I am one pathetic loser!

Okay, maybe I really don't think I am a pathetic loser (yes, I stole the line from Dumb and Dumber), but I really am a pathetic blogger! I don't even have an excuse. I spend time online, I am not overly busy, my cute-as-a-button kid provides lots to blog about, etc., but I just don't do it! Well, that ends today!

So, what has happened in the past three months? Ricky and I both got a year older, officially. We also celebrated our fourth anniversary. Kyle has grown and learned so much, and we have done a lot of hanging out. Our lives aren't terribly exciting, but I think I prefer it that way.

Kyle is such a smartie. I know I've bragged about him before on the blog, but I'm his mom; it's my right. He is learning his lower case letters now that he has mastered all the upper case letters. He also knows all the numbers 1-10 and can count to 5 on his own. He loves to help me around the house, and gets mad at me if he hears me shut the fridge door without allowing him to do it. Oh, and he likes to look in the fridge and count the condiments in the door. He is obsessed with Lightning McQueen. We watch Cars several times a week, and Kyle's favorite toys are his little Cars figurines. He is constantly talking about "Ning ning nuh queen." The other night right before Ricky and I fell asleep, we heard Kyle stirring in his bed, and then he said, "Ning ning nuh queen!" in his sleep. We laughed hard over that. He is such a sweet boy, and to prove my point, here is proof:

He loves books, and usually has at least one in his bed with him. Sometimes he falls asleep with them on his face.

He looks like a little model in this picture! But alas, it didn't last long at church. He gagged on a fruit snack during sacrament meeting, and barfed all over himself and me. We had to go home and change. Yuck!


Playing his favorite game, the "Night Night" game. He likes to lay down and get covered with a blanket, then pretends to snore. He can't really make the snoring sound, so it's more like a little growl in the back of his throat, but soooo cute!

I could go on and on with him, but I have to cut it off sometime. So here are some recipes that I've made in the last several months that were uber yummy. Enjoy!

Feather-Light Overnight Rolls (from Essential Mormon Celebrations by Julie Badger Jensen)

1 c. water

1c. butter

3/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1 c. cold water

2 packages yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp.)

1/2 c. warm water

4 beaten eggs

7 1/2 c. flour

Butter for spreading on dough

In a 6-quart pan bring the 1 c. water to a boil. Add the 1 c. butter, sugar, and salt; remove from heat. Add the 1 c. cold water. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c. warm water. When first mixture is lukewarm, add yeast mixture and beaten eggs. Stir briefly. Add flour and stir together. Cover pan with lid and refrigerate overnight. When ready to roll out, divide dough in thirds. Lightly flour the surface of a bread board. Roll out each third in a large circle about 1/2-inch thick. Spread dough lightly with butter. Cut dough into 12 wedges and roll each up, beginning at the wide end, to form a crescent shape. Place on 3 greased baking sheets. Let rise for 4 hours. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Toll House Cookie Bars (from me Mum!)

1 c. shortening

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

2 c. chocolate chips

Cream shortening, sugars, and vanilla. Add eggs. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes in a 15x10 greased baking sheet. Gobble the whole thing, or cut into squares if you want to share.

Recovering

Maybe it's time I posted about Kyle's birthday since it was, oh, a month ago! We had a fun second birthday, complete with Elmo cakes (below are the cupcakes, but there was also a full-size Elmo cake). He also got lots of fun things to play with, wear, and watch.

Opening presents


Out at dinner

Being cheesy

He is just getting so big and smart. Well, maybe not that big. We went to his 2 year checkup, and he is still hanging out around the 15th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference. He's just a little squirt! And he has been sick lately, so for about a week he has refused to eat much of anything. I was thrilled this morning because he ate a few bites of his banana and a couple of Cheerios. That is more than the past few days!

He also knows all his letters now. He can even say "L" without sticking his tongue all the way out! (although that was super cute). Now we're working on numbers. I think he can recognize 3 and 4 now. He is really funny because he sees letters everywhere. Just a minute ago he was on my lap at the computer and saw a partial water glass stain on the desk, and said "C! C! C!"

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm totally in the mood for comfort food lately. Probably because Kyle succeeded in giving Ricky and me his delightful cold (could be because he sneezes and coughs in our faces all the time!). Anyway, the other night I made a chicken pot pie. I usually use cream of chicken soup for the gravy, but this recipe was so yummy! Try it:

http://karaskitchencreations.blogspot.com/2010/01/cookbook.html

It's a really good, yummy blog!

