Happy Love Day

So a while back I had posted that I was so excited about Kris's Valentines present and it was the best thing I had ever done for myself. Well I can spill the beans now because Kris doesn't read this often enough to know before hand what he is getting. While he was on his annual "man" trip snowmobiling in Jan. I had scheduled an "Intimate" photo shoot with a wonderful photographer in Mapleton, Ut. I was kind of nervous at first and then after an outfit change I had guts!!! Now ladies seriously there are NO excuses when it comes to doing one of these shoots. I am over weight, have serious stretch marks, love handles and saggy boobs! Its all about choosing the right clothing to wear and Kristi (photographer) is a miracle worker with photoshop! Here are a few photos that are appropriate enough to be placed on the internet. I hope you like them as much as I do.
Here is Kristi's website www.intimatephotographybykristi.com

Suprise, Suprise PUPPY suprise

Lets start where most stories usually do...
We have been discussing the possibility of trying for another child this upcoming June because I wanted a Spring baby. It had never been an issue and still isn't; but since Cooper looks like he will most likely need a couple more surgeries we both decided we need to make sure our #1 is our priority. So we won't be trying for a 2nd child this summer, and I am stubborn and want a Spring baby so I am set on trying next year.
Which leaves us feeling slightly empty because we are wanting an addition to our family. I have this puppy craving apparently when ever I really want a child. I started looking at puppies on my favorite website www.puppyfind.com because they have TONS of puppies located all over the country. I was also set on finding a female and lifetime mate for Optimus. We are undecided about breeding because we see the pro's and con's in it. Anyway I still want a girl and I wanted her to have "perfect" markings and be of a good size. Just in case we do decided to breed I want her qualities to balance with Optimus's bad qualities. There for bettering the breed it self. No low-quality puppies on my watch! After much searching and losing the bidding battle a couple of times we finally got our girl. She will be old enough to fly on Valentine's Day so we get to go pick her up from the airport at 4:55 pm and I am STOKED!
PLEASE give a big welcome to Morgan Spice....

Rock Star

Cooper has definitely hit the "copying" phase. He loves to listen to music and dance. Also he has found a new love in playing with our guitars. So I shortened up one of the straps so he can carry it around and still flick the "strum" key. Its so cute how much he loves music. Here are so pictures and a video. Sorry the sound on the video is so bad it was sitting right next to the speaker on the TV.

Giddy

I have to say something!! This past weekend I did the funnest thing I have ever done for myself. Unfortunately it involves a gift to someone so I wont be able to share with EVERYONE until after I give it to Kris for Valentines. But I really think that at some point in every woman's life they NEED to do this.

Have fun guessing what it was!! MUHAAHAHAH

2008 In Review

Where do you start to describe what an entire year brought to your life!? WELL I will start with Cooper, because once you have a baby that is all anyone wants to hear about anyway. ;) January Cooper turned 6 months old and developed his first noticeable roll on his leg weighing in at 10 lbs. He transitioned from breast milk to formula, started sleeping in his crib, and giggled for the first time. February Cooper discovered his toes! He also started actively baby babbling, and started eating Rice Cereal. March Cooper starts HIGH pitch squealing, mock walking, started rolling over, sleeping like a "stink bug", and had his first visit from the Easter Bunny. April Cooper had his first surgery to repair his Hypospadia/Chordee. That was successful! He also found that talking into cups was funny because of the echo. May Cooper's future wife was born.(Evvy Brown) He started to army crawl and cut his first tooth. He also weighed in at 14.5 lbs that month. June Celebrated Kris's first fathers day, made Cooper giggle. "Nothing too exciting." July Cooper experienced his first: water slide, Hogel Zoo trip, Carousel ride, &playing on the beach in the sand. He also turned 1 and weighed in at 15.5 lbs. August Coop weighed in at 16lbs 2 oz! Went to his first demolition derby and hung out downtown SLC for a music festival. September We took Cooper camping for the first time. Ate his first "Animal cracker". October He started trying to walk. Carved his first pumpkin and actually liked touching the "guts." He was also the CUTEST Elephant EVER for Halloween. November Cooper had his 2nd surgery to fix his Hypospadia. Completely un-successful! He was a champ after surgery though. He also had his first Thanksgiving. Yummy Turkey! December Weighed in at 19lbs 10 oz! Started carrying purses around. Loved opening presents on Christmas morning. Got completely spoiled by everyone.

