Peppermint Oreo's

I made homemade Oreo's today. I found the recipe on a blog so wasn't sure how they would turn out. I had to change a few things but they turned out yummy. Do you have a homemade Oreo recipe? Send it my way!

Changes

I read an article the other day about what changes when you have a baby. I thought it was cute and wanted to share it...

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be: What doesn't change?

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid. [See a reader's perspective in #22, below.]

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

And from our readers...

1. "You discover how much there is to say about one tooth." — Ashley's mom

2. "You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth." — Anonymous

3. "You now know where the sun comes from." — Charlotte

4. "You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have." — Sophie's mom

5. "You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers." — Roxanne

6. "You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night." — Kellye

7. "Silence? What's that?" — Anonymous

8. "You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having." — Brenda

9. "You discover an inner strength you never thought you had." — Ronin and Brookie's mom

10. "You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule." — Thomas' mom

11. "You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one." — Jaidyn's mom

12. "Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog." — Kara

13. "You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late." — Tracey

14. "You learn that taking a shower is a luxury." — Jayden's mom

15. "You realize that you can love a complete stranger." — Dezarae's mom

16. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place. — Arizona

17. If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do! — Ciara

18. You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution. — Anon.

19. You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart. — Brooke&Boys

20. You just plain love life more - everything comes together and becomes better because of one tiny person and your love for them. — Anon.

21. You finally find out the real reason you have those breasts. — Anon.

22. In response to #2 [above], I'd say that where you were once afraid, you're now fearless. I was always very timid and shy and let myself get walked all over … but now where my kid's concerned, I'll speak my mind and really connect with my inner "b"! — gummismom

23. The support you get from other people surprises you, because the people giving it are not always the ones you'd expect. — japanese_macaque

24. Nothing is just yours any longer. You share EVERYTHING! — DylanLsMom

25. No matter what you've accomplished in life, you look at your child and think, "I've done a GREAT job!" — Anon.

26. You want to take better care of yourself for your child. — Treasor

27. You can have the most wonderful conversation using only vowel sounds like "ahhh" and "oooo." — littlehulk2008

Just Be Open House

Just Be Open House

Tuesday November 30^th

6:30-8:00 pm

Kristy Hodgkinson’s

941 Longleaf Drive, NSL

Please call Kristy if you need directions (801.824.2398)

Check out the blog to see the fun stuff. justbefun.blogspot.com

Come get your Christmas shopping done for all of the girls in your life. Purses, skirts for all ages, make up bags, scripture bags, and jewelry.

And as always, there will be cupcakes!

Spread the word...invite anyone and everyone.

Hope to see you there!

Gratitude - Day 25

A grateful heart comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives.
President Thomas S. Monson

Gratitude - Day 24

I saved the best for last! I am so thankful for my little family. I am thankful for Ben and Eliza. Ben is the best husband I could as for. He supports me, helps me, makes me laugh, puts up with my shopping habits, makes the yummiest food, and loves me. He is such a good dad. Eliza loves him so much. I am so thankful for Eliza. I feel so blessed every single day to be her mom. Babies are such a blessing and a miracle. I am so grateful Heavenly father has trusted her little soul to us. Above all else, I am so thankful for Ben and Eliza.

Gratitude - Day 23

I am thankful for my brothers. I love going to the shop to visit them at work. It's even more fun when I'm at my dad's house, they are working, and they sneak over to the house to get a snack and hang out. I love when they see my dad coming over to find them and they hide. They are hilarious.

Gratitude - Day 22

Our home is where we hung out when we were dating. It's where we have spent our marriage together so far. It's where we had our first baby. Our sweet home will always have special memories. I am thankful for our home.

Gratitude - Day 21

I am thankful for good books and for reading.

Gratitude - Day 20

I LOVE music. I love songs with touching lyrics. I love songs that evoke emotion. I am thankful for music.

This is one of my favorite songs at the moment. Good work Taylor Swift...

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

Gratitude - Day 19

I am thankful for good friends.

Gratitude - Day 18

I am so thankful for good doctors. My doctor is so laid back, almost too laid back. But when it was time to deliver Eliza, he meant business. I am so thankful for him. I am thankful for all of the doctors who have helped with Eliza. I am thankful for good health, exercise, and my pink gym shoes.

Gratitude - Day 17

I am thankful for travel. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to visit so many new places. New York, DC, Boston, Hawaii, Jerusalem, Canada, etc. So many places to see...

