Taco Turmoil

What could cause a pathetic looking face like this?  A taco, I tell you, a taco.  Well, first off Cassidy was feeling a little under the weather that day.  We happened to need a taco from Taco Bell for lunch.  Cassidy got hers out of the bag and started opening it.  Then she freaked.  Who ever made her taco was not neat enough for Cassidy's taste.  Would you believe that her lettuce was going to fall out? And some cheese too?  It was simply not acceptable to her and resulted in quite a few tears.  That is until mom grabbed another tortilla out of the frige and dumped the taco contents into a new shell in a most organized manner.  And she then ate it. And life was grand.
-DISASTER AVERTED-

This happens to be Cass about an hour later.  You know she isn't feeling good when she falls asleep watching her 'Punzel movie.

Sweet Sassy Molassy

 Are you a fan of molasses cookies?  I didn't think I was.  My mom never ventured down Molasses Road, so I was settled in pretty nicely on Chocolate Chip Way.  Then at Christmas this year our neighbors brought over these to die for molasses cookies and I quickly realized what I have been missing. We downed like 30 cookies in 2 days...  Heck, I even ate a few for breakfast. Needless to say, I asked for the recipe. It came in quite handy when we had some friends over to play a few days ago.

 

Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookies

1 c shortening

1.5 c sugar

2 eggs

1 c molasses

4 c flour

4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ginger

Granulated sugar, for dipping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and molasses.  Sift flour with cinnamon, soda, salt and ginger.  Add to sugar mixture and mix together. 

3.  Roll into balls the size of walnuts and roll in granulated sugar

4. Bake for 10-12 minutes

5.  Eat to your heart's content

6. Repeat steps 1-4 the next day so the rest of your family can have some too.

  If I were you, I would try this recipe out. You'll thank me.  Until you step on the scale, that is.

the little bakers... Lucy and Cassidy with our friends Anderson and Vivian



Growing up too fast

I took Lucy out into the snow a few days ago to take a few pictures.   When I got them onto the computer I was excited to see the results until I looked into those baby blues and realized my 'baby' is not a baby... my 'little girl' is not little anymore.  My baby is now a girl... a mature looking girl. 

 When did this happen?

hodge podge

scrub a dub dub!  Lucy just look so mature in this picture.  Where did my little girl go??

I've seen pictures where all the kids are lying together at the end of the bed with their little toes hanging out.  I thought, foolishly 'How hard can it be? They don't even have to look at the camera.'  WRONG.  Didn't get even one with all 8 feet even near the end of the bed.  But I liked how these turned out.  Brothers above, and the the two littlest below.  And I still think to myself how little Cassidy seems, but check out those honkin' feet next to Isaac's tiny ones.



I love how this picture depicts a typical morning for Cassidy.  She is in a kind of daze before she gets her dokily (translation: warm chocolate milk) and bar.  Her and Jack are such hot boxes they typically end up without any jammies on by morning.  Then when they emerge, it is straight for the brown fuzzy blanket to snuggle with while waking up.



And a few of Isaac because he is too young to object!

...except for a few tears, but they are cute too

When you fall asleep in this house, you never know what you'll wake up with on your head.

warm fuzzies

I love warm fuzzies... you know those moments when you feel all loved and stuff.  Well check these out- I guarantee you'll be jealous.

A few weeks ago I was sitting on my bed, hunched over with Isaac between my legs so I could change his diaper.  Cassidy climbs up and gives Isaac a kiss on the forehead and then sits next to him.  She turns, looks at me and exclaims "MAMA! You're havin' anotha baby!" pointing to my post-baby midsection in a most unflattering hunched over position.  I am currently enrolled in zumba 3 times a week.

Yesterday we are coming home from the aforementioned class.  The girls are climbing into their seats and Lucy is looking at one of those free magazines they have sitting out for tourists.  I am helping Cassidy get her buckle closed when Lucy says "Mom I wish you looked like her." and points to the cover.  I glance quickly at a lady with long hair before I head to my seat.  "Why Lu?"  "Because she is pretty." Stab to the heart.  "So you don't think your mama is pretty?" I ask.  "NOT your hair, mom.  Look at it!"  Blunt honesty.

So I am telling a certain male about the flattering comments I received that day and we have a good laugh together.  We start watching a new favorite show on hulu called Alcatraz.  Part way through the show he asks "Do you like her hair?" (the cute detective on the show who had an equally cute bob).  "Not really," I reply- "there is something I don't like about it."  Then he proceeds to look at my hair from different angles and tell me "Ya know I never noticed before but your hair is kind of... mullet-ish."

