Biggest Birthday Shout Out of All!

I was trying to think of a surprise for Erin's birthday today and decided that nothing would make her happier or surprise her more than me posting something on here. She tells me often of how this is like keeping a journal and it will be good for our posterity to be able to look at. I believe her, but I definitely have not been blessed with the talent of writing and have never enjoyed it very much. I will do it for her birthday though, because I love her. She tagged me a couple of posts ago, so I guess I can just go with that.

1. If every job paid $50,000 a year, and you had no physical or mental limitation, what would you do?

This is an easy one because I am already doing it (not being a student while my wife pays for everything). I mean becoming a doctor. I am excited to get out into the clinics and hospitals and to start interacting with patients someday.

2. What is your current calling? What do you like about it? What have some of your other callings been?

Right now I am the ward clerk and I like being behind the scenes, but still getting to see the work that goes into running a ward. There are a lot of good people who serve and care a lot. In the past I have had callings in the Elder's quorum, sunday school, nursery, and primary.

3. Name a person you regularly encounter (outside your family) who brightens your day.

There are too many to mention them all. I have made some great friends since moving out to Iowa for school. It is hard to sit in a little cubicle and study for hours on end, so I am glad they are there with me to make life bearable on the days before big tests.

4. In twenty years, what do you think you will miss most about your life now?

I talked about this with Erin, and I don't think I am one who looks back on life too much and misses things. There always seems to be something that replaces whatever it is that I would miss. I will probably miss the time I get to spend with Erin one-on-one though. It is good to be able to spend a lot of my free time with my best friend.

5. What's something you appreciate about your spouse?

Erin puts others before herself. She enjoys doing things for other people and looks for opportunities to serve. I also like how I can talk to her about anything that is on my mind and she listens to what I have to say.

6. What is your favorite routine, household chore?

Definitely scrubbing the toilet (just kidding for those of you who have read this far down). I guess I don't mind doing the dishes. I have never thought of any chore as my favorite. It is just which chore I dislike the least.

7. What's a book you return to occasionally (besides the scriptures)?

Les Miserables. It is a great book with a great moral to it. (I recommend the abridged version, the unabridged is 1300 pages and has large sections on things like the history of the sewer system in Paris. I wanted to read it just to say I did, but I enjoyed rereading the abridged version even more.)

8. Favorite small pleasure?

Ice cream. Without a doubt.

9. Favorite time of the day?

I like waking up and seeing Erin next to me in the morning. This rarely happens because even though we are both morning people, Erin is a 5:30am morning person, and I am more of a 6:30am morning person.

10. Name a person who performed what they thought was a small act of service, but ended up being a big deal to you.

I moved a few times as a kid, and the move to Blackfoot, ID when I was 12 was the hardest. I ended up making some of the best friends I could ever ask for, but it took awhile. Jason Kunz was one person who made an effort to be my friend from the start, and I always appreciated that.

11. Name someone who somehow changed your life.

Erin

12. Consider what you do each day. Think of one attribute or trait you bring to your daily work that is a strength--What is something you do really well?

Perseverance. It is hard being me, but somehow I make it through everyday. (That is meant to be facetious.)

Saved by Sister

-K-, I needed to make some photo pages of me and Matt, and I was having the hardest time ever. I seriously spent days agonizing over how to put them together. So I went to my sister (who make digital scrapbooking kits and has her own online store), and two days later she emailed me these. It totally made my day.
AMAZING, huh!? Now I get to do the journaling. Thanks, Amber!

Spotlight of the Week: Laura Williams

Brad and Laura Williams

This week's spotlight is Matt's little sister, Laura. Laura is obviously the most tolerant person I know. (Look at who her older brother is...think years and years of teasing and torturing.) Also, I'm sure you can tell by the picture how cute she is. She has flawless skin, hair, and nails, and has a great sense of fashion. Someday when I have money I'll have to hire Laura (and Ginny) to take care of my wardrobe. Laura's an amazing artist, great cosmetologist, and she sings and plays the flute well. She's also super nice and has a great attitude. When we were in Canada for vacation she didn't feel too well and threw up because she's pregnant, but she was always happy and didn't complain. Very impressive, I think.

