Life is Good.

Idaho Trip July 2010

2010-07-14T09:03:00.007-05:00

When I say trip to Idaho, I mean ROAD TRIP, as in 40+ hours in the car with the ones I love. And it is love, after all, that motivates us to make sacrifices. So...some of the highlights of the trip included: staying at Hotel Noffze, running the Liberty 5k with Tyson, Jace, and Emily, 4th of July parade in Rexburg, visiting great grandpa's grave in Groveland, Rodeo!, Uncle Evan's fireworks, celebrating great grandma Teeple's birthday, Jenny's lake hike to Inspiration Point, the boat ride, Merry Piglet's Mexican Cuisine, Yipp-i-0 Candy store, Porter park with Kruckenbergs, Spa night and edible chocolate face masks, boys Airbender movie night, firepit smores and triscuits with melted cheese, foot races, ninja fighting with Uncle Jace, singing to Emily's accompanyment, super sweet sewing project with Cortney, bikes, jump ropes, craft projects with grandma and grandpa, frisbees on the roof, no bears are out tonight, and so much more!! We love you all! God be with you 'till we meet again.

2010-07-13T19:16:00.003-05:00

We believe in Fairies

2010-07-12T21:54:00.003-05:00

McKinzi basically is a fairy, or, at least she thinks so. She loves to read about fairies, dream about fairies, make up games and role plays about fairies. So...it was my pleasure to throw her a fairy birthday party. We had a "treasure" hunt and made our findings into jewelry. We decorated garlands with flowers. We even made miniature fairy gardens. I was surprised how much fun I had at the party! As my daughter gets older, it has been really fun to do crafts together. I am always amazed at the creativity and imagination of a child. These girls really got their craft on!! So fun. So cute. Darling daughter, may all your fanciful dreams come true.

Scott and Aubrey's Wedding--June 2010

2010-07-12T21:12:00.004-05:00

Beautiful Washington state makes an ideal place for a June wedding. I should know, because 10! years ago Tyson and I were married in the same month, the same temple, and the same sealing room as Scott and Aubrey. My favorite part of the whole trip was watching my baby brother Scott and my new sister Aubrey look at eachother across the alter with tears streaming down both of their faces. I felt a renewal of my own covenants and power in the priesthood. I felt my heart grow a little bigger that day. After the celebrations were over, the leftover family took a trip to Bellingham and spent a lovely day at the beach. We CAME as a family united, we SAW crabs and clams and sardines, and we CONQUERED the tide in our impressive sand fortress. Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.

Nat's Fantastic Trip to Arizona

2010-05-03T08:20:00.006-05:00

I had been thinking of my grandma Gerry for years...wanting to be in better contact, yearning to know more about this extraordinary woman, wishing I could see her one last time before she passed through the veil. Thanks to Tyson and Christine and Tyler, I got my chance. After 22 years, when I watched my sweet grandma waddle through the doorway of her Mesa, Arizona home, I'll admit I had a hard time controlling my emotions. Christine and I listened to her tell stories of her childhood and of her son "David". She had had some regrets, but her overall message was of hope, of finding the humor, and unbeknownst to her "Come what may, and love it". Choked through my tears, I told my grandma that I loved her so much and that she meant so much to me. She kept asking me, "Honey, are you okay?" to which I said yes and that I was so happy. I painted her fingernails and we discovered that we both loved gardening, bird watching, and "having a real good time" i.e. throwing parties! She invited us back the next day. When we arrived, we found that she had set out a table with all the fixin's, interspersed with her best figurines of rabbits, roses, and ornate crosses. On the table was a note telling us that she would be back soon, that she had gone to the store. We waited no more than five minutes when she pulled up in a white Dodge caravan, uncle Jack at the wheel. She unloaded all kinds of groceries and proceeded to slice onions, tomatoes, lettuce--set out chips and soda, meat, cheese, bread, and bakery cakes. Then she said, "We should say a prayer". She then repeated the Lord's prayer perfectly. After the prayer, she got a little dizzy, so we helped her find a seat and get comfortable. She then turned to Jack, held out her little fist and said, "We did it!" I was touched at the level of effort she truly had sacrificed for us. My heart swelled with love. After a visit over our feast, we started taking pictures and saying good-bye. All those pictures!! I don't think grandma has ever owned a camera. And between my dad and I, grandma has probably never taken so many pictures in her life! And we're nothing compared to Jace and Cortney! As I held my grandma Gerry's hand in farewell, she looked deep into my eyes. She said, "Nadalee, I love you. I love you. I love you, honey". It was hard for me to drive away.

