{Typical Day}

I took a few pics of the kids today, and this funny video of Ethan making Kade laugh. He is ppitting a piece of cheese onto Kade's tray and it is making Kade giggle over and over. Gross yet funny!

Here is Ethan showing his latest and greatest idea. He came up to me and said "My got an idea Mom. Why don't you move the house (playhouse) over by the trampoline and I will jump of the roof and look like a ninja turtle. It's the greatest plan ever!" All his ideas are the greatest ever according to him. So here is the pre-broken leg picture. He didn't break it this time but I am sure some injury is bound to happen because he bounces so high. Daddy thinks it's okay though, against my better judgment.

I went to share a yummy recipe I made this week. It's from the Favorites cookbook my friend Candace introduced me to, I get lots of good recipes from it and you can get it here: http://www.makeawishutah.org/giving/cookbooks.html

This is one of my favorites, it's so yummy.

BBQ Chicken Chop Salad
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 cup barbeque sauce
Marinate chicken in barbeque sauce, then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Chop into pieces and refrigerate.

½ head iceberg lettuce, chopped½ head Romaine lettuce, chopped 3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, ½ cup cilantro, chopped1 (15-once) can black beans, rinsed and drained1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed, ½ pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated, avacado, diced.

Combine chicken in a large salad bowl with salad ingredients and toss. Serve with ranch dressing, additional barbeque sauce and crispy corn tortilla chips. Be sure and use good ranch with this (made from Hidden Valley mix) and not just bottled. There's a big difference in taste.

Here's a pic before dresing is added.... Enjoy!

{The Many Faces of Ethan}

*Warning - this post contains a million pictures of Ethan*

If you have been around Ethan than you know what a ham he can be, he loves to make people laugh. Here he is being silly while my sister Brittany takes pictures of him, he's trying to make a different expression for each picture.

The nice beginning picture:

And not they get scary!

That's all for now - hope you enjoyes the show!

{Recipes}

Well as some of you know I have been taking some cooking classes taught by the husband of one of my high school friends. His name is Chef Brandon and he is SO, SO good at what he does. I have taken two classes, my last one is tommorrow night. I have learned lots, and it's making me a little more daring in my cooking. I won't post any of his recipes, since he asked that we didn't (he will be doing a cookbook in the future).

But I will post a recipe somewhat like one he made for us, with some adaptations that are super delish. I found this on a different blog and I it last night (Butternut Squash Soup with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Butter Sugar Croutons). I am not a big squasher but this my friends is good stuff.

Enjoy!

{Week in Review}

Well folks, the Christmas tree has just been up a little while and already the bottom looks all freaky. I am having some guilty feelings when I look at it also, none of the crafty little things my kids make are displayed on it. We helped my parents put up their tree last Sunday and my mom has always had a tree with a million mismatched handmade ornaments. Very sentimental and fun to put up and remember back when. Cody especially loves it, and I agree it is not pretty but it is more sentimental and Christmasy. My tree is all fancy-smancy and not too kid-friendly. I am not the sweet, patient mom that allows her children to hang ornaments as they wished...crooked, 3 together, upside down...no I let them hang one or two through gritted teeth then send them away while I finish. Not good! I need to work on that.

A few days ago I was putting make-up on in the bathroom and Ethan came in saying "Sorry Mom." Okay Ethan, what did you do? "I broke a ball". So he leads me to the tile in the doorway by our front door, and an ornament is broken. "I was just checking to see if it was glass, sorry Mom. It is glass." He says. "Yes Ethan, they are all glass, no more checking!!" I told him. What a stinker.

