St. Patricks Treats!

March 15, 2009
I thought it would be fun to make sugar cookies and let Talan decorate them for all his friends. So we did, and it was great. Talan had a great time mixing all the sprinkles together and then dumping them on the cookies!! We made St. Patricks day and Easter cookies (since we won't be here for Easter) we made shamrocks, bunnies and ducks! Well...(as you can tell I cannot get the pictures in the right order) We divided all the cookies up in plates for his friends and Kenna got hungry so we put her in her chair to eat-I thought we set the plates far enough away-Scotty and I left the kitchen to look at something and this is what we came back to!! She crawled out of her seat and was into almost ALL the cookies-she had them on her hands on her face-EVERYWHERE-some she just liked the frosting and others she actually took bites out of the cookies! We were laughing hysterically but as you can see she wasn't too happy when we stopped the fun! Needless to say-most of the kids Talan wanted to give cookies to did not receive any!!! Sorry!T

These are the few cookies we saved for our family-Talan already nibbled a bite!

He did a really good job and had fun!!

Talan loves to help me cook, he pulls up the stool and has to dump and stir everything in so I decided to make him an apron...I think it's boyish! The bottom has 3 pockets he loves to put the spoons and measuring cups in his pockets until I need them. He is such a great helper...sometimes more than needed ;)

Green Canyon Hot Springs

March 14, 2009
Brooke invited us to go to Green Canyon Hot Springs with all her family that live around Rexburg. The kids had a great time! I didn't get to take pictures in the pool but here we are getting dressed. Talan had fun playing with his noodle and beach ball and McKenna was in a 'whale baby floater' thing and was so relaxed. she layed her head down on the front and just chilled. Sometimes she would have her eyes closed and then open and look around. There was SOOO many people there but we still had a great time. Thanks Brooke!

(Thanks Kim and Bailey for the swimming suit, if we didn't have it poor Kenna would have been naked!)

Fire Department Play Date

March 12, 2009
Katrina invited us to their play date to take a tour of the fire department...the boys loved it!! Talan did get alittle scared when they put their masks on, then he doesn't want anything to do with the trucks-he hugs an hides behind my leg! They let the kids look at the ambulance and walk through-Talan didn't want anything to do with it until Grey and Jett ran through at least 10x's then he asked, "momma, can I go in the truck?" it was cute-he was so cautious looking at everything and then climbed out slowly.

Grey, 3 little girls, Jett, Talan-they were all excited about their little coloring booklets they all received!

Thurman's in Rexburg!!

March 11, 2009-Today I got a call from my great friend Brooke says she was in town...I was so excited, the best part is the vacation is longer than just a weekend it's about 3 weeks long! Talan, Jett and Grey play so well together! We have had alot of fun already. They went with us to UV play date at Arctic Circle, another play date to the fire department, green canyon hot springs with Brookes family, and of course lots of time between our apartment and her in-laws home where they are staying. We wish we lived closer-but they still reside in good ol' Kentucky :) Every morning at 5:30 we have been going to the gym together-it's been fun having a partner-it surely makes me get my butt out of bed with out hitting the snooze button when I really feel like 'snoozing'!! Brooke cuts hair great and suggested cutting McKenna's hair...so here is her 3rd hair cut at 13 months!! I bet not many 13 month old girls can say that ;0) It looks so cute! Now it looks so much fuller. She has a little 'Stack' now...

Jett and Talan playing between the apartments in the snow (that is mostly gone now!!!)

They where trying hard to get this darn car to cooperate...determined little boys!

Girly Hair

I was excited about McKennas hair...this is our new creation-I think it's adorable! It was fun to incorporate braids, and then all her hair is off her neck.

Fun times

(March 7, 2009)

McKenna and Talan LOVE bath time!!Look at me...my bows match my diaper!! I am already color coordinating ;)

Yep, we are in cloth diapers!

Beautiful Weather...finally!

Starting yesterday we had a fabulous day!! The sun was out and it really wasn't windy. Friday we babysat Brookes boys Jett and Grey while she was able to get some shopping done and Talan loved it! We spent almost the entire day outside at the playground between the apartments. The only time we came in was to lay McKenna down to nap and ...eat! I even got a tan line! People were amazed at the swim meet wondering where I got a tan line already!!

