Eating Out

Dinner anyone? Who wants to join me? As long as you're paying I'm in. This looks fantastic! I'm including a few choice pictures from their website. Is this unreal or what?

Top O' The Mornin' To You

We do every holiday big at our house. Including St. Patrick's Day. A couple years ago on St. Patrick's Day I dared Spence to greet some one on the way to work by saying, "Top O' the mornin' to you." And he did not disappoint. He followed through because we're willing to do anything for the sake of improving a holiday. Not one of us is without our Irish green today. Breakfast included green milk and green eggs. The late morning included making Shamrock hats. This afternoon we made my most favorite St. Patrick's Cupcakes. And dinner will include going out for a traditional Irish meal and possibly green milk shakes. (And I wonder why I'm not loosing weight very quickly.) Parker can't sleep on the night before any holiday. You would never know St. Patrick's Day Eve could be so exciting. My mom is visiting...as she is most St. Patrick's Days. She thinks we're a little crazy, but this year she remembered to pack a green striped shirt. I think we're rubbing off on her. I'm including the recipe for my scrumptious cupcakes.


1 3/4 cup flour
1 small instant pistachio pudding mix (3.4 oz)
1 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and fill muffin cups 1/2 full.

Bake at 375 for 18-20 min.

Top with cream cheese frosting and green sprinkles.

Makes about 2 dozen.

They're magically delicious!

What I Like About You

It's Reid's turn. He went in for his two year old pictures a few weeks ago. That was a disaster. Fit after fit after fit. These were the best I got. He somehow got out of the car with his toy trains. He wouldn't give them up for the pictures. The full body shot includes the trains in his pockets. These are the ONLY TWO pictures that didn't have trains in them. And the head shot is only by default....you can bet the trains are in his hands. He refused to wear shoes and insisted on keeping his holey socks on. I was fighting so many other things, that was the least of my worries. He wouldn't pose or smile or anything. I worked up a full on sweat for these two pictures. Stinker.

My purpose for this post certainly isn't to complain. Besides a six month picture, I only get pictures of the crazies on their birthdays. What a great time to record how fantastic my kids are.

Reid has an incredible music sense. From the time he was old enough to bounce his little body, he's been able to do it on beat. He loves music. He loves to sing. He can identify instruments when we're listening to the radio. His favorite songs currently include: Hospital Bed, I Dig Rock and Roll Music, Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam (who doesn't love that one?), I am a Child of God, and anything by the Wiggles. If he hears a song he knows, you can bet he's singing. He can always recognize music. If he's watching a new movie he can tell us where he's heard those songs before...like on Daddy's iPod. He knows which songs everyone in the family likes. We'll be listening and he'll say...."Mommy's favorite!" And get really excited. I love hearing him sing. And I love watching his adorable little body bounce to the music. He does it where ever there is music...in the car, in the store, on a movie, where ever. Love it.

He is really good at remembering to say 'Thank You'...without being prompted.

He's currently wearing a wig and is insisting I call him "Fun Shine Bear." Gotta love that.

Reid loves his brothers. He will follow Parker and repeat his every move. He is very loving towards Gray.

He is a momma's boy. Big time. Reid gives great hugs...but mainly just to me.

Reid seems to be a very right-brained kid. Very creative. He could color for hours.

He always eats his whole cheeseburger when we go out to eat. Money well spent.

Reid is fearless. From the time he could jump, he's never been afraid to jump off anything.

Reid is a free spirit. He's easy going and easy to love. He almost always lets Parker choose what movie to watch, book to read or game to play without throwing a fit. He let's Parker choose first when choosing which ball to play with, bowl to eat out of or which Popsicle each of them get.

He's a great sleeper.

He looks adorable in hats...and will keep them on when we go out.

Lately, Reid has made quite an effort to be helpful. Especially with Gray.

Reid has crazy-great morning hair. Don't know where he gets that;)

He has a great laugh. He's such a happy kid.

I love Reid. We get along great. I'm so glad I have him here to love.

March Comes In Like a Lion...

