The Stott's

I want...

2009-08-12T15:13:00.001-07:00

My creative space, originally uploaded by *jenny b allsorts.

Today I was looking on different website trying to get ideas for different things. As I looked through more and more pictures I decided there are a lot of things I want from myself. So I think I should write them down...
I want....
to be creative and have a place to be creative in (example above)

to cut my hair

to be able to take great pictures like my hubby

to have the dedication to wake up every morning and take a walk with Walter

to be proactive about helping others when I think about it

to be a better friend

to have more room in my house

to have less "things" in my house

to read the entire BOM start to finish

to be an amazing mother just like mine

to Spend more time with just my hubby

people to stop getting divorced out of selfishness

to create more adventures for Cora

to learn how to grocery shop

to complete a half-marathon

to see Eryn

to just be a better person over-all

to buy school supplies

to go to school

to raise my girls to be strong, self-confident, lovely, and kind little girls

Maybe some day I will turn this into a checklist. Maybe some day I will be able to accept who I am and acknowledge the little accomplishments each day. Until then I will continue wanting.

Thoughts for 8/13/09

2009-08-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking that I wish my little girls had PAUSE II buttons. Not to pause Cora mid tantrum but pause to fully enjoy each baby girl individually. I would pause Cora to stare into her eyes while she's looking out the window at a bird. I would pause Penny so she'll stop changing and I can just snuggle her while she's still "little". I don't have the time with Penny that I had with Cora. I loved to just hold Cora while she slept and stare at every little inch of her face. Now with Penny I must do that in between helping Cora "cook" with her pots and KIX and helping her "build Jack". I grab a quick glance at Penny's every changing eyes before I put Cora on the potty, only to have her want to get right back off.
LIttle girls are something amazing and I am so lucky to have two.

Penny Teaser

2009-08-11T15:25:00.001-07:00

Yes, she does exist.

Cora's 2nd Birthday!

2009-08-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

I know it's August and Cora's birthday was in March. But at least there is pictures. I will be putting in text later.

Cora and Nolan 2028

2009-06-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

These two have been subject to an arranged marriage. Nolan Thomas lives in Pleasanton, CA with his ma and pa and baby sister. They met us for the day in Gilroy for some garlic and pizza. Cora and Nolan shared a sweet moment while sharing an icy water. Won't they be cute together in 19 years?

A Penny

2009-06-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

I know this is late and a new post is WAY overdue. But she is Penny Ann Stott was born May 15 at 2:40 am, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches. She has loads of hair and is pretty cool. In her first 3 weeks of life she has gone to a wedding, a funeral, visited Clovis, and marched in a Prop 8 rally. Needless to say she is tired along with her mother.
Daddy is setting up the studio today to snap of few shots of her so there will be more to post and much more to write. Here's to hoping this post will satisfy you all for the moment.

Cora's Story (2 Years Late.)

2009-03-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Cora turned 2 yesterday and it was such a fun day. Pictures will be coming soon but for this post I want to journal her original birthday.
Pete and I always knew we wanted to be surprised with the sex of our babies. So Cora's birth was so exciting. I had always felt it was going to be a boy, no reason just felt I would have a lot of boys. That was most people's guess as well. However there was one night I had a very vivid dream of holding a baby girl in the hospital. So when we had Cora that dream all made perfect sense.
My original due date was March 30, 2007. When I had my ultra-sound the doctor moved the date up to the 25th. However he never changed it in my records so they based everything off the original date of the 30th. This made me very anxious and as it got closer to the 25th I would keep reminding the Doc that he moved up the date. But he was still set on the 30th.
On Saturday March 25th I woke up at around 9:30 am and started doing some yard work. I set out to spray weeds and just as I got started my water broke. I wasn't really sure what was going on so I just went inside and took a shower. When Pete came in to see what I was doing I asked him what he thought. He was pretty sure it was my water so he had my call the hospital. The Hospital told me to come in and get checked and see where I was at. I finished getting ready and packed up a few things and we headed to the hospital.
When we got there they took us into a room where I waited for nurse to check me. She asked if I really thought my water broke because I wasn't even dilated. I told her it better have broke or I am embarrassed. Right then it completely broke and they admitted me. That was around 12:30 pm. For the next few hours Pete and I just hung out at the hospital. And lucky for me I wasn't feeling any pain. Pete left at around 4:30 to grab some lunch and I took that opportunity to get my epidural. He hates needles and I figured it would be best to get it while he was gone. I wasn't in any pain at the moment but I knew it was going to be a long day cause I wasn't moving along very fast.
The next few hours were very un-eventful and the day moved very slow. They started me on pitocin to speed things up a little bit but all that did was freak the baby out. The heartbeat dropped dramatically and then there was flurry of activity. I had no idea what was going on but I later learned they had to clip a monitor on the baby's head. They slowed the pitocin and let my body figure things out on it's own. Eventually things started to happen.
At around 11:00 pm I started to push and at 12:37 Cora was born. I had never been so exhausted in my life. At one point I asked the nurse and Pete to leave my alone and let me sleep for awhile. I was tired and hadn't eaten in almost 30 hours. I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to do it. But I did and Cora came weighing in at 8 lb. 4 oz. and was perfectly healthy.

Cora's Vocabulary

2009-03-11T12:28:00.001-07:00

Me "Cora you are some kind of stinky. Did you go poo poo?'
Cora "No not yet. I not poopy yet."

From the back room I hear, "Eww poo poo." Me, "Cora did you poop?" Cora, "Not yet. Later"

Me "Cora what do you want for breakfast?"
Cora "Uh, hmmm peaches, and cheese. Hmmm Kix kix kix. Hmmm Applesauce."
I will give her all of that and she will eat all of it.

If Cora doesn't want something and says NO! we ask her Cora, "what do you say?" And this is what she says, "No tank you thank you tank you."

Cora comes running from the other room, "I wanna dance." And busts out her awesome moves.

Cora says paper as if she was French, "papiere."

Her favorite songs to sing are;

"Water" = Give Said the Little Stream
"Pop" = Tiny Tim The Turtle (bubble, bubble, pop.)
"God" = I am a Child of God
"Fox" = Old McDonald Had a Fox (our own little rendition)
"Beam" = Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam
"This one" = Do As I'm Doing (She asks for this as she's patting her knees.)

Every time I put a dress on her she asks, "Church, nursery?" And the proceeds to ask about, "John, Vicki, Tirtin, Tarly, and Papa John." All her friends she sees at church.

She spends her days, "cooking", "making tooties", and "doing colors."

Her automatic response when ever we are in the car and Pete honks the horn, "Gosh, Go!" very loud.

Hawaii

2009-01-17T22:37:00.000-08:00

This post is LONG over-due but still needed to be done. I have a great boss who rewards his employees greatly. His family owns a house in Hawaii and let's me use it. This was our second time using the house and it was great. We figured with Cora coming up on the age of 2 that we wouldn't be able to afford a trip like this for awhile. So we packed up for a 12 day trip to Oahu and were off for sun, beach, and relaxation.
The first few days we were at the house with just us three. It was so nice to relax and not have any "plans." Pete didn't have too much computer work to do so most of the time was spent lounging and watching TV together. Oahu was experiencing a ton of rain so there wasn't much beach going, but rain is Hawaii was better then the Blizzard going on at home.
A few days later our friends from Ohio; Cortney, Amy, and Will James, joined us. From then on it was a fun filled vacation. We visited lots of places, spent ample time on the beach, and ate great food. We were so lucky to be able to do it. We even took time to scout out some of the LOST filming locations. Too bad we didn't get to see Kate, Jack, Sawyer, or Hurley....

Last Meal

2009-01-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

I am copying Cat since I love food probably more then her.
If I was on death row and had to pick one last meal I wouldn't have to think twice about it. I would have 2 entrees;
Bajio Chicken Green Chile Quesadilla with extra meat. By far my favorite meal. The extra meat is key as it adds more of the delicious onions and sweet sauce. Black beans with sweet rice, and mango salsa.
Second entree would be the Filet Steak that Pete had last week at Carraba's. It was divine. Along with a baked sweet potato.
For dessert I would ask for the Macaroni Grill Lemon cake. That thing is absolutely amazing. And the sauce it's covered in couldn't be any better.

Oldie But A Goodie

2008-12-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken quite awhile ago but it's pretty funny and I totally forgot about it. Pete was asked to take pictures at the Primary Activity of the little kids as missionaries. A lady in the ward brought cardboard cut-outs of her kids on missions and the kids stuck their heads in them. They were hilarious pictures.

