Christmas Stocking #4

As usual, everything "extra" in life is pushed aside when I am finishing a stocking before Christmas. My stocking is finished and actually hung up over the fireplace this year!

It is called "Christmas Cookies"

Yay! I am all caught up. And I love them! Okay I really do have favorites, but I don't need to share.

Have you ever thought about your family having personalized stockings... and don't want to do the work? I saw a lady selling them finished on Etsy! If you do have a desire to do them yourself, this is my favorite site to purchase the kits.

I Love Giveaways!

So my amazing friend Jessica and her family have an outdoor adventure blog. They share great tips on how to take your kids on adventures in the outdoors with you and your spouse! They always have amazing videos and great pictures to share. In preparing for Christmas they are doing the 12 days of Outdoor Christmas and giving away FREE stuff for your family for the next 12 days! Today starts with something we always enjoyed as a kid... go on over and check it out. They choose a winner totally random so go take a look.

You won't be disappointed!

Touch Screen Computer

Aaron started to reformat our laptop computer this last weekend. It is up and running, but still needs some work. I realized that my computer (the one that hasn't been touched in over a year) is more than 7 years old and.. well just dead. Pointless. It is just sitting on a desk in our den- purely for looks now. Caroline goes in there and pretends that she has to type some stuff up before she can do anything else. SO I guess it has turned into a toy.

I have been stalking this sweet girl's sewing blog for a while now- well I guess I follow it so I might be considered a virtual friend. I have made some pretty cool stuff because of her. Katy at nobigdill has blogged about an awesome giveaway for an HP touch screen computer. Wouldn't it be cool if Caroline and Henry had a computer of thier own to play with? I am blogging about it to get a double chance at the lottery for winning this cool invention. Wish me luck!

Favorite snack

My new favorite snack:

Cottage cheese and Stacy's Pita Chips (you know the really big bag from Costco)

Yum

Caroline is 4!

My sweet Caroline is 4

The family birthday party. She requested chocolate cake.Opening her presentsThis card played music, can you tell?She got a MobiGo game player from her Grandma and Grandpa and some games from G&G and Aunt Sarah & Uncle Christian. It will be great for our trip, but Henry wishes he had one too!Grandmama personalized a princess bookFor the past few months Caroline has had an obsession with an old pink razor cell phone of mine. She does not leave it out of her sight! She even sleeps with it. And if she can't find it for 3 seconds, she will burst into tears. It is quite ridiculous, but maybe better than a stuffed animal or blanket!

I made the bag too big for her 4 year old body, but I liked how it turned out.

Thanks for the potato sacks Jill, I knew they would come in handy!

I can't take the credit of this idea, I got it from the Family Fun magazine.

She is definitely a leader. Being so little with the graces not quite there, it can be percieved as bossy. She is a good big sister to Henry. Loves her phone. Wants pasta, spagehetti or mac and cheese for dinner. Loves to go play at Aunt Sarah's. Wants to wear skirts all of the time. Writes her name really well. And wants her hair crimpy almost everyday.

Happy Birthday sweet girl.

Hot, sizziling, burning, on fire

That is exactly how my hands felt for 3 hours.

Last week, we made a trip to Miller Farms. We always have an awesome time, no matter the weather conditions! I brought home bags of sweet corn on the cob, popcorn, peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, green beans, a few beets, onions and potatoes- all for 12 dollars! I spent 4 days cleaning, peeling, chucking, chopping and blanching to put them in the freezer. We had corn on the cob days in a row, carrot cake and just yummy fresh meals.

On Saturday night, I decided to pick one of each color of peppers to mix with some onions. I honestly don't know the differences between any of the peppers I got. I just chopped, seeded and cooked. With in just a few minutes is when I started to feel the burn. Half of my right hand and a few fingertips on the left hand were red, puffy and burning.

We looked on the Internet for different remedies; I washed my hands, put them in baking soda, flour, under cold water, I held frozen vegetables, put my hands in Clorox, rubbing alcohol, covered them with Vaseline and took Advil. Nothing helped the burning sensation disappear. The only thing that helped was cold running water. Two hours later I called my Mom in tears and asked what to do. I took more pain medicine and called poison control. Poison Control lady, Tiffany, said to wash them with soapy water (ya, did that) and then explained to me that the oils from the peppers were in my skin and I needed to extract that oil with a different oil. She suggested vegetable oil or olive oil. And if that didn't work, to buy liquid Maalox. Since I had vegetable oil in my pantry- I decided to 'wash' my hands in it several times. The pain subsided. About 20 minutes later I fell asleep- I'm sure due to exhaustion. Half an hour later I woke up with absolutely no sign that the last 3 hours existed.

