Meet Snowball! He is our new pet. We believe that he is a westie-poo... half westie, half poodle!

Fun with Aunt Chels Chels

The other day Chelsea and Autumn came over for a little bit. Joselyn LOVES her Aunt Chelsea. This was a pile on. Baby doll sat on joselyn's lap who sat on Autumn's lap who sat on Chelsea's lap! Fun!

Walking Baby Charlie

Our little munchkin finally figured out that he already knew how to walk. Isn't it amazing how that works? I think all of us have these abilities that we don't realize we have, and the only reason we don't do them is that we don't think we can. And then one day, when faced with a challenge, we take a leap of faith and try it. Then we realize, "wait... I know how to do this! And I'm GOOD at it, too!"



That was Charlie today. After months of really being able to walk on his own, though he didn't have the self confidence to try it, he decided today that he COULD walk, and that he could walk WELL, too.



Watch and witness his amazing abilities!

We are proud of our little boy... and can't believe he's growing so fast. He turns 1 in just over a week!

Okay... Awesome news! I have a new laptop! I can blog, watch videos, listen to videos! Yay!!!!

Sleepover!

Kade has his first sleepover last night with a fellow 2-year old named Alex. He's in our ward, and we wanted to give his parents, who are good friends of ours, a night out on the town. SO, what resulted (before bed time) was mass pandamonium, with air-mattress jumping and ice cream eating and all sorts of other chaos. However, once bed-time came, it got quiet quickly, and they went to sleep rather smoothly. If this is what all sleepovers are like, we can do it! (Ha! I KNOW they're not like this most of the time... but maybe with little kids it is? If that's the case, our friends have offered to watch our two boys, and Aaron and I will get a night on the town. SWEET!) Here are a couple of videos of the boys in the house having fun on the air-mattress. Charlie did join in on the fun later... ;)

You may hate cats....

But how can you say that this is not adorable as can be?

Little Pianist

Joselyn got this little piano from her nanny (Adam's mom) and she quickly learned how it made sounds. It has now got to be her favorite toy! I'm tellin ya, this girl is going to be musical!

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

This is one of Kade's many favorite books. He asks for it all the time. We read it all the time. I'm serious. And, perhaps like many other children, he memorizes his favorite books. Even after just a few readings, if he likes a book he can finish the sentance or phrase. In the mornings when Aaron brings him in the room for "jump on Mommy time!"-- yeah, talk about a nice wake-up call-- he'll say "No more monkey jumping bed!" And then, he'll jump on me. And on the bed. Jumping... another one of his FAVORITE things to do. Serious. I guess he doesn't think he's a monkey... So, maybe I need to start reading the book differently?

"Eight little Kades jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head!
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
'No more Kades jumping on the bed!' "

Naw... I don't mind so much, so long he doesn't jump on the furniture, little monkey boy!

So, some of his favorite books right now are:

Mother May I?

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?

Anything with a train or cars in it

Cars

No more monkeys jumping on the bed

Scriptures (the scripture reader books with pictures put out by the church)

How do dinosoars say goodnight (this series is AWESOME!)

Bear wants more!

The board book version of "Where is my mother?" (he loves to say, "down down down, plop!" and "snort!" and "oh no!")

Green Eggs and Ham

CTR (he says, "Choose Right! Choose right!")

and others...

Let him laugh!

It's about nap time, which explains why Charlie is SOOOOOOOOO ticklish! LOVE IT!

Cute video of Joselyn laughing

Party in my tummy

Amaree... here is the "Party in my tummy" video... HALARIOUS. Get Charlie and Kade to watch this... This is one of Autumn's favorite TV shows so I watch it sometimes.

