THE BLAIRS

FINALLY HERE

2011-10-16T13:04:00.001-07:00

As you can imagine I finally had my baby.. (skip this post if you dont want to read a long baby story=)

He was due monday 10/10 and i had a doctors appointment that day.. The doctor asked me me how about we have this baby tomorrow at 8am-an inducement.. I was ecstatic but so nervous. I have never been induce and i really never wanted to be. All my babies have been born after their due dates.. but i wanted to be able to call my mom and have her drive down here ahead of time.. planned out and no worry instead of calling a neighbor in the middle of the night and waking them up. (which i had people who were willing i just didn't want to bother them. they all have kids and families of there own to take care of) anyway, to make a long story short. my mom drove down that day and i cleaned and organized like a mad women all day.

That night ~1am i went into labor! I timed contractions for an hour and called the doctor.. (poor nicholas had been up watching a movie until midnight and had barely gone to bed when it was time to go! lol! ) The contractions came fast and hard 4min apart and we had an almost 40min drive to pueblo where i was delivering. I told nick if he made me miss my epidural (as he was sluggish getting out the door and in the car) i would NEVER forgive him.. He made it the hospital in 20 min..
So.,.. of course i get there and the contractions pretty much stop. Very mild and infrequent. they admit me anyway because i am the ONLY one there in the maternity ward and i am due to come in in just a few hours anyway. So we try and sleep and i get my epidural. yeah i was NOT going to miss that. i dont even think i needed it but i was GOING to have in NO MATTER WHAT.
The doc came in to see me early morning and said he had a surgery to get to and he would call when he was half way done for the nurse to start some pitocin to get me going more. well we waited and waited for the phone call and in that time my body decided to just go ahead and get started on its own. So then they were worried about doc even making it.. But He came just in time and 3 pushes later i had a beautiful baby boy! (did i mention he was kicking my guts the whole way out! the nurse said in her 12yrs as a delivery nurse she had never seen a baby do that!)

BRENNON LOYAL BLAIR 8lbs 10oz 21.5 inches long Now i know why he was such a kicker! he has the biggest feet i have ever seen in a baby!

So thats my story.. I actually went in to shock after he was born because of low blood pressure i had to wear a fall risk bracelet for all the nurses (i faint easy) But i spiked a fever and my body shook for three hours after he was born. I couldn't even nurse him or hold him i was shaking so badly. But soon enough the fever went down and i could enjoy him and rest!

I am so grateful everything happens for a reason.. I am so glad my mom was there and that baby is safe and healthy. I am home now brennon is 5 days old and getting into a feeding schedule. Tessa and Dallin love him and Nick and my mom are constantly at battle who get to hold him! lol!

WITH A FACE LIKE THAT WHO COULD RESIST?!?!?!

In case you didnt believe me when i said i was HUGE!

2011-08-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

Thats right..
i still have 6 wks to go.. Dr ordered me a third ultra sound because he was afraid the baby was already 5 lbs at 28 wks!! But nope he was only 3lbs.. that's big 70% but not enormous. I do weigh now what i weighted when delivered both the others (tess & dall) ... dr said this will be my biggest baby.. but Ive heard dr's saying that before then people just delivering 6 and 7 pound babies.. i am not too worried about it.. i am feeling fine.. so here i am! 34 wks

Also, its a boy 4 sure! I am due 0ct 10th but i really hope i delieve on the 8th.. The 8th of Oct would have been my dads birthday.. he died of cancer when i was 11.. We are going to name our baby probably Brennon Loyal. Brennon (because nick had a dream we had a boy and his name was brennon and Loyal is my dads first name) so.. we will see!

End of Summer update

2011-08-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Well,
I am big, huge, & enormous and still have 6 wks to go.. I am more than happy for summer to be coming to and end.. the heat has been a killer this year! So whats been going on with us?? Well a lot of bdays.. Tess of course in july and my boys both had bday in august!!

Dallin turned 3 and I decorated my first cake.. usually i just frost it and throw a toy on top.. but this time i went all out.. took me 3 hours.. it was fun.. i think it actually almost looks like "blues".

THEN NICK TURNED 30!!!!! The kids were so excited for his bday! we attacked him with silly string when he got home from work..

The kids love birthdays so much.. i try my best to make it fun for them. They help make cakes, cards, banners, and wrap presents and always hide to surprise ya!

what else... not much.. nick is busy school is starting back and Tessa is starting kindergarten soon.. She has a group day next week and than starts full time on the 6th of September.. she is so excited! and ready.. she gets to ride the school bus and she is picked up last in the morning and dropped off first.. i am trying my best to get as organized as possible since i know i only have a few more weeks before baby comes and everything falls apart.. my garden is finally coming along great and i am impressed with the results.. i get about these many tomatoes every other day!! its a good thing my mom came up this week and taught me how to pressure can! now i can make spaghetti sauce!

Guess who Turns 6 !?!?!

2011-07-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Thats right! my sweet Tess!

Spring Pictures & Mothers Day

2011-05-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

what a mothers day!
All I wanted was family pictures and a Sunday ALL together! I got that plus more! Nick offered to make me breakfast in bed, but I opted for a sleep in morning! While I was sleeping nick and kids made me my favorite cake and cleaned the house! I was so happy just to have him home and to be able to ride to church together! We always have to drive separate and we live ~30min from church. So that's hard.. But not mothers day! here are some cute pictures of the kids..

You know I am not much of a photographer (the cute kids make it easy and our beautiful forest.) but i love these shots! I had such a wonderful mothers day! I hope all you moms out there got some pampering! who wouldn't want to be a mom??!?!? when you get smiles like these!

Enjoy..

Top 100 things to do in your life time...

2011-05-03T19:00:00.001-07:00

ok i didnt really make a list of 100 things to do in your life time.. but this should be on the list if i did!

Rent a trencher.. =)

nothin' like a giant chainsaw to cut through the earth for ya!

And the finished product...

a perfect hole for water and electric lines!

whats been going on...

2011-04-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

whats been going on with us...

not much! lol!

lots of wagon rides in the nice spring weather

dress up days with Nathan...

making pictures of brother...

Nick has been super busy and work and thats been such a blessing. But hes also been super busy with his calling.. For example this weekend he spent the night friday night camping with the scouts. Then came home ran some errons came home just in time to get ready and leave for the stake dance.. (1am comes home) Sunday meetings before church meetings after church comes home, eats and off to a church youth meeting (BYC)! I wish i was as good as serving as he was!

As for me.. I am not busy at all. Kind of lonely and bored.. its been really nice though.. in fact right now its 7:30 pm and 77 degrees. I planted some flowers and continue to dream about house plans and building.. Came really close to getting a baby goat but decided I didn't want to wake up to bottle feed it every 6 hours. Thought tessa and dallin havent stopped talking about it. I said tessa how about a trampoline in stead? or a 4wheeeler! her response was how about a dog.. WHY WHY does it have to be living.. lol! I know the animals are coming soon. I am just not ready! Dallin has turned into a terrible 2 and i am so exhausted from him! he is needy, whinny, and just plain hard! SO... maybe ill have something more interesting to write about later.. sorry. lame post..

The Tooth Fairy is going to be BROKE!

2011-02-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

This girl keeps losing teeth like crazy! Both top and bottom out.. You can see the bottom ones are already growing in! I didnt know it happens so fast! (Grandma Susan Use to call her toothy tessa now we call her toothless tessa). i think she is losing them early because she got them early!
She had top & bottom 2 teeth coming in at 4 months!

"she thinks my tractors sexy"

2011-02-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

Nick playing with this new toy...

He even lets me drive! But no power steering!

Where does the time go????

2011-01-20T09:27:00.000-08:00

This year so far....

Tessa lost her first two teeth!!!

We play in the snow every chance we get... Its still exciting! You know for living in CO I would have thought I would see it a bit more.. its only snowed 2 times! (the first one i don't count it was more like a thick frost! lol!

If we arent outside we are inside doing crafts and art projects.. Its probably going to take Tess all year to do this color by number!!! And look at Dallin's concentration. he LOVES tracing! pretty awesome for a 2 year old I think.. Hopefully he can correctly trace by the time he's 3! Also Tessa did the "mom" all by herself and surprised me! I am amazed every day how much she grows up!

