Why is it so hard to do a blog post while I'm here?! I have no idea. I have all these posts running through my head...mostly political and baby related, but eh...I never feel like actually writing them. Anyway, here is some links to some videos that my mom put on her blog.
This was when I was first here. She has become an expert walker. Actually, she hasn't even crawled for three days. HERE
Our trip to Louisiana
HERE and HERE
Claire meets my grandmas dog
HERE
Playing with Grandpa
HERE
Playing with Grandma
HERE
See? Really lazy.
And I hope people are really getting angry about our government.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
From my Dad to my Mom
Happy 24 Anniversary
During those first days, weeks and months at Eastern, the more I learned about you, the more I fell in love with you. Yes, there were some very nice girls at Eastern but none of them were as beautiful, as outgoing, and most of all, as “sparking” as you were. I know I’ve made the best choice in all eternity!!!!
I can’t help but think of our engagement and wedding day events. A serious novel-writer or even a comedian couldn’t have written our story better than what we experienced-truly amazing!!!
There is a scene in the 2nd Lord of the Rings where they are standing on the tower at Helms Deep and the King says the words, “It begins here!” Well this picture is the same for our family. Our family began at the Arizona Temple on March 15, 1985. It began then for two eternal friends. It began then for five wonderful children to be raised in a loving home with a GREAT mom!!! I hope they all know how blessed they are to have their mom!!!!
One year passed and I knew that I didn't want to spend my life with anyone else, but Susie. She was the most beautiful mother-to-be that I could’ve ever imagined. All my expectations were fulfilled, and that is saying A LOT! Sounds corny, I know, but it's true.
I love that Susie has such a kind and loving heart for our children. I’ve been around a lot of good mothers but I have never known of any of them to be as Great a mother for their kids as she is; waking them up in the morning with a song, playing games with them, genuinely and lovingly engaging them, reading to them day and night-always there for them.
Susie loves to read to her kids!!!
Of course Susie and I were more than thrilled when Brian and Megan had their Internship in Arkansas! We wished and hoped at that Megan and Brian would be able to stay with us in Arkansas but that didn’t work out.
This is what Susie and I have to look forward to for the next 26 years of our lives.
The song, Still the One
To this day – 8,760 days later – you are still the one!!!!!
I give you my love, my support, my friendship, and my appreciation. I give to you all I have.
Susie,
You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love rubbing your shoulders, listening to your ideas, feeling of your enthusiasm and energy, talking with you and being a partner in parenting our children.
From the time in Business class while at Eastern when you told me that you don’t date “dumb” guys, you’ve made me want to be a better person. (Great motivation!)
You are everything I think about. There are days when I seriously think my heart will burst with happiness. I thank Heavenly Father every day for you – for us.
I love that I still get butterflies in my stomach and feel like a teenager when I’m next to you!
I’m thankful each and every day that I share our family with you. Our family is SOOO precious – true blessings in our lives. I married the best person for me in the whole world and of the entire universe.
It’s been a grand and marvelous 24 years of shared life!!!!!!!! 24 years seems like a long time, but 1,000 years on this earth with you wouldn't be enough for me. I look forward to another 26 years to get to 50 years of marriage; and then together for all eternity!!!!
I’d be remiss to not also tell you how much I love your dedication and sacrifice to me. Seems like the best marriages are those where the two are one – unselfishly giving of each other. You’ve always been a supporter of my dreams.
All my love,
Phil
I can’t help but think of our engagement and wedding day events. A serious novel-writer or even a comedian couldn’t have written our story better than what we experienced-truly amazing!!!
There is a scene in the 2nd Lord of the Rings where they are standing on the tower at Helms Deep and the King says the words, “It begins here!” Well this picture is the same for our family. Our family began at the Arizona Temple on March 15, 1985. It began then for two eternal friends. It began then for five wonderful children to be raised in a loving home with a GREAT mom!!! I hope they all know how blessed they are to have their mom!!!!
One year passed and I knew that I didn't want to spend my life with anyone else, but Susie. She was the most beautiful mother-to-be that I could’ve ever imagined. All my expectations were fulfilled, and that is saying A LOT! Sounds corny, I know, but it's true.
