Yummy for My Tummy

Yummy for My Tummy! That is what Sofia says when she likes what she is eating, and we were all shouting it tonight after my yummy rolls I made. Has anyone had the Great Harvest apple brown sugar bread? I decided that I would try creating my own version to go with our soup, and it turned out so yummy. This is the gist of how you do it: After your rolls have risen and are ready to put in the oven, sprinkle small apple pieces over the tops of every roll. Then crumble a brown sugar butter mixture on top. Sprinkle cinnamon all over the top, and throw in the oven... so delish.

Warning... Lot's of Pictures

"With me it's all or nothing..." $100 to the first person who can name what musical that line is from.. okay maybe just a big thumbs up. Has anyone noticed my on and off again love affair with blogging? It's like I am either posting every day or I skip and don't do anything. That's kind of how I am with housework. I wish that I could be one of those people who maintains a clean house, but I usually let it get cluttered (which is easy to do with a toddler) and then I manically stay up cleaning when I can't handle the clutter anymore. Anyways.. I have a lot of catch up to do, so here are some pictures to show what has been going on in these parts of the world.

Kim and Jackson were here visiting from Virginia a couple of weeks ago, and it was so good to see them. Every time we see Jackson he has changed so much.




Chris snapped these cute pictures on a lazy Sunday


Oh how my Gaby Baby is growing. Gabe is obsessed with bending his body back so he can look at everything upside down. I think that he may be an artist someday since he likes looking at things from a different viewpoint. We also have been trying rice cereal with him, which has not been very successful. Poor kid, he is such a chunk and looks so sad when we eat without him, but he keeps gagging and spitting the cereal out. I think he just wants to go straight to steak or something.





We spent this last weekend in Seaside with Chris' family. I love Seaside, because it reminds me of my childhood. When I was a kid, we went to Seaside every summer for a few days because my dad had a work convention there. It was fun to take my own kids there and spend time with the familia.



Last but not least.. my little Sofia. Chris was out one day with her, and he took these pictures. Sofia is such a sassy little thing. We are attempting to do some potty training right now, and so far she has had 5 accidents in the last 24 hours and gone pee in the toilet 3 times. I am going to keep at it for a couple of more days, but if she still doesn't seem like she is that into it, we may wait a little longer. We have a sticker chart and a dora potty, and training pants... I am not sure of what else to do? Whatever I do, I want to remain relaxed, because poop and pee are not things I want to get in power struggles over! Well folks, that is it!!

The Story of Stuff

A few months ago, my sister sent me this link: http://www.storyofstuff.com/
When you get a chance.. please take the time to watch at least part of this little video (I think it is 20 minutes total). We are used to having so much stuff in our culture.. that our stuff begins to control us. I am also guilty of buying too much crap, but it does making me feel better for buying most of my kid's toys and clothes at garage sales, and I have a feeling after you all watch this, you will be joining me. Not only are we wasting the worlds resources to make all of this stuff that we don't need, but we are also harming the people and environments of where all of this stuff comes from. I really want to talk to Chris to discuss ways we can leave less of a carbon footprint, because I can be so wasteful and indulgent at times. Let's simplify everyone!!! Here is the introduction to entice you(I could only find segments on you tube)., but really.. take the time to watch the whole thing. I really want to know what you all think!!

