Good Weekend!!

This was a very busy, but very good weekend. Seth ran the Wasatch Back Relay this weekend and I had my first ever BusinessWeek photo shoot!

Seth was part of a team of 12 people that ran 178 miles from Logan to Park City. Each person ran 3 or 4 legs ranging from 3 - 8 miles and then switches off with the next person. At the end each person has run an average of 14 miles over a 24 hour period. Luckily for Seth, he got all the hardest legs because of his lovely running history (he he, running up mountain passes is his favorite, jk). He had a great time though, and wants to do it again next year. And I think I might actually do it next year with him. I’ll included pictures of the race and Seth’s team as soon as I get my camera to connect properly with the computer, grrrr.

http://www.ragnarrelay.com/wasatchback/index.php

While I was bummed I didn’t get to participate in or watch Seth run the race, I was very excited because on Friday I had my first ever photo shoot with BusinessWeek. The shoot was for one of our clients, WingateWeb. BusinessWeek is writing a story on the company’s unusually beginning and flew a photographer out for a photo. It was great! We took the photographer to Wingate’s new building that’s still under constructions and American Fork Canyon for the shoot. My favorite photos were in the new building with the raw metal and different textures. I hope it doesn’t sound like bragging, but seriously, I was so excited. It’s my first time ever doing a full-on photo shoot with a big publication like BusinessWeek! I’ll link to the story when it’s published.

Happy Belated Fathers Day!

I’m still trying to get the hang of blogging and I’m a little behind, but better late than never right? It was Seth’s first Fathers Day (we figured it was okay to celebrate even though little Champ won’t be arriving until Oct.) Nonetheless, Seth took full advantage of the day and actually began celebrating a day early by playing golf all day with his friends. On the actual day, I let Seth sleep-in and brought him breakfast in bed. I made a full-on breakfast including banana pancakes. You’re probably thinking what I was at first, banana pancakes, gross! However, they were great! I’ve included the recipe below (from Cooking Light, my FAV). I also added a few things to the recipe: flax seed, cinnamon, and walnuts. I also mashed the bananas in the blender, where I mixed the whole concoction (very convenient for mixing and pouring batter). After breakfast I gave Seth a break and taught the Sunday school lesson for our class of 13 year olds. Then, later that night we had dinner and played games with some friends. All in all, I would say that Seth had a very good first Father’s Day!

We love you, Seth!

Tia and Champ

I also wanted to mention how very much I appreciate and love my father, and the many other individuals who have significantly influenced my life as well as Seth’s. Life is full of numerous tricks and turns, but luckily we’ve both had great guides and examples that have made every step a joy (mushy, I know, but I had to say it).

Margaret Truman on Fathers:

It's only when you grow up, and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home – it's only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love.

5 Spot Banana Pancakes

Notes: If desired, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon chopped pecans on each pancake after adding banana slices. Serve pancakes with butter and warm maple syrup or a dusting of cinnamon-sugar.

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons whole-wheat flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

About 3 tablespoons melted butter or margarine

2 ripe bananas (3/4 to 1 lb. total), peeled and thinly sliced

1. In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.

2. In another bowl, whisk to blend eggs, buttermilk, and 3 tablespoons butter. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until batter is evenly moistened.

3. Ladle batter, 1/4 cup at a time, onto a lightly buttered medium-hot (350°) griddle or lightly buttered 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan (or use 2 pans at the same time) over medium heat. Scatter 3 to 5 banana slices onto each pancake and cook until edges of the cake look dry, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn with a wide spatula and cook until browned on the bottom, 3 or 4 minutes longer.

4. Serve pancakes immediately, or place in a single layer on baking sheets and keep warm in a 200° regular or convection oven until all are cooked.

Yield: Makes 12 pancakes; 4 to 6 servingsCALORIES 209 (33% from fat); FAT 7.6g (sat 4.3g); PROTEIN 6.1g; CHOLESTEROL 53mg; SODIUM 488mg; FIBER 2g; CARBOHYDRATE 30g

"There's a Baby in There"

Seth is slowly coming to the realization that we are actually having a baby (You would have thought that the ultra sounds would have been convincing enough.) But, he felt little Champ move for the first time last night and I believe his exact words were, "Oh my gosh, there's really a baby in there." His face was priceless though, and I wish I had a picture. He is so excited and going to be a GREAT dad. I couldn’t have asked for more!

It's a BOY!!

Just look at how cute he is already! This ultra sound was taken when I was about 15 weeks along. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but the ultra sound was taken at the mall. Yes, the mall! I know! I can hardly believe it myself. I checked it out though, and it’s safe.

As it happened, we were on our way to Derek Bowen’s wedding in the South Jordan Temple and discussing whether or not it was appropriate to continue calling our unborn child Champ. So, after a beautiful ceremony and luncheon my mom, sister and I journeyed up to South Towne Mall to find out if Champ was a boy or a girl. Seth and my dad desperately wanted to come along, (you know how they love the mall) but their golf game was much too important at the time. :)

After further deliberation on if we should wait to find out or not, we arrived at the mall and found what we were looking for, “Fetal Photo” (what a horrible name, right.) The whole experience there was amazing. It was the first time I actually saw my little baby, and I was overjoyed to say the least. He didn’t want to give it up though, and forced us to leave for a little shopping only to return 30 minutes later for further investigation.

Finally, after hopping my way through the mall (I had to get him to move) with Mindy and Mom laughing at me we returned and we found what we were looking for. Champ is a BOY!

Two of the Many

We're pregnant! We found out in February (the morning of Feb 8th to be exact) that we are expecting. It was quite the shock at first, and pictured are just two of the many tests I bought and took "just to make sure." However, after the initial shock (Seth was skiing and almost feel over when I told him) wore off, we found it impossible to stop smiling. We are ecstatic about the new addition and I think I have rubbed my belly everyday since we found out.

We also used the picture of the pregnancy tests to let our parents know that they were finally going to get a little Seth and Tia, and they no longer needed to remind us that “it’s time you two have a baby….”