Every time I go to lds.org and watch a mormon message they inspire me. This one is no different to me. I have been thinking a lot lately about our identity and so this video meant a lot to me. The problems in the world stem from this very matter: people not understanding who they are. Do you know who you are? Do you know why you are here? Do you know where you are going? IF so how does it impact the way you act? If not don't you want to know? (http://www.mormon.org/) I am very glad to know who I am, why I am here and where I am going, it makes every day worth living. It makes every heartache or challange more tolerable. It gives me hope and perspective.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
6 pounds this season
Last night I went to they gym. I hadn't been to the gym in over a year maybe even two (my latest workout gig is at home, years sounds like a lot but...). Anyways I really enjoyed myself. I was on the eliptical and was that ever weird to get back on that thing. When we were leaving we read a sign that said the average person gains 6lbs over the holiday season. YUCK but I suppose very easy to do. Everyone is always baking, having Christmas parties, extravagent and delicious meals... the list goes on. WELL I have been meaning to share this recipe that I found and now will share in the hopes of making everyone else gain weight!! HAHA JUST KIDDING. It is amazing. It is SUPER easy and someone I gave some to said they were the "best cookies I've ever had!" The best part is there are only four ingredients... okay 5 if you count the optional icing sugar sprinkled over top.
Rolo Cookies
Ingredients:
3 rolls of Rolos
1 Devils Chocolate Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/2 C oil
optional: icing sugar (aprrox 2 tbs)
Directions:
Combine and mix cake mix and oil and eggs. Take a ball of batter and flatten on your palm. Place a rolo in the middel and roll batter into ball around the rolo. Bake for 7-8 min at 350 degrees.
When completely cooled dust with icing sugar.
They totally match the season with the way they look or at least I think they do. Lets be honest they are SO easy. All I want to do is bake and give it away at this time of year and these cookies are a great way to do so! Three cheers for rolo cookies...
Rolo Cookies
Ingredients:
3 rolls of Rolos
1 Devils Chocolate Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/2 C oil
optional: icing sugar (aprrox 2 tbs)
Directions:
Combine and mix cake mix and oil and eggs. Take a ball of batter and flatten on your palm. Place a rolo in the middel and roll batter into ball around the rolo. Bake for 7-8 min at 350 degrees.
When completely cooled dust with icing sugar.
They totally match the season with the way they look or at least I think they do. Lets be honest they are SO easy. All I want to do is bake and give it away at this time of year and these cookies are a great way to do so! Three cheers for rolo cookies...
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Hot Chocolate
A few years ago at a family dinner I sprayed whipped cream from a can in my nephew's mouth. He absolutely loved it! He still remembers me doing it and the incident has occured once or twice more. With great glee on all of our behalfs...
Well in my fridge is a bottle of whipped cream (in a can) and as I pulled it out to put on my hot chocolate this evening I wanted to spray it in MY mouth! I did. I felt like a kid. I loved it. I did it once or twice more... I then went to Chris who was on the phone and asked him if we wanted any! He of course didn't as he was TALKING...
I made a hot chocolate and it was AMAZING! I had mint chocolate thins crushed up and crushed candy cane on the bottom and then added the water. I topped it off with some marshmellows, whipping cream and more crushed candy cane. It was amazing. I had to take a photo. TRY IT! The whipping cream melted and spilled over... whoops! It is as good as a dessert... heck it is dessert!
After Chris got off the phone he made himself one too! As he made it he too sprayed whipped cream in his mouth. He loved it too!
Well in my fridge is a bottle of whipped cream (in a can) and as I pulled it out to put on my hot chocolate this evening I wanted to spray it in MY mouth! I did. I felt like a kid. I loved it. I did it once or twice more... I then went to Chris who was on the phone and asked him if we wanted any! He of course didn't as he was TALKING...
I made a hot chocolate and it was AMAZING! I had mint chocolate thins crushed up and crushed candy cane on the bottom and then added the water. I topped it off with some marshmellows, whipping cream and more crushed candy cane. It was amazing. I had to take a photo. TRY IT! The whipping cream melted and spilled over... whoops! It is as good as a dessert... heck it is dessert!
Doesn't that look good?
After Chris got off the phone he made himself one too! As he made it he too sprayed whipped cream in his mouth. He loved it too!
