Keeping up with the Pelfreys

Princess Mania

2012-01-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

Well, its happened and my Libby girl has been bitten by the Disney Princess bug. She is not terribly interested in anything else girly, but she is obsessed with Disney princesses. Craigslist provided a princess toddler bed and grammas have supplied dolls and other princess accessories. The library gives us our movie and book princess fix. Libby and I even have a game called "princess questions" where I ask her trivia about Belle, Cinderella, Mulan, etc. The only way I could convince her to potty train was to promise a Tangled barbie. (Whose hair now looks like a trashy avante garde runway model)
So who's your favorite princess?

Caught on ESPN

2012-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Eric caught on ESPN at the BYU v Tulsa game with his buddies.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

Our kids really got excited about Christmas this year. It was fun for Eric and I to remember what it was like to be a kid and be so anxious for Christmas morning. Unfortunately we are out one camera right now so we used our phones and most of the pix are a bit blurry. Oh well. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the day.

Not a Thankless Job

2011-12-09T15:40:00.001-08:00

When I told my mom about this little incident, she told me to write it down. So I will. Right here. On this blog. Yesterday night I went to the dentist. I haven't been in far too long. But finally we have insurance so I can go. But that's beside the point. This particular dentist office has evening hours so my appointment was for when Eric got home from work. I left Eric with the kids, the baby and a full bottle of milk. When I got home 2 hours later Ollie was screaming his head off and according to Eric, had been for about the last 40 minutes. He had refused to take his bottle while I was gone, so I figured he was probably starving. I took my super sad little baby and sat down with him to nurse. But instead of nursing, sweet little Ollie just looked up at my face cooing, laughing, sighing with relief, in between leftover sobs. Is was exactly if he'd been saying, "Mommy, I missed you. Mommy, I didn't know where you were! Mommy, I am so glad you are home!" It was just so sweet and tender that it practically had me in tears. I couldn't give my little baby enough hugs. I felt at that moment that motherhood wasn't completely thankless.
Now what am I going to do next week when I have to get those 5 cavities filled?!

My Kid is Five.....AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

2011-12-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I remember telling my mother in law that my kids would never get older than three. I just couldn't imagine being a mother to anything but babies and toddlers. My little Ethan proved me wrong! My camera is on the fritz, so I don't have a picture of the joyful event that was Ethan's birthday, but I will tell you all about it. Ethan got to be the snack leader at his preschool, which is at the Science and Nature Museum at Fair Park here in Dallas. He goes on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 1 pm. He gets to eat lunch there at "science school." So after the kids had eaten lunch today, I brought in cookies for the class since it was Ethan's birthday. Ethan got a crown and an adorable "happy birthday" chorus from the class. His teachers are fantastic and you can tell they really love the kids. I really couldn't be happier with the preschool. Ethan learns a TON of stuff and he comes home telling me all kinds of things he learned. For instance, this month is outer space study at science school...so Ethan came home knowing that a blue star is a hot star, a yellow star is a warm star...blah, blah...I was pretty impressed! Tonight we had hot dogs and chips for his birthday dinner...that hasn't happened in a LONG time! Chocolate cake and ice cream followed and he opened his gifts. He loved them all, but the Diego rescue transport we got him really got him excited. He was having a blast playing with it before bed. Ethan is such a sweet little boy. He is generally well behaved and even though he and Libby fight/tease each other all the time, his teacher informed me that he is a very good boy at school and very knowledgeable. That always feels good to hear that your kid isn't the dumbest one out there! Thank heaven he came from Eric's gene pool! Anyway, I love my little boy...he is such a funny little munchkin and I don't know what I'd do without him!

Bar Results

2011-11-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Eric passed the bar! I am so proud of him.
Bring on the lawyer jokes!

Halloween Preview

2011-10-30T18:40:00.001-07:00

Hilarious

2011-10-14T12:34:00.001-07:00

I saw this on facebook and I about died laughing.
Thank heaven we still have BACON!

Our New Crib

2011-10-09T19:15:00.001-07:00

This adorable little Tudor is what we now call home!
(Here are few pix of our rental house)

We are lucky to live super close to downtown Dallas, so Eric's commute is really only about 10 minutes.
Such a fun, quirky house...we are having fun putting our "little piece of heaven" together...

Alive and Mostly Well

2011-10-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

So here we are in Dallas. Eric started his job on Monday. I am now at home with 3 kids. Yikes! Ethan got into a preschool which is very exciting. And now I must go because Ollie is crying...

New Life

2011-09-15T10:59:00.002-07:00

New Job
(Attorney at a big law firm)

New Location
(Dallas, TX)

New Baby
(Beautiful Oliver)

Wish us luck in our new life!

Somebody Likes the Tubby

2011-09-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Blessed Boy

2011-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Our little Oliver Stephen was blessed by Eric on September 4th. It was a beautiful blessing. Thank you so much to those who were able to attend and support.

At least these pictures turned out a bit better. (No, Libby did not just learn the news of a tragic accident. She just does not like the pressure of the camera...)

What's Wrong With This Family Photo?

2011-08-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

K, lets start with What's Right With this Family Photo:

Everyone in the photo is alive
No one has blood or chocolate smeared on their face
Everyone is clothed (though Libby screamed for half hour straight regarding the sporting of a white shirt)

What's Wrong With this Family Photo:

Not one person is looking at the camera
Libby is obviously throwing a fit
Eric, trying to restrain Libby, is not able to concentrate on the camera
Ethan, though adorable, is in la la land
I, having had a baby exactly one week before, am a little on the fat side

I love this group!

Happy Fam

2011-08-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Family of 5!

Oliver Stephen Pelfrey

2011-08-16T21:15:00.001-07:00

Our little boy was born on Monday morning, August 15, at 8:44 am. He weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was 21 inches long. We are so incredibly excited to have him!

Eric and I went in around midnight on Sunday night so they could induce me. Labor wasn't super fast, so little Oliver didn't show up till almost 9 am. The delivery went flawlessly and we had our sweet little baby to cuddle right after he was born. That evening my family came down to see him and Ethan and Libby got to meet baby brother. They were very excited (especially Ethan) and were so soft and sweet with our new little guy. I might also add that Darrell and Melodie made my night by bringing me a piece of Cheesecake Factory cheesecake to the hospital.
Sooooo...so far so good. What a blessing to have another sweet and innocent little gift from Heavenly Father.

The Trampoline

2011-08-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

The trampoline has been a major hit since we got to Utah. The kids spend hours jumping alone, with each other or Uncle Jay and Daddy. I spend hours sitting in the shade in a camping chair watching them bouncing up and down...thinking that maybe if I got on this pregnancy would be over in a hurry. (When I told my doctor my plan to jump he told me to make sure there was someone standing by...with a videocamera!)

