Any ideas for Blog Names?

I knew this day was coming. Our html address will have to change soon. Our blog address has been, as you know, "a guy a girl and a boy", but with adding another member to our family, that will no longer work (you don't have to read that sentence twice, I'm pregnant!). If you have any ideas for a new address, let me know! At least I've got six months to think about it.

New baby Beutler is due on November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving! I am hoping we will be able to avoid spending the holiday in the hospital. I am also hoping for another boy, Jackson has been so easy, and so the thought of having a hormonal girl, or anything different than Jackson, scares me. Brian thinks it will be a girl, and his logic is kind of funny: Brian's birth month is in May and Jackson was also born in May. My birth month is November, and so it only makes sense to him that it has to be a girl since my due date is in November....

The first trimester has gone by pretty well. Morning sickness has been easier this time around. I still have an occasional bad day, but I've never felt as sick as my pregnancy with Jackson (and his was easy, I thought). The fatigue has been the thing that has wiped me out this time. I feel ready to go back to bed after being up for only an hour! I usually take a nap everyday while Jackson is sleeping, but it doesn't guarentee that I will feel better when I get up. I'm looking forward to the 2nd trimester~ I know my energy should pick up and I will feel a lot better overall.

This pregnancy is flying by so fast already, it seems. I know it's not even summer yet, but Thanksgiving seems too close! We are so excited for another baby in our home. We should find out before the 4th of July what we are having, so I'll keep you posted!

Recipe of the week

My great sister-in-law started doing this on her blog, and I totally enjoy it because I love her recipes (she's a great cook) and I'm always looking for new but tried-and-true good recipes! What I like about it is she just posts one recipe that she is already making for dinner that week. I think that if it's something she's making for dinner it's probably a family favorite and one that she has made often. She invited others to do the same on their blogs~so I'm giving it a try myself. I hope you enjoy the recipes that we enjoy and maybe you can post something too!

This is what we are having for dinner tonight. It's Brian's favorite meal at Springtime when these veggies are at their best. It is meatless, but filling. I'm sure you could add chicken if you absolutley needed to, but I think it's perfect without...

Spring Pasta

8 oz. Penne pasta
1 head broccoli (cut to be bite-sized)
2 zucchini – sliced
8 oz. asparagus – trimmed
4 oz snow peas – trimmed
1 Cup frozen peas

sauce:
4 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup vegetable stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
Lg. pinch grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
parmesan


Steam broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, and snow peas in a pan of boiling, salted water. Cook until tender but not too soft (I usully add the rest of the vegetable stock not being used for the sauce to cook the veggies in too).

Remove from heat and rinse under cold water to stop them from cooking further. I add the frozen peas in and mix with the other veggies here. The steam will cook them just fine.

Cook pasta in large pan with 1 tbsp. olive oil; drain and cover to keep warm. While pasta is cooking, mix butter with vegetable stock and cream in large pan, over medium heat. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. It should thicken slightly.

Add pasta, cooked vegetables, and heat through. Transfer pasta to warmed serving dish and mix in parmesan to taste.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday!!

Thursday was Jackson's first birthday! I can't believe it has already been a year! He has grown so fast. We threw a little birthday party for him with family and friends~thank you to all who came! We had a BBQ baked potato bar, and of course, cake and ice cream for dessert.

I had been practicing with some cupcake recipes and found an egg less chocolate recipe that turned out all right. At least I could let Jackson eat the batter on a spoon without feeling guilty! But ultimately the vanilla cupcakes won (Brian said the chocolate recipe was like a lethal dose of chocolate). If you have ever tried a made-from-scratch recipe that doesn't turn out too dry, let me know! I ended up going with a box of good old Betty Crocker~ moist every time!

Jackson has always been cautious about new things (except for walking!) He studies toys before he decides he likes it, he studies food before it goes in his mouth, he studies new places, everything ( I think he gets it from Brian)...so it came as no surprise that he didn't dive into his cake. He studied it, touched it, licked the frosting (and then wondered why it was still sticking to his hand ~ he tried to shake it off). Finally, he ripped the cake open, tried a couple of bites, and then decided it wasn't for him! It was fun just watching!

It was more fun watching Jackson, this time, open his presents than at Christmas. He actually got the idea that something fun was beneath all that paper. The day after his birthday was really nice too! He kept busy and mom was happy!

