The Allred Family

Sleep In Heavenly Peace...

2009-12-24T01:33:00.000-08:00

A Basket Full Of LoVe...

2009-09-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Long time no talk! ;)
I hope you all had a great Summer too. We've been busy making lots of Summer Family Memories...Road Trips, A Wedding, Birthdays, Anniversary, starting School...and watching our (BiG) little Abe grow. A few days ago he turned 8 months old...why oh why does time have to slip through my fingers so quickly!! As you can see he is solid and oh so cuddly. :) I decided to put him on the scale today...I gasped when I watched the meter stop at 27 pounds!! What am I feeding this little guy?!? Actually he mostly only nurses...I know I can't believe it either. But I love chubby babies so lets just say I'm in pure bliss. Anyway...just thought I'd say Hi and that I will be updating again (hopefully) sooner than later. Hugs!!

Blackmail Picture...

2009-07-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Lets face it...every Mother has a few ;)

Poor Reddek...with two ultra-frilly Sisters he was bound to be attacked with bows at some point. I'm pretty sure he hopes I won't be around with the camera if it happens again.

5 Months Already

2009-06-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

Um wow...is my Baby already 5 months old?? I took him into the Doctor at the beginning of June and we discovered Abe weighs in at 20 lbs now. That explains why my back aches ;) Here are some of Abe's five month milestones:

He loves this blankie that Grandma Lulla made for him...

He has the most kissable physique ever...

He can almost sit up on his own...

He pouts when I don't feed him fast enough ;)...

He has the sweetest bald spot on the back of his head...

He still enjoys taking long afternoon naps...

I honestly can't stop snuggling this little man :)

Rubber Duckies and Swim Monsters...

2009-05-30T03:06:00.000-07:00

...it looks like Summertime is here...

...and we couldn't be happier!!

Hope you are cooling off too :)

Running In Circles?? I Was.

2009-05-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

I decided that I am going to post about our trips to Utah and San Fransisco another day...I still am trying to decide which pictures to post (we took too many!) and today I have other things on my mind ;). Do you ever have those days where it seems like you are just running in circles?!? Taking care of everyone else except yourself? I feel like I have had more than my fair share of those days lately. Ever since Abe was born I feel like my days (and some nights) are non-stop. Some days have been extra hard as I faced the constant decision of taking care of my sweet kids and never ending housework or taking time for myself. I was always choosing to take care of everyone else and everything else except me...guess what...I was not enjoying life. I was feeling worn down, under appreciated and just not like myself. Remember how I told you a few posts back that I had mild Postpartum depression after Gracie was born? Well it was starting to happen this time again...I was SO bugged...who has time for depression?!? :) I decided that Heavenly Father was the only one that could help me change my thoughts and feelings. I prayed hard...and then harder...and finally a few weeks ago on our way home from San Fransisco I was blessed to realize that I needed to take time for myself. At first I thought "I don't want to be selfish...I need to put my kids first", but then, again I felt a strong feeling deep inside that said I needed to take time for me...after all if I didn't take care of myself then who would be here to be my kids Mother? I have come to realize that if we don't take time for ourselves then we can't give our children our best. I want to be the best Mommy I can be for my kids, so I have been trying to take time out each day for myself. It has made a huge difference in my well-being. I have been trying to have fun with my hobbies again. Some of my favorite hobbies have been photography and digital design. It has been an escape that helps me feel rejuvenated and refreshed. I'm so much happier and I feel like myself again!! :) I wanted to share with you all some pictures and insight into my favorite hobbies: http://www.betseyjeanphotography.blogspot.com/ This site is all my own where I can go and just be...don't we all need a place like that?!? I plan on doing some Photoshop tutorials and other kinds of digital tips and tricks that I have learned too. Am I just too cheesy?? I hope you don't think so ;) Anyway, thanks for hearing my vent and for not judging. I'm glad we are all human and can learn about life from one another. Have a great day...and remember to take a little time for yourself...and maybe have a yummy piece of chocolate. :)

Smore Cookies

2009-04-25T08:49:00.001-07:00

:) Mmm...

Who doesn't love smores?? Last year Reddek and Ike had their first Father and Son Camp-out. Reddek loved every minute of their time together and came home smiling with a new fishing rod in his hand. Little cutie!! Ike came home with a sore back and some fun stories about the big bugs. I love my boys!! Anyway, I was talking to Reddek a few weeks ago and I asked him what he remembered most about his first camp-out. He instantly exclaimed "Smores!". I laughed...he takes after me...most of my fond memories center around food too ha ha!! I was inspired to make a 'Smores' cookie after I learned of my little guy's adoration of Melted chocolate and marshmallows. Mmm...these are divine little cookies filled with chewy baked marshmallows and melted chocolate atop graham cracker squares. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! They taste extra good the next day too...if they last that long at your house...I had to hide a few for Ike and I. :)

Smore Cookies

2/3 Cup Shortening

1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Granulated White Sugar

2 Eggs

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Package Milk Chocolate Chips (11.5 oz.) OR
1/2 King Size Milk Chocolate Candy Bar Chopped

1 Cup Mini Marshmallows

2 Packages Graham Crackers broken into squares

***Here is a picture of how the cookies look before being baked***

Preheat oven to 375*. On ungreased cookie sheet layout 12 large Graham Cracker squares. In large mixing bowl cream together Shortening and Sugars. Add Eggs and Vanilla and mix until combined. In medium mixing bowl stir together Baking Soda, Salt and Flour. Add flour mixture slowly into wet ingredients. Mix until combined. Add Chocolate Chips or Candy Bar pieces and stir well. Form dough into 12 large golf ball size balls and place on top of Graham Cracker squares. Bake for 5 minutes and then place Mini Marshmallows in various places on the cookies. Bake again for 4-5 minutes until cookies are lightly golden and Marshmallows are slightly melted. Depending on how big you make your cookies you should have enough dough for 24 cookies. Enjoy!!

