List

1. I'm in popcorn heaven tonight. Oh. My. Delicious. You have got to try these recipes here and here. Popcorn is one of those things you feel like you can eat a truckload of all at once, its so light and airy. Mmmmm....

2. Sadie went to bed at 5:45pm tonight. You read that right, 5:45pm. I'm crossing my fingers she stays asleep until 6am tomorrow morning.

3. We're taking pictures on Friday. I hope we can pull them off. Getting three kids to all look at the camera at once while having a somewhat congenial look on their faces can be tricky, especially the girl; she'll be the trickiest of the bunch. The boys are excited to wear their new clothes though. I went with the black, red and white combo. I was hoping to do mustard and navy blue but that was harder to hunt down then the previously stated combo so there it is.

4. I felt so awkward at church last Sunday. It was weird to sit in Sunday school. We have a joint meeting for the third hour. I remember being envious of those that could attend those meetings but Sunday I would have rather been in Primary again. Its ok though. I'm fine. This is probably the first calling in a long time I've been so attached to. I think thats the weirdest part of this whole experience.

5. The hubs is doing a great job losing weight. I think he's lost close to 20 lbs. Way to go, hunners. I'm struggling. First of all, what the pickle was I thinking trying to lose weight during the holiday season?! I swear I must have been delirious. We're trying to change our mindsets. We are both healthy eaters. I mean healthy in the form of we can put away food like pros. So we're trying to change that. Portion control. Portion control. Portion control. That's my latest mantra. Except the other day I read that Kate Moss said "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Excuse me, I beg to differ. I know some awesome lasagna and texas toast that probably tastes pretty darn close to how good skinny feels. Ugh. I need to be reprogrammed. Wish it were easier. I wish I were one of those people that could decide and be done with it. I have to decide over and over and over again. Its exhausting.

6. I love Pandora. Have I said that before? Its awesome. I got the "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" station and I listen to it all day long. Its beautiful. No commercials. No junk. If I don't like a song I just hit the little thumbs down button and it won't play it anymore. Pandora is a my best friend.

7. I'm reading John Adams by David McCullough. Its a Pulitzer Prize winner. It was made into a mini series on HBO. Its 768 pages. Oi. Seriously, its slow reading but this is the first book in this kind of history genre that I've actually been interested in. Usually stuff about the Civil War is too dry for me. I'm actually liking this book. It might take me a year to finish but I'll finish.

8. I'm playing my flute in our Christmas Sacrament program on the 20th. Yikes. Do you know how long its been since I played my flute? I actually took it in to be re-padded today. We'll see what the estimate comes back as. I had to rent a different flute so I have one to play on d-day. So this has reminded me of how much I liked playing with a group and I found this group, Orange County Mormon Choral Organization. I noticed they have an orchestra and they are in need of flute players. But I'd have to audition. Whoa. I don't know if I could hack that. And I'm a commitment-phobe too. Hmmm....

9. Have I told anyone that Sadie's a walker? Yah, no more crawling. She crawled FOREVER on her belly. Then around 10.5 mos. decided she could get up on her knees. Then she took her first few steps a couple weeks before her birthday and now she is full fledged. I need to take a picture of her shoes. They are kaput. I ordered some new ones from Robeez and I'm hoping they get here quick!

Sadie's current pair of shoes. Cute huh?

Sadie's soon to be new pair of shoes. Hopefully they last longer than the last pair.

10. I was reading books with the boys before bed tonight. Its usually part of our routine but the first thing to go when we are pressed for time. But on school nights its a must because its part of Ethan's homework. Everything that has to do with Ethan's education is not a burden. Its more like I feel accomplished and purposeful. I got to thinking, am I going to be as gung-ho next year when Luke adds to the bill? Or in a few years when its Sadie's turn? I want to be. I want to show them all the same committment. But it won't be new with Luke and Sadie. It will be been there, done that. Hopefully I'm wrong. Please let me be wrong.

Jog-a-thon

Ethan and Luke ran in their first school Jog-a-thon last week. I remember doing many a Jog-a-thon when I was at Killybrooke Elem. so this took me down memory lane. I didn't get to see Luke jog because I was home with Sadie while she napped but I caught up with Ethan and got some pictures. I got to see Luke when he went to his snack time and his cheeks were still rosey. Ethan ran 39 laps and Luke ran 20, or so he says...his teachers haven't sent home his lap count yet so it could be more or less. Great job, boys!

