The Biznards: October 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Exciting News!!

We're adopting a baby boy! We are so excited and feel so much gratitude at this time for this blessing in our lives. We feel grateful to Heavenly Father who has answered our many prayers and for the wonderful birthmom who trusts us enough to give us this gift of love. Words really can't express it.

We get to meet this little guy in February when he is born. This is a picture of him as we got to see him at the ultra sound yesterday. Everything looked perfect. I know I'm biased, but I think he's so stinkin cute - even en utero. And Ethan wishes he were in color. :) He is so excited about his little brother. He's been telling everyone and he's been helping us think of names. The first night after we told him, he couldn't sleep and he hopped in bed with us and said, "I can't sleep. I'm thinking of the baby. Lets talk about some more names." The next day when we were heading home after school he goes, "Mom, lets go get a baby book." I said, "Oh, you mean a baby name book?" "Yeah, I just want to start preparing for the baby." So cute.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers on our behalf and for being some of our biggest advocates in this process.

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Goings On

Holy Cow, I'm already writing my third post in October and its only the 11th. I'm surprising even myself. So this is one of those boring update posts. I feel the need to do these sometimes mainly for when I'm wondering what happened, and when, I can remind myself.

Conference Weekend: I had a great whirlwind weekend. That Friday morning I drove down to SLC with my brothers Dave, Spencer, my niece Cassi and nephew Sam. That night we met up with my mom and sister at my mom's family reunion. This was a reunion with my moms aunts and uncles and cousins. I even got to see some of my own aunts and uncles and cousins there. It was really neat to be in the chapel filled with so many of my relations who I didn't know at all but somehow we were all connected. My great grandfather and his two wives (he was a polygamist) currently have 2200 descendants. Amazing.

The next morning my mom, sis and I went to the Saturday morning session of conference. We were in the nosebleed seats but it was still great to be there. I got to hear 3 of my favorite speakers in person. I know, I shouldn't have favorites, but I do. Afterwards we met up for some lunch at Pei Wei (love that place) with the rest of the clan, went back and watched the 2nd session and then headed home with my mom, sis and niece. I was gone a total of 36 hours. I hope none of my Utah friends whom I love are offended that I didn't see them. It was just one of those really quick trips. And of course I have no pics to show for it, since my camera is broken. :)

Enough about me and my trip. Ethan. What's he up to these days you might ask? He's really enjoying 2nd grade. He's got a great teacher and his best buddies are in his class. He was just telling us about a few girls he's got a crush on. He seems too young to have crushes. I don't think my first crush came til 5th grade. Anyway, Ethan's been playing soccer. He also started piano lessons a few weeks ago. I've been really impressed with his progress and he's still enjoying it at this point. Ethan's in charge of cooking one meal a week. I started having him do this about a month ago. He's actually enjoying it - I've been surprised. I'm of course right there next to him helping him. Its really boosted his self confidence and he likes picking out the meal.

Chadwick. He's doing his usual stuff. Working. Being a wonderful hubby and dad, and of course working in some tennis whenever he can. He just got a new tennis racket just in time to play my brother Ben (who's obsessed with tennis) and who happens to be coming into town in a few days.

Friday, October 8, 2010

The Santa Dilemma

Within in the last month or so Ethan and I have had a couple conversations about the validity of Santa. He's at the age where he's finally starting to question it. In a way I'm kind of looking forward to when he finds out because then I don't have to skirt around all his Santa questions anymore. On the other hand I'll be kind of sad for him when he finds out he's not real cause that's when Christmas becomes less magical for a kid.

One of our first conversations went a little like this. Honestly, these conversations are always a little uncomfortable for me.

Ethan: "Is Santa real?"
Me: Pause (I'm thinking, this could be it. Here's my opportunity to out Santa)..."That's something you'll have to figure out on your own."
Ethan: "I think you might be Santa...I can't believe I just said that! I've thought it before but I 've never actually said it."
Me: Chuckle..."You're going to have to figure it out on your own whether he's real or not."
Ethan: "I know how I can find out."
Me: "How?"
Ethan: "I can look at your bank account before Christmas and then I can look at it after to see if there's any money gone...OR I can look at the handwriting on the presents."
Me: Chuckle...
Ethan: "I think it is you. You're kinda laughing a lot."

In our second conversation he asked how Santa gets all the presents to everybody. I answered, "Its magic."
Ethan replied, "But there isn't magic in this world. So he must not be real."

