The never ending list

Many things have happened the last few weeks. Hence, the never ending list. Jason and I went to Orlando for the week with the kids and had a blast. Our camera battery died the first day there so we have very few pictures. But lasting memories right??? :) We also decided to wait until Jackson is 8 years old to go back. That way all the kids can participate more. But it was so fun. We had a blast!!!! I will put the few pics we have up later. :) School for three of my kids. And a trip to Utah for an interview with IHC. I will start with Jackson and his big day.
He started school!!! This was a huge highlight for me. I can't believe it came. He rode the bus the first day, with me following close behind all the way there. Then, we met up in the class room and here is where the real memory started.
We all know how much Jackson "loves" vegis. He just can't get enough. Sense my sarcasm. So, I saw that there were several cups with carrots in them and I assumed they were for snacks later. I said to Jackson, "Oh, it looks like you are having carrots for snacks today. Please eat them okay?" He looked at me, said, "Okay." And then began crying.It was a soft and quiet cry. But still a cry. I felt so sad for him. I know how nervous he was just being in such a different place with all new faces. There aren't any familiar people in his class. So, the carrots were the icing o the cake for him. He was heart broken. Kinder garden was not all I promised it would be.

After a few minutes of hugging and trying my hardest to assure him school would be fun, he braved up and the teacher kicked all the parents out of the room. I teared up as I walked away, feeling this crazy emotion of knowing that my little Jackson was growing up and it was only going to get worse from here. I missed him like mad that day.

I went back to his school to watch him get on the bus and then follow it home.He had a wonderful day. I knew he would. And after 2 weeks now, we are loving it!! The bus is probably on of is favorite things. Mine too. :)

For no reason. . .

This is just a post of nothingness. There's no reason, just wanted to put some pics of the kids up!!!We went bowling for F.H.E. a few weeks ago and the kids LOVED it!!!

Jackson and Noah running through the sprinklers.Ellie all ready for her first birthday party. All the girls dressed up like princesses or in tutu's. Ellie only wanted to wear her tutu. And my little ball of cuteness!!!! I can't get enough of him!! Ahhhh, my little Carson.

I tried rice cereal a week ago and he HATED it. All of my other kids have loved it from the very beginning. But not Carson. He couldn't stop dry heaving. So we stopped. It's easier not giving it to him so I'm not complaining. :)

And these are just some shots of the kids playing.

New York. . . take 4!

I just went on my 4th trip to the wonderful N.Y.C. with a small little group of girls. And it was awesome. We shopped a bit, ate a ton, saw some shows, and sweat more than I have in a real long time. Humid. . . so humid.

The first night there, Lisa and I went to a show called Burn the Floor. It was all dance, with a little singing and I loved it. Karina Smirnoff and her husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy were in it. And they were sizzlin'!!!! We stopped on the street to get a quick dinner that was not so good, but fast. After the show, we met up with Kristin and Elizabeth at Serendipity. I had the world's largest B.L.T. and I scarfed it. Something about being in N.Y. makes me crave B.L.T.'s. Weird. And french toast. I love them both. Then on Friday, we all got up and went to Norma's for some heavenly breakfast. At least I thought so. This was my third time going and so I knew what I wanted. And was very pleased. Elizabeth ordered a dessert. Chocolate French Toast. Yum. If you ever go to NYC, got to Norma's. Get the orange juice, hot chocolate, and all sorts of other delicious things.

