09May 2016

The Mother of all Sprinkles

By K + Z 0 Holidays, Personal Permalink 0

Sloan and I took a little trip down south this week. We hit up The Store, Trader Joe’s, and even a little visit to Jungle Jim’s. I haven’t been to that place in 20 years. It hasn’t changed. Sloan’s entrance was free [because she was under 2 years old] and we hit up all the rides that she could stand. The Merry-Go-Round and spaceship ride went well.

The swings were literally a swing and a miss. She cried so hard they stopped the ride for her.On the way home we stopped at Lonestar to get fish tacos for our Quattro de Mayo. We had a lot going on for the 5th, so we decided to celebrate the day earlier. The food tasted just as good 24 hours earlier…

We have hit up the park every day this week. Sloan’s favorite is the park just south of the SDRC. The slides, the spinny pods…
She definitely hasn’t skipped a beat – even considering her stitches.

Thursday we got her stitches out. I had planned to wait for Zach, but I knew she would do better if I took her right after her nap. So her and I went together, after saying a prayer that everything would go well. Truthfully, it couldn’t have gone better. She sat on my lap the whole time while they took them out and she was a total champion.

They look a lot better than I imagined they would. It’s incredible how fast children heal.

Saturday all of the girls in my family got together for pedicures. I brought Cutler’s sugar cookies [obviously] to snack on while we were getting our toes done. Little did I know that my snack would be my pedicure’s demise. When I was all finished and I pulled my toes out of the UV light box – I noticed a green dot right in the middle of my big toe. I asked the girl who did my polish what had happened, and she informed me “is from your cookie”. Which meant a sprinkle had been caught in the shellac crossfire and was embedded in my toe forever. Or at least for the next 4+ weeks. It made me realize my addition to Cutler’s almond glazed sugar cookies is because TOO aware.

Saturday night we celebrated Mother’s Day early with the Hendersons for dinner down town. The food was amazing and the company – even better. As many of the adults as could join us did, along with baby Quinn.

Zach and Sloan totally spoiled me for Mother’s Day this year. Zach let me sleep in. Sloan lasted the entire block of sacrament meeting without either of us having to go out in the hall. It was a dream. I’ve been playing with my new gift way more than I’d like to admit, too…

We celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom at her house for dinner Sunday night. My grandma joined us, along with my brother and sister-in-law. It was relaxing and great to be together. I couldn’t have asked for a better Mother’s Day.

I love being a mom to a little girl. I love experiencing new things with her. The simplest of things bring her the most joy – like getting her toe nails painted. I didn’t want her to feel left out, considering she’s OBSESSED with my toe nail polish right now [even with the green sprinkle].

painted toes

She sat completely still the entire time and oohed and ahhhed when she could see [and touch them].

I couldn’t ask for a better husband and father to our baby girl. He makes me feel like supermom – even when I feel like I’ve failed.

30Mar 2016

Easter 2016

By K + Z 0 Family, Holidays, Personal Permalink 0

I’m a little behind on what we’ve been up to. Nothing monumental, just things I want to remember.

Zach’s dad got a new Bell 407 – and on Saturday of the week before last we went to the hangar to check it out. Sloan might have herself a spot in the family business as a helicopter pilot…

I took Sloan to Danger Park this week when the weather was perfect. She went down the big slide all by herself and had mixed emotions about it.
Turns out she preferred to run along the grass next to the park – collecting rocks and stomping on the access panels.

I took Sloan to the Aquarium for her first time. She loves animals, so I thought it would be a hit!

She loved the tanks of fish, the shark tunnel…but mostly the other people.She was enthralled in all the animal action – until she spotted an elderly woman in a wheelchair. She became obsessed with her and followed her around wherever she went. Where she went – we went. She waved at her near 20 times and I’m sure the woman didn’t notice a single one. She babbled and smiled. The penguins were no longer interesting, she was determined to make friends with this woman. She just wants to be liked, I guess.

We stayed for a while and then made our way out through the gift shop. Pretty sure this was the other highlight of our visit. Next time I’ll save the $17 and take her to the mall…or an assisted living center.

