Recipes

I am always looking for new easy and super yummy recipes. I found these two recipe websites that I think are fabulous! The recipes are yummy and super easy.

Check them out!

My Kitchen Cafe
Sister's Cafe

Pooper Scooper

We have two dogs. Dogs poop. Owners are supposed to pick up their poop. Especially in public places. That's called doggy etiquette.

Confession. Sometimes we don't pick up the poop. 8 months prego and bending down to pick up poop just doesn't work. Late at night when no one can see the poop...yeah, didn't pick it up but pretended to. Yes, pretended to. I am ashamed.

I have tried to right my wrongs and I have been diligently picking up my dogs poop on our walks. Why the change of heart you ask? I don't want to be shunned. Someone might see me. Really, that's the only reason. Sad...I know.

Today I had a big old bag of poop. Wait, let me paint a picture. Me with Madeline in our double jogger enormo stroller, Boo & Ashes, hyper dogs on leashes that criss cross and go as fast and wherever they want....walking. Me, periodically stopping to pick up poop. Me, carrying full bag of poop, holding onto stroller and two leashes. Wind blowing very hard, could have knocked me over. Bag of poop goes flying. Me, panicking. Poop nearly falling out of bag, me trying to keep it from falling out while holding onto stroller and two leashes and trying not to blow over in the wind. Me cursing (not really cursing but you get the point) poop. Me vowing if poop falls out, I will not pick it up again. Me wondering when poop became such a part of my daily life. Me getting poop safely into the stinky garbage can so they can be stinky together, me dry heaving.

9 months old!

Madeline is 9 months old...today.

It amazes me how much she learns from month to month and how much she changes. She is the sweetest little girl in the world, I'm convinced. I can't believe how lucky we are to have such a blessing in our family. My whole life I dreamed about being a mom and being Madeline's mom is more than I ever could have dreamed. We love this little girl to pieces.

Here are the 9 month happenings:

I don't have a great picture of this yet...but I will soon. Madeline is getting two top teeth, her vampire teeth! It looks so funny! As soon as they come in all the way I will post a picture. It really is hilarious.

She is saying mama and dada.

She loves to dance, dance, dance. Anytime she hears music her little body starts a shakin'.

She still loooves to eat her frozen peas. She actually loves to eat. She is so interested in what the grown ups are eating and so she has had a taste of this and that and I think she is starting to prefer this and that over the stinky baby food she normally gets.

She had her first popscicle...and loved it of course.

Madeline is still madly in love with her daddy. Her little face lights up when she hears his voice or sees his face. Everyday when Jimmy comes home and we hear the garage door open I say, "Where's Daddy?" and the puppies go running and Madeline is right behind them speed crawling to wait by the door for her daddy to come in. I look forward to this moment everyday. Not just because Jimmy is finally home, but because Madeline's face is priceless she oozes love for her daddy and he oozes it right back at her.

These days Madeline is always dirty. Not by my choice but just because she loves to explore and get into everything. It's hard to get this girl to hold still long enough to wipe her face or change her diaper. (Don't worry, we do clean her...it's just doesn't last very long.)

Madeline has discovered the dog bowls. We have to hide the food so she won't eat it but we let her go at the water. She loves to splish and splash and slide around in it. It's pretty entertaining to watch.

Madeline and Boo have become best friends. They even share their toys. Every now and then Boo will chew on a doll and Madeline will chew on a bone. That's what best friends are for right? When Boo hears Madeline wake up from a nap he runs up the stairs and waits for me to open her door, he then goes in and licks her through the bars on her crib. It's a really sweet thing.

They often give each other kisses throughout the day.

Madeline has figured out how to play games. Especially the game where she turns on the playstation 50 times a day and I come after her. She really enjoys this one. She will giggle before she gets to it and keep turning around to make sure I am on my way. I can't help but laugh, she's so cute.

She has also figured out how to manipulate my momminess. I have been trying really hard to let her fall asleep without me being in the room. I saw the show supernanny the other day and this little boy was a monster and wouldn't go to sleep unless his mom was laying in bed with him or holding his hand and well he was just awful and I started to have nightmares about our future. ha ha, so I have been letting her cry a little bit and eventually she will fall asleep. Well, the past few days she has started doing these ear piercing screams with her cries which of course send me running thinking something is wrong. To my surprise upon entering her room I am greeted with a giggly smiley baby. What a little trickster. She has me wrapped around all ten of those tiny little fingers and she knows it. I can't resist it though. I tickle her right back and then the whole naptime getting to sleep starts all over.

