Pinterest challenge week 1

     So my week one challenge is a little late but HERE is the link to Hanna's results! Her's turned out so cute!

     Before my results I have to tell you a funny story. While I was at the grocery store picking out my spaghetti squash Sophia saw it and called it her egg. I told her what it actually was but she insisted it was a giant egg. I just laughed and kept shopping. When we went to check out she almost lost it when I let the cashier ring the squash up. She had to carry the squash in the car, all the way home, into the house, and then made it a nest at home out of our clothes for it to live in! How was I supposed to cut up her egg for dinner?! Ha ha She was waiting for it to hatch. So I did what any good mother would do. Waited till nap time and swiped the egg, cooked it, and hid the evidence ha ha. I know I am horrible but what was I to do?




       So the actual cooking part of the squash was super easy. You just throw it in the oven at 350 for 30-45 min. Then take it out cut out the seeds and pull out the insides with a fork. Put the insides in a pan and cook on medium heat till tender. This is where I ran into problems. I don't think I was patient enough our squash was a little under cooked.

I added spices and some onions to it while I cooked it to give it some flavor. I think next time I will also kind of sautee it in some olive oil. 

Our sauce to go on top full of mushrooms and onions and tomatoes. It was kind of a veggie overload. Next time I will definetly add some meat to it.

The finished product. It looked so delicious, but we were both a little disappointed and left wanting something more. The recipe has some room for improvement. I will definetly be tweeking it and trying again. I haven't given up on it yet. I have had spaghetti squash as a substitute for noodles before and I really liked it.  So I know it can be good! I just need to try some different variations. If anyone has a good recipe for it let me know! 

~A

Kisses

     Sophia got her first official kiss. From a boy. He was 4. After the kiss she promptly wiped her face off with the back of her arm and I said good girl! ha ha She is to young for this to start already. Let's be honest though, who doesn't want to kiss this face! 

     I am worried we have our work cut out for us as she gets older. Now though, I have a few things I can look out for. She obviously attracts older men, that may have tempers. This one was blonde and quite protective of her. When she got hit on the arm by a different 4 yr old boy Mr. Kiss ran over and whacked him hard with a giant branch off the ground. ha ha When Mr. Kiss got in trouble from his mom he said "But he hit Sophia!" 

      She was dressed as a princess that day and made sure he knew she was one. He told her he was the prince. She said no you're my friend!

     He was quite smitten but it sounds like Sophia has her head on straight for now. Let's hope it stays that way through her teenage years! 

~A  

Pinterest Challenge

      So as previously stated my sis in law Hanna is doing a pinterest challenge on her blog Here. Basically you pick six projects from your boards that you want to do then you do one a week for six weeks. Like I said before I do way to many projects already so I wasn't going to do it. Then she told me she would make my little collage for me and so I said yes ha ha. I know she twisted my arm right ha ha. Anyway I am excited here is my line up!

1. Spaghetti squash. I have been trying a lot of new healthy recipes lately and they have been turning out delicious! I have been wanting to try this and I don't know why but spaghetti squash worries me to try. Now I have no excuse. Here's to hoping it's delicious!

2. Scarf. I do not knit or crochet but I am obsessed with infinite scarves as of late. I found a tutorial online that is supposed to be super easy and needle free. Apparently we use a box. It looks cute I can't wait to make mine.

3. Graphic art. I recently made a word collage for Tyler's graduation announcement and it turned out so good! So I decided to test my hand at some cute graphic art to hang in Joel's room.

4. Recover shoes. This one intimidates me but I have such a cute idea for it. I can't wait finally try this. I just need to go find the right material. I am fully prepared for this one being an epic fail, let's hope not though. I would love a new pair of shoes.

 5. Naan. Tyler and I love love Indian food! There are 2 places here in Provo that are so delicious. We would go all the time if we had the money ha ha. SO I want to learn to make this delicious Indian bread recipe called Naan and maybe a curry recipe while I am at it?

6. Dresser redo. Joel and Sophia have these Ikea dresser's I got for cheap when they both were born. I have been wanting to pep them up for awhile and was planning on it soon. SO this gives me six weeks to get them done and looking awesome for their rooms! I hoping to do both. We shall see.








