Sunnyside Up!

Paleo

2012-02-12T15:29:00.000-06:00

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?

2012-02-12T15:14:00.000-06:00

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!

2012-02-10T11:26:00.001-06:00

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

2012-02-09T09:25:00.000-06:00

I LOVE this cute Valentine's gift idea!

You can find the printable HERE.

Tofutti Cutie

2012-02-08T13:22:00.000-06:00

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....

2012-02-08T10:19:00.000-06:00

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!

Cool Beans

2012-02-07T13:04:00.000-06:00

1. The kids were sick over the weekend and coming into the week. This morning Max and Mia were still convinced they were sick. They cried and coughed and told me that they couldn't go to school. After calling the schools to excuse their absence I called the doctor to make them an appointment. I told them that if they were too sick to go to school it was time to see the doctor. They soon felt better and were well enough to go to school. They were both a little late, but I think it was a good learning experience for all of us!

2. I have a pizza stone that I love using to make home made pizza. We have had at least one pizza night a week for a while and I really enjoy coming up with different creations! Last night we had jalapeno popper pizza with jalapeno and cream cheese alfredo sauce. A few weeks ago I made a chicken enchilada pizza, and the overall favorite was the chicken bacon ranch pizza. Next week the pizza will be pepperoni, but I am using a cutter to shape the pepperoni into little hearts for Valentine's Day!

3. Coming out of the grocery store the other day we came face to face with a table full of girl scout cookies. We bought 2 boxes of thin mints. One for Ty and one for the kids. Thin Mints have brought joy to our home.

4. Zoey is 10 weeks old. I am so happy that she came to join our family.

5. I am feeling the need to clean and organize. Is it too early to start spring cleaning?

6. Today is a cold and windy day in Beaumont. I am looking forward to spring and summer! I am already planning out our days for summer vacation. I just really like having fun things to look forward to!

Happy Tuesday :)

Can you see it?

2012-02-04T14:01:00.000-06:00

Somebody lost their first tooth!

It fell out last night while he was brushing his teeth.

Max is very proud of the new little window in his mouth!

Bring on the Bling!

2012-02-03T14:28:00.001-06:00

We made these super fun bling-y rings from Mom on Timeout.

I found the idea on Pinterest! (Love it)

I had the kisses left over from Christmas and I picked up the pipe cleaners earlier this week for this project.

These would be great for Valentine's gifts or for a little girl's party.

Zackary is wearing them, and I would imagine Max will want one when he gets home, so boys like them as well!

Everyone deserves a little bling :)

Happy Friday!

2012-02-03T09:20:00.002-06:00

Just in case you didn't know!

Girls

2012-02-02T17:05:00.000-06:00

Last night we had a fun girl's night enrichment for relief society.

I got to bring Mia, Zoey, and my mom along with me. It was Zoey's very first girl's night and I think it was a success. I am so happy to have two little girls to play with!

Adele

2012-01-31T17:14:00.000-06:00

Who else is loving Adele's music?

I especially adore this song.

"Set Fire to the Rain"

Tuesday!

2012-01-31T13:18:00.001-06:00

1. I made THESE cookies today. Instead of Hazelnuts I used almonds and made my very own almond butter in my food processor. It was awesome and the cookies are delish.

2. Yesterday Zoey had her 2 month check-up at the doctor. She weighed 11 pounds! That is almost double her birth weight of 6 pounds 3 ounces. She is doing great!

3. We had friends over for pizza and FHE last night. We never really made it to the lesson, but we had a grand time :)

4. Max celebrated the 100th day of school. I asked him what they did in class and he said they ate cinnamon rolls and he shoved the entire thing in his mouth at once. I have no idea what that has to do with 100, but oh well.

5. We are planning a trip up the coast to San Francisco for spring break and I can't wait! So far the fun includes; biking in Santa Barbara, visiting the aquarium in Monterey, and Ghiradelli and Alcatraz in San Fran!

Happy Tuesday!

January in SoCal

2012-01-27T20:06:00.000-06:00

We have been enjoying some amazing weather this week. I love to be able to spend so much time outside during the "winter".

This enormous RV has been parked out front for about a month now. Our neighbors insist it will be leaving soon.

Until then it is serving as a fence to keep my kids out of the road.

Cute!

2012-01-27T20:02:00.001-06:00

I got new batteries for my camera!
Appearances from the little miss and more coming soon!

A Happy Place :)

2012-01-27T12:29:00.000-06:00

I would NEVER leave this room!

NY Times

2012-01-27T12:20:00.001-06:00

Have you tried THESE chocolate chip cookies that the New York Times claims to be the BEST??

I put it off for quite a while, because of the ingredient list and chill time that the dough requires. I finally gave in and made a batch. They really are awesome! I would recommend keeping the dough in the fridge and baking up a few cookies anytime you need a fix, or if you are feeling giving, anytime a neighbor or friend needs a few!

(BTW: my little camera is out of batteries until I can make it to the store. Hopefully later today, because we need diapers as well!)

Love!

2012-01-26T15:20:00.000-06:00

I love this mug.

It is so very me.

After we put the kids to bed at night there is nothing better than a mug of hot chocolate and slippers and pajamas and Ty :)

Good Stuff

2012-01-25T12:22:00.000-06:00

1. I am making copycat Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa for dinner tonight!

2. I love my new crock pot. It is my 3rd crock pot. The other 2 managed to throw themselves onto the floor and died. I hope this one survives.

3. Wednesdays are early release days for Max. He looks forward to Wednesdays every week for this reason.

4. The wind is back, but this time the trampoline is tied down and I am not planning on it getting away.

5. Baby Zoey went out to dinner with Ty and I last night. She was very good and sat happily in her seat clinging to a Target receipt the entire time. She was sad when Ty took the receipt away.

