.... The Walters Family ....

A new year!

2012-01-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

So for a while now i have really been wanting to blog about having a good food storage, i have been putting it off.... I just dont know why it is so hard to just do the things that we know we should do!?!? duhhh?!....... procrastination...... its bad!
so anyways! i am proud of myself because i have really been thinking that i need to just get a few things here and there just to have at least a start to our food storage, and i finally did! i went to the cannery and got a bit of a start on a food storage.
it feels better!
i dont have much, just a few cans of this and that, but i know it is important to at least have something! After all, how long have we been warned?!
I found a quote a while ago that i thought was really good! and true!

Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.
- Ezra Taft Benson.

hopefully this year we can all be motivated to try a little harder to be a little bit better! especially with not procrastinating what matters.

Our Christmas

2012-01-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Well, this year we were really lucky. we got to spend Christmas in Montana at Sterlings families cabin! And all of my family was able to be there! it was fun to be able to just relax and catch up with family we have not seen in a while!
It was so beautiful down there, and so much fun! We were able to see a bit of snow, we went skating, sledding, played some fun games, and mostly just hung out and watched all the kids go crazy! I am so glad we got to be there all together! families are the best!
We dont have tons of pictures, but here are a few:

so pretty!

Auntie Kristy, doing all the hard work!

Dean, showing off some skills!

2011-11-20T14:42:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, but i just had to put this video on here! i admit it was a little cruel...but i was just so curious to see the reaction. it was a bucket of FREEZING cold water! this just goes to prove that when i say "deans a little dramatic" i ain't kidding :) i'm sorry dean-y!!

Hyper Hazel!

2011-11-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

So, it seems like lately all we have been blogging about is Hazel. I guess that's just what happens once you have a baby! But i do admit, i think that me and Dean are a little obsessed with her. For the first little while here, like literally everything she would do, we would get the video camera out, and start filming. We have backed off of that a bit, realizing that we probably wont have much more space on our computer if it continues.
But lately she has been alot more lively and hyper! she has a scream and a squeel that would pierce you! like...big time! I think sometimes she just does it to see just how high and loud she can go, just for fun.
She has been getting real good at blowing bubbles and just basically drooling all over the place. And also she has been smiling and giggling so much more. She loves it especially when daddy trys to make her smile and laugh, and some of the things that he does, i mean, how couldn't you laugh at it!!!
we love our little Hazel! She has been the best thing to happen to us!!
Anyways here are just some more pictures and videos. we have no shortage!!

i dont know what language dean is speaking in this.?..? i think he may be funnier than hazel.

and, this is what happens when you leave her alone with dad for a few minutes.

Halloween!!!!!

2011-11-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

this year was Hazels first Halloween ever! we decided to be Olympic medalists and we had a really fun time with hazels outfit. we stayed home and handed out candy for a little while and then went out to see family and such. it was a hoot!!

hazel also got a real cute outfit from aunt laura!! thank you

2011-10-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

So the other night we were just playing with Hazel, she was being so much fun! She always stops doing things right when we get the camera out, but this time we got something! It was her first little giggle!! Its not much, but still cute!

2011-10-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Our little family here is doing great! Hazel is now 3 months old, and she is growing like a little weed!
Dean is back in school, so me and her get to have lots of time together! i am so lucky to be home with her! she is starting to really get fun, she gives such big smiles, and is almost laughing! And her cheeks just seem to be getting bigger and bigger! me and Dean just love her so much!
Here are a couple pictures...

I dont really know what this outfit is... we just thought she looked like a crazy grandma...

Our little Hazel.

2011-09-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

So, Hazel has been doing great. she is a good sleeper! She is sleeping a good solid 8 hours most nights, and has lots of naps in the day still! She is such a little angel in our house and is just so cute and cuddly... most times. But! for the times she is not, me and Dean have discovered a wonderful solution! :)

all you need is a vacuum!

Here she is!

2011-08-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hazel came right on time, she was just 5 pounds, 12 oz. she is the perfect little girl and we love her so much, here are a few pictures.

