Just scratching the surface...

No Boys Allowed

2010-03-22T12:43:00.002-06:00

Can hardly wait for the girls only getaway with my mom & sister this weekend in Phoenix. This vacation spot has become one of our favorite retreats over the years. Here's the forecast...perfect for a few days of sitting poolside, playing tennis, runs in the foothills & the essential margaritas!

Cheers to the youngest looking 62 year-old out there!

2010-03-16T22:55:00.003-06:00

Today is my dad's birthday. I admire & love SO MANY things about him...too many to list...but here are a few of my favorites...

He is one of the most generous people I know...he has always set a beautiful example of living under your means so that you can give to those who need it more.
He passed on his love for running to me. I still remember him running by my side in my first races back in elementary school, encouraging & teaching me along the way.
He makes some darn good cream of tuna...the dinner we knew we were getting if Mom was out of town.
He sets a steadfast example of a man who is fully devoted to his wife & family.
It's difficult to find a thriftier man...he once drove a car until the floor started to wear out & he could see the road under his feet...he wears the same sweaters & slippers until they have holes in them (even though we give him new ones for Christmas every year)...he has perfected a system for efficiently heating & cooling the house while hardly needing to turn the A/C or heat on...the souvenirs he used to purchase on our family trips consisted of t-shirts from local thrift stores (or new t-shirts for under $5)...
He can only play one song on the piano, but boy does he plan it with passion! I still remember getting excited when I would hear the tune start as a kid.
He has always made me believe I can go for anything & succeed...& I know he's there supporting me every step of the way.
He used to tell us the best bedtime stories before we went to sleep in the back of the suburban on the long road trips to Minneosta.
He is a highly ethical & savvy business-man & one of the hardest workers I know....but also one of the most humble. He served as the CFO for the Special Olympics World Winter Games & refused to have his name engraved on the final plaque with the other board members unless they agreed to engrave the names of all his employees & volunteers too...they didn't agree...& his name isn't on it.
I have never once doubted his love for me...I don't think he's ever ended a conversation or hung up the phone without telling me that he loves me first.
He is an incredible grandfather & Deagan & Sienna just light up when they see their "Papa"...they've got him wrapped around their little fingers.

He has enabled me to see & experience so many places & cultures through trips to the Grand Canyon, New York, Disneyword, countless national parks, Mexico, Europe, etc.
He has faithfully eaten two bananas with oatmeal every morning & 4-5 carrots before dinner every night for as long as I can remember. The carrots have given him a nice orange-ish tint...kind of like a year-round suntan.
He made it possible for me to get an education from the college of my choice &, even better, leave with no debt...I've realized more & more what an incredible gift that was/is!
I have such a sweet sense of God's fatherly love because of the grace-filled love he has given me since the day I was born.

I am so grateful for such a loving, passionate, energetic, fun & supportive father. I love you, Dad!

Not so simple sewing

2010-03-14T21:06:00.000-06:00

I haven't used my sewing machine since Christmas, so I figured it was time to pull it out again...too bad I lost all my sewing skills (not that I had much to start with). I was working on a few handmade gifts for a dear friend of mine who will be having baby girl in just a few weeks. The plan was to make an 'on-the-go' diaper changing pad & a few cute burp cloths. The changing pad ended up being far more difficult than I anticipated. I tried all sorts different ways to make it work & took out stitching at least 10 times (no joke). Eventually, after wasting a lot of cute fabric, I had a presentable end product...only problem was that after all the 'fixing', it continued to shrink & I ended up with a changing pad sized perfectly for a small doll. Needless to say, I won't be giving that to my friend. Thankfully, I did complete a few cute items to add to her mother-to-be gift...

Burp cloths:

Leggings (made from knee high socks):

Make Me Babies

2010-03-08T19:48:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling a little baby crazy these days. It's not quite time for us to move to that phase yet, so to help keep me patient, I made my way to the classic makemebabies.com website to see a prediction of what our kiddos will look like. As you can see, makemebabies.com has predicted quite a variety of looks for the Louie babies...

Our boys...

And our little girls...

Can't you see the resemblance?

Midnight drama at the Louie's...

2010-03-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I've been prone to sleep walking & talking. My sister has always thought it to be creepy &, frankly, so do I, but I can't control it. For some reason I didn't do it during college (lucky for my roommates!), but there has been a recent spike in my sleep walking & talking activity. A few recaps for your entertainment...

