Two Seven

I don’t remember how I happened upon this song, but I've loved it ever since. It reminds me of my sweet Peter and my little Emery. At the same time. Kind of weird, but whatever. 

Anyway...speaking of Peter...today is his 27th birthday! His birthday parties have a history in our marriage of being pretty lame. I’ve usually exhausted all my gift ideas and given him all his favorite treats for Christmas, so once January 8^th rolls around, there just isn’t a lot of life left in our celebration. I keep telling him we should celebrate his half birthday, in July; that way I’d have 6 months to think of fun ideas.

Anyhow, this year, like most years, was pretty low key. We had a couple friends over for dinner, apple crisp, and ice cream. Pete’s back to school again tomorrow morning, so it is kind of nice to have this last day of celebration before he hits the books again.

Pete was really worried about the candles melting and getting wax in his beloved apple crisp...so into the ice cream carton they went.  (I believe Emery is practicing opening wide for the day she goes to the dentist)

Eating with our friends, ChrisP and Dan-Ness (those are Pete's nicknames for them, anyway). They are currently wife-less as their other halves are still in Utah for a few more days.

blowing out our creative "27" candles

Happy Birthday Peter! Hope your 27^th year is as wonderful as you are! 

that's REALLY wonderful...in case you were wondering :)

Happy Birthday Quentin!

My younger-but-taller brother Quentin is 15 today!
When I think about Quentin, I just automatically think "cool."
I mean, with a nickname like "Q-man," who can deny the coolness?
I'm surprised we share similar genetics.

Left to Right: Quentin, Mallory, Steph, Nate, Wyatt

Q has tons of really awesome qualities. First of all, he is a really hard worker. From the time he was just a little tike, he was spending hours in the driveway daily playing basketball, perfecting his moves and shot. He also works hard to keep his things clean, nice, and organized--he regularly and meticulously cleans his room and even his shoes. He is a multi-talented kid---he bakes, cooks, runs fast, plays basketball, and grows apricot and avocado trees. He is persistent and patient (I wouldn't be willing to save an avocado pit for months in the fridge, plant it, and wait for it to grow).

This is kinda what his avocado tree looks like

My favorite things about Q are how relaxed and non-dramatic he is and what a persistent hard-worker he is. I love remembering him as a little boy rarely seen without some sort of ball in his hand. I'm sort of in denial that he's in high school and growing up so fast. In fact, I don't really have any recent pictures of him, so this is all you get...

This was a looong time ago at the Catherine Creek 5k. Long gone are the days when I could out-run him.

Running fast at a Middle School meet

Another thing I notice about Quentin is that he's really nice and loving towards little Nate---he tolerates the 4 year old's whining much better than I do. Nate appreciates it enough that when he was younger, he put forth significant effort to say "Q" (a long, drawn out "cuuuhheeeww"), whereas "Eric" merited a one-syllable "Urk." Kinda funny.(Not that Eric was really mean or anything, though...Quentin was just special I guess).

Little Q and Little Nate

July (?) 2010

Happy Birthday Quentin! 

Hope you have a good one :)

Happy 26th Birthday Peter!

A couple days ago, I said to Pete: "What if our baby girl looks like you?"
His response was a horrified noise that sounded something like "Behhhhh."
I think he must have been picturing a baby girl with a scruffy beard or something---clearly, he wasn't thinking of how cute he was as a tiny little one:

One of the things I like most about Peter is simply that he’s kind. He has true compassion for others and a caring nature devoid of guile. In the two-and-a-half years we’ve been married, I am overwhelmed by how much love he shows me in small, everyday actions and how much I have to learn from him.

If my life were a movie, the only parts worth watching twice would be the parts Pete’s in. Once he comes onto the screen for the first time, the narrator would say (cheesy) things like:

“And then she met Peter.”

“They had so much fun doing absolutely nothing.”

“They married young and then grew up together.”

“She didn’t know life could be so good…and then it just kept getting better.”

