Snow

I have grown up in Missouri and should be use to its tricks and changes in the weather. So my lesson learned this year is, don't put away the snow gear in March. I did put it away and then we got 11 inches of snow! It all happened on a Friday night and Saturday and then was gone by Monday morning. So crazy, but we had a blast with the perfect snowman kind of snow.

Easter

The girls enjoyed (don't let Megan's face fool you) a private Easter egg hunt with our neighbor. Victoria's older brothers hid 96 eggs for the three of them around the school playgrounds. In fact, they hid them so well that nobody could find about 15 of them. The three of them still found plenty nonetheless and some lucky kids might find the other ones someday!

What is Easter without some good, messy egg dyeing?! This year I read about using whisks instead of those flimsy wire dippers. It was a success! After dyeing the eggs we glued on googly eyes, pipe cleaners and fuzzy hair. Lots of fun for the girls while Jacob graciously took a nap!

Easter was on the weekend of General Conference this year so we dressed up in our Easter best the Sunday before Easter, when Grandma and Grandpa were visiting. I didn't make the girls dresses this year. Instead, I made them matching flowers for their hair and spent most of my sewing efforts on Jacob's outfit.

Thanks for Grandma Shaw's helped on making the hat fit right. The pants and hat were made from an old pair of Gordon's dress pants. It was fun to re-purpose them. He looked so cute in his newsboy hat.

Family Fun

We really enjoyed a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Shaw right before Easter. We played outside as much as we could but the weather didn't cooperate every day. Grandma is successfully passing on her love for collecting quarters to our girl, Anna. Anna spent a lot of time emptying her piggy bank (the only way for the money to get out is the same way it went in, unless you break it). She loved counting by fives, tens, and twenty-fives and putting her coins into rolls. Grandma sent her a book for them and now she is only missing 11 states. Anna is very proud of it and even took it to show and tell today. Thanks Grandma Shaw! Jacob showed off his walking skills while they were here too. Each day he would get better and better with a little less falling every day. Jacob is definitely our most social child of the three and he only had lots of love to give his grandparents even though he doesn't see them a lot. Grandpa Shaw helped with a few home improvement projects and I had a lucky streak in a couple games of Mexican Train. We had a great time. We look forward to spending time with all the Shaw side of the family in July.

The Little Man of the House Turns 1!

We enjoyed a full day of celebrating Jacob's first birthday. It is even better when a birthday falls on the weekend and everyone is home all day to enjoy the special person. Jacob didn't totally understand what was going on but he loved all the attention and the fun balloons. His big sisters were excited enough for everyone though. They are helping him break in the new toys too. He loved the cake but it was not his first taste of a sweet treat because he always wants what everyone else is eating.

Jacob is a fun addition to our family. We love him so much. He loves to make big, noisy, messes!! He always seems to be looking for something to tear apart or throw around. In between those messes though he enjoys a good snuggle with mommy. When we turn on the bath water he stops whatever he is doing, listens, and then crawls really fast to the bathtub. He loves to shake his head no and whenever the dishwasher is open he is ready to help by throwing the plastic plates on the floor. No trashcan is safe on the floor anymore so we have them all on top of something, out of his reach. He stands by himself and walks around the ottoman, holding onto the edge of it but he doesn't seem interested in walking solo yet. He is the first to greet Anna every day when she comes home, standing at the door with his face pushed against the door. Even at his young age he enjoys a good wrestle on the floor. He is all boy but with two older sisters I wouldn't be surprised to find him in a princess dress someday. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Chicken Gyros

I just wanted to pass on a good recipe. I made it for lunch the other day when I had some friends over but it works for dinner too. It comes from a book of recipes for rotisserie chicken that you buy at the store (yeah Costco!) but I used cut up chicken too and just cooked it in the marinade. I also buy the soft wheat flatbread in the deli section but you could probably used pitas or tortillas too.

Chicken Gyros

SAUCE:
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber (I cut out the seeds, but not necessary)
2 T light sour cream (optional)
1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
salt and pepper

MARINADE:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 T lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
pinch of salt
8 slices of rotisserie chicken or two chicken breasts, sliced

SANDWICH:
1 pkg flatbread
torn up lettuce
1 large tomato, chopped
red onion

Stir the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside
For the marinade, combine all the ingredients except for the chicken in a 12 inch non-stick skillet. Stir together. Place rotisserie chicken slices flat in skillet and spoon the marinade over the top or brown the raw chicken in the marinade until done. Remove from skillet when done and assemble your sandwich. Heat the bread and then top with chicken, sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Enjoy

Happy New Year!

It is still January so I am squeezing in a post to wish you all a Happy New Year! We have been busy and trying to stay warm. The temperature has steadily stayed above freezing for almost a week now and all that dirty snow is gone! We anxiously await spring so we can spend some quality time outside.

Anna is enjoying school and did not like the fact that the schools were closed for a whole week after Christmas vacation. (Mommy wasn't too happy about that either.) She rides the bus to and from school now and has become friends with the bus driver, Mabel. The bus even picks her and her friend up in front of our house so Mommy doesn't even have to leave the house. Anna loves to read and tested at a second grade level of reading last month. A couple months ago she even participated in a special reading of "The sky is Falling" and she played the mouse. She has been especially helpful at home too. Sometimes when a babysitter is here for the night, Anna is the only one that can comfort Jacob. She takes her role as a big sister very seriously.

Megan is a Sunbeam now in Primary. She does so good and doesn't hesitate to go into Primary and take her seat every Sunday. She loves to sing the songs and be in the same room with Anna for part of the time. She is having fun at preschool too. Last week the lesson on hibernation was especially interesting to her and she came home and told me all about the snakes, frogs, and turtles that hibernate during the winter.

Jacob is everywhere and into everything. He will be walking before too long and would spend his whole day going up and down our stairs if I let him. He is a lot of fun until he sinks his teeth into your closest body part, so watch out! His favorite pastimes include waiting for the refridgerator or dishwasher to be opened so he can play on them.

Love these kids!

Photo Shoot