Hi Grandma!

My mom and dad have been on a vacation to Mexico for the last two weeks. They saw my kids the night before they left, but my mom has complained that she misses them and that there aren't enough pictures of my kids on the blog. (especially close ups of Andi) So, here are just a few pictures from the last week. Hope you like them Grandma!

One of those days...

In a good way! Usually when people say that, it's not a good thing. But we've had a couple of really good days. Last night, Andi woke up and screamed for an hour. We are both pretty stubborn, so I sat in bed fuming, listening to her scream, and she just kept on screaming. This was from 2:30-3:30 in the morning. Mind you, she has been sleeping through the night since about two months old, so this is not normal. You are probably thinking, maybe she is teething, maybe she is growing and was hungry, but at 2:30 in the morning when all you want to do is sleep, those things don't matter! I won. Andi finally gave up and went back to sleep, and I snuggled back into my covers for the remainder of the night. I was terrified that was going to be a type and shadow of things to come the next day. Not to worry.

We had a pretty lazy movie marathon morning in our pajamas. We just signed up for the Disney Movie Club so we got six new DVDs in the mail to watch. (for only $25! total!) Carter was glued to the tv watching "fish moomie" (Finding Nemo) and "Kitty" (Monsters Inc.(Boo calls Sully "Kitty")). We are not real big movie watchers in our house, so this was a real treat for Carter. The kids were angels.

On top of our relaxing morning, I think Andi may finally be evening out, temper wise. She is really just a big mama's girl and doesn't like to be left on the floor, let alone, left in a room by herself for even a second. (Will the day ever come when I get to pee in peace?!) She is finally rolling again. She rolled a few times right around 5 months or so, and then stopped for the last three, and is starting again. She is also starting to scoot around on the floor, going for toys and whatnot. It's about time! I think she'll be so happy when she's a little more mobile. She was pretty content this morning though, doing some quality tummy time without screaming.

Carter is at a screaming phase for nap time. It's been for about five days. The first day he screamed in his crib for about 45 minutes. Just screaming as loud and as hard as he can. I don't know how he has a voice left. That was the worst day, and the rest of the days he has been screaming for about 30 minutes. Not today... he gave a really weak cry for about ten minutes was all and took a nice, long, two hour nap. I was so on top of things that I got dinner ready during nap time, so all I had to do was pop it into the oven thirty minutes before Jefferson got home. (check out the recipe below... you are going to want to try this!)

After nap time was park time! Portland has been so beautiful the past few days, sunny and 60! I can taste spring! All of our friends ended up down at the park with us and all the kids ran around playing so nicely. I forget how much sunshine and fresh air makes me happy... not to mention how happy it makes my kids! Andi sat on a blanket, pretty as a picture, and Carter got his wiggles out. Then we came home to a clean kitchen with dinner ready to pop into the oven. I love it when I feel so put together. It was a great day.


Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce:

Mix:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsps lime zest
1/4 cup lime juice
3 cloves garlic, pressed
Marinade 1 1/2 pounds chicken (cut into 1 inch pieces) for 30 minutes in mixture

Cook in a 9 inch square pan at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes

Dipping sauce:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Whisk together and serve on side to dip chicken into

Serve chicken over rice.

Family Day

Jefferson has had young men's activities the last two Saturdays, with a fireside, temple trip, and regular Wednesday activities on top of that. So, when they had another Saturday activity today, he just decided to bring the family along. It was a combined activity with the young women: snow tubing at Mt. Hood! We had such a great time. There were feet upon feet of snow up there and it was a warm, sunny day. The sledding hill was so steep! Jefferson only braved it down with Carter once. Carter liked it, but we opted for a little shorter, less steep, safer route the next time. After tubing we ate chili and headed home. On the way home we swung by Dairy Queen for a soft serve vanilla ice cream cone (the way to my heart)... you can see the damage in the bottom picture. :)






Andi all bundled up.



















Carter loving the winter wonderland.

















Trying to take a family picture in this picturesque location... Carter and Andi were not cooperating.













Enjoying his soft serve- YUM!

We had a great time at open gym today at the local gymnastics academy. Carter and his friend Michael had fun running around, jumping off pads, waving their sticks, and rolling around. It was an excellent place to get their wiggles out.

I have had a couple of comments about this in the last week, so I thought I would pass this idea along for all you other moms out there. I save a few of my baby food containers and use them to put snacks in for my kids. They are the perfect little size to pop into my purse, keep the snacks from getting smashed, and when you lose one, it's no big deal.

Playgroup V-day

Here are some of our pictures from our Valentine's Day party at playgroup:

Jefferson: 10 - Dani: 0

We had a great Valentine's Day! It's such a better holiday when you have an amazing husband and kids to share it with. We began with pink, heart shaped pancakes. I am pretty sure Carter didn't even notice, but I felt like a good mom making them. Then, my parents sent the kiddies Valentine's presents. Thank goodness because we can't afford to spoil them! Thanks grandma and grandpa!

