Park Day

Today we packed a lunch and went with friends over to Camel's Back Park. I don't think I have been over there since the high school days. We had lots of fun and the boys were absolutely EXHAUSTED by the time we left. They were running up and down the HUGE hill. I think I need a huge hill like that in my backyard. It's kind of hard to see but in a few of the pictures you can see the herd of deer that came running by.

Father-Son Outing

Nate was able to score some Bronco B-ball tickets from work. Parker has been BEGGING to go to a game so they had some good one on one time together. Here is a picture of Parker watching out the window for daddy to get home. I told him he had to take a nap in order to go to the game and he marched upstairs and took a three hour nap...VERY unlike him! He obviously really wanted to go!

After the game I asked Parker how the game was...he response was, "Too loud Mommy....but I got popcorn and a sprite." Nate said that Parker had his hands over his ears the entire game. Funny kid.

Why I love the Boise River

This weekend was lots of fun! Nat, Robby and EE came up to visit. Nat and I took the boys over to the Boise River to throw rocks and climb the "thinking tree." It was such a beautiful day although it is much more beautiful by the river when there are leaves on the trees. I am so anxious for spring and summer to get here!
There are many reasons I love living in Boise. It really is no wonder that it was ranked in one of the top 10 places to live. Going down to the river reminded me about why I love living here so much. My parents live about 5 minutes from the river. I have lots of my childhood memories running around in the woods, riding bikes, and building forts in that area. I love to watch the bald eagles, blue herons, and the great horned owls. I'll never forget my first experience with poison oak. That was a NIGHTMARE. We have had many great memories floating the river on hot summer days and I won't soon forget the time my sister and I performed on a float the last year the River Festival had the night light parade. (The parade was actually ON the river...it was SO cool!)
Another reason I love the river: because without it we would have no LAKE 20 minutes away! I am SO looking forward to the summer now that I am not pregnant or breastfeeding! (Yep, Landon up and quit on me about 4 weeks ago...I am a FREE woman again!) I know Nate is looking forward to hitting the lake this summer...I got him a new wakeboard for Valentine's Day! If that isn't romantic, I don't know what is! Here are some pictures from last year:

Not the best picture of me. Obviously I am VERY focused. haha.

Hooray for 9 month olds and new cameras!

Well...Costco came through for us as usual. We tried to send our old camera back to the mauufacturer becuase the 90 day warranty had expired. Of course, in normal Starnes style, we encountered MANY a problem with that. To make a long story short Costco reimbursed us the money for our old camera and so now we have a much better one! Woo Hoo!
Landon is now 9 months already! I can't even believe it. I took him in for his wellness check up and he is only in the 10th percentile for weight and 20th for height. It blows me away that he is so tiny! My other boys were always 75th and above...sometimes even off the chart! He is such a sweet little boy. He is very busy and tries SO hard to keep up with his brothers. He walks along furniture and has even been able to stand for a few seconds with no support! He will be running around here before we know it!

My Valentine

1. Where and when did you and your husband meet?
We met my freshman year at BYU. His roomate (Chris Gee) came over to see my roomate (Afton Ferguson) and he was just along for the ride. He was NOT excited about coming over to the dorms. A bunch of guys were in our room becuase it was during visiting hours and you could tell he felt really uncomfotable being there.

2. 1st thing said:
I don't remember what he said to me...probably hi or something. I told him he was the "perfect height for someone like me." Hey...I just wrote about this a couple posts ago!

3. 1st date:
We went out for dinner at Chili's in Provo. I told my roomate to call me after about an hour to make sure the date was going well. If it wasn't, I was going to pretend that I needed to get back to the dorms ASAP. Luckily...I didn't need an out. We had a good time.

4. 1st Kiss:
I had heard through the grapevine that Nate had kissed many a girl so I made him wait a good 3 months before I kissed him. We went salsa dancing and I kissed him on the dance floor. That was by far the longest I had ever waited to kiss a boy!

