Sneaky Christmas

I'm pretty sure I am not the only one Who may feel this way, but Christmas has just plain snuck up on me! ( is snuck a word? It is now) I think I have just been too wrapped up in the new changes in our family and getting through the nausea that I really thought there was more time. Not to mention I have just been in a funk lately....moms out there you know what I mean. You feel blah....nothing is fitting right and your cravings change from day to day, maybe even feeling a bit more emotional than normal. I don't remember going through this with the boys so I just did not quite know what to do with myself but lay on the sofa with a good show, a snack and water, while the boys sleep. Sometimes I could not even get up to make dinner because that is how yucky my whole body felt. To even look at or smell raw meat while trying to make dinner, made my tummy turn. And I have to be honest....after our little scare with the baby and me thinking that I was losing our little one, I still have this looming fear that it is going to happen. Part of the problem is all the articles and news stand magazine covers that highlight a mother losing her baby. I have to look away and not let that fear take root but rather the peace and joy of God that right now, all is well and for that be happy. And I am! I seriously cannot wait to feel the little movements of our baby. I feel now like the fog is lifting and I have more energy and drive to do more things again. "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." 1 Corinthians 14:33
So all that said, I have really been lazy about getting out a Christmas card (they are in the works...it's not Christmas day yet right;) I have no desire to bake cookies or let alone eat them and we did a huge majority of our shopping via Amazon Prime at home in our jammie's no hassle...free shipping gotta love it! I am so doing it again next year! I just want to get to Christmas morning with my family reading our Christmas story and snapping pictures of the joy on our boys faces.
Next year we will have a little 6 month old in the bunch....Crazy!

These days...Take two

I literally just put my sleepy boys to bed for what I hope will be a good nap. So lets try this again! So what have the Steinberg's been up to these days? Oh lots of wonderful things. Josh has been continually busy with working at the church and taking computer jobs on Friday's. There are lots of things I love about him working so close to home but one of them is that the boys and I can pop in for lunch with him whenever we can make it which really is such a blessing. He was recently in a wedding for a friend of ours all the way out in Arizona. It was not your typical black tie attire, it was more of a vintage western or parlor boy style. He hat a bowllow type hat (sorry if it is misspelled) with pinstripe pants and suspenders. He truly looked like a bar tender in an old western movie! Pictures to follow soon:)
Korban....oh my not so little Korban. He is quite the character these days and testing the waters on his independence. I'm learning that if you don't nip it in the bud, even if it seems repetitive, it can become quite the battle. I just hate being the bad guy all the time! But I keep looking at the end product and try to have more grace than I do discipline. A speaker at one of our church women's retreats was sharing a part in the Bible about the sower and what he will reap. I think int was 2 Corinthians 9:10. She said that a sower does not plant his seeds and expect fruit that very day, no, they plant their seeds and wait for it to grow in it's due season. In the mean time we are to water and tend to it so that it does not die. So that is what I keep reminding myself when I feel the way I do. Korban never ceases to make me laugh. A friend of ours gave him a dragon costume that he L-O-V-E-S to wear all the time. Really, he will wear it outside, at the dinner table, and probably to bed if I let him. He has inspired me to write a few children's books too. It is another thing I need to make time for and figure out how to go about doing.

And My Little Benjamin...sigh...his smile melts my heart. his whole face lights up when he smiles. Even if his bookie is in his mouth, you can tell he is smiling just by his bright eye's. He is army crawling all over the place with a few attempts to crawl on all fours. He says Mama and Dada. He can push himself up into a sitting position. He loves to play with big brothers cars, or eat them rather. He graciously removes his bookie before nursing...it's pretty funny. And while nursing likes to have a conversation with me. Yep. He stops eating just to look up and talk in his sweet soft little voice and then continues eating. I can't wait to see what he is going to be like as he gets bigger because he is already so much fun. I really do love having my two boys:)
And me? Well I have given a bridal shower and attended the said before wedding. I have been trying my hardest to keep up with friends but I think they understand maybe why they have not seen me as they too have little ones to look after. My new hobby is doing photo books and they have been so much fun to do. We are now getting ready for Easter, my favorite time of year. It's hard to think that it is already here and soon it will be Korban's 3rd Birthday and Benjamin's one month after that. But I think I will just focus on today because that is just about all I can handle. And yes....the boys are still asleep:)

