Recipes

I've tried a few new recipies and wanted to share them! I posted them on a recipe blog. Go HERE to check them (and others) out.

Things I Love.

• Nap time! My boys still regularly nap. I'm not quite sure how I'll cope without this sacred time. So far this nap session I've painted a DI find, watched a show on hulu, washed dishes, and am now blogging. Nap time keeps me happy.
• 3 year old conversations. Today I listened as the boys were rehashing part of our day yesterday. Carson reminded Cade how he didn't listen to Mommy. It went like this:

Carson: Cade you dint listen. You go in road on bicycle. Cade das a big no no.

Cade: I do listen I do! Stop talking me.

Carson: Cade you dint listen so no en-mems (M&Ms).

Cade: YES en-mems! Stop talking me Carson!

• I love it when I take the time to make a weekly meal plan. Last week was so successful in regards to the dinner department all because of that. I'm not good at consistently doing this but I love it the times I do it. I have a few good recipes that I need to pass along.
  
• When the Daddy comes home. All is brighter in this household once he walks in the door. The boys act like it's Christmas morning every time. What a nice thing for him to come home to everyday. Too bad it is usually coupled with a grumpy me. By this time everyday, I'm just done...thus the light at the end of the tunnel once he walks through the door. The other night he set up a small shelter/tent in the backyard. On family night, the lesson took place in the tent...in the rain. As you can imagine, the boys loved it. It is still up and the fun of it hasn't quite worn off yet. Love these three. P.S. Our FHE lesson started with a prompted conversation about Jesus, which Cade somehow interpreted into Santa bringing presents to our house. Nice.
  

• I'm not a huge fan of rain, but I do love what comes with it. Rainbows really are awesome.
  

• Having Twins. A lot of the time the past 3 1/2 years I think and talk about how difficult twins can be. I don't think I say enough how grateful I am to have my 2 boys. And even more than that...that they came together. What an enormous blessing. They would be beyond bored without the other. This morning they played in the backyard together. They were pushing each other on the swings and taking turns being silly on the slide. All while I got ready for the day (with my window open!). So fun to watch them enjoy each other. I feel grateful everyday that these two came at the same time.
• A fenced backyard! Do I need to even expound? And yesterday we took a 3 block bike ride to the elementary school playground. Awesome. And one more block over is the pool that we will soon be frequenting. And one more block over is a ginormous soccer field where you can run to your heart's desire. I just love where I live. Really love.
• Good books. Losing yourself in someone else's world is awesome! It brings great entertainment along with perspective and enlightenment. Have you ever been in a book club? They are also awesome. It's fun to all read the same book...share the excitement. And then you get to talk endlessly about things/topics that otherwise wouldn't come up in an everyday conversation. I love reading good books and I love being in a book club.
  
• The other night we were talking to the boys about who their twin is? They can easily say that they are twins but don't quite understand what that means. They are starting to answer correctly when we ask them who their twin is. One night I asked, "Who's Daddy's Twin?" Cade quickly responded, "Mommy!" Made me smile. I love that 3 year old perspective. I could benefit from looking at life through their eyes a little more.

And...nap time is now over.
Until next time.

Get Your Singing On!!!

Flying his bird while singing "Blue Bird."
Playing the violin.

And the cello.

This boy was there too...being a stinker!

Good thing he's so darn cute!

Solos

I missed the first few words of Cade's solo. During their music group performance, they each got a chance to sing a solo. It was so funny. Each child had their own style and nervous behavior. Both my boys sang out with excitment. The song is "Hickity Pickity my Black Hen."

Carson's solo.

Today

Today started off funny. We got ready first thing for the boys' first soccer class. That's right...I'm an official Soccer Mom. Haha! Not quite. What they did today was far from soccer. I'm not really sure what to call it, but it was hilarious.

Cade took some time to warm up to the idea. He can be a little shy. The first half of the class he refused to participate. He was pleasant...and just stood on his little orange marker for about a half hour. Then the obstacle course was pulled out and that got him all excited. After that, he did great. Followed directions really well and had a giant grin across his face. He's just a really nice li'l thing. Today, he did his first successful #2 on the potty. And we all did a little happy dance. He's been potty trained for about a month now but had yet to do his real business like a big boy. Hope this helps him turn that corner. His latest favorite word is "actually." He uses it like 3 times in one sentence. It is the cutest thing ever!

