A Cottage Built for Three..Make that Four

2011-09-30T21:04:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday, Miles!

2011-02-15T21:54:00.006-07:00

Love this blue-eyed boy!

This is a yummy dinner, now let me eat in peace!

Fire!

This stuff is delicious! (He left the ice cream 'til last though because it was so cold.)

I like presents and cards.

Dad opening presents with Miles, with a little help(?) from big sister Lily.

Mama and Miles!

It is Miles' first birthday today! He is a great little boy and we love him a lot. Happy birthday!

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T21:31:00.004-06:00

Our kids for Halloween:

Lily as Cinderella

Miles as ZombieBaby. (He was going to be a pumpkin until he had a four-day fever.)

We have an announcement...

2010-10-03T21:57:00.003-06:00

We are pleased to announce the birth of...
five new kittens! We recently adopted a stray cat from a neighbor. After we had her for a week or so, we realized she was pregnant. Last night while Matt was at Conference, she went in to labor and after much hard work, gave birth to five cute little babies. If you or someone you know is looking for a kitty, let us know!

Should we call him Smiles?

2010-08-07T10:31:00.003-06:00

This was Miles' first official, caught on camera, smile.

Now he smiles all the time! (Well, as long as people are paying attention to him.)

I'm not sure I like it...

2010-08-06T10:20:00.001-06:00

Maybe...

Maybe not...

Yeah, I do!

*Thanks for letting us borrow your Bumbo seat, Aunt Angie!

Giant S'mores

2010-08-05T10:05:00.000-06:00

Have you seen these marshmallows?

We didn't have a campfire, but we do have a gas stove.

The back of the bag called for a full bar of chocolate and two full graham crackers. We just used half. That white spot is the middle of the marshmallow that came out.

Make sure you have lots of wet wipes to clean up after!

We tried...

2010-08-04T22:00:00.000-06:00

Green Jello with Carrots

2010-06-20T22:10:00.004-06:00

Have you seen this website? They have lots of fun file folders and games. I have ordered a few I can draw books and they are great to keep the kids busy during quiet times (ie. church). You should check them out!

We bought a house!

2010-06-15T22:12:00.007-06:00

So, two weeks before Miles was born, our landlord told us that they were going to put our townhome up for sale. Well, we thought it was a good time to look for a place of our own and take advantage of the tax credit for first time homebuyers. Long, long story short, we ended up buying a fixer-upper short sale property. It was the first place we put a bid on and I didn't see it in the daylight until after we made an offer. Luckily, it had "good bones." We have been working on it since the end of April (almost everyday and with lots of help from Matt's family). We moved in over Memorial Day weekend and although there is still lots to be done, we are loving the space and having a place of our own. Here are some before shots:

The front room:

The kitchen

The master:

Lily's room:

Miles' room:

The basement:

The family room in the basement:

Close up of the nasty carpet:

The craft room:

The "yellow room":

After pics to come...

Four months

2010-06-15T22:05:00.004-06:00

Where has the time gone? Our baby is four months! He definitely loves smiling, snuggling, swaddling, sleeping, and his big sister. He has a great laugh and loves to "talk." He loves being around people and is loved by many. Here are a couple of pics from today:
Don't you love those eyes?!?

Oh, yeah, I got a haircut. And you can see the cupboards in our NEW KITCHEN that still need doors!

Miles at six weeks

2010-03-29T21:38:00.011-06:00

This little guy is 6 weeks old. Unfortunately, that also means I am now back to work full-time. It is hard leaving him, but it makes it easier knowing he is at home with his daddy and his big sister.

Already in his short life, he has been to California,

avoided getting pinched on St. Patty's Day,

been to the zoo,

met his only living great-grandparent,

been to a play (he's not actually in this picture, because I was holding him and taking the picture),

dyed Easter eggs,

been a good snuggler,

gained a lot of weight, lost a lot of hair, slept 4 hours in a row, and brought a lot fun into our home. He has not smiled yet, but he has laughed in his sleep, so we know he can do it. We love this boy!

In case you should meet a mountain lion...

2010-03-22T00:20:00.002-06:00

It's great being a big sister

2010-02-21T12:36:00.002-07:00

She looks so proud and happy to have baby brother Miles snuggling with her...

Our Cottage Built for Four

2010-02-21T12:27:00.001-07:00

The family:

Jumpin' Jacks (and kids)

2010-02-07T21:20:00.007-07:00

Last weekend, Matt's sister and her husband were out of town, so Grandma and Auntie had the three girls and Tevin, and they invited us to a local bouncing place with them. Obviously, I wasn't in any condition to jump, but it was fun to watch the kids. Lily was really nervous at first, but watching all her cousins be so fearless, she soon was getting into the fun. Auntie and Grandma jumped too! Here are some pictures:

Tevy and Auntie

Emmy in between bounces

Maddie sliding down

Climbing up the ladder

Getting tired

Grandma and Bryn

Lily and Maddie (Maddie kept trying to be a good big cousin and help Lily, but, of course, Lily had do it by herself!

Matt and Emmy

Belly shots of the non-jumpers

Everyone had a lot of fun (and got really tired out). Lily is already planning another trip!

37 weeks and 2 days

2010-02-04T12:46:00.001-07:00

Here is the obligatory belly shot. Don't laugh.

Getting closer...

2010-01-30T19:52:00.004-07:00

I went to see my doctor yesterday, and he is talking about inducing me in two weeks, due to Lily being so big and me being dilated already. Two weeks! I told him that I had things scheduled for the next three weeks, and I wasn't sure if that would work. He looked at Matt, Matt looked at him, and then they both looked at me like I was crazy. It seems a bit unreal that it is so close. I am not sure if we are completely ready yet (are you ever?). But, Matt, Lily and I spent the day doing things that are helping me feel closer to being ready. We even took a tour of the hospital where I will be delivering. It was really nice, very comfortable looking. I think Matt especially will like the extra hospital bed in the room just for him. The one thing they have that I really appreciated with Lily is that the clean the baby right in the room and then give the baby right back to you, where you can watch the whole time. There's also a nice big couch in the birthing room, so if you want to join us....Just kidding! I think after today, my anxiety has gone down quite a bit. I am still not sure about the two weeks though. We still need to come up with a name...

He's back!

