Calling all cooks . . . .

Okay I am always looking for fun recipes to try so I decided to start a recipe blog and I want everyone to help me. So if you are interested let me know and make sure I have your e-mail and I'll add you as an author. I've started it off with a few of my favorites. Anything I put on there will be a super easy dish because I am not a great cook, but I do love to try new things. I love to see pictures of things to, but my camera isn't the best so I may not have many pictures on my posts. Anyway, please everyone help out--you'll find it at www.funrecipes4you.blogspot.com

On a different note, Michael just went out to his truck and found a HUGE tarantula in our driveway. It was about a foot from coming into our garage. He yelled at me to come look and told me to get rid of it--yeah right--Like I'm going anywhere near it. He got out his lucky pepper spray and dowsed it. It didn't move hardly at all, I'm not sure if it's dead or just stunned. I got a big push broom and shoved it out into the street--it was to dark to see if it was dead or just not moving--either way I am totally creeped out. I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight. Have any of you Vegas people every seen one here? I wonder if it is someones pet. I'm just glad we didn't find it in the house or garage. I'm having flashbacks of the movie Arachnophobia right now.

A first for Haley

My little girl is growing up. Haley had to give her very first talk in Primary today. She did a great job! Maybe she'll grow up to be a public speaker because she wasn't the slightest bit nervous. I was for sure that she'd chicken out when it was time to get up in front of everyone, but she just got up and did a wonderful job. I was so proud of her it brought a tear to my eye. The only problem is that her talk was on Baptism and after talking about it all week she has decided she doesn't want to be baptized. The thought of going under the water is just to scary. I told her we'd talk about it in a few years. I hope she changes her mind!

I've included a few fun pictures we've taken this week. I'll just title them precious moments--Haley & Hunter teaching Harmon to Clap, Best Buds-they play so well together, and Harmon before and after eczema treatment. It's so much better. The pictures don't show it to well.

Here we go again . . .

We just had practice the other night with Haley's new soccer team. They are the "Ladybugs." We didn't know it was an all girl team until we got to practice, but with a name like the Ladybugs I guess it's a good thing. It is so fun to watch them play and their coach was great and knows how to make it fun. Games will be fun I'm sure. After practice we played on the playground which of course was Hunter's favorie part. Haley did something funny though--she called Hunter "Sweet Cheeks". I have no idea where she heard this and she has never said it before, but it hit my funny bone and I laughed so hard! Kids are just sponges and pick up everything! This week I also got Harmon into a Dermatologist and YEAH his cheeks are cleared up. I hit my breaking point when he woke up the other morning with dried blood on his PJ's and all over his face. Plus it was infected again so we have to more antibiotics. I feel so bad for him--ecsema stinks!! Anyway we have it down due to full strength Cortizone, but the trick will be keeping it gone. I'm just happy to see him not wanting to scratch his face to death!

Undefeated

Coach Barbara, Luke, Alex, Jackie, JJ, Sammy, Coach Ceasar

Brooke, Rachael, Jagger, Haley, Erica

Well we just finished up our first round of soccer "Go Tigers". The last game was yesterday, just in time for her new team to start up next week. We know it shouldn't be important, but her team went undefeated! They did tie two games both times against the yellow team. If you notice in the pictures I only brought the camera a few times and yes every time they played the yellow team. Oh well, it is still fun to look back at the pictures. Haley did great, her confidence grew as the season went on and she improved so much as time went on. We had a blast watching her and didn't even mind having to be at the games at 8:00 on Saturday morning :) The team party was at Mission Hills Park where we ate, played, and most important got TROPHYS! Haley was so excited, she now considers herself a good player. Many more bragging moments to come with the next team!

Royalty

Bet you didn't know our family is made up of Royalty!?

Haley is the PRINCESS of PRETEND--Today she let me know that she has 100 babies in her belly and that she is the best Mom to her Haley Baby (Cabbage Patch Doll). She is going to grow up to be a true Princess and her Prince is named Earl. Where does she come up with these things? Oh and she wants to be Hannah Montana for Halloween.

Hunter is the KING of the THRONE (the porcelain one)--Potty training was no problem for him! In a week I think we've only had one accident and that's because I made him wait for me. We started bribing with little stickers and that's all it took. For #2 he got a few M&M's--so he would go as many times a day as he could, but I don't care it worked!

Harmon is the PRINCE of POWER NAPS--the little stinker doesn't like to nap for more than 20 minutes, unless he's being held of course. I run in a mad rush to get things done during those breaks. I love holding sleeping babies though so I don't mind holding him while he sleeps. I can't complain though because he usually sleeps thru the night. He also serves as our court Jestor--he's always smiling and making us laugh.

