Jared is One!

Today is Jared's birthday! He is growing up so nicely and I love him to pieces! I stole the idea from a friend and took this picture exactly one year after he was born.
June 30th, 2009 6:45am
7 lbs 12 oz, 20 inches long

June 30th, 2010 6:45am
19 lbs 3 oz, 30 inches long




I love this little man!

Crochet Hat

I crocheted Jared a hat for this winter. I'm happy with how it turned out, even though it looked really boxy to begin with. Even though Jared is not thrilled with having to wear this in June, I think it will fit really well by the fall.
I modified this pattern by using two colors instead of three and made it a bit smaller by omitting round 5.

Mango BBQ Pizza

We tried this recipe the other day and it was awesome!!! We added more veggie toppings and cooked it in the oven, but what a fun change from pepperoni!

http://www.parents.com/recipe/pizza/grilled-mango-bbq-pizza/

Ingredients

• 1 pound frozen pizza dough, thawed
• 1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 3 ounces Canadian bacon, cut into strips
• 1/2 mango, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Heat gas grill to medium or prepare charcoal grill with medium-hot coals.

2. Coat a 12-inch perforated pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray. Roll dough out to a 12-inch circle. Place on prepared pizza pan. Put on grill rack and close lid of grill. Grill for 5 minutes. Check bottom of pizza. If getting too dark lower heat to medium-low.

3. Open grill. Spread dough with barbecue sauce and sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Scatter the Canadian bacon and mango slices over the top.

4. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes more, until crust is lightly browned and cheese melted.

5. Gently slide pizza onto a cutting board.

6. Allow pizza to cool slightly before cutting into slices.

Jesus the Christ

Today I finished this book by James E. Talmage. I stared in 2007, but I started again in earnest about six months ago. And I did it!
It has been an amazing experience, especially when I read more consistently. I have loved reading about his life, ministry and miracles. Talmage combines information for the New Testament and Book of Mormon into a more chronological and topical form. It has been amazing to come to know the people who were around him better and make connections like I hadn't before. I loved that Talmage was often reminding me to treat these people with charity and not judge them for a few moments of their lives.
Jesus was always doing good. He did miracles everyday. He forgave. He taught truth, no matter the consequences. When on his way to serve others, he served those he met along the way. He came to save all mankind, but he was rejected of men and he allowed himself to be crucified to save all souls.
I've learned a little bit more about him in the past few months and I am amazed at my Savior. He lived a lifetime of righteous and godly choices, but I can hardly go a couple of hours. I want to gain a better relationship with him through prayer and scripture study. I know that without him I could never live with my Heavenly Father again.

Perhaps someday

Ken and I both have glasses. I got mine when I was five and I'm farsighted. Ken didn't get his until middle school thanks to some eye therapy from his mother (he is nearsighted). But now he can't see my face if I'm across the room.
I think we gave him some pretty excellent genes in general, but his eyesight is not likely to be that great at all.
Hopefully, if he does get glasses they won't be women's frames.

Insect Poem

I swat at my forehead, I scratch at my ankles
Mole and wart, and a rash that rankles

Everything flying, and scraping, and biting,
And wens and ringworm, canker and blighting.

It's become the season of webs and itch,
Mites in the treacle, worms in the ditch.

It's become the season of mold and flies,
and of small spiders with bulging eyes.

With buzz and hum, and with a chuckle and whine,
The flappers and creepers crawl in to dine.

On scrapes of our butter, on cheekbone and crumb,
They batten and guzzle, then bite my thumb.

I hear them sizzle on leg or wing
Then flutter or hiss to the cornice and sing.

The drawing room walls are alive with sound
Like the dying elms out there on the mound.

With the twitter of Martins, and caw of rooks,
But here I have hornets, with stings like hooks.

And drunken wasps, and belligerent bees,
Drone on carpets that jump with fleas.

Enough of September. Let weather chill
And a drizzle of bright hail spatter each sill.

Let sleet and fogginess bother their hives
And their haunts in trees. Let them hide for their lives.

No more mosquitoes, no daddy-long-legs,
And no more moths with their eating eggs.

Nothing that whistles, and nothing that chews,
And nothing that scuttles, or weaves in my shoes.

I'm sick of the lot of them, squirmy or stealing
Over the window and up to the ceiling,
They give me a horrible dirty feeling.

So spray the powder and pull the chain,
Let cold October drown them in rain

And then November, with ice and mist,
Throttle the rest in a choking fist.

It serves them right if, by late December,
Insect is a word I don't remember.

-George Macbeth


Today, Ken found a spider in my hair.

Duck Pond

For Family Home Evening last night, we went to the duck pond! It was great. I had completely forgotten about the fact that there would be ducklings! So that was a nice surprise. Jared was (once again) mostly confused about this new experience.

Baby Diner

Last month, I ordered a free "Baby Diner" from this website. It is basically a suction cup system to keep your child from throwing or pouring his or her food. I was skeptical because Jared is more of a food pusher and thrower than a pourer. The first few times I used it I used a very flimsy plastic bowl that didn't stay suction cupped very well. I got smarter and decided to use a small metal bowl. Here are our results:

Also, we gave Jared his first "Chili Mac" with the baby diner. I thought it was an appropriate time to introduce a more messy food!

Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffb

One of Jared's new favorite games is to make/copy animal sounds. Here is his favorite!

Attack!

Bubbles

One of my goals for the summer is to walk around the temple more often. Jared and I often stop at the top of the hill and play a bit.
On Wednesday, we played with bubbles.

Trip to Wisconsin!

Jared and I left Utah for a couple of weeks, while Ken stayed home and prepared for finals. We drove out to my parents home (which went VERY smoothly) with my Aunt Geniel and cousins. It was wonderfully relaxing to have so much help with Jared and to do all the fun stuff there!
Here are a few highlights:

The love of grandparents

New toys

First chocolate milk

A found baby bunny

Nature

Walking practice

Boating

Building my grandparents pergola (I didn't do anything but watch)

We also had Sunday dinner, watched Much Ado About Nothing and Karate Kid, shopped, cooked and ate. The perfect vacation!

Water Boy

Annalisa invited us to go swimming with her and we had such a great time!!!

Jared had a blast. He did understand, though, that he couldn't keep crawling deeper and deeper into the pool!

The best part is cuddling after.

Utah Special Olympics

A few weeks ago, Jared and I joined several of our neighbors to go watch the Utah Special Olympics, which take place just down the street!
It was so wonderful to see the athletes enthusiasm and joy. It was a good reminder to find joy in all the situations of my life.

Cathy chasing Annabelle

Ashley and Alison

Jenn and Brad

Lauren

Jeremiah

Jared

Almost a Tomato

We'll be making salsa in no time at all!