Bear Lake Babes

This past weekend we spent with my family in Bear Lake. We crammed all of us into a friend's cabin - Dad, Rene', Chase, Chase's friend Lauren, Nick, Nick's friend Cole, Robb, our family friend Gale, her daughter Caitlin and her 3 friends. Including the Alvarez clan, that makes 15 of us plus the dog Max. It was crowded but cozy. ( We missed Haylie at Dance Camp in South Carolina and Tanner serving his LDS mission, still in the MTC)
We spent the hot days out on the lake wakeboarding, tubing, wake surfing, swimming and sun bathing. Nights were spent watching for shooting stars around the fire pit on the deck overlooking the lake. Friday night, Fernando and I made carne asada tacos for the whole crowd - YUM!

Because my descriptions of our fun weekend don't even come close to the real thing...

Enjoy some photos!

Kyler with the "big kids"

Good morning, Bear Lake!

Captain Chase and First Mate Kyler.

"I'd like a swing set with a view..."

Feeding Carp. (My worst fear would be falling in the middle of all those fish! Ew!)

Bear Lake at Sunset with a full moon...

I love my family so much and I am so grateful that we are able to go on such amazing family vacations. We are so blessed to live so close to so many beautiful areas. Utah is an amazing state!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love & Los Locos
Katie

Sneaky Nutrition

Nearly every kiddo gets a little picky when it comes to his eating habits. And although sometimes it's OK to let Kyler (OK... and ourselves) indulge in an all-out sugar fest, the rest of the time we like to feel good about what is going into his growing body. Ky is usually a pretty good eater, broccoli being a favorite snack, but sometimes I like to "amp up" his meals and add even more nutrition.



Here are a few Kid Tested, Kid Approved "sneaky" ideas.

Add some vegetable puree to tomato sauces for dishes like spaghetti, and slip broccoli, spinach, or squash into lasagna.

Brownies are a great opportunity to sneak in blueberries and even oat bran.

I have even heard of people using carrot or sweet potato baby food in Mac n' Cheese or in baking.

Whenever possible, replace vegetable oil with applesauce or yogurt in baking recipes. Applesauce works best in cakes, cookies, and brownies, while yogurt is great for breads.

Make your own healthy popsicles by blending different fruits with a little water then freezing in an ice-cube tray with a stick. (Check out these cute guys and other ice-cube trays at Perpetual Kid!)
I must say I'm not a fan of tricking kids into eating healthy though. I do believe it is important to teach kids that healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains are yummy and good for their growing bodies. If we sneak healthy foods into unhealthy foods, we might be encouraging kids to love brownies and other treats.
My advice to get your kiddo to eat better -- just keep trying. For a long time Ky hated celery, but I just kept offering it as a side with his carrot sticks (and made sure he saw me really enjoying it ) and eventually he tried it with some almond butter. Now he's an addict.

I hope these quick tricks can help you on your way to a not-so-picky eater!
Thanks for stopping by!

Love & Los Locos,
Katie

Getting Close to Nature

Every summer, around the Utah Pioneer Day holiday (July 24th), my husband's side of the family ventures into the great outdoors for an annual camping trip. This year was no exception.
We load up our Costco shopping carts with "family sized" portions of graham crackers, Hershey's chocolate, marshmallows, hot dogs, hamburgers, condiments, melons, bottled water, and other camp site necessities before journeying into the wilderness.


OK, I have to admit... We aren't exactly rough-n-tough mountain campers. Not that we haven't before or don't enjoy a rugged tent camping trip, but we do love the comfort of my Father-in-Laws camping trailer. Five beds, microwave, stove, oven, freezer, refrigerator, running water, and a flushing toilet. I'll say it again, I'm not afraid of dirt under my fingernails or dust in my hair, but having those small luxuries when camping with kids is quite nice. (Especially for middle of the night potty time.)