These Days

What has been going on with us these days? I am finally feeling caught up around the house and have some time to actually sit and finish projects on the computer. ....until Benjamin just woke up....again....the end

Chocolate Orange

My not so little Korban has me on a Hot coco kick. He loves coco with all the fixings of course. I on the other hand was feeling a little adventurous one day and thought, "What can I put in this to make it different and still really yummy?" There are several things I like with chocolate such as orange. Have you ever had one of those chocolate orange balls? Or even an orange slice dipped in chocolate? So good....well to me, I know some do not like fruit with chocolate. Here is what I made...

And here is what you need...

- Dark chocolate coco powder (or regular chocolate coco powder)

-Milk

-Orange extract

-whipped cream

-Chocolate syrup

-Grated orange rind/zest

Follow the coco directions (with milk) on the back of your coco box but leave out the vanilla.

After the coco is all mixed and hot, add two or three drops of orange extract and stir.

Pile on the whipped cream.

drizzle some chocolate syrup over the top.

Use a hand held cheese grader to sprinkle your orange zest over the top, as much as you please.

To make it really good...curl up on the sofa with your love or a good movie/book/favorite TV show and you have a really good cup of coco.

Sew Sew

Have you ever had so many ideas rolling around in your head that it becomes overwhelming until you actually start to put them into motion? That is me. I have been wanting to create adorable baby items for some time now. I made a bundle of warm fuzzy baby hats....check. I started to try my line of baby clothing which totally blew up in my face....not going to check that one yet, I just don't think now was the time but it will be some day and I still have all my designs saved. I wanted to add burp cloths, wash cloths and eventually receiving blankets to my list....check...and still in progress. My mom bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and it has been sitting on my Kitchen table since then. Don't get me wrong, I have been using it but just not as consistently as I would like and love to. Your probably thinking, "Then why aren't you doing it now?" I would if every loud sound didn't wake up Mr. Benjamin. He thinks he is missing out on everything if something is going on in the kitchen so nap time is quiet relax time for mua. Therefore, sewing only happens when Josh is home or when the boys are both contently playing or watching a movie, so the sewing gets done in little spurts...for now. My ever so patient Mom helped me pick out fabric at Joannes and walked me through the step by step of how to thread and work the machine. And by George I finally figured it out (these things really frustrate me, I think I remember crying when she tried to help me make a dress for my senior portraits). I am starting with the burp cloths, little girl ones just in case and that case is not now for all you jumping to conclusions;)

These are a pale pink with little pea pods and it says "sweet pea" . After having finished them they are certainly not worthy to give to anyone or sell on etsy. I really need to practice sewing straight lines but they will go into my hope chest for some other day:)These ones are for a boy or girl. I made a set of 3 wash cloths and a burp cloth. I just loooooved the fabric! They are still in the works but I can't wait to use them for my boys.

I especially can't wait to go back to Joannes and look through all the fabric again.

So Good Home Goods!

I had not been to Home goods for some time and felt that it was time to see what new things they had in store for me. The boys room has been bugging me with it's clutter and things just not in places that were safe for a soon to be crawling baby. They needed a night stand to put their white noise machine on and a drawer for Korban's socks. After much searching and returning the first one that I thought would be good this is what I found...

So now the lightning McQueen clock has a permanent home as well as several other toys. The basket I also found at Home Goods and it fit perfectly for Benjamin's receiving blankets and burp cloth's. And just so you know, I am a bit of a neat freak about cords showing from electronic devises....so this picture really bugs me, (I must find another way). I inherited this from my Dad, thanks Dad and Josh thinks I'm strange.

Next was something that I was not planning on finding nor was I looking for but when I saw it I had to get it. FYI if you don't buy something that you see and like it is more than likely to be gone when you come back later. But fortunately for me they had an abundance of these cute little stools and one was just right for my Benjamin...

They even had some adorable ones for girls and i am seriously thinking of getting one just in case.

