Down Home

Rewind

2011-08-22T21:09:00.001-06:00

I just went back and was reading posts from when I was pregnant with the twins. How much fun is that? I really need to keep blogging for my OWN self, if for no one else! I sure hope I can keep with it!

A Word on Comfort

2010-08-19T15:49:00.003-06:00

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father and the all-comforting God, who comforts me in every sorrow I have, so that I can comfort people who are in sorrow with the comfort with which I am comforted by God. For just as my sufferings for Christ are running over the cup, so through Christ my comfort is running over too." --2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Read this in my Pilgrimage of the Heart study today and loved it. It spoke to me and made me want to shout it from the rooftops. My hope is that it speaks to you should you be going through the valley. ♥

My BR Knockoff...

2010-04-30T12:49:00.010-06:00

For my birthday this year I decided to make myself an ice cream cake. I ordered one for Tracey from Baskin Robbins when she came through and it was like 1/3 this size and $24! EEEK! This one probably cost me...hmmm...around $10. It was SO easy to make, too!!

I got the recipe here. This comment really helped me out, too:

"I was a cake decorator for Baskin Robbins and this is exactly how they did it! The only thing I would add is a great frosting that is really yummy is plain old vanilla ice cream. Freeze the cake overnight in your freezer and then take a quart of vanilla ice cream - mix it up in your mixer until it is a smooth frosting consistency and then frost your cake - put it back in the freezer for 4 hours or until frozen again and then decorate! You can even go to Baskin Robbins and ask to purchase a quart of their vanilla frosting ice cream - it is completely white with no yellow in it. HTH." - LAMRO

I baked one Devils Food Chocolate cake mix in a 9x13 pan (very well PAMed for ease of getting out, of course) and let it cool completely.

I then took out my Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and tried out the recipe's dental floss method of cutting it in half...OUCH. About cut my fingers in half before the ice cream, so I decided to use my bread knife...worked much better (my friend and I also tried wrapping said dental floss around a couple forks -see below- and pulling it through. FAIL.)! I even read another recipe that said to cut right through the box. I opted not to do that to avoid cardboard shreds in my cake.

I then placed the two halves of my ice cream on top of the cake and used my frosting knife to smooth out the seam in the middle. I also cut off the excess cake around the edges.

Here are my edge scraps. The kids had a good time eating these. :)

Then into the freezer for the night:

Next day was frosting day! I scooped a few scoops into my mixing bowl and let is sit until softened and then whipped it good,

blobbed it on,

spread on a crumb layer, put it back in the freezer to harden,

then put my final layer on. I smoothed it out a bit by dipping my frosting knife in hot water.

Then came the fun and yummy part! Adding the FUDGE (it really makes it! I used LOTS!...ain't that right, AG?)

and the Magic Shell drizzle!

and Voila!

cut, serve...but only after you have finished your dinner...

and ENJOY!!

Commentary

2010-02-09T15:25:00.003-07:00

Ali's commentary on this photo (she just saw it now on my blog):

"Ahhh! Landon's fall over and Dulia's frying!"

Very Cute.

Twin Pics - 3 Months!

2010-01-15T15:46:00.004-07:00

Sun-Dried Tomato Crusted Chicken

2010-01-15T13:29:00.003-07:00

So every two weeks I make a menu for the following two weeks and write it on my whiteboard calendar that magnets to the side of my fridge. I started doing this around the middle of last year when I was pregnant, tired and didn't feel like thinking something up for dinner at 4 o'clock every night. So I made a list of all the "regulars" we ate and would make my menu and shopping list at the same time. I found that this not only saved TIME but also money! I had a list of everything I would need and didn't need to deviate from that list cause I knew exaclty what we were eating for the next two weeks...hence, no "this and that" made it into my cart.

Then...I gave my sister the idea...and she started planning her menu, too. She came up with the idea of trying a new recipe one night a week...so I have since adopted that idea...and I call it "Guinea Pig Night".

All that being said: This was last nights Guinea Pig meal. I got it from one of my old Cuisine At Home magazines.

It was VERY yummy...except, I could have done without the "Sunny Butter Sauce" over the chicken. It was to lemon-juicy for me. I liked the Crusted Chicken by itelf...but here's the recipe if you'd like to try:

Sun-Dried Tomato Crusted Chicken
Makes 4 Chicken Breasts
Total Time: 30 min

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (8 oz each)
1t. black pepper
1/2t. kosher salt
2 cups bread crumbs*
1/2c. oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, sliced
4 larcge garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2T. water
2T. olive oil

Preheat oven to 375

Prepare breast halves by trimming fat. Slice each breast in half lenghwise; pound to 1/2in. thick. Season with pepper and salt.

Pulse bread crumbs, tomatoes, and garlic in a food processor. Transfer to a shallow dish.

Place flour in a second shallow dish. Blend eggs and water with a fork in a third shallow dish.

Dredge both sides of chicken in flour, then dip into egg mixture to coat. Trasfer chicken to crumb mixture and pat onto both sides; place on a baking sheet or plate.

Heat oil in an OVENPROOF nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute chicken 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Carefully flip chicken, then place pan in oven. Roast 8-10 min or until cooked through. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

*Make crumbs from 4 cups cubed French Bread. You don't want the crumbs too fine-coarse is good.

Sunny Butter Sauce
This sauce is blended and thickened by stirring chilled butter into the wine reduction.
Makes about 1 cup; total time: 10 min.