Haunted Halloween 2009

Halloween was such a great holiday for the boys. Ethan and Luke said many times "this is the best day of my life." By the end of October I was ready to see Halloween go, to be honest. It was Halloween almost every week in our house with all the different activities (Johnson Halloween party, ward halloween party, school parade and halloween party, Pretend City halloween party and then the actual day of Halloween party) we had but I know the boys really enjoyed it and hopefully they have some memories locked away. If you can't tell, Ethan was "Dark Vader" aka Darth Vader, Luke was a Storm Trooper, and Sadie strayed from the theme and was a fairy (I'm all about the hand-me-down costumes when I can).

From the heart

Thankfulness is all around,
it lingers in the air.
It reaches out to take my hand
and show me all who care.

Thankfulness in my child's reach,
they guide me through the day.
The lessons that they teach
show me there is another way.

Thankfulness between four square walls,
underneath a humble roof.
Keeps me warm and sheltered,
A small token of love's proof.

Thankfulness in my husband's eyes,
his touch and his care;
the power of his influence, the quiet self-sacrifice.
Bound together eternally, this life's journey to share.

Thankfulness to run, to walk, jump and skip;
In eyes that see the mediocre and the grand.
An able mind. To taste deliciousness;
the laughter dancing from each mouth like the melody of a band.

Thankfulness is all around,
it lingers in the air.
It reaches out to take my hand
and show me there's so much life there.

So I don't know where that came from. It just came up and I let it out. Its a little cheesy but its me. I love Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for.

Famous Quotes...Or Should Be

An excerpt from Ethan's prayer tonight (I am so sad I was not in the room. Steve was and came out and told it to me. I'm still laughing. This is when I LOVE being a mom.):

"Please bless if a bad guy is in the house you can use the force."

October Student of the Month

Ethan got Student of the Month last week at flag deck. He was so excited! I know Ethan tries his very best at school (he's pretty competitive...wonder who he gets that from? Not me.). I got the chance to volunteer in his class a couple weeks ago and it was so fun to see what he does and meet his class. I have deep respect for his teacher and her hard work, thank you Mrs. Krabbe!

I don't usually stay for flag deck but after I dropped Luke off at preschool (they are at the same school, thankfully) I was walking out and saw a big presentation going on so I stayed to see and Ethan's name ended up being called. I was so glad I was there!

Ethan is wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts, standing to the right of the boy wearing a white shirt and khaki pants. All I had was my phone so I couldn't zoom in, sorry. Congrats, Ethan! Keep it up!

Sadie's 1st birthday!

Last Wednesday we celebrated Sadie's first birthday. She is a spectacular addition to our family. We love her little girl personality. She is growing big like her brothers further proving my theory that I will be the shortest member of our family pretty soon. She is 28 lbs. and 32.5 inches tall. She can already reach the countertops so we have to push things back that we don't want her pulling down. Steve had to add a child lock on our spice cabinet because that was her #1 destination. She LOVES her old burp cloths. If she sees one on the floor she has to pick it up and when you put her to bed you better have one for her to snuggle with. We love our Sadie Anne!

Pumpkin Patch

A couple weeks ago we headed over to Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch with my sister and her family. The boys loved riding the tractor around the farm, picking a pumpkin and going through the corn maze. It was such a hot day! We left and headed for the nearest place for some slurpees.

Sadie was not happy to be plunked down on some pumpkins but we actually managed to get a good shot of her.

Ethan, Luke and Steve went on a tractor ride around the farm. Luke shows us the gourd that will be accompanying us home. Jack-0-lantern fun!

List

1. I love reading these advice columns. Sometimes they are devastating (like the one I read a few years ago when a woman wrote in talking about how much she hated being a mom and couldn't bear the thought of being around her infant...I bawled and wanted to know where she was so I could go get the baby for myself) and sometimes they are funny or insightful. This one is good. We never know what we're in for until we're in it. No one can truly describe what having children is like to someone who hasn't had children. I think it would be fun to write columns like these...anyone hiring?

2. Sadie is finally getting off her belly and crawling. She is also standing and holding on to whatever she can. Her favorie places to stand are at my spice cabinet and our bookshelves/entertainment center. She will gladly sort through my spices for me or pull a magazine down for me. So helpful! She is becoming more and more attached to her dad. Sometimes he is the only one that can console her properly. Last Sunday he got up to say the closing prayer in Sacrament meeting and Sadie was not having it. She reached both her arms up and screamed! Luckily it was still during the last line of the closing hymn so the sound didn't reverberate throughout the enire building.