I often go to bed earlier than Tyson. On numerous occasions in the past few months, when he has crawled into bed after I'm asleep, I have dreamt that some creepy stranger is crawling into my bed & I panic that I'm not properly clothed (you'd think that I'd be concerned about a little more than just my attire if a creepy stranger is crawling into my bed, but apparently I'm not). So, in my sleep, I crawl out of bed & try to hide myself in a corner of the room so he can't see me. Then, I slowly wake up to Tyson laughing as I'm hunched over in a corner.

On another occasion (again before Tyson was in bed), I was prompted to take the entire top sheet off our bed in my sleep. I pulled it out from under the down comforter...who knows why. Apparently I didn't have big plans for what to do with it after pulling it out...Tyson crawled into bed to find a bunched up sheet on his side. Guess that's the price you pay for going to bed last.

Lastly, the most unusual case of sleep talking occurred shortly after watching the Grammy's (is that the music one? I always get them mixed up...). Tyson came to bed and I started talking to him out of nowhere in my sleep...

Me: I'm already being counseled by gaga.
Tyson: What?
Me (in an irritated tone after being questioned by Tyson): I said, I'm already being counseled by gaga.
Tyson (laughing): Abbey, I think you're asleep.
Me (very irritated at this point): No, I told you, I'm already being counseled by Lady Gaga!
I certainly hope I wouldn't seek counsel from Lady Gaga in real life. Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into the recent Louie household nighttime drama.

Celebrating Tyson

2010-03-05T17:15:00.002-07:00

It was Tyson’s birthday on March 2nd. Now that he’s 27, he can no longer claim to be in his mid-twenties...getting old! He is one incredible man and I am so grateful and blessed to walk through life with him.

A few years ago for his birthday, I gave him a book of letters written to him from important men in his life. To celebrate him on this birthday, here's a recollection of some of their encouraging words...

you are an unconditional friend, one who has been there for me no matter what…
words can’t express the respect that I have for you…
you’re like a father figure and one of my best friends…
without you, I wouldn’t be half as far down the road of manhood or a relationship with God that I am now…
you have a heart that loves well and a faith that is mature…
you’re like a son to me…
you are a man of integrity and discipline…
you are like a brother to me and you have been there when I needed you…
thank you for helping me understand what it looks like to be a man of God with integrity and character…
you have a passion for life that is contagious…
I have always looked up to you…
you have been nothing but a blessing in my life…
you are a good man, a Godly man, and I pray that my sons will become like you…
I’m proud of you…

And last, but certainly not least...

You introduced me to espresso, high dollar electronics and the art of dressing like a mack, all of which cost a lot of money. So while I sit here in a pimp suit, sipping on a latte, I’m completely broke.

We celebrated last Saturday (sorry for my poor attempt at photo editing). First, we tried to fly up to McCall for breakfast, but had to turnaround because of the low clouds...

So we went to good old Raedene's for breakfast instead...

He had his first ever surprise birthday party at Lucky 13...

Ellie was especially excited to be there...

With mom (it's my fault it's blurry...I always forget to hold it halfway down first)...

And with dad...

Birthday boy blowing out the candles on his 7 lb cake...

I love you, Babe! Happy Birthday!

Christmas Pics

2009-12-26T13:49:00.004-07:00

In our new hats from Tyson's dad... The Louie brothers...looks like Gene (Tyson's dad) is putting out the vibe...

I think we had more fun helping Mac open his stocking than our own...

He loves his new toy...

My mom requested an apron that didn't have a strap over her neck, so that's what she got. This picture doesn't do it justice...I was pretty excited about it...

Sienna prefers Uncle Tyson's shoes over her own... Papa & Sienna... Not the best picture, but the only one we got of the Schrepple girls... Uncle Tyson & Deagan...

Bedroom TV

2009-12-03T20:29:00.005-07:00

I know everyone has an opinion about whether or not you should have a TV in the bedroom. I almost always go to bed before Tyson is even tired, so we never go to bed together. Just recently, we caved & got a TV for the bedroom. As with most of our big purchases, I set a pretty tight budget & then let Tyson see if he can find the quality he wants within the budget I set...he always succeeds (for example, he found our pathfinder for a crazy good deal at dealership in Minnesota...the boy gets creative).

Here's how it has gone so far with the TV...