A little drool never hurts...

2009-04-23T01:22:00.000-07:00

So I have definitely missed posting on this blog! We have been SO busy...drool and all! :) We were in Utah visiting Family for a few weeks and then we recently got back from spending some time in San Francisco. Whoa Nelly...get ready for some fun posts of pictures and details of our trips. And I will also be posting that cookie recipe that I promised WEEKS ago...PLEASE forgive me for my slacking. Goodness I have a LOT of catching up to do!! :) Talk to you soon...

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T16:05:00.001-07:00

Two Months Old

2009-03-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

Wow...am I really posting something again?!? I know... I can't believe it either! :) This poor blog has been put on the back-burner while I chase our kiddos around all day. As much as I love to blog, it takes quite a bit of time and thought. Time seems to be scarce for me these days and thoughts...well, I think I have lost a lot of brain cells lately due to lack of sleep. Ha ha!! It's all good though because I figure with all the Little Einstein episodes I have watched with Gracie lately I may start to become an Einstein myself. :) Oh how much fun I would have flying in Rocket with Leo, Quincy, Annie and June. If I was lucky Rocket might even stop for ice cream at Cold Stone. Good times!!

Our Abe is already 2 months old!! Actually because I am so late in posting this he is already 2 1/2 months old. How do these precious days go by SO fast? I honestly am cuddling our kids so much lately because I just don't want to miss a moment of them being small. I must drive them crazy with all the kisses and hugs!! Ha ha!! But it is their own fault for being so dang cute! :) I just love to be their Mommy and spend my days with them. On the 1st of March we blessed Abe in church. It is always such a tender sweet moment to have a baby blessed. I was so thankful that Abe was quiet and calm during the blessing. Lately he can get pretty fussy, so I was praying hard that he would stay calm. Here are some pictures of Abe's special day :)

Ike and Abe

Me, Abe and smiley Gracie

Abe and I (It was SO hard to get him to look at the camera...silly guy!)

Some of Abe's milestones lately: Can roll over from his tummy to his back, wearing size 2 diapers (they are already tight...I guess size 3 pretty soon!), LOVES his Binky and (my favorite) he loves to cuddle. :) I'm taking Abe in for his 2 month check-up next week...I am SO curious to see how much this little chubster weighs! Here are a few more pictures of baby Abe in his Blessing outfit:

I plan on making another post very soon because I have a YUMMY cookie recipe that I want to share. So please check back later! :)

Time goes too fast

2009-02-21T04:09:00.000-08:00

This last week our sweet Abby lost her 2 front teeth!! She also recently got a new haircut (courtesy of her little Brother Reddek). I wish I could trap time in a bottle...our kids are growing too fast. Abby has also recently discovered the world of Hannah Montanna...wow...there is no going back now. The singing, the dancing...good times! Even though it's hard to watch her grow up, it's fun to see the world through her eyes. I love to spend time with her and feel her excitement as she tells me about her favorite hair styles and fashions. Oh Abby please stay 6 for a long time! :)

On a random note...late Tuesday night we received a scary call from my Brother Dave in Utah. He told me that my Mom was in the ER and that she was recovering from a Stroke. My heart sank and I sobbed. You never know how much you love and miss someone until you almost lose them. My Mom is on medication and being monitored closely. We are all hoping that she does not experience any other problems. It just seems surreal to me because my Mom has been very healthy, she is in her 60s and still runs 3 miles everyday!! I can't wait until we go back to Utah to visit at the end of March. I just want to hug my Mom so tight and cherish every second I can with her. I am grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me with an abundance of peace and love during this time.

Happy Birthday Ike!!

2009-02-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

My Valentine turned 30 yesterday!! Happy Birthday Ike!! I love you so much!! Ike's Mom sent this cute collage last night so I wanted to post it. (Thanks Lynda!) It is always so fun to see pictures of Ike growing up. It puts into perspective how fast time goes by. I couldn't have asked for a better Husband, Father and Best Friend. I pray our sons turn out as wonderfully as their Daddy.

1 Month Old

2009-02-04T17:19:00.001-08:00

I Can't believe that Abe is already 1 month old!! We have enjoyed him so much. He is more awake and alert during the day and thankfully at night he sleeps well....as well as a newborn can....he wakes up every 2 hours to nurse and then he drifts back to sleep. I actually look forward to his night wakings because then I get him all to myself without too many prying little hands. :) He is growing fast and I'm trying to cherish every moment. 2 weeks ago at his 2 week check-up he already weighed 10.5 pounds! Yes he is a big little guy that LOVES to eat!

This past month I have learned A LOT about patience and not expecting too much from myself. 4 kids could drive a woman crazy, but thankfully I've managed to keep happy and sane. :) Heavenly Father answers my prayers daily for extra energy, strength, compassion and lots of love to take care of these special little kids that Ike and I have been blessed with. After I had Gracie I suffered from a mild case of postpartum depression for a few months and this time around I have prayed very hard that it wouldn't happen again. The recovery from giving birth this time has been more difficult due to the emergency c-section and the healing that has entailed, but I am so relieved to say that I have no signs of postpartum depression. This time it is the total opposite...I told Ike that it is like someone injected me with sunshine. I have a bunch to be thankful for. I just keep telling myself to take it one day at a time. So far so good. :)

Reddek is SO happy to have a Brother. He can't wait until Abe will play Legos with him...for now Reddek just loves to give him lots and lots of kisses...so CUTE to see such a loving big Brother!

