Ten ramblings for Thursday

• Cory has been working like crazy this week. I've come to appreciate him more than ever - and hope and pray that I never have to be a single mom. It would STINK! Come about 4:45 in the afternoon I am beyond ready for him to be home and help me with these boys. Love them - but they wear me out!
• I signed Gabe up for pre-school this week. I'm a little sad about it - but for the most part I'm excited for him. It's just 2 days a week, and not too far from our house. I think he'll have fun learning new things, and playing with new kids.
• Last night I went to see Mamma Mia. Loved it! I came home and bought the soundtrack on iTunes and have been jamming to it all day long. It was just what I needed to rejuvenate and relax after a particularly frustrating day. I thought that Meryl Strep was awesome, and I actually really enjoyed Pearce Brosnan's performance - it made me laugh at least. I think people who have criticized his voice should give him a break - you can't have an amazing voice and be the most gorgeous man alive - can you?

• I did decide that if I lived in a musical I could be in the best shape. I mean dancing around and spontaneously singing at the top of my lungs - I'd have a great set of abs. I might look into this. Plus - if I lived in the Mamma Mia musical I could live in Greece - and I'm pretty sure that is one of the most beautiful places in the world! (And at the top of my "someday I'll see" list)
• I've mentioned that I've been weaning Hunter from nursing....I hate that...it means my little baby is growing up, and in a way doesn't need me anymore....I'm a bit sad about that. It's also been tough because he doesn't want to drink from a bottle/sippy cup - or anything else. So although he's generally a pretty good eater - his drinking is lacking....I talked to the dr about it (when we were there yesterday because Hunter has pink eye) and he said not to worry about it - he's getting a lot of liquid from his foods, and won't let himself get dehydrated.
• In addition to the transition of weaning, and having pink eye - poor Hunter is still working on those teeth. He officially has 4 teeth, and 2 more to pop through any minute now. He was a beast this morning, and after his nap I checked and a new tooth had broken through (#4 to make it all the way through) and so that explained his sour mood this morning. I will be glad when this phase of life is over!
• Hunter has been obsessed with opening drawers around the house the last couple of days. He has also proceeded to smash his fingers in each of those drawers. Poor little guy hasn't learned his lesson, and it doesn't look like he will anytime soon. Until then I'll be kissing lots of owie fingers it looks like.
• I might be the only person in the world who is not going to be reading the new Stephanie Meyers book this weekend....I am going to read it, but I think I'm going to save it for an upcoming vacation. I'd like to re-read the series before I read this one. I'm a horrible reader when it comes to remembering things I've read. It's great because I can re-read books - it stinks because I don't remember details I should remember, and when there's a year between new books - I tend to forget what was happening in the series. So I'll catch up to you all - but until then - don't give anything away!
• I was doing some work today for our upcoming Parade of Homes that Cory is the chairman for (love it when my hubby volunteers me to help with things!) and I was on the local Chamber of Commerce website. Check out this trip. Cory wanted us to go this past spring, but Hunter wasn't old enough to leave even overnight - much less 10 days. I'm thinking we might consider it for this coming spring. I'd love to go to China, and this price is pretty great!
• Ugh - it's dinner time again....does it feel to anyone else that all we ever do in life is eat? If we didn't have to eat or get ready for the day (doing our hair, showering, makeup, etc) - think of all the time we'd save.

WW check in

I've decided that Wednesdays are "Weight Watchers Wednesdays". I will try to post each week on Wednesday with either a recipe, yummy food idea, etc. I'll also report on my success/weaknesses for the week.

I've stayed with the program since Friday and I weighed in today. I like having a Wednesday weigh-in because it's right in the middle of the week. Anyway, I'm down a pound. Truthfully I was a bit disappointed - I had hoped for more than a pound. But - it's better than gaining a pound - which is what I would have been doing otherwise.

And this weeks suggestion is something that was suggested in a comment this morning on my blog - but something I LOVE. Fiber One bars. I love the peanut butter ones and the caramel ones. They are a lot like a candybar and are 2 points for the chocolate ones, 2 points for the caramel ones, and 3 points for the peanut butter ones. They have a lot of fiber in them - so I feel better about eating them, and they're satisfying. Check them out!

layouts

Buddies layout:

• Kit: Rugged by Kristin Cronin-Barrow
• Template: by Janet Phillips. I think this was from one of her monthly grab bags - a pack called "Not So Fat Pack 2". I totally changed the template though... (These grab bags are a GREAT way to get some awesome templates for a reasonable price!)

