Vain Efforts

For Sarah's wedding, I made this red hairband for Annie, and added the ribbon to her dress. I was so pleased with how it turned out, but didn't get a good picture. On Sunday, I decided she would wear the dress one last time (because it really is too small now) which meant it needed to be ironed. Sunday mornings are pretty busy, and we barely have time to get out the door, but I was determined. So I ironed all the ruffles and both layers (which was a huge effort...especially since I HATE ironing) and even took a picture before we left. (Logan decided he needed to be in the picture too, and pushed Annie onto her face immediately afterward, but that's another story.) We buckled the kids into their carseats, and made it to church just on time. On the third row of the chapel we sat (Annie still in her carseat) and church began. Well, Annie started fussing pretty immediately. I kept her relatively quiet for a couple of minutes, and then she just had to be picked up. I unbuckled her, lifted her out of the carseat, and discovered that her white dress was a different color on the backside. Carrying her as far away from my clean clothes as possible, I rushed out of the chapel while everyone stared at me (remember we were in the third row?). In the mother's lounge I discovered very little mess in her diaper, and a whole lot on her clothes. After a baby wipe bath (for her and the changing area), we returned looking a whole lot less cute. The moral of the story: never iron on a Sunday morning; it isn't worth it!

Maybe this week will be her last time wearing the dress...

Falafel Recipe

8 oz dry chick peas (AKA garbanzo beans)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 TB finely chopped parsley
2 1/2 TB onion powder
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp salt
3 TB flour (can be omitted for those who cannot eat gluten)

1. Dry mix: Grind chick peas to a fine powder. I use my wheat grinder. Wet mix: If you do not have this option, soak and cook chick peas according to package instructions. (I prefer the dry mix because I can make a lot of it at once, and store it for a quick meal idea.)
2. Combine all ingredients.
3. Dry mix only: Add enough water until moistened and slightly firm.
4. Make into balls (approx. 1 inch diameter); let sit for 10 minutes.
5. Fry in 1/2 inch olive oil until golden brown.

I like to serve these in pita bread with ranch dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce. We've found that even most little kids like these!

We've also made these into patties, and served them on hamburger buns.

Enjoy!

Cooking With Plastic

Accidental experiments are sometimes the most frustrating, although I found this to be equally amusing. I usually cook with my front burners, but because Logan was helping me and I was using oil, I decided to use a back burner. I finished cooking, turned off the stove, and moved my pot to the other back burner (that wasn't hot). I'd made falafel (it's delicious...anyone want a new recipe?), and had left it on a plastic plate while I set the table. I was clearing counters, and moved the plate of falafel to the stove top temporarily. I kept hearing a crackling sound, and thought it was the oil cooling down...maybe something was still in the oil? The table was set, I went to pick up the plate of falafel, and it didn't move. That was when I realized my mistake. I rescued the falafel (which had stayed nice and warm...one good thing) and had a fun time peeling gooey plastic off of the stove. I still haven't quite removed all of the plastic from the burner. :)

Happy Moments

All ready for church.


Playtime...Annie is not allowed to be on the playmat by herself.


Annie and I came home from Mutual to discover Jim and Logan asleep; she'd fallen asleep in the car.


Logan likes to try on my headbands.

The Coolest Toy On Earth

Last evening, Logan discovered the coolest toy on earth...




Better than a Bumbo!


Initially, Logan was mad that Annie was in the box; he is attempting to take her out of it...


After a couple of time-outs (because he was screaming), he decided to share. We were not allowed to take her out of the box after that!


Loan would sit in the box like this, and then tip backwards.


The landing was a little scary, so he would cry until he unstuck himself. It must not have been too bad, though, because he continued to do it several times.

Sarah's Wedding

My baby sister, Sarah, got married last Saturday. The wedding was beautiful, and she looked like a princess. I thought she looked like one of those girls you see in wedding magazines. We threw her a bridal shower last month, too. The first pictures are from that.



Josh's contribution to the bridal shower; he made us all breakfast! (Annie and I stayed the night at my mom's the night before.)


Beautiful wedding dresses...they didn't seem to stay on very well, though.


Sarah's wedding hat.


All four kids were home. Danielle flew in the day before and surprised most of us!


Danielle and Annie


The morning of the wedding; I had Danielle's kids stay the night so I could fix the girls' hair for the wedding. (Aubrey is holding Annie, and Mariah is in the background.) Jim and I got five kids ready that day; we managed to get everyone bathed or showered, and only forgot to have one kid brush his teeth! Fun!


Logan was fighting to have this picture taken, and we didn't get one where all of our eyes are open. I posted this, so I get to be the one with my eyes open...sorry Jim. (I still love you, though!)


The wedding party


Nana and Papa (my dad's parents) with their son, grandkids, and great-grandkids.


Nana and Papa with the happy couple.


Mom with her kids and grandkids. Annie's little head was getting sunburned by this point in the day...


The cake...wasn't it beautiful?


Hee hee...don't worry, he got her back!


Me and Sarah


Sarah and Dave (by the way, her husband's name is Dave...)


Logan was able to fulfill his career wish at the end of the reception...he was the little garbage man.


Leaving the church

Growing Girl

Annie is growing so fast! I feel like time is going faster the second time around. I've been having fun taking pictures of her new accomplishments. She's babbling, giggling, sitting, and eating baby food. Very exciting!

Sitting propped against the couch.


Unsuspecting...before the first bite.

Trying the baby cereal.

Not a big fan...yet.

Pretty girl.

See the drool on her dress?

Sitting...not propped against anything, but with a pillow to land on.

She even decided to stand up for a picture!

Birthday Boy

Logan turned two a couple of weeks ago, and we had a pool party. A lot of our family came, and Logan had a blast. Once we pulled out the cake and opened presents he didn't know what to do. There were too many fun things to look at at once!


Logan helped make his birthday cake the day before the party.


He LOVES cars, and especially the garbage truck, so he had a parking lot cake.


We bought him a Waste Management garbage truck. It was a hit! He carried it around with him for three days, and hardly touched anything else. He wanted to sleep with it, and cried because we didn't let him bring it to church.


He also received a big boy bed. He was pretty happy about that. I am too; he hasn't fought me to take naps or go to bed since!

Brand New Blog Family

Hi! Welcome to our blog. I've never done this before, and Jim is laughing at me right now because I can't seem to make things line up the way I want them to. This first post is strictly an experiment, so here are some pictures of my kids.

Logan, our little man


Annie, our little angel