A glimpse of our past 2 weeks

2009-01-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

Baby Abe at 2 weeks old

The first time Abby, Reddek and Gracie met Abe:

Daddy and Sons

Big Sister Abby

New big Sister Gracie

Little Mommies :)

Right before we left the Hospital

Despite the lack of sleep our past 2 weeks have been wonderful. Abe has been a joy and his Brother and Sisters can't get enough of him. 4 kids has been demanding to say the least, but we feel so blessed and our hearts are full of gratitude.

Baby Abe at 1 week old...

2009-01-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

Introducing Our New Years Day Miracle...

2009-01-06T23:48:00.000-08:00

Baby Abe was born on Jan. 1st 2009

Time: 11:59 p.m.

Weight: 9 lbs 1 oz

Length: 20.5 inches

More pictures and birth details to come very soon!! Thank you for all your love and prayers!!

The Most Wonderful Time Of Year

2008-12-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas!! We certainly felt the magic in the air here with our three little cuties. Notice I said THREE and not four?!? :) Yep, our new little baby boy decided not to be a Christmas present. I had an appointment last Friday and the baby is really low, but not ready to come...the Doctor told me that I must be having a laid-back California boy this time. :) I have NEVER gone this long in a pregnancy. I'm thinking by the time this little guy is born he will be a full grown toddler!?! I am so grateful though that he hasn't come yet, because our house has been filled with yucky colds AGAIN. It completely amazes me how these colds keep coming into our house when I am constantly making our family wash their hands and using hand-sanitizer to no end. I guess I'm building up lots of anti-bodies to pass to the cutie in my tummy. I will post more Christmas pictures soon and I will keep you all updated about any baby news. Lots of love!!

Good Mail Days

2008-12-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't enjoy a fun package in the mail now and then?!?
The past few days we have had some good mail delivered. I LOVE when we get mail other than bills!

Good mail #1:

A box full of early Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa Wiggins. I was naughty and let the kids open their presents...I get so excited too, it's hard to wait until Christmas! The kids had just as much fun with the box and packaging as they did with their new toys. Gracie loved playing in the box with the packaging peanuts and pretending it was snow. Poor California girl...I guess we need to take a drive up to Tahoe so she can experience real snow this year.

Good mail #2:

A small box of yummy Ghirardelli Chocolate samples. I belong to a forum that gets to sample and try out new products. The company is called shespeaks. It has been tons of fun trying out new things...especially these Ghirardelli Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares.

If you like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups than you will LOVE these. I think these are better though...Ghirardelli chocolate is so creamy and luscious...add the peanut butter filling and you have pure perfection. :) My pregnant belly was smiling with delight! Could I be any cheesier?!? But really these are SO yummy!

Good mail days = Happy days!!

What?!? Mommies Can Get Sick?!?

2008-12-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

Wow it has been a while since I've posted! I'm sorry :(! For the past week and a half our family has had some yucky colds. It started with our little Gracie and was passed to each one of us...darn. I thought Mommies don't get sick...especially 36 week PREGNANT Mommies! I wish that was the case, but unfortunately I happened to get the worst of this dumb cold. I guess it is because I was up most nights with sick kiddos and so I didn't get my own rest. Now I'm the one coughing all night and wishing by some miracle that I could get at least a couple hours of sound sleep. No luck for the past three nights. And I still don't have a voice...it is funny when I try and talk all that comes out is a whisper. Thankfully Ike is feeling great and has been a HUGE help :). I'm grateful that we are getting past this sickness BEFORE the new baby comes. Speaking of that new baby, I went to the Doctor again Thursday and the baby is measuring big. He is low and in position, so it is only a matter of time now :). We are SO excited!! I am praying for a miracle that we will all be in great health when he decides to come.

We Will Miss Elder Wirthlin

2008-12-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

Thankfulness #3

2008-11-22T21:25:00.000-08:00

When I asked Gracie what she was thankful for she smiled big and said, "Babies!". I honestly was not surprised by her response. Where ever Gracie goes there is always a baby doll by her side. She loves to hug, kiss and dance with them. She even tries to tickle them. :) The babies in the picture are her favorite and they get plenty of love throughout the day.

Thankfulness #2

2008-11-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

I asked Reddek what he was thankful for. This was his response, "I am thankful for the Rats and that they won't die."

Here is a picture of Reddek loving our pet rat Blue.

I think this needs a little explanation. Yes we have pet rats. 3 to be exact. We had 4, but one died last week. I have never been a fan of rats...cats yes, but NOT rats. Well last year my sweet Husband Ike somehow convinced me that we should get a pet rat. I reluctantly said okay as long as it stayed in Ike's office and that I would never have to clean its cage...gross out!! So we bought a rat at Petco. Soon after that Ike said he thought the rat was lonely and thought it needed a playmate. So we bought another rat. Then somehow when we were at the pet store a few months later the kids fell in love with 2 more rats, and they ended up coming home with us. I am definitely DONE buying rats. :) Ike has kept his word and keeps their cages clean and not smelly...thank you Ike! The kids have learned a lot about caring for animals. Our little Reddek has ADORED these rats. I don't quite understand his bond with the rats, but it is really sweet how he will cuddle each rat and talk to it and tell me how cute they are. We keep the rats in cages in Ike's office and that door stays locked, so Reddek only gets to hold the rats a few times a day. The sweet little guy loves every second and begs to go in the office throughout the day. When one of the rats died last week Reddek was heart broken. Poor thing. We are DONE buying rats, so he is cherishing the three that we still have. :)

A Week Of Thankfulness

2008-11-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

We are starting a week of Thankfulness with our family to count down the days until Thanksgiving. We also want to teach the kids about having gratitude in their hearts for what they have been given.

