Teddy Paws

Girl's Camp 2009

2009-07-20T09:09:00.013-04:00

I completely, 100% LOVE Girl's Camp.

It is my favorite week of the year.

No makeup, no hairdryers, no fussing about your looks or your outfit.
No TV, no radio, no internet, no distractions.
Just nature and adventure and spiritual experiences and fun.
And hanging with some of the coolest, funnest girls around.

This year, our theme was "Rubies" from Proverbs 31:10-31
Radiantly RighteousUnwavering in Virtue
Brilliant and Beautiful
Young Woman
Our cabin was the "jewelry box."And the girls were the gems inside. They all picked gemstone nicknames.Our skit was about a fair maiden who went on a quest to find jewels for her crown (representing her various virtues, of course.)

Such talented ladies!

Hike day was awesome. We hiked for 5 miles through Clifton Gorge. It was gorgeous. (Ha ha! Get it? I'm so funny.)

Happy Campers!

We made hygiene kits for the Church Humanitarian Center to distribute to those in need.
We ate together.
We made jewelry in the cabin.

We danced the funky chicken.
This is how I know the girls love me.(my shoe)

(my bed)

(my crazy girls)

We played Ninja.

We played Buck Buck.

We are the Buck Buck Ninja's and we rule!
Our last evening together, we had a very special activity. We recreated Lehi's Vision for the girls. They were blindfolded and told to hold to the Iron Rod. There were tempters trying to deceive and angels to support them on either side.
I was so proud to watch the girls be so valiant in holding to that rod and not letting go!

At the end of the Iron Rod was the Tree of Life. A beautiful tree with white lights and white envelopes containing letters for each girl from their parents.

It was a special moment that I hope none of them ever forget.
(To learn more about Lehi's Vision, click here.)

We ended our evening with a testimony meeting and eating ice cream the the Bishop brought for us.

Before we went home, Michele and I couldn't resist taking a picture of our "camp feet." I'm so happy she went with me this year - we had a great time!

LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-05T08:36:00.007-04:00

We spent July 4th with our good friends, the Daniels family.

*Here we are (minus Teddy, who stayed home and hid under the couch, like he does every 4th of July. He's not a fan of fireworks.)*

*Brandon and Rebecca*
*Adam and Amanda*
*Melinda and Rebecca*
I made an American flag jello salad, like my mom always did for 4th of July, and had to chuckle when I saw something similar on many of my girlfriend's blogs. I guess great minds think alike!

After dinner, we were treated to our own personal fireworks show in the backyard.

***Happy Birthday, America!***

Trip To Omaha - Part 5

2009-06-27T23:03:00.030-04:00

Omaha has an amazing zoo.

We spent the entire day there with the family, including Josephine's brother Josh, their dad, his wife and their kids who had come to visit. It was such a fun group!

Josephine's little brother got this big stuffed alligator that he carried around all day.
When we approached the tiger's cage, the tiger was VERY interested in that alligator. She started stalking him with her eyes and pacing back and forth. She even acted like she was ready to pounce at one point. Thank goodness for wire cages, right?

One of the highlights of the day was the butterfly house. You could walk through amid all the butterflies as they fluttered around. One landed on Tyler!
He thought it was great! He stood there so calmly and examined the butterfly for several minutes until it finally flew away.
My favorite animals to see are always the primates. At this zoo, many of the monkeys are housed in an indoor rainforest. It is amazing because as you walk through, you feel as if you are interacting with the animals while you are viewing them in quite a natural setting.

As we were wandering through, this little golden tamarind was scampering along within arm's reach!

Tyler thought it might be fun to grab his tail. Luckily it was just out of his grasp!
Here's a really cheesy shot to illustrate just how close I got. I really wanted to touch him, he looked so soft and cuddly. But I didn't want to risk a bite!
My mom has been having some problems with her feet and so we all ganged up on her and made her get a wheelchair for the day. My sweet husband chauffeured her around and took care of her all day long. He even gave her a few thrills by pretending he was going to let her roll down a hill!
Mom got out to stretch her legs and Ben decided he was tired of pushing the stroller, so he took Mom's seat.
All aboard the wheelchair/stroller train!
This made baby Claire giggle.
We didn't get to take a picture at the zoo with the whole group, but we got one the next morning (everyone minus Josh, who had just woken up, had bedhead and therefore volunteered to be the photographer.)

It was a wonderful trip and I'm so glad we went!

The end!

Trip To Omaha - Part 4

2009-06-26T23:55:00.021-04:00

Some of my favorite memories of my childhood are of all the fun little projects my mom did with us. She made everything special, from birthdays to holiday dinners to summer activities to weekday meals.

It is so fun to see her using her creativity and talent to make things special with the grandkids. Grandma makes everything fun!

One day she helped Tyler and Ashley make Bunny Salads for lunch.
A half of a canned pear makes the body, which sits on a bed of cottage cheese. Raisins are attached with toothpicks for the eyes and a red hot makes the nose. A big marshmallow for a tail and pink ears cut out of paper complete this cute little bunny!

Raggedy Ann and Andy Salads were another special treat.
A half a canned peach for the face, raisin eyes and a red hot nose and grated cheese for hair. Their outfits are made up of lettuce, celery and string cheese chunks.
OK, I get to take credit for this one! After mom saw the cupcakes I made for Easter this year, she thought the kids would enjoy re-creating them.
Such beautiful works of art!
They look good enough to eat!

Creative food wasn't the only fun thing happening. Meet Melody, the singing dog! Melody is brought to life with a paper plate, a jello box, some crayons and a bow.

Of course, Aunt Jennifer couldn't resist giving Ashley a hairdo to match!
Later on we stuck a bandaid on her forehead to match Tyler. He had bonked his head good enough that he needed stitches right before we got there and was sporting cool Batman bandaids for a while!

Melody helped the kids learn some new songs. When they sang nice and pretty she would open her mouth and sing right along with them!
Do we have a fun mom and grandma or what?

To be continued...

Trip To Omaha - Part 3

2009-06-25T22:45:00.005-04:00

Not far from Ben and Josephine's home is the Winter Quarters Visitor Center.

Persecuted for their beliefs and driven from their homes, the Latter-day Saints set out from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. They were seeking Zion–a place where they could worship as they pleased. Their destination was Utah's Salt Lake Valley. Thousands of Saints crossed Iowa and encamped on both sides of the Missouri River, including the site of Winter Quarters, where they constructed hundreds of shelters. These temporary towns became safe havens for the Saints–a place to gather strength before resuming the trek west.

I have ancestor's on my mom's side who were part of the Martin Handcart Company. They crossed the plains from Iowa to Utah carrying only what they could load into simple handcarts. They suffered unimaginable trials in order to reach a place where they could be free to worship the Lord.

It was a special thing to be able to take a picture of some of their posterity next to a handcart like the ones they pulled over the plains.

Many of the Latter-Day Saint pioneers died at Winter Quarters. Next to the visitor's center is a cemetery where many of those pioneers are buried. At the center stands this touching statue.

I had seen photographs of this statue before, of a mother and father burying their child in a shallow grave in the cold ground. But as I stood beside it, I noticed something I had never seen before - the form of the child, swaddled and laid to rest.

I couldn't help but weep at the thought of so many who perished and lost loved ones, especially precious children. I am inspired by and grateful for their faith in the Lord that these separations are for a short time until our families will be reunited on the other side.

Now, near the site where so many Saints are laid to rest, stands a beautiful Temple of the Lord. A place where families are sealed together and bound for all eternity. (If you'd like to learn more about LDS Temples, click here.)

What a blessing to be able to visit this inspiring and sacred place. I'm awed by the strength and faith of those early members of the church, especially my own ancestors, who withstood such hardships in order to build the kingdom and worship God. This day was one of my favorites of our trip.

To be continued...

Trip To Omaha - Part 2

2009-06-24T21:15:00.004-04:00

We found Omaha to be quite pretty, with a lot more rolling hills than I expected and enough trees, green and beauty to keep me happy.

We spent one day at the park. My parents, who had been anxiously waiting to spend time with their grandchildren, came prepared with big bubble wands and kites.

Ashley was the master bubble-blower. Or spinner, rather! These big wands didn't require blowing, just some serious waving. The best technique, of course is to spin in circles!
Tyler loved flying his kite because all that requires is running full-tilt across a field - something he excels at!

This was the first time mom and dad got to meet their new granddaughter, Claire. They couldn't get enough of her!
Who could resist such a cute munchkin?
We took a little hike through the woods and Tyler kept stopping to pick wildflowers and show them to me. Melt my heart!!!
Ashley collected quite a bunch as well.
Grandma didn't come on the hike, so the kids decided to present her with the bouquets of blossoms they found.
Being with family is beautiful.
To be continued...

Trip To Omaha - Part 1

2009-06-23T01:43:00.006-04:00

Recently we took a family vacation to Omaha, Nebraska.

Yes. Nebraska.

When Ben and Josephine announced last year that they were moving there, our reaction was as follows:

"Omaha. ......................Seriously?"

So when my mom and dad asked us if we wanted to hop in their van and join them as they drove through Ohio on their way to visit, it wasn't so much the thought of vacationing in Nebraska that tempted us as much as the thought of getting to vacation with family.

Well, we had a wonderful visit, plus a little surprise: Omaha is NICE! We absolutely were impressed.

We roadtripped for 2 days to get there. I love road trips! We talked and laughed (and some of us slept) and found some fantastic little restaurants and fun things to see along the way.

On the second day, we stopped at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. (An LDS church history site.) It was beautiful and we really enjoyed the peaceful, natural setting and the beautiful spirit that was there.

It felt really good to be able to get out of the car and walk around and enjoy the gorgeous scenery.
We found some helicopter leaves.
They were too green still to flutter nicely though, they just kind of dropped to the ground instead of spinning and rotating in the breeze. So we had come up with an alternative way to play with them.Scott looks better in a mustache than I do.

To be continued...

It's here!

2009-06-01T08:54:00.003-04:00

The first trailer for New Moon!

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer

November cannot get here fast enough.

Easter Celebration

2009-04-13T21:02:00.019-04:00

We had another wonderful Easter celebration this year!

While Scott was working his magic in the kitchen, I was in charge of setting the table...

Some of the daffodils from the front yard made a lovely bouquet for the table.

Dan and Melinda came over and shared in our feast. It was absolutely delicious, as always! And the best part was spending time together and all the fun conversation we always have. We love them so much and are grateful to have them as our "extended family."

Scott and I had a lot of fun being creative together this year - with decorating our springtime flower cupcakes for dessert...

...and dying eggs - one of my favorite traditions from my childhood.

My family had a little custom where each of us would decorate an egg for each member of the family. We would write the person's name on it with the wax crayon and decorate it in a way we thought they would like. I made one for Scott (can you tell which one?) but I forgot to tell him about the tradition, so he didn't do one with my name on it. :(

But I picked out my favorite egg that he decorated and we decided that one could be "mine." :)

Isn't it gorgeous? My cute husband is so talented!

I think it's so perfect that Easter is in the springtime. What better time of year to remember the gift of the resurrection and the atonement, when we are surrounded by the beauty of spring flowers, newborn animals and budding leaves. Everything feels fresh and new. What beautiful blessings the Savior gives us.

Hope you had a beautiful, colorful Easter!

Signs of Life

2009-04-01T21:00:00.027-04:00

I love this time of year!

Signs of life are all around...

Newborn lambs are wobbling about at Carriage Hill...
So pure and sweet...aren't they precious?

Wildflowers are blossoming at the base of a tree...

The magnolia trees are blooming gloriously...

Buds and baby leaves begin to adorn the trees and bushes...

Daffodils are spreading sunshine in my front yard...
And I am happy!

Yummy Lemonade

2009-03-28T09:44:00.006-04:00

Nancy nominated me for the Lemonade Award. I feel so special! And thirsty!

Now I get to pick some friends to nominate who's blogs I find refreshing and delicious...

Michele is one of my good friends who first encouraged me to start my own blog. Her humorous take on all the crazy things that happen when you have 5 of the cutest kids ever is refreshing and sweet. It's also awesome that her kids' blog nicknames are inspired by Star Trek!

Sarah C is one of the sweetest, most positive people I know, and her blog reflects that. She is always doing fun things with her adorable family and has the most infectious smile. Her blog is all privatey, but if you're lucky, she might invite you to see it!

Megan is the cutest little prego mommy-to be and she's also saving the world by using cloth diapers, raising chickens in her backyard and planting a square-foot-garden. She and her husband, Brian, are really into "backyard sustainability." And I just love watching her little belly grow!

Kasmira at What I Wore Today has an awesome blog that I check daily. She's a down-to-earth, real girl who loves fashion and inspiring others. She has inspired me to be more creative with my own wardrobe and have fun with clothes. She rocks!

Liz at Mabel's House is a kindred spirit. She loves her little dog Mabel as much as I love Teddy. She has a passion for beautifying her home and worries about those little fine lines that (she thinks) are starting to pop up. She is a great example of creativity, humor and faith. Her recent post on her feelings after losing a dear friend touched my heart. She's just an awesome girl.

