Melissa and Mark Feil

we miss you summer :-(

2010-12-15T20:34:00.000-08:00

My sister Kim just sent me this pick of us at Lake Powell, it was so so fun to be with family and soak up the sun. I miss the heat.

My little Evie-bean

2010-10-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

For some reason Evie acquired the nick-name bean and now its stuck! I guess cause she's so little still we started calling her bean! This girl melts my heart though. She is so spunky, energetic and funny, I love that her personality is coming out more & more, so cute! She's actually walking a lot too! She will be 1 in a month. She is also starting to tease and understand my teasing which is so fun! Mark & I love her to pieces!!

Playing at great grandma davis's! She wouldn't hold still so sorry for the crappy pic!
We never see Mark these days because of work and school so when he had to go to a doctors appointment we tagged along so we could get to see him! Evie loves her daddy, the other day she was actually awake when he was leaving and she was following him where ever he went and then didn't want him to leave so she sat against the front door! They definately love each other!

Our crazy, fun, AMAZING summer!!

2010-09-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

We had a great summer! So nice to have Mark off school for once in our married life! The summer started out with a trip to New York at the end of May. We visited my sister Becky and her husband Jake and their cute kids James and Jackson in Itheca, it's gorgeous there!!

Mark loved kyaking with Jake and thanks Jake cause he now wants one! Ha ha. Becky is an amazing cook and made us the most delicious dinners, it was so fun to just spend time together running, chatting, playing with the kids, having a campfire, shopping, so fun! You guys were great hosts and tour guides, thank you!! We always miss Becky, Jake, James and Jackson so it was so nice to catch up and see their adorable new house and beautiful area.

9 months old!

2010-08-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Stats:

weight: 15 lbs 8 0z; 5%

height: 26 1/2 inches 18%

YAY FOR SUMMER!

2010-07-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

We are lovin the heat baby! For those of you that know me, the hotter the better is how I like it!
Evie sure cracks us up these days, her little personality is just coming through stronger and stronger! She does this hilarious cough-laugh that makes us bust up! I think she is understanding a bit too much about nursing too because she'll crawl over and put her open mouth on me when she's hungry!
She loves crawling up the stairs as fast as she can before mom can grab her, and she's starting to see how long she can stand by herself!
Evie also loves swimming and water, it's so cute. She loves to pull this funny face! Even when she falls face first into the water she still gets up grinning. When Mark or I shower without her she gets mad and pulls herself up to the tub to protest, her little mad protests are so hilarious!
And I guess we'll keep her after all because she's started to do so much better at night, going right down and waking up only once or twice!

We {heart} Arizona!!

2010-05-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun visiting Arizona again at the end of April to meet miss Allie and play! Allie is adorable and it was so fun to see how big Evie looks next to her!!

Evie really wanted to eat Allie's hand!

We had so much fun swimming and playing!

We got to go and have school lunch with Syd and Mia, it was fun to see their silly friends and talk to them! I always love getting to go to their gymnastics lessons, they get better and better every time and look so cute in their leotards!

School lunch is so cool.

Syd is so tender and cute with Allie. Syd and Mia both spoiled Evie rotten; playing with her, getting toys for her, singing to her and running to her aid if she ever made a peep! They are perfect big sisters.

At the end of the week Chris and Abby drove in from Flagstaff and to play. We loved seeing you guys!! We got to go to the fanciest restaurant for dinner for my birthday, and Chris and Ger put up with a shopping trip to H & M where I bought my birthday and mothers day gifts! Ha!
Some other highlights of the week were:
Colby's t-ball games, adorable!
Mia's soccer game, she scored the only goal and led her team to victory!
Lunch with Kim's cute girlfriends, they couldn't be more sweet!
Kim forgetting her stroller in the parking lot but leaving the car back up! We were busting up! I probably would have forgotten the kids too with as little sleep as Kim was getting!
Ocean blue frozen yogurt!
Getting to tend Allie, she seriously is so cute
And just playing, playing with the kiddos in the sun, catching up and laughing with Kim, getting spoiled and treated to dinners and just loving our time with family that we miss so much!! Thanks Dovers! We always love time spent with you and you always spoil us!!

4 months old!

2010-03-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

Stats: 11 lbs, 14 oz, 8% for weight

23 1/2 in long, 14% for height

Newest Tricks: Rolling side to side and front to back, pushing my socks off with my heels, exercising my vocal cords to see what my parents do, gabbering 100 mph, kicking like crazy, giggling, grabbing at things!

A Homecoming, a Blessing, Family in town, and lots of playing!!

2010-03-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Well my little brother Zach got home from his mission to Birmingham, England February
17. It seemed like he was gone forever!!

