nat*schofield

oh hey, yeah, i'm still here.

2012-01-27T21:32:00.001-07:00

Ethan has reminded me that I can't stop blogging because it's our family journal.

Ok.

Here is how our week went.

My schedule was funky and it kinda through me off, but we survived.

** I had lunch with Anna. I am happy to have found a good friend,

I joke that we are soul sisters but I'm only kinda kidding.

** Watched TV and lots of chatting with Cam and Mich. SO nice to have good friends really close by. The kind that you walk in each others houses without waiting for someone to answer the door.

We swap kids when we need to get our houses clean and drop off sodas when needed.

** Pieced a quilt top on Thursday. I used this 1600 jelly roll quilt pattern and used two jelly rolls.

I love it. I can't wait to have it machine quilted and use it on the couch. I loved how it turned out so far.

** Finished another Ivy and Bean with the kids, we are on book 5 now.

** Had a late night vent/dessert session with a coworker.

** Took the kids to see the chipmunks movie at the cheapo theatre.

Pretty excited that for 3 tickets and 2 kids meals it was only $13

** Two Jacks date with Ethan on the couch Wednesday night.

This is kinda a non planned weekly thing, I stop on my way home from work when I work late.

I can't help but feel so grateful for all the little tiny things that make my life happy.

Diet cherry coke, reading/snuggling with the kids, dates with Ethan, texting (keeps me close to my SIL's and far away and not so faraway friends), chai lattes, instagram (i'm obsessed)

PS I'm still not done that stinking book. It has taken me so long to read.

lately.

2012-01-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been loving instagram way more than blogging.

I added a button over on my sidebar where you can see my pics if you don't have instagram.

Friday night Ethan was out of town (visiting Kurt in Arizona)

so I had some of my girlfriends from the neighborhood over.

We had italian sodas and snacks and laughed and talked.

It was so fun. They stayed from 8 pm to 1:45 am. WHat?!!?

I hope we make it a monthly thing.

Saturday night the kids slept over at my Mom's because I had big C inventory until midnight.

When I got home I was not ready for bed so I read a bit.

I asked my FB friends for book suggestions and Jenna suggested the one above.

So far I like it, though I want it to pick up the pace a little.

Sunday was good. Ethan and I now teach the 8-9 year olds at church.

They seem to like us and we like them.

Today I had off for Martin Luther King day and the kids were out of school.

We worked on Add's valentines and met Ethan for lunch.

I also worked on some snack bags I saw on pinterest.

They come together really quickly and the kids love them.

{that is my mom on my desk holding me as a baby. i love the glasses and v neck. love you MOM.}

>>>

2012-01-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since we had reading time before bed. The kids share Add's bed most nights. She asks Kade every night if he will sleep in her bed. It is sweet. When it is time to read I cozy in between them and we read and read. Usually Kade will follow along and then chime in for a few pages. They snuggle up and ask for more chapters. I can hardly resist reading them more chapters b/c I'm so happy they like books.

Let me back up. It was a long afternoon. Add was in tears pretty much ever since she stepped off the bus. She wanted to play with a friend but I couldn't get a hold of the Mom. She wanted someone to play at our house so bad. She was a mess. Finally after dinner it was 7 PM. Let's go read. Just what she needed, snuggle time. We read 3 chapters to finish up book 3 of Ivy and Bean. Then half a chapter of Ramona the Brave (jeez the chapters are long in Ramona books!) and then 6 or 7 Shel Silverstein poems. They love the Shel books.

My heart is so full. So happy that I finally listened to what they needed...ME. We spent nearly an hour reading and laughing and just being with each other. Kade asks every night if I will sleep with them too. (Maybe he would be into the "family bed"?) Since Ethan wasn't home yet, I said I would stay with them while they fell asleep. It was like they were little babies all over again. Like they just needed the warmth of their mama as much as I needed them to need me.

I am grateful for small moments that make the crappy days better.

and yes, I was grateful to have my remote to click away while reading....

this is what happens when

2012-01-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

...Addi and I decide to play around with the remote Ethan gave me for my camera.

We bought a new chair the other day and set up a little reading spot in our bay window.

It's kinda hard for me to get a good shot b/c of all the light in the morning.

Add loved taking pics with the remote while we face timed with Grandma on the iPod.

I love this little spot. I love the stars Jody made me, they make me happy every day.

I cannot believe it's January 5th already.

This week has flown by.

{me trying to lint roll her while she takes pics and cracks up}

2011-12-31T12:05:00.001-07:00

Here are the last couple days we spent in Billings.

We set up Kade's marble run. It had really crappy directions but we figured it out.

On Friday it was 60 degrees and sunny.

We loved being able to be outside with no jackets.

We rode bikes, skateboarded and read on the grass.

It was perfect.

We left and drove home on Saturday morning.

We had pretty good roads except through Island Park (that is usual) and made it home in 9 1/2 hours.

Thanks for all the fun!

2011-12-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

Whoops forgot a few pics.

I loved finding the boys sharing a chair and reading. I think CP is flipping me off :)

For Ethan and Jody's birthday we took family pics and then had lunch.

We went to a movie and had a piñata filled with money. SO fun.

We also had our nails painted with Delaine. The little girls also got hair cuts.

Christmas in photos

2011-12-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

We drove up to Billings on Friday, December 23 after Ethan was done with work.

We stayed the night in Ashton, ID. When we got to the motel there was a sign saying to call b/c no one was there. Ethan called and they said to go in and pick a room and that the doors were unlocked. I was a bit nervous but we didn't get killed or kidnapped.

We made it to Billings by lunch time.

We had lunch and the kids were happy to play with all the cousins.

They had matching pajamas.

We had dinner and did the pass around gift.

Christmas morning went so well.

We got up and opened gifts, had breakfast and went to church.

It was a powerful service, lots of music.

After church we played with our gifts and played football outside.

The weather was unseasonably warm.

Ethan made a delicious prime rib for dinner.

We spent the rest of the week hanging out with Dane, Jody and Ash.

We love eating at our favorite places and playing games.

It was a great break and now we are back.

PS ---- I stole most of these pics from JODY> thanks!!

Frankie has invaded

2011-12-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

Last year, Jody sent us an elf. The kids named him Frankie Peter Elfington.

He has been all over the past month. Thank heavens for instagram and pinterest for ideas.

Add especially has been so excited each morning to see what Frankie would be up to.
She loves to talk to him.

Though, I am grateful that the month is almost over and Frankie can be done.
I'm getting burnt out on finding cool ideas for him.
The last few nights Ethan has had to take over for me.

PS. I have seen naughty elves but our elf is nice.

{chit chatting with Frankie}

white chocolate candy cane popcorn

2011-12-18T23:13:00.002-07:00

First of all, I bought that cute red tape you will see below at the Beehive Bazaar and guess what?
It doesn't stick. It's so annoying. I feel duped.

Remember when Ethan and I got to go this party last year and I fell in love with this treat?

I came home and looked it up online and passed it around to my neighbors.

I could not find it this year until I finally found it on my phone buried in a text message.

I am blogging it so I don't forget.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE POPCORN

--------> 24 C popped popcorn

(I use a whirlypop in two batches.

one batch with 1/3 C kernels and one batch with 1/2 C kernels....

then I just took out enough to even it up)

--------> 3 C white chocolate melted (I use Ghiardelli white chocolate chips)

----------> 2/3 C finely crushed candy canes

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

divide popcorn into two large bowls.

pour half of the melted chocolate over each bowl.

gently stir to combine.

Sprinkle candy cane over chocolate and stir up.

Spread out over cookie sheets (lined for less mess) and let cool.

You can put these in the fridge to set up fast.

original recipe here

four people however many times

2011-12-16T07:00:00.002-07:00

I am just now realizing I meant to post this as our November pic.

Well here you go.

Christmas card outtake.

We were going for senior picture, cheesy shot.

Mission accomplished.

kade's 1st grade play

2011-12-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

After printing my Blurb book I realized I am using too many iPhone pics and need to use my camera more. These pics are evidence that I'm not listening to myself.

Crap. I know I will wish I had better quality pictures.

Kade had his first grade play tonight. There are SIX first grades at his elementary.

