A new addition to our family!!!

No, no...it's not a little baby...on Saturday we brought a little puppy home! ~Gabi~ Well, she is ten months old, and will always be a very little dog. Gabi is a Chiweenie. That is a mix between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund. She is a VERY sweet little girl. She never barks, doesn't shed, wants to snuggle ALL of the time. She has a very cute playful side where it is so much fun to watch her run (she kind of hops like a deer) and chase her toys. Unfortunately she is still not quite potty trained...her previous owners weren't (ahem) very strict with her. Oh well, we are working on it. Here she is!

Breathe...

"Year by Year, all is unclear, day by day we find our way."

The holidays are over... life is as crazy as ever... shouldn't it "slow down"? I just LOVE Becky Higgins. I nabbed this photo off of her website and for me it speaks VOLUMES. Hope it brings a little perspective to someone's life as it did for me. Happy January!

(Is she not the cutest thing ever!?)

And it came to pass...

So...just in case you are feeling a little discouraged...wondering if your gospel lessons are sinking in to your children. They are!...well parts of it at least.

The other night, we were explaining the 2 year old version of the Atonement to Addy. It went down just about like this.

Derek:(After reading Isaiah 15:25 For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretch out still. ) So Addy, we learned that it is o.k. to make mistakes because we can say sorry and make it right. (etc...)

Addy: (Gasps...with face all a light) I make cakes in the kitchen! (then she runs over to her bed side table and pretends to make cakes...or mistakes for that matter!)

Maybe she has over heard mommy a few to many times making mistakes while cooking...hummm...

The other morning while I was getting Addy's clothes on her for the day she decided I needed to sit on her lap and have the scriptures read to me (our night time ritual...only she sits on my lap and I read to her) So I playfully oblige by laying my head in her lap. She decided that would be sufficient and pulled her hands together to look like she was holding a book.

Addy: And it came to pass...that they opened the door and they shut the door...the end!

I am not so sure where the "door" part of the reading came in...but at least "And it came to pass"
is sinking in!

Addy and her favorite pass time...playing with her "hand bany" (aka head bands)

Life the last 9 months

My Goal this week was to update our blog after an unintentional 9 month sabbatical...now lets see if I can maintain it with a significant amount of posting to be worthy of your viewing! First of all...

We moved (pictures to follow)
Addy was promoted to a big girl bed (Independence is bliss!)
I got a different job (marodspa.com)
we have new callings (Teaching the ctr 7 class in primary)
Addy turned 2 (woo hoo!)
Celebrated our 3rd Anniversary (feels like much longer than that...I mean in the most loving way possible)
Addy was demoted to her crib (needless to say that pleasurably independent streak only held true for the
little miss of the house....)


Just an update for those of you faithful blog readers who have (hopefully) missed our presence in the blogging world!


(The Promotion)

(The Front of our House...)

(Here are a bunch of Addy's two year old pictures...that I was able to take my self...in her skirt that my awesome mom helped me pump out in record time...(record time for an amateur sewer like me! Thanks Julie for the pattern and inspiration!)

We live really close to the Canyon Rim, so Addy
and i took a little walk and snapped some pics.
(I bribed her with mints and gum so she obliged
to do a lot more than she normally would... hey it works!)



For our anniversary for the past 2 years we have attended a Jon Shmidt Concert...low and behold when we found out this great entertaining concert pianist was comming to Twin Falls the week of our Anniversary we were pretty excited! Needless to say it's become an unintentional anniversary tradition. This is me at home after the concert with our new signed Jon Schmidty CD. WOO HOO!



We also like to visit the place where Derek proposed , At the look out on the canyon rim... We have a lot of fun reminiscing simpler times and how far we have come in just 3 short years! Love ya babe!


Thank you for enduring a super long catch up post...that hopefully wont happen again in nine months...phew!

My new job!

So...the time has come to go back to work! (Well I have been trying for a while, there just seems to be an unusual lack of openings in good ole' Twin) Something about the economy, and people don't like to spend money on unnecessary services...What is that all about? I am only kidding. I am excited to get out of the house a couple days a week and do something else that I love to do! Addy will sure get to know and love her Grandma's and her Daddy a whole lot more!

