HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

It's been 2 years since Benton and I tied the knot, and I can truly say they've been the best 2 years of my life! That's not a hard thing to say when you have a husband as amazing and just plain awesome as Benton. Life doesn't get any better than going through it with your best friend at your side every step of the way. Benton, Thank you SOOOO MUCH for all you do and sacrificing so much and working your buns off day in and day out for us. Words can't describe how much I appreciate and Love you and all you do. Thanks for putting up with me and all my dumb crazy quirks and letting me talk your ear off when all you wanna do is sleep after a very long day, and for laughing at my dumb quotes, and eating my food, doing stuff that I know you don't want to do just becuase you know I love it and it would make me happy, like shopping and going to sea world, and for being such a boy about things, it's so cute and funny, and for being the most adorable and proud daddy in the world, and most of all for loving me and letting me love you. Thanks for marrying me! I LOVE YOU more everyday!!!! HAppy Anniversary!!

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Popcorn-istas

Amy, Grandma Jane and me ( i look like a mammoth, ewww)

I'm sure each of your grandma's has some kind of food or treat she makes the No one can make like they do, or even come close. Well, same goes for my sweet adorable Grandma Jane. She has a few actually, but the best known is her famous Popcorn Balls. ohhh manny! These things are heaven, you're probably thinking, popcorn balls, serously? All I say to that is, dude, don't bag it till you try it! It's these grandma-made treats that all of us grandkids begged to get for our birthdays and many of us, even the ones pushing 40, still do. They're that good.

Usually we only get them once a year, grandma always pulls out her guns and makes a few batches of goodness for Christmas, but this year was special becuase yesterday Grandma gave us popcorn ball making lessons. As I'm sure you know all too well, it's one of those things that turns out perfect everyime Grandma makes it, but it's just never the same when you try.

My cousin Amy was in town and we were determined to learn all of grandma's tricks. They turned out perfect and delicious!!!... probably cuz Grandma made them. I haven't attempted them on my own yet, but I'm hopeful! As soon as I get it down I'll share and then you'll understand.

the goods

this is Macey, with a big yawn, and Amy's 4 month old Rigdon, bit of a size difference!

This is what happens at family dinners when you think the kids are innocently playing but are really sneaking gumballs galore from the gumball machine.

notice the wad of chewed gum in grants hands stacy found on her closet floor

storing sucked on gumballs in your shirt pocket could be a creative but sticky way to tie dye

Just in case you havent seen the Newest Trailer....http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

Only 31 more days!!! http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

This is what happens when you're home alone on a saturday night...

Kinda fun when you have time to kill..... All you do is answer the questions, and put your answers in a Google images search then post the first picture that comes up!

My name is: Brittany

My middle name is: Maren

My last name is: Cotter


My favorite vacation spot is: Rocky Point

How old am I? 26

Where I'd like to go someday: The Caribbean

Where I grew up: Gilbert

My favorite food: authentic mexican tacos

My favorite treat: homemade cookies

Where I live right now: my mom's basement (can I just say this picture is awesome!)

My favorite animal: Otter

My favorite color: Pink and green

I'm married to: Benton

Describe Hubby: Truly AMAZING!!!

What I do for work: Hair Stylist

Yom Kippur-alooza!

So, I have this brother Peter who has a little fetish for Jewish culture. It all goes back to our childhood, my family used to live in an area of Phoenix with a very large Jewish population. So, a lot of my siblings friends, well at least Pete, had several Jewish friends growing up, and well, Peter has found a special place in his heart for those friends, well, their culture at least. He's hasn't spoken to any of those friends since moving to Gilbert in '86, and I don't think we really understand what all the holidays truly represent, but that doesn't stop Pete from bringing Christmas presents wrapped in Hanukkah wrapping paper that he's constructed into the shape of a draddle or partaking in traditional Jewish cuisine on Yom Kippur. It's all for fun and well, we've come to expect these things from Pete, if you know his sense of humor at all, you'd totally understand this.

So, Yom Kippur was last week. A few days before Pete randomly brought it up so I decided to jump on board. He found a recipe for Cheese Blintzes, a traditional Jewish breakfast, but we had them at nighttime, so we decided to have our own festivities and take on making cheese blintzes. We weren't sure how they would turn out, we'd never attempted this before, but let me tell you, they were a hit!! We had quite the party, about 15 people , and we scarfed those suckers down. I think Yom Kippur will become a tradition in our house, or at least the cheese blintzes will... Thanks Pete for getting us a little more cultured!

a good shot of pedro assembling a blintz

our pan full of blintzes
the blintz we made up all pretty, it should be in a magazine

our christmas present last year

On Another note, Macey turned One Month yesterday. We took her to the Doc, she now weighs a whopping 7 lbs 5.5 oz, yeah, I was bigger than that when I was born. She's in the 10th percentile!! She's a miniture person but suprisingly strong for her size and not to mention CUTE! We love you Macey!

Also, today is national Dessert Day, hope you all had yourselves a little treat.

A few Firsts and some Fine Art

Macey got her first bath about a week ago, it was so cute and she LOVED it and has loved every one since, as long as she's in the warm water or wrapped in a warm towel. My mom helped me give her her first bath in the bathroom sink, she's so little we could fit 2 of her in there, it's amazing how little babies can be! So, after the bath we had her all wrapped up in her towel and I picked her up and not 1o seconds later I felt a warm gush of liquid come from the towel and all over my arm and shirt, yes, I got peed on! I suppose that was the first of many more peed-on's to come. Good think she's so stinkin cute!

the new towel she had to have after her little "accident"
My freshly pee-soaked shirt

Last night all the fam came to my mom's after conference for dinner, and with it being the awesome weather it was, we all ate outside while the kids ran around and played. One of my nephews brought along some sidewalk chalk and that seemed to spark some artistic interest in several of the kids. Using the boat that sits in the back yard as their canvas they created a masterpiece. When they were done they came to show grandma her "surprise", Mason went up to Stacy and said "Mommy come look. We colored the boat. Now it is beautiful." I'll admit, they did a great job, not much of the boat was left untouched.

The proud little artists

Rachel showing off her chalk covered self
a view from the top- you know this was done with love :o)