He had a speaking part at the beginning and was super cute.

Here he is with his BFF Cam and his sister:

{thanks Anna for the real camera photo, I love this one}

natalie schofield on Vimeo.

PS. I asked him what he was supposed to wear and he said, "Look nice"

He picked out his outfit.

12X10 december

2011-12-14T09:16:00.003-07:00

1. Kade writing out our weekly menu and lunch plans
2. Breakfast
3. Frankie hiding up top with the pretty gift from Jody
4. Painting Add's nails
5. Picking up a birthday gift
6. Buying paperwhite bulbs
7. Follow up with the foot dr
8. Kids with new scarves from GG
9. Kade reading on my lap
10. Add loving story time with Mrs. Claus

I'm two pictures short and I had lots going on. not pictured: lunch with Annalee, stopping to visit E, dropping off clothes at DI and picking up Two Jacks for dinner. It was a busy Monday.

**If you want to play along with the 12x12 next year you can join up here

Andra's cookie exchange

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

My friend, Andra throws the best parties.

Her home is always decorated to the nines.

I won "Most Creative" for my homemade oreos. Score!

Thanks Andra, it was so fun. As usual.

homemade oreos with candy cane frosting

2011-12-07T16:11:00.001-07:00

My friend Andra is hosting a cookie exchange tonight.

We are supposed to bring 2 dozen copies of the recipe but I thought I would just post it here instead.

I originally found the cookie recipe on Erica's blog a while back.

Homemade Oreos

(via Retro Desserts, Wayne Brachman):

For the chocolate cookies:
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons (1¼ sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

*Preheat to 375 degrees.
*In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
*Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, or greased sheet, about 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.

Oreo cookie filling:
1 stick butter
1 block of cream cheese (8 ounces)
3-4 cups confectioner's sugar (depending on desired consistency)
1 tsp vanilla extract
*cream butter (about 2 mins). Add cream cheese and mix well.

Add confectioner's sugar slowly until you reach your desired consistency.

**************************************************************************

For today's frosting I used my favorite buttercream recipe

(via How to be a Domestic Goddess)

except I omitted the vanilla and used peppermint extract

I also crushed up about 4 candy canes and added them to the frosting.

my camera battery died so you get cell phone pics instead.

2011-12-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I decided I wanted to make caramel corn. I kept seeing recipes online and thought it would be a good idea. Sometimes I just want to make something to see if I can and then it's good.

I never have to make it again. The caramel corn was one of those things.

I am enjoying sitting by the Christmas tree. It is a big C pre lit tree that we bought about 6 years ago. There are now branches that have lights that don't light up. We supplement with more strands of lights and it's all good. We have a lot of cool ornaments that we've collected over the years.

My parents each give us an ornament every year and now we do the same for our kids.

Which reminds me, we don't have an ornament for this year yet. whoops.

Andra's Christmas cookie exchange is tomorrow.

I think I'm going to make homemade oreos with candy cane mixed into the frosting.

hello.

2011-12-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

Kade has been reading like crazy lately. I love it.

Not only books, but just words in general.

Signs, food labels, text messages (while peering over my shoulder), notes sent in his lunchbox.

It's like a whole new world has opened up for him.

The other day Addi had a birthday party to go to so we went to the library.

We sat and read for a little while before he got bored and it was time to go.

Right now I am reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

I am really enjoying it.

page 57:

As I stood outside in Cow Lane, it occurred to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No...eight days a week.

it's friday?

2011-12-02T11:00:00.001-07:00

{click here to buy this print for me or you}

Well my Birthday was last Sunday.
I don't know why it's taken me so long to post about it.

It was a really great day.

The kids let me sleep in a bit.
Then they let me open my presents in bed.
We had pancakes for breakfast and went to church.

After church Eric and Jackie came over.
They brought me a whole red velvet cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious.
Mom and Paul came down and we had tacos for dinner. Thanks Mom!

Then we had some friends over for dessert.
Ethan made a yummy ice-cream cake for me.
It was really fun to have a house full of people I love.
The kids and Ethan treated me wonderfully all day.

Thanks for all the gifts, calls, texts, and FB comments.
I am a really lucky gal.

thanksgiving

2011-11-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

One of our better Thanksgivings in recent years.

Good company, good food.

We took our family Christmas card photo too.

I am thankful for :

modern technology

Ethan

my kids

family

silk blanket from China

good friends

creative pursuits

popcorn

and scarves.

insta-what

2011-11-22T07:00:00.001-07:00

My most favorite app ever is instagram.

I love that I can snap photos all day long and add filters and little blurbs about my day.

I love that people can "like" my photos or leave me a comment.

Here are some from the past few days:

Do you instagram? I am natschofield.

weekend visit.

2011-11-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Dane and Jody came down last weekend. We had a fun time.

Friday we went to the BYU basketball game.

The kids loved it and I loved the cougar tail pictured below.

It is a giant maple bar donut.

We also shopped, hung out, saw a movie, went to Alex's basketball game and ate some more.

Sounds like a Schofield weekend to me.

Thanks for the fun weekend and the groceries!

music for your wednesday.

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ethan showed me this music video that he found on failblog.

I love when he finds things he thinks I will like.

I'm a big fan of school supplies and color.

enjoy:

Hudson - Against The Grain from Dropbear on Vimeo.

2011-11-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I really like pictures of my house like this.

Add is looking/singing to herself in the mirror, which is something she loves to do.

The kitchen is slightly messy.

Diet coke on the counter. (I have a love hate w/it)

Flowers from E.

Real life happening here.

This week's menu:

Monday -- Annalee's pineapple curry

Tuesday -- spaghetti or I might make this

Wednesday -- Kade requested Mac & Cheese

Thursday -- potstickers or chicken wings

Friday -- Dane and Jody are in town

Saturday -- ditto to Friday

Sunday -- not sure yet.

more library

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am kind of obsessed with our new library here in Springville.

It is a great hang out spot. All they need to do is open up a cafe area and I'd be set.

The kids and I went on a tour of our new library the other day. It was really cool. They even let us into the sorting room, which was probably my favorite part. It is all automatic and streamlined. The books move down a conveyor belt and are placed in their correct bins. They are automatically checked in as they are scanned. The kids thought it was really cool.

We spent a long time picking books and hanging out.

I love that I can show Kade the military section and he can choose books that look interesting.

Add loves that we have bins in our kids section instead of shelves so she can see what she is looking for. The tour guide said that currently 80% of the kids' books were checked out.

It makes me so happy that people are utilizing our new library.

I also love that they have cool hanging art installations in this huge atrium.

They look like shapes hanging up until you get to the right view and then you can see what they make. This one is a star when you are directly underneath it.

It was an excellent way to spend a dreary Saturday morning.

OH...

And this what your table looks like when your son picks out 14 books to check out:

jenn and the b boys + a really cute baby girl

2011-11-13T12:59:00.001-07:00

My friend Jenn was in town for the weekend from Arizona and stopped by to say HI.

I was really excited to see her and her family. She recently had a baby girl, Lyla.

She is now the mother of 3 boys and one little lady.

Her baby was super sweet and the boys all played really well.

And I love that her husband can come and hang out too.

I also loved that Brekken (her oldest) walked in and said, "Hey, remember me?"

Maybe someday he and Kade will be college roommates or something.

Thanks Burr for taking the pictures!!

notes

2011-11-11T10:58:00.001-07:00

Well here we are at Friday and the week has slipped right on by.

I am working on my Chookooloonks Pathfinder course everyday and seem to be writing in my journal instead of blogging. I guess I need to figure out how to do both. I am really enjoying the process of slowing down and putting my thoughts on paper. I can remember doodling, writing quotes, love notes, ideas, glueing stuff down, lists and everything else before I got married.

It kind of feels like coming home to be doing it again. I really like it.

ps. i really love ultra fine tip sharpies.

weekend wrap up

2011-11-07T17:28:00.001-07:00

{i tend to wear those shoes a lot}

I picked the kids up at school on Friday.

There is a big mirror in the hallway.

As you can see in Kade's face he is saying, "Hurry up Mom!"

As kids ran by shouting their goodbyes and have funs for the weekend.

It was a cool moment.

