Recovered

Well, we are more or less recovered from a fun and family-packed summer, filled with two week-long family reunions, several houseguests, one pageant, a couple shorter trips, family pictures (click here), and plenty of swimming, barbequing, and good old lounging. Somewhere in there we also fit in my 25th birthday (whoot, whoot!), which Mike did a fabulous job of commemorating. Because my birthday was on a Sunday, he planned a lovely family day on Saturday. We took our afore-mentioned family pics in the morning, went and bought Maggie's first movie theater ticket to an early matinee and saw Toy Story 3 (which we all loved, but I ended up bawling, just like last year during Up--what is it with those Pixar movies?), ate at Pei-wei (which has my beloved lettuce wraps but is more family-friendly than it's fancier and pricier counterpart P.F. Chang's, where the wait is longer), got yummy frozen custard for dessert, and headed home for naps. Then we finished up the day with a trip to the local pool. If you ask me, celebrating the day before is a good way to go. We may have to make it a family tradition. Because let's face it, young or old, I think most people hope somehow their birthday will be really special. And when you celebrate the day before you don't wake up with such high hopes or expectations on your actual birthday thinking, "I hope somehow today is special." You wake up thinking, "Man, that was a fun day yesterday!" You already felt so celebrated the day before that anything else is just icing. And so it was. My actual birthday, the cake, the gifts, the well wishes, were all low-key but wonderful. And I'm 25.

Maggie is swiftly turning from toddler to little girl this summer: She still loves letters (she loves to tell me a sign has "ABC's on it"), and is now fascinated with princesses and having her nails and hair done (like her cousins and youngest aunt). She is commonly found singing Princess songs or Primary/church songs as she plays and loves when we do fingerplays or action songs. Most recently she loves pulling up her little chair to use as a step-stool so she can do things like "help" me in the kitchen, like last weekend when she ate about half of the apple slices I cut as we prepared apple crisp for a church function--if only I hadn't been in a hurry. :/ But it was so fun to have my little helper I couldn't bear to get rid of her. Especially when her cute little voice was saying with a huge grin, "I helping, Mama. I helping."

Kate is quickly approaching toddlerhood as she pulls up and scales tables and couches to get things. She loves it when we hold her hands so she can run. She is starting to point, can now crawl on all fours as well as army-style, and as of about a month ago can also go up stairs (but not down...except I guess the hard way, but it hasn't come to that). Kate is so smiley and fun and simply loves to laugh. And now that we are past the mere purees and on to more interesting tastes and textures, Kate is liking food a lot more, so that is nice. She especially likes noodles and kept growling for more tonight when we were eating with Mike's brother's family. It was pretty cute.

I have also come to the conclusion over the past couple months that it is more difficult to clean, pack, or leave the house with a two-year-old and a nine-month-old than it was when they were both under two, because now they can both get into things and get away from me, whereas before Kate couldn't do much besides lie on her back and look cute (now she still looks cute, but she's just more trouble :) ). Though I will say, now that Maggie can put on her shoes instead of just taking them off (which would usually occur right before we were about to leave the house), things are improving. :)

I should also add that it is incredibly fulfilling to have these two little angels in my life and see them interact and laugh and play together. Watching them grow together this past nine months has been pure joy. I can't believe how adorable they are. Maggie loves to make Kate laugh. One day recently they both woke up from their naps around the same time and I heard them laughing and laughing at each other in their cribs for several minutes. I peeked in and saw them standing facing each other, smiles on both their faces, sharing some private joke. Occasionally Maggie would duck, then peek at Kate, who would shake her head and chortle. Finally Kate started to have her fill of the fun and the happy cries started to turn to whines. But when I went in to get Kate, Maggie was enjoying their time together so much that she tried to stop me. "No, Mama. Away. Away," she said, shooing me with her arms.

Another time, I was going to take a shower when Mike wasn't home and put Kate in her playpen with a few toys and Maggie playing nearby. When Maggie saw Kate going in she wanted to be put in with her. I was somewhat wary, but put them in together and listened to them on the monitor during my shower. They played happily the entire time.

And frequently, Maggie will ask to be put in Kate's crib when they first wake up or coos "Oh, baby. Poor Katie." to a sad Kate in the backseat when Mama can't help. And it helps. Kate definitely responds to her sister. (She also responds when Maggie occasionally pins her to the floor with an overly-exhuberant hug. And Mike has to explain that we don't put sisters in half-Nelsons.)