What nicknames do you have?
1. Lola
2. Wawa
3. Lu

What are your three favorite things to do?
1. draw/paint
2. Wakeboard
3. Snowboard

What are you scared of?
1. Spiders
2. Public speaking
3. Calling people on the phone

How would other people describe you?
1. Pregnant
2. Fun
3. Tease

What are your favorite TV shows?
1. Prison Break
2. The Office
3. Lost

What are your life goals?
1. Be a mom and good wife
2. Get a college degree (even if it takes 20 years)
3. Get good enough at painting to be like Simon Dewey as an artist

If you could travel across the country in a car with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
I’m gonna have to say my sister-in-law Katie because she’s one of my best friends. She’s always patient and never gets frustrated even when things don’t go as planned and we just get along great and have fun together.

Birthday Shout Outs

My brother-in-law, Alec celebrates his birthday today.

My nephew, Rhys turns three on Sunday.
Matt's brother, Layne celebrates his birthday on Wednesday.
My niece, Brittany turns 18 on October 5. (I feel ancient! I am not old enough to have an 18 year old niece!)

Happy birthday Alec, Rhys, Layne, and Brittany!

I've Been Tagged

1. If every job paid $50,000 a year, and you had no physical or mental limitations, what would you do?
Guide hikers or bikers through the mountains, help coach a cross-country team, and travel the world doing charity work.

2. What is your current church calling? What do you like about it? What have some of your other callings been?
I teach primary and am the media relations specialist for the stake. I love teaching primary! The kids tell me about times they've had their prayers answered, and they seem to understand when certain topics are especially important. They also say the funniest things. Some other callings that I've liked were: Relief Society teacher, ward choir director, nursery leader, and assistant camp director in young women's.

3. Name a person you regularly encounter (outside your family) who brightens your day.
I don't regularly encounter them, but my friends from high school continue to brighten my day. I have many fun memories with Kim, Heidi, Carlia, and my other friends from Heber. Almost daily I think of something we did together, or something they said to me, and it makes me happy. It's exciting to see where they're at now—having babies or almost burning down apartments (not to name any names…but um, Heidi). :)

4. In twenty years, what do you think you will miss most about your life now?
I think I'll miss the alone time that Matt and I have now. I also think I'll miss the simplicity of our life. We have one car, one cell phone, and no house, internet, or cable. We don't own any movies, have yet to buy a piece of furniture, and we live off the cheapest food we can get. But I think I'll miss it all. I already miss the tiny apartment we lived in when we first married and had next to nothing.

5. What’s something you appreciate about your spouse?
I appreciate how happy Matt is, the fact that he never complains, and how he always thinks of me.

Example: At 6:00 a.m. yesterday while getting ready to go to the gym I asked Matt if he'd seen my ID card (that gets me into the gym).
Matt: "No." Erin: "Oh well, I bet it's in the car."
I finished getting ready, spotted the card in the bedroom, and headed out the door. There was Matt in the car. He'd gotten out of bed, dressed, and was in the car searching for my card. I thought it was the sweetest thing. (He's wrestling a gorilla in the picture.)

6. What is your favorite routine, household chore?
Vacuuming (It instantly makes everything look cleaner.)

7. What’s a book you return to occasionally (besides the scriptures)?
Charley, Twilight, Anne of Green Gables, the Ensign's conference issues, and President Hinckley's books

8. Favorite Small Pleasure?
Going on walks with Matt, getting $2 pizza and ice cream at Wal-mart on a Friday nights, and going on bike rides.

9. Favorite time of the day?
When I see Matt after we get done with work and school

10. Name a person who performed what they thought was a small act of service, but ended up being a big deal to you:
Melody Anderson became a great friend while I was in Hawaii. She made everything fun, and I don't know what I would have done without her.

