It's Coming Back!!

In high school I loved baking. If there was any activity I'd bake. Any holiday I'd bake. Loved it. Since I've been in school, surprisingly enough, I've lost that passion. I still liked to bake, but I just never felt like what I made was good enough. Sometimes I hate telling people what I went to school for cause I feel like I have to live up to something. I probably should, but I've just lost my confidence, which has resulted in product that isn't that great. Too me at least. I know I have so much more in me to do better.

Tonight I could feel it coming back. I could feel the drive. I don't know why. I made Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies from Yummy Fun. I just had fun, which is what I use to feel. While in school and after I've had fun, but it hasn't been the same. This may sound weird, but I loved baking tonight. It wasn't just something I was doing, I really enjoyed it. I'm so excited!! Hopefully it'll continue and it's not just a one night thing!

Veranda

It's official. After last night I definitely want a wrap around porch on our future house. When I was in middle school I read a book where they lived in a house that had a veranda and I've always wanted one. Last night Jessica and I were out on our porch sitting in her chairs and just talked. I don't know how long we were out there, but it was just nice and kinda relaxing.

I would love a ranch style home with a huge wrap around porch with a bunch of sitting areas. No matter where you sit you have a different view. Love it. So hopefully someday we'll have that home somewhere... close to a big city.... in Texas. I can dream can't I.

Sunday Dinner

I'm a little proud of myself for my dinner last night. It was my first time to make a Pot Roast. It turned out to be a little dry, but I thought it was pretty good for my first time. Now I know what to do for next time. I made it with potatoes, carrots, and onions. I was going to make my usual rolls, but my mom suggested I make Yorkshire Pudding. I had no clue what they were, but she said they're good with a roast, and you pour your gravy all over it. They actually turned out pretty good. I didn't know what to expect, but I liked them.

(Yorkshire Pudding)

(My pot roast)

We had our neighbors, Alma and Jessica, come over for dinner too. I'm so grateful for the neighbors we have. It really makes apartment living so much better. We had so much fun having them over and then just being able to sit around and talk. We ended the evening with some delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. So good.

(mmm..yummy chocolate peanut butter cup cookies)

Canning

About 2 weeks ago my friend, Shauna, and I went a picked a whole bunch of apples off a tree behind work. I ended up taking home about 30 pounds! I was a little excited cause I'd never canned before. She was making a bunch of apple pie filling, but I'm not a big fan of canned apple pie filling. I'd rather make it fresh. So I ended up making Apple Butter, Cinnamon Applesauce, and just regular Applesauce. My first weekend I spent doing the apple butter, and I just finished the applesauces the other day. I actaully really enjoyed it. I didn't reall care for the peeling, coring, and slicing part, but the rest was fun!

Sad Sad Day

Tuesday night I think I could have almost been one of the saddest people. I started making some bread and when I went to turn on my Kitchen Aid it started to make a loud clunking noise. I looked at Todd and he gave me a look like what's goin on. Well it ended up stopping, but when I went and turned it off it wouldn't turn back on!!

So Todd went and got his tools and took everything apart and found that the bearing broke. My mixer has always been kinda loud, at least louder than I thought it should be, so I'm wondering if something has always been wrong with it. It'll be 2 years in December since I got it so it's not very old. Anyway, Todd went and found some place that sold the bearing, ordered it, and now we get to wait 7-10 business days till it gets in so he can fix it for me!

They're Here

I got my new shoes in last Tuesdsay. Little late on the picture, but I've been wearing them almost every day. They're so comfortable which is awesome for work. I got them to replace an older pair of black flats. I thought those ones were pretty decent, but now that I've had my new ones I've realized how uncomfortable they were. I love shoes. FYI to anyone who wants a pair of comfortable shoes look at Rocket Dogs. I use to be all about the heels. I love love LOVE Steve Madden, but do to the lack of dressing up for work I rarely wear them anymore, and can't justify buying them when I'll most likely only wear them on Sunday. But anyway, they're comfortable and last forever. Love them.

1 Wall Down....2 More To Go

I finally have something on our walls!! I've been wanting to put up a collage picture frame above our kitchen table, but just haven't gotten down to do it, or when I do I just can't justify spending the money. last week I found one that I love that Kohl's had on sale. I was sooo excited. I finally got Todd to feel sorry for me and he let me get it ;) That or he just wanted me to finally leave him alone, either or I still got it!

Quotable

I love my husband. He always knows how to make me laugh with his random sense of humor. He comes out of no where with things. Lately I've been thinking that I should really write some of the things he says down. So I've tried, sometimes I forget, but for the past week I've been trying to be good at remembering what he says. I thought I'd let everyone else partake of his humor and enjoy the things that I get to everyday. Here are some of Todd's quotes that have made me laugh, sometimes uncontrollably.


