tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26520428232788642012024-03-12T17:42:05.858-06:00Sawyer Susie RocksCelestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.comBlogger469125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-48063424388332175672012-11-20T11:11:00.002-07:002012-11-20T11:11:43.317-07:00Un-friken-believable Cheesecake Recipe<i>explanatory note: I have come to hate blogging. It has become intimidating to me. I feel like I have to make a perfectly worded, deep and thought-provoking post complete with pictures and insightful links. That is not where I am right now. Right now I am great a capturing little things our family is doing in a quick little facebook post and calling it good. I love looking back on my wall & remembering the things my kids said and how crappy days are quickly followed by awesome days. So that's where I am these days. Also, instagram, now that I have an iPhone again (YAY!!)</i><br />
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BUT I have been asked many times for my cheesecake recipe and I figure it'd be easier to post it online somewhere so I can just send people here for it. This is the base recipe, I'll tell you where to mix it up, but no matter what you add to it, you MUST follow the technique. That is how you get a perfect, crack-free cheesecake. Don't mess with it. Take the time. It's worth it. Plan ahead. Start in the morning. I cannot cake credit for this or really any recipe I use. Well, except for my Whole Wheat Waffles, I've messed with that one enough that I feel like I can claim it. Back in Layton, Cydney & I went to a couple of cooking classes at Corbin's Grille. If they are still doing it, and you are in the area, you should totally go. They know what they are doing.<br />
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So without further ado.... I give you <u>Un-Friken-Believable Cheesecake</u><br />
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Everything (eggs, sour cream, cream cheese, butter) should be at <b>room temperature</b> before beginning. This is non-negotiable. Unless you like gooey, cracked cheesecake, and that is NOT the point of this recipe.<br />
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crust- <br />
1 pack Lorna Doone cookies<br />
2 oz salted butter, super soft but not melted<br />
Mix the cookies in a food processor until you have a fine crumb then mix the butter in with your hands. Pack tightly onto only the bottom of a heavily sprayed 10" springform or cheesecake pan. Bake at 425 for 3-5 minutes. Set aside while you make the filling. Turn the oven down to 350.<br />
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filling-<br />
2 lbs Philly cream cheese<br />
1 cup sour cream <br />
1 1/2 cups sugar<br />
1 tablespoon vanilla<br />
pinch of lemon zest<br />
1/2 tsp lemon juice <br />
8 eggs<br />
<br />
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the cream cheese for a few minutes until it's silky. Add the sour cream and mix till it's totally combined, scraping down the sides a few times. Add sugar, vanilla, zest & lemon and combine, scraping down the sides. Add eggs one at a time, mixing each in completely before adding the next.<br />
Surround the pan with a layer or two of tin foil. Now you're going to make water bath for your cheesecake. Place your tin foiled springform pan in roasting pan or big cake pan (in a pinch, use a rimmed cookie sheet, but it's not ideal) and pour the filling over the crust. Place both pans in the oven, then pour water into the bigger pan, until the water is about 3/4 of height of the cheesecake, and being sure not to get any into the cheesecake filling. (I always move the pans into the oven before pouring the water in because it gets heavy & I don't want to slosh water all over my floor.)<br />
Bake at 350 for 65 minutes. The center should still be a bit jiggly when nudged, but DON'T GET IT OUT YET!!! Turn the oven off and open the oven door & let it hang out for 20 minutes. Then take it out of the water bath & let it hang out on the counter for an hour. Then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.<br />
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I've made this a pumpkin cheesecake by substituting the sour cream for 1 cup of pumpkin puree and the lemon zest for a generous amount of pumpkin pie spices. I probably use 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg & 1/2 tsp ginger. Keep the lemon juice though.<br />
I have also added mini chocolate chips to the batter. Just coat them with a bit of flour before you add them, to help them not all sink to the bottom.<br />
The Lorna Doones are an expensive cookie and not widely available. I have used Oreos, graham crackers and homemade shortbread and sugar cookies with great results. The main thing with this is to to follow the method and have everything at room temperature.<br />
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In the next little bit I'll be making one & I'll add pictures.<br />
<br />Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-4385677559758361562012-09-24T18:53:00.001-06:002012-09-24T18:53:52.724-06:00again???? gah.....Oh my gosh, are you so sick of me? Honestly, I never post unless I need something, huh? Now you know how my parents feel. Well, guess what? Tonight at midnight, voting for the Epic Room Makeover ends, and I will shut up. So here it is again, your daily reminder to go to <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/09/the-top-10-plead-their-case-vote-now.html">here</a> and vote for me and then do some serious finger crossing!! I'm dying from the suspense!! I made another video if you didn't see it yet. It's a bit boring, but if you're wondering what this playroom that I'm dying to have redone looks like, here it is.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q9DaB9yTM0U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-32730040803836777872012-09-23T13:39:00.000-06:002012-09-23T13:39:36.940-06:00Only today and tomorrow left to vote, people. I am going insane. I just wish I knew if I were even a contender! So today I made a little video, pleading for votes, showing the actual room in question, and fixing my hair a lot.
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So, would you do me a kindness? Again? Please go to <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/09/the-top-10-plead-their-case-vote-now.html?showComment=1348428456522#c2197340937764593718">here</a> to vote, again. Thank you ever so much!Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-89870947451224894192012-09-20T11:33:00.003-06:002012-09-20T11:33:54.173-06:00Today Matt & I are in Vail and it is amazing. We are about to head out on a hiking/biking extravaganza on the beautiful mountain, and I just wanted to take a minute to get up in your face about remembering to vote for us in the Epic Room Makeover. So Matt wrote you a poem. <br />
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<br />
I hope you're not thinking "oh here she goes again."<br />
don't worry, I am not selling you on an MLM.<br />
I just want to clean up my room.<br />
Because my house looks like the temple of doom.<br />
So don't take it as annoying,<br />
and keep the voting momentum going!<br />
<br />
hehehehhe<br />
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Also, voting goes through Monday at midnight... then I will shut up, and you can come visit and see the awesomeness.<br />
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<a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/09/the-top-10-plead-their-case-vote-now.html#more" target="_blank">so go to here.</a>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-65998483497906475262012-09-17T02:28:00.003-06:002012-09-17T02:28:49.969-06:00ohmgoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4trW5T9ou3nJcjbjcsGk5KWjKR79l1fkRxqRkBEXW9xTpqMv-YyBKbup_qiMrlZxCQX5I2r9tJYsaOlTLR3pj1uReq4QQiwsDJlBIQ4APSuFDma0SmQ4w-DxuezfbxK6Q3wPGcbM-Ng/s1600/Epic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4trW5T9ou3nJcjbjcsGk5KWjKR79l1fkRxqRkBEXW9xTpqMv-YyBKbup_qiMrlZxCQX5I2r9tJYsaOlTLR3pj1uReq4QQiwsDJlBIQ4APSuFDma0SmQ4w-DxuezfbxK6Q3wPGcbM-Ng/s320/Epic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You guys we did it!!! We made it to the TOP TEN finalists in the Vintage Revivals Epic Room Makeover!!! I cannot believe it! I'm so freaking excited I cannot even handle it. I can't sleep at all, and can't stop thinking about how awesome this room would be if we won. Have you seen some of the things Mandi has done? Seriously, just look at <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2011/10/hailees-living-room-makeover-reveal.html" target="_blank">this</a> and<a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2011/12/entryway-makeover-reveal.html" target="_blank"> this</a> and<a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/01/master-bedroom-before-and-after.html" target="_blank"> this</a> and<a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2010/09/tin-foil-nightstand.html" target="_blank"> this</a>. <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/150-guest-room-makeover-reveal.html" target="_blank">Here's</a> what she recently did for Studio 5 with only $150. And <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2011/07/epic-room-makeover-unveiling.html" target="_blank">here's</a> the winner from last years Epic Makeover. Are you dying? She's clearly amazing! Did I tell you she was on the <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/p/as-seen-on.html" target="_blank">Nate Berkus</a> show? Yeppers. She's kind of a big deal.<br />
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She's also completely awesome on a whole other (more important) level, that you should totally read about <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/p/my-story.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Inspiring, right?<br />
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So can you see why I am freaking out here? I'm thisclose to winning not only an awesome room, but the chance to hang with a totally rad chic. Here's the deal though.... I need help. I need your votes. Now I know that you are getting inundated with pleas for your vote right now. Goodness knows I'm SICK to DEATH of people asking for my vote at this point in my life. I'm sorry to add to the voting obnoxiousness. Nevertheless....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7SRdFLAmOGmSzt5sIVj51yqCR0LyNlKD7yKxud3ucDmIceKc9gLO35AxTlurkMGE5ndHUtQbwaU4163MksBi4JXjcy38ae18GQmfHMqE5OYUl9Iht6_PEI5lwppc1ZNowlZqte1BHzI/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7SRdFLAmOGmSzt5sIVj51yqCR0LyNlKD7yKxud3ucDmIceKc9gLO35AxTlurkMGE5ndHUtQbwaU4163MksBi4JXjcy38ae18GQmfHMqE5OYUl9Iht6_PEI5lwppc1ZNowlZqte1BHzI/s320/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Go to <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/09/the-top-10-plead-their-case-vote-now.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Watch the silly video that Matt & I made. Scroll down past the other entries to the bottom and click the star/vote thing by my name. And then do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next day. From every computer/ipad/iphone/droid/whatever device you are within a few miles of. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(one vote per IP per day) <span style="font-size: small;"> Voting goes until midnight next Saturday.... I believe.....</span></span><br />
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I seriously would appreciate it so much. Thank you! I love you!Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-39684859022235505642012-09-05T16:40:00.001-06:002012-09-15T13:51:45.235-06:00unplayful playroom with potentialaka <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/epic-room-makeover-giveaway-contest-2012.html" target="_blank">Vintage Revivals Epic Room Makeover </a>Submission<br />
