Signing Out...

Well as you can imagine, it's Saturday morning and we've got the rest of cleaning and packing to do.  Also the modem to our internet has to be returned...Sad day!  So in other words, I will MIA for a few days until I can get access other ways to post.  Some quick pics from this morning while packing

I asked Jaycee if I could take her pic of her helping and she insisted on taking it with her pic she drew.  She's been a trooper with helping and keeping entertained when not helping.  We have such good kids.

 She wanted Dad to get in the pic too and had to make sure he was smiling too.

 A good pic of what our house looks like...boxes and disaster!!!  Oh and a cute little girl playing in it all

 Even Hadi helps by staying calm and taking naps

 Yup, I'm packing yet another box.  So worth it though. 

 $1600 for someone to pack our house...I don't think so!

 Well look for updates next week of our fun road trip back West.  The first part will be fun but going through Nebraska...not so exciting.  Blah!  Love you All and we'll see some of you so soon!

You know the typical saying of all the duties of a wife: homemaker, mom, wife, accountant, taxi driver....blah, blah, blah.  Well YES it is true.  We do hold many titles and most the time do it well.  Last night as I was reminded that I'm Craig's personal secretary, that saying popped in my head and then I realized that women do a lot of things but they should make one for men too.  Sometimes we think we need all the credit, but I feel Craig deserves credit too.  He is a father, husband, comedian, cook, provider for all our finances, garbage man, the helper to many chores, teacher, story teller, Priesthood holder, body guard for the family, birth doula coach, ear piece to all my talking, exercising buddy and mostly my best friend forever!

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."  -The Family: A Proclamation to the World

5 DAYS FOLKS!  5 DAYS!!!

On the Home Front

Well things are getting close to moving day!  This time next week we will be watching the movers put all our boxes in the big truck.  It's going to be a busy 6 days until then.  We have about 3/4 way done with packing.  We have the rest of all the bedrooms, electronics and the kitchen left to do.  We're getting as much done as we can until the weekend when we'll pack up everything.  Also we are starting to clean this house this week so we can get our $1000 deposit back.  We kept very good care of the house so I'm confident we'll get it all back.  We have errands to run this week, the rest of our trip to plan and get ready for and one more hang out with our friends DeGrasse family.  Thinking about moving from their family makes me sad so we'll just not think about that. 

We FINALLY heard from USDA on our loan.  They got it processed and have a plan to have it finished and to our loan officer on Wednesday.  Bad thing is that our closing date is Monday, April 30 and with the papers going to the title company and our loan officer finishing things up, they don't think they can have it done by Monday.  So we had to file an extension of closing until May 11 or sooner.  I'm secretly hoping it gets done faster and we can still sign and have it ready by April 30 which would make our first payment due June 1 (we'd skip May's rent & mortgage giving us extra money).  Craig is hoping it DOESN'T get done until we get to Utah and we'd sign there.  If that's the case our first house payment would be due July 1 (we'd skip May & June giving us even extra money) but it would make the closing costs go up.  But we aren't paying any closing costs.  So we'll see what happens.  I guess good news is that it's almost funded and finishing up the final steps and the house is ours!!!!  So exciting!  Now that things are getting closer I see myself thinking about life in our new house a lot.  We were talking about how fun it'll be with holidays in our new home and just every day life.   We can't wait!

Last week Craig's work did a good-bye little shin-dig for our family.  His co-worker he has worked beside a lot threw it all together and paid for it all.  What a kind guy!  They had chips and crackers and cheese and meats to snack on and everyone was drinking their beer, but they knew we didn't drink so he had bought some soda-but we don't drink much of that either.  So pretty much everyone had an alcohol bottle and our little family had water cups.  ha ha.  It was awesome.  Chris bought Jaycee a little piano to take on our trip and then Tom did a little farewell speech and gave gifts...Kleinschmidt mugs, hats and Jaycee a flashlight.  We were all laughing but Jaycee really did enjoy her gifts.  She wore the hat the whole party, played with her flashlight and put chips in her cup.  It was a fun night to say good bye and talk about our new adventures with all Craig's co-workers.

