DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MOTHER

Yesterday I was going to clean the TLL. The timing was perfect because CC's best friend Jennifer went with us and they could play while I cleaned. I gathered together some cleaning supplies, the diaper bag, my purse, and a bag full of books I needed to return to the public library. I got Jennifer and CC in the kitchen and got them a drink to take. Finally, I buckled MJ into her car seat. She hates her car seat. She started screaming. With my arms completely full, I headed for the door. Then Daddy decided to chase the girls. They scattered and started to giggle. In the commotion CC misplaced her drink. I said, "I am leaving ladies." We headed to the elevator. CC realized, "I don't have my drink." She started whining. Back to the apartment. She and I both looked for it until MJ's screaming hit a max and we had to go. CC fussed about her drink all the way down the elevator. I gathered the girls together to cross the main road. I got to the car, which is parked a half a block away. I was heaving from the weight I was carrying. I set MJ's car seat down to find my keys. Guess what? Can't find them.

I gathered the girls together again. Picked up my four bags and MJ in her car seat. It crossed my mind to tempt fate and leave the heaviest bag, the one filled with books from the library, near the car. I decided the cost, if they were taken, wouldn't be worth it. I got the girls back across the street safely, back into the building, up the elevator, and into the apartment. We ringed the doorbell and Daddy answered. I said, "I can't find my keys." He started laughing. I was too frustrated to laugh. After walking through the house several times I stopped in the living room and heaved a heavy sigh and put my hands into my jacket pocket. Guess what? They were in my pocket the whole time. I hoped Daddy wouldn't notice my blonde moment and just casually said, "Okay girls, lets go." Dad started to laugh again.

I said, "The least you can do is go get the car and bring it around and pick us up, so I don't have to walk clear out there again." He didn't protest he just picked up MJ and the book bag and went down the elevator and brought the car around. When he pulled up and climbed out of the car CC yells, "But mom, where were the keys." I said, "Just get in the car!" Daddy started to laugh uncontrollably and said, "CC they were in her pocket the whole time!" I guess the secret was out. I just started to laugh and then playfully kicked him in the bum. I am grateful for a man that can help me laugh when I am having a rough day.

HOME FOR CHIRSTMAS

I was blessed to go home for Christmas. I enjoyed every minute of my visit. The best part was seeing my oldest sister get married. She was so beautiful on her wedding day. I felt so blessed to be at her sealing. There was such a beautiful spirit there. You knew these two were meant to be together. Poor, poor, Daddy was stuck in Pittsburgh alone for the holidays. He said it was the worst Christmas ever. He ate Hot Dogs and Mac & Cheese and watched Fancast. Poor Guy. The sacrifices he makes for his family cannot be numbered. Love ya babe!

GINGER BREAD HOUSES

Sierra built this ginger bread house with her Aunt Karalee. She loved every minute of it.

TO: MY BROTHER IN RUSSIA

Well, my sisters built this replica of my brother in Russia. We enjoyed having the whole family home for christmas, even if one of us was in the form of FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. Don't I haven't the most beautiful little sisters in the world?

THE CUTEST LITTLE GUY EVER!

Oh, he is so adorable. Don't you just want to kiss him all over. I tried and tried. He warmed up a little to me right before he left for home. I sure hate living so far away.

CHRISTMAS WISH

Well, Christmas wishes often come true in my mother's home. This was Grandma's christmas wish and she got it.

CHOCOLATE, CAN'T GET ENOUGH

My sister brought this chocolate santa for CC. She was so excited. She took this large enthused bite and I thought it was so cute. I got the camera and told her to take another one. My camera isn't taking the best pictures. I kept making her take bite after bite so I could get a good picture. She finally said, "Mom, I don't want anymore."

ELF YOURSELF

We have spent hours and hours of laughing and watching this video my sisters created for Sierra. http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/aWjCDRVgCUdg7FXAcGd0 If any of you know Nate, you will really love this vidoe. There is no way he would do this in real life but it is pretty funny.

SO SAD!

