City Pass in SLC

We had a SUPER Saturday in Salt Lake.  We bought city passes to 13 different attractions for $24/per adult. QT was free : )  http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/activities/connect_pass/attractions/

So for $50 we got around a $100 value of fun activities. We left the house at 8am and didn't get home till 8pm.  Quinn was seriously a trooper. He didn't cry the entire day and had so much fun. He missed his nap and got really tired right before the children's museum, but his tiredness turned to hyperness. It was like Christmas! He ran from one toy to the next for 2 1/2 hours like a madman.  

We went to Hogle Zoo first. My favorite animal was the giraffe, they were just so graceful.  Then we ate lunch at the Lion House. We could eat up to a $10 value of food each. So I got a sandwich, soup, salad and dessert. Delicious! I was stuffed and had to share with Thurm.  Then we drove to Sandy to the Living Planet Aquarium. I LOVED the sea horses. I want a sea horse, but only if it looks like the one on "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou."   

Quinn & Thurm got to touch sting rays while I took pictures.  I think that was Thurm's favorite.  Quinn was only interested in finding Nemo.  Which we did.  Then we went to the Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park. I love that park.  Thurm used to run there and I used to eat lunch there when I worked downtown.  The Aviary has nice walking paths with tons of trees. Its really peaceful.  After that we drove to the Gateway and played at the Children's museum for a few hours.  We spent the most time here, but could have spent WAY more time.  I wish we lived closer and I would get a year pass. I don't think a kid could ever get tired of playing there.  Ate some dinner and then watched a 3D movie at the Clark Planetarium and then went home.  Quinn didn't quite make it through the movie. He didn't have the attention span and just wanted to run in the isles. Plus his glasses were really big and he couldn't keep them on his head.  

Fun, fun day! And even more fun with only one child. I can imagine it being alot harder to do with more than one, or even one at a different age. Here's the pictures. 

Quinn has been off his binky for over a week now. It actually wasn't as traumatizing as I thought it would be. He asked for it for a few days, but I think it was a bigger deal to me than to him.  Next is potty training. I think I'll wait till after the baby is born and he is feeling very comfortable, maybe in the fall.
Yesterday Quinn kissed his bunny and said "I love you bunny."  He sings along to every song we sing him now.  He knows "Twinkle, twinkle" by heart and can sing the entire tune in key (not all the words though).   He has a few stories that we read him memorized and says a few words along with us as we read.  I think he got his dad's talent for word-smithing.
Thurm calls Quinn "Quinn Kwon," don't ask me why.  But the other day Quinn was talking to himself and said "Fwinn Fwon."
We are already have summer plans planned out.  Bear Lake with my family. Thurm's family reunion.  Thurm has some 5 day hikes planned with his brother. A new baby. There will be lots of gardening and canning. Home improvement.  YAY for summer! Thank goodness winter is finally over!

Pillow

Made pillows to go upstairs on the matching bench.

Easter 2010

This is Q's basket after he put so many jelly beans in his mouth he couldn't close his mouth and slobbered all over the rest of his candy.

Pleated diaper bag

I bought a sewing machine yesterday and made an awesome diaper bag! I've never made anything with so many steps and it turned out great!  My sewing projects usually look like it was done in 7th grade home-ec.  Thanks to AMY for the block idea and to THIS LADY for the pattern. I tweaked it and made it bigger, put a bottle pocket on the inside and lined it with vinyl in case of leaks.
I'm so excited to have a sewing machine!  I need to come up with some more sewing projects!

Lemon Curd Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

Directions

1. In the top of a double boiler, beat eggs and sugar. Stir in lemon juice, butter and lemon peel. Cook over simmering water for 15 minutes or until thickened.

TIPS: I didn't use a double boiler, just a heavy pan. I just stirred constantly on low.  This was SOO good. You can use it for pie filling, a RICH pudding, on cookies, on scones. 

