Gluten free...the way to be?

This past year has been really trying, especially with my health. I've been from doctor to doctor. And earlier this month I spent a good 6 hours in the er. But to no avail, every test has come back as inconclusive or normal. So I've had two doctors suggest I try doing a gluten free diet for a couple of months and see if it helps at all. I started it this week. And I tell you it's the hardest thing I've had to do. I always eat wheat products. When I am hungry I turn to breads (especially toast) and pastas to fill me up. It was so hard yesterday when I went shopping to find food I can eat. I nearly cried. The gluten free products are so expensive; over $5 for a tiny box of pancake mix, nearly $6 for 4 muffins, $5 for a tiny loaf of bread. I have no idea how we are going to afford this. I have to admit, I am rather discouraged and it's not even been a week. I am hoping the CT scan I'm going in for next week will finally shed some light as to what is going on with me.

Celebrate!



This past week was both Nick and my birthdays (we are 4 yrs and 4 days apart). So we decided to celebrate. We took the weekend off and spent Friday night to Monday morning at a "hotel" in Taylorsville. It was actually an apartment complex that lent out some units on a per night basis. I think Nick liked it better than I did (the place that is). I didn't like the staff that helped us the first few times and the place was SO noisy. But it was wonderful to just get away and have our own space. The first night we got KFC for dinner, watched a little TV and played scrabble and clue (Nick won both). Saturday we went to Golden Corral and ate some yummy breakfast and spent the day relaxing watching "Chuck" until Nick whisked me off to the Olive Garden for a delightful diner. We rounded off the evening seeing "Inception" which we both enjoyed. Sunday was our total lazy day. We stayed snuggled in watching "Chuck" most of the day, only stopping to take a quick dip in the hot tub (it was full of leaves and bugs so it was rather quick). Unfortunately I started feeling really sick in the early afternoon and was still so when I woke on Monday so we spent our time at the doctors instead of going bowling. But all in all it was quite nice. We really needed the recharge!



From Nick



Better shot of Nick's flowers to me



From my Dad



My sweetheart @ Olive Garden




Enjoying Ihop



Motor On!



Meg with one of the classics




Me :)

Last month was MINI takes the states (it's a huge road trip for all MINI owners to gather together and have a blast) in Denver. While I was not able to go on the adventure (sigh...someday!) I did go to the big party they had here and drug poor Meghan with me. It was crazy! Tons of MINIs and people from all over. They celebrated all that is Utah by passing out green jello and "Utah Beer" which was a bottle of water. And I had to get the t-shirt of course! It has a picture of a MINI in a cube of green Jello on the Salt Flats with seagulls flying around. They had lots of MINIs on display including some classics. But the pièce de résistance was the unveiling of the new MINI Countryman. I wasn't sure if I would like a 4 door MINI but boy was I wrong! It is super cute! It has 4 doors, 4wheel drive, and lots of room. I've decided it should be our new family car (no this isn't an announcement). Nick's been fighting me on it, he thinks MINIs should only have 2 doors and no more. We shall see what he says when I take him to do a test drive after January when it is available to the public. Needless to say it was great! I'm glad I went (and that Meghan was able to join me) and I will one day do the full shebang!



Signed by the man himself



Nick's dream car-the John Cooper Works 







The Countryman *sigh*



Roomy interior





Sittin inside!

Fancy Dress Par-tea!

So Manda saw this cute tea party a friend of hers did and showed it to me. We decided we needed to have one too. So we did and it was simply smashing! Our only requirement was that everyone had to dress up. And boy did everyone come through on that one. Even the little ones! It was a lot of fun to plan. Even though getting our outfits where a little on the stressful side...Let me share...Manda and I decided to go check out a vintage store I'd heard about downtown (Decades, so fun!). Well while we were sitting at a light a lady bumped the back of my car. You could hear it and feel it move a tiny bit. So we both turn around and look at the lady behind us and she points to the side of the road so we pull over. Well before I can get out she keeps going. We decided to give chase. I'm so glad Manda was there because I had no idea what to do. Manda took action and called the police and told them what happened. The dispatcher said he was sending an officer. While this was going on the lady pulled into a parking lot and I followed. She got out and came over to us demanding to know why we were following her. We told her she hit us and she started freaking out saying she'd done no such thing that she had told us it was close. As I was sitting in my car starting to get upset an officer came to our rescue. Luckily there was no damage. We were told that we did the right thing. Both officers were great. It was not a fun experience. Manda and I where booth really shaky for quite some time afterwards. But we did find cute hats and a dress for me...The tea party was lovely! Everyone had a grand time. And I think we will be doing it again next year. *Thanks mom for letting us use your china!

Mindy, Steph, Kiel, Kate, Me, Manda (and Scott behind the camera)

Kate & Claire who loved the strawberries (and sharing them as well)

Manda &Scott

Kelsi, Kiel, Steph

Gavin & Mindy

Kate & Claire

Me!

Manda

Claire & Me...I just love her!

Proper young ladies: Steph, Manda, Me, Kate, Mindy

Being not so proper :)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

We had such a rad time at Em's 80's themed girls night! Everyone dressed up, we played "Dream Phone" and "Mall Madness," ate pizza and ring pops, and just had a rockin time! It was nice to just hang with the girls and giggle like we use to. I loved everyones outfits and hair! My hair did not cooperate in the slightest, you'd think that'd work for the 80's but sadly no it was just a flat, stringy mess. Sigh, I had wanted to crimp it but didn't have time. I guess I'll just have to wait for the next 80's party I go to :)



Em & Kaylee (who matched Manda)



Amy (who was so funny about looking preggo)

Shell with the best hair!