The Best Husband

2011-08-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Eric and I celebrated our six year anniversary. The more time goes on, the more I realize I am married to the most thoughtful, kindest, most patient and charming person alive. He is easy to live with, smart, fun and a fabulous dad. I am so flattered and honored to be his little wife.

36 Weeks

2011-07-22T16:40:00.001-07:00

Here's to hoping there's LESS than 4 more...

A Sad Tale of Woe

2011-07-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, I have bad news. No more pictures on the blog for awhile; our digital camera got stolen. It was taken along with our GPS out of our car while we were at church. It just don't seem right.
Anyway, this is indeed a shame because this month we have lots of things I wanted to photograph. Trips, two family reunions, etc. We will just have to make sure we replace it by the time we have our baby.
In the last couple years we have had people breaking into our cars a lot. (I guess I should stop leaving stuff in there over night...) Anyway, we've had stolen: an ipod, a cd player, the gps and digital camera...and, get this, the night before we left NC someone tried to hotwire the Miata!
People, stop messing with out stuff!!!

Buttermilk Brownie Cake

2011-06-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

After my mom made this for us, my husband, a lover of chocolate, proclaimed this the best chocolate cake he has ever eaten. Figured I'd better get the recipe from my mommy...and why not share it with all of you?

Buttermilk Brownie Cake
2 c sugar
2 c flour
1/4 c cocoa powder
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c butter
1/2 c buttermilk (or sour milk)
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 c water
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Combine sugar, flour, cocoa and mix well. Combine water with oil and butter in medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Add to flour mixture and mix well. Add buttermilk, baking soda, salt, vanilla and eggs. Beat well by hand. Pour into two round layer pans. Bake 30-35 mins at 350.
(Make sure pans are greased and floured well.)

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
(Ingredients are approximate due to the fact that my mom eyeballs this when she makes it...)
1/2 c (a little less) butter
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
6 TBS cocoa powder
2 c powdered sugar
2-3 TBS cream
Begin beating and then add around another 2 cups pwd sugar and another few TBS cream. Eyeball it, add more pwd sugar or cream till you get it the right consistency.

Frost that puppy and get yourself a happy husband!

Necessary For Travelers

2011-06-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

We travel a lot therefore we play the alphabet game a lot. Therefore I love this sign.

Law Students: Together Again

2011-06-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

We managed to find our way to a few of our law school friends (or they found our way to us) for quick little reunion. It was so fun to chat and catch up even if it was for just a short time. The kids took a minute to warm up to their old pals, but they eventually ran and played like no time at all had passed.We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives; these two families being at the forefront.Melanie, Lindsay, Natalie

Jonah, Blake, Libby, Hailey, Jack and Ethan

Brian, John, Eric

A tasty lunch provided by the Millsies. Thanks guys!

Outer Banks with Family

2011-05-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

After graduation, we went out to a beach house in the OBX for a week. And by "we," I mean all of my family and all of Eric's family. It was a blast. We were really close to the beach so we spent lots of time there flying kites, boogie boarding, digging for crabs, digging in general and sitting on chairs chatting. We even spotted dolphins in the waves several times. It was awesome.
One of my favorite parts was playing games with the combined families in the beach house until late at night. It was really a great vacation and we are so lucky that our families could come out from the west to join is celebrating Eric's graduation with a sweet party!

Graduate From Law School: Check

2011-05-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

Eric has at last graduated from law school. I am so very proud of him. We were so delighted that both our families could come out to Durham for the ceremony and an awesome beach trip afterwords. Thank you Pelfreys and Deardens for the support. We have been so blessed during our time in North Carolina. We are so very sad to leave after four wonderful years, but we are looking forward to our new adventures and what life will bring in Dallas.

Pelfrey crew

Dearden crew

Charleston, SC

2011-05-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

After Eric finished his law classes we took a little break from packing up the apt and headed down to Charleston, South Carolina for a little two night stay. The weather was getting pretty toasty, so we spent a lot of time at the beach which was actually really fun. The water was a nice temperature which was a huge bonus for me because I love swimming in the ocean. The kids had a blast running around in the waves and digging in the sand.One of the highlights of the trip for Ethan was driving a boat. We went on a water taxi ride out in the harbor and we were the only people on board so the captain let Ethan drive the boat and honk the horn. It was pretty cute.
We also enjoyed the sun, the food and the beautiful town of Charleston. I hope to go back someday sans kids and explore a bit more in depth.

Peanut Butter Toffee Pretzel Bon Bons

2011-05-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

I made these babies the other day after I had seen them posted on our ward's cooking website "Roast My Pig." Holy cow! These were delicious!
For your enjoyment:

*Note: to chop the pretzel sticks, I place several large handfuls of pretzel sticks in a ziploc bag, seal, and roll over the top with a rolling pin until the pretzels are crunched up well. I measure out of the bag and continue the process until I have 2 cups. These bonbons can be made up to three days in advance. The peanut butter pretzel filling can be made and formed into balls and frozen for up to 2 months before dipping.

*Makes about 10-12 dozen bonbons

8 tablespoons butter, softened to warm room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar

2 cups peanut butter

1 cup toffee bits

2 cups chopped/crushed pretzel sticks

1 pound chocolate (semisweet, milk, bittersweet)

2 tablespoons shortening or butter

Toffee, chopped nuts, chocolate jimmies for garnish

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until evenly combined. Add the peanut butter and mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in the toffee bits and pretzel pieces by hand with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

Line a large rimmed baking sheet (12X18-inches or several smaller baking sheets) with parchment or waxed paper. Roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch or so (it doesn't have to be exact) balls and place them on the lined baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and freeze for 15-20 minutes until firm. At this point, the balls can be transferred to a sealed container or freezer ziploc bag and frozen for up to 2 months.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate and shortening/butter together in a microwave-safe bowl or in a double boiler until completely melted and smooth (taking care not to overheat the chocolate as that can cause white streaks, bloom, to appear in the hardened chocolate).

One by one, toss a formed peanut butter/pretzel ball into the melted chocolate and using a fork, cover the ball with chocolate. Lift the covered bonbon out of the chocolate with the fork and tap the lower stem of the fork (right above where the rectangular tined fork part ends) on the edge of the bowl to let excess chocolate fall through the tines of the fork. Scrape the bottom of the fork along the edge of the bowl and transfer the covered bonbon to a parchment lined baking sheet (you can use the same baking sheet(s) used for freezing the balls if you have room). Set the bonbon very close to the parchment paper and using a second fork or butter knife, gently scoot the bonbon off the fork onto the baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle your garnish of choice on the top of the wet chocolate before it sets.

Refrigerate the bonbons until ready to serve.

