Confessions of a cook

So over the years I have really improved on my cooking. I have always enjoyed cooking and trying new things. I can make almost anything if I try and allow myself the proper amount of time.
However there are a few things that I can not make and fail almost every time I try. That is things out of a box! It has been a long standing joke at our house that I can't make Pasta Roni...believe me I have tried many times over the years and more often than not it fails. Well I have been keeping this one in the closet but after last nights disaster I think it is time to come clean. I can't make Jello either.
For those of you that were at last night's Blue and Gold Banquet and saw the jello mush and felt bad that no one took any (and I mean NO ONE) not even me. It was mine. Go ahead...Laugh because I am. Don't feel bad, I think it is hilarious.
So from now on I think that I will stick to making things from scratch and steer clear of the boxed foods. The only Jello you will find at my house is the jello that goes in Grandma's Lemon Cake.

I love you...

Seven years ago Matt and I shared our first Valentine's Day and it was a day I will never forget. Matt had a dozen roses delivered to me at work and then surprised me with a few other sweet gifts when I got home. Because of our work scheduled we were not able to see each other that day. Matt was working grave yard that night so I went and heart attacked his room and delivered my gift so it would be there when he got home in the morning. I surprised him by being at his apartment when he got home. I hid in his office until he had seen all of my gifts and had read my card. At the end of what I wrote I told him to look out his bedroom door... I was standing there. It was in that moment that I knew that I was in trouble if this relationship didn't last. When he looked at me that morning I felt like I was going to melt. I didn't tell him then, but I want to tell him right then that I loved him.

I can't even describe how much love is in our home. But I can write a few things that I love about my wonderful husband.

I love that he calls me "love".
I love that he knows when to let me be and when I need to be hugged and taken care of.
I love that he can always bring me back to reality when I am being completely irrational, but waits until I have had a chance to be irrational for a bit. ( I am sure it is because it just makes him laugh)
I love that because of him I am becoming a person that I never dreamed I could be.
I love that he does what it takes to provide for our family.
I love watching him play with our kids.
I love that he is sensitive at times and will shed a tear or two when something is really important to him.
I love his willingness to serve the lord.
I love that he loves those he serves with all of his heart.
I love that he can always make me laugh and does his best not to make me cry.

I love you Matt. Happy Valentine's Day. I can't wait for the next seven years with you.

GUESS WHO IS 2!!

I can Hardly believe that it has been two years that we have had out little monkey in our family. He is such a joy. I love this little man.
We had a little birthday party for him on his birthday at Matt's parents house while we were there for Christmas. I also like to call Owen our little cookie monster, that was one of his first words and one of his favorite treats. So instead of cake we made him a GIANT cookie. He though that was pretty neat. I want to put down a few things about Owen at 2 years old.
Things that he loves: Daddy, Shoes, Dinosaurs, anything with sugar, all ladies that he thinks look like GG, he loves GG, his BSU blankie, his cow and horse, riding his bike, climbing, baths, and he thinks that he needs to take his backpack any time we leave the house.
Things he doesn't like: Having his PJ's taken off (screaming fits), or having his coat taken off (napping in it right now) kisses right after he wakes up, green beans from a can, when his sister makes him do anything, and when anyone touches the above mentioned loved things.

For the most part he is a pretty happy going kiddo. We just love your little man to pieces.

Big Boy

Matt took the front of Owen's crib off yesterday since he climbs out anyway. We are beginning the transition to the big boy bed. I can hardly believe that our little monkey is two and growing up so fast.

She keeps me laughing

Yesterday during Sacrament meeting Bailee and I were looking at the pictures in my Gospel Principles manual to help her keep quiet and to help her remember why we have the sacrament. We came to a picture and she asked who it was, I wasn't sure an there was no caption so I looked at the adjacent page and it was talking about the prophet Abraham. I took a guess and told her that it was Abraham. Her eyes lit up and she said to me "Hey! We know that song!" I was a little confused and then she proceeded to start singing "Father Abraham had seven sons..." I was trying to so hard not to bust up laughing while I explained that the Father Abraham song wasn't about the Prophet Abraham.

Bailee Sings

Bailee just was singing this song, one of the many she makes up and sings. She was dancing around while she sang it. She is so cute!

I love Dancing in the summer, but it is not summer outside....
it is Chiiiillly.
(imagine this in a little girl high pitched voice)

Where Have we Been?!

Ok, So I know I have been a slacker. But in my defence I feel like I have been going non-stop since ...well since Bailee was born. Here is just a glimpse into what we have been up to. Hopefully one day I will post pictures of some of these events.

