Merry Christmas

We wish you a warm holiday season and thank you for being a part of our lives. Those of you close and far, we love you all. Merry Christmas!

French Toast

Like me, many of you have little and big ones to feed. Cereal still is unpractical for the two rascals. In the past I have made pancakes...but lately we LOVE french toast! Whole wheat bread, milk, eggs, a little cinnamon....ingredients everyone has. Plus, Eden likes to dip the pieces in the syrup. Super fun for the whole family. Just thought I would share, I know that sometimes I get stuck in the same food rut.

Paul's 32

Paul is turning 32 this week! We celebrated a little early with some neighbors because on his actual birthday he will be studying. His first final is today! Good Luck Paul. We love you!











I should give them some credit...there are lots of laughs in the tub!

Pudding disaster

Christmas cards are on everyone's mind. I decided I would make them if I could take a few cute pictures.
It started out as a great idea...
If that wasn't enough, I got them cleaned up and out of the bath. On the way to get their diapers they BOTH peed on the floor! I stood shocked at the sight and mumbled "I get the message". You just can't make them enjoy something they don't want to. It isn't about me. Haven't I learned that yet? Good thing I have these little rascals to remind me.

Top Heavy Tree

This is our tree. The picture doesn't do justice to Paul's lights. He strung over 3,000 lights on this tree our first Christmas married, now it is going on it's third Christmas. I was crossing my fingers thinking the lights won't work...but they did! With the lights on you really can't tell how top heavy the tree is but....without the lights the bottom looks so funny. I'm sure everyone can relate. If you were wondering how tall Davy is, this gives it away. I love these times, I know there will be a day when I will miss my top heavy tree.

Thanksgiving 07

We had a great Thanksgiving at the Blau's house. Lots of tasty food. We are so thankful for great friends, we didn't even feel homesick! On Thursday the weather turned crisp and chilly...winter is here! Thanks Blau's for hosting the social event of the season.

Black eye

Just as David was recovering from a black eye, he got another one! This is two weeks of black eyes for him. On Saturday he had a bloody nose. We don't know if he fell or Eden pushed him, we were standing right there but were talking to each other. Eden tries to protect David, but it isn't in a gentle way. When David tries to pull down the oven bar she will say, "no Day Day don't touch" as she pushes him to the floor. It is hard to punish her when her intentions are good. I guess this is where the "soft" lessons come in handy. Anyway, I don't know if David is clumsy or unlucky...or maybe this is the fate of being the younger sibling.

November something

I have no idea what happened to this week. I feel like a vacuum just sucked all the days away from the calendar.
This is what happens when it is silent and Eden is in the bathroom. The colors are incredible! Getting the mail is one of their favorite things. We went today to try and get their pictures in the leaves. I had high hopes of snapping some cute photos..well, that didn't happen. Typical...one crying, one smiling...what do you do? Oh well.

Pillow case dress

Remember on Sound of Music when Maria makes dresses from her curtains? Well, I became Maria for a day. I borrowed my neighbors sewing machine and made these two dresses for Eden yesterday. The black & white one is from a curtain my mom made for our window, when I got here it was too small. The blue poka dot dress is actually two bandannas. This was my very first attempt to making anything without my mom or grandma by my side to tell me exactly what to do. It is so fun to see someone wear something I made...and actually look cute.

3 years ago...

It was three years ago this week that Paul and I had our first date. I'm not one to celebrate every little occasion when it comes to relationships. However, from the first date I knew he was the one! I knew he was different, I was so excited that I couldn't eat or sleep. All I could think about was when and how I was going to see him again. Can you believe only three years ago? This week I had two tender experiences.

1.On Sunday Eden put her head on my lap and I stroked her hair through the whole sacrament hymn. Eden is a loving child, but not one to stay still long enough to have you cuddle her. I remember as a girl how I loved it when my mom stroked my hair and here was I.

2. Last night we put the kids to bed and I went to a book group meeting, when I came home the kids were awake. Paul reported that they had both woke up and were crying for a while...so he decided to get them up. We all played together and did a bed routine again. As I closed the door to their room, I had a different feeling. A feeling that I am almost embrassed to say took 2 years to come. I felt a complete and utter satisfaction with my life. The first year of Eden's life thoughts of life without a child would creep in. I imagined Paul and I would be traveling several times a year, I would be a graduate student saving children in the welfare system and changing families lives...etc, etc. Now, my husband and children have my heart- there is nothing I want that does not involve them. The knowledge that they will be mine forever and ever is the only peace I get when I lay at night thinking of how fast they are growing up. By the way, I highly recommend the book: Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate. Last night one lady called the book "magical" and I agree.

