Ramblings

I think February is my favorite time of year here in the desert. At least for now. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous! The windows have been open and the kids have been playing outside.

We have enjoyed swings, slides, new bikes, frozen yogurt, and the day starting to stretch out.

I have enjoyed this little, or I should say big boy. 5 is fun.

Thomas is enjoying Clara. She is getting bigger. She talks a lot and you can understand if you are fluent in toddlereese. She loves to say, "I have an idea." or "I have to tell you something."

They love each other so much and it is so much fun to watch them play together. Thomas is so nice to Clara. She is nice, too. Most of the time.

Life is good.

Band for hire.

Seriously...I'll pay you to let them play at your house for a while.

Happy Valentines Day!

We give you the gift of fake smiles,

cheesy grins

and plenty of pouting.

Note to self: don't try and take pictures when you are almost late for church - and your speaking in sacrament meeting.

Laundry

Thursday I was driving Thomas home from preschool. I was in a driving daze and trying to figure out what I was going to make for dinner and how I was going to make the house look like something productive happened - you know, the normal 4:00 pm problem housewives face each day. Thomas and Clara were in the back messing around - you know, the normal thing that happens anytime there is more than 1 kid in a car.

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As I was turning onto one of the main roads, Thomas started praying. I was wondering if he really was praying or just pretending to pray so I adjusted the rear view mirror to catch a glimpse of him. Sure enough he had his arms folded and his eyes closed. He was praying for real. Because Clara does everything her brother does, she was praying right along, repeating everything he said. It was the normal prayer, "thank you for this day, thank you for Mom, Dad and Clara, help me to have happy dreams..." Then he said something that made me cover my mouth to try and stifle the laughing. "Please help my laundry to get done because it is getting too full and it is going to fall out."

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I asked him about it and he explained that it was just too full. I then changed the subject. I didn't need my 5-year-old pointing out my shortcomings when it comes to laundry.

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The same night at dinner, Steve asked him to say the prayer. Thomas requested the same thing. Steve and I both opened our eyes during the prayer and looked at each other. I am sure Steve was thinking..."Yes, why is the laundry falling out over the top?" Lucky for him he didn't say anything.

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Friday morning I was sleeping. I was in a fog when I heard both the kids come in. Thomas came and stood by my bedside and said one thing, "Mom, you need to do my laundry."

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I was planning on doing it that day, I just had hoped that a miracle would have happened during the night and his laundry would have been done. I guess he got tired of waiting for the angels to do it and decided it was time to make mom do it.

She makes me smile.

I have no idea what she was doing. I came across this scene and decided to grab the camera before she knew she had been caught. All I know is she loves this horse. She holds it, talks to it, feed its, and now it looks like she is trying to potty train it.

10 Years

Steve and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. I can't believe it has been 10 years, and sometimes I can't believe it has only been 10 years since we married. So much has taken place over those years.

Steve and I met in September of 1999 and were married in January of 2000. Our wedding date was a very short 4 months after we met. We definitely paid for that decision. We make it no secret that we struggled as a couple those first couple of years of marriage. Steve was old and set in his ways, and I was immature and didn't have enough life experiences to prepare me for living with someone. However, we worked through those years and came out a lot stronger and more unified. Looking back, I am grateful for those opportunities we had to grow. I love him so much. He is a wonderful husband and a great dad. I know it is a cliche', but I really do love him more now than I did when we were married.

We had planned on getting out of town to celebrate, but the week turned into a fiasco and we decided that we would just celebrate in town.

He brought home Greek food that night and we had a candle light dinner with 2 of the greatest things to come out of our 10 years of wedded bliss. Saturday night we went out for a night on the town and enjoyed some time with just the two of us.

This picture is proof that you should never take a picture from a low angle.

Happy Birthday!

Thomas is the big 5! He was so excited for his birthday.

