Here are some pictures from over the holidays. We had Christmas at my Uncle's cabin, it was sooooo nice to be away from everything.

Christmas morning ( bright and early)

Opening presents

My uncle in his fabulous new robe

Little E's first baby doll

Sledding

The cousins had a blast!

Happy Christmas!

Pizza

Here was the pizza we had for dinner last night. The dough is the best and so easy to make:

Yippee!

I am so proud of myself. Loverboy got me Photoshop over 2 years ago, but I never really did anything with it because it was always too overwhelming to figure out on my own. Well, with the help of TaylorMade Designs I accomplished my first digital layout:

It took me forever, Little E was all over me and the computer, but I still finished it! What do you think? Maybe now I can tackle room makeovers....

The True Meaning of Christmas

I'm all in support of reminding ourselves why we celebrate Christmas, however someone is always ready to take it to the next level ->

What's next? Maybe a giant statue of baby Jesus in the tree too? Sign me up!

Yummy

I have been really good at keeping a weekly meal plan for the past 2 months. It has saved us lots of money because we don't eat out as much. I only buy what is for the recipes and lunches, therefore I'm not buying extra stuff. I also bake a lot more so that we don't buy lots of snack foods. When I plan my meals I like to try at least 2 new recipes a week. I came upon the following 2 recipes 2 weeks ago. I love them!

Pasta e Fagioli
Prep: 10 min, Cook: 30 min.
3/4 tsp. olive oil
2/3 cup recipe-ready crushed tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. rosemary, crumbled
2-2/3 cups vegetable or chicken stock

1-1/4 lbs. canned white kidney beans, (cannelini) rinsed and drained
3 ounces rotini pasta, or fusilli
1/2 lb. zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oil in a heavy nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Add next 3 ingredients. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 2 cups of the stock. Combine remaining stock with 2/3 cup kidney beans in a blender. Purée. Transfer to tomato mixture. Add remaining kidney beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Add pasta and zucchini. Cook 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Parmesan and a crusty italian bread.

I have never loved homemade pizza like the ones from Dominos or Pizza Hut. Because of the crust, right!? After finding the following recipe I have changed my mind. Even our snobby 9 year old likes it!

Pizza Crust

1 package dry yeast (1 tbsp)

1/4 tsp sugar

3/4 cup luke warm water

1 and 3/4 cup unbleached four

1/2 tsp salt

I mix the yeast, water and sugar together and let it sit for about 8 minutes. Then I add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Roll it and stretch it out.

Add your toppings then cook for 8-12 minutes in a 500 degree oven.

Enjoy.................next time I make my pizza, I'll take a picture and post it.

Back to Life

School has started and so have schedules. While I like summer and all of its activities, I find it much easier to adhere to a schedule when school starts. It has been a very nice transition. I truly enjoy time at home with Little E. She was looking all over the house for the boys on their first day of school. So priceless when they arrive home and she notices them for the first time.

With the boys starting school I have begun new projects around the home. If anyone knows me at all they know that I get bored quickly and like to change things up. So I already look at my living room and the rest of my house, for that matter, and want to restyle it all. Problem is, I don't have nearly the finances to do this every year, as I'd like to and I don't know what my style is (pulling out my hair).

I also have a huge problem envisioning things. I came along a blog where the gal takes pictures of the room and restyles it in photoshop. So here I go....I hope this will work. If any of you have some good ideas, plllllllleeeeeeease send them my way. I don't want my home to look like everyother in UT as well.

Wish me luck!

Student of the Month

So I know that we aren't suppose to be "proud," so here is a moment Lover Boy and I are very pleased with...

Speed was chosen as Student of the Month for April. He asked his teacher what he needed to do to earn it and as a result of his hard work he got it. Woooohoooo!

Speed has come a long way and his fans couldn't happier!

What is Real

I'll thank my husband for e-mailing me this CES address by Elder David Bednar. It has been in my e-mail box for a while and today I finally listened to it. I am so glad I did. I highly recommend listening to it. I really appreciate Elder Bednar's message and delivery. I can feel the adversary working hard to distract me and I've got to work harder and employ the spirit more. Pay special attention to when he says apostolic warning. This message powerfully reminds us to discern between truth and error. He pleads for us to look to and enjoy what is real, rather than what is fabricated. I won't say any more, just listen to it!



