Yup, we are heading to Iowa and we are so excited! We're going to be camping, roasting melllows, playing with the hoarse's and corn holing the heck out of it(it's probably the best game ever, if you haven't heard of it). Take care, dont miss us too much and we'll be back on the 11th!
That is one word to describe today's topic...Nick Arrojo, some may be familiar with him some may not. He is the hairstylist on the show "What not to Wear" And he drives me crazy. To a point I'm almost obsessing because I have to watch to see how he ruins someone's hair. He's so typical he always cuts all their hair off, gives them a bob with close to no layers and a nice neutral color. I'll give it to him, I like that he gives them simple color(because most would not maintain good hi-lights and such) but I feel he always gives these woman cuts that just age them. And my biggest peeve, woman with super curly hair he always styles super straight and is like BAM! There you go...lets be real, if they have super curly hair and straightening is going to take some time. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT! So why not just cut there hair to style curly, Make sense? I know I'm rambling but I'm fired up from last nights show. I'm not saying I'm an amazing hairstylist by any means, but this guy is SO overrated, they need to find a new stylist!
So, my sister Carrie had to get Surgery this past week, boo, I know, no fun. And my mom flew into DC to help take care of her i.e. make sure she takes her meds and doesn't over do it. Well, I was talking with them Friday morning, feeling so envious that they were together and in DC. LUCKY! So, my sis pops in "hey why don't you guys come for the weekend, I'll take care of the gas" Now who can say no to an offer like that. And what's a 12 hour drive, nothing to us. So, within an hour and half we were loaded up and gone. How fun! huh?!?
Well, it was a blast, Caden was horrible but we're all crediting that to lack of sleep. But, minus the little monster we had a blast! 
No, we didn't do anything amazing, but we went to the farmers market and got some heavenly cookies, air force memorial, the mall, swimming. 
It just felt so great to be with my family, and it felt like a vacation for the three of us, granted we lived there the last for years none the less a vacation. And it felt like we hadn't even left dc, it was so good to be back! 
So, it was a short trip-we came back Monday afternoon because Eric Had to work an hour on Tuesday-lame! But, the drive was totally worth it and we had a blast with Carrie and my mom!
**To my DC friends I'm sorry we didn't come see any of you, We really would have LOVE to but we just really wanted to spend as much time as possible with the family. But don't you worry this is certainly not our last trip! Next trip we will catch you!
I know I have been slacking, but to be quite honest there is just not much to update. Our lives are pretty boring, caden and I go to the pool everyday. And most days meet up with our apartment friends Abby and Kate(Abby is Caden's new BFF, Buzz is now replaced). And Eric works a ton still. But, some good news we are going to Iowa on July 1st. YEAH! WE are super excited for that and as always looking forward to it.
Thats all.
Sorry.
So, Eric has been in the field all week and got to come home last night for the evening. Well, to say the least he did not look good. The chiggers had gotten to him and he had at least 40 bites, so yucky! Here are the poor guys legs
And he had to go back out today til monday!
We went to Wal-mart and Caden saw a cowboy hat and instantly screamed "Woody" So, I let him try it on thinking that he wouldnt wear it, ha, was I wrong. He won't take it off, and he insists his name is not Caden with the hat on but "Woody". And he runs around with his stick horse, it is so stinkin cute!
For those that don't know the story of my piano I will give you the pleasure of hearing it. My mom and I are have always loved playing the piano it's our thing. So, she really wanted to buy me one, but I told her not to blow the bank we will be moving around a lot, she wanted to give me hers but by the time she shipped it there's a whole piano. So, ANYWAYS she was looking on Ebay she just got addicted to it and found a piano for ONE DOLLAR, that's right, four quarters, ten dimes, 100 pennies. And she bought it. We had to drive three hours with a trailer to pick it up in MD. Needless to say this piano rocks, a couple scraps but if you know me I like the scraps it gives it character. A good tuning and it sounds like a million bucks. So, thank you mom for the piano. And it's about dang time I fixed the bench(it never occured to me to do so. So, I finished my piano bench. And not to brag but I think it turned out pretty well. Now all I need to do is fix the two front wheels on the piano and wheel it out to the porch and put a gloss coat on it. What do you think of the bench?
I love to cook. I love to try new recipes. And I found this blog that has some of the best recipes ever. The some new different ones and some oldie but goodies. It is called THE DAILY BITE
http://www.the-daily-bite.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!
Well, I discovered a store here in Columbus and I have to say I love it, from the moment I walked in I was so inspired to sew! Crazy enough it's called "Sew much Fun" I know I sound like an old lady. But, when you were raised with a mother like mine, who is so resourceful and creative. Sewing, cooking all seems so natural in a home. So, I am a sewer. I'm not great by any means but would love to be better. I may be taking some class's in the near future. Yeah to sewing!
I love DIY projects(Do it yourself)! I think as I'm getting older and wiser right? I'm finding my style and I love all old and eclectic things, I think if its got a scratch thats just adds a little more character to it. I love finding random things and painting them. I wish I could go shopping to all these garage sales and find all these little hidden treasures(no such luxury here, husband works, every saturday).
