“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”
Dr. Seuss

Sunday, July 19, 2009

HOLY SMOKES!!!

Are you comfy? You may want to get that way before you settle in to read my next post. The last two weeks has been a nice little Thornton roller coaster ride!

Our story begins on the first day of July. With great anticipation for our favorite holiday, the 4th of July, our family was making all of the necessary araignments for the holiday...food, games, clothes, etc! Tad woke up a little tired on the first, by the afternoon he was complaining of a pain going from his chest around to his back. We thought maybe he was just sore, he had been working out a lot recently. That night he started violently vomiting. He spent the night that way. Thank heaven's for the holiday, because that was the only way I could convince him to go to the doctor, saying that they would be closed for the rest of the weekend. The doctor within five minutes was giving me directions to the medical rooms in the hospital. He wasn't exactly sure what was wrong, he was afraid it had something to do with his heart. Another thank heaven's goes out to all of my friends who were so willing to take my kids at the drop of a hat. (Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!).

Tad spent the next few hours as a pin cushion. He was severely dehydrated, they had to stick tubes down his nose and throat (he gained a new respect for what Livia had to go through). They took blood from his arteries and everywhere else up and down his arms. EKG's and X-ray's and many more tests, and we finally discovered that Tad had severe pneumonia. They also told us that he had a staff infection.
Everyone was so amazing. My mind was at ease knowing that my kids were being well taken care of by Loretta, thank you so much! Unfortunately, Tad had to spend his favorite holiday in the hospital. The nurse escorted him outside so he could watch the Logan fireworks! Tad was able to come home on the fourth, but the doctor said that we couldn't be around him at all because he was so contagious. Although we were sent home with a box of masks, I didn't think that the kids were going to last an entire week wearing them! So we stocked Tad up with food and movies and sadly waved goodbye to our sick daddy.

The kids and I had many adventures over the last two weeks, and although we missed Tad, we had a lot of fun with family and friends!
On the third, Tad and I usually take the kids up to the park behind the stadium watch the fireworks. Loretta filled in for Tad this year. We had fun, although we thought that we might get rained out!




The kids and I rushed down on the fourth so that we could make it to Aunt Jolene and Uncle Steve's annual fourth of July BBQ and Sugarhouse Park fireworks! The kids had a blast with their cousins and of course the hit of the night was Uncle Mike! Thanks to Aunt Katie for bringing the glow in the dark sticks! Trey's favorite game was pretending they were light sabors!Trey's Face when the fireworks started!!!





Grandma Debbie was so excited to take us to the Discovery Museum at Gateway! They had a blast playing with everything! Trey's favorite was the helicopter on the roof. He would have stayed up there for hours if he could have! Livia loved playing in the store and being the cashier! And Aurianna had fun with everything...she wanted to do everything right away!





The fun continued the next day when we got to spend the day with Great Grandma Kelly! My kids adore their Grandma Kelly! We went over to Uncle Dustin and Aunt Becky's gorgeous new house! We were all so excited that Aunt Becky decided to join us for the day! We went to lunch and then Grandma took us to a park where all of the kids play in these gigantic fountains! Livia layed back in the water and sang the Cinderella song to herself. I think that she thought she was a princess for the afternoon being able to swim in a fountain!





We had a blast down in Salt Lake with everyone! Thanks Mom for taking such good care of us!
We were all worried about Tad though and ready to get home and check on him! We came home and took him to the doctor for a check up. We were relieved to find out that Tad didn't have a staff infection, but a new discovery had been made. He had Scarlet Fever along with his pneumonia. He is now feeling much better, but not 100% yet. His lungs still hurt and he is very weak. He has lost 18 pounds over the last two weeks. We went up in the Canyons the other night to make smores! We all had a blast around the camp fire (once we got it started!). I forgot to bring newspaper. We finally borrowed some from the campers next to us. They had just gotten there and used lighter fluid to light their fires. We were still blowing on ours trying to get it going when Livia walked over and said, "Dad, what is wrong with your fire...they(pointing to the other campers) just got here and their fire is bigger than yours!" Leave it to Livia to point out the obvious! We skipped rocks, enjoyed the waterfall and even saw a snake! And the smores were delicious of course!






