Catch up.

So we're back! From Walt Disney World, that is. And we're sick - all of us. So today has been spent in our PJ's, watching TV, playing video games, laughing, snuggling, and making cinnamon rolls. Luke even helped me make the icing - and then we licked the paddles of the beater. Yum!

And while downloading the pictures from my camera I found some pictures I took right before we left. You can enjoy these while I have a cinnamon roll.

More pictures to come:

What Little Boys do Best.

Luke is in love with the deck. When he realized he could be outside and still be upstairs with mom, his life just became more wonderful. He'll squeal " Ow-sigh!!!" and boogy right over to the door....along with the doggies. Then he'll grab every car he owns and bring them out as well. It's pretty cute.

He could spend hours like this. And occasionally his cars take a fall and I find them later in the evening when I let the dogs out before bed. So far, they have all been rescued :)

He also loves to help folding clothes. And by help, I mean climbing on the bed, running around in circles, falling on top of the pile of clothes I'm sorting, grabbing them and covering himself up, pretend sleeping with snore included, and he likes to try our clothes on. He's all about feet and shoes. So trying on mommy's socks were and obvious choice. He just wanted to be just like us. Little cutie-patootie.

He is completely in love with his book "Little Blue Truck". And he will grab it and run to his chair and read to himself. He'll make the noise of Little Blue - Beep! Beep! And now  he's making the noise of the animals on the farm. I just love this. And it's a hard board book, so I don't worry about him beating it up too much.

He just melts my heart. And yes, I know he needs a hair cut. It's on the agenda. We're just waiting till the last minute before the trip since his hair grows like crazy.

Domestic Goddess in Training.

I made a goal recently to bake more this holiday season. Fall always brings back memories of all the baking my mom did. And every year I feel incomplete because I don't do near half as much. So this year I challenged myself to do better!

First up,

CINNAMON ROLLS.

Have I ever told you that I have an irrational fear of yeast? Well, I do. Terrifying. Whenever I read a recipe that involves dissolving yeast in a warm liquid, I start to twitch and have to turn the page. My brain would say.....No way Jen! You can't do that.

Guess what's in homemade cinnamon rolls....yeast. *Twitch* But gosh darnit...I'm almost 30, I've been married for 8 years, I've been through scarier things in my life than making homemade dough!!!

So today I took the plunge. And can I say....it wasn't so bad. I had to call my mom for moral support. I told her just to tell me everything was going to be okay. Then I asked her a few questions. I mixed the yeast. I made the dough. I let it rise. I rolled it out. I slathered it with butter and sprinkled it with yummy deliciousness. I let it rise again. Put them in the oven....and....and...THEY ARE DELICIOUS!!

I survived. It was a miracle. I was fully prepared for them to be terrible, for me to cry uncontrollably, and to make Matt swing by Cinnabon on his way home.

I feel like somehow I am a better mother to my child for having conquered the scary cinnamon roll. Who knows what will be next...

Oh and this cute guy was just TOO happy to be my guinea pig. He normally detests any bread product - I know, weird huh? But he took one look at those bad boys and could hardly keep himself from climbing on top of the counter to get one. And he ate the whole thing by himself.

The fine art of guilt.

I talked to my Mom today on the phone. She asked if I posted anything on the blog lately. I told her no, and all my very logical reasons for why it's been quiet. We had a nice chat and I hung up. And suddenly I felt like my mom was giving me a guilt trip over the telephone wires. I had this nagging feeling that I needed to post something. Now, logically, I know my mom wasn't trying to guilt me, but magically I just needed to respond to my mom's subliminal request. So I'm going overboard and posting a bunch of things today so I can feel like a good daughter again :)


Feels better to get that off my chest already. Love you Mommy. Hahahahaha!

Playing cars with Minnie



Trying to get me to play with him.





Singing songs in his rocking chair with his cars.



Laying Low

We've been pretty quiet over here for a while. It's been too stinking hot to do anything. And now Luke and I are dealing with a little touch of a cold - and really I don't think colds are allowed when it's sunny and 110 degrees out. It just feels wrong. But we had a storm come through and it's cooled things off to about 90 and I got so excited that I pull out all my sweaters and ran out an bought ingredients to make cinnamon rolls. Okay, maybe I'm not wearing sweaters yet. But it's nice to dream.

This morning I woke to it being 71 degrees out. HALLELUJAH! So little mister had been lounging out on the deck. And I opened the windows. It's been wonderful. Here's a few pictures. Maybe if I don't totally fail making cinnamon rolls, I'll post a picture of that. It'll be my first time making them and I'm a little scared. Yeast scares me. And the idea of me dealing with dough. I think I'll call my Mommy for moral support.

Other than that, we're just resting up and planning out what we're packing for our trip to DISNEY WORLD! Seriously, Matt is so excited he's regressed at least 15 years. It's kinda cute ;)

Little Baller

In case you hadn't noticed from previous posts, Luke has a case of serious ball obsession. So what could be a better gift that a basket ball hoop? Thanks Papa and Nana. It was shipped to our local Wal-mart and we picked it up while we were out grocery shopping. The whole trip Luke would look back at it and say "WOW".

Today when Matt came home he set it up. And this has taken his obsession to the next level. He's a little short for the hoop but we rigged it up over the couch so he can make it. And heaven forbid anyone come near his basket ball. He comes completely unglued and starts yelling for MOM! and says what sounds like I GOT IT!

Excited about set up.



Is this where I put the basket ball?



Trying to be patient.



White boys can't jump ;)




Daddy showing Luke the ropes.




Now he's got the hang of it.




Dunk!





Oh, by the way, this Daddy loves the basket ball hoop just as much as Luke.



Ranger's Baptism

Ranger was baptised on August 6th and Luke and I were lucky enough to be able to make it out to Suprise for the festivities. We are so proud of the important decision Ranger made to become a member of the Church and we're very grateful that we had the opportunity to witness it.



Aren't they so cute?

 After the baptism we headed over to Chad and Mary's for a little get together. It was a lot of fun to get the cousins together. I was shocked that as soon as Luke and I walked through the door, he totally ditched me and scampered upstairs to be with all the kids. Yeah, he's not shy. After all the excitement it was nice to see Grandpa play around with the boys.



Grandpa doggy pile!





This little ham insisted that I take a picture of him. Could he be any cuter?



Thanks for the invite Chad and Mary! We had a blast! Hope to do this again soon :)