Gratitude - Day 16

Ben and I love to cook together. I am so thankful for the fun times we have had cooking. I am thankful for sushi and cupcakes.

Gratitude - Day 15

I am so thankful for the gospel in my life. I am thankful for the temple and the blessing that it is in my life. I am thankful for prayer. I am thankful for forgiveness. I am especially thankful for the knowledge of eternal families and the plan of happiness.

Gratitude - Day 14

I am thankful for the beautiful world Heavenly Father has created for us to enjoy. I am thankful for Wyoming and for our cabin I have spent so much time at. I am thankful for our new cabin and for the fun times I know are ahead.

Gratitude - Day 13

Although I am not very good at utilizing it's amazingness, I am thankful for our camera. Mostly, I am thankful for the memories it captures.

Gratitude - Day 12

I am thankful for my nieces and nephews, Bott and Hodkginson. I love all of them so much. I am thankful Eliza has so many cousins to grow up with.

Gratitude - Day 11

I am thankful for Ben's job. I am thankful for his bosses. I am thankful that because of his job I get to stay home with Eliza.

Gratitude - Day 10

Teaching, going to school, learning. That was my life and I loved it. I always loved school. I always knew I wanted to teach. I am so thankful that things worked out and I was able to go to college and graduate school. I am thankful for education. It is who I am and what I do. I loved teaching my fourth graders and now I love teaching Eliza. The picture is Colleen Davis and me at our school. She was my mentor teacher when I was student teaching. She taught me everything I know and then some. It was her because of her love and support that I stuck to teaching. She was and is a great example to me. She was there for me in so many hard times. I am thankful for Colleen, for teaching, and for education.

Gratitude - Day 9

We have all heard mother in law horror stories. I don't have any of those. I have THE best in laws possible. The Hodgkinson's are the best. I love Wendy and Clark. Wendy is so sweet, kind, loving, smart and fun. She is the funnest grandma. For her birthday she wanted a pogo stick, which she got and loves. Clark is smart, funny and tells the best stories. Heather and Greg and their girls are such good friends to us. We have spent many late nights at their house talking and eating Heather's yummy cookies. Rick and Heather and their girls are so much fun. Annie says the cutest things. My favorite as of late is when she was helping me change Eliza's diaper. I called E a cute little munchkin. Annie said, Dorthy went on the yellow brick road to the emerald city and there were munchkins and Eliza is not a munchkin. Hilarious. Haylee and Darin are always up to something fun. And they are lucky to have the only boy in the family with another girl on the way. I LOVE the Hodgkinson's. From day one of meeting them (in my sweats by the way) I have felt loved and welcome. I am so thankful for all of them.

Gratitude - Day 8

I'm starting to see a trend in my posts. Family. I love my family. This post is for my sisters in law. Jennifer is a nurse, a great mother, and a friend. She takes her kids on their own field trips and makes things fun. Meridith and I worked together and became such good friends. She is also a great mother and friend. She's been my baby question answerer. I have called her for the silliest questions. Michelle is a great mother and friend as well. She is an amazing artist. I hope someday she has the time to paint more often. My brothers are all very lucky to have such amazing women as their wives. I am so thankful for them in my life.

Gratitude - Day 7

Jess is so amazing. She is the best sister anyone could ask for. She is talented in so many ways. I am always asking her to do things for me because of her craftiness. She graduates from LDS Business College in December in Interior Design. I know she'll do amazing things. She has been a great example to me in so many ways. Even though I am the big sister, she has been more of a support to me than you can imagine. She is going to make an amazing wife and mother someday. I love her so much and am so thankful for her in my life.

Gratitude - Day 6

Where would we be without grandparents. I LOVE my grandparents. My grandma and grandpa Bott were so fun. My grandma was hilarious. My grandpa was too. I don't have a picture of my grandma on my computer...I'll find one and post it later. They were both hard workers and great examples. My grandma and grandpa Tolman are the best too. This is a picture of us at Maddox for my grandpas 80th birthday. What an amazingly long life! I am so thankful for both of them. I am so glad they are still around. My grandma has been a link to my mom which has meant a lot. I am not sure what I'll do without her. And although my grandpa is getting "old", he has so many qualities that remind me of my mom. I love that link. I also LOVE Ben's grandpa Welling and grandma Hodgkinson. I didn't know their spouses but I have heard about them and know I would have loved them too. I am so thankful for all of the grandparents in my life, for their wisdom and love.

