Look Who's Two!!

It's here.  It's really here.  My baby is two.  TWO!!  I'm still in shock.  She's still just a baby!  Apparently not though.  Kate is officially entrenched in the toddler stage and is rapidly advancing onto the preschool years.  Even as I write this- I'm shaking my head.  She's our last one and I've tried really hard to soak up every second- but it has still gone by too quickly for me.  

The morning of Kate's birthday came- despite my wishes for time to go backwards.  I snapped a quick picture of the birthday girl as she came down for breakfast- she has the wildest hair, before we sat down to birthday pancakes (chocolate chip of course)- Kate's favorite.

Most of the day was spent in preparation for Kate's party later that night.  I  have never had the chance to throw a party for one of my kids at our own house- we have always either been at Shaun's parents or at my parents house to celebrate.  It was kind of fun to be able to plan and put together!

And I know I took WAY too many pictures of Kate throughout the day... but I couldn't help it.  She's such a ham!

Here she is showing me her special birthday girl shirt...

I think she was saying "Cheeseburger" here...

 We worked really hard at getting her to hold up two fingers... Weeks we worked on this... to no avail.  I had to settle for a picture of her holding up two fingers on two different hands.  I guess it adds up to the same...

 And here's Kate singing "Do As I'm Doing"- her favorite song right now.

 As I said earlier- I spent the day kind of preparing for dinner/dessert later that night.  So I started the cupcakes at about 10:00 in the morning.  But as the day wore on- I noticed that one of the cupcakes started disappearing on me.  Did I make magic cupcakes?  Of course not... I have little fingers in the house that wouldn't leave the treats alone.  I noticed the same thing happening to my watermelon... I think it's funny that all the kids thought they were getting away with it.  I'd hear little feet trying to sneak into the kitchen... it would go quiet for half a second and then the feet would dart away- in no way quiet- followed by a case of the giggles...  I don't think they have a future in larceny... Though perhaps I should be thankful for that...

 Kate is a tiny bit obsessed (is that an oxymoron?) with Minnie Mouse right now.  She calls her "No No".  I'm not really sure why- but it is what it is.  That said, however, I tried to make a cupcake for her that kind of resembled her favorite mousey friend.  I put two oreos (G-Free of course) and a bow on top of a cupcake... Minnie Mouse?  Maybe not- but it was enough to satisfy Kate.

 Everyone else got pink ones...

  Some pics of the party...

 Kate and Grandma Jedi... She is actually Kate's namesake... We love this lady!

 Grandpa JB is helping Kate open her new Barbie... Something else she is totally in love with right now!

 When it came time for cake though... In true Kate fashion... she was terrified of the candle.  Didn't want anything to do with it and her brothers had to blow it out for her.  Goose.

 The next morning was kind of cute though... After breakfast, Kate gathered her toys on the kitchen table and had a tea party with them!

I really do love this little girl- there is something about her that I can't really explain.  It's like when I see her- I can't help but scoop her up and give her a kiss- and then inhale her scent.  Does that sound creepy?  It's not meant to be... If I could bottle "Essence of Kate", I'd be a millionaire.  I love my baby girl.  Happy Birthday Kate.

Albion Basin

Here's a little tid-bit you may not know about me... I like to hike.  It's been a long time since I've been able to go- what with being pregnant and having little babies and all.  Granted- I probably could have gotten out if I'd REALLY wanted to... Anyway.  Long story short... we went on a hike this morning!  It was long over due and so much fun.  

We originally planned on going up to Cecret Lake- but there was still a lot of snow in the mountains and the trail head was closed.  So we hiked up the ski trail instead.  Strange?  Maybe- but it was still fun and I got to  be with my family- which is what really counts.  

My dad, sister and brother-in-law, Jeremiah all went with us.  We even drug little Kate- who did pretty good for about 1/3 of the way- and then she had to have some breaks.  Grandpa, Shaun and I took turns carrying her.  

Going that high up gave us some pretty cool photo ops though...

And yeah... we still ran into snow on the trail- but the kids thought it was fun to hike on it!

Jer being silly...

It was so fun and I think we're going to have to do more of this during the summer!  It was so fun!

Boise

Shaun and I had the opportunity to go up to Boise to visit Shaun's brother, Chase and his wife Dani, and their super cute little kids.  We went up over Memorial Day so that we had an extra day to play.  It's a 5 hour drive so the extra day helped on the travel end!  

We ended up only taking Kate with us- the boys went to the cabin with my parents for the weekend... and I have to say- we had so much fun with our little girl.  I think it's important to carve out some one on one time with my babies- but it's hard to find sitters for the others when the activities that we do would be fun with everyone.  Not impossible- but it is hard.  So a big thanks to my parents for taking the boys and enabling Shaun and I to spend some time with our little Cake.  She has such a big personality for someone so little.  