I removed the video because Sierra was clicking on one and mis-clicked and entered a porn video. She was alarmed and ran over to me. I was talking to my mom on the phone. I exited the vidoe and deleted the videos from my blog for fear that another unsuspecting child might do the same thing. I will have to find another way to upload videos. Blogger only works every once and a while and YouTube is now out of the question. If you have a suggestion for something that might work, please leave a comment. Love ya, Lisa

FIRE!!!!

We live on the 19th floor of this skyrise in Pitsburgh, which is the third floor from the top. This morning at 2:30 the fire alarm went off. Now I don't know if there is away to discribe the sheer awfulness of the sound the fire alarm makes. Think of the a high pitch buzz at the loundest desible possible. The noise resinates from the hall so you have to pass through a gauntlet of ear piercing defeness before you can get into the stairwell. However, the stairwell isn't a sure escape because the pitch, although less loud, is still loud all the way down 19 flights of stairs.

At around 2:28 Sierra was complaining that her eyelids were glued shut again from duct butter drying over her lashes. I went to warm a wash cloth in the bathroom when the sound, oh the awful sound filled the apartment. Sierra grabbed the covers and pulled them over her head. I washed off her eyelids and then called my neighbor, Shandra.

I said, "Shandra are you going down?"

She said, "Well, I can smell smoke in the hall, so we are going to leave. What do you think?"

I know what your thinking, "GET OUT OF THE BUILDING. STOP CHATTING!" However, the alarm has gone off twice since we moved in and after you go down 19 flights of stairs and wait outside only to be told someone burnt popcorn on the 5th floor, or someone's blowdryer blew up on the 10th floor, you start to question whether endangering your childs hearing and lumbering down 19 flights of stairs at 2:30 in the morning is worth it.

I decided to wake up Nate and tell him what was going on. The decision was made to exit. I threw on pink sweat pants and a blue sweat shirt and slipped on the nearest shoes available. I threw on Sierra's coat, pants, and a hat. I picked up Madison and threw two blankets over her head and we headed toward the door of the apartment. The noise of the alarm in the hall is muffled by the walls of the apartment so the noise hits you in all its furry when the door to the apartment is opened. The minute I opened the door Sierra ran back toward her bedroom. I yelled, "Sierra come here now." She walked back toward me. I said, "Hold my hand. You have to be brave." I took her hand with one hand and Madison in the other and got in the stairwell. Nate wasn't far behind. He picked up Sierra and carried her down the stairs. When we got out of the building her little friends Jennifer and Brooklynn were there huddled in there coats and PJ's. She ran up to them and said, "I was scared but then Daddy picked me up and then I wasn't scared anymore." I was so touched by her words. Just now remembering her word makes me ponder on how many times I have been scared and someone has picked me up with a kind word or a helping hand and then I haven't been scared anymore.

The fire wasn't anything serious, again. The firemen cleared the building and let us back in and we climbed back up 19 flights of stairs, because we were too impatient to wait for the elevator. Madison, the sweet angel, slept through the whole thing. Soon enough we were all warm, safe and back in our own beds.

HEATHER's CHRISTMAS/BIRTHDAY PRESENT

I spared no expense on this gift. :) Here is the recipe. I made it again last night and took notes. This is the first recipe I have ever written and I wanted to dedicate it and name it after one of my favorite persons.... Heather.

HEATHER's HEALTHY PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

3 cups White Wheat Flour
1 1/4 cups White Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Nutmeg

2 Eggs
1 (15 ounce) Can Solid Pack Pumpkin
1/2 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1/4 cup Oil
1 cup Chocolate Chips (or Walnuts, which are a great substitute!)
1 1/2 cup Warm Water

Mix together dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Then combine wet and dry ingredients. Mix enough to incorporate the wet and dry ingredients. Do not over mix. Handle as little as possible once the wet and dry ingredients are combined. Then add Chocolate Chips or Walnuts to the mixture. Coat 12 average size muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Fill till heaping with muffin batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Don't open the oven door, except near the end of the cooking time to check for doneness, or stomp around the kitchen because the muffins can easily flunk. Let the muffins cool for 5 minutes before removing from the tins. Then let cool on a wire rack.

