Baking Bread

Thanks to a great recipe my mother-in-law gave me and regular sized pans Jeff and Andrea gave me for Christmas, I can now bake a killer loaf of wheat bread!! Here are some photos that I had to post to prove that my wheat bread can no longer be used as sinkers!

Long Legs

Today Ethan made the sad realization that his legs are too long for the kids cart at Home Depot. It's a cool, two seated racing car. He climbed in while I put Courtney in and he just couldn't get his legs in. He tried, but his knees were around his chin and he was really uncomfortable. He was so sad. But he improvised and, instead of sitting inside the cart, sat on top. My little guy is growing up. When we got home, he had me measure him and he is 4 feet 4 inches tall. At this rate, he's going to pass me up while still in elementary school!

Hilarious Slip of the Tongue

Bryan and I went to our Ward's Adult Valentine's Party last night and it was hilarious. They had a dinner and then played the "Newlywed Game." But what was really funny was a slip of the tongue that happened during dinner.

We were at a table with our neighbor (who is in the bishopric) and our home teacher (who is executive secretary) and their wives. We got into a conversation about technology and started talking about typewriters and computers. Our home teacher commented that he remembers when computers didn't have a mouse and you had to remember the "F" keys. You had to know what F2 did and what F3 did and then he made a comment to the effect that: "Yeah, you had to remember what command you were f-ing." We all paused and he went a little red and then every exploded with laughter. We were laughing so hard. Our neighbor turned to our home teacher and said, "I think you should schedule yourself an appointment with the Bishop." It was so funny. Bryan and I were still laughing about it this morning. It was just such a funny comment to come from him and Bryan can't wait to make some remark to him about it just to tease him.

I love February!

Normally, February is my least favorite month. It's short, so that's great, but it just is dreary and Valentine's Day usually doesn't help. But this year it has been a "Mom love fest" from Ethan. His 1st grade teacher is young and really cute. She has been having them write love notes as their writing assignment and Ethan has been writing them to me! I've loved it. We have had our rough times (usually revolving around piano practice) but it's nice to know that he still loves me (although I have been called the "wicked step-mother" on occasion). Here's what he brought home the other day. I'm debating whether I should frame it or not.


"I love you Mom. Becuse you make me read alot and becus you let me play with freinds. I like the books that you read to me. You make me breckfist an you play with me an becus you make me wrke (work) an becus you give me a kiss an a hug after school."

We need to work on the Southern Utah accent, but I think he did a great job! I love that kid!

Question of the Day

While I was putting Courtney down for her nap she kept patting my nose. Finally she asked, "Why do mommies and daddies have big noses and Courtneys and Ethans have little noses?" I told her that we were bigger so we needed bigger noses and she seemed fine with that. But I don't think I have a large nose! Now my three year old has given me a complex!

Buckle Buckle Beanstalk

This is the favorite activity after FHE. Ethan loves to play this game and Courtney makes us laugh because she isn't any good at it!

The rules are this: One person hides a small object while the others are out of the room. He/she then tells everyone to come in and the searching begins. When someone sees the hidden object they go and sit on the couch and say "buckle buckle beanstalk."

In our family it goes something like this:

Round 1: Bryan hides a Lego guy somewhere while Courtney and I try to keep Ethan from peeking from the hallway. Then we all run in to the living room and begin looking. After 2 seconds of looking Ethan will ask Bryan to say if he is "hot" or "cold." When Ethan sees the object he will immediately yell "buckle buckle beanstalk" and run to the couch. Courtney and I then run to where Ethan last was and find the object.

Round 2: Ethan hides the object and when we enter the room he immediately begins telling us whether we are "hot" or "cold." Bryan usually sees the object first, casually walks around a bit more and then sits on the couch and says "buckle buckle beanstalk." Ethan will run to where Bryan is and tries to find it, not realizing that Bryan saw it 5 minutes ago and has been playing with us all. When we finally find it, Courtney decides that she should hide it.

Round 3 (the funniest round!): Courtney hides the object. She usually puts it in the last place it was hidden but sometimes she will surprise us. When we enter the room she will either immediately tell us where it is or she will guide Ethan to where she has hidden it. Then she will be all excited that we found it!! Ethan gets pretty upset because she doesn't play right, but the game is fun and that's what counts.

Last night we played forever. The kids and Bryan kept playing after I started cleaning up for the night. It's a family favorite!

It's Snowing!

It has been a gloomy and rainy weekend, but today it began to snow. It isn't sticking on the ground, but it is floating through the air and making it fun to watch.