Mealtess February

Paul and I decided to try an experiment of going meatless for the month of February. We kept dairy and milk, because I don't think we could live without cheese. And, Bisquick needs milk and eggs...! It really wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. We tried a few new recipes that were meatless. We ate a lot more vegetables and fruits. We already eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, I just added spinach to almost everything! Actually, we don't eat red meat to begin with. We have nothing against red meat, we just don't really like it. We use ground turkey for spaghetti, lasagna, and burgers, and chicken for everything else, but we don't eat meat at every meal. Sometimes, we have bacon, but I try to steer Paul towards turkey bacon. He says that it's just wrong to put turkey bacon on a turkey burger. Anyway, it really wasn't that hard, and I had a hard time going back to buying chicken at the grocery store at the first of March. I absolutely hate cutting raw chicken. I buy pre-trimmed chicken, but always have to trim it myself (to my own satisfaction). I really, really don't like doing it. I might go vegetarian just so I don't have to touch raw meat. Blah! We've only had chicken twice and turkey burgers once since we started eating meat again. We really like our turkey burgers. Maybe, we'll go meatless except for once a month when we have turkey burgers...Paul doesn't really like meat anyway. He just requested bacon every once in a while. We'll see if we do a meatless April. I've thought about trying to go Vegan, but it's a struggle to get kids to eat anything new sometimes. There are some really interesting recipes out there that I'd love to try! I think that if we were going to go completely vegetarian, we'd have to do it a little slower to get our kids used to the things that will be on their plate. I read studies in my nutrition classes in college that said that even if you don't "make" them eat the food, having it available will lead them to eventually trying it. I'm sure hoping for that. We try to eat pretty healthfully. We don't eat out very often, and we try not to buy a lot of processed things. I just wish they would try a bite of anything new! Anyone else have issues with their kids not eating? At what age do you have them try it, or they have to go to bed hungry? I really try not to make anything that's gross! Paul likes what I make. Elin and Ewan usually eat it...Maybe I just need to change my expectations...?

These are the days of our lives...

Okay, my life really isn't much of a soap opera. Actually it's not in the slightest! And, I have to admit that I write posts in my head while I'm cleaning the house during nap time and neglect to upload my thoughts. Sorry. I should write my thoughts down. Sometimes, I think of really good posts about Gospel Principles and potty-training. Or, projects I have going like curtains and pillows and quiet books. Or, my thoughts on exercise, nutrition and overall health. But really, things just aren't super interesting! But, February has been a little busy. We're still adjusting to life without Dad around much. The week of Valentine's he was in the lab until midnight. He had late meetings almost everyday that week until 6:30 or 7, and homework. Honestly, we are tired! We experienced our first cases of ear infections ever. Poor Olivia, Elin and Aislee. :-( Aislee is currently on antibiotics for double ear infections that left her extremely nauseated. Who knew you throw up when you have bad infection? Not this Mom! We've also tried to let Mommy play some soccer on Wednesday nights. I might be ready to hang up my cleats until the kids need a coach. There have been a few incidences that are causing me to rethink playing in a coed league with individuals who feel they need to prove something by knocking down a girl. I'm currently suffering from a shoulder injury after a referee gave the "play-on" signal from a foul that landed me on my shoulder with a 200+lb man on top. It was one of many bumps and bruises during a particular game. I came home with scraped knees, a bruised left hand and wrist, a suspected separation of my ac joint of my left shoulder, scraped up right thigh, not to mention recovering from a broken toe caused by running into the night stand in the middle of the night. I'm starting to think that I'll just stick with running! Which I haven't been able to do much because my body aches...bah! Ewan is talking about "big boy underpants", but whenever I mention that he has to go on the toilet if he wants to wear them, he says "no thanks, Mommy". I don't think we're quite ready for that. We've been getting stellar reports from Nursery. I think we're done with the biting! Olivia and Aislee are becoming more interested in letters. They like to tell me the sounds to the letters in their names. Hopefully, reading is on the horizon! They're active and curious! Elin is walking! She's been doing it for a little over 2 weeks. She's getting pretty good, and loves being able to go wherever she wants. She doesn't really get into anything she's "not-supposed-to". At this point, our house is more kid-friendly than adult-friendly! I'm trying to decide on weaning her. She's a good nurser and eater, she just seems to be so busy and ready to move on. Any suggestions?  Paul is wrapping up his first class. He gets a week break, and then another 9 week course before he's off for the summer. This time next year will be a lot busier when he's doing his "thesis" class. I may end up hanging out in Utah for some of it! Here are some pictures.

One-handed cooking.

I think Ewan was taking this picture and Aislee was trying to get in the shot.

She's getting so big!

The fort that Ewan built.

Coloring. We do a lot of coloring.

And she's so happy!

He likes to color too. Ewan no longer eats the crayons. If we could just get Elin to stop eating the crayons!

We got an infant swing for Elin. Now everyone has a swing!

Paul and the older kids painted the shelves for the pantry.

They enjoyed taking a bubble bath and picking the paint off.

Ewan likes to pull a chair upto the counter when I'm making rolls and "help". He decided to taste the flour...Not really a YUMMO experience.

More helpers.

As you can see, Ewan can get up on his own too.

Elin carrying around crayons. I stick her pacifier in her mouth when the crayons are out to keep her from chewing on them. Somedays it works...

Lunch at the Burkinshaw house. They all wanted to sit by each other.

I just love this picture of her!

Aislee suffering on the couch with her ear infections. Every time I gave her tylenol or something other than apple juice, she threw up. She got a shot yesterday at the drs, and is feeling so much better!

