Changes

 In April 2011 Scott was let go from his job at a law firm.  Whenever he told people that he was a law clerk they would ask the same question, "Oh, so you want to be a lawyer?"  Anyone who knows Scott knows that couldn't be further from what he wants to be.  So we took the loss of his job as a blessing in disguise.  We decided to use this as an opportunity for him to finally get into the field he wanted to be in.  The next few months were scary, because I was pregnant and wanted desperately to stay at home with my baby.  In August Scott was hired as a temp for Activision, a large video game company.  He was very excited to be working for them, but it was scary for both of us because it was only supposed to last until October, which was only a few days after we had our child.  Well that two months stretched into 17.  On January 4th, 2013 Scott was finally let go from Activision.  Again, we were terrified.  We were already living on a very limited income- we were spending more than we were making, and not spending money on anything extra.  And now we have a 15-month-old and no income.

The only thing that kept me together at this time was my faith.  I knew the Lord would take care of us, as he has so many times before.  I stumbled across the scripture Isaiah 41:10,13: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."  I put it up on my wall and it has been my mantra.  It has really helped to calm me and reminded me to look at the big picture.

Again, we have decided to use this opportunity and see it as a blessing in disguise.  Before having Penny, I worked as a veterinary technician.  I graduated with my BS a week before marrying Scott, and 8 months later, earned my RVT.  I loved working with animals and in medicine so this was a dream job for me.  But, quitting so I could take care of my child was a no-brainer.  The plan was for us to have our family and then I would return to work once the youngest was in school.  I actually enjoy working, but my family comes in a huge first.  BUT, as so often happens, the plans have changed.

After much researching, pondering, fasting and praying, we have come to a decision.  Scott is going back to school full time to get his BA in graphic design (That is the plan for now at least, he may end up doing a certificate program or something).  He will be the stay-at-home-parent while I work.  I start a new job at an animal hospital in Santa Fe Springs (which is about 15 minutes from us) on Friday and Scott plans to start school in the fall after using this time to research schools and programs.  We are very excited, even though we only know what our lives will look like for a few months at a time!

So to all my stay-at-home-mom friends, thank you for your friendship and I will miss you!  Hopefully we can still get together on my day off now and then.  And if anyone knows any stay-at-home-dads, Scott could use some buddies!

Dumb Ways to Die

This is our new favorite video.  And we might be bad parents because it's also Penny's favorite video.  Watch it, you'll love it and have the song stuck in your head but you won't mind because it's awesome.

Warning: Don't watch this if you don't like cartoon violence!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

 
You need this recipe.

This stuff is SO GOOD and it is really easy to make.  I got it from the Hershey's Chocolate Cookbook (which was one of our wonderful wedding gifts).  Warning: this cheesecake is VERY rich and addictive!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

6 Tb butter or margarine, melted
6 Tb cocoa
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups (about 45 cookies) Nilla Wafer crumbs
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 Tb lemon juice
1 1/2 cups Reeses peanut butter chips
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 pint whipping cream, whipped

1. Stir together butter, cocoa, powdered sugar and Nilla Wafer crumbs in bowl.  Press firmly onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan (or just a regular pie pan); refrigerate while preparing filling.
2. Beat cream cheese and lemon juice in large bowl until fluffy; set aside.  Combine peanut butter chips and sweetened condensed milk in medium saucepan over low heat; stir constantly until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.  Add to cream cheese mixture; blend well.  Fold in whipped cream.  Pour evenly over crumb crust.

3. Cover and refrigerate over night or several hours.  Add any kind of topping you'd like before serving- I've had it plain, with a cranberry topping or with crushed Butterfingers.  Everything was delicious and there are so many more possibilities.  And that's it!  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Our photos were taken by the talented and wonderful Kellie.

Books Worth Reading

Welcome Home, Elder Dimick

 Can you believe it's been 2 years?  I am so excited that my little brother is back home.  He arrived yesterday (on 12-12-12) at 12:00.  Pretty weird.  He definitely has some major adjusting to do, but he'll get there!  He served a great mission and worked really hard.  We are all so proud of him.

We dressed up all of the kids like missionaries, complete with their own personalized name tags (which we kind of had to do because that was the first time Jacob was meeting 3 of the grandkids and the 4 he had met were way older).

Penny has absolutely fallen in love with Uncle Jacob (I know it doesn't look like it from this picture but that was after I had woken her up in the morning and from a nap, back-to-back)!
 

Our Big Girl

Lately Penny seems to have just gotten so much older.  She can do so many things now and understands most of what we say.

SO BIG- she went outside and shut the door.  But then she couldn't figure out how to get back in.

She can say so many things now, it seems like she gets a new word or phrase everyday.  Today she said, "Help, please."  Some of our favorites are: "Readyyyy, Go!" and "Cupcake".  Some of her favorites are "Ca ca" (quack quack, she LOVES ducks), "Cra cra" (cracker) and "No!".

She loves to help.  If I am doing the dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc. she has to be up there doing it with me.

She loves other people.  She waves and says "Hi!" to random people we see on the street.

She gives kisses now, but for some reason will only give them to Mommy.  I think rejecting Daddy has turned into a fun game.  Last night she was being so silly, she put her hands on either side of my face and was trying to kiss me (open-mouthed) on my mouth.  She thought it was hilarious.

 

This is my FAVORITE age (so far).  I love that she can do so many things on her own now and can keep herself entertained for so long.  But the thing that I absolutely love the most about this new age is that she has learned to care and sympathize.  Last night I had a killer headache so I was laying in bed with my eyes covered.  Penny was so concerned, she kept coming over to me and tapping me, or laying her head down on me.  We love that kid!