Monday, September 16, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Food Friday: Amazing meat balls
Click here to see my amazing meat balls recipe! Don't forget to follow the new blog and enter the giveaway here!!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Missing Bingham
I'm Probably Crazy is MOVING. Soon there will be no more posts. Only memories. To follow my new blog and enter to win a little something from my new etsy shop, click here.
I quit my job a year ago June. When fall rolled around and school started everyone asked me if I missed it. I was really surprised myself that the answer was "no". Bingham had been a part of my life for five years. That's longer than I was in high school, and as long as I was in college. It was a huge chunk of my life and I just walked away. I didn't understand why I didn't even have a inkling of desire to go back.
I guess when you're burnt out with hoops to jump through, and you miss your child in daycare like crazy, and you love your students but the love in your heart that used to all go to them now goes mostly to your daughter. . . it just wasn't the same as it used to be.
But this year, I have missed it. Which I did not see coming.
I was perplexed. And then I realized. It's been long enough that I've forgotten the worst parts. Like so many other things in life, we remember the good and try to forget the bad. I've done just that. I remember filling out my little weekly schedule. MAN, that was my favorite thing to do. In just 15-20 minutes I would have my whole week planned. Sure, I still had to write the lessons, but at least I knew what topics I had to cover. Throw an assembly in there? It was like trying to do a puzzle, covering all my info with shorter periods to stuff it in to.
Also, talking to my cousin Cait who is starting her first year teaching. She's overwhelmed, like we all are our first year of teaching (I would not go back to that year, but thank goodness I had no children then. It was hard enough) and as I gave her advice I just had this longing to get in there and do it myself. Not that Cait wont be wonderful! (Cait, you're doing great I'm sure!!) But I've put in that time as a newbie and now the fear is gone. I could teach a class I knew nothing about, but I'm so dang comfortable in front of a class of teenagers that I could stay cool as a cucumber. Nothing can phase me (okay dad, except for your class, I know you would throw that in if you and I were talking).
I used to get upset when Adam would suggest that maybe, maybe, I would like to go back to teaching when our kids were older. Now that I've forgotten the bad stuff, maybe he's right.
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| I miss it today. |
I guess when you're burnt out with hoops to jump through, and you miss your child in daycare like crazy, and you love your students but the love in your heart that used to all go to them now goes mostly to your daughter. . . it just wasn't the same as it used to be.
But this year, I have missed it. Which I did not see coming.
I was perplexed. And then I realized. It's been long enough that I've forgotten the worst parts. Like so many other things in life, we remember the good and try to forget the bad. I've done just that. I remember filling out my little weekly schedule. MAN, that was my favorite thing to do. In just 15-20 minutes I would have my whole week planned. Sure, I still had to write the lessons, but at least I knew what topics I had to cover. Throw an assembly in there? It was like trying to do a puzzle, covering all my info with shorter periods to stuff it in to.
Also, talking to my cousin Cait who is starting her first year teaching. She's overwhelmed, like we all are our first year of teaching (I would not go back to that year, but thank goodness I had no children then. It was hard enough) and as I gave her advice I just had this longing to get in there and do it myself. Not that Cait wont be wonderful! (Cait, you're doing great I'm sure!!) But I've put in that time as a newbie and now the fear is gone. I could teach a class I knew nothing about, but I'm so dang comfortable in front of a class of teenagers that I could stay cool as a cucumber. Nothing can phase me (okay dad, except for your class, I know you would throw that in if you and I were talking).
I used to get upset when Adam would suggest that maybe, maybe, I would like to go back to teaching when our kids were older. Now that I've forgotten the bad stuff, maybe he's right.
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| Never tell me that the Miners is a dumb mascot. Someone did once. It did not end well. |
Monday, September 2, 2013
Moving! + Giveaway!!!!
So we're moving at the end of September. And because I love to make my life as difficult as possible, I'm also finally opening my etsy shop! With that comes another move: My blog! I've decided to re brand myself so that all my social media outlets match.
I'm sure there are better ways to do this, but I don't know them. I created my new blog, made up my new url, did all the design and now I'm going to transfer my posts from this blog to the new url.
So why should you follow my new blog? Because. . .
. . . .I'm giving this pillow away. Click here to go to the new blog for rules on how to enter to win it!
I'm sure there are better ways to do this, but I don't know them. I created my new blog, made up my new url, did all the design and now I'm going to transfer my posts from this blog to the new url.
So why should you follow my new blog? Because. . .
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| This pillow also available for purchase in my etsy shop. Your choice of heart applique OR a letter of your choice. |
Friday, August 30, 2013
August and September Goals
So August's goal was to read religious texts daily, and I've improved, but I haven't been perfect. The plan was to wake up when I feed Axel at 6:30 and then read scriptures after I put him back in bed (He only wakes up the one time "in the night". It's morning to us, but it's still his night). Shots + vacation + cold = Axel's schedule really messed up. It's getting better, but for a while he was waking up to eat at 5am and I just couldn't start my day at 5! I tried going back to sleep and then waking up at 6:30 but I swear I've been drugged.
