let the Easter festivities begin

Our apartment complex had their annual Easter Egg Hunt this afternoon. It had rained last night, so I wondered how the weather was going to be for the day, and if it was going to still be possible for the hunt. But it wasn't too bad of weather other than a little overcast and just a tad windy. Jaedon was able to go on the "4 and under" area, and I think there were only a couple of more kids around his age that were there. The rest were around Livy's age. Livy did really well. She went right to work and knew exactly what to do.

Before the hunt began...

and they're off...

after the hunt...

and over joyed!

Stay tuned for 2 more weeks of Easter egg hunts!!

moving

If any of you know my husband he hates to move! I like to move though, because you have a feeling of newness and a new beginning in a sense. But since our family is getting bigger, it means we need a bigger place. The timing isn't the greatest either because we only have a year left here. So we will only be in our new apartment for about 10-11 months. But it will be worth it for the space. I will miss our dishwasher though. Maybe I can find one on Craigslist for not too much. Also I am not too excited to be going back to brick walls. We had those in Logan, and not my favorite, but of course it works. I know though that Jaedon and Livy will love having a playground right outside the door, and having so many friends living right next door too.

pet-peeve

Warning: This post may be offensive to others. But this is how I feel and need to get it off my chest, in some way or another. And if you are offended, I am sorry, but remember this is just how I feel.

So this is probably the number 1, top pet-peeve of mine. CUSSING, CURSING, SWEARING!! But before you start making any assumption of me, and thinking I am "Molly Mormon", "Miss Goody two shoes" (Thanks mom), or holier than though... read on to find out why.

It is mainly when Mormon, LDS members do it. To me, they know better! And why say those offensive words in the first place? I understand being upset and frustrated with something, and a couple of little curse words fly here and there. But in your everyday casual conversation, throwing in a cuss word here and there... WHY? Did it make you feel that much better? Did it make the conversation that much more interesting? Or do you think to yourself, "Why did I say it that way?" Because probably the person you are talking to didn't appreciate it, and it made them cringe from head to toe just hearing it, or reading it!

I am not perfect, and please don't get that from this post. I have said many a cuss words in my day, (mainly in my younger, immature days). And only now (in mature days :D) when I completely lose it, and am frustrated like NO other. Which I would have to say is not too often.

I guess it just bothers me because I know that they know better. And there are definitely some more creative and funner ways out there to say something than using a cuss word! And also being a mom now, I don't want my kids exposed to "good" people that use curse words so carefree. Because then why can't they say them if so-and-so does? And of course being exposed to curse words in general.

All right. I am finished. Just something that I don't really understand why people do some things they do sometimes.

BIG girl...

Livy is growing up way too fast. She is now officially in the "big" bed. Although she gets out at least 3-4 times before she actually falls asleep. Sometimes when she does get out she will come out the door and just peek her little head around the corner. But most the time she is playing with toys, or climbing up the ladder and trying to get into Jaedon's bed.

Today she had her 18 month appt. and is just below the 90th percentile for her weight, and above the 95th percentile for her height. She didn't have to get any shots, and Jaedon kept asking though if she had too. She was really good through the whole appt. She cooperated and did what the doctor asked her to do. But when it came time to put her clothes back on, you would have thought that she had gotten shots! The little stinker was crying and running away from me so that I couldn't get her clothes on.

Who wouldn't want this!?

So I am not expecting to get this because that is just how my luck usually is. I have only won one thing before when it involves a drawing, and that was on our one year honeymoon to Hawaii! But this would be awesome to get if I could...

Here is the link to their blog where you could have a chance at winning it yourself too...

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/blog/

nursery

Last week Livy got to go into Nursery for the last hour, and of course just loved it, and was oblivious that Jon was even there (they make the parents stay the first 2 weeks of "practice" with them). So this week we thought that we would try her for the whole time, and see what she thought. When I went to go and drop her off though the Nursery Leader just told me that we could leave her and didn't have to be there with her. And if any of you know Livy, she is not afraid of people. I feel like I need to pay our friends for watching her during Sacrament time, because she would rather be with them, than she would us. And at this age, I am not up for the whole fight of making her stay-put yet. So thank you Jordan for watching my child during sacrament. But next week is Livy's official day of entering the Nursery. Sunday school and Relief Society was quite different too not having to keep track of a little one, (but only 4 more months until that will change again.)

And then this is what I have been up to this week...

spirit fingers

Cheerleader in training! And of course Jaedon getting some practice in too.