He was so cute with all the kids. Later he said how weird it was that people kept shoving kids at him like "here take this kid, they're related to you!" Evie, Ethan, and Lola were all born while he was gone!

We waited for Zach to get home to bless Evie since everyone would be coming into town to hear Zach speak, so we just did it in a classroom at our church with family and rushed off to my parents ward.

Evie looked so beautiful!! I could not find a dress I loved anywhere and was really starting to panic when my sister Kim offered to ship Syd and Mia's blessing dress out, she even overnighted it!! It was so sweet, especially since she had to cancel coming because she got put on bedrest at 30 weeks pregnant! So it was as if they participated even though they couldn't be there. Thanks again Kim, I loved the dress!!

Evie is so funny, the whole blessing she was just looking around and trying to raise her head! I wanted to take a picture of her through the circle of men, but resisted!

It was awesome to get to see my sister Becky and her cute boys again, it's been too long! They traveled all the way from New York to see Zach and we had so much fun with them all week, it was a party! We went to Sunsine Cafe, Sunflower Market, shopping in Park City, Kangaroo Zoo, enjoyed Becky's delicious cooking, and just laughed and played! We already miss them!

James was so cute with Evie, always talking to her, playing with her, and wanting to hold her! Evie's just crying cause she knew James would be leaving her soon...

Chris and Abby also drove up from Arizona to play this weekend and we had so much fun with them, thanks Abby for spening the day with me instead of going snowboarding! : )

Stay tuned for a much belated post of our Arizona trip!!

12 Days of Valentines!

2010-02-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

So this year I decided to do "The 12 Days of Valentines" for Marky. He LOVED it. He said he couldn't wait for what I was going to do the next day and he felt like a kid who couldn't wait for recess to meet me by the flagpole! He's too cute! So here's what I did, I'll try and keep it G - rated for ya!

Day 1: A big heart on the door that said: "on the first day of valentines my true love gave to me, a great reason to come home", lets just say I wore something cute
Day 2: 2 movie tickets for that weekend, I had my mom babysit and we went on a date!
Day 3: Three plates of cookies to take to friends, Mark loves to visit friends
Day 4: He had to look for a heart in the house and it was on the deep freeze with four different popsicles/ ice cream bars cause mark loves treats in the deep freeze after work
Day 5: A five course dinner! I made heart shaped ravioli, chicken marsala, salad, brussel sprouts, and heart shaped brownies with heart shaped ice cream! I know its too much... It waas romatic though with sparkiling cider in wine glasses and cadles!
Day 6: 6 things we are going to do tonight, I had a basket waiting for him with bubble bath, massage oil, a movie, wine glasses, candles, and strawberries with chocolate dip. Such a relaxing night.
Day 7: 7 great memories I have of you. I rolled them up into ballons then blew up a bunch of other ballons and pu them in his car while he was in class, I also got him takeout from the Pie for lunch and left it on his seat!
Day 8: 8 Things I love about your body. I cut these small and folded them into fortune cookies which I diped in chocolate and put in his lunch bag!
Day 9: 9 Songs that remind me of us. I put the CD into his car before he left for class in the morning with a heart on his steering wheel explaining them.
Day 10: A party for 10 people! I put balloons, streamers, happy valentines banner, confetti, hugs & kisses, heart cutouts, all over his work! I also made cupcakes and sugar cookies.
Day 11: An $11 Gift card to Sunshine Cafe, mmm... yummy
Day 12: I made a book of 12 Things I love about you with cute pics and made a big yummy breakfast in an overly decorated kitchen!

Here's some pics of his work:

whew december flew by!

2010-01-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

So I have much to update as its been a while! Evie is really growing fast! I can't believe how big she is getting, mostly long, she stillhas lots of filling out to do! But already she is smiling and cooing in response to us, it is so fun. I will start with pics of christmas. We slept at my parents house cause my brother chris and his wife abby came up from arizona. It was so fun, everyone opened a present with Evie and though she'll never remember, she was quite spoiled this year!

Grandma and Evie

Even though chris told me evie looks like gollum from lord of the rings I let him hold her. Abby was super cute with Evie and always was holding her.

Mark's big surprise was his guitar. He has never had his own guitar, just always borrowed ones and has wanted one ever since I can remember. After he had opened all his presents I came down wearing his guitar in it's case! It was hard to tell if he liked it at first cause he just started playing it and didn't say anything!

What did I get you ask?!?! Well I must have been very good because I got a plane ticket to arizona!! I was shocked cause it was just what I wanted! Evie will get to meet her cousins Syd, Mia, and Colby January 25! We are too excited. Warm weather here we come! I might not come back...

Evie's cousins are sure cute with her! Sammy keeps wanting to trade her for her baby brother Ethan! And Lola is so pleased to sit with her and always wants to help me with her, she will be a great big sister.

