November

Today I made granola, white chili, and whole wheat bread. I love the golden wheat! I used about 6 c golden wheat flour and 4 c. red wheat flour. It turned out so light and delicious.
Avi was soo cute. Last night we received the Fisher Price nativity from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. This morning Avi was wondering where her new toys were. She had some animals, Mary and baby Jesus. She was saying "Hi ____. How are you?" Around to each character. Then she had the camel eat everyone...
Gage was very proud of himself. He scooted down a step on the tile area and went over and started pushing open the door to the mud room.
We went to Grandma Dorsey's for Thanksgiving. Avi was grandma's buddy. She loved having grandma read to her, and would be asking "Where Gran-ma Dorsey?" anytime they were separated. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious! But the best part, was Gage. He started dancing in his highchair. He would shake his little shoulders and head. It was soooo cute!! He would even do it when requested to! I love it!
He now will even wave when asked to, though it takes a minutes usually. A few weeks ago Nov. 9th, when he just turned nine months he started clapping by himself. He gets the biggest smile! I love it.
While down in Utah we visited good friends Ci'i and Nicole. It was nice to see them. Avi took awhile to warm up to Manu, their daughter just a few months older than her, but once they got going they were so funny. We went to Temple Square to see the lights and they were the hopping-est, bouncy-est two year olds there. We stopped into the conference center, at one point Avi slipped up into the information desk, folded her arms up on the desk, leaning her head on her arm looked up at the man at the desk and said,"I'm next to a prophet." It was so sweet!
Gage says "mama" and "bye bye". He loves it when I talk to him in his "own language". Nov 12th. he was taking a nap on the bed, when I went to get him when he woke up he was looking up at the camera, he started scooting his way over to the cord so he could pull down the camera, he is so smart!!
He loves apples- happily sucking on slices, breaking them up with his gums- and even offering to share them.
One day I saw I dead box elder bug on the couch, I swiped it off noting I need to vacuum. Later I had both kids in the family room playing and realized I had not vacuumed... we continued to play. I needed to take care of Avi, and had to step out of the room. When I got back, I picked up Gage- he had a sly smile- opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue- to my horror revealing that dead box elder bug!!!! in a flash closes his mouth and swallows!!! to late for me to do anything!! So oh well, I let him wash it down with some breast milk..
Avi is a pro tomato picker. We go out to the green house and she'll say "squishy one" and "that's better"- for the ones she can eat. She likes the "baby" ones best.
She was eating orange slices and got to the white part and spit/or threw it out on the floor. After some white stuff and peel and on the floor I convinced her to put it on the table. After she was done I told her she needed to pick up the stuff off the floor. It was a big job for her to pick it up off the floor and put it on the table, so I offered to put in on the table if she would pick off the floor. She picked up pieces, handed them to me saying, "Happy Birthday!". I loved it!!
She know more songs, and more words to songs- one of her favorites is "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" and "I love to See the Temple", and of course "ABC". She knows Gage Gunnar Nelson, and is now responding her name is Avi Nelson- sometimes Avi Gunnar Nelson...easier than Elizabeth. She was drawing on a note card and she said "dolpin" (dolphin)- it really looked like a whale! (dolphin is her word for whale) I was very impressed.

