Christmas Card Time!

As you may or may not know, the Hale Family Christmas Card came from Shutterfly last year. This year I figured we would do another Christmas card, for no other reason than I suppose that's what people do. (Actually, nobody in my family but we won't count that!) Since we liked how our card turned out last year we thought we might as well use Shutterfly again this year. Not to mention they are affordable. In fact, Shutterfly is offering 20% off all holiday cards right now!!

I'm having trouble narrowing down my favorites for this year. I don't want anything that looks like traditional Christmas- I'm over  the standard red and green right now- but there are too many to choose from! Here are the cards that made my short list from both the Christmas Card category and the Holiday Card category: (I provided images for only 3...the rest of the short list is below. All images came from and can be found on Shutterfly.com)

Fa la la card

Mod Ornament card

Snowflake Rainbow

1. Fa LaLa Christmas Card
2. Air Mail Wishes
3. Kaleidoscope Stars Christmas Card
4. Mod Ornaments
5. Retro Love Holiday Card
6. Warm Wishes Christmas Card
7. Joy in Color Christmas Card
8. Peace and Joy Christmas Card
9. Mod Sparkles Holiday Card
10. Snowflake Rainbow Christmas Card
11. Holiday Confetti Christmas Card
12. Wishes Whirl Christmas Card
13. Holiday Lights Holiday Card
14. Vintage Merry Christmas Card

Not much of a short list, I know. I've never been one to quickly decide when design is on the table. And when the "public" eye will be viewing my selection for the next year. (Who am I kidding, more like a week, maybe, after it arrives in the mail). Each design is so different, funky and fun that I can't choose! I love that they have such unique Christmas designs in out of the ordinary colors and patterns.

Do you have favorites? Which card on my "short" list would you choose? I won't tell you what I decide, or I might as well not even send the card, y'all could just envision me and Scott in place of the stock photo. So give me your feedback, and hold your horses because you won't know the answer until it arrives in a mailbox near you.

Head on over to Shutterfly and choose a card for yourself. I'll wait for it to arrive in my mailbox!

Just Call Me Mom

We were asked to house-sat for two weeks in September for three different families. We have fun house-sitting, especially when the dog/kids are so well behaved (which they were at all three locations!).

First was for Stephanie and Brent while they were at the beach. We got to stay with Brinkley (Remember her?) for a whole week! Scott had a blast playing out in the yard with her throwing the Frisbee for so long that she decided to quit.

Miss. Brinkley in the yard

After we finished with Brinkley we were asked by two families in our ward to watch their kids while they were on vacation. The only problem was that their dates overlapped. We felt bad that we wouldn't be able to watch the Foy's, because I can image it's probably hard to find people that don't have kids of their own to move to your house for a week. We told them to call us if they got desperate and the Scott and I would each go to one house if we had to.

Well...we were all lined up to watch Abby and Tim the last week of the month and it turned out their grandmother came for the beginning of the week so we were only needed from Wed-Saturday. That worked out great because Wednesday night as we were preparing for our camping trip Michelle Foy called and said they only had someone for the end of the week and still needed someone Sunday-Wed. Perfect! We didn't start until Wed with Tim and Abby!

So...that weekend we went camping, came home Sunday and headed to the Foys. We were with them until Wednesday when we then headed over to watch Tim and Abby.

All the kids were great and so on top of their schedules and so well behaved! Scott was a champ and did all the driving and dinner on Tuesday night at the Foys (3-8pm of running to various activities AND getting his hair cut!) because I had to work late that night. I got up and took everyone to Seminary at 5:30 every morning, which worked out great because I was able to continue on my schedule and not be tempted to sleep in.

The week was almost uneventful, which I am grateful for since I was in charge of others' children. We did have one mishap...on Friday night we dropped Tim and some of his friends off at the Haunted Corn Maze and at around 11 when Scott drove out to get them (he was awesome and took me home first so I could get to bed!!) only 3 of the 4 returned because one ended up with a broken nose! I guess Tim got frightened at the Haunted Corn Maze and jumped back...with his head or elbow catching the other kids nose!! He left the maze early to get mended. Glad it wasn't Tim, or that it happened at "our" house!!

