I eat therefore I am!

I am a lover of food. My sisters and I know that this wonderful trait was passed down to us from our mother. When we go on trips we plan our vacation around places we want to eat at. We love to eat. We go to Snowbird, Utah every other Thanksgiving and spend many lunches and dinners at Cafe Rio. We also love Olive Garden, Pei Wei (cheaper version of P.F. Chang's), Jamba Juice, and Panera. When you go grow up in a little town you tend to enjoy the finer things in life. Just looking at this picture of lettuce wraps makes my mouth water.

As a consequence of loving to eat, I also love to cook. I love to cook because I want to eat good food. When I say good I don't necessarily mean "healthy", what I mean is yummy. My mom gets in these moods sometimes where she will start trying all kinds of new recipes. I'm more of the type that finds a recipe that sounds good and then I store it away for a few years, never get around to trying it and throw it away. But because I live by her I get to try out all of her new recipes. A lot of us brag about how she is such a good cook but she modestly shrugs it off by saying,"A good cook just has a lot of good recipes." Funny that most of my recipes come from her! In conclusion I am going to start posting some of my favorite recipes for others to try. I am also going to start trying out new ones. I'll let you know when I find a good one!

Teething:(

Ah the joys of motherhood. It seems that when my kids are between the ages of 1 day old to 1 year old I blame their crankiness on teething. If Cohen is fussy after having had a nap he must be "teething". If he is whiny after being fed of course he is "teething" again. Ammon didn't get teeth until he was a year old but you better believe I said the words, "I think he's teething" at least fifty times before he finally got teeth! Well this time it is true, poor baby Cohen is definitely teething. He got his third tooth, which is one of the top front teeth, about a week ago and the tooth next to it is about to break through. The reason I know he really is teething is because I can see it! Poor little guy took about an hour nap and woke up screaming bloody murder. SO I put baby Orajel on his gums, nursed him, gave him tylenol and shared a popsicle with him. The last part wasn't so bad. So now he is back to crawling around and getting into everything. Yesterday we did the same routine but he just wouldn't calm down so I finally put him back in his crib and let him cry for 10 minutes until he was back asleep. What a mean mom.

So True

Okay so I love Parents magazine. I had never gotten a subscription to it until a few months ago when I bought a thermometer that came with a free subscription. This is one magazine I will always have in my home, until my kids are older. Last night I couldn't put it down. We had rented "Failure to Launch" and I told Jody to go ahead and start it without me because I was engrossed in my current issue of Parents. My favorite part this month was an article about the difference between having your first child and your second. Well let me just quote it because no one could have said it better.

"When you first become a mother, every little decision can throw you into a fit of anxiety. Should you pick up your baby or let her cry? Is it okay to call the doctor at 2 a.m. about a rash? Too many women stress themselves out instead of enjoying the experience. But baby number two is a different story. By then, the angst is gone. You've learned to trust your instincts and figured out how to make life simpler." One mother said, "I worried about the timing of every milestone when Isabella was a baby. When would she roll over? When would she start walking? I never stopped to appreciate our little moments together. When Michael was born two and a half years later, I stopped obsessing and let myself enjoy the baby stage. So what if he walked a little later? That just meant I got to hold and cuddle him even more."

I think this article explains exactly how I felt as a first time mom. SO overwhelmed! But when Cohen was born I wasn't worried about the lack of sleep, when he would start crawling or eating solid foods because I suddenly realized that this time truly does fly by and I just wanted to enjoy it while I could. I was in too big of a hurry for Ammon to get bigger, so we could do fun things together, to enjoy him as a baby. With Cohen I have tried to enjoy this precious time.