2010-01-18T19:35:00.002-07:00

Matt returned this morning from a 10-day stay in Massachusetts. I didn't say anything before, because I am somewhat paranoid, and I didn't want anyone to know that Lily and I were on our own. I wasn't sure if we would survive, but with the help of a great babysitter, Matt's family, and some Costco specials, we made it. He was out there visiting family that he had never met, gathering family history information, and seeing places he had never been. It sounds like he had a fun and productive time. He had been wanting to go, and we decided that if he didn't go before the baby came, who knows when he would get the chance. Hopefully, we can get some pictures to post soon! To any of you who are single parents, my hat is off to you--I don't know how people do this all the time.

"Playing Bowling"

2009-12-30T21:27:00.004-07:00

The day after Christmas, we went to a bowling alley with family. It was the first time Lily had been ever, and I can't even remember the last time Matt and I went. I used to be halfway decent, but I did horrible. Mandy (my pregnant sister) and I blamed it on our centers of gravity being thrown off. We had a lot of fun anyway. (Thanks for the great activity, Dad and Nancy!)

The ball was about 8 pounds. If course, she had to do it herself. (Don't you love the shoes?)

I was trying not to be grossed out by the thumb in the mouth after the thumb being in the bowling ball.

Bowl, pregnant lady, bowl!

Angie, can't you keep the pizza in your mouth?

We're having a great time!

Our family Christmas 2009

2009-12-30T20:24:00.003-07:00

2 vs. 2

2009-10-07T22:09:00.002-06:00

What is "it?"

2009-09-05T18:51:00.003-06:00

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 16 week checkup. Everything apparently looks good. The doctor listened to the heartbeat, and based on that, he is predicting a boy. He said he is right about 50% of the time. Lily, however, is convinced that it is a girl. She is constantly talking about how "she" is doing and telling me how she is going to have a sister. What do you think? Vote on my survey on the side.

Kids say the cutest things:
Lily came with Matt and me to the doctor yesterday. We told her we were going to go see how the baby was doing. While we were there, she told the doctor she was going to hold the baby. After they got home, Lily told Matt that she thought the doctor was going to take the baby out of my tummy, and she would get to hold her for a minute while they checked on how she was doing. I guess she was pretty disappointed when she found out she would have to wait a little longer to see her "sister."

A Cottage Built for Four...Again!

2009-08-10T22:26:00.002-06:00

I waited this time until 12 weeks, and until we heard the heartbeat again, but we are expecting our second child (again)! I am due February 20th. Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes! So far everything looks great, and I am finally beginning to feel better. We'll see how it goes!

A quick trip

2009-06-29T21:00:00.003-06:00

This past weekend, Matt, Lily, Matt's sister, Jennie, and I all went to California to visit Matt's grandma Pauline, who has cancer and isn't doing very well. She is 89, and is an amazing woman. We were able to see her, my dad and his wife, Matt's uncle that I had never met before, and some cousins that we haven't seen for years. We also got to see the beach, stop at Trader Joe's, and eat at the In N Out Burger. We left Friday afternoon and got back Sunday night, so we definitely did a lot of driving, but Lily was great (thanks for entertaining her, Jennie)! Here is a picture with Grandma.

I will have to get Jennie to send some pictures of the beach.

Mandy's wedding

2009-05-14T19:38:00.003-06:00

Our sister and aunt Mandy got married last Friday to her Bryan (as Lily calls him). We are very excited for them! We also took a picture of our little family.

We've moved!

2009-03-12T23:25:00.003-06:00

I have a new job and we have moved, and I feel like I can barely make it up for air. Things are a bit crazy right now, but I hope to update sometime!

It's Official!

2009-02-16T18:46:00.004-07:00

On Valentine's Day, my older (and wiser and kinder) sister, Mandy, got engaged to a great guy named Bryan! We are so excited for them. They are planning on getting married on May 8 in the Salt Lake Temple. Here is her ring:

(I am putting this on my blog because she posts even less than I do.)

All right, STOP!...Hammer Time

2009-02-06T18:19:00.001-07:00

For those of you in the vicinity of Utah County, I wanted to pass along a very special opportunity that I just found out about yesterday. Are you ready?

Coming live in concert to the UVU McKay Events Center, on February 27th....

MC Hammer AND Vanilla Ice!!!! Together!!!!

I thought the date was maybe April 1st, but it is coming much sooner than that.

Tickets are $29.50-35.00 Here's the link on SmithTix if you're interested.

You're welcome.

A teaser

2009-02-03T00:38:00.000-07:00

We have been back for almost a week and I haven't posted yet, but it is late and I should go to bed. So, here is a teaser photo from our trip to California:

Who do they think is watching?

2009-01-20T00:16:00.000-07:00

I spent the day today first at the hospital getting (finally) a D and C, and then sleeping off the anethesia, and it is now after midnight and I can't sleep. Matt is asleep (he has to be at work at 7) and Lily has been asleep since we picked her up from her grandma's house (she fell asleep in the car at around 6:30 and has been asleep ever since--they must have really worn her out!), so I am on the computer doing nothing, with Jon and Kate plus 8 in the background. I have this theory about tv commercials and who advertisers think is watching:

1-Daytime TV: The commercials are either a) go back to school and get a better career (usually through Eagle Gate college or ITT Tech), b) payday loans, or c) Medicare/elderly people-related things such as medications, wheelchairs etc. So the only people who watch daytime tv are people with really sucky jobs, people who need money, but don't have a good way to get it, or old people.

2-Late night TV: The commercials are a) sleep aid commericals or b) male enhancement and/or phone chat numbers, such as LiveLinks. So the only people who watch late night tv are insomniacs or lonely/desperate people.

Since I have watch tv occasionally at these times, who does that make me?

Go Cougars!