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Dearest Mandi-<br />
Hi! My name is Celeste. I am a huge fan of the awesomely creative brain inside that lovely noggin of yours. The only thing I would like better than to have my room made over would be to be able to watch how that brain works in the process. You see, we recently made a huge life change as my husband changed careers and we moved from Layton Utah, surrounded by family and friends, to Las Vegas Nevada, surrounded by.... no one! It's been tough and awesome and I'm so glad for how things have worked out. (Here are some pics to endear ourselves to you.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celeste and Matt... totally unsketchy people with whom you would be in no danger to stay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sawyer, aka Sweetest Girl on the Planet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abram, aka Main Reason We Need a <strike>Padded</strike> Play Room</td></tr>
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Obviously, the main thing that has been occupying my mind in the last 7 months, (since we purchased an awesome house in an awesome neighborhood,) is making this house, feel like home. Flooring, paint, light fixtures, front door, sink and disposal all swapped out, frankly, with me doing most of the work. I've become Craig and his list's newest girlfriend. We go out nearly every weekend, scouring the valley for just the right tables, chairs, dressers, consoles, beds, etc to make over for this house. Don't worry, I do not pay Craig OR his list with sexual favors of any kind, this IS Vegas, yes, but I haven't been here <i>that</i> long. But I want to learn more from you about how to do this thrifting thing, how to make freaking awesome belt look drawer pulls, amazing chandeliers from hideous non-chandelier things, paint ombre walls... you never cease to amaze me! Teach me! Teach me!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOeMTfrcLieg2mJ74gfLqbLKTyBG7RyXYrPMqeXvgG-Jed2VOQZMvBNOXj9kJtIwJ0I4Cu0Bh3meTec5ZQFj8CH5YIEBBoYUWkJG6mFPNDGz0eDyOEzM4doL3kjquJ36MajcI-cwMHtE/s1600/DSC_6370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOeMTfrcLieg2mJ74gfLqbLKTyBG7RyXYrPMqeXvgG-Jed2VOQZMvBNOXj9kJtIwJ0I4Cu0Bh3meTec5ZQFj8CH5YIEBBoYUWkJG6mFPNDGz0eDyOEzM4doL3kjquJ36MajcI-cwMHtE/s320/DSC_6370.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wha wha. the last remaining unpacked box. Also you can see where I ripped the desk out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoVuBMnLC64GXVsKP-aw1ursPXXUImUUsYtngXYVk5cc-Dl-BrAufU0LiiKOUS5qWyJJK0oKafWU0almYodUNGNTLcBsoU6A993ZexDaYI2Y8EwmtgWMM79LHb_dMDQsnaxqpKKwHRTs/s1600/DSC_6369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoVuBMnLC64GXVsKP-aw1ursPXXUImUUsYtngXYVk5cc-Dl-BrAufU0LiiKOUS5qWyJJK0oKafWU0almYodUNGNTLcBsoU6A993ZexDaYI2Y8EwmtgWMM79LHb_dMDQsnaxqpKKwHRTs/s320/DSC_6369.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this hot mess of a desk totally does not have to stay here.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOeMTfrcLieg2mJ74gfLqbLKTyBG7RyXYrPMqeXvgG-Jed2VOQZMvBNOXj9kJtIwJ0I4Cu0Bh3meTec5ZQFj8CH5YIEBBoYUWkJG6mFPNDGz0eDyOEzM4doL3kjquJ36MajcI-cwMHtE/s1600/DSC_6370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Anyway, the house is coming along with the exception of the cursed upstairs playroom. The previous owners had used it as an office of some sort. It had a rather large "built-in" corner desk that I <b>ripped out with my bare hands</b> the day before the carpet guys came. It was made of mdf and screws and attached to the wall with liquid nails and I showed that beast who was boss. But did I ever clean up the leftover liquid nails and repaint the wall so that it didn't look like a nasty scar around one quarter of the room? No. I did not. Why would I do that when I have no direction or vision for what I want this room to be? Which is sad, because this is one of the best rooms in the house. It's got great windows, a cute arched doorway, and a beautiful view of our palm trees and pool in the backyard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTgA3AdPRZQrmpfAIoeBOsKQqdPo_y-eIT4SjML1ENZQUEg7LGZZdvy3IryM8bNVqmPYWnMza8yBhzvv3wppIICQOJkNqa-ZdoggBm8R8qaxMp0fQlkM5WKUDGw7_YH2nd1FaiyDBkSw/s1600/DSC_6373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTgA3AdPRZQrmpfAIoeBOsKQqdPo_y-eIT4SjML1ENZQUEg7LGZZdvy3IryM8bNVqmPYWnMza8yBhzvv3wppIICQOJkNqa-ZdoggBm8R8qaxMp0fQlkM5WKUDGw7_YH2nd1FaiyDBkSw/s320/DSC_6373.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two of the four great windows, and half of the greatest movie poster of all time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8aXIDCBrxsIxJmmOqG2cjMrS69uAoBK-Mt4XO15a7tIFCBd1AnjpT9vsxPGzFwDaI3QM2GGU6ZbLg3kDpDnQMrp1lKKC3_akhptIEm-K15amNWjddbzPjQXPmUFB71ldzWEDHOCE5tU/s1600/DSC_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8aXIDCBrxsIxJmmOqG2cjMrS69uAoBK-Mt4XO15a7tIFCBd1AnjpT9vsxPGzFwDaI3QM2GGU6ZbLg3kDpDnQMrp1lKKC3_akhptIEm-K15amNWjddbzPjQXPmUFB71ldzWEDHOCE5tU/s320/DSC_6371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"help me, help me Mandi!" said this sorry excuse for a media area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7M-xEjeSh5PQ6X6ThE8Ck9SBcUQzoKiTJ5CZgBi8pVos1Tv25tmKMvV8TWdmsQLdP3GtKa4cNHUZ4DUvKFKoEG4zryjdaWYCORghkf_KnwkwP-dHR9yjbct6Wd1XcDFYOUjJNJkShSM/s1600/DSC_6374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7M-xEjeSh5PQ6X6ThE8Ck9SBcUQzoKiTJ5CZgBi8pVos1Tv25tmKMvV8TWdmsQLdP3GtKa4cNHUZ4DUvKFKoEG4zryjdaWYCORghkf_KnwkwP-dHR9yjbct6Wd1XcDFYOUjJNJkShSM/s320/DSC_6374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the closest thing we have to a padded room</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So there isn't any nasty paneling to rip out, no random sink in the corner, no hideous attempts at tiling, no electrical that needs moving. The carpet is brand new, the ceilings are only sort of popcorny, but there is <b><i>nothing</i></b> going on. I just haven't caught a vision for it. At all. We bought two huge LoveSacs and haven't been able to commit to much else. It's a freaking blank slate, Mandi. An awesome, awesome blank slate just waiting for you (and me and anyone that owes me a favor) to turn it from blank, beige blah to Mandilicious-awesomeness! <br />
<br />
The rest of the house is totally shopable, the Lowes is just down the street, as is the Home Goods, and I <i>hear</i> there is good thrifting to be had here and I am quite handy. I'm sorry none of these pics are of the entire room, Abram threw one of my camera's lenses down the stairs, so we are just working with the 52mm. (Apparently he's unclear as to what is okay to play with and what is not, you know, since the playroom is so unplayful and blah. Help me help him out with this before he destroys anything else!) But the room is about 14 feet by 20 feet and other than the things shown in the pictures, empty.<br />
I've got plenty of room for you to stay, and hello, it's Vegas. I'm certain we could have a good time when we aren't working our tails off. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24xCIkDGj0TvjhGg5MnBjpW91hbRsRIQKNnCHR5qnt0wIWBcTGb8tgAMbxdCdN1kcDEI7SHMi9hemObH-BU9BErphhpEbFNW0eNhY59DkNAMsA_lWhVXl0R0fUa2fJGTtCd64sag8WTI/s1600/DSC_6355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24xCIkDGj0TvjhGg5MnBjpW91hbRsRIQKNnCHR5qnt0wIWBcTGb8tgAMbxdCdN1kcDEI7SHMi9hemObH-BU9BErphhpEbFNW0eNhY59DkNAMsA_lWhVXl0R0fUa2fJGTtCd64sag8WTI/s320/DSC_6355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Also, there will undoubtedly be cake. Amazing cake.<br />
Pick me. You'll be happy you did. Please. Pretty please?
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<center>
<a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2012/08/epic-room-makeover-giveaway-contest-2012.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tqY3FKhWItH-q8zNEnbtZCOw4ZKm3MuuicgJCuX2mpLn4CmThwB3VzfWhh9U_5_FK18bzDeGXh-RomCPB-sqE47rb6l_a9CnUGhKM5_cIJLnq-FRo5zSu4ZeX53SqvXXzy7yTdTm5qmT/s400/Vintage+Revivals-Epic-Room-Makeover-Vertical+.png" /></a></center>
Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-73077979625342528692012-06-12T23:28:00.001-06:002012-06-12T23:28:50.934-06:00its on purpose, ya'llwanna see my sweet new <strike>ride</strike> phone?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eVI6Mi4o4dl4uGfXbLuBjHueNFsWaW5TMIdqWGGok3rDBXnr7s5G7xxabaHR863fZEcvSRM_Rmw4YVtzG57BRFfLfvS70dENOZlZNSb8S-gC0-1hJIaifgM76j8q2m0GVs5JywGAD7A/s1600/motorola-w385__80926_zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eVI6Mi4o4dl4uGfXbLuBjHueNFsWaW5TMIdqWGGok3rDBXnr7s5G7xxabaHR863fZEcvSRM_Rmw4YVtzG57BRFfLfvS70dENOZlZNSb8S-gC0-1hJIaifgM76j8q2m0GVs5JywGAD7A/s320/motorola-w385__80926_zoom.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
AYUUUPPPP. Don't be jealous.<br />
The Motorola Zoom. That's right. <br />
<br />
A month or so ago I tossed Abram out onto the blow up mattress that we have turned into an awesome raft in the pool. As I chucked him, I realized that it wasn't going to end well, that he was going to bounce right off that raft and roll backwards into the pool, so I jumped in and pretty much caught him before he had a chance to submerge. Boo/Yay for my mom skills! But I was fully dressed and had my beloved droid in my pocket. After a week in the rice, it became apparent that the droid was never going to resurrect itself. <br />
Sad face.<br />
In the meantime I had borrowed this bad boy from my sister-in-law's sister-in-law, Kristin. I have no desire to extend my contract with the abomination of poor customer service that is known as Verizon Wireless, nor do I dare buy a phone of some random person on Craigslist, so the zoom and I are hanging out for a while.<br />
<br />
That's the way the story goes to the world at large.<br />
In <strong>real life</strong> here's how I choose to look at the situation:<br />
<br />
As I mom, everyday, multiple times a day sometimes, I pray to know how to best parent my children. I am overwhelmed by their awesomeness and feel completely inadequate to be entrusted with their welfare, spiritual, mental, physical or emotional. Lately I've been feeling like I need to be more accessible, more presesnt, less facebooky/pinteresty/instagrammy. I am sure you know what I'm talking about. It's crazy, right? Everyone, everywhere has their freaking faces stuck to their smart phones. All. The. Damn. Time. All the time! I was the worst of them. So yeah, I tried to "back it off a bit", only being on my phone constantly instead of <strong>all</strong> the time. Go me! Let's just say my efforts were weighed and measured and found wanting. And there we go, that is why my phone died a soggy death. <br />
<br />
But guess what?<br />
<br />
Since returning to the late '90s, I've found that my brain is more clear, that my daughter wants to talk to me all the time and that I'm more conversational with real life people! People that are right there in front of my face! I guess they've been there all along, just waiting for me to put my phone down. I'm not suggesting that everyone downgrade their phones, I'm just saying that I suck at being a mom and a smartphone user. I honestly don't think I'll go back, which is weird because it used to feel like I'd die and never be organized again without my phone. Well, if you feel that way, I'm here to tell you that it simply isn't true. <br />
You wanna know what I do miss?<br />
-talk to text. Because tapping 2 three times to make a C is ridiculous.<br />
-the my fitness pal app. Because I am need to be a calorie counter at this point in my metabolic life.<br />
-audibel. Matt & I used to listen to the same book together. It was fun.<br />
<br />