Then Elizabeth, Lisa, and I went to TKTS to get some tickets to shows. Kristin went to get a hair cut and Lisa headed back to the hotel for some rest. So. . . Elizabeth and I went shopping. We hit China Town first. Gross, but a must see and do for first time goers to NY. We had a great time bargaining with the sellers and I mostly loved watching Elizabeth be worried about our safety. :) I remember my first time in China Town and following some lady about a mile around some buildings and up SEVERAL flights of stairs, straight into a sweat shop. It was a little intimidating and frightening, but we got our bags. :) Judge me. Then we met up with Kristin for some shopping in Soho. I got my apple fritter form Dean and Deluca and was as content as could be. Just sweaty. Ewwkk! I could feel beads of sweat rolling down my back. Ahhh, how attractive I must seem. For dinner that night, we went to a place called Schnippers Quality Kitchen. I was watching the Food Network the week before we went to NYC and this place was on as the "best sloppy joe." And it just so happened that it was about a block and a half from our hotel. I ordered the mac and joe. Mac and cheese with sloppy joe on the bottom. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm. And I met the owners as well. Picture opp!!! :)
That night we all went to a show called 9 to 5 and it was great. I loved it. Very funny. Good laughs. After the show, we (as in Elizabeth and me) rented a rickshaw and went all the way to Magnolia's Bakery on the East side. We passed the temple, which was gorgeous of course and the ride there was super fun. Minus the major B.O. form the driver. Being in the back wind was sick. But still. . . we laughed and had a ton of fun. And hello. .. yummy bakery!!!!!On Saturday, we rode the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. It was a gorgeous day, and we met a super nice family from Tyler, Texas. Not so interesting to any of you, but to me, it was great. Jason and I have been thinking about actually living there. Call us crazy. But I loved that family.
After the ferry ride, we rode the subway to the Doughnut Plant. GO THERE!!! And get the Creme Brulee and the Blackout doughnuts. They are seriously the best I have ever had. Thanks girls for making the time to go there. It was one of the few things I really wanted to do. You know me. . . food. Always at the top of my must do's.

We rushed to the show after that and Elizabeth and I saw Mary Poppins. I really really enjoyed it. Disney just does such a great job with whatever they do. I am so glad I saw it. That's one more I can check off my list of "shows to see".After the show we all met back up for dinner at Carmine's. Kristin looks a little "bored" and fed up with all the picture taking. :) Again. . . wonderful food. New York knows how to do it. We were all stuffed to the max, but so worth it. Kristen headed home for the night after dinner and the rest of us went out to Columbia University for some sight seeing. After I realized I lost my stupid metro card. . .and my sunglasses. The one nice pair I had. Buggin'. Columbia was gorgeous. And such a different feel to it than the city. Peaceful and quiet. Then we went back to the hotel. Kristin was sound asleep, and I was wide awake. :) We all got in bed, retainer in. But I was so awake. I sighed a few times to let everyone know I wanted to be up talking, and it worked. We went downstairs in the lobby and talked for a couple of hours. Ahhhh, girl talk. Easily one of my favorite nights of the trip. A likely sight of Lisa and Kristin.

Sunday we got up and went to church. It was a very good meeting, one I was in much need of and I am so glad we went. The chorister was hilarious too so that made it even better. "Look and listen!! There will be tempo changes!!!" He really loved his calling.We went to the Shake Shack after church to get some lunch and it was just what I needed. A hamburger, fries and a shake at 11am. :) Delish!Then we walked to Central Park and rented some rickshaws again. This time it was an hour ride/tour of the park and one of the funnest things we did. Our guide, Angel was the best. He couldn't believe how old we were. That's right buddy!!! He knew how to get some tip. He was an 18 year old, working hard (riding the rickshaws) to pay for college for computer tech classes. Pretty amazing guy. We got to see all sorts of fun things in Central Park and I learned all about Yoko Ono. I had no idea who she was. Stop judging now. I am sure I am not the only one. :)

And. . . we got to see the famous "Friends" fountain. Oh yeah, we did. That is the first picture on the post.

It was a super fun day in the park with some SUPER fun girls!!!! We finished the ride/tour, went to catch the subway and head back to the hotel to check out. Lisa, Elizabeth and me all took the subway and bus back to the airport and Kristin caught some quick z's and opted for the cab. So, at the airport we all met up and headed back home. I was dead asleep before we even took off.

