Cookie Time

Fridays are usually a fun day for Natalie and I. We go to storytime at the library then do another activity together. We love Fridays because we are done with all the housework for the week and get to spend time together doing whatever we want. Today we made chocolate swirl cookies. They are delicious as you can tell by Natalie's face. Once she tasted the batter, she kept nodding her head, saying yum and couldn't keep the beaters out of her mouth.

CHOCOLATE SWIRLS From This Week For Dinner

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C packed brown sugar

1/2 C butter, softened

1 pkg. (3 oz) cream cheese, softened

1 egg- 1 t. vanilla

2 C all purpose flour

1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t. salt

1 C semisweet chocolate ships, melted and slightly cooled

Heat oven to 350F. In large mixing bowl combine sugars, butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms. Fold melted chips into dough until lightly marbled. (do not overmix)Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 mins, or until edges are light golden brown. Cool completly before storing.

We Be Jammin'

This week I found a great deal on some peaches and so we decided to try our hand at making peach freezer jam last night. I can't believe how easy it was. I don't know why I haven't done this before. We made a few jars and I think it will be gone by the end of the summer. I am already debating whether I want to buy more supplies and peaches to make even more jam. Jon and I thinking of doing a little experimenting and maybe next time we'll make raspberry peach jam.

Our Budding Pianist

I took this picture this morning while I was at the computer and Natalie was playing the piano. It has recently become an enjoyment of hers to use the picture books as piano music and serenade me while I am on the computer. Maybe she is showing her future career in music at an early age or wanting to get a head start on all the practicing she will do when she starts piano lessons.

*The picture wasn't posed. I asked Natalie to smile and she did this on her own.

Rained Out

This weekend was the City of Allen's 4th of July celebration. I look forward to the good food, fun entertainment and fabulous fireworks every year. Unfortunately because of the rain this year, it was a bust. We got there between rainstorms and the area was almost empty. It looked like only City of Allen employees and a few volunteers were on the park grounds. Usually the park is packed with people with few places to park and the grass covered in blankets waiting for the fireworks. We ate about ten bites of our dinner before those in charge said we had to leave the tent because of lightning. We decided to turn around and go back home. They had cancelled the entertainment and were only planning on the fireworks at 10pm. We have loved all the rain, but were bummed about the party. Hopefully next year the sun will be shining and the blankets back.

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.