Christine and Tyler--I miss you so much! I can hardly stand to be apart from all my family members. You are all so very dear to me. And all my wonderful friends--you know who you are. Christine, Tyler, and I had some competitive dice tournaments, golf card games, Dominoes with Aunt Donna, hiking in Sedona--beautiful red rock, frisbee games, eating at the Pita Jungle :), watching "Congo", attending Tyler's basketball game, wrestling with scouts, and enjoying every minute we spent together. It was a trip of a lifetime. All that I had hoped for and so much more. So...Scott and Aubrey's wedding '10 or BUST!!! See you there. :)

Ezra Turns Three!

2010-04-30T10:31:00.003-05:00

Our baby really did turn three! And we are only three months late in posting. Haven't been doing too much blogging this year. :) We love you Ezra! Mmmm. Chocolate doughnuts sound really good right now.

big hill.

2010-03-01T17:15:00.001-06:00

The Many Adventures of December

2010-01-08T11:39:00.003-06:00

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

2010-01-08T11:13:00.001-06:00

Issaquah

2009-12-31T20:32:00.004-06:00

Thankful Are We

2009-12-03T20:36:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! We love you near and far!

Happy Spooky!!

2009-11-02T20:23:00.002-06:00

You gotta love Halloween, there is no way around it! It has been so much fun dressing to a family theme...I wonder how many more years that will last. It is a pleasure to associate with these precious little people.

Happy Birthday Buzzy Boo-Boo!!

2009-10-18T19:28:00.003-05:00

A big thank you to Gramps and Grannys Young and Teeples for making Isaac's birthday one to always remember. Legos, Star Wars blanket, swords of Co and sheaths...what more could a boy want? Add a little troll action, rubber-band wars, and a few friends to the mix...and we've got birthday number six!

Carrots, anyone?

2009-10-09T14:01:00.003-05:00

I don't think we imagined how well carrots would grow in our garden! Those veggies are huge! It has been a bountiful harvest this year. Oh, how I love to watch my garden grow.

Happy Happy!

2009-09-28T18:12:00.002-05:00

Tyson's grandma Teeples never says "Happy Birthday", she says "Happy, Happy"! Thanks to everyone who remembered Teeps on his big day. We love you all, your cards, letters, songs, licorice carmels. Birthdays are the best.

2009-09-27T18:38:00.002-05:00

The First Day of Schools!

2009-09-27T18:30:00.000-05:00

The Best of San Diego

2009-09-27T18:11:00.002-05:00

The Night of Nights

2009-09-03T21:33:00.003-05:00

So Tyler and Christine decided to have a reception in my parent's backyard. It was the yard that we grew up in. The yard where we played soccer and baseball with all the neighborhood kids. The yard that Bonnie challenged all the adults to race her. The yard that John sustained multiple head/bodily injuries. The yard where Scott threw rocks at menacing bullies. The yard where I would flip round and round the bars. The yard where our mom would garden. The yard where we'd play "around the island" with dad vs. throngs of wild children. The yard where we moved a lot of wood piles. The yard where we'd have hanging contests, underdogs, and tire swing rides. The yard of picnics, bird houses, sledding, cutting to Chrisina Travis' house, slip n' slides, cartwheels, bubbles, happiness, happiness, happiness. Childhood. All grown up now, my sister Christine, so beautiful and full of love. We love you!

We like to Move it, Move it! Family Reunion '09

2009-08-26T15:28:00.005-05:00

Sweet Summertime Afternoon in Idaho

2009-08-26T15:08:00.000-05:00

Boston!

