Funny Girl

Beach Party Photos. Read below for details.

Addysin has a tree in her room that has a string of Christmas lights in it. It looks so pretty in the dark and serves as her night light. We rarely unplug it during the day so its on a lot, all year round. I knew it would burn out someday but didn't prepare by buying some lights during the Christmas season. Of course it burns out last night, a month after Christmas. When I turned out her bedroom light at bedtime, hoping foolishly that she wouldn't notice, she says in a panic, "I cant see anything!!!" so I plugged in 3 night lights because 2 didn't even make her room as bright as the tree. She loved the night lights. She said, "Wow, Mom, look at all the lights, there are three!" then she lied down so happy and content and said in the sweetest voice, "Merry Christmas Mom!" and "You fix the tree tomorrow, Mom." Where do i find a string of Christmas lights?

She doesn't understand that Christmas comes once a year, and it just passed. It doesn't help that she watches Christmas movies all year round. Seriously, every day! She loves Leap Frogs Christmas, Mickey Mouse twice upon a Christmas, and the Super Sleuths Christmas (Winnie the Pooh). She calls the Leap Frog movie "Franklin" because he is green. If you aren't familiar with Franklin, that is a whole different show. Franklin is a turtle. Oh well. I know what she means.

Also yesterday, Addysin got out her two pairs of pink sunglasses. She let Caiden wear one pair, which he loved. She then pulled one of her small chairs into the bathroom, sat down, and put her feet up on the side of the bath tub. She said "I'm having a beach party". Then she put the chair in the bath tub to lounge in there. Caiden climbed in, so I put another chair in there for him. It was so cute. Then Caiden got bored and started hitting Addysin with the sunglasses. She said, "My beach party's ruined!!! Take Caiden out!"

When Addysin is watching TV and Caiden pushes buttons on the remote, cable box, or DVD player to mess things up on purpose, Addysin gets so mad. She is in love with her shows, and Caiden couldn't care any less. She always tells me "Caiden's pushing buttons!" in a whiny voice. Sometimes she will stand in front of the Cable box and guard it. Therefore she is standing right below the TV, and staring up at it watching. I always take Caiden away and sometimes it makes him really mad and he throws a fit. Once day she yelled to me, "Caiden's pushing buttons, make him sad!" On many occasions when he is bothering her she lets me know he "wants" to take a nap. Last time it went like this, "Put him to sleep, he wants to go to sleep. PUT. HIM. TO. SLEEP. PLEASE!"

She likes to clear up confusion that we may have when she is talking. Some examples:

"Its snowing, not rain!"

"I wanna watch Mickey Mouse, not Pooh's Christmas."

"This is blue, not red."

"That's Mommy's car, not Daddy's."

etc.

Favorite Breads

Cinnamon Honey Butter
Absolutely delicious. This will turn any bread into a dessert. My favorite is to put it on hot bread or toast; or microwave it for a few seconds until it melts. Its so good on cornbread as well. Actually you could put this on anything, its so good!

• 1 C real butter-softened
• 1 C. powdered sugar
• 1 C. Honey
• 2 tsp. Cinnamon

Mix well with hand mixer, Kitchen Aid, or Bosch.

Cracked Wheat Bread
One of my moms famous recipes. Its so unique and everyone loves it. You need to have a grain mill( with settings for finer-courser) or access to one. You can use mine!
makes about 3 loaves

• 1 C cracked wheat You want it cracked, not ground. Play around with the settings until it looks right. My guess is it'll be as course as you can get.
• 2 C water
• 2 C warm water
• 1/4 C shortening
• 1 TBLS & 1 tsp honey
• 1 TBLS & 1 tsp sugar
• 1 TBLS yeast
• 3/4 TBLS salt
• 7-8 C white flour