Ethan went to Mesquite for work/golf trip.

He had a great time and enjoyed some warmer weather.

The kids spent the weekend with Eric & Jackie since I had to work Fri night and Saturday.

This weekend was super fun though.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Thursday -- hung out with Annalee while the kids played and watched a movie

Friday -- haircut, work, dessert with friends at the Chocolate, stayed up late watching the Notebook. How cliche.

Saturday -- worked and then dinner w/Brooke. Ethan was home by the time I was.

We decided to take advantage of Jackie still having our kids and we drove to SLC to see a movie.

50/50. We loved it. It had a ton of swearing but was funny and so sad. I cried a lot.

(love you Aunt Chris)

Drove home chatting and feeling grateful to have been spontaneous.

Sunday -- Jackie brought the kids down and we had breakfast together.

She made smoothies with her sweet new blender and waffles too.

Church

Aaron & Nan and the boys came down for dinner.

Skyped w/Ash.

BIG THANKS TO JACKIE/RICK for watching the kids
and ADAMS GOLF for the trip.

{Kade reading a Barbie book to Add, so cute.}

just me.

2011-11-03T21:40:00.003-06:00

Two views.

tidbits

2011-11-01T22:48:00.000-06:00

Self portrait with stationary:

It was pouring this morning when I woke up and I was excited to wear my new rain boots.

I worked and then went off in search of a notebook to use for an online creative course I signed up for.

Barnes and Noble didn't have what I wanted so I went to the BYU bookstore. I secretly love the BYU bookstore. It has really cute magnets and cards. I love both of these companies that are pictured above.

I got home with a few minutes to spare before the kids got off the bus.

We were soon all to work on homework.

I love that the kids always get up on their toes when working.

We finally got over to the new Springville Library this afternoon. It is beautiful.

I think it might be my new hang out. We feel very lucky to have such a great place so close to our home.

I can't wait to go back and explore some more.

halloween 2011

2011-10-31T23:36:00.000-06:00

The kids were really excited for Halloween this year.

Kade was a ninja and Add was a princess at school and a witch at night.

I went to the school for their parade and ended up staying to help for the carnival too.

The kids were happy I was there but I left with a headache, it was so loud and crazy in the gym.

But overall, fun to be there and see them and their friends.

We had a fun time trick or treating in our neighborhood.

We set up our fire pits in Cam & Mich's driveway and had our candy there for handing out.

Here are my signs to keep kids away from our house:

We had chili, cornbread and hot chocolate with a few other neighbors. Good times.

One of my favorite parts was a path of lights down the sidewalk.

I had a huge package of ikea tea lights and every spare canning jar I could find

to light up the way from our house to Mich's.

Happy Halloween!

More Halloween fun

2011-10-30T22:37:00.000-06:00

I wanted to add these for my blog book.

We had a Halloween block party last Monday night on our street.

My awesome neighbor Kara took family photos for everyone.

Ethan and I thought we should do some prom poses.

Pretty cute, considering we were both CUTEST COUPLE '98

(just with other people, haha)

Kade & Kara's son Tyler:

At the end of the night, I said to the kids, "Oh we should go get some pictures done."

They told me they had already lined up on their own. Whoops.

Addi with some crazy hair:

Then Saturday night we went to Rick & Jackie's Halloween party.

They did an awesome job decorating. I loved all the details.

here i am.

2011-10-30T22:04:00.001-06:00

Well I didn't mean to fall off the face of blog earth but I guess I did.

Oh well.

Today was our Primary presentation and the kids looked so cute.

They performed well. It was fun to have my Mom, Paul and Jackie over for breakfast before church.

(Sorry you had to work Rick, it was delish)

I love having a friend at church.

I kept wondering if we would get in trouble for whispering in class like when I was in YW.

We drove our kids and their friends home in the backety back of our Sube.

I hope they remember that that was fun.

Kade and Cam threw around a football and it seemed so fall.

The leaves were yellow and the boys' button ups were untucked and they were happy.

Ethan and Kade played some football in the front yard and E taught him some tips.

It was so cute. I love little moments.

We had dinner with Davey and Megan and then carved pumpkins with Mich and Sage too.

We have never carved with our kids and they were begging to do it this year.

I am so glad we did. It was really fun and cool to see what the kids wanted to do.

Kade drew up his Phineas & Ferb all by himself and also cut out Perry on the back.

{E's Modern Warfare 3, Add's witch hat, Adelaide's Ariel, Kade's Phineas and Ferb, Mine}

{And with the flash!}

This Week's Menu:

Monday : trick or treating

Tuesday : Chicken Parm w/spaghetti

Wednesday : Dayne's pork chops

Thursday : Two Jack's cheese sticks

Friday : I work late so no dinner for you

Saturday : ??

Sunday : drunk chicken hopefully

What are you doing for dinner this week?

this week in dinners

2011-10-23T22:29:00.002-06:00

Last week went pretty well.

I skipped 2 meals and we had mac and cheese one night and del taco the other.

and I did make tortilla soup one night when Davey and Megan came over

b/c I was afraid to make something new. But that soup is pretty tasty.

oh well.

The short ribs were good. The kids were not that impressed.

The sesame chicken was delish. Everyone loved it.

Ethan wants it to make another appearance soon.

The rigatoni rustica was really good.

This week I only have a few nights to worry about.

We have Halloween stuff going on all week.

Monday -- Neighborhood Halloween party (we are having another block party)

Tuesday -- Stuffed Shells w/garlic bread and broccoli

Wednesday -- Spaghetti w/the rest of the tomato sauce from Tues

Thursday -- Coconut Curry Soup that didn't get made last week

Friday -- The kids are going to my Mom's so maybe we will have a date night

Saturday -- Halloween party at Jackie's

Sunday -- still yet to be decided.

What are you making this week??

{photo from the other day when Kade and I were playing on photo booth.

Man, I love that boy}

four people however many times

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Oh baby, we got a picture for October. Awesome.

This was taken at the "delta" or "the river" as the Palmer's call it.

We loved their place and loved being on the boat.

The kids laughed and smiled and squealed and it was great.

We hope to go back.

Next time I won't wear black jeans!

and i will probably bring a book, some snacks and a cold drink.

hobble creek canyon

2011-10-19T10:07:00.001-06:00

Sunday afternoon I asked Ethan if he would drive us up the canyon.

The colors have been magnificent and I really wanted to get up there.

It was perfect.

Add had her window down and declared, "The colors are so beautiful!"

It made my day to see her appreciating it so much.

Thanks E for indulging me.

In our next home I am going to have someone landscape it

so our backyard has multi color leaves in the fall.

I loved all the reds, oranges, yellows, green and almost purples.

I hope to get back up one more time with soup and hot chocolate.

We will see.

dinner plans

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

SO I have to admit we sometimes do not stick exactly to the plan.

We nixed last week's mini meatballs and went to Cafe Rio.

We also moved pizza to Friday and went to Slab with some great friends.

Whoops. Oh and we skipped wings and had Bowties and tomato sauce last night.

Here is the rough sketch for next week:

Monday -- Whitney's braised short ribs (printed off before she shut down her website)

-- Garlic mashed potatoes and artisan bread

Tuesday -- Sesame chicken (same spiel -- from Whitney) w/rice and veggies

Wednesday -- Grandmom Hall's parmesan chicken maybe w/noodles

Thursday -- Coconut curry soup w/rice

Friday -- *left open*

Saturday -- pizza

Sunday -- ~~Penne~~ Rigatoni Rustica

(Ethan doesn't like penne)

-- I have quartered this recipe. I hope it's good, it's been in my email for a long time.

Ethan has challenged me to make new recipes all week. I hope it goes well.

ps photo via my instagram feed.....i'm natschofield.

the one and only add.

2011-10-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

The house was noisy and the sun was shining so I snuck outside with a quilt and my book.

Add soon found me and brought out her coloring supplies.

The sun was starting to go down and it was perfect outside.

I was feeling so lovey and motherly at the time.

Grateful that she wanted to spend time with me.

Happy that she is a creative soul.

I spend a lot of time thinking she is older or needs to catch up to Kade,

sometimes I forget that she is nearly two years younger and is still little.

I don't want to forget these moments.