Chase and Dani have a little girl, Deja, who is only 6 months older than Kate so we like to try and throw them together as often as we can.  They play pretty good together for two 2 year olds.  Kate was in love with all the new toys and Deja's new baby brother, Krew.  Kate loves all babies and the fact that Dani was so sweet to let Kate "hold" baby Krew- it made Kate's trip that much better.  Thanks Dani!

We threw the girls into the tub together each night and they had a ball playing around in the bubbles and splashing at each other.  I shampooed them up one night and gave them each unicorn horns.  Dani pulled out the mirror and showed them- both girls ended up with a serious case of the giggles.  It was so cute!  

We had so much fun- thanks again Chase and Dani!

Growing

I know I say this ALL the time... I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record- but I am in AWE of how my kids are changing.  And how quickly!  I swear we just brought Kate home from the hospital... but we are only a few days away from Birthday No. 2 and I just can't put my head around it.  

Kate climbed up on our barstool the other day... and she just looked so big I had to take a picture.  Love that girl!

And speaking of big... Ty had to pack a lunch for school last week so that they (the Kindergartners) could practice a little bit for 1st grade.  1st grade.  That's old.  That's real school.  And Ty is sooo excited!  He was pretty excited about taking lunch to school too.  The Kinders had an option of purchasing school lunch, but their options were a PB&J, Mac&Cheese and Pizza... Not exactly Celiac friendly.  But I've made some phone calls since and it looks like we might be able to do hot lunch next year- but it's going to take some effort on my part to get the ball rolling for him.  I'm trying to decide if I trust the lunch-workers not to cross contaminate or mess up... I would HATE for Ty to be sick because of something he ate at school!

Anyway- back to lunch last week... I packed him a lunch.  A lunch that my sister thought was huge.  I was just so worried that he wouldn't get enough to eat!!  I just wanted to keep adding to his sack.  I finally ended on a sandwich, fruit, chips, cookies and a drink.  I packed it carefully with a napkin and put it in his bag.  It's all I can do and I don't feel like it's enough!

Turns out the little fart was too excited to be eating with all of his friends to eat too much anyway.  I think he said he ate the cookies, the drink and half his sandwich.  What a turkey.  

Chocolate Chip Scones

My Grandma Newren makes a mean Scottish Scone.  She makes them in HUGE batches so that she can freeze the leftovers and pull them out at her leisure.  They are filled with nuts and raisins and are a pretty hearty little snack- though I like to tease her by saying they need chocolate chips.  I love chocolate and I think it should go into anything.  I always love to peak in my grandma's freezer when I visit to see if there are any in there.  These days I can't sneak any scones anymore, but it doesn't mean I don't love them any less.  That said- when I saw a recipe in Artisanal Gluten Free Cooking the other day, I knew I had to try it out.  

It took me a couple of different tests before I ended up with the taste and texture that I prefer when it comes to scones, but the inspiration definitely came from the cookbook.  As well as the flour mix that I used this time.  

So... Here's what you're going to need:

3 1/2 cups Artisan GF Flour Mix or whatever flour mix you prefer

2 teaspoons xanthan gum

1 1/2 Tablespoons baking powder 

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 sticks cold butter- or if you are going dairy free, I used Earth Balance and it turned out awesome

1 cup plus 1 Tablespoon heavy cream; divided, or you can use coconut milk- just make sure it's the FULL fat kind

1 egg plus 1 egg yolk; divided

2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or 3/4 cup regular chocolate chips.  I use the Enjoy Life brand just because it is  dairy free.

Coarse sanding sugar

Now we can get started...

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and sugar in a large bowl.

Next cut up your cold butter and throw it in with the flour.  

However you choose to do this next part is totally up to you- I prefer to use my hands, but I understand that a pastry blender or a fork also work well.  I kind of like the feeling of squishing the butter into the flour... maybe on some level it takes me back to my childhood when I made mud pies in the backyard.  Whatever the reason or method you choose- you are trying to blend the flour and butter until you end up with pea-sized pieces of the mixture.  It will look kind of crumbly.

Once you have blended your flour and butter, you can then add in 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 full egg and your vanilla bean paste.  Continue to work the mixture until a dough forms.  Again- I prefer to use my hands to do this- the dough is pretty heavy and I'm not sure a mixer would be your best bet.  When you've mixed in the last of your egg and cream- throw in your chocolate chips until they have worked themselves throughout the dough.  Turn it out onto a piece of parchment paper sprayed with a nonstick cooking spray.

