Introducing "Double Double"

Last night we took the kid in with us for my ultrasound. I'd like to introduce the newest member of the fam, baby Double Double, nicknamed after the most delicious In and Out Burger with double meat & double cheese (don't forget to get it "animal style"). Instead of being meaty and cheesy, both of which I'm sure he will be upon birth, this little guy is a boy-which means that now the Ruppers will have two boys and two girls-we feel complete! Now if only I could get some fries with that...

There was really no question about the sex of the baby. I had a feeling that it was a boy, one of the four times I've ever been right about anything. When the technician ran the scanner across my belly though Brett blurted out, "Oh yeah, that's a boy alright!" Unfortunately Brett was standing behind me when he made the discovery so I didn't get to see his face. There have only been two times I've seen him really show a huge display of joy-the time we found out that Quinn was a boy, and the first time he ate at Lucille's smokehouse(yeah, weird, I know). Regardless, we're both excited and relieved because I knew that we were supposed to have another boy, but we both felt like four was IT for us too, it worked out splendidly.

As for a name, we have been calling him Baby Max. We're thinking Maxwell James. I know, I'm revealing a name I like before we see his face which is weird, but look, you can see his face up there in the 3-d ultrasound right? Although, don't make anything personalized yet people because I may change my mind, I have a few months...he may just be Double Double, or hey Jill-maybe we should go with Sweet D? (We're liking the series you sent-thanks).

Winter Projects...

If any of you know Brett, you know that he can't sit still, which means that he always needs to have something he's working on. This was his BIG project for winter-he made a bed frame! Brett doesn't play video games and can't be glued to the t.v.-both of which would be cheaper, but he builds things and this I LOVE about him-anything he decides to do he does, usually within 7-10 days. This thing is STURDY, in fact, I'm surprised that he didn't get a hernia carrying the headboard upstairs-it was a near death experience! Once in the room and assembled, he then painted and distressed it and finished off painting the ceiling and moulding he'd installed last winter. Our room finally looks finished! I'm so proud of my man, anytime I see something in a catalog I like he'll make it for me. It seems that every year he makes a few new things for the house. I make cookies and babies and he makes tables, shelves, beds, and the money to fund it all. Yeah, the only problem we have now is that winter isn't quite over and Brett has almost finished the desk he's currently working on for me...he's gotta spend more time in the office to cover the costs of all the time in the garage!

Anyway, thank you Brett for the Christmas, Birthday, anniversary, mother's day, etc. gift. You say it's all those things but I know that you'll be ready for another project by Mother's Day, then another by mid-summer, and another in the fall...I'll start thumbing through catalogs for ideas...

Why Mormons Build Temples

There's been a lot of hype about the HBO series depicting LDS temple ceremonies in their show "Big Love" airing this week. I think if they do it accurately they might end up putting half of their viewers to sleep to be honest! Brett thinks people will watch and wonder "okay, is that all?" Taken out of context it doesn't really make sense. The church issued a statement on the official website regarding their stance on this issue. They also put up a video entitled, "Why Mormons Build Temples."

I liked the simplicity of Elder Holland's statement about temples in the video, he said, "I can go to the temple and feel close to God, I can feel holiness." The temple to me isn't so much about the ceremony, it's about the feeling I have when I'm there. Closer to God-that's what I feel too when I go there, but I can't portray that feeling in a video, or in writing, it's something you have to go there to experience for yourself. I guess that's what keeps me going back.

Just Life...

This is Quinner in his new shirt and tie he got for Valentine's Day. Kinda strange when your son is ecstatic about getting clothing as a gift but honestly, it got him excited to go to Sunbeams, and, he looks pretty cute too if I might say so.

Last week when we were getting ready for church Quinn mentioned that his Daddy needs a new tie. I told him that maybe he should pick one out for him. He replied that he did need to pick one out for Brett, because "Daddy doesn't know style." Yeah, he's three.

Here are the kids enjoying the latest snow storm. We got about 15 inches the other day!

Izzy is slowly proceeding to walk, but she's doing just fine at the making a mess stage, she's quite proficient!

Also, she looks innocent, but the girl turns all green and mean if you make her mad! Watch out or she'll bust ya! (Izzy does try to hit with these gloves but they're heavy so it's really funny to watch!)

Random thoughts...

