The Latest & Greatest

What We've Been Up To

2012-02-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

Life has been busy.
I love it though.
Each day it is a joy to spend time with my boys.
Lately:

Hugh and Joel love to play chase back and forth down the hallway. I play too...we all end up laughing and wearing the knees out of our jeans :)

Joel is climbing on everything...getting closer to walking

Daddy and the boys wrestling...a favorite pasttime.

Hugh loves to feed his dog and his tiger and his frog...they've become our breakfast, lunch and dinner guests

Bryce after an ER visit and 5 stitches. Church basketball.

And then there's me...I fell down the stairs last Saturday morning at 6 am in the dark when I got up to feed Joel! Can you believe it? After tumbling to the bottom I realized it wasn't a dream and had to laugh. No broken bones though...so grateful!!! I had several good bruises and was pretty sore for a few days. I must have been really tired! The next night Bryce made sure we had a much brighter night light in the hallway :)

Christmas

2012-01-11T19:45:00.001-08:00

For Christmas we made the trek to Idaho and then down to Utah to spend time with family. It was so good to see everyone! It was rough on the boys who had colds and were tired from staying up later than normal. They were happy to see their Grandparents and cousins though! It was worth the drive and I'm happy to be home again and getting into a good routine.

Hugh on his new bike

Hugh and Grandpa

At a live Nativity on Christmas Eve

Santa even made a surprise visit

This was just a few days ago, but I had to include it anyways...too funny.

Choo-Choo!

2011-11-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

Hugh celebrated his second birthday this week and I can hardly believe he is now two years old! For the past several months we've been talking about making a choo-choo train cake for his birthday. He was excited to finally see it on his birthday and EAT it! Next time I make a birthday cake, I think I'll only use one cake mix...or invite lots of friends over to eat cake! It was a fun birthday and Hugh has loved playing with a new train set. Happy Birthday, Hugh!

I Love These Kiddos

2011-10-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friend Ashley, we have some great new pics of the boys. I can hardly believe how fast these two are growing! They are a lot of fun and I love seeing them start to play together.

6 Months and Almost 2

2011-08-31T14:53:00.000-07:00

Joel is now 6 months! Where does the time go? He's just over 21 lbs and about 27 inches long and adorable in every way. He constantly rolls from his back to his tummy when I put him down for a nap. His hair has come in reddish-blonde and is really cute.

Hugh is almost 2! He is so much fun! He amazes us with new words every day. He loves to feed the ducks and visit the park.

We had a lot of fun this past week with some family that came to visit. Hugh especially had fun running around with his cousins, Blake and Kate!

My Newest Project

2011-08-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

Home-made Baby Food! One of my friends recommended a book I've been using called Cooking For Baby by Williams and Sonoma. I've loved reading it and have tried a few of the recipes. The food turns out pretty good, ends up being a lot less expensive than commercially prepared baby food, and is healthier. We're giving it a go at our house. So far Joel has liked the pea puree and the sweet potato puree... I thought they were really good too! I made some applesauce but it turned out a little tart...guess I need to buy sweeter apples to start with. So here's a run down:

Steam fruits or veggies in a steamer basket with a little water in the pan under the basket. Make sure you have a tight lid.

Puree the fruits or veggies in a blender. (I added water to thin).

Freeze them in ice-cube trays.

Pop out an ice-cube size portion when your are ready to feed your baby and let it thaw.

Enjoy!!!

For some of the recipes you actually bake the food instead of steaming it. There are lots of fun recipes to try as your baby gets older.

Lately

2011-07-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Enjoying Sunday morning before church.

Joel is loving his exercise-saucer. He can move around and play with lots of toys.

Hugh has started to enjoy playing with playdough. He usually likes to make "choo-choos". He is learning to count (so far he is pretty good at 1, 2, and 3). He's also learned most of his colors.

Joel loves playing with Daddy

All ready for church (so handsome!)

We had a chance to visit a zoo in Billings. Here's Bryce and Hugh at the Grizzly Bear exhibit.

Joel and I with the very sleepy Siberian Tiger

Enjoying Summer

2011-07-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

I love these warm Summer days! We have been busy traveling, visiting family, playing outside at parks and in the backyard, and soaking up this wonderful sun!

Here's Hugh helping water Grandpa's garden. He loves the water. A few days ago we took the boys swimming and Hugh couldn't get enough of the baby water slide. He also kept jumping out of the shallower pool and making a run for the deeper pool, ready to make a cannon ball entrance. This kid is fearless!

Hugh loves, Loves, LOVES!!!! cars. He constantly wants to sit in the front seat and move the steering wheel and push every button. I think we'll hide the keys :)

Ready to fly

Here is my sweet Joel. This boy has a great temperment! How did we get so lucky? He weighed in at 19 lbs, 11 oz and was 27 inches long at his 4 month check-up, 12 month clothes...yes...off the charts, I know (I love this chubby baby). I think he'll just stretch out from here on out. And, he's turned into a great sleeper...Thank you Joel!!!

Swingin'

2011-06-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to some great friends from church, we are the lucky recipients of a new swing set. They had friends that were moving and giving away the swing set and since they already had one, they brought it to us. Hugh has had a ball and is constantly wanting to go on the "wing"(swing) and the "ide"(slide).

