4 Christmas's

Well, se are now back in Portland, safe and sound.  Utah was great.  It was nice to visit, and it is nice to be back home, and even nicer still that the Holidays are over.  But really Christmas was great.  what was especially unique for us this year is that we got to celebrate it FOUR times.  

Tom's family always does their Christmas on the December 23.  This is the day we get together, go sledding, make cookies, read Luke 2, and open presents.  This year we even threw a baby blessing into the mix.  

Tom and Owen sledding at Mack Park (Smithfield UT)

Owen opening his first Christmas present EVER!  

At Grammy's house in Smithfield.

We spent Christmas day at my parents.  It was fun to be there, but it was pretty low key, because only 2 out of 7 sibling were there.  Wow it was quite. My family did Christmas, after Christmas. My mom decided that she really missed having tons of kids around on Christmas morning, and decided to have a 24 hour party.  Yes, that is right, the night of the 26th, the majority of my siblings showed up to my parents, for 24 hours of Christmas partying. I think my mom envisioned us all staying up to all hours of the night partying, but I think we may have made it to 10:30. The next day, the rest of my sibling (and their families) showed up, and we had our Festivities.

Owen, Grandpa, and Cousin Kendell playing with Grandma's FisherPrice Nativity.

Tom and Owen opening their stocking on Christmas morning.

Because we suddenly flew to Utah, we had to leave ALL of our Christmas in Portland.  So we got celebrate Christmas for the forth time when we got home.  It was sounds like a lot, but actually it ended up being a lot of fun being able to relive the Christmas Spirit so many times in one Season.  It was nice to have so many reasons to reflect on the reason for the Season, and celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Owen on his very first bike.  Santa gave it to him!

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Wow, it has been a week of crazy weather. It has been snowing in Portland. Yes actual white fluffy stuff that stays on the ground. From what I hear, it has shut the city completely down. Luckily Tom and I made it out just before the big storm hit. Our plan was to drive to Utah, last Friday. Due to the snow flurries Tom's school was canceled on Thursday, so we thought we would try and leave a that afternoon. During our rush to pack and get out the door early, one of our friend who works for an air line called. WE got to chatting, and she said that se had some buddy pass that we could use to fly home with. 2 1/2 hours later we were on a flight to Utah. Wow was that a crazy day. Boy were we lucky, I know a couple of our friends did end up driving, and it took them two days to get to Salt Lake (it should only take 12 hours), and other friends who tried to fly out of Portland a couple of days lated are stuck. I guess all planes leaving Portland were grounded, and no one can get out until Christmas morning.

So Thanks a million Cody and Tennille, you were a total life savor.

O Christmas Tree

I have said it before, and I will say it again, my favorite thing about living in Oregon is all the great U-Pick farms.  The climate here is great for farming, and there is something that is ready to be harvested every season.  The farmers do the hard part, and we get to do the fun part.  It is great fun to be driving down the road and to see a sign that says U-Pick ______, and you pull over and pick what ever it is.  

Well, obviously, this is the Season of the Christmas Tree.  Something like 90% of all the Christmas Trees in the nation come from here, so as you can imagine, there are tree farms all over the place.  

It has become our tradition to go out a cut our own tree the day after Thanksgiving.  It is great fun to search for the perfect tree in a REAL forest.  I think Tom loves the search for the Perfect tree.  The primitive hunter in him comes out, and once the perfect 

tree is found, it becomes his prize.  It is actually a lot of fun.  And I think Our tree ended up looking pretty good.

We Tried a new Brand of Diapers

I would not suggest using White Cloud Diapers.  

We discovered why they are so much cheeper than the rest.

Nine Months!

Holy Cow, Owen is already 9 months old.  I cannot believe how fast he is growing.  He is crawling, and eating real food, and trying to talk and walk.  It is amazing how fast they learn.  Everyday he becomes more of a little boy, and less of a baby.  It just can't believe it.

Another Day at the Beach

Tom's parents came to visit us 

last weekend, so we went to the Tillimock Beach 

just for kicks and giggles. 

It was a bit cloudy, but surprisingly warm.

