Happy Birthday Eli!!

Well today is Eli's Third Birthday. How can I sum up this child? Regan and I were just talking about this picture that is blown up in our living room.

And how his serious face was so HIM when he was little. And now this is SO him at three.

A very serious little baby/toddler to a outgoing talkative stinker little boy. Funny how he all of a sudden came out and made us all take notice of him! You can look back at his arrival here and year one here and year two here.

At three Eli....
• often asks "what's that noisy?" About anything he hears even small noises you might not normally notice (he has GREAT hearing!)
• loves to sing lately. Like he makes up songs to whatever he is thinking about. ie.... grandma Stasiuk, Mighty Machines, noodles, anything on his mind! And he only has one volume: LOUD.
• is a little tease. Stealing toys from his sister just to make her mad (it works) dances just out of reach from me when I am trying to get him to go, etc.
• still a terrible eater. Although he does eat a few more things. His favorites are hot dogs, cereal, watermelon, blueberries, ice cream, pickles, plain bread (he always calls it clean bread), apples, cucumbers,oatmeal and rice.
• has named his grand parents "the big one" (Davis), "my grandma" (Davis), "the little one" (Steed) and "the little one's grandma" (Steed)
• always asks where people's dad's are - meaning their husbands.

• loves to phone and ask grandma davis where her iPad is and ask grandpa Davis where his bobcat is
• is fully potty trained and has been for a while but still needs help on and off.
• loves baths especially when Lucy has one with him
• still sleeps in his crib but gets out of it constantly (only still in it cause we just haven't set up a bed for him!
• still gets up really really early. Usually 6am. One day he actually slept till 8am. But he'd be up late and up in the night
• loves Dora and Diego
• will finally sit still and listen to stories (a couple months ago he wouldn't sit through even one)

• is obsessed with our neighbors Teale and Tyson Smith and kids. He talks about Sawyer all day long and often asks me what Tyson and Teale are doing
• talks a LOT. And to everyone. Asking what their names are, what they are doing and the current favorite "well, what's he all about?"
• wears size 4T clothes
• has a bedtime snack every night and still asks for food sometimes in the night (annoying!)

• gets up normally at least once a night (sometimes more) and every once in a while sleeps the whole night through
• loves Nursery especially "GC" (Grandma Carol)
• loves to play with his cousin Jonas a lot. Loves every time he comes over and asks for him every day
• thinks all grandma's come with iPads. Even asking grandma's he doesn't know where their iPads are
• loves movies about machines and vehicles especially mighty machines
• tries to fall asleep pretty much every day around 2 or 3 and we have to fight to keep him awake
• uses the word actually correctly and quite often

• loves his dad a lot and still is quite obsessed with his dad's iPhone.
• wants to be on my lap constantly. He follows me around the house, always asking me what I am doing, wants me to read him books, just generally demands a lot of attention

• loves to climb into bed with me in the morning but can't hold still at all (and it totally drives me CRAZY)
• loves to play in the sandbox once you actually get him outside.
• can get onto the computer, open firefox or safari and find kids games and play them all on his own (almost creepy how good he is on it!)
• can open iTunes and find the kids music and start it too
• loves to point out letters but doesn't know which ones are which
• loooooves to play hide and seek but always goes into his closet to hide and giggles the whole time loudly

• wants me to carry him way to much and if I'm not carrying him, he's usually running somewhere
• loves to race
• recently has decided that coloring is OKAY and wants to do it... most of the time it's on paper
• says sorry really easily to me and has a terrible time saying it to anyone else
• has a bad habit of kicking Lucy whenever they are sitting remotely close to each other
• loves to play with Alden but usually just destroys his lego creations
• still drinks a lot of milk
• still quite snuggly

We love Eli a lot. He certainly keeps us on our toes around here!! Happy Birthday Eli!!

In the Kitchen: Jacques Torres' Secret Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Jacques Torres' Secret Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Makes twenty-six 5-inch cookies or 8 1/2 dozen 1 1/4-inch cookies

Ingredients
1 pound unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons pastry flour
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Reduce speed to low and add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate; mix until well combined.
- Using a 4-ounce scoop for larger cookies or a 1-ounce scoop for smaller cookies, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until lightly browned, but still soft, about 20 minutes for larger cookies and about 15 minutes for smaller cookies.
- Cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Spiritual Sundays

“Come unto Christ” is “the most important invitation you could ever offer [and] … the most important invitation anyone could accept.”
—President Henry B. Eyring

foto Friday: Week 24

List 24: Ten words to Describe Regan

1. Dutiful. He is driven by doing his duty at home and at church.

2. Wise. He is full of wisdom and knowledge. About the gospel, about people, about the scriptures. About all kinds of things.

3. Smart. He has an undergrad in Neruoscience, a Masters in Health Services Administration and a Medical Degree.

4. Funny. Once you get to know him, his humor really comes out. We have a lot of fun together.


5. Reserved. Big crowds of people (especially loud people) are soooooo not his thing. He is quiet and content. I always call him the vault. IF you tell him something it ain't going ANYWHERE!