An apple a day...

If I let Jaycee she'd eat ten apples a day!  She is our little fruit fanatic!  I would say her favorite are grapes and strawberries.  I don't blame her though, they are yummy! 

Yesterday both girls had their check ups.  Here are their stats

Jaycee LeeAnn

Weight: 35.2 pounds  80%

Height: 36 3/4 inches  50%

Hadi May

Weight:  11 pounds 13.5 oz   15%

Height:   24 inches   35%

So looks like our little girlies are absolutely perfect, which I already knew :)

Everything with Jaycee is going great except that she doesn't drink milk.  I brought this up and her dr said as long as she's getting 3 servings of dairy a day then that's fine.  She does love yogurt so I'm making sure to give her one more often and hoping to add in more cheese.  Also the dr said as long as she keeps eating her 5 servings of fruits & veggies that she doesn't need to take supplemental vitamins.  That isn't a problem with her though.  The veggies we have every night with dinner along with snacking on carrots.  And fruit is pretty much a treat for her.  At this age she should be drawing circles and lines and will start using plurals when talking (appleS, toyS, etc) and will start referring to "I" and "Me" instead of saying "Jaycee".  I've already noticed she is starting to that a lot more often.  Jaycee was very cooperative for the dr in letting her check all her body parts and getting her temp although Jaycee decided she wanted to be shy and not say a word.  I was a little concerned about her weight percentage but the dr said she looks perfect.  Jaycee doesn't get much sweets and I feel like we are a pretty healthy family.  My goal for her is just with the nice weather to get her playing outside every day; which I'm sure she'll love that. 

Hadi is looking great also.  She has a little thing on the back of her head/neck line which gets bright red and then goes away.  I was concerned and found it is called Stork's Bite.  It's a birthmark type thing that will go away by the time she turns 3.  It looks like a salmon patch which are blood vessels dialated.  You can see them when she cries, after a warm bath or if she's too hot.  That's when I've noticed it.  Also Hadi got her 4 month shots and she only cried at the end of the last one and calmed right down with her binkie.  Hadley flipped from her tummy to her back for the first time and ALMOST flips from her back to her tummy.  She loves to giggle especially when playing Patty Cake.  She also loves her toys and sitting up watching shows with Jaycee.  She now sleeps in her crib from about 10:30-7 and without a peep.  

 After the dr left I hugged both my girls in the little doctors office and just felt so lucky to have them.

 

We've been busy little bees lately!  And I'm sure the next 3 weeks will bring even more busyness since we now have to pack up our house.  We'll make it fun though.  Here are some pics as of lately.

Ah, the life of a 3 year old

 My two girls loving each other

 For Easter weekend we headed down to Dathan's house for our last weekend playing.  It's so bitter sweet moving because we will miss their family so much.  We get along really well and have so much fun playing and laughing together.  Dathan and Craig went paint balling on Sat morning with the ym/yw from Dathan's ward and us girls hung out.  Saturday night we dyed eggs for the easter bunny to leave in our baskets.  Jaycee had so much fun. 

 When all the kiddos went to bed we got the baskets ready and hid them around the house.  The Easter bunny brought Jaycee "A Bug's Life", some sparkle makeup (she was requesting that for a few weeks), silly putty and of course candy.  But the bunny was smart to not give her too much.

 Even Hadi got a little basket with a new crinkle book that she loves to play and suck on.

 Saturday morning we woke up bright and early for church at 9.  Jaycee woke up and found her basket hiding in a pantry door in the kitchen.  She dove right in to her makeup and insisted on putting it all over mine and her lips.  We got the girls ready for Easter Sunday.  Hadley wore a dress that Jaycee had at that age that Grandma Parker gave her.  It was one of my favorite so that's what Hadi wore.

 Last year I fell in love with this dress for Jaycee from Children's Place.  After Easter I got a steal on it and saved it for her to wear.  She looked beautiful in her new dress.  She wanted to help daddy feed Izzy so I snuck in a picture right before church.

