Gentle Reminders

Sometimes after the kiddos and hubby are tucked sweetly into bed, I browse the Internet performing my 'research'. Google is usually my site of choice. I constantly have a never ending stream of questions in my head, and am happy that I can turn to my trusty computer and find answers in a flash.

Last night, water-birth was on the brain. (No, this is not a subtle announcement). We are not expecting. Not yet at least. A blogger that I enjoy reading just had a baby, and she choose to use a midwife and water birth to welcome her baby into the world. I have always been curious, but both of my pregnancies have come with a few medical problems, and home birth was never an option. I think it takes a brave woman to birth at home, but I really like the thought of laboring like my ancestors did; bringing a baby into the world naturally, in the comfort of your own home.

My research started with water-births (which is fascinating) to YouTube videos of water-births (ouch!) to lotus birthing (which is very interesting: it is when you leave the baby attached to the the placenta via the umbilical cord. You wait until the cord detaches; all the while carrying around a rotting placenta. I do not see the point of this, but ... to each his own!) Was that too much info? well, you learn something new everyday!

My research continued, and I noticed another video about a baby, so I clicked and it was a story of a still-birth. It was heartbreaking. Along with that video came others. Stories of women who lost their babies at 20 weeks, 26 weeks, 39 weeks. Each story heartbreaking. There are some things that happen to us in this life that we may never understand. I can't imagine that there is anything more devastating than losing a child.

I thought of my own two girls and how lucky I was to have given birth to them. Then i was able to wrap them up tight and bring them home. And now, I get to care for them. I am blessed to have the opportunity to teach, and love, and cuddle, and play with them. These videos served as a gentle reminder for me to take the time and cherish the moments that I have with my babies. I am so very thankful to be able to experience the joys of motherhood. It's not always easy, but I wouldn't trade one single second.

Filter PLEASE!

Do you want to know what is so wonderful about having a four year old who LOVES to talk... she tells the world all of your secrets- big and small, significant or otherwise- to all who will listen; strangers included. It is just grand to not have any privacy anymore. Can you sense the sarcasm?

I remember when I was little my younger sister had the same 'tongue slipping' problem. We were all terrified of what she was going to say, and my mom often stood next to her with a hand ready to cover the little mouth that never stopped. It appears this same problem has been passed down to my child. Hooray for me.

I should also add that I don't really have any dirty secrets to hide, but I don't like for people to know all of my business. Like... my house isn't always spotless, or I don't like to wear pants at home, or that my 'boobies are fun to poke'... so on and so forth. you get the idea. Let's just say that courtesy of my pre-schooler, strangers know a lot more about me than I wish they would. I find myself hoovering over Haley a lot, hand ready to cover her mouth before something terribly embarassing falls out. Well, hopefully.

How do you teach the difference between pure honesty and just saying a little too much?

Ah... the joys of parenthood!

Like a zombie...

...A cute one, that is.



Lately, Kaitlyn has become enchanted by Dora... you know, the explorer. She absolutely loves her, and will sit (and stand) right by the t.v. and watch her for as long as I will let her. I try my best to limit her exposure, but I won't lie... I don't mind the quiet sometimes!

I caught a picture of K watching Dora the other day. (It wasn't too hard- she doesn't budge an inch when it is on.) She's like a little zombie. You can try all you want to interrupt her, but she won't take her off the screen. Should I be impressed by her strong ability to pay attention? :/ Personally Dora's voice gets on my last nerves, but there are some days that I am downright grateful for her chalk-board scratching pitch!

Anywho- just wanted to share this cute picture of my chubby-cheeked girl. And, it showcases her new haircut nicely!

Wrinkled.

I think that each child SHOULD come into this world with a warning label. A brightly colored label with a bold font that says something to the tune of, 'no matter what you do, this child WILL cause your face to wrinkle! Enjoy!'

I was looking at my reflection in the mirror the other day, and wasn't too pleased to discover that I have my first official deep-set-not-going-away-anytime-soon wrinkle. It resides on my forehead. Front and center. It doesn't appear when I am smiling. No. It appears when I am making that, 'are you listening to mommy' face. Darn kids.

