Clarification.

I realized late last night after I posted my "randomness" post that I was going to get "You are pregnant" comments. Just FYI. I am NOT pregnant. I could go into details of how I positively know for a fact that I'm not pregnant, but I know a few boys read this blog and I wouldn't want to freak them out. But trust me. Not pregnant.
That's why it's odd that I'm eating multiple hot dogs and tired by 7pm. Could be the fact that my kids are terrible sleepers and I'm trying to give up Diet coke. Boo.
Just thought you should know.

Randomness.

--I took a walk today with 5 little girls around the block. Big mistake. Don't try that.

--Last night, Jaida was helping Mya say family prayer. She whispers in her hear and Mya does her best to repeat. Jaida tries to be quiet enough that we can't hear what she's saying. So all we heard was "Please bwess President Bumb Bumb." I'm quite sure Jaida said Obama. But out came bumb bumb. Classic.

--I suppose it's a good sign when your 4 year old cries if it's not family night.

--I've found myself wanting to go to bed around 7pm. Is that normal?

--I ate 2 hot dogs for lunch today. Yea, you heard me. Two hot dogs. I'm not proud of it, but I was really hungry.

--I should be working, but instead I'm blogging. Time to work.

Miss Mya.

In case you haven't been around her lately (or have never met her) this girl is as awesome as they come. She's hilarious and soooooo sensitive.

A "staycation".

Due to some bizarre staffing issues at Mike's work, he wasn't able to use up all his vacation time last year. Luckily it rolls over to the first 2 months of the next year. So in January, we took a "staycation" and got things done around the house. Super exciting. Amidst the garage cleaning and basement organizing, we managed a day up on the slopes. It was heavenly. I hold Mike back a little when we go because I'm not really in to breaking limbs, but we still had fun.

Some dude from New York stopped and offered to take our pictures together. We were literally standing on the edge of a cliff. One step to the left and we were goners. Well, Mike might have pulled through, but I never would have survived.

Fun times.

Snow, snow, snow.

Over the holidays, Mike's sister and her family escaped the hair dryer weather in Vegas and stayed with us for a few days. Mike was crazy busy at work the entire time so Uncle Matt got to do all the snow playing. His first activity was to build tunnels in the front yard.

Jaida insisted on getting a bumb shot.

The master behind the tunnels.

Our own sledding hill. It was wicked sweet.

Mya using a dustpan as a shovel.

Thanks for the fun times Paxtons.

Family Night.

We could have spent the evening studying from the bible, teaching our kids things necessary for their eternal salvation. Instead, we spent the entire night creating Mii's on the Wii for every member in our extended family. In case you're wondering, it's a lot of people. But if anyone needs a Mii, Mike and Jaida are really good at it.

X35

Our newest obsession after attending the Boat show this year. Mastercraft x35. I think we're in love. Universe. Bring her to us.

(Not the exact boat, but it was the fastest picture I could find)

What are YOU making for dinner?

I hate deciding what to cook for dinner. Hate it. Which is why half of the time, I just don't cook. Because I don't want to decide.

So. I'm helpin' a sister out.

Here's a great recipe, and super easy. I'm normally not a big "spice rack" user (especially if I can't pronounce the word) but the basil in this is good.
Try it.

Angel Hair Pasta with Chicken

2 chicken breasts cut into bite-size squares
1 carrot, sliced diagonally (or however you can get the stupid thing to cut up. I about cut off my finger going diagonally so I went for straight)
1 zuchinni
1 yellow squash (you can use whatever vegetables you like. It actually calls for brocolli, but it doesn't sit well in my stomach)
2-3 tsp. garlic salt (calls for fresh garlic, but we don't like fresh garlic around here)
12 oz. angel hair pasta
2/3 C. chicken broth
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 C grated parmesan cheese

Heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat; add chicken and cook. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towel. Heat another tbsp of oil in skillet. Add carrot and cook for about 4 min. Add other vegis and garlic salt. Cook, stirring for 2 min. longer. (I don't really pay attention to the times. Just whenever they're done). Cook pasta. While pasta is cooking, add chicken broth, basil and parmesan to skillet. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 min. Drain pasta.

Top pasta with sauce (the recipe tells you to mix it all together, but I keep them separate and then you can put as much liquid on as you want).

There you have it. Try it. It's good.

