So here I am--tired as usual. I am looking out the window at the snow that is falling and thinking, I better just blog something. This is a little bit more productive than facebook at least right? So here is the family update...I'll start at the bottom and work my way up.
Jolie is talking like crazy. She can sing the abc's and she likes to write her name which consists of many squiggles and lines. She loves candy and peanut butter. The other day she told Brett that she wanted to go to the store and get a treat. She shocks us all the time with the things she comes up with and says. In January we were in the car and she was chewing up orange slices and throwing them on the back seat. I didn't realize this because we were driving to Salt Lake to pick up Colby and it was just the two of us. Anyway, when I went to get her out I said, "Jolie this is so naughty, daddy's going to be mad." She didn't miss a beat and said, "Don't tell dad ok!" She is most recently obsessed with "The Princess and the Frog".
Colby is super awesome cool. He just finished the 7th Harry Potter book and he has the highest number of Accelerated Reader points in the 4th grade. He's burning through every book he picks up and that is a habit I am more than happy to support. I'm so glad that he loves to read as much as I do. He is also working on a big science project for his GT class about underwater dinosaurs and he placed third in his invention convention. He will be starting spring soccer soon and he is currently obsessed with talking on the phone to his brother Isaac in Washington and with his iPod Touch.
Me--I'm 4 months pregnant and tired. I'm hoping that the second trimester energy will kick in soon. I think the weather hasn't helped with that much either! I'm a little emotional too. I just cried a little while I was watching Ellen! hahaha! I'm happy though and having fun with my family and friends. I am currently obsessed with Bread and Butter Pickles sweetened with Splenda and...Farmville.
Brett is still working 4 on 4 off and he is on days right now. The days are SO LONG when he is gone, but it's really great to have him home for 4 days straight. It's like a little vacation every week! Too bad we aren't going anywhere! He is doing really well in school and should start flying helicopters in the next couple of months. He is currently STILL obsessed with KSL classifieds and YouTube.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sweet Little Valentine
I just got these cute pictures of Jolie taken last week for Valentine's Day. My friend Tina had this dress made and gave it to Jolie just before Christmas. She loves it. It's her princess dress. It is just beautiful and she does look like a little princess in it! My friend Jennifer Hill took the pictures and as always, she did a wonderful job. Keep in mind, Jolie is a very unwilling subject! She was such a stinker when we got there. Thankfully, Jen is very patient and kind and she had just the right distractions (toys, a big black kitty cat, her cute son Gabe, and some delicious M&M's)! I love how they turned out.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New Eats
I've been completely bored with cooking lately, just making things I know my family likes (and will eat). Both brett and Colby are picky eaters and a little weary of new flavors--which can be frustrating and a little boring. So last week I made a menu of new recipe ideas that I've never made for my family. It was so fun! I couldn't believe how excited Brett and Colby were about my little project. Everyday both of them would ask me..."what's for dinner!" and... "What country is it from!"
Here's the menu and a shorty review from me and my very own food critics:
Chicken Enchilada Pasta: Really good flavor, made a ton, and the leftovers were good. Colby said it was the best meal he had ever had in his life, but he picked the peppers out. Brett loved it, I liked it. This was from Mexico-Italy... or Mexitaly or Itaxico.
Brazilian Chicken Soup: I LOVED this. The coconut flavor added just the right amount of deliciousness. Colby didn't like this one, It took two bowls for it to grow on Brett but then he was hooked. (Obviously Brazil right?)
Chicken Gyros with Homemade Pita Bread: Best of the week! The chicken was so good and the Raita sauce was refreshing and added just the right crunch. We all loved it. Colby said that it changed his life. Awe Greece--Opa! Oh and the Yogurt sauce...courtesy of India.
Pacific Pork Kebabs with Pineapple Rice: This was awesome. The rice was excellent with fresh ginger and pineapple. The Kebabs were just right too with a touch of honey and a little spice. I'm sure this is authentic somewhere in the Pacific! No matter--it's going in the rotation!
Pumpkin Corn Soup w/ Pumpkin Rolls: I altered this recipe slightly and I think it was for the best--It ended up being so good. Everyone loved it but Colby, who once again had to pick out some peppers. It's painful to watch. The rolls were fluffy and delicious and were a pretty color. I used half of the dough to make dinner rolls and half to make cinnamon rolls. They were a hit. We used the leftover dinner rolls to have roast beef sandwiches the other day. I made this horseradish Dijon mayo and toasted them in the oven with Swiss cheese. Yum. This soup had a southwestern flair and gets an A+.
I got all of these recipes off of the internet but I can't site them all so I'm not going to list them. If anyone wants one just shoot me a message! I use recipes when I bake but hardly ever when I cook--so this was good for me. (Well even when I cook with a recipe it's more of a guideline!) With the picky crew it's harder to be adventurous, but I'm going to try harder. I have a few more new ideas that I need to make--but I'd love to hear what you've been making! There are some great food blogs out there now and I'm hooked.
Ok here's a little video of Jolie and I making cookies. I apologize about the phone ringing--but this was too cute not to post. Jolie helped me dump all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl, turn on the mixer, squish the cookie dough balls and wrap the cookies so we could freeze them for lunches (and snacking) when they were cool. Today I asked her if she wanted to help me make bread and she said, "YES, and cookies too!" She is hillarious.
