Category Archives: levi

Apr 29 2011

Easter

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It is always this time of year that makes me a little home sick.  I wish we had family that lived closer so we could celebrate this time of year with them.  We did have a good Easter.  The night before we dyed eggs.  We always do an Easter egg hunt in our back yard for the kids.  I think it takes Corey more time to set it up than for the kids to find all the eggs.  I’m really bad at remembering to take pictures and I forgot to take pictures of the kids all dressed up before church.   After church we had a nice ham dinner.  I think this is one of my favorite holidays.  It helps me remember our Savior and all that he has done for us.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the silly things like the Easter bunny and candy but it’s important to really remember what this holiday is all about,  The Savior.

Sophia finds an egg

The kids with their baskets full

 

Apr 16 2011

Sophia’s bangs

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I posted on Facebook yesterday that Levi did us a favor and cut his sister’s bangs. I have a request for pictures and thought I would also tell the story.   I was debating if I should cut bangs on Sophia or not because they kept getting in her face (like the first picture).  When doing her hair I usually pull it to the side like the second picture.  Yesterday while Sophia and Levi were playing in his room her hair was getting in her face.  Levi wanted to be a good brother and thought he would solve her problem for her.  I thought I had confiscated all sissors.  Preston my oldest had some hidden in his closet.  Levi pulled them out and chop chop.  I definitely think had I done the chop chopping I wouldn’t have cut them so short.  Now I guess all we can do is wait for them to grow out.

Before- hair is in her face

Before- hair pulled to the side

After- Levi's cut job

Mar 10 2011

Acorn Squash Soup

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I have had this huge acorn squash sitting on my counter, staring at me, for a few days now.  So I decided to make some soup with it.  There is a recipe, from a friends blog, that I’ve been wanting to try.  So I sliced the acorn in half.  I scooped out it’s guts and popped it in the oven to roast.  It roasted for about an hour.  I separated the flesh from the skin and discarded the skin.  There was so much squash that I had to divide it (So I still have half a squash in my fridge).  I took  2 carrots, half an onion, and  1/2 inch ginger root and sauted them in a large sauce pan.  Then I added 3 cups of chicken stock brought it up to a boil.  Then I brought down the temp to a simmer.  I simmered it for about 30 minutes and added the squash and simmered for another 30 minutes.  I used a stick blender to blend it into a smooth texture.  Then I add a 1/2 cup of cream.

I really enjoyed this soup. I also really love squash.  My family, on the other hand, could have done without.  Levi took one bite and you would have thought I was trying to poison him.  I had only gave them a little so after they ate what they had I peeled and chopped two cucumbers.  They devoured the cucumbers in no time.  Corey impressed me.  He ate the soup and didn’t complain one bit.  After dinner I asked what he thought and he said that he doesn’t like squash.

Thanks KellyAnne for the recipe.  I really enjoyed this soup.  It’s really too bad I probably won’t get another chance to eat it again.  Meanwhile I still have half of a squash that, apparently, I have to eat all by myself.  Acorn Squash is a good source of Vitamin C.

Mar 7 2011

Cucumber Side Salad

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Sunday night I decided to make a cucumber salad to go with dinner.  Not something we have had before.  Usually when we eat cucumbers it’s in a green salad or just slices.  I peeled and sliced two cucumbers.  I went online to get a couple of ideas as to what to add and decided on one.  I chopped some green onions and then mixed together a couple of tablespoons of sour cream and ranch dressing.  I wasn’t very impressed with the salad.  It was really watery and lacked flavor.  I think I’ll probably get another chance on a cucumber salad.  Especially since I still have 5 cucumbers.  Everyone finished what was on their plate so the salad wasn’t too bad.  Levi was the one who liked it the most.  I think he ate more than half of the salad all by himself.   Cucumbers are a good source of vitamin C.

Levi on his fourths

Mar 1 2011

Mango

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First item that I used from the basket was a mango.  I noticed that the mangoes felt fairly ripe.  It was snack time.  I peeled, sliced and divided the mango.  The kids were excited.  This isn’t the first time they have had mangoes, but we don’t have them often.  I was worried that the texture was going to be too much for them.  They devoured it.  It was a great snack and healthy too.  Mangoes are High in Vitamin A and a good source of Vitamin C.  Vitamin A is good for the eyes and skin.  It also helps with your immune system.  Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds.  It helps boost your immune system and is good for your teeth and gums (fruits and veggies more matter).

Kids Eating Mango Slices
Sophia taking a bite 

Levi stuffing his face

When Preston finished I heard him run down the stairs shouting “I love Mangoes”.  It’s feels good to give them something they love and good for them too.

Feb 5 2011

Cabin Fever

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According to Wikipedia the definition for cabin fever is “a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period.”  Every year since we moved here to Idaho Falls we get cabin fever.  It usually starts snowing here in October and doesn’t stop until April.  Leaving us pretty much stuck inside for that period of time. Cabin fever usually starts to set in around January and into February.  Some of the symptoms (again according to Wiki) are “restlessness, irritability, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow or dark.”