stake conference

We had the evening session for Stake conference tonight. We didn't think about a babysitter, doubt we could have gotten one anyway. So Gunnar and I with the kids spent the session in the Relief Society room listening, as much as we could over the squeals of the kids. It was a wonderful conference. We heard talks about how much the Lord loves us and the power of the atonement, that we don't need to loose hope for ourselves and we can have joy. Also there was a talk on speaking kindly. Boy, oh boy do I need that one when I am in a bad mood. I also need to work at only speaking kindly of my sweetheart.
Avi is getting better at running. It is so fun to see her run- she has such an interesting way of lifting up her feet. She says "I did it!" to announce her success in accomplishing a task- putting on clothes or putting a puzzle piece in. She loves puzzles. She is learning to do them. She has gotten pretty good at the ABC and 123 puzzles, now we have started on a regular picture puzzle. I taught her backward somersaults, but she hasn't gotten into them, and can't do them herself yet.
Gage is pushing up on his knees when he scoots, he just needs to get his arms underneath him. Today he was loving the apple slices we gave him. He shared one with Gunnar- what a sweet boy.
I have almost finished fixing up the couches we bought. I made a cushion cover for one spot, sewn in bottom for beneath the cushion, sewed over the holes on the sides of the middle sectional, hammered together and got Grandpa to help reinforce part of the frame, now I am waiting for Gunnar to strengthen the springs so I can staple it all back together again. Today I worked on the letters for Avi's name that will go in her room. I am rather excited to see how the turn out. I really like what has been done so far.
Yesterday I went out to help on the roof again, and ended up in the not so fun job of picking up the mess from taking the old roof down- I liked putting flashing on, paper, and shingling better- even if I hammered my thumb repeatedly... But Gunnar came out with kids and help. Gage snacked on animal crackers and grass, and Gunnar kept Avi busy with finding and holding worms that were under the old shingles.
Today Avi had brownie- I think this was her first time... she liked them a lot- oh man, she also kept asking for candy... we have a sugar-holic on our hands. Thankfully I could distract her with a pomegranate. Anyway she wanted more brownie, and she asked for more muffin- because the grandparents buy chocolate muffins that she has a way of getting.... so that is what she knows of being chocolate like that...
I read today was national pupusas day- so we had them for dinner- yum! I put more cheese in this time. What a fun meal.

Halloween

Well, once again I am a little bit lost because I don't know what to write... This week is not my best for recipes turning out my bread and my brownies didn't turn out as well. I have been trying a new bread recipe every week, and I'm throwing in brownies where I can :). But the pumpkin muffins were amazing!! And we sneaked out some decent dinners.
Wednesday was Halloween. Avi had fun saying "Appy Alloweeeeen". She was a princess. I made her crown from a cereal box covered with foil. Gage was a bear. I believe they were adorable. We went to the trunk or treat. Avi seemed a little overwhelmed by everything. She didn't get out many "trick-or-treats" or thank you's, but she did learn to like to pick her candy. She was so cute as she tried to hold onto all of her candy. Every once in a while we would need to stop and have her put it in her bag. Gage happily watched as he pulled off his bear hat. We went to a few houses, to see some neighbors and friends. At home Avi and Gunnar watched Garfield's Halloween- oh the many childhood memories!! Gage got a piece of non-frosted sugar cookie- he went wild for it. (but he goes wild for most food- he pumps his arms and legs up and down and gets a big grin!)
Avi got to eat somewhere around five pieces of candy- she was going crazy! She didn't have any yesterday, but today, she got a piece or two- before dinner she found the bag that had Gunnar's lunch- She found and excitedly exclaimed, "Candy in there! Candy in there!"

I love singing time

Gage is scooting now!! He is a sweet happy baby that loves to be played with. He is eating baby food well.
Avi, Avi, Avi what a wild girl! She loves to play outside, go for walks, feed the horses and the kitties! Scoot around on her tricycle and the little tractor. She loves to sing songs. She will play the piano and sing- for "singing time" as she puts it. She was hitting and kicking Gage, but now- hopefully it lasts, we are only dealing with pushing and trying to pick him up by his neck. Today she played so well with him!! She played peek-a-boo and she loves to play with him when he is in his highchair.
I have made 52 quarts of grape juice and 33 quarts of salsa so far- with the teaching and help of Gunnar's parents. My first year canning. I also made some strawberry rhubarb jam.
Put a bid on the house again... we shall see.
I am in love with Larabars- homemade yum!
I made up a recipe
Apple Pie
1/3 c dates
1/3 c almond
2/3 c apple slices
2 tsp cinnamon
3-4 tsp water
1 tsp vanilla
food processed into goodness.
I made spinach noodles from Our Best Bites the flavor was good, but I put whole wheat flour in so it didn't roll as thin as it should. I also made cauliflower cheese sticks and homemade alfredo sauce and chicken... It was way too much for me in one night!!
Tonight I did much better- yesterday I cut the squash for today's dinner, I made buttermilk summer squash soup- a hit. I made some whole wheat bread- it stole the show for the dinner. I made croutons with it- and yum yum yum!
Avi counts "1- 3!" she knows "seben". She is so cute "ABCDE.... baby garble...P...ABCD..." is her favorite song to sing. She makes up songs all the time. Today I listened her over the baby monitor sing about mommy and daddy and poopies- I was glad I was listening so I could go change her.
I got a step stool for her- she said, "I want to potty train!" I told her it was a step. She took it to her room and used it to climb up and down off her bed multiple times- she was loving it!!
Today she was asking for Pooh- I brought out the stuffed Pooh- and Avi asked for the "Pooh Book" so I read her part of a story- she doesn't have attention span for a 40 page story.
We cleaned carpets last night- I love to have clean carpets!! Oh ya!! I cleaned the couches we bought and got a better idea what is ahead- I found out the fabric had come apart beneath one cushion. I am hoping to only have to hand sew up half on the sides and be able to staple beneath. I will make up a bottom to cover a cushion, maybe replace a spring, and mend a board- well, what can we expect of $40 couches...

