Way Behind!

Well, it's been a month and a half since I've posted so I have a lot to catch up on. My blog header is still from Halloween and my music is summer time songs. But until I am ready for Christmas I'm not going to worry about it. Each of these paragraphs deserves it's own post but I am going to keep this short and sweet. Hopefully, I won't get so far behind again!

We went to Lubbock, Texas for Thanksgiving and spent it with Jimmy's sister's family. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing their new house and touring around Lubbock.

I am going to be 19 weeks along in a couple days. This pregnancy has been great so far. No throwing up or nausea which has been great. I go in for my big ultra sound next week so we are hoping to know for sure what we are having. I had one last week at my Dr. apt. and he thought it looked like a girl but his machine isn't great so he said wasn't sure. I am thinking it's a girl now though and having fun thinking of girl names. I am feeling the baby move all around now and Jimmy said he felt it kicking last night.

Sophie turned 3 yesterday. She is so much fun! We had a party for her on Sunday since I had Enrichment last night. She was so excited about her cupcakes and presents. This is the first year she's really gotten it. She's been singing happy birthday all month and talking about a cake. Here are some of the cute things she has been doing- she loves to sing I am A Child of God, she loves playing My Little Ponies and playing with Kali, she LOVES all sorts of fruit, she blows her nose great, she loves to go on the four wheeler with her dad (she had to go with him when he was plowing driveways yesterday even though it was freezing out), she is always so happy when she wakes up and is so excited to see me, and she learned how to smile for the camera, she is very smart (count, colors, shapes, recognizes some letters and numbers) I am so grateful she is my little daughter.

Halloween Weekend

For Halloween this year we had a house full. Aaron & Camile and their girls, Ken & Gina, Brigham and Emma, Steph & Bryant, and Mom & Dad all came to celebrate, eat and go trick-or-treating. We started out with some yummy soups, cornbread and witches brew. After our tummies were full we got the kids ready for trick-or-treating. Sophie was going to be a giraffe until she saw Carly's pretty pink witches costume. She started bawling and wanted Carly's hat (no nap played into the costume envy tantrum). So I scrambled to find some of Kali's old dress up costumes and Sophie was happy being a princess with a pointed hat. Conner was an injured soccer player and Kali was a cheerleader that fell off the top of a pyramid. Ellie and Sophie lasted about 20 minutes outside (it was raining lightly). The rest of them stayed out about an hour. We had some pumpkin cake and played Apples to Apples for awhile and then it was time to hit the hay. (we had a temple sealing appointment at 7 am)

Above- Camile, Mom & I before dinner Below- Sophie and Ellie after Sophie calmed down and was happy with her costume

On Saturday, I had a neat experience with my family. My Grandma Johnson who passed away last year was a convert and wasn't sealed to her parents. So yesterday, we went to the temple and my parents knelt across the alter proxy for my dad's grandparents and I knelt in for my Grandma. I know my Grandma was celebrating and I am so glad I got to play a roll in such a wonderful ordinance.

Then we went to my nephew Brigham's Super Bowl game. It was at Pleasant Grove H.S. and his team won. It was a close, exciting game! Conner had his first indoor soccer game. They lost by a point but he made a goal and had a good time. He was excited there was so much family there to watch.

8's Tag

My friend LaNea tagged me this week and it was a fun one to do!

8 Favorite TV shows

1. Oprah
2. Good Things Utah
3. Prison Break
4. Lost
5. The Office
6. Biggest Loser
7. So You Think You Can Dance
8. American Idol

8 Things I did yesterday
1. Went to the Scarecrow Festival
2. planted Spring bulbs
3. Helped Jimmy clean the garage
4. started putting away clean laundry (didn't finish)
5. took a shower
7. watched Penelope with Conner & Kali
8. Shared a chicken salad with Jimmy from Cafe Rio

8 Favorite places to eat
1. Cafe Rio
2. Rumbi Grill
3. Wingers
4. Olive Garden
5. Kneaders
6. Paradise Bakery & Cafe
7. Dions (in New Mexico)
8. Zuppas

8 things I'm looking forward to

1. Sophie being potty trained all the way- she's getting real close! yeah!!

2. Going out with Kara and Laura on Wed. (friends that go way back with me!)

3. Going to the Bahamas with Jimmy in April (Champions Circle from Jimmy's work)

4. Having a new addition to the family in May (yep- you read that right)

5. not being so tired in a couple week (that'll be the start of my 2nd trimester- I always start feeling better by then)

6. Getting my hair done on Wed. (weaved & cut- maybe short- I haven't decided yet)

7. sometime this week my neighbor is waxing my eyebrows (it's badly needed)

8. relaxing after the kids are in bed & having some popcorn with Jimmy (have to be sure the kids are asleep though or they come down when they smell the popcorn)

8 things I love about this Fall-

1. Going for drives up the canyon & seeing the beautiful colors of the trees

2. Hot chocolate by the fire with fuzzy socks on my feet

3. having yummy soup again (it's hard to have hot soup in the summer)

4. baking bread and eating it fresh out of the oven

5. the holiday smells (pumpkin pie, apple cider, Cinnamon, wassail, apple pie)

6. Halloween & Thanksgiving

7. being with family & making new memories

8. decorating for Fall (I love fall colors)

8 things on my wish list

1. Take the kids on a Disney Cruise

2. Conner and Kali never fight anymore

3. make good parental choices (not mess my kids up)

4. be more organized with time & possessions

5. to just think about things and they would get done (yeah right!)