-Night 1: I had a little panic attack as I thought about all the research studies that show you don't sleep as well when falling asleep to TV & started worrying about how tired I was going to become in the next months. I couldn't say anything though b/c Tyson didn't even push me into getting one; I was the one who wanted one so he'd go to bed with me.

-Night 2: We read together before turning it on. I'm paranoid about making sure we don't just get into bed & automatically turn to the TV.

-Week 1: Tyson had to close at work a lot around Thanksgiving & it was SO nice to have the TV in the bedroom b/c I didn't freak out at every little sound I heard (I don't like being home alone at night).

-Right now: Tyson has to open at 4am tomorrow morning, so he's asleep, but I get to be right next to him while watching the Oregon vs. Oregon State game.

We actually haven't even had it on as often as I thought we would. Tys is a night owl & I'm a morning person...the TV is helping bring us together despite our differences (yes, I meant for that to sound cheesy). But honestly, I love going to bed at the same time...so I'm pro-bedroom TV for the Louies.

December Treat

2009-12-03T20:12:00.002-07:00

One of my favorite treats (which is only offered in December) is Dreyer's Peppermint Ice Cream. Although I LOVE it, I'm not disappointed that it isn't offered year-round...not sure I would appreciate it as much. If you have never tried it, you're missing out. I'm pretty sure God invented it to help us focus on gratitude during the Christmas season, because I am so thankful every time I eat it! Just a hint, it's even better when served freshly baked ginger snaps.

A good day

2009-11-22T20:10:00.002-07:00

Tyson & I have had fairly conflicting schedules for about a year now. It's not often that we get a whole day together, but it happened yesterday & made for one of the best days in awhile. Nothing too exciting, but just a good day... -First we slept in with no alarms. -Then we got to visit Mike & Becka & their new precious baby girl, Ellie. She is so dang cute! I could have held her for hours. Plus, it was so great seeing Mike & Becks as parents now...just seems to fit. -Next came a little date to Rembrandts, my favorite coffee shop in Boise. We were hoping for a caramel roll with our lattes, but they were out (only downer of the day). -On our way home, we stopped by Target to get some Christmas lights. If you're ever thirsty while shopping at Target, keep in mind that the popcorn/pop deal is just 25 cents more than a medium soda (this is my favorite snack at Target)...it just so happened that this already great deal was on sale for $1 on Saturday! Boy was I happy. -When we got home, Emily stopped by with the kids. Deagan helped show Tyson how to plug in the Christmas lights & told him how the 'eletritsy' runs through. He also informed us that Santa gave us the lights. He LOVES lights & told Emily all he wants from Santa this year are some Christmas lights. Sienna was in fine form & wanted nothing to do with anyone...unless we had food to offer. -Then we took Mac to the park for his always intense game of fetch. He dives so hard for each ball that he has no hair left on his belly. Love that boy... -Since it was sunny out, we took advantage & put all our lights up on the house. I'm so excited for Christmas. -We had a gift card to Jakers so headed there for dinner. We made it in time for 2 for 1 happy hour & had some tasty salmon & steak. Tyson can't go very long without talking about something related to flying, so he taught me the phonetic alphabet during dinner (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.). Either my memorization skills have gone downhill since college or one shouldn't drink a glass of wine while trying to memorize something, b/c it took me quite some time to get it down, but I've got it. -We were going to go to a movie after dinner, but decided head home instead. We fell asleep pretty early...guess we're getting old, but it was perfect. It was an all around good day & left me feeling so thankful to be married to my best friend.

I'm back

2009-11-17T22:14:00.002-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in ages...& have been terrible about reading other blogs & keeping in touch. Sorry! I'm getting back on the saddle. To start, here's my newest, favorite, unhealthy, easy recipe...it's for caramel corn. This is the kind you have to eat the same day (it doesn't hold very well), but it's so tasty that it will be gone within one day. It takes me less than 10 min to make. -Pop a big bowl of popcorn (& shake out the unpopped kernels!) -On the stove, stir: *1/2 c butter *1 c brown sugar *2 T light corn syrup *1 tsp vanilla -Bring to boil & constantly stir for 2 min while boiling -Remove from heat & add 1/4 tsp salt & 1/4 baking soda -Stir until foamy & pour over popcorn You won't be disappointed.

