Happy Fireworks Day

We had a pretty low key 4th of July. The boys spent the majority of the day with Vovo and Cookie (family friend, that's her nickname...fits too, because she's so sweet) then we met up with them at dinner time. Cookie is addicted to her camera and she seems to think my kids are good material to photograph. I snuck in this one. Sadie LOVED chomping on some watermelon. She is so ready for big kid food. I gave her some guacamole too and she fell in love.

My mom has the birds back. I don't know if they belong to her now or if they are still on loan from Jasmine but my boys love "having" pets. I kind of like this arrangement too, they claim them as pets but I don't have to take care of them! Sweet. These are the kind of cool things grandparents do I guess. Ethan wanted to show me how brave he is to hold Pogo (or is this one Ernie?) on his shoulder.

Hamburgers....mmmm.....honestly, the kids weren't as interested in eating as they were in playing. Maybe that's the behavior I need to adopt? haha....

Grandpa Powers getting in some snuggle time with Miss Patriotic.

The first to fall

Tooth. Its all about the teeth, Ethan's teeth. He lost his first tooth yesterday. While we were at the park I noticed him playing with it and how loose it was. I hadn't realized how close it was to coming out. I think it was the apple he was chomping on that morning that finally got it going. The gum above the tooth was red and funny looking so I called the dentist and asked them about it. They said they should take a look at it and might have to pull it themselves if they suspect an infection (Uncle Al said the same thing during his consultation). I set the appointment for the next afternoon and just waited.

Wiggle, wiggle. Then after I had put the boys down for bed Ethan came out of his room asking if I could pull his tooth. I didn't think he would really let me. I took him into the bathroom and just started wiggling it. He flinched a little when I tried pulling it but didn't react more so I pulled harder. I could hear the flesh tearing and then POP it was out! He was so excited. I was so impressed with how brave he was, way to go Ethan!

I can't believe his cute face. He's losing teeth...how cute. I inspected his gums this morning and they aren't red anymore. The indentation has improved a bunch too. Hopefully I can cancel the dentist appt. without being charged a fee. Ethan was excited to see the tooth fairy left him a dollar in exchange for his tooth! He says he is going to save his money for a Transformer mask (they are like $40 so he'll have to lose all his teeth and then some for that thing...or maybe Christmas will come before then).

8 month old...snot

Sadie girl is sprouting teeth, in abundance. And she's coming out of a nasty cold. And she's eight months old! Stop it. Stop it already. ALL. OF. IT. She is quite the good sitter. Here she is checking out some sand for the first time. I wonder what goes through her head at this moment? What a pretty girlie. Come here let me kiss that exposed neck!

This is the cold. The nasty cold that brought the nasty booger snot draining out her beautiful nose. A few nights of sleep were lost due to this booger of a cold. She's got a nasty cough too, poor Sade.

This is the cutest development, she's scooting...the military crawl. She started off by that black bean bag behind the table and headed to the toys on the floor to the right of the table. When she couldn't find a way through she turned and went under the table. I caught her coming out of it. My little girl is going mobile. I think I'm going to cry.

Where have eight months gone?

First Father and Sons campout

Here is a story of two boys who got to go on their first real campout with their dad. They waited patiently all day to go. They even took naps happily, knowing the priviledge was worth sacrificing play time for. Upon returning home from work, their dad packed up their tent, cooler with drinks, food, clothes and off they went! They had lots of fun with shmashmallows and chips, playing with cousins, going to bed late, and rolling around in the dirt. The two boys awoke to a delicious breakfast of donuts and treats and more time to dig, run and check out the guns the older guys got to practice with. These two boys came home by lunch with contented faces. It was a good story. Here is the gang: Luke, Ellie holding Zane and Ethan. Whatcha lookin' at Lukester?

Ellie has learned well, must clean...even the dirt!

Photo op, daddio and Ethan.

Breakfast of champions!

Sadie and I just hung out at home...in a quiet home, waiting for our men to come back. We were so glad to see them again the next day! What a way to start the summer off. (June 19-20, 2009)

Carbloading

A meat eater is a carnivore. A vegetarian is someone who loves eating plants. What do you call someone who can't get enough carbs? Carbitarian? Breadivore, maybe? Is there a term for this? Google didn't produce anything....