Here's the menu and a shorty review from me and my very own food critics:
Chicken Enchilada Pasta: Really good flavor, made a ton, and the leftovers were good. Colby said it was the best meal he had ever had in his life, but he picked the peppers out. Brett loved it, I liked it. This was from Mexico-Italy... or Mexitaly or Itaxico.
Brazilian Chicken Soup: I LOVED this. The coconut flavor added just the right amount of deliciousness. Colby didn't like this one, It took two bowls for it to grow on Brett but then he was hooked. (Obviously Brazil right?)
Chicken Gyros with Homemade Pita Bread: Best of the week! The chicken was so good and the Raita sauce was refreshing and added just the right crunch. We all loved it. Colby said that it changed his life. Awe Greece--Opa! Oh and the Yogurt sauce...courtesy of India.
Pacific Pork Kebabs with Pineapple Rice: This was awesome. The rice was excellent with fresh ginger and pineapple. The Kebabs were just right too with a touch of honey and a little spice. I'm sure this is authentic somewhere in the Pacific! No matter--it's going in the rotation!
Pumpkin Corn Soup w/ Pumpkin Rolls: I altered this recipe slightly and I think it was for the best--It ended up being so good. Everyone loved it but Colby, who once again had to pick out some peppers. It's painful to watch. The rolls were fluffy and delicious and were a pretty color. I used half of the dough to make dinner rolls and half to make cinnamon rolls. They were a hit. We used the leftover dinner rolls to have roast beef sandwiches the other day. I made this horseradish Dijon mayo and toasted them in the oven with Swiss cheese. Yum. This soup had a southwestern flair and gets an A+.
I got all of these recipes off of the internet but I can't site them all so I'm not going to list them. If anyone wants one just shoot me a message! I use recipes when I bake but hardly ever when I cook--so this was good for me. (Well even when I cook with a recipe it's more of a guideline!) With the picky crew it's harder to be adventurous, but I'm going to try harder. I have a few more new ideas that I need to make--but I'd love to hear what you've been making! There are some great food blogs out there now and I'm hooked.
Ok here's a little video of Jolie and I making cookies. I apologize about the phone ringing--but this was too cute not to post. Jolie helped me dump all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl, turn on the mixer, squish the cookie dough balls and wrap the cookies so we could freeze them for lunches (and snacking) when they were cool. Today I asked her if she wanted to help me make bread and she said, "YES, and cookies too!" She is hillarious.
The Pinewood Derby 2010
This years Pinewood Derby was a success! Colby ran in 13 races and won 10. He was so excited. I was relieved because last year was not quite as memorable. Colby had been sick all week with some crazy flu bug and he had missed school all week too--he was miserable. He ran in 2 races and lost both so he was eliminated! We went home right after that because he still didn't feel well. This year I think it was set up a lot better so all the boys got to race multiple times even if they lost. I really think everyone had a good time.
Here's the car that inspired it all: The Bugatti Veyron. Brett and Colby did their best to make it look like this! It must have been weighted just right too because it was pretty fast!
Here are some pictures of Colby!
Waiting for their cars to be released!
Hanging with the boys on the sidelines
Anticipating their turn and a video of a win...L
Christmas
I was really anticipating Christmas this year until I found out Brett had to work and then I got the stomach flu. We still made the best of it and celebrated on Christmas Eve. I really enjoyed watching the kids, but I felt awful all day--I was so sick. Luckily no one else caught it.
On Christmas Day I took the kids to Utah for the weekend to see my family. We had fun seeing everyone and at the Spry Family Christmas party, but I felt bad that Brett was at work. Colby flew to Spokane the day after Christmas too so he could spend some time with his family there, so it was just Jolie and I after that!
Here are a few shots of Colby and Jolie opening presents! They really had fun. I loved it when Jolie opened her Mrs. Potato Head Silly Suitcase...She yelled "TOYS!" It was so cute.
Jolie wasn't interested in opening her presents because they were wrapped in Sesame Street Paper. She went for Colby's gifts that were in wrapped in Sponge Bob paper. Colby was really cute with her and he just let her do what she wanted until everything was open. He is a great brother!
On Christmas Day I took the kids to Utah for the weekend to see my family. We had fun seeing everyone and at the Spry Family Christmas party, but I felt bad that Brett was at work. Colby flew to Spokane the day after Christmas too so he could spend some time with his family there, so it was just Jolie and I after that!
Here are a few shots of Colby and Jolie opening presents! They really had fun. I loved it when Jolie opened her Mrs. Potato Head Silly Suitcase...She yelled "TOYS!" It was so cute.
Jolie wasn't interested in opening her presents because they were wrapped in Sesame Street Paper. She went for Colby's gifts that were in wrapped in Sponge Bob paper. Colby was really cute with her and he just let her do what she wanted until everything was open. He is a great brother!
I really am grateful for the Christmas season. I love teaching my kids about Christ and the reason we celebrate his birth. Even though everything wasn't ideal this year ON Christmas I am still happy that we got to celebrate as a family and be together.
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