Excuses, excuses. But it's hard to do something daily when you can't get into a good rhythm. Still working on this one.
September really snuck up on me in some ways (blogging ways) but it others I've been looking forward to it! (Last September was the best month of my life, mostly because of the gorgeous weather!)
September is NO SUGAR!!!! I really really need it this time. Back in May I decided I was going to lose the baby weight. Soon I realized that when I lost weight, I lost my milk supply. And since I wasn't trying to lose weight, I swear I started eating like I was trying to gain. And I did. Most of my problem is sweets. Actually that's pretty much my only problem. I don't like junk food (chips, or. . . see I can't even think of non-sweet treats!) but I love candy and desserts. The rest of my meals are like oatmeal, beans, rice, quinoa, salads, whole wheat pasta, veggies, the occasional chicken or turkey.
Do you want to join in with me on this one??? (Here are the rules. Feel free to make up your own though!) It's a fun time of year to drop the sugar because soon we'll have Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas thrown at us and getting it out of your system now can help make those holidays a little easier!!
I think I'm going to do a giveaway on Monday, so make sure you check it out!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Yesterday. . . (and twitter)
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| Love this girl but she almost drives me to drink. |
I dabbled in candle making, hosted a play date, deconstructed baby jammies (working on a project for Oilo) and cleaned up a mess so disgusting I probably should have called natural disaster clean up. Or burned the apartment down. I thought about tweeting that, but then if the apartment really did burn down (remember the candle making?) it would look really bad.
AND! I made Indian food. Seriously, I want to make it every night. How long do I have to wait before making something again? Like a month? Or two? What is the protocol here?
In between the natural disaster clean up (Olivia's room may never smell the same again) and dinner making, I went to Target alone. My happy place. I regrouped, ate some candy, and saw a grown daughter waiting for her mom (her mom was my cashier and so that's how I know it was her daughter). Seriously, I almost burst out in tears. Such a pretty girl, I wonder if she ever removed her diaper during a "nap" and smeared the contents. Well, someday Olivia will be that girl and yesterday I looked forward to that time. Not every day, but yesterday? Oh yes.
And one last thing. I need a new twitter to go with my new blog/etsy shop name (Olive the Things). So. . .
olivethethings is taken.
kt_olivethethings is too long.
kt_oliveblog is weird, but so is my current handle.
kt_oliveshop is also available, but not my favorite.
kt_ott is too many initials, and people will be thinking "what is ott????"
kimtom_olive is available, but WHAT?
_olivethethings is actually available! Should I go with that?! Is having an underscore at the beginning going to be super annoying?
sooooo I need help. Suggestions? Any of those not as horrible as I think they are?
Monday, August 26, 2013
To the parents of the screaming child
Dear Parents of the screaming child,
I'm not saying your bad parents. You're probably great parents, adequate at the very least. Of course I have heard some seriously intense "conversations" coming from upstairs, but maybe that's just the tone of the language that you speak. I don't know what language it is that you're speaking and maybe it's just gruff. Perhaps you are saying "I love you" or "butterflies".
So, children scream. I get that. I have two. Screamers both. Which I guess is the problem that I have with you. Not that it's your fault. Nope. Not at all. I have a problem. It is not your fault. You see, in the off chance that neither of my children are screaming, really the last thing I want to hear is your child. Screaming.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we'll be moving on soon. A plethora of reasons, really. Not the least of which is children screaming at 2 am. Every night. But in parting let me just say: Cherish these moments. They grow up so fast.
Love,
Mom of the screaming children below.
PS I'm sorry too.
I'm not saying your bad parents. You're probably great parents, adequate at the very least. Of course I have heard some seriously intense "conversations" coming from upstairs, but maybe that's just the tone of the language that you speak. I don't know what language it is that you're speaking and maybe it's just gruff. Perhaps you are saying "I love you" or "butterflies".
So, children scream. I get that. I have two. Screamers both. Which I guess is the problem that I have with you. Not that it's your fault. Nope. Not at all. I have a problem. It is not your fault. You see, in the off chance that neither of my children are screaming, really the last thing I want to hear is your child. Screaming.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we'll be moving on soon. A plethora of reasons, really. Not the least of which is children screaming at 2 am. Every night. But in parting let me just say: Cherish these moments. They grow up so fast.
Love,
Mom of the screaming children below.
PS I'm sorry too.
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| Do not be fooled by my happy calm appearance. Like so many things it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts. |
Monday, August 19, 2013
30 Day Writing Challenge
Have you noticed that write has one T and written has two Ts? And I always want to add an extra T to the word writing as well. Spelling is not my strong suit.
Okay, so I usually have ideas pouring from my head so much so that I have blog posts scheduled three weeks in advance. But I've noticed something. Take time off writing and it's easy to lose that inspiration. Just one week of vacation has me totally thrown!
So I'm going to do the 30 day challenge that Julia did. I'm not going to write every day, but I'm going to start this and when I feel like I got my groove back I'll kick it to the curb until I need it again. :)
Today is 10 random things about your self!