Madeline is standing and holding onto everything she can to get around the room. I think she will be letting go and be walking soon. She has acted like she might the past few days but her feet seem like they are stuck in mud. It's fun to watch. I really do love to watch her learn. Everything is exciting. Lately she loves to crawl around with things in her hands, especially socks. Go figure. The other day I caught her standing on the seat of her little bike while holding onto the steering wheel...thank heavens it doesn't roll! She was pretty proud of herself.

She is just so happy and smiley and so much fun. I am amazed at how much love that little body can hold. I'm humbled to be her mommy and thankful for the chance. I am just amazed at how much I feel the Savior's love from my baby. She really is the sweetest purest thing and we are learning so much from her everyday.

The Great Aloha Run...Walk

On President's Day we did the Great Aloha Run.

We actually walked because it was a requirement

if you were pushing a stroller.

It was a whopping 8.1 mile run/walk from

the Aloha Tower to the Aloha Stadium.

We weren't really sure how Madeline would do because we

had to get up at 4 and walk at 7 and

well you know.

Anyway, she was a trooper and did awesome!

So did this guy....

We had one goal throughout the race.

To beat the midgets, the nuns

and those pulling little red wagons.

We finished in just under 2.5 hours.

baby in red

We got all ready to go to church, but we didn't make it very far.

Look at those eyes, they say sick all over them.

I had to take pictures anyway, I think she looks

so stinkin' cute all dressed up.

Here's my new hobby...bow making.

sick, but still smiling

Madeline has been sick.

She hasn't felt well at all but that sure

doesn't keep this little girl from

smiling.

"Yummmy, salty."

I couldn't resist taking pictures of her when she woke

up the other morning. Her face was covered

in snot but she was as happy as ever.

Ala Moana Beach Park

Daddy and Daughter.

We went to Honolulu to pick up some stuff and

decided to stop off at the beach park.

It was fun until the

giant gust of wind came and almost

blew us into the water.

Yes, that is snot running down Madeline's

face. Poor girl.

I always said I wouldn't let snot

run down my kids face but I have come

to the realization that sometimes

you can't help it. It just keeps

on running!

fun for you and fun for me...

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

our new toy

Jimmy bought me and Madeline a new toy. It is AWESOME! For all of you wondering which stroller to get, get this one. The BOB Revolution Duallie. It even has a car seat adapter. Yes, it is wonderful. We have had it for about two weeks now and I have to say that I love it. It is so easy to push and maneuver. Madeline loves to ride in it. It is one of the best baby purchases we have made...seriously. We got the double one to save on monies when we have another tyke.

It not only is a wonderful stroller but it has provided me with motivation. Amazing what spending large amounts of money on something can do for your motivation. I love running with it, it provides resistance and makes my workout super worth it. Yes, it is worth every penny. I have just started running again. I think my body is just now feeling like it can get back to a normal workout routine. So far, so good.

The Smith's

Our friends Matt & Melissa came to visit us

on their way to a Hawaiian cruise.

(We are still so jealous...cruises are so fun!)

They stayed with us for a night and we

were able to hang out a bit. We went to the

North Shore and ate some yummy food,

sat on the beach and watched the giant waves,

saw the sea turtles, had shaved ice,

and went to a gigantic swap meet

where you could buy all of the crap you could ever want.

We are so glad you came to see us!

Now all of you follow their examples

and come and see us too!

bathtime

This girl was born a water baby.

where's ashes??

give the dog a bone

new favorite pastime

Madeline loves to stand.

She would probably stand all day if

her little legs would let her.

Lately her favorite thing to do is stand at

the back door and stare at the puppies outside.

She especially loves to blow raspberries on the glass at them.

surfing in the u.s.a

Jimmy went surfing the other day.

Some friends from church took

him out and taught him

how to hang 10.

There was a little pre-water instruction...

And some in the water instruction...this is all I got because

they went so far out I couldn't really see them.

I did see Jimmy get up and ride a wave.

I knew it was him because I could hear

people out in the water cheering him on.

He had fun and said it was a lot of work. He came home with

some sweet board rash on his chest.

Next time I get to try.

the simple things in life

Who knew a laundry basket could be so much fun?

the joy of drinking from a glass

Madeline loves drinking out of a glass. I don't know what it is about the glass that gets her all giggly and excited but she loves it!