Springtime Pagan Traditions

2011-04-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

I really couldn't even called this post "Easter" because the following pictures have nothing to do with what I consider the true Easter holiday.
Nevertheless, we did have a marvelous time with such nonsense as egg dying, egg hunting, egg eating and the like. The kids got an immense kick out of coloring the eggs as you can see from the photos. Mom was a little lame this year and tried to steer clear of sugar by filling the plastic eggs with yogurt covered raisins...but I think the kids got enough treats when all was said and done. Eric's mom also sent a package for them which is always very exciting to open. They looked so cute in their new little church clothes.One of my favorite parts of the real Easter is singing Easter hymns. They bring the spirit of the resurrection so strongly to my heart. This is one of my favorite "Easter" scriptures:
Corinthians 15:55-57
55 O ^adeath, where is thy sting? O ^bgrave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of ^adeath is sin; and the ^bstrength of sin is the law.

57 But ^athanks be to God, which giveth us the ^bvictory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

That's what I call Easter.

Reluctant Princess

2011-04-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Before church:

After church:

My friend gave Libby this beautiful white Easter dress. Since my daughter is two and acts like it, I knew putting it on her was going to be an ordeal. But with Eric holding her and me wrestling it over her head, we finally got the princess dress on. She screamed bloody murder the 30 minutes to church.
BUT...after three hours we came home and Libby had come to grips with the gown. I even saw her smoothing the tulle and walking with a little spring in her step.
And I say that is what good parenting is all about: forcing your kid to do stuff they don't wanna.
(I may not have had this philosophy as a teenager...)

Late Twenties

2011-04-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have arrived at my late twenties: I turned twenty six this Wednesday. I wasn't as grief stricken as I thought I was going to be. I think I've realized they keep coming whether I like it or not. Anyway, Eric and I spent a delightful evening at a fancy little restaurant here in Durham, and Eric sent me to the mall for whatever I wanted. (I think I might have overdone it). I came back with:

New Fingernails

New Toenails

New Eyebrows

Happy Birthday to Me!

Oh! The Craving!

2011-04-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

What I am craving:

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tomato Soup
and

Hashbrowns

Oh, yum!

Ethan at Four

2011-04-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hard Up For Humor?

2011-04-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

As the weather in NC has gotten warmer, the kids are always begging to play outside. We don't have a real back yard, but that doesn't stop Ethan and Libby from running around like the own the place. I try to get a few things done in the house while I watch them out the sliding glass doors in our living room. I cracked up when I saw them doing the following, now one of their favorite games.

Unfortunately in this movie, the car did not catch him, but I hear all kinds of shrieks of terror and giggles as they get run over by the thing and then come tromping mud in the house. (Also, I hope you enjoyed my brother Stephen's singing to some kind of Mexican band...)

Adding to the Bedlam with Number 3

2011-03-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

We are taking our lives into our hands again...baby number three is due August 20, 2011! I had an ultrasound today and found it that this crazy little jumping bean in my tummy is a boy! As far as they could tell on the ultrasound, everything looked good and healthy and there was certainly no question what the gender was. How exciting! I asked Ethan and Libby what they wanted to name their new baby brother. Ethan: California Baby. Libby: Cowboy. We'll see if those make it.

Uncle Stephen in NC

2011-03-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

My brother Stephen just returned from his mission in Monterrey, Mexico. Since I hadn't seen the boy in practically 2.5 years, my parents were kind enough to send him out for a visit. Stephen got lucky because we had gorgeous weather while he was here. We hit the zoo in Asheboro and a number of parks and tasty eating spots. We sent him off with well wishes at BYU and hints that our kids need some cousins!! Thanks for the visit, Steph!

Come Back, Aunt Mavis!

2011-03-03T20:19:00.001-08:00

My sister Melodie (lovingly nicknamed Mavis) came out to NC for several weeks. She was sooo fun to have here and so much help. While she was here she made two very special friends. Can you guess who?
Come back, Aunt Mavis!

Stuff Kids Do

2011-02-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

Making it through winter...to spring! (Thankfully spring comes pretty early in North Carolina!)

Pony Boy

2011-02-10T18:23:00.000-08:00

Benefits of Apartment Living

2011-02-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

Recently I've been feeling a bit crowded in our apartment and have started anxiously awaiting the day when I can have my own house. However, yesterday I realized there are a few benefits to apartment living.
My dishwasher started sounding awfully weird and I realized that it wasn't washing my dishes very well. So I called up the apartment office and put in a maintenance request. Early (but not too early) the next morning the fix it guy shows up, diagnoses the problem, leaves for a few minutes and comes back with a new dishwasher. He installs it in a matter of minutes and leaves. I now have a new dishwasher...free of any money or elbow grease. Benefits of renting...right there!

11 Step Program For Those Thinking of Becoming Parents

2011-01-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

This has been floating around facebook and it is so dang hilarious I just had to post it directly on the blog.

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

Two Year Old in the House!

2011-01-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

Libby turned two.
'Nuff said.

Busch Gardens and Williamsburg

2011-01-04T17:12:00.001-08:00

Last year when my family was here over the holidays we went up to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. We had so much fun that Eric and I decided to go up again and take the kiddies. Of course, without my family, it wasn't nearly as much fun, but we still had a great time. We walked around Williamsburg, Ethan stepping in every puddle he could see. It was pretty dang cold so we were afraid the kids would turn into ice blocks, but they were little troopers. We attended Santa's feast again and the turkey and pork roast was just as juicy and tender as last year. Yummy! We got a chance to take the kids to some shows and on some rides...everybody loved the Christmas decorations up in the park and all the carolers and bagpipers, etc.
Happy Post-Christmas!

Two Nice Things

2011-01-02T18:17:00.000-08:00

Tonight our family did a little activity before bedtime. We each said two nice things about the person next to us. This is how it went:
Ethan: "Daddy is nice to me and he makes blueberry pancakes for me and Libby!"
Dad/Eric: "Mommy is beautiful and she takes good care of you kids!"
Mom/Natalie: "Libby is good at saying 'I love you' and giving hugs. She is a good girl to go to nursery!"
Libby: "Eefie nice!" ("Libby, does Ethie play in the tub with you?") "Eefie play, not fight!"
Libby and Eth then gave each other hugs and kisses. It was pretty darn tender.

Christmas Morn

2010-12-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas PJs

2010-12-27T06:15:00.000-08:00

I attempted to make the family some pajama pants. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned oodles.

'Tis the Season

2010-12-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

Around this house Christmas Season has officially begun because Daddy is done with finals! Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to:

Thank You, Santa!

2010-12-12T18:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday something a bit stunning happened. Ethan sat on Santa's lap. There were no tears, no screams, no kicking, punching or resisting. He just got on Santa's knee in a business-like manner and stated his Christmas wishes. I was present, so I got to hear Santa say to him, "Now, if you want me to bring you some presents, you need to be a very good little boy for your mom and dad...okay?"
Fast forward to that evening. Ethan is holding still and actually letting me put his undies on after tub time. I comment on how marvelously still he is being. He then says, "Mom, do you know why I am being so nice to you? Because I want GOOD presents for Christmas!"
Excellent. Now all we have to do hold that over his head and remind him what Santa said and he snaps into an obedient young man. Ha! Thank you Santa! (aka Matt Tuttle!)

