Baby Babbles Boutique

My friend Lix is incredible! Not only was she the greatest friend in college and the only reason I survived (literally)... and passed (yikes!)... my classes, she is a master seamstress!!! Lately, I've been racking my brain, trying to figure out how I can have my own business and work for myself. The annoying thing about being a teacher is everything else BUT teaching. Alixa, always being one step ahead, and incredible, has created her own business, http://www.babybabblesboutique.com/. She always has been one of the most talented people I know. She is an incredible friend, never falters, she is smart, responsible, and funny. She takes care of people, is hard-working, and an amazing teacher... she taught me everything I know. I'm serious. None of those damn BYU professors believed in me... but Lix always did.

On her new business venture, she has been making the cutest baby stuff I've ever seen. (No offense Chey at Gymboree or the crafters at the Bungalow Boutique in Heber <-- Just another reason for Lixi lou to move to Heber... and sell her stuff at the Bungalow Boutique, obviously making the most sales and profit because her stuff will be the cutest and highest quality. And, there's a Beto's now for Jarom... I'm just sayin'.) Anyway, back to the topic at hand, http://www.babybabblesboutique.com/ is the perfect place to buy the highest quality and cutest (as noted above) baby stuff EVER! She makes EVERYTHING! Cute hats, bows, flowers, headbands, carseat canopys, baby blankets and I'd bet she would do custom orders if there was something in particular you had in mind for that special little wee one in your life or if you were insanely particular like my big sis Kel. :)

So, in conclusion, the holidays are coming up, Alixa is amazing, and you should order cute baby stuff from her website: http://www.babybabblesboutique.com/. I'm just sayin'.

The joy of thumbs

When Denver was out of town last week, I spent A LOT of time over at Katie and Rode's. They are so sweet to always let me in and practically live there while Den is gone. We did a lot of eating, a lot of watching Prisonbreak Season 1 (Best. Show. Ever. If you haven't watched it. You need to.), and my wonderful siblings nursed me back to a healthy mental state after my first day of school melt down. Saturday we went to the Winterton's and had a BBQ. We ate delicious brats, yummy salads, and a pretzel jello salad to top it off! (Thank you Heather VG!) Sunday afternoon, after church, we were all ravenous, so we pulled out the left overs to find a wrinkled strange looking half-eaten brat. It made us all laugh, but Katie in particular took a liking to this brat. Needless to say, because it was Katie, we all had a good laugh...
In other news, my husband has quite the green thumb! In the beginning of the summer, he planted our garden. Everyone told us we were too late and nothing would grow. Well, poo poo... Denver did it! I went out to the garden last week while trying to come up with something for dinner... Look at all of the wonderful things I found! Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, yellow squash, green onion, and state fair, award winning size zucchini! Yeah, my husband is amazing!

The company I keep when Denver is out of town...

Let's be real. I'm a fairly weird individual. Always have been, always will be. This is why Katie and I get along so well... we're weird. (No offense, Kate). So, when Denver is out of town, I have limited company here at this residence. But the company I do keep is pretty entertaining. The hound. The Gundog. My little puppy. This morning, Denver left to to Europe on a business trip. yeah, he's kind of a big deal. Anyway, this afternoon, Gunner and I had a little photo shoot that for some reason had me in stitches
He's just so regal.

Say Cheese!

Sidenote: For those of you that are thinking I never post and when I do, they're totally lame posts: I am technologically challenged. I inherited this trait from my father. Thanks, Dad. Some people already know this about me. I'm sure Alixa was there the day my professor told me so. It's true. So, the reason I hardly post is because I usually start a post, can't figure out this stupid computer nonsense and give up. Getting this post up has taken me two weeks! Stupid, stupid computers...

Dewski Replacement

Yesterday, I gave up the diet Dewski. It's been a rough 12 hours, but I'm hanging in there. Also yesterday was my 30 day mark of my "Slim Challenge" diet. The scale reads the same stupid thing it did 30 days ago. So, Katie and Heidi told me, "If you quit drinkin' that diet mountain dew, you'll lose weight." Hence, the sacrifice. This morning though, I may have found my replacement. I was reading about diet soda... Everything I read said that there are several "theories" about WHY diet soda makes you gain weight but there have been several studies that show that there is a direct correlation between diet soda and weight gain. It also said that between regular and diet soda drinkers, the regular soda drinkers were better off. Iiiinteresting. Then, they had suggestions of healthy replacements: water, juice, tea, etc. I never really think about tea because I put it in the "coffee/tea" category. But when Shelbs was out here last week, she was drinking some herbal tea. Sooo, Lindsay hooked me up with some Peach Passion herbal tea this morning. HOLY MONKEY! Peach passion with a tablespoon of sugar rocked my world! And the sugar only made it 45 calories. Mmm.