I love that Susie has such a kind and loving heart for our children. I’ve been around a lot of good mothers but I have never known of any of them to be as Great a mother for their kids as she is; waking them up in the morning with a song, playing games with them, genuinely and lovingly engaging them, reading to them day and night-always there for them.
Susie loves to read to her kids!!!
Of course Susie and I were more than thrilled when Brian and Megan had their Internship in Arkansas! We wished and hoped at that Megan and Brian would be able to stay with us in Arkansas but that didn’t work out.
This is what Susie and I have to look forward to for the next 26 years of our lives.
The song, Still the One
To this day – 8,760 days later – you are still the one!!!!!
I give you my love, my support, my friendship, and my appreciation. I give to you all I have.
Susie,
You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love rubbing your shoulders, listening to your ideas, feeling of your enthusiasm and energy, talking with you and being a partner in parenting our children.
From the time in Business class while at Eastern when you told me that you don’t date “dumb” guys, you’ve made me want to be a better person. (Great motivation!)
You are everything I think about. There are days when I seriously think my heart will burst with happiness. I thank Heavenly Father every day for you – for us.
I love that I still get butterflies in my stomach and feel like a teenager when I’m next to you!
I’m thankful each and every day that I share our family with you. Our family is SOOO precious – true blessings in our lives. I married the best person for me in the whole world and of the entire universe.
It’s been a grand and marvelous 24 years of shared life!!!!!!!! 24 years seems like a long time, but 1,000 years on this earth with you wouldn't be enough for me. I look forward to another 26 years to get to 50 years of marriage; and then together for all eternity!!!!
I’d be remiss to not also tell you how much I love your dedication and sacrifice to me. Seems like the best marriages are those where the two are one – unselfishly giving of each other. You’ve always been a supporter of my dreams.
All my love,
Phil
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Our "Great" President
" According to their tax returns, in 2006 and 2007, the Obamas gave 5.8 percent and 6.1 percent of their income to charity. I guess Michelle Obama has to draw the line someplace with all this "giving back" stuff. The Bidens gave 0.15 percent and 0.31 percent of the income to charity.
No wonder Obama doesn't see what the big fuss is over his decision to limit tax deductions for charitable giving. At least that part of Obama's tax plan won't affect his supporters.
Meanwhile, in 1991, 1992 and 1993, George W. Bush had incomes of $179,591, $212,313 and $610,772. His charitable contributions those years were $28,236, $31,914 and $31,292. During his presidency, Bush gave away more than 10 percent of his income each year.
For purposes of comparison, in 2005, Barack Obama made $1.7 million — more than twice President Bush's 2005 income of $735,180 — but they both gave about the same amount to charity.
That same year, the heartless Halliburton employee Vice President Dick Cheney gave 77 percent of his income to charity. The following year, in 2006, Bush gave more to charity than Obama on an income one-third smaller than Obama's. Maybe when Obama talks about "change" he's referring to his charitable contributions.
Liberals have no intention of actually parting with any of their own wealth or lifting a finger to help the poor. That's for other people to do with what's left of their incomes after the government has taken its increasingly large cut.
As the great liberal intellectual Bertrand Russell explained while scoffing at the idea that he would give his money to charity: "I'm afraid you've got it wrong. (We) are socialists. We don't pretend to be Christians. "
A friend of mine found that in an article....interesting huh?
No wonder Obama doesn't see what the big fuss is over his decision to limit tax deductions for charitable giving. At least that part of Obama's tax plan won't affect his supporters.
Meanwhile, in 1991, 1992 and 1993, George W. Bush had incomes of $179,591, $212,313 and $610,772. His charitable contributions those years were $28,236, $31,914 and $31,292. During his presidency, Bush gave away more than 10 percent of his income each year.
For purposes of comparison, in 2005, Barack Obama made $1.7 million — more than twice President Bush's 2005 income of $735,180 — but they both gave about the same amount to charity.
That same year, the heartless Halliburton employee Vice President Dick Cheney gave 77 percent of his income to charity. The following year, in 2006, Bush gave more to charity than Obama on an income one-third smaller than Obama's. Maybe when Obama talks about "change" he's referring to his charitable contributions.