6. Mia and Zackary are using play-doh, muffin tins, and birthday candles to create a little pretend party. I love that they are happy and busy.

Happy Wednesday!

Zoey

2012-01-22T16:39:00.000-06:00

Zoey will be 8 weeks old tomorrow.

She is the sweetest little baby. She is making all kinds of adorable baby noises and constantly melting our hearts. Nothing is better for stress than cuddling this little girl!

She is enjoying all of her cute outfits and trips to the park with her brothers and sister.

We love you baby Zoey!

Zackary

2012-01-22T16:35:00.000-06:00

Zack was tired after lunch today. I set him up on the couch with his giraffe while I washed dishes.

By the time I was done so was he.

I found him sound asleep.

Such a sweet little guy!

Root Beer

2012-01-22T16:32:00.000-06:00

We had lunch at Chick-Fil-A yesterday.

We just love their dipping sauces, and the boys LOVE Root beer!

Look at those big blue eyes!

Good thing he is seriously naughty most of the time or he would get seriously spoiled :)

They were cold

2012-01-22T16:29:00.000-06:00

They love to play outside and jump on the trampoline.

They also love to be cozy.

I turn the fireplace on while they are outside so that when they come in it is warm and toasty for them.

They set the little chairs as close as they can get them.

Cute little people!

We usually have little mugs of cocoa too. We fit in very well in southern California. I don't know how well we would do living somewhere where it actually got cold!

Good Morning!

2012-01-21T11:29:00.000-06:00

And happy Saturday! Welcome to the weekend!

So far today the kids have eaten grilled nutella sandwiches, blueberries, and a couple of brownies. It's not even 9:30. Zackary found a lightbulb and dropped it on the tile. It broke and he cut his foot...again, not even 9:30!

Oh well....moving on :)

While Zoey finishes her morning nap I am going to get some cleaning done and then we are headed to Target!

It is raining and cold so I am thinking an afternoon baking bread sounds perfect!

Have a wonderful day!

Star Wars

2012-01-20T14:10:00.000-06:00

This is SO Max :)

Happy Shopping!

2012-01-20T13:09:00.000-06:00

Ty and I have been married for 8 1/2 years. For most of that time Ty has been a student, and for a lot of that time I was pregnant or nursing, etc. There wasn't a lot of time or money to spend on clothes. This year I decided I needed to really improve and add to my wardrobe. I will be 29 later this year. I have 4 kids now. Ty has a job now. We have money now. All of these things helped me decide that it was time to start dressing a little bit better!

I realized pretty quickly that I really had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know how to shop. I didn't know what to buy. I talked to one of my friends who really knows fashion and always looks good. She agreed to be my personal shopper and last weekend we headed to Cabazon for a flurry of outlet shopping.

A good amount of cash later and I was home with my bags full of clothes and accessories. I kind of felt like I had been on What Not to Wear.

This week, full of my new clothes, has been awesome! I love feeling like I look good. I love having more than one or two options! I also have a new found love for Banana Republic and the Gap.

I think all stages of our lives are important and wonderful, but I think I am really going to enjoy the stage where I get to buy cute clothes.

Brownies

2012-01-20T12:44:00.001-06:00

I found this brownie recipe on Pinterest. It comes from the yummy morsel blog.

The recipe claims to be foolproof. I have been having a lot of trouble with my brownies lately so I wanted to give it a try.

It recommended lining your pan with parchment paper. It also suggested that if you are cooking your brownies in a glass pan you need to remove the brownies from the pan 10 minutes after taking them out of the oven to avoid overcooking.

I always cook my brownies in a glass pan and they always seem overcooked! This time I lined my 8x8 inch glass pan with parchment paper. I buttered the paper and poured in the batter. When the brownies had finished cooking I set the timer for an additional 10 minutes and then used the paper to remove the brownies from the pan.

The result...Seriously perfect brownies!

I love it when someone in the know shares their wisdom and the result is better brownies for me.

This one's a keeper :)

Midweek Thoughts

2012-01-18T10:28:00.000-06:00

1. The birthday celebration was great! Ty ended up getting the day off and he got to take a special birthday trip to Home Depot! Dinner was yummy. I really wanted Ty to know what a big deal he is to our family. I hope he knows that we really like him!

2. Today I am staying home with the kids and making chocolate chip cookies. Going places seemed like a lot of work this morning. (We did manage to take Max to school!)

3. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. I HATE going to the dentist. Honestly....I can think of nowhere I would like to be less than the dentists office, but alas, my time has come.

4. Zoey is 7 weeks old now and I think she is the cutest baby ever. I LOVE her. She is far better than the dentist.

5. Mia started working in reading groups this week at school. I love watching my kids grow and learn!

6. Time to start planning for Valentine's Day I guess......

Have a Happy Wednesday!

Monday catch up and plans for tomorrow

2012-01-16T14:04:00.000-06:00

We had a wonderful Sunday! Music time went well, despite my scratchy voice. Zackary is doing great in nursery. Max and Mia love their teachers as well.

In the evening we had dinner at a friend's house and had a blast! The food was delish and the company was even better. Max ended up staying the night. It was his first sleepover and I was a little worried about how things would go. He ended up having a wonderful time. I am glad he has some good friends in our ward.

Today is a holiday. I love a holiday! Ty is working so really it is just a break for me. I have been cleaning and helping the littles with homework, experimenting in the kitchen and planning for Ty's birthday dinner tomorrow night! He is turning 31 and I have some fun things planned. (He is working tomorrow as well! Working on the holiday and on his birthday, poor guy!)

For dinner I am making

Poblano peppers stuffed with roasted pork

Jalapeno Cheese bread (For my spicy Ty!)

and the cake!

