'Tis the Season

(*Photo by Rebekah Anderson)

We put up our Christmas tree tonight and decorated for this magical season. I love to listen to Christmas music and sip a warm drink while we deck our halls :) Here is one of my favorite drinks...

Caramel Apple Cider
(Cocoa Latte Recipe Book)

2 cups apple cider or apple juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons caramel syrup
Whipping cream

Combine everything in a cocoa latte, saucepan, or crock-pot  This recipe makes 2 servings. And of course don't forget the whipping cream on top. Alternately you could also drizzle the caramel over the whipping cream for a pretty presentation.

Caramel Sauce
(Better Homes and Gardens 75th Anniversary Edition)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup half-and-half or light cream
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a small pot combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in 1/4 cup water. Stir in half-and-half, corn syrup, and butter. Cook stirring constantly over medium heat until bubbly (mixture might look a little curdled, don't worry!). Cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Dressing Up

My sweet little Jane baby was blessed on November 4th. It was a beautiful blessing. It was pretty fun to dress her up in this pretty dress for the event...

and to see her daddy swoon over her :)

Prince Elijah was cracking us up all night long with his facial hair.

Pop-Pop's costume was perfect. And it was pretty awesome having them around for Halloween.

Elijah finally has some hair! Yes, he will be three in March. We like to play with it...

One day while visiting teaching the kids came down all dressed up. Luci dressed the boys including buttoning their shirts and getting their ties on. I can't believe the boys stayed still long enough! She can be pretty convincing though.

All dressed up here for the Georgia Tech V. BYU football game in Atlanta. What a beautiful day. The kids love football. They ask to play tackle football everyday with me or Jacob. At this game Luci yelled "Go Cougars!" non-stop for the entire first half. Yep.

We all will do pretty much anything to get this girl to smile. She is passing out those grins like pretzels these days.

I Feel Good

Na na na na na na na...

I knew that I would... or did I?

Hi! It's true, I really am starting to feel like a normal person again :) I'm not going to lie that last 9 or 10 months really kicked me in the pants. I wasn't sure a lot of the time if I was really just that grumpy and tired all the time or if I could really blame it on growing a baby. Welp, now I remember what it feels like to not be pregnant... Hallelujah.

Why does it all have to turn out so wonderful though? So wonderful that I am already convinced that I still need more babies. They're so soft and nice that 9 months of feeling like *       *, just get forgotten. At least that's how it goes for me.

This whole thing with 2 preschoolers and a newborn though? This is going to take some serious game planning. I'm pretty sure my daytime naps are long gone. Cooking anything that takes longer than 10 minutes... not gonna happen (hello tuna melts!). Make up? What is that? Leaving 10 minutes to get everyone in the car? Nope, make that 30+. So yes, if you were wondering, three is hard. Granted, I've only had to do it on my own for 3 days now, thanks to our wonderful parents, and my husband. Hopefully I get better at it. Because right now I'm sure my kids would tell you that I definitely need some more practice.

Here are some highlights from the last month

Apple Pie

This recipe comes to you by my one and only 4 year old sous chef...

Luci Gabriella Dean


In her words,

Ingredients:

8 apples
1/4 c. salt
1/4 c. flour
1 pie crust
Full tiny cup of cinnamon
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 piece of grass (because it's healthy, and you won't even taste it)

Peel skin off apples. Mix all ingredients together. Fill pie crust. Put rainbow sprinkles on top.

Bake at 1 degree for 20 minutes.

34 Weeks

 The post you've all been waiting for right?  There is the tummy shot people :)

Being prego in the summertime hasn't been all that bad... Until a couple weeks ago. I am so HOT! Especailly when I am trying to sleep. Just one more thing to keep me up at night. 

My energy levels are so up and down. I am hoping that these new Iron supplements I am taking will help with that. I am feeling great today! 

My kiddo's are having so much fun being friends. It's so fun to have them interacting and playing so much together. Although, now Elijah is the one bopping Luci on the head, either that or giving her slobbery zerberts which she hates. Sometimes it frustrates me, but my mamma tells me it just shows how smart he is, since his older sister might or might not be a little bossy sometimes.

