Tidbit Tuesday

#1: Gospel ABC Book:
My mom made these for all of my siblings for Christmas one year, and I love it. It is one of the best quite books for church and Sam really likes it because it has pictures of him and Jack, as well as our families. If anyone is interested in these, let me know and I can email you the list A-Z. The corresponding pictures are super easy to find, and my mom put ours in a 4x6 photo album.











#2: Meatless Meals: In these tough economic times, spending less is always something I have on my mind. When it comes to cutting my food budget cutting out the meat is the best way. Our favorite is Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese Here's the recipe!
16 oz. elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup milk
2 eggs
½ cube of butter melted
1 can cheddar cheese soup
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese
Mix the evaporated milk, milk, eggs, butter, & cheese soup together in a crock-pot. Add cooked macaroni. Top with cheddar and parmesan cheese. Cook in the crock-pot on low for at least 2 hours. PLEASE- Give me some of your favorite Meatless Meals!

#3: FOR SALE - The sign in the ground makes it so real! We are selling our house in preparation for Shawn's 4th year rotations, and are so sad to go. We have had the greatest experience here, we love our house, we love our neighbors and friends, we love our ward, and we love Waukee. As excited as I am about being closer to family, it literally brings tears to my eyes and an ache to my heart to sell our house. Sam has been really confused about what "selling" implies! He was so sad because he thought it meant we were leaving his toys, clothes, etc. No wonder he broke down everytime I mentioned it! I have reassured him that all of his belongings are coming with us.... we just hope whoever is lucky enough to get our house will love it as much as we have!

Saturday Soup

My boys have become the best of buddies in the past few weeks. I couldn't help post this picture.
Everyone always comments on Jack-O's blue eyes. Yes his eyes are really this blue, they are practically denim in color. Most parents are prejudice over they kids, but sometimes I look at this little face and think that there can't be a more beautiful baby anywhere.
Jack is super ticklish! Everywhere on his body seems to be ticklish and we sure have fun with this.
Jack sits! Yes he can sit by himself. This is one of my favorite milestones because he tumbles over and looks at me like "What Happened?" Doesn't he look like such a little dude in this picture?

We've had some crazy weather here in the past four days we've seen 50 degrees with sunshine; rain; hail, lightning; fog; and now snow. Go figure? Sam has been making the most of each weather element. He headed out umbrella and all. The wind was a little too much for our dollar store umbrella.
We got the Wii Fit this week, and have all been really loving it. I was a little skeptical at first, thinking that it wouldn't really work me; but I'll just say I've had a very hard time walking down the stairs because my leg muscles are super sore! We have also learned that Sam and I have horrible balance and Shawn should be a professional tight rope walker. Here's Sam's Sun Salutation....hum.....
At preschool Sam has learned the Pledge of Allegiance and has become very aware of the flag, so here's a little video of him reciting the pledge. Some of it is hard to understand, because he is covering his face in embarrassment! I don't know where he gets that from:) Happy Saturday to all!

Job Results are In - Your Ideal Job would be:
Lori - In a land far, far away
JD - Sweage worker
Shane - Professional Tramp
Jill - Dodgem Driver
Adrianne - Computer Nerd
Nathalie - Church Minister
Julie - Pirate
Kelly - Porn Star
Jake - Sandwich board Advertising
Michelle -Mime Artist
Joel - Stand Up Comedian
Brigit - Litter Wardon
Dan - Dentist

Tidbit Tuesday

1. Dancing Queen & King! Oh, yes the picture is proof that Shawn did infact hit the dance floor and with a bang! I was able to coax him out there after a big plate of yummy dessert and a couple glasses of punch (virgin of a course!)
We had a great time at the Gala and I love Shawn even more because he really put himself out there so I could cut FOOTLOOSE!

This picture totally cracked me up. This is our friend Joe, whose wife was taking our picture and I can't believe how tall he looks in this, and how short Shawn and I look. We had such a great time!


2. Your Name Dictates Your Job - this is hilarious! Shawn's friend at school has this name calculator and it is so funny. Here's the jobs that our names matched with:

Shawn Summers - Circus Freak
Megan Hill - Prime Minister
Megan Summers - Supermodel

When Shawn was telling me about this the conversation went like this: Shawn: "Megan Summers was a supermodel, but Megan Hill was perfect! It was like a ..., a... something important and smart."

Megan: "Oh, I see the supermodel isn't perfect, I'm more like a librarian."

Nice - Shawn was back peddling like crazy, but after I saw the prime minister I have to agree, that is a much better fit for me, I'm going to be the next Tony Blair.

If you want to now your profession as determined by your name leave a comment and I'll post the list on the Saturday Soup on the blog!

