Big boy-26 Months

We are trapped in the house! Nope no one is sick thank goodness but someone IS learning to use the potty!
This fellar:

Last week I was just saying how he wasn't ready. We bought him a seat quite a while ago and he wouldn't go for anything. But just the other night as he was getting out of the bath he said "go potty"! He hopped on and went potty and has been going in the potty ever since! I'm thrilled and so is he! He goes in to giggle fits every time he goes. He is so proud and there is a lot of excitement around our house right now.
He wanted to tell his grandparents first thing. He called Nan Suz on the phone and told her all about going potty.
Lots of practicing, lots of sitting in the bathroom, lots of waiting, lots of laughing, lots of celebrating!
Good job buddy! We are proud as can be!
Next step:
Big boy bed

Let it rain...

...As long as I have my sweet but VERY sick boy in my arms.

He just wants to be held so while we wait for our oatmeal to cook we turn on some Ben Harper and John Mayer and slow dance while the rain falls on our kitchen window.

Never knew my two year old could be so still. These are the moments I never want to pass...so let it rain. We are cozy and warm inside.

Graham Crackers & Milk

Strangely enough my boy hadn't been introduced to Graham Crackers & Milk! What???

DIP!

MMM MMMMMM

He loved it. Probably as much as I do. I told him about back in the day when my after school ritual was graham crackers and milk and Saved By The Bell!

I've been wanting to make my own Grahams. Here are a couple recipes I'm considering:
#1
#2
#3





Oh and yes we get full use out of our Christmas pajamas....year round.

Firsts:Tarantulas and BYU Creamery Ice Cream

 My hyper problems have not fizzled in the least as promised by the elder folks in my life. If anything it has increased with having a baby. I like to be going, doing, seeing as often as Zealand and I’s energy and moods permit.


Wednesday is usually toddler gym for the boy, I woke up with a spontaneity itch and wanted to do something different to get us out of this Pleasant Grove bubble (even if it was only to Provo), so I asked Zealand if he would rather go see lots of animals and get ice cream or go do somersaults and skipping…"Mals!"(animals) was his undeniable reply!

We ate our grains, changed our clothes and were out the door with smoothies to go.

15 minutes later we arrived at the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. Zealand recognized where we were and went charging ahead! Once we got inside the charging didn’t stop. He charged right up to the Zebra and Elephant, swiftly ducked under the rope and started to try to climb on top of the Zebra. All this before I could even mutter the word “STOP!” Once I contained the wild animal (my child) he started to whine in his most tip top whiney voice “RRRRRRRRiiiideeee,rrrrrrrriiiiiideee” Did I hear him right? He wants to “rrrrrrriiiiideee” the elephant; the zebra, the moose, the bear, the I don’t even know what that thing is? Yep sure enough. It took about 58 no’s to absorb into his little adventurous, stubborn, brain that in fact we did not come to the museum to ride the animals, just to look. (Sounds so boring) A disastrous museum trip was averted and we were able to stroll around and make the sound of each animal we saw, watch a movie about reefs, and hold a tarantula.

Or should I say that I stood in the far corner on the opposite side of the room while Zealand held, petted, patted, and played with a tarantula like it was a cat!!!

He has learned from Mom and Dad and living in a basement apartment that spiders are to be smashed and they are scary and yucky. So I was slightly surprised he was so nonchalant about this massive BUG (that’s what he called it). I was also relieved that he didn’t throw these nice people’s “pet” on the ground and squash it under his shoe!

We said our goodbyes to the colossal bug and drove down the road to the Creamery. Raspberry ice cream with gummy bears was the order. The raspberry ice cream reminded me of summer which reminded me of how I can’t wait any longer for dog days of sunshine, bare feet, and fresh raspberries for the picking!

***Update on Hiking group:

Thanks to all of you who emailed me! If you still want to be in the hiking group email me anytime belleintheblue@gmail.com. I received some votes on what the best day would be. I am going to narrow it down to a specific day and time and then when the weather is warm enough I will post on my blog the when and where of the hike a couple days before. Also if you do not live in Utah County don't hesitate to email me. Some of the best hikes are up in the Salt Lake Area (big & little cottonwood canyon, and millcreek.) Be brave. It's okay if we don't directly know each other.

Today

Is a really gooooooooood day.


Right now it is 64 degrees.

My day started off with a run OUTSIDE ( I know there are crazy people that run in like 5 degree weather and I AM NOT one of them…wuss) I was actually sweating. And my nose and forehead got a little pink!

