Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today we celebrate the birth of a wonderful woman - my mom! I admire her in countless ways, as do many, and cannot think of anyone who deserves a happier birthday.

Happy 64th, Mom! Thank you for the spirited and happy woman you are. You are the greatest example to me of so many good things, and I love you!

Boom, Boom, Boom!

The same week we announced my pregnancy, my cousin, Heather called to tell me she was also expecting, and due just three weeks before me! Then late last week I learned that Misty, Heather's older sister is ALSO pregnant, and just two days behind Heather! So we've got one baby due October 21st, another due October 23rd and last but not least, November 14th! My 91-year-old grandmother is beside herself with excitement! Three great grand babies coming within three weeks of each other! Talk about boom, boom, boom!

Congrats to Scott and Heather and John and Misty! We are thrilled for you all, and can hardly wait to line the little munchkins up on the couch for pictures!

Play date and first haircut

Today was quite a busy day for Miss Chloe. First she spent a bit of the afternoon running wild at the park with her old friend, Addie, who moved to Arizona over a year ago, but came back to visit this week. Addie was born just three weeks after Chloe.

Then this evening Chloe had her first haircut! Okay, this was technically her second haircut, but only because she got a hold of the scissors back in January and snipped a few little wisps off the top of her head. I'll put it this way. Tonight Chloe had her first intentional haircut! And although you can hardly tell a difference, it DOES look more even and full in the back. Thanks again, Cindy!

Humorous moments of the past...

Neil worked at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) for a good chunk of his BYU days, including his senior year, which was our first year of marriage. I used to give him and his co-workers a hard time when I'd drop in and find them all gathered around a computer in their tiny office, watching You Tube videos. They were the tech. support department, so whenever there was a technical issue they were the ones to resolve it. They did their job, but it seems some of them had way too much time on their hands. These are two videos I remember seeing during various visits to see Neil. The first one is a Terry Tait clip - absolutely hilarious, I think, though some of you may find it obnoxious. The second video is an Indian car commercial - very creative. Neither is longer than a minute so check 'em out!

Random, I know, but I just thought it'd be fun to share some humorous moments from our past. Every time I see these I'm taken back to Fall 2002.

{be sure to scroll down and pause the music before playing these}

Recipe of the Week

Tonight I found the easiest and most yummy waffles recipe ever! Perhaps some of you like the more dense pancake like consistency, but these are far from heavy, which I can do! I usually struggle to choke down a whole waffle, but I had no trouble downing nearly two of these! Then again, I have a valid excuse for eating more than my husband these days. :) Anyway, found this on Recipezarr, and thought I'd pass it along. We had these for dinner with freshly homemade strawberry jam. YUM!!!

Quick and Easy Pancakes (or Waffles)

Ingredients:

1 large egg

5 t. sugar

1 1/3 cups milk

1 cup flour

3/4 t. baking powder

1 1/2 t. vegetable oil

Instructions:

In large bowl whisk together egg, sugar and half of milk (2/3 cup). Add flour and mix thoroughly. Then add remaining milk (2/3 cup) and baking powder. It should be the consistency of a thick cream. Add up to 1 1/2 t. vegetable oil, if desired. I added 1 t. and that was plenty to prevent sticking. Beat until smooth. Throw on the waffle iron, remove and enjoy! Made 3 good sized waffles, perfect for us.

Cinnamon Life coupon

Click here and follow the steps to print up to two $1.00 off coupons for Cinnamon Life Cereal. Albertsons often has Life on sale for $1.00 or $1.50, so you'll practically get it for NOTHING if you hang on to these coupons. They don't expire until the end of October so you're bound to find a good sale between now and then! Thanks, Dayna for telling me where to find these!

"What's this, Mommy?"

In an attempt to keep the middle of our week as exciting as the beginning of our week, I decided an afternoon of baking might be fun (by 3:00 it'd started snowing, so I was limited to indoor activities only). After filling the bread machine with dough ingredients, I whipped out my chocolate chip cookies recipe. To the left you can see Chloe patting the freshly kneaded dough. She first saw me doing it then demanded to finish the job herself.

This little girl of mine is so busy, so easily entertained (by the simplest and stupidest things), so determined to be a part of everything, and oh so independent! It was quite entertaining (and, I'll admit, a little frustrating too at times) having her around yesterday. Here's how one of our conversations went:

Chloe: (rummaging through a kitchen drawer) What's this, Mommy?

Me: That's a baster!

Chloe: Oh, a baster?

Mom: Yep, a baster.

Chloe: Ohhh, okay! (as if knowing the name of the object really meant anything since she still hadn't a clue what its purpose was)

...2.5 seconds later...

