County Fair

I love this photo of the Ferris Wheel.

It wouldn't be a county fair without Dave hopping on a tractor and daydreaming!!

The cowboys lining up for the rodeo.

Cute baby goat.

Dave and I in our plaid shirts. Very festive.

Dave now wants an alpaca on his future farm. They are silly.

Our cute friends the Mathews, who invited us.

Here we all are at the rodeo.

Here they are dancing in the rain to the band music.

My favorite part...riding the tilt-a-whirl with Candace and crying because we were laughing so hard.

Can't wait for the State Fair next month.

My Heaven on Earth

Today Dave and I celebrated our first year of marriage. It has been heavenly. Thank you Dave for being such an amazing husband. I'm so lucky to be loved and be in love every day from now on. I look forward to eternity!!

With all my heart,

Your loving wife

Beauty is on the inside

I am so lucky to have a husband that makes me feel so beautiful regaurdless of the growing doughnut I wear around my waste and the slow speed at which I attempt to keep up with him while we run. However, I have lived a good summer/life and ate way too many delicious foods in very large portions. I am challenging myself to get back in shape, not so much for appearances, even though I feel a bit large and in charge at times, but so that I won't be winded when I run up the stairs or play tag with the kids or go hiking with my mom or play football with Dave. I'm hoping to report progress each week!

This last week I pushed myself at the gym....I'm happy to report I lost 3lbs and am feeling great! I've rediscovered how delicious cottage cheese and fruit is for lunch. And I made a relay course for the kids which required dashing around the yard in circles and finishing by jumping around on the trampoline (I was still winded but I like to think it was a tad bit less).

So here is to self improvement and feeling good about your self by accomplishing whatever you set out to do!

This song is rediculous but it made me giggle when I found it...

rainy day

courtesy of Etsy.com

I just walked out my door to get the mail to discover little ripples in the pool and a cool fresh breeze in the air. Hello rain, I've missed you. I'm going to go put on my boots and go for a walk in it until Dave gets home.

(Okay so Maybe it's not raining hard enough for boots)

I think I'll play Priscilla Ahn's, Rain on my Ipod as I walk. What a perfect song to fit my mood right now!!

Being Supportive

My husband has a thing for guns. He loves driving out into the country any evening of the week with me or some friends and just shooting around. Well after one year he has saved up and bought 4 guns (using his plasma money). Well last week we went with my family shooting and my sister in law kim turned to me and said "Megan you are so supportive of this whole gun thing".....I quickly replied..."well not really, there is just no stopping Dave once he decides he wants something" :) I love that he gets so passionate about things, that's one of the reasons why I married him. Well last week he bought a hand gun and I now am putting my foot down. No more guns until after med school. These guns need to last him like 15 years!!!!

Let's see how supportive he is of that decision shall we???

Here we are with Bishop Brown who likes to fuel Dave's fire every Sunday by talking about all of his guns and telling him which one he should get next.

I love her!!!

Yesterday was Chad & Kim's 4 year anniversary.

WOO HOO.....They are a cute couple getting cuter everyday!

But the cutest thing I've ever layed eyes on is this little chica...

I got the honor of watching litttle Kamryn for them so they

could enjoy their night out together.

( I love having a niece near by )

We layed outside on the grass and watched the wind blow the trees.

I gave her eskimo kisses for about an hour.

I rocked her on my shoulder to sleep,

and put her to bed in my room where she slept like an angel.

I can't wait to do it again!!!

Love you Kamryn!

-You auntie Megan

I just love this little girl so so so so much!

ROAD TRIP

Dave and I recently took a road trip from Provo to Spokane...

We were given the grand tour of Spokane by Dave sister Kari and fell in love some more with Washington State. We also spent a few days in Cour De Lane at their cabin with them.

Here is Dave and our nephew Alec riding up the mountain to pick Huckleberries. Alec was the allstar if the trip and was never afraid!

Us.

Chad let Dave chop down a dead tree in the back yard....He loved it!

Dave Jumping the wake

Getting back in the groove. I miss wake boarding too much!

I was having fun....promise lol

What a cutie.

Up the road from their cabin was the perfect swimming spot and a mountain side full of huckelberries we spent an hour picking!

I officially love this place!

Can't wait to go back soon!!!