Becky Homecky

2009-08-24T18:23:00.005-06:00

"Becky Homecky" is what my old boss calls me when I get in my 'domesticated' mode...apparently it was a popular phrase back in her high school days. I've been trying to learn how to sew a bit. It usually starts out fun & ends frustrating b/c my perfectionism sets in & I'm not very good yet, which makes it impossible to get any of my projects perfect. It's still fun to make home-made gifts though & hopefully the recipients just don't look too closely at the stitching :). Here's a glimpse of a few things I've made so far... An apron...

A tote w/ pockets on the inside...

A clutch (with some American spirit)...

Another little handbag (reversible)...this was my first attempt at button holes & it tooke multiple tries & new pieces of fabric before I got it right...

Another apron, but this one is reversible...

A little skirt for my niece's 1st birthday...

Brave Bangs

2009-08-06T22:01:00.003-06:00

Most of you know that I follow the same hairstyle pattern year after year...grow it out, then chop it off, grow, chop, grow, chop... I'm at the length when I would typically chop, but I just don't feel ready for it yet (& every woman knows it's dangerous to do that when you're not at the 'fully ready for it' stage). I had a hair appointment today & didn't want to leave with a boring trim, so I opted for a drastic change in bangs. I went for the straight across look. I don't regret it because, if I hadn't done it, I would have regretted not doing it...but I don't know that I'll hold onto this look for long (thank goodness my bangs grow fast). Here's proof of the brave bangs. Apparently they make me look a little scary because it took like 10 shots before I got a picture without looking too scary. This is not one of those blog entries where you should post a comment trying to make me feel better about the bangs because: (a) I know they are definitely not the best look for me & (b) I'm okay with that because it was worth a try.

Disclaimer: My hairstylist is the best ever & did a perfect job cutting them...just too bad I can't pull them off better :).

Plato Shmato

2009-08-06T22:00:00.003-06:00

I have been in an extreme cleaning/organization mode lately. I really wish I would have taken before & after pictures b/c you would be so impressed by the office closet, guest bedroom closet & junk drawer improvements...I don't even have a junk drawer anymore! Anyway, I went through my clothes this evening & packed up a few big bags full that I never wear. Since I seem to wear the same clothes in the office all the time, I thought of a great plan...sell my old clothes at Plato's Closet & use the money to buy a few new work outfits. So, I drove across town, brought all 3 huge bags into the store & they said it would take about 20 minutes to sort through...so I browsed in the crowded, smelly store for...not 20 minutes, but 1 1/2 hours while they sorted. They finally called my name & I was so relieved...until they told me they didn't want to buy any of my clothes. I couldn't believe it!!! The store is mostly focused on teeny-boppers, but I thought I had at least a few items that would fit in...apparently I'm not in style with the latest teenagers. I left furious for wasting all that time & for getting my hopes up for a few bucks. Poor Tyson had to deal with a grouchy wife the rest of the night. I guess it's better for me to just give the clothes away anyhow...

our sunday...plus a new name for video gaming

2009-07-26T22:15:00.004-06:00

We had such a great Sunday. After church, I got some more fabric at Joann's & continued on a few new projects. This included learning how to make button holes, which went great, until the buttons wouldn't fit. I then tried to tear the holes a bit bigger, but ended up tearing through the entire piece of fabric (this was the only bad part of the day). I'll try again tomorrow. Tyson doesn't mind when I get in my 'domestic mode' because it means he gets to play xbox without me grumbling about it...so he played for awhile this afternoon. We then watched P.S. I love you...such a good movie (but be prepared to cry). We passed the 'cuddle during movies' phase quite some time ago, but this movie brought us right back to that phase again! After the movie, we took Mac to the park to play fetch...it was so peaceful outside. We just got back & the following events are what really caused me to blog... Me: Refocused on a craft project I had been working on earlier. Tyson: Picked up his video game remote control. Me: "Oh, are you really going to play xbox again?" Tyson: "Huh?" (but I know he heard the question) Me: "What are you doing?" Tyson: "I'm controlling." Me: "Controlling?" Tyson: "I'm controlling little army men." Apparently this is his new way of saying he's playing a video game while trying to fly under the radar. It was clever & all I could do was laugh. Needless to say the cuddle phase is gone again...we're sitting on opposite couches...but it's okay, I'd trade the cuddle phase in dating for just living day-to-day life together in marriage any day. P.S. - I love you babe!

Bun in the oven?