Joel is the cutest little guy. I'm amazed at how happy and relaxed he is most of the time; he just takes it all in stride. He is a super chunk (weighing about 17 pounds and wearing 9 month clothes).

As for me, I'm grateful to be getting more sleep at night and having more energy. The first 2-3 months after having a baby are exhausting and it's so great to sleep now in longer stretches. These two little guys are keeping me on my toes and I love it! Bryce is a great help too. It's wonderful to be a mother.

Blessing Day

2011-06-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, Joel had his baby blessing. It was a beautiful day! Here are a few pics.

Our Long Anticipated Vacation

2011-06-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

This past week we had a wonderful time visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Nauvoo, IL where they are serving a mission. It was great to see them! Nauvoo is a beautiful place and we had a lot of fun. We were also able to spend a few days in St. Louis where Hugh had a ball at the children's museum and we all enjoyed the zoo. When Hugh saw the leopard he let out a loud "me-owwww!" Joel was a real trooper through it all and for the most part was happy in his stroller or being carried...he is such a good baby!

Grandpa and Joel

After a play (good job Grandma and Grandpa...who were in the play!)

Both kiddos asleep (Hugh pulled his blankets up over his head)

Loved the horses

Wagon ride

On the Temple steps

Family pic at the Temple

At the zoo

Hippos

Water table (a total hit)

Picnics and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

2011-05-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

My whole life I have been dreaming of the day when I could take my kids to the park, play in the sunshine and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a picnic lunch. This past week has been warm and sunny here and we've made it to the park three times! Today we enjoyed a picnic together out on the grass, and Hugh kind of liked his peanut butter and jelly sandwich...some of it ended up on the grass and some on his clothes. I love this warm weather!

Chalk

Playing outside

A good helper!

Playing

All bundled up

Yesterday while my boys and I were out and about playing at the children's museum in town, I noticed a 3 or 4 year old boy playing too and singing an old Christian hymn about the Savior. It reminded me of my gratitude for the Savior, Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us. He lives and it's a great blessing to know about His church and gospel.

To learn more see: www.lds.org

Russian Food and a Haircut

2011-04-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

There are lots of things I love about Saturdays. But one thing I LOVE is that Bryce makes dinner every Saturday night. It's always great and tonight was no exception. Bryce served a mission in Ukraine where he ate lots of borsch and vareniki (aka pierogies) and so tonight we had a Russian Food night where we ate both borsch and vareniki as well as a yummy dessert called blinchiki (blintzes). Way to go the extra mile Bryce!

We also had an adventure giving Hugh a haircut today. I went to the beauty supply store in town and bought my first pair of shears as well as hair clippers with several guides. Good thing that Hugh is a good sport because I think it's going to take me a while to get the hang of hair cutting (especially with all those wiggles!)

After the haircut

Joel is getting nice and chubby! I love it!

Home Again

2011-03-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

Thankfully we are home again and Joel is doing great. He was discharged from the hospital Saturday evening because he was doing so well. So glad he's feeling better!

(Kind of a blurry pic, but cute of Hugh)

Hanging out at the hospital

2011-03-26T09:16:00.001-07:00

Sweet little Joel came down with RSV last Friday. We took him to the doctor Saturday and then again on Monday. By Tuesday evening his tummy was retracting, his cough was worse and his breathing was labored and quick. We talked with the on-call doctor and after a few hours we decided to take him to the ER. Sure enough, his oxygen level was pretty low when I brought him in and he was admitted to the hospital.
Since then we've been hanging out at the hospital. Joel is slowly getting better and will hopefully get to come home soon. It's been worrisome to see my sweet Joel having a hard time breathing and not feeling well. However, I'm so grateful for hospitals and medical equipment to help this little guy. We've had wonderful friends help take care of Hugh (THANK YOU!!!). Thanks to everyone for all of your kind calls, texts, and prayers.

Cute As Can Be

2011-03-17T12:49:00.001-07:00

Our two little boys are as cute as can be!

Our Bundle of Joel

2011-03-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

Joel truly is a joy to have around! He is now just over a week old and cute as can be. So far he has been a great sleeper and eater. It's fun to watch him open his eyes and look around when he's awake. Hugh has adjusted well to his new brother and likes to find Joel and say "baby".
Besides being a little tired, Bryce and I are feeling well and love having this new baby in our family. Grandma came this past week and Hugh has had a ball playing with her. Thanks Grandma for all of your help!

New Arrival

2011-02-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

Our new baby boy Joel has arrived! He is healthy and adorable. He was delivered last night at 7:05pm, weighing 7 lbs. 6 oz. and measuring 21 inches long. Gratefully the delivery was smooth and quick. Bryce and I arrived at the hospital around 11:30 am and I was given pitocin around noon. By 5:00 pm I was dialated to a 4 and the baby still looked good on the monitor. The doctor broke my water at that point and everything took off at high speed. By about 6:50 I was dialated to a 10 and began pushing. Sixteen minutes later our baby boy was born.
I decided to try a natural birth this time around and it was better than I expected. I felt like I could dance a jig after the birth.
It was wonderful to hold him right after the delivery. He looks a lot like Hugh. He has Dad's ears and toes, Mom's eyelashes and Hugh's chin. He also has those big puppy dog eyes that Hugh has. So far he has slept a lot and seems to be a pretty mellow kiddo. He's such a sweetie and we love him! Thanks everyone for all of your prayers.