Summer to do list

Here are a few things I plan to do with the remaining summer season.....

1. Throw an outdoor dinner party

2. Find an Orchard where we can pick our own fruit

3. Go camping

4. Find a great piece to add to my collection of pitchers and dishes

5. Make our own popsicles

6. Have a picnic in the park

FYI July is National Picnic month

7. Go to all the antique stores as humanly possible this summer and score

This will be and has been an amazing summer.

My #1: enjoy "summer Dave" while he lives....once he starts school again in Fall and me too, I fear we will just be busy bodies with little time together.

Pappy's BBQ

Dave and I found this amazing restraunt in St. Louis.

It's name....PAPPY'S.

If you are ever in St. Luois and are a lover of BBQ this is the place to be. It is just scrumdiddilyumptious!

Dave took the liberty of ordering "The Big Ben" which could have easily fed the whole family, but know we took the challenge and kept it all to ourselves!!!

( and in no way got near finishing half of it )

I'm pretty sure Dave was in heaven here!

Behold two lovers of Pappy's BBQ!

Lucky Lincoln

On our recent trip to the Land of Lincoln we visited New Salem, the small town where Lincoln lived for a few years. While walking down the dirt road touring the different cabins I became obsessed with the wild flowers and how beautiful they looked against the rustic wood. Needless to say I took way too many pictures of these beautiful flowers and very few of the town itself.

I am not a False Advertiser...anymore

Some scrumptious Oatmeal cookies courtesy of my trusty Henderson Cookbook!

I used to make treats or baked goods about once a week while dating Dave ( They say the stomach is the way to a man's heart...I believe it. ) but in the whole time Dave and I have been married I have yet to make a batch of cookies. Dave likes to call this False Advertising lol. (which makes me giggle) His would be that he actually liked to dance when we were dating but will barely lift a toe now. Well I was trying to think of something special I could do for the future father of my kids on Father's day when the thought came to me...so I opened up that dusty cook book and made a delicious batch of oatmeal cookies. It feels good to be a baker again. ;) And Dave has hope to have a happy belly again!

Oklahoma

          Dave left to play basketball for a few hours and I had a night to myself....so I decided to flip on the telli and see what was on. Flipping through the channels I came across Oklahoma and thought I would give it a go........I forgot how amazing that movie is. It made me want to wear a big dress and live out in the middle of no where and pick peaches and make pies (and don't forget sing out loud, which I did). Dave just happened to walk in the door just as it was ending, he then proceeded to tell me he had been looking at Ranches online earlier and began to sing "Oklahoma" with me.....lol. Sometimes I think we were born in the wrong era! 

I edited this photo awhile ago...another day of wishing we lived back then!!  

However I do love the internet, and planes and phones and cameras and, and, and....lol

Knitty Bitty

My sister in-law Angie taught me how to make baby beanies over Christmas break last year. This is the first one I made for my neice Kamryn (her mom just gave me this photo). Isn't she so precious....I think I want one! Just have to convince Dave to jump on that boat!

Mac Troubles

OK....I have recently purchased a Mac and it has been glorious. Dave and I watch movies in bed a lot and editing photos has become so much easier...I love it but when it comes to uploading pictures to my blog it's like pulling teeth. It never wants to cooperate, but once in a blue moon will gloriously work. It also barely works when we try to upload pictures on Ksl and other sites like that. Does anyone have any tips or any ideas why this happens.....I think I will call the Mac helpers tomorrow....

Ugh

I feel like our apartment is falling apart. 

Our sink is clogged for no apparent reason.

Our dishwasher stopped working and flooded the kitchen.

Our air conditioner won't turn off. 

And some how a mountain of clothes is growing in our bedroom!!! 

EEEEEEK!

paintballing

We took a group of friends Paintballing at an indoor arena in SLC. It was painfully fun. I was so proud of all the wives for hanging in there even afer the sting of being shot. Dave and I have moved into an amazing ward full of so many fun and adventurous young couples. We are excited for all the fun things we've been planning to do together and have really enjoyed all the fun things we have had a chance to do with them allready. Life just wouldn't be as fun without any friends. 

Our Afternoon at the BYU Pond

The family of turtles.

Sarah thought if she waited long enough the ducks would start to like her and let her pet them. 

But.....they still quacked at her! 

