Pumpkin Carving

I'm all about creating memories and family traditions but I'm thinking that pumpkin carving in our house isn't something I want my kids to remember-not good memories at all.  Mainly because the words that kept coming out of my mouth were, "Lincoln please stop, Nathan please stop" "No don't do that" "No put that down" "Nathan drop the scissors" "Nathan get the cutting tool out of your mouth" "Lincoln if your going to whine go whine in your room."  I probably needed to be told a few times to "simmer down big mama!"


Today I would NOT have won the "parent of the year award" and that's OK because pumpkin carving is DONE!  Praise God!  I'd like to say I did for the kids but really I did if for myself.  Just to say, "yes I carved pumpkins with my two sweet little pumpkins!"  Probably the best part was taking pictures once we were done carving.  And we posed with fake smiles as if we had this super awesome time.  And I couldn't help but laugh after because even though I was super frustrated (mainly with my pumpkin carving skills which by the way don't exist and who decided to try and carve Thomas the Train...oh ya I did) the kids were so happy with their pumpkins and could have cared less how many times I nagged them to stop doing something!  And even though I'm not super crazy about craving pumpkins, I am however super crazy excited to watch the kids trick or treat tonight.  They're going to love it!


Now who's ready for some "Smile and look like we had an awesome time" pictures!  Oh I am!

Maybe one day my kids will look back at this photo with our fake smiles and remember fake memories of pumpkin carving fun!  Hahaha!  I can only hope!

Don't worry boys!  I promise Christmas decorating will be better!  It always is!  I'm a lover of Christmas...it's just so magical!!!  Halloween just doesn't do it for me!

Now I'm thinking a trip to Starbucks for one last pumpkin spice latte is in order...before the eggnog latte makes it's come back (which by the way happens to be November 3-I happen to have an inside source:-).


And on a side note: how awesome is it watching leaves fall?  I'd say pretty awesome!

30 weeks!

How can I not celebrate today?  30 weeks:-)  I have a smile on my face!  I'm in the home stretch and I couldn't be happier!  Only 9 more weeks to go!

Baby #3

Lincoln.  Bahahahahahaha!  I can laugh at myself!

Holy belly (with Lincoln) and I didn't get a single stretch mark!  And I have a sense of humor so I can laugh at how awful I looked (and it's OK to laugh out loud):-)  My rosacea was so bad (that was the only time it was ever bad)!  I was a hot mess!  Eeek!  Looking in the mirror was hard when I was pregnant with Lincoln.  Everybody sees your face...you can't hide it...and I knew my rosacea was the center of attention.  It was all worth it though!  I delivered a beautiful, and most importantly, a healthy baby boy 5 weeks early!

High 5 Dinner

Tonight I got a high five at dinner.  I rarely get a high five.  And it was something we've never eaten before.  Well I don't think I've ever eaten it before.  I found this super awesome website.  It's absolutely amazing!  I started off drooling over all the yummy desserts and then started going through some of the dinner ideas (located under recipe index).

So what did we eat for dinner?

Pork tenderloin.

http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2009/06/oink-oink.html



I didn't think I was a pork tenderloin type of girl but I am now!  I was so good!

I made a few changes and I cooked it for an hour rather than 45 minutes-after 45 minutes there was still some pink inside and I didn't know if pork needed to be cooked all the way through or not.  Even if I did over cook it-pouring some of the sauce over it made it super juicy!  And most importantly my kids ate it!  When I first read the recipe I was a little hesitant-I never thought about mixing some of the ingredients together (soy sauce, honey, dijon mustard).  I have a hard time "stepping outside the box"-that's probably one of the reasons why we are surviving off of shake n'bake and other non-exciting meals!  I'm definitely glad I "stepped outside the box" on this one because it was a huge hit!

Here's the recipe:

My Favorite Pork Tenderloin from Monica H

• 1 pkg. pork tenderloins (2 tenderloins, about 2-2.5 lbs.)
• 4 garlic cloves-I used minced garlic (about a tablespoon)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 T. country dijon mustard (whole grain mustard)-I used regular dijon mustard
• 4 T. honey
• 2 T. fresh orange juice
• 1 T. finely chopped fresh rosemary OR herbs de provence-I used packaged rosemary
• freshly ground pepper to taste
• 3 T. olive oil

Yield: 1 cup of marinade.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Take tenderloins out of package. Rinse and pat dry. Place in a 9x13-inch Pyrex sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Take a paring knife and poke holes in the tenderloins (on the top side only) about an inch deep. Peel garlic cloves and quarter each clove of garlic-lengthwise. If they're really big, cut them a bit smaller- about the size of slivered almonds. Place the garlic slivers in each pocket. Set aside while making marinade.