Rainy day and Monday..

Between rain storms we snuck outside to get more tomatoes from the green house and let Avi wander. Avi enjoyed fresh tomatoes from the plants. After Gage woke up from his nap I brought him out and fed him in the atrium area- it was nice to sit with dahlias and snapdragons in October. Avi had fun climbing in and out of the chair next to us as Gage ate.
Gage is army crawling- he advanced quickly to a very proficient scoot. I am thoroughly impressed! It is so fun to watch him move around the floor. He is thoughtful and very directed in what he does.
Goodness I can't remember what I last wrote... did I mention that we are trying for the house again? same price- here we go again.
Avi was so cute playing with the Fisher Price animals today- I heard her say, "hello cow....." when I came over all the animals were in a circle facing each other, and later she was "sharing" her apple slices with a giraffe and a zebra. She loves to put on a bag and a hat and say "I'm ready to go!". The other day she got out a rag and told me, "I'm cleaning the floor" she was scrubbing away- I think it was great when scrubbed it with her foot, like her lazy mom does sometimes... Avi loves to wash her hands!! She has a little step stool that she can pull herself up enough to reach the faucet to turn on the water- and her favorite is the bar soap that she calls "baby soap"... I don't know why. She loves string cheese- if you open the fridge you are bound to hear a chorus of "string cheese, string cheese!" She is just such a cutie pie!! Yesterday I curled her hair for the first time. I didn't have any product and the bottom came out quickly, but oh well! she was still so cute.
Right now her favorite cousin is Lilli. She is getting to notice Darin a little more, though playing with him usually quickly results in tears.
Sweet and Sour chicken tonight from Mel's Kitchen Cafe site- it is the best recipe I found for sweet and sour so far- but it was a little strong on the vinegar- I'll have to try reducing it... I made black bean and corn salsa today as well- thus the trip to get the tomatoes from the green house.
We watched the final presidential debate tonight. I plan to vote for Romney. I don't love everything he is planning to do (like cutting education), but for the most part I think he will really do a fabulous job- if he can really do what he is planning to do. I love that he is willing to go through and do cuts- to really work to balance the budget. I believe it is critical for the future of our country. I also think his vice president did really well in his debate. I am pleased to vote for them after watching the debates.

