April Foolery...Look What We've Been Cookin'

Here's the *joke* we played on our family and closest friends on April Fool's this year. It was really fun, but the reactions were varied. Most:
a) didn't get it
b) figured it out, but didn't click that it could be a joke
c) didn't quite believe us.

It was torture for me because I knew my parents wouldn't check their email, and Ben made me wait until noon before I could call and clue them in.

DYLANISMS

20 months

When I first started our blog, I thought it was fun to record all of Kaleb's little sayings. You know the old adage...kids say the darndest things! Well, Dylan has all of a sudden started talking. I'm not sure just anyone would understand him, but those who know him best, know exactly what he's saying. Here's the first of many posts to come...DYLANISMS!

*Ta-da! Normally when he's got something on his fork ready to eat, or a Handy Manny tool. Ie...hot dog stabbed by Turner, the screwdriver.
*I did it! (I love this one)
* Beans...while pointing to the stash of jelly beans above the fridge.
*Airplane! He finds them in the sky all the time.
* Juice...this one is a demand, and not so cute.
* Bye, garage! This was only once, but so random.
* Thank-you! Pronounced TANK-YOU.
* Jesus! He loves pointing out Jesus (who to him, is just about any main character in our scripture study).
* His little prayer (with help). He'll say, "Thank you, and then point to each of us and say our names: Mama, Dada, Brover, Nylan." He's also good at saying "amen."
* Too! When we say, "I love you!" He'll say TOO really loud.

I know there's more, but this is a good start. Especially since I've been up since 3, can't sleep, and now it's 5 am. We love you, Dylan! You bring so much joy to us all...thanks for being our sweet, sweet boy!

Go, Gadget, Go!

It's a secret (okay, maybe not so secret) wish of mine to turn into my mom. She's still amazing in my eyes. So I recently had the opportunity to bring dinner to two of my friends who were both coming home from the hospital with their babies at the same time. Since I'm a busy girl, I thought...why not kill two birds with one stone and bring them both dinner at the same time? Hmmm.... not owning a catering business or having any experience in such a thing, this was a daunting, but do-able task for me: cook dinner for all 3 families (including ours). Can I really do this?!?

Well, I had to make my mom's famous rolls...giving away another secret here... I got out my breadmaker! Pop in the ingredients, press DOUGH ONLY, and I'm off to a good start.
Then I thought, what can I make and take that will be enough for a crowd, totally delish, and not too much work? Many years at girls camp & ward functions brought the idea of Hawaiian Haystacks! Out comes my fabulous food processor....veggies chopped in 5 minutes!
I normally cook rice on the stove, but I own a rice-cooker. Why not? Dig out rice-cooker from stash of gadgets, dump in water and wild rice...easy-peasy!
Last, I can never take in a meal without including dessert. Just isn't in me. So, out came the old Kitchen Aid...my most beloved gadget. Double batch of chocolate chip cookies, no problem!
It wasn't til later in the day, when I was talking to my mom, that it hit me... I AM TURNING INTO MY MOM! She has more kitchen gidget-gadgets than anyone I know! So thanks to you, my dear sweet Mama, for passing on your skills.... GO, GADGET, GO!

Just Another Manic Monday!

So I called in sick, since I wasn't really feeling all that great.
Instead of going to work, this is what I ended up doing.

1) Cleaned up congealed ham pan that had been soaking overnight.

2) Unclogged a toilet.

3) Received a speeding ticket via the mail.

Another glamorous day in the life of me. Good thing Ben came home with some good news so I could go to bed with a smile on my face! Now I'm off to change another stinky diaper!

Happy Easter!

Best buds

Wooo...as D would say in his little cute voice!

Mom settling for this since they wouldn't go near the "real" Easter bunny.

We are really enjoying the holidays more and more as our boys get older. We had a nice Family Home Evening Lesson on Monday that explained all the symbols of Easter and had a memory game to go along. Later on in the week G & G Stock sent a package with all the stuff mom won't buy: peeps, eggs full of slime, and other fun stuff! Gramma also sent two special gifts... a quiet ABC book for Dylan that she made, and another Easter lesson with symbols of Christ and the true meaning of Easter with a story and easter eggs. So sweet!

Saturday we went to our community festival and had a nice time. The weather was just perfect and the boys enjoyed some games, a petting zoo, and a free for all egg hunt in the sand. Neither boy would go for a picture with the Easter bunny. D was scared to death, and Kaleb was just not into it. He had other things on his mind... candy!

Hunting for jellybeans....check out the grass!

Sunday morning Kaleb shuffled into our room at 6 am to let us know the Easter bunny had actually come and filled their baskets to overflowing! Dylan dived right into an egg full of jelly beans, and Kaleb wasn't far behind. We dressed them in cute matching outfits, went to church, and enjoyed the rest of the day together. Dad hid the eggs for a hunt in our backyard. Kaleb was given a pep talk to leave the easy ones for Dylan, but D really didn't care. He'd find an egg, pop it open, and start munching! That evening we had the missionaries for dinner and our first strawberry shortcake of the year. It was a very happy holiday...a time to reflect, to enjoy eachothers' company,and to teach our sons about the life of our Savior.
Kaleb loves his animals...these even make sounds!

Sinfully Delicious!

Here's a family favorite a few friends have asked for lately. Are you feeling naughty?!?

CARAMEL CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
Mix the following together:
1/2 c. melted margarine
1/3 c. canned milk
German chocolate cake mix
2 cups of semi sweet chocolate chips
Melt the following:
14 oz. caramel
1/3 c. canned milk
Chopped nuts (optional)

Grease & flour pan (spray) pour in half of the brownie mixture and bake at 350 for 6 min. Add caramel mixture, layer with chocolate chips & and add remaining brownie mix on top. Bake for an additional 15 min. Very gooey and great with your favorite vanilla icecream!

Tiny Tots

Kaleb just finished up his first organized sports experience....Tiny Tots Sports Camp. Each Friday for several weeks he and his buddies learned the basics of soccer, baseball, and basketball. At first he had a hard time staying with it, but after lots of following the leader, high fives, water breaks, and airplane arms, he was a champ by the end! Here's a few shots of our Tiny Tot, who is really anything but tiny.
Strike a pose!

The next Beckham?

YES!

Slam dunk!

Beauty Everywhere

Spring is my favorite time of the year...it always has been, it always will! Here's a few of our favorite spring moments so far. We feel so blessed!
New sleeping bags... gearing up for the Father's and Son's outing.
K's been sleeping in his for 2 weeks now on top of his bed!

Beautiful bouquet celebrating 8 years!

First icecream cone of the season!

Silly boy for Dad's birthday.

Eggs raised locally from a lady in our ward.
Some are speckled and they come in a variety of colors. Who knew?

These beans just grew over night... so exciting!

Our first garden!

The tree I swore Ben killed, grew new leaves!

Skies are fair above us; leaves are on the trees.
Flower buds are nodding, swayed by gentle breeze.
Loving hearts are happy while we work and play.
God is in the heaven; joyous is our day.

In sky and land and river wide, the work of God I see;
Oh may my heart be full of thanks for all he gives to me.

Birds are in the treetops; bees go humming by.
Songs of joy, ascending, Echo in the sky.
Everywhere is beauty; Life is at its morn.
Praise to God we offer for the new day born.

In sky and land and river wide, the work of God I see;
Oh may my heart be full of thanks for all he gives to me.

by Matilda Watts Cahoon (CS 232)