1 cup dry white wine
2 T. capers, crushed (I didn't have any, so I just used chopped onion)
2T. fresh lemon juice
1/2 c. cold unsalted butter, thinly sliced
1/4 c. oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, sliced
1/2 c. fresh parsley, chopped

Boil wine in a skillet until reduced by half.
Add capers and lemon juice; boil 1 min.
Reduce heat to low.
Whisk in butter one piece at a time, stirring constantly. As each melts, add another. Stir in tomatoes and parsley.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-17T11:46:00.003-07:00

Merry Christmas!!

I know I've been absent from the blogging world lately...and for those of you not on Facebook...this is probably your first glimpse of the twins (there are LOTS of pictures on there...I'm a big Facebook pusher, sorry!...I think you should join! ;o) )
The twins will be 3 months on the 28th....whew! We're in quite a good routine now...not sleeping thru the night yet...but we're getting there!

The Babes!

2009-09-30T07:23:00.009-06:00

Here is my "Twas the Night Before the Twins" belly. 38 Weeks - September 27, 2009:

We got up on Monday morning before our alarm went off at 4:30am. Trevor didn't sleep one wink and I think I got about an hour of sleep that night. Talk about anxious!

We drove up to the Hospital, went in through the ER entrance and checked in with the lady at the front desk there. We were then led down the hall to Labor and Delivery and they took me right into triage to set me up with the baby monitors and to get my IV going.

It took a long time to try and find each of their little heartbeats on the monitor, and they kept moving in and out of each little paddles range. Seemed like we monkey'd around with that for a LONG time. Of course I wasn't watching the clock, but I would guess it took around 30 minutes to get them both located! :o)

Then it was IV time...and I've actually become pretty good with all the needles sticking in me, but it could have been the combination of anxiety, needles, blood and nothing to eat or drink since midnight that I felt like I was going to pass out. I told the nurse right away and she got me a cool washcloth and laid me back a bit to get rid of the light-headedness.

Then everyone started coming out of the woodwork. My OB came in with a small ultrasound machine to see if Julia had turned into the head down position...and she was still breech, so everything went on as planned.

I was pretty scared, not knowing exactly what to expect. The anesthesiologist came in to talk about the spinal drugs I was going to get, then all the OR nurses came in to introduce themselves, and I could see all the assistants walking around in their booties and starting to get their gowns on as I sat in triage. Started freaking out a bit at this point and a few tears streamed down my face. Trevor looked over at me and looked a little concerned that I was getting upset. He assured me that he'd be right there with me.

They got the results back from the bloodwork they were waiting for and it was time for me to walk into the OR. Everyone in there had on masks with plastic shields protecting their eyes, and green scrubs and gowns. I zeroed in on the bed. It wasn't very wide...only enough for one body on there...narrower than a twin bed. They helped me up there and gave me the anesthesia in my back. The anesthesiologist must have hit some sort of nerve cause my right leg went tingly and I jumped a bit and my leg slipped off the stool it was propped on...a little scary...so he tried it in a different spot. He kept asking me to slouch over so he could get the medicine in the proper place. I wasn't slouching well enough for him...and had to remind him that it was hard to slouch with a huge beach ball in my lap! :o) He said I had the best posture. Ha! I draped myself onto my OB and she held me up as my 194 pound body relaxed into her. I remember apologizing for being so heavy on her. She assured me she was fine and told me that she'd have someone else come and hold her up if she couldn't hold me anymore. :o)

They laid me down on the table and kept asking me to help move my legs...HELLO! They just shot anesthetic in my back and expect me to move? Yeah, not really.

**and that is as far as I got with that post. I really wish I would have finished it...it was fun to re-read! Darn it all, anyway!!

5:15

2009-09-25T14:23:00.003-06:00

Got a call from the Hospital today to set the time to come in for the C-section. 5:15 am! That means...bed early and get up at like 4:30. Sheeshka-Beeshka! I'm so excited to have more energy and less weight to carry around (of course, not to mention, to meet these 2 little people!!). Not much more to say about it yet. Will post pics here someday...and for sure, Facebook. Keep us in your prayers! ♥

♥ Visit from Aunt TT ♥

2009-08-05T15:02:00.004-06:00

Auntie TT came for her "weekend" from the fire crew in Powell, ID and it seemed like a very quick trip, but we loved having her here!

She chopped my hair off:

and styled Ali's hair (cut a bit off her bangs, too) and buzzed Noel's hair! I even gave Trace a trim (under her direction, of course!) Very productive. She also took this super cute picture of them...don't you just LOVE Noel's outfit?

Yesterday, we did some shopping...grocery, fabric and clothes. Trace is going to make Ali a "quilted" duvet cover and bedskirt...the color theme will be purples and greens...hopefully something that she can use for a long time and not find "babyish" when she's a teenager! :o) We also trudged to Old Navy and TT used her birthday gift certificate and got lots of cool new clothes! Now she's on her way back up to Powell for the week. Thanks for coming TT, we love you! ♥

30 weeks ~ FINALLY!! :)

2009-08-03T11:43:00.003-06:00

10 weeks left...let's COUNT IT DOWN! :o)

Here is the belly update:

and here are some 3D pictures of Twin Boy:

and Twin Girl at 29 weeks:

This bottom one reminds me of Ali already!! My mom says "Same recipe!" :) At the last dr. appt and ultrasound(last week) they were both 3 pounds 4 oz. Anything else I forgot to mention? Let me know and I can post about that, too!

Belly Update ~ 25 weeks

2009-06-29T12:35:00.005-06:00

All right, here I am at 25 weeks. Yes. TWENTY-FIVE weeks.

Comparatively, here I am with Noel at THIRTY-NINE weeks. Yes. THIRTY-NINE.

Twins much? I think so.