Birthday Boys

2010-12-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

Eric hit 29 years of age on November 16th and Ethan hit the ripe ol' age of 4 on December 1st. Both joyous occasions were celebrated with cake, ice cream, gifts and our cute little family. I think it was more of a shock to me this year that I have a 4 year old than that my husband is almost 30. I remember telling my mother in law when Eth was a newborn that I couldn't imagine him getting any older than 3. It remains true! Year 2 and 3 seemed like no big deal. Four?! My kid is, well, a big boy! I started remembering my life around 4. I started remembering my mom around 4. And my mom was a lot more mature in those memories than I am now! Yikes!
As for Eric and nearly being 30...well, I always thought 30 was pretty darn old. Now? I'm not so sure. Thankfully, I personally, am nowhere near 30...tee hee...

Ethan and Libby Immortalized

2010-11-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

My friend Ashley took a few pictures of the kids for me. As you can see, they turned out darling. Here is a preview of a few she took. You can see more on facebook. Thank you, Ash...I owe you a big one.

Thanksgiving Recipes

2010-11-27T10:51:00.000-08:00

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. The company was fabulous and the food was TO DIE FOR. I am going to do all you readers a favor and post the recipes for some of the dishes we had. They were heavenly.

Bik Duggan's Sweet Potato Casserole:

3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (canned will do great)
3/4 stick of margarine or butter, softened
1 cup evaporated milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
Mix the above well and pour into a greased 9X12 casserole dishBake @ 425 for 15 minutes. (It is not done yet!)

Topping:
1 cup crushed cornflakes
3/4 stick of margarine or butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
Melt the margarine/butter. Mix the above and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.Bake @ 400 for 15 minutes.Eat now or cool on a rack and refrigerate for later.

Stuffing (a.k.a. Sausage Creation)

1 box Stove Top stuffing
1 lb dry bread crumbs (I used Pepperidge Farm Herb Cubed Stuffing)
1 lb sausage browned
1-2 Tbsp sage
2 C hot water
3 onions, chopped
6-8 celery stalks, chopped
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 can milk
1 1/2 cubes magarine
salt and pepper to taste

Combine Stove Top, bread crumbs, sausage, sage, salt and pepper. In a large pan, heat water. Add onions and celery. Cook about 15 minutes, then add soup, milk, and margarine. When margarine is melted, add to the bread crumb mixture. It will be fairly moist. Bake covered 2 hours at 300.

Strawberry Jell-o

3 small packages of strawberry Jell-o
16 oz package frozen strawberries
2 containers strawberry yogurt

Boil 3 C water, dissolve Jell-o. Fill 1 C with ice, then fill over with water, add to Jell-o. Dissolve ice. Dump thawed berries in a blender, add yogurt and some of the Jell-o. Pour all into a bowl and stir to combine. Refrigerate.

Apple Crisp Pie

Nothing special! I just used a Pillsbury pie crust, tossed apples in sugar, flour and cinnamon, and topped with the usual apple crisp ingredients (oats, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter). I baked the crust and apples for about 15 minutes then topped with the crisp and baked for another 35 minutes (I left foil on top so it wouldn't brown too much).

Million Dollar Caramel Cookies

1 C butter, softened
1 C white sugar + 1 Tbsp
1 C packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
3/4 C cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
2 Heath candy bars
1 bag Rolo candies

Beat butter and sugars until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla and beat well. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture a bit at a time and blend well. Add extra flour if dough feels too sticky. Cover and chill about 30 minutes.

Chop Heath bars and toss with 1 Tbsp sugar. Wrap a piece of chilled dough around each Rolo forming 1-inch ball. Dip top of dough ball into Heath topping and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 7-10 minutes. Cookies look soft but don't overbake! Cool on pan slightly then move to rack. Store in covered container.

Green Bean Casserole
(This is the recipe that comes from Campbell's website, I think...but I tweaked it a bit)

1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
2 (9 0z) pkgs frozen green beans, thawed
1 1/3 cups french fried onions

Mix soup, milk, salt, pepper, beans, and 2/3 cup onions in 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake 350 for 30 mintues, or until warmed through. Stir and top with remaining onions. Bake 5 minutes more.
Note: Before I baked it, I added about 1/2 cup sour cream and sprinkled it with grated parmesan cheese.

Karla's Rolls - makes 2 dozen

4 tsp yeast
1 1/3 cups warm water
Mix yeast and water with 1 tsp sugar and allow to bubble, about 5 minutes.

1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup veg oil
6 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs salt
Combine these ingredients in mixer fitted with bread hook. Add the proofed yeast and gently mix.

Gradually add 5 1/2 - 6 cups flour, one cup at a time. Let knead in the mixer for 5 minutes (you can do this by hand though). Dough will be sticky, do not add too much flour or the rolls will be tough and dense.
Put in a greased bowl and rise until double (about an hour).
Separate dough into two balls.
Roll out each piece to 1/3 inch thick.
Brush dough with melted butter and cut into 12 triangles. (Like a pizza)
Roll each triangle (starting at the biggest end) into a crescent shape.
Rise again for about 45 minutes.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 for 17 minutes or until golden brown.
I like to brush them with melted butter right when they come out too.

Mashed Potatoes

Unfortunately, there's no recipe for this one. After the potatoes cooked, I mashed them and added melted butter, evaporated milk, sour cream and salt/pepper to taste.

Derby Pie

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
1 pie shell, partially baked

Preheat oven to 350. Partially bake crust, about 12 minutes and allow to cool completely. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and mix well. Add flour, salt, vanilla, nuts and chocolate. Mix well. Pour into crust and bake 45 minutes to an hour until center is set and top looks like a golden baked cookie.

Chocolate Pudding Pie

1 graham cracker crust (or pastry crust)
1 large box Cook and Serve jello chocolate pudding (NOT instant pudding)

Cook pudding according to package and pour into crust. Chill before serving.

Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

2 bunches lettuce (romaine or green leaf)
1/2 package bacon, cut into small pieces
1 c. swiss cheese
1/4 c. craisins
1/4 c. candied almonds
1/2 c. sliced mushrooms

Dressing:

1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1 c. oil
1 T poppy seed
1/2 t. ground mustard
1/2 c. sugar
1 T minced onions
1 t salt

The dressing tastes better if it is made a day in advance!

BYU MOA Curry Chicken Pasta

(I got this recipe from my friend who worked at the MOA and the batches they made were huge so I just pretty much make the recipe however I want. But here are the basic guidelines)

Orzo pasta
diced cooked chicken
chopped celery
slivered almonds
green onions
grapes
lots of canned pineapple and its juice (chunks or crushed)

Dressing:
equal parts sour cream and heavy mayo
sugar
salt and pepper
tons of curry powder

I just make this according to the things I like the best and it always turns out yummy!

