Happy Birthday Buttercup!

Since we were stuck inside all weekend we took the opportunity to celebrate Jon's 25th birthday! He got exactly what he wanted...His Mr. Rogers look-like old man sweater! He was so excited!
I found a red velvet cake at Wal-Mart, it's his favorite. I want to learn how to make one myself.
His favorite sweater! Now he just needs leather loafers.
He also got these for his birthday and Christmas. He found the guns he wanted hear in Grand Forks so he was able to buy them before we went down to Texas. He even got to go shooting over the break to try them out.

-50 Degrees. 'Nough Said.

It all started on Friday, December 13, 2008. We had received an email from our ward that there was a potential for a snowfall of 7-11 inches from Saturday to Sunday and they would be in touch with us to let us know if church would be canceled. I went to Wal-Mart Saturday morning to gather any last minute food items as well as water, batteries, and a rechargeable lantern. Then night came and the winds were blowing! You could sit in our living room and hear them howling outside. The temperature hovered around -10 degrees with a windchill factor of about -52 and wind gusts up to 40mph.

Here is a small clip of the build up of snow between the window and the screen. You will also see Jon putting on layers of clothes so that he can take Maggie outside.

Jon and Maggie are both ready to brave the storm. Maggie is rather hesitant considering how cold it is out there. I must apologize for my accent. These North Dakotans up here have such strong accents it's starting to take over! I'm so glad that we are going back home so I can get my accent back!

Melissa has really started babbling a TON lately. It's pretty much all she does while she is awake! It's really cute because she moves her jaw up and down as if she was really talking.

So there is this saying up here that you can throw a cup of water into the air and it will freeze before it hits the ground. Several people have stated this is true so we decided to try it. Watch for yourself and see the results. I know you are just dying of anticipation!

We spent most of the day inside watching movies that we had recorded. I finally watched the movie Fargo. It's a bizarre movie and the northern accents match perfectly! Here are pictures of the snow piling up outside.
The snow was building up between the screen and glass. Our door was hard to open because it was frozen shut.

Here you can see the snow blowing into the space between the screen and window. It really started to pile up.
The snow was up to the bottom step.
The next day Jon went out to dig out the car. There was a huge a pile of snow in front of the garage.

Christmas Tag

So I am super late on posting this but I just realized that I have been tagged. Better late than never I suppose.
All of you are tagged if you would like to be as late as me!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like both. Jon only likes wrapping paper, something about it being more personal. I like gift bags because they are easier to wrap and easy to open and you can reuse them.
2. Real or artificial trees? Fake. This comes from living in Texas and not trusting any tree down there to not be so dried out that it will just burst into flames. Plus, I can reuse it. I am starting to see a theme here...
3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving or whenever we get around to it.
4. When do you take down the tree? Usually after New Years.
5. Do you like eggnog? Eww Yuck! Totally disgusting! I only like egg nog when you use it to make French Toast on Christmas morning.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My cardboard/plastic barbie house that had three floors with an elevator!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My mother! She always buys what she wants through out the year so it's hard to find something that she hasn't already bought.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My Grandma - anything angel or red hat and she will love it. Plus it comes from me, duh!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, quite a few but I only like nativity's that are unique. Like ones that are made out of nails.
10. Mail or email christmas cards? Whatever is easiest. I have now decided that I will be sending out Christmas cards in July. This way they will actually get out! Yeah!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmm...I don't think I have one.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer cartoon movie.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day after Christmas. I like to have all of my shopping done by the day after Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? YES! Okay, so I am guilty! You know you do it!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything! French Toast Eggnog, Candy, Ham and Potatoes, etc.
16. Lights on the tree? Most definitely and I am especially a fan of white lights. So classic.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Any classic Christmas song.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well I can officially say that staying home is my favorite. It's just too stressful trying to fit everything in. We will be staying home from now on.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? On dasher, on donner, on...blah, blah, blah
20. Angel or star at the top of the tree? Definitely a star. There just isn't a pretty angel out there that I am willing to put on my tree. At least I haven't found one. Plus, I like how the star represents the star seen on Christmas day.
21. Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? We open one present that has new Christmas jammies in them and then we enjoy Santa presents in the morning and open the presents under the tree in the afternoon.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who wait until the last minute to go shopping and then you can't go anywhere without fear of a long line. You all knew it was coming. Shop early and then you won't be broke or stuck in a long line.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Ones with meaning. Like the hallmark ornaments that I had as a kid.
24. Favorite Christmas dinner?The traditional ham and potatoes.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I got everything I wanted. Time with my family, fun with Melissa, camera and kitchen aide and we somehow made it home safely and we are all home alive and healthy.