That's it. I really like using proper scriptures again, and I do not miss being all plugged in. So if you text me and you get a one or two word answer, that's why. Call me, I promise I still love you.Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-25400728660860122012012-06-03T00:11:00.001-06:002012-06-03T00:12:00.762-06:00from frumpy to yummy<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1UYoqqWXu-m-XJRSTqId9jj_dn5FiGQNWrH8SfPAuusBWdAPlKlwY-ElaxwnXjL_sqfYdhQ4begcNdHe834H-ny60Muqv0DwkSQbPTfDzQK-pO0Qsfd52z9SalEIS6HGTLdfqz1XCAI/s1600/IMAG0446.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1UYoqqWXu-m-XJRSTqId9jj_dn5FiGQNWrH8SfPAuusBWdAPlKlwY-ElaxwnXjL_sqfYdhQ4begcNdHe834H-ny60Muqv0DwkSQbPTfDzQK-pO0Qsfd52z9SalEIS6HGTLdfqz1XCAI/s400/IMAG0446.jpg" /></a><br />
So in the new house, we have two dining areas, and needed a new, more casual situation for this little nook in the kitchen. And we are cheapos, so off to Craigslist I went! Can I just say that I love craigslist here in Las Vegas? This table was quite cute on its own, but didn't come with chairs and the chairs we found were beat up and didn't match the wood of the table at all. So they all got a facelift. This was my first time using oil paint, and I'm so stinking happy I did. I was a bit intimidated by it at first, but it wasn't tough at all. And you can't argue with the results. This paint feels like armor, I love it. The seat cushions got fancy on me and demaded to be Amy Butlerized, I'm so happy with them. I used laminated cotton, which is the best ever, they just wipe off, love it. Anyway, that's what I've been doing; moving in and making this house ours. I'm so happy about the house and the ward and the pool, life is good.</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-60824767025609982262011-12-22T23:04:00.000-07:002011-12-22T23:04:47.456-07:00the magic forest at opportunity village<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ud896helrGkdbFH83yfmnwgs6zn97-a9tw8kqwxbRE6aewcMI6zBIj7R-6gQG3bMCFlQhHjgHGw0JlIH7bg_wCqgd7fHhgQFcOWF386OIssFvFzjzmxW4ilncFRTLbWnGIEwguIuGk/s1600/DSC_5424.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ud896helrGkdbFH83yfmnwgs6zn97-a9tw8kqwxbRE6aewcMI6zBIj7R-6gQG3bMCFlQhHjgHGw0JlIH7bg_wCqgd7fHhgQFcOWF386OIssFvFzjzmxW4ilncFRTLbWnGIEwguIuGk/s400/DSC_5424.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">so, living in vegas now, i'm totally excited to start our own holiday traditions, and this for sure is going to be one of them. opportunity village is a charitable organization that assists handicapped adults with employment & being more self-sufficient. at least as far as i understand. totally something i can feel good about supporting. apparently so does the entire las vegas community. companies in the area sponsor & decorate trees in the magical forest and it's so fun to walk around & see all the lights & cute displays.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47cpM5jcEkrjIXD2vtuPdMvYWJhgVyquZih9zo0L5cypaXQipKI1pJJaIj7Tzh_13D6Un5NKPWGZ26yz_EjYFEdTSnskd4xnn354csbRRFMENTu9TSCcvtQHSNk7clKYxo1IGl_l56oQ/s1600/DSC_5427.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47cpM5jcEkrjIXD2vtuPdMvYWJhgVyquZih9zo0L5cypaXQipKI1pJJaIj7Tzh_13D6Un5NKPWGZ26yz_EjYFEdTSnskd4xnn354csbRRFMENTu9TSCcvtQHSNk7clKYxo1IGl_l56oQ/s400/DSC_5427.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAFqr3nRbO5fCGe5RiOWsWjZZh65lkGIY78du-qdmTWzMUG3rl3xSY4h43SJsmv-ijFp5ygkSoR7u9MuaWMndJYcDBNoFn5Y8hGb0ksOrlQ_wM8OHkU9CbZg-oc9o74TUm7Jp4lgon7s/s1600/DSC_5429.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAFqr3nRbO5fCGe5RiOWsWjZZh65lkGIY78du-qdmTWzMUG3rl3xSY4h43SJsmv-ijFp5ygkSoR7u9MuaWMndJYcDBNoFn5Y8hGb0ksOrlQ_wM8OHkU9CbZg-oc9o74TUm7Jp4lgon7s/s400/DSC_5429.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">my sweet boys.</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0VZYL0AeemPD4mZ4x-BoOkls_ATvfqVXB2XOXL0vnkDIspUs5w7Z0FeHTV3zFm066kzqKUxkzbQYrg95FHnmC4j9JhbJAcMT4ThdYHmpM0kECCNb9nfqe8mCrN8fVqV6I89CaYpMsno/s1600/DSC_5438.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0VZYL0AeemPD4mZ4x-BoOkls_ATvfqVXB2XOXL0vnkDIspUs5w7Z0FeHTV3zFm066kzqKUxkzbQYrg95FHnmC4j9JhbJAcMT4ThdYHmpM0kECCNb9nfqe8mCrN8fVqV6I89CaYpMsno/s400/DSC_5438.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and, bonus, because it's vegas, it's nice & warmish and they have all sorts of carnival rides. so you walk around, see the lights, the gingerbread house displays, ride the rides, play a little put-put and it's a totally fun night for everyone. we can't really plan things, because matt gets home at such random times, but I'm way glad he got home early one day & that we took the chance to go here, it was so much fun. a must for next year for sure!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR7QjF8kVy4OhjG9u51nlpJ5bVe9zzKaViuBnYfNI2r31HSq_C0UZ6CcEfZI4iKTNrR5Hcezms9nBS5zYtjsMZ5uy23qvuroRbrtFMoE3rKBOwqvukaXZbcbK1iWSD4i1H5FNDJjJQ4I/s1600/DSC_5442.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR7QjF8kVy4OhjG9u51nlpJ5bVe9zzKaViuBnYfNI2r31HSq_C0UZ6CcEfZI4iKTNrR5Hcezms9nBS5zYtjsMZ5uy23qvuroRbrtFMoE3rKBOwqvukaXZbcbK1iWSD4i1H5FNDJjJQ4I/s400/DSC_5442.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCCCly6Kbr0wX2SerA8Ybv4Q5n394SMD83dbHHbV0bVaNma6Yje4Ysw-dgaKO2uVIHqksiUzIk8itw_ZI4f_5FTKywLYL5StLS7f8QOrvYWQNtzsDgHAwMjbf62yWxtATbXaB0Oq3YP0/s1600/DSC_5452.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCCCly6Kbr0wX2SerA8Ybv4Q5n394SMD83dbHHbV0bVaNma6Yje4Ysw-dgaKO2uVIHqksiUzIk8itw_ZI4f_5FTKywLYL5StLS7f8QOrvYWQNtzsDgHAwMjbf62yWxtATbXaB0Oq3YP0/s400/DSC_5452.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj_cZ3n1A8Hntq2hDUz2QAoK_1ozxjyb_C4ZGbTsM-rFv3ZzdxM3haEF0CNd0IkxxNwFrDj_XspVKwGpzz7SmP3N_WA6ywKIZowcJRxC5ZMk4kJu3IvLJaoBkNWkr83XTZ43UR80js8I/s1600/DSC_5458.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj_cZ3n1A8Hntq2hDUz2QAoK_1ozxjyb_C4ZGbTsM-rFv3ZzdxM3haEF0CNd0IkxxNwFrDj_XspVKwGpzz7SmP3N_WA6ywKIZowcJRxC5ZMk4kJu3IvLJaoBkNWkr83XTZ43UR80js8I/s400/DSC_5458.JPG" /></a><br />
Sawyer was terrified to go on this ride. we tried resoning & bribing & threatening because we KNEW she'd love it once she got on it. plus we'd paid extra for her to have the unlimited ride pass, so by dang, she was gonna use it! Matt finally got her on it by telling her how there would be butterflies in her tummy. Oddly enough, that did it for her, and the first thing she said to me when she got off, was "Mommy! I felt them! There were butterflies in my tummy & I felt them!!" Then I had to go with her & it was so much fun! We had a riot screaming like idiots & giggling together.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiok8BYeRKLossJP-Rp5O9GLXMbvvpHvmPWzQ7GWpRJMzDjB3pd_XCQh_K4pWXECbE-KdrBs6RAs_6IQeOkYStiZJLbfbMomnUweSxlHy4Ob9ep4tmVI-lndnetv_xgSOHT4nvqUO8aY/s1600/DSC_5460.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiok8BYeRKLossJP-Rp5O9GLXMbvvpHvmPWzQ7GWpRJMzDjB3pd_XCQh_K4pWXECbE-KdrBs6RAs_6IQeOkYStiZJLbfbMomnUweSxlHy4Ob9ep4tmVI-lndnetv_xgSOHT4nvqUO8aY/s400/DSC_5460.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-11857695817171265302011-12-22T22:33:00.001-07:002011-12-22T22:35:51.204-07:00this is how we do<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/f0d782677ba53e51.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/f0d782677ba53e51.jpg?size=400" /></a><br />
by the time matt gets home each day, ususally about 6:30 or 7 if we're lucky, the kids are so super sick of me. they're excited to see matt & listen carefully for the front door to open so that the craziness of "ATTACK DADDY" can begin.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/29279666a6be30f1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/29279666a6be30f1.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sawyer goes straight for the legs, while Abram is generally too excited to stick to any one thing, so he alternates between riding on Matt's legs and running around the house screaming.</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/66b1f73327fc27cd.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/66b1f73327fc27cd.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Then the wrestling on the bed portion of the evening begins. And yes, that is a king size mattress & box springs in my front room. You got a problem with that? How else are we supposed to wrestle daddy & sleep under the tree?</div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/ed9dac6b3156ab2f.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/ed9dac6b3156ab2f.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/29ee4e9326865271.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/29ee4e9326865271.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of the tree, this is it. And that concludes the Christmas Decorations 2011 tour. I was not about to sift through any boxes just to decorate a house that I barely care enough about to sweep. Plus, we are in Utah for Christmas, so it's kinda just gonna have to be enough this year. As it turns out, it is. Christmas decor is actually not the life or death situation that pinterest would have you believe it is. For our family it's the music. Oh, and we've got music. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/8aeedf108f1170f9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/21778c7c24c01cfe95554eaf036ba82b/image/8aeedf108f1170f9.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">and cookies. They are essential. We've been making cookies about every day it seems like.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FrgwoFXYDcc/TvQNR9Vfj-I/AAAAAAAAC7k/hhQe7gYm5DA/s1600/DSC_5383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FrgwoFXYDcc/TvQNR9Vfj-I/AAAAAAAAC7k/hhQe7gYm5DA/s320/DSC_5383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_ufYH_v0w0/TvQNSf2fJCI/AAAAAAAAC7o/LgAwZvN1Bb0/s1600/DSC_5388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_ufYH_v0w0/TvQNSf2fJCI/AAAAAAAAC7o/LgAwZvN1Bb0/s320/DSC_5388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and doughnuts. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Doughnuts are kind of my Moby Dick. I <em>will</em> get them one day, I swear it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7IXQRDG0j4o/TvQNSjeJhzI/AAAAAAAAC7s/eL4CAm-bwQc/s1600/DSC_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7IXQRDG0j4o/TvQNSjeJhzI/AAAAAAAAC7s/eL4CAm-bwQc/s320/DSC_5398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Not this day though. See how gooey that big one still is? So I kept making them smaller & smaller, and although they just kept getting cuter & cuter, they did not become less doughy inside. Well, maybe a little bit, but no one seemed to mind. I mean, geez, they're cinnamon buttermilk doughnuts. How mad at them can you be?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2RUHKoyk2E/TvQNTFHHgLI/AAAAAAAAC7w/D5WrGS2MpWQ/s1600/DSC_5399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2RUHKoyk2E/TvQNTFHHgLI/AAAAAAAAC7w/D5WrGS2MpWQ/s320/DSC_5399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These little gingerbread buddies were a total hit. I saw <a href="http://meredithtuttle.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-12-13T17:04:00-08:00&max-results=5" target="_blank">this recipe</a> & had them baking in the oven about ten minutes later. No lie. Plus it uses whole wheat flour and molasses & honey instead of sugar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyIZL5MOyQU/TvQNT1UKTcI/AAAAAAAAC70/o1B3oVEJ12s/s1600/DSC_5402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyIZL5MOyQU/TvQNT1UKTcI/AAAAAAAAC70/o1B3oVEJ12s/s320/DSC_5402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> or as Meredith puts it, "basically they're just really festive vitamins".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NP49PbZPCpY/TvQNUSShhmI/AAAAAAAAC74/RUgTa-Nkjnc/s1600/DSC_5403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NP49PbZPCpY/TvQNUSShhmI/AAAAAAAAC74/RUgTa-Nkjnc/s320/DSC_5403.