what a day

Oh what a day. I woke up still feeling ill- I've had horrible sinus issues starting on Sunday and gradually am getting better. I signed paperwork for the bank going on the crazy hope of a miracle that things will work out for the house. We have less than a week to go, and they are not willing to give another extension... I really wish Gunnar could just get hired on beyond his temp work. To add to the fun, I have not been able to find my driver's license, and it is required for the paper work, so as I had crying, grabbing babies this morning, I was trying to figure out what I needed to do to get one.
On a good note I was able to sort through the kids' clothes and pick out the things they had out grown- wow did it reduce Gage's tops drawer!! I just got him two new long sleeved onesies, I am wondering if I needed to get more.
I did some cleaning and laundry, got the kids down for naps, and made a sock puppet while I talked to Jennica. Avi woke up from her nap a bit grumpy- she didn't like the sock puppet :(... but then we played outside, fed a horse, and went on the swings- and she liked the sock puppet out there... We came inside when Gage woke up, made a delicious
berry spinach smoothie
1/3 c* plain greek yogurt
1/3 c frozen berries
1/3-1/2 banana
1/3 c milk
1/3-2/3 c spinach
*generous 1/3 cups...
It was fabulous! I wish we had made more! Avi loved it and got her vegetable in for the day. Gage had corn baby food, not his favorite. We played outside some more- Avi climbed the willow tree (easy climb). There was some cat poo on the front porch (do you see why I don't want pets...) so I pointed it out to Avi and told her not to step on it. After she had climbed in the willow tree (there it a wide area to walk around in the tree) she said "Mama, I step on the poo." bewildered and a bit worried I looked in the tree- it was a bunch of mushrooms! I thought she was rather cute.
Now onto some disaster... while the kids napped, I got a call from an insurance guy- we are looking for insurance right now (again I would love for Gunnar to get hired!). I talked with him for a long time. Avi had woken up and we were about to get off the phone, when I was going into the garage to look for more bread, when I saw a snake in the garage!!! I have a huge phobia for snakes. I flipped, and embarrassingly got off the phone. I was really upset, so I tried calling Gunnar- no answer. I needed to ask a question about dinner, and still upset I called Gunnar's mom. So I could talk to someone. I told her about the snake, she laughed- I guess I deserved it.  Avi said "mama go doctor."- she could tell I was really upset... thankfully she was fine. Unfortunately when we went to get some cat food, I hadn't closed the garage door- so I saw it again, it had not moved because it was dead-partially eaten by the cats. So I was very traumatized...
then to add to the trauma...
I was hacking through summer squash (it is crazy hard to cut up- and peel) to make some soup- I had started later than planned, because Gage had needed to be fed. So was I was really wanting to get dinner done, and Gage was fussing in the family room. Avi was wanting to be held, so I sent her in to entertain Gage. That worked well for a bit, then he started crying again. After a few minutes, I call to Gage to ask him what is wrong. Avi responds, "Gage's eye". Nervously I went in to investigate. Avi was standing with a little metal hook that had a screw one side. She said "Gage's eye". Went to Gage- he had little scratches around his eye and a red eyelid- no blood, just inflamed. I checked his eye- thankfully no cuts and he calmed quickly when I picked him up. OH BOY was I upset!! I was soooo frightened! Once I knew Gage was okay- Avi to spanked, and time out, then I not so lovingly told her never to do that again... I was soooo upset. I called Gunnar and ranted at him that we are in an unsafe house, and then Erin happened to call, so I got to talk to her too- it was good to get it out.
In the meanwhile, I realized I forgot an ingredient in the cookies and I was making and my summer squash soup with a basil pesto turned into a basil summer squash pesto- I mixed it all together!! Avi did not like dinner, so she had to wait for me to make spaghetti. Dinner was way late. but it did turn out to be a pretty good sauce for the noodles (thought Avi just had cheese on hers). I wouldn't mind making the "sauce" again, and I do want to try the soup- I think it would be great.
It was Gunnar's lab night, so he comes home early- ten pm- but he wasn't home till 10:30 last night. It was nice to spend some time with him, even if it meant going to bed late.
We found out HUD is not willing to work with us... oh well.

Avi makes messes and Gage has a rash

Why is it that my mind goes blank when I come to write? \
Fall is here. This evening we were out in the chill harvasting from Grandpa's garden before it freezes. I held Gage most the time, but after a while I grabbed a blanket and laid him down. He and Avi played peek-a-boo, but after sometime he just got too cold so we went in. I found out that Avi's hat was off and a shoe was missing. She wanted to go back out, but with her track record of not being bundled enough- she and Gage stayed inside with Uncle Anders while I helped finish up havesting. It felt so nice to be outside being productive.
Avi is going through a phase that she thinks she should live on pancakes and/or muffins (mup-pins, as she says it). She also loves to put half her yogurt on the table and "paint" with it. Today she made a 'boy' and put blueberry on for a nose. So adorable! but very messy. She does love to wash her hands, aka play with the water and the soap. The other day I filled bowls with soapy water and let her play on the floor in the kitchen/dinning room where I wanted to mop. I think it was a hit for both of us.
Tonight she spilled her milk on the floor- looked down and said, "snowman". What a great imagination.
She and Gage have a daily giggle session. Avi usually dances/ peek-a-boos/ sings around him when he is in his highchair.
Gage has a rash. We have been trying to figure out what it is- so we took him in. It is Roseolla (spell?) a virus. So I am just suppose to moniter and lotion him up. He has had a cold for over a month so the doctor thinks he might have a sinus infection. We are going to wait another week and try treating then. He is one week away from being 8 months and is 21 pounds!! two and half away from his sister's weight.