DOCTOR's VISIT

Yesterday I took Madison to her one month (6 1/2 week) appointment. She is now 11 pounds 4 ounces and 23 1/2 inches long. That is almost 4 pounds larger than her birth weight and 4 more inches in length. No wonder she doesn't fit into anything. She is almost too long for most of her 0-3 month clothes. I also talked to the doctor about Sierra. She said Sierra has a cold in her eyes and doesn't have pink eye. I am so relieved because pink eye is so contagious. Sierra is looking so much better today.

MADISON'S BONNET - VIA SHELLY's REQUEST

I fell in love with this pattern the minute I saw it. I wish I hadn't done the strapes so wide. They didn't fit under Madison's chin. She hated the hat anyway. I had to slip it under her head so gently to get these pictures. The minute she discovered what I had done she started to scream. Nate didn't care for the bonnet anymore than Madison. I was over ruled and it got tossed.

MADISON'S BLESSING

Madison was so good today while I put her through hours of snapping pictures. When you are as bad as me at photography you have to take a lot to get a few good ones. These were the best of the day. Madison was so beautiful today she looked like an angel. I wish our McKnight family and our Craven family could have been here to participate and celebrate but it was still a very special day.


As Nate took her to the front of the church, I reflected back on the last year since her conception and pondered on how many small miracles it took to bring us to that moment. Most of you remember the month of March when I was struggling to keep her and threatening mis-carriage every day. I asked Nate to give me a blessing, in the blessing he said, "The baby would be born healthy and I would rejoice at her birth." He was right on both accounts. I feel so blessed that Nate holds the priesthood. I wanted to stand up at church today and thank my Father-in-Heaven for my blessings. I have felt his spirit so strongly in my life the last few weeks. I am grateful for the quiet moments of motherhood when I feel his presence and realize once again how noble the calling of motherhood is and how blessed I am to be gifted with the opportunity of participating in it.



People have asked for for a complete view of the dress. I have many more angles and zooms, so if this isn't the one you want then post a comment and I will post more pictures. She was so beautiful today.











Sierra had pink eye today. I felt so bad for her. Her eyes have been bright red and weeping all sorts of puss. She really isn't feeling well. If I knew how bad it was I wouldn't have taken her to church but it slowly got worse throughout the morning. Nate brought her home right after the sacrament. I took this picture in the lobby of our building right before we got in the car and headed to the church. I really like it. I am not sure why. It is definitely a poorly taken picture and if I had a critical eye for photography I probably wouldn't like it but I really like it.

BABY BLESSING

I finally finished Madison's blessing dress and bonnet. Nate says it is Omish looking, but I don't care I like Omish styles. :) The dress is wrinkled because I was ironing it and the iron spit brown on it. I had to re-wash it. I will try ironing it again in the morning. Sierra wanted to see her blessing dress. We pulled it out and she tried it on... and wow... it still fits! I even was able to fasten the buttons. She say it looks like a wedding dress.

MICHAEL ANGELO --- SIERRA

Sierra is my little artist. This is one of her latest creations. It is a picture of Me. The circles in the center ar my eyes. I am laying side-ways. Here is Madison. She is sporting poka-dots and that makes her beautiful.

Here is her picture of the ocean. She used water colors. The yellow is the sun and the blue is the water. This is my favorite!

20 BUCKS THRIFTING IN THE BURGH

My friend Shelly did a post similar to this one and I really enjoyed it and so I stoled her idea. She is full of many fabulous ideas. Sierra loves to draw and her dad is after her all the time about wasting paper. She can waste all the paper she wants now because I picked up five packasges for 50 cents.

I picked up the teddy bear puzzle for a dollar.






I found the missing book in Sierra's Beatrice Potter collection.











I found two t-shirts for Sierra and a sweater and a turtle neck that will fit Madison next winter.







I saved the last for the best. My sisters had a tea party with my nieces over Thanksgiving holiday's. The girls were only allowed to use British accents. My mother said they laughed and laughed. I wanted to have memories like that with Sierra. We don't have any tea cups or tea pots. I found this beautiful tea pot and all of these heavy porcelain mugs. Sierra and I have been enjoying tea (water) and crumpets (marshmellows) and talking in English accents all afternoon. Now every time I talk Sierra says, "Mom, talk in that silly voice."

ALL BY MYSELF!