Now I'm off to make a pitcher of ice-cold lemonade....YUM!

Ode To Spring

2009-03-12T18:21:00.008-04:00

The first breath of sunny spring air,
Makes me want to chop off all my hair.
My neck, covered all winter long
Sings a joyous liberation song
Upon feeling a warm, balmy breeze.

But if the temp falls again, I might freeze.

Still Wildlife

2009-02-21T23:27:00.020-05:00

Last week we had a business trip... We drove from Ohio to Johnstown, PA. Along the way, we stopped to stretch our legs at Cabela's in Wheeling, WV. If you've never been, it's a huge outdoor outfitter store that is filled with camping, hunting and outdoor gear...

And lots and lots of taxidermied animals.

It's kinda like visiting the zoo. Except that none of the animals move. Which is a little sad. But also a very interesting experience because you have the opportunity to really appreciate the beauty of these magnificent animals up close. Way closer than you would get in real life. Way closer than I'm sure you would want to get in real life!

We actually spotted quite a few familiar-looking faces...

We saw the polar bear from Lost.
Ahhhhh!!! Scary! Look how huge it is! Save me, Sawyer!

We saw Mr. Beaver from The Chronicles of Narnia.
We saw Jacob from the Twilight series! (Unfortunately, Edward was nowhere to be found.)
We saw Bullwinkle. Scott made a rare photo appearance because he couldn't resist saying "Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"Yes, the rabbit is emerging from an orange hunting cap. Cabela's doesn't really carry formal wear such as top hats, and Scott left his at home.)

We saw Horton...I'm not sure that he's hearing much of anything these days though, much less a Who. But he is gorgeous and massive and it's amazing to stand next to him.
We saw Sabor (from Tarzan.) Wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley. But you've got to admit, she's got style!
And we saw Bambi. Lots of Bambi's.
Also................ they had a shooting gallery!OK, I know I'm totally exposing my inner hick here, but I do enjoy shooting a rifle. I got a taste for it in college out west and I'm actually a pretty good shot. I am very proud of the fact that I beat Scott at the shooting gallery!! (In his defense, we're not sure his gun was working properly. Riiiiight.)

So, the next time you get an itch to inspect a polar bear up close or to shoot at tin cans that whistle and spin when you hit them, I recommend Cabela's!

Handmade Love

2009-02-20T18:48:00.009-05:00

Scott and I decided this year to start a new tradition of having a handmade theme for our Valentine's Day gifts to each other.

We were in Maryland over Valentine's week. Scott went to some of my favorite local shops there and made this beautiful gift basket for me!

It included a gorgeous dark red, long-stemmed rose, sparkling apple cider and other goodies from McCutcheon's, a box of hand-selected chocolates from Olympia Candy Kitchen (all dark chocolate and no nuts - just what I like!), and a selection of gemstone focus beads from Potomac Bead Company for my jewelry-making projects! He picked them all out himself - aren't they gorgeous? I can't wait to play with them!

I loved everything, and was so impressed with the time and effort he put into thinking about what I would like, hand-selecting everything, and arranging it all so cute in a little basket. He really knows how to make things special.

His gift from me was these little covered soaps that I made.

Those big, manly hands of his have a hard time holding on to slippery bars of soap in the shower, so I thought washcloth covers would help make the soap bars non-slip and sudsy. He says he loves them. I had fun making them for him.

I'm so grateful to be married to my sweet, wonderful Valentine!

Getting Better With Age?

2009-02-06T14:44:00.006-05:00

I went to the Optometrist this week. For the past few months, I've been having problems with wearing both my contacts and my glasses. I figured either my eyesight was getting worse or I had some serious, rare eye infection that was going to rob me of my sight slowly and painfully.

Imagine my surprise when the good doctor not only told me that my eyes looked perfectly healthy but that...

my eyesight had gotten BETTER!!

I guess it really is possible to improve with age.

I'll be honest. I really don't like this getting older thing, but in this case I'll take it! My improved prescription allowed me to order glasses without having to pay the big bucks for thinner lenses, so I took advantage of the store's 2-fer deal and got two new pairs...I've not worn glasses in public in years because I've never thought I looked good in them. I think I got teased about being four-eyes in middle school too much and it scarred me. (Along with being called mouse because of my small stature and beaver because of my buck teeth. Oh, and my future husband teasing me about having a uni-brow. Yeah, middle school was not my favorite time. Maybe getting older is a good thing!)

Anyway, I'm actually kinda diggin' my new glasses a little.

What do you think? Four-eyes or Fabulous?

A Small Accomplishment

2009-01-22T18:29:00.009-05:00

I've basically been doing nothing but clinging to my couch since Saturday morning.

I got one of those colds that isn't just an annoying distraction, but rather a debilitating, knock-you-on-your-butt, can't breathe, can't sleep, can't move, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, headachey, nose-is-raw-from-blowing-every-2-minutes, tormenting affliction.

Not to complain. I've got a sweet husband who has been bringing me cough drops and hot herbal tea, cooking spicy food for me (to help clear everything out...plus it's about the only thing I can taste), running to the store for tissues with lotion and generally waiting on me hand and foot. And a sweet doggie who snuggles and keeps me company.

So being sick isn't ALL bad. ;)

In between blowing my nose incessantly, slathering on menthol ointment, pounding what feels like 14 gallons of fluids a day and watching WAY too much TV, I needed to find something to distract me and make me feel as though there is some merit to my snotty existence.

I decided to pull out some of the beads that Scott bought me for Christmas and try to get the creative juices flowing along with the mucus juices. (Sorry for that mental image there, but I couldn't resist - hee hee!)I combined these pink crazy agate beads with saltwater pearls and silver etched accent beads and pendant.There were enough beads to make a matching bracelet...
and earrings.I really love how they turned out. Now I just need to get feeling better so I can get out of the house and wear my little accomplishment!

Just Call Me Bessie

2009-01-08T21:16:00.005-05:00

I wish I had four stomachs.

'Cause this is what Scott made me for dinner:

Homemade macaroni and cheese. Comfort food. Creamy, cheesy deliciousness.

(He says his secret is a touch of nutmeg and mustard.)

This will all be gone by tomorrow. I'll find room.

Helping the Economy

2009-01-04T15:25:00.014-05:00

My girlfriend Angela and I met in Columbus this weekend for our Annual Shopping Trip. So we could, ya know, help the economy. ;) And take advantage of all the after-Christmas clearance sales. And have girl time where we get to shop to our heart's content, eat at restaurants our husbands don't like, and talk and talk and talk.

Ang is the QUEEN of Priceline and got us a 4 Star hotel room for 37 bucks! It was beautiful - it had french doors leading into the bedroom......and flat screen TV's in the living area and bedroom.We felt so fancy!

After checking in, we had lunch and then headed to Mall #1 where we shopped for about 8 hours.Back to the hotel with all of our goodies!
We were seriously pooped. We ate our traditional Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup in Bread Bowls. (Only they were out of bread bowls by the time we got there so we improvised and used their sourdough rolls.)
What's better than warm, creamy soup with crusty bread after a long day of shopping?I'll tell you what - sticking your feet in a hot tub. Neither of us had brought our bathing suits, so we just headed down to the pool area in our jammies, rolled them up and stuck our feet in! We did get one or two interesting looks, but it was totally worth it.

After a night of recuperating, we set out the next day for Mall #2.We both got some great buys and had a wonderful time together.

I'm so grateful for having such an amazing, fun friend in Angela, for serious clearance deals, and for our husbands who are so sweet to encourage us to do this.

Can't wait for next time!

A Very Teddy Christmas

2008-12-30T23:29:00.015-05:00

Teddy here...

I had a great time this year and just wanted to share my favorite things about Christmas.

Teddy's Favorite Things are...

1. This T-shirt that my Grandma got me.I know, I know. I'm completely adorable.

2. Hanging with my cousins who all love me and dote on me. Here is a picture of me with Christina. She put a bow around my neck. I am so manly that I totally rock it.3. Turkey giblets and heart. It's tradition - every year Grandma cooks up the giblets and heart and shares them with me. Mom thinks it's gross, but she obviously doesn't have the advanced taste buds that we do.
4. Presents under the tree for me! This year I got homemade peanut butter doggie cookies from a special family friend. Yum. She knows what dogs like!5. Being spoiled. I usually don't get too much table food, but around the holidays everyone seems to enjoy sneaking me little bits of turkey, ham, pumpkin pie or whatever under the table as a little treat.

Hope you all had a good Christmas and got lots of treats!

A Very Merry Christmas

2008-12-29T22:56:00.040-05:00

We had a beautiful, wonderful, fun-filled Christmas!

This year we got not only one, but two Christmas dinners.

Feast #1:

Feast #2:You know, when I took these pictures, I thought it would be fun to document all the great food we had...but now looking at them I just feel like a little piggy to see how much I ate. Ah well, it was delicious.

On the 23rd, we ate at my mom and dad's house with the Sister Missionaries. Mom wanted to make an early traditional Christmas Eve dinner so that we would have leftovers for the holiday.
And on Christmas Eve, we all migrated to Stephanie's house for a wonderful and bounteous buffet...

After eating tons of delicious food, we played a fun game in which we all got tags hung around our necks with the name of a character from a Christmas movie. After we figured out who we were by asking each other questions, we split into teams and played movie quote trivia.
Then we had the traditional grab bag gift exchange. And I got.....SOCKS!!!!
The kids all got lots of fun things...But Brianna got the best prize - a delicious-looking box of candy.
Here's Aunt Jennifer with 3 of the coolest nieces ever.And Uncle Scott with 5 cool nephews.
Christmas morning dawned with plenty of gifts under the tree.Despite planning on having a simpler Christmas and less gifts this year, we were very blessed with lots of wonderful new things. (If you look closely, you can see that I got LOTS of new socks - yay!)
I have SO many Favorite Things about Christmas, but here are just a few...

1. The fact that our families love food. It's an important part of our traditions, and one of the ways we show love.

2. My husband's thoughtfulness. As one of my gifts, Scott took me on a little date to the quaint downtown where my parents live. We went to a local bead store and he patiently shopped and looked with me and waited while I selected some awesome beads to make myself some jewelry with. It was a perfect gift because not only did I get the beading supplies, but I got to spend time with him, too.

3. Traditions. I love all those little things that we do every year that make the season special.

4. Pie crust cookies. A bonus of making your own pie crust.5. Watching cheesy Christmas movies on TV.

6. Being in Maryland. Really, it is THE most beautiful place. I love the rolling hills, the rocky outcroppings, the green (even in winter), the trees, the purple mountains...it's gorgeous and it's home and I miss it.

7. Becoming part of history. One day we got to hang out with Michael and Stephanie and their family in their basement they're finishing and watch them put up drywall. Michael is putting a time caspule in the wall and we get to have our picture put in there. We even got to write out initals on the wall - SK+JK!

8. Watching my mom and my husband cook together.

9. Talking about the gospel with my Dad while we did the dishes together.
10. Spending time with family. My most favorite part of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T22:03:00.003-05:00

We're just having such fun with our families right now that I have left off my daily blogging for December. I'll update soon with lots of Favorite Things to share, but for now, I am just enjoying the experiences!

We watched this wonderful video last night as part of our Christmas Eve. It's a beautiful depiction that celebrates not only the Savior's birth, but His life and teachings, His great sacrifice for us, and His resurrection. He lives! I am so thankful for His love for me and for this time of year to pause and reflect on the wonder of His birth.

I hope your Christmas was full of wonder, excitement, joy, warmth , love of family and friends, and the peace that comes from feeling the love of our Savior. Merry Christmas!

Having Too Much Fun To Blog...

2008-12-22T23:19:00.003-05:00

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays!

Home For The Holidays

2008-12-21T23:41:00.004-05:00

Well, after a quick 7 hour drive, we are Home For The Holidays! (It was quick to me - I slept some...poor Scott, it's really not fair.)

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Pulling up to Mom and Dad's house. Even Teddy was excited - he popped his little head up to watch out the window as we came down the street. And when we let him out of the car he ran straight to the front door and started pawing to get in! He loves his Grandma and Grandpa.

2. It feels like Christmas! The Christmas tree, the nativity set, the greeting cards displayed from friends and family, special holiday decorations I've seen my whole life, being with family... I got a rush of Christmas cheer as soon as we arrived and have been buzzing with it all day.

3. Yummy treats. Remember the other day I said I was trying to "be good?" Yeah, that's so out the window.

4. Laughing. We always laugh a lot when we get together. Both of my parents have very fun senses of humor, and combined with Scott and his hilarity, it makes for lots of giggling. I love it.

5. The guest room. We call this room "the cave." It is in the middle of the house and has no windows. You can go into this room at any time of the day and fall dead asleep. We always leave here well rested!

And I'm headed to the cave right now... good night!

Preparations

2008-12-21T00:22:00.003-05:00

Today was spent in preparations. Preparing others for their holiday by making them gorgeous, and preparing myself for our trip! I had hair appointments all day and then spent the evening packing.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. My awesome friends who come and let me do their hair. I have the best "clients." They're all my girlfriends, and we always have a great time chatting while we beautify!

