Recipes

So I came across this cooking blog and I absolutely LOVE it! I've been meaning to try new recipes because I pretty much cook the same meals each week... boring. I have plenty of cookbooks but a lot of the recipes don't sound appealing (without pictures), or there are WAY too many ingredients and who knows if I'd ever find them in the grocery store...But I found this blog that has beautiful pictures of the delicious food with tutorials and the best part is that they're easy and fast! So if you're looking for different recipes to try, check out this blog:

My Kitchen Cafe

Fun, Fun Kid

Aside from teething, Brad has been the cutest and happiest baby ever lately! He is giggling and smiling like crazy and I love it. It makes all the not-so-fun parts of being a mom SO worth it. He is 8 months now and is moving all over the place. My house is now showered with toys here and there showing the trail of where Brad has been. He loves to crawl around and pull himself up on things. He just loves to go exploring. Here are some fun pictures of him lately....

Soldiers

I am thankful to our troops who sacrifice so much to defend our country. I just now, over a year later, found this website that took pictures of Ryan and his troop returning home from Iraq. This organization, Maine Troop Greeters, takes pictures of soldiers coming home from their tour of duty when they first set foot on American soil. The pictures are priceless. The unity and friendship between the soldiers, the line of citizens waiting to shake the hands of those who were serving their country, and the happy faces of the returning soldiers; priceless. I can’t look at these pictures without tears because all of the emotions and feelings behind the pictures come back to me. My patriotism has forever been changed. I never took the time to think of how many people are affected by the war. It is not only the soldier but it includes their spouses, children, family, friends, coworkers etc. Even though it was a hard year having Ryan in Iraq, I am grateful for the experience so that I can somewhat understand the sacrifice, loneliness, and fear that soldiers and their family go through for our country. Thanks again to my dad, Ryan, Roger, Ryan's cousin Stewart, and many more for their service.




And for old times.... when he finally reached Utah! I was so happy


If you would like to see the website: http://mainetroopgreeters.smugmug.com/Troop-Pictures-2008/May-2008/May-23-2008-930-AM/5006607_Eonk5#300291038_XEwvz

Santa's lap, Thanksgiving, and teeth!

While we were in Delta for Thanksgiving, we went to visit Santa. Brad LOVED him! We sat him on Santa's lap and he just stared up at him the whole time. I guess he's not a very shy baby.


We also got to visit with Grandma Sorensen, Susan, cousin Carie, and cute baby Ava!

Brad's first tooth just came in over the Thanksgiving week!! He is having fun crawling around, getting into everything, exploring, using his lungs to yell LOUD, and sleeping. Now that he can move around in his crib, I find him sleeping in all sorts of strange positions that look too uncomfortable to fall asleep in.

Burning down the house....

So we had a grease fire in our oven last week and let me tell you it made a mess! Three fire trucks came but by the time they got there, the fire was out. Thanks to my wonderful family who spent their whole Saturday helping clean our smoke-filled and extinguisher-dusted house! My kitchen is cleaner than it ever has been before! And our oven looks like new (except for the nobs).

Halloween

This halloween wasn't so much fun for us- we were all sick. Friday night, we had a family halloween party but we had to go home early because Brad was not feeling well. We didn't do anything Saturday but sleep and try to get better. Brad went to bed really early since he wasn't feeling good and Ryan and I spent Halloween watching the Ghostbusters movies. I only made it through the first movie- Ryan stayed up for Ghostbusters 2.

Here is Brad's costume: A 3 eyed monster!!!

(this picture was taken when we first got his costume...super happy)

Brad & Cousin Mack the pirate:

(this picture was taken the night before Halloween... not so happy & sick)

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!!!

6 month check up

Brad had his 6+ month check up a couple weeks ago. The dr. asked if I feed him steak and potatoes at each meal... Brad is 19lbs and is 27 3/4 inches long. He is in the 75th percentile for weight and length and 75-90th percentile for his big head :) He is just so dang cute and happy. He isn't quite crawling yet but he sure tries. He can get up on all fours now and rock back and forth... and he does crawl backwards, just not forward yet. He makes his way around pretty good though.



He loves to ride on dad's shoulders and play with (eat) Ryan's hair.

He hates his peas.... and beef too

So far we have given Brad carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, and beef with beef broth (along with grape popcicles from his grandpa). He has been taking the food really well and the only one that he doesn't really like is peas... until we tried beef. I can't blame the kid becuase baby food doesn't taste very good and the beef smelled like dog food- gross! I could tell for sure that he did not like the beef but couldn't help but keep giving it to him because it made me laugh so hard at the faces he was making! Is that me being a bad mom??? Well, I had to just give him a couple extra bites so I could get it on camera... enjoy the video :)

5 months old

So I decided to be "creative" and attempt to take cute posing pictures of Brad. I'm still trying to figure out our new camera and a lot of the pictures turn out grainy. Here they are...