Nick has been gone all the time! it feels like school all over again.. I guess its just life now. We have the house plans picked we are going to build but we are going to hold off for as long as we can and save tons of money living in the little house.

Its really been such a blessing to us here! Nick is also starting ANOTHER practice in Pueblo with his buddy Jordon and hopefully opening in the next week or two! (ps if you are a 4th year and are possibly interested in CO talk to Nick! They are probably going be looking for some O.D's in the future!)

Life is good. I miss my mama! She is sunbathing in AZ this winter! I keep myself busy by the hundreds and hundreds of pictures I have got behind scrap booking! lol! Also been eating up every Jane Austin move they have at the library.. But without a doubt my favorite movie is Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South! If you have never read Elizabeth Gaskell do! Wives & Daughter is really good too!

TOP 10 for 2010

2010-12-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

TOp 10 things that happen in our family in 2010

#1 NICK GRADUATED! We move and say goodbye to MEMPHIS..

#2 Linna hooked up her brother with her friend and they actually got married! (you guys owe me big time!)

#3 FAMILY GETS JEEP!

#4 TESSA turns 5 LEARNS TO READ SMALL WORDS!

#5 Kids Survive grandma camp and we enjoy a cabin trip with the blairs!

#6 DALLIN turns two and LEARNED ALL HIS LETTERS AND SOUNDS

#7 Nick got a a job in Canon city CO! We move to a beautiful big new 3k square foot home!

#8 NICK and Linna both get busy callings, Nick as Young Mens President and Linna 1st counselor in RS. (they must have been desperate)

#9 Nick and Linna move AGAIN but this time its for good! LAND and a dinky house! BUt We are now making goals for a more self reliant family for 2011.

#10
WE FINALLY SLOWED DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO GET A FAMILY PICTURE TAKEN! MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US!!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T14:19:00.001-07:00

PS hes NOT an angel, he's a cherub guarding the entrance of the Garden of Eden....=) much more manly huh! We just forgot the sword.. lol
Don't ask me what see is???
fairy mermaid.. It was originally suppose to be Ariel.. But she wanted to use last years wings. They didn't even end up making it to the car for trucker treat.. OOPS/;)

♥
The Blairs

MOVING!

2010-10-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

yes! i can finally report that i am moving. After two weeks of stress and uncertainty, we closed on a house in Penrose with 5 acres! Its like my dream property! The house... hmm not so much my dream house, but a definitely good starter until we build in a couple years.
The house is actually 3 bedrooms and an office.. Its going to tight but definitely roomy for a modular home. Nick and I have already drawn up floor plans for the house we are building.. It will go back behind this house near the tree line.

well I already told you about the town of penrose.. Now here is our new place!

Our field goes all the way out to the tree line so we have a nice size pasture. I just needs some ditched dug with a backhoe to drain the field. its
kind of full of cattails and swampy right now.

Right behind the house is a little forest with a camp fire and picnic table! Even a fort for the kids! It needs some TLC but soon enough this place will be a fun out door play area!

The property is cross fenced with 3 pastures for my future horses!
This is the chicken coop/hay
shed..

This is my loafing shed for the horses
and where most of my storage is for all my
stuff! lol! nicks been working on it and he's
got it decked out with loft now!

Our little pond is going to be tons
of fun in the summer with a rope
swing and a slide.. Need to find
some fish that eat algae though.

Penrose CO A Cute small town I like....

2010-10-08T10:27:00.001-07:00

So.. I have always always always wanted to raise my kids in the country.. Penrose is N east from Canon City and a very very small rural area. A couple thousand people at most, BUT it is know for is APPLE orchards! They are beautiful EVERYWHERE! They even have an apple festival every fall with a parade and everyone from near and far come to pick apples and have hayrides and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather!
More info:
The stores in the town of Penrose, Colorado all offer a bumper sticker that sells often to the locals. It says, "So what if Penrose isn't on the map? Neither is HEAVEN!" Penrose is a tiny little
town with a history rich

in old west lore. It lies in the Arkansas River Valley of southern Colorado, just south of the Fort Carson Army Base, in Fremont County. The town is estimated to cover approximately 33 square miles, and is home to a little over 3000 people. We don't have a stop light yet, but we did get most of the roads paved in the past ten years. The county has also added some stop signs at intersections that used to rely only on the courtesy and caution of the drivers for right-of-way. Colorado State highway 115 passes through town, and intersects with US highway 50 at the southern end of Penrose. There is no natural water in the area, but residents get water from the use of run-off from the Cripple Creek area, which is held in a reservoir north of town. Because this water supply is fairly good, the area has been known for many years as the "Apple Valley". Apples of every variety seem to thrive in the hot, dry climate and orchards of apples and cherries are found in nearly every block. One of the local staples is apple and cherry cider, and every family seems to have their own secret "recipe".

Penrose is also know for its LARGEST ROCKING CHAIR IN THE WORLD!

Nick is excited about all the local jeeping!
\

yuck!

2010-09-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

So we were watching at movie one night last week.. When all of a sudden i saw a funny shaddow flutter across the floor in front of me! i said "nick I think there is a mouse in the house!" Nick got up and turned on the light and saw this guy! I about jumped on his shoulders! What a creepy guy! he went under the entertainment center and stuck himself to the back. it was quite a battle but we won!

and yes red head = poisonous

My smart little boy!

2010-09-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if you can tell, but he got all of them right except when we asked him to grab the "D" he grabbed a "G".. Pretty good for 25 months!

close call

2010-09-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a fire right down the street
to wake you up!

Literally dumping right in front of me!
I was actually on the phone with my mom
who encouraged me to call the fire department
and I am glad I did!

They said the south side of the fire (my houses side) was contained. 2 more drops and it should be contained. 2 acres burned up but at least its not so bad as boulder fire right now some 10 miles from my parents house!
count your blessings!

Jesse & Angie's Wedding

2010-08-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures you've been waiting for! I took these myself and i must say i am dang good! I cant believe it i really did set these two up! Now i will never let them forget it!

July 28th 2010 Denver Temple

A few of my favorite pictures:

CANON CITY COLORADO!

2010-07-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

our street view

Well, I am just now finally getting around to posting some pictures of our new place. We live in Dawson Ranch about 10 min south west of Canon. So far we are loving the area.. Everyone has been friendly. See those mountains they are full of jeeping trails! Nicks in heaven!

Its a great house the only bad part is no grass! Ill have to get use to the gravel decor.
Nick likes the 3 car garage, including his new work bench!

and I like pretty much everything.. Especially our giant back yard!
The house sits on a little over an acre.

Well the computer is being slow so thats all i am downloading for now.. Canon City is going to be a fun new adventures. Nick should be starting work this week so hopefully we can start filling our house up! We are currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor and camping chairs in our living room/entertainment room.

I love you Babe!

2010-06-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY~! (announcement photo)

Yesterday was our 7th year anniversary.. I just wanted to do a little reminiscing.. Thanks to some great YW leaders I didnt have to think too hard I had it all written in my journal! A habit I havent broken since then!

HERES OUR STORY! its long so read it if you want, but its a good one i think! But i mainly just wanted it documented for myself in one more safe place!

January 2003
I met Nick at the beginning of winter semester at BYUI and no surprise he was my FHE brother. (Family Home Evening-a group formed to support, uplift, and in general take care of each other. who's goals are to met every monday night for fun food and feasting on the gospel lessons) .. I notice Nick right away and thought he was cute but I had enough boy problems at the time to keep my hands full and Nick had a girlfriend after a few days.. But we were friends.. I even remember several times when I helped him plan creative dates, and presents for his girlfriend! Including a really cute candy board asking her to a dance! lol!

Well.. the semester passed (mid march) and Nick and I both happened to be single at the same time! lol! We both ended things with our dead end relationships and just hung out as friends a lot! I liked him because he was easy and fun to talk too.. We were really open with each other, confiding in each other about our crapy dating and life in general..

