Rainbow Cake

Several people have asked me how I made the Rainbow Cake. I have posted it on my food blog. As much as I would like to take credit for it, I like to give credit where credit is due.... SO ...
I found it at Omnomicon Check them out, those pictures are WAY cooler than mine :)

Coupon Clipping

I went to a coupon class a while ago (Thanks Maria!!!) And I think its really helping me. I have been coupon clipping for almost a month. It has been so much fun. I look forward to seeing how much I save every week. This week I was very pleased with the results. This is a way to build my food/household needs storage and still save money. I know that at first I will continue to spend about $100 per week in my groceries and household needs but soon (I give it another month) I hope to be spending half of that. I spent $95.49. That might sound like a lot but I would have spent $165.49! That would have been shocking to pay. This week I saved a whopping $70.45, this is roughly 42.5% SAVINGS! I think that is pretty dang amazing.

I follow the GrocerySmarts program. Its a free! You need a password to get into it and it is ... g84cas

Vino's Grocery Store

This is our version of Richard's (aka Dick's Grocery Store). We have no storage in our house and with no garage its makes it very difficult to have a decent place to put all our stuff in. We have been wanting to redo this 'storage' room for a while now. Dave brought home some of his old shelves last night and with the help of two very wonderful girls (my AWESOME mom and my Darling Leah) we got it done. Leah and I took EVERYTHING out of the so called storage and then with my mom we put the new shelves in and started to put together Vino's Grocery Store. Why Vino's? It's short for Trevino. I know... I am very clever :D. We still have room to add more of our food storage. I love to walk in there and see how nice it all looks. Now I am very easily see what I need and I can 'shop' from my own pantry.

Happy Day to Al!!!

Al had his 69th birthday this week and tonight we got to celebrate. We had a delicious dinner and a delicious desert (hahaa... I made the desert so of course I think it was pretty good). Looking at the picture above I can only imagine Al had a great day as well. All but one of his grand kids lives in Utah now and having them all here must be very nice for him (it is for us). I can't say enough about how much we love Grandpa Al. He is a fun, loving, easy to talk to, at times strict (wink, wink) grandpa, who loves his grand kids and shows it. He is affectionate with them and loves the little babies. He is a great laugh and we certainly love to be part of his family. Al always makes me laugh, sometimes to the point of tears or embarrassment. Needless to say we have a great time with him.

WE LOOOOOVE YOU AL!
More than we can ever express or even let you know.
You are wonderful to all of us. XXX's and OOO's

For future reference: One of Al's favorite deserts is German Chocolate Cake, the one Karen used to make, so I gave it a go. All from scratch, just to make him happy, well it wasn't good enough. Of course Karen's was better, well turns out she makes her cake from a box and he could careless about the cake, he just wanted the frosting! Next time that is ALL he is getting... Frosting. (I know he appreciated my efforts, after all its the thought that counts, right?)

We Love Park Days

We went to the park this weekend. The days have been so beautiful we had to take advantage of the warm weather. After some yummy and 'healthy' lunch the kids burned their lunch calories at the park (I did not burn a single calorie, since I just sat there and watched them:). It was a perfectly sunny, but a bit too windy kind of day, we couldn't let it pass. I love the spring and nothing makes me happier than hanging out outside in the warm sun watching my kids play. Gianluca and Allegra were with us and they have been a lot of fun this week.

Leah looking Oh so cute with her toothless smile.

Mylo and Gianluca about to go down the slide.
They became good little buddies the past few days.

Last spring Milli was too little to be on the swing and this year she absolutely LOVED it.
She just wanted to hang out and be pushed back and forth.
That smile never came of her face until I had to take her out.

I wonder what Mylo was thinking when I took this picture.

Preston Turns TWO!

My little nephew turned two this past week. I can't believe it, time has flown by so quickly. We got to celebrate with him and his family and it was very fun. The kids had a great time. Maria, Preston's mom, has great game ideas for the kids and Marcos makes for a great a piñata :). They had a very fun Go Diego Go cake and the kids caught little duckies in the duckie pond and played in the sand, ate lots of sugar and all in all had a great time. Preston is a sweet, quiet, 'little' guy. He has a great smile and is a mellow little kid. A few months ago we had the pleasure of watching him and he snuggled with Dave for quite some time, he wanted nothing to do with me, he just wanted Dave... So cute! We love Preston he is a darling boy. Best wishes for him and his parents as they enter into the TERRIBLE TWOS! Good Luck!!!

