This going to be a long post - just to let you know!

Forgive me for my lack of blogs the past couple weeks. I've been trying to spend less time on the computer and more time doing other stuff so my blogging may be a little more infrequent. In attempt to catch up yet again - I'll start with Halloween. I dressed up miss Peanut as a Martian again and we decided to take homemade bread rather than treats and visit a few earthling friends.
When I loaded her into our car she kept looking at herself in her little mirror like "something's different mom". Really funny to watch.
On our little adventure out, I took my little martian on a trip to visit grandpa at work and happened to run into her astronaut cousin - you can see that it was a peaceful encounter.

The next morning bright and early we left on a flight to sunny Arizona. My brother agreed to drop us off at the airport -Thanks again cause it was really, really early. Peanut is still an awesome traveler! I think I've been bragging about her lately - cause hello she's an angel - most of the time. Of course she got a little restless, but to be expected.

Officer's brother and family live in Mesa and we hadn't seen all their kids in about two years so we really wanted to just go hang out with them. They also had twin cousins for Miss Peanut (and us) to meet and they celebrated their 1st birthday while we were there. We got to go to the Pheonix Zoo just after we arrived - sorry no pictures I camera was packed in a bag somewhere. Of course Phoenix Zoo is huge compared to our local zoo and it was so nice to be out in the sunshine now that its getting colder at home. It did get hot for all the little ones and they had this water feature play area for the kids. They were all soaked, but it cooled them off. Officer and I were able to visit the Mesa Temple, I did a little ribbon shopping and the boys all went hunting one afternoon, but most of our trip we just wanted to hang out with the family.

The twins celebrated their 1st birthday and after they had their fun with cake we gave Peanut a trial run since her birthday is in 2 weeks. I started her with a cupcake just to see how it would go. Um - so after she ATE the entire cupcake we let her go at the cake (Rhett would hardly touch his cake - we couldn't let it go to waste). Her birthday will be fun!

I am amazed watching my sister-in-law keeping up with 6 kids. With them living in AZ I haven't been able to spend all that much time with her so it was really fun to get to know her better. She also taught me how to make bows - silly I know, but she has it down and they are so cute, so I picked up a new talent. Here are a couple modeled by Peanut - she wasn' t that thrilled that Gabe was holding her and wouldn't look at the camera, but you can see the bows really well. Other than making bows - I just loved watching all the kids play together. I hardly saw Peanut most of the time because she was right there following the twins.

I had to censor the cutey bootey!

One night we all went out for pizza at Organ Stop Pizza. The kids totally loved it. They were all boppin' to the music.

Mitch and Peanut were swapping sippies the whole week - what is so interesting about some one else's sippy - I don't get it. Lucky for us Peanut didn't get sick. My poor sister- in-law! When we left her she had 3 barfing kids and was still knee deep in laundry after 10 loads. It was a sad way to end our visit, but we totally enjoyed the trip. I'm sure they're all feeling better now - we miss you guys!

Parental Bragging rights

I don't really know the etiquette for a parents' bragging so without tact - I just have to brag about Miss Peanut. I have had so many friend that struggle with potty training - I laugh usually with them about their potty training mishaps, so I decided that we would start early mostly with the idea that that way she won't freak out about it. Now I think, my daughter is exceptional in all things of course, what parent doesn't, inlcuding her temper, determination, stubborness call it what you want - she knows what she wants. Anyway, she totally wakes up dry most mornings. So...about two weeks ago I bought a little potty and when she wakes up we set her on the potty with a couple toys and she does her thing. AMAZING!!!! Every morning for 2 weeks!!!!! Since the first few days went well we have been adding after naps and before bathtime. HELLO - #1 and #2 everyday for almost 2 weeks. This could of course totally backfire at some point, but for now it's nice to only change a handful of dirty diapers. Okay less of the potty talk. She also folds her arms now when we say prayers. I don't care who you are - that's cute, and sweet! These little ones are so intelligent and so precious. She also discovered belly buttons and just took her first official steps last night - and she is so much more brave today about letting go. I was unloading the dishwasher and suddenly I see these little pink ruffle-bum jammies wobbling towards me. She's growing up way too fast. I love being a mommy!

Trunk or Treat

We kind of decided last minute to go to our Ward's Trunk or treat last weekend. I kind of thought it would be closer to Halloween - eh, that and Miss Peanut decided to get some serious snottage from her nose from teething. TANGENT Poor thing - I 'm ridiculous I know, but I totally only use kleenex with lotion because that way her nose isn't all raw, yep that is one thing I splurge on. Hello - I always use Kleenex with lotion cause I hate that too! - END TANGENT. We had talked about Peanut being a martian and here's what we came up with last minute. We covered her helmet in foil and put those glow in the dark necklaces looped through the venting holes in the back. She jammies worked for a space suit and she was perfectly content playing in the back of the xterra. Officer says he's dressed as an undercover officer - very clever and I just grabbed some scrubs - people just asked if I got off work rather than a sad attempt at a costume for the night (I'm the one behind the camera so hence I am absent from these photos).

