Weekend

We had a pretty busy weekend. Friday, we picked Barrett up from the train and headed home to fly a kite!! Damon was soooo excited until we got outside, then he just ran around. That night we headed to the church for a Cub Scout Pack Meeting (I'm the Cub Committee Chair). Barrett was unlocking the doors and I was getting Tommy out of the car. Damon was walking up the stairs, then the next thing I know, I see a little boy rolling down the last 2 stairs. He cried a little, but was fine after that. The activity was a lot of fun and Damon loved playing in the gym afterwards with all the other children...and adults.
Saturday we drove down to the Washington DC Temple. While Barrett was in the temple, the boys and I walked around the grounds. The blossoms were gorgeous!!! I made Damon pose for a lot of pictures...too bad he wasn't a girl because there were some amazing pinks and purples! It just so happens that Saturday was in the 80s or 90s (not springlike weather!). We were melting by the time we got back to car to get some lunch. We decided that once Barrett was done, it was best to just go home...I had a talk to write for church the next day, we were all hot and sticky, and we needed grogeries. It was nice to visit the temple again...even if I didn't make it inside this time.
Sunday was a pretty busy day with the usual. Funny story...Barrett had to home teach right after church, so his 17 year old companion came home with us. Well, with 2 carseats in the back, not much room was left. Poor kid squeezed himself in, but Damon screamed as we tried to get him in his carseat. He was so afraid and didn't want to get in. Once we finally got him buckled and were on our way, Barrett told Damon just to close his eyes. We looked back and his eyes were squeezed shut so tightly with a look like..."if I close my eyes, he'll go away." After a few minutes, he was showing off and back to his crazy self. We were dying laughing!

p.s. Barrett's in his LAST WEEK OF CLASSES!!!!!!!!!

Tommy

Some recent pics of the Tomster...

Damon picked out Tommy's outfit...he really wanted to wear the overalls, but I had to convince him that they were for babies.
Tommy moved...I put him under his toy to play and eventually found him like this!
Notice his hand...clutching the little toy link...so cute!

Recipes

I have two great recipes I thought I'd share. The first is a favorite from my childhood:) My mom always made the best french bread when I was growing up. I'm not a big homemade bread maker...partly because apartment ovens are horrible and partly because I'm just not good at it. This recipe is sooooo easy, quick, and super delicious! I half the recipe to make one loaf.

French Bread

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 pkgs dry yeast--disolve in the water (2 1/4 tsp = 1 packet)
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1 1/2 tsp. salt
6 cups flour

Mix and knead until smooth. Let rise in pan for 15 minutes. Divide into 3 loaves shaped like french bread loaves. Oil cookie sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Slash top if desired. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until top is lightly golden. Blend 1 egg white and 1 Tbsp water and brush over hot loaves. (I just rub butter over the top instead).

The second recipe is one from my sister in law. Her mom found it in a magazine. We tried it out last night and really like it! We thought some broccoli would also be tasty in it or chicken cooked in a cast iron skillet. Mmmmmmm!

Bowties with Walnuts, Butter, and Sage

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
3/4 lb. bow tie pasta
5 Tbsp unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp lemon juice (more when reheating the next day)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup shredded Romano cheese

1. Place walnuts in large, dry nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 4-5 minutes, until toasted, shaking pan constantly. Removed from pan and set aside.
2. Cook pasta in boiling, salted water about 10 minutes. When pasta is almost done, melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sage, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cook a minute or two to blend flavors. Remove from heat.
3. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then add pasta to butter in skillet. Gradually add pasta water. Stir in cheese and toss to combine. Garnish with toasted nuts and serve.

ENJOY!!

Damonisms

Yesterday Damon asked to eat "bunny hunchie noats" (Honey Bunches of Oats).
While I was in the kitchen making dinner, Damon yells to me,"I'm touching Tommy." I ask if he's doing it nicely, then go to check on him. I notice a little mini teddy graham in Tommy's mouth...Damon had tried to share his snacks! I then had to explain Tommy doesn't have any teeth to eat teddy grahams right now, but when he does, then Damon could share his snacks.
After dinner, Barrett and Damon always wrestle/horseplay. He becomes pretty demanding on how he wants his Daddy to play. Ususally he shows him the way he wants him to lay down. Last night he said,"Daddy, do like Tommy, do like Tommy." Which we figured out meant for Daddy to lay down on his back...because that's how Tommy plays.
We changed the boys' diapers to get them ready for bed and I had propped Tommy up to look around. I was cracking up...he looked like he had his knee bent, just resting his hand there.
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Spring Break

Actually, Barrett doesn't really have a Spring Break, but we sure acted like he did. Last weekend, my brother Mark and his family came for a visit. They showed up just as the second session of General Conference was ending on Saturday. We had so much fun with them!! Sunday we hung out and watched conference, went on walks, ate, and played. Monday, we headed down to DC to go to the National Zoo (which is free!). Barrett ditched school and came with us. Kim took the day off and met up with us too. Damon has been so excited to go to the "big zoo". He looked at the animals for a few seconds, then mostly ran around...he was in heaven! We drove through the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms on our way to Kim's neighborhood to go out to eat. Then, we went to Kim's house and relaxed before heading home. The next day Mark, Evelyn, and I took the kids to Old New Castle for a picnic and egg hunt. It was so cold by the water, so we walked through the old streets and ended up having the egg hunt in the middle of the grassy area. The kids loved it! We stopped for Rita's on the way home and sure enjoyed every second of it! Mark's family left Wenesday morning and we missed them for the next few days...we weren't quite ready for them to leave.

Barrett had class cancelled on Friday, so he did some work, then played with us. We took Damon to the park, then to McDonald's for dinner. We dyed eggs later that night for the first time since we've been married. Damon loved it! I would give him one cup of dye at a time and make him count to 10 before pulling the egg out. Most of them got smashed somewhere in the process, but it was a fun activity for him.

Kim came over on Saturday for Easter. My brother Matt and his family had been looking for housing a few hours away and thought they'd stop by for the night. We haven't seen their family for almost 2 years...so we were so excited to have them for Easter!! Nathan drove down Easter Sunday and met us at church. The kids had so much fun together. We had 2 egg hunts for them while Barrett was getting dinner ready. I had only put 2 jelly beans in each egg, but that didn't matter. Both Damon and Gavin chowed down those jelly beans!! It was hilarious! They went outside for the second hunt and had just as much fun. Kim and Nathan stayed and talked with us for a long time that evening. We had a great Easter!

In the last week, I've seen one sister and two brothers, 2 sisters in law, 2 nieces, 2 nephews, 2 babies growing in tummies, and one Nathan friend. It is so fun to have family visit. I thought I was worn out of visitors, but I think I'm over that now. I wasn't ready for anyone to leave and just wanted them to stay longer. Thanks Mark, Evelyn, Matt, Julie, Kim, and Nathan for making the effort to come visit. We loved seeing you and wish we could see you more often.

ps. Barrett only has 3 weeks left of classes!!!!!!!