Paleontologists

We have been in Utah for spring break and went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point with Grandma, and our cousins Gavyn and Jayden. It was great!

Going Back

Carter & Chase saw the house where I grew up. It's strange to think I saw that pine tree get planted and now look how tall it is!

Easter Candy

Easter Candy has never been too big a temptation. Aside from the malted eggs that make lipstick colors when you lick them, I don't really care for marshamallow peeps, regular jelly beans, hollowed out chocolate bunnies, or Cadbury creme eggs (although I love the concept).




















However, someone got the bright idea a few years ago to invent Starburst & Jolly Rancher flavored jelly beans. There's not one black licorice bean in the pack. These have caused me some problems this year because I know where I hid the Easter candy!

Happy Easter!

We started out the day hardboiling and decorating eggs. We're lucky that our kids actually like eating them. The predominant theme of eggs this year was football. We had pretty, pastel pink, purple, green and yellow footballs! Some of them were designed with specific team logos like the Colts, Giants, Cougars and Knights. Another fun tradition is new Easter Sunday attire. This was my first year being able to buy an Easter dress for my very own little girl. I fondly remember getting an Easter dress each year. Either my mom would sew amazing matching outfits, or we'd make the rounds to Mini-World, Jolene's, or maybe get one in the mail from the Gunny-Sack outlet and Aunt Maggie. My boys just don't seem to get as excited about this tradition. I still do, and always will.

Each family seems to do the hunting and basket thing a little differently. As a teenager, my mom would enlist me to help set up the hunt for my siblings. Having a talent for writing cheesy, rhyming clues, I would make a scavenger hunt for them. Since I was married with my own kids while still helping my mom do this for my siblings at home, the tradition just kept going with my own. This year I am sensing Carter's boredom with the scavenger hunt and think the time has come for me to pass the torch and enlist him as the official cheesy rhyme writer.

When we were kids we always got cardboard glider planes. We excitedly looked forward to those and launching them off the back deck. I love Easter. It is so wonderful to celebrate new life and reflect on the Savior, His sacrifice for us, and especially His resurrection.

If you like Pina Colada's

Growing up, my family would regularly make Orange Julius'. I can whip up a delicious Julius any time with any variety of frozen juice concentrates. I married the milkshake master. While he maybe had one plate, glass and set of utensils in college, he did have a hand held blender he used nightly to whip up a delicious shake. This milkshake tradition has continued throughout our marriage, and for some reason his waistline has not expanded due to this habit--must be all that delicious meatloaf I make. Anyhow, our 4 little Larry's share this nightly treat with their Dad. I, however, find a shake just a little too thick and sweet. My waistline has expanded and this just does not seem fair. Well, I have found a delicious alternative to the milkshake that all of us enjoy. We take Coconut Creme Coffee Mate (discovered for it's delicious add in flavor to hot cococa), and pour it into a blender with pineapple juice and a banana. Blend it along with some ice, until it is a Jamba Juice consistency. Oh my, it is good. It is lighter and healthier than a milkshake--I think.

Yesterday I was at the grocery store and the guy in front of me had Coffee Mate, which reminded me that I should get some. So, I ran as fast as I could back to get a bottle, discovered it was a Bonus Buy and grabbed two. As I hurriedly set it on the grocery belt panting, the lady behind me said, " So, what do you do with that?"

"Ummm. Pina Colada's."

"Oh yeah. I didn't think you were a coffee drinker."

That's good I don't look like a coffee drinker. But what does a coffee drinker look like?

My older cousin, Hazel, is so cool

I have an older cousin named Hazel and she is awesome. She can sit up by herself,

Pull herself up to standing position,

And she is always up on the latest fashion. I hope I can be just like her someday.

Thank you Easter Bunny

The Target $1 section provided good times in the form of bunny ears. Who could resist?

What every baby needs

I think that every baby needs big brothers. They are very useful at feeding, holding and giving a little extra attention to the baby.

This results in a mom that is able to occasionally do things with both of her hands. If I had known this earlier, I would have had some with each of my babies. You know what they say? Hindsight is 20/20.

Meatloaf is not a 4 letter word, but Hate is.

I hate to admit it, but I am kind of missing my stay at the Hotel St. Luke's. Of course I am not even sort of missing Chloe being sick, but I am missing all of the cable tv, and ordering my meals from room service. Yeah, our hospital has room service and the food is really good! I'm not talking about the cafeteria coming up with broth & jello, but an honest-to-goodness menu with flavorful, yummy cuisine. While sitting on my cot, holding my little baby hooked to machines (not fun) I discovered a few really fun shows. Two of my favorites were, Flip That House and The Take Home Chef.

On the Take Home Chef, this really cute Australian Chef (pictured above) approaches an unsuspecting grocery shopper and offers to buy the ingredients to go home with them and cook up a gourmet meal. One of the episodes I saw, he went and helped this young mom make her family recipe meatloaf and added some special gourmet touches. He made some fancy scalloped potatoes, and vegetables and a poached pear with cream for dessert. All of this seemed do-able. Since I went to Costco today and bought an industrial size package of ground beef, I remembered the show and felt inspiration coming on. I called my mom for a quick refresher course on scalloped potatoes, and made a simple version of Chef Curtis' meal for my family tonight. Fast forward to FHE.

Tonight at FHE, I made a new rule: No more saying the word HATE--especially in relation to dinner. Now, Fast Forward to dream sequence.

I want to be shopping at Albertson's after cleaning my house really well and getting myself looking really cute (who can let tv camera's just drop in?), to be sabotaged by the Take Home Chef. I want him to come to my house and make something yummy for my crew, leaving me armed with an arsenal of great recipes . I want to hear everyone say the word LOVE, eat all of it and not want cold cereal right as it's time to go to bed.

Game Day

Mouth Guards are a very important part of the uniform.

The Packers starting line-up.

Coach Larry reviews the plays with the Chargers.

Got Rice?

Today My Dad tried feeding me my first food--bland, lumpy, rice cereal.

I think I like the spoon best.

Who are you trying to kid? It's not like I don't see the good stuff you guys get to eat.

Mabel & Chloe

Cute Cousins!

Happy+Baby= Happy Mommy

We are home, just the two of us. So, since I have a smiling baby I decided it was worth documenting! Hence, the lovely photo. She's still coughing and a little "rattley" sounding, but she's making progress! Yeah! I'm a happy mommy.

Why do they call it Fast Sunday when it goes by so slow?

I went into the kitchen this mid-morning to discover Caleb shoving a Rice Krispy Treat into his mouth.
Between bites, he mumbled, "Mom, did you know that little people don't have to fast?"
Pause. Chomp. Chomp. Swallow.
"That sucks for big people."

Throughout the morning the big people were avoiding any contact with the kitchen. As church time got closer, Carter and Chase's hunger pangs grew stronger.
At one point, Chase said, "OOOOH. I'm soooo hungry. I hate seeing into the kitchen."
I said, "Remember, if you fast for a purpose it makes it a little easier"
"I know that. We are fasting for Chloe to get better."