Pink Fluffy Bunny

Not the game that you play with marshmallows, that is usually only fun after sleep deprivation has significantly lowered your standards, but rather this adorable little coat. Lance made fun of me for making her wear it when it was still 68 degrees outside and said I had become the over-protective mother from the Christmas story by dressing our child in so many layers that she couldn't put her arms down to her side. You remember the scene. Go ahead picture it now, and then compare it to the picture below, and it is true. You'll see a stricking resemblence, although I believe this is the cuter version. In my defense, however, she was warm. Goal achieved.

Two is better than one

Finger sucking that is. When your fist doesn't quite seem to fit all the way into your tiny mouth, the obvious solution is to use the other one to hold your mouth open wider so that eventually it will. Or if that doesn't work, you will at least now have two partial fists in your mouth, both of which are delicious in their own right. Bon appetite.

The trouble with Halloween costumes

This being Alex's first Halloween I wanted to get her a really cute costume so that she could participate in the festivities, and like the novice that I am I ordered it online. And then we waited, and waited, and waited. It didn't make it for our family Halloween party, or the ward Halloween party, or the Play date Halloween party. And we were still waiting onOctober 31st when I decided I couldn't wait anymore and I was just going to go out and find whatever leftover costume was still at the store. As luck would have it, I have a wonderful friend who came to my rescue. Shawn Christensen, upon hearing my dilema, offerred the services of a "Chubby Chicken" costume that her boys would not be using this year. It was so cute that we decided to go and show daddy at work how cute she was. Turns out you can't take a cute baby dressed in a chicken costume into a photography studio and not come out with some pictures. And conveniently Hazen also has a variety of backdrops to choose from including this old barn door. Cock-a-doodle-doo. Wait, that's a rooster. Oh well, I am leaving it anyway.
Nice re-touch work daddy.


After pictures and returning the ugly costume I had purchased in desparation at the store, we headed home, and what would be sitting on our porch when we pulled up but the costume that I had ordered online. I believe this is the definition of cutting it close. The package arrived at 4:30 on Halloween night. I already had kids at my door! I was debating whether to just send it back when I opened it up and saw the Princess Leia wig, which incidentially could also pass as big horn sheep horns, but nevertheless I was sold. Princess Leia it would be.
Maren and Emery came Trick-or-Treating too.


Alex wasn't as big a fan of the wig as I was. In fact she was fairly grumpy and barely tolerant of the whole idea. She did make it through Trick-or-treating without a fuss, being distracted I am sure by what she assumed were all the other miserable children out there whose parents had also dressed them up in ridiculous costumes to parade around (what good was the candy we were getting going to be to her anyway). But she wanted out the second we got home. However, once she was set free she was all smiles agian. Boy, it is a good thing we went to all that effort for a costume.


Thinking about it . . . Thinking about it . . . Yep, happy agian.

Dibs on Halloween

Of all of the major holidays, mini ones like St. Patricks day don't really count, Halloween is one I feel up to planning the activities for. Thanksgiving is way too much pressure, lest we forget my roll catastrophy two years ago for which I will now never again volunteer to make rolls for anyone, and Christmas is a marathon for which I don't think I have enough creative stamina to pull off. But Halloween, a holiday where if the food ends up a disaster you have the option of saying "why yes, it is supposed to look like monster brains", is my kind of holiday.

We hosted our third annual Halloween Party this year. Lance was very excited.

We had lots of food and games, and in the end our house was torn apart, which I feel is the sign of any good party. All in all it was a "roaring" (awesome pun) success.

Our food.

Honored guests.


Oh yeah, we carved pumpkins too.

Happy Halloween!!

Comedians

Apparently Lance and I have finally become funny. It's true. The evidence is on Alex's face. We're hilarious. We were wondering when this was going to happen because before this new and exciting breakthrough our main competition for smiles were the ceiling fan and the pictures on the wall, which apparently were much more amusing than either Lance or I until now. We feel so honored to now be included among these great comedians that have provided our little girl with endless entertainment and take great joy each time we make our daughter smile.

Stylista

Who knew that Lance was a closet fashion guru. I go to work on Mondays and Lance gets to stay home with the baby, which he now declares as his favorite day of the week. This is a picture of Alex on one such Monday. Please take a moment and observe her outfit which Lance picked out all by himself. It matches! Well done, daddy. I didn't know you had it in you.