2009-08-25T17:14:00.003-05:00

This Post is Dedicated to Angi Wood

2009-08-25T16:45:00.002-05:00

Baptism

2009-07-14T18:33:00.002-05:00

McKinzi was baptized on June 20th, 2009 in Rochester, MN by her father. Both sets of grandparents were able to be there and what a magical time it was. Brooke Oldroyd took some fabulous pictures of Kinz the week before her big day and they turned out so beautiful.(I've tried to post them 3 times and it won't let me!) I'll keep trying because they are worth sharing! We did, however, get one of her pictures on the refreshment cake. Grandparents Teeples gave Kinzi a gold necklace and grandparents Young gave her a silver locket(one picture was of kinz, the other was a picture of the Savior). Tyson and I gave her a CTR ring and an engraved set of scriptures. What a blessing to have such generous and thoughtful grandparents. The time together went too fast, as always, and we were left with full hearts and happy memories. We love our family!

Howdy "Rowdy" Birthday!

2009-06-26T13:36:00.002-05:00

Sweet Kazoo turned 8 and we celebrated Native American style. We made dream catchers, beaded pouches, and necklaces. We ate tipi cupcakes. And then, for a surprise, we had "Rowdy" the horse come and give all the birthday guests rides around our back yard. It was definately a day to remember. We love you Kinzi!

"Cool Hot Boons'

2009-06-25T23:12:00.002-05:00

2009-06-20T16:27:00.001-05:00

Hovland Piano Recital

2009-06-11T12:56:00.003-05:00

McKinzi has been working really hard on her piano this year. It was a joy to watch her perform at the spring recital.

Carol Kind and Near

2009-06-11T12:40:00.003-05:00

Ahhh! The Giles family! We love you guys! What a treat for our family to have Mike, Carol, Brooke, Ashley, and Max stop for a night in Minnesota on their way to Utah! When we pulled into Cliffside Commons six years ago in our little sagging Honda Accord, having traveled all the way from Seattle to Boston, Mike Giles was the first person we met. Having seen our liscense plates from Idaho, he came to help us move in and introduce his family to ours. They lived on the same apartment hall as us, about four doors down. They gave us a mattress to sleep on, dinner to eat, and extended a hand of friendship that will last forever. Once when we were supposed to have dinner guests and forgot(we were out shopping), the Giles invited our guests to their home for dinner and insisted that we join them as well! When Kinzi was learning to sing "I am a Child of God", she would sing..."has given me an earthly home, with Carol Kind and Near"! We have been richly blessed with good friends near and far. Friends forever!

Pepin, Wisconsin

2009-06-11T12:19:00.002-05:00

The first official day of summer vacation, the kids and I hit the road for Pepin, Wisconsin, birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder. We never saw such beautiful countryside... farm after farm of rolling hills, the occasional goat atop a large red barrel, and the gorgeous landscape framing the mighty Mississippi River. We enjoyed a large ice cream cone at Nelson's Creamery, and bought some "cheese n' onion" cheese for grilled sandwiches later that evening. We stopped in at Arrowhead Bluffs museum and gift shop to admire the Native American history and craftiwork. The entire day was delightful, made even more so by enjoying the company of good friends.

pyromania

2009-05-27T19:42:00.003-05:00

Like mother like son.

To be, or not to be responsible for these yahoos.

2009-05-14T16:31:00.004-05:00

So I'm making Kinzi's school lunch, signing her reading log, yelling out practice spelling words, and all the while I hear a little Ezra voice from the bathroom every few seconds "Ew. Pause. Pause. Pause. Ew" I figured he had done some logs in the tub, not like he'd never done that before. Rolling my eyes I glanced into the bathroom to gage the damage. Nope, I had not expected him to be launching his poop onto the floor! With each "crash landing" came his little "Ew" as poo splatted everywhere. It was too soft to keep it's shape. (sorry, I know that's gross) He looked up at me with his big blue eyes and apparently, talking about the tub, he said, "All clean!" I nodded, smiled through gritted teeth, and closed the door.

