Furtado Grotto

Daddy Valentine

2012-02-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day only a few hours away, I was lucky enough to stumble upon these fabulous photos from my past. They were all taken at the annual Father-Daughter-Valentine's-Dance hosted by the church I attended during my younger years in life.

I'm guessing this first shot is from 1990. It was my first dance, and I was excited to wear my shiny, red flats. That was the year red became my favorite color after my Vacation Bible School teacher told me gray was "most definitely not a color". Way to smash a girl's hopes and dreams! I guess it all worked out in the end though, because I think red is just smashing!

My dad made the wise decision to shave the mustache, and once again I went with red! Gotta love those ribbon curls!

Either we were too poor to make me a new dress or I really enjoyed Christmas the year before.

The stash is back! I couldn't find a formal shot from this year, but I do know this was the year that my dad and I were called up for one of the games. I had one minute to put makeup on my dad's face and make him pretty. Fortunately for him, that was probably the first time I ever touched makeup, so I don't even think I got past putting blush one one cheek. Oh, and yes, we lost.

And finally, sheer sleeves and my crafty DIY floral crown make me a real heartbreaker! Say "Cheese!"

Yesterday Morning

2012-02-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

12:46am... get out of bed to snuggle my crying baby back to sleep
12:53am... lightly kick Dusty with my foot so he gets up to quiet our crying baby
12:54am... moderately kick Dusty with the same foot to remind him of the crying baby
12:55am... throw a pillow at snoring Dusty, yell in my raspy voice that Bentley needs some help getting back to sleep, and begin coughing like an old lady
1:07am... get myself out of bed to comfort a crying baby again, but not without giving in to the off-limits bottle of milk my Dr. so readily suggest we go cold turkey with
1:15am... startled out of my near-sleep to the sound of a burp, a cough, then a loud coo... someone was ready to play
1:42am... I make a mental note to take the crib toy out of Bentley's bed so it can't keep me up all night, but then I quickly erase the note reminding myself that the purpose of the toy is to buy me some time so he doesn't need me in the middle of the night
2:35am... hack something furious from the depths of my lungs and stumble around for some water to ease my parched throat
4:14am... another coughing episode
6:30am... MY alarm goes off, which it rarely does, then I silently thank Bentley for playing with my phone the day before and setting my alarm, otherwise Dusty would have overslept 2 hours instead of 1... kick Dusty and tell him he's way late for work
6:36am... Dusty kisses me on the head and says "babe, you should probably shower or take a bath today." I reply with a hiss "I've showered every day since I've been sick, thank you!" I can't help it that this stupid fever makes me sweat in my sleep.
6:40am... Dusty slams the door while rushing off to work waking both boys and giving me a good morning headache
6:42am... open the fridge door with 2 whining children at my feet and realize the milk is nearly gone... make a quick decision to give one kid the milk and one kid watered down heavy cream... still don't know which kid got what
6:45am... mentally prepare to venture out with my chest cold and my 2 wild boys to pick up milk at the grocery store later in the morning
7:01am... missing my coffee but knowing hot tea is better when I'm sick
7:14am... Fresh Beat Band
7:43am... more Fresh Beats
8:10am... shower and pretend I don't see Ryder eating bobbi pins from my bedside table or Bentley picking things out of the trashcan next to the toilet
8:55am... put B down for a morning nap even if he won't sleep because I can't go another minute chasing after both
9:21am... Ryder asks why he can't have milk
9:43am... Ryder asks why he can't have milk
10:01am... Ryder asks why he can't have milk
10:21am... Bentley is finally awake so I don't have to explain to Ryder anything else about milk
10:37am... get the boys dressed and wrangled out into the garage so I can load up the laundry and head off to get milk
11am... boys all buckled, a hint of makeup on my face so I don't look too dead, and we're ready to go... oops! the car died right there in the driveway... dead battery? no, gas tank empty... I haven't driven my car since last week...
11:03am... boys back into the garage, more crying for milk
11:07am... call Dusty... no answer
11:09am... call Dusty... no answer... leave a message
11:11am... call my mom... please help!
11:47am... Grannie shows up with milk!
11:53am... "Mommy, there's poop! Right there! Eeewwwww!"
11:55am... I find another poop pebble on the couch
11:57am... "Mommy, there's poop on Beddays bankie! Eeewwww!"
11:59am... more poop on the floor

... and I'm pooped!

Little Boys Need Sunshine and Fresh Air

2012-02-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

My poor boys have been stuck inside all week since I've been sick with a 102 degree temp. If you know what it feels like to be sick with a fever, and if you know what it feels like to care for two rowdy boys who've been caged in for multiple days, then you can imagine what it feels like to deal with both at the same time. I finally felt a little better today, so I let Bentley play in the 70 degree weather and enjoy the backyard all to himself (Ryder was at his gramma's today). It was just what we both needed to get through the end of our crazy week! I let him hit whatever he wanted with his bat (his favorite pastime), and he had full reign of the cozy coupe, the world's most beloved toy! He even helped me kill two wasps that were attacking my head. But probably his most favorite part about our sunny afternoon was playing in the tainted water in the trunk of his cozy coupe and licking it off his fingers. Hey, at least it wasn't the toilet again!

Fresh Beat Dance

2012-02-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Not much going on here lately. We've just been doing our typical, daily routine with the boys which almost always includes a dance party. Our days just wouldn't be complete without The Fresh Beat Band!

Pupusas!

2012-01-31T12:14:00.000-08:00

A few months back we tested Dusty for gluten intolerance by eliminating all gluten from his diet for a whole month. That meant that I had to cook meals free of anything gluten. It wasn't all that difficult, although I couldn't enjoy some of my indulgent favorites like cheesy potatoes (cream of chicken soup contains gluten) or french fried onions atop a big salad (this mostly upset Dusty). But this post isn't about gluten free cooking... or is it?
I bought a big bag of Masa Harina, or instant corn flour, which is gluten free. I wanted to use it to thicken chili, sauces, and soups while I cooked gluten free for that month. I only used maybe a total of one cup, so I've had this big bag of corn flour sitting in my cupboard waiting to be used. The other day I google searched recipes using masa, and pupusas caught my attention. My sister told me about them before, but I had no idea how easy they were to make! My sister-in-law Amber and my niece Colie came over yesterday, and we made us some pupusas! Even the kids had fun cooking with the corn flour dough... it's kinda like edible play-dough that keep kids entertained while you prepare their meal. Anyways, here's the super simple recipe (taken in part from Emeril) if you're in the mood to try it out. You will be pleasantly surprised!

photo taken from pupusa.org

DOUGH:
3 1/2 cups masa flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 cups warm water
1/4 cup cold water
olive oil for frying

FILLINGS:
cheese
beans
cooked, shredded meat
cooked peppers or other vegetable

Combine the flour, salt, and warm water in a bowl, and mix until a soft dough forms. Set aside for 20-30 minutes. Pour in cold water until dough becomes soft but not sticky. Divide the dough into 16 golf ball sized pieces. Covering the dough as you work, form each dough ball into a bowl shape, fill with 2 Tbs. of your desired filling (we just did refried beans and cheese), and pinch dough closed. Carefully flatten each filled dough ball into a 4-inch round disc. Cook them for 3-4 minutes on a hot, oiled pan or griddle over med-high heat. Serve them right away (although they are still yummy reheated the next day) with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. They are delicioso!

Oh, and yes, we suspect Dusty is gluten intolerant or gluten sensitive in some way, although he has gone back to eating all things gluten. If you see him, tell him how very important his health is, and encourage him to take steps to living a long, healthy life!

Ta-Dah! Colors!

2012-01-26T11:58:00.000-08:00

Ryder has become a little artist lately. We bought him an easel and paint set for Christmas, and I was surprised at how much he actually enjoys it. I set it up in the kitchen and blocked it off so B wouldn't disrupt the artist's mood.

As any great artist would, Ryder gets very into his work...

...he doesn't like to be bothered while he's creating a masterpiece.

Ahh, the finished product. In the words of Ryder, "Ta-Dah! Colors!"

Pillowcase Dress for Baby Nella

2012-01-22T15:10:00.000-08:00

You may have heard me refer to my tall, sweet blonde friend as "Beans". Her real name is Emily, but when I say that out loud I feel weird... so we'll stick with Beans for now. Anyways, Beans recently had a pretty little fluffy-haired baby girl named Nella. In the hussle and bussle of planning and throwing the baby shower last summer I never got around the making her a gift like I wanted to. I had originally planned on making a blanket, but I decided I'd try something new. I'm really a bad student of sewing when it comes to patterns since I can never stick to the plan, so I decided to go for something simple but cute... something that I could add to or take away from depending on my mood. So enters the pillowcase dress. They're all the rage these days, and they're pretty darn adorable if I do say so myself. And, if you know how to sew a simple stitch then they'll be really easy for you too. TaDa!

I didn't actually use a pillowcase for mine, although that's how the dresses are originally intended to be made (hence the name). I just took some fabric and eyeballed it (I guessed mine to be about 6 months) for the size. I think it was something like 15" X 26". Once I sewed it all together, it came out a little shorter then I wanted (I'm bad at hems and I tend to over do it), so I added the top pink strip. I think it makes it look even cuter... sometimes mistakes end up being just what you need to really pack the punch. If you don't believe me then study up on the life of George Washington Carver. (Ya, did you know that peanut butter was originally created as a healthy protein substitute for patients with no teeth? I didn't either!)

Anyways, here are some links to other, more organized individuals who actually took the time to detail the directions on their blog. Lord bless them!

http://sewlikemymom.com/easiest-pillowcase-dress-ever/

http://www.aestheticnest.com/2010/06/sewing-patriotic-pillowcase-dresses.html

Ryder's Dirt Road Anthem

2012-01-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

What can I say... Ryder likes to rock it!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

It's 2012, and it's time for a new goals and new experiences. Thank God for that! We had a wild 2011 in good and bad ways, but we're looking forward to the next 12 months, hoping and praying for what's ahead. I didn't come up with too many resolutions this year since I'm trying to relax more, but looking back I am proud to say I did fairly well with last years resolutions. I invented a monthly lent for myself, giving up something each month as a means of teaching myself self control along with the other health benefits each sacrifice brought with it. In January I only listened to Christian music, and in return I ended up being more positive and more focused on God and his plan for my life. I enjoyed it so much I kept going with it for the next 5 months! But then the country concerts hit Shoreline and I couldn't resist! I gave up alcohol one month, baking another month, sugar yet another month (although I only lasted 3 weeks with that one), and coffee another month (ha, that lasted 3 days). But I gave it my best, and I wasn't hard on myself when I failed miserably at each task. I was surprised to see how much I learned about myself in the process, and I gained loads of self control over the year.

So going forth with this year, I'm working more on the less tangible things like my attitude toward others and myself. I purchased the one year chronological Bible last year when Borders was going out of business (can't beat 75% off), so I'm going through that this year. Hopefully I will go through it daily, but if not, I'll give myself the grace to "catch up." There's all kinda of other things I want to work on this year, but the list would either bore you or intrigue you so much that you'd start stalking me or showing up on my doorstep with no apparent reason in hopes to find out more dirt on me. Which leads me to my next story...

