My favorite "under" shirt: Hapari Shores

I pretty much wear a "Shade" type shirt under my regular shirts every single day. I have them in every color and style and brand. It's a little embarrassing how many of them I have, actually. I have a whole section in my closet dedicated solely to shirts that I will be wearing under other shirts . However, recently I discovered Hapari Shores, which are basically little half-tees and I think I may need to purge all 350 of my old shirts and replace them with just a few of these. They fit so great and I love that I don't have to worry about tucking in or not tucking in an extra shirt, especially under dresses. They look like a real shirt, too, none of that unfinished edge business that you find with other brands that looks like maybe I didn't mean to have my undershirt sticking out, but maybe I did, and people are just left to wonder if I got dressed all the way or forgot something or do I just have four kids and can't keep anything straight... it's confusing to everyone involved.  Shores aren't too pricey, either, about $16 each, and I just got an email with a coupon code for 60% off the entire site!! Just enter the code FALL60 at checkout. If you want to, you can go try them on at their store in American Fork, at 69 East Main Street. I don't know if everything in the store is on sale, so I am just ordering online. Who cares about shipping because Jason owes me big for the deer hunt that I am going on in about 4 hours that I did NOT agree to, but I am trying to have a good attitude and be a supportive wife, though it may be through gritted teeth. I digress. I love all my Hapari swim suits, too, so check those out while you're there. I am ordering, um, several new shirts, and then I will be downsizing my undershirt collection. I can't wait! My journey to minimalism has begun.

Greek Yogurt: My Favorite Breakfast

Several months ago I tried Greek yogurt. I've always been a yogurt fan and I'd been reading about how great it is and how much healthier than regular/sugar-laden yogurt. For example, I would generally buy light yogurt, which in a one cup serving has 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, 13 grams of sugar, 15 grams of carbs and 6 grams of protein. The ingredient list is about a mile long and includes things like fructose, aspartame, and about a thousand things I can't even pronounce, including phenylalanine, whatever that is. One cup of Fage Greek yogurt has 130 calories, no fat, 9 grams of sugar, 9 grams of carbs and 23 grams of protein. The only ingredients are milk and live active yogurt cultures. And that much protein! Plus, I don't really like the flavor of light yogurt, but I can't justify 40 grams of sugar in one serving of regular yogurt. So I decided to convert.

My sister-in-law warned me that Greek yogurt is very similar to sour cream: thick and not really something you want to spoon into your mouth again and again, which you would need to do to get in the one cup serving requirement and reap all the benefits of eating it in the first place. I thought, sure, but I love yogurt and it can't be that bad, so I picked up a container like this on my next trip to Costco:

The problem is, it really was that bad! I could hardly gag it down. It sat in my fridge for several days until my cute, precious, adorable sister Kristen saw it one day when she was visiting and said, "Hey! You should try mixing your Greek yogurt with Crystal Lite! It tastes so much better, and there's no sugar!" So I did. And a new addiction was born. I now eat (at least) a cup of Greek yogurt every single day. I can't go a day without it. It is so rich and creamy and I love it. I feel like I am eating custard. My very favorite flavor addition is this:

Sugar Free Hawaiian Punch Lemon Berry Squeeze. I only use a half of a single-serving pack for one cup of yogurt, so I figure the artificial sweetener won't take too many years off my life. The benefits of Greek yogurt far outweigh a half serving of Splenda, or whatever the heck is in there. So now I will share with you how to make my yummy yogurt. You might want to write this down, it gets a little complicated. Put one cup of yogurt in a bowl, sprinkle on half a package of drink mix...

Looks about like this:

Then you stir it til it's nice and creamy...

And there you have it! I always add fresh or frozen fruit and my favorite granola that I also can't live a day without. Seriously, you should make this granola. It is so easy and so good. I will never buy granola again! Step-by-step instructions are here, courtesy of my good friend Sierra. All her recipes are amazing, by the way! I LOVE her web site.