You just never know...3 years ago

7 facts

I have been tagged twice..by Summer http://www.thackerfam.com/ and Stacey Shaw http://staceyandallyn.blogspot.com/

Rules: Write 7 facts about yourself...silly, serious, random - you decide. List who tagged you and then who you will tag at the bottom. Leave a comment on their blogs and let them know you tagged them.

HERE WE GO...

I used to have warts on my knees. I was so self-conscience that I hated wearing shorts and if I had to I would cover them with my hand. I remember praying so feverently saying, “ Heavenly Father, I have faith that you can make these disappear” I would shut my eyes so tight…wishing with “faith” and then open my eyes fully expecting to see them gone. I was always disappointed…I had to have them freezed off.
The band (do we call them a band?) All-4-one was my first tape I ever purchased. I loved “ I swear”…super cheesy. I will admit whenever I hear it I blare the music and sing along.
In college I wore boys underwear. They were so comfy, I loved them.

I am so cheap. I will literally debate in Wal-Mart whether or not I should get a pair of socks that are $.99. I will convince myself to get them, then a few minutes later usually ditch them behind on some isle. Opps, I know I shouldn’t do that but with two kids…you just can’t go and put back everything.

Speaking of cheap…I always reuse cards. I will cut up, glue or stamp over cute cards people give me. Ok…on certain things I am not that cheap. This summer I bought a pair of red Borne flip-flops and love them.
I love to throw things away, the less clutter the better. This drives Paul crazy. The other day on the way back from the temple we stopped to get gas. I threw away the directions thinking we didn’t need them anymore. A few minutes later Paul asked for the directions and I pretended to look. He pulled over and starting looking for it in the car…I couldn’t pretend anymore and I said I threw it away! He handled it better than expected…we finally found our way home.

As a young girl I was very shy. You might have thought that sweet Cyndi was practical perfect...well, so did I. Secretly, I was so vain. I remember looking in the mirror saying things like, "you are so much prettier than your older sister Amber" or "you clean the bathroom way better than anyone in this house". Amber will confirm that I was a very obedient...and also self righteous child.

I tag Lisa B., Keli, Leah, Amber and now Kim Jonas because I want to see if she comes up with something better than my vanity...ha,ha!

Meat lovers

We salvaged a BBQ a couple weeks ago that our neighbors had left for the trash man to pick up. Here if you don't want something, just put it outside by your trash and the rubbish man will pick it up. It is amazing...chairs, shelves, coolers, tables, leaves, branches (they don't even have to be packaged in a bag). Paul was very excited. After cleaning it up it works wonderfully. We have had hamburgers, grilled veggies and hot dogs multiple times already. Eden is just like her dad...LOVES MEAT. When we sit up to the table she saids, "I want meat". She will pick out the meat and eat it first. Paul and Eden are enjoying their delicious meat!

Pumpkin Patch

Halloween dinner

We had our Halloween dinner with fun spooky food. It was lots of fun with yummy food.

Oreo Mint Truffles

1 package oreo finely crushed
1 8oz. block of cream cheese soften
Mix together and roll into balls
1 bag of Andes mints unwrapped and melted
Dip balls into chocolate!
You can leave plain or drizzle white chocolate on top ( I used a little carmel b/c I had extra I needed to use)

This recipe is from my sister, they are so easy and superb.

Costumes

Ordyna's: we have a Black eyed P, world champ boxer, an egg and a horse of course

Alison & Charley: cat and superman

The Yamnik Pizza! Isn't this great? Marianne sewed the whole thing.

Doorstep pumpkins

I have three very generous neighbors. If I find something on our doorstep, I must go through the list of these three families...it could be anyone of them. The other night we found these adorable pumpkins on our doorstep. "O" for Ordyna. "D" for David and "E" for Eden. After investigation I discovered it was my neighbor the the right! This neighbor has supplied clothing for David until he is 2! She keeps bringing over clothes that her little guys are outgrowing. If I am going to survive around these charitable neighbors, I better beef up my service! Thanks Allison!

Top teeth

This is so Grandma can see how big his four top teeth are.