Now, on to the score keeping. Jefferson and I have an unspoken understanding that we don't really buy gifts for holidays. We get each other a couple birthday gifts, and a few on Christmas, but certainly not for a trivial holiday like Valentine's day. Well, I thought we had an understanding anyways.

The morning began like usual, until we were headed out the door to go to story time at the library. I went to grab my wedding ring off the counter where I always leave it when I wash my face at night. It wasn't there, so I did a quick sweep of the house to no avail. I wasn't too nervous, I probably just took it off bathing the kids or something. I called Jefferson on the way to story time to see if he had seen it by chance. He hadn't.

Well, after story time and some shopping for some last minute dinner items, we headed home. Jefferson came home during his lunch break and surprised me with this:

It was my wedding ring! He went and had it cleaned and resurfaced. It is gorgeous! I can't believe that's what my ring started out looking like! Of course, it came with a cute stuffed animal that Carter was thrilled about, and a very sweet, sentimental card.

I felt like a shmuck! I didn't get him a thing! However, I would like to think that I redeemed myself a little bit with a delicious dinner of king crab legs, asparagus, french bread and sparkling cider after the kids went to bed. I guess that "unspoken rule" will have to be spoken next year. Good husband of mine!

17 habits of very happy moms... (VHM's)

I just love this article that I found in Parents magazine of May 2006 by Marion Winik. I tore it out and saved it and just recently found it again amongst a stack of papers in my desk. I hope all of you moms or someday moms will take a minute and read it. I have abridged it a little, but all the good stuff is there. Enjoy and become a Very Happy Mom!

1. Ask for help.

Happy mothers are not afraid to ask for help from family and friends.
2: Leave the house- now!
Have you been outside today? Fresh air, sunlight, and nature are believed to be critical mood enhancers for women, and moms can get this little lift while pushing strollers or swings.
3. Plan some big fun!
I've found that VHMs work really hard to find time and money for vacations. Take away the alarm clocks, the homework, the deadlines... bring on the sunsets, the sand castles, the card games. Suddenly you remember why you spend so much time doing these people's laundry.
4. Get your groove on.
You call him "honey" and he calls you "sugar"- but are you giving each other enough sweetness? Happy moms like getting busy. It'll put a smile on your face. And it's nice to have a Very Happy Husband hanging around. (This means have sex- and lots of it!)
5. Eat, sleep, and be merry
Being sleep-deprived may be a badge of honor for those with young babies, but the sooner you can figure out how to get your eight hours back, the more delirious with joy you will be. Follow that well deserved rest with a bowl of oatmeal and a banana instead of three cups of coffee (red bull, soda, etc) and the remains of somebody's Pop-Tart, and see what happens.
6. Have a six-pack
I thought the main habit of VHMs might be popping Prozac, but not a single happy mother mentioned drugs. What the did mention, in droves, was exercise. And of course they're right.
7. One is not the lonliest number
Carving out time away from the kids is crucial, whether it's poker night with the girls or just a long bath with a magazine.
8. Be nice to thy neighbor
You would think that moms would be tapped out in the giving department. But most happy moms make doing things for others a regular part of their lives, whether it's baking a lasagna for a family with a new baby or offering a ride to an elderly friend. Remember: Your helpfulness is another deposit in the karma bank.
9. Love the one you're with
The happiest moms don't compare and compete. Neither they, nor their kids, nor their cars, nor their houses have to be the smartest, cutest, newest, or neatest. The green-eyed monster has chewed up the happiness of many a mom.
10. Hang with your gal pals.
Very Happy Moms have close mom friends. Knowing that others are in the trenches with you is key.
11. Plan a little fun
VHMs sometimes buy themselves flowers, just in case no one else has thought of it. They meet their husbands for lunch, get a facial, or have the car detailed just because.
12. Play with the rules
One of the best things about being the person who makes the rules is bending them. With each of my kids, I allow certain treats that have a slightly wicked feel. VHMs know when to turn the mundane into magic.
13. Pick and choose.
Separate the siblings and enjoy some one-on-one time with each kid. No interrupting, no juggling, no sibling rivalry.
14. Look ahead
When your happy buzz threatens to slip away altogether, remind yourself that "This too shall pass." It works both ways: Either you get through the terrible stuff by knowing it's not forever, or you put it into perspective by reminding yourslef that the good stuff- the sticky kisses, the cute tutus- will also soon be gone.
15. Forgive and forget.
We all want to live up to our parenting ideals and do everything right all the time, and here we are, losing our tempers, being inconsistent, and bribing kids with candy on a daily basis. Unfortunately, all the time you spend brooding and punishing yourself for this is more time when your best self is not there for your kids. VHMs know that even the best of us have days from hell. They let those days go, and get on with exercising and vacation planning.
16. Pee in your pants laughing.
Kids love to see their moms smile and research is starting to show that just crinkling your eyes, turning up the corners of your mouth, and laughing can produce the happy brain chemical serotonin. At least it will make you look really rediculous, which will make your kids laugh. And laughing really hard with your kids is one of the best Very Happy Mom secrets of all.
17. Cuddle up.
Happy moms cuddle their kids every chance they get, which is smart since those chances diminish through grade school and then disappear altogether by the time your former cuddler gets her driver's license.