5-Long/Short courtship and Engagement:
Honestly, I could write a book about our courtship. I will just give the VERY brief overview. We dated for awhile. He wanted to get serious and I was scared to death becuase I was only 19 and I just wanted to go to school. We became really good friends during the Spring term. He drove me home to Boise after the term ended and he told me he loved me and I told him to hit the road. I went to Hawaii with Marcy and thought about him the whole time. I realized that I loved him too. When I came back to school in the fall we were inseperable. We were engaged 11 months after we met and got married 4 months later.

6- Where did you get engaged?
We got engaged in Nate's apartment. He decorated the front room with roses everywhere. He had 10 candles in a row and as he lit each one he told me a reason that he loved me. When he lit the last one he pulled out the ring. He was shaking the whole time....it was adorable.

7. Where were you married?
Salt Lake Temple May 9, 2001

8. How did the reception go?
Great! We actually had 2 receptions. The first one was at the Lion House that evening. The second one was up in Boise at the Train Depot a couple of days later. Both evenings were magical. I loved the Train Depot becuase we danced the night away! I felt like a princess both nights!

9. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We went to Puerto Vallarta Mexico. It was a lot of fun except for the fact that I got a horrible heat rash on the first day we were there. I turned bright read and my skin itched like crazy. We had a very relaxing time. We would watch the pelicans each evening on the beach. The pelican is our official "family bird" now.

10. Do you have a song?
Of course we do! Grow old along with me...Peter Brienholdt's version.

I am so blessed to have met and married my better half. He is my everything and more. Happy Heart Day my love! Grow old along with me..the best is yet to be!

Happy Valentines Day! (to my KIDS and everyone else!)

Well it is Valentines again....just your good old regular run of the mill kind of day for my husband and I. You see....a few years ago, we decided that our Valentines Day was going to be celebrated any other day EXCEPT for Valentines day. (Usually the day before or the day after.)
Why is this you might ask? Well, our first year in Law School we decided to go out for a nice dinner on the actual Valentines night. We made sure Dallin was taken care of and away we went to Outback Steakhouse. We were both STARVING. When we got there we put our names on the waiting list....a 2 hour wait at least. We went to the mall and walked around. We came back after our 2 hours and then proceeded to wait outside in the freezing cold for another 30 minutes or so.
I was so hungry I almost started eating my hand off until FINALLY our names were called. We were seated in this teeny tiny table about 5 inches from the couple next to us. The resturant was so incredibly loud we pretty much had to yell to hear each other. The icing on the cake was when the guy next to us asked Nate if he was going to eat the last of the bread we had on the table. Are you kidding me? That was it! We decided then and there that there would be NO more going out on Valentines night. We look forward to our kid-free Valentines this weekend!

Mom Jeans

So today I took the kids to playgroup...we decorated sugar cookies and played some games. A really nice lady came up to me and said, "I really like your jeans....where did you get them?" I told her that I got them at Old Navy or the Gap. She said, "O..I really like how they come up at the top a little bit. Everything is so low these days." So now I am paranoid. Could I be wearing (gulp) "Mom Jeans"? There was something about that moment, that made me stop and think...am I in a phase of life where I am destined to wear those horrible things? I NEVER want to reach that point in life where I go and get the "new mom" haircut where you don't have to blowdry your hair, or you stop wearing cute shoes and chapstick becomes all the makeup you put on for the day. Was this where I was headed? Was the world of housecoats next for me? I quickly assured myself that these jeans look nothing like the "mom jeans" of days past. Obviously they wouldn't sell them at the Gap if I was was THAT fashionably off...or would they? If I ever start heading down that road...someone better SPEAK UP!
I was reminded of one of my all time favorite SNL clips. I tried to find it today and I am ecstatic that I actually found it. If you haven't already seen this clip....get ready for a GREAT laugh! Don't forget to pause my music so you can hear it!

Mom jeans

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This and that

A few stories from the past couple of days:

We are SUPER exicted that we get to go to church in our BRAND NEW building next Sunday...even though our new meeting time is at 8:3oAM. The bishop made an announcement about the new ward and Dallin says, " O good, I was getting tired of our OLD church. It is so boring."

We were talking with Parker about President Hinckley passing away. He gets this VERY concerned look on his face and asks, "But mom....who killed him?"