On Friday Ethan and I went to have lunch with Rhett at his school. He was so, so excited and proud to have us there, he kept giving me hugs and telling me he loved me. It was making me and his teacher all teary eyed. I keep thinking I need to appreciate all these little moments because when he is older it won't be so cool to have mom sitting by him at lunch. During lunch I noticed Ethan all hunched over eating chips. Did I pack chips in his lunch? No! I realized he had snuck them from the girl sitting next to him. Little turkey! When we got home I asked him where he got the chips. "Well Mom, I waited until the girl looked the other way and then I grabbed some chips from her bag!" He proudly told me. He is a little sneak for sure, we have to keep all our food locked up out of his reach.

Friday night all three kids went for a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa Flakes!! They were so excited, but not as excited as Cody and I! Cody and I went to a surprise birthday party in Mesa with a super funny White Elephant Party. Then Saturday we went to a movie (Dan in Real Life), went to lunch, and then shopped for Christmas presents. What a fun and relaxing day! It was fun to be back with the kids tonight, even though it was just a day we missed them lots (just not Kade's scream). Well that's the latest in our little house, hope everyone is doing well.

{Naughty and Nice}

This is Kade this morning taking things off our Christmas tree and then running (babystyle) away.

A little bit later I was vacuuming upstairs and he got the toy vacuum out of the boys room all by himself and was copying me. So cute!!

{So Very Thankful!}

Before I start this post I want to say that I have been very "naughty" as my boys would say and I only took 2 pictures the whole time we were in Utah! Not good! I noticed April took a bunch so maybe I can get some from her and I'll post them later.

We started out our trip early at 2:15am on Tuesday morning. I will note that Cody's insistence on us leaving at that crazy time resulted in a big fight Monday night, with him going to bed and me staying up angry, too mad to sleep even though I knew I would be woken up in a matter of hours. The kids did sleep for a big chunk of the trip, but Cody and I did not so we were a bit groggy for the next few days. I don't sleep well in cars, planes, on couches, well anywhere but my bed I guess. And even then I have to count sheep most nights before I go to sleep. But enough about my fascinating sleeping habits.

Tuesday we drove up to Utah, making one glorious stop at CAFE RIO. My most absolute favorite place to eat, you must have the pork salad. And yes, I have tried the one and Costa Vida, and NO it is not even close to being as good. Then we arrived in Salt Lake at Cody's brother Kael and his wife Monica's home. The kids loved playing with their cousins and especially liked playing in their backyard with all the leaves. So beautiful!! Then we went to Kael's first basketball game of the season (which they won).

The next day we got back in the van, and drove to Ogden where my sister Melissa and her hubby Sam live while Sam goes to Weber. We had so much fun having lunch with them, after which Melissa gave the boys gifts. You should have seen their excitement when they discovered what they were.....Tooting Machines (as they called them!). Push a button, and hear a toot, what more could a little boy ask for. Rhett was laughing so hard he was crying. Don't worry Melissa when you have kids I'll buy your kids lots of fun things like that. Lots. We then went to the Nicklecade, where all arcade games are 5 cents, how cool is that?

Then we got back in the van, and headed up to Logan to stay 3 days with Cody's sister Lesli and her husband Danielson. Okay, it's Danny but I always want to call him that in a stern voice (Karate Kid). Yada, Yada, Yada, we had a fun and delicious Thanksgiving. Lesli and I were in charge of pies, and we both discovered we don't know how to make them. I think we did okay though, we can follow recipes but as for the pie crust, well it was tricky to make all pretty! I am not Martha as I previously thought.

The next morning, the sister-in-laws all showed up at the local Wal-mart at 4:15am. We were positioned by the items we wanted, and at 5am when the items were uncovered we elbowed and pushed our way to the front. About 10 minutes later then things we had fought for were still available, but it was kind of fun to be so aggressive. Then we shopped around a bit at other stores, it was cold but so fun - I have such fun in-laws and I love being around them.

I also snuck in a visit to my good friend Candace who has moved to Provo while her husband gets an MBA. I wish we could have had more time together but it was just like old times, I miss her a lot :o(. MOVE BACK, it's not too late!

