Happy Thanksgiving

Wanted to wish all my blogger buddies a Happy Thanksgiving! I was jealous as most of you probably sat around a large table with those you loved eating a scrumptious meal while we ate a Walmart chicken and gold fish crackers. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, of course, because it involves yummy food, one of my most favorite things in life. But this year we are in Albuquerque,NM (hope I spelt that right, I really need to learn how if I'm going to live here)searching out our new homestead. As of now, we like it a lot, quite different from anywhere else I have ever lived for sure. I was telling JJ that I finally feel like the majority and JJ with his blond hair stands out like a sore thumb! It's quite the culture shock, but from those we have talked to, the people are so so nice, laid back, and very friendly. The temple here is absolutely gorgeous with the beautiful Sandia mountains in the background (hopefully I will have pics soon). JJ meets with some docs on Monday, so hopefully all goes well. We will keep you posted, and hope all my shopping buddies...uh hum Maria... had fun on Black Friday!! Happy Thanksgiving to you all hope you all had a wonderful, turkey stuffin, sweet potato eatin, pie scarffin time!! :)

Leaves Leaves Leaves

With this fall season coming to an end, and seeing as how it will be our last fall here in Missouri only to return somewhere in the west, I'm sure, I am most thankful for the beautiful leaves that the Mid West provides. Being from California, we most definitely do not get leaves like we do out here and so when we moved here we loved them so much we never wanted to rake them! Our complaining old neighbor is always telling us that somehow the wind magically blows all these leaves onto her beautiful lawn and is always on us to CLEAN UP YOUR LEAVES!! Well this year we just avoided her sadly but justified it by knowing that this will be the last year that she will have to put up with our "laziness" and thinking that this is the last year that my kids will get to live amongst such beauty. It's funny cause I can always tell a Missourian by looking at their yard in the fall and not seeing one leaf, constantly raking and blowing away especially if rain is about to hit. Well I guess you can tell a Californian who's living in Missouri by how big the pile of leaves are in the middle of their lawn with kids jumping in them!

Halloweenie

I know I can be such a horrible blogger sometimes especially seeing as how it is now November and I am just now blogging about Halloween. Well, we had a great Halloween. Lots of parties! I think it is Dominic's favorite holiday because here we are in November and he still asks me if its Halloween yet. Poor kid has a long way to go, but I just say, "Not yet Honey." We had an awesome trunk or treat at the church, then we had a party at the North's house followed by some good ole' trick or treating with everyone. Riah was our cute little pink kitty cat.... and Dom was none other than SPIDER MAN!! The North's incredible Halloweenie festive food... The whole trick or treating clan.... and here is the Halloween song that they song at the Joy School Halloween party

Dom has already informed me that he wants to be Batman next year for Halloween. We will see how long that lasts.... Now on to things that we are grateful for.

Partying those socks off....or should I say hose!

The Shelton's threw such a fun Halloween bash last weekend. We dropped those kiddos off at the babysitter and us old farts hit the road. We arrived kinda late because JJ drives like such an "old man" ;) but we finally got there.

Now I thought that I would try something new for Halloween this year instead of my normal scary self....

(three Halloweens ago)

And I thought we would coordinate a little more. So we put on about 60 years.....

and instantly became old people. JJ was too funny flailing around poking me and trying to lift up my skirt with his cane. We actually won....

Funniest! But all the costumes were so great and so creative. Here were the ladies....

and here were the gents of the Monster Bash.....

There was yummy treats also. Like this one that I made which no one wanted to touch....I didn't know why?

Still haven't figured that one out. It was overall such a fun night to hang out with good friends. Thanks to the Shelton's for all their hard work!

Family Fall Pictures!!

So my friend Megg said she would do our family pics for us, and I was so excited! I think she did a fabulous job and I love them! (thank heavens for her marvelous work on photoshop). Tell me which one you think should be our Christmas card photo?

Click Here for more pics!

