Embarrassing!

I had an embarrassing mom moment today. I am breastfeeding and therefore, when I am working and away for extended periods of time I have to pump. This can be a major pain. I hate just sitting there pumping and have started pumping and driving. I know some may think this is dangerous... but I have a bra that allows me to do this hands-free! Just as safe as my u-connect right??? The worse thing that can happen is I get pulled over and have to explain what I am doing to the officer, or get in an accident and they find me with my boobs peeking out of the holes in the bra. Or....

Today I was sitting in the parking lot of the gym, just getting situated so that I could pump and drive. I always cover myself completely while doing this. So as I started to drive when I see a good friend of mine walking towards the gym. He see's me... on no, he is coming towards me! So I slouch over and roll my window to say a quick hello. But he comes right up to my car and starts talking. We hadn't seen each other in a while so I didn't want to be rude. I think... "awesome. He isn't noticing!" But then he starts commenting on how he likes my car and looks in at the interior and says how he likes it. Then his eyes lock on my pump in the passenger seat and it clicks that I am totally pumping! (he has 2 sisters with kids, so he knew what it was right away). So I say "Yeah, I am totally pumping!" He laughed and explained why he knew what I was doing, as he slowly started to back away. He called me the queen of multi tasking and let me go. Ugh. 

Homemade "Lara" Bars

We love Lara Bars around here. Such great, healthy snacks that only have about 5 ingredients in them. The problem is... they eat up our grocery budget. So I went in search of ways to make them at home and have been on a bar making kick ever since! They are super easy if you have a food processor. I tried making them with our mini prep and it was a task. So I highly recommend using a larger food processor if you are going to give these a try. You can really do any fruit and nut combination that sounds good to you.

I have done the following:

Almond/Peanut/Cherry

Almond/Peanut/Banana/Cocoa/Coconut/Date

Almond/Cashew/Mango/Date

Almond/Peanut/Banana/Mango

Do about 1 cup nuts to 2 cups fruit. Some turn out more sticky than others. Once you have mixed everything, spread out on wax paper in a rectangle, wrap and refrigerate. Once they have hardened, cut into bars and wrap in plastic wrap.

HAPPY VALENTINES

Why do people give Valentine's Day such a hard time??? A day set aside to share the love with those you care about, friends, family and significant others... what is wrong with that? Plus it is a reason to take a night off to spend time with my two favorite men :) We are not an over the top romantic couple. (Haws did get me flowers and some new pans though). We love to laugh and joke around, eat good food and take walks. We got to do all of that tonight... so it was a perfect Valentines. We took James with us to Belmont Shore and had a delicious dinner at a new Mediterranean and walk around. James did great and Haws and I had so much fun messing around like it was our first date. Belmont Shore holds a special place in our hearts since it is where we went on our first date and where we got engaged.

Earlier in the day I made these yummy Valentine Cookies.

Happy Valentines Day!

Recipe from Taste of Home Magazine

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Strawberry-Valentine-Cookies

24 ServingsPrep: 50 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Ingredients:
2/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup strawberry drink mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

GLAZE:
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening

FROSTING:
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons strawberry drink mix
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 cups confectioners' sugar
3 to 5 tablespoons milk

Directions
In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and lemon juice. Combine the flour, drink mix, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2- to 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set and edges begin to brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Spread over cookies; let stand until set.
In a small bowl, beat the butter, drink mix and salt until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Decorate cookies. Yield: about 2 dozen.

BYU Alumni Game

Haws went to Utah last weekend to play in his BYU Alumni Hockey game. We didn't go this time because it was such a quick trip that driving would have taken too much time and flying would have been too much money. Haws had so much fun. We are hoping to go next time. 

The Alumni team didn't win, but I don't think they thought they would. Everyone said that Haws did an amazing job, which I don't doubt. There was a write up in the paper about the game and his goal tending was described as SPECTACULAR!
Dana and Chase went to the game and took some great pics for me. Dana kept telling me how shocked she was  that Haws was so good! I guess Haws keeps his skills well hidden.

And here is the write up:

BYU hockey beats alumni team

By Mike Graul

 - Sun, 02/06/2011 - 21:57

   

 

Photo by Luke Hansen. The BYU alumni team, playing in white jerseys, lost to the current BYU team 11-8 on Friday at Peaks Arena.

The BYU hockey team picked up an odd win on Friday night.

In its first formal alumni game, the current Cougars held off a team of 20 former BYU players in an 11-8 victory.

The game not only showcased past and present BYU players, but it pitted father vs. son. Rich Ternieden, a Cougar alumnus that played in the 1970s, traveled all the way from Toronto, to be on the ice with his son and current BYU forward John Ternieden.

“I was really looking forward to being out there with the old man,” John Ternieden said. “Knowing that he came here and played at BYU had a big impact on why I chose to come to BYU. Even though its only two generations so far, I guess we kind of have a little legacy going here.”

Though the game was more physical than expected for an exhibition event like this, there were no family scuffles as John Ternieden had predicted.