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> the crap dollar store canned frosting however, not so much. ew i hate using that stuff. but it does help me not eat whatever i let the kids put it on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8QsypkGdOW8/TvQNU91QIXI/AAAAAAAAC78/zds9tGyehhU/s1600/DSC_5406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8QsypkGdOW8/TvQNU91QIXI/AAAAAAAAC78/zds9tGyehhU/s320/DSC_5406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> see, it's making my kids go retarded. damn two mile long ingredient list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Caj_eIPXHHQ/TvQNVd8D6lI/AAAAAAAAC8A/e2uzOw05i4I/s1600/DSC_5408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Caj_eIPXHHQ/TvQNVd8D6lI/AAAAAAAAC8A/e2uzOw05i4I/s320/DSC_5408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> to distract abram from the cookies we gave him the rice crispie treats we had made the week before. yeah, the week before. i make my kids work for their sugar, yo. it was probably like gnawing on a rock. but he kept at it long enough for sawyer to decorate all the cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hivKaC5htEA/TvQNV-vDB4I/AAAAAAAAC8E/he-l3VP5fxo/s1600/DSC_5413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hivKaC5htEA/TvQNV-vDB4I/AAAAAAAAC8E/he-l3VP5fxo/s320/DSC_5413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 'cept this one. I did this one. That's my very special Charlie cookie cutter Grandma Susie got me & I get to decorate my Charlie cookie whenever we do cut out cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJbZa4JJYow/TvQNWin4B4I/AAAAAAAAC8I/0QwBrCfe8EY/s320/DSC_5421.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these ones are sawyer & abram holding hands. how sweet is that? ohhhhh I love my kids!</div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-35484903301022934922011-12-22T21:52:00.000-07:002011-12-22T21:52:37.375-07:00my baby turns six.<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/487ba75b66e46b99.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/487ba75b66e46b99.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>Sawyer's birthday was November 9th, she was very excited to turn six, and for some reason that seems like way too many years to me. Five was just a kid, but six seems like a little girl, a young lady, if you will. And she is, she is the best little girl that I have ever known. She's so thoughtful and sympathetic and kind. She's about the best big sister I've seen, too. She shares like a champ and would rather do without something than have Abram be sad. She loves to go get him up from naps & in the morning, she has a whole routine worked out so that if he's having a hard time waking up that it's easier on him, she explained it to me one day & I about died with how thoughtful she is. If Abram is having a fit about something, having to hold still for a diaper change or some other injustice, she knows just how to calm him down & get him laughing again. No wonder he's such a perma-happy boy, his sister sees to it!<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/ecd6fb93b3923d88.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/ecd6fb93b3923d88.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>annnnnd she's a goof. A total goof. She is in that kindergarten phase where she makes up jokes that are completely stupid, and laughs like a maniac at herself. She's starting to pick up lines from movies that are just sassy, and I can't help but laugh when she tells me things like "well, duhhhhh".<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/4844e8dc04da5ee6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/4844e8dc04da5ee6.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>Miller tradition states that the birthday girl/boy is entitled to their very own box of non-generic cereal. No one else is allowed to eat it. But she shared with Abes of course. Also she taught him how to howl like the Cookie Crisp wolf. A good skill to have in this life. <br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/d1fb1ca921ffcd1a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/d1fb1ca921ffcd1a.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>After Daddy got off work we headed to the strip to see what fun there was to have there. Circus Circus is a joke, someone please tear the place down. But Sawyer loved the rides & had a blast with her unlimited ride wristband.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/a96666988c327399.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/a96666988c327399.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>I love this picture. She went on that ride like 5 times & it took me that long to get the metering to even this point. Dingy lighting + fast moving train = crap for pictures.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/ceff8c19f7824ead.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/ceff8c19f7824ead.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/404d8fd3c7df6fca.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/404d8fd3c7df6fca.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/8a9a7772009a8207.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:50678/fb14f956ab7c68a07432953cafb3512e/image/8a9a7772009a8207.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>Every ride Sawyer went on she met a friend. Which was good because Matt & I were too cheap to buy ride passes of our own. Its so fun to see how little kids just automatically are friends if they are near the same age and doing the same things. She & another girl just went from ride to ride to ride for about an hour together, they were so cute, holding hands & all. After she had riden every ride she wanted to a few times, we went to the Excalibur in hopes of seeing a princess, I swear they had roaming knights & ladies there when I was younger. Not so anymore, now they have skanky barely dressed wenches & guys in chain mail/mesh shirts. I don't know what they were supposed to be. But the buffet there was fun. We walked through the Bellagio & looked at the art, the blown glass & this awesome pastry/chocolate shop. She's so artistic she really gets into stuff like that. It was so nice to just have an evening as a family to explore our new city, we loved every second. Happy birthday sweet girl!!! I love you more & more everyday.Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-11395671859221466372011-12-22T12:01:00.000-07:002011-12-22T12:01:20.790-07:00Cabin trip with the Willams' & Cellas!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div>We were able to go on kind of a last minute trip up to the cabin over Conference Weekend this October with our good buddies the Williams' and the Cellas, some of the people who occupy the majority of my missing now that we've moved to Vegas. Annetta and Angie have been like sisters to me in Layton. You know those kind of friends that you can count on to do just about anything anytime and they'll do it with a smile? Those kind of friends are awesome. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO89oBkmCltbpt_gy3gb8P-OY6kWxnUPN-zL9H7U3d1CUhuDwK8M0-NCwJbzN_UyN92f4otFIm2-WMnwFBZhMVGv3Fik8q8XSrPAJ7fV3lxv15OdhDwEZR-pUH6sLVkK-6m2aQj0GaHJk/s1600/DSC_5177.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO89oBkmCltbpt_gy3gb8P-OY6kWxnUPN-zL9H7U3d1CUhuDwK8M0-NCwJbzN_UyN92f4otFIm2-WMnwFBZhMVGv3Fik8q8XSrPAJ7fV3lxv15OdhDwEZR-pUH6sLVkK-6m2aQj0GaHJk/s400/DSC_5177.JPG" /></a> </div>Also awesome is the view from the cabin in the fall. It's totally one of my favorite places to be. Even my parents came up, we had so much fun all together. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3trS9K7y3nc8F08jHroAE2Q_BJQW6MipfV6d6nOaX-YHSWuDxQYGBaNoeLO9614t3poQKhmiyyrbmtZDb7Idu-seK1J2cW2hN6HiFX14A8M0Vj0-ZDCH-2v97QMNjnnI2IRnach7r_sY/s1600/DSC_5185.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3trS9K7y3nc8F08jHroAE2Q_BJQW6MipfV6d6nOaX-YHSWuDxQYGBaNoeLO9614t3poQKhmiyyrbmtZDb7Idu-seK1J2cW2hN6HiFX14A8M0Vj0-ZDCH-2v97QMNjnnI2IRnach7r_sY/s400/DSC_5185.JPG" /></a> </div>Dad & Abes<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbGGQ0GslyLgZbVPYRiI_TMc9Pb0Ra5e9X0JqIMc2w6wQNZvhQDBM9IEelb1PaXEQZmr2s47iJ7Fp-Ik001EOBtfsN8g53INfalG3sQDUxgipguhoy7cIuLuf5ZFyigX__g8oNgqoa1c/s1600/DSC_5191.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbGGQ0GslyLgZbVPYRiI_TMc9Pb0Ra5e9X0JqIMc2w6wQNZvhQDBM9IEelb1PaXEQZmr2s47iJ7Fp-Ik001EOBtfsN8g53INfalG3sQDUxgipguhoy7cIuLuf5ZFyigX__g8oNgqoa1c/s400/DSC_5191.JPG" /></a> </div>Sawyer practicing her high fashion, high attitude pose.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-pokluknAZn2T14yL-KXCxGaqSRt7COXC15423Pm5Uj890ImGc8ckyayslb6CPO6UyiP2lVre7dR_jwzDL453VJXhVhdT6HCu38KV0VFXP9W05eLG00aAL78UkMTDgAOJ9_shbJCRJY/s1600/DSC_5196.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-pokluknAZn2T14yL-KXCxGaqSRt7COXC15423Pm5Uj890ImGc8ckyayslb6CPO6UyiP2lVre7dR_jwzDL453VJXhVhdT6HCu38KV0VFXP9W05eLG00aAL78UkMTDgAOJ9_shbJCRJY/s400/DSC_5196.JPG" /></a> </div>They're here! They're here!!! Matt was down in Vegas doing his final interview with Goode Surgical for the first part of this trip.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0q-LV3dmJxcO9bOOUOdkis-EFI77npZaNis-t5_LEfhsGMnZrhJ_ZmZ5QbcRYrJdiEyOQ6iwdwf0xYNO2TJ4sGEfF_ruMoghet0PGMmliEqwGqP08MZVbB4L8LCloGm76sNkZNwQXWo/s1600/DSC_5197.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0q-LV3dmJxcO9bOOUOdkis-EFI77npZaNis-t5_LEfhsGMnZrhJ_ZmZ5QbcRYrJdiEyOQ6iwdwf0xYNO2TJ4sGEfF_ruMoghet0PGMmliEqwGqP08MZVbB4L8LCloGm76sNkZNwQXWo/s400/DSC_5197.JPG" /></a> </div>Abes on his first hike. It was so much fun to have my friends & their sweet kids there. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGUdvRHRynBF_mgYSU0hqhIOCaodpq9J8IfqpOc-6PFyWrrFhafdl4kHco2K1vt0UrY0t0Faqav-XGHGJGtYi8XClnKDnla-Sd7rw0SyF9WJSVR1mAnJ6qKHSycTnDKevdItuNcp8U6Q/s1600/DSC_5198.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGUdvRHRynBF_mgYSU0hqhIOCaodpq9J8IfqpOc-6PFyWrrFhafdl4kHco2K1vt0UrY0t0Faqav-XGHGJGtYi8XClnKDnla-Sd7rw0SyF9WJSVR1mAnJ6qKHSycTnDKevdItuNcp8U6Q/s400/DSC_5198.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB2TZFBNS7U0qamaFJmbecyzR01G7NxOLJlnzaX3EtCPNfsi778tx_bjS_hSfeQrUyZ5GjNTTQZAoN66aKdPfg0HUjOGW0EU_7OJJKxxULqu3UgUAhZi8rEv7hAsdyo-eoAPVNx0Vs1Y/s1600/DSC_5200.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB2TZFBNS7U0qamaFJmbecyzR01G7NxOLJlnzaX3EtCPNfsi778tx_bjS_hSfeQrUyZ5GjNTTQZAoN66aKdPfg0HUjOGW0EU_7OJJKxxULqu3UgUAhZi8rEv7hAsdyo-eoAPVNx0Vs1Y/s400/DSC_5200.JPG" /></a> </div>Max even let Sawyer use his blankie while we were hiking. That's love.<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitevi8o8T93zX1RsSwaKVKEhASlQUSTC88Kzb2zxsS7Y84r2o_kwySyUw4ZqySXeS7_Oa-Z88Zp0XSG_IEcFS6Kts0gybVIHinnKsMvGEhnktwq97PB-q0-kVIeYh6PEYV5uJ3_FHrCjs/s1600/DSC_5204.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitevi8o8T93zX1RsSwaKVKEhASlQUSTC88Kzb2zxsS7Y84r2o_kwySyUw4ZqySXeS7_Oa-Z88Zp0XSG_IEcFS6Kts0gybVIHinnKsMvGEhnktwq97PB-q0-kVIeYh6PEYV5uJ3_FHrCjs/s400/DSC_5204.JPG" /></a> </div>He is such a sweet boy. The sweetest, craziest, you never know what he's going to destroy next boy.<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhDM89nPmpENNZFaMM-SXfZYbarmaZ6l7m_SkQG_AA3EC4lDSKgDX67PvOad6c_1sigtV91BudLvp5loq5hw5o4HIhJI_FU7i5j-I8Am8JskC0e5OkIlIgwPkL0rN9qZFUn4aWSOnuOw/s1600/DSC_5206.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhDM89nPmpENNZFaMM-SXfZYbarmaZ6l7m_SkQG_AA3EC4lDSKgDX67PvOad6c_1sigtV91BudLvp5loq5hw5o4HIhJI_FU7i5j-I8Am8JskC0e5OkIlIgwPkL0rN9qZFUn4aWSOnuOw/s400/DSC_5206.JPG" /></a> </div>I seriously love these kiddos. sorry about the poor orientation on this'n Davis.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDwPLFgSR241rVxF8aC2I7E5sAaZgGlFEcvjyFbkicWRiPKfWn-o98-darBGw0Z7mnlX2RUhyD_AJICZUn-DANpJUDHHDu2RmMx1He-juS-5bYcF1ob4ubWPY7sOOS0EAD_ZWF8ADt18/s1600/DSC_5211.