Hehehe Mark put on Evie's headband to stretch it out, he gets so worried that her headbands are too tight and always takes them off when I'm not looking, can you see his forehead turning purple?!?! Here is Evie in her cute Johnny Appleseed shirt that Aunt Becky gave her. I love the cross over shirts, so easy to put them on!

Can you believe she came out of me?!?! I am still amazed, I still carry her right in front, just in a different way!

Oh our little girl is so beautiful, I try and take in al th precious moments that we have while she is still so little and growing so fast!!

Ode to Kayleen!!

2009-12-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

My amazing sister in law took these pictures of our cute Evie Madge last week. They turned out so perfect! She did such a great job, I was in awe of all her cute ideas and great lighting and they just couldn't have turned out better! Evie was fussy and stubborn about posing and pretty much bawled her eyes out towards the end but Kayleen was so cute and patient and spent hours with us getting the perfect shots. It was so worth it cause look at these! THANK YOU, THANK YOU KAYLEEN!!!
Here is her blog link: http://ourfamilyfeil.blogspot.com/

2 weeks old!!

2009-11-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

Boy do we love this little girl. She is so cute and fun, we giggle over every coo and even her wimpers are too cute! The first week was definately hard and this little girl wouldn't sleep at night but thankfully Grandma Hallows lives close and came and slept over a few nights so this new mommy could catch some zzz's. Miraculously my amazing mom got her on a great sleeping schedule so thanks mom! Being a mommy has been so rewarding and great though, I've truly loved it. Well here is some more pics of our sweetie evie...

yes her shirt says i heart mom, you would too if you could just lay there and have all your desires fulfilled!

aww she really is our little dear, daddy got her that cute shirt

cuddling with dad, i love when mark holds her, he is so tender with her

she just looks tiny in daddy's arms

doing homework with dad.... boring

Evie with her cute cousins, Ethan who is just a month older, and Lola who kept demanding "take him, hold him!" she wanted to hold evie so bad, it was hilarious!

Our little Evie Madge is here!!

2009-11-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

Yay! After much anticipation she made it! She was born Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 5:33 pm. She weighs 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. It's hard to believe she is 3 days old now, the days have just flown by! It has been great though and I am feeling great. Her delivery was an incredible experience and I can't complain about the labor. We went to the hospital at 7:30 am and they induced me around 9 am, by ten after 5 pm I was pushing her out and it only took 20 minutes, so it was really not bad at all. She has been a champion feeder from the start and has mark and I wrapped around her tiny finger. I can't get over how fun and beautiful she is! Well here she is:

She is always sucking, it is so cute! I love when she is wide awake and just stares, it melts me.

This is how we spent our night in the hospital, I couldn't put her down.

Well now she refuses to be put down! It's too cute! Here she is having some skin time with proud daddy Marky:

Sunbathing in her diaper so sje doesn't get jaundice, she looks so cute and tiny in her diaper.

Nothing fits her very well but it is cute

Lola was so excited to meet her she was hilarious, she wanted to hold Evie so bad so here she is showing mark evie's eyes, nose, and mouth!

Thank you, thank you for the meals and food at the hospital and at home and for visiting us, we love you all and can't wait for everyone to meet the apple of our eye

Ready to Pop!!

2009-10-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Well no I haven't had the baby yet though I am 39 weeks and going crazy!! Here is my baby bulge:

But at least the nursery is finally done and ready to go!!

The crib I sanded & refinished, I got it on KSL for $15 and it is in great shape. I also got her dresser on KSL already refinished.

I made all her bedding, it was my first quilt and I just winged it, but I was happy with how it all turned out! The fabric was all only like $40 from Quilters haven, Joanns, and Brooks. I decided not to do bumper pads since now they say they cause SIDS... Next year they'll probably say not having them causes SIDS but oh well...

I used scraps from her quilt to cover these cardboard letters I got at Michaels for $1.50 a letter. I also got the box shelves at Michaels which only cost me $15 with a coupon:

I made a slipcover for this chair with fabric from ikea. The fabric was on clearance and only cost me $12!! I will likely be falling asleep in this chair while breastfeeding!

I made these birds also out of scraps using a pattern I found here : http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/2008/05/16/bird-mobile/ They are super easy and I just got some manzanita branches from my floral wholesaler to hang them on:

I got this cute rocking horse unfinished at Michaels, I used a 50% off coupon and it was only $15!! I painted it and then ruffed it up to match her dresser and crib.

Well the next time I post it will be pictures of our little girl!! Wish me luck and pray mark doesn't faint!!

Fun week!