We got a visit from some long lost cousins this week :) We haven't seen them for about 4 years! Elijah loved holding Quincy. It's a good thing the boog loves babies so much.

These little stickies aren't the only ones with a major sweet tooth these days... 

Too bad I didn't get a pic of my Banana Split.

Happy Fourth of July

It doesn't get much cuter than this.

Happy

We are happy! Other than being worn out by about 4 o'clock I am feeling great. We have had lots of adventures so far this summer...

We picked 30 lbs of Strawberries on Memorial Day!

Magic shaving cream paint :)

Elijah wearing one of Jacob's vintage outfits and looking just like his Dad.

So Proud

Auntie Kendal is the Bomb. 

A wonderful surprise! Thanks for coming!

This kid will only wear his hat backwards... what a stud

Sugar and Spice

It's A Girl!!

I really didn't feel like I knew the gender this time and it really didn't matter... but when they said it was a girl I was so excited! Luci kept asking in disbelief, "is there a really a sister for me in there?" Elijah calls her "the girl baby". The kids and I went and picked out this cute little diddy for her right after the ultrasound. We are all pretty smitten with her and her cute little kicks. Everyone wants to feel my tummy all the time.

Honestly though... while I am excited. Number three seems pretty intimidating. I don't remember feeling nervous with the other two... but I am this time. Explain that?

Eat. Sleep. Repeat.

Four (almost five) days of heaven. We went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. 

The kids stayed with Grandma and PaPaw Dean :) Thank You!!

The weather was perfect except for one day... Oh I was so sick, and it wasn't just the prego lady. Lucky for Jacob his stomach is stronger than mine on an extremely rocky boat.

 Cozumel was fantastic. It rained in the morning, but the rest of the day turned out wonderful. We explored our way to the perfect, quiet little beach. Our friends rented snorkel gear and we all took turns. I couldn't believe how many amazing different kinds of fish there were. 

Jumping off the pier into the clear water was also a highlight for more reasons than one, especially for Jacob. (wink wink)

 We met some forever friends at our dinner table. We hung out together on the beach in mexico... notice everyone else got sun except for us. Even Jacob looks darker than me! Oh well, less wrinkles right?!

Did I mention the food was wonderful! I ordered at least two desserts every night. Sometimes two appetizers including a desert to start out too. Cruising while pregnant definitely has it's perks! I was still hungry most of the time :)

The kids did great! They were pretty excited to see us and their new maracas :)

Just Can't Hide It!

I'm pretty excited today... not only do I have a new do all straightened by someone else, 

I also have CONTACTS for the first time! Woo hoo!

Oh and there is something else,

but I can't tell you

HA!

Don't worry you will see soon enough :)

Be Happy!

Happy Wednesday

Weekend

  Little Luci turned 4 yesterday...

She chose a ballerina theme this year. I have to admit I probably had a little too much fun making everything pink... It was my favorite color first you know :)

The Double Strawberry Cake was pink inside and out. 

And it was delicious, anyone want some leftovers? 

This girl is so big. I can't get over what an amazing little girl she is. She is so thoughtful of others and is constantly trying to choose the right. If ever she has a moment with Eli and I mention her actions being selfish... she quickly changes her mood and tries to be kind. 

During conference yesterday she really wanted to open an Easter package that I am saving for next week. I told her to wait. I noticed that she got down on her knees a few minutes later and said a very intense prayer. I wish I could have heard her! Then about 5 or 10 minutes later she looked at me and asked, "Mom, is Heavenly Father talking to you? Or is Jesus helping you do anything?" I said, "Yes, he is helping me feel the spirit while I listen to conference." Then she looked over at her Easter package and said, "oh, well I really wish I could open that Easter package." I quickly realized what she had been praying for...

 Luci snapped this one of Eli. Such a good photographer!

Our General Conference Feast was delicious and satisfying. I made fondue with lots of fruits, veggies, and best of all... pretzel rolls! These are so yummy! 

Jacob has been waiting so patiently for the day that the kids would start pampering him. He announced yesterday as they combed and sprayed that fatherhood just became 10 times more worth it.

Now, I'm off to plan my menu...