Recharged and Ready to go!

We had a really busy Sunday. We had a great lesson in Relief Society. It was a good recharge for my system. After church we attended a birthday party for a little boy in our building. His name is Connor. He and Max have become good friends and his mom and I are friends as well. We thought it was important to make an appearance so we went. The party was just here at the apartment playground. The kids had a great time. They even had a Thomas the Tank Engine cake. Ty had a youth fireside in the evening and I had to call my mom, my friends, update the world you know! I am ready for a new week! I got up early this morning and went to the gym. I find it is best to start the week with a bang. I am finally going to pay my library fine and get some books. I am going to shop for bargains. I am going to cook pork chops! I am like superwoman!
Mia will be one on Saturday. I cannot believe it. She is growing so fast. She is the sweetest little girl and we are so glad to have her.
Max is full of beans. He loves sending letters to his grandparents, but even more he loves getting packages from them. He is a great little guy!
Ty is back at school today. Only 2 1/2 more years! Woo-hoo!
I think it is going to be a great week!

Mia searches for missing Max

What you cannot see from the picture is Max hiding underneath the covers. Mia was searching diligently for him. It was a great game.

A Day Out - the end of summer

We really had a great day today. We went to our favorite park and Max decided he would like to play tennis. We went to barnes and Noble, played with the train table, and got a steamer from Starbucks. We played in the fountains and then we bought apples from Publix and got free doughnuts from the office at our apartment complex.

We have loved visiting the fountain outside of Barnes and Noble. It has become one of our favorite things to do. We will be sad when it is too cold to get sprayed with the fun water.

Soaking up all the sunshine we can get!

Max knows that now that he is three he is a big boy and must take on big boy challanges like this climbing ladder all on his own. He does a great job and is always very pleased with himself.

Max finally learned to slide down the pole at the playground all by himself. He did it so many times today!

Mia loves to run at the playground. Sometimes her feet get tangled and she takes a tumble, but she always gets up and tries again.

100 things about me!

I really did not think I could come up with 100 things but I did! (thank you Jessica!)

1. I am the second child in a family with four children.
2. I am the only girl. I have 3 brothers.
3. I love chocolate and I eat it daily, take it medicinally.
4. White chocolate is an abomination. (aka not chocolate)
5. Exercising is great fun for me.
6. I love school supplies.
7. I love to dance around our apartment at night while listening to my i-pod.
8. I love the commotion of a big city.
9. I love to stand at the edge of the earth and the ocean and feel like nothing.
10. I love to climb high in the mountains and feel invincible.
11. I hate ironing. If something is wrinkly I will throw it in the dryer for a few minutes.
12. At Christmas I love gingersnaps and fudge.
13. I have so much fun trying out new recipes.
14. I love it when people rave about my food.
15. I love the salads and sandwiches at Panera.
16. I love to go to Starbucks and get a hot chocolate or a steamer. Those cups make me feel so trendy.
17. I love fashion magazines.
18. I like pretending I am a diva.
19. I think my husband is the smartest man alive.
20. I love pictures.
21. I am warming to the idea of plastic surgery ( nosejob, boobjob, .....)
22. I want to be a better example.
23. I am trying hard to live the gospel.
24. I love going to the temple with my husband.
25. I love to see my children laugh.
26. I love watching tv with Max in my lap while Mia is napping.
27. I love laughing with my mom, she is the only one who really understands my weirdness.
28. I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, he is my hope and my salvation.
29. I love dinner at Grandma Newman's.
30. I love online shopping.
31. I always prefer boots over shoes.
32. I love it when a guy flirts with me, and I love watching Ty get jealous.
33. I love singing.
34. I hate a bathroom that smells like a bathroom.
35. I would love to get a great tan.
36. I love watching the Office with Ty on Thursday nights.
37. I was depressed for weeks when Gilmore Girls went off the air.
38. I love eggo waffles.
39. Finding great deals or bargains makes me extremely excited and hyper.
40. I love any excuse to eat cake
41. When I worked at the BYU creamery my nickname was Sparkle.
42. My first kiss was a guy named Fabio Ambrosio from Italy.
43. When I was in preschool I thought my last name was Bug.
44. I love teaching relief society, I think it is the greatest calling.
45. I would love to have a great dane and name him Hero.
46. I hate guns.
47. I love peanut butter.
48. Combine my two great loves : chocolate and peanut butter = divinity
49. All summer long I want to eat BLT's
50. I love kissing chubby baby cheeks.
51. I hate bowling, because I think putting my fingers in the little holes is gross and germy.
52. I would love to go to New York at Christmas time.
53. I would love to own a beach house.
54. I love all kinds of cheese. I think of myself as a cheese snob.
55. I love crazy organic health foods, even tofu.
56. I drove a jeep in college and I love 4 wheel drive.
57. I once got lost driving to Provo from Salt Lake and ended up in Park City.
58. I love outlet shopping.
59. I really miss In N Out Burger.
60. I think east coast pizza is way better than west coast pizza.
61. I love going to the library and checking out lots of books.
62.I love reading cookbooks, decorating books, organizing books, craft books....
63. I ate tacos every day when I was pregnant.
64. I love this years American Idol, David Cook
65. I love music
66. I think gouda is my favorite cheese, right next to brie
67. I love blogging.
68. I love comments on my blog.
69. I love getting to know people.
70. I love hearing exciting news, from anyone.
71. I hate alfredo sauce
72. I eat tomato sauce right out of the jar.
73. I would love to be asked out on a date!!
74. I hate worms, my brothers used to throw them at me.
75. My favorite animal is a hippo.
76. I once asked my parents to bring me a stone hippo from Africa, they brought me a warthog.
77. I am so used to all of the tall people in our family that I think everyone is short.
78. I hope one of my brothers gets married, I would love a new sister in law.
79. I love to play dress up with baby Mia
80. I love the smell of coffee.
81. You couldn't pay me to go to a high school reunion.
82. I like to play with play doh
83. I love how soft and warm and clean my babies are right when they get out of the tub.
84. I love celebrity gossip
85. I love sharing a pint of ice cream with Ty after the kids are asleep. It is like a party.
86. I hope I can teach my children the gospel.
87. I think Daniel Craig, and Jude Law are really good looking men.
88. I have never been skiing and never want to. The idea of flying down a freezing cold ice mountain and possibly dying does not appeal to me, I will be in the lodge drinking cocoa, thank you!
89. My favorite classes in college were anatomy and modern dance.
90. I was Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof.
91. I only ever wanted to marry Ty, I knew if I didn't marry him I would never be happy.
92. Ty and I only dated and official 9 days before getting engaged.
93. I went to Crafton Hills College, BYU, and UVSC. My favorite was UVSC.
94. I love the ocean but hate boats. I get really sea sick.
95. I have a testimony that our Heavenly Father loves and wants the best for us.
96. I tend to run cold. I love cozy sweaters.
97. I wish Rachel Ray were my best friend.
98. I think my kids have the best grandparents in the whole world.
99. I love clinique Happy and Victoria's Secret pink perfumes.
100. I will always be a Lakers fan and a California girl at heart.

