The awesomeness of Women

Women.

Why are women so awesome?

-We are multi-taskers.
-We are creative.
-We look better in dresses than men. I'm just stating facts here.
-We make the best chocolate chip cookies in all the land. Or at least my mom does.
-We have children. Enough said.

You see I have a newfound respect for women these days.

But I have an even greater amount of respect for women who are willing to do the things that I refuse to do. Not because I can't. I just...how do I say this...don't want to.


Canning.

Pears to be exact.

I had never attempted canning before this year. And to be completely honest..all I really did was peel some pears. But that was enough for me.

Lots of them.

Not that I don't appreciate family time and all. Or pears. But canning is not fun. No sir.

Aw look how cute she is..so happy to be canning.

My sister in law...she could've been a pioneer with those skills.

The women in my family are so...womanly. We all chatted while peeling and jarring our pears and it was right out of a 1950's movie. But all I could think about was, "Why the heck do we do this? Do I really love pears so much than I'm willing to spend hours preparing them for winter months? Isn't that what the canned fruit section at Fresh Market is for?"

Also does canning really save $$ because when you add up buying the jars, lids, produce, sugar, canning equipment, and hours of labor..just wondering.

Even baby Hugh was loving it.

Am I so unwoman-like that I hate this tradition? I am even willing to admit that it's a great one..just not when I have to do it.

So I have officially decided I was not meant to be a pioneer. Because not only would I be forced to beat our house rugs outside with a stick and (or while) churning butter...it would probably be required that I also participate in the glories of canning so that our family wouldn't starve. This led me to informing Andrew last night that we most definitely WOULD starve if that was the case. I have rights.

That's why I would now like to publicly declare that I'm happy to be living in 2011. A time where I have options. And a Fresh Market down the street. I like the canned fruit aisle..even if I never go down it.

And I'm happy to settle with only eating what's in season. I vow to not complain about my barren peach tree.

Women. Ahem. Other women..the canning type of women, are awesome.

Leaves and Marshmallows

"Come," said the Wind to the Leaves one day.
"Come over the meadow and we will play.
Put on your dresses of red and gold.
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Tonight we went up Little Cottonwood Canyon to spend some quality time with the fam.  It was gorgeous.  Fall in all it's glory.

Love love love

Ahh can't you smell the fresh mountainy air?

 I couldn't get enough of it..I really should go camping more.  Maybe when it gets warmer..ha.

Family time is always a good time.

We just sat around for hours eating tinfoil dinners, s'mores, and freshly picked Utah pears.

Who doesn't l-o-v-e fall?  Send them to me..I will make them a believer.

Elle was in heaven...marshmallow heaven.

"If you want to be happy, be."

My two babes and a busy weekend

Weekend Highlights:

* Ellie showed off her spin moves to the whole family.  If she's sitting on the ground while we feed her, she takes a bite of food, spins around in a circle, takes another bite, does another spin..you get the idea.  It is awesome.

* On Friday it was the 2 year anniversary since we got engaged so we celebrated at Costa Vida.  Horchata and Queso are family favorites.

*With my two brothers visiting we saw Kung Fu Panda 2 and watched a lot of Modern Family.

* Ellie impressed all of us by throwing up on herself 5 minutes after we got to church.

* While on a run I found a yardsale where everything was $1.00, but the only thing I wanted was a chair that wasn't for sale.  Yardsale FAIL.

* I shed a tear when I went outside to pick peaches only to find a massacre under the tree where birds attacked all my precious fallen fruit.  Peach Cobbler days are over.

9/23/2009 We were in flight when Andrew proposed! Best.Day.Ever

Confessions of a paint obsessed girl

Paranoid.

I don't know what it is.  Maybe because I saw those ads for that TV movie "The Craigslist killer" or because everytime I read the news something that we always think could never happen..happens.  Like a plane crashes into an elementary school.  Or a bear attacks an unsuspecting woman while gardening.  You know..the legit stuff.

Anyway, the point is I think I've been a little on edge lately.

Lately as in...forever.   

While in Hawaii we were snorkeling in a bay called "Shark's cove" and I just knew that I was going to have my arm bitten off while looking at coral reef or some clown fish.  Apparently they say the name comes from the cove being shaped like the tail of a shark.  But was I really going to care about the origins of the name when I only had one arm?  I don't think so. I saw Soul Surfer and if we're getting real here I'll just tell you straight up I would not be that cool if a shark bit my arm off.

Last week was when I actually realized my paranoia may have reached an extremely high level of ridiculousness.

I listed a dresser for sale on KSL classifieds.  Harmless, right? People sell stuff all the time.  No biggie.  Until this man called and asked if he could come look at it.  So while he's on his way over I casually analyze that he didn't say anything about a wife.  Or a woman coming with him.  And I'm a woman alone in a house with a small child.  Perfect scenario for the ksl killer, right? Right.