Okay, we are at the end...hopefully your behind isn't too sore! Just one more story...! I am royally allergic to bugs...bees, Mosquitoes, spiders...if they bite, I will swell! I of course carry insect repellant everywhere. I covered all of us that night in the canyons, except for Tad who said he was fine. Tad didn't get any bites. I woke up the next morning with five bites accross the side of my face and on my fore head (not attractive, I look like I am 13 again!). But this is how Livia woke up....



and this is what came out of her mouth...
"Mom, why did God put bugs on the Earf?"
"I don't like Mosquitoe bumps!"

I agreed the next day when I woke up with the side of my face completley swollen and my eyes swollen shut. Tad got a kick all day every time he saw me he would say "BABY RUTH" (think Goonies!). Needless to say, we didn't go anywhere for a couple of days!

Sorry again for the long post. I hope that everyone is enjoying their summers!!! Have a great 24th!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Hacky Sack!



We have been so excited to make these this summer! They were super easy, we did them in about a half an hour! I used flour, so mine are a little bit more like stress balls, but they can still be used as hacky sacks! The kids had a blast making them and playing with them!

Here are the instructions:
CRAFT MATERIALS:
9 (11-inch) balloons (for 3 balls)
Funnel
2 1/4 cups of dried lentils
Scissors

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Stretch the first balloon by inflating it halfway, holding it closed for about 30 seconds, and deflating it.

2. Place a funnel in the balloon's neck and gradually pour in 3/4 cup of lentils, pushing them in as you go. The balloon should be firm but squeezable.

3. Snip off the balloon's thick rubber lip. Cut the neck off a second balloon and gently stretch the opening.

4. Ease the second balloon over the filled balloon, tucking in the neck as you go.

5. Cut the neck off the third balloon, stretch the opening, and ease it over the other two. Repeat this process to make a set of three balls, or however many you'd like.

Stay tuned...frogs are on the list for tomorrow!!!!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

I'm In Love...

Yes, I am in love, with a lot of things lately!
First off, I am in love with cooking. All of the sudden I have found this new found love of cooking for my family. It is probably because I can't eat any of the stuff that I cook (long story, I will tell it in a month!!!). Because I can't have it, I want everyone else to eat, and eat really, really good!!! I went through my cookbook cupboard and decided to go through everything and make my own cookbook! It has been so much fun and I have found so many wonderful recipes to make! I was even thinking (let me know if you are interested), of creating a blog where all of those that want to be could be authors of it and we could each post a new recipe a week, whether it was main meals or desserts, etc. Than if we try something that is posted, we could comment on it...kind of like recipezaar.com, but on a more personal level.
Anyway this is what we had last night!


Parmesan Pork Chops
Ingredients:
1/4 cup biscuit/baking mix
1 egg, beaten
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
4 boneless pork loin chops (1/2 inch thick and 6 ounces each)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions:
Place biscuit mix and egg in separate shallow bowls. In another shallow bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and rosemary. Coat pork chops with biscuit mix, dip in egg, then coat with Parmesan mixture.
In a large skillet, brown pork chops on both sides in oil. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear, turning once. Yield: 4 servings.


The next thing that I am in love with...Cache Valley!!!
I love this time of year in Cache Valley. We go every year to the Art Summerfest! It is like chocolate for me...endless booths of artists for three days, so much fun!!! We took the kids on Saturday!




They had a huge bubble machine!


Clowns!






And lots and lots of food!!!

The last thing that I am in love with...well of course there is more than just three things, but this is good for now...
MY HUBBY!
I am so thankful for Father's Day! I love spoiling my husband, not that I really wait until Father's Day, it is just another excuse to show him how thankful I am for what a good father and provider he is for our family.
The kids were excited to let dad sleep in and make him snacks (he doesn't really eat breakfast!). They love singing to him at church! We made this cake for him today (it is a tradition to make a cool cake every year!) We made the Etch a Sketch this time...here are some others that we made too!






