"You can't make footprints in the sands of time if you're sitting on your butt, and nobody wants to make buttprints in the sands of time."

-from my friend, Spencer Tompkins' Blog

...LOVE IT!!!

:: kids do & say the funniest things ::

While hanging out with my boys on the floor I hear Tate toot.

me: "Tate did you just toot?"

Tate: "no."

me: "Tate...you tooted."

Tate: "My poops talkin' !!"

...so true, so true.

:: the BEST cake I have ever made! ::

image via stephmodo

Coconut Layer Cake with Lemon Curd & Cream Cheese Frosting
from the kitchen of Stephmodo

Cake:
3 egg whites + 2 whole eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups cake flour
2 1/3 cups sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
---
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
2/3 cup lemon curd (homemade is BEST!)

Cream Cheese Frosting:
Using a mixer, beat the following ingredients together until light and fluffy:

1 lb. cream cheese, softened
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
zest of one lemon
5 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with a parchment circle and butter the circle and sides.

2. Put the egg whites, whole eggs, 1/2 cup milk and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk to mix thoroughly and then set aside.

3. In a large mixer bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With the mixer on low, beat the dry ingredients for about 20 seconds to break up any lumps. Add the butter and coconut milk on low speed and beat to combine. Raise the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy about 2 minutes.

4. Add the egg white mixture in 2 or 3 additions, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Divide the batter evenly amongst the pans.

5. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow cakes to cool in their pans for 15 minutes. Then, turn the cakes out and place on a wire rack to cool.

6. To assemble the cake, place one layer, flat side up (bottom of cake) on a cake platter. Tuck pieces of parchment paper under the cake to protect the platter from frosting splatter. Cover the cake with 1/3 cup lemon curd. Cover the lemon curd with approximately one cup of frosting; spread evenly before sprinkling with some coconut. Repeat with each layer.

7. Garnish top and sides with remaining sweetened coconut. Chill cake for about 30 minutes just to set the frosting (you don't want to dry it out). Enjoy!!!

:: your favorite place in the entire world is in my arms ::

How fast the time I have held you in my arms has flown by...you are already ten months old! Before we know it we will be celebrating your birthday and sending you off to college soon after that (and I will cry at both of those events.) I make sure to really connect with you everyday, trying to permanently embed in my memory everything about you: what you smell like, the sound of your sweet raspy voice, that you love pat-a-cake and always clap along, how efficient you are at scudding across the floor army style and sometimes decide to crawl like a big boy, that you climbed your first stairs just the other day at the cabin in Bear lake with many onlookers to cheer you on, the little rash you get under your bottom lip from your Binky, how ticklish your back and ribs are, the way you reach for me every time you see me and cry when I don't take you in my arms, how much you love your Binky/"ba ba"/ "na na"/fingers/ anything you kind find of the floor...basically anything that can go in your mouth, how cute you are sitting in the tub next to Tate surrounded by bubbles and 20 different toys, your intense blue eyes, that you just started giving your first kisses upon request...open mouth and all, the way you say "yeah yeah" and shake your head up and down anytime we ask you a question, the resemblance you have to your Grandmama Weeks and her side of the family, how much you love me and that I can tell you love me more than anything else in this world, that you can now do peek-a-boo all by yourself, how much your personality reminds me of myself, how much i love to nibble on your ears and kiss your neck, the way you look in your crib waiting for someone to come get you with imprints of your "night night" on your red face and tear streaked cheeks, that you can hold your "ba ba" all by yourself...but I like to do it anyways to spend that special time with you, how you always bop along to my silly beats, when you reach your little hand out to anything or anyone that you want, how soft your skin is and your firm round baby bottom, the love you have for your family, how excited you get talking to daddy on the phone and try your best to talk back, that you cry everytime I put you down and giggle with delight when I pick you up, how cute your coloring is, your love for Cheerios, how much you love to dance...especially in the kitchen, that you hate being alone, the way you pull yourself up on something to stand and hold on tight for support, how you arch your back if you don't get your way, the sound of your baby cry and that frequently it sounds like "maaaa ma", how tired you are of rice cereal, when you rub your eyes because you are tired, that you make daddy's day when snuggle with him, how special you feel when you get time with daddy and I all by yourself, that you don't really care for TV and books as much as your big brother, that you like to play with my jewelry (especially my big turquoise ring), how content you are being held by a stranger, that you are a true "mama's boy", and just how strong your sweet spirit is! I want to remember just the way you are at this moment forever!!! And when I am old and grey I can think of you and feel that joy all over again.