The Wednesday before Easter, all of the Hendo girls (minus Katie T) went out to dinner at the Dodo while Siri was in town. She came to look at some potential houses because their family is moving back to Utah from Ohio in a few short weeks. It’s always a good time with these ladies.

Plus I got to snuggle with Max for a bit.

Zach and I also went on two date nights – Dinner and a movie [where Zach tried pho for the first time and DIDN’T hate it]…

…and our movie at the Sugarhouse theater with the recliners, because we can’t go to any other theater now that we have been ruined by the plushness of said theater. Plus they sell Mike and Ikes in small bags.

I’m trying to expand my “cooking arsenal” as Zach calls it. I feel like we get into the same rut each week. So I tried something new: salmon kabobs. They rocked my world. Zucchini + slices of lemon + cubes of salmon on the grill for 8 minutes. Easiest/healthiest dinner possible, in my opinion. Even Zach enjoyed them!Speaking of healthy: out of the freaking blue our ghetto Smith’s up the street starting selling Halo Top ice cream. And not just the run-of-the-mill HT -> BIRTHDAY CAKE FLAVOR. When I saw it I almost didn’t believe it. It was almost mythical, I had never actually seen in or tasted it. I know I sound ridiculous – but this stuff doesn’t stay on the shelves ANYWHERE. It sells out before I have ever had a chance to buy and try. But there was one pint left and it was like all the angels in heaven were singing as I opened the door to the freezer.
I know it sounds dramatic – but I had FOUR PEOPLE message me asking me where I found it once I posted this photo on Snapchat. So I’m not the only one who has been on the hunt. In the end, I liked it so much that I pre-ordered a box from the grocery store and I am awaiting the day when I can pick up it up to enjoy it. How can you not love a pint of ice cream that has 280 calories PER PINT?!

But enough of that – Easter. Back to Easter.

Saturday we spent with the Hendersons. We did our annual egg hunt and got a visit from EB. He was as pleasant (and sweaty unbeknownst to the kiddos) as ever. Sloan enjoyed finding her own eggs…and eggs that were not hers…but her sweet cousin, Ellie helped her find ones with her name on them. Sloan wasn’t phased by EB, she knows this is the drill.

Soon we will be having 4 more grandkids join the fun when Sean and Siri move back to Utah. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier…

For the longest time I couldn’t figure out who we were missing in this photo – until I realized baby Max was taking a snooze and is not pictured. Next year, buddy.

After brunch and all the fun was had – we drove back home. Zach dropped Sloan and I off so we could go on a run on the trail while he picked up his new Easter suit the EB had bought him from the tailer.

Afterwards we showered up, got ready, and we went out on our Saturday date. Cafe Trio for dinner and “Hello My Name is Doris” for our movie. PS – it was my first time trying the pan seared salmon with lentils at Trio, it was BOMB!

When we got home from our date I set out all of Sloan’s Easter swag so she could discover it in the morning.

She woke up a little sad – turns out she is not only cutting two teeth like I had thought. She was cutting 6 teeth. Her bottom molar has already poked through along with some sharp cuspids! Poor girl. I didn’t even realize it when I would brush her teeth at night, which made me feel even worse. She’s a tough girl, that Sloan.

She loved her goodies and we had a festive breakfast before church.

We got dressed in our Sunday best and snapped a few photos before we raced off to sacrament.

I wish I would have snapped a few more photos of Zach in his Easter suit. He looked prime.

After church and Sloan’s nap we drove down to South Jordan for dinner at my Aunt’s house with my family. They had a whole little egg hunt planned for Sloan and Cam – including TWO Easter baskets from all my aunts, cousins, and parents. She was spoiled rotten – she even got a sweet tricycle!

Easter is such an emotional holiday for me – even more so now that Sloan has joined our family. I’m so grateful for our Savior, his atonement, and for my eternal family. No part of my testimony is as certain as the love I have for my older brother Jesus Christ and his love for me. I see it every day in the eyes of this little girl he sent me. I don’t know how I got so lucky.