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Just what a thirty-something-ish gal wants to hear. Confirmation from yet another party of her failure in the looks department.
At least Jack still thinks I am presentable.... but then again I have to bribe him to change his underwear.
At least Isaac is still young enough to think I am the best, prettiest person that exists. 
Guess I'll just have to keep having babies.

sausage makers

Grandpa John has some unique hobbies, one of which is sausage making.  It has to be one of our favorite hobbies because we get to reap the rewards in the form of breakfast sausage, beef sticks, hot dogs and brats.  Since Jack and Lucy were little tots in diapers, they have been fascinated with the process.  I have pictures of Jack in diapers sitting on the counter with Grandpa while he is making sausages.  They recently got to help grandpa with all stages of the process including mixing in spices, grinding, and then also stuffing the casings.

 The results: many feet of sausage waiting to be smoked to perfection.  This batch happens to be venison sticks- definitely a family favorite.  We have some in our fridge and freezer right now. Oh and the kids will be excited to see that they have one in their lunch boxes today too!

Cassidy's Primary Firsts

In the beginning of January, Cassidy started going to Primary with the big kids at church, rather than nursery (which is for kids from 18 months til they turn three).  She was not so sure she wanted to make the change and before church the first few weeks told me she was NOT going.  After a bumpy start she is doing much better and is learning her role as a member of the Junior Primary.  This past Sunday she experienced two 'firsts'.  This week the primary children sang during Sacrament Meeting and she got to go up to the front of the church and stand up at the stand in the front row.  The stand, which occupies the entire front of the chapel, is behind a decorative wooden 'half wall', which is approximately 5-6 inches shorter than Cass is.  It was so neat to watch her sing 'Scripture Power' with the big kids. Picture Cassidy with her shiny blonde hair and velvet dress, her hands curled around the top of the rail; her face from the nose up; those big blue beaming eyes reflecting the smile hidden behind the stand. And then the occasional wave and thumbs up to her mom and dad.  Thinking about it makes me want to melt. 

Fast forward to Sharing Time in Primary.  It is Cassidy's week to give a talk to the rest of the Junior Primary about choosing the right.  She is a bit nervous about this and after a couple minutes of me whispering to her, prompting her with what to say, she won.  I delivered her short talk about why we should make good choices in life, ending with how if we do choose righteously we can someday go to the temple.  This is where Cass came is.  I asked the kids to sing "I love to see the temple" with Cassidy- who loosened up as soon as the singing started.  She knows this song forwards and backwards and requests it at every Family Home Evening we have.  Then the shy little girl who would not give the speaking part of her talk starts dancing in front of the kids as she sang.  She delicately held her dress out to the sides and gracefully floated up and down while slowly twirling.  Gotta love that little girl.  A little unorthodox but as adorable, and entertaining as you could be.

Ice Fishing

One of our favorite family activities this time of year is ice fishing.  And by family I mean Jack, Andy, and Cassidy (for now).  Once or twice a week he takes one or both of them out to the shack to catch monsters like the walleye above... which Jack caught by himself.  Cassidy likes to go on days when it isn't quite so cold out- I think it was in the high 30's in the picture below. (no worries there was plenty of ice despite a warmer day.) She has a hard time keeping herself bundled.  Her coat is open here, but typically it is the mittens and hat she immediately discards when she is out.  Then she comes home with cherry pink cheeks and the wildest hair I've ever seen.  

So what about Lucy, Isaac and me?  Well, Isaac prefers to stay warm and since he can't stay home alone, I stay with him.  And the same goes for Lucy.  She'd prefer to craft with me.  *Yesssssssssssss*

In a year or two I hope it is an activity that we can all do together.   Just as long as there are not any repeat occurrences of this.

dang that fish's head is almost as big as Jack's is!

life lessons

Sometimes you have to learn things the hard way, and that is what Lucy chose to do this week.  On Saturday we went to a favorite scrapbook paper store to pick up a few supplies.  I don't scrapbook but I have found that they have such pretty papers and ribbons to use for other projects. I brought the girls with me and they were just angels.  I let them each pick out a paper to craft with and Lucy also found some felt embellishments she wanted, so I told her she could pick one. She had a really hard time, but finally handed me a purple flower. It wasn't until a few days later that I discovered her playing with a pink felt butterfly that she was also eyeing up in the store.  I asked her where it came from and she didn't have a good answer for me.  I asked her if she payed for it and she finally answered no.  We had a long talk about how we do not steal, how it is against the law and God's commandments and how she can get into BIG trouble by doing so.  She tried making up an excuse but it was obviously an attempt to avoid getting in trouble.  It wasn't so much the trouble as the understanding as to why this is so wrong, that I wanted her to gain.  It was clear to me that if she was going to really learn from this experience and understand its severity, we needed to head back to the store.  She was nervous to do so- and honestly I was a bit embarrassed as well but I knew it needed to happen.  Today we went back. She had a hard time spitting out to the overly nice cashier why she was there, but eventually told her what she did and that she was sorry.  She then paid for the flower with some money we brought along from her piggy bank.  It was a good learning experience for her to have to own up to her mistake and take responsibility. One I hope we never have to have again.