I tag: Alexandra, Jenna, and Jessica Newman (Cole's wife, not me!)

Peanut Butter Blondies with Chocolate Chips!

So very delicious, we had to give half the pan away so that we would not eat them all!

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cream the peanut butter and butter with the sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla.
3. Mix the flour with the salt and baking powder. Slowly add to the wet ingredients.
4. Add as many or as few chocolate chips as you like (we prefer the many!)
5. Bake for 35 minutes (or until set)

Vegging Out

Max is just like Ty. He loves television and movies of all kinds. His movie collection is his favorite toy, and his favorite spot to be is on the couch in front of the tv. He is pretty cute.

Sleeping Beauty

I took the kids to the playground first thing this morning so that Ty could get some homework done. When we came home we played with the neighbors and colored with chalk. By the time we had lunch and watched The Lion King Mia was exhausted. She is so cute, my little punk rocker biker baby!

We've Been Boooed!

Late last night while we were all in bed, someone left us a halloween bag full of halloween cookie cutters. Today we made Grandma Newman's sugar cookies and decorated them with chocolate chips, m & m's, and fruit loops. Luckily some of them were much too ugly to be photographed and had to be eaten.

Giggles

Nothing is cuter than a happy laughing baby. We love it when Mia gets all giddy.

Whipped Cream!

We all came home from church today starving! That is the problem with the three hour block. While we were waiting for our baked potatoes Mia and I found the whipped cream. I had fun squirting it into her mouth and she had fun eating it!

Super Saturday!

This morning my friend Jenna and I ventured out and went in search of garage sales. We had sooo much fun! It was great to search for treasures. I was able to get Christmas shopping for the kids done. I was super excited. We had a great morning. We even found a sale giving away free donuts to the shoppers! After my fantastic morning of shopping we had a picnic with some friends at a park in Hendersonville. It was a great opportunity to clean out the fridge of leftovers. The kids had a fun playing at the playground and we had fun talking with our friends. On the way home Max and Mia fell asleep and Ty and I made brownies and licked the bowl clean. It was a very fun Saturday!

Brownies (the best ever!!!)
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
10 tablespoons butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup flour

1. preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Melt the chocolate with the butter. Whisk in the sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the flour.
3. At this point you can add chocolate chips or nuts or marshmallows or just leave your brownies plain.
4. Bake 40-45 minutes in a 9 inch pan!

Laundry Fight!