I decided on this chocolate fudge cake.

I can't wait to celebrate! I love my Ty. He is the best and he deserves a wonderful birthday and a fabulous year :)

I think 31 will be great!

Be an Anchor!

2012-01-12T11:36:00.005-06:00

"Parents, remember that now is your opportunity. You may feel yourself harassed as you struggle through the days with children, but you are living the happiest and the most golden years of your life. As you tuck them into their beds at night, please be kind to them. Let them hear a kind voice amid all the angry, vile voices that they will hear throughout life. Let there be an anchor to which these little ones can turn to when all else fails. The Lord help you so to do...."

-Harold B. Lee

Peanut Butter and Chocolate

2012-01-12T09:59:00.001-06:00

Peanut butter and chocolate have to be one of my very favorite combinations!

I don't think I have to explain why. :)

The missionaries are coming to dinner at our house tonight and I am making THESE....

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

from lovin in the oven.

No matter how dinner turns out at least things should end well!

Also...Ty is home today!

Tomorrow is Friday!

I get to eat cookie dough!

Rejoice!

Happy Thursday.

6 weeks and thoughts about mommyhood

2012-01-11T13:16:00.000-06:00

Zoey is 6 weeks old!

She is growing so quickly. I am already rotating clothes.

I love Zoey so much! I am so thankful to have her in our home. Max, Mia, and Zackary have been so loving and helpful with her.

Being a mom can be difficult and less than rewarding sometimes but I am so thankful to have the opportunity to raise these 4 children. They are so beautiful. I am amazed by their huge spirits that are housed inside of their tiny bodies. They are precious to me and I recognize how important they are to our Heavenly Father. I am always praying for help and guidance as I work to teach and love these little people. Every day is another opportunity to try my best and love each of them a little more.

Bittersweet!

2012-01-10T08:35:00.000-06:00

You may not be aware that today, January 10th, is National bittersweet chocolate day!

I am a big fan of seriously dark/bittersweet chocolate. I have been buying these chocolate chips in bulk at Costco!

To celebrate the day I am going to pull out the big bag of chips and bake something fabulous.

Happy Bittersweet Chocolate Day!

Monday

2012-01-09T17:06:00.000-06:00

1. I tried to go clothes shopping today. My mom even came out to join me. We gave it our best shot but the kids were screaming and crying so we threw in the towel and came back to my house.

2. I'm no good at clothes shopping anyway.

3. Maybe we can all wear matching paper bags in our family pictures.

4. I could really use a personal shopper.

5. I made a big batch of granola and it is awesome.

6. I am good at making granola :)

Little Misses

2012-01-05T21:52:00.000-06:00

Mia went to school today.

She worked hard and needed some play time when she got home. Zoey and I joined her for an afternoon of Groovy Girls.

Mia is a wonderful sister. She is very sweet and kind to Zoey.

Zoey is almost 6 weeks old now!

She is really starting to wake up.

And to smile!

I just love my little misses!

Thoughts for 2012

2012-01-03T13:19:00.000-06:00

It has been just over a month since little Zoey was born. It was a great month and a very busy one. A new month and a new year are here. The kids are back in school and I am glad for the quiet and the normal that are returning. I have had time this morning to think about what I would like to do this year and what I would like to improve on.

I have fallen into the bad habit of skimming through my scriptures. I come to the end of a chapter and have no idea what I just read. This year I want to remember what I read and do some real scripture study.

This year I want to cook a lobster at home for Valentine's Day. I want to plan and take a trip with just Ty and I.

I want to make dentist appointments for everyone in the family with teeth, and then remember to go to them.

I had so much fun singing Christmas carols with my kids over the holidays. This year I want to teach them more music that we can sing together.

I want to stock my freezer with make-ahead meals and do more meal planning.

I want to say " I love you" more and give more hugs and kisses to my family.

I want 2012 to be great!

Zackary

2012-01-03T13:06:00.000-06:00

School began again today and Max and Mia headed happily off to their classes. I thought Zac was going to be bored but he has had a fabulous morning all to himself.

I have been busy with baby Zoey and laundry. Zack made himself comfortable on the big chair in our room and sat watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins.

I kept coming in to check on him and he was just so content. He had a couple of cars to keep him company and I kept bringing him snacks and drinks. I'm glad he got to have a little TLC time today.

More of the Boys

2012-01-02T10:27:00.000-06:00

Zack and Max are busy living in their own electronic world.

Max is playing Lego Batman and Zackary is playing games on Ty's phone.

I thought it was cute that Zac wanted to play his game right next to Max while he was playing his.

I will have to disconnect them at some point. From the games, not each other :)

A Blessed Day

2012-01-01T19:50:00.000-06:00

Ty blessed Zoey at church today.

We were so happy to have some wonderful family and friends in attendance! Ty's parents, my parents, Catherine and Ryan, Robyn and Bob, Natalie and Ryan and there three kiddos, Jamison, and Romney, and our neighbors!

After the blessing we all came back to our house for some fun. I put together a big spread of food and we all sat and talked while the kids played.

Mia got to play with her cousin Kooper. They are the cutest girls. I wish they could play together more often.

We are one blessed family of 6!

So glad Zoey is a part of our lives :)

New Year's Eve Cuteness

2011-12-31T20:58:00.000-06:00

Zoey wouldn't pose for me tonight. She is too busy getting ready to kick off 2012.

In her cute little leggings!

She is getting blessed tomorrow. A perfect start to the year :)

Boys

2011-12-30T18:38:00.000-06:00

The boys are out enjoying the beautiful afternoon.

They are on the trampoline.....

.....and they are eating apple fritters.

Boys are silly :)

Wait a second.....

2011-12-30T16:17:00.000-06:00

Were you all aware that tomorrow is New Year's Eve and that 2012 is nearly here?