Zuppa Tuscana knockoff

Once upon a time I was making a soup that was supposed to resemble corn chowder, but I was out of a couple of the key ingredients, so I substituted with other things that I did have and voila! a delicious soup resembling Olive Garden's Zuppa Tuscana was created.  Here are the specifics for all of you who have been wondering.  (I apologize for the lack of exactness.  As this was an accident to begin with I have never really written it down and still tend to just eyeball it.  But don't worry.  You'll do great as I know that almost everyone that will be reading this will be more advanced in the culinary arts than me.  Enjoy!)

Zuppa Tuscana

6-8 Potatoes (maybe more maybe less depending on their size)

1 pkg spinach

2-3 T. butter

16 oz. package sausage

12 oz. can evaporated milk

salt 

pepper

italian spices

Nature's seasoning

Peel and slice potatoes in thin slices like you would for scalloped potatoes.  There should be enough to fill your pan about halfway.  Fill the pan with enough water to cover the potatoes plus just a little bit more and set to boiling.  In separate pan combine a couple tablespoons of butter and the bag of spinach.  Saute the spinach in the butter and as it wilts chop it into little pieces with your spatula.  Cook your sausage like you would hamburger (don't drain, the grease in the soup broth is delicious although slightly less waist friendly-it's just better if you don't think about it).  Add your cooked spinach, sausage, and evaporated milk to the potatoes once they are fully cooked (do not drain potatoes) and stir.  Once the evapporated milk has been added DON'T bring to a boil again.  This can be disastrous.  Now here is where the guess work comes in.  Add some salt, pepper, italian seasoning or nature's seasoning (if you have some) or whatever else you like to season with or sounds good to you.  I just keep adding until it tastes good and I can see an even mixture of little seasoning particles floating happily in my broth.

Anyway, that is it.  Enjoy and substitute or add to anything you want because "When you are here, You're family".   

 

Getting ready for church is quite the process now that it includes a tiny baby.  This is Lance's first time completing the entire process from start to finish all by himself.  (well, except for picking out the cute girly outfit, that was still me) What a good daddy!!

WHAT!!  The Harris blog has been updated?  It is true.  Miracles do happen.  As a mostly stay at home mom, I have decided to take command of this ship.  This is my first attempt, so if you would please keep your laughs to a minimum and only do so behind my back I would appreciate it.  I hope you enjoy seeing the events of our lives as we certainly enjoyed experiencing them. Next time maybe you should come along.  Then you wouldn't have to read about it on our blog.  Just a thought. 

In anticipation of the professional photo shoot we were going to have with Alex, we decided to practice some of the trickier poses we knew we would be asked to do so that we wouldn't "A" look like idiots or "B" drop the baby, a much worse alternative.  Here is what it looks like done at home with a cell phone camera. (hmph amateurs)

And here is what it looks like done in the hands of a professional with a big mondo camera.  Thanks Toni!  Your the best.

Here are some more pictures that display Toni's expertise as well as allow you to more fully absorb the cuteness of this baby.  Enjoy.

The cutest frog ever!

This one we affectionately call Popeye.

One great "small" happy family.

Home is a big place

Well, that is about all I have to say about that.

Special Talents

What a good girl.  She already knows how to pray.  True, she is doing it with her feet, but we'll get things squared away eventually.  This is actually her trip home from the hospital.  What a cutie!

There's my mom

It took about a half hour after birth before Lindsay was able to hold her due to the c-section. But she was sure glad to see a beautifully bathed and washed healthy baby.
We feel so lucky. I really am amazed at the knowledge our doctors and staff had to deliver her. Thank you Dr Healy and Dale and staff. Today was truly a miracle.


photo posted from my iPhone

Daddy's little girl

She looks so little next to her dad's abnormally large hands.



photo posted from my iPhone

Her eyes aren't really that dark. A bit weird lighting here.



photo posted from my iPhone

Baby Alex is here!

7lbs 3oz 20 inches. Dark hair dark eyes and beautiful. She came c- section at around 2:00pm after the attempt to turn her around was unsuccessful.
Lindsay is doing very well too. We are parents now, weird, but awesome.
I will try and post a few more pics but I can only post one at a time on my phone so patience.



photo posted from my iPhone