Stop Feeling Sorry For Me

2008-12-27T20:36:00.001-08:00

You can all stop feeling sorry for me because I look fat in all these recent posts. Yes I do have a baby bump. Now all the rumors can stop.
(Pete just informed me that no one feels sorry for me and there are probably no rumors. For a second I thought I would be featured on the cover of US.)

Family Pictures

2008-12-27T20:18:00.000-08:00

With Pete being a photographer family pictures are near impossible. Not only cause we are busy taking other people's pictures but Pete hates being in pictures. I convinced him that this was the year we would do family pictures and send out Christmas cards. We asked one of our favorite friends if he wouldn't mind taking a few quick shots before we went out of town. By the time Pete got home from work and we made it back to Orem it was too dark to do anything outside. So we headed to a festive holiday display at Target, yes Target.

We tried to be all sneaky and act like we were admiring the decorated trees as we arranged them to our liking. We even took a ladder from another section to boost Cora up. We got a few weird looks and security walked by extra slow but we were able to get a few shots in.

This is Pete trying to be out-of focus and therefore out of the shot. He thought it was a good idea until he realized he looked like a creepy stalker in the background. And not part of the family.

Suite Jazz Game

2008-12-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

Pete won Jazz tickets at work by making an awesomely high tower from Post-It Notes and straws, we are very proud of his skills. When I was working at Nu Skin we had the chance to go to games quite a bit. Since we hadn't been in 2 years we were super excited to get the chance.

Cora absolutely loves basketball games. She actually loves the mascots, from far away, as soon as they get within reach she freaks out. We sat in the Nu Skin Suite and were able to snack and keep hydrated as we watched the Jazz lose. It was a fun night and we hope Pete can build an even higher tower next time so we can go again.

N ew Addition

2008-12-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

Our house was previously owned by my brother Blake and he always hoped to someday replace the driveway. Well last month we made that wish come true. My awesome family and great neighbors helped us demo the driveway one Saturday. We started at 9:00 in the morning and finished just in time for the last load to make it to the dump before closing time. We were able to us Blake's dump trailer and our neighbor "borrowed" a Bobcat from the city with a jackhammer on it. It was so nice to have everyone there to help.

We have yet to drive on it but we are sure it will be wonderful. And our neighbor John will love the difference when he shovels it after every snowstorm.

Here is Cora's contribution to the new driveway.

Just A Taste

2008-12-25T22:46:00.000-08:00

Just a little taste of more posts to come. I have the blogging spirit and will be posting all night. We love you and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Stealing from Whit-Ing

2008-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

A good family friend challenged her readers and I thought it would be fun.

Things I don't care about;
Cora being in her pajamas or grubby clothes all day. If I go out I dress her the best I can. But when we are in, what's the point?

Making presents or treats for every person in the neighborhood. I apologize but I am sure they will all get enough sugar creations to last them through the holidays. It doesn't mean I care about them any less.

Dressing like I "should." Whether this means dressing like an adult or like every other "Utah" mom I don't care. I do spot the occasional outfit that I would love to have, but we all know I couldn't put it together if I tried. So I wear what I want when I want and don't care. Although Pete's opinion does matter sometimes, he has a great eye.

Trying to be different. We are all different in our own way. And everyone is spending way too much time and effort to try to be different. Little do they know they are all being the same.

A certain person. She chose to see things the way she wanted to. And in doing so has ruined a great friendship for her husband and mine. But I don't care anymore. I have no regrets and did nothing wrong.

Eating too many Oreos. Until I am getting Oreo stained teeth I will eat Oreos to my little hearts content.

Staying up too late. Pete is a late owl and I hate going to bed without him. So I stay up way too late everynight.

Halloween

2008-11-10T08:06:00.001-08:00

4O9O1931, originally uploaded by | PETE |.

Yes we are mean parents and dressed Cora up as a crass man for Halloween. But can you blame us? She looks just like him and it was the last Halloween she probably wouldn't have an opinion. Check out more photos on Pete's flickr account.

Thankful November

2008-11-10T07:55:00.000-08:00

11.6.08
I am thankful for...
1. The LV Stott's. They give Cora great hand-me-downs.
2. Etsy, that place is a lookers paradise.
3. 4H, I learned how to sew with the help of my mom of course.

11.7.08
I am thankful for...
1. Rain.
2. Creme of Wheat, good eats.
3. My Lovesac

11.8.08
I am thankful for...
1. Gift Cards.
2. Good families to take pictures of.
3. Rubios, best fresh Mex around.

11.9.08
1. Strong missionaries going in the field.
2. Seeing old ward friends.
3. Sunday dinner at the Balmforth's.

Thankful November

2008-11-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

11.4.08
I am thankful for...
1. My mom.
2. Gloriana's laugh.
3. Cora's early bedtime

11.5.08
I am thankful for...
1. The snow, so beautiful.
2. People who beg to watch Cora.
3. The ability to make money while still at home.

Copying Sue, again.

2008-11-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

I am doing Thankful November again because it will helped me be more aware of how blessed I am.

11.1.08
I am thankful for...
1. The ability to work in my yard.
2. A husband who is a master of all trades.
3. My brother-in-law Ryan.

11.2.08
I am thankful for...
1. A good primary presidency that can shuffle things around when I am sick.
2. Coco-motion, best hot drink maker ever.
3. Pete taking care of Cora so I can sleep.

11.3.08
I am thankful for...
1. Roxanne's test was negative.
2. Best neighbor's, The Goodman's
3. Cora's dance moves.

Anyone need a house for the Holidays :)

2008-11-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

Does anyone need or know someone who needs a nice place to stay during the holidays? Wouldn't you rather stay at a house with nice beds and a crib for your little one, instead of a blow-up mattress and a pack and play for the tike? Well here's your chance. During Christmas we are looking for someone to stay at our house. If you are interested let me know and I'll give you more details.

Cora's Fall

2008-11-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Cora has had a very eventful Fall. She has become even cooler and has outgrown her crib, nope she doesn't want to sleep in a toddler bed, she just climbs out of her crib without any help. Time for a crib tent, anyone anyone? She also got her first haircut. I know I know she doesn't even have much hair, but it was turning into a a scary front mullet and scraggly mess. So we just took a little off to help clean it up.
She is officially in nursery, although she has been coming with momma for awhile now. But she does pretty good with sharing and picking on the big kids. She attended her first NuSkin Convention and was a great sport running crazy with mom while I attended to everything I needed to at the Convention.
Cora took her first trip up to Gardner's Village. She loved trying to call the ducks to come to her. She got really frustrated and started clicking her tongue, that's when you know she really wants something.

She brought along some of her very favorite things and loved having them at the Village. Gretta of course and her stroller that Aunt Jer made for her. She's sitting in it :) She pushes Gretta around the house all day in that thing.

She of course busted out a few of her moves to let everyone know she has serious skills. Whenever Cora hears music she has to dance. I would describe her moves similar to those of Elaine Benis of Seinfeld.

Thank You Hot or Not

2008-10-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

Don't act like you don't remember the awesomeness that was Hot or Not. This was a great site on which you could post a picture of yourself and hope to get a stellar rating. I at one point I was at a rating of 8.5. No, I didn't put myself on there... here's the story. I was living in West Virginia at the time. One day while talking on the phone to my friend, Klark (who was in Utah), I was told to log on to Hot or Not and check myself out. I was mortified. I had no idea how many people he had made small talk with, pretending to be me. Nor did I want to be in the "online dating" scene. It was all a little sketchy to me.
When I returned back to Utah I quickly recovered my stolen identity from Klark and starting cruising Hot or Not for entertainment. It was funny coming across people I knew in high school and giving others the stellar ratings they were hoping for. At one point I come across this profile picture:

