Labor Day Weekend

We didn't stray far from home this weekend. Friday we went to the beach in the morning, while it was still cloudy. (I have increasingly sensitive eyes and headaches.) Still got a headache... but it was fun anyway. Corryn loves putting HANDFULS of sand in her mouth... and we're still seeing it out the other end, heh heh. Ethan is a digger, always working intently, so cute.

Sunday night we saw a pink haze on the porch and were surprised to see a beautiful rainbow and a spectacular sunset. There's not a lot of interesting weather here, rarely a drop of rain let alone a rainbow. That's one thing I miss about Idaho and Utah, storms. I miss feeling the electricity in the air and the thunder shake you to the core.

Lately Ethan has been reaching for the moon. Literally. The other night he spotted it, was jumping and saying "It's hard!" He then went running into the house, searching every room for his stool, brought out to the porch and stood on top of it thinking it would help him reach the moon. Tonight he spotted the moon and said "Seat, seat." He grabbed his plush Elmo chair and set it up on the porch and had a seat. Just wanted to watch the moon. He's so cute, I don't want him to change. I took him to the park tonight and he wanted to sit in the bog boy swing. Ah, he's growing up so FAST!

We've recently put the kids in the same room at night.... it's been rough. Really rough. They take turns getting up at night. One night they got up at 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Each time they get up it only takes me 3-5 minutes until I put them back into bed, but then it takes me 30-45 mins to fall back asleep. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to let them cry themselves to sleep, which honestly I would have done earlier but we share walls with other people's bedrooms. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Corryn is WALKING!

I can't believe that in less than a month my little baby is going to be 1! She's walking now... and still has no teeth, seems kind of backwards to me.

 Yup, she can stand...

 And walk...

 And still melt your heart. Like her crazy hair?

Ethan's outfit of choice today.

By the way, we found Corryn in her crib this morning with her diaper off and poop smeared everywhere... at least she wasn't eating it... I know friends who have had that happen.

Yumm... food. And other things.

Lately, I've been making some pretty good meals. Sometimes I get in a funk when I just can't seem to think of something new to make with old ingredients... you feel me? But recently I've been on a good creative kick. Last night- Stuffed bell peppers and oatmeal choco chip cookies (coolest recipe ever- no eggs, no milk, no butter). Tonight- Hawaiian haystacks and gelato and raspberries in homemade sugar cones. Tomorrow- Pot roast and roasted squash and mushrooms.

One thing I love about the place were we live is the proximity to a grocery store. Not just any grocery store, Sprouts. It's essentially a farmers market in a store. The kids and I walk there at least once a week. I love that you can walk out with 4 full bags of produce for under $20. We all sport our sunglasses and Ethan always chooses a honey stick to suck on.

My dearest friend is getting ready to have her baby any day now. I made these geometric paper lantern thingies to put up in her baby's room. Black, white, light blue, and red... what a awesome and unique color combo for a girl.

Today 7am-12pm

Here's just a little slice of what a day here is like. :)

Corryn wakes us up with giggles which are soon followed by the extreme loudness of Wednesday leaf blowers.... grrrrr
Ethan gets out of bed and finds me in the shower and gives me a kiss through the shower curtain
I see Corryn crawling in the hall naked, sneaky girl
Family scripture study and prayer before Jon leaves for work. Ethan mimics the verses a couple words at a time. It's super cute.
Corryn says a new word, baba
Shredded cheese is spread all over the kitchen and living room
Corryn gets herself naked... again
Dishes, counters, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming
Corryn nap time
It's now 10am.
Ethan's friends Alex and Tom Tom come over to play
I wash the vacuum filter (one of the best purchases I've ever made, washable vacuum filter)
Wake up Corryn and finally dress the kids
All kids watch Blues Clues and Ethan walks around saying "Notebook, where are you?" over and over... his little notebook with paw prints drawn in it has been lost for a couple days now, sad.
Scrub the bathroom while the kiddos play
Ethan and Alex go around the house measuring things with the tape measure
I'm given a quarter of a cheesecake (YUM) for watching the boys
It's only noon.... I'm pooped! :)

My boys and their toys

Ethan got this super cool "power wheels" four wheeler for his birthday from my dad and Jon bought this not so cool remote control airplane from a hobby store. I say not so cool because on it's maiden voyage it flew not five feet in the air before crashing and breaking in two. Best $100 ever spent... not.

