Happy Father's Day, Christopher!!

Dawson and I are so lucky to have a great father/husband in our lives and I know baby girl Emerson will feel the same way. Dawson is always so excited when Christopher is home and wants to play with him non-stop. Here is a list of why Christopher is such a great Dad:

1. Sits and plays cars for as long as Dawson wants.
2. Gives out lots of piggy back rides, wrestles, and chases Dawson..some of his favorite games.
3. No matter what Christopher is doing; be it mowing the lawn, putting away dishes, or feeding the pets; he is patient and always lets Dawson help him when Dawson asks to help even if it takes twice as long.
4. He catches lots of potato bugs for Dawson.
5. Always has us read our scriptures and say family prayers.
6. Teaches Dawson about being respectful to people, especially women, and most importantly Mom.
7. Is willing to work hard for our family so I can stay home with Dawson.
8. Teaches Dawson about the Gospel and Jesus and the Temple.
9. He is a very hands on Dad and from day one willing helped with diaper changing, baths, feeding, etc.
10. Makes Dawson laugh and will be silly with him.

Dawson completely admires his Dad and loves him to pieces...we are so grateful for him in our lives!

PS Check out the post below for a Tasty Tuesday recipe!

Tasty Tuesday

My friend Camilla shared this recipe on a recipe blog called www.yumyumsinourtums.blogspot.com. It is such a fun recipe and me and my sister Missy thoroughly enjoyed making chocolate cake in five minutes! So simple and so tasty. This would be perfect with a scoop of ice cream right on top!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Puts a Smile On My Face...

Tasty Tuesday (one day late!)

I figure having it be one day late instead of not at all is pretty good for me these days! I am just a bit off with the blogging lately I dunno why! This is a fabulous recipe I got from my Paper Crafts Gourmet cookbook that I am so lucky to own. I recommend trying this beef it's great!! I made it and we used it for tacos, but you can use it for the filling on any Mexican dish like burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas...you name it!

Machaca Beef
By Kim Kesti
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 lbs boneless beef roast
1 large onion, sliced
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilis
1 T minced garlic
1 can (28 oz) chopped tomatoes
1 t salt
1/2 t cumin
1 t fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS
- Place all ingredients in crockpot, cook on low for 8-10 hours
- Remove beef from crockpot and shred.
- Drain liquid and chop remaning ingredients in pot, and mix beef back in.

You can use the beef for a variety of things: tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas - so many possibilities!

Maternity Photos!

My awesome friend Carrie wanted to "practice" taking maternity photos and asked me if she could take some for me and of course I said YES! The reason why I say "practice" is because I think she doesn't need practice and is such an awesome photographer already. She took them yesterday and has already posted a sneak peek of a few on her photo blog so I just wanted to put the link here. You should check out all her photos on it because she is awesome and so fun to work with and comes up with some really cute ideas. Thanks again Carrie, I LOVE them!

The Sillies with Dawson

Here are some things Dawson has said or done lately that has made us laugh! Life with a 2 year old is never boring that's for sure!

1. As I get closer to the end of my pregnancy and as things get more frustrating to do (bend over, pick up Dawson, even sometimes just getting myself up off the couch...) I have relied on my sweet husband to help me out (and he is always so nice and willing!!) Well, when I need him and he is in the other room I have to call "Chris!!" Dawson has notice this is a great way to get things too. He will be sitting on the couch, in bed, or in his room and when he needs something he now says "Chris!!" It just makes us laugh so hard because he is "Dad" any other time. Our favorite is when he is in bed and we hear "Chris!! Glass of water please!" To quote my friend Carrie "I wonder if my husband is getting sick of hearing his own name!"

2. We have talked a lot about baby sister who is coming soon, which has peaked Dawson's interest babies a lot. Anything that is big and small is now a mommy and a baby (animals, tractors, food...you name it!) When we are out somewhere and he sees a baby he now says to me...OHHHHH MOM!! A BABY!!! AWWWW!!

3. The new obsession around here is potato bugs, which is pronounced by Dawson "ato gugs." We have spent lots of evenings already searching and catching these little critters.

4. Thanks to Uncle Jeremy, every time we see a big truck Dawson moves his arms up and down and says "honk, honk!" because he wants the truck to honk at us. When it doesn't work he asks me to make the truck honk. Thanks, Jer.

5. It's amazing how quickly and how young little kids can pick up on being sarcastic and teasing! When Dawson is asked to say sorry for something or excuse me for burping he tries to get around being polite by saying it in one of his goofy voices. He usually tries a couple different ones before I tell him to say it nicely which then he says the "sorry" or "excuse me" in a monotone bored voice, like I am totally ruining all the fun in life.

**The video is a clip of him pretending to be Cookie Monster. On one of his kid's CDs there is a song and at the end Cookie Monster comes and eats everything and says "Hey, you got Jello?!" So when Dawson pretends he is Cookie Monster he does his little pretending eating bit then says "Jello!" at the end.