Bridal Vail Falls

We're really trying to take advantage of the nice weather. We took bikes with us to Bridal Vail Falls. Taj loved the ride.... the really long version of it. There were lots of breathers and push starts. It was great.

Two things I'd like to see everyday:

Amazing Rainbows

and
7 lbs of Chocolate Cake in my fridge.

What About Mom?!

Micah has entered what we call "the busy season". I get a few hours with him in the evening and Sundays. Poor Micah. It really is a long summer for him.
After reading a post from Ashley about needing a day off from her kids I started to think about what I'm doing for me to make sure I can get through the summer without a meltdown. Here are a few things I'm doing for me:

• Yoga! For the last three weeks Nana has taken the kiddo's on Wed. mornings while I get to go to a yoga class! Yoga is something from L.B.K. (Life Before Kids) which I loved and never really got back, until now. It's a great class, and although I'm rusty at best, I love it. Thanks Nana.
• I was given a gift certificate for an hour long massage and have been saving it for a rainy day. I plan to dust it off sometime this summer to give myself a break.
• Today is the first day of my Noni experiment. I've heard wonderful things about it for years now, so here I go. I'll write about my findings, if any. I figure that I need a boost in my health now while I don't get many breaks.
• Gardening. A lot of people garden around here and say that it's therapeutic. So far I'm thinking that maybe the people talking about it weren't mom's, but I'm not giving up yet.

So what are you mom's doing out there for yourselves? Blogging? Putting the kids down for naps? Hopefully something to keep the meltdowns for the two year olds.

Rockets and Fire knives

Any one in the parenting biz would probably say that it takes a lot of creativity to keep everyone entertained and happy- including the parents.
The other night we got Taj all pumped for the aquarium, but when we got there it was closed for a private party. Taj handled the news like a champ so we started to head towards Boondocks to play and reward him. You guessed it, we got turned away there too. Plan C was the Mayan. It's a restaurant, I mean adventure, designed to feel and look like you're entering a Mayan ruin, then eating in a giant tree. While you eat there are divers and fire knife performers. The pic. up top shows Taj with his fire knifes glued to the show.
Got a rocket from grandma that actually shoots into the air about thirty feet with a control panel and everything. Did I mention it's powered by water?
Hours of fun.

New Pictures

All my Mom wanted for Mother's Day was some new pictures of the kiddies.
Being "frugal" I tried to a little photo shoot.... harder to do with a two year old than I thought.

Here are some other pictures from lately that I really enjoy. I heart warm weather!

What Day Is It?

I know it's Mother's Day, but I can't help but think about my Daddy today. Anyone that knew him would understand. My Dad made a fuss over Mom's on Mother's Day; his mom, the mother of his kids, widows, and other people that were like moms to his children.

One of his specialties that became a Mother's Day tradition was to make chocolate covered strawberries... tons of chocolate covered strawberries. It was an all day event ending in dipping everything we could find.

I still dip strawberries in chocolate every Mother's Day for my Mom, but I mostly think about my Dad while I do it.

My new ride

I guess I'm a great mom, cuz look at what my kids got me for Mother's Day! Ha. I have to laugh because what kind of person first choses to have kids then makes them give them presents for being their mom. I wont go any further into the complicated thoughts I get, but I will tell you that I love my new ride. I think the best thing is that Taj has asked me to go on bike rides with him, him on his bike and me on mine, three times already. Such a sweetie. I LOVE being a mom and am blown away at how blessed I am to have such beautiful and sweet children. Motherhood rocks.

"Life's a garden. Dig it!"

I'm sure you can guess what the tub looked like after we were done with him.

Here are a few pictures from around the house. I know it's probably a little obsessive to take pictures of flowers. I guess I'm just a little excited that it's warm enough for these beautiful creations to grow.

Roll with the punches... or the poopies

This cute little sundress is a result of a classic Mommy situation. We went out to the mall, I know I said I was done with the mall, but when in need of a new dress you do certain things.... So we just got to the mall. Micah and Taj went straight for the escalator, so I got the stroller ready for Eden. As I am putting her into the stroller I noticed something yellow on my arm-not my shirt luckily. Then I noticed something yellow all down her pants. Then I noticed the smell. Eden had what's called in the biz, "a blowout." When this happens at home, no problem. I wasn't at home. I realized that the backup outfit in my bag was a 0-3 month p.j. thing that hasn't fit since Christmas. Luckily I was at the mall. Instead of taking myself shopping we went shopping for Eden. Once we got her and my arm all cleaned up it was my turn. I wonder if she'll use tricks like this when she's older.

p.s: The Gap has some really great stuff right now.