If you were, good for you.....I just realized :)

2011 has been an awesome year!

Highlights include:

moving into our house

buying new furniture

refinishing some old furniture

buying a new car

selling an old car

having a baby

hosting Thanksgiving dinner

taking the Palm Springs Tram to the peak

playing on the beach

Max mutton busted in the Spanish Fork rodeo

Max started first grade

Mia started Preschool

Zac split his head open

Zac got pneumonia

Zac rode to the hospital in an ambulance

Zac survived the year!

Mia starred in her first Christmas program

Ty turned 30

Ty got paid to work all year long!

we made new friends

we love our new ward

we have great callings

Ty and I celebrated 8 years of marriage

We have been very blessed this year! I really can't believe it is almost over! I am very much looking forward to 2012. I am excited to start the new year with my family in our home. I hope everyone has had a wonderful 2011. Happy New Year!

Food Blog Love

2011-12-29T12:32:00.000-06:00

I love to read food blogs. I love looking at the beautiful food photography and drooling over the amazing recipes that are being posted all of the time! I love the way food bloggers write about their recipes and food in general. I was reading a post this morning over at Une Gamine dans la Cuisine about brownies. The author talked about her great love for brownies and how brownies just "Speak" to her. Brownies speak to me too! They say "Eat me! I am full of chocolate and butter!"

These people who are so passionate about food seem to be passionate about other areas of their lives as well. They love their families and children, some are passionate about travel or writing, others are decorators or triathlon athletes. I think life should be full of passion. How much better life can be if we are passionate about what we are doing.

Back to the brownies......Brownies can be simple. You can make a pan and post a picture labeled: Brownies, or you can write a post about the amazing chocolate that was used in the recipe and how the texture of the brownies is fudge like perfection.

We all could use a little extra zest or zeal in our day. That is what these bloggers give to me. I am thankful for their passion.

Tuesday Tidbits

2011-12-27T18:25:00.000-06:00

1. Christmas was grand! I can't believe it's gone away for another year.

2. I am busy getting ready for New Year's and little Zoey's baby blessing. We have family coming into town for the occasion.

3. Max, Mia, and Zac are loving the new trampoline. They are jumping from morning until night and playing all sorts of games out there. ( I am loving it too!)

4. The kids haven't seen Ty since Sunday night. He has been very busy at work and we are hoping to get a sighting of him tonight. If not tonight for sure tomorrow!

5. I am making pizza dough and roasting garlic. Looking forward to a yummy dinner :)

Christmas Morning

2011-12-25T18:51:00.000-06:00

Christmas morning began bright and early at our house. I didn't really mind. I was up and ready for the fun to start.

Mia was up first. She was so excited to come downstairs and discover what had happened during the night. She got to open her stocking gifts while we waited for the boys.

When the boys were ready it was time to open the packages!

Zackary's favorite present was this Cars set with Lightning Mcqueen and Mac.

Max got the Lego Batman game. He has been playing Lego Star Wars for months now so we thought he would love this!

Mia got a playset for all of her Littlest Pet Shop animals.

Everyone was very happy with their Christmas. The big hit of the day was the surprise outside. Santa left a note for the kids telling them that he has left something for them in the backyard.

A Trampoline!

They were all out and bouncing by 7:00 this morning.

Such a happy way to start our Christmas day!

After all of the bouncing and the presents I made hot chocolate. The kids played, I cleaned, and then we all went to church for a fabulous musical Christmas meeting. After church we had a big dinner with friends and family. We are all worn out and feeling so very blessed for such a wonderful day.

I rejoice in my Savior, Jesus Christ who has made all of the blessings in my life possible. What a wonderful day to celebrate the wondrous possibilities we have been given because our Savior came and because He lives!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-25T18:38:00.000-06:00

We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house in Redlands.

We had a delicious turkey dinner, watched Christmas movies, sang Christmas songs, and watched Zackary perform his own little show!

We put together fabulous gingerbread houses.

Ty is super talented when it comes to gingerbread architecture.

My dad is pretty amazing as well.

Mia was working with him.

She is such a good little helper :)

My brother Jamison was working hard to keep up with the competition.

Sadly his gingerbread house ended up the same way all of mine always do....all in pieces :(

After the festivities we came home and put the kiddos to bed. Ty and I filled all of the stockings, put out the presents, and ate Santa's treats.

It was a very happy evening!

Our Little Sugarplum

2011-12-24T14:36:00.001-06:00

It's Zoey's first Christmas so it is very important that I dress her in silly outfits and make her pose for cute photos.

I just love this little Miss!

Merry Christmas Baby :)

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T04:51:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that Christmas will be here in 2 short days! It has been a wonderful holiday season for us. It was kicked off with the arrival of our new baby girl. She has made this Christmas very special for me. I have tried very hard to make our days merry and bright. We have made and eaten Christmas goodies, crafted Christmas decorations, visited lights, listened to and sang along to an endless stream of Christmas music, and wrapped gifts. I have tried to remind my children of the true meaning of Christmas. I have talked a lot about our Savior, Jesus Christ and His birth. I have tried to teach them that it is becaus e of our Savior that we have reason to rejoice.

I am so thankful for the Christmas holiday and the constant reminder that Jesus lives! Jesus came!

I am looking forward to the next few days and I hope I can be a little better as I strive to remember and follow the Savior. We are so blessed. We have been given so much and I often think about what we can give back this time of year.

I found this quote by Howard W. Hunter and I think He describes perfectly what we can give.

“This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.” -Howard W. Hunter

Merry Christmas!

cookies for Santa

2011-12-22T08:40:00.000-06:00

In the past we have not left cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve. This year, however, will be different. Little Mia has been constantly reminding me about Santa's need for cookies. Since I know "Santa" very well I picked a recipe I thought he would enjoy.....

