Fiasco in the Kitchen

Sunday dinner. I loved it growing up in my mom's home. I was excited to get married and have someone to cook a good meal for on Sundays. Today, I attempted something not so difficult but still scrumptious, and it turned into a fiasco.

It started with splattering cooking oil, EVERYWHERE. On my hands and up my arms, now blistering. On my kitchen floor, which is where I slipped and ended up on my rear end. Does being pregnant make you more of a klutz? Let's not mention clean up, it will just make me more tired.

Turns out Chad does not really like scones and honeybutter anyway.

Family,Conference and Easter

This past weekend, we had an opportunity to attend the Saturday afternoon session of conference. It was so spiritual and uplifting. What a great way to spend an Easter weekend. Thanks Adam for hooking us up!

Following the session, we met up with Chad's family in SLC to celebrate as his younger brother was set apart as an elder. As I sat there with the family gathered at Grandma and Grandpa Barton's, I could not help but think how lucky I am to have both sides of my family so strong in the gospel. It was cool to see so many men in the Barton family stand in the circle for Tyler. They are a great family and I am so blessed to be a part of them.
Next weekend, my oldest nephew Canyen is being baptised. I cannot believe he is that old! My younger brother Connor is going to be doing the baptism. They have such a special relationship and I am so excited for both Connor and Canyen. Also, next weekend Cody will be blessing my newest nephew Porter. With this generation of grandkids that is coming into my family, it has been difficult at times to narrow down the priesthood holders who will be standing in the circle because we have so many willing and able men who share their preisthoold blessings.

I felt like this conference focused a lot on families and parenting. That could be just because this is the phase Chad and I are entering in life, so that is what caught my attention. Not going to lie, there are a lot of things that scare me about bringing a baby into this world. But I get so much comfort and relief knowing that Chad and I both have strong, awesome families to back us up!

This next week is my spring break. Kind of bad timing, cause chad is so busy getting ready for finals and finishing (and, let's be honest...starting!) projects. I don't really have any plans besides cleaning and housekeeping and maybe some yard work if the sun ever decides to come out this spring. I am going to be one bored and lonely Mandi, so please call me and we can hang out!

Drumroll please....

Because Chad and I both come from small towns, and mothers who like to talk, you may already know this but I guess we should make it official....

drumroll please...

WE ARE HAVING A BABY!

I am 13 weeks along, due September 26 (Chad's birthday). We had a dr. appointment last Friday and got to hear the heartbeat. What an experience that is! I have been feeling pretty good. Yes...tired, nauseous, and hungry ALL the time. But I am functioning just fine and can't complain.

Chad and I are so excited. I cannot believe we have been given this opportunity. We feel so blessed and...well...excited! Chad has been singing me this song. Because of that, and the fact that is might be the most awkward song ever written, I have posted it here for you all. Also, we really like Glee!

Tune-in

Those of you who know me well, know that I am kind of a music junkie. I always like to have music playing whether I am in the car or cleaning the house or doing my hair. I LOVE my music! I sometimes think I was born in the wrong generation because I love the 70's and 80's, both soft rock and classic rock. Boston, Def Leopard, Styx, Journey, Tom Petty, Guess Who, Moody Blues, Neil Diamond, Air Supply, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Queen, and my list goes on and on! I listen to The Arrow 103.5 every morning on my way to work, and when they play a good song, it just sets me in the best mood! I heard Blue Oyster Cult with some cow bell the other day, and I could not help but smile :) A few weeks ago I was enjoying my music as I was browsing around youtube. I love to look for songs I have not heard in a while and just jam out on my couch with an after school snack. On this particular day, I came across Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. I started the song and my heart skipped a few beats because I absolutely LOVE this song! I started watching the video and I was just....taken back. This is the weirdest video I have ever seen. Take a look! If you have any idea what it is about besides strange glowing eyed men... please let me know!

Hypocrite

The title of this post is my confession to you all. I always look at the blog list on the side of my blog and the last dates that my friends have blogged, wishing you all would blog more so I had something to read while I sit on my couch and unwind from the day! Then I looked at the last time I blogged... ummmm... hypocrite! In my defense, not much has been going on lately.

My cousin Kelsey and I have been crafting. I have made a new bag for my school books, and painted some blocks to go on top of my piano. Maybe I will get some pics sometime.

We had a rockin super bowl party. I meant to get pictures of that too, but I was too busy eating and chatting to take any! We had the house decked out in blue and white. Chad came home from school one day to give me my very own Colts t-shirt. Although the game did not turn out as we had hoped, it was a great party anyway.

We spent the lasts few days visitng my family in Gunnison. We celebrated birthdays for my Dad, nephew Dillon, and Grandma Delma. I love them all so much and wish the happiest of birthdays.

Tomorrow we are going to meet our newest nephew... Tatum Tyrell Philpott! We are so excited for Tarrin and Tyrell and the new addition to their family. They are some of the coolest people I know, and great parents to boot. Congrats to the Philpotts!

Chad and I have decided to post-pone our Valentines til next week this year. We hae had a lot of family stuff going on this week, and what is the difference between Feb. 14 and Feb. 20?! We love each other either day!

Right now I am watching the olympics. I just finished the men's moguls. I have no idea what is going on in that sport (which is how it is for most olympic sports for me), but I just get so into it! I love team USA! I love Bob Costas! I even love Canada! I love that for the next two weeks, there with always be something worth watching on TV. I love the unity that comes with the olympics. I love it all! GO TEAM USA! I am now going to watch the movie "Miracle" to go along with the olympic spirit, along with a bowl of raspberry sherbet because I love that too!

