A Stomach Like A Rat

Chewy's nickname has changed to Templeton.  Yes, he's now been named after the rat from Charlotte's Web.  It started one day when he decided to mix every type of cereal we had in a bowl and then sprinkle flax seed on top.  The first time he did this I watched in horror.  I'm the 32 year old woman who still doesn't like her food to touch. He mixes a lot of food actually and in this instance I guess opposites attract.

So I began to call him Templeton and I'll sing, "Smorgasbord, smorgasbord" when he's 'creating' in the kitchen.  Sometimes I think he opens the fridge, sees a bunch of leftovers and he's all...

And then he's...

His latest concoction came about because he made the grave mistake of messing up my taco meat.  He thought it would be great to add some Paprika to the meat - however, I apparently made the graver mistake of purchasing SMOKED paprika (so therefore I suppose the fault lies with me).  That stuff is potent.  I wasn't a fan of the tacos we were eating and I blamed the Target brand seasoning I had bought until he fessed up.  For his punishment I consigned him to eat taco leftovers all the days of his life the week.

So as he was making a grilled cheese sandwich he decided to put taco meat in the middle.

Insert my usual reaction to his food here (ew, gross!)  He says they are delicious and has already had them many times.

Today at lunch I told him he should name them.  

Templeton: What, like Chad?

Me: No, like how grilled cheese sandwiches are named grilled cheese sandwiches, just something more creative for those.

Templeton: The best grilled cheese sandwich - ever

('ever' said like this)

Then Templeton asked me what the best of something was and I said, "Babe Ruth?" Which got us on a discussion of whether or not Babe was still the best and I remembered a baseball player from the 90's, that may have been better.  Toby McGuire or something.

Templeton: (Laugh) Spiderman? Do you mean Mark McGuire? The guy all roided up?

Me: I don't remember that part but yeah.

Templeton: It was Mark. (shakes head) Toby McGuire.

Me: Toby McGuire it is.

*Typing it in on my phone as a possible name.

Me: OH! Who's that actor that you made the rap about?* The guy from Fargo.

Templeton: William H. Macy?

Me: That's the one.

Introducing to the world 

 The William H. Macy

I actually got up the nerve to try some of it today.  A tiny bit.  I couldn't stop laughing as the little chunk approached my mouth - I laughed out of fear more than anything.  But I survived (for now) and survey says, "it's not terrible."

Stay tuned for more meals from Templeton's Trough.  

*Templeton has a rap for William H. Macy.  When it's done we hope to achieve YouTube fame and enough money to live out retirement comfortably.  

1, 2, C

First off - I forgot to blog and tell you all that we are having a boy!  We kind of expected it because our doctor and the benefits lady at his office, kept saying "him".  Then there was the fact that our whole family guessed it would be a boy, and of course, we had lots of girl clothes and a girl name picked out.

Here's a video of Ava, Sadie, and Olivia's reaction when Joanna told them the news:

The ultrasound was just as fun as the first time, a little less emotional but not much.  Seeing out little baby moving around is pretty cool.  At one point he was looking right up at us (probably sensing the pressure as the tech pushed down to get a better view).

So now I pack up the girly stuff I had kept out of the attic and pull out the boy stuff.  And there's a nursery to plan, nothing too crazy, maybe just a few little Doctor Who goodies.

Now that I've seen him move it's gotten easier to recognize when I feel him move...and he's gone crazy now.  It's weird.  At church he moves the most when we are singing hymns, I don't know if that's because he likes it or if he'd like us to stop,

Speaking of obsessions - my sister, Joanna, made me a Tardis cake for my birthday.

To say I was excited/proud would be an understatement. I also got a nice little video from my sister/niece Martha/Sadie.  

And here is my 20 week belly shot (p.s. I hate doing belly shots).

That's about it on the updates.

I'm THAT aunt...

