Thank you 2010

So, 2010 was a crazy year for us...to say the least. The job change for Brett, the separation of our family for months, the selling of our first home, the quitting of my job of 7 years, and the final big move to Boise to finally be together as a family again. The entire year was an adventure and learning experience, one that I'm thankful for and has blessed our family tremendously. But, I'm ready to put it behind us. I could use some calmer waters in 2011.

I'm not usually big on new year resolutions, but for some reason I feel like I need to refocus in 2011. My brain is scattered and all the change has left me feeling like a lost ship at sea (or is it "ship lost at sea"? See what I mean! AH!). The career change no doubt has much to do with it. The transition to stay-at-home mom shook me up and I still feel like I'm trying to find my groove and my purpose in this new phase of my life...as a mother, a wife, a friend, a human being. So, some resolutions are in order for these things. And since we're living in Boise now, there are lots of new places to explore to create family memories and grow some roots. A resolution is in order for that too. And finally, sleep. Yes, sleep. It keeps evading me for one reason or another. If I have to make a resolution to be one of those "9pm lights out" people, then so be it. But if I'm being honest, that won't work so I'll just resolve to become a really great coffee drinker! ;-)

Christmas 2010

Most of our Christmas memories were caught on video this year beginning with a big, emotion-packed "Thank you Santa Claus!" from Austin as he opened his stocking only to discover his favorite treat (bubble gum)! It was a new and exciting Christmas since over the last year Austin has developed so quickly and discovered the magic of Santa Claus and his reindeer. This added one more hat to my already tipsy head and I found myself perplexed and challenged as Brett and I worked to make Christmas morning the most magical day of the year. Things get a bit tricky when you start creating new family traditions or resurrect old ones from your past. There were many discussions leading up to the big day: what "should" and "shouldn't" be on the big day, certain rules that always apply, what old traditions to continue what new ones to start, to wrap or not to wrap, etc, etc, etc... We managed to sort out the major stuff and finished everything up at about 11:59pm on the eve of Christmas day. The morning was simple but perfect and tugged at my mommy heartstrings. There is nothing more magical than watching your son's eyes light up at the smallest little Christmas gester...like bubble gum in a stocking. We could have stopped there and he would have been content :-). Austin is only 2 so I'm sure there will be more challenging things to concur come next Christmas, but for now I'm simply grateful for all that we had and shared this Christmas day!

Austin was sportin' his Elmo Christmas jammies all day long. After a less-than-quiet morning as a family we headed over to Aunt Elisha's and Uncle Erik's to spend the day. Austin, Jakob and Ava gobbled up cookies (nearly all day long)!

Uncle Mark came over for a disastrous Christmas Eve dinner (I take no blame - it was my slow cooker's fault) and to join us for services at Eagle Christian Church. To start off the season of giving Austin opened his first gift from Uncle Mark, a tee-ball set which will come in quite handy this Spring.

As for Brett and I, Christmas came a few weeks early. We purchased our very first new (used) car as a married couple! A 2006 Toyota Highlander with lots of bells and whistles and plenty of room for kids and the pooch! At 31 years old, it was actually the first car I ever bought that was more than $2000, didn't belong to someone over 65yrs, and was equipped with the ability to play more than just cassettes! It was a huge, momentous occasion for me and one I soon won't forget. But even though we purchased from a really great dealership and had a great salesman, I just hate buying cars! It makes me all nervous and uneasy inside. All the back and forth negotiations made me want to loose my lunch. So listen here Mr. Highlander...I hope you treat us well for many years to come!

Merry Christmas and many blessings for the new year!

Lovin' Boise

DEC 1, 2010

A winter wonderland in Boise! Very beautiful.

Austin having fun in the snow with his neighbor friend, Kalei.

Many, many inches of snow.

DEC 15, 2010
Many, many inches of snow GONE...and with sunshine to boot!

May the snow come and amaze us and then meltith away!!! This is why we love living in the Boise area :-)

Grandma Nagel

This is Grandma Nagel with Austin. It's a rare treat because she hates to have her picture taken. I somehow convinced her to pose for a shot over the Thanksgiving holiday at her house in Idaho Falls. Grandma Nagel is so special to Austin. He gets so excited at the mention of visiting her and lights up when he sees her face. She's armed and ready when we arrive...balloons, bubbles, clown sprinklers, Wiggles DVDs, new (old) toys for the depths of the basement. It's a child's paradise at Grandma's house! She always wakes before everyone to be ready for the wild and crazy 2-year-old (and groggy 30 somethings) awaiting her presence. She is truly a wonderful Grandma who treasures every moment with her family. Her love of Austin, her zest for life, and her devotion to our family is such an incredible blessing in our lives. I hope she knows how much we love and appreciate her and miss our short 5 minute drives to see her.