I found these Sea Salted Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Bacon on grillgrrrl.com.

Ty, I mean "Santa", is looking forward to Christmas Eve!

run run as fast as you can......

2011-12-21T15:20:00.000-06:00

......We caught ourselves a batch of gingerbread men :)

The kids have been asking to make gingerbread cookies for about a week now. Today we finally got around to it. It is, after all, Christmas vacation.

Max and Mia were my helpers in the kitchen.

I was very impressed with their skills.

They are so cute :) My little bakers.

The "baked" men. Hot and fresh from the oven!

At this point I made the frosting and set up the table with candy for decorating.

We had marshmallows, mini m&m's, chocolate chips, dots, and licorice.

We got down to business.

I was again very impressed with the kid's work.

And with Ty's! He made a gingerbread missionary!

Now we are all full of sugar and spice. We have a container full of gingerbread men and a floor covered in sprinkles. Cookie decorating is complete!

3 weeks

2011-12-19T22:54:00.000-06:00

Little Zoey Brooke is 3 weeks old today!

I LOVE her tons :)

She is such a little love. I could hold her all day long.

on the first day of vacation...

2011-12-19T16:33:00.001-06:00

We took the kids out to the Victoria Gardens shopping center today. It is one of my very favorite places to shop. I took the girls and Ty took the boys. Mia, Zoey, and I went to William Sonoma and sampled some hot chocolate. We stopped in at "Justice", which is very in if you are a little girl. I bought some new jogging shoes! I strayed from my usual Nikes and bought some Reeboks. We went to Crate and Barrel and found the cutest kid sized mugs. I bought 4 so the kids can have hot chocolate in their own little cups. I finally got myself a food processor. I can't wait to give it a try.

Ty took the boys to the Apple store. They visited the big Christmas tree and then bought caramel apples from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. They were eating the apples at the playground when we found them. They shared the apples. We were all very happy.

Next we all went together to the Bass Pro Shop. The kids love seeing the big fish and we always leave with lots of gummy candies.

I love doing a little shopping just for fun right before Christmas. We all had a great time.

Now we are home sitting in front of the fireplace and getting ready to put together all of our friend and neighbor gifts.

I love Christmas break :)

School's Out!

2011-12-16T15:15:00.001-06:00

No More School for 2 whole weeks!

Yesterday was Mia's last day of school before Christmas vacation. Her class celebrated by singing carols and having a little gift exchange, followed by a special lunch. Max finished up today. His class did a little performance to Josh Groban's "Believe" at the flag ceremony this morning and then they spent the day eating candy and reading the Polar Express.

The kids are home now and I am thrilled about the break!

Here are some of our plans for the next week before Christmas:

Visit Victoria Gardens for a fun filled shopping trip

Pass out our Christmas cookies

Make some more fudge and caramels for Ty to take to work

Make gingerbread houses and gingerbread men to be decorated and enjoyed

Trip to Trader Joe's

Trip to Micael's

Checking out all of the local Christmas lights

Visiting the Mission Inn

Making candy sleighs

Buy some more stocking stuffers

Make powdered donut snowmen

Make gumdrop garlands

Dip candy canes and marshmallows in chocolate for hot cocoa

I would like to thank my many blogger friends and the Pinterest website for inspiring me with all sorts of fabulous Christmas ideas!

It's going to be a great Christmas Vacation!

What are your plans?

Brownies!

2011-12-15T12:56:00.001-06:00

Today we are making these Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies from Becky Bakes.

Mostly because I wanted to eat some brownie batter.

The brownies are in the oven right now and I am hoping they turn out awesome!

Happy Thursday! aka....Almost Friday :)

All Your Life - The Band Perry

2011-12-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

I am loving this song right now.

That's all any girl really wants right? Just to be loved by one man for all their lives?

I really like my man :)

So glad he likes me too!

5 On Tuesday

2011-12-13T13:15:00.001-06:00

1. Last night Mia starred in her very first Christmas program. She played an angel and she did a great job! It was a very sweet experience to see all of those preschool aged children singing about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. Tonight is Max's Christmas program! I am looking forward to another wonderful event. I am also looking forward to tomorrow when this year's Christmas programs will be over :)

3. Zoey is the cutest baby ever.

4. I have spent a lot of the last week in the kitchen baking cookies and making candies to give away for Christmas. It has been a delicious week!

5. Fresh squeezed orange juice is one of my favorite things about living in southern California in the winter time. Oranges and Christmas are a nice combination!

Happy Tuesday!

Breakfast with Santa

2011-12-11T16:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning Max's school hosted a breakfast with Santa. Max had been talking about going all week, so we planned for Ty to take him for a special outing.

There were pancakes, cinnamon rolls, eggs, hot chocolate, and juice.

They had some fin craft activities for the kids to work on while they waited for Santa to arrive.

Max got to sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus for a little photo shoot. Max has a long list of Christmas wishes this year. Surely this little visit will help them come true :)

Little Miss

2011-12-11T16:25:00.001-06:00

Our little Miss Zoey will be 2 weeks old tomorrow!

She is beautiful and sweet. We all just love her.

I love walking by her crib and finding her all awake, just lying there looking around. Her peaceful personality provides a lot of balance in our home.

2011-12-09T13:08:00.000-06:00

These Chocolate Chip Cookies from Dishing the Divine are seriously amazing!

I made a batch to go out with our cookie plates later this month, and today I am making a batch just for the kids and I to enjoy.

This one's a keeper :)

Classroom Gifts

2011-12-08T14:27:00.002-06:00

Today I put together these little gingerbread man candy holders for Max to pass out to all of his friends at school.

