Cookbook

Van Tuyl Famil...

By Cricket Whitman

Today I finally put the finished editing on the cookbook and it is ready to purchase. Of course I really think only people in my family will purchase it but anyone else is more than welcome to. The cost ended up being more than I had anticipated, but ended up being 200 color pages, so it makes since. Anyhow....great book of 188 recipes and MANY treasured photos of family, past and present. You can preview the first 15 pages by clicking on the link above. ENJOY!

Thanksgiving Rug

Last year I saw this idea in Family Fun magazine and searched all around for a rug to do it on but never found one. This year I was determined to do it. In my desperation I found a black rug at Walmart that I just flipped upside down. (And the best part was that it only cost me$4). All the feet are Boston's (except for the big red one....which is mine) Dallas only wanted to do his hands only and then the little feet are Asher's. I thought our little turkey came out very well. Boston is finally at the age that he really enjoys all the craft projects, which makes it even more fun.

Late to church

Since we've had Asher we are late to church everytime. Doesn't seem to matter what time we actually start getting ready, we are still late. Ugh, and I just hate being late to church. I feel like if I'm going to be on time for anything all week, it should be for church. I mean, how is it that I can get all the kids and I ready for a doctor's appt and be there on time by 9am, but not for church. My theory is that the devil throw every kind of curve ball at us on Sunday mornings just so we won't make it there. But we make it, late, but we make it. And I think that's the most important thing. I think God knows where our heart is, and that we will be there, even if we have to park in the dirt lot a million miles away!

A night off

My parents so graciously offered for the big boys to spend the night at their house tonight. So we dropped them off around 4 and headed to the new IKEA store that opened this week. Not such a great idea since all of Orlando was there! Very cool store but we decided to come back again sometime when everyone and their mother wasn't there. We then went to eat at Mimi's Cafe, yummy! And Asher was great as he tagged along. Then we went to Walmart to do some Christmas shopping for the boys. Its rare when we have time to shop with each other without the boys. So I think we got everything purchased for them, they are so easy to shop for, it's the REST of the family that takes much thought and preparation. Anyhow...it was a fun night out with Sean...THANK YOU mom and dad!

Garcia's over for Dinner

Asher and Lucas

Watching the kids play
In on the action in our backyard
Pizza time!

Tonight the Garcia Family came over for pizza and fun. First we all went out in the backyard to run around and the kids had a blast. Boy did they all have a lot of energy! We have really been enjoying our backyard so much for the past week (I think mainly since it's not so HOT). We usually always play in the front yard, but now that our pond has dried up there's even more room to run. It's at least as big as a football field out there! The boys have started riding their trikes down the hill in our yard and this is a great deal of fun that they introduced to Israel, Amaya and Jonah. I myself remember sleding down the hill in my backyard growing up. Guess this will be our Florida version of sleding! And it was funny how all the boys fought over who got to play with the PINK ball while the only girl, Amaya, played with a truck in the sand! I know the boys really enjoyed playing with them and look forward having them come play again soon. And of course mommy and daddy enjoyed the company of some fun adults like Juan and Rebecca. And it was cute to watch little Asher interact with their little Lucas. It will be fun to watch them play once Asher is crawling as well. Thanks again for joining us tonight and for the awesome Brownie Mountain guys!!!

Boston's Trike-a-Thon

Today Boston had a Trike-a-Thon at school to benefit St Jude's Children's hospital. He had a great time getting to go to school during the morning hours (9-12noon instead of 1-4pm). And today the high is only in the 60's were as it was 85 yesterday! A nice nip in the air. Actually feels a little like winter! I of course was so sad that I couldn't stay and help out with the trike-a-thon. With Dallas and Asher it would have been very hard to be much help and it was just too cold too keep little Asher outside. And I wanted so badly to be there cheering him on and taking pictures to capture the moment. But his teacher assured me that I really wasn't going to miss anything and that most parents weren't even staying. I realized that I won't be able to be there for EVERY moment. And this is something that is hard for me to grasp. I don't want to miss a thing in any of their little lives, but I know that with 3 (or more in the future) that there will be times that their schedules will conflict and I won't be able to be in two places at one time. So this is just the beginning. I'm just going to have to come to grips with the fact that if I'm not at everything that it doesn't make me any less of a mommy. Because I was distraught about it I decided to take Dallas and Asher to Walmart, shopping always gets my mind off of things, even if it's just for groceries or a birthday present for the party tonight. Dallas had so much fun shopping with mommy all by himself (Asher slept the whole time.) We spent 1 1/2 hours roaming around Walmart. He got to touch and feel everything, it was like a field trip for him! And I felt good and by the time we picked up Boston, everyone had had a great day!

