Word to the wise..r than I...

Just a little tip to all those out there who love a good clean wall....cooking and talking and Fox news don't mix.

Watch the multi-tasking....I'm just sayin.

This little love head right here..the one with curly cue hair, dainty feet, and almond eyes...she's a pill.

I mistakenly thought I could combine:

- cooking loud and splashy chicken (hence needed the hood vent on)

-giving marital advice over the phone while cooking loud and splashy chicken

-having The O'Reilly factor blaring on the tv from the other room while cooking loud and splashy chicken and giving marital advice over the phone

AND

-watching my little lady

Bad Bad Bad combination.

That's right...black Sharpie Pen on almost every surface possible in my -still new to me- kitchen.  Kyle loved coming home to that hullabaloo. Lesson learned..Sharpies be banned. I used that beautiful invention know as the "magic eraser" on the desk and  floors..worked like a charm. The walls, staircase and wood trim will have to be sanded out and re-painted. Awesome, we needed another project to do around here.



 She's tagged everything. Writing utensils be gone!



Mr. SEVEN

I've said it before and I'll say it again....I'd have 10 more kidlets if they'd all be like Cole. This guy right here.....the one in desperate need of new seasonally appropriate pjs....the one turning SEVEN tomorrow... is simply the best!!

It's Cole's magic.. 7 on the 7th.. birthday tomorrow so we will be celebrating all...day...long!!! We've got big plans: pancakes with syrup drizzled like a seven on top (nice idea Cole), family jumping at a jumpy place, and dinner at the restaurant with all the animals on the walls.."you know that looks like grandpa's house..." -another fabulous idea birthday boy!

Everyone..and I mean EVERYONE loves Cole. He's kind and smart and quietly hilarious. A perfect combination. How lucky am I to be his mom?!

Happy Happy Birthday my handsome Mr. Seven.....we all simply adore you!

A lovely weekend full of lovely things....

I really do look forward to General Conference weekend each April.  It's simply dreamy having my family all together, my husband actually home on a Sunday...no meetings, no pressure. This weekend we sat quite comfortably together and listened to the wonderful messages of faith, kindness, family, and service from our inspired church leaders. My testimony was strengthened. I am truly thankful for a living prophet on the Earth today. What a blessing in my life.

 Other lovely note ables from the weekend:



We have a LOT of art pieces laying around these parts. Brody is on a "Backyardigans" kick. Can you tell? -He thought maybe each character needed a little snack..hence the 2 fishy crackers for each one. Always thinking ahead....



I purchased a "Bountiful Basket" -a produce co-op thingy and my wonderful bro-in-law Mark picked it up AND hand delivered it to my kitchen. How 'bout that for service?! For this lover of ALL things green and leafy....it was seriously like christmas morning, I didn't know what I was getting.... oh the possibilities!!!  The portobello mushrooms were promptly grilled with a little olive oil s/p/ and a sprinkle of dill for good measure. The darling little radish bunch made their appearance in a fantastic salad I found on-line and will make many times over...my boys totally dug the radishes-who knew?!The apples sacrificed themselves for a mediocre cobbler. I dredged the broccoli/cauliflower and yellow squash in an egg wash..tossed them with Parmesan cheese (and a tad sprinkle of salt) then lightly sauteed them in olive oil. THEN.....the best part, I mixed a little fresh lemon juice with a little olive oil and drizzled it on top of the hot veggies. Do it.... you'll thank me later. Grapefruits/bananas/lettuce consumed daily and the sweet potatoes will most likely be baked for a little surprise in the tin foil. So my point in sharing all of this is that for me...it was completely worth my $15. The dang yellow squash (hello $2.99 a lb currently)  practically paid for themselves. I will totally be in the basket line again.



For brief moments my kids played quietly and angelically!




I made the infamous "Bunny Buns" from the Friend magazine. The boys preferred the dipping glaze method..whatever makes you happy...its conference weekend! -Nice crooked blinds.



And last but certainly not least.....my little lady achieved piggy tail status. It's a big-big day!! I kid you not, I have seriously been dreaming of the day when a little girl in piggy tails would prance around my house with a smile on her face (or her back to me)




and a bunny bun in her mouth. And there she is!!



March..let's just call it a month shall we...

First of all the tub is complete...I repeat, the-tub-is-complete. It only took a year and a half but by golly, I may just start using the darn thing. I really do enjoy glass tile very much..very, very much. Big kuddos to my oh so attractive live-in handy man who makes it all come together so nicely.



Onto the family review:

 We finally gave the much thought about go ahead and let  Jack try-out for football this year. I'm dreading the practice schedule and the price and the game schedule and the price and the commitment needed and the price ......but man is he excited!! We've all decided to see how this year goes and really be supportive. We're not a football family but you have to start somewhere. Let's hear it for father and son football throwing time in the backyard...yea! I can cheer for that!




 

Jack's signature Ralph Lauren pose with my "unknowingly borrowed" camera. Do all brothers do this on a boring Sunday afternoon?



