A Sure Sign of Spring

We are ready for the Easter Bunny....

BUT

Until then we'll make due

with our own.

Life at 30 weeks and Counting

I have felt amazing this pregnancy.

No sickness

A little minor craziness (but seriously who doesn't go a little nuts while in this state)

Fairly good energy levels

seriously no complaints.

Well, that is until now.

I have felt so great that I almost felt like I wasn't pregnant

BUT

whaBAMo

all of a sudden you realize that you can no longer roll over in bed.

I go to roll, wake up when I find myself high-centered, I heave myself back over, and begin the process all over again, only I remember to roll on my back and not on my stomach.

At 30 weeks,

I find myself "nesting"-which actually doesn't involve ME doing anything... it is a lot of lists.... and mostly stuff Dusty needs to do. I'm sure it's annoying. I shall let that fall into the category of "craziness I am allowed to do because I am bringing forth a child into this world".

At 30 weeks,

I have begun to worry.

Until this point the "birth process" has seemed so distant

BUT

now I actually would like to start going back in time.

At this point I would like a sedative to calm myself.

I would like to just breeze into the hospital, looking radiant (and while I'm at it I would like long brunette locks that swing and bounce as I am breezing), I would like to calmly walk into labour and delivery and in moments be holding a beautiful baby. And I would like to walk away hours later looking like i had been at a spa.....

Is that really too much to ask?

Instead,

I will loose countless hours of sleep the night before, worrying about being sliced open. I will waddle into the hospital jittery and nervous with giant bags under my eyes. I will be terrified but forcing myself to smile so I make Dusty feel a little better and a little less nervous than I am. I will spend the greater part of the morning being poked by various nurses TRYING to get an IV in. I will then be wheeled into the O.R. where I will be cold and white and sweaty. I will have to sit up and get an spinal. I will then spend the next half hour numb and feeling like I'm out of breath till finally the moment comes that I hear that cry. The sound of success. They show me the child and in seconds he/she will be whisked out of the room, along with my husband and I will be alone. I will be alone for the next 1 hour (at least) with the only sounds being the nurses feet padding around me, checking vitals, and murmuring quietly. I will finally be wheeled out of the recovery room and put in my room.

I know this must sound like I'm whining.

I'm not.

I'm just scared. I've been through this twice. It's really not that bad (that's what I keep reassuring myself with). It honestly isn't (that bad).

BUT

at 30 weeks

I get nervous.

I begin to panic.

I really need a sedative.....

Tex-Mex Dip

Tex-Mex Dip

Ingredients
1 block of Velveeta cheese
1 jar of salsa (about 750 ml.... I use Hot salsa but use whatever heat your want)
1-2 lbs of hamburger (depending on how chunky you want it. I use 2lbs)

Directions
Cook ground beef. I lightly season it.
layer cheese, beef, salsa, cheese, beef, and salsa into a casserole dish.
bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
take it out and stir.
bake for another 20 minutes or so. Adjust the temperature for how long it's going to be in the oven. It's best served hot.

Serve with chips, pitas, bread, a spoon.... whatever you want...

Candied Meat

This is the EASIEST appetizer ever. It's very unisex and not very calorie wise.

Ingredients
Bacon- for a big cookie sheet full I use 1 and 1/2 packages
cocktail wienies- a bag (you're going to need about 100)
Brown Sugar- 1/2 cup to 1 cup (I used about 3/4)
Toothpicks
** freezer bag
** maple syrup

Directions
cut bacon into 3rds
roll around wienies
toothpick it
place on pan
cover in brown sugar
bake at 400 until desired crispiness.
eat.

** I usually make them the night before and throw them into a freezer bag. I will squirt 1/4 cup or so of maple syrup into the bag and let it marinate over night.

Annual Superbowl Party- year 2

Dusty and I both like to stay home. We don't often go out on dates or over to friends houses or to church activities. We do travel to see our families a fair amount but that's really to extent of it. Yesterday, however, we actually invited people over to our house. It was fun, in fact, it was a LOT of fun. We invited 3 other couples and their children over for football and food. I am so glad that Dusty got enough of the basement done that there was a "man-cave". I forget that I actually DO like people. I like talking to them and listening to them (mostly talking though.... I'm trying to embrace the listening part.... it's coming.... slowly...). The girls had so much fun playing and were very excited to have a party. I may actually have another.

The food was good.

I wish I had taken pictures.

I'm going to try to post some of the recipes.

