My Niece is Cuter Than Your Niece...

I didn't mention my niece's birth! Scarlett, born 10-21-09. Isn't she precious?!

Feeling Left Out...

So, maybe I am just writing this post to write something. I have felt like everyone else is posting and I have nothing to post! I'll try to make this interesting.

- Sydney seems to be mimicking some of the things we say and it is quite fun. I promise she says "up", "yeah" and "ashes" - from "ring around the rosies"
- We're super-excited about our family Halloween costume this year. Pictures will be forth-coming
- We had more family visitors at the beginning of this month. Brian's newly married cousin Charles and his wife Mara came and visited it us for a week. It was wonderful to see them and we're excited for them to be moving out here to Idaho soon!
- I'm thrilled because I got on a Creative Team of a digital scrapbook designer which means in exchange for getting her kits free I create layouts to show off her work. It's really fun! All my recent layouts on the side here are from kits of hers I used.
- We did get a new car about a month ago now, sorry I didn't mention it earlier. We bought a 2000 Toyota Avalon and we feel spoiled with heated leather, power windows, and a remote. It rocks!
- Soon here I will work on our Christmas greeting cards. Maybe I will have a voting poll to see which design you guys like. Anyways, enjoy some pictures Charles took for us a while back.

Visits and Birthday!

In late September, Grandma Tuck was able to come visit us for a week! We had lots of fun shopping, going to the park and library and just hanging out!
Grandpa Tuck also came and visited for a couple of days! (Pictures will be forthcoming)

We got Sydney a monkey costume for Halloween! It suits her so well!

And ta-da! Sydney is 1 year old! And I CAN believe it! She has humor, can walk, can talk, and has such an enthusiastic personality!

So... 2 weeks ago...

I can't believe I am just now posting this, life has been so crazy lately but I totaled our 2006 Toyota Corolla on September 10th, 2009. She was a wonderful car. She never gave us any problems and we had barely had her for 2 years.

I was driving down the road close to our house dropping Sydney off at the baby sitter's before heading to work when I reached down to grab my sunglasses because the sun was in my eyes. Those few seconds and the fact that I was unaware of the sharp curve in that road made it so that I drove my car off the road and down a slope into an eight-foot deep ditch. There was about 1 1/2-2 feet of water in the ditch which got into my car's engine and killed it after about a minute. Sydney and I were just fine. I had a nasty seat belt rash and Sydney was a bit shaken but fine. Within 5 minutes, someone from the ward had seen my car in the ditch and called the Relief Society President. Brian was contacted and someone came and took care of Sydney while I dealt with the police officer and tow truck.

I feel quite fortunate considering the situation and am really grateful for the love and support from our family, friends and ward. Some friends of ours are letting us borrow their car and our insurance settlement more than covered the remaining balance on our loan. We will hopefully be getting a new car in the next week. It was really hard to start looking for cars because 1) car shopping is such a pain, all the test-driving, pushy salesmen, and just not having a favorite car picked out and 2) I kept thinking "I miss my Corolla!". I really felt a pang of loss (please don't think me materialistic) but I really liked our car! It was so good to us and it was so new when we got it! Only 16k miles and 1 year old. I felt so privileged!

Anyways, I know Sydney and I were being looked after and I do not take our safety for granted. All my love, Meagan.

Contest

Hey guys! I found this free mini-kit (for you digital scrapbookers out there!) and then there is a contest that if you use this mini-kit to make a layout and they choose yours, you can get $12 towards getting digital scrapbooking stuff! I really love the designs from Jady Day Studios and I think you will, too so $12 would be awesome! Here is the layout I submitted for the contest.


The kit includes 3 papers (not scalloped- I did that :) ), the flower, the butterfly, the green bow, the blue strip, the journaling box, the frame (in beige), the white and brown buttons and the wordart "I Love you". Pretty sweet kit! So, you should check it out! Later!