Birthday Surprise

A week ago today, I celebrated my 24th birthday. And maybe to some that seems really young, but I feel really really old. My life is the life of most 30 to 35 year olds. Two young kids can really take a lot out of ya. Well with the depression of feeling really old, my very sweet hubby started my birthday a week early. One morning he woke me up to a beautiful crape breakfast in bed (with homemade nutella and bananas), which were so yummy, with continuous breakfasts on different days, then he took me out to PF Changs which I had never been to before and always wanted to. FYI: if you've never been, you won't be disappointed. Then the day of my birthday he and the kids baked me an incredible homemade berry pie....I think he finally has figured out the key to my heart :) That night we celebrated with a few friends at the last Cardinals game of the season.








Just when I thought that the night couldn't get better, JJ told me there was one more surprise. As we were driving he told me to close my eyes (this was extremely hard by the way). We show up at the airport, and who other than my very best friend pops out to surprise me and stay a few days! I was crying and in shock the whole way home, I had NO IDEA!!!

I thought my birthday was over, but then my friend Cambria brought me a homemade boston cream pie, which was so yummy, and my friend Megg threw a surprise party for me. I got coupons for free dinners, maid service, and babysitting....who can ask for more?
This birthday was truly a memorable one. It made getting older a little better.


Auntie with the kids. I love how much she loves them. We all miss her so much!

PT is Official!!!!

Some of you may remember this tiring post in which I was tired, frustrated, and just gave up. Well to my astonishment I think it was my giving up that actually paid off. I have waited a while to post about it because I didn't want to jinx it and just to make sure it was official, but Dominic is officially POTTY TRAINED!!! and the amazing thing about the whole process, was that he just did it all on his OWN!

One morning he woke up and had a poopy diaper. As I was changing him he said, "Mommy, I think I want to go on the big potty today and wear my big boy spider man underwear." I said okay and we took the diaper off and he wore his underwear. Then I said to him, "Dom, now you promise mommy that you won't go pee pee or poo poo in your big boy underwear?" and he said, "Yes, Mommy, I promise." Then the whole day he just kept going all on his own. During the course of the day I kept asking, "Dom, did you go potty in your pants?" and he kept saying, "No, mommy, I promised!" It was really cute.

Over the past couple of weeks we only had a couple of accidents and both of those were when we weren't home. So I am a very happy momma, and have learned a very important lesson. I will NEVER push my kids to potty train, I think they will just do it on their own. At least that is my hope. It just wasn't worth the fight.....

Past Few Weeks

We have been pretty busy these past few weeks with JJ's break, getting adjusted to the new trimester, Dominic finally potty training himself, that I have neglected posting. We have done some fun things over the past few weeks.

We went to this Digging for Dinos with the Ernstrom boys which was so much fun. The kids loved interacting with the fake dinos, digging in the sand for "dino bones," and coloring dinosaurs pictures.





Also about a week ago we went to the new City Garden downtown which the kids absolutely LOVED!! It has many fountain to swim and play in. Waterfalls, big rocks to jump on, neat art statues, all in the middle of St. Louis. Here are some pretty pics that my friend Megg took of the experience.

Family Pics

My friend Missy took some pictures of us when she was on vacation here in Missouri and since I haven't posted any pics of the family recently I thought I would post some. Thanks Miss, I appreciate it!

Crazy Hair

This is a picture that a friend of mine took the other day at the park....so funny. I think this is honestly the best I have ever seen her hair look!

After a few inquiries

So I mentioned this banana bread that I made on my facebook and I had a few respond that they wanted the recipe. I just thought the best way would be to post here.
While craving banana bread I called up my Aunt Mary, who makes the best, just to get her secret. The name of it is A-Z bread, not banana bread. She said that it's called this because you can put ANYTHING in it and it will turn out great. Just substitute the main ingredient. So you can make zucchini bread, carrot bread, or whatever your little heart desires with this same recipe and she says that it will turn out great. Well, I'm all about simplicity, so this was a recipe that I held on to. She says it does take some perfecting.....so I have a lot of work to do. Well, here it is to all those inquirers....