Out of the mouths of babes

Today Amaree and I were talking on Skype, both of us with our babies on our laps. Well, they decided they wanted to talk and have a conversation too, so we let them:

[4:32:19 PM] Marissa Noe says: b y ahbxu hh
[4:32:41 PM] Amaree says: i8,lk tytc, cbhby5bv6b6bvhg768v7u777777
[4:32:45 PM] Marissa Noe says: YY YYYYYYYYYY J
[4:33:01 PM] Marissa Noe says: BK6YHJKM H7KL99999999N887UHYJ
[4:33:03 PM] Amaree says: b yvgf bnb cbk gvfnm bbgf gn nniovfj,.vf vbvfmk l m, bi b ;
[4:33:10 PM] Marissa Noe says: U 7B
[4:33:13 PM] Amaree says: / b hjnnmknnjbff fc rev vf trg
[4:33:28 PM] Marissa Noe says: MIIY7IO NUUJY
[4:33:29 PM] Amaree says: jhj bgnmvm ,kmkkihjumj,gyiukkhmi uom,hy79-i8n798EVVRGE;-[4:33:29 PM] Amaree says: =
[4:33:34 PM] Amaree says: JKB J,MU,DS4N
[4:33:45 PM] Amaree says: i0 pkm yyght itbg4fA
[4:33:50 PM] Marissa Noe says: JN,MU
[4:34:02 PM] Marissa Noe says: HB NNNNNNNNNNNNN
[4:34:03 PM] Amaree says: hHQ HHHHHHHHH/FFF [RT /
[4:34:07 PM] Amaree says: ;[
[4:34:16 PM] Marissa Noe says: J, T TY INUI L;HUT66
[4:34:18 PM] Amaree says: INB IK,ytyg g
[4:34:25 PM] Marissa Noe says: MN
[4:34:28 PM] Marissa Noe says: UHMKL
[4:34:41 PM] Marissa Noe says: MLOLUYGYIK,
[4:34:47 PM] Amaree says: gh 77rdo. b sdfasdvn as ndas mefabnas asduidasbnasdbyasdbhjmkl mvsdg nam sd
[4:34:49 PM] Marissa Noe says: (yawn)

We may not understand what they wrote to eachother, but babies have their own secret language. They know what's going on.

Snorting Charlie

SNORT!!!!

Kade being canned!

Kade likes to play on our balcony. We have some #10 cans that he decided to stack. However, playing on the balcony has been rendered impossible now that the wind broke our plexiglass preventing the boys from crawling under or between the railings... You'll have to twist your head to watch the video. Sorry...

"Baby Bubble Hat"

One rather successful bubble bath resulted in "bubble hats".



















Please also note Charlie's "bubble goatee" as well. He likes to drink the water/bubbles (yuck!!!) and so ends up with a goatee every time we have a bubble bath! SO funny! Kade now asks for "baby bubble hat" with great frequency!!!

Daddy Toot!

Mom always said that she had "Sweet Toots!" Yeah, right, whatever! Kade has learned the word "toot" and so whenever I toot (on those very very rare occasions) or anybody else toots, he'll always announce, "Mommy Toot!" or "Charlie Toot!" or "Kade toot!" or "Daddy toot!"... Yesterday as Aaron and I were playing with the boys before bedtime, I will admit to passing some gas. Shocking, I know. Kade was apparently rather shocked, too, because he said, "Daddy toot!". No matter how much Aaron tried to convince him that it was me that tooted, Kade was adamant... "Daddy toot!"

And I didn't even bribe him!

As promised...

Here is my recipe for Lemon Bars/ Chocolate Orange bars. The lemon bar recipe is one of my favorites.

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 powdered sugar
2 cups flour

4 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp lemon zest
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven 350 degrees

1. Beat butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Gradually blend in flour, just until a soft dough forms. Press evenly into a 9x13 pan. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
2. In another bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, zest, and juice, beating until blended. Gradually blend in the flour and baking powder. *important-- if you add the flour/baking powder in with the other ingredients at the same time, the chewy upper crust does not form.
3. Spread evenly over cooked base, and bake 25 mintues longer. Place on wire rack to cool completely. Sift powdered sugar over top.* The lemon bars will cut more easily and keep their shape better if cut when cooled completely.

*Orange zest/juice or lime zest/juice can be replaced for the lemon juice if desired.

*To make Chocolate Orange bars, replace the lemon zest/juice with orage. The crust recipe follows:

1 cup butter.margarine, softened.

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup flour

Autumn

What a cutie she is...

Potty Training Video from Japan

A friend of mine has been following my blog about Kade potty-training and saw this video on YouTube and sent it to me. HYSTERICAL! AND so typical of Japanese people. I LOVE IT! So, since I can't easily post videos on my blog, here we go!




