Guilty Pleasures

When it comes to music, I have some guilty pleasures. I don't listen to them all of the time, but I still like them and am a little embarrassed to admit it. One of my sisters says that she doesn't have any guilty pleasures- she just likes what she likes and isn't ashamed. That's pretty cool, but I'm not quite there yet.

I do listen to hip music (well, I think it's hip), but people might be surprised to find certain artists on my iPod. I seriously enjoy all types of music. I feel like I am pretty open to almost all genres.

I don't know why I feel the need to confess these guilty pleasures; I guess I've just been thinking about music lately. Or maybe I need to get a few things off my chest so I won't feel so embarrassed if I get caught.

First of all, I bought David Archuleta's song, Crush. I had not heard him sing at all before I heard this song. I chose to boycott American Idol last season, just because I was sick of it taking up so much of my life- 5 or 6 months, 2 times a week really adds up. And I still like and bought the kid's song. It's very pop-ish, but he has a good voice, and it is kind of catchy...

Second, I like Metallica. I know most of you can't picture me jamming out to Metallica; I can't even really picture it! But yes, I got their new album, and although I haven't listened to the whole thing, I really like it so far. I mean, these guys have been rocking for how long? They have an Unforgiven III on the album, and it's quite good.

Third, I like Nelly. Not Nelly Furtado, but Nelly, the black rap/hip hop dude in the wife beater with the tattoos. Keep in mind, I don't like him; this guy is a major potty-mouth. But I like the cleaned up versions of his songs, even though they are hard to find. I think I can blame this one on my younger sisters.

I just felt like I needed to get that out there. I understand if some of you can't be my friends now. I actually listen to such a wide variety of stuff, that I don't listen to this stuff that often. Lately I have been listening to a lot of John Mayer, Death Cab, Coldplay, The Killers, and Carrie Underwood. So I'm not totally weird.

One more confession: I like the Spice Girls.

What We've Been Up To

Sorry about all the posts, but we have been busy! On Friday, Peter and I spent the afternoon working in the garage while the kids slept and watched movies. I feel bad that we stuck the kids in front of the TV for a while, but we (well, mostly Peter) are tired of the atrocious mess in our garage! We can barely park our one car in it. I am planning on having a garage sale as soon as I get everything organized, so that will clear some of it out. But there are boxes in there that we haven't touched since we moved in here. Who knows what is in there! We have wanted some shelving and a work bench for a while now, and decided that it would be hard to move forward without it. We bought some basic shelving at Ikea for the lighter items. We also have a steel shelf for the heavy items and we'll get more of those sometime later. Peter also bought some 2x4s to make himself a workbench. The pictures are lousy- I finally gave up taking pictures and just got to work instead. Here are the Ikea shelves...there are three of these connected, plus an extension on one of them. It is huge!
We were both so tired the next day; our hands are ripped up and bruised. Sorry to be wimpy, but we don't do this kind of stuff that often, I guess. I am super excited to get organized though. It was one of my New Year's Resolutions and I have made some progress, but this will really help me out.

I am also in the middle of redoing my 72-hour kit. I have the basic food, but I realized when I dug the rest of our kit out of the garage, that I hadn't updated it since Jonah was a baby! So I have to redo the clothing and baby items, I guess. It is going to be a lot harder of a project than I first thought. Packing for five is a lot harder than packing for three! Plus, there are a few things I need to add, including bigger purchases like a wind-up radio and those kinds of things. So hopefully I'll get this project done soon so it won't be nagging at me too long!

Some of Jonah's Projects From School

This one got wet...

His paper-mache pig

This Guy Likes Pizza!

Eating everyone's leftovers...

And Jonah's Oreo fu manchu...

I Was Bored

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

No More Pull-Ups

Jonah has been sleeping in his underwear for a couple of weeks during naps, and a week ago, we decided to try it through the night. He has been doing great and hasn't had an accident yet. I just make sure he goes before bed. I have even been waking him up before I go to bed to make him go, but he hasn't needed to go, so I guess I'll stop doing that. I think he's still half asleep when I get him up, because he doesn't really know what's going on, and then I just let him go back to bed.

He goes by himself sometimes in the morning if he needs to. He is starting to go in the bathroom by himself and go if he needs to go. That sure is nice, although I do still ask him often of he needs to go.

So now I have a half package of Lightning McQueen Pull-Ups unused. I guess I'll save them for Eden; she likes Cars. The thought of having only one kid in diapers is so tempting; however, I do not think Eden is ready and I will not put myself through a horrible experience out of desperation. I can be patient. I'm not sure how long Peter can hold out. So, although you all LIVE for potty updates on our kids, you might have to wait a few months for the next one.