Zealand and I went to story time at the Library and snuck out a little early to get as much sunshine time as possible. We headed over to the park where neither of us had to wear jackets!

We ate popsicles and made mountains out of fresh dirt that smelled just like spring time.

There was no question that Zealand was enjoying the sunshine as much as his mamma. He found the highest spot possible on the playground and was yelling “HAP EEE, HAP EEE, HAP EEE” AS LOUD AS HE COULD!

I am known to jump the gun and get way to excited, like heading up to the mountains for a hike at the first sign of spring and ending up knee deep in mud, but tonight for dessert we will definitely be roasting marshmallows and making smores….barefoot!!

Then I’m going to open my window and hope the crickets are as excited as I am and come out to sing us to sleep.

One of my favorite sounds…it means summer.

The only sound better is having the ocean sing you to sleep.



Then before you know it we’ll be sittin’ pool side!

Like this!

Everyday without fail Zealand gets his board shorts out of his drawer and follows me around saying "poo, poo" (pool) poor fella has the same addiction as his mother. Sunshine. But who doesn't?

Cookin'

Zealand literally did a dance and a throwing of arms in the air followed by a little hoorah when he woke up to this Christmas morning. And a sigh of relief could be heard from my mouth. I was worried all the hard work was for nothing.  But this thing is played with constantly and getting pretty worn in.
It still needs an oven door and sink door which probably won't be finished until this semester is over but I hardly think Zealand cares.

Here he is cooking up quite a mess. Clothing optional.

And here it is in construction....

I helped....a little

I thought maybe since Zealand has a kitchen now he wouldn't be into all of my pans and such but he still is a "help" in the kitchen!

I have not one to blame but myself...

Tears

Does blogging ever bore you to tears?


My life is really not that interesting in the way that it’s really not too different than yours and yours.

I have a sweet husband who I find really attractive.

We have a blessing of a little boy who I think is the definition of cute, beautiful, and perfect.

Dan goes to school.

I am mommy and work.

We dream dreams.

We laugh.

We love.

We cry.

We stumble, fall.

We get back up.

We try again.

We succeed.

We progress.

We try to be the best we can be in this progressively darkening world.



End of story.

The Incredible

Did you know I gave birth to an “incredible”?


Yep surely did.

Zealand has a super power. He puts his arm over his eyes and ~POOF~ he disappears.

He uses this special super human power to do all the things that he knows if he were in sight, would get in trouble for.

For instance picking his nose. (Where do kids get these things, ick, but as long as he is not eating it we’re good)

He will put his arm over his eyes and then with the other hand he slowly puts his finger up his nose, and thinks I cannot see a thing that is going on.

The other day I came out of the laundry room to find that he had gotten into the cupboard and was carrying an opened bag of cake mix with a measuring cup in the other hand. As soon as I stepped out of the laundry room up went his arm across his eyes. I decided to stay silent and see what happened. So with his arm across his eyes and cake mix and measuring cup in the other he slowly shuffled his way across the kitchen, running into a couple chairs hence the arm over the eyes, on his way to the closet. As soon as he got to the closet he quickly opened the door and slid in shutting the closet door behind him. He thought he was totally safe. He thought that I had not just watched him carry an entire bag of cake mix and a measuring cup into the closet. So I went up to the closet and said “Zealand I know what you have in there and I want you to come out right now” This for some reason sent Zealand into the giggle fits which went on for a couple more minutes. Much to my relief he came out with all the mix still in the bag and no mess on the floor.

He likes tooth paste. The other day when I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth he marched right in (with his arm over his eyes) marched right up to the drawer, grabbed the tooth paste popped open the cap and started eating it! You see? He truly believes he has super human powers of disappearing!

How lucky am I to be his Mama?

Nourish

So where to begin? ....well from the beginning is where.

When I had just barely turned 19 life shattered for what felt like the 1000th time. I faced what I felt like to be a major heart break, a major trial in my life at that time and what little self-esteem I had seemed to diminish completely.  I quit the secure and well paying job I had had for two years, I moved out of my Mom's house into an apartment full of strange girls, I signed up for school at SLCC and thought I was going to be able to pull myself out of this one.  And I did but it wasn't through some pursue of a career I wasn't even sure about or trying to become independent or spontaneous.
One of my good friends at the time whom is still one of my closest was experimenting with something called the Raw Food Diet. Well for me, me who consumed a dozen crispy creme doughnuts in one sitting, I thought she was a fool!  At about this time I had picked up a job at Borders Books and on breaks had picked up a book by this guy and for some reason well, I WAS IN.