The boys loved playing with their cousins, and were sad to leave Logan as we headed towards Mapleton to stay with Boyd and Mona. We stayed a night with them, and got a late start on the road at 4am. We stopped at my parent's house for Sunday dinner, which tasted so good after being on the road eating junk all day. Kade got sick on Sunday, with a cough and runny nose - took him to the dr. Monday but it looks like it will just go away on it's own. Rhett is happy to be back in school and it feels good to be home again. Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig.

{Thanksgiving Play}

On Thursday the Kindergarten classes all put on the cutest Kindergarten program with songs and lots of "group" parts. Rhett was a preacher, and his group got to say "Praise the Lord!" With their hands raised high a few times. It was a cute play, and Rhett was loving the attention. I will put a video on the bottom of this post with a part of one of the songs they sang. In the picture below, Rhett is in the front row, on the left. It's hard to see, my camera is a piece of junk! I want a new one but I am having a hard time buying one because I know if I wait 6 months there will be a newer, better, cheaper one!

Well, nothing else really exciting to write, except a couple "Ethanisms"

Friday I wanted to jump in the shower so I told Ethan he was Kade's babysitter. I gave him a whistle and told him to only blow it if Kade was in trouble and needed Mommy. So of course I'm in the middle of the shower and what do I hear...the whistle. I hesitated, knowing it's probably nothing but got out, ran out in the living room with my towel and dripping hair. Ethan was trying to put Kade on the stairs (time out spot). Ethan said "Mom! Kade won't stay in time out and he's saying potty words!" Kade was saying "Aaaapoo poo. Aaaapoo poo." Funny.

This morning we were getting ready to go watch my sister Ally's soccer game. Ethan had his cheap 25 cent sunglasses on and Rhett had his on, but one of the lenses had popped out. Rhett was upset, saying "I can't wear sunglasses broken like this! They will make me go crazy!" Ethan matter of factly said "Rhett, my have an idea. Just keep one eye closed." He always says my instead of I.

A few weeks ago he was burping at my mom's house and she told him to stop. He said seriously "Okay Grandma. My try to stop the burps.". It's funny. He is always coming up with "the perfect plan" as he tells us. It usually involves treats and going to parks.

Yesterday I asked him if he wanted to try a chicken wing. "Mom! If we eat a chicken's wings, how will he fly?" Then a few days ago he noticed a butterfly dead on our windshield. "Why did that butterfly crash into our window? Was he just a crazy flyer? Now his momma is going to be flying all over looking for her". Funny boy.

Well I am going to bed. I have been doing a million loads of laundry getting ready for out trip to Utah and I am tired! Hope everyone's doing well....

{Family Pics}

Hello! I was wondering a favor to all my wonderful readers (all 6 of you). Can you click on this link and help me choose which family picture is best for our Christmas cards? Leave the number of the one you like in the comments section. I think they turned out really cute! My favorite ones are ones at the end, number 25 and 28. Our photographer will swap heads on the kids, to add their happy little faces on the picture I like the best....so I guess it really is a question of which picture Cody and I look best in, and which pose you like the most!

http://littlethingsphotography.smugmug.com/

Click on Brooke. Thanks!!!

{Back to the 80's}

Yikes! I hesitate to post these pictures, I look so weird in them!! The party was fun, people were so creative dressing as Madonna, Karate Kid, Aerobics Instructors, etc. I sported the largest shoulder pads ever, I felt like a linebacker.

Here's our lovely hostesses, Cristen was a hot Madonna and her hubby was Karate Kid.

Here's Kathy and I (are you loving the bangs and Kathy's side pony with crimped hair?) - with our neighbors Steve and Michelle.

I am soooo glad to have Cody back, he was in New Orleans for work. The boys missed him lots too, they need their Daddy to play rough with them and I just can't do that! Saturday we did the family picture thing. I am curious to see how they turned out, Kade can't stand to be held and so he was squirming and crying almost the whole time. Has anyone else had a baby like this? He does not like to be held, at all!! Ever since he was big enough to hold his own bottle he wanted to be laying by himself. Now he can't even sit still to drink it, I have to strap him in his highchair otherwise he's rolling all over the ground, spilling all over. He is just so active, and church is just 3 hours in the hall. It's exhausting!