1. In medium saucepan, combine cracked wheat and 2 C water. Cook until all water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Then let cool.
2. In Mixing boil, combine 2 C warm water, shortening, honey, sugar, yeast, and salt. Add Cracked wheat mixture once its cool. Mix well.
3. Add flour gradually to proper consistency. About 7-8 cups.
4. Prepare loaf pans by spraying with non-stick or buttering.
5. Roll out on floured surface. Shape loaves and put in pans.
6. Let rise until doubled.
7. Bake 350 F for 30 minutes

Whole Wheat Rolls
Every time I have made these I am asked for the recipe, so here it is!
makes 2 cookie sheets

• 4 C milk, warmed
• 1/2 C warm water
• 1/2 C shortening
• 3/4 C honey
• 2 TBLS salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 TBLS yeast
• 9 C whole wheat flour (grind it yourself or buy it already done)

1. Combine milk, water shortening, honey, salt, and eggs in mixing bowl.
2. Add 5 C whole wheat flour and knead on low speed until well blended.
3. Add yeast and blend again.
4. Add remaining 4 C flour gradually. If its too sticky, add more. No more than 1 C.
5. Knead 10 minutes
6. Put dough into bowl that has been sprayed with non-stick. Cover with plastic wrap.
7. Let rise until doubled.
8. Roll out on floured surface. Shape rolls. Place on sprayed cookie sheet.
9. Let rise until nearly doubled again.
10. Bake at 350 F for 20 Minutes.

Cornbread
Good stuff, especially with cinnamon honey butter. I always pair it with Taco soup or chili.
Makes 8x8 inch pan

• 1 1/2 C flour
• 3/4 C cornmeal
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 TBLS baking powder
• 1/2 C sugar
• 3 TBLS butter softened
• 1 egg
• 1 C milk

1. Cream sugar, butter, and egg.
2. Add dry ingredients, then milk.
3. Spray pan with non-stick.
4. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

Lion House Dinner Rolls
Everyone knows how good these are. This recipe comes straight out of the Lion House cookbook.
Makes 18 rolls

• 2 C warm water (110-115 degrees)
• 2/3 C nonfat dry milk (instant or non-instant)
• 2 TBLS yeast
• 1/4 C sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/3 C butter, shortening, or margarine
• 1 egg
• 5-5 1/2 C all purpose or bread flour

1. In mixing bowl, combine water and milk powder. Stir until milk dissolves.
2. Add yeast, then sugar, salt, butter, egg, and 2 C flour. Mix on low speed until moistened, then 2 minutes at medium speed.
3. Add 2 C flour and, once again, Mix on low speed until moistened, then 2 minutes at medium speed.
4. Add 1/2- 1 1/2. C flour. You may not use it all. You want the dough to be soft, not overly sticky and not stiff.
5. Wipe 1 TBLS oil on sides of bowl and over top of bread. Flip dough so oil is on bottom of bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled. About 45 minutes.
6. Roll out on floured surface about 18" long, 8" wide, and 1/4" thick.
7. Brush with melted butter
8. With pizza cutter, cut in half the long way. (So you have 2 long strips 4" wide.)
9. Make a cut every 2". You will have about 18 pieces of dough.
10. Starting with short end, roll up one piece of dough with butter on the inside. Place on sprayed cookie sheet or parchment lined pan. Make sure the open side of roll is down. Be sure all rolls are facing same direction.
11. Cover lightly with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with non-stick. Rise until doubled, about 1-1 1/2 hours.
12. Bake at 375 F for 15-18 minutes, or until medium golden color.
13. Optional, brush tops of rolls with melted butter.

Lion House Honey butter

• 1/2 C real butter, softened
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 C honey

Mix well with hand mixer, Kitchen Aid, or Bosch.

Addysin's third birthday

For Addysin's birthday I decided I should invite all of her friends in our neighborhood that are around her age. There are a lot of kids her age! I thought she would love it, but of course she was shy the whole time, until 2 kids were left. Then she came out of her shell. I did a Minney Mouse theme. I forgot to get pictures of the tables decorated. It was cute. Red table cloths, white polka dots, and all of her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse stuffed animals in the centers. She wore her Minney Mouse costume, which she loved. It was soooo funny when one of her little boy friends (Drew) got here, he wouldn't come into the garage because he is scared of Mickey Mouse and to make it worse, Addysin was wearing the ears.
The kids made gingerbread houses.

