Unnecessary

As I pulled out batch of cookies number nine from my oven today, I was taught an important life lesson that I would like to share.

It is almost never necessary to make cookie dough that calls for 7 cups of flour.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, which I will outline below.

• It is your neighbor gift at Christmastime.
• You are hosting an event and expecting 108 guests.
• You have 17 offspring that require brown bag lunches every day.
• You run your own bakery.
• You are planning on freezer-storing a year's worth of Family Home Evening treats.
•  Your name is Annette Ferguson, you are having a few family members over for lunch, and you're worried about not having enough food.
• You are the PTA president embarking on a bake sale.

Otherwise, it is unnecessary.  Next time, I'll remember.

Just a Little This and That

This is mostly for Megan, since she needs something to do at work.  Boy, we really haven't been up to much.  I like to imagine that we can move into a bigger apartment so I search nearby apartments three times a week.  I guess I've been doing that.  Oh yeah, I've also been reading.  You know when you have a phenomenal book and spend every spare second reading?  I've been doing that.  I've been looking at Pinterest.  I've been baking (which occurs because I look at pinterest).  I've been spring cleaning.  I've been Relief-Societing.  I've been playing with magnetic letters...oh wait, that's what Raquel's been doing.

She's also been giving piggy-back rides to her friend, Peanut.

She despises when I wet her hair so we can scrunch it up in pretty curls, but its so cute, I can't resist!

I especially love what it turns out like post-nap.

We've made it down to the pool  a couple times once, so we've already been developing fabulous tans.  Bet you can't do that in Utah right now:)

Yikes!  I sound so lazy.  I promise I'm not.  I just like to exaggerate.  Life is good:)  By the way, in case you are in need of some good news:  3 1/2 more months!!!  Hooray!  

Okay okay, now calm down and go snip another link off your countdown.

Cookie Face Challenge

Have you ever tried the cookie face challenge?

WE DID!

Fail

Fail

Fail

Success!

Random November Beginnings

Random post.

 

First, look how cute:)  I've been reading books to Raquel every day since the day we brought her home.  She loves playing with them, dumping them, and even turning the pages for me (board books ONLY).  I hope my kids adore books as much as I do!

Second, I have a question for you Utah girls - what is the most common date you found yourself on?  Miniature golfing?  Mine was, but that's okay because I love it!  Obviously, Luis wasn't a Utah guy because he didn't jump on the mini golf bandwagon.  In fact, our first time going together EVER was this weekend.  It was close to one of the worst golf courses I've seen, but still fun. 

Thanks to all my mini golf date nights, I schooled Luis.  Unfortunately, Raquel was the big winner, as usual.

Thirdly, our missy has become really cuddly.  It's the best!



Thankful Turkey 2012.  I have no comment about this.

Finally, my new haircut!!!  You might not believe me, but it has been 8 months since I've received a haircut.  Perhaps that's because my last cut was horrid ugly.  I miss my Julia!!!  Thankfully, this cut turned out much better.



I've Got an Itch

We're poor...student poor. 

Not that I'm complaining, because my life is good.  But mama said there'd be days like this when I would think back on my life pre-husband and kids.  Those were the days when I could spend my money on all sorts of frivolities, like coverings for my feet, ornaments for my neck, and all manner of fine silks to wear.

 

Nowadays, I have to spend my money on essentials like toilet paper, comet, and dryer sheets.  (ugh)

 

Thus, in my desperation for new threads, I've begun looking for inspiration in new places...like the left-over fabric from the quiet book I made.

 

Oh, why yes, yes I did make this skirt.  Thanks for asking.

 

 



Hair, Food, Bed

Raquelita's hair is growing and growing, but one thing she hasn't OUTGROWN, is her ducktail (as Grandma Ferguson calls it).

This was her first ponytail ever.

With the right bows, her ponytail is even better.

And these are her wild locks after the ponytail comes out.

First experience with pears...

and apples.

