Two random cakes I needed to post so I could link them

Cheesecake covered in chocolate gnache, surrounded by hand dipped chocolate, mint and raspberry truffles. This was the groomscake for my brother's wedding.

My graveyard cupcakes from Halloween.

Pardon my reflective mood

After two years trying to conceive our second child we were told that we'd even had one without fertility drugs was a miracle and that it was 'a statistical impossibility' that we'd have another. We were told that we'd have once chance and that if it worked it'd be one in a million, but if it didn't work there was no second try. Then it didn't work -we were devastated. Eight weeks later in the ER we found out that we were expecting, that we'd not only beaten the odds- but that we'd done it after they'd told us that we'd failed.

Then when I was 26 weeks pregnant they found the heart defect. She also wasn't growing fast enough. It was torture waiting. They usually induce labor early when babies aren't growing, but they wanted her to be as big as possible when she was born so that she could handle open heart surgery at less then 48 hours old. She would need 4 surgeries in her first 2 years of life. Her chances of surviving the first surgery was 50%.

They told us that she would be lucky to be five pounds at birth (this was with weekly ultrasounds and monitoring.) When she was born she was 7'10" and was pink! Her heart was declared perfect at 48 hours old and we were able to take her home. Our little Megan. I felt that the meaning of her name was very important. Megan means 'strong' or 'strength'. This fits her perfectly. We knew that she'd need to be strong to survive. She's still very strong willed and is physically stronger and more coordinated then her older sister. Her middle name is Elizabeth. She's named after my grandmother who died six weeks previous to her birth. Elizabeth also means 'gift from God'. I couldn't have asked for a better gift.

We prayed our Megan here, and prayed her to stay. She is a testimony to me of the power of the priesthood. Of course it also had to be in accordance with God's Will- which is where it gets tricky.

I believe in miracles though- I have no choice. My miracle baby is 3 1/2 years old and has two younger sisters who were conceived without medical intervention. I'm not sure why we've been so blessed, I certainly don't feel like we deserve it. But I'm eternally grateful.

Happy Birthday Ashley!!

My baby is seven! I can't believe that you're that old. I can't believe that I'm old enough to have a seven year old!!

Six was a great age for you. You learned an amazing amount. You went from barely reading to reading entire books, you learned how to tie your shoes (in one ten minute, tear free session no less), learned how to ride a bike with out training wheels. You finished kindergarten and started first grade at whole new school, and we moved, so you made a whole bunch of new friends.

You are my first- the first pregnancy, the first birth, the first baby. You had three and a half years of being the only child, then adjusted to being the oldest of four quite gracefully. I see so much of myself in you on a daily basis. You're my helper, almost always willing to help out when I need it, and mother your sisters (even if they don't need it.) You're always smiling and usually giggling.

You wanted a 'bumble bee' birthday party last year and I convinced you to take bumble bee cupcakes to school and then we had a tea party at home for your friends. Apparently that wasn't good enough since this year you, 'really wanted a bumble bee birthday party because I think it would be fun.' So we did it.

There was a bumble bee cupcake cake for school-

And a beehive cake for your party:

We drew bees with our eyes shut, played 'pin the stinger on the bee' and tried to break balloons tied to other peoples ankles. We also made fun invitations together.

I'm pretty sure you had a good time. I've never heard so much giggling and squealing in my life that's for sure!

Love you girl!

I think Google should take over the world

I love all things Google. I have a Gmail address, use Google Desktop and Picasa- photo finding and editing done by Google. Google is also my home page on my computer. Google is the best for unorganized people. Steve- my orderly accountant husband files emails into folders immediately upon receiving and reading- or deletes them if they're annoying fowards. I on the other hand wait until my inbox is so full that I have to delete stuff (this was before Gmail) and sift through things if I'm looking for something important. Well- no more with Gmail. I need an email from June about wedding cakes?? Simply type in "June" and "Cake" and it pulls up all 6 relative emails. What could be simpler? I never have to file or tag emails again! I can find whatever I need within seconds.

