Saturday, April 23, 2011

Happy Easter

Translation:

A bunny

A bunny is the best thing yet.

A bunny is the bestest pet.

A bunny's nice to have around.

A bunny never makes a sound.

So if you ever get a pet.

The bunny is the best pet yet!

by, Abby.


Someone wants a bunny.
That same someone is not getting a bunny.

Friday, April 22, 2011

38 and counting

Age.

It is just a number.

Right?

The sad thing is, I remember my father's "Over the Hill" party. Ohhh. . he was so old. RIGHT?

Just a few short years away.

38 is definitely NOT what I thought it would be.

I don't feel a day older than say, 28, in my mind.

Here is to hoping my mind stays young.

Because I KNOW there is no hope for my body. . . with gravity and all.

2011 and 38 are going to be a BIG BIG year for this family.

BIG.

I will tell you why soon.

But, right now, my only intention is to CELEBRATE.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Much Ado about Hair


This morning, Abby had a hair bubble. You know, the kind that when you pull your ponytail back in a rubber band (or elastic, you choose) and it kind of bubbles. I mentioned it to her, and, exasperated, she said, "Can you do it?"

When I want to blow her hair, and she groans, I remind her that I would give ANYTHING to have someone blow dry my hair every day. She stops, but I relish the times right now when she WILL let me touch her hair, because I know that time is short. And I will take advantage of it now.

She brought a brush to me, and I brushed her beautiful naturally highlighted hair carefully as to get all the "bubbles" out. Do you know one time someone asked me if I highlighted my 5 year old daughter's hair? Um. No. I put the elastic in. . . a little (A LOT) higher that she normally does. She likes it at the nape of her neck. I wasn't really paying attention. Just doing it like I would normally do. When she walked into the bathroom to look at it, I admired my handy-work. It was cute. It bounced. It looked cheer-leader-esque. I liked it.

She returned from the bathroom a few minutes later.

Her hair was pulled back, to the nape of her neck. I smiled, and laughed out loud. "Ha!" You didn't like it! She said, "it was like clear up here!" Pointing to the very top of her head. I smiled, and laughed in my head. I am grateful. Very very grateful. Her look is plain, and not overstated. It is her, and that is okay with me. I hope it always is.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

After I dropped Abby off at school Wade insisted he wants a smoothie at Costco. Peter did my Costco run yesterday, and I informed Wade that we would not be going to Costco. He said, "But you are a GOOD mommy!" Inferring that good mommies do exactly as demanding 4 year olds want. I must admit. Guilty as charged.

He then told me he didn't like my hair. It was messy, uncombed, and up. In a pony tail.

He said, "Your hair doesn't look pretty". I didn't object.

A short time later, I got out of the shower. My hair was wet, but combed, and down. I walked into the living room and Wade said, "Your hair looks pretty, mom."

Who knew kids would develop their likes of hair so early?

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

How To Tuesday: Make Yourself into a Culinary Goddess

And no, I don't mean a "goddess" of Sheen fame. I mean, many people think that in order to make an impressive meal, you need to cook well. And. You don't.

Sometimes you can whip together things that are actually quite good, but don't take a lot of effort (unlike Stie's cake balls--but they look awesome stie!).

Although I DO like to cook, and I make part of my living showing people HOW to cook, I still am amazed at times how easy it is to fake something REALLY REALLY good.

Just don't over think it.

The other day I made Grilled Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Paninis by the Pioneer Woman. Now, if you REALLY want to teach yourself to cook well, starting with a site like hers is a great idea, because there is always a great picture by picture, step by step tutorial. What I was amazed by was the spread that she put on those paninis.

It consisted of just a few ingredients. Yes, those sun dried tomatoes had been in my fridge for who knows HOW long... Guess what, they were fine, and they didn't kill anyone. Yes the pesto is pre-prepared. . . So. EASY.
Stick those ingredients in a manual food processor (new product from Pampered Chef!), mini processor, a big food processor, and if you don't have any of those, resort to your blender. You will be just fine. . . Juuuuuuuust fine.

I didn't have time to marinate my chicken breasts, so, I cut up some baked chicken from dinner the night before, and threw my "marinade" in for an hour. It was a win-win. Chicken already cooked. . . marinade made it yummy. #winning.


I even had some left over to spread on the said paninis and to spread it all over a regular turkey sandwich or what ever else I wanted. . . my thighs maybe? I wouldn't have cared. It was SO. GOOD.


You can even go so far as to roast your bell peppers just like the Pioneer Woman does. She gives a great tutorial, but, if you don't have a gas burner, do what I did and burn the heck out of your peppers under your broiler.

And guess what, I even burned my paninis JUST like the Pioneer Woman, and they were STILL GOOD.

Oh, one other thing. You want to REALLY feel like a culinary goddess? Make your own Panini bread by making the EASIEST Artisan bread EVER. And it is practically no fail.

You can see the concept video here.

Or if you are more of a step by step girl, go here.

My point is. You want to feel like a culinary goddess? Start with this no-fail recipe. It has amazing flavor, and when you are eating it, you will think you are at a fancy cafe where you just paid $10 for your fancy panini. . . . give it a try.

Monday, April 11, 2011

A beautiful thing. . .

One thing I DON'T like about Facebook, is that it makes me a lazy blogger, and I miss out on great opportunities to blog, because in a moment, I can post a quick quote on facebook. But there, it doesn't last, and so, because I didn't want to forget that moment, I will post it here.


Jaxon: "Mom, do you sometimes cry when you see beautiful things?"

Life with Jaxon is challenging. A lot. I honestly don't think you can compare Autism to anything else. You can't even compare Autistic kids, because they are all so different. One thing I DO love is that somehow, with Jaxon, he has quite a bit of sensitivity to the spirit, and he is not afraid to share it. I am grateful for that blessing, because sometimes he is trapped in a mind that he can't control perfectly, but the gift of the spirit, and the gift of feeling the spirit is not tied to our ability to think, it is tied to our ability to FEEL. And Jaxon can do that, just. fine. He proved it to me when we passed the San Diego Temple on our latest trip.


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

My little Giant.

Most people are surprised by my height. If they have never met me in person, they are VERY surprised. It they have met me in person the first thing people tell me is that I am tall, (Like I haven't noticed. . .but thanks) Anyway. . .

But, it looks like we will have another giant in the house.

Meet Kaylie.


We went and had a play date at Tamsen's house last week, and this is what I found. . . Kaylie, stands head and shoulders above the rest. These girls are only a few months apart, but here is Kaylie, looking down on top of her head. Head, and shoulders . . literally, above the rest.

That is okay. That is how I look at most people too.

Wade has an edge at being tall too, but he is not THAT much taller than his peers, but, still an inch or two still makes a difference! Tosh and Wade are only a few months apart as well, and Kaylie is about Tosh's height. CRAZY!

** Just a side note, Liv, Tamsen's little girl, IS on the small side of things, but still, it makes for a funny pic.


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails