meal planning

it's my new thing! 

well not really new, i've dabbled with it seriously a few times before but now i'm really trying to incorporate it into our lives! It is so difficult for us to all be together at home in the summer due to various sporting activities but i'm hoping that we can at least manage three meals this week. 

to include: 

Pizza! My favorite 'take and bake' has to be California Pizza Kitchen and pretty much any toppings they offer. Runner up would be Papa Murphy's Artichoke & Bacon. yummm. 

Turkey burgers with gruyere cheese and a few other sides. I'm thinking salad with pecans and cranberries or a fresh fruit bowl. 

I bought some super-rich whole grain pasta at Trader Joes awhile back and i'm hoping that when I add yummy pasta sauce and turkey meatballs Justin & Koren wont know it's good for them. For desert is a scoop (or two) of Blood Orange gelato...i've actually already had a few scoops of this and it's pretty tasty. I really just liked the packaging and I think next time i'll go for a flavor that's not quite so sweet like maybe a pistachio or mint. 

Well wish me luck with feeding this family because more often than not I put my menu aside for a chicken soft taco at Taco Time and call it good :) 

Just wanted to wish everyone a fantastic weekend! 

ten.

1. Last week was a bit insane and I seemed to be all across the state. I was fortunate enough to spend time with two great friends all in one week! Thanks Aliya & Ashley for being such wonderful friends even through we are miles apart. 
2. Thursday was the Green Bluff Cherry Trot & Pit Spit. Koren took part with Holland in the Tot Trot and had a wonderful time although he was even more concerned with losing his firefighter hat. 
3. here's a pic

4. I, thanks to Ash, completed the 4 mile run! It was such a great, great feeling to cross that finish line 40 minutes after starting. I was very much unaware of the fact that the last mile was all up hill!! In 3 weeks i'm off to Seattle for the Children's Hospital 10k. 

5. After the race. 
6. I received my birthday present this morning and man was it a good one! I had my house deep cleaned by Faith Steps cleaning service and let's just say there is no way I could have ever done what they did! My bathtub is so sparkly cleaned that I almost don't want to use it. Thanks again babe you are the best! 

7. Does anyone else realize that I use a LOT of exclamation points!!!!! 

8. Yesterday Justin & I spent the afternoon waterskiing, playing softball, going for a run, and learning how to use our new Wii Fit. We both can barley move this morning. I just have to give props to the the Nintendo people for coming up with a video games that actually gets kids (and us parents) off our butts! Koren busted out some mad moves with the balance game and J & I got a big kick out of watching him ski the slalom course. 

9. I have been taking a lot of photos of Teagan lately because I'm afraid any day Teags is going to get up and start moving right out of the shot. So i'm not favoring her over Koren, i'm just enjoying looking into those big blue eyes while I can. Like this. 

10. 

It works!

So I was surfing another blog this morning (thanks Julie H.) and noticed she made a comment about Blogger making some improvements and that the video feature was now working. So I went through my archives of post and picked this one out just to "test" the system. The results: IT WORKS! YAY that makes me happy :) The video is almost a year old but none the less it's a video on my blog and that's what matters! Have a great weekend everyone. 

Something seems to have happened...she is no longer that teeny tiny little baby who loved to be swaddled and held. Suddenly she is an almost-toddler. She is crawling, and climbing up, and babbling, and screeching, and trying to chase after her brother. Her hair is even blonder and her eyes are even more blue. My sweet sweet baby. 

I just wanted to give a shout out to my brother Donnie & sister-in-law Hilari! It really is fun having you back in the state! I look forward to spending more time with the both of you.

what to do when it's 94 degrees out

toss on a couple of cute bathers and head to the nearest body of water! 

10:30pm

1. With Koren going to Seeds now Teags and I are left with 4 hours each morning to clean, edit recent photo sessions, work on upcoming "projects", but what me mostly end up doing is blog-surfing, shopping, watching reality tv re-runs, and having impromptu photo shoots. 

2. I've got my running gear on as I sit here and type and i'm thinking that as soon as I'm finished with this I'll get my butt out the door and go for a jog so that T-Bear will actually snooze a little. 

3. After picking up K from school we'll be heading to the Hunter's for a little baby shower planning meeting for you-know-who...I love parties! I love even more planning parties! As K would say, "that makes me soo soo happy!" 

4. I think Justin & I have finally come to the conclusion on a new car. Most likely J will spend the next 2 months trying to get the BEST deal...if it were me we would have driven over yesterday and handed off the keys to the Jetta and been done with it. That's why him and I are  a great pair, i'm not sure we would have a roof over our heads if everything was up to me :) 

5. I must, must, must get my house organized. It's driving me crazy that everything around seems to be so misplaced. You would think with all this kid-free (well K at least) time that I would have it done by now....oh why am I such a procrastinator. 

Alright, Teagan is now officially screaming her head off. I guess nap-time is just not happening today. 

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

The less routine, the more life.

 ~amos bronson alcott

rolls for sale

and will require a LOT of butter. 

JUST IN: Teagan has figured out the crawl. Well sorta. She does it the "t" way, as in backwards until she gets to where she wants to go then she'll put her legs up in the air and spin around on her belly like an upside down turtle until she has anchored in what she was going for. Pretty much anything her brother is playing with, like the puzzle above. 

104 degrees

was the current temp at 4pm today. ouch, that's just a bit too hot for me. I'm such a winter kinda girl that this heat really makes me uncomfortable. 

Friday & Sunday we spent a few hours each down at the river. Koren & Teagan don't realize how lucky they are that we can go from our house to the beach in 15 minutes. That's one of the reasons why I love, love, love Wenatchee. 

Saturday Koren had a day at Papo's house and Justin, Teags and I went to Seattle for a bit of shopping and searching. Searching for the perfect couch and car. We didn't find either. Kinda of a bummer but we just need to go browsing again, soon! I did score on some stuff for the kiddos as well as Justin but it was almost too hot to even shop. That's right you heard me! Too stinkin' hot! 

Another busy week with lots to post! Check back soon. 

(sorry about the crummy pics, my point and shoot camera stinks)

I've been tagged

My dear friend Ashley tagged me yesterday to post 6 quirks about me that you might not know. 

These are the rules: 

The Rules:
1. Link the person(s) who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged

1. I'm a nail biter. Big time. I've tried and tried and tried to stop, but it's really just not going to happen. If you haven't noticed by now I have ridiculously small & fat thumbs, and the fact that I am unable to let even the littlest nail grow above flesh just makes matters even worse! 
2. I'm absolutely addicted to the internet. Seriously, if I have to feed Teags in the middle of the night I'll run down and check to see if anyone has posted anything interesting on their blogs or for some crazy reason sent me a 3am email. Is there a rehab program for this? 
3. Probably one of my most bizarre quirks is the fact that if my feet are bare I cannot stand, or even think of another persons bare feet touching mine. Justin will try this out just to torture me and it almost brings me to the point of vomiting. Can't handle it. At all. 
4. I horde cash. It's silly but I'll never use all the cash I have in my wallet at one place. If it means that I throw down a $20.00 and debit $10.00 even though I have another $20.00 bill in my wallet...I always have some crazy justified reason for this, but I can't come up with it right now. 
5. I have a few "mama" quirks and here's a quick rundown on a few: 

• character clothing is almost forbidden. unless it was from a special mimi for a special occations and will be worn to that special mimi's home
• no pj's are to be worn out of the house, we have too many articles of clothing that need to worn
• I watch K color in coloring books because it hurts me to see him color outside the lines (yes, I know he's only 3)
• the Wiggles are banned from any television in our home-long story

6. I am always early. NEVER late, and if i'm late that I'm really having a bad day. I'm sure I inherited this trait from my dad.

Alright friends, I wanna know your quirks. Katie, Pauline, Libby, Sara, & Melissa you've officially been tagged!

4 years ago today

I married my best friend. 

3 months after that we were pregnant with Koren. 

3 years after that, along came Teagan. 

In between all that we've lived in two cities, had two houses, one apartment, and lots of laughs. 

We've traveled a bit. We've landscaped a lot. We've had very trying and scary days. 

I can only hope this next year of marriage will be as great as the last 4! 

I love you Justin, like the moon loves the stars:) 

oh yeah, i'm also enjoying a great birthday today thanks

 to my wonderful friends and family. 

ten on tuesday

1. I think this post will be, again, a bit random. It's fun to chronicle what i'm doing on a daily basis for my own sake, so i'm sorry if your reading this and getting a bit bored. I have really enjoyed blogging and if any my friends and family would ever get on the bandwagon i'm sure they would enjoy it too! 
2. This one's for Ivy: Koren has delcared his love for your daugher, Irelyn. He told me last night that he loved her and wanted to marry her. Now this makes me laugh, because seriously, they have played together like twice! We stopped by Seeds this morning and the first thing he asked was if Irelyn was going to be there...ahh she must be his summer crush. 
3. This morning I made the dreaded WalMart trip. There were a few essentials that I absolutely had to have and Wallyworld was on the way. We are trying to purchase the Wii Fit program and of course every store in the Wenatchee Valley is sold out. So if ANYONE sees it somewhere please let me know. Thanks. 
4. I have a ton of photo editing to catch up on before this Saturday which is another wedding and even more editing time added to the stack. I used to dream of being this busy and wonder if that day would ever come and now i'm booking Christmas card sessions- in JUNE! I'm blessed to have some great friends who in turn have great friends that pass my name and business around. Thanks guys, you know who you are! 
5. Teags and I just got finished baking a cake! That's right you heard me, and from SCRATCH! I'm not drunk, i'm not crazy, just ambitious. Baking is something i'm plain not good at, BUT I figured i'd give it a shot. Rachel Ray had a recent recipe for a golden cake and yummy vanilla frosting. So right now the frosting is ready and the cakes (2 9inch round) are cooling. Tonight I'm going to fancy them up, take a pic, and force everyone to try a piece. I'll let you know how it goes :) 
6. Koren and Justin just left to go deliver some rock to Shane & Hanna's place. Koren was excited to ride in the "big" truck with dad...I'm excited to have a sorta-kinda quiet house. T is busy playing at her learning table. It makes me think back to when Koren played at the table for hours. I'll have to dig up an old photo here sometime. 
7. Well I didn't make it to ten as our Papa Murphy's pizza is ready to come out of the oven. I'm off tomorrow morning with my mom, Sara, and Barb to the Solcice day spa and boutique hotel for a day and night of pampering and fun! 

Dad's Day 2008

We decided that since the weather was cooperating and we couldn't take the boat out (because Justin hurt his back golfing) that we would take a mini road trip up to Lake Chelan for the day. Koren has been in love with the beach scene ever since our trip to California so he had a blast. I believe Teags was pretty impressed as well by the way she giggled every time the water would rush over her toes. 

When it was time for T's nap we headed home so that Koren could still enjoy the sun in his back yard pool and slip&slide. My greatest memory from Father's Day 2008 has to be that of Justin trying to show Koren how to run and slide on his belly down the slip and slide....oh I wish I had a picture...

mmm mmm good

I have a million photos of the kids, thought I would mix it up a bit :) 

a fun recent purchase of of etsy, I think the flower is almost as big as her head. 
Koren helped me with dinner tonight, well sorta. 

I just got done making Rachel Ray's smashed red potatoes (with bacon) and barbeque chicken and now i'm waiting for J to get home from yet ANOTHER round of golf. I told him this morning that by the amount of golf he's been playing lately he should be walking on to the PGA tour soon.

randomness

It has been some time now since i've posted a bit of randomness so how about I put together a little list: 

