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My Ideal Year:  

1. All together skip January.  What a terrible month this is.  Why would you keep January?  This is the month I have to adjust to my husband being gone constantly, the weather is lame, and Christmas is over.  It's only redeeming quality was Martin Luther King Day but since I'm no longer in school this is not as exciting as it formally was.  (Forgive my extreme lack of respect for using this day to escape an education I should have been appreciating and not celebrating a great man.)  Also, my apologies go to my father, for he will no longer have a birthday.

2.  February is a tough one.  I cannot skip it completely because you have Valentine's Day.  Although notoriously an unfortunate day for me, I am determined.  Last year was much better and I very much look forward to when Elizabeth starts school and I have a good excuse to adorn my heart with lace and pearls.

3.  So we skip from Valentine's/President's Day Weekend to March 2oth.  Ah, springtime.  One could not skip this time of year.  The turning from winter to spring is something I will have been longing for for at least 3 months.  The blossoms peek out from their bud cocoons, the birds start chirping, and I slowly day by day tip toe out from hibernating to enjoy the transformation.

4.  I would then transport myself to April.  April is a pleasant month.  I love the rain.  I think I could live out every day of April in happiness.  

5.  Jumping next to memorial day weekend.  This long weekend always seems to be the source of some of the most fun times of the year.  Why, I'm not sure.  Maybe it's linked to the nostalgia of school getting out and the smell of summer upon us.  I like summer.

6.  But only till about...here, July 4th, with the exception of my mother's birthday.  So I'll go through June celebrate a few birthdays of note and overdosing on the pool and anything sweet and cold.  Celebrate July 4th with the greatest rodeo on earth...although Rob is a perennial scrooge of all things holidays...and skip to the end of August.

7.  Oh sweet August you have arrived.  Memories of wonderfully awful summer camps, family reunions, and newly sharpened pencils.  My birthday of coarse makes this a great time to be alive.  Followed quickly by our anniversary.  Lovely.  August I couldn't skip you, who else has two full moons?

8.  Which brings me to September and October.  Autumn.  Let me count the ways...this is the belt to my slacks, the shell to my turtle, the bananas to my french toast!!  Sitting on the porch on a crisp rainy day, reading and drinking cider.  This is what my heaven will be like.  I think I should move to Washington where, unlike here, this is not the exception but the rule.  Among all the glory of leaves changing, football games, the first snow, and Halloween, we also have my hubby's birthday...which I just might enjoy more than he does.

9.  So we skip from October 25th to November 25th.  My sisters birthday followed or preceded closely by a wonderful face stuffing, thanks giving, turkey roasting, pumpkin loving holiday.  Then bring on the bevy of birthdays.  

10.  Lastly we leave out the dreary early weeks of December that just taunt and torment you in a lethargic count down to The Most Wonderful Tiiiiime of the Year.  Where we spend way too much money and time totally forgetting the meaning of Christmas.  But ahh, how I love it.  I cannot tell a lie.  Who doesn't love getting bundled up to go ice skating with hot cocoa.  Or decorating the tree!  Or just spending time with our loved ones singing silly carols and stuffing stockings.  What a splendid way to end the year. 

So Autumn, although some mourn the loss of summer, I embrace you and will revel in my most beloved time of the year.  If anyone loves it as much as I do, come over, and I'll make you fresh wassail.

Loud Noises!

So we've been having tons of fun at the Neilson house lately. Baby has been entertaining us all day long. First of all, last night baby slept from 8:30 till 7:00! Rejoice in your rejoicing! So I went in at 7:00 to unwrap her from her baby straight jacket, she smiled, giggled, and tooted as I lovingly unraveled her layers, turned on some music and gave her something to play with. She played in her crib until 7:45 when we went in to get her for the morning. (If you want to join us in all our sleeping glory buy 12 hours of sleep by twelve weeks old, it's an awesome book) So while Rob and I were hanging out waiting for 7:45 to go get her, she was having a grand old time talking 100 miles a minute to Hugo (her dog) and Gajah (her elephant). I wish I had a sound byte of what we heard. We were cracking up. Anyway, things have just been so fun and so bittersweet as we watch her grow. Her newest accomplishment is, yes you guessed it, ROLLING! I can't believe how excited I got as I watched her roll over during tummy time today. I don't know what came over me but I was squealing with elation, jumping up and down, followed quickly by an assault of kissing. Baby was just as excited as I was, not about rolling over because I'm pretty sure she was thinking what the...just happened?...but my reaction to something she did made her ecstatic. So from giggling and talking, rolling over, constantly grabbing her feet and eating her hands, attacking her animal friends when the get anywhere near her mouth, and sleeping through the night...this is definitely my favorite age yet.

Let me count the ways...

More pics of my little cutie. I'm excited that she can sort of wear big girl clothes. We got these 0-3 month jeans on loan (thanks ashley) and the top is a sagging 3-6 month. It's really amazing. Certainly these 0-3 month pants are better than her 3-6 months but still when I pick her up they almost fall off her little non-existant belly. Our little teeny weeny. Well, we can't get enough of her so come over and visit because I'm sure she's had enough of us! Xoxo... PS - How do you make an orange laugh?

Will the real Sarah Palin please stand up?