It was a few minutes after my sister, Suzanne, left my house for SFO to return back home. There was a knock at the door, so I assumed it was her. Maybe she forgot something. Ryder and B ran to the window yelling "Soozie?!", and sadly it wasn't Soozie. If it wasn't for their loud voices and their easy access to the front room window I could have bypassed what happened next. I could have peaked through my blinds, seen the penny loafers and the slacks, assumed it was a Jehovah's Witness and ignored the knock. But the cards weren't in my favor. I did, however, get smarter after the last time I opened the door to a stranger. You might remember when the weird college drama geek tried to enter my home asking about my flat-screen and when my husband would be home from work. Yes, well, I'll never let that happen again. So I kept the door locked and walked around to the window where the kids were staring with a scared and confused look on their faces. In his penny loafers, dark gray slacks, and a beige color-blocked wind breaker was an older man, maybe in his 60s, clearly drunk. "Can I help you?" I said, and he turned to me, limping, with bulging, yellowed eyes, and what looked like blood soaking through his jacket. He was holding his right side with his left hand and his right hand over that. He looked like he had just been stabbed in the gut, and when he spoke he slurred his words and looked kinda cross-eyed at me.

"Do you know how to get to Berryessa?" He spit at me.

"No, sorry." I lied, but I wasn't about to continue this conversation.

"Ok, do you know where I can find that information?" By the way he spoke and moved it was clearer now that he was off his rocker.

"Sorry, no. Someone across the street maybe. I really don't know." Get outta my face, is really what I wanted to say.

"Ok, thanks." Then he turned, and walked away, limping again, like he couldn't keep any weight on his right leg.

I closed the blinds, called Dusty begging him to come home, and searched the Morgan Hill Times for missing or wanted persons. No luck with the latter. I still don't know what the guy's deal was or where he came from. I looked around for blood on my front path but I didn't see anything.

Maybe I made more out of it then need be. It could have been chocolate ice cream on his jacket for all I know, and it could have upset his ulcer making him limp and hold tight to his abdomen. I will probably never know, but for now I'll be happy that I stayed smart and didn't open the door to another weirdo!

Holly Jolly Weekend

2011-12-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

We had a mellow Christmas this year... if you don't include the part when it was time for the 8 little kids to open their presents. That was chaos! But everything else made for a fun and memorable holiday.

We spent Christmas Eve with my family, and everyone was able to make it this year. There was a full bar, a smorgasbord of appetizers, and a crab feed fit for Andre the giant. Don't worry, at the end of the night I busted out my breathalyzer and tested everyone's ability to drive legally... all I will say is that the children and I blew a 0.00%.

AJ's Buche de Noel... way prettier than mine!

A snapshot of the chaos we call gift-giving...

Here's Ryder on the verge of one of the many breakdowns he experience that night... poor guy was getting sick and totally overwhelmed.

And the annual cousins photo with Auntie Soozie... we made the mistake of waiting until the end of the night to snap the photo. Bentley was already in bed, Eli was way over it, and everyone else was either overly exhausted or wildly delirious past the point of no return.

Christmas morning, I got up early to light the fire, set up the gifts, and put the brioche in the oven. We didn't go big on gifts this year, but the simplicity made it more enjoyable and way less stressful.

Here's Dusty and B coming down the stairs to start our cozy Christmas morning.

And Ryder... lazy boy came down 30 minutes later. He doesn't quite get the concept of presents.

All the boys were happy after a little breakfast and stocking stuffers.

Ryder would have been happy with his Caillou DVD and nothing more, but he got a ton of cool gifts.

Bentley and Ryder both got Thomas the Tank Engine spinning toothbrushes this year!

We didn't go anywhere on Christmas day since we were all feeling tired and ill. But Dusty's parents came by for a few hours and hung out. The biggest hit of the day was the ball pit they got for Bentley. Such a simple idea, but worth hours of fun!

We hope you had a Merry Christmas with your families, and we wish you a New Year filled with reasonable resolutions and great health!

Gilroy Gardens with all the cousins

2011-12-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

When Auntie Soozie comes to town the party is on! She treated us to a night at Gilroy Gardens with rides, a laser lights show, and seasoned french fries (with mayo for some).

With 8 adults and 8 kids we were quite the group.

Bentley was stuck in the stroller all night, but I think he enjoyed being bundled with blankies lulled to sleep by the squeak of the double stroller.

Here's Owen, Auntie Soozie, Eli, and Grampa ridin' the train! Choo choo!

And Ryder and Mommy cuddling on the train ride in the chilly air... 38 degrees and counting!

Thanks Auntie Soozie for the fun time!

Bean Trays and Salad Spinners

2011-12-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I don't know why we spend so much money on expensive toys and social activities for our kids. My boys are usually pretty happy with some Glad-Ware and a few spatulas. They can make music with just about anything, and everything they touch becomes a cell phone or an army of cars and trucks. It's like on Christmas morning when the little guys are more interested in the ribbons and paper than the gifts themselves.

So I decided to get smart about it and go cheap. We've been stuck in doors the past few weeks partly because of the frigid air and partly because I was sick. As you may imagine, the boys were struck with cabin fever almost as much as I was. I must have seen it in a book (I've been reading over homeschooling books from the library lately... yes, I'm looking into that) or maybe on Pinterest, but the bean tray came to mind one stir-crazed afternoon. I filled a tray with dried pinto beans and threw in some measuring cups and spoons. Ryder was entertained for nearly 45 whole minutes! It was ridiculous! In a good way!

But small, hard beans are by no means safe for an almost 14 month old (perhaps not even for a 2 1/2 year old, what with the rising incidents of small objects in ears and nostrils). So I opened up my beautifully organized cabinets, let got of a little OCD, and let them play to their hearts' content. The salad spinner was the big hit of the afternoon...

So maybe it took a few extra minutes of my day to pick up all the beans off the floor and rewash all those dishes, but it was well worth it. I was resourceful and the boys were happy as clams at high water!

Family Pics

2011-12-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for family photo shoots! Many thanks to Miss Shanni for taking on the daring feat of capturing my rugrats with her creative eye and expensive lenses. It was a fun afternoon with my boys and with the photographers, mostly because Shanni and Blaine (the hubs) are intimate friends of ours. I've never loved being the focus of the camera so much, but as you can see, this ain't no cookie-cutter photo session with awkward poses and forced grins. We just got to be us while a camera snapped in the background. You can see an entire reel of photos on her blog, but here are just a few sweet ones to tickle your palate.

Dusty and I don't take photos with each other very often... more accurately, I don't get photos taken of me very often... but we got some good ones that make us look like we're all high-school sweetheartish without a care in the world. I especially love this one with the glowing halo above my head, and the featured leaf bracelet beautifying my wrist (thank you Danielle)!

This is as good as it gets when you ask us all to look at the camera, but it's kinda cute. Ryder looks sweet, Bguy looks loveable , and Dusty, well, just look at those manly arms I get to be held by! JT in the house! What what! (Tip: The way to a man's heart is to compare him to Justin Timberlake)

Bentley with a bottle, me with a goofy facial expression, Ryder and Dusty with the giggles... so typical.

And how awesome is this... a built-in Manny (man nanny) for the kids when the paparazzi gets to be too much. Thanks, Blaine!

I don't wanna give away the good ones, so you've got to check out her blog to see the real keepers. "You're one in a million, Bev!"

A Very Mahalo Thanksgiving

2011-12-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

I realize it's already one week until Christmas, but I never got around to sharing about our Thanksgiving in Maui. It was wonderful, and truly we couldn't have been more thankful! It didn't feel much a like Thanksgiving, but who can complain when you're enjoying the Mai Tais and the hot sun in the middle of November?! I mean really...

Ryder would most definitely agree with me.

Bentley was a doll (as usual) the whole week just eating, dancing, and relaxing with the rest of us. We even met a couple from Alaska who decided to give their soon-to-be baby boy the middle name "Bentley" because they loved him so much... how can you not after seeing that sweet belly!

We hung out by the pool for the most part just throwing back pina coladas and macadamia nuts while Ryder, Bentz, and cousin Jaxson floated in the kiddie pool...

... and took naps... Bentley and his chubby lips just melt my heart.

We can't seem to get a family photo these days where everyone is looking at the camera, but how can you keep your eyes off the sites with a view like this...

We ate a huge, catered Thanksgiving feast that finished with my personal fave, pecan pie. After the bloating and belching began, we had to take a walk to relieve ourselves... here's EVERYONE at the beach on Thanksgiving night. They were a fun bunch!

Then there's us: Uncle Casey, Bentley, Me, Opa, Auntie Tessa, Gamma, Dusty, and Ryder.

We hung out at the beach one day, and then I realized I don't like sand. It sticks to everything, especially on sweaty heads, hands, and feet.

Hungry little babies mistake it for food.

And rambunctious toddlers throw it over their heads and fall face first into it.

Since Thanksgiving is technically the Christmas kickoff, I had to bring a little holiday cheer with us to Hawaii. Thanksgiving night B-boy wore his Christmas jammies to bed and woke up on Black Friday ready to celebrate the season.

And Ryder, well, he was just ready to head home!

Aloha!

Pablo Picasso?

2011-12-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

These are the sorts of things that snap you back into blog-land...

Last week, in the midst of my pounding headache and sinus congestion, I took the boys out for a few errands just to get out of the house. We stopped by Grannie's to pick up some chicken soup (thanks mom), and we ran by AJ's for a quick book swap. What was supposed to be 5 minutes turned into an hour, and next thing I know Ryder is outside with his cousins, Own and Eli, throwing dirt on his head. Then I see them throwing it into each other's mouths, and I just know it's going to be a wild day.
A few minutes later they're all inside laughing at the dining room table, and I hear Finn say with a giggle " Ryder that's so weird, why are you doing that?! haha!" That's when they all start laughing and I know we're in for it. I walk into what looks like an art studio, only it's really just my child with Mr. Sketch smelly (and permanent) markers in his hands and all over his eyeball. I couldn't stop myself from laughing, although I did try to give a stern lesson on why we don't color on ourselves. Off to the bathroom we went to wash up, but all we accomplished was the creation of a very believable black eye.
It was no surprise to me that we ended the day at home coloring on the couch with a pen and again on the coffee table with our crayons. Perhaps someone will be an art major one day... or an inner city tagger.

Pumpkins, pretty pretty pumpkins!

2011-11-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

We sing lots of songs in our house. Everything is a song. We sing more than we talk, at least during the day when it's just me and the little boys. When it's just us I can pretend we're all on Broadway and go all out with my dance moves and my stellar voice! Ryder and Bentley are my truest fans, so it's no surprise that when pumpkin season rolls around we come up with new songs pertaining to all things autumn. Sung to the tune of Foofa's flower song we sing "Pumpkins, pretty, pretty pumpkins..." and so on. So I can't help but sing that sing as I write this post about our pumpkin patch adventures. We went on a weekend when Dusty could join us, and I took the boys a 2nd time during the week when the crowds were a little less chaotic.

Ryder and Dusty make nice companions... when they're in good moods.

And as you can see here, Ryder was a bit of a pouter that day...nothing seemed to pep him up. But he almost looks cuter when he's angry... love that little guy!

Bentley thinks he's an authentic boy these days. He's growing into quite the scruffy toddler.

He's quick on his feet too, and he's just a big ball of energy when we let him roam free.

Ryder's 2nd go at the pumpkin patch was much better than the first. He woke up on the right side of the bed that morning, and we had a fun time exploring all the rows of pumpkins.

He and Colie took advantage of the freedom and ran off some energy. Nap time was great that day!

Music was playing over the loud speakers, and the kids went wild. Bentley has the cutest little foot tap he does, and of course Ryder does all kinds of funny contortionist type moves!

I think the Grease soundtrack was playing at this point.

After all the begging and pleading I succumbed to the train ride. $4.50 later we made a 30 second memory that will last a lifetime... at least by way of pictures.

I love my boys, because they get me off the couch and force me to enjoy even the simplest moments in life. Hooray for pumpkins and rugged little boys!

