So Vain

Dallin loves to look at himself. Guess most kids do, and don't know it is them.

Spring?

It was in the 40s today so we got to walk outside. I know some of you (Melissa) are laughing because you are getting 70-80 degree weather where you are, but for Rexburg, this is a nice spring day. Sad, I know. Not sure if we are actually done with the snow and freezing temperatures, but I am hopeful that spring is actually here.

Banoffee Pie

Nate saw a pie made on the Today Show that he had to have, so I made it today. So against my diet with all the butter, cream and sugar, but I guess once in a blue moon it is ok. Click on the link to get the recipe: Banoffee Pie

It is really yummy. The toffee is what makes it amazing.

Nothing else to post about, so. . .

If anyone wants to know how I predict American Idol to go. I am thinking that they will go home in this order. This is partially how I'd like it to go and partially how i think it will inevitably go. I've been a fan of Megan's from the start but she's been disappointing lately, so I think she'll go soon. And I am not crazy about Danny but I think he'll be in the finals. Go Adam! (even though you are an extremely strange man) So what do you think?

Lots of Baths this week

Episode 1
"Did you give Dallin something besides Cheerios to eat?" Nate asked me.
"No. Why?"
"Well, what is that?"
Dallin had brown goo around his mouth with a Cheerio stuck to it, and brown streaks up and down his tee shirt. I stepped closer. "Does it smell like poo to you?" I asked Nate.
"Oh man! Yes!" We looked into the chair he was sitting in and there it was. The blob escaped his diaper and had collected Cheerios that Dallin was grabbing at, and apparently eating!
Strait to the bath for Dallin.

Episode 2
"Tanner, don't lay on Dallin! You are squishing him!" I say to Tanner for the fourth time. But Dallin just giggles, encouraging the wrestling to continue. Tanner is getting quite worked up and starts coughing. Belch. Gag. Heave. Puke all over Dallin's back.
Strait to the bath for Tanner and Dallin.

Car seat review

Bad picture, but oh well. The Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 is actually for ages 1 -10, not newborn and up like I said. Must have been thinking about the Safety First Alpha Omega (Jordan and Michaela, check that one out). Luckily I don't need this one for a newborn. I'd probably go with a travel system anyway with a newborn since that is practically the only way you can take them in a stroller or put them in a grocery cart. Just some advise for first time carseat/stroller shoppers.

Anyway. I like the car seat. Tanner will use it. It's fairly easy to adjust. Sturdy. Reclines some, not as much as I'd like, but fine. I like that you can remove the back and it can become a booster seat later. Did you know that kids are supposed to be in a booster until they are 4'9"? That is between 8 to 12 years old! The head rest makes it so he can sleep comfortably in the car. Tanner loves the cup holder. So, I'd recommend it to anyone who has a kid outgrowing their baby car seat.

I made granola!

This was my first time making granola, and I don't think I will ever buy again. It was so easy and I usually have everything I need on hand. You can alter the recipe so easily too. I added pecans and cranberries. Some other things that I think would be good are using some maple syrup instead of honey, and using different seeds and nuts. You could cut the amount of oil in this one and still be ok.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup raisins/dried cranberries
  

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine oats and coconut; set aside. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, oil, honey and cinnamon; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over oat mixture; stir to coat. Spread in a large shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool. Add raisins/cranberries. Store in an airtight container.

Stats and car seat

Dallin had his 9 month check up and he is 31 inches long (99th percentile) and 21 lbs (46th percentile).


He has out grown his car seat, so I got this Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 seat. Can be used from 5- 100 lbs, so newborn to big kid. Hopefully this will be the last one I buy. This will be our 3rd. Wish it was around when I had Tanner. I would like one of these for each kid, I think. I guess I haven't used it yet to know if it is as great as it seems. I'll let you know, in case you are looking for a car seat.

First day out

We've been able to go outside to walk again. It's great! Alicia brought her camera and took these shots. It is kind of sad we are leaving soon, we are coming into the best time of year in Rexburg.


I think this is a funny face on Dallin. He's here with Sydney.

This is Tanner's "Cheeeeese!" smile.

Tanner's feet.

Nothing blog worthy going on

I have just been packing and preparing to move lately. Don't want to bore you with all the details, so I will just post a picture of Dallin. He still isn't crawling at 9 months. I think it will be in the next month though. Tanner didn't until he was 10 months. I just have slow boys, but once they are up and going they are really up and going, so I am ok with the delays.

"Like Jordan's!"

When I brush Tanner's hair I brush it to the side. Lately, Tanner has been pulling it up saying "Like Jordan's!" So then I have to do a fohawk. It is really cute, but he has really coarse hair that likes to lay flat and go forward, so the fohawk only lasts about 5 minutes. Even with product!

Nate comes home tomorrow! I'm so excited! It hasn't been a horrible week because I have done everything I can think of to keep busy, but we've definitely missed him.

He had a pretty good experience in L.A. No sales but came close a couple times. It was a lack of knowledge that costed him the sales. He was kicking himself later. But now he knows and can correct it later. They say it usually takes 40 hours of knocking doors to get a sale and he maybe did 15 hours. He'll go to Idaho Falls to get some more practice. Anyone know anyone there who might want a free security system???

