Beck's Blog

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Dexter :)

So, if you've ever met me, or know much about me/my fam, you've come to realize we aren't... the "warmest" bunch. We don't like animals. We don't hug/kiss, etc. We're ...basically cold and bitter... (enh, we have our nice moments too :)

Well, Celeste decided she wanted to add to her list of chores/life obligations, and texted me the other day:

Celeste: "I'm thinking about getting a kitty." (Yeah. She said kitty to me.)

Me: "No, you're not."

Celeste: "Yeah, I am. Just something to come home to..."

Me: "Celeste, people with cats are crazy. I don't care what you say. If you're getting ready to bring a group of friends, a guy, co-workers, etc, home and you tell them you have a cat...you already lose sanity-points" (or something similar).

She saw the light, and decided on a small dog. Now, I don't really like those either... (hairy, slobbery, SMELLy, blah), but I'm MUCH more inclined to like a dog than a cat (I've been known to accidentally lose total control of my car, when I see cats in the road, and swerve their way...if you catch my drift... but no, I've never actually hit one...hard...yet.... KIDDING!).

Anyway, I went with it. As we ran our errands, we stopped in at quite a few different puppy-mills ("pet-shops") to look around. After our last stop of the day, she asked to head up the hill (on Eastern) and check out one last shop. We went in, and...almost immediately, she and I decided on the one we wanted to "test-drive." It took forever for the dog-salesman to ask if we needed any help, but when we finally got to hold this dog, we knew....

(Drum roll please....)

TAH-DAHHH!!!

DEXTER!

Name: Dexter Tuttle

Type: Toy Poodle

Born: October 26, 2009

Height: 7 inches (at best)

Weight: 2.4 lbs (with the potential

of reaching 5 WHOLE POUNDS!)

He just likes to play with you.

He doesn't like to be alone, okay? :)

No, that's not a Rooster, silly. It's Dexter!!

Halloween Costume? PAH-ssibly...

He likes to go on drives and snuggle and play and sleep.

He's, literally, the best dog in the whole world (no joke).

Never barks.

Potty trained.

SO CUTE.

Doesn't Shed.

Doesn't Smell.

Perfect. :)

He's like... the Cindy-Lou-Who to my Grinch. He makes my heart grow one size bigger. I way like him a lot. Shout out to Celeste for getting him, and shout out to my beloved Google-phone, for pretty decent photos :)

The Missionary

Bill is "Killin'-it" down in TN (well...I guess 'over' in TN?.. we're probably just as south as they are...I'm no good at geography). He sends us regular emails and pics (I'm not sure he's doing much missionary work, from the looks of the photos!). They've been 'snowed-in' a couple of times now, so he's had a few extra study-days (which I think he may have turned into 'play days')...

Here he is:

Alive, well, and goofy-lookin' as ever! :P

A Happy New Year's from Bill and his 1st/current comp.

Star Trek (?) anyone? Geek.

He's a lover not a fighter.

Modeling his very fashion-forward 'one'zy-jumpsuit.

He also sent some...ahem... anatomically accurate statues he created from the snow...but are not appropriate for children 18 and younger...or adults 19 and older... so I'll leave them off this blog.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

So...Clayt's Cold.

I received a picture-text from clayt yesterday, it looked a little something like this:

"Im wearing :Long underwear, two sweaters, two jackets, snow coat, two beanies, snowgloves, two pairs a socks, pair of sweats, pair of jeans and a scarf. Is it cold enough to wear all this down there?"

Just thought I'd share this...with all of you who are enjoying the beautiful 60 degree 'Vegas weather with me... :)

Stay warm! :P

Monday, January 11, 2010

Shout out to... the Dad.

To the dad that's always there when you least need to be bugged on, to the guy who was always willing to turn your bedroom light on at 5am every Saturday, just to make you get out of bed (or suffocate under covers to avoid the light, depending upon your level of laziness), to the one who was always honest about the high degree of apathy he holds for 90% of the things you talk to him about...and to the world's best reader....

