Dinner Helps

I just found this really fun website for dinner menus. It's called 'This Week for Dinner'. I looked up some past menus and came up with some good ideas for dinner this week. I thought it would be a great resource for those who struggle to think up what to eat each week like me.

Meeting Eeyore

I thought I would include a short video of Natalie meeting Eeyore. I think he was her favorite character to meet because it was her first.

Our Summer Vacation

We just got back from a fun-filled week with Jon's family at Disney World. We had a great time. We hit all four parks in six days with three kids under the age of 3 and my mother-in-law in a wheelchair (foot surgery). We had no major meltdowns or catastrophes, but it was crazy nonetheless. My favorite park was Animal Kingdom. I loved all the rides and seeing the animals. Natalie thought every animal was a dog and would bark as we saw one.


Natalie did really well with meeting all the Disney characters. She never cried and was more fascinated at pinching their noses than looking at us for a picture. It was funny to watch her reaction and interact with each one. We loved being with family and having Natalie spend time with her cousins, but we are ready for another vacation to get over from this one.

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year. Jon and Natalie made breakfast and I received flowers and this beautiful photo collage. About week before Mother's Day, Jon entered a contest online where you had to submit a gift that was tangible and creative for Mother's Day. It also had to say "Thanks Crunchgear" somewhere on the gift. The winner would receive an Ipod Nano. While I was still in Arizona, Jon made this photo collage for the contest. He didn't win, but I have the most wonderful Mother's Day gift with memories and pictures of two of my favorite people in the world.

Casual Dining

Natalie has never liked sitting in her high chair. She usually stands up, but yesterday we found her sitting like this eating her snack. Maybe she thinks our home is more of a casual dining experience rather than sitting the way we should.

Wedding Weekend

This weekend my sister Julia got married in the Mesa, Arizona temple. I was lucky to come a few days early to help with last minute preparations and then stayed a few days after to enjoy the calmness. Julia looked beautiful and the whole day was wonderful. We had the reception in my parent's backyard and my favorite part was getting to see old friends. Natalie's favorite was getting to play in the backyard all weekend. We are excited to have Burke in our family and wish them all the best on a happy new life together.

Everything's Bigger in Texas

This is what the meteorologists called a "spring storm."

Quote by Natalie

 

"I thought this would taste as good as it smelled."

Free Icecream

Jon called me this morning and said it is free cone day at Ben and Jerry's. I know everyone loves free ice cream, so take yourselves out for some good family fun and get a free ice cream cone courtesy of Ben and Jerry's.

A New Arrival

I was at story time yesterday with Natalie and found a flier with book recommendations for those having another brother or sister coming to their family. No, we're not having a baby soon, but we have several friends who are pregnant and thought I would share.

Fiction
I'm a Big Brother-Joanna Cole
I'm a Big Sister-Joanna Cole
It's All About Me-Nancy Cote
Will There Be a Lap for Me?-Dorothy Corey
Little Brown Bear and the Bundle of Joy-Jane Dyer
Where Did That Baby Come From?-Deb Gliori
Happy Birth Day!-Robie H. Harris
Hi, New Baby!-Robie H. Harris
Peter's Chair-Ezra Jack Keats
Just Like Me-Marjorie Newman
Welcome With Love-Jenni Overend
Back Into Mommy's Tummy-Thierry Robberecht
Now We Have a Baby-Lois Rock
Hello, Baby!-Lizzy Rockwell
On Mother's Lap-Ann Herbert Scott
Benny and the Beautiful Baby Delilah-Jean Van Leeuwen

Non-Fiction
Love That Baby!-Katherine Lasky
A BAby's Coming to Your House-Shelley Moore Thomas
The New Baby at Your House-Joanna Cole
The New Baby-Fred Rogers

Blue Bonnet Beauty

I love Texas because with spring comes the Texas state flower-blue bonnets. We have some friends who have nice pictures of their daughters in the blue bonnets, so this year I was determined to have Natalie get her picture taken in the blue bonnets this year. The best place to get them done is at the Frito-Lay business park. I drove past a few weeks ago noticing they were there, but no place to park and there are signs clearly posted in front of the bluebonnets saying 'No Trespassing'. Then a few days later I drove past and tried to get into visitor parking but didn't know any employees, so I was turned away again. Finally I called my friend Allie, and got some advice on how she did it. She said to park on the side of the road, take your pictures and leave. The worst they can do is ask you to leave. True. So this morning I mustered up my courage, braved parking on the side of the road, became a rebel and walked boldly past the signs. No security stopped me and I got my blue bonnet pictures I envy every spring.

"Egg"-citing Easter Weekend

Our Easter weekend started with Jon taking Natalie to an Easter egg hunt. He said that when it came down to it, the parents were more brutal than the kids in competing for Easter eggs. Natalie sniffed out four eggs and picked-up a coupon for a free Happy Meal from Ronald McDonald himself. As you can see by her coat it was quite cold outside. It even snowed.

