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

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Thanks China!

So, this morning, Anna says to me..."We should thank China for all the things they make for us." It made me laugh, which is unusual in itself that early in the morning. But I decided to save my talk on how Made in the U.S.A. is better and cheap labor in a foreign country means a lot more to companies for some other time. Now that she is a reader, I might hear more comments like these.

A Star is Born!

This is Anna. Look closely though, this is the new and improved Anna. She may look the same as the Anna that lived here yesterday but after church today she is a whole new person that you might not recognize. Many of you knew my very shy, very sensitive Anna. The one who would cry and protest at any sort of public speaking or performing. In the past, (even up until two months ago) she would be asked to read a scripture or say a prayer in Primary and I would end up reading it or saying it as Anna hid behind the podium with her arms folded, head down, and tears in her eyes. Two weeks ago out of the blue, Anna said to me that she is ready to read a scripture in Primary. I made a bee-line to a member of the Primary presidency to make sure Anna got an assignment for the following week. I didn't want the new Anna to miss her big debut just in case the old Anna decided to come back. The assignment was to choose and read a favorite scripture. She wanted to read something out of the book of Jacob since she has a brother named Jacob. We helped her narrow it down to Jacob 2:18. She practiced it a few times yesterday and felt pretty confident about it. She still wanted me to stand next to her and be there for moral support. Even as I sat in the back of the Primary room, I had my doubts that she would go through with it and back out at the last moment when she saw everyone in the Primary sitting in their chairs. But as I looked at her up in the front, I became a little emotional and tears came to my eyes. She was sitting up so tall and had such a confident smile on her face. Without any hesitation, and I mean no hesitation whatsoever, she went to the microphone when it was her turn. As her proud mama, I stood next to her as she clearly read the scripture by herself and even stated the reference first. Anna is an exceptional reader and didn't stumble a bit on any of the words. I am so proud of her! This is such a big step for her, actually this is such a big leap for her! Great job Anna. I love you.