When Eric and I got married all young and happy and broke, My MIL Connie gave us a table and chairs, so we have updated the table but I decided to refinish the chairs!
Stay tuned for the piano bench and our awesome old wicker chair.....
So, after now looking to buy Caden some summer pjs. My mom and I came up with a good idea that was simple and inexpensive. I'll just sew him some shorts(if you can sew a straight line, you can make shorts) and then just buy him under shirts and call it a day! So, that's what I did! And an added bonus I could buy a material that had his favorite characters on them, such as Nemo, Cars, Thomas, Little Einsteins! And the best part, each pair ends up being about $2 a piece. AWESOME!
Well, my wonderful hunk of a husband turned 23 this weekend! That's right, 23 he's growing up so fast! And is what quite an enjoyable weekend! Saturday, we got to hang out which was quite nice. We even got a babysitter for Saturday night, and I surprised Eric the whole night. So, first I took him to a shooting range, why you ask? Well for two reasons: 1-Eric likes guns=Army 2-Eric is notorious for buying a gun, owning it for a couple years, selling it and buying another, while the whole time never shooting this or any gun once, that's right, he owns a gun but never shoots it, seems pointless to me. So, we went there and the whole time planning this event I never actually thought about me having to shoot the gun, let's just say I was flipped out. We get set up, eric shoots a couple times and can I just say how stinkin loud it was. 
So, he wanted me to try, nervous, he stands behind me, helps me hold this 12 gauge SHOTGUN, and it fires back right into my arm, OUCH is all have to say. So, Eric shot some more, and I went to rent a different gun and got myself a glock(a handgun...I think) anyways with some help and encouragement, I shot it and did pretty well according to Eric. 
And of course he did great! And loved it! So far successful!
Then we went and got some dinner, delicious and so peaceful by ourselves.
Then we headed to Zoo city, it's like an arcade, go carting. And it good, I must say though after shooting a real gun, those gun arcade games are quite addictive, Eric and I killed it forever in this game. Then Eric crushed this girls dream by getting the Jackpot on this one game getting him 300 tickets. That’s a right person, that’s my husband! I was so proud of him. Then we concluded our night, with a slew of candy from our tickets! Who doesn't love a bunch of tootsies?
Sunday Eric's actual birthday was so busy for him, he taught the deacon class(Eric was called to be the Young Men's 2nd counselor) and then he had to speak in Sacrament for 20 minutes on missionary work, and he did AWESOME! 
We ended the day with some Cocounut Cake(Eric’s choice) and some birthday candles!
So, happy birthday Eric, I love you and thank you to Connie and Larry for raising such an amazing man!
So, we have stepped it up in the technological world. We bought a webcam! Rally inexpensive, some technical kinks, but totally worth it! It was amazing to see my sister and then my sweet little niece and nephew on the screen! It makes a person feel so connected. I think we have the rest of the two families talked into it. I'm just kicking myself we didnt do it 2 1/2 years ago when little man was born. Oh well! So, I highly recommending anyone who lives far from friends and family go by yourself a twenty dollar webcam and run with it!
Please meet Caden's new best friend: Buzz Lightyear. We decided to buy Caden a buzz lightyear and let's just say it has been nothing but entertaining. If this tells you anything he loves this Buzz as much as Lightening McQueen, that's like as much as I love Eric, it's crazy!
That's right people, American Gladiators! Our favorite show. Please all meet my new boyfriend:
ROCKET
Stay tune on Mondays at 8 for awesome flashy outfits, cheesy one-liners and an all around good time!
That's right in our house it isn't just Mother's Day it a weekend. And I love it! It's my favorite time of year, way better then my birthday. I was supposed to go to a crop(a scrap booking thing) but Eric had to work late Saturday. So when he came home I said see ya and headed out shopping....wait for it....BY MY SELF! WAHOO! and it was great! I bought, some fabric for our chairs I'm redoing, a skirt(the fabric was adorable and only $3.00/yd) and some prints for shorts I'm making for caden. Anyways after going to several stores and spoiling myself(thank you stimulus check) I came home and Eric had dinner going, Chicken Kabobs, sweet potatoes and rolls.
Delicious and I didn't have to do a thing. And for an awesome dessert homemade chocolate covered strawberries, the absolute best! 
Actual Mother's day started out with a bang, literally, there was the craziest storm and crazy car accident, an incident helping people out and this all before 6 am. Church was great, received carnations. Came home hung out, received a really sweet card with music, that caden won't stop playing and is now learning the words to the song in the card. 
As most mother's day's go it's a tradition to go to KFC and eat it at the park. Well we decided to forgo this because the playgrounds would be drenched and try a new recipe Sausage primavera. Delicious! But, I now see why my mom always wanted to do KFC, no clean up and no mess. All in all a pretty decent mother's day!
