Missing Out?

Over the years I have fallen more and more behind in the world of technology and "what is cool."  I don't know all of the codes for texting so I just write thing out when I do my occasional text.  I don't follow who is the newest and best singer.  For the longest time I thought people were saying Beaver instead of Beiber.  I don't play games or take quizzes on Facebook, I hardly ever post on there anyway.  And I never go to You Tube inless someone sends a link and it sounds interesting enough to take the time to go and watch it.  Am I missing out?  I don't really think so.  But last night Greg wanted to catch me up to 2011 and shared some of the more popular You Tube videos with me. 
Rebecca Black and her Friday video was his first choice.  It really is amazing how many people are on the internet and how many people watch these videos.  More than 100 million!!  And she is now famous and on talk shows?!  And the video wasn't even that cool.  Some of the remakes were funny.
Next Greg showed me a guy named Jervy.  He is a musician who plays mulitple instruments and then puts them all together.  He also redid the Friday song and a song by Rhianna, "Umbrella".  Greg first showed me Rhianna's version and I was disgusted by it.  I love that we don't have cable and my kids never see things like that.  Then he showed my Jervy's version and it was fabulous. 
Next up was a guy who does Disney songs.  He sings the girl part and the boy part.  I think his title was Disney singing guy or something. It was pretty funny.
Actually I have known about one video, Kid History, for a couple weeks now.  The kids love it and can quote it!!  They talk about doing their own video. We shall see.
I am glad that I know more about You Tube and what a meme is or what "going viral" means.  But, am I missing out?  No.  I just have a different set of things to do and I am okay if that doesn't leave me endless time to look up funny or popular things on the internet.  I may not be the hippest mom around, but I like the bubble I live in and the bubbles my kids live in.  Some day they will pop and I will deal with it, but for now we are happy.

General Conference Weekend

I forgot to post these fun pictures we took over conference weekend (For more info on what conference is check out www.lds.org).  On Saturday we had two soccer games but were able to spend some fun time with Uncle Jeff in between (sadly Aunt Bri was in school all day).  We went to the park in between sessions and Jeff even placed a geocache with the boys.  He was a good sport with our kids and wrestled, built with blocks, and even combed Rapunzel's long hair.   He is going to be a great Daddy someday!

 On Sunday we watched the morning session at home and then headed up to Grandma Pam's.  We played with cousins, had yummy waffles for lunch and Hawaiian haystacks for dinner.  After more playing we stopped in at Grandma Bev and Grandpa Wilf's.  The kids were great and just sat down and read the same books they always read over there.  And of course ate the candy and ice cream cones that are always offered.  I love Greg's family and wish we could only see more of them (more of the wonderful people and more often).

 

 

 

 My kids asked me why I always bring dessert when we go somewhere.  And it is true, I always bring dessert.  Even tonight we are going to Greg's brother's for dinner and I made dessert.  The reason is I LOVE dessert.  I love trying new desserts.  BUT, I don't love eating it all myself and if it is there, I eat it.  Let's fix that, I shouldn't eat all of it myself.  So in order to try a recipe, I have to know that I will be sharing it with others so I don't have too many leftovers.  Just this week, since Sunday I have made 4 desserts!!  I know, seriously, I have a problem.  But they have been great so far.  Here are the websites I go to to get some of the yummy treats I make:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/
http://blog.bitsofeverything.com/

http://doublebatch.wordpress.com/
These last few weeks I have made a blueberry lemon buttermilk cake, decadent snickers cupcakes, salted chocolate and pecan bars, chocolate sheet cake, cowboy cookies, chocolate caramel bars and more.  Oh and Rice Krispie treats; my cub scouts don't get anything too fancy, but they are a delicious.  YUM!

Nobody's Perfect

I have heard that sometimes people look at blogs and think, "WOW! That person has it all together!"  Well, just in case you have ever thought that with my blog, although I think I do try to throw in some reality every once in awhile, here are some "fun" tidbits from the last couple weeks of our crazy life:

