Who Knew...

Zach, running around the coffee table, could get this kind of a reaction out of Kate. That's what bIg BrOtHeRs are for...

The Coldest Easter Egg Hunt to Date...

Aren't Easter Egg Hunts supposed to be on a bright, green, grassy knoll, with butterflies flying around the kids, dressed up in their pastel Easter outfits, searching around flower beds for hidden treasures, that the Easter Bunny has left for them to find? If you live where I do...then not so much.

Instead the Easter Egg Hunt is in a cold, wet, muddy playground, with snow flurries falling down on the kids, dressed up in their snow gear, searching around dirt and playground equipment for hidden eggs filled with frozen candy, they perceive to be left, lovingly, by the Easter Bunny.

Yesterday Zach and I bundled ourselves up and went to Elmwood Park, in Norristwon, to pick up trash in the park. Our church took part in helping the community pick up trash, that is littered around the park throughout the year, as part of a service project. We found tons of trash, things from a shoe(a woman's high heel to be exact...I felt like I was discarding part of a crime scene...you never know...we are in Philly after all) to plastic dinnerware, down to cigarette butts. I had a fun time asking Zach if something belonged in the park and having him respond, "NO, that doesn't go in the park!" I think Zach had a fun time watching me pick up trash while he played on the playgrounds.

Halfway through, it started to lightly snow(snow?YES...I can't wait for winter to be over, and it is for this reason that Easter should never be in March!). By this time we had been there for a little over an hour. A lot of us had small children there and were ready to call it day. Zach had been complaining of being "freezing" and his hands were starting to go numb. The kids were able to hold out just long enough the throw the trash into the dumpster and do the Easter egg hunt the organization hosting the park clean-up had set up for the kids that participated. Zach picked up as many eggs as he could find, took a quick swing with his girlfriend Camden, grabbed a little snack, and headed home to get a hot shower to defrost.

I hope when we go to the Elmwood Park Zoo, once the weather gets nice, that he will remember picking up the trash in the park as we drive by.

Where's Justin and Kate? Justin was down with a sore throat, so opted to stay home with Kate. I wasn't about to take her out in the cold. After two bouts of RSV and this being the second weekend in a row(cross your fingers) that she hasn't been sick with something since January, I wasn't taking chances.

This pictures is from November, Kate was a month old, but isn't it fun to see how much she has grown? What a handsome daddy she has huh?

Quite the Imagination...

Did we mention Zach loves the drums too! He sets his trampoline up with a dump truck, and two of his baby bikes on top, and imagines he is playing the drums. His drum sticks are two, unsharpened of course, pencils. This music thing has turned into quite a daily routine. Here he is caught in action...

Primary Talent Show...

Last Friday night was the Primary Talent Show at our church. I had mentioned something once about having Zach show off his love for playing the guitar in front of everyone, but wasn't sure if he would "perform". So instead I thought we would go in support of the rest of the kids, and expose Zach to what a Talent Show is, then maybe if he was up for it, stick him in the show last minute.

Well I was wrong...when we got to the church they handed us a program. We took our seats and waited for the show to begin. As we were waiting I glanced down at the program and sure enough Zach's name and talent were on the program, as a "Rock N Roll Lip Sync". I didn't panic, but felt bad because I was definitely unprepared. I brought no guitar, no music, and had two kids on my own(Justin was out of town), that to get something last minute was going to be impossible. Thinking fast I asked Zach what he would like to do for the talent show and he said "Triple Lip." It is actually "Triple Whip" - a trick that Pablo, from the Backyardigans, does on his surf board in one of the episodes we have TiVoed(love my TiVo). So I went up and told them to change his talent to showing everyone his "Triple Lip", as Zach calls it, then sat down and thought phew, good thing my kid is so talented that he has several things besides playing the guitar to showcase.