This is where the fire started.

The next day I was in the grocery store buying all the fresh vegetables, fruit, and antioxidant foods I could get my hands on. I became a regular at Good Earth.  I started with eliminating all junk (sugar, sweets) out of my diet, low sodium, eating lots of healthy protein and fruits and vegetables, drinking tons of water, and this is where I got into yoga as well.  After a few months I had gained 15 healthy pounds and could actually say I was happy.  This was different though. This happy felt different. I could look myself in the mirror and honestly say that I loved myself.  I cared enough about and loved myself enough to actually think about what I was putting into my body it was this beautiful cycle that was happening.  After about 6 months I realized that this was me now it wasn't a passing trend of a "diet",  that eating healthy and taking care of my body was a part of who I was and always needed to be.  I moved to South Carolina and then Hawaii and then back home all the while experimenting with everything from raw to vegan, to vegetarian, and doing several different varieties of cleanses.  From the time I had started over a two year time period I had gained 26 healthy pounds ( I had been quite under weight, tall and bones aka a lurp) And was running up to 18 miles training for a marathon.  All the while  this monumental change had been going on other small steps were being taken as well. I was active in Church again, I received this special guidance, and....I....was....progressing...with a heart mended and full of hope.  Now 6 years down the road and here I am busily bustling around in my kitchen daily with the privilege and goal of not only nourishing myself but the ones I am lucky enough to call mine.

So really what I am saying is my "lifestyle"/"eating habits" are not a mere passing trend, or calorie counting or trying to get my body to conform to a worldly standard of beauty....they are to NOURISH this  gift and miracle of a body that I am blessed with and to instill in my children the importance of self-worth and respecting their bodies.


Extra: WOW

P.S. In an effort to splash some sun into these chilly days we have been having, we have been eating some deliciously healthy frozen treats while staying warm by the fire.  Post coming soon.

Giddy!

Today after story time at the library Zealand and I spontaneously drove over to UVU and picked up Dad for some lunch. We went to Jason's Deli. I was so giddy and when I get giddy I start cracking jokes and talking non-stop. I was giddy to be meeting Dan in the middle of the day when I usually wouldn't be seeing him until 8 or 9, I was giddy that the sun was shining, I was giddy to have the two people who I love and adore most with me and all of us sharing bites of this and that and mmmmmmmming and loving every second of it.
Those two boys are the only things that could make me giddier then a buffet/salad bar.
What is better than unlimited food at a set price?? Call me cheap, call me fat but I love it. 8 bucks and you can go back for 4ths, 5ths, and 10ths. If they knew how much I ate they might consider charging me twice that price. And to polish it all off with a FREE ice cream cone! {Sigh} I love you Jason… and your deli!


Needless to say…Dan and Zealand got an earful with tons of cheesy jokes. Giddy-up!

Winter Days

Blogging is total therapy for me today. I've let myself get stressed with the normal stresses of life ... like money, laundry, and just trying to keep up with life in general. So after I put Zealand to bed at 8 I scrubbed the apartment from top to bottom (cleaning is one of my favorite stress relievers), whipped up some of this for breakfast in the morning, and now I am sitting down to blog....so here goes.....


Winter days oh winter days I'm ready to say our good bye now.

If I am indoors too long I get all crazy, I get cabin fever I guess you could say and I'm pretty sure Zealand feels the same way.  So although some days we like to hide inside and finger paint or bake or watch Donald Duck most days we embrace winter all bundled up.

Staying warm. Poking around at Good Earth.

Provo Canyon

Staying warm. Watching Donald Duck Apple core.

Staying Warm. Mopping the floor in Mom's shoes.

Provo River Walkway. Throwing some rocks.

staying warm...baking some cookies

Best thing about going to parks in the winter? No line for the tire swing! We always have the whole park to ourselves.

Staying warm. Finger painting

Midway Ice Castles

Saturdays are the best outings because Dad usually gets to come along!

If we can't have a sand castle we'll build a snow castle

So proud

Taking crisp winter walks. This is my new get Zealand to take long naps trick. He sleeps at least 45 min longer when we go on walks before lunch.

We take breaks from building castles. I was lying down taking a break and Zealand came and plopped himself square in the middle. A definite have to capture.

 

  

Now I'm going to go read a chapter of Catching Fire....another stress reliever. I'm indulging!

Improve

This blog isn't going to change but it is going to IMPROVE!