 Saturday night Kellie was craving a blizzard from DQ so Dathan, Haylie, Bray, Jaycee and I went out to get them.  We took Dathan's new car and Jaycee loved watching the movie and riding with her BFF.  So when it was time to go to church she quickly ran to their car and climbed in.  Silly girl.  She just loves her friend/cousin Haylie.  All the kids getting ready to go to church and Jaycee playing with her new makeup.

 We had a wonderful sacrament meeting.  During the rest hymn the primary kids got up to sing a song.  Brayden got up quick and walked up and Jaycee wanted to follow and we tried to get Haylie but she refused.  I told Jaycee she could go up.  She got almost to the front then turned around and walked back.  As she's walking back she says loudly where everyone to hear, "Mom, they scared me."  Everyone around us was laughing.  Also Jaycee has a rough time going to primary.  Every week it's a hassle but we just take it one week at a time.  She went in holding hands with Haylie and I sat in the back for a few minutes then she was fine.  During primary (we only stayed 1 hour) Hadi and I were out in the hall laughing.  Here's us :D

 Right before lunch I wanted to try to get a quick picture of both of the girls in their dresses and that backfired!  Here's a perfect picture of wanting to be fed and not wanting to cooperate: 

 We did our annual Easter egg hunt in their backyard and it was so fun to watch Jaycee.  I was really glad we didn't do as many eggs because I really didn't want her to have that much candy.  She had so much fun and we plan on making that a tradition in our home.  Except Craig said in their family they hid the eggs they colored so I think we'll do those instead of getting more candy. 

 Me and my love

(I didn't even have to beg him for a kiss-he's the best!)

 On the way home we had a really late start and I ended up driving the last hour because Craig was exhausted.  I didn't mind though.  We were asking Jaycee in the car if she liked going to class with Haylie and what they talked about.  She told us that they learned about Jesus and that he died.  I was shocked that she learned that.  Goes to show those little 3 year olds really do listen even though they can be squirmy and not focusing.  I have such a smart little girl.  We all were tuckered out and fell right asleep. 

Monday was Craig's birthday and he had to work so we wanted to make him a special birthday dinner and cake.  While I was in the kitchen I came to check on Hadi and Jaycee was having a blast playing with her.  As you can see  ha ha

 For dinner I made homemade fetticine alfredo and Craig's favorite homemade breadsticks.  I felt bad it took a while to make that he even helped out but that's okay.  Smile birthday boy!

 Craig requested Better Than Sex cake-he's not a huge cake fan but this one he actually likes

 Blowing out the candles

It was a successful birthday and I'm pretty sure he was stoked about his b-day present.  Jaycee and I both gave him gift cards to Home Depot.  He says he can't decide what he wants to buy but it was fun seeing him so giddy about it.  Happy 33rd Birthday Craig!

Last I wanted to put a pic of Hadley since she's going to be 4 months on Thursday.  She has an appt on Monday that we'll get all her stats.  She's such a happy baby!  She loves to smile and now she giggles and laughs at least once a day.  She now sleeps in her crib which she adjusted great (mommy didn't)  She's still nursing wonderfully every 3-4 hours and we'll be starting rice in a few days.  Most her clothes are 3-6 months but some are too short so we'll be getting out her 6-9 months clothes out this week to try those.  She's such a perfect addition to our family and Craig and I just feel so lucky to have the best babies ever.  She hardly ever cries; only when she wants nub, nub (as we call it).  Even going to bed she's usually awake and falls asleep on her own with her mobile and light doll.  We sure love her!

Thu

WHAT TO DO?!!!!

 A few weeks ago I took the girls for a ride on a trail by our house.  They loved it.  Jaycee is so funny that she puts her helmet on backwards but I made sure to switch it on the ride.  Jaycee cried and cried when it was time to get off. 

I feel so bi-polar when it comes to our 4 wheeler.  I've blogged about it before but maybe some of you bloggers out there can give some help and insight. 

