Love My Kiddos

I am really trying to take President Monson's talk about enjoying the journey to heart, and enjoy the stage I am at in my life right now with my kids. I think those of us with small kids (especially close in age!) can get so overwhelmed (I hope I'm not the only one!), that it becomes so hard to stop and appreciate this phase that your kids are in - which does go by so fast! I was at the store the other day and Ella had taken a pen and drawn all over her arms, legs and face earlier that day, and a lady stopped me to laugh at how funny she looked. (Yeah, I took her to the store like that without washing it off...I was super tired.) I said something like "yeah, she drew all over my sheets too (because she did!)," and the lady said "oh honey, please don't wish her age away, because before you know it she will be gone and you will wish so bad you had these days again with her." It was just kind of weird that she said that to me because that is exactly how I have been feeling lately. Anyway, between her and Pres. Monson's talk, it has really been a great reminder for me to enjoy my kids right now - and not worry so much about having a clean house and other little things that I can obsess about, but really don't matter.

I swear her hair really is growing like crazy, but for some reason it looks irridescent in picures and makes her look kind of creepy:)

This little guy makes me happy. He has been such a blessing for our family - he is so good and so happy..... maybe I want the rest of our future kids to be boys:)

Showing mom that she can be nice to brother. We struggle some days.

Matt Jr.

She was so proud that she did this all by herself! She is so crazy and funny - I am constantly asking myself where she comes up with the funny things she says and does. She just talks like a little adult now, constantly and 24/7....you can't get her to shut up! The other day she kept telling me, "mommy I'm so ornery." I don't even know if she knows what that means, but she was right, she was very ornery.

By the way, have I said I hate my camera? Does anyone have suggestions for a good camera that doesn't cost $500? I'm dying - I want to chuck it off a cliff daily!

I Love Fall!

I love the fall - everything about it makes me happy. I wish it lasted longer, but since it doesn't, we have been trying to get out and take advantage of it before its winter. We went up the canyon the other day and went on a little hike. It was so pretty, the leaves, the view, the sunset. I absolutely love it.

This is our attempt at getting a family picture. I don't know if you can tell, but she is screaming at me. Seriously, I think she is the hardest toddler on earth to get to look and smile. We are getting our family pictures done in a couple weeks and I'm afraid we're doomed!

Blessing

We blessed Gage yesterday, and were able to have all of our family come and be with us for the day. Gage was so good, he just slept throug his whole party. Here are some pictures of the day, not too many though, I'm trying to get better at picture taking, but I hate my camera.

This isn't a very good picture, but of course is the only one we got.

Little Miss Attitude

We love our little Gagers!

TAG

A- Attached or single: Attached!
B- Best friend: Matt and my mom
C- Cake or pie: Cake (preferably BTS cake!)
D- Day: Saturday
E- Essential Item: computer
F- Favorite Color: lately I'm really liking purple but I also love pink too!
G- Gummi bears or worms: worms
H- Home town: Brigham City (Perry to be exact)
I- Indulgences: oreos and fries with fry sauce
J- January or July: definitely July!
K- Kids: Ella and Gage
L- Life is incomplete without: of course my family, but I want to be selfish and also say shopping:) (I can't help it, it is my happy place!)
M- Marriage date: October 24, 2003
N- Number of siblings: 5, 3 sisters and 2 brothers
O- Oranges of Apples: apples (with salt!)
P- Phobias or Fears: losing someone in my family; the scary things that are out there that my kids are going to have to face
Q- Quote: just like Brandee, "this too shall pass" - my dad ALWAYS says this to me, even to this day. But I love it because it is true.
R- Reason to smile: I have 2 beautiful and healthy kids and an awesome husband who treats me way too good
S- Season: Fall and Spring - winter is too cold and summer too hot. I love the mildness of both seasons
T- Tag 3: Anyone who wants to!
U- Unknown fact about me: I love, love, love Project Runway - I secretly wish I was a fashion designer!
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of animals: Not sure:)
W- Worst habit: Definitely spending money. I try so hard to stick within our budget, poor Matt is so patient with me!
X- Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds - so awesome to see your little baby on that screen - I always looked so forward to them
Y- Your favorite food: lately its been bagel sandwiches
Z- Zodiac sign: Capricorn

This is for you Brandee! (and anyone else who loves Cafe Rio)

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
4 lbs. pork roast 4 tsp cumin
5 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce 4 cups Dr. Pepper
3 cloves garlic, chopped 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups brown sugar Pepper to taste
4 tbsp molasses

Cook in crockpot on high 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Shred meat an hour or two before finished and then let finish cooking in sauce. It makes a ton, so half if not making for huge crowd.

Cafe Rio Lime Rice
2 tbsp butter 1 lg. lime
1 1/4 cups uncooked rice 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
2 1/4 cups chicken broth 1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp salt

In a skillet melt butter with rice, add liquid and other ingredients, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Cafe Rio Dressing
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
16 oz jar La Victoria green salsa (mild)
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix (I use western family)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 cup sugar

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. This makes a lot of sauce, half the recipe is more than plenty for our family.

The Baby Whisperer and other things

This book here has been my saving grace! It has saved my sanity and given me back my sleep! Gage was such a bad sleeper at night - he would wake up in the middle of the night and would be awake for 3-4 hours at a time, or he would literally be up every hour! It was killing me, and I was desperate for anything, so my neighbor let me borrow this from her, and it has honestly made a world of difference. He now only wakes up once at night and sleeps in until 9. There are some things in it that I don't completly agree with, but you just kind of figure out how rigid you want to be with it. Anyway, I had to blog about it because I am so excited not to be such a zombie all day. If there are any moms out there with newborns, and are dying for sleep, it can't hurt to read it!

On another note, Gage is growing and getting so chubby and cute! He is already over 11 pounds, I can't believe how fast they change.

Is this a weird picture? I know, but I love his little chubby legs. They were so skinny when he was born, we thought he would just have Matt legs, but they are chunking right up!

I was trying to get a picture of Ella and her hair (we can actually put barettes in it now!), but this was all she would give me! She is impossible to get a good picture of

My sweet little family (well, I guess this is a cute picture of Ella, probably the one and only I have right now!)

Update

It's crazy to me that Gage is already 3 weeks old - he has changed so much over these past weeks, and we are finally adjusting to life with a newborn and a toddler. Ella is doing so much better than I ever thought she would - occasionally she runs over to him and smacks him on the head, but I figure if thats the worst, I'm okay with that! Mostly she will just walk over to him and say "hi baby" and then go on her way playing again. Gage is such a good baby and I just can't get enough of him. I kept having mini panic attacks every time he would get fussy, thinking it was going to turn into colic like it did with Ella, but so far, he is still so content (thank goodness - I don't think I can handle that dang colic again) Here are some random pictures of the past few weeks - so glad by the way that I am no longer pregnant! I finally feel like I can breathe again!

Ella thinks that all the babies things are hers now - she tries to get in his carseat and swing too - she's small, but not that small!

The poor little guy had jaundice and had to be under these stupid lights for a couple days - so glad that is over!