Ethan's maiden voyage on the four wheeler also had a not so nice outcome... he ran over his sister. (Face of terror seen below) He's been scared to press the petal ever since and would rather push it from behind. Ah, Ethan.

This weekend we're going to attempt to transition Ethan from his crib to a twin bed with a safety railing... wish us luck. After that's squared away, we have to transition Corryn into the crib.... in the same room as Ethan. There may be lots of sleepless nights ahead... But hopefully when it's all done, we'll have our master bedroom to ourselves again and kids that can sleep together in the same room. :)

Bath Time in Frames

 How do I look?

 Ah, Mom, it's getting in my eyes!

 Here, let me help you with that.

 See, Corryn, this is how you do it!

High fashion pose.

In other news,  I have found a new way to get my fix of chocolate everyday. I may just have to diet just so that I can continue to eat this daily. Microwave mug brownies. After trying a couple recipes, here is the best by far. Warm, rich, cup-o-brownie with just the right amount of ooze. TO DIE FOR! Best of all, it cooks in 60 seconds. Dangerous, very dangerous, fix.

4 T flour
4 T sugar
2 T cocoa powder
dash of salt

Mix dry in bottom of mug with whisk.

2 T water
2 T vegetable oil

Add wet and whisk well.

Microwave for 60 seconds. Cool. Devour!!

How we kept cool today

I tossed and turned last night, just dreading dealing with the heat today... and the next couple weeks for that matter. I went down to the garage to get the kiddie pool this morning and there is was, looking straight at me... the tarp. I then spent the next 2 hours hammering and maneuvering furniture until this beautiful piece of architecture was created. It works... somewhat. It's only 80 in our house today, better than the 88 yesterday. Yes, my kids were naked in the pool. Who was going to be able to see them through my fortress anyway?

Someone please save me from this California weather!

Sounds weird, right? I mean, this is where people vacation, for goodness sake. But when the sun is blaring and it's anything over 75, our house COOKS. It's currently 88 in our house. Seriously, why don't people have AC here? I don't understand it. Back when Corryn was first born and there was a big heat wave, I called around in the ward to try to find a house with AC that Corryn and I could chill at, and only found one. One person in the whole ward. Someday we'll have AC... But for now I get daily heat headaches and the kids are super cranky.

Okay, venting over. In other good news, since Jon got a promotion, we are finally able to afford something things on our wish list. One of which is our dream double stroller. LOVE IT! I also finally got a new pair of tennis shoes and a couple new clothing items. SO NEEDED considering I haven't had new clothes since before I had children.

I have mastered the art of homemade pizza. Tips: Use bread flour when making the dough, use fresh mozzarella, saute the mushrooms before hand, get a basil plant, and use roma tomatoes. YUM!!!!

Last of all, I wanted to convey my love to my friends. They really make living here worth the ridiculous cost and heat headaches. They have become family. :) :) These are only some of the wonderful women in my life, taken at a baby shower I recently helped throw.

3 Years

 It was a VERY HOT day. Thank goodness my mom had packed lots of water bottles for everyone.

 As we walked out the door, my Dad was the first to rush to hug me. :) :)

 Everyone.

 Bridesmaids! The two on either side of me are my sisters and the rest roommates.

 Jon's family.

 The women of my family.

 Ah, the days when I had time to straighten my hair...

My favorite day of all time! Of course it's tied with the days Ethan and Corryn were born too. :) I love you, Jon!!!!!!

Peggy's Cove

The last time I went to Peggy's Cove, it was the day after Christmas and Jon was on one knee and slipping a ring on my freezing finger. :) I'm so glad I insisted on taking another trip out there, it was as beautiful as I remember. Warning: There is no taming of hair here, it's not even worth attempting. Ethan was in climbing heaven and my aunts were in picture taking heaven. It was eerie and foggy, the air was slightly salty but mostly clean. The cleanest air I've ever breathed.

Upon getting out of the car I informed Jon that he would be proposing to me again to which he groaned and whined. I was insistent and handed my engagement ring to him. A while later Ethan approached me holding my ring saying "Here, Mommy." Jon was on one knee... only for a split second, but on one knee nonetheless. He's such a closet romantic. :)