I love Pete because our hearts our similar. I love him because he’s different, he’s weird, and he’s funny in a way that makes me laugh every day. I'm so excited for the wonderful things that are ahead of him in life (fatherhood, Physical Therapy school, continuing to be an awesome husband, etc.) and to see the way he continues to use and develop his talents.

On Pete's birthday, I also tend to think of his wonderful mother (after all, she's the one who gave birth to him!). I am so grateful for the way Pete was raised. I know much of his character and much of what I love about him is attributable to his wonderful mother and father and I love them too!

Happy 26th Birthday Peter!!

Thanks for making my life beautiful :)

Happy Birthday Ashley!

How fun to have a birthday on New Year's Day! 

It's currently a 20 degree winter wonderland outside. But when I think about Ashley, I think of beautiful, blue-skied, sunny spring days like this:

Last Spring was when I really started to get to know Ashley. Pete and his younger brother Brian (now Ashley's husband) graduated together and consequently, Ashley and I spent many hours sitting through graduation ceremonies talking and getting to know each other better. We also went running together, had a tennis triple date (Ash & Brian, me & Pete, Johnny & Lisa--Ash's brother and his wife), and had fun Cousin Dinner's at Aunt Dot's house and Uncle Dinners at Hendricks! 

When I am with Ashley, I instantly feel at ease. She is an incredible communicator and has a gift of making those she interacts with feel special and important. I love her easy going nature, her laugh, and the un-worldly way she lives her life. She is beautiful inside and out and a wonderful example to me! 

Happy 22 Ash!

You're definitely awesome enough to have the world counting down the seconds 'til your birthday :)

Happy Birthday Hannah Z!

 While composing this post, I've been inspired to know that I am definitely NOT a poet.

 Try to not let this fact distract you from the cute birthday girl :)

What I Like About Hannah

Little Hannah Z. is a wonderful girl,

A four foot ballerina--she can dance and she can twirl.

She's crafty and creative, spunky and bright;

endowed with her own radiant, special kind of light.

She's big sister to two brothers, the oldest of three.

To have a little girl like her would really excite me!

She's turning ten years old this year, she's well on her way 

 to becoming a beautiful, elegant young lady.

And now I'm almost finished--just one last thing to say--

Hannah, I hope you have a super-duper-special-awesome birthday!

Happy Birthday Hilary and Todd!

Because their birthdays are so close together, Pete and I (that's right---Pete is doing this post with me!) decided we would combine their birthday posts. This worked out great, since as we pondered what we like about Pete's oldest sister, Hilary, and her husband, Todd, we found that much was neglected if we did not relate what a great team they make together.

Then and Now :)

(http://suzetteandersonphotography.com/)

Pete and I love watching Hilary and Todd together. They complement each other perfectly and are so kind to one another. They have been great examples for Pete and I! We especially admire their communication not only with one another but also with their children. One of our favorites is
Todd: “Asher, are you making good choices?”

Whether it’s their children’s ballet, piano, singing, soccer, or scripture recitation, the expression on Hilary’s face during these moments is what Pete describes as “the definition of pure joy.” Seeing Hilary’s pride in her children’s accomplishments makes us so excited to have children of our own and experience that too. I’m amazed at how much Hilary does—being a mom, a wife, fulfilling her church calling, and doing editing work seem each like such huge jobs (I’m still just working on trying to get the “wife” role down). She is so capable, smart, and a good example of an educated mother.

Going to the Hendricks house for Sunday dinners is always a refreshing experience. First because their house is always cleaner than Pete and I can even fathom in the nasty-BYU-apartment stage of life we are in right now, and second, because it’s so fun to be with a “real” family (more than just the two-and-a-half of us).

One thing that has impressed Pete over the years is Todd’s love for Hilary and the hardwork he does for his family. He also enjoys the occasional work lunches they eat together. I feel simultaneously inspired and guilty by Todd’s intense marathoning and fitness endeavors. I also love his honesty and bluntness. Rather than put up pretenses, I appreciate that Todd “says it like it is.” He is also very kind and makes us feel welcome in his home.