Liberals have no intention of actually parting with any of their own wealth or lifting a finger to help the poor. That's for other people to do with what's left of their incomes after the government has taken its increasingly large cut.
As the great liberal intellectual Bertrand Russell explained while scoffing at the idea that he would give his money to charity: "I'm afraid you've got it wrong. (We) are socialists. We don't pretend to be Christians. "
A friend of mine found that in an article....interesting huh?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tagged!
5 Things I was doing 5 years ago
1. Playing volleyball
2. Working at Bucks Pizza
3. Graduating HS
4. Getting ready to go to BYU
5. Hanging out with Rachel and Jenna
5 Things on My To-Do-List
1. Go to bed :)
2. CPR class tomorrow
3. Clean bathrooms
4. Make cannery order
5. BONES on Friday!
5 Things I would do with a Million dollars
1. Buy a house
2. College fund
3. SAVINGS!
4. Tithing
5. Finish food storage ;)
5 Places I have lived (Starting at the beginning)
1. Mesa, Arizona
2. Green Castle, Indiana
3. Bowling Green, Ohio
4. Winchester, Virginia
5. Dallas City/Niota/Nauvoo, Illinois
5 Jobs I've Held
1. Buck's Pizza
2. Ferro in LA
3. Ferro in TX
4. Nexus Paincare
5. Wife/Mom
5 Things I want to be doing in 5 years
1. Be in a house
2. Be a lactation consultant
3. Be a family of 5
4. Have a healthy happy family
5. Go on an Alaskan cruise!
5 people I tag
1. Christy
2. Jen
3. I guess anyone who wants to do it
1. Playing volleyball
2. Working at Bucks Pizza
3. Graduating HS
4. Getting ready to go to BYU
5. Hanging out with Rachel and Jenna
5 Things on My To-Do-List
1. Go to bed :)
2. CPR class tomorrow
3. Clean bathrooms
4. Make cannery order
5. BONES on Friday!
5 Things I would do with a Million dollars
1. Buy a house
2. College fund
3. SAVINGS!
4. Tithing
5. Finish food storage ;)
5 Places I have lived (Starting at the beginning)
1. Mesa, Arizona
2. Green Castle, Indiana
3. Bowling Green, Ohio
4. Winchester, Virginia
5. Dallas City/Niota/Nauvoo, Illinois
5 Jobs I've Held
1. Buck's Pizza
2. Ferro in LA
3. Ferro in TX
4. Nexus Paincare
5. Wife/Mom
5 Things I want to be doing in 5 years
1. Be in a house
2. Be a lactation consultant
3. Be a family of 5
4. Have a healthy happy family
5. Go on an Alaskan cruise!
5 people I tag
1. Christy
2. Jen
3. I guess anyone who wants to do it
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A Success!
I made one of the recipes for my 3 month supply today. It turned out pretty good! Easy, and none of the ingredients had needed refridgerating. (well, at least they wont when I can can some chicken!)
Chicken Pot Pie
Pie Crust
(I made it to practice. It had shortening, flour, salt and some water. Wasn't hard, turned out good, so I think I will just always make it)
2 chicken breasts, cooked (I shredded it)
2 cans mixed veggies
2 cups chicken gravy.
Mix gravy, chicken, and veggies together, put it in the bottom crust, add the top crust, and bake until brown
Yum! I think it was a keeper. Now I just have to get enough for 3 months worth! I really need to can some chicken!
And, I even had some extra crust which I put in a little dish and added blueberries and raspberries. Totally made it up but we shall see how it tastes. :)
Also, Claire is getting another tooth. This is number 6. Now, I know that it's not going to stop until she gets them all but I thought there would be more angel time inbetween fussy time!
Friday, March 6, 2009
10 Months
Claire is 10 months old today! What a big girl!
She has also signed her first word. "Bear". It also doubles for folding her arms during prayer.
Now we have to get some more going!
This is the quilt my grandma made. Isn't it so pretty??
I made this cake for my birthday. It's not like Brian is not capable of making one, I just thought that it looked like fun! We went to dinner tonight since I will be gone doing CPR on my actual birthday.