When Kyle is gone...we eat a tad bit differently around these parts. The pressure is usually on to feed the hard working husband each night and I take great pride in doing just that. I honestly do love cooking. However, when that pressure is in Hannah Montana at the ranch....pressure gone. Exhibit A: Star Wars dinner-
Light sabers
Vader taters
Boba Fett baked beans
chewbacca (?) carrots...I know, I know it doesn't rhyme but anything that started with a C and was nutritious made it to the plate
Yoda Soda
Leah Buns (cinnamon rolls) for dessert
BIG BIG HIT!
I had scrambled eggs and toast, see no pressure.





Very spirited for St. Patty's Day.



Kate is daily growing into toddler hood in all it's toddler hood glory. Most days I find her whining at my feet for yet another  fruit snack or whining on the floor cause she can't quite fit comfortably into her doll stroller. Life's tough when your almost 2.



Brody is finally mastering the art of cleaning the downstairs bathroom solo, that is without complaining as well.  At first I have to silently cringe and let him do his thing. Then I return,  re-teach and give the bathroom a little wipe down once over and voila.....he's happily cleaned something!



Cole is reading all the time and EVERYWHERE. I love it except for when I'm calling him for dinner, telling him to brush his teeth, reminding him to pack his snack in his backpack, waiting for him to join us for prayer, or any other time I need his attention.

Boring Sunday pose #2 entitled "Hands on hips"

The usual suspects. "Mom, you are not going to like this. Kate just took out all the Kleenexes..but I saved a few for you."

Another boring Sunday pose.  Again...do boys do this?

And with that question I will leave you with a Brody quote of the day:

-While gathering my mass of primary bags and other paraphernalia after church I send Jack out to the car to immediately retrieve Brody who has already made his way to the parking lot, alone...fantastic. When we finally make it out to the car Jack says, "Mom you're not gonna believe what Brody told about 12 adults as they walked to their cars just now?!' 

Oh boy, the anticipation is boiling over.

"He said........ (insert official Brody quote here)

"Hey everybody don't step on this (pointing to greeny- slimey- fuzzy- Seattle area moss found all over the ground) it's Jabba the Hut boogers and you DO NOT want to step on those!"

And isn't that the truth?! I wouldn't want to step on Jabba's boogers either. Ya think it was that Star Wars themed dinner I was so crazy about?  

A little 'somethin came in the mail today...

Who doesn't love getting mail? It's pretty much a universal truth. Today our black and boring mail box produced a glowing gem of publication, a dream come true for my Lego loving four year old. Weeks ago I signed him up to receive his very own copy of the Lego  catalog and simply forgot about that little detail. Today....it came!

Original song overheard from the other room:
"I can't believe it, I totally got one-
I really wanted it, and now I have it-
It's my magazine with Diagon Alley it's so cool, I can't believe it!"

We're all about the lyrics around here.

A real life conversation with Cole...

*After slaving away once again preparing dinner for my starving off-spring, I tried for the 4th time no less to get some movement out of this kid and help set the table. Our conversation went a little something like this:
 "Hey, Mr. Cole....could you please throw your gum wrapper away and pick up your markers and paper off the table?"

 -Remember..4th time, no joke.

Finally some response- "What did you say to do mom?"

"I said, spin around 5 times and then do a perfect handstand..with your eyes closed."

Completely serious response: "Why would you say that...it doesn't make any sense?"

And that folks about sums it all up.

Birthday # 35

I love the month of March for many reasons. One giant reason for my love is the celebration of my blessed birth. My darling mom recites my birth story every year: "I was mopping the floor and suddenly thought..hmmm, that doesn't feel so good. So I called dad and who should arrive at my doorstep before him but my visiting teachers. The contractions were coming on really strong and I needed to go to the hospital but they just wanted to talk about their birth stories. Dad got there, I got in the car and we waved to the chatty ladies on my doorstep as we drove to the hospital."-love that story.

Come on, birthdays are fun.

Fabulous and lengthy..a great combination, dinner out with my beautiful and hysterical friends. I'm seriously blessed with fantastic women in my life who showered me with thoughtful and lovely gifts!



A fantastic husband who loves to work and hates to buy presents... hence my tub is finally getting tiled AND the amount of presents I received once again from my husband/children=ZERO. I adore the guy but this "I stink at buying gifts" excuse is reeeeeally wearing thin. I'm 35 now and we celebrate lots of holidays in our house. You do the present receiving math.  "Mom I haven't gotten you anything and dad hasn't said a word." -Jack



I did plan a little family fun lunch so everyone could enjoy the wonder of a birthday! Mediocre spaghetti but excellent conversation and company.



I even got Kate to smile for a picture. She may not be looking at the camera but we're making some strides here.



"When's my birthday again mom?"
"December 6th."
"Again..seriously?"

The evening festivities consisted of grilling some steaks, drinking some Martinellis, devouring a new pound cake/with strawberries and lime zest recipe, and watching Secretariat...the slow moving slightly touching true story of that amazing race horse who crazy enough....won every race. There ya go...happy birthday to ME. 

So 35 has arrived and I'm feeling pretty good about it!