Google is my favorite search engine online because it's so comprehensive. I don't need anything other then Google to find information about anything at anytime. Take for instance the other day- a friend of mine and I were discussing a hilarious story about a woman who was trying to give herself a home bikini wax. Really not a good idea- but a great story. Simply go to Google and type in home bikini wax bathtub and whala! You've got what you need. Love it.

So this is what I'm requesting from Google. I need a Home Google Box. I'm sure they can figure out how to do this, they've made every aspect of using the computer and internet easier (and they're all free downloads too). I want a box in my house that I can type in what I need to find and it'll show up in the box within seconds. Sunday mornings I can put in "Ashley's shoes and tights without holes' and they'll show up in the box. No more frantic hunting and only finding one shoe that fits and 3 that don't. Or all my missing spoons- put the request in the box and whala! no need to buy more spoons. (Why is it that the spoons always disappear anyway?) Finding missing keys, wallet or phone before leaving the house will be a breeze! Rather then searching and being late to wherever (or everywhere) I'll just google it!

The best thing? Telling Steve/Ashley/Megan/Annika when they can't find something (even if it's in plain sight) 'Just Google it!'

So Dear Google- please take note of my request, of course any kickbacks would be greatly appreciated.

(I don't work for Google- just for the record).

Stop the internet!! I have an announcement.

NO I'M NOT PREGNANT! (I had to yell at you for even thinking that- seriously! I just birthed three kids in three years- isn't that good enough?)

Megan- the most stubborn, independant, non-potty going child wore the same pair of panties all day. They were also 'dry and clean'. (I'm really not so bad of a mom that I'd let her sit around in dirty underwear- really, what do you think of me??) We've been potty training on and off forabout a year and a half (yes- you read that correctly) and seriously, no turning back, battle of the wills, pull my hair out crazy potty training since October. Today is the FIRST day she's done this. It was a huge running around 'first trip to the dentist' day for her too. Three years and five months old and she just might be catching on. I feel like I won a million bucks. I pointed it out to her- SHE feels like she won a million bucks. We screamed and hollered and gave her five and told her that she rocked. She even fell asleep in the car and stayed dry.

Seriously I didn't get the big deal with potty training with Ashley. She figured it out relatively quickly and within a week or so was consistantly dry and rarely (like twice) had accidents. Then came Megan. A year and a half later I get it. Potty training her has been the hardest part of parenting so far. I prefer labor to potty training- that's how bad it is. I'm hoping that Annika takes Ashley's route rather than Megan's. I'm not counting on it but a girl can dream right?

Also in no way am I thinking that this will continue forever- but this is a huge turning point. HUGE!!! YAY!!!

PS. Steve's meeting was to receive a calling (job at church) is to be a stake auditor. That means twice a year he audits 3 or 4 wards books to make sure everything is in order. Whew!

I've created a monster

I don't play with my kids. Well, rarely. I figure I birthed sisters for them for that very purpose. Also, I don't play well with others. At least not Barbies, or 'house'. I do block and puzzles and stories- and on a very good day maybe art. But that's it. So I thought it'd be fun to teach Ashley how to play a game that would be interesting to me so I could be a good mom. I chose UNO. I figured she could play it and I could not have to listen to, 'now pretend your Barbie says X, now pretend your Barbie says Y' ect.

Of course now she follows me around all day wanting to play UNO. Steve's good for about 10 games after I've played 10 games and she still wants more. She's an UNO monster. After about 2 weeks of UNO I decided to try to teach her Phase 10- a little bit more challenging. I was explaining the game and said that we play 10 hands, Ashley says, 'but mom, I only have two hands!' That was only the start of the problems, turns out there is no physical way for her to hold 10 cards in her hands either. She also doesn't really 'get' it. Guess we'll wait another six months on that. Steve wants to teach her monopoly next. Until then it's UNO for everyone!

Random thoughts and pictures

I know, I can't stop my fingers tonight. I'm making up for lost time since I've slacked the last several weeks.

