Yay for our toaster oven

OK, I've always been a believer in toaster ovens. No question there, they're great. When I moved out on my own, Josh used to come hang out after work & I'd make dinner for the both of us - usually something that worked perfectly in a toaster oven - like chicken & veggies - one pan kind of thing. So it made sense that 1 thing we kind of splurged on with our giftcards from Bed Bath & Beyond after the wedding was a higher quality toaster oven. It has a convection (no Kim, not confection - that's candy, silly), setting, can fit an entire 10" pizza (that's a bit tricky, but I've heard works really well if you remember to rotate it mid-way), toasts, bakes, broils, you name it you got it, right?

So here's the excitement. Back in the day I could've been the poster child for Bagel Bites. Pizza in the morning - check, pizza in the evening - check, pizza at suppertime - you get it. I have since married a guy who completely spoils me when it comes to meals, so I rarely resort to Bagel Bites. But today I had some in the freezer (oh yeah, thanks mom!) & Josh is gone. I already spent an early lunch break going for a run & I'm hungry, so I popped some in. Here's how it works - 13 min on the highest setting under the bake function at mom & dad's. Get this - 8 min in mine @ 400 on convection. Hell YES!

I say again, Yay for our toaster oven! Here's to money WELL spent! I will say also that I have some individual-portioned cookie dough in the freezer that works perfectly here as well, I may go for that later & embrace yet again the joy that is the toaster oven. Cheers!

What is this, a joke?

First off, my lack of posting isn't due to our inactivity, or even a lack of personal interest; Dana has been doing a perfectly adequate job of not only blogging about what we've up to, but reminding me that this whole thing was my idea. So it seems we've been horrifically busy since we've been married, which would only surprise me more if Dana and I weren't so totally awesome. Labor Day weekend we jammed back out to PHX with some of the fam for the blessing of The Trips. It was incredible, seriously incredible to be there and to be a part of that, I feel like it's such a huge blessing having them added to our expanding family.

The next day Jon, Dave and I met up with a group of guys Dave knows to play some paintball, it was pretty wicked fun and we did a good job of showing that we don't mess around. Interesting fact, as it turned out opening season for Dove started that same morning apparently, and the first location we showed up to play was soon filled with half drunk hillbillies wandering around firing bird-shot at anything that stirred up the brush, we ended up taking when the gunshots we're getting too frequent, and after Jon and Dave got shot, seriously (just not seriously). The last round we played was capture the flag, and you weren't out until you said you were, basically it's a toughness thing, and if the 90+ visible welts were any indicator, I'm a pretty tough dude. I wish I had gotten a picture of it because with my shirt off I looked like I was suffering from some bizarre disease. Other notable things that have happened in or around the last month. We learned that there is a very real difference between "Phantom" and "The Phantom of The Opera", mostly that Andrew Lloyd Weber used up every one of the good ideas that could be associated a play about "Opera's being invaded by a phantom!"; also that "Cats" is not a very good play unless you're super interested in any of the following things:

- Actual cats

- Local theatre

- The physiques of people that are involved in local theatre

- Said physiques stripped down to nothing but form fitting spandex

- ...and acting like cats.

So yeah, if that's what you're into do I have a treat for you, and if not I'm sure you could look up the songs "Memories" and "Mr. Mistoffelees" familiarize yourself with those two songs, learn the phrase "Jellicle cat" and imagine a theatre nerd dressed like catwomen, and you can pretty much say you've seen Cats...

No Jay Maynard did not actually make a guest appearance as the Rum Tum Tuggard, but you get the idea right?

I Love My Family!

I have officially started my marathon training - thanks to Kim. I love my sister (not so much waking up at 5am, but it sure is nice to have someone who's diong it with you).

This morning we went running & she ran to the store to pick up OJ & brought me back a bagel. In the meantime, Roman & Isaac woke up so I got hugs. But then I had to leave. Isaac said "Aww, does Dana have to leave?" and I said "Yes, I have to work." :( Then Roman asked if I would come back later. "Like when?" "I don't know, maybe this afternoon." Oh, I love my nephews! Unfortunately, I had to decline b/c today's Henry's day & I was going to grab groceries on the way home for dinner that was supposed to be at 6:30pm.

So I got back to work & called Josh about an hour later. He said he'd do the grocery shopping today so that I could hang out with my nephews. I love my husband!

And I got to play with legos after work today b/c my family loves me :)

We should go to the Temple more often if these are the kind of days you have afterwards! (We went last night for Ward Temple Night - loved it).