St. Patrick's Day (collage overload)

We were excited about St. Patrick's Day this year. We love to all wear green and pinch those that are not. We were lucky to have Gianluca, Allegra and Sidney with us for most of the day and that made the day even more fun. Leah and Allegra wanted to paint their nails so they did, then Gianluca wanted to join in the fun.... Mylo was not too sure about that idea.

Since painting their nails wasn't enough they painted on some paper, tables, walls, hands and t-shirts as well. They painted for about an hour and it was a great time for them to play and get dirty. Leah was having "the most terrible day EVER". The other kids were mixing the paint and that was not cool with her... Poor thing, if that were the only trouble in life?!?!

While they were painting a Leprechaun came by and tried to tease the kids to try to catch him. The Leprechaun left several clues around the house. First at the door step, then on the trampoline, by the raspberries (because he needed a treat), in the fridge to get some 'green drink', on a bed to get some rest, in the dryer to get his clean clothes and finally under the rainbow sweater where they found the 'pot of gold' full of golden treats. The kids were not quick enough and they were not able to catch the Leprechaun... Perhaps next year. They LOOOVED it!

Dinner was very fun too. "Juanita' (aka Sidney) was my helper and we made Tortellini's with pesto, green beans, green apple salad, green lemonade and for desert a very colorful rainbow cake. It was so fun to be all greened out for the day. It was fun to hang out with Juanita and to do all the fun things we did. The cake was big hit with the kids.

Even though we didn't catch a Leprechaun or find 'gold' at the end of the rainbow I still feel very lucky to have my little family and the big family that I belong to as well. Its better than gold!

Bouncin' Fun

Our cousin Elaiah turned seven this month and we were invited to celebrate with her and her friends and family at Bouncin' of the Walls. It was a great time for the kids and I have to admit it was really fun for me too. They had a bunch of blow up slides and bouncing castles. The slide was a great hit and very fast. It was surprisingly funny to go down. Elaiah is a darling girl and Leah really has a great time with her. We sure love having so much family around. Happy Day to Elaiah and we hope all her birthday wishes come true!!! (All the kids are getting so big, its scary)

Fun, Easy and Clean Craft

For PTA we had to make a little Thank you for the teachers that helped an event up at school. When I saw these super cute Sanitizer bottles I thought it was the perfect gift for a teacher. We put them together with two other ladies in PTA and it was a great time. It was very easy project and making over 30 bottles was a snap. The hardest part about the whole thing was taking of the labels. They make for a pretty picture as well.

(I have yet to make my Pay it Forward Gifts... I have not forgotten Ladies :)

GooOOOO Utes!!!

Tonight was the last Utah Gymnastics meet of the season. When we got there tonight there was about ten thousand red lights lighting the stadium, it was so cool. I have been thinking about how this season has been so different from seasons past. The first meet of the season was hard. I wasn't sure how it would be. Not having Karen to bump into during the fun music and getting her to give me that little grin was missed, riding the elevator down and up was missed and seeing Karen get excited about a great routine was missed as well. But, at the same time, every time we would sing the National Anthem I would get teary eyed thinking of (1) how blessed I am to live in this country (2) thinking of Karen and I at one of the Winter Olympics Medal ceremony, we were both balling like babies, it has new meaning to me.

Here are some things I have really enjoyed during the season (in no particular order):

1. The Utah Gymnasts are freaking amazing and I want to have a rock hard body just like them in the near future (far fetched idea/dream, I know but I can dream, right?)
2. I am competitive and I really enjoy a good competition.
3. I like the music and the beats and every time a good song comes on I would bump into Al in sync with the music (I am sure he loved it ;))
4. I have gotten to hang out with Al a ton and had some REALLY great laughs with him. He is hilarious and I just love him.
5. It has been fun to see the looks on people's faces when they see us together, I am sure they are thinking "WOW! Check out that old guy with that hottie. Man, he is one lucky guy!" [hahaaaaa "jokes man, jokes" (like Melissa would say)]
6. After (almost) each routine Al would tell me what he thought the score would be and he was almost right every time.
7. Candied Almonds.
8. Wearing RED proudly, along with everyone else. GOOOOO UTES!
9. Seeing Nastia Lukin, 2008 US Olympic Gymnast, about 4 feet away from me.
10. Getting some time away to do something I love doing.

This season has been fun to share with Al. I am looking forward to the next season.