Jonah's First Scripture

Blogs are for bragging, right? Sorry, but I just have to post about Jonah. He gave his first scripture in Primary yesterday. He came home with his assignment last Sunday, and we were allowed to choose our own scripture. I found one that seemed pretty short and had easy words. We practiced it almost every night before bed. Jonah had it pretty much memorized by Thursday.

On Sunday, I reminded him that he was going to say his scripture in Primary and he wasn't nervous at all. I thought he might freeze up because our Primary is so huge that they hold opening exercises in the chapel and he would have to go up on the stand to give the scripture. Silly me, he didn't care one bit and walked right up there. At first he started saying a prayer, but then I reminded him that he was saying the scripture that we had learned.

He only needed to be prompted two times. I was trying so hard not to laugh up there next to him, because it just sounded so cute coming out of a three-year-old's mouth! His buddy, Zachary, also gave a really good talk. It amazes me that these three-year-olds can do this!

We decided that since he did so well with the scripture this week, we're going to pick a scripture during Family Home Evening to memorize for the week as a family. Hey, he might know all of his Scripture Masteries before he even goes to seminary!

I got him to do his scripture on video for me. Here he is:

By the way, the verse is Mosiah 4:15
"But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another."

Bottling Chicken

I would have posted this on my other blog, but since this was my first time, and I can't give great instructions on how to do this, I will just post it here. I have some things to post over there, but I've just been busy and lazy.

On Thursday, my friend, Kemra, came over to show me how to bottle chicken and to let me use her pressure canner. I bottled around 20 pounds of chicken, which will last for 3-5 years! I got the chicken on sale at Sprouts (no hormones, etc.) for only $1.88/lb.

It was a little scary pressure canning for my first time; I thought I was going to blow up my kitchen. But once we got started, it really wasn't bad.

I forgot to take pictures as I went, but I did snap a few. I had trimmed and chopped all of my chicken so it was ready to go in my clean pint jars.
I added 1/2 tsp. of salt and 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder to each jar.
They had to go in the canner for 75 minutes. My whole house smelled like chicken, but it smelled pretty good, actually. Here is my finished product. The chicken cooks and creates its own broth while in the canner.
Thanks, Kemra, for coming over and showing me how to do this!

"If You Don't Vote, You're a Moron."

Sorry it's long, but you've gotta watch this...

Levi's Birthday Party

I'm 1!

Sorry for the huge post, but I had to put lots of pictures on this one! We had a little party for Levi at the park to celebrate his first birthday. We had family and some neighbors come and we had a good time eating, playing and talking. Levi was a little somber; I couldn't get a smile out of him the whole time! But he wasn't unhappy, either, so it was fine. He got to pig out on some yummy sweets that he doesn't get very often... (rice krispie treats)

He was chewing on a carrot while we sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

No flame...it was too windy.
He sure seemed to know what to do with that cupcake!
Still no smile, even after all that cake...

We opened presents at home because it was getting dark and there were a lot of other little kids there. It probably would have been chaos. Besides, Levi was partied out and ready to get home. We opened the presents today instead. He was a lot happier and loves his new loot.

He got some fun interactive toys...

Some great new books...

And he also loved the wrapping paper!
Jonah and Eden had to test out the toys and books as well to make sure they were safe and fun. They definitely passed the test! Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us, and thanks for the gifts! By the way, there was one gift bag that was missing a card, so I don't know who to thank...It had 2 books and a blue train toy in it. So if you are reading this, thank you!

Crib Recall + Trouble With Cups

I was reading Parents magazine the other day, when I came upon a little blip about product recalls. I noticed that one of the items listed was a Jardine crib, sold from 2002 to 2008. We have a Jardine crib, and we got it in 2004. The reason for the recall? "...Because the slats and spindles can break, posing an entrapment and strangulation hazard." Um, a slat broke on our crib a few months ago. But being the ghetto white trash that we are, we just duct taped it for the time being. I guess I could have called the crib company and complained, but I hate doing that. Besides, we have had this crib for 4 years. I didn't even know if our crib would last that long, the way our kids are with furniture.
I looked at the picture of the crib in the magazine. It was the exact same crib we have. I called the phone number, and sure enough, ours was recalled. I was informed that we will be receiving a package in the mail with instructions on dissembling the crib, and a prepaid-postage envelope in which we are to put a few pieces of the crib and the sticker on the back of the crib. We will then receive a voucher in the mail to take to Babies R Us and get a new crib (for free).

