Wordless Wednesday:Brothers and pals, then and now

100!!!!!!!!!

This is my 100th post!! How exciting! I feel like I should do something to make this post special, but I don't know what. Hmmmmm....I guess I will just write a few things about each of my family that I love - here it goes!
Zachy: He can carry on a conversation with anybody. This is so great! I never worry about not having anything to say when we are with someone I'm not familiar with, because he will talk their ear off. Plus, if we ever have to give talks in church, I can count on him to fill the time after I give my 2-minute talk!
He loves the boys more than he will ever let you know. It's hard for him when he has to leave before they are awake, and some of the time, I think he stomps around when he gets ready in an attempt to wake them up. If he has been pulling long hours during the week, he tries to come home early on Friday and will tell Keegan that they are going to do something really fun when he gets home. Keegan looks forward to it ALL day! I'm sure when Kayden gets older, it will be the same way for him.
He loves me. Earlier this week, we met with our ins. agent to talk about life insurance needs, just to think about what we would want if one or the other of us were to leave this world unexpectedly (when is it expected? really..). The guy said "in your ideal world, what would you want?" Both of us made the comment that if it was an ideal world, we would be together! Our agent was a little surprised and complimented us on our reactions, explaining that when he does this with most couples, they usually are degrading each other and saying "Oh I don't need $$ for burial, I'll just throw him/her in the garbage can and marry the neighbor." I am grateful for a husband who loves me and is willing to make righteous choices that will take us into the eternities together!


Keegan: I feel SO lucky to have my own personal fire safety instructor! Here are some things I have learned from Keegan this week:
- The Bronto-Skylift, the largest ladder truck in the world, reaches a height of 238ft and is named after the brontosaurus.
- Stop, drop, and roll.
- When firemen aren't working, sometimes they wear cowboy shirts, pants, boots, and hats. This he informed me on the one day this week he hasn't worn his overalls, fire truck shirt, fire boots, and hat.
- We need to check our smoke alarms once a month to make sure they are working. He is quite concerned about this.
He also has really taken off in his reading lessons, and I am amazed at how quickly he picks things up. He loves to look for words he knows in the books we read at bedtime, and uses his alphabet magnets to make words and sound them out. I love to see him to excited to learn!
Most of all, I LOVE what a good boy he is. Thankfully, I was blessed with a boy who listens and obeys well (not that we don't have our days...) even when times are difficult. He really is so good, I'm so lucky!


Kayden: What would I do without my sweet Kayde-baby? He is my daily source of cuddles and smiles. Although he has apparently turned vegetarian this week and I am slightly stressed over his refusal to eat anything meat-oriented, I love this little guy tremendously!
I love:
- to hear him call me 'mama'
- to see his smiles when he wakes up and I come in to get him
- how excited he gets when Zach comes home!
- how Keegan can make him laugh hysterically
- his chubby kissable cheeks!
- how he tries to crawl away from me faster (while giggling) when I pound my hands on the floor as if I am running after him. It's so cute!
- that he is terrified of the vacuum and even though it's nearly impossible, I hold him in one arm while he buries his head sobbing in my shoulder and I vacuum with the other arm. Poor guy, what a traumatic life he leads!


And me? Hmm, I guess I should include me. I love my family SO MUCH. My boys mean everything to me - all 3 of them! Hopefully I show that love to them every day. I am glad that I was blessed with a fabulous husband to whom I want to spend my entire life (and then some) with!
I am glad that I am a pretty good cook, if I say so myself. I only wish I could go to some cooking school and become a REALLY good cook. That would be neat.
I am so glad I love to read, and I really hope I pass this on to my kids. Give me a sunny beach location and a stack of books - best vacation EVER.
I am thankful that this week I have taken more time to enjoy my boys, instead of worrying about whats next 'on my list.' I got to be a horse for a cowboy, an assistant fireman, a climbing apparatus for a little monkey, a tickle monster, and was informed that "when I grow up" I can be a firefighter on Keegan's crew.
Happy 100!

Paging Dr. Beattie... Dr. Beattie to the OR

Anyone feel like playing surgeon for a few minutes? Check out this cool site where you can be the "surgeon" in a cartoon-ish total knee replacement. Don't worry, it isn't gory or anything. But for those of you who can stomach it, check out the pictures they have of an actual knee replacement surgery. This is what my mom had about a week ago. COOL!
http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/

And since it's Wednesday....

This one's for you Mom!! Love you!