Yeah, I know I have heard and read to never cut hot peppers without gloves, but it never bothered me before. I still have the peppers on my kitchen counter- waiting for me to buy gloves from the store. I plan on making pre-made fajita packs with them and the onions. We'll see. Cutting peppers I think will frighten me forever now.

I'm a Mormon

Check it out.... www.mormon.org

Thanks to Caroline for taking my picture

Hi, I'm Katie
I am a wife to a hard working husband. A Mom to 2 beautiful children. I love to to eat. I love to sew. I'm a Mormon.

About Me
I was raised in California. My parents divorced in between my freshman and sophomore year of High School. Both of my parents chose to get married with-in the next year. I lived with my grandparents for a while, and then moved in with my mom and step-dad. I got married to a loyal man. I finished college and started teaching at an elementary school. I am now a stay at home mom with 2 young kiddos. My sweet husband works his life away to support our life experiences. I love my kids and family so much! I wish I could live closer to my my brothers and sisters. I love to try new recipes. I like to wear loud, yet subtle tights. I like to sew, but my true obsession is to hand stitch. Together as a family we like to watch movies and eat ice cream.
Why I am a Mormon
Even though I have had a broken family, I have had wonderful additions to my pieced togther family. I love my family so much (immediate and extended) and can't seem to live without them. I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families and that my family can be together forever- even after this life.I have felt God's love and his spirit testify to me at different times in my life that He lives. That there is a purpose to this life. That through Him I can experience peace and joy no matter what trial is placed in front of me. Knowing that has encouraged me to keep His commandments and trust in Him. And from keeping His commandments I know that it has made me a happy individual.
How I live my faith
I try to be like my Savior, Jesus Christ. I try and teach my children to trust in Him. We say our prayers in my house. We read the scriptures every night. We talk of Christ. We have Faith. We fast regularly. We pay tithes and offerings. We speak kind words. We hug each other. We go to church weekly. My husband and I encourage our children to know scripture stories. We spend at least one evening together a week together talking about spiritual and temporal matters. In my house we try and serve others; members of our own family, church friends and our neighbors. We visit the elderly. We shovel snow off of people's driveways. We bake treats for others. We try to have the light of Christ be shown in our countenances, because we love Him.

Problem Solved

Maybe, if I just eat out 3 meals a day, I wouldn't have to clean my kitchen 3 times a day!

Butterfly Pavillion

Grandma Watts took the kids and I to the Butterfly Pavilion! They loved it and their souvenirs!

A wonderful experience to see all of the butterflies! Caroline wore a flower in her hair hoping that a butterfly would land on it. No such luck. She was sad, until one went on her shirt then she was okay after that! And a brave Caroline, letting a tarantula spider walk on her hand!

8 years and 1 day

This last month and a half have been quite eventful for us-as well as members of our extended family. Moments in time like this you can't help but reflect on what life is really about. How precious it can really be. That relationships do matter. Death in the family really does that to you, too.
I don't know why I have had to have tooth number 4 and 5 pulled (besides the 4 wisdom teeth) in the last 10 years, but I guess that is for some reason too.
I am grateful for a husband that LOVES me and his two darling kiddos. I am grateful for his belief in Christ. I am so thankful for the knowledge we both share of Heavenly Father's eternal plan and that right now, we are only taking part of a glimpse of it here on Earth. I am grateful for his support in what I want to do and become. I am grateful for his willingness to provide for our family. I love him for who he was, is and what we can become together through it all, thick and thin.
I love you, Aaron. Happy Anniversary.

Adjusting

Life has taken a new turn in our everyday, usual routine- since we packed up, moved out, moved in and unpacked (mostly). We are excited to be in our new home, new neighborhood, new community, new city, new ward and a new chapter in our life.

Since we took the front off of Henry's crib, naps seem to be the hardest. We took the front of Caroline's even earlier (16 months) and she adjusted well. Henry seems to want to play a lot more. How can I get upset when everytime I see him supposed to be sleeping he has a book in his hand? He found his way to Carolines room today. He seems to love the sticker book. He also loves toothbrushes, phones and stuffed animals.

