Look What's Cooking Today

It's been awhile since I've posted about a blog my friends and I started with recipes we've tried that we love. You should check it out if you're in a rut. It's called "Look What's Cooking Today."

Here are a few of the latest recipes I've posted lately:

• Baked Potato Wedges
• English Muffins
• Chicken Cornbread Bake

lookwhatscookingtoday.blogspot.com

Count Your Blessings

Yesterday was such a perfect day! As I was reminiscing about it the hymn "Count Your Blessings" came into my mind. I'm going to count them so I can see what God hath done. It was one of those days when you think to yourself, "I love living here. It's so great." We also kept waiting for something bad to happen, but thank goodness it didn't.

1. We went to an egg hunt at Holly and Greg's. Macy had a great time and knew exactly what to do when she saw those eggs.  It's a good thing her little basket only holds about 5 eggs because she would have picked all the eggs within her reach. She was pretty easily distracted though when she realized the eggs had candy in them.

2. Jonathan helped me clean the house by scrubbing the bathrooms and spent a lot of time scrubbing the shower. I hate cleaning bathrooms so this was a huge help.

3. Macy took a 3 hour nap. We aren't sure if she slept that whole time but at least she was in her crib for 3 hours. I was able to get so much done!

4. The weather was absolutely perfect so we decided to go on a family bike ride. Jonathan pulled Macy in the trailer this time and Macy loved it. She was talking and having a great time. We realized she doesn't like being strapped in completely, so we did the strap across her lap and she was so happy. She didn't try to climb out either which was nice.

5. Jonathan took Macy out to the tot lot outside our building while I made dinner. Cooking dinner is actually enjoyable when you don't have a toddler screaming and pulling on your leg. They had such a great time. Macy just started going down the slide by herself. Here's a video of it.

6. We went to Heather and Trevor's to retrieve a lost sippy cup (and we got yummy dessert too) and when Addie saw Macy's pajama's she had to put her matching pajama's on. They then played ring around the rosy. So cute!

7. Macy when right to sleep at night without any fight. She does this most nights but it's always nice.

8. And today she slept until 9 a.m.! We are so lucky!

9. She looks so cute in her Easter dress Grandma Seymour gave her. 

I Love OxiClean!

I pulled out a brand new shirt (as in I've never worn it) from the dryer and there were weird blue marks all over it! It looked like it could be ink, but nothing else in that load had any marks. I decided to soak the shirt in an OxiClean solution for a few hours to hopefully save my shirt. Since it was already ruined it couldn't get any worse. Mind you, it had already been through the dryer, but the stains came out! I'm so excited! I now have a solution to all my stained clothes. And Macy's too. I wish I figured this out about OxiClean in the beginning of her life. 

I've put some in the wash and nothing happened, but it really works when you soak the clothes. It's a great buy.

My First Weekend Away

I was lucky enough to fly to California without Macy for a weekend. Boy, is traveling without a child so different! I forgot how relaxing life can be.

The happy couple

The purpose of my trip was to witness the sealing of my Grandpa and Grandma Seymour in the Los Angeles Temple. I would have flown around the world to see that if I had to. It was amazing to witness and to see all the friends and family members who were there to support my grandparents. It was also very amazing to see my dad get sealed to his parents. I've never live families be sealed before and to have my first one be my grandparents and dad was pretty special. When I was a child and I learned that I wouldn't be able to live with Grandpa and Grandma forever because I wasn't sealed to them I was really sad. I loved my grandparents and always wanted to be with them. I'm so happy they are now sealed to me forever. My parents, my siblings, and my children are also sealed to them too. Isn't that wonderful?

I actually got to be part of the sealings because I was the proxy for my Aunt Karen who has passed away. Now not only had I seen a live sealing, I got to be part of one too. It was an amazing experience. I don't know how else to describe it. There was not a dry eye in that sealing room. I was so happy that I could help my Aunt Karen be sealed to her parents for eternity.

On the way to the temple that day I had prayed to myself asking Heavenly Father to show me that Aunt Karen would be there at the sealing and I would know of her joy. As I was sitting in the sealing room waiting for Grandma and Grandpa to come in I felt this overwhelming warmth. It was definitely a burning in my bosom. I have never felt the Spirit so strongly as I had in that room. I knew instantly that Aunt Karen was telling me she was watching from above and that she was so happy to be sealed to her parents. I cried because I knew I had received an answer to my prayer and that Aunt Karen was there.