3. I LOVED Elder Holland's talk in General Conference. This may sound cliche to you but it grabbed me and held on. I really needed that kind of spiritual strength. It was a reminder of what I believe. It was a reminder of the importance of value. It was a reminder of truth. Ever since Prop. 8 I feel as though I have been surrounded by a plethora of lies. Sometimes I can't see straight because of all the deceit around me. Honestly, at times I question the purpose and value of continuing on. It just seems like such a big mountain to climb for nothing because we'll just lose in the end. But his testimony of the Book of Mormon gave me light where there was darkness. He reminded me that I DO NOT want to be one of those who in "the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth." (I'm not trying to say I'm one of the very elect.) My favorite part of his talk was this:

Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”

If you missed it, read it. I know these are words spoken by one of God's apostles.

4. I think I'll end on that note.

Heavy Conversation

My friend Tammy's son Maxwell is in Ethan's kinder class (and Primary class and soccer team). We decided we'd rotate Thursdays having each other's son over to play. Last week was Ethan's week to go home with Maxwell and they had a pretty funny conversation in the car. This is what was said (Tammy posted it on her blog and I'm copying it here).

Tammy: "Ethan are you going to make a pinewood derby car to race at the ward dinner tomorrow?"

Ethan: "Well, we have a block but we have to cut it and my mom doesn't want to cut it because she doesn't want to cut herself..... Hey one time my uncle was cutting something and he cut two of his fingers off and now his fingers are smaller, it was crazy."

Maxwell: "Did he die?"

Ethan: "No, he didn't die."

Maxwell: "Well, when you get cut you die."

Ethan: "No, you only die if you get cut on your body."

Maxwell: "Oh, you mean if you get your head cut off or you get stabbed here (pointing to his stomach) then you'll die?"

Ethan: "Yeah."

Maxwell: "Then you go to heaven for a long time and then you can come back to earth."

Ethan: "Yeah, you get resurrected and you will never die again."

Maxwell: "Yeah, when I get resurrected I'm going to go back to my house."

Boys' conversations about cuts and dying, heavy stuff. Looks like Uncle Brian is well remembered in our house and that I'm a wimp. Too funny....

First day of school for a kindergartner and preschooler

First day of school came and went. Luke is going to preschool from 8-11am five days a week at Sonora. His teacher is Ms. Wanda. He has only had two days where he didn't want to be there and has been fine ever since. I took a picture from outside the class so he wouldn't know I was still there. I think the saddest part is that Luke doesn't see Ethan anymore. Last year they saw each other at recess but were in different classes. This year Ethan is on a different schedule. I think it will be good for Luke to develop his own personality a little bit and break the habit of being a shadow of his older brother. I feel for him though. Next year they will be back on the same schedule.

Ethan took to school without a hitch. His teacher's name is Mrs. Krabbe and he's in the same class as two boys from his Primary class; Hunter Windschitl and Maxwell Waldron. He is at the same school as Luke, which is two or three blocks away from our house. We've been walking to school as a family every morning. The school started enforcing uniforms. I see the good side of it but I feel bad for Ethan when he doesn't get to wear his "picture shirts" (as he calls them). I feel like I still don't know what I'm doing as a mom of school age children. Do I ask the teachers how my children behaved every day when I pick them up? Fundraisers, tardiness, absences, classroom sizes, volunteering, PTA, parent workshops.....sigh....whoa, I'm dizzy.

Happy 4 Luke

Luke recently turned 4!! I know I say this a LOT but I can't believe it. Happy Birthday Luke!

I thought I'd throw in a picture of Ethan riding his bike without training wheels! Go Ethan!

Steve and I gave Luke an electric four wheeler for his birthday.

Luke wanted to go to Pump It Up for his birthday so we headed over there with some friends and family (thanks for coming!). I didn't bother putting any pictures up because everyone is blurry from running around and jumping and sliding but I know all the kids had fun. My boys always walk out of there dripping in sweat! After the jumping we headed home and invited everyone over for BBQ and cake. Yesterday Luke had his well check exam and he weighs 56.5 lbs. and is 45.5 inches tall, Luke has always topped the charts. Luke definitely adds his own flair to our family and we love him for it.

Far and away in Los Angeles

(me the day we walked around Hollywood)

My sisters and I recently went on a mini getaway to L.A. We had a blast but none of us really wanted to act like tourists and take tons of pictures (and the websites don't allow copying) so this post will be aesthetically boring, sorry. We stayed in the beautiful Fairmont Miramar hotels. We ate delicious food. My favorites were Cafe Brasil, of course, and Joan's on Third, and the Grand Lux Cafe. Joan's was DELICIOUS and the first place we had never been to before. Its also where we got a glimpse at our first celebrity sightings. This is who we saw...