As the program started Zach was so inspired by all the kids and their talents, he wanted to get up in between each kid and showcase himself. I had to tell him it wasn't his turn over and over. He kept telling me that he wanted to play his guitar. At this point I am feeling really bad because like I said, we were unprepared...until...Camden got up on the stage with her guitar. Saved!!! We borrowed her guitar after she was done and thank goodness for Austen and his itunes. Had we been more prepared and thinking clearly, I would have at least ran out to the car to get the Guns and Rosies(as Zach would say it) CD that Justin keeps in the car. Daughtry was a good alternative though, and probably more appropriate anyway. To my surprise, Zach got up when it was his turn and well, take a look for yourself! Thanks Deagan for videotaping this for us. We really need to get a camcorder. Hint Hint Santa. And thanks to Jen for assuming Zach would "perform", and putting him on the program.

Zach's "TrIpLe LiP!"

Zach's a RoCkStAr!

Facts:

Zach is obsessed with guitars. Everything is a guitar from a kitchen spatula to a ping pong paddle and everything else in between. He doesn't even need music the play...

His favorite songs at the moment are Guns and Rosies(again as he says it) - Paradise City, and Welcome to the Jungle, Van Halen - Jump and Lincoln Park - Bleed it Out. Grandma and Grandpa I am so sorry, I blame the song choice on Justin. If it were up to me, and I am working on it, I would prefer he liked artists more like John Mayer, Jack Jonson, etc. His innocence is being robbed!

He takes this very seriously. He practices all day long. I am not kidding. All day long he tells me he has to practice. He has a specific guitar jacket he puts on(a green gap zip up jacket), and like I said, a guitar in hand. Just look at his face. He means business.

He makes us and all his friends play guitars with him, and if we aren't standing correctly or facing the right direction on the stage(he makes believe certain places in the house are stages, the area rug, his trampoline, the coffee table, etc.) he will correct us until we are right.

The Perfect St. Patty's Day Treat...

Hahaha...just joking

Paula Deen Mint Brownies

Brownies
4 oz. (4 sq.) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 c. (2 sticks) butter
4 large eggs
2 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1 c. flour

Filling
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
2 c. sifted powdered sugar
4 T. green creme de menthe
(or use green food coloring plus a dash of peppermint extract)
Icing
6 oz. (1c.) semisweet chocolate chips
6 T. (3/4 stick) butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pam spray 9 x 13 pan. In double boiler, melt baking chocolate and 1 c. butter over simmering water. Cool slightly. In medium mixing bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until blended, then add the 2 c. sugar and continue whisking until mixture is light and fluffy. Add cooled chocolate mixture, salt, vanilla and flour. Keep whisking until thoroughly blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pan.

For filling, using electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and powdered sugar until well blended. Stir in the creme de menthe or food coloring and peppermint. Spread over cooled brownies.

For icing, melt the chocolate chips and 6 T. butter in the top of a double boiler, stirring until smooth. Pour the warm glaze over the filling and tilt pan to distribute the icing evenly. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.

To cut, allow brownies to come to room temperature in the pan so chocolate won't crack.

Delish!!!!!!!!! Oh and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"Not Really A Priority"...

Are the not so sweet words that came out of Justin's mouth Wednesday night after I had told him that I would be missing a dinner out at Hard Rock Cafe, with my girlfriend Kori and her High School Dance Company, that has been planned for over a month now...Will I ever get a break?

Let's back up a bit. Back in January my friend Kori emailed me to let me know she would be in Philly for the High School Dance Festival. I haven't seen her in three years. We helped each other out a lot when I was a teacher at Bingham and she was teaching at Riverton(still is). We also danced at BYU on Dancers' Company together. We go back 5-7 years. Anyways, we have been emailing back and forth since and solidified meeting up for dinner tonight at Hard Rock, downtown Philly. I even have it written down on a calendar I keep. So it was important to me.

Lets also add that I hardly ever go out to eat, never am without a kid, no make that kids, never get the chance to go into the city, which in the beginning, was the whole reason why I was excited to move to Philly for Dental School, in the first place. And last, hardly ever get the chance to go and do something just for me. I know I know that is what being a mom is, but still.

