Wednesday

1. I recently made homemade nutella.

It is seriously amazing! The best part about making it yourself is that you can cater it to your specific tastes. I have been eating it on toast and straight out of the jar. This morning I used it to make some chocolate granola.

2. Sadly the granola was far too delicious and I ate a lot of it.

3. Ty is home today! He is going out to get us our favorite tacos for lunch :)

4. Max gets out of school an hour early today and then we are headed to Chick-Fil-A. The last time we were there we had to wait a little longer than usual for our food and the manager gave us some coupons for free chicken nuggets. Today we are cashing in.

5. I really want

Joy the Baker's new cookbook!

Joy's philosophy is that everyone loves dessert; most people are just looking for an excuse to eat cake for breakfast.

so true!

6. I might stop by Barnes and Noble after Chick-Fil-A and buy it!

7. It's February 29th. I love that we get an extra day this year.

 

Snow!

 Yes we are in southern California and yes we were swimming last week.

It suddenly turned cold and it snowed.

 Everyone was super excited to get outside this morning!

 Zackary wasn't too sure about it.

 I enjoyed the snow and the festivities from inside my nice warm house.

I am glad that the kids enjoy snow. It is quite the novelty for us here!

Family Pictures!

 My friend Erica is an amazing photographer!

She took our family pictures a few weeks ago.

 You can see all of the pics and more of her awesome work HERE on her photography blog.

 MAX

 MIA

 ZAC

 ZOEY

MY LOVE :)

Thanks Erica! You rock :)

Peanut Butter....

....Play-doh!

 For make-it Monday we whipped up a batch of peanut butter play-doh.

 It is your basic peanut butter ball recipe: equal parts of peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk.

 It was a smashing success.

They were hesitant to taste the dough, but after they did they loved it. Mia sounded so surprised, " It tastes like peanut butter!"

Zoey sat in her high chair and looked adorable. We love her.

A Happy Saturday

 It was another beautiful day!

Ty has been at the hospital since 6 this morning, so it was just the littles and me.

We started the day at Yum-Yum doughnuts. I let the kids pick out their favorites. We decided to rent a copy of Puss and Boots for the kids to watch so I could get a few things done. After movie time we had story time! Max's school has just started it's annual Read-A-Thon and Max needs to read 100 books. 

After stories we had to get out!

We walked to the little playground. It is just a few blocks from the house.

 It was my first time walking with all the kids by myself since Zoey was born. I think it went well and now we are ready to start our walks again!

A little vitamin D is always a good idea.

 We played for a while and people watched, and then we dog watched when a family came by with the cutest little puppy.

Saturdays are wonderful days, but I am very much looking forward to Sunday this week, because Ty will be home and that makes me very happy :)

Yep....

I want

Maybe this weekend!

February

Don't most people wear flip flops and sit outside in the sun on February 22nd?

Have I ever mentioned that I really love living in Southern California?

If not, I do!

After picking Max up from school we drove out to Redlands so the kids could go for a swim.

 Little Mia with her little flower and her way too little floaty!

Mia was swimming like a fish today. She did great!

 Max's swim skills were a little rusty, but he was determined.

 He worked hard and swam all the way across the pool!

 Zackary really wasn't interested in swimming. he just wanted to attack the water and other people with this noodle.

 Later he threw the noodle over the fence and took his pants off.

I just love Zackary :)

It was one of Zoey's first times outside for a longer period of time. She got to go without shoes or socks. I think she enjoyed the warm weather. I think we are all going to love spring and summer this year!

Stronger

I love Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger".

It is seriously the best jogging/ tough day/ pick me up song.

Goodbye Weekend

The long weekend is coming to it's close. It has been a wonderful little rest from the everyday. We have enjoyed family breakfasts, lazy mornings,  game nights with friends, a trip to Chick-Fil-A, cookie baking, and lots of trampoline time!

Tomorrow everyone goes back to school.

Who's looking forward to Spring Break?

More Zoey!

 I know that this blog has been terribly Zoey dominated  since this little miss arrived, but I just can't help myself!

I think she is the cutest. I am just loving every squish I can get :)

 Zoey will be 12 week old on Monday! She has done a great job growing and wiggling. She continues to be very sweet and calm. I know that she is a very special little person and I am so enjoying being a part of her life!

Fabulous Friday

I am so loving this long weekend already!