TTFN!

My Smarty-Smart-Smart

Ky's getting so big and smart! I just have to brag on him for a minute. He knows some of his colors! Yellow is his favorite, but he also likes green and black. And last night, he totally blew me away. We were playing with his puzzles, and while we were working on the alphabet one, he picked up the Y and said, "Y!" A while later he picked up the U and said, "U!" Those are random letters to know, and I certainly didn't teach him those yet. All I can figure is that he learned them from Sesame Street. Yay PBS! He also put that whole alphabet puzzle together by himself! It took him a while to match up all the letters with their pictures, but he did it. I'm so proud!!

Catching Up

I'm trying to play catch up, so here are some pictures from Christmas! Hasn't Kyle gotten so big?

Here he is trying out cousin's new pocket rocket.

Hanging out in his awesome Elmo jammies.

Opening presents with Mommy and Daddy before we left for Arkansas.

" Seriously, Mom? You chose this?"

Being cheesy.

We had a really good Christmas and New Year, but I'm glad it's over. Travel is stressful! I like to start the new year, because it just feels fresh. Hopefully I can keep this fresh feeling for a while before the winter doldrums set in.

As most of you know, I'm obsessed with reading. I just finished a super good book, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Read it! It is so funny and sad and touching. I learned so much about what went on during and after the Nazi Occupation in Europe. Basically, I couldn't put it down.

Also, don't you love my new background? My friend April designs blogs and she posted some free templates on her website. They're super cute! Check them out.

Happy New Year!

10 Things that Make Me Happy!

My friend Vicki tagged me to post 10 things that make me happy, and since it is Christmas Eve, what better time, huh? So here goes:
1. My family. All of 'em, but especially my hubbs and cute kiddo.
2. My super good kid! (This really is different from the previous one). So yesterday, we were in the car for 3 hours, airport for 5, plane for 2 1/2, and car again for 3. My kid is such a good kid!!! He thought the plane ride was awesome fun, and only screamed for the last 30 minutes of our car trip. Can't blame him though; he'd had a super long day, and it was late late.
3. Thunderstorms. We drove through a wicked one last night, and they make me happy, although a little nervous when the lightning is striking really close to the road.
4. Christmas! Nuff said.
5. The internet! I'm 2000 miles away from home, but accessing my website and keeping in touch.
6. Sweets. Nuff said again.
7. The gospel, and the temple. Nuff said again.
8. Mom's homemade chapstick. Can't live without it. No, really.
9. Sleep!
10. Smelling good.

I could keep going, but I've got to go break up a wrestling match between Ricky, Kyle, and 6 yr old cousin Blake. I wonder who's gonna win? Probably Kyle, because at this moment, he has the power of "stinky heinie" on his side. Merry Christmas everyone!

Ahhh, Christmas memories

I totally forgot that I had these pictures! I haven't seen them in a year, and I found them yesterday. The first ones are of Kyle's first Christmas when he was opening his presents. The next two are the ones every parent has of the first time their child sees Santa Claus. So sad! I can't believe how grown up Kyle looks now. I always thought he still had that baby face, but after seeing these pictures, I realize he has grown up so much! What a cute boy. We love him.

It's been a while!

I know, I'm a slacker. But I have some cute pics to post, and another recipe discovery!! First for the cuteness:

I took this picture right before church yesterday. Kyle is OBSESSED with Elmo, so he insists on wearing his slippers any chance he gets. Nothing says Sunday best like big red monsters on your feet!




This picture was taken probably over a month ago. Kyle had just gotten a haircut (which he hates, but he likes the bath afterward), and he was doing his evil face again. I can't figure out why he does that!

And now for some yummy. Last night I wanted something sweet and crunchy, and I thought that I might pass out without kettle corn, but the microwave stuff is totally sub-par. So, to those of you who have Stir-Crazy popcorn poppers (and I know several of you do), here is a recipe for homemade kettle corn that you can do in your popper.

Put the following ingredients in your popper, and pop like normal, but be careful! The melted sugar makes the popcorn way hotter than normal when you flip it over. Enjoy!!

1/2 c. popcorn seeds

1/4 c. oil (I hear butter flavored oil is the best for kettle corn)

1/4 c. sugar

Remember to salt it afterward!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season. Love to all!