Appointment

2009-06-17T11:52:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was my first Doctor appointment since 2 weeks ago when we found out there are 2 little babies in the belly. I think it was the LONGEST two weeks ever...with little gratification, actually.

I asked about all the worries that come with twins: Bedrest, Inducing, C-Sections. She could only tell me that we have to wait and see how my body responds to it all. I am, of course, at higher risk for all the pregnancy problems: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, etc. just because there are two.

I gained another 10 pounds this past month. I asked how much I would gain...she said 40lbs is pretty normal. I am at 28 so far. Eeeek.

She measured my belly and I asked what the difference was between Noel at the same time. She said I measured 24 inches at 24 weeks with Noel. I was 23 weeks yesterday...27 inches. Quite a difference, I'd say!

My due date is still October 12...the original due date....40 weeks gestation, but there is a higher risk of premature labor, too.

So. Keep waiting is my prescription.

The Big Rig

2009-06-09T10:20:00.005-06:00

Back in...man, March? April? We decided to get a bigger vehicle and I have just now taken pictures for you! Our thinking back then was, "Well, eventually we plan to have 4 kids, so lets just take the plunge now since we will need the space." Little did we know we'd have 4 kids so soon!! :o) No wonder God made that decision so peaceful in the midst of a recession!

Our old car was a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. Sat only 5, well, 4 with two humungo car seats in it. I miss our sprite little car, wasn't quite as intimidating to me....I could park it VERY easily...this new one? Yeah, I park in the North 40.

This is a 2008 Ford Expedition XL (extra long). It seats 8 (3 rows of seats) and still has room for the dog and luggage in the waaaay back (that's what we used to call it growing up...the way back). We bought it used (only 1 year!) and it was HALF the price of buying it brand new! I'd say that was a deal!

A Backyard Full of Fun!

2009-06-09T10:08:00.002-06:00

We've had the swingset up for a while now...long enough to think it was spring and for it to get about 4 inches of snow on it-twice! But since it snowed last Saturday a bit, I don't know that it means much...

Anyway...this years backyard is a far cry from last year when we had only the pool in the backyard. Now you can see (from left to right) the swingset, the baby slide that our neighbor gave us and the sandbox. All are SUPER fun!

Thoughts on Twins

2009-06-03T14:03:00.002-06:00

Wow. Yeah. Wow.

Let's see if I can post the story without it becoming a NOVEL.
I had been hearing a lot this pregnancy from so many people..."maybe it's twins!" Mostly in a joking manner...you know the way... But this pregnancy was different in a couple ways from the 1st trimester, to of course, the revealing ultrasound yesterday. First was the brutal, unrelenting morning sickness that lasted a few weeks into my second trimester. I was sick with Ali and Noel, but when I transitioned into my second trimester, the sickness stopped. I was waiting for that with this one, but it lasted a good month over. Then the light bleeding for a couple days. I'd never bled with the others before. The best tell-tail sign was my expanding waistline. I went in for my April dr. appt and I was 153 lbs...May...I was 163. 10 pounds in one month. I'd never gained that much so fast. And both me and my friend June knew that I looked so big for only being 20 weeks along. This is how big I should be in like my 7th or 8th month, for me. Yeah. I'm in month 5. Will I even be able to WALK in 3 months!!?? :o)
So. We go into the sonographer and I hoist myself onto the chair/table thing and she squirts the warm goo all over and does a quick pass with the paddle and Trevor and I see immediately two distinct head shapes. Trevor said he knew immediately there were 2 in there...I was pretty sure that's what I saw, too. The sonographer asked, "Have you had any other ultrasounds this pregnancy?" (clue #2 for me). Me - "No". Her - "Yeah, there's two babies in there."
We were able to see the sex very easily. She rolled over "Twin A" and said..."Well, this is a girl" and then rolled over to "Twin B"..."and this is a boy!"
HOW PERFECT IS THAT? We had always said we wanted 4 kids...now I only have to do it in 3 pregnancies and we got the desires of our heart. PRAISE JESUS!
It's kind of a dumb-founding experience to first learn that there are 2 little ones growing in your belly, but then to start thinking about how you need to prepare for their arrival. Aren't we SO glad we got that Ford Expedition! But now we need another car seat, another crib, another high chair, another pak-n-play, maybe a changing table downstairs (June, we may need to set up something like you have now!), another, another, another.
I guess I'm not going to get out of having to change 3 sets of diapers. Ali is trained...but I'm not holding my breath that Noel will be...but it's all so temporary...I can't get overwhelmed by the task. I have God on my side. I can lean on Him for my strength, and He will provide.
The biggest prayer requests I have is that the babies be healthy, free of disease or deformation and that I will not worry about them and know that God is in control. These are His babies. He loves them and has a plan for them. He loves them more than we humanly can. He knows what's best. I need the comfort of knowing this and for Him to take away my worry. I'm such a worrier.
What else is there that I can add to my story? Oh, due date. I'm officially 40 weeks on October 12, but the sonographer said "they" usually don't like to see a twin pregnancy go further than 38 weeks...that would put me at Sept 28. I SO don't want to be induced OR have a C-section...so I am hoping things are all able to be done naturally. There is still a lot I'm sure I have to learn. I have my next dr. appt. on June 16 and will hopefully get a lot of unknowns answered at that time. I need to start my list of questions so I don't forget!
If this post seemed full of broken thoughts and all over the place, I guess you know how my brain is working at this point! Will keep ya'll updated! I will also post some sonogram photos, but all I have is the little girl for now...little boy wouldn't cooperate...I have one picture, of his foot. We're going to try to get a picture of him on the 16th. I'll post then. ♥

OH MY! Happy Anniversary!

