Pretty Colors for Dinner

I posted this picture on my facebook account the other night, and a lot of people "liked" it, so I thought I would elaborate on the tasty goodness. This meal has become one of my summer time favorites. I buy all the ingredients from my local farmer's market (excluding the chicken) and it feels good to eat so many yummy and colorful veggies as well as support my local farmers.

I originally got this recipe from the cook book "Our Best Bites". Which has also become one of my favorites. All the recipes I have made from the book are AMAZING! And the ingredients are fresh and go together so well. I discovered recently that these two LDS ladies have a website that is equally awesome and informational. They are moms (just like me) and they like to make yummy creations (just like me). Check it out: www.ourbestbites.com .

When you get to the webpage you can type in the search box 'italian chicken skewers'. The recipe calls for a BBQ which we have, but when you live in an apartment with a tiny patio, let's face it, it's just kind of a big fat hassle to get the thing out. I am thinking they would be incredible on the "barbie". Let me know if you do that :) So I just put them on a cookie sheet in the oven with these directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes then flip over and bake other side for 10 minutes. Depending on how big your chicken chunks are, they may need some more time, but I found the chicken to be just right and moist with the 20 minute baking time.

Serve up with some quinoa, and you've got a protein packed meal! I know that a whole bottle of Italian dressing (I used Newman's family italan) seems like a lot, but probably more than half of it drips off. Also, I marinated my mushrooms for about an hour before assembling the skewers.

Hope you enjoy!

Summer Time

Summer has been great to us. We're loving all the time that we get to spend together because Kinzer is out of school. Lots of swimming, parks, family visits, and just being outside.

I can't believe how much Jane is growing up. It really feels like she is learning something new or doing something new every day. She is such a smart baby and (probably because we are her parents) we think that every little thing she does is amazingly perfect. Some our favorite things that she does:

* "ma ma" "da da" "ya ya" "ba ba" and many more un-identifiables... I love to hear her voice :)
* Sign language! I was amazed that she started to pick up on the signs I have been doing with her since she was little. It's great that she can communicate with us.  She's only 8 months old!
* She gets very intense when she eats. She'll get a big cheesy smile and show us her teeth, then start laughing.
* She claps for herself. So cute.
* LOVES music. We like to have little family dance parties at night with her and she hates when it's over.
* She also loves to see the chorister in Sacrament meeting and waves her arms when the hymns start playing, like she's leading the music.
* Any water anywhere can entertain her for hours. We went to the splash pad today and she was hyperventilating over the water shooting out all over the place.

Picture time :)

Happy 4th of July!

She loves her dad's hats.

Jane played with her 2nd cousin, Lynden, while in Utah. It was so much fun to see them interact.

Some more fun friends for Jane. Marlow (left) and Molly (right). Jane and Molly had matching swim suits.

Best toy ever: a lime.

Jane has a toothbrush and she loves to have her gums and teeth brushed. Start 'em early!

Put my shower cap on her. She thought it was so funny! So did I.

Trip to the zoo. Jane and this monkey had a stare down for a little bit. Hilarious.

The road trip to and from Utah. Jane did a great job. We were pretty anxious about how it would go, but she was a champ.

We had to document her tiny tuft of "bed head" one morning. I can't wait for her to have more hair. Isn't she cute in the morning?

Those beautiful blue eyes get lots of comments. And even though she has no hair, there is no mistaking her for a boy because of the lashes she got from her dad. I'm jealous!

While I was in Utah, my mom's neighbor had some free furniture on their lawn. So I snatched up this super comfortable rocking chair and refinished it with new cushions and all. I gave it to my sister. I hope she can use it to rock lots of cute babies to sleep :)

Just stuff

Hold the phone for this one...
...
I just feel like blogging. Weird.