Beautiful Dawn
On Friday night I woke up with a really sore back, not an unfamiliar feeling, and headed to the couch to sleep for the rest of the night. For some reason the couch is amazing. I wake up with zero soreness. It is only a "love seat" but I sleep on it a few nights a week (from 5am-7am). I always turn on the fireplace and it is such a cozy sleep. Well on Saturday morning I woke up to this view and before I got the girls out of their cribs I did my best to capture the beauty.
The snow melted off a few hours later and I was so glad I had taken the moments to capture this (wrapped in a blanket with bare feet on my deck!... a funny sight I would imagine)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tis the Season
I have a confession. Pinterest.com gets a lot of my attention these nights. I have looked at Christmas ideas and have found many wonderful things... if only I had lots of money and time to myself (but then I wouldn't be happy either... anyways). Knowing that tonight I would be making an advent calendar I looked at what other people had done for inspiration.
This is what mine looks like now. I should have used more than 2 styles of paper but whatever. I still haven't put on the embellishments... but you get the idea.
It is a 24 mini muffin tray converted into a advent calendar. It was actually really easy. Magnets hold the paper to the tray.
These are my ideas for what to do this Christmas season... I really wanted us to be more focused on the real reason for the season (we also don't have kids who we have to do fun daytime Christmas activities with), the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. So with that in mind here they are...
This is what mine looks like now. I should have used more than 2 styles of paper but whatever. I still haven't put on the embellishments... but you get the idea.
These are my ideas for what to do this Christmas season... I really wanted us to be more focused on the real reason for the season (we also don't have kids who we have to do fun daytime Christmas activities with), the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. So with that in mind here they are...
- watch the first presidency Christmas devotional
- watch home alone
- read the bible story of the Savior's birth (Luke 1 and 2)
- decorate Christmas tree
- drive around looking at Christmas lights
- take friends baked goods
- make a Christmas craft
- write a family Christmas letter
- mail Christmas cards and letter
- make candy cane hot chocolate
- listen to Christmas music
- attend the Nativity Pageant in Victoria
- attend Ladysmith Festival of Lights
- watch It's a Wonderful Life
- watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- read Alma 7:11-13
- read 2 Nephi 9
- read 3 Nephi 17
- watch the Nativity (hollywood version)
- study about love
- study about mercy
- study the names and meanings of Jesus Christ (Jesus, Christ, Savior, Messiah, Jehovah, Emmanual, Redeemer, Son of Man, Mediator, Lamb of God, Only begotton Son, Son of David, Son of Joseph)
- read the proclamation to the world: the family
- read silent night, holy night and t'was the night before christmas
Motherhood
Today I was getting ready for our "relief society meeting" (aka enrichment), to which I have recently been given the assignment (calling) to be the relief society meeting co-ordinator, and as I was sifting through all my craft supplies I found items (lots) that I have been saving that I want to scrapbook. Among them were all the name bands, umbilical cord clamps (yuck) etc from when we were at the hospital when our little sweet hearts were born. I saw the stamp of their footprints! I started crying. Their little feet were so small. They were so fragile: needing to be kept warm, needing their head supported, sleeping so much, crying so much for food, un-coordinated flails of the arms and legs, crossed eyes (from time to time). It was such an amazing time and yet one so easily forgotten.
I also remembered that when they were born the extreme lack of sleep that followed and hormonal rollercoaster that it all was (vomit). I remember setting alarms to wake us up in order that we could feed the girls AGAIN, and Chris and I both feeling that we didn't know how long we could keep this up... yet at the same time feeling whenever I held them I didn't want to put them down and only wanted to take care of them and having all the engery I needed. I also remembered how much peace we felt when they were born, like our family had become more complete, the spirit was so strong. I also remember the feelings of "WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING" and am (are) I (we) ever going to survive? Some of these feelings actually have lasted a long time. Adjusting to motherhood took time, or at least it has for me. Perhaps it has taken a little longer because I have two girls!