Iron Rod Culinary Classic

Surprise! I'm a slacker. I meant to post this last weekend, right after it had occurred, but I didn't. Get over it :-) Last Friday, was the first annual (at least I hope it becomes annual) Iron Rod Culinary Classic! Basically, the Rock Creek Ward version of Iron Chef. It was AWESOME! Props to Zach and Kasey J., the head organizers of this totally fun event. They pulled off a great activity, with their limited EQ budget and the ward taking over and all other such "speed bumps" shall we say?
So here is how it went down:
Sign up sheets went around in the usual fashion; teams were created, and on the appointed night, met up at one of the local high schools kind enough to let us in to demolish their culinary arts department! Luckily, we have our very own professional chef in our ward, and he came up with the evening's "surprise" menu. There were two versions of each dish, one simplified, one more advanced for those looking for a challenge. Team captains were given ingredient lists prior so that they could come prepared with supplies needed. Each team was assigned their kitchen, the recipes were handed out, and the timer began! We cooked and cooked and mixed and cooked some more. Finally, the food was finished and most importantly - plated with style! It was really fun and REALLY delicious. It was fun to see Zach getting in the thick of things and helping out in the kitchens! He usually comes home in time to sit down and eat with us. I know he would help out if he was home while I was making dinner, but that is what happens when you don't get home until 6:30pm. I can't START making dinner then - we would never eat! Anyway - that is totally irrelevant. The food was fantastic, and all the teams did a great job. Being married to the organizer has its ups and downs. The up side is that we were on the team with the pro chef! The down side is, this made us ineligible for competing. Something about tipping the scales.... I don't know what they were talking about!
The head honchos

Zach slicin' and dicin' in the kitchen! (hold the applause....)

Caught red-handed. That's all I have to say DAN.

I know it's blurry, but I think we are cute :-)

The madness! A tight squeeze for everyone, but so fun!

Slaving away over a hot stove never looked so good, right? ;-) come on, humor me...


Taste testing the chocolate mousse, mmmmmm!!



Showing his big muscles - Zach beat the egg whites BY HAND!


The fruits (or veggies and chicken) of our labor!
Another up side of being married to one of the head honchos? I have all the recipes! If you want any, just let me know and I will email you a copy! None of them are that complicated, and they were really delicious - my favorite was the sesame seed chicken salad.
The menu:
Spanish chicken & rice
Sesame seed chicken salad with vinaigrette
Poached pears and chocolate mousse

Baby bedhead

Does this look say "high fashion" or "I just woke up from a nap"? Either way, I think he is going to break some hearts......



And here is why I find it difficult to get anything done any more.....I have developed an attachment. It is most difficult at dinner time, but he makes up for it by saying "Mama mama mama mama!" the whole time he is hanging on to me :-)

Wordless Wednesday: Skinny ninja, chubby dude

Hallelujah for SUN!

What a weekend!! WOW. I hope it was as beautiful for the rest of you as it was for us here. SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! We headed down to Corvallis on Friday afternoon to celebrate my brother Josh's birthday. It was our first time down there since my parents finished remodeling their kitchen - it was so gorgeous!! It really looks fantastic, Zach and I loved it. You would not believe how different it looks! I hardly even feel like it is the same house any more! The evening mostly was filled with a delicious dinner at the Tokyo Steakhouse - this fabulous teppanyaki grill in Corvallis. Thanks Mom and Dad!
Saturday was the best. THE BEST. It has been some stressful few weeks for us, and I have felt like I've just been grouching at Keegan all the time. Saturday made me feel redeemed!! The morning was mostly relaxing. Keegan apparently needed a Grandpa-fix, and just followed my Dad around everywhere. It was so cute to watch! He rode on the lawnmower with Grandpa, they pulled weeds, watered plants, and Grandpa pushed him on the swingset. Keegan was in heaven! He kept poking his head in the house and telling me what they were off to do next. I love that he needed to keep me updated!

Around lunchtime, we packed up and headed to Newport! The weather was beautiful at the coast too, and we got to the beach and headed out with some footballs and frisbees! It was good for me, because Kayden fell asleep and so Zach stayed in the car with him to give him a little nap. What did I get to do? PLAY WITH KEEGAN! It seems like it has been a long time since I have really played with him. My favorite things?
- Teaching him to throw a frisbee
- Watching him throw a frisbee :-)
- Holding the football so he could kick it
- How he had to start back about 50 feet to run up and kick the ball
- Spinning around until we were both so dizzy we couldn't see straight