2009-06-02T10:35:00.007-06:00

Today is Trevor and my 8th Anniversary...with many, many more on the horizon. He is a wonderful husband, God knew exactly what He was doing when he brought us together (of course He did!). For our anniversary, my wonderful friend (who also happens to be my back-door neighbor) took our kids for the afternoon as we went out to lunch and then went to my ultrasound appointment. Our gift is knowing that we are adding a girl.......and a boy to our growing family!!!!!! Heart Attack.

Here is a 21st week picture for you:

That would be why I'm feeling so huge and I'm only halfway.....!

Losing My Mind

2009-05-04T13:02:00.003-06:00

I just have to laugh at myself.

Today (just a few minutes ago, actually) it was naptime and I generally put Noel down first and Ali second. It's easier to corral a 2 1/2 year old than a 1 1/2 year old. So, I change Noel's diaper and set it aside - as it is a cloth diaper and of the kind that needs to be swished out in the toilet (if you catch my drift). So I button him all back up, set him in his crib (to come back in a minute to close his curtains, turn on his music and fan and tuck him in) and go to dispose of the dirtyness. As I walk into the bathroom, Ali is all set up in there with her stool and a miniature cup drinking water out of the sink. I flush the nastiness and walk into Noel's room to put it in his diaper pail, then back into the bathroom to wash my hands before doing anything else. Ali is still in there drinking, so I ask her to put her stool away while I wash my hands. In the process of getting down off the stool, she spills her little cup of water all over the counter, down the cabinets and onto the stool. This makes her quite upset and doesn't want to move the stool with the water on it. I finally convince her to put it away, that the water will be fine and wipe up the counter and cabinet.

I lead her into her room and get her ready for her nap, get her cloth diaper on for naptime (which she fights me over, since while the cloth diapers were all dirty, she was getting to wear a pull-up to bed and now having to put on a diaper again was NOT COOL) , get all of her covers situated, turn on her fan and humidifier and tell her "night-night!".

I then remember the clothes in the washer and get the clothes that had been sitting in the dryer since Friday out and put my wet clothes into the dryer. Ahhhh...ready to go downstairs and relax. As I head down the stairs I hear someone say "Hi!" and notice that Noel is sitting in his crib with the shades and door wide open like someone was clearly sidetracked in the middle of putting him to bed! HA! I just had to laugh! It was so funny to be in my own little world and for him to yell "Hi" to me as I went downstairs!

Needless to say, I trekked back upstairs and made him comfortable for his nappy. Then laughed at myself all way back down the stairs after I KNEW everyone was happily situated.

p.s.

2009-04-29T18:00:00.001-06:00

I guess I should add that the morning sickness has subsided...I'm still a little tired every once in a while....but feelin pretty good overall! YAY!

16 weeks

2009-04-29T10:57:00.002-06:00

Here is a nice blurry picture of 16 weeks...it's hard to take good pictures of yourself, I have found. And since I don't have much else to report....that's all you're gettin'.

Blame it on the Rain

2009-03-31T10:15:00.002-06:00

...or snow or sleet or whatever else kind of crummy weather you are having. And here is why. I've come to the conclusion that, after all the blogs I've read of all us SAHM's going a little bit nuts and needing breaks, that we can blame it on the weather.

You see...we had about a week of weather in the 60's a couple weeks ago....and everything was sunshine and roses around here. The kids loved being outside...I loved being outside. It was such a change from the everyday same ol' same ol'...there were places to explore, walks to be had, bikes to ride on....not the stuffy air of the house...where we have extinguished all of our indoor fun ideas.

I am so ready to throw up the windows and let the warm spring & summer air flow through the house. I'm ready to lay on the cool grass in the backyard. The kids got money toward a swing set for Christmas, so I just ordered one up and it should be here next week. I am ready to push them on the swing set and play with them in the sandbox. I'm ready to visit with my neighbors out in the alley. I'm just READY.

I wouldn't say I was complaining about the weather. If I didn't have 2 toddlers in the house, I'd be fine with whatever it was doing outside...but we're all getting a little stir crazy in here...and just need a change of scenery and air.

So. That's my opinion. and for all you still singing the title of my blog...here's a little Milli Vanilli flashback for you! ;)

I need a break

2009-03-28T20:15:00.001-06:00

Twilight

2009-03-21T09:39:00.005-06:00

So. I've never read or watched a Twilight story before...BUT I know a few of you are GREAT fans (Ms. Coatney & Ms. Tribe). SO...get this...(especially you two):

Local actor filming new 'Twilight' movie

By Jennifer K. Bauer, of the Lewiston Morning Tribune Friday, March 20, 2009

Chaske Spencer
Locally raised actor Chaske Spencer will have a major role in "New Moon," the movie sequel to the wildly popular "Twilight" vampire series.Spencer will play alpha wolf Sam Uley. The movie is filming in Vancouver, British Columbia, under high security and secrecy because of concerns about crowd control. The series, based on a set of top-selling teen novels by Stephenie Meyer, is about a group of modern-day vampires living on the Washington state coast."It's really exciting," says Spencer's mother, Jan Spencer, a special education teacher at Tammany Alternative School in Lewiston, where she also is the Indian educator and drug educator. Her husband, Jim Spencer, is a counselor at Clearwater Valley Elementary School in Kooskia.Since finding out he was in the film, she's read all the books and seen the "Twilight" movie. She says it's exciting to see her son be a part of a pop culture phenomenon. Paparazzi uncovered the identities of the actors in the film earlier this week, she says. Before that the family was not allowed to talk about Spencer's role in the film.Spencer, whose first name is pronounced "chess-kay," was born in Oklahoma and spent part of his childhood in Lapwai, Kooskia and Montana. His heritage includes Sioux, Nez Perce, Cherokee, Creek, French and Dutch. In "New Moon" he will play a Quileute Indian shape-shifter, or werewolf. In Meyer's book, legend has it the Quileute are descended from wolves. The film is due to be released Nov. 20.Spencer got into acting at the age of 10, when he tried out for the Lewiston Civic Theatre play "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." He was in the drama club at Clearwater Valley High School in Kooskia and started acting classes at Lewis-Clark State College before heading to New York City to pursue an acting career. He's had roles in the movie "Skins," a follow-up to the 1998 film "Smoke Signals," and the 2003 ABC-TV miniseries "Dreamkeeper."