Playing with dad
Thursday, March 5, 2009
So not creative
My grandma sent me a BEAUTIFUL quilt that she made. I LOVE it. love love love it. It's so pretty. I cant find my camera but as soon as I do I will take a picture and put it up. Thank you so much Grandma!!
**sigh** It's so hard to be the uncreative one in the family....on BOTH sides of the family. I can't do anything!
It's not like I don't have ideas running around up there and stuff I want to make...cuz I do...it's just that someone has already made it first. lol. I can't come up with things on my own! And, a lot of times I don't know where to start or how to do it. When I get a house I'm going to have to have my mom and grandmas come up to help me decorate! I would be lost.
And someday, maybe, I'm going to get a GOOD camera. I want to be able to take neat pictures. Someday...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Too intense...
is what I would say to describe the Community Garden. Brian got the email of the classes and work for the garden and we decided it was not worth it with the baby. But! We are still going to have a garden. Some friends from Brian's work are going to let us use some of their land. So I'm reading the Square Foot Gardening book and planning it out.
Last night I made some rice mixes that I am going to use for food storage instead of buying the prepackaged seasoned rice. I haven't tried it yet but I think I may tomorrow. We have so many leftovers in the fridge right now we are definitely having a leftover night tonight.
This is what I did though.
To make flavored rice mixes:
Combine all ingredients and stir until evenly distributed. Place in airtight container(s). Store in cool, dry place. Use within 6-8 months. Yield: 4 cups.
Chicken Flavored Rice Mix
4 c uncooked long grain rice
4 T instant chicken bouillon1 tsp salt
2 tsp dried tarragon
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/4 tsp white pepper
Dill Lemon Rice Mix
4 c uncooked long-grain rice
5 tsp dried grated lemon peel
4 tsp dill weed or dill seed
2 tsp dried minced chives
2 tsp salt
8 tsp instant chicken bouillon
Onion Flavored Rice Mix
4 c uncooked long grain rice
2 pkgs (1 1/4 oz) onion soup mix
1 T parsley flakes
1 tsp salt
To make rice from mixes:Use 1 1/3 c rice mix, 2 c cold water and 1 T butter or margarine. Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat and cook 15 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Yield: 4-6 servings.
We bought the no sodium instant chicken boullion. Brian loves stuff like that! We also reorganized the shelves and I have a lot more room for canned food. (imagine that) I'm trying to get about 10 recipes that use mainly canned food for the 3 month supply. I think while Brian is here and I'm still in AR he is going to (along with baby proofing) make me a long shelf to put above the microwave and chest freezer so I can put my rubbermaid containers on it. That will be nice because they take up a lot of room. I put rice, beans, whole wheat flour, dry milk, black beans, stuff like that. I have to get creative with storage space in my little apartment. I'm also looking on Ebay for a pressure cooker (EXPENSIVE) so I can do canned meats. So much to do!!
I have to take time out from this
She has a tooth coming in on each side of her tooth on top.
and sometimes that is hard to do!
Before you watch this video let me tell you that no babies were harmed. Lol. Brian was getting ansy watching it but she was having so much fun! And it's really not that bad. Brian is sometimes overprotective ;)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
March already??
I can't believe it is March already! Time is just flying by!! I love the weekends. Yesterday we worked on our 72 hour kits. We went into Port Angeles to the Dollar Store and bought some stuff. Also, the walmart in PA kicks our walmarts butt. Even though it is not a super walmart. Then we came home and Brian got all domestic and made some homemade baby food. We had a bunch of bananas and so he mixed in some with strawberries and some with blueberries. Lucky Claire! Yesterday was also Brian's brother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mike!!
And also Congrats to my cousin Haley who had a little baby on Friday. And when I say little I mean 10 lbs 4 ounces. lol. They named her Emerson or "Emmie". She is SO SO SO cute!!
We are also officially gardening this summer. We rented the last plot of land at the community gardens. I'm getting Square Foot Gardening from the
library and I think we will do that. I don't know how big our spot will be. We are meeting with someone on Tuesday and I guess she will give us details. I'm really excited about it though!
I think she's outgrown this dont you?
Playing with daddy!
Dancing
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)