Since strawberries are about out of their glory this year, I am currently using the Costco, yes Costco again, brand of frozen triple berries. I like to set a cup of berries in the fridge at night and then add them to my yogurt in the morning when they are nice and thawed and all that juicy juice can mingle with the creamy goodness of the yogurt. Yum.

The bad news about Greek yogurt is that it's way more expensive than regular yogurt. The good news is that Costco just released their very own Kirkland variety that is way cheaper and just as good. It comes in a twin pack (8 servings) for about $7. The Fage brand, my first love, is about $5 (I think) at Costco and a lot more expensive at grocery stores and it is only 4 servings. So go with the Costco brand, even though it has 3 fewer grams of protein per serving. 20 is still a lot. Give yourself an extra spoonful or two if it means that much to you.

While we are on the subject, yes, I do go to Costco way too much. I just can't stay away from the place! I need intervention.  I think the employees are getting sick of me.

The reason I can't get anything done lately...

I've just had to accept the fact lately that my house will be DESTROYED in about 4 seconds the instant Jake is on the loose. He considers it his personal mission in life to empty every last cupboard/drawer/closet in the entire house about 50 times a day. Every time I enter a room I hear myself say, "Oh no, what have you done now!!" He also loves toilets, so it is now MY personal life mission to keep every bathroom door in the house closed. If I had a dollar for every time I yelled, "Are the bathroom doors closed?!!!" I could hire a stinking nanny to patrol them for me. I think Jake has Evil Baby Radar that leads him to open bathroom doors no matter how vigilant I try to be because I still find him splashing happily away in one toilet or another on a daily basis. I've considered putting child-proof locks on all the cabinets/closets/doors in the house, but man, I hate those things. I'm just hoping he will grow out of this... eventually! In the meantime I am trying to be grateful for happy, healthy kids and crazy, naughty babies.

This is a typical EVERY DAY scene in my kitchen, except he is only about a third of the way finished with the job. 

The little naughty!! I should probably edit out all the junk on his shirt, but hey, I'm just keeping it real here. 

Jake is One!!!

This last year totally feels like a time warp. I can't believe it's been a year since my little Jake was born!!! But at the same time, I can't even remember life without him. How strange that must have been! He is such a sweetheart and a huge part of our lives. He is truly a fun little guy and has a very wild, adventurous streak! He is full of life and loves to be the center of attention. He is into EVERYTHING. When he is awake and prowling around, the whole family has to be on high alert. Any chance he gets he goes STRAIGHT to the toilet, which is just awesome. He has finally learned to go up AND down stairs. He has taken a few steps already and I know once he figures he can run, he will start walking. He is just too fast of a crawler to make the transition! What a nut, but I wouldn't trade him. Here are a few pictures from his party. It was so fun. I love seeing his little personality develop and blend into our family. Love you, Jakey!

Happy Birthday, Alison!

Today is my sister Alison's birthday. Al is one year younger than me and we were always pretty inseparable growing up. She was one year behind me in school, so the only year I didn't have her close behind was my freshman year at BYU. Luckily, she followed after me and came to BYU for her freshman year the next year. I lived with her basically my entire college career. Then we both got married in the same year and she moved to Springville, but eventually made it to Lehi a few years ago and just a few miles away. She now lives across town, but at least still in Lehi. At times in our lives we have spent so much time together that we could have entire conversations with just one look. Alison is as smart as a whip and the most organized person you'll ever meet. She can do ANYTHING. Whenever I have an Anger Management Moment where I can't open a jar or figure out how to put something together she just shakes her head and holds out her hand and has the job done in about 2 seconds. Many times during the day I get frustrated with something and think, "Where is Alison when I need her?!!" I wish I could hire her as my personal assistant. On top of that, she is HILARIOUS. A story isn't a story unless it's been told by Alison. She owns the audience!! She is beautiful and smart and always the first one to help anyone in need. We've been together through thick and thin and I'm so grateful for all of our experiences together. This morning my sister-in-law Christa and I brought her cupcakes and ice cream and had a little party with all the kiddos. It's always fun to get together and especially to see how much fun our kids have together. Love ya, Alison!! Happy Birthday!