2009-01-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

No, they didn't win any great bowl games or have a professor win a Nobel Prize recently, but it's fun to reminisce. Matt is taking an independent study class through BYU, and in order to save $200, we made a trip to the BYU Bookstore. Classes started last week, and Provo was certainly a different place from the beginning of January, when Christmas vacation was still in full swing. Students with backpacks were everywhere. Matt is definitely not BYU fan, and that combined with a bit of self-consciousness due to his being a bit of a "non-traditional" student and with a two-year old in tow, there was a bit of apprehension towards going inside. We found the bookstore and his required materials with no trouble, with the exception of Lily wanting to go up and down the stairs by herself, as students with longer legs and more of a schedule to keep rushed past. We checked out the BYU apparel, Lily tried on at least 10 different hats (BYU FISHING--What does that mean), she had a meltdown at having to leave the rubber CTR rings, we looked at the large assortment of pens and pencils (something Matt does have fond memories of from years past), and finished the trip with a BYU Creamery ice cream cone and some people watching in the Cougareat. It has been 12 and a half years since I started my college years, which is really hard to believe. I don't feel that old, and looking at the students, they didn't seem that young, but wow, is my life different now. Going back today brought back some fun memories. One thing Matt and I definitely decided is that you should finish college when you are young, not married, and preferably when someone else is footing the bill.:)

**I brought the camera on the journey, but unfortunately, Matt wouldn't let me bring it inside.

A new start, or playing catch-up

2009-01-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Seeing as how I put the Christmas decorations away today (this is early for me--I once still had them up in April, no kidding), I thought it would be nice to post a few pictures from the holidays. So, if you have the time, check out below for updates to the blog.

**After posting all these, I realized that I didn't really get any pictures of my side of the family. We were fortunate to spend lots of time with my dad and his wife, Nancy, my sister, Mandy, my brothers, Eddie and Tommy, and my sister, Angie, her husband, Gerrit, and their two boys Ryker and Kai. We had a great time with them, and I am sad that I don't have the pictures to show it. Angie, do you have any to share?

Sleepy, Sleepy

2009-01-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but I seem to capture a lot of moments when Lily is sleepy or sleeping. Maybe because she is actually calm enough for me to get the camera before she moves, or maybe just because I think she is just so darn cute, who knows. Here are some pictures of Lily from the holidays, being very sleepy. I am sure you will notice the ubiquitous thumb in the mouth, a common sight when she is tired (it has been her mouth's constant companion practically since birth).

Lily opening presents on Christmas morning

Lily after a hard morning of swimming

After a day spent with Ryker, Lily's cousin. Notice all the things she has to have in her bed to be able to sleep properly. Oh, and yes, she is in a toddler bed, but she likes to have the crib railing propped up next to her bed. If it didn't involve me having to find some tools, I should probably just put the crib back together, since she still likes that security.

Lily just waking up, with bed-head. Wait, do I actually see a smile? And doesn't she have great hair?

Lily on New Year's Day

I heard that what you do the first day of the year, you do all year...

2009-01-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

I was on-call for my very part-time job on New Year's Eve, so we just hung out at home, but the next day, we went to Matt's mom's house for some fun and food. The following pictures may get me in trouble, but I did try to get them to look at me.

Here is Matt's mom and his sister, Amber.

Our brother-in-law, Brandon (Jennie's husband).

Jennie, Matt's sister. She wasn't feeling well, and she was at the very end of a book she had gotten for Christmas. I completely understand the feeling of not wanting to be bothered when you are trying to finish the very last few pages!

Amber's son, Tevin. He likes to wear other people's shoes. I found him wearing my shoes at least 3 times.

Jennie and Brandon's littlest, Emalee. She just turned a year old, and is the cutest thing. She has been walking for a little while, and it is crazy to see this little girl just toddling around.

Maddie, Brandon and Jennie's oldest, with her cousin Lily. This is Grandma's back room, and I continually found Lily back here when she was feeling overwhelmed with all the people.

Here are a couple of pictures of the food. Jennie and Judy made some great dips, and Matt made some yummy sushi.
\

A budding photographer

2008-12-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

Lily got her own camera for Christmas, but since it doesn't really take pictures, she still likes to use Mommy and Daddy's (with strict supervision, of course, following the demise of two, TWO, former cameras).

Lily taking a picture with her camera.

Here are some real pictures taken one day by Lily that I thought were her best:

A picture of me taken by Lily from the backseat. I tried to get her to lift the camera up, but seeing it was futile, I ducked down as far as I could to try to get in the frame.

A couple of pictures of Mandy. I think they are kind of arty. Mandy wouldn't let me save the pictures of her rear that Lily took.

A picture of Mom. "Oh, another picture? Great!"

And finally, a picture taken by me of the artist.

Snowy Day Fun

2008-12-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

On the Saturday after Christmas, we went to the school where Matt's dad taught to go sledding. It was a bit of an impromptu activity, so we had to frantically find Lily some boots and gloves, but luckily we had her coat and Matt's sister, Jennie, had an extra snow suit, and she was good to go.

Here she is (in the middle) with her cousin Brynlee, contemplating the hill:

Getting strapped into the sled. Jennie had this awesome sled that was made for toddlers, with a seat belt and a tow rope.

Grandma, pulling Lily up in the hill in the sled. Brynnie was helping.

Daddy pulling Lily up just a little higher.

Lily headed toward the end of the run. I think there's a smile in there.

Lily at the bottom. There's definitely a smile. I can also see what appears to be a double thumbs-up, but really, they are just really big gloves (mine). I think she had her hands balled up in fists inside the gloves.

This is Grandma after she went down the hill. She said that she thought someone at the bottom was going to catch her, but she ended up hitting a bump and doing a somersault. This was the aftermath. I think she was okay after a few days.

"Wow, that was fun, but I am tired!"

The water monkey

2008-12-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

Lily loves swimming and the water. She is crazy for it. She has taken a shower or bath almost every single day of her life, which I think helps her to love the water, and not be afraid of it. We don't really have a bathtub she can use right now to "swim" in, but she will sit in the middle of the shower floor to stop the water from going down the drain, to make a pool for her and her dolly. So, imagine her excitement when she learned that the hotel Grandpa was staying at had a real pool! See the joy for yourself:

"Yeah, the pool! I am going to get in!"

"Now I am REALLY excited!"

"Can we play with this ball?"

Lily and her aunt Mandy. ***Note the lack of smile. This is not an indication of her enjoyment level. It is merely because Mommy is taking the picture.

Post-swimming towel off.
"Yes, I am a ham. (But only when Mandy is taking the picture.)"

"Mmmm, this tastes like chlorine!"

"Aren't I cute?"