So I'll admit SNL has taken a dive since...well, like 1998. Not to say that this is any sort of a comeback because don't get too excited, this isn't that funny, but when I saw a still frame of this I seriously thought it was Sarah Palin. So I guess good work Tina Fey...for looking like someone you could make fun of. Haha, it is pretty funny.

Yikes

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Created by OnePlusYou - Online Dating Service

Missed like 212 that were left! Woops...if I could spell at all this might have been easier...I thought it was hard. See how you do...

P90X

Challenge: To get back to my pre-wedding body (not just pre baby).
Means by which I will accomplish this: P90X Extreme complete body ripping program.

Motivation: I want to look better and feel better. Saying that having a baby is hard on your body is an understatement. Having a baby destroys your body! Don't get me wrong I wouldn't take it back for anything, but it's time to do something about it. I've been talking about this for months and I'm finally doing it. There are lots of work out programs out there that promise in only 5 minutes a day you can have the body you've always wanted! Right...P90X takes a harsher but more honest approach. They tell you this is going to be the hardest thing you've ever put your body through and that you must be very dedicated. But don't you find that the things most worth having are never easy? Well, I'm going for it and I'm determined to get results. By the end of this year you're going to see me on an infomercial with boths legs in one side of my pants! :) K, so it might not be that drastic but I did take some before pictures and believe me if I wasn't motivated before, I most certainly am now! If I'm brave enough, when I'm done with the program I'll post them. I know by posting this I'm putting myself in a tough position. It's like when you tell everyone you're going to quit smoking. Everytime I see someone they'll ask me how it's going and be looking me up and down for results. That's what I want. I need as many people to keep me in line as possible. So bye bye size 10, hello size 26 Rockin Republics.

Could Be The Best Room Ever.

A wall of books, everywhere else windows, a piano, and beautiful architechure...what else do you need? Well, maybe an oversized ridiculously comfortable sofa but...it's pretty much perfect. Look how the bookshelves are pretty much just an extension of the ceiling. Loooove it. I need a room like this in my house someday.

More of our little lovely.

What About Rob?

My Age:
Place I've Traveled:
Place I'd Like to Travel:
Favorite Place:
Favorite Object:
Favorite Food:
Favorite Animal:
Favorite Color:
Town I was Born:
City I Live Now:
Pets:
Past Love:
Bestfriends Nickname:
My First Job:
My Screen Name:
My First Name:
My Middle Name:
My Last Name:
Bad Habit:
My Grandmother's Name:
My College Degree:
What I'm Doing Right Now:

Are you serious?

I'm not quite sure how we got to be so lucky...I cannot put into words how much joy this sweet face brings to my life everyday.

Tastebud Alert.

Good ol' fashioned Cheesecake

Crust:

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
3/4 cup finely chopped vanilla wafers
2 tablespoons melted butter

Filling:

1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
1 1/3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
16 ounces sour cream
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Crust Directions:
1. Mix all nuts and vanilla wafer crumbs with melted butter and press into a 9 inch buttered springform pan, trying to line the sides as much as possible about 1 1/2" up the sides of the pan, set aside.

Cheesecake Directions: (follow precisely or you'll get lumps my dears!)
1. All the filling ingredients should be at room temperature.
2. Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy with an electric mixer set on low (keep the setting at low during the entire mixing process).
3. Add the sugar a little at a time and continue beating until creamy.
4. Add one egg at a time and beat after each egg.
5. Add flour, vanilla and lemon juice, mix well.
6. Add the sour cream and beat well.
7. Pour cream cheese mixture into the springform pan.
8. Place on the top rack in the middle of a 325 degrees preheated oven for 1 hr and 15 mins.
9. When time is up, prop open oven door and leave in oven for 1 hr.
10. Remove from oven and let cool then refrigerate for 24 hours.
Remember this important tip : A cheesecake should season. The wait is worth it. The flavor ripens and becomes enriched.

BTW Dareth if you wanted cheesecake more on the funky side I have that too.

Good luck to all, bring me samples of your results!

Happy Weekend to Me...

So for my birthday Margaret came down and babysat Etta so Rob and I could go to the temple for the first time in months. As much as we love our little one it was so nice to spend some quality time with my dearest. Afterwards we went out for some yummy Thai food where I got to indulge in my most favorite mango and sticky rice dessert! The following Monday was our 2 year anniversary so we had a low key day and made a big home cooked meal with the best steaks of all time! The next day we went out to dinner with family at La Vigne...needless to say I had a pampered weekend of celebrating!

Thanks to Mom for this:

Robbie for this:

And to KuJack (that's your new celebrity couple name) for this:

A Hearty Little Meal To Robbies Liking...and Martinelli's To Mine!

So here we are, it's been two years, and we are so blessed. Between our first baby, first home, and so many other new adventures, we've gone through a lot together. I do have to say that there is no on else I could've or would've wanted to experience it all with. When Robbie and I first started dating it was a little rocky...not exactly love at first sight. We even had to break up to get it right. When we got engaged I still couldn't completely imagine the life we were going to have. However, once we got married our relationship came full circle and I felt at that moment we were really one and I could feel a tangible change in Rob's countenance towards me immediately. It took that final commitment of being sealed in the temple to give of ourselves completely and at that moment I was sure I could do anything with this amazing man beside me. It has proven true and I can't wait to spend two more years towards eternity with you my dear.

From our first dates, to getting engaged, taking out my endowments, getting married, going on our honeymoon, and having a baby...here's us till now in a nutshell.