2009-09-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

So last week I got to do the things I love, flowers and cakes!! First I got to do a wedding for some family friends, the Websters. Sadly I only remembered to take a picture of the bridal bouquet which I loved, her colors were just really classy and beautiful. Here it is:

For the wedding I did 8 centerpieces, 12 boutonieers, 5 corsages, 4 bridesmaids bouquets, cake flowers, a bridal bouquet and a toss bouquet all for $650, just to let everyone know how affordable I am yet it's better quality and more contemporary than most floral shops.

Secondly I got to do a cake for a baby shower which was so fun because the theme was rubber ducky and I loved it. Here that is...

And lastly my sis, Becky is in town from New York! We haven't seen her in forever so it's been so good to catch up, her birthday was in August so we celebrated late with her and here is a birthday cake I did for her:

Here is the recipe too, it is a REALLY rich cake but good with a glass of milk nearby:

Dulce de Leche Cake

For the cake:

1-cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

3 cups sifted self-rising flour

1-cup milk 1-teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the filling:

Nestle La Lechera Dulce de Leche Caramel

For the frosting:

1/2-cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3-cup heavy cream, or more if needed

1 (16-ounce) box confectioners’ sugar 1-teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions
For the cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Using electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add granulated sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove cake layers from oven and allow cake to remain in pans as you prepare to stack and fill. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Pierce cake layer with a toothpick over entire surface. Spread 1/2 of filling mixture on cake layer. Top with second layer, repeat process. Top with last layer.
For the frosting:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until it reaches a spreading consistency. At this time it may be necessary to add a tablespoon of heavy cream, or more, if frosting gets too thick. Just be sure to add cream is small amounts because you can always “add to”, but you can’t take away. Frost cake and sprinkle top with chopped nuts, if desired.

29 weeks along and our house!!

2009-08-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

My baby bump at 29 weeks!

So yes it has been forever since I blogged but we have been crazy busy! We moved into a home in bountiful and immediately started tearing it apart! It has been quite the project but finally the three bedrooms upstairs are nearly finished, except for baseboards. I just got back from Arizona too so I will be blogging about that later! Here is the nursery:

I must say I am quite impressed with myself! I really didn't know what I was doing and even Mark was nervous about my crazy idea for stripes, but it turned out great! I will have to post more pics as the nursery gets put together. I also had an AMAZING shower put on by my adorable sisters that I will post pics of. It was way fun and a big thank you to everyone who came! I really got hooked up with some great things that our little baby needed!

I am feeling pretty good these days and I think this little one is bound to be crazy with all the moving she does! I am just getting excited to meet her and feel like I've been prego forever!!

It's a girl!

2009-06-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

Here is baby no name for now, weighing in at 11 ounces at 20 weeks. She'll be arriving around November 2nd, a little later than the doctor first thought! Everything looks great though and she is healthy and strong. Any name suggestions?!?!

Making Onesies and Diaper Bags!!

2009-05-31T21:29:00.000-07:00

So I've found that black onesies are hard to come by so I went to Joanne's and bought some white onesies and black die and did my own!! I also got some iron on transfers that you can print on and did my one little designs! If anyone wants some done let me know, I'll do any color onesie with anything you want on it for only $5!

I also made myself a diaper bag and was so happy with how it turned out. I used a heavy and durable upholstrey fabric that is quilted. I did a lot of pockets on the inside and a couple bottle holders on the outside. If anyone wants a custom made diaper bag I'd only charge $40.

My new blog!!

2009-05-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I created a blog for my little business of flowers and cakes that I am trying to get going. So please visit my new blog and tell those you know about me for affordable and adorable cakes and flowers! Here is the link:
http://flowerandflour.blogspot.com/
I list general prices, but I can work with any budget and do any style you are looking for! Here are some of the things you'll see that I did for my brothers wedding. Thanks!!

Our little unexpected present...

2009-04-28T08:46:00.001-07:00

Yep its true, somehow I am prego! So crazy. I am 4 months along now, thankfully out of the sick phase and getting back some of my energy! I am due October 20, my sister Kim and Brother in law Ben's Birthdays! So my belly has yet to catch up with my enlarging boobs, but here's a belly pic anyways!

Stolen phone....

2009-04-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

So sad but true, last week my cell was stolen at the Junior High I am student teaching at. It was sitting at my desk in the back during 6th period and after 6th it was gone, so one of the little fetchers in my class took off with it! Of course no one will fess up, even with a reward, but in case any of you have been trying to reach me I'm sorry!! I literally lost everyone's numbers, I feel so disconnected! So if everyone could email their numbers to me at plessfeil@gmail.com I would appreciate it! Thanks!