The Soundtrack to My Life

So in an effort to get back to my blogging life, I will start with this. Enjoy.

Disclaimer - Jon and I share iTunes. And I had to start over. Some freak accident happened and everything was erased.

WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)

2. Put it on shuffle

3. Press play4. For every question, type the song that's playing

5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...

Opening Credits: Something Like You - N'Sync (I know, I have reverted back to my pop days. But it was such great dance music!)
Waking Up: To Love You More - Celine Dion
Average Day: What a Girl Wants - Christina Aguilera (So perfect!)
First Date: Don't Think Of Me - Dido
Falling In Love: Hippy Hippy Shake - The Georgia Satellites Cocktail Soundtrack
Fight Scene: Ka-Ching - Shania Twain
Breaking Up: Shadow - Ashlee Simpson
Getting Back Together: Running Away - Toby Lightman (Great song - very perfect)
Secret Love: Gravity - Sarah Bareilles
Life's Okay: I'm Gonna Getcha Good - Shania Twain
Mental Breakdown: Kokomo - Beach Boys ( How Funny, If I really had a mental breakdown that's exactly where I would lobe to go.)
Driving: Everyday - Toby Lightman
Learning A Lesson: Home - Marc Broussard (GREAT SONG!)
Deep Thought: Follow Through - Gavin DeGraw
Flashback: Yellow - Coldplay
Partying: More Than Anyone - Gavin DeGraw
Happy Dance: When I Get Through With You - Patsy Cline (Not such a Happy dance although it is great to dance too.)
Regretting: Juanita - Shania Twain
Long Night Alone: See the World ... The Kooks
Death Scene: A New Day Has Come - Celine Dion (great way to look at it)
Funeral Song: The Greatest Reward - Celine Dion (Really fitting)
Ending Credits: So Wrong - Patsy Cline (So perfect!)

I tag Amy, Kristy, Heather, Shannon, and Sheri. Have fun!

No Wii!

Yes Wii! Yes the rumors are true! We got our very own Wii! Wii have been wanting to get one for so long but I made us wait. Wii are in the process of getting out of debt and wii couldn't find any deals that would make it worth while. So wii let that dream go and decided that wii would get one next year. Props to Facebook because some friends from our ward sent a group of us a message trying to sell their Wii. I jumped on board and wii ended up being the lucky couple to buy it! It came with two wiimotes, Guitar Hero 3 and Guitar Hero Aerosmith, two wii games, Tiger Woods Golf and Boom Blox! I can't describe to you how happy wii are! Wii are taking it down to Texas with us to play with Jon's family. My parents already have a Wii and everything that goes with it so wii knew how wonderful it is! Yeah! Thanks again Bartlett's!

Playtime in the Snow!

December 10, 2008

Today it was a little bit warmer than usual, around 20 degrees, and it had just snowed the night before. We thought it we be a good idea to go play in the snow! We invited the Hanson's to come play as well. It might not have been as good idea as we had thought because it became increasingly windy but we still had a great time.

We started out by making baby snow angels!

Here was the end result. She makes such cute little baby angels!