1. I hate the sound of ticking clocks. Sometimes I forget this, and by a clock for my bedroom. And then I have to hang it in another room.
2. I have a yellow personality, which means chores around the house are really hard for me to do. I have to find a way to make them fun, like a reward system. Or listening to Michael. (if you have to ask which Michael, I don't know if we're friends)
3. I'm looking for a townhouse. It's very much like doing drugs. The highest highs when you find something awesome, the lowest lows when you realize a) it's too much money b) they require 20% down c) it's in a bad part of town d) it doesn't have a garage or e) some other road block I have yet to come up against but probably will tomorrow.
4. I can't write blog posts the night before. I mean I CAN (I did this one) but I feel like they never turn out very good.
5. I already said this, but spelling is not my strong suit. I really struggle with the word "definitely". It took some time, but I managed to commit the spelling of "tomorrow" to memory.
6. I don't mind my weight so much, but my shape is the issue. I seem to have 20 extra pounds all in my belly. I look cute for 3 months pregnant, but I'm not.
7. Axel has made me scared to have another baby. Just when I think things are finally looking up he likes to prove me wrong. I don't know anyone more stubborn or strong willed than that kid.
8. I really learned to love fall last year.
9. I often wonder what the fourth wall of the Cosby living room looks like. And Monica's living room.
10. I was going to write a post about missing school, since high school starts today, but I forgot when Axel screamed for 30 minutes.
Okay, so I usually have ideas pouring from my head so much so that I have blog posts scheduled three weeks in advance. But I've noticed something. Take time off writing and it's easy to lose that inspiration. Just one week of vacation has me totally thrown!
So I'm going to do the 30 day challenge that Julia did. I'm not going to write every day, but I'm going to start this and when I feel like I got my groove back I'll kick it to the curb until I need it again. :)
Today is 10 random things about your self!
1. I hate the sound of ticking clocks. Sometimes I forget this, and by a clock for my bedroom. And then I have to hang it in another room.
2. I have a yellow personality, which means chores around the house are really hard for me to do. I have to find a way to make them fun, like a reward system. Or listening to Michael. (if you have to ask which Michael, I don't know if we're friends)
3. I'm looking for a townhouse. It's very much like doing drugs. The highest highs when you find something awesome, the lowest lows when you realize a) it's too much money b) they require 20% down c) it's in a bad part of town d) it doesn't have a garage or e) some other road block I have yet to come up against but probably will tomorrow.
4. I can't write blog posts the night before. I mean I CAN (I did this one) but I feel like they never turn out very good.
5. I already said this, but spelling is not my strong suit. I really struggle with the word "definitely". It took some time, but I managed to commit the spelling of "tomorrow" to memory.
6. I don't mind my weight so much, but my shape is the issue. I seem to have 20 extra pounds all in my belly. I look cute for 3 months pregnant, but I'm not.
7. Axel has made me scared to have another baby. Just when I think things are finally looking up he likes to prove me wrong. I don't know anyone more stubborn or strong willed than that kid.
8. I really learned to love fall last year.
9. I often wonder what the fourth wall of the Cosby living room looks like. And Monica's living room.
10. I was going to write a post about missing school, since high school starts today, but I forgot when Axel screamed for 30 minutes.
Friday, August 16, 2013
It will be this way forever
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| Leadvill Train in CO. Worst family picture ever. I should probably submit it to Awkward Family Photos. Nothing to do with this post. |
Something that has happened to me since becoming a mom (if I was like this before, I can't remember) is thinking that today is the way it will be forever. But only the bad things.
Axel didn't sleep well last night? It will be this way forever!
Olivia watched too much TV today? I will be a bad mom forever!
Axel's naps were exactly opposite of Olivia's? It will be this way forever!
Kids are a little clingy today (because they're sick)? It will be this way forever!
I'm a little bit dramatic to say the least.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
A mom and a dad
Today is Father's Day (even though I probably wont post this any time soon[Yep! It's now the middle of August! Ha!]) and naturally I'm thinking a lot about my dad. My sister has been here this weekend and she is very close to my dad. So am I. I talked to my dad more often than most of my college roommates did with theirs.
But at this point in my life I probably talk more to my mom. I text her pictures of my kids, call her about questions and concerns and just call to fill my day. And in my thoughts today I realized the importance of both my parents.
My mom is home during the day when I'm alone. She may not totally remember how she took care of babies, but she's good at comforting me when I'm scared or concerned about something silly.
My dad and I shared a career in education. Most of the things I wanted to talk about a lot of people would probably find boring. Not my dad, he was always there to listen to when I needed to talk about problems with my students or my lesson plans.
It's so nice to have backup (two's not enough, you need three at least--name the movie!)
Monday, August 12, 2013
The End of Summer
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| Our view from the train ride we took in Leadville. I love the color of this house with the pretty purple and yellow flowers around it. |
In May I got really excited for summer. Until I realized, I don't work! Adam isn't a teacher, he wasn't going to get time off. Essentially, nothing was going to change. The only thing different really was our trips. I went to CA alone with my babies (meant to blog about it, never did, you're probably not sad about that) and then we went again in June and Adam came with.