Scott was great with the kids- taking Tim in between his soccer tournament games to wash the car and then to Conference and Sonic for ice cream on Saturday night and driving them to their activities because usually they had to be there before I got home from work.

We're up to doing it again!

The Craft Room

I received a sewing machine from my parents for Christmas last year, and due to lack of space and time I have not used it much since then. A couple weeks ago I decided that the spare bedroom was used for little more than piling junk and that it was actually supposed to be called the "Craft Room". I took a couple bags to Goodwill and piled up a few things to put on Craigslist and organized the remaining stuff. It is now the craft room/storage room with a corner and desk devoted to Scott's computer.

(He asked me to please note that I kicked him out of the room. I would like to counter that his laptop is still in there, on its own desk. That was the only thing he used the room for anyways.)

The new craft room

I decided that my first project needed to by my duvet cover. Both the cover and the duvet are King, but I have sworn since day one (3+ years ago) that the cover is too big. There is always tons of cover on the sides and top while the duvet is slumped in the center and bottom. Drives me NUTS.

So, I measured it and sure enough the duvet cover was HUGE....like 10" too wide on each side and 5" or so too long! I knew it! I got to work and took the cover in on both sides and the top and now it fits beautifully!

I also planned on attaching snaps so that I could adhere the cover to the duvet to prevent any further slipping. These days, most bedding comes with said snaps, but back in the day we weren't so lucky. I have my duvet in a cover and then the "decorative" cover (like how you put a cover over your pillow before the pillowcase...), so there was quite a few snaps to be sewn. I got the duvet adhered to the "protective" cover, but not yet to the decorative cover. (Which you will see isn't so decorative) I will have to trim the excess from taking the cover in before adhering snaps, so we're going to use it as is for a while to be sure it's the size I want before I cut.

Look how fluffy and full it looks now!

We used it for the first time last night. It was delightful. More sewing/craft projects to come...I also just got a needle punch from Michael's that I'm super excited about!

I Camped.

Yup folks, you read it right. I went camping. And to your surprise, I even planned it. I had a Saturday off (the 25th) so we took off Friday afternoon and headed east to Bill Hill Pond State Park.

Our Camp

We set up camp with (relatively) little trouble. We got our our new tent, found the perfect place to set it up (easier said then done apparently) and got it up in about 10-15 mins. It's designed to go up in about 60 seconds. I guess we need to practice. We built our fire and sat down at the picnic table to have a game of Skipbo before roasting hot dogs when it started to POUR! We threw the cards in the Ziploc bag I packed them in (have I mentioned I love Ziploc?) and tossed the wood and newspaper we had for our fire under the picnic table and dashed to the car. Why didn't we run to the tent, you ask? I don't know. We sat in the car for about 15 mins until the rain stopped.

Scott chopping some wood....

The rest of the evening was uneventful (unless you  count the DESPISED trips to the spider-infested bathrooms an event). We sat around the fire, roasted hot dogs and made s'mores with peanut butter cups

and just sat. We headed to bed and I realized I forgot pillows. I won't make that mistake again!!

We slept well in the new tent even though it rained all night long. We were dry and warm, but not all that comfortable in our pillowless sleep.

Saturday morning we woke up early (it's hard to sleep in w/out a pillow) and Scott made us eggs. He insisted on packing the camp stove for our 2-night trip. He was eager to try it out, so whatever! We had our yummy eggs and then headed out to our hike. It was just a couple miles down the road in the park. We hiked 2.5 miles to a refurbished fire watch tower. Once at the tower you climbed up about 70 feet and you looked out over the Tuscumbian valley. (I think that's what it's called...) We chilled up there for a few minutes and headed back. The whole thing took only a couple hours at a leisurely pace, so we had ALL DAY to figure out what to do!