Addysin just ate the candy.

I made these cupcakes last minute.
We played pin the tail on the donkey. They didn't care who won, they just loved sticking the sticker on the poster. Something about stickers and kids. Maybe next year for her birthday we'll do an activity with stickers.

Three!

From the looks of this picture, Chris and I were really into watching her blow out the candles.

Messy as ever.

All of her gifts from friends and us. These sat on the table for weeks where she would spend all of her time. She played there so that Caiden couldn't get to her stuff. If the toys ever got on the floor, he made a run for it to get it before she could pick it up.

Addysin's first gingerbread house that she watched me (with a mouth full of candy) "show her" how to do it over and over again.

It was a fun birthday and we're so glad that all of her friends could come!

Cruisin'

Chris' company, Five Diamond Protection, gave a cruise to all of the top salesmen for last summer. Chris' parents watched our kids. We dropped them off at their house in St. George on the way. It was so fun and relaxing to have a break from them. We got on at Long Beach, California on Monday November 30. On Tuesday we were on Catalina Island. Andrew and Jenna. I spent a lot of time with her.
On Wednesday we were in Ensanada, Mexico. Not a very pretty place, but it was kinda cool to be in Mexico and see what its like. The group rented 6 golf carts! It was so funny, and so dangerous! Hence the reason golf carts are not legal on city streets and highways in the US. First thing we see as we get into the carts is an army truck drive by with men in camo and huge guns standing in the back. It was pretty scary. Chris let me know that that is just how they motivate people to obey the laws. That also would not happen in the US, especially Orem, UT.

Chris' ever coveted mask. People always come back from Mexico with these and make him jelous. Look at him now! Boo ya!

The first place we went was to a little restraunt to have authentic tacos. Chris only ate one so he could eat other authentic stuff. I'm not kidding you, every taco stand we passed Chris had to check out the prices and what they had. If you know Chris then you can easily believe that. He loves food, especially things that I think are gross and could give him food poisoning. He also loves a good deal. He had a great time bartering with people. He only got a tamale and beans at one stand, which I also got, and a torta at another... which I got. That week was the neverending buffet of food. I NEVER got a tad bit hungry. I felt pretty disgusting, but couldn't stop.

Doing the Ji Ho dance at dinner. They always had a program at the end of dinner. That was fun.

On Thursday we were out at sea all day. On Friday morning we wok up much earlier than usual to get breakfast and get off the ship. Jenna and I were both very anxious to get back to our kids. It was so fun, but I was sick most the time. After getting off I was really sea sick though. I couldn't stop the feeling of swaying for almost a week. I would do it again though, I had a lot of fun.

Black Friday

This post title has nothing to do with shopping. Except i'll just add that we didn't hit up the shopping at all. The day after Thanksgiving we spent with the Bleazard's. My extended family. My Cousin Tim got married in the Draper Temple. Chris and I missed the sealing because I thought it was at a different time. But we did get to see them coming out of the temple. I always love watching newly weds. So enfatuated with each other and so in love. It was freezing up there on the mountain. So windy. Here are some of my cousins, their spouses, and my siblings. This is not even a fraction of how many relatives I have, its just the only picture I got.

The newly weds. Taun and Tim at the dinner.

Amelia, Melanie, and Grandma B. I Love my Grandma so much.

After the dinner, we went to the Temple Square lights with my family. Thats Bryan standing beside me.

It was F.R.E.E.Z.I.N.G! and my dad made use of the extra hat and scarf I had. He looked like a shepard from the Nativity... Or a Muslim.

Dad, Caiden, Kailey, and Emily.

It was difficult with two young kids. They didn't enjoy it and Caiden would not keep his hat and gloves on. But see how happy I am? Let me say, we RAN to the parking garage. I was happy to get out of there and into the warm car.