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

* 2 (14-ounce) packages gingerbread mix
* 1 (5.1-ounce) box cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
* 1 (30-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon
* 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping or real whipped cream
* 1/2 cup gingersnaps, optional

Directions

Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding.Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped topping. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl.

These are some of tastiest recipes I have ever put into my mouth. You readers are just lucky there is no charge for this post!
(Thank you for sharing, Melissa, Loralee, Heather...)

Lazy Mom?

2010-11-21T19:42:00.000-08:00

So the other day I was sitting in the living room having a piece of chocolate cake for lunch when Ethan comes up and says, "Mom, are you gonna help me clean up this house or are you just gonna sit on the couch and eat cake all day?"
Wow. I think I just got called out.

Libby's World

2010-11-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

Libby's world is divided into two catergories: "like it" and "don't like it."
So far she has declared the following:

Dinner that is too hot ("don't like it!")
Jumping on the bed naked ("like it!")
Putting her finger in her nose and then into her mouth ("like it!")
Nursery ("like it!")
Footy jammies that are too small ("don't like it!")

Unthank You Note

2010-11-13T09:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Fruit Flies,
You must leave my home immediately. I hate you. My husband hates you. My children hate you. Stop having babies in my home. You will all die. I will not stop until every last one of you is dead...so it might be in your best interest to vacate the premises.
Always,
Natalie

Pelfrey Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Lumberjack and DorothyThe Pirate and the Sailor

Fall Break: We Saw It All

2010-10-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

We are nearing the end of our time on the East Coast (sniff, sniff) so we decided to hit a few sites for fall break this year. We also invited my brother Darrell to tag along. He was an incredibly good sport seeing how we were traveling with two little wild indians.
We had a ball. I felt like we saw everything on the Eastern Seaboard. Which is why I must give an abbreviated review of our trip in this account.
The drove up to New York City first thing and did all the funstuff there. My favorites were: Ellis Island and Broadway's Phantom of the Opera. I could go on and on about Phantom. It was absolutely fantastic. (Eric had already seen the play so he tended Ethan and Libby at the hotel while Darrell and I went. Thank you so much, honey. That was very, very sweet.)
Other highlights of the trip were: Boston's Freedom Trail and Boston baked beans, creme pie and chowder, Newport Rhode Island, a corn maze and pumpkin farm in Connecticut, a real live train ride in New Hampshire through the beautiful fall leaves, Joseph Smith's birthplace in Vermont and Ben and Jerry's factory.
Darrell shared a bed with Ethan at the hotels, which I thought was a great prep for Darr for future fatherhood. Darrell was also very smart, as he brought earplugs to shove in for those early morning hours when the kids were up but the rest of us just wanted to snooze.
Thank you, Darr for being so helpful on the trip, we hope you had fun.
(For more pix from this trip, check out my facebook page)

Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger?

2010-10-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

So, of course, as usual, we attended the NC State Fair this year. Most of the attraction of going to the fair lies in purchasing and devouring the food they offer. This year they offered something I had never seen before: a Krispy Kreme Donut Cheeseburger. In the middle is the basic: burger patty, cheese, bacon, etc, but instead of a bun on the outside, there is a glazed Krispy Kreme on the top and bottom. Now, as strange and alluring as this dish sounds, I did not eat one. I did, however, see one being eaten. Wowsers. I was amazed. Who is this person who thought up combining donuts with beef and bacon? They must have been a very courageous individual.
I stuck with a BBQ chicken sandwich and a deep friend oreo.

Ungrateful Recipient

2010-09-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

So my sweet mother taught my how to sew when I was about thirteen and I haven't touched a sewing machine since. Until just now. I decided I wanted to retake up the hobby. I got a machine on craigslist and read a few tutorials online. And I sewed a little skirt for Libby. It was very simple, has several mistakes and looks quite homemade, but its a start and I am kinda proud of it. Libby was not so thrilled with my endeavor. In fact, here is her reaction to my homesewn garment:

"TAKE OFF! TAKE OFF!"

C'mon, Libbs, its not like you have to wear it to the prom...

I'm Not Too Proud Of This...

2010-09-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

I thought I had stopped doing that after college. Guess I won't do that in front of the kids anymore.

A Bit Sentimental

2010-09-09T17:56:00.001-07:00

So if you would have asked me a few years ago if I could picture myself getting sentimental over Provo, Utah, I would have scoffed. But that is exactly what happened this summer while we were visiting out west. Eric and I took a trip down with our kids to visit BYU, see my brother Darrell's new house and to experience a few old haunts. As we walked around campus I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. I can feel it now as I picture walking through the Wilk, driving by my first apartment, and eating at Brick Oven. As cheesy as it sounds, this is probably the place I found myself. This is where I met some of my dearest friends. Its where I learned to live on my own, to use my own resources and depend on my own testimony. Its where I attended many BYU football games, fell in love with several freshman boys, worked shifts that started at 5 AM, stayed up till the wee hours of the morning. Provo is where I met my sweet husband, got married and had my first child. It is where I met my goal of graduating from college. No wonder Provo brings a lot emotion. Its a big part of my life. I believe that part of the attraction of Provo for me is the difference between it and other places. Henefer, the tiny town where I grew up, seems like it never changes. In Henefer, everyone in town always remembers me when I visit, there are all the friendly familiar faces and there will always be (plus or minus a few). BYU isn't that way. As I stood on campus and watched students walk by, I realized that my spot here had been taken. BYU had moved on. As sorry as I was to realize that I was also glad in a way, because it meant that BYU was affording someone else to have the experiences I was able to have. Bittersweet feeling.

Eric and I have talked on and off about moving back to Provo someday. I'd like to think that if we do the experiences we have could compare to those of our "Salad Days!"

I've Been Workin' on the Railroad

2010-09-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

Thank You Note IV & V

2010-09-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook,
Thank you for inspiring me with delicious meals for my family and teaching an air head like me to prepare them (since when my mom tried to teach me years ago it went in one ear and out the other).
'Preciate ya!
Natalie

Dear Mom,
Thank you for purchasing said Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook and attempting to teach me how to cook!
Love,
Natalie

Her Real Name is ME TOO

2010-09-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Libby is the biggest me too-er. Oh my goodness, it is so funny. She does everything Ethan does. Ethan jumps off the bed, Libby jumps off the bed. Ethan refuses to eat carrots, Libby refuses to eat carrots. Ethan says, "Hi Daddy," Libby says, "Hi Daddy." About a thousand times a day I hear out of her little mouth, " Me too, Momma" or "My turn Momma" or a repetition of whatever Ethie just said.

Ethan said to me today, "Libby does everything I do because she loves me so much." That about sums it up.