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Ryder's new favorite candy is the old school Starburst. It actually sounds like he's asking for a diaper when he says "mommy, I want Starburst," so it's been a little confusing for him and for me. But with the introduction of a new sweet, and the pep-talks about trick-or-treating, I really thought this would be the year he got excited about Halloween. Last year he was supposed to be a burger, but he screamed when i tried to put the costume on. And I figured out he didn't much care for candy when he just threw each piece every time I handed it to him. And the year before that he was a lobster, and yet again he wasn't too happy about it. Maybe that's because I put him in a pot! So this year was not as successful as I had hoped, but I think it was a good introduction for next year... fingers crossed!

Bbotz played the part all day on Halloween, showing his affection for the holiday by wearing a sweet little onesie from my mom. It went perfectly with the annual jack-o-lantern cookies homemade by Grannie too... we look forward to those every year. Keep 'em coming Grannie!

Ryder dressed up as Paul Bunyan, our little lumberjack. I wanted a costume that didn't feel like a costume to him (so he'd actually wear it), and I think we hit the mark with this one.

And B-boy was his trusty sidekick, Babe the blue ox. I was surprised at how many people had no idea who Babe was. I thought it was a part of every American's childhood folktales, but I was mistaken. Well, for those of you lacking knowledge of this famous story you can check it out here.

And here they are, my wild little men.

We hit up the downtown "safe trick-or-treat" with the Binghams this year, and I must say that even Dusty had a good time. It was nice to start at 5, be done by 6, and be home passing out candy by 6:30. And it was so cute to see all the kids running around the streets in costume. Here's Ryder and cousin Owen romping through downtown hitting up the candy stops. I mean, really, they're just too cute!

After the third round of candy he was done... he ended up sitting next to Baby Lauren in her stroller (you can see her, the little soft serve ice cream cone, in the background) for the remainder of the evening... but I think he still somewhat enjoyed himself.

We let Bentley loose for a little too, and he was lovin' life! His horns and his tail were the extent of his costume, but he looked so darn adorable wobbling around on the pavement.

Go Babe, go!

B is 1!

2011-10-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our little Bentley turned one on Tuesday, and we celebrated last weekend with a birthday bash at the park. He was mellow, as usual, and enjoyed his friends and family.

I think he liked his cake... he didn't really get too excited or too freaked out, so I guess that's a good thing. At least he didn't end the meal in tears.

He really enjoyed his shirtless, post-lunch stroll. He's got the cutest chub!

And of course, he enjoyed the paper and ribbons and boxes more than the actual presents themselves.

We all had a pretty great time... Happy Birthday, Bbotz!

Dusty took Tuesday off (which is huge since he's been working weekends for months now), so we had a whole day together as a fam. We went on a drive, got milkshakes at In-N-Out, and played at the park. B is already becoming an independent little man, and we're so happy to have him in our family!

Oh, and we can't forget about our favorite big brother!

Well I Feel Sheepish!

2011-10-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

I've been going going going all week with the boys being sick and Bentley's first birthday party. I've been a mad woman running around like crazy, and I just know I'm forgetting at least half of my to-do list. But I didn't realize how badly I just needed to relax until I had a rather awkward moment at the grocery store.
I typically organize my purse and pull out my phone and car keys while the bagger is packing up my purchase. Today, there was a handsome middle-aged man ringing me up and a cute college-aged boy bagging for me, and we were having the usual courtesy conversation. I pulled my keys out of my purse as we were finishing up, but it wasn't until 10 seconds later that I realized I had pulled out a tampon from the bottom of my bag. I know they noticed, though they didn't say anything about it. How could they not notice? My tampon strapped hand was waving in both their faces while we chatted about my 10 cent gas rewards and whether or not I found everything I was looking for (too bad they don't ask if I want paper or plastic anymore, because I'd really love paper bags). When I noticed what I had done, I made a quick switch with a roll of my eyes and walked out. I guess once the little bit of embarrassment wore off I got a good laugh out of it, but I'll pay more attention next time I'm in a race to get out of the store.

Little Gymnast

2011-10-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ryder started gymnastics this month. It's the perfect activity for him. He gets to run, and climb, and jump, and be as rambunctious as he wants. Here he is in action... check out those mini muscles!

The wheelbarrow walk on the balance beam is his fave!

Second in Command

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Any younger sibling knows there's lots to learn about making a name for yourself. Living in the shadow of an older brother or sister can be tiresome, frustrating, and just plain unfair. But we're all born with some kind of "issue", and we're all born with the capacity to work through it. As odd as it sounds (dusty never believes me), I remember a lot about my younger years. I'm pretty sure my earliest memory (besides crawling through the birth canal... uhhhh...) was as an 18-month-old stuck in the playpen at a family picnic. I was annoyed and a little anxious (not that I could articulate that at the time)! But most of my memories are feelings and smells, not so much the play-by-play of certain moments. I particularly remember feeling extremely dependent on my older brother and sisters and very well taken care of. But I also remember feeling annoyed at that very same concept, like I could never just be me. Someone else was always needing the attention or beating me to the punch. Someone else was always taking up the wall space with their favorite posters *ahem* and leaving me with a 2'x3' space in the closet to express my individuality (don't worry, I don't hold it against you... this example is for validation purposes only). Perhaps that's why I routinely sat outside the bathroom door while my mom took her "relaxing" baths. I guess I was just waiting for that split second moment when she emerged from the steam to act like me without the input from everyone older and wiser than myself.

So with that highly esteemed and accredited psychological explanation in mind, I feel like I'm opening up a new world to Bentley when he gets me all to himself. When Ryder's at gramma's or taking a nap, B gets to be himself without trying to live up to and against his strong-willed big brother.

He gets to run all over the house without being knocked down or pushed aside.

He gets to talk to me while I give him 100% of my attention.

He gets to get caught being naughty and trying to open the dishwasher.

And he gets to be as sweet as he wants without getting taken advantage of!

Sick Season Is Upon Us

2011-10-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've been up for 12 hours, and it's only 2 in the afternoon. I can't sleep thanks to an overdose of morning joe and an obsession with Lost. Finally, both boys are asleep (I think... I wouldn't know since I turned off the monitor), and I have a moment's peace. I should be napping. I should be showering. I should be doing something else besides sitting here typing up a storm to no one. But sometimes I just can't douse that burnin' flame within that shouts "tell your story for the whole world to hear! If you build it, they will come!" ... or something like that. So here it goes...
Last Thursday when I woke Bbotz up from his nap he was hot and red and all whiney-like. I took his temp (which I now realize I should have done the night before when he felt warm) and it was a whopping 103.4. I've heard that kids can have fevers as high as 107 and not suffer brain damage, but I decided I didn't want to find out if that was true or false. So I called the doctor and got us an appointment... Milestone Marker: Bentley's first ear infection. With the help of some antibiotics the fever was gone by Sunday and Bguy was getting back to normal. That is until he developed this red, bumpy rash all over his body. It came and went and came and went, but he seemed kinda uncomfortable. So by the time Tuesday morning rolled around I figured it was best to head back to Dr. B and check it out. I thought maybe he was allergic to his antibiotics or allergic to the laundry soap, but the Dr. just said it was the end stages of the virus he picked up. She said he was fine and not to worry because he wasn't contagious. Ya, well, too late...
2 a.m. Wednesday morning rolls around and I'm awoken by the sound of running footsteps from across the hall in Ryder's room. The kid didn't even take the time to shut each door behind him (which he does without fail every time he wakes up in the middle of the night). "Mommy, Dusty, Owie! Hurt! Owie! I want Dustyyyyyy!" That's all I heard for the next 7 hours until we could get yet another appointment with Dr. B. "Would you like 9:15, 10:15 or I have a 12:30 available?" I mean seriously! Is that even a question? I've been up since 2 a.m.. I'm already disgruntled by the fact that your office doesn't open until 8:30 in the morning!
Thankfully (if you can look at the bright side) all the childhood drama wasn't for nothing (or I might just have been extremely annoyed that my son kept me up all night), and Ryder's double ear infection was a 6 on the 1-10 scale. So off to the pharmacy again, prescription in hand, with two screaming, hungry, and tired little boys in tow.
Now here I sit, waiting for the fatigue to set in. Just waiting for the faint sound of babies crying out for their Dusty.

Babies and Brides

2011-10-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Dusty's cousin was married last month, and we bombarded the reception with babies!

Dusty is my very own Mr. Mom... he stood in the cousins corner rocking Bentley to sleep.

Ryder was so handsome all dressed up. He became obsessed with his tie for the rest of the week.

B-botz was also quite dapper in his Sunday best, but it was a bit more of a challenge keeping a tie on him... all he wanted to do was rip it off and go running for the cupcakes.

Ryder and his new little buddy wanted some juice, so naturally they went to the stroller to find some kiddie beverages. I don't know about you, but I've never seen juice in a red plastic cup...

Beef Wellington

2011-10-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

photo credit: cupcakeproject.com

I've found my new favorite comfort food... beef wellington; Tyler Florence's Ultimate Beef Wellington to be exact. Shanni gave me his cookbook (Tyler Florence Family Meal) a few weeks back, so as a thanks I whipped up his beef wellington, PWs mashed potatoes, a side of asparagus, and some molten lava cakes. We were able to enjoy an adult evening together along with our hubbies just like the old days. We even ate after 7pm which is huge for me and Dusty since we're usually dining during the senior discount hour. All that to say I love beef wellington. Tyler has a variation of his recipe here on the Food Network site, but the cookbook recipe is a bit different (complete with his recipe for mushroom gravy). Either way, go out and make yourself some delicious beef wellington this Fall season. You'll thank me later!

Ladies and Bentz

2011-10-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone? A month ago I was lucky enough to take a ladies trip (with the exception of Bentley) to Victoria, B.C. My oldest sister, Suzanne, treated me, my mom, and my sister to a few days in beautiful Canada. Since it's out of the country (which you tend to forget being that they speak perfect American English minus an "eh" or two), we had to invest in a passport for Bentley... too funny!

This was the view from our Penthouse suite... Auntie Soozie travels in style!

Bentley and I watched the 6am crew practice from our balcony... so relaxing.

You've got to check this place out on Yelp (be sure to read the filtered reviews), and you'll understand this picture.

Bentley was the easiest person I've traveled with, and that's saying a lot for a 10 month old. He was a happy guy in his stroller all day long while he just smiled, ate, and slept.

Finally, a picture with me and my baby!

Kissing cousins? It will be cute for a few more years.

Hallie B. just had to take a photo... traveling alone with a baby requires you to pull out every trick in the book. especially when you're traveling via seaplane and you're only allowed one carry-on...

FYI... seaplanes might just be the scariest way to fly. Turbulence is a literal nightmare in these tiny floaters (I was sure we would fly straight into the Space Needle at one point), but the views are unbeatable.

Fish Bowl for two, eh?!

The famous Empress Hotel.

Hello Seattle!

Thanks, Auntie Soozie, for an awesome trip!

Baby Baer

2011-09-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for this day for quite some time. My Beans is having a baby bean! At 33 weeks she's hiding it pretty well. I couldn't even fit through a standard doorway at that point in my pregnancy. Some people are just blessed with beautiful pregnant bodies! You go Beans!

I was happy to co-host a girly shower for Mama Baer, and I'm so looking forward to meeting this sweet baby!

This photo is so us... me, with a wicked smile on my face, and Emily, easily entertained, holding my plate of food, I'm sure! Love you my sweet and glowing friend!

Bookworm Wednesday!