(especially after tonight when she had a total meltdown when I left for a few hours

and I was really embarrassed in front of my friends)

12x12

2011-10-12T21:31:00.002-06:00

1. slow wake up this morning

2. Halloween flags on the front porch

3. Add off to Becky's and then school

4. Lunch at work, leftovers

5. At the bus stop

6. Kade helping Add with homework

7. At the pumpkin patch

8. Reading in the sun

9. In the car

10. Dinner at the Rio

11. Playing games while the girls shop

12. Before bed treat on the way home

Today was great. I worked in the morning while the kids were in school. Ethan had the day off so he golfed. We met up after school and went to the pumpkin patch. Then the kids played with some friends while I read outside. I just finished City of Thieves. I really like it, though it probably would be R rated. We went out to eat and then went over to the mall.

Everyone loves cake bites from the STF before bed.

chicken tetrazini

2011-10-12T09:23:00.000-06:00

This is Add's favorite.

CHICKEN TETRAZINI

12 oz spaghetti

1/2 tsp onion powder

2 TB butter

2 TB flour

1 tsp dry mustard

2 tsp chicken bouillon

salt and pepper

1-2 chicken breasts

1 1/2 C broth

1 3/4 C milk

1 C shredded cheese

Cook the spaghetti.

Boil the chicken until cooked through. (Or cook anyway you prefer) Chop up the chicken into small pieces. Use the water as broth (or use chicken broth and omit the bouillon)

Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, mustard, salt, pepper, onion powder (and bouillon if using) into a paste.

Slowly add the milk and broth. Whisk until smooth.

Add the cheese and stir until melted.

The sauce will be thin.

Combine the chicken, spaghetti and sauce in a baking dish.

Bake at 350 uncovered for 30 minutes.

CA trip

2011-10-11T09:03:00.001-06:00

Of course, I do not have as many pictures as I wish I had.

Oh well. The girls loved being twins the whole weekend.

We had multiple people ask if they were twins.

Very funny since the only think that looked alike was their clothes.

Friday -- we celebrated Dane's birthday. mini golf. laser tag. delicious dinner at the Zephyr

Saturday -- Crewe's baptism. a visit to the city (SF) the Blue Angels were in town. super cool.

Sunday -- church and then off to "the river" we loved boating and Ethan wake surfed.

I loved getting a babysitter for dinner, kids are happy, parents are happy.

I loved that the kids got to see where Crewe and Dayne live.

They played really well together the whole weekend.

I loved meeting Ash's friends and seeing family.

Thanks for having us! It was so much fun.

we are back + the menu

2011-10-10T09:33:00.001-06:00

We spent the weekend in California celebrating Crewe's baptism.

It was a very fun weekend and we are bit sad to come home to cold weather.

I will have pictures from the weekend tomorrow.

For today and I doing laundry and grocery shopping.

This week's menu:

Today -- Potato soup with artisan bread

Tuesday -- Chicken tetrazini

Wednesday -- Spaghetti w/mini meatballs

(we saw that cookbook at Crate and Barrel and thought those meatballs looked so good)

Thursday -- Roasted chicken in the crock pot

Friday -- Chicken tortilla soup

Saturday -- Pizza

Sunday -- Chicken wings

2011-10-05T09:14:00.002-06:00

Just a morning walk to the bus stop and back.

2011-09-30T09:34:00.001-06:00

Turns out I've been a busy lady with not much to blog about lately.

Of note: I'm getting a haircut today which is pretty great news for my shag-a-licious hair.

In un-related news: Ethan and I like to watch Chelsea Lately before bed.

One time this video was on and I was laughing so hard I was in tears.

And then when I would think back to it I would start giggling all over again.

So I thought I would share it with you for the weekend:

Please tell me you think this is funny as I do.

this week for dinner

2011-09-27T09:07:00.000-06:00

I am excited for this week's meals.

Here is what we are having:

Monday -- Honey Lime Enchiladas (via Kalli)
{these were a hit last night, everyone loved them}

Tuesday -- Balsamic Slow Cooked Pork

Wednesday -- Nachos

Thursday -- Beef and Broccoli

Friday -- leftovers

Saturday -- pizza after we get home from work

Sunday -- Chicken Wings

{click the meals for recipes}

Thanks to my FB friends for dinner ideas.

an ode to part time.

2011-09-22T09:37:00.003-06:00

{me with list -- post workout pre shower}

SO everyone keeps asking me if I am enjoying part time.

HELL YES.

holy cow. it's like i have a whole new life. I love it.

I love getting up early to get Kade ready for school.

I love packing his lunch and finding good tunes to play during breakfast.

I love having time to myself.

I love mornings with Add before school.

I love feeling like work is something I do, not all that I do.

I love that we can eat together as a family.

I love that I have way more time with Ethan.

That being said, I do feel like I need to be careful.

If I don't plan out my days, all the sudden they are over and I haven't done anything worthwhile.

So I have been planning my days in my 99 cent composition book.

I like to include:

my work schedule

kids' plans

dinner ideas

chores that need to be done.

I check my list throughout the day.

What do you do to stay on track?

Kade is a cool kid.

2011-09-20T07:47:00.000-06:00

Each week in Kade's class they have a "cool kid"

Last week the cool kid was Kade.

He was the first in his class, so we figure that is because he is the coolest!

On Monday he brought a poster telling about himself.

(He decided on all the decorations and said he liked that it was Mexican-y)

Tuesday he brought a game that he liked: Star Wars Guess Who

Wednesday he needed to choose a topic for a graph, he chose favorite icecream flavors

Thursday he brought one of his favorite books: Walter the Farting Dog goes on a cruise.

Friday he needed to bring something they could count, so he brought a jar full of Cars cars.

He is loving school this year. He said his favorite is recess and lunch. haha.

He rides the bus to and from school with his BFF.

He just started taking golf lessons.

He loves for us to read the Bad Kitty books.

He is a funny boy who makes me happy.

So hot

2011-09-18T19:48:00.000-06:00

One of the reasons I love Ethan is because he makes me laugh.

Tonight he squeezed into my skinny jeans and shaved a moustache to be a hipster husband.

Ha!

room service + homework

2011-09-15T08:59:00.001-06:00

The kids love "room service"

Basically a muffin tin filled with snacks.

Usually brought to them while they are watching a movie.

I decided yesterday to set it up for homework time.

It was a hit.

{mini nilla wafers, macadamia nuts, oreos, grapes

pirate's booty, graham cracker cookies, cut up string cheese, cheezits

grapes, PB pretzels, craisens and cashews}

12 x 12 september edition

2011-09-12T21:13:00.001-06:00

1. I had a hard time getting Kade up this morning. He just got out of his bed and into mine.

2. Making lunches for Kade and I

3. Seeing the boy off on the bus

4. So thirsty after work

5. The pumpkins are getting ready in the fields by our house.

6. I love seeing balloons way up high against the blue sky

7. Time for a teeth cleaning with our favorite dentist. No cavities!

8. The kids needed food and down time

9. Making dinner

10. Making peanut butter cookies

11. Sitting on the deck away from the mess I made in the kitchen.

12. Evening fire before putting the kids to bed.

I forgot to grab my camera on the way out the door so half of these are cell phone pics. Oh well.

It was a good day.

nine-eleven

2011-09-11T10:40:00.001-06:00

10 years is a long time.

But I still remember.

Ethan and I had only been married about a month and a week.

We lived in a one bedroom apartment in Provo.

Ethan was up getting ready for work and came in to wake me up when he saw the news.

He watched the plane crash into the second tower as I stumbled out of bed.

I remember being so scared, worried, nervous. Anxious about the unknown.

Would there be more attacks? Would Philly be targeted too?

All the phones lines were down and I couldn't get ahold of anyone back home.

I didn't know if my Dad would be apart of the rescue or if he knew people that were there.
I thought about all the people who's lives were changed that day.

All the wives without husbands, families without parents.

I smile when I see American flags flying.

I love when they are all lined up.

God Bless America and all those that make this a beautiful place to live.

