and the color blue or as Macee says it "booooo." I work hard to make her smile - sometimes it is hard work, but I am relentless.

I am looking forward to school starting this Fall. I know my ABC's and can count to 109. I am learning to write my name the "school way." The K is big and the aytlin is small. I can sound out all the letters and even read a few words. My favorite words to read are Dad and Travis. I sure love my Dad. Whenever we have pancakes, I have my Mom make a heart pancake and a "T" pancake to show my love.

Now that I can reach the counter and get into most the cupboards, with a boast from a chair and the counter top, I am a great help to Mommy in the kitchen. In fact today, I got the heavy sugar container for Mommy to sprinkle sugar on my Strawberries. I also make my own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. A new trick Daddy taught me is how to turn the TV on and hit the right buttons to watch my cartoons. This is especially helpful on Saturday mornings.

I love you, I miss you, I'll see you in the morning, goodnight.

Adymonial

I guarantee this is the cutest Adyson you will meet or my name isn't Ady. - Adyson Stratton

I enjoy waking up in the morning and yelling from my room until someone comes to get me. I could walk, but why when you can be carried? Each morning starts with a bowl of a much desired cold cereal that I promptly take one bite and never touch again. My favorite number is "two and a-half." I love my bike, but not riding it. I love swimming, but hold on for dear life to Mommy or Daddy anytime I am near the water.

I have a new hobby, her name is Macee. I love her so much that regardless of whether she is eating, sleeping, happy, or awake, that I must touch her. A few rules about this hobby is not to squeeze too hard, not to pick her up by the head, and not to touch her in the eyeball, I learned that one the hard way.

I love when Daddy comes home because he throws me really high. I simply adore KK and try to keep up with her in everything. If she gets too far ahead, I make sure to catch up by tackling her. I help Mommy by doing everything myself - if she forgets I remind her, " I DO IT!"

It's late and my baby blues need rest, Ga-nite.

Macee blog

Hello everybody. My parents are the coolest, especially my Dad. He does a great job of sleeping straight through the night. I spend most nights staying up with my Mom, she really needs to get on a schedule.

I keep my friends close, my enemies closer and my sisters even closer. Kaytlin and Adyson are rarely out of arms reach from me, right where I want them. I have pretty good control of my head and soon my arms and legs will follow. Then I will return the mauling that has been inflicted upon me since my infancy. I am bulking up for the much awaited day. I am 75% height and off the charts weight. Don't let these darling blue eyes fool you, I'll spit up on you just as quickly as I'd eat -- and I eat like the day is long.

My vocabulary is just as good as anyone around. I goo and coo all day long and everyone seems to understand as they goo and coo back. I just wished they'd learn a few more words. I am sick of people repeating me.

I am also in need of a poopsmith. Mom does a great job and cleans me up fast, but she needs a break every now and then. Daddy tries, but tends to use 3 times as many wipes and I am still not clean.

Any way, time for bed. Macee out.

got it!!!

Who wants to be the first to visit and stay in our new guest room?

New job!

For those of you who haven't heard, I started a new job this week. I am working for Thatcher Company, a chemical company based in SLC. I know, you're wondering what qualifications I have to work at a chemical company. Don't worry, they aren't letting me near any of the chemicals, as I may blow something up (and not necessarily unintentionally!) They actually have a pharmaceutical division that is barely staying afloat. I have been brought in, with all my knowledge and expertise, to make this division profitable. I will be working with major accounts (Cardinal, sorry Mandy!), developing products, marketing and most importantly selling all the products that I manage to get them to develop. It is a great opportunity and I am excited for the growth potential (and the great potential for lots of money!!) Mostly, I'm excited to be receiving an actual pay check again....think of all the shoes I can buy!!

take me away...

So, did we give up on the dream? Who's still in?

Merry Christmas!

Margaret Alice

I never had the pleasure of meeting our lovely Grandmother Margaret, but I do so love these pictures mom showed me the other day.



I can't believe the hand in the fishbowl (age 9), or how big that bow is (age 4)! Mother dearest even has a copy of each of these for all of us, maybe she'll find them soon...