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDwPLFgSR241rVxF8aC2I7E5sAaZgGlFEcvjyFbkicWRiPKfWn-o98-darBGw0Z7mnlX2RUhyD_AJICZUn-DANpJUDHHDu2RmMx1He-juS-5bYcF1ob4ubWPY7sOOS0EAD_ZWF8ADt18/s400/DSC_5211.JPG" /></a> </div>Abram loves him some Jenna!<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj435uD8GL956CnusYnSnRdwWpN_B01eAkyfQ9rZ95AEJ9qq2yetmie-A1V-8gj_Rqb77IxygWeh7MAIgHv_jClYf5Fdx6-0ibuju-0i9-xgvX_LDXxNMCdRbL8RHbNG0Exe6CI6QFkC8s/s1600/DSC_5213.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj435uD8GL956CnusYnSnRdwWpN_B01eAkyfQ9rZ95AEJ9qq2yetmie-A1V-8gj_Rqb77IxygWeh7MAIgHv_jClYf5Fdx6-0ibuju-0i9-xgvX_LDXxNMCdRbL8RHbNG0Exe6CI6QFkC8s/s400/DSC_5213.JPG" /></a> </div>It's so pretty up there.<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYrRwS28DP36oMiuiHjixCdyJVYCQraAwU9bQnsmCqNhaDCh-wLjOAEgwCg4D5tzl2KjNMky1PdSDxe0hm_p03644DrWp7jbRevl7FEN4QQcbLpzXd3ZX-eGaboY9neDuq2z9vRKa0rk/s1600/DSC_5214.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYrRwS28DP36oMiuiHjixCdyJVYCQraAwU9bQnsmCqNhaDCh-wLjOAEgwCg4D5tzl2KjNMky1PdSDxe0hm_p03644DrWp7jbRevl7FEN4QQcbLpzXd3ZX-eGaboY9neDuq2z9vRKa0rk/s400/DSC_5214.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">Sawyer would probably be a better hiker if her mother dressed her properly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efpBElKRAJ8/TvN6hOGxe8I/AAAAAAAAC6k/kRnzhPqK9rc/s1600/DSC_5217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efpBElKRAJ8/TvN6hOGxe8I/AAAAAAAAC6k/kRnzhPqK9rc/s320/DSC_5217.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">Two of probably the best people on the planet</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4-zSL_YEzc/TvN6h0jMx2I/AAAAAAAAC6o/iBw4s2__sAw/s1600/DSC_5223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4-zSL_YEzc/TvN6h0jMx2I/AAAAAAAAC6o/iBw4s2__sAw/s320/DSC_5223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>there were so many beautiful wildflowers, we couldn't resist picking a few. Then we got down to the base of the trail and there was a ranger who read us the riot act (nicely) about not messing with the delicate ecosystem. ooops. totally busted. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_hfnQGElBQ/TvN6jyDJ9mI/AAAAAAAAC60/PjuKrF-arEw/s1600/DSC_5229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_hfnQGElBQ/TvN6jyDJ9mI/AAAAAAAAC60/PjuKrF-arEw/s320/DSC_5229.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />When Matt finally got there he had great news! He got the job in Vegas! It was so cool to come full circle at the cabin. This whole hairbrained idea to change careers & move started on a cabin trip at the Oakley rodeo in July. It wrapped up (kinda) in October at the cabin over conference. Kinda cool the way things work.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5QgcSIqpwk/TvN6luoX3RI/AAAAAAAAC68/s_pRHr8NHpI/s1600/DSC_5234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5QgcSIqpwk/TvN6luoX3RI/AAAAAAAAC68/s_pRHr8NHpI/s320/DSC_5234.JPG" width="214" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4I2eadod4k/TvN6l3lwejI/AAAAAAAAC7A/k87sGtZLMio/s1600/DSC_5237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4I2eadod4k/TvN6l3lwejI/AAAAAAAAC7A/k87sGtZLMio/s320/DSC_5237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Abram discovered the fun that is grandma's lipstick. Sorry mom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_yPmVPNIow/TvN6mesF9uI/AAAAAAAAC7E/URImvBtHSrg/s1600/DSC_5253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_yPmVPNIow/TvN6mesF9uI/AAAAAAAAC7E/URImvBtHSrg/s320/DSC_5253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> It was Bella's birthday, we all love her so much & it was fun to be able to be with her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lCVA0gYZWPg/TvN6ndTtzyI/AAAAAAAAC7M/GLBD6E3-ARQ/s1600/DSC_5257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lCVA0gYZWPg/TvN6ndTtzyI/AAAAAAAAC7M/GLBD6E3-ARQ/s320/DSC_5257.JPG" width="214" /></a></div> Abram was constantly playing outside, I love that it was still warm enough to leave doors open & breathe in the fresh, mountain air.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgPGf1SEqhA/TvN6pO2plDI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/VSwUF8me7_k/s1600/DSC_5260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgPGf1SEqhA/TvN6pO2plDI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/VSwUF8me7_k/s320/DSC_5260.JPG" width="214" /></a></div> watching conference. i love that angie girl. she was working on homework for her masters program all weekend. (masters program! with four kids! she's amazing.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wl78czfylw/TvN6otJhbtI/AAAAAAAAC7U/ucGScnRt4Cg/s1600/DSC_5259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wl78czfylw/TvN6otJhbtI/AAAAAAAAC7U/ucGScnRt4Cg/s320/DSC_5259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U26YPtCE0Jk/TvN6oCgf3DI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/zaNKQqoMlKc/s1600/DSC_5258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U26YPtCE0Jk/TvN6oCgf3DI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/zaNKQqoMlKc/s320/DSC_5258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuNbPGW3yVY/TvN6piPd8yI/AAAAAAAAC7c/O4VcONZ4f78/s1600/DSC_5261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuNbPGW3yVY/TvN6piPd8yI/AAAAAAAAC7c/O4VcONZ4f78/s320/DSC_5261.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div align="center">See Davis right there? One of my favorite kids on the entire planet. Homeboy is the reason Sawyer isn't afraid of boys anymore after being exposed to too many crazy boys at the gym & preschool. He is such a sweetheart.</div><div align="center">Well, that's the end of that. It was way fun & I'm so blessed to be able to go to such a beautiful cabin and take my amazing friends with.</div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-41411511597874248842011-12-20T23:21:00.002-07:002011-12-20T23:38:23.061-07:00San Diego with Kierstin!!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3KUkqP-99GWF0VsTK_cSV0g4iYRNCB77ggqCyZh_lZRs1ft1bAjGyJK8BPiG_1vDta-3hvvl50byBg_TNBFvEbg9Apu0WprNFRUPsLba6eZU_esNTUbLEAkGOR1-Jw0c3Gnb7u2J0_E/s1600/DSC_5114.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3KUkqP-99GWF0VsTK_cSV0g4iYRNCB77ggqCyZh_lZRs1ft1bAjGyJK8BPiG_1vDta-3hvvl50byBg_TNBFvEbg9Apu0WprNFRUPsLba6eZU_esNTUbLEAkGOR1-Jw0c3Gnb7u2J0_E/s400/DSC_5114.JPG" /></a> </div>Meet Kierstin. She's fully awesome. So awesome in fact that she and I took a trip (BY OURSELVES!!!) to San Diego. Yes, it was in September, yes I am just now posting about it. It took me that long to get over the awesomeness that was this trip. We have been friends since junior high. Maybe that's why we still act like we are in junior high. The trip was originally going to be to New York, but there was this whole hurricane thing going on and the subway was supposedly going to be shut down the whole time we were there, so we rerouted. The hurricane wasn't nearly as bad as they anticipated, thank goodness, I can't say I'm sad about the change of plans though. We are both beach girls all the way. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyhoqsgISplI-LzSrr7bdq060_Gsvn5DyeXUKsDq0yE7pfnf46IiOhkw2KZSy1cv5PpuUyzZHquOxo4fu9CvUwu4T0O8RfseU_elLEpifOi_mxjZtWW-9GGFthvx3LQTIcFLq1wv4e-0/s1600/DSC_5118.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyhoqsgISplI-LzSrr7bdq060_Gsvn5DyeXUKsDq0yE7pfnf46IiOhkw2KZSy1cv5PpuUyzZHquOxo4fu9CvUwu4T0O8RfseU_elLEpifOi_mxjZtWW-9GGFthvx3LQTIcFLq1wv4e-0/s400/DSC_5118.JPG" /></a> </div>We spent three nights on Coronado Island at the Marriott Resort (beautiful!!) and then two nights across the bay in San Deigo at the Marquis. <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2lQ9kTqbi0VM5ofgaVhzIsr8_X2aFDEdxfGcDqIz1ToWIt8lpTOT7E6lx_9SNNIBkwflXZzgKVghxRCg7qGZQnWfI1ivbZUBSNKzXElZS_VESlu0rs9TAOzBAs-H4ooSbHvKlTEo1o4/s1600/DSC_5120.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2lQ9kTqbi0VM5ofgaVhzIsr8_X2aFDEdxfGcDqIz1ToWIt8lpTOT7E6lx_9SNNIBkwflXZzgKVghxRCg7qGZQnWfI1ivbZUBSNKzXElZS_VESlu0rs9TAOzBAs-H4ooSbHvKlTEo1o4/s400/DSC_5120.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">On Coronado Island we spent lots of time at the beach, particularly this one at the Hotel del Coronado, where Patrick Swayze was working as a dance instructor. We had a lovely time learning how to do lifts over his head and whatnot.</span> <br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9sdfu1eusr4S2PH4Rl4ioVrexMT8ykgxFBrL_YVnaw1DQl_0H-7Sxvu4xiWWuiQD-r0fRG5RxuCeKVFZFRoEnPYkbJmeO984K2XikY9RrEFj_AIQPW2tBtIzw6CCLiWhoO9VKPwb3h8/s1600/DSC_5122.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9sdfu1eusr4S2PH4Rl4ioVrexMT8ykgxFBrL_YVnaw1DQl_0H-7Sxvu4xiWWuiQD-r0fRG5RxuCeKVFZFRoEnPYkbJmeO984K2XikY9RrEFj_AIQPW2tBtIzw6CCLiWhoO9VKPwb3h8/s400/DSC_5122.JPG" /></a><br />
We also did a few hours of surf camp. It was a complete joke. I suck at surfing. However it will not dissuade me from throwing a lot of money at the problem and going to a <a href="http://surflasolas.com/" target="_blank">week long girls only surf camp in Costa Rica</a> with awesome friends in the near future. Oh, it's happening.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiC9gYvMRTAAgSPq4fG22zXfz2LzOuI-eDyWVj8R7YyiJGcIOcMcy4DUhhmqkggXHwStd9YQBFraqZntjy-O9rCJMzBpWQkG43spIXyl02sL9wy-1379V8ViyID2SuSMA8qixwP_jjkk/s1600/DSC_5123.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiC9gYvMRTAAgSPq4fG22zXfz2LzOuI-eDyWVj8R7YyiJGcIOcMcy4DUhhmqkggXHwStd9YQBFraqZntjy-O9rCJMzBpWQkG43spIXyl02sL9wy-1379V8ViyID2SuSMA8qixwP_jjkk/s400/DSC_5123.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="text-align: center;">We brought our special friend along with us everywhere. He represented our other Kirsten who couldn't make the trip and we missed her dearly. Homeboy is even worse at surfing than me.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtwmGSUB6gfDYXRUEHOG5SehgpqpJg5IgUiVwB2WsowRRYS1E9n2qnZn-_tTxW4MgNUvtAFvHG29V1HLUixxXpzaapDUdRkG4TfHDW2UQkGVQDHswHWncqF0ujVVewbFRAFp59Kb6Ojc/s1600/DSC_5124.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtwmGSUB6gfDYXRUEHOG5SehgpqpJg5IgUiVwB2WsowRRYS1E9n2qnZn-_tTxW4MgNUvtAFvHG29V1HLUixxXpzaapDUdRkG4TfHDW2UQkGVQDHswHWncqF0ujVVewbFRAFp59Kb6Ojc/s400/DSC_5124.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We hired a private surf instructor from Coronado Surfing Academy, he was way cute and fun and I totally recommend them to anyone, it wasn't really even that spendy. But it was cold.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Qmv1bIfpWyS0YZAvJvAd8OlTRZpoUcSHVIBggIwplUD1ehqvaKw6FH7l0hG7mQ4BRNDlV4MhvEwBGPf_6ccfv0Mjxb_qeKvjAsv4PD2-7r5DWMfzznFdQuEQhAgkeuKmyCPYPd-abAA/s1600/DSC_5125.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Qmv1bIfpWyS0YZAvJvAd8OlTRZpoUcSHVIBggIwplUD1ehqvaKw6FH7l0hG7mQ4BRNDlV4MhvEwBGPf_6ccfv0Mjxb_qeKvjAsv4PD2-7r5DWMfzznFdQuEQhAgkeuKmyCPYPd-abAA/s400/DSC_5125.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">At the Marquis we we on like the 14th floor which was awesome, for me at least. Kierstin could barely step out onto the deck. The view was awesome though. Slightly less awesome was the fact that the hotel was fully occupied by the Narcotics Anonymous Convention. Yup, two little Mormon Utah moms surrounded by recovering Narcaholics and felons. They were kind of awesome though, it was like being surrounded by Born Agains. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0fLd42O9axkSyWFw9sv5FHCupQo8oH4CMjf6srzSWox4Ke02NSqsZqxgG8hXfMMYW0wrbEic0snBQj4aW_yuRhrCvANHRxFISWqNlCj028ZDf3RqIl0gxIbsr4t9NvyCjplC9gyOsfw/s1600/DSC_5127.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0fLd42O9axkSyWFw9sv5FHCupQo8oH4CMjf6srzSWox4Ke02NSqsZqxgG8hXfMMYW0wrbEic0snBQj4aW_yuRhrCvANHRxFISWqNlCj028ZDf3RqIl0gxIbsr4t9NvyCjplC9gyOsfw/s400/DSC_5127.