Go Devils!!!

Friday night was the annual ASU scrimmage. You can get in for free and if you can endure the painfully long bored out of your mind scrimmaging (Dale's gonna be mad I said that), you get to go out on the field when it's over and meet all the players and cheerleaders. Sadly, I didn't get to go this year. Too hot and long for our littlest kiddos. So armed with a camera, Dale took the older kids, Tabby and Rex.
Meeting the cheerleaders:

The ladies love you Rex, get used to it.
It's Sparky!!!
All the players have Sharpies to sign autographs.
Rex's favorite cousin Kam was there too.
Football legends in the making.
Fantastic pose, Tabby.
We're still working on the proper way to do the pitchfork.
I'm sad I wasn't there, it's really a great free family activity. Can't wait to go next year. I do get to go to the season opener this Saturday though. Hopefully, this season, ASU won't rip my husbands heart out and stomp all over it.

I am so excited!

I may or may not have already gotten started on my girls' Halloween costumes...

I can't help it. It's almost my favorite time of the year. The weather cools making running so much easier, football starts which means happy hubby, and Halloween (my favorite holiday) is coming soon.

I let my girls look through a costume catalog and pick out the costume they liked best. Instead of buying it (expensive) I'm gonna try and make one that looks like it (cheap.)

Can you tell what they are gonna be?

I really really want to bust out the Halloween decos soon. But even I realize it's too early for that. I will exercise restraint....

If you don't make this, you are a fool!

Not really, you won't be a fool. I was just trying to use the art of persuasion. Please let me know if it worked and you made this:

http://dozenflours.com/2009/08/glenns-stargazer-pie.html

You really should. I decided to make it and I didn't regret that decision one bit. The picture is also from the blog I found the recipe on.

The only thing I did differently was the pan. I don't have a springform pan so I used a tin pan from Wal-Mart. Set me back a whole $1.50 and worked just as well.

P.S. it's delish at any time but it hits it's peak after being in the fridge for about a day. Next time I make it, I will make it the day before and keep it in the fridge until it's time to eat.

I Want To Go Running!

Ever since I've had my baby, all I have wanted to do was get back to running. I really miss it. I went for the first time on Saturday. It was good but not great. I could feel every. bit. of. me. jiggle. Ugh. And as I was driving home from errands just now, I saw a super hardcore runner (it's 108 out) and wished it was me out there. Well, first I laughed at him cause he was one of those fruit loops who does lunges and jumping jacks on the corner while waiting for the light to change. But then I wished I was out running just like him. Anyway, it made me think, "Was I really the girl who would go running almost every day?" "Was I really the girl who could run up South Mountain and back down again?" "Was I really the girl who got up at 3:30 a.m. in the summer to go for a long run before the sun came out?" "Was I really the girl who ran 2 marathons?" "Was I really the girl who ran a 7 min mile?" Don't laugh at that last one, that's actually fast for me, okay? I realized that girl doesn't seem like me right now and dang it, I really want to be that girl again. I'm doing my best to find the time but it's so flipping hot right now I would probably pass out if I ran during the day. I don't have any new running buddies in my neighborhood yet to run with me at night and the early morning is out for now. Like I'm really going to get up at 5 a.m. after getting up at 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. to feed the baby. So like I said, I'm doing my best to get out there and I'm just going to have to be cool with that until things change. I really was that girl once, I swear.

Back To School

I know, they've been "back to school" for a week now. I'm just a tad behind. My excuse is that I just joined Facebook. It's something I always said I'd never do. But I did. And it's fun. And it's taking up all my time.

Anyways.

Tabby went back to school on Monday. I was nervous for her because she only went to this school for a little over a month last year. I was worried that she would feel left out if all the other kids were friends already. But of course, Tabby is Tabby and she walks right up to anyone and starts talking to them as if they were best friends. She came home with lots of new buddies on Monday and said she loves her teacher. I asked her how her day was and she said "Good, but I did have a few embarrassments." I was concerned about these "embarrassments" and asked her what she meant and she said that she had gotten out all her school supplies before it was time. She realized her mistake and quickly put them under her chair to hide them. Relieved, I told her that was no big deal and nobody probably even noticed. Phew! I thought she meant she peed her pants or let one slip or something.

Miss Cutie Herself:
Hello Kitty all the way!
Rex's preschool started on Wednesday. He was counting down the minutes till it was time to go. Like his sis, he's outgoing and will talk to anyone. When I picked him up, I asked him how it went. Instead of telling me about his class and his teacher, he goes on and on about a Transformers shirt that one kid wore. Apparently it was the coolest thing ever.

Mr. Friendly:
He insisted that I take a picture of him running in the grass:
Next year, Ella will be in preschool and that means 3 out of 4 kids will be gone for some portion of the day! Having kids close together pays off, I tell you.