Ty was home today! He never has a Friday off. We felt so lucky to have him home on a day when the kids were home from school. Whenever Ty is home we like to have breakfast together, because when he works he leaves before the kids are up. This morning we had oatmeal with a toppings bar. The kids like cranberries and chocolate chips. I like almonds and candied ginger, and Ty likes plain white sugar with milk.

After breakfast we took a little road trip to Ikea. We found ourselves a coffee table for the front room, new bedding for Ty and I, a fabulous cutting board, and some fun kid stuff. Next we headed to Costco and stocked up on all of the essentials, like butter and bananas :)

The kids were pretty filled up from samples, but Ty and I wanted some In N Out so we made a quick stop for a double double (TY) and an animal style cheeseburger (ME). We stopped by my parent's house for a quick visit and then came home to set up the new table and do a little decorating.

The kids played in the yard and bounced on the trampoline. It was a beautiful day!

We made a big spinach and strawberry salad for dinner and ended the night with some conversation heart bingo.

It was such an awesome day and I am so happy to have the whole weekend left to enjoy! On the agenda for tomorrow is a pancake breakfast, snickers cookies, a walk to the park, planning for Sunday, and a little cleaning.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend!

After School Snack

 After school today the boys helped themselves to a few bowls of Lucky Charms.

Max has recently discovered the joys of cereal box reading.

Zackary still just enjoys cereal eating :)

Zackary

I told him we weren't going to be watching television this morning and the next place I found him was in this storage bin without his pants on.

Oh well.

The girls

I was cleaning the kitchen this morning while Mia was working on her letters. I had Zoey propped up in the high chair. We took a little break to enjoy this girl moment. It's good to be pink. 

( Not that we don't love our blue, we just enjoy the pink too!)

9 years ago....

I took Ty to the BYU preference dance.

We were younger and weirder then. We are much older and more normal now.

It's Your Love

This is one of my favorite love songs!

It makes me all mushy :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy!

 There's always something to smile about!

I love my happy little girl!

It's tough to be 2

This is how Zackary ended up today after we picked up Max from school.

Poor little guy!

Valentine's Dinner

Ty and I are going out tomorrow night for Valentine's Day. Tonight we are staying in and having our little family Valentine's celebration.

I decorated our dining table using lots of hearts and hershey's kisses.

 Everyone has a big heart on their own chair.

 I hung some hearts from the chandelier as well!

 Each place setting has a paper conversation heart plate, a plastic goblet (for our Shirley Temples!), and a little box of Valentine's candies.

 It's nothing fancy, but just out of the ordinary enough to seem like a party!

We are going to be eating pizza with heart shaped pepperonis and spinach and strawberry salad. For dessert...Chocolate :)

 I made this chocolate hazelnut mascarpone cream cake.

It should be delish!

After dinner I have some activities planned. I am looking forward to our evening!

Paleo

Has anyone tried any of the popular Paleo recipes?

They are gluten free recipes that use super healthy ingredients to remake traditionally not so healthy dishes.

Today I made these super fudgy brownies.

They are made using almond butter, coconut milk, cocoa powder, and only 1/4 cup of sugar. (no butter at all!)

They turned out perfect! Even Ty thought they were good and he is a health food skeptic. I love my chocolate and these are a great way to get a chocolate fix without feeling guilty afterward.

Blue?

Little Miss has some serious blue eyes.

Max and Zackary both have bright blue eyes and our Mia has big brown eyes. What are the chances that two brown eyed parents could end up with 3 blue eyed babies? Zoey is still so young and her eye color may change, but for now I am loving the baby blues!

Hallelujah!

We made it to Friday!

Everyone is feeling better! 

Ty was home yesterday and we had an awesome day. I got to go to Trader Joe's and buy lots of chocolate and nuts. We went to our favorite little taco place for lunch. Ty picked up the kids from school, and we got to catch up on some of our favorite shows. He is back at work today and I always miss him when he's gone, but it makes his days off super fun!

Today the kids and I are headed to the library to stock up on books and movies for the weekend!

We are taking family pictures tomorrow I hope I look good in them.

Next week Max gets a four day weekend for president's day. I am very much looking forward to  it!

Happy Friday!
 

Bee Mine

I LOVE this cute Valentine's gift idea!

You can find the printable HERE.

Tofutti Cutie

That is what I have been calling the Little Miss all morning!

I don't really know why, but it amuses me.

Zoey is my little friend. She goes where I go. She smiles when I sing. I like her :)

The best laid plans....

I thought the sickness was gone! I thought we were through!

I was wrong :(

Poor Max.

Another sick day at home, but the sun is shining and we are going to make the most of it!