Spring Break

QT & I spent a week in Idaho with my mom. It was her spring break and she spent the entire week running errands with me. I don't think she got a single thing done for herself.  What a selfless mom. It was a fun visit with cousins and aunts & uncles. One day we drove to Rexburg and had my grandma give us a rundown on geneology. We spent about 5 hours with her and I still feel like I don't know what to do.
Yesterday I spent the day puking. Its the third time this pregnancy I've gotten sick from meat. I just read yesterday that pregnant women are supposed stay away from processed meats.  I wish I would have known that 6 months ago.  It has made me glad, however, that I don't get sick during my pregnancies. I don't know if I would have more children if my whole nine months was spent throwing up like some women I know.
Quinn lost his last binky today. I guess its as good a day as any to quit binkies. I'm just REALLY not looking forward to it though.
Today was the first day of Thurm's spring break. We got a ton done. Let me just give a hint to all the wives out there. Yerbe Mate. Its a sort of herbal tea that Thurm's dad & brother started drinking on their missions in Argentina.  It has a healthier/different version of caffeine in it.  But when Thurm drinks that in the morning he is like a mad man working all day, getting tons done. I guess I could just buy him Mt. Dew, but this works too.  We got lots of yard work done and little tasks that we've been meaning to do.  YAY! So I'm making sure this entire spring break he drinks mate every morning so we get alot done : ) We are hoping to get all the beams in our attic finished this week.  We have been bulking up the beams in our attic so we can insulate and sheet rock and make it into a bedroom.  And the sooner we get that done, the sooner we can start working on our bathroom and kitchen, which is what I REALLY want to be doing.

Baked Oatmeal Recipe

• This was a great breakfast recipe.  You can make it the night before and then bake it the next morning.  I used whole oats and subbed applesauce for the vegetable oil and cut the white sugar to 1/2 cup to make it a little healthier. It was still really good! Quinn kept calling it cake.  We tried it three ways: plain, with butter on top, and with milk poured over it.  I preferred the butter. We ate it warm, but I read it was good cold too.  
• 
  
• 
  
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Beat together oil and sugar. Mix in eggs, milk, salt, baking powder, oatmeal. Beat well then stir in raisins. Pour into a lightly grease pie pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Refrigerate overnight.
2. The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Bake in preheated oven until firm, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 378 | Total Fat: 17.8g | Cholesterol: 55mg

I bought sugar today.

This "no shopping" adventure is getting rough. We are down to 2 cups of sugar and NO chocolate chips.  Thurm wants to make lemon bars which would use all our sugar. Should we do it?  Sugar is one of my four food groups, I don't know if I can make it!

This month we decided not to go grocery shopping except for milk, eggs & bananas (Quinn needs his bananas).  We are trying to live off of what we have in the house already. Its been surprisingly easy so far. But we are half way through the month and supplies are dwindling. Good thing I get to leave for Idaho in a week and eat my mom's food. I'll be interested to hear what Thurm eats for the rest of the month.

Quinn just had an entire adult conversation with me:

Quinn: Hi!
Mom: Hi.
Quinn: How are you?
Mom: (laughs) How are you?
Quinn: I happy.

Baby Names

When we named Quinn, it was easy because we had it picked before we were even married. There was a conversation in the ocean waves on a beach in Thailand(romantic, huh).   We thought we were going to have a girl this time and had a few names picked out.  But now we are having trouble naming another boy.  So off to the left are some names we like in order of preference.  Well, almost. Thurm rated "Sal" as 3rd, but I've basically vetoed it. Its just on there to humor him. He knows very well I'll end up naming all our babies, but I try to make it seem like he has a say in it.   Not that anyone's opinion will probably sway mine, but lets hear your vote.

Jens is in my family ancestry- its from Denmark.  Neils is a family name---its in our history as well as my little brother's middle name.  And Calvin...because I love Calvin and Hobbes. And Quinn totally looks like Calvin, so if the next baby does too, then it might have to be Calvin.

Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings

• This was really yummy and so EASY!
• 
  
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces

Directions

1. Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
2. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

***I added a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Also in the reviews for this recipe alot of people said they had to cook the biscuits for an hour and a half. I guess my crockpot is pretty hot, because I only had to do the 30 minutes.  

I've promised the new baby that I will buy a baby book and keep a record of his life. Because all Quinn has is this blog. Someday I'll make it into a book for him.

Quinn wakes up every morning and lays down in front of his door and when he's ready for someone to come get him, he kicks the door. I don't know why.  But today Thurm opened the door and Quinn was lying on the floor waiting with sun glasses on.  It made us both laugh pretty hard.