Growing, Growing, Growing

2011-02-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

This past month we have all been growing. Hugh has grown several inches taller since his last wellness checkup. He is now in the 93rd percentile for height and the 64th percentile for weight. He's really making an effort to walk up and down stairs (this scares me), he loves light switches, climbing, milk, running around the church gym before Daddy's basketball games and playing with everything electronic. He is a sweet boy and gives us lots of hugs. We've been helping him pracice being gentle with a boy baby doll that we purchased. He likes to put the "baby" in it's bed and say "nite-nite" as he waves good-bye. He's going to be a great big brother!

We celebrated Bryce's birthday a few weeks ago with a birthday pie instead of cake. I was in charge of a Young Women's Ward Camp Fund Raiser Dinner the night of his birthday and Bryce helped a TON with everything. I felt badly it was the night of his birthday, but Bryce, as always, was happy to help. He's truly the best! We did make it to a true Montana steakhouse the night before his birthday and had the BIGGEST and BEST steaks either of us have ever tried. Bryce ordered the small prime rib and we laughed when the waitress brought it to our table. It must have been 20 oz. and looked like a whole dinner roast on a platter. It was fun to try a new restaurant and spend time together.

And then there's me and I'm growing quite a lot lately. My belly looks like a basketball. Lately I feel like I waddle instead of walk and take the stairs a little slower than usual. By 9:00 I'm exhausted and ready for bed. But despite any discomfort that comes at 8 1/2 months of pregnancy, I know there is a sweet little baby boy inside that is growing and about ready to be born. I'm so looking forward to meeting him, holding his hands and kissing his tiny toes. (And I am praying that this delivery goes smoothly)! It will be exciting to see him grow. We all can't wait to meet this little baby boy!

Christmas Break in a Nutshell

2011-01-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas break was wonderful and we especially enjoyed visiting with family. Here are a few pictures:

Sledding

Hugh with Daddy and his new dog

Water table at Children's Discovery Museum...Hugh LOVED it!

Chasing a Christmas train

A walk around Temple Square

Mac n' Cheese and Fire Trucks

2010-12-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Lately, Hugh loves to feed himself at every meal. A few days ago he ate 2 big bowls of Mac n' Cheese (most of which stayed on his spoon--the rest Mom tried to catch with another spoon), pears, bananas and grapes for lunch. This kiddo can eat!

A new, handy way to transport your toddler :)

Beep, beep! Fire truck coming through!

Thanksgiving dinner in bite-sized pieces.

Let's go!

2010-11-22T07:41:00.000-08:00

Had to post some pictures of this cute little guy!

1 Year Old!

2010-11-10T12:59:00.001-08:00

Hugh is now 1 year old and is a delight to have around! We celebrated his birthday with a chocolate cake (big mess!) that ended up all over his face, his high chair and the floor. It was a great, fun day. Hugh now weighs about 24 pounds and is 30 inches tall. He is solid! He loves walking all over the house, going on outings and playing chase with Mom and Dad. We love you, Hugh!

BOY!!!

2010-10-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

We are excited that another BOY is joining our family! We had an ultrasound today and our little boy looks great. I'm sure Hugh and Baby Boy # 2 will have so much fun playing together. Before long we are going to have all sorts of grasshoppers and frogs coming home and I'll need to invest in laundry soap that gets out tough grass stains. We are very happy for our new baby boy!!!

Here are a few pictures from the ultrasound:

Hand (aren't those fingers adorable!)

Profile

I love this knee to elbow picture!

Lately

2010-10-18T15:12:00.001-07:00

This past week Hugh and I were able to visit family in Utah while Bryce was at a conference for work in Boston. We had an early birthday party for Hugh with his cousins and he LOVED his chocolate birthday cake! I also took him to Thanksgiving Point where he had a fun time touching the animals and riding a pony. He is walking all over (with lots of falls) but he's doing great! I can hardly believe how quickly he's growing! And as for me, I am growing too! I'm starting to feel cookie # 2 kick, which I love.

Hugh loves eating grandpa's pancakes and had one almost every morning we were there!

Grandma and Hugh

Pony Ride

Looking at Chickens

On the Move!

Hugh and Mom

First "Early" Birthday Cake

Grandma and Grandpa and Hugh

Daddy and Hugh

My little boy loves dirt!

Growing!

2010-09-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

My baby is growing so quickly! He loves to zoom around the house and look back over his shoulder to make sure I'm chasing him. Hugh laughs and laughs at this game. He loves being outside, eating grapes and playing with other kids. Lately he's figured out how to open just about every open drawer and cupboard in the house and pull everything out. He's finally learning to sleep better which we all appreciate. He's such a cute little dude...we just can't get enough of him.

Next!

2010-08-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that we are expecting our second baby on March 4, 2011!

Bears, Bison and Elk, Oh My!

2010-08-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we had a chance to see some of the beautiful scenery and wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. We even saw two bears! Here are some pics.

Little Climber

2010-08-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hugh has become an expert climbing the stairs, making it from bottom to top in about 30 seconds! This week he weighed just shy of 22 pounds. He is so happy to be able to crawl around and climb all over the house. Such a handsome and smart little fellow!

