Matthew is a genius

Since I am planning on printing this blog at some point for posterity's sake, I thought I should put a note in about how smart Matthew is. He has always been a really bright kid. He spoke early, walked early, played sports early, counted early, etc. But Matt and I have recently been blown away by his math abilities. About a year ago he started doing some simply math (like if we have 4 and we get another one, how many do we have?). But in the last six months he has started figuring out a lot of other things on his own. And he picks up on stuff so quickly like when one of his teachers was counting by 10s one day and Matthew thought it was great. He could do it perfectly from there on. He started adding harder numbers on his own and wants me to ask him math questions. Then he started figuring out that when he is so old, how old everyone else in the family will be. Then he started subtracting harder numbers. Then he started multiplying on his own (he would say to me three threes is nine, or four fives is 20). Then today Matt was talking to Matthew and somehow the question of 1-3 came up and Matthew told him negative 2! We were like WHAT?! I know I mentioned negative numbers to him once a while ago when he asked me what was less than zero, but we haven't talked to him at all about addition or subtraction in negatives! Don't get me wrong, I don't think he is perfect or anything (he still can't really even draw stick people), but he is pretty amazing! The crazy thing is that he started doing all of these things on his own. What can I say? For a person with a math minor (yes, me) that makes me pretty proud!

SuperMatt

Owen was accidentally knocked backwards down the stairs last night by our dog Anubis. Thankfully Matt was standing right next to him when it happened. Matt dove down the stairs on his stomach and caught Owen before he reached the hard floor at the bottom. For those of you who know Matt well, he doesn't usually respond to things so quickly (he saves it all for soccer), so what he did was pretty amazing. Now he just needs some tights and a cape...

Self-defense

Saturday I had my first self defense class and the community center. It wasn't what I expected, but it was SO MUCH FUN! The instructor is a 4th degree black belt and he has two 1st degree black belt assistants. I was expecting to punch a bag or something, but they had us doing punches, kicks, blocks, and rolls. Since I have never done any karate (Billy Blanks doesn't really count) I was trying not to laugh the entire time. It was really a lot of fun, though. I got a real kick out of yelling, punching, blocking, and kicking. I kept thinking about karate kid "paint the fence, sand the floor". The rolls were just hilarious. I have 9 more classes and I'm totally pumped. Everyone should do this!

Drew is potty trained!

So, I didn't want to write about it before now because I didn't want to jinx it, but Andrew is finally in his underwear all day! He has been doing well for a couple weeks, so I think it is official. I made the mistake with Matthew of trying to early and pushing too hard, so with Drew I didn't even try until after Christmas for the first time. When he wasn't interested I didn't push it. He has gradually become more interested since then ( I kept asking him every now and then if he wanted to try going on the toilet). After returning from AZ he seemed ready, so I just put him in some underwear. He had a couple accidents the first two days, but has basically been great since. It was a million times easier this way! Way to go Drew!

Which Jane Austen character are you?

I'm a little surprised that I am Elinor Dashwood. But this was really fun to do, especially since I am currently in a Jane Austen book club so I could tell which character was being referred to by each quiz answer. Still, I tried to answer the best that I could, even though I think I wanted to answer all the Elizabeth Bennet answers. All the other Jane Austen book clubbers should do this for fun!

Matthew lost a tooth!

Matthew had his first wiggly tooth while we were in AZ. I have to say, this was a big moment for me. I hadn't even thought about him losing a tooth yet, so when he told me one was moving I was shocked. I can't believe he is old enough to lose a tooth! He ended up losing it the day before we left AZ. (I accidentally left it when we flew back to Cleveland but Grandma was a life-saver and mailed it the next day). As soon as we got it back to Cleveland he was pumped to put it under his pillow, but made us unseal the envelope because he thought the tooth fairy wouldn't be strong enough to open it. (He said, "Because she is really small"). The next morning he was very happy to find a dollar in its place. I think I got a quarter for each tooth, but the tooth fairy has to keep up with inflation too!

Family pics

It was great that we all got to sit down and take a couple pictures together while we were in AZ. The really amazing thing is how well a couple turned out. Those of you with kids know what a feat it is to just get everyone looking at the camera at the same time. We actually have a few where everyone is looking AND almost everyone is smiling! Miraculous. It was a great chance to wear the Lacoste shirts that Matt's younger sister Jenny got us for Christmas. I have to say they look fantastic. I also added one that Kendra took of just our family to the side for our family photo. The pictures are great, Ken! I can't thank you enough. I can't believe what a pack we've become in just 5 years!

Chuck E. Cheese

In AZ we also spent a morning at Chuck E. Cheese. The kids of course loved it. Matthew's favorite was this Jurassic Park game that he put coin after coin into until he beat it. The others tried a variety of games and rides. There was this one that they lay back in and the screen showed a roller coaster ride- it was pretty funny. They watched the screen while the chair bounced them all over. I think they enjoyed it because they wanted to do it a few times, but you'd never guess it by the looks on their faces while riding. Thanks again to an overly generous Grandma for another fantastic memory!

The Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix zoo is a great zoo. We have a blast whenever we go. It is a really big zoo and it can get a little hot walking around in the summer, but this was a perfect time of year to go. Besides all the animals, there are parks, a petting zoo, and some other great attractions. Owen LOVED the petting zoo. Being around Anubis has really made him love animals. But the best part was getting to go with cousins. They had a blast together. This really was the best trip to AZ because they got to spend so much time with their cousins!

Throwing rocks

Ever since Matthew's first summer in AZ (when he was about 10 months old), he has loved going out with his grandpa to throw rocks in a nearby ditch. Now all the grandkids love to do it. Throwing rocks in the water is now a wonderfully anticipated activity. "Little rocks, little splash. Big rocks, big splash!"

A New Addition

No- not a baby! We are holding out on that for right now! But we did add another boy to the family. Rudy traveled home with us from AZ. He was my mom's beagle mix dog. She rescued him from a shelter about 6 years ago; they guess he is about 9 years old now. For various reasons he hasn't been able to live in the house with them so he had to stay outside in a small fenced area year round. (For those who have been in AZ summers, I'm sure you can imagine what that is like). My mom hasn't been able to give him much attention because of her busy schedule and due to the fact that he has to stay outside, and she has wanted to find a new home for him. Matt and I both (independently) thought we could bring him back with us. He seems to be doing well. He does really well with the kids, but he has had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to Anubis. Rudy hasn't been around a lot of dogs, not to mention a crazy dog that is twice his size that wants to play all day. I can see why he was a little scared at first. They are getting along better now. The kids like him. He is really gentle and would sleep alot of the day if Anubis would let him. I could sum this up with Matt's words, 'with two dogs, we're gonna be the dog people.' I guess he's right- we're officially the dog people.

Mexico

I'm still trying to catch up on all the fun stuff we did while in AZ. One day we decided to take a trip down to Mexico. We crossed the border into No Galas (spelling?). It was fun, we walked around, haggeled with some salesmen, posed for pictures with a donkey, had some yummy tortillas and cookies, checked out a few pharmacies and dental offices... My dad got to use his spanish. The boys got some wooden tops and a little indegestion. I got more vanilla. Overall I'd say it was a big success!

Easter Egg Hunt

While Matt and I were at a wedding in CA, my parents had a big egg hunt for the grandkids. Luckily my sis is a great picture taker, so I do have some evidence. I can't even say how grateful I am that my family was willing to do something like that for us. They watched the kids all weekend, they took over all Easter duties, etc. This is no small task for 3 very energetic boys. I'm also so glad they were able to spend so much time with their cousins this trip. They've made some great memories. (I put in the picture of Kendra's youngest child, Hyrum because it is so cute!)

Freestone Park

In AZ we went to this really cool park by my sister's home in Gilbert. It has a train, rides, ponds, courts, streams, bridges, picnic areas, playgrounds, everything you can imagine in a park. The kids did some fishing, riding rides, and lots of running and playing. Their favorite thing though was this tire swing that Grandpa spun them around like crazy on. They giggled and squealled the entire time. It made my stomach queezy just watching them. When we finally convinced them to get off they were falling all over the place. All in all, it was a lot of fun and we will definately have to go there again!

Book tagged

Loralee book tagged me and here are the rules-

1. Pick up the nearest book (with at least 123 pages)

2. Turn to page 123.

3. Find the 5th sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag 3 people.



So, the closest book to me is a book I'm reading called The Parenting Breakthrough by Merrilee Browne Boyack. It is all about teaching your kids to be responsible, capable people. It focuses on teaching them how to work, save money, and be independent. Who couldn't use a book on that? I'm actually really enjoying it (though I don't agree with her 100%). So if I go to page 123, here is what I get:



For example, my hubby and I definitely planned on having a Scouting family. My dad and brother were big Scouters, and I loved it. In fact, every guy I dated I would ask, "Are you an Eagle Scout?"



Not very interesting, but I do think it is a must read for parents. Even if you don't agree with her methods, it will make you realize that you need a plan to make your kids independent (they won't just naturally become that way on their own). So, those of you with kids- find a copy! I am willing to lend out mine when I finish :-)
Now, I tag Melissa Mitchell, Kendra McClure, and Hannah Nelson.

Easy Slow-Cooker Recipes

Kendra wanted the first recipe and I decided to add another one of my favorites. I should note that neither of these are spicy, but could easily be made so.

Chicken Oriental
1 Tbsp. hot chile sesame oil (or regular sesame oil with a little chile sauce added)
4 large skinless chicken thighs
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce


1. Spread oil around the bottom of the slow-cooker.
2. Put in chicken.
3. Sprinkle chicken with garlic and brown sugar. Drizzle with soy sauce.
4. Cover and cook on low 4-8 hours.
5. Serve chicken and sauce over rice.