All I can say it that New York is getting better and better for me. I love it every time I go and this trip was no exception. You girls were fantastic to go with and I had an incredibly fun and entertaining weekend.

And thanks to Jason for keeping the kids. A few days is good for husbands. And thanks Anne and Jeff for sleeping at our house with our kids while Jason worked. That saved us.

Here's to next year!!

Sharin' the love!

My sister Jill told me about this new recipe she tried and LOVED. So I thought it was a MUST try in my family as well. And now a keeper. You all must try this. TO. DIE. FOR.

Thanks to The Kitchen Cafe blog for these new finds. And Jill. Who has also become a very pathetic blogger. :)

I am adding a new chocolate chip cookie recipe as well. She said these were her "FAVORITE cookies ever. Ever." And they are seriously that good. I had to run and get some dark brown sugar, and it is worth it. Chewy chunks of heaven. I really do think my personal heaven is going to be made of chocolate chip cookies. But only ones made with butter. I really hate shortening. Really hate. And don't tell me you can't taste a difference. That is like saying rabbit and chicken taste the same. (Yes. I have eaten both. Thanks to my wonderful mission in Argentina where I thought it was a joke that we were eating rabbit, but came to find out it was very very serious. :)) Sick. Call me undistinguished, uncultured, whatever. I don't eat rabbit. Or Crisco for that matter.

And speaking of blogs, and cooking and all that. . . have you all seen Julia and Julie? SOOOOOOO GOOD!!! One of the best I have seen in a long time. I laughed so hard at one part that I missed several other equally funny parts. Please go see it.

"Bon Apetite!!!"

Chicken Tortellini Bake (SIN mushrooms. GAG!)

My new favorite chocolate chip cookies!!!!
On our way out the door to church. No, Ellie did not wear the boots to church. I made her put sandals on when we got there. She loves those boots those. She'd wear them every day if I let her.
My SUPER-DUPER cute baby boy!! He had his check up today and is weighing in at a big 15lbs. 14ounces. And 26 inches long. I could smooch those cheeks non-stop.

Just an update.

This is simply a quick update of the last few weeks.Here is Ellie getting into the sunscreen. Nothing new. But I was mad. Not mad enough to forget to take a picture though. :) Grease ball!!!Jackson learned to ride a bike without training wheels and I promised him a new bike if he could do it. And he did. Anything for a new bike. And I am so glad he can do it without those lame training wheels. Now for Noah. :)
We had a very fun 4th of July here in Ann Arbor with some new friends. It was a busy day, and so memorable. Delicious food and great people. And such a fun parade. The kids loved decorating their scooters and bikes and showing some USA pride!!! Not to mention I loved doing it too. :) I get teased a lot because I tend to say that every holiday is my favorite. I can't help it. I really do love the 4th. And Valentine's Day. And Halloween. And Christmas. (Duh. That's a given). But I thought it would be really fun to get some good fireworks for the kids (since it is my favorite day) and I am glad I did. I was the coolest mom of the night. Totally worth it. The 4th is my favorite holiday you know.
And we went back to Pittsburgh to go see Les Miserables. LOVED IT!!! I will never forget the first time I saw it in London with my wonderful friend Krissy. We made fun of the super ugly "Les Mis" clothes they were selling and said they were so hideous and blah blah blah. And who left the theater that night with a full blown Les Mis sweatshirt? ME and KRISSY!!! Both of us bawling our eyes out. And seeing it in Pittsburgh I cried just as hard. We went with the Miracles and I am sure Libby and Jason were wondering if I was going to be alright while listening to me sob. Do you remember the movie Meet Joe Black? I was a complete mess, to put it lightly. So, picture that at Les Mis. I love you Jean Valjean.It has been a good month. I actually can't believe that summer is this far along. Thank goodness for Labor Day. That is my favorite holiday ever!!! :)

This was the day that Jackson figured it out. We bought the bigger bike that night and now that training wheels are back on this one for Noah.