I know this is nothing compared to the blizzard that swept Ohio, but we got 8 inches of snow last Thursday. In March. In Texas. For Traci and Shalece...it doesn't really snow here. It supposedly snows like 3 times a year and rarely sticks. I was talking to a girl who grew up here and she said she's never seen this much snow. And March? Really? By this coming Thursday...one week later...it should be near 90 degrees. That was truly bizarre.

We had fun playing in it though. It made me remember what's fun about playing in the snow. It's way better than the bitter cold Ohio snow. It was a dry snow with no moisture in the air. We could lay in the snow and play outside forever and not get wet or cold. It was awesome. Even Reid, who usually lasts three minutes before heading back inside, really enjoyed the snow this time. It was great.

Overheard in Primary

Nothing tops the quotes from a few weeks ago, but here's what I heard this week...


E: I can't say a prayer with all this louding stuff.


Me: Is your birthday in June?
L: No, my birthday's in Texas.


E: I cut my paper out, but my dad don't let me to. (What?!!!)


Me: Chairs stay on the floor! (Said at least 12 times.)


A: Sometimes when the sun rides up we go to the lake. (He was so incredibly reverent and well behaved this Sunday, I hardly have anything to write from him.)


Me: Keep your Book of Mormon to yourself. (A phrase I've never thought I would say.)


E: I tell Heavenly Father thank you for puppies named Fluffy.


L (in tears): I cut her hair a little bit.
Me: (I freak out...I was helping A. and momentarily not paying attention to L. and E. Much to my relief, he had cut the hair of the girl on the picture we were cutting out. Phewww! E. has the cutest little girl hair cut I've ever seen. I would have hated to be the supervising adult if that had happened.)


E: Because Jesus Christ. (That was her answer to every question yesterday...Why do we say prayers? Why do we close our eyes? Why do we bow our heads? What can we tell Heavenly Father we're thankful for? What can He help us with? How do you know these kids are praying? What do we do when someone is saying a prayer? Why do we say Amen? Etc. Same answer to every question.)


L: I'm inviting you to my birthday at the water park.
Me: (Yes! I've won him over...I'm on the invite list.)


I didn't have any quotes from last week. They were so out of control naughty I couldn't take two seconds to write anything down.

To See Or Not To See...

...that is the question.

I spent some time at the eye doctor yesterday and as of this afternoon, I am now the proud owner of one pair of eye glasses. What's going on here? I've always had perfect vision. Am I now getting old enough that my body has started deteriorating? I hope not.

The doctor said I didn't have to wear them all the time, but after wearing them for one afternoon, how could I not? I can't believe the difference. I didn't think my world was blurry before. But now, I realize how much I couldn't see a few hours ago. My world is crystal clear...with sharp lines. This is awesome. But glasses will take some getting used to. We'll see if I'm an avid wearer or not.

It took Gray a minute to recognize me when I came home. Parker ran screaming and Reid started to cry. Not the reactions I was hoping for.

Can't You See The Sunshine

This is the view from my back door today. What?!!!! I realize this is not nearly the snow that some of you have been experiencing, but it was enough to cancel the university and my doctor appointment here in D-Town. I should have more snow piling up in my yard by tomorrow. It's still coming down and I already have quite a bit more snow than when I took this picture moments ago. Crazy!

Quite a difference from the view in my back yard the past few weeks. Can't you just feel the heat radiating from these pictures?

Since snow clothes have not been unpacked, my boys have had to keep themselves busy indoors today. I had to take pictures to document this since it doesn't happen often. I've been busy cleaning and the boys have been on a safari together all morning...nicely....together...no fights...together. Unreal! And so cute.

Baby Mush

Gray had his first experience with "baby mush" as we like to call it at our house. It was over a month ago, but I've been forgetting to put up pictures. He downed it like a champ. My other crazies did well with the introduction of food, but none so well as Grady. He knew exactly what to do with it as soon as the spoon touched his lips. I haven't been as diligent about feeding it to him daily. We'll get a routine down one of these days. I love the introduction of food...one step closer to independence.

I can't find the picture of Reid's first experience with food. It should be on my computer...but we got a new computer in the summer and I don't know where all my pictures are stored. And I know I have a hard copy of it, but I haven't unpacked all my pictures. So poor Reid gets the shaft once again. I have a picture of him at four months...the same age as the other two when they were introduced to food. I think milestones are a good way to compare pictures.