Sunday, June 29, 2008

Happy Birthday Ian!

I'd make fun of how old you're getting but it wouldn't be worth it since I'm older than you. Instead, I wanted to point out some of the qualities I love about you.

GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR
Always up for a laugh, a prank, or a hoax,
but mostly just laughing at your own jokes.
HARD WORKER!
Being productive and busy is always your quest.
You rarely sit down to take a rest.
SUPPORTIVE!
You were there by my side every step of the way
when we were at the hospital for Tatem's birth day.
BEST DADDY IN THE WORLD!
Every day after work with Tatem you nap.
I love that you don't hide being a sap.
LOTS OF HOBBIES
Golf, Soccer, Running, and Me.
Are things you like doing
for hours with glee.
*wink* *wink*
(that's funny, right?)Now you're 30 something and still as handsome as ever
I'm glad I get to hang out with you forever and ever!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!



Saturday, June 28, 2008

Seriously, I just love her to pieces!
We hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Bread of Life

Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, I decided it's time for me to learn how to make bread. I was explaining this to my morning walking friend, Holly, and she recommended I swing by D.I. and pick out a bread maker, claiming the D.I. has tons.

They probably have tons because of all of the new stay-at-home moms who get excited to make bread, ask for a bread maker for a birthday or Christmas, then use it once or twice, then find that a bread maker takes up a lot of space, sits in the pantry shelf for a year, rarely gets used, and then gets donated to the D.I.
Holly helped me pick out the best break maker there. It looks brown new (inside family joke). It still had the protective film on the buttons and came with an instruction manual. Purchasing price $15!! Holly emailed me her favorite recipe and I quickly made my first loaf which turned out fabulous. It was entirely impossible to wait the recommended 30 minutes before slicing! Truth be told, we didn't even slice it. Ian and I split it and devoured it like the last remaining chocolate candy bar on the face of the earth.
Now worried that homemade bread may overtake our lives...and our waistlines...I looked up healthy bread recipes on my favorite food website, www.kraftfoods.com. I found Bread Machine Applesauce Granola Bread labeled Fiber rich, Low fat. Perfect. So off I was making another loaf of bread. Apparently this recipe has LOTS of fiber in it because I swear I pooped five times just from the aroma of the bread baking! Final product, again, absolutely fabulous! I think we are in trouble over here! I'm addicted! Next, I plan of trying the Blueberry Yogurt Bread. YUM!
So, if the trend is correct, I should be making about 5 or 6 more loaves then moving the machine to my pantry shelf where it will sit, unused, for perhaps a year, then donating my bread maker back to the D.I. But in the meantime, I'm loving it!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Getting the important things done first.

I decided to design and create (sew) Tatem's nursery months before she was born. My intent was to have it freshly finished for the day she came home from the hospital. Well, Tatem is nearly 3 months old and, well, ...at least her curtains are finished! Currently, Tatem sleeps in a pack 'n' play at the foot of our bed. Ian is getting anxious to have her move to her own room. The crib bumper isn't done yet and neither is the crib skirt for that matter. Every day Ian asks if I worked on the bumper. The answer is always, "No, I don't have time. I have a baby to take care of." However, I did miraculously find time to work on more decor for her nursery. Sure it's not the bumper and it certainly wont get her into her own room faster. I found the wooden block letters at Michaels, painted them black, then made my own mixture of Elmer's Glue and water to hodgepodge the paper onto the blocks. I think they turned out pretty cute!

And do you want to hear something really exciting? I found 3 Pottery Barn floating shelves at D.I. for only $3 each. Tatem may never be able to sleep in her room, but it's sure to be the cutest room in the house!

And for even more exciting news, click here!

Friday, June 20, 2008

CAN YOU SEE WHY I WANTED THE T-SHIRT?

ADAM'S FIRST RACE!
He ran the Teton Dam Half Marathon with Ian and his Father-in-law, CHES, who took FIRST PLACE in his age division!Red, White, and Blue in honor of Flag Day. Or just by coincidence.
We stood at the finish line 2 hours after the race had started ready to cheer on our runners as they crossed the finish line. About 10 minutes passed as we anxiously looked down the roadway toward all the the exhausted runners when all of the sudden, ADAM and CHES were standing behind us, well rested, with water bottles in hand. Oh Teton Dam, we missed them crossing the finish line!!!!! Adams first race, and we missed it. Amongst our profuse apologies, Adam said, "Oh, that's alright. Ian is still out there. We can all cheer him on!" Apparently, running is an individualist's sport!
"No child/man left behind" does not apply here!!
We were all able to see Ian cross the finish line moments later!
GOOD JOB GUYS!!!

I have to give a shout out to my amazing friend Alicia who is racing this weekend...180 MILES FROM LOGAN TO PARK CITY!!! (She's crazy!)
GO GET 'EM! YOU CAN DO IT!
I hope you don't poop your pants!
Not that I know any runners who have done that before...ok, well, maybe just one, but I really think you can refrain from adding your name to that list.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

Dam/Birthdays

My brother ADAM, and my husband IAN
are running the TETON DAM MARATHON
Saturday in Rexburg Idaho.
I was going to sign up to be a dam race volunteer but lets be honest, I only wanted the dam t-shirt.
Good luck with your dam race Ian and Adam!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VAL!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRAIG !HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE !HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAGE !!HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTNI !!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET WIFE!!

I love my wife Natalie for many reasons - here are but a few:
1. Look at the angel daughter she has given us!
2. I love her laugh and smile
3. Her love of others through "Service" - (She continually redefines our last name!)
4. Her love for our little girl
5. The sacrifices she has made during our marriage (i.e. School, poverty, Twin Falls, 10+ moves in 8 years).
6. Her solid support of me while getting an education
7. Her qwerkes (i.e. Seeing 12:34 on the clock twice a day - And more recently 11:29 - twice a day -Our birth dates - the 11th and 29th)
8. We have shared one car for nearly eight years - without complaint - ooops she is here to pick me up!! GOT TO GO - and take her to dinner to celebrate her 29th birthday!! ;o)

LOVE YOU NATTYBEAR! Ian

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Toddler Fingers vs. Baby Eyes

"Oh look, fresh eyes! I must poke them out!"
"Me too!""Crap, it's my only remaining good eye and she's gettin' real close!"
Tatem loves her cousins

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Tatem's Weekend

We had a great weekend with family and friends!
(I stole this picture from Hollys blog. Thanks Holly!)(And I stole this one from Tres and Roseanns blog. Thanks guys!)