These are the moments we as mothers live for. Yesterday I went into Sierra's room and she had made her bed without being asked and without any help. I told her I was proud of her I would put a picture of it on my blog. She is such a good girl. What would I do without her?

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

This is the picture of the year. I don't know why but I really love it. I wish the ornament Sierra is holding wasn't blurred but other than that it is a perfect picture. Sierra is the worst subject to photograph so I am pretty excited every time I get a good picture.
We put up our Christmas tree for family night this week. It was quit the ordeal. I pulled into home depot and Madison started to fuss. I pulled into the back and flagged someone and told them to throw a Christmas tree into the back of the truck. They said, "Don't you want to pick it out, most people want to pick it out."I said, "I have a baby ready to start screaming. I just need a tree. I don't care which one." They loaded one up and I went to the register and paid for it. I must admit the tree is the best one we have ever had and I didn't spend an hour hunting for it. I got the girls into the apartment and loaded the tree into the elevator hauled up and set it up. I was pretty proud of myself for being so independent. (Nate is in the middle of finals week, so if I didn't do it wouldn't have gotten done.) Sierra and I had just finish putting the last of the ornaments on and she went to a friends to play and I went in to make supper. I heard a crash. I guess I shouldn't have been so proud! :) I didn't set the tree in the stand right. There were ornaments and water everywhere. My friends saved the day again. Steven, Shandra's husband, came and trimmed the tree and reset it into the stand. What would I ever do without the many angels in my life? Merry Christmas.

NURSING PADS

I made nursing pads. I won't go into any personal details about why. I sandwiched a piece of warm and natural batting between two pieces of white flannel. I cut them out using a cup the size I wanted. Then I surged them in the round and sewed and X down the center. Anyway not only will I save money but I will be more comfortable. Again, if you are having the same trama and want a lesson feel free to call or come on by.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

I made these muffins! Can you believe it. I am so proud of myself. My Aunt Susana taught me the tricks to making a good muffin and have been making all flavors. If you won't tell Nate, I will tell you a secret. They are alll whole wheat, and I used applesauce as a substitute for most of the oil. I cut back on the sugar by half. They are really healthy except fo the chocolate chips, which are there to just help the medicine go down. MAN I AM GOOD! I have made dozens of failed muffin recipes, so I am pretty proud. If anyone wants a muffin making lesson, come on over. Here is the trick, in every recipe put at least 2 tsps of Baking Powder and 1 tsp of Baking Soda. Then add a lot of liquid, which will help make the muffin moist in the center. I added an extra cup and a half of warm water to this recipe. I recommend adding some form of liquid, orange juice, milk, banana, pumpkin, or just water until the batter is the consistance of pancake batter. Also, and here is another trick, fill the muffin containers until they are heaped a little above the rim and then pat the tops with water. This will moisten the top of the muffin. Who knows maybe one day I will write my own recipe. Top of the Muffin to you!! :)

THANKSGIVING

Sadly, Nate and I forgot the camera when we went to Virginia for Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time. Susanna went all out and we ate like kings while we were there. Sierra loved my cousins Tristan and Tanner and she kept referring to them as her friends. She would say, "Mom, where did my friends go." She would run through the house yelling, "Friends, friends!" until she found them. Nate got to go out on the ocean and fish with Uncle Curtis for two days. He had an awesome time. Just being out on the ocean hunting for fish for two days was a dream come true and a much needed R&R before finals week hit. We love our Virginia family.

SUNDAY MORNING

Sierra was brushing Madison's hair and putting her necklaces and bracelets on her. I reprimanded her for trying to put too many necklaces over her head because she wasn't doing it very gently. She decided to put them on her waist instead. I know this picture is a bit blurry but I thought Madison's face says it all.

FISHING BOAT

Nate finally got his first boat. He is so excited. There are a few minor hole but that is okay because they are as easy to fix as holes in a bicycle tire, right? He had me take this picture right after he inflated the boat. He had to hold Madison while I got the perfect picture. It is the first time he has actually asked me to take a picture of him. I was pretty excited. He is in finals this week so he hasn't actually had the opportunity to test it on open water. I am sure he will have it up and running as soon as he can find the time.