A New Camera, or Christmas Day

2008-12-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

An explanation--for some reason, right after the New Kids concert, our camera stopped working. Maybe too much awesomeness after capturing the likes of Jon, Joey, Jordan, et all? Or, more likely, as Matt suggests, Lily once again got hold of a camera, with disastrous results. Unfortunately, I missed out on several photo ops during the Christmas season (we'll have to get pictures of the reindeer next year). Needless to say, I was very happy to receive a new camera for Christmas (thanks, Matt!). We went to Matt's mom's house on Christmas Eve, where we had a nice extended family party, which Matt missed sadly because of work, and then slept over at her house, where we had a nice leisurely Christmas morning (waking at 8:30, breakfast at 11:45, relaxed with family). Here are a few pictures from the morning:

I opened the camera very first thing Christmas morning, so this was one of the first pictures we got. Lily was excited to receive a Wonder Pets backpack, but in this photo she is still trying to wake up, and would not look at me, no matter how much I pleaded.

Lily got a camera of her own! She loves it (no it doesn't take real pictures, but she doesn't know.)

I had heard good things about this DVD helping kids learn their letters and the sounds, but boy, is it annoying. She likes it though.

Lily's grandma Judy gave Lily a doggy condo with 6 puppies in it. Lily thought that they should take a nap in the real doggy's house.

Lily and her Grandma Judy. We love being with her!

The happy family looking oh, so great, in our jammies. Lily is smiling so big because Matt is tickling her. When your kid won't smile for the camera, sometimes drastic measures are called for. It almost looks natural.

Lily drinking a juice box (bag?) on the way to Great-grandma's house to spend time with my side of the family. She had to build up some energy to survive a second round of present opening.

Unfortunately, the camera only came with a 32 MB card (are you kidding?) so this is all we had room for on the camera, but we had a great time with my dad and Nancy, Mandy and her friend, Eddie, Tommy, and my grandma Betty. They made a great meal and we had fun playing games, opening presents, and spending time together. Mandy took some pictures, though, so if I can get her to share them, I will have to post them later.

Dancing Lights

2008-12-24T01:20:00.000-07:00

There's a guy in Murray that decorates his house and synchronizes the lights to the music. We have been twice now to see them because Lily loves it so much. She keeps talking about the dancing lights! It is fun, but be prepared to wait in line. If you are lucky, you can get a front row parking spot to see it. Click here to see his website. Merry Christmas!

Just a Little Update

2008-12-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hi, all~ I have been getting requests for an update, so here it is:

First, the good news. After getting laid off in November, Matt had found another job, that actually pays better, has better hours, and better benefits. He had been thinking about switching jobs anyway, so the layoffs were just an extra push to find something better (which I can say now that he has found something else).

Lily is doing well. She is having a lot of fun with the Christmas season so far. We got out her Little People nativity that she got for Christmas last year, and she loves it. She has fun looking at Baby Jesus and his mommy and daddy. I tried to explain the whole Joseph caretaker thing, but I don't think she got the whole concept.

And the bad news. I am currently having my third miscarriage. We hadn't told many people yet that I was pregnant again, because of last time. I went in for an ultrasound on Matt's birthday, and unfortunately there was no heartbeat (again). It was extra hard because we had actually already heard the heartbeat twice on two previous ultrasounds, so we thought we were out of the woods. It should have been 10 weeks already, and were planning for a Christmas official announcement, but things probably stopped growing at 8 weeks. I think I am still in denial, and I have been keeping busy, so that helps, but I just can't believe it is happening again. Maybe we will be one of those odd Mormon families with an only child. Lily and my sister Mandy were with me at the ultrasound (Matt was at work), and when the tech told me there was no heartbeat, I started to cry. Lily put her hand on my arm and said, "I so sorry. Hurts real bad? I so sorry," and she gave me a little kiss. I looked at her and I realized that it would all be 10,000 times worse if I didn't have my little Lily. We are so grateful to have her. We are trying to stay hopeful, and hopefully will have success in the future.

Hope all is going well with your holiday preparations, and you are enjoying the Christmas spirit this season!

Happy Birthday Matt!

2008-12-11T01:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was Matt's birthday. We had a nice day, with some not so nice news thrown in (more later), but it was fun to spend time together as a family and enjoy each other's company. Matt is a great dad and a great husband, and we are so happy to be together! Happy birthday honey, I love you!

Santa's Yap

2008-12-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Lily has been talking about Santa for a few weeks now, and she really has been wanting to sit on his lap after seeing some other kids doing so at the mall. We saw Santa at the Festival of Trees on Saturday, but the line was long and we were really tired, so we didn't wait. But, on Monday morning, I hear d on Good Things Utah that Santa was going to be at Thanksgiving Point, along with a few of his reindeer. We braved the cold and the snow to get there, and we had to wait in line for an hour, but seeing the happiness on Lily's face when she saw Santa was worth it. She didn't out and out smile, but she didn't cry either, and she couldn't stop talking about it afterwards. By the way, in case you are wondering, she told Santa that she wants candy for Christmas. Could it be any easier? Here is the picture they sent us:

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T23:19:00.001-07:00

One turkey dinner down, one to go! Seriously, the food was great, thanks, Dad, Nancy, and Grandma! We had a nice time, even if it was curtailed a bit by various illnesses. Hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow.

