Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cravings

I've been craving Korean food for over a week now. Last week when I planned the menu, I included 2 separate meals of Korean food, which means atleast 4 days of eating spicy deliciousness. Today, day 1, I have been so eagerly anticipating dinner that I started snacking on plain kimchee straight from the jar without even any rice around 10:30 am. And even though it is only 2 pm, I'm starting the side dishes for dinner now because I can't wait. I love that I can eat great food like this without being sick! What a blessing it is to be healthy!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Tree is up

Not the greatest photo, but Gwen is just too cute to not share:

Friday, December 3, 2010

Ugliest, but most forgiving project I've ever sewn...

I had a ton of fabric-- a lot of nice canvas-ey type material that I think is supposed to be for outdoor furniture and pieces of sturdy, but less than attractive material-- that I inherited from other gals. Now, I am a waste-not-want-not kind of gal and haven't been able to part with these 'priceless' fabrics, even though I really didn't have a project in mind or any good use for them. I was going to finally get rid of them... when I had an inspiration!

Reusable grocery bags!

Yes, they are ugly. Yes, they are far from perfect. No, they don't have fancy piping or any other accessories that will make them stand open on their own, fold up nicely, or even look cute. But you know what? All 6 large bags only took me less than 2 hours from start to finish, I didn't have to worry about perfect measuring, edges, pinning, corners, or hems. I just cut, serged, and then sewed straps on. Wuah-lah! Fabric put to good, practical use; cut down on clutter from plastic grocery bags; and even contribute a small part to reducing strain on the environment--

a FREE, fast, and FORGIVING way to spend Gwen's nap today!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Making Room for Christ

Gwen reminded me today:

MAKE room for Christ this Christmas.

I chose one 'sturdy' Nativity to put at Gwen's eye and hand level this Christmas so that she could really get into it. When I showed her all the people and animals, she was really excited. She unhesitatingly emptied her purse-- carrying all her favorite 'treasures' like her 2 turtles, ducky, monkeys, Minnie Mouse, and even Aurora-- so that she could fit all of the figurines from the Nativity in there. She was insistent upon carrying it around and taking Jesus with her into the car.
Then later while playing upstairs with her fairy treehouse-- her favorite new distraction and 'home' for all her lil critters-- she unhesitatingly replaced the fairy in the swing with a wise man, the fairy at the table with an angel, the fairy in the tree with 3 sheep, the ducky in the flower shower with a shepherd and cow, and the unicorn in the house with Mary, Joseph, a couple of wisemen, and the baby Jesus. And baby Jesus got to eat the apples.

Moral of the story: there are plenty of GOOD things to fill our lives with this Christmas season. Lots of things that are our favorites. But we have to MAKE room for the Savior, even if that means removing something that we really like. I hope there will be room in my inn, because I'll make it. Gwen's got the idea.

Friday, November 26, 2010

It's a....

Looks like we're going to have another one of these:
20 week ultrasound gave us a pretty confident look at our new baby girl! See you in April, sweetie! Couldn't be more excited!

ps. this was Gwen's 2 year birthday cake I made and never blogged about.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Disney---the "happiest" place on earth...

...or in Gwen's case, among the SCARIEST places on earth! She didn't like Disney World even a smidgen as much as I had anticipated. She developed an obscene fear of dark, enclosed spaces and freaked out about EVERY ride, line, bus, store, whatEVER that required her to not be outside. But, she LOVED her cousins and other family members even MORE than I could have imagined! Just a few pics from the trip. The rest are pending receipt from family members (wouldn't you know my camera had issues after the 2nd day) and may never make it to the blog. So enjoy what is here!

funny story: can you read that one of those buttons says "celebrating Twins"? Yeah... what began as keeping my dad in the dark about my sister's pregnancy turned into my bro and half my brother's coworkers thinking I was really expecting twins. I wore the button all day. :)

Much more interesting from a distance. Gwen would point, squirm out of her stroller, run screaming up to them... then stop about 2 yards away and give this evil villain laugh! Hilarious!

Great trip, guys! Thanks Tamara for the amazing (and FUN!) accommodations, thanks Mommy and Daddy for help with food, and thanks Spencer for those amazing daily park admissions and great merchandise discounts! The trip wouldn't have happened at all without so much generosity!

We love you guys!

When you ask Gwen to say "Cheese"...

THIS is what you get!

Anyone else besides Eric and I think there is some


Just some food for thought...

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Two


She's 2. Seems impossible, it really does. This year has truly flown. Didn't we JUST celebrate 1? She's quite a character, our little Gwen. I can't imagine our lives without her contagious enthusiasm, her stubbornness, or her affectionate hugs and kisses. Thank you for filling our home with so much love, sweetie.