3. Carrot Cake Recipe - from the Summers Family Cookbook! (as requested by my sister Steph.) This is a great recipe and wonderful if you need a dessert to serve a large group (or you like alot of leftovers, like us!)
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 small jars of carrot baby food
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp soda
2 tsp cinnamon
Mix in order. Pour in greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
Powdered sugar - add to desired consistency. Oh, SO GOOD!!






4. Cranium Hullabaloo - the funnest game ever! Love it. Its great for kids of all ages, and a learning game that requires action!! Its nice because its hands off, you don't have little pieces or cards to worry about, and its something I actually like to play with Sam! We especially love to do a "funky dance" when we are the winners!

Saturday Soup

Holy ear infection Batman! Both boys have now been diagnosed with ear infections. While Jack handled his medicine great, Sam REFUSED to take it. Picture this: Two grown ups v. one 3 year old - one grown up is sitting on top of the 3 year old and holding down his arms and his head, the other is trying to pry his mouth open and pour the medicine down his throat! Just as the grown-ups think they've done it, the 3 year old starts to spit the medicine out, so the grown ups try to force him to swallow, which only makes him throw up!! NICE huh? Well that was the scene at our house for 1 1/2 days. We finally called a doctor and he told us to just mix it in chocolate milk! That's it! After all that effort, we could have just mixed it in milk. You should have seen Sam's face when we told him the doctor said he could drink chocolate milk instead of take medicine - pure RELIEF! Jack has been "leaning" a lot and I can't help but laugh when I see him like this. He can turn around in the saucer, but its like he just knows how much cooler he looks leaning way back

Other than that, both boys have been cooped up with me in the house for the week, and we're all getting sick of it. We did go to storytime at the Waukee Library! Did I ever mention how much I love the Waukee Library. They did Clifford books and made Clifford hats - Sam has been a dog intermittently for the past three days. Thank you Miss Erin for making storytime the BOMB.

Tidbit Tuesday

#1: Clorox Wipes!


Yes, these are a must. BOY + TOILET = DISGUSTING! Honestly, this is when having a girl would be awesome. Boys and toilets don't mesh, well I guess they do mesh a little too much and too all over the place. I have found the only way to keep from gagging and not having to scour every day is to have these handy dandy wipes to wipe down everything. Any other suggestions for ways to keep a boy's bathroom clean?

#2: Sam's I Can Chart and Cup of Beans

These are very typical ways of trying to motivate Sam to have good behavior. The I Can Chart are things that Sam can do now to help out such as: put dishes by the sink, put on his coat and shoes, say prayers, say please and thank you, etc. The beans are when he does things without being asked or if he is just being a super good boy. My mom asked me if I think this psychology really works - the answer, I don't know? The one thing I know that it does do is help me find things throughout the day to praise him for. I feel like I'm always nagging and addressing his negative behavior. With these two gauges, I can really compliment his positive behavior, so it makes me feel like a better mom!
What techniques do you have to reinforce your kids positive behavior?

#3: This is a Family Home Evening activity that I got from Lori (she has the best ideas) that I thought was AWESOME!! (Family Home Evening is one evening/week that is devoted to being together as a family, learning about the gospel, and having fun!)
The lesson was Samuel the Lamanite being protected from the rocks and arrows on the wall, as he prophecied of Christ's birth and death. You take a figurine (don't you love TMNT?)and make a rice krispie wall(stick the figurine in the wall while forming it, and allow to harden a few hours so it really sticks in there) and throw candy at it to try and knock him down. You just can't knock him down, and then we talked about keeping the commandments, and how it helps keep us protected and safe. Sam thought it was so much fun, and the best part is you can eat the wall and the rocks!

What are some fun and successful FHE's that you have had with your families?
Please give me your ideas! I'd love to hear them!!

Saturday Soup

Happy Valentine's Day! DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE POST BELOW! Shawn is so great and made me a "Blog Card" Love it! He also surprised me with flowers yesterday. I like that he gets me flowers because they are something that even though you know is going to die - you spend money on to tell someone you love them! Thanks Shawn, you're the best.

Here's what the boys have been up to this week. The weather here in Iowa is crazy. We started off the week with 60 degree weather and ended it with 6 inches of powdery snow. Sam doesn't seem to care whether there is rain or shine, as long as he is outside he is HAPPY!