Our family decided we wanted to participate in the neighborhood's Litter Bit Better trash clean up. After Ezra cut his hand on broken glass, took off his shoes and socks and ran through the muddy wet grass, picked up a cigarette but and exclaiming "Gum!" popped it into his mouth...we decided that maybe we'll wait a few more years to be good citizens. We did, however, find one silver necklace and 50 cents (a dollar ripped in half). I think it was worth it.

My good friend Lorinda recently offered us a great piece of advice. To prevent diaper leaks during the night, simply apply a jumbo pad into the diaper right before bed. It works like a charm.

Shootin' the Carribean breeze...

2009-04-19T17:58:00.005-05:00

Some highlights from our trip:
*spending time with our wonderful friends Scott and Lindsay
*Clearwater Beach, Florida. We bought shell necklaces from a real hippy.
*Ping-pong tournaments, although we never won! There are some serious players out there! Our favorite was a kung-fu ping-pong serve. Intense.
*Guest talent show on the boat. Nat sings The Sound of Music's "My favorite things" as one of the six acts. Feeling like a rock star the rest of the trip as people call Nat by name and compliment her song.
*Riding ATVs through the jungle in Mexico. Seeing lizards and a tarantula and a monkey
*Snorkeling in the coral reefs of Grand Cayman, exploring the ship wreck and taking pictures with our underwater camera.
*Reading the Book of Mormon for 4 hours straight on Easter sunday.
*Eating salmon!!!
*Spending time, uninterrupted, with just the two of us! Memories for a lifetime!

These things are fun, and fun is good!

2009-04-10T09:12:00.005-05:00

We are alive in Minnesota! We have been up to lots of family games, outings to the zoo, learning how to do HOT LOOPS (oh yeah), and watching spring thaw. Happy are we!

Gramps and Grammy Teeples

2009-03-06T18:32:00.004-06:00

We had a wonderful time with gramps and grammy Teeples when they were here last week! We colored a billion pictures, built legos, marble towers, tinker towers, model electric cars, made cookies, launced airplanes, played I-Spy and Hiss the snake game, read books, went shopping, took a date, and ate great grammy-made dinners. We miss you! We love you!!

Love, love, love all around!

2009-02-16T21:32:00.002-06:00

Valentine's Day ranks pretty high on the Teeples family favorite holiday list. We are all about home-made cards, sugar cookies, chocolately treats, and special dates. Tyson gave the girls each a red rose in a separtate vase tied with ribbons. We ate the world's best waffles on our heart plates with whipped cream and strawberries. We cut our peanut butter sandwiches into heart shapes for lunch. We danced to love songs. The kids even got an unexpected gift from mom and dad. A hula-hoop for Kazoo, legos for Buzz, and a Wall-E book for Ez. Dad got new dry erase markers and mom got Willow the movie with treats! It is the simple things of life that bring great happiness. We are so happy!

Pezzy Doodle turns 2!

2009-02-09T18:48:00.003-06:00

Happy, happy birthday to sweet Ezra! Ez loved all his gifts, his "cuk" (cake), and of course his "buh-da-boons" (birthday balloons)! He is talking like a champ and he loves to tell jokes. He is so friendly and always says hello to strangers when we are in a store--"Allo"! Everybody loves him and this only encourages his tendency to show off. If he really's happy, he'll sing "ya, ya, ya, YODA"! and stand on his head!

Wisconsin Dells!

2009-01-21T13:31:00.004-06:00

So Tyson and I decided to take the kids on a mid-winter escape to Mt. Olympus Theme and Water Park in the Wisconsin Dells. We were gone for two days and one night and it was so much fun! It cost us $100! We rode tube slides and roller coasters to our heart's content. The park was completely dead except for our fam and a cute little Asian family that we took turns with in all the lines. We got to be pretty good friends, especially in the go-cart racing and bumper cars! Ezra loved the bunking bronco tube slide with mommy, Kazoo liked the mouse and cheese roller coaster with dad, and Buzz spent a lot of time in the hot tub! All in all, fun was had and memories were made. Hooray for families!

Happy Holidays

2009-01-04T17:20:00.005-06:00

December was a wonderful time for our family! Some highlights were Tyson's work party, sledding in the sub zero weather, making gingerbread men for our neighbors and friends, caroling at the Maple Manor nursing home, Christmas Eve talent show, and of course Christmas morning. We missed our families far away in the West, but know that we love you and think of you every day! Happy 2009!