To break up some of the monotony we’ll go on short trips or do something fun for a day.  A couple of weeks ago I was able to take my kids and go to Boise for a day.  My mom was there with my nieces and we went swimming a “Givens Hot Springs”.  Of course I forgot my camera and don’t have any pictures of that fun trip.  It was the best medicine for my cabin fever.  I not only got to get out for a while but I also got to see my mom.  It was like killing two birds with one stone, cabin fever and homesickness.

After a few weeks the cabin fever starts to set in again.  I start to feel restless and irritable. I just want to get out and do something.  In the past week our lows were around -15 degrees Fahrenheit and the highs were not much higher.  I feel like I’m just going to snap.  Then we have a day like today.  It was around 27 degrees Fahrenheit.  The kids suggested we go sledding.  So that’s what we did.  We packed the kids and sleds up and drove out to a new (new to us) sledding hill.  Because it has been so cold the snow was pretty icy.  That made the sleds go really fast.  We had so much fun.  I’m sure my tushy is going to regret it tomorrow but at least the cabin fever is gone for a while.  The boys really liked going over the jumps and Preston really caught some air.  Corey went to take a picture of him going up but the batteries in the camera ran out.  After going up and down the hill 5 or 6 times my body was telling me that was enough.  So Sophia, Corey, and I sat in the back of the truck and watched as the boys went down.  It was nice just to be outside and enjoying the scenery.  It wouldn’t be a sledding trip if we didn’t have some hot cocoa afterward.  We really enjoyed our day out.

Preston at bottom of hill

Preston at bottom of hill

Preston about to go over the jump

Preston about to go over the jump

Levi in his green saucer

Levi in his green saucer

Sophia in the back of the truck

Sophia in the back of the truck

Me in the truck

Me in the truck
Sep 13 2010

And So It Begins

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Summer has come to and end.  It went by too fast.  School started for us on August 30th.  Now I have 2 children in school.  They were so excited for school to begin (I must say I was too).  Preston started 3rd grade and absolutely loves his teacher.  Levi  started Kindergarten.  Levi was so excited to finally get to go to school like his big brother.  The first day was only an hour long and the parents were there to help.  We went on a little scavenger hunt that took us around the classroom and showed the kids where the bathroom was.  It was really just a time to help the kids become comfortable with the new setting.  After we were done and were on our way home I asked Levi what he thought of school.  His response was “It was boring”.  My first thought “And so it begins”.  I was afraid that I might have a hard time getting him to go to school for the next week.  Fortunately he has warmed up to it and is enjoying school.  He is so different from his big brother.  Preston comes home and tells me all about school and how his day was.  When I ask Levi it’s like pulling teeth to get anything out of him.  Most of the time he tells me he can’t remember.  Eventually I’ll get little tid bits out of him and he ends up having a pretty good time in school.

I have to say it has been so quiet and nice to just have one at home even if it’s only for a few hours.  It is also really nice to have some one on one time with my youngest.  In fact a perfect time to potty train.  I’ve never done the potty training thing with a girl.  I’ve been told it’s easier.  So far it seems to be the same for me.  She is still learning the basics and I find myself saying, while cleaning the mess up, “and so it begins.”

Well summer is ended and with it comes the cooler temperatures and the busy life of running kids from here to there.  I have to wonder what happened to the warm weather and the days of sleeping in. As I wake every morning before the sun I find myself saying “and so it begins.”  p8300012p8300013

Apr 30 2009

Car ride to Grants Pass

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The car ride to and from Grants pass was long.  We got a DVD player for the car for Christmas.  This trip was the test to see if it was worth it.  It was great.  It kept the kids occupied and us sane.  Well worth it.  Also we would stop and make sandwhiches to eat for lunch.  Unfortunately it was most of the time to cold to eat outside so we stayed in the car.  I usually ended up with Sophia on my lap playing with the stearing wheel.  She loved it but what kid doesn’t? levicar1prestoncar1sophiecar1sophiemomcar1

Apr 30 2009

The coast

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Okay I’m not the best at taking pictures and uploading for everyone to see.  We went to Grants Pass for spring break and on one of the days we decided to go to the coast.  It was wet and cold but we still enjoyed it.  So here are some pictures from then.  We have a lot more of our whole trip but that is on film and still needs to be developed and then scanned.  This this will have to do for now.levicoastcoastfamilycoastmesophiecoreysophiecoast

Apr 27 2009

Snow?

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Okay yesterday we woke up to the ground coverd in snow.  Not surprising for this area but a little depressing.  Spring just isn’t coming soon enough.  Still no blossoms on the trees and tulips are just now coming out of the ground.  Well my 3 year old loves the snow. This past Christmas he asked Santa for snow.  It snowed a ton.  So everytime it snows he thinks that he was some how responsible.  Very cute.  Well yesterday he was pretty excited to see the snow on the ground.  By the end of the day it had all melted.  We were sitting at the dinner table just enjoying our meal and he suddenly turns around looks out the window and puts both fist in the air and says “OHHHH my snow is ruined!!”  He then turns around and puts his head on the table like it is the end of the world.  Corey and I just looked at each other and started to laugh.  I wish I had had the camera ready but no luck.  So sometimes snow isn’t all bad.  We just need to look at it through a three year olds eyes.