Gratitude - Day 5

Where and how can I possibly start on this post? It is this time of year that memories flood through my heart. My mom was the best mom hands down. She was the most giving, trusting, accepting, loving human being. She never complained (something I'm not nearly as good at). I have never met someone like her. She was so unselfish. Even in her days of not feeling well, she was always thinking of others, usually her family. I was lucky enough to work with her for a summer at the Boyer Company. I was an assistant to the accounting department and whoever needed me. It wasn't the funnest job in the world but it made for some great memories. We would eat lunch together everyday. We would either make lunch there or walk to Einstein's or somewhere close. If we left the office, we somehow always ended up at the mall. My love to shop came from her that's for sure. We would walk and talk and laugh. She had the best laugh. I remember always feeling loved and taken care of. I remember being read to. One of my fondest memories of my mom was her playing the piano. She wasn't the best piano player but she loved to do it. At night she would either be reading or playing the piano (or sneaking chocolate chips from the fridge). I remember not being able to sleep and hearing the soft piano from the basement. I would creep downstairs, sit by my mom, and listen. We usually wouldn't talk for a bit but just sit. I will never forget those nights. I remember coming home from school to warm wheat bread just out of the oven. I remember watching my mom cook and cook and cook. In high school my friends always wanted to go to my house because my mom was the best cook. She really was. I could go on and on and on. I am sure this just sounds like rambles and probably has terrible grammar (apparently you lose brain cells after having a baby!). Right now when I think of my mom I think of her as an example and someone to emulate. I am trying my hardest to be like her and to raise Eliza to someday say that I am the best mom. Not for the praise or glory, but for Eliza. Motherhood is amazing. I now know why my mom was so selfless and loving. You can't help but be when you have a little soul sent from heaven for you to take care of.

Gratitude - Day 4

I have the best dad. He is a wonderful support to me, my family, and our extended family. He is giving, loving and kind. He always has his piece of advice to give. When my mom got sick my relationship with my dad changed. When she passed away he became my best friend. Since the passing of my mom my dad has done everything in his power to keep our family close. I am so thankful for that.

Gratitude - Day 3

Blond hair. I'm thankful for my long awaited blond highlights that I got back yesterday.

Gratitude - Day 2

Today I am thankful for the grocery shopping app on my iPhone. Grocery shopping with a newborn can be tricky but with this app, and Ben's hard work to make it correlate with my grocery store of choice, grocery shopping has become a breeze.

Gratitude - Day 1

Each day in November until Thanksgiving I am going to post the many things I am thankful for. Some will be silly. Some very meaningful.


1o years ago I had the opportunity to study abroad in Jerusalem. Last night I showed Ben a slide show of the people I was there with. Some I didn't even recognize and some I vaguely remembered. Although I don't remember every face or name, I remember the feelings I had while I was there. I remember walking where Jesus walked. Today I looked through some of my pictures from Jerusalem. I am so thankful I had that opportunity. I hope someday to go back.

Pumpkin reasons to love fall...

My favorite pumpkin...

Baby Eliza is here!

We couldn't love her more.
Look at our family blog for details.
Benandkristy.blogspot.com

Motherhood

To all the mom's out there...

Ok ladies. I am making a list of must haves, would like to haves, and should I gets for our baby. I have NO idea on so many things. I found a bunch of lists online but still am not sure. So if you have a second and want to help me out, take a look at this list, think about what you love, regret buying, wish you had etc. and please let me know! Either comment on this post or email me at kbhodgkinson@gmail.com Any input would be appreciated! THANK YOU!!!

Buy for Baby

Layette

[ ] 4-8 bodysuits or onesies (wide head openings and loose legs)

[ ] 4-8 undershirts or vests (snaps at neck or wide head openings, snaps under crotch)*

[ ] 4-8 one-piece pajamas*

[ ] 2 blanket sleepers for winter baby

[ ] 1-3 sweaters or jackets (front buttoned)

[ ] 1-3 rompers or other dress-up outfits*

[ ] 4-7 socks or booties (shoes are unnecessary until baby walks)*

[ ] 1-3 hats (broad-brimmed for summer baby, soft cap that covers ears for winter baby)*

[ ] 1 baby bunting (a hooded sleeping bag made of napped fabric)

