Thursday, January 29, 2009

Homemade Granola Bars

Since today is Ethan's birthday I thought it would be fun to bake something with him because that is something that he really likes to do. We went to the park earlier and I figured we could make something to occupy the time before his afternoon nap. But since I spent 2 days making his birthday cake I wanted to do something simple. So we made granola bars. The recipe is super easy (compliments of Marie) and can be made with stuff that you probably already have in your pantry. And they are delicious! Ethan loves them.

2 1/2 c. Oats - quick rolled oats
1/2 c. Rice Krispies
1/4 c. Coconut
1/2 c. M&M minis
1/2 c. Brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 c. Butter, softened
1/4 c. Honey
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Add all of the ingredients and mix together until combined. Press into a square 8×8 pan. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and score into bars. Let it set completely and then cut into bars. For thinner bars, press mix into a 9×13 pan. They seem to set a little better in the 9×13 pan. I like to put half in one 8x8 pan and half in another 8x8 pan.




Today I didn't have any M&M's so we made S'mores granola bars by chopping up marshmellows and chocolate chips--you could use anything though, really.

Also a good tip: Spray your measuring cup with vegetable spray before you add a sticky substance, like honey--it should slide right off!!!
Finished Bars

Mom, I think Ethan likes to wear Mr. Potato Head stuff more than playing with it! Thanks for the great gift!!

Enjoying his birthday cake!

Even Teigan got in on the festivities!!!

Another Year Down.......


Today marks Ethan's 2nd birthday! I can hardly believe I have a precious little 2 year old! We have so loved having him in our family! His sweet spirit is a constant reminder of how richly blessed my life truly is. Ethan had his 2 year check up and is growing well! He weighed 27 lbs and was 36 inches tall.

Some of Ethan's favorites are:
*ELMO
*The color Blue
*Dried apples
*Coloring
*Nursery
*Singing Primary Songs
*Holding Teigan
*Sneaking pieces of Daddy's Gum
*Showering all by himself
*Playing outside
*Doing whatever HE wants to do instead of what WE want him to do
*Going to Target (mainly for the popcorn and drink)

It's crazy to look back on these last two years and see how Ethan has grown and developed. He talks more and more everyday and is learning "attitude" when he talks. The other day I was standing in front of our silverware drawer cutting an apple and apparently Ethan wanted something out of the drawer. He started pushing on my leg, but I wouldn't move. So he says (with all the attitude he could muster while stomping his feet), "MAMA, move now...MOVE!!!" I gave him a look of "don't you dare talk to me like that" and he says so sweet and innocently, "Please?" :-)

Today when he was opening a few of his presents, before he could even get a good look at what it was he was unwrapping, he was saying ever enthusiastically, "Oh my goodness!! Oh wow!" What a funny little boy I have. I look forward to many more happy years with my little man!!!

The birthday cake I made! Everything is edible.


Even though he is 2 and a big boy--he still likes to pretend he's a baby!

The Birthday Boy in action



Wearing his Mr. Potato Head glasses--So funny!!

The handsome boys in my life!

How cute is Teig smiling up at Skyler?!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Shout out to Aunt Kristen

Ethan adores his aunt Kristen--she came and visited this weekend and we had a blast! She kept me company while Sky was super busy with work...I had to post this video from Christmas to show just one of the many things that Ethan and Kristen like to do together--DANCE!!!

Mts. Edge Park, Spawn of Satan, Clippin me some Coupons

The other day was a beautiful, warm day so I decided to load up my boys and have a picnic at the park with them. Ethan absolutely loved eating his lunch at the park's picnic tables and Teigan really enjoyed the sun and warm weather. I thought I would have to force Ethan to eat before he went to play, but he understood that he had to eat all his food first, and then go play. After the yummy picnic, Ethan was off to explore the park. Because it was such a nice day there were a LOT of people there. We made our way over to the giant snake that Ethan loves to climb on--I was sitting on the bench watching Ethan play with some other kids. He really really loves to play with other little children and it is so cute to watch him interact with them. Soon, the other kids left, so he was left alone to play for a bit (which he doesn't mind either).