Bribed: Didn't work.

Yesterday at church, I had to go up with her on the stand and she was attached at the leg like Velcro and then when we got up there- her head was in my lap the entire time! No singing for Dad this year. I was going to sign her up for a summer sing and dance class, but I decided I didn't want to waste the money. I don't even know if she would have gone to the class! Oh my shy girl, but the story is told in my family how I was too shy to even ask the McDonald's guy for packets of ketchup! When I was a kid, I hated dance class, girl scouts and anything else that I didn't know anybody else. I wouldn't consider myself a shy person now. I wonder when she will grow out of it.

Bribed

When your own child bribes you with her own (easter) candy to do something (to put Henry's shoes on), it makes me wonder what kind of values I am teaching her. Yet, I just found out that she has been bribed to sing in church for Father's Day tomorrow (the last 2 opportunities for her to go on the stand she has refused.) I'll let you know if it happens.

Another Cleaner

As most of you know, my sweet Caroline is pretty good at cleaning up. Thinking of her starting her own load of laundry still makes me laugh.

Well, we have another child very similar to her! Sweet Henry is almost obsessed with the broom. The first time I really remember it was when I was ironing in the laundry room; Henry found some snacks in my purse and started to eat them. A few minutes later I heard him go in the pantry, get the broom behind the door, come out and sweep up the mess!

He also insisted on using the garage broom today- almost pulled the nail out of the wall that it was hanging to, just because he wanted it down so bad.

Henry also gets a towel to wipe up messes he has created on the floor. Of course cleans up the table with a napkin, or wipes his face. And one of his favorite things to do is to get out the vacuum and vacuum with me or when he sees the need.But what made me just love him even more, was when I came downstairs with the shoes I was going to wear today and I threw them next to the door of the laundry room and was about to head to the kitchen to make breakfast, when I noticed Henry go and pick up my shoes, walk the 2 steps into my laundry room and put them with the rest of the shoes. He sure told me! So sweet. Love him!
P.S. Made 64 dollars on Day 2 of the garage sale. And listed the big items on Craigs List that didn't sell and so far I have made 40 bucks! The rest went to good will.

117 Dollars!

That is what we made today from our garage sale!

It was a neighborhood garage sale, so the advertising was taken care of. Plus, my neighbor across the street was doing it too! That helped people come down the cul-de-sac!

This sweet kid was exhausted from it all. This is how he fell asleep after we cleaned up! He was so sad I closed the garage. In his other hand is the dog our neighbor gave to us for free from her sale (he wouldn't leave it without screaming.)

Out again tomorrow! Hopefully we continue to have a little luck!

My Job

I was given a job this week: I am to find a Refridgerator/freezer that I like. To match the other appliances in our soon to be home (if all continues to go well) it needs to be stainless. I want the biggest one there is, to fit everything! Wouldn't you? BUT! We realized we can't have the big one! Ours has to be counter depth. Which is smaller cubic feet in the fridge. If we get a bigger one then it will stick out too far in the walkway to the dining room. Bummer huh? And did you know that counter depth ones are even more expensive? Smaller and more expensive? Lame.
As hip as the freezer drawer on the bottom is these days, I prefer the look of the side by side fridge/freezer. I was pretty set on it, until Aaron made a VERY valid point. In a side by side you can't place a platter in it. It won't fit. That goes for a 9 x 13 pan too! Hmm, this makes it tricky! I can't keep looking online- it's just not the same as actually opening and closing the doors in the store.

I wonder.

Have you ever known someone that you just look at and wonder 'how do you do it?' The people that just amaze you, because they seem to accomplish so much and more! Do they have more hours in the day than I do? Then above all. They are truly a wonderful person. Friendly, wise and thoughtful. Then I wonder... what do I really do with my life?

Motivating, yet depressing all at the same time.

I am excited for a new chapter in my life.

When I was 17 I was given advice by a stranger sitting diagonally, back from me on an airplane. I don't even remember what he looked like, but I will never forget what he said to me: You can choose to be anyone you want to be. Now, I have heard these words before, but it seems to have stuck with me. I didn't use his advice that next year when I went to a different high school for my senior year. But I remember repeating it in my head as I made the long drive from home to my college apartments. Oh, how I loved that first year!

I am excited for a new chapter in my life.

I hope to be the person that I want to be....

If all continues to go well, we plan on moving at the end of the month! Until then, my life is engulfed with boxes and the swimming pool!