Grandma Washington's

2010-08-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

So many fabulous adventures in Seattle...

Thank you Pelfreys!

We Got Married FIVE Years Ago?

2010-08-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

Time flies when you're having fun.

Mullet-Free's the Way to Be!

2010-08-15T22:15:00.001-07:00

I've been trying to decide whether to whack off Libby's baby mullet for a long time. I finally just grabbed the clippers and went at.
And even though she gets called a boy probably twice as much, I think her "pixie cut" looks much better.

No Wonder the Kids Didn't Miss Me

2010-07-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

Havin' a blast at Grammy and Grandpa's in Utah. The pictures say it all.

Remember Me? I'm Your Mommy!

2010-07-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

So during Eric's back surgery my mom and dad had the kids out in Utah. Eric and I were absent for about 10 days and I was starting to really miss my Ethie and Libbs. I knew, though, that they were having a great time at Grammy's so I wasn't too terribly worried about them missing me. I did, however, figure that they'd be happy to see me when I returned. Ethan was fine...in fact, I think he was truly glad to see me. I got tons of hugs from him when I came in the door to my parent's house. Libby...well, she was tough. She woke up from her nap a few minutes after we got back and my mom went in to get her so she bring her out and surprise her with mommy. When my mom brought her out and gave her to me, I expected hugs and kisses and exclamations of "Mama!" and all that. She sat on my lap in a state of stunned silence for about 25 seconds before she started bawling and reaching for Grandma. This happened a couple times...and finally she let me read her a story before running back to my mom. After awhile she gave me a half smile, then a few giggles and finally a hug. She still sometimes reaches for Grandma when I am holding her, but today was much better.
Wow. I never expected that in a million years. Apparently there was some close bonding going on while I was gone.
Maybe tonight she will let me hold her when she wakes up instead of crying for Grandma.

Eric's Back Surgery

2010-07-23T19:14:00.001-07:00

Eric underwent his lower back surgery on Tuesday of this week. He's been in quite a lot of pain for the last year now in the lumbar region of his back. We figure it is an old aggravated rugby accident from about 8 or so years ago. Anyway, after enduring a lot of pain, physical therapy and a procedure that was somewhat like an epideral, the doctors realized that surgery was going to be the only route to get rid of the pain and keep Eric from losing motion etc in his back and legs. The surgery included removing much of a herniated disc in his lower back. When the doctor came out to talk to me after the surgery he admitted that the remaining part of the disc was quite degenrative, so Eric would need to be exceedingly careful in recovering. And that is where we are at right now. Poor Eric! Even though he is doing well, he is still extremely uncomfortable and is having a hard time moving from one position to another. However, we have high hopes that we will learn a little better how to manuever to avoid pain and after awhile I have no doubt Eric will be back to full functionality. The full recovery period is about 3 months, which seems like an eternity to Eric. No exercise, bending, twisting, picking up the kids, sitting for long periods, etc.

Thank you everyone for your concerns about Eric. And thank you especially to my parents for taking care of the kids while I am taking care of Eric. We will keep you posted.

Family Pix

2010-07-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

My friend Anna took these pictures of our family...isn't she awesome? What a fun little family I have.

Fabulous Fourth

2010-07-07T18:54:00.001-07:00

Despite not being in Henefer for the 4th of July, we had a super fun Independence weekend. I took the kids to the Lakewood Parade on Saturday (Eric had to work) and they absolutely loved it. Luckily, there was another parade in Dallas, in Highland Park on Monday that Eric could come to with us. We got great seats near the beginning of the route and were showered with candy and toys from all the floats. The weather was also agreeable--not too hot. After the parade, we took the kids to IHOP for a pancake breakfast. They thought they had died and gone to heaven. That afternoon we had a good long refreshing swim in our pool followed by a relaxing evening.

What a wonderful weekend to remember the special people who do and have served our country so bravely.

Quite Exhausted

2010-07-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Playing hard in the hot Dallas sun and humidity makes for one tired three year old.

More Lone Star Adventures

2010-07-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Our summer in Dallas has proven a blast, just as last year. Early on, for Memorial Weekend, we ran down to Austin for a couple days to visit my cuzzies Janet and Steve. We had fun, the kids had fun, and we had a life changing experience when we ate at Gourdoughs, the amazing donut place in Austin. I am confident I have never and will never taste a donut nearly as tasty as that Gourdoughs concoction. It was absolutely delicious and I can not wait to get down there next summer to have another one. I am so glad to have the Theriaults so close to Dallas...it is such a ball to hang out with them.

The other fun thing that happened down here was a visit from my brother and sister. Darrell and Mavis came to hang out for several days and it was super fun. We did a lot of chatting, eating, sightseeing, and picture-taking. I'm so happy they could come--thanks guys!

Other than that, we've been doing a lot of swimming in our apt pool, checking out the city, running around at the Galleria play place, going to the library, and playing with our buddies, the Despains. We've even had a trip to the Dallas Zoo! Even though we miss Durham, we've enjoyed every second of our stay in Texas.

I Am So Glad...

2010-06-22T17:56:00.001-07:00

...that my husband does not look like this.

(Just got a little carried away with an old skool paint program)

Ethan's First Scripture

2010-06-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

First Scripture Memorization

Joshua 24:15 (The three year old abridged version)

Thank You Note III

2010-06-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Bob the Builder on Netflix Instant Watch,

Even though I am very sick of you, I am also very grateful for you, because if I didn't have ya, I would have to watch Cars exclusively. (I'm also glad you aren't Thomas the Tank Engine.)

With much appreciation,

Natalie

Down to Dallas

2010-05-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Dallas a week ago today for our summer internship. We are excited to be here and glad that we found some place to rent right across the street from where we were last year and close to the office. Ethan is ecstatic that we live right next to the fire station and the DART rail and the hospital. (fire engines, trains and ambulances...what more could a little boy ask for?)

Eric is working again this summer for a law firm downtown called Vinson and Elkins. They treated us great last year so we were glad to come back to work for them. We don't exactly hate the paycheck either. Anyway, we'll keep you posted on our adventure here in the Big D.

Graduate From Business School: Check

2010-05-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know, Eric took a year off law school to do a one year business masters degree her at Duke's Fuqua School of Business. The degree is called a Master of Management Studies and it is basically the first year classes that an MBA would take. The program was pretty rigourous, but as usual, Eric kicked trash and took names. (I'm sure he would argue.) Anyway, I am really proud and excited that he got this degree that he so enjoyed. Here are some pictures of graduation... I really was only present the amount of time it took me to snap the photos. The rest of the time I was out in the lobby with Eth and Libbs. I managed, somehow, to see Eric handed his diploma, so I feel very lucky! Nice work, Honey!