Should I have told him? I couldn't. I can't be the one who squashes all his Santa fantasies.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Its been 90 degrees here, but that hasn't stopped me from making soup for the last few weeks. In my mind September = fall = soup. Despite the hot weather. I love summer and warmth but that is one thing I missed for those few hot months - soup. It got warm and all of a sudden I was out of meal ideas. The one that I'm addicted to right now is Tomato Basil. Mmmm. I've literally been making it once a week for the last few weeks. Chad, in his kind way has informed me he's kinda tomato basil souped out. Looks like I'll have to take a break from making it for a while. At least a couple weeks. :)

Since I love this soup so much I thought I'd share the recipe. I wouldn't dare eat it without homemade croutons so I'll include that recipe too.

Tomato Basil Soup

16 Large Roma Tomatoes, peeled, and seeded

12 Cups Tomato Juice

50 Leaves Fresh Basil

3 Cups Half and Half

1 Cup Butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Blanch tomatoes in very hot water until skin splits. Peel tomatoes and seed. Place tomatoes and juice in stock pot over medium heat. Simmer for 30 min. Puree the tomato mixture along with the basil leaves, and return the puree to stock pot. Place the pot over medium heat, stir in half & half and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until butter is melted. Do not boil.

Serve with croutons, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil if desired. Serves 12

Editor's note: We have a family of 3 so I half the recipe and we always have a lot of leftovers. I use half milk and half cream instead of half & half. I used half & half once and it gave it a weird texture. Once I peel and seed the tomatoes I puree them in the blender with the basil and then add the mixture to the pot with the Tomato Juice and then simmer for 30 minutes.

Croutons

Cut cubes of bread (I use french bread)

Melt about 1/4 Cup Olive Oil and 1/4 Cup butter

Add it to the bread in a larg bowl and mix.

Heat oven 375 degrees

Place croutons on cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes, turn bread and cook for another 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Season with any seasonings you'd like. I usually use garlic salt and paprika.

ENJOY!

Ethan & Gavin Quotes Worth Repeating:

The best is when Gavin tells me, "You're my best mom!" And when he comes out from his nap and says, "Mom, I still love you." (I love the "still" part - I'm just glad his feelings didn't change during his nap).

This morning Gavin saw the medicine cups on the counter and said he needed medicine. Since he's not sick, I said, "You don't need medicine, you're not sick." He goes all whiny, "but I am sick! I'm sick of cereal." (January 6, 2015)

Today I shared half of my cookie with Gavin, he very politely replied when I handed it to him, "Thanks mom! Good job sharing!" (Sept 20, 2014)

This was told to me by my neighbor while Gavin was at her house playing with her daughter, Emma.
Emma tells Gavin, "I have a bum."
Gavin: "I think I have a bum too."
All the while looking behind them trying to get a peak at their own bums. I love conversations between three year olds! (Sept, 2014)

I was talking to Ethan about my on t.v. interview the next day. He was a little nervous I'd embarass him and goes, "Mom, I really don't want you to make a fool of this family!" (July 11,2013)

On Friday we took Ethan and 5 of his friends somewhere for his birthday. We borrowed my brother's car since its big and it could fit all of us. When we all got in the car the boys were saying how the owner of the car must be rich because the car was so big. They were informed that the car belonged to Ethan's uncle. They were still in awe of how rich he must be when Ethan exclaimed, "He's a redhead, of course he's rich!" Hmm...if only I were a redhead. (January 14, 2011)

Ethan gave Tito a little kiss on the head. After he kissed him he was wiping Tito's head off and said, "I'm wiping the wetness off, but the love's still there." So profound. (October 10, 2010)

My sis-in-law Mel and I took our kids to a pool to swim pretty far from our house. They'd been in the car probably for about 30-45 min. I hear Ethan in the backseat ask his fellow cousins, "Are you guys having fun? I'm having fun just talking!" (October 7, 2010)

One morning as Ethan was requesting some breakfast, he said, "Hey, you're kind of like my servant!" He was quite pleased with that discovery. (May, 2010)

At dinner Ethan says to Chad, "Dad, how do you eat in like two seconds?!"

Chad: "Cause I'm a pig."