In a measuring cup or in a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except for the olive oil. Then slowly drizzle the olive oil while still whisking.

Pour the mixture over the tenderloins and put into preheated oven. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, basting once halfway through the baking process.

Once removed from the oven, allow the tenderloins to rest on a cutting board for about 10 minutes before slicing. Spoon the pan sauce over the tenderloin medallions and enjoy!

Spray Painting!

I don't know if I should admit this but last night I had the most delicious yam fries and garlic mayo EVER (at Cactus Club) and today after my appointment in Surrey I stopped and ordered a container of just garlic mayo.  And they gave it to me for free.  I mixed it with my left over teriyaki chicken rice bowl and it was so yummy!!!  Kevin has been given strict orders to purchase fries after fire practice so that tomorrow I can bake up some fries and eat them with this garlic mayo!

Today I got great news that the pericardial effusion around the baby's heart is no longer there!!!!  Ya!!!  And I was also told that my cervix is shorter.  For the last eight weeks it's basically stayed the same but today when they measured it it was a bit shorter.  The doctor said it wasn't anything to be too concerned about seeing as it was previously stable so in the mean time I'll try not to panic!  I'm just so blessed to have made it this far:-)

I am also pleased to announce that I've lost my spray painting virginity!  Not an easy decision!  I started doubting my vision and then panicked and changed my mind!  I spray painted the frame first and I thought it would look great right away...little did I know I had to do a few coats!  After that I took the bird cage outside and spray painted the heck out of it!  I had a "just go and do it" moment and I knew I just needed to before I changed my mind yet again!  And I'm happy to say it actually turned out great!

Before:

After:

I think it needs another coat but with being pregnant I'm going to wait till after baby comes (or maybe I'll bribe Kevin).  I probably shouldn't have been spray painting in the first place!

I'm thinking the console table looks a lot better with the silver and white accessories:

Before:

After:

I know one of the pictures is on it's side!  I took the frames from upstairs and just needed to see what they looked like on the table:-)

Top view:

And I finally got my shelves hung up in our bedroom for all my pictures (thank you Kevin)!

Bird Cage DIY

My console table needs a facelift.  I've been meaning to lighten it up abit but I haven't found the right white picture frames.  Right now it just looks a little too dark for my liking.  I have a can of white spray paint (I was going to paint Nate's rocking chair white but I decided not too out of fear of ruining it), and I'm thinking of spray painting the bird cage white along with the picture frame next to it.

I saw this picture on pinterest and I'm hoping mine will turnout just as pretty.  I've never spray painted anything before and I really don't want to ruin my bird cage!

Cousins

I don't think we ever thought this would happen:

Both of us pregnant at the same time (well 3 weeks apart)!

Sarah's having a girl and I'm having...?

Can't wait to see these cousins grow up together!

29 Weeks!

Today marks 29 weeks!!!!  Woot woot!  I don't know if it's just the angle the picture was taken at (thanks to my photographer Lincoln) but I think my belly looks pointier and lower?

Baby #3

Baby Nate

Baby Lincoln

Wreath

Last night the wreath was here:

Looking all pretty on our black door!

This morning I found it here:

Bah humbug Mr. Edwards!  Bah humbug!

And at last I took these evil little things out of the trunk of my car:



Because going to the trunk of my car would make me seem like an addict looking for a fix so that's why they stayed in there for so long.

I shouldn't have done it!  They taunted me and called my name.  I couldn't resist.  I have no self control and gave into temptation.

Can you believe there is 2.5 grams of fat in that little tiny itty bitty chocolate bar?  It's just not fair!

Have I mentioned I am absolutely in love with instagram (and my iPhone for that matter)!

Smiley Faces

I couldn't be more proud:-)  One minute he's drawing (scribbling all over the page), the next minute we have smiley faces!  Mama, Dada, Grandma, Papa, Nana and Girl Baby to be exact!  I think my heart is bursting with love:-)  This pictures a keeper!

Mama

Dada-and yes those are teeth you see!