2. How sweet my little fur-ball smells after being groomed. Teddy got gorgeous today, too. I gave him a little makeover - we clipped his nails, brushed his fur and trimmed up some of his stray ends. He looks fabulous! And he smells so good. He really never gets stinky (thank goodness) and I always think he smells sweet, but his mango-scented grooming spray smells especially yummy!

3. My packing checklist. Last year we went home in November for Thanksgiving, in December for Christmas, and in January, unfortunately, for a funeral. Each time I forgot something. Grrrr. So I sat down and wrote out a packing checklist of everything that I need. I keep a copy of it in my suitcase and it makes getting ready so much easier. Now the hardest part of packing is trying to figure out which clothes to take. Or maybe just which clothes to leave home, since I always take entirely too much. One of the benefits of driving - I fill that car right up!

4. Self-Rising Crust Pizza. Cheaper than delivery and faster too, since it only takes about 20 minutes to bake. Doesn't taste quite as good, but it'll do when you've had a busy day and you need pizza for dinner.

5. We're going home for Christmas tomorrow! Yay!!!!

A Simple Christmas

2008-12-19T22:55:00.010-05:00

We did all our Christmas shopping today. Yes, I said all. In one day. And it was fun, relaxed and successful!

We decided to have a very simple Christmas this year. I didn't decorate the house. I didn't bake. Our families decided to skip the sibling gifts this year, so our shopping list was a lot shorter. We aren't getting a ton for each other.

Before you start to feel sorry for us, let me explain...

We are going home to Maryland this year (yay!!!), so we didn't feel the need to decorate. We figured we'd just go enjoy my mom's tree and everything, since: 1. All our decorations are in a storage unit on the other end of town and 2. this isn't our house and I just wasn't feeling the same motivation to deck the halls as I normally do.

I didn't bake because: 1. I am trying to be good. 2. Scott is trying to be good. 3. we'll have plenty of yummy treats in Maryland to ruin all our plans of trying to be good!

We're keeping the gifts smaller this year because: 1. I didn't want anything. (Remember, that's why I'm blogging about all my favorite things this month) 2. Scott never wants anything. Seriously. This man could live in a cabin in Alaska with nothing more than the shirt on his back and a pocketknife and be happy. (In fact, he has informed me more than once that were we not married, that is what he would be doing.)

I know every year won't be this simple. I don't want every year to be this simple. Especially when we have children, I want to do all the decorations, baking, trimmings, traditions and stuff.

But for this year, a simple Christmas just felt right to us.

It has been so blessedly peaceful.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Chivalry. I'm lucky to have husband who drops me off at the door before parking the car so that I don't get my hair wet in the drizzling rain. Because, you know, I might melt! He also always gets the door for me and is just generally a gentleman.

2. The mall at Christmastime. I just love the hustle and bustle. It reminds me of the song, "Silver Bells."

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

I could appreciate it even more this year because we were not hustling and bustling. We walked around leisurely, listening to the Christmas music, admiring the decorations and watching all the families and people buying gifts for their loved ones.

3. When things ring up at the register even cheaper than you thought they would be. Today our purchases rang up $7 less than what the tags said. When Scott asked the cashier about it she said that everything was an extra 20% off or something. Score!

4. "Merry Christmas!" I love to hear people wish each other a Merry Christmas. I'm not offended if someone says "Happy Holidays", but it warms my heart to hear people acknowledge the true meaning of the season, even if they're doing so subconsciously, and even if it's while we're all out participating in the commercial aspect of it all.

5. A simple Christmas. Not only are we not stressed out and rushed this year, but I feel like we have been able to spend more time thinking of our Savior and the wonderful gift of His birth... which is why we give gifts at this time of year in the first place- to remember His gifts to us.

Here's hoping that your Christmas - whether lavish or simple - is just what you need this year, and that you are able to feel our Savior's love during this season.

Merry Christmas!

The Comforts of Home

2008-12-19T00:48:00.004-05:00

As much as I love traveling, especially to visit family, nothing beats the comforts of home. Being gone for several days helps me appreciate even more those little everyday things that I normally sometimes take for granted.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Our memory foam mattress topper. If you don't have one of these, and you're not one of those lucky people who have a memory foam mattress, go get one. It makes your bed ten million times more comfortable. They're inexpensive (we got ours at Walmart) and really improve your sleep. We LOVE ours. So does Teddy. He literally cannot wait for bed every night. When he's ready, he will catch our eye, trot toward the bedroom and then look back to make sure we are following so we can lift him up onto the bed. Then he'll bark if we don't join him. He likes the pack to stay together. Comfortably.

2. Crushed ice. Trivial, I know. I just really like my ice in tiny little crunchy slivers. I'm so glad the ice-maker here pulverizes it for me!

3. Pomegranate & Mango Body Wash. This comes in a big bottle, so I never take it with me when I travel. But it smells soooo yummy. And a lot of times I can pick it up for $1 or even free with a coupon when it's on sale. That makes it even more comforting!

4. Our ottoman. I'm a sloucher. I have to put my feet up and just burrow in when I'm watching TV or on my laptop. We have an ottoman that goes with our couches and so I'm used to being halfway horizontal whenever I'm "sitting". It always surprises me how many people don't have ottomans. They most likely all have better posture than me, but I'm more comfortable!

5. The sound of the rain on the roof. What's more comforting that being all warm and dry and cozy inside with a cute man and a sweet dog while listening to the rain fall on the roof? Safety. Comfort. Peace. Ahhhhh.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

2008-12-17T23:06:00.002-05:00

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Scott. I missed him.

2. Teddy. I missed him.

3. Scott. I really, really missed him!!!!

4. Teddy. I really, really missed him!!!!

5. Sleeping in my own bed.

It's SO good to be home...

Messiness

2008-12-17T00:42:00.007-05:00

Tonight I illustrated the fact that I know very little about children. I decided I wanted to dip pretzels with Tyler and Ashley, so I melted the chocolate and peanut butter chips, and propped them up on some kitchen chairs to help me at the counter.
I showed them how and fully expected that they would do it just like I showed them - dip your pretzel, swirl it around and put it on the plate.Then I quickly realized that this was going to be nothing more than a fondue dipping party......that got messier......and messier.But the kids had fun......and definitely needed a bath by the time we were done!The results are delicious!Poor baby Claire didn't get to have any fun...Give her a couple of years, though. I'll get her into all sorts of trouble!

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Adventures in Pretzel Dipping!

2. Good Customer Service. Josephine and I went furniture shopping today. The man at the outlet we went to was warm, pleasant, helpful, not pushy and gave her a great deal on her new bedroom furniture. Love it!

3. A new TV show. Ben and Josephine have been watching Leverage and introduced me to it tonight. I am a sucker for a good TV show, and this one just might make it onto my favorites list on my sidebar.

4. Chocolate Overload. As if gorging ourselves on chocolate-peanut butter pretzels wasn't enough, Ben made brownies tonight, too. We ate them warm with a big glass of milk. Heaven.

5. Missing Scott. I have to say, as much fun as I am having, I'm ready to go home tomorrow. I miss my cute husband. We have been talking on the phone several times a day though, and it reminds me of before we were married and I was in OH and he was in MD and we talked for hours and hours. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and I am FOND of that man!!

Designing Vicariously

2008-12-15T23:44:00.004-05:00

I love anything to do with design. In college, I took courses in both Fashion and Interior Design and loved them. I considered both both as potential careers but settled on Hair Design because I felt it would give me more flexibility. And because I'd already been doing all my friends and family's hair since high school. And because I absolutely love it. But I've continued to play with other kinds of design on my own.

Living in a borrowed house right now that is 100% furnished doesn't give me a lot of opportunities to decorate. And I miss that. So I am totally enjoying living vicariously right now since Ben and Josephine are letting me help them come up with a design plan for their new house.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. White walls. Let me clarify - white walls in a brand new house. There's something so refreshing and optimistic about the possibilities of clean, white walls. It opens up the imagination to what could be.

2. Paint. Yep, once you appreciate those pristine white walls, it's time to paint! I love color and am not afraid of it. Deciding on the color scheme for anything - a room, a piece of jewelry or someone's hair - is very exciting. We picked out the paint colors for the whole house today and it's going to be gorgeous.

3. Shopping. Oh, I do love to shop. (I AM a complete bargain shopper, so that helps, right?) Josephine and I had a fun trip and got bedding, towels, decorations, all kinds of fun stuff! I really enjoy helping someone else shop as much as shopping for myself. (It's a cheap thrill!)

4. Accessorizing. This is the most fun part for me - of a room, an outfit, whatever. My mom still teases me that when I was younger and lived at home, when she sent me to clean my room I didn't clean it - I decorated it.

5. Dreaming of the future. I'm always collecting ideas for future rooms in future houses we may have. Right now it mostly consists of pages ripped out of magazines and stuffed into a green hanging file. But I just read this post by Liz at Mabel's House and am inspired. A design binder like hers is so my next project for January. By the time I have my own house again in 20 months, I'll be ready to decorate my space again to my heart's content!

Aunt Jennifer

2008-12-14T23:54:00.007-05:00

So, I'm in Omaha Nebraska, helping Ben and Josephine get moved and settled into their new house. It's a beautiful home and we're having a great time unpacking, arranging furniture, picking out paint colors and planning all the interior decorating. But you might be able to tell from my list of favorites today what the best part about being here is!

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Waking up to the sound of the laughter of the cutest 2 year old and 4 year old known to man. Really, that was the first thing I heard as I began to regain consciousness this morning, and it just filled my heart with happiness!

2. Feeding the most precious 6 week old ever her bottle. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing when it comes to babies. I'm a bit intimidated by them if truth be told. But little Claire gobbled all her milk up and then burped nice and loud, so I must have done something right.

3. Kissing baby Claire's head and getting hugs and snuggles from Tyler and Ashley (when they slow down enough to give them.) Cute. Just cute.

4. Helping the kids unpack their boxes of toys. Each newly rediscovered toy was just so exciting! As every toy emerged, they would exclaim "WOW!!!!" (We should all be so delighted about all the stuff we already own!)

5. Finding toys in my bed when I climbed in to get settled and write this post. I think they left them here as a little gift to remind me that they love me. I'm sure I'll need to give them back tomorrow.

I love being an Aunt!

13 Hours

2008-12-13T22:34:00.007-05:00

I rode from Ohio to Nebraska today in a 22-foot U-haul. My brother and sister-in-law bought their first house after moving to NE and Ben came back to OH to pick up their stuff and drive it out and I came with to help keep him awake. I hope this makes any sense at all because I am really tired now.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Peanut M & M's and Dr. Pepper. Essential road trip snacks.

2. Clean rest areas.

3. Radio stations that play Christmas music and houses along the highway that are decked out with Christmas lights.

4. 13 hours of stimulating conversation with my awesome brother.

5. The fact that we made it all in one piece!

Git 'R Done

2008-12-12T15:14:00.011-05:00

After a lazyish day yesterday, today I got busy. Cleaning house, doing laundry, paying bills, filing paperwork and generally being the household Office Manager, Accountant and Housekeeper.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Making lists. I started the day with a list of things to get done and crossed them off as I went along. I am a list-maker. I always have lists going...things to do, things to buy, people to call, ideas, errands to run... I feel so gratified when I cross things off that if I do something that wasn't on the list to start with, I'll write it down and cross it right off just for the satisfaction!

2. Cleaning house. I actually enjoy tidying my house. It's fulfilling. Yes, I know I'm strange.

3. All my laundry done at the same time. I realize all the moms out there are snorting at me, and I know that my day will come (hopefully)...but for right now I am taking pleasure in the fact that I can do all my laundry in one day!

4. Having my ducks in a row. I can't abide clutter or papers piling up. My dear husband calls it OCD, I call it being organized. Either way, at least I know where everything is!

5. Jammin' to some tunes while I work. Oh, dear, I just totally dated myself by using the phrase "jammin' to some tunes", didn't I. Oh well, I AM a child of the 80's and just to prove it, I cranked up the 80's music while I buzzed around today. It was, like, totally rad!

***I can't take credit for how pretty the house is, because it's not mine. The green couches and our photos are basically the only things I brought with us. I will, however, take credit for the sparkling windows and mirrors, lack of dust, clean counters, made beds and fluffed pillows. Scott will take credit for the clean toilets. He always does those! :) ***

Pajama Day

2008-12-11T23:13:00.005-05:00

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Having a "pajama day." Once in a while, I just need to stay in my jammies all day and not worry about putting on makeup or doing my hair. It's a nice break.

2. When my husband tells me he thinks I'm cute at the most random times. Like when I'm in my flannels with a naked face and crazy hair. I don't get it, but I appreciate it!

3. Eating ice cream for breakfast.

4. Painting my nails a funky color.
5. Having a date night at home on a weeknight. Scott made delicious gourmet hamburgers and we opened a bottle of sparkling grape juice and turned off all the lights and watched a movie together.

Today was a good day!

Visions of Sugarplums

2008-12-10T22:54:00.011-05:00

We worked a looooong day today, and I'm dead tired but I had to get my post in before I nestle all snug in my bed...