It said he was living in Orem which sparked my attention, maybe I knew him. So I added him as a "contact" and left it at that. Then he contacted me and gave a link to a page with more pictures of him and friends. That is when it all started. I knew all of his friends. One of them was a family friend from our home ward, Matt Brown. He and Matt were roommates and had been in several places. Another friend of his was an older brother of a friend from high school, Scott Aland. He was also home teaching companions with my brother Mitch in a singles ward. I thought the connections were cool and felt that it was okay to start talking to this guy. Well we started writing emails back and forth and talked on IM when my parents Internet was working. There was a time when I wondered if he was ever going to ask me out. We had talked long enough and we knew so many of the same people that I knew he wasn't a scary online liar.
Finally, after more than a month of chatting online, he asked me out. He asked if I wanted to go to a BYU Women's Volleyball game and I was super excited. Only drawback...the date was like 3 weeks away. We kept talking on IM and then started talking on the phone. There were so many phone conversations that he would ask, "So what are you doing tonight?" I would always say, "nothing", in hopes he would ask me to hang out earlier then our date that was still 12 days away. But he just kept getting my hopes up.
Before our date came around I consulted with my Sister, Jeremy, to see if she felt it was safe for me to go out with this guy. She assured me that since I knew all his friends that is seemed pretty harmless. This sealed it for me and made me super stoked for our date.
Well October 25Th came and the date was great. He picked me up at my house in Lehi and then we went to the BYU volleyball game. I don't' remember any strong feelings on the date but I just remember being super comfortable the whole time. After the game we went to eat at the European Connection in Provo. It was there he did the first thing to make me really like him. He mixed fruit punch and sprite for his drink--something my dad does.
The next day my friend Ben Weekes came over and I had him help me make cookies for Pete. I knew by doing that I was guaranteed another date. Sure enough we went out again. We went with my brother Mitch and his wife Kendall to the Haunted Forest in American Fork. It wasn't until later I learned that Pete hated haunted houses and that sort of thing. That meant he totally dug me. That whole night I was trying to get him to hold my hand. I was acting super scared at every turn. I got a little contact but not much.
The Next day was a Sunday and Pete's family was in town so we headed up to Draper to meet his mom and dad. We ate dinner at his brother's house and I remember that was the first time he gave me chills. I was standing at the sink washing dishes and he put his hand on my shoulders. Don't you just love the sappy love chills?
That weekend was an awesome start to our life. The first day we spent apart was that next Monday and Pete did the most monumental thing that day. He told me later that while riding in the car with his friend Scott he played a song from a CD I had left in his car (on, um, accident) and told Scott that he would dance with me at our wedding to that song (and we did, by the way, so great!)
On November 1st we had our first kiss, and on the 11th we said "I love you" to each other. We spent as much time as possible together while we were dating. When my curfew approached each night I would cry. I hated leaving him and having to make the long drive home to Lehi. He proposed on March 9th and we were married on July 5th. I love our love story and am thankful to Klark....and of course to Hot Or Not. I know, shocking. We are an internet love story. Haa haa I would have never thought in a million years.

Cause She's That Cute

2008-09-24T08:16:00.001-07:00

So, we are super awesome because we have super awesome friends with super awesome creativity. Do you get the point, we are awesome. And this is why; our good friends the Harrison's design and create their own scrapbook paper and products. They also do clothing and plush toys of their "iconic" creatures. The wife of the Harrison's is also part of the very posh Garden Girl Scrapbook Team. Because of their awesomeness and talent we benefit immensely. I can't scrapbook one ounce, I am too indecisive. So Mrs. Harrison does it for me. And most recently one of her fellow Garden Girls realized how cute Cora was and wanted to scrap her. Cause she's that cute. And lucky for us she's awesome as well. She check out what Sarah Klemish has done for us. And check out her other stuff.

New Kitchen

2008-09-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

We have decided it's way past time to get a new kitchen. The cabinets we have are so old that I get sawdust in all the dishes that are in my drawers. And I am pretty sure the cabinets have been painted about 7 times. Needless to say we are super excited. But we need help. We need advise, input, and ideas. Here is what we are thinking, and if you have any input or know people that you would recommend to do the job please let us know.
For the cabinets we are going with a knotty alder. I have always wanted white but have realized it's super expensive to have. So I'll settle for alder. We have a few bids out there and are pretty set on one company, OA Kitchen. They do work for my brother, Blake, and gave us a great good deal.
As far as the counter top that is where we are having the biggest problem. We have talked about Granite, but I don't love the shininess of it (which I could have it honed but I am not sure how much cost that would add.) Any reviews on granite?
We have also looked into a concrete overlay. I have seen this in a few show homes and love that I can have it any color I want. But I actually love the color of concrete in it's natural state. We have also heard you can do a concrete overlay on floors. Which would be AWESOME cause we hate our tile but it would not be worth it to chip it up. Have any of you guys ever heard of doing this or done it? We would love to hear.
Now for the colors of the kitchen. I already have a little color scheme going. I have yellow and green Fiestaware dishes,

And curtains that are yellow, green, and orange. So I am wanting to stick with that scheme. However I have always wanted to add another color to my dishes and the scheme. I would love to incorporate this color;

But I am not sure how that would work with the curtains. And if I was to do that, what color could I paint my kitchen walls? We are wanting to do white beadboard 3/4 up the wall and then do a fun color. Any suggestions?
There are so many talented people out there that I am hoping I can get some help from. I don't want to look at my kitchen after it's done and think about what I am going to do to change it. I want to LOVE it. And I will love you for helping me :)

Turning into a Journal

2008-09-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start taking my blog more serious and use it as not only a way to keep connected with family and friends, but also a way to keep memories fresh. I have a terrible memory and would never want to forget the great times in my life. So humor me as I go back in time and write up little stories that I hope one day my kids will read and cherish.

Virginia Beach

2008-08-17T13:55:00.001-07:00

On August 4th we headed out to Virginia Beach to attend the wedding of one of my bestest friends, Eryn Roles. We were invited to stay in a beach house all week and then attend the wedding on 08/08/08. It was a great week and there were lots of fun activities. One of the highlights was the Dave Mathews Band concert. It was Cora's first concert and she loved it. She rocked out all night. She may have even gotten a little "high" there was crazy smoke everywhere.

Here is a rare picture of Pete and me. This was at at the concert. Fellow wedding friends Rob-Roy and Shannon are behind us.

Here is a shot of Cora enjoying the music.

Cora loved the beach. She would sit on the shore all day and cover herself in sand. Here is a picture of her getting ready. Notice the nice huge ear plugs.

Check out how awesome curly her hair was in the humidity. It was pretty cute.

We had an awesome time and loved Virginia. It was so pretty and there was some great food. We went to a buffet and all had ridiculous amounts of crab legs. Cora did so well even though she averaged six hours of sleep a night. And if we were super lucky she took a nap. She was the biggest form of entertainment there. She met tons of new friends who wanted to adopt her. I wonder if the offers still stand when she gets an attitude and an opinion?
I'll post more picture of our week including some great shots from the wedding. We love Eryn and Gabe and are so glad they invited us out.

It's A Miracle

2008-08-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

I know I know I am posting, it's a miracle. Quite honestly I have been busy and lazy and haven't given blogging a second thought. But the other day I was thinking of all the cool things Cora is doing and I thought I should post them for keepsake later on.

Things Cora does that make her awesome
*Sleeps well after 9 a.m. everyday
*Says Walter. She also gets his treats out of the pantry and yells his name for him to come and eat.
*Learned head shoulders knees and toes. She does it all the time, however she just says "head shoes head shoes" it's super cute
*Has very in depth conversations on her iPhone and says "huh?" and fake laughs in her conversations.
*Cleans everything. If you give her any type of rag, wet wipe, or washcloth she will wipe down everything. Her room is spotless.
*Loves showers. She had graduated from the tub and loves standing in the shower.
*Dances to any sort of music. Today she busted moves to hymns in church.
*Says prayers. She knows when it's bedtime and goes into her room, sits down, and folds her arms.
*She's an awesome eater. She eats anything we give her. And when she is done she will put everything in her bowl and hand it to me.
*Dresses herself. She can put on her shoes and pants all by herself.
*Love Gretta. She has started taking Gretta with her everywhere. And she treats her like a person. She feeds her, combs her hair (fur), cleans her hands, take her on the slide. She even wanted to make sure Gretta could see out the plane window while flying this past week.

Current Obsession

2008-07-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

I am taking Mals lead and listing my current obsessions. These are things that literally keep me up at night.
Yoga-Just attended my local rec center for a yoga class. I freaking loved it. I wish it was offered more then once week. Luckily I have my second obsession.
Wii Fit- So fun. The only video games Cora will play.
Kissing Balls- So cute and fun to make.
Making my bed- I feel completely mis-placed until this is done each day.
Sweeping- I sweep my kitchen at least twice a day.
Orla Keily- A sweet friend "Bean" gave me an Orla Keily bag. I absolutely love her stuff and am indebted to Bean for passing one on.
Sewing- Or the thought of sewing. If I had a room where I could leave my sewing machine out at all times I would sew all the ideas in my head. I have heather Bailey fabric just sitting in a closet waiting to be turned into awesomeness.
Anna Maria- Her fabric and creations are so delicious (eye candy).
Cora- Need I say more.
Gardening- I started a garden and it's struggling. But I am still excited to see what comes of it.
Sweet Potatoes- I love them, prepared any way. They make amazing macaroni and cheese.
Vegas- We usually go to Vegas like once every other month but because of gas we haven't been in way too long. But we have a trip planned in September and I am excited and so looking forward to hanging out in the sleazy city.
Phil and Teds- I want one so so bad.
Softball- I miss playing on a regularly basis. So I am making a resolve to practice, get better, and play more.
Chicken Green Chile Salad or Quesadilla- So amazing and makes me happy every time I have it.
Christian Bale- Who would have thought he would go from pushin' papes to being the best Batman EVER!!!
Glasses- I am blind and need to find a good pair a frames to fit my weird face.
Attempting to be positive- I let other people bring me down. There is a certain person who brings out the worst in me. And I hate that someone like that has an effect on me. So I am trying to be positive and forget about that person and be positive more often.
Pete- He's so great and I am obsessed with being around him.