The home stretch!!!

2011-06-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

So i have 6 weeks left!! i cant believe how fast it has gone! I unfortunately feel alot more uncomfortable and stretched, but dont really look so. But, i am noticing that i have had people actually start asking me if i am pregnant, and when i am due, instead of the awkward looks i used to get a few weeks ago when i think people werent quite sure if i was actually pregnant or not. We are trying to enjoy these quiet, sleep filled times as much as we can!

We Are Having A BABY!!!

2011-05-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, i think that we have waited long enough! it's time to tell you all the real reason why i have been acting so crazy lately! We are having a baby! Our due date is around july 18th, so it really is comming up fast! So far this baby has thrown us for a loop! When we first found out, we were both a little shocked and nervous, it took a few days to get used to even the idea of a baby, but now we cant wait. the entire time, me and Dean always thought that it would for sure be a boy, we would go places and look at all the little baby boys, and talk about how cute they were, and then go look at all the cute little boy clothes in stores. even i was probably 98% sure that it was a boy. So, we went for an ultrasound and wanted to find out what it was, just to confirm that we were right. So, Dean went into the doctors office to get the results of what it was, and i dont think i will ever forget his face when he showed me the little "F" beside the predicted gender. We had descovered we were wrong! and it was staring us in the face. i remember thinking; what am i supposed to do with a girl!? And i remember dean saying; "she is Not wearing pink!" Needless to say, it took a coulple days to really sink in, and to switch our minds into girl mode. Now we cant wait! we want a girl so much now, and cant imagine it being a boy! It is funny to watch the transformation of Dean too, i am seeing more and more how he is turning into a little softie! he has suggested pink for the baby room, and takes pride in the pink flowers he bought for it and the pink pictures on the wall!
As for me and being pregnant... dont even get me started on how crazy i have been this past while! what i have lacked for in being sick, i have made up for in being emotional and at times just crazy! Its like for no reason sometimes i just get sad or angry at the smallest things! I figure, it really is a good thing that Dean has known me for a while! He is such a good husband! thank goodness!
So i am 29 weeks pregnant! only 11 more to go! it will come fast, and hopefully i will blog again before then, but, i'm not making any promises! :)
here are a few pictures, sorry, they are not the best.

16 weeks

20 weeks

28 weeks

awwww! :)

The best day of our lives!

2010-08-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Where do i even start! it's time for a major update!
It's official! Me and Dean are finally married! I feel like i am the luckiest person ever! We got married on July 2nd in the Cardston Alberta Temple. It was so nice to be able to have all of our family there to enjoy it with us, we appreciate everyone who came and helped us out with everything! :)

so, it seems that for alot of people, they get married, and then go on a honeymoon, and everything is just perfect and exactly how they imagined it and planned it out to be, and then after the honeymoon, thats when reality sets in........ well, me and Dean are one step ahead of the game! Knowing each other before hand for about ten years helps a little bit, and then going on our honeymoon really let us know what real life would be like. We went to Arizona, and it was HOT! and when i say hot, were talkin, REAL HOT! talk about putting our marriage through fire, there you go! I dont think that one thing worked out how we planned it! but, it was probably one of the best trips i have ever taken, because i did it with the person i love the most!

Recipie of the week is back baby!!

2010-04-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

I have had the chance lately to have alot of down time. so, what do i do when i have nothing to do?... try to make yummy food! i have come to the conclusion that my favorite desert has got to be ICE CREAM CAKE! mmmmm.. so today i was able to experament, and the results are.... fantastic! here it is, it is so easy and fast to make, and as it is getting warmer outside, you may want to consider this!

Raspberry ice cream cheesecake:

1 package crushed oreo crumbs
3 tbsp. melted butter

aprox. 3 cups softened vanilla ice cream (you may use more than this depending on how much you like ice cream)

1 package softened cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
3 tbsp. raspberry jam
1 package whipped topping

-in a bowl, mix together crumbs and butter and pressinto bottom of a large pan (9 by 13?) let chill in freezer.