“We always say that we take out any family conflicts out on the ice,” John Ternieden said.

Already with many shared hockey memories together, both Terniedens said it was great to add another great memory by being back on the ice together.

“As you can imagine, we spent a lot of time with hockey,” Rich Ternieden said. “Not only did we play a lot of scrimmage games together, but I coached John for a number of years as well. It’s pretty special to be able to come back and play in an alumni game like this together, as well.”

The elder Ternieden’s alumni team gave John’s current Cougars all they could handle with some spectacular goal tending and a furious third-period comeback. However, younger legs prevailed in the end.

Along with the game itself, fund raising festivities included a program and banquet dinner for former and current players, said event coordinator Jim Dahl. The night was extra special for Dahl, as he not only returned to play with former teammates, but also returned to the same ice where he proposed to his wife during a game in 1999.

“I thought the night went great,” Dahl said. “Everybody had a great time, nobody got hurt, and we were able to raise a ton of money for the program.”

Though Friday’s alumni festivities were all fun and games, the current Cougars didn’t have much time to relax before getting back to its regular scheduled games. The team was back on the ice in Logan on Saturday night playing Utah State. BYU was shut out 8-0 in a game that had no penalties called. The loss pushed the Cougars’ current regular season losing streak to nine games.

My dancing baby

Ever since he watched The Black Eyed Peas perform at the Super Bowl, James has become a dancing machine! He kind of just throws his head and body around right now, but I can tell he is going to have rhythm.. I mean look at his parents... he is destined to dance!

Some of his favorite places are on the changing table, on my lap or Haws lap while trying to feed him, on his blanket while playing and now the bouncer. Witness his moves :)

Not the best angle, but I was trying to be sly with the camera so he would keep doing it.

I get so emotional baby!

I don't know what happened to me, well I do... I had a child. I have been so much more emotional lately! I have already cried 4 times this week. And not because of something that has happened to me, but because of something I read or watched.

Earlier this week I was reading a post from my cousin Melinda whose little girl is in a coma and in critical condition after going into cardiac arrest after another surgery on her heart. The whole situation is so sad and I can't stop thinking about their family. But the post really got to me because it was Melinda, bearing her testimony about how she knows that Sara is a special daughter of God and this time on earth is only a small part of the whole picture. Her faith, courage and strength is what made me ball. I can't imagine being in that situation and being as strong as Melinda. Reading her words is a spiritual experience. It reminds me that these little ones are really our Heavenly Fathers children and we the ones chosen to take care if them for him while they are here on Earth. We never know how long that will be for and have to cherish every moment!

Today I cried twice. I watch the View. I like it even though sometimes the ladies drive me crazy with their views, but I like Elizabeth. Maybe because she is the one I identify with the most. Anyway... I was watching this today and it really touched my heart. This poor kid, he is so brave. Bullying really bothers me and I fear the day when any of my kids are victims or involved in some way.

If the video is not working for you, go here to watch it: http://theview.abc.go.com/
Did it get you too?? I know my mom cried... so at least I know where I get it from.

And then today before James' nap I read him this:

I couldn't even finish it because I couldn't get myself together!!! I am going to blame the hormones, but really I think I am changed forever. I am now the person who will be crying during the Hallmark commercials. 

7 Months

James turned 7 months yesterday. I forgot to make a little sign saying he is 7 months... oh well. I am documentiing it now. I LOVE this stage! We have so much fun with him and he is constantly doing new things. I love to cuddle, play, make him giggle and listen to this little "talker". He loves to hear himself too.
Approximate stats are 17lbs, 28 inches. It has been a few weeks since his measurements were taken.

Not quite crawling yet, but he swims like this on his stomach trying to move and will get up on his hands and knees. He is not sure what to do once he gets there, but he is definitely getting ready to be more mobile. He still uses rolling as his main source of getting around.

A things from the past month:

• Eating solid foods. Loves sweet potatoes and butternut squash. Tolerates, oatmeal, rice cereal, "veggie dinner" and very well blended avocado. Hated peas and not a fan of zucchini either. Yet.
• Babbles all the time. Says "bababab, dadada, mamama, papapa" and has learned to scream with delight!
• Gets up on hands and knees
• "swims" while trying to scoot.
• Loves taking showers. Especially when I put my head  under the water. 
• Has a favorite toy. It is a random rattle ring. He likes things that make noise when he shakes it.
• Starting to support his weight with his legs more. Stands longer while being assisted.
• Beginning to have a little separation anxiety... but only if he is left alone. Like when he watches me go upstairs he will fuss.
• Taking 2 solid naps and then a cat nap in the evenings
• Sleeping about 11 hours a night.
• I think we have finally won the battle with Thrush
• We went to an allergist to see if his sensitive skin was from some sort of allergy. He is not allergic to any of the 21 top foods or allergens. Nice to know now that we are feeding him solids.
• Took his first real bath in the tub. We still prefer showers because I can take one at the same time :)

Enjoying his first big boy bath.