Sunday, August 23, 2009

Summer At Our House

We have been extremely busy at our house this summer. We started it off by heading to Kansas City to visit my parents and my sister (Marcie) and her family. They moved back to the states for the summer so my BIL could complete some of his pharmacy intern hours. We had a great time visiting with everyone! I was able to love on my 2 week old niece Layla who is an absolute doll and my 22 month old niece Presley who has grown up way to fast. While we were visiting for the week, we hit the Kansas city zoo (my boys loved this), the Children's Science City at Union Station (this was way cool, think children's museum but way better. This was a three story area filled with tons of hands on exhibits for kids and adults). We visited the planetarium were the kids were able to see a light show, went swimming, went to the movies (I was able to go in the evenings, while the kids were in bed. I saw the proposal with my mom, sister and SIL, it was hilarious! And Dan and I watched transformers 2.)

We returned home in time to rewash and pack everything, then we flew to Utah to visit Dan's family. We flew out on the 4th of July and stayed for a week. The weather was beautiful! I forgot how much I miss the mountains, trees, dry climates and temperatures other than HOT! We were able to see 5 of Dan's siblings and their families. The kids had way to much fun seeing their cousins and playing outside all day. I loved it because I wasn't really having to babysit them. Utah has a great dinosaur museum located at Thanksgiving point. This is the one and only thing Adam wanted to do. It is a great museum.




The only downside of our trip was Ethan getting sick. The 2nd day in Utah we ended up in urgent care, the poor guy had strep throat again! He was miserable for most of the trip, but he was a trooper. I had a ton of fun seeing my SIL's, we shopped and had a lot of girl time.

Once back home, Ethan and Adam had 2 weeks of swimming lessons. This was Ethan's 3rd year of lessons. I couldn't believe how much he learned, he was actually swimming like a fish. His favorite part was jumping off the diving boards. This was Adam's first year of lessons. He was very excited about them at first but then he started disliking them once he realized he had to keep his face in the water. He unfortunately didn't get to finish his last week of lessons, he got a severe ear and throat infection. I definitely need to buy ear plugs next time.



Ethan and I went to Six Flags over Texas. He earned a free ticket from school by reading a lot of books. We were going to take the whole family and go but Adam was still to sick, so Ethan and I had a mom's day together. He had a great time, we rode way to many roller coasters for my taste and ate greasy food (yuck, but he loved it).

Adam was really disappointed about missing out on Six Flags, so Dan promised to take him to the children's museum and visit the nature and science museum, so he could see the dinosaurs (of course!) They also watched a cool IMAX movie. This was definitely more his speed, six flags is a place for older kids.

We have also had a lot of surgeries at our house this summer. I've had three surgeries and still probably need 2 more. Long story short, for those who may not have heard, my cardiologist found blood clots in my main leg veins and arteries, so they have been trying to remove and dissolve them before they can do some future damage. This has been just an in and out patient thing, and so far the only down side is severe bruising up and down both of my legs (I've been told it could take 6 months to 1 year for them to go away, good thing winter is approaching). Ethan had his tonsils and adenoids removed, the poor thing has had strep 7 or 8 times this year and we could hardly keep him well. The surgery went well, he was definitely a trooper. He was in a lot of pain and lost a ton of weight (which he didn't need, you could already see his ribs.) It took him a little over 2 weeks before he started feeling better. Let's just say I was pushing the ice cream and anything else with a high calorie content but it still didn't work. Then Dan decided he was tired of contacts and glasses and he opted for lasik. He loves it! He said, "I should have done this 10 years ago!" I am so happy for him. He giggles every time he thinks about going into the bathroom to take out his contacts, I guess old habits die hard.

The last two weekends my family has been in town. The kids love this! They have been able to spend time with their grandparents and my two nieces; Katie and Maddie whom they adore. We had a great summer, but unfortunately today is the last. Tomorrow begins a new school year, and all I can say is YEAH!!! IT IS ABOUT TIME! (OK don't get the wrong idea, I love my kids to death, but I need to get back to a schedule and to the gym!)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

14 Months Old





Today Emily turned 14 months old. She has been such a joy for our family! Emily is the sweetest baby around. Here are a few reason why I feel this way:
  • She literally never cries unless something is really wrong.

  • Her nature is one of happiness and joy.

  • She loves to laugh and smile.

  • If ethan or adam have done something she doesn't like, she runs and tells me about it (this makes me laugh even more, because she is pointing and in a yelling voice mumbling her favorite baby words and sounds).

  • She loves to be held and loved on, this is great since she is the last baby and we want to make every moment last forever.

  • Her favorite thing to do is play with my jewelry, she puts my necklaces around her neck and my bracelets on her arms (usually 3 or 4 at a time), she is such a girl.

  • I love her shy look she gives when someone is talking to her.

