Our back yard has a drainage creek running through it. We are trying to make it look like we want it there. We are collecting rocks and piling them up in the water so that it sounds like a babbling brook. Just next door, our neighbor has a backhoe to the creek, he is trying to make it look like a ditch. Soon, though, his fence will go up and we will only see our cute little stream. The kids in the neighborhood, and Dallin, like to play in the creek. When we moved in, there were gold fish and frogs, last year the kids found a live turtle, this year, they came up with a crawfish!Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wildlife
Our back yard has a drainage creek running through it. We are trying to make it look like we want it there. We are collecting rocks and piling them up in the water so that it sounds like a babbling brook. Just next door, our neighbor has a backhoe to the creek, he is trying to make it look like a ditch. Soon, though, his fence will go up and we will only see our cute little stream. The kids in the neighborhood, and Dallin, like to play in the creek. When we moved in, there were gold fish and frogs, last year the kids found a live turtle, this year, they came up with a crawfish!
5 teeth
Ellie has five teeth trying to come through. Yesterday, it was three. The day before, it was one. The pearly whites in your little mouth are almost doubling in three days time. She has been a BEAR! Her appetite has been very small while her mood swings have been very large!
Although, I think she was trying to catch up this morning: She ate three large bananas before 10:30 AM.
Although, I think she was trying to catch up this morning: She ate three large bananas before 10:30 AM.
Iron Chef
{500th post! can I get a woot-woot!}
I had all the YW over at my house for an Iron Chef competition.
We read D&C 89:10-17
They were challenged to make an entree from a variety of vegetables, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and wheat tortillas.
Top Secret Ingredient:
Black Beans
&Kidney Beans
I explained that they would be making a vegetarian meal!
We let them loose, I was only there to retrieve pots and pans and answer any questions.
At the end of the whirlwind hour (figuratively and quite literally by the state that my kitchen was in when they were done), our Bishop and I judged the food (My counselor wouldn't try the food, she was "busy cleaning up" ;).
THE WINNERS: Team 2, although it was a tough choice to make.
The girls far exceeded our expectations and it was so much fun!
My kitchen even got back to normal by the end of the night.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Salsa--oh soo good!
This (canned tomato!) salsa recipe will hold you off until the garden tomatoes are ready, I guarantee it! You will love it, love it!
I got this recipe from A sister-in-law....Heather A? Jordan? Jenny? Heather J? (who by-the-way, has an awesome guacamole-salsa recipe that I need her to give me...hint...hint. I tried to duplicate it at home, by memory, to no avail)
I can't remember/don't know who is the original source of this yumminess!
Here is how I make it (I don't have the actual recipe , I never measure when I cook, and I add a lot of extras):
2 whole cans (about 14 oz) petite diced tomatoes
2 green onions
1/2 jalapeno
3? Tablespoons cilantro (about a 1/4 of the bunch)
1-2 Tablespoons lime juice
shake of garlic powder
shake of ground cumin
shake of chili powder
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
In a medium bowl combine everything but one can of tomatoes. I use my immersion hand blender to chop everything up because I melted my real blender in the oven about four years ago and I haven't got a new one since. (I some times to experiment with heat and plastic.) Once there are no large chunks left, add the remaining can of tomatoes and pulse your blender a couple times (I like to leave the second can of tomatoes almost intact). Taste and add more salt/lime/spices/herbs if necessary.
Does this make sense? I am not very good at writing down recipes...
Friday, March 27, 2009
ouch
My {ouch} hamstrings {ouch} are {ouch} so {ouch} sore!
Sore {ouch} hamstrings {ouch} make {ouch} me {ouch} feel {ouch} like {ouch} I {ouch} have {ouch} the {ouch} flu!
This little puppy has been a life saver with all this cold, wet weather!
So far, I haven't gotten bored with it.
There are so many different, FREE, workouts to choose from!
And my muscles hurt!
ouch!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
One loved birthday boy!
We had such a great birthday weekend for Paul.
We celebrated on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday!
Saturday we stayed home all day and worked in the yard (his idea of a great day--he usually works on Saturdays)
Sunday we ate cake!
(shhh... don't tell, but he has frosting under his bottom lip. he was snitching it off of my finger.)
(shhh... don't tell, but he has frosting under his bottom lip. he was snitching it off of my finger.)
Monday, his actual birthday, we decorated the house with streamers and balloons and hit a pinata!(The whole time during the pinata, he was on the phone with his family. They are always so good at calling to wish him a happy day! He really appreciates it!)
Any one who knows him is blessed.
WE LOVE HIM A WHOLE LOT LOT LOT!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Complimenting pigtail facials
Me: Ellie, you are beautiful and smart and funny and pretty and wonderful... {pause}
Here are Ellie's pigtails, Daddy-o!
Ellie: more
She takes compliments with grace and maturity!
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Here are Ellie's pigtails, Daddy-o!
Every morning Paul asks me if I am going to put Ellie's hair in pigtails.
She usually gets just one, but today I let her play with my jewelry so that I could put 2 in.