     Alright folks that's my line up. I am excited and a little intimidated by it but mostly excited! Tyler just laughed when I told him my plan. He is so good at putting up with my craftiness. You guys should join the party! I would love to see all your projects you have in mind! A project a week, totally doable!

~A

So stylish

     Sophia and I went on another little date with Aunt Tiff. We went and shopped at the new traverse mountain outlets. It was really fun. When we went into Children's Place they had these little hats sitting out and Sophia had to have one. She has been asking me for a hat for a while. Then she saw the sunglasses and picked out these pink aviators. Then she saw the little purses which are actually glass cases and had two of them in tow walking around the store with us ha h ha ha. Aunt Tiff was going to get her the glasses and purse so I had to get her the hat to go with. Then she proceeded to tell me "I am so stylish!" haha.

     My sister in law Hanna is doing a 6 week pinterest challenge on her blog here. When I read it I thought what a good idea! I should do that. Then as I looked through my pictures and what I pinned for recipes I thought maybe I need an intervention ha ha. I may do a few to many projects. 

     A good example would be these next pictures. I pinned a pin a while back of a little girl in a maxi skirt and I have been wanting to make Sophia one. Then I found some adorable grey and yellow striped knit material I had to have. I knew instantly I wanted to make Sophia a skirt out of it and me a scarf out of it.(another pinterest pin idea) So I came home and immediately got to work on it.  

These are the best two pics I could get. Her poses are more moving poses than holding still poses ha ha.

Don't mind my awkward lean here, I was trying not to get hit in the head by her ballerina pose. I love how they both turned out! Now we have matching clothes ha ha.

~A

Six months!

     This baby is six months old! I can't believe it. Every time I tell someone my heart sinks a little. He is growing to fast! I feel like yesterday I brought him home. Now he is halfway to a year. We absolutely adore this kid! He is seriously the happiest, chillest baby ever! Unless he is hungry. You do not withhold that bottle from him ha ha.  

      This last month was a big month for him. He broke in two teeth on the bottom, he holds his own bottle now, he is a rollie pollie. He is seriously all over the floor it is so funny. Sophia was never like that. He likes to scream, something I think he picked up from his sister. He has started eating solid foods. I don't think he likes the texture of baby foods but he will eat them. He makes the funniest faces while you feed him. He loves just mashed up food better. At his last check up he weighed 19LBS!! This kid is a fat one! We love it. He has some serious thunder thighs that are so great to squeeze. He is super ticklish and his giggle is to cute. He smiles at just about anyone but has a particular fondness to Sophia, mommy, daddy and papa. He is just great!  

Trying out his cute new shoes, they were kind of a flop. They do not stay on his feet.

He loves to suck his bottom lip and make a smacking kind of noise.

I love this face! 

Love those fat thighs and that he always holds his legs up in the air like this. 

Sophia decided Joel needed to dress up with her. My kids got some serious style ha ha.

Wearing an old retro sweatshirt from when uncle Seth was a baby! How cute is it even 14 yrs. later!

In his very first church outfit! Finally found one with a tie and vest! SO handsome! 

~A

Sophia my friend

     Lately I have felt like everything Sophia does is the end of my rope! I didn't like it. What happened to my sweet, fun, sassy girl that used to make me laugh at her silly antics? Normally I would analyze it, her routine is messed up, she isn't napping anymore, delayed reaction to Joel being born. Maybe it was partly all of those, maybe it was me expecting that a 2 yr. old should understand that a baby needs me and she needs me and someone is going to have to wait their turn. Then I realized why would a 2 yr. old understand that? All she remembers is that mom used to be hers and isn't anymore. I also realized that I needed to remember what it's like to only have one child every once in a while.

      So Sophia and I started hanging out. I decided we needed our own mom and daughter time. We started going on dates. The first one was amazing and I was hooked! So was she! On our first M&D date we started by running some errands for me then I took her to the Disney store (Sophia heaven!) and we just walked around. We stopped at whatever toy she wanted to, touched anything she wanted to, said WOW, I want that, and Not right now to almost everything ha ha.

     The best part she just listened to me, smiled at me, didn't argue, she definetly new this time was special and didn't want to ruin it! So we have done it a few times more. Each time as much fun as the other, all kind of randomly planned, all special to me and her. I can let her have more independence which she loves and she behaves like the angel child I know she can be and we are both at ease.