Today was another great day. I spent most of the day at the school. The university put on a conference that had some great classes. I went to "How to cook with wheat" (which I am most excited about-I am already applying what I learned-we are making wheat berries and growing wheat sprouts...I'll keep you posted on how it goes?!), "The Book of Mormon at Breakfast" (we are most successful in the morning-I am excited to apply what I have learned-prophets here we come on the Honey Bunches of Oats...), and "Frugality" ( I think we are pretty frugal but there is always room for improvement). Talan's good friend Gunner had his 3rd birthday party today so they went to the fire department to see the fire trucks and then home to the play ground for cupcakes. Scotty said he was still alittle scared (we went 2 weeks ago with a play group and last summer...the firemen are a little scary to him) but McKenna had a great time. Then Mr. T just road his bike all around and used my ladle to dig in the snow that is still present. This afternoon we enjoyed the company of our neighbors Melinda and Galen eating cinnamon rolls and enjoying the sun! (Thanks for the wheat...I'll keep you posted Melinda!)

Talan, Daddy day!

(March 7)
Last Saturday Scotty thought he would take Talan to the Airplane Museum at the airport...he loved it! Scotty said he was a little nervous to get on some of them but still had a great time, I wonder how long his love for planes and pretty much anything cool that flies will last?? After the museum they went out where daddy sometimes off-roads and found this...some crazy guy thought the ice was thick enough to drive on...they where skeptical about the rovers abilities...but, to their suprise it performed easily!!

Letting the *wiggles* out!

March 9
A few weeks ago I took the kids to artic Circle to run around their new play ground to give Talan room to run so for the first time we decided to try McDonalds play structure as well...Talan loved it! They had a lot of cool slide. It was great to let him run around, and then fall asleep for a nap afterward!

Does it look like I am having fun??

He saw a girl older than him climbing the post so he kept trying!!

St. Patricks art...

(March 5)
With the really, really cold weather poor Talan has been getting really 'stir crazy' so I decided we needed to have more organized activities so due to the holiday coming up we made a shamrock. Talan colored macaroni noodles in zip lock bags with food coloring, then we cut out a shamrock from a paper plate and he painted it-which is always one of his favorite things to do then we decided to glue to noodles on the paper-he was bored of that part pretty quickly...he eventually told me to do it, he didn't like getting the glue on his fingers :0)

Gotta love the "cheesie" smiles!!

**Future band star**

(March 5)
We have one of those flute things...I cannot remember what they are called for the life of me-McKenna and Talan love to blow on it and make it whistle...

Milk???

(March 2, 2009)
So miss McKenna cakes has not been liking milk!! I started to try and give her milk one week before she turned one and...not too successful! I have tried all % of milk, cold-warm-and pretty warm. Then we tried Soy milk since I usually have it on had-and-she seemed to like it for about a week then started letting it dribble out her mouth. Then we tried Almond Milk-and, the same thing drank it for about a day and then not again. So I took these pictures because...she drank a whole cup of milk for me at dinner ONE night. I thought we made a break through but it only lasted a night ;) I continue to give her a little each day and hopefully eventually she will agree!

The first five people to respond to this post will WIN

something made by us!

Our choice.

For you.

**Please read the fine print.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. we make no guarantees that you will like what we make!

2. What we create will be just for you and will completely help you feel our honor and gratitude.

3. It'll be done this year.

4. You have no clue what it's going to be. We are pretty crafty people, so who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. We reserve the right to send you whatever it is we feel most excited to make and deem suitable for you, our loyal blog reader....and a word of caution:

6. Don't expect something expensive, we are students near starvation! But, we do have quite a scope for the imagination. ;)

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. ...We'll be checking! :)

Talan...Talan...Talan

This post is devoted to Talan! His imagination has gone crazy, and I love it! I keep wishing I would write down all the cute things but I never seem to do it! It's fun you can talk to him almost like any other adult-and he responds in almost complete sentences ;) Lately he has been having imaginary people. When we were playing with his horses and dinosaur there was an imaginary "horse doctor" and today he had an imaginary brother that was going to come over-his name was Henry! He has done great going the bathroom and has been able to wipe his bum all by himself, he's doing a pretty good job. A couple days ago I was in the kitchen feeding McKenna while Talan was going to the bathroom, he wanted me to come see him and then he walks out of the bathroom and says he is a "chicken." The sight I saw: Talan walking out with his pants off, sticking his bumby out and shaking it with toilet paper sticking out his bumb like a rooster!! He kept shaking it and saying he was a chicken! So it sounds pretty bad but it was really funny!
This is a picture of Talan with my swim cap on, he thought it was really funny!
Talan is all about trying to make funny faces! Here is his most common face!