From here, you are going to pat out your dough into a large rectangle- think 14 or 15 inches long and 3/4" thick.  Then cut you some triangles and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

After you have all your scones cut and placed on the baking sheet, take your remaining Tablespoon of heavy cream and your egg yolk- mix together and brush over the tops of your triangles.  Sprinkle generously with sanding sugar and pop into the oven for about 20 minutes.

Allow to cool for as long as you can stand and enjoy with a cup of cold milk!

A Declo Weekend

We went and visited Shaun's parents this weekend- in part because it was Mother's Day and in part because it was Jacki's Birthday, and my sister in law, Jeni had put together a surprise party for her!  I didn't tell my kids because I was pretty sure they would have spoiled the surprise...  

During the day leading up to the party, we spent the morning baking cupcakes and my brother in law, Chase and his wife, Dani started cooking dinner for our big shindig.  But to kill our afternoon hours, Papa took the grandkids over to a neighbors house to have a look around.  These neighbors have put together pieces of an old time pioneer type village.  They have a working blacksmith shop, carriages and a carriage shop, a rope maker and hay rides.  

The girls talked Papa into taking them for a walk down to see the donkeys...

And all of them were pretty excited about climbing into one of the old time carriages that had been restored. I love their goofy faces...

It was fun- and the kids definitely wanted to stay longer.  Maybe next time...

As we were leaving, we had to wade through a pretty big patch of TALL grass and weeds- which inspired Ryan to pick me a "Dandy".  Ryan loves to pick me dandelions and will stop ANYTIME he sees one- its kind of sweet.  To date- myself and his hair-stylist, Jamie are the only ones he has ever given the flowers to. I love it!

We played outside for the rest of the day... Here's Kate and her cute cousin Deja throwing grass at each other...  Girly girls right?  NOT A CHANCE!

Grandma's party was a huge success!  She was totally surprised, dinner was yummy and the company was wonderful!  I'll have to get some pictures from my sister in law, Dani from the party- they were pretty cute!  Thanks again Jeni for such a good time!  

MVP

This evening promised to be absolutely beautiful as Shaun and I loaded the kiddos into the car.  Ryan had his last T-Ball game tonight and he was excited!  And a little sad... I think he'll miss being able to play each week.  At least he has a brother that is willing to play with him every day- that might ease the pain...  

Ryan did really well during his game- he hit the ball pretty far and made some good stops out in the field.  He was given the MVP trophy at the end of the game for all of his efforts (I didn't have the heart to tell him that EVERYONE else got the same trophy... details right?).  He was so excited- he showed it to every one and when we got home, it immediately went on the shelf in his room... right next to the trophy that Ty got for playing basketball.  He was so proud!

Farm Field Trip

Perhaps farm life isn't anything really new to us here in Kidd-land... but it's still fun to wander around a working farm.  Well... I think it's fun.  It never ceases to amaze me when I see people that are completely self sufficient.  

Anyway- we have a farm down the street that was once a working farm, but is now more of a tourist attraction.  I hadn't been in years, so when the opportunity to help out Ty's class field trip to the farm came up- I jumped on it!  I should have been helping out in his classroom more through the year- but it's hard to find places for the other two to go during the day sometimes.  Luckily I was able to talk my mom into watching Ryan and Kate for the afternoon and I followed the bus to the farm.  

I was assigned four kids to watch out for while we were there- and they were such a cute group of kids!  I love kindergartners... They are so funny!

We got to go on a hay ride and we got a tour of the dairy and blacksmith's shop- the kids were pretty impressed with the fire and heated metal.

I'm still in awe that school is almost over... I feel like we just started not too long ago!  And it's not that I'm not excited to have Ty home- I am- but it just went so quickly.  He has had so much fun this year and i hate to see it end for him.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to who you might ask!?  To US!  Shaun and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary yesterday! And I have to admit- we had a lot of fun.  We asked my mom and dad to babysit the kids overnight so that we could get away to celebrate our milestone.  

Shaun made reservations at the Armstrong Mansion, a bed and breakfast downtown and took me to dinner at Rodizio Grill.  Did you know that Rodizio has a 95% Gluten Free menu??  I didn't and again I was impressed with Shaun's foresight.  It was so yummy!  I even got to have dessert!  

When we got back to our hotel room- Shaun had had the staff spread rose petals around the room and light candles.  There was even a bottle of Sparkling Cider and Hershey's kisses waiting for us.  It was so sweet.  Sometimes I don't think I give him enough credit.  So here it is.  Credit.  Thanks Shaun!