Playing in the sprinklers

2008-07-20T21:27:00.001-07:00

4O9O7571, originally uploaded by | PETE |.

Cora and I were in the backyard playing in the sprinklers and Pete grabbed the camera and got some great shots.

Photo Shoot

2008-07-20T20:49:00.001-07:00

4O9O8057, originally uploaded by | PETE |.

Pete had a studio shoot last Monday so I thought I would take advantage and get some of Cora as well. I am so glad Pete is a photographer. I would hate to take her to a studio and try the ridiculous things we did to get her to stay in place. Notice the distraction, Daddy's iPhone. Also she is following after her mom with an under-bite. I hope she doesn't have to go through the orthodontic work I had to endure.
I am excited to pick out my favorites of this shoot and hang them up. I have several frames all ready I just need to pick the pictures and get them hung. It will be our Cora wall :)

2008-07-20T20:43:00.001-07:00

4O9O8095, originally uploaded by | PETE |.

2008-07-20T20:41:00.003-07:00

4O9O8164, originally uploaded by | PETE |.

2008-07-20T20:41:00.001-07:00

4O9O8121, originally uploaded by | PETE |.

Strawberry Days

2008-06-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

My Life

2008-06-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

So I took what Megs did and added a little more. I wanted to so a mosaic that represented my life. So here it is.
1. LOST, 2. LDS SLC Temple Morning Reflection, 3. Canon Robo-Photographer, 4. Drawing Room by Anna Maria Horner, 5. _MG_7603, 6. _MG_3403, 7. I love xmas, i love Elsie..... i love la vie..., 8. Eye Booger, 9. Clovis, 10. Stripes, 11. _MG_2186, 12. superbot!, 13. _MG_8544, 14. Untitled, 15. _MG_6094, 16. _MG_0683

Copying Megs

2008-06-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

Thankful Thursday

2008-06-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

Thursday I was thankful for...

1.Cora - She is amazing. I watched my brother's kids on Thursday night, sleeping at their house in Saratoga Springs. Since Cora hasn't spent many nights away from her own bed she didn't do so well in the Pack n' play. She eventually fell to sleep after crying for 15 minutes. But she woke up about an hour later. So I decided to put her in the bed with me and watch So You Think You Can Dance. She was so tired but was fighting sleep while we watched the show. She spent the next hour or so snuggling on every inch of the bed, including me. Which was awesome cause she rarely just chills and snuggles with me unless she is really really sick. She also clapped at the end of each dance piece. She has a very heightened sense for fine art :) She eventually fell to sleep at the foot of the bed. So I drug her back to me and got her under the covers.

Even though I got no sleep that night I couldn't have asked for anything better then to snuggle with Cora and take in that small moment of realizing how much love a mom can have.

2. Cool Guys - Watching them be cool is so comical. I know this is kind of a negative appreciation but I find small joy in watching cool guys make fools of themselves. I was waiting outside of Costco for Pete when a huge Hummer pulled into a parking stall. Well when the driver made his exit and tried to get out of the car I had to laugh. I say try because he had done a crappy parking job and was too close to a tree. Then as he stepped out he tripped on the step-up bar falling to his knees. I wouldn't have laughed but he was cool, hat crooked, big shirt, bling, and baggy shorts so I figured it was ok to get a chuckle out of it. He of course recovered quickly and managed to walk into Costco still looking... well, cool.

3. Strawberry Days- Every town has their special Summer celebration and PG has Strawberry Days. I won't go into detail but I love it. And what makes it so great is that we live on the parade route so it make that much more fun.

Cora's Toys

2008-06-16T10:26:00.001-07:00

I find it hilarious what Cora plays with. She grabs the most peculiar things and they entertain her for hours. Today's toy of choice was one of Dad's extension cords. She draped it around her neck and tried for ever to connect the two ends. Then she walked around the house with it dragging and thought it was so cool.
She has also started a new language. She walks around the house talking so so so so much. But nothing even remotely resembles words. I LOVE IT. Hopefully I can get a recording of it.

Thankful Thursday

2008-06-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

This week I haven't been very "Thankful" so I think I will throw in a few extra things to make me recognize my blessings.
Today I am thankful for.....
1. Shoes - Cora loves shoes and they keep her entertained for hours. She tries on every pair of her shoes and has now moved on to putting on her socks.
2. Early Rising - I have been rising a little earlier then usual and I love it. I feel I accomplish so much more in the day and I feel better.
3. Coach Gilchrist - He was my high school softball coach and I love him. He was like a dad to me through high school and always made me a better person. He magically appeared in one of our neighborhoods and made the ward that much better.
4. Tuesdays - I clean a house on Tuesdays and I LOVE IT. It's a lot of work but it's so great to come home with a check and an appreciation for a smaller home :)

UnThankful Wednesday

2008-06-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

My awesome mom watched Cora last night so Pete and I could go to a Movie. We have wanted to see Iron Man for a really long time but just couldn't get things lined up. So we went and ate at Bajio and then headed to the theaters.
We have several movie tickets from rewards at Nu Skin. So while we were in line we decided it would be fun to give someone in line a pair of tickets. There weren't any couples in line. But we spotted a couple girls what looked like they would appreciate the tickets. So we handed them the tickets. Well they didn't even care, all they did was look at each other weird, take the tickets, and then left. Well thanks for saying thanks girls. Hope you don't enjoy your free movie.

New Pics

2008-06-02T07:29:00.001-07:00

I realize I haven't put up pictures of Cora for a long time. I say this cause I assume no one really cares about much else :) So here are a few of my favorite pics from recent weeks.

Make-Up Monday of Thankful Thursday

2008-06-02T07:16:00.001-07:00

I have missed a few Thankful Thursdays so I am doing a makeup post on this Monday. Make-up Monday!!!
Today I am thankful for....
1. Summer Mornings- I love and smell and feel of a summer morning.
2. Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner- This is the master cleaner. But it has to be the original. This product makes me so happy. It leaves everything clean and sparkling. It works on toilets, sinks, shower doors, windows, and anything that has tough water spots. In fact I will be cleaning all my windows this week with my trusty Lysol.
3. Little Brothers - Chad and Kade are the cutest uncles to Cora. Whenever Cora is bored at home or with Pete and I, I head up to my parents house and let Chad and Kade do their thing. They are so cute with her and always make her so so so happy.

Thankful Thursday

2008-05-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

Thankful was a little late this week, I hope you will all forgive him (does that gender suite this day of the week?)

Thankful Thursday
Yesterday I was thankful for...
1. Husbands- This week Pete did so many great things for me, even though I have been awnry. This week Pete brought me a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a cute card. Flowers from Pete are few, but when he does give them to me I know it's something special. And a written note from him is better then anything in the world. I would rather have that than jewelry any day.
He also bought and installed a new kitchen faucet for me. Our was having a hard time staying on and it was so frustrating to keep having to turn it on. This one is so pretty I love it.

2. Soda- I hate that I love a cold Dr. Pepper or any Diet Cola, but I do. I don't drink them regularly or to I need an IV of them. But I just love that little luxury of getting one when I am out to eat or walking through Costco. I get giddy after taking a big sip and everything seems a little brighter.

3. Music- Specifically Led Zeppelin. I clean a house on Tuesday mornings, early. And nothing makes me happier, or the workload of 5,000+ dirty square feet seems smaller then a good song on my drive there. The other day I was getting frustrated because I had scanned through what felt like 100 songs and then complete bliss. Led Zeppelin's Heartbreaker came on and then Black Dog, and then a song from The Sounds. It was the best drive ever. I wish everyone had that little piece of happiness each day they drive into work.

Here's an idea

2008-04-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

So today while Pete and I were driving in SLC we saw this guy pulling a Radio Flyer with what I assume all his belongings, including a cute little doggie. As he was walking down a nice straight smooth sidewalk he couldn't take two steps without tripping. He also kept getting stuck as his wagon would fall off the sidewalk. This was sad and comical at the same time. He was " wicked sloshed" so it was hilarious to watch. But at the same time I felt bad for his stupidity.
Being my naive self I asked Pete, "where does he get his booze? Do people at the State Liquor Store honestly sell to people that drunk?" "Of course they do it's money" Pete says. Then I went on to say that it's ridiculous that they would let someone out the door in his condition with more alcohol. Then I said here's an idea put a breathalyser behind the counter. If they don't pass then they can't buy anymore. Or an even better idea they get detained for a night :) Yeah right... This would never happen in a world where a guy who just spent time in jail for killing a woman while intoxicated got another DUI the month he got out. Only to be bailed out and drink once again.

