I just can't get enough of this kid

Kraig took Andy's training wheels off last week. It's been pretty tough getting Andy to want to practice riding his bike here at the house (and not enough patience from mommy), so Kraig had the genius idea to take him to the soccer fields at the park down the street. Watch and enjoy!
I laughed harder and harder at each of his attempts on the grass and as he made a few tries on the sidewalk. What a kid!

If you can, be sure to notice the look of terror on Andy's face right before the video ends. It was a pretty bad crash, but he got right back on the bike and tried again.

A pregnancy confession

At my OB's office, each woman is responsible of weighing herself and reporting that weight to the nurse during intake. It's not so bad, except that I've put on a lot of weight this pregnancy and I've stopped wanting to know what my weight is. It's usually around the 34/36 week appointment anyway that I turn around on the scale and don't look at my weight go up each week--I let the nurse quietly write it in my chart. It just depresses me too much.

.

I had my 34 week appointment this morning. This appointment wasn't any different than the last dozen I've been to; I weighed myself and found out I'd gained 1 pound/week since my last appointment. That's perfectly normal for this point in the pregnancy. The only problem is that now I know where my weight is. I'm 9 pounds away from weighing as much as my husband. EEeek!

.

I dated a lot of scrawny light-weights in college. I'm not a petite girl, so I always felt like a mammoth around these losers because I knew if I gained 3 pounds or grew an inch I'd be the heavyweight in the relationship. I could also out-eat them. Therefore, those boys had to go. When I met, dated, and married Kraig, I was so excited for so many reasons, but for once I felt petite around a boy, he was tall and solidly built, and he could definitely out-eat me. All qualities I wanted in a husband. I also knew that at my heaviest pregnant weight, Kraig would still outweigh me. Really, I had those thoughts and they were important to me (I think it's a side product of my education).

.

So here I am, 10 pounds away from claiming the heavyweight champ roll in our home. I've asked Kraig if he wouldn't mind working harder to gain a few pounds in the next 6 weeks--you know, sympathy weight gain for his growing wife. Or maybe a little emotional eating to match my own. SOMETHING so that I don't reach that magic number on the scale above his. We'll see how it goes. I might just have to swallow my pride (along with all the food I cram in my body) and accept that it's just how it's going to be. Phooey.

.

Me after dinner last night, filled to the brim with steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagas. Definitely a content mama!

Winter Wonderland

We had a few photos taken at Christmas time to update my parents' bragging wall. My sister, Robin, does a fantastic job. I love how they turned out for a few reasons:

.

#1 you can't tell I'm pregnant

.

#2 my face doesn't appear to reflect the 25+ pounds I've gained (although it does in real life)

.

#3 Andy looks like he should be a model for Gap Kids

.

#4 Joshy's nap hair doesn't look half bad (except the cowlick caused horn on the left)

.

#5 We've never had a winter photo shoot done and I love the snowy background and trees

#6 It was so cold Christmas day, the shoot lasted about 10 minutes and we got tons of great family and individual shots.

.

Thanks, Robin!

The truth is out

Kraig and I left the boys at my parents' house last night while we went out to dinner (to a fantastic Japanese restaurant, but that's another post).

I finally found out what really happens when the kids are at Grandma's.

Grandma, Grandpa, and Fuzzy said both boys ate a really good dinner before they indulged on the donuts, but come on. What's the point of going to Grandma's if you don't get to eat dessert first!

What have we been up to?

Here are my excuses for not posting: I'm tired and pregnant. And I've had family in town. Sorry, Ash.

.

Here's a brief recap of what our holiday consisted:

.

.

My brother and sisters and their families were all in town for the holiday. Kraig had to work at 8am Christmas morning, so we woke the kids up at 5:45am so we could open gifts and get ready for the day before he had to leave for work. Be sure to note the big bags around Andy's eyes. I'm not entirely sure (it's kind of all a blur, no pun intended), but I think there were definitely Christmas Day naps.

.

.

Kraig spoiled me at Christmas. It was wonderful. I loved all of his gifts, but the one that got the tears were the two pine benches he and my dad and brother had made for me for my kitchen table. I've scoured every furniture store in a 10 mile radius (and online) for benches to match my now-discontinued dining set. The benches are more beautiful and match more perfectly than anything I would have found to purchase. They're perfect! Thanks, honey!