Thanks Hilary and Todd for being the wonderful people you are! We love you and hope you each have great birthdays. Here's something that might help with that endeavor... :)

              

Happy Birthday Hailey!

(Hannah, Hailey, Heidi)

My sister in law, Hailey, is one of the most pure, kind-hearted girls I know. My favorite things about Hailey are her cute laugh and her love of animals (especially kittens). I also love watching her interact with her little nieces and nephews. When I look at pictures of Hailey, I can’t help but smile.

Hailey is also very creative. Shortly after Pete and I got married, she made us a big binder with a few scrapbooked pictures of me and Pete---I was impressed with how well she made the pages! The binder sits on our bookshelf in our living room and has become a place where we store recipes, favorite church talks, and FHE lessons. We refer to it often and I think of sweet Hailey every time I pull it off the shelf.


I’m glad you were born Hailey! Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks!

Happy Birthday John B!

(John at Medical School in Vermont)

Once upon a time, me and my brother-in-law, John, became quite adept at "pushing each other's buttons." I'm not sure how it evolved...I guess it just came natural. Then one summer we found ourselves job-less and bored in the same city.

Hence, we bonded.

First we realized that we had some similar qualities, one of those being that we each just tend to think we're right. And sometimes our "right" ideas happen to be opposites.

So...now we have a point system based on who is right (usually according to the authority of google) and can respectfully disagree with one another :)

Here are some of my favorite things about John B:

The first time I met him, Pete had just picked me up for a date and we were at his apartment, standing in the kitchen. All of a sudden, a guy that looks a lot like Pete that I had never met before (John) enters the apartment, exuberantly says "hi Stephanie!" and before I know what's happening, gives me a big hug. To me, this is the perfect example of John's warm personality and his caring nature.

Another thing I love about John is that he's never too busy to gmail chat with my 9 year old little brother, Wyatt. This summer when my family was visiting Provo, John took time from his busy schedule to hang out with Wyatt; The two went to the BYU bookstore, the Provo Bakery, etc. Needless to say, Wyatt pretty much thinks John B is the coolest person on the planet.


I like that John is so adventurous but smart and safe. He took me on lots of hiking trips and helped me get into better shape even though he had to physically push me up the mountain sometimes (Refer to this post). He also showed me an awesome "pondering spot," cooked food with me, and has made awesome pizza on more than one occasion.



When I think of my BYU school years, I will probably remember eating lunch in the Cougareat with Pete and John and sometimes other Hoyt boys, having awesome discussions about life and the things we were learning. Hanging out with John B is like finally having an older brother :)

Happy Birthday John!
Hope it's a good one!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

(photo by Nicole Guidry-Medcalf)

In a nutshell: She plays the guitar, runs, sings like an angel, throws a football better than I can even hope to, and turns 18 years old today!

Seriously…check out how hard core this girl is :)



I can’t believe that Hannah is 18! And by that, I mean, only 18. She is so mature and real. I think that once my maturity level reaches Hannah’s, I’ll be doing pretty well in life.

I love her quiet strength, her easy-going and fun-loving attitude, her creativity, and her eyes (especially the one with the cool brown fleck in it).

(photo by Nicole Guidry-Medcalf)

Fun times with Hannah include running around “the block” together in beautiful Washington, playing kickball in the front yard, searching all over Bellingham for chalkboard paint, and hanging out in Utah running, shopping, and making cupcakes. Hannah is always up for anything. If I say something random in my nerdy way, like "Oh my gosh, that rock candy matches you! let me take a picture," she runs with it:



The other day, I felt so grateful for life and realized that happiness is not an event that simply happens. Rather, It’s the sum total of consistently making correct choices. I love how Hannah lives her life and the choices she makes. I think she has so many beautiful and happy years ahead! You’re awesome Hannah!

(photo by Rachel Tomco)