Holy Crepe!

By simply reading the blog, it is not hard to see that my life revolves around 2 major things...

1. Lexi
2. Food

Of course, David is thrown into the mix, but realistically he is not home enough for me to complete a single revolution!
Tonight, before her bath we decided to let Lex take part in something that is quickly becoming a family tradition: crepe night.
Anyone who has not had a crepe smothered in Nutella is missing out... to say the least! It is getting to the point, that we make a batch of the batter just to have on hand in the fridge so that we can make a couple each night to snack on. Nothing like planning ahead to aid the mid-night munchies (and of course when I say "we", I mean "I").
Anyway, Lex has never before been given her own whole crepe, so it was like her birthday all over for her. She's no idiot! I tried to capture the experience, but sadly pictures really do not do it justice. I wish you could she her as she tried to fit both fists into her mouth - at once - while attempting to slurp the crepe in like spaghetti... she could not get into fast enough. Just wish I knew where she got it from...

Not the face you want to see right before bed... can you say wired?


Notice the Nutella on her stomache? if she could have found a way to lick it off she would have in a heart beat - as it turned out, David claimed that honor...


Well, I guess we finally found a way to make her smile. I have been so worried, she's normally such a solitary, introverted kid...

Sleepin in style

So, when my parents were here visiting they must have been less than impressed with Lexi's PJs because I recently received a package in the mail with new PJs... not my size oddly enough.
It is true that we have been trying to squeeze the poor kid into PJs with tags that range from 6 months to 12 months. And when I say squeeze... I mean literally not a pretty picture. I am not sure if she is going through a continuous growth spurt or if I am simply stuck in the mind set that she will forever be 6 months and small, but signals were crossed somewhere.
Honestly, I have been looking for PJs for her, but trying to find PJs for a child that refuses to stay under the covers and sleeps in the coldest room in the house, is quite a chore. I'm not sure what she has against her blankets, but no matter how many times I sneak in to cover her, in a matter of mere moments she is on top of her covers rather than under them. Oh well, I just hope that when she gets cold she can find her way back under.
Here are a few snapshots of her first night fashion show - in PJs that she could actually stand straight up in with out having the collar choke her....
Thanks Grandma!

Geek squad

What's wrong with this picture?
Let me try and spell it out for you... L -E -X -I

Lex is definitely a child of the electronic era. I laugh at all the funny things she does with electronics, but when I really think about the fact that she is not even a year and a half old; it's a bit frightening!
For starters, she walks around the house with one of our old cell phones and says "hello" as she opens it and puts the phone up to her ear. I don't know if some of her conversations don't go well, because most of the time she abruptly snaps the phone shut and tosses it aside. Sometimes, however, she will mutter "bye" as she breaks the connection.
Speaking of phones, she now thinks that all phones are like Mom's phone - you simply touch the screen and things change. Each time she tries this with David's phone, rather than give up when nothing happens, she becomes more determined and pushes harder. I think he put her up to this, so that when she breaks his phone's face, he can get a iPhone too... Hmmm... Not only does she think this applies to phones, but anything she can touch - the TV screen, the computer screen, the microwave, the oven door... she's pretty liberal in her interpretation (literally, on any given day she can be found wandering around the apartment pounding on things till something happens. Luckily I know when she is touching something she knows she's not supposed to because I hear her mutter, "no, no, no, no"). And Yes - she knows how to use remotes...
She is also becoming quite savvy with computers. She loves to sit at the computer and move the mouse around the screen, she also is quite fond of the key board. Last night prior to fhe, Lex was sitting with David as he worked on his laptop. In a matter of mere moments, she was getting more work done than him. Somehow she had managed to tell the computer to print 500+ pages of a nonexistent PowerPoint. David caught on as the computer reached page 167... truthfully we still have no idea how she did it!
Also, just this morning in about 3 keystrokes she managed to shift the entire orientation of my computer screen (as shown above). What took her 3 seconds to accomplish, took me 30 minutes to fix! it probably would have been easier to fix, if I didn't have to tilt me head to one side the whole time. Again, I don't know how she does it!
If her future as the world's most adorable child doesn't work out, I am certain that she has a career in electronics...

A face I am never tired of...

Happy Valentines!

From the little Princess

Feller Pizzeria

Homemade pizza has become a weekly tradition in our house... pretty much the only day of the week David knows he's guaranteed to be fed!
Lexi is very intrigued by each step of the process. Starting with the loud kitchen aid mixer; through, stretching out the dough; testing the toppings before adding them to the dough; and hiding it in the hot cupboard, that says "NO!" every time she tries to touch it.
I recently made the mistake of inviting my YW counselors and husbands over for pizza... one hot house, one messy kitchen, and 8 pizzas later, I was exhausted.
Now that we have gotten used to the "real" thing, I cannot bring myself to buy pizza. For now, we'll keep spending our money on things that I have yet to perfect. Like: Reeses, Yorks, Rolos, and Doughnetts... Mmmm...

