Happy Campers!

I look forward to our family reunion every year. Nothing beats enjoying nature with my relatives. We had a great time in Cub River, Idaho. There was so much to do. We had a serious horse shoe tournament. Matt was the humble winner! There was so much delicious food-my family sure knows how to make some mean dutch oven food. The kids went on a scavenger hunt, made lots of crafts, and ate as much candy as they wanted. The adults shared pictures, stories, and enjoyed each other's company.

We sat around the camp fire learning lots of things about each other. It's amazing "the dirt" we're willing to share about ourselves when playing "Two Truths and One Lie."




Mom and Dad rented the exact same trailer they've rented for the past three years. It was nice of them to let us bunk with them. Even BM slept through the night and was a happy camper.


Uncle Craiger with his grand kids who were pretending to be puppy dogs and lick him.


Abby & Aunt Nadine. Nadine planned this year's reunion and did a great job! I can't believe she was able to get people to sing songs. Even my dad enjoyed cranking out a tune.




Grandpa and BM chilling by the campfire.

BM is wearing an umbrella size hat but we were worried about the sun kissing his delicate skin (he has no chance with whitie white parents).


There were crafts for all ages to participate in!




There is something so rejuvenating about being in nature. I love the smell of the campfire, birds singing as the sun rises, the trees dancing in the breeze, and watching the river hurry along its way.


Thanks McDermotts for the great time. I love you all!

The 3 Month Weigh In

BM and HeRoos are currently on a "boys day out." HeRoos is working from home today and is taking his lunch to run some errands that include a trip to Lowe's. Now that I'm married, Lowe's and the Home Depot aren't near as exciting as they used to be. If single men were smart, they would scope out fabric & craft stores on occasion (as long as they check out the left hand for rings).

The boys are stopping by BM's doctor for a quick weigh in. I'm guessing 10 pounds 6 ounces. HeRoos' guess is 11 pounds 3 ounces. I will actually be happy if HeRoos wins this one. We've been trying so hard to fatten up our mini BM but food runs right through him. When I pat his back to burp him, he let's loose at the other end instead. I guess "BM" is fitting because he is very regulated. I sent the camera with HeRoos so he can't get away with any fudging to win. I'll let you know when the results are in.

UPDATE: BM's weigh-in came in at 10 pounds 11 ounces so SheRoos got lucky again. She was off by 5 ounces and I was off by 8 ounces. But we are both happy he is gaining weight and is a healthy boy. -HeRoos

Italian Pasta

I've been trying new recipes. When I get a good one, I'll try to share. My friend Kathie (who just moved to Utah from New York) was visiting a couple weeks weeks ago and gave me this one. It is delicious! She is so used to making it that she didn't know any of the exact measurements so I just guessed and it turned out fine. I think the ingredients would also be great in an omelet or on a pizza. Mmm, I'm hungry just thinking about it.

Italian Pasta

Ingredients:
- Spaghetti (Barilla)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Artichokes
- Capers
- Calamari Olives
- 2/3 cloves garlic (minced)
- Salt & Pepper
- Shredded Parmesan

Directions:
- Cook Pasta
- Saute olive oil, garlic, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, capers
- Add salt, pepper, cracked red peppers to taste.
- Mix pasta & sauce.
- Add Parmesan last.

Double Happy Day for HeRoos

Happy Birthday & Happy Father's Day to our HeRoos! HeRoos has been dreading this birthday for quite a while...it's the BIG 3-0! He doesn't get a lot of sympathy from me (I already had mine two years ago) but he does deserve all of his birthday wishes to come true. I couldn't ask for a kinder, more thoughtful best friend. He is wonderfu! BM is also very fortunate to have such a loving and involved daddy. We love you honey!

BM adores his dad. He likes to smile and cooh for daddy.

Enjoying the fresh mountain air.

My Pisces Has Stinky Feet

BM is only three months old and the poor thing has stinky feet! No joke. I like to nibble on his itty bitty toes but not when they have a strange odor. We keep socks on him the majority of the time to keep his little toes warm but maybe we need to let him go barefoot every once in a while to air those puppies out.

Fortunately, BM LOVES the water! He is our Pisces baby (according to the zodiac calendar). When he takes a bath or shower, he smiles and is right in his element. We're hoping we can wash that funky smell away!

Yes, I want grandchildren someday.

My hair sheds everywhere! It's disgusting and I don't know what to do about it. I grossed out HeRoos once by leaving a wad of it in the shower. He thought it was a small varmint. jk I find it on the furniture, on clothes, in food and...on BM's baby boy part! It was twisted around his little you know what. How on earth did that happen?! Fortunately, I caught it in time and no damage was done. Whew, close call.

My Man is a Thinker

Last night as we were getting ready for bed, I could tell HeRoos was in deep thought. I asked the annoying question that I know men dread, "What are you thinking about?" Well this time he actually had a response. It went something like this, "The difference between physics and calculus. And how energy is never created or destroyed. It just changes form..." That's when he started losing me and from that point on I was only pretending to listen. It reminded me of being in college again and tuning out my biology professor. How do so many men know how to speak the foreign language that I call Science?

Cravings for Walnut & Peanut

To say I love my nephews doesn't do justice. I love them so much that I would give them my right arm if they needed it. I only have one sibling and when he and his wife had my oldest nephew (Peanut) four years ago, my world got a little brighter. A couple years later came "Walnut" and life got even better. Those two boys won my heart over. I couldn't get enough and would make the drive once a week to steal kisses. All of my energy & attention was funnelled into these two boys.

When HeRoos and I started dating, he too fell in love with them. In fact, Walnut (the two year old) asked for Uncle HeRoos when wasn't feeling well and often pretends to talk to him on the phone.

When the twins (Peanut & Walnut's siblings) were born a year ago, I was so out of it trying to recover from some injuries. I was unable to offer much help. Then I became a mom myself and life just keeps getting a little crazier but I still get "Peanut" and "Walnut" cravings. They came to visit for a few days and we had a blast!

The boys loved playing at the park but they had no fear and it made me a little nervous when they climbed so high. Peanut made new friends and even met a little girl that he thought was cute. He gave her and her friend some dandelions. What a charmer!

They "flew" around in a turbo jet

We weren't necessarily invited to this party but the people were nice enough to let us play with them.





They helped make breakfast. We even attempted making heart pancakes.

We had a project-a-thon...sand art, aliens out of an egg carton, cutting, pasting, coloring, stamping. You name it, we did it.

Peanut helped make delicious cookies. When he was almost done he said, "My special job is hard. I'm tired."

They went to bed willingly each night. After bath time, story time and prayers, they got glow sticks as incentive to stay in the dark bedroom. It worked great.

BM loved having his cousins over. The boys were great at getting him to smile.

We look forward to the next sleepover but this aunt needs some rest!

Baby M's Blessing

It was a great Sunday. BM must have sensed it was his special day. He woke up happy and spent time with Grandma GoGo and Papa Bob while his parents got ready. He is one lucky baby to have grandparents on both sides that love him so much. HeRoos was a little nervous but pulled through and gave BM a beautiful blessing.



BM sat quietly through church and he was even awake. I was so relieved. Being an aunt is a lot easier-when the babies start crying I give them back to the parents to deal with. Now I'm the parent and I have to learn the tricks to settle down the little one.

After church, friends and family came over to enjoy the nice weather, eat tasty food, and celebrate the arrival & blessing of BM. The food was scrumptious. I love tasting what people bring to share (next time people should bring the recipes to exchange).

BM is one fortunate baby to have such supportive and loving relatives & friends (and so are his parents)!