Alexandra Guarnaschelli from the Food Network

Cameron Diaz

We did lots of shopping at the Grove. We watched two movies, 'Julie and Julia' and 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' Unfortuneately, the tourist sites of Mann's Chinese theater and the star walk were kind of anti-climatic. All in all it was a fun trip. I definitely appreciated the time away and came home renewed in my purpose as a mother and wife. It was the first time I had been away from Sadie and that about did me in. I wanted to come home and smother her (and everyone else too) with hugs and kisses. Thank you Evelyn and Steve for making it all happen!

Flashback eight years

Grow old along with me

The best is yet to be

When our time has come

We will be as one

God bless our love

God bless our love

Grow old along with me

Two branches of one tree

Face the setting sun

When the day is done

God bless our love

God bless our love

Spending our lives together

Man and wife together

World without end

World without end

Grow old along with me

Whatever fate decrees

We will see it through

For our love is true

God bless our love

God bless our love

(song by John Lennon)

Cowboy took me away

I should be on my elliptical machine working up a sweat right now but I'm going to tell you about my weekend instead. Well, the interesting parts anyway. Steve surprised me Friday morning. "These are the plans" he said. My witty reply followed, "what plans?" He told me he had arranged for an overnite trip to Solvang and we were leaving that afternoon. I don't think he had planned on being sick with the common Rasmussen head cold that attacts his eyes and makes him look like this. But sick he was and here we go! Three hours later and too much traffic we arrived in Solvang, did you know we were famous? That's right. Famous enough to have an entire store named after us. I found this cute little toy store that had some groovy sunglasses. Very me, if I do say so myself.

Solvang is basically german for stuff-yourself-silly-with-pastries (just kidding) and thats what we did. We ate some abelskivers for breakfast and then bought one of these for second breakfast. I ate most of it and managed to pause momentarily to capture the last few bites for you. Then I proceeded to the next bakery for a homemade soft pretzel. I couldn't stop myself long to take a picture.

This is the restaurant we ate at on Friday night. It seemed like a happenin' little place and it was Italian food, what can go wrong right? Wrong. Steve and I were not impressed. And it was expensive too, so not worth it.

Before Steve got too sick to head back to the hotel we walked around and stopped inside a cute little bookstore. I didn't think I was that much of a bookworm but sometimes I walk inside bookstores and I just love the smell of books. Thats what happened here. I walked in and caught a wiff of comfort...books. I just wanted to grab one, a blanky and plop on the couch for the rest of the day.

I found the perfect book for Steve. He loves Ender. He's read all about 'im. I think he would have wanted to name one of our children Ender but that's not how I roll (haha...). I showed it to him and he just said he would check it out of the library. That's my Stevo, so practical. Now it was time for a potty break. I walk into the loo and upon inspection I found this. Blehck. Seriously. Who leaves these things for plain view to all the customers? Nasty. Maybe this is what small town is all about? They don't mind the nasties out for display because then at least you know they are cleaning the stalls right? So we don't end of that nasty note here is the final picture. While everyone around me was taking pictures of the town windmills and danish artifacts I decided I would prefer to capture this clock for all to see. It kind of reminds me of teletubbies, do you see it? I have to say, though, its much cooler.

Thanks, hubs, for the weekend getaway! You rock for planning and executing. Now we can check Solvang off the list.

What keeps us busy

Shopping for cute clothes. I love these shirts from Threadless. They our so unique and witty in their designs. This one is called "wishless."

This one is called "defend the kingdom."

More cake baking...or caking...ha. I thought this cake turned out pretty darn good but who am I to judge?

I was also happy with these cookies I made for a baby shower. The baby's name was starting with an "S," just so you know. The cookies took MUCH longer than I thought they would but they were cute!

Luke has discovered the wonderful world of iphones. Unfortunately there is only one iphone in our household and its mine. I made the mistake of putting a car game on my phone and Luke has become addicted to it. Steve likes it too so I guess it is a good game but Luke is the most common offender. Hmmm....is four too young to have an iphone? Kidding, TOTALLY kidding.

I recycle. Sometimes I wonder why I recycle. I mean, I know its good for the earth..yadda yadda but Costa Mesa automatically sorts through our trash to pull recyclables so why do I add more to my already long to do list? I don't know. Its amazing how fast it piles up. I kind of don't trust how much the city recycles so I take control....wow, what does that say about me? Control freak. I also like that I rarely have a completely full trash bin to put out on trash day.

Sadie isn't so sure about the pool. She loves her baths but this whole pool thing hasn't quite tickled her fancy. She looks happy in this photo but don't be fooled, her dad is infront of her keeping her happy. That's exactly what she needs, someone to cling to. She won't let us go when we are in the pool.