A-Z Bread

3 cup four
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 tsp cinnamon (opt)
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups A-Z (whatever your little heart desires)
3 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (opt)

Sift all dry ingredients
in another bowl beat eggs, add oil, and sugar, mix well
add A-Z
add vanilla
finally mix altogether
fold in nuts

bake 350, for 1 hr
makes 2 loafs
grease pans

side note: 6-7 bananas= 2 cups

and hua-la, there you have it. Let me know how it turns out for ya.

Today's part two conversation

Dominic- Momma, you got married in the temple?
Me- Yeah, I got married to daddy in the temple.
Dominic- You look pretty momma.
Me- You mean when I got married?
Dominic- Yeah.... a lot!
Me- Oh thanks bud, your so sweet!
Dominic- your welcome momma.



I think that was my favorite conversation ever! What a sweetie I have.

A Funny Sunday Conversation

Tonight we went to the temple to see it all lit up and sing the "I love to see the temple" song. We just parked and stared at the temple and this was our funny little conversation.

Dominic- "Who's that guy up there?"
JJ- "That's the angel Moroni, bud."

a few minutes later

JJ- "Okay guys, say bye bye to the angel Moroni."
Dominic- "But he don't talk daddy."

JJ and I laugh, and a few minutes later

JJ- "Dominic, did you know that mommy and daddy got married in the temple and that means that mommy, daddy, sister, and Dominic all get to be together forever?!"

Dominic- "How did you do that...guys?!"

Funny forward from my mom

Life really boils down to 2 questions...


1. Should I get a dog....?


OR...

2. Should I have children...?




No matter what situations life throws at you...

No matter how long and treacherous your journey may seem..

Remember ~ ~~ there is a light at the end of the tunnel.





You're laughing aren't you?


That's good ~~ my job here is done!

Have a great day !!

5 Love Languages- an "Ah-huh" moment

There is this book called, "The Five Love Languages," by Gary Chapman. I have never actually read this book, but have heard so much great stuff about it. My mother-in-law read it, loved it, and told me all about it. If you haven't read it, apparently there are 5 different ways that we respond to love. I guess you can kind of gravitate toward a few or all of them, but generally you respond to one in particular. So, the 5 languages of love are: physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, and receiving gifts.

Now I'm sure that with different people in your life, it will vary a little. But interestingly, I took this facebook challenge to see what is my Love Language. So I thought for sure I would be "acts of service" because there is nothing I love more than to come home and have the house spic and span. But surprisingly I am "quality time."

So the "ah-huh" moment came when I asked JJ what his Love Language is. He told me it was "physical affection" at #1, and not too far behind was "quality time." So another catch to this whole Love Language thing is that we tend to do for others or our spouse what our OWN Love Language is.

So when JJ comes home from school and the house is spic and span, and he doesn't give the response that I would typically give to such an act, and to top it off, he throws his doctor's bag, jacket, and tie all over the house, I'm feeling a little sad at this point and feeling a little unappreciated, because in my head I'm thinking that he should appreciate it as much as me.

So the lesson to me is that it's not that he doesn't appreciate that act, but that it's just not as important to him as it is to me. I guess all he needs is a big hug when he comes in the door....wish I would have known that sooner, it sure is a lot easier! :)

Just thought I'd share, although it would have been more helpful to know in the beginning of our marriage. If you haven't already, learn your Love Language and your spouses' as well. You might come to some interesting realizations yourself.

Addiction

I have no idea what it is, but ever since a good friend, Megg brought over a trunk load of strawberry shortcake the other night, which I was very grateful for, I have been craving the stuff non stop. And let me tell you, it's not the greatest weight loss program. So I will either blame my weight gain on Megg, or maybe just this time of year. The hot weather makes bright red, ripe delicious strawberries sound so cooling and refreshing, but that's just too healthy, so you have to add some nice cold whippi, and sweet angel food cake to complete the delightful treat. Have two nights in a row and you can become an addict just like me.

So tell me, whats your favorite summer treat?

My beautiful primary girls

Saturday, I had the opportunity to witness a very special event. I guess I haven't talked about them on here before, but there are four young girls that have become very much a part of my life. At church I have the privilege of teaching four very distinguished, beautiful, smart, spiritual girls in primary. They are the 7-8 year old's, which in our faith is a very special number. At eight years of age a child gets baptized. So I have been prepping these girls and pumping them up all year for this very event as I'm sure their families are as well. These young ladies make going to church so fun and something that I always look forward to.