Right now we're in Utah visiting family.  Family is so good for me.  Ever since we moved to California (almost 3 years ago), I have really had roller coasters of emotions.  Happy, sad, excited, angry, free, alone, hopeful, and the list does go on. I didn't realize how much of a home-body I am until I moved about 800 miles away. I remember saying to myself "My life will never be the same. It will be worse". I am here to tell you that moving away has been a very big blessing in my life. Here are some reasons why:

I am a different person. I'm happier.
I don't feel pressured to be someone I am not.
I am content and happy to make decisions that are good for me and for my family.
I am forced to learn and grown in an area that I am not 100% familiar with.
I can make new friends that know me and like me for who I am right now and not who I was.
I cherish opportunities to learn and grow as a mother and wife. These opportunities are important to me especially because I don't have my own mother around to lean on.
I have a true and deep love for those around me that support me and love me because they are who I associate with on a daily basis.
I don't take for granted my family in Utah. When I lived in here I didn't embrace the fact that my parents lived 5 minutes away. I miss them a whole bunch.
I feel more care-free. (maybe that's the Santa-Cruz-hippie rubbing off on me)

These things, along with others, are the reason that I am thankful that I was brave enough to pack up the Uhaul and drive across the dessert to the land of "the Granolas: fruits, flakes, and nuts." When I come home to visit, I am reminded of the blessing it has been to live in California. I am reminded of the change that has taken place in my life. Good change. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Utah. It's just not the best place for me. And even though marrying someone from another state has had it's rough times, I couldn't be more thankful for my California boy, and for our wonderful life there.

We struggle, but we have each other. All 3 of us :) We have hard times, but we get through them. We work hard, and sometimes it's not enough, but we are doing it. We are living life. We are enjoying our moments together. We are laughing and playing and learning and growing. This is just our life and I am in major likeness with it. I'm thankful for California. I'm thankful for all the good things that have come from living there and all the things that have come since living there, this one being the biggest blessing of all:

The 6 month, veggie-loving, ferberized, water baby, Janey pants

Jane is asleep. It's so nice when she is doing that, but honestly, I kind of miss her when she is asleep. I get so excited to get her out of bed!

Jane is almost 6 months old. I can't really believe it. I super like the stage that she is at right now and constantly find my self telling Kinzer that I wish these moments would freeze and we could soak EVERYTHING up before time goes on.

Jane is loving her solids. She is an awesome eater! Must get that from me :) So far she loves all veggies (sometimes sketchy about peas), and after every bite she says, "MMMMMMM". We haven't started fruit yet. But if she loves veggies so much, I think she'll go crazy over fruit.

Jane has been "ferberized". I never knew that there was such a thing as sleep training until I married into the Kaupert fam. One word about Dr. Ferber's sleep training method: AMAZING! She responded so well to it and I haven't slept so well since she was born. She goes to bed at 7:30 PM, wakes up at 4:30 AM to eat, then goes back to bed until 7:30/8:00 AM. When we put her down for a nap she fusses for 10 seconds, then starts talking to her self until she falls asleep. When we put her to bed at night there is no rocking involved and (this is the awesome part) no pacifier. We give her a kiss and an "I love you" then put her down. She rolls to her side and dozes right off. It's so incredible. I loved being able to rock her to sleep and have her stay up with us and I had a little bit of anxiety the first few days because I felt like I wasn't giving her enough attention (because I get an extra 3 hours to myself every night now). But I love even more the fact that she loves her bed, and the fact that I get to hangout with just Kinzer for a good 3 hours before we head to bed. One day we woke up after an amazing night of sleep and the first thing I said was, "I have a testimony of the Ferber method!!!" I really do. If you want to know more about the Ferber method you can get the book from the library (or buy it). There are 2 editions. We actually didn't use the book at all. We read a lot online, and this website explained things well and the writer has a really funny approach to the whole thing.

We took Jane swimming yesterday. She loved it. She loves the water, and couldn't stop splashing. It is going to be such a fun summer with the pool. She loves to be outside and has spent a lot of time outside since she was a born. We take her out every chance we get. Thank you California weather :)

She is growing and learning every day. As much as I love this time we have and I try my hardest to soak it all in, I look forward to seeing the little toddler that Janey will be. I love hearing her sweet squeals and screeches, but I'm excited for her to speak words. When I talk to her she really stares deep into my soul, trying to make sense of it all. I love her.