This is frequently Raquel's sleeping position whether she's alone or in between Lu and I.  When I was a young tike, Amber and I shared a bed and like to use bedtime for playtime.  Because of that, Dad would often come in and lay between us until we fell asleep.  The problem was, I couldn't fall asleep very well because I was on the very edge of the bed and had to hold on to stay on.  I feel like those days are back.

Her other favorite position.

Friends

Busy Making Friends...

...and eating them.



The Hills Are Alive

So I got dressed today and thought my outfit looked pretty cute.  That was until I gave my ensemble some serious consideration.

I realized that no one over the age of 9 should wear a matching shirt & head wrap UNLESS that person is about to attend auditions for one of the Von Trapp Children.

Unfortunately, I was going to no audition.

Did I change my outfit? 

Nope.

Flush

7:03 AM and I have visited the bathroom 4 times.  Thankfully, these trips have not been due to morning sickness as I only face slight sickness at nighttime.   However, that doesn't stop me from oh so FREQUENT bathroom stops.  After one of these particular moments, I found myself greatly annoyed by how much time I have to spend at the throne.

And then I thought,

"I'm sure glad my time is spent HERE...

...and not HERE."

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=outhouse&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=jeN91hkWp8tP6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.continentalranchatcreede.com/id1.html&docid=YngLafaMd5LpDM&w=327&h=490&ei=hppKTr2nOK7SiAKH6I2oBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=194&vpy=146&dur=2077&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=124&ty=189&page=2&tbnh=180&tbnw=134&start=22&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:22&biw=1280&bih=525

Saying Goodbye

I have a hard time saying goodbye and letting go.  Luis experiences this daily when he goes to school or work.  I don't know how he manages to escape.  My family experiences this every time we see each other or occasionally at the end of a phone call.  I've known this about myself for some time.  I call it love.  Luis calls it clingy.  However, I had no idea how deeply embedded this problem ran until I did some thorough spring...turned into summer cleaning.

We've just had so many good memories together.  Did you know that that was the first ketchup bottle we purchased in California?  Our loyal had soap bottle is the first one we've come across with a working pump.  And that toothpaste was with me when I brushed my teeth during my Texan Spring Break.

I think I need an intervention.

Pretty Food is Overrated

I'm pretty fed up with seeing pictures of everyone's perfect looking food.  Why does food have to look perfect in order to taste great?  It doesn't.  In fact, it doesn't even have to look good.  Sometimes nasty-looking food tastes great.  That would be the case 99% of the time in my kitchen.  I'm sure people are just trying to taunt me with their Kraft-Food-magazine-worthy-photos, but I don't care.  I'm posting my ugly blueberry muffins anyways.  And by the way, they were fabulous.

Great Harvest

I just wanted you to know, we found Great Harvest.

The end.

What Luis Has Been Doing

Now that Luis is out of school for the summer, you're probably wondering what he's been up to.  Let me take you into the secret life of Luis.

The other day, Luis was playing with our camera and found our banquet pictures.  I don't know where they disappeared to or how they came back, but just so you know, I am NOT crazy.  I'm thinking Luis rigged the camera to get back at me.  He claims I hide his things and then "find them" for him when he can't just so he'll remember how much he needs me.  For the record, this is absolutely not true.

 Remember those colored pencils I gave Luis two Christmases ago?  He finally opened them up to work on his tiger picture.

For our hike, Luis busted out his dragon-painted walking stick he made last Halloween.  It was very helpful when we had to ford some rivers.

Lu also helped me put together this "noodle game" tutorial.  Some of you have been asking me how to play the "noodle game."  Well, prepare to be enlightened.

STEP ONE
Buy some noodles from the local dollar store.


STEP TWO
Cut apart noodles using a sharp knife or box cutter.

Cut them about 2 inches long...

 ...until you have a buch.

STEP THREE
Learn the game by viewing one of the videos below.

Beginner Version

Advanced Version

You may be wondering, "Was that a tent I saw in their living room?"  Yes it was.  More on that excitement in a later post.

And that is some of what Luis has been doing.