Friends

First, our long-time friends the Ards moved to Oregon. We will really miss them! Brenda is my favorite redhead who is so crazy and fun!
On Saturday, I met up with some of my old roommates, Amy and Katy. It was fun to catch up with them. Can't wait to do it again!
And a little Sydney for you. Sydney has gotten into this habit of squinting her eyes and giving a huge grin. She is so silly!

Happy Anniversary!

Brian and I celebrated our 4th anniversary last week! We went to Chili's and then sat on the Green Belt (a park wrapping around the Snake River in Idaho Falls) and enjoyed a little time just Brian and me. A friend of ours watched Sydney, Thank you!

Brian and I are so happy. Despite this definitely being a tough year for us, we have each other and it has made all the difference.

If I should live forever and all my dreams come true
My memories of love will be of you

Squeaker Scares Sydney

Brian and I just HAD to record this video and then share it. Brian took the squeaker out of a rubber ducky and by sucking air in as he had the squeaker in his mouth he made the squeaky sound and it scared Sydney so bad!

International Dance Festival

Sydney's 10-month mark happened to fall on the street parade of the International Dance Festival here in town. She loved it! She was standing on my lap, shouting, clapping her hands and jumping up and down. It was great!

Brian and I thought the instrument this girl was playing was quite amazing.

Never mind me in this photo.
And to prove that Brian was there, a pic of him and Sydney.

Walking

Sydney is walking really well! She can also get off of our couch by herself. Here's a video of her walking through the house!

10 Things About Brian

Well, we had a nice birthday party on Saturday for Brian.It was fun to get with some friends and play some games. Thank you to everyone who came and showed love for Brian. As part of the party, I compiled a list of ten things you may or may not know about Brian. Here it goes:
10. Brian was born weighing less than me, Meagan, when I was born.
9. Brian does great Elmo and Arnold Schwarzenegger impressions.
8. Brian once saw Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley play golf in person.
7. As a child, Brian wanted be to a veterinarian.
6. Brian was a Geology major before he became a Business Management Major.
5. Brian has never been outside the U.S.
4. Brian has never broken a bone but his nose was broken by his brother when they were playing catch.
3. Brian has an ancestor, Thomas Grover, in the Doctrine & Covenants.
2. Brian knows all ten names of one of his old missionary companions to this day (something like Neil Jamar Muhammad Muhammad..... you get the idea).
1. Brian had a near-death experience when his car went off-road and stopped short of a cliff when his back tire hit a ground telephone pole.

So, which ones shocked you? or do you know Brian so well that you knew all of these?

The Adventures of Late

Well, first off, Brian turned the big 2-8 this past Tuesday! We went out to eat at our fave restaurant in Rexburg, Winger's. Brian also got a free movie rental at Hollywood. We plan on having a birthday party this Saturday.
Sydney keeps growing and learning! She can be trying some days but I thought you might enjoy these videos and pictures of what she has been up to lately.One night, Sydney decided to drag me around the house. See that grip on my shirt?!!

She has had fun lately with spewing her food out and then rubbing her hands over her mouth.
Brian got Sydney to play peek-a-boo with him last night. It was so adorable!



Gotta love this little girl's giggles.

9 months old and Independence Day!

Sydney turned 9 months old yesterday! As you saw from the previous post, she is almost to getting around all by herself- she will pull herself up on things and then let go and stand there for several seconds. Today I even saw her squat down and pick something up and then stand back up. She's getting good! And she'll sometimes take a step or two away from things- she's not scared!

Here she is climbing out of her high chair! I guess she was done eating!

She's getting better at letting us take pictures of her SMILING!

The day started off with Brian helping the Veteran's Organization in Rexburg put up flags all around town at 6AM. Good for you, dear! Then, we went to the Whoopee Days (don't blame me, I didn't name it that) Celebration for Rexburg. Of course we never take a holiday and set up our board game booth. We did fairly well!

Sydney, taking a little nap in Dad's lap.

This was our favorite float in the parade. Broulim's is the local grocery store.

Our 4th of July isn't over yet, we're going to Idaho Falls and hang out with some friends as we watch the fireworks! Happy Independence Day everyone!

