I asked this question of my mother-in-law at about 4:00 in the afternoon last Saturday. Her answer: "It's gone to PEACHES." She was right about that. We spent a good 5 hours preserving fresh Utah peaches - the absolute best kind. It's quite the process and definitely requires at least two people especially while taking care of two rambunctious boys at the same time. We bottled 54 pints of peaches, froze 3 or 4 quart sized bags for breakfast drinks and saved more than a dozen for enjoying over the next few days. I've already sneaked one on top of vanilla ice cream. YUM! I love preserving and preparing.
That evening I went to the Relief Society Broadcast and it was just what I needed. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE listening to President Uchtdorf speak. I was so uplifted and motivated to fulfill my role by creating and being compassionate. Perhaps I'll listen to his talk again today. It was great!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Check out my skills...
says Mr. B. Yesterday he took 16 consecutive and very stable steps. Today... 27 steps. What talent he has at just 10 months! He gets so proud of himself and just laughs and laughs. I really do love my boys and am so blessed. We had lots of fun this morning playing legos and dancing while we sang "Shake your bootie." They loved it. Perhaps I should think of a different song to reinforce into their minds though :)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Best Christmas Gift EVER...
You may say that it's a little early to start thinking about the holidays, but I say it can never be too early :) As the choir director I've already picked out the Christmas songs we'll be singing since we have to start practicing early enough. I'm ready to break out the Christmas decorations. Likewise I've started thinking about the perfect Christmas gifts - something timeless, sentimental, something that will never go out of style and that can be enjoyed and gawked over for years and years... something that reflects the true joy of the season. What could be better than getting family pictures to display and remind ourselves that families are what it's all about. Families do last forever.
My amazingly talented sister is getting ready to book photoshoots. NOW is the time to book your time slot before they all fill up because this is the perfect time of year to get them done. The sun is setting earlier, it's not so blasted hot (or cold... the time will come for cold... I have faith), and if you don't do it soon it'll be Christmas before you know it :). Your new family pictures will make the cutest Christmas cards and really so simple. You won't have to pay for family prints AND a card - just make it all in one!
If you haven't checked out her websites you've got to! Her work really is amazing. So go ahead, indulge your curiosity and click on the links below. Tell your friends and family about it while you're at it :)
Love you Mind!
My amazingly talented sister is getting ready to book photoshoots. NOW is the time to book your time slot before they all fill up because this is the perfect time of year to get them done. The sun is setting earlier, it's not so blasted hot (or cold... the time will come for cold... I have faith), and if you don't do it soon it'll be Christmas before you know it :). Your new family pictures will make the cutest Christmas cards and really so simple. You won't have to pay for family prints AND a card - just make it all in one!
If you haven't checked out her websites you've got to! Her work really is amazing. So go ahead, indulge your curiosity and click on the links below. Tell your friends and family about it while you're at it :)
Love you Mind!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Oh, if we could all be so funny!
Can my Grandpa really be any funnier!? I sure do love him. He makes me happy. I had to document this picture for future generations because it is a guarateed "pick-me-up" picture. I can't help but laugh every time I see it - that would make my Grandma happy. She always tells me how much she loves my laugh and her "Karli Girl." I'm so lucky to have the grandparents I do. Both sets really do teach me so much through their example and love.
PS. Does anyone have a picture of G&G Loveland together? I love them and wish they lived in AZ again!
Monday, September 15, 2008
See ya later, Alligator!
That's what we said to our kids and the babysitter last Saturday night as we went out on a date.
"See ya later, Alligator!" Without much of a plan (besides being together without the boys) we set out for an adventurous night. We decided to try out the restaurant at Bass Pro Shops named "The Fish Company." I must admit that I haven't had much experience with seafood even though I did live in Washington state for a year and my Dad built a fishing barge while we were there. Anyway, we wanted to go out on a limb and try something totally exotic and new. What, you ask? ALLIGATOR! We got it as an appetizer... and it was interesting. I'd describe it as kind of like chicken but kind of translucent, squishier, difficult to chew, and has an odd aftertaste. My entree was delicious. I think it was called Islandomara Portofino - grilled tillapia with shrimp in a lobster cream sauce with veggies and mashed potatoes. Now that was GOOD! After dinner we walked around Bass Pro Shops and looked at some pretty amazing knives hand carved and made out of Damascus Steel.
It was nice to get out and spend some one-on-one time. Like our "Marriage and Family" Institute teacher Brother Wright always said... "Going out on a date every week will be far less expensive than marriage counselling ever will!" There's some good advice for you.
Anyway, see ya later, alligator!
"See ya later, Alligator!" Without much of a plan (besides being together without the boys) we set out for an adventurous night. We decided to try out the restaurant at Bass Pro Shops named "The Fish Company." I must admit that I haven't had much experience with seafood even though I did live in Washington state for a year and my Dad built a fishing barge while we were there. Anyway, we wanted to go out on a limb and try something totally exotic and new. What, you ask? ALLIGATOR! We got it as an appetizer... and it was interesting. I'd describe it as kind of like chicken but kind of translucent, squishier, difficult to chew, and has an odd aftertaste. My entree was delicious. I think it was called Islandomara Portofino - grilled tillapia with shrimp in a lobster cream sauce with veggies and mashed potatoes. Now that was GOOD! After dinner we walked around Bass Pro Shops and looked at some pretty amazing knives hand carved and made out of Damascus Steel.
It was nice to get out and spend some one-on-one time. Like our "Marriage and Family" Institute teacher Brother Wright always said... "Going out on a date every week will be far less expensive than marriage counselling ever will!" There's some good advice for you.