I'd like to tell you a story about why I probably shouldn't be allowed to be a youth leader:

At the beginning of December, the Mia-Maids were making ornaments for our weekday activity and someone asked what everyone would be doing for Christmas.  I told them how my brother and his family were coming to town.  Then I couldn't help myself, I became that aunt.  The one who talks about her single nephew (despite that he's 15 here, not 30) and how great and cute he is.  I told them how I had been brainstorming how to get him to our ward so they could meet him (my parents and siblings all go to the same ward on Sunday and then there's us).  I realized that I may be biased about the attractiveness of my nephew so I pulled up a picture and let them judge.  Instantly girls started to ask if he would be at the dance on the 30th, which he would already be back in Oregon for.  I think it's safe to say they agreed with my assessment of his looks.

After that it kind of died down.  There was no way to get him to casually be somewhere to meet my Mia Maids.  I got to spend a great week with my family and got to know him even better than before and ladies, he's a catch (there I go again, the embarrassing aunt).  I told his mom and then him about how I showed his picture to my girls and how they wanted him to be able to go to the dance and he decided that maybe coming to our ward on Sunday morning might be worth the drive.  Sadly though he woke up sick Sunday morning and didn't go to church with anyone.

That Sunday I taught the Mia Maids (teaching the Sunday after Christmas while pregnant and having felt like throwing up until two minutes after class started doesn't make for a happy teacher).  I flashed the lights, I cut off side conversations, but eventually just gave up and trudged through my lesson - uncertain if I made sense or got through to anyone.  Time came for the closing prayer and I asked for a volunteer.

Crickets. (At least now I know how to get them to be quiet).

"You'll get a jump start on your 2015 blessings," I said.

Trina perked up and said, "I heard if you say the prayer you'll get a hot husband."

"Speaking of hot husbands," I said without too much thought beforehand.  I then told them how my nephew was going to come to church with me but he came down with a bug and couldn't.  They all said that next time he's here he'll have to come and I promised we'd make it happen.  Then I said, "But, I will give him the number of whoever volunteers to say the prayer."

Several hands came up then and one girl in particular jumped up out of her seat and took her place at the front of the room to say the prayer (to say she is competitive is an understatement).  She folded her arms but then leaned toward me and asked if I was serious and I told her I was.  Then she said the prayer.  Then all the girls who hadn't seen his picture wanted to see it (including the girl who jumped up).  She asked if he dressed well...it's funny what a 15 year old finds important in the opposite sex.  Another girl asked if it was a full body shot....It was too strange to question - so I didn't.

So at dinner that night I told Devin what I had done (apologies).  I gave him her number and a picture so he'd know who he was talking to and then I just asked him to let me know if/when he texted her so I would be in the loop.  Chewy and I were glad it was this girl, when we thought through the Mia-Maids she was one of our top choices (you know, if we really were in the business of setting him up).  We'll get that boy to move to Virginia eventually...

I'm not sure if I did a major no-no as a leader, but so far I haven't been reprimanded by anyone.  But I am certain that the idea of auctioning off a boy's number each time I need a volunteer probably isn't something I should get in the habit of doing.

Family Pics

The Saturday after Christmas we took family photos.  The photographer we had lined up canceled last minute, so on Friday night my sister texted, asking if I could take the pictures.  I am no professional so this task was daunting (despite having done several photo shoots at Martha's request).  We were at the park for two and half hours and so some pictures have cranky kids - but hopefully each family got at least one photo they liked.  Also, Chewy had gotten me a remote for my camera - so that made taking the big family picture so much easier.

Love Devin's Expression here

Ed's Clan

Matt's Group

Mart's Fam

Kat's Peeps

Joanna's bunch (Olivia - bottom right - attacking herself).

Us

Random pictures I liked.

"It's over!"

Smith Family Photo Shoot

Yesterday my sister asked me to take some family photos for them.  We went to Pump House Park in Richmond (creepy park - but I still love it).  Here are some of the photos.