Brownies

It was 10 pm and I thought I was fine. Didn't eat too much today; rare for a Sunday. Felt pretty good and then it crept in... the chocolate hankering. It's the grocery store checker's fault. I bought 2 brownie mixes the other day at Dan's since they're on sale for 88 cents... just to stock up you know. Always have to have at least one brownie mix in the cupboard. Well as she slid them through at checkout she looked at them all sentimental-like. She looked at me and said, "Oh I just remember how when my sister was pregnant she went through a pan of these a day." I looked at her like she was lying. "She really did," she said. I smiled all the way home thinking, 'Well good then if I eat like five brownies I don't need to feel bad.'

Since Croz was still awake I stuck him in the swing and like a maniac whipped together a pan of brownies. My plan: a brownie sundae. I think I ate about 2 1/2 brownies in the sundae with vanilla ice cream and choco syrup on top. This is starting to sound like a food journal. It was so worth it!



Go buy your 88-cent brownies at Dan's. And then use the willpower I didn't to keep them in the cupboard and not turn the oven on until Fall.

Firsts

It's Flashback Friday! The idea came from Lacie; I figured it sounds fun... why not? Anyone who wants to spend an extra minute reminiscing about the past, go for it! You have an excuse on Flashback Fridays. Just post whatever you're thinking about.

I was thinking about 1998. I loved that year. I have certain years that stick out that I can just say, "That was the BEST year!" '98 was a year of firsts...

Summer of '98 our family took a trip to San Diego and it was the first time I had been there. We went with Pops, Fay, Beth, and Gene. I was in heaven. It was the most beautiful place I had seen... blooming with flowers, San Diego temple, the ocean. I remember my brother Steve and I swimming in the pool at the Marriott and some ducks that roamed the grounds jumped in with us one morning! I remember Pops encouraged us to eat as much as humanly possible at the breakfast buffet. I remember how much my mom loved Seaport Village. Beth and Fay and their travel-savvy. My dad and his vacation T-shirt. Everything. An ACTUAL vacation was a MAJOR event for my family and so it made it all the more memorable. I'll never forget...

First time in San Diego!



When we lived in Washington my mom got involved with our elementary school's camp program. It was so cool... the teachers took the sixth-graders for a whole week to a gorgeous camp in order to give them "wilderness education." Campfire, hiking, songs, compassing, rappelling, high ropes course, mess hall. My mom was the photographer and would put together slide shows for the staff's party later in the summer. I was thrilled to participate in the camp when I was I think in fifth grade and my mom was a counselor/photographer and I had so much fun. My mom tried to go back as a counselor every year she could, it was just the neatest experience and the friends and people made the camp program amazing. I got to be a camp counselor for the Wauconda Wolves cabin in June 1998! I was stoked. We had the best cabin. I went several years with my mom and sometimes brother but couldn't find a '98 pic, so this was more recent.

First time as a camp counselor!



My dad was/is a drummer. He had THE COOLEST drumset on the planet. It was red, sparkly, and... geez it was the COOLEST thing ever. When we were little and my dad would go nuts on the drums and have a solo jam session we were mesmerized. How cool could a dad be? Well all of us played around on the drums a bit but my brother Steve made it his passion. That red sparkly drumset got used to a pulp and so around Fall of '98 Steve bought his own DW drumset and I think it was one of the happiest days of his life. Couldn't wipe the grin off his face for weeks! I just remember feeling as thrilled for him as ever.

Stevie's first drumset:



My high school buddies provided for some serious entertainment. We would do the dumbest things but you wouldn't BELIEVE how much fun we had doing them (: I think this was from a sleepover one night and we ate our weight in junk food, had a shoulder-massage train, watched a movie, lip-synched to Salt N' Pepa. Ha, what I wouldn't give to relive some of those fancy-free times. Looks here as if we are about to start our arm-wrestling match? Who knows, but I came across this hilarious picture of us so I will deem it...

First four-person high school sleepover!



You all know mine and D's story by now... summer of '98 was when we had seen each other and kind of met, but when summer wore into Fall is when we actually started talking and then it grew from a friendship pretty quickly into love. I remember Steve's band played at the seminary opening social for Highland High down at the dog park by Hogle Zoo! I recall going and sort of flitting from table to table talking to people but the main reason I was there (besides to see my brother of course) was to see D! Shortly after this we were joined at the hip... for the rest of the school year.

First time meeting D!

Summertime Blues

I was weeding out clothes that don't fit my growing baby anymore and I came across this blue outfit that I had ordered before he was born. I was so excited to have him wear it as a newborn in February, all cuddled up. Well it ran big for a 0-3 monther and so now that we've hit triple digits it about fits him.



Being in a full-body sweater in this heat wasn't his idea of fun but I had to have my baby fashion show.

Happy Four Months today to Crosby!

Tag. Don't Hate Me.

This one's from Catherine...