Thai Chicken
6 skinless chicken thighs
3/4 cup salsa (I like Emerill's Gaaarlic lover's medium salsa)
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp. lime juice

Optional
1 tsp. grated gingerroot
2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp. dry-roasted peanuts, chopped


1. Put chicken in slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients except cilantro and roasted peanuts
3. Cover and cook on Low 8-9 hrs.
4. Serve chicken over rice. Sprinkle with peanuts and cilantro.

General Conference

April 5th and 6th was General Conference. It was so great to watch. I always get impressions that answer my questions and show me how to be a better person. This conference was particularly interesting because it is the first time I really remember sustaining a new prophet. It is so cool to know that God works the same today as he always has, that we have a prophet and apostles to tell us what God wants us to know now. I really liked Elder Nelson's talk on being a better parent. I think I could do a better job of teaching my children the importance of God in their lives. I felt the spirit really confirm what he said about parents correcting their children quietly and privately, then show an increase of love afterwards. He also said that we should not try to control our children, but listen to them and teach them by example and persuade them in kindness. It gave me a lot to think about and aspire to. I also liked Elder Ballard's talk to young mothers, encouraging us to live in the moment and treasure our children now, to find time for ourselves, to not overschedule ourselves or our children, and to find time to pray, study, and teach the gospel everyday. Of course overall it seemed that the speakers were often telling us to be optimistic and determined, to serve others, and to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ. Conference is an amazing time to be uplifted by the word of God, inspired by the different Christ-like examples, and to renew our commitment to ourselves, our family, our church, and our God. What a blessing to listen to church leaders and to feel the spirit testify of the truths being taught!

swimming

The kids loved swimming in AZ. Matthew has turned into a little fish. He wore a vest the first time we went, but after that he was great. He would drop under the water and swim as far as he could before coming up for air and a little break. He got caught out too deep a couple times when he needed to rest and we had to go help him, but he soon learned his limits and always came back to the shallow part when he needed a rest. Andrew tried going under a few times, but was more content to be carried around or to play with toys in the shallow part. He was really sad to leave. Owen also loved the water and thought it was really funny to splash and have the water get in his face. It was really great to go with Grandma and Aunt Kendra and their cousins Jayden, Jenna, and Hyrum. Hyrum is just 6 months old but he loved the water too. They also liked watching their daddy stay under the water for a few minutes at a time (speaking of fish). Too bad it won't be swimming weather in Cleveland for another few months!

Amazing Jake's

We went to the coolest places while in AZ. Matt wanted to check out Amazing Jake's because Broc (a friend in his dental class from AZ) told him it was a lot of fun. We had a great time. We had to pay for the buffet to get in and then we bought as many points as we thought we would use. Each activity or game is a certain number of points. The cool part is the different activities there. The put the coolest stuff in the huge warehouse. There was lasertag, a go-cart track, arcades, play areas, rides, etc. We did the mini-golf, bowling, bumper cars, go-cart racing, games, rides, and I even climbed the rock wall. We all had sooo much fun. Plus they had a decent buffet (we liked the pizza and icecream) with lots of different places to sit- we sat in the sports bar section with huge TVs and caught sportscenter while the kids ate. With so much fun stuff to do I think they could've hung out all day. Why don't they have something like this in Cleveland?

Kyla's Birthday

I should probably preface with the fact that I love birthdays. All birthdays, but especially mine! My 27th was particularly fun. I woke up when the kids came to wake us up, as usual, but pretended to be asleep while Matt jumped up with them and shooed them out to get everything ready. Since we are still in AZ, he wasn't sure where the wrapping paper, tape, etc. was, so there was a little comotion as my mom helped. I dozed a little until the kids again snuck in to see me. I figured that meant that things were ready for me to 'wake up'. Everyone was excited and I had presents, colored pictures and cards waiting for me on the table. I opened them immediately to find a massager, some under armor headbands (to hold back my short hair when I run), a white under armor beanie, and some white north face snowboarding pants. Now I'm all pumped to hit the slopes... Everything really was great. The night before my family had a party for my dad (his bday is March 31) and myself (pinata and everything). My great sis also gave me the Enchanted dvd because her girls love it (especially Jayden) and with 3 boys I never get to watch any princess movies. I think it is a cute show. SO, basically I'm saying I racked in some good stuff :-)

After presents Matt and I went to TC Eggington's again because it is basically the best breakfast place in the world. After breakfast we came home and hung out for a bit before going to golf 9 holes. It was really fun. The weather of course is perfect here this time of year and I actually did OK. I beat Matt (if you count my huge handicap) and lets face it- I really like to win at things. After golf we went to downtown Phoenix where we put our name on the waiting list at the Pizzeria Bianco (we were there right when it opened, but there was already a huge line and by the time we got to the front there was a 2 hour wait- I guess that is what happens after being on Oprah). It was great because it is in the historical district so we got to walk around there and downtown- just one street over. The pizza was pretty good, maybe the best authentic pizza I've ever had. After dinner we went home and chilled before bed. 27 is really looking good so far. Every year seems to get better, I can't wait for my 30s!