I hope they are always close.

Here is a little video of our little playmates we made for Mike's family reunion. It is mostly old pictures, but enjoy. This song is a favorite of Maggie's. She loves when Mike plays it on the piano for her to sing-along.

Now we are rejuvenated and enjoying returning to our daily routine and life here in Kansas, catching up with friends and chores we have neglected over the summer. (Not to put you all on level with chores--that came out wrong. And, for the record, I actually enjoy chores as long as my life isn't nothing but chores.) Mainly, I just wanted to say I'm back from my blogging break. Life is good with the Gotfredsons. More details to follow on our fun lives and all the thoughts and half-finished blog entries that have been swirling in my crazy little head. I'm sure you are all on the edge of your seats.

My Dynamic Duo

Well, I've had plenty of material for blogging this past month, but low motivation and little time. Kate's now seven months and go, go, go. She learned to crawl a few weeks ago and just keeps getting faster. She does the cutest little army crawl you've ever seen...or at least that I've ever seen! She also enjoys peek-a-boo and now knows how to sit up, stand assisted, and spit out baby cereal. Why don't my kids like that stuff?! Baby food is my enemy.

We're enjoying the crawling stage with Kate as Maggie was not a crawler. It's so cute when I go into the next room and turn around to find that Kate has followed me on hands and knees (and tummy, I guess). Often Maggie is right there with her as well. How I love my little tagalongs!

Our sweet Kate is just as smiley as ever and Maggie still loves her to death. One morning just after the girls had woken up, Maggie begged to have me put Kate in her crib with her. She was thrilled with the experience and has since requested this several more times. I'm so glad my girls have each other.

Here is some footage of Kate crawling. She is pretty quick now! The other video is of Maggie and Kate "talking." It is funny to me how they will babble and laugh back and forth at each other in their own little language. They were doing this for quite a while before I got out the camera to try to catch a bit on film.

BYU Blues

My little sis just started at BYU this week. Brigham Young University, of course. It's been tremendously fun chatting with her on the phone, hearing about her first week and helping her proofread her first assignment. I'm ridiculously happy for her. But I'm a little blue too. (I must look it too because when I went to get Maggie from her nap she said "Happy mom?" So I put on a smile. For her. Even though she had just woken Kate from her nap.)

Don't get me wrong. My life is just about perfect.

1. I'm practically a celebrity in our little town.
Person: "What does your husband do? Did you say he's the city manager?

Me: "Planner. City planner."

Person: "Oh right...what does he do again?"

2. I have two darling daughters who are incredibly sweet and fun.

3. My husband works 1.5 miles from our home and I get to see him at lunch each day. (This gives me added incentive to have a productive morning and look presentable before noon...usually.)

4. I have a home. And it is comfortable. And beautiful. And perfect for our stage of life. And very much our little piece of paradise. (Though it might have a bit more curb-appeal if I would weed more often. And if the seeds we planted in our pretty flower pots didn't grow up to look so much like weeds. Hand-watered weeds.)

But still, I love BYU. I miss it. It was my first home away from home. And it felt like home. I looked forward to going there almost as much as I always looked forward to getting married and starting a family. In fact, I was so excited to go there that I would get on the BYU website frequently from about tenth grade on and daydream about being there. I even found this spot on the site where they had just random pictures of people playing on campus (maybe it was on the housing page) and I would look at them thinking, "That'll be me someday...", even though the pictures were from the early 90s and everyone had bad hair. (I probably shouldn't admit this. It's a little pathetic.)

BYU was where I fell in love, had my first kiss, and started my own happily forever after. I miss walking to the library. I miss meeting friends at the Wilk. I miss going to devotionals and even forums. I miss finding computer kiosks to check my e-mail for love notes from Mike. I miss ice cream cones from the Creamery. And lately when I go running in the heat and humidity, I miss those cool mornings and "four seasons in one day" that I used to make fun of. I miss running around the Provo temple and watching the sunrise over Utah lake. I miss watching the young moms from Wymount jog with their kids in jogging strollers, hoping that would be me someday. (It is. Though I'm not in Provo, where the weather would be better for it. Right after we were married, Mike went and sped through college so he could support me in style. We left Provo for Lehi my senior year at BYU--super-senior year if you must know--and Maggie was born while we lived there, so I didn't get to do much of the BYU mom thing. Drat. Just kidding...mostly. Thanks honey.)