Anyway, see ya later, alligator!
It's amazing what little minds can learn.
Within the last week I have experienced one of my proudest moments as a parent. There are lots of moments that are frustrating, moments that are fun, moments that are tender. This particular moment was what I would call pure joy and fulfillment. A moment that reassures me that I'm doing something right with these little boys.
It was an evening much like any other. We were sitting down to have dinner after Jared got home from work when we asked G to fold his arms so we could say the prayer. Just before beginning the prayer I glanced over at B. You'd never believe it but I watch him fold his arms so reverently. Perhaps just a fluke, I thought. Every meal since then he continues to fold his arms when we ask him to. That makes me so happy and joyful. More than anything else I want my kids to learn the power of prayer. Prayer can get you through anything.
B turns 10 months tomorrow. He's growing up so fast. He wants to walk so badly and I'm sure that he could if he'd stop thinking about it so hard. His most stable walking has occurred when he sees something he wants and without any hesitation just walks over and gets it - usually consisting of about 4 steps. He's also learned how to sign "All Done." We're working on "More" and "Please" and hope that he learns them soon so that the amount of high-pitched screaming gets reduced to a minimum.
It's moments like these that affirm to me the importance and value of being a mother. What JOY!
It was an evening much like any other. We were sitting down to have dinner after Jared got home from work when we asked G to fold his arms so we could say the prayer. Just before beginning the prayer I glanced over at B. You'd never believe it but I watch him fold his arms so reverently. Perhaps just a fluke, I thought. Every meal since then he continues to fold his arms when we ask him to. That makes me so happy and joyful. More than anything else I want my kids to learn the power of prayer. Prayer can get you through anything.
B turns 10 months tomorrow. He's growing up so fast. He wants to walk so badly and I'm sure that he could if he'd stop thinking about it so hard. His most stable walking has occurred when he sees something he wants and without any hesitation just walks over and gets it - usually consisting of about 4 steps. He's also learned how to sign "All Done." We're working on "More" and "Please" and hope that he learns them soon so that the amount of high-pitched screaming gets reduced to a minimum.
It's moments like these that affirm to me the importance and value of being a mother. What JOY!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Quirks...
So I've become aware of a few quirks in this family of ours. I found them a little comical and perhaps it'll give you more insight to how we work...
1. G actually LOVES getting groomed. He'll beg me to clip his fingernails and de-booger his nose (he's not crazy about kleenexes, but he loves when we get his sticky boogers - very carefully - with q-tips).
2. G's addicted to scratching at his mosquito bites until they bleed, scab, bleed, scab, over, and over, and over again. I'm forced to keep him in pants despite the ridiculously hot temperatures.
3. I've been aware of this next quirk for as long as I can remember, but I never thought it super strange until Jared noticed it and thought I was crazy. After I brush my teeth at night I MUST stick the corner bristles of my toothbrush in the small hole at the top between my two front teeth to make sure that I can suck air through it. (You might say... floss your teeth, but that makes my gums puff up and bleed. I don't like flossing - I know, bad)
4. Throughout the coarse of ONE day we probably put G's socks and shoes on his feet and take them off FIFTEEN times. He changes his mind a lot. I'm guessing the reason that he wants them put on so many times is because he's hopeful that we'll leave the house or go outside. We don't really have anywhere safe to go (aka. where I can't accidentally spend money) that's indoors...
5. Until now... We went the Arizona Museum for Youth not once, but TWO days in a row. It really is that great. We purchased a membership and can now go as much as we want for a year. They've got a great setup for 0-4 year olds complete with slides, toys, kitchen with play food, family room with books, tike sized couches and chairs, puzzles, a jeep they can sit in and steer, a pretend piano, art center, legos, a garden that you can plant and harvest, and even a "Tot Square" reserved for 0-2 year olds. FABULOUS! It allows them to play, learn, and interact with other kids their age. I'm going to be a frequenter. That's for SURE! So go ahead and get a membership and join me!
1. G actually LOVES getting groomed. He'll beg me to clip his fingernails and de-booger his nose (he's not crazy about kleenexes, but he loves when we get his sticky boogers - very carefully - with q-tips).
2. G's addicted to scratching at his mosquito bites until they bleed, scab, bleed, scab, over, and over, and over again. I'm forced to keep him in pants despite the ridiculously hot temperatures.
3. I've been aware of this next quirk for as long as I can remember, but I never thought it super strange until Jared noticed it and thought I was crazy. After I brush my teeth at night I MUST stick the corner bristles of my toothbrush in the small hole at the top between my two front teeth to make sure that I can suck air through it. (You might say... floss your teeth, but that makes my gums puff up and bleed. I don't like flossing - I know, bad)
4. Throughout the coarse of ONE day we probably put G's socks and shoes on his feet and take them off FIFTEEN times. He changes his mind a lot. I'm guessing the reason that he wants them put on so many times is because he's hopeful that we'll leave the house or go outside. We don't really have anywhere safe to go (aka. where I can't accidentally spend money) that's indoors...
5. Until now... We went the Arizona Museum for Youth not once, but TWO days in a row. It really is that great. We purchased a membership and can now go as much as we want for a year. They've got a great setup for 0-4 year olds complete with slides, toys, kitchen with play food, family room with books, tike sized couches and chairs, puzzles, a jeep they can sit in and steer, a pretend piano, art center, legos, a garden that you can plant and harvest, and even a "Tot Square" reserved for 0-2 year olds. FABULOUS! It allows them to play, learn, and interact with other kids their age. I'm going to be a frequenter. That's for SURE! So go ahead and get a membership and join me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)