I've got bread on my mind. I'm on a diet. I hate that word. And its not really true. I'm not dieting, I'm trying to drop some weight that has found its way onto my body and, as most of you know, carbs are usually off limits, or highly restricted, when you are on a diet (did I just use too many commas in that sentence?). I get it too, I understand. Carbs aren't highly nutritious unles you count sugar as a vitamin, which its not. Sorry to break it to ya. I love it when I hear dieticians talk about how we need to eat a colorful diet. Cupcakes aren't colorful? Let me ask you, which one do you want to eat more?

This one:

Or this one:

I like veggies, I really do. Especially with the right sauce. I know veggies have a certain place in my life. I'm just addicted to all things carb. "Oh give me a home where the carbohydrates freely roam...." Am I skinnier yet?

Changed my mind

Did anyone see that?

Partner in Parenthood

The progression of a father.

Steve with his firstborn, Ethan.

Steve and his second child and son, Luke.

Steve and his third child, first daughter, Sadie.

I love you, Steve!! You are the most important man in these children's lives. No other man will have as much of an impact as you will. How's that for pressure huh? Haha. You can handle it. They are in good hands. I can't believe this is your fifth Father's day already. What? You got your wish today. Both your boys went up to the front of the chapel and sang with the Primary. Wasn't that one of the best feelings ever? I thought I was going to cry more than I did. I didn't believe Luke would go up there but he did. You convinced him. Wasn't it adorable watching him walk up hand in hand with Ethan? Ethan is such a good brother. Those two are great kids. And then Sadie snuggling with you at dinner, that was a picture I want in my head forever. Isn't that one of the best feelings ever too? I think five should be the cut off age, no growing beyond that. You're a great father.

Love you,

Your wife

What's for dinner?

This is a dreaded question. My kids don't really ask it yet, I just dread trying to figure out the answer. I go through times when I'm really organized and I plan out our entire month. Then other times, like this week, I don't plan anything and then each day is an agonizing debate in my head. Can't we just eat at Stonefire every night? Pllllleeeeeeeeeeeeease? So in an effort to get back on top of things I'm posting my menu here. Its always flexible and sometimes I don't stick to it exactly, tweak it hear and there at the last minute. But its nice to just have a plan. I'd love to hear what you're having for dinner. Th 6/18 - TJ's sundried tomato pesto pasta with chicken, salad F 6/19 - hubs and boys at campout so I'll eat whatever S 6/20 - homemade pizza or blts with TJ's sweet potato fries Su 6/21 - Father's Day, Steve requested strombolis M 6/22 - grilled steaks, blt salad with avocado dressing T 6/23 - chicken kebabs (red onion, mushroom, zucchini, pineapple), black beans and rice W 6/24 - mock bolognese Th 6/25 - homemade pizza F 6/26 - sister's birthday probably out Sa 6/27 - mock cafe rio salads with creamy cilantro lime dressing Su 6/28 - family dinner, don't know who is in charge yet M 6/29 - potstickers and asian noodle salad or my fried rice T 6/30 - grilled chicken or salmon and pasta salad W 7/1 - shepherds pie Th 7/2 - leftovers F 7/3 - grilled cheese and beef stew Sa 7/4 - grilling, maybe ribs; potato salad, chips or s.p. fries

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I've been carrying this picture around in my bag for a few years now. Its got crease marks and is about to tear because I've never laminated it or anything like that. I should. I carry it around and pull it out to look at every now and then. This is the man I married. You might think thats scary, I guess its up for interpretation. He's actually being very silly in this picture. I remember what we were doing and where we were. We were camping with my family. He put on these glasses that were too small, or maybe they are goggles, and the monster was created...picture snapped. He's such a nut. Happy Birthday, hubs. Thanks for bringing a little more pizazz to my life.

7 months, any resemblance?

For Sadie's seven months post I thought I'd include a picture of me. The first few are of Sadie. I tried to get a picture of her but most of them were fuzzy since she wouldn't stop kicking and moving. She's not crawling yet. She scoots a little bit but mostly just to turn around. She has started having her tongue out all the time. Its kind of funny. I was glad to capture it here. She has her two front teeth on the bottom and I think her top two might be coming soon so maybe that's where the tongue comes from.

I love this little girlie. She is such a happy little girl. She sleeps so well, two naps during the day and sleeps all night long (please don't change that!). She sucks her two middle fingers to go to sleep. I keep trying to get her to take the pacifier instead but she just spits it out. :)

This is my picture. I'm not quite sure how old I am but it looks pretty close. Steve thinks Sadie looks a lot like me.