Chunky Monkey Please

Since so many of you enjoyed the picture I posted of my better half when he was a "wee" one, I decided to delight my readers with a few more pictures I found today.
I'm glad my man has such a strong dose of core confidence so that we can laugh together at this fabulous bit of nature. You're adorable baby.

Detroit Car show

So, if we lived in Paris, we would go see art and architecture, but since we live near Detroit, we get to see cars! It was as cool as a broadway show in New York or The Grand Canyon.. just different...
We loved the concept cars and tried out all the 7 seaters as we plan for a few years down the road when we get to buy a nice practical used car with plenty of room for car seats. Believe it or not, our two favorites were the Kia Borrego and the Buick Enclave. (pictures in that order)

Not a dream car, but a great family car and it comes in my favorite car color.. russet (although I don't think they call it that).

The best part about it was that Paul got to feel smart teaching me all about cars, like which car company bought out who, when and who owns what now and where they're all from. I also learned all about engine sizes and how to compare horse power and understand their names.
Here were some of our favorite concept cars...

New Year's

We celebrated New Year's at our house with Pat, Steve, Jeanette and her baby Jake!.



We loved having Jake here. Eirik loved having a playmate live here for a few days! (so did I! Can I rent a playmate for Eirik somewhere??) Wait.. I just need the one I gave birth to to grow up .. Quick!

We were so blessed to have Pat and Steve visit us. They not only are great examples of a married couple and of great parents, they are also full of good advise, unconditional love and great wisdom. They did more than I would have ever asked of taking care of the boys to give Paul and I a break. They also looked around our house and found all kinds of ways that they could bless our lives.
new blankets,
changed lightbulbs
ice scrapers
a new lock for our front door that Eirik can't open
important car repairs
a little set of table and chairs for E
a hobbie horse and tons of plastic animals
and much more.
They have a way of spoiling us that makes me want to turn around and be just as generous to other people around me. They are great examples of our Heavenly Fathers unconditional love. They knew of many of our needs before even we did, just as our Heavenly Father does. We are blessed.

Joren's first Christmas... and beyond

I'm so easily distracted. Each time I come to the computer with a few moments to spare I get out my list of things I'd love to blog about and then inadvertently get sucked into someone else's blog before I write a word. I love my friends blogs! How fun it is to get a peak into your lives! I would feel ashamed to not share mine back.

First. We had a photo shoot of our family with our little Joren. Some of the pictures are posted on our great photographers blog. We are deciding which ones we are going to buy. Um.. we want all of them. :)
In these pictures our little Joren is so tiny- like this one where he's lying in a serving tray in the sun.
He was only 6lbs 2oz when born and I have already , in just 7 weeks put away all of his newborn clothes, adjusted the carseat to the next size and moved him to #3 diapers... yes you heard it #3 diapers! I have extras of all the previous sizes to store away for baby 3. The funniest part of this is that Eirik just grew out of 3's about 4 months ago so I still have extra 3's! Joren is chunky and SO cute.
This is a close up on his shirt that totally makes me happy since it was his dad's shirt when he was one. I don't know how Paul fit into it at 1 since this is what he looked like at 3 months. :)
(I never get tired of showing off this picture!)
It even says Paul on the back in this great light orange velvet print. I love it! Paul's mom passed this on to us for Christmas. How cool is that that she saved it all this time!
Speaking of Christmas....
I know it's a little late, but for the sake of record keeping..
We spent our Christmas this year at Zach and Arinn's house with their three kids. Since both of our families couldn't afford to fly home, Paul's parents and his sister Jeanette came to us! We had a great time! Since we got married I have failed miserably at buying Paul Christmas presents, but this year finally I bit the bullet, stopped being so stinking stingy and got him some things he wanted. And of course he spoiled me as usual. We had so much fun with little E letting him open presents. He is still little enough that he was just all eyes. He loved watching his older cousins tear into their gifts! I think his favorite gift was this My little Pony that we bought to give to his cousin, but he fell in love with it so much when we were wrapping it that I ended up giving it to him. He carries it with him everywhere. (sorry Eirik, I know that info will work against you in the future... ha ha ha,,, said with a sinister laugh)
Our Christmas festivities were mostly marked by excellent food. Our hosts really know how to eat well. (I should have taken pictures! Duh!)
Their Christmas eve tradition is to cook up a ton of really fresh big shrimp with a lot of spice and butter sauce. Yum! They told us to use "Old Bay Seasoning" and steam the shrimp according to the directions on the back of the Old Bay bottle. They said just don't overcook the shrimp. We are definitely going to pick up this tradition!
They also made a salad of baby greens, candied pecans, dried cranberries, green apple slices, avocado thin sliced red onions and a vinaigrette dressing that we loved. The following ingredients are all added in quantities that are guessed at. Arinn said we should adjust according to our taste.. as if we are all as good at cooking as she is. :)

Vinaigrette Dressing:
2-3 garlic cloves
Salt and pepper 1/2 tsp and add to that to taste
1 T sugar (or more)
1 T mustard (or less)
1 T lemon juice (or less)
Balsamic vinegar (more vinegar that oil)
1/2 c olive oil

And of course we did the nativity. Eirik took his part as Joseph so seriously. It was adorable to watch. The singing was "divine" and luckily Paul didn't get hurt too bad this year playing the donkey. Only a few bruises.

