Princesses and Mud

I must start this post by first saying a big thanks for all of you morale boosters. Thanks for the comments. I forgot to mention that my initial pity party started when I checked the Pioneer Woman's blog and saw her mere 20,000 comments in one day! I know, I can't compare to that.

We had a primary activity ( for church children) last Saturday, it was a talent show for the kids. This was also Kenadi's first Primary activity, and she wanted to dance. I tried to help choreograph an easy dance for her, but she just wanted to spin and twirl and watch her pretty dress fly. I even had Randy ready to dance with her on stage ( a miracle, huh?), but she wanted to do it all by herself.

She was so cute. She just spun and spun. She did it to the music in Cinderella, "So this is Love". She was beaming the whole time. I was a little surprised that she didn't chicken out and decide not to do it.

At the end there was a group "performance" where all of the kids could get up on stage and do the chicken dance, whatever that one is called. She loved every minute of it. I was so glad that it was a good experience for her. There were some cute/good performances, and we enjoyed all of them.

My original idea for a post always grows, and I think, "I could do multiple posts and save these pictures for another day", but the problem is that I would most likely not do that post. So, you get a whole bunch of posts in one. You're so lucky.

One day when I was gardening, Kenadi and Emma decided to make a mud pit. Kenadi decided to lay in it. I wondered where this came from, since my little girly girl is usually not into getting messy and dirty.

Then I remembered her asking me a question the day before, "Mom, did you like laying in the mud? Why did you do it?" I answered, " Yea, I liked it. It was just to be silly and see what it felt like." She asked me that question after seeing the picture below go across our screen saver.

Me and one of my CRAZY cousins, Ash. I say ONE of my crazy cousins, because they are all crazy. And I'm normal. Anyways, we were laying in a nice, squishy mixture of mud and cow manure. Smelled nice. This was after branding cattle, which is a favorite past time in that family. I loved it too. Getting kicked in the shin, the smell of burnt hair/flesh, and calf pee running down my leg. Sorry, if you're not used to this side of me. I do like to get dirty. I don't know why this photo turned sideways when I uploaded it. I guess you'll just have to tilt your head to the side to look at it.

Next subject. Our dishwasher broke, and handy Randy got to install our new one. He was so lucky to have really good helpers when he took out the old, and installed the new. The girls where there for all of it: up front and center. They really thought they were helping. Kenadi held the flashlight and pointed it at the ceiling for Randy. Emma would make little sighs and look under the dishwasher, stand up, sigh, look under the dishwasher... over and over again. I enjoyed the show.

Ok, I guess I will leave this one for last. Then I will try to post the rest on another post. And not forget. (I know I'm not supposed to ever start a sentence with the word "and". Oh well)

This is one of our latest trips to the park. We have been loving the weather lately. Except the wind today. That was a little too much. Normally it is so nice. So, we've been taking advantage of it.

We slid, swung, and ran. This is how we got there: On our bikes! I LOVE our bike trailer, my bike, and family bike rides.

Game night at Our House

I have officially ended my blogging strike. I had a bit of self-pitty, and now I'm over it. Lets just say, I like comments and haven't gotten very many lately. Haley ( my sister) told me to basically get over it, and I am. So, in honor of my new blogging self, I have posted 3 posts in one night. 2 recipe's, and this one. I have many more up my sleeve, so keep checking.

Have I shown you this yet? It's our "new" computer/tv set up. We don't use it as a tv, just our computer( except when American idol is on- you can't really watch that on the internet). I love it. I can have 2 or more screens up at a time, it's faster, and just plain easier to use.
Kenadi and Emma love it too, which is dangerous. Kenadi loves to do the activities on the Friend website.
I think that we got Kenadi this candyland game for Christmas, and both girls love it. We had a game night a while ago, and this is how it goes: Kenadi always wins (even when we don't rig it), I always loose bad, Emma sits on the board and takes our men, even though she has one, Emma stands or sits on the box, and Kenadi always gets princess frosting. We always have fun though. I love game night with the girls.

And now, on to a game of my own. Indoor soccer. It starts at 11:40 tonight. Late. I love it, though. So, I'll catch up on posts another night. I must go visit with my hubby (who is out in the shop making picture frame clamps for our crafting group on Tuesday night) before I go.

Blueberry Torte Squares

Um, sure, I took that picture. Ok, I admit, I forgot to take one before it was gone. I got this recipe and picture off of taste of home, but of course altered the recipe a bit. YUM! I love blueberries! I loved these squares. I took these for Easter dinner and they were all gone before I left.

Here goes:

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour ( I did 3/4 C whole wheat, and 1/2 C white flour- love the nutty whole wheat flavor it gives it)
• 1 package (8 ounces) reduced fat cream cheese (neufatchel cheese)
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed (OR, whip about a cup or so of cream with 1/4 t cream of tarter (to help stabilize it) and don't add sugar. I did this because that whipped topping is made with oil and corn syrup, and I just couldn't use it this time. Plus, there is enough sugar in the recipe. Sometimes I do, but not today, and I loved it this way)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3/4 cup cold water
• 3 cups fresh blueberries (I used frozen berries, it made no difference)

Directions

• In a small bowl, cream butter and 2 tablespoons sugar. Gradually add flour and mix well. Press onto the bottom of a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping; spread mixture over crust. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir in blueberries and remaining sugar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool to room temperature.
• Spoon topping over cream cheese layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Cut into squares. Yield: 2 dozen.