My little sick baby

Milli woke up with a nasty cold on Tuesday. I figured she must be teething since her gums were looking very swollen. Later that night (Dave's b-day) I took her temperature to find out it was very high. I gave her some medicine and the poor little thing was just whining all the time. I cleared her nose, she loved that (not) and tried giving her a bottle and she fell as sleep right on me. That never happens so I knew she was not feeling well, I put her in bed hoping that rest was all she needed. She woke up in the middle of the night shivering. I brought her into bed with us (this never happens either, our kids don't sleep with us) She fell as sleep right away. About an hour later she woke up and threw up all over me. I hurried and showered while Dave changed her and I was out the door to the ER with her. Dave stayed home with the kids (I quickly called my mom to be on alert in case Dave needed something... Thank goodness for her and always being able to count on her for anything). The ER was pretty empty but I still had to wait for 2 hours just to see the doctor, then I waiting an additional forty minutes to get some test done, all the while Milli fussing and not sleeping at all. Then we had to get an RSV test done where they basically vacuum out her nose, not so fun, then straight to her some chest X-rays. Milli FREAKED out when I had to hand her over to the X-ray technician. She is attached to me like I have never experienced before (I secretly love it). Then we waited an additional two hours to have the doctor come in and tell me she has bronchilitis and that it was from a virus and an antibiotic would not help. Poor little Mish is still miserable and all she wants is mom. The doctor said this could last from 7-10 days... I just hope she gets feeling better. However, I am enjoying all the cuddling I am getting from her.

Happy B-day to Dave!!!

Dave's birthday was yesterday and it was a great day. First of all I, personally, cannot believe that Dave is 32 years old. That just sounds so old to me. He is right next to me right now, and he doesn't think that is too funny since I am only 2.5 years younger than him. Anyway, back to my ranting. Dave had a busy day with work and some snowboarding planned. We went out for dinner and then home for cake that the kids and I made. Dave loves a yellow cake, so that is what we made. All day the kids and I talked about Dave and that we were going to do all these things to make him happy... it worked.

After a bit of celebrating the kids and Dave set up the little TV and Xbox in the living room to play some Star Wars Lego. I am surprised how much that has bonded them, it's wonderful!

(Milli and I are missing from this picture because Mish was NOT feeling well. A post soon to follow on that ordeal)

I have to say that if it weren't for the wonderful guy that I have been so blessed to marry, my life would honestly not be as enjoyable as it is. Dave is such a hard worker and that allows me to be the mother I want to be. I am so beyond grateful for him. Leah and Mylo said that what they most love about Dave is that he plays Star Wars with them. Its true, Dave loves to play with the kids. He is a great father.

We love you Dave!!!!

Palyin' Around

Its fun to be silly and these kids KNOW how to be silly. Why is it that kids have to go through such awkward stages and make silly poses for the camera? Leah has been in one of those 'stages' where she has to through out the peace sign in every picture or make a crazy face. I just keep thinking that she will regret it when its time to make her wedding slide show... It's going to be a great laugh.

Mylo was being camera shy and was trying to hide behind me, it was a good laugh. I am sure I will be looking at some of these pictures and regret some of those silly faces I having been making... I guess I haven't quite grown out of that 'awkward stage'.

Mish had to get in on the action as well. She was looking so colorful this day, I love it! (Thank goodness for older cousins with great hook-ups on clothes)

Leah and Mylo were playing doctor? I guess Leah was trying to get a REALLY close view of her patients throat... HAHAAA! This just makes me laugh. They are so silly.

Peroneus Longus/Brevis Tendon

I have had such bad luck lately with my running. It has been a roller coaster of emotions and of pain. I have had some serious shin splint issues a few weeks ago which were treated with some anti-inflammatory, ice and rest. The shin splints have been doing great, I have had some pain but nothing unbearable like before. Then I was feeling super confident, but I was still being careful not to be to aggressive with my time and stay at a comfortable pace so the shin splints wouldn't return. Then my left knee started hurting, I guess I have not been stretching my IT band well enough and that causes the outside of the knee to suffer a bit. I ran on Saturday and about a half a mile away I started noticing some serious pain on the outer part of my foot come to find out its a tendon that has been some what kinked. After some research I have found that I must keep going, I need to take extra time in stretching and keep icing the sore area. I have felt so good, up to this point. There is nothing I want more, right now, than to accomplish this goal of running a marathon (or maybe two), right now I am focusing on one. I am sure there are many people who not only think I am crazy for wanting to do this, but they also think I can't do it. The commitment factor is SO hard, especially with three little monkeys at home. It has made me feel so down on myself knowing that I am hurt and standing this past two days has been difficult, let alone walk any where. But with like all things, when something 'bad' happens something good MUST come out of it, right? Where is the good in all of this? Friday, I had Dave and our sweet neighbor (Howard) give me a blessing. It has been a time of serious analysing on my spirituality. Only through my faith might I be healed and only through doing the things I have been taught to do will I be able to have all the tools to reach ALL of my goals. Today, Dave and I fasted for my legs to be healed and that I might do this. As I read my scriptures and prayed through out the day I felt the love my Father in Heaven has for me. Nobody but Him, knows how bad I want to accomplish this. This is where the good has come from my 'bad'... I felt the spirit so strongly, so close to me today. I have been missing it. Why do 'bad' things need to happen so that we can see the 'good' in things? I think I have learned my lesson... at least I hope I have.