Well at the end of march was mother weekend.. A special holiday where all the mothers of the students come and hang out with their college kids. Go to classes with them, go to dances, ect.. its really FUN! anyway. OUr mothers were both coming and I thought it would be hillarious to pretend to be engaged and freak my mom out! Of course nick my buddy would have to be my pretend fiance. He thought that would be fun so we started planning! And we had everything prepared! I mean A fake ring, a fake date, how he purposed.. we had made up so much that we were ready incase any type of question came up! Nicks mom arrived to suprise NIck a day early and threw off our planning.. So we made her in on it too! When my mom arrived she was shocked! She had my sister with her who wasnt so sure..BUT She looked at the ring and the first thing she said was "WOW and thats a REAL diamond and I KNOW a real diamond when I see one!!" (lol ! it was an $8 walmart ring!) I mangaged to keep a straight face all day! Even when I went to hold nick hand and he about jumped out of his seat!! I guess he wasnt ready for the level of commitment i was ready to display! Well after a few hours my mama was getting all teary eye "oh my baby is getting marred! I am the baby of the family after all. I just couldn't torture the old lady anymore!! SO we told her.. She then proceeded to tell me what a nice man nick was and how it was all probably wishful thinking! lol! IT was a fun weekend! We spent the whole weekend together! We took our mom out to dinner, to the dance, we even took them to a late movie! (we joke now about our first date with our moms at the movie!)

Well finally our moms left and it just kind of felt right being together.. So we had a little DTR and that was it.. We were inseparable best friends after that!

MORP

Well.. the end of the semester came and it was either break up or get married. WE BROKE UP! But I was staying for summer term and Nick parents only lived 2 hours away.. it was a short lived break up.. We hung out all the time.. At this I pretty much knew nick was the one for me! He was still making up his mind.. Then one night he called me. HE said, " Linna I KNOW you are going to be my wife!"

On may 23, 2003
I came down for the weekend to hang out and nick took me jeeping up in the mountains. Under a stary night, roasting marshmallow by the fire, he asked me to marry him and of course i said yes!!

*Three Times we changed the date in the temple (originally choosing august 16th which was our PRETEND date of marriage planned way back when we were "wishful thinking"..

JUNE 27, 2003
I had just finished up the last three days of my finals this day and I packed up my entire apartment and headed down to Logan UT for my wedding weekend.. My parents met us down there and I did my endowment session that night. For those of you who dont know in the LDS church members go through the temple called an endowment session which is derived from the King James Version of the Bible referring to the spiritual gifts given the disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost in which they were "endowed with power from on high". Here we make sacred promises and covenants with God. This also is something that must be down preliminary to a temple marriage know as a sealing.

THE BIG DAY

JUNE 28th 2003
Nick and I were sealed at 11am for all time and eternity in the Logan Utah temple. After the sealing we ate lunch at the Coppermill and headed to our reception in Weston Idaho at nicks parent house.. it couldn't have been a more beautiful day. HOT but beautiful!

At the coppermill I guess we weren't having any regrets!

(Nick with his West Side buddies at the reception!)
After a week long honeymoon at his grandpa cabin near Jackson hole.. We headed to my hometown for yet another reception of fun.. i must admit it was a bit strange putting my dress back on.. but we had lots of fun there too!
yes that is wedding cake going all up my nose! But i think i got nick so much worse! SPLAT!

Nick thank you for a million memories these past 7 years! I love you so much! "too the moon and back!" I am so grateful for every day obstacles that make us stronger and for such an amazing person in my life to always give me a lift when I need one! I love you and i am SO excited for the rest of our lives and eternity together growing progressing and becoming ONE!

Forrest Gump was right ...

2010-05-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

Life is like a box of chocolates! You never know what you're going to get!
So after lots of research and prayer we decided not to take the Billings, MT Job but found a much better opportunity for us in, Canon City, Colorado.

I am excited because its only going to be 3 hours from my family! Its going to be a fun new adventure and after three weeks of visiting my family and now three weeks of visiting nicks I am excited to finally settle down! We are moving to Canon City, CO on Tuesday next week..
I am so excited I can not believe it! Canon City is about 40min south west of Colorado Springs and 30 minutes west of pueblo.. its a dryer region but mountainous..We are pretty excited to go exploring.. its also really close to The Royal Gorge (very popular tourist attraction around these parts) only minutes from us.

We have a house all lined up so we are pretty set to go.. Its in a nice little mountian community.. Ill post some pictures later...

Its also a pretty big place with 3k square feet and 4 bedrooms.. Which means there is an open invitation to come and visit any time!!!

More posted coming when I get settled and we get internet!

Graduation!

2010-05-03T10:16:00.001-07:00

YAY! What a Weekend! Tessa loved being a part of it! I am glad she was old enough to understand!

(getting ready for the big day!)

The big moment! (nick is somewhere out there! lol!)

cute girls waiting for their daddys name to be called!
And then his name....... Dr. Nicholas K. Blair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the hooding!
Then the diploma! (ps big ushot out to melissa who's zoom was better than mine to capture this great moment! THANK YOU!!!!

BIG HUG FROM TESSA!

And the wifes who survived these four years!!! we deserve a shout out too! YAY!

Signing Off ...

2010-04-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is my official last post from TN.. As my family will be coming in tomorrow for graduation and through out the rest of week. I thought I would send a happy goodbye to all my friend I met here.. I am so grateful I came here! Its been a beautiful experience, the people have take us in and treated us like family! I have met so many wonderful friends! (and a sister in law! lol!) Thank you all, I love you and I'll miss you.. Till we meet again..

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall soft upon your field
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

ps If you find your way to MT look us up! Looks like Nicks got a great job offer there! Yippy! I couldn't have found a more perfect and peaceful place to raise a family! That's really a pic of where we are moving! They dont call it "Big Sky" for nothing!

ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS!

2010-04-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

So my emotions are mixed! I am so excited to be moving in two weeks from today! I am excited to have Nick be done with school and graduate! To have a husband again! But I have really grown to love it here and so many wonderful people! I spent so much time wishin' and hopin' to get out of here and be done. Now thats its here I am sad. I love this place for so many reasons!

Its the place where we made our first house a home..

Where we spent countless hours in the backyard with Tessa.. Where she has really grown up! (below is our first week here in our new house in Bartlett TN. Tessa 13 months)

Where we grew together as a family and started our own traditions and festivities..

I'll miss people who are not related but will always feel like family! I'll miss the beautiful summer weather. Where every day is a swimming day! And hardly any snow in the winter! I am really not looking forward to snowstorms you actually have to go out in!

Its the place where I learned what real BBQ tastes like! YUM!

I'll miss the beautiful early springs....I finally understood the primary song "popcorn popping on the apricot tree."

I'll miss the place I brought my baby boy home too.. And everyone who helped with him and showed me with love and service.

Where when it rains it pours!! and you backyard becomes a swimming hole! I finally learned here what the fasted switch on your windshield wipers was for!

AND...
wIts Where Nick studied SO hard to become a doctor and so much more to us!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! THANKS FOR THIS AMAZING JOURNEY!

CONGRATS JESSE AND ANGIE!

2010-04-03T10:20:00.001-07:00

Well.... Its finally offical! Jesse and Angie are GETTING MARRIED!!! CONGRATS YOU GUYS!

here is the story mom!

When Jesse got off the plane he called Nick jr and asked if he could marry his mom. Then Jess ask nick to use his mad origami skills to make a rose for him to put the ring in and give to her. It was awesome.. it was cool to be apart of it all.. here was my job: camera duty so you call could enjoy too!

ps sorry sound is bad.. but you can still watch!

Too much...

2010-03-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Tessa's independence goes a little too far sometimes.. As you can see... She begged and begged me to let her do the ketchup her self.. I was helping Dallin and then.. this:

The face is because I said she just used her whole ketchup ration for the month! no more for her! Grounded from ketchup for a month sounded like a good punishment... (ps it wasnt like she accidentally dumped too much out... She didnt, this was on purpose!)

My Brother Comes to Visit!!!

2010-03-04T14:59:00.000-08:00

So last weekend my brother came to memphis! it was so mUCH FUN!

we made a sign that said "welcome to Tn Brother Jones".. Brother Jones is his nick name from high school since we was Mormon and all the kids knew that we use "brother and sister" in our church they just made of the Jones because it sounded like a southern minister!
my friend angie came too! shes the BOMB! she drove us all over the place all weekend!