July
25th- Matt and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary by going to the temple and going to one of our favorite restaurants, PF Changs.
29th-31st- Matt wen tto scout camp with his troop to camp Bradley

August
1st- Matt came home. Mom, Dad, Steph, Kelly, and Jack arrived. We had Family pictures done. Then all of us left Matt and drove through the night to Sacramento to visit the Solomon side of the family
2nd-7th- Lots of fun in California. We took the kids to Six Flags discovery Kingdom and did lots of swimming at Pam and Dale's
8th- Mom and Dad head home to Blackfoot. Matt and I took the kids to the Ward Summertime Splash.
17th- Julie and her kids arrive from Vancouver, WA
17th-25th- Lots of fun with Julie and her kids.
21st-22nd- Matt took Cody on a backpacking trip to the Seven Devils

September
CANNING BEGINS!!! (most days not mentioned with events is taken up by canning)
6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th I had sharing time
8th Bailee's 4th birthday and a Princess Party for her and her friends
9th- Mom and Steph arrive to watch the kids
10th - 4am Matt and I leave fore Wood Badge
10th-12th- Awesome Wood Badge Experience, come home.
13th- Mom and Steph go home
16th- Matt has scouts and a Beaver Patrol meeting
19th- Seems like there was something, but I don't remember.
20th- Tami had Eagle Patrol Meeting and gets a new calling to the Stake Primary presidency.
22nd- finishing patrol projects
23rd- Drop the kids off at our awesome friend's house for the weekend. Thanks again Mike and Anna!
24th- 4 am leave to go back to Wood Badge
24th-26th More awesome Wood Badge Training
Canning totals- 10 qts Applesauce, 30 qts and 10 pts Pears, 6 qts Peaches, 7 half pts Tomato sauce, 16 pts Pear sauce, 4 qts apple pie filling, 7 half pints Pear butter, 8 pts Zucchini pineapple, 16 pts spaghetti sauce, 12 pts salsa, and 11 half pts zucchini relish. Not to mention all of the zucchini I froze too.

October
2nd- Mom and Dad come
3rd and 4th- General Conference
10th- Matt and I traing a District Scout Training and go out for my Birthday
11th- Matt made me dinner and pumpkin pie for my birthday
16th and 17th- Matt has JOTA for his troop and 5 or 6 other troops
16th- Mom, Dad, Steph, Kelly and Jack come for Vanessa's funeral
17th- Funeral, everyone goes home
19th- Matt fixes the car, I can more salsa.
20th- We take the kids to our favorite pumpkin patch with our friends, the Dayton's
21st- The Kids and I drive to Vancouver to see my new niece, Sadie
21st-24th- Fun in Vancouver with Julie, Kristin, Karin, Mnisa and kidos. (13 hours of shopping in one day)
25th-I attend 2 wards then Matt and I take the kids to Grammas so she can watch them for us while we go to my friend, Kali's, wedding. She was so great to do that for us on her birthday. Love you mom!
26th- We have a makeup birthday dinner for Mom.
31st- Halloween Trunk or Treat and Stake Baptisms

November
Lots of meetings
6th- Mom, Dad, Steph and Jack come
7th- Tami has College of Commissioner Science 8am-2pm Then out to Dinner to celebrate Dad's birthday.
8th- Bailee's first Primary program. She had lots of support, Maama, Papa, Gramma, Steph, Jack, Amy and Lance! She did great! Her part was "Obey my parents". Everyone goes home.
10th- Tami goes to the temple with girlfriends.
12th- Matt and Tami have District Training again.
13th- Tami and kids leave for AZ and won't return until the 29th (Matt will fly down and join us before Thanksgiving)

Until We Meet Again

Today we are grieving with Matt's Aunt and Uncle. They had to say good-bye to their sweet 10 week old baby girl, Vanessa, last night. We are thankful that we could go and be with them in their last half hour with their girl. I pray that our hugs were of some comfort to them. We love them and are thanking the Lord that we have the opportunity to be sealed to our families for eternity. Darrin, Andrea, Kyle, Justin and Brooke our thoughts and prayers are with you. We love you.

Hannah Montana

Bailee has new love for Hannah Montana. It all started with a new pair of shoes that she calls her "Hannah Montana" shoes (FYI they do not have anything Hannah Montana on them). My mom bought her a Hannah Montana shirt and she loves it! So on our way to Yellowstone we said some thing about going to Montana and Bailee Shouts "MONTANA....HANNAH MONTANA!? I need my Hannah Montana shirt." The next morning while we are getting ready she decides that she needs to wear her "Hannah Montana" shirt and shoes because we are going to Montana. It was so cute and funny, I took a picture of her by they Montana sign so I could always remember. In this picture she is shouting "I love Hannah Montana!"

Family Vacation Part III

Friday we headed up to the Upper Loop in Yellowstone. Our first stop was at the Artist Paint Pots, they are so beautiful. The colors are amazing.

The view from the Top

Steph and Bailee

After the Artist pain Pots, we went to Norris Geyser Basin. Matt and I did not go on our honeymoon, but now wish we had. It was very neat. The colors there were very different form those in the lower loop. It was amazing the vastness of space there.

Matt and Bailee taking their first look.

