April Fools dinner

Meatloaf and mashed potato "cupcakes"

It was really fun to make these for April Fools Day. The kids were excited to have cupcakes for dinner. Poor Anneke was saying, "Mom there is something wrong with these cupcakes. They taste exactly like mashed potatoes and they are gross." Still, once the shock was over they liked each item. I wonder what I can do next year...

Angel food cake and frosting "grilled cheese sandwiches"

Yesterday Marcus and Andy worked on his pinewood derby car. It is a dragon and finding wings is proving quite difficult. We just kind of hung out and prepared for Conference today.

(My kids got their baskets today. Lukers got a rabbit Webkinz and named it Pookah without any help from me. Harvey would have been better, but How cool is that?)

For the last time

I have known for a little while that I was pregnant, but was waiting to tell. For my last pregnancy it has been decided that I would go out with a bang. Twins! The fun part is I am due on Popi's birthday (November 14). Pam and Carianne both suggested naming a girl Poppy in honor of that. Um, it has been vetoed. We got a smaller vehicle after the accident for money reasons and now we are unsure what to do there. But, this is the Lord's will and we should just have faith. Oh, and we have decided not to find out the gender(s). (Which is driving Heather crazy.) I didn't find out my first pregnancy and since we are all set this time, it should be a fun surprise. I mean, what is 8 months of curiosity?

We have been trying to come up with names. When I say "we", I mean me. My husband is not as enthusiastic. Names have special criteria in our house that we followed without really realizing it until this time around. 1) No reusing the first initial 2) Literary background 3) Family connection 4) Has to fit with the other kid's names.

Boy names are easier for me; Gideon Robert (Book or Mormon/bible and after Andy's dad) and Simon Maynard. (See how I put that Popi tribute in there plus biblical ties.)

Girl names are a whole other matter. I have always loved my name. I thought it was beautiful and unique and amazing and.... So, I want my daughters to have the same love of their name. So far, so good. Now, to just equal that. I made a huge list and my husband erased/vetoed most of the names.

Middle names will be either Noel (my middle name), Hope (has H for Heather and me and a P for Pammy), or Rosalyn (after Granny Rose and Grandma Carolyn).

First names that have been left on the list include, Guinevere (I like the name Gwen, so I might see if I can change it to Gwendolyn and then it would be like Carolyn, too also The Importance of Being Ernest), Naomi, Bailey, Bridget, Jane, Natasha, Paige and Rowena. (That last one was interesting. I didn't expect it to stay on the list.) I am pretty sure there are more but I can't think of them right now. My favorite vetoed name was Felicity (Noel would have been the middle name). He said it is a feeling not a name. Andy also says Gwen sounds like an old lady. What do you think?

Bailey Noel

Bridget Noel

Gwen Hope (Guinevere or Gwendolyn)

Jane Rosalyn

Natasha Hope

Naomi Rosalyn

Paige Noel

Rowena Hope

Anyway, suggestions? I could go with Anneke's suggestion of the of "the most beautifulest name (she) could think of", Diamond. And Cari, Carinoel is off the table, sorry. It starts with a C. ;)

oh, and by the way...April Fool's. It's not twins. (everything else is true.)

April Fool's Day

Marcus thought that April Fool's Day was fun. I related things that my dad did to us and he loved it. Anneke thinks that the whole month of April is for "Fool's day". Anyway, in honor of this day I made "fish sticks and peas". I got the idea in Family Fun. We had Family Home Evening that night because Andy has night classes Monday and Tuesday. This is what Marcus wanted for treat. Wafer cookies covered in peanut butter then shaken in a bag of Honey Bunches of Oats. The peas are rolled pieces of Air Heads.

Freaking Out

I have known for a little while that I was pregnant, but was waiting to tell. Well, I just found out that I will be doubling the amount of children I have with one pregnancy. I am pregnant with triplets! My sisters always wondered who would have the set of twins, but I guess I surpassed that. Now I need to figure out 3 boy names and girl names. I like Felix Maynard, Gideon Robert, Henry Lester for boys and Carina Lou, Danika Noel and Ella Rosalyn for girls. (Notice they are alphabetical and not rhyming or anything.) I guess I could use something like Teagan, Meaghan and Keagan or something. I also like the name Teancum, but Andy thinks it is a bit much. Oh, well.

But, that is the least of my worries. Andy still has quite a bit of school left and I am going to need a lot of help with the babies. They are going to be due the beginning of September. Talk about bad timing! How will we fit everyone in our apartment. We were planning on downsizing to a 2 bedroom with a larger floor plan. Faith, is sure what I need. I am already watching 3 children in my home. That will be 9 kids here during the week! I am just hitting my stride and now I have to find a new one. So, any suggestions?

Oh, and by the way April Fool's! Yikes. I can't imagine if this were true.