Chloe: What's this, Mommy? (holding up yet another object from the drawer)

Me: That's a can opener!

Chloe: Oh, a can opener! (after examining it closely, she placed it back in the drawer)

...3 seconds later...

Chloe: What's this, Mom?

Me: That's a mixing cup!

Chloe: What's this? (holding up the mixing cup again)

Me: I just told you, it's a mixing cup!

Chloe: Oh, a mixing cup? (seeming astonished, as if she'd never seen anything so incredible in her entire life. Just then she spotted the cookie dough in the bowl I'd been mixing together)

Chloe: Let me have that!!!

Me: I'm sorry, but that is not how we ask for something. Try again.

Chloe: May please have that? (hands clasped behind her back, as if that was going to help her chances)

Me: That's better (spooning up a small bite of cookie dough for her)

...about 40 seconds passed before she was asking for more... then as soon as she realized she wasn't getting more until the cookies were baked she decided she needed to go potty and raced off.

The constant questions sometimes get on my nerves, but then when I reflect back on a day like the one we had yesterday, I just have to smile at how lucky I am to have a daughter who asks questions and who wants so much to learn all there is to know!

And a bit off the subject, here is proof that Colorado weather is retarded! Only 24 hours prior to this picture being taken, Chloe was splashin' around in this very pool, enjoying temperatures in the high 70s! Insane...

Oh, and despite the length of time it took to get everything made, the cookies and dinner rolls turned out great! Thanks for your "help", Chloebug!

Splish Splash

The last two days have been absolute heaven outside! Temperatures in the mid 70s, sun shining bright, and finally the real Spring feel in the air! Chloe and I ventured to the park for lunch on Monday, enjoyed the company of friends, then came home and broke in her purple swimming pool, which we bought at the end of last summer. She had a blast splashin' around and I had a blast soakin' in the sun on the driveway (and getting an occasional splash or two). It's amazing what a difference a warm day can make to your mood. I haven't felt so lively in months! Here are some fun pictures of my little water girl havin' the time of her life!

Today it is in the 50s and the weather reports are predicting snow this evening. Chloe keeps saying, "Let me play in the swimming!", and I keep trying to explain that it's too chilly to swim today unless she wants to do it in the tub! I am keeping my fingers crossed that the rumors of more good weather this weekend are not just rumors!

Then and now

This picture was taken when I was 13 weeks pregnant with Chloe.

And these pictures were taken tonight. I am 9 weeks...and the same size.

I will enjoy this belly a lot more when I'm not constantly feeling as though I could lose its contents at any second. Only a few weeks to go, I hope!

Baby Love

Today we had the privilege of witnessing our baby's little itty beating heart. It took a couple seconds for the ultrasound technician to find it, (which felt more like a couple minutes to me), but once she spotted it, it was clear as could be! According to the two ultrasounds I've had so far, the baby is measuring two days ahead of schedule, which would put my due date at November 14th. Either way, all is well! Sigh...

(Sorry the picture is grainy and light. My scanner isn't the greatest.)

99 Balloons

My cousin, Britt, emailed this to me. I was touched, not only as a mother but as a woman. I hope you will be too. Be sure your volume is turned up. Grab the tissues too...you just may need them.

http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons

Recipe of the Week

These were sounding really good to me earlier this week, so I decided to make them today! They are considered an appetizer, but they also make a great meal over white rice (which is how we'll be eating them tonight). I used to take these to Neil's office potlucks and they were always a hit. They are easy and, quite frankly, the best cocktail meatballs I've ever tasted. Enjoy.

Barbecued Cocktail Meatballs

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
2 lbs. ground beef
1/3 c. ketchup
3 T. seasoned dry bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 T. dried minced onion
3/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. black pepper
1/4 t. salt

Sauce:
1 c. ketchup
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 6oz. can tomato paste
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. cider vinegar
1 t. hot pepper sauce (to taste)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl combine meatball ingredients. Mix thoroughly with hands or wooden spoon. Shape into 1-inch meatballs.
Place meatballs in two 15x10-inch jelly-roll pans or shallow roasting pans. Bake 20 minutes, or until meatballs are nicely browned. Transfer meatballs to slow cooker.
In another large bowl combine sauce ingredients. Mix and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on LOW 4-5 hours. Serve with toothpicks or over white rice.
Makes about 2 dozen meatballs. YUM!!!

A Belated Easter

Despite my procrastination in getting these posted, we did celebrate Easter this year!

Ha!

And I thought bowling was the only thing I was capable of beating Neil at!

My score:

90 words

Speed test

Neil's score:

54 words

Speed test

Free Potty Training Success DVD

Found this on Freebies 4 Mom. Click here to get a FREE Potty Training DVD, courtesy of Pull-Ups!