Every one had a great time playing on the beach.

  

In the big free open space of the beach, Tom decided to see if  his cheerleading skills were still as sharp as they use to be.  It turns out he can toss an 8 month old a lot higher than an 18 year old.

After the beach, we stopped and ate at this great little Cowboy Grill, and Owen had his first saddle ride.

Not sure, but I think it is Genetic

Here is a picture of Tom and me brushing out teeth when we were engaged (Spring 2006).

Take a good look at it.   Especially Tom.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years later, and we are teaching Owen how to brush his teeth...

Well, look for yourself.  

Can I just say that he is definitely his Daddy's boy?

Happy Halloween!!!

We have had a Great Halloween!  Check it out...

Pickin' pumpkins at the Pumkin Patch.

Hanging out with Scarecrows.

Getting all Dressed Up!

They are my Little Dragon and Dragon Trainer!

Punch Bowl Falls

About three weeks ago (on Tom's birthday in fact), we went on a hike with some friends up to Punch Bowl Falls in the Columbia Gorge. Some people refer to them as the "Temple Falls" because they are the falls that are in the temple movie (are you jealous I live is such a pretty place?). 

While we were up there, Tom decided it would be a good idea to go for a little swim,

And then he discovered the cliffs....

And even bigger cliffs.

Yes, my husband jumped off a 60 foot cliff.  Why, I am not sure, but I think I might have something to do with the fact that it was his 30th birthday, and he wanted to prove that he was still young.  

I am not so sure this was the greatest way to prove his youthfulness, because his knee has been bugging him ever since the jump.  But at least he had fun, and he can still claim that he is young at heart, right?

Very 1st Fathers and Sons Outing

A couple of weeks ago our stake had their annual Fathers and Sons Camp Out (if you count camping on the rec. field camping out).  Tom was so excited to take his boy.  It was fun to see them get so excited.  It looks like they had a blast.

Sorry

So I am back.  Sorry for my absence.  My internet has not been letting me post to my blog.  I have been writing, I just could not post.  But now it is letting me!!!  I just can't add pictures.  Well I guess something is better than nothing.  Don't be surprised if all of the sudden you see a bunch of new posts that were written a bunch of weeks ago.

30 years old!!!

Monday was Tom's birthday!  Wow, can you believe he is 30 now?  So I threw him a little party, and made him a cake.  It was kind of an ugly cake, but mmmm-boy did it taste oh so good.

At the Beach

To celebrate the end of summer, Tom and I decided to take a day trip to the beach.  It was such a nice day!  Supper rainy in Portland, and extremely nice at the coast.  It is amazing how a couple of miles and a few mountains can change the weather so much.  

2 Years and Counting!

Today is our 2 year Anniversary!  I can hardly believe that two years have come and gone, and at the same time it feels like we have already been together forever.  I am so lucky and blessed to have Tom as my hubby.  He is my best friend, and the best thing for me.  He is such a hard worker, and always sacrificing.  He is wonderful.  He is smart.  He makes me happy, and he makes me laugh.  I love him more than I can even say.  I only hope that I am as good to him, and he is to me.  I thank Heavenly Father every day that I have Tom to share my life with.

Our Story:

About 3 years ago I was the Athletics Vice President for Utah State University.   Go Aggies!  

One fateful fall evening, Daddio came up for a football game.  During half time he pointed at the male cheerleader who was running the flag around the field and asked who he was.  I said I thought his name was Tom, and asked why he wanted to know.  My dad simply replied, "I think you should marry him."

I said, "Yeah Dad, I will just go marry Tom Fullmer tomorrow.  I think he has a girl friend."  Well, I guess that my dad knew something I didn't.   

   A couple months later Tom and I were at a meeting about student fanfair, or something like that, neither of us really remember, because could not take our eye off of each other.  This meeting sprang board us into a quick friendship.  

  A few weeks later, I was headed to a basket ball game, when my roommates told me that it had been too long since I had been on a date, and that I needed to get someone to ask me out before I could return home.  After the game, I told Tom my roommate's requirement, and how I had not succeeded, and he said he would take me out.  

