video viernes: balancing baby

Since our regular camera lens is in the process of being fixed, we have been forced to look at other options for capturing our daily life here. Its actually been really good for us as I hardly ever get out the video camera which is a shame. Videos are so fun and Henry especially loves performing and watching his old footage.

So now we have some videos to share. Here is Steve performing an act he likes to call "Balancing Baby." Henry provided the soundtrack. Vivian has ZERO reaction.


Flying Vivian from Rebekah Clark on Vimeo.

Stay tuned for more movies.

Letter to Santa in July

Henry spent two afternoons writing out this Christmas list to Santa. Here is what he is wishing for six months in advance:

• Encyclopedia, Angry Bird Star Wars
• Death Star Toy Build
• Princess Leia
• Bobba Fett--I still chuckle that he ended up writing Booba Fett
• Lego Movie Sticker Book
• Real Phone
• Toodie and Muno
• Bouncer for Vivian
• Comic Book for Daddy
• Rug for Mommy
• Star Wars Book
• Lego Movie People

eaten: bacon mac & cheese

One of the things that I totally dragged my feet on after having Vivian: weekly menu planning. My brain just couldn't be motivated to think of more than one or two meals at a time. And man, that is more stressful than just doing it all at once. The past couple of weeks have been much better, everything is better with a plan!

I have also been back to trying new recipes again. Since we have been grilling 1-2 times a week I needed some yummy sides to accompany meals. I always get stumped with sides. I spotted this recipe on the back of the cheese package--I never look at those recipes, I kind of assume they are all throw aways like the recipes for nachos on the back of the tortilla chip bag--I digress. Bacon and Macaroni and Cheese! Yum. Admittedly I left out the spinach mostly because we didn't have it but also because I wanted to leave it out. Maybe I'll through it in next time.

This was so yummy and using the bacon drippings to make the rue really added a nice smoky taste to the dish. And after the disaster which was "Crockpot Mac and Cheese" this was so easy to throw together. You could have this be a main dish or we had it as a side with leftovers the next day.

Spinach-Bacon Macaroni and Cheese
Recipe and picture from kraft

3 cups macaroni noodles, uncooked
1 pkg (6oz) fresh baby spinach
4 slices bacon, chopped
2 Tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1. Heat oven to 350*
2. Cook macaroni in salted water according to package directions. Add spinach during the last minute. Drain. Cook bacon in large saucepan. Remove bacon to paper towels, save drippings.
3. Add flour to drippings: cook and stir until bubbly and brown. Slowly stir in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened about 3-5 minutes.
4. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese and all parmesan. Stir until melted. Add bacon and macaroni mixture.
5. Spoon into 8X8" baking dish, sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake 20 minutes.

Happy 4th of July!

We had a fabulous 4th of July holiday this year. Sometimes the fourth gets rained out or we just get in a funk and are tired. BUT this year was one of my favorites in recent history.

We started the day going to our ward breakfast where we filled our tummies with pancakes, sausages and lots of fruit. Henry enjoyed running around with Maya and the early start time (8:30 am!) ensured it wasn't too hot yet. Since our normal length lens is getting fixed, we only got a couple of pictures of the whole day. Steve took this one of Viv and I which turned out to be the best of the bunch. I love wearing red, white and blue for the holiday and the kids were decked out too. Steve did his best with a black Led Zeppelin shirt that said "United States of America" on it. After breakfast we ran errands and then headed home to relax for a few hours before the party started.

Our evening festivities began at the Brighton Park pool where we swam with friends, played in the water and grilled up a fun potluck. Everyone brought delicious food to share and we left completely stuffed. Nothing like pigging out in your swimsuit. After the pool, we went home to change and bathe Vivian. Then it was off to the fireworks at Oconee Veteran's Park. We have been there a couple of times before and its alive with loud music, big crowds and a pretty decent fireworks display. We carpooled with our neighbors all squeezing into one van. Henry loved sharing the back seat with Maya and you could hear them chatting and playing games throughout the whole drive.