10 Ways to Find New Blog Topics

2008-11-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

**I found this on the internet the other day, and I thought it would be helpful to some of you, but mostly to me.

Typepad Blog Topics

Fresh out of ideas on what to write about? Your blog muse taking a holiday? Don't sweat it. Ideas are everywhere; you just have to know where to look. We've rounded up ten suggestions to help you uncover a wealth of new topics and blog another day.
1. Check your comment section.
Some of the best ideas come from readers. Read through your comments and check for interesting questions, provoking thoughts, or anything that could become a good post topic. Focus particularly on any comment threads that contain a spirited discussion among readers. If it's hot, run with it.
2. Create a list.
Whatever you blog about, there is likely an exciting list that you can uncover. Write the “5 Secrets to...” or the “Top 10 Ways...” or “8 Reasons Why...” or “3 Ways to Find Out...” They're quick and painless, and even better: they're fun to read.
3. Review your greatest hits.
Read back through your old posts, particularly the ones that generated a good amount of feedback, and consider writing a fresh angle on the topic. If a subject was compelling once, it might be worthwhile to explore another variation on it.
4. Spend some time on social networking sites like Digg and StumbleUpon to find out what other people are blogging about.
Sometimes just browsing through headlines of buzz-worthy blog topics will be enough to jumpstart your creativity. Good ideas are contagious, so take time to read popular blogs and blogs that are generating lots of conversations, and you'll soon have a bunch of new ideas.
5. Explore blogs in an entirely different category than yours.
Stepping outside your own content area is a wonderful way to be inspired. Have a marketing blog? Read a few food blogs. Have a craft blog? Check out a few political blogs. Inspiration is just a few clicks away.
6. Do something different.
Create a post using only pictures. Hold a contest. Give something away to the “nth” person who comments. Invite your readers to ask you a question. Participate in a blog meme. Write a pros and cons list on a topic that is relevant for your audience. Write a post in your “alter ego” voice, contradicting a stance you would usually take. Create a poll. Write about a blog post that you had a strong reaction to.
7. Invite a guest author to write a blog post.
If you need a break on the writing front, why not ask another blogger to write a guest post? Another up-and-coming blogger will likely seize the chance to write for a new audience, and your regular readers will get a fresh perspective.
8. Step away from the computer.
Some of the best ideas come when you stop trying so hard. Spend an hour or two at the museum; catch the afternoon matinee; browse the magazine rack; or crack open a novel. Chances are good that you'll find yourself inspired when you do return to your desk.
9. Turn on the news.
We know: since you started blogging, you don't watch nearly as much television, but local and national news are a goldmine of topic ideas. Tune in and be inspired.
10. Keep an idea log.
Buy a cheap notebook and jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Carry it with you when you're riding the bus or sitting at the airport. Next time you can't think of anything to post about, all you'll have to do is turn to your own treasure trove of brilliance.

How To Make Cookies by Lily

2008-11-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

1-Have a tall chair so you can reach the mixer. Hold back your hair so you can see.

2-Get a measuring spoon for the flour. Be sure not to spill while Mommy takes your picture.

3-Carefully pour the ingredients in.

4- (not pictured) Spank the dough's bottom while Mommy rolls the dough out.

5-Press the cookie cutter carefully into the dough. Let Mommy pick up the cutouts, or else we will have to keep rolling the dough again, and again, and again...

6-Bake the cookies in the oven and let them cool overnight in a big bowl.

7-Get some frosting and add some food coloring. Stir well.

8-If you accidentally spill some food coloring, use a napkin. Don't lick your finger to try to get it off.

9-Examine the cookie for any defects. If it looks broken, go ahead and eat it.

10-Make sure your Daddy helps.

11-Show Daddy how to lick frosting off your finger.

12-Share with Daddy. Check out his black tongue!

12-Have everyone help out. This is my Aunt Judy (or as I like to call her, Jewey!)

13-Help clean up by licking the knife clean. Make sure the knife isn't sharp!

14-Admire results. Share with friends and neighbors, but make sure to leave a few for yourself! The first two pictures are everyone else's cookies, but the last picture...

Shows all MY cookies!

Lily and Halloween

2008-11-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Cut me some slack, it's not Thanksgiving quite yet!
Here are some trick or treating pictures.

(I know it's bragging, but I made Lily's costume, and I think it turned out pretty darn cute!)

First up are a couple of shots from the zoo. We went the Saturday before Halloween, and it was really fun, if a bit crowded. In fact, the zoo broke an attendance record that had stood for 25 years! I am sure the great weather had something to do with that.

Here is Lily waiting for our friends, Valerie and Cailen, to arrive.

Here are Lily and Cailen. I took several shots, but this is the closest one to having them both look at the camera at the same time. Also, notice the mane in Lily's lap. It lasted about 15 minutes on her head.

Lily on the carousel, riding the elephant. She spotted him from the line, and insisted on riding it.

We went out to lunch afterwards, using some coupons we got at the zoo. Cailen was giving Lily a hug, which she wasn't so sure about. Cailen is being held by his mom, Valerie.

*************************
The next pictures are from Halloween night. Unfortunately, Daddy had to work. We really missed him!

Mommy and the Scary Lily Lion

Lily and the changing leaves

Lily and Grandma Trish (I had a request for a picture of mom to be put on the blog, plus I thought it was cute)

Lily at her first door. She wasn't quite sure what to do, but she learned quickly. We knew we were done though when she wanted to be pushed in her stroller to every door.

Lily (post Trick or Treating) with our friend Jalene. Jalene came with us for some trick or treating and some soup after. Thanks for coming with us!

Remember When We Said, Girl, Please Don't Go...

2008-11-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

And how I'd be loving you for-eh-eh-eh-eh-ever, taught you 'bout hangin' tough, as long as you got the right stuff, didn't we girl?

If you recognized the above lyrics, you just might have been a New Kids fan.

My sister-in-law Jennie and I were lucky enough to get FREE TICKETS to the New Kids on the Block on Saturday, and it was A LOT of fun. Lots of old songs, lots of new songs (although there was a little too much crotch grabbing for my liking), lots of 20-30 something women, and a few husbands who were dragged along. I was a little worried that they hadn't aged very well, but those guys had so much energy. They played for over 2 hours, and were exciting the whole time.

But, here is the best part. About halfway through, the group showed up in the middle of the arena:

As they were singing on the piano, security started lining the aisle right in front of us. Jennie turned to me and said, "They are going to come through here." Sure enough, at the end of that set, all five of them walked right in front of us, and I, I, got to touch all 5 of them!!! Even my past crush, Jonathan. Jennie was able to get the pictures below:

See that arm with the green sweater? The one with the hand that is touching Jordan Knight's hand? That's me!

Here are a few more pictures from the evening:

This is a picture of me with the New Kids in the background.

During a slow set,, with Jordan on the big screen behind.

The final bow, right after Hangin' Tough.

A few other highlights from the night:
-Lady GaGa and Natasha Bedingfield were the opening acts. They were fun, but, really, weren't we all just waiting for the New Kids?
-A group of girls coming out of the bathroom with crimped hair and 80s clothes. I could tell they were a little embarrassed, but I thought it was great.
-Donnie wearing an I (heart) Mormon Girls t-shirt
-A few shirts:
--Sorry, Jonathan, I'm married now.
--Jordan was my first crush.
--A guy wearing a "Property of Jordan Knight" shirt

All in all, it was lots of nerdy fun!