O Christmas Tree!

2008-12-17T09:44:00.006-06:00

I have to admit, when Tyson returned from Home Depot with our Christmas Tree, I was less than enthused.

After all...

But after we had the tree all decorated with memories, because we only keep ornaments that have a story behind them, "Star" was the most beautiful tree I had ever seen! (Our tree was named "Star" by a unanimous vote, submitted by Kinzi)

To Thanksgiving...AND BEYOND!

2008-12-03T08:52:00.006-06:00

Young Family Reunion '08 Rules!!! Thanks for coming to our home and sharing your love and laughter. Families are Forever!

Halloween!

2008-11-02T09:50:00.004-06:00

little jumper

2008-11-02T09:45:00.001-06:00

All Hallow's Eve 2008

2008-10-27T17:52:00.001-05:00

Mayo the force be with you.

Happy Kids

2008-10-20T13:21:00.004-05:00

When childhood inevitably comes to an end, I hope that my children will have memories more sweet than bitter, more happy than sad, more love than contention, more peace than stress, more faith than fear. Both Tyson and I were given the gift of a happy childhood, and it has made all the difference. Thanks be to good parents everywhere! You are loved! You are needed!

30, Flirty, and Thriving

2008-10-19T20:49:00.002-05:00

We like to party, party (to the tune of Madagascar's "Move It, Move It")! So we ordered 19 pizzas. We had loud horns and silly string and confetti. When Tyson came in, he was blasted from every angle as we all sang a booming chorus of Happy Birthday. We danced under the direction of the wonderful brother and sister Graham. We ate carrott cake. We enjoyed eachother's company until late in the night. We all love Tyson so much and are glad he was born.

Aunt Chrisine's Wonderful Weekend

2008-10-01T09:56:00.005-05:00

Christine brought the sunshine from Arizona on her visit last weekend. We went apple picking, swimming, out to lunch at Noodles and Co., and to the Women's conference. We shopped the clearance rack at Target and got some sweet shirts for $1.98! We stayed up late playing Quiddler, drinking Fresca and eating Bar-B-que kettle chips. We played games with the kids until they were worn out (which is pretty hard to do). And, as Tyson told me later, Kinzi and Buzz and Ezra HOWLED after we left for the airport. Howling is worse than just crying. We love you Christine! Thanks for your love and support and sweet thoughtfulness. You are our sunshine!

fallin' off the pumpkin

2008-09-29T18:42:00.001-05:00

Sock Puppets, The Circus, and other Teeples family Projects

2008-09-15T20:07:00.006-05:00

Okay, let's see what we've got here. So our family spent FHE a few weeeks ago making some sweet sock puppets. They turned out better than expected, and we have been "acting" out scipture stories and "singing" with our puppets during our nightly devotionals. Buzz made himself a super-hero mask out of two pony tails and some blue tape--which screams of his Young genes. Kinzi loves to jump rope and Ez loves to watch her. I got a cute invitation for a circus happening in my own back yard; Kinzi, Buzz, friends Abigail, Hyrum, Lauyrn, and Kate all participated. Talents such as Tarazan swinging, rope climbing, trapeze flipping, trampoline jumping and the like were showcased. The marble tower returned! Last time we had this toy out Buzz cracked his head open on the chair he was standing on as he fell in an attempt to reach the tallest marble insertion point. A sample of the tomatoes that came from our garden that eventually were canned into spaghetti sauce and our house still smells like Papa Johns! Of course, Kinzi's first day of 2nd grade. And the kids collecting small yellow flowers and getting stung by stinging nettle at the ward campout! I think that about sums up the happs.

46,000 pound steam engine

2008-09-14T10:43:00.011-05:00

trip up north

2008-09-11T18:34:00.004-05:00

future jack-o-lanterns

2008-08-31T08:02:00.001-05:00

Summer Time

2008-08-31T07:59:00.002-05:00

The Kruckenberg's!