Not Your Typical Morning Run (plus a few extra pics)

2010-07-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

This morning as Bryce was enjoying an early morning run he decided to cut through a city park. That was when two big German Shepherds decided to run straight towards him and see how he tasted. At first he thought that they were being playful, but one of the dogs left two nasty puncture wounds and some ugly scrapes right on the side of Bryce's rib cage. Bryce's Tetanus shot has now been updated :). Ouch!

These other pictures I couldn't resist posting...so cute! Stairs, water park, playing the drum and the monkey walk!

Vacation!

2010-07-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Our long awaited trip to Idaho and Utah finally happened last week. We had a great time visiting family, camping, getting wet, eating smores and playing! Thanks to everyone who made our trip so much fun!

The sunset was beautiful

First camping trip!

Meeting some world class mules

Hugh's first experience on the tramp, thanks Uncle Levi!

Chillin' in the lake with Daddy

Playing with cousins

Fourth of July Weekend

2010-07-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

I always love the Fourth of July, and this year it was especially fun because Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit. Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Hail Frozen Over

2010-06-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

We had some excitement in town today. Golf-ball size hail fell for about 10 minutes. These are pictures that Bryce took at his office with the phone camera. About 10 windows got broken on the building. One of the pictures is a close-up of a window where a hailstone tore through the screen and both panes of glass. That window is on the first floor and is shaded by a large awning. The guilty hailstone had to have some serious horizontal velocity in order to hit where it did.

Almost every car in town is covered in dents. Most cars that were facing west at 3:45 pm have windshield damage. Luckily, the Camry was home in the garage. A chunk of paint got knocked off of the 4runner to go along with the dimples in the hood and roof. The truck parked next to Bryce had a window completely shattered.

Hugh and I were home at the time and I wondered if our windows were going to withstand the smashing ice balls. The lettuce and cucumbers as well as the flowers all took a beating, but no broken windows. I was glad we were all inside and safe.

Summer Days

2010-06-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

Dreams Do Come True

2010-06-17T20:06:00.001-07:00

This week makes three years since Bryce and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Being married to Bryce is wonderful and sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not just having a good dream. You are the man of my dreams, Bryce.
I love you!

Springtime in the Rockies

2010-06-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

We ran the Governor's Cup 5K in Helena, together with about 3,000 other people. It was a fun race on a great route in a beautiful location. All of our friends in Utah need to come and run it with us next year. Hugh completed the course and came in about a half second ahead of mom and dad.

The view from our back porch

Hugh can cross a room in 10 seconds flat! (And he's starting to get callouses on his elbows)

Swimming lessons at the pond. Everybody watch dad!

Why wait until Thanksgiving, when you can have sweet potatoes in June?

This is our offering to the local deer herds (our attempt at lettuce and cucumbers) We had 2 deer prance through our backyard last week, but we didn't get a picture.

Taking your socks off after church is one of life's wonderful simple pleasures. (If you can't tell from the pictures, Hugh is a master at taking off his own socks)

Carmelitos

2010-06-07T12:21:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a yummy treat to share with a crowd...these are great!

Carmelitos

Combine:
2 Cups flour
2.5 Cups oats
1.5 Cups brown sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1.5 Cup melted butter

Press a little more than half of the mixture in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle 12 ounces of chocolate chips on top (We prefer a mixture of milk chocolate and semi-sweet). Combine 1 1/2 Cups (1 jar) of Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Carmel Ice Cream Topping with 6 Tbsp. of flour and spread on top of chocolate chips. Press the remaining batter into thin patties and spread evenly over the top. Bake for 15-20 more minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into squares soon after baking and then refrigerate. Best served cold, according to Bryce. Enjoy!

I Like To Eat...

2010-06-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hugh has some opinions about solid foods:

Carrots are yucky!

Peas are too!

Apples and bananas are yummy!

Handsome Hugh is 6 Months Old

2010-05-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hugh is now 6 months old. It's hard to believe how quickly he has grown! He weighs 19 lbs 14 oz and is 27 1/4 inches long and loves to stay busy learning new things. Lately he likes bubbles, plastic spoons and bowls and chomping on every toy in the house. This boy also wants to crawl! He scoots, pivots and wants to go places. His cuteness overwhelmes us. We love you Hugh!

Playing on his laptop

Two little baby teeth

Big blue eyes. Love him!

$1.00

2010-05-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

This morning our family went on a hunt for a jogging stroller. We stopped at several garage sales and then we saw one--and guess how much it cost? $1.00!!! Yes, you read that right! It was pretty worn out and some of the parts were broken but we brought it home. Then with $3.00 worth of screws & nuts from the hardware store, a little soap in the washer and Bryce's ingenuity, viola, it turned out beautiful! Here we come summer running!

