Guilty Pleasures

One of my favorite things in the world is Dr. Pepper.  I try not to drink it too much, but when I do get it I savor every last drop.  For the past couple years beautiful, wonderful, dear McDonalds has offered any sized soft drink for $1.  And, apparently Californians are big into McD's because there is just about one on every corner.  So, when I'm especially tired, stressed, hot, or just grouchy there's always a Dr. Pepper within my reach for just $1.08.

For a long time, I was able to abstain from watching The Bachelorette.  I knew it was dumb reality tv and I don't really like getting into shows and feeling like I have to watch them on a schedule.  Enter hulu and enter life as a stay at home mom.  I can watch whenever I want and can simultaneously fold laundry, clean the house, make dinner, etc.  Brilliant.  Plus, this show has the added bonus that all my sisters watch it so we can discuss who we love (JP!) and who we hate (Ben F)

I love cookie dough.  After Jillian was born my mom stayed with us for a week.  She asked what we wanted to eat and I quickly replied "cookie dough!"  So my mom made a bowl of cookie dough just for us to eat.  The other day I found this on pinterest and I wish I was exaggerating when I say I immediately walked into my kitchen, mixed up the ingredients, and enjoyed my delicious treat (if you do make it, and you should- don't melt the butter all the way, it makes it too liquid-y.)

What are your guilty pleasures?  (Please say you have some!)

Just when I thought I couldn't love her any more...

she (finally) slept through the night!

It was a very happy morning indeed.

Weekend Update

One of the best parts of this weekend was finally meeting Baby Kirra.  Jilly doesn't quite know what to do with her baby cousin, but I'm sure once Kirra's moving around they'll have lots of fun together.

Both girls with Grandma

And with Uncle Chad

We had a few minutes of peaceful swimming with the babes before the boys got in and started a raucous water fight

She got nervous and wouldn't let go of Bry's hands when he threw her up

All these cousins had babies within a year.  Brandon and Tylee, Trevor and Kirra, Bryan and Jilly, Brett and Kaden

Uncle Chad brought the girls little Japanese outfits.  Jilly's working on her karate kid moves

Kirra is a little more docile and was willing to let Kristen put it on her the correct way

All the brothers back together.  It's very unusual to get a picture like this.

Usually they look more like this: 

Or this:

This Week

I have spent a lot of time in my kitchen.  I made:
- Baby food!  Sweet potatoes, blueberries, and avocado/banana
- Strawberry Freezer Jam- hopefully it will last us all year
- These Brownies- anything named the Tim Riggins Brownie is bound to be amazing
- Cake Mix Cookies- with butterscotch chips
- Chicken Pillows- I've made a version of these before with pre-made crescent rolls, but the homemade rolls made all the difference
- Southwest Pasta Salad- I could eat this every day, all summer long

When I wasn't in the kitchen, I was usually watching The Kennedy's on netflix.  Love love love love it.

And, we did take some time to chill at the pool.

 Jilly with our friend Emily

Tommy gave her a little faux hawk while she floated around

This weekend we're having a Martinez Extravaganza- it's the first time all 4 brothers have been together for 3 1/2 years.  Look out world.  

Chad is Back!

Bryan's brother Chad got home from his two-year mission to Japan on Friday.  We were so excited to see him again.

Waiting at the airport with Uncle Jeff

Meeting Uncle Chad for the very first time

There's nothing that says "welcome to America" like an In-N-Out burger

 Bryan grew a Mexican mustache as an extra special treat for Chad.  I was grateful when he shaved it off the next day

He wasted no time in getting back on the board

 Holding the peace sign in true Japanese fashion

I ♥ Harry Potter

There are not words to express my love for Harry Potter.  In my family, there is a wide variety of ages and interests, but Harry Potter is something that unites us all.  We love listening to Harry Potter books in the car.  In fact, it is the only thing that keeps us sane during long trips.  We love playing Harry Potter trivia, everyone trying to think of a question that will stump the rest.  My little brother even lost 6 months of his allowance in a bet with my dad over which house Snape was in.  (Before you call child services, I don't think my dad really took the allowance away, but he may have...)  I knew Bryan was a keeper when he called me and said that he had pre-ordered a copy of HP7 for us at the BYU bookstore.  Both brothers-in-law have been required to become HP fans before receiving approval to join the family, and they have enjoyed them just as much as the rest of us.  This year I re-read all 7 books and, as usual, cried my little eyes out at the end.

I did not see the movie last night.  We have a little girl who cannot adjust being back to Pacific time.  She has been going to bed at 4pm and waking up at 3am.  Watching a movie from 12-2 then waking up at 3 just didn't sound appealing to me, even for Harry Potter.  But you can bet we will be seeing it within the week.  I enjoyed getting texts from my siblings and parents who were there at midnight in full costume.  Someone even asked Katie if they could take a picture with her, she looked that good.  Even though we weren't there, we did celebrate by making butterbeer cookies- yum!

I would probably be sad about the end of Harry Potter, but it's definitely not over.  I am so excited to fall in love with the books all over again reading them with my little Jilly.

Beach Trip 2011

I love the beach, so you can imagine my delight to find we have a serious beach baby on our hands

She quickly learned that sand isn't very tasty.

Jilly loved playing in her little pool 

Happy Fourth of July

  

We loved taking beach walks with the stroller

 My sister said I look like such a mom in this picture, to which I replied, "well, I am.

Bryan and Jenn had fun surfing 

We also had some fun rides out in the kayak

 Jealous of those legs?

Matchy Black Day- Jenn and I actually have the same swimsuit

Lots of yummy beach naps

Ill-fated football game during which Leslie and I collided.  I got a terrible headache from her head crashing into my jaw, and she jammed/broke her toe.  Don't ask me how we injured opposite ends of our bodies.

Lots of fun in the ocean

We've been taking a 'hold hands while running to the ocean' picture for as long as I can remember

Jilly checking out the ocean with Grandpa

Every year we build some sort of creature in the sand.  This year it was the one and only Jimmer

All of our family except for sleeping Jilly and Katie and Neal, who decided they would rather go on their honeymoon to Costa Rica than come to the beach with the whole fam (lame.)

All 32 of us out on the porch of our beach house.

Tyler gives this vacation two thumbs up