At work today, the conversation turned to food (as it always does - it's sort of the running joke that we ALWAYS talk about food!) and we started discussing some of our favorite holiday treats. Food is a BIG part of any celebration for both of our families, and the Christmas season brings with it some favorite delights that I look forward to every year.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Egg Nog. Mixed half and half with ginger ale. Oh yeah.

2. Peppermint ice cream. With hot fudge, of course.

3. Fudge. A few weeks after we got married, Scott was bragging to me that he had "the BEST fudge recipe." He went and pulled it out of his recipe box, looked, and my mom's name was written on the top. (He had gotten the recipe from her years ago!)

4. Christmas Quiche. Our traditional Christmas morning breakfast.

5. Buckeyes. I started making these a few years ago when I became an Ohioan. Even though in my heart I am and always will be a Marylander, this chocolate and peanut butter confection has won over a corner of my heart for Ohio.

Now I'm off to bed, with visions of buckeyes dancing in my head...

What dances in your head this time of year?

Road Trip

2008-12-09T20:23:00.004-05:00

Because of our job, Scott and I spend a lot of time in the car together, driving all over the state and beyond for work assignments. I've learned to love and look forward to this part of my days...

Today's Favorite Things are:

1. Seeing the sun rise. Most days, we have to be Somewhere Far, Far Away by Very, Very Early. And, I am NOT a morning person. That said, when necessity hauls my groggy butt out of bed at the crack of dawn, I do always manage to appreciate seeing the beauty of the sunrise.
2. Rush, Sean and Neal. I am a conservative girl living in a liberal world. Gotta stay in touch with the voices of reason!

3. Nap time. My wonderful and self-sacrificing husband always drives, so sometimes I get to sleep on the way to or from work...or both. I keep one of these in the car for such purposes: (Wait...is he always driving because he is so gallant or because he doesn't like MY driving? Oh well, either way I get extra sleep!)

4. Chatting. Sometimes when we're home, we're so busy going different directions (or watching too much TV, I'll admit it...) that we don't talk enough. Being trapped in the car together for hours kinda remedies that! Today we spend the trip talking about our favorite things about Christmas, childhood memories and plans for our future holidays together. It was my very favorite part of the day.

5. Coming home. There's nothing better than walking in the door and having the cutest little dog in the world leap into your arms and give you kisses!

Little I Love You's

2008-12-08T22:11:00.006-05:00

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. This morning I had to leave the house very early to go to work. My thoughtful husband got up and loaded my equipment into the car for me in the cold and dark and started it so that it would be warm.

2. Because I had gotten up so early, when I got home from work I had a nap. (Oh, who am I kidding - I probably would have had a nap anyway. I love naps!) I thought I dreamed that someone kissed me on the forehead and whispered "I'm going grocery shopping..."

3. It wasn't a dream. I woke up to find that he had done the dishes while I was sleeping and restocked our kitchen.

4. And brought me these:

5. And this:
What a man! I think maybe, just maybe....he loves me!

Peaceful Pictures

2008-12-07T20:42:00.011-05:00

I love Sundays. For me, they are a day to rest from the world and spiritually recharge. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a very visual person, so today I'm sharing some of my favorite artistic images - ones that help me feel closer to my Savior and that bring me peace.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. In His Constant Care, by Greg OlsenHe cares for the sparrows. He cares for me. Oh, it is wonderful!

2. The Sacred Grove, by Greg OlsenI LOVE this painting. I love the majesty and strength of the trees as they bear silent witness to the sacred event that took place there.

3. The Washington D.C. Temple at Christmas (image courtesy of flickr) Growing up, almost every year my family would go to the Washington, D.C. temple to see the Christmas lights. As a child, I could feel the sacredness of that place, and that feeling grew each year as my understanding of the gospel plan increased. Scott and I were married in this temple and it is a very special place to me.

4. Angels, by Mark Mabry I'm moved by this portrayal of joy as the angels proclaim the birth of Christ. I read that the photographer intentionally left the shepherds out of the image, so as to convey the idea that the angels were proclaiming tidings of joy to all of us.

5. Christ In Red Robe, by Del Parson No matter where we live, we always hang this painting close to the center of our house, to remind us that Christ is the center of our life and our home.

Teddy Paws

2008-12-06T10:30:00.010-05:00

My blogfriend Elaine's dog passed away last night. This is the second beloved canine family member she has lost in the last 3 months.

I've never actually met Elaine, or her dogs (but I've seen pictures - big, lovely brown-eyed, furry creatures that they were) but both times when I read on her blog that she had lost one of her doggies, I burst into tears.

I cannot even think of the day when we won't have our Teddy with us anymore. It already hurts too much and he's sitting right here curled up by my side, pressed against my leg as I write this.

Nope. Can't go there or I'll lose it.

So, today I'm thinking of my favorite things about my sweet, smunchable, smoochable little fluffiness.

Here are five favorite things about Teddy (it's really, really hard to pick only five - there are about a million and a half)...

1. His sensitivity. If one of us is crying, he jumps up and tries to lick the tears away. Likewise, when we're laughing, his ears perk up and he smiles that Pomeranian smile and is so delighted. He's very in touch with our feelings and wants to give comfort if anyone is unhappy or be part of the celebration when we're happy.

2. His softness. His fur is soooooo soft and silky. I could pet him all day long. (Well, I pretty much do.) He is like a living little teddy bear.

3. His playfulness. Teddy is a total lap dog, but he does love to play. When the mood strikes, he goes and gets one of his favorite toys (a pig, a puppy or a soccer ball) and drops it at our feet with an excited bark. When he gets really excited, he does what we call "bezerker"- running crazy figure eights around the house and furniture - tail down, mouth open with tongue hanging out and fur flying in the wind. Then when he's done, he jumps right back onto a lap for snuggles.

4. His hugs. When we hug him, he hugs back. He wraps his little head around our necks and just squeezes. It is the most heart-melting thing ever.

5. His paws. Teddy has the cutest little paws - they are tiny. And they smell like corn chips. Really, they do - they smell delicious! I love the pitter-patter sound they make when he is running around the house. I love how when I'm eating something tasty he will come and put a paw on me just to remind me he is there and might like some. I love how he uses them like little hands to hold his bones while he chews them. I love how he curls them all up in a ball while he sleeps. And I love when those little Teddy paws reach for me when he wants love.

By the way, I completely, 100% believe that we will be reunited with our pets in the next life.

Warm

2008-12-05T20:52:00.019-05:00

It is soooooo cold outside! Brrrr! And judging from this map I just saw on weather.com, unless you live in FL or AZ, you're probably feeling it right along with me. So today I'm thinking of my favorite warm things.

Today's favorite things are...

1. Candles. When we were teenagers, my best friend, Rachel and I would burn candles and drip the hot wax on our hands to soften them (like we needed softer skin at 15!) and because we thought it was cool to make casts of our hands. Ouch! I can't believe we did that! Now I have a paraffin wax dip (much more humane) and I just use candles to make my house feel warm and cozy and smell good. Right now I'm burning Pumpkin Spice...
2. Scott's homemade hot cocoa. He first made it for me not long after we got married and ruined me forever on the powdered kind. It's amazing.

3. My faux fur blanket. Wraps me in luxury, keeps me warm and makes me feel like a princess. All for only $19.97 at Walmart!4. Panera's broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl. My girlfriend Angela and I both get this when we get together for a day of shopping and lunch. So now it always makes me think of her. Warms my tummy AND my heart! 5. Sweaters and boots. I literally cannot wait every year to haul these out of my closet and start wearing them. So, really, I shouldn't be complaining about the cold. And I'm not! Because without cold, we couldn't appreciate warmth.

What are your favorite warm things?

Answering Edward

2008-12-04T17:27:00.017-05:00

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Turquoise. That's my favorite color every day and I do wear it a lot.
2. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. I have a fantasy of being able to play "Knights of Cydonia" at the Expert level of Guitar Hero. But we all know that's probably not ever going to happen.
3. The Phantom of the Opera. I'm dying to see the stage production again. Alas, it's not touring anywhere near me right now, but I'm happy to have the DVD!
4. Tourmaline. Because it comes in so many different, sparkly, beautiful colors!

5. Roses. Boring, I know. But I only like the really interesting, funky variegated ones like these:
Now, who gets the title of my post? ;D

Good Morning

2008-12-03T16:44:00.017-05:00

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Breakfast in bed. I awoke to the smell of sizzling sausage this morning and then opened my eyes to discover a handsome man bringing me a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and a bagel with (my favorite) veggie cream cheese. I am spoiled.

2. My heat bag. Unfortunately, I also awoke with a crick in my neck. My heat bag came to the rescue. I made this one with fabric that my mom gave me. (She knows me so well!) Recipe to follow...
3. Contact lenses. It is still miraculous to me, after all these years, that every morning I can stick a tiny, little piece of plastic in my eye and I can see! I was cursed with glasses in the 4th grade and endured many taunts of "four eyes!" until I was saved by contact lenses the summer before 9th grade. I have very rarely worn glasses on purpose in public since then.

4. Spanx.

5. A fenced in back yard. So I don't have to parade around the street in my jammies while Teddy completes his morning routine.

Heat Bags

For your bag - use a 10" x 24" piece of fabric. I like snuggly fleece. Fold in half, with right sides together, so that it measures 10" x 12". Sew 2 sides closed and turn right side out. You can also make long, skinny bags that are perfect for wrapping around the neck and shoulders - just use a piece of fabric that is 24" x 12" and fold it longways so that it forms a 24" x6" tube. (These, of course are approximate sizes and you can make them whatever size and shape you want!)

For your filling - get just plain, cheap popcorn (not microwave popcorn), put it in a big pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil the popcorn for 10 minutes (it will start to float) - this causes the popcorn to go "dormant" and won't pop in the microwave later. Lay out your boiled popcorn on a towel and let it dry completely. (I usually let mine dry for a couple of days.) I also always add herbal tea bags (2 or 3) to my heat bags make them smell nice and add aromatherapy properties. (Chamomile is great for stress and headaches. Peppermint is awesome for sore muscles and for energy. Lavender is calming and helps with sleeplessness and cramps.)

Put it all together - fill your bags about half-way with the popcorn. Just fill it loosly, you don't want it too tight in the bag. Cut your tea bags open and shake the contents into your heat bag. Sew the final end together.

To use - microwave for 3 minutes or so, depending on how hot you like it!

Minty Goodness

2008-12-02T14:16:00.021-05:00

This morning I made Mint Brownies to take tonight to our Christmas Enrichment Night at church. I should have waited until the afternoon to make them - it's a wonder any of them made it over to the church!

We had a beautiful evening. The theme was The Attributes of Christ : Faith, Hope, Charity and Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence and Obedience. Several different sisters shared their feelings and thoughts about Christ's example and how we can strive to follow Him. We sang Christmas hymns and it really helped me feel the spirit of this season in which we celebrate not only Christ's birth, but all that He has done and does for us. It was just what I needed.

Then we ate. (You can't have a girl's night at church without lots of yummy food!)

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Mint Brownies. These little squares of decadent, creamy, rich, chocolaty, minty perfection are an essential part of the Christmas season for me. Recipe to follow...

2. Mint Foot Lotion. Sorry if it grosses anyone out to be considering both mint brownies and mint foot lotion in the same post, but I just put some mint lotion on my feet and am enjoying a mint brownie as I write this (washed my hands in between - don't worry) and I'm feeling very refreshed.

3. The fact that my mom and I can call each other a million times a day if we want to. Which we did today. Because we just kept thinking of things to ask/tell each other.

4. Spending time with my girlfriends. I am so blessed to be surrounded by good, exemplary women who have high standards and morals and are trying to live a virtuous life. This includes all of my friends, not just the ones who attend my church.

5. Spending time with my husband cuddled up on the couch under one blanket with Teddy all curled in a ball on our laps while we just veg, decompress, relax and watch one of our favorite TV shows.

And now, I present to you the best recipe ever for mint brownies:

Christmas Mint Brownies

Brownie

1 Cup flour
1 Cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened (I can never remember to get my butter out and put it on the counter to let it soften beforehand. My mom always does. But I nuke it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it. Just don't melt it completely.)
4 eggs
1 16 oz. can Hershey's Syrup (it's a miracle the Hershey's syrup makes it into the brownies every year instead of straight into my mouth.)

Mix all together and put in jelly roll pan. You know, a big cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. But don't overcook or they will be dry.

Mint Frosting

2 Cups powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened (Again with remembering to soften the butter...)
1 Tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. mint extract
3 drops green food coloring

Mix until smooth and spread on top of cooled brownies. It's going to make a thin layer, so I always make evenly-spaced little globs of icing in rows over my brownies and spread them together with a butter knife. Yeah, I'm OCD like that.

Chocolate Icing

1 stick butter
1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt together and when room temperature, spread on top of mint frosting. I drizzle it all over evenly (cough*OCD*cough) and then spread it with the back of a teaspoon.

How great is it that this recipe has 3 whole sticks of butter in it?