Before

After

What We've Been Up To

2010-05-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

This past week has been eventful at our house. I turned 30 years old, Hugh had two bottom baby teeth emerge, Grandma and Grandpa were here for a visit, and I ran a 5K (something I haven't done in a year and a half or so)! We loved having Grandma and Grandpa here! Hugh was a bit fussy...I'm sure due to his little teeth coming in but Grandma and Grandpa showered him with lots of love and attention. He loved it.
We had the best birthday cake this week called "death by chocolate"...so yummy! Despite some worry over being 30!! I've found that it's about like being 29. Bryce made my birthday special and Hugh even gave me a massage gift certificate (Thanks to daddy :))
The 5K I ran was muddy and had some hard up-hill climbs. It was kind of a slow race for me, but I'm just glad I finished and was able to enjoy the beautiful landscape and feel the inner satisfaction that always comes in a race after getting past mile 2or so. The morning of the race was cold and I luckily found a pair of gloves in our emergency kit in the trunk of the car. They didn't match at all but gratefully they were warm. The best part of the race for me was seeing Bryce near the finish line cheering me on. He is the Best!

Here's the recipe for the death by chocolate cake:
1 package devil's food cake mix
2 C. sour cream
1 C. melted butter
1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
5 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine the cake mix and instant pudding. Add all the other ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and combine. Stir in the chocolate chips. Bake in a bundt pan at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes. Drizzle caramel sauce and chocolate sauce on top. Enjoy!!!

Too Cute!!!

2010-04-17T18:16:00.001-07:00

Trip To Utah

2010-04-02T16:13:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a trip to Utah where we had a great time visiting our family. Hugh had an appointment with PCMC in Salt Lake and is doing great.

Chillin' with Uncle Levi

Hugh had a bath in Grandma's kitchen sink...he loved it!

Happy Easter!

So much fun with Grandma and Grandpa

4 Months

2010-03-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

My sweet baby is already 4 months old! At his checkup this week he weighed in at 17lbs 7oz and was 25 1/2 inches long. He is an active little guy and is always on the move. Lately he loves rolling from his back to his tummy, grabbing onto toys and putting everything into his mouth. His hair looks more and more red to me. I love this cute kiddo!

Spring

2010-03-08T12:58:00.001-08:00

Do you ever have the occasional glimpse that Spring is on the way and Winter is not going to last forever? This afternoon I took Hugh on a walk in the stroller and we strolled. It felt so refreshing to go slowly and enjoy the day (instead of my usual hurried walk...because it is a little cold and I have a list waiting at home of things to do). The sun was shining warmly on us and I heard birds (lots of them) singing in the trees. Buds were on the trees and the once icy canal has water trickling through it. I'm glad Spring is coming soon. I'm ready for warm weather and many more sunny stroller walks.

Piano Lesson

2010-03-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

There Is Beauty All Around

2010-02-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

"Are there not days where you are simply overwhelmed by the blessings of the Lord?"
-Marjorie Hinckley

The past few days I have found myself thinking about the simple joys of everyday life. Things like seeing Hugh smile and laugh, enjoying the smell of my kitchen hand soap, having a dishwasher, spending time watching the Olympics with my hubby and seeing the sparkling snow outside my window. Life is full of blessings, challenges and opportunities. When I take a minute to slow down and look around, I'm amazed at the abundance each day offers.

Psalms 118: 24
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Lots of Ice and 3 Months Old!

2010-02-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

So, the winter in Montana hasn't been nearly as bad as I'd expected, however, we have loads of ice on the rooftop on the front of our house which faces North. After we discovered wet carpet in an upstairs bedroom, we figured that the 12 inch ice outside our window was creating a block for the melting snow on the roof. The water came right through the wall and soaked the carpet. This week we've had a worker clearing off the roof and today he brought a huge lift to help air chisel the ice away.

And, I had to post a couple of pictures of my adorable 3 month old. He is starting to talk a lot and is full of personality. Such a sweetie! I love this kid!

Bowling!

2010-02-03T14:11:00.001-08:00

Over the weekend we decided to venture out to our local bowling alley. It was fun to get out of the house and relax. I love Saturdays.

Yea for Sleep!

2010-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

5 Hours of Sleep + 1 Feeding + 3 Hours of Sleep = 1 Happy Mom and 1 Happy Baby! Thanks Baby!

Sleeping In The Car Seat

2010-01-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

After taking Hugh to the doctor (because of the arching) we learned that he has a type of acid reflux. Now he's taking medicine and sleeping in his car seat. So far so good- last night he had 2 long stretches of sleep. I'm glad he's feeling better and that we're all getting more sleep!

Should I Be Concerned?

2010-01-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

So lately Hugh has started arching his back and turning sideways at the same time. It looks mighty uncomfortable...but I find him doing it during the day and even when he's sleeping. Hmm...is he trying to roll over?

I'm Obsessed With This Kid

2010-01-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

A Little Bear

Hugh at Dad's basketball game

Fell asleep during the game

Sweet Baby Pics

2010-01-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

2 Months Old...Super Big, Super Tall, Super CUTE!

2010-01-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

Wow! Hugh is already 2 months old! We love him so much!
Stats: 13.5 lbs. (90th percentile), 24 inches long (95 percentile)

Meet My Beautiful New Treadmill

2010-01-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to have a new treadmill! It's actually several years old, but we got it for a great deal (thanks to Bryce). I'm excited to start running again (inside!...because it's sooo cold outside) and I'm hoping to lose 10 pounds of baby weight. Wish me luck!