6. for me, my family & friends to be safe & healthy

7. to not gain too much weight during pregnancy (it's so easy to do)

8. to have a healthy baby

8 people I tag:

Camile, Ashley, Sheree, Lacey, Jessica, Karlenn, Nicole & Anjie

Belated Birthday Party

With soccer, scouts, my Freaky Friday Enrichment activity and a huge Utah book report we finally manged to get around to Conner's 10th birthday party. We went to the Classic Fun Center in Sandy to skate. We ordered pizza when we got there and Conner and his two friends he brought went off to skate. Camile, Aaron, Carly & Ellie came, along with Gina and Emma (and her cousin Gracie). Steph and Braint came too. I brought some colored hairspray and my face painting stuff- the boys weren't interested but the girls were excited to get butterflies and princess faces. My camera ran out of batteries so I have no pictures of Conner and his friends just the girls.
Emma and Sophie's butterfly faces (Sophie has a mouthful of pizza) Carly with her princess face.

Now I need to brag about Conner for a minute. Conner sure is a joy to have around. I hear from his scout leader, primary teacher and school teacher what a nice kid he is. They tell me he listens well and is such a good example and calming influence on the other kids. That sure is nice to hear. He is such a great brother- when he's not fighting with Kali they are great playmates. I told them last night if they wanted to rent Rollerblades they were going to have to use their own money. Kali started throwing a fit that she didn't have any money (she spent it all at the book fair) and Conner came over and told me he had enough that Kali could borrow some. He loves to be with Sophie. After Christmas 2004, he told me for Christmas next year he wanted a new baby in our family. (Sophie was born Dec. 2005!) He has been such a help with Sophie and it gives me a glimpse of what a great dad he is going to be. He also likes to cuddle with me- especially in the mornings and at night. I need to take advantage of that while it lasts. He is also very driven- he excels at whatever he puts his mind to. He's been on a competitive soccer team for the past couple years and it sure is fun to watch him. He's fast and great with his feet! He is a wonderful son and I feel so blessed to be his mom.

Birthday Girl

My birthday was last Wed. The years keep flying by- I can't belive how fast they come and go. I think getting old is all a state of mind though. I was remembering when I was a new mom and ladies that were my age I would think of as "older". So funny!

Here's a couple scrapbook pages I made last night that I scanned. Jimmy took me to lunch at Rumbi Grill and then Steph & Briant came over and babysat while we went to the Olive Garden for dinner. I was spoiled on my birthday! It was a great day!

Turkey Porcupines

We just had Turkey Porcupines for dinner. We had them about a month ago too and this was the half we didn't eat. I froze it for a night like tonight. (I didn't feel like cooking) When I cook I like to double the recipe and then freeze half. It's no harder to do a double batch and then it saves me so much time! So here's the recipe....

Turkey Porcupines

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 c. rice (I use the Organic Harvest Medley from Costco- brown, wild & red rice)

1/4 t. pepper

1/2 t. celery salt

2 T. chopped green peppers

1 T. grated onion

1 clove minced garlic

4 cups tomato juice or V-8 (I used half fresh tomatoes pureed in my blender and V-8 juice)

6 whole cloves of garlic

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 T. sugar

Mix together turkey, rice, salt pepper, celery salt, green pepper, onion, and garlic. Form into 18 small balls. (I use a small/medium cookie/ice cream scoop- makes it so easy) Mix tomato juice and the rest of the ingredients in large skillet. Add meatballs. Cover and simmer 1.5 hours (less if using white rice) or until rice is done. Turn meatballs halfway through if not covered by sauce.

I freeze half of this recipe. My kids love to eat this with a piece of toast and it goes great with a tossed salad.

First Indoor Workout

Since the kids have went back to school, Sophie and I have been going on walks (sometimes jogging) every morning and then we stop by the park and I let her play for awhile. I usually go with one of my neighbors and then there are other neighbors at the park when we get there. It's so fun to visit and the kids have a blast playing. It feels so good to be in the sunlight and breathe the fresh air.

Well, over the weekend it snowed! It all melted but this morning their was frost on the ground. It's too cold to take Sophie out when it's like this. So today I went down to the basement to work out on my Elliptical. Jimmy was down there for part of the time on the treadmill and we watched Ellen together. I put on a show for Sophie on the main floor and left the basement door opened so she could come down if she wanted to. She was only upstairs for about 10 minutes by herself before she came down and started playing with her train set and then she stole my water bottle.

After my workout I came upstairs and on the entry closet door she had done some artwork with purple marker! She was only alone for 10 minutes!! Ahhhh! I am going to miss having her strapped in a stroller while I workout. I may have to get up early to do my workouts before she's awake- I've been so spoiled! But it is supposed to warm up this week so we may get to go outside to workout and do our park dates a few more times. Can't it stay warm for just a couple months longer?? I love the mild fall weather- I wish it would just stick around!