11. Name someone who somehow changed your life:
Matt

12. Consider what you do each day. Think of one attribute or trait that you bring to your daily work that is a strength—what is something you do really well?
I think I'm a motivated person. I'm not too lazy and I find satisfaction completing tasks.

I tag: Amanda R., Nathalie B., Amber L., Heidi A., Kim B., Carlia B., Kamala S., Megan R., Robyn M., Kelly P., and Leslie Simmons, and Matthew Darren Pitcher (Yeah Matt, that's you. :))

My New Hairstyle

I have to post these pictures. I just saw them on my sister-in-laws Facebook page, and they are too funny.

~At the Pitcher Family Reunion ~

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Matt and I visualizing crossing the finish line before anyone else

The ultimate Amazon Woman's hairstyle

Spotlight of the Week: Ginny Peterson

Tyler, Ginny, and Maddie Peterson

This week's spotlight is Matt's sister, Ginny Peterson. Ginny is one of the nicest people I know. She's easy to talk to—anybody that knows her can't help but share all their deep dark secrets with her. She's got an amazing voice, plays the piano beautifully, and makes the best scrapbook pages I've ever seen. She made a scrapbook for Matt and me for our wedding, and I seriously want to frame every single page. One of my favorite things about Ginny is her laugh. She laughs really, really hard at the jokes on Laffy Taffy wrappers.

My nicknames are:
1. Tyler likes to call me Ginnypoo, which I'm not sure if I like
2. When my name comes up on caller IDs it says Virgin Peterson, so I get that one a little bit

My three favorite things to do are:
1. Have deep conversations with just about anyone
2. Scrapbook
3. Read

I am scared of:
1. Having someone break into my house, especially if I were there
2. Bats and mice (ask Matt)
3. Riding in cars with dangerous drivers

Other describe me as:
1. Happy
2. Fun-loving
3. Funny looking

My favorite TV shows are:
1. 24
2. Lost
3. House

My life goals are:
1. Become Christlike
2. Be a good mom
3. Be a good wife

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Saturday is my mom's birthday, and I have to say that she is the best mom and the most unselfish person I know. I've often thought about all that she's sacrificed for me and my brothers and sister. It humbles me to think of all the love she's shown us and the things she's given up for her family. Thank you, Mom!

She's always been a great example to me of one who is constantly giving Christ-like service. She's fun, friendly, and sometimes I thought my friends liked her more than me. At her work she sees lots of people from the community, and I'm always in awe how so many people will stop and chat with my mom like she's their best friend.

I think this poem perfectly describes my mom's life and her feelings about our family:

You are the trip I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.

(To My Child," quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)



We love you, Mom!

Thanks, Austin!

We love the Pluid's—some of our friends out here in Iowa. The last couple times they've come over to our place, their four-year-old son, Austin, brought us pictures that he'd colored. (We feel pretty special.)

Here's one of the artist's masterpieces. (Copyrighted by Austin, 2008)

THANK YOU, AUSTIN!

He's also a talented baker. (He's making donuts...what a cute little guy.)
And Matt, because I think he's cute, too.

(Does blogging about another person's kid mean we're a little obsessed with him?)

Tomato Pasta Recipe

I'm all about easy and cheap recipes. Here's one I got from a friend during a recipe exchange, and Matt and I love it.

Tomato Pasta
Amy Huff

• 28 oz. canned petite diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes)
• 4 to 6 cloves of garlic
• 2-4 T. olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• parmesan cheess
• about ½ lb. spaghetti
• fresh basil (optional)

1. Cook spaghetti.
2. Heat olive oil. Dice garlic, add to olive oil, and cook for a few minutes. Add tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Don't boil, but heat thoroughly. Tomatoes will break down, but should not dissolve completely.
3. When spaghetti is cooked and drained toss tomato sauce to coat spaghetti. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. If desired, garnish with fresh basil.