2011-08-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven...
I had heard all kinds of things about this book before I read it, so I thought I knew what to expect. I had already read the other book about a little boy who claims he had a heavenly experience titled Heaven is for Real, but the two books are vastly different. The boy who came back from heaven was written by Alex's father, Kevin Malarkey. Alex and Kevin were in a car accident leaving Alex in a wheelchair but giving him an extreme sensitivity to the spiritual world. It tells of the accident and how everyone believed Alex was dead. Gradually, as his friends and family prayed he got better and began telling people about his experiences in heaven with God and the angels. While it's incredibly inspiring and hopeful for our eternal lives, I have to warn that it gets somewhat heavy when Alex describes the taunting he receives from demons and even satan himself. The evil doesn't overshadow the good in any way, but it can be a bit intense. But how good can good be if there's no bad, right?
If you're interested in the afterlife or just curious about other people's experiences with God and heaven then you should read it. It is a New York Time's Bestseller after all!

He's walking!

2011-08-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

I often wonder what Mary thought when Jesus walked on water. As parents of babies know, those first steps are fantastic and sad at the same time, because it means our children are growing up never to be snuggly babies again. I can't even imagine 30ish years down the road hearing that one of my children walked on water. I think I would probably feel the same feelings I feel now with a side of "Holy Cow"! "Holy Cow"... well that's a little ironic... anyways, Bentley took his first steps just a few days before he turned 10 months. Check him out in action!

Water Babies

2011-08-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

Ryder's buddy, Westin, came over for a playdate a few days ago. They're only a couple of weeks apart, and they are at the cutest age right now. They interact like little men, laughing and talking and fighting and roughhousing. They entertained each other in the wading pool all morning...

acting goofy and splashing at each other...

and snacking on their goldfish. They're just so darn sweet!

That evening when Dusty came home, he joined both Bentley and Ryder for a dip. Ryder is always a little bit of a maniac, but for a few minutes there, Bentley was the wild one! There must have been something in that water!

He looked tranquil when he first got in...

and then the raging began!

I think Ryder was more than thrilled to see his baby brother causing a ruckus!

Oh man, I could just eat him up!

Baby War Games

2011-08-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

One of Bentley's new favorite activities is to stand up and wave around his toy sword like he's gonna getcha! I don't know where he learned his skills, but it's hilarious!

His pre-battle face boasts his past triumphs!

Ryder was a little confused and a little annoyed that it wasn't him I was laughing at!

On-guard...

HaYah!

Victory is exhausting.

No wonder my boys gave me high blood pressure in utero!

2011-08-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Nothing ever calms down around these parts. With yet another emergency trip to the Dr. for little Ryder and a black eye for Bentley we barely have time to breathe!
Last week, Ryder was playing happily in the family room minding his own business when he slipped on a toy and fell chin first onto our end table! Ouch! I walked over to him (I don't run anymore since I've gotten pretty used to his falls) and picked him up to check out the damage. I expected a gushing, bloody mess along with a frantic, hysterical little boy. But, praise Jesus, to my surprise the bleeding was minimal, and Ryder calmed down fairly quickly. I still had to get him to the Dr. right away to "stitch" up the 1-inch gash under his chin, but Ryder was ver cooperative and even mature about the whole ordeal. He sat on the couch with his blankie putting pressure on his wound with a wet rag so I could get my shoes on and grab everything to head out the door to the docs. He did it just as I instructed and didn't even whine. By the time we made it to Dr. Bezecny's the bleeding had stopped and Ryder was already back to his old self. He got a little fidgety when the nurse had to peek at the gash and clean it up, and I'll admit he screamed like a mad man when they put the steri-strips on it (it wasn't deep enough for stitches). But he did really well for a feisty 2 year old. The drama was over almost as quickly as it began!
And just a few days later, poor baby Bentley fell face first out of an infant swing (there's a reason they say not to use it after your baby becomes mobile). Dusty was watching him, but he hadn't strapped him in. It all happened so fast, but the fall left Bentley with a bloodshot, puffy eye. It wasn't as black and blue as I thought it would become, but it was still so sad. His first black eye and all he was trying to do was sleep.
Boys will be boys I guess. I'm surely in for it!

Bookwork Wednesday!

2011-08-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

Misconception.... the other side to the story. You may remember the book I wrote about a while back called Inconceivable. You can reread the post here. Well I finally located the "other" book at my library (because I just can't spend the money on books anymore), and I finished it in 2 days. It was an easy read and much more uplifting than it's counterpart. It was written by the couple who were the biological parents to the baby who was originally implanted into another woman's body. I didn't walk away from it feeling happy, but I also didn't walk away feeling bitter and deeply depressed. I love the idea of being able to hear both sides of the story so that I can formulate my own opinion on the matter (not that anyone cares). But if you're interested in the whole in vitro thing or just looking for a different kind of book then I'd recommend this one. The author sites some good sources and brings up some key points in choosing drastic fertility options. I doubt if very many people will ever have to face these circumstances in their lifetime, but it is still a great eye-opening, cautionary tale. If there's one thing I took from it it's to remember to be thankful for all the many blessings I'm given on a daily basis.

Here come the monkeys!

2011-08-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

With each new grandkid that enters the clan it takes more and more effort getting everyone together for a Sullivan family playdate. So a couple of weeks ago we were fortunate enough to spend a wild day at the Oakland Zoo courtesy of my parents.

Ryder was on the loose most of the day enjoying everything he could get his hands on.

Even Bentley got his chance to crawl around like one of the animals.

And amidst the chaos these two just had to have a quiet moment together.

...Ryder and his BFF Finn...

They call him the baby whisperer!

We even got to sneak away and take a ride on the carousel... how I wish I was a kid again!

Star Studded Stool

2011-08-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Each day gets more interesting than the last. It's been an exhausting last couple of weeks with all the things life has brought lately, but thank God for stickers in poop! Let's rewind...
Ryder is still on the long road to potty training success. I've been trying to find new ways to coerce him into using the potty for number one and number two (the latter has been our major obstacle these days). We started a sticker chart where he gets a treat if he gets 10 stickers i.e. has ten days of no pee accidents. So I riffled through my old scrapbook stash and picked out some neon star stickers to use for the chart. Of course within the hour the stickers went missing, and I started to find little neon crumples of sticky paper everywhere... on the bottom of my feet, on the back of Ryder's shorts, on the toilet seat... and today in Bentley's dirty diaper. Not just one but four neon stars flashed back at me beneath the foul smelling mess. Ick! At least I know where they've all gone to!

D-d-d-d-dance

2011-08-05T07:36:00.001-07:00

You know you have a hug impact on your kid when...

2011-07-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

He comes up to you, grabs your chin with the tips of his fingers whipping your head around and says, "Look at me!"

He spills his water, runs to grab his pajama shirt lying on the floor and starts to mop up the puddle without saying a word.

You have to continually tell him to stop saying "Oh my God!"

You ask him to pray before dinner and he bows his head, shuts his eyes, folds his hands and prays, "Dear Jesus, thank you. Amen."

Grilled Corn & Radish Salad

2011-07-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

I had a hankering for radishes yesterday. Don't ask me why. I don't have an answer for you. But I threw together this most delicious "salad" to go alongside my enchiladas with my favorite homemade sauce. This side dish was super simple and oh so yummy. I mean just look at it!

You can eat is all by yourself as an entire meal if you want.

Or you can eat it with cerveza. Yes, that is a tall can. Yes, it was mine. Dusty is on a diet.

It really only takes a handful of ingredients...
2 cups of corn kernels or 6 ears of corn (I used 5 because one went bad)
6 radishes halved and thinly sliced
1 jalapeno diced
juice of 1 lime
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Taco seasoning or the like (to taste)

I grilled my corn after seasoning it with taco seasoning, but you can just use plain old corn. Throw all the ingredients into a bowl and toss together. You can serve it room temp or chilled, but either way it will be delicious. I swear it!

We're going streaking!

2011-07-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

Bath-time is chaos.

Always.

It never ends.

Every time we get our boys bathed and smelling fresh we end up chasing them around the upstairs for a good thirty minutes trying to clothe their naked bodies. If only they didn't love to be bare so much we might be able to cut back on the pee puddles. At least they're not ashamed of what God gave them. Amen to that!

Ryder. So Intrigued.

Bentley. Happy-go-lucky.

He's so darn cute I just want to bite his cheeks!

Speaking Ryderese on and on and on and...

Sometimes I get a kick out of me!

2011-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago God gave me a moment that only He can give. If you know Him then you know what I mean. I was lying in bed during one of my usual midnight snacking sessions, and I was enjoying my buttered toast after a long days work on the homestead. I was nearly finished with my snack when I put it out in front of me just to stare at it before it was gone forever (yes, I often study my food just to enjoy it all the more). I almost busted a lung from laughing so hard. This is what I saw...

A Scottie Dog.

Are you kidding me?!

No, I didn't do it on purpose as some have suggested. It plain and simply was an act of God, minor in the eyes of the apostles perhaps, but fantastic in the eyes of me! I still smile and chuckle every time I see this photo.

I just had to share. Now go enjoy the remainder of your weekend.

Girl Can Grill!

2011-07-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

I've always felt like grilling is a man's event. You hear about these manly competitions where these groups of guys challenge each other to settle the debate on who's the #1 grill-master. I mean when do you ever see women tending to the bbq? Dusty is always the one to fire up the grill out back when we're feeling like barbecuing, until recently...
The power went out in half of our little town a few weeks ago. Everything was shut down, except of course the downtown strip with all the restaurants... government conspiracy much? ("Theory!" name that movie!) It was hotter than it had been all year long with temps pushing 100, but a girls gotta eat no matter how sweaty or stir-crazy she is, especially a girl who's in charge of producing food for an infant, if you know what I mean (nudge nudge). So with our electric range out of commission and our microwave on the fritz (it doesn't work for longer than 2minutes even when the power's turned on) I had to figure out a way to cook my meat. I considered the boy scout method using foil and a magnifying glass, Lord knows it was hot enough, but we don't own a magnifying glass. So I opted for the grill instead. And of course, as luck would have it, Dusty called to say he'd be late. I was on my own.
So with a toddler on my heels and an infant at my breast (oh you better believe it) I grilled the twizzle-sticks out of my chicken that night. And once you grill it black, you never go back!
It's my new favorite cooking method, and I finally have the courage to man the grill on my own! I'm practicing here and there, and slowly but surely I'm attempting pro status. Last night I cooked up chicken and veggie kabobs while talking on the phone, holding a baby, and dancing the toddler 2-step from the kitchen to the patio. When all was said and done, Dusty came home to perfectly cooked chicken and veggies! Eat your heart out Bobby Flay!

Green Grilled Cheese

2011-07-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

We all know how picky toddlers can be, and if you have one of your own then you know how hard it can be to come up with new foods that are healthy and delicious enough for your toddler to devour. Well, today I was on a mission to do just that, and I think we have a major success! Thanks to Ryder's enjoyment of the meal here we have a somewhat unappetizing photo of the Green Grilled Cheese itself. At least we can say he ate something green this week!

Here's my recipe (adapted from Giada)

1/4 cup salted butter, room temp

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

1 cup shredded monterey jack

(you could use pepper-jack if your kid likes the zing)

a dash of salt

a few drizzles of olive oil

1 1/2 cups of chopped baby spinach

Sliced sourdough bread

Throw the butter, cheeses, salt, and oil into the food processor and mix until it because fairly spreadable. You can add more oil if you like. Then add the spinach and process until combined. Spread the now green cheese onto some sourdough, and cook it on your heated panini maker or frying pan. Ta-da! You have yourself a green grilled cheese!

Giada makes hers with pancetta which I think is fantastic. But I didn't have any so I added some of gma Suzie's lunchmeat to the sandwich. You can leave out meat all together and the grilled cheese is still very scrumptious. I can almost guarantee Bentley would have loved it if he was able to eat solid food of this proportion. Sadly, he's stuck with disintegrating cereal and pureed veggies for now.

Bookwork Wednesday!