TAGGED! 4th Folder, 4th Photo

So here it is...my First Completed Tag! My 4th Photo of my 4th Folder!

This is one of our engagement pictures we were choosing between. Not the winner, but a runner up. My amazing brother Jared did all of our engagement and wedding pictures! What a guy! Thanks again for doing that for us!

I tag Jo and Jill

L is for the way you look at me.....O is for the only one I see....V is very very extraordinary.....E is even more than anyone that you can adore

Our Valentines day weekend was quite pleasant while we had the house to ourselves! I don't know why but I really like Valentines day, it's just fun to have a special day to think about all the people that I love! I also like to have a little fun for Valentines Day, like; making cards, and sweets, festive dinners, and (I even made a wreath this year!) That was fun. Addy and I had fun HEART ATTACKING the shower for Derek and we hid little notes all over the house for him (in his shoes and even in the refrigerator) For dinner I made a heart shaped BBQ chicken pizza, a yummy PINK fruit salad and other various red items. Then we delivered treats to Grandma Jean and my parents. (I love living close to family) After Addy went to bed Derek and I had a "TREAT PICNIC" and watched NO RESERVATIONS (which by the way is kind of depressing but a good movie non-the-less.) All in all~it was a pretty normal day with just a little extra

L-O-V-E!

The Perfect Cupcake

The Perfect Cupcake

From the kitchen of Adeline Wheeler

Serves and indefinite amount

Ingredients~

1 Can Tomato Sauce

1 Can Evaporated Milk

1 Can Bumble bee Crab Meat

Muffin Tins

Directions~

This recipe really is SOOO easy you don't even have to open the cans! Arrange Tins on the table, shake each can generously over each tin, and viola! You have as much or as little batter as you want. No need for baking, ready to eat instantaneously and tastes GREAT every single time! (At least it does when little chef Addy is in the Kitchen!)

RootBEAR Belly Baby?

Derek, Addy and I went to my parents house to watch the superbowl. I removed Addy's Dress so she wouldn't get it messy, so she just had a tank top on and her tights. Put that outfit combo with a Rootbear bottle and you have one white trash baby wanna~be! (for the record~it was empty, she just liked to play with it!)

Cheers Grandpa!!!

A day in the life of Da BUG

First I wake up, and am rescued by my mom from the confines of my cursed crib.

Then I get dressed and of course. ACCESSORIZE!

Eating? Optional. Depends on how much fun I am having!

Then it's time to start my busy busy day!

First with some tunes....

then maybe a piggy back ride...

Lounging at the beach...a must!

after all that I'll go...

Pick some apples...
Dance around in my Tu-Tu...

Look at the animals at the petting zoo...

and then...

Crash!

25 month Anniversary?

All I have to say is Derek is a sweet heart. We were noting on the 18th that we had been married for 25 months and joking about what "gift" we got each other because...who celebrates that anyway? Lo and behold he brought home these beautiful roses with a nice little note. But really more than anything I love a fresh vase of flowers to display. Unfortunately we haven't made it a priority to buy fresh flowers for a time now, but it feels good to splurge every now and then! Love ya hon!

All those Lights

Derek, Addy and I were able to see the lights on Temple Square Friday night with Derek's family. It was so fun to be able to spend some time together and enjoy the beauty of Temple Square...and the freezing cold. Thank goodness for warm clothes! Addy was so bundled up she just sat there and enjoyed every minuet of it! (probably because she couldn't move, even if she tried.)

Gotta keep enough lettuce to support her shoe feddish!

This little girl has one bad shoe feddish. Any chance availabe, she will wear any shoe lying around the house, If I even dare breath the word shoe she gasps (it kinda sounds like she can't breath because she is so excited) Then she books it to her shoe drawer picks out a pair of mismatched shoes and trys and trys herself until...Ta Da she has them on (usally on the wrong foot). Derek definatly has his work cut out. Like Mother like Daughter.