This morning during Breakfast, I was asking Abby what she is thankful for. This was her response, "I am thankful for the Earth. If we didn't have it then we would die. I am also thankful for the sky and the mountains and water. Then plants can grow. I am thankful to be alive."

Watercolor Art

2008-11-19T17:50:00.001-08:00

A couple of days ago Ike gave the kids a little art lesson. Our kids love to paint (what kid doesn't) and we usually go through watercolor paints QUICKLY. Ike had the idea that he would teach them how to paint with watercolor pencils. The kids loved it! The pencils are great to work with, all you need to do is draw your picture how you normally would with colored pencils and then you take a wet paint brush and brush over your drawing. Gracie just loved playing with a wet paint brush. :) It also is a lot less messier than traditional watercolors. It is always fun to see what the kids create with different art tools.

Here is Abby with her picture

Reddek and Gracie concentrating :)

On a random note, this was the conversation Gracie and I had last night as I was putting her to bed:

Me: How old are you Gracie?
Gracie: Two!
Me: What do you like to do when your two?
Gracie: Make a mess.
Me: What do you make a mess with?
Gracie: Piggies.
Me: Where do you make the mess?
Gracie: In the sky.
Me: What does the mess look like?
Gracie: Pink.

Don't you just love to hear what goes on in 2 year old's mind?!? :)

Tagged...

2008-11-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

My sweet Sister-in-law Annie tagged Reddek about a month ago. Sorry Annie that I am SO late! :)

Here are 5 things that are unique about Reddek :

Reddek's name is really unique. He was named after one of Ike's ancestors named Reddick Newton Allred. We changed the spelling of the name, but we love that Reddek is named after such a faithful man. President Henry B. Eyring tells a little about Reddick Newton Allred in the June 2008 Ensign.
Reddek has had 3 medical emergencies where he almost died. 2 of those are times when he was choking (he is a FAST eater) and turning blue. Very scary moments to say the least. My Sister Amy was at our house when he was 18 months old and he started choking on some uncooked pasta. I did everything I could and was about to call 911 because he was BLUE and then Amy grabbed him and did the adult version of the Heimlich and luckily the pasta came free. Amy thought she had broken his ribs, but he was okay. Thank you Amy for saving our little Reddek!! The third time that we almost lost Reddek was this past April when he was mis-diagnosed in the ER and sent home. Thankfully we were prompted to take him back and he was diagnosed correctly with Intussusception. If we would have waited another 24 hours he would have died.
Reddek loves mushy cereal. It is so funny in the morning when he wants cereal for Breakfast. I'll give him some cereal and pour milk on it and then he sits and waits (or runs and plays) until it is all soggy. Sometimes he waits 20 minutes. Funny guy!! It grosses me out. :) I made the mistake one day of dumping the mushy mess down the drain...he was SO upset because he had been waiting for it to get 'softer'.
Reddek loves to cuddle. What Mommy and Daddy wouldn't love that?!? Our favorite times to cuddle with him are right before he goes to bed or right when he wakes up in the morning. He is so sweet. :)
Reddek loves Legos. Okay, I'm sure that not all these things are unique, but I'm still going to write them. Reddek can play Legos for a long time and build amazing things. He also gets excited to follow the directions to build something...I have been amazed that even though he is only 4 he can sit for long periods of time and follow the instructions perfectly. I wish he sat that still in church. :)

We love you Reddek!!
Here are 6 friends that Reddek is tagging:

Alanna H.
Eme A.
Hannah W.
Zach S.
Elijah A.
Tessa P.

Thankful

2008-11-17T15:42:00.000-08:00

I had an appointment with the OB/GYN Doctor this morning and everything continues to look great with the pregnancy. I am so grateful. Just a random thought... my feet and ankles are darn swollen lately. I looked down at them this afternoon and they remind me of a bag full of marshmallows! :)
As I was driving home from the Doctor's office I was thinking about how hard it is going to be having the baby out here so far away from all of our family. I guess we have been lucky to have had all of our other kids right near family. Something about pregnancy and giving birth really makes you look deep inside and think about what matters most in your life. It matters a lot to be able to celebrate the birth of a baby with your loved ones. I guess this time around it will be shared in pictures and not in person. O-well, I'm kinda a germ freak anyway. :) But seriously, I am SO thankful for the amazing friends who have surrounded us with their love and support. Heavenly Father has worked miracles in our lives to make sure that we've been around wonderful people to help and bless our family. He really does know our needs and our hearts doesn't he. :) So now I am moving forward in the day to clean and organize or as some call it 'NEST' ha ha!
Here is a random picture of our little Gracie that I took a few
days ago...I felt bad I hadn't posted any photos of her in a while.