Later that night, Natalie and I dyed Easter eggs. She was quite "helpful" and wanted to be there for every step of the process. She tasted her first hard-boiled egg after she squished it in her hands and loved the whole thing. We dyed some beautiful eggs of all different colors.

The weekend was not complete without a visit from the Easter Bunny. He came with a new dress for Natalie and lots of treats for everyone. She looked so darling in her new dress and of course loved the candy. Later, we had Easter dinner with some friends and had a great weekend overall as a family.

Under the Big Top

Jon received two tickets to the circus that came to town this week, so I decided to take Natalie for a little outing. She loved it. Her favorite parts were the music and watching the horses run around the ring. She also had cotton candy for the first time and wanted only the first three bites, so I got to enjoy the rest. She sat on the pony for a picture, but wasn't very thrilled about being that close to an animal. We had a fun time together.

The Little Black Dress

My sister is getting married in May and her colors are red and black. So in an effort to look like the cute new mom and not the frumpy married sister, I spent all day looking for the perfect black dress to wear. I found the dress at Talbots and I love it. The most challenging part of the day was not so much finding the dress, but keeping Natalie enthralled with every dressing room, trying to drag her back in as I am only half-dressed and getting after her for trying to peek under everyone else's door. Needless to say, my shopping days are over for a while now that I know what it is like to shop with an ever curious child.

Back from Oblivion

I know it has been almost a month since I have posted anything on my blog. We have been doing regular, everyday things lately. We did have a few exciting times though. Our friends the Rothe's came to visit for the weekend and my mom and sister came to visit for their spring break. All of this meant fun conversation and eating out. With my family, we also did lots of shopping, swimming and going to the park. I love having visitors come.

Jon and I are busy with our church callings, Jon with work and I taking care of Natalie. Natalie's latest antics including being just tall enough to reach inside the bathroom drawers and empty its contents and being mom's "assistant" and "helper" where ever Mom goes. She is getting better and faster with her walking, so I think she will start running soon.

A Different FHE

Last night when I got home from work, we decided to do something different for Family Home Evening. We watched YouTube. We started with watching several people get their mission calls. You get a little emotional as you watch these men and women open their mission call to see where they will serve the Lord. It brings back feelings of when you were there to watch a loved one open his/her call. Some are funny, but many bring a tear of joy. After being spiritual for a little while, we watched some funny BYU videos. There was quite an array from people singing badly to pranks and home teaching videos. We decided to save all the football videos for another night.

100 Things About Me

With inspiration from my friend Rainie, I decided to tell you 100 facts about me. Some you may know and some you may not. It wasn’t as easy as I thought.

