It's official, summer is over.

School starts this morning. With mixed emotion I'll be wishing The Daughter luck on her first day as a full fledged 1st grader in just a few short minutes. I'm super excited to hear about the things she will learn and the fun she will have yet sad that she's leaving. I really enjoy having her around.

So in memory of our summer together, I thought I'd reflect on a some of the fond memories we have of the season.

Wearing swim suits all day long,
Making countless play dough creations,
Teaching the art of mud pie making to the tots,
Watching WAY too many movies,
Playing well together,Soaking up way too much chlorine,Letting our imaginations run wild in the backyard for hours on end,Playing with cousins,Traveling (Salt Lake, St. George, Disneyland, visiting friends)and even enjoyed some lazy summer days!

It's been a good summer. We've done a lot together. As much as I long for it to continue, I can feel the change coming. The cool crisp air in the morning tells me it's time to create fall memories now. :)

A must eat chocolate cake!

Okay, I'm not a huge chocolate cake fan but this was to die for! Seriously, you have to try it. I promise it will make it into your Tried & True book. Plus, you get to use your bundt pan. Which in my opinion, is even better. Easy & pretty, it's a winner!
Decadent Chocolate Bundt Cake

• 1 package (18 ¼ ounces) devil’s food cake mix
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• Powdered Sugar

1. In a mixing bowl, combine cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, water, and eggs.
2. Beat on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Pour into a greased and floured (I always use Pam Baking spray – it’s gotta be the baking kind) 10 inch fluted tube pan.
4. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
5. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely or eat it warm. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
   

Recipe & photo courtesy of the real mom kitchen site. Hope on over and check out her site.

No longer expecting

The past two weeks have been a blur. One moment we are expecting our third child, the next we are not. Miscarriage is hard. It is something that no one can prepare you for. No two experiences are alike. Very few things bring me down. This however has left me rather shaken.

More for my benefit than yours, I'm going to record some of the things I've gotten out of this trying experience.

*We are loved. The tremendous support I have received from our few family and friends that we've told has been completely unexpected. From the surprise gifts, the kind notes, the offers to babysit, the meals, the calls/texts and the visits, each has touched us. I'm so glad we are living in the place we are, close to our family, surrounded by people who love us.

*I love my children! They've given me countless hugs and have been a great distraction. The little man snuggled on the couch with me while I sobbed the day we got the horrible news. He had know idea what was going on but he knew I needed comfort. I'm so thankful for the chance I have to hug my little children each day.

*I'm thankful for to have honorable priesthood holders in my family. Receiving a priesthood blessing provided me with the comfort & strength I needed when I had so many questions and worries. My testimony has been nourished with each blessing I've received.

*I know that my Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. I'm not alone in my trials. It has been whispered to me many times recently. As I struggled with The Little Man at church mere hours before all the "excitment" started, I felt it enter my mind over and over again. While it gave me the strength to handle the current situation with love and patience, it would be what helped me keep it together in the coming week.

*I am thankful for my body Despite it's MANY imprefections. It has amazed me at how efficient my body has repaired, cleansed, and is healing its self. What a remarkable gift.

*I'm thankful for the temple and the comfort that it brings. I'm glad that through hard times the temple can be our safe haven. A place to bear our burdens and refocus.

*I'm thankful that Randy has had to work overtime the past two weeks. While he hasn't been home much, it's kept him too busy to let the experience really pull him down. Although, his lack of being around both physically and mentally has been a blessing it's also wearing us both down very much. I'm looking forward to having him home this weekend. We are in great need of some family down time together.

I don't know why we had to say good-bye before we even had the chance to say hello. But I know that my Heavenly Father has a plan for my family. We will get through this as we have so many other trials and will be stronger people because of it.

The Grilled Cheese Portal

Do you ever sit down to a meal and are suddenly taken back in time? No matter how many times you've consumed said meal it still takes you back to the same memory? Well I do. Songs & food they all have memories attached.

I've spent my whole life consuming grill cheese sandwiches yet for some reason I always recall the fond memory of having lunch with my husband shortly after he had been laid off. Enjoying a simple meal & a TV show together while the little man napped and the Daughter was a school. Nothing fancy. Just a happy memory of spending uninterrupted time with my hubby during a stressful phase of our life together. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face. :)

Speaking of grilled cheese, how do you eat yours? Do you dip it? If so in what?