2009-07-24T19:22:00.003-06:00

I went to one of my favorite places today (the craft store) to scope out the options for my dear friend Becka's baby shower invitations. The girl who checked me out was very nice, but maybe a little too eager to make conversation (or just totally unaware of what's okay to ask a customer)... Girl: "This is cute paper. What are you making?" Me: "Isn't it?! I'm making some baby shower invitations." Girl: "Oh, is it a baby shower for you?" Me: (really? did you really just infer that i look pregnant? also, who throws their own baby shower?!)...but all I was nice and just said, "No." I called Kaytee right after because I knew she'd understand how I feel (link to her much crazier story). I guess I need to start doing a few more sit-ups :).

Call me Betty Crocker

2009-07-16T17:37:00.006-06:00

After being gone for almost 3 weeks (& eating out most of that time), I was so excited to come home & cook in my own kitchen. I think I've cooked & baked more in the last few days than I have in the past month...Tyson doesn't seem to mind. Last night, I tried 2 new recipes that turned out great (& didn't take long to make)... Cooking Light's Grilled Halibut & Fresh Mango Salsa with sauteed garlic green beans & grilled, herb-seasoned red potatoes. Followed by the not-so-healthy, but oh-so-tasty Lemon Drops with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. I sprinkled sugar in the raw on top for a little sparkle.

She rocked it!

2009-06-29T21:49:00.006-06:00

My mom & I have been training for the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon for several months & it all paid off last Saturday. Her one previous half marathon experience was not a good one, so the goal was to erase that memory with a good one...this race couldn't have gone better. We were a little nervous at first making it through some crazy traffic & the long bathroom lines, but we made it to our corral just in time. The temperature was ideal, there wasn't a cloud in the sky (quite unusual for Seattle), the views of Lake Washington were a great distraction & running down I-90 into the city was the perfect ending. She had no trouble maintaining a strong pace, even while cheering on every band we passed. We finished quite a bit faster than anticipated & my mom placed 16th in her age group...pretty darn impressive! I'm certain that training for this event & racing together will last as one of my favorite memories with my amazing mother. I look forward to racing several more with her in the future. I love you, Mom...you are one fit lady! Picking up our race packets at the expo...

Almost to the finish line...

Post race drink with our biggest fan...aren't they cute?!

Dinner in the rain

2009-06-14T17:24:00.017-06:00

We have been getting some Seattle-like weather lately in Boise with much more rain than usual this time of year. We made the best of it last night with a nice dinner on the patio while it poured all around (thanks Gracie D for the tasty panini recipe). Made for one of my favorite evenings...

As always, Mac stayed as close as possible (he doesn't like for us to have fun without him).

Don't let me down, Debbie!

2009-06-14T17:17:00.005-06:00

Yes, I have fallen for an infomercial. I bought these at the grocery store yesterday & am hoping they really work. I get so bummed when we don't make it through our produce fast enough...seems like such a waste. I'll let you know if they really work. Don't let me down, Debbie!

A reason to celebrate!

2009-06-04T10:10:00.003-06:00

After months of studying & practice, Tyson passed his intense final exams (written, oral & practical) & is officially a pilot!!! He has worked so hard for this & it definitely paid off. We celebrated by going out to dinner at Red Feather Lounge last night...

We should have taken pictures of each course, because the presentation was amazing! I even had edible flowers on my vegetable bisque. Here is Tyson with his freshly fried, powdered sugar covered donuts & chocolate dipping sauce. I don't really like donuts, but these were dang good. You could feel your arteries start to clog as you ate them...

Here's my huckleberry cream soda float with some hot pink art design made out of hardened sugar syrup...pretty tasty!

The night ended appropriately...there was a lightning storm on the way home, so Tyson role played (by himself) the conversation he would be having with the control tower (or weather tower, not sure what it is) if he were flying in the storm...quite entertaining.

So, if you want to go flying, you know who to call. He takes every opportunity possible to fly...I even think he loves it more than he loves the Eagles (that's a big deal!). I know I'm partial, but I'm pretty impressed that my husband is a pilot! Way to go, Babe!

Here comes the bride...

2009-06-01T19:35:00.005-06:00

I can hardly wait to celebrate Ron & Jenn at their wedding this July...pretty sure it will be the party of the year! We recently had a shower in Seattle for the beautiful bride to be in a transformed office space... Beautiful view from the roof...

As someone who knows what it's like to battle for her husband's attention during football season, I decided to give a gift that will help combine Ron's two loves...Jenn & the Pittsburgh Steelers. You are loved, Jenn!