Another article I read both scared me and made me aware of the risks of drowning. As many of you know we spend much of our summer at Trinity Lake and this article was really good for me to read. I am very paranoid with my kids when I go to the lake. My mom told me just last weekend while we were there that if one of my kids fell in the lake we would have time to get to him because they wouldn't just sink. Untrue mom, the article says they would sink to the bottom like a rock. Yes, horrible to think about but it will keep me in paranoia which could be a good thing. It also says not to leave kiddie pools out with water in them because even a 3 year old could get a mouthful of water, get scared, not know what to do and drown in a few minutes. Lastly it says a child will lose consciousness after 2 minutes and suffer irreversible brain damage within 4 to 6 minutes. I tell you all this not to scare you but because I know a lot of you have kids and want you to be aware of the risks of drowning. Our kids are so precious and we have to keep them safe. If you have access to this magazine please read it! Let me just finish with this.

"The bottom line is that drowning is almost always preventable, emphasizes Dr. Eichelberfer. "Whenever you're in or near the water, you should be able to reach out and touch your child. Sadly when a child drowns or is disabled after a near-drowning, parents have to live with the fact that they could have done something to protect him. You never want to be in that position."

The Search Is On!!!

Did any of you play Nintendo growing up? My siblings and I got one for Christmas one year and I remember playing Super Mario Brothers for hours in my brothers secret cubby hole. In his room you could walk into his closet and go through a passage way into a dark little room that didn't have a window in it. In this room we laid on bean bag chairs and played hours and hours of Nintendo. Well lately I have been itching to play some Mario Bros. 1 and 3 and so Jody and I have begun to search for a Nintendo on eBay. eBay has everything you could want and more on it. I have bought and sold on it and just think it's the greatest, most innovative idea. I recently lost my cell phone and have begun shopping on eBay for a new one. When in doubt try eBay!

A Superman Birthday

Superman is here to save the day! Ammon had his 3 year old birthday party last week and as you can tell it was a Superman party. He had a wonderful time playing with his friends and opening presents. The funniest part was when we all sang happy birthday to him and he sang to himself, "happy birthday to Ammon" louder than anyone else! His grandma got him the outfit that blows up so he has muscles. He refuses to take it off when he is home and would wear it to bed if I let him. I worked hard to decorate that S on the cake but it was worth it because when Ammon saw it he loved it! We also made capes for all the kids out of plastic table covers from the dollar store. I can't believe Ammon is already three years old but I can't believe I ever had a life without him.

She's All Grown Up!

My little sister Alex just graduated from high school last weekend. When Jody and I first moved to McKinleyville she was 14, with braces and just starting high school. She has changed a lot since then. Sometimes I can't believe that she will be leaving us. She is going to UVSC in Provo Utah. I will miss going to her volleyball and basketball games but even more I will miss having someone to go to Eureka with, share clothes with and to call when I need a quick babysitter. She has been such a good girl and a wonderful example to the rest of our family.

I was looking at pictures the other day and can't believe how much we look a like. Many people have mistaken us for each other. When I was in college I would often come home for the summers. One summer day it was sunny outside and I didn't have to work so I decided to take a bike ride down to Safeway. I was riding back up the hill to our house when a little 6th grade boy, who was Alex's age, said, "Hi Alex!" I about died. Here I was 19 years old and Alex was 11!!! I mean seriously I must have looked really young or the boy desperately needed glasses. One time Jody thought she was me from behind and put his arm around her. That could have been the most physical contact she has ever had with a boy! J/K (go Alex! or should I say Jody?)

I will miss Alex terribly but I know that she is getting ready to have the best time of her life.

A Brief History

20 years ago I was...........
1. 6 years old, going to Trinity Lake
2. Finishing 1st grade at Dow's Prairie Elementary school
3. Playing T-Ball with Tasha Jones

10 Years ago
1. I got my drivers license! (driving my moms mini van)
2. Was attending McKinleyville High School, going to early morning seminary at my house, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.
3. Wasting my time with a stupid boyfriend.

5 Years ago
1. Living in King Henry Apartments in Provo, UT (where I met my hubby)
2. Having one of the best times of my life
3. Working at Budget Rental Cars and Ruby River Steakhouse.
4. Saving for a trip to Europe with mom, Lindsey and Grandparents
5. Stalking Melissa's (old roommate) crushes, making midnight trips to Walmart, and eating brownies a few hours later.