2008-08-28T11:00:00.005-05:00

How wonderful it is to have friends! We love friends!

Yep. Buzz is a ninja.

2008-08-18T20:42:00.003-05:00

So one day he said to the neighbor kids: "True or False: I am a super hero." "Nope," came the reply. "Actually, you're wrong, I really am."

I bought this thing for the kids...

2008-08-17T20:48:00.001-05:00

Nauvoo!

2008-08-11T16:52:00.004-05:00

Wow! Nauvoo is something that everybody should experience in their lives! We are so proud to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are better people because of this place and these people who were our forebearers. Direct ancestors or not, the pioneer legacy is a legacy for everyone! Hurray for prophets! Hurray for temples and covenants! Hurray for courage and for faith!

2008-08-11T16:41:00.002-05:00

It was one of the hottest days of the summer. Humid. Barely a breeze. Sweat. So we decided to go to Sam's and buy a trampoline and set it up! When I say we, I do mean Tyson. I stayed inside and sipped Lemonade. But we all love it and it seems to stay occupied. It also makes a great workout for moms.

Safely Gathered In

2008-08-11T16:33:00.003-05:00

Oftentimes, before I go to bed, I lean in close to Tyson and ask him to tell me nice things about myself. On this particular night, the night that we sealed our 25 bags of hard white wheat into our buckets, Tyson said: "I love how excited you get about food storage!" Well, not the best compliment I ever recieved, but I took it with a smile. I do love food storage, and it does make me happy. Sooooooo happy.

Uncle Scott Comes to Visit

2008-08-11T16:14:00.003-05:00

It was so fun to have my little brother Scott come visit us! Buzz kept calling him "Scotty Wotty Potty" after an old nick name he used to have, but we decided that probably wasn't a nick name for a nephew to call his uncle, so Buzz called him the "Gingerbread Boy" instead (another family joke). Sometimes it's hard to have any pride when you belong to a family that dwells on silly and terrible and embarrasing things that happen to you. What can you do? Laugh, I guess!
We ran and biked on the Douglas Trail, toured Mayo, caught fireflies, had water fights, fed the ducks, and of course played some mean games of Touche'. Touche', for those of you who don't know, is basically fancy ninja sword fighting with swimming pool noodles. It's a lot of fun, and fun is GOOD!

FRISBEE WITH A FRIEND

2008-08-10T17:28:00.001-05:00

Family Vacation to Idaho!

2008-07-20T15:14:00.001-05:00

2008-07-19T11:05:00.001-05:00

Tyson builds a Fire Pit

2008-07-04T21:22:00.001-05:00

happy 4th

2008-07-04T21:07:00.001-05:00

2008-06-22T11:01:00.002-05:00

Corny

cowboy up.

2008-06-22T10:23:00.007-05:00

Yesterday we went horseback riding! Buzz road with me and Kazoo got her own! She looked so little on that big horse named Rowdy! We had a trail dinner at the top of the hill that tasted so good! On the way down Rowdy started to trot and Kazoo bounced right off, but she held the reigns tightly, did a tarzan yell as she swung around the front of the horse and then let go, doing a gymnast's landing out of harm's way. Then she got up, dusted herself off, and jumped right back on! Buzz spent his time looking for Bigfoot in the forest and asking the cowboy trail leader if there were lots of monkeys in the trees. He pretended he was a Jedi on a ton-ton. Natalie whooped and hollered with glee every time her horse would trot or jump over a stream. She was definately the giddyest-up cowgirl this side of Cheyenne! We had a great time!

The Marvelous Month of May

2008-06-19T17:42:00.002-05:00

The month of May was, as Isaac would put it, fa-fa-fabulous! The sun finally started to shine and the kids could run and play outside with our friends and neighbors. Cinco de Mayo was exciting. Kinzi and I made earrings out of sunflower seeds, red paint, and embrodery thread. I taught her class the Mexican hat dance and we made mini pinatas. Buzz is always wearing some super hero outfit, night and day. Sometimes he won't change for weeks at a time. Ezra chases birds. McKinzi was my super helper for Lorinda's baby shower, serving all the guests punch and then cleaning up after them. We had a lot of fun and I was able to express publibly in front of all my friends what a special and wonderful daughter I have. Both Kinzi and I weeped! I used sister-in-law's fun animal blanket design and it worked out just right! And yes, this is actually Natalie posting on our Teeples family blog. First time ever! It's not so bad.