Since Daddy's Been Home

2010-05-16T13:05:00.001-07:00

We've had a good couple weeks between Eric finishing finals and leaving for our internship in Texas. We've filled it with lots of fun stuff: trips to the park, stories, making cookies, rides in the jeep and two fun activities with our friends, the Mills. We took a day trip to Falls Lake, and hit an awesome beach there. Ethan and Libby had a ball splashing in the warm water, playing in the sand and eating oreos and potato chips. We also attended a Durham Bulls game, the minor league baseball team in town, and I have to admit I had a lot of fun. (Ordinarily I'd rather watch paint dry than baseball.)
We are going to miss being in Durham for the summer but very glad we have an extra year here in NC.

Thank You Note II

2010-05-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Body,
Thank you for not giving up on me. Because thinking back, I don't recall eating a single vegetable while I was in college.
Love,
Natalie

While I Was Sleeping

2010-05-08T09:59:00.001-07:00

This is what happens when you have a napping mommy, an open container of yogurt and a baby in the same house. At least she's happy!

Libby's Vocab

2010-05-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Several new words have recently burst into Libby's vocabulary and it is such a treat to hear her trying to talk. Here is a sampling of some of the words she says (or attempts): dada, mama, car, yogurt, Wal Mart, Kroger, night-night, no (sniff, sniff), Hailey, Jack, dolly, vroom vroom (for a car), num nums (food) and all other words are either a shriek, a grunt or hiss.

I love hearing her new little words. I can't wait to hear more.

Wicked!

2010-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

Eric and I got to go to the play Wicked last night here in our very own DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center). Despite sitting next to a heavy smoker in the nosebleeds, it was fabulous. We were stunned by the cast, set, costumes, etc. I am so thrilled we finally saw it--it was wicked sweet.

Giving Blood Can Be Very Flattering

2010-04-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

So I went to give blood the other day for our communities Day of Service and I came outta there feeling like a million bucks. During the screening process, the kind individual that took my blood pressure couldn't say enough about how marvelously good it was. She then took my pulse and said, "Oh my! Do you exercise a lot?" (Anyone who knows me well knows thats a LAUGH). Finally, after seeing that I had the "Give Double" (you can opt to give double red blood cells) sticker she informed me that I needed to weigh at least 130 lbs to do so and that I didn't look like I would make that cutoff. (Another LAUGH) Wahoo! How extremely flattering!
The funny thing about all this is that I couldn't even actually donate--my iron was too low. But I came out with a Lorna Doone and some new found confidence about my blood pressure level, heart rate and weight. My appreciation, Red Cross!

It's Time the World Knew About These Recipes

2010-04-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

Ice Cream Fudge

1/2 c sugar
3 TB cornstarch
3 TB cocoa (rounded spoonfuls)
dash salt
1 c milk

Cook on med until thick, remove from heat and add:

2 TB butter
1/2 tsp vanilla

Consume! Your life will be much better.
(I got this one from my mommy, Sharon Dearden)

Cowboy Syrup aka Buttery Caramel Pancake Syrup

1 tsp Karo syrup
3/4 c buttermilk
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 c margarine

Blend all ingredients. Bring to a rolling boil, then boil 5 mins, stirring occasionally. Use a large pot, cuz this stuff bubbles.
This stuff is so delicious I would eat it on cardboard.
(This one is from my mother-in-law, Connie Pelfrey)

Ethan + Easter Eggs = New Found Love

2010-04-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Spring Time is here! Easter weekend found us hunting easter eggs, dying easter eggs and eating easter eggs. Ethan enjoyed the first two enormously, the third he found repulsive. Here is some footage of the goings on. My favorites are Ethan's face when he comes to tell me he'd found an egg.

Florida Keys Footage

2010-03-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

South to the Florida Keys

2010-03-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

For Eric's Spring Break we took an awesome trip down through Florida and out to the Keys. On Monday we drove the 7.5 hours down to Jacksonville. I was thrilled to see palm trees and feel some warmth on my skin. The kids were pretty fresh even after the drive and loved sleeping in a hotel. On Tuesday we made it all the way to Miami, but took a stop at Cocoa Beach. It was a little too chilly to swim, but the kids had a ball playing in the sand, eating the sand, digging in the sand, throwing the sand in my face, etc. I had made a reservation at a hotel in Miami without doing any research (meaning I went to priceline.com and clicked on the cheapest hotel in Miami) and it sure came back to bite me. Try, if you can, to imagine a hotel in downtown Miami that cost less than 50 bucks. Yikes would be an understatement. We were lucky to escape disease free, bullet free, bedbug free, and what have you. The room was horrible...bad enough that even I, lover of cheap motels, was astounded. We had to sleep in two twin, I repeat twin, beds. Eric slept with Eth and I slept with Libbs. As the springs dug into my back and I tried to relax on a pillow stuffed with styrofoam, I thought to myself: I've been burned...never again will I book a hotel this cheap...
But anyway, we survived and it was on to the Keys! Wednesday we meandered down from Key Largo to Key West. Unfortunately it was rainy practically all day so we did most of our sightseeing from the car. We ate some incredible seafood though and visited the southernmost point in the US in Key West. The next day was beautiful weather and we spent the day at the beach swimming and playing in the sand. We also took a boat out to Historic Pigeon Key and took a tour of the 5 acre island which was super fun and very interesting. It was incredible how blue the water was...absolutely picturesque. I will never forget looking out from the road and seeing tiny green islands in crystal clear water. It was awesome. On Friday we had another long drive up to Savannah, but arrived in one piece. Foolishly, I had rejected sunscreen on the beach and my back was pretty darn red. Didn't feel too good sitting in the car with a seatbelt. Saturday was a gorgeous day in Savannah. We enjoyed walking around the city with our good friends the Mills, who were also visiting and we even ate at Lady and Sons, Paula Deen's resteraunt. Deep fried southern goodness. Oh, yum! By the time we made it home on Saturday night, the kids were kids were filthy, screaming messes. Eric and I were ready to sleep in our own beds, but we were sorry our sightseeing was over. It was an awesome opportunity to see more of the country and create some fun family memories.

Hangin' With Aunt Gennie

2010-03-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

Eric's sister Gennie happened to be coming out to North Carolina for a business trip last week, so we were lucky to have her stay with us for a couple of days. We took her to our favorite BBQ place, The Q-Shack (of course), did a little tour of Duke Gardens with the kiddies, dessert at Fosters, and pretty much hung out. Thanks for stoppin' in, Gennie and we'll see you this summer!

Making Lame Excuses

2010-03-09T10:40:00.001-08:00

Little Ethan has just discovered the concept of excuses. He has excuses for everything. He can't do anything due to a physical, mental or emotional obstacles. Some of these excuses have included:

I can't, my back hurts (hmmm, at 3? I don't think so)
I can't, I have hiccups in my back (physically impossible) MOST POPULAR
I can't, I want to take a nap (an obviously lie)
I can't, I am sad (the toys must go in the basket, regardless)
I can't, I'm too tired (again, yeah right)
I can't, I'm watchin' PBS Kids (not a priority, young one)
I can't, I'm hungry (only the advanced stages of starvation should inhibit your ability...)
I can't, I'm bored (never stopped me)

I may have a regular ne'er-do-well on my hands!