Enter spawn of Satan and our day suddenly changed. A boy probably 3 or 4 years older than E started to play in the snake with Ethan. It seemed that they were getting along nicely until I see the kid pick up a handful of dirt and throw it on Ethan's clothes!! I thought surely his mother will come over and say something to him, but after looking around nobody came forward, so I say to the kid, "Um, we don't throw dirt--it's not nice to throw dirt." Which is exactly what I would have said to Ethan had he been the one to throw dirt. The kid just looked at me and kept on playing. A few minutes later the kid picked up another handful of dirt and when Ethan turned around he poured the dirt in his hood! I was in utter disbelief that someone could raise their kid to be so rude. Again, I waited a few seconds to see if whoever was responsible for him would step in but of course no one did. So I had to go over to him again and say, "Do not throw dirt at my son again!" Ethan had a look on his face like Thanks Mom! But Lucifer just looked at me with his beady little eyes and didn't say anything. I sat back down on the bench and thought that I should just try to get Ethan to play on the swings or something to get him away from this kid, and as soon as I was getting up this kid threw a handful of dirt right in Ethan's face! In his face! Poor Ethan looked at me like "what the heck is this kid's problem???" I didn't even wait this time to see if someone would claim him because let's be honest, if it were my kid, I wouldn't claim him either!! I went right over to them, started wiping off Ethan's face and told the kid, "If you can't play nicely than you need to leave." And then I hear it......

Lady with too much makeup on: "Don't talk to my son like that, I'm the only one to discipline him!"
Me: "Well, perhaps if you were around to discipline, then I wouldn't have to."
Lady with overdrawn eyebrows: (with lots of attitude) "I have been right here the whole time."
Me: "Then you should have said something to your son when he threw dirt at my son the first time. I wouldn't have allowed my son to throw dirt."
Lady with lip liner on 10 shades too dark: "My son would NEVER throw dirt."

Are you freaking kidding me?!?!

Right then Lucifer picked up another handful of dirt and threw it on Ethan's clothes. Right in front of Medusa. She looked at me, then looked at him, started yelling something in spanish and took off. Really, now. What. Is. Wrong. With. People?!?!?!?

The thing is, Ethan doesn't know how to be mean yet. Yes, he disobeys, and yes, he gets into things he shouldn't--but I have never ever seen Ethan be mean just to be mean. Even when the kid was mean to him, he didn't understand what was going on.

Skyler said Ethan should have thrown dirt back to stand up for himself--and I said uh, no....he should have punched the kid right square in the nose. That would have taught him. So, now, amongst all the other things I have to teach Ethan, I have to teach him a mean right hook! That's how us Savages do it!

In other news, I have to give a shout out to my friend Sesily for hosting an awesome coupon money saving class. I learned about this website that tells you exactly when to use your coupons from the Sunday paper to save the most money--it even tells you which ad to find the coupon in. It's fantastic. Now, I don't think I had really ever used a coupon before in my life--I just figured it was too much hassle or something. But I used my coupons yesterday and my grocery bill was $52.84 BEFORE coupons, and I payed a total of $15.18 AFTER coupons! I saved $37.66!! I told Skyler that I was going to tally up all the money I saved using coupons and at the end of each month go and buy me some awesome new jeans or shoes or jewelry or something....but then he reminded me that that would defeat the whole purpose of saving money....why oh why did I have to marry an accountant?!? :-)

We are right in the middle of busy season right now--and I say "we" because if Sky is working a million hours/week then that means I am too. Somedays I would just love to switch positions with Skyler because he at least gets to have adult interaction (even if it is boring audit talk). Sometimes the only adult interaction I get is, "Would you like paper or plastic?" And if I have to sing Popcorn Popping one more time.......Also, Sky sometimes gets to eat at fancy restaurants, and even on the days that he doesn't eat at a yummy restaurant he at least gets to indulge in the Employee Dining Hall (which he claims isn't very good, but secretly I think he loves). The EDR is like buffet style of some sort and I still tell Skyler that is a lot better than me having to think about what to cook for breakfast, lunch and dinner--then actually cook it--then clean it up. This week I think I have seen Skyler a total of like 40 minutes. 10 minutes each morning before he leaves for work. The last two nights he didn't even get home till almost 3 in the morning!!! And at least 3 days this week I don't think he even saw Ethan or Teigan! Ridiculous I tell you. I just have to keep my eye on the prize to get through the next couple of busy seasons....which had better be a fatty diamond someday to remind myself of all the lonely hours I've lived through.....after all, diamonds are a girls best friend. So Skyler, if you are reading this, so are True Religion jeans, MAC makeup, SHOES, trips to exotic places, and fancy restaurants. I love my man!

Here are some cute pictures of my darling little boys!!!



Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2 Month Well Check

Teigan is already 2 whole months old!! It seems like just yesterday that I got a positive pregnancy test...where does the time go?! He is such an awesome, chill little baby! He weighed 10 lbs. 4 oz and is 25 inches long. He's in the 25th percentile for his weight, which, I guess is normal for breastfed babies. The doctor was actually surprised that he put on more than 4 lbs. in only 2 months. Especially because we aren't supplementing formula. He's my little milk monster for sure. We are starting to get lots of smiles from him too! We love him so much!! Here are his pictures!
His one month picture...

And 2 months!!



Does he look bigger?!?! Again, and I can't say this enough, we feel so blessed to have 2 healthy, beautiful children!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Christmas in Colorado

We spent Christmas in Colorado Springs this year. Both sets of grandparents live there, and we love going home! Although, Christmas just wasn't the same without my little brother Jordan, who is serving his mission in Brazil.

We drove to Colorado-yes DROVE with 2 little boys. I'm not exactly sure what we were thinking, or if we quite knew what we were getting ourselves into....but a 15 hour drive with an almost 2 year old and a newborn was exhausting! Luckily for us, both the boys did amazing. As amazing as possible for sitting in the car for so long! Teigan slept the whole time, with the occasional break for feedings. On the way to Colorado, Ethan was awake for 10 of the 15 hours! What he did to occupy himself for that long--I don't even remember! I do know that he loves to read books and loves LOVES to sing. He started singing "a sunbeam a sunbeam, Jesus a sunbeam!" We didn't even know he knew that song! Thanks nursery! Other favorites are John Mayer's "Say", Ne-Yo's "Closer", Pink's "So What", and pretty much any other popular song! Who knew he remembered the lyrics??? Crazy I tell ya.

Teigan was blessed on December 21st, it was such a wonderful blessing and a beautiful day!

I don't have a lot of time to blog--the boys will be waking up any minute--but here are some fun pictures of our vacation!
Ethan and his new buddy Isaac Housley at Teig's blessing--thanks for coming Taylor and Val!!

Teigan in his blessing outfit

Black Family minus 1

Best friends are we, my sister and me!!

Me and Scott

Jumping off the fireplace in his new Christmas jammies

Daddy and Teigan--I LOVE Teig's expression!

Ethan's 3 favorite things: Elmo.....

...and Cookie Monster......

...and Papa!!!

Savage kids minus Steve and Jordan

Savage Family

My two darling little boys!

Aunt Kristen and Teigan


Now that the holidays are coming to an end--it means busy season is upon us. Ew. I hate busy season. HATE IT! So, we won't talk about it. For now.

Black Family's Top Ten of 2008

For those of you who didn't get our Christmas card this year--here it is!

THE BLACK FAMILY’S TOP TEN OF 2008

10. Our little baby, Ethan, isn’t a baby anymore! He turned ONE on January 29th. We sure have loved having him around! He constantly amazes us with his intelligence and abilities and is always good for a laugh.
9. After five weeks of eating mushrooms for practically every single meal (and I HATE mushrooms), we discovered that I was pregnant! What a fun surprise! I spent much of 2008 pregnant—good thing I have easy pregnancies.
8. We enjoyed our 2nd annual trip to the beach in May. We accompanied Skyler on a business trip to Santa Monica, California. We had a blast watching Ethan run and play in the ocean.
7. We purchased Rock Band this year and have become quite obsessed. You may be wondering how this could possibly make our Top 10 list, but what you should be thinking is how could it not?! We have dedicated too many hours, sacrificed too much sleep, and gained a few extra pounds for it not to be on our list!
6. I managed to go a full year without being robbed, slamming any of my fingers in doors, or being involved in any hit and run accidents. Although, Ethan managed to lock me out of the house with both ovens on and his new baby brother alone on the couch. Thank Heaven for little boys, right?
5. Papa and Grandma Savage took the entire family to Disneyland at the end of May. Ethan was so excited to be able to meet all of his favorite characters. Especially Mickey Mouse.
4. Skyler’s beloved Halo playing partner (a.k.a. my little brother) left for his mission to Curitiba, Brazil in November. I was sad to see him go because I will definitely miss him…however, a break from Halo is very welcomed! Too bad Halo is also a one-player game…
3. With the completion of all four parts of the CPA exam and all the hours necessary, Skyler is now an official CPA—which means I officially began my training in retail therapy! ☺ Way to go, Skyler!
2. Skyler and I celebrated three years of wedded bliss on December 17th. We are more in love than ever three years and two little boys later— and we look forward to many more. Years, that is. Not boys!
1. Rounding up the Top 10 is our sweet, new little addition to the family! Teigan Grant Black was born weighing in at 6 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 inches long. We love him to pieces and love to watch Ethan fulfill his role as big brother!