Hopefully we'll get it together better the second time around - but pretty cute for a rush costume.

Catching up

It's been a little busy around our house. My sister took pictures for us the 2nd, Officer's parents came to visit on the 3rd - deer hunting season opened the 10th and Officer and his dad spent most of last week out in search of their deer, no luck yet. I think it's been way too cold, but what do I know about hunting. Anyway, so Officer left again today after working this weekend to join forces with his dad in search of anything before his parents have to head back home by the 22nd. With our fearless hunters out my mother-in-law and I went shopping. She is the queen of bargin shopping. I can usually refrain from making too many purchases, but we found some really great deals and kids are always growing so I gave in. We've also been working around the house/yard all that good stuff. Besides hunting Officer and his dad are also going to be pouring concrete to extend our patio, so Officer has been getting the ground all ready. I planted my tomatoes too late in the year and most of them were green when we had a couple of super cold days last week. Lucky for me the young men in our ward came by on a service scavenger hunt and I sent them out to pick them all. Most ended up being green - but if you didn't know, they will ripen in a window sill. The last couple weeks I feel like I've spent most of it in the kitchen. One meal seems to lead right into the next and with company here and doing something with all of the food from my garden it seems like I don't leave the kitchen. I love having yummy food on the table and treats and stuff, but I feel like I'm eating all day and the holidays haven't even started quite yet. Totally defeats the purpose of my running - which I have finally been getting back to. I've been running about 9 miles a week -Yeah me! The weather has been great for running here. I had hoped to do a half marathon or at least a 10K again this fall, but I got started a little too late, eh maybe in the spring. Miss Peanut has been hilarious the past few weeks, except for the whole getting up 3-4 times a night for the last week. She's getting more teeth and the poor thing is miserable. One tooth broke through a few days ago, but two or three more are right behind that one. She won't normally fall asleep with me anymore, but after a long night - we both needed a nap. It makes me miss when she was little. I can't believe how fast they grow!She started signing please and more - I love watching her get her little fingers to work like she wants them too. So fun to see her learn new things. Like playing peek- a-boo She just started to really love it, we just have to teach her that we don't play it with our dresses. She loves helping me with laundry too. I fold everyting while she plays with all of the socks. It works great! We had to get a new dryer last month and now that we have a super capacity dryer I couldn't resist putting her in it - She loved it of course. With grandma and grandpa visiting she keeps trying on Grandpa's shoes and taking them in and out of the "shoe" basket. Her facial expressions crack me up!
Like these faces too!
Her culinary skills are amazing! Her new favorite cupboard is my pots an pans now that we've Peanut Proofed the ones we don't want her getting into. She was so frustrated because the pot kept sliding as she was trying to get out and this is how I found her. She loves to be outside and help Officer in the yard. While we were hauling dirt in the wheelbarrow she thought she was pretty tough stuff. Again with the faces - what a stinker!

I keep blankets in this little "cubby" of our entertainment center and after she cleaned out the shelf she climbed in and when she couldn't sit up because it was so small she settled for this position - comfy huh!

Anywho! That's been our month so far. If our weary hunters return with a kill I'm sure I'll have pictures to tell the tale. Until then...

My sister took our family pictures a couple weeks back. They turned out awesome - Here are some of our favorites.

A-"Maze"-ing

Officer's work association is really good about having familiy activities. Last night they rented a local Corn Maze/ "fair" for all of the employees and their families. Miss peanut was a little too small for the pony rides, so we tried playing with other "kids." She wasn't all that impressed by the goats. We were entertained by one goat that kept getting out, but rather than wandering off it climbed a stack of hay bails and jumped back into their pen again, and again, and again.

Her favorite thing to do was riding the saddle.

Riding off into the sunset. I love that her piggy-tails look like horns.

We actually didin't get lost in the corn maze. They had two mazes to choose from and we chose the shorter, but tougher course. Officer led the way - he has a much better sense of direction than I do. He does have a much longer stride too! It only took us 21 minutes to finish the maze.

A view from the top.

Officer couldn't contain his excitement. Beautiful sunset.

How was lunch?

I had to answer the phone and this is what I returned to. Yum!

For Officer

So, last summer we went out to visit Officer's family when his Grandmother passed away. He insisted on taking me shooting - not something I do all that much. His brother snapped this picture and finally just got it to officer today - Officer's been hounding him for a year. He tells people about this picture all the time, apparently there is something attractive about a pregnant girl with a gun. Although, I think most people would argue to steer clear. It's not like I really know how to shoot, but when you're 7 months pregnant you look that much more ridiculous. Anyway, this one is for you officer.