Going back to the beginning, on Wednesday we received the news that Justin's Grandpa Marostica had passed away. It is really sad, he was a great man, fought in the war, convert to the church, etc. That night Justin was debating on whether or not he should go to the funeral. Well of course he has to go, it's his Grandpa. We would have all loved to go to honor him and his life, but money, kids, etc. There really isn't a good excuse, but obviously we aren't there. Like I was saying, when I got home from teaching Wednesday night Justin tells me he would like to go to the funeral, and asks if it was ok with me. Obviously yes, but then he asks what are you thinking, and besides wanting to go too,

I said "All I really had planned this weekend was going to dinner with Kori remember?"

His response "Well, it's not really a priority."

In my mind I agreed but still am sad the response wasn't something more like this,

"I know, I am so sorry, I know you have had that planned for three months now, I wish there was something I could do, I will make it up to you when I get back." Maybe a hug would have been nice too, but as I said the response was a stone cold "Not really a priority."

I guess my point is when can a girl get a break? Obviously a death in the family takes precedence over a night out to myself, eating yummy food, without kids, in the city, with a good friend of mine.

I still haven't settled because it is the day of and I haven't called Kori yet to tell her that I am not going to be able to make it. Maybe by some small miracle I will be able to find someone to watch my kids.

Grandma's Are Good For...

Hunna Hunna's - which by definition is the act of Grandma Laraine nuzzling close to Kate's (or any grandchild for that matter) jaw, chin and neck area and repeating the words "Hunna Hunna" as if she were almost going to eat her. It doesn't matter who the child is, they all love it! Here are the pictures to prove...

and Spoiling - Kate loves her new Jumper. It sure beats banging your head up against the doorways and walls the way the old Johnny Jump Ups used to make them do.

Boy do we owe Grandma for not only coming to visit us, but also extending her stay to take care of us while I got pneumonia. Needless to say we passed our colds onto her to take home on the plane and deal with after it was all said and done.

Now You Know My ABC's...

A - Attached or Single: Attached—to a dental student who takes his study time way too serious and 2 kids who most days make me happy to be a mom
B - Best Friend: My sister, who knows all my secrets, even the secrets my friends divulge to me and think I have kept to myself
C- Cake or Pie: Ice Cream Cake
D - Day of Choice: Saturday if Justin when Justin isn't studying
E - Essential Item: Diaper Bag
F - Favorite Color: RED
G - Gummi Bears or Worms: Both, but I am picky. White bears only and red and white worms
H - Hometown: Not so rainy Portland, Oregon
I - Indulgence(s): Some sort of treat after every meal and Shoes
J - January or July: July, my birthday and anniversary month
K - Kids: Crazy Zach and Little Kate
L - Life is Incomplete Without: TiVo! How does one live without?
M - Marriage Date: July 27th, 2002
N - Number of Siblings: 6, 5 older(two sisters and three brothers) and 1 younger(sister)
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: That my kids will be Goth or live a scary lifestyle like that. Have you seen Zach's face when he plays his guitar(it scares me even if it is just to Guns and Rosies, as he would say, and Kiss)
Q - Quote(s): “Fierce, Business, Party, Money Maker" -- Christian from Project Runway when describing his hair and face
R - Reason to Smile: Both kids are in bed and the house is quiet
S - Season: Late Spring and Early Fall
T - Tag Seven: Marnae, Lindsey L., Paige, Amber P., Emily, Beth and Mykelle
U - Unknown Fact About Me: I have titanium screws in my jaw from a surgery I had my senior year. I lost 20 lbs because my mouth was wired shut. Basically the last time I ever weighed less than 100.
V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I will have the 9 oz. steak please!
W - Worst Habit: Plucking my eyebrows when I should be in bed sleeping and cleaning instead of playing with my kids.
X - X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds. I could tell the sexes of both of my kids at my 10 week appts., even if they are a little bean.
Y - “Yodeling or Yanni?” Yanni, only because when I was younger, 8-10 years old, I used to make up dances to his music that I thought for sure I would one day perform on a broadway stage. I was really into contemporary dance, watch So You Think You Can Dance this summer if you are lost...
Z - Zodiac: Leo. Supposedly the life of the party...can I get a witness?