Friends and good times!

Ethan and his girlfriend (kenli)

 Me, Mandi, Tracie, Katie

we had a fun play-date and ate a yummy lunch-thanks Trac's

 Becky, me and Sara we had a play-date at Willow Park and walked the zoo

And another pic. I wish I had I got to get together with Sara, Tess, Jenni, and Kyle 

 This is my Friends Amber's boy Koy who hung out with Ethan while we ate lunch! 

All the babys while walking the zoo!

Annual Girlfriends Christmas Party

This is what I will miss most about Portland! I have LOVED these party's this is my 4th one and every year this is what I look forward to! They just get better and better! This whole post came right off my friends blog- so its all of her hard work of cropping and editing these fine pictures!! It was so fun!! I am so going to miss this!! 

Thank you soooo much Emily and Alisha!! 

Here is 2009

Here is 2008

Here is 2007 and Here (it was my first one I blogged a lot about it)

Here's what they did this year: 2010

(the invites)

(back row: Carrie, Tori, Alisha, Holly, Tanya & Mandy front row: Emily, Tina with her tongue ;), Brittany & Brenda)

(the place settings and centerpiece)

(the table)

(appetizers, meal, and dessert)

(desserts & serving pieces for our dessert exchange and somehow I am missing pics of two more desserts) I got to take home the top left picture!! I LOVE IT!!

(the Christmas countdown that we made)

So much fun!! I really hope some day I can do this for some gals! It really has been so much fun! 

Thank you again you two!!

Its Official, I'm.....

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

I'm PPP
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Ppppreparing to run a Half marathon on the 19th I'm all signed up for:

Timberline Half Marathon

I am so excited! I have been training for months and it has felt so good to be using these legs again! This race is actually 14.2 miles so I am going over my goal mark by 1.2 miles! Here are some pictures of where it will be- I run around Timothy Lake- (elev 3227 ft) Its going to be so fun! I talked my friend Heather to run it with me, It started with just our RS gals wanting to make our own which there still is going to be on the 26th. But I am going to be headed to Cali so I didn't want to waist all of this training so I found this Marathon and Jump on board! I am excited we ran 8 and a 1/2 this morning and it felt great, so I am getting there! ha, nope not pregnant!

"Get ready for the most picturesque half marathon course in the Pacific Northwest! The Timberline Half Marathon completely circles shimmering Timothy Lake on single track trails that are absolutely a runner's dream. This gem is nestled at 3,000 feet in the high Cascades and the views of Mt. Hood across the lake are extraordinary"

Yahoo! it looks so pretty!
This is the states of the tail, I think I am going to DIE about 12.5 miles!! Look at that hill!!!

Its a trail around this lake and we will cross over three rustic (in there word) bridges!

SPENCER Eriks pet bird!

This picture might just look like a REALLY dirty window but it has a very funny and amazing story to tell, I have been gone for 5 weeks and when I left, one of the first things my bro-in-law said was how is Erik going to get up in the morning. Well, the day after I left I called and found him still at home having slept through his alarm. So a few days later Erik wakes up to a tap, tap, tap, on the window at 6:00 a.m. and it happened the next day, then the next, so Erik made a new friend and his name is Spencer Eriks BIRD! And that little bird helped Erik the whole time I was gone, I got back and woke up to tap, tap, tap, and I was like.. What Is That! Erik said oh its just Spencer! I'm like WHAT!!! so then Erik told me the story and he said the bird would throw himself into the window sometimes, Erik would just look out at him and he would stop, until the next day.
But the crazy thing is I saw him for 3 days each day at 6 to 6:30 a.m. and when I took a picture of him it was like oh, OK she's back I can go help someone else! Of course the picture didn't turn out very visible and he didn't want to stay and pose!
Isn't that funny! I was amazed and kinda mad Erik didnt tell me he had a pet bird while I was gone, seems how we talked for like 5 min. every other day, I can see how he forgot!