My mom told me when her kids all turned two she wrote a list of their vocabulary for their baby books. So I'm going to start that list now so I don't forget some words. (Don't feel obligated to read this)

Quinn's Vocabulary at 20 months

baba (sippy cup)
mink (drink)
hi
bye
mama
dada
baby
dog
woof
moo
meow
cat
cow
yose (horse)
bee (means bird, butterfly, bee)
fly
binky
reach
up
walk
wash
pants
leg
eat
arm
eye
poke
again
more
nose
toe
foot
hand
yeah
no
owie
dory(Dora)
Mo(Nemo)
watch
read
ring
tummy
amen
tree
wee(slide)
swing
house
whiner no whiney
fish
ear
bum
toot
poop
pee
clock
shoe
sock
coat
hat
snake
ssssssss
one
two
Quinn
boo
teeth
light
off
on
cheese
toast
orange
lala (banana)
bonk
soup
egg
block
ey-yo (Chinese exclamation!)
soap
sit
blue
potty
chip
snack
treat
milk
juice
bike
cracker
phone
honey
money
pretzel
bean
star
sun
cool
cute
ok
YAY! 100
car
truck
choo choo
night night
kiss
me
horry(sorry)
happy
helping

Fabric Starching

This is the coolest craft I've done so far. The train is fabric dipped in a mixture of cornstarch and water and then wallpapered to the wall.  A woman online re-covered her kitchen cabinets this way. Its so cool because its easy to peel off when you get sick of it, and its an easy way to decorate.  Sort of like vinyl, but with way more options of fabric!  I think this train is the cutest craft I've ever done. I love it. 

I'm not sure if I love the one in my kitchen.  I like the fabric, but I don't know about the design.  When I picked out the fabric, Quinn looked at it and said "Coot! (cute)"

Thurm went home teaching today and got to a members home right as the USA hockey team was tied and in overtime. The dad just looked at his son and said, "alright, turn off the TV."  Wow! What a great example to his kid of priorities.  I would have told the home teachers to come in and watch the last few minutes of the game with us.  And I don't even watch sports.

So Quinn has learned the word "sh*t" from his mama.  I have good reason. I set my laptop down on a burner that Thurm had just finished using. I melted a bit of the case before I realized what I had done. I think that deserved a "sh*t!!!!"  Don't you?  Ok, I've said it a few other times too.  But Quinn thinks I'm saying "sit."  So now when he says it, I say "oh you want to SIT down in the chair?" to reiterate the meaning.  But if you just heard him say "sit" you would probably think he was saying the other word.

This week was pretty productive. I finished painting my kitchen, painted Quinn's room, did some touch up paint in the laundry room, painted my front door (not done with this, I have to wait till it warms up), and repainted a piece of furniture. However, I had to take a day off to puke my guts out and the one more day to clean and disinfect my house.  But I'm hoping this week I have just as much energy to get stuff done.  I really only have like two more months to get things done. After that I'll be a huge whale with no energy and after that I'll have a nursing baby and no energy.  And then it'll be winter again.

The Most Fattening Bean Dip in the World

3 cans refried beans
2- 8oz cream cheese
1 pkg shredded chedder cheese
1 pkg mozzarella cheese
1 16 oz sour cream
1 large jar salsa
Put it in your crock pot till it melts.


Thurm had this at a work party when we first got married and got the recipe.  Its DELICIOUS, but makes a HUGE crock pot full.  We made it once and forgot about it until yesterday. I cut it down into a third of this recipe and we still have most of it left in our fridge. And thats all we ate for dinner.

Recipes

Tom Kha Gai Soup (Chicken and Coconut Soup)

2 inch piece fresh galangal (substitute ginger)
2 cups coconut milk (1 can)
1 cup chicken stock
3 chicken breast fillets, cut into thin strips
1-2 tsp finely chopped red chillies
1 TBS fish sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1. Peel and mince ginger. Combine coconut milk, ginger, and stock in medium pan. Bring to boil and simmer over slow heat for 10 minutes.
2. Add chicken strips and chillies to pan, simmer for 8 minutes.
3. Stir in fish sauce and brown sugar. Just before serving stir in cilantro.



Stir-Fried Chicken with Lemon grass, ginger and chili

2 TBS oil
2 brown onions, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 inch fresh ginger finely grated
3 stems lemon grass (white part only) very finely sliced
2-3 tsps chopped green chillies
1 lb chicken breast thinly sliced
1 TBS fish sauce
2 tsps sugar
cilantro to garish.

