The BIG 3-0!

This handsome devil turned 30 in September. Since it was a milestone birthday, we celebrated really big. I did "30 Days of Nic." It was really fun coming up with things to do for him. I had wanted to buy him a present for every day, but due to the whole in my pocket (i.e. no dinero) I bought him some big gifts and did small things for him and cooked some of his favorite meals. One thing I planned was a kickball game to remember the days of yester-year. We played at the field area in front of our subdivision. I went and got dinner and had Nic meet me. We were enjoying our meal when some friends of ours pulled up. Nic said: "Hey, look who just pulled up." I told him they must just be coming to the park for FHE. Next thing we know the kids come running out with big happy faces: "Are you ready to play kickball?" Nic looked up at me and said: "Kickball?!" "Happy 30 days of Nic!" More friends came and it was a fun time.

Some of the big gifts included a grill (too bad he won't be able to use it until next year), a video tribute, Metallica tickets (I bought them back in April-I almost gave them to him for Father's Day) and a book of stories that I collected from his friends and family. It was really fun getting everything together. Some of the stories were funny and some were really tender.

The day before his birthday, we had a surprise party for him. Bless Nic's little heart he almost found out about it, but when he saw the invitation on a friend's fridge he backed out of the kitchen and said he could not go in there. Saturday morning I went over to my friend Sarah's house to get everything going. Nic was away with the scouts for a camp out so it worked out perfectly-however he got back earlier than I had expected so I had to ditch Sarah and come home. I hurried to get ready and we went to a movie with the excuse that Sarah had invited us over for dinner and that we needed to be at her house at 7pm (on the invitations I said the guest of honor would be getting there at 7 SHARP!). The movie ran later than I had expected and we didn't get there until 7:30. I felt like such a loser. I'm kind'a anal when it comes to gatherings starting on time and the fact that it was my own party and I was late kind'a made me sad. . .all is well. Everyone had fun.

I also had a SUPER yummy cake made-no lie! It was the best cake I've ever had. I lady in our ward makes cakes. She did a fantastic job!

I found a cake design I liked and she went for it. The colors were exactly what I wanted and the flavors were DELICIOUS!! The top of the cake was a two layer white cake with a chocolate pudding filling and the bottom was THREE layer (yes 1-2-3 layers) chocolate with raspberry filling. I am not a huge chocolate and raspberry fan but it was sooooooooo incredibly yummy! The fondant was good too-it was marshmallow fondant. If you live in the Boise area and need a cake you need to get in touch with Mayona. You will not regret it! I'm trying to think of another reason I would need to get a cake from her.

I know I've taken to our blog a lot to say how much I appreciate my husband but it's so true. He is everything I could have wanted in a husband. He helps me and encourages me. He makes me laugh and helps dry my tears. He works hard. I love him so much!

Happy Birthday babe! I hope it was a great day for you.

p.s. When I posted the note about being a bad blogger, Nic felt kind'a sad that I didn't post anything about his birthday (which was before I even posted that). Sorry babe :(

Summer Lovin'

had me a blast! Summer lovin' happened so fast.


Summer came and went (and yes-I'm just barely blogging about it). I started out training for a triathlon but my knees and hips (read right knee and hip) did not agree with that so I had to stop. Majorly bummed, but I went and supported my two friends that I had started training with. They did AWESOME! But it made me super depressed that I couldn't compete.



This summer we spent some time at the lake (see previous post) with friends and it was fun. I love spending time in the water, it makes me feel at peace. We also went camping with Nic's family this year at Hell's Canyon, but it was so BLOODY hot that I never took my camera out but on an over-cast day when Nic and I went for a drive. Totally uncomfortable. Rumor is next year we are heading to Florence, Oregon-I'm totally down for that!

Instead of a mid-summer trip to California, we went at the end of August for my 10 year high school reunion. It was a blast. But the trip was too short and I didn't get to spend a lot of time with my family. Bummer. The nice thing though was that Nic and I FINALLY decided to take our time getting there. We stopped in Reno and stayed at Circus Circus on the way to Cali.

The day before the reunion (Friday) we had a gathering at a local park-a pack and play. We encouraged people to come with food and their kids. We didn't have as good a turn-out as we would have liked but it was still fun. I was able to catch up with my brother from another mother (at least one of them-he's s twin) and it felt just like yesterday we were running through the streets of our neighborhood playing ditch and home-run derby. The next day (Saturday) was the actual reunion. Which had a couple of surprises.

Surprise #1: Nic working the bar. Yes the bar where they serve alcoholic beverages. The actual bar tender somehow convinced Nic to help him tend. At first it was just water. Then wine. Then beer. Then mixed drinks. I expected him to start spinning and flipping bottles by the end of the night. The plus? He go tipped out. Surprise #2: We had enough food for everyone. We thought we would run out. But there was plenty left over. And the final surprise. Surprise #3: I was taking pictures of everyone having a good time and dancing the night away and then I hear cheering. Then I hear: "Elaine! Elaine! Look! Take a picture!" I figured it was one of my fellow classmates tearing up the dance floor. I look over and guess who it was? Yep. Nic! *Sigh* My hubby. . .

The reunion was really fun. Hopefully for the next one we will have a larger turn out.

I'm a bad blogger :(

Well, what can I say. I try and try and try to keep an updated blog but it's just so stinkin' hard. Our life really isn't that exciting. We're boring people. We pretty much work, come home, cook dinner and go to bed. And then it starts all over for us. Boring, huh? I will be posting in the next couple of days though so stay tuned (if any one even reads this anymore).

Remembering 9/11

I posted this last year, but I decided to post it again.


