Brenden is 9!!

I think it is so neat to see my kids get older and wiser. Today is Brenden's birthday. I can't believe it has been a year since he got baptized. He has done a ton of stuff. I am trying to remember what those things are. He lost a ton of teeth. He grew about 6 inches, I'm sure. He can now put together a box of legos in 3 seconds flat. (I haven't watched him, but it seems this way.) I love him so much.

Off the couch and cookin'!

This post is for you Marianne! -

I like cooking. In fact, I would love to cook a ton and then have a magic fairy that comes behind me and cleans up the HUGE mess I have just made. And then, like a commercial, everything is not just clean but actually sparkling. Alas, it isn't so. So, I will continue to stack my dishes and hope my hubby comes to help before I go crazy.

When my husband I and I first met, Taylor did most of the cooking. He loved to try new things and I didn't. Well, like all good things should, he rubbed off on me. I love trying new recipes now! One of those recipes that is now one of our staples is this one:

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1185388

I made this tonight and....victory! I have defeated my friend Marianne in something! My friend Marianne is a great cook and baker. Everything she lays her hand on in the kitchen turns to edible gold. Tonight, her daughter said that my roast chicken was better than her moms. So, Marianne, you may be in Hawaii, but I get have your lovely daughter's company AND her compliments. Now, if I could just get your recipe for cinnamon rolls...............

On the couch again!!! -HAHAHAHAHA!

Well, my friend Marianne is in Hawaii and I am at home sick on the couch. Luckily for me, Taylor is a great hubby AND still in town. I feel better than I did yesterday and hopefully I will be way better tomorrow. It is so interesting to be here and see life happening around me.

This week

Well, I know it has been a week. Really, I have been putting off writing something. I went to a funeral yesterday. It was for my friend's 3-month-old baby. She had a heart defect and other complications. It was bittersweet. Many times in life we don't know what to say and I think this is one of them. Hmmmmm..Brie without words..what a quiet world. My kids are keeping me busy as well as my house. Today I am going to take Dylan to swim lessons, pick up my friend's daughter in Fredericksburg and plan Family Home Evening. I don't think I will list every other little thing I have to do to keep my house running and (sort of) order. Now what is for dinner............................?

My legs hurt:(

So, today I did tons of stuff to make up for the day, well, you know, that I had yesterday. I won't go into all the details. The one thing I wanted to do was get my kitchen mopped. Looks like there is always tomorrow. That is, if I can do it early in the day before my legs start aching.

Mostly want I want to say today is how thankful I am for my husband. I think he gets me. He just knows what I need exactly when I need it. What a good guy! Thanks babe!

More couch time???!!!

I can't believe I am on the couch again!!! Actually, I don't feel well again today. No, I am not pregnant! Dylan is running amuck...but is being relatively good. So far, he has played playdough, puzzles, rescue heroes and the latest is lazer tag. The bright spot of my day has been that my friend Lynne had a baby. Benjamin Jr. She says he is just as cute as her little girl, but I will have to see to believe. If I am feeling better tomorrow then I will go check him out:) Hopefully I will get some dishes done and dinner made. Then I will feel worthwhile.

And while I was writing this, Dylan developed a poop issue that I need to solve now. (sigh!)

Try this yummy recipe - it's at allrecipes.com:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Chip-Banana-Muffins-2/Detail.aspx

What a weekend!

Wow! I didn't feel like our weekend was that crazy but maybe I just live in a constant state of crazy. We had a primary breakfast at 9 am and Taylor and I went to Panera to eat - no kids! I can't believe that all of them are in primary right now. Then Dylan went to a birthday party and the other boys got haircuts. I have no idea why Brenden decided to have a huge fit about getting it done. He sat in the chair with a scowl on his face the whole time. At least he was still:) Oh yeah, we went with Aunt Liz and Chay's friend Lindsay came too. On the way home we listened to the Beastie Boys - Chay and Lindsay were rockin' out! Sunday was interesting. I picked up a used dresser on Sat. and got it all ready to be painted. I left everything on the lawn so it would be easy to get back to. After all, it wasn't going to rain. When I got back from my meetings after church, I found a huge branch fallen from a tree in our yard. It had totally demolished one of the drawers:( There isn't even a way to salvage it. Oh well. So now I have to find another dresser or try to fix this one. I am bummed!!!!!! Branches kept falling due to the really high winds and now our yard looks like a war zone. I am glad that it isn't 10 feet closer to our house. Whew!

Can you argue with a 4-year-old???

A spidey suit, a spidey cape, 2 light sabers (almost 3), snow boots, and a lunch box with a spidey water bottle, a star wars guy, and 3 race cars. This is what we whittled today's collection down to. The only requirement is that Dylan has to be able to carry it all - all the time. So what if 4-year-old's aren't rational? I'm not. What fun it would be to leave the house without brushing your teeth, wearing a costume and toting almost all of your favorite toys, without anyone giving you any grief?

Today we got Dylan's haircut. He was soooo good!!! Maybe I will post a pic of his cute cut later. We are off on a date - dancing at church and a late dinner at the Boathouse. MMMMMMMMM!

P.S. Sorry about the turned pic. It is right side up on my computer but not on here. Try clicking on one of the rectangles below it.

Still on the couch

Man! Why are there some days (I mean, weeks) I just have to be still for a while and sit here unshowered, unfed (does coke count?), and uninterested in doing what I should? I usually feel better if I take a shower but don't I have to get off the couch first???

Last night we put together our 72 hour kit backpacks. We still need a few things for them and, other than rain ponchos, we are all set. Taylor had the brilliant foresight to buy some MRE's. They were so easy to stick in our backpacks. HOORAY!!! I love being prepared for something, even if I don't know what it is. My only concern is that our kids wil sneak into the candy bars. I will tell all when that happens. I predict finding candy wrappers in the guest room and chocolate smeared on the guest bed and Dylan's face.

Well, I have a to do list at least 6 inches long and, if I don't get off my duff, I'm sure it will keep growing. Time to shower and get moving!!!

Laid on the couch

This morning I got PMS frustrated with my kids and watched TV from my couch a good portion of the morning. I like Tim Gunn, even though he is incredibly gay. Hmmmmm, maybe his gayness makes him more likable. Thank goodness that Dylan had a swim lesson or else I think I would have stayed there all day and eaten the rest of the pan of rice krispy treats I made last night. I am trying to figure out how to get everything done in my house and then have it stay that way (without paying a maid). I will let you know how that goes. Now....what's for dinner (and...will the kids like it)?