Thankful Thursday

2008-04-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for...
Newborns- I absolutely love newborns. I love their smell, the light in their eyes, their cries, absolutely everything about them. On Wednesday our good friends Cortney and Amy had an amazingly beautiful little boy, William. He is a doll. I am thankful that everything went well with the deliver and they have the joy of a new baby in the house.

Grandma Jo- Today I was able to go up and visit my Grandma Jo. She is such a delightful person to be around. She is always funny and so quick witted. She gave Cora awesome presents and we were able to have a great time together. I am thankful for her and raising my dad as a single mom. I am also thankful she married Virg. He is such a great Grandpa.

Sue Peterson- Sue is a huge influence in my life. She is such an amazing person. I am grateful for her testimony of the gospel and her willingness to help mine along. She has raised 6 amazing daughters and put up with Jack. It's a miracle she's not in an institution.

Amy Butler and Heather Bailey

2008-04-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

I have received a lot of comments asking where I got the good deal on the above mentioned fabric. Her blog is here and her Etsy store is here. She was having a 2 day sale when I snagged my good deals. But I am sure she'll do it again.
Also you can check out Broadbent's in Lehi. They have Amy Butler fabric for a pretty good price.

I want to share a wonderful person I found on Etsy. Her name is Tammy and she has made me some awesome personalized Sterling Silver jewelry pieces. I just had her make my mom a bracelet with all her grandkids names on it and it turned out perfect. She is so great and can make anything you want or need.

Tagged By My Favorite Party Planner

2008-04-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. My dreams come true, honest. I don't dream much but when I do most of them actually happen. They turn into Deja vu. They are very common place thing i.e; walking in a room, having a conversation with someone, things like that. The best dream I had that came true was holding a baby girl in the hospital.

2. I can't memorize for the life of me. In my H.S Anatomy class I studies the bones of the body for hours and hours. When test time came I forgot everything and cried through the whole test. But I can remember and relate movie and TV quotes to everything and anything in life. Specifically The Office and Friends situations.

3. I have never done a pull-up, ever. For some reason I can't figure out how to do one, funny I know, but I can do one-handed push-ups with ease.

4. I want lots of kids. 6 would be ideal.

5. I am super indecisive. But when I know what I want, I know what I want.

6. I want to be on a reality show so bad. I have filled out my application for Survivor and The Amazing Race. Someday I will turn them in.

7. My biggest fear is having crooked teeth.

I tag; Megan, Elise, Abby, New Momma Mcallister, Amber, Brandy, and Jackie

Thankful Thursday

2008-04-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for;
Modern Medicine- Cora got tubes in her ears this week and I am so grateful. From what we can tell she had a constant ear infection for over 2 months. We tried every antibiotic and nothing worked. So when we saw the ENT and she said Cora was the perfect candidate for tubes I was thrilled. I didn't want Cora to have to suffer any more, nor did I want any permanent damage to her ears. I am glad we did it when we did cause the Doc said her right ear was terrible and there was already scar tissue building up on her ear drum. Hopefully this will help her get back to her normal self and be able to enjoy hearing again :)

Apollo Burger- Yesterday was the first time since Cora has been born that I have sat down and eaten a meal by myself. JJ had let me use his car while he and Pete were out for "business meeting." I took advantage and ran some errands while Cora was down for her nap. I trusted Walter to watch over her, just kidding. Our awesome neighbor girls are on spring break and kept an eye on her.
After I was done getting groceries and searching for random items I headed towards home. Halfway there it dawned on me that I still had about thirty minutes or so before Cora would wake up. So I flipped a "UE" and made my way to Apollo Burger. I was so excited to sit and eat an amazing hamburger with fatty fries and a icy Dr. Pepper all while doing nothing else. I actually had to wait for my fries to cool down. It was superb.

Fabric- I found a lady on Etsy who was selling fabric for $7 a yard. She carries Heather Bailey, Amy Butler, and a few other designers stuff that I love. So I got a little carried away and purchased some to make blankets, and nothingness with. If I had a million dollars to waste I would spend it all on fabric and paper, not to make anything with, but just to look at. After I get work things settled down I am hoping to get out my sewing machine and sew non stop for days and get caught up on all my sewing projects.
The thing I am most excited about it my Heather Bailey fabric. I am hoping to make a dress like this for Cora. If I actually make anything with this adorable fabric I will put up some pics.

A Better Blogger

2008-04-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

I have decided it's time to become a better blogger. I have always felt that in order to post a blog I had to have a story and a picture to go with it. However one of my favorite bloggers, Whitney, does such a good job of keeping me entertained by everything from her hilarious little boy, events, stories, and nonsense. So I am taking her example and posting simply my thoughts or random tidbits. In order to get my creative juices flowing each Thursday I will post a "Thankful Thinking" post. I find myself being negative every once in awhile so instead of my original thought of "Things That Must Go" Thursday post I will be positive and post happy thoughts.
Doing this, I hope, will help me be a better writer. I have always had wishful thoughts of being a good writer. Of course it's wishful and I have absolutely no desire to be like my crazy friends that get English degrees. But I simply want to write well and be able to express my thoughts. So here I go, bettering myself and my blog.

California

2008-03-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

We spent last week in Northern California for a wedding and a funeral. Talk about an emotional weekend. It was a very very good week though. And it made me want to live in California even more. We flew into Oakland and spent Tuesday night and Wednesday day in Pleasanton with our good friends JT and Becky Thomas. They lost their sweet little girl Adele Lynn to a terrible virus after 72 days. We attended the funeral on Wednesday and felt the sweet spirit of the Thomas and Proctor family.
After the funeral we decided it would be fun to surprise Pete's family and drive down to Clovis. It was a beautiful drive. Green rolling hills with goats and sheep grazing. It was amazing. We were able to pull off a few good surprises with the family and had a good time hanging out. On Thursday morning we headed off to Woodward Park and had lunch and took some great pictures. Here are just a few;

We returned back to Pleasanton on Thursday night and woke up early to spend the day in San Fransisco. It is such a cool atmosphere and is a great place for people watching. We walked along the piers and did some shopping. It was a great time and a great day.As you can see Cora was enjoying herself. And yes she is in her pajamas. When we got out of the car I realized I left her whole outfit in the dryer. I was so bummed. But I don't think she noticed :)
Saturday was spent in Sacramento for Gloriana's wedding. She was a beautiful bride and it was a perfect day. I will post pictures of those shortly.

First Egg

2008-03-25T12:41:00.001-07:00

Josephson Easter

2008-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

In the Josephson household the Annual Easter Egg Hunt is a HUGE deal. It's not just your average egg hunt. My mom decided to make the holiday appealing to all ages of her kids and grandkids and created the Hunt of all Hunts.
The lawn is covered with boxes of cereal, 6-packs of soda, bags of chips, and all sorts of candy. It's great and each year it gets better. My brother Mitch is the one that counts down the days. You know the scene on The Office where Temp starts the fire and Michael runs out knocking over the women? Well that is Mitch. He knocks over his old daughters to get to the good stuff first. This year was no different. Here is what Pete captured on camera;

I turned my head for a second to retrieve my favorite Good and Plenty's and missed exactly what happened. But I am sure Chad stole something from Mitch and the fight began.

From the look of it I would say Mitch was defeated.

You Asked For It

2008-03-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

My friend Caitlyn told me I am a terrible blogger. Well she asked for it, here's a blog;
Haa haa, I kid I kid.