Pizza Recipe

A good find is always worth sharing!

My friend, Michelle gave me this pizza crust recipe and it is super tasty and easy that I had to share it! She said it has been passed down in her family, so I knew it would be good.

Pizza Crust
Makes enough for 2 jelly roll pans (13 x20)

2 Cups Milk
6 Tbsp Oil
1 tsp salt
2/3 C sugar
2 T yeast
About 5 Cups of Flour

Mix the milk, oil, salt and sugar in a microwavable bowl. Heat for 2 minutes in the microwave. Add the yeast and mix. Add the flour and knead it in until well mixed, if really sticky add some more flour, but it should be a little sticky. Let rise for 1 hour. Cut in half and roll out in 2 jelly roll pans. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for about 20- 25 minutes!

To mix up the usual pepperoni pizza night:

We love BBQ chicken pizza
(BBQ sauce-mozerella cheese-shredded chicken with BBQ sauce- pineapple-green peppers-red onion- topped with a little more cheese)

And we love Taco Pizza
(1 can of smashed black beans or refried beans- 1lb ground turkey or hamburger meat flavored taco seasoning- mexican blend of shredded cheese- then cook- out of oven add shredded lettuce- tomatoes- olives- avacado- corn-flavored salad topper chips- ranch dressing)

P.S. My Mother-in-Law gave me my favorite pizza sauce recipe:

Brick Oven Pizza Sauce
Makes enough for several large pizzas (I make it once and put several portions in individual ziplock bags and freeze them)


Mix the following:
3 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion salt
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. basil
1 tsp. salt

Back Seat Driver

Yesterday, on our way to church a light we have to go thru wasn't green so we turned right and went the other way instead. This is what came next:

Caroline: This isn't the way, Daddy.
Dad: Yes it is.
Caroline: No, it's not, Daddy. (In the whinning voice.)

A minute of silence as we continue on our way.

Then we make another turn.

Caroline: Dad, are you sure?
Dad: Yes, Caroline, I'm sure this is the right way. What do I have a back seat driver?

Caroline laughs and laughs. Then we all laughed.

What's for dinner?

3:15 in the afternoon (just about a daily occurence, but this is what she said today.)

Caroline: What are we going to eat for dinner, Mom?
Me: Have not thought that far, Caroline.
Caroline: We could have some pasta! Or some noodles.
Me: Yes, we could.
Caroline: Or we could have some different pasta. Or some different noodles. What do you think Mom? Which one?

We ended up doing just that. And we even had tri-color pasta tonight. She squealed in delight.

Chipmunk Henry

Easter was fun and magical. Just a fun video of Henry.

Perfect

When I tried on my wedding dress, I knew that it was perfect. My face lit up. I could feel my smile muscles working. I got butterflies thinking about the 'big' day. I had walked through a dozen of wedding dress shops. Probably tried on a hundred dresses. And I finally found it! The dress had no sleeves and was 3 times too big. I knew it had to go through same major alterations, yet at the same time I knew it had potential and therefore was perfect.

We have been looking for homes to live in for months now. We have been walking into homes for weeks. I just keep waiting for my 'perfect' home. The home that I know I could raise a family in for years and be happy. The home that I walk into and feel like it is home. The home that I see potential in.

I haven't found it yet. I'm beginning to lose hope.

General Conference

As General Conference is this weekend, I wanted to find some activities for Caroline that she could get involved. I looked all over online and it was kind of tricky to find something for my 3- year old. She can't write and color by numbers quite yet, but I was able to find something great for her as well as older kids!

http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7399

Download the packet for your child and print it out! Thought it was too great that I had to share!

I also found pictures online of the 1st presidency and the quorum of the 12 and put them in a word document. I printed 2 copies, cut them out and laminated them. Caroline and I have enjoyed playing memory with them. If you want the document, just leave a comment with your e-mail or e-mail me.

I LOVE...

• 
  
  Soft Scrumptious Cookies


• 
  
  Loud Tights


• To Bake


• To Sew, and to make it look like I bought it!


• To Sit in the Sun


• To try new Recipes


• To eat raw Cookie Dough


• To feel my smile muscles work


• A good friendship


• To sit cuddled on the couch with an over sized blanket and no noise.


