Dinedasaurs!

We went to the dinosaur museum with Heather and her kids on Monday and it was awesome! Thanks to the kids-under-two-free rule and Heather's 1/2 price member discount, it only cost me $4.50 for 3 hours of entertainment - now that is a steal! I had never been there and I wasn't sure how much Ashlyn would like it, but she had a blast! She has not stopped talking about the "dine-da-saurs" all week. Right when you enter the museum, there is a large dino skeleton and when Ashlyn saw it she exclaimed, "It's an amazing dinedasaur!" She was hooked!

This picture relays perfectly why you should not tell kids to say "cheese" when taking a photo! You never get a pretty smile, just goofy and distorted faces.

Digging for dino bones. They really have catered to a large range of ages and interests. We will definitely be going back.

The big shark was a big hit. Don't look too closely at Ashlyn in this photo, we have been working on fixing this problem!

Ashlyn loves her friends Grace and Ava. She has mentioned their names several times this week. Thanks for the fun, memorable day girls!

Two by Two & Bag It

I told Emily that I would do her tag and I was also bag tagged by a couple of friends, so here it goes...

• Two names you go by? Jame and Mommy

• Two things you are wearing now? Jeans and a Jackson Hole T-shirt

• Two things you want (or have) in a relationship? Laughter and respect

• Two of your favorite things to do? Cooking and taking long, hot showers - something that never seems to happens anymore.

• Two of your least favorite things to do? Changing a poopy diaper and getting ready for the day - I really hate doing my hair & make-up.
  

• Two things you did last night? Cleaned GSL and made Gretchen’s Tomato Vegetable Soup and Rolls – it was yummy, thanks for the recipes Gretchen!

• Two people you last talked to? Brian and Ashlyn

• Two things you are doing tomorrow? Babysitting Madi & Maya and budgeting

• Two longest car rides? Salt Lake to Montana and the California coast line - something that only needs to be done once in a person’s life

• Two favorite Holidays? Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve

• Two favorite Drinks? Water and milk

• Two things about me you may not have known? #1:I had a mole on my back removed and tested for cancer – it came back benign. #2: I once kissed a stranger on New Year's Eve.

• Two jobs I have had in my life? Dental assistant and waitress

• Two movies I would watch over and over? ???? – Here are two movies that I do watch over and over, but not by choice: “Peter Pan” and “Strawberry Shortcake – Get Well Adventure”

• Two favorite foods? My Mom’s Sunday dinners and my Dad’s omelets (They are great cooks. I get better food at their home than any restaurant I have been to.)

• Two places I'd rather be right now? In a spa getting a pedicure or kickin’ back at Ruby’s Inn - yeehaw, we will be there 3 weeks from today and I can’t wait!!

Now for the bag tag. I am suppose to show my bag and the contents therein. I am only doing this because I like the girls who tagged me. I don't consider myself a purse person and I don't think you'll find the contents too intriguing.

This is my bag, I hate it. I needed a new purse when I was nine months pregnant and I went to one store and got the first bag that was semi-decent.

I am cheating here a bit. I am not going to unload and photograph everything inside, sorry. But here is what it contains: wallet, checkbook, pocket calendar, coupons, lists of different varieties (I am a list maker), lotion, purell, about a dozen pens, nail clippers, notepads, feminine needs, carmex (I am an addict), and gum. My cell phone is usually in there, but it is being charged at the moment.

Told ya, not at all interesting. There you go Jamie and Heather :)

Go on and do either of these tags if you feel so inclined.

Peaceful...Isn't It!

"Peaceful...isn't it!" My Grandpa Lifferth coined this phrase. I heard him say it on several occasions. My dad said grandpa most often said this right before their Sunday evening meal. Sitting around the kitchen table with food right before their eyes, all the kids were anxious, hungry, and quiet (most unusual!). Well, I am babysitting Madi & Maya today and it has been a noisy day. But at this moment Madi, Ashlyn, and Trent are all asleep and I am holding sweet little Maya (and typing with one hand). And in this very rare quiet moment, I thought of my Grandpa and his words, "Peaceful...isn't it!" It takes a house full of kids to really appreciate times like these!

We did have a fun morning though. We played with play dough, danced, and made these cute, edible caterpillars. All you need is peanut butter, bananas, grapes, and chow mien noodles. They had fun making them, but were not to interested in eating the final product. Oh well, maybe next time.

P.S. Maya has fallen asleep!! Now it really is peaceful. Time for me to go check out some blogs:)

My Big Baby Boy

Trent is three months now. And he is growing like a weed! We took him to the doctor on Saturday because of a cold, cough and fever. Turns out he also has an ear infection. That makes two for two - we took Ashlyn in last Wednesday and she too has an ear infection. Anyway, they weighed him at the doctors office and he is 14 lbs. 15 oz.!! He has almost doubled his birth weight.

He is sleeping less and becoming so much more interactive. He smiles a lot and we are getting close to hearing him laugh - I can't wait for that! He has begun reaching for and holding small toys. He loves getting attention. Just talking to him will get you a big smile. It has been so fun to watch him grow - he is becoming an expert on growing. And I still think he is the sweetest baby ever. I am sure he gets a hundred kisses a day!