You might recognize this guy...! Yup...we know him as James! I acted along side of him in 1994 in Bye Bye Birdie! So awesome that someone from CVHS is in the big time! Congrats Chaske!!

CRAZY Pregnant Dreams

2009-03-04T13:06:00.002-07:00

So, I don't really remember having really crazy dreams with Ali and Noel...but this time it seems like I have one a night...here's a taste of my craziness:

I was at a friend from high schools house (Shoni Konrad...Graves, now) watching her 2 boys, and her really mean ex-husband (she's never been divorced) came over and started harassing me. He was a pretty good looking guy, blond, tall...but very angry. He was demanding to know where she was and threatening to take the boys...I was SCARED! Finally, her husband (who has always really been her husband) and she came riding back to the house on dirt motor bikes (?) and then she proceeded to deal with this crazy man.

I'm sure there was more to that than I can remember, but it seemed really odd. I'm sure they were in my thoughts because I got an email from them that day about how their son will have his letter to the President published in a book for the president to read....ANYWAY!

I have also had dreams I was miscarrying and one that another friend from high school (Amy Norton) was serving my family breakfast at this restaurant where you rode around on Army tanks and tried to outrun REAL missiles...I think my mom got something with Hollandaise sauce on it...but I remember that we weren't able to outrun the missile and it hit us...my mom and sister and I all jumped off, but my dad was in the back and the tank rolled over onto the side he was sitting on...not all the way over...but I wasn't sure if we'd be able to get him out or not...I think Ali was sitting with him..I can remember seeing the top of her head...and then I JOLTED awake. That one was NOT fun.

Why all the craziness? Must be those hormones.

6 more weeks.

2009-02-16T12:14:00.002-07:00

My ticker says I'm six weeks today. Can I take 6 more weeks of quesiness? Some days....I don't think so.

I've been SUPER tired this time...maybe because I CAN be. With Ali, I was working, so I didn't have time to sleep my first trimester away. With Noel, I was moving from Maine back to Montana...so packing up the house, deep cleaning it to get the deposit back and then driving 12 hours a day across the US to MT! I'm suprised I made it!!

Starting Thursday...the constant motion sickness has kicked in. For those of you who have not experienced first trimester "Morning" sickness...mine is like this: constant car sickness. This icky, bitter taste in your mouth that makes you sick...and the smell of most anything almost sends you to the bathroom. So far, I can't do tomato sauces, garlic, pizza. The only thing I could muster to eat last night was pancakes. I told Trevor..."I'll put a frozen pizza in for you, but the rest of us are eating pancakes." The kids sure enjoyed THAT dinner! Me too. It might be pancakes for the next six weeks. Any thought of dinner food makes me sicker. Although, I might be able to do home made Mac & Cheese tonight...the milder and blaher the dish...the better!

Any other blah dish ideas? I don't feel much like thinking, either....just sleeping...I don't even know if this post makes any sense... :o)

Tests

2009-02-05T10:07:00.003-07:00

I haven't taken a test in a couple years, so I was a little nervous yesterday when I had to take one. You know that "pre-test" feeling you get...sweaty palms, nervousness...and racking your brain to make sure you have studied right and know ALL the answers?

I remember back in school that I'd just cram right before the test....not spend days and days studying. Maybe because I didn't think I could retain the information for that long or (more likely) that I was lazy and really didn't care about how the universe was *Bang* and then there all of a sudden. Or how x = 16 and how to find x. Maybe I really DO use that algebra stuff on a daily basis...but maybe not..I usually just ask Trevor if I can't figure out the number thing.

I've never been a really prepared scholar. I remember jumping up and down next to the old dot matrix printer in my college apartment waiting for a paper to print out as I counted down the minutes until the very class I needed it for started. 5 minutes....4 minutes....hurry, hurry, hurry....rip it off the printer...DARN! The ribbon ink is running low and all the words are VERY faint. Oh well...2 minutes to class....jump on my bike and ride 2 blocks to school and then across campus...Whew...at least I made it. Can you believe that I graduated from both High School AND college??? Must have helped that my major was in theatre! :o) I must have learned SOMETHING along the way...!

SO. Back to yesterday's test. YAY! I passed with flying colors! 100% It only took a few minutes to calculate the results....but by around October 12...I'll look something like this:

Big Girl

2009-02-03T10:27:00.004-07:00

A couple weeks ago I converted Ali's crib into a toddler bed. She's been doing pretty well with it so far.

When I first changed it, she wasn't able to open the door, so in the morning I would find her laying in front of the door waiting to be let out...but no toys were out of place!

She has since learned to open up her door.

Last Thursday I put her to bed for the night and came downstairs to check my email. Trevor was at worship practice (he runs the A/V equipment). All of a sudden I hear a thundering of footsteps and I turn around and see a beaming 2 year old running at me full blast. That meant that she was able to open the door, navigate through the darkness to the stairs, scoot down the stairs and then RUN to me here at the computer! Boy, was I surprised!!