Catch Up

2010-01-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

My adorable baby is taking a nap...so that means I have a minute to post some of the things we've been up to. Hugh is almost 2 months old. He is such a sweet baby. Most of the time he is calm, happy, and he always is ready to eat (I think we're going to have a huge food bill when this boy is a teenager). He is growing by leaps and bounds, already fitting into his 6 month clothes.
We were able to travel down to Idaho and Utah to visit our family for Christmas. It was so great to see everyone! We were also able to have Hugh's baby blessing in Utah. I hope you all had a great Christmas!

One Month Old

2009-12-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but Hugh is already one month old! He is such a fun baby!

Count Your Many Blessings

2009-11-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

We sure feel grateful to have little Hugh home! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Count your many blessings; name them one by one
Count your many blessings; see what God hath done.
- Johnson Oatman

Homeward Bound

2009-11-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

Our sweet baby Hugh is out of the hospital and doing great! The doctors finally decided that he actually didn't have meningitis but rather the seizures were due to bleeding in his brain as a result of the difficult labor. It's was wonderful to put him in his car seat without all the wires and tubes and take him home (actually we're not quite back in Montana yet)...we've been at my parent's house for a few days before we head back. We're so grateful to you all for your prayers and concern. We just love this kid!

Little Baby Hugh

2009-11-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of this baby! He is the cutest, most wonderful baby and I LOVE him! Hugh is now in a regular crib, in his own clothes, and right next to a window with a great view in the NICU. He is doing really well and has started nursing (instead of just being fed through a feeding tube or a bottle). We were so pleased with the results of the MRI test...which at this point look like he didn't have oxygen deprevation during labor. He's being treated with antibiotics which may keep him here for a little longer.
Thanks everybody for your prayers and support!

Update on Hugh (yes, he has a name! :)

2009-11-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

And his name is...Hugh! We named him about 12 hours after he was born, but we've been so busy that we haven't had a chance to post it yet. Several hours after Hugh was born, we were told that he had a seizure and that the hospital would be running a CT scan. He then had another seizure. Following the scan we learned that Hugh had swelling around his brain. The pediatrician decided to send Hugh to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake. Bryce flew down with Hugh on the life flight airplane in the wee hours on Sunday morning. Hugh was hooked up to all sorts of monitors and tubes and testing began to determine the cause of the seizures. He had several seizures Sunday morning and afternoon, but has currently not had any more since about 3pm Sunday.
I was able to leave the hospital Sunday afternoon and fly with my mother in law down to Salt Lake (thanks to Bryce's generous brother). By this time Hugh was stabilized, but very sleepy due to medication.
Doctors are doing their best to determine the cause of the seizures and to assess his long term prognosis. We are currently waiting for results from yesterday's EEG and today's MRI tests.
Hugh looks great and continues to make progress each day. He is SOOOOOOOO cute and all of the nurses love him. All of his vital signs and body functions are in good order. We're hoping for the best and hoping we can take our wonderful baby home soon. Thanks for your prayers and support!

It's a BOY!!!!!

2009-11-07T18:42:00.000-08:00

Our new baby boy arrived at 1:24 pm on Saturday the 7th, 25 hours after Jamie's water unexpetedly broke. He is 8 lbs. 7.7. ounces and 21.75 inches long. The pediatrician thinks everything about him looks like Bryce expect maybe his toes. The doctors and nurses are arguing if his hair is red or brown...I'll guess we'll have a clearer picture once he gets cleaned up with a bath. His bath was delayed because he needed some special attention in the nursery after his birth to rule out some possible complications. It looks like everything is fine and we expect to all go home on Monday. He's a wonderful baby and we're so excited to finally have him here!

Butternut Squash Soup

2009-10-31T12:07:00.000-07:00

We tried a new soup today that was so yummy...had to share.

Butternut Squash Soup
2 tsp. olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
1 cup carrots, peeled, and chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed (or ¼ tsp. garlic powder)
2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1 Tbsp. curry powder
½ tsp. cumin
1 butternut squash, peeled, cored, and cubed (about 6 cups)
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
Salt and pepper and cinnamon, to taste
1 cup cream (optional)

Heat oil in a large pan. Add onion and carrots and sauté until soft. Add garlic and apples, ginger, curry, and cumin. Cook until ingredients are slightly soft and cooked. Add squash, chicken broth, and apple juice. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until squash is tender. Puree with a hand blender or a food processor. Add cream and cinnamon. Enjoy!

*This recipe originally came from www.dinner-recipies.suite101.com, but we modified the soup a little.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-26T19:46:00.001-07:00

Hope you all have a fun Halloween this week!

Take A Guess

2009-10-18T19:49:00.001-07:00

Just for fun, take a guess at how much our baby is going to weigh. Whoever guesses closest will sleep much better than we do for the first week after he's born PLUS... we will mail you a $2.00 Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Certificate!!! Good luck!

Fall is Back!

2009-10-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

Fall is back! After having lots of snow and temperatures in the teens last week, it is a welcome relief that the snow melted and the temperature is back in the 60's! I love Fall and I love this warm, pleasant weather!

4 Weeks Left!

2009-10-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Only 4 weeks left until... dun, dun, dun... the baby should be here! I had my 36 week doctor appointment today and everything is looking good. She did an ultrasound and the baby is head down and I'm measuring at 36 weeks. I also had a flu shot and a rhogam shot...which may result in a sore arm tomorrow. The baby's clothes are washed, his room is ready, I packed a bag for the hospital and picked a warm snuggly outfit to bring him home in. Now, all we need is the baby himself. We are so excited to see this little guy!