[ ] 6–8 outfits

[ ] 6 bibs

[ ] 2-3 blankets

[ ] No-scratch mittens

[ ] Gentle laundry detergent

swaddling blanket

Nursery

[ ] Crib, cradle

[ ] Firm, flat mattress fit snugly in crib (less than two fingers should fit between mattress and crib)*

• Slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart • Corner posts no more than 1/16 of an inch above frame • No cutouts in headboard or footboard • Top rails at least 26 inches above mattress

Bassinet

[ ] Crib Bedding

[ ] Waterproof mattress pad (with cloth)

[ ] 1-3 washable crib mattress pads

[ ] Bumper pads covering inside perimeter

(secured by at least six ties or snaps, with all extra length removed -- we suggest breathable bumpers)

[ ] 2-4 fitted crib sheets*

[ ] 4-6 soft, light receiving blankets*

[ ] 1-2 heavier blankets (for colder climates)

[ ] Rocking or arm chair

[ ] Music box, sound machine or CD player

[ ] Crib mobile with black and white images (remove when baby can support self on hands and knees)

[ ] Baby monitor

crib/mattress monitor

[ ] Nightlight

[ ] Dresser

[ ] Toy basket

[ ] Swing

[ ] bouncy chair

[ ] Infant toys

[ ] Play yard or playpen

[ ] Play mat or play gym

Changing

[ ] Changing table or cushioned changing pad for low dresser or bureau, with safety strap or railing*

[ ] Changing table pad*

[ ] Changing table pad cover

[ ] Diaper pail

[ ] Diaper pail liners

[ ] Diaper cream*

[ ] Unscented baby wipes (causes less irritation)*

[ ] Soft washcloths*

[ ] Tissues (for you)

[ ] 2-3 large boxes of disposable newborn-size diapers*

Bath

[ ] Baby bathtub

[ ] Soft washcloths (use a different color or pattern than your diaper washcloths!)

[ ] Baby lotion

[ ] Baby soap*

[ ] Baby shampoo

[ ] 2-4 soft towels or hooded baby towels

[ ] Baby hairbrush

johnssons bathtime set

Feeding

[ ] 10-16 bottles and nipples, both four and eight ounce

(if fed strictly by the bottle, baby will go through about ten in the four ounce size per day)*

[ ] Liners, for disposable bottles

[ ] Bottle warmer (cuts down on nighttime trips to and from the kitchen)

[ ] Bottle sterilizer (if your dishwasher doesn’t have one)

[ ] Bottle drying rack

[ ] Bottle brush

[ ] Dishwasher basket for small items

[ ] 4-8 bibs

[ ] Burp cloths (or cloth diapers)*

[ ] High chair

[ ] 2-4 pacifiers

pacifier clips

[ ] Formula (if not nursing)*

formula dispenser

snack dispensers

For nursing moms:

[ ] 1-3 nursing bras

(Breasts swell following birth, so start with one size larger than your maternity bra. Wait until size settles down -- about two weeks after birth -- to purchase additional bras.)

[ ] Nursing pads

[ ] Nipple cream, lanolin cream

[ ] Nursing pillow

[ ] Electric Pump (even if you plan only to nurse, a pump will allow you to leave milk for baby if you want or need to separate)*

Hand Pump

[ ] Milk storage bags*

Medicine Cabinet

[ ] Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors*

[ ] Cotton balls (don’t use swabs to clean baby’s nose or ears)

[ ] Baby thermometer*, digital rectal

[ ] Bulb syringe/nasal aspirator

[ ] Medicine dropper or spoon with measurements

[ ] Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze (for circumcision care)*

[ ] Infant acetaminophen (Tylenol)

[ ] Antibiotic cream

[ ] Saline nasal drops

[ ] Baby gas drops

[ ] Disinfecting hand soap (for you)

[ ] Infant acetaminophen drops

[ ] Infant-safe sunscreen

[ ] Infant gas relief drops

Travel

[ ] Infant or convertible car seat*

[ ] Stroller (reclining to almost flat for infants)

travel stroller

jogging stroller

[ ] Diaper bag

[ ] Changing pad

grocery cart cover

[ ] Baby carrier/sling, baby bjorn

[ ] Portable play yard

For Mom

[ ] Ice packs (in case of tearing during birth or swelling after)

[ ] 2-3 week supply of ultra absorbent sanitary pads

[ ] Panty liners

[ ] Hemorrhoid wipes and cream (can become necessary after labor, even if pregnancy was free of problems…sorry)