What we've been up too.... PART 2

2010-02-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

well.... Still not a whole lot.. I forgotten how boring apartment life is. I spent so many days complaining about all the work I had to do at the house all the time. Now I wish for something to prime or paint! But we have a lot of fun just being together! And I have friends here and thats something I know I may not have our next move. well not instant. Where ever that may be! But we are happy just to be here our last semster is quickly coming to an end with only 10 more weeks of school and one of those weeks we get off for spring break!
But apartment living has lots of benifits like.. PLENTY of TIME FOR:

kisses and snuggles:

horsin around!
AND There's always time for giggles ..(and unmatching outfits!)
FASHION SHOWS and play dough

journaling and naps.. (no i wasnt awake and happy of this picture being taken) and romantic moments interrupted by pure insanity. Nick was sweet and brought me flowers not even for valentines day.. But look in the background.. Yep someone cant be serious for more than 5 seconds!

What We've Been Up to.......

2010-01-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

A whole lot of Nothing... =) But enjoy some pictures anyway!

Moving Out & Moving In

2010-01-09T09:46:00.001-08:00

Saying good bye to grandparents on christmas.. We are sure going to miss them!

So we are finally feeling a little bit settled in our new abode. I just have imagined moving south I would be leaving the snow and cold of Colorado behind. I guess I was wrong because its been FREEZING HERE! Anyway.. we are alive and well.. We have managed to gather up things thanks to generous friends and neighbors! We moved out here with only what would fit into the civic and good will and salvation army have come in handy!

Ok just kidding.. this was how it looked for a week, but we have moved in our old couch and chair we left here. So its not as sparse, but i love the fireplace in this apartment! it even works! (gas burning)

This is Dallin's room.. I know we are bad parents!! lol! poor kid, but its a really big walk in closet! Plus he likes it dark and very quiet. so this is the best sleeping arrangement we could come up with. Nick just has to get his clothes out for school before bedtime!

the kitchen.. Tessa and Dallin having a bite to eat and getting in to Tessa toy box. His usual monkey business.

thats it for now.. but more to come later...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LOVE, THE BLAIR'S

SNIP SNIP!

2009-12-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

So Dallin has been getting a little shaggy so I decided it was time for the first hair cut! I cut nicks hair all the time so i felt confident, it just meant my baby was growing up and part of me didnt want to cut off the soft peach fuzz baby hair! but it was also getting a little long and nick had been buggin me about..So i went ahead.. (Sorry you cant tell really how long it is by this picture but take my word for it.. I tried to leave the bangs long because hes got a pretty big forhead! =)

Anyway...
I am really really exited to move back.. I really cant wait to have my own place! even if its an apartment with NOTHING in it! I am also excited for christmas and that I actually may have a "white" one this year.. I am happy to say I am done christmas shopping and way under budget! Savers! I love that store! =) I love that tessa is still not old enough to care what she gets.. Just that its new (relatively speakin new to her) and its toys.. thats all that matters! I though have been tempted to cancel christma this year for tess. she's been particuallarly naughty.. Drama drama all the time.. crying fits, slaming doors, melt downs.. I think all the moving has caused an explosion of emotions in her.. I think she knows another big change is coming also. plus they both went to the dentist this week... (thats another story!) so.... we will see..

For a good cause...

2009-11-30T14:13:00.000-08:00

I have a friend, who has a friend thats son needs brain surgery.. So she started this really cute blog selling homemade crafts! AND SHE IS DOING A FREE GIVE AWAY! Check it out for more info!

http://therubiedapple.blogspot.com/

Gratitude...

2009-11-27T21:12:00.000-08:00

Gratitude, thankfulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more.

WHO COULD WANT ANYTHING MORE THAN THESE CUTE FACES EVERY DAY TO REMIND ME WHAT THIS LIFE IS ALL ABOUT....

Nothing Tastes as Good....

2009-11-20T07:06:00.001-08:00

.............As THIN Feels! That has been my moto since Oct 1st when I started HCG diet.. I am proud to say I lost a total of 23 lbs! =) My Birthday was this week! (monday!) I am thinner this birthday than I have been since my last 4 or 5 birthdays! SO that's good! I had a lot of problems losing baby weight.. I gained 50 lbs with Tessa and just never lost it.. So its about time for me! Its really not a drastic change in looks.. but i just wanted to toot my horn for a minute. If you don't want to know how i did it.. STOP READING NOW! =) BUt if you've ever struggled with weight I am sure you understand. I read the book called “The Weight Loss Cure” by Kevin Trudeau! It was awesome! Then my mom and I ordered the homeopathic drops from the website.. We followed the diet strictly and slowly the weight came off. My mom lost 30 lbs! here is the website.. (I don't get any money or anything by telling you.. i just wanted to share if your interested call me! =)

here is the website: www.diyhcg.com

BEFORE (july 09)

ps if case you were wondering these are my older brothers!!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

2009-11-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

5 THINGS I DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT
1. Diaper Bag
2. Wallet
3. kids (usually)
4. wedding ring
5. flip flops and a coat!

5 CARTOONS I WATCHED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
1. My Little Ponies
2. Care Bears
3. Winnie the Pooh
4. Duck Tales
5. Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers

5 THINGS THAT TERRIFY ME
1. car head lights that seem to be following you home
2. Where our country is heading
3. Mute Witness
4. mountain lions
5. Ghosts/Evil Spirits

5 THINGS I HATE/DISLIKE THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO LIKE
1. soaps (not the kind you wash with the kinds you watch!)
2. running
3. perfume
4. in door pets
5. earings

5 THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE
1. Travel with my husband
2. Own my dream house
3. Get another degree or masters or PHD
4. Have my whole life scrap-booked (GREAT IDEA!)
5. Teach my children to love the gospel!

5 FRIENDS/FAMILY I TAG
if your reading this! I TAG YOU!

Trunker Treat '09

2009-10-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Fairy Princess in the making..........

Saturday we had our trunker treat at the church.. it was actually more like tricker-treating in the church hallway because we were rained out! But the kids loved it!

Here are the kidos getting ready to go: *Beware picture overload

And our Brave Dragon or Dinosaur, or someone even called him a crocodile...

Primary Program

2009-10-26T16:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Tess participated in her first ever primary program .. I had practiced her part with her all week. She could do part of it, but not all of it. so i was really interested to see what she would do.
this was her part:
Sunbeam Teacher: "Sunbeams, How can you make your home like heaven?"
Tessa: (actual responses) "I can play with my cousins and help my mom in the store."

So when the big moment arrived. She had help with the first part. The scolded her teacher saying, "No I can do it myself!" Totally picking that up in the microphone. Then perfectly recited "AND HELP MY MOM IN THE STORE!" Loud and clear! i almost cried! i have never been so proud in my life! I wish i could have seen her face.. I am in primary with nick so we were on the stands as well..

After the program I got numerous responses about how cute Tessa is.. How funny she was, what a good singer she was... (even though she didn't know most of the words she would just SING FROM THE TOP OF HER LUNGS!) There were only three sunbeams right up front and she was definitely putting on a show by the smiles on peoples faces in the audience! It was just so fun to see! It was really an awesome and spiritual program from the primary. I was really impressed with all of them!

THE NIGHTMARE OF FAMILY PICTURES

2009-10-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

You moms out there know what I am talking about!
Why is it that you can NEVER get your kids to look up at the same time??? Its a nightmare! All that work and I didnt get ONE good one! I quit! So you might get a photo shopped Christmas card this year! =)

The first snow flakes of the season

2009-10-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

It was fun to be home for the first snow of the season. I was so excited the first day. Almost a week later and still 3 or 4 inches on the ground. Nick and bundled up everyone for church and as I sat in the car I realized it had been since winter 2005 that we last had to go to church in the snow.. (the one Sunday it did snow in Memphis church was canceled!) So needless to say I was brought to a remembrance.....

my winter wonderland.. home sweet home.....
all ready to go..

just jumpin on the trap? the poor kid doesn't know how to play in the snow yet....

warmin up after a walk.

Dinasaur Bones?

2009-09-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

My brother Micheal came for a quick visit a few weekends ago and took Tessa hiking.. While they were out in the mountains they found a skull.. Tessa was so sure it was a dinosaur! SO we glued it with some other bones to make it look like more like a dinosaur. ( I think it is actually a badger skull) but really noting else too exciting has been going on.. So i am posting this little adventure..

Over all we are doing well.. Nick and I just got a calling in my parents ward to team teach the CTR 10 in primary.. I was surprised to get a calling since we wont be around more than three more months.. But its all good. we dont mind. Nick is loving his externship site and vision therapy!