One of the things he wanted was a fish. I am a pushover, so Wednesday morning at 6:00 am I was at Wal-Mart picking out the newest member of our family. Thomas and Clara have been thrilled with the new arrival. Currently, his name is Fishyfriend -who knows what it will be tomorrow. We did end up going and buying one more fish the next day because Fishyfriend seemed a little lonely. I do have to admit he has been swimming with more gusto since we added a friend.

I ended up making 2 cakes and cupcakes for his birthday. This one was my favorite, even though it was the easiest one. It just made me smile every time I looked at it. He wanted a Diego cake for his birthday party. Both of us searched the Internet for an idea and came across one similar to this one. I didn't really get a chance to make it as fancy as I would have liked because I was given the gift of strep throat for his birthday and felt like crud.

He was happy with it, and that is all that mattered. He didn't even realize that I didn't make trees or rocks out of gum pastes.

He had a great birthday. We love him so much and are so happy he is a member of our family.

Catchy Phrase - if you're 4.

Steve and I are participating in a double ward biggest loser competition. Here was the conversation Steve, Thomas and I had this afternoon. It should make the ad wizards at Weight Watchers very happy.

Thomas: Dad, where are you going?

Steve: I need to go weigh in.

Thomas: What does that mean?

Steve: Ask Mom to explain. I need to get going.

Thomas: Mom, what does weigh in mean?

Mom: Dad and I are doing a diet to try and lose some weight.

Thomas: Mom...you need to stop dieting and start living.

I'm not going to lie

and say that I am working on getting Clara to give up the binks. I could, but I shouldn't waste my breath.

Clara has gotten herself into quite a love affair with her binks. In the matter of 2 or 3 months they have gone from novelty to necessity. She must have them! She must know where each and every one is. She carries them in her purse, keeps them in her play kitchen and happily shoves them down her shirt hoping that her cleavage will keep them safe. (Unfortunately, she learned that one from me. That was my hiding spot until she figured out how to pull down my shirt and locate them).

Last week we decided to only let her have them when she was in bed. After she made her way downstairs and was involved with a carton of yogurt and a her favorite episode of Curious George, I snuck around the house and collected all the binkies from her favorite hiding spots. I thought maybe I could keep her entertained enough to forget about them and go on with her day. How wrong I was. About 15 minutes after the confiscation I heard a scream from upstairs. It was one word - and it was loud..."BINKIES!!!" She said it over and over again screaming at the top of her lungs. I made my way upstairs to her room and found her next to her bed sobbing. I felt so bad for taking away her lifeline so I did what every other mother who is a HUGE pushover would have done. I opened the top drawer to her dresser where I had them hidden and handed every one of them back to her.

We'll try again in a month or so when I am sure it will be so much easier.

He really is growing up.

My little guy will be 5 years old in a couple weeks. Where did the time go? I still remember vividly the Doctor placing him on my chest, still attached to the cord. He was so warm. His eyes were so dark and alert. They still are.

I have been dreading 5. It sounds so old. So...not little.

However, there is a bright side. He is getting more mature. The 2 of us have great conversations. We put 100 piece puzzles together. He loves to help. He tells funny jokes. He sings along with the radio in the car. He dresses himself in the morning and picks out outfits that kind of match. He clears his plate from the table and actually scrapes the scraps into the trash. He walks around the pile of stuff I am sweeping up instead of right through the middle. He loves his sister and takes care of her. He shares. Most of the time.

So. As hard as it is to see that number go up. It is exciting to see him becoming the boy he is. I not only love him with all my heart. I like him.

We are in that phase.

The one where you lie to the pediatrician and say that your child does eat well. Oh absolutely!They do eat veggies and fruit! Even though you know very well they spit out anything has any kind of fruity or veggie texture.

That's why I don't have the heart to tell Clara that her favorite meal is bursting at the seams with stuff I want her to eat. She thinks that just because it has some pasta in it, there is no danger for fruit/veggie cross contamination. If she only knew what I was feeding her...

