Big Mouth!

I am officially diagnosing myself with a disorder I get from my father! "Sports Big Mouth" Disease. Last night Sean had a church basketball game and finally it was early enough for me and the kids to tag along. Well, we will see if he ever invites me to come again. I just have a hard time sitting there and not saying anything. First of all my husband is a STUD! He played one great game of ball last night including the winning shot! Go Sean, Go Sean! 

It started off slow, just some cheering for my hubby, calling the old guys dramatic (have you ever noticed that the older the guys get the more dramatic they have to be when they are fouled?), then the ball went out and the ref. gave it back to the white team (red team is our team), so I said a "SERIOUSLY?" (It should have been red's ball) I even got a "just let the ref. do his job, we are all just here for fun, RIGHT?" (from a guy on the white team, and he wasn't even a good ball player!) That is exactly what I was there for! And it sure wouldn't be any fun if no one stirred the pot, this is church ball after all!  Then red team stole the ball back, and I topped it off with a "Yah, that's right it was reds ball!" Then came the famous line of my fathers "OH COME ON!" The little baldy on the white team was messing with my hubby, and the ref. was apparently blind! Honestly white #35 was getting away with way too much! Long story short, I don't know if they kick pregnant wives with 3 kids out of church ball games, but that would be quite entertaining! 

Splish Slash!

I know cute kids hu? Can you believe one more will be joining them here in a couple months? Sean was bathing the kids the other night, and yelled down stairs "bring the camera". Well, this alone is a HUGE deal, Sean is more into capturing moment with his heart (you get what I'm saying)! What a priceless moment! And D is just such a nut, I can not get a serious smile on his face since he turned 5. 

I was talking to my Mom yesterday and she reminded me of something Z said when she was here visiting. We were saying our family prayers right before bed, and Z blessed D that "he would act like he was 5!" Seriously, I don't know where she gets these things ; ) 

A's Birthday!

We had a great day yesterday for A's 1st birthday! What a sweet cute baby he is! I am so lucky to have such wonderful kids, both D and Z were great to make his birthday such a HUGE deal. Of course the pictures the Grandparents are waiting for CAKE!!! 

A. LOVED his chocolate cake- I know I broke the "good mommy rules" with the whole chocolate thing, but he went after those cupcakes!  

I don't know which is worse D's chocolate mess, or A's! Oh right I forget it's a boy thing!

I'm giving up!

So I am finally giving up a life long hatred, I can't believe I'm really doing this! Honestly, I thought I might have this hatred for my entire life, but here I am giving it up! I was watching You've Got Mail with Sean over the weekend, and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" came on, and normally I would cringe, grind my teeth with disgusted and mute the song- BUT I found myself lost in the beautiful moment and I would even say ENJOYING the song. So, I must have somewhere along the way given up my disgust and hatred for this song! So now I say ENJOY! 

Oh- and one other thing I have decided to give up- French Fries! I know, some of you might say CRAZY! I know CRAZY!

Obama

I was proud of my country yesterday! It was such a neat moment to watch the first African American President be sworn in. I have had plenty of doubts about Mr. Obama, but a few things were very evident to me yesterday as I watched history unfold. He loves his wife- there was no question in my mind that President Obama loves and adores Michelle. He loves his children- kids are the MOST HONEST in the world, they love their father, and he loves them. I also believe that President Obama believes in God. I am grateful for the number of times that God was referenced, and called upon. I know that plenty of people dislike some of the items on President Obama's agenda, but I do believe that those three things play a large role in a persons character. So here is my hope and respect (even if I disagree with many of his points of view) for President Obama, may God play a huge part in his leadership!

 I am grateful to be an American, I am grateful that here women are respected, I am grateful that I can choose to worship the way I want to! 

Funnies!

Yesterday, after watching the news about the plane that went down we were blessing the food and D was advised to remember to thank Heavenly Father that everyone was safe that was involved. This is what came out in the prayer, "Please bless that all the people were on the plane that crashed." I don't think that is what Sean was going for, after a quick giggle we helped him correct his sentence and started again. 

Z is one smart little cookie, while I was making dinner D was playing with his new Play-Doh and didn't really want to share. So Z came to me and said, "If you don't share Jesus will take it away. David isn't sharing so Jesus will take it away!" Oh can I mention the cute smile on her face while she said this. Both Sean and I burst out laughing, and D, quickly decided to be a sharer. 

Man who is teaching these kids these things?! Really?! What am I going to do with them?!

Watch This

I love when something finds you from two different directions! Sean's Dad recently sent this to him in talk form, and my sister Christy posted it on her blog, all within a day or two of each other. Obviously we needed to hear this! I hope you find some quite time and don't forget a pen and paper while you watch- if anything you will feel peace, joy and love! Click HERE to see it. 

Attack of the Number Lock!

There isn't anything more frustrating then typing the perfect comment then realizing you are logged out of blogger, and for some freaking reason you can't log in. All yesterday morning I spent admiring peoples blogs, and not commenting because something had taken over my computer! If you have a MAC you might understand! There is no number lock on light, no number lock key clearly marked, so how in the world am I suppose to know it's on- Right? Me and things that lock - it seems like I always lock things that don't have the unlock button clearly marked. Seriously is it too much to ask in this life? UGG! But thanks to my sister Christy I am back on my way to making comments, my life has now been restored to perfect harmony! I heart my MAC, but I hate number lock! (Who uses number lock anyway?)

D's Birthday!

Holy cow he is finally 5! We had such a fun time on D's birthday, it was a beautiful day, and we all had a blast! I can't believe I have a 5 year old (I'm really gettin up there). I could not get a serious face on that boy for the life of me! 

We headed over to our little park/greenway and had hot dogs and cake and played a little T-ball. David was adorable and kept thanking me for making a great cake. Really a box of cake mix and some easy frosting sure made that kid happy! 