A Family Day Trip

2009-09-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

This week I took Nick and the kids to one of my favorite places! Estes Park, CO. Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The town is beautiful, I feel connected to it as you have to pass by my hometown to get there.(plus its a rival school!) Many people that pass through Estes Park end up heading up Trail Ridge Road, which is “the highest paved continuous highway in the United States.” It crosses through Rocky Mountain National Park and over the Continental Divide, reaching an elevation of over 12,000ft.. I found these cool pictures from the ridge road which is closed always in winter.. Isn't the glacier awesome!

WOw! thats pretty high up in elevation!! The day the road opened this season. anyway...
Estes is just a tiny little town with only about 6000 residents. At the height of tourist season, they probably have more tourists than residents! But one of my best friends, grew up there so I have lots of fond memories! Also my favorite place to go to is a shop called "Real West"..Where they do old time portraits. I've done it quite a few times!! But never as a family! So we went there and had a blast! Tessa LOVED playing dress up!

Estes Park is also known for the elk. I remember my friend telling me how she hated the elk! They were more like a nuisance to her and they would be constantly chasing them off the football field before a game! I thought that was funny. Estes Park is part of our ward and the Bishop I grew up with owns cabins there for rent. ( on my to do list) . Below is the gigantic hotel, called the Stanley Hotel. Its totally haunted!

The Stanley Hotel is famous, its the place that inspired Stephen King in The Shining, and was featured in the TV movie. Famous people stay there and someday I will!! but Anyway.. Estes Park is a cool place! So all in all it was a fun day trip! If you ever get a chance to go up there and visit i hope you do!

Announcing....

2009-09-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

The Birth of Mason Justin Williams!!

Nicks sister Becky had her baby boy yesterday! 5lbs little guy! Congrats Becky and Justin!! And thank you everyone for the baby boy name idea's!! Don't you just love new babies!!

Help with Baby Boy Names

2009-09-06T21:03:00.000-07:00

Hey girls!!

My sister in law is having a baby boy soon! and she still doesn't have any idea for a name. She doesn't like traditional names so if you could give me some ideas. Maybe something you heard or someone in your family.. I'd love to pass them on to her..
Thanks!

ps we are doing good. Kids are on a mend from being sick and I am relaxing at home! I wish everyone a happy three day weekend!

Home with the Horses

2009-09-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Today I took Tessa outside to see the horses. I thought that it would boost her spirits since shes been so sick. As you can tell she is still in her pjs at mid-day. She was kind of nervous at first, but it only took a few minutes for the horses to come and say hello.

This is my mom and QB. Hes new to the barnyard.. But such a good boy. My moms friend who was getting a divorce couldn't keep him anymore so she gave him to my mom. My mom loves to ride! we all grew up on the back of a horse in the austin family!

This is my mom and Sandy. Sandy is the mare I grew up riding. The one who assisted in my "stubby situation". Shes is too old to ride now, but we still love her to death!

When it Rains, it Pours

2009-09-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

So,
First of all, I am better now.. YAY! They still don't know what was wrong, for sure. They think it was kidney infection or stones. So, I am on the mend. But WHAT A WEEK!

Nick and I moved into our little home with wheels on Sunday night. (Yeah we are living in a camper for the semester outside my sisters house in Denver). Can I say ADvEnTURE! Monday was nicks first day at this site and he LOVED it! Monday night Tessa & Dallin got really sick! Tessa came in panicked because she was having troubles breathing! It freaked me out! She sounded really bad so we jumped in the car and took her to the ER. They took such good care of her! Come to find out she has Croup and Pneumonia. Dallin was hackin' up a lung so we had him checked too and he only has croup luckily. It been so scary! Nick took me back to Lyons, my moms house and we have been recovering since. I am so tired from nights of no rest, but things are getting better. Tessa's amoxicillan is kicking in and last night was the first night she didn't wake up in panic about not being able to breathe. I am defiantly getting a nebulizer! so that's our update. I hope everything is goin' good with everyone else. This trial has helped me rely on the Lord and I have grown a lot. Nick is always impressing me with his good attitude.. He keeps quoting this famous quote, I don't know who its by but I love it! I want to live by it more fully!

"I deserve Nothing, But I am grateful for everything."

Colorado & Vicodin

2009-08-28T22:47:00.000-07:00

Hey all just wanted to let you know we made it for externship site #2, Denver Co.. I wish i could say the trip was a breeze, but we survived. I got really sick on the trip out sharp stomach pains, setting us back a few hours as i tried to recover. With a blessing we were back on the road again. Two days later (today) with the same sharp pains we made an appointment for the doctor. Still waiting for results. Possible stomach bacteria or kindney stones. But they put me on vicodin so i am flying high as a kite.

Farewell Salt Lake City, Utah............

2009-08-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

"All my bags are packed and I am ready to go"

Well tomorrow is our last day here! I am happy to continue on this journey of living out of a suitcase..(Because it must eventually end right?) It been quite an experience. We are headed to Colorado next and I am going home. I am forever in debted to my sweet sister for letting us live in her basement all summer. I am sure it was a pain. =) So.. until our next stop, adieu.

Water Fun

2009-08-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Tessa went to swim party where she got her face painted. She picked a unicorn. This is her and her cousin Katie..
Thanks to Aunt Candi Tessa got a slip in slide for her birthday and its been loads of fun!

The girls have also created their own fun.. Its been hot! but i am happy to report NOT HUMID!

Really Easy Cake Idea

2009-08-04T20:31:00.001-07:00

Things have been a little crazy this week. So it was kind of a thrown together birthday party last minute. I thought of a jungle/zoo theme birthday so i came up with this cake.. All you really need is green frosting for the grass and blue for the water. The kids LOVED it!
We gave him the piece with the hippo on it. He smashed it around for a minute and I tried to spoon feed him some cake but he just spit it OUT! He refuse to eat any of his birthday cake. I had to smear on some frosting just for the pictures sake! What a crazy kid! A mess less birthday! i couldn't believe it!

Two Things that crack me up...

2009-07-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

1.) This is tessa her first week of swim lessons. I dont know about you but aren't the kids suppose to be in the water for swim lesson???

2.) Peek A Boo with Dallin.. Need i say more??

My goofy kids! I love 'em!

Small Town celebrations!

2009-07-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

I know this post is really late, but better late than never!

For the 4th of July weekend we went to a little town called Lewiston Utah for a parade and a fireworks show. Its where Nicks grandparents live. Tessa and Dallin just love there great grandma Barbra and great grandpa Blair! It was such a blast to hang out! I love small town celebrations! I love how everyone knows each other and is constantly waving throughout the parade not because its required but because they are greeting old friends and family! I love how you feel safe at the carival or safe parking in an empty field and you can always find parking spot, and you arent constantly looking for pickpocketers. I love how warm and inviting people are and how everyone is in some way related and looks out for each other.
here are some pictures from the festivities:

grandma Barbra and Dallin

anticipating the candy

A giant tractor makes Rylee nervous as she tries to get candy before it gets squashed!
Nicks mama (grandma Susan) and Dallin petting a puppy.

Justin (nicks brother in law, Rylee's dad) and Nick and little D relax in there camping chairs.

What Happened to my Baby Girl?

2009-07-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

On July 6th Tessa Turned 4! She got two parties. One with her grandma and grandpa Blair and one with my sister and her family. I really cant believe its been 4 years. When we moved to Memphis she had just turned 1. Time flies when your stuck in school. =) Can we graduated yet?
anyway...

Take a walk with me down memory lane........ (warning if you don't want to hear/see Tessa's life story then skip this post)

Nick and had been married for almost 1.5 years when we decided to start our family, but after a miscarriage at 12weeks; we were extactic when I became pregnant only 4 months later with Tessa.
Tessa Amanda Blair: July 6th, 2003
7lbs 13 oz
19 1/2 inches long

My baby girl. 4 days late and a sweetheart from day 1. I was so upset because I saw suppose to have her BEFORE the 4th of july and there i was EXTREMELY, FAT and HOT and MISERABLE watching fireworks in Rexburg Idaho! But she came 2 days later. i delivered her with a midwife- (yes i was at the hospital) and it went well, no complications. What a wonderful day!