-spread softened vanilla ice cream over crumb layer, let chill.

-in a large bowl cream cream cheese and sugar. add raspberries and jam. mix in well wipped topping until smooth. spread over vanilla layer. top with fresh raspberries and chill till firm. then EAT!!

Mele Kalikimaka!

2010-01-10T23:24:00.000-08:00

So, this year us garners thought that we would escape the bitter reality of winter, and head over to Honolulu Hawaii for christmas so our entire family could be together for the christmas season! it was GREAT to say the least! Many days were spent .... of course, laying on the beach, soaking up the sun, snorkeling, boogie boarding, eating lots of ice cream and shave ice :)... but i think the thing that was best was doing all of these things with my family! And, most importantly, remembering the savior and his birth with them! it really doesnt get much better than that!!
so, i figured in stead of trying to tell of everything we did, i would just post some pictures, hopefully you get the feel!

enjoying waimanalo beach!

getting ready for our christmas eve feast!!

excellent acting on all parts!!

enjoying a stick throw at the pcc.

my favorite neice and nephew ever!

A major time lapse... i'm sorry!

2009-11-30T23:00:00.000-08:00

ok, so i'm sorry to all of my avid blog viewers! i have been majorly slacking the past little while! i will see if i can sum it up in a few paragraphs! there is alot to write about...
so, i live in a house now with 4 other girls, sarah, erin, janessa, and annie. they are all so much fun, once again, i am so lucky to have really fun people to live with! the only bad thing about them is that they have influenced me this semester to stay up pretty late! usually i am pretty on the ball about going to bed at a reasonable time, but lately i have been quite the little night hawk!
another really exciting thing that has happened is.. i finally got my hairdressing liscence! i passed all my tests, and it is such a relief!!!
for haloween this year, of course i sported the 80's outfit ( i mean, it's just a classic! you cant ever go wrong with it) and this year it was a really shnazzy puqe-colored one peice with shoulder pads and probably way to many pleats than i needed. with of course the black leg warmers and the big hair and make-up.
i also had another costume that sort of worked. i wore it to work, but waas pretty uncomfortable all day. i was a "windblown lady" so, it basically consisted of me putting wire in all of my clothes, pipe cleaners in the hair, LOTS of hairspray, random leaves stuck to me and, more wire! and had everything off to one side. it worked fairly well, but all day at work i kept poking people in th face with my wirey scarf. so that costume may not be repeated! but it was fun wile it lasted!
lately i have been staying fairly busy! i have lately been playing on a water polo team, although i dont really know what i'm doing, i just get out there and basically swim around. its defenately alot of fun, and definately a good workout!!
i have been involved in a few different choirs, the institute choir, ward choir, and then another group choir, it is so much fun, especially lately as we sing Christmas music. i have realized how much i love and miss singing!
now it's almost Christmas! i cant believe how fast the time goes! another year gone!! as my dad would put it...get busy livin or get busy dyin!

living on a dime!

2009-08-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

So the summer is pretty much gone, and that means that my home is gone too!! But luckaly i have found another home. On Monday i moved into a nice little house that i will be sharing with 4 other girls. As i am the first one to move in, i get to experience all the lonelyness and emptiness. Living in a big house with absolutely NOTHING but what you brought, you really realize what you dont have, and how much you really do rely on others. so, needless to say it has been interesting. you may think that i have most of the bare necesities needed, living away from home for a few years now but, i have descovered.... not so much. things like a fork or a spoon, cups... just things like that that probably are usefull things to have.all things i used to have, but somehow got lost along the way. so, this morning i ate cereal with a measuring tablespoon (wich is not as easy as it may seem), cutting a very large watermelon open with a pizza cutter and my bare hands, making pumpkin bread in a saucepan, and saving all of my grocery bags, and using them as ziplock bags. so, today i think i may be making my way over to the dollar store. but, life is very interesting. i am so excited to have people fill this house in the next few days. it will be fun i am sure!!