Another special part of the day was my cousin Bryce went through the temple for the first time because he is going on a mission to Alabama. Him and his brother Evan got to be witnesses while their mom was being sealed to Grandma and Grandpa.

That night Uncle Eric (Karen's husband) hosted a party at his house for Grandma and Grandpa so their friends could celebrate with them on this joyous day.

It was such an spiritually uplifting experience and I was so glad I could be there. I would not have missed it!

More Cherry Blossoms

I forgot to blog about my trip downtown with Macy to see the Cherry Blossoms. We went April 4th on the most beautiful day. It was warm, sunny, slight breeze with a few clouds. I couldn't have asked for anything better. We took the metro because it would have been impossible to find parking downtown.

Here are some of my favorite pictures. It's almost impossible to get a picture of Macy that is in focus and a good shot of her since she is always moving. We had a great time!

Picking up sticks of course.

More bars in more places

She's a happy girl.

Trying to reach the branches

Her "Wooo" face.

She saw another kid climbing in the tree so naturally se wanted to.

She could have spent the whole day walking under these chains.

Best Purchase of the Year

I've been waiting almost 4 years: I finally got a bike! It's blue, and it has pedals and gears. That's about all I know about it. But I love it! I had purchased a bike trailer for Macy at the consignment sale so I figured I needed a bike to pull her. We already went on a ride this afternoon and Macy liked it until the end when she was getting cold. I'm so excited we can become a biking family now!

Best Kept Secret in D.C.

Kenwood Neighborhood in Bethesda. The whole neighborhood is lined with pink cherry blossom trees. It's amazing and beautiful. It looked like it was snowing pink. The trees cover the streets and provide a pretty pink canopy. Now these pictures are terrible because I didn't get out of the car but I think it gives a good idea. Thanks Janae for sharing!

Macy's March

I realized I wasn't very good about posting anything during the month of March. Here are some photo updates for those people who want to read a post full my crazy little bundle of joy. 

Jonathan received a "music" card for his birthday. Macy enjoyed it so much we listened to it non-stop the next day.

Macy loves to accessorize. She picked these out herself if you can't tell. Its her one pink glove (we lost the other) and a belt from one of my jackets. She had it on like a scarf.

Apparently it was "Don't Brush Your Hair Day."

Lily came over and Macy insisted that she sit on Lily's lap.

Then Macy wanted Lily to sit on her lap. It looks like Lily didn't mind the attention. Aren't they cute?

Macy also loves bags and carrying things. Here she can do both and she's in heaven.

More accessorizing. She loves scarves.

Beets, Beets, Beets

I made beets for the first time and I really like them now. I'm not sure if I like all beets, but I like these that I made. Not only do they taste good but they have a beautiful color and they make everything turn that color. I visited a new market (GW Market for you locals) and their produce prices were so cheap I thought I'd try making something new and if I didn't like it oh well.

I got the recipe from Allrecipes.com. It's called Grandma's Harvard Beets. I liked them the night I made them but I think I like them even more the next day when they have chilled in the fridge.

The recipe says to use canned beets but I had fresh I had to roast them first. I removed the greens and wrapped each beet in foil. I then roasted them at 375 for 45 mins.

Mommy and Me trip to California

My dad had surgery on his shoulder so he is at home recuperating. My parents hadn't seen Macy in a few months so I thought it would be perfect timing so visit while my dad needed company. Jonathan stayed home because, well, someone has to make the money. Macy and I had a fun Mom and daughter trip.

My flight to California was delayed for an hour. Macy had no clue anything was wrong. She had fun climbing on the airport seats, playing hide and go seek with someone, and getting her dirty little fingerprints all over the large windows.

Once we boarded I was pleasantly surprised that no one else was sitting in our row. Having three seats to play on would seem like enough, but it's not for Macy. She is only happy when walking up and down the aisles and in the back with the flight attendants. Thank goodness I had the nicest flight attendant ever in the back with us. She became such good pals with Macy; at one point Macy wanted the lady to hold her bag of food. Then Macy wanted her to take the food out of the bag and put it into Macy's mouth. She was so nice and let us play in the back of the plane with her. This made the whole flight so much easier. Macy only cried while the "fasten your safety belt" sign was on.

