5K runners

Archie and I have been training for a 5K. We've decided that it is high time that we get back in shape. So, we go out almost everyday, it is great bonding time for the little guy and the mama. Our first real test is this Saturday, a free community 5k is being held, and we are going to attempt to run the whole thing.... Arch is my motivation, I know if he could he would be cheering us on!
I will post some pictures eventually, I have to get a memory card from Susan's camera. But we have been having tons of fun visiting family up in Montana, playing games, chasing sheep, roasting mallows to make gooey s'mores, delicious.
So today I am just going to list a few things that I really love and as a bonus am really grateful for:
Dancing in the living room!
Shade sin mosquitoes
warm bread
a good napping baby
a husband who is a hardworker and loves to have water fights
grandma's and grandpa's (mine and Archie's)
being able to be friends with my family- it's the best
sewing projects
good books that you can lose time in
playing soccer for fun and not caring about the score
Archie's giggles- he thinks life is pretty funny
prayer
free cafe rio desserts!
kind people, kind strangers
pupusa's at the Salvadorian place on Center street- go get one!
weddings! yeah for Ben and Laura! See you soon!

God is Good

Ready for a swim.

Life has certainly changed since Archie was born; I am in love with him and in love more and more with my husband for being Archie's papa, for sleeping with him in the rocking chair when Archie is sick, for making him laugh, and for cultivating even more love and joy in our little family. It isn't easy, it isn't boring, and it isn't always fun (but most of it is), but we never lack in laughs and when something happens that we don't know how to handle, I think "at least I know how to love him and I know how to feed him..."

We just got back from a fun trip to California. My first time!! I should have booked tickets to the Ellen show, I forgot. The best part of the vacation was just being together with no other worries or obligations, papers, assignments, or must see tv shows to watch! Here are a few pictures.

Archie's first swim--- he loved it, splashing and all.

Trip to the beach, we saw dolphins jumping in and out of the water; in the harbor we saw and heard sea lions!

Morning news....

A visit to the Newport Temple, it was right across the street from church, so we toured!

Santa Monica Pier-- that was a fun trip, we first drove to Hollywood, then to the LA temple, it was under construction, then west to Santa Monica--- it was a long, fun day.

Yeah for the beach!

Family picture

So excited to be on vacation in his choo choo train outfit


Salem and Ryder's visit... I found the picture and miss my friends, love you.


We are looking forward to a couple more visits this summer with family and friends. It is probably our favorite thing to do, get together with people we love and have fun, and really great food! I don't know how to describe this feeling that I have, but I am so grateful to be able to go on vactations, see friends and family, but I am equally grateful to love being home, to feel safe and content at home with our little family. God has blessed us, and the blessings become more abundant and clear the more I look for them, and recognize the blessings of the everyday. Happy Mother's Day to all the women who nurture, uplift, teach, love and care for any other person- you are acting as a mother and so you are.

Happy Happenings and visitors

Lately we've had some really great weeks. We are happy, healthy and really enjoying the outdoors, laughing, playing, and of course new episodes of LOST, that is mostly just me. Last weekend was really great because it was General Conference, plus Salem and Ryder came and visited! I would post the picture we had taken, but it was taken with my camera and I don't know where it is. But they were so much fun to see! Ryder played with Ben while Salem and I talked- it was wonderful, I wish we could do that everyday. So this week Kristen, Tyler and Alex are in town for a Brady Fam wedding! So it has been non stop slumber party over here, and it is fantastic.
They arrived the day before Easter, so of course we started the festivities right away with painting eggs:) Enjoy the pictures, most of them are of Archie....

Wearing his cousins shoes....Sitting on the table wearing his cousins shoes and his aunt's headband....

Yeah for festivities!!!!

Our beautiful eggs!

More fun

Chub face--- his little-red-riding-hood makes his face look cute and fat

First bath in the BIG bath tub!!

Something is funny!

PS- foodies

The grilled bananas were AMAZING! I am a banana liker, not a lover, but these were so sweet after they had been grilled, and you can sprinkle a little cinnamon and sweet and condensed milk over them to make them even better!

Thursday night dinner, last week

So I am a little late in posting this wonderful meal, but it was so good that it needed to be seen! We made shish kabobs, with grilled pineapple, grilled bananas, a mandarin orange salad- it was amazing. Kara, Devin, Ben, Kate, Archie and Pat and Susan all partook- we all helped make and we all ate, perfect meal.

Double batch of dutch oven bread- it looks like a cupcake without the frosting...
The meal! I love the colors.

Grillin'

Salad: manderin oranges, candied pecans, swiss cheese and a few other delicious things

Chicken with green and yellow peppers.... sooo good

Shrimp and grilled bananas, not to be eaten in the same bite

This is just a previous meal that we had, but Ben took a picture so I thought I would post it, becuase this too was delicious.

I am not sure what we have going on for this Thursday, but if anyone has any food ideas they want to share please do! I love new recipes!

Food, Glorious FOOD!

Lately we have been having some really delicious meals; I have to write about them, I love food, and I love new ideas on how to cook- so if you have any tips or tricks, share them!
A couple weeks ago we tried sweet potato fries, very delicious- I have heard of two ways to prepare them, one by frying in oil, and one by baking. We haven't tried baking them yet, but we will soon. We also got a tip from a friend that you can bake asparagus- just put it on a pan, salt and pepper, and bake!
Thursday nights have, in the past, been a family dinner night, extended family, where we might experiment a little on what we eat. So we have been trying to carry on on this tradition, I think I will take pictures of our Thursday night meals and share. Last week we tried fried plantains and burritos, the burritos were great, the fried plantains on the other hand were edible. Devin and I tried to make them delicious, they just kept falling apart, I don't think I boiled them long enough. We added water, oil, finally flour kept the batter together long enough to fry, and they had a hint of that plantain flavor, the rest was 'fried' flavor! Oh well, not a complete success or failure, so we'll try again someday.
This week we are doing shish kabobs, grilled pineapple, grilled banana, mandarin/pecan salad and Brazilian lemonade (a la our wonderful sister up in Montana). It is fun to try new things with a bunch of people because when they don't work out it's okay because you have a whole kitchen of people to think of back ups! And when they do work out, you just think of how much fun you had cooking with a whole kitchen of people, talking, laughing, playing with babies- those are my favorite meals. I love family and friends, I love food, I love experimenting!

Spring

Chewing on his fingers after dinner....

Fun with Dad

More fun with dad..

Cuddles with Mom

I just liked his outfit, so of course I took about 20 pictures of him, he would smile, then be mesmerized by the flash and his smile would disappear--- he is a really smiley boy usually.

Today it is snowing... but last week was a beautiful spring week, and I know there is only more beautiful to come, so even if it snows today, deep in my heart I know it is spring time, and it can't possibly snow all the way through August, so I am being patient. So I have been trying to do some projects inside that will keep my busy and engaged- I have been reading a lot, and writing some, thanks to reading and writing clubs- I love it. I took the birds that Kristen made for me and turned them into a mobile- it was fun, I strung them through thin ribbon, added some bells and there ya go. Originally I was going to let Archie play with it, but it is a little too fragile, so it will just hang and look pretty in his room.

We are having more and more fun together; I love watching Archie grow up, but especially the interactions between Archie and his papa. He is becoming so much more aware of things going on around him, he twists and turns and doesn't want to miss a thing- he is already about 18 pounds and for as much as he moves around in my arms when I am holding him, I don't know how much longer I will be able to do it!

He is attempting to sit and follow Aunt Kara's fun toy- it is harder than it looks!