Here is a slide of the last year in pictures!

Kris & Natalie:
Besides our usual events like; Kris's bowling league every Monday & Tuesday and visiting Bear Lake as much as possible here are some of the fun things we did this year.
March we were lucky enough to go to Vegas. Without Cooper! It was the 1st time away so it was good it was only a weekend, but we had so much fun. Tag Co. flew all of its employees down for a get to know your co-worker weekend. Kris and I went to "Bite" a topless Vampire themed show. If your into vampires it was good!
April was jam packed with adventure. I got my 2nd tattoo of a Taurus symbol on the back of my neck. I also went to Seattle for a weekend to visit my best buddy Abi. Kris's bowling team were the League champs. WE had a HUGE birthday party for my Dad, Kris & I since our birthdays are all really close. Kris and I celebrated our 1st anniversary at Johnson's Mill Inn. It was so nice to sleep through the night and we got in room massages.
MayI started a new diet/ lifestyle change. Weighing in at an embarrassing 220 lbs!! Kris, Austin, Ashley & I were lucky enough to score 3rd row tickets to a Jazz playoff game!(Thanks Mom & Dad) Some of our best friends had their little girl Evvy, whom I am in love with. Cooper needs to marry her!
JuneHappy Fathers day to Kris! We also went to the Pickleville Playhouse in Bear Lake for the first time. It was so much fun. Good food and a hilarious play. We also undertook a very large yard remodel project that still isn't finished.
July Went to Bear Lake with our friends the Gates. We also took our 1st official family photos.
August Our friend Nick's band played their 1st of many gigs at our favorite bar 5 Monkeys. We were there celebrating in style(drunk). We all went to the Laketown Demolition Derby where Ashley and I were part of the half time entertainment. Racing 4-wheelers around the track with balloons taped to the top of our helmets and trying whack the others balloons off with plastic bats. It was so much fun.
SeptemberWe went camping for the first time in 2 years. I love camping and we had a couple of friends come with us it was a blast. Kris and I played "Drunko" (Bunko with a keg) for the first time with my parents and a handful of their friends. I am now addicted and want to start up a couples league in the valley if you are interested!?
OctoberKris & I both made our own costumes this year. They turned out great. Kris was the "Lord of Darkness" and I was a 1950's housewife. We also hosted our annual Halloween Party and Kris out did himself. He decorated our entryway with black lights and glow in the dark paint. It look awesome.
November We had thanksgiving at our house with us and Kris's mom.
December Other than lots of family parties and work parties we kept things to a minimum. We had a wonderful Christmas though.

Nutty Buddy Balls

This is for Ashley and anyone else who loves Nutty Buddy bars. My sister in law Amber gave me this recpie. These were my neighbor candies and I took the left overs to our Ottley Family Christmas party. HUGE hit!

Nutty Buddy Balls
1/2 C. Butter
2 C. Peanut Butter
4 C. Powdered Sugar
3 C. Rice Crispies
1 bag Dipping chocolate

Soften butter and blend peanut butter together. Then mix in powdered sugar and blend well. Mix in Rice Crispies. Form mixture into 1" balls. Any bigger and they are too rich!
Melt dipping chocolate. Pour out chocolate onto marble tile and roll balls in chocolate to coat. Place on wax paper to cool.
**If you have an electric fondue pot that also works for melting the chocolate so that it doesn't get to hot. Also use tongs to poke balls and dip in chocolate to coat.(Less messy)

I hope you all enjoy!

Man Bag

Cooper has always been about emptying EVERYTHING out of my purse. Things have evolved all of the sudden. He just started to empty it one day and then tried to carry it down the hallway. Well that particular purse also doubles as a diaper bag so needless to say it is rather large. Instead of having him trip all over the place and hurt himself I decided to give him an old purse to play with. He kills me! He will pick it up and just start walking all over the house. Not slowly either which also kills me. Just this morning he thought it would be better to put the strap over his head and carry it that way. Which was terribly convenient when he crawled because it wouldn't get in the way.
Oh yes and Kris HATES this, but it is still funny to watch.
Here are some of my favorite pics I have taken over the last few days.