Sam has started to "pump" while swinging! He is getting so big and so funny. He insists upon wearing his helmet almost all the time when he is outside. He looks like "hyper active boy" (SNL Mike Myers skit). Poor Jack had his first ear infection! Yuck! He had a cough which I took him in for, and he came out with an ear infection. Poor little guy is still smiling and sweet as ever. In fact he has been sleeping through the night since this started (9-8)!! They weighed him at the doctor's office, and the chunk weighed in at 19 lbs. 15 oz. with clothes on! He got another lower front tooth, and so between the ear infection, teething, and cold - he's been pretty leaky. Here's a video (mostly for Grandmas) of Jack-O!We got the boys some fun things to tell them we love them - Jack(rubber ducks)and Sam(CandyLand and rubber boots) Here's a cute picture of the boys in the same shirt at about the same age. They do look quite a bit alike! We love these two boys so much! Happy Valentine's - we love you!

Sexiest couple alive?

Happy Valentine's Day to my best friend, my better half, my one true love, my kids' hero, my chef (dang good cook), my strength, my life, my costume designer, my favorite travel buddy, and pretty much everything else. Thanks for taking such good care of us dirty boys! I love you Meg. You've blessed my life more than you'll ever know.

Tidbit Tuesday

#1: Candy for decorations! One of my favorite ways to decorate for holidays is with candy - um no brainer there, right? I got this great idea from my sister. You take a clear vase and fill it with candy befitting the holiday, add some colorful matching flowers and wholla - center piece that you can eat.
Valentine's - conversation hearts w/ red and pink flowers
St. Patty's - gold coins with lilies or daisies
Easter - jelly beans with bright pinks, purples, yellows, oranges
4th of July - Red hots with fire cracker boxes or red and white flowers
Fall - Reese's PB cups or candy corn with fall colored wrappers and orange, yellow and brown florals
Christmas - peppermints with green and red poinsettas

#2: Different, simple ways to say I love you! The other day I left Shawn a little love letter on the mirror with lipstick and he thought that was so great. It was really simple and different. What are some easy, different ways you tell people you love them?

#3: Sour Cream Sugar Cookies - nothing says Valentine's Day more than sugar cookies do. This is my all time favorite recipe! So yummy I can literally eat 2 dozen in one sitting.
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
1 cup sour cream
1 cup butter
6 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp salt
2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
Cream sugar and shortening. Add beaten eggs and sour cream. Sift together flour and other dry ingredients. Add both extract to creamed mixture. Chill before rolling. Bake 6-8 minutes at 400 degrees.

Favorite Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe
½ c. shortening
½ c. margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. powdered sugar
2 T. milk
Cream shortening, margarine, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Mixture will appear dry. Add milk and beat until fluffy.

#4. 10 Things I love about You Books: We did these at Enrichment, and they turned out so cute. It's a fun, cheap, and easy way to give a Valentine to someone.

#5: Shawn and I love to watch the King of Queens nearly every night. We kind of stumbled upon the series, but quickly fell in love with it because it really reminds us of each other and our marriage to a certain degree. He's fat, I'm mean - WHO CARES?? (a line from the show) Do you have any tv show couple that reminds you of you and your spouse? Here's a few of the "best of" the King of Queens... love you Shawn!

Saturday Soup

Imagination! Sam is all about connecting himself to any and all things. It is so fun to see his little mind work. Whether it be watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and having to wear his Mickey mouse ears, or dressing up in his Buzz light Year costume, he is always pretending and playing.
This weeks he's been really into being a "doctor" and "dad". When I was feeding Jack I kept seeing him run in and out of his room with baby in tow. I went in to see what he was doing and he had given the baby shots, cared for them with Spiderman bandaids, and was feeding him to put him down for a nap. I was so impressed that he gave the shots in the legs and put the bandaids on so well.

Sam is so smart, he really remembers everything especially stories we read to him. In his "dad" role he will read me five books at a time and can recite most of them word for word. He's also saying a lot of funny phrases like "what da heck" and his newest creation "oh crat." When reading the scriptures he insists upon reading them to us, he has been reading that we need to get in a space rocket to get to heaven (which is in outerspace) to see Jesus and Heavenly Father. Um, not sure where it says that.

Jack turned 5 months and has officially cut his first tooth. His lower right front tooth (if that makes sense)! He has also discovered his newest love - the exersaucer! He loves it, because he can see us everywhere as he rotates around, he has ten different chew toy options, and can dance to his hearts content. He is so cute! He is also becoming quite the little chatter box and talks to us all throughout the day. He is getting a little attitude and really doesn't like it when you take things away from his; which has become a problem now that he is putting everything and anything into his mouth! He is such a momma's boy and makes my day everyday because he is SO excited to see me! This is the face I see when I enter the room! How could you not love this little guy??The boys took the maiden voyage of the red wagon this week and it was great! Poor Jack can't sit well yet and he keep teetering over.... but it was still great to get out with both of them together in 50 degree weather!! Heat wave here in Iowa.