Update

Our favorite new treat:
These Skinny Cow ice cream bars only cost about 12 cents each, and each bar only has 50 calories and one gram of fat. Matt and I got these to satisfy our sweet tooth, and it'd probably be a good idea except we eat a million a day.


Matt's been:

• Busy studying for three tests, all within seven days of each other
• Finding out that we won't know where we're moving for his third year until at least mid January (We're hoping Ohio.)
• Doing lots of stuff for SOMA, the club he's in charge of

Erin's been:

• Working
• Loves teaching Turbo Kick
• Soaking up the good weather while it lasts
• Finishing up her Christmas shopping (I love the new outfit I'm getting—and I found everything on killer sales. How's that for the Christmas spirit?) :)
  What can I say? The life of a med student's wife is so hard! ;)

We're looking forward to:

• The ward campout this weekend
• Erin helping with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday
• Having a Little Caesar's in Des Moines now

Spotlight of the Week: Matt

This week's spotlight is my man, Matt. He's kind, thoughtful, patient, and always makes me laugh. He almost never gets upset or mad and is definitely a peacemaker. He knows I like more creative date nights and special things like that, and even though thinking of those things doesn't come naturally for him he puts a lot of effort into doing things like that for me.

For example, last year on my birthday he gave me different candies throughout the day with little notes attached about experiences he's looking forward to sharing with me during our lives. On a Snickers he wrote, "I'm looking forward to sharing lots of laughs with you." On a Sour Patch Kids he wrote, "I'm looking forward to being parents together someday." Etc., etc.

What nicknames do you have?
1. Matt
2. Pitch
3. Poky (They called me that in little league baseball during 7th grade because I was slow.)

What are your three favorite things to do?
1. Hang out with Erin
2. Spend time with family and friends
3. Play and watch sports

What are you scared of?
1. Anything bad happening to Erin
2. Not living up to my potential
3. When spiders are aggressive (Hobo spiders will run straight at you and that is scary.)

How would other people describe you?
1. Easy going
2. Happy
3. Reliable

What are your favorite TV shows?
1. The Office
2. Everybody loves Raymond
3. Arrested Development

What are your life goals?
1. Be a good husband
2. Be a good father (someday)
3. Be a good doctor

If you could travel across the country in a car with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
My lovely wife, Erin

Our Expert Advice

Last night while browsing the Ensign:
Erin: "Matt, check out this article, 'In our first six years of marriage, my husband and I moved five times, so we had a lot of practice getting to know people in each new ward...'" (The article shared ways to get involved in a new ward.)
Matt: "Hah! That's nothing. We moved six times in less than two years."
Erin: "I know, our advice would be so much better."

Since we've had some friends move recently, I thought I'd share our expert advice on how to get to know people in a new ward.

• On your first Sunday at church make sure your entire family sits on the stand—preferably where the bishopric usually sits.
• Whether or not it's Fast and Testimony Meeting, get up during the meeting and bear your testimony.
• Show off your musical skills by playing the organ during someone's talk. (It's okay if you don't know how to play, a little background noise is always good.)
• During Sunday School raise your hand and answer every single question. If the teacher doesn't call on you, bounce up and down in your seat and wave your arms frantically to get his or her attention.
• The article suggests paying your tithing the first Sunday you're at Church so you can meet the bishop. Matt and I feel a more effective way is to introduce yourself to him during sacrament meeting. (But if you take our first suggestion, you'll probably meet him before church even begins.)

So there you have it. Follow these five tips and everyone in your new ward will definitely know who you are. Anybody else have advice for my friends who've just moved? (P.S. I'm not trying to make fun of the Ensign's article in any way. It really was great.)

Doesn't Matt Know...

...it's not polite to laugh when he see's his wife talking to herself in the mirror?

Last week Matt was on the phone with Caleb. I don't remember what I was doing--probably cleaning up dinner--and I had to get something out of the bathroom closet. Soon afterward I glanced at Matt and he had this huge smile and it seemed like he was about to bust out laughing (I thought Caleb must have said something funny.).