At Chuck E Cheese Dallin went over to the ticket counter and turned in his tickets without me knowing. He came back over to the table and handed me a large blue heart shaped plastic ring. He was so proud of himself. He said "Mom, I turned in my tickets and got this for you. I want you to be my Valentine." (That ring is definately a keeper!! It's going in my jewelry box next to the fancy stuff.)

As we drove by BSU stadium I was listening in on the conversation going on in the back of the car.

Parker: "We should go there Dallin. We should watch a football game."

Dallin: "Yeah. I think Daddy played football there a long time ago." (No idea where he came up with this)

Parker: "Cool. I can play football too when I am very bigger"

Funny picture

Here is one of the latest pictures from Elder Rock (my brother). The caption stated, "The light was just too perfect to pass up." He definitely hasn't lost his sense of humor!

100th post!

I've been told that it's blogging tradition for a person to list 100 things about themselves on their 100th post. Have you ever tried to come up with 100 things about yourself? It's hard. It's painful. If you don't want to read this post, I will not hold it against you. I don't really want to read it either. Here I go:

1. When I was born I almost died....and so did my mom.
2. I lived in Utah until I was 6 then we moved to Boise.
3. I wholeheartedly believed my dolls were alive when I was little.
4. I am a certified substitute teacher for the Boise School District.
5. I could (and would) sleep a solid 12 hours every night if life’s demands let me.
6. I am the oldest of 4 children.
7. I can't wear socks to bed.
8. I have lived in 4 states. (Utah, Idaho, Washington, and California)
9. I am sick of driving a mini van. (hopefully this will change in the near future)
10. I want to take a sewing class.
11. I love to travel.
12. I beat up a boy in elementary school.
13. One Valentine's day I received 6 different flower bouquets from 6 different guys. (One was my dad :))
14. I love to play the piano even though I am not very good. I have been practicing ever since we bought our piano 6 months ago....wish I had more time for it.
15. I am very ticklish.
16. Teaching Gospel Doctrine would be the scariest calling in the world to me.
17. I’m pretty sure that there’s one man on this planet that would put up with me, and I’m married to him.
18. I am finding that coming up with 100 things is very difficult!
19. I am a vaccum-a-holic.
20. I talk to my mom every day.
21. I love the vanilla almond Special K cereal.
22. I worked at the MTC at 4 in the morning while in college. How did I ever get up that early?
23. I love Costco but I am still mad at them for getting rid of the cinnamon sugar pretzels.
24. I love having a clean car.....probably because it's such a rare occurrence!
25. Cooked carrots are my FAVORITE veggie.
26. I won for the best speller in the 1st grade and when I recieved my plaque...my name was spelled wrong on it.
27. I hate the thought of ever having kissed anyone but the man I am now married to.
28. I LOVE Dr. Pepper.
29. My husband made me (or maybe STRONGLY encouraged me) to pierce my upper ear when we were dating....I took it right out when the Prophet said only 1 hole per ear. When my dad first saw it he asked me if I had joined a tribe!
30. Sometimes I wish Nate would have taken MY last name. ROCK was such a cool last name. It was both easy to pronounce and easy to remember.
31. For awhile I thought it would be really fun to go to law school. Then I picked up one of Nate's legal books and felt like I was reading a foreign language. No thanks.
32. I had the biggest poofy bangs in the world when I was little. I have the pictures to prove it.
33. I have water-skied on New Years day.
34. My grandma is one of my best friends in the world.
35. Even though I was nervous...I absolutely LOVE being in the Young Women's. My favorite calling of all time.
36. I had braces, head gear, and this nasty lip bumper thing in junior high. Those were some awkward days.
37. I used to know how to do a back handspring.
38. I like to prove people wrong when they tell me I can't do something.
39. Most days I still feel like a kid. I wake up, look around and think “THIS is my house? These are my kids? This is my husband? Wow!”
40. I have so much respect and admiration for my husband. I’m quite certain that he’s smarter than me (don’t tell him I said so), and I’m OK with that.
41. I am not a very superstitious person.
42. I really enjoy playing tennis.
43. I get along better with males. I always have. I have a few close girl friends but for some reason I just click better with boys. Good thing since I have so many!
44. I wish I could afford to surprise my husband with Lasik surgery. Add it to my list of WANTS.
45. This has got to be the longest post I have ever posted....and we're only on 45!? Aggh!
46. I don't know the first thing about filing taxes.
47. I used to wear a size 7 shoe. After 3 children I am up to an 8...sometimes 8 1/2!
48. My favorite place in the world would have to be Lake Powell.
49. Speaking of Lake Powell.....I LOVE to air chair!
50. I am SICK and TIRED of winter. O Spring...where art thou?
51. I got lost at Disney World when I was 5.
52. I am unsure as to who I am going to vote for.
53. I’m sentimental. I don’t like to get rid of things because almost everything has a sweet memory associated with it.
54. If I had to live in Idaho and not live in Boise the only place I could live would be Coeur D' Alene.
55. I love March Madness.
56. I can't really relax unless my kitchen sink is clean.
57.I can't keep a houseplant to save my life. Or its life either.
58. I can sit all morning and watch a bulldozer dig a foundation. It just fascinates me.
59. I've never had coffee to drink, but I think I would probably like it. I like the smell.
60. My silverware drawer stays organized and clean. Which is more than I can say for any other drawer in my house.
61.I really do believe that when you lose yourself in service to others is when you find yourself.
62. I have broken my wrist, arm and ankle and have had stitches a couple of times.
63. I don't sleep well when my husband is out of town.
64. The funniest person in the world to me is my brother James.
65. I have seriously been working on this for over an hour...good thing everyone is asleep.
66.I hate fighting the crowds to go out for dinner on Valentines Day. I would much rather have a romantic dinner at home. (With cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!)
67. I love one on one time with each of my boys.
68. I watch the news every day.
69. I played on a golf team. I had one HORRIBLE game and quit. Not a good example of perserverance.
70. One time I laughed so hard a pea shot out my nose.
71. Sometimes I want to switch my blog over to private....maybe I will soon.