Together Again

2008-11-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Amy Allen Pulsipher
Amy Allen Pulsipher Together Again 1924 ~ 2008 Amy Allen Pulsipher passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.Amy was born Oct 1, 1924 in Salt Lake City to Elizabeth Hardy and Heber Simeon Allen. On June 29, 1948 she married William Leonard Pulsipher in the Salt Lake Temple. Amy lovingly served her family, her church, and the community throughout her life. Her gardens brought joy to all who saw them. Amy is survived by her children, Bill (Cindy) Pulsipher, Judy Pulsipher, Allen Pulsipher, and Patricia (Kerry) Coop; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and her brother, Nephi Allen; and her four sisters-in-law. Preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; and four other siblings. The family would like to give special thanks to our sister, Judy, for the years of service she gave to Mom, and to her other caregivers who loved her. Funeral services will be held Wed., November 5, 2008 at 12 noon at the Parley's 1st Ward, 2350 S. 2100 E., where friends may visit with the family from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.holbrookmortuary.com

I knew it!

2008-10-29T16:08:00.001-06:00

Thanks, Elizabeth for bringing this to my attention. If you have been reading the "My Super
Hopeless Romance", read here or here.

It was entertaining while it lasted.

New Crib!

2008-10-28T13:55:00.000-06:00

After two trips to the store, a few hours online, 5 cribs being out of stock, a few tears (sad, but true), we have ordered this crib. Thanks to the tears and asking to talk to a supervisor, we ended up getting 30% off AND free shipping! It wasn't my first pick, but I think it will be cute, a little more modern than we had before, but the best part is that it comes with the toddler bed rail. Lily is excited for her new bed to come.

Another Crib Recall (Not Ours, But It Could Be Yours)

2008-10-21T13:52:00.001-06:00

I just read about another crib recall on Delta cribs made from 1995-2007. Make sure you check your crib! Here is the link to the info: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27294553/ or http://www.cribrecallcenter.com/. The cribs were sold at Wal-mart, K-mart, and Target.

Still Sleeping

2008-10-21T11:07:00.000-06:00

It is 11:00am and she is still sleeping. Partial explanation for the behavior yesterday?

Adventures in Pottytraining, or, Wanted for Attempted Robbery

2008-10-20T17:38:00.000-06:00

**I couldn't decide on what to title this post, so I put in the two titles I liked.

Normally I wouldn't post about potty training for two reasons:
1) Confession time: even though my daughter is 2 and a half, I haven't given it much of a try, other than to say, "Lily, you really should learn to use the potty."
and
2) I get really bored/grossed out from all the gory details (not you, I love hearing about your kid's pooping problems).

BUT, after a day like today, I have to write it down in the hopes that I can look back someday and see the humor in it all.

It started out this morning when I thought it would be "fun" to put some underpants on the Lily to see if the "Let it fly, and she'll stay dry" method would work for us. (You know, the one where the kid ends up peeing all over the house?) Well, she thought it would be a fun adventure, but I should have known that it wouldn't work when she absolutely positively wouldn't sit on the potty. She definitely wanted to stand on it to brush her teeth by herself, though!

Then, I took the potty upstairs for easy access. After a few minutes, Lily decided she wanted to take her underwear off. She wouldn't tell me why, but she went to get a diaper. She didn't want to put that on. Then I went to get a pull-up, but she didn't want to put that on. So we have a little one running around with nothing on. Well, you guessed it, it wasn't long before she started getting THAT FACE, the one that says, "Something is about to come out, but I really don't want it to."

This was followed by my picking her up and running for the potty. She started screaming, and yelling, "No, Mommy, No!" with tears running down her cheeks. She refused to sit, refused to put anything on, and refused to talk to me. She then FLUNG herself face down on the kitchen floor and continued to bawl. Then she followed me into the living room, where she FLUNG herself face down on the living room floor, still bawling.

At this point, I gave up, so I guess I should have not been surprised when not FIVE minutes later, she followed me downstairs, where she promptly spread her legs, and, well, you know, made like a cat and sprayed the carpet.

This led to me, again, picking her up and running for the bathroom, where she was told to remain while I got something to clean up the mess. She actually listened, but when I returned, she started bawling again when I tried to put a diaper on her. I had had it, so I laid her down on the floor, held her hands back with my feet, as I put her diaper on her, dodging the kicking legs. At this point there may have been some yelling, I really don't know. I know, I know, not the best strategy for encouraging potty training.

She then was sent to her room, and told to get on her bed, which she actually did, which was good, because by this time we both needed a time out.

After she was in her room for about 10 minutes, I thought it would be a good idea for us to run to Babies R Us to take care of some business related to our crib. Why did I think this would go well? I have no idea.

So things actually went okay. We got our business done, and I thought we should look at some socks. They had nothing, but they did have some cute Elmo and Ariel underwear (two different packages). Feeling bad for the way I handled the situation earlier in the day, I thought I would get her some new underwear for encouragement. She, of course, wanted both of them, which I contemplated, but in the end, I decided to let her choose one. I don't think she entirely understands the concept of choosing, because every time I asked her to choose, she would say, "Melmo, Air-el, melmo, air-el."

I finally took away Elmo, and was about to take away Ariel, when she decided to take off. Thinking she wouldn't go far, I waited a second before following. I underestimated how determined she was. When she saw I was coming for her, she took off even more, to the front of the store, and out the first double doors. (Who thought automatic doors in a baby store was a good idea?) At this point, I am screaming and running, and I finally caught her, after she went out the SECOND double doors, and INTO THE PARKING LOT!!!! WITHOUT STOPPING!!!! WITH ARIEL STILL IN HER HANDS!!!! I scooped her up, ran back into the store, flung the underwear on the counter, and ran back out, while also catching a glimpse of all the employees gathered in a circle at the front of the store, just staring at my crazy eyes and flaming cheeks.

Needless to say, she didn't end up with either Melmo or Air-el.

For the rest of the way home, I kept reminding her she was in trouble and that she had done something very naughty. She kept saying, "Mommy sad?" and "Sowwee (sorry)". I don't really know if she knew what she had done was wrong (the shoplifting and the running into the street and not listening to Mom), but she knew I was upset.

And, that, my friends, is why my daughter will be in kindergarten, still not potty-trained. I apologize to her tablemates in advance.

As soon as we got home, she went back to her bed, where she is currently still sleeping peacefully, with no hint of the troubles from earlier in the day.

*Oh, I did stop to take this picture as we got home.

WANTED: FOR ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

-How do you discipline a 2 year old? We do time-outs and the like, but how do you know what you are trying to teach them is sinking in?

NKOTB!