Oh well. I know it's not the first wrinkle that will be courtesy of my children. There will be lots more. Worry wrinkles, tired wrinkles, and lots and lots of happy wrinkles. Motherhood is a journey- that's for sure. Apparently my face is the road map! :)

Post Edit: As soon as I published this post, there was a side bar ad for the "top ten wrinkle creams of all time"- good to know I have the option of a good wrinkle cream someday- for now I will wear my little wrinkle with pride. :) Now gray hair... that will be a different story. Pass me the dye please!

Kindness Matters

Almost four years ago, my little Haley was born. She was tiny, and beautiful, and just a little bit different than most newborns. Haley was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Over the years, her lip has been made into one, her palate has been closed, tubes have been placed in her ears and her nose has been contoured more than once. Some people may notice her faint scars, but many don't. She is a beautiful little girl with big brown eyes that sparkle. She is intelligent, and creative and LOVES to talk. She is constantly talking... CONSTANTLY!

When Haley was first released from the hospital NICU, I was nervous to take her out into the public. I wanted to protect her, and I was afraid that people might make comments or stare. I had even bought a special carrier to conceal her little body- which I still feel ashamed for doing. Haley didn't let me use the carrier, in fact, she wanted nothing to do with it. She wanted to see the world, and in turn the world saw her. There were comments. Some people stared, some pointed. I expected that. What I didn't expect were the wonderful strangers who approached me to tell me just how beautiful my little baby was. For every naysayer, there seemed to be someone who could look past Haley's physical differences, and see a beautiful child of God. Their kindness made such a difference to me- these strangers will never know of the peace they gave to me.

Life has changed very much since those first few months before Haley's surgery. People no longer point or stare... but we still get approached quite often. Mostly by the senior citizens who want to tickle toes and get a toothy grins from the girls. Haley is always getting questions thrown her way- she answers, but often times the people (who always mean well) don't understand her. They usually turn to me... and I translate. This frustrates Haley tremendously.

Being born with a cleft palate has caused Haley's pronunciation to be unclear most of the time. This is a definite problem for a girl who would like nothing more than to talk your ear off! It makes me sad at times, because she has so many intelligent things to say, and she wants to say them. I try to keep in mind that her speech is a work in progress, and someday- hopefully soon- all will be able to understand her when she talks. She is progressing pretty well with her speech therapy, just not fast enough for that expanding mind of hers. :) I can't help but watch the frustration on her face when strangers question her.

But, just when I start to become frustrated myself, a kind stranger steps in...

Today while we were at the department store, I saw a lady watching Haley play with her little sister. From across the aisle she asked Haley a question about Kaitlyn. Haley gave one of her long winded answers. For once, the stranger didn't look at me for a translation. She repeated back exactly what Haley had said- word for word! I was absolutely amazed- that rarely happens for Haley. Haley's little face lit up (I'm certain mine did also) and the two of them continued to chat for a bit. The lady didn't stay for long, but she left long lasting smiles on both of our faces. It's amazing what a little bit of kindness can do to some one's day!

...............................................................................
And so, I have a little kindness challenge for you-

I know that it is human nature to be interested in people that are different. If you happen to find yourself staring, why not approach that person, and find out more about their situation. I know that I have always appreciated when people have asked me questions about Haley rather than staring or pointing. It is a great opportunity to educate, and be educated. If that is too much for you- at least smile at them! Your small act of kindness matters more than you may ever realize. Trust me!

Oh Canada!

The 2010 Olympic winter games have affected me in a very strange way.

Not only do I now want to become an Olympian snowboarder, but it seems I favor the Canadian pronunciation of the word 'out'. Tonight while chatting with my family I kept saying 'oot' instead of 'out'. My brain signaled that it had come out all wrong, but every time I would try again... oot just kept coming, well oot! We all had a little laugh, but if this silliness continues, I might have to pack my bags and head up north. :(

Over and oot!

Vegging Out.

