Have I mentioned?

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE California? Because I do. This past week we were able to go to Steve's parent's house in Los Gatos. Steve and his dad were going on their annual Fish Creek trip, and I invited myself to come play with his mom while the boys were gone. It is beautiful, sunny, has an ocean breeze, and cool fog rolls in most nights. Their home is close to Icing on the Cake and Gayle's Bakery. Perfection!

After driving to California three times since Christmas, we decided it was time to fly. The kids did wonderfully and thanks to Dramamine I did great too! We then drove out to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for some fun family time. A few rides for Tyler, a quick ride on the Giant Dipper for Steve and me, and we were all as happy as could be.

Once the boys left for fishing, we wasted no time getting to the girly stuff. I read These Is My Words again. We watched Jane Eyre, Emma, went shopping, ate cheesecake and stayed up way too late visiting. Thank you Kathy for a wonderful time! One evening, we went to a great park with a full size fire truck and airplane for the kids to play on. Tyler was in heaven. Since we had just been at the airport Tyler said he was flying the airplane to Grandma's house!

The next day we went to Happy Hollow. It is an awesome park in San Jose. This place is worth multiple visits. It has a petting zoo, rides, an actual zoo and the largest play structure I have ever seen. The picture doesn't even show the back part of it. Tyler was beyond excited and Hannah was content to chill in the stroller. That was a great day!

The rest of the days were spent around town, playing outside and relaxing. Tyler played in the sandbox for hours, watched the deer eat apples up on the hill, ran through the sprinkler in his underwear, and followed either Grandma or Grandpa around like their shadow.

While we were there Hannah turned ten months old. She is getting so big. My girl pulls herself to standing, gets into everything she shouldn't and is the sweetest thing you'll meet. Lately she has been so vocal. If she gets upset you can tell she's trying to tell you all about it. I love her!

It is so pleasant there that it makes it even harder coming back to the reality of work, law school, bills and cleaning. It was a true vacation for us!

In the end

Just over a year ago, Steve was called to serve in a BYU singles student ward Bishopric. At the time I sort of thought is was the end of the world and I cried a lot. I couldn't see how Steve being in law school, being an editor of a law journal, a father, working, in a bishopric and me having a new baby would all come together. Many of you will remember THIS post. Well, just yesterday Steve was released. Let me just say it was a very emotional day for us. I cried a lot too, just because I was so sad to leave them. I guess things have really changed in a year.

So many wonderful blessings were poured out upon us during the past year, that I don't know where to begin. I can't put my finger on specific blessings, but I could feel them in every aspect of my life. Steve's service seemed a small sacrifice compared to the abundance of blessings we know we received. Those students are amazing. Their love for the gospel, each other and our family was often overwhelming. They love to serve and still have a blast doing it. My testimony was strengthened just from being with them. We also got to attend some seriously awesome activities too. Here are just a few of the things I'm going to miss:

• A 75 foot long slip-n-slide down a huge hill

• Grass volleyball tournaments

• Our door being "attacked" with kind notes

• Being judges for their dessert Iron Chef challenge (the secret ingredient was Peanut Butter Captain Crunch cereal!)

• Attending wedding receptions of students who met in the ward

• The endless supply of babysitters

• Our children being treated like rock stars

• Staying after Relief Society to answer the girl's questions about what it is like to be a mom

• Asking Steve who he could see flirting with each other from the stand

• Teaching Temple Prep to such eager good people

But most of all, I'll just miss my association with such wonderful, faithful people. All of it was a privilege. I feel blessed beyond measure that I was able to be in a small chapter of their lives. In the end, I will always look back on this past year with thankfulness. I guess I'm also thankful that I will now have Steve's help getting the kids ready for church and during Sacrament meeting. That part will be nice!

This is why

Being a mom is hard. I often think to myself, "I have a college degree and yet the extent of my energy each day is spent making macaroni and cheese, scrubbing hands, counters and dishes, and locate missing Batman sunglasses." Is it the outright disobedience, the whining, or the ability a three year old has to make a complete mess of something I just spent two hours cleaning that does me in? Take your pick. I have to remind myself that I'm the adult and can only control how I respond to the chaos. At the end of some days I am just so grateful to be able to go to sleep and hopefully start out fresh again the next morning.

Like I said, being a mom is hard. At the same time, it is so awesome. I wouldn't want to miss any of their firsts or silly things they say. This is why I have kids:

To see the random positions Hannah can sleep in. You'll notice Hannah's 'plumber' diaper, and yes, she puts the blanket over her face every night despite my efforts.


Marvel at her ability to learn to crawl up the stairs.

Kiss Hannah's cheeks when she makes silly and cute faces.


Praise Tyler when he does such a great job at swimming lessons.

Let him ride what can only be called an unsanitary "Duckephant" because he was such a trooper shopping with me all day.

Help him make "crazy" hair.

Let Tyler make a mess eating a treat just to hear him laugh.


Thank you Tyler and Hannah for always forgiving me when I'm the one that has a hard day. You both are the reason I have great days. I love you!

Sharing with others is fun to do

I'm singing that primary song in my head right now! So there is this recipe that must be shared. It would be selfish of me to not pass along this goodness. It is called Apple Cake. I assure you this is the best of both the cake and pie world. You might be thinking, "that sounds good." But it gets better...much better. I have two words to say. Caramel. Sauce. Yes, that's right you pour warm liquid gold over the cake. I may or may not be guilty of drinking the sauce plain. I like to eat healthy and keep my body in shape, but it all goes out the window with this in the house. So without further ado, here is the recipe:

Blend:
4 cups peeled, thinly sliced apples (about 4 or 5 medium-sized apples, Fuji or Braeburn are good)
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts, but pecans would be great too)
2 eggs beaten
2 tsp vanilla

Fold in:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Pour into 9x13 baking pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. (I spray the pan with a little non-stick spray)

Caramel Sauce:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla

Stir and heat just to a boil. Server over warm cake.



Stop licking the screen and make it for yourself! You're welcome.

What a difference

A week before Hannah was born we went on a family hike to see a waterfall in Pleasant Grove. You'll remember this post and perhaps this picture.

It was a rough hike for me then. Well, just nine months later we went hiking as a family to see the waterfall. What a difference those months have made. It was the easiest hike I've been on. It sure felt great to feel like I could run up the mountain and breath deeply. I loved being pregnant with Hannah, but I love not being pregnant even more! The waterfall was beautiful and Tyler did awesome on the hike. He trekked right along side me while Steve carried Hannah. Tyler must have thrown at least 30 rocks at some point on the hike. Silly boy! It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.

Hannah has now been outside of me longer than she was inside. Happy nine months sweet girl! She is crawling, a wiggle worm, and gets into everything. Hannah can wave, clap, and knows five or so baby signs. She jabbers constantly and is content as ever. Hannah weighs 18 lbs. 11 oz (48%) and is 29 inches long (92 %). This girl just brings a smile to my face.