The Garden

2009-05-12T20:23:00.007-06:00

Tyson & I spent a good portion of our weekend working on our new garden, which I am SO excited about! We bought Trex at Lowe's (made of recycled plastic & redwood chips) to build the raised bed. You can also use untreated cedar or redwood. All I did was help mark measurements & hand Tys screws while he did the hard work - sawing & drilling. We made a 2x10 ft bed to fit the sunniest spot in our yard. I borrowed my dad's truck to buy soil in bulk...only $23 for a yard (which was more than enough & already had compost mixed in). Tyson also setup a dripline for me...so nice! I did quite a bit of research online & modeled Katie & Jeremy's "Urban Gardening" instructions for the most part. Since we didn't have a huge space for the garden, I decided to try Square Foot Gardening. This is a technique, developed by Mel Bartholomew, that lets you make the most of your garden space to conserve the amount of water, soil & labor needed to produce a maximum amount of food in that space. A square foot garden takes only one-fifth the space & work of a conventional single-row garden to produce the same harvest. I purchased plants for veggies I should have planted about a month ago & seeds for everything else. This website tells you how to plant each square foot.

Here's what I planted (the circles are outside of the raised bed). Marigolds keep pests away, so I included a few of those. In other areas of the yard, I also planted zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin and watermelon.

I sure hope everything grows! My thumb is far from green. Thanks to these two for their help (Mac just followed us around & loved the hose).

Making Memories this May

2009-05-01T11:09:00.003-06:00

To spice up my regular routine a bit, I have decided to set a few random goals at the beginning of each month based on the various national holidays specific to that month. I hope you’ll join in by pursuing a few of these goals or by setting your own goals…please share if you do! Below are the May national holidays & my related goals…

National Bike Month – I will ride my bike to the store (instead of driving) at least once.
Older Americans Month – I will send each of my sweet grandmothers a card via snail mail.
National Good Car Keeping Month – I will wash my car inside & out (I reserve the right to pass this off to Tyson).
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month – I will increase my running mileage by 3 miles.
National High Blood Pressure Month – I will reduce my sodium intake (use only fresh or frozen veggies, use more herbs instead of salty seasonings…)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – I will get my garden planted so that Tyson can make us stir-fry with fresh, home-grown veggies, just like his grandpa & dad taught him.
Mental Health Month – I will read (or at least start…I’m a slow reader) a book on mental illness to increase my awareness and understanding.
Correct Posture Month – I will do a yoga or pilates video 2-3 times per week, which will hopefully improve my posture.
National Barbecue Month – We already BBQ a lot, so setting a goal to BBQ would be cheating. Our BBQ could use a deep cleaning though, so I vow to clean it (I reserve the right to pass this off to Tyson).

Other May Holidays:

National Chocolate Custard Month – Kaytee, I left this one open for you.
National Strawberry Month
National Hamburger Month Arthritis Month
Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month
Better Sleep Month
Month National Egg Month
National Salad Month
National Artisan Gelato Month
National Asparagus Month
National Macaroon Day
National Salsa Month
National Share A Story Month
Foot Health Month

I hope you’re inspired to set a few random goals of your own!

Deagan is 3

2009-04-30T17:44:00.006-06:00

My sweet little nephew, Deagan, just turned 3 this week. I may be biased, but I'm pretty sure he's the cutest boy ever! At every family birthday celebration, he LOVES hearing us sing Happy Birthday & blowing out candles...& I'm pretty sure he thinks it's for him each time because he gets this shy grin on his face like we're singing to him. He has probably eaten about 5 pieces of his b-day cake by now & each time my sweet sister sings him happy birthday & lets him blow out a candle. His most recent clever saying is one of my favorites. If you ask him to do something or try to explain why he shouldn't so something, he responds..."Oh, don't worry about it, Abbey [or whoever he's talking to]." How cute is that?! Happy Birthday Deags! Love you!

It's back!!!

2009-04-26T18:27:00.005-06:00

I first got my nose pierced while studying abroad in France with my Swedish friend, Stephanie.

Sadly, I took it out after graduating from college to ensure I was making professional first impressions at work. I have missed it ever since & finally decided to re-pierce it last night. I am SO excited to have it back! Don't worry, it will look better once the bruising goes away :).