Come dinner we ate our remaining hot dogs and s'mores and went to bed. Sunday morning we got up, packed up and headed back home.

It was fun. Next time we'll plan our food better, remember pillows, bring friends and scout out more day-time activities. The only thing I truly hate about camping is going to the bathroom. Those park bathrooms are SO GROSS, but with camp neighbors you have no choice. Unless you want the camp neighbors to watch you in the woods. Which I don't.

I hate uploading pictures here, so I'm just going to post them in a huge long list.

On the hike.

At the top of the tower

Looking a little sleep deprived?!

Camping makes people look soooo attractive....

The fire tower. The stairs were so steep!

Scott roasted hot dogs after the hike.

Killing time Saturday afternoon. Thank you Jay and Courtney for letting us borrow your cooler, sleeping bags and pads!!

 We plan to go again...not sure when though. Scott thinks we're going to start backpacking. I told him I won't fit in his bag.

Our (First) Car!!!

It's been not-so-fun only having one car so we finally decided it was time to take the plunge. A couple Saturdays ago we went out car shopping and come Tuesday night we were picking up our new car! It's a 2007 Honda Civic (with a sunroof!!).

I love driving it...but just wish I could drive it more. Scott takes it to work since it's better on gas (or so I'm lead to believe) so I have only driven it a few times. Its super comfy and feels so light and quick.

The purchase.

And, miraculously enough, Scott and I can have the seat at the exact same position and both drive comfortably. No more having to move the seat every time I (or he) gets in. I wish I could say the same for the Malibu, but for some reason our seating positions in that car are drastically different. Hmm. Strange.

Banangrams

I love this game. I first played it last year in Rexburg, and then again in Montana and still liked it, so Scott decided to order it from Amazon (his favorite).

It came and I got down to business playing against Scott. I won every game. In the last little bit though he's started to pick it up and has won the last two. We've been so busy working, house-sitting, buying a car etc. that we haven't played much in the last couple weeks, but I feel the need to get playing again. And winning again.

One of Scott's "game boards"
(Notice that it's not very straight and grid-like.)

One of Cari's "game boards".
(Notice that it is much straighter)

Next I want to get Yahtzee. I quite enjoy these simple games.

I'm Back!

Alright, all you blog stalkers readers, I'm back. Y'all have been hounding me to update the blog (really, you really read it?!) and so I'm getting to it today. I've been busy, you know and haven't had the time to update regularly for your reading pleasures.There has been a lot going on this month, so I'll start from the beginning and work my way to now so that it goes in order. Like to keep things organized!

We had our third wedding anniversary on Sept. 1 and (just like past years) celebrated relatively small. I keep saying I want to take a trip, or at least go somewhere fun for the weekend, but it has yet to happen. I'm crossing my fingers for next year. Or next month, next spring. Whenever really!

We celebrated by going downtown (Whoo, Party!!) and trying the Kooky Canuck restaurant and taking in a Memphis Redbirds game (baseball). The Kooky Canuck is a burger restaurant downtown Memphis that is owned by a Canadian (apparently). They have a couple Canadian food items on the menu (such as nasty Poutine and yummy Naniamo bars!), but mostly it is hamburgers and a few sandwiches. They could use some help defining their brand. Maybe they should hire me.

This was only half my burger!

We each ordered a hamburger and planned on getting dessert to share. Scott has this thing where he has to have an appetizer when we go out to eat or else he feels like the whole dining out experience was a waste and we should have stayed home. On this particular night I convinced him to forgo the appetizer and get the dessert. Sounds like a great plan, right? No. To my disappointment, the burgers were HUGE and there was no way we could have had dessert. I was planning on getting a giant peanut butter cookie baked in its own skillet topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Delish. We keep saying we're going to go back and share a burger so we can get it....but that has yet to happen. It would be a great date. Hint, hint.