Real

2011-09-07T19:59:00.000-06:00

Today was pretty much a fail:

1. The blondies I made were not that good. I hate baking failures. Waste of
Ingredients.
2. I thought I'd be cool and make the kids chocolate milkshakes for after school snack. They were not impressed.
3. I made pepperoni bread for dinner which no one ate but me. ( Ethan is at a work function all day/evening ) the kids ate cereal for dinner instead.
4. I spent way too much time online leading me to believe I need to step away from social media for a bit.
5. I yelled at my kids for being grumpy and whiney and then felt like a jerk.
6. Oh and I forgot it was early out day so Add was 20 minutes late to school.

I think it's time for bed. Tomorrow is another (hopefully better) day.

afternoon mess

2011-09-07T09:16:00.001-06:00

Our island was covered.

Art supplies for Addi's homework.

Worksheets and pencils.

Random dinner ingredients.

My favorite after school snack: pretzels and cream cheese

This is why I went part time at work.

So I could be home when my kids got off the bus.

So I could sit and do homework.

I could hear about their days.

Make dinner for us to eat together when Ethan gets home from work.

I know it is going to be hard but it will be so worth it.

I already feel like my life has changed.

planetbox

2011-09-02T07:37:00.001-06:00

I first saw the planetbox lunchbox on Tara Whitney's blog.

I immediately wanted to order it.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I love that you aren't sending much trash to school.

I love that is all one piece and is dishwasher safe.

I finally ordered one for Kade and it is awesome.

I send him with a reusable fork and spoon and his water bottle.

Or he buys a milk at school.

(the case has a spot for an ice pack also, so it stays cold)

Here are some of his lunches so far this year:

So far he has enjoyed taking a lunch and being a part of what I'm packing him.

Here are some other lunch idea posts......Mel's and Erica's and eighteen25's

Any other ideas out there on what to send? I would love more suggestions.

ditto

2011-08-31T20:33:00.002-06:00

four people however many times

2011-08-31T07:38:00.001-06:00

We did manage to get a photo of the four of us this month.

One morning on the beach we were taking pictures of the kids in the lifeguard stand.

We are lucky we only had rain that week at the beach since Hurricane Irene came a week later.

August was a good month and I can't believe tomorrow is September.

I am secretly ready for cooler weather, football, soup and cardigans.

Oh and hot chocolate or spiced chai.

Addi goes to school + back to school dinner, part 2

2011-08-29T22:49:00.001-06:00

My Addi chick went off and started Kindergarten.

She was so excited.

She took the bus and I met her at the school.

She jumped off the bus and said, "It was so fun!" (maybe a 2 mile ride)

We walked to her class and found her seat.

And then I left. Weird.

Both of my kids in school. So weird.

I met Ethan for lunch.

Ran some errands.

Then I picked up a drink and a People Mag.

before I knew it, it was time to walk down to the bus stop.

(I like meeting new friends/other moms in the neighborhood)

{Waiting for the bus}

The kids got off the bus together and we all walked home.

They both had great days and Add said she loved it.

We had Cam and Mich over for dinner.

Lasagna, garlic bread and corn.

Very fun.

Next thing I knew, it was 9 pm and CRAP! the kids were supposed to be in bed already.

We are still getting into the swing of it.

Kade's birthday

2011-08-29T09:26:00.000-06:00

Yesterday our super stud turned 7.

He was excited to open up new golf clubs from us and a razor scooter from Grandma & Tiger.

After church he was happy to try them out with his Dad.

We had a great dinner with Eric, Jackie, Mom, Paul and Brandon.

I made chocolate cake:

Thanks to everyone for the calls, cards and gifts. Kade was a happy camper.

Today he woke up and was bummed that it wasn't his birthday anymore.

ps. Addi starts kindergarten today!!

guess what...

2011-08-28T15:05:00.000-06:00

Going down the shore

2011-08-26T07:21:00.001-06:00

Our week at the beach was really fun.

We had rain a lot of the days but we still got on the beach everyday.

We went geo caching, ate icecream, took lots of walks, played in the sand for hours,

read and ate lots of good food.

Ethan golfed two or three times.

Kade and Add are awesome in the ocean.

They made me so proud and nostalgic thinking of growing up coming to the beach.

Beach week in photos:

Phils

2011-08-25T08:13:00.001-06:00

The first night we were back in NJ my Dad took us to a Phillies game.

(Add stayed home with Cath)

It was so fun. I love being at the stadium, it's so busy and everyone has on Phil's gear.

The food is delicious and it's just exciting.

That night they were inducting John Kruk into the Phillies Wall of Fame.

It was pretty cool to see him and other old school Phils that we loved.

Kade loved the game but I think loved the foam finger more.

Thanks Dad for a super fun night!!

{Kade took this one above, I gave him my camera and he went to town.

We have a dozen blurry photos of Ryan Howard now}

Kade is a 1st grader

2011-08-23T08:46:00.001-06:00

Kade started school yesterday.

He was so excited/anxious that he was up at 6 am.

He saw kids at the bus stop about 20 mins early so we headed down to the corner.

His BFF Cam and his brother Mason saved him a seat on the bus.

Add and I drove over to the school to meet his teacher.

{Mom -- hurry and take my picture!}

{Cam & Kade}

{New seat in 1st grade}

After school we met Kade at the bus stop and then made soft pretzels for a snack.

For his Back to School dinner he requested fondue.

He loves fondue. It was really cheesey (i think i added too much cheese) and delicious.

{Add picked out orange gerber daisies b/c Kade loves orange}

We finished the night with watching the Phillies game, some wrestling matches and chocolate peanut butter icecream.

drive home.

2011-08-22T06:28:00.001-06:00

We are home from our annual Hall Beach Week in Ocean City, NJ.

I look forward to this week all year.

We had so much fun with my Dad, Cath, siblings, spouses and nephews.

I have lots of photos to upload but that will have to wait.

Today is Kade's first day of 1st grade.

For now you can enjoy this video, that was totally inspired by Susan of Freshly Picked fame.

It shows us driving home from the shore (about an hour to my Dad's) and then off to the airport.

I like when we go across the bridge.

drive home from natalie schofield on Vimeo.

{thanks Erica for the music selection}

Summer Mix Tape

2011-08-11T13:52:00.000-06:00

This playlist has been on heavy rotation this summer.

Perfect for playing games, getting ready for the day, driving in the car, etc.

Enjoy.

Fader -- The Temper Trap

Anna Sun -- Walk the Moon

Blue-Eyed Universe -- Fictionist

Dog Days are Over -- Flo + the Machine

Joy Ride -- The Killers

Pumped Up Kicks -- Foster the People

A-Punk -- Vampire Weekend

Friday I'm in Love -- The Cure

Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts -- Brandon Flowers

Love Song -- 311

All These Things That I've Done -- The Killers

Funny the Way it is -- DMB

Chains of Love -- Erasure

The Way I Am -- Ingrid Michealson

Float on -- Modest Mouse

Sweet Child of Mine -- Sheryl Crow

Amber -- 311

Banana Pancakes -- Jack Johnson

What You Know -- Two Door Cinema

Ready to Start -- Arcade Fire

Photo via Pinterest via (clipped to polyvore.com)

my little chick and a glass of lemonade

2011-08-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

The other day I realized I hadn't used my camera in about a month. It was dusty.

So I decided to take some pictures and try to get my groove back.

I was arranging my glass and Kade said, "I know what you are going to do Mom"

I asked what he meant. He said, "You are going to take pictures of that, I can tell"

He is a funny boy and was right. Of course, Miss Addi needed to get her face in a picture.

She can't help but smile, even when she has chocolate on her face and she's still in her pjs.

I need so much practice to get better with my camera but this summer has been busy and I haven't been willing to do it. So I let it sit and used my iphone camera instead. Oh well.

When the kids go back to school it's time to read some more photo books and get going.

we love to

2011-08-04T23:06:00.000-06:00

Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy 8's, War.

What games are you playing lately?

our 10th anniversary

2011-08-04T09:41:00.001-06:00

Ethan and I had our 10th wedding anniversary yesterday.

I thought it was a pretty big deal.

The kids helped me fill and hide 130 balloons on Tuesday afternoon.

That night I waited for Ethan to fall asleep. He usually sleeps like a log, but he was restless.

I was afraid I was going to get caught moving all the balloons from their hiding spot into our bathroom.