More Snow!!!

2009-10-05T08:41:00.001-07:00

This is what I woke up to this morning... 3 inches of snow!

Snow!

2009-09-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today it snowed at our house... and it was a little funny when I heard and saw the sprinklers automatically watering the lawn at the same time :)

A Trip To Utah

2009-09-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

This past week I had a very fun time visiting Utah.

I was able to see my parents and brother and celebrate my mom's b-day

See Nieces, Nephews, brothers and sisters-in law

Go to Cafe Rio :) Yum!

See the Beautiful leaves changing

Eat the best peaches ever

And check out the new Church History Library

It was a great trip

Thanks everybody who made it so great...especially my wonderful hubby who found a great deal on my airline ticket :)

Billings Montana Temple

2009-09-20T17:38:00.000-07:00

The Billings Montana Temple is simply beautiful! We were there yesterday and remembered to bring the camera, so you can enjoy seeing how pretty it is. This temple was dedicated in 1999 and serves members from 11 stakes. It's about a 2 hour drive for us...not bad at all considering some of the members drive a lot longer to get there :)

Labor Day

2009-09-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today Bryce and I were able to check out a museum in town, "Museum of the Rockies". They have the biggest T-Rex skull in the world. We also went on a nice, short hike to a waterfall. It was a really pretty trail and it felt great to smell all the pine trees.

"Lessons I Learned As A Boy"

2009-09-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

I love this YouTube Video based on a story told by Pres. Hinckley. Check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0

The Latest & Greatest

2009-08-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest & greatest from this week:

I'm 28 weeks pregnant...and got to take the glucose test this week at the doctor's (that drink had a LOT of sugar in it). I think it gave the baby a sugar high because he was kicking and kicking the rest of the day. :)

Bryce is settled in his new office with a new desk, chair, fridge, filing cabinet, 2 computers, and even one genome poster up on the wall.

I've been working on a family history scrapbook on Bryce's ancestors, going back four generations. It's been neat to figure out who people are...now if I can just find stories from their lives to include in the book, so it won't be just pictures and names.

My other project was making cute red curtains...ahhh (sigh) it looks much more like home with curtains.

Yesterday, we had a hail storm twice. Here's one of the pieces I picked up on the back porch. There were bigger pieces out on the grass, but at the risk of being impaled by one of the gumball size pieces of hail, I just let them sit on the grass and watched the hail come down.

Catch-Up

2009-08-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

We made it to Montana (it is so beautiful!) and I think we've almost unpacked the last box! Whew! It's been a while since I've blogged, so here's a bit of a catch up...
We moved into our new townhouse

And unpacked a lot of boxes

Enjoyed the view in our backyard

And the mountains

Met our new ward and went to a softball game...in the rain!

Visited the Duckpond behind our house (got nipped a few times...these are hungry ducks!)

Set up a crib

And tried out the baby's car seat

We've really enjoyed being here so far. What a beautiful place! I just hope we don't freeze to death in a couple of months. Hope you are all doing well!

Montana!!!

2009-07-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

It's official...we're moving to Montana! I never thought I would live in Montana, but off we go at the end of the month. I think it will be a lot of fun and a bit of an adventure. Bryce just accepted a job in Bozeman. When Bryce and I went up for his job interview last month we were surprised by how pretty the area is. The people were also very friendly and welcoming. I'll post some pictures when we get there. If any of you are going through Montana, stop by and see us --we might even have an extra bedroom for company...and for sure we have a blow up matress:)

Adventure Camp

2009-06-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

Last week, Bryce and I helped out with an adventure camp for some young women in Bryce's parents' stake. It was a lot of fun. Bryce even got in a few runs climbing and rapelling.

It's a BOY!

2009-06-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's a boy!!! We came home with 19 pictures and a DVD of our cute baby boy! He's healthy and looks great!

Graduation

2009-05-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Bryce did it!!! After 4 1/2 years of grad school, Bryce graduated yesterday with his doctorate from the Med School at the U. It was a great day and we were able to have some of our family come. WAY TO GO!!!!!

Baby Bump

2009-05-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

I think this baby is growing....by the size of my tummy. Yep, I've got a baby bump.
At my 16 week appointment, the baby had a heartbeat of 126 beats per minute--which was a lot slower than at the 12 week appointment (but apparently still in the normal range- thank goodness! :)

Butterflies

2009-05-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

This past month, my class has been growing and watching butterflies. We finally let let them go on Thursday. The kids had a great time watching the butterflies begin from caterpillars crawling around to pupas forming chrysalids at the top of our jars. We moved the chrysalids into a butterfly pavillion where they soon crawled out and stretched their wings. A lot of the kids were able to take the butterflies out and feed them sugar water on their finger and tried to hold back all sorts of giggles and screams. It was great!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

My Mother
My Mother-in-Law
My Grandmother Taylor
My Grandmother Halterman
My Great-Grandmother Taylor
My Great-Grandmother Brossard
My Great-Grandmother Halterman (and Grandfather)
My Great-Grandmother Adams

Today I have felt so grateful for my mother, my grandmothers, and my mother in law! These are such remarkable and wonderful women that have been a great example to me. I hope that I will be like them and serve others as well as they have done and do.