For Christmas morning my family always made fresh squeezed orange juice and fruit pizza. This is one tradition I love to keep going. Next year I'll make sure I have a round pan so that the fruit is all arranged in spirals. I'ts much prettier that way. I also decided that I am going to use the white chocolate mouse from Katherine's strawberry tart recipe for the layer under the fruit and over the cookie dough crust. Is this a breakfast or a desert you may ask. Well it's Christmas breakfast so why does it matter!?
Mousse ingredients:
6 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), chopped
1 1/4 cups chilled whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions for mousse:
Combine white chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream in large metal bowl.
Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl
to touch water) and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove
bowl from over water; cool chocolate mixture until lukewarm, about 15
minutes.
Beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream and vanilla in large bowl until
peaks form. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites with cream of
tartar in medium bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into
chocolate mixture, then fold in whipped cream. Transfer mixture to
cooled crust; smooth top. Chill overnight.

Good thing you have to make this in advance because no one wants to cook this much on Christmas morning.

We also usually have an egg and barbeque pizza for breakfast with the fruit pizza. Zach suggested that next year we make it like an egg calzone with lots of herbs and cheese inside the crescent roll pastry covering. I think I love it. I'll have to start experimenting with this great idea. Thanks Zach.

I thought Joren's tiny feet were especially cute in these tiniest Christmas socks. I should have put a quarter next to them.... just believe me... tiny ok.

We loved having Christmas with Paul's family, but I also missed mine. My brother left on a mission to New York in early December and we are so proud of him. isn't my family so cute?!
I think Davy is trying to look like Shaggy here... he's still pretty good looking, even if no one will hire him. :) (Oh, Daniel is on his tippy toes... don't be fooled. ... Dan, you're on your mission and can't read this to defend yourself anyway.. ha ha )

This is my gorgeous sister and her beautiful family. I miss you guys!!! Joren's hair is going to be this same copper color of his cousins. Those red hair genes are pretty strong dad. So far you've passed them on to 3 of the 4 grandkids!
I'm so excited to go home to see these great people at the end of Feb! Yay!

A New Year is Here ..

My friend Emily just posted that she has decided to make a blog specifically for her son and my friend Merillee has a great blog written through the eyes of her 2 year old. It's so cute. I've been thinking of doing it too. I've noticed that all of my posts of late have been all about my boys and I don't think I've written anything about me in a while, or about my husband either come to think of it... so you can expect a bit of a change in my next few entries. So.. it would be nice, but it's too much work so I've decided to use my labels a lot better and I'll keep doing my monthly updates about my boys and just make them separate posts. That way if the nitty gritty details about each tiny development can be easily skipped if it's just a little too much (as I imagine it can be for anyone other than the mother (me).)

I'm way into list making and crossing off lists.

I have this yearly goal setting extravaganza down to a science. But this year it's already the 15th and guess what??
No List!!

Am I starting to chill out in my old age? (almost 31!!!)

No, it's probably not that? (unfortunately) (sorry Paul)
Do I feel like I have already perfected myself and there is nothing left to do??

... no, I can't even take that joke any further. :)

Am I lazy?

No.. not really.

I guess I have been waiting for the right inspiration. I've come to realize that goals are all about lifestyle changes and well, I can only really think of one that I am prepared to tackle right now. Getting to the change means a lot of talk in between. Here goes:

I had my life mapped out in perfect detail up until the point when I got married. I had career goals, monetary goals, lifestyle goals, and always hit my goals. Then I got married and Paul decided to do med school and then everything about where we live, how much money we have or don't have became all wrapped up in this one big goal that I have very little control over. Up until now Paul knew that he wanted to be a doctor, but had no idea what kind. This wide open ended future has been really hard for me to get a grasp on. Paul has to turn in his schedule for his elective rotations for the next year this week so the past week or two has been pretty stressful trying to decide so many big things. Paul was talking to a lady at his work about these decisions and she said, "you just need to have more faith in God!" Her statement really struck me. The reminder coming from someone outside my faith seemed like even more of a reprimand. I realized that I have been living in a state of stress and fear rather than a state of hope, faith and optimism. Being optimistic is a choice and I have not been making the right choice about it all the time.
I remember distinctly the day when I realized that someday I would have a husband, we would be partners and I wouldn't always have to do it alone. This week I was reminded that Paul and I don't have to do this alone. Luckily we are in it together with a merciful, loving God that loves us in a way that we don't deserve, that we haven't earned and he wants to give us what we need even when we don't have a clue what it is. I have not been exercising my faith. My burdens have been heavy because I have not believed that God is watching our little plight.
My poor husband has had to live with me for so long being super stingy and thrifty as if we are always going to be dirt poor. I am so conservative by nature and being married to someone much more liberal is often challenging, but I've realized that part of my stingy side comes from a lack of faith. Doesn't He say that He "giveth liberally and upbraideth not"? Doesn't He say that the lilies of the fields are arrayed in majesty, why are we worried about ourselves?
I took some time and listed in my journal many of my fears or concerns that sort of shape my thinking and it helped me realize how negative I have been in my thinking rather than seeing the bright side of things. It's so ingrained that I think it's going to be a chore to reprogram and truly change my thinking. . . so that's my goal for the year.
True/ core deep optimism fueled by honest faith.
I can use all the suggestions you all have.