"Unsuspecting woman attacked by strange man while trying to sell furniture"

Headlines for some reason are always flashing in my brain like a neon sign that just keeps getting brighter.  Ten minutes later I have a plan mapped out for how I will avoid this soon to be traumatic situation.  A million questions are going through my brain and I'm sweating because I'm nervous.  How can I carry a large knife in my back pocket for protection without it being obvious?  Should I have someone on the phone when I answer the door?  Is there any point to making dinner?  Why the freak do we not have any pepperspray?

Finally..before my already insane mind can get the best of me, the doorbell rings.

And there he was.

The alleged ksl killer was actually a very nice, well-dressed man wearing a BYU football shirt. Turns out he was a bishop with a lovely wife and four kids.  And he sold insurance.  And while I helped him load the dresser into his truck he and I joked that BYU better win against Utah because it would be really embarrassing if they didn't. 

And that my friends is exactly what too much tv will do to you.  No more lifetime movies for this girl.  Uh uh.

Meanwhile..I managed to paint some canisters in my spare time.

Not very exciting.

This was a glass cookie jar before I spray painted it green.

Well I feel better.

What doesn't kill you..

I think it's safe to say I'm an impulsive person.

I've been staring at this wall in my living room for weeks...it's sort of opposite the tv so it's hard to miss. 

There was something wrong with it. 

But it's possible there could be something wrong with me instead.  My house has so much going on that I think I'm just bored by looking at a plain, painted wall.  I don't know if that's normal.

Am I normal?

So yesterday around 3pm I decided enough was enough..something had to be done.

So I started taping..not exactly sure what direction I'd end up in.  By the way, I believe the fastest way to start hating life is to tape a design on your wall.  Taping is crap.  Just crap.  Obviously you can see by the bottom stripes I was losing patience.

But then I began to make progress!

I had some help.

The final stripe on the bottom only took myself and Newman (the best taper in all the land) about an hour to tape.  An hour!  It only took me ten minutes to do the top stripes by myself and I just eyeballed it.  We even measured the bottom stripe and it took a lifetime.  Also I really love Newman who told me I looked really good and then I felt compelled to confess that the only thing I'd eaten all day was some Queso from Costa Vida.  Seriously that stuff is the best. 

Moving on...

I think it looks awesome!

Ellie loves it too.

What do you think?

the girl who ate everything

Oh she looks innocent enough..

This little thing is quite mischievous.

She goes for anything electronic..ipod, television, laptop.  She's not picky.

And it seems like she's always putting something in her mouth.

This is fine.

But the other day I found her chewing on a dead moth.

Gross I tell you.  It was just gross.

Today I was feeding her some bananas while she was standing next to me and for no reason at all she started licking my leg.  And then she tried to bite me.

Like I was a piece of turkey or something.

Who is this child?!

Okay she's mine.

See the thing is...I was hoping she'd be a lot like me.

A mini me of sorts. 

I'm kind of a food snob.  I don't ever go to places like Taco Bell or McDonald's, because the truth is I think it's garbage.  Any restaurant that can't claim that their meat is at least 30% real makes me feel all barfy inside.

So I guess I just kind of assumed Ellie would have my tastes.  I think maybe it's time I accept that in this respect she may just be more like Andrew.

That's not a bad thing at all.  And just to clarify, Andrew doesn't eat moth's or random things off the floor.  But he does like pretty much everything when it comes to food.  I suppose that's a good thing although I'll never understand it. 

But they are both pretty adorable.

And cooking should be verrry easy. 

So I should probably stop stressing about it and start appreciating that she has exceptional taste buds.

Although I can never be okay with eating dead insects.

Ralph and the Giant Peach

This is our garden.  Well, it's mostly our peach tree and then a little bit of garden.

But we like it just the same.

Especially the Zombie scarecrow.  Except he's not really that effective.

See what I mean?

Since when do birds like tomatoes?  Dumb birds.

Sadly, Ralph the Zombie has also been pretty weak defending the peaches.

They're falling left and right. I'm just not fast enough.

Peaches are so good though.  Have you had one lately?

Breakfast.

Lunch.

Dinner.

Oh Ralph.

Great quote from another Ralph:
"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't feed the animals

This is some serious stuff people.

When Ellie's hungry, she means business.

This ain't no time to be foolin' around folks.  Cause if you don't give her those nasty mashed up peas or pureed bananas when she wants it...

Watch. Out.

And she's not a slow eater.  Oh no.  She doesn't have time to waste.  People to see.  Things to do. 
You know..the usual.

She is a Giraffe..NOT a cow.

Fortunately..once you give her what she wants when she wants it she is a happy camper.  Or Giraffe I guess.

Easy Peasy.

Light and Breezy.

Be careful though...these animals can be dangerous (to your wallet or pantry) and are likely to attack at any given moment.

Don't make any sudden movements.

Luckily, once feeding time has ended, we find the Giraffe is content and ready to resume life in the wild.

Naptime?