2011-07-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman, and compared to the last book I read it was incredibly refreshing! Mary Beth Chapman is married to Steven Curtis Chapman (the Cristian singer/songwriter), and they adopted 3 little girls from China, one of which was killed in an accident in their driveway. So naturally I thought the book would be about the incident. While it did involve the tragedy, it had so much more to it that made it a rich read. She talks about everything from her dating years with Steven Curtis Chapman to her current predicament of learning to live and heal after the loss of a child. The book isn't one of those wordy, intellectual reads, and it certainly doesn't make you feel all that self-righteous business that some Christian writings tend to give off. It was both sad and hopeful at the same time... it was real and true, and for me, that makes a great book.

Certified Scrumptious!

2011-07-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

I've been trying out new recipes left and right. Here are two easy and delicious recipes for any night of the week... except maybe if you have a vegetarian in your midst. Well, whatever, I think they're delicious, and I bet your little vegetarian would too! Or not...

Cowboy Calzone: I used the recipe in the PW cookbook, but I couldn't find it on her website. I did, however, find it on someone else's blog. This is the photo from the blog, but mine were prettier :) PW makes fantastic doughs for sure! Click here for the recipe.

And then I made Penne alla Betsy, also from PWs cookbook. This recipe was on her website... so yummy and comforting! And a nice way to get seafood into your diet.

Crafty Me

2011-07-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

Dusty and I have been saving wine corks since we got married. Our first year of marital bliss consisted of gourmet evening meals with a bottle of vino 7 days a week (and I'm not just talking Charles Shaw). Then real life set in and we decided that our bank account and our belly fat needed some major improvements. So the first thing we cut back on was our beloved drink. But we somehow managed to make room in our budget for at least a few bottles a month.
After the fire a couple of years ago I stopped saving most of the corks. While they looked fun sitting in the glass bucket above the wine tower, I was annoyed that I had nothing to do with them. I decided I was too practical to just keep hanging onto things I had no real need for. So on top of the many bags and boxes of smoke damaged items that went straight to the dump I threw in an extra couple hundred pounds of decent belongings just because. Anyways, all that to say we still had corks but not nearly as many as we might have if we would have kept EVERY single one.
So I was feeling extra craft today, especially for a Monday, and I spotted my cork selection in the dining room. After lots of googling I copied the idea to make a giant monogram out of our corks. I knew I didn't want a trivet, a cork board, or a bath mat, so this was the one thing I settled on. And I am happy to say I feel good about my work. I turned this....

into this....

Viola! My very own "arts and corks" project. And it only took 30 minutes or less! A bunch of old wine corks, some hot glue, and an eye for perfect placement, and you've got yourself a real winner.

Fear the B!

2011-07-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

I've been begging Dusty to take me to a Giants game this summer, and we finally got us some tickets! We sat 6 rows up from 3rd base, and we were nearly knocked out by a loose ball from the bullpen thanks to Mr. Fear the Beard himself. Bentley tagged along for the excitement at his first big league ball game. He joined in on the cheering and jeering and made some friends in row 7.

He was fixated on the jumbo-tron.

7th inning stretch!

Sadly the Padres scored...

...but the Giants won in the end! Go Giants!

I'm in love!

2011-07-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I didn't know about this sooner. This is the most exciting thing I've experienced since Bentley gave me his first smile!

pinterest.com

It's a social network of sorts for the crafty at heart.

For the cooks and bakers.

For the Fashionistas.

For the soon-to-be wed.

For anyone looking for a little inspiration.

Seriously, you must march your little fingers over to the P-I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-.-C-O-M keys on your keyboard and check this site out right this minute! You can create virtual pinboards of all your favorite things and browse other peoples interests as well. Really and truly I am in love!

You have to request an invitation, and they'll email you within a day or so to confirm. But in the mean time you can peruse your heart out through pinboards of art & architecture, science & nature, fashion, design, and other topics of interest, all at pinterest.com. For more information and to join my new favorite network click here. You won't regret it!

Little Patriot

2011-07-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

I just had to share photos of our littlest man enjoying his 4th. Auntie Amber captured these with her iphone. B-guy was the only kid with a front row seat to Opa's fireworks display who didn't scream and cry from the sound of the Screaming Banshees. In fact, he was more than happy to sit and watch the Rocketman and the TNT Jack Pot do their happy dance. He just smiled and giggled the whole time.

Our 4th

2011-07-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

We had a wild, wonderful, and winning weekend celebrating the birth of our nation. I typically find myself underwhelmed every summer when July 5th rolls around. It's about the time I begin humming Silent Night around the house as I subconsciously yearn for the holidays to roll around. I suppose it's because every year I get amped up for some fantastic fireworks celebration with a all-American hot dog and hamburger cookout with a berry pie thrown my way (oh wait, that only happens to a pregnant girl and her sister-in-law on the lawn at a country music concert... a story for another time). I usually wake up the next day and look back at the lackluster events with disappointment and regret (ok, maybe that's an overstatement but you catch my drift). But this year I decided to drag everyone along on a weekend filled to the brim with nonstop action. And so it began...

It's to be expected with a toddler and an 8-month old that chaos will come at the most inappropriate and inconvenient time. But it can also come at the very best and most probable time. Enter Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey. Surrounded by children of all ages and parents who have it together and of course those who don't (hand raised), we began our meltdowns. But we got some fun out of it too...

My in-laws joined us (it is their home we were staying at after all) for part of our weekend, and they brought along their somewhat sweet and mostly playful dog, Mr. Bingley. Not to be confused with the second in line to the throne, Bentley. Don't worry, we all do it... "Bingley, I mean Bentley... oops..."

We let Ryder take the reigns, and try his hand at dog training.

Not such a great idea as you can see.

But now we know how to keep both the dog and the toddler entertained.

Sunday we headed north for a party at Opa and Mada's house in Saratoga. Bentley hung out with Macoy in the playpen aka lifesaver!

And Ryder learned some new skills... surfing and playing peacefully in a cage!

Morgan Hill really knows how to throw a celebration! On Monday, the 4th, we trekked to downtown with thousands of other patriots to cheer on the Independence Day Parade.

Bentley, as always, enjoyed people watching and lounging in the arms of anyone with the credentials to cuddle.

Blaine was a good sport carrying Ryder to and fro. I suppose this is how he gets his kid fix since Miss Shanni won't cave on the subject... yet. I'm working on her.

We hope to participate on board the Gold's Gym float in 2012... we have some work to do.

We met up with my brother and the fam, and Ryder was a happy camper when he saw Colie. He's the best hugger and pat-patter I know!

And to make the traditions complete, we hit up the big fireworks show in town. I've never seen the place more crowded with block after block of entire families setting up camp in the back of their trucks and along the side of the road. Everywhere we looked from Main Street to San Martin the parking spaces were filled and the police were directing traffic. The McIntires were thoughtful enough to save us a spot for perfect kid-friendly viewing of the bombs bursting in air. Ryder and Cheyenne had a field day running off together into the crowd. Lucky for us Ryder wasn't a fan of the fireworks and cried in Dusty's arms the whole time. At least he was easy to contain.

Needless to say, I woke up on July 5th feeling good! Happy 4th of July!

Bookwork Wednesday!

2011-07-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

Calling all cheapskates! I've found the book for you! No need to rush to the library or rustle through the after-hours Goodwill donations pile. Gosple for Asia is giving away a free book, No Longer A Slumdog. I just received mine in the mail a few days ago. I have yet to pick it up and read it, but the cover is cute! I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover. But even if it was ugly, the idea behind the book is an excellent one.

The author writes about the children of South Asia and the hope that God brings to them. At least that's what the website says. I'm pretty sure it's one of those things that organizations do to tug on our heartstrings and cajole us to support the needy in one way or another. But shouldn't we be doing that anyways? I'll let you know what I think after I've read it, but for now click the link below. It will take you directly to the information page so you can order your free book (shipping is free too) and read more about the author's mission. Be sure to check out the photo gallery if you have a minute. I especially adore Prajakta's letter.

http://www.gfa.org/book-c/

Bookwork Wednesday!

2011-06-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished this book in 3 days. I always like a real-life story, and this one fit the bill. You may have seen this couple on TV or in magazines. They were the couple that struggled with infertility and ended up pregnant with someone else's baby. You have to read the book to decipher all the details, because I will say it's a little confusing especially if you don't know much about getting pregnant.
Inconceivable by Carolyn and Sean Savage explains the medical mistake that landed these two families in this predicament, and it goes through the journey from the perspective of the Savage family (the couple who got pregnant with the wrong embryo). While the story itself is so very interesting, I would have to say that they jumped the gun on writing this book. I am not quite sure that their purpose of writing the book was relayed appropriately. I felt like their words were coated in bitterness and anger, and even by the end I didn't feel like they were changed for the better because of it. I expected to be taken aback by the awful truth of it all (which I was), but I also expected some reconciliation and redemption at the end (which I didn't get). I got the impression that no healing had taken place for this family at the time of their writing. So I guess that left me depressed and angry as well. But it was a good, emotional read no less, and you can't help but feel the grief and pain that this family experienced and continues to experience. If you're up for a roller-coaster ride of reality then get in line. If you're already on the verge of complete insanity, please, do us all a favor and stay away.

Of course there are always 2 sides to each story. I have yet to pick up the other book about this experience, written by the couple whose baby was the result of all this. I'll head right out and get it once my library has it on their shelves, and I'll let you in on the other half of the journey.

Bookwork Wednesday (double feature)

2011-06-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

I realize I failed last week at getting my book recommendation out there, but you'll have to cut me some slack (because I know you are ALL just dying to hear what I have to say). We had another emergency room visit (that's two visits only one week apart), and I was just too frazzled to think clearly. Anyways, to make it up to myself I'll post two of my favorite books today. They can go hand in hand if you please.

...Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by the famous Ina May Gaskin and Taking Charge of Your Fertility by the most intelligent Toni Weschler...

If you aren't of childbearing age or you're of the male gene-pool, don't fret. Even you can experience some excitement and schooling from these books. They are by far the most informative and eye-opening pages I have ever read on childbirth, birth control, and the natural God-given cycles of women. Laugh if you must, I know I did, but give it a go either way. I felt like a scholar of the reproductive system and of motherhood after finishing these two. If you are pregnant or hope to one day become pregnant, these are a must! I won't go into detail about these books, but I will say that the information they contain is priceless.

For more on Ina May Gaskin visit http://www.inamay.com/

For more on Toni Weschler visit http://www.tcoyf.com/

CAUTION: Ryder is Turning 2!

2011-06-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ryder's Manly Construction Party was a hit! And lucky for me we saved a ton on decorations since Dusty just pulled some extra stuff off his jobs. I did my best to make our home look like it was under construction (duh), and I'm pretty sure we got the point across!

Each kid got their own tool belt (or apron in this case) with a blow-up hammer, stickers, mini tool keychain, toy truck, and pop rocks candy!

And everyone had a personalized hard hat, of course!

We made an orange cone cake that sat on top of a pile of dirt (in case you can't tell).

Dusty's old blueprints made for great tablecloths.

Ryder didn't really get it that it was HIS birthday, but he had fun wearing his tool belt and running around with all his cousins.

Dusty did very well in his element, explaining structures and building code. And he looked so handsome in his hard hat!

I was just glad I had the perfect opportunity to wear my pink hard hat!

Presents were fun for Ryder this year since he actually knew how to open them by himself. He has become such a big boy!

This photo really captures the spirit of my mischievous 2 year old! CUIDADO!

And when it came time to cut the cake, Ryder was excited at first...

... until he realized that everyone was singing to HIM! Suddenly cake wasn't so important.

But we got past that, and we were all able to enjoy the cake and the "taco truck" lunch!

We were so thankful to be able to share Ryder's birthday with all of our family. Lord knows we could not have survived the last 2 years without them!