Levi Timothy, WE LOVE YOU beyond expression!

:: sweet skater boy ::

Daddy came home from work and surprised you with a brand new Spider man scooter and Diego helmet...and your little boy dreams came true!

"I wove woo Weevi Woo!" -Tate

Thoughtful Daddy capturing this momentous occasion on film.

Levi was reaching out for Tate, so he scooted his way up to him and gave him a BIG kiss!

"Yikes-a-Day!" ...as Aunt Trina would say. =)

:: Whole Grain Apple Waffles ::

Whole Grain Apple Waffles (adapted from the Whole Foods recipe)
from Christine's kitchen

Dry ingredients:
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour and ground flax seed
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Wet ingredients:
1/2 cup non fat plain yogurt (or could use any yogurt you have on hand)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk (could use water)
1 tablespoon Canola Oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup diced red apple

Preheat waffle iron.

In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, oatmeal, whole wheat flour/flax seed, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together yogurt, eggs, water, oil and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients. Stir in apples.

Use 1/3 cup batter for each waffle. If necessary, thin batter with a little more milk.

:: Yet another D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S salsa recipe ::

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

from Christine's kitchen

2 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans whole kernel corn, drained (could also use frozen or grilled corn)

4 avocados, diced
4 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 c. diced red onion

Dressing:

1/2 c. vegetable oil

4 limes juiced...put some over the avocados

1 t. salt

4 T. sugar

Tortilla chips for dipping (I love to use the Tostito Lime chips!)

Combine all ingredients except avocado and chips. Cover and chill for at least two hours. Add avocado just before serving. Serve with chips. ENJOY!!!

:: Boo-ba-dee-boo-bop's first sleepover! ::

Tate and cousin, Dallin

Grandmama and the boys


...and of course, some kisses with Levi!

Tate received his first sleepover invite from Grandmama, along with his cousin Dallin...to say that he was excited about it would be an understatement!!! Just look at his big grin in these pictures. Grandpapa and Grandmama planned a fun-filled get away for the boys and they all had a blast! Tate and Dallin got Happy Meals (in traditional Weeks' fashion) and then went over to the ward BBQ social. I was told that Tate was sooooo cute and a good boy, becoming more independent as time went on (I guess big cousin rubbed off on him. =) In the morning he ate a pancake at IHop and enjoyed that special treat, followed by a shopping spree at ShopKo (in traditional Weeks' fashion.) He loves his new car and Pelican Webkins that Grandmama bought him -which has become his new sleeping companion. Tatey came home bathed and tired from having so much fun! And I had fun at the homestead with some quality one-on-one time with Levi!

*Thanks again to mom and dad for doing that for our big boy!!!
We LOVE you.

:: Thank you for... ::

-getting up with the boys so I could sleep in until 9:30AM

-mowing the yard

-pulling the weeds

-hauling 15+ loads of heavy dirt/clay a block away at the construction site

-cleaning out the garage

-being such a good friend to all the neighbors

-getting yummy Chinese takeout

-taking a bath with Tate

-encouraging me to tuck Tate in for bed the right way

-praying for me, that I might know how much I am loved and appreciated

-playing Tetris against me until way past our bedtime (even though this hasn't happened...YET)

- being the most wonderful husband and friend that you always are!