I have been on a personal mission to get my family to eat more vegetables. This has been no easy task, and they haven't been too happy about my enthusiasm towards this matter- except the baby- she'll eat almost anything. After a few attempts of healthy eating, little complaints started rolling in. Complaints over vegetables- now isn't that silly? I decided it was time for me to get sneaky. For the last few weeks I have been mixing in all sorts of veggie goodness into meats and soups, salads and sweets - smiling with pride- feeling oh so creative... Shredded carrots and squash are well hidden in sauces. Peppers, spinach and celery are too! HA! They hadn't even noticed the added flavor until tonight. Tonight I got caught. I had just finished shredding a HUGE mound of carrots to mix into the ground turkey when I heard my husband in the kitchen. He questioned the orange stack. I confessed...

-H O W E V E R -
Dinner turned out really good. Even the naysayers thought so. I think it was all the extra vitamin A. Point for me!

I am going to keep on being sneaky. It is for a good cause after all...

Need some ideas for your own family? Keep on reading.

1.Homemade spaghetti sauce
While I am cooking the meat (we use ground turkey) I add in shredded carrots, zucchini, onions or peppers. They are hidden by the sauce and aren't easily detected. This idea also works really well in meatloaf too.

2.Breakfast scrambles My family loves scrambled eggs, so I take this opportunity to add in a little handful of extra vitamins. Onion, pepper, spinach and mushrooms can be diced small enough to not attract too much attention.

3. Soups
I like to make soups and stews, and I have found that I can add spinach and it will not be easily detected. Spinach shrinks in size when cooked, and I will often add a few handfuls of fresh spinach leaves to quite a few of our dinners.

4. Stirfrys.
I use stirfrys as an excuse to showcase my family's most tolerated vegetables. Works every time.

Blog Delivery!

Mom, Md.

Haley hurt herself tonight. She came to sit on my lap for comfort. I hugged her, kissed her cheek, and made it all better. I can make the pain go away... because I am her mommy.

Right now, it seems so easy to make her feel better. A hug will often do. Sometimes I worry about the future. Will it still be just as easy to make her pain go away? Will a hug be enough?

I hope it will be. I know that when my own heart is hurting, I often turn to my mother's arms for comfort. I don't know how or why it works, it just does. Everytime.

Three against one.

Sometimes I feel sorry for my husband because He is completely outnumbered amongst us girls. If he thinks it is bad now, I hate to tell him that the estrogen levels are just going to keep rising as the years go on. . . He is a pretty good sport about all of the girly-ness in his life. He tolerates our need for girl activities, plays along during pretend play time, babysits dolls, and even lets Haley "style" him every once in awhile. He doesn't know it, but his never ending patience with three very demanding girls makes me love him even more. Someday I hope that we are blessed with a son... so that Ezra can have a little escape from the frilly pink that lines our house on a daily basis.

* Photo- Ezra trying to take a nap while being "styled" with stickers.

Let love in.

Knowing that I am loved is the greatest feeling in the world!

Sometimes, I like to think about the people who love me, and it makes me feel stronger. Love makes me feel more capable; like I am part of a bigger plan- because I am.

Sometimes, just like everyone else, I have rough days. On those days, when I am thinking about the people who love me, my mind often wanders onto the love my Savior has for me. He loves me (and you) so much that He gave His life for me (and you too!). His love is the greatest of all love. His love brings me peace and comfort.

This children's song is one of my all time favorites. It makes me smile, and it reminds me of how much I am loved. Have a listen because you are just as loved!

And, Happy Valentines Day. Feel loved!

Who do you love?

I love this little lady!



Not only is she super cute AND cuddly, but she can scarf down a cupcake and rock a side ponytail like no-body's business!

Added bonus to this little cutie... If you ask really nicely while batting your eyelashes and puckering up, she'll plant one on you! A big-slobbery-mouth-wide-open-baby kiss. Mmmm Mmm Mm. My favorite kind :)

Kaitlyn is so much fun in every squiggly way, and she adores me as much as I adore her. And I ask you, who doesn't want to be adored? I do!

Love is all you need.

What a wonderful time of year to focus on those that you love. It's the month of LOVE, and I am taking the time to brag about some awesome people. . .

Next on my Valentine's list is Haley Allison. Haley is my hero.