20Mar 2016

St. Patrick’s Day 2016

By K + Z 0 Activities, Holidays, Sloan Permalink 0

I must preface our week by saying that upon arriving home from Targhee, unpacking, laundry, and checking my emails…the week didn’t start off great. My inbox was flooded with requests from several clients – including two time sensitive projects due Thursday morning. I had to reschedule some commitments and appointments so I could be available to finish the two of the biggest projects. It was a stressful welcome home, but we managed. Wednesday night I had only completed 50-something pages of the 80-something page project and it was already late. I didn’t think I would have enough time to do anything festive for Sloan for St. Patrick’s Day – but Zach convinced me to do it anyway. I didn’t decorate the house or buy any St. Patty’s graphic tee’s for Sloan. But his mom and my mom both used to cut out green feet and leave a trail that lead to surprises that the “leprachauns” had left the night before. It’s stupid, but we both loved it as kids. So I cut out those dang feet, threw some green colored items in a bucket, and laid out the feet in a trail. I finished my project very very late that night, but I finished it.

The next morning Sloan slept in a bit, which was heaven sent, and we lead her to the trail of green footprints.

Her little “ooohhh” when she saw the basket of goodies (mostly food, obviously) was worth it. I know a lot of people don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and think the hype is lame – but it used to be so much fun for me when I was young – and Zach was more adamant than I was about the whole thing. His mom takes holidays even further than MY mom did [which is hard to believe].

We had some green colored scrambled eggs for breakfast, got dressed in a couple of green items, and ran our errands. We had avocado mac (because, it’s green) for lunch before her nap.

I worked some more during nap time and then when she woke up we went on a run on the Legacy Trail.

We got back, I showered up, and we went to get dinner for another separate – but related tradition: March Madness prep. We always have pizza and do bracket strategy. We had done our brackets the night before, so I picked up pizza for dinner. I told Zach I was going to have dinner hot and ready on the table when he got home. I didn’t lie…

We watched the games, put Sloan to bed, and watched a few more afterwards. It was a fun day. I’m so lucky to have these two people as my best friends forever.

12Jan 2016

New Year

By K + Z 0 Family, Holidays Permalink 0

I have seen a pattern on social media lately. I feel like everyone has had a tough year. It’s made me evaluate our year, as a friendly. This year has been one of the best of my life. Has it been the easiest year? NO WAY! But it’s been a great year. Good growth, good memories. I wouldn’t change a thing. I started my holiday with a long list of resolutions. I do this every year. Drink more water, run more, blah blah blah…

Basically a ton of random goals – but mostly to make better healthier choices. So what did we do on New Year’s Eve? Chow down on my favorite dessert, obviously. It was the “last supper” of sorts for me. We had plans to spend the evening at our friends’ house – but Zach wasn’t feeling well. So we enjoyed our brownie sundaes at home together just the three of us.

We stayed in our comfies all night and watched the ball drop. It wasn’t a rager, but it was pretty great.

New Year’s Day was just as relaxed. We had lunch together at Pizzeria Limone and ran some errands.
Later that night I went to dinner with my high school friends. Alison was in town from New York and so all of us girls ate at Finca (and some of our spouses – Zach stayed home because he still wasn’t feeling well). It was so great to catch up with these ladies, they never disappoint.
FullSizeRender_1

I also got to dine out with my SBO friends at Tsunami over the holiday. I haven’t seen some of them in almost two years – so it was a long time coming. I also got to meet Bryson’s new baby – Sloane.

Now that it’s the new year, we have switched to 11:00 church. It’s basically the best thing that has happened to us all year. Literally, it’s only the second week…

That first Sunday we had my family over to our house for Sunday dinner. I made my mother-in-laws crock pot turkey roast. It was a hit (and easier than I’d like to let on).
I don’t know why, or how it’s even possible, but Sloan has grown up so much over the past few weeks. She’s started walking confidently now. She can walk anywhere and everywhere. There’s no stopping her now [unless she is wearing tights…those are slippery]. She’s also a very good eater, and has started to do it all on her own. Seeing a plate full of “real” food in front of her makes me feel like I actually have a toddler living in the house.