I learned an important lesson with this outfit...try it before you by it even if it says it's your size

Manda rockin the side pony!

What a Day! *sorry it's a long one

The ever beautiful Manda with all our yumminess!

Yesterday was quite an eventful day. It started out with a super fun play date with Manda. We went to Elizabeth's Bakery & Tea Shop. It's one of my favorite places to go. I was so sad when I went to go there a few months ago with Amy and we found that it was closed until further notice. But much to my delight it has reopened. It is so quaint and cute! The hardest part is deciding on what to get. The menu has been cut back a bit (which makes me sad because there is no longer the yummy Irish bacon sandwich) but it does make it a tiny bit easier to choose something. Manda and I decided to get several things and split them.

Cute tea pot cookie!

The bacon & cheese puff (yummy!), a cheese scone (delish!), chocolate crunch (love the chocolate on top). We each got ourselves a cup of hot chocolate a.k.a. drinking chocolate (yes I know it's the middle of Summer but it is Divine! I get it every time I go) and the cutest tea pot cookies. Once we finished our delights we headed next door to the London Market (another favorite place to go). So much fun! We checked out all the fun goodies imported to the US from the UK. One day I want to try some of the food. I don't think I'll be brave enough to try the canned haggis though. We geeked out over the Harry Potter stuff and picked out some candy. I can't go in without getting some British chocolate (talk about heaven!). We also decided to try some soda mostly because they had random saying on them. I wasn't crazy about mine, Manda wasn't either. I had a great time with Manda! It was nice to have some girl time and visit!

It's not for girls cuz it's not very good

Later in the day I headed up to girls camp for visitor's day. I was excited but not looking forward to the drive. Before I left I started to wonder if I should really go up. But I decided to go anyway. On the way there I had several times where I thought I should turn around and go back home. I was so worried I might have an issue with my car. But as I had promised the girls I'd come and visit plus I had made them all a little something I just couldn't go back. So I said several little prayers as I drove. I got there without any problems. It was great. I got to see all the girls and spend some time playing and hanging out with them. I played spaz which I had totally forgot about. I also got to chat with Meghan my new sis. We had dinner and a nice devotional. It brought back a lot of memories from when I was in young women's. I loved how strong the spirit was. Once the devotional was over we split up to do ward testimony bearing. One of my girls had broken her pelvis a few weeks ago and it was bothering her so I offered to take her back to camp so she wouldn't have to walk.

Poor tire...it was worse than it looks here

As we drove back to camp we rounded a corner and went over a rock then BANG! there was this loud pop. It startled everyone around us. The first ward came running to see what it was. And there was my car with a completely dead tire. It was amazing to see how quickly and efficiently the men came to my rescue. They had the tire changed in no time. Once the spare was on we headed up to camp again. We had our testimony meeting where of course I cried. It was so wonderful to see and feel the sweetness of the Lord through the testimonies born. I left far later than I had intended as I was waiting for the bishop to conclude, he wanted to follow me home to make sure everything went okay. So I packed up the two girls I was taking home and headed out into the darkness. I was freaking out the whole way out of the winding, dirt covered, and pothole filled canyon. Saying prayers in my head and squealing the whole way. Each step (i.e. once we where out of the small canyon, through Parley's, onto 201, etc.) I said a little "thank you" to our Father in Heaven. I made it home around 11:30 or so. Can I just say...what a day!

My hero! Wish I could remember his name so he's Bro. Hero from the 1st ward

My Puppies, My Boys

All the boys together

It's been a really hard few months. Not only am I adjusting to married life but I have lost two so very dear family members. Toby our yellow lab and Trey my dachshund.
I remember when we got Toby. I was in 5th grade and Ben and I where walking home from school. As we neared the bottom of the hill we saw our parents waiting at the park with a puppy. I nearly drug Ben the rest of the way I was so excited. Toby always had that sweet puppy like love. He loved playing and water (well til he got older then he wasn't quite a fan of water so much). He'd get a drink straight from the spout in the tub-til his body wouldn't allow it anymore. He was all about the family, and adored my dad. One year up camping we took canoes with us. My parents went out on one and Toby was so upset they left him behind he started swimming out to them. He wasn't satisfied til he was in the canoe with them. Such a sweet and wonderful dog. He always knew how to cheer me up; weither it was covering me in kisses or chasing his tail. Silly dog broke it twice catching it.

Tobby Dog...wish I had a pic of him a bit younger on here to show his freckles

Trey was only suppose to be at our house for a few months but became a permanent member of the family when he experienced separation anxiety leaving us. Ben and I where able to talk my mom into taking him back by pulling a very dirty trick...we asked her what would Jesus do? Would he let Trey go to the pound? And so he became mine. His very favorite thing in the whole world were blankets. Many a night I would find that he had taken over my bed and stole all my blankets. He loved to burrow, it didn't matter what it was, as long as it was some sort of snugly material. If it was in his reach he would take it. I don't know how many times Trey would try and take over Ben's robe while he was wearing it. When he was younger I had a pair of slippers that were pigs. Trey loved attacking them any time they where on my feet. I finally had to just give them to him. It was hilarious to see him flinging around this pig that was not much smaller than him. My sweet littel baby who drove everyone crazy with his nerotic tendencies.

Trey snuggled up in my hammock up camping-stole my blankets

It's been hard to say goodbye to them. I keep thinking I see them or hear them. I get up to see what they need and they are not there. They will forever be in our hearts and will be missed greatly. I just take comfort in knowing that they are happy and can do all the things they once loved but that their bodies no longer allowed. I'm sure Toby was thrilled to see Rascal again. I told Alex that they are up in heaven playing with Jesus. I like that image. When I die can I have that job? Playing with all the puppies?

Trey buggin Toby as usual