The heat is on...

Well, it's official. Natalee, the kids, and I will suffer through at least one entire summer here in the Valley of the Sun. Today I decided take an internship with Intel's finance group in Chandler, AZ. This will be my first experience working with a company larger than 250 employees, so I'm sure it will be a little bit of a culture shock for me, but I'm really looking forward to the experience. Wish us luck in surviving the 110+ degree weather!!! Any tips?

Food for Thighs

Warning: Do not read the below post if you 1. Do not care about calories 2. Want to completely enjoy yourself when eating out and not worry about what's going in 3. Think nutrition information is dumb.

So the other day Steve, Ben (Steve's bro), and I ordered Chilli's takeout. Well I was strangely in the mood for a burger (no I am not pregnant) and decided on the mushroom & swiss burger without mayo. I thought it was a fairly healthy choice, compared to the other burgers, and I ordered a side salad rather than fries.

I have been trying to keep track of my calories and intake and out of curiosity looked up the nutrition info on the burger. Chilli's website did not list the nutrition info (I now know why) so I googled it. I checked several different sites and they were all the same. Now I already knew that hamburgers had fat and calories and it is not my typical choice of food. However, little did I know that this hamburger had 1100 calories!!!! Yes, one thousand one hundred calories. Granted, I didn't have the mayo and only ate half the bun, but that would still chalk up to about 900 or so. I ventured to look up some other items and could not believe the fat and calories in these foods. It was insane. (Steve's favorite, the chicken crispers had 1880 cal, 130g fat). I can't believe how ignorant I have been.

I now have been really curious about how many calories are in the foods I eat at restaurants. We frequently eat at Cafe Rio and I asked them for the nutrition info on their foods. They said they didn't have any. I looked online and found nothing. Anyone? Is the barbacoa salad healthy (I know the tortilla is not). But what's in that barbacoa beef?

It would be great if they would include the nutrition info on menus. In fact I think they should, it would promote Americans to eat better and restaurants to have a healthy variety. (And by the way, I hate how restaurants have the "guiltless grill" or the "weight watchers menu", can't they just put a tomato by it or something, then you wouldn't stand out as much as compared to when you order the "weight watchers chicken platter").

I just want to know, that's all I ask.

cake valentines instead of cookies, yum.

The Budding Photographer

When I review my digital photos on my camera and phone I often find several surprises and realize Hudson got hold of the camera. He has a mild obsession with taking pictures, these are just a few. . . (the phone ones are tiny, working on that)

Taking a picture of his legs crossed cracked me up, he also took about 10 of his face in different poses, the third is me grocery shopping, and the last is me post workout talking on the phone...nice. I spared you the ones of doors, random household objects, oh and more of his feet.

I better get someone to take a good picture of Steve and me soon or this will be all that we have of us...not that these aren't good, ha ha...Everett is his most willing model.

He is a master at capturing you in mid-sentance, with your eyes closed, or on the phone. I think he has potential.

(mom, you can click on the photos below to make them larger)

Quick Tip

When you are shopping solo and have two carts of groceries it is easiest to walk in front of the two carts and pull them behind you (carts facing forward).

God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again

I teach in the primary at church (the 6 year olds). Our sharing time leader got realeased a few weeks ago and she came in today to say goodbye to all of the kids. She had them sing the song she taught them called Latter-Day Prophets. It goes through all the names of the prophets and ends with "Gordon B. Hinckley shows the way, we hear and follow his words today." It is quite a catchy little tune and I have had it in my head all day. After dinner we received news that President Hinckley passed away.

He has been the prophet of the church since I was 16 years old. Throughout my teenage years I remember being so inspired by him. He and his wife came to Colorado to speak to the youth when I was 17. Carrie and I got there early and lined up outside the door to get good seats. We were more excited for this than we were a Smashing Pumpkins concert. They opened the doors and we walked as fast as we could without running (only b/c the leaders told us not to) to get the best seats. We ended up 3rd row back. In my journal I wrote, "It was an amazing spiritual experience which I wish could happen 10 times over." My sophmore year in college I read his biography by Sheri Dew (It took me the whole year). I remember being impressed by his accomplishments and at the same time his amazing humility. Serving the Lord was his priority and his testimony was bold. His humor made life fun and trials more bearable. I love how he used his cane. I think for the first year he had it he just carried it and pointed it at people or waved with it. Below he is tapping Elder Eyring on the head with it after Elder Eyring was sustained into the First Presidency.
I am just greatful to have had him as a prophet as long as we did. He once quoted Matt 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." He said that scripture changed his life and he has tried to live by its words. He was lost in the work of the Lord and his life here will be missed. "God be with you till we meet again!"

29 Things I Love About Steve...

1. He sings to our kids

2. He sings in the shower, usually the Star-Spangled Banner

3. He almost always has a pen handy (he's a cute nerd)

4. He loves kids and will often say how cute "so and so's" baby is

5. He could eat pizza for every meal and never tire of it AND never get fat

6. He doesn't mind me giving him orders the minute he gets home (or he doesn't complain about it)

7. He wrestles and plays with the kids while I make dinner

8. When I'm out with friends or shopping he often says, "take as long as you need".

9. He cleans the shower better than me and he wears flip flops while doing it

10. He memorizes maps and therefore knows where everything is

11. He cleans my car inside and out and changes the oil

12. He is extremely honest

13. He is a great communicator

14. He is the most forgiving person I have ever met, maybe because I have offended him the most :). He also quickly forgives and never holds a grudge.

15. When girls night is at my house he ends up hanging out with us

16. He is so friendly

17. He has multiple nicknames...the beav, zippy, maxfly,...to name just a few

18. He knows random facts. He answers all the kids questions when they ask, "what's that?" he always has an answer and some details.

19. He will go on an occasional jog with me

20. He always beats me on a jog, no matter if I have been running for months. I pretend it annoys me, but I am actually glad he isn't slugging behind

21. He always sincerely tells me I look good, even when I am 9 mo. pregnant

22. He loves the outdoors, he takes us hiking, running in the mountains

23. He puts almost everything into an excel spreadsheet

24. He does the finances and bills

25. He breaks out into dancing at random moments

26. He makes the kids laugh by making weird faces

27. He likes to plant flowers and take care of the yard (when we have one)

28. Everything he tries he ends up being good at

29. He is the best father and husband

Happy 29th! Love you!