The camera is back!

My camera is back! I sent it to Canon to be fixed about two weeks ago, nervous about gettting the price quote to fix it. Pleasantly surprised, they camera came in the mail yesterday without any charge! The paperwork stated that repairs (an entirely new lens contact piece) were covered under warranty. WOO HOO! I would be lying if I told you I wasn't a little nervous to use it now. I almost sweat a little bit taking it out of the box. But I couldn't wait any longer... it is funny how attached I was to the darn thing and my 50mm lens.  Here are a few pictures of my little peanut who is just full of smiles and happy faces these days - just because I finally can take some (and because I think he is a tad bit cute).

2 months

brand new

one month

2 months

sledding

For Christmas Grandma and Grandpa R got the kids each a sled.  We just got a new load of snow and Cass and Jack wanted to give them a try.The hill in our front yard was just enough for Cassidy.  Yeah.  We don't have a hill.  Just a very gradual drop of about a foot from the grass- where the snow is piled to the driveway which provided a nice icy runway to extend the ride.  Cass loved it- her first attempt at sledding was a success!

too fast... too furious

big, strong...

It's a snow day here today- it has been snowing since last night.  And I have pink eye. In both eyes.  Grrrrrrr.  So we weren't going anywhere today.  After a lazy morning in our jammies Cass and Isaac went up to the bath tub.  I washed Isaac, got him out and dried his little body off.  Then I quick ran to the bedroom to get him some clean clothes. Mind you, this whole time Cass has been babbling to herself about princesses and how she is Aerial and 'oooh look at her tail flap in the water' and so on.   As I near the bathroom on my way back from the bedroom, I heard Cassidy declare "... and look at those big, strong nursies...".  Nursies.  I nurse Isaac with my nursies.  Because it is better than saying 'boob' in my opinion and I believe it was a term that Lucy coined when I was nursing Cassidy years ago, that stuck.  So I look over at her, and there she is holding her goggles up to her chest, and sure enough pretending she had some.  And the big, strong part, well I want to believe that is because we are always telling her she is a big strong girl, not a baby.  Because let's be honest, it is not for any other reason.  I guess that is what you get when you have inquisitive little girls who have a younger sibling who nurses.

Dear Little Man Isaac,

Dear Little Man Isaac,

At two months you are a happy, healthy boy.  You weigh 10lbs 7.8 oz (10%) and are 22.25 inches (25%) long.  You are the only baby I've had who likes tummy time, and who can be calmed by placing you on your tummy.  You can lift your head high up while you are there.  Your crying fits in the evening hours have greatly decreased, and you have figured out that you are supposed to sleep when Mommy and Daddy sleep. You do not like having a dirty diaper, and let your mom know until it is promptly changed. You conquered your first cold with grace and didn't let it bring you down.  If your big brother walks over to you, you are instantly aware of it and flash him your biggest smile and a coo now and then.  (He thinks the world of you too, by the way. )   When you sit in your bouncy seat with your cheeks resting on your chest, you kick your feet like you are running a marathon.  And your swing is a favorite place too.  You take a whole lot of  'in yo face' loving from your siblings with the utmost tolerance and have, it seems, come to expect it.  You have been an angel sitting on the sidelines while your mom Zumbas in the morning... she appreciates the fact that you are pretty much a 'go with the flow' kind of guy.  We still haven't figured out who you look like, and you know it is alright if you just look like you.  We are so thankful, as Cass says in her prayers, 'to have a baby'.  You are a sweet little angel and we can't wait to get to know you even better.

Much Love,

Mom

ps. Do those little hairs coming in beneath that unruly wave have an orangish tint to them? I kinda hope so:)

smile!