The beautiful Greens

Mom and Dad

Owen and Papa

After lunch we went to Mammoth Hot Springs. Once again, there was something new at every turn.

Bailee and Owen

When Matt and Steph were Bailee and Owen's ages they had a picture taken of them at this same place. Bailee and Owen were not quite as cooperative.

All of us.

We thought that this looked like a river of gold.

On our way out of the Upper Loop, we were caught in a lot of traffic. We were excited to find out that the slowdown was caused by a little black bear. We didn't get any pictures because the Rangers chased it off of the side of the road. A few miles down the road there was another big slow down. we were crawling along for quite some time. We got the message from another tourist that there was a Bear up ahead. We were excited and hoping we would get to to it before it was chased off as well. The moment I caught sight of it, I jumped out of the car and ran down the road to get a better picture. The little grizzly was up the cliff from the road and I was able to get a few decent pictures of him. It was so fun.

At the end of the day we of course had our picture taken in front of the Yellowstone sign. We had a great time in Yellowstone. I always want to go back when we leave. It is so beautiful.

She loves Him

Bailee went and stayed with Matt's parents for a week in Blackfoot a few weeks ago. While she was gone, I think that she realized how much she loves her brother. Despite that he goes in her room when she doesn't want him to, plays with her toys, doesn't play with her when she wants him to and a whole list of things that bug her. There were a few times when I talked to her on the phone that week that she asked to talk to Owen. One of those times he was asleep and she asked me very sweetly to give him a love for her when he woke up. It just melted my heart. I am so glad that they love each other .

Dumb Blonde (moment)

Ok, so I was uploading all of our pictures from our Yellowstone vacation. I watched ALL of the pictures flash on my screen as they were "uploading". Was so excited to get them on the computer and on the blog. I recently learned that it is better for your SD card to format it rather than delete the pictures and so I formatted the card. Up to this point I had made TWO dumb blonde mistakes. 1) assuming that the pictures were on the computer since I saw them flash up on the screen 2) formatting the card with backing up the pictures. Oh man! What was I thinking! Here is what happened... My new camera makes HUGE picture files and I had used up ALL of the memory on my computer loading just the first two days worth of pictures (along with the rest up to this point) so only about half of the pictures really made it on the computer. I can laugh now about this... but it is only because we had loaded most of the pictures on Kelly's computer before we parted ways on our vacation. So they were able to burn me a CD. Plus I have had several weeks to get over my BIG DUMB BLONDE MOMENT. So needless to say I will not be posting any more pictures of our trip until we get more memory for our computer, and it will be a lot more memory. I know that I can put them up off of the CD, but I want to do some editing magic and can't do that with out being able to save as I go.

Family Vacation Part II

On Thursday we headed into Yellowstone National Park. Matt took me there for my first time on our Honeymoon, it was fun to go back and take the kiddos. Matt's parents, Steph and Jack met us at the cabin on Tuesday night so they could come with us. We decided to do the lower loop for the first day.
On our way into the park we got the wonderful opportunity to see a nested Bald Eagle. The nest was fairly close to the road, we saw two or three others, but they were not nearly as close. This was the first time I knew that I need a lens for my camera with a better zoom (hopefully for our next trip).

Our first stop was at Firehole waterfall. I love waterfalls, they are so beautiful.

Steph and Jack

Our next stop was to see a herd of Bison, Bailee wasn't too sure about them, but it was amazing to be surrounded by them. It is hard to imagine that this is a small herd compared to what used to live in our country.

The wildflowers were beautiful and were everywhere. All the rain we had in June made for a lovely scene in the mountains.

Our next several stops were at some of the many beautiful and strange looking thermal features throughout the park.

Bacteria Mat

Boiling mud

Owen made us laugh several times on the trip because he would often point out the window and say "Oh Wow!"

Papa, Owen, Bailee, Jack and Maama

Our sweetie, Bailee has some sensitive senses. She does not like loud, bright and especially doesn't like stinky. The thermal features commonly smell of sulfur...she didn't like that.

The colors in some of the springs are so vibrant. You see things in nature of Yellowstone that you don't see anywhere else.

The Grand Prismatic Spring

Emerald Pool

Sunset Pool

All of our many stops led us to our main attraction for the day. Old Faithful. Unfortunately because of where we were siting we mainly saw steam.

Owen and Matt

Matt, Terry, Owen and I went for a walk on a 3 mile trail to see some other geysers while Debbie, Bailee, Steph and Jack rested. We were lucky to be on the other side of Old Faithful when it went off again. We had a better view on this side.

I had so much fun taking pictures with my new camera. I took about 600 over the four days, but this is one of my favorites.

Three Generations of Hansen Explorers

One of our favorite attractions in Yellowstone is this Sapphire Pool. I love the blue color, the water is so clear that you can see how deep the spring is.

My silly husband.

Old Faithful is as far as we got on the lower loop, the kids and adults were all getting tired so we headed back to the cabin where we had dinner then smores while we waited for Kelly to join us.