The Uniform

2009-04-23T20:57:00.006-06:00

Tyson has wanted to be a pilot since he was a little boy...I just didn't realize how serious he was about it until about a year ago. He started flight school late last year & has been flying (good pun, I know) through the stage checks & other requirements. Sometimes I complain about the cost & the fact that he has the control tower conversations streaming through the stereo in the car (& then quizzes me on what they're saying); however, seeing how excited he is after a flight makes it all worth it! I love watching him pursue his dream & I can hardly wait until he's an airline pilot...mostly because he'll be so happy doing it, but even more so because I can't wait to see this handsome man in this sharp uniform...hot diggity dang will he be lookin' good!!!

Hollywood is calling

2009-04-20T21:48:00.011-06:00

After eating some tasty burgers last Saturday (thanks Hamlins!), we got into a fairly intense showcase of skill on Rockband. Becka & I started it off with Eye of the Tiger...

Amy & I rocked out to In the Middle...

Kara & Dusty brought down the house with Livin' on a Prayer...

Such beautiful voices that we put Gunner right to sleep...

Apple Dip

2009-04-12T21:55:00.003-06:00

I am not an exceptional cook by any means, but I do receive frequent requests for a few of my recipes (of course, all those recipes came from my mom, so I can’t take credit). I have yet to find someone who doesn’t love my easy, but oh so tasty Apple Dip…which also happens to go very well with strawberries. Just make sure you put enough fruit out with it or you’ll start to see finger marks in the dip. Apple Dip 8oz block cream cheese (let it sit out for ~15 min to soften) ¼ c sugar ¾ c brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla *Blend with an electric mixer until smooth.

Gonna get me a shotgun

2009-04-06T18:50:00.004-06:00

After hearing some great stories from Becka’s experience at the YL Shootout fundraiser last year, Kara & I decided to help work at it this time around. I’m guessing most other YL areas do not have such a fundraiser…leave it to Idaho to incorporate guns. We had a great time working registration, setting up raffle prizes, tallying scores, eating burgers & getting some sun, but I have to admit that I was a little jealous of those with guns. I was also a little disappointed that every team was made up of all men…no ladies representin’! Alas, I have decided it is my duty to compete in the next shootout, which will be taking place in August. Kara has gladly agreed to join me. Becka will be organizing it; otherwise she would definitely be joining in. We thought it would be fun to compete on a team with our husbands, but based on their responses… Dusty – “Oh sorry, I already have a team organized.” (Not so sure I believe you, Dusty.) Tyson – “Um, I think I’d rather be on a competing team…but does this mean we get to buy a shotgun?” …we are in search of two more teammates, so let us know if you’re interested! We plan on practicing quite a bit between now & the shootout. With enough dedication & hard work, we may not bring home the 1st first place prize, but we certainly won’t come home with the last place prize (let’s hope). This will be us in 4 months…

Getting my sew on...

2009-04-05T18:06:00.034-06:00

A combination of factors - seeing far too many paper napkins in the trash, an interest in expanding my domestic skills & my ever-present thriftiness - motivated me to 'get my sew on' & make cloth napkins for everyday use. If you're interested in taking an inexpensive step toward environmentally-friendly napkins, follow the instructions below... 1. Get some fun print designs for the front of the napkins & solid-colored fabric for the back...it's cheaper that way. FYI, JoAnn's prints a 40% off coupon in nearly every Sunday newspaper. 2. To make them fold-to-fit in a standard napkin holder, cut the fabric in 13½ sq in pieces (or 14 sq in like me to allow room for error, which is definitely needed for my sewing skill level).

2. Sew 2 pieces together like a simple pillowcase (the turn inside-out kind).

3. Iron.

4. Sew ¼ in seam around the outside to hold the fabric together a bit better & to make it look a little fancier.

5. And here's the finished product...18 napkins at only $1.07 each!

Here is the lovely lady who let me use her sewing machine (& patiently helped me through my many mistakes)...thanks Mom!

It's about time...

2009-04-01T22:25:00.007-06:00

Most people who know me well would probably say that keeping in touch is NOT one of my strengths. I never update Facebook, I'm bad about returning phone calls, I wish I wrote more letters...but don't worry, I'm turning a new leaf by starting a blog. I probably won't write anything too personal (hence the title), but hope to post updates somewhat frequently...mostly pictures of daily life, stories of new adventures, "how to's" on crafty projects (as long as I get around to doing them), etc. So check back soon...you won't want to miss out on the turning of this new leaf. Much love, Abbey