.

.

A large part of my Christmas preparations were spent in my sewing room working of projects. I made the boys matching suits this year. I'm so pleased with how they turned out. I took some liberties with the patterns and was amazed when the finished product looked how I had planned. I think the kids look so handsome.

.

.

We had a few friends and family over for games New Year's Eve. It was lots of fun and even ended at the decent hour of 11pm. Kraig and I rang in the New Year by ourselves (Ok. Ryan Seacrest was there too). I can only imagine what this new year will bring, but I'm so grateful I have Kraig by my side. I can weather any storm with my best friend next to me.

.

.

Kraig worked New Year's Day (no surprise), so when he got home we took the kids sledding. Correction. He took the kids sledding, and I sat in the warm car and read my book. I did step outside to snap a few photos documenting the event. I had to laugh when I came upon my boys riding the sled as if it were a roller coaster. These little boys have the same thrill seeker in them like their father. Heaven help me!

.

.

As a cute side note, Andy gave the scripture again in Primary yesterday. This video is for his grandparents who couldn't be there:

My Honey's Special Day

31 years ago today, my Sweetheart was born. I can't believe I'm married to someone in his thirties.
.
Here are 31 additional things about my Sous Chef:

1. Kraig loves children. He was ready for another baby a long time before I was.
2. He always said he wanted 12 kids but has parred that number down in thinking of my sanity. Bless him!
3. Kraig loves to sleep.
4. He loves things clean and orderly.
5. Clutter drives him bananas, but he allows me my little areas of chaos--like my desk.
6. Clutter on top of the microwave might drive him to insanity--another area I'm responsible for.
7. He claims he can clean the entire house in 2 hours. I'm pretty sure that's without the kids at home.
8. He's very generous with his time and loves to serve.
9. Kraig works most Sundays, so he can't come to church with our family, but he's very faithful in his temple attendance.
10. He passed his Certified Sous Chef exam this week.
11. The next day he worked in his kitchen as a Chef, thus completing one more of his "100 things to do before I die."
12. Kraig is a very sensitive guy. He tears up often, which I love.
13. He buys me flowers after an argument.
14. He loves to sing and is a great dancer.
15. He started listening to books on tape on his 40 minute drive to work.
16. Kraig's currently listening his way through the Harry Potter series again. He's never listened to/read book 6, even though I've made him listen to book 7 multiple times.
17. Kraig plans on retiring when he's 55 so that we can serve missions together.
18. One of Kraig's favorite past times is water skiing.
19. Since we left Utah 2.5 years ago, Kraig's been water skiing only one time.
20. Kraig drives an old green Dodge Caravan to work.
21. He says he turned in his "Man card" the day we sold his Rodeo and bought our first minivan.
22. Kraig cooks us a big breakfast almost every morning.
23. Even though he's around food all day long, it's not unusual for him to go an entire work day without eating another meal.
24. He loves to tinker around in the garage.
25. Kraig loves to take things apart, fix them, and put them together again. This only works sometimes :)
26. Kraig works hard for our family so that I can stay at home with our children and spend his money.
27. Kraig loves real Christmas trees. I don't think he'll ever let me buy a fake one.
28. Every morning Kraig pretends to be asleep so the kids can come in and wake him with their hugs and kisses.
29. He likes non-traditional names like Tucker and Kyra for our children.
30. Kraig loves rootbeer floats.
31. I'm his best friend.

Happy Birthday, Sous Chef! I love you!

The Glitter Incident of 2009

I stayed in bed a few extra minutes this morning, only to awake to my 4 year old and my 2 year old and three bottles of glitter, happily enjoying themselves make a huge mess.

Oh, and FYI, glitter doesn't vacuum up.

Face Lift

I have no decorating ability at all. None. It's not one of my gifts and as much as I try, it's not one I've been able to cultivate.

.

Thankfully, I've got friends who have the touch. I try and glean from them as much knowledge and style as I can.

.

I was having a few high school friends over after Thanksgiving so I asked my dear friend Erika to come and help me stage my house so it would look like the decor I have made sense. She did a fabulous job working with my garage sale finds, arranging photos, and declutting my clutter. She also offered to help me realize one of my long-planned projects and volunteered to paint a wall for me. WooHoo! Here are a few photos of the before and afters:

.