Turkey Treats

Today we ventured over to Aunt Lish's house for a "craft day" with the kiddos. We let the kids go wild with finger paint, markers, glue, scissors, etc. and then I went crazy on a little edible craft for the Thanksgiving holiday. Gobble, gobble!

The kids couldn't keep their hands off the turkeys so I gave Austin a chance to make his own. Here is his masterpiece!

A definite crowd pleaser. They are super simple and delicious!

First Snowfall

We received our first snowfall yesterday morning and Austin was running around the house like a crazy man, excited to get all bundled up and head outside. I think he was out there for approximately six minutes before he wanted to come back inside. I guess he forgot the cold factor that comes with the snow. But, it surely warmed up and all melted away by noon...to my delight. I must say, living in Boise definitely has its perks!

Mess

So this is what Austin decided to do to his room while Brett and I were talking in the kitchen...for FIVE MINUTES! Apparently he wanted to explore every nook and crevice of his space. How quickly a toddler can turn discovery into a total MESS! On second thought...I think he was just delighting in trashing the place!

Seven Years...

Today Brett and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. Our celebrations were a bit untraditional. We took the kiddo to breakfast with us in the morning and then Brett went to work all day. We failed to make sitter plans for a special night out, so I made a casserole for dinner (B's favorite) and bought a yummy red velvet cake. And to my surprise, flowers showed up at my door just as I was laying my head down for a nap! I haven't received flowers in so long...what a special treat from my wonderful husband! A low key celebration but nonetheless a reminder of the love we have for each other and how lucky we both feel to have the other by our side.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was a two day event this year...and will actually be a three day event when we attend an "Afterween" party this coming Saturday. We headed to Boo at the Zoo on Halloween Eve to party with the animals...and the rest of Boise. The Zoo was, in fact, a total zoo that day. But it was fun to see all the kids in their costumes, check out the animals, and give Austin a chance to collect a few treats for mommy and daddy ;-). Austin's Elmo costume was a total hit - parents kept pointing him out to their kids saying, "Look honey, it's Elmo!" I was just glad he kept it on and was actually surprised that he didn't want to take it off. I think he's getting to the age where dress-up becomes entertaining. The grandparents and Uncle Mark tagged along with us. Unfortunately no pick of Uncle Mark - would have been a good one since he was practically dressed as Elmo too with this matching red hoodie (minus the added fur).

Elmo with Mommy. All smiles for the camera these days ~
Elmo with Grandma and Papa ~
Elmo with Daddy ~

Our next adventure was Trunk-or-Treating at our local church. All the young kids trick-or-treat from car to car instead of house to house. It's much easier for the little tikes to maneuver. I used to think they were totally ridiculous...then I had a child. Funny how things change post babies. We met up with a handsome Cars pit crew member and an adorable green dragon.

Candy! Austin was a bit overwhelmed by all the people ~

Jakob, Aaron and Austin dressed for Halloween success~

Elmo with all his loot. He counted out all of his suckers and tootsie rolls, two of his favorites.~

All this fun was smashed between a birthday party for a neighbor girl at Chuck E Cheese and another birthday party for Austin's new friend, Tyler. It was a whirlwind weekend full of friends, fun and candy. Pretty perfect in the eyes of a two year old. Austin woke up on Monday requesting his pumpkin full of candy and another party. Sorry dude, we're on detox for a few days!

Happy Birthday!

Last week we celebrated Brett's birthday. He's caught up to me in age once again...whew! This older woman stuff is kind of rough. Do I seriously have to turn 40 and 50 before my hubby? Perhaps I should just celebrate my 31st again next year.

Austin helped prepare Dad's favorite: chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. I must say, it was freakin' delicious. It had nothing to do with my baking skills; I think Pillsbury may just have a thing or two on Betty Crocker. And please don't drool over the decorating...it's simply raw talent. :-)



I'm glad we had all the families over the night before to eat cake and celebrate because Brett's actual b-day simply sucked (Honestly, he'd have used these words if he were writing). I woke up that morning with the worst sinus pain of my life and Austin decided to be a cranky butt to follow suit. We pretty much holed up in the house all day trying not to kill each other. Sorry babe, we hope you still love us! Better luck on your 32nd...when I'm still 31.

Potty Training

Oh yeah, that's right...I'm in big boy underwear!!!