First- I'm doing Weight Watchers and I've lost relatively quickly previously (before getting pregnant several times). But this time I've struggled and it's been 5 months and I've only lost 10 lbs. Frustrating. Anyway, there are two different programs- one is flex (point counting ect) and one is core (certain foods you can eat without counting points and then you have a certain number of points per week for the 'extras'.) Anyway, I"ve always done Flex because I do well on it. I've tried Core once or twice and not been successful and gone back to Flex. But this last week I tried core again- I'm trying it until I've used up my prepaid meetings (I've got 5 weeks left) and then if I've not seen some significant weight loss I'm taking some time off. Why pay for it if my body isn't cooperating. I'm also adding pilates into my work-out routine. Currently I walk briskly with some running for 90 minutes 4 days a week. Anyway, I'm currently enjoying my favorite snack/meal on core so I thought I'd share.

minibag of 94% fat free popcorn
smoothie:
plain yogurt
milk
banana
frozen berries (I either do strawberries, blueberries or the three berry mix from costco)
vanilla
top with ff whipped topping

I could eat this all day long. I usually have it for breakfast and then for an after dinner snack. YUM!~

Second- pictures

Corinne enjoying her sister sharing a chocolate pudding snack

The sister that never shares- but insisted on sharing even when I told her not to:

Annika playing nicely with Corinne- doesn't happen often- but when it does it's cute. That stroller also emphasizes that it's not for real babies- but they love pushing Corinne around in it. Still makes me nervous and I don't let them get farther from me then I can reach to grab her before they tip her over or run into something- see- not such a bad mom.

Also, I've been working on cleaning/organizing. Here is my master bath linen closet before and after. (Pictures make me feel accomplished- like I have to prove I do things other then play Sudoku all day).

Before:

After- amazing how much more space there is when everything is organized huh?

I've got other before pictures and I"m working on getting things organized enough for after pictures (including the garage- go me!) So stay posted.

Question: Would you apply for this job? It would be working a minimum of 12 hours a month. You'd be working for an airline that flies continental US plus Hawaii and Europe. You would be working on the ramp directing planes, driving carts and loading luggage. The shift would be from 9pm-1am. A friend would work the same shifts as you so you could carpool. You'd make $9.50 an hour (but seriously I'd approach it like getting paid to work out). Perks- you and your immediate family (spouse children and parents) could fly anywhere that AmericaWest flies for free. You also get 8 buddy passes a year. To retain those benefits you have to work 4 shifts a month- so once a week. Sounds totally worth it to me. The only catch is that you have to do 3 weeks of 40 hour a week training. But I'm seriously considering it- especially with all the traveling we want to do I think it would be worth it for the travel benefits alone.

Random dream today whilst napping:

So I got to take a nap today after church (seriously- Sunday afternoon naps are the best). I had a weird dream though. I dreamed that Sheri called me (like that would ever happen) and that I was trying to get my kids to leave me alone so that I could talk to her. They kept bugging me though and I couldn't concentrate and think of anything profound or witty to say to Sheri. Then in this frustration I realized I was at someone else's house and it was dirty (like animal hair everywhere and gross floors ect) and I couldn't find my shoes. I needed my shoes because it was gross and the lady who owned the house finally came in and I had to ask her where my shoes were. She found them for me and I lost them again. This happened three or four times before she decided to lend me some of her shoes that she'd made out of recycled tires 'several years ago when those Tiva's were so popular'. I was not so sure but then she pulled out these awesome sandals.

Then the phone rang and I woke up and the HPFE leader was on the phone. I realized that she was the lady in the dream. I've never been to her house so I don't know if it's gross or anything but she does wear Tiva's a lot. I'm not sure if it was really her in the dream or if I 'assigned' it to be her subconsciously when I answered the phone and it was her in my semiconcious state. The bad thing? The first thing I said (not yet fully conscious) "I was just dreaming about you" I don't think she was flattered.

Lastly- Steve got a call to go in and 'talk' with a member of the Stake presidency on Tuesday. He's so getting a calling. Wanna place bets on what?