We have a bathroom right off our bedroom and I wanted to fill it with balloons as a surprise.

I also hung a Happy Anniversary banner on the mirror.

It turned out pretty cool and I didn't get caught.

When he woke up in the morning he was surprised and the kids were happy they were in on it.

We had a pretty lazy morning together and then took the kids to the babysitter.

We had lunch at Pizzeria 712 and then went to see Crazy Stupid Love.

We finally broke our bad movie streak!

It had some really funny parts and overall we both liked it a lot.

{I need an eyebrow wax and I LOVE my new ring!! i should show a better pic}

{Too much diet cherry coke caused this face}

We spent the afternoon at home and let the kids play outside with their friends.

For dinner we went to Communal.

It was fun to dress up and have a nice dinner together.

Past Anniversaries here:

here is 2010

and 2009

oh here is 2008

2007

2006

2005 - we can't remember !?!?

2004 - Billings

2003 - went to a bed and breakfast in Midway

2002- went back to Billings

10

2011-08-02T22:05:00.001-06:00

{slightly blurry photo by Kade}

10 years together as Husband and Wife.

1. I love that we are always on the same wavelength

2. I really like when we have dance parties in the kitchen

and that you aren't so embarrassed about car dancing anymore.

3. You make great food and we make a good chef/sous chef team

4. You make me feel more beautiful than I am

5. You work hard and are great at what you do.

6. You make me laugh every single day

7. You like sports and are manly but will indulge my creativity

ie: attend plays, concerts, art shows, endless projects, etc.

8. You make the best chocolate milkshakes, usually at 10 PM

9. You are a great Dad and love our babies to pieces

10. You let me be me

I love you forever.

weekend recap

2011-08-01T09:23:00.000-06:00

I didn't mean to take a hiatus but I guess I did.

Dane and Jody came to visit on Thursday for the weekend.

We went swimming, the boys went golfing, we ate lots and saw The Sound of Music at Sundance.

I loved it. The setting was beautiful and Add sang along which was really cute.

We also went geo-caching and shopped a bit.

Here are some iphone photos:

{Lunch for 11 at Dicky's....those waffle fries are awesome}

{We had to sit up pretty high. Next time I'll bring a pillow and more blankets for optimum coziness}

{Geo-caching on Saturday...very fun}

{playing games}

the evening we spent at the zoo.

2011-07-27T11:07:00.002-06:00

Eric and Jackie both work for Rio Tinto and invited us to come to their zoo night.

They each got a ticket plus 5 more. Sweet.

Free admission, free hamburgers and hotdogs, free sodas.

Free concessions. Seriously, we had churros, dip n dots, nachos, cotton candy and more.

Free face painting.

Free train ride.

Free hats/visors and t-shirts.

You get the picture.

It was pretty amazing.

And we saw a few animals as well.

Thanks Eric & Jackie & Rio Tinto.

(I'm thinking of getting a job at the mine considering all I get from the big C is a turkey at Christmas time)

On what I learned yesterday

2011-07-22T10:21:00.002-06:00

1. Kade will chose nachos at the snack bar EVERYTIME

2. Cafe Rio is best and don't try to recreate it.

Especially because there is a new location less than 10 mins away.

Don't waste your time.

3. I love reading in the sun (already knew this one)

4. Getting out of the house for a girls' night is almost always worth it.

I am a homebody and will always talk myself out of doing something fun b/c I'd rather stay home.

It was nice to get out and meet some new people last night.

5. Shabby Apple dresses run big.

Now to decide to alter them or send them back?

today

2011-07-21T12:14:00.000-06:00

I've put chicken for enchiladas in the slow cooker.

Green sauce is made.
I read with the kids and paid some bills.

Craft night is tonight, I have my thread ready.

so...

IF YOU NEED US, WE WILL BE AT THE POOL!

{image via pinterest}

Date night

2011-07-20T08:58:00.002-06:00

So I read this blog that has a feature called Dinner at Eight.

It is where every month she sets up an at home date for her and her husband.

I thought it was a cool idea.

Last night was our first Dinner at Eight.

(The theme for this month was picnic but it poured yesterday afternoon, so I went to plan B)

I fed the kids and set them up with movies upstairs.

They had snacks and instructions to go to bed when the movie was over.

When Ethan got home from work we had dinner together.

It had been a busy day so I'm proud of myself for pulling it off.

We had our friend's little girls here all day and Kade had some friends over too.

I even managed a shower before Ethan got home.

We had caesar salad, cheese tortellini with homemade tomato sauce and garlic bread.

For dessert we had homemade chocolate pudding with whipped cream while watching FNL on the couch. We are going to need to buy this soon -- Friday Night Lights: The Fifth Season

I thought it was fun and hopefully we will do another at home date.

I guess mainly I like the point of it....to be intentional in your marriage.

Marriage is great but you have to work at it.

Plus it was fun to have the kids help me out and let them know it was important for us.

Addi said, "SO you are having a date so you can kiss??"

saturday iphone pics

2011-07-18T10:39:00.001-06:00

Saturday was Costco inventory so I didn't have to work until 3:15.

I realized we only have a few weeks left before we leave for NJ and then school will start.

We needed to tackle some summer list items.

So the kids and I hit up the Provo bakery for our favorite donuts.

Then we went miniature golfing. Not the best idea at noon in 90* heat.

But the place was empty so we could go as fast or slow as we wanted.

Kade declared it the best day ever.

It was pretty fun and we will have to go back with Ethan.

After that the kids went to play with Adelaide

(THANKS Davey and Megan!!)

until Ethan finished work.

my heart is full

2011-07-14T22:48:00.000-06:00

4 hours at the pool -- ET met us after work

Taco Bell for dinner b/c everyone was hungry and Schofitis was setting in.

Eating out back on the deck in our swim suits still wet from the pool.

Listening to some music and playing cards.

Gorgeous, sunny, hot weather.

Ice cream before bed for the kids. Friday Night Lights for us.

I can't help it. I love it. I don't want this summer to end.

12x12 july edition

2011-07-13T09:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday's 12 x 12 was hard for me.

I had lots of laundry and housework to do and that didn't feel like great material.

But looking back the photos show a fun day, so I guess it wasn't so bad.

PS. Kade was around but I guess not in front of my camera. He was busy playing with his friends and watching Tom and Jerry. Ethan was at work all day :(

1. Stack of books on my nightstand
2. Self portrait in pjs
3. After cleaning workout
4. Reading blogs while on the treadmill
5. Making cookie dough with Add
6. Scooping icecream
7. Rolls from a friend
8. Playing cards with Add out back
9. She was cracking me up
10. Cookie Dough icecream, eaten
11. Tysie fits in Add's backpack
12. Our nightly routine of Friday Night Lights (I'm obsessed. Deep in HS drama.)

work

2011-07-11T10:17:00.000-06:00

This weekend was filled with work.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday and then today.

Tomorrow I'm off :)

Yesterday when I got home I decided to clean up our sewing/craft/creating room.

The back of the Sube is filled with junk to take to DI and we hung the chalkboard finally.

Now there is room for to make more colorful messes.

I still have some more organizing to do (and I would love to paint)

but it feel good to walk by and see it mostly straightened up.

PS....are you getting slurpees today?? It's 7/11 day.

a super cool pillow for my extra large cat.

2011-07-08T09:59:00.001-06:00

My Mom and I have been talking about making a cushion for the tv stand for a while now.

Tone always sleeps on the tv stand and pushes anything I have up there off.

So I figured why not make it fashionable.

This past weekend the foam was 50% off and so was the home dec fabric.

I bought the supplies and before I could get up to help her make it Mom had it finished.

I love how it turned out. Thanks Mom!

4th recap, finally.

2011-07-07T09:43:00.000-06:00

Our 4th of July weekend was so fun.

I wish I had more pictures to remember it by, but I don't.

Friday and Saturday the kids were with my Mom so they could spent more time with my Grandparents. They went a concert in the park, a parade, a fair and more.

Saturday night after Ethan and I were done with work we went to Provo for the fireworks. We walked around the Freedom Festival for a while and then found our favorite fireworks watching spot. (First used with Ash and Rich many years ago) We set up our chairs and watched the fireworks light up the sky. I was really happy that the kids loved them. This is the first year they've stayed up.