Thankfully we had a body suit that a lady in my homeward in Texas no longer needed. It kept her warm the entire time!

They have a place in the park where they put about three inches of water down and let it freeze. Add some ice skates and you have your very own ice rink! Jon took Maggie out for a spin. It back fired a bit but I thing she gad a good time!

Melissa's New Ride

December 10, 2008

Our day started out pretty slow. I finally got out Melissa's new car seat. From what I have read it's a really great seat. She is so long that she has out grown her carrier and this seat will allow you to have it reclined and rear facing up to 35lbs or front facing starting at 22 lbs. She seams to really like it and I think she will travel better in this seat on our long road trip back to Texas.
She has really become aware of her toes and I just love it when she curls them up and has them play with each other! She is just getting too big!

Oops...I did it again!

December 8, 2008

So shout out to my friend Anna! She graciously let us know that Britney is coming to Minneapolis April 3! I didn't really think of it until last Wednesday when I was talking to Anna and Jennifer and we were thinking how fun it would be to go see her! We are all closet Britney fans. Well seeing as how Anna is due 7 days after she comes to town she won't be able to go. So thanks to the great and wonderful Facebook I shot a few emails around and a few ladies and I will be going to see Britney in concert in Minneapolis on April 3! Now before you go and get all crazy on me let me explain myself! I grew up during the whole Nsync and Britney Spears days (which by the way they are totally better and hotter than BSB!). I really like the music and the dance moves, etc. There is just something about the hot body of hers. I think I might have a girl crush on her but can you blame me? She has had two babies really close to each other and I don't see one strech mark! Jealous much? Besides she can dance like none other and the tickets were really reasonably priced! She will put on a great show and it will be fun having a girls weekend!

A Live Nativity

December 7, 2008

A few weeks ago we some how were skipping Sunday School when we were cornered and asked to take part in the live nativity that our ward puts on every year. We graciously obliged and signed up for the earliest slot (this was well planned so that it would be during day light). Being from Arlington where they have the Nativity going for weeks with the entire Stake Center decorated I was really skeptical at first but it's a really neat program that they do. It's on the same Sunday that the Christmas devotional takes place. They set up a manger scene with real animals and then members of the ward volunteer to dress up and sit outside the front of the church acting out the night of the Savior's birth. Off to the right they have some other volunteers dressed as carolers singing Christmas songs. Once inside they have a spot in the foyer for musical performances, a room full of nativities, and a beautifully decorated gym with cookies and hot chocolate. You can also wander your way down to the Family History Center to learn about genealogy. We wore a TON of clothes but we had a really fun time! It was even snowing that day so it made for an amazing night. At one point the news came and Jon got his 15 seconds of fame. Click here to see the news story. You will have to wait until the very end of the video to see him.

Did I forget to mention that they had real live animals! They had a few llamas, goats, donkeys, and a mini horse!

This was our turn. The festivities started at 4pm. Jon is the wiseman on the far left. Gary is the wiseman next to the manger. Dusty and Anna are Mary and Joseph. Then there is Eeyore the donkey. Next to him is ME, a shepherd next to Amy who is also a shepherd.

This Mary and Joseph couple took over for Anna & Dusty. They also happen to be our friends, Dan & Brittni Montgomery. She is featured on the news story with Jon.

It's Snowing!

December 7, 2008

This morning we awoke to...you guessed it more SNOW!!! Before the day started and we began to get ready for church I caught some of the excitement on video. Have you noticed that we have used the video camera a lot lately? I guess it's paid off. Well if you can stomach one more video here it comes. They are HUGE flakes so they are easy to see and you get to see our lovely neighbor shovel is drive way again. I swear they shovel that thing all day long! They really don't even go anywhere but they still shovel and shovel and shovel. Although, we are talking about the neighbors who mow their lawn at least 3 times a week even though it hasn't rained and the grass hasn't grown for a month. I guess whatever makes you happy in life!