It was such a blast to be with him and not feel like I had any other distractions. Kayden eventually woke up and got to come out and enjoy the sun too! We made a stop in at the Undersea Gardens and the coolest thing there was the wolf eel. It looked like the ugliest old man you have ever seen - but then had this long eel body behind it. Pretty neat. This was topped off with the traditional visit to Mo's and Aunt Belinda's candy shop. YUM. All in all, it was a great quick visit, and we enjoyed it a ton.
On Sunday, Keegan's Sunbeam lesson was about being thankful for birds and insects. His teacher sent them home with the coolest thing! She gave them a little bag of ladybugs to take home and set free. Keegan was SO excited, and as soon as we got home he was dancing around begging us to go out and let them go. So I got a few pictures of him setting them free - he keeps asking me if he can go outside and see them. I don't think they are in the same place.......


Kayden has just been the cutest dude - the past few days he's just been crawling around wherever I go and if I stop in one place long enough, he pulls himself up on my legs and looks up and gives me this big grin and raises one arm to ask me to pick him up. Ahhh, it's irresistible!! Today it got even better - he's been saying 'mama' all day! I doubt he is actually applying it to me, but it sure makes me feel good when he reaches out for me while chanting "mamamamamamama!" His teeth are coming in even better, I've got to get another picture of it. His smile is so cute with top teeth!
As a side note - for all you out there who like making yummy, cheap, and easy dinners, my cousin Ollie has started a "Tasty Tuesday" post. They are recipes that feed a family of 4 for $5 or less. Check out her blog for more details - you can even send her any recipes you have! It's awesome, you should definitely check it out!

Ode to a Knee

Farewell to a knee that gave us pain.
It always ached, even when it would rain.
You couldn't walk, you couldn't hike, it was even hard to ride a bike.
And now it is gone, replaced by the new
I think I'll jump a time or two!!
We are excited -it will be such fun
When you can hop and skip and run.
And even though we will tease (a lot!)
you know we love you lots and lots!

Get well soon Mom!!!

Nothing like an emergency to brighten your day!

At least that is the way it is if you are Keegan. Yesterday evening, we were getting dinner ready when I realized I was being annoyed by a faint but continuous beeping. I went downstairs to ask Zach about it and we opened to the door to hear the distinct sound of smoke alarms going off. Our first thought was to dismiss it - kind of sad, I know, but it wasn't our house, and we had no idea where it could have been coming from. After a few minutes, they still were going off. Zach was trying to figure out if he should call 911 or not - I suggested he run over to the office and see if they knew anything. As he headed out the door to the office, the fire truck rolled by! No worries, they didn't have their sirens on (although that probably would have been WAY better to Keegan). I think they had been called by someone like us who was concerned about hearing the alarms. It actually was the house just across and down from us, I am guessing they must have burned something. Anyway, the fire truck parked right in front of our house, Keegan moved as fast as a fireman and pulled on all his gear and ran out the door to check it out. He was SO excited to see the truck there and watch the firemen walk around. Thankfully, everything was ok, so they left pretty quickly, but Keegan wouldn't stop talking about it the whole rest of the night!!
In other news, Kayden is on a mission to end his life before he hits 1 year! He is now 9 1/2 months, pulls up on EVERYTHING, and just yesterday, learned to climb the stairs. I found this out when I came out from the kitchen to walk upstairs and found him on the 3rd step - of course, he fell before I was all the way there and gave a house-echoing THUNK. This noise occurs about 4-5 times a day. He seems to think that he can stand up on anything without holding on, and is constantly falling backwards and bonking his poor little head! Poor guy, it makes me so sad to hear him cry! Other than attempting to cause himself brain damage, our little Kayde-baby has 6 teeth!! He finally got 3 more on the top (all at the same time too) and is no longer our snaggle-tooth! It was kind of cute when he would smile with just one tooth way off on the side on top, but now he is starting to look a little better. Two teeth on the left side are down pretty far, but the other side is still working on it. They have broken through all the way, but they haven't moved down quite yet. Hopefully he'll even things out in the next week or so! But his smile is so cute!

I can't believe how big he is getting. I am having a hard time realizing how fast his first year is going by. He is such a sweet boy though, and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for him! He signs 'more' all the time now. We are working on others - when I sign 'milk' he gets really excited and starts looking for a bottle. He laughs when I sign 'all done' - probably because he is never all done! Last week he started rolling his fists when Keegan and I sang him pat-a-cake. Kayden loves Keeg to no end - he always wants to be right next to him no matter what he is doing. If Keegan sits down at the table to eat and I don't have Kayden in his high chair, he crawls over and stands himself up next to Keegan's chair and they smile and giggle at each other until I put Kayden in his seat! It is fun to see them grow together. I love my sweet little boys (and my big boy too) :-)

Wordless Wednesday: Consider us doomed.

