You know those days that are just going to be great from the get go? I think I'm having one of those days. Lexi is still asleep, I ate granola for breakfast, and I feel so grateful for the life I have. Allow me to tell you 8 reasons (day 8 of Nov.) why.
1. Lexi: She will probably be at the top of almost all of my grateful lists. I'm g;lad she's small enough to still hold, I'm glad she likes to sing, I'm glad she loves to help any sad person or animal feel better, and I'm glad I get to be her mom. I used to think the quote (generally) saying, "Having a child is deciding to have your heart go walking outside your body was puke inducing. I get it now.
2. Dan: I think I can just say one word and move on. Self-less
3. Prayer: You have uplifting, therapeutic, life-changing experiences wherever you are. I love how the Holy Ghost can be my constant companion. This year has been sad and frustrating in so many ways, but I wouldn't change it for the humbling spiritual experiences I've had. I get emotional just writing (but I get emotional pretty easily these days).
4.The Gospel: See #3.
5. Friends: I was so reluctant to move here. I just knew I'd hate it here and these backwoods hicks (they're not). But I have made some of the best friendships here. Beth, you saved me from death by boredom this summer and I'm glad we can act like maniacs in public "late" at night.
6. My parents: I probably talk to my mom waaaay too much, but I just love it. My parents are helpful, supportive, spiritually uplifting, kind and the greatest examples. Every once in a while I realize how similar we are and that no longer bothers me like it did in h.s.
7. Forgiveness: Man, have I been slacking in almost every department these days. The house is a wreck, Lexi is ignored, I look like scuzz and I usually fall asleep reading my scriptures. Thankfully, Dan and Lexi are so forgiving. Phew.
8. Baby #2: Although I'm nervous I'll stink at this "mother of 2" bidness I'm excited to have a little boy around the house. Now if he would just get here.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Halloween 1
Dan was so proud of his pumpkin that he carved that he made me post tonight even though we haven't finished our Halloween festivities.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Hold tight, Whole time
We've started going to the park every morning (and most nights), which Lexi loves. She's even brave enough for the big girl swing. This means she's fallen off a few times when she let go so I have to remind her to hold tight the whole time. One morning she asked if she could swing then told me she would "hold tight, whole time." Besides thinking it was cute I thought of the gospel. Specifically the iron rod. I'll let you think of all the analogies between swinging on the big girl swing, holding tight the whole time and falling off. But just remember this week to "hold tight, whole time." That way you won't fall off!
Also, Dan's parents came to visit (I'm afraid we were boring) and Lexi turned 2! It's a good thing I've always thought 2 year old were stinkin' adorable because dealing with the terrible 2s is no picnic. Seriously, does she need to say no so much? I don't think so. And here are some pictures of our recent happenings.
The proper way to eat a watermelon.
Playing in the rain with Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa.
Look what Grandma and Grandpa got me! She loves all of her girly stuff. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!
The only kind of smile we can get out of her right now.
About to sing "happy birthday". Someone is a little excited.
She tried to blow out her cake instead of the candles. It took her a couple tries to get close enough to the scary fire to blow it out.
Shoes of choice lately.
Also, Dan's parents came to visit (I'm afraid we were boring) and Lexi turned 2! It's a good thing I've always thought 2 year old were stinkin' adorable because dealing with the terrible 2s is no picnic. Seriously, does she need to say no so much? I don't think so. And here are some pictures of our recent happenings.
The proper way to eat a watermelon.
Playing in the rain with Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa.
Look what Grandma and Grandpa got me! She loves all of her girly stuff. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!
The only kind of smile we can get out of her right now.
About to sing "happy birthday". Someone is a little excited.
She tried to blow out her cake instead of the candles. It took her a couple tries to get close enough to the scary fire to blow it out.
Shoes of choice lately.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Questions
Okay now that this bun is in the oven I have a few questions for you:
1. What are you doing/did you do to help your toddler cope with the change.
2. To double stroller or not to double stroller? Which brand is best?
3. What pump have you loved? Mine done broke.
4. What alternatives are you using instead of CIO (Cry-It-Out: getting waaaaaay ahead of myself here, I know). Also, where are you getting awesome research showing CIO is no good (I'm a lazy woman)?
5. I'm not sure if I know anyone who doesn't do vaccinations, but if you don't or you do partial vaccination, can you point me in the right direction for research showing it's better? I have absolutely no interest in not vaccinating my child I just want to know the scientifically proven reason why someone doesn't (curiousity?)
6. Why, oh why, do I think I can handle no sleep again?
1. What are you doing/did you do to help your toddler cope with the change.
2. To double stroller or not to double stroller? Which brand is best?
3. What pump have you loved? Mine done broke.
4. What alternatives are you using instead of CIO (Cry-It-Out: getting waaaaaay ahead of myself here, I know). Also, where are you getting awesome research showing CIO is no good (I'm a lazy woman)?
5. I'm not sure if I know anyone who doesn't do vaccinations, but if you don't or you do partial vaccination, can you point me in the right direction for research showing it's better? I have absolutely no interest in not vaccinating my child I just want to know the scientifically proven reason why someone doesn't (curiousity?)
6. Why, oh why, do I think I can handle no sleep again?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Give her an inch and she'll take a mile
I've been trying to find fun things for Lexi to do this summer. We've both been a bit bored trying to adjust to small town life without a car. Here are a few activities we've done.
Sidewalk paint: cornstarch, water, food coloring...
Which leads to buckets of water (to clean the paint)...
Which leads to... shaving cream?..
Which leads to shaving cream on her legs...
which leads to shaving cream on her head...
Which leads to a bath and a mom determined to do a less messy activity. It didn't work...
Which leads back to painting bodies instead of paper...
Which leads us indoors to play mess free with baking soda and vinegar.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Did I tell you...
I found the PERFECT chocolate chip cookie recipe that I have been searching for my whole life? It turns out the perfect cookie is harder to find then the perfect man.
These cookies aren't too cakey or flat. They taste great (minus the dough, for some reason), cook beautifully, and are difficult to give away. I know because I made these cookies with every intention of giving them away, which I didn't. You've probably seen the recipe...but here it is....
Chocolate Chip Cookies (modified slightly from the New York Times)
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt (I used kosher salt)
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into chunks
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, grated (I didn't like the flavor of this so leave it out)
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (I put 1/2 of this in)
sea salt
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Stir all chocolate into dough using a wooden spoon. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. The original recipe recommends using 3 1/2 ounces of dough per cookie and baking six cookies per baking sheet, but I thought that made for an entirely too large cookie. So I dropped the dough by tablespoonfuls on to the prepared cookie sheet, then sprinkled lightly with sea salt and baked until golden brown, but still soft, 10-12 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 3-4 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.
These cookies aren't too cakey or flat. They taste great (minus the dough, for some reason), cook beautifully, and are difficult to give away. I know because I made these cookies with every intention of giving them away, which I didn't. You've probably seen the recipe...but here it is....
Chocolate Chip Cookies (modified slightly from the New York Times)
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt (I used kosher salt)
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into chunks
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, grated (I didn't like the flavor of this so leave it out)
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (I put 1/2 of this in)
sea salt
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Stir all chocolate into dough using a wooden spoon. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. The original recipe recommends using 3 1/2 ounces of dough per cookie and baking six cookies per baking sheet, but I thought that made for an entirely too large cookie. So I dropped the dough by tablespoonfuls on to the prepared cookie sheet, then sprinkled lightly with sea salt and baked until golden brown, but still soft, 10-12 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 3-4 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)