Recipe of the week

2009-08-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

So this week i was just a bit lazy trying to create a recipe, and usually when that happens i just end up throwing everything that is the most tasty, and probably the worst for you, into the mixer and coming out with something sooo good, but sooo bad at the same time!! so, it's not super creative, but to tell you the truth, they are pretty darn good if you like peanut better and chocolate (of course! .. i mean .. who doesn't!?!?)

WAY to good chocolate cookies with cream cheese peanut butter icing!

for the cookies:
1 package devils food cake mix
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup rice crispies
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup hot chocolate mix (optional)
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional) (but come on.. lets think about this!!)

mix all dry ingredients first, add eggs and oil. roll into balls, bake at 350 for 7-10 min (way better if they are a little under-done than over done!)

for the icing:
1/3 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1-2 cups icing sugar

cream butter, cream cheese, and peanut butter. add icing sugar until creamy and stiff.
spread over cookies! or sandwich them together.
:)

Recipe of the week

2009-08-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

so it is freezing here in Alberta, it has been raining for a few days, and so i thought that i would make something that would warm me up a bit. to tell you the truth, this recipe turned out alot better than i thought it would!!!

Sweet potato Ginger soup:

1 large yellow onion chopped
1 large leek (cleaned and chopped)
1 large sweet potato chopped
salt / pepper
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 tbsp chopped ginger
pinch of cinnamon
1-2 tbsp brown sugar
olive oil / butter
1 box chicken broth
1 cup cream

brown the onions in the oil and butter, add leeks and sweet potato, cook till tender, add the remaining ingredients, boiling until sweet potatoes are cooked through. puree in a blender (probably not the best thing to use actually, seeing as how last time i did that, it exploded on me, and everywhere else, and i got a few minor burns) so mabey a hand blender is the best thing to use. puree until smooth. eat with soda crackers. yummmm!

Recipe of the week.

2009-08-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

So this week i decided i would lighten it up and make something a bit more summery!
this is actually a great recipe, the tart recipe is not mine, but the filling is! it's a great combo, and really is best had with a scoop of ice cream on the side! (if there is extra dough left over you can make sugar cookies with it, they are amazing!!!

blueberry nectarine tart!

for the tart:
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup cold butter
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 tbsp. cream
1/2 tsp vanilla

for the filling:
2 cups blueberrys
2 nectarines
1 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon zest
or orange zest

for the crumble:
2 tbsp butter
handfull of flour
handfull of brown sugar
some ground pecans or
whole nuts of some kind

for the tart, combine dry ingredients. cut in the butter. mix wet ingredients combine to form a ball, and refrigerate. after chilled, roll out and put in a baking dish.

for the filling mix all ingredients together and place in the tart shell.

for the crumble, cut the butter into the dry ingredients. sprinkle over the tart, and bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

my day off....

2009-07-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

so, i woke up this morning, and had what at the time i thought was an absolute brilliant idea!!! i don't work on mondays now and it's kind of an odd day to get off. so not wanting to just sit at home and clean, or cook or something boaring like that i decided, i should ride my bike to taber.... ya! i figured, hey, i'll get a tan, get some excersise, spend some time in the great outdoors, accomplish something. well, it didn't really turn out all that nice!!
as i begun, i was so excited, i had my i-pod in, had my water bottle, backpack and some sneakers, i even had the jacket tied around my waist. i felt SO COOL! but, that soon ended as i was about 5 minutes into my trip. as i was making my way down the west side hill (whoever has been to lethbridge, or has driven up or down it, you will understand a bit better) trying to keep far enough away from oncomming cars, i swerved into the ditch just a bit too hard, and squeezed the brakes a bit to much and ended up flying sideways, scraping various limbs, ripping skin off of mainly my hand, shoulder and leg. what a great start!! but nope!! there is no way i was turning back!!! so, on i went up the hill, witch was an entire accomplishment in itself for me!!
so, hour by hour, i peddled. mostly on gravel roads. and then with about 30 k/m to go, there i was on a remote gravel road, my thighs were so cramped, for a second i thought i would die on the side of a gravel road. i got off my bike and my legs didn't work!! but, on i went anyways!! so, after wanting to cry, but not being able to, and wanting to throw up, but not being able to, i finally made it!! 5 hours later!!! i can say i have ridden my bike to taber!!! i almost died, but i did it!! it's great how much you learn when you are completely beaten down!! today i got a little version of the journey of life! i could have ridden on the smooth, perhaps more dangerous fast paced highway road, but i didn't i took the quieter, safer, more rough road. and even though it was pretty much the hardest thing i have done, it was worth it!! i got home safe!! there is no possible way that i could have gotten home if i did not have faith, if i didn't take it one pedal at a time, and hope for the nicer roads ahead. and expect to actually be able to get there!! it was worth it!! not only for the accomplishment, but for the fresh cherries and blueberrys!! :)

