Christmas eve singing around the piano. Dave is a talented piano player. Mark and I on our flutes? Not so much.

She likes black bean hummus a lot. But if you give her her own bowl of it, it gets messy.

Our attempt to get a picture on Christmas Sunday before church.

We have done lots more, like sledding, sleeping, eating, eating, skiing, working and playing.
Love the holidays. Love 'em!

Winds of change

Mark and I had been hoping for a change, just something, in our lives. It came unexpectedly, not in a way we were thinking it would come...me getting a job. I'm working full time for an awesome company, Steals Network that has 3 websites:

BabySteals.com
Kidsteals.com
(you'll have to refresh this page or it will show you an old item)
Scrapbooksteals.com

I am doing the customer service for Kidsteals. I'm still getting used to things, but get to work mostly from home, which is SO nice.

It has really changed things around our house, so busy and things are different every day with both Mark and I working mainly from home, but also needing to go into the office sometimes. It was not an easy decision for me to make, but see it as the best thing for our family right now.

Already I appreciate my time with Siri and Mark's hard work so much more.

And if you know us, you know there is always time for fun. Mark went snowboarding today and Siri and I went to the Library. She freaks out when I make her leave, so I'm usually running out while she wails in my arms. Last week we ventured out to check the mail and visit the neighbors in the freeeeezing cold.

We went swimming at Cottonwood Heights and went to Temple Square for a concert and to stroll the lights.

Today Siri had her 15 month appt which included 4 shots. It was basically a crying fest, but she is happy and snug in her bed now.

I hope you all are doing great, enjoying family, giving of your time and talents, and eating good food. This is a beautiful time of year and I am thankful for it.

.Ode to a Snu.

Okay, so it's been several months now since I have actually posted something of my own (thanks Ali for keeping this thing going) and I also read/heard somewhere that blogging is "cheaper than therapy" so here goes. (But I was kind of hoping to lie on the couch instead of here at the table...)

Short and sweet version: Siri saved the day.

Long-winded, verbose, possibly therapeutic version:

I was kind of having an off day - you know, one of those days where you simply are there, you simply exist - and so I wasn't feeling too high on myself. Top that with a sub-par personal performance and another week without a "W" in our b-ball rec league and the day was looking rather bleak. After the game, Ali went to watch the Biggest Loser with her sister, Liz, and so it was just me and the Nu (one of Siri's innumerable nicknames, which never make any sense but are sure fun to say). After we cleaned up a bit and got everything ready for bedtime, I started reading some books to her. We had to of read about six books (or maybe two books three times) when, out of nowhere, Siri turns around to face me, pulls out her bink, leans into me and gives me a kiss. Twice. It was one of the sweetest things she has ever done and it completely changed the entire day around. So cool.

There have been other times when Siri will do something for me because she knows or, at least can sense, that something is amiss with me and she wants to help. I couldn't believe how insightful this experience was. It's definitely times like this that reaffirm the eternal love of our Creator and demonstrates how close He really is to each of us every day.

So here is a tribute to the Nu. Thanks for taking care of me.

Thanksgiving

We had an awesome Thanksgiving! This weekend has been dreamy. Having Mark home four days in a row, eating decadently, cleaning the house, and decorating for Christmas.

I made coconut cream pie, banana cream pie, yams, and yummy orange cranberry rolls


we had pie night with cousins


we had a perfect afternoon at my mom & johns.
our dinner was out of a magazine, eating on fancy china with name tags and all.


Siri wore her cute snowflake dress from Grandma Carol today

the beginning of the month we rode bikes along highway 40 into Kamas

we took some family pics tonight, we'll post them soon.
until then, this is Siri post photoshoot, just reading to herself on her box.

I love technology

Let me start by saying I love technology

I've thought about getting Lasik eye surgery before. Afterall, I've had glasses and/or contacts since kindergarten and don't know what it's like going camping or having a sleepover without worry if someone is going to step on my (very thick) glasses.

you can stop laughing now. stop it!

me and my cute grandpa

About two or three years ago I went to Hoopes-Alldredge and the Eye Institute of Utah to see if I could even be a candidate. Both places said no but that it may still be possible in the future. My friend Tim just got Lasik and highly recommended LasikPlus. I had to wait to make an appt because I was still nursing Siri and they make you wait six weeks to make sure your hormones are back to normal. I made my appt and they didn't like the shapes of my corneas. The Dr described it as a 'beer belly' on my eye...a spot where it was a lot steeper than the rest. After wearing glasses for two week it turns out that my contacts had been warping and misshaping my eyes.

They told me on Friday that my eyes looked great and were back to normal and I could get Lasik. They only do surgery on Fridays and had an open spot that very day and I would save $400 by going at that time. I went home and talked it over with Mark and two hours later I was staring into a crazy blinking orange light squeezing a stuffed monkey praying that I would be ok and things would go well.