Sunday we had dinner at Eric and Jackie's. It was nice to hang out with them for the evening.

Uncle lit a few fireworks and the kids loved them.

Monday morning we all slept in. Ethan had to work so the kids and I went up to my Mom's. It was kind of cloudy but the kids still swam most of the afternoon. I enjoyed chatting with Grandmom. We came home in time for dinner with Ethan. Then we met up with some of our friends on our street. We had bought some fireworks and set up to shoot them off. It rained briefly but otherwise the night was great. We had a few crazy fireworks but the rest were super cool. I love sitting by the fire pit. The kids were running around with glow sticks all over. I kept thinking this was it. This is what summer is about.

Tuesday was spent recovering from all the fun. The kids were wiped out.

{all pics from my phone}

2011-07-01T09:42:00.000-06:00

{Taken out the window on June 2, when the sky was especially blue}

I am excited for Fourth of July weekend.

I work today and tomorrow and then it's 3 days off.

BBQs, fireworks, homemade icecream, Grandparents, family, friends, maybe a parade.

I have always loved the Fourth.

We would go to my Grandparent's Hardware store. The parade was out front of the store and we would collect candy in the paper hardware store bags. Then we would walk around back where the BBQ would be in full swing. There would be horseshoes to play and lots of food. Uncles grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Grandmom's Red Beet eggs (I never ate but Suzanne did) We always needed lots of mosquito spray. Sometimes I would walk to the high school with my Grandmom to watch the marching band perform. When it got dark we could see the fireworks.

The tradition has died down. The store was sold. Now it's different. But I still love it. I love fireworks and red, white and blue. I love seeing our street lined with flags.

Being an American is pretty great and I hope to never forget that.

2011-06-30T08:43:00.000-06:00

I woke up to thunder and lightening this morning. I was hoping today would be a pool day but it's looking like we need to move to plan B. Maybe a movie. Hopefully I will make snickerdoodles.
We will see when Add wakes up. Her room is delightfully dark in the mornings.

My Grandparents are in town and we are excited to see them tonight. We have all been playing cards and I can't wait for the kids to play with GG and Pop. I used to play cards with them and my Mom growing up. Lately we've been playing these games with the kids:

It has been really fun and they love it. What are you doing on this Thursday?

good times

2011-06-29T08:20:00.002-06:00

{I had to pretend to poop my pants to get Kade to smile.}

I have to say that I've been loving having an extra day off during the week.
It has made a huge difference. I feel like it's a whole new world for us.
Thanks ET.

We spent yesterday afternoon at the Veteran's Pool which is one of our favorite pools.

It isn't too huge and it has two water slides.

Kade had tball last night and it was so hot. One more game on Thursday and then it's done.

The summer of reading (and biking and swimming) is in full swing.

lemonade stand

2011-06-28T08:20:00.001-06:00

The kids have wanted to have a sale.

They have seen a few yard sales and lemonade stands in our neighborhood lately.

On Saturday afternoon we finally set it up (a few hours before the block party)

Add wanted to sell lemonade and Kade wanted to sell cookies.

We don't get too much traffic on our street so I had to call a few Moms and ask them to send their kids over.

The best part was when Cameron came and got some lemonade and a few cookies and then tried to leave without paying. Add was like, "Uh Cam, look at the sign. It says 25" It was pretty funny.

{I thought her shirt was perfect for the occasion. I actually wish it came in my size}

kelvin grove extravaganza

2011-06-27T09:33:00.003-06:00

Kara, Jess and I put on a block party on Saturday.

The three of us live on the same street and our kids play together.

We invited our whole neighborhood.

We started with a bike parade, had a BBQ, bounce house, slip n slide, water balloons, sidewalk chalk, Add did makeovers and nail painting and we watched Tangled once it got dark. It was so much fun. I couldn't get over how many people showed up (we are thinking about 200)

The kids were up until 11:45.

Get ready for picture overload.

BIKE PARADE:

I was the lead bike. I wish I had a photo of the start, I looked back and there were about 60 kids following me. It was so sweet. These are all out of order:

We blocked off the street and let the kids go wild. The bounce house was a major hit. Many thanks to the neighbor who came down and set it up (Doubt they will ever read this!)

We set up 6 or 7 grills and everyone grilled and ate.

Sachiko did face painting. The kids loved it.

She was there for hours with a line of kids. Many thanks Sachiko!!

We had a house set up with water games. Jay across the street filled so many balloons.

We had a slip n slide and a few small pools. It was hot and the kids got in fully dressed.

After Addi got into some dry clothes she decided she wanted to do makeovers and nail painting.

We brought out the trusty red table and she went to town.

It was pretty cute.

I was hot and sweaty and was very unhappy with my hair.

I should have worn a hat since my hair looked like a helmet anyway.

The three of us.

Ethan and I kept saying we were so happy it all turned out.

When we started the movie I counted and we still had 60 people there. I would call it a success.

EDIT TO ADD:
Thanks to Cam and Mich for popping popcorn and letting us use their driveway for the movie.
We set up a projector and watched on their garage door.
We also had two fire pits for the adults to sit around.
It was so awesome.

Thanks to Kara and Jess for including me. It was very fun to be a part of.

Can't wait until next year.

pen pal

2011-06-24T08:31:00.003-06:00

(weird iPhone pic)

Monday Addi received a package in the mail. It was a pen pal kit from Brittany's daughter Stella.

Add has been so excited. She hurried and wrote a quick, "Thanks Stella, love Addi"and mailed some stickers back. The next day she wondered if she would have some mail.

She has carried it around with her all week.

She told me yesterday, "I like to carry it around because it is so special Mom"

I think that she likes that it's something just for her.

Thanks Britt and Stella....we look forward to some mail!

chalkboard summer list

2011-06-23T07:00:00.007-06:00

Last year Kade and one of his cousins decided to use a whole can of spray adhesive

to stick things to the chalkboard in his room. I was so ticked.

We hauled the chalkboard to the side of the house and there it sat.

Then I saw this post on Pinterest (seriously click the link, it is wonderful)

and thought that's it, I'm resurrecting the chalkboard.

So we sanded and sanded off all the dried up glue. Then chalkboard spray painted the whole thing.

And then wrote out our list. It is admittedly not as cute as the one I linked to, but it still makes me happy.

Ethan just told me he wants to add fire pit, fireworks and BBQ to the list.

Kade said to add "Sleepover at the cousins and I'll bring my bike.

And it needs to be a Saturday so I can go to their church."

I think the chalkboard will be hung in my sewing room soon.

biking and swimming

2011-06-22T08:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was fun and busy.

Kade had art class. I met with my friend to finalize the details on our block party coming up.

We loaded up our bikes and headed up to my Mom's house.

We visited Gardner's Village.

We went for a bike ride around my Mom's neighborhood. I loved it.

Then the kids had a swim lesson. Then a BBQ. And more swimming.

It was delightful to have our first swim of the summer. Hot and sunny.

It was Peyton's birthday so we went to see the cousins.

Cake and icecream. More bike riding and playing in the front yard.

We didn't get home until almost 10 PM.

our family.

2011-06-19T22:47:00.001-06:00

As I was holding back Add's hair while she barfed at one AM in the wee hours before Father's Day,

I couldn't help but think of how lucky I was.

Ethan was scrubbing the vomit from the carpet and didn't complain.

He had been up late with an allergy attack and didn't grumble at all about being woken up to help.

I was so thankful that I could call for his help and I could comfort Add.

(She had too much junk food at the movie, lesson learned!)

I can remember being sick and calling for my Mom.

She had to hold my hair back and clean up the mess.

I am so thankful for Ethan. He is such a great Dad.

He knows our kids so well. He loves them and shows them. He loves me and our kids know that.

today was full of:
church, tacos, the us open, icecream, napping, driving up the canyon and video games.
and no more barf.

{Tysie can't help but get in the pictures. He is like Where's Waldo}

today

2011-06-15T11:29:00.000-06:00

I am grateful for friends who let my kids play with their kids so I can get over a headache.

(Thanks Kara!)