I am a girl, all concerned with details, so I worried over outfit choices for days!! It drove Cody crazy. They must not be matchy matchy, but match, you know?? Hee Hee. So I went with blues, brown, and white. Ethan was in tears over his button up shirt with a collar "I look funny!!!". Cody and I joke that Rhett is all my boy - he loves dressing preppy with collars and button up shirts...and Ethan is all Cody, rough and tumble and loves t-shirts and workout shorts. I have a feeling Kade is leaning toward Cody's team.

The other thing I'm worried about with the family pictures is....Cody's pants. Those that know Cody well know that he HATES buying clothes. And when he buys them, they must be dirt cheap. I have been trying to get him to buy just ONE pair of new jeans, but he has resisted. And so when we were taking pictures, I noticed that his pants go all highwater when he sits down, revealing bright white socks and even a little bit of leg. Oh boy. So I am curious to see how that all plays out. I get to pick up the disc Tuesday....do I have you all intrigued?

{Happy Halloween!}

I hope you all had a great Halloween!! We had fun, but it was kind of sad that Cody couldn't be with me and the boys. We took lots of pictures (as always) so he could see the fun he missed while he was partying in New Orleans with Nicholas Cage. I'm telling you, Cody is like a magnet to the celebrities, as I have told many of you he had a close encounter with the VERY famous David Hasselhoff in New York a few years back. I'll find that picture and post it, don't worry! David looks freaked out...I guess that's how most people would look when a guy runs down an ally after you and then jumps in front of you to take a picture.

Anyways.....back to the children! My sister Ally (12) decided to go with my boys instead of her friends because she said she wanted to hear the funny things they would say. My kids LOVE asking questions, many times embarrassing and personal ones and Halloween night was no exception. We all held our breath when we came to a house where the woman was sitting on her driveway, smoking with a bowl of candy. By the time we left her house, Ethan had talked to her about how what she was doing was VERY BAD and yelled it to me as well. Good times, good times. He also asked the following questions: "Why do you have so many Halloween Decorations? Do you have a lot of money?" "Why is your dog's nose wet?" "Why are you giving out those candies?" "Why are you so old?" Yikes. I am sure there are many questions we didn't hear.

Overall it was a very successful night, load of candy, most of which we gave to Ally so that Ethan can sneak it when we come to their house. He is a big sneak, always disappearing and searching for candy. He loves, loves sugar. Rhett was freaked out by scary masks last year, but now that he is a cool Kindergartner he likes them. He was complimenting all the bigger kids we'd pass by "Cool Mask", he'd say. It's funny to hear him say "cool" for some reason. We pushed Kade in the stroller, taking off his huge costume after just a little bit because it was so furry and hot. He was getting wild so I gave him a sucker, he was loving life. He is walking quite a bit now, and is very proud of himself. What a personality he already has!! Well, I hope everyone else had a great night....the best pictures will be later when I go to the adult 80's party Friday night. My friend Amy Rae is lending me a dress....I haven't picked it up yet but she says the shoulder pads are gigantic.....fun fun!!

{Week in Review}

Well Fall is here and that means everyone is running around, busy, busy! I love it - most of the time. My kids love to hear what's coming up, on what day, etc. You better not make them a promise you can't keep, they will hold it to you!! They have been looking forward to the Halloween Party at Alec and Emma's house for weeks.

There were so many fun games, pumpkin painting, pizza, and cake. Oops I forgot lots and lots of candy, what more could a kid want? Here the kids are shooting silly string at bad guys.


Then they went on a bone hunt all through the house, they thought that was spooky and fun!

