Last Day of Warmth

OK, OK, the title might exaggerate a little - since I'm sure we have a few nice days left in the bag, but I do know there is a rough storm coming through tomorrow and you never know if we'll have another 80-90 degree day like today! We dropped into a local park to hit the swings mid-day today - here is a short clip from the fun!

One month shy of a year

11 months...

• Walking like a pro
• Going up and down stairs really well
• Nearing the 20 lb mark (woohoo!)
• Gives kisses (ahhh, Mom & Dad love this!)
• Waves bye bye, claps, gives high 5s on cue
• Still delightfully blows raspberries
• Shakes his head "no" when he means yes or is happy about something
• LOVES books - you often find him flipping through one
• Gives spontaneous hugs/love
• Is always carrying something in his hand
• Loves Sammy and Sammy mostly loves him too
• Gets especially ticklish when he is tired
• Loves to eat anything we're eating
• Is pretty over baby food... I don't blame him
• Likes to play hide and go seek (he is always the seeker)
• Loves to go outside and slaps the front door when he thinks we're going to go out (what on earth am I going to do this winter?)
• Growing teeth galore
• Too stinkin' cute

We love him more by the day, if that is possible. I can't believe he'll be one soon!

Stuff I Enjoy (first edition): websites

Anyone who knows me knows that when I love a 'product' I will tell all about it to any and all who will listen (or pretend to). So, what better audience than the one on blogger? From now on I plan on throwing a "stuff I enjoy" post in here and there as I think of it... because, hey, why not?

Here we go !

Here are a few websites/online services I currently enjoy:

• Google Reader: I love blogs and I love keeping up with blogs (friends, family, and a few strangers), but don't like the time blogs can absorb! Here is where Google Reader steps in to help you out - it brings all those blog updates to you in one neat, tidy package and saves you eons of time. If you haven't tried it yet, check it out - you won't be sorry.


• Online journal services: I use LDSJournal.com, but I am sure there are several sites that work the same. It is a free service where I can record my journal entries anywhere I can access the Internet. Lets face it, I can type a lot faster than I can write - not to mention be much more legible and not end up with a cramp in my hand. Although I haven't done it yet, I also understand that you can have the journal printed into a book when you wish. I also appreciate their email reminders they send when I haven't written in a few days!


• Goodreads.com: I am not a 'grab any book and read it' type of gal, - yes, my obsession with 'customer reviews' even extends into my book selections. With Goodreads I can create a 'to-read' list from books my friends and their friends have read and rated and leave my own ratings and thoughts. It is like one giant book club! Fun!


• Readthescriptures.com: one of my friends blogged about this and hooked me in. This is once again another free service where I can set up my reading schedule and it automatically sends me my daily reading via email. It is geared towards the LDS community - offering Sunday School lessons, seminary lessons, RS/Priesthood lessons,etc. - but if that isn't your fancy, it obviously carries the entire set of Scriptures - including The Bible (KJV). Although I do recommend checking out the Book of Mormon :)


• AllRecipes.com: tying back into my obsession with user reviews, this sight allows me to find those 4-5 star recipes that are bound to be winners. For this reason, I have a hard time using any cookbooks anymore... I mean, where are the reviews?? Technology has spoiled me.


• A little more love to Google: I think they might take over the world, one app at a time. I love Gmail and its simplicity, I love Google Calendar and how I can have several calendars all in one, Google Documents that allows me to create and store docs online, and I love Google Homepage that showcases all my google-must-haves. Streamline: check!


• Some others I'd like to check out: RemembertheMilk.com, Wishpot, SparkPeople.com, Pear Budget,...

I am going to wrap this up, mostly bc I want to do a few other things while Mason naps!

I'd love to hear from you! What websites/services do you enjoy?

"Do Not Contact" List (UTAH)

For those of you reading this in Utah, I just read about a GREAT new service! Over at My Good Friends Blog (thanks Katie!), she explained there is a "...free service provided by the State of Utah called the Utah Child Protection Registry. Like the do-not-call list, once an address has been registered, senders of messages that advertise prohibited products or services (like gambling, tobacco, pornography, and alcohol) are required to remove the contact points from their mailing lists within 30 days."

How fabulous! I've never had a problem with this type of solicitation, but I am all about prevention rather than intervention.

Register by clicking here.

I wonder if other states have anything similar?

The Latest Project: Framing the Mirrors

Ever since I first saw this blog post I was set to do the same to my bathrooms. I was determined to complete the project this weekend and I couldn't be more pleased with the result! Here are the before and after pictures:

Downstairs BEFORE:

(Don't mind the awful yellow...
I really ought to repaint it...)

