Guess Who....

Guess Who's coming to Boise for the Boise Music Festival in July....????

One of my FAVORITES.....Kellie Pickler!

I love love love her! I watched her on American Idol and was super bummed when she was voted off. I think she has an amazing voice, such a cute personality, and I love all her songs! I wasn't really excited about the other people coming with her...LL Cool J, Smash Mouth, and a few others, but when I found out she was coming I told Keith, "I have to go!" I'm also excited about newcomer Karmin performing too, she has a pretty good voice. I've never seen any of my favorite county stars in concert, Carrie, Taylor, Miranda, Kellie, Lady A, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Brad Paisley or Keith Urban. So I'm stoked to see Kellie.

And the best part about the music festival....IT'S FREE! How AWESOME is Boise?!!! July can't come sooner!

Just What I Needed

After a very difficult and draining weekend I didn't feel like doing much, even though it was a nice day it still didn't help the way I was feeling. Keith insisted going out even if it was just to the park would help us feel better. So we drove downtown and into the North End to one of my favorite parks- Camel's Back. Growing up we came to this park all the time because there was like one park in Eagle and it was pretty lame, but Sunset and Camel's Back were our go to parks. Camel's Back holds a lot of memories, even though it has changed somewhat I can still picture in my mind what it used to look like and the fun times we had here almost every week in the summer growing up. The three of us played for awhile, Keith and I watched Carson all giddy with excitement run around and explore. After awhile I decided to take a hike to the top of the hill while Keith stayed with Carson. Once I got to the top I hiked the trails in back for a bit, taking in the beauty of Boise, the foothills, the trees, and the sunset. Oh it was just what I needed. What I was feeling all went away and a peace came, it was so nice to just look at the view and think of all my blessings, Keith and Carson being what makes me happy, and just thinking about life and why certain things happen and what God is trying to have me learn through all of it. Sometimes nature is the best therapy.

                                This is why it's called "the city of trees."

A Day Downtown

Keith had Friday off work so we spent the day downtown with some of my family. We went out to an Italian Restaurant with my brother, sister (and her daughter), and my mom. Afterwards we took a little walk along the greenbelt that goes right through Boise (it's definitely one of my favorite things about Boise and one of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice) Carson didn't like being in his stroller for long, he wanted out and wanted to walk! He loved exploring and was laughing and giddy the whole time he was walking, it was soo cute! Keith said, "you know who he looks like when he walks, Paul Walker," so we nicknamed him PW. haha It was such and ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS day. Later that night we went over to my mom's for some homemade Chinese, my bro-in-law really knows how to cook some good chinese food!

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous too! We headed over to my sisters house to hang out for the day. We went on a walk to the nearby elementary school and just let the kids play. Afterwards the boys grilled up some mean hamburgers for us while Nikki and I made some very addicting Turtle Cheesecake Bars...probably our favorite thing to do when we get together is to try new recipes from pinterest! Oh they are still sitting in my fridge and I can't resist them!

Here's the link if you wanna give them a whirl....http://www.louanneskitchen.com/2011/09/turtle-cheesecake-bars.html

They're BACK!

They're BAAACK!! Girl Scout cookies!! So I gotta say everyone raves about the thin mints, they're even Keith's favorite but mine are TAG-A-LONGS! I mean who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate? I've never really liked mint so that's probably why I stay away from the thin mints, the samoas are my second fav. I found a blog with a homemade tagalong recipe which I'm dying to try! Anyway...I won't tell you how long it took me to eat the whole box....only Keith knows haha. Let's just say I'm comtemplating buying another box ;)

Sugar & Honey

Do any of you have really dry skin especially in the winter? Or hate paying tons of $$$ for a good exfoliater? Well maybe it's just me but both of the above I hate! I found some really good homemade exfoliater/scrubs online which work just as well or even better than the several I've tried from Sephora. My personal favorite is honey and sugar. Just mix a little bit of honey and sugar together, rub into your face, and wash off with water. This is sooo much cheaper  and I seriously think it works just as well.

new additions



Frame Earring Holder





New Sign underneath my temple pic




New clock!

Some new additions to my apartment along with crafts I made this week.



Glasses

Can you believe it's been 10 years since I got my last pair of glasses? I've just been wearing contacts since then because I never wanted to pay for both. Finally, (since our insurance is pretty good through Keith's work) I got new contacts and glasses! I was pretty excited!

New Hair

I have needed a haircut for awhile now, I think the last time I got one was Feb. 2011, yikes!! I've just been so busy and then when I think about "oh I need to get a haircut" something else comes up and I forget about it, anyway...yesterday I finally went! I got a trim, added some layers and bangs...whoalah!

Love his lil' smile

Now it's little bear's turn for a haircut!

High School Girls and Heavenly Cookies

So this weekend I got to hang out with my high school best friends....well actually you could say we've been best friends since middle school. Love these girls like sisters. We have so many good memories together. Kathryn lives in UT now so we have to schedule our hang outs when she is in town, Emmers (emily) lives in Kuna, so not too far away and has a little boy Deklan who is just 6 mo. younger than Carson. We just hung out, chatted, and ate pizza. Kathryn even painted a cute lil' canvas painting for Carson's bathroom (I got the idea from pinterest...surprise surprise) and I'm so excited to hang it up! I'll show it in another post with my other crafts I've recently completed! It was fun to have a girls day and catch up! I miss these girls! I didn't get any pics of this weekend so this one will have to do.

