Aebleskiver

In case you are wondering, that is a real word. I have been told that it is Danish. Whatever the origins, I am very happy that they were invented. To start at the beginning, which as we know, is a very good place to start...on Christmas morning one of the gifts I opened looked like this-------->
Steven explained that it was for making aebleskiver, which are Danish pancakes. I was a little skeptical, but excited to try something new. As a little side note, since receiving this gift I have discovered that my family has known about, and been enjoying this type of delectable cuisine for some time now without sharing it with me! Anyways, back to my story, Steven had not only found the pan, but of course he had found the ultimate recipe, or the closest he could to make the ideal aebleskiver. (He is a librarian and he can't leave any stone unturned) Well we finally got the chance to make the danish pancakes on Friday night. They turned out very good, and I ate way too many. The next time you come to visit we will make you some. I am hoping that a bribe might tempt at least one of you enough to actually come and see us! Here are a few pictures of our aebleskiver meal and preparation. If you are interested in making them, you first must find the pan, then I will be happy to share our recipe!

Christmas

So I am finally going to share some of our Christmas pictures. So I hope you enjoy them. We had a really fun Christmas. The girls are at the perfect age. They didn't wake up too early, but they couldn't wait to see what Santa brought.

New PJ's on Christmas Eve. Juliana, Me, Kathryn

Making Santa's cookies

So they aren't the most attractive cookies, but Santa must have liked them, because they disappeared! The carrots are for his reindeer.

My mom sent this to us and we added a different piece each night so on Christmas Eve we finally got to add Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.

Santa found our house and brought the girls a scooter.

Our day was pretty much smiles and fun.
Hope you had a great Christmas too!

Christmas Stuff

We have been very busy this month doing all sorts of fun Christmas things so I thought I would share a few pictures to catch you all up on what we're doing.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we went to Steve's co-workers wedding. The girls were very excited to get all dressed up and see our friend Sarah in her wedding dress. Kathryn is on the left and Juliana is next to me.

Of course, we had to get the house ready for Christmas too. The girls loved it, but they were a little sad when we told them that Santa wasn't coming for a while!
Juliana and Kathryn

On Sunday we made a gingerbread house. It was a lot of fun, and we have some good ideas already for next year! There you have it. I do have more to post, but I have run out of time today. Enjoy your day and Happy Holidays.

I just had a "moment..."

You know, one of those when realization hits harder than normal and you wonder, "How did I get here?" I was just hustling around getting a few things done. Loading breakfast dishes into the washer, taking trash out. The girls bathroom mirror was all gross with hand prints, I had meant to clean it yesterday but somehow I got distracted, imagine that, and didn't do it. So I was in there cleaning and Juliana came to see what I was doing. I said, "I wonder who got this mirror all dirty?"
"Not me." was the reply.
"Oh really! You didn't put your hands all over it and make it messy?"
"No"
"I think you did. Mommy didn't do it."
At this moment I happened to glance in the mirror I was cleaning. All at once several things hit me. The first being you still look like you're 21. Then, you have two kids that are 4 1/2 and YOU are the mom. Running through these thoughts was that I had just sounded exactly like my mom, and I could totaly picture myself as Juliana and my mom as me. Wierd, scary, and maybe a little overwhelming. Just this morning I was thinking back to Christmases past, and remembering how my mom had it all together. She worked full time, and still the house was decked out, neighbors got some amazing delecacy from her kitchen each year, and prensents appreared magically under the tree. I was trying to figure out where I was going wrong, because I am home all day, and I am still not on top of everything. Now I realize that my vision of these events are slightly skewed at best. I know that my mom was probably stressed and overwhelmed just like I am. I am just wondering how she kept it under her hat, because mine all seems to leak out. In fact, I think that at this moment just around the corner my children are dismanteling the beautiful tree. I hear things dropping and I just don't have the courage to look and see what is going on. Maybe that is what I lack courage. So enough of my musings back to my hectick Holiday schedule and trying to keep up. May yours be wonderful and slow!

