Oh Baby!

With excitement and a little fear we announce that we are expecting baby number three to make it's debut sometime around November 2, 2010!

Easter Conference

With it being conference weekend and Easter, we had quite an eventful couple of days.

During conference, we have the opportunity to listen to the prophet and apostles share testimonies and teachings about the gospel. This can sometimes to hard for young kids to sit through (all told the conference is about 8 hrs long over the course of 2 days), so we came up with lots of activities to keep them interested in the room happily! Add Easter excitment to the mix and here is a sampling of our excitement:

Can you tell these kids are excited about the idea of decorating eggs??

Easter morning we made a yummy breakfast of cinnamon rolls (a conference tradition), bacon, and these so so good hash brown bakes. I couldn't find the link to the online recipe, so it follows the picture for anyone interested.

Hash Brown Bakes:

Ingredients:
20 oz refrigerated (or thawed frozen) shredded hash browns
1 1/2 cups shredded or diced ham
1/2 cup chopped green onion
2 1/2 Tbsp flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 large lightly beaten eggs

Combine first four ingredients. Add eggs. Toss well. Heat at medium and add 1Tbsp oil to large skillet. Scoop by 1/4 cupfuls and flatten slightly. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side or until browned.

These are best served warm and we had tons of leftovers so if you have a family the size of our small eaters, maybe just do half.

If you have kids, you know the day is not complete without a visit from the Easter bunny. The kids walked right by these when they first woke up but they defintely did not miss them the second pass by.

My kids participated in about four egg hunts this year, with one still set for this upcoming weekend, and they just as excited for the one coming up as they were for the first one.
I love Noah walking into the house and dumping out his haul right on the kitchen floor - good thing it was clean!

A couple of our other weekend activities:

Making strawberry jam. Chloe LOVES to help me cook, and is actually a really good little helper. She was so happy to get to help with this!

Making egg carton flowers. Although I was going to wait to do this while Noah was sleeping, we painted these with his help as well and I am glad it worked out that way because he really enjoyed it - and with washable paint, even though he ended up with it all over, it also came off very easily as well! The stems weren't as sturdy as I thought they would be, and I am still a newbie at things of a crafty nature, but I think they turned out pretty well!

I love that Easter fell on conference weekend and that so many of the messages focused on making our families and our homes places of strength, and places where testimonies are grown, the gospel is loved, and the spirit can dwell. I am not perfect in these goals, but I am grateful for the encouragment and renewed commitment I receive when I hear such council. I am grateful to know the true reason we celebrate Easter - that it's not about the Easter bunny, and egg hunts, but about our Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful that because of his life, atonement, death, and resurrection, I - with my family - can have eternal life with those I love the most. There is no better message or goal than that.

Carboard Cars Creation

It is no secret that Noah loves Cars. He loves the movie, his soft blanket, all his diecast cars, if it's a car it's perfect for him. We had a huge cardboard box that Joe, being the ever creative dad, decided it turn into Radiator Springs.

Chloe loved being dad's dirty little helper in this project

I never cease to be amazed at the fact that often the kids have more fun with these homemade toys than the one's we pay good money for, but either way I am glad that so far this little creation has brought them lots of entertainment!

Sugar Lips

On Monday afternoon, Chloe decided she was going to go in the "snack room" (otherwise known as the pantry) to make us a snack. In she went, closing the door behind her, and after a few: door opens, mischeivious face pops out, door closes routines, she announced her suprise was ready. Of, course I grabbed the camera to document whatever treat it was that she had prepared.

My first view was of these open bottles of sprinkles on a shelf, with sprinkles scattered all over. Next I see Chloe presenting me with THE CUP containing her concoction.

I peered in to find....Sprinkles. Sprinkles. Sprinkles. All mixed together with care. How delicious does that look?! I know I was excited to have a taste.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) for me, Chloe decided she wanted to keep this treat all to herself. The evidence of her treat enjoying:

The Big 3-0

Birthday season continues at the McBride house where yesterday we celebrated Joe's 30th Birthday! To celebrate this big birthday occasion, ideas like reserving the flowrider indoor surf place, or reserving the entire Japanese restaurant (it only seats 10) that is our favorite, or throwing a huge suprise party flowed through my mind. Joe's ideas, however, were a little simpler: stay home all day (except for church) and eat wings, cake, and ice cream with a few visits from some family members. Some times less is more and I think Joe really enjoyed his relaxing entry into REAL adulthood!Joe's cake choice was also simple: White cake, white frosting, no sprinkles. Served on Star Wars 3D plates (his favorite childhood obsession)
Happy Birthday to the greatest man I know and love!

Birthday Fun

We had a great day celebrating Noah turning two! Here are some of the highlights:

As part of our birthday plans we took the kids to Disney On Ice. With it being in Salt Lake and not starting until 7:00 we knew there would be no time to do a birthday cake that night so instead we did a birthday breakfast cake!

Here are my excited kids (and not quite as excited husband) waiting for the show to start

This picture is blurry but, sadly, the best one I got of the Cars part of the show, which was Noah's favorite. He was so concentrated on not missing anything. So fun!

Chloe's favorites were Ariel as well as Tinkerbell and the fairies.

This was the perfect way to do something special for a little boy who didn't quite get it was his birthday. Both kids totally loved it and were so good. All in all I think Noah would say it's been his best birthday yet.

Happy Birthday Noah Joseph

Oh my sweet little crazy rambunctious little Noah. What is there to say about him other than I love him so so so much. When I found out we were having a boy, I really had no idea what I was in for, but when this 9lb little guy entered my world he did so all boy! From loving all things motor operated - cars, motorcycles, trains - to loving dirt, bugs and worms, he has amazed me also with how sweet and caring he is. He is the first to come hug me if I'm feeling upset, and the first to try to make me smile - even if it's by showing me something gross. Before Noah was born I remember wondering if I could handle two kids. I don't know how well I really handle it but I know I am so grateful for the blessing to have had Noah join our family.Noah at two years old:

-Talks ALOT - we are amazed at how well he speaks and has done so for a while. He is very expressive with this ability. His favorite phrase: "Dat is disusting" (translation: that is disgusting)

-Loves to look at himself in the mirror. He doesn't do it to look at how handsome he is, he likes to make all sorts of mean, angry, silly faces. I could watch this for hours

-Loves to sit on my lap and drink sippy cups of milk and then just cuddle with me

- Loves "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Cars." He would watch these two movies all day everyday if I would let him

- Loves Chloe. They are such good little buddies. He is always so willing to do what she wants, as long as sometimes that includes running in circles around and around the couch or sword fighting with whatever is available

- Loves yogurt, apples, and candy of every kind.

- Wants to sleep with a toy every night. The problem comes when he wakes up at 6:00 and won't go back to sleep because he has his toy right there.

- Is the cutest two year old boy I have ever seen (partial, maybe, but he is adorable)

While I wish I could freeze you here forever in some ways, I also can't wait to watch as you continue to grow! Happy Birthday my little bud!