Pasta Fagoli

1 T olive oil

2 pounds ground beef

2 onions - chopped

1 pound carrots - chopped

1 pound celery - chopped

3 cans diced tomatoes (16 oz size)

2 cups red kidney beans

2 cups white kidney beans or great northern beans

88 ounces of beef stock (I just use water and beef bullion)

2 tsp oregano

2 1/2 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce

48 ounces of Spaghetti sauce ( I use Prego)

8 ounces dry pasta - take your pick, any shape will work

Brown beef in oil in a LARGE pot (at least 10 qt size). Add onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse beans and add to the pot. Also add beef stock, oregano, pepper, Tabasco, spaghetti sauce. Simmer until carrots are tender. Add the pasta about 20 minutes before serving.

This makes 9 quarts of soup. I divide it into thirds. With one portion, we usually eat it for dinner one night and have it for lunch during the week. I stick the other two portions in separate food saver bags and seal it up. It freezes really well.

Christmas Week, 2009

I fell into the blogging trap. This past week has been so eventful and I haven't had time to record it all. I figure one generic post and I will be on track.

Christmas Eve was very quiet at our house. We had a nice dinner of...Taco Bell. Yes, you read that right T-A-C-O-B-E-L-L. As Steve and I were eating our nachos we decided we needed to somehow find an invite to someones house next year.

After dinner we started the new tradition of Topless-Sugar-Cookie-baking. It was tons of fun. Especially since we started them at 7:30. As we were cutting them out it dawned on me that we still had to cool them, and decorate them. I ended up only making 9 cookies and letting them cool outside so we could frost them and get the kids in bed.

After we made the cookies, the kids got to open their Christmas PJ's.

Then we went outside to feed Santa's reindeer. I think Steve had more fun throwing the glitter than the kids.

Then I decided I needed a picture with the kids. Please excuse the no-makeup look. It was Christmas Eve and Santa had too many other things to do besides get herself looking presentable.

This was the calm before the storm. Much to our surprise, Steve and I had everything set up and ready to go by 11:30. I think that is a record for us. I had assembled everything a few days before, which I am so glad a did. The kitchen took me 3 HOURS!!! to put together. I was swearing up a storm with that one! (but don't worry, nobody heard me because I was by myself) Each little piece of plastic had to be clipped out of a giant web of plastic parts and then screwed together with some other tiny plastic part.

Thomas was up and ready to go by 7:00 am. We tried to keep him contained until Clara woke up, but he wasn't having it. We decided to wake her up which was a huge mistake. She wasn't too happy and was very temperamental all morning.

Thomas wasn't.

I gave both the boys BYU hats to wear on boy-days. I also gave Steve tickets to see Brain Regan and a weekend away in May. (I guess it was a gift for both of us because he is required to take me.)

Steve gave me the Flip camera I have been wanting. Now you are all going to be bombarded with home videos. Aren't you so excited!

One of the gifts we gave Clara was a Kai-Lan doll. She loves this show and goes around saying her Chinese phrases. I got her the doll so she would continue to do it.

These were the BEST. GIFTS. EVER. I had never seen them before but snagged them at a toy conference I participated in during the summer. The past couple of years I have been able to go and critique toys for Creative Child Magazine. As payment you get to take the toys you choose home with you. I saw these Rody horses and thought the kids might like them. When I got home I checked them out on Amazon and they retail for $45.00 (small) and $100.00 (large). Major Score!!! I had no idea they were that expensive. I thought they would just be like large plastic beach balls shaped like a horse. They're not. These things are made of industrial latex and each one holds up to 400lbs. You can get some serious air bouncing on these things. I know because I think I spent more time on it than the kids did Christmas morning. I have rearranged my furniture in the family room to make a permanent spot for them.

Every time we took Thomas to see Santa he told him that all he wanted was a Buddy the Elf Toy. Guess what? They don't make them. I searched the Internet and couldn't find anything. The only thing I found was a bobble head. When Thomas ripped open the package he only saw the picture of buddy, he was thrilled. Then he turned the box over to reveal the "toy." It is kind of frightening. Thomas had this weird smile on his face and just said. "His head is kind of big."

Now for the fun part.... This stuff I don't have pictures of, so you are going to have to do some mental imaging.