Saturday, two of my girls Jenna, and Jilian got baptized. The baptism was beautiful and spirit was strong there, especially when they both sang the song, "I Know When I Am Baptized," which was so beautiful and brought tears to my eyes as it brought me back to my very own baptism when I sang that same song. Both these girls have such an amazing knowledge of the gospel at their young age, that they often end up teaching me in our Sunday school lessons. I love these girls very much and I am so very proud of this beautiful life changing commitment that they have chosen to make.

Giving up the ghost

So this past week, I have sacraficed my daily gym going, and jail bound to the house to focus on the big P.T.....aka the dreaded potty training. So to put it lightly this week has been a living H. E. double hocky sticks!!! I am about to bang my head on a wall! Meanwhile Dominic is getting so much pleasure....errr.

So the day after I ended school, we went out and bought a jar and Dominic got to pick out the "potty" candy that he wanted. So we placed that in the bathroom (I know not very appitizing) right in front of his potty so he can stare at it as he sits on the potty and tries to go. So that was our first step.

Second step. After talking to a few different people I thought I would try the timer method (so every 20 minutes just go sit on the potty) and if he happened to have an accident in his pants, well here is the part that I hope I dont get reported to child services, but you put your kid in a cold shower to get the pee pee off. Well, he obviously hated the cold showers, so you would think he would make the connection, right? NOPE!

It seems with each day, he is only getting more and more stubborn, humm, wonder where he gets that from? So, I am officially giving up the ghost. He will do it when he is ready. Patience Tori, patience. He will not be eight years old and still in diapers right?

Officially DONE DONE DONE!!

As of this very second, I am officially done with school....maybe for forever!!! I just turned in my very last assignment. I know, I already showed grad pics, but the truth was that I was able to walk the stage with just 6 credits left....i know I'm such a sneak, but now I have finished my last two classes and I am DONE!! This past math class was rough too, the instructor actually told us to tell all of our friends and family that we would not have a life for the next five weeks, and it sure felt like that. So here's the next question, what should I do to celebrate? Besides go on a cruise...already did that ;)

First words

So today, another big milestone for Riah. She said her very FIRST word. We were having one of our typical mornings, all three of us in mommy and daddy's bed, me going in and out of consciousness, Dominic saying, "I want to get up, Mommy," while pulling on my arm. A few minutes went by, I'm still going in and out of consciousness, and all of a sudden Riah points to the front door and says, "UP!!" So she understood what it meant!

I often wonder what to count as their first words because they copy cat so many words in the beginning, so I always count the one word that they say and know what it means. So I think we will count "up". Dominic's first word was "football," granted he didn't say his first word until he was two(yes, I was a little worried) but we knew he knew what it meant cause he was holding one. We were grateful he had some brain cells in there.

Then tonight Dominic kept saying his favorite word in the whole wide world.....b.u.t.t, not to mention his complete fascination with them. Talking about them, rubbing them, putting his face in them....you name it, and now Riah started saying b.u.t.t. See now why we have the rule for what to count as their first word?

My Sister's Keeper

JJ and I went on a well needed date tonight and he was so kind as always to come to a chic flick that I really wanted to see. So in my opinion, this movie was an A-, but be prepared to cry A LOT. Just bring a whole box of tissues and you should be good. I do not think there was a dry eye in the audience. Great movie for a girl's night out or if your hubby likes chic flicks too.

Water up the crotch

The other day I took the kids to Logan to cool off in the fountain and found out something pretty strange about my son. He likes the feeling of water up his crotch. He spent nearly an hour just sitting on the water and laughing because he was spraying everyone. Then I was feeding into it because he had me in hysterics as well because he liked the water up his crotch so much.


I love this picture because there is Dom spraying Riah with his crotch again and it is like Riah is saying, "eww, get away your gross." Typical boy and typical girl, I guess, but it was so so funny, you had to be there.