Recipie of the week.

2009-07-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

So, as i was thinking of my blog today, wondering what i will ever write on it, i had the brilliant idea of sharing recipies that i create!! i love to bake, and tend to have a bit of down time in the mornings, so i figure that i can mabey start my own little baking (sort of ) blog!!
so, as not to gain ten thousand pounds by baking so much, i have decided that every time i make something, i have to give it to a different person. we will see how this goes!!

One of my most favorite kinds of cookies are homemade oreos!! mmmmm :) today i had such a craving for them!! so i looked through the pantry, desperately looking for a devils food cake mix, i looked everywhere, and even went down into kristys appartment and looked through all her closets (sorry kristy:) but i had none. so as i was contemplating my next move, i caught a glimpse of the plain white food cake mix. hmmmmm. so what the hey! i made blonde oreos!! and i must say, they are excellent!!!!

Blonde oreos:

1 package white cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

middle filling
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 1/2cups icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp cocoa
chocolate chips (optional)

mix dough and roll into small balls on cookie sheet
bake at 350 for aprox. 11 min
remove. let cool
spread with icing making oreos.
enjoy!!

My life in a nutshell.

2009-07-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

so, i know i have been a pretty big slacker when it comes to blogging, but i'm back on the blogging train! Alot has happened since i got home from the ukraine. I am currently sporting the title of apprenticing hairstylist. I work at a good salon, and in a few months i can finally finish apprentacing, and get my license!! woo hoo!! (that pretty much just means that i can get a little framed peice of paper that says "i know what i'm doing.") so i guess thats pretty exciting!
along with working i have been having lots of fun living with roomates, visiting hawaii, seeing julie get married, and basically just living my life!! i got a new calling in church to be the gospel principals teacher, it's always so fun to do things that you are not really good at! you learn alot! i think that karli can attest with me, from being in the ukraine that times really are the most beneficial when you are being tested. Things are going good to say the least. I have so much, and have been so blessed with the gospel. I can't think of a thing that i don't have because of it!

This is my friend from work- courtney

I'm Back!!!!!

2009-07-15T19:36:00.001-07:00

Hi world.

I have been gone for a little while, but now I'm back... BIG TIME!!

I'll blog later..

I'm Home!!

2008-12-18T17:52:00.000-08:00

It was a long journey home, but i made it!! after 3 days of travel, i am home in Canada! the past few days have been hard, not just the traveling, but saying goodbye to everyone. Monday was our last day of teaching, and it was awesome, because we saw that the kids had progressed through the semester! after lunch, usually the kids would just run around and be crazy, trying to burn off all of the sugar that they had just consumed, but on the last day after lunch, they all sat in a corner and spoke english freely as they put a puzzle together, it was awesome! me and karli just looked at each other and couldn't believe how ironic it was that this was all happening on the last day, it seemed like i had alot of really ironic experiences in that country! so, after we said goodbye to all the kids (wich was hard) and took down all their pictures on the wall (wich was really hard) i got to go home and say goodbye to my host family. it was so wierd saying goodbye to them, and not knowing if we would ever see each other again. they are the kindest people that i have ever met and they will always be family to me! I will miss them alot!! I learned alot in Kiev and i am so glad that i got to go!!