Haley is a one-of-a-kind little girl. I'm not just saying that because she is my daughter; many people -relatives and strangers alike- have proclaimed this bit of information to me. There is just something extra special about her. She is smart, sweet and sassy and keeps me on my toes with her never ending inquisitive style of questioning. There is never a dull moment when Haley is around. I love her to bits and pieces, and she never misses an opportunity to tell me she loves me too. It melts my heart and makes me weak in the knees. Love really is all you need! ... after basic survival necessities of course ;)

Love is in the air.

The month of love is finally here and I'm as giddy as a little school girl! Ah February; full of red and pink, flowers, hearts and cupcakes, candy sweetness, piles of cardmaking supplies and shimmering glitter. My dream month of all things girly! (Oh, and it's my birthday month too!) Are you as excited as I am? I honestly have to contain myself, or you might just find me rolling around in piles of glitter. Weird, I know...

As a fun little project for February I am dedicating my blog posts (until Valentine's Day) to the people that I love. A shout out to my peeps! I call it my bLove bLog... Valentine cards, internet style!

Quick question: Does anyone actually pronounce the first r when they say FebRuary? Kudos to you if you can. I just sound super silly and tongue twisted when I try.

Moving along.

My first lovely dovey post goes to the man that makes me giddy everyday of the year- The one and only...

Mr. Ezra White




Ezra is the coolest person I have ever met, and I love that HE is my partner for life... and longer. He's a pretty awesome fella, and he keeps me on my toes. I am always surprised by his vast amount of knowledge; he is constantly teaching me new things, and never makes me feel silly for asking so many questions. He is extremely patient and very rarely loses his cool-which is great because I can be a hot headed woman at times. He is genuine in his love, and is a wonderful father and husband. He is sarcastic and witty- laughter has always been a big part of our relationship, and I love it! One of the things that I love most about Ezra is his knowledge of the scriptures, his ability to teach them so eloquently and his willingness to always share his testimony. It is one of the many reasons I fell in love with him (and because he is charmingly handsome). To top it all off, my mother thinks he is 'the perfect son-in-law'. What more could a girl ask for? I am a lucky, lucky woman...

That counts... right?!

I speak a very, VERY small amount of Spanish, but Ezra is fluent.

We have tried to teach Haley a little bit. She knows her numbers, colors, and some letters in Spanish.

I think knowing a second language is an important and helpful skill to have in life.

Imagine my motherly delight when I overheard Haley teaching her younger sister a second "language"...

Haley (holding a ball) says to Kaitlyn: "ba, ba, ba, ba, ball. That's how you say ball in Chinese!"

Hmmm.

Technically, I don't think that will qualify as a second language. Looks like we still have some work to do...


Actual Chinese word for ball: qíu (chee-o)

http://www.simple-chinese.com/learn-chinese/lesson-15/index.html

For the BIRTHDAY girl.

My sweet Katie-bug-sophie,

Happy HAPPY First Birthday! I cannot believe how fast our first year together has gone by. You are an incredible blessing in our lives, and I can't thank Heavenly Father enough for sending your sweet little spirit to our family. You are a delightful little girl, and you make me laugh daily. Your smile is contagious, your squishy cheeks are addicting and your baby giggles make me giggle with delight. You're simply the most lovliest little person I've ever met! Love, Mom.




The day we first met.

I write what I know.

I haven't posted in over a week. I'm a bad blogger, which I suppose is better than a bad booger? Say that ten times fast!

I have taken a little break from the world O' blog to reflect upon what I really want this writing space to be about. A little over a week ago, a good friend and fellow blogger wrote about her reasons for writing; and though my own reasons differ slightly from hers, it was very insightful and made me question my own reasons.(So thank you friend)

Here is what I have come up with:

1.) I find it both therapeutic AND exciting. It gives me a little time to myself... I just have to yell out, "Honey, I'm writing on my blog" and Ez will keep the girls entertained for a little while. I find it exciting in the sense that I don't know exactly who is reading and it pushes me a little more out of my comfort zone to share with others.

2.) To share my ideas on Motherhood. Everyday I am learning more and more about what it means to BE a Mother. I have been through some special experiences during my own adventure as a Mother that I know could benefit others, and I'd like to share.

3.) For those who don't know me. There are people in my life who don't know me as well as I would like. I have high hopes that through this blog, they might be able to learn more about who I REALLY am, and hopefully in turn, wonderful relationships will begin to blossom.