Vivian did pretty well sleeping through most of the loudness but she did not like the fireworks. I had to hold her and cover her ears. Henry also didn't like the loud sounds but enjoyed the fireworks. The highlight of the night for me was having Henry sit in my lap for a few minutes so I could cover his ears. It was fun to hold him close and watch the magic in the sky. That only lasted for about two minutes though.

So grateful to live in our wonderful country!

As Henry kept saying all day, "Happy Birthday America!"

75 days into Motherhood: the best room in the house

The bathroom. 

I bet you weren't guessing that. Here is why as a mother of two in a two bedroom apartment, our master bathroom is the BEST room in the house. 

1. When I need an escape from everything, I just head in there with a book or my phone. I lock the door, do my business and then just sit around until little hands try the knob, pound on the door or appear under the crack. If Steve is home I have been known to disappear for up to thirty minutes in my cave of solitude. 
2. Showering. Vivian loves to hang out in her bouncer while I shower. I guess the sound and steam are soothing. Sometimes she even falls asleep. I know Henry is entertained with the Lego Movie or something else in the living room and can count on at least 15-20 minutes of alone time. If he needs me, he knows where to find me. 
3. Vivian's mini sleeping room. Since she is sharing a room with Henry, it just doesn't make sense for her to nap in there while he is running around living life. So she naps in the bathroom in her bouncer in the dark. It works brilliantly and she is so used to it that often times when I put her in there, kiss her good night and close the door she falls right to sleep. At night she gets a bath, a feeding and then is swaddled up for the night. We put her in the bathroom because sometimes she cries herself to sleep and I am not willing to have Henry wake up. Once she is asleep we carefully transfer her to their room. Done and done. 

We're making it work. 

As I am typing this, I realize I should be a lot nicer to my favorite room and clean it. But there is usually a baby asleep inside so I won't sweat it...

Henry's Second Talk

On Father's Day, Henry was asked to give a talk in Primary. 

Here is what we came up with to surprise Steve. 

 Today is Father's Day. I love my Daddy so much and he loves me. He lets me play games on his phone. He plays Sorry with me and "hide the figures."

 I also have a Heavenly Father who loves me.

 He loves us so much he gave us temples. 

 My mommy and daddy were married in the temple.

Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him and in the temple we can be sealed together for eternity. I'm happy I get to be with my daddy forever!

Happy Father's Day!

These pictures are all pretty bad but it was time for bed and I just wanted to get them taken. Henry's poor face is out of focus in them all! But I have sent my lens in to be fixed--finally!

Henry Lately

We are so happy to have new neighbors. Our good friends moved right next door. Henry has loved having Maya to play with more. They're constantly going back and forth, leaving each other notes taped to front doors, sharing toys and inviting each other over to play. Its been a great distraction for Henry and they usually play really well together. One thing he loves to do it run over and wave at her through their sliding glass door. Sometimes its hard to get him away especially if we're heading out to the car. 

They always say good bye with hugs and Henry usually shouts at parting "Bye Maya! I want to marry you."

Some things Henry is into these days:

• Playing Sorry
• Pokemon
• Angry Bird Star Wars--how is this still in my life?
• The color orange
• Otterpops
• We're reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together and I have been wonderfully surprised at his attention span.
• Playing "hide the figures." A game Steve made up where he hides all his action figures and then someone has to find them and then we switch
• Any type of technology with games
• The beach, the pool and the splash pad
• Henry also loves playing a game we made up called "I'm thinking of..." We take turns giving each other clues to guess a person or a place or a thing. For example, "I'm thinking of someone who is small, is a girl and cries." Did you guess Vivian? 
• We also play a game where someone will hum a song and we have to try and guess what song is it like Name That Tune. Songs we hum include primary songs, tv show theme songs and classic children's songs.