Handsome!

Olivia, my pretty girl.

January

 So, I've been trying to upload a video for the last couple days with no avail. I'll just give a little recap of the month, and slip in some pictures.

Paul started classes a few weeks ago. We're adjusting to his new four 10s, early mornings, late evenings, and absence of Daddy. We're okay. We love the Saturdays and playing at the park while Daddy is home. Paul is enjoying his new learning opportunities. Olivia is doing well. She's adjusting to Sunbeams more. She loves to be outside jumping, swinging, digging, and running. She's always the first to start a new game of pretend-something. Olivia loves to have Elin sit by her at every meal, and she makes sure that Elin is getting anything and everything that she needs! Lately she's been a little more emotional about things. If she thinks that she might be a little bit in trouble, she sends herself to her room crying. I usually give her a few minutes to herself. Aislee is also doing well in Sunbeams. People often tell me that I have "busy" little girls. I know all too well how "busy" they are. They're always moving, always asking questions, always telling me a new story, always playing pretend something...they're busy. Aislee isn't as obsessed with the backyard. She likes to play, but somedays, she'd rather be inside building towers or pushing a stroller full of stuffed animals around the kitchen. She really likes watching Bob The Builder. I think she may end up being an engineer like her Dad. Ewan is all boy. It seems that everyone comments on how much of a boy he is. We're sure glad! He's into cars, trucks, swords, and dirt. If there's mud, he'll find it! He waits for Olivia to initiate backyard time, and then just follows her around digging, jumping, swinging, and running. We need to teach him the importance of a tissue...! Elin is getting bigger and bigger. She is on the brink of walking. She takes steps here and there. She crawls until she can find something to pull herself on and then walks around with it. She stands without using anything, but isn't quite steady enough to hold her own when a sibling comes by to hug her. She's a really good eater. She likes all sorts of things, and since she has tasted big-people food, she no longer enjoys baby food. Elin is all about craisens, bananas, noodles, rice, oranges, and pretty much anything Ewan wants to share with her. As for me, I'm good. Life as a stay-at-home mom is sometimes exhausting, and trying to keep up on laundry, toys, dishes, and dinner can get a little overwhelming, but I have really cute kids and a really cute and helpful husband. I've been able to run a little bit more and hope to increase my miles over the next few months. I really like running!  We're trying a new vegetarian meal plan for the month of February. Neither one of us are big meat eaters, so we decided to just cut it out and see how it goes. Any suggestions on recipes would be greatly appreciated! There's January! Here's to more posts in February...!

The biggest tower ever! Maybe not, but it's pretty good for little ones.

This is one of my closest friends, Jenni. We ran a 10 mile trail together in December. I jut haven't blogged about it. It was pretty hilly! I was kinda sore for a few days after. I got 1st in my age group, and 9th in the women's division.

There's our soon-to-be walker. She's just so happy to be mobile!

I was trying to get Ewan to smile with his eyes open. I had to take it before he closed them. We'll keep working on it!

Ewan got the camera and took a picture of me.

And then I had to take the camera 'cause he dropped it. (there's a reason why I haven't blogged much...my camera is always hidden from children, and then I forget where it is!)

This was the 8.5 mile Pecan Grove run I did in November. I also have yet to blog about it. It was pretty good. Elin sure was happy to see me finish! She was starving!

Projects, Poufs, and Parties

I should totally do a blog challenge during a month that we're not traveling for almost half of it. My bad! So December just seemed to fly by! It seems like it goes by faster now that we wear flip-flops and shorts and have picnics instead of being inside...avoiding the snow (I don't like snow, it's cold!). We've kept ourselves pretty busy trying to get things done before Paul starts class next week. I sure hope 2 1/2 years goes by super fast! We had a 2 day trip to Mesa. We worked on painting more rooms. We sewed like there was no tomorrow! We went to Utah to visit family. Here are pictures (they kinda got out of order for a minute)

The poufs. I spent probably three days doing these. It was the only real thing we got them for Christmas. I am not a professional! Invisible zippers are kinda hard (and not-so invisible). I'm working on it!

This is Aspen. She is my sister's oldest daughter. She wanted to carry Elin everywhere! Poor Aspen and Elin's serious separation anxiety!

It's kinda blurry! Sorry. This is the only shot we (Aislee) got of Grandpa Tim with Elin. My Poppo is on the couch.

Back to the poufs. They're pretty big. If I knew how to link stuff, I would. I found this idea on pinterest, but I didn't want to spend money buying the pattern and stuff. So, I made Paul help me draw a pattern up. He's pretty awesome that way. I need to fill them a lot more, but Wal Mart ran out of fluff and we live nowhere near a craft store!

Elin hasn't really used hers. She gets stuck and has a hard time crawling off.

Watching a movie. Notice, they're no longer standing right in front of the tv!

Ewan

Olivia

Aislee

We kinda ripped a little part of Olivia's when we were stuffing. I'm hand stitching.

Just thought this one was cute. He's my buddy!

We borrowed some coats so we could enjoy the Utah snow. Greatest Snow On Earth!

Aislee really didn't want me taking pictures.

Olivia with Uncle Coy

Grandma's AMAZING playroom!

More snow fun with Uncles.

Christmas morning. Can you believe that I had to wake the Uncles up?!?

Waiting for Grandma and Grandpa!

Ewan got a remote control car from Grandma. She sure does love him!

With Grandma Maureen.

Uncle Coy, Uncle Kett and the cousins!

Da Boyz

With Daddy