4.) For my girls. At the end of the year, I plan on turning this blog into a book- a journal of sorts about our lovely little life together. (Bloggers- did you know you can publish your blog? You CAN!)

5.) For my Mom. She has expressed -over and over- her love of reading my blog. She LOVES to read and gush over her grandgirls, so I write to keep her entertained.

6.) To be a better missionary. I have never been one to share my faith as much as I know I should. I've never felt I was brave enough, but I am slowly starting to learn that it is my RESPONSIBILITY to share the truths that I know with others.

7.) To reflect. This part is mostly for myself, but you are more than welcome to read.

8.) To share about my family. They are my heart. The very reason I am who I am. I am so proud of my Husband and my girls, and all that we have accomplished together, that I can't help but share. They are my reasons in all that I do.


So, there you go. My reasons for blogging. In case you have been wondering! ;)

And the list goes on...

I couldn't sleep tonight. At all. I think my baby has destroyed my sleep pattern, or maybe I just have too many thoughts on the brain. Either way there was no dreamland in sight for me, so I started my to-do list. Numero uno- scrub the girl's bathtub. (Isn't that what you do when you can't sleep?)I pulled out my scrubbing team: comet, scrubby sponge, *toothbrush. Then I got to work... As I was scrubbing all of the dirty nooks and crannies with my trusty toothbrush, I thought of my mom. After all, she is the one who taught me about this brilliant little cleaning tool. My mind started to drift off into memory-ville and I thought about all of the things she has taught me. How to pray, how to fold clothes, how to sew, how to love... the list goes forever on. I thought of the lessons that I need to teach my own girls; a seemingly never ending, eternal list. As mothers we try our best to teach our children all of the important lessons of life, and just when it starts to seem impossible,the Lord sends in His helpers.

I thought about all of the amazing women in my life -past and present- who have been a part of teaching me essential lessons, both life-long and eternal. There must be hundreds! Hundreds of wonderful women- some old, some young, some childless, some plentiful, some full of wisdom, some sad, some grieving, some joyful, some strong, some funny, some educated, some not - but all cherished helpers of our Heavenly Father. To these women, I am so very thankful for the lessons you have taught me. I will be forever grateful for your generous hearts, understanding ears, selfless ways, thoughtful minds, willingness to share and your unwavering desires to teach girls like me. My life is better because of you.

Thank you Shelia, Ardie, Laurie, Rebekah, Twyla, Jodi, Doris, Natalie, Kristi, Cinda, Christy, Sherri, Melissa, Aundrea, Tauna, Hannah, Molly, Kaylonnie, Cheri, Colleen, Katie, Sydney, Jennifer, Courtney, Wanda, Judy, Kerri, Stephenie, Wendy, Marie, Samantha, Liz, Amanda, Cory, Amie, Amy, Jen, Brittany, Christie, Summer, Jo, Kat...and the list goes on.

Knowing that these women (or women like them) are close at hand for my girls helps me feel much more able to handle the joyous and draining world of motherhood!

*I must stress that I only use this toothbrush for cleaning purposes. I have another for my pearly whites!

Point and click...

We like to have photo shoots... okay, okay I like to have photo shoots. Here are some pictures from our most recent shoot. I like to think I am doing my part to preserve history! (at least of my own family)

So long 2009!

Our new year's eve party had an awkward edge to it this year. We had a family full of sickies, my mom had had a major surgery earlier in the day, and my poor little family was very very tired. After visiting my mom at the hospital, I stopped at the store and picked up some party favors. We filled our glasses just minutes before the countdown began, and threw on our party hats. As hard as I tried, I just couldn't get myself in the right spirit to ring in the new year. I honestly think 2010 has seemed a little funky because I haven't let go of 2009 properly. To remedy this little problem I am posting my TOP TEN memories of 2009.

Here goes- (In NO particular order)

1. Kaitlyn Sophie's arrival into the world. It was truly love at first sight.

2. Celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary. It was my year to plan our day, so I took Ezra to some of our most special places. We played a round of golf at the place where we had our first *spark*, we danced at the place where we had our first date, and we said cheers and drank bubbly cider at the place where He asked me to marry him. It was a very sweet night.

