{tickles and smiles}

Spotlight: Meri

December 3, 2012 3 Comments

Autumn: *hand raised* Can I start?

Andrew: Can I go first?

Katey: I want to.

Daddy: No, I’m going to. (That’s how you settle an argument.) I love Meri because her smile is amazing and her eyes just light up when she’s excited or happy. She’s just adorable and so sweet.

Jacob: Meri Jane has a beautiful laugh. It’s amazing. I didn’t know anyone could laugh in that tone until she came along.

Josh: 2 words. Epic cuteness.

Daddy: I’m pretty sure cuteness is not an official word. Maybe you can get creative credit in a dictionary.

Autumn: I love Meri’s laugh. It is just so funny. She just giggles really funny. She also is really happy when she goes up high. I like that she likes to get around to places really fast. When she crawls, she crawls fast.

Andrew: I love Meri because she is so cute. I’ve never seen a baby cuter. And I also love her because her laugh is so cute.

Katey: I love Meri because she is so cute and has a cute laugh and is just so cute. I really wanted a girl baby when a baby was in mommy’s tummy and it was a little girl – Meri Jane!

Josh: I want to add on something. I forgot to say that the most fluent word she’s ever said was when Cali (our cat) brushed her tail on Meri’s chin and Meri said “Kitty!”

*Censored conversation – about poufs. Between our two oldest boys. We’ll leave it there.*

Caleb: I love Meri fighting with swords and with arrows. (um…??)

Daddy: What else do you love about Meri?

Caleb: None else.

Daddy: What does Meri do to make you laugh?

Caleb: Kangaroo hoping in a house.

Daddy: Did you do that? Did Meri laugh at you?

Caleb: Mmm Hmmm.

Caleb: Mom – are you working on mine?

(Oh yes.)

Mommy: Meri is an explorer. She loves to feel, touch, see and taste – everything. She is especially loving tam-a-dreams (tangerines) and a sippy cup full of milk that she discovered this morning. Her happy gulps were hilarious. She has huge bright eyes that reveal what she’s feeling. She’s always happiest when her daddy walks in the door. Bright eyes and huuuge squeals. 🙂

Meri is our sweetheart of an angel that loves her family. She is the Bear Scout mascot – a little bundle of joy and so very fun to have around. She is starting to stand on her own right from sitting and then waits for a reaction. Happy sounds and enthusiastic clapping (on her part – and ours) and then she falls over, stands up and does it all again. Thankful Meri is in our family! (She’s snoozing right now after an event-filled day and missed her spotlight. Sadly. She would have loved the attention.)

Filed Under: {*spotlights*}, {tickles and smiles}

Exhibit A

November 24, 2012 1 Comment

Part of our Thanksgiving feast…

Evidence of a blessed life cards ready to be filled out – thanks to Nisa for the fun-loving designs that only took slight adapting.

I just left a basket of cards nearby (journaling cards on one side and notes/frames on the other). Any family that wanted to fill one out could write/draw pictures and then clip it on the ring.

Made a file folder cover with my little guy and evidence all over his sweet mug. And just like that… this little album is ready to be loved and enjoyed often. One fun way to count those blessings. 🙂

{credits: Splendid Fiins: Evidence-notes and frames, Evidence-journaling cards, also: file folder, tag, clip ring, walnut ink, font: Artistamp Medium and my handwriting}

This little book is from last Thanksgiving. I realized I never shared it here… it was sure fun to take a peek at again this year. Handwriting and artistic skills have advanced a little, but it’s wonderful to see that many of our blessings counted are the exact same.

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {holidays and celebrations}, {Jessica Sprague}, {tickles and smiles}

Giving Thanks

November 23, 2012 4 Comments

Thankful for so many blessings. Thankful for a Heavenly Father who is aware of each of us and our needs. Thankful for my family that keeps me smiling and giggling. Also, thankful for the yummy smells in my home.

That’s the short list. I was making pies this morning and that last one had to make it’s way on.

There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for, always. Another one at the moment is an amazing aunt that took the time to teach me how to make tortillas.

It started when her boyfriend came for a visit and taught her his mother’s recipe. The tortillas all the neighborhood children still talk about now that they’re grown. That’s the one.

It looks a little something like this:

“THE tortilla recipe:
it is 3 to 4 cups flour to one cube softened butter….mixed in well with your fingers…add about 2 tsp salt and a pinch of baking powder. Have 2 cups lukewarm water ready to add as needed. It takes most of it. Mix with your hands to a dough that feels about like pie crust dough..not too wet but not dry either. flour the area you will roll them out very lightly (the flour burns on the grill otherwise) and using a peice of the masa about the size of an egg roll it out (flipping it over and around after each roll) until big and thin. (they aren’t all perfectly round but still taste great) then on a hot grill (we used a skillet, a cast iron grill and a big electric grill and they all worked great) that is dry..not greased at all….put one at a time and turn with it bubbles nicely all over…it may puff up and that is fine..when done stack them up on a paper towel on counter to cool before bagging them up. Thats it!! I think I covered it all. The butter and the dowel for a rolling pin (the size of a garden tool handle) really makes all the differnce. And every single other recipe I have tried in the past called for too much baking powder. Eppy explained that more than a pinch makes it stiff and hard to roll. That pinch is enough.”

Love.