So we bought it right BEFORE Craig got cut hours back in 09.  At the time my parents were buying theirs too so we were really excited to pick up this new hobby as a family.  We got a great deal on this machine and finally paid it off with Craig's christmas bonus in '10.  So it's been paid off for a little over a year.  Well last year we didn't use it AT ALL.  In fact I think I can count on one hand how many times we've ridden it here in Maine.  When we bought it we had places up in the mountains to ride and here it seems like there's no where to take it-although they claim it's 4 wheeler country.  I beg to differ.  Part of the reason why we didn't ride it last year was because I was pregnant and Jaycee was too small.  So this year we've already taken it out a few times and Jaycee LOVES it.  I love it too but again there's not many places to ride it.  And next year I probably will try to get pregs again so I don't forsee riding it when there's a bun in the oven.  So pretty much when we first heard about having to come up with 3.5% on a house for FHA we put the 4 wheeler for sale.  We've had a bunch of calls and offers but too low for what it's worth.  Well the past few days I keep going back and forth on keeping it or selling it.  I even prayed about it and not getting any inspiration.  Also we went halfsies with Craig's parents on a trailer for it that's in Roy that they said we should take back to WA when we move.  And our house has a place on the side of the house for storage.  BUT $4000 cash could be used for flooring or house things and we probably only ride it a few times a year.  I'm so torn.  I have a guy that wants to come look at it and part of me feels sad.  Then part of me says to sell it and use the money for our new house.  I wish some decisions were easier to make.  What would you do? 

I belong!

I feel in my heart so full from this past weekend.  Conference to me was like a feast.  I just wanted to keep eating and keep hearing all the things spoken.  I just feel so blessed to have these prophets here today to keep us on track and help us along our way.  There were a lot of talks that I really liked but one of my favorites was from Jeffery R. Holland
You can watch it here:  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2012/04?lang=eng&vid=1540737895001&cid=5

I loved the parable he gave and many of the words he said.  I loved the quote "Why should you be jealous because I chose to be kind?"  Also it really touched my heart about God's love and grace and also in the parable of his mercy.  The end of his talk I thought was really powerful when he said, "Accept the atoning gift of Jesus Christ; don't delay, it's getting late." 

I just love this gospel and belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  How lucky we are!

Orgasmic French Toast!

So there's a little story behind "orgasmic french toast" 
Clear back 5 1/2 years ago Craig and I had been on a whole 2 dates-ish and we're pretty much "boyfriend, girlfriend" and we had gone on a date down to the Hale Theater.  One the way back we were pretty hungry and Craig asked if I wanted some orgasmic french toast.  It took me back a minute to see what the heck he was talking about.  Well if you've been to Ihop and gotten their stuffed french toast, you know exactly why it's called that.  YUMMY!  It's a favorite of ours but yet here in Maine you have to drive SO FAR to get ANY WHERE!  I think it's been a year since we've had it.  Well conference was this weekend obviously and I've heard a lot of people have traditions of things they make: pancakes, cinnamon rolls etc.  I've wanted to think of something unique and finally I found it....STUFFED FRENCH TOAST!  And boy was it "mouthgasmic" Holy Moly!  So here's the recipe and I owe props to "Sugardoodle.net" on f/b. 

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

• 1 loaf French bread
• 5 eggs
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• crushed corn flakes

"THE GOODNESS"

• 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cool whip, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar

STRAWBERRY SAUCE

• 2 cups strawberries
• sugar, TT

First make "THE GOODNESS".  Blend all ingredients together and set aside.

Next, make the Strawberry sauce.  Blend strawberries and sugar together, adding sugar to get to desired sweetness. Set aside.

Cut French bread into even slices about 1.5-2 inches thick.

Blend together eggs, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and heavy cream.

Dip sliced french bread into egg mixture.  Next dip into crushed Corn Flakes.

Cook until done.

Place one slice of French Toast on a plate. Layer a good amount of "The Goodness".  Top with another French toast.  Drizzle strawberry sauce over top and swirl on some whipping cream.

Enjoy!


We didn't do the crushed cornflakes so I don't know what it would add flavor wise.  But holy cow it was so so so good and makes a lot too.  We have another round for breakfast tomorrow so I think next time I'll half the recipe.  It tastes so similair to Ihop too so now I can make my own.