Spending time with family by the lake in the middle of nowhere is such a great experience. Kyler loves exploring nature with his cousins. And I love campfire food ;]. But family time away from civilization has other benefits.
Research shows that contact with outdoors, whether it be a camping trip or a trip to the park, can help improve a child's physical activity, development, and overall well-being. This can include a sense of self and independence. Some research has shown that people that were exposed to nature as children are less likely to suffer from adolescent and adult anxiety and/or depression.



Kids are supposed to get rough, sustain some minor injuries, and just get dirty every once in awhile. And the the benefits that come from it are life-long.
Mother Nature: 1 , Video Games: 0
So whether it's the park down the road or the campsite in the mountains, tent and sleeping bags or trailer and toilets.... Get Outside!

Love & Los Locos,
Katie

Side by Side – Year by Year.

Four years ago today I married my best friend, Fernando. I am so lucky I am in love with my best friend. And so lucky he has survived 9 months of pregnancy hormones and 38 months of PMSing. He is definitely a keeper. Ha ha ha!
All jokes aside -
Mi Amor... we may not have a lot, but having each other is worth more than anything. Love you longer than forever! ♥


“It doesn't matter where you go in life, what you do ..... it's who you have beside you.”

“A successful married life requires falling in love many times, but always with the same person.”

“Our anniversary is a time to look back at the good times and a time to look ahead to live our dreams together.”

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."

♥♥♥

My advice for a lasting marriage - Just laugh. Most things are never as big of a deal as they first seem to be. So cherish the good times and laugh at the rest. Enjoy life :]

♥♥♥

A special surprise - Laser Hair Removal for me! Buh-Bye armpit hair! Hahaha!

Tonight we will be celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary by having dinner in the gardens at the Tuscany Restaurant - right where we became husband and wife!

Love & Los Locos,
So In Love - Katie

June Favorites ♥

Although June in Utah was (sadly) wet and cold for nearly the entire month, I do have a few favorites from the first month of summer.
To start...

My Favorites: (In no specific order)
1. "Army Wives" - Army Wives is a drama series that premiered on Lifetime in 2007. It follows the lives of four women and one man each married to a soldier serving in the U.S. Army while they contend with long deployments, PTSD, and other heartaches while living on an army base.
At first I had a hard time really getting into the show, but after the first two episodes, the array of characters and the different story lines got me hooked. According to different reviews on Netflix, Army Wives is actually very accurate in it's portrayal of active military life.
Army Wives gets a big thumbs up from me -- What a nice break from reality T.V.!

2. "Dexter" - Oh. My. Gosh. I am obsessed with this show! A blood-spatter specialist for the Miami Metro Police that moonlights as a serial killer with a moral code -- He only kills other murderers.
Fernando and I have been hooked on this show since watching the very first episode on Netflix. Dexter has become a date-night favorite for us. It's not uncommon for us to watch 3 or 4 episodes in once night!

3. ChapStick Moisturizer - A must have for summer! 12 moisturizers, SPF 15. What more do I have to say? LOVE!

4. MAC Cream Colour Base - A multi-purpose cream that can be applied anywhere. I have a neautral shade to wear on my eye lids to conceal any veins or pink tones on the thin eye lid skin. My absolute favorite summer look is achieved with this product, a coat of mascara and a tinted moisturizer. Light, fresh, and clean.

5. Laurie's Buffalo Gourmet - All natural chips and salsas. Uh, yeah... YUM!!! Laurie's Buffalo Gourmet offers 6 different chip varieties and 4 different super delicious salsas. So far we have tried the Flavor Fusion Chipotle and White Corn Chips, Hand-Cut Thick and Hearty Toasted Corn Chips, Black Bean and Garlic Chips, Tomatillo and Fire Roasted Salsa, Fire Hot Salsa with Habanero Peppers, and Black Bean and Corn Salsa. All of the different combinations we have tried are just fabulous. The Chipotle Chips and Fire Hot Salsa are, as they sound, pretty dang spicy - But that's how I like it! Laurie's Buffalo Gourmet products are made locally here in Utah, but are sold in specialty stores throughout the U.S. Check out www.LauriesBuffaloGourmet.com to find a retailer near you!