Socks...And Other Simple Things

2008-12-01T10:21:00.015-05:00

It's December 1st and I don't have a wish list ready for Santa.

I have been thinking and thinking about it, but the only thing I can come up with is socks! (I really do need some.)

Here's the thing: I live in a fully furnished home, so I don't need anything for the house. And although a girl can NEVER have too many shoes, purses, clothes and accessories...my closet is actually pretty full right now and my current job requires me to wear a blue top and black pants. All the time. (yawn) There's only so much of that that I can take. I do think it would be really fun to have a Wii...but I can't bring myself to spend the money, I mean, let SANTA spend the money on one, because I am afraid we wouldn't use it enough to get our money's worth. (Scott's not much into video games and even though I totally love Guitar Hero, I suck.)

So, really, all I want for Christmas is socks.

And that got me thinking...It's usually the simple things in life that make me the happiest.

I think this is a perfect time of year to focus on how much I already have. So, having been inspired by my friend Katie, who blogged during November about all the things she is thankful for, every day this month I plan on blogging about my favorite things...those simple, little things that make me happy.

And so, Today's Favorite Things are...

1. My husband's sense of humor. The other day, I was...ornery. Just having a no good, very bad day and so I was off in the other room sulking, when this suddenly appeared in front of me:Not only did he bring me chocolate, he brought me funny chocolate. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this man has made me laugh every single day since we've been married.

2. Facebook. I've recently reconnected with some long-lost family members and friends and it makes me SO happy!

3. Walking into my bedroom and seeing this: Have you ever seen anything cuter? I didn't think so.

4. Snowflakes. Particularly the ones that fall gently and peacefully while I watch them out the window as I sit snuggled up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate. Those are my favorite kind.

5. Warm socks. Straight out of the dryer and onto my toes is how I like em'.

Now go throw a pair into the dryer for a few minutes and say it with me...

"Ahhhh, bliss!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-28T10:42:00.019-05:00

We had another beautiful Thanksgiving this year. Although, this was the Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't.

Melinda and I had already decided to get our families together for dinner, but we had tried to get the guys to agree to (gasp!) going out to eat this year. (My parents and Scott's mom got together and went to a restaurant this year and the idea sounded tempting...) I normally wouldn't consider something like this, but we have had such a busy few months and Scott is so occupied with studying right now (and since he does a lot of the cooking) I thought he might consent to our evil plan.

Not a chance.

So, we divvied up the work and prepared a traditional feast. SO glad I listened to my husband. It was yummy as always and we'll have leftovers for days...
(Me, Robby, Melinda, Dan...Scott is taking the picture of course, so that he doesn't have to be in it.)

One of my favorite parts of preparing for a holiday dinner is setting the table. My mom always gave me that task growing up and I always took pleasure in making the table look pretty.

One of my other favorite holiday chores is making pies with homemade crust.
I hear a lot of people say that they think making pie crust is hard or it's too much work. I've found that there are a couple of tricks that make it easy and give you a delicious, flaky crust that is waaaaaay better than anything you can buy in the store.

Here's my recipe, with tips...

Southern Pastry

2 Cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 scant Cup shortening ( I like the butter-flavored Crisco. I always put my shortening in the freezer for a few minutes as I start the recipe. You want all your ingredients to stay nice and cold.)

Blend well with pastry blender. (You don't have to worry about handling it too much at this point - just make sure the flour and shortening are well blended.)

Add 6 Tbs. of ice water. Toss lightly with a fork. (This is the part where you don't want to handle it too much. Just incorporate the water gently. If you stir it too much your crust will be tough and won't be flaky.)

Gather into a ball. Divide in half and roll out onto a well-floured surtface. (When I roll out my crust, I sprinkle just a little bit of flour on top before using my rolling pin so that it doesn't stick. I also think a wooden rolling pin works best.) Fold in quarters and transfer to a pie tin.

Makes 2 single or 1 double crust.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes for a pre-baked crust.

Give it a try and you'll NEVER use store-bought crust again.

I'm thankful for so many things - like my wonderful husband, my sweet little dog, my incredible family and friends, the Gospel, the Lord, all the blessings He gives me every day, the gorgeous house I get to live in, leftovers and pie...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

You don't know how long I have waited for you...

2008-11-21T09:57:00.029-05:00

It seems like forever since it was announced that Twilight would be made into a movie. After counting down the days in heart-pounding anticipation of seeing one of my favorite books brought to life on the big screen, the night finally came!

This momentous occasion definitely called for a party. I invited my fellow Twilight-loving girlfriends and we celebrated before (some of us) headed off to the theater for the opening-night midnight showing!

"We'll be there soon, Edward!"

If you're going to have a Twilight Party, you've got to have Twilight-themed food...

Bella's Mushroom Ravioli Bites

Edward's Pizza Bites

Vegetarian Vampire Bites

Non-Vegetarian Vampire Bites

Sparkling Cupcakes

O Positive & AB Negative

We played Twilight Trivia with dazzling prizes, like...

A pine-scented candle (to smell and image running through the forest with Edward)
Freesia-scented hand soap (to smell like Bella)
Irritated Grizzly Bear Cookies (so you can go hunting with Emmett and Edward)
An Umbrella (you'll need it in Forks)
Vintage Vamp Nail Polish (bring out your vamp side)
A Romantic Piano Music CD (pretend Edward is playing for you)
Freesia Body Butter (so Edward will want to bite you)
A Sparkly Nightlight (comes in handy at twilight)
Icy Fresh Breath Spray (to give to your guy....XOXO!)
Vampire Fangs (haha - just kidding!)

My girlfriend Marie helped with the party planning AND picked up the movie tickets for everyone. A kindness on par with Edward saving Bella from Tyler Crowley's crashing van.

Aaaannnddddd.....HERE WE ARE IN THE THEATER!!! YAY!!

So what did I think of the movie? I totally loved it. No movie that is made from a book, especially a favorite one, will be as good as the book. Ever. That being said, I was really impressed. I thought the acting was great (even better than I expected), the script choices were (for the most part) good, and it kept the spirit and overall feeling of the books. I walked out of the theater completely excited and entertained and didn't feel let down at all (which happens sometimes after you've waited so long for something!) I'm sure I'll even enjoy it more the second (and third and fourth and fifth and sixth...) time.

And I can't wait for New Moon!

I Am Thankful For Adoption

2008-11-17T19:04:00.008-05:00

November is National Adoption Month. How appropriate! In a month when we reflect on all of the things we are thankful for, I cannot think of many things greater than the incredible blessing of a child placed in a home with loving parents.

I, and my two brothers, came to our family through adoption. My parents had struggled with infertility...they got me when I was 9 months old. My birth mother was a teenager who, after I was born, took me home and was planning to raise me with the help of her family. After a short time, she made the choice to place me for adoption through LDS Family Services. I will be eternally grateful for her wise, selfless and loving choice. (Although maybe I was just a really whiny baby and she just couldn't take it anymore! I like to think that it was because she wanted me to have more than she could give me, including a home with both parents...) I'm sure it was a difficult and painful decision for her and her family. I'm sure there have been moments in her life when she wondered if she made the right choice.

She did. I am so grateful. I have a wonderful life and the most wonderful family. And I know I'm with the family God meant me to be with.

Over the years, people have asked me if I have any desire to find my birth mother. The answer, for me, is no. My heart is full of gratitude and appreciation for her, but I know who my mother is. She is the amazing woman who changed my diapers, fed me, played with me, spanked my bottom when I deserved it, giggled with me about boys, cried with me about boys, put notes in my lunches, played the piano for me and sang me to sleep, prayed for me, supported me, taught me about cooking and sewing and service and life and the Gospel and is my best friend and the person I would most want to be like in the whole world.

A few years ago, I did request my non-identifying information to see if there was anything medically or otherwise that I should be aware of. There wasn't. But I did discover that my birth father had been involved in the process of placing me for adoption. I was informed that this is pretty rare. At that moment, I felt a deep feeling of appreciation for him. Up until that point, in my mind he had just been a guy who had...ahem...had a good time. How grateful I am that he was supportive of my birth mother in allowing me the opportunity to be raised by my father, a great man, the rock of our family. It's hard for me to put into words what my dad means to me. It's said that a girl gets her self-esteem from her relationship with her father. I just know that my dad has always been so proud of me and always makes me feel like I am special and like I can do anything. He inspires me to want to live up to his expectations. He is an amazing example of Christlike love and strength. He loves my mother and treats her with kindness and respect. He loves his children and is constantly praying for their welfare. He loves the Lord and serves Him with all his might. I think every child deserves a father like that.

In our church, we believe that families can be together forever. After I was adopted, I went to a Holy Temple with my parents and was "sealed" to them, which means that we were bound together with a bond that will continue after death. My mother will always be my mother, and my father will always be my father. Scott and I were married in the Temple and we will always be husband and wife. If we are faithful, through the gift and grace of Christ, we will be a family forever. I can't think of anything I am more thankful for than that.

Random Tag

2008-11-12T22:36:00.017-05:00

Jill tagged me, so here goes!

1. I love foods that combine hot and cold. Warm chicken on a crisp salad, sour cream on a bowl of steaming chili, a BLT with hot bacon and cold lettuce and tomato...and the ultimate: a warm brownie with vanilla bean ice cream and hot fudge. Yuuuuuummmmmm!!!
2. The first thing I do when I walk in the door and I know I don't have to go anywhere is to put on my jammies! I pretty much live in my flannels.
3. Paying the bills is one of my favorite chores. I feel very satisfied when I'm done. It's just too bad the bills don't STAY paid!
4. I've had my hair just about every color you can imagine... blonde, brown, red, black, violet, even green. (That wasn't on purpose.)
5. I spent a summer in college selling pest control door-to-door. And I really hate bugs. But it was one of the funnest summers of my life!
6. I can type 40 words per minute using two fingers.
7. I've always loved to read. As a kid, I would read at night under the covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to be sleeping. One of my favorite books was, and still is, Anne of Green Gables.
Now I'm tagging Rachel, Stephanie, Ilona, Amanda, Cindy, Stacy and Tracey.

I Want Reagan Back!

2008-11-08T20:31:00.007-05:00

I remember as a young girl and as a teenager, watching the President speak on TV and feeling a sense of pride and privilege to be able to listen to the leader of our country. I remember feeling that he was a good man who cared about each of us and had the wisdom and sense to do what was necessary. I was proud that he was our President, and even though I was younger and didn't fully understand politics and everything that was happening in the world, I loved to listen to him and felt that his messages were, in part, for me.

That president was Ronald Reagan, and I have never felt quite the same about any President since.

This week, we were in Dixon, IL for work and I was thrilled to find out that it was the boyhood hometown of our excellent former President! (A very appropriate place to be as I mourned a little over the choice our country has made on who is to serve next. I have serious concerns about Obama, but I will be praying for him and hoping he proves a lot of us wrong. We'll see.)

Here is the home where he and his family lived. He worked as a lifeguard nearby and during that time saved 77 lives!

This statue is next to the home and depicts President Reagan inspecting some kernels of corn in his hand. (It is Illinois, after all!)

And, for your edification and reading pleasure, here are a few of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes...

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

“Coersion, after all, merely captures man. Freedom captivates him.”

“How do you tell a Communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin. “

"With regard to the freedom of the individual for choice with regard to abortion, there's one individual who's not being considered at all. That's the one who is being aborted. And I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born.”

“We cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide. My Administration is dedicated to the preservation of America as a free land, and there is no cause more important for preserving that freedom than affirming the transcendent right to life of all human beings, the right without which no other rights have any meaning.”

“The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.”

“Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.”

“There are those in America today who have come to depend absolutely on government for their security. And when government fails they seek to rectify that failure in the form of granting government more power. So, as government has failed to control crime and violence with the means given it by the Constitution, they seek to give it more power at the expense of the Constitution. But in doing so, in their willingness to give up their arms in the name of safety, they are really giving up their protection from what has always been the chief source of despotism — government. Lord Acton said power corrupts. Surely then, if this is true, the more power we give the government the more corrupt it will become. And if we give it the power to confiscate our arms we also give up the ultimate means to combat that corrupt power. In doing so we can only assure that we will eventually be totally subject to it. When dictators come to power, the first thing they do is take away the people's weapons. It makes it so much easier for the secret police to operate, it makes it so much easier to force the will of the ruler upon the ruled.”

“A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill.”

Dang, I miss President Reagan!

I voted today...

2008-11-04T19:21:00.005-05:00

and I'm proud to support a man (and woman) who I believe know best how to protect our country, our freedom, our economy, and the sanctity of life, marriage and family.

No matter what happens tomorrow, I am so grateful to be able to take a stand personally for what I believe to be right.

God BLESS America!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:27:00.005-04:00

(Hee hee!)

We went to Trunk or Treat at the church on Wednesday. As I was standing there handing out candy, a little girl of about 9 or 10 came and stood by me and started handing candy to the other children out of her own bag.

I asked her, "Are you giving away your own candy?"

And her response, "It's OK, I have lots!"

What a sweet, thoughtful, generous choice she made. I could tell she felt proud and happy to give to someone else.