This just in

In an attempt to stay current and update with the community and society, I have started watching the news. I have to tell you, I am not sure I can keep it up much longer. It doesn't even take an hour of stories about financial problems, unsolved crimes, crooked politicians, or the weather, to infuriate me. On Monday night, I turned it on just in time to see breaking news of a police chase; and, about 10 minutes later down the 405 they came - helicopters, sirens, and all. Some people have NO respect for others - hello... sleeping baby, do you mind!?
Come on! Has the world gotten SO corrupt that we really have reached the point of "every man for himself"?

Here in California, there have been 2 major stories that seem to be the "big" headliners each night.

1 - The California State Financial Deficit
2 - Octo Mom

I wish that I had the composure to write about the state deficit. I wish that in the end it would matter one way or another what I thought about the state deficit. But realistically, I do not have a say in the matter. The only say that I have is to pay the extra sells tax, and the extra income tax (well, income is a gray area in the Feller household), the extra utilities tax, the extra vehicle registration tax, the extra education tax, and the extra tax for breathing oxygen (may people don't realize that we have to pay extra for California to put all the toxins in ours).

Since money is obviously a taboo subject at the moment, let me address a subject that is much less controversial: Octo Mom.
I am not sure if octo mom is a story outside of the state of California, but since she is from right here in So Cal, octo mom is the center of California media attention. To be perfectly candid and straight forward, I am disturbed and slightly outraged by this woman. Two weeks ago she gave birth to octuplets, so combined with her already 6 children, she now has 14 kids all under the age of 7. She is single, unemployed, and living in her parents three bedroom house.

Each day the news shows her PR rep telling the camera that we need to get over the decisions that octo mom has made and focus on the children. I can't recall the number of times that someone has said "it's going to take a village to raise this family". So what I am getting, is I need to get over the fact this woman is clearly not capable of making decisions and send a check. When is the mother going to take that same advise and get over herself and focus on the kids?

First of all, I am angered because at what point in having more children was this woman focused on her other 6? Her big excuse and cop-out is that she never expected 8 more kids; 1 maybe 2 at the most. Well, in that case, why didn't you say so in the first place? With the needs of 6 kids already not being met, 1 or 2 more is still too many.

Next, what is the deal with her desire to be the next Mrs. Brad Pitt? In reality, I am all for doing what needs to be done so that when Brad and I finally meet he will realize how attracted he is to me. But, this may have crossed the freaky line.
I am sure it simply slipped octo mom's mind that A.J. probably has a nanny, cook, and housekeeper for EACH child. Sure it's easy to be a super mom when all you have to do is grab a child - making sure of course they don't clash with your other accessories - before heading out the door where the cameras are waiting. Heck, I could raise 14 kids! As long as it fits in my schedule between yoga and the masseuse...

Finally, and this ties back into the financial crisis, I am bothered that in the near future octo mom will be driving her shiny new car, to her big new house: paid for by the state of California. Recently, she denied living off of Federal assistance... she wanted to be very clear that it is simply a resource. Food stamps are only a resource for us to... if we want to eat every day! I will be the first to admit that we are living off of government aid: without which, truthfully I don't know how we would be able to survive right now. But, realistically I do not intent to be in this situation forever. In the (hopefully) near future we will pay for groceries will real money.

Truthfully, I don't know how much longer I am going to watch the news. I don't have the energy to waste...

new toy

I know that many were hoping there would be an 'announcement' at Christmas... well, we have a new addition to our family! Sadly, this is not the kind of addition I think you may have had in mind...

Anyone who knows me, knows that for the past 3 years, or so, I have been on the hunt for the perfect cell phone. In this time frame I have gone through phones, like I went through dates in Provo... options, options, options; but, holding out for perfection.

I am pleased to announce that the wait has been well worth it (both with regards to the phone and dating)! David surprised me with an iPhone for Christmas, and if there has been a lack of blogging - blame it on the phone! I don't think I have put it down for more than 10 minutes at a time since I opened the box Christmas morning.

I know it is silly. It's just an electronic toy after all. Sadly however, I can't seem to get over how totally freaking cool it is! I mean come on - with this phone, I never -ever- have to make another decision.

• For instance, if I want to go out to eat - the phone will tell me where to go, how much it will cost, and what other people think of it.
• If I want to listen to music, the phone will choose songs for me and create radio stations based on whatever mood I am in.
• If I want to see a movie, the phone will tell me what is playing, where theaters are, and what the critics thought.
• If I need to get out of an awkward situation, the phone will even fake a call to rescue me.
• And, I will never again get lost, because with the mere touch of the screen the phone magically tells me where I am (and how to get home, if need be).

The possibilities are ENDLESS! And I haven't even scratched the surface regarding all the games. Let's just say, there may never be another dull meeting again. Yes, I am addicted...

So, to sum up: I have been converted. But, please don't bother calling... I'm on the phone!