Gotta love my 2 year old!

Photo Fiasco

2011-06-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

Ryder turned 2 in April, and we threw him a little family party. I never got a chance to share it with you because my "wonderful" camera somehow corrupted my memory card just as I was trying to upload the photos. Of course this is not the first time this whole photo fiasco has happened to me. I lost all my photos back in March when we went to Texas to visit Dusty's side of the family. Well, anyways, after numerous google searches, hours (ok maybe one hour) of reading software reviews, and the purchase of a memory card reader, I found my solution! Thanks to free data recovery software, I was able to get my photos off of my corrupted memory card! yay! Of course, the free part just means I was able to download the software and catch a preview of what went missing. I had to pay the big bucks if I wanted to actually retrieve the photos and save them to my computer. Thankfully for me and my frugality I settled for a screenshot of each preview. The quality isn't great if you enlarge the photo, but they will do for now. Here's a glimpse of the fun we had!

My children did the most amazing thing the other day...

2011-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

...they played quietly, together for 15 whole minutes. 15 whole minutes that I didn't hear a scream, a cry, or a growl. 15 whole minutes where no one fell head first onto the ground and no one slipped in a puddle of pee. 15 whole minutes that I didn't even take advantage of by doing all things "me", because I was so intrigued by the site I couldn't take my eyes off of them. I never thought 15 minutes was more than dish duty or bath-time, but now I know differently. Thank God for 15 whole minutes of peace!

Who knew you could glue a kid back together?!

2011-06-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well, we had our first major boo-boo with Ryder on Tuesday. It wasn't actually as bad as some of the things we've been through with him, but it was the first time we ended up in the ER. Here he is the morning after looking like he just kicked butt in a bar fight.

Well, here's the backstory...

Ryder was hanging out at grandma's making his usual social rounds. I guess they were wading on the first step of the pool and Ryder slipped and hit his face on the corner of the pool. I don't really know the details, I just know I wasn't too surprised. He's a rowdy toddler, and the kid never ceases to ooze blood!

So Dusty left work to pick him up, and he took him over to Urgent Care hoping for a smaller copay (phew! only $10). According to Dusty the experience was very traumatic. They had to put a straight jacket on Ryder and tie him down so they could glue the wound shut (at least we didn't have to do stitches). I guess Ryder kept wiggling free, and the Drs. were amazed at his strength (surprise, surprise). Somewhere amidst the tears and thrashing Ryder grabbed a hold of the Drs. shirt pocket and yanked him closer. Dusty said it was like watching the beginnings of a brawl... Ryder just held the Dr. face to face and yelled at him in his famous gibberish. Oh how I wish I could have seen that. Finally it was over and Dusty loaded up the car to head back home... oh wait... the nurse ran outside to catch them before they left. "Sir, you have to come back in... we forgot to take his vitals. Sorry..."

The kid was at the end of his rope... they had to use his foot to take his pulse since his fingers were too small. While they were trying to take off his shoes he was kicking and squirming and he flung his shoes right at the nurse. He wouldn't stand on the scale or sit still for his temp to be taken, and apparently the staff was a little freaked out. (They must have pediatric confused with geriatric)

Anyways, it all ended with a McDonald's Happy Meal, and a sweet little black eye. Thankfully he's all boy, and one day he'll look back at this and think it's all so cool!

Bookworm Wednesday!

2011-06-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

I love when a book is written from a true story. Even when it isn't, I'd like the author to just tell me it is. That always seems to make it so much better. It's really too bad there's such a thing as credibility...

Anyways, here it is... my top pick this week. I finished it in 3 days.

Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronal Cotton

Another short read. Not so appropriate for the youngins, but really quite addicting for the old people. It involves a rape case from the early 80s, and the victim picks the wrong man. It's not incredibly graphic, although you get a very clear picture of what happened to both of them. But there is a strong message of forgiveness and hope that is really quite moving. It made me think seriously about our justice system and human life. Now if only I could get on a jury for a case like that...

Balboa Park

2011-06-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

While we were in San Diego last weekend we met some of Dusty's old college friends at Balboa Park. Ryan and his wife Ericka just had a sweet baby girl who sat peacefully in her Bumbleride all afternoon - unlike my little tikes who threw PB&J, cried from heat exhaustion, and just plain ran a muck! Boys... gotta love 'em.
I wanted to do something fun for Ryder since we denied him the SD Zoo, so we sent all the boys off on the mini-railroad. Ryan took charge of Bentley, and Ryder sat in Dusty's lap. It only lasted 3 1/2 minutes, but I think they enjoyed themselves... especially the older boys.

Bookworm Wednesday!

2011-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

I've decided that Wednesdays will be the days I gush over the newest books I've been sucked into. I was never much of a reader as a kid, and I don't think I ever finished a single book throughout high school or college. Then all of a sudden when literature wasn't being shoved down my throat, I started to get these random, intense desires for a good read. I don't have a clue why that happened, but I'm glad it did. I reintroduced myself to the library (I especially loved the DVD selection and the books on CD), and I bookmarked amazon and barnes and noble on my computer. Anyways, to sum it all up, I try my best to read often and read well - as in I want well-written books that challenge my soul, my mind, and my ambitions. So, for the first ever Bookwork Wednesday I'd like to recommend this to all 11 readers...

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.

It's a quick read, which I love. It is kinda sad but joyful at the same time, and it makes you want to believe in heaven. Personally, I do believe in heaven, and to hear this story gets me excited for what lies ahead. Even if you don't agree with what they preach in the book (though I think you'll find it's not preachy at all) you can't help but enjoy the hope and joy that comes to the family. It's appropriate for all ages, and ultimately it has an uplifting message. I don't wanna give away too many details, so just go read it. We can chat about it later!

Milestones

2011-05-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ryder is 25 months, and Bentley is 7 months. Ryder is still my lovable wild child, and Bentley is still my huggable sweetie pie. Ryder is in the early stages of potty training, and Bentley is in the early stages of crawling. My baby boys are becoming men! Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit. Maybe I still have a few years before they sprout chest hair and stink up their rooms with their sweaty football gear. I will appreciate the cries of frustration and the pee-pee on the floor for now.

Crawl baby crawl!

He does these funny baby push ups, and it kills me every time!

and Mr. Nakey ran into the shot... potty training is a blast!

Oh I just wanna squeeze him!

Ryder did great on day 2 of the potty training boot camp. Thank God for Reese's Pieces!

Sandy-eggo

2011-05-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

I used to nanny for these 3 little boys. The youngest two were twins, and they thought San Diego was "sandy eggo" like a dirty waffle. It was cute, and quite frankly it makes complete sense. Well, here I am now, with my two boys, enjoying the so-cal sunshine. We spent yesterday morning at South Mission and enjoyed every minute of it, despite the sticky sand I'm finding on my keypad this very second.

Our day was filled with smiles....

...frowns...

...cravings...

... and sunglass tans!!

Ryder busts out in song

2011-05-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

I've been slacking lately when it comes to taking photos of my kids. And videos only happen in front of the computer when i accidentally open Photo Booth. And tonight that is exactly what happened... enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Little Bit!

2011-04-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

I remember when Ryder was first born, and he was just the tiniest thing I've ever seen. It's probably because I was used to seeing my sister birth these almost 10 pound babies, and Ryder came home at 5 lbs. 12 oz.... but he was also the sweetest thing I've ever seen. I don't recall where we were, but a rather large yet warm and welcoming black woman came up along side of us and said "Well, isn't he the cutest! He's just a little bit. Ya yuh are, you lil' bit. Lil' bit, I like that. You should call him lil bit." Then she walked away and that was that.

That name never caught on with anyone except myself, but it's still fitting to this day. Yesterday was Ryder's 2nd birthday. I cannot believe my little bit is already two! He's still a tiny little guy, but he's the most handsome, most lovable, rowdiest, funniest, and most stubborn little boy I know. And I love him for all of those things he brings into out life. He keeps us learning and growing and always surprised at what he'll come up with next.

Ryder Tremane, happy birthday, my darling, daring, dashing little bit of a boy!

He got a shiney new harmonica, and he couldn't get enough.

Since I've been sick with this awful throat infection (Lord only knows what it really is) we did the drive thru at McDonald's... what 2 year old doesn't love fries?!

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you...

Happy birthday dear Ryder...

Happy birthday to you!

Cupcakes compliments of Lulu's cupcakes in Morgan Hill.

Where's the peep?

2011-04-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

As I sit down to write, I just realized this is the first Easter since I can remember that there wasn't a peep in sight! I'm a little appalled that no one, not even me, put a peep in a basket. But even with the missing peeps, we had a glorious Easter celebration! I started off the weekend with a private viewing of Passion of the Christ. Really it was just me with Dusty asleep next to me, but it was just the thing to put my whole weekend into perspective. It's about the cross, not the peeps!

We were able to spend Easter Sunday with both fams this year. We did a yummy brunch and my sisters house with all the kids and even great grandma Rangie (sorry Chris, we missed you)! Our boys got a nap at home and then we finished the night at great grandma Susie's with the whole Furtado family. Of course I ended up with a sore throat midday and overdosed on benadryl, so I only captured the first half of the day on film. I really shouldn't be the only one with a camera around my neck!

Bentley was a handsome little Monaco baby in his Easter getup.

Counsin Owen played very nice this holiday, and looked incredibly handsome too!

Only a real man can pull off pink (or salmon)... way to go Macoy!

We gave it our best for this years photo shoot... at least no one was trying to run away!

And the Furtados... quite possibly the only picture I'm in!

The hunt is on! But Ryder cares more about cars than chocolate I guess.

Cousin Colie shoveling for eggs!

Grannie and Papa's dark chocolate Easter bunnies were a hit...

and a mess!

AJ and Baby Lauren looking sweet and springy!

My favorite recipes... this week

2011-04-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

I've been ridiculous in the kitchen these days. I am nonstop baking, cooking, and distilling, so much that I've had to throw out lots of leftovers. I feel like I should open up a soup kitchen, but I'm not sure my home would be zoned appropriately. Anyways, amidst all of my experimenting, I've come across lots of delicious treats lately that I just have to share with the world. So take a gander through the world wide webs finest recipes, and try some for yourself!

http://noblepig.com/2010/03/28/buffalo-chicken-macoroni-and-cheese.aspx

http://noblepig.com/2010/08/28/gnocchi-mac-n-cheese.aspx

http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/08/tiramisu-cupcakes.html

Mac, Little Lauren, Bentz

2011-04-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

And another giggle!

2011-04-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Give yourself a laugh...