Maggie and the Boots

December 6, 2008

So Maggie, like the rest of us, had to brave the cold and we snow. As humans we have a sense of compassion for our animals and so we spent an outrageous amount of money to purchase her some boots to keep her feet cold. Unfortunately for Maggie they didn't work so well so we had to take them back. Hopefully, we will be able to find some that work better and are a little bit cheaper. In the meantime, enjoy this hysterical video of our dog turned bunny!

Couch Potato

December 6, 2008

We have found yet another way to entertain our baby girl. If you put two pillows side by side about 4 inches apart and insert the cutest baby girl ever you have the making of chair. She has gotten really good at sitting up all by herself except for the fact that she gets excited and leans over. Well problem solved. She sat in that position for an entire hour! She will never do anything for that long. I think she just enjoys being a part of the family.

Just Keep on Shovelin'

December 6, 2008

Along with snow comes the never ending task of shoveling. It really never ends until winter is over. By the time you shovel the walk, the wind blows and then it snows again and then you start all over. Jon has really enjoyed shoveling our side walk. He always feels bad when our neighbors get to it before he does. I think it gives him a sense of ownership, not that we own our property but that he has the ability to take care of the "yard."

We have found a new game to play with Maggie. It's called "Pick up as much snow with the shovel as you can and then throw it on Maggie!" It's really dry snow up here so it just falls apart. Maggie seems to have fun playing the game.

Every time you come in from outside you must hit your shoes on the step to knock all of the snow off before coming in. We know when our neighbors are home because you can hear the "knock knock" of their shoes. I had to take the reindeer Welcome sign off of the door for the simple reason that it gets so cold that the nose of the daddy reindeer freezes to the glass door and then his nose gets ripped off every time you open the door. Poor guy!

Driving in the Snow

December 5, 2008

Today was our first real snow day. We are slowly learning the joys of snow specifically learning how to drive in it. Since I lost my wallet, the day before Thanksgiving, Jon has been doing most of the driving. I haven't driven much on the snow yet but I can say that being the passenger and not having any control over whether the car is going to keep moving or slide on ice can be very nerve racking. Here is some video I took when we first went out. As you can see everything moves so much slower! It really does take twice as long to get everywhere!

Video was mess up. Will post it later.

Driving Fun

December 5, 2008
While I was taking video from the camera and putting it on our computer I came across this small video. Just wait until the end. It's priceless.

Melissa's New Best Friend

December 3, 2008

Melissa was in her walker blocking the path to the couch. Maggie was just dying to get to me because I kept saying her name, however, being a dog she just couldn't grasp the concept of walking around the coffee table to get to me. Usually she walks away but this time she sat next to Melissa and accepted her torcher. It's so stinkin' funny!

The Doghouse

Ladies - Share this with your lady friends and your husbands! It's hilarious! And listen to the voices in the background. Enjoy!

Mommy's Pajamas

My mom has this habit of saving her favorite items from when I was a baby, so of course we have used some of them.

I wore these pajamas for my first Christmas. I was a month older than she is now and she probably won't be able to wear these by the time Christmas roles around. She is just getting too long!

She was getting a little cranky, but I LOVE this picture. "Geez mom! Quit taking my picture!"

Our Thanksgiving

What a fun and stress filled day we had! We started out the day by making crepes for a few close friends. Jon went shooting that morning and on his way home tried to find some paper plates and napkins. Can you believe that he could only find a convenience store that was open and had what we needed? You would think that it was a holiday or something. Anyways, after many issues with the crepes he finally mastered the heat vs. the batter and they finally turned. We also made pancakes and bacon as back ups. Everything turned out wonderful and our friends went home full.