• Binkies.  Callie is my first child who loves binkies.  In the past I recall other mothers telling me that they are always losing binkies and I just didn't understand how careless or silly that was.  Well, we have had our fair share of lost binkies.  Right now we are missing at least three.  I say at least because I have given up on the other 2 or 3 that have been lost forever.  Where do they go?  I have no idea!  Annabelle and I even cleaned up this morning and we didn't even find one.
• Fire Alarm.  In the last couple weeks both Greg and I have been careless in the kitchen and caused the fire alarm to turn off.  Luckily we have learned that our fire alarms work-a newer one even yells out "Fire!"  And we have learned that our older three know to run out of the house.  The second time the boys figured it was just me cooking and were all smiles as they ran outside.  Annabelle on the other hand had a look of terror on her face as she hurdled over shoes and other toys as she ran upstairs and out the front door.  It was really fun to watch them.  
• Temper Tantrums.  The other day I threw a temper tantrum.  A big one!  You know those days when you do so many little nice things for your kids and you are trying your best to be calm and patient and they just keep pushing you until you burst.  Well, I burst.  I even kicked a door a few times to get my anger out (Nathan came running upstairs with a look of worry all over his face).  Did my temper tantrum solve anything?  No, it just made Ryan cry louder.  He hates when I get angry, which is why I was trying so hard to be calm and sensible.  I am not proud of my tantrum and the next day (and from now on) I resolved to talk very quietly the whole day.  
• Lost and Found.  I went on a shopping trip to Costco and Wal-Mart yesterday and things were going great.  I was getting everything on my list and the girls were happy (they both LOVED the hummus sample and couldn't get enough).  We were almost done at Wal-Mart and Callie started to get restless in the seat.  She threw her snacks on the ground and that is when I noticed her blanket was missing.  She is not only a binkie girl, but a blanket girl as well.  So, we walked back through the store searching high and low.  No such luck.  We finished shopping, checked the lost and found and then got in line to check out.  That is when I noticed her shoe missing.  I had just bought these $14 shoes and I couldn't believe I didn't notice it earlier.  I said a quick prayer as we checked out, looked in the lost and found for the shoe this time and then headed back to tour the store.  Time was running out as it was my day to pick up the boys from school.  Thankfully we did find the little shoe on our 2nd time around--see Heavenly Father even answers prayers about little shoes.  I even made it to the school before the boys got out.  Hopefully the blanket will turn up. 
• Scouts.  Nathan is now a Bear Cub Scout.  He meets on a different day than me.  That day was yesterday.  And I forgot.  I know it isn't totally my fault, but it pretty much is.  And another sad part is that since he has become a Bear (back in February) I have not looked at his book once.  Remember I am a Wolf leader and I totally knew what was going on when he was in my group.  

I probably could go on and on.  But, I think it would just depress me.  But, I know that while I have many imperfections, I am working hard to be the woman, mother and wife that I want to be.  It takes a lot of work, a lot of prayers, and a lot of love from friends, family and my Heavenly Father.  I am so thankful that on days when I do mess up a ton, I can give my kids a hug and a kiss good-night and they will forgive me and we can start fresh in the morning.

11 Months

 

 

 

I am a little behind, but on Friday Callie turned 11 months.  Time surely has flown by (do I say that every month?).  She is walking everywhere.  Callie says a whole lot more than I remember her siblings doing.  I think it probably has something to do with the fact that she hasn't had near the same amount of ear problems as the other kids.  She says all of the family names plus, orange, kitty, pretty flowers, and more.  It is fun to hear her chatting away.  Callie eats most table foods and still takes two glorious naps.  We have 5 teeth showing right now, and more on the way.  She loves to be outside and walk around.  Callie also loves watching out the windows for animals or daddy.  Whenever music is on Callie will stand up and dance.  Lately Callie has been really fussy and squirmy when it is time to gets her bum changed or get dressed.  Another set back is that she now has a fear of the bath.  She is excited to get in, until she is in.  Then she jumps up and reaches frantically for me.  I have to force her to get washed really quickly before she leaps out into my arms.  I have no idea what could have happened.  Hopefully it is just a phase and she will grow out of it soon.  While having a toddler is not easy, we wouldn't have it any other way.  We love out little Callie.

April Fool's Day

Despite our morning trip to the surgical center I was able to pull off some jokes with the kids.  Thanks to some of my friends we were able to make "sushi" for an after-school snack.

 

 And for dinner we had "pizza", "cake" and "berry soda".  The kids weren't fooled at all with anything but the soda, but even that they figured out pretty quick.  Oh well, it was a fun dinner and the kids loved it all.  Happy April Fool's Day!!

 

Sushi was made of rice krispie treats and fruit roll-ups with candy in the center.  The cake is just meat loaf with mashed potato frosting.  The Pizza is cake with shredded white chocolate and fruit roll-up pepperonis.  The soda was just jello with fruit in it.  I poured it into the cups too late so it was lumpy.  Next time I would just start it in the cups.