Sunday, November 14, 2010

Life has been so weird. Living at home is very relaxed, but it still seems like the time is just flying! Halloween was wonderful and Courtney went trick or treating and trunk or treating for the first time. She went to the ward party as a pirate and then trick or treating as yoda! Both costumes were too cute, thanks Emily! Courtney is getting smarter every day. Living with so many big people is really helping her vocab and speaking. I'm trying to teach her the alphabet, and she can trace them and say them when we're working on them, but it's out the window if any sort of distraction comes up, such as her Dora doll. This doll is so fun! She sings and dances the "We Did It" song, and Courtney dances right along with her! Grandma (Courtney's g-ma) is doing her best to make my life miserable. Who taught Courtney how to say "Mine"? Grandma. Who taught her to yell at the refs on TV? Grandma. Just kidding mom, I think it's cute :)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Updates


As you may have already heard, I quit Melaleuca on Sept 6. And we couldn't be happier. That was a Monday and for FHE we went to the Eastern Idaho Fair. This was Devin's dinner. You may be thinking, a donut for dinner? But it's more than a donut. It's a donut sliced in half like a bagel. In between is a burger, bacon, cheese, and BBQ sauce. And it actually tastes really good. This donut burger alone is going to give me bad cholesterol, I can tell. I got to ride the zipper and the spin out. The spin out is this sweet ride where you'resuspended in a chair with your feet dangling, and it's spins you! It'll tilt so that you're sideways and upside down! It was awesome! With all our free time we've been working on getting out of the house. Our new tenant is coming today to sign the paperwork. Then we're going to Salt Lake City on Saturday to visit Becky and go through the temple. We are also spending a week in Vegas for a honeymoon/last vacation of freedom before the Air Force :) and It's unbelievably cheap to stay in Vegas on the strip. Can't wait!












Sillyness!!!!



This picture is of courtney with the bloomers from a dress on her head. The rest are self explanatory in that they're just silly.

Old videos

The first video is from our camping trip in July. We always drove by this town called stanley, population 26. This is a video from one end of Stanley to the next. The next video shows courtney with a shirt on her legs after she tried to dress herself :)

I think this one speaks for itself. Sorry about the videos being sideways, i couldn't figure out how to flip them

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Mormon.org

Just finished my very own profile on Mormon.org and I got the cool yellow widget below. I'm hoping for some missionary ops and I hope if you feel so inclined that you make a profile of your own!
I'm a Mormon.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010


My precious baby wearing her (clean) panties on her head, and taking a rare nap in the car. She also got a kick out of drinking "without" hands, for the most part. She is just too cute!

In other news, Devin is leaving for basic training in January. We don't know where he'll be going for that,after that we do know that only certain bases have certain jobs, and the selection is smaller when you're new. We will either be in Neveda, California, Nebraska, Florida, Virginia, or even outside the states in Germany or Korea! We'll keep you updated as we get updates, but for now this is all we have!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

The Spokane Song

Apparently, Jewel visited Spokane and was so impressed, but who wouldn't, with all Spokane has to offer, so she wrote a song all about Spokane! It's called, The Spokane Song. So funny and raw! Enjoy

Monday, August 2, 2010

WAAAAAAAAAAAY BEHIND

So much has happened since I last blogged! We took a week and a half off from work towards the beginning of July for family vacations. We started with a week of camping in Challis, ID. We went with Devin's brother, Dominic and his family. It amazes how you can be unbearably during the day, then at night you sleep in the car with the engine running to avoid frostbite at night! We ate so much junk food too! S'mores, candy bars, chocolate milk, pop, it was heaven! We spent a lot of time in Challis, the city not the campgrounds, wandering and exploring. We saw the missionaries all over the streets of Challis, and we also went into a bed and breakfast where the owners were melaleuca customers and we saw melastuff all over! Devin and I did some fishing too, and one day Devin caught (and kindly released) 6 fish! That prompted him to take up fishing here at home, and he caught us trout for dinner! After camping we drove up to Spokane to see mom, dad, brady, jordan, ginanne, and emily. We had a lot of fun swimming, going to the mall, playing five crowns, and just relaxing with the fam. I wish I had pictures, but I forgot to bring a camera on our first real vacation! But we look forward to many more spent with family! Love you guys!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Fam

What a great weekend I had! It started with a trip to the zoo courtesy of melaleuca, and a cool classic car show. Then we met my parents, Brady, and Becky at the Idaho falls temple visitor center, where they had a collection of enlarged and enhanced photos from the Hubble telescope! They had fun fawning over Courtney, but we were only able to visit for a little bit because they were taking Becky back to Provo. They stopped by yesterday for a while on their way up to Spokane. The battery in my camera died after one not so great shot, but she definitely was being her cutest to impress! We went to DI and Pizza Hut before they had to depart again. Tomorrow Devin and I are going to see Brian Regan live in Blackfoot, should be an awesome show!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010