I have mixed emotions because I really have loved our crib. All things considered, it has been a great purchase for us (although my parents bought it for us). It has lasted us for 4 years, through 3 moves, and through almost 3 kids. It is very sturdy (except for that one slat), and I love the design.
On the other hand, we got some great use out of that crib, and now we can get a new one for free to hopefully last us the rest of our baby years. I guess it is a blessing in disguise.

In other news, Eden is drinking out of a cup finally! I don't really want to go into the entire history because this post will end up being very long. Let's just say that my kids have a problem with open cups.

Peter got sick of the situation the other day and his creative juices began flowing. I guess the engineer in him was taking over, because he invented this handy little cup that is working for Eden. He just cut a hole in the lid of a restaurant kiddie straw cup. She has been using this since yesterday, and doing really well. Thanks goodness!
We haven't tried the cup with Jonah yet because he has been at school, and I want to be able to devote some time to it. I'll update if anything exciting happens with Jonah.

Happy Birthday, Levi!

Levi is turning one!

Levi is such a great baby with a wonderful personality! He is always smiling and laughing. We are so glad he came to our family! Happy birthday, Levi!

Jonah Funnies

Last night, Jonah was being so funny! I don't know if I can recreate the atmosphere; you might have had to have been there. I was at the counter making myself a chicken salad sandwich, and Jonah was at the table, apparently watching. I cut a tomato slice and put it on the bread, placed a sliced pickle on, added a chunk of lettuce, and put the top piece of bread on.

Jonah: "Wow, Mom! Awesome job!" (Giving me a thumbs-up) "You did an awesome job! That was great!"

I started laughing so hard. I guess he listens when I praise him.

When I came over to the table to eat my sandwich, he started "talking" to me in his vibrato singing voice. I joined in and we just sat there, having a conversation that sounded a lot like an amateur opera. Hope the neighbors couldn't hear.

Nabisco Gets an F in Grammar

It's obviously a little late, thus the reason for my rant. I went downstairs to get a snack and brought up a box of Wheat Thins. I was reading the back of the box, and this is what I found:

(click on it if you can't read it)

Okay, am I the only one who sees the problem here? Shouldn't both of those sentences say "are" instead of "is"? If I only wanted one of these crackers, I'd say, "Pass me a Wheat Thin," not "Pass me a Wheat Thins." I think I can see what they were trying to do, but it's not flying here. Fellow Dalley English AP classmates, please tell me I'm not crazy! How did this get past marketing?

Bored Out of My Mind

This lady needs a night out!

I have had nothing going on lately. Levi's birthday is in a week, and I have some things going on in October, but I have been seriously bored lately! I know I have nothing to complain about. My mom used to hate it when we complained and whined about being bored, telling us she'd find something for us to do (chores) if we didn't quit it. I could be working two jobs on top of being a full-time mommy...trust me, I know I am lucky and have it good. I'm just venting. Things are fine; I just haven't been out lately.

I was so bored today, that I set up a tent/fort/whatever-you-call-it in the living room for the kids to play in. Eden kept going in and out- she never stopped. I brought them some coloring stuff, and their blankets and pillows so they could have a little rest in there. It was fun, but that only lasted about and hour before Eden just stood up in the middle and it kind of collapsed. Oh well.

Yikes! I guess I didn't do Eden's hair today...

Besides that, I've been watching movies, cleaning up toys (a lot), and feeding the kids. So now I am blogging, even though there really is nothing to blog about. I did find a cute video of the kids while I was uploading my pictures. It's from the last time my parents came down. Here is Grandpa with kids (-they are looking at pictures of animals on the computer):

Here is a picture:

Flashback Friday- Boo for the Picture People Closing!

A while ago, they took Picture People out of both of the malls that are close to us. I was pretty upset, because I had always taken the kids there to take their pictures. I only did it because I was constantly getting coupons in the mail for free 8 x 10s, and with no sitting fee, that's totally free! So I would take advantage of that often...maybe I put them out of business.

Well, now that there aren't any freebies available anymore (and also because I'm lazy and have three kids to cart around,) I haven't taken the kids to get their pictures done in a long time. Poor Levi, I promised myself this wouldn't happen to the third kid, but it has. I do not have any professional pics of him yet, I think, and he'll be one soon! Shame on me. I made an appointment for his birthday after realizing this.

Here is a rather large collection of my favorite freebies from the Picture People. I have more, but this post was getting ridiculously long, so here are the best of the bunch.

Jonah
4 months:
11 months (with 2nd cousin, Emma):
15 months:
22 months:
Eden
3 months:
4 months (They let me use her Dalmatian blanket!):
4.5 months (Halloween picture):
7 months:

I still feel so bad about Levi. I think if the pictures turn out good, I might buy a whole bunch!