So lonely

Nate is in Los Angeles this week doing pre-summer sales to get some training and practice. We're hoping he does good so he can feel confident selling this summer and get a running start. I've been really impressed with his dedication to learning about APX and how to sell. We're praying he does well enough that we can get through graduate school at least debt free. Luckily ISU is relatively inexpensive, so that shouldn't be too hard.

Anyway, I hate being alone with the kids. The saying, "Absense makes the heart grow fonder" is so true! I know I sure appreciate Nate more after he has been gone, especially when the kids don't sleep good due to sickness, and when Tanner is especially unruly. Guess moments of separation like these are good for a marriage occasionally (very occasionally) since I gain a greater appreciation.

Poor Dallin

Dallin has been sick with an ear infection and bronchitis for a few days and you can just tell he is miserable and exhausted. In this video he is trying to sleep sitting up.


We spent the day in Pocatello yesterday to look at housing options and see the city and it really is not so bad. Actually I am pretty excited to live there. There is definitely more shopping options than Rexburg. No Target or Old Navy though. :( We ate at Craigo's; we are so happy they are there. That is our favorite pizza place in Rexburg. I have yet to scope out the parks, but I saw a few.

The news we've been waiting for for WAY TOO LONG

Nate heard from Eastern Washington yesterday and he was put on the alternate list, so we are planning to go to ISU. If he comes up on the alternate list we'd consider it still, but for now we are tired of waiting. We are making plans now for a life in Pocatello. We are totally fine with this. We weighed it out and they were both really good for us in different ways. Now we look forward to being close to our siblings that are in ID and UT and cheaper housing, cost of living and tuition. Now we will just have to find the good in Pocatello. At first glance it doesn't look like a very nice place to live, but neither did Rexburg and we've grown to like it here.

Look what I have been doing

Packing. Already. We don't leave for 6 weeks, but I want to do it very gradually so I don't exhaust myself or neglect the kids for long periods of time. We will store everything for the summer except the bare essentials. We should know tomorrow if Nate gets in to Eastern Washington University. We'll keep you all posted.

Dallin trying to help.













Can you guess what Tanner is doing behind our chair? This is his official pooping spot. I should just stick his toilet back there, and maybe he'd go.

Not so BRAVE or CRAZY (whichever you were thinking) after all

So, I bought plane tickets today. LOL. I am flying to New Jersey with Tanner and Dallin. I totally chickened out, thanks to many of you. :) So I will make the 4 hour drive to SLC (visit Matt and Mickie while there) and a quick 4 hour flight as apposed to a week long trip. I feel much less anxiety now, even though there still is some since I will be taking 2 kids on a flight by myself. Michaela, you can still come. Wait, no you can't, I got the last 2 tickets. Darn it!

Hopefully, my kids will be smiling like this on our flight.

I must be CRAZY

So we decided that me and the kids will drive to New Jersey in April. It is a 3 day drive if you drive strait through. I told Nate I would only drive if we could make lots of stops along the way. So, I think I found stops every 8 hours or so. Some church history sites (Nauvoo and Kirtland), family and friends. If you happen to live some where along the way let us know and we will stop in and see you. :) I am actually excited to see the sites. We are expecting it to take an entire week. I hope that the kids don't go crazy. Anyone made a trip like this with kids? How was it for you? Any suggestions? Besides, DON'T DO IT! :)

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Good deals

Kmart is doubling coupons this week, so I got some really good deals. If you click on my picture you can see the prices a little better. If you have coupons, go check it out. Here in Rexburg they double them through about Sunday.

I know how it feels. . .

. . . to be a single mom. Nate was gone for the weekend with his brother Jordan. They went to Spokane, Washington for an interview at Eastern Washington University. Thank goodness for Michaela; she kept me company. I would have been really lonely without her. We hit up the Alberston's sale and watched Mama Mia and The Secret Life of Bees. Both really good movies.

Nate said his interview went well, and the school/program are pretty impressive. He'll know this week or next whether he gets accepted. We still don't know which one we'd chose. We made pros and cons lists and they are so equal for different reasons. So it will be a matter of prayer for sure. Thanks to the Pingles for letting Nate and Jordan stay with them. They were so nice to invite Nate and Jordan to stay with them when they found out they'd be in the area.

Dad Playground

Whenever Nate gets on the floor Tanner is right there to jump on him and play on him. Nate is a fun dad. He tries to make the most of the time he is home with us. Hopefully grad school won't take him away from us too much. Dallin plays with his tongue a lot; rolling it around and sticking it out. So that is what these pictures are.

Dad has the fun, and mom gets to comfort them when they are grumpy.

What is that?

Dallin makes this strange noise when he is cold.

Valentine's day

We spend Valentine's day afternoon with Jordan and Michaela and a couple other friends. Jordan was pretty creative and put together a carnival. We decorated cookies.


Raced to eat a doughnut off a string. Nate won one round.

Tanner was doing a bean bag toss with a mouthful of cookies while Dallin cheered him on. It was a lot of fun. Then we went home and had a steak dinner.