Becky is in town for a few days WOO HOO!!!!! Today while i was at work she took Courtney to the park and they had a fun time watching people on the carousel and sharing a lunchables. I was let off work early, so went back to the park and rode the carousel too. Becky took Courtney on a bench and I took her on one of the horses! She had a death grip on me the whole time. It was cute though. We also played on the swing and slides, but she always grabbed the sides and tried to climb back up before she got very far!! On the way to the park we stopped off at a farm where we saw two llamas!! Devin even got to pet one before we scared them off! Courtney broke Becky's sunglasses, so we went to wal mart so she could get new ones. We also took the time to buy Courtney her pair of tennis shoes and church shoes! She'll definitely need practice because she tripped all over the place! More pics and videos to follow.



Sunday, May 16, 2010

Curb Appeal

We've finally done it. We painted the outside of our and it looks so much nicer! We did several layers of primer so the wood looks smoother and newer, and the color scheme is so cool and modern. We're about ready to paint the garage to match, and with the new roof on the garage, it's like a whole new home!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the fantastic mom's, especially my own mom, who aresuch a great influence on my life! And another special Happy Mother's Day to Carol Tartini, affectionately known as Llama for being a mom to my Devin! I had a great celebration yesterday. We went to Fong's, a little chinese restaurant that we love and visit all the time, with or without cause for celebration! Then we went to Idaho Falls and Devin let me wander the mall and buy whatever I wanted. I got a sugar scrub from Bath & Body Works; it's been a long time since I was there, and I forgot how much I love it! While at the mall we sat down to take a little rest, but the Fetus was restless. So we put in her a toy bus and she loved it! What you can't see on the video is that when it stopped, she shook it to try and get it going! She is also walking all over the place! She still gets tripped up, like by clothing laying flat on the ground :) but she has improved so much!!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Today, Devin went to Idaho Falls to take a test to get into the Air Force. He did so well he can get pretty much whatever job he wants. I started Working full time so that Devin could stay home with Courtney. I wanted him to have a break before he signed his life away for 4 years :) We have had visitors just about every weekend for a month. We first had Devin's brother, Dominic, and his family over 2 weeks before easter. Below you can see Courtney with her cousins Leesy and Rachel in matching dresses that they got from Grandma Tartini.

Then we had mom, dad, and Becky over the week before general conference. Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell had professional pictures taken of her which we just picked up today. They look very cute and I will post them ASAP. Becky came over the day after general conference because it was her spring break. I had to work, but we still found time to go visit the temple, fit in some fine dining and shopping, and watch 4 whole Barbie movies!!! My favorite series:) Below is a picture of the fetus passed out on the floor. This was taken while I was at work, and it was the first day that I worked full time and Devin stayed home. She was soooo tired, but it was sudden, and Devin thought she'd died! Poor guy, I guess it's just part of parenting. If you don't have 1 premature heart attack, you're doing wrong!



Wednesday, April 14, 2010












Here are some late birthday pictures for you to enjoy. I shall write again with news and goings on of the Tartinis.



Monday, April 5, 2010




These are the outfits that grandma mitchell made for the princess and me. Unfortunately, no one attends gerneral conference at the stake center, so I'll have to wait to show them off. Last weekend we had mom, dad, and becky visit us. We went to have pictures taken of Courtney, played Five Crowns, visited campus, and visited. And ate a ton of red licorice of course. I have finished my first month of work under the radar. That's right, although I get paid, they have lost me in the system so they don't know my call handle time, what I say on the phones or anything! I can say whatever I want...bwahaha!!! It's nice to be able to work without the pressure. Becky is coming to visit me again this week, and she is driving on her way as I write!!! Woo-hoo!!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Feliz Cumpleanos

On Thursday, March 18th, Courtney will be a year old! G-ma and G-pa Mitchell sent her some presents and I couldn't contain myself; I had to let her open them!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Melaleuca