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfVOW9la2mNKLL2YCu9tl6SDQFiKSBq4EedcsRpudH74otEi4LF7Stk2FEbcqkQ4UZiK0nT1-w7_qLh0CzHZ14IJ2-GPyZSFtjyWFvJ_AQrzc0GWM6Zlzu59qtHdU4rhZhXqwEQQDUcE/s1600/DSC_5130.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfVOW9la2mNKLL2YCu9tl6SDQFiKSBq4EedcsRpudH74otEi4LF7Stk2FEbcqkQ4UZiK0nT1-w7_qLh0CzHZ14IJ2-GPyZSFtjyWFvJ_AQrzc0GWM6Zlzu59qtHdU4rhZhXqwEQQDUcE/s400/DSC_5130.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyC3YA7p8eu0loDZrzayGWtlwgKXq9ZAqrj03d84WbagoLHLZgk2NlnFO7b7i0rqk4hwUtfYi36BlRoMCW9O45eB3JQvD3R7p9pDkJlXt748EyPr4DONe-M2N3d9O03NYqxEmNrU2Gd4/s1600/DSC_5138.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyC3YA7p8eu0loDZrzayGWtlwgKXq9ZAqrj03d84WbagoLHLZgk2NlnFO7b7i0rqk4hwUtfYi36BlRoMCW9O45eB3JQvD3R7p9pDkJlXt748EyPr4DONe-M2N3d9O03NYqxEmNrU2Gd4/s400/DSC_5138.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="text-align: center;">Both properties were so stinking beautiful and well kept up.</span> <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP486wbwIJqsE1PxZSJNGc3SbaLyM88uT_FkdCreO2FIT3MO0nQOhyphenhyphenWU582q5BGyXyBNnU8rfq2y7dvsFfFjNQtBTiIxTUlhG-tfDi4zwJyaDzoPntXPSw-F7Mup1DCPAIK2vU_I-BwBw/s1600/DSC_5141.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP486wbwIJqsE1PxZSJNGc3SbaLyM88uT_FkdCreO2FIT3MO0nQOhyphenhyphenWU582q5BGyXyBNnU8rfq2y7dvsFfFjNQtBTiIxTUlhG-tfDi4zwJyaDzoPntXPSw-F7Mup1DCPAIK2vU_I-BwBw/s400/DSC_5141.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUXakrxabGfFQloHCGHoLyWfKvQOSmZwnrjAejv56shKCTCjOPRnz8q6MGQ5_pN0eYLejMM_ucAYroO6PAjw6RLxGNg8y9t3_yGkivW_mThrISQCqD-popWGEbo57SdvRX43mn33j9BA/s1600/DSC_5142.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUXakrxabGfFQloHCGHoLyWfKvQOSmZwnrjAejv56shKCTCjOPRnz8q6MGQ5_pN0eYLejMM_ucAYroO6PAjw6RLxGNg8y9t3_yGkivW_mThrISQCqD-popWGEbo57SdvRX43mn33j9BA/s400/DSC_5142.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This view though... not so beautiful. I love Kierstin. She's like a mix between Martha Stewart and Jillian Michaels and a Swedish supermodel, but is the biggest goober you'll ever meet. She was a perfect traveling companion, we rented bikes on Coronado & just biked everywhere. Get up, work out, get ready, bike, bike, bike, shop, beach, beach, beach, shop, eat ammmmaaaazzzing food, sleep. Repeat.</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BE1Ll8K_LrZmJFHftC-azyFtQa1O3aZZg0elprqxJK-KBnb8vGlSsE1VjIiJEyueI03QA5ybcL69GfpnQQfkAa9Z5es1p-3eUeBg0NI0p4vKkLYJFOSb6rbebI22oFXLWk53FdOmBQw/s1600/DSC_5145.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BE1Ll8K_LrZmJFHftC-azyFtQa1O3aZZg0elprqxJK-KBnb8vGlSsE1VjIiJEyueI03QA5ybcL69GfpnQQfkAa9Z5es1p-3eUeBg0NI0p4vKkLYJFOSb6rbebI22oFXLWk53FdOmBQw/s400/DSC_5145.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="text-align: center;">Amazing food like fish tacos.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgLYtOC7ZiSOFqgy8P3jpRuKQACSo-NSr03r3BmAFYUalDj9b5VqA3QxxOFdwkZqXCaOiqZC9uinOsip_XIifGPFYiOOjaOHNzCViH5FdPcEuO0pWRYtmf1Qx9iZJ-CScaXCSXq7y1bk/s1600/DSC_5150.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgLYtOC7ZiSOFqgy8P3jpRuKQACSo-NSr03r3BmAFYUalDj9b5VqA3QxxOFdwkZqXCaOiqZC9uinOsip_XIifGPFYiOOjaOHNzCViH5FdPcEuO0pWRYtmf1Qx9iZJ-CScaXCSXq7y1bk/s400/DSC_5150.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and cupcakes. yeah, we pounded all of these in like 20 minutes. Don't judge.</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lC6P1qU4sBtflWP7_jzECSq0xtHs_OOqFeI8DcFGsRBR8Cht5RB3tZBuEhKy-FhEpIviV-Ph2YH3kEEZ8oQeTD0f8r-o8sz_G0MaARrMRsMRPVnwzee_ky9qffCMrw8vItCxARXBgUw/s1600/DSC_5151.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lC6P1qU4sBtflWP7_jzECSq0xtHs_OOqFeI8DcFGsRBR8Cht5RB3tZBuEhKy-FhEpIviV-Ph2YH3kEEZ8oQeTD0f8r-o8sz_G0MaARrMRsMRPVnwzee_ky9qffCMrw8vItCxARXBgUw/s400/DSC_5151.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">They were awesome. You'd have done the same. The food was so awesome that I created an entire album on facebook dedicated to the food from this trip. I look at it fondly quite often.</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8QSt0aUQ8Z8_oBiT92aXjb_2-HOf0fREGsarhZ5fwcaWlBFO3KmIDcqh-zhu6ujcCU8u0Fb4m7E-PLVtmy0ELdmrB_ziBIb2T4R5NnWzymTw8JfZOqQq6azFDse1PchWuRG8r7OATB4/s1600/DSC_5152.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8QSt0aUQ8Z8_oBiT92aXjb_2-HOf0fREGsarhZ5fwcaWlBFO3KmIDcqh-zhu6ujcCU8u0Fb4m7E-PLVtmy0ELdmrB_ziBIb2T4R5NnWzymTw8JfZOqQq6azFDse1PchWuRG8r7OATB4/s400/DSC_5152.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="text-align: center;">One super cool place we stumbled upon was called Sinfullicious, or something like that. It was a customize your own bath products bar, such a cool idea. You pick the product,</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOqP7RJ1160CVljLVp2jyREbytDf68bE2LF73pliN61lZA5Fqq5t6TuPGk45QNjRymxWSLNIFDbbuLvgIVSSKou8TdJAHtOkXQjO-VuA6n5LyNVXtYKUBsQDi2cv4ZclkME-Kl9rdtMw/s1600/DSC_5153.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOqP7RJ1160CVljLVp2jyREbytDf68bE2LF73pliN61lZA5Fqq5t6TuPGk45QNjRymxWSLNIFDbbuLvgIVSSKou8TdJAHtOkXQjO-VuA6n5LyNVXtYKUBsQDi2cv4ZclkME-Kl9rdtMw/s400/DSC_5153.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">the scent, the color, everything is totally custom & natural. It was so fun designing a signature scent. Mine was a combo of fig, warm vanilla sugar and hawaiian rain. Delish!</div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF-KjQQQUYetdOPHSR1d_xM84gb8MKrO1l9XcfLpbvPDyNWLrGT1qz3H_qxvd5WwS_hUlr4KLf96yif3XgggNw4uqmI56OVIJ6Q7iJ_nfTGUULoWLjpSCIhLDlnuTrDdFAZIVT1_C2QU/s1600/DSC_5154.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF-KjQQQUYetdOPHSR1d_xM84gb8MKrO1l9XcfLpbvPDyNWLrGT1qz3H_qxvd5WwS_hUlr4KLf96yif3XgggNw4uqmI56OVIJ6Q7iJ_nfTGUULoWLjpSCIhLDlnuTrDdFAZIVT1_C2QU/s400/DSC_5154.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="text-align: center;">Then they mix it up for you right in front of your eyes. So fun!</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXBXuAfuc9YAWtropUxybQhGAb7AbOIDg55G6_7h9MUtoadyzWWtY2Oly5kGn27nf3X7fTp1pn7xG8Nb_llxUHMzVUV0Q42hqn38WBjCaxTJjsobEd1aE10Reoc-20roPnQ56-6sCFZQ/s1600/DSC_5155.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXBXuAfuc9YAWtropUxybQhGAb7AbOIDg55G6_7h9MUtoadyzWWtY2Oly5kGn27nf3X7fTp1pn7xG8Nb_llxUHMzVUV0Q42hqn38WBjCaxTJjsobEd1aE10Reoc-20roPnQ56-6sCFZQ/s400/DSC_5155.JPG" /></a> </div><span style="text-align: center;">And there ya go. So go to San Diego. Leave your kids. Leave the hubs. Find a girlfriend who rocks and listen to her funny stories. Tell her your funny stories. Make up new funny stories together. Then go home and be a better mom because you took time out. If that's not your style, I'm sorry, it was so awesome. Thank you Kierstin!!!!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Now about that New York trip...</span><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-37553422506742885222011-12-08T00:27:00.000-07:002011-12-08T00:27:05.766-07:00an unupdatey updateoi. it's been a minute, eh? here's a brief synopsis of the recent goings on.<br />
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-we like vegas.<br />
-matt's job is good. exhausting & long, but good.<br />
-we need friends. our current neighborhood is considerably less awesome than our old one in Layton. there is missing going on. <br />
-we really want to get this house that we put an offer in on a couple of weeks ago. but it's a short sale, so it's a big long waiting game. it's lovely. please keep your fingers crossed. <br />
-i like my kids. Sawyer & Abram get along so well, I feel very blessed.<br />
-i love, double LOOOOVE my new gym. performax can go suck eggs. Ann Road 24 hour is blowing my mind with awesomeness. for the same price. with a outdoor pool, a sauna, a hot tub, a steam room and all of it clean. with classes (I'm such a Zumba addict right now) that murderize performax's.<br />
-i'm off sugar. and bread. meats & veggies for me right now & it's doing me right. i didn't' realize how much of a sugar addict i've become. which for me is motivation enough to kick it. I don't want to ever be addicted to anything. Ever. So I've channeled all my disdain for smokers into kicking my sugar habit. working like a charm.<br />
-we sold my lexus. well, steven did. matt's brother steve has been such a sweetheart to us lately. don't tell, but he's really not as big an Ahole as he'd like you to think. the lexus wanted to drive around in the snow & I was all "well, i'm not going to be doing that anymore" and she's all "well then sell me, my 4wheel drive is being squandered down here." So I was like "fine! I will! have fun in the snow, you beautiful beautiful automobile you!" and that was the end of that. at the moment I'm driving the avalon, but we are selling that too, it's not to hot of a mom car, and buying probably a Honda Element. <br />
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I'm sick of my random thoughts and poor capitalization. I'm sure Stacey is too, if she, or anyone, reads this anymore.<br />
off to bed with me then!Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-65900664689428224392011-10-28T23:00:00.000-06:002011-10-28T23:00:05.433-06:00It's tired hereTonight (as with most nights) Matt attempted to hang out with me until his exhaustion overcame him.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5668774330722627362'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp5OgjmbFnsDuhqkA61fOb03nWVXSB5d-6DVXEMntZ7hWO6OTofSgIV0XzCsi_ulsEnq2JobqKW8VKcCsAG6MDvRK5Ji9Sf-kzA8Y337TqbE2YU3KKtb3vkqr9c5LNmdsTcgZHceyzpg/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Looking at houses online must bore him. Its starting to bore me. Actually, bore is the wrong word, frustrate the hell out of me is what it's really starting to do. We have a very specific area we want to buy in and we want a pool. Pretty much we are flexible on everything else, but apparently you have to know someone, the right someone, to get into a house there. The second something is listed, there's an offer on it. It doesn't help that our stupid freaking house hasn't officially closed yet, so we aren't in a position to be slapping down any offers of our own. It should close any day, but I'm getting a wee bit antsy. I'm sick of being in limbo. The kids & Cyd & I ran up to Davis county real quick this week to clean out the last few bits the stupid movers left behind (thanks, guys). It was good to see my friends & some family real quick, but I gotta say, it really didn't feel like "going home". Seeing the Stratosphere looming in the hazy distance felt more like coming home. Probably because my baby was there, but also because apparently I am a warm weather chic. I'm off the meds & more content than have been in a long time. Me likey. <br /><br />- Posted from my iPhone<br />Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-15085825776435132852011-10-20T00:17:00.001-06:002011-10-20T00:17:14.772-06:00waaaaant...<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5665454518815225346'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w4yFqf5lB6U1kg6KinhYd-wJzFhZWqjvqwU5UXRee2GOAk-ALRbixM4xdIl2dJnnUHEXeQg-1w7rzmfxK8TInNgWzHKQpDNG_qQm0wCxlHOCuuNF3eA9eADPFohMjvAuxBsVYg3wrBA/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='612' height='612' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />so there's this house... it's fully awesome. Here's the backyard. <br />I want it. We snuck in last night & now so does everyone else. It needs work, but the bones & yard & location are all perfection. The kind of work it needs is the exact kind of work I'd WANT to put into a house anyway, to make it ours, you know. I want it bad. But it's a short sale & last night somebody put an offer on it. So. What do we do? Our house should close in the next week or so. Should we put an offer of our own in? I hate that we'd have to wait so long to find out if either of them were accepted. I'm sick to death of waiting for things, of being in limbo. I've felt like this since July. I don't know if I could hack three more months....<br />In other news, I'm not the only one who loves it here in Vegas. We've been playing outside much more than we did in Layton, the weather is just glorious! These kids of ours are having a great time with the fenced backyard/dirt pile. Sawyer is a fan of having her picture taken. She makes up poses & faces & sets up each shot, tells me where to stand & when to take each picture. She's hilarious. Abram always wants in too. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5665454544197549490'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3oKe7AE0oxto_7Nninp2mfHCcQCC51wZO6svBZNR2QWyd4yE1dBsCoEpp2G8IS3gzITFNc20ohe8RT0hfRdHXzOvga_9yl2BvEHFLYq432dyAwRvRm81Ly4hxrK1lA8x007ap6OETr0/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />We have a very friendly cat next door, Abram was being so so very gentle with it, we've really been working on that with him & I was so proud. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5665454562757367058'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt4tFoCFL0MoeB5lBuGXSVwC9vP-OYSAof6WJacVdqnvdWxrz-7OJaZZ7iR51WAS_-MywpZ8cRlGQpbbfoqQu05WGZSN4qbzntTP0Oy7AGL2ZtQOoxMZGEixtWybVXWasxePGxXqL_O0/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Look at those fat little hands! Ohhhh I just wanna gobble them up! <br />It was a great day despite the burned pumpkin bread, and the missing sewing machine cord. I love my family. <br /><br />- Posted from my iPhone<br />Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-26926024373277253472011-10-19T00:21:00.000-06:002011-10-19T00:21:07.662-06:00sunshine, lollypops & rainbowsI'm really happy right now.<br />