Sweet Sunday

2008-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday! Our day today was nice and relaxing...well except when we were scurrying about this morning getting ready for church...that time of Sundays are always somewhat chaotic. I like to think that other Families go through the same craziness each Sunday, who knows !?! :)
Church was great as usual. Abby gave a talk in Primary and did such a good job. I was proud of her for being so brave. She talked about how we are all children of our Heavenly Father and that he loves and knows each of us and hears all of our prayers. After church we have spent the day just winding down and hanging out together. I love when we are all at home with no where to go. It is so peaceful and restful. One thing that I enjoy is baking something yummy every Sunday afternoon or evening. I don't know why, but baking is very relaxing for me. I love the smell of fresh baked bread or cookies or cake or basically anything that fills our home with the scent of yumminess. :) Is it crazy that my maiden name was Baker...I was destined to love baked goods! Anyway, here is a recipe that is one of our favorites. I found it a while back on the Quaker Oatmeal website. The cookies are called Famous Oatmeal Cookies. They are perfectly chewy, soft and scrumptious. And don't forget they are a filled with fiber too ha ha! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

1	cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4	cup shortening
1/2	cup sugar
1	egg
1/4	cup water
1	teaspoon vanilla
3	cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1	cup flour
1	teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2	teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

1/2 cup choc. chips (optional)

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening and sugar until creamy. Add egg, water and vanilla; beat well. Add combined oats, flour, salt and baking soda; mix well.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

First thing tomorrow morning I have another Doctors appointment to check on the baby...I'll keep you posted! :)

Abby Tells A Lie

2008-11-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we had our Primary Program. I am a Sunbeam Teacher and needed to be there early so I could help the kids get in their seats and ready for the program. So I got up extra early that morning and made sure that everyone had their Church clothes and shoes all ready and then I helped Abby and Reddek practice their speaking parts. Sundays get crazy hard don't they...trying to get myself ready and three kids makes my head spin every week! I was just praying that at least this week we would make it on time. So everyone was ready to go and Abby runs upstairs and says she can't find one of her sandals. I took a deep breath and told her to go look one more time, because I knew I had put them together just earlier that morning. Abby comes back 2 minutes later and says she still can't find it. By this time it is time to leave or we would be late for church and I knew that we HAD to be on time because of the program. So I reluctantly tell Abby she can wear her flip-flops to church. I hate when Abby wears flip-flops anywhere because she constantly takes them on and off and especially at church it drives me nuts to see her take off her shoes. So usually flip-flops are only worn around our house or in the yard. Anyway, Abby was beaming when I told her that she could wear her flip-flops.
During the Primary program at church I kept giving Abby the EYE to make sure she kept her shoes on. :) The Program was SO cute! All the Primary Presidency and the Music Leader really went above and beyond to make it a special program. Despite some wiggles, my little Sunbeams were adorable and I loved every second of hearing them sing.
So fast forward to us driving home from church. As soon as we pulled into our garage Abby jumped out of the van and ran inside. Ike and I got Gracie and Reddek and walked into the house and Abby was standing there beaming again and said, "Look I found my other sandal!" Ike and I looked at each other and I asked, "Wow Abby where was it?" I was happy she found it, but bummed that it was AFTER church instead of BEFORE. Abby proudly walked into the kitchen and opened a drawer and said "It was in here!" For a second I was confused, and then I realized...Abby had hidden her sandal in the drawer so she could wear her flip-flops to church!! Again Ike and I looked at each other and we wanted to laugh our heads off, but we hid our smiles and had a talk with Abby about telling lies. She honestly was so cute and creative and really thought she would get away with her plan. Needless to say she lost some privileges that day and she learned a big lesson about not telling lies. Ike and I had a good laugh after she was out of the room. That was the first time one of our cute kids have pulled a fast one on us. Sweet Abby is starting to be smarter than her Mommy and Daddy :).

Mr. Pickles

2008-11-15T16:36:00.000-08:00

Today Ike and Reddek spent the morning together doing some Father and Son stuff. I always love when the two of them get to spend that one on one time together. Reddek ADORES his Daddy so he was especially excited. They went to Home Depot and Frys (an awesome electronics store). How much more manly can you get ...tools and electronics :). On their way home they decided to stop and grab some lunch to bring home and share with us girls. They went to a great sandwich shop called Mr. Pickles. Ike said that while he was ordering the sandwiches Reddek went and found himself a seat and a worker was near where Reddek sat down and started to talk to Reddek. Ike said Reddek was being pretty darn cute and the guy just loved talking to him. When Ike and Reddek were about to leave with the sandwiches the worker was so smitten with little Reddek that he gave him a Mr. Pickles t-shirt and a couple of free cookies. Reddek was SO excited to show me his shirt as soon as they got home. I could tell he had already enjoyed the cookies because of the chocolate all over his chin! I guess it pays to be a cutie! If you are ever in the mood for a YUMMY sandwich then head on over to Mr. Pickles. Here is Reddek proudly wearing his new gift.

A Baby Update

2008-11-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to give an update on our little boy that is growing so fast in my tummy. I had my first in depth ultrasound yesterday. I had one other ultrasound previously, but not an in depth one. Due to Insurance and the lack of it (until recently-yeah!) this was the first time that I had the chance to get the ultrasound where they do all the in depth measurements and check for problems with the baby. This little boy is our miracle and is growing wonderfully. He is already 5 pounds and they told me he looks completely healthy. They said that the official due-date is December 29th. His head is down and really low, so he is getting ready! I am so grateful for the blessing of having another baby. It amazes me how as the time gets closer to having him I can feel the spirit preparing me and our family. Abby keeps rubbing my tummy and asking how big he is and if she can hold him lots when he comes out. She will be such a big helper :). I know Heavenly Father works miracles in preparing families to bring babies into this world. Here is a picture from the ultrasound. If you can see...it is of a foot. Yep our little boy was being camera shy with his cute face :).

A Sigh Of Relief...

