Utah Trip

We had such a great trip to Utah a perfect ending to a hard semester. I had so many pics I had to make a slide!

Graduation and beyond

So alot has happened the past week here is a quick update.

Our sweet Bella is sitting up by herself she still falls over alot but it is the beginning of the end. Before long she will be crawling and getting into everything!

Luke is our little China-man. James mom, Betty flew in from Shanghai, China (they live there) and brought Luke these sweet pajamas.

Bella had tightening in the right side of her neck which caused her to always lay on that side so she got a flat spot on her head. We were concerned because her ear on the right side had moved forward a half an inch and was causing her face to become asymmetrical so now she has this little helmet to round everything back out. She didn't like it much at first but she has gotten used to it since she has to wear it 23 hours a day.

James graduated! He got his degree in business administration with an emphasis on Finance. I am so amazed at his dedication and hard work. When he transferred last summer to CSU they said it would take him 2 1/2 - 3 years to get his bachelors, he worked his butt off and graduated in just 1 year! GOOD JOB BABE!

Fun at the Park

James had a job interview up in Irvine on Saturday, so while he was doing that I took the kids to this awesome park. Not only was it absolutely beautiful and well kept it had 4 playgrounds.



Bella had fun playing in the swing while Luke discovered new things


Luke got really excited to push Bella in the swing and she loved it to! Its so cute when your kids start interacting
Our beautiful Bella Hanging out in the flowers

I thought Luke was going to bring me this flower he found but right after I took this picture he threw it on the ground and kicked it.

Bella's first meal

Bella had her first meal of peas and apple sauce two days before she turned 5months. She seemed a little concerned at first but I think by the end she was starting to dig it. Luke found it really exciting and enjoyed feeding her (and himself) a couple bites.

Cramped Quarters

In order to fit four people in a one bedroom apartment you have to get creative. Therefore the laundry room has become the kids bedroom. Thursday night was the first night we had both of the kids sleep in there together. It actually worked out pretty well. We made the draw under the crib into a type of pull out bed. Luke was so excited about having a roommate that he didn't protest to his new bed. He did however stay up for 1 1/2 playing with toys and trying to sneak out of the room. Bella fell right to sleep and didn't wake up until 6am to nurse which surprisingly didn't wake Luke he slept till 7am.

G.I. Bella

Before
After

After much debating Bella received her first haircut this weekend. It made a big difference (sarcastic) as I am sure you can tell by her before and after pics. I did however put an end to the beginnings of a mullet. Hopefully this will be the only time she ever has her head shaved.

Our Third Child

For those of you who don't know James and I have temporarily adopted another child (until further notice). I have the daily pleasure of:

1. Giving him a bath when he gets to much food on him.

2. Finding him when he is lost several times a day.

3. Making sure he doesn't get left behind at grocery stores, parks, ect.

4. Giving him time outs when he isn't playing nicely.

5. Putting him to bed when he is tired.




He joined our family March, 2008 (Thanks Grandpa George :)

He weighs 5 oz, 6 in tall

His name is Buzz Lightyear or more commonly "whers busth"?

Cute Duckies

So Luke kindly and unknowly shared with Bella this past week. I pulled out one of the only gender neutral outfits I had from Luke's (top pic) infant wardrobe and put it on Bella (bottom pic). I love how only babies can get away with having chubby thighs and wearing goofy outfits.

My little monkey!

I just had to write down that Luke ate 5 bananas today, YES 5 !!! One with breakfast one with Lunch and 3 for dessert about an hour after dinner. You might be thinking "they must have been small bananas" No they were full size regular bananas. When he kept asking for more tonight I thought for sure he was going to have a stomach ache, but I figured if he was asking for them he was hungry, and at least it was something healthy. Its been a couple hours now and everything seems to be okay hopefully the rest of the night goes as this well.

Vegetable Couscous

Vegetable Couscous
Serves 3 to 4
If couscous is not available, this easy dish can be served over whole grains, such as millet, quinoa, or brown rice.
2 Tbs. water

2 Garlic cloves, minced

1 medium Onion, diced

2 tsp. Ground Cumin

½ tsp.Turmeric

1 tsp. Paprika

1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

2 medium Zucchini, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 package of sliced fresh mushrooms

1 15-oz. can Chick-peas, rinsed and drained

16-oz diced canned Tomatoes, finely chopped, with their juice

8-oz can tomatoe sauce

½ cup Raisins

1tsp Vegetable broth powder

1 cup whole wheat Couscous

1 1/2 cup water

Heat the 2 tbsp. water in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the cumin, turmeric, paprika, and cayenne and cook 2 minutes more, stirring often.