They were super simple to make and I think they turned out great!

(I also have lots of leftover Ghiradelli peppermint bark. Happiness all around!)

Tired?

2011-12-07T18:53:00.000-06:00

It is 5:00.

Everyone has their own blanket and a cup of chocolate milk. I highly doubt these three will be making it to bedtime.

Tiny Trees

2011-12-07T10:48:00.000-06:00

I finally bought some powdered sugar and we were able to make our little sugar cone Christmas trees.

We used marshmallows and coconut for the snow.

And mini m&m candies for the ornaments on the tree.

This is Mia's tree, while she was still working. She wanted to take advantage of every open space. Mia loves crafty activities and really enjoyed this project. Zackary decided he likes marshmallows and stole as many as he could before running away to watch Toy Story :)

For Zoey!

2011-12-06T13:18:00.000-06:00

Ty and I took Zac and Zoey to Target this morning. It was an exhausting outing for the little miss. We bought space heaters, more Christmas lights, and little headbands with bows for Zoey. She needed them :)

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2011-12-05T14:59:00.001-06:00

This is one of my very favorite holiday songs, and today it really is cold outside!

Buddies

2011-12-05T14:36:00.000-06:00

I really enjoy watching my kids fall in love with new toys and games. Zackary is our Pixar boy. He has been a Cars fan for a while now, but just recently he has become infatuated with Toy Story.

I found this Buzz Lightyear under Max's bed yesterday. Max has kind of outgrown Toy Story so I passed Buzz onto Zac. The two have been inseparable ever since :)

Sisters!

2011-12-05T14:34:00.000-06:00

Little Zoey has brought so much to our family. Mia is especially excited to have a sister.

Mia asks me often if she can hold Zoey. She runs to the bathroom and washes her hands before she gets settled on the couch. She is a great big sister.

Mia was cold this morning and proceeded to dress in all of her winter clothes (Just explaining the hat!)

I love these girls!

A Little Quiet

2011-12-04T13:48:00.001-06:00

Ty took the older 3 kids to church today so that I could stay home with Zoey. I don't know when we will be able to take her with us. She is so tiny and I would hate for her to get sick. For now she and I will be at home. The house seems very quiet when no one is sliding down the stairs or jumping off the beds. I have been using the time to plan some fun Christmas activities for the week. I am also going to do a little present wrapping, and eat some chocolate, and cuddle my tiny baby! Here's to a quiet house :)

A Little Sugar

2011-12-04T09:15:00.000-06:00

The Happy Home Fairy posted a bunch of cute crafty Christmas tree themed ideas.

I really like this one that uses sugar cones and green frosting. The kids and I will be making these sometime this week!

(Sometime after I make it to the store)

Happy Sunday!

Home

2011-12-03T21:58:00.000-06:00

I came home from the hospital with Zoey this past Tuesday. It has been a wonderful and very busy week. I am loving this little girl. She is so sweet and she smells so good :)

Ty was home this week and it was a great help to me. He was able to drive the kids to and from school so that I could stay home with the baby. It has been a challenge to get everyone organized and ready to go in the morning. I am a little nervous about next week when I will be on my own. I was excited to wake up this morning and not have to get anyone ready for school. It was a great day! We have been very blessed. Lots of our friends from the ward have been bringing us dinners. It has been so nice to have the evening meal taken care of. We are very grateful for our family and all of the kindness we have received!

The Tree!

2011-12-03T21:52:00.000-06:00

Ty took Max and Mia to pick out our first real Christmas tree today. They brought home a great big beautiful noble fir. It has made the entire house smell amazing!

We set it up next to the fireplace downstairs.

This was Zack during the set up. Just chillin' :)

Here is our decorated tree.

It is covered with candy canes and gingerbread men. We love it!

My little helpers. Max and Mia did a great job hanging ornaments. There was only one ornament fatality.

Candy canes started disappearing off the tree pretty quickly.

No one remained innocent for long. Zackary even managed to grab a fake candy cane off the tree and tried to eat it. We were all in the mood for hot chocolate after our tree and candy cane party.

Little Zoey was there too! She was too sleepy to participate so she just stayed cozy in her blankets and looked cute.

We are loving welcoming the Christmas season in our new house with our new addition!

Welcome Home!

2011-11-30T20:15:00.001-06:00

They love having a new baby sister!
Zoey has as awesome support group :)

Zoey Brooke!

2011-11-29T20:28:00.000-06:00

Our little miss Zoey was born last night at 11:43 pm!

She is perfect and very tiny. She weighed in at 6lbs. 3 ounces.

The delivery team. Ty delivered the baby with Dr. Bodon by his side. (She is totally awesome. She ordered pad thai for me while I was in labor because I was starving!)

My not so glamorous self and the beautiful little miss.

We just love her! Feeling very blessed and happy to be home!

A Little Christmas Now!

2011-11-25T21:12:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving was wonderful! The meal was delish and the company was grand! I completely forgot to take pictures!

Oh well...Onto Christmas :)

We pulled out the decorations and turned up the Christmas carols. We hung the stockings.

Zackary set up the nativity.

Mia and I set up our little Christmas village on the dining room table.

We are getting a real tree for the first time this year so it will be a little while yet before we get to that, but I am really looking forward to it. Ty started putting up the lights on the house. We are looking forward to the rest of the holiday season!

38 weeks and 5 days!

2011-11-25T21:04:00.000-06:00

This bun is almost done!

Thanksgiving Morning

2011-11-24T11:44:00.000-06:00

This morning I am getting the house ready for our big feast this afternoon. We are excited to have friends and family coming to celebrate with us this year. I made some pies! German chocolate pecan,

and apple crunch with a maple cream sauce!

Hurray for pie!

The tables are set.