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I don't know if it's the extra sunny sunshine or the drastically decreased amount of "stuff" in my life or maybe it's that my husband is retardedly in love with his job, but I'm having a hard time wiping the smile off my face lately.<br />
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Things have changed since my last update, thanks to a huge tender mercy, we aren't having to live in St. George & have Matt commute, we are renting an awesome house in the Centennial Hills area (Northwest LV) from my sister-in-law Jennifer's parents who live down here. They have been so completley welcoming & sweet, it's like having built in family already. Our ward and neighborhood here are also wonderful & very welcoming. Las Vegas is a huge city, but somehow it manages to have a small town attitude. I find the desert extremly peaceful, which is odd considering how un-peaceful the part of Vegas is that most people think of. It's much more than the Strip, and I love it. <br />
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There are a huge amount of awesome homes in our price range, but I'm finding myself being really, really picky as I look. Like "I-have-developed-multiple-styes-on-each-eyelid" picky. It just feels like we'll be here for a good long time, and I don't want to find myself in a home I like in an area that I don't. I don't want to put up with a home design/yard/neighborhood/ward that is anything less than awesome. We honestly just left the best ward & neighborhood that I have ever expericned. It was bliss. Sooo hard to leave. It's not even about getting the fanciest house, or a huge house (goodness no, I don't think I'll ever want a huge house, not my style) I'm seriously just trusting in the Lord to help us find the neighborhood that He would have us be in. That's my priority.<br />
Well, that and a house that I can picture our family loving life in. <br />
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<a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2011/10/conscious-pace.html">This post</a> by the always inspiring Sarah of Clover Lane is helping me refocus my intentions right now. Perhaps that is another reason for the lightness of my heart lately. <br />
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I've been living in a state of gratitude. I've been ever so conscious of how mindful our Heavenly Father is of us, little us, and it blows my mind. The move to Layton, the <a href="http://sawyersusierocks.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-was-grateful-yesterday-for.html">people</a> we met there, the children I'm so lucky to have, the timing (and<a href="http://lookthroughmylens.blogspot.com/2010/05/birth-story-baby-abram.html"> loveliness</a>) of Abram's birth, which ultimately lead to Cydney being with us, even the miscar<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1061667183"></span>riages<span id="goog_1061667184"></span></a> I went through, Matt working at Advanced Title (with Kirsten's husband Dave! a junior high pipe dream come true!), Matt running into <a href="http://sawyersusierocks.blogspot.com/2011/07/big-stuff-big-stuff.html">Jake</a> & setting us down this path of moving to Vegas, so many other little things that simply didn't happen by accident! All these things have "worked together for our good". <br />
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Doctrine & Covenants Section 90 Verse 24 (this reference is inscribed into Matt's wedding ring by the way.) <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Search diligently, pray always, and be believing,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and all things shall work together for your good,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if ye walk uprightly and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">remember</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the covenant wherewith</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ye have covenanted one with another.</span></div><br />
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Regardless of the reason for the smiles, I'm certain that staying in that grateful mindset will keep 'em coming, no matter what comes our way in the future.Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-23945215736075150372011-10-01T13:20:00.001-06:002011-10-09T21:37:32.999-06:00Sometimes I think I accidentally married Pedro<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5661683446961867490"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLDBxPEKhkyIKXMTIOvV4zUZf_eI9tKUU7FUngFmrfCKg_KVG2dRbIFx5v6KY6E1epR7ju32QBHZrEPWJddSDnVnCb882kD6YN5uSGwOkPvb7bVMwF0hr9q471uE6sFUNdAERwq73QiU/s288/iphone_photo.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="225" /></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5661683454232200898"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xF1qla61viZeaVc1nLGVv3V_7_ZDJDh2V02COq4f4JMD1O0wnih6Mko1FIAyCiGg9ZvC-RUclX5XlbNlzy9yL96UyTuHLiRU3KtZQO68dKdkocjB_HXIsq4A75Y-zLt7coWngx4KMl4/s288/iphone_photo.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="160" /></a></center><br />
like riding on a dragon. Clearly. <br />
We are up at the cabin escaping the last few chaotic bits at our 98% empty house, and the cleaning that is eminent. The last time we were up at the cabin, it was for the 4th if July, where at the Oakley Rodeo, Matt ran into his old college buddy, Jake & we got this hairbrained idea to switch careers & move. The only things we were certain of were 1) that Matt should go to Medical Sales College like Jake had, and 2) that it was time to sell our house so that we could be available to go wherever Matt got a job after he finished school. <br />
Over the course of the past few months, we've done more than our fair share of speculating & impatiently stamping our proverbial feet wondering where in the helk this journey was taking us, and why. And while we don't really know the why just yet, we do know the where! Las Vegas! Yesterday Matt accepted an offer to work for an Arthrex distributorship in Lost Wages (as my pseudo-father Sherwood Pack calls it), selling all sorts of screws & plates & biologics (ask him about it next time you see him, it's so fun to see him excited about his work and throwing around medical terminology. At least it is to me)<br />
I'm so excited for him. It's great to see him passionate about what he's doing & excited to work hard & be successful. <br />
So yeah. Moving to Vegas. I'm excited about the change, there are so many things about it that lead me to believe that it will be a great fit for our little family. And the thing that gives me the most hope is that this move makes even less sense than our move to Layton, and that has turned out to be a huge blessing, full of wonderful friends & lots of opportunities for growth. So by that logic, Vegas should be good. Right?<br />
We are spending the next week with Susie, tying up loose ends with the house & whatnot, then we'll move down to the condo in St George to mooch off of Susie's generosity some more & be closer to Vegas for when Matt starts work on the 10th. Hopefully we'll find a great house (pool!) and be able to move officially & be reunited with all the crap in our storage shed soon. <br />
So that's the updated plan. <br />
<br />
- Posted from my iPhoneCelestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-9996511855096195102011-09-17T08:35:00.002-06:002012-09-15T13:53:56.181-06:00All is right with the world againYesterday I woke up at four am, got on a plane, took a bus for a hour, rode light rail and walked a mile, all to surprise my amazing-doesn't-even-begin-to-cover-it husband. Cydney got Sawyer off to school, dropped Abes off with Stacey & Ryan and then freaking <i>delivered</i> a wedding cake for me. (the delivery is for sure the hardest, most stressful part, this is a big deal.) There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to her, to JaNae & Kirsten & Stacey (and to my parents for the ride to the airpoirt at an unholy hour) because surprising Matt & being here in Denver for his graduation was a total "movie moment". He had no idea. It was the best.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5653337103643165154"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHguoMxRhYYNSvA9MTCvVa4xU1bv0ENfOFlwqpT4TIUU7Dg93w9mFA7-eInXe2vGoUxCRPc16l7o8J5IA5M_3acAaikeVyRKkWcwONXKo8FHN3e7MBd0fn8cnjryk87U3XUZfdZFeV6I8/s288/iphone_photo.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a><br />
And I'm so glad I got to meet all his instructors & the guys in his class. Oh my goodness the whole program was awesome, everyone was in tears the whole time, it was really something special. I cannot believe how hard he worked for this. He was in class an hour before it started every day (at six am!) stayed late every night, and if he wasn't in class he was only sleeping or studying. The top three scores in the class were just one point behind each other, Matt came in second, by one point, and was awarded the MVP award which was voted on by the other guys in the class. What an honor. I could tell in just the first few seconds of meeting them that each of those guys were phenomenal human beings, like just really super good guys. His instructor Mark I can tell is someone who will be in our lives as a mentor & friend for a very long time. I can see that being the case with Mark, Joe, Jason & Alex as well. <br />
The whole experience was really pivotal in Matt's life. Since Scott died, he has really been dragging in so many ways. It is so nice to see him excited & passionate about life again. <br />
