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)

Wiser Too

Elijah is ONE!

He continues to be a sweet, chill guy. He is a silent little destroyer. We always knew where luci was because she is sooo loud! But Eli is a sneaky little guy. For example, I found him in the pantry silently eating a bag of mini marshmallows.

He loves to cuddle too...

I love my little man.
Some of his favorite things are...
His blankie
His mommy
Oranges
Being Outside
Smoothies
Putting things in and out of containers
Swings and Slides
Peek a boo
Oatmeal
Stairs
Blowing kisses
Leading the Music (every time we sing)

Here's the Re Cap of the Party

I posted the Banapple Cake Recipe Here
We had fruit, nachos, and homemade animal crackers.
There were lots of friends and family and we were so glad it was warm enough for the kids to go outside!



Blueberry Panckaes with whipped cream and sprinkles :)


Very cautiously thinking about touching his cake...


Loving Grandma and his presents too.

Developing Taste Buds

I know most of you know my opinions about getting kids to eat healthy... start them young! So, when I read this article I was so excited! I was feeling way more than validated. It's an interview with Dr. Allan Greene. Dr Greene is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, an Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children's Hospital, and a Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions. He has a couple of books out there on feeding baby. The interview focuses on things like feeding baby whatever the family is eating, even peanut butter! He suggests that holding off on allergenic foods might make a child more susceptible to the allergy (when there is not already a history of allergens). When we feed our babies exciting foods early they learn to love them. Here's the interview. Here's a link to his website. Here's some proof from my family... Both Elijah and Luci loved this cobb salad complete with lettuce, cabbage, grapes, carrots, cucumbers, shrimp, and eggs. The trick to getting Eli to eat it is chopping it up in a food processor or blender with a little salad dressing.

Also, his little blurb about milk was such an answer to my prayers today.

Recently

Museum center A bit concerned with his first sandbox experience

"Cheese"

"

Peanut butter, banana, chocolate chip oatmeal, mmm.

Let me in!

Find Rest

I'm tired a lot lately.
It takes a lot of stinkin' energy to be a good mom. And honestly I don't feel like a great one all the time. I'm not always excited to get on a pretend airplane and get on and off over and over while we travel the world. And here's a secret: I sometimes wish for silence... And I hate admitting this stuff. But life isn't all rose colored right? Well I had a special experience that helped to remember how I can be a better mom. How I can be excited to pretend, and to listen for hours, and to make dinner with little ones at my feet. Jacob gave me a priesthood blessing and Heavenly Father reminded me of this promise.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Can you guess what stood out to me? "I will give you rest" Rest from being exhausted, rest from doubting myself, rest from anxiety over all the little things.

I'll take it.

Now I've got to learn how to trust Him. Do it with me?

Life

This morning I went for a swim. It's a good thing Jacob helps me get out the door, because I love it. It's getting into the pool that is so hard. I have been so cold lately! I think it's because of all the tricks mother nature has been playing. Anyway, Last week as I was walking past a lovely bunch of older ladies in the locker room (all half dressed) they all kindly commented ,"awe, what a skinny little thing". Then they talked about the old days when they were skinny little things and some about how they were never skinny things, and how their husbands (bless their souls) loved them just the way they were. I loved being able to listen in on that conversation. They were all so content with who they were. They were constantly complementing each other and saying how much they liked each other.
Today as I was swimming one of those sweet old ladies stopped me mid swim to ask me, in her thick German accent and shower cap covered head, where I was from. I said Utah, and now here. And then she continued saying, "oh, so you're not European then? You vere swimming so gracefully, and it vas so lovely to watch. Most people beat the [heck] out of the vater, and I vonder, vhy do they svim if they hate the vater?"
Ha! I got mistaken for a graceful European swimmer today :) I love those ladies.
Life is so great.
These kids are great


They are seriously so funny together.

Valentines day was great too...
I did accomplish lots of things on that list, not the flower cake yet, but I will! Jacob took me to get ice cream at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream where I had to taste pretty much every flavor, notice all the little spoons in my hand. Proof of my indecisiveness. Yum, I got salty caramel, and Roxbury Road. Mm you have to go there. I want some more...

Wuv

A Face to Wuv:

I'm sorry to say that I'm feeling pretty bummed about the (non) attention I've been giving my lovely February. It's almost V-day and I am so behind. I haven't baked or cooked one thing that was heart shaped this year. This is partly attributable to the fact that my heart and lips cookie cutters were missing until a few days ago. Mostly I have just been too busy though... It hurts me to say those words. Too busy for my favorite time of the year?? Me?! Well, I have a few days left and I am going to do them justice. What's on my list??

Printing off these free valentine printables and coloring them with the goose


Making these dark chocolate cupcakes with strawberry cream filling


Attempting a red velvet cake, with this frosting tutorial

Making a list of things that I love, that Luci loves, that Eli loves, and that Jacob loves
Making heart shaped pizza's tomorrow night
Maybe these cookies too...
Have lots of people over to eat all the treats, so I don't.

Okay that's pretty ambitious so lets make a goal to do at least 3 of them.

Oh and here's another face to Wuv:

(daddy found a wig for eli)