Well the girls can hold their own heads up, have coordinated movements, and strong personalities. They no longer sleep on their back but always roll onto their stomaches to sleep. They scream in excitement. They laugh. They smile. They know their names. Thankfully they have no perception of ownership (its actually really funny they steal each others binky's out of the others mouth with no reaction...yet). HECK they're crawling... I know I know perhaps should have been the title of this whole post. Isabelle took her first knee and hand crawling on November 12th at Kate's wedding reception! Abigail is still "army crawling/the worm." What progress! Isabelle today came and found me in the kitchen (living room and kitchen is open concept really she didn't have to "FIND" me) and we played in the kitchen, she kept coming to grab my feet every where I went. Abigail has found much satisfaction in "crawling" to get the toy just out of her reach. She was getting very frusterated with life because she couldn't reach the toys JUST out of reach! I am so proud of them. Abigail sat up on her own in the hotel room when we were in Langley last weekend. Isabelle does this really cute side sit with one of her hands holding her up, she hasn't quiet figured out how to do it herself yet.
What I am really trying to say is that when they are young you want them to grow up and when they are older you want them to go back to being young! (I sound like a woman who has teenagers but mine are just 7 months!) What a precious time when a baby is born. What a tender time in life it is. I didn't love it when I was in it. It felt really hard. I didn't know how I would have another baby because I felt like it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Today I wish my babies were small enough that I could hold them both close at the same time and rock them. What a precious relationship and time of life that is. My Mom told me to enjoy it and I didn't understand it. Now I am beginning to.
(I know kind of blurry... one of each of their feet!)
I also remembered that when they were born the extreme lack of sleep that followed and hormonal rollercoaster that it all was (vomit). I remember setting alarms to wake us up in order that we could feed the girls AGAIN, and Chris and I both feeling that we didn't know how long we could keep this up... yet at the same time feeling whenever I held them I didn't want to put them down and only wanted to take care of them and having all the engery I needed. I also remembered how much peace we felt when they were born, like our family had become more complete, the spirit was so strong. I also remember the feelings of "WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING" and am (are) I (we) ever going to survive? Some of these feelings actually have lasted a long time. Adjusting to motherhood took time, or at least it has for me. Perhaps it has taken a little longer because I have two girls!
Well the girls can hold their own heads up, have coordinated movements, and strong personalities. They no longer sleep on their back but always roll onto their stomaches to sleep. They scream in excitement. They laugh. They smile. They know their names. Thankfully they have no perception of ownership (its actually really funny they steal each others binky's out of the others mouth with no reaction...yet). HECK they're crawling... I know I know perhaps should have been the title of this whole post. Isabelle took her first knee and hand crawling on November 12th at Kate's wedding reception! Abigail is still "army crawling/the worm." What progress! Isabelle today came and found me in the kitchen (living room and kitchen is open concept really she didn't have to "FIND" me) and we played in the kitchen, she kept coming to grab my feet every where I went. Abigail has found much satisfaction in "crawling" to get the toy just out of her reach. She was getting very frusterated with life because she couldn't reach the toys JUST out of reach! I am so proud of them. Abigail sat up on her own in the hotel room when we were in Langley last weekend. Isabelle does this really cute side sit with one of her hands holding her up, she hasn't quiet figured out how to do it herself yet.
What I am really trying to say is that when they are young you want them to grow up and when they are older you want them to go back to being young! (I sound like a woman who has teenagers but mine are just 7 months!) What a precious time when a baby is born. What a tender time in life it is. I didn't love it when I was in it. It felt really hard. I didn't know how I would have another baby because I felt like it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Today I wish my babies were small enough that I could hold them both close at the same time and rock them. What a precious relationship and time of life that is. My Mom told me to enjoy it and I didn't understand it. Now I am beginning to.
(I have never thought this but she reminds me of me in this picture)
(I could put 100 pictures on here... but I will resist)
When I thought about becoming a mom I never thought about the first few months. They are hard but you have to go through them so you can have the rest of their lives! All in all motherhood is the best.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
I'll be in bed...
Whenever Chris goes some where at night (basketball or these days the school) I usually tell him, "I'll be in bed when you get home, just wake me up to read and pray" to which he says, "you'll be awake when I get home!"
Tonight Chris had a group meeting at 7 at the school and I told him to wake me up when I get home. He asked me what time I was planning on going to bed. I told him 9. He said well I will be home at 10 and you will be awake! It is true that I am 95% of the time, okay maybe even 98%, of the time awake when he does get home.
Tonight as soon as he left I swung into action. Cleaning floors, high chairs, bathrooms, doing laundry and cleaning our BEDROOM! My only goal is to be in bed before he gets home... but...
I just had to blog.