Update

I haven't really updated us much lately. I don't think there is really all that much to tell. I've been spending a lot of time trying to appeal to our medical insurance for coverage of Miss Peanut's helmet. It has been quite a process so far. I collected a lot of information from all of her doctors and I wrote a lengthy letter because of my background in physical therapy and because I'm a mom! This is our second round of appealing after it has taken more than 2 months and me mailing, faxing, and personally hand delivering copies several times after the insurance company convienently still "didn't have any record of it ever being filed" Very frustrating! We knew it would be a long process, but it really is ridiculous. On a much happier note Officer is officially done with his year of probabtion since being hired. What a relief, not that we didn't think he would make it. He started the Police Academy a year ago with 12 in his class and only 5 made it to 1 year. The city was trying to start their own academy so it seemed like a lot of trial and error in some aspects, but he did very well with it and is really happy in his career. Peanut is almost walking now. She will stand and balance, but she gets nervous and kind of wimpers until she can find something to hang onto. Did I say that she is a daddy's girl? Could you tell from the picutres? She was tackling Officer yesterday and she doesn't realize that her helmet is a deadly weapon at times. We've both been head-butted, gotten fat lips, and konked (is that really a word) in the nose etc. from that thing. Well, I told Peanut to give her daddy kisses and this is what she did! She is so silly! She will copy me when I ask what a fishy, a cow, and an elephant says. She started making fishy lips, elephant sounds, kind of a moo, and clicking her tongue too. So funny, she tries so hard. She says mum, mum all the time now and she will sign all done. We're working on please and more. She is a very determined little thing and when she knows what she wants it is hard to distract her. We're totally excited for Halloween, I think Peanut's going to be a martian - can't you see it with her helmet somehow green and her piggy tails. Officer and I haven't decided yet. Oh, there will be pictures though, just you wait! That's about it, we are just enjoying Fall and Officer is getting ready to go hunting with his dad in a couple weeks.

Story Time

I'm currently a cub scout leader and every week the den meetings are at my house. This month we're talking about "adventures in books." Now I haven't always made time for reading in recent years; one goal I made for myself this year was to read more for fun. I think that kids just don't enjoy reading as much as they used to; too many video games and sometimes just too busy with sports or homework, etc. Anyway I wanted to do something I thought would get them excited to read more. One of my favorites is still the Eleventh Hour - I hadn't pulled it off the shelf until recently, but what 8 or 9 year old wouldn't find it a challenge. If you've never read it, it's a simple children's story, but there is so much more to discover in it's pages. I loved reading it today with my scouts, so if you've never read it - it's kind of a fun thing to do.

The Red Cross called me this morning and asked if I could come donate blood. I try to do it pretty regularly because they like my blood. I was a little sad today when I got there because they have changed it alot since last time. They are still really friendly and all, but the saddest part is that they don't have popcorn anymore. They used to get it somewhere locally - of course no one remembers where, but it's gone. They did have the second best thing though, Vienna fingers! I never buy them so it's a treat. So if you're able to donate blood - go save a life and eat some cookies. Yum!

Little Piggies!

With the helmet, I haven't tried anything too adventurous with Miss Peanut's hair. She was patient enough tonight to let me try some pig tails. Of course she has my stick straight hair, so they're sticking straight up - we'll try curls another day. So cute though - I'm excited for when I can actually do her hair.

Through the years...

My sister and sister-in-law, both did this and I thought it was hilarious, so I had to do it too! Don't we make a cute couple! Try it: http://yearbookyourself.com/

Taking a little breather...

I've seen this a couple times on other blogs and Officer is putting Miss Peanut to bed tonight, so gratefully I have a couple minutes to do something mindless. Here's what happened.



1. strawberry shortcake cupcakes, 2. Shrimp and Penne Pasta Salad with Pesto, Bocconcini and Cherry Tomatoes, 3. Coming At Ya, 4. Red leaves/ 香山红叶, 5. 03_07_01, 6. "3 Vanilla Steamers please", 7. Rice Fields, 8. ginger cheesecake with a chocolate crust and chocolate bamboo leaves, 9. Mommy and me, 10. Day 27/365: Two years, 11. Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it, 12. fibonacci strikes again

The Questions...
1.What is your first name? Shortcake
2.What is your favorite food? Pasta
3.What high school did you attend? Eagle
4.What is your favorite color? Red
5.Who is your celebrity crush? A crush - nah, my hubby - but he's not a celebrity yet :) We watched P.S. I love you a few months back and Jeffrey Dean Morgan was the first person to come to mind. Come on.
6.Favorite drink? vanilla steamer
7.Dream vacation? China
8.Favorite dessert? I have to pick one? Cheescake
9.What do you want to be when you grow up? Mommy
10.What do you love most in life? My family
11.One word to describe you? Ridiculous
12. What was your favorite school subject? Math, I thought Anatomy might give me a little more than I wanted to see when I was looking for images.

If you want to try it here's what you do:

Go to Flickr search and pick out a photo for each one of your answers to the questions below (I didn't post a picture for all of them).
Click on the picture you want and copy the URL
Open another browser, Mosaic Maker, and paste the URL for each picture into the desired space. (You'll see directions)
Once you have selected, copied and pasted all of your pictures, click Create to make your MosaicClick Share (at this point you can copy the html and paste it into your post)