That night we went over to my friend Carrie's son's birthday party, Luke turned 4! We had a great time, the boys especially running in their backyard and playing with all Luke and Abby's toys. Thanks for inviting us to the party Carrie!

Tree of Thanksgiving

For the month of November I've been trying to get the boys into the "spirit" of Thanksgiving. So I came up with this idea of a "Tree of Thanksgiving." We cut fall leaves out of construction paper and I drew a tree on some white paper that I taped to our back door. Everyday they get to pick one (or more on many days) to put something they are thankful for on. Of course I end up writing it and I try and draw a little picture, since they can't read yet. Boston has really gotten into it. Dallas doesn't seem to care so much. Some things Boston is thankful for are hugs, family, friends at school, Daddy, Asher, grandparents, etc. Dallas on the other hand names Trains, candy, buzz lightyear and so on. Funny how the difference in age can really play a vital role in the way they answer a question. LOL Mommy is thankful for the kids naptime, cooler weather, ice cream, family and great neighbors. So on Thanksgiving I'll make a list of all the things everyone has been thankful for. It's been a really fun thing to do this year and I look forward to making this a tradition we do in our house every year!

Asher's 6 months old

Asher turned 6 months old today. He's eating solid foods now: pears, prunes, avocado and sweet potato as well as rice and oatmeal. He LOVES his solid food. Scraffs it down and usually I have to go get more. Most days he eating breakfast lunch and dinner. He rolls over all the time. Doesn't sit up well yet on his own, but when on his stomach really tries to scoot (without much success yet). He sure loves his big brothers, always distracted by them. Especially when he's nursing...which makes it kinda hard for mommy to get his 4 feedings in. But he's sure not malnutritioned. At his appt today he weighed in at 18lb 8 oz, 28 inches long. Dr Yarckin said his two bottom teeth are almost through, shouldn't be more than 2 weeks till they are in. Which explains his little bit of fussiness (he never cries except when hungry or wet) and the fact that he's chewing on anything and everything with drool dripping out of his mouth. He's also babbling all the time, with dadadada being his favorite. He's quite the loud talker already, trying to keep up with big brothers! Laughs and most anything....quite honestly he's THE HAPPIEST baby I have ever seen. It truly is amazing to me. He lives up to his name, which actually means happy. God has truly blessed us with him!

Thanksgiving Snack

Today was Boston's snack day so I made these yummy turkey snacks for him to take. I got the recipe of ricekrispies.com. They are turkeys made with cocoa krispies. I shaped them and then spread peanut butter on top, sprinkled with cocoa krispies. The eyes are marshmellows halfed with a red hot. A candy corn nose and pretzel stick legs. The feathers were suppossed to be out of pretzels but I couldn't get them to stick inside so I forfeited them. But I still think they looked like turkeys and Boston was so excited about taking them. Snack day is a big day for him. He gets to be snack helper and he's always talked about what everyone brought that day. I don't think any of the other moms make homeade stuff so I think this is a treat.

Thanksgiving at Boston's School

Boston's school had their Thanksgiving Feast at lunch today. Daddy even got to meet us there and get to see his school and meet his teacher for the first time (even though he got a flat tire on the way there...he changed it in lightening speed so he didn't miss Boston perform.) Before the feast the preschoolers sang us some very sweet songs about Jesus. Boston has been singing them for us for weeks now, so excited about them. He just loves all the movements that go along with them. I'm so proud of him. He did such a great job up there. And we had the perfect seats. I got us seats right in front center and Boston was standing right in the center. It was great. At first he was so excited to see us out there that he just smiled and forgot all about singing, but then he got into it.