Friday, April 30, 2010

In the Splash Zone!

Zackary loves to take baths. He loves it when other people take baths too.
Zac was thrilled to have a seat next to the tub during Mia's bath today so that he could splash a little in the water and slip and slide on the bathroom floor.

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

The Good:
It is a beautiful day in Nashville, Tennessee!
The birds are singing and the wind is gently blowing.
The kids couldn't wait to get outside this morning.
More Good:
The weather was so lovely that we pulled our little table and chairs outside for a picnic lunch. We were joined by our neighbors and had a lovely visit that ended in more playtime for the kids and hand me down shoes and jeans for me! I love it when your friends find their closets are too full and offer to fill yours!
Still Good:
Mia all smiles...
now for the bad and the ugly....
The FROGS are back!
My kids are thrilled.
Me....not so much.

Me and the Punks

We had a little fun with the camera.
Everyone wanted to get in on the action. I had a lap full of kids who wanted to be photographed. I tried to get a group shot, but I need longer arms!
A very smiley Max with a Zack attack in the back :)

Steadfast and Immovable


Mosiah 5:15 "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all."

Thursday, April 29, 2010

It's Steve! or Joe! or Max!

We found this very Blue's Clues like shirt for Max yesterday. He said it was just like Steve's. He was very excited to wear it to school today and told me that everyone was going to like it. He is so cute!

A Beautiful Place

Mia and I are headed out on a walk around the complex. Maybe someday we will walk in slightly different surroundings.

Simple Steps to Happiness!



Have a Heart...

I am the optimist with the cutesie little heart and Ty is the realist with the "real" heart.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Daylon needs prayers!

My friend Rachel has an amazing blog called La Fuji Mama.
She has done a post about her friend's little boy, Daylon.
He was born with a horrible and lethal disease. They are raising money to help aid medical expenses. He and his family could use all of your prayers. Miracles happen and our Heavenly Father hears us!
Here is the link:
http://www.lafujimama.com/2010/04/meet-daylon-help-make-a-miracle-giveaway/#more-2433

Where Land and Ocean Meet


This picture was taken somewhere along the coast of California.
I can almost hear the waves and the wind!

Celebrity Crush

Everyone has a celebrity crush.
Mine has always been Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".
I was able to meet one of the actors who played Darcy in a version of Pride and Prejudice. It was at the BYU creamery and I had just married Ty. I was all smiles and very giddy.
Ty accepts my love for Mr. Darcy, but he refuses to let me name our children after him.


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Lunch with Mia

Today, while Max was at school, I decided to have a little sit down lunch with Mia.
I made her favorites; cinnamon toast and strawberries with fresh whipped cream.
I followed specific instructions for the cinnamon toast. I have learned recently that there is a right way and many wrong ways to make cinnamon toast. Read all about it here :
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/the-right-way-and-the-wrong-way-to-make-cinnamon-toast/
I will never make cinnamon toast the wrong way again!
Mia was very happy with her little plate. My plate looked very similar, except that my dollop of whipped cream was larger. I am, after all, a larger person and therefore I need more whipped cream :)
The whipped cream was first to go, followed by the strawberries and finally the toast.
I am going to have to sit down to lunch with Mia more often. It was very fun!

Monday, April 26, 2010

My Family and Birthdays!

Some of my most favorite people!
(sis-in-law Steph, big bro. Josh, little bro. Jamison, dad, and mom)

I love my family and I sometimes really dislike being so far from them.
I grew up with 3 brothers and I always wanted a sister. My oldest brother married Stephanie and I finally have that sister I always wanted! She is amazing. She can cook and sew. She is so good to Josh. She is a great friend! I wish we lived a little closer so that we could chat more, and she could make me a cake on my birthday!
Josh is in the Coast Guard and is currently on a ship in Alaska! He is very cold and I know Stephanie misses him. He is working hard to support his little family at home.
Jamison, my teeny tiny and youngest brother turns 22 today! Happy Birthday Jamison! He is really not very tiny at all. He is 6 feet 6 inches tall and wears a size 16 shoe. His smile is just as big! He is hilarious and we love him!
My dad is the best! He loves my mom like crazy and is the best grandpa ever! My kids miss him so much.
My mom is 29 again today! It's her birthday too! Happy Birthday Mom! My mom is one of my best friends! She is great at sharing the latest news and one of the first people I call when something exciting happens. She has been a great example to me.

These are my peeps! I love them!


Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Gospel, Food, and Friends

It was a wonderful Sunday.
The temple president and his wife spoke in church today. Ty gave a wonderful lesson in gospel principles. It was the perfect fuel for my tank!
After church I made some very cheesy scalloped potatoes to enjoy with some friends over dinner.
The men grilled while the ladies talked. The kids ran wild and free.
Rob made the best cake ever! Great group=Huge success!
In other news....Ty made me watch Avatar....I have no desire to be a blue person.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

So far....