Man vs. Food (on the Food Network) was at the Kooky Canuck once because they are famous for their 7 lb. burger. A large party at the table next to us ordered one for everyone to share and we (along with others) snapped a quick cell-phone picture. It was huge (insert beer bottle for scale) and the size of it kinda turned off my appetite. But...in a large group its very cost efficient. Way to go guys!

After dinner we walked the blog or so down to Autozone Park for the Redbirds game. It was good game (as far as baseball goes) and we stayed until the end of the 5th inning or so. It was getting late, we were tired and lets face it, baseball is pretty slow. And boring. (Sorry Horace, Adam and any others I may have just offended).

All in all it was a fun night with great weather and we enjoyed it. Here's to another year....

Big Mountain

While in Whitefish, grandma, grandpa and I decided to take an afternoon and hike down Big Mountain...which I think is now called Whitefish Mountain (maybe...I don't really know). Here are some shots from the hike. There will be more pictures coming that Grandpa took...many a moment grandma and I would stop and look behind us and wonder where the heck grandpa was. It wouldn't take long to realize he was waaay behind taking pictures!! They turned out great though. For now you will have to settle with my photographs.

The trail we took and the story on how Danny died/why it was named after him. Don't ask me- I don't remember! Also a little info about the bears. We didn't see any though.

The trail close up, in case you wanted to see it in detail...It's the thick dotted line that starts at the top and wraps to the right and down the mountain. It took about 2 or so hours. Next time we are there I would love to hike up as well!

We rode the chair up the mountain. It got colder and colder the farther we went, and it was FREEZING at the top!! (at about 2pm). This is looking from our chair behind us, down onto the other mountains, ski resort and Whitefish Lake.

A view looking out over the mountain/trail...

One of the several waterfalls we saw coming down the mountain.

Grandpa taking pictures...

Looking down the mountain as we got closer to finishing the trail. You can see the ski resort/roads leading up to and around it.

There are some great pictures of Gma/Gpa and I , but you will have to wait until I put Gpa's pictures up!

Montana 2010

This year we had a "family reunion". We don't do them often, nor do we plan them as such, but this year everyone ended up at the family condo just outside Whitefish, Montana. From July 31-August 7 we played on the lake, in the pool, at the condo and on the golf course (some of us). All were in attendance except for Chad and the kids, and we missed them.

First, the getting there. We had a 3 hour or so layover in Minneapolis so Scott decided it would be a good time-killer to ride the tram. It was stinky like sweat but it did the job of killing time. 

The Minneapolis Airport is fully stocked with shopping and eating. I had amazing garlic knots and Stromboli at a pizza place for lunch (fresh garlic!) and then we walked the "mall" (before our tram riding, that is). When Scott saw the Boss store he said "just in case Jared decided to travel to Minneapolis". Jared does wear a lot of Hugo Boss....

Speaking of Jared and Hugo..here they are, all ready to go to Church. 

We spend almost all days out at the lake, about 20 miles or so from the condo. The condo has a large cabin/beach area on the lake for its residents, so it was a nice place to hang out. The weather was great the whole time, only raining/being cold on a couple mornings and late evenings when we were inside anyways.

Kira loved playing at the lake and pool!

There is a Dairy Queen just a min or two from the condo that closes at 10. We went most nights at 9:45. It's tradition and they (DQ) hate it. 

One night we went after being at the lake. They wouldn't let Jordan in without a shirt and all we had in the car was a towel. Apparently that's enough for DQ!

Scott, dad, Jordan, Jared and Grandpa did some golfing. This is the view of the golf course our the back patio door. They golfed this course a few times and another one in town.

It was so fun to have everyone together and back at the condo. We used to go all the time when we were younger, but we have been going elsewhere in the past several summers. It was so fun to get back there!

Grandma, Grandpa and I hiked down Big Mountain (Whitefish Mountain) while we were there. Those pictures will come in another post!