Our day at the pond we decided to get our hearts pumping and make it to the top of the BYU stairs.

Sam would wear this shirt everyday if I let him. He really is the best big brother, always looking out for them and teaching them all the fun facts he has stored in his mind!

Mary's favorite spot to wait for Sam and Sarah to get out of school. She jumps out and says boo everyday and then rolls on the grass laughing...thinking she has scared them good every time.

Mary and her best friend Cowie tree climbing. They have a special relationship those two. Cowie has a magic power...if you hug him tight enough he will send his hug to mom and she can feel her hugs!

We made it to the top finally...."and now we have healthy heart" -Mary'.

The duck pond was lots of fun. We read books to eachother, fed the ducks, played with bubbles and had relay races around the grass. 

These kids ROCK my socks!

Festival Of Colors

2009

Dave and I went to the festival of colors in Spanish Fork, Utah. There were thousands of BYU students there and a few followers of Hari Krishna. The story I heard over the crowd was that this man would cover his followers in many colors so they looked all the same and then he would wipe them clean. They had a rock band and ethnic dancers and made a huge fire...Then on the count of three everyone threw their colored flour into the air, like thousands of poofs at once. And when the flour settled everyone was covered in multiple colors. Dave and I stayed up on the temple terrace so we stayed clean. Afterwards we walked around the temple grounds and pet all the fun animals they have. We will definately be going next year.

Us looking down from the temple terrace

This is the only photo my computer let me upload so hopefully I will most more later.

Nanny Diaries

Right now I nanny for a wonderful family of three, ages 4, 7 and 9. They are great kids. Smart, funny and very creative. I have realized lately how much they REALLY learn from me and mirror my actions. I am constantly thinking of how to better teach them manors and how to be responsible and self reliant and to always always have some fun project for them. Being a nanny isn't like a regular 9-5 job....I find myself thinking about them and their problems and how to have a great next day way after I've left their home.

Lately at night there had been lots of tears because they miss mom or dad (they are divorced) It's hard for them and for me....I hate seeing their little tears. That's why I invented the HUG-O-METER. They tell me on a scale of 1-10 how big of a hug they need before they go to bed to help cheer them up and then we either give baby hugs or squeeze eachother till it hurts....(they feel better after and are all smiles) of course we have long talks some nights too. I just sit and listen to them about things that make them sad and help to let them know it's okay to feel that way but look at how much we have to be greatful for. Every morning this week we've done sometihng extra special to help cheer them up before school. Monday morning we made waffles, Tuesday morning we frosted our sugar cookies from family home evening the night before, Today we played telephone, which might not sound that special but with these kids it can be the funnest game ever. They think of the craziest things to say and just sit and laugh for a long time after it goes around and comes out butchered. (usually due to little miss 4 year old ). I can't wait for summer to come, I have so many fun trips planned and lots of outdoors activities to play. Their favorite being t.v. tag and cruising in their power wheels....Our spring ambition is to make a garden. Each child has picked out what they would like to plant and they are in charge of the planting and watering and weed pulling.....we are pretty excited!! April 1st is our day to plant! I'm thinking about planting a small fruit tree. I think that would be so fun for them to go pick their own fruit and have some shade while they work in the garden. I wish I could take them to California and have them walk through the orchars filling their baskets with their fruit. It's one of my favorite things to do back home in the summer! Maybe I will find some out here in Utah Anyhoo.....I love being a nanny! Life is good! ANy tips or fun ideas are always welcome!

Bromancin'

My Dad and Garrett ( my little brother ) came to Utah to see Kamryn, my new neice. This was only the second time Dave has ever met my dad and so the boys went shooting to do the bonding. I went along to take some pictures. It was so funny to see them all turn into little boys while they competed to see who was the best shooter. I hit a clay pigeon with a shotgun on my first try and was proud of myself! After shooting for a few hours we went and got lunch at Chadder's and took a quick nap before going snowboarding at brighton. It was Garrett's first time boarding and all though he did great for his first time he spent most of the night face first in the snow. I had so much fun with all my family and was so greatful we could all go do something fun like that together. As time passes I realize what awsome sisters and brothers I have. I just wish our oldest sister Janae lived closer so we could see her family more! So that night we were all exhausted from such a long day but it was so worth it!