Ashley, Kara, and Adam.

Addysin and Kailey. We went into the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to warm up. The kids had a blast on the stairs. That might have been my favorite part of the night.

Caiden and Amelia. Caiden is one month older. The loved racing up the stairs, but when I said "say cheese!" Amelia stopped to pose like a girl and of course Caiden kept on going.

Warming up. Bryan, Devon, Sara, Mom, and Ashley.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving most of my family came to Utah. The ones that weren't able to spend it with us were John and his two boys, Amy, Jessica, and Kara and Adam. Melanie, Ben, and their three kids even came from Arizona! It was so fun. Since our main floor doesn't hold big groups well at all, we had dinner in our garage. It was PERFECT! We just left the door open leading in to the house and turned on two space heaters. My mom threw in her touch and tried to dress it up a bit. I thought it looked great, and we weren't all crammed. I loved hosting it. Ben and Dad carving

Mom and Melanie spent a lot of time the day before preparing food so their wasn't too much to be done on Thanksgiving.

Melanie and Amelia.
Addysin only ate rolls. Typical. She is the WORST eater and wont ever try something new.

Caiden in his throne.

We had seven layer salad, green bean casserole, strawberry pretzel salad, butternut squash, turkey, maple glazed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, home made rolls, and probably 10 pies! Coconut cream, banana cream, pumpkin, triple berry, pecan, and apple. Wow, it was so good!

While Chris, Daryl, Joanna, and I played a long game the family took the kids on a walk.

Ashley, Caiden, and Evelyn (Daryl Kelly's little girl).

Sara, Dad, Melanie.

Crammed. Kailey, Amelia, and Addysin. It must have been cozy because Addysin fell asleep.

Melanie, Sara, Ashley, me.

Holidays are so fun to spend with family and friends and I'm so grateful we had so many to spend Thanksgiving with.

Nap time for Addysin

Addysin used to SCREAM when we would put her to bed, especially if we left her alone to fall asleep. After much training and her maturing we can lay her down in her bed and leave her to fall asleep alone. She even waves goodbye as I'm shutting the door. Some of the funny things she says are:

• Leave mom!
• Go check on Caiden
• Shut the door
• Have a good day! (at naptime)
• Have a good night! (at bedtime)

Yesterday she wanted me to lay by her for her nap. As we're laying there she is staring at me and says, "Mom, I love your eyebrows, they're perfect." !!!!! That is the cutest, sweetest thing she has ever come up with.

Doing what Addysin does best...

Organizing. Chris thinks she is OCD. I love it. She doesn't like messes and she is very creative with her organization skills.She said, "Look mom, its a flower!"
Addysin's favorite food is toast with butter cut into 4 squares. She doesn't eat the crust. As she finishes each piece, she usually puts them together back to back like they're spooning. This morning she had a new idea.

Doing what Caiden does best...

Getting into things he shouldn't, and putting everything in his mouth- just in case it tastes good. In this case, he really liked the taste of the ink pad.

Caiden's walking!

Caiden began walking really great at 15 months. It took him about a month to lead up to that day (on video), but now he's speed walking at 15 1/2 months. I'm so happy. He loves it. He's had a permanent bruise on his forhead for almost 3 weeks from face planting, but he's definitly getting a bit better with not going head first into everything.

I love the Holidays!

Most of my family is coming to have Thanksgiving at our house! They get here Tuesday night and I'm soooo excited! Amy and John cant come because of work, and Kara and Adam will miss Thanksgiving day with us, but hopefully will join in the fun this weekend. We've never had Thanksgiving at our house. Hopefully we wont be crammed. We have been fixing up the house getting ready for everyone. YAY!

Just being cute...

This is Addysin's first picture that has structure. She used the magnetic shapes and then drew 2 legs on each. They look like the happy monster band on Playhouse Disney.

Jump!

"This is my frig..."

Lately, she thinks this is a cute face.

So sweet.