Laughs & Sugar Bowl

Date Night: Operation Kevin's Blind Date

Cleaning out the Backseat

Driving to pick up Kelly

We went to Jester'z Improv Theater for lots of laughs. It was fun and probably only worth the $12 ticket price. Doesn't Kevin look excited!

A tasty treat to satisfy any sweet tooth

True Love? Only time will tell...but probably not.

Monsoon

We got slammed by a nice little rain storm yesterday. We went out on the front porch to enjoy it but then the wind decided to blow a little in our direction. Phil braved Mother Nature and in the process got sopping wet.

I of course stayed nice & dry in the refuge of the porch. How else would I have gotten pictures?

Big Birthday Bash!

Today, Thursday, July 26th, 2007 is a very special day! We have 3 birthdays to celebrate in the Gunnell Family.

First up is Mrs. Stephanie Martin-the big 24. Woo hoo! I love Steph for so many reasons. She is a beautiful example, very kind and loving, a fabulous listener and super shopping buddy. She is strong and fun! She also has been the steward of my hair and is solely responsible for keeping my mane gorgeous! I have thoroughly enjoyed this family perk and she is greatly missed since her big move to Cal-i-for-ni-a. And congrats to Dave for tackling the Bar exam these past few days.

Next is the adorable blue-eyed lady killer Mr. Caled Jared Gunnell. He turns the big UNO! He is such a happy easy going kid. We went shopping yesterday for hours on end and he was a trooper, never any complaints as he was shuttled around in the nasty humid heat. Andrea is such an amazing mother, very attentive and really is the epitome of Mother, she is a natural.

And the newest addition to the Gunnell clan just making her debut at 8:01 this morning is Miss Taryn Montierth. So sweet and precious. Wendy is a superstar mom as this is #4.

Taryn Montierth weighing in at 6lbs. 8oz.

Super Big Sis Jenna-gotta love that grin!

The newest Big Sista Paige holding Taryn like a Pro!

And the two Birthday Girls. Steph is getting some practice in preparation for her big day coming in December.

Chocolate Fix

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nice & thick, chewy & chocolately. These cookies will satisfy any sweet tooth. Like they did mine tonight!

Makes 18 large cookies

2 cups & 2 TBS flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

12 TBS butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 325. Mix flour, salt and baking soda in small bowl; set aside.

2. Mix butter & sugars until well blended. Add egg, yold and vanilla. Add flour mixture & chips, stir until just combined.

3. Form 1/4 cup dough into ball (These are serious cookies here!) and place 9 cookies per sheet. Bake until light golden brown on edges and the tops are still soft, about 15-18 min. They will look underdone but will continue to bake on the pan as they cool. Do not overbake! They will stay soft & chewy if properly done for 3 days in an air-tight container (if they last that long!).

Piano Lessons

I have had a burning desire to learn how to play the piano for awhile now. We even bought a used piano at a garage sale for a smokin' deal of $250 a few years ago. And yet the poor, lonely piano sat in the front room just filling space instead of filling the Gunnell home with lovely chords of sweet clinking keys. Then Stephanie moved in with us and shared her talent and nurtured the neglected piano. Then Stephanie moved out and the piano cried. So sad.

Fast forward. Saturday evening approaches. We have yet to leave the house. Chores are done and homework is finished. Whatever are two bored beings to do? Eyeing the broken piano (it needs $500 of repairs to be in tip-top shape) Phil decides to get reaquainted. He took 7 years of piano from little old Ruby when he was younger. That's 7 Years folks! And yet somehow he has forgotten all. Ruby would not be pleased.

Downloading free sheet music we start at the beginning. Remember Ode to Joy, Fur Elise, Twinkle Twinkle and La Cucuracha? How about the acronym "All Cows Eat Grass & Good Boys Do Fine Always" to remember the notes in the Bass Clef. Ruby might just be smiling now. Maybe all her hard work will again be realized. And if you come by on a slow Saturday night you just might hear sweet melodic strains, er clumsy versions of classic music pieces from the Primer & First Year. I can hardly wait for the recital! ;)

The Proud Self-Taught Students

Friday Eats

For our recurring Friday night date we headed over to Costa Vida where I got the highly addictive and ultimately satisfying Sweet Pork Salad complete with Tropical vinaigrette, which was quite tasty I might add (the vinaigrette). Gosh, it was amazing! Phil looked at my salad and his Big Kahuna Burrito, also sweet pork, mine of course, was much larger. (I didn't eat all of it, although I wanted to!) We ran into an old high school friend of Phil's touched base and got updated on other friends.

Needing to walk off our monstrosity of a meal we headed over to Borders and were greeted by Harry Potter mania. All the staff were dressed a la Hogwarts. While we were eating we were treated to scenes from the movies since there were 4 tween obsessed girls dressed in capes and Gryffindor paraphanelia complete with wands posing as they cast various spells on one another and one of their comrades took pictures.

We headed home and settled into a food induced semi-coma. We both were rather melancholy. I really, really, really want to be pregnant. Phil really, really, really wants to get going with med school. Actually we want both and we want it NOW! I feel like we aren't living life yet. We are still stuck in the early stages of life. We talk to people who are taking care of their kids, moving on with their careers, settling into the happy years of life and we aren't there yet. Bummer! So sad for us.

I know we will get there. It just takes time. We are making progress. I have a great career, I work for two fabulous dentists. Phil graduates from ASU in 2 weeks. He has finished his bachelor's degree and his pre-reqs for med school. Hooray! He will take the MCAT prep course starting in October and then the scary test in January. We have already been blessed with one celestial child. We will arrive. We are just taking a longer more scenic route.