The 5 Love Languages

2010-02-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. This book has been around for awhile, so perhaps many of you have read it. It was such a good, fun book and I highly recommend it to anyone who is married, has been married, dreams of marriage, wishes they weren't married, etc. It was definitely worth my time.

Other things I'm reading:

The Bernstein Bears and the Old Spooky Tree
The Cat in the Hat
Yertle the Turtle
C is for Clown
Farley Uses His Nose
I Love Colors
Frog and Toad
Come back, Amelia Bedilia!

Actually, its a GIRL...

2010-02-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

Poor Libby. Today at the grocery store she got called a boy not once, not twice, but three times. One of the incidences was especially painful...
Kroger Patron: "What a handsome little dude you got there! Look at him in that shopping cart...are you protectin' mommy? I know how it is, I got a little boy myself...."
Natalie: "Uh, ha ha ha, yeah, ha ha..." Drop dead...this is my sweet little princess....
Folks, take a closer look at the pink and purple pants! I am not so fashion forward as to put pink on a baby boy! Okay, so she doesn't have a bow in her hair...she rips them out....sniff, sniff.
I've decided that anytime I exit the house from here on out, I am putting that girl in ruffles, frills, bows, nylons, lipstick....whatever it takes!!!!

Cowgirl

2010-02-08T18:24:00.001-08:00

For Christmas, Libby got this cute little rocking horse from her grammy. The girl loves her horsey. She sit and rocks, she stands and rocks, she falls off, over, rides sidesaddle, you name it. One of the few commands she understands is: "Libby, go ride your horsey!"
I love this little cowgirl.

Uncle Spencer in NC

2010-02-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

Eric's brother Spencer just returned from a mission in Italy a few weeks ago. Since we couldn't all go out to Seattle to see him, we got him a ticket to come see us in Durham. Events included chowing at the Q Shack (where we take anyone who comes to see us), touring Duke campus, a Duke BB game in Cameron, gelato, Chuck E. Cheese's, and an extremely delicious Italian meal whipped up for us by Spencer.
The fam had a great time with Spence, and we hope he had a good time with us. Thanks for visiting!

Thank You Note

2010-01-27T09:15:00.001-08:00

Dear High Fructose Corn Syrup,
Thank you for making food taste good.
Love,
Natalie

Welcome Home, Uncle Spencer!

2010-01-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome home from Italy, Spencer!
Wish we could be there to see you get off the plane!
Instead, we send our love via this video.
Hope to see you soon!

Near Death Experience

2010-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

The fruit/veggies diet I attempted to go on this week to cleanse myself after the holidays was the closest thing I've had to a near death experience in my life. I originally set out to eat nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables from Mondays morning through Fridays night. I was starving the entire time, had sugar withdrawls (headaches included), cheated once on Tuesday and finally ran screaming to the Cheesecake Factory on Thursday night. I think I was cleansed enough.

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

My new year's resolutions never really make it past February, but I try to make them every year, nonetheless. Besides my spiritual goals, my goals this year are to:

Eat more veggies/Feed family more veggies
Read more
Keep up on the laundry

That's it. I can't have to many or I get overwhelmed and do nothing at all. We'll see how I do. I feel better now that I've blogged about this...like its official. Now excuse me, I must rest, I don't want to risk overwhelming myself with too much moving of the fingers.

Wait...wasn't she just BORN?

2010-01-03T15:34:00.001-08:00

Libby is one. I am flabbergasted that the time went so quick. It seems like just yesterday that Eric and I were speeding to UNC in the middle of the night because baby girl was coming.
Libby is such a sweet and mellow baby...and my goodness, she is cute! She doesn't have any words yet, but she walks, dances, motions "all gone" and shakes here head no and yes. In her case, there is definitely "more to love" seeing how she is in the 97 percentile for height and weight. Chubby babies are the way to go.
We love you, angelface!

The Holidays with the Deardens

2010-01-03T15:10:00.000-08:00

We were so dang lucky to have my family here in North Carolina for the holidays. It was a blast to have so much company in our little apartment. Everyone was accounted for except Stephen, but of course we talked to him on the phone from Mexico on Christmas Day. While they were here, there were numerous activities going on...my mom, my sister Melodie and I went to the mall to have our eyebrows done by the "magic eyebrow lady" (as I call her)and we also found an adorable new dress for my mom's birthday. Meanwhile, the boys were watching football and playing Madden on the Wii (which Bryant and Jay brought from Utah). My Dad, a saint, helped Eric with our vehicles issues...which were grave at that time, considering neither of our cars would start at the time they arrived! Thank you a million, dad. All parties were found eating delicious Christmas viddles, including a night of fondue and raclette prepared by my dear husband. Yum yum! We also played a lot of games, which was one of my favorite parts of having the family together. On Christmas Day, no one was found wanting for gifts...it was a total haul! Especially for Ethan and Libby, bless their spoiled little hearts! They looked super cute in their Christmas jammies from Gramma Pelfrey. I, personally, was extremely pleased with presents I unwrapped. Thank you so much, all!
On Christmas Day, after gifts, we drove out to the Outer Banks of NC and checked out the Wright Bros. Museum, the beach, and the local scene. After that we spent time in Virginia at Bucsh Gardens, which was hecka fun, especially since we got to ride the Griffon (refer to my previous post)! The other days we spent eating, playing games, chatting, eating, sleeping, playing with kiddies, etc.
It was just soooo great to have my family here. We loved it so much and we hope you did too!
Thanks for coming!
(Refer to my facebook page for more pix)

The Griffon Roller Coaster

2009-12-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

As part of our Christmas, my parents took us to Bucsh Gardens in Virginia. While we were there we rode the most amazing rollercoaster ever. When we got to the park we saw it was running and we watched the entire freaky thing from the ground. I honestly thought the people that were on the thing were going to die when it did the first "free fall" type drop. All of us turned to each other and said, "We've got to go on that ride!!" So we waited in line for the front row, biting our nails the entire time. On the Griffon you aren't allowed to have any loose objects, hats, shoes that aren't practically glued to your feet, etc. I rode with no shoes. Anyway, the ride was AWESOME. It was the biggest rush I have ever had in my life. I couldn't hardly even scream because I was so stunned at what my body was going through. It was incredible. When we reached the end of the ride, Darrell, Melodie, Bryant, Eric and I all rejoiced that we were alive and ran to get right back in line.
This video shows what the coaster looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL5NfOFA_1E
Even this video doesn't do it justice if you ask me!
Anyway, the day was a blast...thank you mom and dad for taking us to Busch Gardens!