Natalie's Travels

2008-06-19T17:15:00.003-05:00

sheepish

2008-05-20T18:37:00.000-05:00

2008-05-16T17:30:00.002-05:00

One time I super-glued a beard to my chin - it sure hurt coming off!!!

new 'do

2008-05-13T16:58:00.002-05:00

Sledding on Ice

2008-02-03T08:56:00.000-06:00

Nat's Christmas Gift

2008-01-04T20:00:00.000-06:00

I'd forgotten how much I love to draw - when Nat and the kids were in Seattle I spent my quiet evenings drawing pictures and listening to BYU devotional speeches - a few of them had the semblance of the kids so I gave them to Nat as a late Christmas gift. I think she liked them better than the fondue pot and bamboo spatula she opened on Christmas morning.

Tree Lighting...

2007-12-15T10:47:00.001-06:00

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Christmas Tree Hunting

2007-12-09T21:10:00.000-06:00

tree's goin' down.

tree's goin' up.

THE INCREDIBLES

2007-10-27T11:12:00.000-05:00

So we had a wild trunk-or-treat last night. And we were all decked out in red spandex. We had a great time! There were hundreds of people there; our ward is super active. There were a lot of fun costumes.

4 years old!

2007-09-29T21:59:00.001-05:00

Ezra Young Teeples

2007-09-25T21:04:00.001-05:00

It's hard to beleive our baby turned 8 months old yesterday! That's 2/3 of a year! I've never met a happier person in all my life. From the day he was born he's been so easy going and agreeable. At a time when our lives are so high-strung and stressful, it's nice to settle down and play with someone who loves you no matter what, always plays fair, smiles with a mere glance, and laughs when you bite him. When we wrestle, I tickle him with my head as he grapples for my ears. He wins when his little nails dig into my tender cartilaginous auditory appendiages and draw blood; while I win when he's tickled just enough that his laugh turns into a squak.

If he's anything like the other two, he should be sprouting teeth any time. Hair, however, will probably not be coming on-line until January or February...

mayo

2007-09-25T20:45:00.000-05:00

Mayo Clinic Rochester

Here are a few pictures of the Mayo Clinic. I've loved being here.

It's a big change from Harvard and Boston, and I can honestly say I love my job!

There's a monkey!

2007-09-23T19:13:00.000-05:00

Our neighbors were playing "chase the monkey" with their dad and I got an idea.

I've never made so many kids cry by any other way than by donning my gorilla suit.

Never fails.

Peas in a pod

2007-09-23T17:28:00.001-05:00

One of my greatest blessings is that my two oldest children are such best friends. They self enterain each other for hours on end. They teach, help, love and serve each other. They are loyal, fiercely, to each other. One night I tackled Kazoo and tickled her vigorously. The next thing I realized Buzz was running down the hall yelling kamakazi-style headed straight for me with fire in his eyes and a baseball bat poised over his head in striking possition! A wild wrestling match ensued...

the Dave-Set

2007-09-23T17:02:00.001-05:00

The word 'swing-set' didn't quite cut it. Nat's dad, Dave, drove 2000 miles with this tools and helped us build the coolest play-set imaginable. We dreamed, designed, sketched, found lumber, cut the trees, hauled the logs, and constructed the funnest backyard ever!

Start at the beginning

2007-09-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

Natalie and I were married after meeting on the Ricks College cross-country team.

I would truly be lost without my exquisitely delicate, elegantly beautiful, romantically attractive, unusually clever, dashingly gorgeous, abundantly gifted, amazingly gentle, astonishingly brilliant, surprisingly good, particularly pretty, hilariously humorous, greatly devoted, exceptionally talented, extraordinarily spiritual, extremely involved, enormously entertaining, and tremendously happy woman!

Each day I realize my life is blessed because of Natalie and the way she lives her life.