3. Making it home in time to be with my family as we put our cat, Winston to sleep.

4. Introducing Haley to her little sister.

5. Ezra getting a new job just in time for me to lose mine. (just a tad still bitter of whole horrible experience, but it has been the BIGGEST blessing. The Lord really does know JUST what we need.)

6. Finding renewal and strength at the Time Out For Women with my Mom, Grandma, and Sister-in-law. It was such a beautiful and entertaining weekend.

7. Cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey innards are just as gross as they sound.

8. Family Camping! As crazy as it can be, I love it and will always go back for more.

9. Countless pretend snowball fights with Haley. If you've never experienced this, just ask her to play. She loves it, and it really is lots of fun.

10. Late night couch cuddles.


All in all, 2009 was just a wonderful year. I became a mother of two; one of the toughest adventures I have ever embarked upon, but it has truly been my greatest adventure. I spent a lot of time with loved ones, and fell more in love with my husband, my girls, and my family. Lots of laughs, lots of fun! Thanks 2009!

And now, pictures of the White Family ending the year with a small boom!


* I promise this is apple cider- the kid was in love with it!

Easy weeknight recipe...

How can you resist a warm, tasty, home cooked meal that needs only five ingredients, and has a cheap price tag? I know I can't!

For some reason (ahem... Ezra) we always have a large abundance of tortillas at our home. I came up with this recipe to conquer the last of the tortilla pile, and it ended up being quite tasty. Try it tonight if you dare!

I call it...(drum roll please)

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (original. I know)

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts (cooked)
12 white corn tortillas (cut in half)
1 can diced tomatoes (drained)
1 envelope enchilada seasoning
2 c. Colby jack cheese (shredded)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350. Place cooked chicken in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, move to separate bowl. Add tomatoes and package of enchilada seasoning to food processor, puree. Line round baking pan(greased) with abt. 8 corn tortillas. (Overlap if necessary). Spoon 1/3 sauce over corn tortillas followed by a layer of chicken (1/2) and cheese (1/3). Start process again. 8 Tortillas, sauce, chicken, cheese. The last layer should be 8 tortillas, sauce, cheese. If you like, you can top the dish off with some sliced green onions or sliced olives. Bake for 15-20 mins. We like to top off our enchiladas with a little sour cream and a side of black beans and lime. Enjoy!

My price-tag for this dish: $ 5.70

up, uP, UP and away!

A Kaitlyn UPdate:
The little one has learned a new word. UP! I have been trying to teach her to use it when she wants to be picked up, instead of her usual choice- screaming. She likes to use it for a variety of reasons. She'll lift both arms high above her head, roughly slam them down and sternly say 'up'. Sometimes it can be a little forceful, but I still think it's pretty darn cute!



UPright and Moving:
Just a few days after Christmas, Kaitlyn started to walk. She has been standing in place for months, but one day she decided to take her first steps. She has been on the move since, and is now attempting to carry things. She is one brave little chick-a-dee. There have been a few bumps and a few bruises, but we have all been very impressed with her cruising skills. Her big sister is especially proud. There is lots and lots of cheering and clapping going on at the White house. I think she just might have it down in time for her first birthday.



A cUP half full (of apple juice):
Kaitlyn Sophie has been introduced to the sippy cup. She tried it a few times with success, but there is a whole lot more shakin' going on than sippin'!We, her parents & wonderful pediatrician, have decided to wean her off of the bottle by birthday #1. She tends to be the queen of multiple ear infections; despite all attempts to make this pesky problem stop. Any who- she doesn't know that her beloved bottle will soon disappear, but I am hoping if we do it gradually she won't notice. Anyone have any tips for bottle weaning? Please share if you do!

*Disclaimer- Mom, Twyla and other dental professionals who may be reading- I assure you that the apple juice was a 60% water/40% juice mixture :)

The bug has been caught.

Darn flu bug! Haley started off the week with it- three days sick. Then Kaitlyn- two days sick. Now Ezra. I was hoping that I would be given immunity in return for taking such great care of my sick family, but tonight I started to feel the rumblings. It happens like this EVERY time. I think I need to write an angry letter to Mr. Flu. I don't appreciate his customer service skills, and I am definitely NOT happy with his product.