A happy daddy in the bathroom after her first blow out! She had him wrapped around her little finger.

3 months old: My first semi professional pictures:
Her 1st Christmas, Dec 2003. almost 6 months.
Tess 9 months.. Nick's graduation BS Chemistry from BYU I.

Tessa's First Birthday

(18 months.. the messy stage) =)

Tessa 2 years old. Another Hot mid-south summer so we were doing alot of swimming!!

Tessa's Third Birthday: The Princess stage starts (and we are still in it!)
And now a 4 year old!! Do they ever stop growing?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Heaven on Earth

2009-07-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

Lyons, Colorado....

This is my backyard/front yard. The place where where i grew up. From the day I was brought home from the hospital until I pack my bags for college. I LOVE this place!!The day after fathers day I went home. I spent almost two week there trying to make up for the almost 3 years i'd been away. It is beautiful! Its my heaven on earth. The kids loved it! Every year my mom puts on something called "grandma's camp". its every summer and all my siblings the cousins try and get together for hiking, camping, horseback riding, 4-wheeling, swimming, tubing, rock climbing, ect.. ect.. ect.. The kids had a blast!

rain or shine.....
(tessa hangin with her cuz brandon)

My brother Jesse & Dallin, giving the kids rides! (yes there were lots of them! As Dallin is my moms 26th grandbaby! he was also the youngest one there! Since i am the baby of 8 kids.. (5 sis 3 bro) there are plenty of kids to go around! =) 32 people i think we caulated stayed! there were bodys sleeping everywhere!! Card games, food and family every night! what more could a person want?

And tessa has the ulitmate grandma, grandma Sally! She keep chickens so tessa got to gather eggs everyday, she has a horse.. sandy, one of many i grew up riding!
she is a master gardener...... look at all those strawberrys! this is just one days worth! we picked three more times and had two more beds to do!

Grandma Sally is also a Bee Keeper!! she gets all of her own honey and has three hives!
But most of all grandma always makes time for snuggles!! I love you mom! thanks for a wonderful grandma's camp!

from youngest to olderst
The Austin Family
Sibling Picture:

hiking

2009-06-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

What a fun little family adventure!

Willow Creek, (somewhere in Idaho)

Dallin Update

2009-06-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Dallin is 10 months old now. He started crawling and climbing and its been nightmare..( my sisters house is three stories so lots of stairs!) He's a handful but what a cute handful he is. He says Mama, Dada, Ts, and "all dun". He walks if i hold his hands but i tried to let him go by himself and he fell so now hes scared to try again with one hand. He just cute his top front tooth and it was hurting him so bad! here are some new pictures o him.. enjoy.

Happy Birthday MOM!

2009-06-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

My sister is taking piano lessons and since I play a little by hear, we thought it would be fun to have Audra's piano teacher come and teach us how to play a song we remember our mom playing on the piano as children. " I love Coffee" i am sure you've heard of it! anyway it was a lot of fun practicing so here we are!! Thanks Vicki for your time and patience!

Happy Birthday MOM!! you mean the world to us!! here is a small taste of a performance coming to you SOON!!!

Finally Getting Settled (kinda)

2009-06-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I 'm alive....
I am sorry but its been so crazy busy and I am long over due for a post! so let me catch up!

The Blair family in general is doing well. Its been a rough month though. (living out of a duffle bag). Now we are comfortably settled in my sisters basement in Stansbury Park, UT (just north of Tooele). For those of you who dont know we are in our first rotation of externships at the Eye Insitute of Utah. (4 months longs) Nick has finally gotten comfortble and he has seen a lot of cool eye problems and deases. (Microphthalmia, Macular degneration, and BRVO and several eye surgeries like LASIK.. just to name a few =) Tessa is finally getting adjusted too. She still struggles crying for home and her friends, preschool, the park, about every little thing. But she is getting better and better every day. I didnt think she would be so affected by this move. i thought she would be too young to remember things and care. But it seems like very detail is there still. She misses it and she still thinks she is going home. But in all honesty we are now homeless. (the house sold and everything went through) I would NOT recommed buying a house though if you are thinking about it.. What a big stress, and lots and lots of work! ANYWAY! its done and over! and I am grateful it sold. What a blessing. so life is good. we are back west and are loving catching up with family and friends.
Nicks parents are just 2 1/2 hours away in Cache Valley so we drive up there every chance we get to visit. Its so beautiful there and the kids have just loved spending time with family!! here are some picture of weston Idaho. (Oh how I missed the country!) I hope you are all well, and for those friends back in Memphis I cant wait to see you this winter!

Weston Idaho.. LOOK REAL MOUNTAINS in the background!!!

Tessa doing a pose for us in grandma Blair's sandbox!

Tessa LOVES jumping on TRAMP!

Dallin enjoying some dirt while we try and plant garden
oh and he finally learned to sit up by himself! 10 months old!! and to think tessa was walking now!!! he's my mellow cute guy! Still refuses to crawl and just slumps around on his tummy.

This is Nicks little sister Sydney. she is the best babysitter in the world!! Here she is giving Tessa and Rylee (cousin) a horsey ride!

Tessa and Rylee spend most of their time outside in the sandbox! Though this picture was taken quite a few weeks ago its definately much more temperate weather. I am not going to miss those HOT MUGGY SUMMERS IN MEMPHIS! I will be begggin for a memphis winter though!

"See you Later" TN

2009-04-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

Signing off one last time before externs! We fly out of Little Rock today! Mixed emotions, happy to see family and go home, but sad to leave friends. I will be back though for a few months in the spring for boards and graduation so its not good bye yet, just see you later....

ps we close may 8th !

"Lets Go Fly a Kite"

2009-04-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

This weekend we celebrated Easter since I will be gone all next weekend. Tessa had a blast hunting eggs and playing with her new surprises. One of the best ideas I got for her was a kite (cost a whole buck at walmart!) We had such a fun time playing with that silly thing! It didnt survive but two days though. Oh and we have some good news.. No. I am not pregnant. =) We got an offer for asking price on our house today! AMAZING huh! FSBO for two months, Relator less than one week and now SOLD! (well we hope everything goes through!) but serious relief!

Kite Video

2009-04-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

Positive Pregnancy Test

2009-04-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

So,
I forgot to blog about this, but late Tuesday night I mentioned to Nick I had been feeling yucking all day so I took a pregnancy test and it came out positive! The guy nearly jumped out of his skin in shock! Luckily it was my favorite day of the year! April Fools! He says he knew it, but by the tone in his voice and his 'NO WAY' ?!?! REALLY?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I had him! I always do! He got me back though. But honestly who doesn't love the first of April, a day for the fools.

DALLINS ON THE MOVE

2009-04-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

He' been attempting to crawl for quite a while, but i think its a little funny he refuses to sit up. He's 8 months this week!

Throwing in the Towl

2009-03-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

well today we gave up FSBO.

We are putting the fate of our little home into someone else hands. We just signed the papers! I feel relief. I LOVE our new Relator Rita Driver. She is awesome. We are preparing for our move in two weeks. Also if anyone is looking for some extra money, nick and I are looking for a lawn mower. All you have to do is mow the lawn a couple times a month (we provide the mower =) we'll pay ya good! =) so let me know if you are interested in some easy cash.

Dallin Dances!

2009-03-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

My Blue Eyed Boy

2009-03-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

I took some fun pictures of Dallin this week. He is 7.5 months old now! we are getting really excited to head back west for the summer and fall. We are going to miss a lot of new friends we've made out here, but we are excited to see old friends and family too! Ill try to keep my blog up. It will be fun to blog about home so you guys can see where i grew up! but until then enjoy some pictures of my little man. I dressed him like this just for uncle colton!

BOARDS this week!

2009-03-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Tuesday and Wednesday Nick took the longest hardest tests he has even taken in his entire life. We felt like this:

THANK GOODNESS its DONE! Now we feel like this.

LATE SNOW PICTURES

2009-03-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

We sure had fun in the snow.. It made me homesick! Dallin got to play in it for the first time! here he is having a taste! YUM BRRRR! (Tessa was being a drama queen and didnt want to come out and play because she couldnt find her pink hat. Sinker. But she came out later and built a snowman with dad.)

Dont You Torture Your Children Too?

2009-03-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

NEW DO!