I was so sad to leave our second CA trip. It had been the perfect combination of work and play (I finally refinished my mom's second wing back chair, check it out here). We went to a water park and my brother Rob came up from LA. Just fun.
To help myself (and Olivia) feel better, we often talked about our upcoming trip to Breckenridge CO. A final hurrah of summer. We got home last night, and even though it was a rough week (Axel made sure of that) I still got that "vacation is over" let down.
Yes, it's still warm. Yes, we will still go to the pool several times a week. But summer, as it existed for me, is over. Even this morning, when Axel woke up at 6, the dark sky was telling me that summer is over. Back to real life now and the next trip we are looking forward to is Thanksgiving or Christmas. That's far away!!
Hmmmm. . . I've gotta come up with something sooner than that. Maybe another trip to Logan this fall?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Wanna watch the Bachelorette with me? Finale!!!
Can you believe it's finally here? Aubrey and I are about to post the final bachelorette post. So get ready for the most dramatic blog post of the summer. (Chris Harrison told me I could say that even if I really meant "boring")
Des says she wants to go home, and Chris H. (for Host or Harrison, you decide!) says he understands, but gently reminds her that according to her contract she has to stay. They cut that part out.
Chris says how much she chooses to share with the remaining two men is up to her. Actually it's up to ABC. Nice try though. (Hint: Tell them everything now so it's not a surprise later!)
Chris explains to the remaining men that "Brooks is not with us." The men aren't sure if he left or if he died.
I'm pretty sure I want to skip over the Bachelor Nation weighing in. I read twitter, I don't think they can say anything I haven't heard. Skip.
Des breaks up with Drew and. . . what else is there? Does she run away with Chris?
Des is glad she didn't walk away and give up on love. Leaving the show is "giving up on love"? Someone should tell Des how everyone else falls in love.
Des: All of the poems? No! (I feel the same way, Des.)
Des's father asks "Why should Desiree choose you?"
Chris: Why? Because I'm the only guy left. . . and I write horrible poems.
Des was unsure that she wanted her brother there. But that was a requirement for her being signed as the Bachelorette so she allowed it.
Des might be "listening" to her brother's advice, but she really looks like she wants to punch him in the face.
Chris H. says: It could be the greatest day of her life or it could be the worst.
One thing I love about Chris H is that he's never extreme.
And as I watch the proposal, I have to say that despite this being an incredibly boring season it has wrapped up and ended in a way that I find sincere and moving.
They always do.
And for the final time, here's Aubrey and what she has to say!
Chris says how much she chooses to share with the remaining two men is up to her. Actually it's up to ABC. Nice try though. (Hint: Tell them everything now so it's not a surprise later!)
Chris explains to the remaining men that "Brooks is not with us." The men aren't sure if he left or if he died.
I'm pretty sure I want to skip over the Bachelor Nation weighing in. I read twitter, I don't think they can say anything I haven't heard. Skip.
Des breaks up with Drew and. . . what else is there? Does she run away with Chris?
Des is glad she didn't walk away and give up on love. Leaving the show is "giving up on love"? Someone should tell Des how everyone else falls in love.
Des: All of the poems? No! (I feel the same way, Des.)
Des's father asks "Why should Desiree choose you?"
Chris: Why? Because I'm the only guy left. . . and I write horrible poems.
Des was unsure that she wanted her brother there. But that was a requirement for her being signed as the Bachelorette so she allowed it.
Des might be "listening" to her brother's advice, but she really looks like she wants to punch him in the face.
Chris H. says: It could be the greatest day of her life or it could be the worst.
One thing I love about Chris H is that he's never extreme.
And as I watch the proposal, I have to say that despite this being an incredibly boring season it has wrapped up and ended in a way that I find sincere and moving.
They always do.
And for the final time, here's Aubrey and what she has to say!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Rocky Mountain Hi--igh! Colorado
Almost two years ago we took a little five-month-old on a road trip to Colorado for a family reunion in Breckenridge. It was so fun, so beautiful there, and wouldn't you know? We're going again! We're leaving tomorrow, this time with a 2-year-old and a six-month-old. And my sister Kellie, who will hopefully help with some of the back seat melt down issues.
On our last trip home from Breckenridge everything went wrong that could possibly go wrong. I didn't have a blog then (just my interior design blog) so I wrote this on facebook. Now I'm remembering this bizarre but really fun day. (I added a few notes to help everything make sense)
On our last trip home from Breckenridge everything went wrong that could possibly go wrong. I didn't have a blog then (just my interior design blog) so I wrote this on facebook. Now I'm remembering this bizarre but really fun day. (I added a few notes to help everything make sense)
How do you turn a 7 1/2 hour drive into 14?
1. Get a speeding ticket.
2. Decide to stop and see the delicate arch in Moab. Meet up with Andrew, Martha and Blake [brother, sis-in-law and cousin] and do a short little mile hike to the view point.
3. Accidentally run into your grandma and grandpa at Arches, where they ask you to pick up your stranded cousins in Price UT.