Max and Mia love it when I pull warm clothes out of the dryer. They go nuts and roll around in them. They throw them at each other. It is great fun until I get mean and insist we fold them!

Late Night Dinners With Ty

Ty has had some of the longest days lately. He leaves early in the morning for clinicals and has classes until late in the evening. Last night he did not come home until after 8. I had the kids in bed and decided to make us a nice dinner to enjoy together. It was so much fun to cook alone without the kids. I made the best pork chops with onion gravy and spicy chipotle pepper mashed potatoes. Afterwards we had brownies with whipped cream. I know all of the diet gurus say that its not the best idea to eat that late, but it was so much fun. It was a nice way to spend some time together and unwind after the busy day. I think we will have to make the late night dinner thing a tradition!

Guilty Pleasure

I love Gossip Girl!
Ty had to wake up before 5 on Tuesday for clinicals and I woke up with him just so that I could watch Gossip Girl all alone in the dark before the kids woke up. I look forward to it every week. Thank Goodness for Tivo that allows me to watch my favorite show whenever I get a moment!

A Happy Day for Mia

Mia loves to be outside. She will bang on the front door until we take her out. She loves to play on our little patio. She is definately a California girl at heart. I can tell because of her love of sunshine!

Chalking it Up!

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today. The weather was perfect. Just right for being outside. Max took the chalk out and made a masterpiece.

An Ode to My Friends

1. When you are sad I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. When you are blue I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared we will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6. When you are confused I will use little words.

7. When you are sick Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall I'll pick you up and dust you off.

9. This is my oath...I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask -- because you are my FRIEND!

Cooler Weather

It has suddenly cooled down in Nashville. We woke up this morning and put on long sleeves and sweaters. It does make it feel a lot more like fall. Last night we had a great welcome to fall dinner. We had squash with sauteed apples and onions with sausage, and apple crisp for dessert. I love cozy sweaters and hot chocolate so I am looking forward to the cooler weather.

Spicy Apple Cake

We made this recipe with some of our apples that we picked the other day and it is delicious!

Apple Cake

1/4 cup butter + 1/4 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour + 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup milk
2 cups apple (peeled and grated)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cream the butter and oil with the sugars. Add the eggs and the vanilla.
3. Mix together the flours with the baking powder and baking soda. Add the salt and pumpkin pie spice.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
5. Add the milk and apples and mix in.
6. Pour into a greased 9 inch pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.
Serve dusted with powdered sugar.

Max and Sharkee

Today it was sooooo hot. We had to go the nice air conditioned mall. We were lucky because they happened to be having a kid's fair today. Max had so much fun playing all of the games and winning fun prizes. Mia got to help push her stroller all through the mall and by the time we said goodbye to the hippo at the Rainforest Cafe she was so tired she could barely stay awake on the way to the car!

Happy Anniversary!

5 years ago Ty and I were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. I remember being so excited that I could hardly sleep the night before. Ty was so handsome in his tux. We ate nothing but brownies and cheesecake, and drank only martinellis. It was a great day and a great start to what has been a wild and crazy, but truly fabulous 5 years. I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have the cutest guy on the planet!

Apple Picking!

Today we were able to go to Springfield and pick tons of apples! An older lady in our ward invited anyone that wanted to come and pick apples. Max and Mia helped to fill all our bags. They loved tasting the apples. We are going to get busy making apple crisp and applesauce and applecakes and more!

Tiny Shopaholic!

I took Max and Mia to Hobby Lobby today. Mia had so much fun picking out everything she wanted, and what she wanted was everything.

New Shoes!

I finally Bought Mia some shoes she can walk in and she LOVES them! I think they are just adorable on her. It doesn't hurt that she is adorable without them too!

Tag! I'm it...

1. If every job paid $50,000 a year, and you had no physical or mental limitations, what would you do? I would bake cookies.

What is your current church calling and what do you like about it? I teach relief society one Sunday a month. I love studying and preparing for the lessons. I feel like I learn a lot about the gospel and a lot about the women I am teaching.

Name a person you regularly encounter (outside your family) who brightens your day. Jenna, Alexandra, Chantel, Tricia, Tiffany, Esther (if you are going to name one, might as well name them all.)

In twenty years, what do you think you will miss most about your life now? the endless possibilites of where life will take us.

What’s something you appreciate about your spouse? He is really genuinely concerned for my health and happiness.

What is your favorite routine, household chore? I love to clean. It is exhilerating for me.

What’s a book you return to occasionally (besides the scriptures)? I will read the Little House Books again and again forever.

Favorite Small Pleasure: Sitting down with a magazine.

Favorite time of the day? Early morning after my workout. I feel strong and alert and ready for anything.