Z's day started off a bit hard when she realized that this was not HER special day, it seemed like by the afternoon she got the idea. 

D really wanted to feed the ducks on the lakes here. We didn't mind all the sunshine and blue skies, this was D's first outside birthday party. It really was a great day! 

Check out these cute guys hanging out in the sunshine.

No Wait, It's a Girl?

Basically I can sum up this post by saying- we have no idea what we are having! (well, were are having a baby). I returned for my second ultrasound to get some more pictures of the baby, and the ultrasound tech, said she thinks it's a girl! So we have one vote for a boy, and one vote for a girl. We really don't care, but it would be nice to know. This baby doesn't really want to cooperate! We will have one more chance to peek at 30 weeks when they do the 3-D ultrasound. So for 6 more weeks, we don't know. We have chosen first names for either- Sean for a boy, and "Zada" for a girl.  When we have a better idea, I will let all of you know! Right now I'm just giggling with the idea that we might get to do the pink, frilly little baby girl stuff again!

Bring it on!

Most of you already know that I am a holiday junkie! So to that I say BRING ON V-DAY! I love Valentines day, it's the only day that you can wear red and pink together and get away with it! So in honor of moving on to the next holiday last night we made Red Velvet Cupcakes. Yes, I know they were even as good as they sound! Although for the lack of chocolate abundance, I would say this particular recipe is more like "Raspberry" Velvet Cupcakes (meaning the color never really made it to red). I'm also a batter kinda girl, so if you just want some yummy batter mix this up and enjoy!  Oh, and please don't forget the Cream Cheese Frosting! Yummy, Yummy! 

Red Velvet Batter

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 t baking soda

1 t salt 

1 t cocoa powder (more like 2 t when I was done with it)

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 

1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 T red food coloring

1 t white distilled vinegar

1 t vanilla extract 

Preheat to 350- Mix together all wet ingredients, slowly add mixed dry ingredients to wet,  and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 stick butter, softened

1/2 t vanilla 

2 cups confectioners' sugar 

Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Add sugar slowly, beating on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed to high and mix until light and fluffy. 

Last One I Promise!

So, I promise this is the last holiday post! I just had so many fun pictures, so here are the last of them. Let me just say one last time- we had such a fun time in Utah! A. is so cute! He didn't get to party much with us on New Years Eve- but what can I say he loves his sleep! 

D. was a trooper! Both the kids stayed awake to celebrate with us at midnight. Now most of you know I am a little sleep crazy when it comes to the kids, but what the heck, it's once a year. 

Z. loves her sleep a little more then her brother, she was tired but didn't want to go to sleep! 

My poor Nephew, he slipped and broke his leg on the ice, being an nice brother and scaring away the deer for his sisters friend. I know he's a cutie, but you'll have to wait to line him up till he's home from his mission. I can't believe he's that old. 

Party! Party!

We had a great New Years Eve party at my sister Laura's house. We made a yummy "breakfast" dinner, and stuffed our faces with the yummy "pancake balls" from my sister-in-law Amy, and a great syrup from my  sister Tami (I'll post both recipes). Then we played a "fun things you don't know about me" game- it's always fun to play with people you know well! I did learn a few things! Then the real entertainment began- family skits. We all did just goofy "talents" but it was a BLAST! My brother James and his family rocked out with their amazing lip sync! 

Then it was our turn- we did a little circus act.

 Z. was amazing dancer, D. was our number man "one two skip a few ninety nine one hundred", Sean was the magician and made his kids "disappear" and his wedding ring pass thru his stomach and come out on the other side, then the final act was one of my hidden talents the "hunch back". I did threaten people with their lives if there were any pictures or cameras going. You know no evidence, so did it ever really happen? 

Then my sister Tami's family did the amazing cannon ball act! 

Christy's family did the "potty trained elephant act", poor James got peed on by the elephant! 

Angie's family did the amazing yo-yo act,  you should have seen Angie go! 

Laura's family did the someone is your legs thing, she was hilarious, a rap song going and she was far better then her teenaged kids- shake it sister! 

Last was my Mom and Dad, it was so FUNNY! We hope they didn't lose to many brain cells, for our entertainment! 

Most of all it was great to be surrounded by family, laugh until we almost peed, and love each other! I love New Years, it gives me a great opportunity to think about how I can do life better! I hope your New Years was a BLAST, and that you had an opportunity to make goals, and to be excited for the new year. 

Girls Day!

We had such a fun time in Utah, one of the day's all the mom's got to go and get the toes and fingers painted (a birthday present from our sis Tami)! Thanks Tami! I was really in need of a good pedicure! 

And the following day Grandma, had a girls day for all the granddaughters. They got their fingers and toes done at the spa, 

and Grandma had a little "tea" party, 

after they all get dressed up in their dresses Grandma got them, and dressed their American Girl dolls, 

then they had pictures taken. 

Here are some behind the scene pictures I snapped while the girls were posing for the photographer

Back from the land of the frozen!

We are back from our Christmas trip to Utah. What a fabulous time we all had! Everyone from my side of the family was in town, and I loved my first "I'll be home for Christmas" Christmas. The drive is really really really really LOOOOONG, but it was so fun to arrive on Christmas Eve, and join in the celebration. There was a TON of snow, and it was a powder perfect White Christmas. Santa Clause even found us all the way at Grandmas house! A. had things to open and play with, but this is all he wanted to do. 

D., loved the fact that Santa had eaten all of the cookies- Peanut butter with kisses, my favorite YUM! 

Z. loves her American Girl Bitty Baby that Grandma gave her! She sleeps with it every night.

 What a great Christmas! LOTS more pictures to come, but I thought I would ease you into it! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!