My cute hubby

I just wanted to say that I love my hubby! He is so handsome. He is kind and loving. He works hard and is so incredibly talented! I'm so blessed to have him!

Snowmobiling... what a hunk!
Mt. Major last summer

Hunting with Bill and the Gundog

Snuggling with the pup!

(Funny story about this pic: I had it as my background on my phone... I'm at the dentist and my phone rings. I pull it out, and my hygenist says, "Aw! Is that your son?" ... Yup. That actually happened. I said, "Nope. That's my husband". She was so embarassed. She said, "Uh, I'm pretty sure that was my worst foot in my mouth moment... EVER!" Two things about it:

1. I apparently look old enough to be his mother.

2. He apparently looks young enough to be son.

Ouch.

Sullivan Haaaahvey Pedehsen

Katie had her baby! YAY! His name is Sullivan Harvey Pedersen. He is SO stinkin' cute! I think he looks just like Rode... what a studmuffin! Here are some pics from the hospital.

That little Sully... mmm... I love him!

I love his little man chest!

Christmas

This Christmas, everyone came to Utah. We divvied up between the two houses (mine and Katie's). Kel, Brian, and the kids stayed at my house while Mom and Dad were at Katie's. We did lots of fun things like go on a sleigh ride, see the Heber Creeper, bowling, sledding, and of course, eating! But... like usual, I only have the quick pictures I snapped with my iPhone... never when we're doing something exciting or beautiful... just when I think, "oh! I love those kids!" *snap, snap, snap*

Let's just be honest... I have a soft spot for my neices and nephews. When I babysit Liv and I'm singing her primary songs before bed... I cry. I totally cry. Like my father. I'm a big boob. But that's the way it is. Thanks Dad! :)

Anyway, so here are a couple of quick snaps of the cute little kiddos...

Xander at Winger's the first night they got in town.
Liv looking with awe at the Heber Creeper.

Lil looking like a ragamuffin playing with Gunner and Uncle Denver... her two favorite people while in Heber!

Lil looking all innocent... she's not foolin' anyone!

I love those kids!

Troublemakers

These two have something in common... Trouble.

Gunner and Lil.

What a muffin!

That is seriously happening. How can one little muffin be so cute?

Black Hole in the Galaxy

So, on Monday, Lindsay and I decided to combine our 4th and 5th Grade classes to have a Dodgeball tournament! We were so excited, the kids were all hyped up and ready to go. But, like most things in life, the door to the shed broke with all of the P.E. equipment. And when I say broke, I mean the entire lock came OUT of the handle. Our maintenance man told me it was like Fort Knox the next day trying to get it open. Crazy. Sooo, we had to find other ways to entertain the kiddos for 2 hours. We drew outlines of our shadows with sidewalk chalk... making cool shapes and building shapes with two people to draw. Then we played SPUD!! It was so fun! I had never played before but Linds is pro. Aaaanyway, after playing SPUD for a while, we thought we should have a back up so when kids started to say they were tired of this game we were be ready to fire back a new game. We're standing off to the side having "teacher talk" and Joe... one of the 5th Graders, walks up to us and says, "Uh ladies, now isn't the time for talking, we're playing SPUD!!!" It was SO stinkin' funny!!!! So, during teacher talk we decided we would play "Fire in the Jungle" next. Aaaaalways a hit with the kids. As we're walking in, Joe says, "Can we make this be like uuuh Intergallactic... like Fire in the Galax.... nooo, Space A..... nooo,.... BLACK HOLE IN THE GALAXY!!!!!" We agreed. As we're explaining the game, we told the kids to make their alien group names. Linds, being the genius that she is, says, "BUT, you have to have the sound "Za" three times in your alien name!" HAHA These names were HILARIOUS!!!