1 week left!!!!

2008-12-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry, i have not written on my blog for a while. alot has happened since i last wrote. the kids keep us really busy, and so does our little host brother! I officialy have less than a week left in the ukraine!! ahh! so, this week is JAM PACKED!! we have our kids Christmas concert that we have to train them for, it seems like everyone wants to have us over for dinner, we are babysitting right now, we go to an opera on thursday, i am soo excited, we have tons of different christmas partys we are going to, i need to go to the grocery store for all of my christmas shopping (sorry to give it away!) and, i get to give a talk on sunday, just to top it all off!! it is going to fly bye!!!
Me and Karli have really been getting in the Christmas spirit lately!! our bedroom has turned into a winter wonderland. last weekend we decided that we needed a little more christmas spirit, so for about 5 hours we cut out snowflakes and made paper chains and stockings while watching the grinch, so you better believe that i am going to be ready to do some pixing and gingerbread house making when i get home!
it is crazy how fast the time goes by, i wish i could stay here in the Ukraine a bit longser, it seems like i am just getting the hang of things here, but i guess thats just how it goes. it will be lots of fun to be home for christmas! and be able to see all of my family, especially my favorite neice and nephew!!

The first snowfall!

2008-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

so, yesterday i woke up to a white kiev! i looked out the window and freaked out! I was so excited that i forgot that the boots i put on were not waterproof, and that was not the day to forget that, we did so much walking! so i get outside and it turns out it's not actual snow, it's like wierd freezing rain. Needless to say i was a little chilly that day! but today came the real stuff! It is so wierd that it hasn't snowed here until now! But me and my host brother took full advantage of it and had a snowball fight today! I live Ukrainian snow, it's like a dream! It was absolutely perfect for snowballs, and every time that i would make a snowball and throw it, it just seemed to hit him! Anyone who has ever had a snowball fight with me knows that that is really spectacular!

It was awesome! all up until i got smoked in the face twice by my little brother, then we stopped because i got two big welts on my face! It is so much fun here, i can't imagine that i am going to be leaving in 3 weeks!!!!

The count down is on!!

2008-11-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

I am still alive! i officially have less than a month left, it is crazy how fast time goes. It seriously feels like we are in a time machine. Every day when we go through what day it is we always say like 2 weeks previous and think we are right, then the kids correct us and we just look at each other! I leave on the 16th, but there is still alot to do! it feels like i just kinda got the hang of things even though it is still crazy!!

The visit to the temple

2008-11-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

so, they are building a temple here in kiev right now, and a few weeks ago we went and saw it! It was so weird to see a temple right off the highway in kiev.

My new blog

2008-11-04T23:10:00.001-08:00

Well, this is my new blog! Karli is opening up a whole new world of technology to me! As our time in the Ukraine grows shorter and shorter, I figured I should probably make my own blog, instead of just having Karli write about my life, so here it is! Things in the Ukraine are great! Karlis parents and kerri came last week, and it was really fun, it was kinda refreshing to have familiar faces around! We had a lot of very.....interesting, crazy experiences. I don’t think we knew where we were for more than five minutes the entire week, lets just say, we saw a lot of the country! It was great just sitting in the back seat of the mini van just watching it all. they left on Monday, it was a great week. Now we are back to school for six more weeks!!

.... The Walters Family ....

A new year!

Our Christmas

Hyper Hazel!

Halloween!!!!!

Our little Hazel.

Here she is!

The home stretch!!!

We Are Having A BABY!!!

More posts to come!!

The best day of our lives!

Recipie of the week is back baby!!

Mele Kalikimaka!

A major time lapse... i'm sorry!

living on a dime!

Recipe of the week

Recipe of the week

Recipe of the week.

my day off....

Recipie of the week.

My life in a nutshell.

I'm Back!!!!!

I'm Home!!

1 week left!!!!

The first snowfall!

The count down is on!!

The visit to the temple

My new blog