The weekend has been amazing!
Friday night Rob and Lisa came over and brought a handy dandy fry daddy with them. I had never used a fry daddy before, but if you are going to be frying mass quantities of food, it is essential. We fried wontons, onion rings, pickles, chicken, and steak. After we were all very sick we watched "Lost" and wondered how they will ever wrap that show up in time for the finale!
This morning we woke up to RAIN! Lots of rain and thunder. So we stayed in and had crepes with strawberries! Ty watched some movies and the kids made beautiful artwork. I made caramel pudding and took pictures of Zackary in silly hats.
So far so good!

Friday, April 23, 2010

On The Trail

This morning I threw on my workout clothes and tossed the kids in the car and we headed to Moss Wright Park for a walk on the trail!
I brought Max's bike so he could keep up with me and the stroller.
He did a great job!
We walked by the historic fort and house that make up Mansker's Station.
Max picked up speed and I had to jog to keep up!
We ended our tour at...
The playground!

It was a beautiful sunny activity, but Zac looks how I feel! Completely beat! It was a great start to our Friday :)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Inspiration

Inspired by my friend Annie, I took a brief hiatus from blogging and the internet. It was only 2 days, but it was very refreshing!
While I was away I discovered "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" on Food Network. It is a cooking competition where home cooks create original recipes and compete for $25,000 dollars. I was once again inspired and made: Lime infused white chocolate chunk gingersnap cookies
My own little recipe showdown in my kitchen. Guess what, I Won!
In other news....The rain and clouds ruined my plans for a walk in the park this morning, but I did get to enjoy a mug of cocoa! I am anxious to try again tomorrow.

On Wednesdays I always go for a shopping spree at Goodwill. Every day they have certain items that are 50% off, but on Wednesdays the special items are all 99 cents.
We came home with some real steals including a pair of Lucky brand jeans for myself! Lucky me :)
I got great fall clothes for Max to wear when he starts kindergarten. We even found a set of stacking blocks for Zackary.
Ty and I stayed up late last night watching Extraordinary Measures. It made me so thankful to have healthy kids. We are sooo blessed!
This morning I pulled into the parking lot to drop Max off at school. I hopped out of my seat and opened one of the back doors. Inside 3 little faces were smiling at me. They are all so precious! Seriously :Precious Cargo!
I am so pleased that I get to be their mom.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

30 weeks

Zackary is 30 weeks old today.
Zac has been such a joy to me. I love having him climb all over me and give me loves. He is my little friend.
I have really been able to appreciate this time of his life as a baby. I am just loving having this little guy around.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Sugar coma

Seething in Butter!
(I don't even know if seething is a word, but it seemed appropriate here)
Today I made the pioneer woman's (aka P-Dub) cinnamon rolls.
I am telling you they were life changing! Amazing....They are supposed to be the treat for FHE tonight. The kids and I have eaten 2 and I am trying to keep it at 2 for now.
The rolls are topped with a maple frosting. I have never thought to top cinnamon rolls with maple frosting, but it is a must!
I may be going into a sugar coma, but it was worth it.
Find the recipe here : http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/


Here we go!

The weekend is over.
It included movie watching with friends, pizza, fish tacos, long walks, family time, a wonderful church meeting, and clean sheets on my bed!
It will be missed.
Time to jump back into reality!

Manic Monday To-Do-List:

clean bathrooms
clean closets
fold laundry
grocery shopping
buy makeup (I am no good at this, my sis in law recommended neutrogena so I will be giving that a try.)
plan FHE
make dinner
make treat for FHE
play with the kiddos
give Ty a kiss or two

not such a bad list :)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Ritz Crackers

I discovered, this afternoon, that Zackary has a great love for ritz crackers. I learned that he should only eat ritz crackers in his high chair and not while sitting on the carpet :)

So...I married Rambo

Last weekend I found a little something at a yard sale.
Well, a big something...This super soaker. It cost a dollar and I knew Ty would have fun with it.
He had a lot of fun with it and Max is soaked!

My home inside my home....

Many people have a home away from home. I have a home within my home.
I live in my kitchen.
I love my kitchen.
I love to cook and bake.
Between breakfast, lunch, and dinner, snacks, dessert, treats for a class or a friend, making lunches for school and work, and the clean up that goes along with each project I am in the kitchen for a significant amount of time each day.
My phone is in the kitchen and I usually use it there. My calendar is in the kitchen so that when I am in the kitchen talking on the phone I can check my calendar.
I pay bills on the counter. I sort recipes and write to do lists here as well.
My current kitchen is large, but far from dreamy.
I don't need a large house, or hundreds of shoes, but one day I shall have a dream kitchen.....a stove with 5 burners and a built in griddle, a fridge with an ice maker, double ovens, granite counter tops, and a farm sink!
There will be a little desk for myself, where I can pay bills, write notes, and blog :)
It will be a very happy kitchen, and I will be very happy living there!