2011-04-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Toddler Dictionary

2011-04-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

People
Mama: Mom
Dusty: Dad
Buddu buddu buddu: Brother/Bentley
Opa: Grandpa Furtado
Papa: Granpa Sullivan
Mada: Gradma/Grannie
Ee-eye: Eli, Owen, Finn, Nicole
Sue-see: Auntie Suzy/grandma Susie

Conversation
Da-Doo: Thank You
Peez: Please
Hey: Hi
Buh Bye: Bye
Hepp: Help
Ah don: all done

Ama: Amen/pray

I duh doo: I love you

Weddy?: Ready, set, go

Opeh dis: open this

Ni-ni: night night

No hitting: no hitting

I sawee: I'm sorry

Food
Mot: Milk
Doo: Juice
Wawa: water
Nats: Snack (specifically graham crackers)

Pat-ta: Pasta

Manna: banana

Apuhsuss: applesauce

Butta Butta: peanut butter and jelly sandwhich

Dee dee: chicken

The Body
Booboo: poop
Dee: chin
Eye: eyes
Ew: ears
Mut: mouth
Doe: toes
Het: Head

Ha: Hand (as in wipe my hands off they're dirty)

Things
A A abuhless: Ambulance

B-bus: motorcycle

Bubbus: Bubbles

Meow: kitty

Botty: Blankie/potty/Barney (the purple dinosaur)
B-baw: baseball
Zeep: sheep
Hose: horse
M-moo: cow
Piss: pig
Heddo: phone
Bat: bath
Butday: birthday
Sue: shoe

Entertainment
Yo Dadda: Yo Gabba Gabba (the TV show)
Nuhmus: Thomas (the toy train)
Ni-Hao: Ni Hao Kailan (the TV show)
See-saw: music/sing a song
Wow wow: round and round (referring to the sing "the wheels on the bus")
Eh-bee-see: ABCs (the song)
Zowee: Zoe (from Sesame Street)
Ebbo: Elmo

Be your own Farmer's Market

2011-04-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

I don't have much of a yard, and what I do have is covered in deck. It's great for my boys (mainly Ryder at this point), and it keeps the muddy footprints on my floors to a minimum. But after getting sick of running to the grocery store every time I needed cilantro or tomatoes, I decided to get smart this year. I've planted "crops" before, but not to this extreme (if you can call it an extreme). I went out and bought butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, basil, jalapenos, sweet peppers, green onions, and pumpkins (all seeds or seedlings), and set out to build some planter boxes. I couldn't do it alone, so I enlisted Dusty on a weekend of building and gardening. He loved it of course... he secretly wants to run his own nursery/flower shop one day... shhhhhhh!

I know this isn't one of the great gardening blogs of all time, but I just can't help myself. I really don't have a green thumb, so any accomplishment I make in the soil deserves at least one blog entry!

Anyways, here is a photo of our front entry... it gets prettier every year. I walk up to my front door and felt like Alice in my Wonderland! Ok, maybe it's not that fantastic, but it's still a step up from garden gnomes and overgrown clover bunches!

Here's the planter box Dusty built out back. My lettuce is starting out beautifully, and my rows of seedlings are popping up perfectly! Oh yes, and we'll see how the wisteria does. I couldn't believe how much it bloomed already!

Here's the planter Dusty built in the front with the cherry tomatoes, the heirloom tomatoes, and the jalepeno plants.

Awe, yes, and the first of my three hydrangea plants. We planted this plant when we first moved in, and it made it through the great fire of '08. It's nearly 5 times the size it was just 3 years ago, and it gets prettier and prettier every year!

B-Boy

2011-04-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

It amazes me, the things I buy for my kids. You get married and swear your house will never be overrun by baby gear. Then a sweet little darling enters your front door, and it's "you had me at 'waaaaaahhhhhh'". I like to think I do a pretty good job of keeping my home clutter-free and still adult-like, but there are still those things that you just can't hide. Like an exersaucer for instance: the biggest, ugliest, clunkiest toy you can buy for an infant. But that's the choice you make between a year's worth of insanity or a mini circus invading your living room. I guess I always enjoyed a funny clown... or did I?

At least Bentley seems happy about it... until the mamarazzi invades his space!

Along with the giant toy spaceship, Bentley has fallen in love with food. It's true, he's the youngest foodie I know! He's been a big eater since the start, and I guess I wasn't enough for him anymore. We introduced food, and I've never seen him happier (and believe me, he was born a happy camper). Although the photos don't do it justice, his mood brightens every time we put him in his highchair. He's only just started on rice cereal, but I have a feeling he'll be downing steak and potatoes in no time!

Once again, the mamarazzi ruins the moment!

cousins?

2011-04-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

Babies babies everywhere! It seems like sooo many people are having babies these days. I guess it's just the phase in life we're in. I remember when everyone was getting married! I'm getting so old! Just one of the many new babies in our lives today is Dusty's cousin's baby boy, Mason. So I don't know if that makes him and my boys third cousins or what, but we just like to call him a cousin.

And their other cousins (in the true sense of the word), the Sullivan kids (it sounds so weird for me to say that since I was a Sullivan kid not too long ago) are a real hoot! Nicole and Macoy could be twins if they weren't 2 years apart and different genders. Ryder loves playing with Colie and trying out all of her girl toys. Not to worry, not to worry... he just takes the dolls and tea party cups and throws them across the room. Such a boy!

And, ready for this one.?! Drum roll please... the newest cousin added to the fam is none other than little Lauren Lucy. Yes, that's correct, she has my name (well, my first one at least). She's a sweetie and a fabulous complement to her 3 older brothers! She's the one on the left, and Bentley's on the right. And the darling in the middle, well let's just say she's an honorary cousin! We love babies!

Chubby Sweetness

2011-04-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Bentley is our happy camper. He gets sneezed on, smacked and kicked, screamed at and squished, but he still loves his life. And he adores his big brother despite the abuse. Thank God for sweet, chubby babies!

y'all and yeehaw

2011-04-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of vacationing in Texas last month. We took our 2 boys along with my in-laws to visit Dusty's aunt in Austin. His grandpa moved there a few years ago and now lives in cute little home for people with dementia or Alzheimer's. When I say cute I really mean it. The place is brand new and exceptionally clean and lovely smelling (I've never seen an elderly care facility quite like it)!

Anyways, when I got home my camera's SD card somehow erased all my photos. So as sad as that is, thankfully Aunt Judy took a few shots herself...

G-pa Don with baby B... he couldn't stop saying "I like you!" to Bentley. He must have really liked the kid... or he just forgot he said it the first time, and the second time, and the third time...

After a few nights of eating out with Ryder everyone got smart and decided to eat in.

Big daddy D!

Grandpa Don, once again enamored by the baby.

Acting country in good ol' Gruene.

Me and Dick, my father-in-law.

Gramma and Bentley at the Gristmill.

The fam at the Oasis.

It was a fun time. And like everywhere we go, Dusty wants to move there... we'll see about that...

Snow Day

2011-03-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we got an unexpected visit from a few million snowflakes! We were elated to say the least... I mean since when does it snow in Morgan Hill?

At first Ryder was enjoying the fluffy goodness falling from the sky...

He was so excited to just stand there and feel the cold drops on his skin

It was like he was begging for more...

Until one giant flake hit him smack dab in between his eyes...

He wasn't a happy camper after that....

And so began his love-hate relationship with the powdery drops.

A Day In The Life Of Bentley

2011-02-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

Harassed by big brother...

Working out the neck muscles...

Such opposites... Mr. Mellow and Mr. Wildman...

Content to just sit and watch...

Bentley, out!

Limoncello de Cupertino

2011-02-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

Dusty's grandma Suzie is perhaps the sweetest grandmother figure I have ever met. I adore her as does everyone else who's ever met her. Every time we see her she feeds us and chats our ears off. And it never fails that we are sent home with a bag full of food or whatnots. The latest and greatest farewell gift was a huge bag of lemons from their lemon tree. After some research on my part, I figured out how to use both the juice and the rind from my bushel of citrus. I squeezed and froze the juice into one ounce cubes for later use, and I peeled the rinds for a delicious batch of limoncello! It was delicious, and I can't wait for lemons so I can make another batch! It's delicious all by itself or alongside sausage stuffed portobello mushrooms! I highly recommend them both!

farewell sunshine... for now

2011-02-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

While I like the coziness the rain brings, we have surely been loving the warm weather over the past few weeks. We've been able to play outside every day, which is a necessity with boys. Bentley just smiles and coos while he swings under the shaded patio.

And Ryder, of course, does his own thing, throwing rocks and eating chalk. I wish I knew what that boy was thinking!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

They grow up so fast!

2011-02-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

In just 3 short months, Bentley went from this...

to this...

He is such a happy baby boy, and he continues to be a great eater and sleeper. We love our little milk dud!

If you're reading this...

2011-02-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

... we love you!

Godspeed, dear Elna

2011-02-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Today I said farewell. I feel a little empty inside. I feel like a piece of me is gone... maybe not gone but just growing up. When you look at a child compared to the adult they turn into it's like looking at two different people. That's how I feel today. My darling little Swiss girl has danced her final dance. You may remember her from a previous post. I know it sounds crazy that something so trivial in life could make me so upset, but I really took pride in her and all she brought to the table.

I took her into Ray's yesterday only to get a call 24 hours later coldly notifying me of her state. Her parts were too old to be replaced, and there was no choice but to recycle her. I could tell he wasn't in the mood to be sympathetic. He probably just wanted to sell me one of his Jenomes. Not interested! I miss sweet Elna and her vintage style. She had a graceful presence about her and a conservative view on the world (if that's even possible for a hunk of metal).

But life must go on, and how quickly it does! I was lucky enough to stumble across a good deal on a fabulous Singer. I know it will never replace the support and care that Elna gave me during my infancy in sewing, but it will suffice as a symbol of a new era. I'm a self-professed intermediate, home-grown sewer, and I will prove it to Elna and myself. Welcome Singer 7258!

Sew In Love

2011-02-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

I've been doing lots of sewing the past couple of weeks. It's been nice to get back into it and feel like I'm doing something creative with my days. Sadly, my machine stopped working yesterday. Until I get it fixed all I can do is window shop online. I haven't done that in a while, and I was amazed at what I found on fabric.com.... pretty funny stuff! Happy Valentine's Day!

It all started with a redhead...

2011-01-31T19:53:00.000-08:00

My mother the redhead. It's true. Those blonde highlights mask some of that original fiery hue. And although she had 4 children, not a single one developed that special, standout trait. Back in the early 80's we were one happy little family...

Suzanne, Jennifer, David and I were well taken care of, even if we weren't always clothed...

We never flew to Hawaii or meandered around Europe, but we saw numerous national monuments and beautiful landscapes throughout the west. Crater Lake was just one of the many sites were experienced...

We were proud to be called Sullivans, and we stood tall and strong... even if we did look like little gremlins at times...

And so what if our annual family photo was taken out front of our tiny church on Easter Sunday and not always by a professional photographer (Tom Vivian?). We dressed in style and made the most of our childhood memories!

Milk Dud

2011-01-31T09:50:00.000-08:00

Bentley has come to be known as our little milk dud, and every day he proves the truth in that name more and more. He just eats and eats, and he has the chub to prove it. The best part about it (besides the beautiful rolls)... he doesn't spit up! I've never known such a thing to be possible, but I have the baby to prove it!

To pee or not to pee

2011-01-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

I recently bought a potty chair for Ryder in hopes he would be interested in using it. I'm tired of the double load of diapers I have these days, but I wasn't set on him being interested in it. Although I pray for a son who potty trains himself, I realize that the statistics are against me and my dreamland. But I put the plastic potty out in the open just to see.
For the first few days I noticed Ryder would just take the whole thing and push it out from the bathroom into the play area. He must have thought it was another Tonka Truck of some kind. Then he figured out that he could stand up on it and gain some height. He'd turn the light switch on and off forever if I'd let him. And all of a sudden one day he squealed in delight when he figured out that the whole thing came apart into pieces. He'd take out the bowl and throw it around, then he'd lift the seat up and down. He was thrilled!
Well, this morning, he made mommy proud! He was playing quietly in the corner with his blocks, and I was enjoying my moment of peace. Then I was jolted out of my bliss when he jumped up and ran right past me holding his bum yelling "boo boo" a.k.a. #2. I couldn't believe the situation at hand. He ran into the bathroom and sat on the toilet. Of course, I had to get him back up, pull down his pants and diaper and sit him back down on the thing. And by that time he had already gone in his diaper, but he sat calmly on the potty regardless. He was actually quite happy and content just sitting there. He didn't actually use the potty, but I gave him a Reese's Pieces anyways!
I'm sure it was probably just an extreme moment of maturity on his part, and I don't expect it to happen again any time soon. But I'm gonna chat about it and praise him for it until then. Maybe this potty training thing won't be so hard after all... we shall see!