Ethan: "Pigs don't eat THAT fast!" (March 4, 2010)

Ethan Quote Archives

My Mom was telling Ethan about how she remembers her 1st grade teacher. She paused for a moment to think of her teacher's name and Ethan took the opportunity to whisper in her ear and inform her, "She's probably dead." (January 26, 2010)

Ethan, analizing why the spider was crawling on his leg the other night. "I don't think that spider was TRYING to poison me." (December 18, 2009)

"My friend want to write Santa to tell him what he wants. I want to write Santa to thank him for all that he does." (December, 2009)

From the backseat Ethan says, "I have my pinky in my nose. I'm not picking it, it just kin of feels good!" I looked back and sure enough, his pinky was in his nose. And in all honesty, he's really not a nose picker so I know it wasn't just an excuse. (August 14, 2009)

Chad and I were talking about how my sister-in-law, Mel is going to be the president of Ethan's old preschool. Ethan must have missed the "preschool" part and he goes: "What!? Mel's going to be president? Its not going to be Barack Obama anymore?" (August 9, 2009)

While Ethan was coming home from school with my friend Cathy and her two boys, apparently her two year old was being really loud and Ethan says, "I always wanted a sibling, but I didn't know they could be so anooying!" (May, 2009)

While we were at the park with one of Ethan's friends and his mom, Ethan's friend realized he lost one of the toys that he brought. As he and his mom started frantically looking for it, Ethan quietly, yet knowingly says to me, "And that why I don't bring toys to the park." (March, 2009)

During church Ethan plugs his ears and says, "I don't want to listen anymore."
Me: "Why?"
Ethan: "Because I don't want my eardrums to run out of hearing." (3/15/2009)

Ethan and I were looking through a book about bodies and we were talking about kidneys and where they are located in the body.

Me: (Pointing to the small of his back) "So this is where your kidneys are."
Ethan: "So does that mean you have adultneys?"
Get it? Adult-neys? He's got kid-neys, so I should have adult-neys right? And he wasn't kidding. (1/20/2009)

Me: "Ethan, do you love Tido?"
Ethan: "Yeah, I love him...The only thing I don't like about him is that his butt is always in your face." (1/5/2009)

As we were talking about going to Costco and getting some lunch, Ethan exclaims, "I just love Costco food! Its just so good! We should get their recipe and their autograph!" (1/2/2009)

I'm a little more familiar with the area where we live than Chad is, so sometimes I have to tell him where to turn while driving. One day while I was telling him where to turn left and right, from the backseat Ethan says, "Mom, stop bossing dad around!" (a while ago, 2008)

Aunt Courtney asked Ethan what his favorite part of kindergarten is, he replied, "going home." (9/1/2008)

Ethan: Dad, when you got married did you have a wedding cake?
Chad: Yes I did.
Ethan: Why didn't you save any for me?...Well, its ok cause I guess you didn't really know about me then. (8/12/2008)

While putting Ethan to bed tonight he told me, "You're the sweetest parents I ever had." (6/11/2008)

The other day we were at the store and there was a shirt that Ethan wanted that we didn't buy for him. The next day while he was getting dressed he comes up to me and says, "Mom, I'll give you a choice, either you buy me that shirt or I won't wear any clothes tomorrow." (6/8/2008)

Today during testimony meeting Ethan says to Chad,
"Oh gosh, why does everyone have to say the church is true?"

Tonight as Ethan and I were sipping out hot cocoa, I asked him if it ever made him sad that he didn't have any brothers or sisters. He replied, "No, I have a good life."

While driving in the car I was telling Ethan how he was going to play with his good friend Hayden the next day. Ethan hesitates, "Well. . .I was going to do some research tomorrow." "Oh really, well what are you going to research?" "Oh, I was going to do some research on my mission." (3/13/08)

One Sunday during the Sacrament Ethan whispers to me:
"I can't think of Jesus, I can only think of Superheroes."

"I want to be a cow so I can poop in a field."

"When adults tickle kids they pee a little bit."

Ethan: I want a new mom.
Me: Well that makes me sad that you would say that. Why do you want a new mom?"
Ethan: Because you're so old.

Me: "Ethan, I'm so glad you're my son."
Ethan: "Don't talk about son, child, married, or pregnant. That makes me nervous."

As Ethan was looking at Courtney's parakeet and the bird was looking back at him with just one of his eyes, cause that's just how birds look, Ethan demanded, "Look at me with both eyes bird!"

Today while driving in the snow Ethan asked me if snow is white. I told him that it is and he said, "Oh good because I was worried that I be blind color (aka color blind)."