Take a close look at Jackson's shirt...it says "I'm a big bother!" yes...that is an announcement! Jackson will be a big brother around Thanksgiving. We are so excited. I am almost three months along and out of the first trimester! I wanted to wait until I found out the sex of the baby, and make a total surprise announcement, but I couldn't wait that long! I am hoping for another boy, but Brian thinks it'll be a girl. We'll just have to wait and see!

Our little helper!

A known fact about children is they learn by copying, mimicking, and repetition. I just want to brag about my little helper, Jackson. For all of you other mothers out there who don't have the luxury of such a helper, I feel sorry for you!

Jackson has been catching on to the idea of how "fun" and "cool" it is to be a grown up. After all, we get to use the toilet and toilet paper, play in water while we wash dishes, dig our hands in flour and sugar, fold laundry and put away dishes in all those neat cupboards! Jackson wants to be just like us, so he tries his very best to do what we do. But he doesn't understand why we would want to stop him from having all that fun too!

Of course, his idea of "helping" is a lot different than yours and mine, but, he won't stay this young forever, so I'm learning to enjoy it!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

So, I was craving Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. I usually search the All Recipes website, but this time, even the top-rated recipe still had reviewers commenting on how little they tasted the peanut butter in the recipe! I stumbled across this cute blog and snagged an awesome recipe. Check it out on my link (Canadian baker) she has all sorts of yummy stuff on her blog!

If you want the recipe, here it is:

1/2 cup soft butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tbsp corn syrup

2 tbsp water

2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 F.In large bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by corn syrup, water and vanilla.In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in flour mixture into creamed mixture in thirds. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop 2 rounded tablespoons of dough 3 inches apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks. Makes about 2 dozen large cookies.

Easter Egg Hunt

This was Jackson's first Easter Egg Hunt! He actually did a good job at finding the eggs, and loved to shake them, not really caring what was in side. He didn't like putting them in the basket, though. He didn't catch on to the idea that he could get more eggs if he put the one he was holding in the basket....oh well. We had more fun as parents watching the whole thing! Holidays are way more exciting with children!

Hubby Tag

I am copying my sister-in-law, Claire, who also did this...great idea, I never have enough info about my husband on here!

What is his name? Brian Quinn Beutler (I love his middle name, we want to use it for one of our children’s names someday)

How long have you been married? 3 years, 7 months

How long did you date? 5 months, short and sweet~ we knew the best was yet to come!
How old is he? 28

Who eats more? He does at dinner time, but then again, he usually skips breakfast and lunch (I can’t do that)
Who said I love you first? I did! And it was a long couple of minutes until he had a reply!

Who is taller? He is

Who sings better? That’s a toss up!

Who is smarter? Brian, he’s more logical
Whose temper is worse? Probably mine, but I wouldn’t say mine is bad either…

Who does the laundry? Me

Who does the dishes? Me, usually. Sometimes he helps
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me, and He wouldn’t dream of switching sides!

Who pays the bills? Brian does, at least he got them all automated, so neither of us worry about it (OK, well HE might worry about making sure we have enough to pay them)
Who mows the lawn? The HOA, but soon it will be Brian when we have our own yard.
Who cooks dinner? Me, mostly. Although Brian is a great cook when he has time for it.

Who drives when you are together? Brian
Who is more stubborn? That’s a toss up too…

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Depends on the situation
Whose parents do you see the most? Together, we see ours both the same. But I visit my mom a lot, with Jackson, by myself.
Who proposed? Brian-of course!

Who has more friends? Brian~ he’s a great people person. I am horrible at keeping in touch

Who has more siblings? Me- but only by 1. I have 5 and he has 4

Who wears the pants in the family? I like to make sure that he thinks he does!
I LOVE YOU HONEY BUNCHES!

That's why they call it a toddler!

This is what you get when you have a 10 month old walking! Jackson got his first busted lip today. It was around 10am this morning. He was following me around the house while I did my daily pick-up, and he tripped over something on the floor, causing him to land, face first, into the changing table. Unfortunately, his lip got caught between his teeth and the changing table. It was quite an ordeal! After he cried it out, he fell asleep in my arms. I put him in his crib, only to find a bloody mess (and I don't mean the British term, it was really bloody) when he woke 2 hours later....

These pics were actually taken around 2p.m. ~ yup ~ still bleeding! It will be fine for a while, and then he will rub his nose, or bump it, which will bust it open again.

I am letting him walk around the house without a shirt on today, I tried the bib thing and he's already on his second one! Just hope I'm successful enough to keep him away from my white bedding! Wish me luck.