Girlfriend Get Together

While I was home we had a little get together brunch thing with my sister and friends it was so fun to see them all and defiantly think we will have to make it a annual thing. You all have such cute kids!! Thanks for coming, and we missed all those who couldn't make it.

Crative Christmas

This is Heather and I on our way to Enrichment, I had to take a picture because we have been told by SO many people that we could be sisters! She is really pretty so its a nice complement for me. Heather is the mom of Maverick who Ethan says that he is Mav is 5 and so Ethan is 5 and his name is Maverick now!

(Thanks Alisha for the picture and the amazing night!)

This was our Quarterly Enrichment last week and it was so fun and pretty! Everyone brought a gift that they created at home, I made a bag, and received a pottery cup with Hot Chocolate! It was so fun to see all the fun things people created!
This is how it went:

7:00 Munching and Mingling
7:30 Program:
President Uchtdorf's Talk: Happiness, Your Heritage
Musical Number: The Little Drummer Boy
8:00 Creative Christmas Gift Exchange
8:20 Dessert Served

The Menu:
Spanikopita
Mini Quiche
Vegetable Tray w/Ranch Dip
Grilled Pineapple w/Sugared Ginger
Pears w/Sugared Cranberries
Baguette Bread w/Oil and Vinegar
Meatballs
Wassail

Dessert:
White Christmas Cake
Vanilla Ice Cream w/Raspberry Topping

Calling all Preston Chicks who want to get together....

My sister has a great idea!!

I want to plan a sweet get together with all the gals during the Christmas Vacation! In order to pick a good day to plan it, I wanted to pick a few days and have you all vote on which day we should do it so that I can see what will work best for the majority! So, those of you who want to come, please comment on this post which day you vote for! If you don't like to post, you can email me at beckysuehatch@gmail.com with the date you would like. Also- if you want an invitation, please send me your address and contact info to my email address. Those of Tina's friends who want to come can post as well! Tina is coming home for Christmas! Yay!!!

My email is tinachristinaarter@hotmail.com

I am so excited to see you all! It will be a ton of fun! I hope to hear from you soon, and I Love ya!

Which works better?
Friday, December 26th
Saturday, December 27th

Visiting Teaching Brunch

(click to enlarge)

What: Brunch (Ham, Mushroom & Spinach Strata, French Breakfast Puffs, Fresh Orange Juice and Fruit Skewers)

When: Last Friday Morning

Where: Emily's House

Who: Emily, Heather, Cassandra, Tina, Kari, and Michelle + the littles that aren't in school yet

Why: Do you really need a why to get together and eat good food with good friends? I don't think so!

Thanks Emily for letting me just stealing your post's, This was soooo good,everyone needs to make it!

This is delicious and a great idea for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning since you make it the night before. I got the recipe from my friend Alisha and the only change I made was adding some baby spinach. Thanks for sharing Alisha!

8 eggs
1 3/4 cups whole milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
5 slices dense French Bread cut into 1-1 1/2 inch cubes
1 lb ham, cubed (I had deli ham on hand so I just sliced that up and it worked great)
1/2 pkg sliced mushrooms
8 oz grated cheddar cheese
1/2-1 cup baby spinach leaves torn into pieces (optional)

note: I used a little less ham and added 1/2-1 cup of baby spinach torn into pieces

Beat eggs; add milk, salt and dry mustard. Stir well. Add next 4 ingredients, stirring well after each addition.

I put it in a 2 1/2 quart DeMarle (silicone bakeware) mold to bake, if you do it in something else you'll probably need to grease it. Refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before inverting onto plate (you'll only be inverting this if you use a DeMarle mold, you can just serve it out of the pan if you're using something else) Slice and serve.

THIS IS FROM MY FRIEND EMILY WHO INVITED ME TO THIS!! I WISH I WAS THIS CREATIVE!! ONE DAY!!

THANKS EMILY AND HEATHER IT WAS SO FUN!! AND SO YUMMY!!