(On a funny side note, here is a picture of my stroller tag. I even spelled out my last name for her.)

We were very tired once we landed since it was 12:30 a.m. for us. Of course, Macy did not sleep a wink on the plane. We went right to sleep (Macy was asleep within 3 seconds of being in the car).

We had a great time at my parents. I learned: 

Macy asleep after a walk. The street sweeper drove by and she didn't budge!

• Macy takes a little while to warm up to new people that come into my parents house. Especially men with beards. My Uncle Mike just looked at her and she cried. Uncle Mike wasn't too offended- he said I did the same thing when I was a baby. If we were at someone else's house she was totally fine with new people.  
• Macy loves playing with doggie water dishes and doesn't hesitate to lick her fingers after they've been in in the bowl. 
• Macy is still afraid of my parents super old dog Pepper. It took Macy almost a week to get enough courage to touch the dog who hardly even moves. It was so funny to watch Macy try to slowly side step to a toy that was by Pepper.



Macy playing with wood chips and flowers with Grandpa. Yes she's in pajamas, it was bedtime but I let her have one more play outside. 

• Macy LOVES to be outside. I sort of knew this before, but we were able to be outside everyday whereas in Virginia we can't because it's still a little cold. Now I'm glad we don't have direct access to outside. Macy was always begging to go outside by scratching the front door because she knew in just one step she could be playing with wood chips and tearing apart my moms flowers. 

  

  At Yorba Regional Park. Just after this picture she tired to walk with the ducks into the water.
  

• Macy loves to put little rocks into a bucket. My dad came up with this game while he was playing outside with Macy. She would grab rocks put a few in a bucket, take them out, put them back in again. 
• Macy loves to wear things around her neck. She found this red ribbon and loved to wear it like a scarf. She also liked to put it on other's heads and necks. She found a keychain lanyard she liked to wear around too. 

  

  Macy and her red ribbon. See how happy she is?
  

• Macy loves to take records out of the cases and step on them. 

  

  Grandpa is nice enough to let her play with the records.
  

• My parents neighbor has an enormous dog that Macy could easily ride. Call it werid, but I had to take a picture of the thing. 

  

  The guy is tall and the dog's head is at his waist.
  

• Macy likes being a spectator at Jill's soccer game but she loved being a concession worker even more. 



She's not the type to sit around and do nothing.



She was selling water to the fans.

• Macy now likes to hold your finger when you walk with her. It's so sweet.



Macy and Aunt Jill out shopping

• She can sit still and smile for a picture.



Macy with Papa

• Macy loves to take food cans out of Granny Dot's pantry and would do it all night if you let her.



Unfortunately she discovered this as we were trying to leave.

• Macy likes to put the doll's binkie in its mouth.






• Jill has a great friend (Will) who dressed up as Mario for a school dance. He doesn't even go to Jill's school. They were Mario and Princess Peach. 






• Macy loves waterfalls and fountains and will try her hardest to climb into them. We went to Irvine Regional Park and inside there is a little zoo. The waterfall was the first thing you saw and we almost didn't get past it because Macy loved it so much. 
•  
• Macy loves feeding the goats. Well, she likes watching me feed the goats. I put my quarter into the machine, got the food, fed the goats. Macy runs over to the food machine and points to it with her little grunts. I did it one more time then luckily something else distracted her.



This goat was really hungry.

• Macy is afraid of Pepper, but she's not afraid of goats. We went inside the goat pen to pet them and she walked in like there weren't 20 goats roaming around her. I think she liked the fact there were little brushes for her to brush the goats. She knows everyone has to look their best. 
• Macy likes to dance in circles now. Every time she heard music she would spin once or twice then smile and clap for herself. I could watch it all day long. 
• Macy has a lot of family members who love her so much.



Tickle fight with Great-Grandpa Seymour

• She still likes Great-Grandpa Seymour's wooden blocks and now loves to sit in the block wagon while eating the blocks.



Wood must taste good.

• Macy now has her first molar! That took a while and lots of tylenol. 
• Jill gets squimish when she sees my dad's shoulder.



Rotator cuff surgery

• Macy does not like flights were we have to get up at 5:30 a.m. and have to sit in a middle seat. (More on this story in the next post)



Picture taken while on the longest airplane ride ever!

Eating lunch. She gets thirsty.

Eating at the park

Eating frozen yogurt with Aunt Jill. Notice a pattern?