I did the kids table with paper plates and cups. Each child will have a little cup of crayons and some coloring sheets.

There is also a happy little chocolate truffle topped with a turkey on each plate.

The adult table is set up with my china that I rarely have a chance to use!

And I am a nerd and printed up some turkey trivia for our dinner party!

Looking forward to a great day!

Thanksgiving Thankfuls!

2011-11-22T10:08:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving time is here!

I wanted to take some time today and think about my blessings. They are many and they are great!

It is an absolutely beautiful day in Beaumont. The view of the mountains from my bedroom window it awesome!

This is the first Thanksgiving that Ty and I will be able to spend with my family!

We have some great friends coming as well....also I am hosting and super excited for the Turkey!

Baby Zoey will be here very soon. I am very much looking forward to her arrival :)

We are so thankful for Ty's job. I love that he enjoys doing what he does everyday.

I love our house.

I am so thankful for the food that I can feed my children everyday.

I love being a wife and mother.

We are so lucky to have our vehicles.

The gospel!

The temple!

An awesome ward.

A fenced yard for the kids to play in.

Chocolate!!!

These are just a few. I am very blessed! I love this time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A Little Yard Work

2011-11-20T08:56:00.000-06:00

We spent Saturday afternoon at my parent's house in Redlands. Ty and I got to run away for a little alone time and the kids had a blast raking leaves in the backyard.

Well....Max had a blast raking leaves.

He worked very hard getting all of those fall colored leaves into a nice pile.

Mia thought his leaf pile was very nice.

Perfect for jumping into and scattering all over the yard again!

Salted Caramel 6 Layer Chocolate Cake

2011-11-18T11:26:00.000-06:00

The Link to this recipe is HERE.

I don't know that I am up for the mess but I sure would like to eat this today!

In any case, it's Friday and chocolate should make an appearance at some point!

The New Car

2011-11-15T18:40:00.000-06:00

Our new vehicle is a dark blue Ford Taurus X.

It is one of those crossovers so it looks like a blend between an SUV and a minivan.

There are 2 rows of seating in the back and plenty of storage for Costco trips in the trunk.

I took it out for a test drive and a quick trip to Wal-Mart this afternoon. When I came out of the store I walked through the parking lot looking for my yellow car. I finally remembered I had driven the new blue car and felt very silly.

We feel very blessed and excited about our family sedan!

Zackary!

2011-11-14T19:19:00.000-06:00

Zack was sick last week. He didn't sleep very much or very well. Last night was the best night of sleep he has had in a while, but he is still catching up. Today, after his chef boyardee, he made himself all cozy in our bed and fell asleep. Such a sweet little man :)

A New Week!

2011-11-14T11:57:00.000-06:00

1. 37 weeks pregnant.

2. The 3 day weekend was awesome! I am already looking forward to sleeping in next week during the Thanksgiving holiday!

3. I am craving a dark chocolate Toblerone bar and I must have one soon!

4. We are getting our new car tomorrow. I am really excited to have a vehicle that will be large enough for our family, but I am really sad to say goodbye to my X-terra. I have loved driving it!

5. I have a conference with Max's teacher today and I am hoping to hear raves! We think he is pretty great :)

Happy Monday!

Pumpkin.....

2011-11-11T08:11:00.000-06:00

.....Pie Play Dough!

This play dough recipe comes from Moments of Mommyhood and it is made with pumpkin pie spice so it smells awesome!

The kids and I are getting crafty in the kitchen today. Max is home for the holiday! Don't we all love 3 day weekends!

Happy Friday!

Homework Stations

2011-11-08T15:00:00.000-06:00

I didn't take any before pictures of this project, but at the start this was just a blank wall in a big room.

Ty built the desks and the cubbies.

There are 4 desks. One for each child, once baby Zoey gets here! (I will use her desk until she is big enough to need it!)

I love how the project turned out! It looks great and I think we will use it all the time!

(Special Thanks to Ty for being the master handyman!)

Monday

2011-11-07T11:06:00.000-06:00

1. 36 weeks pregnant and the crib is up! I am starting to feel ready!

2. I am loving LARABARs . They are the best snack!

3. I so enjoy our fireplaces. They make the house feel so cozy and I love watching the kids warm their hands and feet in front of it.

4. My mom bought a huge collection of old school Polly Pockets for Mia. She has been playing with them all morning long with no end in sight. Awesome gift!

5. Zackary and Max have been watching Cars 2 and loving it. I am glad they have something they can share!

Happy Monday! Hurray for a new week :)

Today!

2011-11-05T06:29:00.000-05:00

It is 4:30 in the morning and I am up eating toast with butter and raspberry jam. I was just that starving!

I found this little quote and thought it was perfect for the day. Why not have a good day today?

Cookies!

2011-11-04T14:54:00.000-05:00

It's raining today! It's cold today!

I have the fireplaces going and I am going to bake a big batch of my very favorite cookies!

These Almond Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies from Chocolate and Carrots have become my go to cookie recipe. I always use ghiradelli bittersweet chocolate in mine!

In other news: I finished the Christmas shopping! I am so glad to have one thing done!

Happy Friday!

Reality

2011-11-03T12:50:00.001-05:00

1. We are one month away from this baby's due date.

2. I need to plan Thanksgiving.

3. I need to plan Christmas.

4. I need to set up the crib.

5. I need to buy some diapers.

6. I need to eat some chocolate.

Have a nice day!

Trick or Treat!

2011-11-01T08:32:00.000-05:00

We kicked off our Halloween night with a fun dinner. Max helped me top our Frankenstein pizza. The sauce was a combination of alfredo and pesto. I told the kids that the garlic in the pesto sauce was to keep the vampires away!

After dinner we pulled out the costumes. It was a last minute decision to throw Zackary in the giraffe costume.

