New Beginnings

As a member of Young Women's Presidency I thought that New beginnings was all about the Ladies and its all about teaching THEM the importance of Personal Progress and getting THEM excited about achieving this :) but I learned something to last night and I am excited to share it with you all. Apparently when you are serving in Young Women's, you can participate in achieving your Personal Progress!! I was a slacker in Young Women's and truly regret not finishing to receive my medallion....so after this new beginnings I am motivated and ready to set my goals for this year! I am excited to be working on it along side the girls, I think it will be a good learning experience and I think I will be able to help them with theirs much easier! I really hope I serve in Young Women's long enough to achieve it...Wish me luck :) I will try to keep you all posted on how I'm doing!!

PS Mom, You are in Young Women's now too...As I recall you did receive your medallion, right? If not here would be a great opportunity!

7-UP Banana Bread!!

My mom used to make this recipe and it is SO good. I called her for the recipe a few months ago and she couldn't find it, so I looked it up online and found it YAY!! It is the absolute best banana bread I have ever had. I love sharing recipes, and I hope you enjoy it!
Tip: follow instructions very carefully it messes it up if you add the 7-up to soon :) Happy baking!

Servings: 2 Large Loafs

4 Cups Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking powder
2 tsp Baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter (softened)
4 Eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups Mashed ripened bananas
1 cup 7-up

Preheat oven at 350 degrees

Stir dry ingredients and set aside

Cream butter and sugar in large bowl, add eggs (beat well after each addition) Add Vanilla and mashed bananas.

Alternate adding dry ingredients with the 7-up into egg mixture, and mix well

Pour into 2 Large loaf pans. Bake for 45 minutes (tooth pick test) Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing and cooling completely.

Then and Now!

Its amazing to me that just 8 months ago this was Kohen! This picture was taken two weeks before he was born :) wow what a big belly! I was writing in Kohens baby Journal today and reflecting on all the things he has learned and done in these few months he has been on the earth. I wanted to share a few of blurbs from his journal with you :)

Newborn:

Thursday, June 27th-2007 It took you 20 hrs but you arrived at 4:16PM. 7Lbs 10oz, 20 inches long! LOTS of dark hair and Deep blue eyes!

Friday, July 27th-2007 You are one month old and a few things you love are showers with your daddy and lots of snuggle time with mommy.

2 Months:

Friday, August 3rd-2007 Today you had a "conversation" with your Daddy. You made all sorts of noises and giggles!

Saturday, August 11th-2007 Today you looked right at me while I was talking to you and gave me a big smile!

3 Months:

Sunday, September 23rd-2007 You were very upset about something and your daddy and I both heard you say "ama" (we think that means mama)

4 Months:

Tuesday, October 30th-2007 Today you rolled right over for the first time! You were playing with Daddy and DID IT! I was so proud of you!

5 Months:

Friday, November 16th-2007 You said DADA today I was so happy I called your daddy at work to let him hear and you did it for him. You said it all day today over and over and over!

6 Months:

Monday, December 17th-2007 You were laying on your tummy playing today and there was a toy out of your reach and you just crawled forward to get it Amazing!!

7 Months:

Thursday, January 17th-2008 Your first tooth broke through today after a few days of pain :( It is your bottom right tooth! Such a big boy

8 Months:

Monday, February 25th-2008 This past weekend you pulled yourself up against a chair and loved it you pull yourself up to stand every chance you get! I cant believe how big you are getting you have two teeth, you weigh 18Lbs you are 29 1/2 inches long. I love all the new things you discover everyday and how much you look like your daddy. You look so much the same as you did they day we brought you home and different at the same time, your hair has turned sandy brown and you have lost a lot of it. Your eyes have turned honey brown and your skin is still tan as ever. Such a beautiful beautiful boy!

Lewis and Clark...Mark dont be a shark!

The title of this blog will not make sense nor be funny to those who werent there, but I had to put it for Danna :) We had a FABULOUS weekend at Mark and Danna's! We left thursday afternoon, jer took off work at noon, we got to Richland around 5PM. We had a relaxing evening filled with laughing and catching up. In the morning we all slept in and the Kids didnt go to school (I bet they like when we come).