So now here I am in Kansas, happy as can be, but also wishing I could be living near BYU so I could have my amazing sister and cousins over for Sunday dinners, like all the cool people did. And also missing the East Coast and my amazing family...but that's a post for another day. Yes, I'm a little homesick for BYU.

Yep, I'm Married to Him

Mike came home all smiles from work the other day. The reason? He referred me to this article. After, I was done reading he said, "Yep, you're married to me."

Unfortunately, I hadn't read the end note on the article so I didn't get it. Hope you do. It's good to have a husband who keeps the sportscasters on their toes. ;)

Another recent news item worthy of note: Mike found out he was accepted to the University of Kansas Masters of Public Administration work-study program! So, that's exciting/scary. I think he's worried about not having as much time to spend with us girls between work, his Young Men's assignment, and now school. But he's good at organizing his time, so I'm not too concerned. Maybe I should be?

Father's Day turned out well...in the end. It started when Kate woke up at 5:30 screaming/crying--for her very abnormal. This woke up me (of course), Mike (poor guy), and Maggie (who could not fall back asleep). I was feeling less than chipper. I woke up with a scratchy throat and headache thinking, "Why does today have to be Father's Day?" For the past two weeks, it seems I have been dragging a little, I think because Kate had some nighttime wake-ups and, since she and Maggie have spoiled me, I wasn't used to them and never managed to catch up. But after tossing and turning a while with Kate in my bed and Maggie tossing and turning in her crib listening to "her songs" I got up and went out to the living room with the girls and finally started to come alive. Still, when Mike came out close to 10am (we have late church) the strawberry-cream cheese braid was still on the rise, the living room already had toys strewn about, and our Father's Day card was half-done on the table. And I was trying to finish some cupcakes for my little Sunday School class--not remembering it would be Father's Day, I had promised to bring cupcakes to celebrate some birthdays. In all, Father's Day morning was not exactly as I pictured it.

I was a little frustrated at first. If only I hadn't been so tired, either the night before or early in the morning I would have done more. See I have these visions of the house always being perfect on every holiday: breakfast steaming on the table, dinner prepped and dessert done, homemade presents and cards ready, wrapped, and waiting to be enjoyed. This has happened a few times, but more of the time it has not. And I guess that's okay, because our holidays have all been pretty good, despite not always living up to my big plans. But my plans really are always AMAZING, I must say. No one can plan like I can.

At least our Sunday roast was started, the bread was done for dinner, and we had a Father's Day present. It could have been worse. Actually, it was good. Really good. And the rest of the day was wonderful. Church was good, the food was good, the card got done and with the presents were well-received, Mike and I had several nice hours alone while the girls recovered from their 5:30 wake-up with a long nap. It was good (that's the theme if you can't tell). I just wish I could have made dinner for my own Dad too. And maybe my wonderful father-in-law as well. They are pretty great.

I love Mike so much. I really am glad I'm married to him, and not just because he's chummy with Greg Wrubell of BYU Radio (though I'm probably not supposed to tell anyone he periodically sends off sports-related emails to sports news anchors). Mike's still as fun to talk and dream with as he was when we were dating. Probably more so. And he's such a good dad. Maggie just adores him and Kate grins like she does too (of course, she's usually grinning...except when Mike's wonderful parents got stuck babysitting her on a fussy evening last week...darn...at least the Chamber of Commerce dinner had fabulous free food AND we won our centerpiece--a stuffed lion and children's toy doctor kit!--so I wasn't too sorry I went with Mike :/ ).

And Mike loves his girls right back. I love the way he always calls me over to see cute things they are doing and admires adequately when I do the same to him. I love hearing him sing with Maggie as he rocks her at bedtime or watching him sing and play with her at the piano. I love how he gets down to play with the girls when he comes home at lunch.

I have one terrific dad, so I'm glad my girls have one just as good.

And somehow, Monday I woke up refreshed. So we're having a good week.

Cafe Rio Craving

After a disappointing attempt at Thai green curry, I recouped with a yummy Cafe Rio-style dinner earlier this week. In all fairness, I think my expectations for the curry were too high. It was decent, but I expected it to taste EXACTLY like the one I loved so much at a restaurant near us in Utah. Not so much.