Swimming Determination

Three years ago, The Daughter was timidly standing on the side of the Pullman pool, building up the courage to jump into the pool for her very first time. Everyone jumped in but her and one little boy. Their feet were frozen solidly in place while the teacher was lovingly talking them through how she would help them through the challenge, when a very helpfully mother (said with much sarcasm) decide to push them in. Yep, she really did. That wonderful experience (NOT!), washed any desire she had to learn to swim or even go to lessons. That is until this summer, when she decided she needed to swim because she's going to be a 1st grader. Needless to say, she has amazed me. Each day she made tremendous gains and now can swim the width of the pool only stopping once or twice and freely jumps in. We are still working on building up more confidence and she hates to swim in the deep end, which to be honest, I'm not to heart broken about. ;) But it to will come. We as parents can push our children all we want but in the end, they'll come around when they're ready. We pushed her to finish that first ever swim session. It was miserable for all involved. After that we decided to leave it up to her. We know that she would someday come around and sure enough with time she did just that. She may not have come around as fast as we would have wanted her to, but it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters, is she decided to do it and we trusted and supported her. Way to go kiddo, we are so proud of you!

And just for fun...Here's a picture from three years ago, prior to being pushed into the pool. Boy, has she grow!

Caution: Lazy Summer Day in Progress

Sorry folks, the many things I need to blog about will have to wait. The kids & I are having a too much fun enjoying the summer sun. Water balloons, sprinklers, playing in the dirt, enjoying a good book, soaking up the rays and maybe even doing some barbecuing are all we're thinking about today. :)

A baby shower work of art

298 diapers, 1 large box of rubber bands, 5 yards of ribbon, some Cardboard, a crazy lady, a few afternoons & some silhouette fun = the worlds best diaper cake ever!Made for a friend's baby shower. Can't wait to meet the lil' cowboy!

"Get a Grip" Girls Camp 2010

A reflection on the week:

*We have awesome girls. I'm serious. They where fun to be around, listen when I needed them to, did what needed to get done, and all certified with out any hand holding. Plus, they're a ton of fun. What more could a tent mom ask for, really?

*All Young Women presidencies should go to girls camp. I gained a better understand of each YWs strengths & needs and walked away loving them more from the experience. On top of that, we as a presidency where strengthened. We learned from each other, laughed with each other, and got to know each other better. I better understand where they are each coming from and what challenges they each face. It was win-win.

*During Commitment night, they blind-folded each person and sent them one by one down a path with the only instruction being hold tight to the rod (a rope strung along the path). As each person carefully walked down the path they encountered obstacles and temptations, such as girls trying coming up to you (sometimes even pulling on you) and saying "come with me I know a better way." Some temptations where blatant, "Come to this party with me, your parents will never know" while other seemed good "let go of the rope and let me safely guide you around the hole ahead." I was bring up the rear of the group and had the opportunity to watch as each of my YW was blind folded and sent on their way. Some proceeded timidly while other took off with confidence. I wanted to go with each of them so that I could protect them, guide them, keep them away from harm but I could not. No matter how much I loved them, this was something they had to do on their own. Man was that hard! Even harder, completing the course myself to find that only a few girls had made it without letting go of the rope. We waited with anticipation, hoping that they would be the next to emerge. A glimpse of what it my be like for our heavenly father as he watches us excise I our free agency praying that we will not let Satan trick us in to going down his path. This will be an experience that both the girls and myself will carry with us forever. I pray that I will know the things that I need teach and do to help both my own children and our Young Women make it safely.

*Looking at repentance as a gift. When talking with some of the girls that had let go of the rope after commitment night, it became very clear that repentance is a great gift we can all exercise. When we make a mistake, we can repent of our sins and be made clean once again (forgiven & forgotten). We are given another chance. During commitment night, when one would let go of the rope they would go talk with the priesthood leaders about repentance and because repentance gives us another chance, they where able to start the course again. It was a great visual to help drive another aspect of the gospel home.

* I love the outdoors. Nothing compares to the beauty and peacefulness that one experiences when leaving behind the city and all that causes distractions in one's life. Don't be getting any crazy ideas, just because I love the outdoors doesn't mean you will be seeing me doing any real "ruffing it" camping. Cots, Biffy's, and running water near by is as ruff as will ever catch me doing. I much prefer staying in heated cabins, running water at each camp site and the nice bathroom/shower house being only a short walk away. :)

And any review is not complete with out a few pictures...