We got up and went to see Mark and Danna's new palace...It is so beautiful and Danna has wonderful taste and a great feel for how things will look. Friday night Steph and Ang went to babysit, the boys played "boy games" and Danna, Emme and I went to do girl stuff. It turned out to be an even more eventful evening then we planned since we got a call telling us to cgo pick up Steph ASAP because she was having a peanut reaction (she is VERY allergic)...well she is ok and healthy agian!! Saturday morning I woke up to a BEAUTIFUL sunny day and thought it would be fun to have a nice family day at a park...well for the Barkley's a day at the Park is not a picnic and swingsets :) it means baseball. I am not very good and its not my favorite, BUT my husband Loves it and I love him :) I also loved playing with the Kids. Saturday went by too quickly! Sunday was quite annd again to fast. All in all we had a wonderful wild weekend with our crazy crazy family!

Danna, Thank you for being such a wonderful OLDER sister :) I love you for the qualities that we have that are different, so many of your strenghts are my weeknesses. I love your amazing taste you should be a decorator!

Mark, Thank you for letting me tease you about your age... I love that you take my sarcasm and give it right back. You are such a wonderful brother to Jer and I appriciate your relationship with him.

PH, I love you I love you I love you.... I love your beautiful eyes. I love your incredable ability to know right from wrong. You are such a wonderful example to your siblings! I love our relationship, being your aunt is the best!

Ang, I love you sassy girl! I love your senitivity to others feelings. I love how wonderful you are with Kohen, You are going to be a great mommy. I love your hugs and that yummy prfume you wear!

Emme, I love you for your dimples, your beautiful smile. I love your whit and your incredable Intelligence. I love your devotion to your family and your wonderful relationship with your mommy!

MJ, I love your model planes, they are so cool! I love your enthusiasm, I am so greatful that Kohen has a boy cousin to look to as an example. I was so proud of you when we were playing baseball..you never gave up, and kept trying!

I love you all so much and loved our weekend with you! I love all my family and cant wait to see you again soon!

Citrus Salon update

I dont usually like to use my personal blog for business stuff but...I have a question to put out there. I love giving facials, they are probably my favorite part of the beauty industry. BUT the product is expensive which forces prices to to be high for my clients, which I dont like. My question is if I invest in a facial bed and facial products would any of you be interested in having one? If I am going to make such a large investment I want to know that my investment is going to go to good use. I cannot tell you how wonderful it would be to share this part of my knowledge with people and how much I would love to just give everyone one for free, but unfortunently that wouldnt work. I do not want to toot my own horn, but Facials are sort of my thing. Anyway let me know, I have started setting up a facial room in my salon but really need to know that family and friends would be interested before I dive in. I will give you a site to look at the line I will be using, they have a professional line and they have there basic care line. I really like them, it is 100% organic. http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/

Also if you get a chance I updated Citrus Salon blog spot..so check out the specials this month :)

September 23rd

Ok so september brings a whole lot of things to the Barkley family, Marks birthday, Aarons birthday and the rest of the world as well. School starts, summer ends, cooler weather, fall colors! But for Jeremiah and I we are looking forward to September because....drum roll...We are going to be the proud parents of two children. Yes I am pregnant!! I have known for awhile but the obvious reason I waited the three months to tell everyone (well almost three months). I heard the heart beat last week and it amazed me to hear Kohens everytime and amazes me still with this child. When Kohen was in he "oven" I was SURE he was a boy...I dont know yet with this one, Jer thinks its a boy. I dont care either way as long as it is healthy. (although i wouldnt mind a girl to even the vote around here) We are drawing a blank AGAIN for boy names, so it is probably a boy. Anyway so theres the big news...I couldnt keep it a secret much longer, and I dont know how women can. I am looking forward to being a mother of two its just so wonderful the blessing Kohen is in our lives and I cant imagine how the blessings mulitply with each child. I know that Kohen and this baby will be close together and some may call us crazy but Im excited. I have decided this time around to try and stay more active, with Kohen I let the tiredness I felt keep me from Tae Kwon Do and staying active...Although I wont get to go rafting this summer :( I am looking forward to camping and hiking! I am also trying to eat healthier this time around I kinda let the stereotypical things happen, the snacking and cravings. I do think cravings are a true part of being pregnant, but those cravings can be controlled just like any other craving. Lahia, I cant belive im saying this but by may I will probably be taking my maternity clothes again lol! Anyway I have rambled on enough, so theres the big news and all the details you probably didnt need haha. If you would like to see what stage the baby is in follow this link...
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-12-weeks

Just a bad mood!