1. Heat oil in wok, add onion, garlic, ginger, lemon grass and chillies. Stir for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until mixture is lightly golden.  Don't burn or it will be bitter.
2. Increase heat, add chicken slices.  Sprinkle sugar over chicken and cook 5 minutes tossing regularly until just cooked.
3. Add fish sauce, cook for another 2 minutes. Service with steamed rice.

This week in pictures...

Before-Very Ugly pink & black $7 DI purchase. The whole top was checker board, I started painting it before I remembered to take a picture. 

After- I haven't decided yet what to do with it-- Maybe a TV on top and VCR/DVD player in the cubby hole, movies in the drawer.

My sweet little boy. I only have 1 or 2 sleeping pictures and I thought this was so cute with his hands behind his head.  I have an ultrasound picture of him doing this same pose.

Cutest hat ever that I made and then lost the pattern for. I want to make one for me and the new baby too.

Eggplant Parmesan So good and so easy! 

Slice 1 eggplant into 1/4 inch slices.

Dip slices in beaten egg, then bread in crumbs. 

Lay on olive oil covered cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10-15  minutes.

Flip eggplant slices over, cover with mozzerella cheese and bake for another 10-15 minutes.  Serve over spaghetti noodles and sauce.  

** I think the trick for making it restaurant quality is using good spaghetti sauce***

Thurm's delicous Gyro and oven fries. I don't know how he made it or I'd put the recipe. He made it all from scratch, even the pita's.  MMmm.  I know the white sauce is plain yogurt, little bit of lemon juice, chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. So fresh!

My sister-in-law and I made these cute blocks last week.  

My favorite pregnancy snacks. 

Quinn's favorite seat in the house. Still.  

I don't know if you can see, but he is stuck inside a chair with the legs stuck in his sleeves. How did he do this? 

 

My big boy. 

Good job Thurm!  Tip to all the guys:

As cliche and commercial as Valentines Day is, we still want a flower or card.

Thurm took the day off to go to the ultrasound with me today.  After we found out our little girl was a little boy, we celebrated at Tony Caputo's.  This is Italian Heaven!!! If you have never been there, YOU MUST EAT THERE!!! Its downtown SLC by Pioneer park on 300 South.  I used to eat there alot when I worked at First National Bank because one of the loan officers I worked with always wanted it.  It was either the pregnancy talking or I had just forgotten how delicious their food is, but it was amazing!  Thurm got the "Caputo" sandwich, which has different Italian deli meats on a roll doused in balsamic vinegar. The balsamic is SOOO delicious! I got the salad trio--you pick your three favorite salads. I got a pesto pasta, caprese, and sun dried tomato and feta pasta.  HEAVEN!!! We both agreed that the Italian genre of food is the best of the best.
I know we are foodies and might delight in our food more than the average person, but this is some seriously good food.

Look at that cute little putem!  The doctor looked at the baby and then at Thurm and said "I think he looks like you." Is he serious? Is he just THAT good at his job?

So since I've been thinking mostly of girl names, does anyone have boy name suggestions?  We can rule out Kale & Moses from last time. I think the general consensus was not good.

It's a BOY! It's a BOY!!! It's BOY!!!!

That little "babystrology gadget" baby, to the right, is creepy. But I like having a countdown so I can keep track better.  Sorry for the creepy baby on my blog.

Three more days till I find out the sex!! YAY!

This is how I found Quinn today during nap time.  It was pretty quiet, but then I heard a bump so I went in to make sure he was in bed and I found him in his room with the lights on draped in clothing. The pink swim cap is Thurm's brothers that he bought while in Taiwan. How it ended up at our house is beyond me and why haven't I taken it to the DI?  

Quinn got a HUGE goose egg in the exact same spot he cut open a few weeks ago. Poor kid!

This was an AMAZING meal from Chef Thurm.   The Thai coconut soup was DELICIOUS! The chicken dish from Vietnam had lemongrass, cilantro, ginger....yum yum! 

This was an Indian dish that was pretty simple, just hamburger, potatoes, vegis, but the spices made it so different and GOOD!  It had cilantro, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, garlic, onion.  

And the BEST part of all this food is that I haven't had to cook any of it!!! YAY for a hot husband that cooks!