True Love

My dearest husband is wonderful! I don't mean to be boastful (maybe I do) but he is AMAZING!! I love him to pieces. Why, pray tell? Oh, let me tell you!

He is very handy. He knows about tires & brakes, changes the oil every 3,000 miles in both cars like clockwork and our yard is scrupulously and painstakingly nurtured.

He paints our home beautifully and does so without complaint.

He takes me on European vacations (twice!)

He has great teeth! A very important asset in this girl's mind. (Of course one of the first things I noticed and was attracted to, among other fine physical features.)

He makes me laugh, even when I am mad at him.

He is the father to my child(ren)

Because he married me in the temple and he is mine FOREVER

7 Random Things About Me!

Okay, I got tagged and normally I don't do things like this but in light of my new commitment to blogging and I am running low on post inspiration...here goes.

1. I don't like to get pruney-you know after you've stayed in the bath, shower or pool too long. I don't like the feeling especially my hands.

2. I will blow dry my hair in the nude, especially in the summer and because I am cheap and keep the AC at 82 degrees. Who likes to get out of the shower all clean and fresh as a daisy only to sweat through your G's? Not I!

3. I read recipes and cookbooks for fun. Give me a French Pastry cookbook & I will devour it chapter by chapter. Not that I make everything but I love to learn new techniques and about food.

4. I pretty much never respond to forwards and don't believe in emails that say something bad/good will happen to you if you do/don't forward it to the next 10 people within the next 7 minutes, etc.

5. I just ate an amazing steak dinner with a baked potato and ranch. NY strip never lets me down! And yes, I made it myself and I am obviously very humble!

6. I've been in the dental field since I was 16, some days I wonder why I chose to dig around in the depths of the oral cavity. Better there than the other orifice.

7. I desperately need a vacation and Girl's Camp doesn't count!

Now supposedly I am to tag 7 people. I don't wish to impose but...Stephanie, Allison, Andrea, Rebecca...dang, I don't even have 7 people to tag!

Glam Girl

For my birthday last month Susan, my mother-in-law, gave me a beautiful Brighton set of jewelry. Originally I picked out a bracelet and she surprised me with the whole set; earrings, bracelet and necklace. It is gorgeous and very glamorous, double-stranded with pearls sparked by Swarovski rhinestones. I haven't worn it yet because I wasn't wearing anything worthy of it. So now it is Sunday and we are encouraged to put on our best right? Susan thank you for your thoughtful and wonderful gift!

Weekend Update

Nothing of note happened this weekend. I don't even have any pictures to post! (gasp) Phil & I decided to give our relationship a boost by going on Friday night dates. We usually try and do something but this time we are cracking down. Phil & I will alternate Friday planning. This weekend was Phil's turn and we went to see the new Harry Potter and eat out. $25 for a date is not too shabby!

We had rented a few (4) movies this past week, crazy. We never actually sit down and watch movies just for the sake of watching movies. Just our luck-or lack thereof- we picked 4 duds. Completely boring, terrible or poorly made movies. So don't ever rent "Proof", "Regarding Henry", "The Work & the Glory" and "The Producers" (the new one, love, love, love the original). Harry Potter was good so at least there was one saving grace in our movie selecting abilities. Hope you all had a good weekend!

No Sweat!

Okay, as I am beginning to write this post I am feeling sheepish and stupid. I really have had a hard time trying to think of something to blog about. I am always disappointed when I visit my friends & family's blogs and there is not a new post. So I have felt the self-induced pressure to be a consistent poster. And yet, nothing has come to me over the past 3 days. So, I am embarrassed to post this but whatcha gonna do? Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The runner's up...

I have been searching for the super deodorant for awhile now. I grew up on Secret but it just wasn't hiding mine. Then I switched to Dove, yes my underarms are nice and soft but with the Arizona heat it just can't compete! Then I tried Degree for Woman, still nothing. I know I have high standards but come on now, is there nothing that can keep me nice and dry? Finally, we have a winner! I would like to thank Mary for recommending this wonder product. I have had it for about 1 week now and I am feeling mighty dry. It definitely works with the "wonderful" weather we are having and I love it!


Bless that Baking Soda Power!

Friday Night Date

Phil's nifty & not so thrifty new sunglasses

My nifty but very thrifty sunglasses

Friday Night. Phil finishes his physics homework. Bored and deseperately needing to get out of the house, off we go in our new protective eye wear to see the latest and greatest cinematic adventure "Transformers". Every 8 year-old boy's idea of a good time ~ or your 28 year-old husband reminiscing of boyhood adventures of playing with Autobots, especially one Optimus Prime. Me, personally a My Little Ponies and Rainbow Brite fan, goes along for the ride humoring said husband.

2.5 hours later we emerge from the theater both thoroughly entertained.

Contemplating our next move, we decide on Greek food

Falafel Salad anyone?

With full tummies and a happy husband in tow...

We end our delightful evening and head on home!

What did you do on Friday Night?

4th of July

Is she not the cutest? And so Patriotic too! This is Cailin Belle Dent, Rebecca's daughter. We met at Rubio's for a nice festive lunch and I enjoyed every minute with them. After lunch Phil & I headed to the mall to look at sunglasses and then went over to his parents for a pizza pool party. It was hot and the water was warm but the company was good!


Hannah modeling my sunglasses

Gramps Gunnell giving Paige assistance

Wendy, Susan, Caleb & Gordon

Phil looking mighty fine