Gabe & Noah layout:

• Kit: Play Date add on - I don't know exactly where I got this one, but it's designed by Amy Bleser - and you can check out her blog: http://threenutsandamom.blogspot.com/
• Template: also by Janet Phillips from a pack called "Just for fun 5".

Our week

Things have been busy here this week. Check out what's been happening in the Ellis home.

1. Gabe reached a potty training milestone. He earned a Cars Shake and Go toy that he's been waiting for. YAY! We still have a ways to go in the #2 department - but we're seeing progress.
   
2. I officially have 2 of the biggest zits ever known to man. Seriously - I look like I'm growing horns over my eyes. It's been about a week and they are not going away, and I'm not happy.
   
3. Hunter has been hitting milestones left and right this week.
   
• He is officially crawling. He's been army crawling for a long time now, but this week he's finally on his hands and knees and doing the real thing. He'll still switch to the army crawl from time to time because he's so fast at it. He did it for so long that he's developed calluses on one of his toes that he uses to push himself around with.
  
• Cruising around the furniture. He is ALL over! He's scaling walls, climbing over chairs (getting stuck in the bar-stools), climbing over people and just getting into everything possible.
  
• Going up and down. He doesn't get stuck anymore, and can actually sit down after pulling himself up on things. Now if he'd just sit back down when he pulls up in his crib (he thinks once he stands up - he's UP and doesn't need to lay back down).
  
• TEETH. Today I checked his mouth - like I do most days - and he has 3 teeth that will have broken through today or will by tomorrow. One top middle, 2 top sides. (and he already has his 2 bottom middle teeth). He's been perfectly pleasant - I guess all those times I said the teeth were coming were just warming us up for this totally uneventful time.
  
• Hunter decided to eat us out of house and home. Man that boy can eat! I have had several people comment to me recently that they're amazed how much FOOD he eats. As far as drinking though....not happening. We're trying to wean him from nursing (and we're down to about 2 feedings a day - not too bad), but he's showing NO interest in bottles, sippy cups - nothing. So I'm a little nervous about weaning 100% because he needs to drink SOMETHING. Any suggestions?
  
4. I joined FACEBOOK. Yikes! I could spend way too much time on that website. It's been fun to reconnect with some old friends, have my cute young women add me to their friends lists (even though I'm an old woman!), and check out some fun stuff.
   
5. I'm working on Hunter's and Gabe's birthdays. They have way too many toys already...but I am finding some fun stuff I might end up getting them. I'm also trying to finalize birthday party plans. Gabe said, "Mommy - I don't want any presents - just a Kung Fu Panda birthday party!" So I'm trying to go with that theme....but having a hard time. Cory wants to make it a BIG party (what's new - doesn't Cory want to do everything BIG?) - inviting parents of the kids and stuff, having dinner - the whole 9. So it should be interesting.....I'm up for any suggestions.
   
6. I'm officially back to doing WW. I have completely and totally fallen off of the wagon, and into a figurative ice-cream truck....I've eating HORRIBLY since about March, and getting on the scales, and *trying* to fit into clothes has scared me back into Weight Watchers. I haven't done well with it this go-around because it seems like I haven't been 100% committed to it. But here we go again....I've eaten carefully today and feel pretty good. I'll work on posting my progress, and someday some progress pictures....(but right now between the extra weight, and the horn sized zits - it's not happening!) I'd love any encouragement, great light recipes, or tips for fitting exercise into my life with 2 little ones.
   
7. Yesterday we celebrated "Pioneer Day" (the LDS celebration of our pioneer ancestors). We rode in the Enoch parade (which was kind of pathetic this year...), throwing candy. Then we enjoyed our stake's big family dinner at the church with some friends. After that we packed up the kids and went on a fun ranger ride up in the mountains. I didn't manage to take any pictures though I don't think...After the ranger ride we headed home, made dutch oven cobbler, did some fireworks with the kids and stayed up way too late. Good times.
   
8. When we were lining up for the parade Gabe said, "Mom - where are the pioneers who are going to walk, and walk, and walk, and walk.....and push, and push, and push?" (referring to the primary song). He has said some doozies this week...wish I had recorded them. Keeps us laughing. He has also just loved Hunter to death (almost...he squeezes the breath out of him if he gets a chance.....) - and as soon as Hunter wakes up Gabe wants to "hold him in the chair" had have me get my camera to take a picture of how much he loves his brother. The 2 of them have become quite the wrestling buddies.
   