I told you I'd get back to you on this whole potty training thing. Well, it's been eight days of full on potty time and I think HE'S GOT IT!! The first couple of days were rough. I think Austin was taking pointers from the dog because he kept heading out to the backyard and stripping off his underwear when he had to go...and it wasn't just for #1 either. (Note to self: watch child like a hawk when he heads outside during potty training) Austin has been an easy going kid (lucky me) so I thought this next stage in his life would be simple, but after a few backyard episodes I questioned my little man's desire for the toilet. So I leaned on Elmo for support. I popped in "Elmo's Potty Time" DVD and hung an Elmo potty chart on the bathroom wall and rewarded with stickers for each success. And success we've had! He hasn't had an accident for about 4 days now. I've even taken him to childcare at church and errands around town with no accidents! I'm so proud of my little man and continue to get gitty with each successful trip to the potty. Ah, only the things a mother would love. :-)

Just a little side note. At the end of the Elmo Potty Time DVD Elmo says "this episode of Sesame Street was brought to you by the letter "P" and the number "2". HA, HA, HA! I laugh at the most ridiculous things.

And just a few more things about my ever changing toddler...he's been calling me 'Honey' to get my attention. HA! Guess I've called him that a time or two and he took a liking to it. And aside from potty training this week he also learned to pedal a bike! We've been taking rides around the block. His imagination is starting to grow wild and he's experimenting with make-believe. There's been an alligator living in our master bedroom for a couple weeks now and there's an endless supply of imaginary hamburgers, milkshakes, pizza, and fruit snacks. And lastly, I have a little show-off on my hands. When Austin knows he has an audience of young kids (like the other day at the Verizon store) he likes to start doing semi-handstands, somersaults, and any other toddler like movements to get a reaction. Very cute, especially when you're the mommy!

Summer Fun

I've been so caught up in other things lately that I haven't posted about my wonderful little man. This summer brought about lots of changes and growth. Austin is definitely ALL BOY and loves to run, kick, jump, spit, pick his nose, throw dirt and make roaring sounds...all daily. Unfortunately he's picked up a few bad habits too like biting and hitting other kids when they have a toy he wants. We're working diligently on trying to curb that habit! He already has a thing for girls and seems play nicer with cousin Ava and the little girls across the street. His favorite saying is currently "What happened now?" and will repeat it over and over when something happens but he's not quite sure what. And he also likes "My turn now!" Of course. And like most kids, he seems to have a soft spot for Barney and sings the "I love you, you love me..." song. It's funny though because he can't pronounce "v" and it comes out "b" so the song goes "I lobe you, you lobe me..." He's learning to pedal the new bike I found for him and he loves to be outside. But probably the biggest change is coming up soon...potty training! We just started this week so I'll keep you posted! Here's a synopsis of our summer adventures in Star...

Many, many popsicles. He doesn't eat them alone and insists someone else eats one too! Here he is with cousin Ava.
Pool time at SpurWing Country Club. Perks of the job!


Chillin' on the spiderman couch in his PJs. It's probably like 4:00pm. :-)

Back to the Western Idaho Fair after many years of absence. Hasn't changed at all. I seriously don't know why I get so giddy over the stupid county fair, but I do...every year. Brett tried his first Idaho ice cream potato this year and said it was delish. The animal barns are a must with kids.




Playing in the dirt at a moms/kids only BBQ. Good times!

Hangin' out with the cuz, Jakob, eating popcorn.

Sharing his string cheese with friend, Lily. Surprisingly he loves to share these days...just don't hop on his bike or he'll smack ya! :-)

Bath time at Grandma Nagels on our first trip back to Idaho Falls.

Snuggle time.

Garage Sale Steals

Visiting garage sales has become a bit of a pastime since I had Austin. Toys are so expensive and kids hate them a week later so I love getting great deals on slightly used toys at garage sales. Here's what I scored last weekend at a neighborhood sale near our house. Everything shown totaled a whooping $8.00! Wahoo!

*Hey Miss Joelle, your couponing skills ain't got nuttin on my garage sale skills! :-)

Bike, toy Dyson vaccuum (just like mine), stroller, 2 Barney DVDs, 3 play hats = $8.00!

P.S. Brett game me a hard time about the stroller. I'm perfectly ok with my son playing with girl toys. He loves to do everything mommy does and I just happen to push him in a stoller so...his stuffed animals have already been pushed all over the house! And I figured cousin Ava could play with it when she comes over.