It ALSO didn't take long for her to discover that she can get up and pull all the books and toys and...shoes. I went up to get her from her nap one day last week and found her like this:

Yup. Those are her black patent leather shoes. Nice outfit, huh? At least she matches!

Throw Pillows

2009-01-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

After all the Christmas sewing I snuck a little project in there for our house.

I saw these pillows at Costco and then just duplicated them with stuff I already had...used left-over fabric from when my mom and I re-covered our chair back in Maine...some poly-fiber fill that I think I've had since before we were married...ya...like 10 years!...invisible zippers that my mom gave me a while back...and the inside pillow made with muslin I got from Tiff (she gave me an entire BOLT....long story). I guess the only thing I needed to buy was the matching thread!

The color is a bit off in the close up...it's more like the color on the photo of the entire couch.

You Might Be a Redneck...

2009-01-22T16:32:00.003-07:00

if your definition of High Def TV is to wipe the dust off your TV set.

Yeah, it's a lot clearer if you do that.

Yup. I'm a Redneck. :o)

Tag.

2009-01-22T08:01:00.001-07:00

“(Post the fourth picture in the fourth folder of your pictures and explain! oh yeah, and tag 4 more people).”

This was taken the other day...they were coloring so nicely together. I think Ali dropped a crayon which is why she's in a kinda funny position...but you said the 4th picture...not the one I would have chosen to post...but I'm just following the rules!

Sounded easy and fun, and I didn't have to do a lot of thinking..! And I'm gonna play like Danica and say: "If you want to play along, then consider yourself tagged!"

Long Overdue...!

2009-01-20T10:37:00.001-07:00

I've kinda been a blogging slacker lately. Maybe recouping from the holidays...

Some updates~

Tracey, her boyfriend Matt and her friend Serra from Missouri came for a long weekend. We had a great time with them and glad they came by. Ali just loves her "TT". Noel prefers his mommy which is fine with me! :o)

Potty training is still going well. She still has accidents and refuses to go #2 in the potty. She waits until she has a diaper on for nap. It'll come...I know...Encouraging to know that I know no one my age that still has potty accidents! :o)

Noel loves running through the house, screaming, yelling and talking. His vocabulary consists of "Mommy, Daddy, Nana (Banana), Cracker, WaWa (water), Baby, Puppy, Meow." There could be more but I can't think of any right now.

My main job is serious referee. Ali is ALWAYS taking toys away from Noel. The result? Glass shattering little boy screams. I think I say these words the most throughout the day "Ali, give that toy back to Noel. He had it first." So yes. The fighting has already begun...and they are 2 and 1. 20 years to go.

Some thoughts on today's Inauguration:

Some of my Christian friends seem to be seriously worried about our new president. My view? It is comforting to know that Barack Obama is not ultimately in control. The Most High is on His throne and has EVERYTHING under control! Maybe Christians will come under more persecution, but maybe not....but Jesus told us that we WILL be persecuted for His name. Do not worry...He is there, watching over us. I have been doing my Daniel study and am in the eschatology section. Only God knows what time we are truly in, but I was so excited to read this passage in Revelation: "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God...They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years...This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." vv.4-6
My point? Even if we are persecuted...isn't it SO worth it to reign with Jesus over the devil? BRING IT ON! I have SO much Jesus excitement in my soul that I don't even know how to put it all down into words..! I guess what I'm ultimately trying to say is that I do not fear man.

Also...being pessimistic...has any president ever done everything they say they are going to do during their campaign?

(Some of the) Christmas Spoils

2008-12-31T15:06:00.000-07:00

A couple Super Cute outfits from Tiff:

And the Best Toy Award goes to Gramma Pat for:

They also got some wooden puzzles from both Gramma Pat & Gramma Kim & Grandpa Jer. Ali got quite a few Curious George books that she LOVES to read at bedtime...and Noel got some blocks, as well as the pink soccer ball he's holding above (actually Ali got it...but, what's yours is mine). They both got beads in their stockings...they LOVE beads!! Like Marti-Gras beads...LOVE 'UM!

Anyway..on this New Year's Eve....HAPPY 2009! NINE!...that means I'm 30 this year. Ug. :o)

Home-made Handi Crafts

2008-12-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

I made this apron, hot-pads and oven mitts for my sister-in-law, Shelly, for Christmas. Her kitchen theme is Apples (go figure) :o) :

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Haven't posted for a while, mostly because...well, I don't know why. Guess not a whole lot has happened in the last few days. We have been kept inside by the snow falling, falling, falling outside. We don't have TONS, but we have enough that we need to get outside in the next few days and shovel off the walkways. My gramma gave us a little electric snow-blower that we need to break out and try. Maybe I'll do that today at naptime...

I have finished a couple Christmas presents, but won't post pictures until after Christmas so they can be a surprise for the recipient (and for you!) HA!

Made Christmas cookies, Truffles from Kraft Food and Family (as a side note (way to the side), you can get this magazine FREE! It has great recipes and uses things you most likely have around the house! Here is a link if you want to check out a magazine before you sign up) and finished Noel's stocking that I started last year before Christmas. I guess I just get burnt out on projects and have to finish later. It took me about an hour to finish Noel's stocking...funny...that if I would only have taken that hour last year...I wouldn't have had to do anything on it this year....OH WELL. I'll give myself some slack since I was taking care of a 2 month old and a 15 month old!

Here are my cookies and the stocking...for your viewing pleasure! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

They even had Noel's NAME in a stocking holder! ;o) *WINK WINK*

Rich Rolled Sugar Cookies ~Yum!