I think that's one of the best differences between choosing to give and being compelled to give - the good feelings that come as a result of choice.

So, choose to have a happy Halloween!

Welcome Baby Claire

2008-10-29T22:40:00.010-04:00

We have a new niece!

Claire Emily was born on Monday afternoon and she is so precious!

Ashley and Tyler stayed with us for the last 3 days while Mom and Dad and baby were at the hospital. We had SO MUCH FUN! We got to do bathtime and meals and jump on the trampoline and sing them songs at bedtime and listen to them giggle and snuggle with them every chance we could.

And we got to go see Baby Claire (as the kids call her!)

Ashley and Tyler were so happy to meet her...
The Proud Big Sister
The Proud Papa

The Proud Mama (Hello! She just had a baby and she looks totally gorgeous!)

The Proud Aunt
(No pictures of The Proud Uncle. He doesn't like his picture taken. Grrr.)

So, that bad news is that now that Ben and Josephine have produced one more sweet child for us to adore, they left today to move to Omaha. And took all three kids with them.

We have been moping all day. I opened the fridge after they left, saw a sippy cup and burst into tears. We just loved having those little kiddies around. (Hmmm, we may have to get to work on producing one of our own!)

We will miss them so much.

Nature Hike

2008-10-19T21:09:00.017-04:00

Yesterday was the last day of a reeeeeeeaaaaallllly looooooonnnng week. I had been going a mile a minute all week, had hair appointments that morning and by the time I was done, all I wanted to do was put on my jammies, crawl into bed and hide for a while.

Scott had other plans. He wanted to take me on a hike before the last of the vibrant fall color was gone.

I was feeling grumpy and exhausted and really did not want to go. So, all the way to the park, I was grumbling inside. (OK, maybe I was grumbling on the outside, too.)

I'm so glad my husband puts up with me! What a gorgeous day we had! Once I was there, breathing fresh air and glorying in the gorgeousness of fall, I was so thankful that sometimes he knows what I need better than I do myself.

Look at this cool tree we saw. I wonder if this is a remnant of the big storm we had a few weeks ago?And look at these fantastic, twisty roots...I am a tree lover. I love their majesty and beauty. I love the symbolism of trees, reaching towards the heavens. Can anyone tell me what this is?It's about the size of a grapefruit. I seem to recall that someone once told me that if you put them around your house, they keep spiders away. I brought this one home, but if that's the case, I'm going back for more.

Teddy went with us (of course) and had a marvelous time tromping through the leaves......until Scott mentioned that we were in a prime location and season for snakes and to watch out because they might be hiding in all the leaves we were walking through...

...at which point I made him carry him.

It was a beautiful day and I came home feeling renewed and peaceful. And then I had a three-hour nap.

Yay! Yay! YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!

2008-10-10T22:48:00.005-04:00

The new Twilight trailer is out and it is dazzling!

Twilight Trailer

Counting down the days until 11-21-08!

Getting Too Old For This

2008-10-03T22:24:00.006-04:00

Being in your 30's is just not the same as being in your 20's.

I actually love being in my 30's - I know myself better, I feel like I am wiser and I enjoy the little things in life more. I'm happier.

But I wouldn't mind having the body of my 20's back.

Scott and I just spent 3 days in Kentucky this week working 13-hour days. Three 13-hour days in a row that all started at 5 a.m or earlier.

On the three-hour drive home, to keep ourselves awake, we started reminiscing about our college days and it made me remember how I used to be on the go constantly and be able to function, even thrive, on 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Sometimes less. I remember staying out until 3 or 4 a.m. and then getting up for an early class and not ever feeling exhausted. Maybe I was running on the adrenaline of all the fun I was having.

Maybe adrenaline doesn't work the same when you get older. 'Cause I still feel like my life is pretty fun. OK, not college fun, but pretty darn fun nonetheless. I really like my job and I love working with Scott and the other people we work with. It was a fun week.

But I am pooped. Pooped, tuckered, wiped, exhausted...

But happy.

Black Bean Burgers

2008-09-24T18:16:00.012-04:00

I have been bragging about Scott's black bean burgers for a while now, so I thought I'd better share the recipe. They are AMAZING. The combination of flavors is incredible!

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tbsp chopped onion
1/2 heaping tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 egg, beaten
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 heaping cup seasoned bread crumbs

Mix first 7 ingredients in food processor and then add bread crumbs and mix thoroughly. Then it will look like this:Make into patties. Lightly coat a frying pan with olive oil and fry.Now this is important - garnish with:
cheddar cheese
mayo
lettuce
tomato
dill pickles
Mmmmmm, yummy!
If you can manage it, be sure to eat them on the patio on a beautiful fall evening with family.

Ducks in a Row

2008-09-21T20:33:00.002-04:00

Well, I survived the move. All the furniture survived. Whew! Muchas Gracias to Michele's husband and Melody's husband for helping Scott with the heavy lifting and to those who gave us boxes and helped in other ways. We have awesome friends!

I've spent the last couple of weeks getting my ducks in a row. I'm feeling pretty settled now and ready to get back to every-day life and just regular craziness.

Moving

2008-09-09T11:01:00.011-04:00

I have discovered the secret to a (fairly, comparatively, sort-of) stress-free move.

1. Move into a fully-furnished house. Make sure it comes equipped with a hot tub and a 60 inch plasma TV.

2. Take 2 weeks to do it.

We are fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to live in the home of some friends of ours from church who are in Norway serving a mission for the next 23 months. It's a beautiful home with some great amenities (like the hot tub and TV!) We keep saying that we feel like we are on vacation.

Still, though, I have to move my stuff.

I do NOT like to move my stuff. When you move stuff, things get broken and scratched. (I'm still upset about a scratch my dining table got in our last move.) And since the house is completely furnished, a lot of our posessions are going into storage in the garage. That adds another opportunity for my OCD to come out because everything has to be packed, wrapped, cushioned and protected just right. So, I'm driving Scott crazy with things like making sure all like items are in the same box, double wrapping, double taping, using the same size boxes so that they will stack well, etc.

Then there's the actual moving. Saturday we are planning on moving all the big stuff. The heavy stuff. The stuff where when the guys pick it up you hear things like,

"Ughhh. Ehhhhhhh. Errrrrrrghhhhhhhhh!"

"You got it?" "Wait, wait, it's slipping!"

"Maybe if we tip it this way....Noooooo!"

I have decided that I will be hiding in the bedroom while this coccurs. I just can't watch it.

The last week has been fun - slowly transporting the small stuff and getting settled and then soaking in the spa after not working very hard.

But on Saturday morning, my moving tranquility will be demolished. Hopefully, none of my furniture will be destroyed along with it.

Serenity now!

Shadow Puppets

2008-08-29T20:46:00.008-04:00

While waiting for our health screening event to begin the other day, Scott and I took advantage of a projector screen to make some shadow puppets. He had a pretty good swan going, but mine looks more like a dinosaur.

I guess we'll need to practice a bit more and maybe someday we'll be able to do something like this...

Why I Will Choose To Be a Stay at Home Mom

2008-08-27T18:59:00.007-04:00

Yesterday morning, about 5 minutes before I was supposed to walk out the door to go to work, Teddy and I went for a little walk so he could do his morning business. After much parading but before he managed to pick out just the right spot to apply his special brand of fertilizer, he turned around and made a bee-line right back to our front door and asked to go inside.

I noticed he was making a little wheezing sound and looked down and saw that he had his eyes shut. As I picked him up he snuggled close and made a little whimper. I became seriously concerned as he continued to keep his eyes closed and squint at me.

Scott had needed to take the car to work early that morning, and Melinda, who had graciously agreed to give me a ride to work, arrived just as I was starting to go into panic mode. Teddy got really excited to see her and managed to open his eyes for just long enough to give her his usual "I am going to MAKE you love me. How can you resist? I'm the cutest dog in the world - LOVE ME!!!" look but then shut them again right away. (Melinda is a self-proclaimed not-a-dog-person, but I know that she really does love him!)

I was really concerned, but with her assurance that Teddy would be fine, I left for work.

And felt worse and worse with every mile that took me further away from my boy.

Soon after I got to my desk at the office, I was sobbing quietly. And googling (which was not a good thing because everything I read had me convinced that he was either going to go into anaphylactic shock and have his windpipe close up or that he had some rare, incurable disease...) and calling vets who of course all told me that they couldn't tell me anything on the phone and that I should bring him right it.

But I couldn't bring him right in! I was stuck at work without a car and I had left my little doggie at home ALL ALONE. Having some kind of health problem. What kind of mother was I?

Pretty soon, my boss was aware that I was upset and had the whole story from me. She gave me her car keys and told me to go home and take care of him. Yes, she is an AWESOME boss.

So, I rushed home, took him to the vet, they figured he had been stung or bitten by some sort of insect and was having an allergic reaction, they prescribed him some doggie antihistamines and by that evening the swelling was gone, his eyes were open and he seems to be just fine.

(Heaving sigh.)

This is one of the (many) reasons why I will choose to stay at home with any children we may be blessed with...

My mom was always home with us. She was always there, no matter what. She never had to drop us off at daycare and go to work. What a HUGE blessing. Whenever I was sick, she was the one there taking care of me. Even now, when I'm sick, I still want my mom. I call her on the phone to get her opinion of my symptoms and to get her home remedy prescriptions. And to just hear her voice. It always makes me feel better.

I want to be able to do that for my kids. I'm glad I was able to be there for Teddy yesterday.

'Cause when you're sick, you just want your mommy.

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-08-25T21:20:00.019-04:00

Last year I forgot Scott's birthday. Well, I didn't actually forget his birthday, I just forgot what day it was. We were out of town for my brother's wedding and on the day of his birth I woke up not realizing the date and neglected to wish him a happy birthday until that afternoon when said brother called him on my cell phone with birthday wishes.

Apologizing profusely and trying to make it up in numerous ways did not redeem me. He has not let me live it down and has brought it up repeatedly since. (Teasing, of course.)

I don't think I'll be hearing about it anymore.

I woke up this morning and my sweet husband gave me a kiss good morning...I waited to hear the words....He gave me a squeeze on the way to brush my teeth....I waited to hear the words...He held my hand as he drove me to work....I waited to hear the words....

He picked me up from work this afternoon with a sheepish look and admitted that he had forgotten my birthday this morning!

But when I got home, I found some goodies waiting for me! Awww, isn't my husband sweet! He knows the way to a girl's heart - flowers and chocolate cupcakes! And a balloon. I think he's forgiven.(Somebody teach me to photoshop that stray hair off my forehead quick, cause it's buggin'!)

Really, he's off the hook, though, because he celebrated with me on Saturday. He took me out for a yummy lunch and to do The Thing Which All Women Wish Their Husbands Would Do With Them - shopping!

We went to my favorite place to shop - Village Discount Thift Store. Scott joked that he takes me to all the classy places! But I LOVE thrifting. I'd usually rather do that than go to the mall.

And I totally scored. These are my birthday purses! All brand new, all from the thrift store. Grand total of $7 for all three. ( I know it's probably rude to say how much your gifts cost but I'm just so darn proud.)

This evening was bittersweet - we had a farewell party for our good friends. They are moving this week and will now be listed in my sidebar under Friends I Miss Who Live Far, Far Away (pout.) We are sad to see them go but had a fun evening gathering with all our comrades to send them off. We wish them a smooth transition and are jealous of all the fun their new friends will have with them!
I'm grateful for all my birthday blessings - a gorgeous, sweet, wonderful husband, amazing friends and family, and designer purses on sale.

One more reason NOT to vote for Obama

2008-08-23T08:13:00.003-04:00

As if we needed another one. (Sorry to my liberal friends - I just can't like him or agree with him...)

Obama announced his pick for VP through a text message at 3 a.m. this morning. 3 A.M.

Luckily, I wasn't signed up for Spam You Can Believe In, but let me just say that if anyone other than a friend or family member with an emergency made my phone make any sound at all in the middle of the night, I would be TICKED.

How rude.

Doughnuts

2008-08-22T20:28:00.008-04:00

As I enjoyed a delicious doughnut for breakfast this morning, I thought "When did doughnuts become breakfast food?" They really seem like they are more along the lines of dessert, like cake or cookies, being a pastry and all.

(Although, I have been known to eat a slice of cake or handfull(s) of cookies for breakfast as well. Always with a glass of milk, though - that makes it healthy, right?)

So I was feeling all guilty for eating a doughnut as my morning nutrition when there were perfectly good wholesome and healthy bagels sitting right next to them. Hard, spongy, tough bagels next to soft, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts.

But then I went a-Googling and found this quote from Doughnuts: A Definitive History, By Mr Breakfast:

"Pay no mind to the fact that a bagel with cream cheese has over 450 calories; the doughnut was called out time and time again for it's average 300 calories per cake."

Doughnuts. It's what's for breakfast.

Twilight vs. Harry Potter

2008-08-16T09:11:00.011-04:00

And the winner is.......
TWILIGHT!