Talent

My husband has a little talent.
He calls these "Eden" and "Taj". Someday.

The good news is....

that the zoo is still the bomb (are the kids still saying that?). We drug ourselves to SLC last saturday and we're so glad we did. It was a beautiful day and Taj was super excited about all the animals, unlike last time.

The Hogle Zoo has a train too, which made Taj's lifetime.

Can't you just see the excitement on their faces? They were in heaven. Ha. The kids really did have fun. Promise. Oh, and those aren't ghosts on that big elephant up there. It's me and Eden. That huge elephant is awesome. It snores, and sneezes, and spuirts water. Taj was a little scared of it, which is why he's not in the picture.

And Happy Earth Day, Earth. I finally did a couple of things I've been meaning to do: signed up at greendimes.com and am putting an end to junk mail and getting a few trees planted. Not sure if it works yet, but Ellen (from t.v. said it will). I also got some reusable grocery bags. I hate-HATE my collection of plastic grocery bags, and can't bring myself to just through them out, so I bought my own reusable ones. Yeah, Earth!

Growing Up!

My kids are growing up, and I love it! Don't get me wrong, new babies are wonderful, amazing, soft, cuddly, and just plain adorable. I just don't see growing up as a sad thing like some moms do. I love love love the fact that Taj and Micah plan outings together like golfing. It's not just taking his boy along either, it's doing stuff together now. It's the best! Eden has had a big week too. She is sitting up for minutes at a time on her own and cut her first tooth! I swear her sense of humor has grown up this week also. She's getting into peekaboo like never before. She's getting the whole object permanence thing, which makes going out of the room to use the bathroom for two seconds much easier. I love that the kids are growing up!

Bryce Canyon Rocks!

Every once and a while we have to get a change of scenery. Last week was one of those times, so when Friday came around we packed up and headed south to Bryce Canyon. That place is amazing.







With the little ones in tow we only took on a few scenic points and one hike. We saw some wildlife, and saw some breathtaking views. We felt like we were in a different world. Heavenly Father is so creative.

We feel like we're doing something right when Taj tells us how beautiful it is and that he likes to hike. (He was in the pack 90 percent of the hike, so of coarse he likes to hike :) The kids are great travelers, and that's a good thing since we definitely like to get out.

"Check Your Shoes For Souvenirs"

We left the house one afternoon not knowing what we were going to do, but knew that if we didn't leave then we never would. We found ourselves at "Farm Country" at Thanksgiving point, and had a great time.

At $3.50 per person, two and under free, they'll be seeing al ot of us this summer.

the big 6 MO's

I love
this little
girl!!!

I wish it felt more like spring; cleaning

Part One:

A few days after the Easter candy overload, while I was feeling particularly gross, I caught myself offering Taj "Easy Cheese" and crackers as a snack. I had a moment of self disgust. I remembered a recent negotiation I had with Taj that went something like, "You need one more bite of your chicken nugget before you can have french fries." As if the chicken nuggets were a better option. What and who had I become? Me, the ex-vegetarian that still insists that a salad is a full meal, and thinks that the raisins in raisin bran is a little too sugary for breakfast. I had hit rock bottom.

I took that moment in time as my wake up call. I've had a few of those moment in my life where something had to give. In this instance it was my eating habits, which directly effect the eating habits of my family, and the state of the organization in my house. I'm proud to say that since that moment I've begun a cleansing process. I've been eating way better... fewer Easter treats, and have done a major overhaul on the toys. They were accumulating way faster than I had places for them. They now all have homes which Taj has been happily returning them to after playing with. I know it's a long way back up, but I also know that I can't use my six month old as an excuse anymore. Rather, I need to use my children as part of my motivation.

Part Two:

Whenever I try to eat better, I become obsessed with food and cooking. New neighbors: I need to make cookies. In laws just back from a two day trip: invite them over for dinner. Saturday morning: make banana bread like my Dad used to. You get the idea. I don't think it's a bad thing. It shows that I am being more conscious about what is going into my body. I know that banana bread is not necessarily healthy, but it's not that bad either. It's one of my comfort foods. Please try this recipe and enjoy the comfort and wonder of good homemade love, I mean food.

Best Banana Bread

1 C. shortening or butter

2 C. Sugar (1 white, 1 brown)

4 C. flour (1/2 whole wheat, 1/4 wheat germ, or just reg. works fine as well)

2 tsp. baking soda

12 banana's (mashed well)

2-3 eggs

2/4 C. walnuts (optional)

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

*Cream sugar, shortening and eggs first

* Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until done