The whole crew (minus me, taking the picture). It's a wild bunch with ten kids age eight and under, let me tell you! I'm not quite sure where the little girl in the bottom left came from, I think she is a friend of Halli's, but all the rest are ours!

Alison, me with Jakey Jake and Christa. I wish I had a picture of our four little boys together. Alison has a 2 and 1/2 year old and Christa has an almost 3 year old and a 15 month old. This little generation of boys is SO cute (not to mention LOUD!!). I can't wait to watch them grow up and be friends with each other.

Katelyn (Christa's), Dallin, Luke, and Halli (Alison's). Katelyn and Halli are only a few days apart in age and my boys LOVE to play with them!

Abby and Alison's little Josie. Josie and Luke start kindergarten this year, which is just crazy!! They were just born.

 

 

 

Luke's tooth was on the verge of falling out the entire time we were at Alison's, and as soon as we got home it popped right out! He was pretty proud, but disappointed that it didn't happen at the party so he could show Alison that he lost his first front tooth on her birthday. Pretty special. So here it is. HB Al!!!

Yellowstone 2011

We took the kids to Yellowstone earlier this month. It was so fun! The kids always have fun, but sometimes the mama doesn't enjoy it as much as I should. It's hard with a baby! But little Jake was pretty darn good and it turned out to be a really good trip. We went fishing, hiking, saw tons of animals (11 bears!), slept in the trailer, ate lots of s'mores, saw some amazing sunsets, and just basically had a really good time together. I was sad to come home! And that is saying something. This was our third trip to Yellowstone, and I definitely think there is a learning curve to enjoying this trip (for me, anyway). It takes just the right campground, and the right amount of time spent AWAY from the crowds. The eastern part of the park is so amazing, but most people just drive around the Old Faithful loop and miss the best parts. Which is good for us. If you need any advice on what to do/where to stay, etc. when you go to Yellowstone, let me know. We have learned through trial and error and I would be glad to share our tips and tricks to enjoying the park. Dallin said about 100 times, "Can we live here?" and "This was so worth the drive!" I'm not sure I'm ready to move to Yellowstone, but I am already looking forward to next year's trip.

Can't go to Yellowstone without seeing Old Faithful. Well, I could, but no one else could.

Fly fishing.

So beautiful!

Watching Old Faithful.

There were so many bears this year!

Lukie Dukie.

Jake was thrilled to get out of his car seat any chance he got.

Sunset over Yellowstone Lake.

Abby with her new pet bear, Claw. There was still a lot of snow in the higher elevations!

We went on the prettiest hike to Trout Lake. The fish were spawning and were all in a stream above the lake. The kids were trying to catch them with their hands! I don't know if I've ever seen happier kids in my life.

That is a bear to the right of Luke!!

This sunset was so incredible, it looked like fire!

Fishing in Jackson on the way home.

My cousin Kacey

I received the sad news this morning that my cousin Kacey was killed in a plane crash yesterday. I am heartbroken for his sweet wife and two little boys. Kacey was my brother Ryan's age and spent a lot of time in Burley at our house during the summers. I have a lot of fun memories with him. He was always up for an adventure and had a smile on his face. He probably tested his parents' patience a tad growing up because he was so energetic, but I remember him always being really respectful to my mom and reminding Ryan and me, "Your mom is calling you! You better go see what she wants!" when we would be busy playing and choose to ignore the call to dinner or do our chores or whatever else. I hadn't seen Kacey for several years, but I had the opportunity to see him and visit with him last month at the Crane Reunion. It was good to talk to him and catch up. He was still just the same old Kacey, kind and happy. He and his wife went through the temple a few months ago and were sealed to each other and to their boys. That gives me a lot of comfort and I'm so grateful for the plan of salvation and the opportunity we all have to be with our families forever.