This girl knows how to give herself a beauty treatment.
This girl knows how to give herself a beauty treatment.Strawberry-maple oatmeal facial and hair moisturizer.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Baby Bruver
Disclaimer: In no way is there another baby coming to this house any time soon, nor will there be in utero for at least 6-12 months!
I think that you have met baby bruver.
I think that you have met baby bruver.That's what Dallin has named him.
He has taken ownership and responsibility for this baby.
He feeds him, diapers him, cuddles him, and puts him down for naps.
Don't worry, he still plays cars and trucks and monsters most of the time.
He makes a great big brother and he will make a great daddy one day.
Yesterday, he kept asking me if Santa would bring a baby brother.
Good thing he doesn't really get when Santa comes.
In fact, just the other week he claimed that Santa had come.
This expression came in conjunction with him finding a bathtub full of toys.
(I forgot to lock that bathroom back up after cleaning it. The toys were hand-me-downs from the neighbor, which were waiting for gift giving occasions....too late for that.)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
76 degrees
I think I just might want to live in this kind of weather for the rest of my life.
Windows open.
Short sleeves/dresses/bare feet.
The sandbox is in full swing, leaving crazy boy occupied for a couple hours each day, leaving a trail of sand throughout the kitchen.
Life is good. I could live like this.
Windows open.
Short sleeves/dresses/bare feet.
The sandbox is in full swing, leaving crazy boy occupied for a couple hours each day, leaving a trail of sand throughout the kitchen.
Life is good. I could live like this.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Childhood memories--Throw Up
This is pretty grouse, so you can all stop reading right now.
You have now been warned.
I have the weakest stomach out there and the wimpiest gag reflex on this planet.
My first swim lesson, I remember walking through the door to the pool at the Orem Rec Center. The smell of chlorine hit me so bad, I ran to the garbage can and let it all out. I still hate swimming pools.
Walking to Kindergarten every day was a treat. I had my little book bag that my mom made for me. I loved that bag. I would chew on the fabric handles. One day I had a runny nose and didn't know what to do so I wiped my nose with the handles of my bag. Later down the road, out of habit, I brought the handles to my mouth. As soon as it touched my lips I remembered that I had wiped my nose with it and immediately started gagging and threw up. (I tell this story whenever I say that I NEVER picked my nose and ate my boogers ((I fully admit that I picked (((pick))) my nose)) because people don't believe me.) I was across the street from my Aunt Laurel's by then and she got out her hose and cleaned me and my bag up.
When I was twelve, I had an awesome retainer that always seemed to be broken. My dad would use epoxy to glue it back together so my parents wouldn't have to pay for another retainer (I still have dreams that I am wearing my broken retainer. And epoxy? That explains all my problems!). We have a pretty nice hill in my childhood backyard. Back when we had winters full of snow, we would go tubing down that hill. I never had the sense to pull my hair back in a pony tail, so when I would biff it on the tube, my hair would get caught up in the snow and in my mouth and retainer. Enter in my gag reflex.
There are, of course, many more occasions in my life when my weak stomach and poor gag reflex have come in to play, but let's fast forward to my wedding day. A sweet little temple worker had to fetch me a trash can and it stayed by my side throughout the whole day. I did, however, succeed in NOT throwing up that day.
You have now been warned.
I have the weakest stomach out there and the wimpiest gag reflex on this planet.
My first swim lesson, I remember walking through the door to the pool at the Orem Rec Center. The smell of chlorine hit me so bad, I ran to the garbage can and let it all out. I still hate swimming pools.
Walking to Kindergarten every day was a treat. I had my little book bag that my mom made for me. I loved that bag. I would chew on the fabric handles. One day I had a runny nose and didn't know what to do so I wiped my nose with the handles of my bag. Later down the road, out of habit, I brought the handles to my mouth. As soon as it touched my lips I remembered that I had wiped my nose with it and immediately started gagging and threw up. (I tell this story whenever I say that I NEVER picked my nose and ate my boogers ((I fully admit that I picked (((pick))) my nose)) because people don't believe me.) I was across the street from my Aunt Laurel's by then and she got out her hose and cleaned me and my bag up.
When I was twelve, I had an awesome retainer that always seemed to be broken. My dad would use epoxy to glue it back together so my parents wouldn't have to pay for another retainer (I still have dreams that I am wearing my broken retainer. And epoxy? That explains all my problems!). We have a pretty nice hill in my childhood backyard. Back when we had winters full of snow, we would go tubing down that hill. I never had the sense to pull my hair back in a pony tail, so when I would biff it on the tube, my hair would get caught up in the snow and in my mouth and retainer. Enter in my gag reflex.
There are, of course, many more occasions in my life when my weak stomach and poor gag reflex have come in to play, but let's fast forward to my wedding day. A sweet little temple worker had to fetch me a trash can and it stayed by my side throughout the whole day. I did, however, succeed in NOT throwing up that day.
Friday, March 6, 2009
um...okay?
There are times in my life when an "um...okay?" is in order.
