Brownie Kabobs

So here are the brownie Kabobs I told you about-made them for my YW girls...and had a few for myself-good thing there wasn't very many extra ones! They are really good-easy to make too. And they didn't come out looking too bad:)

Try it this weekend if you get a chance:

• Strawberries-one of the plastic containers that you get at the store


• Bananas-4 or 5 bananas cut in 1/4 inch pieces


• Pineapple chunks-from a can-just need one can-unless you really like pineapple


• Brownie box mix-make the brownies according to the box and cool completely


• Skewers-wood ones-get at any grocery store or Wal-mart-in kitchen gadget isle


• Chocolate chips(semi-sweet)-one cup


• Butter-1/4 cup

-Alternate the brownies and fruit on the stick

-Put the chips and butter in a bowl together-in microwave for 1 and 1/2 minutes-stir until well blended and then drizzle over the kabobs

Tip: To keep the bananas from going brown-brush with lemon juice

Look What She Can Do

This is Katie's newest trick-it seems like she learns one everyday. Yesterday I opened the door to her standing eager for me to see her:) I wouldn't be surprised if she was walking by one years old. She is such a determined little girl.

Update on the " kids eating healthy" goal: I am happy to report another great and successful day! Mommy scores again-I could get used to this-but I am sure the rebellion is coming:) I am up making brownie kabobs for my young women group-a back to school treat. It consists of brownies, strawberries, bananas, and pineapple on a stick with chocolate drizzled over all of it-hope it comes out like its supposed to. Sometimes my creations just don't look like the pictures:)

Oh Little Wormy Worm

This is Tavin's little wormy friend-I was surprised at how eager he was to pick the worm up. Once he did, that worm never left his side until we convinced him that the worm's mommy and daddy would be worried if he didn't go home. He asked me if the worm could come into Tavin's home with him:) What a friendly little boy. I told him we would take pictures so that he could remember his little wormy friend but no-he couldn't come into our house.

P.S. The gravel bed picture is to show our newest addition to our yard. We decided to plant bushes along that strip. When we seeded for grass we didn't get that strip seeded (thought we might pour concrete to add to the driveway but that didn't happen) So this was our creation and way to prevent weeds from growing. It looks a lot nicer in person-and we are happy with it. When the bushes grow a little taller it will look even better:)

Just To Tell You About My Day...

Note: I am trying to be better about blogging-counting it as my way of journaling-so you might get sick of all the posts.

Just wanted to tell you about my day today. It was a good one-I felt really productive for the first time in a week:) And I am almost done with my huge mound of laundry. That in itself is something to be proud of. But the biggest thing that happened today was I started Tavin on a "healthier eating" schedule. I was fretting that it wouldn't work and my efforts would just blow out the window but surprisingly he did great! I have found that if I eat with him when he eats, he does better and is more willing to try new things. I think I just need to give the kid more credit.... ME ME down and good eating habits started....potty training....hmmm I am not sure I am just ready for that one yet.

Here is what he ate today: honey bunches of oats with a banana, yogurt and grapes for a snack, sandwich and crackers for lunch, and he ate a quesadilla that we made him for dinner! To drink he had water and milk.

That beats: poptarts, crackers, peanut butter toast, occasional banana, chocolate muffins, chocolate milk, neutra grain bar, chicken nuggets repeated over and over again all day long and all week long! (I am really not a bad mom I promise!)

Score: 1 point for mommy

Did You Know?

My Tavin Boy the week before we took the Binks away:) Little did he know! But he has done so good-how cute is this picture. My dad picked him these flowers and he wouldn't let go of them-even to sleep!

Did you know that I am a princess? Yep that's right-I am a princess according to Tavin:) After I was all done getting ready for church on a Sunday morning, Tavin came around the corner, saw me, and covered his mouth with is hand as he gasped...."MOM-U ARE BOOTIFUL! YOU ARE A PRINCESS!" I almost cried-he was so cute and so sincere-you can't beat being a princess and being bootiful!

P.S. He is now sleeping through the night without his ME ME! Well other than the occasional rendition of Jingle Bells at 3 in the morning-while he was still asleep:) Not having a pacifier can do weird things to a person I guess.