Downstairs AFTER:

Upstairs BEFORE:

Upstairs AFTER:

The pictures don't fully do it justice -- it is a night and day difference! Love it!

Killer Car

While waiting for my oil change, I found a toy car for Mase at the dollar store. Did they really expect me to buy it with this sticker on the back? Random!

My boys (minus Sammy)

Just thought this picture was pretty cute... don't worry, they were uber-safe !

P.S. I started my interior design class last night - there ended up being 8-10 of us in the class- and it is going to be GREAT! I am stoked.

20 Questions

Leave it to Ellie to suggest we try to stump the game w/this word... the machine was too smart for us, even guessing uterus (it guessed "a womb") later. 20 Questions, how on earth do you do it? That might be another one added to the list of "questions to ask after this life".

Nursing Covers - hurry, great deal!

So, for those of us who aren't wizards on the sewing machine, this is a fantastic deal on a nursing cover! It was posted on My Good Friend's Blog and I thought I'd pass it along. Not sure how long it'll last, so hurry on if you're interested!

"I found this awesome deal at http://www.uddercovers.com/cart.php. You can get a free nursing cover (a $32 value) when you enter the promo code "CHARM". All you have to pay is shipping/handling ($8.95). Feel free to post it on your blog of ideas."

Yay! This would be great to pick up for yourself or as a gift for a friend!

Interior Design Class

So, I signed up to take an interior design class on Tuesday nights from 9/15-10/6 through UVU Community Education. I just got an email today saying there are only two of us registered and they need THREE to carry the class. WE ONLY NEED ONE MORE PERSON! Anyone interested? Obviously they'd be happy to have more than one. Its from 7-9 P at Mountain View High. There are several ways to register - if you are interested and/or need help signing up, let me know! You'll need to be registered by this Monday. I think it'll be fun!

Deserving Recognition

Saturday morning I said, "BYU, please don't embarrass us too much today"

Saturday night I said, "Shame on me for doubting you!"

Yes, we beat #3 Oklahoma in the season opener... I dont think I could imagine a better way to start the college football season or school year.

Woot woot!

Swiss Days!

We have wanted to go to Midway for their annual Swiss Days celebration for several years now and finally made it there! It was a lot of fun eating homemade Kraut (I'm sure we stunk), trying some Bratzlies, listening to yodeling, and checking out all the booths. Bratzlies are a swiss cookie similar to a pizelle - and the taste reminded me of a snicker doodle. Yummmm! Mason enjoyed the event too - mostly spent people-watching from his stroller - as noted by his snapshot.

C-r-U-i-S-i-N-g!

Here is a new, improved video of Mason's new mode of transportation - walking (and standing up unassisted)! In the past two weeks he has moved from wobbling across a room to cruising down the sidewalk. We're proud of him!

P.S. he has a rock in his hand

Cowboy Country

Since Matt's parents were in town (they moved back to TN but are out in Wyoming for the next few weeks) and we also wanted to see his Grandparents, we headed up to Wyoming for a weekend jaunt! We headed out Friday afternoon and Ellie came with us to experience the wilderness. Matt's grandparents are outfitters so he went up to camp to help set up (hunting camp starts Sept 10th) on Saturday and Ellie, Mason, and I went to town to check out the shops and headed up the canyon into Bridger National Forest for a bit (picture on right). Saturday night Mason spent quality time with Grandma and Grandpa Spann and the three of us headed to Jackson Hole! The Jensens only live about 45 minutes from Jackson, but Matt and I had never gone! The town is super fun and we even drove on a little past town to get a quick glimpse of the Tetons - which, btw, are breathtaking and barbaric looking. Amazing!

Matt with a buffalo and the Tetons: they're amazing! The picture does them absolutely no justice.

Here is a quick video of Matt and I dancing around in the Silver Dollar Bar in Jackson-- after Ellie and Matt had Buffalo Burgers and I had an Elk Gyro. Yummmm! Get this: we sat down, the waitress walked up, looked at the three of us, and requested IDs from Ellie and me... before we ever ordered... Matt has the biggest baby face and she didn't ask to see his license?? Linda's response was, "welcome to cowboy country."

P.S. As you can maybe tell, we remember nothing from our country dance class we took at BYU... probably selective memory, since we almost broke off our engagement bc we bickered so much in that class. haahaha We've never taken a dance class since. And never argued so much since. Most people say dance classes bring couples together: not us! We'll just keep bobbing around the dancefloor blissfully :)