ABC...Thanks Gloriana

2008-02-29T10:32:00.000-08:00

A - Attached or Single: Attached, pretty much at the hip
B - Best Friend: Very best, Pete. Too many best friends to name
C - Cake or Pie: Neither really. But if I had to choose Banana Cream Pie
D - Day of Choice: Any day but Tuesday
E - Essential Item: Wedding ring and silver bracelet. Presents from my favorite people
F - Favorite Color: Green, just come and look at my house.
G - Gummi Bears or Worms: Chocolate gummy bears and sour gummy worms
H - Hometown: Orem, Ut
I - Indulgence(s): Pedicures, hair salon visit and waxed eyebrows
J - January or July: July so many great days, 4th fireworks. 5th anniversary, and 24th ERYN'S Pioneer Day
K - Kids: Greatest thing in the world. I want 17 :)
L - Life is Incomplete Without: Cora, Pete, family, and friends
M - Marriage Date: July 5th, 2003
N - Number of Siblings. 6 of my own 5 of Pete's and countless other self proclaimed
O - Oranges or Apples: Both, but they have to be perfectly ripe and juicy
P- Phobias or Fears: Becoming overweight, people talking about me negatively, and loosing Pete (I have some insecurities, if you can't tell by my first answers.)
Q - Quote(s): "When a job is once begun never leave it till it's done. Do the labor great or small, do it well or not at all." unknown (my mom said this at least once a day to us.)
" You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again " -Regina Spektor
R - Reason to Smile: Life
S - Season: Spring
T - Tag Seven: Whitney Tidwell and Whitehead, Nicole, Sue, Kristin, Meghan, and Aubrey
U - Unknown Fact About Me: I dream of being a dancer
V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: Uh, not sure how to answer that. I love meat that is provided to us by animals who were put here to help us survive.
W - Worst Habit: Eating choices and negativity
X - X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasound, it would mean I was pregnant again!!
Y - Your Favorite Food: Right now, spaghetti and Chicken Green Chili Salad
Z - Zodiac: Aquarius

Spilled Milk

2008-02-24T21:24:00.001-08:00

I know you aren't supposed to cry over spilled milk but can you cry over spilled Cheerios? If I forget to put up the diaper bag Cora always manages to find her container of Cheerios and spill them all over her room. Luckily I have a Dyson that I love to vacuum with. Doesn't Cora seem satisfied with her hard work?

Safety 101

2008-02-24T21:18:00.001-08:00

It would be safe to say leaving a ladder in a baby's room is a safety hazard. Well here at the Stott house we like to live on the edge. We feel in gives Cora the chance to practice good decision making. Luckily this time she only got to the first rung. Next time we hope she remembers the good feeling she had from making the right choice.

Bad Grandma Sue

2008-02-24T21:10:00.001-08:00

This is what Cora looks like after a visit to Grandma Sue's house. Haley had made a great chocolate dessert and we all enjoyed some. However Cora was not supposed to enjoy. But I guess grandmas feel they can do whatever they want. Luckily we love Grandma Sue.

A sign you are missing something as a Mother.

2008-02-24T20:53:00.001-08:00

Cora hasn't been feeling very well for the last few days. On Wednesday we had her all dressed up in the new sweatshirt Pete bought for her from California. As we were packing up to head out the door she threw up. Twice. It was really sad but we thought it was just because she choked on the pretzel we had given her earlier. But when she threw up in the aisles at Target and then again at our friends Jen and Jonathan we realized it was something more.

We took her home and I did my best to take care of her. But as you can I see I missed something. On Thursday she was in her room playing when it was silent for awhile. I assumed she was into something so I went to go check on her and this is what I found. She had dumped out her laundry pail and found something to snuggle with, her dirty towel. Obviously I missed the signs that she was completely pooped.

I Miss You Today

2008-02-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

This is for Pete. Others may enjoy if they would like.

Happy Valentines Day

So Exciting........

2008-02-10T23:58:00.000-08:00

How cute are these shoes? And yes they are squeakers. They making walking so much fun for your little ones and make it so you know exactly where they are at.
So what is so exciting? I am going to have an open house in March. I will have them on hand so you can take them home that day. And the prices, cheap cheap cheap. They will be half of what they go for at the mall. More details coming soon.

Inspiring

2008-02-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

With the passing of President Hinckley it has been comforting and uplifting to see so many people touched by him and his Presidency. Simply the sound of his voice has brought the spirit into my heart and brought me to tears. I found the above video on my friends blog and it brought a lot of emotions and tears to me today. It made me realize how little I am doing to better myself and how far I have to go to be like him. So today I am making a 2 goals that I think we help me get to where I aspire to be.

Goal #1 - Enlist and finish the Hinckley Challenge. I have a confession and it's not a great one. I have never completed the Book Of Mormon. This is embarrassing and sad to say I claim to have a testimony of it yet I haven't fully come to know it. So this is my goal. To finish the Book of Mormon by May 10th.

Goal #2 - Attend the Temple. I have a goal to make up for all the months lost while having an infant and excuses to not go to the temple. I will attend the temple 6 times in the month of February. I love the Temple and the feeling of peace. I love sitting with Pete in silence and feeling the spirit of the Temple. And I am grateful for 3 temples within 30 minutes.

Staying Strong

2008-02-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

Do you see what stares me in the face everytime I open the pantry? Yes, a perfect portion cup of Oreos. This used to be a weekly/nightly treat. And I am proud to report I have not cracked. Not even a little. Surprisingly I haven't even been tempted. TAKE THAT JUSTIN!

Hopes and Wishes

2008-02-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

I have been put in charge of organizing a 25 year wedding anniversary. Everything from the get-a-way to the present. This has led me to some amazing eye candy and has got me adding to my wish list. I thought I would help those of you wanting to get me a gift just for being me :)

This is a cute site that you can make personalized charms and pendants. I would love this little charm. But a C, of course. Add a little picture with that C and I am in heaven.

As you can see I want a necklace with sentimental charms. This way i can add those charms to my charm bracelet later on. This necklace came from Hella Good Products take a gander they have some very very cute things.

As I mentioned before I have a charm bracelet. This is actually my second as my first fell off in the halls of Canyon View Junior High (bad 3 years.) My current bracelet has a collection of charms from vacations, milestones in my life, and charms that were peculiar that I just had to have. Another wish is to have all of them charms soldered and secured onto my bracelet so that I have no fear of loosing them and I can wear it more.

I would love love a new jacket. I have been wearing a mean size medium North Face knock-off from China for last last 2 years. While it was great when I was large-with-child it's just not cutting it now. I feel like stay-puff.

My last wish I leave you with is a makeover. I want to copy Rachel Murray
and get a whole new look. As I have ponder this and as you all know have begged for a chop chop of my hair I have come to my senses. I don't want a chop chop I just want a change. So all I wish for is a good color and a pedicure. Then I can feel like a new woman.

"I don't have to buy it. I just want to taste it."

2008-01-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

Watch &amp;lt;a href="http://www.fanpop.com/spots/the-office/videos/17656"&amp;gt;Michael Scott: Goodbye My Lover&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; on &amp;lt;a href="http://www.fanpop.com/"&amp;gt;Fanpop&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

This is what Michael says about purchasing the song, "Goodbye My Lover" by James Blunt. And this is how I feel. I have decided to say goodbye to a very special and dear friend for one year.That's right I have made a promise with myself to go without my favorite indulgence for one year. You may ask how this came about. I have always known I had a problem with my rate of consumption of the before mentioned, but while in California I realized it must stop. Brooke and Dave were generous enough to let us stay at their house for almost 2 weeks. The first day we were there we journeyed to Costco to get food for the week. Brooke picked up a BOX of Oreo s for a wonderful Oreo truffle that our sister-in-law makes and immediately Pete said, "Don't let Marie eat all of those." Well he wasn't completely off in saying that. I managed to polish off a total of 4 sleeves all by myself. Yeap 4. And that was in a matter of 3 days. If a camera crew was to follow me around and allow others to see what I eat, well, let's just say, I would not have any friends.
So that is what brought me to this crazy commitment. I first staged the scenario to Pete and he just laughed. I even stated my terms that if I did indeed go an entire year without Oreo s he would have to go back to school or I could go to Beauty School. He has so little faith in me that he agreed to this. So folks there you have it, no Oreo s for Marie and Pete gets a "real" education.

Also For Sale $475

2008-01-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

If any of you have seen our house you know we don't have room for this table. Which is sad cause we love it. But we need to downsize.This is a Rubberwood table. It sits 6 adults comfortably. It has 4 chairs with upholstered pads. And one bench. It's been in storage most of it's life and is in great condition. I will also give the 2 extra pads I have for the chairs. If you have any questions please let me know.

"Mommy What Is This Itty Bitty Thing?"

2008-01-04T21:55:00.001-08:00

I am sure this is what Cora was thinking when we made a stop in Reno to visit The Romo's. The Romo's consist of Father Mark, Mother Megan, and child Sophie (a Yorkie.) Cora quite enjoyed Sophie and was baffled at her size. And Megan enjoyed Walter and was baffled at the size of his waste :(
Before we left we were able to get a few pictures of Sophie hiding from Cora and Walter ignoring Sophie. It was a fun over-niter and the Romo's were very accommodating. They even had a bed for Cora. Thank You!!

Cora and Gretta

2008-01-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

As you can remember Gretta is the monkey Cora got while on her first visit to Clovis. Well this monkey has proved to be her best friend. She isn't quite aware of needing it all the time. But when she hears the ohoh haha of Gretta she starts kicking her legs and mimicking the sound. And as soon as she sees it she lunges and tackles it. Gretta has been a great investment.