     Our last M&D date was my favorite. We had just finished helping Sara pack and move to Ely. We got home all tired and not dressed for the day but with no plans. I grabbed some clothes for both of us said see ya to Tyler and we headed out the door. We just went shopping at some stores but I let Sophia walk through the clothing stores just with me. No stroller no cart. She walked in the door and goes "WOW Mom it's BEAUTIFUL!" Ha ha Then as we are walking down the isles her little fingers are stroking all the clothes and fabrics the other hand held firmly to mine. She kept telling me how pretty it all was. She even sniffed some clothes ha ha!!  The times when I needed to let go of her hand she twirled in a circled right next to me like a princess in her closet. It is one of my favorite memories ever of her!

     At our last stop I told her we could go get a treat on the way home I asked her what she wanted. She said very excitedly Water! ha ha I asked her again when we got in the car. What do you want for a treat? Water!! ha ha so we went and got big ice cold waters. I also bought her a cookie because she asked for one earlier that day but he was perfectly happy with her ice water.

     I love these dates and plan to start them with Joel as soon as he is old enough! They remind me how much I love Sophia's personality. They remind me we are friends to as well as mom and daughter. They refresh our patience level with one another. They give me awesome memories! I hope she wants to do these forever!

I love this picture! It shows Sophia's personality to a T. Sassy, Cute, Funny, all while remaining her composure. 

"There's power in looking silly, and not caring that you do."

-Amy Poehler

~A

Valentines day and crazy train

     We don't usually go to crazy on Valentines day. Mostly because our anniversary is a week before. So we will stay at home have a nice dinner and celebrate with the kids. This year we also had Sara and Addie over to play that night, they had been over pretty much every night that week and Sophia was loving it! She asked me everyday for aunt Sara ha ha! She still does. Anyway we had a yummy steak and mashed potato dinner with chocolate covered strawberries dipped in toffee. So Yummy!

     My mom always got us little gifts for every holiday, I like to do it for my kids to. It is so much fun especially around Sophia's age! So she got some socks, a little Minnie mouse coloring page, a chalkboard flower thing I made her and Addie and some candy. The babies also got socks but instead of candy the got puff snacks and yogurt melts! Cost me under 5 dollars for everything and it just made the day so fun!

     Tyler was a champ this year and got me an awesome mani, pedi, and facial package that I can't wait to use! I got him a candy bar ha ha like I said we usually go small. He very much surprised me, which was great!  Thanks love!

SO I have been on this crazy decorate my house thing. Which is weird because we have lived here since Sept. and I haven't even hung up my picture frames, and if all goes according to plan we will be moving in April. I know weird but oh well.

With some of my birthday money I got us some new bedding and sheets! I liked our old bedding but my colors were brown and green and my room was just dark. I love our new Yellow, grey and white set! It brightens up our room and makes me want to spend time in there, but now my dark brown and green headboard didn't match. I made that a couple years ago out of an old GIANT window! I was pretty proud of it but it needed a makeover.

So i pushed out the middles, sanded it, gave it a coat of grey paint, and hung a wreath on it! Super cheap makeover and I love it! Now if I could just find some curtains. 

I finished these embroidery hoop art things awhile ago I just never hung them. Then I got the idea to add Sophia's name. I had these letters from before, they were red and black. I sanded them down painted and hung everything. Voila.

I saw this idea on Pinterest and I loved it. So with some of my birthday money I bought some pillow forms from the DI. Cleaned them and made myself these bow pillows for my living room out of burlap. Super cheap and so cute. 

My kitchen was in desperate need of some curtains. I found this fabric for like 2 dollars a yrd. Made myself some curtains and a matching little window drape.

I am also in the process of recovering my storage tubs in my living, pics to come when finished, and these little square hollow things were under the lid of the all. I took them off for re-purposing needs and decided they would make really cute knock off Canvas things, so I made some decorations for Joel's room.

I love them! 

I don't know why I am on this crazy train of redecorating my house but I have lots more planned including redoing my rocking chair and storage tubs, curtains for mine and Joel's room, Pillows for Sophia's bed, and whatever else I come up with. Notice none of those were hanging my picture frames ha ha. You win some you lose some.

~A