They got to dress up in lots of toilet paper and turn into mummy's. It was tricky to get toilet paper to stay on Ethan's slick (plastic) Buzz Lightyear costume!
____________________________________________________________

Today was the primary program in church. This is Rhett's 3rd year...the first year he was to scared to even say his part, he just stared at everyone and then went and sat down. Last year he said his part, but was too close to the microphone and it was all muffled. This year he had a long scripture. He memorized it, and said it slowly and clear in the microphone. I was so proud!! But not as proud as he was, smiling and giving me a thumbs up when he got back to his chair. It's funny how the small things make you so, so happy!!

Grandma Flake, and Aunt Brittany and Ally came to hear him give his part, and then stayed for dinner. Later we went to the part to launch rockets. Here's Kade, so happy. This is right before he lost his balance and fell off. He'll have a goose egg, poor baby. He is so wild in church, he can't stand to be held. He just wants to be free and roam the halls. I'm not kidding trying to hold him while he arches, twists and turns completely wears you out. I still have over 5 months until Nursery, yikes! He is also into biting, you think he is kissing and then he clamps down. Very painful.


This last week has been warm. The sprinklers came on at the park and Ethan begged to go run through them.

Ally had to go into the water and rescue Ethan when he slipped and had an injury. He is either tough or very dramatic when he gets hurt.

The highlight of Rhett's week was getting a "cougar shirt" - his school spirit shirt that they wear on Fridays. He is so, so proud!! Here he is doing THE CLAW.

Here I am with two of my cuties before church today. Of course they are smiling great for the camera as usual.

Cody is heading out of town to New Orleans early Monday morning. He will get back late Friday evening. He is so excited to use that as an excuse to miss dressing up for the 80's adult Halloween party we are invited to! Luckily I am going with my hot date Kathy and we are going to put on lots of blue eyeshadow and tease our bangs to heights never reached before. It will be fun! Then on Saturday we are getting family pictures taken for Christmas cards. Last year Cody complained and complained about that brown sweater I made him wear. If it's not a grey t-shirt he's not happy!! We'll see what I make him wear this year....

I am up late doing homework so thought I'd post a little something while my house is all nice and quiet and kids are sleeping! Today April and I swapped kids while the other got their hair cut and colored. A girl in April's old ward did it, I don't have white trash roots anymore, woo-hoo! The kids play so well together, I had to take a picture. This is Chloe (3) Ryya (17 months) Kade (1) and Ethan (3).

Later, I was on the phone and heard Kade and Ryya laughing and laughing. This is what they were up to:

I had to go grab my camera and catch them in the action. Darn, it was Charmin the good stuff! And you know how I am about conserving my paper products (right Dustin??). All bathroom doors have to be shut or Kade gets into everything!!

Last weekend Cody was touching up some crown moulding and Kade just climbed up the ladder. He's not walking yet, but climbs like a little monkey! Today he officially took his first steps, he would go two steps, pause, then two more, pause....it was cute. I'm sure we're in for lots of bumps and bruises. Hopefully none before we get family pictures taken in less than 2 weeks.

On Saturday my sister Brittany went to homecoming. I got to go there and give her a french manicure on her toes and then see Sam when he picked her up. It was a bit awkward, he is shy!! Don't you love how his fists are all clenched in this picture! He looks like a missionary!! Brittany was super cute in her dress with her hair all done cute. I never looked that cute in high school, that's for sure!! She is an amazing dancer, in lots of ballet classes and doing so well.

Here is me with Brittany, as Cody put it "this is not the best picture of you...." but oh well!

{Blessed}

Today I was trying to vacuum, and Kade was following me everywhere I went, placing himself right in the spot I was trying to vacuum next. I kept moving him, but then he would go right back to the next spot I was working on. I took him in the family room, gave him some toys, and as I turned to go back to the formal room he just started crying with these big alligator tears. I went and picked him up, and we just snuggled on the couch for..um about 30 seconds which is a record for him (he never snuggles). Then he wanted to get down and play.

