Look at That Red Hair

Happy Birthday Luci!


VERY slowly enjoying Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip


Decorating birthday cupcakes with friends.


Crazy hair, birthday french toast with whipped cream and sprinkles, and the most requested treat ever... hot chocolate.

We can't go one place without someone commenting how beautiful Luci's red curly hair is. She always touches her hair as if to say, "who me?" And then she says thank you. She's my little pal. Some of my favorite moments with her happen while she is sitting on the potty. I wish all of you could have the chance to sit there with her while she talks and talks and stares into your eyes while her long flowing eyelashes flutter above her curious eyes. (I am so poetic ;)

Luci's Favorite things are:
Her friends
Helping me in the kitchen
Having people over for dinner
Family Home Evening
Fancy Nancy
Smoothies
Porridge (cream of wheat)
Marshmallows
Shopping
Pears
Hummus
FOOD
More FOOD
The temple
Nursery
Grandparents
Daddy Dates and purple ice cream
Staying up late to play games with the mommies and daddies
Planning and going to pretend parties
Skirts
Headbands("No pink tails, or pony tails, or braids mommy")
Scripture story: Korihor
Writing and sending letters

We definitely have our power struggles, but most of the time she is one sweet, obedient, funny little girl. Last night I asked her to pick up her room and get her jammies on while I put Elijah to bed (since Jacob wasn't home yet). When I came out of Eli's room I was pleasantly surprised to see her room completely picked up with everything in it's correct place. She had gotten her 'footie' pajamas on by herself, and was attempting to floss.

Love you Misses McGuilicutty...
(Pa Paw calls her that and she thinks it is hilarious, especially when she says it)

It's My Birffday

I'm not sure I ever imagined how much a handmade card from my own child would mean to me on my birthday. She came and woke me up this morning holding this fabulous card saying, "mommy, it's your birthday!" Inferring, 'get up silly, let's play!' She brought me to a table with hot french toast smothered in butter and powdered sugar (my favorite), and a beautiful bouquet of white daisies (also my favorite). Mr. Dean likes to spoil me rotten...



...I am looking forward to getting even more rotten while we celebrate the whole weekend long...

You know how some birthdays don't feel any different than other years?



Well this year I definitely feel different. Heck, I even look different. I feel like I actually look older.



It seems like the years 19-24 all felt really young, and now BAM I'm 25! Not that I feel old, I just feel like I'm not a 1L anymore (lawyer lingo for first year law student).


(please notice the huge glob of lotion my little lu is sneaking onto her brother)

I feel like I'm officially a mom, and a wife, a Relief Society presidency member, an aunt (yay!), all those titles that youngsters don't have. I like it, I do. It's all sinking in. Part of me is a little sad to let go of some of the youngster titles. But I'm excited to be in the prime of my life, I just hope it doesn't go by too fast.



Happy Birthday to me :)

p.s. didn't my mother take some great pictures while she was in town. Love her...

Party Time

Say Cheese Birthday Girl!

Today Luci turned 2! She was so excited when she woke up to find a bunch of balloons in her room. Jacob told her happy birthday and for the rest of the day she kept saying, it's party time! and happy my birthday! She got to have monkey bread for breakfast, but of course she still asked for grapenuts... we asked her what she wanted for dinner and she said, "a smoothie please". So she had a green drink :) We made cupcakes with our friends, vanilla chiffon with lemon buttercream, yum. Thanks for coming over to celebrate with us! And thanks for all the calls we got today from family!



We got her a soccer ball and while we were outside kicking it around she saw the dog next door. The dog was scratching his ear, and Luci thought it was hilarious! She thought the dog was dancing because she kept saying, "He's shaking his booty!" She also told me, "mom, you're crazy" and "okey dokey artichokey" today. I'm really not sure where she get's all these sayings. Our favorite these days is when she says "see ya later racoon" instead of "see ya soon racoon", or "see ya later aligator". Love you Darlin'! Don't grow up too fast!

The Month of Love

It's February and some of you may know that it happens to be my favorite month of the year. Partly because it includes my birthday, my little sisters birthday, and Valentine's Day. But mostly it's a way that I have discovered to make a freezing, dreary month (weather wise) something to celebrate...thus forgetting about the cold, and dreary world. Brilliant! if I say so myself. I haven't been as good at celebrating each day this year (dressing in pink, making heart shaped everything, eating lots of raspberries, and chocolate covered whatevers), but hey, I'm about to have a little chiddler (as the BFG would say) and we've had lots going on. OH excuses excuses. We have had some good times though, so let me tell ya about them.
I got to celebrate my birthday for a whole week! Went to lunch, breakfast, and got ice cream for free twice. My lovely friends made me breakfast, and Jacob made a true blue "Richard Parkinson (my dad) Sunday dinner" the Baby back ribs even had homemade bbq sauce, and there were mushrooms sauteed in butter and lemon. There was also hot sourdough from the oven, and grilled asparagus. Oh and don't forget the Better than you know what cake: a tradition my mom had for me. I did make heart and lip shaped Lion House Rolls. I made pink cupcakes for activity days, and today we made valentines at a friends house. I bought sweethearts (which are definitely not as good as they used to be) and valentine's snickers... okay so maybe I have indulged a little...Isn't February worth it though! It's such a great month (really Cat, you don't still hate it do you?) Besides celebrating February here are some other things.

Luci got tubes in her ears. The nurses told us that she would probably be inconsolable when she woke up from the anesthesia. Of course when we went back to try and console her she was simply talking in full sentences to the nurse.

Yes, I got emotional. It's not fun seeing you pride and joy go limp while looking you in the eyes with huge tears. "Save me mommy"

Nana made Luci an adorable Tinkerbell tutu which she loves!

We've had tons of snow! I'm so glad Jacob likes playing in it with Luci.

We've spent lots of time at Grandma and Grandpa's house because of Jacob's externship at the Supreme Court. (Making Playdough with Parker and Grandma)

Saturday was...

A HIT!

Luci's First Birthday Party

I love planning parties and this was my favorite so far. A ladybug cake, pink and yellow balloons, family and friends. What a blast. Luci was a star! She loved all the kiddo's running around. She love love loved opening her presents and then putting everything back in the bags so that she could pull it all out again. I made her my delicious but healthy banapple cake (recipe below) with all whole wheat pastry flour and lots of bananas and applesauce in hopes that she wouldn't get too much of a sugar overdose during her first exposure. Well, she hardly even got to the cake when she figured out that the spots were made out of Oreos. Going straight for the chocolate...her mothers girl. Please block out the not so lovely singing in the video below :)

Banapple Cake

2 eggs
2 cups whole wheat flour (pastry is yummiest)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
.5 tsp salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
.5 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1 tsp cinnnamon

Allow eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Mix together dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
Add bananas, yogurt, applesauce, and vanilla. Beat on low until combined.
Add eggs and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Pour into greased and floured pans. (Two round pans or one 13x9x2)
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Let cake cool on wire rack for about 10 minutes before removing from pans.
When completely cooled top with cream cheese frosting.