Christmas Quiz

So I borrowed this little quiz from Chloe. I thought it was fun. Hope you all enjoy.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper all the way, with lots of bows.
2. Real tree or artificial? Real. It's one thing that really makes it feel like Christmas for me. Growing up we always went and cut our own.
3. When do you put up the tree? In the week after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Day after Christmas
5. Hot chocolate or apple cider? Is this even a valid question?
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I am not sure this was my favorite but I have always remember getting my kaboodle (sp?) one year. They were so it, and I was so glad to finally have one.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I will have some day, one of my favorite decor items for Christmas.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Parents
9. Easiest person to buy for? Kathryn and Juliana (I know I cheated by giving two, but they are twins, what did you expect?)
10 Worst Christmas gift ever received? I honestly can't think of anything that I've hated. Surely there have been things that didn't fit, but other than that nothing terrible.
11. Mail or email Christmas card? I love getting mail, but I would rather get e-letters rather than nothing. It's wonderful we can all communicate so easily now.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? For sure, Holiday Inn
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I don't have a set time, it just happens.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? This is a loaded question. One I can't really answer. Can you really pick just one thing??
16. Clear lights or colored? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? Again, there is no way I could pick just one, but I have to say the song Mistle Toe sung by BYU Men's Chorus always makes me smile.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like being home with my kids, but I am not against traveling either.
19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph
20. Angel or star on top of the tree? Star, we still need to find one for our family.

Wordless Thanksgiving

Dance Recital

The Girls had their little dance recital last Tuesday. They did such a great job here is a clip for you all to enjoy.

Something is roasting...but not the turkey!

This last Wednesday night, I was putting the girls to bed. Kathryn was already asleep and I was trying to get Juliana settled in. Out of no where she said, "Mom, my tummy's roasting." My first reaction was to laugh, and I have to admit that I did chuckle. So I asked her if her tummy was hot. She said, "No, it's roasting." So I tried again and asked if it hurt, it did. So I thought probably a little too much candy. I told her to go to sleep and it would get better. In the morning all was well. Later in the day she brought up that her tummy was roasting a few times. Well she did end up tossing her cookies this morning at the breakfast table. Lovely, I know. At least I now know what to expect when her tummy is roasting! I have no idea where she got the idea that pain went with roasting. I am sure a lot of turkeys would agree with her! Since this morning she has been able to hold some crackers down, and now is acting normal again, so I think that it has passed. I just thought I would share this before I forget it, which will inevitably happen.

Halloween Pictures

Halloween was a lot of fun. Our ward had a Trunk-or-Treat on Tuesday and then we took cookies around to people on Wednesday. The girls had a blast. I am just going to post a bunch of pictures because I couldn't just pick two or three. So I hope you enjoy them. Steve was "dressed up" for the ward party in his bicking gear since he rode to the party from work. I didn't dress up so that's why I'm not in any of the pictures. We hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. Enjoy! BTW Juliana is the blue princess and Kathryn is the purple princess.

Candy Making

Last week my mom sent us a great package in the mail. It was a halloween themed candy making kit. So we broke it out last Sunday and the girls had a blast. I have to say that Steve and I had fun too. Our Sunday afternnon couldn't have been spent better. Althought making the candy was fun, the best part was licking the plate afterward.

So I really can't believe that it's almost Halloween. It dosen't seem possible. Our first year in Nashville is quickly coming to a close. What I really don't like to think about is that we are yet again contemplating a move. Our rent will be going up, and we really can't afford to stay here, so we are even now looking for something cheaper. I am in complete denial that in less that 3 months I will have to be packing all we own once more to relocate it in some other place. It will never end.

Other than the impending move, we are doing well. Yesterday we had a big milestone. The girls have started reading a little bit. It is so exciting to watch them learn. Their litlle brains are so smart, and I love being able to help them see that they can do it. It's very rewarding. Well I need to get going. Have a wonderful day.

Dance Class

It seems nearlly impossible, but Kathryn and Juliana are now old enough to go to dance. Where the last 4 years went don't ask, becuase I just might tell you. Last Tuedsay we suited up took a few pics and headed to the community center for their first little dance class. You must know that both my children love to dance. They watch different dancing movies and will pick up moves they see and learn them. So when I heard of a free dance class I couldn't resist. I thought it would be something they would absolutly love, and I would get a little free time, however short it might be.