6. Faithful.He has a strong testimony of the Gospel and is close to the Spirit.


7. Generous. He is willing to share whatever he has. He loves to give extra fast offerings and donates money to Kiva along with other charities. And he is constantly picking up hitch hikers and taking them out to eat before he drops them off (YES this makes me nervous!)


8. Fair. He always gives the benefit of the doubt to others and wants things to work out for others as well as himself.


9. Hard-worker. He would never admit this in a million years but he is a hard worker and is constantly trying to learn more and be better.


10. Humble. He would never boast or talk highly about himself. He's not at all one of those chest-thumping-bragging sort of men. It's really one of the very first things about him that made me fall in love with him. When he first got into medical school I remember a friend telling me that I didn't want that cause guys who go to medical school always end up with "God' complexes" and are so full of themselves. At the time (and still to this day) I just thought, "you just don't know Regan AT ALL" if you think that is even possible!


11. Handsome. I just had to add that one :)

Ten on Tuesday

1. I needed a break last week. I've been feeling a bit stressed about things. Lots on my plate and things aren't moving how I wish they were. Equals stress.

2. I am having trouble sleeping. And not just Eli. I am having trouble going back to sleep after he wakes me up. And I HATE that.

3. Regan has two call days as a resident left. Today and Saturday. CRAZY.

4. um... did you mention you wanted to buy my house? GREAT. please do!

5. Dad's day came and left and I didn't post about how truly wonderful Regan is. Really such a good good good good dad. We made him a fun gift, I'll take pictures of it and post it asap!

6. End of school has so many stinking things to go too!

7. I hate clothing with cartoon characters on it.

8. The last two Saturdays I have shot 8 hour weddings. And I feel so much more tired after being pregnant! Such different and fun weddings though. With WICKED good food!! And two Saturdays ago I had an e-session too. My favorite shot from it.

9. I have had lots of shoots lately. So go check out my photo blog!!

10. I love fruit lately. Like a LOT. Like I can't stop eating it. ooh and honey greek yogurt. mmmmmm

Spiritual Sundays

"God’s purpose in giving us commandments is to bless us. He wants to give us eternal life, the greatest of all His gifts (see D&C 14:7). To receive the gift of living with Him forever in families in the celestial kingdom, we must be able to live the laws of that kingdom (see D&C 88:22). He has given us commandments in this life to help us develop that capacity. The law of tithing is one of those preparatory commandments. The law is that we give to the Lord one-tenth of all our income." - BY PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING, First Counselor in the First Presidency

Foto Friday: Week 23

This week's:


And since I missed last week's here it is too. Ground Level.

Update

I'm taking a break. I'll be back soon.
Smooches.

List 22: Things I like to do in MY free time.

(In no particular order!)
1. Waste time on Pinterest.

2. Read good books.

3. Scrapbook.

4. Bake or cook things.

5. Take pictures of things.

6. Go for a bike ride

7. Hang out with friends.

8. Games. Board games!

9. Eat candy. :)

10 on Tuesday

1. We went to grad in Medicine Hat. The best part....one of the newly graduated doctors leaned over to Regan and asked if I was expecting. :) I kind of thought it was obvious now!!

2. I have been waking up in the night (not even from Eli - but all one my own) and I've been having trouble going back to sleep. It's soooooo annoying!!!!

3. Rain rain and more rain. It just won't quit!!

4. I've found lots of great things online for summer activities. Like these

and this and this and this and lots more!! (Thanks to Pinterest!)

5. This week we find out if our sale is for sure on the house. All the conditions and all that have to ben worked out this week. My fingers are crossed!!

6. I forgot there was a pancake breakfast at the school this morning. Whoops.

7. I feel so much older this pregnancy. I feel tired a lot more. And I am in the middle trimester when I am supposed to be feeling full of energy. My heart burn is so bad. But I haven't thrown up in almost 2 weeks. Which is AWESOME :)

8. Last week I made a trip to Costco and bought a bunch of fresh fruit and veggies and other yummy stuff. And then the next day, Eli cranked the dial on my fridge and promptly froze all of my brand new stuff. Some things, like the fruit (except the grapes) could still be used... but thawed cucumbers and tomatoes?? Don't really taste so good. They are just mushy and gross. BOO!

9. We need to find a house :)

10. Another late Foto Friday:

Spiritual Sundays

"Personal prayer took on new meaning when I knew that I needed to know the mind and will of God. I have taken a paper and pencil with me most of the time since then to my prayers. I don’t always receive an answer or instruction, but I am ready. I want to be ready to learn what the Lord would have me do in my day. Who needs my help? How can I increase my faith this day? How can I strengthen my family? What things do I need to correct in order to be worthy to receive His Spirit? He will tell me."-By Julie B. Beck, Relief Society General President

List 21: Things I am Loving

1. That lovely golden time before the sunsets and the light is just BEAUTIFUL. Like in this shot.


2. My new camera strap that my friend Jessica made me. I'll have to take a picture of it to show you!

3. The blogsite Kinderpendent. Such awesome stuff on there!

4. This book. Read it! You'll love it!

5. That spring has finally arrived.

6. That Alden now rides his scooter (we got him a new one) to school every day with his friend Colton. To and from. So now I only have to worry about getting Lucy. that ROCKS!

7. That we are going to Regan's grad tonight sans kids (thanks to G&G Steed!!)