While making my way to the check out Korban noticed these cute little "lady's" as he calls them. I did not realize how much I needed one of these until I laid eyes on her! It is the cutest little lint roller ever! Your probably thinking, "wow you must have very linty clothes." No but I do shed like a Persian cat...all the nursing and hormones changing have caused the hair that I grew while pregnant to fall out:( It's pretty bad and I won't go into detail but my new lint rolling friend cleans my shirt up real nice:)

And my last favorite find was this little egg basket. It reminded me of staying at the B & B in Pennsylvania and gathering the eggs for our breakfast that morning. It fits perfectly in my fridge and just looks so cute. Now all I need is a glass milk bottle...next Home goods trip.


And in this case....yes I do put all my eggs in one basket;)

A love-ly day

This year I got a little head start on Valentines day. Korban had his little girly friend Lilly over to decorate some wooden valentine masks. Now I could have been all Kate plus 8 and been in oober control over the outcome of his art work but where is the fun in that? So I gave them some markers and crayons (and covered the table in butcher paper) and let them go to town.
And what would a Valentine be without something sweet? I had made up some Chocolate cupcakes and frosting the night before. The sprinkles I found at Home Goods ( my next blog is about that amazing store) and the cherries I picked up a few days later when we made more cupcakes for the actual Valentines day. It was too funny, after a little guided help to show the kids how to frost a cupcake, we let them do it on their own. Here is what happened...Korban went straight for the sprinkles, I mean he literally picked up his cup of sprinkles and knocked them back like it was a drink! Lilly loooooved the frosting, so she dipped her little frosting spreader into the frosting and licked it off and then again and again and again. So worth the sprinkley mess:)





































As I said we had to make more cupcakes for Valentines day. This time I got a little more fansy shmansy. We did Chocolate Cherry filled cupcakes with the same frosting (recipe on the package of powdered sugar) and maraschino cherries on top. As you can see my little chef was ready to go! We baked filled and frosted and sprinkled in less than 2 hours! I wanted them fresh and ready to take to Josh's work. If Benjamin had not decided to take a long and much needed morning nap, it never would have happened.

Well the cupcakes turned out fantastic! But then again anything cherry filled is amazing in my book. And look at his face....priceless no?

Growing

Our little Benjamin is, and has been for the last couple of weeks, 6 months old. I bought this little lion for him on Etsy around Christmas time for his grow up buddy. Until then I was using Korbans yellow ducky given to him by his auntie Cuh. I wish I had it in the beginning but I just couldn't find that perfect little something until I ran into the Crochet Buddies at a craft show in Mountain View Community Church. I looked at all the cute things the girl had on display but did not see a lion, I really wanted a lion for Benjamin. So she custom made one for me. I tried to describe to her as best as I could what I was hoping to find. At first when she sent me a picture of the lion I was not too thrilled...I was actually a little bumbed. It just did not look like what I had envisioned in my mind! But Josh said to go ahead and get it anyway because she worked really hard on it and it would not be nice to not buy it after requesting it...even though she could still sell it on Etsy. So I payed for it and hoped for the best. It came in the mail and I loved it! His picture did not do him justice

and now he is my little Benjamin's grow up buddy.

And other things that are growing....well, trying to grow. Last week Korban was eating an apple and discovered the little seeds in the center. He asked me in his cute little way "What dose momma?" So I explained to him how an apple grows. He then asked if we could grow one too! Sure why not, it can't be too hard and I have made some of my plants survive. Well it has been one week and it should take two weeks to see anything begin to form. For his little sake, I hope something happens! I mean look how sweet he is pouring soil into the flower pot!

Sianara Old Friend

I can't believe I forgot to post this! Josh has finally gotten rid of the old Honda.

It was a pretty nice car when we first started our courtship...I remember going on our first date to the movies in that car, we met at Packard's (In the plaza) and drove down the hill to see a movie, any movie, we didn't care. The Rookie was just getting ready to show when we got there and it was perfect. I don't think we ever let go of each others hand the whole night....sigh.

But time was not good to her. The paint Did not ware well under the sun and other things began to go wrong with it when one day she just died. It was for the better really, Josh needed a newer more reliable car. I even remember tying our second Christmas tree to the top of it. It made the car look so small! Who is that young well rested good looking couple? I have not seen them around in a while;)

Both of the boys woke up in time to see the tow truck come and haul her away. Korban right away said "Like Tow Mater!" Even though it was very brisk and a wee bit early in the morning he enjoyed standing outside in his little rain boots to see the tow truck in action.