Well last week we ventured into the unkown and really I should have taken after photos of all of us. I came home with a few tears on my face as did the girls. Without going into too much detail, they didn't want to unglue themselevs from me, and I really wanted them to have a good time, and in the process not make me look too silly. It was not a pretty thing. Steve came home and had several strategies already in mind for how to attack this weeks class. I have to say I am extremely grateful for a husband who cares enough to solve the problems that I have, in part, created. So yesterday was dance class and everyone came home with smiles. I think it's the beginning of a beautiful thing.

Still Alive

I know many of you have wondered if we are actually still alive. Well we are and I am now trying to get back into a good routine. Somehow are vacation to North Carolina really threw me off. I really got used to having someone to talk to at any time during the day and not really worring about much else. We had a great time. There was one thing that wasn't great, Steven's Granny got really sick and ended up in the hospital. We only got to spend one day with her, and she is actually still in the hospital. She somehow got pnemonia and has had a very hard time trying to get rid of it. We are hoping that she in on the mend and will be home soon. So I am just going to post a bunch of pictures and write a short line about them. I hope you enjoy and that you are doing well.

This is our little family photo. Megan, Juliana, Kathryn, Steven

The Three Musketeers, Kathryn, Carly, Juliana

Playing Canasta: Cami, Mom, Dad, Becki, Me, Bobbi

Kathryn at the beach

I know it's not the most flattering picture, but I thought it was cute, and besides in a couple of years she would probably hate me for posting something like this! BTW it's Juliana

Our last night in North Carolina. We actually all managed to sit at the table together to eat dinner.

Crazy Quilts

Last night I decided to embark on a new quilting adventure. I have heard a lot about crazy quilts and have thought for a long time that it would be fun to try and make one. I guess as a reflection of my own state of mind right now, I finally started last night. I found a little info online and figured the rest out on my own. I have to say it is a lot of fun. I have made a lot of quilts in the last 18 months but this crazy quilting is so different.
Perhaps I enjoy it so much because I relate to it. It's lots of little pieces of different colors and patterns slapped together in a crazy way, much like life. Then somehow when you step back and take a look, it's not that bad. On each seem you are supposed to sew a different decorative stitch. These came to seem like the moments of life that remind you that "all of this is worth it." Like when your daughter just says "l love you," for no reason. Or when you get to sit down to "tea" with them and watch one pour everyones tea so very carefully. These moments are the ones that seem to cover some of the rought edges, or crooked corners and make life much like a piece of art. Not one to hang on the wall, but one you want to suggle under when you are cold, sick, or just sitting with someone you love.
I know I am waxing a little notsalgic, but the girls are sleeping and for now I can remember the bright moments without any overtones of crying, or complaints! So what am I trying to say??? Well I guess that even when life seems crazy and disjointed, if you take a moment to step back and really look at it, you might see something surprising. Not a beautiful tapestry with everything in it's proper place, but a crazy mishmash, that somehow works and is even more worth cherishing than the tapestry you thought you were going to create when you first got started. A quote my mom had hanging in our kitchen for many years, "Families are a group of people who stick together and help each other with problems they wouldn't have if they weren't a family."
So keep at it I guess and cherish the beautiful stitches that come through our lives to bring happiness and joy, to cover the less sightly things that are sometimes there. Anway this is getting longer by the second. So just a photo of my crazy quilt block that got me thinking all of this in the first place. Thanks for being a part of the crazy quilt of my life and the color and stitches that you have added over the years.