9. I got a new calling - teaching the CTR 7 class in Primary. There are 3 teachers in the class. Well, 2 teachers and an aide - because we have about a million kids. I have never taught Primary, so I'm a bit nervous, but super excited too.
   
10. I came across this website today - such cute and yummy looking stuff. Darn it - I don't think it's going to help with #6.....
    

Well everyone - have a fantastic weekend!

Cory's new building

Here are some new pictures of our new office building for those who have been asking. this is the progress as of Tuesday night. Supposedly they are going to be able to move in by August 1st....we'll see....

layouts

Gabe & Aunt Ashley layout:

Parker Kit
One Photo Wonders (template)

Read layout (products are mostly from):

School Days
A Little Eclectic 5 (template)

CUTE store!

I came across the cutest store today. It has funny things, cute things, and things that made me smile.

Check out the list for some of my favorites:
http://www.spoonsisters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=OTWISH&Store_Code=100&CustomerID=44993&LP=510j3QX4Xc&Category_Code=1009100

(digital scrapbooking links)

Sorry I didn't post this with the layout last night. Here are the digital scrapbooking credits:

Kit - Wildflower @ www.littledreamer.com



Template - {Still} Mixin it up - by ChrissyW @ Elemental Scraps (I moved it around a little bit)

The day in Panguitch

We had a really fun day yesterday on a great Ranger ride. (Have I mentioned here that Cory recently bought a new Ranger? I'll need to post some pictures of it soon....) We went up to Panguitch and rode to Peterson Point - about a 3 hour ride. It was fun to see new rock formations, some great GREEN rocks, and just fun scenery!

The whole thing was great until the last 20 minutes when it started to rain. No - I take that back - it started to POUR. The poor boys were drenched, we could barely see the trail, and I felt so bad for the kids! We ended up stopping at a house that was under construction and I waited in the (unfinished) garage with the boys while Cory went and got the car. (Thanks to the family who let us crash there!) The boys were asleep when the rain got bad and poor Gabe woke up saying, "Mommy - the rain is slapping my face!" But they both handled it really well for the circumstances.

Afterwards we had fun getting together with some friends up in Panguitch, ate dinner, and headed home. It was just a fun day - even with the rain. When we were driving home I said, "So - who had fun today?" Gabe and Cory yelled out "ME! ME!" and then Hunter cried out "YAY!" It was the cutest response, and really just felt like we had all had a great time.

And this layout is of my fancy new shirt from the day :)

Gabe-isms

• Gabe & Hunter were wrestling and climbing all over each other (a daily occurrence lately!). Hunter had Gabe pinned down and was sitting on Gabe's head. Gabe said (in a muffled voice, as he was being sat on), "Uh Hunter - I think you are stinky. Yup - you're VERY stinky - you need a new diaper!" (this was hilarious to hear as Hunter was sitting on poor Gabe)
• A couple of weeks ago when I took Gabe up to spend time with his cousins and Grandparents we were driving past the Mt. Timpanogos temple. When we pass temples I like to sing, "I Love to See the Temple". Gabe isn't huge on singing, but if he's prompted he'll fill in the blanks. So I sang part of the song, "I love to see the temple. I'll......go......" (waiting for him to respond). He responded exuberantly with, "Go on vacation with my daddy!"
• We were driving home the other night and I was complaining to Cory about being invited to so many shop-at-home parties (you know - jewelry, pampered chef, Scentsy, etc.) and feeling pressured to buy stuff - even if the hostess isn't pushing. Anyway Gabe yelled from the back, "Mom - don't talk like that!" I asked him - "like what?" He said, "Like you're frustrated! You're talking louder."
• Today at lunch Gabe made a HUGE mess with his lunch. I came into the kitchen and said, "Ugh Gabe! You made a huge mess." He replied, "Mom - it's not a mess, it's a party. And when a party is fun - it makes a mess. This is a REALLY fun party - not a REALLY big mess!"
• We were talking a few weeks ago about what we wanted to be when we grew up. I asked Gabe what he wanted to be and he said, "An outerspace guy." I asked what Dad should be and he said, "An outerspace guy too." I asked if I could be an outerspace guy too. He said, "No, somebody has to stay and feed Hunter. And somebody has to be the counter and say - BLAST OFF!"

Cute free kit

Just thought I'd point out to you digital scrapbooking fans this cute FREE kit I found earlier today. So cute!

What do you remember about me?