3rd Anniversary

To celebrate our anniversary this year, we went to California. We spent a couple days in Newport shopping, kayaking, relaxing at the beach etc... and then headed off to San Diego. We went to the Zoo, Ocean beach, Coronado Island, and Sea World. It was lots of fun and nice to be alone for a bit... we left Brad with the grandparents for 5 days!! So of course we slept in instead of getting up and sight-seeing. :)

My battery in my camera must be going out because I charged it before we left and it died before we made it to Sea World (which is where I would have taken the most pictures at). Oh well... here are some shots of the Zoo at least.

(There's a panda in the background)




I love the "warning" post...

Brad Update....

Brad is doing great and just growing like a weed! At his 4 month old check up, he weighed in at 15 lbs 4 oz and an even 25 inches long. Since then, it seems like he's put on another ten pounds! He is rolling over quite a bit, putting everything he gets into his mouth, and holding his own bottle. Feeding time is quite entertaining now. He started solid foods and does really good most of the time but I think he gets bored or something and thinks (and the parents think too) that it's funny to spit his food out so that it sprays me! Can't help but laugh but it does get everywhere. Here are a few pictures to show how much he's grown:

Almost 5 months old




Devouring his first food


He loves his new furry friend from aunt Marilyn




He's a very happy baby...

This one's for you Tasha! ;)

A- Age: 24

B- Bed size: Queen... but a King is coming soon so Ryan fits better (I just need to find a bed I like and for some reason can't find one!)

C- Chore I love: Organizing!

D- Dogs name: No dogs...

E- Essential start to my day: Feed the baby so he's happy! I don't even start getting ready until after 11 most days...sad

F- Favorite color: Purple

G- Gold or Silver: Silver

H- How many times have you been outside the USA: twice (Mexico & Canada)

I- Instruments I play: I used to play the piano but am terrible at it since I haven't had a piano for over 6 years to practice with. I'm trying to convince Ryan to buy me one because I need to "develop my talents"... one day :)

J- Job Title: Promotions were a few weeks ago... 2nd Year Auditing Staff. But most importantly, MOM

K- Kids: 1

L- Living arrangements: We just moved into our first house

M- Most popular dessert at my house: Brownies- we have them too often

N- Number of times I have stayed overnight at the hospital, not counting my own birth: Just once for Brad's birth

O- Outdoor activity I have never tried but would like to: skiing

P- Pet peeve: People saying they'll do something and never follow thru (I'm guilty)

Q- Quote from a movie: "No eating here tonight, no eating here tonight, you on a diet" (Finding Nemo)

R- Restaurant I could eat at everyday: Costa Vita/Cafe Rio

S- Siblings: 3 sisters

T- Time I wake-up: I don't get to choose anymore... sometimes 4:45am(this morning)and sometimes when I'm lucky 7:30am

U- Unknown fact about me: I love to kareoke but won't do it in front of most people... I love busting out to music in my car singing at the top of my lungs- because I know no one can hear me!!!

V- Vegetable I dislike: lots :( I know it's bad. But most of all, cooked spinach... but I love raw spinach

W- What is my dream vacation: The typical relaxing in the sun, listening to the waves preferrably in hawaii. but I really REALLY want to go to Italy and around there

X-rays I've had: Just at the dentist

Y- Yummy food I make: Ryan says "everything I make is yummy"

Z- Zoo favorite: Tigers and monkeys normally but last week we went to San Diego and I loved watching the otters eat- they had so much personality!

Friends

Emma came to visit. She is absolutely adorable- sunkissed and in pink :)



Brad's cousin, Asher, came to visit also. Brad hasn't laughed much since his first but Asher got a few laughs out of him.

Brad's first laugh

I was so lucky to get this on video- Brad started laughing June 25th. It only lasted about 5 minutes and I haven't been able to get him to laugh since!

Brad's Blessing

Here are some pictures of Brad on his Blessing day. Ryan's mom made his little outfit- he looks so cute and grown up in a vest! :) Thanks Carolyn!

Update...

We finally moved into our first home! We got the keys on Tuesday, June 2nd. Wednesday, we drove up to Cedar City to get all of our stuff out of our storage unit and we spent our first night there Thursday along with company! John & Marcy came down Thursday night and the rest of the family came down Friday for Brad's blessing. The weekend consisted of unloading lots of boxes, sleeping on air mattresses, trying to find soap and towels to use, checking out the new tv, and lots of fun. Thanks to Marcy and Carolyn, the kitchen was all unpacked and put together within the first day or two so we were able to eat! It was a busy weekend- and fun to have all the company! We are still trying to get the house together and deciding where to hang pictures etc... there's only so much time to get stuff done during naptime!







Speaking of naps, Brad is now sleeping through the night (for a week now)! He had his 2 month check up last week. He is 12 lbs (50th percentile), 23 inches (75th percentile), and his head circumference is in the 75th percentile. He's growing strong and healthy! He is cooing a lot more along with smiling.

Ryan just found out that he passed his last CPA test (out of 4 total)! He is relieved to have it over with. I've got such a smart honey... I don't know how I got so lucky! :) He's also having fun around the house fixing things and cleaning up the garage... man stuff.