Improve in the way that there is going to be more me in this blog

One spot of improvement is I cook and bake A LOT! And I mean A Lot!
I love it but for the sake of not becoming just a number amongst thousands of food blogs I never blog about cooking or recipes. I am not going to change to an exclusive food blog but I will be blogging/sharing what I have been up to in the kitchen here and there when I think it is notable.
I'd like to say I'm a foodie. I am a self proclaimed foodie I guess but I'm probably a loon to most. I'm a health nut and so I most always transform a recipe making a few ingredient swaps to make it healthy and a bit more nourishing and sometimes I create my own recipes as well. The ending result is not always success but I'm learning and getting better (hopefully)!
I'm a pollotarian or pollo-vegetarian. Did you know there was such a thing??? It's where you don't eat red meat but occasionally eat poultry.
Our weekly menu usually consists of four vegetarian meals, one vegan, one poultry meal or a meal with red meat for the boys and Sunday dinners are usually spent at either of our families' houses. It makes planning the weekly menu and grocery shopping so exciting. Dan teases that he has never ate the same thing twice in our entire marriage. Although this is not entirely true I do love to try new things in the kitchen and do it often. Dan and Zealand are my guinea pigs. Which they don't love.
But Dan puts up with me. With a jab here or there. Such as "what's for breakfast today, cardboard with a side of whole wheat and a green leaf?" I just laugh because I can understand. Once when I was complaining about having to change way too many #2 diapers and he said well stop feeding us whole wheat all the daylong!


My Favorite Food Blogs
Cookin Canuck
Our best bites
Rookie Cookie
101 Cookbooks
Oh She Glows
Epicurious (ipad app)
The Kitchn
Knead for bread
Agave Recipes

Belated Hallows Eve

This is just what I do. I'm late… for almost everything. I'm not posting it here on this public blog because it's something I'm proud of, because I certainly am not. I do recognize it as a fault and am constantly trying to conquer my punctual problems. Dan loves me just the same although I'm sure he has blown a blood vessel waiting on me one or two times.

I guess activities didn't just fall on "Hallows Eve" it was more like a three day celebration. I've noticed that is the case with most Holidays these days. We celebrate for a week!

I don't like the feeling of my bones freezing but I do enjoy the beautiful things Fall brings. Brings awesomeness for all five senses.

We dressed up and headed out to the traditional ward party. Yippee! Sweaty, award winning, game playing, cake walking ward party. We won two years in a row. Yes yes ya'll! This year we didn't just get a card stock paper award though…we scored a pixie stick! This year we won most creative.





 Zealand was so laid back about the whole thing. He sported the pillow batting stuffed bag, leggings, and a money covered hat without one single tear.

 We dressed up again for a costume contest at my work. (no such luck for this costume contest, we didn't even place)

Jumped our heads off at Cornbelly's Corn Maze. (love the huge pillow and so did Z)

Then off to another Halloween party down to my sisters and then trick or treating and candy eating with cousins. 
Zealand was so amazed to see so much candy all in one place.  It was a knock down drag out war to try and contain his candy eating. One of the battles I choose. But having a little one makes the Holidays that much sweeter! (no pun) Seeing the world through a child's eyes is the best way to live and I get to do that everyday!

I was so halloweened out come Sunday. Lucky me, that is all my primary kids wanted to talk about oh and they were disappointed that I didn't bring treats! for the love! 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I can almost smell the stuffing and homemade rolls.

beauty

 10.07.10
Stewart falls in the summer? mmmmm meh? It's nice.
Stewart falls on this particular crisp fall October morning? I couldn't think of any place I'd rather be.
Zealand and I go on a lot of hikes but this one stands out as thee hike of the year so far.
It was perfectly perfect! The only way it could have possibly been more perfectly perfect is if Dan could have come.
Z and I were the only ones on the trail. Everything was so still and silent. The only sound was my feet stomping the trail. When we stopped you could hear the leaves falling to the forest floor and the breeze through the trees. Zealand had his head laid on my back and was completely still. In awe of the beauty I would like to think. (since this kid is never quiet or still) We were both in awe of God's creations, in awe of the beauty created by the artist of all artists.
Once we were to the falls Z broke his silence. He was stoked about the water blasting out of the mountain and had plenty to say about that. We shared an apple, had a little rest then started the trek back.
I'm completely comfortable and content with my point and shoot camera and my photography skills (NONE) except when I am surrounded by the beauty that I was then I wish I had the fanciest camera on the market and years of photography classes.   No justice. But I snapped away anyhow.