Sloan has to have her nutrition on point – because she is now a swimmer. Well, she’s in Mommy and Me Swim Classes. She loves the water. Floating on her back she does NOT love, but we’re working on that…
FullSizeRender_3 Sloan loved her swimming lessons so much that I decided to take it a step further. My dad has been certified to teach Survival Swim Classes for years, so I conned him into spending his Saturday morning at the SDRC with Sloan and I. She did better than I excepted.
Being underwater is not her favorite, but she’s getting used it. It eases my mind that she will be able to learn what to do if she ever falls into a pool or lake. Considering we have a family vacation planned for my birthday where we will be staying near water, I am glad we did it sooner rather than later. Give her a few more weeks and she’ll be a pro!

We’ve also picked a family motto for the year. It’s not glamorous – but it fits my intent for the upcoming year. JUST DO IT. Yes, Nike coined it first…but we have a different perspective. At tithing settlement our Bishop gave us a quote from President Uchtdorf, “Don’t let a day go by without doing something to act on the prompting of the Spirit.” It struck me and has stayed with me. Too often I push aside simple promptings because I have my own agenda and to-do list. I’ve decided that if I feel prompted to do something…even if it seems ridiculous, to DO IT.

My first experience happened just a few days ago. Sloan went down for bed and Zach stayed home while I ran to the grocery store. Going to the grocery store at 9:00 at night alone is much more productive than with a wee one in the middle of the day. So, there I was flying through the grocery store and getting my list checked off in record time. I had one more item to grab and was on my way down the corresponding aisle. Right then a man walked by me (he must have been over 70 years old) walking on TWO crutches. The poor man was moving in slow motion as he passed me and I pulled into a check-out lane. Something inside of me told me to help him, but I had two other errands to run and it was already getting late. So I began checking out. Then I remembered my OWN MOTTO that I had chosen. Just FREAKING do it. So I asked the cashier to continue checking me out and then asked if she would watch my cart for me while I helped that man (she had seen him as well and her heart had ached like mine for him). So the young girl guarded my cart while I ran to the back of the store. I couldn’t find him. I ran up and down the aisles until I finally spotted him in the health supplement area. He was trying to reach something on the bottom shelf – which you can imagine is nearly impossible on TWO crutches. So I approached him, asked if I could help him, and he obliged. He had me grab 10 Five-Hour Energys (berry flavor) and helped him find a newspaper at the front of the store. He told me that he also needed a powdered supplement because his wife can’t eat solid food. That hit me the hardest. This man, who probably needs a hip replacement, was caring for his wife who was in worse shape than he was. While we were walking to the front of the store [it took a while] he talked to me about politics and current events. For a second I thought I was walking with my Grandpa Fotheringham, who has been gone for a while now. I helped him check out – I didn’t even catch his name – and he thanked me. It was simple, took only 15 minutes, but he let me know that without my help it would have taken him double the time. I got out to my car, loaded my groceries, and cried my freaking eyes out.

So, in short, I’m just going to do it. Whatever that may be. Call a friend if I feel like I should. Drop off dinner if it feels right. I feel like acting on these feelings will only help me be a better…and maybe eating a few less Cutler’s sugar cookies. That won’t make me a BETTER person, but will possibly make me LOOK BETTER in a swim suit.

28Dec 2015

Christmas 2015

By K + Z 0 Family, Holidays, Personal, Sloan Permalink 0

The week leading up to Christmas day was filled with family and friend events. Sloan was a champ and handled the hustle and bustle of our schedule like it was no thang. At the beginning of the week we had a get-together with my old roommates from USU. We haven’t all been together for almost two years, so it was fun to catch up with all of them and their significant others.
Also, Sloan met Kelli and Luke’s Bennett for the first time. He’s four months younger than her and almost already her height. She was swooning over him the whole night. My only goal was for her NOT to poke his little eyes out [that’s her new thing…touching people’s eyeballs…]

Wednesday I had made a reservation for all three of us to go to the Roof. But since Saturday was the day after Christmas – we asked the cute girl that watches Sloan on Saturdays to switch for a Wednesday night. She obliged and Zach and I had a date night instead. We did a little last minute Christmas shopping, had dinner with a view, and then ran some errands before getting home to a sleeping Sloan.