  Our first date was few short days later, on Valentine's Day.  Cheesy, I know.   At the end of the date, Tom asked me if I was willing to see where this could go.  I said sure.  And we have been together ever since. 

  In March of 2006, the Aggies were playing in the NCAA tournament.  We both were sent to represent the school.  First we went to Reno, and then San Diego.  By the time we got home, I knew that I was going to marry him.  

  After a slew of fake proposals, which included a romantic dinner at a fancy pants restaurant, a romantic evening watching the sun set, a tandem bike ride to the temple, and a canoe trip on a serine little lake, Tom finally proposed on May 10, 2006.  He blind folded me, an took me on a "hike."  He marched me through bushes, trees, down a steep slope, and carried me through a "cave."  When he took my blindfold off we were standing in the middle of the Spectrum (USU's basket ball stadium).  We had a candle light dinner in the middle of the court, and then he said four words every girl just dies when she hears them, "Don't have the ring."

  He lied of course, and pulled the ring out from under the table, and asked me to marry him.

We were married three months late in the Logan temple.

We went to Yellowstone for your Honeymoon.

We graduated from USU in December of 2006,

and moved to Portland.

Tom started school at Western States Chiropractic College.

And we had a beautiful baby boy!

And now we are just living one day at a time.  Love each other and every moment we have together.

Food, Glorious Food!

Well, we finally did it.  We fed the boy food!  Baby rice.  And Mmmmm-boy did he liked it, but boy was it messy.

A Dam Trip

My Dad is a Civil Engineer.  That means that he designs Water Treatment Plants and Dams for a living.  He loves to tour them when ever he can.  It has always been a joke in my family that my Dad plans family vacations so that he can make a stop at a Dam or Sewer House.  Really, we did tour one or the other on almost every trip growing up.  So why stop the tradition now that we are grown?  With the Bonniville Dam just 50 miles up the road, my Dad was itching to go see it.  

I know that it sounds weird and crazy.  But It is actually a lot of fun.  I love watching my Dad light up and get all giddy when we make these stops.  I think that he likes showing his family the kind of cool things come from his job.

My little brother Cuyler standing next to some Dam things.

A Whale of a Story

My parents came to visit last week.  On Saturday we went put to New Port for a day at the beach.  Sadly, it was was to cold and windy to enjoy the beach.  But we did get to go on a cool boat ride.  It was a 2 hour whaling tour.  Wow it was cool.  We saw whales, and dolphins, and a sea lion, and a sunfish.  And Tom and Culyer got to catch some crabs.  I would highly recommend it to anyone. 

Tom on the boat.

A whale in the water.

Going Ape

Tom has taken to trying a bunch of crazy diets lately, such as the Master Cleanse, a diet that consists mainly of lemon aid made from freshly squeezed lemons, maple syrup, and a pinch of cyan pepper.   Well, we heard about this diet experiment that the BBC did call the "Ape Diet."  Essentially, they had people eat 5 kilos (11 lbs) of raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts, for 12 days.  On average, people lost 20 lbs, and their cholesterol levels and blood pressure dropped.  So of course, Tom decided that he too wanted to try it. 

Last week was the week.  We started on Tuesday.  I measured out 11 lbs of raw food for each of us, and the day began.  Boy was it hard to get that much food down, I could only get down 9 of the lbs.  

Well, I must say I did see results.  After only 4 days, I lost over 8 pounds!  So I am glad to report that I have met my initial weight goal of loosing all my baby weight!!!

Memories!

My sister did this on her blog, and it was tons of fun to read.  So, I thought I would try it.

Play along if you like!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! I think online interactions should count.

2. Next, if you feel inspired, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll check to see if you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. But you can leave a comment whether or not you want to do it on yours.

Sleeping babies

My friend Lindsey's baby just turned 3 months old, so Lindsey 

 to go back to work.  A couple of us are taking turns watching Cassia during the week.  I had her yesterday, and neither Owen or Cassia would take their naps.  After an hour of two screaming babies, I gave up and laid down with the two of them on my bed, and we all took a nap together.  After I was sure they were both asleep, I got up, so I could snap this picture.  How cute are they?!