3 Years ago
1. Attending HSU
2. Living in Chicago while Jody sold Alarm systems.
3. Waiting to give birth to Ammon (who will be 3 on Friday)
4. Walking all over Chicago with my mom, throwing up after drinking Castor Oil, and doing other things ( I won't mention) to try to go into labor.

1 Year ago
1. Swimming in the water and laying on the beaches in Hawaii with yet another big belly.
2. Graduating from HSU in Elementary Education
3. Getting Ammon to sleep in his big boy bed.
4. Buying land in Fortuna
5. Waiting for Lindsey's wedding in Arizona which was a month before I was due with Cohen and the temperature just happened to be 117*.

So Far This Year I........
really haven't done anything too exciting.
1. Went to Yosemite for the first time. (thanks to Lani)
2. Went to San Francisco with my mom and boys for a few days
3. Went to Georgia to visit my husband's family
4. Bought a new car.

Yesterday I....
1. had a garage sell with Tasha
2. took Ammon to two birthday parties
3. went to a baptism
4. went to stake conference
5. watched Glory Road
6. made cabbage soup for Jody who wants to lose 10 lbs. (and has)

Today
1. I have cleaned my apartment
2. Given Cohen a nap
3. changed two poopy diapers
4. plan to organize Ammon's birthday party
5. will go outside and enjoy the beautiful day
6. Find my cell phone (hence the reason I haven't called you back Kasey!)

Tomorrow I will
1. I will go to Eureka to Winco (cheap grocery store)
2. hopefully work out
3. get ready to go to the lake on Thursday

In the next year I shall....
1. go see Lindsey in London
2. see Cohen walk
3. start Ammon in preschool
4. Get a house
5. Be Happy!

Someday...

As most of you know Jody and I have lived in an apartment our whole marriage. I don't know if this is normal but I am really getting antsy to have my own home. Mostly I just want a washer and dryer of my own, a garage to store things in and a backyard for my kids to play in. Okay I lied. I actually want, at least, one more bedroom and walls that are my own so that I can paint! About a year ago we bought some land in Fortuna which is 35 minutes from McKinleyville. First we had planned to build a home for us on it. Then we decided that we didn't want to live that far from my parents plus if we were to stay on the North Coast we would only want to live North of Eureka. So then we decided to build a home on the land and sell it. Well to give you the short story we decided to just sell the land. We currently have a few couples who seem to be pretty interested in it.

The price of homes in California is ridiculous. So Jody and I have decided that we will probably move out of California before we buy a home. We could scrape buy and purchase a 1400 sq. foot 3/2 home for $360,000 or wait and buy a nice home somewhere else, where it is cheaper to live. I am blown away at the price of homes in other places. Jody and I looked at homes last month when we went to Georgia. I love craftsman style homes and we found a few new subdivisions where they are building this style. I like both homes above but wouldn't choose those colors for the one on the bottom. These were both 2700 sq. foot homes with 4 bedrooms, dining room, living and family rooms, granite, hardwood floors, and many more details. Plus they were on 1 acre parcels. Well these homes were priced around $320,000! To me that is a bargain. I love looking at homes and hope to purchase our own soon!

Off to the lake!

Of course "the lake" is our beloved Trinity Lake. Even though a lot of you probably haven't been there you should have heard about it by now from me or a family member. Every summer since I can remember we have spent about 3/4's of our summers at the lake. When my siblings and I were very young we used to camp at a place called Tannery. This was true camping because the bathrooms only had toilets and sinks in them and we cooked outside and all slept in tents. My mom would take all five of her kids to "the lake" with a few other friends of hers and there would be 15-20 kids. The husbands would go up on the weekends. My mom was SO desperate for sun and heat that she would camp out with 20 kids 4 adults and no husbands. CRAZY! I remember people seeing us all together and asking my mom, "Are you running a summer camp?" It was crazy but one of the highlights of my childhood.