2009-04-06T05:03:00.000-07:00

So Mark and I never go to movies, well hardly ever. Poor Mark has to put up with me because I hate sitting and watching something for that long, especially when I can't be multitasking like at home and ironing, doing pilates, or sending off emails while watching the movie. I know I'm silly. So we went to monsters vs aliens this weekend and were really excited cause we were hoping it be as awesome as the Incredibles or something. Well it wasn't. Ya there were a few funny parts, but overall we thought it was just kinda dumb. Maybe if we went with kids or saw it through the eyes of a child we'd kinda see what the appeal is, but honestly it's not even worth renting. So there's my say in the matter, sorry if you loved it!

A quick update...

2009-03-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

So it has been way too long since I posted anything, I'm sorry! Life of course is busy but good. We just had my cute sis Kim and her adorable little kids from Arizona here and played, played, so we were sad to see them go! They were so cute, her youngest, Colby, kept begging Mark to "westle" so they would wrestle and wrestle. Mark was so cute with him! I'll have to post pics later! And I had so much fun playing with my adorable nieces, Syd and Mia. It's sad to see that they are getting so big and I'm missing out on their lives so much! I guess we'll just have to move to Arizona, right Kim?!? ;)
Also this weekend we had a sleepover with our friends Rich and Mallory! I haven't had a sleepover for forever we loved it! Our friends Mike and Chelsea came for dinner too, but then had to leave. It is so funny because when we all get together the boys go over and play on the computers in the study and the girls just sit and chat and laugh. It's just funny that we always seem to immediately segregate! Oh this morning when we woke up we heard Rich, who is from England, talking in the living room and Mark said "there's an Englishman in our house!" It was too funny. Well ta ta for now!

96 Cookie Dough Cupcakes and something for Mark too!

2009-03-04T04:43:00.000-08:00

That's right, 96. So I made all these for my cute students at Cyprus that I student taught. I loved them, it was so much fun and these kids seriously crack me up. They (BYU) thinks I need the experience of a junior high as well, so this week I had to go to Oquirah Hills junior high. It's hell!! I don't know how teachers do it. So I am really missing my cute high school kids, they all wrote me notes when I left and they just melt my heart! Too Cute. And yes, every single cookie dough cupcake got eaten! They loved it! Oh and Mark took some pictures of our new computer he built, it is his new baby and he loves it! Thanks to Ben who helped him all day Saturday to get this thing going!!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

2009-02-14T17:46:00.001-08:00

Look! Lissy & Mark Angels!

TO MY DEAREST AND SWEETEST AND MOST CHERRISHED MELISSA,

I LOVE YOUR FACE OFF! YOU CUTE LITTLE FETCHER. I CAN’T EVEN DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I CARE FOR YOU AND LOVE YOU. ISN’T IT NICE TO HAVE EACHOTHER? I PROMISE THAT ONE DAY I’LL BE ALL YOURS AND THAT SCHOOL WON’T STEAL MOST OF MY BRAIN, AND YOU WON’T CATCH ME STARRING OUT THE WINDOW IN A DAZE WHILE WE’RE EATING DINNER. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Love,

Marky Poo.

I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU TONIGHT WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK!

Ahhhhh...Remember when we actually saw each other?!?!?

2009-02-05T04:42:00.000-08:00

So far this semester has been really crazy and I don't get to see much of this handsome guy. Mark is busy right now taking 18 credit hours of hard math and chemistry classes and working full time that I never get to see him! It is too sad. Oh does anyone have any great ideas for something I can do for valentines for Marky?!?!? (cute but cheap :) I am student teaching this semester and my brain is fried from doing lesson plans!

Wedding Show

2009-01-20T17:03:00.000-08:00

So this past Saturday the Joseph Smith Building put on a huge wedding show and I got to help do all the flowers for it! It was tons of work and really late hours, but it was fun to do such different things and it looked so beautiful in the end it made it all worth it! Here are some of the cool things we did...

This was a really fun one I got to do, I spray painted branches silver and arranged them with stems of dendrobium orchids. I don't know if the picture really does it justice, but it was really beautiful.

Some cute hanging kissing balls and an amazing centerpiece I can't take credit for!

Here's a really fun girly bouquet I did.

If you can see I put rhinstones on the callas and sprayed some of the greens silver. The striped Aspidistra leaf around the outside is one of my favorite greens.

Here's a fall bouquet I did with ranuculus, dendrobium and phalaenopsis orchids, and cherry brandy roses.

Here is a funky one I did with purple cabbages, hydrangea, tulips, button mums, curly willow and fake dragonflies. It was my favorite bouquet I did!

LOTS of Cruise Pics... sorry to bore you all!

2009-01-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

So here they are, a few pics from our Eastern Caribbean Cruise and Miami vacation! We had too much fun and I actually cried when we got off the boat! Haha I'm a nerd. And now Utah feels far too cold!
Here we are enjoying the Miami port.

