Taterbug has a birthday!

Well, tomorrow is my baby brother's (who is actually older than me) birthday. What can I even say about Tate? Tater is a lot of fun to be around, and has always had the gift of making me laugh at the most inappropriate things. He is also very loving, with a big heart. You might not guess it, because he is very successful at hiding his large heart when he's being the most STUBBORN a human being could possibly be. I've never seen anyone that will argue to the death to prove his point like Tater, but I'm sure that's what makes him such a great attorney. :) I'm very happy to have Taterbug as a brother, and love his cute little family too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BONZO!!!! I LOVE YOUR GUTS TO PIECES!!!

What's her name? Moron?

Today is a sad, sad day that marks the end of an era. Stacy and I have been friends since Kindergarten (I think) and have pretty much done everything together that we possibly could. We had plenty of classes together throughout all of our school years, worked at the same places, lived together, we even managed to somehow start and finish our missions within a month of each other. (And thank heavens, or my stay in Bolivia would have been a LOT shorter. Knowing that she was "suffering" through the sames things I was is the only thing that kept me there my first 6 months or so.) When she got married to Taylor and moved out I thought our days of hanging out and talking, etc. were going to have to drop off considerably. False. We still talked on a regular basis, and Taylor probably wondered at times if he was married to both of us. Once I started dating Joe "seriously" Stacy and Taylor became our go-to couple to go on any sort of trip with. As time went on and Joe and I got closer to getting married I leaned even more on Stacy to help me make the transition into being a "responisble, married adult." We talk on the phone every day, send emails, and still get together on a fairly regular basis. UNTIL TODAY! Stacy and Taylor are leaving us and moving back home to Blanding. Somehow, Stacy and I have managed to live less than 20 minutes from each other 25 out of the 28 years we've been alive. I can't even comprehend such a loss! However, as sad as I am to lose them, I'm very excited for them to be able to achieve what they've always wanted (even if it means abandoning me.) So, since Stacy is one of the 5 people that read my blog: I love, and will miss your guts! Thank you for everything (and I do mean everything) you've done with, and for me. (Especially telling me that Tommy smelled like Mike's Hard Lemonade.)

Oh, you know...

Just another day at the office.

How is it

That these two boys can make my whole day?





I dunno; but they sure do.

A season of surprises (part two)

Christmas was so great this year. We got together with my family the weekend before Christmas and had a great time. There was plenty of good food, good fun, and of course good company. Christmas eve Joe and I had dinner with his parents, and then came home and opened up our Christmas eve presents. I got Joe Denver Broncos, and 49ers ping pong paddles so our teams can battle each other each time we play. He got me the WHOLE set of Saturday's Warrior piano music, and probably regretted it the second I opened my present and began serenading him with each song I turned to. Saturday's Warrior is a BIG hit with me (and Stacy) and I was super excited about it. We visited for awhile and then I got our stockings taken care of while he "set up" my main present in our front room. He covered it with a blanket so I wouldn't be able to see it while I was setting his gift up. I was good, and didn't snoop. I set his present up, took care of our stockings and then it was off to bed. Joe got up to go potty at about 5:00 a.m. which woke me up. The longer we tried to go back to sleep the more excited we became about sharing our presents with each other. Finally at about 5:40 a.m. we got up and opened our presents. I had Joe look at his present first. It's a neat little Denver Broncos Mini-fridge that can also heat up food. It's meant for tailgating parties so you can even plug it into your car. I was very excited for him to see it and completely forgot about my covered up present behind me. Joe told me it was my turn to open my present so I pulled the blanket off of the gift and found two empty shoe boxes with a note telling me Santa had left my present downstairs in the big guest bedroom. I walked downstairs and couldn't believe my eyes.