I still can't believe it's been 10 years- I look at this picture and I can't help but think how young and dumb we were.  I guess the young part is the only thing that has really changed...  :)  I remember how badly my cheeks hurt by the end of that day- from smiling so much.  I can remember the smell of Shaun's tux.  I remember the smell of the flowers around us.  I remember being irritated at my mom for not letting me fix my hair the way I wanted to as we came out of the temple.  I remember chasing after Shaun at the reception because he got cake on my dress.  I don't think I ever caught up to him.  Stupid heels.  And I remember being really hungry ALL day long- I was too nervous to eat in the morning and by the time the reception was over- I thought I was going to die!  We stopped at a Wendy's drive through on our way to our hotel so that we didn't fall over from hunger!  

Really though- it's been quite a decade.  We've had three kids.  Spent some time in hospitals because of those kids.  We've moved 7 times and lived in 2 states.  We have owned 7 cars and 1 house.  We have lived through 2 crazy diagnosis-es.  And through it all- I like to think we are better because of it.  We have learned plenty of life lessons- but probably the most important and hardest learned is that WE is always bigger than ME.  

Love you pookie- and here's to many more!

Shhhhh.....

Shhhh!! Don't tell!  We had a secret Mother's Day photo shoot yesterday!  I'm making the pictures into a collage/card thing for our grandma's!  Don't tell though!

Bink Tink

Ryan was notorious for calling things by new names when he was learning to talk.  We had to develop a second language just to understand him.  I remember he used to call Grandma "Bucket", and his binky was always a "Joooo".  It was so funny.  And so very Ryan.  

Kate isn't as bad as Ryan was- but she also refuses to call a Binky a Binky.  Instead- it has been dubbed the "Bink Tink" and she loves it.  I'm so sad to have to throw it away in another couple of months- it's like it solidifies the fact that she is no longer a baby.  So yesterday- I had Shaun memorialize the Bink Tink forever with a couple pictures of Kate before bed.  

Kate loves to snuggle before bed, with her binky and her blanket in my arms.  And I have to admit that I love it too.  My boys think they are too big for it- so I hope this tradition continues for a while longer.

Kate is funny like her oldest brother... She loves the silky tags on her blankets, and will rub them on her nose as she starts to get sleepy.

I love this toot!!

Spring Sing

I know I've already said it- but I'll say it again... I LOVE Ryan's preschool!!  His teachers do such an amazing job with the kids- and I am constantly surprised at what Ryan has learned this last year.  

Tuesday night was Ryan's Spring Sing- or in layman's terms... the end of school performance.  It's hard to believe that school is almost over!  I swear we just started!  

Ryan said he had been practicing hard- and he was so cute to watch.  He did sing really loud- but his hand motions were minimal.  He's funny- it's almost like, once he's made up his mind that something is "stupid", he's not about to do it.  Somewhere along the line, he decided that the hand motions were more than he wanted to do and he just flat refused to do them.  What a goose.  

Kitchen Helpers

My kids love dinner time.  Not just for the food- which they admit is pretty good (not that I coach them or anything), but because they think they get to "help."  I try to keep a few things for each of them to do when it comes time for dinner- though all of us moms know how much quicker and easier it is when nobody helps- and they just light up.  

I have aprons for each of them, and each day about 4:30 when I start banging the pots around in the kitchen, they make a beeline for the front closet and pull them out.  They were so cute the other day that we had to snap a picture!

Sunday Sunday

 This post is, in main, about Kate.  None of my kids have ever been INTO as many things as Kate finds her way into.  I swear every time I turn around, she has made a mess out of something else.  She drives me nuts- though I have decided that God made her cute so that I don't pin her to the wall and leave her there.

Last Sunday I had everybody dressed for church, and I was printing off a few sheets for the lesson that I was teaching that day in Primary.  The boys were watching cartoons on the couch and Shaun was shaving.  I looked around and realized that Kate wasn't anywhere to be seen...  That's when I heard Shaun say, "You probably better go and show your mom."

I cringed.  Since I could see the boys- I knew it had to be Kate.  And since it was Kate- she had probably made a mess of something.

I was right.

Shaun marched her into the living room and I started to giggle.  Kate had found hair gel.  Not just any hair gel- the SUPER stick 'em kind that I use to make the boys' hair stick up.  She had squeezed what can only be described as a LARGE amount directly onto her head.  And she smeared it from there.

She was fine with this addition to her Sunday Look- until the gel started to dry...  And as you can see from this picture- it's ALL over her face.  She put her hand up to try and wipe it away and it resulted in her hand being stuck to her cheek.

Needless to say... Kate had a 2nd bath on Sunday morning, and a 2nd outfit.