Yay for Palm trees and coconuts!

Here is Semana, our first Island stop. Mark and I rented a small motorcycle and drove all over the island and found this beach! A little boy on the island told me he was starving to try and get me to give him a dollar and I said why don't you go eat a coconut? He laughed cause he'd been caught. He left us alone after that. The fruit was really good there.

Here is us on the motorcycle, so fun!

Here is St Thomas, it wasn't our favorite, just tons and tons of diamond shops.

Here is Tortola, it was gorgeous! They told us these are the islands where all the Corona commercials are filmed. We went on a tour with a bunch of old people and a lady that kept repeating everything the guide said loudly to her husband even though he wasn't hard of hearing.

Our ship is the one on the left. Mark kept joking that he went on vacation by himself because there are so many pics of him! Hey when you got it, flaunt it.

Here I am getting cozy with a Palm Tree on Norweigen's Private Beach.

The beach was so crowed Mark and I walked over three miles to the other side of the island and had the place to ourselves! It was gorgeous, we saw stingrays, huge sea snails in conch shells, crabs, hemit crabs, and beautiful fish, it was so neat.

Ahhh.... the hot sun felt great as well as relaxing in the hammocks on the beach.... Boy it was hard to come home!

Until next time.....

2008-12-31T04:25:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a whirlwind season and its hard to believe that christmas is over! Mark and I are leaving today for a break on an eastern carribean cruise! My sweet husband gave me the trip for christmas, what a guy. So we'll be gone for ten days! You'll all be seeing pics as soon as we return!!

Nightmare Before Xmas

2008-12-21T05:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun cakes and cake pops I did for a friends nightmare before christmas party. I just painted with black food coloring on fondant and it worked out pretty good!

Fun Gift Idea

2008-12-17T03:49:00.000-08:00

Cupcake Pops inspired by Bakerella, just a faster version!
Quick Cupcake Pops
1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package reeses peanut butter cup minis

Melting chips colored or white(for cupcake top)
Sprinkles and m&ms for decoration

After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl. (The texture should be fine/fluffy)
Using the back of a large spoon, mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
Scoop with a cookie scoop or roll into quarter size balls (make sure they are smaller in diameter than that of your candy mold) and lay on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes, until they are slightly firmed, not frozen.
Melt chocolate bark and candy melts in microwave per directions on package.
First put a reeces on your cupcake stick and use chocolate to adhere the scooped ball to it.
Now, holding the bottom of the cupcake, dip the top in another color of melted chocolate.
Decorate.
And, probably impress your friends and family.

Gift Idea: stick floral foam in bottom of pot, cover with paper grass, stick in suckers and wrap!
Mmmm... way better than mashed carrots.

Mark & Lola

2008-12-17T03:29:00.000-08:00

So we live with my cute sis Heids and her hubby Bo and cute little Lola. Of course Mark and I steal Lola as much as possible and just can't get enough of her! Mark eats her up and says she's the perfect baby, and she is, she has her moms cute laugh and bubbly personality! Yesterday Heidi was making breakfast with Lola on her hip and Mark said, "oh, I wish I had a baby to carry around!" It was so funny to hear him say that, he was totally serious too! He is just too cute with Lola.

.

2008-12-10T04:18:00.001-08:00

Sorry we've been terrible at posting! It's 5am but I can't sleep because I keep having nightmares! We watched the Dark Night last night so maybe that had something to do with it?!?! It was a good movie though. Anywho here is a quick update on our lives. Mark just finished his finals! Wahoo, he did really well in physics and his math class, I am so proud of him :) He really worked hard. I will be done next week and am currently still working at the Joseph smith building floral department and helping my old job in park city, the silver cricket, we are decorating a certain celebrities home and it is 33,000 square feet! I'll have to post some pictures because we are doing some really fun things. Mark and I are both just ready for a break! So anywho I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

2008-11-27T01:31:00.000-08:00

Melissa and I have had a fun year so far. We've missed out on a few things because of constraints from both of our jobs, and of course never-ending (it only seems that ways sometimes I guess) school. We'd like to tell any of you that we've missed that we're truly sorry and that we look forward to making it up to you sometime soon! We miss you missed people!

Because it's Thanksgiving I want to share a couple of things that I'm thankful for. I think I'll try to keep this list fairly simple ... but we'll see.

1. I'm a very lucky man, and am thankful for my sweet wife Melissa. She's terribly busy most of the time, but she still sacrifices so much to make me as happy as possible. Thank you Pless for your considerate and loving gestures day to day. I will love you forever.