Wow, looking at this wall now makes me wonder how I lasted so long with no color in this room. The piano had already been moved when I snapped the photo, but it used to be to the left of the roll top desk.

.

In progress. That's my cute friend Erika peeking out from behind the china hutch. She and her husband Josh made a short work of the wall and decorating and were finished in 2 1/2 hours. Amazing!

.

The completed wall before the furniture was rearranged.

.

We moved the piano across the room to make room for these beauties:

I found these antique screens at a yard sale in my neighborhood and paid $1 each. I removed the copper screens because they were painted on and horribly tarnished. These frames were actually the inspiration for the whole rearrange and paint job. I needed to find some way to work them into the decor, but as I had it before there was no cohesiveness with them.

.

The third screen frame ended up above my kitchen pass through window. I intend to hang our family scripture in vinyl lettering inside the panes.

.

I am SO pleased with how the whole project turned out. I love the navy blue wall. I'm still trying to sell Kraig on the cool antique, distressed (and cheap) frames, but overall he's thrilled with the change too.

.

Thanks, Josh and Erika, for all your help!

Workin' hard for the money

Ok, first thing's first. It wasn't that bad. Yes, I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning baking rolls, but I knew I had a good product, and I was so excited to share them with my friends.

.

Here are a few photos from my Thanksgiving eve to early Thanksgiving morning bake. These are not attractive photos of me. Please keep in mind that it was after midnight (my bedtime is around 9:30) and I'm 7 months pregnant. Really. I'm only uploading these photos for my posterity, not because I'm a fashion model.

.

.

I LOVE MY MIXER. If ever I were to endorse a kitchen appliance, it would be my Kitchenaid Professional 600 Series 6qt mixer. In pewter. I love it. This thing is a machine in every sense of the word. I don't care what all you Bosch owners think. I'll win at a mixing challenge any day.

.

Kraig stayed up to help me. Things were a bit disorganized at first, but he got a great system down for organizing my ingredients for each batch. I couldn't have done what I did without him. Nor could I have done it without my mother keeping my children that night. Thanks, Mom and Kraig, for supporting me!

.

.

Kraig loves this photo. His comment was, "That is one happy Jacqui." Well, I was.

.

.

After the dough had risen the first time, I'd roll it out and roll 'em up.

.

.

The biggest time eater was waiting for the dough and rolls to rise. But thankfully Kraig came up with a perfect solution for me--my very own proofing oven! It was really just an enclosed space heated to 90 degrees with our space heater, but man, that dough would have taken hours to rise in my 66 degree house. In this little baby the time was cut down to a third of what it would have been.

.

.

Kraig took advantage of the proofing oven too. He was asleep in this photo. And don't worry, his feet are no where near the pans of rolls.

.

.

Don't they look beautiful so fresh from the oven. It still makes my mouth water just looking at them. I thought for sure I'd never want to make another batch of rolls again after that night, but I had one more order to fill today and they still tasted just as delicious to me!

.

.

Here's most of them bagged up and ready to deliver Thanksgiving morning.

.

So, all totalled, I had orders for 35 dozen rolls. It was fun, actually. I think I'll do it again...

Time to make the donuts!

Sometimes I think I'm a little crazy. Ok, most of the time. Here's my latest hair-brained scheme:

.

Saturday I got this crazy whim to make a few extra dollars this Christmas season, I'd sell my dinner rolls to my friends for Thanksgiving. Crazy, I know! I crunched the numbers (thank you, Excel spreadsheet) and found out how much each batch and dozen costs down to the penny.

.

I knew I couldn't do it alone, and of course I'd want Kraig's culinary help anyway, so I ran the idea by him. He thought it sounded fun, the only problem was advertising and selling my rolls when Thanksgiving was 5 days away.

.

Well, I shouldn't have worried. I posted an event on Facebook, invited a few people in my area to join, and 12 hours later I had orders for 30 dozen rolls! Needless to say, I'm a little taken aback by such a positive response. I expected a few close friends to take pity on my little attempt at being an entrepreneur, buy a dozen each, and I'd make $10.

.

Thankfully a few of the orders are for Wednesday, but it looks like I'll be up extra early Thanksgiving morning making rolls :) I'm actually kind of excited.