It was a Tuesday. I was lying in my bed listening to the radio, debating whether or not I wanted to go to class that day. All of a sudden the song cuts out and the morning show DJ says: "We just got a call from a listener that said an air plane just crashed into the World Trade Center. Please stay with us as we try to verify the details." I immediately shot up in bed and started thinking 'Oh my gosh! If there's any truth to it, it will be on CNN.'

I ran upstairs to our living room and turned on the TV. And there was live footage. I couldn't believe my eyes. Smoke was coming from the North Tower. As I was struggling to make sense of what was going on, I saw the second airplane crash into the South Tower. I couldn't believe what I was seeing; I could feel the tears start to swell up.

My roommates are amazed at me being up and seeing me glued to the TV. I hear them asking me questions, but I ignore them hoping that they will glance at the TV to see what's happening. I'm frozen, still trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. The next thing I see are the towers crashing and people running in fear. I'm no longer able to hold back the tears. Why is this happening? Who would do this? Why? Why?? Why???

After watching live footage, for what seemed like forever, I finally peel myself away from the TV and head to campus. The feeling on the BYU-Idaho campus that day was one that I will never forget. It was so somber. As you walked on campus, it was so eerily quiet. No smiles. No laughter. You could feel there was a sense of loss that day. You knew that no matter our circumstances, we were all changed that day.

The President gave an address that night and I listened. He said that those horrible acts my have shattered the steels of those buildings but "they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." We as a nation united that day. Policemen and Firefighters became super heroes. Young men made the decision to put their life on hold and rise to the special calling of defending the freedom of our nation. My freedom. Your freedom.

That week on campus it was homecoming. One of the last homecomings for the school but instead of celebrating with the big razzle dazzle, it was filled with moments of silence and the singing of the song "(I'm proud to be an American) God Bless the USA." As we sang that song, it brought a sense of pride. One that I had never felt before. The chorus of that song took on a special meaning that week:

"And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died,
and gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up! next to you
and defend her still today

'Cause there ain't do doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA."

I was changed that day. From that day forward, I cry every time our flag is raised and our National Anthem sung. I'm not going to stand here and say whether the war is a good thing or bad thing but all I know is that these men are defending my freedom. On this day, I would (again) ask that we do not criticize our President's decision to send our men off to war but that we stand beside them as they put their lives in danger to defend our very freedom and help rebuild a nation.

Dear Pita Pit

I love, love, LOVE your pitas (especially the Philly Steak) but do you really need to put so much lettuce in it? Lettuce makes up 3/4's of my pita. We need to work on this.

Love,
me

Can you feel it? Can you Smell it?

In exactly 28 days Nic and I will be decked out in:

OR

to watch some of:

AND

AND


AND

Remember THIS post? Well, this time around it's on our home turf and I think the turn out is going to be just a little different.

The boys are back in town baby! I LOVE this time of year!!

BOISE! STATE!!

Boise Twilight Criterium

After spending a good part of the afternoon at the lake, we headed down-town with the Phelps Family to watch the Boise Twilight Criterium. In Audra's quest for some power bars a guy told her about the Criterium and there would be booths there with free samples. He was wrong. But we were so glad we went.

At first, we were at the Boise Centre on the Grove and we were surrounded by a beer fest-literally. It was some type of going green festival that was celebrating "natural" beer. I thought all beer was natural, but whatever. Luckily, Nic had his phone and I had him search the criterium. We were just a block away.

When we got there a men's race was just finishing. We walked around a bit and founded a perfect spot before the race started. Watching was really exciting. The racers bike for 50 minutes and then when with like 10 minutes left the start counting down laps. Every lap there is a prize. There pretty small prizes, but if you win a lot of laps it adds up. For a few laps one guy would be in the lead and then a few laps later, someone else would be in the lead. The men's race we watched was cool. The biker that was in the lead about 40% of the time had fell behind within the last few laps. Like all the way to the back. Somehow he totally pulled through on the last lap and WON-totally sweet!

(Beginning of the men's race)

I don't know about you all, but I would be so nervous riding in a group like that. I'd freak myself out and hit someone. Yikes! They rode around so stinking fast. I almost wanted a wipe out to happen so I could get a picture of it.

<-----This is the guy that won. This isn't his winning shot I didn't like the way it turned out so I deleted it. :( After this race, all of us were pretty much ready to go. Too much sun but then they announced that the women's race was getting ready to begin that it would be Olympic Gold Medalist, Kristin Armstrong's (who lives in Boise)last race as she would be retiring. * * * Side note: why is it that olympic athletes retire after they get the gold? Wouldn't you want two or more??? Is Michael Phelps considered an over-achiever??? * * *

As we're waiting for the woman's pro-race to start, Audra's mentions to me: "Is Jen Halladay (a lady in our ward) racing?" As they are announcing the beginning of the race we hear her name. For get about Kristin Armstrong, we were all about rooting for Jen. . .I think we were the only ones. The mens race was fun to watch but it felt SOOO long. The women's race was totally different. I think it was because we knew someone and we would always be on the look out for her.

This is Jen in the lead with her pink socks. That's how we alway knew it was her. We would just have to look for her socks. ----------------->

And it case you're wondering what it looks like to have an olympian trailing behind you, it looks like this:

We were so proud of Jen. We kept yelling: "you can do it!" "You can beat her!"

Even though it's blurry I LOVE this -------> picture of Jen. You get a sense of how fast she's going. Unfortunately, Jen didn't win and Ms. Olympian did. Jen was upset, but she was happy that it was Kristin. She said they're like sisters and Kristin didn't care about beating anyone else except for Jen-good ol' sibling rivalry :)

We didn't stay for the men's pro because we were exhausted. But we will definitely be there next year for the whole thing. So much fun!