The times they are a-changin', and money doesn't stretch as far as it use to. I have therefore gotten a job with my old employer Melaleuca. I always knew Melaleuca was the best employer, and now I remember why. I've been for a year, and they are giving me my old position back with my old pay! We were expecting more than a dollar less an hour, so this job is going to be an answered prayer! It also means I can work 4-9 instead of a full 40 hr a week job! It also unfortunately overlaps with Devin's schedula, so Courtney will be watched by the Drapers for several hours. Hopefully, by the end of the summer I'll be able to quit and return to my post as full-time mom, which is what we're praying for! I'm excited to be back though, I'll even be with my old team, or at least what's left of them. In other news, Courtney has taken exactly two steps all by herself and I can hardly wait until she justs walks on her own; I'll think she'll be able to entertain herself more if she's walking everywhere. Three weeks ago our ward boundaries were realigned to create a new ward, but I think our ward is still the same size! I am still leading music in sacrament and taking care of attendance and bell ringing as Sunday School secretary. Devin is Sunday School president and is still in the process of choosing counselors. This weekend I am going to a seminar about using rental properties for income. This is another reason for me going to Melaleuca. If we can get a decent duplex or triplex, it might allow Devin to quit work completely and focus on school. But enough of the serious stuff, here's the babe and I playing peekaboo, for those of you not fortunate enough to hear the sounds of a baby laughing everyday...












And her first sucker...what a mess













blowing raspberries...













Monday, February 8, 2010

2 Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow will mark Devin's andmy two year anniversary! One kid and a house later and we're still going strong. We have a lot of fun and he always makes me laugh. One of our things, which I keep slipping and saying to people is "the fetus". You see, when I was pregnant we took a long time coming up with a name. In fact, we didn't pick it until about a month before she was born, if that. So instead of referring to her as "her" we called her the fetus. And we still call her the fetus at home and sometimes slip up and say it to other people. She's been the joy of our like and is just too cute for words. Here are some videos of her "singing" and dancing, and trying to eat snow on an outdoor excursion.


Devin and I have been through team teaching in primary, working full time and going to school, and of course parenthood and home ownership. We've set our minds to get out on a honeymoon this summer (babysitting....any takers?) so hopefully we can buckle down and get the money for it!!!!! We've lived in four different apts/houses, but only been in two wards, blown through one car because all the good date activities are in idaho falls, and just had alot of fun, like when we went to a park late at night and had the cops called on us! Or when we went fishing and I got a hook through my thumb :( Through it all we've managed not to strangle each other and love each other more than when we were married:)

Friday, February 5, 2010

Family History

I always thought my name was so unique. Then in high school I went to EFY and met other Marans or people who knews Marans. Then, tonight during a session of geneology I found Grandma Jean's mom's mom's dad's mom...or my fourth great grandma, Maren Jorgensen! And to think, I always thought I was such a trendsetter!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

I guess the videos haven't been uploading...if this doesn't work it'll be back to the drawing board and I'll try again

We've had a new couple in the ward for a couple of months now, the Garlings. They're from Idaho Falls area and Boise, and they are so much fun. We've had get togethers I think every week with them, the Drapers, and the Roses from our ward. The garlings are expecting a boy in April, so hopefully they'll join up with our babysitting co-op with the Drapers. The apartment that they moved into came with dishes from the previous tenants that they couldn't keep. We took them and they are pretty! There's 4 place settings so I guess we'll have to have a fancy schmancy party or something :)





Courtney has graduated from scratching the outside of her nose to scratching the inside unfortunately. I also walked in on her stuck in this unusual position...


She also finds interesting positions to sleep in...



She has her little bum in the air like Sid from Toy Story.

She also learned to dance. I forgot I was taping so it runs for about a minute even though she's not dancing the whole time.

And we're working on solid foods, but she's hasn't quite got the hang of it yet

Monday, January 4, 2010

Recreation

Here in Saint Anthony, there's not much to do. So you get bored. Then you get desperate. Then you get creative and make baby sleds out of diaper boxes wrapped in a garbage bag. The snow is several inches deep so she kept tipping over, poor baby. So I pulled her around the car path Devin shoveled and she had a blast!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

2009











What a year 2009 was! Courtney was born on March 18th, after 2 moves we were settled into our very own home, Devin fulfilled a lifelong dream of seeing Metallica live, we got a new-ish car (merci beaucoup becky), and we got called to the sunday school presidency together! For 2010 I have no resolutions except to have weekly resolutions! It's a lot easier to keep if you only have to keep it up for a week; I can't fail or get discouraged! In 2009 I did set a late resolution for myself at the end of August, and that was to read the Book of Mormon from "I, Nephi" to "the eternal judge of both quick and dead. Amen." I was doing very well until finals in December. With two weeks to go I had 7 pages a day to read to meet my goal. Then came vacation, I even packed my scriptures in my purse instead of my duffle bag and I didn't read. December 30th rolled around and I had 80 pages to read! So I buckled down and read 50 pages on the 30th and the last 30 on the 31st. So I have learned that I can do anything I put my mind too, no matter how daunting, and I got to spend some quality time with the Spirit teaching to me. I've posted pictures of Courtney in some of her presents from grandma and grandpa Mitchell as well as Becky. There's also a video of Courtney playing with her seahorse from g-ma and g-pa. Enjoy!