The girls have been "thinking" about crawling for weeks now. Well on Sunday morning Abigail started army crawling. In true form only one of them doing something didn't last long and now Isabelle is army crawling. Neither ever go too far, only to reach the toy that is just out of reach or me who is across the room on the floor.
Yesterday I started listening to Christmas music. For some STRANGE reason every time I turn it on I turn on the fireplace too! I am just getting so excited. I have been thinking about focusing on the true meaning of Christmas this year and have some ideas up my sleeve of things to do to help us accomplish this.
The girls changed over night last night, they look so different and so grown up today. Maybe it was because yesterday they had 3 meals on top of their 4 bottles of the day? Maybe it was because they tried (and loved) avacados? Who knows?! The girls food variety is quickly improving: they love everything they have tried. Bananas, yams, butternut squash, acorn squash, rice cereal, avacado, bread and apples. I am excited for them to start eating Cheerios, carrots, pears and apples- these things are all in my fridge waiting for me to cook and pure them (minus the carrots!).
I must go to bed. 11 minutes past 9 and only 45 to fall asleep before Chris gets home... I hope I win tonight!
Tonight Chris had a group meeting at 7 at the school and I told him to wake me up when I get home. He asked me what time I was planning on going to bed. I told him 9. He said well I will be home at 10 and you will be awake! It is true that I am 95% of the time, okay maybe even 98%, of the time awake when he does get home.
Tonight as soon as he left I swung into action. Cleaning floors, high chairs, bathrooms, doing laundry and cleaning our BEDROOM! My only goal is to be in bed before he gets home... but...
I just had to blog.
The girls have been "thinking" about crawling for weeks now. Well on Sunday morning Abigail started army crawling. In true form only one of them doing something didn't last long and now Isabelle is army crawling. Neither ever go too far, only to reach the toy that is just out of reach or me who is across the room on the floor.
Yesterday I started listening to Christmas music. For some STRANGE reason every time I turn it on I turn on the fireplace too! I am just getting so excited. I have been thinking about focusing on the true meaning of Christmas this year and have some ideas up my sleeve of things to do to help us accomplish this.
The girls changed over night last night, they look so different and so grown up today. Maybe it was because yesterday they had 3 meals on top of their 4 bottles of the day? Maybe it was because they tried (and loved) avacados? Who knows?! The girls food variety is quickly improving: they love everything they have tried. Bananas, yams, butternut squash, acorn squash, rice cereal, avacado, bread and apples. I am excited for them to start eating Cheerios, carrots, pears and apples- these things are all in my fridge waiting for me to cook and pure them (minus the carrots!).
I must go to bed. 11 minutes past 9 and only 45 to fall asleep before Chris gets home... I hope I win tonight!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Well apparently it is NOVEMBER already!
So I can’t believe it that it is November again already! I feel like I am still in February or maybe March as each and every month has flown by since then (April DID NOT until the 19th but my mind has blocked the month of April from my mind… I think for good reason!). I stopped working in February and when I try and remember between here and then I CAN NOT believe it was that long ago. Time is seriously flying by. Yes I realize that I did give birth and have been a busy mom but REALLY where has the time gone?! I must admit I am in no way sad that it is November. We have done a lot of really hard things this year (not just with becoming parents) and I am glad that as the year is beginning to come to a close the prospect of the future looks grand and bright again. I also don’t mind that it is nearing the end of the year because it means that CHRISTMAS is coming again!!! Let us not forget that this also means my birthday is coming! I am turning 25 this year- now HOW did that happen? Ever since the beginning of October I have been thinking about Christmas. Last year I was beside myself with excitement because it was Chris and I’s first real Christmas together and we went all out. This year it will be a much different Christmas and I anticipate much better for several reasons but mostly because it will be WITH the girls! I can’t wait to set up the Christmas tree (yes I know it will become a daily pulling the girls away from it) to have the lights on at night with the house lights dimmed and the fireplace burning. How fun does that sound?
In other news, last night for FHE Chris and I read about accountability and ended up setting some goals for the things we have stewardship in our lives as individuals and a couple and family. I don’t know who will believe me but we had so much fun doing it. Maybe my fun came from the little crafty thing I made to display it all… pretty much like a homemade bulletin board thing. I told Chris not to laugh when he saw it. He didn’t he said it was “really crafty.” What does that even mean?
Today I took these pictures of the girls and I can’t help but sharing. I just think they are so cute.
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