2008-11-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

What a relief to have the election season over!! Ike and I are so thankful that Prop 8 passed and now we can sleep a little better at night :). Truth be told we did not vote for Barack Obama...but we were moved at his speech on Tuesday night and we are hopeful that he will fulfill his promises of change. On my way to vote on Tuesday I was deeply touched as I pondered this great nation that we are a part of and the opportunity we have to voice our opinions. I drove past so many Yes On 8 signs and I felt such peace and gratitude for the family oriented community that we live in. There really is strength in numbers.
I also wanted to post a few more pictures of the kids on Halloween. They were so cute this year and loved every second of Trick or Treating. It was amazing to see all the kids that went through our neighborhood...it was the most I have ever experienced! Our kids definitely got their share of candy. Thank goodness it is gone now...hyper kids are a little hard to handle :)!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...

2008-11-04T02:18:00.000-08:00

Please remember to vote YES on Prop 8 today.

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T23:58:00.000-07:00

We hope you all had a fun and yummy Halloween :) More pictures of our little goblins to come soon!!

Prop 8 In Simple Terms :)

2008-10-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

I found this link on my friend Jamie's blog (thanks Jamie!). It is a YouTube clip that lasts only a couple of minutes. It is perfect in explaining Proposition 8 in plain simple English...which I often appreciate because my pregnant brain cannot always handle complex words :).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zbpDe_QhS0

Ike and I both feel very strongly about doing all we can to help Prop 8 pass. It is critical to the future of all of our children. Every vote will count this November...PLEASE support Prop 8 and vote YES!

Please Vote Yes On Prop 8

2008-10-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815820715/bctid1822459319

Please take the time and watch this short clip. Being that Abby is in Kindergarten this year this really hit home even harder.

Happy Birthday Gracie!

2008-09-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

Wow I can't believe our baby girl is two!! Her Birthday was actually on August 23rd and I haven't been able to post about it until now...I know I am a BAD Mom :( Gracie was so adorable on her Birthday, all she wanted was a baby doll and a stroller and after she opened those she was SO happy!! It is so cute that she loves her babies so much. She seriously always has a baby in her arms and she loves to sing lullabies to them. Gracie is our little angel girl too, she is so cuddly and loving and just plain sweet. We sure love her chubby cheeks and all her warm hugs. We love you Gracie!!

Aunt Mary

2008-08-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

For the past few weeks we took a trip to Utah to visit family and friends. It was such a blessing to be with our loved ones. We tried to cherish every moment because we won't be heading back until probably next April. So my next few posts will be about our little family trip :) But first I have to talk about my sweet Aunt Mary. She passed away at the end of July and she has been on my mind so much these past weeks. She was the perfect example of a Mother, always full of love and kindness and never a mean word to say about anyone. I loved being around her and feeling of her spirit. She honestly was one of the most Christ-like people I have ever known. I know she is greatly missed by all who knew her. Aunt Mary was a fantastic cook and I thought it was really special that in her funeral program her family included a copy of her favorite homemade bread recipe. I am so grateful that they passed on this recipe and I consider it as a kind of legacy passed down from Aunt Mary herself. It is yummy and I wanted to share the recipe. I hope you enjoy this as much as our family does.

Mary Williams French Bread

2 Cups warm water
1 Tablespoon yeast
2 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoon sugar
5 3/4 Cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in the water in a mixing bowl. Add the salt, sugar and flour-1 cup at a time. Mix well. Let the dough rise to double in size then punch down. Shape into loaves onto a baking sheet and let rise again. Cut a few slits onto the top of the bread. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Brush butter onto tops of warm bread.

We love this fresh out of the oven with homemade jam, as toast, as french toast or for a sandwich.

Fettuccine Alfredo

2008-08-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

In our house we love pasta. The kids would eat it for every meal if they could. I love it because it is fast, tasty and inexpensive. We experiment with different sauces a lot. This is a favorite and VERY fast and yummy. It isn't the healthiest sauce, so we only have it once in a while. I usually double the recipe and it makes plenty. I like to serve it with a fresh green salad and some toasty french bread.

Fettuccine Alfredo

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, cubed

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

8 oz. fettuccine, cooked, drained

MIX cream cheese, parmesan cheese, milk, butter, pepper and garlic powder in medium saucepan; cook on low heat until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended.
TOSS with hot fettuccine.

Candy And Crafts

2008-08-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last week I pulled out my craft box from the garage and spent some creative play time with the kids. Of course in our house you have to have candy while you do crafts :) We all love Dots (especially the tropical flavored ones). I just have to be careful that the kids only eat one at a time so there is no choking going on :) Abby had helped me pick out some material and trim from the craft store a while ago and so we made her a lamp shade to go in her room. I have looked in numerous stores for the bottom part of the lamp to attach the shade too, but still no luck. Bummer. So now Abby has a cute little lamp shade that sits on a pretty glass vase. Hopefully we can find the bottom and then she will actually have a working lamp. After working on the lamp shade we painted little wooden shapes and made a big mess...sorry I missed getting a picture of that! We love Arts and Crafts time together...what family craft ideas do you have? I am always looking for more activities to help keep the kids hands busy :)

Happy Birthday Abby!

2008-07-31T08:07:00.001-07:00

Our sweet Abby is turning 6 today!
We are so excited to share this special day with our princess. Abby is such a kind, gentle and loving little girl. Lately in every prayer she asks,"please Heavenly Father help our hearts to grow stronger". I don't know where she came up with that, but it sure is cute! We love you Abby!!

Cooling Off In The Summertime...