What does Gwen love?
  • girlie things: Disney princesses (especially Aurora, Belle, and Ariel), fairies (especially the 3 good fairies from Sleeping Beauty and Tinkerbell), dancing, singing, necklaces, stuffed animals, and real animals
  • non-girlie things: climbing at the playground, playing in dirt and putting it in her hair, toy cars, trains, outside, and pumpkins.
  • loves playing chase with Daddy, being tickled (especially by Daddy), and sitting in laps (especially Mommy's) to read books.
  • attached beyond expression to binkie and giraffe, her crib necessities.
  • talks to herself in the mirror, show's the 'mirror Gwen' her favorite toys, and tries to peek at her out of the corner of her eye.
  • pretends to change diapers and wipe poop off of dolls, stuffed animals, and plastic toys.
  • voluntarily runs herself into the bathroom (time out) when she starts to bawl.
  • loves movies, pictures, and songs about Jesus. Can even find "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" in her Primary songbook and start singing it. repeatedly requests "More Jesus, More Jesus"
  • favorite colors: blue and purple. will only consent to wear other colors if they are a dress or if I point out cute buttons, flowers, hearts, fruits, animals, or sparkles on there. (and she enjoys picking out her own clothes in the morning)
  • favorite foods: hot dogs, French fries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese, yogurt, cookies, and ice cream (sweet tooth and unhealthy favorites are NOT my fault). sometimes peas, carrots, broccoli, and beans, if she is in the mood. Rice, potatoes, and noodles are anybody's guess cuz sometimes she'll eat a ton and other times refuse it completely...but she always refuses something new, even if we assure her it is a delicious treat (like chocolate milk. she said "nonononono")
recent expressions:
"where'd he go? what happened?"
"where's the poop? Right dare, found it!"
"Mama coming? Mama coming?"
"Woohoo!!!! Allright! Woohoo!"
"I yike it! I yove it!"
"Hi bread, hi water" (spoken to the sacrament as it is being passed)
"Mama, carry you?"
"yap" = lap
"ah-beya" = all better
"fron do, back do" = front door, back door
"gitch-you!" or "gitch me!" = come get me

she still inverts the consonant sounds on many words:
"scoopy yights" = spooky lights
"crut" = truck
"skitchers" = stickers
"gray gound" (which also sounds like 'gray goat' sometimes) = play ground
"hog-gits" = hotdogs

we love you, Gwen! Happy birthday!!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Better do a lil catchup

We're going out of town this weekend. Eric on an elk hunt with his dad and bros, Gwen and I to Disney World with my fam. That means when we come back, I'll be swamped with photos and videos not to mention a special birthday. So. If I don't get this done now, might not ever happen.

Luckily, having been sick I've also not been going anywhere or doing anything until recently. So, there aren't that many events to catch up on! :) Gwen has really enjoyed being outside this fall.
Pumpkins are apparently a long-lost love!

way back in August, enjoying the spoils of picking fresh peaches
when I was sick, photos taken by friends and babysitters (some include my mom helping feed ducks...aka, feed Gwen)
with a group of gals from our ward going on a hayride, picking pumpkins, scary pumpkin slide, and corn box
Halloween party at friends--Gwen only wanted to eat donuts and watch Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin standing RIGHT next to the screen

carving pumpkins with Daddy

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Lemon, Apple, Avocado

Last week a lemon
This week an apple
Next week an avocado
We're thrilled to be expecting! Eric, Gwen, and I are pleased to announce our 15 week fruit!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Vacation Part II: Hart Family


Grandpa Hart at the Cowboy Dinner... and his characteristic cheesy grin!
Eric got the honor of holding cousin J up to touch the huge longhorn steer
Amber and lil C. He looks kinda put out in this pic
Lil cousin A was a bit obsessed with Gwen... a love hate relationship
cousin J and cousin C are getting along wonderfully, though! check out that hug!
Pose for the camera or eat the camera or do both at the same time
had to capture the adults taking pics of the kidlets: Grandpa, Spencer, Grandma, Amber
And the next few: Gwen's complex relationship with her cowgirl hat



Tamara and her boys, J and A plus baby in the belly
Daddy gives Gwen's hat a try. Nice trade.
I think she fancies herself a cowgirl
lil A poses on the train
Gwen on the train with her new pheasant "wooster" (rooster)

Grandpa and cousin A

Eric said "Gwen" wanted to ride the grub rather than the pretty butterfly
Lil cousin C was an expert at wearing himself out at Silver Dollar City
Back in AR, Grandpa entertains Gwen outside
with an impromptu (swimsuitless) round of fun in the pool
Grandma reads to Gwen before naptime
J showed Gwen all kinds of tricks in the pool. He taught her to blow bubbles. She was stoked.
I was there lovin on the lil swimmers
Uncle Spencer helped the kidlets pick some fresh blueberries in the backyard
spaghetti dinner at Aunt Tamara's house with Gwen, J, and A at the special cousin table. They loved being together!

Sure had a great time at the Hart family reunion! Love you guys! See you in November!