Our newest addition...

after much waiting, research, and planning, with around 17 hours of travel time, and missing an exit, we finally arrived home with this little baby... I never, ever thought I would be driving a VAN!! When I was younger I VOWED that I never would get a station wagon, or a van! I guess never say never, right? With the gas prices and economic hard times though, this is what was 'smart', at least that is what my husband told me ;) And when Dodge came out with their new vans, I finally told Jon that if we DID get a van we could get that one with all the fun features, and cool things that it can do. Jaedon especially has been loving it!

onesies and a recipe...or two

Here are some onesies that I made for a friend. She wanted one for St. Patrick's Day for her little boy to wear, and she wanted it to be a tie. It is so fun to make these and see what I can come up with at times. Speaking of which. She also wanted one for her friend that is going to be having a little girl. She had some left over fabric that she wanted me to come up with something. It was a cute print, but the flowers were huge, and of course I am putting it on a 3-6 month size onesie, so I really had to think on this one. Hopefully she will like it...

And here is the donut recipe which I used. Next time I make donuts I may use this other recipe to see how different they are (the second recipe). They both claim to be Krispy Kreme, but it just seems like you can never get away from that homemade dough taste and consistency. It is probably just me though, I struggle with dough sometimes... just ask Jon. (He usually ends up making it) :)

KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS

2 pkg. yeast

1/4 C. warm water (105-115ºF)

1 1/2 C. lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)

1/2 C. sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1/3 C. shortening

5 C. all-purpose flour, divided

Vegetable oil

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a 2 1/2-quart bowl. Add milk, salt, sugar, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low speed scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed scraping bowl occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place, until double, 50 to 60 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30 to 40 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350ºF. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain. Dip the doughnuts into Creamy Glaze set on rack; when slightly cooled spread Chocolate Glaze on top. Doughnuts may be dipped into sprinkles or other toppings after Chocolate Glaze is applied if desired.

Creamy Glaze

1/3 C. butter

2 C. confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 to 6 T. hot water

Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

Chocolate glaze

1/3 C. butter

2 C. confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 to 6 T. hot water

4 oz. milk chocolate or semi-sweet chips

Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted; remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until of desired consistency.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Doughnuts 2 cups scalded milk 1/2 cup butter 2/3 cup sugar, divided 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons yeast 4 eggs (beaten) 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 7 cups sifted flour Glaze 3 cups powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup cold water Directions Mix together ingredients for glaze. Melt butter in hot milk, add 1 tsp sugar and salt. Allow to cool. Beat in yeast, nutmeg, eggs, remaining sugar, and 3 cups flour. Add rest of flour (dough will be sticky). Knead for 5 minutes then allow to rise for 1-1 1/2 hours. Roll out dough, cut into shapes. Do not re-roll dough, then allow to rise for 30-45 minutes. Heat oil to 365° and fry 1 - 2 minutes on each side or until brown. Toss in the doughnut holes first, let those cook, and then proceed to cooking the donuts. Let them cool on a paper towel - helps get the glaze to stick. Dip in warm glaze.

a new bed, and a craving

This weekend we spent Saturday playing at the playground, and then I wanted to go and check out this furniture store that was closing and see if they had any good deals. Well, this is what we came home with. Jaedon and Livy have been LOVING it!! We were surprised that Jaedon said he wanted to sleep on the top, he is kind of scared of heights. But he has loved going up and down the ladder and sleeping in his new bed. And he mentions it everytime in his prayers. It takes up pretty much their whole room, but it was too good of a deal to pass up. You can't really see from the pictures, but on the sides there is a desk with drawers, and then shelves on the other side.

I had to throw this picture in too. Livy laying there, all sprawled out, made me chuckle. Then, I have been having a craving for donuts lately. The closest Krispy Kreme store around here is in Scranton, PA. But maybe I could visit Dunder Mifflin while there. ;) Well, on Sunday we made some donuts. We used a recipe that claimed to be Krispy Kreme Copycats, but of course wasn't as good as the original, but a very close second. VERY yummy, and definitely hit the spot for the craving.

When we were looking for what size cup to use to make the donuts, Jon grabbed this HUGE cup we had, and I of course told him that it was way too big, but that we could do just a couple that big. So with the last of the dough, we made him his MONSTER donut.

One last story, while I am thinking about it. Jaedon can sometimes be afraid of the dark, and even if we tell him to just turn the lights on he still is really scared. He also sometimes, can be afraid of flushing toilets because of the loud noise they make while flushing. Well, while we were eating dinner last night, about half way through, Jaedon informs us he needs to go to the bathroom. While getting down from his chair he tells us, "I just turn on the lights, and then I won't be scared. It's not scary." And off he runs down the hall. A couple of minutes later he comes walking back to the table and while getting back onto his chair he says, "I didn't flush the toilet." So Jon and I both ask him why not? And he replies very seriously, "I don't want to flush it because then it will wake up the monsters in the shower." Jon and I just both started laughing. What an imagination that kid has!