Maybe I should start singing this song to Kade when he needs to go poop. Already we do a cheer for him (if I try to do it without Charlie moving his hands like a Cheerleader, Kade ALWAYS asks for "Baby Ra-ra!")

Ra-ra ree-ree! you can go pee-pee
Ra-ra roop! you can go poop!
Ra-ra ree-ree! you can go pee-pee
Ra-ra roop! you can go poop!
Yey! (cheer madly like a muppet)

Jacobson Park

Today was such a beautiful day so Chelsea and I took our girls to Jacobson park! Everyone else was also taking advantage of the as well. There were LOTS of people there!

Experimental Cook Amaree

Well, as most people in my family know, I LOVE to cook. And, I'm getting pretty good at just "making things up" without using a cookbook, and having it taste pretty darn good. I also love to try new recipies, and am constantly scouring my gazillion cookbooks or the internet for an interesting recipe, especially when I'm low on ingredients (the other day I made some peanut-butter noodles with veggies for dinner... OH they were good! Whoddah thunk peanut butter and spaghetti noodles would go together? No me!). Tweaking recipes is a given... I am not one for following recipes all the time... but so far I have had few failures.

And then there are those days when I am PURELY experimental. I take recipes that I am familiar with and totally shake things up. Like today. I have a great recipe for lemon bars (Not Missys... but only because my microwave is HORRID!) and have a huge affinity for the chocolate/orange flavor combination... Yes... Chocolate Orange bars have been created. They are still in the oven, so I can't give you any feedback, but if they turn out good.... and they do smell good as they're baking... then I will share the recipe... And, if they're good, Aaron will get some in the mail. Yummy-licious!

BTW- I didn't use my cool Bakers-Edge pan, only because I wanted a huge 9x13 pan worth of orange bars. I hope I don't regret it...

Update

Well, they turned out pretty good. Interesting, but pretty good. I think I might modify the chocolate shortbread recipe I have... it called for too much salt (I should have known better!). My friend Quinn liked the orange bars... I will send some to Aaron and see what he thinks. I don't like my 9x13 pan, however. The more I use it, the less I like it. Shortbread is not supposed to stick. Chewy Granola bars aren't supposed to stick. And neither of them come off this glass pan! Frustrating!!! I guess I will just have to grease the pan every time... I will post the recipe later :)

Goodbye old yucky kitchen faucet- HELLO to pretty new shiny one!

We bought a new kitchen faucet and two bathroom faucets a few weeks ago, and on Saturday Adam installed the new kitchen one!! It looks SO much better... see for yourself! (it's amazing how one little change affects the whole look of the kitchen)

Before:

After:

New School Prayer

I got this in an e-mail and thought it was interesting. So, share it I will...

New School Prayer

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen !

Kade at his best.

Here are a couple of cute things Kade does.... He LOVES to put on "hats" (anything that can go on his head). A sock that he drapes over his head... newspaper... buckets... headbands... it doesn't matter what it is. If it goes on the head, it is a HAT!

He also loves tickling people. It's so funny! "tee-ko tee-ko tee-ko! Tee-ko daddys feet!" He will tickle anybody's feet, tickle Charlie... Tickle tickle tickle!!!

Oh, he is learning and imitating and soaking in everything he sees and hears! I just wish I was a better role-model. I need to start doing more behaviors that I want him to imiate and less that I don't... ::sigh:: At least he'll make me a better person, right? And I perhaps should start imitating him a little more sometimes... going to bed at 7:00... running around naked... pooping on the floor... throwing major tantrums... (ok... just kidding with the last three...)

This is our response.

I owe it to you all... have no personal blog to post this.....

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

Chelsea – I think my parents liked the name?

Autumn – A name everyone seemed to agree with and like.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Chelsea – A week ago? I really don’t remember…

Autumn – “me no go to big girl bed, I lay down mommy”… hmm… some little stinker didn’t want to go to bed tonight.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Chelsea – My handwriting is awful, although my cursive is great!

Autumn – If it involves a green crayon, I love it!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Chelsea – Roast Beef!

Autumn – I think I’m a vegetarian… I don’t like meat!

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Chelsea – Autumn!

Autumn – I have my baby bear, my baby monkey, my baby Jocelyn (and if it concerns “Baby Things” she is saying this in a high pitched baby voice.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH

YOU?