4. Get stuck behind a truck fire on the freeway for 45 minutes. Get out of the car and hang out with your bro and other "neighbors"!
5. Get to Price on fumes (because there is a serious lack of gas stations on the 6!) and pick up Billy and Cait [stranded cousins]. Drop off the rental car [Billy and Cait's rental car] and meet up with Andrew and Martha and Blake at Main Street Grill.
6. Grandpa calls to see if everyone is alright. Then, since he's pulling into Price, he'll join you for dinner, with grandma, Ann and De [more aunts and cousins]. We call this family reunion take 2.
7. Say goodbye again! Take Billy and Cait home to Provo.
8. About 3 miles from the exit to your house, run into some seriously awful construction traffic. At 11:30 PM. Take 45 MORE minutes than usual to get home.
9. Put a crying baby to bed and then hope you get into your own bed before falling asleep!
So glad to be home! What a super fun/awful/exhausting day!!!
I hope none of these things happen to us again, not now that we've added two new babies (Martha and I both had babies this year) but I really look back on that day with fondness. And it made for a great story!
And now, a few pictures from our stop at the delicate arch and the truck fire.
2. Decide to stop and see the delicate arch in Moab. Meet up with Andrew, Martha and Blake [brother, sis-in-law and cousin] and do a short little mile hike to the view point.
3. Accidentally run into your grandma and grandpa at Arches, where they ask you to pick up your stranded cousins in Price UT.
4. Get stuck behind a truck fire on the freeway for 45 minutes. Get out of the car and hang out with your bro and other "neighbors"!
5. Get to Price on fumes (because there is a serious lack of gas stations on the 6!) and pick up Billy and Cait [stranded cousins]. Drop off the rental car [Billy and Cait's rental car] and meet up with Andrew and Martha and Blake at Main Street Grill.
6. Grandpa calls to see if everyone is alright. Then, since he's pulling into Price, he'll join you for dinner, with grandma, Ann and De [more aunts and cousins]. We call this family reunion take 2.
7. Say goodbye again! Take Billy and Cait home to Provo.
8. About 3 miles from the exit to your house, run into some seriously awful construction traffic. At 11:30 PM. Take 45 MORE minutes than usual to get home.
9. Put a crying baby to bed and then hope you get into your own bed before falling asleep!
So glad to be home! What a super fun/awful/exhausting day!!!
* * *
I hope none of these things happen to us again, not now that we've added two new babies (Martha and I both had babies this year) but I really look back on that day with fondness. And it made for a great story!
And now, a few pictures from our stop at the delicate arch and the truck fire.
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| Thanks to the zoom feature on our camera. We did not get this close. Way too hot that day to hike with a baby. |
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| Ever the spitter, Olivia always had a bib on. |
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| This was a huge fire. |
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| Seriously awful pants, but they were so comfy. |
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Saturday in the park
Oh shoot guys, I'm going to have to change the date for our "Easy as
PB&J" link up. I wrote that blurb on the bottom of last Wednesday's
post anticipating a conversation with my friend Tiffanie, but we
haven't worked out all the details yet. So hold on to your lunch idea
posts! I will give more info soon!!!!
During the dark winter months I always think I love summer. But what I really love is spring and fall. Those are the seasons you can actually leave your house. Two kids in the summer is just about as difficult as two kids in the winter.
But Saturday. Saturday it was so cool. Right around 80 degrees, overcast with a nice breeze.
Olivia needed to run. That girl was going crazy inside, and Adam was gone all day golfing so we hadn't managed to get outside. We let her play on the playground and I chatted it up with the Ax Man on a blanket under a tree.
I got jealous of Adam and Olivia's fun, as I usually do, so I abandoned my post and Axel and I walked over to the playground where Olivia was attempting to do the monkey bars. As I watched her play, music from a near by event (so near we were practically attending) floated over to us. It was a jazzy instrumental version of "Til There Was You". It was one of those moments you are happy just to be. You don't want to be anywhere else.
So naturally I made Adam take a picture. I'm a blogging work in progress.
Soon Olivia was running again. That girl, she is beautiful. Her little body is just so perfect. I can see all the muscles when she moves, and she's thin but not frail looking at all. I'm pretty sure she's buff enough to knock out a kindergartener.
We walked while Olivia ran around three baseball fields. "Keep running!" we would say.
After our fun walk/run, Olivia didn't want to leave the park. Not in a throwing a fit kind of way, but in a "I want to hug the parking lot" kind of way.
We got her in the car with the promise of "ice cream", which was really a Hawaiian shaved ice, but same thing when you're two.
We shared a half gallon of shaved ice, I swear it was that big, and got home around 9pm. Oops, like an hour past everyone's bed time!
But you know what? They went right to sleep.
* * *
During the dark winter months I always think I love summer. But what I really love is spring and fall. Those are the seasons you can actually leave your house. Two kids in the summer is just about as difficult as two kids in the winter.
But Saturday. Saturday it was so cool. Right around 80 degrees, overcast with a nice breeze.
Olivia needed to run. That girl was going crazy inside, and Adam was gone all day golfing so we hadn't managed to get outside. We let her play on the playground and I chatted it up with the Ax Man on a blanket under a tree.
