Fun things about this week.

In no particular order:

1. N.Q. and I getting to watch Jack while his Mommy was working at the hospital.
2. N.Q. getting to STAR in the film that will be running in the Lander hospital. He's dressed in a hospital gown, and has an IV taped to him and walks down a hall with a nurse and smiles at her. So sweet.
3. The Mexican Fiesta party with the Casey's and the Phillip's, Casey rock the house in Hand and Foot.
4. Nathan's exploration in singing. He's enoyed "the wheels on the bus," "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" among others.
5. Being picked to be Cinderella's (Holly's) Prince Charming in the "story hour players" play. Play practice begins next week!
6. Picking out a new PUPPY for our family. He'll be ready in two weeks. SOOOO CUTE, Can't wait!
7. Going to dinner and Kim's Baby shower with Kirsten.
8. Activity Day Girls always make me smile.
9. Snuggling with Shane and laughing until it hurt watching a movie together.
10. Getting my church talk done...not performed yet, but it is done and I'm not going to worry about it anymore.
11. Getting the poster for our Ward Party finished, it looks AWESOME. (so do the invites.)
12. Recieving Adorable Valentines from Grandma Barney! Thank You!
13. Getting paid for a cake I did last week...very nice, goes into the puppy fund.
14. Having a few minutes to write down a list of things that were good this week :o)

Me, Blog Stealing.

Stole this from my cousin Jaime! Thanks!
Instructions: Take the following list and BOLD the items you HAVE completed or experienced.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (a caricature)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been on television
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone's blog to your own

Moose and Blueberry Bagels

Apparently, much of the cool things that go on in the Petty Household happen on the weekends, and away from the house. Shane had an installation for Direct TV last weekend in Dubois, WY at the Crooked Creek Guest Ranch on Union Pass. Nathan and I went came along with skiis, snowmobiles and gear! We were Ready for a wild and rockin' weekend, and we got one! We arrived in Dubois on Friday and had a delightful lunch at Chandliers Restaurant. I was a little nervous because it was dark and cold in Dubois. Come to find out, that was only below, up on the moutian the sun was shining and the weather was FANASTIC. Nathan and I suited up while Shane started collecting cable and navigational equipment. Nathan hopped into the Kinder Shuttle and off we skied for an hour or so, while the sun was still beaming down.

When darkness started to fall we headed back for the Ranch, unloaded ourselves and checked up on 'Daddy.' Shane starts saying 'guess what happened to me...' when he gets interuppted and heads back inside. Meanwhile, Ryan, the bar tender at the Ranch says "hey come over here on the back porch and see a moose." So I toted Nathan up into the restaruant and off the back porch where there are four moose hanging out. Bryan says, "you want to pet one?" I ask if that's safe, and he says yes there's a female that's been there for months hanging out and is like a little pet of theres. So I hold Nathan in my arms and Ryan hands him a blueberry bagel and tells Nathan to feed it to the moose! So we stand on the porch, the moose walks over and eats the bagel right out of his hands and then stands for pets!!! Now, yes, this is a wild animal, unpredictable and who knows, right? So I did stand close to the open door ready to flee if needed, but she was really nice, and Ryan was pretty darn confidant that all was well. So we pet the moose and retreated indoors. Shane then begins to tell us that he got to pet a moose too. Yea!

After this Nathan and I check into our Cabin, which is VERY nice; a king bed, bunk twins, a kitchenette and bathroom. N.Q. and I settle in until about 7 when Shane returns from work, proclaiming that we will be back next week, because the company sent the wrong equimpment and with the super bowl coming it has to be right ASAP! We then go to dinner at the guest ranch and have another Superb meal. This one with soup, spaghetti with meatballs, dinner rolls, toast, spiced apples, and baked potato. Luckily we only order ONE meal and all three of us still left things on our plates.

Saturday we woke up to fresh falling snow and a GREAT breakfast at about 9 a.m. Me with an omelette, Shane with blueberry pancakes, Nathan with chocolate chip pancakes and sausage. Nathan ate a LOT! Then we picked up our room and suited up for the snowmobile action. I, being a mom, worried about the cold and the loud stinky machine and the 2 year old. I shouldn't have. He LOVED it! He loved the hills he loved the loops and dips, he loved the sound and speed...and I should have known. He is his fathers son. He was good for about an hour before he tuckered out. I think he would've gone longer if he'd worn his goggles, but he didn't like them on his face. Maybe next time. We headed down the mountain before the snow was too deep.

Anhow, we didn't take a camera with us...so we bought a disposable one at the store. Which means it is film, which means I need to have it developed and scanned before I add trip photos. We had a great time, and thanks to the mixup Shane has a FREE room this weekend too...so if I can get my cake done early and make it back in time to deliver it, we will be going to the Crooked Creek Guest Ranch outing number 2!

My Marvelous Weekend!

Saturday we went for a family ski day! Shane rented XC skiis, we hooked up the Kinder Shuttle, put NQ inside and went for two hours of lovely weathered skiing. Shane had his very first turn on the XC style ski, needless to say, he's like a pro already. WHY does he get to be so athletic?! I gave him pointers for about 10 minutes...then he was lapping me. So I hooked him up to the Shuttle, stole his newer skiis (I call mine "control" skis, as there is little slide on them) and showed him how it was REALLY done. (I know, in my dreams, right?) We spent two hours up on the mountain. Enough time to really get some ground covered, but not so long that it got to be grueling. Then we had the best lunch ever, breadboard sandwiches.