The ward
Teaching the girls to cook Biscuits over the fire. Getting ready to go homeAwesome leaders (myself, Edna, & April) When you tell them they're crazy, it only encourages the silliness. :)Until next year....

The Birthday Boy's big day review

only a few weeks behind....The cake (His name has been blurred out for posting on a public space.)

He had a great day filled with donuts, trains, swimming, cake and family. What more could a boy ask for?

Random Thoughts swirling around my mind on a Thursday evening...

* Girls Camp is in 4 days. Yeah! EEk! Everyday we discover something else that needs done. I will be spending the weekend making & freezing cookies, brownie, and the main meals with the help of my awesome presidency. Sometime this weekend I should probably pack myself too. I look forward to experiencing camp with our girls but even more looking forward to having my summer back...is that wrong?!

*Some people create drama, no matter their age, wherever they go. Have you noticed that? Girls Camp seems to be intensifying the crazy...

*Swimming lessons...totally worth it for The Daughter this year. The past few summers' lessons have been painfully miserable for all involved. But not this year... she is taking major leaps and bounds, pushing herself more and more each day. We've got a fish on our hands. Proud Mama doesn't even begin to describe what I feel.

* My son has been dealing with some major developmental delays for quite some time. It's hard to watch. Some days, it takes every bit of my patients to be the best mom I can be and help him navigate the daily routine. As much as I know not to compare him to others his age, at times it gets the best of me. On those days, I fight back tears. Until out of no where he gives me a big slobbery kiss and goes on to do a something with out a prompt and with great pride. Then I cry harder, not out of pity or jealousy but because of the sudden reminder of how truly blessed I am. For a reason only Heavenly father knows, he has trusted me with the care of this very special child and knows that he will teach me just as much as I will teach him.

* When did we transition from being the young couple with a new baby to an established family? I like to think I'm not old enough for this business, yet some how we are...How do we slow down time?

*A team of Speech-Pathologists have decided my son has an oral motor mapping disorder, called Apraxia. This is only the beginning and doesn't magically fix things however it lends a clearer picture. Luckily with therapy and lots of repetition they believe he can learn speech motor plans and one day be communicating like no other. When....no one knows. This leaves me with mixed emotions, glad we can better understand his frustration and anger yet sad that after two years of therapy and constant work at home we are still very far from the finish line...it's such a long road. One I will willingly continue down along side my son forever. He is totally worth it.

Lots going on, Lots to be thankful for.

The proper way to start out a Birthday

These aren't just any donuts...these are Spud-nuts. They are SO much better!

Three years ago today, I was sitting by pool thinking I only have one more thing I want to get done before we have this baby, which I completed later that morning. He must have sensed my complete calmness because he was born late that same night despite all of us thinking differently, doctor included. He's been keeping us on our toes ever since!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Little Man!

Birthday celebration pictures to follow shortly. :)

It's the first official day of summer break and this is what my kids are doing...
It's 9:30AM. My kids never sleep in this late! Happy Birthday to me!!!

It's been a year

I can't believe it! It's been a year since we made the move back to Washington, shaken and a bit skeptical. In that time we've made a place for ourselves, made some new friends and have really grown to enjoy being back in our home town.

Camera fun

In my few spare moments I've been experimenting with aperture settings on the camera. My new love: AV mode.

It's these moments that remind me that my dinosaur of a DSLR is still awesome.

Another Mystery is History!

We've been having a mysterious issue around our house for a quite sometime. The daughter has an old camera that she loves dearly and use all the time. Recently, every time she goes to use it would give her one of two errors, battery low or memory full. Both of these I myself have experience many a times. The last error encounter had sent her into complete frustration. Which has led to a never ending battle of me trying to explain that this happens with things we use all the time & her trying to tell me that she doesn't use it THAT much.... That is until today.
Fast forward to this afternoon: While talking on the phone this afternoon, I decide to check out the growing folder that I dump all the pictures from her full camera into and discovered that she just may be right... amongst the 100 or so blurry carpet pictures I spotted a clue.
Can you guess who that might be?

Yep, those green shoes & chubby toes belong to one two year old little brother!

I guess I'm off to tell her she was right, she wasn't the one filling up the memory card or leaving it on all the time...

BTW: See that poor big toe. A string in his socks did that to him. It was totally cutting off the circulation...how weird, right?