Matt gets off the phone. I'm washing the dishes when he comes up to me and proudly announces:

"I saw you talking to yourself in the mirror." (Then Matt laughed a lot.)
"You said something and then you smiled and walked away." (More laughing from Matt)

Okay I admit it; I do talk to myself occasionally. I get it from my mom but she is way worse than I am. I should have thought to tell Matt, "Conversations I have with myself are so much more interesting than ones I have with you." (That's not true. Matt's a great conversationalist, but maybe it would have gotten him to stop laughing.)

I'm not sure why I'm posting this other than the fact that I don't know what else to blog about. Maybe my mirror-buddy will tell me later.

Pet Peeves

I used to think I didn't have any pet peeves, but I've decided I do. Here's some of them.

• When we get together with friends and everyone except one or two couples are medical students, and our husbands can't stop talking about school. Hello, that must make the non-students feel totally out of the loop. (Matt can attest to all the lectures I've given him.)
• When we're introducing ourselves at the beginning of Recipe Club and we're told to "say our name, what year our husband is in school, and if he's a DO, DPM, or law student, etc." This always bugs me a little because first of all, not everyone there is a spouse of a student. And secondly, are we saying that the most newsworthy facts about us are what our husbands are doing? Come on, let's have a little more respect for ourselves. Instead, I'd love to hear about what people are doing with their lives--whether they're working, going to school, raising a family, etc.
• People who stereotype Utah Mormons (actually people who stereotype anybody)
• People who brag about their "pioneer heritage" (Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that people are proud of their ancestors. But every once and a while someone acts like he or she is the greatest thing in the world because his or her great-great-whomever came across the plains. I want to say to them, "Just because your great-great-grandpa did something awesome, doesn't mean you have.)
• When we're driving and someone waits until the last possible moment, then crosses three lanes of traffic to take an exit (Matt can vouch for this one, too.)

These things do bug me a little but I can tolerate them, so don't worry. I'll still love you even if you cross three lanes of traffic while dissing Utah Mormons and bragging about your great-great-grandpa Smith as you're driving to Recipe Club, where you'll introduce yourself by only stating what your husband is doing and then go on to make all the non-students feel like losers because all you'll talk about is school.

Does anybody else get annoyed at little things like that, too?

Spotlight of the Week: Amber

I'm starting a Spotlight of the Week on my blog. (I stole the idea off one of my friend's blog. Thanks, Jamie.)

This Week's Spotlight is….
My sister, Amber Dawn LaBau. She's pretty amazing and is very talented. In fact, she's recently started her own online digital scrapbooking store, http://stolenmomentsdesign.blogspot.com/. Check it out; it's pretty cool.

What nicknames do you have?
1. AD
2. Louise
3. crazy

What are your three favorite things to do?
1. digital scrapbooking
2. window shop
3. hang out with my boys

What are you scared of?
1. things that go bump in the night
2. something happening to Alec
3. that I'll check on Ethan and he won't be breathing

How would other people describe you?
1. organized
2. OCD
3. quiet

What are your favorite TV shows?
1. CSI - not so much Miami
2. 24
3. Veronica Mars

What are your life goals?
1. raise a happy family
2. be a good mom
3. be someone my kids will call "friend"

If you could travel across the country in a car with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Alec

Cedar Rapids Service Project

Two Saturdays ago Matt and I (along with other Church members throughout Iowa) helped clean up homes in Cedar Rapids that had been damaged by the flooding this summer. It was a long, fun, icky day.

The first house we helped at.Matt's body got covered in cellulose insulation and plaster.
Dave Buffenbarger, Matt, and Eric Larsen attempted to clean up during lunch.
Aren't we so hott?
This is our group inside the second house. Here we stripped the plaster and tore out the insulation.

At the end of the day: Bruce, Dave Buffenbarger, Jake Thomas, Eric and Kristelle Larsen, and Matt and Erin outside the home. Notice the pile behind us; that's all stuff we pulled out of the home.