We LOVE the ZOO!

We had a fun day at the zoo yesterday I wish I got a picture of everyone who was with us.
We has quite a crew. There was even someone to hold Sadie when she was tiered of the stroller and to push Ethan when Sadie just wanted Momma. So thanks for the help!!!

Ethan is at the age where he just loves
to see all the animals, he kept asking to see horses and cows though. Thanks, to my family
in Idaho for that one!

This Poler Bear was so fun to watch, he dove into the water for us and was playing with the bucket its fun to hear Ethan tell you about it.

We saw this bird paint this picture, Ethan was way more excited about an
ant he was playing with on the ground.
They were charging 10 bucks for this picture, we thought thanks but our boys can
do a great job of making a picture like that at home.

hair cut and horsey ride

Before

After
I cut 7 inch's off and got some highlights it feels great!!

Ethan and I went over to Tracie's for the best cook out ever and they got the horse out for the kids, these are Tracies Nieces they are soooo cute. Ethan was very much in love with this bike- when we were at home he said "Mom, I miss my bike."

The Everything post...

We had a fun birthday for Erik we went to Portland and eat at PF Changs with some friends we made though Eriks school. It was fun, we went over to a bookstore that is like a whole city block and looked around. Then came back home and the boys went and hit the 60 golf balls I gave Erik for his birthday, and Hailey and I just started talking and found out that she knows my sister and a ton of guys that I knew- (I pulled out the old Rexburg album and of course its a small small world.)

So Erik was born in 82 not 81- So now you can laugh at me... I could go fix it but I like to laugh at me to.

The GARDEN!! look how it has grown, I have been making the best salads lately, oh and the taste is so hardy. Sad to say, I think the birds got my pea plants, there were holes like someone just stuck their finger in there. So sad peas are the best part.... I only have 2 that made it.

So at church today Ethan got his first shiner, it was bubble time and he got a little to excited and tripped and landed on the shoe of another kid, who also got a bonk on the head- (I think that is what happened) I will have to take a picture tomorrow so you can see it! Its pretty good! You can kinda see it in his eye here, but it is already a lot darker.

What made me smile today!!

Peas are sprouting!! Wow that was fast!

This burger at Claim Jumpers, It's called the "Widow Maker" You can see why- it's huge!!! Thanks Mark and Emily for one last night out before Erik had to head back to school and for sending this sweet picture!!

A conversation this morning- It started out with Ethan throwing a tantrum because he didn't want to have quite time, a.k.a. Nap time.
Mom: "What was that?" (talking about how he was kicking his legs on the couch, and freaking out).
Ethan: "attitude!"
I couldn't help but laugh, I always say, What's with the attitude, or you need to get a better attitude bud! So I guess this little guy has figured out what attitude is. This picture is another time that Ethan was showing me Attitude!!

The last thing is the movie about Twilight, this is the Cullin family in the new movie, this made me smile because it took me back to Edward and the sweet story that I so miss! I just hope this movie is not rated R, I can hope that Stephenie Meyers can ask for it to just to be PG13, But who knows- I have the story in my head already, I do like who they picked it fits well in my mind, Oh and they are filming here in Portland!! I was telling my mom how this book looked just like my back yard!!

Home again

Well we made it home, we loved our little vacation it was very well needed. Their house just made me sooo excited to one day have a house of my own. It would be the best perk if it was remotely like theirs.

So, yesterday I saved 542 dollars, I went shopping and the stuff I got if it was not on a huge sale would have costed me $542.00. But guess how much I spent.. come on guess.... only 61.72$, I know 60 is still allot for me to, but I saved us SOOOO much! I went to OshKosh and got the kids a bunch of stuff. Like a coat for Sadie and a ton of shirts for Eth. They were in need of some good clothes. So that is my good find so far this year.