Southern Summer

This will be our third summer here in Tennessee.
I am an experienced user of bug spray.
I know what humidity feels like.
Bring it on!
I actually really love the summers here in the south. There is something so magical about sitting on the porch while the sun sets and watching the kids chase fireflies.
The bugs may eat us alive but we love to hear them singing all night long.
As for the humidity...Conditioner is my friend!

This may be our final summer in the south!
Here is my summer wish list :

many many trips to the pool
blue bell ice cream in many flavors
a cute pair of shorts
a trip to Portland for strawberry picking
visits to the farmers market
Tomatoes! and blt's
a tan? maybe....
lots of BBQ

What's on your summer wish list?






Ready to go!

We took a walk this morning in the sunshine. Max rode his bike and I had to jog to keep up. It was a great workout!
We decided we needed a bit more vitamin D and slathered everyone on SPF 50 before heading over to the playground.
We played at the playground for the rest of the morning. Mia learned how to climb up the rock wall and Zac played in the grass. The air smells so good outside. All perfume like from the blossoms and flowers.

Max is our trickster. He puts on a show.
We came home and made some lunch to enjoy outside. Now the kids are playing with ice cubes.
Today is a big day. Mia is moving into Max's room and Zackary is moving into Mia's room. Mia has been sleeping on Max's floor anyway, so we decided this would be a good solution for everyone. Ty and I will be alone in our room again!
We will be catching up on Lost tonight and I have plans to use my leftover bbq meat on a pizza. Happy Friday!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

For Ty and Rob:


I know I do!

Thursday

I love Thursdays!
Only one day left until Friday and the weekend! I am really looking forward to the weekend, because I miss my husband. Oh Vanderbilt! Why have you taken my husband away?
This morning I introduced Mia to the curling iron. She was pleased, and I am feeling very ashamed for not doing her hair sooner. So cute!
Thursday night is the best night of the week for TV shows. Ty and I are planning on staying up too late watching; The Office, Community, 30 Rock, and a new favorite...The Marriage Ref!
And... I'm baking again....
This is the beginning of the "Honey, I'm peanuts over you Cake" I am working on today. It shall make our Thursday all the merrier. Sometimes when you want to eat cake you have to make up an excuse to celebrate. So Happy Thursday!
I am also busy with a little spring cleaning, but that's not so bad.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Prayer and PB and J

I have been working on my relief society lesson for this coming Sunday. It is on prayer.
I am very excited to present this lesson. Prayer is awesome! What a wonderful gift we have been given. We are never alone. We can turn to our Heavenly Father at any time in any place.
I have been comforted by prayer many times. I have received answers and strength.
I know that our Heavenly Father loves us. He hears and answers prayers. He wants to bless us and guide us. We need to turn to Him.

The lesson is coming along. I have found some great quotes and scriptures to help! I am also planning on bringing some peanut butter and jelly bars for the treat.
Nothing says prayer like PB and J! but really.... Peanut Butter and Jelly is wonderful and so is prayer!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 cups (18 ounces) creamy peanut butter (recommended: Skippy)
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups (18 ounces) raspberry jam or other jam
  • 2/3 cups salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch cake pan. Line it with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light yellow, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and mix until all ingredients are combined.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Mix just until combined.

Spread 2/3 of the dough into the prepared cake pan and spread over the bottom with a knife or offset spatula. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Drop small globs of the remaining dough evenly over the jam. Don't worry if all the jam isn't covered; it will spread in the oven. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.





A Zackary Post

Zac is 29 weeks old.
He enjoys walks in the stroller, standing, eating, and clapping his hands.
Don't you just want to kiss him?!
I know I do. I think I will :)

A little adventure

This morning after the sun came out, but before it got too hot, we set out with the stroller on a walk.
Max is the biggest so he walks alongside the stroller now. He is so amazing!
Zackary rode shotgun in the stroller and Mia aka...little miss movie star...rides in the back.
We saw caterpillars and rocks. We stopped at the office for cookies. We breathed in the beautiful spring air. Our final destination was Old Navy. Zac was in desperate need of a hat. His little head has been made pink from the sun and yesterday I rubbed sunscreen all over his little head. His hair was all spiky and shiny. He really needed a hat.
We found what we were looking for!
Now Zac can play in the sun and we don't have to worry about his little head. A successful morning.