I love being a mom and everything that goes with it. The pregnancy, the pain, the laughter. There is nothing more frustrating and more joyful then my little man Caden and without him I would not know the true joy of life. I love the wonderful examples of mom's I have in my life, my mother is the most compassionate selfless woman I know. And my mother in law Connie is by far the strongest, most passionate and loving woman! They both are incredible woman I strive to be. 
So, happy mother's day to all you woman out there, it is a day to be grateful and proud for all the hard work and sacrifice we put in as moms!
So, we went to the pool.
And caden got burnt.
and I didn't think he would in an hour.
Now he and I have learned our lesson.
Never leave without SPF 50 on Caden.
So, one great thing about having the missinaries in our home, besides them being entertaining, is that they and Eric get to be my guinea pig for new recipes. So, for dinner I made pot roast in the slow cooker, salad, veggies and a new roll recipe(gasp!) I know anyone who knows me knows I stick with my familys recipe and I thought these rolls were good, but not fantastic maybe I messed up somewhere, they just were very bland to me, but we halved the dough and made the other some orange rolls and these were delcious, the center was Orange rind, butter and sugar. and the glaze was powdered sugar, butter and o.j. They were pretty delicious! 
I didn't in tend on making the orange rolls but there was so many and the recipe came with it, so I though I'd give it a try. But for dessert I made a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, all homemade baby, crust and all. And I must say it turned out pretty freakin awesome! 
Yeah for the missionaries and all the hard work they do!
So, I had a fabulous weekend, nothing amazing happened...well wait yes something amazing did happen, my husband was home for three days people(with a couple hours on Saturday at work). That is a miracle and something we truly appreciate. We didn't do a ton, we went to the this rockin' library, got some books for us all. Had a picnic on Sunday, took a nap, nice things that we don't get to do together very often. Well, with the weekend comes baking...I love it! I can't help it and that's probably why I've put on weight and the fact we moved to the south, lack of sidewalks....that's another blog another time. So, there's this blog, and its great, great recipes, so far I've made the bread sticks, garlic bread(we had the missionaries over and tested it out on them) seasoning and the chocolate chip cookies the link to the blog is this: http://www.the-daily-bite.blogspot.com/
And here is the recipe for 
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
½ c. butter
½ c. high-quality tub margarine (like Smart Balance)
¾ c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
¾ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking soda
1 12-oz. bag chocolate chips
Cream together butter, margarine, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. Naturally, you want to keep an eye on them because every oven is different. Mine took 9 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.
So, I love to try new recipes and they way I shop is find around 10-14 recipes to try and buy ingredients that I don't already have. Well, I totally swiped, that's right I stole this magazine from a oil change place. It was Taste of Home Simple and Delicious how perfect for us.And let it be known I'm a total sucker if it has a picture, it gets me. So I managed to find 14 new recipes and I will share them with you. First recipe was tonight, Chicken and Bows, very simple and quite tasty. I got Caden to eat it as well, little did he know he was chowing down on peas and peppers? And there is a ton left over that will freeze for 3 months, how great is that?
Chicken and Bows
Prep/total time: 25min
1pkg bow tie pasta 2 lbs of chicken(cut into pieces)
1 c. Chopped Red pepper 1/4c. butter, cubed ( I used margarine)
2 cans of Condensed Cream of Chicken soup, undiluted
2 c. frozen peas
1 1/2 c. milk 1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp. pepper
2/3 c. grated Parmesan(I used a blend of white cheese's)
Cook pasta according to package. Meanwhile cook chicken and red pepper in butter(I used margarine) over medium heat, until juices run clear.
Stir in the soup, peas, milk, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Stir in Parmesan Cheese. Drain pasta; and mix together.
We have been kinda laid back about training just letting him sit on the potty when he wants and letting the interest grow. Well, the other night he said "pee pee on the potty" and ran to the bathroom so Eric went in there and within a couple seconds Eric is hollering for me and lo and behold, Caden had peed in the potty. YEAH! He clapped, we clapped we were all so excited and so proud and so I gave him so chocolate chips, he was even more excited, so now he goes "pee pee on the potty chocolate?" That was Monday. Fast forward to Wednesday(Tuesday we spent the day dealing with doctor appt, fun)
So, I asked Caden if he needed to go potty he ran to the bathroom sat and nothing, so he asked for a drink I thought it couldn't hurt, and he gulped it all down(seriously our kid will drink entire cup of anything in one sip) and then I thought I'd let him be free(naked) for a couple minutes. Ten minutes later I ask him if he needs to go, and he runs and sits and starts to play with the door stopper and I say "go pee already" and BAM he goes, how great, right. So, I thought all right I'll go with this so I brought out some big boy underwear which he was totally jazzed about he says "TOW-MATER" so, he wore those for awhile, I kept asking him if he needed to go and he answers no or ignores, then i hear it the first accident awesome! So, we went back to diapers which I intended on doing for nap time.
So, here's the plan I think I'll wait till June when Eric will be home and we will just do it, I've got a system on how to do it, but let's just say we will be done with diapers. So, til then we'll just keep letting his interest brew and enjoy our little man's success.