Out of the mouth of babes

Ah the things that my children say. It's amazing to me that they can say the sweetest things that you never forget. On the other hand, things come out of a childs mouth that can really take you by surprise. Two examples. Friday morning Steve was getting ready to go to work. He was just outside the door checking his bike. Kathryn was hunched down, watching him. I happened to overhear something she said. As she watched him she said, "Daddy when I grow up, I want to be just like you." I had to smile. She was being completely honest and sincere. It was one of those moments of parenthood that make all the other ones worth it. So my second example came the nest morning. Steve had to get up early to go on a bike ride with the young men. The rest of us got up and I was in the process of trying to get the girls to the table amidst their complaints of wanting to watch tv, when the phone rang. Steve had a flat and didn't have any spares so he needed me to come and pick him up. He hadn't made it too far before he realized that he was loosing air, so we only had to go a little ways. So I switched gears and told the girls to get their shoes on so we could go. That's when Juliana decided she actaully was hungry and did want to eat breakfast. Forget about the last 10-15 min when she didn't. I got them both in thier room getting shoes on, when she gave me a speech that started like this, "Mommy, you're a mean mommy." She continued explaining why she thought this. "Mommys are supposed to teach their kids how to get to the table but you don't you just count. Good mommys teach their baby how to get to the table." I did counter with the fact that she was a big girl and already knew how to get to the table, but that wasn't a good excuse I guess. It was humorous and someday when her little girl says something similar I will have to chuckle. Anyway they do "say the darndest things."

Something to blog about

Ah. It's Wednesday, so we have officially made it through the middle of the week and are on the down hill slope now. Funny how we always are looking forward and back at the same time. I have been wondering what to add here for a few days, and we finally did something that bears mentioning.
For their birthday, the girls got a kit with beads and string to make bracelettes. They were very excited about it, but because I didn't want the beads to end up in every crack in their room I put them up in the closet for a future time when supervision could be given. So the weeks have passed by and I kept seeing the box and saying, "Oh yeah, we need to make something fun." Finally I pulled them out the other day and the girls had a blast. They both decided that they wanted to make anklets. I was amazed at their adept little fingers stringing beads. They really do grow up before our eyes don't they? So the anklets are a big hit. They can wear them to the store and not lose them because they are down near the floor and can't be played with at all times. That makes mom happy and the girls love showing everyone what they made. They keep asking to make a bracelette, and I actually wanted to today, but we ran out of time.
Right now they are snuggled up to Steve on our bed getting a story. He is such a great dad. Everyday I am so greatful that we can be together through everything. Now I am waxing nostalgic. Crazy. Just a plug for a fun movie experience...We went to Harry Potter at the IMAX here. It was a blast. If any of you get the chance take it. The last 30 minutes are in 3D and it's pretty good. Well I need to roll and get the kids ready for bed. PS (can you have a ps in a blog?) Juliana is in the blue shirt and Kathryn is in pink.

Hot One

You know it's going to be a warm day when you wake up and you are already sweating a little. That's how today started. Of course, we don't turn our air on at night, so it does get stuffy. But the temp is already 77 and we should hit 96 today. Now a lot of you reading this may be scoffing. 96 you say, that's nothing. But when the air outside can be described as thick then 96 is not pleasent or inviting. Good thing there are so many ways to beat the heat. We are going out early today to get new license plates and then I plan on staying in. We have plenty of cold water, and popsicles to keep us going. So on this rather warm day in Nashville I wish you all a good one. Hopefully no matter where you are, you will be able to stay cool and refreshed.

Flushed

A few short moments ago, while doing the dishes, I was writing my next blog in my head. At first the ideas were few, but as I kept going they were flying out of me like the water coming out of the faucet. Each new one was funny, whitty, perhaps even inspiring. Now as I sit there is very little. The last 25 minitues have done something to me to erease such things. They have all been flushed down the toilet with the poop that took 25 minutes to come out of my child. So I now try to salvage any good humor and positive thinking I have left to say, "Tomorrow will be better." Really it has to be better or why would we keep going day to day? Must I be the one that makes tomorrow a better day? I think so...but no matter how many times I try I usually don't make it, and by 7:00 pm I am so ready for lights out and bed time that I am like a bullet train through the brushing teeth, and night time routine. Now don't get me wrong, life is not horrible, yes it could be better, but it could also be worse. But does it really have to be SO tiring? How much harder will it be if we add another child to the mix? (That's not news or anything, just my musings). Will I make it to 50 without being broken down and prematurely old?? These questions remain unanswered. I only know that I will get up and try it all again tomorrow. The results may be better, or they might be worse. But each day my eyes will open and I will try yet again to make it through the day with all my patience intact. Am I crazy? Perhaps, but it wouldn't do any good to give up now. So here are a few pics for you to enjoy the two best things in my life that drive me to my crazy place more often than I would like to admit.