I found a dead bird in our house. I found this dead bird roughly three weeks or so AFTER finding the mysterious bird poop in our kitchen after coming home from our mini Rasmussen Reunion in Mesquite, NV. Thankgoodness for the ant trail that I had to investigate that led me to it. Ugh. Of course, Steve was at work so I had to do the dirty work. Why? Why? Why does all the NASTY stuffy happen when Steve is at work?

Nine Months

She's almost 10 months old so I better get on with doing this posting before its too late. She has had an exciting month. She has sprouted two more teeth but still isn't getting off her belly to crawl. Here she is eating one of her favorite foods: peaches. This innocent peach was just sitting on the table minding its own business when Sadie grasped it and the rest is history. She ate the whole thing, even screamed at me when I took it away to remove the pit.

Sadie has a pretty good time in her walker. She loves to open the drawers and cabinets, pull things down from the counter or the table (like the bag of cereal that is on the floor), and just cause general havoc. We went to the beach around the beginning of the month and she decided to taste her first mouthful of sand. Mmmm....delicious....blehck. I honestly don't know what the fascination is with kids this age and how they love to put sand in their mouths. I guess its a sensory thing.

Want some sand?

Sand is so fun to clean off. I just looooove it. I'm not being sarcastic, really. Sadie, you are too cute. Even if I had to bring home the entire beach in your diaper. xoxo

I'm horrible

Part of Luke's prayer tonight went like this: "please help mommy not to be so angry so she won't make me sad."

sigh

Just FYI I was grumpy. Why is it that every time (ok, I'm exaggerating a little but probably like 70% of the time) he comes home from being with my mom he is G-R-U-M-P-Y. Its like its painful to come home. I know grandmas are great and all but come on, I'm not so bad either.... at least I think so. So why do I continue to let him hang out with g'ma if this happens so much? I'm nice. He loves it so much I feel bad "depriving" him of it just because I don't want to deal with the 'tude when he gets home.

I apologized to him after we said our amens. Poor kid has me for a mom. Sorry, Lukester. I love you.

Lets Get Together

A few weeks ago (July 19-22) we drove up to Vegas/Mesquite for a mini reunion on the Rasmussen side. Steve's oldest brother, Roger, and his family were going to be in town (they live in KY) so we wanted to take the opportunity to see them. I think it has been at least 4 or 4.5 years since we last saw them. Amazingly enough no one in our family got sick this trip! Hallelujah!! But I was prepared, I had packed an entire box of ziploc bags for puking into. So this is the first time in a few years since all the siblings have been together at the same time. We really missed having Daddy Dan there. This is Dave and Jenn's little boy Peyton (left) and Sadie. He is one month older than Sadie.

A few years ago, when Dave and Jenn got married Luke was about 10 months old. He was heavy too. Roger was the only one in his family able to make it to the wedding so he was the only one to meet Luke. He helped me with him and held him for me. Ever since then Rog has checked in on how Luke was doing. Rog requested a picture with Luke.

Ethan and Adam, the two five year old boys....and the guns explain it all. I think being able to play with all of Jaxon and Tyler's guns was one of the highlights of this trip for Ethan. We are so excited to have Allen and Anna come down to Oceanside now that Allen will be stationed at Camp Pendleton, these cousins will get to see lots more of each other.

Oh my hot!!! We went swimming in the pool a bunch of the family went swimming in the river too. My boys didn't seem phased by the heat though. They were just play, play, play 24 hours a day.

More pool fun. Luke is about to jump into the pool and Rog is ready to catch him. This is one of Luke's favorite things to do at the pool and I'm so glad he had someone else to catch him because his splash is a doozy! Luke has improved leaps and bounds in the pool this summer thanks to swimming lessons. He never wanted to use floaties and wouldn't get off the top step and now he'll actually swim to you! I love swimming lessons.

My fish. Ethan has really taken to his swimming lessons. He seems like a natural swimmer. One requirement though, goggles. Must. Have. Goggles.

All the brothers went golfing one morning. This a picture of them after they got back. I didn't dare hug Steve, I could see the sweat soaked shirt. But I'm glad they had fun.

Monday evening we gathered in Wil and Sherrie's backyard for a little FHE. Wil taught a great lesson on Pioneers since we were close to Pioneer day and Sherrie brought out the jumbo Otter Pops. Afterward we wrangled all the kids up to take a picture. We've grown in a few short years. I can't believe how old Brooklyn is. It makes me try to imagine Ethan or Luke being 14 and that just blows me away.

It was a great reunion! Thanks to Sherrie and Wil for hosting all of us. I'm so glad we got to see everyone (most, we missed Jenn and Dan).