Like today, when I was talking to my diagonal back yard neighbor and my next store neighbor (NSN) at the same time. It turns out they are kin (kentucky vocabulary for related). Then, NSN's mom shows up. NSN immediately throws her cigarette behind her and mutters, "I'm not smoking."
As the catching up between kin continues, NSN notices that she has slowly wondered upon her stray, still-smoking butt. She picks it up with a look of disgust on her face and throws it past the nearby property stake onto our lawn. While this is happening, I look at her mom, she looks at me, and NSN avoids all of our looks. (this all happened in slow motion, by the way). And the conversation resumes.
This is when I think to myself, "Um...okay?"
Like today, when I was talking to my diagonal back yard neighbor and my next store neighbor (NSN) at the same time. It turns out they are kin (kentucky vocabulary for related). Then, NSN's mom shows up. NSN immediately throws her cigarette behind her and mutters, "I'm not smoking."
As the catching up between kin continues, NSN notices that she has slowly wondered upon her stray, still-smoking butt. She picks it up with a look of disgust on her face and throws it past the nearby property stake onto our lawn. While this is happening, I look at her mom, she looks at me, and NSN avoids all of our looks. (this all happened in slow motion, by the way). And the conversation resumes.
This is when I think to myself, "Um...okay?"
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Submarines
Paul says THE funniest things when he is half asleep. Last night, at 1 AM, we got up to go to the bathroom. While there, he asked me,
"So, do we have enough lint to build the submarine?"
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Outside-In
Desperate for some warmth we had a picnic in the family room the other day.
Then, continuing on with the "outside-in" theme as I am in the kitchen cleaning up, I hear something (a lot of things) crashing to the floor as Dallin shouts, "Snowing, Mom! Snowing!"
I walk in to find Dallin making a SNOW ANGEL (devil) on top of the "snow".my top secret pizza crust recipe
My cousin, Lindsey, called me today to get my pizza crust recipe. Although it is top secret, I thought I would share it with the rest of you.
image via here
On my dark cookie sheets the bottom gets really dark, on my shiny cookie sheets the bottom is under done.
Have no fear--It always come out perfect on my pizza stone (pampered chef -large bar pan, to be exact).
Dissappearing coffee lettuce
Paul puts Dallin to bed in the office every night. He will read to him, then out goes to light and they both fall asleep. I then wake Paul up about a half an hour later. This is what is working and what has kept him out of our room so far. He wakes up crying almost every night, however, because Paul is not with him in the room. He will come to our door and get his Daddy almost every night, too. He has stayed out of our bed until last night. Dallin finally crawled into our bed in the middle of the night. He woke up this morning, looked around like he was a bit confused, saying, "Mommy and Daddy's bed!" I asked him how he got there. He said, "Daddy disappeared."
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Dallin loves chocolate milk. We have a problem on our hands with chocolate milk right now. He has started to call it coffee. We figured out that this recent obsession has come from his preschool teacher who loves coffee. That, and having an actual "coffee table" in our family room. In our religion, we follow a health code called the Word of Wisdom. Part of that is that we do not drink coffee. So, we have been trying to teach Dallin that we do not drink coffee ("coffee is bad for you, honey") all the while trying to teach him that people who drink coffee are not bad people. (We can just imagine him getting confused and telling someone they are bad.) Coffee is all that he talks about anytime he is drinking lately.
And I quote: "Dal LOVE coffee. Coffee sooo good. Coffee my favorite! Chocolate milk coffee!"
-----------------------------------
We were sitting at dinner this evening when someone had a breakdown (it was me, okay). I started crying and Dallin sat in the chair right next to me with a sincere smile on his face (kind of that "ooohhh" look). Paul told him to give me a hug. He got off his chair and went to the kitchen counter and picked up a head of lettuce. He walked back to me and set it down in front of me gingerly. "Take a bite, Mommy," he said sympathetically as me pat my back a couple times.
------------------------------------
Dallin loves chocolate milk. We have a problem on our hands with chocolate milk right now. He has started to call it coffee. We figured out that this recent obsession has come from his preschool teacher who loves coffee. That, and having an actual "coffee table" in our family room. In our religion, we follow a health code called the Word of Wisdom. Part of that is that we do not drink coffee. So, we have been trying to teach Dallin that we do not drink coffee ("coffee is bad for you, honey") all the while trying to teach him that people who drink coffee are not bad people. (We can just imagine him getting confused and telling someone they are bad.) Coffee is all that he talks about anytime he is drinking lately.
And I quote: "Dal LOVE coffee. Coffee sooo good. Coffee my favorite! Chocolate milk coffee!"
-----------------------------------
We were sitting at dinner this evening when someone had a breakdown (it was me, okay). I started crying and Dallin sat in the chair right next to me with a sincere smile on his face (kind of that "ooohhh" look). Paul told him to give me a hug. He got off his chair and went to the kitchen counter and picked up a head of lettuce. He walked back to me and set it down in front of me gingerly. "Take a bite, Mommy," he said sympathetically as me pat my back a couple times.
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