(Just click on his picture)

Miss you

Today's post is dedicated to Papa. 3 years ago today he passed away. I remember I hadn't spoken to him since March and didn't want to since I couldn't face his suffering. Nana said he didn't ever suffer, but I still didn't know what to say or how to deal with it. The night before Nana made me talk to him over the phone and assure him that he could be at peace, that I was taken care of and he could let go. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do . I hated every minute of it and was so mad that I had to do it. Of course the next morning he died. I was getting my nails done when Nana called and left a message. I sat at the dinner table and cried, but I could feel him right there with me.
I've felt him around since then and I know he's part of a great work on the otherside. I still miss him though. I miss his rants on politics, his silly jokes, his Swiss accent, his beautiful singing voice, his love of art and classical music, his laugh, his scary driving, his half finished books on his bedside, body slamming him, watching him read his scriptures, his amazing lessons, his infinite knowledge of everything and most of all his hands. Dad had strong tender hands, I loved to hold them. I'll always think of you dad and I can't wait to see you again.

It's About Time!!!

I won't write a lot, here are some pictures of spring break in California (don't worry, all of the girls have their tops still on) and some other stuff we've been up to.

Repelling in Battlecreek Canyon

Only an 90 ft drop, yikes


2nd place!

At the beach

Hot mamas!

Lovin the sand, can you believe, Little E didn't eat it at all


Out on the Lake at my Uncle's house

Don't hate her because she's beautiful

Sunset with Speed

Trying to escape

Autism Awareness

April is Autism Awareness Month and to be honest I would not care if I wasn't personally touched by someone with Autism. When Pieter was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder I didn't know anything other than a very outdated idea on what Autism was. A majority of the world still share this view. They tend to picture a very low functioning autistic person that sits in a corner and bangs their head on the wall while rocking back and forth. So when I've mentioned Pieter falling within the spectrum people have scoffed and rolled their eyes disbelievingly. Because I have struggled with the diagnosis I have educated myself on the condition. I feel so much compassion for people who experience any version of autism, low and high functioning.
There is so much that we don't know about Autism and what was true 10 years ago has already changed. It evolves each year with new studies and new people getting involved. I don't believe that only one thing triggers autism. Genetics and environment affect each case. Likewise each case is unique. If anything I only wish for people to open their eyes and admit that they don't know and don't understand. Do some research of their own. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Show some compassion for these children. And above all, use the spirit. We are so blessed to live in a time with amazing medical advances and new information, this coupled with revelation can enlighten our minds dramatically.
Following is a link to a CNN clip with Larry King interviewing Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey and some medical professionals. I appreciate this interview and the views expressed. It doesn't resemble the common publicity given to autism.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2009/04/04/lkl.jim.jenny.autism.pt1.cnn
I can't wait to have my original Pieter back. He has come a long way, but we're still on the up hill journey. I'm grateful for my experiences, I'm more understanding and less judgemental because of them. I pray that we can help others affected by autism by being kind and understanding.

Humble and Happy Pie

When I started blogging or even started looking at other people's blogs I thought I might poke my eyes out if I read another, "My life is so wonderful...I have the best husband...Aren't my kids the cutest?....I am just sooo happy.....blah blah blah." I wanted to read about real life or at least rest assured that I wasn't the only imperfect one out there.
Then slowly I stumbled upon BYU Forums focusing on happiness and its correlation with service, Magazine Articles and LDS books full of How to Be Happy antidotes, Relief Society Conference lessons on Spreading Sunshine and today another BYU Forum centered on Wellness Education. Martin Seligman, a Professor of Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, spoke on the power of positive education. Basically he lists what we can do to become more positive and the effects of doing so. For example, Seligman referred to taking time every night to write three things that went well that day and why they went well. People that did this woke up more happy and were in general more satisfied with life. He continues to present how we can educate children, the less fortunate, and depressed on how to increase their quality of life through positive habits.
There exists some similarities within these "lessons" I've encountered lately, count your blessings, share in your successes, and lift one another up. I realized that the blogs I was reading were posted by people doing just that. Who doesn't get excited when they can share their child's milestones? What a fantastic way of telling our spouses that we love them by posting them all over our blog and praising them. Our happiness continues by sharing and recounting our joyous experiences and thoughts.
Once again I've been humbled and taught a tremendous lesson. Do you think Heavenly Father was trying to send me a message? So I'll share in the spirit of joy...