About a week ago I laid Trent down so I could get ready and when I checked on him few minutes later I found Ashlyn laying next to him. They were playing together for the first time! I thought it was so sweet. What a great big sister.

P.S. I have been slacking a bit in the blogging world lately, and I have neglected looking at and commenting on my favorite blogs. Forgive me. I am hoping to have some extra time this week to catch up. I also have a lot to say. I think I will be doing a new post every day this week so stay tuned!

2nd Place

Brian's work had a chili/soup contest on Valentines Day and we won 2nd place, which got us a $50 visa gift card. You'd think I would be pretty happy about this, but we really did deserve 1st place. And not just because I am biased. You see, they randomly selected three employees to judge the chilis/soups and those three came up with the winners. After the judgment, the entire company had a luncheon to partake of the homemade goods. At the end of the luncheon, our soup was completely gone. And the 1st place winner...not even close. So, as they say, 'the proof is in the pudding.' We should have won.

Chicken Enchilada Soup
(recipe from my BF Jamie Andersen)

1 T. oil
1 lb. chicken
1 small onion - diced
2 cloves garlic - minced
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup masa harina
3 cups water
1 small can enchilada sauce
1 t. salt
1/2-1 t. chili powder (depending on how spicy you prefer)
1/2 t. cumin
16 oz. Velveta cheese - cubed

Brown chicken in oil and set aside. Saute onions and garlic over medium heat until soft. Add chicken broth. Combine masa harina with two cups of water and whisk until blended. Add masa mixture to pot. Add remaining water, enchilada sauce, spices and cheese. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Shred chicken and add to soup. Simmer for 45 minutes or until thickened. Garnish with tortilla strips, sour cream and avocado.

Try it, you'll love it!

Believe me, it is delicious!

It is 1st-place-good!

We're not bitter.

Out of the Mouth of Babes...

Kids say the darnedest things!

We have recently been helping Ashlyn say prayers at meal time and before going to bed. Well on Thursday night as we knelt for family prayer, when Brian asked Ashlyn if she wanted to say it she immediately began praying without any help. She said the entire thing by herself without one hint or prompting from either Brian or myself. She began and ended the prayer properly and this is the exact content of the prayer:

Thank you for this day.
Thank you for the food.
Thank you for Trent.
Thank you for binkis.
Thank you for Mommy.
Thank you for Daddy.
Thank you for Trent.
Thank you for the wipes.

I was so impressed that she said it all on her own. It was the cutest prayer I have ever heard. She still hasn't forgotten about her binkis. Old habits die hard I guess. You can also tell who is her favorite in the family, Trent got an extra dose of gratitude.

And one more thing...

A couple of weeks ago, we were sitting in the foyer at church and Ashlyn noticed the painting above the couch. It was the picture of John the Baptist baptizing Christ. Ashlyn studied it for a minute and then turned to Brian and said, "Jesus dancin'?" Apparently she recognized the stance as the same way which I dance with her around the house. We couldn't help but laugh. You gotta love the innocence of little children.

Too Smart

Every now and then it is hard for me to believe Ashlyn will be two next month. The time has gone so fast and it seems like she should still be a baby. But nonetheless, she is growing up fast. Too fast. She has become too smart. She is such a great little talker. It amazes me how well she can communicate and comprehend. Here is a prime example...

I took the kids to the mall today because I really wanted to get out of the house. Side note, I ran into Aunt Gretchen and Mary. It was fun to see them. Anyway, there is a small play area at the mall-which is the main reason we ventured there-where Ashlyn could run around and play. I let Ashlyn play for awhile and when it came time to leave, I told her we were going home to have a treat. Yes, I did bribe her a little so as to avoid possible crying. So sue me. My tactic worked. We left the indoor play ground without a fight, and as soon as we pulled into the garage Ashlyn asked for a peep-she has become quite fond of them. I obliged. I kind of had to since I did promise her a treat. She was very gracious and said, "Thank you mama." She downed the first one and then very kindly asked for another. I gave her a second peep. Again she downed the sugar coated goodness. And once again she kindly asked for another to which I stated that she could not have another peep. "Why?" "Because you have already had two and that is a lot." And this is where her 23-month-old wisdom got me. "But I wanna have three." Pretty smart.

Book Review: Eat Pray Love

We had our first book club meeting on Tuesday to discuss Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have to admit that the book was not a 'fast read' for me like it was for others. It was a bit of a roller coaster. I like it in the beginning, got a little bored by chapter 34, regained some speed in chapter 44, and so on. But, overall, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it.

For those who don't know, the book is about a woman who, after a difficult divorce, travels for a year to Italy, India, and Indonesia - three countries that ironically all begin with "I". This is a journey of self-discovery. She travels to Italy in the pursuit of pleasure, to India in the pursuit of devotion, and Indonesia in the pursuit of balance.

Gilbert's pursuit of pleasure in Italy involves learning the language -something she has always wanted to do but had no reason to do- and eating whenever and whatever she wants. By the end of her stay in Italy, she had gained 23 pounds. Now I just have to say that this has been a dream of mine for several years now. That is, to pack a suitcase full of stretchy pants, fly to Italy, stay for several weeks, and eat WHATEVER I want. I would not care how much weight I gained. In fact, I would be highly disappointed if I did not gain at least 10 pounds.