There you have it... my update. Now, to all you bloggers out there, keep blogging! Not for yourself, but for all those like me, who care about you and what you are doing, or just need something to read while we unwind!

The Break...

Christmas break has be absolutely FABULOUS! We started the break by driving to Powell to spend Christmas with Chad's family. We left on Wednesday, and were lucky enough to spend 6 days there. It was such a great Christmas. It was the first Christmas I have ever spent away from my family, which was sad for me. But if I must be away, there is no one else I would rather spend it with than with Chad's family. We had a great week playing games, Super Mario, and eating like there was no tomorrow! Thanks Barton family for making our Christmas so enjoyable!


This is all the boys, and then Chad and I, in our Christmas Eve pajamas.

We were totally spoiled this Christmas. Chad bought me an elliptical. I absolutely love it! So, if you could all do me a favor... next time you see me ask me if I have been working out, and I will be able to say YES! Chad's parents gave us a wii, and we are having so much fun with it! Chad has always been a gamer, and I think I am going to walk into his web with this wii. Chad got a couple video games and some more Colts memorabilia. His dream is to someday have an entire room dedicated to the football team. My parents gave us a super cute ottoman. It goes so well with our older than the hills floral velvet couch, don't you think?!



After a long drive home, we had to shovel the driveway before we could pull in the car. Then we relaxed for a few days. I probably laid around too much, but it was just so great! I had this whole list of things to do during the holidays, but nothing got done, and I am ok with that! We spent New Years Eve with Nikki, Blake, Meggan and Kade. We ate the largest pizza I have every seen at Pirate Island. Chad and I decided to embrace life and sing some kareoke, "Don't Stop Believin'". After watching the video Blake took, I cannot believe I did that! I would post the video, but I am much to embarassed, so you just get to see a snapshot!


On New Year's Day, I went to Gunnison to spend the day with my family. They are so great and I always enjoy just sitting around and talking with my mom. I helped Connor write a paper for a scholarship application. I cannot believe he is 18 and getting ready to graduate. We had a panini party and spent some time with my grandparents and some of my cousins. It was not a really eventful day, but as chubby little Russell from "Up" (one of my new favorite movies) would say, "It sounds really boring, but sometimes it's the boring stuff I think I remember most". I hope you all had some time to enjoy the "boring" stuff this holiday season!

School starts for me tomorrow and for Chad in a couple days. I will be back at night classes and continuing working towards the Master's degree. And...Chad started a new job just before we left for the break! Yay! No more water delivery boy! I am so proud of him. He will be working at UVU with the same networking stuff he wants to do in his career, so it is a perfect job for him and a great opportunity. We will both hit the ground running next week, and will suffer in the first few days because of our laziness during the break. So wish us luck!

Happy Holidays and Merry Wishes!

Happy Holidays everyone! I have not blogged in a while, so I thought I would share with you some of my favorite things about Christmas!

1. Christmas Tree/Christmas Decorations. I love to decorate for Christmas. This is the first year of my entire life that I have not decorated a real tree. We found a fake tree in the treasure cove that is our basement and the land lord said we could use it. It will suffice this year. I wish that I could just walk into Tai Pan and buy the entire store at Christmas time, but I love the things that I do have!
2. Lights. Saddly, we do not have any lights up outside our house this year. It snowed before we got a chance to put any up. And we are going to be out of town for half of the month, so we decided not to stress out about it. But, I put more than enought lights on our Christmas tree to make up for it! Also, my mother-in-law gave me these cute glass blocks with a nativity sillouete on it that light up. I love to turn on the glass blocks and the lights on the tree and just sit on the couch and soak in the atmosphere.
3. The smells. I bought a new Christmas scent for my Scentsy, and mmmmm... it is so good! Plus, double bonus, the light from the Scentsy adds to the great atmosphere provided by the Christmas decorations!
4. Christmas Books. Every year my principal does a Christmas Book Share. I LOVE it. All the stories are so fun. My favorite this year, The Elf on the Shelf. At school, I wrap all my Christmas books and each day that the students behave well, one of them gets to open the book and I read it to them. And don't tell my students this, but I am pretty sure I read the book everyday no matter how badly they behave because I just want to read them! I think that not reading the book is more a punishment for me than it is for them! It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions and one that I cannot wait to share with my own kids someday.
5. Christmas Food. Cider, Hot Chocolate, Sugar Cookies, Peppermints and everything peppermint flavored, Gingerbread Houses, Red & Green layered jello, orange rolls, anything my mom makes on Christams morning, and best of all Egg Nog.
6. Snow. I hate commuting in the snow, but I love scarfs, gloves and wool coats. I even shoveled the drivway last week, and did not hate it!
7. Family. What would Christmas be without great families to share it with.
8. Cheer. I love that everyone around me is all cheerful. Everyone is serving, giving, and just generally cheerful. I love that Christmas makes neighbors become friends.
9. Gift Giving. I love making cute things to give my loved ones or shopping for just the perfect thing. And best of all, I love watching in anticipation as they open the gift I have thought about for so long. Not going to lie, I am a little dissapointed in my gift giving this year. Chad has figured out all my secrets, the little snoop!
10. Saying "Happy Holidays". In high school I worked at this little fast food place in Gunnison. I knew almost everyone that came in. Once December came around, everyone that came to the drive in got a "Happy Holidays" from me. It just makes everyone smile. It is so much more fun to say than a boring old "Hello" or "Have a nice day". So to everyone who takes the time to read my blog, Happy Holidays!

I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy the Holiday spirit this season. Take it all in cause it only lasts a month!