15 minutes after I walked in (and thousands of dollars later), I walked out with plastic shields on my eyes and could not stand the light outside. Mark took me home and I kept my eyes closed until the next morning. A freakin' miracle. I was so excited to wake up, look over, and see my alarm clock- 6:19am, 6:21am, 6:40am...I couldn't go back to sleep. I had little butterflies in my tummy. I can SEE!

I love technology.

I also love treats. A lot.


I went overboard, again, one night last month and felt disgusted with myself. I had probably eaten five servings of dessert and it just made me feel so crappy (physically and mentally). So, I decided to see if I could go 30 days with no treats. (Yes, still sugar, just none of the extra stuff...like the baked goods and candy that I love). Today is day 30 and what a good feeling I have. I did cheat a few times. Homemade donuts on Halloween, dessert for Mark's birthday, and a bowl of homemade ice cream. I had decided beforehand on two of the three occasions, so I feel like I only cheated once.

What I learned: Eating goodies is a very social and happy habit to me and others. Baking is a hobby that I love, but shouldn't spend too much time on. I also learned how to recognize what I'm doing when reaching for a cookie. Before it was a thoughtless action. Cookie, eat, cupcake, eat, candy, eat. I will most definitely be eating pie for Thanksgiving, but I now feel more in control of my actions and am so much better and saying no and feeling good about it.

I just realized I'm either crazy or balanced because here are two food blogs that I follow:

Confessions of a Bake-a-holic
and
Green shakes and giggles

I highly recommend doing a 30 day challenge yourself, with any habit you want to break or implement. If you commit to 30 days you have enough time to break or start a habit and it isn't overwhelming...like no sugar for a year or forever (rolling my eyes, yeah right).

He's 27

Yesterday was Mark's birthday. (In November there are seven birthdays between our two families)! I LOVE birthdays. And when its your husbands birthday, you get to share in the goodies and parties just as much as if it were your own. We were so happy to get together with friends for dinner and games on Saturday. T-Rex Spit is the funniest card game I have ever seen! Sandy made her carrot cake and homemade ice cream for all of us.

Sunday I made baked french toast. Church as usual and then home for more yummy food (fried cream cheese wontons... didn't feel so hot after those). We read a bunch of our new book. Yes, we've been sucked into the Twilight craze. We had dinner at my brother's and it was so fun with all the siblings and kids, especially watching Izac and Connor wrestle and Siri stand in awe at the noisy kids running around her. Mark got some great phone calls and generous gifts, including a gift cert to his beloved Lonestar taco joint.

Thanks for being born Mark and for choosing me to be your sidekick. Love you, like, a whole bunch (times a kajillion).

It was a happy Halloween...

Red, White + Blue

Love the American flag - So much purpose, symbolism, and energy in it. Here are a few snappers I got at my hotel in San Francisco a month ago. Born in the USA!

new hat

I got Siri a new hat on Friday for the cold weather. She likes to wear it, all the time, even at church today. You can see her having fun yesterday if you click here.

Miracle Baby

Siri 1 week old

It's good to get a glimpse into other people's lives...it often makes me more grateful. From not being able to get pregnant, losing newborns, or having kids with disabilities, I find our little girl to be a miracle. She's alive and healthy.

A couple we went to high school with are working to raise money to help find a cure for the disease their little boy has. If you can, please donate!

Click here to see their story and donate

St. George last weekend. Rollerblading, tennis, shopping, beautiful jogs in the morning, Sandy's yummy french toast. I thought about staying an extra day, but was SO glad we didn't...Siri got really sick the morning after we got home.

The boys after Priesthood session

Oktoberfest at Snowbird. We've gone every year since I can remember. Mark started coming along when we started dating in high school. This year they had an awesome band, and as usual, way overprice (but good) food.

Me & the Snu

Siri & I went up to the Cecret Lake trail at Alta for a little while towards sunset. Ali was up at her cabin with her family so it was just me and the Snu. I introduced her to bouldering, which she picked up very quickly until she lost her shoe and then started to cry. Tough as nails, eh? It was such a nice night to be up the canyon with all the colors changing and the sensuous smells of autumn. It was great to be with her although we both sorely missed the Mamma Bear!

More of the Snu...

It's amazing how much she has grown and learned in the past few months. She is getting more and more sophisticated....not sure how I feel about that! But I love it when she wants to play, which is almost all the time.

Past few days..

We went to my Mom's work party at the Lindon aquatic center.

They had a flowrider we got to try out. It was great since we got there early and had it all to ourselves. We both tried boogie boarding and the surf side. Of course Mark was a natural. We swam all afternoon and ate yummy Hawaiian food.

Siri doesn't mind the goggles.
Too bad Michael Phelps is so much older, they would have made a great couple.

For Siri's first birthday Mark made crepes for breakfast, we went swimming before the downpour of rain, and had a little party at Milt & Sandy's.

marks pics are the best, ever. see more pictures HERE

She got a sweet snowsuit from Grandpa and Grandma Kusterle.

Siri Carol 365 days old

On our way to the hospital 9.13.2008

still doesn't like cantalope

splashing away

Happy Birthday Sirbir. We love you! -momma and daddy