Passed!

2009-05-08T16:57:00.001-07:00

I am so proud of Bryce! This afternoon he did a great job defending his dissertation at the U. I was really amazed at all of the good work he has done as I sat and listened to his presentation on genetic linkage projects. I was blown away... I think his committee was too. Way to go Bryce!

Christensen Baby is on the way!!!

2009-04-23T09:28:00.001-07:00

We are so excited to tell you that our baby is on the way!!! Today Bryce and I went to the doctor's office for my 12 week appointment. The baby's heartbeat was ticking right along at 166 beats per minute. It was the neatest thing to hear the heartbeat and now I wish I would have recorded it to hear again. We haven't told a lot of people to this point, so it feels great to share our happy news!
Gratefully, I have really felt pretty good durning the past 12 weeks. I've felt more tired than usual and had a few tummy aches, but I definitely can't complain. I've also developed an amazing sense of smell. All in all, I am so excited and happy for this new little one to come join our family and can't wait to meet him or her!

Cancun, MEXICO

2009-04-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

Bryce and I just got back from a relaxing, sunny, and very fun trip to Cancun. We had a great time and were so glad to stay out of the Utah snow during Spring Break :)

General Conference

2009-04-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

I loved General Conference and especially enjoyed listening to the talks this year. There is always so much to take in and I will be grateful to download the talks and listen to them again on my i-pod. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Class Play

2009-02-23T17:59:00.000-08:00

Today my class performed a class play we have been working on for a month and a half. Ahh (sigh), it's so nice to have finished it, although we had a ton of fun planning, practicing, learning dances, making backgrounds, etc, etc. Anyways, I loved watching those darling little first graders today after it all came together. It actually turned out really cute and the kids did a great job. Here are a few pics from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" for you to enjoy.

You Don't See That Everyday!

2009-02-22T20:36:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we saw a bald eagle perched on a tree branch right by our house. I couldn't believe it was really an eagle. I've only seen eagles in zoos or aviaries. What an amazing and big bird!

Don't You Love to Read?

2009-02-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

It is so nice to have a little time to read good books! While I was working on my master's degree, I rarely had time to read any books other than text books or journal articles. So now, I love having time to read books! I just finished The Goose Girl, River of Secrets, and Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. Right now I'm in the middle of about four books... Old Yeller (can you believe I've never read it?), 1776 by Mccullough, Cheaper By the Dozen by Gilbreth, and Iron Thunder by Avi. My brother is reading a history of the Mayflower that sounds interesting. Any recommendations for good books anybody???

Happy Birthday Bryce!

2009-02-10T18:26:00.000-08:00

More Food!

2009-01-24T18:36:00.000-08:00

My posts lately are all about food. Here are another couple delicious things from this past week that I can't resist sharing...they were so yummy. Okay, the first one is a blueberry muffin from a recipe I found on the internet. I modified it a little and here's how you can make some:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
Topping:
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups.
Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Add oil, milk, and egg. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups and then sprinkle topping on top.
Topping: Mix sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon with fork and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

If you want to see the original on this, see: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/To-Die-For-Blueberry-Muffins/Detail.aspx

Okay, now the next thing is a panini sandwich that Bryce made for dinner. I was so impressed! He mixed pesto and a little blue cheese dressing which he spread on some crusty sourdough bread. Then he added turkey, muenster cheese, yellow peppers, and red onions. Then he grilled the sandwiches on our new panini grill we got for Christmas. These were the best sandwiches I've eaten in a long time!!

Easy, healthy, and yummy salsa!

2009-01-17T17:13:00.001-08:00

So, one of my favorite treats to make is this yummy salsa. Just cut up a couple of tomatoes, half an onion, half a can of black beans (rinsed), one diced avocado, one cup of frozen corn, a little lime juice, a little cilantro, and salt. And there it is, yummy, healthy salsa!

Skiing after two years of not skiing

2009-01-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas break, my brother, Bryce and I all went skiing. It was so fun, but it took me quite a few runs to figure skiing out again. Thank goodness for snowplowing on steep slopes!

Walking Down Memory Lane

2009-01-14T19:08:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas

2008-12-30T07:53:00.000-08:00

I hope you had a great Christmas. We did! We were able to see lights, spend lots of time with family, see friends, and eat, eat, eat (thank goodness there is an indoor track a few blocks from our house)! It's also so nice to be able to sleep in. I hope you all had a merry Christmas!

First Grade Gingerbread House

2008-12-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

You have got to love first graders! One little girl in my class brought me this gingerbread house a few days ago. She then proceeded to tell me that the small gingerbread people were Bryce and I playing hide and seek. The kids in my class loved pulling off the candy and especially eating Bryce and me.

Christmas!

2008-11-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas tree is up and decorated. I love turning on Christmas music, pulling out the decorations, setting up the nativity, and then just enjoying the feel of Christmas everywhere. If I get some time this week, I'm going to try making wassail...we'll see how that goes.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving! We really enjoyed going to Idaho and visiting with our family up there. Our nieces and nephews are adorable. We ate so much good food. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving as well.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

I forgot how tricky it is to carve pumpkins...but, luckily, I think you can tell that mine is a cat face. Bryce made a "buggish" pumpkin. Happy Halloween everyone!