If were not making faces then we are building. He starts off with building the cabin or "spaceship" and then you incorporate the trains. He continues to be amazed by space ships and planes. After watching Horton Hears a Who now he imagines we are on a little planet...called "Planet Who"

With the cold, cold weather we try and have "play dates" sometimes to have some interaction. These are a couple of Talans buddies, Henry and Gunner. The gate is to keep the babies-McKenna and Jack away from the train track! The weather has been beautiful with the bright sun, but very, very, cold! Talan loves to see the sun and then says, "it's a good day mom" It sure is a good day but really, really cold with the wind. When it is really windy he says it is "a hard wind." To get some of the built up energy out we have gone to Arctic Circle and played on there new play structure and today we went to McDonald's to play-he had a great time!

2nd Swim Meet-complete!!

Last Friday was my second meet, and I survived again. This week I competed in the 100yd freestyle and 200 freestyle relay where I only have to swim 50 yrds. Knowing I was swimming the 100 the night before gave me butterflies all day!! I can consistently swim 75yrds but 100 I usually stop for a second, or two...or three! Well...I did it! My goal was to FINISH! My time was well...slow to say the least but I wasn't too far behind the last person. For you swimmers my time was 1:51...ok you can stop laughing ;) This just again means I have room for ALOT of improvement! Some days I will have to admit I do not want to go to practice but as always when I'm done I'm glad I went. Swimming is definitely not something that comes natural to my body. This is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done! I am so glad the support that Scotty gives me and the encouragement-it has been great to have such a challenge every week! Our next meet is this Friday...I'm anxious to know what events I will be in?? Oh..I am also going to be trying a mini-triathlon the school is putting on!! I am very anxious and nervous mainly for the swimming section. I say mini because we swim 400yds, bike 6miles and run 2 miles... a little short from a sprint tri...

Happy Valentines!!

I hope everyone had a special Valentines day! Today was a little different for us. Scotty last minute headed to Reno Nevada yesterday morning to go to a large construction conference that had a career fair today with over 50 construction companies. He said things went really well he felt the trip was worth it! Well, Talan loves it when we decorate with streamers so of course we have new hot pink streamers across the ceiling and as most of you do the table is all decorated red, white and pink with heart confetti, balloons, fun plates and table cloth...McKenna got a new pink stuffed animal dog and Talan a mini lego set that makes 3 different planes! He loves it but it may be a challenge keeping all the small pieces away from Kenna-we will see how long it lasts. Talan was so excited when he woke up to see everything decorated. I wish I was able to get some pictures but Scotty has the camera so we pulled out the video camera (which I wish I did more often!). Talan helped me make this new recipe I found called Caramel Apple oven pancake...it was so good!! I ate probably more than half-sad but true! After breakfast we played and then decided to venture to the cheep theater and watch Bolt...I was a little worried taking the two kiddos by myself-I haven't taken Kenna to a move since the summer. She actually didn't do too bad. When there was about 30 min left she started to get really antsy so I stepped out but Talan did great. It was cute he would come out and check on Kenna and I to "see how we were doing" ;) I told Talan he could pick out dinner and his choice...mac n' cheese with hotdogs! It's been along time- and actually I was a little excited-it hit the spot oddly enough! It was really sweet a couple families from the ward brought over yummy sugar cookies and valentines for Talan.