Baby's Coming Home Outfit

I don't know if it's just me but I've been stressing about my little ones coming home outfit!  Now I know it doesn't seem like a big deal but to me it is!  This little outfit will be saved forever and one day I'll be able to look back and reminisce about the day I brought my little one home.  And there will be a great story that will go with that sweet little outfit..."when you were a little baby, this is what you were wearing when mommy and daddy brought you home..."  Yes indeed it's important!  Both times I knew what I was having so it was never an issue (well until I found the perfect coming home outfit).  Now that I don't know what the baby is I was having some trouble finding the perfect coming home outfit!  Do I do gender neutral?  Or gender specific?  Or gender neutral with a little gender specific?  Well today I found the cutest white knitted jumpsuit from Mexx and I purchased a sweet pink knitted hat with a white flower and a knitted navy hat.  Now I just need to find the perfect little booties (I'm thinking I might have to go back and get the ones the outfit came with) and a blanket!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79576774/crochet-baby-girl-beanie-with-flower

Our Day

I needed out of the house!

And I don't know who needed it more:

Me and the baby:

Or these two:

And this has now become my new favorite picture!  It may have something to do with the fact that it was taken with instagram...my new OBSESSION!

Normally Kev is home on Sunday's but today he went to Oregon to look at a vehicle (we are getting down to the wire and cannot find the vehicle we are looking for up here).  We thought about taking the kids but the 12 hour road trip didn't sound like the best idea so I was stuck at home with the boys!  I was bummed I couldn't go-I NEEDED out of the house! 

And it doesn't help knowing that right now I had planned to be in Hawaii.  I had booked these 3 weeks off work in hopes of going to Hawaii-ahhh breakfast and coffee on the patio with my mom and boys in the morning, relaxing on the beach, endless date nights with my husband.  Yes I'm bummed I'm not there right now.  I talked to my mom this morning and heard the crazy birds chirping and my heart ached and longed to be there.  As soon as I heard the bird chirp (well actually it's not a chirp it's more of a screech) but none the less it brought me back to mornings in Hawaii-really there is nothing better.  The thought of Hawaii makes me smile...everything about it.  I yearn to be there and if my medical insurance would cover me I'd be on the next plane out there!  Oh Hawaii I miss you!  I WILL be needing a vacation after my bed rest is over.  I don't care if it involves flying with three kids under the age of 3 and half!  It'll be worth it!

Any ways back to reality.  I packed up both kids.  I needed to feel the warmth of the sun and smell the fresh fall air...and the taste of a pumpkin spice latte!  Today turned out to be perfect!  Window down driving with the kids...yes perfect!  Sitting in a car is a lot better then sitting on the couch watching Despicable Me with the millionth time!

We hit the flats to look for tractors.  Every tractor we saw papa was driving it!  After that I still wasn't ready to go home so we took a drive up Eagle Mountain and passed their beautiful clean park.  It called our names!  I desperately needed to pee, found an porta potty then took the kids to the park.  This actually was the best porta potty I've ever peed in!  It even had a nice smelling hand sanitizer in it!  I was surprising impressed!

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

My doctor's said I am on "limited activity" and I'm going to assume sitting at the park, sipping a pumpkin spice latte and watching my kids play is considered "limited activity."  If not it felt so good breaking the rules!

At the park I dealt with a whiny three year old that wanted me to push him on the swings.  How do I explain to a three year old that mommy is on bed rest and has a short cervix and that he needs to play by himself while I park my lazy ass on the bench and watch  him play.  I had to pull the "OK that's it we're leaving right now if you don't stop your whining" speech over and over again!  Then he asked if I was done with my coffee cup so that he could pee in it.  Yes indeed I was, and I wasn't about to pick my lazy butt off the bench so I helped him pee into my Starbucks cup right in the middle of the park.  And I didn't care at that point who saw us!  It's one of the perks of having boys-they can stand and pee:-)  FYI used coffee cups come in handy (for boys) when you are on the road and need to stop-way better than stopping at some nasty germ infested gas station and trying to help your three your old pee without touching the toilet!  And Lincoln likes to stand and pee but yet he's not tall enough for most toilets and it can just turn into a horrible germ phobia moment for me!

The kids had fun (once Lincoln stopped whining and realized I actually wasn't getting off the park bench to push him on the swings)!  Oh and I witnessed the sweetest moment between my two boys: Lincoln and Nathan walked up to the swing set where two moms were pushing their little girls.  They said "hi" to the boys and Lincoln put his arm around Nathan and said "hi this is my brother Nate."  I love brotherly love!

He's actually trying to hug his brother...not put him in a head lock!