So, here's my shameless plug: If any of my local blog readers need a dozen or two dinner rolls before Thanksgiving and know they just won't be satisfied with store bought Rhodes, send an order or two my way!

100 days to go

Phew. I can't believe I've made it this far in the pregnancy, but at the same time I feel this little boy will be here before I know it. Especially with 2 birthdays, Kraig's sous chef exam, Christmas, New Years, our 5th Anniversary, and Valentine's Day--the time is going to fly by.

So before the final 100 day count down starts, I wanted to share a few photos of this little guy. The first photo is a 3-D high resolution sonogram. He still doesn't have much fat on his body, but I think I see a little bit of Joshy in him.

It amazes me that this is going on inside my body and all I do is sit back and let it happen. What a miracle that this little boy will join our family just as perfect as he can be, bringing with him the scent of heaven and a spirit minutes from being with our Heavenly Father.

So, Sweet Son, your mama's so excited to meet you! Keep marinating a few more months and then I'll get to hold you in my arms.

A longer gestation time than my child

As we were putting our Christmas decorations away last January, Kraig mentioned that he thought it would be nice if our family had matching stockings. The previous 4 Christmases we've just used a mismatched few collected from various locations. I've always wanted to have matching stockings, but never thought Kraig would go for it. When he mentioned it, I didn't hesitate in going out to buy a pattern and the perfect fabric I had always envisioned for our stockings.

.

I started the project in January. First I did the tree skirt. The fabric I bought was two different patterns with a low loft batting machine quilted in between the layers. I had to modify the pattern a bit to fit my "pre-made" fabric, but I was pleased with the results. I even learned to do mitered corners on the binding (there aren't a lot of mitered corners required in clothing construction--most of the sewing I've done to this point)

.

Then I started on the matching stockings. The first Wednesday of every month our Relief Society gathers for our Workshop Wednesday to work on our unfinished projects. I started my stockings there, working once a month at the Workshop. After 10 months (11 months, if you count the time I spent on the tree skirt), I FINALLY finished the project. The other ladies applauded as I cut my last thread. Here are the finished products:

I hand stitched on the white binding, and used my sister's embroidery machine for the names. The hardest part was figuring out how to attach the stocking to the cuff since I had altered the pattern. But I'm SO pleased with the results and I finished them not a moment too soon.

.

Oh, and don't worry. I made 4 additional small stockings that just need a name added for any additional children and/or daughters-in-law that will join our family.

.

Check this unfinished "baby" off my list!

When I have grown a foot or two

What handsome little missionaries I have. I can't believe how much taller Andy is than Joshua. And they stood still long enough to show how much they truly love each other.

My sweet boys.

A tribute to a musical Jewish icon

Ever since last week's Glee, I can't get Sweet Caroline out of my mind. What is it about that song that is so universal? Is it Neil Diamond? Is it the music? Is it the lyrics? Is it the beat?

It seems everyone has done a cover of this song: The Jonas Brothers (horrific--how did they get a musical career?), Elvis (not so awful--definitely Elvis-i-fied), David Archuleta (so sweet--only as cutie David can sing it), and apparently the Red Sox play it at every baseball game (thanks for that trivia, Trent).

On our first day on the cruise, Kraig and I were in the pool and the DJ played Sweet Caroline. Everyone on the deck started singing the song, especially the drunk people next to us (whom Kraig later challenged to do Karaoke that night). It was hilarious.

So here's my tribute to this musical icon. Hopefully this will help me get the song out of my mind.

This year's submission

I have been planning this year's Halloween costume since last Halloween. Do you remember what Kraig and I went as last year? Here's a refresher:
The Farmer and his Carrot Harvest. Hmmm...In light of what we've done with our food storage this year, it seems our costumes were a little prophetic last year :)

.

Anyway, I've had ideas floating around my head for the last 11 months. In fact, for the majority of the year, I was pretty sure we were going to be a bowling ball and bowling pin this year, but it never materialized. Maybe next year.

.

I got the idea for our costumes this year from an episode of the game show "Let's Make a Deal." It was pure inspiration. All I needed was a little felt and a few hours and viola! We were in business.I've always loved that Kraig's my complimentary piece of meat:)