Name a person who performed what they thought was a small act of service, but ended up being a big deal to you: I had to go to the Emergency Room last year at around 2 in the morning. We had no family nearby. I had Ty call one of my visiting teachers. I knew she would come right over. She did. It was not a big deal for her, but it was so important to me that she came when I needed her.

Name someone who somehow changed your life. Ty. i am no longer just me. I am me, myself, and Ty!

Consider what you do each day. Think of one attribute or trait that you bring to your daily work that is a strength—what is something you do really well? I think I am a pretty happy and positive person. I think that helps in everything that I do and makes everything I try to do a little bit better.

I tag Jessica (Newman and Driggs)

Sunday Evening: September 7, 2008

The weekend is over! It goes by so fast. A new week starts tomorrow. Ty will go back to school and clinicals, and I go back to storytime, grocery shopping, playgroup, the park, Barnes and Noble train table, and cooking 3 meals a day. I really love my life. I love being a mom and spending the days with my kids. I love to see them have fun. I love cooking for Ty. I always make him tell me how fabulous everything is. I love how excited Max and Mia get when Ty comes home. ( I am pretty happy happy about it too!) I am a very lucky girl!

We like to have dessert with our Sunday dinners. Today Max wanted cupcakes. I ask you...What are cupcakes? I answer...Something to hold frosting. I am a huge fan of frosting. Today we made Chocolate truffle frosting. It was chocolate truffle deliciousness!

Chocolate Truffle Frosting:

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2/3 cup cream
2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vanilla

Simmer the cream and the powdered sugar together in a saucepan. Pour over chocolate.
Whisk butter and vanilla into chocolate mixture.
Let chill 30 minutes.

Tribute: Johnny Cash

We went to Hendersonville today to see where Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash are buried. It was neat to see. There were all sorts of flowers on the graves, and notes from people reading, "You still inspire." Ty said that he did not know what was so inspiring about Johnny Cash. I told him that he was inspiring for all sorts of reasons. He came from nothing and became a household name and will be for generations to come. He was a man who got what he wanted. He wanted to sing and he wanted June Carter....So here is my little Johnny Cash tribute. We try not to walk the line but we are glad he did!

Dragon Costume

We went to Old Navy today. The costumes were on sale so I decided today was the day to buy one. Max really wanted to be the dragon. We found the last one in his size. He is really excited for Halloween now, we even had a practice trick-or-treat at our house!

Max's New House

I love buying something huge just so that Max and Mia have a great box to play in.

Goodbye Old Friend

The washing machine broke today. It was very sad. Ty tried very hard to revive the stopped washer but it was to no avail.
Enough tears! Let us not be sad...Good things have come from this washers end. We needed a washer so we went to Sam's Club and bought one (the new one is in the picture) It came in a HUGE box that Max and Mia played in for hours, before they finally destroyed it, and now I should have a reliable machine to do laundry in for years to come!

This is me, all the way!

"It's not what I said that matters, It's what I meant that counts!"

What I Like About You....

Ty:
1. Rippling Muscles
2. Diligent in all things
3. Amazing woodworker
4. Tech smarts
5. Brilliant!
6. Incredibly good looking
7. Righteous Priesthood Holder
8. Love of my life!

Max:
1. Beautiful blue eyes
2. Great big brother to Mia
3. Love of play-doh
4. Terrific swimmer
5. getting good at monkey bars
6. Potty trained (woo-hoo!)
7. Gives The Best Hugs
8. makes a mean chocolate chip cookie

Mia:
1. Sweet and Happy Disposition
2. Drama Queen
3. Chubbiness all around
4. Candy Kisses
5. great sense of humor
6. Willing to come along for the ride
7. Loves her dollies
8. Loves her daddy and brother Max

Where is Baby Mia!?

Today I lost the baby. I could not find her anywhere in our apartment. I finally found her throwing Ty's clothes out of his dresser. She was very pleased with herself.

Disney Store Finds

We love to go to the Disney Store (or as Max calls it, The Mickey Mouse Store) We always find something great. Today we got this Little Einsteins pillow for Max. It was $1.99, so we were very excited!

Catfish

We went to see the catfish at the Bass Pro Shops. The fish are huge, and Max was a little bit uncomfortable when this one got as close as it did!

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad FISH?!

MAX!!!

Hello September, Goodbye Gym?!

Ty will be starting his clinical rotation tomorrow in Clarksville! He will be waking up at 4:30 to drive an hour and be ready to go by 6 am! What a trouper! I will very much miss my morning trips to the gym. Ty has been a great babysitter, but I have a really fun hip-hop video to keep me busy at home! Maybe in a few months I will be good enough to try out for So You Think You Can Dance. (For those of you who have ever seen me dance you know this is really not possible!)
We had a great weekend. Last night we took the kids out for a walk. The weather was just how a summer evening in the south should be. It made me think of the evenings described in "Tuck Everlasting".
I am looking forward to September in Nashville!