2. I've had moments from time to time when I think about how different my life would be if I didn't have the many things that make life easier. (Cars, technology in general, a place to sleep-with an awesome mattress!, my electric toothbrush, and all kinds of similar things.) I'm thankful for these things.

3. Music has always been and will ever be a huge part of my life. If I didn't have music, I think my head would explode. So I think you could guess I'm thankful for it too.

4. I'm thankful for Melissa's food. All of it.

5. I'm thankful for the simple pleasures. Some of these things might include:

-Looking up at the stars on a warm summer night

-Watching the sunset (always one of Melissa and my favorite)

-Listening to crickets

-Late night conversations with a good friend (that means you too Melissa)

-Watching the lightning in a big storm

-When it's cold out, I love taking a hot shower, putting on my warm PJ's and drinking something warm while watching my favorite show on TV with a blanket and my wife.

-Sitting by a campfire

-Sitting by the fire at Christmas time while listening to Christmas music and looking at the Christmas tree.

-Hanging out with my brothers like when we were teenagers. It doesn't have to be anything special, just being around them, or talking to them.

-....I could write an entire list of this stuff!

6. I'm glad I have a good job. It's an opportunity that I realize I'm fortunate to have.

7. I'm grateful that I can to more than buy food, clothes and pay the rent. I can go to school, drive a car, eat out once in a while, I can even buy a new toy from time to time.

8. I'm thankful for what repentance my Savior has allowed me to become. I think I'd be a bad person without Him. And if I wasn't all bad, I'd probably be some guy formulating heists, you know, the cool ones like in 'Italian Job' and 'Oceans 11'. Can I call that glamorously bad? I kid, I kid. But seriously, God has saved my life.

9. I can't thank my parents enough for all they taught me. I'm grateful for all the opportunities I had while growing up (Music lessons in their many varieties, vacations, sports, learning hard work, skiing, motorcycling, and on and on and on...).

10. And to close it up, I'm thankful for all of you. I'm lucky to have such great family members, extended family members and in-laws, great friends and wonderful role models. Thank you all for all you do for Melissa and me. You guys are the best. We love you very much!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish you all the best.

2 Year Anniversary!!

2008-11-17T03:23:00.001-08:00

Well I can't believe it but today is our two year anniversary!! Although it seems like we've always been together today makes me realize that there was a time, a very sad time, when we were not! So here are just ten of the reasons why I love my amazing husband.

1. He gets up in the middle of the night to take me to the bathroom after I've had a nightmare and am too scared to go by myself!
2. He always is quick to apologize, even if it's not his fault he'll take the blame to end a fight.
3. He is the most patient guy, especially with me. He'll endure shopping, my rantings, endless chick flicks(he actually watched sex and the city movie), you name it.
4. He does whatever it takes to make me happy. If I really want a frozen yogurt or diet coke, he'll go get it. If I can't stop talking about that sweater I want, he'll go get it for me. He's just the cutest.
5. He is such a hard worker and good provider. He works 60 hours a week and does school too! He's amazingly dedicated and driven.
6. He always makes me laugh. From wearing my jeans to dancing like the pussy cat dolls he gets me laughing so hard I cry.
7. When I'm sick he'll bring me medicine in bed with water in his mouth to take it with!
8. Since we live with Heids and Bo our fridge is in the garage and Mark is always the fridge runner in getting things and then putting them away.
9. He is so damn handsome. He has the cutest eyes, manliest hands, sexiest legs, ahh he just does it for me. ;)
10. He loves me and tells me everyday and is always telling me how beautiful I am and how much he appreciates the things I do for him. He is sincere and oh so sweet.
I love you Mark McKay!

TRAILER PARK PRINCESS + REDNECK= A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

2008-11-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

So of course I couldn't resist the chance to dress up one more time for halloween, so Mark got home from work friday night to find me very pregnant and very trashy! So of course being the guy mark is he quickly pulled together this outfit too!

The funniest part was my seven month old niece, Lola, laughing real, deep from the belly laughs at me! Oh and my mom keep saying how cute I looked pregnant! I guess in nature of looking for the good she oversaw the beer, blacked out teeth, tattoos, and boobs hanging out.

Well Happy Halloween Everyone, we hope you all had as much fun as we did!

1920's Party!

2008-10-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

Mark and I had so much fun at his cousin Mary's 1920's party!! The Eskelsons are too much fun! They had a craps table and played poker, and we even played some games I knew how to play! It was a blast.

Randall and Mark

Katie and Me

The Boys: top - Adam, Tim, Colby, Dan, Dino
bottom: Forest, Randall, Burke, Travis, Mark, Andrew, Mark

The Sexy Girlies! top: Jamie, Miriam, Barbie, Rachel,
bottom: Katie, me, Valerie, Cynthia, Mary

Let them eat cake!

