Shabby apple...

I want need this dress! As if I could choose only one... But if you hurry you can enter to win one fabulous dress from Shabby Apple!

Fun summer read

I have been looking for a really good book series for a while now. I think the last series I loved was Twilight and it's so hard to find books that captivate your attention and keep you up all night anticipating what's going to happen next. At time out for women I was determined to find a "chick-lit" book that I could just curl up with and relax. I picked out English Trifle by Josi Kilpack.

I honestly didn't have high expectations. I just wanted something to read in my down time but I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't say it's anywhere comparable to twilight or pride & prejudice, but it is a totally fun read and I love the recipes that are included- can't wait to try them. So if you're looking for a fun lighthearted read while laying out at the beach (sure wish there was a beach around here!) check it out.

Utah!

Wow, it's been a crazy week since we've been back. Trying to dry out our basement, document everything that was damaged and work on getting it all out of the basement. Still need to get it all hauled away and still drying out, but at least there's hope in sight.

We had a wonderful time going back home to Utah. It's been almost 4 years since we last visited and during that time we went from one baby to three babies. We drove out since our last flying with children experience was not fun at all. The boys travel really well, we did it in two days. Anthony is working on the 50 U.S. high points so we hit Nebraska on the way out and Kansas on the way back. There was a herd of bison at the Nebraska high point and the wind in both NE & KS was strong enough to knock a person over.

It was so wonderful spending time with family and friends again. It was also neat to see some of the new temples. From a park near Anthony's parent's house we could see the Draper, Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples. It was also neat walking around temple square. We were marred in the SL temple 10 years ago next month. I took a few pics to hang in our home. The boys drank water from the fountains, Ethan threw up on the way home and Joshua just after we got home. Nice.

Ethan has asked every day since we've been home if he can go to Grandma & Granpda's and if he can play with his cousins. Now that he knows we can get there by car, he says "we can just drive there". And, hey, if I had a chauffer I'd go back in a second, well actually we'd have to wait until it warmed up, this snow in May stuff is insane!

Anthony did really well in the ironman. He finished in around 14 1/2 hours and wasn't as tired and sore as we expected him to be. He's already talking about his next one, crazy man!

Now I'm busy trying to get things cleaned up around here, taking a photography workshop and trying not to go crazy without my treadmill and with 1/3 of our house off limits!

and the rains came tumbling down...

So we just got back at about 3:30am from our trip to Utah and look what we found in our basement! Apparently it rained. Guess we'll find out how good our insurance really is! I'll post about our trip later, got some cleaning up to do...

  

Time out

I went to Time Out for Women again this year in Indianapolis, so wonderful! It wasn't completely an escape for me since I had to bring Grant, but I had lots of help (it is NOT a stroller friendly city so we all got a great workout lifting my massive stroller up and down stairs). I wasn't quite as captivated this year as last, but again, had a little distraction with me, but it was still wonderful to hear these speakers and the major trials they have overcome in their life and really helps put your own life in perspective.

It makes me realize I have absolutely nothing to complain about. My biggest concerns in life right now are trying to make myself get up early to exercise and deciding what to make for dinner. Makes me feel pretty pathetic for complaining about things when I hear from women who have had their eyes and breasts removed because of cancer. I love getting away for the weekend, staying up way too late, spending way too much money on clothes and having my spiritual tank refueled.

It was funny- when I got back I was cuddling with Ethan and telling him I'm sorry for not being as patient with him as I should be and he said "you need to study the scriptures, then you can be nice". I wasn't quite sure where he got that from, but the next day I was trying to get him to buckle his car seat and he wasn't listening so I was getting annoyed, he said again "you need to study the scriptures then you won't be frustrated!" Getting lecured by my three year old...

Staying sane...

I hate doing dishes. I love to cook, but I absolutely hate the cleanup. I sometimes run the dishwasher three times in a day because I despise washing dishes by hand. I hate wrinkly hands, it makes my nails soft, I hate touching yucky food- (they don't believe in garbage disposals in Kentucky)...BUT...Since Anthony started defense he's been so much busier and is rarely home for dinner, which is usually my wind-down time. Without that I start to get a little crazy (ok a lot crazy!) I discovered that I could watch BYU tv scripture discussions and started listening to those, then discovered the Family Expo programs and they were right about the time I like to prepare dinner, so I started watching them. Then I got a really crazy idea that I should try to wind down by washing dishes by hand after dinner. I could send the boys out to play and just quiet my mind and watch some of the great programs while unwinding for the day.

I've done it for 3 weeks now and I actually kind of enjoy it. Of course I don't do it on the weekends and sometimes still cheat and use the dishwasher, but it really has helped me not only to feel more connected to the "human" world but feel a little more peace in my life. And I've recently discovered that I don't have to watch all the boring programs while waiting for the one I want- I can watch any of the programs for the last 2 weeks or so by clicking on it- and all this time I thought it was live tv ;)  I even got to watch a few of my friend Tresa's husband's aunt- The Food Nanny - awesome ideas, I think I might have to try it. Who would have thought anything good could come from doing dishes?

