New Year's Goal #1-CHECK!

I've decided I am going to start blogging a little more about my thoughts and adventures. Apparently, there is an entire world of "bloggers" out there, often Mormon moms, that I didn't even discover until I was introduced to Pinterest. They follow each other's blogs and go to conventions, and some even get paid. I have no interest in becoming a professional blogger, but I will share when I come across things I like.

  Last year, one of my book clubs discussed "The Urban Homestead" which talks about all kinds of things you can do to make your home and style of living more ...farm-like?? Well, that is what I got from it. 

The girl who hosted made her own yogurt and served it at book club. (I made my own pickles, which was also pretty easy and fun). It has been my goal to make my own ever since. I kept putting it off, but finally just make up my mind that I would try and it really was easy! I used this recipe which is supposed to make the yogurt thicker. Mine turned out pretty thin, but I also used skim milk. I think I'll try 2% next time.

These pictures are the finished product. The recipe uses 1/2 gallon of milk and makes what you see below (the yogurt container is full). I am not completely sold on it-it is, after all, just plain yogurt, but I'll probably try it again. I have to see if I end up eating it all. The biggest problem is that Tim will have nothing to do with it!

One Wild Weekend

 Our MLK holiday weekend was filled with large animals, good weather, and delicious food. We finally made it to one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville, The Huckleberry, for our "anniversary" (Dec 30). The food took a long time to come out, so we got FREE DESSERT! This was fantastic news, because the food at the Huckleberry is good, but Tim and I really go for the dessert.

Image from Flickr.com

After a miserable cold spell, we had sunny skies and warm temperatures, so after dinner, we headed to a trail to hike, i.e., burn some calories from our dinner/dessert. The first thing we came across were these cows roaming free.

 I liked it at first, but then got scared and headed in the other direction. We didn't make it very far before the wind picked up and the sun went down, but we still got a nice view of the Flatirons.

 Thanks to the previous tenant in our townhome, we received a coupon in the mail for membership to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, so we cashed in and finally did something touristy!

 Rawrr!

 

We looked at all of the fun animal exhibits, but were most excited about the dinosaurs! They even had windows into a real lab where they were uncovering bones from right here in Colorado! (We know you want to visit us now, Will)

 

 Ty thought it was funny Tim was feeding him to this T-rex skull:

Now that we are museum members, we can go back anytime, so we only saw a few exhibits then headed to Cafe Rio (because we were already so close). Ty had his first taste of his favorite food.

 I'm pretty sure he loved it. Yay for a great weekend!

Big Helper

Mom or Dad?

Every one says Ty looks just like Tim, but after finding a few baby pictures, they may change their minds. What do you think?

Tanaya

Tanaya

 

Tim

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

...Having Fun in the Tub

 Thanks for the tub toys, Scott and DeAnne Family!

Ty always thinks he's funny in his hooded towel.

Diaper Rebel

I cannot get enough...

 ...of this adorable 9 MONTH OLD!!!

 

 Mini Photo Shoot

 

 Crawling progress (kind of)

Best buds

Ty loves his toys (notice the new shirt he got for his 9 month celebration-trains! I couldn't resist.)

Christmas 2012

Christmas season just isn't the same when you/your spouse is in school. Tim spent much of the month of December studying and writing papers. I spent most of the month doing the Christmas shopping, working, and entertaining Ty, but I did take some time while he was sleeping to make his stocking to match the ones Tim's mom made for us 5 years ago. I think it turned out pretty cute! (Thanks for the help Diney!)

 

Once Tim finished his school things and I worked a few hours for the week, we headed down to St. George to spend Christmas with my family. We got there Friday afternoon and were able to spend Saturday with all of the cousins together before TJ left with his kids that night. The kids love spending time together! In just a few hours on Saturday, they managed to play trains, go on a treasure hunt, make cookie gingerbread houses, exchange gifts, and play with their wiggle carts my dad gave them.
Gift Exchange:

 

 

 

Grandpa's wiggle car were a hit. Even I had fun on them!

  

Will and Henry are always willing to include Ty. He LOVES playing with them and being one of the "big kids"

More pictures of Ty having a ball "beating up" on Will

 

 

  Ty and Katherine are destined to be good friends.

 

 

 The kids all love Grandpa

 We got a bunch of mustaches and had fun with the boys. Unfortunately, Ty did NOT like his.

 Saturday night we headed up to Christmas in the Canyon at Tuacahn. We rode a little train and enjoyed the lights. 

 

 Cute Christmas elves

 

 Ben and Kaitlyn

 We went to see the nativity and lights at the St. George Temple on Christmas eve (this is the only picture we got), then had our traditional clam chowder and cornbread, read the Christmas story from the Bible and The Night Before Christmas, and finished the night by watching Elf.

  I started getting sick on Christmas morning, so I didn't get many pictures, but we all got so many great presents and ate a delicious meal.

 Most of the day was spent enjoying our toys.

 I managed to steal a few pictures from Mindy. Below is a picture of the puppet show Tim and Makayla put on for us.

  Because I didn't take many pictures of Christmas, I took a few of Ty playing with his gifts. Thanks for the Buff Baby rattle, Aubrey. Ty likes working out!

 And he feels like a big boy with his sippy cup, Grandma Diney. 

What a cutie!

 After Christmas, we all got sick and barely made it back to Colorado. We've spend the entire last week just recuperating and getting our energy back, but it was a good trip!