• To talk on the phone


• To make lists


• To be Complimented


• Bread


• To go on Trips


• York Peppermint Patties and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Butterfingers


• To shop for Fabric


• Reading Cooking Magazines.. like they are a book


• To be Organized


• Feeling Peace and Joy


• Going to Library for Story time


• To Hand Stitch


• Fresh Herbs


• My Family and Friends (all inclusive)

What do you LOVE?

Henry's 1 year Picture

Happy Valentine's Day! This is my handsome son!

Oh... Stuff

Beautiful.

Why do I have a mental checklist that is running through my head ALL of the time? Things I want to do, things I need to do, things that I have to do. I never seem to have a finished list. Especially when Monday comes and it starts all over again. Sometimes the things I want to do, just come first. Aaron is still busy. We will check out for a while and then come to life when we get a chance. Until then, projects like this one... just might be first on my list.

Henry's Birthday Party

Sweet Michael and Jenny gave Henry a practice birthday party a few days before his birthday! It was so sweet and fun! I feel sad that I never ran downstairs to grab my camera.

These pictures are of the birthday party we celebrated at our place.

This is Henry giving me a smile before he opend Aunt Sarah's and Uncle Christian's gift.

A genuine smile, for thanks guys, I love my new car.
Wait, did that card from Grandma and Grandpa play Mickey Mouse Clubhouse music?

How sad, Henry's baseball cake turned out sideways. You don't get the whole effect, but it's okay. Don't look too close, I was fast.

What is on my plate?

And what would you like me to do with it?

Eat it? You're funny! I'm like my Dad, I'll eat ice cream instead.

Okay, I touched it and it is weird so I'll flick it on the floor for you to clean up later.

Okay Mom! This is really good!

Henry, not sure about the cake...

Balancing Act

So funny... until Caroline thinks it is not. You'll have to pause the music on this one!

Henry's 1st Birthday

Henry is One! I can't believe it! This time last year (3 weeks after he was born), I was in the hospital, again, with him. He was being treated for RSV and was on oxygen. We knew he would pull through.

A lot has happened since then. Henry is truly changed our family dynamics and it will never be as it once was with just Caroline. He has brought true joy and happiness into our home. Henry is SO sweet. He is darling and lovable. He is sensitive, soft and just yummy. He warms my heart with his wide mouth kisses, he makes me laugh when he gives me the cheesiest smile, and he makes me melt when he puts his head on his shoulder to say "I missed you, Mom." I am addicted to him.

Henry picks up the phone and blabs into it. He will pick up the remote crawl so he is front of the TV, aims and presses all the buttons and then waits for a reaction. He walks along furniture. He crawls up and down stairs. He eats everything. He climbs on whatever he cans and into whatever it might be. He puts his hand over his eyes and brow to show you that his feelings are hurt. He roars at us. He laughs hysterically with Caroline. He takes great naps. Makes car sounds while moving the car on the ground. He loves baths. And will just sit on my lap comfortably. I love him.

Portland

We enjoyed our time in Hawaii. I remembered how much my husband loves the beach and how we need to plan more vacations around the water. He seems to be truly happy there. We looked forward to Hawaii for so long and we are excited for the next big family trip in October/November.

A random shot at the Aquarium, our last day there.

From Hawaii, we made it to Portland and stayed with my brother Michael and his wife Jenny and their 2 sweet kids Avery and Logan. Aaron went back home to step right into busy season. It was so nice to see rain and be with family. I loved playing games. Eating yummy food (discovered potato rolls). And I enjoyed busting Jenny's new sewing machine out with her.

We went to the children's museum and the kids had a ball! It was huge and had a lot to do there! I wish I took a picture of the dump truck corner.

Kyle and Caloni's Wedding/Reception

I had to distract Henry from not crawling down the main aisle so we didn't get many pictures, but here are a few!

The neices/cousins as flower girls

Caroline was not as generous as throwing the petals out, but she was once she got to her seat and then when she had an empty basket she picked them all up.

Caloni and KyleOur family

And for those of you that have been asking for it.. here is the skirt...

And a closer shot (thanks to Caroline taking over the camera that night). It has been one of the most satisfying projects that I have finished.CarolineHenryCaroline taking a gorgeous picture of Grandmama As Michael and Jenny manuevered themselves, Caroline took an awesome shot of them!The reception was fun. We danced, laughed, ate great food (I can't stop thinking about the purple sweet potatoes, yum!) and we celebrated a happy couple's marriage. We are so happy to have Caloni apart of the family! Kisses!