  • She absolutely loves, loves, loves to wear hats. Unfortunately, not cute girlie ones, she likes the boys baseball hats :o)
We love you Emily!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Date Night

This last week my mom was in town helping out with my little ones. I had another surgery and she was kind enough to come and spend some time taking care of us. Last night, she offered us free babysitting (this is fantastic if you don't normally have this privilege). So, we went to watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. This movie was fantastic!! This is by far the best Harry potter movie made. If you get the chance, go and see it!

I also saw the preview for the "New Moon" movie, I'm so excited! We'll have to have a girls night for this one, my husband was definitely not interested :o)

Thanks mom for being such a big help this week and for sending us out on a date! We love you!!






Monday, June 29, 2009

Girls Weekend in California























For my 33rd birthday this year, Dan sent me away for a girls weekend with one of the most amazing girls ever! Jacove and I have been friends since we first met in Colorado 7 years ago. This was a much needed vacation for me. I can honestly say that this is only the 2ND time that I have ever been away from my children overnight. We spent 4 wonderful days in sunny California. We went to the beach, Disneyland (my favorite place), went downtown LA, did some shopping, eating and a little sleeping. We stayed in Huntington Beach, which is beautiful! Here are a few things that I learned on my trip:


* Always pay the extra money to rent a GPS unit when driving in a new area. (saved us)


* Don't believe the weatherman - it was high ninety's before we arrived and barely in the 70's for our trip, then it hit 90-100 as soon as we left.


* Children will be fine with their dad. They will not starve!


* Don't feel guilty for leaving, you deserve it!


* Stop at pink berry's any time you get the chance - fabulous!


It was a fantastic trip! I definitely want to keep this new tradition up on a yearly basis. I had a ton of fun! Thanks Jacove for making this a great 4 day weekend, you are awesome!

Adam's Soccer Season

This was Adam's first year of soccer. He was begging us to let him play, since his older brother plays. So, we signed him up . . . and he disliked it. I definitely won't be pushing anyone at the age of 3 1/2 to play sports. We had to drag him to all of the practices and games. I figured he could at least finish out the season since we spent so much $$$.


This is Adam out on the soccer field..





He is so cute in his soccer gear!






Dan was his coach, this was the best part of soccer for Adam. All he really wanted to do was run up and down the field holding his dad's hand.



(Yes, this is Adam skipping down the field)



By the end of the season he was doing great! We still had to make him go to practices, but he would come home telling me that he loved soccer. . . . until the next week would roll around and then he didn't want to go again :o)
You've got to love kids!!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Emily Turns "1"











Our little princess turned "1" Yeah!!! Ok, I know this post is a little late, she turned one in May. We had a princess party for her. Here are a few things that we LOVE about Emily:

*She is always super happy!
*Her wonderful SMILE :o)
*She's Super adventurous
*Love's her Daddy - she's crazy about him!
*Super cuddly - I love this

We love you Emily! We are so grateful you are in our family!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Bosch Kitchen Bread Recipe

My SIL Amy asked for my bread recipe. It's actually my MIL bread recipe, but she passed it on to us. My MIL took a class at the Bosch Kitchen Center and this is their famous bread recipe. My husband thinks it tastes better than candy!

If you do not have a Bosch mixer, but you have a kitchen aid mixer - please half the recipe below.

For best result, put the following ingredients IN ORDER:

White Bread
1. 6-7 cups warm water
2. 4 cups white flour or bread flour (to start with)
3. 2 1/2 Tb. Saf Yeast
4. 1/2 cup oil
5. 1 cup sugar
6. 2 Tb. Vital wheat gluten
7. 2 Tb salt
8. 1 1/2 cups instant dry milk
9. 1 cup potato flakes

Add more flour just until it pulls away from the bowl:
total about 13-15 cups. Let knead for 5 minutes; then add:

10. 2 Tb. dough enhancer

Let mix for 1 more minute.
Remove from bowl and shape into loaves. Place in sprayed bread pans and put on stove top, cover with saran wrap (I usually spray tops of loaves so my saran wrap doesn't stick to it). Turn oven on to 350 and let rise for approx. 30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove from pans onto a cooling rack, lay bread on sides. Cool. Yields 5-6 loaves.

Wheat Bread
(I use white wheat)

1. 6-7 cups warm water
2. 4 cups wheat flour
3. 2 1/2 Tb Saf Yeast
4. 2/3 cup oil
5. 2/3 cup honey
6. 1/3 cup Vital wheat gluten
7. 2 Tb salt
8. 1 cup instant dry milk
9. 1 cup potato flakes

Add more flour just until it pulls away from the bowl: total about 13-15 cups. Let knead for 5 minutes; then add:

10. 2 Tb dough enhancer

Let mix for 1 more minute. Following baking directions from white bread recipe.