Cousin Day

A couple of weeks ago we had a fun day with some our cousins we don't get to see very often. Megan and Maddie, live in California, but they are moving up here!!! We can't wait. Leah has been the only girl cousin on the Trevino side, in Utah, for a long time, well at least until Milli came around. We are thrilled that they will be living here in the next week. We were also so excited to see Gianluca and Allegra, they live in Texas, but are ALSO moving here!!! We are excited to add some more kids to the ever growing pack of Uboldi relatives. This day was beautiful, the sun was shining all day. The kids played super well as they played Star Wars, Leah, Maddie and I made cookies, they played on the trampoline, made all sorts of messes with the toys, but it was all worth it for six quiet, happy kids to enjoy each others company. We all took a nice long walk to pick Leah up from school (she was very excited to see all her cousins). On the way back Maddie tripped on something and fell onto her nose. If you click on the picture you can see her band aid mustache, I was surprised to see how much she scrapped her upper lip, after a quick call to her mom she was just fine. Mill and Dave took part in the fun toward the end of the days adventure on the trampoline and Milli LOOOOVED it. We are excited to have all our cousins around very soon!

10 digits?!?!

The phone company recently sent a letter stating that we would have to dial the area code a long with the phone number of the person we were calling. I guess we are running out of numbers or something... Well, it has only been five days since the new change and it SUCKS!!! Every time I have picked up the phone I have had to redial the number. I know they are have used old numbers already. As a matter of fact I met the previous owners of my phone number. Her name is Stacy and she STILL gets calls here. I met her daughter at the local Hollywood Video... small world, BUT I thought numbers were endless. Guess not. I better get used to the change, so far is not working out very well.

Dreams

I think dreams are really cool. I love having a really vivid dream and then I think its real. I often wonder why we dream and what causes the dream to occur. Anyway, the other night I had a dream with Karen. We were in my car, the kids where being loud in the back, just like they always are, I was driving and Karen was in the passenger seat. I am not sure where we were going, but it felt so natural to be going somewhere. We were chatting and we looked at each other and just smiled and then I broke out in tears. I gave her a big hug (Karen is not a huggie person, but I know she liked the affection I showed her) and said "I have missed you SO much! I am so glad you are here!", she busted out crying in her quiet way and said "I have missed you too!" It was as though friends had been reunited. It was so wonderful to see her so happy. She still looked the same, but happier. She had a big smile on her face, like she was enjoying our little trip to where ever we were going. I woke up so happy in the morning. I miss her still, more than I can bear to express. I feel so blessed to have had a wonderful mother-in-law, that I could call my friend. Since her passing I have come to find out how much she loved me and that she too was greatful for my friendship. I see other people who take their mother-in-laws for granted, especially when they are willing to bend over backwards for them. We don't realize how good we have it until its gone. I am so glad I had the nine short years with Karen in my life. I loved her and still do. I miss her so much. Life doesn't seem the same anymore. Life is still good and I love it but its so different with her not in it like before. From her passing I have had the opportunity to become closer to my father-in-law and that has been a great blessing as well. All in all, I love dreaming, its like our brain is helping us live what we wish we could live, in a way... I thought it was really neat to have had Karen in my dreams again.

(Comnets are turned off)

"MOOOOOM"

The last couple of days I have really enjoyed hearing my kids calling my other name, mom. It has felt so rewarding to hear my little monkeys say "mom, i hate that shirt", "mom, can I pleeeeease have another fruit snack?", "mom, can you please tuck me in", "mom, Milli just tipped over"... These phrases are very common at our house lately and I am loving it. Even when my kids are mad at me I have been enjoying it. Its such an honor to have that 'title'. I find it very rewarding, difficult, but very rewarding. I am grateful for my little monkeys.