Happenings

Hello all!! Thank you all so so much for all of the wonderful meal ideas. I am glad to know that you all are dealing with the same issue. Here are some of my random thoughts and things that have been going on.
*I heard today that only 24 houses sold in all of Corvallis last month. It is almost a record low. We keep finding houses we love.. but who knows when we will sell. Feel free to buy our house anyone if you would like.
*People overwhelmingly voted for Italy on my poll last week. I want to know who the 2 people are who voted for Winnemuca,and I hope you were kidding. Chris and I have this little inside joke about Winnemuca. Every time we have ever driven through, I threaten Chris that I would rather die (obviously a huge exaggeration) than live there.. so he better not ever get a job there. Sorry to anyone who loves that place or who was raised there.. feel free to defend Winemucca if you would like.
*Okay.. so for all of you who were so impressed by my desire to run a half marathon.. you may be happy to know that there is no way I will be ready (admit it.. none of us like to see postpartum mamas in too good of shape.. we don't want to be the only ones out of shape). I ran a couple of miles the other day, and I literally feel like I have shin splints from it.. so either I am overly optimistic or foolish for wanting to run that long of a race right now.. you decide.
*We went down to Medford last weekend to visit my parents. Their house there is 1 block from the Medford temple. My sister Kim is here visiting with her son Jackson from Virginia. We had tons of fun.. but since I have no camera right now.. sorry, no pictures. If anyone wants to see pictures, they can go to Jaime's blog.
*Has anyone seen the nasty Jack in the Box commercial? I saw it tonight.... and its' hidden message is so creepy.. especially for a company selling burgers.
*I think that Claire will win America's Next Top Model (yes this show is one of my guilty pleasures).
*Here are some cute and not so cute things that Sofia has been saying lately
-When Sofia woke up from sleeping with my mom this weekend, she looked up at her and said,"Where's my other Mommy?"
-She is on this weird kick lately where she is trying to test me. Example: When she is with a cousin: "Mommy, can I kick Devin?" Then she smiles this devlish smile and waits for my answer (obviously a no every time). She also frequently asks me if she can kick and hit Gabe. She never does.. but she knows she is being naughty to even ask. Is this weird?
*Gabe is trying to sit up and already weighs 19 pounds. He smiles so much and usually laughs at Sofia only. He thinks that she is hilarious.
Well folks... that is my life right now in a nut shell.

What's for dinner ma?

I am in a rut right now, and I am hoping that some of you other mamas can relate. I cook the same things over and over again... and I feel so blah with our basic menu. There are a few reasons I cook the same foods. 1)I can get in and out of the grocery store faster when I have my routines of buying the same foods. 2)It seems like so much energy to come up with new foods at this point in my life where I am usually carrying Gabe or having Sofia hang on me while I cook. The following is the list of foods that we eat right now. Please everyone.. help me expand my menu without killing my budget or time.
Breakfast:
*Plain Yogurt with mangoes, blueberries, bananas, and honey served with scrambled eggs for the tot.
*Chex with bananas
*Raisin Bran
*Oatmeal
Lunch:
*Leftovers from the night before
*Annies' macaroni with steamed veggies

Dinner:
Chicken Enchiladas
Quiche
Broccoli Soup w/homemade rolls
Tomato/tortellini/veggie soup w/homemade rolls
Spaghetti and meatballs
Quesadillas
Homemade Pizza (anywhere from pepperoni and pesto to barbecued chicken).
Chicken tetrazini
Funky chicken/rice/veggie casserole

That's about it. Every once in awhile I bust out something new.... but those are the basics. Share your meal ideas por favor.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like......"

So I think that it is funny that people always think that Chris looks like random people. People have said that he looks like Aladdin, the karate kid, and Manu Ginobli to name a few of the most random... which brings me to my next point. Chris has been thought to be many different ethnicities.... Arab, Indian, Greek, Brazilian, Italian.. the list goes on. I guess he would be a valuable actor since he could play lots of different roles. I on the other hand just look like the girl next door. No one famous just, "You look just like my brother's girlfriend.. or other common folk. Who do people tell you guys that you look like? Do tell please!

OMSI

My parents gave us a year pass to OMSI (a fabulous gift I must say), and we were able to go up again yesterday. If any of you who live close enough to Portland haven't taken your kids to Omsi.. it is a must. They have a whole huge area devoted for kids 0-6, and Sofia would be happy playing in that area alone all day long. They also had a dinasour exhibit that was really cool. Is it instinctual to be scared of dinasours, because the whole time that we looked at the fossils, Sofia kept saying things like,"Don't eat my dinasour,"It's going to eat my shoe,"or "Is it going to eat Mommy?" Any one want to go to Omsi with us sometime?
Other highlight of the weekend... my parents stopped by today with Heather's kids for a few hours. When we tucked Sofia into bed tonight, she said, "I had fun today." She loves her family so much, and we do to!!