Stir in the zucchini,mushrooms, chick-peas, tomatoes, and raisins. Cover the pan and lower the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is tender, about 15 minutes.

While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the couscous. Bring the 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil and stir in the vegetable broth and the couscous. Cover, remove from heat, and let sit 5 minutes, or for up to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
Serve the couscous with the vegetable mixture mounded in the center.

New Template

So I found my new template here via Holly Dixons at this web site http://cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com/ If you need a new one you should check it

Crockpot Tomato and Garbanzo Beans stew with Eggplant

(I like to put mine on lettuce but its not necessary)

This sounds weird but its really good I promise
1 medium eggplant, peeled -- cut in 1/2" cubes
15 oz can diced tomatos
1 1/2 cups sliced carrot
30 ounces garbanzo beans, canned -- drained
1 can kidney beans, canned -- drained
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced celery
4 cloves garlic -- minced
3 cups vegetable broth or 1 cube with three cups hot water
6 ounces tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon dried oregano -- crushed
1/2 tablespoon dried basil -- crushed
1/4 tablespoon pepper
1/4 tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 bay leaf

1. Combine vegetable broth, tomato paste, oregano, basil, pepper, cayennepepper and bay leaf in crock pot and stir
2. Put in all other ingredients cook on high for 6 hours.

Ocean Phobia

The weather was awesome Saturday so we went down to the beach. Luke for some reason has developed a extreme fear of the ocean and wont get within 15ft of the water, so after many attempts to get him to go in James carried him out, after the initial freak out, Luke decided he liked playing in the water, but only when daddys holding him.

Friends

Our friends Sal and Tracie came down and stayed with us last week. Luke and his buddy Samson were reunited after being separated for half their lives. They had a lot of fun playing together when Luke wasn't being a bully.

My kids have great style.

Luke has an obsession with shoes! Any shoes he can get his hands on, one of his favorite past times is hanging out in my closet with all his shoe friends. He has since become a pro at walking around in high heels, its frieghtening yet funny at the same time

Bella rockin' the sunglasses.

Pear Aggression

So I gave Luke a Pear today and he liked it so much he not only ate it aggressively he ate the entire thing core and all. I was really funny!

Disappointed swimmers

It was nice and warm day Wednesday morning but by time I got the turtle filled with water and the kids dressed the weather had cooled down and it wasn't so nice and warm anymore. Either way the kids looked so cute in there swim suits I had to take some pics.

Disneyland

As some of you know Luke has a slight fascination with Toy Story, well yesterday we went to California Adventure (the park next to Disneyland) and they had all the characters there plus Pixar Parade. Out of all the times we have gone to Disneyland (around a dozen) yesterday was the funnest because we actually saw Luke getting excited and stunned that Woody and Buzz were actually there!

Happy girl

Bella has just started doing the little baby giggle this past week, it has since become an unconscious obsession to try and make her laugh. Here is a pic of her in all her joyfulness.

Naked Cowboy

One night we were changing Luke's diaper and before we could get a new one on him he scurried away and jumped on his bouncy horse. It was so hilarious I had to put his cowboy boots on him and get pics. Now I have the perfect blackmail for when he is being an obnoxious teenager.

Hoppy Eater

Easter was great, Luke enjoyed his candy so much that it made him sick and he projectile threw up all over me. It was actually really funny, poor kid.

Bella was our little bunny, I thought the hat was cute but I dont think she liked it much.

Luke goes potty (kinda)

Yesterday afternoon Luke (20 mos) came up to me and said, "mama, poo poo" so I checked his pants but there was no poo, so I just brushed it off as him passing gas or something. A couple seconds later I here him rustling around in the bathroom so I turned to look and there he was sitting on his little potty. I was like no way but low and behold I checked his pants and there was poo.
Maybe it was a fluke or maybe its time to start potty training the little turky.