First Try

2008-01-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

I decided to try and make caramel apples for our neighbors since these are one of my very favorite treats. It all started out great. I found caramels that were little pellets so I didn't have to unwrap anything. And Pete picked up some great Granny Smith apples at Costco.

But the trouble started when I tried to cover the apples with a coat of white chocolate. First I tried with almost bark, didn't work, then I tried real white chocolate. It was a little too thick so I added milk, well as I found out later NOT A GOOD IDEA!
I guess I was successful in giving my neighbors caramel apples. Just not the masterpieces I had hoped for.

Medicine Cabinets for Sale

2008-01-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

I have 2 white medicine cabinets for sale $50 for each or buy both for $90. They are similar to Restoration Hardware or Pottery Barn. One is assembled and the other is still in the box. don't have the exact dimensions but they are about 2.5 feet tall and 2 ft wide.

I Know I Know!

2007-12-28T16:18:00.001-08:00

I have gotten several comments on how I am boring everyone with my blog. Well I am sorry. I am currently without a camera so I don't have pictures to make an interesting post. So to all of you I apologize that I bore you.
Another post will be coming soon.

A Little Post About My Favorite Person

2007-12-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

I will give you 5 hints for you to guess who my favorite person is;
1. Always helping other people
2. Favorite things start with an E
3. Most thoughtful person I know
4. Beautiful eyes
5. Name is commonly preceded by "Pirate"

You guessed it, it's my cute Hubby, Jefe.
Today I was sitting on the computer doing some work and when he came home from work he had brought me a treat. A soda and a rice krispie treat. He knows I love these things and grabbed some for me before he left work. He is always doing cute thoughtful things like that. There has been several times where he will come home and have a surprise for me. Or I will come home to an amazing change in our house to which he spent hours doing.
There have been 2 events in particular that make him the best husband ever. In February of 2006 for my birthday Pete flew in my best friend from Virginia and surprised me. Not only had he surprised me with her he had completely put together our guest bedroom for her to stay in. And I mean completely. He had to bring in the queen mattress, bed frame, and head and foot board from the storage. Wash sheets and put up blinds. It was the most amazing surprise.

And then for this last birthday he pulled off an even more amazing stunt. He convinced me to hold off on buying our baby furniture so long that I was then told it was back ordered and wouldn't be available until 2 days before the baby was to be born. i was devastated. Little did I know it was already ordered and complete ready to pick up. Then while we were in Midway for work he arranged for my sister-in-law and her mom to come and assemble and decorate the nursery. He also had new carpet laid and the room painted (thanks Sue and Tadd.) So when I came home on my birthday this is what I came home to.
All of this and I had no idea. Pete is the best at surprises and keeping secrets.

I love him so much and I am so lucky to be married to him. He will bless my life and our children's for eternity. If any of you don't know Pete you need to. You are missing out on one of the greatest friendships you will ever have.
here are a few pictures to help you love him even more, for those of you who do know him.

Who Would Have Thought

2007-12-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

So the other day I had put my hair up in curlers and we took off up North. When we got to our location and I took out my curlers I discovered i didn't have anything to pull my bangs back with. So I grabbed a twist tie from a bag and used that. It was great....And now look what one of my favorite "eye candy" designers made.
Trash Ties
I have just briefly looked over the site but I am so excited to get some and try them out. They just might be the thing that will save me from CHOPPING my hair.

Entertainment on 200 South

2007-12-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

We live on a fairly busy street. So it's not uncommon to have our house lit up with emergency crew lights. Most often it's someone getting pulled over. One night or morning I should say a girl was pulled over right in front of our house. She was put in handcuffs and her car searched. From what we could tell the officers pulled out bags of drugs and paraphernalia. It was very entertaining to watch.
The other day while I was walking out to the garbage I saw a row of cop cars lining our street. So I peeked around the corner of our house to see what was going on. They were giving a guy a sobriety test. Haa ha it was comical to watch. From what I can tell he didn't pass the test. Then they pulled out the breathalyser and after he took that they put him in the back of one of the cars. I am guessing he was drunk :)
The best part was when they started searching his car. I could quite tell but I counted 3 open beer bottles that the officer pulled out. In addition to all the cases of beer they recovered. I tried to get as many pictures as I could but I couldn't quite get the zoom I wanted. My neighbor was also enjoying the show and she said they pulled out guns as well. I am guessing that is what the officer was pulling out of the camo bag.
I knew this was blog material and I hope you all enjoyed it was much as I did.

Super Deliquent Weigh-In

2007-12-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

This should be post dated for Wednesday November 28th. I weighed in at 141. I have become sloppy on my regimen but I am hoping to pick it back up and be strong for the next two weeks.

Thanksgiving Josephson Style

2007-11-25T17:47:00.001-08:00

Here in Utah the Josephson's like to mix things up a little bit. We were having dinner at my brother Blake's house in Saratoga Springs. I woke up to a call from him Thursday morning telling us to come up early and bring something BIG to blow up. Big as in a dishwasher or an RV. Well we didn't have anything BIG so we just brought ourselves and knew Blake would come up with something.
While dinner (really lunch) was cooking a few of us ventured about 3 miles from Blake and Jer's house up to a hill where millions of shotgun shells, spent bullets, and carnage of pumpkins, clay discs, and beer bottles covered the ground. Blake and Pete mixed a few powders together, duct taped them to buckets of paint, 5 gallon buckets of paint. And well it made for some great Thanksgiving fun.
I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

"No, Thanks Mom. I Can Get My Own Toys"

2007-11-25T17:37:00.000-08:00

Cora had so many little trickets and random toys that I bought a nice little net from IKEA for her to store her things in. It's been really nice and keeps her room looking clean. Little did I know that it would make her so independent. Cora can keep her self entertained for hours in her crib simply because she gets her own toys out.
Here she is reaching in.

Trying to fit her head in.

Caught!!!

At times she can even be found swinging from the net. One day I will come in to see a large piece of plaster missing from the ceiling and Cora underneath it, I am sure.

Clovis Trip (way over-due)

2007-11-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

All three of us (Pete, Cora, and myself) drove to Vegas at the beginning of November and from there went to our separate ways. Cora and I fly to Clovis and Pete drove down to Temecula to pack up the rest of his dad's house.
The flight for Cora and I was super cheap so we thought it would be a fun little trip to take and see the new baby Braddock Castle, Brooke and Dave's little boy. While there we did a lot of fun (window) shopping and had yummy food. Before we had left for Clovis Cora started getting a little runny nose. I thought it was from the little boy that coughed on her in church while in Vegas, but it was not. Turns out it was from her new little teeth, 2 on the bottom. Because she had to endure this painful promise and she had done so many "firsts" on this trip I thought we needed to commemorate it with a toy.
So we bought Gretta, The Monkey. She loves Gretta and smiles every time Gretta makes her monkey sounds. This is the ONLY toy I have bought for Cora and I think it was a good investment.
Thanks for everyone who was so accommodating to Cora and I. We love you and will see you back in Clovis on the 20th.

Thankful November

2007-11-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

Monday November 19, 2007
I am thankful for
1. A lot of work
2. Warm house
3. Healthy body

Tuesday November 20, 2007
1. A good dad for Cora
2. Good car
3. A humble husband

Wednesday November 21, 2007
1. Gap gift cards
2. Conference Talks
3. Warm sheets

Thursday November 22, 2007
1. Wonderful family
2. Good food
3. Explosives

Friday November 23, 2007
1. Not shopping on Black Friday
2. My Vacuum
3. My Bissell cleaner

Saturday November 24, 2007
1. New phone
2. Nice girl at Naartjie
3. Bath and Body works scents

Sunday November 25, 2007
1. Great ward
2. Good neighbors
3. Tri-tip

Thankful November

2007-11-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

Wednesday November 14, 2007
I am thankful for
1. My little brother Chad, Happy 16th Birthday
2. Family
3. Un-Cooked tortillas

Thursday November 15, 2007
I am thankful for
1. Unorganized offices that I get to organize
2. The UTA
3. Cute nephews

Friday November 16, 2007
I am thankful for
1. Nathan Ricks
2. Surprise checks in the mail
3. Well behaved families to take pictures of

Saturday November 17, 2007
I am thankful for
1. My mother's orange rolls
2. Rakes
3. Whitney Davis, my loyal party attender

Sunday November 18, 2007
1. The end of nursery
2. Experimental dinners
3. Good missionary talks

Thankful November

2007-11-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

Monday November 12, 2007

I am thankful for...

1. My mom

2. Computers

3. Beautiful fabric to look at

Tuesday November 13, 2007

I am thankful for...