Happy Easter

A few days ago I took the boys on an egg hunt and the Easter Bunny was there. I was really surprised by Joshua's reaction- he was so excited he fell flat on his face while running to hug him. He kept giving the bunny big hugs, would come back to me, jump up and down and then go hug him again. He kept lifting up his arms asking the bunny to pick him up. It was so funny how excited he was. We had a nice quiet Easter, it was fun to stay home all weekend, watch conference and just be together as a family.

     

Strawberry Owl Designs!

Remember that beautiful apron I posted a few weeks ago? Well I had to find a way to repay my fabulous friend- so I designed a website for her! Check out Strawberry Owl Designs http://www.strawberryowl.blogspot.com/ and become a follower to see some BEAUTIFUL creations! If I had a little girl I would be buying this adorable dress! Joshua used his little hoody towel she made up until just a few months ago- they are so cute. And I am dying to get some of the felt food- it's so fun!

Food Revolution

Did anyone watch Jamie Oliver last night? I know American's eat bad, but I was completely shocked by the class of 6 year olds that couldn't identify a single vegetable. Not even a tomato or a potato! And I don't blame the schools- where are these kids' parents that they are not providing vegetables for them??? Ever??? It helped me resolve to be even more diligent at providing healthy choices for my kids. I think we eat pretty healthy, Ethan used to say his favorite food was "vegetables" but now it's "mac & cheese"...guess I've gotten lazy for lunch...

There are lots of vegetables I don't care for that I don't often prepare for my kids. I give them some things that Anthony likes but I don't, like pickles, but I just don't think to buy olives and mushrooms because I have never eaten them. I was such a picky eater growing up and have realized that liking food is all about the way it's prepared. I enjoy so many foods now that I hated growing up, just by learning to prepare them differently.

So I've recommitted myself to exposing my boys to all types of vegetables and even making myself try some that I haven't eaten in years. My goal is to NOT raise picky eaters like I was. I've already got quite a good variety of healthy (ok and some not so healthy... balance is good right?- but I will try to lay off the sweets- after I try a few new recipes! Besides if I add whole wheat it's ok right???) ANYWAY if you want some yummy, healthy and of course easy to prepare meal ideas keep checking my food blog http://www.ldsbaker.blogspot.com/

who needs girls anyway?

I always wanted to have a daughter to dress up in adorable little outfits, share shoes with, get pedicures with...Three boys later I'm thinking it's not so bad to have all boys. No wedding to pay for, no fighting over clothes or shoes (so I thought)... But as it turns out you don't have to have girls to fight over shoes...

I never thought I'd have to yell at my sons to stop stealing my shoes. The one on the right is Ethan at two years old, the love of shoes must be genetic. Don't worry boys, I'm saving these pictures to show your first date... But seriously, you HAVE to stay out of my makeup...

battle wounds...

My Joshua is just so clumsy his poor face is going to be one massive scar by the time he is grown up. I think we're going to have him start wearing a helmet. The first picture is what happened Tuesday morning. He was climbing up and down on my bed and slipped- he bit right through his lip. He's on antibiotics for that, then last night he was playing with Ethan & Anthony outside and came in looking like this (the second picture)! Of course it looked much better when we cleaned off the blood, dirt and snot- but he's got a nice scratch down the side of his face. And he's got a lovely scar on the side of his eye where he fell at the bookstore the week before. I just don't know what to do with the poor child!

my three sons

I've all but given up on trying to get my boys to pose for photos. I wanted to check the lighting on my grunge wall and could not get them to sit still for a moment. Finally I asked Ethan to come in and just make sad faces- that worked so much better! Grant on the other hand, always poses perfectly. For now anyway...

my little monster

Anthony got this wry baby monster robe for Joshua this Christmas. I think it's the most adorable thing, especially on my sweet little boy. Joshua is two years old but he is still such a baby and I love it.

He is so sweet, and still loves to snuggle and cuddle. He loves his blankie. If you want to cuddle, just get his blankie and he'll snugle right into your neck. He has the deepest blue eyes and looks up at you and bats his long lashes as if to say "try and tell me no, I dare you". And it is impossible to say no to such cuteness.

He never took a pacifier as a baby, instead he sucked on his tongue. We call it "air sucking" and he still does it (picture on right). I think it's hilarious and he does it whenever he's sleepy. He's such a little angel and I'm sure going to miss him when he's grown.

Ouch!

I think I've mentioned before how clumsy Joshua is. He literally falls and hits his head every single day. Yesterday was a bad one. We were at Barnes & Noble for storytime and he was sitting on those little benches that are really lightweight. It tipped over on him and his face crashed down into the bench next to him. It really is a miracle he hasn't cut anything open yet, but it still hurts!

In other strange and random tidbits...Sunday when we were getting ready for church Ethan kept looking at my earrings. Finally he asked "do they protect you from mean predators?" Only my dinosaur obessed child would ask such a question ;)

two years old!

Anthony and Joshua's birthday's are a day apart so we celebrated them together- rather Joshua got two birthdays (I wanted to make two cakes, just not get stuck eating them both) we had our little family celebration last night and today he got to open his presents and eat more cake. The boys had enjoyed decorating and we got those bottles that shoot confetti out- they thought that was so fun. I can't believe my baby is already two. Now if we can just get him to talk...