Lets catch up with...

Pictures form the last couple months:

Jase and Meghan get along so well 99% of the time (she smiles and laughs at her brother constantly)

Jase decided to "label" himself in case he gets lost...


Meghan can sleep anywhere, but in her crib for a nap..


Jase decided to color on the wall with crayons, so we had him work at cleaning it up (he decided it wasn't fun and wouldn't do it again).

Happy "Wicked" Birthday!

On Thursday Heather turned 30 and Joseph surprised her with a day in the windy city (without kids) and what a wonderful day it was. We started the day by going here as a family. Then we dropped the kids off at some friends houses (who so graciously accepted watching our children for us) and headed to Chicago. On the way to Chicago we stopped here for lunch (and Heather got her free birthday burger, the banzai burger, and a dreamy orange smoothie). Then we went to the Art Institute of Chicago for a couple of hours. One of Heather's favorite restaurants is Bennigan's, so we had to stop in there for an appetizer and dessert, before going to see Wicked!
I love seeing musicals and plays. In fact the first date Heather and Joseph went on was to see Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk at The Wharton Center at Michigan State University (Go Spartans!). Heather has seen several shows, including The Phantom of the Opera (2x), Les Miserables, Riverdance, Madame Butterfly, 42nd Street, Macbeth, A Mid Summers Nights Tale, Peter Pan, and several others. She has always loved being swept away for a couple hours into a different culture/era. We had a wonderful day and Heather had a wonderful birthday.

What is your favorite musical/play that you have seen, and what would you see if you could see anything?

We have some cute pics of the kids to post, but I (Heather) am too lazy to download them right now, so check back soon (I'll do it this weekend for sure).

New found love

Some of you may not know that I love baking, anything really, cookies, cakes, breads, but not really pies (actually the pie crusts are what I don't like making).

Anyway, I have discovered over the last few weeks that I really enjoy watching a couple cooking shows on pbs, that are part of Martha Stewart. I first discovered the 2 - 30min shows while nursing Meghan on a Saturday afternoon. Then a couple weeks later I saw them again. This last Saturday I watched them purely do to not being able to take a nap (and boy did I want a nap). First, I got Meghan to nap in her crib (which is difficult - she sleeps great at night, but won't nap there). Then, Joe got Jase ready for his nap. then we both decided to take a nap too (stayed up too late watching movies when the kiddos get up by 7a). Within 5 minutes of falling asleep, my cell phone rang and I jumped up to get int in the living room, so that it didn't wake up Meghan (and it didn't, thank goodness). Then, I just back to sleep again when the phone rang again (this time I turned it off). When I finally got to sleep for the third time, Meghan woke up (she did sleep almost 1.5 hrs in her crib which is great for her napping there). So, I relaxed in the recliner while nursing her and thought about sleeping, but decided to see if there was anything good on to watch. I stumbled across my 2 shows again, Everyday Food and Everyday Baking. One of the best things about these shows are that the recipes are simple and quick to make (most are completed in 30 minutes). I also like Food Network, but since we have only basic cable, we frequent their website often, but it isn't the same as having the show.

The episode of Everyday Food was on the best burgers (#405) and hosting a burger bar party (a perfect idea for a glummy winter Saturday) and included these really yummy looking and sounding tandoori chicken burger.

The episode of Everyday Baking was on chocolate (#105, my favorite). And the next episode is on cakes, yummy, whick will air Feb. 16 at 2:30 on WFYI.

Are there any food websites or shows that you absolutely love watching and making the recipes? Please share!

Two Things...

I (Heather) was tagged by my best friend, Joellen, so here are some random things about me:

Two names I go by:
1) mommy/momma
2) wifey

Two things I am wearing right now:
1) wonderfully soft pj pants
2) my fuzzy leather slippers (a must have with hardwood floors)

Two of my favorite things to do:
1) sew
2) play with my hubby and kids

Two things I want very badly at the moment:
1) really chocolaty brownies (I just made some, now waiting to cool)
2) a solid 8 hours of sleep (Meghan sleeps it, but I don't go to bed when she does, and the times she has slept 10 hours, I sleep for 5 hours and then wake up every 30-45 minutes waiting for her to wake up -ugh)

Two favorite pets I've had:
1) Tara, my first dog, an English Springer Spaniel
2) Fluffy, my enormously fat cat from my childhood (seriously she weighed like 25lbs)

Two things I did last night:
1) planned food menus for the weekend (Joe mainly cooks during the week, so I shoehorn the weekend)
2) talked with the missionaries

Two things I ate today:
1) leftover cabbage roll casserole for lunch
2) leftover scalloped potatoes and meatloaf for dinner

Two people I last talked to:
1) Jase
2) Meghan

Two longest car rides:
1) When we moved from Michigan to Montana over New Years holidays
2) When we moved back to Michigan from Montana 6 months later

Two favorite beverages:
1) milkshake
2) yogurt smoothies

I tag (if you haven't been tagged already):

Maren, Misty, Melissa, Charlotte, and Ginger

Sad news

It makes me extremely sad to blog that our wonderful Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints passed away Sunday evening.Pres. Hinckley is the only modern-day prophet I've known since becoming a member of the church in Jan 2002. I grew fond of him immediately (even before I was baptized), and enjoyed his wit and humor, as well as his love and concern for all the children of Heavenly Father. He will be greatly missed here on earth, but I know that he is in a much better place and having a wonderful reunion with his wife, Sister Hinckley. I also pray that Pres. Hinckley's family will be lifted up in prayer during this difficult time (my best friend is part of his family, so this is very relevant and important to me).

That virus is a spider!

Jase, Meghan, and Joseph came to visit me at work on Tuesday. Jase loves to run into my coworkers offices and say hi to everyone, get cookies and candy from the lunchroom/conference room, and drink from the water fountains. Of course my coworkers love to see the kids too. On our way out of the building, Jase stopped and looked at an illustration of the Bacteriophage T4. I asked him if he liked that virus, and he said, "It's a spider!" At least he has an imagination - as the T4 phage has "legs" and I think from his view that is all he could really see.

Jase is a big helper

Jase has always enjoyed grocery shopping with mommy, but lately he has greatly enjoyed carrying the groceries from the door to the kitchen, and then unpacking them. What a big help that is - thanks Jase!