He is holding Lightning Mcqueen. Lightning traveled with Zack all evening and returned safely after trick-or treating!

Max was a little pirate. A very pleasant, happy, candy loving pirate.

The little people were all ready to go!

Mia told me that she wants to be a fairy princess ballerina every year. We will see what next year brings!

Then they were off. They returned later with a ridiculous amount of candy. They had a great time.

Monday, Halloween, and Goodbye October!

2011-10-31T13:32:00.000-05:00

1. 35 weeks pregnant!

2. The kids and I had a great Sunday. Ty was working so I took them out to visit my parents and we took a little stroll down Halloween lane. The little people loved it!

3. I cleaned all 5 bathrooms this morning. It is a huge job, but I love how clean the whole house smells afterwards!

4. Looking forward to an evening of Halloween fun. When we get home from trick-or-treating we are going to watch Ghostbusters while the kids sort through all of the candy.

5. This is the last day of October. It has been a great month. The next few months are going to fly and I am going to try and savor the moments!

Fall Carnival

2011-10-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

Last night was Max's fall carnival at school. All of the kids have been looking forward to it. I didn't know if Ty would be able to go with us so my parents came along for help!

Max had a little shark painted on his face. He was the only one interested in the face painting. There were all sorts of games and lots of candy and prizes.

We had to get some cotton candy for Zack. He couldn't shove it into his mouth quickly enough! We had a great time and the kids came home with plenty of loot.

Baby Shoes...

2011-10-28T15:50:00.000-05:00

..... Are really cute!

I am getting some of the teeny tiny clothes and shoes out of boxes.

My personal favorite are these little Nikes!

The little pink boots are pretty cute too.

And so are the little jean pair with pink ribbon laces!

So excited!

For Halloween

2011-10-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

This year Halloween falls on Monday night and I am super excited to take the kids trick or treating in our neighborhood!

Before the big event I will be putting on a fun dinner to get us in the mood.

I found this Frankenstein pesto pizza on pinterest. You can find the recipe HERE.

Even though there will be lots of candy later on, I am planning a little dessert as well!

Halloweeen dessert pizza!

Recipe HERE.

What are your plans for Halloween night?

Time for Cozy!

2011-10-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

It is another cold, wet, rainy day for us. I am planning a stay at home day. There will be baking, online shopping, stories by the fireplace, hot chocolate, and socks! Ty is working all day, but I am hoping it is a bit warmer in the desert where he is today, and if not, maybe he can get some hot chocolate at the cafeteria! Max is getting ready for school. He had pumpkin pie with whipped cream for breakfast. We are looking forward to a great day!

Umbrellas

2011-10-24T18:26:00.000-05:00

It has been raining off and on all afternoon. The kids are having a blast playing in the puddles.

Zackary was wearing shoes to begin with but he decided they needed to go so that he could feel the water under his feet.

Little Mia with her Tinkerbell umbrella.

She was pretending that she was a fairy.

Max was using his Spider-Man umbrella but he was pretending to be Optimus Prime.

They all got together and sang a little song about "bumbershoots". (It's what they call umbrellas in a show they like to watch!)

I have lined the entry from the backyard with towels and I have warm bread waiting for them when they come in! Love my little people :)

Monday!

2011-10-24T13:12:00.000-05:00

1. Our ward's primary program was yesterday and it was great! The kids all did a wonderful job!

2. 34 weeks pregnant!

3. Ty is off tomorrow and I am planning a Costco date :)

4. We are now going through 3 gallons of regular 2% milk and 3 cartons of soy milk each week at our house. Running out is not an option.

5. I love how happy Zackary gets while he is eating his Chef Boyardee Ravioli.

33 Weeks and 5 Days

2011-10-21T10:53:00.000-05:00

I haven't taken any "prego" pictures this time around so here are a few (they may be the only!)

Please excuse the stretchy pants. I am living in yoga/lounge wear.

Mornings

2011-10-21T08:32:00.000-05:00

I know lots of people out there do not consider themselves to be morning people, but I am!

I love mornings. I always have. I love the wonderful possibilities of a new day. I love the quiet in the early hours before the rest of the world gets going. I love to see the sunrise through my bedroom window. I love sitting in my robe and socks while I read my scriptures and eat toast. I love hearing each of my children wake up and getting to greet them with good morning hugs and chocolate milk.

Enjoy your Friday morning!

Happy Day

2011-10-20T19:55:00.000-05:00

I had a doctor's appointment today. My doctor has an ultrasound machine in the office so we decided to take a quick peek at little miss Zoey. I have never had an ultrasound so far along in pregnancy before and it was really neat. I got a good look at her little nose and her ears. She is looking great and I am looking forward to meeting her! I scheduled my next appointment for November 4th. The baby's due date is December 4th! I cannot believe we are so close already. I am feeling very blessed today!

5 thoughts for Wednesday

2011-10-19T12:02:00.000-05:00

1. Mia is loving school. She has really started to enjoy learning and is working hard. She can now write her own name as well as Max's and Zackary's.

2. I am working on some menu plans today. A little thought now makes a big difference later on.

3. Ty is going to Las Vegas tomorrow for a few days of anesthesia conferences. I miss him already!

4. Max's new favorite breakfast is a banana covered with peanut butter and chocolate chips. It is a personal favorite of mine as well!

5. I am 33 weeks along in this pregnancy.

Ooey Gooey

2011-10-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

I have had this recipe pinned on pinterest for a while now and I have been looking for a good opportunity to make it. My brother is coming into town for the evening and we are getting together for a cookout at my parents house. This One Pan Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie is going to be our dessert!

Find the recipe HERE at sophistimom.com

I will be serving this warm with lots of vanilla ice cream!

Happy Tuesday :)