just a little update

It seems like we've been busy, but mostly it's just playing outside, enjoying the warm weather. My kids play so hard that Zach asks to sleep and Halle falls asleep in the car on a 5-minute jaunt to the store.

Zach continues to love letters and is working on writing. Below is his name... duh. He works so hard on writing and our driveway is often covered with his chalk letters.

He can read 3-letter words and loves to draw. He doesn't like coloring books. He instead likes blank pieces of paper to draw creatures on. To create a creature, he draws a blob, adds legs, and a huge smiley face. This one he told me was a dinosaur:

Halle has been teething and I've been weaning her from finger-sucking. This has led to a grouchy little girl, but Brandon doesn't believe me. This is what he comes home to:

Of course, this is after she's fed herself a Frosty. After that, who wouldn't be happy?!? Halle has a fascination with bathrooms... ugh. She loves to climb up Zach's stool and turn the lights/fan on and off. Also, when I can't find her, I peek into my bathroom and she will give me the most guilty face. What is she doing? Cleaning the toilet with the toilet bowl brush. While I don't like it now, I'm hoping in a couple years she will still enjoy cleaning the toilets - I will then put her to work!

dinner ideas

Every week, before I go grocery shopping, I sit stumped at what I'm going to make for the week. I really dread it. I never know what to cook. So in a selfish effort to get some more dinner ideas, I thought I'd post some of our recent family favorites and in return, you could do the same (via your own blog or in my comments).

A Brandon Favorite:
Barbecue Country Style Ribs
For the recipe, go here . I think it needs a little zing, but it was still yummy (and I am not a pork fan).


A Trisha Favorite:
Alda's Fried Chicken by Grandma Allan
2 lbs chicken (chicken pieces with skin and bones work best)
Flour
Salt
Sage
Pepper
Garlic Salt
1 pkg onion soup mix

Mix flour, salt, sage, pepper, and garlic salt in a plastic bag. Shake chicken pieces in bag. Brown in margatine on both sides. Pour a package of dried onion soup mix over it. Add 1/2 inch of water. Cover and steam for one hour.

Fall-off-the-bone good. We serve this with rice. There is a nice sauce that is formed after all the cooking is done.


A Zach Favorite (Zach's real favorite is PB&J, but he did eat this without complaint):
BBQ Beef Sandwiches by Corinne Green
Put a roast in the crockpot with 1/2 inch water. Cook on low for 10-12 hours. After 10-12 hours, drain the water from the crockpot and set it aside. Shred the roast and add your favorite BBQ sauce. Add back in the flavored water in the ratio you like. Serve on buns.


A Halle Favorite (Halle begs for this):
White Chili by Cheryl Edwards
1 lb chicken
1 can Northern Beans
2 tbsp olive oil
6 c chicken broth
1/2 c onion, chopped
1 can white corn
1 small can green chilis
1 tsp cilantro
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Cut up chicken into cubes and brown in frying pan with olive oil. In saucepan, combine chicken broth, onions, cilantro, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper. Simmer 20 minutes. Add chicken, green chilis, corn, and beans to the broth mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Mix in cheese and crushed up tortilla chips.


Enjoy!!!

Day Out with Thomas

This past weekend we headed to Heber City to do Day Out with Thomas. During our trip, we learned some things:

1. Zach gets car sick. Poor kid. We will be getting our car detailed shortly.
   
2. Zach can jump from one bed to the other in a hotel. I would have never thought two beds in a room would be endless fun for the kids. Jumping on the beds was probably one of the funnest things they did - they were giggling endlessly.


3. Zach and Halle are fish. We swam in the hotel's pool and the kids loved it. Zach swam from edge to edge with his floaties and didn't want a soul to touch him. Halle kept purposely dunking her head in the water and laughing.


4. Seeing Thomas was exciting. Zach a bit perplexed though on why Thomas didn't pull the passenger cars very fast. I guess since Zach gets motion sick, we are lucky Thomas was a bit on the slow side.
5. Zach was afraid of Sir Topham Hatt (and so was Brandon).



6. More family vacations please! This was our first real family vacation and it was fun. The kids were content and happy. We couldn't have asked for more (well... except to have a non-smelly car, but that will be coming shortly).
   
   

wordless wednesday

Easter Outfits

I know Easter is long gone, but I couldn't pass on posting these classic Easter pics:

Zach loved, loved, loved this tie because he was just like Daddy.

Seeing this picture reminds me of a Zach story. Zach was sitting in Primary and the Primary president was talking about the First Presidency. She held up a picture of President Monson and asked the kids who it was. Without missing a beat, Zach yelled out, "President Obama!"

When Brandon was putting Halle in her Sunday clothes, he kept commenting how it stunk to be a girl - so many dang layers. Halle obviously agreed.

Halle is 1!

3 days old

At about 1

Halle is now 1... I seriously can't believe it. That has been a fast year. Halle is my spunky, personality-filled girl and I love her to death. Here are some one-year old Halle facts:

• Halle loves shoes. If she finds a pair of her shoes, she will follow you around with them until you put them on.




• Halle loves cell phones. She thinks every cell phone is her own personal cell phone. She walks around with them on her ear saying ha (Mom Interpretation: hi).

• Halle loves food. When she tastes something she particularly likes she leans her head back, closes her eyes, smiles, and lets out a big mmmmmmm.

• Halle is no longer bald, but is now sporting a mullet. While her hair is sparse on top, she is growing a tuff of blonde hair on the back of her head.

• Halle understands a lot. She understands Time Out. When Zach goes to Time Out she will follow behind wagging her pointer finger (signifying no no). She tries to put on her own socks and will even help me with mine. She will hand Zach his coat when he is supposed to put it on. She understands when she is doing something naughty, but will keep doing it with a huge grin on her face.

• She has a smile that lights up her entire face.

new spring line

I admit, I peruse the occasional craft blog. I'm not sure why as I am not all that crafty. A little while ago I came across this craft that I was set on creating, but the more I looked at it, the more I noticed all the different colors of thread. For the beginning crafter this wouldn't be a problem, but since I'm a pre-beginning crafter, I was terrified. I hate bobbins. Bobbins hate me. The thought of changing out the bobbin that many times made me woosy and I opted to not make the amazing felt playhouse.

On that same blog, I found examples of felt food and I was in love. Handmade felt food - I could do that - no bobbins involved. For Halle's birthday, we are getting her a play kitchen and felt food would be the perfect addition.

So... I would like to present my new spring line (and only spring line): Felt Food Fiesta!

Sandwich makings: Bread, Jelly, PB, Tomato, Swiss Cheese, Ham, Lettuce, Onion, and American Cheese

Ravioli

Fruit: Peelable Banana, Apple, Apple Slice, Strawberries, and Watermelon Slice

Dinner: Chicken Leg, Pumpkin Pie w/ Whipped Cream, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy (a Trisha-sized portion), and Peas

M&M Cookies, or if you turn them 90 degrees, E&E Cookies

Potato Chips w/ Bag

Carrot and Donut (no relation)

Bowtie Pasta w/ Blob-o-sauce

And... Breakfast: Pancakes, Bacon, Fried Egg, and Orange Slice

There will be more, yes, there will be more, but I have to take a little break. I know this because I've been dreaming of felt food.