Auntie Eleanor's Filled Cookies (peppermint frosting filled)

Brrrrr-ness!

2008-12-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Is 15 below cold enough for you? It is for us. Brrrr!

The kids and Papa Ron

Our Christmas Tree

2008-12-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

When we moved to Maine, we didn't know much about their Christmas Tree rules. You see, when we lived in Idaho...you'd go to the local forest service building and get a Christmas Tree permit for like $3. Then you'd bundle everyone up, smash them in the front of the single cab Silverado pickup (sisters sharing the middle seat belt) and truck up some dirt mountain road looking at all possible Christmas trees. We often would get out and hike a little ways through the knee-deep snow to find the best one we could. Dad would chop it down and drag it back to the pickup, then we'd wrap the hunter orange permit tag around the trunk...just in case we got stopped by the Forest Law Enforcement Officer.

It was always a disappointment to get home and not be able to put it up right away. It had to sit outside for a few days to "dry out." With all the snow on it from the woods, and then dragging it through the snow...my mom didn't want the house all wet....understandable now as the housekeeper of my own house...but when you are a kid...all you dream about is putting those special ornaments on the tree.. The one that said "Baby's First Christmas 1979" or the one with your name engraved on it...and you know it must have been made special since no store EVER had the correct spelling of your name out on the shelves.

Then, after Trevor and I were married, we went out and got ourselves a couple trees while we were still in Missoula. We must have gotten one in 2001 & 2002. They'd always look so great in the woods...but when they were set up in the living room...can you say "Charlie Brown"?

So anyway...back to Maine. We moved there in 2003 and when Christmas came around, we didn't know where to go to get a tree...what forests, etc. and we didn't research it either. The local Hannaford was selling them for $25. We figured...Hey! If we got a fake one at Target, we could pay it off in 4 years! So that is what we did! Now we have a free, fake tree in our home! I don't miss having to water it, vacuum up needles all the time, bare spots and skimpy branches. I do miss, however, that wonderful smell. I melt my Scentsy Spruce Berry wax bars and it kinda reproduces the smell...but not entirely. Oh well...I suppose it's a trade off I'm willing to endure.

So...all that said, here's our tree:

Sickness

2008-12-02T13:58:00.001-07:00

It's been a fairly stressful past week for us here. Thanksgiving night kicked off with Ali getting the stomach flu all night. I got a little that night and then had an aching stomach for a few days. Trevor got it on Friday night, as did Noel. We were all okay Saturday...thought we were on the mend...then Ali started again Sunday night, all day Monday too. So today (Tuesday) I took her into the dr.'s office and they had to hook her up with an IV to re-hydrate her. Hopefully she can stop losing it all back up and begin to keep stuff down. Prayers for her healing are more than welcome...and for my frazzled self, too. :(

The Baby Panel is HERE!

2008-11-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Here is the baby panel we had taken with Robin Hickman Photography. The idea of the baby panel (as you can probably see) is to take a picture at the different stages of a baby's first year. He did a great job...I'm very pleased with the outcome...and even more excited to have these stages documented professionally! Keeping in mind, these are pictures of pictures...and I'm still trying to figure out my Photoshop Elements Program! :o)

3 months - holding head up:

6 months - sitting:

9 months - standing/cruising:

12 months - WALKING!

(You can click on the photo of the panel and it should make it bigger for you)

Potty Training 101

2008-11-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

Ali and I had tried out the whole potty training thing a couple weeks back and I can say with absolute certainty I was going about it the wrong way. And maybe there isn't really a wrong way to potty train (I'm certain she was learning SOMEthing) but by the end of the day, if you are wound up tighter than an eight day clock then I'd say something was wrong.

Wait. Rewind. I'll start at the very beginning (a very good place to start - *wink*). Back when Noel was born, Great Grandma Swenson got them both a potty chair for such a time as this. So we had it set up in the bathroom downstairs...and whenever they would find the door ajar, it was such a fun toy to play with!

So then...when the time got closer...I pulled it out of the bathroom (since we haven't mastered the art of opening doors, yet) and put it behind the front door...thought maybe that would give her a little privacy back there (fat chance when you have a little brother following you around and swings the door wide open on ya). Still...something fun to play with.

Birthday #2 came and went...and my neighbors advised me not to even try PT until she was at least two. So, tired of trucking up the stairs to change 2 sets of diapers..I bought Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, recommended by my neighbor and began to study up. I found my old Cabbage patch doll and did a little dry run to show Ali what the fun-toy-in-the-corner was all about. She seemed uninterested. When I tried to show her what to do...whining and crying. So. I was done for a while...she wasn't ready. And you cannot push that kid. If she doesn't want to...she ain't gonna do it!

So I waited a month or so...and showed her again (for about a half day). This time she seemed to understand what was going on...but not that I wanted HER to do it. So. I waited again.

Fast Forward to November 10. Tracey was coming for the week (see post below) and I thought it was a perfect time for her to help me with the potty training! One to administer the PT and the other to entertain Noel, make food, etc. So..I put "big girl pants" on Ali and proceeded to begin the training. The following, folks, is what I was talking about above when I said I did it WRONG: It was a Monday. We have small group Bible study on Monday nights. I didn't start the PT until after she was up from her nap...like 3ish. And Bible study is at 6:15. Trevor gets home at 5:30. I need to have dinner ready when he gets home so we have time to eat and get over there (only 2 houses down). Thankfully this day, Tracey would be arriving in time for dinner and to babysit the kids at home, so I wouldn't have to get them ready to go. But she was later than she anticipated...so I was under this time constraint, trying to get dinner in the oven (Homemade Mac & Cheese), and since Ali figured out that she'd get a piece of candy every time she went potty...she'd go every 2 minutes...even if all that she could squeeze out was a couple drops. So I'd get the butter melted and have to stop, cheer, hug, candy and empty the potty. Then add the flour, stop-cheer-hug-candy-empty. Drain the pasta, stop-cheer-hug-candy-empty. And the clock didn't stop ticking closer and closer to 6:15...