It is a lot easier to stomach the fact that I had to pack all the newborn clothes away already,

and a lot easier to realize I need to start buying size 1 diapers rather than the tiny adorable newborn diapers, and a lot easier to accept that you are almost 2 months old (sniff sniff)

when I have this to look forward to each day:

smiling and cooing and a whole buncha loving that a mommy needs :)

winner winner chicken dinner

I guess I can never again say that I never win anything.  I got a call last week that I had won a raffle I had entered for a bike!  A certain boy will be quite excited come summertime!

family portrait

I finally dragged my butt to zumba last wednesday.  Ohhh how I missed that class!  Granted I was looking at the clock after only a half hour, but what can I expect... it has been about 4.5 months since I have done any substantial exercise.  When I went to pick the girls up from Adventure Alley (Isaac got to sit in zumba and he snored through all 60 minutes of bumpin' latin beats) they greeted me with their latest creations... the ones that.. shhhhhhhhhhh ..usually end up in the burn bin. .    But Lucy handed me this family portrait and I just love it.  It is so accurate! I love how Andy (obviously the tallest in our family) is the entire length of the paper and everyone else is  depicted accordingly.  And I LOVE how I am holding Isaac who has a ton of brown hair.  This picture is one of the lucky ones who actually makes it into the house.

Brothers

Here are the boys- both at 7.5 weeks old.  I was starting to think Isaac looked more like Jack, but now I am not so sure!

Rock Star

Not many kids can brag that they had a faux-hawk when they were 7 weeks old.

good bye 2011

We sent the year 2011 off with a bang, beginning with Al and Bre's wedding reception Saturday afternoon.  We enjoyed some yummy food, the best cake you have ever tasted (made by my SIL Hiedi) a little dancing, some good conversation, and then moved on to the Lindner Christmas /New Years party where we enjoyed more food and cake (Zumba are you ready for this?! I NEED YOU!), and had our gift exchange. Then we had a Modern Family-athon til the wee hours of the morning.  (I think I fell asleep about 12:15.)  This past week has just taken it out of me: two 8+ hour car rides with 4 children in tow mind you, and constant running around since then.  It was really a good thing we had off school yesterday to recoop.  Jack and Lu practically slept until 9:00- and I considered myself lucky to sleep in til about 8:30.  I didn't sleep that great though because Isaac started coughing and sounding all stuffy the night before ... so the worrying began at that point (meaning I kept waking up to make sure he was comfortable).  With all of this going on, the creative juices have been flowing at the rate of molasses.... and basically I am going to use this as my excuse as to why I am using a friend's post as a template for mine.  (thanks Mandie :) )

2011- here's to you! 

realizing I agreed to move where it was not out of the ordinary for us to stand at the bus stop in -20 degree temperatures - a newer shorter hair do - REAR ENDING ANDY'S NEW TRUCK (and living to tell about it) - a Star Wars bedroom is born - fine needle aspiration of enlarged thyroid with nodules = no cancer - Zumba the lifesaver

more snow - beware of 'dirt ball' - sewing and crafting machine - spring fever - big girls' bedroom comes together - Lucy's first love note - Jack reads his first book - 

tantrums suck - Cassidy's new do = twins! - visit to SNC, ahhh the memories - outing with the Benton's - more dang snow ... like 16 inches more - my babies just keep growing

Only Fools Run at Midnight... and that we did! - Time Out For Women - visit from family - finally getting a little warmer - pwivacys!!

spring has sprung - Lu and I plant our first flower garden - fishing opener for the men folk - it's in the 60's so that means it is warm enough to swim - My jeans are a little tight and it's a boy, right? - Mother's Day

it really is warm enough to swim - the new boat - IT IS A BOY!! - baby belly concerns - Happy 11th Anniversary- Welcome cousin Brady -  pai nolish: an essential staple - the first nudges from baby melt my heart - flee market season - schooool's out for summer

Adventures on the Smoker Craft - fireworks are frightening - family camping adventures at Luna White Deer - our very own worm race winners get a medal

Sassidy - a lake of our very own - Presque Isle!!

First day of school... am I really old enough to have 2 kids in school?! - Happy Birthday Jack (7) and Lucy (5) - "Her got BIG BUNS! " - All clear at 30 weeks - Bayfield Babymoon Bliss - no more thumb sucking - let the nesting begin

Jack and Lu both learn to ride bikes - NEW camera = shutter happy Katie= LOVE - playing in the leaves - bathroom makeovers - 34 is just a number - 'Punzel and Mutha knows best - spoiled rotten at my shower:)

counting down the days - maternity shoot - who knew laying on the couch wouldn't stop labor and mean I would almost have baby in the car - 2 hours, 48 minutes of labor and 2 pushes later Isaac John is born -  Cassidy turns 3 Rapunzel style - newborn photo shoots begin - siblings adore their baby brother

croup is scary - a visit with the Clauses - drop the camera -ouch! - Christmas celebrations - how can my baby possibly be one month already? - collicky crying - reflections and gratitude for challenges and blessings - no significant changes in thyroid nodules at year check up - Al and Bre's wedding in Nauvoo

Here we come 2012!