1. The opportunity to work

2. Great neighbors

3. Walter, the good dog

Thankful November

2007-11-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

Saturday November 10, 2007
I am thankful for...
1. Target, it never gets old
2. The Harrison's
3. Cora's Monkey Gretta (pictures coming soon)

Sunday November 11, 2007
I am thankful for...
1. Grandma Patty's recovery
2. A husband that always gets us home safe
3. Jacob Bryant for leaving our house cleaner then when we left

2007-11-09T14:52:00.001-08:00

2007-11-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

2 Weeks Worth of Wiegh-ins

2007-11-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Well last week I didn't post my weigh-in, it was 144. And then Halloween did me in and this week I weighed in at somewhere between 144 and 143. The non-digital scale was very hard to read :)

Thankful November

2007-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Tuesday November 6, 2007
I am thankful for
1. Molly and Eric's hospitality
2. A home to go to after a long day
3. Sleep

Wednesday November 7, 2007
I am thankful for
1. Cora's new little teeth
2. Infant pain reliever
3. Beautiful Clovis, CA

Thursday November 8, 2007
1. Promptings of the spirit
2. Eric Paul Keeslar--the most amazing brother-in-law
3. My ability to handle stressful situations (thanks mom.)

Friday November 8, 2007
I am thankful for
1. Seeing Peter again
2. Enjoying Vegas, but knowing I don't have to stay here
3. Pete's assured safety at NuSkin.

Thankful November (Inspired by Sue)

2007-11-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite pseudo moms, Sue inspired me to list something I am grateful for each day through November. I am starting a little late, but as always better late than never.

Sunday November 4, 2007

I am thankful for...

1. A healthy little girl

2. The same church everywhere in the world, even Las Vegas

3. Having dad back

Monday November 5, 2007

I am thankful for...

1. Thousands of toys at Cora's disposal

2. Grateful those toys aren't at our house

3. Allegiant Airlines, $29 to Clovis

Cora's 1st Halloween

2007-11-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

We took Cora to Nuskin's annual Halloween Party. She had a great time venturing through her first haunted cubicle aisle, meeting friends and eating the infamous caramel apple.

I thought the backside of her was so funny. She looked like a peacock.

Here she is with Emily, Jane, and Sandy from my old department. They were disco divas. There was a strobe light and everything.

2K Lounge

2007-11-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

Our friend and co-worker at Nuskin has a cute little office that she calls the 2K lounge. 2K stands for Kristen Knight. Cora, dressed up in her costume fit right in.
Here she is sitting in the 2k lounge lounge chairs exclusively from IKEA

Only Fair

2007-10-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

I thought it was only fair that I post pictures of my Halloween Pasts.

Pink witch? Not sure what that is about. I remember that thing I am wearing is a one piece leotard. I loved it and wore it all the time. Under shorts in the winter, under skirts. I had mad style skills.

My version of a sexy cowgirl.

Superwoman, obviously I was freakishly strong as a young girl.

Seriously, how original. I am sure Mitch, back behind me, was a BYU football player too.

25 Facts About Pete and Marie

2007-10-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

1. Our favorite movie is Last of The Mohican's (this is where Cora got her name.)
2. Our favorite band is Led Zeppelin.
3. Pete is a technical genius.
4. Marie loves the IDEA of projects. But once started has a hard time finishing them (the red desk.)
5. Pete was Student Body President more than once.
6. Marie ran for student council in Elementary school but was embarrassed by the skit her dad put together. Let's just say Energizer Bunny. Needless to say that age of kids didn't understand the acronym and she wasn't elected.
7. Pete is the 5th child of 6.
8. Marie is the middle of 7.
9. Marie wants a big family (6) Pete is balking at the idea.
10. Pete has done the dishes and cooked just as much or more than Marie.
11. Marie picks up Pete clothes every night (he's not completely perfect, but almost.)
12. We both love our little house but wish we had a garage.
13. Pete played volleyball as a setter for his high school. He wishes he was 3 inches taller so he could have played college.
14. Marie played softball as a catcher in high school and loved it. She wishes she could still play.
15. Pete is the best man I know at mowing a lawn. It's always beautiful.
16. Marie is good at vacuuming with her Dyson that she got for Christmas.
17. Pete is a very good cook.
18. Marie is not allowed to make Macaroni.
19. Pete hates school.
20. Marie loves school and wishes she could get her teaching degree and her cosmetology license.
21. Pete loves Marie's hair long.
22. Marie loves Pete with no hair.
23. We both want to live in Clovis.
24. We both watch too much TV (dang the DVR.)
25. We both love our little girl and Walter (sometimes.)

5 Things for Cora (Inspired by Megs)

2007-10-30T10:51:00.001-07:00

5 Things I Want Cora to Know:

1. Be nice. Learn from your Auntie Brooke--she's a pro.

2. Have confidence in yourself. Know that you can do anything.

3. Surround yourself with love, brightly colored paper, good food, family, and the Gospel.

4. Never stop smiling. Life is too short to not look for the good in everything.

5. I love you. You will never know how much until you have a child of your own.

PS (from your dad)
Moderation in all things.
Small dogs (and popped collars and sideways hats and other trendy things) really aren't that cool.
Use your blinker.

If you can't tell these things from Pete are currently things that bug him. I am sure ifhe was dying tomorrow he would say something else to Cora.

Beware of Falling Branches

2007-10-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there were 2 beautiful walnut trees in our backyard. But one died and it is now sprouting gross mushrooms. We have discussed several times about what to do with it. But even dead it's very very cute. It has a certain charm about it.
However last night it sealed it's fate. It's going to the chipper

And if you look closer you will see Cora's jumpin' jack toy is under the rubble.

And yes she was in it and yes the branch fell on her. But Cora came out on top. She is a survivor.

Again Somewhere In Between

2007-10-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

I think I should start having Mondays be my weigh-in day. This Monday I weighed in at 142 and then when I weighed in on Wednesday morning I was at 144, hmmm. And then Wednesday night after a meal at Red Robin I was 147, haa haa so we won't count that one. Maybe I'll say somewhere in the middle 143, that sounds good.

Nachoooo

2007-10-26T08:56:00.001-07:00

Every year my sister-in-law creates the most amazing costumes for her little kids. Well this year is no different. I present Parks as Nacho Libre.

This little boy is the funniest kid you will ever meet. He loves Spiderman and Jack Black as Mr. Schneebly and of course as Nacho. He is so fun to talk to because he has the craziest imagination. If you ever hear us refer to Cora as Paprika it's because of Parks. After she was born my brother Blake asked him what we should name her and he said Paprika. And for a while we told him that is what we named her so he still calls her that. It's so cute. Side note Parks is the little bother to Fischer who was featured in a previous post.

Jumpin' Jack Flash

2007-10-23T22:33:00.001-07:00

Check out this video of Cora in her new toy. Watch closely for her mad face and listen for her battle cry.

The Peter Of Halloweens Past

2007-10-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Pete has always been one to take advantage of the fun costume contest that Nu Skin holds every year. Here are just a few of his costumes from the past years.

Here he is as Mr. Clean.

I helped with this one. We had just started dating a little less then a week before. So it was a big step when he asked to borrow my jewelry and fairy wings. Good thing he didn't ask to borrow my tights. We went to Walmart for those.

My all time favorite. Dora. I am so sad we didn't get better pictures. He had everything right, even down to Boots hanging out of her backpack backpack.

We are all very excited to see what he will come up with next.

Somewhere In Between

2007-10-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well I am now somewhere between 144 and 145. I weighed myself on Monday and I was at 144. Then when I weighed in on Wednesday I was 145. Which is weird cause I ate really well between the 2 weigh ins and worked out. But either is fine with me.

We took Cora's six month pictures on Sunday. They didn't turn out as expected. She has been a little fussy lately so she wasn't very excited about the flashing lights and all the people dancing around trying to make her smile. We still managed to get a few good ones. I will post them shortly.

Dang The No-Bake and Shmallow Corn

2007-10-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

So I weighed in at 146 today, bummer. I let the success go to my head. However I am feeling a lot more tone this week. I started doing the "Core Secrets Ab Assault" and it's a pretty good stomach workout.
And the reasoning for my title, I made 2 batches of no-bake cookies this week. Only half batches and I only ate half of the half. But I am sure that's a good 700 calories. So no more no-bake cookies, I must resist.
A little side-note. I learned this week from my friend Jake that the Great Wall of Chocolate at PF Chang's has a whopping 2,300 calories per slice. Gad zooks. We both admitted that we could eat a whole piece no problem. That's a scary thought.
I am going to try and do a mid-week weigh-in and see if I can get back down to 145. Looks like shakes and cereal only, for the rest of the week.