After breakfast we began to prepare for supper (the meal between lunch and dinner). I was in charge of making the pies, veggie platter, gravy, and yams. Here are a few pics of how everything turned out.
We started out the day with our beautiful decorations. So it's thanksgiving and everyone needs a cornucopia! I was so excited that WalMart had there fall clearance early so I made my very own. I think it turned out well next to my pumpkin salt and pepper shakers!
Here is our lovely table. I forgot to take a picture of all of the food but the table was packed and we even had a side table! It was so wonderful sharing the responsibility of making all of the food between the Hanson's and Montgomery's besides there wonderful friendship of course!
My beautiful pie. I took this before I baked it so it looked even better later but oh it was so yummy!
Here is the best turkey I have ever had in my entire life! Props to Gary and Amy for doing such a wonderful job! It just fell apart and melted in your mouth! Oh yum!
Thanks to Brittni for bringing her turkey salt and pepper shakers. It just added to the table beautifully!
My wonderful yams! Could they have looked any better? And they were so good! My first attempt and they turned out great.
So while the adults were chatting and eating, Hannah had great time with the veggies we left on the coffee table. She was so nice to share them with Maggie.
I think Maggie actually ate them which made for some stinky gas later on.
And then we ended the night with some fun. We played a little bit of Nintendo and a cute picture. She is wearing mommy's hat and couldn't look cuter!

Happy Thanksgiving

A game warden was driving down the road when he came upon a young boy
carrying a wild turkey under his arm.

He stopped and asked the boy, 'Where did you get that turkey?'

The boy replied, 'What turkey?'

The game warden said, 'That turkey you're carrying under your arm.'

The boy looks down and said, 'Well, lookee here, a turkey done roosted
under my arm!'

The game warden said, 'Now look, you know turkey season is closed, so
whatever you do to that turkey, I'm going to do to you.

If you break his leg, I'm gonna break your leg.
If you break his wing, I'll break your arm.
Whatever you do to him, I'll do to you.
So, what are you gonna do with him?'

The little boy said, 'I guess I'll just kiss his butt and let him go!'

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Hands and Feet

Monday, November 17, 2008

Melissa made a huge mess in her diaper as well as on her clothes. Jon had just walked out the door when I had discovered her wonderful surprise. I did what all love mothers do. I striped her down to her diaper and let her play on the floor while I cleaned up.

Do Raggin' It

Sunday, November 16, 2008

We went to the Hanson's for a very scrumptious dinner! They sure know how to cook! So after dinner we sat around chatting and needless to say Jon got a little creative with the napkins.

Who knew that a napkin could make a baby look so cute!

She Finally Got Them

Thursday, November 13, 2008

She found her toes about a week ago and then I showed her that they can reach her toes and she has never let them go since. I was finally able to capture the magnificent toe eater!

She is really starting to become very aware of the camera so it is hard to get pictures of her now because she will stop what she is doing and focus on the shiny thing in mommy's hands.

She's starting to think about it.
Viola! Success! I love this picture because it looks like her toes are not only in her mouth but up her nose.
Mmmmmm. Yummy! You gotta love toe jam in the morning!

Our Newest Invention

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

We are trying to encourage Melissa to gain stronger upper body muscles so that she can someday sit on her own. I think tummy time is the best at helping this goal but occasionally so does the bumbo. However, when she is in the bumbo it can be kind of boring for a baby her age, so what better way to entertain her than to sit her right up next to the toys she usually sees from her back.

She sits up so much better than she did a month ago. Usually, she would slump right over and cut the blood flow to her leg.

I think she is trying to decide which toy to eat first.
She is such a happy baby! I couldn't have asked for a better little girl!
Peek-a-boo! I see you!

"We Don't Need No Stinkin' Cookies!"

November 11, 2009
So the time finally came when Melissa had her first taste of the great and powerful Chips Ahoy.
It was a great idea until, well all of it. When drool meets cookie it makes for a messy situation.

In the end, she didn't get a whole lot of cookie because it became so soggy that it completely crumbled and made a huge nasty mess. Next time I won't be holding her...if there will ever be a next time.