Chelsea – I dunno. It really makes you think though…

Autumn – Of course! Im the funniest person alive!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Chelsea – Im a Kravetz… do I need to further explain this one?

Autumn – Im learning from the best, and am really working on it… example:

Mommy: “Are you my little princess?”

Autumn: “No, Im Autumn!”

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yep. (for the both of us)

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Chelsea: Not sure. How much will you pay me to do it?

Autumn: Will daddy catch me?

10. Favorite cereal?

Chelsea: Fruity Pebbles

Autumn: Mucky Charms (Exact wording)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Chelsea: Nah

Autumn: Mommy wont buy me lace up shoes… L She wants me to learn how to put my own shoes on!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Chelsea: Not at all physically… mentally, bring it on!

Autumn: “I strong, Daddy strong, Mommy? No strong..”

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Chelsea: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Autumn: She is already jumping up and down at the thought of ice cream, period….

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Chelsea: Their shoes… don’t ask why.

Autumn: I see if they pay any attention to me… I need 100% of it!

15. RED OR PINK?

Chelsea: Used to be red, although more pink lately

Autumn: Why not green? (although pink it okay)

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

Chelsea: Lack of education

Autumn: I get sleepy (?)

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

Chelsea: Shawn and Autumn when I am working

Autumn: Probably mommy.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Chelsea: Blue Homer Simpson pajama pants. (White socks)

Autumn: I don’t have pants on tonight, its “jumbo” t-shirt night.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Chelsea: Some delicious home made chicken soup, made by Shawn

Autumn: A cookie that I really was not supposed to get because I didn’t eat my dinner.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Chelsea: The sound of my typing.

Autumn: Im sleeping.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE

Chelsea: Orange?

Autumn: GREEN…. (I hide green crayones EVERYWHERE!!!! I want them all to myself!!!!)

23. FAVORITE SMELLS

Chelsea: Ralph Lauren’s “Hot” Perfume

Autumn: “Motion”… meaning, lotion…

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE

PHONE

Chelsea: My mom

Autumn: Hmmm… I think I called elmo last, although I could have spoken to cookie or mickey mouse….

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?

Chelsea: No one really sent it, just decided to “Join” the crowd!

Autumn: I like EVERYONE.

26. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?

Chelsea: Dancing? Is that a sport?

Autumn: FOOTBALL… “Go Cats!”, and yes, I watch and cheer them on with daddy and pops.

27. HAIR COLOR?

Chelsea: Brown

Autumn: Dirty Blonde?

28. EYE COLOR?

Chelsea and Autumn: BROWN

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

Chelsea: Somen

Autumn: Macaroni and cheese

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Chelsea: Scary usually doesn’t phase me.

Autumn: I tend to not be phased by anything scary either! If its scary, its in “trouble” and I tell it to go to “time out” and everything is okay from there.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Chelsea and Autumn: “Fushaway”… Flushed Away. Autumn was sick last night, and we watched this at 1AM!!!

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Chelsea: Gray

Autumn: Pink.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Chelsea: Definitely summer

Autumn: “Snowman outshide?”… She LOVES “snowman”, which is what she is now calling the snow.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

Chelsea: I like hugs

Autumn: Nose kisses, baby kisses, monster kisses, honk honk, boinks, and squish squishes. If you have been around Autumn, you know what these are.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Chelsea: Mochi

Autumn: Suckers

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

Chelsea: Im sure EVERYONE will be shocked that I actually took time to do this.

Autumn: If it gets me attention, I will do it!

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

Chelsea: That would be me?

Autumn: I respond to EVERYTHING. Watch out!

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Chelsea: With what time? I read whatever magazine is in the bathroom.

Autumn: “Its Okay Book”

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Leopard print

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT?

Chelsea: A movie… “The whicker man”

Autumn: Yo Gabba Gabba (I watched it about 4 times)

42. FAVORITE SOUND?

Chelsea: Silence

Autumn: Monkeys chattering!

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Chelsea: Beatles

Autumn: Yucky Bug!!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Chelsea: Japan

Autumn: Grannys house?