2008-10-07T10:34:00.000-06:00

Okay, I know at least my sister Alicia can appreciate this. Did anyone see Rachael Ray today? It had a super New Kids fan contest. The lady that won was 33 and was decked out in a jacket, tee shirt, pins, etc, and she had a water bottle that Jordan used 15 years ago. It had water in it until yesterday, when she had to dump it out at the airport. She also had a spoon that Donny had used in a hotel 15 years ago. She was crying when she was talking about it. And then, they had the New Kids on. They look exactly the same, just older. I always had a secret crush on Jon, because he was the quiet one. I wouldn't ever tell anyone about my crush, but I had a secret dream that one day I would meet them, and he would see me and fall in love, and I could finally admit that I was in love with him. There, my confession after 15 years! By the way, he just seemed really nerdy today. My taste must have grown up. I know Alicia was looking to go to the concert in California, if anyone is up for it!

CHECK YOUR CRIB!!!

2008-10-04T23:36:00.000-06:00

Through the magic of the internet, with one thing linking to another, to another, to another, I found this tonight:

Cute, right? This is the crib we picked out for our darling little girl right before she was born. This is the crib she has been sleeping in almost every night for the last 2 years and 4 months. This is the crib that I just tonight discovered has been RECALLED due to strangulation and entraptment hazard!!!
I had no idea, and the recall has been around since June. So, make sure you check out your crib and see if has been recalled.
We got ours at Babies R Us in 2006. Here is the official notice.
The good news is that we will get a voucher for the highest retail price, including sales tax, to use on a new crib of our choice from Babies R Us or Toys R Us.
Lily doesn't really need to be in a crib anymore, although Matt and I were talking 3 nights ago about how nice it is that she sleeps so well in it still. She never even tries to get out.
But, since we hope (crossing our fingers and our toes) that someday we will have another baby, we need to get it now while we still can.
And, I was noticing a few weeks ago that it had dings and scratches in it, and how it would be nice to get a new one!

So, to sum up, make sure to check your crib. The US Consumer Product Safety Commision website has all the info on any recall on anything. Make sure to check it out periodically.

A temple in Italy!

2008-10-04T11:31:00.001-06:00

Hooray!

I think this blog is fake

2008-10-02T19:12:00.000-06:00

I stumbled upon this blog as a link on someone else's blog, and as entertaining as it is, I think it is fake. What do you think?

The real reason I think it is fake is, how did people find out about it? Did she send the address to a few friends, and it has spread? And in that case, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of remaining anonymous, because her friends would know who she is?

And if it isn't fake, I am sorry to the real author, because having many years ago been in a semi-similar, if not quite so dramatic, situation, I feel for her. Also, it is so detailed, I think she may secretly want "Seth" to find it so that she can let him know her true feelings without outright telling him.

Read it and let me know what you think in the *comment* section below.

Comments

2008-10-02T19:00:00.000-06:00

I was just posting a comment on a friend's blog, and it got me thinking about a couple of things. Feel free to respond to my questions in the comment section below.

1-How do you respond to people's comments? Do you post a comment on your own blog, under the other person's comment? I don't always go back and look at the comment section of someone else's blog after I have posted, so I don't know if the person would see it. Do you post a comment on their blog under a possible completely unrelated post, in the hopes they will remember what they posted so they will know what they are talking about? And should you reference their post in your comment, even if it is something you might not normally comment on?

2-Is it proper blogging etiquette to always post a comment on someone's blog? I personally don't always, either because I don't have anything new to add, I am too lazy, I don't know the person (oops, does that happen?), etc. But I feel sad sometimes when nobody makes a comment on my postings. I like to know that people care at least a little bit to look at my blog. But, just because I don't always comment doesn't mean I don't care, right?

3-How do you feel about posting on a blog for a person you don't know? Come on, I know you all do it--blog hopping, blog stalking, whatever you want to call it. I know I do--I even have a few links to people I have never met. My mother-in-law reads my sisters' blogs to find out what is happening in the family, not technically looking at a stranger's blog, but still.

4-Would you like strangers posting on your blog? Obviously this question is for people with non-private blogs. I assume most strangers don't get invited to read private blogs.

5-Why don't you leave comments on my blog? I know you read it, because you tell me so later. (You know who you are!)

Also, based on this blog post, can you tell where I am at in the cycle?

Happy Birthday Grandma!

2008-10-01T12:11:00.000-06:00

Today is my grandma Amy's 84th birthday. This is the grandma that we are living with and help care for. I don't mention her often, because, frankly, nothing much changes with her. She spends her days sleeping and eating. She has a fever today and doesn't seem to be doing well, so we will just keep an eye on her and see how she does. But, happy birthday Grandma!

An Update

2008-09-30T20:54:00.001-06:00

So I went to the doctor today for a follow-up. She said everything looked great and gave us the green light to try again when we feel ready. She said that she didn't expect there to be any problems, but of course, she said that last time, so we will see. Keep your fingers crossed for us! In a semi-related note, I think pregnant teenagers should go to a different doctor than 30-year olds who want to get pregnant, but are having some difficulties. Not to judge (which means I totally do) but sometimes it doesn't seem fair.

Meet our new Friend, Zuke

2008-09-28T23:28:00.000-06:00

What do you think of Lily's new friend?

This is what happens when you forget to check the garden for a few days.

My sister Mandy graciously agreed to adopt him. She took him home and used 1/4 in zucchini brownies (which amounted to 6 cups of grated zucchini), and then the girls at the Academy used the rest for fried zucchini. It was nice knowing ya, Zuke!

Peach Crisp

2008-09-26T00:44:00.001-06:00

I love peaches! They are just about the best fruit in the whole entire world, and I love this peach crisp recipe. It is super easy. I even had to make some tonight, even though I am supposed to be "taking it easy." Luckily, Matt was kind enough to do the dishes!

Peach Crisp
At a Glance
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min

INGREDIENTS:
• 4 -5 cups fresh or canned peaches, sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons flour, divided
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup butter, cold
• Optional: Whipped or ice cream

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 9 x 13 glass pan. Mix peaches, cinnamon, sugar and 3 tablespoons flour. Add to pan.

Mix rest of flour, oats and brown sugar. Cut in butter. Sprinkle butter mixture over peaches. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

Best served warm with whipped or ice cream.