Happy Birthday Dad!

Spence is a poser. Jess is just strange.

We (Jess and I) decided to go with a Jonas Brother's theme for dad... very fitting. And not creepy at all, right?

Twinners :) (lighting the candles)

They sooo love each other!

Happy Birthday to Dad,

Happy Birthday to Pops,

Happy BIIIIRRRRTHDAYYY DEAAARRR OLLLLD MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNN,

Happy Birthday tooo you!

Ahh, to be 54 years young... (just 30 years to go for me, though dad swears I've been around him since he was a sophomore in high school...which...I DON'T think is a compliment...). We had Villa Pizza and Apple pie for his dinner this year, and afterwards, he spent his evening doing what he loves most: taking Spence to soccer practice and reading a book. Predictable. Consistent.

I like it.

I'm 99% sure dad doesn't know/care I have a blog. and I'm 100% sure he'd prolly not read it, even if he knew about it, but I'll say this anyway:

Love ya dad. You're pretty okay. Most of the time... :P (I know, I know...you use toilette paper, whatever. get a new line...)

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

What a MERRY time of the year...

So, Christmas is the one holiday that involves sacred family traditions for us. Well, technically, Christmas Eve is our big day.

The traditions:

1. Homemade PIZZA making
2. Opening all of our gifts (to make room for Santa's gifts)
3. Decorating cookies while watching/listening to White Christmas

Here are some photos that document a few of these cherished annual moments, and the moments of 2009's Christmas Eve:

He's such a cute lil chef :)

Some serious dough-making going on here...

Jess means business.
(well, not her name, which I'm pretty sure means "Pain in the Rear" in most Native American Languages...)

Aaaand Spence's facial expressions help the overall taste factor's improvement.

Sisters...sisssterrrs, there were never SUCH devoted sissterrrssss...

Cute glasses mom :) Cute face Matt :)

Dad, handling the sausage for the "meat-lover's" edition

Look how tall he is!?!?!

Introducing... (drum roll please...) Sista' #4. J.R.Tut joined us on this Merry occasion!!

And for ONCE in over a dozen years, the girls out number the boys :) ...we miss ya Bill (I Spy Bill.....) oh, and sorry it's so fuzzy :\

We'll frost YOUR cookies! >:)

Basically, we're professionals here. No time for kidders, we. are. serious.

And, per-usual, the evening ended in the typical-Tuttle-chat... (A candid moment :)

This really was an awesome year for us. I really really am grateful for all we have been blessed with over the past year. A marriage, a couple of moved-out siblings, a couple of MONUMENTAL graduations (praise Jesus I'm done with the worst of my schooling...), a few new jobs, and a mission to boot... :) Life is crazy, but crazy can be...and is... awesome.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Rants and Raves Of A Dental Hygienist...

(some random dental hygienist…not me…just…some other girl I know…who may or may not have had THE MOST ANNOYING PATIENTS EVER today…)

Just some thoughts for the general public… if you are of the dental profession, then these may be redundant, or slightly amusing… if you are a hygienic individual, then consider these things and maybe chuckle… if you have a jacked up grill, here are some things to think about…

1. Why do you brush your teeth? So that your “breath” smells better, or because your mom told you to? If so, then you’re motives are slightly pathetic, incorrect and unaccomplished.

Brush your teeth to get plaque off. Plaque is what the microorganisms hanging out in your mouth crap out (Yep. Literally. The waste-byproduct of those tiny guys…GROSS). Plaque turns into tarter (“calculus”). This makes your gums bleed, and dissolves the bone that holds your teeth in your mouth. Plaque can also produce acid, which eats holes in your teeth (aka Cavities).

2. Why DON’T you floss? Does it take too long? Well then practice! Are you not coordinated enough? Try a floss-pick or floss holder. Your toothbrush CAN NOT get in between your teeth. Just do it. Trust me. Your cleanings will be 90% faster, 100% less painful, and THOROUGHLY more enjoyable (we could chat about life, instead of nagging…..wouldn’t that be lovely?)