I made...

cocktail wienies wrapped in bacon and baked in brown sugar

Tex-Mex dip

Shauna made...

spinach artichoke dip

PW chocolate sheet cake

Kim made...

peanut butter cup cookies

white chocolate covered popcorn.

Did I mention how good the food was?

A party just isn't a party without food....

OH and it didn't hurt that the Saints won....

Go Saints!

On thin Ice

We had company last week. Dusty's mom and brother came and for a visit (and to help Dusty with the basement- Thanks Dillon) and then my dad came for a few days. While my dad was here we took the girls skating. It was the first time we've taken them. It was so much fun. I wish that I had taken my skates. I missed the smell and the cold and the sound skates make. It was so funny watching everyone out there. Dusty and my dad both haven't been on skates for about 10 years. It was priceless. Ellie and Lucy had a way better time than I thought they would. I can't wait to take them again.

Smell

Yesterday a lady walked by me and I was hit with the scent of her perfume. It took me back. Back to junior high. Back to getting ready for dances. Back to my sisters bedroom. I got lost in the memories for a while. Today I found an old bottle of tanning lotion. I bought this tanning lotion when I was 19. My friend and I went tanning just because we were 19 and both working and had the extra money to do it. I could of become addicted. It was lovely. The smell of coconut and the warm lights. So relaxing (although I'm not sure what I needed to "relax" from???). There are an assortment of smells from my past, all reminding me of moments and events or just that time period in my life. As I sat smelling the bottle of tanning lotion I wondered what smell I would remember from this part in my life. I don't wear perfume anymore, my lotion has no scent in it, my husband doesn't wear cologne anymore, I have no smell. I find myself looking back less or losing some of my memories and that familiar smell just lets me remember. I don't want to forget this part of my life. It's a good part BUT I'm afraid the smells that will bring me back are smelly laundry, diapers, bathroom cleaner, dog, and the vast array of other common household aromas.....

I am on a mission to find a smell. A good smell. A smell that I can sniff in 15 years that will remind me of hugs and adventures and dinner and cuddles and fun.

And on the 7th day....

It's Sunday.

I really enjoy starting at the obvious... seriously. It kinda makes it feel like the world has sense and order.

It is Sunday.

A day of rest...

Sort of.

I took two children and a pregnant body to church by myself.

It happens frequently, since Dusty works 4 on and 4 off.

It's not usually a big deal UNLESS

it snows OR

is icy OR

I'm really exhausted OR

I don't feel so great OR

I am having an ugly day and it takes me double the time to get ready OR

well.... this could keep going... but I'll stop BECAUSE

today it wan't that big of a deal.

It was pretty nice out, the kids were good, I was okay, and well somehow we all woke up when the alarm went off. We were all fed and happy. So a great start I'd say.

Church was church.

The talks were talks.

Nothing too out of the ordianary.

All is well in the world (well except for Hati) (oh and I'm sure other places but you get my point... my world was sane)

WAS is the key word in that.

I went to teach the valiant 8 and 9 year olds (girls).

WOWZERS.

I think they may have all had sugar through sacrament meeting. It was insane.

Good thing this lesson speads over 3 weeks!

I got into the truck after church was out and Ellie and Lucy and I just sat there.

Silence.

Oh the peace.

and then we ate the bag of cookies I brought.

It was delicious.

I got home, unloaded children, let the dog out, and made lunch.

We ate then all went to bed.

Oh Sundays.

The week just wouldn't be the same without them.

Lucky

It was five o'clock so I got up and walked downstairs. I opened up my freezer pulled out some hamburger (btw thanks mom and dad for all the beef) and some beans (thanks to my MIL) and took them upstairs. I put my hamburger in the microwave to defrost. I got all my other ingredients outa the fridge and started to prepare dinner. After the ground beef was thawed I mixed it all up and turned on my oven. I got the tinfoil out of the drawer and put it on the pan. I rolled my meatballs, put them on the pan, and then washed my hands. I am now here. It dawned on me while sitting here in my chair all the things I just took for granted. Oh like 150 years ago the simple process of making supper would of been much more elaborate. Something as simple as ground beef would of been much more complicated. With freezers and microwaves and ovens and running HOT water and fridges our lives are so so easy. I am grateful for all the time these gadgets give me with my kids and husband.

Sigh

These are muffins from Pioneer Woman's cookbook. They are worth the price of the cookbook. I put the kids to bed and then would pop one of these bad boys into the microwave for 10 seconds and then I would find my spot (you know that spot that's just yours) and eat it slowly, savoring every single calorie.