Yes, Instagram is my new obsession.  I am the proud new owner of a (used) iPhone (kev's old one-he upgrade of course).  I'm not a phone person.  And usually my phone is dead at the bottom of my person.  I think I've had my phone for 4 or 5 years and when the opportunity arose for Kev to upgrade to the new iPhone he took it convincing me I could have his old one (which is so much better then my htc touch).  I don't have a data plan nor will I be getting one-I don't use my phone that much but it's great for using at home and instagram...well what can I say about instagram!  It's great fun!  And makes picture look super cool and I feel some what special being able to take pictures with instagram now!  I can't get enough it!

And to finish off our great afternoon:

Baked goat cheese and roasted garlic with cranberry sauce and naan

And now I wait for the hubby to come home!  He was missed today!

Life Lately

Today is day 39 of being on bed rest.  How's it been?  Hard.  Especially on beautiful fall days like today.  Yesterday I sat outside while the kids played and Kev cut the grass.  It was chilly.  And at that moment I realized fall is just passing me by.  I wish I could take my kids for walk...to the park...for a picnic.  This weather screams fall walks!  Now if this was a normal Friday I'd be at work and there would be no walks involved but it's hard being stuck at home sitting on a couch.  And looking out the window just doesn't have the same effect.  Today would be a perfect day to sit on the patio while the kids nap with a pumpkin spice latte.  Mmmm! 

One of my life's best decisions was starting this blog.  Due to boredom yesterday I went back and started reading old blog post from a year ago.  They made me smile.  And I got to remember things I had completely forgotten about (ie. the times when Lincoln refused to nap and would sit in his room crying and then he'd wake Nate up and it would just end as "one of those days").  I miss baking with my kids.  Since I've been off I've collected tons of amazing cookie recipes including New Yorks Best Cookies and I desperately want to make them!  Reading my blog solidified my want to stay at home with my babies:-)  Some days are hard but for the most part I love being home with my babies and being able to do whatever we want whenever we want.  Impromptu trips to White Rock for Frozen Yogurt...I miss those!  One thing I really missed doing this year was going to the Seattle Zoo (Woodland Park Zoo).  We planned to go in September and ever since I found out about my cervix life's been put on hold (well sort of)!  I was really looking forward to it this year too because I know Nate would have loved it (and Lincoln too).  Oh well there is always next year!

As for our little one-it (yes it) is still doing good!  I had an appointment on Tuesday and the fluid around the baby's heart is still the same and the doctor's aren't too concerned.  My cervix is still short but stable (ya!).  Our little one's heart rate was 142 bpm and is measuring in the 43 percentile.  It'll be interesting to see how big this baby grows in the next few weeks!  I have big baby's so I wonder if this little one will follow in it's brothers foot steps or if it will stay "average."

Wednesday night marked the "I'm pregnant and my bodies a complete mess and nothing fits" night.  It just happened.  It was Kevin's hall open house and I was leaving the house (this was  big deal to me) and of course nothing fit.  And then later on that night I got a glimpse of my naked back side getting into the tub and I had to do a double take.  "Was that really my ass?"  Yup it was and it was frightening!  After I got out of the tub I did the thigh test (standing with my feet together to see where my inner thighs were at).  Normally they don't touch.  Not any more.  They're just squished together.  Now I'm not complaining.  Gaining weight is just a part of pregnancy and anyone that knows me knows I'm not one to watch my weight or count calories.  And I firmly believe that if you don't want to gain weight then you shouldn't get pregnant.  I'm just at that point in my pregnancy where I'm starting to feel huge.  So huge that rolling over in bed isn't just a simple roll any more.  I literally have to wake up, sit up and then move to the other side.  If I were to roll I'd probably crush my body with the weight of my belly:-)  I've been determined this pregnancy to NOT buy any maternity clothes (mainly because most maternity clothes are not flattering) so I've been living in leggings and tank tops.  And I know I'm in desperate need of leggings because the other day my mother brought up the fact that she knew I was wearing striped underwear.  Yes my leggings are slowly being stretched to the max:-)  I was going to buy a pair of jeans but when I 'm at home I'm lounging in pj pants or my lululemons and leaving the house is rare for me so no need for maternity jeans:-)

Now I sit and wait for my littlest to wake up!  Poor little buddy had his 18 month shots today and he was not pleased about that!  The only bonus-I did get some extra snuggles today from him:-)

Happy Friday!

Family of 4 at Hall 7, 2011

Hall 7 Open House, 2010

Hall 7 Open House, 2008

The boys this year, 2011

The boys last year, 2010