She will be missed!

Veggies and Pancakes...Not together;)

Before it slips my mind, two recipes I have tried lately and the family loved.

First, Kale Gratin by Rachel Ray. Go to Foodnetwork.com click shows A-Z and click 30 minute meals or just type Kale Gratin with Pancetta in the subject box on food network and it will take you there too. It is soooo good! Usually kale can be kind of bitter and I have tried preparing it several different times and only got it right once but this one is amazingly delicious for cooked greens. My son who is very picky about cooked veggies actually ate this. I'm sure the bread crumbs and cream help a lot.

Next on my list of yummy things to eat is Lemon Poppy seed pancakes. one word...delicious! I love lemon poppy seed muffins and so I figured this is just the flatter version of one. My hubby and little boy loved them. We topped them with whipped cream of course;) I found this recipe from Allrecipes.com

I wish I took pictures but I was so hungry the thought did not even cross my mind so these are from the web sites and you will have to try these for yourself!

A Year In Pictures

I thought I would sum up this last year in a favorite photo from each month. An easy task right? Not if blogger gives you photo arranging problems! And not if you look at a picture and think, "really? This was in October? Where did the time go?" I spent most of my time looking over pictures just being baffled at how fast the year went by and a new one is well under way.

January , This was a fun afternoon...once Korban was willing to part with a golf ball for a few minutes and realized "hey I get the ball back every time!" He would drop the ball into the hole and do this funny little dance that he came up with all on his own. He was so little then!

February , I love this picture. It was cold and windy out. We were tired of being cooped up so we bundled up and went outside to just run around. It was a perfect time of day for photo taking, and so I did;)

March , I love it when the trees blossom. Me and my fancy self likes to use the color enhancer on my camera and sometimes they turn out pretty cool. I think I take a picture of this tree every Easter.

April, Utah. Korban and I visited my parents in the end of April. Who knew it would still be ridiculously cold and snowy? I loved how the snow stuck to the tulips. My Dad and his green thumb, it reminds me of all the flowers he would plant at our old place in Ramona....sigh:(

May, St. Louis Missouri. Our hotel was literally right across the street from this magnificent arch. It is pretty much the biggest green lawn our boy has ever played on. Don't worry son, I see a green front yard in the very near future!

June, My niece Naomi and my nephew Noah. We had a little photo shoot up at the Mt. Woodson Castle. They were great and we had such a fun time taking pics for their Daddy. It's hard to believe I used to take this not so little anymore girl to preschool three times a week and powder a certain someones hiney...sorry Noah but it's true;)

July, Pregnancy shoot! The castle again, it is one of my favorite spots for pretty pictures. I love this one so much because of my sweet Korbans face on my round big belly. This is how he would hug his brother.

August , My baby boy in all his newness ( Thank you Aunty cuh for being camera ready!) Isn't he soooo sweet?! And just because I could not NOT post this one it is from August too and it is priceless.

September, My niece Makenna dancing her little heart out at the car show. I just love this picture...like she is trying to give Jesus a big hug;)

October, In all his slumber my wee Benjamin. I took a million photos of him doing the same thing laying the same way. It seemed like no matter how many pics I took, none of them truly captured the perfect sweetness and peacefulness of his tiny face.

November, I was so sad that I did not focus the camera for this picture! We were at Camp Pendelton welcoming home the marines and this is Our friend Tristan hugging his girlfriend Kelsey after being apart for waaaaayyy toooo long. It's hard to focus a camera when your eyes are all watery from tears...I mean the sun, o.k.!

December, New years eve. We celebrated my Mom's birthday early since she would be going home to Utah on her birthday so why not celebrate it on New years? Way too much food but oh so much fun. I'm not sure who is harder to get a picture of....the kids or my Dad who has had enough picture taking....sorry Dad but as long as I have a camera I will always be wanting to take your picture;) Just think it's for your grandkids, grandkids, grandkids and so on.

Well this didn't even scratch the surface of all my favorite pictures for the year but it will have to do. I hope you all are having a blessed new year thus far!

Love,

Kristina