My life is so wonderful...

I have the best husband...

Aren't my kids the cutest?

I am just sooo happy!

Biggest Loser

Ok, I'm not referring to losing weight. I am simply talking about falling off the P90X horse. Getting sick with Little E and loss of sleep has majorly kicked my butt, in a bad way. It has been 2-3 weeks and I haven't done a work out. Lame!

I tried to restart on Monday, yeah, not so much. Then I managed a workout on Tuesday, yippee. But, I'm sad to say, I haven't done anything since. I'M JUST TOO TIRED!!!

Ok, now's the part where you guys e-mail me and give me encouragement. Tell me to get over it, if my sister in law can do it with six kids then why am I whining, right?

Give oh, Give Away

http://byunews.byu.edu/archive09-Feb-brooksforum.aspx

I happened upon the BYU devotional this morning when Little E wouldn't take her nap and I was exhausted trying to find something to take my mind off of my weariness. How lucky I was to have done so, thank you Heavenly Father. The message was given by Arthur Brooks. He is the president of American Enterprise Institute and presented his studies on the connection between giving and success. What a great message. It will be rebroadcasted on March 1st, this Sunday. I HIGHLY recommend watching it.

Smile

I've been having some hard nights the past few days, because Little E was teething it threw her system all out of whack, but last night she actually slept without waking up. Therefore it feels as though the sun is shining and birds are singing. I'm in a much better mood so I thought I'd post 10 things that make me smile. Maybe they'll bring a upward curl to your mouth too...

1. The sound of my kid's belly laughing.

2. Parades.

3. Baby animals.

4. Kids singing along to the radio.

5. My husband saying he loves me.

6. Baby pictures.

7. Elderly couples holding hands.

8. Bed head. Especially my brother's.

9. Seeing my mom cry when she thinks about my dad.

10. Australian sheep dogs in a trance.<- that's for you Sarah

Scouts, oh so fun

Funny Ha Ha

Last Wednesday was packmeeting and Racer X received his Wolf patch, Duty to God and a plethora (Jefe, what is a plethora?) of other awards. It was a very nice evening. As you well know, the mother of the awarded scout gets to receive a pin for all of her hard work at encouraging her son as well, so when I joined Racer X up front to receive said pin he looked at me with bewildered eyes and said,"Why do I pin it on you? Dad helped me the most."
I sheepishly chuckled and looked at Lover Boy who turned red then nudged his son. "Just pin it on her." You gotta love what kids blurt out sometimes, pure truth.

History and Hope

I know a lot of people today will fill their blogs with entries about today's historical inauguration, so how can I resist? I watched this morning and although I didn't vote for Obama I still awed at how far our country has come. Who knows what will happen in the next four years, but you can't deny the implications of this turning point in history. Good or bad. I know the economy struggles, society strangles, and the world, as a whole, holds their breath for the next trauma awaiting, but I am hopeful and optimistic. Why? Well, I believe what our prophets, current and ancient, have said. If you remember the last general conference, then recall the consistent message of hope and love. Heavenly Father wants us to feel joy. Regardless of what happens outside of us, we can feel peace and joy as we continue to look toward Christ's return. Or how about not even His return, but His existence. It really is that simple. We do not need to carry everything on our shoulders. Christ asked us not to, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Give it to Him and enjoy life. Yes, life is hard. Sometimes it downright sucks, but so does a good workout, a fulfilling hike or bike ride, yet you still have fun as you do it. So lift up your head and smile in the face of life's experiences.

Ode to the "Best Friend"

So I know I'm doing this the night of my best friend's birthday, but better late than never, right? I thought I'd do a special post dedicated to her on her birthday. What can I say? I love her guts! We've been best friends since '96 and we still have a blast together. We are so lucky to live close by and we get to see eachother every week. What's so great about Skanky Hoe?(<--nickname from High School) She's down to earth, no nonsense, we love the same things and laugh together about all of life's drama. She is a fabulous wife and mother. I'm so lucky to have her as my best bud. I hope she had a great birthday and hope she knows how wonderful she is. Love you Sarah! Like the pic?
Peace out........