I saw this on several blogs this week, and I thought it looked like fun. So I'm joining in (or copying - however you want to look at it.)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! (You can play this even if we're just blog friends... something that you remember from the blog)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see what memories people have of you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

So PLEASE post something - I don't want to look like a total looser who no one has memories of :)

Tuesday's Ten

• I went to this movie last night. LOVED it! I laughed so hard - and it was (generally) very clean humor. Not something you find all the time now-days. I loved how funny Steve Carrel was - he cracked me up!

• When I was walking into the movie theater I felt water running down my leg. I realized that my large (32 oz) water bottle was leaking in my purse, and pouring out the bottom. So I trailed a stream of water into the theater and soaked myself. Slightly embarrassing - drip....drip.....drip.
• When we met up with Gabe at the family reunion this weekend (he'd been at my mother-in-law's house for the previous week with his cousins) I asked him what he missed the most. He came over to me, grabbed my cheeks and said, "Oh Mom - the kisses!" and gave me a great big kiss. (ahhh....my melting heart)
• We did a little skit at our family reunion about some of our ancestors. There was this cute little cowboy/western outfit that was just about Gabe's size - so he was assigned to be Brigham Young in our skit. He went on stage and said, "This is the place." The next day he wanted to play this little trivia game (which was too old for him, but he was insistent). I asked him some questions about the great state of Utah - trying to prove my point that the game was too old for him. One of the questions was something to the effect of, "Which Mormon leader came to Utah in 1847 and said, "This is the place." Gabe looked at me with all seriousness and said, "I did Mom. That's what I said. See - I know these answers!" I guess he was right...he was Brigham Young.

• Hunter was fussing and crying when we were camping this weekend. Gabe came up to us and said, "Oh Hunter - what are you whining about now?"
  
• Today Gabe went to play at some friend's house while I ran a couple of errands. I asked him if he played with their new kitties. He said, "Oh mom I didn't. They just made me too nervous."
  
• It is funny how many new babies have been born in Cory's family this past year. At the reunion alone there were 8 at the reunion this past weekend - and there were quite a few more that didn't make it.

• I found this sunscreen recently and I am in love with it! I generally hate sunscreen because of the yucky smell - but with this stuff it smells like you're wearing some yummy lotion from bath and body works or something like it. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find it anywhere else in town - so I'm going to need to order some on-line as ours is almost gone.

• Have you tried these? Yummy! I have only tried the molten chocolate cake and the hot fudge brownie - but I LOVE the hot fudge brownie! Especially smothered in whip-cream!

• And if you have time for the real-deal - you can make your own from scratch. I don't know if I've shared this recipe on here before - but it's one of my all-time favorites. We're having dinner at some friends house tonight and I'm bringing dessert, so I am going to make this:

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake (aka – Brown Betty's Armpit)

• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 3 Tbsp cocoa
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter melted
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla
• ½ cup sugar
• 4 Tbsp cocoa
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 ¼ cup hot water

Heat oven to 350. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour into a 9 inch square baking pan. Stir together remaining sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa. Sprinkle on top over batter. Pour hot water on top. DO NOT STIR. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes. Garnish with whipped cream, walnuts, or vanilla ice cream.

Family Reunion

We spent this past weekend with the Ellis Family for our yearly family reunion. It was held in the mountains around Preston, Idaho (Franklin Basin to be exact) - which I have decided is possibly the most beautiful place on earth.

Hunter and I slept back at my in-law's house at night because he had been having teething issues, and I didn't think camping with him would go over terribly well. Gabe and Cory did campout though - and enjoyed it. We also got to enjoy the trails around the area and do some Ranger rides on our new Ranger (Cory sold our red ranger, and bought a new one last week - it's orange and pretty cool.)

The scenery was great, the weather was almost perfect, and the company fantastic.

This weekend I felt an overwhelming gratitude to be a part of the Ellis Family. Truly - marrying into this family was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Grandma and Grandpa Ellis are seriously some of the best people I know on this earth. Loving, non-judgmental, kind, close to the Lord, all around awesome people. I really think that people from Idaho are just that way (in general) - they are just down-home, good people.

So thank you Kim and Tammy for putting on such an awesome reunion (Cory's parents were in charge this year). Thank you to all of the family members who traveled to attend the reunion. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Ellis for raising awesome children who have also raised pretty stellar kids. I hope and pray that Cory and I can carry on the legacy of the Ellis family and raise upstanding children who are strong in the gospel and who honor and value family.