For Christmas, my Mom gave everyone in the family a trip to Disneyland. We have been looking forward to this trip since July. Steve and I were going to leave on Saturday to avoid the Las Vegas to California traffic after a 3 day weekend but decided it couldn't be that bad.

Saturday night we were getting everything packed. I was heading upstairs to get laundry and Steve was headed out to the garage to get stuff in the car. Both of us heard the same thing at the same time. Clara puking her guts out. We came into the living room to find nice piles vomit all over our carpet. We were hoping that it was the leftover taco bell she ate but it wasn't. She had the full blown flu and spent the entire night throwing up. I felt so bad for her. Her and I spent the night downstairs and were up pretty much every 45 minutes.

By morning she seemed better and we figured it was just a 24 hour bug. We thought we could leave at noon or so and get to CA as the "24 hours" was coming to a close. She was acting normal, keeping sprite and crackers down, we thought we were good to go.

We got on the road and then hit traffic. I was so wrong about it not being that bad. It took us 2 hours to get to State Line, normally a 45 minute drive. The drive to Disneyland takes 4 hours at the most. It took us 9 hours. That includes all the traffic, the stopping for bathroom breaks, and then stopping because Clara puked in the car. Luckily we were in Victorville and they had a Kohls because I wasn't thinking and didn't pack her any extra clothes. She only had enough for the time we would be there. I had to take her in the store, buy her some jammies and then take her into the restroom to get her cleaned up. I felt so bad for her and I felt like a bad mommy for bringing her on the trip.

We finally made it to Anaheim around 9 pm. The kids crashed and so did Steve and I. The next morning we decided Steve would stay in the hotel with Clara and Thomas and I would go to Disneyland. Thomas and I had a great time with Grandma. Steve said he had a great time with Clara (have I ever mentioned what a great husband / dad he is!). By the time we got back from the park she was back to her normal self. It's a good thing she is only 2 and didn't have any idea what she had missed out on.

It really was a great Christmas, just lots of unplanned excitement.

I love her...

Clara has been watching Frosting the Noman. A lot. (I may be turned in for child neglect if anyone finds out how many times she watches it a day.) As a result, my 2-year-old has the entire dialogue of the show memorized, and yells...

"NO MONEY, NO TICKET!!!"

I hope it doesn't end after Christmas because it makes my day!

New Christamas Tradition

We just go home from a quick weekend trip. We took the kids up to St. George for the Festival of Lights and Live Nativity at Tuachan in St. George. We had originally planned on getting up early yesterday morning and making the quick drive, but getting up early turned into sleeping in and leaving at noon.

We had a great time. We watched the Nativity in the amphitheater in the canyon, took a train ride, sat on Santa's lap and enjoyed some hot chocolate.

This picture should have turned out a lot better, but a family with 7 little boys jumped in front of us. By the time they finished taking their picture, our kids were done and wouldn't stand still.

The only family picture we took while on the trip...can you see all of us?

This is the third Santa the kids have met with this season. Clara has become quite comfortable with him. Thomas was discussing what else he should add to his list while we were in line. I told him that the first list was the one the elves had and they were all finished making the toys. He was a little bummed that he couldn't add anything, but the elves-being-finished-with-their-work- story seemed to satisfy him.

This little girl gave us a run for our money last night. We were hoping she would sleep in the car on the way up...we should have known better. She fell asleep about 30 minutes before we pulled into the hotel. She did fine while we went to dinner and the whole time we were at the nativity, but when we got back to the room, she went bonkers. She was bouncing off the wall and having a horrible time falling asleep. After about an hour and a half of us trying to get her to stay in bed, she finally gave in at 11:02 pm - I was watching every minute pass and did the happy dance once she was out!

This morning we woke up, had breakfast and then met up with my BFF and her family for lunch. (They happened to be traveling home from Cedar). We were going to go get swirly cones and drive over to the temple to walk around, but by the time we left the restaurant it was freezing cold and nobody wanted ice cream, let a lone walk around outside.

It was a great, quick trip, one we plan on making a yearly tradition.