After coming out of the bathroom:

"I activated the do do shoot." (8/22/08)

I came home one day and noticed that Todd decided to start growing a mustache. It wasn't just a mustache though. His name for it:

"It's a mustache with handle bars." (8/21/08) I hope you guys can all picture that. Luckily it lasted for about 2 days.

After I came out of the room from changing:

"Shirley do you realize how much laundry I have to do cause you change so much!?" (9/10/08) My mother could probably relate to that one.

When Todd was off for two weeks, before I would leave for work I would usually go into the room and give him a kiss. This day I gave him a kiss and if I can remember correctly he wasn't quite awake, but as I went to turn I tripped. As I catch my balance Todd says:

"You're just drunk on love." Oh yeah


For the past month or so Todd has been soaking his ankles in hot water after work. One day as he was doing so he was examining his foot and tells me he could go for a pedicure. So I say why don't you give me a pedicure. His reply:

"Shirley we only have that kind of money to spend on one person is this family." (9/16/08) Gotta love him.


Todd, thank you for your quick wittiness and making my days more enjoyable. Love you.

Autumn

I absolutely love fall! It's slowly starting to get cooler here and trees are starting to loose their leaves. There's just something about it. I don't know. It just make me feel warm and cozy. You get to start wearing long sleeves and sweatshirts again. It gets darker sooner.

Honestly I think one of my favorite things, about this time of year, is the food. It's just soooo good. I can remember how on Halloween my dad would make his chili. Mmmm... So good and how I miss it. Mom's taco soup. Thankgiving. Yum. Dad's stuffing is the best and nothing compares. His turkey, no matter which way he does it, is phenominal. Mom's sweet potato casserole. Tried making it last year, but it just wasn't the same. I haven't had Thanksgiving with my family for 4 years. Every year it comes to that time it gets me a little depressed knowing it's another year I'm away, but sadly I still remember how everything tastes. Mmmm... My mouth is salavating! Anyway....moving on...

I love baking during this time and the way it makes your home smell. All the spices you use. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger... It's just all so comforting. I can't wait to start making pumpkin pie or my cinnamon chip cookies. Unfortunately Todd doesn't care for pumpkin pie and I can't find my cinnamon chips anywhere up here. (So mom if you're missing your daughter oh so dearly and you feel like sending her a little package, cinnamon chips would be mighty nice to add to it.)

And the best part, the fall leads you into Thanksgiving and Christmas. These have always been my two favorite holidays. In between both we usually get to celebrate my mom's, sister's, and my birthday. But my most favorite of each is that during both I'm usually surrounded by family. I love the feeling of everyone getting together. Since I was in 5th grade there has always been someone gone. Now that we're all out of the house it's fun and exciting to go back to the place where everything started. The traditions, memories, and laughter.

So here's to another fall that will again encourage my love for baking, bring new traditions while we use those we grew up with, and most of all bring us all together.

Biggest Loser

Starts tonight!! NBC @ 7:00pm. WooHoo!! We're excited.

Back To Work

Todd has had a 2 week break from work due to the shortage of potatoes. Well, it's in between season and our company couldn't get any decent ones. There was a whole bunch of potato language that I didn't understand. But anyway, he started back up today and I'm a little sad. Well, both happy and sad.

I've loved going to work with him. We get to drive to and from together. Eat lunch together. He comes down and sits with me on his breaks. Every other Wednesday he goes grocery shopping with me. And on the way home he lets me vent about what I had to do that day.

But these past 2 weeks have also been amazing!! I've pretty much been coming home to a clean apartment everyday. He's been doing all the dishes, laundry (usually always does anyways), organizing. I came home Thursday and he was in our back room organizing the closet to make everything fit better. Then he came up to the kitchen and organized our closet up there. Love it!!

So it's a little bittersweet having him back to work. Although today when he came down for his break it was nice to see him. He knows how to brighten my day. I probably don't give him the credit he deserves all the time. He helps out a lot. I'm one lucky girl!

I JUST BOUGHT NEW SHOES.....

For the first time in what seems like forever! The last shoes I bought were for our wedding over a year ago. Seriously, it's been hard. But Todd and I made a deal that if I get rid of 2 pairs of shoes I can buy 1. He thinks I have too many, but in all honesty I don't think I do. But whatever. I can't wait, hopefully they get here quick.


Ooooo.. I'm just so excited!

Year Book Photos

This Would Be Nicki and I in 1970's.

Nicki and I in 1984.

We sure would have been some sexy people.

Salt Lake City Trip

This weekend Todd and I went down to Salt Lake. Not on the best of terms, but it ended up being a really nice weekend. On Monday the 1st, my dad's sister, my Aunt Laurie, passed away after battling MS for 38 years. Dad flew up on Thursday and we decided to meet him down there and spend the weekend with him.