Sisterly Love

A few weeks after my fourth birthday, my parents gave me a sister. I'm positive that I did not ask for this new 'bundle of joy', but there she was in all of her pink glory. We fought most of our childhood; sometimes it was pretty brutal. I down right could not stand her, and I think she felt the same way about me. Oh sure there were times we got along, but if you ask my parents, I am thinking the cat-fights outweighed all others! This "relationship" continued for years, and I honestly can't pinpoint when it began to change, though I do recall that it seemed better the second I moved away from home! So, with that kind of lovely history, would you believe that she is my very best girl-friend of all time? It's true. Do I dare say it- she's my bestie! I like to think that it was heavenly intervention, or possibly the countless lectures we got from our Papa about how 'important it was to get along'. By the way- I hated those talks, but I loved my grandfather- so I stood there and shook my head yes.


A few weeks before Haley's third birthday, we gave her a sister. I'm positive she did not ask for this new 'bundle' of joy, but there Kaitlyn was in all of her pink glory. It has been almost a year since Kaitlyn was born and the little arguments over toys and space has already begun. Kaitlyn finds a toy, Haley takes the toy, Kaitlyn screams. Haley finds a toy, Kaitlyn tries to take it, Haley screams. I know the cycle all too well. Remember, I have been there before. This time though, I hope that I have the tools to combat the sister-fights, always keeping in mind that twenty years down the road they may just be the best of friends. Nothing would make this mom's heart happier.

Here swims the bride!

Tonight our fish, George married his new sweetheart, Lola. It was a lovely ceremony. The couple will be honeymooning on the kitchen counter until tomorrow morning, where they will then reside in Haley and Kaitlyn's circus bedroom.

Amen!

This past Sunday Haley left the snack and toy-filled world of nursery and joined the rank of a sunbeam in primary. It was very exciting for our family, and we spent part of saturday preparing for her great move. We practiced the sunbeam song, how she should behave in class, and how to get ready for the prayer. She was ecstatic and had a wonderful first primary experience. Since sunday I have caught her singing different melodies from church, and offering to say prayer with a little bit of help. The only catch- she likes to skip right to the 'amen' part when she thinks we've said enough.

Tonight while Haley was having her bath we read, "Sister Eternal" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. In the book, He mentions going to the LDS church for the first time... so I say, "The Church of Jesus Christ..." and before I can finish, a loud "A-MEN!" comes from the bathtub. It made me giggle; I am just glad to know she is catching some of my lessons on prayer.

Oooo... Spicy!

Every once and awhile Ezra and I like to add some spicy elements to our dinner. Last night we made chicken curry -delicious! It ended up being a bit too spicy- but I found a quick fix for that. If you are looking for something new to try... try my "Kickin' Chicken Curry"!

Ingredients:
6 boneless chicken thighs (large cubes)
3 large baking potatoes (large cubes)
6 carrots (large dices)
4 stalks celery (chopped)
1 can chickpeas
1 large handful sliced spinach
4 tbsp curry powder (heaping)
olive oil
1/4 c. brown sugar
4 cloves of garlic (peeled and smooshed)
corn starch

Directions:
Place 1 swirl of olive oil in frying pan. Add chicken and garlic cloves. Cook on med-high until chicken is done. Turn off heat. Add curry powder, and coat chicken. Combine all remaining ingredients and chicken mixture in a large stock pot. Add enough water to pot to cover the ingredients, and mix.Turn heat to high and cook for 40 minutes, or until potatoes are soft. To make the mixture thicker add cornstarch (abt. 2 tsp)and water together in separate bowl to make a thin runny paste. Add to curry mixture. Continue this process until desired thickness is reached. If the curry is too spicy add brown sugar. I think it gives it a nice touch. We like to serve our curry over rice. Enjoy!!

My first post!

I am so excited to be a new member of the blogging world. It took me a lot longer to figure out how to set up a blog than I thought it would- lots of mishaps. But hours later,I am the owner of a semi-decent blog. :) I have lots of holiday news and pictures to share... so stay tuned!