Galagzazazar

Zober Zegle Ze Zecond

Keyborpzazaza

Spud Zagaga Zuberwayza

So, we finish round 1 and are getting ready for round 2 of Black Hole in the Galaxy. So we tell the kids the second time they have to have the sounds, "smee", "oogle", and "orb" in the next name. These ones were my favorite!!

Smeeoogle the Second the Orb

The smeegoggle oggle orb

(I personally think they should've done smeegoggle obble orb.. but that's just me)

And the best one of the day...

Smeegabalabadoobadabagablaorboobalaba...doo

Little Theo is the "martian herder" in the middle and starts to call out the group, "smeegabalabadoobadabagablaorboobalaba...do"... *picture a cute little blonde, squinting walking towards the white board trying to read this name... meanwhile, all of the kids in the smeegabalabadoobadabagablaorboobalaba... doo group run across the gym, with out being tagged of course, and Theo turns out once he has spit out the whole name.... "Heeeey!!!" hahahahahaha I love my job.

Xtreme Adventures and Abstract Art

This week was the biggest hit EVER! We went to The Crater in Midway and went snorkeling... but forgot the camera, dang it, went to Lagoon and rode the rollercoasters, Indoor Skydiving, Paintballing, and White Water Rafting in the Weber River. It was TONS of fun and very exhausting!!! :)

Partner in Crime.

White Water Rafting Guide's license plate. It made us laugh.

Hardcore.

Bad A teachers.

FLYING!!!

Ready to fly! I'm not sure why I feel the need to cross my eyes for EVERY picture taken of me! hahaha Riiiidiculous!

Buuut, at least I have good company. Haha

Before riding "The Spider" at Lagoon.

Hiking/Backpacking and Art Inspired by Nature

This week was really fun. We had a really hard time getting kids to sign up for it, but Lindsay and I had a BLAST! We went to the Uintas and hiked Bald Mtn, hiked to Timpanogos Cave, had a relaxing day hiking to different lakes, went rock climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon and brought our new school director Jamie along!, went rock climbing at The Fit Stop in Heber, and attempted (key word: attempted) to hike Twin Peaks... haha. Long story.

After the attempted hike of Twin Peaks.

Comtemplating the hike we just attempted... I may or may not have thought we were all going to die. haha

Our relaxing day hiking around to different lakes in the Uintas!

Hahaha!!! This picture is a "must-zoom". HAHA!! I thought I was going to DIE laughing after we took it. Take it all in though... the sign, the red line, the face... hahahaha Ooh, the Timpanogos Cave day was a reeeeal good one for Lindsay and I.

Inside the cave.. SO cool, right!?

Lindsay and I making facial representations of the "spikey" cave! hahaha We're so modern.

Rock Climbing at Big Cottonwood with all of us and Jamie!

Hard to see, but Gunner almost died... This was an icy cliff at Bald Mtn. He was at the top, I was at the "path" half way down the cliff that continued back down the mountain waaay past where this picture was taken. Aragorn was smart... he looked over the edge and changed his mind. But not my dog... stinkin' death wish. He looked over and skiied down the cliff and came to a screaming halt at the path. I was screaming! I really thought that was the end of Gunner. Haha Stupid dog.

Taking a break at The Fit Stop! Oh wait... we were playing "Monkeys on the Wall"... we were out.

Climbing in Heber.

Water Sports and Water Color

This week was also amazing! We went swimming at Jordanelle, Kayaking at Deer Creek, Boating at Utah Lake with Nari and JR who were SO incredibly kind and generous to take us, Rafting down the Provo River, and a day at Seven Peaks. I know, I got paid for this, right!?

Ride it like a bull!

Boating with Nari and JR.

Swimming at Deer Creek.

Kayaking at Deer Creek. Check out Timpanogos... sooo pretty!

Olivia, the cutest little muffin in the WORLD! Katie came to Deer Creek as our Kayaking expert. She gave lessons to the kiddos... it was great! She's such an amazing teacher!

Rock Climbing and Ceramic Art

This week was fantastic! We climbed indoors at The Fit Stop in Heber and at Rockreation in SLC. We climbed outdoors in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Echo Canyon.

My attempt at pottery. I was more disruptive than the kids! haha
Climbing in Big Cottonwood.

Climbing at The Fit Stop

Climbing in Echo... yeah, we were harnessed in... we're hardcore.