taste of home cooking show

Last night, my sisters and I went to the Taste of Home cooking show.

It's always fun when we get together (without our kids;).

We were afraid of the people on the corner of the road with the "honk for peace" sign (we certainly want peace, but they could get dust cancer out in the nasty weather we had last night).

We laughed (the show wasn't super funny, but we are super funny).

We drooled a little bit when we smelled the food cooking (and listened to Katie's "I am so hungry.  I only ate two pancakes for dinner.").

We graciously clapped for all the other people who won prizes (who are we kidding, we (Kodi) wanted to win!!!  Okay, we all wanted FREE stuff.).

and FINALLY.....

We screamed real loud when Shelby won a prize (and jumped and shake-ed a little booty....she owes us all cookies now..hint, hint).

Oh, yes.  How could I forget (Katie has reminded me) the Beehives (12-13 yr old girls from our church) burping and snorting.  Yes, I laughed.  I was in Young Womens for almost 4 years and now act like I am 13 as well.

sleep study

Studies* show that your bed is most comfortable when your alarm clock goes off in the morning.

*Study done by me.

good thing it's getting warmer out

because ellie likes to be nakee

ever since i started potty training her two days ago

she thinks she has no need for clothing

i got out of the shower yesterday to find her completely nakee

i got her out of her bed this morning and found her half nakee

right now, she is nakee

nakee with a pull-up, of course

nakee nonetheless

Happy Birthday Hunka Hunka!

32

Like a fine wine, your awesomeness gets better and better with age!

Love you, Paul!

(I can't post pictures on my parents wireless connection, our camera battery is dead, and our camera charger is some where in the U.S. with all of our other possessions.  Camera phone pics may or may not come.)

sounds yum!

Hey, I want hot dog juice!

- Ellie

she sings to herself

When Ellie was a baby, we (Dallin and I) would shuttle her to and from speech therapy and to and from preschool....a lot.  Ellie wasn't a huge fan of being in the car during these necessary jaunts, and thus, would cry.  I took to singing to her whenever her screechy protests would arise, and once Dallin started talking, I would have him sing as well.  His song of choice was usually the Alphabet.  I wish I could put into words what it sounded like.  To a bystander, maybe a little croaky and off key, with the "C, D," a couple octaves higher than the "A, B".  But to me, it was music to my ears.  Ellie would calm down and we would have a pleasant ride home.

Fast forward two years later.  I put Ellie down for her nap.  She cries, then sings a chipper "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".  She wines, then belts out a wonderful rendition of "I wanna be BIG" by Alvin and the Chipmunks.  She screeches, then calmly recites her choppy version of "I am a Child of God".  Then she is calm and quiet.  Sometimes she falls asleep.  And sometimes she gets mad all over again and bangs on the bedroom door until I release her from the treacherous prison called nap time.

thoughts

I don't write as much as I should lately.
The kids are growing like weeds.
If weeds could talk, I would say, "The kids are talking like weeds."
Ellie repeats everything you say and Dallin asks, "why?" about every thing.
They love this warmer weather and love to play for hours at a time in Papa's back yard.
Note to self:  swing sets save my sanity.
Dallin is constantly talking about ALL the babies that I am going to have one day.
Little does he know that right now, having another baby involves me getting pregnant, which is kind of a scary decision to make at the moment.
Our house closed today.  Wahoo!  The Lord has blessed us immensely.
I miss our little house!
The questions of the month:  Where are we going to live?  Buy or build?  Someone lead us in the right direction, please.
Walks are wonderful.  Great friends who surprise you and run up the hill to catch up with you are even more wonderful.
The kids have transitioned every well.
Dallin loves school and wants to invite his teacher to his birthday party.
Dallin's birthday is in 2 1/2 months.
Dallin talks about his birthday non-stop.
Ellie still wakes up every morning asking to play with Katarina, our "nanny" from Kentucky.
Calling her our nanny makes me feel rich and sophisticated. ;)
We do miss the best babysitter ever ever.
We do miss our wonderful friends.  All of them!
The kids love to play with their cousins.
Besides 'rina, Ellie routinely requests to play with every other kid in the neighborhood.
When we do get a house here, and have a yard, when my grass gets long and needs to be mowed, I will miss our neighbors.
Mike would mow his lawn and ours, while Jennifer and I would chat at the mailbox.
Meanwhile, Sherri would have the kids playing in her back yard.
My mind is like a race track.... filled with anxious 15 year olds... with their learners permits.
Yikes!
I am not so sure about this whole time change thing.
I love "falling back", but "springing forward" is for the birds.
This headache needs to go away.
Ellie loves to say "clock" whenever someone asks what time it is.
She is the best dancer.  Shake your booty!
Dallin is the most creative person that I know.
He makes up some amazing stories, like the little people who live in the toilet.
I can't post pictures while on my parents internet.
My lappy will have to travel up the road to the 'law's world wide web access to post said pictures.
Paul is snoring a little.
I snore too.
Dallin wakes up shaking and crying in the middle of the night.
Ellie sleeps quite nicely through the night, with only an occasional whiny night.
My kids are growing up way too fast.
Ellie loves to chuck her plate across the room when she is done eating.
Dallin's version of Heaven involves bread and chocolate milk.
Ellie is a spit fire.
Dallin loves to pester his sister.
They both love to shadow their mom in the day and their dad at night.
Dallin has to lick his lips before giving you a kiss.
Ellie loves to emphathize with others.
Me:  My stomach hurts!  Ellie: I have a owie, too, Mommy!  (Climbing on my lap to show me her latest owie)
On my worst "horrible mommy/wife" days, Paul not knowing, sends me and email telling me what a great mommy/wife that he thinks I am.
Oh, how I love this man.
Although, I tell him that he is a better daddy/husband.
It's true.
This is really quite theraputic.
Al dente asparagus is quite delicious.
I think I will make pizza tomorrow for dinner.
What kind shall I make?
I am being spoiled in my parent's gourmet kitchen, newly remodeled and amazing.
Life.
Sick.
Stress.
Happiness.
Blessing.
Tender mercies.
Love.
Atonement.
Easter is coming.
Dallin informed me that Easter and Christmas and birthdays and every time that we get presents are the best times ever.  That Santa and the Easter Bunny were the best.  I told him that the coolest part of it all, and that the only reason that we get to celebrate these fun things, is because of Jesus Christ.
For the first time in a long time (okay, ever, maybe) I am really enjoying Sunday school.
One reason being that Sacrament meeting with a 2.5 year old, wiggle worm is always a challenge.
Getting through 1 hour and 15 minutes, keeping her mostly reverent and successfully catching most of the things she chucks across the chapel at unsuspecting patrons.....all while trying to listen to the talks and Sacrament.....taking her to nursery...awe....the next two hours are my reward.
Thank you nursery leaders!
When I grow up, I want to be like my mom and my mother-in-law.
I have a long way to go.
My kids have wonderful grandparents.
I am excited to Easter and General Conference.
Reuniting with spaghetti night and great friends is a good thing.
It's late.
Grammar check is for the birds.
At least right now.
Good night.
The end.

And that is what is going on in my head.

WAIT WAIT... DON'T TELL ME podcast

This one is just too funny not to share.

Not My Job:  Michael Pollan

mother nature

you're a tease

bedtime prayer by dallin

Heavenly Father,

Can you bring all of our things in Kentucky here?

Amen