Second Night of the Pacifier Purging and Katie

Being busy with the boys

Face after eating cherries

Her new sippy cup

The second night was quite a bit harder than the first but that was because I was puking about every hour to hour and a half until there was nothing left in my stomach. How lovely right! So not only did I have a kiddo that wanted his mommy to comfort him, but I was trying to run to the bathroom and get it in the toilet in between. Today I am feeling much better and no throwing up to report as of yet-cross my fingers! I just ate my first bit of food for the day.

And lets do a little shpeal on Katie girl: Whom I have nicknamed "Biggy Bee" yes I know-a weird nickname-I don't know why this has stuck but that is what comes to mind when I am talking to her:) She is now crawling regularly (for a while she was' army crawling) and can pull herself up on things. She LOVES to walk while holding our hands. Katie can drink from sippy cup with a straw (skipped the whole bottle stage completely) LOVES fruit....and has decided she is done breastfeeding...sad in a way but also slightly liberating. The only time she takes milk from me anymore is in the morning when she first wakes up. She is VERY busy-always wanting to move and explore-so interesting how different she is from Tavin in that aspect.

Farewell....

Well we did it...I know most of you are saying FINALLY! but I have been dreading the repercussions of getting rid of Tavin's ME ME-otherwise known as a pacifier. We explained that ME ME has been a good friend but now Tavin is a big boy and ME ME needs to go home. (while he wasn't looking, ME ME found the garbage can.) So how did the first night go you ask? Well-not as bad as I expected. He did end up sleeping by our bed on the floor but we can work on that one later. And he did wake up wanting ME ME this morning-had a fit for about 45 minutes, but settled down and cuddled with mom. We will make it! I have to say, I am all for how we did it with Katie-no pacifier to begin with. No more searching all over the house to find where the Me Me is. No making sure it is packed when we go out, no more having to put it in the dishwasher when it starts to smell....But thank you ME ME for all the comfort you've provided for my son, now Farewell and good ridden:)

The Beauty of Idaho

When I first came to Idaho to go to BYU-Idaho, it seemed like I drove through endless fields and barren land with NO beautiful and lush trees to be seen. But, after living here for 9 years now, I am convinced of its beauty and marvel at the farmers' fields of green, and gold, the mountain peeks, and overflowing waterfalls. This past week I got to explore some of the well known sites of Idaho while my dad and Sister-Karey-visited us. We spent some of our time-exploring warm river-and the fishermen there, mesa falls, and even found out what a huckleberry looks like/tastes like! Lesson Learned: Every place and every person has a beauty of its own.

I May Be A Girl....But I Love Dirt, Sand, and Mud

Katie has a great love for messy things:) It must be the feel of the cool, mushiness between her fingers and toes...but she keeps herself busy for hours in a good old pile of dirt, sand or mud. And I have to admit-I don't mind it- it's nothing that a bath won't fix. Kids will be kids.

There Is a Wolf In Our House

Last week we found a Huge ferocious, scary-Wolf in our house! Well as you can see-he is more of a cute, cuddly, and loving nature-just the right kind of wolf-but he can sure howl with the best of them:) Grandpa and Aunt Karey took a trip to Yellowstone while they were visiting. Tavin missed them while they were gone, but he was delighted when they brought this hat back for him. He wears it all around the house-and for most of the day. It even came with a tail to hook on to the back of his pants!

LOOK MOM I'M HELPING!

So once there was a little boy who saw his mom, dad, and grandpa painting doors in the house-and he decided that it looked like a lot of fun. He wanted to join in-hey why not-everyone else was doing it! While no one was looking, he picked up a paint brush and began to "help" by vigorously brushing white paint all over the green hallway wall-then using his hands to spread it.

I don't know who this little boy belonged to...ahem...but these pictures are the result of his "helping". He was so proud of his work and such a cute little boy...how could the mom be mad. Surprisingly-the mom was very calm and explained that the little boy did a good job but that he was finished helping for that day. I am sure this is only one of many "helping" projects. But I am just guessing- I wouldn't know...because I don't know who that little boy belongs to....:)