Happy Birthday Josh!

That's right everyone, today is my LITTLE (yeah Josh, I said little) brother's birthday! He has reached the ripe old age of 18, and will graduate from high school in June. I can't BELIEVE he has grown up so much, I still remember when Mom went into labor with him - I was 6 years old and I remember getting to sleep in Mom and Dad's bed with my older sister Norma when they went to the hospital. I remember his serious chubbiness (beached whale doesn't even begin to describe it.......) as a baby, and the fun car we had that all of us older kids used to push him around at breakneck speed in. Josh has always had a really sweet and tender heart - I remember once when I was younger I lost a necklace that I had received from my Grandma Harward, who passed away when I was 8 years old. It broke sometime when I was wearing it outside, and it was one of the few things I had from her. I was really upset over it, most definitely crying while searching fruitlessly in the grass for it. I remember Josh started crying too (sorry spud, but you were much younger - I'm sure this won't reflect on your 'manliness') and came over and gave me a hug saying he was sorry I had lost it. I know I tend to give him a hard time a lot (what are siblings for?), but I love him TONS and I really can't believe that he is 18 years old. I may be older, but he is WAY taller than me (does this shock anyone? I am the runt of the Glasmann brood) and don't even get me started on his 'cankles.' HAHA sorry Josh, I had to put that one in there! But really...... I love you Josh and I am so glad you are my younger brother (is that better?). Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reflections of Christ

In keeping with the beautiful spirit of General Conference, I thought I would pass this link along. Check it out - you will love it. Many thanks to Kristy - it brought me to tears :-)
http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

A bird? A plane? OH NO!!! It's.......................

So, I don't know about the rest of you, but Elder Ballard's talk was my favorite. I'm guessing that for the rest of you that are like me, it was probably close to if not your favorite as well. It was obvious to me that he was inspired by the Lord. As of late, I have been troubled by a recent and unwanted visitor - Monster Mom. I hate it. I know I seem to fool many of you, but I can't get a handle on this two kids thing. This is going to be kind of a different blog for me; I am usually not so comfortable with baring my faults for everyone to see...... I think my biggest problem is I can't learn to let things go and (as Elder Ballard said) 'enjoy the moment.' I always feel one step behind (or two, or three....) no matter what I do, and I can never catch up. I can't find enough time to get everything done. Sadly, I think I mostly end up taking it out on Keegan. There are times I get uptight with Kayden, but it goes quickly - he's my sweet baby. But the sad thing is, Keegan isn't any different. He is just as innocent and sweet and just as dependent on me, if not in the same ways. I feel horrible when I snap at him. Argh. Anyway, Elder Ballard's talk (aside from making me cry) gave me a feeling of comfort that Heavenly Father knows how I am feeling that He wants to help me do better. I am going to try my hardest to lock Monster Mom away.
Aside from that, I thought President Monson was the sweetest! I loved hearing him talk about his family, especially when he talked about his Grandfather and Uncle having part in bringing his own sweet wife into the church. What a special story! It is incredible to me to see how easily he fills the shoes of the prophet. It seems such a testament to the truthfulness of the gospel at how smoothly he stepped up. I love knowing for myself that he truly is the prophet and leader of our church and that I was able to sustain him as such. I have always loved President Monson, and I am excited to see the things the Lord will have him do.
For the most part, Zach and I were actually able to enjoy most of conference. Kayden's naps at 9:30 and 1:30, and Keegan naps in the afternoon with Kayden, so it worked out perfectly! Keegan actually did pretty well, thanks in large part to these cool conference activity packets from Amy H.! Thanks SO much!! Other than conference, our weekend was pretty laid back. I think that is part of why I love conference weekend so much - it gives me an excuse not to do anything but sit on the couch in my jammies and snuggle with my family.
But this conference definitely inspired me to make some goals and work hard at them. I am going to BECOME (you BYUI folks, remember Elder Bednar's devotional?) who I want to be. And I'm going to have Zach follow Elder Ballard's advice and give me a day off..... party anyone? :-)

Happy endings

All is well that ends well, right? Thanks to an honest person, Zach and his phone were reunited, he came home early and changed the tire (and brought me lunch to cheer me up!!) and I managed to get to the store and pick up what we needed!! And to top it off, I even treated myself to some "bad day ice cream." I am so glad things turned out for the best - it could have been so much worse! We are so blessed :-)Enjoy conference everyone!!