2008-07-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it is almost August!! The kids have been totally loving Popsicles this summer. Gracie's face in the picture cracks me up :)

On Monday for family night we joined 6 other families at a park and had a special message, water balloons and treats. The kids loved it!! It was so great to get to know our new neighbors better and to cool off at the same time. We really love the people here!! Thank you Jones family for inviting us :)

Abby using a slingshot to shoot a water balloon...look at that focus! So cute! (I borrowed this picture from Raimi Krupp's adorable blog)

Some Recent News...

2008-07-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

I feel like a loser for not being better about posting the past few months! I want to catch you up on some big changes for us :) In May WE MOVED!!! I feel bittersweet about this move.....I LOVED our last home in Lincoln and all the wonderful friends that we met, but we were only renting and due to the sad housing market our landlord fell into foreclosure and our lease ended and we needed to move. We found a cute home closer to Ike's work and we really love the area and Ike even rides his bike to work :) We also save about $800 a month in rent and utilities by moving into this home. It is crazy to go from 3500 sq. feet to 2500 sq. feet. Abby was telling me yesterday that she misses the old house because it felt like a castle. Sweet Abby always wanting to be a princess in a castle! We are just renting again this time, but we are really excited to hopefully buy a home when this lease is up.....maybe Abby will have a castle in Lincoln again :)
Some other news....I am pregnant again!!!! Our fourth child is due on January 1st! FOUR KIDS! I'm a little nervous! During the move and for a while after I had MAJOR morning sickness that I thought would never go away. It was awful. Thankfully it seems to have subsided, and now I can enjoy food again:) Speaking of food, I have been a total foodie lately reading amazing food blogs and watching The Food Network. I guess pregnancy can turn anyone into a food lover :) So you probably will find some posting about food and recipes during the next few months on our blog. Yeah for yummy food! Have a great day!

Some Video Clips Of The Birthday Boy...

2008-07-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here is some footage of Reddek, Abby & Gracie.....sorry that Reddek insisted on just being in his underoos....that is our reality on a daily basis.....as soon as we get home he takes his clothes right off and lives in his underoos....silly guy!

Happy Birthday Reddek!

2008-07-02T13:48:00.001-07:00

Our sweet little man turned 4 today! We have had a great day so far just playing, coloring and decorating the house with lots of balloons and streamers. Reddek can't wait until Daddy gets home so he can open his presents and go out to dinner and have his yummy ice cream cake. He keeps telling me this is the best Birthday he has ever had....cute little guy. I am so thankful that Reddek is healthy and happy. During the month of April we had a really big scare when Reddek suffered a condition called Intussuception. It is a very long and heart wrenching story for me to tell because at first he was misdiagnosed in the ER and sent home with what they told me was just constipation. My gut and Heavenly Father told me that it was much more serious than that, and so I took him back to the ER again the next morning and I am so grateful that the doctor made an accurate diagnosis. As soon as they discovered his life-threatening condition they rushed him by ambulance to a hospital in Sacramento with a specialized pediatric unit. As soon as we arrived the pediatric surgeon looked at me and said that if we would have not taken him back in to the ER then Reddek would have died within 24 hours. That experience is burned in my memory and heart.....we came so close to losing Reddek. I kept replaying the experience in my mind for weeks after and it still is hard for me to understand how the ER could misdiagnose a little boy who was so seriously ill and just send him home. I kept thinking, what if I just listened to what they told me and hadn't taken him back? He would have died!! It still makes me want to cry thinking about the experience and all the pain and suffering Reddek went through. I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father helped us through such a difficult time. What a treasure it is to spend this 4th Birthday with Reddek. We love you Buddy!

Road Trip!

2008-04-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

So after $500.00 in car repairs and lots of packing, we are headed off to Utah to visit family. Yeah!! We are so excited to spend time with everyone!! The kids are so hyper with anticipation of seeing their cousins again that it has made for a difficult afternoon, but it is definitely worth it. We also feel blessed that we will be there for the baby blessing of Lily, the newest member of the family. She is the beautiful new daughter of Candace and Chris. When we get back I will post some fun pictures of the trip. Have a great day!

Blogging Creates Biohazard...

2008-04-04T12:13:00.001-07:00

While writing my last entry Gracie wandered up to me, pulled on my pant leg and said, "ku-ku". I quickly glanced down and saw her clean diaper on the floor. My eyes then spotted the 'ku-ku' she was talking about. I guess she didn't want to get her nice clean diaper dirty so she used our vanilla colored carpet instead. Nice. Thanks cutie. Yep, baby poops are no fun to clean. But on a positive note I found that Bath & Body Works anti-bacterial hand soap is a great stain remover :)

One Of Our Favorite Books

2008-04-04T11:25:00.001-07:00

I bought this book when Abby was a baby and now 5 years later all 3 kids still love it. It is a precious story about a little lamb who wants to play hide and seek and along the way he meets different animals. The kids laugh when I make the silly voices for each animal. The book is so great for sensory development because on each page there is a soft white furry feel on little lamb and other animals. The ending is touching as little lamb finds his mommy and is so happy to be home. I think you will really enjoy this story :)

Snack Sneaker...