Carson did the opposite. The first half of the soccer class he was over-excited and eager to participate. With my help, he followed directions really well and was in heaven. And he's got a pretty mean dribble for a first-timer. I was impressed! The last half of the class went down hill fast for Carson. He checked out and was a little turd! Hopefully with time he will stay on task for the entire hour. Carson sure loves his Cade these days. He is such a little copy cat and loves to please his brother. He is also still singing "Jingle Bells" and "The First Noel" around the house on a regular basis. Listening to him sing always lights up my day.

I had students tonight. All siblings. I listened to each one explain to me the reasons they weren't able to practice. I tried my best to be understanding (but really feeling super annoyed on the inside). It's like pulling teeth sometimes. It is so nice when they finally get over the whole I-would-rather-be-doing-ANYTHING-else-besides-piano phase.

After piano, I took myself on a date to the grocery store. Romantic, eh? It was. I roamed around and bought stuff I've never bought before...like...fresh parsley, jalepenos, and ginger root. I'm feeling so...cultured?! I have some recipes I'm excited to try. Hopefully they help me out of my dinner rut. I so wish that I had a passion for cooking. But I did feel pretty passionate about food (and pretty awesome about myself!) as I was loading my cart with so many exciting things. Hope I can figure out how to use them all.

Before pulling out of the parking lot, I opened up happiness. I drove home painfully slow just so that I could devour the entire chocolate bar. Heaven.

A day in the life.......

Introducing.......

Ma & Pa Tucker

That's right.

We got asked by our stake to be a Ma & Pa on our upcoming Stake Youth Trek.

I was in denial about doing this for a long time. There were some pending circumstances that would determine whether or not we would be available, and we now know for certain that we will be going. We've had a few training meetings and I am finally starting to feel the spirit of this event. I'm excited. It really is such a unique and special experience and I'm grateful to be apart of it.

Both Shane and I were fortunate enough to have been on a trek before, as youth. The same trek, even! I think that's what has been weird for us...now being on the other side of things. Makes us feel old.

Last night we had our "Family Sorting" night. 35 families were formed, each with 8 to 10 kids. Such a monstrous thing to plan.

We were anxious to find out who would be joining our family. We got our list about 5 minutes before the activity began. We know 3 out of the 8 in our family and we will get to know the others soon enough. We have quite a few things planned over the next 4 months to get us prepared for August.
Our first mission...GET IN SHAPE!

It's March

I've been in no mood to blog lately. I could publish that one sentence and feel proud of myself.

I've had better February's in my life. Much better. In fact, I kinda just want to erase last month from my mind. I want a do-over. But I can't. Here's the upside: it is now MARCH. Thank goodness! But I have been taking mental notes of all the positive things in my life, most of which come from my babies. I have so much to say about them. They each deserve their own post and I'm planning on getting to that real soon.

Life is busy. And when things get you down it's hard to keep up with the busy-ness. I'm trying to get caught up and my feet off and running.

I added more piano students. I now have 15. It's too much. Everyday. But I really do enjoy it and I feel blessed to be able to do it, but it's still a little much. Trying to balance it all with the rest of life is challenging.

I am up to my ears with church stuff. Okay not really, but...kind of. Primary music is awesome. But man, I'm feeling it. I'm getting tired. It is both exhausting and wonderful week after week. I gripe during the week but then rave about it after church every Sunday.
I'm also collecting lots of "stuff" from it and I have no where to put it. That gets to me big time.
I also just got asked to play the organ. I've said a hundred times, "I DO NOT PLAY THE ORGAN!" But here I am, learning to play the organ. I still haven't figured out where my practice time will fit in but it's got to somewhere. I'm starting to curse my mom for ever starting me on the piano. Haha!!! Just kidding.

We have been sick. Along with everyone else. Starting to get over it.

We are gearing up for a busy summer. More on that to come soon.

Life throws you curveballs. It always does.

How's that for a "Debbie-Downer" post?

I've been reading some really great stuff from the scriptures and the Ensign. What would we do without inspired teachings? They have buoyed me up and consumed my thoughts.
And that's a good thing.