Now I am going to brag about my niece, she is 12 and beautiful, and a little cowgirl. I found this picture online to buy of her, but she just ended her year of being the princess of the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo AKA DNCFR or just Pro Rodeo, she is a little sweet heart and I am just so proud to be her aunt. (She is the one in the Green, getting her crown)

Happy Birthday Week!

This is my best friend Tracie and her hubby Nick, it is her Birthday Week, Her b-day is on Saturday but ever since I've known Tracie we like to make the most out of everything so she gets a whole week. Here is 24 Things that I love and remember doing with you Tracie. Happy 24!
1- Your sweet smile.
2- You give more of yourself then anyone I have ever met.
3- I remember our bike wreck, we just wanted to get to your house a little faster, my knee will all ways remember that day.
4- I remember climbing up little mt. and screaming out the love of our life's and scratching there names on the pole.
5- I remember your birthday party and taking pictures of Johnathan Tyler Thomas on the TV, and singing "Who's bed have your boots been Under."
6- I remember sitting in your boat the last day of school wishing one of our parents would just take us to the lake.
7- The Chocolate licorice, I always wanted more...
8- Your sister's were always so nice, I got my best cloths from you guys.
9- You gave me the shoes off your feet.
10- I remember making up a dances to get our friends to feel better.
11- So many T.Ping trips, Thanks mom for driving us before I had my licenses.
12- Living in Birchwood together, and you missing your Nick oh, so much!
13- Going to Lagoon, and flirting with the guys on the road on the way there.
14- Big J's everyday, when Smith's Short Stop left.
15- Going to Jackson Hole with your family, and taking pictures with the bears.
16- Four-wheeling and finding mice under the hay bales.
17- Using your secret girl talk thingy to scare Jenna.
18- Going out on your boat.
19- Riding in T.J's car to lunch everyday and thinking we were the bomb.
20- Siting on our bench in High School thinking we were the coolest ever.
21-Driving my mom van while all the boys were smashing pumpkins, and getting in trouble with the Westsiders. And 21 is your favorite #, right?
22- In 4 H together, I only did that because of you, I am scared to death of horses.
23- Waiting to watch you kiss you know who after lunch everyday in 8th grade.
24- Knowing that you are always there for me and being an amazing friend!

THANKS FOR THE GREAT YEARS TRACIE!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY!!

More Girlfriend Party!!!

These were the invitations we received sent out.

The appetizers were creamy Mushroom Phyllo Triangles, Veggie Pizza, Shrimp Dip and Frothy Pink Grapefruit Strawberry Drink. Sooo good.

Then it was onto dinner. Alisha made the lime tower centerpiece and had extra berries left over that I used along with some ribbon and a tag to tie the napkins with. We served Christmas Salad, Barbequed London Broil, Vermont Cheddar Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Crunchy Green Beans, Orange Rolls, and the most delicious and beautiful Island Fruit Cups you have ever seen (Alisha has an amazing gift for food presentation).




After dinner we did our dessert exchange. Everyone brought a fun holiday dessert on a new serving tray to give away! Here is a picture of them, I took individuals but most of them were blurry. Alisha made the Black Forest Cake, I made the tall cupcakes, Tanya made the Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Torte, Tina made the cutest snowman cupcakes, Kelly made her famous Peppermint Fudge Truffle Cake on a pedestal that I REALLY wanted, Lori made her own recipe of Ooey Gooey bars in this super cute candy cane tray, Heidi brought her favorite wassail recipe in this cute teapot, and Celeste made her famous cathedral cookies. Everyone was so excited to take their treats home to their families.




For the dessert that we actually got to eat Alisha made Double Chocolate Souffles with Warm Fudge Sauce. And OH. MY. GOODNESS. Heaven in a bowl. Seriously a must try!


The last part of our evening was our little craft. We made these cute ornaments inspired by Becky Higgins. Each ornament has four pics of each child on it to remember this year by. Each person made them so differently and they all turned out so cute.

I had a great time and am so thankful for such good friends to share fun times with. I can't wait for next year!