OH! The last pic is him running away from me when I was trying to take care of him this morning! Had to put it on the blog!

Who knew?

You have heard the saying, "Everything but the Kitchen sink" well, this deal included the kitchen sink! Brian and I are having custom cabinetry installed in the kitchen of our new house, and we were planning on taking sledge hammers to the old cabinetry and dumping it. We even planned a demolition party for Saturday morning. Last minute, my dad suggested we list it on KSL, so we did. I didn't think we'd have much interest. I even thought I priced it too high (at $1100 for the cabinetry, counter tops, appliances, and of course, the kitchen sink). Who knew that this specific layout would work in another's home? Within minutes, we had several people who were interested in looking at it. I got 5 calls within a half hour later- all potential buyers! I began thinking "they must know something we don't"...or "maybe I should have priced it higher afterall"! We met two families last night, both want the kitchen, and both will rip it out and haul it away for us. Sold! In less than 24 hours- What a deal! What would have been dumped, is now an extra $1100 in our pockets, PLUS we don't have to do the work of ripping out the old kitchen ourselves. Who Knew!?!? Thanks Dad!

I've been tagged!

Tag I'm It
Mauri tagged me a while ago, but I just figured it out, so here it goes.

The name of this game is to answer the following 10 questions and then tag 4 other friends or so to do the same on their blog pages.

1. Best thing you cooked last week? Spring pasta (one of our favorites, and the weather was perfect for it!)

2. If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who? The “with who” part is easy- definitely my husband Brian. I don’t get to spend enough one-on-one time with him and he makes anything more enjoyable. As far as “where”, a day at a spa would be nice, but if time is no issue, than I’d probably pick Chile or New Zealand. Two places we’ve always wanted to explore together.

3. When was the last time you cried? I think Brian has a better memory than I do on this stuff. I can’t specifically remember the last time I really cried (I mean, I shed an alligator tear once in a while, like when I misinterpret something Brian has said, but I don’t consider it “crying”), but I do remember crying once to Brian about how sad I’d be if either he or Jackson passed away. I remember telling him that I am not prepared for that day. I must have seen a movie, or watched the news that day and it triggered my emotions….

4. Five things you were doing 10 years ago? 1) Graduated from high school 2) working at the Pizza Factory 3) Broke and hungry, but on my own living at the Glenwood (AKA “Glenhood”) 4) attending UVSC 5) staying up way too late at night for my own good

5. Five things you were doing 5 years ago? 1) still attending UVSC 2) still broke and hungry and on my own 3) working as a dental assistant 4) living with Christina (who would eventually become my sister-in-law) 5) working out every day

6. Five things you were doing 1 year ago? 1) Pregnant, and what Brian likes to call “nesting” (shopping for baby stuff anywhere and everywhere) 2) yoga almost daily 3) Still going to school… working on my Bachelor’s degree at BYU in Nutrition (Chemistry was a KILLER!) 4) Serving as a Stake Assistant Camp Director and Ward Laurel Advisor (yes, we were planning summer camp in the middle of winter). 5) Becoming more in love with stampin up!

7. Seven of your favorite hobbies: Not in any order~ 1) yoga 2) card making/scrapbooking 3) taking pictures of Jackson 4) blogging 5) planning and decorating my new home 6) swaps (card,recipe, etc) 7) making desserts.

8. Five favorite Foods: 1) lemon desserts (specifically Cheescake Factory’s and Macaroni Grill’s lemon desserts) 2) Brian’s steaks 3) grilled zucchini and squash (any grilled vegetable really- onions, peppers, asparagus, etc.) 4) Mexican food- all of it 5) creamy Italian pasta sauces (I know, this will bite me in the butt some day)

9. Five places you've been: 1) Hawaii (Kauai, Honolulu) 2) Mexico (San Miguel de Allende and Puerto Vallarta) 3) Canada (Niagara Falls) 4) All over the West (CA, ID, UT, NV, WY) 5) TEXAS (I had to put this one in all caps)

10. Five favorite moments: 1) waiting in the celestial room of the temple with Brian before our wedding 2) the delivery room~seeing Jackson for the first time 3) cuddling with Brian during a movie at home on our couch 4) our first kiss! 5) seeing my boys accomplishments (both Brian and Jackson have accomplished a lot this year and each one makes me proud)

I tag Christina, Megan, Chantel, and Carissa (maybe she’ll finally get a blog).