I was SO UPSET when I heard that the next Harry Potter film, which had been scheduled to release on November 21st, had been pushed back to next summer. Especially since the only reason the studio could seem to give is that they think they will make more money that way. Never mind letting all the fans down who have been anxiously waiting, and especially after the last H.P. movie was such a disappointment, both in length and content (or lack thereof.) You'd think they could try to make that up to us.

But I'm not upset anymore.

Read this, posted on Stephenie Meyer's website this morning:

Movie News Flash!

So, many of you have heard that the release of the sixth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has been moved from this Thanksgiving to next summer. First and foremost, please know that this schedule change has absolutely nothing to do with Twilight, me, or Summit Films (so enough with the imdb death wishes, okay?). This is Warner Bros. decision, and it was not motivated by anything Twilight-related.

Now for the good news! Though we're all sad to have to wait for Harry Potter, this open spot at the theater creates a cool opportunity. The good people at Summit were thrilled to let me know that now Twilight fans are going to get their movie three weeks earlier than scheduled. That's right—Twilight will be released in theaters November 21st! Let the merry-making commence!

--Stephenie

(Insert the sound of angels singing)

To quote Bella, "I. Am. Happy."

Ahhhh, Edward!

2008-08-12T22:13:00.007-04:00

For all my fellow Twilight-obsessed friends, this is for you!
Aside from currently reading Breaking Dawn for the second time (slowly this time, savoring every word!) I obsessively check Stephenie Meyer's website and a couple of other fan sites every day to see if there is anything new. I found this spoof of the Twilight trailer and I thought it was hilarious!

I also found this spoof of Breaking Dawn that had me chuckling...

Breaking Dawn the Spoof - Part 1
Breaking Dawn the Spoof - Part 2
Breaking Dawn the Spoof - Part 3

Enjoy!

Lazy

2008-08-08T21:25:00.006-04:00

I've had a few people ask to see pictures of our recent trip to Historic Kirtland, Amish country and Mansfield, OH. I'm too lazy to post them all and think of witty and entertaining descriptions to go along with them without saying "we had so much fun!" a million times, so I just uploaded them into an album on my Facebook page . Check it out if you want! We did have so much fun...

Food Challenge

2008-08-05T20:34:00.005-04:00

What is it about boys and food challenges?
Scott and I ate at Ohio Deli Restaurant in Columbus today and he ordered the Dagwood sandwich - a 7 inch high monstrosity with turkey, ham, roast beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato and who knows what all else PLUS batter-dipped fries. The waitress asked him if he wanted to take the Dagwood Challenge which meant that if he could finish everything on his plate in under 30 minutes he would get a T-shirt and his picture taken and put up in the restaurant to document his supremacy.
His response? Of course! (This from the man who hates having his picture taken, soooooo... it must have been the draw of a free T-shirt. Or the chance to prove his manliness by consuming massive amounts of food.)
He is now the proud owner of this...
and a huge stomachache.
I told him that next time he should just enjoy his food and I will buy him a T-shirt and write "I ate a ginormous sandwich and a pile of fries" on it with a Sharpie!

Craziness

2008-07-06T22:28:00.002-04:00

I dropped off the blogplanet for a while, but here's an update of what's going on:

1. I wished for more busyness in my life and I got it. Thus, I haven't had time to blog.

2. Scott has brought me flowers 3 more times since I last posted. (I know you're jealous!) This goes to show a.) How long it has been since I have had time to write and b.) That he is still the cutest man in the world!

2. I like both of my new jobs.

3. My office job is interesting and I enjoy the responsibilities I have been given. I think I would hate having a desk job full-time, but part-time is fun. Plus, it makes me appreciate The Office even more!

4. I like my health screening job because I get to travel around Ohio and meet new people and see new towns. And eat at little mom-and-pop restaurants. And shop at the local thrift shops when we have time. But my favorite part is getting to travel with Melody, especially when we are working far away and have hours and hours to talk in the car. For those of you who don't know her, she is one cool chick. And now Scott has started working for the company as well, so sometimes I get to travel and work with a hot guy!

5. My mom has been out to visit and HOUSE HUNT since I blogged last, and both my mom and dad came out to visit for Memorial Day weekend and Father's Day weekend. They have put their house on the market in Maryland and we are all praying hard that it sells quickly so they can come out here and buy the cute little house here in Centerville that they want. I would post a link to that house as well, but I don't want anyone to see it and get it before they can. If you're dying to see it and promise not to buy it, email me and I will send you a picture!

6. I managed to find time to read The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Loved it! Very different from Twilight, but way cool. Can't wait for the new Twilight book to come out in August!

7. It's not been all work and no play. In the last few months Scott has taken me on some really fun dates to the movies, Young's Dairy, Downtown Miamisburg, Carriage Hill, Ritters Frozen Custard, Carrillon Park and shopping! He always know when I need to get away and have fun. And my shopping buddy Angela came out to visit from Texas for a couple days and we had SO MUCH FUN thrift shopping!

8. We had a way fun Enrichment Meeting that I helped plan on Tuesday. I taught the Relief Society lesson today. Girl's Camp starts on July 15th and I'm the camp director. Church is keeping me busy but I enjoy it all!

9. Scott and I are going to Cleveland and Kirtland this week for 4 days.

10. The craziness isn't going to end for a while, it seems!

Further proof

2008-03-30T20:39:00.012-04:00

that my husband is the cutest man in the world!

He brought me these the other day. Just because.

Easter

2008-03-24T19:51:00.009-04:00

What a delicious Easter dinner we had!

Menu:
Spiral Ham with Mustard Sauce and Raspberry Chipotle Sauce
Funeral Potatoes
Asparagus with Lemon
Baby Green Beans with Lemon
Deviled Eggs
Mandarin Orange Jello Salad
Cucumber Salad
Yeast Rolls
Chocolate Bunny Cake

Ben, Josephine, Tyler and Ashley came, along with our good friends - one of whom did not want to be photographed! ;D The dinner was amazing, with a wonderful combination of flavors. Everyone brought something and it was a feast! Josephine made this cute bunny cake for dessert - he was delicious!

After dinner, Scott informed the kids that "The Easter Beagle" had visited our house and asked us to give them these Easter baskets. The Easter Beagle is a tradition that a special neighbor of Scott's did for him and his sisters when they were little - he would bring them treats from the Easter Beagle since the Easter Bunny came to their parent's house. That neighbor has since passed away and Scott wanted to continue this tradition in his memory. The kids were thrilled to receive their treats, of course!I love Easter! Besides having another excuse to get together with people I love and eat awesome food, I love this time of rebirth and renewal. What a gift our Savior has given us of the Atonement - to save us from death and sin. And what a gift to know that we will see again our loved ones who have passed and that we can be with our families forever. I hope you all had a wonderful day!

First Day Of My New Job

2008-03-10T22:20:00.003-04:00

I started a new job today! I am super excited. It is a part time office position doing Quality Assurance - policies, procedures, organizing, lots of OCD stuff, so it's right up my alley! ;D
This may sound silly, but one of the things I am most excited for is to be able to get dressed up! I've been working mostly from home for some time now and I miss the opportunity to wear my cute clothes. I am just not one to wear my nice clothes around the house - it's jammies and sweats for me!

It's funny, a few months ago I decided I wasn't busy enough. Sometimes I find that the more I have on my plate, the more I get done. So I put my resume on the web and didn't hear anything. But then a few weeks ago I started getting calls and ended up taking this new job. And I started to work for a company doing health screenings with my friend. Then I got a new calling at church as the Enrichment Leader. Plus I do hair at home, which I totally love. And I sell on Ebay and am considering opening an Etsy shop. Not to mention time with friends and family. So I definitely think I am going to be plenty busy enough now!

How cute is my husband?!

2008-03-09T10:16:00.006-04:00

Last night Scott mentioned nonchalantly that he would make dinner since we were snowed in (we got about 13 inches with lots of big drifts - fun!) and couldn't go out. He cooks all the time anyway - I am a very lucky girl! He has a rule that I am not allowed to "peek" into the kitchen while he's cooking because he likes to surprise me. I was very surprised when I came into the dining room and found this!

He set the table all pretty and even printed out these little menus! Notice what it says under Desserts though. Think that's a hint? ;)

24 Hours of Shopping - what could be better?

2008-03-07T20:42:00.004-05:00

Last week my girlfriend Angela was in Ohio visiting family and met me in Columbus for 24 hours of girl time and shopping!!! Yay!
We shopped till we dropped on Thursday and then got dinner and took it back to our fancy four-star hotel room (thanks to Angela's Priceline prowess) and ate while we watched American Idol. Why is hanging out in a hotel room so much more fun than hanging out in your bedroom?
Friday we shopped some more - Macy's was having a huuuuuge sale - check out my hot new Calvin Klein boots!!!
I love Angela - she is a great friend and someone I really admire and enjoy being around. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful friend and shopping buddy!

Happy Family

2008-02-20T21:04:00.028-05:00

I fell off the face of the blogplanet for a while there - sorry! We have just had so much excitement going on here!

My brother Ben, his wife Josephine and their 2 kids Ashley and Tyler came to visit us on their way to Colorado the beginning on January...and ended up staying! Yay!!! They had just gotten out of the military before Christmas and had employment lined up in CO, but a day after they got here they were job and apartment hunting. They found both and stayed with us for the last month while they were waiting for their household goods (that had been shipped to Colorado) to get here. We just had the most fun time!
Well, their things arrived and they moved into their new apartment last week and it has been so quiet around here! After all living together for a month, I was so used to us being all together all the time that I felt quite lost for the first few days they were gone...
Anyway, here are some pictures of some of the fun things we did while they were staying with us...

The kids LOVED feeding the birds. Tyler was fearless - he would let the swans snatch the bread right out of his hands.

We went to the 2nd Street Market. It's a really fun indoor farmer's market in downtown Dayton. They have local produce, foods and lots of fun things to see.

Tyler got 2 little finger puppets - a "tweet tweet" and a "rawwwr" (bird and tiger.) He had to have two because he has this "thing" where he always has to have one for each hand...cookies, grapes, toys, whatever. He just has to have one for each hand. Ben says it throws off his chi if he only has one!

Ashley got a little wooden rose scented with rose oil. She kept asking us to smell it!
OK, clowns usually scare the crap out of me. I do not like them at all. This one was pretty nice, though, and made a balloon flower for Ashley and a doggie for Tyler.

It was a fun day!

We went to the mall one day to let the kids play with the puppies at the pet store. As soon as we walked in, Tyler spotted some dog toys that were cars and that was it for him. He loves cars. I'm not sure he even knew there were puppies around. Ashley enjoyed playing with the puppy. The puppy enjoyed eating her shoe.

Doesn't my brother have the cutest family?Josephine and I had SO MUCH FUN doing some thrift shopping ... we found some awesome stuff! We got Ashley this little leopard print skirt and I couldn't resist matching her for church!

Besides going out and doing fun things, we spent a lot of time just hanging out at home. The kids loved climbing up on our "big bed" (it's a four-poster and really tall) and watching a movie on our little bedroom TV. Teddy liked to join them, especially when they had snacks.

Ashley fell asleep with her arm around Teddy, and he just stayed there letting her hold him while she slept! Awwwwwww!

Our family loves to play games together. One night after the kids were in bed, The Scrabble War started. Girls vs. Boys. It gets pretty competitive. So here is a picture for the boys!We've had a fun month and are just so thrilled to have these guys living here close to us. What fun a family is!

Christmas Joy Part 3 - The Festivities

2008-01-19T16:54:00.000-05:00

Is it too late in January to blog about Christmas?

Here is my reasoning why it's not too late -
1. If this were a scrapbook, it would be at least July before I got around to it.
2. I have had SO much going on since we got back, I really haven't had time to post before now.
3. Aren't we supposed to feel the Christmas spirit all year long?

So, in the spirit of Christmas, here are a few pictures from our trip...

On Christmas Eve, we had a special visitor come to the house! The kids were so excited when they saw who came through the door...They all got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

Even Teddy!Then we had our traditional family program with singing carols, musical numbers and Dad reading the Christmas story while the grandkids dressed up as the Nativity scene in the costumes my Mom made. They all looked so cute!

Ashley was a wise...man? A wise person!!Teddy was the understudy for the part of the wiseman.

Bella was an angel.

Tyler was SO thrilled to be a shepherd.And Ashlea and Tanner, the teenagers, were Mary and Joseph. They were very sweet to participate, even though I'm sure they were thinking the whole time, "I'm too old for this!"It was a very entertaining presentation! Ashley was a wiseman who wandered afar - like all over the living room. Bella decided she wanted to be the angel and the wiseman and the shepherd and Mary and kept taking Ashley's crown and gift and Tyler's staff and Ashlea's baby Jesus doll. Tyler was NOT INTERESTED.

It was hilarious! They were all so funny and it was definitely a memorable evening!

On Christmas Day, we went to Scott's aunt and uncle's house for a wonderful dinner. Grandma was able to come from the rehab center to spend some time with us and we were so grateful to be able to see her.Then we went over to Stephanie's house and had our traditional grab bag game! Everyone brings a ton of random gift and we all open them and trade and barter and laugh at the funny things we get.Looks like Scott's mom got some cool new sunglasses!Here I am with my grab bag gift....I think I'll keep him!I am so grateful for our awesome families and friends and how spending time with them makes the Christmas season even more special.