SpongeBob Treat

Don't ask me why, but for some reason I started laughing hysterically when I pulled this stupid SpongeBob popsicle out of its wrapper. It's just so ridiculous it makes me laugh! Fruit punch and cotton candy flavored with gumball eyeballs. Just what a sea-dwelling sponge should taste like I guess!
FYI - I did not purchase this silly treat. They were leftover at the pool at the golf course so Brett brought a few home. I can't imagine why there were would be any left over! The laugh alone is worth the money.

Poor Peaches

This is a picture of a perfect peach sneakily growing in our new backyard. We discovered we had a peach tree a couple weeks ago and I immediately started dreaming about fresh sliced peaches, peach cobbler, peach cordon bleu...
There's just something about fruit and veggies growing in my own backyard makes me all gitty inside. After discovering the peaches we headed off on a trip to West Yellowstone and when we returned we found our perfect, precious peaches scattered all over the ground rotting and infested with bugs. I was so pissed! I should have picked them immediately. I guess they were more ripe than we thought and fell from the weight of their fruit. So long delicious, juicy, FREE peaches :-( Maybe next year.

Star, Idaho

We packed up our 24' Budget moving truck for two solid days and headed to Star on Aug 6th. It's amazing how much crap you can accumulate over the course of 7 years. Even after a huge garage sale and a donation to the local youth ranch, we still managed to have a few items that just wouldn't fit in the truck. Thanks to our good friends the Dixons, we didn't have to trash the stuff and can pick up our sorely missed BBQ during our next visit to Idaho Falls.

So here we are now in our cute little 1200 sq ft rental home in Star. It's the first time the house has been a rental so it's very cozy and better maintained than all the others we'd seen. We choose it because it has a fantastic backyard with a deck, mature trees and a garden, a large kitchen with lots of cupboard space, and located in a really great neighborhood in the heart of Star. And, Brett's commute is less than ten minutes to SpurWing CC. We've been really happy with it so far. Bailey finds a bone almost everyday buried somewhere in the backyard and Brett got to buy a new flat screen LCD TV because our old one just wouldn't fit in our small family room. But most of all, it's great to be back together as a family again. There's still lots of unpacking to do but I'm sure it will get done eventually. Funny how much time you don't have when you're a full-time unemployed mom.


Star has a population of 1795 people. Let me introduce you to a few of the hot spots...

The MERC...all the essential groceries you need at inflated prices.

The STAR COUNTRY CAFE...a local favorite for biscuits and gravy. Need to try those soon!

And SAM'S SALOON...cocktails and cold beer according to the marquee.

There's also this really great barn that I love to pass by...

And this huge pile of hay bales...

And lots of scenes like this...

But the farm livin' doesn't last too long. We're only a short ten minute drive to Eagle or Meridian or the interstate. And we do have two workout places, a mexican and chinese restaurant, two pizza parlors, a library, a bank, a post office, doctors and dentists, etc., etc. So what I'm saying is feel free to visit any time. We're not totally in the boonies!

SOLD!

After moving to Star a few weeks ago, we finally sold our house in Idaho Falls. WAHOO!! WOOT, WOOT!! HALLELUJAH!! We were actually supposed to sign the closing documents the day we moved but a very long, boring and stressful story short, the deal went through as planned on Aug 18 after a two week delay. We just had to fork out a couple thousand more dollars to make the deal happen, but a small price pay to help the buyer get our house and let us move on to new adventures. We had so many great memories in our first home and we will always cherish them. A fond farewell to 1887 Ironwood Dr...

P.S. She's lookin' hot in her picture above sportin' a new paint job, manicured bushes, and a brand new bed of flowers!

3rd of July in Idaho Falls

If ever the 4th of July falls on a Sunday, it's celebrated the day before in Idaho Falls, hence, 3rd of July. But nonetheless, we just love the Independence Day celebrations. Idaho Falls does it up right. Even after we move, I'm sure we'll be back just for the festivities on the 4th (or 3rd!).

The last several years we've attended the parade at our friend's parent's house. They live right on the parade route and are kind enough to let friends and family take over their yard for a few hours. Plus, they share yummy donuts, coffee and other treats! A kickstart for the day!

This float was from Melaleuca. Melaleuca puts on the awesome fireworks show every year, and didn't let us down with their parade float either. Probably the best one of the day.


Austin and Dad chillin' together. It was nice to have Brett in town for the entire weekend. Austin was pretty much scared of everything; the firetruck sirens, the loud motorcycles, small fireworks later in the day, so him and Brett got lots of snuggle time together.

Austin sportin' the American flag shirt with a handful of bubble containers. He has two obsessions at the moment; bubbles and balloons!

Since Austin was being pretty sensitive to loud noises all day we didn't attend the big fireworks show that evening. But no worries, he'll see it one day.