Now, go thy way, and be HAPPY!

OUCH!

We did it! I just had to! We pierced Andi's ears. She looks so dang cute and girly, I can't stand it! She did not like it being done, of course, but once the doctor was through and I held her, she was just fine and smiling at the assistant who was helping. All in the name of beauty! She gets it.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Makin' me proud

We spent our Saturday morning at Jefferson's volleyball tournament. We had a good time playing with our friends Jada and Summer and their kids. Jefferson also managed to make us proud by taking second place. The prize? $25 movie gift certificate! It was even better than the first place prize: $30 to Best Buy. Way to go babe!

It's Potty Time!

So we bought Carter a potty yesterday. We aren't really starting the potty training process yet, but we thought it would be good to have around and let Carter get used to it and try it out as he felt ready. Well, we didn't have the potty out for two minutes before Carter was undressed and sitting on the potty. He didn't go in it, but he did manage to squat next to it and pee on the carpet. I just had to laugh. He's got the right idea!

Naughty nap time

Carter has been having some fun at nap time, doing things other than sleeping. Day one I went in and found him as you see him in the first picture; with both arms up through the neck of his shirt. It was tight too! How in the world?! Day two, I didn't think a picture was appropriate, he had his socks off, his pants off, and his diaper off. That is definitely a first with the diaper coming off. Day three is the second picture. He went for a toga look with only one arm up through the neck of his shirts. He keeps me guessing! I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. :)

Calvin's Blessing

We are so lucky that we live just an hour away from my brother Ben and his wife and two kids. Over the weekend we were able to attend Calvin's baby blessing. It was fun to spend the afternoon with family and see our two cute nephews. Thanks Stewarts for letting us be a part of Cal's special day!

Post Happy

I have been a little blog happy today and there are a few new posts, so be sure to scroll down a little. Enjoy! :)

Andi's 6 month

These are supposed to be Andi's 6 month pictures, but she's actually 7 months. Close enough. Isn't she such a girly girl. I guess she is what we make her at this point, but I just love the tutu and pearls, and that flower bow- to die for!

We enjoyed our experience at Portrait Innovations. They were excellent with our kids. A few of the workers played with Carter the entire time we were in there with Andi, pushing him around on the motorcycle, getting out the life size bears for him to play with, playing with Legos. It was great.

Recipes

I have had a few requests for a couple of recipes. The first is the peanut butter bars that we had at playgroup this morning. Yum!

Peanut Butter Squares:
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 tsp soda
2/3 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups flour

Mix all together; spread on cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Pull out of oven and let cool slightly, spread a layer of peanut butter if you really like a peanut buttery taste, then let cool completely.

Frosting:
1 1/3 cup sugar
6 Tbsp. butter
6 Tbsp. milk

Boil and then add:
1 cup chocolate chips
vanilla (a capful or so)

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The next recipe are the bran muffins that we had Christmas morning. Don't be fooled by the "bran" they are delicious and probably not the most nutritious.

2 cups boiling water
5 Tbsp soda
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
4 cups All Bran
2 cups bran flakes
1-2 cups chopped dates
4 eggs
1 qt buttermilk
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt

Add soda to boiling water. Cool. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs. Add buttermilk. Add flour and salt. Add cooled water. Mix in cereal and dates.
Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

You can store in the fridge for up to 6 weeks.

Hinckley Challenge

I was so sad when I heard that we had lost our prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, but only for a second, and then I was so happy that he has joined his wife again and overjoyed at his wonderful accomplishments on this earth. I recieved this awesome email from my mom called "The Hinckley Challenge." The challenge is to read the Book of Mormon in 97 days to celebrate Gordon B. Hinckley (he was 97 when he passed away). Check it out at http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/ and chart your progress there. What a great way to honor him and to invite the spirit into our homes. Hold an FHE tonight on the Book of Mormon and create an account, for free, at the Hinckley Challenge. It's less than 6 pages a day! And am I brave enough to issue the challenge to those who are not LDS reading this? I suppose I can't think of a better way to test the truth of the book than by reading it. :)

10 for $10

This week was my 10 for $10. Thanks to all those who came. It was a blast! Be looking for my upcoming one in February.

Aunt Sumo came to town

Aunt Summer (aka Aunt Sumo, in a very loving and non sumo way)came to town, along with my mom, for a few days. She mostly just helped me run errands and played with the kids. It was so much fun to have her here and we miss her already. By the way....she's going to be providing us with another cousin!! Hooray for baby Andrus!