Oprah & Food

Throughout my years of growing up with Oprah on TV at 4:00 pm. There have been many different episodes I have been interested in... make overs, movie stars and their stories, life changing stories, etc. But the one thing that has never kept my attention are the shows dealing with food, whats healthy, whats not, blah blah blah... until today.

Today Oprah had a guest on, Michael Pallen, who wrote the book "Food Rules" and for the first time, it almost all made sense... for example, Dont eat something you cant make... you want french fries? Make them yourself. Honestly, how often do I want to make french fries? Not very often, so if I stuck to this rule, I would probably eat french fries alot more often... anyway, to get to the point, this book has me intrigued. Especially just after having a baby... looking to loose a few pounds or inches =).

So if you are the same way, wanting to eat what you want, no matter how much sugar or butter is in it, take a look at this book. It may just change not what we eat, but how much we eat it...

Anyway, I am off to make some Raspberry Jam! With lots and lots of sugar! =)

3 Months, ALREADY!?

 On July 30, our little sweet-pea will be 3 months old! And the time has flown by way to fast! I can't believe it! She is such a joy and so much fun to be with! She smiles all the time, she loves to cooo, and is just a sweet baby ( dont get me wrong we do have our moments.hehe.) Mommy and Daddy are certainly in LOVE!

Here are some of her 3 month shots taken, by her Auntie Angela (remember Ang took Hatley's baby pictures on Saipan too!) Thank you Angela for taken her shots and giving us something to remember this stage! And Hat, Thank you for being so darn cute!

Home.

Well alot has happened since my last post. A LOT. My last post was written on a beautiful island called Saipan, in the south pacific... This post, is being written on a beautiful farm, known as Sawyer Farm, in the Gorgeous Palouse hills, in Idaho... We are home...

Mark and I made the big move at the end of June from our beautiful island home, back to the Palouse. It has been a blessing since the day we landed. We have been blessed with so much family time, a great job for mark, a quaint and cute home in Palouse Washington, and all the things we dreamed about while on Saipan... Though I am sure soon we will be dreaming of Saipan sometime soon too.
Since we have been home we have been able to spend a weekend with the whole family at Priest Lake for 3 days, a wonderful family reunion at Marks sister's home for the 4th of July weekend, Farmers Markets, country drives, moving into our new home (which has been a slow process), eating at our fav. resturants, twlight with Angela my sister in law, Family walks in the town of Palouse,Shopping in real stores, not online... etc. We have done so much... And have enjoyed it all...

Life is settling down here, we are getting established... We have pretty much moved into our new home, we still have some boxes to dig through, Mark has begun his position as Associate Pastor at Palouse Federated Church, and Farming has started for the summer. Hatley and I have started getting into a routine, and this weekend we are excited for Auntie Kara and Nicole to come visit and meet Hatley!

It is good to be home.

Here are a few pictures from our time so far here on the Palouse, to check out more you can look at Facebook, or once I get some more time, I will eventually get them uploaded to our Shutterfly share site. =)


Until next time,
So Long from the Palouse!

The first Palouse Sunset from the back porch of our new home.

Hatley Loves her cousins Bumbo, may have to steal that!

The moving crew... thanks for all your help! Our home is almost out of boxes!

First day back in the states. I think Grandma and Grandpa Oliver are in love with little miss Hatley!

Grandpa Sawyer is enjoying his 6th grandbaby!

Moonlight at Priest Lake... What a beautiful weekend!

Uunt Suz and Cousin Trent on the boat, THANK YOU for a FABULOUS weekend at the lake!

Mark and Dad enjoying a ride! We may have to invest, or once again steal. =)

Uncle Mark and Trentster on the boat...

Just a little Sawyer Crazy.

Hat loves her new shades from Grandpa Garry!

Mom & Dad enjoying the lake too!

After months and months of talking about us playing again, Suz and I are together!

Hatley loves her new sling! (Idea stolen from the Pierson's! hehe)

The Junior Sawyer family on a boat ride at Priest.

Palouse, Washington... Our new home, and look what is just around the corner from our house!

Hatley and Grandpa John Always making eachother smile!

