Maggie Sottero Dresses

I remember hating shopping for a prom/homecoming dress.  It always seemed so stressful and when we finally found one that seemed like it would work it cost way too much.  Mary has been lucky and my Aunt Janet has helped us find some amazing dresses for an even more amazing price.   I only have pictures of two of them.

PROM 2009

WITH THE JACKET AND THE BOY

THE FRONT

THE BACK

Prom 2008

Thanks to the same aunt I was extremley lucky when it came to shopping for my wedding dress.  It took about two hours and my aunt hooked us up.  My mom picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Maggie Sottero where my aunt had already pulled all the dresses I had said I liked and some she thought I'd like.  I had an incredible selection.  Found one I loved, they ordered it, and sent it to us with extra material from the same dye lot to make the jacket.  We got a killer deal and I didn't have to shop which I hate.  It's great knowing people in high places.  She sent me an email telling me they put my picture on the website.  You can check it out, my dress was the Victoriana.

The Mohawk

Brad is going for a new look...

Being Crafty

I've had a lot of time on my hand so I've decided to learn how to sew.  While in Idaho for spring break my mom and grandma sent me home with a sewing machine.  Only problem is it's a german machine without any instructions.  This might not be a challenge for all you brilliant seamstresses.  But trying to thread the stinking sewing machine was very complicated.  Nothing like any sewing machine I've ever used.  (I'm pretty sure I've only touched one other machine.) It was hour upon hour of trial and error.  But I got it.  Once again thank goodness I have a lot of time on my hands these days.  

So after I managed to sew several straight lines working on some baby burp rags.  I decided to move onto bigger and better things.  I made a pillow.  First I went for a smaller more simple pillow 27 x36, but that wasn't big enough for us.  So I went for a mega pillow.  Final results 4.5 feet x 4.5 x 1 and filled with shredded foam. They aren't perfect but definitely a great addition to our small living quarters.

Have I mentioned that shredded foam is very messy and remnants of it may be found among our stuff for the remainder of our lives.  It took longer to clean the mess then it did to make the pillow.

So if anyone wants to watch a movie on a not quite love sack but very soft giant shredded foam pillow they are more than welcome to come on over.  We even have some popcorn...but no movies so stop at the redbox on your way.

My first backcountry ski adventure

Those of you who know Brad you know he is all about skiing.  For spring break we left the flatness of Iowa and headed to the mountains.  Brad taught me how to backcountry for the first time, he's got a lot of patience.  I've skied before and do alright at a ski resort on groomed trails.  In my younger years I even ventured into the trees and off a few jumps.  Nothing like what Brad does.  But after five years of being gone during winter I was a little rusty.  So we spent christmas getting warmed up and spring break teaching me the ropes of backcountry.

Hat, goggles, backpack, shovel, beacon, skis, 

poles, boots and chocolate...Ready to go!!!

Snowmobiling up Franklin Basin

Unloading the snowmobile.

Checking for avalanches.

I don't have any hiking pictures but this is Brad once we finally got up to the top.  He was very patient while I figured out the whole hiking with skins thing.

Brad on Double Top pointing to his next ski hill. 

Brad heading down.  I had to wait for him to get

 out of Avalanche danger before going

I slowly eased my way down the mountain and

 face planted only a few times.

Eventually I'll get good at this stuff.  It was a lot of fun and I'm getting excited for next year. Brad is trying to find me all the equipment.  I need to get in better shape so I can hike better and not be as sore next time.  Hmmm, I never mentioned the snowmobile rolling over story.

Kids Again

We spent last week in Utah/Idaho trying to get some spring skiing in.  Brad finished the skis he's been building over the last year on Tuesday night and was so anxious to ride them we pilled up all the snow in the backyard and made a jump.  Brad was like a little kid so excited for his new toy.

I have better footage of the jump taken on Brad's mini DV camera but I don't know how to download it to my Mac does anyone have a clue?

THE FINAL STEP OF THE SKI BUILDING PROJECT,

MOUNTING THE BINDINGS

I wish I would have taken a better picture. The skis are incredible I couldn't believe he built and designed them himself with the help of Rex Burgan.  The underfoot was so wide his breaks don't work.

The straglers

It's a rare occasion when we get together long enough and with enough patients to smile for the camera.  (Thanks dad I know it was tough.) You've already seen enough pictures but I thought I'd share some more that include the family.  I promise this is the last of the wedding stuff.

COMING OUT OF THE TEMPLE

A HUGE AMOUNT OF FAMILY SUPPORT

MY DAD WITH HIS UGLY DAUGHTER AND MY MOM

BRAD AND HIS PARENTS

BRAD WITH HIS BROTHERS

BRAD'S SISTER KIM AND THE SISTER IN-LAWS

 

MY SIBS (BUD, MARY, BILL)

NIECES AND NEPHEWS WATCHING A 

MOVIE DURING THE RECEPTION

MY WHOLE FAM-DAMLY

BRAD'S WHOLE FAMILY

THE BOYS

THE GIRLS

Okay I've posted it all.  So you can now go on with your lives.  You've seen everything from the bridals and groomlets to the temple and reception.  Thanks for sticking through everything.

URN IN THE ATTIC

So what's the story behind this old house?  We don't know but we did find an urn in our attic.

Home Sweet Home

This is our little old house.  We love it.  Like I said... it's OLD so I've spent a lot of my time cleaning.  We finally got furniture yesterday.  Until then we made an old twin into a couch and ate on the floor.  It's starting to feel like home.

Wedding Pictures

The Wedding

The big day has now come and gone.   Everything was perfect.  I've added some pictures taken by Brad Petterson; however, there aren't any pictures for my two favorite events so I will do my best to describe them.

The actual sealing ceremony was my favorite and amazing we had so many friends and family there to support us.  

The night before the wedding my dad decided to get involved and had a dinner with all of our siblings, nieces and nephews.  Everyone just thought this was a simple dinner, but nothing my dad does is simple.  

After everyone was finished eating they were rushed out onto the back deck.  It was pitch black when the spotlight turned onto me and my dad riding through the field on two mules.  We road up to the deck below all the people and my dad explained that we are simple country folk he didn't have a lot to say but he wanted to thank the parents who raised a son good enough for his daughter.  

Brad was escorted down by my mom through the deep snow and took my dad's place on the mule we road out into the field, the spotlight went out and the fireworks ignited.  That's how my dad gave me away.