• just ordered this, have heard lots of great reviews

• tonight is soccer tots, which is a a soccer team for 3 & 4 year olds. koren participated last year in the 18month-3 year old group and spent the majority of the time climbing the near by trees. i'm still not sure if he's the group-sport kind of kid as he's more into adventure sports such as skiing, rock-climbing(ha), jeep-driving, and pretty much anything else that qualifies as dangerous. 
• some guy in a beat up old car just ran up my drive way and i barley beat him to the door just before he was going to ring the doorbell (the kids are sleeping and i would have taken off his head) to ask me if i wanted to pay him $50.00 to paint our address on the curb in front of the house. WHAT THE??? yeah, no thanks dude! 
• my garage sell loot is quickly dwindling. i took koren to the craft wharehouse yesterday to stock up his art box and found myself buying heaps of fabrics for projects that i can only hope to one day actually finish
• after soccer tonight is moms in motion and i'm super excited. i'm not sure if it's the fact that i get to get out of the house or if it's that i really do enjoy running. i'm mostly looking forward to completing our first race and then i'm sure i'll be hooked. this is week two so let's hope for a big crowd tonight. 
• next week one of by bestest friends is coming back for a week long visit and our moms are taking us up to leavenworth for a night and a day at the spa. i have never experienced more than a single spa treatment at a whack so i'm counting down the minutes to a whole day devoted to self rejuvenation and meals without my darling kiddos
• last night i came up with the perfect father's day surpise which makes me giggle knowing that i'll actually surprise J for once

how was that for some randomness? 

now i'm off to pick up before the carpet guy get's here to measure for our new carpet (soooooo excited) and maybe a little afternoon reality t.v. 

adios!

frustrated...

with blogger! 

Katie, you are not the only one having issues tonight as Blogger is refusing to upload any of my new fun photos...errrrr

sniff sniff

that is what i've been doing ALL DAY! So this weekend got off to a great start with T on Friday night feeling cruddy and waking up every hour all night long, leading into a great Saturday garage sale at Ivy's. I finally feel like our garage has some purpose other than storing assorted baby clothes and various forms of infant entertainment. After the garage sale I was tuckered out and went to bed early as Justin headed off to a friends bachelor party. I woke up this a.m. feeling totally under the weather. Head cold, aches, and overall just plain tired. I was hoping that throughout the day I would feel better, but just the opposite I feel worse. I missed our group hike tonight which really was a bummer as it's only our third meeting. I promise i'll be up and running (literally) on Wednesday. 

So thanks for letting me sob to all of you, Justin won't let me whine to him. Here's to a great week! 

(t has learned the sign for "more" and whenever there is food present she will show you that she really does want MORE!)

Kor Ry at 3

here is what is happening in the life of Koren @ the fun age of THREE : 

nicknames: Kor, monkey butt, kk, dude, k-man, brother

height/weight: 29 pounds, 36 inches 

what's new in the past year: became a big brother Sept. 07, loved to go skiing at Mission Ridge, has learned to love "spendanights" at misc. grandparents, has traveled to southern California, has become his mommy's sous chef, mastered his abc's, counting in English & Spanish, singing, outdoor games, and has found a new love for hoses & sprinklers :) POTTY TRAINED!!!

favorite foods: Cheetos (don't laugh, i know it's bad), poppyseed muffins, cheese squares...really he eats anything and everything in small portions

current buddies: Matthew, Preston, Austin, Teagan (is becoming a favorite)

fav. activities: goofing around the house with mom, playing board games, driving his jeep, helping mommy cook dinner & bake, having playdates at the park, going to Target and helping Dad work oustide

Koren, 

You are such a delightful, fun, energetic, imaginative little dude. Thank you for always putting a smile on our faces and being the happy-go-lucky kid that your are! We love you like a fish loves water :) 

Mom & Dad

my little buddy is THREE

some random snapshots of my little junebug from the past three years...

Miss T @ 9 months

• Nine months brings this little 22 pounder some new tricks
• cruising, well sorta-kinda. T is pulling up to ANYTHING she can get her hands on and moving her way around the furniture and learning table. 
• SLEEP, I think she has finally settled into a good sleep pattern. T is going down for the night between 6:30-7:15pm and sleeping until around 6am. Typically she is then ready for a morning nap close to 9am then again after lunch for a couple of hours.
• SMILES and LAUGHTER, especially for her oh-so-funny big brother (he will have his big birthday post tomorrow). I am loving all the giggles and sweet expressions Teags is giving off lately. 
• EATING everything.....and then some. Recent favorites include corn on the cob, enchiladas, garbanzo and pinto beans, yogurt, pineapple...seriously this girl can eat! 
• Still not crawling, or even trying. I have a feeling she will be toddling instead of crawling.

I just love this little girly, she has been such a joy in our lives and i'm not sure what life was like before Two Silly Little Monkeys!