Needless to say...by the time we got to Bible study...I was buzzing...about ready to burst into tears from the unrelenting stress of those 3 hours! So, friends. That would be the WRONG way. They (whoever "they" are) certainly have it right when they say to choose a week when there is nothing going on, let your duties pile up and don't stress about them, and eat frozen pizza and leftovers...cause it will make the experience WAY less stressful. It's already a stress in itself, trying to teach this little person, who has never even thought about going potty, to totally revise their thinking!

Tracey and I tried it again the next day but she wasn't able to pull her pants up very well and would get frustrated...so we both (Ali and I) threw in the towel. I think the night before crushed my confidence for a bit. I didn't want to feel that frustrated again about PT! It certainly wasn't fair to Ali or worth it to myself!

So. For some reason I tackled the project again yesterday (I think she might have had diaper rash and I put underwear on her for airing out purposes). She knew this time...that when she had "big girl pants" on...she was supposed to go to the potty. I showed her an "easy" way to pull up the pants...and she GOT IT! She had a few accidents yesterday...but for the most part she went on the potty. I think she probably spent the majority of the day on the potty...cause, of course, she got rewarded with candy or juice or fruit leather (I switched to fruit leather after about the 20th time she went cause she was getting way to much candy...and she was just going to GET candy).

Today...we woke up...put on the big girl pants right away...and come nap time (noon) they were STILL DRY! YIPPEE!! She's gone quite a few times today...but the big stepping stone today is that she's been going without me asking her if she needs to!

Moral of my NOVEL BLOG ENTRY: Don't push her, don't let it stress me out, and take it one step at a time!

Bye Bye!

For Amy!

2008-11-20T16:34:00.001-07:00

Here we are side by side for you... Me in the white, Tracey in the Navy! I'd say we look similar! :o) Wouldn't know there were 6 years between us, would you??

To Market, To Market

2008-11-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

:: To buy a plum bun...or not.

:: We are going in today to pick up Noel's Baby Panel from the photographer. It's a collection of 4 photos documenting Noel at 3, 6, 9 & 12 months. I haven't seen his 3 month picture since it was taken...as with the others at their corresponding time, so I'm super excited to see it! I'll take a picture of it and post it later so you can see it too!

:: Also have to get some groceries and finish off my Christmas shopping! Well, maybe not finish it off, now that I think about it....I'm still not sure what Ali and Noel are getting yet! So hard when they can't tell you what they'd like!

:: I did my Beth Moore Daniel & David studies this morning. I have a Friday morning ladies bible study group where we do the David study, and Monday night small group where we are doing the Daniel study. It's certainly true what they say! When you take that hour or so to sit down and solely devote that time to the Lord...He truly blesses your day and you bless Him by giving Him time!! What a great feeling to make Jesus happy and glorify Him!! Now I need to work on making Him an integral part of the rest of my day!

:: A treasure from this mornings Daniel study for you: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25

New Curtains

2008-11-17T12:23:00.001-07:00

We used to have these and HATED them. They were always breaking and falling off. So we decided on these:

And the fancy curtain rod:

They are a dusty blueish green to match the countertop. We like them LOADS better!

Buzz & Braids

2008-11-17T11:17:00.001-07:00

Noel got a LOT of hairs cut compliments of Auntie TT:

Ali also got a cute and complimentary hair-do:

Auntie "TT"

2008-11-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tracey is here to stay with us all week. She's certainly one of Ali's favorite people!

playing "put the ball in the bucket and take it out again"

She arrived around 4 pm yesterday and is planning on leaving on Sunday, so we have the week ahead of us. Tomorrow we will go into town and do a little Christmas shopping. It's always fun for me to take a trip out of the house...especially when the kids don't out number the adults! :o)

Ali watched a little Sesame Street and Martha Speaks this morning. Assuming the patented Ali pose:

Tracey brought over a little Guitar Hero fun...and we've been jamming out during all our free time...
and a little extra, too...Noel's gonna be a pro! He's studing closely:

but there's always time for a little reading!

Trace, we're SO glad you're here!

Irish Beef & Stout Stew

2008-11-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

I desperately emailed all the cooks in my address book a few weeks ago for some new recipes. I was getting dreadfully tired of eating the same food over and over again. To the point I actually said to Trevor "I hate food. I hate eating it, I hate preparing it...I'd do just fine if I never had to deal with food ever again!" Well. This isn't practical...especially when I have 2 growing children that need food (although, I think Ali would be fine on the no-food plan...she doesn't eat much of it anyway...unless it's sweet...and dinner doesn't tend to be sweet a lot in our house. Noel on the other hand would not enjoy this plan-those of you who can hear him all the way to Michigan when he's hungry can attest to that!)

So...with all that being said. I tried this stew from an Everyday Food that my mother-in-law brought over last weekend. It was pretty tasty (Ali didn't think so; Noel did)! I thought it was pretty colorful after I had finished putting it all together that I wanted to show y'all! It didn't call for carrots...but I thought they'd add a little more to it....so there they are!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to my desperate recipe call...I can't wait to try them all! I just need to remember to write down the ingredients on my list before I head to the grocery store!!

Well...post #1 down...let's just see if I can keep it up! I wasn't real good at it last time...but I'm optimistic (for now)!