Free Money!

I have been tutoring precalculus to a couple of girls in my ward the past month. I have really, really enjoyed using my degree again, and it has been nice to get some extra cash! Alan and I decided to use the money I've made so far to buy some little pieces of furniture we've been wanting for our house (rather than putting the money in savings, which we probably should have done. Ha!)

Here's the result after a fun run to IKEA: a new entryway that solves our lack-of-coat-closet problem!

Here is our new sofa table with a shoe rack that fits PERFECTLY underneath!

Also, we bought a coat rack!

I'm loving my new entryway, and I'm already planning on more little things I would like to buy for our house. Bring on the tutoring!!!!


This post has a bonus picture: my almost-25-week bump shot, and me in my new glasses! (I think after nine years of the same old glasses, I deserved a new pair, don't you?)

Children's Discovery Museum

Jared playing with the tubes that suctioned up little balls

Last week my friend Rachael invited Jared and me to go with her and her kids to the Children's Discovery Museum in SL. It was so much fun, and I loved seeing Jared explore all the fun things to do!

I am always embarrassed at the quality of pictures I take, but here's a sampling of what we did that day:

giant xylophone thingy

riding the horse--Jared didn't so much like being up so high

Policeman Buddy

Jared's favorite place--the tree house

Zuppa Toscana

If you are like me, the only soup Olive Garden should serve is Zuppa Toscana (why would you choose minestrone over Zuppa Toscana? Seriously.) My sister-in-law gave me this yummy recipe for it. I made it the other day for some company, and it was pretty dang good, if I do say so myself! (And it lasted us 3 meals!)

1 lb ground Italian sausage
1½ tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
¼ of a bunch of kale

Brown sausage and red pepper. Drain fat and set aside. In same pan saute onion, bacon and garlic until onions are soft. Add water and bouillon. Bring to a boil and add potatoes. Cook until soft, around 30 minutes. Add cream, sausage and kale. Cook until heated through and serve.

(Note: I changed the recipe a bit when I actually made it. I used finely-chopped green pepper instead of red pepper, I used minced garlic out of a jar instead of garlic puree, I used 12 cups of water instead of 10, I used half-and-half instead of cream, and I doubled the amount of potatoes. Delicious!)

Winnie the Pooh

Jared loves Winnie the Pooh. Although he hasn't seen any Pooh movies, I have taught him the theme song. Here he is singing it (almost) by himself:

I'm posting these next two videos mostly for my own enjoyment. They are "outtakes" of me trying to record Jared singing, and I think they are hilarious.

Other Christmas Festivities

We had such a wonderful Christmas season, and the few pictures I took don't show nearly the extent of the fun we had. Here is a glimpse of some of our Christmas events during December.

This was taken at our Very Billy Christmas Party with 3 of my former roommates and spouses (we miss you, Ash and Tim!)

This was taken at a family Christmas party a few days before Christmas

The one above and the one below were taken the day of our ward Christmas party. We were asked to dress as if we lived in Bethlehem at the time Christ was born. Jared is one of the three kings, if you can't tell. I had to improvise a little bit with his costume. :)

This is Jared and me on Christmas afternoon.

Jared with His Grandparents

As I was looking through my December pictures, I found these cute ones of Jared with each of his grandparents. I thought I would post them for posterity's sake (and to prove that once in a while, Jared will smile for a picture).

This is Jared with Grandpa Stout. Grandpa plays the ukelele, and he would let Jared strum the strings for him.

This is Grandma Stout reading Jared one of his new Christmas books, Go Dog! Go.

This is Jared being thrilled with his new Magna Doodle from Grandma Curtis on Christmas Day. He is also donning a new sweater from Grandma and Grandpa Curtis. He looks so grown up in it!

Here is Jared with Grandpa ("Papa") Curtis on Christmas Day.