I got jealous of Adam and Olivia's fun, as I usually do, so I abandoned my post and Axel and I walked over to the playground where Olivia was attempting to do the monkey bars. As I watched her play, music from a near by event (so near we were practically attending) floated over to us. It was a jazzy instrumental version of "Til There Was You". It was one of those moments you are happy just to be. You don't want to be anywhere else.
So naturally I made Adam take a picture. I'm a blogging work in progress.
Soon Olivia was running again. That girl, she is beautiful. Her little body is just so perfect. I can see all the muscles when she moves, and she's thin but not frail looking at all. I'm pretty sure she's buff enough to knock out a kindergartener.
We walked while Olivia ran around three baseball fields. "Keep running!" we would say.
After our fun walk/run, Olivia didn't want to leave the park. Not in a throwing a fit kind of way, but in a "I want to hug the parking lot" kind of way.
We got her in the car with the promise of "ice cream", which was really a Hawaiian shaved ice, but same thing when you're two.
We shared a half gallon of shaved ice, I swear it was that big, and got home around 9pm. Oops, like an hour past everyone's bed time!
But you know what? They went right to sleep.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Wanna watch the Bachelorette with me? Finale Part 1
Only one week left after today! What are Aubrey and I going to blog about when this is over???
Here we go guys, the most dramatic finale ever. Who do you think will leave Des in tears? They sure edited it to look like Brooks, but I think they're trying to trick us. Except they know that by now we have learned their ways and so they are telling the truth thinking we'll expect a trick! (They don't know that we know they know we know!) So yeah, I think about this too much.
So of course we recap Des's feelings for all the guys and she still seems the most interested in Brooks.
Des says about Brooks: He doesn't have to say that its love for me to know.
Wow, the things we women tell ourselves when we want so badly for something to be true.
Drew's Date
Drew: She's the woman of my dreams and Antigua is like heaven.
Does he know he only gets the girl at the end? I mean, she doesn't live here.
Des: It started to rain on our dinner. It's not about the dinner or where the dinner is.
I'm suddenly hungry, despite just finishing my food.
Drew says: Look at the rose petals.
And I have to wonder, has he ever seen this show before?
#TheyAllHaveRosePetals
Brooks visits family
Brooks says proposing at the end of this makes him uncomfortable. You're kidding me. Proposing a life long commitment at the end of a ten week reality show makes you uncomfortable? Geeze Brooks welcome to the 2000s.
Chris's Date
Des's fringe vest and pants makes her look like a hippie. Who wears a bikini top with pants? Is it cold, is it hot? Are you hiking through brush later?
What animal is making this horrible sound during dinner?! Good heavens can we not edit that out???
Des makes Chris feel vibrant and feel alive. She makes him feel like a natural woman.
Poetry, yes, I've been waiting for this moment. In my nightmares.
Brooks
Des says she's going to take advantage of her time with Brooks today. Just remove the words "her time with" out of that sentence and it will probably portray her true feelings more accurately.
Does Chris Harrison have a degree in relationship therapy? He should get one.
Whoa, Chris just brings up Brooks's parent's divorce. Way to pull out the big guns.
Hey! Editors! Did we have to see this much of the Brooks/Chris Harrison chat? I feel like they're saying the same things over and over.
Des says she hasn't been in love in quite a while. How long ago was Sean's season again?
My guess? He changes his mind shortly after this but they can't show it until next week.
Or I don't know, maybe that's my hope.
As always, check out what Aubrey has to say about tonight's episode. Was it really that dramatic????
I'm also over at my friend Suzzie's blog today! We met at my first blogging round table and I have loved reading her blog ever since.
Oh shoot guys, I'm going to have to change the date for our "Easy as PB&J" link up. I wrote that blurb on the bottom of last Wednesday's post anticipating a conversation with my friend Tiffanie, but we haven't worked out all the details yet. So hold on to your lunch idea posts! I will give more info soon!!!!
Here we go guys, the most dramatic finale ever. Who do you think will leave Des in tears? They sure edited it to look like Brooks, but I think they're trying to trick us. Except they know that by now we have learned their ways and so they are telling the truth thinking we'll expect a trick! (They don't know that we know they know we know!) So yeah, I think about this too much.
Des says about Brooks: He doesn't have to say that its love for me to know.
Wow, the things we women tell ourselves when we want so badly for something to be true.
Drew's Date
Drew: She's the woman of my dreams and Antigua is like heaven.
Does he know he only gets the girl at the end? I mean, she doesn't live here.
Des: It started to rain on our dinner. It's not about the dinner or where the dinner is.
I'm suddenly hungry, despite just finishing my food.
Drew says: Look at the rose petals.
And I have to wonder, has he ever seen this show before?
#TheyAllHaveRosePetals
Brooks visits family
Brooks says proposing at the end of this makes him uncomfortable. You're kidding me. Proposing a life long commitment at the end of a ten week reality show makes you uncomfortable? Geeze Brooks welcome to the 2000s.