2009-03-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

So I finally had it with my hair (mainly had it with Dallin pulling on it) and OFF it went! I went to a really nice place Jill recommend it to me! Thanks Jill! What do you all think??

I posted this last picture so you could see how my husband treats me behind my back! j.k He is making fun of me for taking pictures of my new hair cut! He keeps asking me if I like it, but i keep saying I dont know. I have to see what all my girl friends think! Men, they dont understand anything.

SUPER BABY!

2009-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

ENTERTAINMENT AT MY HOUSE!
NEED I SAY MORE?

ps yes that it a clean diaper on his head. =)

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!

2009-02-01T17:06:00.001-08:00

So let me tell you a story....

When Nick and I were first married (June 2003) we spent the summer living in a small camper trailer in Weston Idaho. A small rural area minutes from Preston Idaho. As I searched and searched for jobs, no one was hiring just for the summer but I ended up getting a job at Arctic Circle -a fast food joint in Preston Idaho. Yep a burger flipper (actually I never even made a hamburger the whole time I worked there just ice cream cones and shakes) So.. As I sat one day waiting patiently for a customer to come in we had an unusual visitor not wanting food, but requesting us for parts in an upcoming moving that was being made. (probably was the director or the producer or an assistant i cant remember) All the 16year olds I worked with jumped for joy! HA! I thought. What a scam! What kind of person would come to Preston Idaho and make a real movie. Its probably a high school project or something and I turned them down flat! Many moons later there it is.......

If you know it you probably think its hilarious.. if you don't then you'd probably hate it. As I sit uncomfortably through the movie and point out my co-workers I think to myself. It should have been me.. I could have been famous! (well to a small minority of people who even know what i am talking about) But there it was this weekend ON TV and I knew I had to tell the world! It could of been me! YOU could have KNOWN someone FAMOUS!

Tired Boy

2009-01-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

I just thought this was too funny. He loves his Johnny Jump Up and So do I! The only thing I don't like about it is, the only door frames we have are is in the hallway and I cant see him if I am in the kitchen or living room.. So yep he got forgotten about one evening and when I remember him it was too late. He had already gone to bed for the night! Too cute huh!

WE DID IT!

2009-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

WE FINALLY GOT OUR HOUSE ON THE MARKET!!!

Know anyone interested in moving into a great starter home in a quiet neighborhood? I would really love to see it adopted! And in walking distance from the temple!! What more could ya ask for?

Check out a picture tour online at:

WWW.BARTLETTHOME.BLOGSPOT.COM

Christmas Break 2008

2009-01-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

Well....... we were busy!

Here is a list of 5 things we did during Nicks holiday break.

#1 ENJOYED CHRISTMAS

#2 REPLACED HOT WATER HEATER, IT WENT OUT!! So nick just went to lowes and picked up a new one. By the way he did projects around here you'd think he'd actually installed a hot water heater before!

#3 nick built me a laundry room (well he already did the piping and moved the wall, but he finished it off with mud sanding and paint

#4 We got Dallin on Solids

#5
yard work. Lots of it. We wanted to make the yard look as nice a possible for showings.
I didnt think that pile was going to fit through the gate, but I did! Tessa was getting nervous I think!

Pictures just for my mom!

2008-12-27T18:23:00.001-08:00

My mom use to always put my hair up in curlers! Curlers remind me of her! I thought it would be cute to try on Tessa! Thanks mom for all the curler memories!

Roll Over

2008-12-21T16:09:00.000-08:00

I am so proud!

Dallin in the Jumper

2008-12-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

He just now fits!! (kind of)

Funny story:
So right after I took these I walked away to set the camera down and Tessa had wided him all up and let him go.. He was SPINNING 'ROUND & ROUND!! 100 miles an hour!! His eyes were almost rolling back in his head! I kind of freaked out and stopped him really fast and grabbed him out.His eye were still rolling back and forth -he was SO DIZZY! but nope he didnt even cry.. I could tell he didnt fell so good for a minute.. but then I just held him and he smiled at me! Must have been quite a ride!

FLASH FROM THE PAST

2008-12-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

My sweet friend did a blog post about me in our college days! OH and YES.. I am going to get back at her with some nice pictures from the box under by bed!! but for now.. I'll just say I love you too Aud!

but if you're bored and want to read a little tid bit about me from that past.. here ya go:

http://blog-smithing.blogspot.com/

LINNA MAE BLAIR (Dec 12th... )

precious moments

2008-12-11T11:11:00.001-08:00

Dallin updates:
He had his 4month check up. He is 17lbs and 25inches long. 90% in weight 50% in height! He now weighs at much as Tessa did at 11 months! NO WONDER MY BACK HAS BEEN KILLING ME LATELY!

SO PROUD!

2008-12-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

Tessa wrote her name for the first time! (Its not correct but its her first attempt to even write her name!) I was so excited! She has been making "T"'s for so long but when Miss Tiff and I saw this on her paper it about blew us away! After all shes not even three and a half yet! So I was needless to say very proud! Its kind of hard to see, but if you look close you can see it!

This is what she wrote on the back of. A cute little snowman craft! Tessa's preschool teacher works so hard on these great crafts with them! They always turn out so cute!! If you cant read what is says at the bottom- At night my snowman____then Tessa was suppose to fill in and she said "goes to church". Tessa LOVES church!!! She begs me to take her to church every time we get into the car! I am excited about her going into sunbeams at the first of the year!

Tessa Gets Chopped

2008-12-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

Yep. Tessa got a new hair cut. It actually just started out as a trim, but right when I snipped she heard the hair cutting and flipped her head around to see and i snipped vertical instead of horizontal! OOPS! and this is what I ended up with! Pretty cute I think, BUT totally the WRONG season for short hair! I should have chopped it off this summer!

MOM, Where's my hair! (Not sure about the transformation....)

Ok.. now i like it!

Its still long enough to pull back.

Thanksgiving!

2008-12-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

Finally thanksgiving pictures are up. You know its been a long time since we have had thanksgiving with family but the Marshall's were kind enough to take us in! Lots of food lots of friends what more could a person want on thanksgiving day!?!? THANKS MARSHALL FAMILY!

Doesn't that Look fancy!
Doug, Marcia and the Hills admiring the pies! (which were OH so good!)
The kidos hanging out watching a movie.
The happy soon to be parents!

Heather happy about her turkey left overs to go!

James and JJ (James Jr) and yes believe it or not thats really his son! =)
Tessa and Emma playing with the BIG doggie!
This is my attempt at a family pictures. (sorry no tessa, shes the real tricky one!)
The girls: (Heather, Keri, and Sheila, slaving away in the kitchen.)

Autum, Emma and Tessa again amazed at the BIG dog-Duchess
Look, just to get an idea of how big this dog is.. look at the table in the background! The dogs body is up to the table top no problem!
Chillin' babies (Charlotte and Dallin)
Me and candice

The End

A Tribute to Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

2008-12-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Passes: KSL.com

The oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has passed away. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin was 91 years old.

Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home last night and died peacefully at about 11:30 p.m. of causes incident to age.

According to the LDS Church Web site, his oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present. A member of the family had been staying with and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died in 2006.

He had experienced some difficulty walking in recent years, but had continued to work at his office up until the Thanksgiving holiday.

His son, Joe, told Utah's Morning News on KSL Newsradio, "He lived a life of full activity until the last breath."

He also said that his father touched many lives over the years, including a nurse at a hospital. "He was the reason she had gotten her life in order," he said. You can listen to KSL Newsradio's interview with Joe Wirthlin at the audio link on this page.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Elder Wirthlin was born in Salt Lake City on June 11, 1917. He graduated from the University of Utah in Business Administration and played football at the U.

Before his call as a General Authority, he was a prominent business leader and was also president of a trade association in Utah. He served a mission to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in the late 1930s. He was ordained an Apostle in 1986.

He married Elisa Young Rogers May 26, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of eight children. Sister Wirthlin passed away on August 16, 2006.