1. I grew up in Mesa, AZ.
2. I am the oldest of seven kids. (1 brother, 5 sisters)
3. I am the shortest in my family.
4. I have naturally curly hair.
5. I went to the same elementary school, junior high and high school.
6. I have lived in the same ward since I was three. Our ward split only once.
7. Growing up we had a cat named Fuffly because my sister couldn’t say fluffy.
8. The house I grew up in had a water fountain and a school size chalk board.
9. I have never broken a bone.
10. Jon was my home teacher in college. My roommates were always gone and his companion was semi-inactive, so we ended up together.
11. Jon asked me out on our first date on Valentine’s Day.
12. I met Jon’s parents on our first date.
13. I always wanted to marry someone from Utah, and I did.
14. My birthday is the same as Ronald Reagan’s. Jon said that’s why he married me.
15. On our honeymoon I was on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in Disneyland’s California Adventure. I got a t-shirt for winning 32,000 points. The winning question was about the Star Spangled Banner. I lost on a question about doilies.
16. Jon and I worked for a lamp manufacturer called Design Trends the summer after we were married. We put up lamp displays in Lowe’s Hardware stores in Phoenix, AZ, New Mexico, El Paso, TX and Columbus, OH.
17. I think El Paso, Texas is the ugliest and dirtiest city in the world.
18. I love my family.
19. I have been to 12 different countries.
20. I went white water rafting in Costa Rica.
21. I bungee-jumped in New Zealand.
22. I ate escargot in China.
23. I play five instruments (violin, harp, voice, piano, and organ).
24. I got into the music program at BYU with the organ. I took lessons for only one year in high school.
25. I used to play the harp for wedding receptions. Maybe I’ll pick it up again sometime.
26. I graduated from BYU in Music Education and Elementary Education.
27. I want to learn to play the cello someday.
28. I took music lessons five days a week for an entire summer so I could teach beginning band at the elementary school.
29. I love my church calling (Sunbeam/3 yr olds teacher).
30. My favorite TV shows are: The Office, Grey’s Anatomy and The Amazing Race.
31. My favorite movies are You’ve Got Mail, Pure Luck and What About Bob.
32. I always played right field in softball as a child. I think that means I wasn’t very good.
33. I am the only left-handed person in my family.
34. I married a left-handed person.
35. I hope at least some of our children are left-handed.
36. I have been a blind date.
37. I don’t like mushrooms, shrimp or shellfish.
38. I love doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku.
39. I don’t want to get Alzheimer’s when I get old, so I try to keep my mind active.
40. I enjoy making homemade bread and rolls.
41. I love clipping coupons and going grocery shopping.
42. I wish I liked to exercise.
43. I think exercising, especially running, is boring.
44. I am afraid of the dark.
45. I don’t like being home alone when Jon is out town.
46. I stay up way too late when Jon is gone because I don’t like going to bed when he’s not home.
47. I like scrapbooking.
48. I love reading, but I read for enjoyment-not for symbolism or hidden meanings.
49. I have read almost all the Newberry Award winner books.
50. I have read 84 books in almost four years.
51. I keep a book journal where I write my thoughts and impressions of every book I read.
52. I also keep a journal of every book that sounds interesting to read.
53. I had two miscarriages before I got pregnant with Natalie.
54. I love going to parties.
55. When my sister and I were little, we cleaned all the tools in my dad’s toolbox for a Christmas gift.
56. My most memorable family vacation as a kid was when we drove from Arizona to Nauvoo, Illinois in March.
57. I was in show choir in high school.
58. I ditched class in high school only twice.
59. I was a DARE roll model in high school.
60. I lived with my sister for three years in college.
61. I learned to sew from a family friend.
62. I wish I could sew as well as my mom.
63. I wish I could make pie crusts as well as my mother-in-law.
64. I stayed up all night as a freshman in college so I could watch Princess Diana’s funeral live.
65. I thought green chiles and jalapenos were the same thing when I got married.
66. I was in a moped accident in the Cook Islands.
67. I wet my pants at school when I was little during standardized testing because my teacher said we couldn’t get up for any reason.
68. I was jealous of my sister’s red hair when I was little.
69. I can’t do a cartwheel.
70. I still have a dress I made when I was 14 for a Young Women’s goal.
71. I love the weather.
72. I don’t like chocolate chip or mint chocolate chip icecream.
73. I started wearing glasses when I was in third grade and kids thought I was a new student.
74. I love to wear the color red.
75. I played a pregnant lady in a play in junior high.
76. When I was five, I carved the name of the boy I like into my parents end table. It’s still there to this day.
77. I really don’t like taking naps.
78. I work part-time for Karen Dillard’s College Prep. We help students prepare for the SAT and ACT.
79. In college I worked in the zoology department. I bought crickets and fish for other animals to eat. I also cleaned wader boots after students went to the river. It was gross.
80. I love bird watching.
81. I had my purse stolen at Target in high school.
82. I wore big ugly glasses with brown tinted lenses in junior high.
83. I was on the dean’s list in college for one semester.
84. I like doing puzzles.
85. My younger sister learned to ride a bike before me.
86. I can be very absent-minded sometimes.
87. I love going to the library, not necessarily to get books, but just to look.
88. The first car I bought was a blue Pontiac GrandAm.
89. I played with Barbies until I was 12 years old.
90. I hate getting teddy bears as gifts.
91. I memorized all 100 scripture masteries in high school.
92. I like riding my bike, but am afraid of falling and getting hurt.
93. I love Cheetos.
94. In high school, I stuffed eight friends in a Toyota pickup so we could go out to lunch together.
95. Some of my extended family thinks I was named after my great-grandma Sarah Johns, but I wasn’t. My parents just liked the name.
96. I have taken a tour of the Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium.
97. I am very frugal with my spending money.
98. I let my friend give me her first perm when she was in beauty school.
99. I took summer school all through high school so I could take extra music classes during the school year.
100.I was an EFY counselor.

The Big One

Natalie's 1st birthday was on Tuesday. We had a great party. We invited some friends over for dinner and to help us celebrate. Jon surprised me with buying decorations for the party.

Natalie loved eating her birthday cake. She was a little dainty at first, but once she realized Jon and I weren't going to stop her, she thoroughly enjoyed her cake. For the rest of us, I made little heart shaped cakes that we frosted and decorated.

After her first gift was opened, a stroller, the other wrapped gifts were forgotten. Natalie also got a few babydolls to put in her stroller and she hasn't let go of them yet. She was showered with gifts by her grandparents and had a wonderful day.

Bangs and Anticipation

On Friday, I took Natalie to our friend Bonnie for her first bang trim. She didn't squirm and looks so grown up now. I think she looks more like a little girl than a baby.

I am so excited for Natalie's first birthday next week. It's almost like Christmas for me. Maybe because it means peanut butter and jam sandwiches, a bigger car seat, whole milk, and the toddler clothing department. Just 9 more days!

Podcasting

One of my favorites radio programs is now podcast for free in the iTunes store. It's called This American Life. It's on NPR radio and is broadcast every Saturday. The program brings together stories centered around a central theme each week. I usually miss the show because it is broadcast while I'm at work, but now I can listen any time during the week. Hooray for podcasting!