I am happy for pretty flowers in the backyard.

I am excited to have another day off tomorrow.

I am anxious for Addi who has gymnastics camp for four hours today.

I am laughing over the fake moustache tattoo Kade is wearing today.

I am looking forward to starting a new book.

Springville children's parade

2011-06-14T07:00:00.004-06:00

On Friday we went to the Children's Parade with my Mom, Annalee and here kids.

We decided to decorate with a patriotic theme.

The kids did great riding and got way ahead of us. When we got to the end of the parade they were all sitting together eating snow cones. It was pretty cute.

We took notes for next year so we would have even better bikes then.

We saw hula skirts, balloons, capes, and decorated helmets.

12x12 june edition

2011-06-12T22:04:00.001-06:00

1. same position on the couch
2. crumb cake for breakfast
3. ready for church
4. standing in line to buy a drink
5. love the flowers that fell from the trees (walking to my car on break)
6. my locker
7. bored and ready to go home
8. kids and popsicles
9. playing cards out back
10. Tone loves to relax on my chair
11. bouncing to see who is riding on the street behind our house
12. window sill

I thought I was going to get lucky and get to do another 12x12 on a day off

but I was scheduled to work today.

I usually only have to work one Sunday every other month or so, so it's not that bad.

I got up and made crumb cake before everyone was up. It was pretty good, it seemed to get better all day as everyone kept eating bits while it sat on the counter. Work was really slow. I came home to dinner (thanks babe) and we played games and went for a bike ride before the kids went to bed.

It was lovely.

ps. all photos are from my phone b/c i didn't want to get caught with my camera today at work.

friday already?

2011-06-10T12:41:00.000-06:00

This week has flown by.

It is so nice to have two days off during the week! I feel like I have a life.

Here are a few photos from Tuesday.

When Add and I came to pick up Kade at art he was drawing outside, it was so sweet.

We made jam, played with friends and went to tball.

Kade told me today that he wishes we didn't need sleep

or that parents didn't have to work so we could play all the time. Me too.

{all pics from my phone}

Sube love

2011-06-08T12:00:00.000-06:00

Do you have a Subaru? You should go to Subaru.com and pick out your own badge of ownership. You can choose from all sorts of symbols and it's free. Ours just came yesterday and I love it.

four people twelve times - JUNE

2011-06-06T22:03:00.003-06:00

{Sunday best}

So I guess I should really say four people ~~twelve~~ nine times.

Whoops. We missed a few months there.

I seemed to remember right after the month rolled over the past few months.

Oh well, on Sunday I decided we would take the pics for June.

Kade would push the timer and run back to us.

Figures the best one is where Add is holding her Build a Bear cat.

ps. I just remembered Jody has a picture of the four of us for Mother's Day

so I went back to look and I'm wearing the same outfit. sweet.

the summer of biking

2011-06-06T09:55:00.001-06:00

Yesterday afternoon we loaded up the bikes and went to the Provo River Trail.

I love this trail. It is paved and has huge shade trees.

Add did great on her first non neighborhood excursion.

As we sat down to rest Ethan said, "I love our family" and I had to agree.

I am looking forward to taking our bikes out a lot this summer.

2011-06-05T21:21:00.001-06:00

Kade loves to wear ties that don't really match.

Add loves to wear big fluffy or fancy dresses.

these are the days

2011-06-03T08:27:00.002-06:00

I decided to take Tuesdays and Thursday off while Kade had art and t-ball this month.

Yesterday we went to Art class and then came home and packed a lunch.

We met Megan and her children at Nielson's Grove Park.

It was a beautiful day.

We ate, talked, pushed the girls on swings, fed the ducks and ran around.

{Addi and Addie}

{"Hey ducks! Do a handstand!"}

{I thought this was so funny when the ducks would flip over}

{Kade not wanting to pose}

{Kade took this of May, I'm in the reflection}

{Kade also took about 10 pictures of Reggie}

After a few hours at the park we came home.

The kids played outside with their friends.

I made them sit and watch a show while I made dinner.

Kade got ready for t-ball and then we went on a bike ride.

It is so fun that we can all ride. That's right, Addi is a no-training wheels rider now.

We are so proud of her and she is so happy about it.

My Mom came down to watch Tball and take the kids to her house for today while I work.

Thanks, Mom. and thanks to Ethan for picking up tball treats so I didn't have to go to the store.

SO far, summer has been fun and I could get used to having lots of days off to play.

a really great day.

2011-05-31T21:51:00.002-06:00

1. Hanging out with Add at the Art Museum while Kade had art classes.

Pretty cool to have her coloring and me reading right by a giant Kershisnik in the background.

My friend, McKinley arrived with her kids and it was fun to chat.

2. Checking out more books at the library. Signing up for the summer reading program with the kids.
Reading in the sun while the kids played on the playground. Seeing their smiles when friends were there too.

3. Impromptu lunch with Kara, our across the street neighbor. The kids love when she is outside with her boys and it is so nice to have friendly neighbors.

4. More playing at a new park. So nice to sit in the sun and talk. (First sunburn of the season)

5. Ethan arriving home earlier than expected while I was making dinner. Glad I listened to myself when I was thinking I should start dinner early.

6. Delicious dinner (recipe found here)

7. First Tball game for Kade and Camden. They are the cutest little friends. Cam calls me Nat and it cracks me up everytime. It is so me. I think if he called me, "Mrs. Schofield" I would feel like an impostor. Plus it is so nice to have Annalee to talk to during the game.

8. Laughing like crazy with E and the kids on the way home from the ballpark.

9. BEDTIME for our tired, happy kids.

10. Blogging to a sweet genius playlist and then I'm going to read myself to sleep.

I am tired. But I can honestly say it was a great day. Not all days are so great, I'm grateful for this one.

last week for dinner

2011-05-31T08:15:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite things about having five days off is having dinner together a lot.

Thursday: ET grilled steaks, artisan bread, pineapple, watermelon

Friday: Dayne's porkchops, garlic green beans, fruit

Saturday: lemon garlic chicken kabobs, corn, green beans, fruit, rye bread

Sunday: cheese tortellini, homemade tomato sauce, garlic bread, garlic green beans

(ET loved the green beans so they were a reappearing theme)

What are you making lately??

Kade starts Art class today and it's his first t-ball game too.

Big Day ahead.

bike therapy

2011-05-30T08:14:00.001-06:00

Kade has been getting a little cranky the past couple of days.

I'm not sure if it's the less routine of no school or that he was tired or what.

Yesterday I said, "What will make you happy?"

He wanted to go on a bike ride. It was sprinkling rain but I said OK let's go.

So we hopped on our bikes. He insisted I wear my helmet, "Safety first MOM!"

I let him pick our route and we went down around the bike trail (up and down the hill five times) and past Eli's house and over to the park.

He declared it the best day of his life because we rode for so long.

We saw a spot with tons of weeds growing, Kade thought they were flowers

and said I need to pick some for my basket.

Sometimes I get so frustrated when the kids are whining and I don't get it.

It seems like when I will take the time to just give them some one on one attention it is better.

This might be obvious to some, but it was a lightbulb moment for me yesterday. I'm still learning.

ps. Dad and Cath left early this morning, it was a fun weekend.

Movies, icecream, meals together, hanging out, some fixing up around the house.

Thanks for everything!

in town

2011-05-27T21:47:00.001-06:00

My Dad and Cath are in town.

We've been having fun.

We had pedicures for the girls on Thursday while the boys spent time at the golf shop.

Today we went to the gardens at Thanksgiving Point.

(Thanks Kalli for the passes!)

It was a nice day and the kids loved running around with the maps figuring out where we were going.

I bought some bulbs from their bulb sale.

They plant 250,000 bulbs every year for the Tulip Festival

and then dig them up once they are done blooming.

Aunt Kathy, I thought of you when we got to the koi pond.

The kids got to feed them and they were going nuts.

2011-05-24T10:37:00.001-06:00

Spotted this on Pinterest today

{via Jessie via here.}

Life isn't going to wait for us to get our acts together.

So get on living.

Enjoy what you have.

Love who you are with.

Hug and Kiss.

Laugh and chat.

Make icecream and cookies.

Be happy.