3. BRUSH. YOUR. NASTY. TONGUE. Hey…go eat a Popsicle, or drink some blue Koolaid and show a friend/family member… cool huh?  NO! GROSS! The only reason your tongue stained so darkly is because it’s got plaque all over it!!! Brush it! Go buy a tongue scraper/brush! Everyone will [silently] thank you (you don’t want to be known behind your back as someone with smelly breath, right?).

How to be a good patient while in the chair:

1. Just tell us what medications you are on. Yes, they may be embarrassing; yes you may have forgotten how to spell them and what they are for, but WE NEED TO KNOW THEM. And yes, they DO affect your mouth and “this” appointment.

2. We’re not the bad guy. Remember that. Our job, literally, is to keep you out of the dentist’s chair. If you follow our advice and suggestions, you’ll be in good shape. We’re not nagging, we’re HELPING.

3. Taking xrays: Learn to CONTROL YOUR FRIGGIN’ TONGUE. If I place the film/sensor on the middle of your tongue and ask you to bite down, don’t try to be sly and flip the thing on its side and then close really fast… sorry. That’s not going to work. I know they suck, just deal for a little bit, okay? Also, hold still once I walk away to take the xray. Me stepping away does not mean you are at liberty to check your phone, look into the xray tube, get up, etc. JEESH!

4. Probing: We measure the bone levels around your teeth at every visit, and record them at least once a year. Don’t tell me you don’t want that done. It’s my job. It’s part of the minimum standard of care. It helps me to get acquainted or re-acquainted with your mouth, and it helps you to understand/realize that there may be some issues that you need to address.

5. The Cleaning: (this should be fun…)

a. DON’T close while I’ve got the Cavitron and mirror in your mouth. I PROMISE I will let you close down and get that water out, every 5-10 seconds. Quit being such a baby.

b. Why do you tighten your lower lip, and occasionally your cheeks to your teeth while I’m cleaning in that region? Do you WANT to get poked by the sharp instrument in my hand? Do you think I can do my job with you limiting my access to the area like that? What exactly is going through your head?

c. If I ask you to turn your head, I don’t mean…move your eyeballs to the left or right. I literally need you to rotate your head in the direction my hand is moving your chin. If it’s uncomfortable for a bit, I’m sorry. But I have to do this 8 hours a day, you have to be in that chair (if all goes well and you take care of business at home) a MAXIMUM of a half hour or so, every 6 months. No biggie, right?

d. And remember, I’m CLEANING YOUR TEETH. Don’t make me ask you to open repeatedly, okay? If you are laying back, and I’ve got a mirror and an instrument in each hand, then expect me to want your mouth open. OK?

Monday, December 21, 2009

Tuttle Gingerbread House Competition 2009

Okay, we tried something new. A friend of mine told me about her family's annual gingerbread house-making competition, and I decided that would be a fun activity for me and my siblings. So...Celeste an I went to the store and grabbed all the crap to make these things, and...

Tah-Dah!

Mom was our photo-documenter...for the first 10 minutes....then she decided to "help" Matt. Whatever. :P

I'm not drunk. I swear.

Alright fine. He was having a little difficutly....

Our abstract-architect. Who knew?!?

Now, for your viewing pleasure...the final products:

Celeste's Log Cabin

Jess's one-room "starter-home"

Matt's (*cough*cough* Mom's) Wintery-wonderland

Spence's....well...he won the sportsmanship award.

Beck's adobe-style home (my strength is in my tile-work.)

It's a messy activity...that's for sure...

DUM-Dum-dummmmm

The Judge: Dad

After much scrutiny (and down-right belittling...), it was a 3 way tie: Jess-Matt-Celeste. :) good job guys. (Mine was "too busy" :( ...)

Kind of a fun thing...not sure if it will be an annual occurence or not. Too soon to tell... (the construction of the houses themselves was....painful, at best. A word to the wise: don't use whipped cream-cheese frosting....even if you know it tastes better than the others...).