- Proud to be an American

Learning to Walk

Sydney turns 9 months old tomorrow. She is starting to take a few steps! Soon she will be a walking monster! We have already moved our DVD collection up higher and will soon start putting child-safety locks on drawers in the kitchens. I'll post some 9-month old shots tomorrow. For now, here is a video of us practicing walking with Sydney.

Father's Day Cards and some videos

First, I wanted to show the cards I made for the fathers in my life. I had some fun with my new hobby of digital scrapbooking.
I made this one for Brian. The word art I made myself and it is available on my new wordart blog. There's a link on the right side here. Love you dear! You rock!

I made this card for Brian's Dad. I wish I could take credit for the word art, but I can't. Love you!

And this one I made for my dad. Love you, Dad!

Oh, and here is a picture of Sydney's teeth. She has had them since she was 6 months old but it's hard to get a good picture of them.

We often get pictures of Sydney in this pose. I think it is so cute!

And now for Father's Day, some videos of Sydney.....saying "ma-ma". Go figure. Makes sense, right?

By the way, you might here the microwave in the background- it is not a beep in your house. I was even fooled as I watched the video.

Fleixble girl and Visitors

So yesterday, I let the poor girl cry herself to sleep for a nap and when I went in to check on her after she had stopped crying I found her like this. Don't worry, I moved her leg after I took the picture.
Dad is just a big jungle gym!
Aunt Janae, Uncle Denny, and Wendy and her little girl Cecily were in Rexburg and so we got to spend some time with them again. It was really great! Sydney was just a little out of it.

Teton Dam Marathon Expo!
If you are in the Rexburg Area, please stop by and see us at the Expo this Saturday. It will be in Smith Park from 8am- 2pm. Brian and I will have a booth for our games so please stop by and say, "Hello".

8 Months Old!

Sydney turned 8 months old yesterday! She just amazes us everyday!
She absolutely LOVES clapping her hands together! It is so cute! Sometimes, she has been crying and she will just stop and start clapping!

I think she is so funny when she puts something in her mouth and then just lets it hang there. She is my little puppy.



Look, Mom! One hand! She used to just crawl with her arms, army-style, but now she is really great at crawling on her hands and knees. And of course, she is still pulling herself up on everything.

Favorite Exercise TV videos

I try to work out daily using free videos from Exercisetv.tv They have lots of free 10-20 even 40 minute workout videos from kickboxing, yoga, pilates, strength training, etc. Here I have compiled a list of links to my favorite videos. Oh, and you only have to watch one short commercial before the exercise video starts and then it is streams really well, you can even full-screen the video.
Pilates Abs workout - 10 minutes long, Beginner to intermediate
Power Pilates workout- 20 minutes long, total body workout, beginner to intermediate
Leg Slimmer and Toner- 10 minutes, great workout! beginner- intermediate
Dynamic Sculpt and Stretch- 10 minute weights workout, arms, shoulders, back and chest
Fat Burn- 20 minutes workout, Intermediate to Advanced, you will sweat!

Ok, so I only have 5 I like so far, I have tried more but these are my favorites. I will add more if there are anymore interesting ones.

I'm placing this post on my blog so that:
A) I can share my favorites with you
B) I have a link list to quickly get to my fave videos

Nicole's wedding

My sister Nicole got married this past Memorial Day weekend. Brian, Sydney and I got to go down to Nevada for it and see all my sisters, nieces and nephews. It was wonderful! I thought that I might feel old and strange as the roles have been reversed: I am used to being the cousin coming to the family reunion and the aunts and uncles are the adults. But now, we are creating our own big family reunions and I am the grown-up aunt watching the cousins play and grow. It is very fulfilling and beautiful.
I will have pictures of the cousins soon but for now, I have some pictures of Sydney from the weekend and a picture of me with all my sisters and my parents.

Back: Mom and Dad
Left to right: Kymry, Andrea, Tessa, and Nicole- the bride!
With the side-by-side comparison, I realize I look like a vampire! I need to get some sun!
And this is us at the Reno, Nevada temple where Kymry got sealed to our parents.