**I actually think I prefer this with canned peaches. Better to eat a ripe peach all on it's own.

A Few Things I've Read Recently

2008-09-26T00:34:00.000-06:00

Memoir of a Miscarriage

Share Parents

Eager Trial

2008-09-25T21:37:00.000-06:00

So, it has been almost two weeks since I have posted, and I have oddly missed it. I have been wanting to write something for a while now, but haven't quite known what to say. I know my blog has been like so many others, light and fluffy, full of "this is what we did today," but I feel I need to say something, if only for me, and to record what happened to my little family. As I previously posted, we have been expecting baby #2. I went in to get an ultrasound on September 15, 2008, when I was 9 weeks, 6 days, pregnant. The baby was measuring small with the traditional sonogram, so the tech decided to go in the other way. After several tense seconds, she said, "I am sorry, there is no heartbeat." I was stunned, but not surprised. I had been feeling for several weeks...something. I don't know what. I was having a hard time connecting with the fact that I was pregnant for some reason. I was excited, we told lots of people, we were planning how to pay for the delivery, we talked about names, but there was something nagging me. I kept thinking something was wrong. But, of course, I felt that way with Lily, and she turned out perfect. If this baby had been healthy, I am sure I would have forgotten all about these feelings, but this is one of those "looking back" situations. Or maybe I am just looking for things to answer the question, "How did I not know?" How did I not know my baby had stopped growing 3 weeks before I knew? What did I do wrong? What is wrong with us? What will it take? How old will Lily be? How old will I be?

About 18 months ago, Matt and I decided it was time to have another kid. With Lily, it was so easy. The second month we tried, I got pregnant. Things were great, she was healthy, we had a little scare early in the pregnancy, when they thought she was too small, but we had an ultrasound and everything was fine. After she was born, it was a while before we even wanted to think of another one. We have always wanted several kids, but it was so easy, we didn't feel a need to rush it. I guess it is true what they say about the best laid plans, that somehow they
seem to go awry.

Towards the end of September of 2007, I started to have some weird bleeding over a weekend.I called the on-call doctor, and she told me I should take a pregnancy test, and if it was positive, to call my regular doctor on Monday. Well, to my surprise, it was positive, but after several days of worry, hope, and tests, it was determined that I was no longer pregnant.

Fast-forward 10 months later, to August of 2008, when I was at my sister's house in Colorado. She had just had a baby, so Lily and I went to visit, and while I was there, I took a pregnancy test. It was finally positive! We were so excited, but you have seen how that has turned out.

This past Monday, the 22nd, I got a D and C. I am no longer pregnant. The strangest part to me is that if I hadn't gotten the ultrasound, I would still think that I am pregnant. I had no bleeding, slight cramps (which I had with Lily), no real reason to be alarmed, other than my vague worries.

Yes, so, for those of you who are counting, this means we have had two miscarriages in a row. My sister, Mandy, said I should look at it as we are now 1 for 3. I am infinitely grateful for the one, my beautiful Lily, without who I would possibly be completely and utterly distraught, but the fact of the matter is, we want another baby, and I am devastated. We are looking into our options right now, but as we have "only" had two miscarriages, the doctor won't do a lot of testing. I am possibly looking at being part of a research study. I go in for the initial interview next week, and I am crossing my fingers.

My mom came up for a few days, my aunt has taken off work, we have had many calls, visits, and well-wishes, and I thank you all for that.

We continue on.

Sad News

2008-09-15T21:41:00.000-06:00

Hi, all! Thanks for your congratulations and well wishes on the pregnancy. Unfortunately, I had an ultrasound today, and there was no heartbeat. I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for our family at this time. Thanks for everything.

Hop-hops*

2008-09-12T18:38:00.000-06:00

Lily is addicted to macaroni and cheese. It is true. She likes all kinds, whether it is the cheap Western Family brand, or the expensive gourmet kind my dad brought her for lunch today. He had gone to lunch with my grandma (not the one we live with), and brought us some food from Z'Tejas at the Gateway. This is the description: Jack’s Five-Cheese Macaroni & Achiote Chicken
Made with bleu, Jack, cheddar, Parmesan and Romano cheeses, finished with toasted bacon gratin.
I found the recipe online if you would like to try it for yourself:
Z Tejax Macaroni and Chick en

Some of Lily's other favorites are:

This is where the term "Hop-hops" came from, because, obviously, there is a bunny on the front, and bunnies are actually "hop-hops" in Lilian (a new language I will post about later). These are quite good, and she and I can sit down and eat a whole box (okay, we eat the whole box everytime). So good!

My aunt buys these, so more often than not, this is what Lily will eat. Two-thirds a cup of water, 3 and a half minutes in the microwave, mix the sauce in, and that's it. They taste terrible though, and aren't very nutritious, but she loves it, and when I don't feel like eating or cooking anything, it is a life-saver.

And then the other day I found these at Whole Foods:

You would have thought Lily had died and gone to heaven. Hop-hop hop-hops! And the box is pink! We had to eat these the very next day. She wanted to eat them the day I brought them home, but she had already eaten dinner.

*If you are ever with Lily, be aware that hop-hops can also mean lollipops or popsicles. If you aren't sure which one she is referring to, look around, you can usually spot the object somewhere nearby.

Fresh Tomatoes

2008-09-12T15:05:00.000-06:00

I went to the Farmers' Market this morning in the Murray Park (near 5300 South). Matt and I always make it a point to go at least a few times during the end of summer, because they have great produce. Today I got a bunch of peaches--not enough for canning, but definitely enough for eating, and maybe a fresh peach cobbler, my favorite! I also bought fresh tomatoes, and it reminded me that I hadn't had a fresh tomato sandwich in a long time. My mom used to make these in the summer. Here is the recipe:
1 ripe, fresh tomato (best when straight from the garden, still warm from the sun)*
2 slices of lightly toasted white bread (store brand is great)
A dollop of mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Cut the tomato in slices, spread one slice of bread with the mayonnaise, lay out the tomato slices, add salt and pepper, and top with the other slice of bread.
Enjoy!
That's it, so good, so easy, and so yummy, and can only be enjoyed in summer when tomatoes are at their peak.
*Don't even think about trying this with store-bought, hydroponic tomatoes. It will just leave you disappointed.

A Cottage Built for...Four?!?

2008-09-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Yes, it is true. We are expecting our second baby in April (great month!) I went to the doctor yesterday and everything looks great. We didn't hear the heartbeat yet, but I go in for an ultrasound on Monday.

...And to make things more exciting, my sister Alicia...well, check out her blog and see for yourself!
Club Paradise