Oregon 2010

A few weeks ago we took a (quick) trip to Oregon for Brent and Bethany's wedding. We flew out of Memphis on Thursday, August 12th, and I returned on the 13th (for work) while Scott stayed the weekend and returned Sunday. I was only in Portland for the wedding, but after the wedding everyone else went back to Eugene. Scott went "Crawdad Fishing" with aunt/uncle Lisa and Gregg and cousins Adam and Kelsey. Here are some pictures from their adventure...it looks like they had fun!

There is always something crazy going on when Gregg is around...so that might explain the third picture!

Lisa, Kelsey, Adam and Scott 

Scott wanted to know if I would go do this, even though its in a river. Yes, Scott, I would. I can handle this river.

As Per Your Request....

...here is an update! People left right and center keep asking me when I will update my blog (who knew that many people read it?!) and you know what...I don't know the answer! I know I'm behind....I've been to Canada, Montana and random everyday events have occurred without documentation, but y'all, I'm tired! At the end of the day I just want to curl up and read my current book.

So, to give all of you readers a new post to look at for a bit until I get the energy to do some serious blogging...here's some info regarding my latest read, courtesy of Mr. BS. (No, I'm not trying to give him a nickname, his initials really are B and S.)

"Honeymoon with my Brother" is a memoir about a man who was dumped by his fiancée just days before their classic California wedding. Because he already had paid deposits on his honeymoon (and well...just because) he decided to take his "honeymoon" with his brother. They go, have a grand time and decide to sell all of their belongings back in the USA and travel the world together.

So....they head home, quit their jobs, sell and rent their houses and begin their travel around the world one country at a time.

It's entertaining and informative, and overall an easy, relaxing read. I'm a little over half way through and the brothers have finished their travels through Europe and are beginning to cover Southeast Asia.

Until next time...

Miss. Brinkley

I adore Miss. Brinkley. She melts my heart. So much so that I enjoy taking her running in the evenings. This past weekend I was lucky enough to get to stay with here for 3 whole nights and 4 whole days! We went on walks, played Frisbee in the yard, ran through the sprinkler, baked dog cookies and snuggled on the couch. She's an absolute doll, and I can't wait for her mummy and daddy to go away again!

Here are some pics from our weekend together:

Here, we're taking a break from running around the backyard.

She runs hard in the yard. Funny thing is, she doesn't stay outside by herself. She watches to see if you're going outside with her before she takes off in the yard. If she wasn't so dang cute it would be annoying!

Brink after we go for a run. 

She get tuckered out....but it doesn't last long! She's only 2, so she has crazy amounts of energy. Just when you think she's ready to lay down and chill...she's off again.

"Salivatin' Cinnamon Apple Nips".

I made Brinkley dog cookies. They're from a Three Dog's Bakery cookbook (a dog bakery with locations throughout the States. Who would have thought.) They would actually be great for human consumption if they had some sugar in them. Miss. Brinkley adored them....but I wasn't sure at first....

 

The Finished Product.

These are the finished cookies, waiting to come off the pan to cool. They have flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, oil, honey, apples and eggs in them. 

Not so sure...

At first, she took it in her mouth and walked around with it. The dining room...the family room. Put it on the blanket...looked at it. Slowly, she began to take bites....and then she DEVOURED it! I can see why she was skeptical- it's the same texture as a regular human cookie; a texture she's not used to. Not to mention it does not taste like liver, chicken or beef like the rest of her food. 

More Please!

She was trying so hard to get another. At one point she had her chin resting on the counter just whimpering and desperately wanting another cookie. She yelped, cried, rolled on the floor. I laughed- it was a sight. She never begs....especially like this! So....after a little while I let her have another (she did finish her dinner after all...). As I was putting them in ziplocs for the night, she was sitting beside me and pushing her little nose into my leg, trying weasel another out of me. But it was bedtime, and I'm smart enough to know that you do not give youngins sweets before bed. 

After our baking adventure, we relaxed on the couch and watched some quality HGTV..and the food network. 

Just chillin'.

Time for a kiss! 

How can you not just love her to pieces?!