Now, tortillas and I go way back. My roommates in college used to tease me because I bought and ate way more tortillas than bread. I wish I knew how to make them back then.

Jenny’s daughter showed up at my door a few weeks ago with this:

Inside were these treasures:

Part of the original rake-handle-rolling-pin and masa made by Jenny. We ate that plus another batch in the first evening.

My first tortilla:

Not the prettiest thing, but it was sooo very yummy. I’ve made them 3 times in the last month and am working on perfecting the skill. My family doesn’t seem to mind.

The first photo is from one of my latest late night attempts. I’m getting there.

Here’s Jenny’s actual recipe card she also sent over:

Adorable. Those smiley faces and happy-go-lucky writing… she’s a lady in love. I love that she’s in love. I’m in love too. Thankful for her tortillas and her sharing heart.

Filed Under: {happy times}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

New and improved…

October 21, 2012 2 Comments

Katey’s latest picture: Rainbow Bacon.

It “tastes like blueberry strawberry tangerine”.

Katey also said it is yummy with ice cream.

“You just put a scoop right on top!” (Fun to watch her so animated about her drawing!)

That’s some mighty sophisticated bacon right there.

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

Caption this…

October 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

There are times I wish I knew what Meri would say if she could talk…

{July 2012}

What she might be thinking…

{May 2012}

I do know what I was saying in the last photo. Yuck! But that’s just one of the risks you take with photography:

Filed Under: {bonne buche}, {capturing everyday}, {tickles and smiles}

Scary Paper

October 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

Meet Googley-Eye.

He’s a crocodile. That equals scary. Hence the scary face.

Googley-Eye has a huge jaw.

Closed:

Open:

With equally expressive eyebrows from Drewby.

Googley-Eye was created and named by Andrew. He wishes we had a googley eye big enough to put right over that eye socket there. He thinks that would be perfect.

I think Googley-Eye is pretty ~~adorable~~ scary as is.

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

Introducing: Toddler Recipes

October 14, 2012 2 Comments

This yummy recipe brought to you by our toddler Caleb.

{fancy recipe card made by Mekala – free download here}

Speaking of photos, Caleb was not sure in the beginning if he was in trouble.

By the end he knew it was all good:

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {tickles and smiles}

Spotlight: Caleb

September 24, 2012 1 Comment

Josh: I love that Caleb is sooo hyperactive and has such a giggly laugh.

Mommy: Who’s next?

Caleb: Meeee! (slightly excited)

Jacob: I love that Caleb is smart and imaginative.

Josh: Yeah, he pretends his bed is a banana tree.

Andrew: I like Caleb because he plays with me a lot.

Katey: I love Caleb because he loves me and he hugs me.

Caleb: I love Katey hugs me real tight! Hey – what’s that? (checking out the Children’s Encyclopedia)

Daddy: A Viking boat.

Caleb: Can the people all fit?

Autumn: I love Caleb because he loves to read books and sometimes he even makes up the words in his book. He likes motorcycles and said he’s going to ride a green one with Dad someday.

Caleb: No!! It was a blue one. We’re going to ride a blue one.

Katey: Or a scootcher. (complete with peddling actions)

Daddy: I love Mister Caleb because he lets me listen to his prayers at night when I tuck him in. He also loves to read my motorcycle book in bed and dream about riding bikes.

Caleb: The blue one!

Daddy: Yep – he loves that chopper.

Caleb: Mommy reads books in bed! A big chunk of one. With a light on. Hahhaaaahahaha.

Mommy: I adore Caleb’s vocabulary. He can explain so much of what he’s thinking. It cracks me up. Today he was carrying something to the table and he just talked to himself about everything he was doing and thinking along the way. So silly and cute.

Caleb is a sweetheart in preschool too and wants to do everything his big sister is doing. He sings, says prayers, does the Pledge of Allegiance like a pro (well, almost), has the 2nd Article of Faith memorized (because he is 2! – and reminds us all the time), knows his colors, adores Signing Time, and sits through long stories. Today he pretended to be a horse for hours. He neighed all over the house and licked Katey’s dress. She didn’t like that part – but that’s what horses do. Caleb is amazing, and silly and can’t wait to ride a motorcycle (steel horse according to Daddy). Obviously.

Filed Under: {*spotlights*}, {tickles and smiles}

Everyday #2371

September 23, 2012 2 Comments

This is Drewby’s latest drawing. I love the Christmas scene – tree in the window, snowflakes falling, festive red roof. The worm in the hole on the left makes me giggle. (We think it’s all about perspective – showing the cutaway underground.) What makes me really smile is the snowball storage in the basement. Complete with two fans to keep those snowballs cool. Brilliant.

p.s. While talking with Andrew the next morning he informed me that the worm is getting ready to hibernate. 🙂

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {happy times}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

Drewby Love Stories

September 15, 2012 3 Comments

{credits}

Sugar lips and fingers at 2 years old were common. Andrew was into everything. Sticky sweetness all wrapped up and topped with a grin. At 6 years old he is even sweeter – but it’s his personality that is now the {icing on the cake}.

As direct proof – here’s one more Drewby love story:

{credits}

Drewby asked to help make sandwiches for lunch. His first time and he did great – with a little help from his younger siblings. Come to find out – they were J & J sandwiches. Apricot and strawberry jam – tasty!

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {storytime}, {tickles and smiles}