Mommy's little helper

The other day I was practicing my super-mommy skills of holding a baby, cooking dinner and doing the dishes.  Owen decided that the suds looked so fun that he just had to get his hands in them, which of coarse he then tried to put his bubble covered hands in his mouth.  I think the pictures say it all!

Cheerleader in Training

As we all know, Tommy was a cheerleader during his high school and college days.  He loved it, and I know that he misses it, but he has recently discovered an outlet to his former days of throwing tiny girls in the air............now he throws a little boy. 

Sometimes he even likes to balance the boy like he is a cheerleader.  

Our trip to Utah, plus a little bit more

So it has been over a month that I have last posted.  Sorry, We have been busy.  Things always happen that I get so excited to blog about, and then by the end of the day, I am so tired, or busy, that I completely forget.  And to be fair we were in Utah for a week, for Tom's mom's sealing.  That was neat!  

So I will do my best to catch you up, I am not sure that any one other then my mother will care to be caught up on a whole month, but to bad here we go....

We hiked to Utah.

Ok, we hiked to the train station down the road, which took us to the airport, and we flew to Utah.

Owen went for his first swim, and he loved it!  

But he it tired him out.

We had a 4th of July day party.  Tom got all dressed up of the occasion.

Fasu, our African nephew turned 1!  He had a party at Chuck E Cheese.

And that is about it.  Pretty exciting life we lead.

Fitness Challenge

My good friend, Elyse Porter, is getting married exactly 8 weeks from today.  I was talking to her the other day and mentioned I still have some baby weight I would like to get rid of.  She said that she too had a couple of pounds she would like to drop before her wedding.  Because we have done most things in life together, we have decided that we are going to lose the weight together too.  We have eight weeks to drop 15 lbs.  If any of you would like to join in the fun (or work) Please do.  I think it is always easier to stay motivated when you have some to do things with.

Fathers Day... One Day Late.

I would like to say Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads in my life.  To my brothers, my friends, my grandfathers, my brothers-in-law, my fathers-in-law, and of course my Daddio and Tom, I am glad you guys are around.  The world is better place because of great daddies like you guys.  I am grateful for you all.

I must say that I am lucky enough to have the best of the best as the two major father figures in my life: my Daddio, and my babies Daddy.

My Daddio, yes that is what I call my Dad, is the best.  

I can honestly say that I had the coolest dad growing up.  He taught me so many things just by living with passion.  Working, playing, learning, scouting, church; everything he does, he is 100% committed to it.  I think the thing I love the most about my dad is how much he loves his family.  We come before everything in his life.  He will drop all of his plans and drive half way across the country just to help his kids out.  That is not an exaggeration, he has done this.  And he loves my mom so much.  He has always been such a great example of how a husband should treat a wife.

I always prayed that I would find someone as great as my dad to marry. AND I DID!  Tom is such a great Daddy.  I always knew that he would be, and now it is fun to see him in action.  I love to watch the way he lights up when he sees Owen.  They both get so excited to be together.  They are both all smiles and laughs.  

I am so blessed to have such great Fathers in my life!

Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to me...Yesterday.  Yep, that is right yesterday I turned the big 24.  I kinda feel like that is so young.  I am not even a quarter of a century old yet, and I already have finished college, gotten married, and had a baby.  Wow, I guess I have plenty of time to do a lot more in life.

So what did I do for my birthday you ask?  Well it was pretty low key.  Tom did have a couple fun surprises for me though.  He got our wedding announcement framed for me (I have been wanting to do that since we got married).  He also had one of our friends do a  make over for me.  It was supper fun.  She is actually a professional makeup artist, so I looked awesome when she was finished, thanks Nicole!  Then Tom took me to this cute little Italian place. 

The only sad part is that I never got to have a birthday cake.  I think that I am going to make a Birthday cake for my self on Sunday.  If any of you would like to come over and help me eat it, please do.  Seriously, lets have a party Sunday night.  Lets say 6:30.  Let me know if you are going to come over and have cake and icecream for my HAPPY BIRTHDAY.