I'd like to end with a quote I am stealing from my dear friend Michelle's blog:

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

My Rock star name is Tiger Pathfinder

I got Tagged:


1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) -
Tiger Pathfinder

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) -
Raspberry Chocolate Chip

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) -
"M"-"Aan"

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) -
Chartreuse Ibis

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) -
{no middle name, but nickname=} Mel Roy Glenwood

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) -
AAnMe

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) -
The russet nestea (Hey just cause I don't drink it doesn't' mean it's not my fave)

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) -
Stanley Glen

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite scent/perfume/cologne, favorite candy) Romance Chocolate Pretzel

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) -
Gayle Glen

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) -
I can't remember for the life of me..

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) -
Spring Orchid

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) -
Mango Diamond

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) -
Nothing Aspen

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) -
The Painting Thunder storm Tour

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A new twist on cool

Yesterday Paul was telling Eirik a scary, intense story about Eirik slaying big fire breathing dragons. Paul asked Eirik, "What's your horses name?" and Eirik confidently said "My little Pony!".
Today Eirik insisted that Heman rides My little Pony! Is this as funny to anyone else as it is to me??

The super cheese grin

Whenever you ask Eirik to smile he breaks out in this super Cheezzzy grin. Paul likes to imitate it, and it cracks me up. Here is Paul showing off his Christmas present that I made him this year. It is a World of Warcraft lap quilt showing his WOW character as he has developed over the past few years. No Paul, I will not hide your shame. It is here broadcast to all of my friends. You are most definitely a video game nerd... but a pretty cute one at that. Cheezzze and all. :)

Spoiled Rotten

Having a new baby is fun in so many ways. But one of the great benefits of new babies is the spoiling you get from the proud grandparents. We have been so blessed by our parents this month.
First my mom came to town for a week and I can't count the ways that she blessed our lives. She brought a bunch of Christmas presents with her including clothes for the boys, pajamas, books, toys, and games. She took us shopping and helped us stock up on food storage. We bought Christmas presents together. She taught me how to clean my carpets. (Yes, I'm 30 and have never lived in a house with carpets I had to clean.) She taught me how to use fabric softener, (yes, I'm 30 and lame at laundry.) She did crafts with me every night!!! (Does it get any better. :) She helped me finish my Christmas stockings that wouldn't be done without her. We stayed up late sewing by the tree while she read a fabulous Christmas story, and we cried together. sob sob sob... She helped me decorate and clean and she played and played and played with Eirik and Joren and let me sleep in. I am so lucky to have her in my life, even if I only get to see her once or twice a year. We tried in one week to make up for all the lost time. I sure miss her and wish we lived closer. We went to a church activity and I had women I have never met coming up to me at the end telling me what a delight my mother is. In one week I learned so much from her about how to love people and how to be kind. Thanks mom for being so great! I owe it to you to shape up a bit. Love you!

A pound a week!

So every new mother thinks their baby is just the cutest thing... unless the baby is not the cutest thing.... and Paul and I just weren't so sure for a couple of weeks. Joren was so tiny when he was born, he was absolutely beautiful, but he was really so very sloppy, squishy, skinny, and lets admit it.. skeletal, we were a bit worried and wondered (only to ourselves of course) if he was going to turn out. Luckily we are proud to say, he will. :) The other day, overnight, it seems he got just cute as can be. We looked at each other and said, "Look! He got really cute!" He's one month old now and we just found out that he is now a whopping 10 lbs 3 oz.. meaning he has grown over a lb. a week since we was weighed at one week old. Not bad! He has already outgrown his newborn diapers that I seriously stocked up on and the new onesies that I made for him when I brought him home. He is starting to smile that "is he really smiling?" smile and he is just melting us every day. I wish I had a great camera and I could capture what we get to see when we look at him. This is the best I can do right now. I'll work on it...

This photo is from Joren's blessing which we got to do at Zach's house the week of Christmas. Paul did a great job. It was a beautiful blessing.

Smart as a whip and conviced this is the funniest thing in the world