Christmas IS Coming!

So this is the first year I have ever really truley been done with all of my Christmas early. And I feel like...what now? I almost love going into stores and seeing that "deer in the headlight look" on all the people scrambling. (Mostly because I am usually one of those people.) So believe it or not, I am already planning next years Christmas and Birthdays and all the fun projects I want to undertake. It is so relaxing not having to think about the commercial side of things. I am excited for Derek and Addy to open their presents, because honestly it has been so long since I purchased, wrapped and placed them under the tree, I can't remember what a few of them are, I'd have to consult my list! (This picture was from last Christmas...all bundled up and ready to go caroling!)

I am offically an Idahoian!

Well...I am official. I passed my Idaho State Boards with flying colors. Woo Hoo! (Much better than I thought I did) And I am off and rolling looking for a job!!! Unfortunaly there's not a huge selection here in Twin...Oh well. OH! and my phone is officially an Idaho number now...so if you would like it I'll send ya an e-mail!

The joys of TESTS!

The ONLY good thing about a test is that feeling you get when you are done and you don't have to think about it anymore...Unless you don't do to hot...well then, that would be the worst part. For me, I have always been a bad test taker, no matter how well I know my stuff, I get sooo anxious! I finished my testing for my Idaho Licenses on Saturday and I am euphoric at the thought that I don't need to lock myself in room for hours and prepare any more!! I don't find out my results until next monday so, for now I am just hoping for the best!

BLONDE MOMENT 101 The 10 step guide

Have you ever just had one of those days where you question your true hair color? Mother nature has given me the gift of dark hair, yet by nature, I am a BLONDE! With that being said, here is a 10 step guide on being a true blue, through and through, BLONDE!

Here is a scenario applicable while running errands:

Step 1. Let your overly irritable daughter who hates the car, play with a set of keys, only so she can chuck them into places of the car undiscovered by human eyes.

Step 2. While exiting the vehicle, make a mental note of the general direction the keys disappeared to.

Step 3. Enjoy your shopping because lets face it blonde's, THAT is what we do best.

Step 4. Return to car to continue errand extravaganza.

(now this is where it gets tricky gals, concentrate!)

Step 5. As you search for your keys while balancing your loot and kid in tow, remember you only made a mental note of where your little ankle biter threw the keys, and you realize in horror, that yes, you locked your keys in the car.

Step 6. Arrange for a lock smith to come rescue you...and wait...and wait...and wait.

Step 7. Pay the the locksmith in shinning armor 50 dollars for his noble services and send him on his way, Because you find out only to late that the local police department will do it for no charge.

Step 8. Retrieve your keys from the abyss that has held them hostage, only to find the key to the ignition is not on the key ring, because you now relize, how could it be if you gave them to your child in the back seat, while you were driving the car in the front seat?

Step 9. Open the pocket of your diaper bag where your keys usually are placed, and voila! The mystery to the keys has been solved. The blondest part is, that there is no mystery, because they were where you always have them!

Step 10. Relish in your blondness because you and only you could accomplish something as impossibly grandeur as this!

(The event's recorded are actual events from the life of a true blue, through and through blonde who at this time would like to remain anonymous. Future step programs will be available soon from the same source... because..."who ever" was capable of this is, it's just a matter of time when something else will hit the fan.)

Addy's Love!

This last week Lauren, Ellie and Morgan came to visit!! And we had a blast, especially Addy. Addy is THE most loving little girl. She is not satisfied until she has had her quota of about 20 kisses and hugs for the day, and at least another five or ten before she hits the sack. But when ever there are any other little kiddos around she thinks hugs and kisses should be given at 10 second increment's for five minutes straight, pause to survey her surroundings then continue the love fest! So here is Derek, Addy and Morgan and Addy loving on Morgan. (Morgan is such a good sport!!)

Sleeping Beauty

Addy LOVES to "help" her daddy mow the lawn, apparently she was a little tuckered out from the season of all that work, so on Derek's last lawn mow of the season, Addy thought she deserved a break and yes, fell asleep on his lap as he mowed the lawn.