2008-04-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

So I have to admit that we are a family that loves snacks. This morning I was laughing at Reddek because the first thing he did was search the kitchen cupboards for the jellybeans Ike bought last night. I tried to get him to eat other things first, but I kinda gave in and gave him a couple because it was just way too early to have a candy battle with our little candy loving man. I have been trying to fix more nutritious snacks like cut apples, oranges, and frozen grapes (yummy!!). I even feed the kids chocolate covered raisins instead of just plain chocolate, ha ha! We are a work in progress when it comes to snacking...but if you are ever over for a visit I promise not to hide the jellybeans and share happily :)

All About Gracie

2008-04-02T23:44:00.000-07:00

The word that best describes Gracie is Adorable. I honestly can find no better word to describe her and her actions and her round cute little tummy and cheeks. Her vocabulary is growing more everyday and I love to try to get her to say certain words. My favorite words that she says now are marshmallow and thank you. It is rare for Gracie to go anywhere without her babies in her arms and a blanket to cuddle in. My heart melts whenever she runs to me and puts her little arms around my neck and says, "love you".
She loves to watch the mini-clips of Go Baby on Playhouse Disney. Gracie also loves being tickled, playing This Little Piggy and taking baths. When she was born Ike and I found a great song by Ben Folds called Gracie. It is on my Playlist below because I love it so much. When we drove Gracie home from the Hospital we listened to the song and now we think of that special day whenever we hear it. Our family would not be complete without our adorable Gracie.

All About Reddek

2008-04-02T22:01:00.001-07:00

The word that best describes our cute little Reddek is fun-loving. He is so darn funny and always has us cracking up. He has this dance that we call The Silly Dance and every time he does it I just have to smile. He seriously was born with silliness. He is also sooo energetic! I am amazed at how fast he runs and he keeps going and going. Occasionally he will run up to me and say "Mommy I am running out of energy so I think I better lay down." Believe me that he doesn't lay down long, he is just right back up running around the house and playing. He is really a cute little helper too. He always loves being next to Daddy to fix things and pulls out his tools to get the job done. Reddek loves to have stories read to him. His favorite books lately are all about cars and big trucks. He adores helicopters and airplanes especially ones that are electronic. He has the kindest spirit and is incredibly caring about how others think and feel. He is always right there to help Abby and Gracie smile when they are sad. When I was pregnant with Reddek I always felt that his spirit was extra special and strong. A few months ago Abby was acting naughty and bit Reddek on the arm really hard. It looked awful and he cried a lot because it hurt so much. In my desperation to teach Abby not to ever bite again I told Reddek to bite her back, but through his tears he looked at me and said, "No Mommy I don't want to hurt her." Such a sweetheart. We love Reddek so much and with him there is never a dull moment.

All About Abby

2008-04-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

The one word that describes Abby is sweet. She is such a joy to be around and the best big sister. She loves ponies, barbies and babies. She also adores watching anything that has to do with princesses. Her newest adventure has been discovering the fun games on http://www.barbie.com/ It is so hilarious how excited she gets to play on the laptop computer just like mommy. She really enjoys being able to practice her letters and numbers and choose different outfits for the Barbies. I must say that she is quite a good stylist and one of my favorite shopping buddies. Abby is also an amazing Artist. She gets that talent from Ike and I think it is very cute to watch her and her Daddy draw, paint or color together. Her favorite food is any kind of plain pasta, key lime pie yogurt, or chicken nuggets. She tends to be quite a picky eater but we're working on that. Abby also loves flowers, especially picking flowers. One of her favorite memories of living in Utah was picking flowers at Grandma La La's house with her cousin Maddie. She hates any kind of lip gloss on her lips and she totally hates saying good-bye. If she is awake when Ike leaves for work then she sweetly cries "I love you Daddy please come home safe to us!" A few weeks ago Grandma Cenie was out here visiting and when it was time to say good-bye Abby's eyes filled with tears and as we drove home from the hotel Abby and I held hands and cried together. We love our sweet little Abby.

The Love Of A Brother And Sister...

2008-04-01T05:08:00.001-07:00

Abby and Reddek have grown so close lately. It is wonderful to watch them play together and see how much they love each other. Last night I stayed up late talking to my little Brother on the phone and I was reminded how important it is to stay close to family and support each other in all you do. I hope Abby and Reddek will continue to stay buddies. There really is no substitute for a Brother Sister bond. I took them to a meadow near our house a couple of days ago and they were acting so adorable that I just had to share a few of the photos.

A Baby doll...

2008-04-01T04:47:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved Baby dolls. It is always so fun to dress our little Gracie like a doll. She is so sweet and cuddly that every time I hold her I am reminded of my little girl dreams of wanting to be a Mother. I think it is so cute that Gracie loves Baby dolls too. She always has one in her arms wherever she goes and she cuddles them just like I cuddle her. We sure love our little Gracie Girl!

A Swingin Park....

2008-03-02T23:05:00.000-08:00

With three little kids it seems that we are always on the lookout for a fun new park experience Yesterday we found a great one!! Abby and Reddek loved the twisty slides and Gracie was in heaven with the swings. I thought it was so cute seeing her tiny curls blowing in the breeze that I had to catch a clip. I remember loving the swings when I was little and feeling like I could take on the world as I flew up and down. Abby and Reddek look like such big kids now...somedays I just really want time to stand still so I can cherish each sweet smile and adorable giggle.

On a side note...Ike is pretty worried about what I might say on this blog Ha Ha! He is so funny! I told him I will try and refrain from telling all his secrets! Ha Ha! I am sure he will be on his best behavior now!!

Here we are.....

2008-03-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

Finally I am starting a family blog!!!!! I love reading blogs and I am excited at the opportunity this technology presents in helping us to stay in touch with family and friends. Our little cuties are growing so fast and I want to share as much as I can about them each day. I hope that you will visit our blog often and enjoy reading about our life and experiences. Please feel free to leave comments and let me know if I can add you to our upcoming link list.