Christmas Eve was slow and sweet. We all slept in, I attempted [for my fourth time – I just can’t find the right one] to make an almond pastry for my family, and then we all showered up and made our way up to the Layton AMC to meet Mark and Jeanene for our Christmas Eve tradition – a movie.

I was so proud of Sloan. She lasted over an hour into the movie before I had to bail with her. We decided to drive across the street to the mall instead of roam the halls of the movie theater. She was in heaven watching the hoards of people and even more thrilled to watch the train that was weaving down the halls. Afterwards we met up with everyone again + Chad and Racheal’s family at Tepanyaki for dinner. It was Sloan’s first time and she thought it was the greatest dining experience of her life. She would NOT stop pointing at our guy on the grill. We even convinced him to toss her her very own shrimp [which hit her in the head] and she thought it was just the greatest thing ever. We all left completely stuffed and smelling of fried rice. My two BFFs weren’t mad about it, though…

Christmas morning was the cherry on top. Sloan was so excited when Zach walked her down the stairs to see her stocking filled with THE MOST random of gifts. Zach got a signed football helmet by Kyle himself…and wore it during the duration of gift opening.

Zach surprised me with a freezer to go out in our garage! We were totally lame this year and just told each other which clothes and coats we wanted, purchased said items, and then wrapped them up. It wasn’t super sentimental – but we both got exactly what we wanted. So when that freezer was all set up and cooling down in our garage…I thought my heart might explode. I guess that’s part of being an adult: wishing for freezers and other house hold appliances! We stayed in our PJs all morning – until my parents and brother and sister-in-law came over to join us. They all gave Sloan her gifts [the adults did not exchange gifts this year – we are saving up for our family vacation instead] and she was on cloud 9 opening gift after gift they got her. My mom – instead of coal – got Sloan a can of black beans in her stocking. That, surprisingly, was her favorite item she received. I can’t wait to see her enjoy all of her other gifts – including the cutest piggy bank, books, and a doll house. Our families spoiled Sloan more than we did!

We made our way to my grandpa’s house in Magna to exchange gifts with my mom’s extended family. Sadly, I didn’t get any photos. I wish I had a picture of my grandpa opening his tablet we all got him.

Afterwards we drove up to Ogden to eat dinner at Mark and Jeanene’s house. As per usual – Mimi and Papa had planned quite the show for their grandkids. The Gingerbread Man [my nephew Alex] came and visited the grandkids. But, in a shocking turn of events, the Grinch [Zach] bit both his arms off and one leg…
It all worked out OK, though. The Grinch apologized for stealing all the grandkid’s gifts and then biting the limbs off of Gingie. Sloan was dressed as a gingerbread girl…but wasn’t fooled by Alex’s costume. She knew right away that he was inside. What really tripped her out was that her Dad’s voice was coming out of a green monster. She kept trying to rip open his mouth and look inside…There aren’t grandparents that are more fun than Mark and Jeanene. Mark is so creative with his ideas and the kids just love every second. I can’t get over this picture of all of them together with Mimi and Papa [we are missing Clark, who went rogue and Connor, Addie, Cole, and Aiden because they were in Ohio].

We went to bed wayyyy too late that night. After we made our way home from O-Town, put Sloan to bed, and unloaded our car we were both exhausted. I don’t think a successful Christmas happens without a little exhaustion.