And some of Kyler's favorites...

1. "Cugungers" - Translation: Cucumbers. Ky is such a good eater and his new favorite is sliced cucumbers. He likes all the skin peeled off and lime juice squeezed over the slices. Personally, I hate cucumber... But Kyler will never know that.

2. Utah's Hogle Zoo Zoorassic Park - Move over lions, tigers, and bears... Dinosaurs are at the zoo!!! What more could a 3 year old boy want? 10 different species of anamatronic and placed throughout the park that makes for a not-so-cute-and-cuddly zoo experience. The creatures are complete with meticulous detail, roars, and even some water squirting. While these new additions are exciting, take car with smaller kids -- The movement and sounds can frighten younger toddlers.

3. Discovery Gateway Children's Museum - Located at the Gateway Mall in downtown SLC, this 60,000 square foot hands-on play museum is a hit with the kids. We visited Discovery Gateway with my two cousins and their boys. There are over 8 different exhibits including a construction zone, a grocery store, a farm, a media zone, and many more - all for children to learn and interact with. Kyler's favorite exhibit was out on the terrace of the 3rd floor. Put your pilot and emergency worker skills to the test with a real (bolted to the ground) life-flight helicopter! Ky loved playing with the controls and buttons in the cock-pit. There's even speakers that project sounds of a real helicopter in flight!
Check out www.DiscoveryGateway.org for more information.


Those are just a few of my little family's favorite things from the month of June. Maybe a few of our favorites will make it to your favorites list!
Enjoy :]

Love & Los Locos,
Katie

"The Best Things in Life Aren't Things..."

The other day Fernando and I were sitting in the parked car listening to music as we waited for my sister-in-law to get home. Windows down, enjoying the warm sun, Kyler unbuckled himself from his car seat to play with his toy race cars in the back seat. After a few minutes I felt a small tug on my long dark hair... I turned around and Kyler is grinning at me. The words that came out of my 3-year-old son's mouth completely made my day.


"Mom, I like your hair. It's so pretty!"
I reply with "Thank you Kyler, you're such a nice boy!"
"Mom, see me!" (Translation: Look at me)
I turn around and see him right over my shoulder.
What he said next made my entire year.
"Mommy... you're bootiful!" (Translation: Beautiful)


My heart instantly melted. This race car loving, dinosaur roaring toddler thinks his mommy is beautiful. And I'm the lucky mommy! We must be doing something right as parents for him to randomly dish out flattering compliments. He will make a great husband one day. But, not for a long long long time... For now he is still mine and I will take the compliments as they come!

Moral of this blog post -- you're most cherished "things" in life will be the memories of sweet little moments with loved ones.

Love and Los Locos,

Katie

Verano!

El verano ya esta aqui!


...


Summer is here!



Am I the only one that barely survives the frosty winter months just so I can enjoy a few months of toasty sun on my skin? If you are anything like me, you are feeling very grateful for the summer rays. I love everything about summer...


The sting of a day old sunburn, gritty sand in my sandals, sticky popsicle juice dripping down my wrist, the sweet scent of coconut sun-tan oil on bronzing skin, chaotic and usually dirty carnivals, Fourth-Of-July festivities , grass stains on soccer jerseys, carne asada grilling in the backyard, lake-side camping trips...


And it's all finally here! Our weeks are getting busy and warm. Between my religious sun bathing, Kyler's soccer games, Fernando's race days, city festivals and birthday parties, this first month of summer has been so perfect.


I am feeling so very grateful to be spending my favorite season with my favorite people - my family.
Fernando - a wonderful, goofy, sweet, tall, dark, and handsome "Dada" to our Ky and Husband to me.
Kyler - our silly, crazy, precious, exciting, smart, handsome little dude.
And the rest of our families... My family, in laws and our family of dear friends.


I can't wait for what the rest of summer has to bring us!

Love and Los Locos,
Katie