ABC's TAG

Complete the ABC's of you. Then, each player tags 3 people and posts their names, goes to their blogs and leaves a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog and copy the tag to theirs.

A- Attached or Single: Attached. Married. Whatever you call it.
B- Best Friend: I don't bestow that title on anyone! But my close friends that I don't go more than a week without connecting with are Jessie, Steph, Christina
C- Cake or Pie: White Cake with lots of any kind of frosting and apple pie with vanilla ice cream melting over the top
D- Day: I am intrigued by the fact that almost every Sunday is sunny. There's gotta be something to that. I love Fridays.
E- Essential Item: My son. I haven't forgotten him... yet.
F- Favorite Color: White
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: The texture of gummy worms beats out the texture of gummy bears most definitely. Gummy bears are too... little or something
H- Hometown: I was born in Salt Lake but wouldn't mind calling another town my home.
I- Indulgences: Thrift store purchases such as infant bike shorts
J- January or July?: Used to be a summer person but Winter has won more of my adoration than it used to... I'd say it's a tie
K- Kids: Yes and I think everyone knows him by now!
L- Life is incomplete without: Love. Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and above all things... Love (Yes I am quoting Moulin Rouge because that's the first thing that popped into my head)
M- Marriage Date: 10/02/02
N- Number of Siblings: One fabulous older brother Cameron, your friendly local dentist (and one of the funniest people I know). A younger brother Stephen, the next Neil Peart (and crazy scarecrow uncle). Then the youngest brother Patrick, the next Bill Gates (and perpetually exhausted).
O- Oranges or Apples: I close to worship Fuji apples because my body DEMANDED at least one a day while I was pregnant and they are delicious
P- Phobias or Fears: Can't trust anyone. Spiders included.
Q- Quote: " Tis the mind that makes the body rich." Shakespeare
R- Reason To Smile: Have to agree with that one Cat... Crosby's smiles, stretches, laughing, spitting, eyebrow-raising. He is the sweetest baby guy I know.
S- Season: The majesty that is Autumn. I cannot fathom being blind and not having the chance to see such beauty. The smell too is so distinct; I want Fall now!
T- Tag Three: Caitlin and Codi might be the only ones who will... and... Steve??
U- Unknown fact about me: I get melancholy-gloomy-doomsdayish quite often (doesn't usually last long though)
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: Hmmm. The latter and the former. Don't eat much red meat though.
W- Worst Habit: Same with me Catherine, I like to do EVERYTHING. And my way. And quickly. I am concerned about the discipline it is going to take for me to let Crosby do things on his own since that is the only way a child can learn. Oh no, tying shoes... "Here, just let me do it!" Baking cookies as he dumps flour everywhere: "Okay, you just sit there and watch me."
X- Rays or Ultrasounds: To see our son moving inside of me... I've never witnessed such magic. What a blessing that we have such tools for so many purposes
Y- Youngest or Oldest?: Second oldest, only girl
Z: Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Who Wants To Go Swimming?

Hallie and Croz had a swim party this week and Catherine and I were pumped to get these little ones in the water!



Crosby likes his bath time enough to where I figured he'd enjoy swimming, but I figured wrong. He's about ready to throw one of his famous punches.



He normally enjoys the water, but since it was a little on the cool side it didn't suit his fancy. He'd rather just chill on the towels with his bikini-clad baby hottie.



Or even better practice sitting up in Hallie's Bumbo in the shade...



Can't wait for our next swim date Cat and Hallie, you guys rock!

D's Shows

For those of you who don't know, D plays in a band called Slow Ride.



They have a show tomorrow night, Wed, June 18th, around 9 pm at Liquid Joe's

1249 East 3300 South



Then they have a show at the Huka Bar & Grill around 9 pm on Thursday the 19th this week

151 East 6100 South



It is white man's reggae, like UB40. If you hate being around cigarette smoke, skip LJoe's. If you haven't been to the Huka Lounge, I recommend it... good food and "clean" air, always a good crowd of people. Huka is a good place to bring a group of friends too; they have booth-type areas like a restaurant and the atmosphere is great...

I'll post when he has more shows coming up...

Kickin' It In Panguitch

A tradition was established in summer of 2001: my family goes to visit Vee at his old house and farm in Panguitch, southern Utah. It is so much fun because we have learned some history from the old folks over the years. Vee is my grandpa's brother (my grandpa - Pops - died in November 2006). We all head down there to eat, play, hike, swim, eat, visit, do chores, and eat some more. It's been a fun little weekend to look forward to every June because Vee's house is a true gathering place with a sprawling porch and country feel. An awesome break from busy little Salt Lake City.

Relaxation means different things to different people:

For Crosby and Lucy it's all in the footwear



Vee's orange '72 truck lulls D and Miles into country comfort mode



Paul likes his cheese by the barrel and his beer in a service station cup



All my dad needs is a breeze and the rest is history



Crosby needs Dad for a landing pad