However, the sweet pork Cafe-Rio-style style salads came out perfect (for those of you that have never been to Cafe Rio, it's a Mexican grill restaurant popular in Utah). I looked at several copycat recipes online, combined and simplified.

I had a pork tenderloin I had gotten on sale and stuck in the freezer a while back. I thawed it and stuck it in the crockpot with a can of medium red enchilada sauce and 1/2-1 cup brown sugar. Some recipes also recommend adding some root beer, Coke, or Dr. Pepper, so I threw some soda in too. I cooked it on high for 3-4 hours, shredded the meat, then put it back in the crockpot for a couple more hours on low.

When it was about an hour to dinner I got started on everything else.

To give the rice some flavor, I cooked white rice as directed, but added a little lime juice, garlic, cilantro, and butter to the rice cooker along with the rice and water.

I made some fresh pico de gallo--diced an onion, a large tomato, and a jalapeno, added some fresh chopped cilantro, the juice of a lime (you could add some zest if you're feeling fancy), some minced garlic and salt (alternately, I have used garlic salt in place of the garlic and salt). I covered and chilled until dinner.

Then I cut some corn tortillas up into strips and fried those, lightly salting them after they were done.

Last, I made the dressing. I just used some ranch we had in the fridge and blended it in my mini food processor with a tomatillo, fresh lime juice, a clove or two of garlic, and a bunch of cilantro.

After I chopped up some lettuce and warmed up some black beans, it was time to assemble.

Tortilla, rice, beans, and cheese (I had some pepperjack and cheddar)--warm in micro or in oven to melt cheese--then put on the meat, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and dressing. Bon appetit! (Disclaimer: This may not be the exact order they do it in at Cafe Rio, but it works for me and the result is yummy. :) )

Also, I didn't have an avocado on hand, but if I had, I would have mashed that up with some garlic salt and lime juice for fresh guacomole. Definitely next time!

Thanks Mike's sister Debbie for the idea and to Favorite Family Recipes for major recipe inspiration and the picture.

Six Months!

I've been calling Kate six months for a couple weeks, but now it's official!

Recent Accomplishments:

1. eating paper

2. rolling and creeping ALL OVER the place

3. chewing on things (Besides paper, she has a special affinity for wooden puzzle pieces.)

4. splashing (We went to the pool last weekend.)

5. finding books and magazines so she can eat more paper

6. sitting up for a few seconds (I think she could a lot longer if she didn't want to stand up so bad. Her legs are always going like she's on a pogo stick.)

Loves:

1. getting entwined in cords and ribbons

2. putting things in her mouth (especially paper)

3. being tickled

4. playing peek-a-boo

5. "flying" on her tummy

6. baths and pool time with Maggie

Next on the docket:

Rice cereal

We love our little paper-eating Kate with her darling grin, heart-melting laugh, and kissable cheeks. I love the way she will be playing and talking to herself when she wakes up from a nap, then I come in to get her out of her crib. She looks up, sees me, and simply lights up. Being a mom is the best.

6/15/10--Update: Kate has tried rice cereal. She is reserving judgment.

Square Foot Garden Update

Here are some pictures to show the progress of our square foot gardening efforts. We've strayed somewhat from true square foot gardening principles by mixing our squares slightly with some white onions and flowers throughout, but we are nonetheless proud of our efforts.

An overview.

Yellow squash with merigold border.

Rhubarb and cucumber. A bug of some kind has gotten into the rhubarb, but it is fighting to survive.

Our zucchini. Last night's storm knocked off many of its first blossoms, but this should just give us a more manageable number of vegetables.

(Clockwise) White onions, beans, strawberries, carrots. The onions have been the surprise success story of the year. They have grown fast, well, and have been pest free. The beans got eaten down pretty well by the deer, but have made a strong comeback. The strawberries have not produced much, but have given Maggie something fun to pick. The carrots probably need to be thinned, but seem to be doing fine anyway.

The tomatoes were purchased as the very smallest starts with six in a pack for $1.50. We got a cherry tomato and big boy variety. They have really taken off.

Three types of peppers and cantalope (upper right corner). We're still not certain that these are in fact peppers and not weeds, so we inter-planted some more white onions to hedge our bets.

Finally, here is a picture and video of Maggie eating ice cream after our gardening tonight.