I just sat there, thinking about the stages that my kids are in right now. Kids are hard at all ages, but I think that they are the most demanding the younger they are. It seems like too much sometimes, like when you are trying to cook and they are pulling you in every direction. But if you look at it from a different perspective, you can see it as the only time when someone loves you so much they cry when you go in a different room. Or they smile that sweet smile everytime you just look at them, and raise up their hands for you to pick them up whenever you come close. Right now my boys think their mommy and daddy hung the moon, I don't know what I'll do when they start knowing otherwise!!

Sometimes when Rhett wants me to snuggle with him, I get teary eyed because I start to think of when he's older and I can't hold him on my lap anymore (yes, he still let's me do that now! I know he's big, but I'll take it as long as I can!). Oh man, if only I could keep this perspective all day long, I would have a better attitude and be a better mommy. But I'll just do the best I can, and treasure the little moments as they come, even if it means my house doesn't get as clean as I would like it to.

{Fun at Jennie's}

We had a fun week, besides Rhett being sick on and off throughout the week. He is finally over it, thank goodness! He's had lots of homework to catch up on, and can't wait to be back in school! On Monday my friend Jennie had us over and she had lots of cute Halloween activities for the kids to do. They made spiders and then two kinds of cupcakes, bat cupcakes and monster cupcakes. They had so much fun making them, and even more fun eating them. Here are all the cute kids showing off their cupcakes:

Here's Me, Becca and Shelby:

And since Jennie wouldn't let me take a picture with her, here she is when we had a girl's night out...also here's Kathy and Candace - WE MISS YOU CANDACE!!

On Tuesday night I went to a cooking class. One of my good friends from high school, Julie, has a husband who is an amazing cook. He showed us some fabulous new recipes and some cool techniques. It was lots of fun, I learned a lot. Also, some exciting news - on Saturday I took my BIO final - so I am done with that. Yeah! Those who don't know, this summer I started working towards a nursing degree doing most classes online. I did a class this summer, I have two others right now (Math and Eng) and then I have three more science classes to take (two this spring, one in the summer). I plan on applying in the summer for nursing school in the fall. It usually takes about a year to get in so during that year I can complete some co-reqs that will make my load easier when I'm in nursing school. The program I am trying to get into is all online, but there are clinicals every other Saturday at the hospital. It's a fast program, done in 16 months. I'm really excited about it, but overwhelmed sometimes. Cody's been so great, he wants me to do it so he's been helping with the kids lots when he's home. I was so impressed - on Saturday when I was taking my final he got all the kids dressed and out the door by 7am so he could take the van to the dealer to have the brakes checked. Then he took all 3 to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then took them to Kohls, Target, and Best Buy! Not easy with 3 crazy boys! They love their daddy and had so much fun being out and about with him all day. What a great guy.

{Happy 30th B-Day Cody!}

On Sunday Cody had his 30th Birthday! He woke up to a car decorated with candy and other things...let's just say it looked like a newleywed's car (thanks Dustin and April). Funny. This picture is after Rhett blew out his birthday candles, little stinker. Happy Birthday Cody, we love you!!

Speaking of love, a lot of people have done nice things for me this week, I have the best friends and family. I have a big final this Saturday, and Cody has been doing a lot for the kids so I can study. Then yesterday on my mom and Ally's day off the watched the boys all day so I could finish my study guide. That same day my friend Jennie dropped off 3 freezer meals so I don't need to cook this week. How SWEET! I am so lucky. I will be happy when this class is over, it has been so time consuming! I have learned a lot though, so if anyone wants to discuss Cell Biology and Genetics just give me a call :o).

{Happy 1st B-day Kade!}

I thought it would be fun to show how much Kade has grown this past year! We love him more each day and are so glad he's in our family.....

1 Day Old

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months


6 Months


7 Months


8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

1 Year Old!