After graduation and many tearful goodbyes, we went back to Bob & Rennei's, Matt's aunt & uncle who has so kindly hosted him for the last month, said goodbye to her & set out on our way to Vail where I had made a reservation for the night at the Marriott & an 80 minute couples massage! After our massage, which was awesome, we went to Sweet Basil for an unbelievably good linger-and-talky dinner. We walked around Oktoberfest and checked out all the lovely ladies with their plastic surgery faces and furs & Louis Vition bags. Vail is not messing around. Matt woke up early & snuck out and grabbed some takeout from a delicious little creperie. Now we are going to hustle home to our little ones and have a nice relaxing weekend together before the firestorm of find-a-job-move-out-of-our-house-into-Susie's-find-a-new-house-who-knows-where starts. Then there's the training a new primary president, cleaning our house down to the nubs, registering Sawyer & Cyd for new schools, finding a new gym, etc etc etc. Holy cow. But guess what? That's all going to happen just fine. For now? For now I'm just going to sit back, sing off-key to Matt's old man music, read Real Simple and be with my baby for the next six hours. There is no one I'd rather be with, make plans with, dream with, laugh with, wake up with or be stuck in the car with. There is no one I'd rather see succeed. And I know he will. In every aspect of life.<br />
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- Posted from my iPhoneCelestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-18196288693631059492011-08-30T22:19:00.000-06:002011-08-30T22:19:10.670-06:00new favorite blogare you bored? do you need another way to <strike>waste time</strike> entertain yourself? I found one. Go to <a href="http://www.joshweed.com/2011/02/extra-extra-read-all-about-it-being.html">here</a>. You don't even have to read the whole thing, just the top part about the job listing. That's my day today. Now goodnight. I'm going to San Diego tomorrow with this <a href="http://mylifekierstin.blogspot.com/?zx=8f8025c65f67ced3">chic</a> & I don't have to think about things like that for five more sleeps. <br />
mmmmmwah!Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-40397107564637257162011-08-23T14:36:00.000-06:002011-08-23T14:36:27.622-06:00Tuachan ExtravaganzaEarlier in the month, Susie kindly took a bunch of the girls down to St. George to see Grease & The Little Mermaid at Tuachan. They were both awesome, but The Little Mermaid was like extra spectacular. If you have the chance, I would totally recommend it. Sawyer loved both shows, but she really wanted to meet Sandy but not Ariel for some reason. I was a bit annoyed though at the underlying message of both shows. Sitting there next to "my" daughter who is really just on loan to me from our Heavenly Father with the understanding that I will do my darndest to raise her in such a way that she can make it back home to Heaven, I couldn't help but be conscious of how each female lead wasn't happy until she had her man. They both had to change & take some crap to please the people around them. Clearly healthy relationships do not make for interesting story lines, but sheesh! I'm sick of Disney telling my kid that she won't be happy until she nabs a man. Okay, I'm being a tad extreme here, I realize that. I certainly need my man. It's fine. Just don't get me started on Beauty & the Beast. I have some serious issues with that one. <br />
It was great that Cydney was able to come with us too. She stayed with Abram while we went to the shows. It was fun to see Caroline, Cate & Grace follow her around like little puppy dogs & aske her beauty advice & whatnot. I'm so lucky to have her. Anyway, I am so grateful that I have a mother-in-law that I absolutely count as one of my friends. She is so much fun to be around & gives fantastic advice. Even without the fun trips, she is a complete rockstar. Thank you Susie!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlm0JGIn-vrc1BZF7fVPbbdiCY1u6WEHok3zV_YwSjoKC4juFWulA3Emu_LKgXDmKW9kYu4uIgRH4ZS_5TznLsnqaj2JOF_-w8pP9yPH1X-27K95IZZ-UsGALKiGi2xvMeVZarylbHi4/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlm0JGIn-vrc1BZF7fVPbbdiCY1u6WEHok3zV_YwSjoKC4juFWulA3Emu_LKgXDmKW9kYu4uIgRH4ZS_5TznLsnqaj2JOF_-w8pP9yPH1X-27K95IZZ-UsGALKiGi2xvMeVZarylbHi4/s320/IMG_2773.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLeD3_lSPiWq6X5U-NoLiQQJDxk-tz7VvML9HQ0RVU9pnWvRGB5BNzmhYlXqzNOjDcGh8E-BCheZbwiWyMq3zIY6nkaBFy1mOuv9A3XIgACfTlP1sxJh5yS8ZixmXts9aZ97rakD9GCs/s1600/IMG_2776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLeD3_lSPiWq6X5U-NoLiQQJDxk-tz7VvML9HQ0RVU9pnWvRGB5BNzmhYlXqzNOjDcGh8E-BCheZbwiWyMq3zIY6nkaBFy1mOuv9A3XIgACfTlP1sxJh5yS8ZixmXts9aZ97rakD9GCs/s320/IMG_2776.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-19909639349595431852011-08-21T00:04:00.000-06:002011-08-21T00:04:43.229-06:00Operation Survive Matt's Absence- Day OneI'm chalking today up as a success. Granted it was only a half day, but whatever. Matt left today at four, after taking us to breakfast at The Original Pancake House in Sugarhouse & then coming home & packing & cleaning & prepping to go. I'm so excited for him. He really is studying like I've never seen him & this whole experience so far is very uniting for us as a family. After he left we picked some take out up from Cafe Zupas & went down to the Wright's neighborhood party. We didn't stay very long because one of my rules of OSMA is to get the kids to bed on time. After I put Abram down, Sawyer, Cyd & I had some banana ice cream & then Sawyer & I read books & played horsey on the trampoline. I really like hanging out with Sawyer. She's really a cool chic. We knelt down for family prayers & she told me that "this cannot be family prayers. Daddy isn't here. It's just girls & Abram prayers." So apparently I need to revise my list of OSMA rules to correct that terminology. <br />
Here they are-<br />
<br />
<br />
The Rules of Operation Survive Matt's Absence<br />
#1- no late nights. Bedtime is 7:30 for Abram AND Sawyer. She's a big kindergartener after all & starting Monday, we are going to have to get up at like 7:30!!! (I'm not ashamed to admit that most of the summer we have still been in bed at 9 am. Ok, maybe a little ashamed)<br />
#2- Mommy's gym time is sacred. Don't even try to skip or else you'll be all stabby by noon.<br />
#3- Once a week, get a sitter & go out. With Cyd, by yourself, with friends, I don't care. Just do it.<br />
#4- <strike>Family</strike> Girls & Abram prayers every day. Once a day at the <i>very least</i>.<br />
#5- Personal scripture study & prayers twice a day. Listen to something from the Gospel Library app at some point during the day & sit down & read real live scriptures in the morning before even getting out of bed. <br />
#6- Laugh. Don't take yourself too seriously. Generally it is Matt's responsibility to see that this happens, so I hope that I can do it without him here.<br />
and last but not least<br />
#7- do not be afraid to accept the help that is offered to me. <br />
I seriously have no idea how military wives or single moms do it. GOOOOO them!<br />
and go me. ;)Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-61431092544347239222011-08-02T14:34:00.000-06:002011-08-02T14:46:41.666-06:00love note<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/CelesteSDavis/SawyerSusieRocks04?authkey=Gv1sRgCNWskaGQ8tOETA#5636362887487869474'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzwHTwQQENwlrzErizRSinI4su09yp-PvliK2aNLD-fYyr25TCVSek3zTtg4ICHIHmEOMQ1Y3xr0ialAAQ1-yVibLMJdESNNbsND5cDUGGIbfT2NSCBjuT6LBAM-q4W-LdGcRPQtxXtw/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='612' height='612' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Matt sent me this email a few weeks ago. I've reread it nearly every day since. I really had no idea how good a choice I was making when I decided to marry him. Luck, a blessing, destiny? I don't know, but I'm ever so glad he's mine. <br />Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-74631747255174535772011-07-12T01:04:00.000-06:002011-07-12T01:04:24.984-06:00big stuff. big stuff.hey howdy howdy. still alive. not blogging & not taking any pictures, so I can't really prove it, but it's true. We've been up to some big stuff over here. putting our house, car, children etc up for sale, you know, no bigs. k, not children. we really actually like them a whole heaping lot. our kids kick butt.<br />
<br />
but yeah, house. for sale. car. for sale. gonna have a yard sale pretty soon here too, so there'll be a lot more shish for sale as well. <br />
<br />
wanna buy anything?<br />
<br />
Why, you may ask, are we selling everything? I'll tell you.....<br />
we are going on an adventure. yes, a family adventure. together. we don't know where we will be in 3 months. Here's the deal. Matt has been quite dissatisfied with his job lately. It's been a huge blessing over the years & we lovelovelove everyone he's worked with, but the actual <em>job</em> portion? not a great fit. Anyway, that's what we've been realizing in the last few, and over the 4th of July weekend, we kind of had a few things happen that helped us figure out what to do! I don't believe in coincidences, do you? Things happen how they are supposed to happen. Matt ran into a friend from college at the Oakley rodeo who told him about this medical device sales college that he had gone to & how he was enjoying his new career. Things happened pretty quickly from there, it just felt really right for us. He starts the at home portion (4 weeks long) next Monday, then on August 15th, he starts another 4 weeks in Denver at MSC. So, come (hopefully) the end of September, we'll have a new career on our hands, quite possibly a new place to live. Maybe even a new house, who knows?<br />
I'm feeling really excited though, I think Matt'll be a lot happier, and it's exciting to just feel like we're allowing the Lord to kind of guide our lives a little. His plans are always WAAAYYYY better than mine ever are anyway, so it's cool. ;)<br />
So that's what we're doing. We're gonna be pretty freaking poor for a minute though, while Matt is unemployed for a few weeks, but honestly I'm thinking that'll be kind of an adventure too. I'm finding all sorts of fun free things to do with the kids, and being better about planning meals & buying actually from a list (shockingly easier on the budget than just purchasing everything that looks tasty. amazing!) Passed up a hair appointment (so that's why I look skraggely), a concert and I'm busting out the Happenings book again! It feels really good to feel all united toward a goal as a family/couple. I kind of love it. <br />
Do you see this? It's freaking 1 am. What in the hell am I doing? <br />
see ya later.Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652042823278864201.post-16603608405850366172011-06-20T21:50:00.001-06:002011-06-20T21:52:15.134-06:00waterboarding? that's sissy stuff<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82ytu7bnymetNyJ8UQenOGfOeiiECiNKQoMOwKT-fUQK-S-hA7rhr4tCsRo1z_i3vfYv1G1IC6FW5TjS9yhZObp-isAbZIOJwYl6oAfSg0LMgrMYPuqqya1ROcCG5djMdTCBIZfc3cZQ/s1600/DSC_5028.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82ytu7bnymetNyJ8UQenOGfOeiiECiNKQoMOwKT-fUQK-S-hA7rhr4tCsRo1z_i3vfYv1G1IC6FW5TjS9yhZObp-isAbZIOJwYl6oAfSg0LMgrMYPuqqya1ROcCG5djMdTCBIZfc3cZQ/s400/DSC_5028.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KT57yXUnAO7PBwacUQb5HruUdpIbyUHM6-SdmLKGEhW7GMggP32wIDvSz7OEOJIO395VCsV10LTmTjjCcZUZBMg3I_YaWHxRuimxOXbT4hNf9zRF0P9ITrq9LMkWbNoPOZPV3Oe9Ln8/s1600/DSC_5041.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KT57yXUnAO7PBwacUQb5HruUdpIbyUHM6-SdmLKGEhW7GMggP32wIDvSz7OEOJIO395VCsV10LTmTjjCcZUZBMg3I_YaWHxRuimxOXbT4hNf9zRF0P9ITrq9LMkWbNoPOZPV3Oe9Ln8/s400/DSC_5041.JPG" /></a> </div>getting a haircut is the new torture. These pictures crack. me. up. I love how he goes from screaming like a banshee to "oh wait. is this a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Popsicle</span>? cool."<br />
I'll post pictures of the finished look soon. Matt gave him an unauthorized m<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ohawk</span>. I could not be more in love with it.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535378668023216562noreply@blogger.com2