Momma and the Roo at our Babyshower!

Uncle Rob playing with ALL the kiddo's at the 4th of July celebration!

Tryin to get a picture of some of the cousins, I think it was a little sunny!

Suz and Me. Oh how I have missed you!

A small church near the Holling home.

Three generations...

Friends into Family

As time comes to a close here on Saipan, Mark and I have been talking alot about what we are excited for back on the Palouse, but also what is so dear to us here on Saipan and what we are going to miss the most. Sure, I am definitley going to miss the year round sun shine and warm weather, the delicous food, the chance to go to the beach anytime of day we want, and just the slower paced life style. WE ARE GOING TO MISS OUR ISLAND HOME...But the main thing we focus on is our island family and how much we are going to miss them. When you live on Saipan, you live far from your family, unles you are from Saipan... and it can be hard sometimes being out here without family, however, the friends you make on Saipan, not only become life long friends, but become your family....So to all of our Saipan family, thank you. We love you, and are going to miss you dearly..You have all meant so much to Mark, Hatley and I. We couldnt have lived here without you. You truely are our family.

Owen and Irene Gabbie, our island parents. Keep a room open for us in NZ. We will be coming to visit!

Pastor Greg and Sandy Dickerman, Thank you for all your love and encouragment!

Hatley's island Grandma, Jan. Thanks for taking care of us!

Lil' Jen!

Family celebrating Marks 27th birthday... L around the table... Jen, Mark, myself, Kanae, Jen, Russ, Amanda, Daniel, and Cassie...

All very special Ladies in my life!

Nikki and Jen, Love you girls!

The Myhrums... so glad you will only be 2 hours away in the states!

Crystal, Shylah and Ken... Crystal and I were pregnant at the same time, and I couldnt have asked for a better friend to go through it with... I have loved getting to know your family and watching the girls grow to this age together! We will miss our bachelor nights, lunch dates, and just hanging out! Love you guys!

Thankful Thursday....

How can you not be thankful for smiles from someone so cute? I am so thankful to be Hatley's Mommy. Even on the roughest days, she steals my heart.

I love you H-Roo.

Hatley's Island Photo Shoot

While Hatley's Auntie Angela was here we were able to set up some of our very own photoshoots to capture some adorable and beautiful pictures of our little girl... Here are just a few peeks, to check out the rest of them check out our online photo blog at:

http://markandbrittany.shutterfly.com/

Thank you again Ang for capturing such a sweet time!

Love,
Mark, Brit, and Hatley

Sand, Sun, Fun, & Family!

Mark, Hatley, and myself were completely and utterly blessed with a Christmas gift that was given to Mark's sister Angela: A PLANE TICKET TO SAIPAN! This was not only a gift for Ang, but a great gift for us, a gift of having family on island, and a gift of introducing Hatley to someone in her amazing family!

Angela was able to spend a whole 12 days with us, that were spent playing in the sand (Hatley enjoyed the ocean and the sand for the first time!), enjoying happy hour, watching Law and Order (GO BD WONG!), shopping, hiking, playing tourist, and simply just being together! We couldnt have asked for a better guest or a better vacation... Here are just a few shots from our time together, to check out all the others, go ahead and take a look at our photo blog: http://markandbrittany.shutterfly.com/ You can also probably check out Angela's blog for many more pictures =). http://www.mom-e-memoirs.blogspot.com/

Thank you Angela for making the long flight, being willing to try pretty much anything, and simply spending time with us... We were so blessed to have you here, and so blessed to have you as our sister. We miss you already. BUT we will see you soon!

Love,
Mark, Brit, and Your Bitty

Auntie Angela, right off the plane, meeting Hatley for the first time!

Hyatt Happy Hour!

The Girls at Brunch! Hat looks a little confused... maybe it was the flash.

The 4 Sawyers on Saipan

On the Ferry headed to the beautiful island of Managaha!

The Sawyer Family on Managaha

Our girl in her itsy, bitsy, tinny, winny yellow polka dot bikini... thats too big =)

Already a  beach lover.

Welcome to Saipan Angela!

Our family at Brunch....