There she is in all of her glory, my new Yahama P-155 digital piano!!!! DIGITAL PIANO!!! Even today it brings tears to my eyes. For years I have searched for, and priced digital and acoustic pianos. I never could justify the chunk of cash I'd have to pay for something I had no place to put. When I saw my piano all set up Christmas morning I was shocked. I just stared at it and cried, and then of course sat down and played the gorgeous thing. What an amazing husband I have to get such a special present for me. Afer a few songs we made our way upstairs and finished opening our presents and then headed back to bed. We eventually got back out of bed, and spent the rest of the day calling and visiting friends and family. We had a great day and were very happy to be able to have our first Christmas together as our own little family. (Although Peter wasn't very interested in opening presents, he mostly slept through the excitement until I gave him one of the dog treats my mom got him for Christmas.)

A season of surprises (part one)

December was a great month for me. I started off with a great birthday. The day before my birthday we were able to get together with my Blanding friends and do our little "Holiday" party at Texas Roadhouse. Someone tipped the waiter off that it was my birthday and I had to sit on the "birthday saddle" while I got a birthday "yee haw" from the workers. I'd like to say there are no pictures, but I think Stacy and Joe both got some. My actual birthday was full of pleasant surprises. All I knew about my birthday plans was that I was supposed to leave work at 3:45 p.m. and that I needed to dress warm. I got home to presents (wrapped in already used wrapping paper) and flowers from my sweet husband. I opened the presents and found a pair of snow boots that I really needed (taking the dog out early in the morning gets very cold) and the newly remastered version of Snow White. I was already excited about my presents and would have been happy just staying home but Joe had other plans. I changed into warmer clothes, including my new boots and we were on our way. About half way through Parley's Canyon I guessed that we were going to the Heber Creeper Polar Express. THE POLAR EXPRESS!!! I've been wanting to do this ride for years.

It was so much fun. We were the only adults in our car that didn't have kids. I didn't care at all; I loved every second of the whole ride. They give you your cookies and hot chocolate from Mrs. Claus, read the story, Santa comes to visit, and you sing Christmas carols. I'm like a little kid so of course I loved the whole thing.

Next it was off to dinner at the restaurant Zoom in Park City. It was DELICIOUS! We had this amazing jalapeno crab dip appetizer and then I ordered a burger with a side of shrimp. (Don't judge me, it was my birthday.) I can say for sure it was the best shrimp I've ever had. Joe got delicious seared tuna, and then we topped the whole thing off with an apple and walnut pot pie. Wow. I was stuffed to the brim, but I couldn't have been happier about my day.

Hot Springs, Turkey, and the Jazz.

Joe and I had the chance to go Lava Hot Springs for Thanksgiving. It was such a fun trip. All we did was eat, play monolopy, soak in the hot pools, and watch tons of t.v. We started our vacation the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and went to the Jazz game. We have season tickets, and it's always fun to watch the TINY little players from our seats up high.

We headed up to Lava on Wednesday, got to the cute house we rented, and started the relaxation. Thursday we slept in, ate some breakfast and started to prepare our Thanksgiving dinner. I must say that while I missed my mom's delicious rolls and stuffing I was very pleased with our own mini feast.



We even bought a special meal for Peter, I think he was pleased as well.



Sunday we made the trip in to Soda Springs so I could show Joe where my dad grew up, and the fun things he used to take us to see. We stopped to see the man made geyser Soda has. It was an incredibly ghetto set up, but the geyser was super neat. It goes off every hour on the hour.



I took Joe past my grandpa's house and showed him the train tracks we always smashed pennies on. Then I took him to Hooper Springs and made him try the weird "soda" water that we always drank when we were little. We would always take a gallon of it back home to Blanding and make grape kool aid for show and tell. What AWFUL tasting water. I had such a good day being able to show Joe the fun things my dad showed us each time we went to see my grandparents. Monday we had to come back to the real world, but had such a great time and were super grateful for the break. Oh, and just for the record: I am the Monopoly champ at my house. (And yes, I have the granny Lila gene and cheated once. I felt guilty and told Joe after.)