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.