Chris's Date
Des's fringe vest and pants makes her look like a hippie. Who wears a bikini top with pants? Is it cold, is it hot? Are you hiking through brush later?
What animal is making this horrible sound during dinner?! Good heavens can we not edit that out???
Des makes Chris feel vibrant and feel alive. She makes him feel like a natural woman.
Poetry, yes, I've been waiting for this moment. In my nightmares.
Brooks
Des says she's going to take advantage of her time with Brooks today. Just remove the words "her time with" out of that sentence and it will probably portray her true feelings more accurately.
Does Chris Harrison have a degree in relationship therapy? He should get one.
Whoa, Chris just brings up Brooks's parent's divorce. Way to pull out the big guns.
Hey! Editors! Did we have to see this much of the Brooks/Chris Harrison chat? I feel like they're saying the same things over and over.
Des says she hasn't been in love in quite a while. How long ago was Sean's season again?
My guess? He changes his mind shortly after this but they can't show it until next week.
Or I don't know, maybe that's my hope.
As always, check out what Aubrey has to say about tonight's episode. Was it really that dramatic????
* * *
I'm also over at my friend Suzzie's blog today! We met at my first blogging round table and I have loved reading her blog ever since.
Oh shoot guys, I'm going to have to change the date for our "Easy as PB&J" link up. I wrote that blurb on the bottom of last Wednesday's post anticipating a conversation with my friend Tiffanie, but we haven't worked out all the details yet. So hold on to your lunch idea posts! I will give more info soon!!!!
Monday, July 29, 2013
A bunch of random updates
I don't usually write my posts the night before. When I find myself needing to do that, I panic and I can't think of a single thing to write! So yeah, that's what's going on right now. I have like 33 drafts I could finish up and post, but none of those topics are speaking to me right now. I'm taking a line from Finding Forrester (Love that movie, now I want to watch it) and writing until it starts to flow.
Sewing. I've been doing a lot of that lately, trying to get my etsy shop up and running. I have too many design ideas and perhaps I should narrow it down and focus on a few things in different colors to begin. So far I have made a pair of bloomers, two toddler pencil skirts, a toddler ruffle skirt (and another one in process), a darling (if I do say so myself) throw pillow case and a half of a quilt top (not for the shop). The throw pillow is gray and cream dots with a cream heart on the middle. I will be giving it away on my blog as a grand opening celebration, so stay tuned.
Would you like to see some horrible cell phone shots? Obviously I will be doing a photo shoot for real when I post them on etsy but this was just for fun.
Oh! July is almost over. I've nearly been a vegetarian for a month. Let's see. . . cheats? July 1st we were driving home from our CA trip and I had some seriously awful chicken strips. I got flustered when they didn't have what I wanted (chicken, rice and veggies in a bowl) and ordered something blah. And then I had a hot dog during Draper Days, because I love fair food. And then today I ate some breakfast casserole at my nephew's blessing brunch. 1/3 of the casserole didn't have meat but none of us could find that third. Maybe the meat melted in the oven and spread out into all of it. Probably that's what happened.
I don't mind being vegetarian. It's kinda fun to be the exception. My sis-in-law didn't have to be the only one who needed the meat free breakfast casserole (she does eat some meat, but not red meat and maybe not pork?) So I don't know, I just wanted to try it. I found so many fun vegetarian recipes and this will probably help me continue to lower my meat consumption.
August! I read this post today by my blogger friend Shannon and it was like HELLO! Perfect timing. In August I start my goal to read religious texts daily. I've been doing a little reading in the scriptures or the Ensign (LDS Church magazine) before bed some nights, but since I've been waking up before the babes, I'm thinking that will be the perfect time to start a new habit.
So there you go, a blog post from out of the air.
Sewing. I've been doing a lot of that lately, trying to get my etsy shop up and running. I have too many design ideas and perhaps I should narrow it down and focus on a few things in different colors to begin. So far I have made a pair of bloomers, two toddler pencil skirts, a toddler ruffle skirt (and another one in process), a darling (if I do say so myself) throw pillow case and a half of a quilt top (not for the shop). The throw pillow is gray and cream dots with a cream heart on the middle. I will be giving it away on my blog as a grand opening celebration, so stay tuned.
Would you like to see some horrible cell phone shots? Obviously I will be doing a photo shoot for real when I post them on etsy but this was just for fun.
 |
| This picture is so funny looking. It looks like a weird shaped adult more than a toddler. |
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| These look so cute from the back, but they didn't fit very well from the front. And no, that isn't Axel in the bottom left corner. It's our doll, Emily. |
Oh! July is almost over. I've nearly been a vegetarian for a month. Let's see. . . cheats? July 1st we were driving home from our CA trip and I had some seriously awful chicken strips. I got flustered when they didn't have what I wanted (chicken, rice and veggies in a bowl) and ordered something blah. And then I had a hot dog during Draper Days, because I love fair food. And then today I ate some breakfast casserole at my nephew's blessing brunch. 1/3 of the casserole didn't have meat but none of us could find that third. Maybe the meat melted in the oven and spread out into all of it. Probably that's what happened.