Aunt Laurie

Thursday we got down to Salt Lake a little before my dad, so we went and hung out with my Aunt Cheryl (my dad's older sister) and Uncle Paul for a little bit. It was nice to be able to see them and visit with them for a little. After dad got to the hotel we went and met up with him and went to Chili's for dinner. After dinner he took us around to the house that I lived at till I was 2. It was so good to see my dad. I don't think you ever realize how much you miss someone until you see them again. He brought me a sweet new Dallas shirt. I love it!

Friday morning was Aunt Laurie's funeral. We were able to visit with family. Many I hadn't seen for awhile some I think still remembered me how was when we left and I was only 2. But it was nice to just be with family and remember Aunt Laurie. After the service we walked over to were my Grandma and Grandpa Tuckett are buried. We got together as the Tuckett family and took some pictures. Afterwards, the 3 of us when out to lunch with my Aunt Cheryl and her family. There we got to talk some more and have some pretty good laughs.

The flowers my parents got for her

Grandma and Grandpa Tuckett

The Tucketts

Our cousin Steve, Dad, Aunt Cheryl, Cousin Thelia

Me and Dad

Later that night Dad was our tour guide and took us around town. He took us to gravity hill, showed me the hospital I was born in, and showed us my mom's old stomping grounds.

My mom's old high school

The house my mom grew up in

An apartment my dad use to live in

Next we went on a tour of the Conference Center and walked around Temple Square. The Conference Center was amazing. Just learning about the architecture and the structure was so neat. We had a little old lady that gave our tour and in the beginning she kind of warned us it would be long, but little did we know. She liked to talk! I think we had a couple other tours pass us. It was fun though. Temple Square was beautiful. We also went inside the Tabernacle and the Visitor's Center.

Inside of the Conference Center

View from the top

Visitor's Center on Temple Square

After all our touring, Dad took us to Diamond Lil's for some prime rib. It was so good. It was Todd's first time to have prime rib and he loved it. After dinner Dad showed us a little more around town and then we headed back to the hotel.

Saturday morning Todd and I got up and headed down to Pleasant Grove to visit with his grandma, and then we went down to Provo and had lunch with my friend Jennifer, and his brother Troy. That evening my dad took us down by the University of Utah campus to a restaurant called The Pie. My dad use to work there when he was younger and it was called Bimbo's I believe. I might be corrected on that. Anyway, it has some of the best pizza. Then we went to Trolly Station and got some Salt Water Taffy and walked around a little. We saw a postcard, in one of the shops, of the Saltair by the Great Salt Lake. So we drove over there, but it had already closed for the night. So we headed back to the hotel.

Sunday we drove out to This is the Place Hearitage Park. It's a monument where Brigham Young had said "This is the Place" after coming through the canyon. It was so neat. They've made a huge monument with a bunch of statues represent Brigham Young, Fur Traders, Indians, and such. Then they have a little village you could go through that has some of the original buildings that the pioneers built. So we walked around that a little and then took a train ride around it. But before the train ride we were all thristy so my dad went to get us some water. So we have 3 waters right, it came to over $6!!! My dad called it gold water. Seriously, I think it was the most expensive water I have ever drank. While we're getting the waters the driver of the train comes walking out. He was hilarious. I think we laughed most of the ride cause of him. Half of what he was saying you couldn't understand. But he was just 1o months older than my dad, but looked at least 10 years older! He would just make the funniest comments, but you could tell he loved what he did.

Here are some pictures of the monument. The thing was huge so Todd took pictures of each section.

This was at the entrance to the park. If I remember correctly it's statue of Joseph Smith talking about his reveltion of the saints going west.

Front

Top. That's Brigham Young and two other guys.

Back

The Pioneers

Spanish Explorers

Indians

Original monument on the assumed spot where Brigham was when he made the statement. Although we learned that historians believed it was in a different location closer to coming out of the canyon.

The 3 of us after the train ride. Notice the sweet shirt my dad got me!

Us with our driver

After spending time at the park Dad took us to Sandy to visit where my Grandma and Grandpa Swilor are buried. The last time Todd and I were there we couldn't find, but Dad was able to find it this time. We also got to see where my Aunt Wanda (my mom's sister) was buried in the same cemetary.

Then we headed back to my Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Paul's for a little barbeque with their family. We got to sit around and talk and hear them talk about the past. They talked about how hamburgers use to be $.12, and we heard some childhood stories from my dad and Aunt Cheryl. It was just a really good time.

Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Paul

Dad with Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Paul

I'm so glad we went down there this weekend. I had one of the best times. I think my favorite was just being able to see my dad and listen to him remember things from when he use to live there. Thanks Dad for taking us around every where. We honestly had a great time. And thanks for giving up your king bed so we could stay with ya!