Michael is the KING of the WORLD--Well my world at least. I think he is the greatest even though I know I'm a ROYAL PAIN most of the time. We enjoy playing Risk and he is literly the King of the World when we play. Global domination is the only way to play for him! :)

As for me I've been called an Ice Queen and a Drama Queen, but luckily neither titles have stuck, so I'm happy just to be the Mom of this little royal family and I guess that makes me Queen of my own castle!

I Finally Did IT!!!!!

So I have been talking for months about joining a gym. I took a cardio kickboxing class and loved every minute of it, but it was to expensive and was only 2 days a week so I needed to find another option. I started researching all the gyms in the area and debated joining--I hate signing contracts. After much research and soul searching (I wanted to make sure I'd actually go) I decided Gold Gym was the one for me.

Michael joined with me and it has been great. I went every day this week and he joined me when he was done with work for the week. They have childcare in the building and the girls in there are so cute and get excited when we drop the kids off, so that makes me feel very comfortable when it comes to leaving them with strangers. I actually feel like Michael and I have been on several dates this week. It's a nice break from the kids and it's something we can do together. Michael also is a great workout partner, he pushes me to do more than I think I can do and he knows more about the weight lifting portion of it. Needless to say my muscles are sore and tired, but I love that feeling. Skinny me here I come (hopefully)!!

Random Thoughts

Okay so here are a few random thoughts I'd like to share.

1. Boxer briefs are absolutely adorable! We are potty training and I think Hunter looks so dang cute that I'm okay with him not wearing pants. Yes I know I'm weird, Michael keeps letting me know. Hunters little toosh is just so cute! Potty training is going great by the way! I'm totally using these pictures for bribes when he gets older!

2. I finally caved and called an exterminator. Our back porch is infected with crickets and roaches mostly crickets, but hey one roach is one to many! It makes me feel like my house is dirty and I promise I really do keep a pretty clean house. They like to eat poor Archie's (the dog) food. Hopefully tomorrow they will be a worry of the past!

3. I wish I would have come up with this invention its a funny little chair called a Bumbo. Such a simple idea, but it is great! Harmon loves hanging out and watching his crazy family run around him. Thanks ShaLayne--it's great!

4. All summer I've wished we had a pool--it is so darn HOT! Well we bought a pool last week and it is more than just the little plastic one you can splash in. Since we put it up I've been nervous about the kids sneaking out and falling in, so in the end I'm glad it's not permanent and we can take it down for the winter then enjoy it again next summer. I'll only have to be a worried mom for the summer months. Our dumb dog Archie decided to take a swim in it after we got it all filled--we figured he was treading water for about 20 minutes. He makes us crazy most of the time, but we'd be so sad if something happened to him! He learned his lesson though and has stayed away since then.

5. I've realized that I would be lost without Haley! She is such a good helper, I can't travel anywhere without her helping keep Harmon happy. She loves to put dishes away and play clean up games and is always willing to be the babysitter for me. She is so responsible for a 4 year old!

6. Lately there have been 2 things keeping me busy--First is trying to read Breaking Dawn--I'm almost done with that (I've enjoyed it though I'm slightly disappointed, but that's another post). Second is that Michael and I have always been curious about a few TV shows that have been on for a while and we've never watched, so right now we are watching Smallville. It's about Superman when he was a teenager. I have really enjoyed the series and am sad to say I look forward to the nights when Michael and I get to relax together and watch an episode or two. If you ask me it is the only way to watch TV. The show is now in it's 7th or 8th Season so we have a lot of catching up to do, but hey there are no commercials and when you get to the season finale you can find out what happens with the next disc instead of waiting for 6 months for the show to come back on.

Summer Fun

Grandma and Pa Pa Henrie came for a visit this last weekend. They were on vacation and let us crash their fun. My kids get so excited to spend any amount of time with them. Saturday they took us out to Cheesecake Factory for dinner--YUM! Sunday they joined us at church and I made dinner afterwards. My Dad was shocked--he didn't think I could cook. Anytime anybody comes to visit us we go out just because it's something to do and there are so many good restaurants to choose from. I must say my roast and potatoes turned out great (thanks for making the gravy Mom)!!! Michael had to go back to work that night after 3 weeks off, he wasn't to excited about that and neither was I. I've missed him horribly this week and I know it is so hard on him going back. Monday we went to my parents hotel for some swimming fun, Haley and Hunter had a blast! Harmon enjoyed the water to, I think he is really a fish--he'd stay in all day! It was a fun few days and it's nice to have family with us on our turf, we can't wait for their next vacation!

Memory Tag

Thanks Everyone for the comments on Harmon's eczema!!! I'm in the process of trying some different things suggested. I didn't realize so many babies had it like this, I'm glad I'm not alone!!

Memory Tag...You're IT!
My friend Sally did this on her blog and I've seen a few others, I thought it would be interesting to see what was out there about me.

Here are the rules:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. I can't wait to see what people remember.