His last conference address is considered a classic by many. Titled "Come What May, and Love It," the address centered on reaction to adversity in life.

copy and paste link to read
“Come What May, and Love It,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 26–28
The way we react to adversity can be a major factor
in how happy and successful we can be in life.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=b5f44bb52a73d110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

HOUSE UPDATE

2008-11-26T15:45:00.001-08:00

Yippy we got new carpet! As most of you may know we bought a fixer upper house and boy have we been hard at work! This first picture was the day we moved in- aug. 12, 2006! We have been working on this house like crazy. We have spent all of our vacation time instead of visiting family and friends or resting we have worked! But finally we are done! Yes thats right! Yesterday carpet was laid and that was our LAST big project on the house! Now touch-ups and details and we are ready to sell! I hope all our work paid off!

THIS IS THE BEFORE PICTURE!! JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA!

AND HERE IS THE AFTER:
different angle

Dallin and Tessa liked it!

Tessa didnt take long to mess up her perfectly clean room!

Master bedroom:
ill have to post more updates pictures later..(before and after) but that's the carpet!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2008-11-21T20:09:00.001-08:00

ENJOY A LAUGH..

Diaper Cake

2008-11-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

So this is my second attempt to making a diaper cake. My friend Candice is having a baby girl and so I decorated it up with pink and brown. I didn't get a picture of my first attempt, but i remember the whole backside looked awful we had to put it against a wall. *oops sorry Tiff.. But i am getting better and better. If you want a lesson I would be more then happy to give a stab at it.. just BYOD! (bring your own diapers)

PRETTY PRETTY TESSA

2008-11-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

The photos with Tessa were MUCH harder. Sitting without falling over was not a problem. Sitting still was! So here is what I ended up with. Sorry there are a bunch. But i couldnt decided which ones to post.

Fall Photo Session

2008-11-06T07:16:00.001-08:00

I had the most beautiful fall weather out so I spruced up the kids and decided to take some pictures! I thought they turned out pretty cute. Dallin turned three months on election day! We are enjoying his very laid back and mellow personality.

Don't ya love his little brown suede suit? Yippy for consignment sales!

Big GUMMY SMILES!

*a special thanks for aunt Candi who is 30weeks prego and laying on the ground balancing him up so he doesn't tip over! Can't even see her arm can ya! We hid it under leaves!

Cake Walk

2008-11-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

WARD HALLOWEEN ACTIVITY

2008-11-01T08:09:00.001-07:00

What a NIGHT!
We had a really fun time at the ward activity! I actually enjoyed taking pictures and setting up a bit. My calling is on the activities committee but my job was flyer's and posters and that was done two weeks before. I tried to help out and watch Dallin and Tessa. But Dallin was screaming and Tessa was running around everywhere like a maniac and I couldn't get anything done. Thankfully, Candice came and saved my life by rocking my screaming baby to sleep in the mother lounge. Then later after clinic, Nick came and sat with Dallin and helped keep and eye on Tessa while I got judging the Halloween treats underway.
What a bunch of cute kids! Dallin hated his costume and it was off even before the activity was suppose to begin. But he made a very cute dalmatian puppy even just for a minute!

Here is Tessa doing the cake walk. I don't think she really gets it, but she thinks it fun to walk around in a circle over and over. I was glad when they started the cake walk game because for awhile there she actually stayed in one place!

The Easy Way Out

2008-10-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

So this year I totally took the easy way out. Instead of the big mess of carving
pumpkins we just painted them. This actually the first year I have ever done
this and I have to admit, I liked it. Its just not as fun at night with no glowing face.

Dallin's Hats

2008-10-25T08:49:00.001-07:00

So I took these pictures a few weeks ago and just forgot about them. I thought they were really cute though. I want Dallin to be a hat boy and I was told if you want them to wear a hat good you have to start them off young. As you can see he definitely did not like it at first but gradually we got him use to his hats. Some picture are just goofy and some are so dang cute!

WALL DECOR

2008-10-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

This post is for Audrey! Sorry about the glare, but at least you get the idea.. What do you think????

Hatching Butterflies

2008-10-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

Nick and I have the best home teachers! Brother Buntyn gave Tessa a butterfly hatching hit for her birthday in July. Since I was big, hot, grumpy, and pregnant we didn't get around to it until just a few weeks ago. Anyway.. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! They mail you these tiny caterpillars and you watch them grow and form their chrysalis shells and then they hatch in front of your eyes! I totally recommend it!
After they form their shell in the cup you move them to the net cage so you can watch them hatch......
Setting them free......

Saying Good Bye.........

PictureTag!

2008-10-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Yippy I got tagged. Thanks Dawn! So seven random things about me.. It will be hard to narrow it down to just seven.. =) hehe...

1.) I have been attacked by a donkey.. Yep, Jodie the donkey. She was our family pet. This is a picture of her and me during one of our many camping trips.. This donkey was the bomb! She let me dress her up, braid her hair, lay under her legs and was so gentle and sweet.. But one day out of the blue she got sick of it and attacked me. It was really scary!

2.) I love the electric guitar! This is my baby! I was practically married to it in college. I use to want to be a rock star! I haven't gotten it out of its zipper case this year! and only like out three times since we moved here! I know sad.. But I have just 1000 more things to do than I use to. Maybe when all my kids are grown and I am able to devote more practicing time, I will play again. THEN I CAN be a rocking grandma!

3.) I love football. Not to watch on TV. To play! I use to be the quarterback of an intramural flag football team.. I could throw! That's how I got nick to fall in love with me! I specifically remember playing catch with him and having a conversation about dating. (we were only friend then) I said, "Guys don't want to date girls that can throw a football better than them!" Thats why I wasn't married or something.. Well... we all know who thought it was HOT! *picture (not from that time period! The below picture was my sophomore year of high school during powder puff)

4.) I was born on the back of a horse! Ok not literally.. but I have been riding horses since I was a baby! I love horses. I always have, but developed allergies in high school so my passion died down. We always kept horses though, we are down to one now at my parents house and shes getting old. But I really want Tessa to grow up with horses too. I will have to drug myself up but I think it is an important distraction. I don't want her growing up too fast and getting into boys and make up. It seem like the little girls now are wanting to be older so much younger. I was a late bloomer with boys and makeup and I really think the horses and the country helped with that. (Picture me and my big sister Amanda)

By 7 yrs old I was ridding all by myself! I could do it all except I needed help with the cinch. (This picture I was only ~2!)

5.) I love impressionist art! I love Claude Monet.. I wish I could oil paint because I would hang it all up all over my house! its a good thing I cant then, because my house would look like a museum if i did! Impressionist art is a style in which the artist captures the image of an object as someone would see it if they just caught a glimpse of it. some of my favorites:
6.) Something most people don't know about me is I have a chopped off finger. Well, not the whole thing. Just the tip.. Yeah I accidentally cut it off when I was 7 years old on some farming machinery. I couldnt find a very good picture of it. But its my middle finger on my left hand.. we call him stubby!

7.) I have a fear of amusement parks. Mainly its the rides. (I think its more of a fear of heights. And most rides are way up high!) Anyway I was forced to go on the Twister at 6 flags when I was 10 and that's where it all started. (Twister is the biggest roller coaster in the world! I seriously thought i was going to die. I remember praying to Heavenly Father pleading that he would help me make it out alive! I lived and I have never forgot Him for that!

I tag YOU! If you looked at my post then you have been tagged!! =) i want to see more pictures!

FLOODED!

2008-10-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

Every time it rains our backyard gets flooded! Most people around here have pools in their backyards, we just have one that moves!!!! ITS A LOT OF FUN AS YOU CAN SEE!!!! (i just hope the water NEVER gets too deep and onto our patio and into the house!!

HAPPY 2 MONTH BIRTHDAY!

2008-10-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Yep, today Dallin is 2 months old. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?? So if you think he looks like a big baby boy that's probably because he is a big baby boy! Almost out of 0-3m clothes and into 3-6! Daddy is excited about his future football player!

EXHAUSTED!

2008-10-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Is it thanksgiving break yet?? Our family is tried and definitely needs some vacation time. Definition of vacation: in reference to seeing daddy at home - not studying and awake!

School days have been long and more than half the week I don't even see him until 8pm some nights! Hopefully Tessa is still awake so he can kiss her goodnight just in time for bed. But Nick is an awesome guy! Even when he is tried and starving he still takes time to help me out and rock the baby!

Tessa's Hair

2008-09-28T18:33:00.001-07:00

Tessa loves to do her own hair. Just beautiful huh! I couldnt resist that smile.. Dont mind the scabbed up chin. Just another war wound.