Tidbit Tuesday

The temptation already is to post everything all at once, but I'm telling myself this is a marathon not a sprint. Please, please when you are reading this use this to give me ideas too. I'm doing this to get ideas more than just posting my own.

Tidbit #1: Scrapbooking Solution! Yea! I'm really excited about this one, and it might not be a new idea to many of you but I'm so glad I found it. Since having Jack I've been struggling to keep up with my scrapbooking. Mind you - I'm not a fancy scrapbooker anyway. What I found was a 12x12 photo sheet that can hold six 4x6 pics (Pocket Pages at Archiver's) and then you can either do a few really cute regular 12x12 pages and then just slide your other 4x6's into the other pages, or you can do the story behind the photos on a 4x6 notecard and slip it in next to the pictures. This is great because I can keep up with Sam's pictures and still spend time doing Jack's baby scrapbook (which I'll do until he is the ripe old age of 2) then he'll be converted over to the same process! click on the image to make it larger

Tidbit#2: Basic Food Group Salad. YUM! My friend Marta had this super great recipe and lately I've been longing for spring time and salad = spring to me. Here's the recipe. It is healthy, colorful, delicious, and makes a lot and would be great for parties, showers, potlucks, etc. I'm making this tomorrow and will add a picture then.
Basic Food Group Salad
12 oz bow tie pasta
6 oz tri-colored pasta
4-5 cooked and cubed chicken breast
3 green onions chopped
1 ½ cups chopped celery
1 can water chestnuts chopped
1 cup pineapple tidbits
2 small cans mandarin oranges
1 cup green grapes
1 cup red grapes
½ pkg craisins
Mix all above together with equal amounts of ranch dressing and coleslaw dressing.
What are your favorite spring time salad recipes?

Tidbit #3: Lately I've been thinking about love and at church this week, the Relief Society lesson was on seeing God in our lives. It reminded me of an experience that helped reaffirm God's love for me. I had been married for 1 1/2 years and I was golfing with Shawn and my dad. My wedding ring kept rubbing against the clubs, so rather than get a blister I took it off, and put it into my pants pocket. About 10 minutes later, I reached into my pocket and there was no ring! That's right - NO RING!!! AHHHHH!! You can imagine the panic I felt. We spent the rest of the afternoon looking for the ring, but had no luck. I went home feeling literally crushed, I was so sad. My nephew Carson promised me though that if we prayed we'd be able to find it. I took his advice and poured out my heart to my Heavenly Father. The next morning we rented two metal detectors and started from hole 1 and walked the course. We still came up empty handed. I decided to go back one more time to the last hole I remembered having it. We looked all around and nothing, as I turned to walk off the course I saw a little glint of something in the dirt. THere was no way it could be it right? I walked over to it and sure enough there it was - good as new! I found my needle in a huge 9 hole course haystack! At that moment I new that even though finding my ring was trivial and insignificant in the whole realm of things, that God does knows me, He is concerned about small and large things in my life, and that He answers prayers. I am so grateful for that experience and the many more that I've had in my life that testify of a loving Father in Heaven. Happy Tuesday everyone.

Saturday Soup

Since Summers Sons Saturday Soup is really a tongue twister we're making it easy and going to just the ol' Saturday Soup. I trimmed Sam's hair this week, he was starting to grow a mullet - and Sam tends to freak out, so I accidently cut his ear! Yep, that's why you have a professional do these things, but I always think oh, this time will be okay.... Sam did forgive me, but only after lots of hugs and kisses. He loves to do this mohawk in the tub. I think its so funny.
Sam finally got the hang of Primary and is really into wearing his "suit" - he makes such a handsome sunbeam.
We went to Omaha to attend the temple this weekend and stayed at a hotel with a great swimming pool for kids. Jack had his first swimming experience (the swim trunks are a little large). He loved the water as long as I was holding him... for some reason swimming with Shawn made scared him and he would cry so hard. It was really sad and funny all at once, Shawn must not be a very good swimmer :) Jack is the reason that I love babies, they love their mommies... once they are two they realize mom isn't very cool anymore and start buddying up with dad.
We also were able to hit the zoo and the weather was great 50 degrees, sunny and calm. The kids enjoyed being outside and seeing all the animals.
Sam loves animals especially ones that are on movies, so we saw Alex the Lion, Sher-Kan the tiger, Bruce the shark, etc... it was a really fun weekend that we topped off with Superbowl Sunday eating some yummy food with friends.

Starting this Tuesday I'm going to start doing a Tidbit Tuesday, hopefully posting some good recipes, craft ideas, kid ideas, etc. and trying to get some tips and tidbits from you all that I can share. I've decided to be a little more reflective in my blog and will also use this as a platform for things I'm grateful for.... until Tuesday, so long and far well.