I spent last Sunday and Monday in Casper, WY with NQ and my sister. I think we both needed the break. For one, Nathan has had the stomach flu. Which means he went to the Dr. got a perscription and put potty training on hold. I haven't dared to return yet. This is VERY frustrating because he WAS doing well. Not any more. Brooke has had work stress too...go figure. So, we decided we should get together. Only I didn't really want to go all the way to Sheridan and she didn't want to come all the way to Lander. We compromised. We met in Casper, we ate Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies, we mall shopped, we Hobby Lobby'd, we dined out, we went swimming, we sat in the hot tub, we watched football...because Nathan wanted to, and generally we had a good time. (However, I don't think everyone slept too well. How do you put a kid in time out in a hotel room?)

Because I didn't have a camera for either event, I'll post a map of where we stayed in Casper. I highly recommend it: brand new, not busy, great facilities, free breakfast, all kid meals free, pool, hot tub, work out room, and glorious Casper Mountain views. (Yes, "glorious mountian views" was sarcastic.)

We stayed at the red dot on the right, out of town. The Holiday Inn, East Casper McMurry Park.

Cowboy Reply and Snow Walk

Today, as I was checking in on my favorite Internet Sites, Nathan felt it mandatory to bring me a leatherman tool, in it's case. He was quite urgent as he pushed it at me and hailed "here, here!" I took the case from him and told him thank you, to which he replied, "You're Welcome, Cowboy." And he tipped his hat as he strode away, to his next adventure.

Another musing from today: We went out for a walk in the freshly fallen snow. As we walked out on the covered road I watched the little toddler speed away into the fields, kicking up snow and making his own little fresh, crooked, trails in the powder. After a minute or two of this I suddenly felt like I was watching a documentary, and decided that seeing him from this distance (He scuttled away quite fast) was like watching "March of the Penguins." He was waddling around, wearing a black hood, making his way in the snowy tundra, totally engrossed with the puffs of sparkling white jumping off the toe of his boots. I was just waiting for an artic wolf or bird of prey to take him out as he had clearly wandered too far from his mother.

Cedar City Portions of Christmas and return to the Potty

The score is 2 accidents in about 3 days!! WOO HOO! Great score considering I do put on pull-ups at night and during naps. So even with that supposed "confusion" Nathan is taking to the training quite well. I do have to say that it is much easier to just take him to the bathroom every hour or so and let him try...rather than wait for him to contact me about it...that's when the accidents occur.

Our Cedar City portion of Christmas was great. Shane was happy to spend time with his Dad and his Dad and Carri were happy to have Nathan (and Shane and I) too. The only unhappy was courtney, the kid wary weinie dog. We recieved nice gifts and Nathan hasn't put down his "Mack" pez dispenser since Christmas Day. He 'NEEDS' it with him always. Now he has two 'McQueens' and one 'Mack' that he keeps together at all times.

Here's a snow shot of St. George on our way out of town...sorry I didn't get one when EVERYTHING was covered in snow.
Here's a favorite place of any college student or resident of Cedar City...however, I'm not fond of the new PINK color it has recently established.

Here's the three Petty boys playing with trucks.

The boys again, one not sure that sitting on the couch when there's so much cool stuff on the floor is the best idea.

Neither Shane nor I felt like we spent adequate time in Southern Utah. We are hoping to return again in early spring and spend more time in the area and see more people we didn't have time to see!

All sorts of resolute

Happy NEW YEAR 2009!

Because today is the first day of the year...what do I decide to do...yep, something totally overwhelming and partially insane: I began potty training. Not only did I start the potty training...I did it AND sent my husband away on a snowmobiling trip for three days / two nights. I'm not looking for applause or condolences. I'm just pointing out that I, like Charlie Brown, might just be a blockhead.

Besides this potty training ordeal (we are 1 - 12. One for the potty, 11 for the wet / stinky pants department) I have a few more resolutions I'm going to put out there.

This year (as with much of the rest of the world) I'm going resolve to lose some weight. I'd like to mention that I'm working pretty hard on this already and have had 4 successful, sweaty work outs already this week.

I'm also going to do more skiing, more snowmobiling with the husband, more cooking REAL meals that do not come from a card board box (and that are healthy,) more trying to make Nathan eat better, and I resolve to write in my journal more, go to the temple more and read my scriptures with better intent. Now, these things are all going to fizzle without a goal plan...so I'll work on that this week too. Goals, mini goals, end goals...all good things to have in place to succeed.

Meanwhile enjoy some holiday photos....

The crew at the J.S. Memorial Building

Travis (my super brother) and Olivia (the cutest thing EVER!)

Me, Nathan (who is still wary of my attention to Olivia) and Olivia

The crew on Temple Square admiring the lights.

Nathan enjoying Christmas Morning in St. George

DISCLAIMER: I apologize in advance if you think that I should have more pics of this or that...but it would seem that my vain eye won't allow for too goofy a photo of someone be allowed into a public blog. So sorry for those of you that should have more face time. I will be better at making sure I get the camera in my hands for some of our group activities, therefore insuring that I have adequate numbers of quality pics in which to choose from.

Please stay posted, as I have the Cedar City portion of Christmas to expose. Perhaps by then I can also give you a more solid plan for my resolutions...and please pray that the potty score starts to number in my favor.