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

Chelsea: I have no clue

Autumn: “Wanna see my butt?” as awful as it is, she is VERY amused by this, and is VERY proud of her “Baby butt”!

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Chelsea: Flagstaff, AZ

Autumn: Lexington, Ky

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

Dunno.

A Day at the Park

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, so Chelsea brought Autumn over and we went to the park close to my house. Joselyn tried out the baby swing and LOVED it!

Matching Outfits

Too bad jos was in a bad mood and didn't want to take a good picture. There's always next time! Autumn was very excited about the matching outfits though, and it was definitely fun. We have a few others to look forward to in the future!

A Tour of Joselyn's Nursery

I would do a lot more if we had the money to do so and the space (since this room also houses a couch and our bikes- for now) but I am pretty happy with it.

The rocker-glider that we got from aunt Sherry next to a bookshelf I just bought. You can also see the butterfly display on the wall that I created.
A cute pillow I found at Target. It matched the colors in the room perfectly.
The Pottery Barn bedding I HAD to have. It's SO cute!
A large view
The small display on the bookshelf. I want a new lamp.
A close up of the butterflies on the wall. I used wooden cutouts bought on e-bay and at michaels, covered them in pretty paper and sealed them with some sealer.
Did the same thing for her name above her crib. A fun little project.
Her changing table next to the closet door... and the picture Amaree made me for Christmas. I think it needs it's own fram though to give it the justice it deserves.

There ya have it! Joselyn's Nursery! I will try to get pictures from around the house up soon too, although Adam and I are working on a few upgrades at the moment. (replacing the kitchen faucet and the upstairs bathrooms' faucets, putting tile down in the bathrooms upstairs etc.)

Happy Valentines Day!

Some cute pics for ya... Happy Valentines Day to my dear sisters!!

A MIRACLE?!?

Tonight was the 4th night of putting Joselyn to bed cold turkey. Adam and I went to the gym at 7:30, got home at 9:00, I fed Joselyn (who was drowsy at this point) and then we "played" with her quietly for a while for about 5 minutes. We told her we loved her and gave her a lot of attention and she was very cheerful. I changed her diaper, swaddled her and laid her in her crib without a pacifier. I was so afraid this was going to be a bad night because she wasn't really as drowsy as she has been the past 3 nights. I went downstairs and joined Adam to watch Mythbusters and we waited for her cry... it never came. It was so weird I had to go check on her... and sure enough, she was asleep! No tears, people! After only 3 days! Now, I realize this may not be an everyday occurance, but it could also mean many nights of putting Joselyn to sleep with no tears! What a good baby Joselyn is.

Joselyn is a star!

Joselyn's picture is featured on the gumdrop pacifier website! Check it out here

(you can go to the photo archives and see it as well)

Sweet cousin

Autumn and Chelsea came over today. I think Autumn is finally warming up to Joselyn. She wanted Joselyn to have lots of toys to play with in her swing... can you find Joselyn?

Yet another cooking disaster by Marissa

Adam LOVES oatmeal chocolate chip cookies... and since he is coming home from Texas tonight(yay!) and I am so excited because I missed him like crazy, I decided to make him some. But he likes them chewy... and Chelsea said to add extra butter if you want your cookies to be chewy. Well, the cookie recipe must have already been chewy. Read on...


Specimen #1: First dozen. A bowl of too gooey cookies. They wouldn't even stay together! I added some flour to try and remedy my mistake.


Specimen #2: Second dozen. Staying together but looking pretty bad... called mom for help, she suggested adding even more flour and a little bit of baking soda.

Specimen #3: Third and fourth dozen. Perfection!! I fixed it! Two dozen went to waste, but at least I have another two dozen. And do they taste as good as they look? You bet! Chewy too! Adam will be so happy :)

"iced" in

Jos and I are 'iced' in today and happy about it. We both slept peacefully as the snow fell followed by freezing rain. (Jos slept 6.5 hours last night! Yay! Then another 3!) When we woke up, there was a thick layer of ice covering everything.

The roads, our vehicles...

The bushes...

Did I mention my truck?So as you can see, we can't really go anywhere. So Joselyn and I are just having a relaxing day at home. I am currently sipping on a cup of hot apple cider, watching Pelican Brief (movie) on TV, and watching Joselyn as she plays peacefully on the floor.