Emmers, Me and Kathryn (2007)

On another note...Keith and I made these babies today

And I think I gained five lbs. Seriously cookies sent from heaven.....so delicious....all that double chocolate fudgy goodness! my absolute fav cookies ever! Now I need to workout hard core tomorrow!

11 Penrod Events of 2011

 Our family highlights of 2011....

1. January- Carson's birth!
Our first little bebe came into the world 1.29.11. This was one of the best days of our life (next to our wedding of course)
6 lb. 11 oz. of pure preciousness

2. March- Our big move to Boise.
We finally left good ol' Rexburg for my hometown of Boise, Idaho. Love this place and am so happy to be here once again. I mean it was time to move on...both of us graduated from college & still in a college town....yah we weren't feelin' it anymore. We love love love being around family and in a bigger city.

Carson and his two cousins Skylee and Brielle--the day we arrived in Boise.  First time the Lewis family met Carson.

3. April- Trip to New Jersey
We took a three week vacation to New Jersey to visit Keith's family in April. We got to do a lot of fun things...once the kidney stones passed, Carson was blessed, we went to Philly, Atlantic City, the beach, the bay, and the Cape May Zoo.

                                            Carson's blessing 4.10.11

Eating a philly cheesesteak at Pat's in Philly

In the Mall on the Atlantic City Boardwalk

4. May- U2 Concert!
So Keith and my favorite band is U2. We had the opportunity to see them in concert in SLC and it was AMAZING! Love them even more now...if that's possible.

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5. June- Keith started his new job.
Don't ask me what he does because it's very complicated stuff I don't understand, but he enjoys his new jobs and it keeps our life interesting and entertaining with all the trips we get to take!

6. June- Keith's Alaska Trip
So for Keith's birthday/fathers day gift he took a week long trip to AK. He has always wanted to go and I have three brothers that live there so he thought it was the perfect opportunity before he started his job to go. He had a blast and we want to return hopefully sometime soon as a family.

Fishin' on the Kenai in Alaska

7. July- Trip to Jackson Hole
Our fun little trip to Jackson Hole for a week was a perfect little getaway. Jackson is such a fun touristy town!

8. August- Trip to Phoenix, Arizona
Loved loved loved this trip! Even though we went in the summer to an already hot place it was so fun to relax by the pool, cheer on the Arizona Diamondbacks at the baseball game, and hang out with my awesome newlywed niece Chelsea and her husband James. I would love to go there again!

9. September- Trip to Helena, Montana
This was the longest of our trips for Keith's work. We stayed a month in Helena and did a lot of exploring. I even made a new friend and her little boy, Carson and I all hung out. What a pretty pretty state! It was nice to also have no sales tax. :)

10. December- Our 4th Anniversary.
12.28.07----Has it seriously been 4 years already?!!! Wow it has flown by so fast! I love Keith more and more each day and am so grateful for him and his patience with me. We had fun celebrating our anniversary with a little P.F. Changs. mmmmm yummy Chinese.

Four years.

11. A year of Firsts
This year was a year of firsts for all of us...but mostly Carson. Carson's first Valentines, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And of course mine and Keith's first fathers and mothers day.

The 4th

Trunk-or-Treat

Family Halloween Party

Christmas morn

And the first event to start off 2012 will be Carson's first birthday at a cabin in McCall! So excited!

Oh what a wonderful year 2011 has been! I'm so grateful for all my blessings and the wonderful experiences 2011 brought, especially my little Carson bear. Here's to a wonderful 2012!!!

Retail Therapy

You know those really long hard days? Yeah, well today was one of them, I was so happy when Keith came home. He watched the little man while I went out for some much needed retail therapy time. I absolutely love going home decor shopping, even if I don't buy anything and just look around to get new ideas for my home. It was so fun to go out and buy some new decor for the apartment and the best part is almost all my favorite stores are like 2 minutes away! Oh what happiness a little shopping brings :)

four.

These past four years have been the best of my life. I couldn't ask for a better husband, he truly is my perfect match. He has given me so much happiness and joy in life I didn't know existed. We have a wonderful son together and are a happy little family. I still can't believe four years ago I said "yes," it seriously feels like last week we were hurrying to the temple in a blizzard of snow, surrounded by friends and family we couldn't have been happier, the day was perfect. I got what I wanted- my man for eternity. Love you babe......many more amazing years with you to come.

Happy 4th Anniversary

Oh Hair!

You know those days when you just don't wanna mess with your hair? Or you have those other days when you wanna do your hair up all nice or how you're always looking for new hairstyle ideas? Well thank you wonderful world of pinterest for all the amazing hair ideas! Here are some of my favs now thanks to pinterest.

Finally!

After two photoshoots, printing off many pictures, buying frames, hanging pictures, and looking forever for a "letter P" I finally finished my picture wall in my living room! Here's the finished look....kinda dark lighting

Little Boys

So a week ago I had the privilege of watching my best friend Emily's little guy Deklan. He was born in July so he and Carson are only about 6 months apart. Since Emmers and I are besties I'm sure these two little guys will be inseparable once they are old enough to really play together. He was such a good little guy for Keith and I and it made me miss a having a little baby that didn't sit up, roll over, or crawl. Man, they grow so fast....here are a couple pics I took of the two little boys.

Randoms....

love love love Hobby Lobby

Thanksgiving is in 6 days!

my workout rocked me today

don't you love getting discounts at the register when you didn't even know it was on sale?

trip in WA in two weeks

it snowed today....made me happy. I love the snow around the holidays!

it is very hard to resist a buffet when someone else is treating you...