More Girly Necklaces

Things are finally starting to get back on a schedule which means I have finally had more time to clean my house. Naw, that's no fun! I mean making fun stuff again. I've been busy putting together some bling for my girlies.I always want to know where other people find their stuff so I'll tell you where I found mine. I got the heart from Tilly's. The pink beads from Hobby Lobby, the white beads from Claire's, and the silver and clear beads from Michael's. If you watch the sales, you can usualy get all of these things for half off.

Ella is getting to the age of not destroying everything I put on her so she's been having fun wearing necklaces like her big sister.
I got the heart and the blue and green beads from Tilly's and the pearls came from an old fake pearl necklace of mine that I never wore. It was a gigantic super long string of pearls and I decided it looked ridiculous on me. The crystal beads came from Artbeads.
For this one, I got the crown at a place in Ahwatukee called Dazzle. It's the only thing in all of these necklaces that wasn't super cheap. I think it was around $10.00 or so. All the other beads came from Artbeads. I love this online store because they are cheap, you don't have to buy in bulk and they have free shipping.

Question

Can anyone tell me why all of a sudden, my blog is turning my high-res pictures into low quality? It started doing it about 3 or 4 posts back. I figure some setting got changed but I can't figure it out. I know it's not my monitor because other people's pics look fine. Grrrrr!

Gunner's Blessing

We blessed Gunner on Sunday Aug, 2nd. I know, I'm getting behind. I have a new baby, so cut me some slack. Anyway, Dale's dad, all his brothers, and brother's in law were there to help bless him and it really was a special day (it was really special because it was Ella's birthday as well.) We are 4-0 for kids not crying while they are getting blessed. I knew Gunner wouldn't because he seriously only cries when he his hungry (which is right now, hence the fast typing and short post.)

My macho man:I tried my darnedest to get a good pic of all the kids. This is the best they gave me.
Actually, Rex's face is pretty awesome in this.

1 Month

On one hand it seems as the time has flown by and I can't believe he's one month old already. On the other hand, it feels like we've had him here forever.

In his first month he's experienced:
-A huge weight gain. He weighs 12 and a half pounds already.
-Eating non stop 24/7. I still don't make enough milk for him so he gets a bottle after every time I nurse. It takes a lot to keep this big boy fed.
-A receding hairline. He used to have a thick fluffy head of hair. Now his hair scheme is that of an old man.
-Thrush. His mommy has it too. Super fun.
-His blessing from his daddy (pics to come).
-His brother and sisters smothering him with lovies all day long. This boy is getting no shortage of attention I tell you.

To try and make more milk, I'm taking this herb called Fenugreek. It smells and tastes just like maple syrup and consequently, I do too. I read that this is a side effect and it's driving me nuts. I smell like breakfast. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this nursing/bottle feeding situation. It's a lot of work. It's got to be one or the other, you know? I'll keep trying for a bit but I have to draw the line somewhere!

Anyway, here are some pics of the little chunk:

Memory Lane

Almost all of my childhood pictures were taken on slide film and I've really never seen most of them (my parents took thousands, who wants to sit through that slide show?) My dad is now scanning them on to his computer and sending them to me. I am finally getting to see what I looked like as a kid. Just kidding dad, there were some pictures that made it in to an album as I grew. It's been fun rediscovering my childhood so I thought I'd share.

My musical ability was apparent from an early age.
We were born in Provo, Utah and lived in a little red house that I think is no longer there. Here's my sis getting ready to go outside in winter time. She's striking a rather darling pose.
I was a total thumb sucker. It may have been cute when I was a kid but not so cute with a mouth full of braces as a result.
Check out my rad coat.
Don't ask me about this one. I just thought I looked cute in it. =)
I had a very serious birthday, I guess.
This is me getting what turned out to be my teddy bear that never left my side for years and years. I pulled all the fur off of it as I snuggled with it. I still have it. Patches and all. Named it Teddy of course. I wrapped my arm around him as I slept and now I have to put with a pillow where the bear used to be or I won't be comfortable.
You don't need those expensive American Girl dolls to match your clothes to your doll, all you need is a mom that can sew.
Some times I think my kids look like me when I was their age. Sometimes I think they look like Dale. I'll have to put some of his kiddo pictures up here for a side by side comparison. He's got some sweet ones too, like the pictures of him showing his prize hog at the county fair. It's awesome.

Ella's Puppy Party

Ever since Tabby had her Pinkalicious party, Ella has been talking non-stop about her party. She came up with the idea of a puppy theme all on her own. We had a small family party for her over at my parents house. Everyone got to wear puppy ears.
Or should I say, everyone HAD to wear puppy ears:
What a good daddy.

Ella had so much fun opening her presents.

It wouldn't be a party without one of Magi's specially designed cakes.

This time she used Ella's favorite stuffed puppy named Diamond as inspiration.
Here's Diamond (of course Ella named it).
Here's the cake:
So cute, right???
I especially loved the detail of the bow:
Then it was time to blow out the candles.
Look how all the kids are making a blowing out the candles face too. So funny.
Happy Birthday sweet girl!