And spread the love. Put some recipes on your blog every once in a while and help us all out.

I'm all about quick and easy. Because at 5, I'm spent, and little "helpers" don't make it any easier.

Happy eating.

Conversation in the car.

The girls have a card that sings the Kung Fu Panda song (thanks Kelli). Today they discovered it was broken. So I volunteered to sing the song instead. I started singing and was met by completely unimpressed blank stares.
I finished and the following conversation took place.
Me: "Am I funny?"
No response.
Me: "Jaida, Mya. Am I funny? Or am I weird?"
Still no response.
Me: "Hey! Funny or weird?"
Jaida: "Weird."
Mya: Blank stare
Me: "Funny AND weird, or just weird."
Jaida: "Weird, mom. Just weird."

Doug and Gene update.

Well. After a month and a half, Doug and Gene are still at the Thueson Ranch. And lovin' it. They poo everywhere, love to climb on everything, have been eating my dad's hedges, fall off the side of the railroad ties (which is quite fun to watch), head-butt each other while flying through the air, their horns are getting bigger (yikes), they never leave each other's side, come running at the sound of my mom's voice, and poo everywhere.

Jaida has finally mustered the courage to pet them, and Mya talks about "Goug and Dean" all the time. She loves them and cries when we don't go visit them often. Seriously, mom, she does.

Mya was looking for Doug and Gene in the family picture hanging on my parents wall. When she couldn't find them, she replied matter-of-factly "Nana ate them." She also says "Goug and Dean have horns. So does Grandpa."

From the looks of these pictures, it looks like deep down, Kate loves them too!

Charity.

Jaida and Mya play really well together (most of the time), so sometimes I forget to pay better attention to what they're doing and I usually pay for it. On this day, I was picking up things around the house (pretty much what I do all day. every day) when the following conversation took place

J: "We're going to the store to buy things for kids in Africa."

Me: "Oh. That's nice."

J: "We're buying them lots of toys and books because they don't have any."
Me: "That's very sweet of you, Jaida"

I continued doing what I was doing, not really paying attention to what the "buying" entailed. A few minutes later, I headed up to my room to put some shoes away and then i realized where they were "shopping".

They had unloaded their entire toy room into my closet. The picture doesn't do it justice because most of the toys are hidden behind my clothes.

When I expressed my displeasure, Jaida responded:

"But mom. Kids in Africa don't have anything. They need our stuff. Don't you know that?"

Hmmm...

Slap me.

Jaida: "Mya slap me. Slap me right in the face."

Mya stood there for a minute, and then smacked Jaida right across the cheek, making her head turn slightly and pinked up her cheek.

Jaida started laughing hysterically. I buried my face, in tears myself.

Jaida: "Do it again Mya. Right in the face."

Slap. Laugh. Slap. Laugh. Over and over and over again.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be funny. But it was. So funny.

And then I begged Mike to make them stop because I couldn't make myself be a parent.

Typical at our house.

Mike gave the girls a bath last night. Mya wandered down a while later, wet messy hair, in her pig pajamas. She climbed up on my lap and snuggled under a blanket. A few minutes later, Jaida wandered down, hair wet and messy, in her hippo pajamas. She climbed up next to us and said:
"I took a bath and a shower. 'Cause Mya puked in the tub. And it was orange. And then I tooted in the tub. Like this. . ."
She then raised her leg and ripped one right on me.
Love these little girls.

Build-a-bear

Mya's always trying to put on doll clothes and build-a-bear clothes, but they obviously don't fit because they're "too big" (she says).

One day, however, she managed to get on some build-a-bear shorts on her own. I was surprised. My little brother nearly wet himself when he first saw her. I, unfortunately didn't have a camera at the time.

So I let her do it one more time (and this time I helped her with the tank top) so we could capture the beauty of the moment.

Dear Mya--please forgive me for posting these. But they're just too priceless to not share. I think you're beautiful and love that you make me laugh. All the time.

Sizing up the Santa outfit to see if she can squeeze into that one. It's not stretchy. At all. She tried. And got stuck. And then cried.

When Jeremy first saw her in the shorts, he thought she had split the pants. I informed him that's where the bears tail goes. Still. It was funny.

And Jaida of course wanted in on the action too.

Thank you Mr. President.

God Bless America.