Journaling

McKenna has become quite the talker/babbler! A couple days ago we noticed she was saying "whats that?" We ask her that alot and she caught on. Yesterday I was getting a drink for Talan and she got all excited and kept asking, "Whats that?" Then I told her what is was and she said "oh" with her lips in a perfect circle...it was precious! So we as parents may be the only ones who know what she is saying-but it's cute ;)

Yesterday between preparing all our paperwork for taxes and playing with the kids Talan looked different to me...he is becoming a true little boy that is growing up! It's been so fun to see his creative imagination! Lately he is all about Super Hero's (because he is one and will only wear super hero underwear!) and space ships (he wants dad to draw them constantly and fly paper airplanes that are space ships that fly to the moon-the moon is our living room light!). He of course still wants to build everyday with his lincoln logs, legos and have the train tracks go through and around his buildings! Talan has started asking why, whats that....the questions that can sometimes drive me crazy all the time!! Those little minds are so curious! He loves to play with his friends and really likes to show them how to do things-draw, build...

McKenna's 1 yr Check-Up

Today McKenna had her one year check-up. She received 5 injections...poor girl! But she did great! Here are her stats:

Weight 16.4 lbs. 1%

Height 26.5 in 1%

Head circumference 16.8 2%

BMI 16.4

So as you can see...she is still quite little compared to others. She is only in the 1-2 percentile! But she eats way more than Talan-go figure! Our kids don't have much hope looing at their short parents ;)

25 Random facts about me

I was asked on a different website to do this and thought it was a little interesting so I thought I would share...
This is alot...we will see what I come up with!
1. I hate washing my face at night...I know I need to do it but I rarely do-hense the zits!
2. I love to read, doesn't mean I have time for it. This is a new thing in the past 5 yrs...I used to hate to read!
3. I love peanut butter-Adams Natural Crunchy!
4. I am not a big fan of chocolate...crazy I know!
5. My favorite color to wear is black
6. I love chick flicks-pretty much anything I am not much of a critic
7. I am a calorie counting fanatic...it's not crazy, I'm just aware!
8. I don't listen to CD's often . I like the randomness of the radio.
9. I really like audio books for those long runs!! Especially when I 'm not on shuffle ;)
10. I enjoy cooking now that I plan ahead!
11. My hair is naturally red-I probably will never dye the entire thing until there is too much grey to cover with highlights!! Hey maybe I'll go natural-all grey....
12. I don't mind cleaning toilets but I hate cleaning the floor
13. I miss school sometimes, but I love my job as a dental hygienist
14. I cannot sing-but I like to try
15. I'm not a big fan of dogs...I hate it when they lick me...but I do like gizmo and fletcher especially after their bath!
16. I love excerise-running, eliptical, swimming, cycling...i cannot wait for the ice to melt!
17. I love playing with my kids and wish my husband was always home!
18. My favorite color is red
19. I like to sleep with the window open and a down comforter year-round
20. I've lost 45 pounds since having my baby girl!! YA!
21. I like to get dirty
22. I love camp fires especially with friends
23. I want a simple life...easier said than done sometimes
24. I'm a pack rat...just ask scotty
25. I went through hunters education class when I was like 10 yrs old? (or sooner??)

Strawberry Jam

Talan has always been such a good eater. He eats avocados, oatmeal...almost anything-but he doesn't eat very much...he's our little bird! Lately his favorite thing is Low-sugar Strawberry Jam!! He wants it on EVERYTHING! He also has recently loved green salad and dip the lettuce into ranch or at least that was until two days ago when he wanted to dip his lettuce in jam-yes, jam...he has dipped a mini corn dog in his jam as well as adding jam to celery like I do peanut butter. I am sure like everything else this phase will fade...

I can do it!

As most of you know McKenna turned "1" last Friday and well...she doesn't roll over from her back to stomach without some encouragement! Don't get me wrong it's been a blessing in terms of her sleeping. She lays on her back in the crib and kicks her legs and talks to herself, then falls asleep. Today after her nap I heard her talking to herself and then suddenly I heard her mobile music on which meant one of two things her legs kicked it and turned it on which she has only done once in the whole year or she sat up and turned it on! So I rush up to her room and there she is standing at the side rail talking away!! We were so excited for her!! Until bed time...she laid down great like normal and then soon enough I here her crying awfully-and there she is standing up! I am excited for her to roll over on her own free and will now...but not too ready for this new adventure!

A bad day!!