The Saturday after Christmas I was in overdrive. I had all our Christmas decor and the majority of our Christmas cleaned up by Sloan’s first nap. There’s nothing more depressing that having the Christmas hang-over left all over your house. In the afternoon it was our Fotheringham Christmas party. My parents dropped by our house on the way down to help set up to bring Sloan a few more gifts they had from their Christmas Eve gift exchange. My aunt and uncle got her the most hilarious hat [with bangs and braids] that she thought was the greatest thing she had ever worn. Along with a singing lamp that lights up. It was like Christmas was on repeat in this house…
We spent our evening down in Draper with thousands of Fotheringhams. We had soup and salad, had a game exchange, and visited with everyone.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. Sloan made it even more enjoyable and exciting. She isn’t quite at the age where she can understand the true meaning – but we’re going to work on that next year. In the meantime, she’s all about her can of black beans and abandoned wrapping paper and boxes. I’m so grateful for my Savior – who gave me my best friend and my baby girl. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

22Dec 2015

Winter Wonderland

By K + Z 0 Activities, Family, Food, Holidays Permalink 0

In years past, I used to dread when a big snowstorm would roll in. But with a one-year-old in my house [and no commute to Salt Lake for work] I couldn’t have been more excited when I saw the forecast for this week. Sloan has experienced snow before – but not to this extent. She is actually old enough to play in it now. Monday, during Zach’s lunch, he came home to build a luge for Sloan to slide down in her snowsuit.

She also discovered she could EAT the snow. Which was possibly the highlight of her whole week. She doesn’t look thrilled – but she tripped out when we took her inside.

Monday evening – for FHE – we went with Mark and Jeanene to Rodizio for Zach’s birthday dinner. Yes, his actual birthday was in September – but we are a little behind on birthday dinners currently. Sloan loved watching the snow fall through the giant windows and later would enjoy (even more) the servers bringing skewers of meat to our table every 30 seconds.

Mid week I dressed Sloan in her gingie jammies and we decorated a gingerbread house. We had some structural issues – hence the peppermint columns – but everything turned out alright. Turns out Sloan doesn’t care for frosting – but she sucked on the gingerbread child that was included in the kit for a solid 20 minutes. We’ve had a lot of mail being delivered. Family members are sending gifts for others to my house so they can keep them a surprise. Don’t even ask to see inside my pantry if you come over until AFTER Christmas Eve. It looks like a FedEx delivery truck inside there. Sloan loves a good mail day – she loves even more when stuff we can actually open shows up…

This week Sloan got a lot more goodies in her advent calendar. My favorite was “One reading of Dad’s favorite Christmas book”. If you haven’t read The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher – YOU MUST. It is a Hendo Family favorite…as it should be.

Saturday a few of the Hendersons went down to Las Vegas for the BYU vs Utah Football game. In a strange turn of events – the wives weren’t actually invited to the game. Instead, we were told we could “go to lunch and go shopping”. We flew down Saturday morning and I can honestly say it was the best football game I’ve ever been to. Sorry, Zach… My parents watched Sloan for the day. She was in heaven – doing all the last minute Christmas shopping my parents had to do. She thrives in a public setting…

We weren’t even there for 12 hours [the shortest amount of time I’ve ever been to Vegas] but we managed to have lunch at the Wynn Cafe – please get the Asian Chicken Salad…please, shop at Fashion Show Mall – Zara IS FINALLY OPEN, hit up Caesar’s Forum Shops, and have dinner at Joe’s with the boys once the game was over. I’m pretty sure after Zach saw the damage that was done at the NIKE store he probably wished I would have just gone to the game, but like I said: best game I’ve ever been to.

We flew home around 8:00 pm – saying goodbye to Vegas at night is my favorite view of the flight home.

The next morning was church bright and early. I had to teach the lesson in Relief Society (just a sub, obviously) and afterwards we made our way to the Henderson extended family Christmas party at the Layton Skating Rink. Sloan could have watched her cousins all night and played in blow-up land for the rest of her little life. She also has fallen hard for Lael’s infamous sugar cookies. I couldn’t even sneak a bite without her mouth gaping open for a taste.

This upcoming week is already going to be bananas. We have a family or friend party every night leading up to Christmas. Even though the schedule is daunting – I can’t wait to see all my loved ones and count the days down to Christmas. THREE more sleeps until the big day!

Category Holidays