A good spring/summer recipe

My pictures never do a dish justice. In fact, I think that my pictures make things look gross. Sorry, people, but you just have to believe me, not the poor picture, when I tell you this is good. I made this a couple of weeks ago, and loved it. I've had it before, but thought that this is something I want to keep around, for when the garden is producing, and just because I like it.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds small red potatoes, quartered
• 3 cups fresh or frozen peas
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups 2% milk (or 1 % milk works good too)
• 1 cup half-and-half cream

Directions

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a
• boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8-12 minutes or until
• tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, place peas and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until tender.
• Drain.
• In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in the
• flour, salt and pepper until blended; gradually add milk and cream.
• Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Stir in potatoes and peas; heat through. Yield: 12 servings.

Pictures of Kenadi

Okay, we will start from the very beginning. Well, maybe not the VERY beginning, but pretty close. This is Kenadi- inside. I was about 7 months along here.

Here she is at about 9 or 10 weeks. Isn't she so cute? =) I thought it was cute, for an ultrasound.

Well, I am going to bare all and let you see this picture. Lets just say I retain a lot of fluids when I am in labor. Can I blame it all on that? Oh well. I decided that if you read this blog, you deserve to know all sides of me. Even this one. Just look at us though. We were so excited to finally have her in our arms.

It was the neatest thing to finally see her and hold her. Randy and I couldn't get enough of her.

She was the cutest little baby. And so good.

We were so blessed to have my cousin Morgan on clinical rotations at my hospital, and in the birthing center! It was neat to have her there.

Of course, we had visitors. Everyone was so excited to see her. This is Grandpa, or "Papa", and Kenadi.

Kenadi and Grandma Simonson

For some reason I can't move this picture, or any around it. It is out of order, but this is Kenadi and Me, obviously. It was after one of my hormonal, emotional breakdowns. I had quite a few of those after I had Kenadi. I was extremely better after I had Emma.

Some of my siblings came. They look so enthused.

Grandma Jensen came too. Of course, I am missing pictures of all of the siblings who came, but you all get the point. This picture of Kenadi looks just like her when she sleeps now. Except she's bigger now.

Here she is at about one month or so.

I think about 3 weeks here.

This is her at about 9 months.

Anyways, Kenadi loves to get on this blog and look at the pictures I've posted. I will post more later, and not so condensed. Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did, and I know Kenadi will. Don't forget to read the post I did right before this one. It's worth it. (pssst, it's about a giveaway)

Great Giveaway

You seriously need to check out this giveaway and the "Shabby Chic" website. (there is a link to that from this giveaway page) I am in LOVE with these modest, cute dresses!

Kenadi is 4!

Sweet Kenadi is 4! It goes fast. She was excited to turn 4, and when the day came I don't think she believed she was really 4 because she didn't feel any different. She kept saying, "When I get 4 I'll be your age!" "Am I 4 now? Am I taller?" Stuff like that.

This was her first big friends party. We had it on Wednesday, and Randy was at school. We had a family party for her this morning. She loved her friend party. They all dressed up for our theme of dressing as your favorite character. Kenadi was.... Cinderella, of course. I finally finished her dress. She LOVES it, which makes me happy because I spent a lot of time on it. Well, it wasn't too hard, just dumb instructions. I also made her a "Princess Carriage" cake. She was definately in princess heaven.

Her birthday fell on Easter this year. So, we had our family party in the morning, after our Easter celebrations. Here are some pictures so you can see a bit of what we did that day.

The weather has been so nice. We've been outside every day, soaking up the sun, and mud.

Notice the pink chap-stick all around Kenadi's lips? She got some in her Easter basket and will put it on constantly for 20 minutes until I put it away. Emma does the same thing, except it goes in the hair, on cheeks, and eventually gets eaten.

The above picture and the ones to follow, are of Kenadi's party on Wednesday. I never did get a picture of all of her friends who came. I thought about it once, but was too busy to remember to do it. They were all so cute, I wish I did. We had a Cinderella, a Princess, Batman, a Wizard, a Knight, Woody, Buzz, another Princess, and I think that is it. Hopefully I didn't forget anyone. Make sure you pay attention to Kenadi's dress that I worked so hard on. I might have to post a better picture of it later.

"Duck, Duck, Goose!"

Here is the cake. Don't look too closely. It was a quick job, but I think it turned out pretty good. I think I'm going to dedicate the rest of the week to pictures of Kenadi from newborn to now. So, expect to see some more of her tomorrow!

There's a Feeling in the Air...

Do you ever have a sort of De-ja-vu (how do you spell that one?) just because of the weather being a certain way, or the smells that are in the air? I've had that feeling for a couple of days now. Usually I can pinpoint it to one memory, however, not this time.
It has been a beautiful week, with nice, warm weather (85 on Wednesday!), wind, a little humidity, and the smell of trees and flowers blooming. It reminds me of:

• The month before Randy and I got married, sitting in the car talking (yes, just talking) with the windows rolled down. Anxiously counting down the days until we were married.
• Summers in Oregon and Washington, not too hot, with some humidity. Being with family and watching Kenadi play outside at my parents house.
• Jayce Relays that I used to run when I was a little girl. I USED to be fast.
• Watering the garden and killing June bugs
• Change, Things are changing
• Feels like we have a family trip planned.
• Yurts on the beach- don't know what they are? AWESOME
• Sleeping with the windows open
• Picking strawberries. That was my first job in Oregon. I picked all day for a couple of days. I think I earned $7 a day. I was 13 or 14. By the way, those California strawberries are NOTHING compared to Oregon strawberries. They are sooooo sweet and juicy. No, I'm not partial. I'm telling the truth.
  
• Family walks. I love those. Randy and I have the best conversations on our walks.
• School's almost out. I remember feeling like this every year I was at BYU-I. I was always happy to be done with a class, but sad because friends were leaving.
• Restless
• Tornado season
• Barbecues
  

Ok, there are more, but I think you get the idea. I do love spring here in Oklahoma. It is such nice weather. Things are getting green, flowers are up.... Ahhhh