Here is the cake recipe I used this year. It was rated by 600 people on recipezaar.com with 5 stars...
SERVES 16 , 1 9x13 pan (change servings and units)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups icing sugar
Garnish
chopped walnuts
Directions
1Preheat oven to 275°.
2Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
3In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.
4In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
5In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
6Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.
7Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
8Stir in banana mixture.
9Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.
11For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
12Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
13Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
14Spread on cooled cake.
15Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! Thanks for reading my love list! Let me know if you are interested in the recipe blog! Crafts are on their way!

Sorry if there are spelling errors...my little button isn't working today!!!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Making summer fun, in an organized fashion...yes I said organized!!!

Ok, so Organized isn't something that usually comes out of my mouth, unless I am talking about how unorganized I am or how I want to be more organized...but I think that I am changing my ways!!!(Tad is jumping up and down in the background!!!)
We have been out of school for over a week now, and I have spent that time coming up with some ideas! Last summer was over before I knew it; this year I have made weekly craft lists and outing lists. We of course have the normal reward jar and chore charts! I am making the kids choose two chores from a list that they have to do everyday, they are actually getting them done daily, along with piano practice, math worksheets and reading time! Because there is a set time to do it all, they know exactly what they need to do! But I had to share my two favorite things that we are doing this summer! I called my friend Rory one day in a panic trying to find ideas to make summer lunch time a little easier. I don't know if this sounds familiar, mom makes mac n'cheese, all of the sudden no one wants mac n'cheese, they want everything else under the sun...I was not looking forward to this daily routine. Rory gave me not one but two great ideas!!! She does a lunch time summer menu! She lists veggies, fruits and then about five main courses that are always on hand. I added beverages to mine so that it would be more like a real menu! We deco pauged card board and made our own "real" menus! They are waiting next to their breakfast bowls in the morning so that they can decide what they want and then I am prepared! They have loved it! There haven't been any fights, no changing minds, and my kids are getting a balanced lunch everyday!!!




Rory's second great idea is for snacks! We go through snacks so quickly during the summer. She set a money value for each snack and then she gave her kids a set amount of money for the week. Once it was gone, it was gone. She uses change since her kids are a little older. I decided to use fake dollars that I bought for a dollar! The kids have also enjoyed this, and they are working on their math and money skills and don't even realize it!!!

Maybe by the end of the summer, I will still be sain, maybe a little more organized and my kids will be a little healthier and better at math...we will see!!!

My main courses for my menu are hot dogs, calzone(i found an easy, but good one that could be used for sandwiches), spaghetti with meat balls, chicken pot pies, chicken nuggets & mac'n cheese. My kids are anti sandwiches and things out of a can, but they do love frozen pot pies...picky, picky!

I am going to be posting a lot of crafts this summer, just in case anyone is looking for some. This month will be a lot of father's day crafts and 4th of July. If anyone else has any great crafts...let me know, I am always looking for new ideas!!! (I posted a lot today...I was a little behind, so keep scrolling down!!!)

Being 30 ROCKS!!!

So this was the 30th birthday plan...To go mini golfing & race car driving on Friday with the kids and then on Saturday Tad and I were going out to Hamilton's (my fav). At about four o'clock on Friday Tad came in and handed me a card. By this point I was wondering what in the heck was wrong with him. He had been cleaning like a mad man all week long, no joke my house was sparkling! Tad cleans all the time, but he was really doing a tip top job, I just thought it was because it was my birthday week! Anyway, back to four on Friday...the card, I open it and he tells me to go get my bag packed, my mom will be here in an hour!!! We didn't have a lot of time, so he took me to the Anniversary Inn for the weekend. He had been planning it for two months...crazy since Tad cannot get anything past me, he is an open book. But boy did he have me...! So Saturday after a little clothes and car shopping, he said he forgot his glasses and won't be able to see the movie...so we go home. Ya, home to a house full of family and friends!!! I was in complete shock. He got me twice!!! It was such a fun surprise!!! It was great to see everyone and have such a good time! I am still in shock that he slipped it all passes me! But I am so glad that he did! Thanks to everyone that drove up here, it was so much fun to see you! And thanks mom & Mitch for watching the kids all weekend! I love you! (Sorry for all the pictures, if you can't already tell, I am a picture freak!!!)