In Loving Memory

2008-01-08T15:27:00.000-05:00

We just returned from Maryland for the funeral of Scott's Grandmother. She was an amazing lady who has left an amazing legacy in her family and her example to others throughout her life. She was known for her hour-long daily prayers in which she pleaded to our Heavenly Father for each and every member of her family by name. At 86 years old, up until the last four months of her life, she was very active and went to the gym to work out several times a week! She loved to play Scrabble and was a fierce competitor. She always had a positive attitude and encouraging words for those around her. She loved her family and we all knew it. We are so grateful for her example of faith and her incredible energy and attitude. This picture of her and Scott was taken over Christmas, when we got to spend some time with her and enjoy her winks and smiles for the last time in this life.We will miss her terribly, but we know that we will see her again. How grateful we are for this knowledge that gives us peace and comfort while we mourn her passing and celebrate her life. We love you, Grandma!

Christmas Joy Part 2 - Food, Glorious Food

2008-01-01T22:09:00.000-05:00

With both of our families, when it comes to the holidays it is ALL about the food!

To the left is a picture of my family's traditional Christmas morning quiche. We MUST have this on Christmas morning. I can only remember one year when we have not had it - a few years ago, we all woke up on Christmas morning, opened the presents and then sat down to breakfast where my mom presented us with some breakfast casserole. We all cried, "WHAT IS THIS?! Where is the Christmas Quiche???!!!" She had thought we might all be tired of it and wanted to try something new....We didn't. She felt so bad she made quiche for us the next day!
I am a lucky girl to have both a mother and a husband who are amazing cooks. They really enjoy being in the kitchen together and sharing tips. I couldn't resist snapping this picture of them making cinnamon rolls...

Here we all are for Christmas Eve dinner, except me of course because I am taking the picture. Mom (with some other helping hands) made roast tenderloin, ham, baked potatoes with an amazing topping, sweet potatoes with marshmallows (my favorite), homemade rolls (also my favorite), broccoli-cheese stuffed tomatoes, cranberry salad...It was a glorious meal!!!

Isn't food the best?! Especially when you prepare it and eat it with the ones you love!

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-01T11:06:00.000-05:00

What a fun New Year's Eve! Mamalutz and Trekky Man came over and we feasted on shrimp, cheese dip with chips and chocolate fondue with tons of fruit and dippers. It was yumminess!!!
We played Apples To Apples, Taboo and Uno Spin. Of course, the girls kicked the guys' butts!! We didn't gloat TOO much...OK, maybe we did! The games started getting really fun at about 11:15 when we all started getting tired and loosing brain cells. (Are we getting old? Tired at 11:15? I never thought I'd see the day...)
So, at midnight, we watched the ball drop on TV, tooted our noisemaker horns, kissed, yelled "Happy New Year!" and the party was over - we were all off to our beds to rest up for a new year.
Happy 2008!

Christmas Joy Part 1- Gratitude

2007-12-28T14:49:00.001-05:00

We enjoyed a WONDERFUL Christmas in Maryland! Details to follow in further posts...

We are so grateful for this time of year to celebrate the Savior's birth and to enjoy the blessings of family and friends. What joy to know that our Heavenly Father's plan provides a way for us to continue these precious relationships in the next life. We feel grateful for the Savior's incredible, loving gifts to us.

We hope you all had a beautiful Christmas!

Christmas Card

2007-12-23T16:01:00.000-05:00

Scott and Jennifer’s TOP TEN Favorite Things of 2007

1. Celebrating Our First Anniversary In March, we celebrated our first year as a married couple! Scott surprised Jen with a really nice dinner and tickets to a jazz concert at the Dayton Art Institute.

2. Our New Apartment We moved into THE CUTEST new apartment. Scott’s favorite feature: no stairs. Jen’s favorite feature: takes less time to clean than the old house. Teddy’s favorite feature: the pond with all the swans, ducks and geese that he gets to bark at.

3. Our Trip to Texas Jen’s little brother Joe got married in Dallas, Texas this summer and we got to go! We also went down to San Antonio to visit some good friends who live there. We were there while they were having all that crazy flooding and even saw some cars on the side of the road that were in water up above the windows! But we stayed dry (except for the humidity – whew!) and had a wonderful time visiting family and friends.

4. Jennifer’s Week at Girl’s Camp Jen is the Camp Director for the young women at church and really enjoys going off into the woods with them for a week during the summer. When she walked back in the door (looking like she had been off in the woods for a week) Scott’s eyes got all big and he said “Who ARE you??!!”

5. (Jennifer) Reading the last Harry Potter Book Jen is still working on getting Scott to read Harry Potter…

6. (Scott) Reading the last Teachings of the Book of Mormon Class Transcripts Book by Hugh Nibley Scott is still working on getting Jen to read Hugh Nibley…

7. Going to Festivals Ohio has TONS of festivals throughout the summer and fall. The Strawberry festival, The Garlic Festival, The Sauerkraut Festival…to name a few. Being the food lovers that we are, we enjoy sampling all the local flavors. Some of our favorites: Strawberry Salsa, Garlic Ice Cream, Sauerkraut Cabbage Rolls and Deep Fried Oreos.

8. Getting Released From Nursery Yah-Hoo! After a year and a half with the 18-month to 3-year olds in the church nursery, we finally got released. Really, though, we had a GREAT time. With 30 children every week. Two of our favorite stories:

1. The little boy who was unusually fussy until we got his mom and she figured out that he was unhappy because his shoes were too small. She took them off him and for the rest of the morning he kept sighing, “happy…happy….happy!”

2. The nursery has little laundry and kitchen play sets. We looked over one day to see one of the little boys taking off his pants and putting them in the “washer” and then in the “dryer”!

9. Thanksgiving In Maryland It’s a fun 7 hour drive to Maryland and we made it for Thanksgiving. Scott says Jen slept the whole way there, but she doesn’t remember that…maybe she was asleep. Anyway, we had Thanksgiving dinner with Jennifer’s parents and Scott’s mom. We feel so blessed that our families enjoy spending the holidays with us AND each other!

10. We Started This Blog To see how exciting (or not) our life is, you can keep up with us here. Send us an email or leave us a comment to let us know how exciting your life is!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Chaos

2007-12-18T21:49:00.000-05:00

Teddy here...

Mommysmama asked me to post some pictures of our house all decorated for Christmas...here you go, Grandma!

It's a good thing mommy took these pictures a few days ago because this is NOT what the house looks like right now. Mommy has been so CRAZY busy getting ready for Christmas (why oh WHY does she procrastinate so much?!?!) that currently there are presents, wrapping paper, Christmas cards, cookies, craft supplies and half-finished handmade gifts and general clutter strewn from one end of the house to the other. Not to mention the pile of wet coats, scarfs and boots by the door from all the snowy-wet weather. And I'll tell you a little secret...she hasn't even made the bed for a week!!! But we LOVE the mess of Christmas!

Movie Mania

2007-12-13T16:09:00.000-05:00

OK, we may be the last people on earth to know about this, but we just discovered Redbox. They have these little kiosks at McDonald's and other places where you can rent movies for A DOLLAR A NIGHT! Woo-hoo, I love a deal! Seriously, who wants to pay 5 bucks at Blockbuster? I mean, sure, they give it to you for several days but how many times are you going to watch it? (My friends with children tell me that kids like to watch things over and over and over and over and over, so that might be a good deal for them, but for me personally once is sufficient.)

So, we have already rented a couple of movies this way, and as Scott says, the best part is that if you hate the movie you don't feel so bad because you only paid a dollar! We experienced this with Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer. Dumbest. Movie. Ever. Usually I like the superhero flicks, but this was way beyond stupid. (Sorry to anyone if you liked it!) We did like The Last Mimzy though. Very interesting plotline and different from your typical fantasy.

So, we will probably be watching more movies now that we can rent cheap. But, as my girlfriend said, now we just have to get Hollywood to produce something worth watching!

Dinner and a Movie...and Grocery Shopping!

2007-12-10T10:18:00.000-05:00

Date Night!
We consider ourselves "foodies" and pretty adventurous eaters (except no seafood or mushrooms for Scott and no walnuts or raw onions for Jennifer) so we enjoy any outing that has to do with food!
Scott threw me in the car on Saturday and said "We're goin' to Cinci!" We found Sabor Peruano - a Peruvian Restaurant that was very authentic. I think we were the palest people in there which is always a good sign. Scott had Lomo Saltado - sauteed beef with onions, tomatoes and rice with yuca. The waitress had this stunned look on her face when he ordered that, I'm sure she doesn't see many Gringos ordering yuca. (For those of you who don't know, yuca is a root vegetable kinda like a potato but is an aquired taste for those of us who weren't raised on it. Scott aquired a taste for it on his mission.) I had Pollo a la Milanesa - a breaded chicken dish with rice and beans and sweet plantains. When she brought my pollo out, I had to laugh - It was bigger than my head! Then we headed over to Jungle Jims- the adventure park for Foodies! Seriously, this place is insane. It is six acres of food from all over the world. When you enter, there are all these jungle animals out front to welcome you with various hoots, howls and calls.
Then inside there is so much to see! Besides all the incredible food, the whole store is decorated with crazy things like the Cereal Bowl Band playing atop the S.S. Minnow from Gilligans Island. (They really sing!)We saw Robin Hood and his Merry Men up a tree where they have hidden the Sherrif's treasure above all the aisles with food from Great Britain. Oh, yes, they have all kinds of wonderful things to eat and see, including...A WHOLE PIG'S HEAD?!?!?!?!
We picked up some fun, new food items to try (we left the pig head there) and even met some new friends. We talked to a couple in the China aisle who recommended some famous Chinese candy. We met a family from Russia in the Russian aisle who told us all about their favorite foods and showed us which items we might like and what things to stay away from.
After four hours of shopping, (yes, we spent four hours in a grocery store...I said we were into food) we were pretty tired so we came home and curled up on the couch and watched a movie. And ate snacks. It was a great date!

First Snow

2007-12-05T10:16:00.000-05:00

Is there anything more wonderful than waking up in the morning, stretching your paws, rolling over for your morning belly rub, and then going to the window to find this? Ahhh, the first snowfall of the year. (Well, actually we heard that there was a light dusting of snow over Thanksgiving, but we weren't here so it doesn't count.)

Mommy wonders, does she really need to go grocery shopping today? Wouldn't she rather just stay inside curled up with a book and a mug of hot chocolate? Of course, she won't share the chocolate with me. (pout)

We have been waiting all year to see the view outside our apartment covered in snow. Isn't it beautiful? But I worry, are the birds OK? The swans are swimming in the ice! Do they enjoy that? I myself do enjoy a frolic in the snow, but ice water...brrrrr!!! We might have to feed them some bread crumbs later. And perhaps some hot chocolate.

Thanksgiving

2007-12-02T17:24:00.000-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! We drove to Maryland to spend the holiday with family. Mom gave me Dramamine for motion sickness, so I slept the whole way, but she said that the drive was beautiful with lots of gorgeous fall color still left in the mountains. When we got there, we helped Grandma make our traditional turkey cookies. Mom has been making these since she was a little girl. This was the first time Dad had seen them and he liked them so much he says we definitely have to keep this tradition.

On Thanksgiving day, Daddysmama came over to for dinner, along with some friends from Mommysmama and Mommyspapa's ward. We had a feast! It's so wonderful to enjoy those traditional dishes that bring back memories of your childhood. And we all had fun cooking together!

After dinner, I fell asleep in Grandma's arms. Grandma's not really a dog lover but I won her over! She LOVES me!!!

Mom is one of those strange people that actually enjoys making pie crust. Perhaps it's because her Dad always complimented her on it growing up and her husband raves about it now. Anyway, besides making a fabulous crust, she added fall leaves on top to make it pretty! She found the templates online and cut them out and traced them on the pie crust. Pretty and Yummy!

The day after Thanksgiving, Mom and Dad went to Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Michael's house for another Thanksgiving dinner. It was such a fun night! They arrived to find the most delicious buffet of appetizers and goodies. Mom especially likes the shrimp and cheese spread with crackers and Dad liked the gringerbread cookies with pumpkin dip. Then there was an entire Thanksgiving dinner buffet! YUM! After dinner, Michael had prepared some really fun games and everyone laughed until they hurt! It was a great night of stuffing tummies once again and visiting with family and friends. We feel so blessed to have one big, shared family with so many people to love.

It was a wonderful trip and we had a great time! Mom loves to decorate for the holidays, so I have to put some pictures on here of our fall decorations at our house...

Fall is fun! Christmas, here we come!!!

~Teddy

Hello World!

2007-12-02T17:11:00.000-05:00

Well, my mom has been thinking about blogging for a while now but hasn't gotten around to it yet, so I thought I would help her get started. I don't know how often I will be able to post, since it's pretty hard to type with my cute little paws, but I'll do my best so that friends and family can keep up with what's going on in our life!

~Teddy