I think what we all agreed upon at book club was the importance of personal happiness. None of us will have the opportunity to travel for a year to find ourselves, but we should all do what we can to be happy and content with our lives and ourselves.

Next up is "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. I have actually already read this one and I do recommend reading along if you can.

In other news, Ashlyn is a very messy eater. She is the messiest little almost two-year-old I know. I see my nieces and nephews eat and they do not make the mess that Ashlyn manages. Today I gave her mac n' cheese for lunch which she loves and was eating very well, so I gave her seconds and then thirds. By this point cheese sauce has covered her face, hands, and arms despite the fact that she is using a spoon. I turned around for a minute and next thing I know she has dumped her entire bowl on the floor. This drives me crazy! She is always throwing her food on the floor once she has had enough. I have tried to talk to her about this, telling her to just let me know when she is done and I will take away what she does not want. She has not quite caught on to this concept. After picking up the mess, I look her straight in the eye and say, "Ashlyn, we do not throw our food on the floor. We do not make messes!" Ashlyn then looks me straight in the eye and LAUGHS. To which I respond, "Ashlyn, it's not funny." To which she responds back, "Yes it is!" Oh boy. What do I do now?

Another Fun Craft

I have Madison and Maya again today. Here is a quick blurb to show off another fun/easy craft for your kids - valentine marshmallow men. All you need is heart-shaped peeps, preztels for the arms and legs, chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth, and colored mini-mellows for the hands, feet and nose. I cut the marshmallow for the nose in half, making one side sticky and able to adhere to the heart. It was pretty simple, but they had fun. And who doesn't like peeps?!

WAW!

A typo? Nope. WAW - What A Week! It was a marathon. A babysitting marathon that is. Mindy had her orientation for her new employment all week which meant I had Madi and Maya all week. And then on Tuesday and Thursday, Ben and Maggie were thrown into the mix. I was a little nervous about having six kids under the age of four in my sole care. Six to one is a scary ratio but I did it, I survived, and I had fun!

I knew if I were to maintain my sanity, there needed to be organization and structure. So, our days were set up into times...story time, singing time, quiet time, getting-to-know-you time (we sat in a circle and talked about favorite things: colors, foods, animals, etc.), snack time, play time....you get the idea. Being so structured was not only great for myself, but the kids as well. They had fun with all the different activities and it kept them from fighting over toys.

Here are some pics of my marathon:

Movie time! This kept them quiet while I fixed lunch.

I just couldn't help myself. On Wednesday I dressed Madi and Ashlyn in matching outfits, hairbows and all. I had too much fun. They also thought it was pretty neat to be dressed alike, even though they don't look so thrilled in the picture.

Craft time! One of the favorite activities for the kids was on Thursday when we made marshmallow snowmen. This is the best way to make a snowman, you stay warm and it's edible! We also made fruit loop necklaces. Crafts you can eat, what could be more fun?!

Dance time! I don't think there are many things in life more entertaining then watching kids shake their groove thang! It was hilarious.

Milk and cookie time! Ben, Madi, and Ashlyn helped me make no-bakes and then we sat down for some good old milk and cookies.

Maya and Trent were so good all week. Maya's smile can turn any bad mood around! After holding them both so much, it was perfectly clear that Trent outweighs Maya. And you should see the difference in their thighs! Trent has rolls and rolls, and Maya is so petite.

Ashlyn looks exactly how I felt by the end of the week, exhausted! However, I really do feel lucky to live so close to my nieces and nephews. And I feel blessed to be able to see them and watch them so often. They are all great kids with such different and funny personalities. When they are all grown up one day, I will look back with fondness at these memorable times I was able to spend with them.

My busy week collided into a busy weekend. Friday night we had a movie night at my parents home. We ate bagel dogs and watched an old Disney movie, The Rescuers.

Saturday morning was spent watching coverage of President Hinckley's life and funeral. What a wonderful man and what an emotional roller coaster. I have not had such a good cry in a long time.

Saturday night we had two of my best friends, Sandy and Emily, over for a pizza party. I have known these two since middle school and I am so glad that we are still such good friends. Emily was accompanied by her husband, Dave, and her three adorable kids, Audrey, Jackie and Zander. Sandy brought along her man, Ben, who brought photos to share with us of his recent adventures to Ecuador and Peru. He went to Machu Pichu, which for some time has been on my list of dream vacations. And the photos were beautiful! It made me want to go there even more.

Sunday we went to the Smiley's for dinner to welcome Stacey home from her vacation to Hawaii, yet another dream vacation. It just isn't fair that people all around me are going on these wonderful vacation and all I can do is try to live vicariously through them by looking at their stinkin' photos. I am in definite need of a vacation soon. Stacey was nice enough to bring us all flip flops from Hawaii. Now all we need is for this snow to melt and the sun to come out so we can wear them.

So that ends my crazy but fun week. There is really nothing I would rather be busy with than activities with family and friends. However, a couple of slow days now and then are nice too ;)