Later the Jones family decided to move camp to Pinewood Cove. Well Pinewood Cove is a luxurious place compared to Tannery. They have a swimming pool, dock, little store, hookups for trailers, a park, pavilion (for movies and games at night), and most importantly SHOWERS! Well gradually we all started going to Pinewood Cove and have now been camping there for about 12 years. When I was young I would go to the lake with the Jones family for a week and then my parents would come the next week and I would stay with them. Basically Tasha Jones and I would stay the whole summer at the lake between both of our families. We had a great life.

Now my parents have a trailer they leave at the lake all year round. Last weekend we got everything set up for this summer. We got the boat in the water, the tent up and the trailer dewinterized. My mom works part time at the hospital so we will go up Wednesday or Thursday and my dad and Jody will drive up on Friday. We live for the lake and many of my childhood memories involve experiences I've had there. It has provided summer romances, beautiful tans (hopefully not skin cancer) and a retreat from the North Coast fog. It truly is the best lake in the world.

The pictures above are of Ammon who had asked his grandpa if he could get into the boat. He obviously didn't listen. Before we knew it he was diving head first into the boat! Later we looked over to see him trying to ski down the hill. Needless to say he loves the lake.

My Blue Eyed "Baby"

My sweet "baby" Cohen is quickly losing his babiness. He is crawling all over and pulling himself up on everything, before we know it he will be walking. He tries to talk to everyone. He says "Da-Da" all the time and finally started saying, "Ma-Ma" last week. He has been an angel. He is the best sleeper. The first night we brought him home he slept for 6 hours. This was a dream compared to Ammon who didn't seem to sleep for the first 6 months of his life. Cohen has slept through the night on and off since about six months, due to teething and being sick. But right now he sleeps from 7:30 to 6:00 every night. At 6:00 a.m. I nurse him and usually he will go back to bed until about 7:30. He also takes two long naps during the day and when he isn't sleeping he is pretty happy. He likes to crawl around and get into everything or sit in his high chair and munch on food. I had to put the gate up in front of the stairs a few weeks ago because he was starting to crawl up them. He is so easy to get to smile and laugh.

When Ammon was born I couldn't wait for him to get bigger so that I could play with him. But with Cohen I have tried to enjoy each new age because now I realize how quickly they do grow. I am already baby hungry again! But don't worry people I won't be having more until we have a house. Being a mother, though very demanding, is like nothing else. I never realized I could love a little face so much. I know that they must get so sick of me kissing them all the time. The best name in the world is, "Mommy." Last night I wasn't feeling well so Ammon laid by me and rubbed my back for about 15 minutes. It was the sweetest thing. 15 minutes is a long time for a 2 year old. Yes I have given up a lot to be a mom. I can't go to the bathroom in privacy, plan my day around naps, change poopy diapers all day, can't eat in peace and can't go anywhere without strapping two kids into car seats, just to name a few. But I wouldn't want my life to be any different. People say that being a mom is the hardest job but it is honestly the most rewarding job in the world.

My weekend

I couldn't wait to watch the "Break Up" after my last post. So Friday night Jody and I put Cohen to bed over at my parents house (Ammon was already staying the night there, a tradition every Friday night) and went to the movie. We stopped at Safeway to get cash and treats. I got a pint of Toffee bar crunch ice cream and some candy. What a good idea to share a pint of ice cream in the movie. The movie was packed and I saw two of Lindsey's friends there. (Stephanie and Danielle, they weren't together) Jody and I both enjoyed the movie. The couple argued over things that all couples argue over. Vince Vaughn is hilarious! Despite the reviews we gave the movie a thumbs up. Our only disappointment was the ending. It wasn't my favorite movie but entertaining and fun to see them on screen together.