Yesterday...Sunday-I thought started out great. Scotty had a meeting at church and wasn't sure when he would be getting back before church so I thought I better get ready early and start getting the kids ready so we didn't feel so rushed. The morning went great! Kids were both in good moods and we were all able to get ready and scotty came home earlier than we thought ;) For once I didn't feel rushed to get to church. If you know me I tend to be a little bit of a procrastinator but it feels so good to just be prepared especially for a day I want to be relaxed. So we get to church and due to the construction of a new building we have church inside one of the Universities buildings. Our first meeting is in an auditorium setting which can be difficult when you have kids and may need to get up because crying, need to go potty...Scotty always says, "To be early is to be on time, to be on-time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable" I think is a good philosophy but sometimes being early isn't to our advantage. When we are early to our first meeting we usually have to move toward the center...so that's what happened. McKenna wouldn't take a nap before church so she was getting restless and Talan was just whining!! By the end of the first hour I was ready to go home-and scotty could tell but I knew going home wouldn't make things better even if I thought it might-so I said we needed to stick around and go to the rest of our classes. Which I am glad we did. Did I feel completely happy and back to normal, no, but I was uplifted. A light bulb came on- I think this is a concept we are all aware of but sometimes I need it spelled out to apply. "The Lord is not going to do things for you that you can do for yourself." Someone gave a great example about the rising up of Lazarus. Jesus had the people their do everything they could do for themselves-show Jesus where the tomb was, open the tomb, unwrap Lazarus...but Jesus did all the things they were incapable of doing-rising Lazarus from the dead.

**Wonderful Day**

Today started out hectic but ended great. We were lucky to be invited to attend my cousin Jerome's sealing to his wife Kelsie and their little boy Hayden. Everyone invited went through an endowment session first, which they had so many family and friends come to support that we filled up a room 50+ people! Then after the session we all went straight to the sealing room for them to be sealed. It was really special to see everyone in their temple clothes. It's such a great feeling to know that we are sealed for all Eternity and will be with our families forever. I was really moved the most when they brought in their little boy to be sealed to them!! It was so special to see the three of them together...the spirit was so strong. I feel so fortunate to live so close to the temple. Scotty and I took more advantage of the situation last year-each of us went weekly by ourselves. This semester we have not done as well...It was great to spend time with family. We will surely miss everyone if/when we move!

First Swim Meet

Today was my first swim meet!! I was sooo....incredibly nervous today! But...it turned out ok. I participated in the 200 medley relay-freestyle leg and the 50 yd freestyle. I think I swam better during the relay since it was the first event and first heat! My time for the 50 freestyle was 50:52. So for any of you swimmers out there...that's not the greatest ;0) I am reminded that it just means I have ALOT of room to improve!! It's great though, my team and friends were very supportive and positive so I had a good experience! Go Titans!!

McKenna's 1st Birthday!

I attempted to make Kenna's great birthday cake...I thought it turned out cute...it could have been better but I liked it. It definitely doesn't compare to my sisters master pieces! She is the baker of the family!
Good morning!! It was cute we decorated the living room and kitchen with streamers and balloons. Talan has anticipated this day all week. When he woke up this morning and went downstairs then I heard him walking upstairs and this was the conversation:
Talan- "dang it..."
Mom- whats wrong?
T-It's Kenna's Birthday tomorrow!
M-no, it's today.

T-today? YA, lets go mom-get Kenna...happy birthday Kenna!!!

Kenna was so excited! She didn't want to even open her presents-all she would look at was the cake! Once we put the cake in front of her she went to town eating it like crazy and laughing!!!

Talan ate his cupcake and wanted more...so he started to grab for Kenna's cake and she gave him 'THE LOOK"

Yummy!
She ate more than I could imagine-we were curious to see how she would feel late ;) Well as she was winding down she started to scratch at the inside of her left arm were she tends to have eczema...so I was thinking since it was covered in frosting maybe it was irritating her skin so I wiped it down then started to notice she was getting hives on her wrists as well! So-we decided to end the festivities of eating cake and gave her some benadryl and a good bath! It did the trick. By the time she was done bathing her arms looked alot better...this poor girls skin is so sensitive! We had a great day celebrating McKenna and can't believe how fast her first year went! We love you Kenna cakes!