I don't mind being vegetarian. It's kinda fun to be the exception. My sis-in-law didn't have to be the only one who needed the meat free breakfast casserole (she does eat some meat, but not red meat and maybe not pork?) So I don't know, I just wanted to try it. I found so many fun vegetarian recipes and this will probably help me continue to lower my meat consumption.
August! I read this post today by my blogger friend Shannon and it was like HELLO! Perfect timing. In August I start my goal to read religious texts daily. I've been doing a little reading in the scriptures or the Ensign (LDS Church magazine) before bed some nights, but since I've been waking up before the babes, I'm thinking that will be the perfect time to start a new habit.
So there you go, a blog post from out of the air.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Food Friday: Peach Pie
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I've never been a big fan of pie. Making it, eating it, not my favorite. I'll eat it, if it's there, but I hate making pie crust. And to be honest, I don't love the taste of it either. Are you still reading? I'm not pleading my case very well, ha!
Adam, being the ever loving husband that he is, bought me 25 pounds of peaches.
It was so good.
Do you know how I know? My husband asked me later if there was any more. And he told my brother how good it was. And he asked me to make it again. Adam isn't picky, and I appreciate that. But he also isn't very enthusiastic about food so getting him to rave about my food is a huge accomplishment.
The first thing I did was find a pie crust recipe that I would like and that would be easy. I decided I wanted my pie crust to be more like a sugar cookie, because the lack of crust sweetness is what bothers me the most about it. I found this recipe here and decided to use 1 c of whole wheat flour and 1/2 c all purpose. Oh, and I upped the sugar to a rounded 1/4 c. I mixed everything in a bowl but then dumped it right into my pie dish and mashed it down. None of this rolling it out crap. I hate that. I made some fork pricks and blind baked it for about 15 minutes at 400 (The recipe says 20 minutes but I figured it would get baked with the pie filling too)
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| Ever classy with my pictures, you can enjoy the flour that spilled out of the bowl, my glass of water and the fruit from our dinner. |
I don't usually post recipes unless I personally created them, but I wanted to post this one because I liked the combination of the whole wheat sugar cookie crust with this peach pie filling. The original can be found here.
Peach Pie Filling
3 Tbsp. Flour
⅓ C. Sugar
½ tsp. cinnamon
3-4 c. sliced peaches
½ tsp. almond extract
Combine the dry ingredients, then stir in peaches and almond extract. Bake at 375 until crust turns golden brown (about 35-40 minutes). (Unless your crust is already baked like mine! I think I baked it for 30 or 35 minutes)
Here is my final pie. Have I mentioned that the lighting in my kitchen is horrible?
Thursday, July 25, 2013
TBT Parents
(Since reading Bonnie's post I realized that I wrote down all the prompts at the beginning of the summer and for this one all I wrote was "Parents" instead of a memory of your parents from childhood. Soooo, this is not a memory of mine because I wasn't born! But I guess I have a memory of looking at these pictures when I was a kid. . . so there you have it)
When I was at home this summer I tried to plan out all my throwback posts so that I could scan any pictures I might need. This prompt is pretty general so I decided to go as far back as I could and show you my mom and dad when they were brand new parents. But looking through my mom's albums I decided to start a little before that and END with my birth. :)
This is from my parents' engagement shoot. I don't think it's the one they sent out. Check out my mom's hair! Awesome volume there mom. Oh yeah, check out my dad's too! :)
Here they are walking out of the Los Angeles temple. It's soooooo tempting to find a picture of Adam and I on our wedding day in the exact same spot. Maybe another post. . . Love my dad rockin' the white tux.
Here they are on their honeymoon in Southern California. Check out their stylin' baseball Ts! My mom was smart to honeymoon in a place that allowed her to use a hairdryer. My hair never looked good in our pics from Fiji.
This is during the year or so they were married before I was born. This is my older cousin Greg.
And for the final picture, my dad snuggling me.
Of course linking up with Bonnie, if you want to check out the other posts on parents, but of course none will be as cool as mine! Jk (do people still say jk?)
When I was at home this summer I tried to plan out all my throwback posts so that I could scan any pictures I might need. This prompt is pretty general so I decided to go as far back as I could and show you my mom and dad when they were brand new parents. But looking through my mom's albums I decided to start a little before that and END with my birth. :)
This is from my parents' engagement shoot. I don't think it's the one they sent out. Check out my mom's hair! Awesome volume there mom. Oh yeah, check out my dad's too! :)
Here they are walking out of the Los Angeles temple. It's soooooo tempting to find a picture of Adam and I on our wedding day in the exact same spot. Maybe another post. . . Love my dad rockin' the white tux.
Here they are on their honeymoon in Southern California. Check out their stylin' baseball Ts! My mom was smart to honeymoon in a place that allowed her to use a hairdryer. My hair never looked good in our pics from Fiji.
This is during the year or so they were married before I was born. This is my older cousin Greg.
And for the final picture, my dad snuggling me.
Of course linking up with Bonnie, if you want to check out the other posts on parents, but of course none will be as cool as mine! Jk (do people still say jk?)
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