On Saturday I went to see Kalie and her kids off at the airport. Her kids are adorable. I hate not living by my nieces and nephews. Then we went to the Azalea Festival parade. Ammon had a blast because he got tons of candy at the parade. When that was over we went to a petting zoo and then got BBQ sandwiches at the park and looked around at all the booths. The weather was beautiful here and we actually got some sun on our faces. It wasn't a super exciting weekend but it was nice to hang out with my family again because my mom has been traveling the last five and a half weeks to be with both my sisters when they had their babies.

Jody will be gone a lot this week. He is taking a a summer school class so that he can graduate in December. It is every day from 8-12. Then he goes to work. After work he'll go out to the triplex. Which is a house he bought with a couple other guys. I will tell more about that later. After the triplex he has to go to traffic school from 5:45 -9 and at 9:00 he has a softball game. It's a good thing I live by my parents so I can go hang out with them instead of being alone all day long. Oh I almost forgot. Ammon is officially potty trained!!! It wasn't even hard to do. I just waited until he was ready and he has been doing great. It makes life much easier and cheaper.

Waiting for the "Break Up"

Now I am pathetic. I don't know why but I just really want this movie to be good. I guess I really felt bad for Jennifer Aniston when Brad dumped her for his neurotic new mommy, Angelina Jolie. I just hated how it seemed like he left the "good girl" for the "sexy, bad girl" because I always thought that when it came to marriage guys would always choose the "good girl." Not the case in this scenario. I think he got seduced by her when they made the movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" which is very intense in some scenes. So back to my point. I want this movie to do well. Because one I have always liked Jennifer Aniston and it seems that her movies haven't done as well as my favorite sitcom "Friends." Two Brangolina' s movie together did well and third because I like her and Vince Vaughn together. At first I thought they were a strange couple but he's really grown on me. I saw him co-host with Kelly Ripa yesterday on Regis & Kelly and he's hilarious and sexy in a different way. I also just watched him in "Wedding Crashers" last night, which my mom rented from Cleanflicks. Plus Vince was there for Jennifer to help her through the, no pun intended, "break up" of her marriage. The critics haven't given it a very good rating so far but what do they know? I am going to see this one for myself and keep my fingers crossed. I am also just interested in seeing their chemistry together. Will Viniffer or should I say Jince make it? Let's hope they do on the big screen!

He's a Character!

My soon to be three year old son Ammon could be the most creative and imaginative kid on the planet. Everyday is a new adventure for him and us. He loves to watch movies. His favorites include Toy Story, Tarzan, Mulan, Spiderman and now Superman. The greatest thing is that he becomes these characters after he watches the movie. You may be wondering why this crazy kid has toilet paper rolls on his arm. Well he put them on one day and said that they make him walk like Curcheck ( the gorilla from Tarzan). He loves to walk around like this and I have found him numerous times taking toilet paper off of the rolls just so he can make his arms like a gorilla. He then will make his gorilla face and beat his chest while yelling,"ahhhahhhahhh." A few hours later he will decide to be Buzz Light Year and get on the couch or bed and yell "to infinity and beyond" or "I am buzz light year, I come in peace!" Next comes Spiderman. As Spiderman he tries to climb up the walls or shoot webs out of his arms. Lastly he loves to be Superman. His Grandad bought him his Superman outfit when we went to Georgia and we can only get it off of him just long enough to wash it. As Superman he loves to wear his cape and fly. He also stands with his fists on his hips and says,"dadadada Superman to the rescue!" The greatest thing is that when he becomes these characters Jody and I get to be one too. He tells me that I am Jane, Jessie, Cat woman, a princess and Mulan. Jody has been Woody, Tarzan, Batman and a dog. If he can't think of a character then you are automatically a dog. Life is always interesting with Ammon around. Not only is he very creative but also sweet. The other day we were riding in the car and he said, "Your my girl mom." My heart just melted. He also loves his baby brother and from the moment we brought Cohen home from the hospital Ammon has been in love with him. It is so much fun to see them interact with each other. I love my boys!