I wanted to get up early and get my hair and makeup just right...but I was just in a bad mood!
I wanted to get my bills organized...but I was just in a bad mood!
I wanted to catch up on laundry...but I was just in a bad mood!
I wanted to put a roast in, and I couldnt find the crock pot...that put my in just a bad mood!
I wanted to work on babyshower invites, but the house is too cluttery to concentrate...that put me in just a bad mood!
I wanted to clean up the house..but I was just in a bad mood!
I wanted to go for a walk, but I have so much else to do...that put me in just a bad mood!
I wanted to make a bottle for Kohen and thought I had more formula and DONT...that put me in just a bad mood!
I should walk to the store and buy more cause my car is broken...and that puts me in just a bad mood!
I wanted to finish this blog with a good ending...but Im in just a bad mood!

Beautiful Baby Contest 2008

Ok so I TOTALLY dont mean for this blog to sound cocky....but when we went to the doctors the other day he told us that the Almquist studios does a "Beautiful Baby" contest every year and they call some of the Doctors in silverton to let the new mom's know about it. Anyway Dr. Peters entered Kohens name :) which was such a compliment. The rules of entering are that they have to be home taken photos, and have to be of just the child entering. The prize is a 45 min session for FREE and three portrates of your choice. So my question is...I just think so many of them are cute and I dont know which one to enter..please help me choose (I would take more...but my camera is out of order so im using ones I already had)

Dance Fever

Tonight was silverton wards annual "Eldo's dinner". The elders put it on for there wives, it usually involves dinner and some sort of entertainment. Tonight however, we the members that attended were the entertainment. They brought in a dance instructor from portland who taught us how to SALSA!!! I had a blast, because I love to dance...it is not Jers bread and butter, but he was a trooper and did an awesome job! It was great to sit and visit with other members of our ward, it doesnt feel like we have enough ward functions to really get to know one another. The dinner was great the dancing was fun and it really was a wonderful night with my husband. Thanks Jer for going even though you knew we were going to be dancing and thank you for trying your hardest. And THANK YOU to those who planned it! And LISA you need to go next year you missed out suga :)

A face only a mother can love

Some of you may recall this beautiful battle wound I got from the dryer in early October. If not refer to october a blog named "who says cleaning never killed anyone". Last night Kohen bumped my nose and it was a little tender and I realised I HAVE A BUMP on my nose from where it broke, like owen wilson! It feels nasty and it looks gross. Kohen had a doctors appointment today (just a check up) and I asked him if the bump will ever go away he said "not unless you have it worked on" Sad Sad Sad...Im ruined, tainted, damaged goods!

Questions from a new mom

Kohen has his first two teeth and they are darling! Now my question is do I start brushing those two? I used a gum scrubber when he had no teeth and now that they are coming in, I want them to stay healthy....So? What do I do, is there a specific kind of toothpaste, where would I get a tooth brush for a 7 month old? He is eating rice cereal and I sometimes mix carrots, or peaches, or pears in...So what do I do??? I dont mean to sound like a typical paranoid "new mother"...but he didnt come with an instruction manual and I really wanna make sure Im doing things right you know!?

Broken camera!

I broke my camera last week and these were the last two images I was able to save. I was taking pictures of Kohen cause he was doing a new face, but when he would see the camera he wouldnt do it. So I put the camera behind my back (while it was on, lense out) on the floor, I got busy playing and being goofy I forgot it was behind me and I rolled on it! The lens made a funny clicking noise (as if to say HEY YOU BIG BUM GET OFF!!) and shut off. The lense wont go back in, it will turn on but makes that same anguished click when I turn it on. It will take pictures but the lense wont move or focus. It is still under waranty but I dont think that rolling over it with your big bottom is covered. Anyway so enjoy these last two photos they will be the last for a while cause it will be a few months before we can afford a new one of the same quality :(

Mrs...Aunt...Sister...

I am not complaining about this by any means it is just a simple question I would like to put out there into the universe...Why is it children always call me Stefani? My neices and nephew dont call me Aunt Stef, they just call me Stef. The younge woman (even though they call all the other sisters "sister so-and-so") call me Stefani...It doesnt bug me, because it is my name and I will respond to it. I guess I was thinking maybe they dont see me as an adult lol or maybe they just like my name :) I dunno in any case I was just wondering.

From here to there

Kohen is becoming a crawling machine! If he sees something on the floor that he wants to play with he can get there really fast. He is also trying so hard to sit up on his own, he can sit up if I put him up but has a hard time sitting up himself...what is the normal age for an infant to sit up on there own? I cant belive he is 7 months already, everyone says "it goes so fast" and it does! Every new thing he does is so adorable, but I think that this age has been my favorite so far. He has so much personality and is so attentive now. It amazes me how smart he is, he understands so much! I dont want to sound like a braggy mom, but he really is a smart little guy!