2008-10-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

Caramel Almond Torte
One last thing for today.... I made a birthday cake for all the Feil B-day's we celebrated and my sister-in-law Kayleen asked for the recipe. It is pretty rich, but still good, here is a link to the recipe:
for the cake layers:
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/layer-cakes/caramel-almond-torte/
for the caramel cream and caramel sauce:
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/frosting/caramel-sauce-and-caramel-cream-filling/
for the whip cream:
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/desserts/sweetened-whipped-cream/

Halloween Activities & Feil Family Fun!

2008-10-21T05:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend we carved pumpkins with our friends Rich & Mallory, Mike & Chelsea, and Clark & Becca. And yes Mark is now bald. I went to work on Saturday and came home to a now bald Mark, he said he didn't mean to go that short but I told him he looks like Billy Corgan(Smashing Pumpkins).

Here's me, Chelsea and Mallory!

Mark, Mike and Rich who all served
together in Leeds, England

Yay for our Kermit the Frog Pumpkin!

This is Mark's "I'm bald so fear me" face.
Feils have this hilarious skeleton they call "Mr Bones". It glows in the dark so you strap it on, turn off all the lights and dance to music. All you see is Mr Bones dancing around! Mark was Mr Bones for the night and had us all cracking up with him pelvic thrusts and shimmying!
We had so much fun playing Rock Band, Mark thinks he looks hardcore now with his shaved head. I rocked out on the mic.
Here's a fun purse I made for my practically sister in law Katie, it was pretty simple and super fun to make. I got the pattern idea from seeing one online someone else made so I made my own pattern and added my own touches. I used upholstery fabric with a fun texture, if anyone wants one let me know!Here's a fun link for free patterns and fun ideas
http://www.henriettashandbags.com/Craft_Ideas.html

MAN TAG!

2008-10-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

My cute sis Becky tagged me to do this quiz so here it is...

What is your husbands name? Mark McKay Feil
How long have you been married? Two years this November!! But it feels like we've been married forever... in a good way! :)
How long did you date? Well we met when we were 16 and dated for 2 1/2 yrs, then four months after his mish
How old is he? 24
Who eats more sweets? I am always begging for frozen yogurt somewhere, so probably me, though Mark will eat way more when I have time to bake!
Who said I love you first? Wow, that eight years ago. I am pretty sure it was Mark in a card to me.
Who is taller? Mark, even though he is only 5'3", I am sadly 5'2 1/2"
Who can sing better? No contest, Mark. I hate singing... unless I am in my car alone.
Who is smarter? What's up with this question? We are both equally dumb.
Who does the laundry? Me of course! I actually don't let Mark because I'm so damn particular
Who pays the bills? Mark does, but I am the Nazi of frugality, poor Mark has to beg for potato chips at the store!
Who sleeps on the right side? Me, duh the bathroom is closer that way!
Who mows the lawn? Well since we've yet to own a lawn... I probably will though because I am so anal about a perfect yard after the fam lawn mowing business and doing it for North Salt Lake for five years! I also enjoy it.
Who cooks dinner? Me, the only time Mark ever cooked for me was when he proposed, it lured me into thinking he cooked!
Who drives? Both of us, neither of us usually want to so we sometimes rock paper scissors for it, loser drives
Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Well I'm never wrong. Um, you can see it is always Mark; I have a hard time admitting I'm wrong and he'll immediately take the blame for any fight
Who kissed who first? Mark kissed me right after I told him maybe we should wait, I'm glad we didn't...
Who asked who out first? Mark called me one night to "hang out", I was freakin cause I'd been crushing on him for so long!
Who wears the pants? I let Mark sometimes, but I tell him which pants to wear

We're doomed!!!

2008-10-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hahaha! So one of my friends told me about this website www.makemebabies.com where you put in pictures to see what your babies will look like and all I can say is that this is one ugly little fetcher. Let's just say it made me want kids even less! (Sorry Mom, you'll have to beg for another grandkid from someone else!)

Why not........

2008-10-04T11:28:00.001-07:00

So even though I pondered if Mark and I even had much to blog about I decided why not? Right now we are so busy with work and school that we are sometimes very boring, but I do somehow squeeze in my activities of sewing and baking, so I'd love to show you all those fun things as well as some of the amazing flowers I get to do for my job at the floral department in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Mark is working at the Post Office supervising the mail drop box collectors, and going to school at Salt Lake Community College as well as the University of Utah studying Electrical Engineering. He's got about three years left. I am too excited that my long drives to BYU are almost over as I'll be student teaching in January in the Salt Lake District. I'm graduating in Family and Consumer Sciences for secondary education, so basically all the fun home ec, tlc, teen living, interior design, ect classes in high school. I hope the kids don't eat me alive!