Bentley 11 weeks

2011-01-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

lIt's hard to believe we've been a family of 4 for almost 3 months! Bentley has been such a wonderful baby, and we are so lucky to have him around. He's always so happy and mellow, and he apparently loves TV. Here's a video of him... just disregard my mommy voice and Yo Gabba Gabba in the background.

Happy Christmas

2010-12-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

We had such fun Christmas celebrations with our family this year. My 2 little boys had a wild time with all of their cousins on the Sullivan side for Christmas Eve. And being the only grandchildren on the Furtado side, they enjoyed all the attention they got on Christmas day.

Yes, a random photo, I know, but it's the only one of me I had on my camera... I thought I deserved my chance to shine!

Auntie Soozie enjoyed being home for a week to hang out with all her nephews and her niece. You can see Eli, Owen, Macoy, Bentley, Ryder, and Finn, and you can even see the back of Colie's head... what can I say, out of 12 photos this was the best I could get.

Bentley looked so jolly in his "suspenders" and his red striped velvet pants.

My new tradition: taking a photo of the kids and daddy coming down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Thanks to my mom Bentley's stocking is finished and beautiful... sorry Ryder, maybe I'll convince granny to finish yours this year! Woops.

Ryder was a little overwhelmed by the presents, but he was still so cute!

Daddy and B, bonding at last!

Ho Ho Ho! Happy Christmas!

holiday baking

2010-12-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

This year the majority of the Christmas Eve desserts were created by yours truly. My sister, Jen, has made the ever daunting yet fantastic buche de noel in the past, but she relinquished control over to me for lack of energy on her part (with 3 little boys and one unknown on the way who would have the time?) So I attempted to perfect the yule log, and I'd like to think it was pretty good for a first go.

Here it is in all it's glory. The mushroom meringues were my most favorite part! I will definitely be making those again.

And of course I had to have my new favorite, bourbon pecan pie! Mmmmm. And a creamy pumpkin pie should always show up at the table. "There's a party in my tummy! So yummy! So yummy!" (too much Yo Gabba Gabba for me!)

I can always count on Ryder to eat my sugary concoctions!

Ho Ho Ho

2010-12-14T10:57:00.000-08:00

I finally feel a little like it's Christmas. This year everything came up so quickly that I hardly had time to notice the season! Sunday night we went to a kids Christmas party (though there was plenty for the adults to indulge in), and it was so much fun watching Ryder interact and enjoy the festivities. He even met Santa... but that was probably his least favorite part of the night!

He was chasing this girl all night! Such a stud!

So handsome in his "neck-tie"!

Eating with all the other kids at their tiny table... adorable!

Here comes this big man himself. Ryder was intrigued at first...

But not enough to actually touch the jolly fellow!

Maybe next year!

A Christmas Tree For Toddlers

2010-12-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

I never thought a tree could be such a hassle. Every year we get our tree on Thanksgiving weekend, which means we usually have it up and decorated for an entire month. The first day we got our tree I knew it wouldn't last an entire month in the hands of Ryder. I put it up on a table, and that only made it more appealing to him. It was knocked over 3 times before we even got the lights up. And once we did put the lights on, Ryder discovered that the pretty little flickers were all attached to a long cord that could be pulled off the tree. The tree fell down 3 more times! Then my ornaments turned into "balls" and the candy canes became "bats", and we had ourselves a holiday ball game! I got smart and took a tip from a fellow mom, Becky (her daughter is 2 weeks younger and just as mischievous as Ryder)! Enter the Superyard XT play gate! I've never enjoyed my tree more!

Back from maternity leave

2010-12-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already been six weeks since I gave birth to my 2nd child! It's been a very busy but very fun and exciting time in our lives. I almost don't know where to begin...

I guess I'll start with Halloween. Bentley was only 6 days old, so Dusty and I weren't up for much. Ryder on the other hand wasn't up for anything at all. We toted him over to his grannie and papas house in his costume, and he HATED it! I've never seen a child throw candy and scream as if it's the worst thing in the world. Leave it to my son to be the first. He was supposed to be a cheeseburger, but he lasted all of 30 seconds. Oh well, better luck next year!

Bentley, of course, sat peacefully in his carseat the whole time without a peep.

Despite Ryder's crankiness, we did manage to get a photo of all the cousins lined up (ok, all but one).

Halloween passed us by, but Ryder's crankiness continued. I guess it's hard learning to share your dad with a baby brother (he didn't seem to mind it when mommy was holding Bentley... such a man's man).

And Baby B in turn began to learn how to cope in this new world of his...

It's usually best to just fall asleep (or pretend in my case... ha)!

He's a happy boy when he's cuddled and cozy!

Fast forward to Thanksgiving... I only took pictures of pies and turkey... what kind of mother am I? The day after Thanksgiving we did our annual tree hunt. We did it local this year, meaning we went to the somewhat rustic tree farm in Morgan Hill. I like to support local businesses, but at $60 a pop and with the tiniest selection, dare I say I won't return next year!?! But it was still worth it... Ryder had fun with everyone, especially his grannie and his cousin, Eli.

We did our best to get a family photo for the Christmas cards...

So we tried again...

Perhaps we won't do Christmas card this year!

Brotherly Love

2010-10-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, Ryder adores his baby brother. He kisses him and hugs him even when he's not asked to do so. He pats his head (not so gently), and he giggles when his brother sneezes or coughs. He gets concerned when baby Bentley cries, and he gets even more curious when it's diaper changing time (or feeding time for that matter).

They are lucky to have each other, and we can't wait to watch them grow up together. I may be outnumbered, but now I've got 2 fabulous excuses to do a little more for myself!

2 Weeks Early!

2010-10-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Bentley Joseph Furtado

Born on

October 25, 2010

@ 12:55 am

7 lbs. 2 oz., 20 in.

Exhausted but overjoyed!

What is with his curly, dark hair?

Even I can't believe Dusty has 2 little boys!

37 weeks and head-down!

2010-10-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

I can't explain how relieved I am, but little Mr. Baby Man has flipped! Though late in the game, he made it in time! Assuming he stays head-down I can forego the ECV procedure (so wasn't looking forward to that) as well as a C-Section. Of course, any labor comes with it's risks, but at least I will now have the opportunity to go into labor on my own. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts... they surely paid off!

Progress...

2010-10-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

This is how I found Ryder this afternoon, after almost 2 hours of screaming, crying, and whining.

At least he finally took a nap!

Beauty in Organization

2010-10-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

I think the nesting instinct has officially set in! I'm exhausted, yes, but I cannot stop doing things, random things, around my house. Besides my daily ritual of baking something sweet, I've been organizing and cleaning as if Jesus is coming to dinner! My next project on the list.... my sewing armoire!
I originally got the idea from my mom who has had a sewing armoire on her upstairs landing ever since we left the house and took our computers with us (it used to be a computer cabinet). And now that I have a little man toddling around it's been hard to explain that the kitchen table is a "no touch" when mommy's got her patterns and pins all laid out. I searched high and low, and of course I was sadly disappointed that every piece of sewing or craft organization furniture out there is ridiculously expensive not to mention hideous! So I searched google images for "sewing armoire" and somewhere in the mix this beauty popped up...

I knew then that I had to make one for myself. So I found a cheap yet decent armoire that would fit in my home, and I had officially made the purchase (which of course took away my entire "personal" budget for the month, but I think it will be worth it). Hopefully, I can finish my creation before baby comes. My goal is to be done by October 17th. I'll let you know how I'm doing along the way.

But while we have talk of tidiness on the tongue, you absolutely must check out these home office photos and drool over how neat and clean they are. I may decide I need my own before baby comes...

http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/10/7/reader-request-built-in-home-office.html

We love our Giants!

2010-10-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

Shuteye

2010-10-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

No, this picture wasn't taken while Ryder was blinking. No he wasn't being silly and closing his eyes.
It was our usual 5ish dinner time, and he just couldn't keep his eyes open. In fact, he nearly choked on his food because he fell asleep mid-chew. I guess it's all part of the crib to bed transition when your kid refuses to take naps all week long... or perhaps it's biological. If you know Dusty then you know you can be having an intense conversation at 4 in the afternoon and suddenly he'll just start snoring. You could have been telling your story for the past 5 minutes, but if he was tired then he would sleep anytime, anywhere, not matter what. What am I going to do with these boys?!

Preggers Can't be Choosers!

2010-10-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

I've got 5 weeks or less to go! I still can't complain when I compare this pregnancy to my first one. Although the complications are the same if not worse, I am feeling much better than I ever did with Ryder. Ryder was my sweet challenge since day one! But this little boy hasn't left me searching for adventure either. Last week at my Dr. appointment the little man was still in a breech/transverse position. Typically babies turn head down by this time in pregnancy, so needless to say, we may have issues.

Since my Dr. won't perform a natural birth for a breech baby (and by natural I mean vaginal.... I look forward to my epidural) we may have to take matters into our own hands.

At this point he's in one of these two positions. I feel him moving around like crazy still, so I get the feeling he's trying to turn.... but, my boy, time is running out! I go in again to see my Dr. next week. At that point she'll do an ultrasound to determine the position of the baby. If he's still not head down then she'll schedule me for an ECV in the hospital the following week.

ECV (external cephalic version) is when the Dr. will actually use her hands on the outside of my belly to manually turn the baby to the head down position. (the photos make it look so cute, but I'm sure it's rather uncomfortable and intense) They'll have to hook me up to monitors and use an ultrasound to guide them through the process as not to cause any stress on the baby, separation of the placenta, etc etc etc. If something does occur, thankfully I'll be in the hospital so they can do an emergency c-section right away. Of course, chances are the procedure WILL work just fine, and baby boy will turn head down in time for a natural, normal delivery in the weeks to follow.

So we're just praying that everything goes well in the weeks to come with the baby, my blood pressure, and the birth. It's all going to happen so quickly... I feel like it was just yesterday I was watching a live birth in Freshmen health class! Where has the time gone?!

The Transition: Day 5

2010-10-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today marks day 5 in this tragic romance between baby and crib. And in honor of day 5, we were up and at ‘em at 5! Ryder decided not to wait for the sun to come up before he came running into my room complaining of loneliness and torture in the room across the hall. And despite me bringing him back to bed and lying down with him, neither one of us fell back asleep. Was this really the way it was going to be? As if we need 2 extra hours in our day on top of our revolt against napping! Dear God, grant me patience!

I figured since we were up early, we could get past the loathsome nap time early as well. With all my hopes and dreams smashed into my pocket, Ryder and I entered his room without expectation. We rocked in the chair for 5 minutes (which is all I can do these days before the needs of the belly take over and I cannot fulfill my motherly duties any longer), and then we attempted the move to the bed. It was obvious by his strong and sudden grip that he was beginning to freak out. I snuggled up next to him, still holding him under his tushy. I yawned. He yawned. Song number 1 and number 2 passed us by, and still he wouldn’t take his hand off of me. Then as song 3 came to an end and song 4 started up, Ryder began to let go of me with his fingers, though he kept an open eye on me at all times. Then song 5. Song 6. Song 7…. But wait! Can this be happening? Are his eyes closed? Is his breathing heavy and deep? Does he jump back on me if I make a move?

It took me 3 more songs to slowly make my way off the bed and out the door, but now, here I sit, alone and free. It’s been 90 minutes already. His nap is in full swing. He did it! I did it! God worked a miracle without blood and sweat! I can hardly contain myself!

As the end of the nap draws nearer, I am feeling rejuvenated and rewarded. Five days has felt like an eternity, but some relief has given way to hope for our future! And I know it may take another 5 days before I see another moment such as this, but I will relish in my sweet down time now, at this moment! Praise God for napping toddlers!