Here she is with hands clasped. There's a lot more where these came from.

We wanted to take advantage of the beautiful spring blossoms. So we turned it in to a very early Easter shoot.

Solids

Swim baby

Easter was fun. The only picture I have of Jane in her dress is the bottom one of the Kaupert Family. It was such a poofy thing and so hard to hold her in it. Jane loved sucking on the Easter Eggs she received and the little kids in the family LOVE Jane. They can't get enough of her. I can understand that:)

The cheeks!

Jane Darl

Hello blogging world! It's nice to see you again.

It's been a really long time since I blogged. And you know what the great thing is? I don't feel guilty about it. Nope I don't. I decided that I just can't be a wonder mom that blogs at least once a week. It's just going to have to be once a month. Maybe twice if you're lucky. Or maybe not even once if you're unlucky :)

These past 4 months of my life have been LIFE CHANGING. I mean, I just had a baby. No biggie. Just another human being to take care of. And let me tell you, when I say "take care of" that is an understatement (if that's possible). I don't really take care of myself anymore. Well, that's not true, I try really hard everyday to brush my teeth, eat 3 (or 1) meals, exercise for at least 20 minutes [just dance: wii], and shower. I can accomplish these things much easier than I could a couple months ago.

This is the hardest job I've ever loved.

Jane Darl Kaupert entered our lives on October 19th, 2012 around 5 AM. Weighing 8 lbs 3 oz, 21.5 inches long. I can't quite find the words to explain how perfect she is. She just fits so well into our life. It's the best. The very best.

I'll spare you the whole birth story and mention some of the bigger points:

- I was 9 days overdue. In the 100 degree Fresno weather. Awesome.

- Jane's heart rate dropped so I was induced and had to lay in one position and let the contractions hit me like a ton of bricks.

- Because of the afore mentioned contractions I got the epidural. It was a beautiful thing :)

- I was in labor for 18 hours. Pushing the last hour.

- When she made her entrance my whole life stopped. The water works were flowing, and I blurted out, "Best day of my life!!!"

- Kinzer is the greatest man. I will love him forever for everything, but especially seeing his sweet face at that moment and the tears in this proud father eyes.

- Giving birth may be the most spiritual experience I have ever had. It was tough, but I tried so hard to focus on the beautiful gift of life. Just incredible. Complete bliss.

Jane is named after her her great great grandmothers. Jane Brown was Kinzer's great grandmother who he had a great relationship with. And Susie Darl McGhie was my great grandmother, who I never knew, but her middle name, Darl, is short for darling.

We love having Jane around. She has such a personality and is growing so much everyday. She is at such a fun stage right now. She's got such big eyes and since day one arches her back and turns her head from side to side to see what the heck is going on. Many people say she has a pensive look. She has a furrowed brow a lot of the time. Even when she is sleeping. She clasps her hands together all the time, especially when she eats. It's like she's saying "Oh goody"! She is so the best. I could go on and on, but I wouldn't know where to stop. So I'll leave you with some fun pictures of Jane's life so far in this big big world.

Hello world!

First bath

11 days old on Halloween

We caught this smile during a feeding at 2 am.

She has always loved to arch that back. I can't believe she was that little. *tear

We couldn't wait to use the bumbo. This is her at 5 weeks and she has loved the bumbo ever since.

Visiting with Santa.

Christmas Card 2012

This is Jane's great grandma Cavell.

Hanging with Grandpa Larry

Fell asleep while I was clipping her finger nails :)

I just loved this face. And I love cuddling with Jane in bed.

First time at the park on the swings. Such a happy baby.

These two... my very most favorite people.

Can't get enough of those cheeks!

She loves to gum her fingers.

Just for fun.

Walking on West Cliff, Santa Cruz, CA. Beautiful!

The sand was so messy, but I let her go to town. I found the evidence of swallowed sand in Jane's diaper the next day...

First time touching the Pacific ocean. She's a California baby.

Happy family.

So tired that she fell asleep in the tub. She loves her bath time.

Sunday best.

Thanks for stoppin' by!