Do you ever spend the time while you're waiting for your Cream of Wheat to cool sitting at the computer reading the blogs of friends, then friends of friends? Here I am again, in my pink plaid pjs mourning the return of winter after a beautiful sunny spring Sunday, just pokin' around, reading about other girls' lives, wishing they were all my girlfriends and they'd pop in for a visit. I think this is why television dramas are so appealing-I don't have any drama happening other than the daily tantrums of children, which aren't very interesting when they occur so regularly!Winter gives me the blues. I need people. I need to be needed. And I feel so shut in when it's cold out and I'm stuck at home. It's kinda hard to feel like part of the world when I don't have a job that gets me together with other adults, and I don't have a huge social network in this small town where everyone has so much family around to do stuff with. I need my kids to be well so I can schedule some playdates. I need the sunshine to cheer me. I need to find some decent maternity clothes. And, I need to go eat my breakfast...

The Chewy

Jill, you may hate me for this, but aren't you getting sick of the peanut butter cookies yet? Okay, these I found on the Food Network website and they are chewy tasty chocolatey goodness. The cookies are huge, they're like a meal in and of themselves, get a glass of cold milk and it's the best meal I've made in a while! Anyway, I've made these twice in the past what, ten days probably. I can't get enough of them. Here's the recipe, you're welcome. If you make them and feel guilty about eating half the batch you're welcome to drop the rest off at my house because I'm not shy about eating more!

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups bread flour (I added a bit more)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Our California Adventure

Let me start by saying that my children are totally spoiled. I don't buy them any toy they ask for, but I'm a sucker for sugar and I usually end up with a few forms of it in my cart each time I shop. Well, the morning of our departure we stopped in to Payson market and got donuts for breakfast. This one was the size of a toilet seat, no joke, and it was the one Quinn requested so we got it for him. On the way through the checkout line my boy started to cry, saying that we didn't even buy him a treat! Really!? Yeah, spoiled. Rotten. I'm sure the dentist will confirm that next week when we visit him as well!

Okay, so somehow I can't ever figure out how to post my pictures in the order I want. Anyway, these few are of the beach in San Clemente where we visited Carson and Tina.

The kids had so much fun playing in the sand and getting attention from their Aunt and Uncle. Thank you guys for having us and for the perfect day at the beach!

Izzy enjoyed throwing sand everywhere, even eating some too.

Carson and Quinner built and then destroyed a sand castle together. Quinn loved the attention and Carson made it apparent that he needs a boy!

The kids and their Daddy. Yeah did you think I'd post a picture of myself pregnant and in a swimsuit at the beach? Nah.

Okay, so these next few are shots from the tide pools in Palos Verdes, our favorite place to check out the creatures and collect sea shells.

We had a good time looking for critters. Brett was fearless and scavenged an octopus out from under a rock! And of course there were the usual hermit crabs, urchins, starfish, and even a weird slug we'd never seen before.

And of course, Disneyland. We hit the park on a Thursday-I'd definately recommend weekdays because there weren't too many people and this time of year the weather is perfect.

The kids really had a blast. Here they are on Treasure Island.

Quinner was excited to meet Mickey prior to the trip, and Anna was anxious to go on all the rollercoasters. I traded off with Brett and took Anna on Space Mountain right after they got off. As we started getting going Anna yelled that her tummy was feeling funny. I panicked and told her to swallow hard. She kept yelling it and I closed my mouth and waited for her to lose it...luckily she made it but I was a little hesitant to bring her on any other fast rides. She kept wanting to go though and hit Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain-three times in a row! The girl was so happy! With her allowance she bought a journal and wrote about her experience right when we got back to our hotel-funny girl!

Brett just joined the gym this week. I wonder if it was because of the look Quinner gave him here?

Oh, and the Dumbo ride. No trip to Disneyland is complete without riding Dumbo!

These are pictures from a visit to the Long Beach Aquarium where we met up with the Merritt girls. Here's Anna with her buddy Grace.

And the boys feeding the Lorikeets.

Touching the stingrays. Here they tell you that the rays' tails are trimmed every few months, in case anyone is worried about having a Steve Irwin experience. I'll be honest, I thought about it. Then I went ahead and touched. These guys feel like slimy mushrooms. I had a roomate (I won't name any names) describe a guy's lips as feeling the same when she kissed him. Mmmm.

And here I am with my friend Chelsea. We only had three days in town and I would've loved to see everyone from Redondo, but I realized that we'd just need to plan for a longer trip next time so we can visit the old ward, or set up a playdate in the park to meet up with ya'll. Chels was nice enough to meet us here and it was fun to meet her baby Hope and to catch up. I think Brett knew Chels was a MUST for me on the trip so he was kind enough to occupy Quinner while the rest of us girls got reacquainted and enjoyed the warm weather. Thank you Brett! Thank you Chelsea also for coming to spend the morning with us!

And here is one last shot of my baby girl Elizabeth. I think she enjoyed her first family vacation as much as the other kids. She won't remember it, I'm sure, but the rest of us will!