72. I love doing things with Nate's family. They are all so much fun to be around.
73. I am amazed by figure skaters.
74. I won 1st prize for my Halloween costume in 8th grade. I was a giant bag of McDonalds french fries.
75. I like to take pictures and would love to take a photography class.
76. Shopping de-stresses me.
77. I don't like being late.
78.I should be doing my list of chores instead of sitting here but I am so close to being done!
79. I have to have a blanket or throw when I am sleeping.
80. I have become very addicted to blogging and find great joy in reading what other people write.
81. My 2 favorite words in the world are "Mommy" (what Parker calls me) and "Momma" (what Dallin calls me)
82. People tell me that I "look just like someone I know" ALL the time. It is kind of scary how often that happens to me.
83. I am allergic to cats.
84. I write a "things to do" list almost every day.
85. I can recite all of the 44 counties in Idaho in alphabetical order and in less then 10 seconds.
86. I had a wart on my hand when I was little. I was so embarrassed about it and was very grateful the day I had it frozen off.
87. I love going out for dinner. Doesn't matter where as long as I don't have to cook!
88. I know what cyclotetramitherinetetranightramine is.
89. I want to serve a mission with my husband one day.
90. I enjoy mowing the lawn.
91. I love to dance.
92. I am a people pleaser.
93. I wish I was more organized.
94. I love throwing parties...whatever the occasion may be.
95. I love to read. I also love reading to my kids.
96. The first thing I said to my husband when I met him was, "Now you are someone who would be the perfect height for someone like me." (some friends were in the midst of complaining about how there were so many short guys at BYU)
97. I am very proud of myself for graduating from BYU. Having a child 3 semesters before I was supposed to graduate made things a lot more difficult.
98. I am very grateful that my husband has a job that he loves.
99. I totally and completely agree with Dr. Phil when he says, "Having 3 children is the equivalent of 2 full time jobs."
100. I can't believe I am DONE!!!!! Now you better leave me a comment becuase I have just wasted 2 hours of my life!