To Do List

One project completed:(This project was started in April 2008 - over a year ago! I can't tell you how good it feels to have it done, well mostly...Nick still needs to install another latch and a pole.)

About 74 projects still on the list (an exaggeration? Maybe only slightly...).

Next up: patio/deck/pergola.

Party Hardy

This last weekend we had the priviledge of hosting Madison and Ryan while their parents were in Texas at a graduation. We decided that we need to have visitors more often, as it forced us to take the time to do fun things. Friday, the kids and I went swimming and then later that night we went bowling. The high score was 123, the low score, 73. Wanna guess whose was whose? We were all whooped by the three year old, and she really didn't care (Ryan was so peeved by this). She had a little help with the ramp. We were all impressed that she could carry the balls by herself - she would let them roll and then run back to get another without even looking to see how many pins she hit. Oh, and I was the low score. I must be out of practice (or something...). We didn't bring the nice camera, but thanks be to cell phone cameras. Saturday morning we walked to the Country Bakery for some delicious donuts. Mmmmm...donuts...That evening we took bikes to Provo Canyon and rode the trail and then had hamburgers at Timpanogos Park (very nice, by the way), threw a frisbee and played bocce. It was a very fun evening. Funny story: We were driving Jeremy's bright red durango and went to trade it for their truck (also bright red). Ellie was asleep and we transferred her successfully. When we were unloading the bikes Ellie kept asking, "When did you turn the car into a truck?" We all went back to real life on Sunday afternoon. We really enjoyed having Madison and Ryan. They are great kids, and were a big help with the girls. Nick and I got quite a bit of yard work done knowing that the girls were safe inside. And we took advantage of our helpers and even went on a quick lunch date. Wonderful. Thanks for playing, Madison and Ryan! Come back soon!

Our Monday was spent working (of course, our visitors had gone home...) but we did enjoy some time that evening with Nick's family. Nick smoked some beef ribs (which didn't turn out as tender and delicious as we had hoped) and chicken (which was deee-licious). Here's Grandpa with the girls:

On a Warm Day in May

We had such toasty warm weather on Monday that we busted out the pool for the first time this year. Ellie had a great time getting wet and making mud - Maren and I just tried to stay dry.

That evening we met up with Nick's family for a campfire dinner (Costco marinated pork, potatoes, carrots, and onions - quite tasty). We had a great time, and here are photos to prove it (I know they are a little dark - I'm learning, remember?).

Cousin Maybe - what a cutie. And I couldn't resist putting in this photo of Seth. He loves his sunnies... (and he's really cute too).

Nate got ahold of the camera - he is the king of self-portraits. This one is a little fuzzy, but I liked it so much, I had to put it on the blog.

From My Point of View...

Ellie has been praciticing photography with our point-n-shoot digital camera. This is life from our three-year-old's point of view: Her most beloved 'soft' baby.

Mom and dad having a serious conversation from the looks of it. (Probably talking about food - that seems to be a common topic of conversation around our house)

How would it be to have the whole world look down on you?

The exception is baby sisters who look UP to you.Even Ellie knows a photo shoot is not complete without a self-portrait. What a beautiful girl, even with cinnamon sugar lips.

Puddin' Pops

Self-explanatory - they were yummy.

PS Maren had a little help with hers... Yes, I admit that it was me. Is that not the right of all mothers (and one of the benefits)?

Photos of Ellie

Here are the photos I promised of my beautiful Ellie.

Oops...Maren snuck in there somehow. What can I say? I'm a sucker for chubby-cheeked babies!

Maren Stats

Age: 9 months, 4 days

Height: 26.5 inches, 16%

Weight: 18 lbs. 13 oz., 50%

(This is a bit interesting to me as Ellie was always above 85% for height, and under 10% for weight - they are certainly their own persons!)

Two teeth

First Haircut: 1 week ago

Accomplishments: Crawling, pulling up to standing, "cruising" the furniture, clapping

Favorites: Mom, laughing at Ellie, eating, being rocked to sleep, jabbering, playing with toys, cruisin', blowing raspberries, playing peek-a-boo

Workin' Hard

This has been another busy weekend. Nick and I are short on time, so when we have time to work, we work hard. Nick took Friday off and we spent that day, as well as Saturday, prepping and planting the garden and taking care of our yard - me, mowing; Nick, sprinklers. We did take some time off Saturday evening to have a hot dog roast at Nick's parent's house. I think I'm ready for winter again... (just kidding, it's totally worth it having a yard and garden, just A LOT of work).

And here are some cute photos of Maren from last week. I do take pictures of Ellie too, but it is much harder to catch a good shot of a busy three year old. I'll try harder, I promise.

Oh, and Mother's Day you ask? It was wonderful. The best present was Nick getting up with Ellie at 6:30 am when she wet the bed, and he closed my door and took care of it all himself. I told him that I didn't really want anything for Mother's Day, being as I've been awfully spoiled lately with my new camera and such - in fact, I told him I don't need presents all year. However, he insisted I get something...so we picked out two new burning bushes for our yard. He and Ellie made me a delicious breakfast (after letting me sleep in until 9! Heaven!) and cards, and there were beautiful tulips on the table in vases. We spent the afternoon visiting our mothers. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed it. I am so grateful to be a mother and for the influence of the mothers in my life.

Sweet and Sour Pork

I am trying to branch out and try some new recipes. This one was post-worthy. Delicious. And better than that, it was fast and simple. Recipe courtesy of Lion House Classics.

2 lbs. lean pork, cut into strips (I used pork chops)
2 T cornstarch
1/4 c. soy sauce
3 T oil
2 c. carrots, sliced
3 small onions, cut in quarters (I used one big one)
1 green pepper, cut in strips
1 can chunk pineapple, drained (I used tidbits)
3 T cornstarch
3 T brown sugar
2 c. pineapple juice (I used the drained juice from the tidbits, added an additional can of pineapple juice, and a little water)
1/4 c. vinegar
1/3 c. soy sauce
Cooked rice

Mix 2 T cornstarch and 1/4 c. soy sauce. Marinate pork in this mixture for at least 1 hour and up to overnight, in refrigerator. Drain, reserving marinade. Stir-fry meat in hot oil until evenly browned and tenter, about 10 minutes. Remove meat from pan. Stir-fry carrots and onions in same pan, using more oil if necessary. Cover and cook on low heat until tender-crisp, about 10 minutes. Add green pepper and pineapple. Return meat to pan, then stir in marinade.

In the meantime, make sweet and sour sauce: Mix cornstarch and sugar in small saucepan. Add pineapple juice, vinegar, and soy sauce. Cook and stir until thickened and clear. Pour over meat and vegetables; heat until flavors are blended, about 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve over cooked rice.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I told Nick that he should do this post because he is in love with our garden....serious love going on. Here is our grow table in the basement. No, it is not any kind of narcotics...these are all flowers. We started our tomatoes and peppers here too. Worked mighty fine.And here are the tomatoes and peppers - they live in a garden cart that can be pulled into the garage on cold nights. These and the flowers above are about to find a permanent home in the ground, when we find the time. Our lilac bush is in bloom for the first time! Is there any better Spring scent?

And our fruit trees are all in bloom too:

Clean

And so stinkin' cute.

Tulip Festival, Round Three

Our family have passes to the gardens...that means lots of photos with flowers.