I had a friend recently ask me what happened to my food blog. I still have it up, although I haven't posted anything on it in FOREVER. The blog address is aussiemuminthekitchen.blogspot.com. I changed the blog address of it to give my family a little more anonymity and protection.
So for those of you missing some of my old recipes, feel free to stop on by. I really need to start posting to it again. I love love love trying new recipes and blogging about the ones that are good.
www.aussiemuminthekitchen.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Jonah Giggling
This morning I was showering Gabe and Brad's younger brother Bridger was playing with Jonah in our room and I heard giggling. I freaked out and grabbed my phone. I so badly wanted you all to see Jonah's latest trick. Brad also hadn't heard it yet so I am so thrilled I could catch this. I can't think of a cuter sound in the world, than a baby giggling. We are just so in love with this little guy.
TOOTH FAIRY TIME!!!
Last night while I was out running late, Gabe also lost his first perfect baby tooth. It had been wiggling for over a month but Gabe and pain don't mix. Gabe and pain and blood? Oh mercy! Needless to say he had been very cautious with this wiggly tooth and was not letting anyone near it. The only one he would let touch it was Nana. I felt a little bad when I saw Gabe cry as she pulled on it, but honestly, this kid would have left it in there forever otherwise. Though I was not home, I was grateful that Brad captured it all on my phone so I didn't have to completely miss out.
Check out the cute tooth fairy pillow that Nana Sandy made. She is so clever. It has a pocket in the front to place the tooth in, which is also where the tooth fairy leaves the money. I spray painted a dollar with glitter paint and Gabe thought it was pretty neat that the tooth fairy left behind some of her fairy dust. I had to laugh to myself. As a kid when we lost our teeth we didn't get anywhere near a dollar per tooth. I guess, we will call it "inflation" =).
Check out the cute tooth fairy pillow that Nana Sandy made. She is so clever. It has a pocket in the front to place the tooth in, which is also where the tooth fairy leaves the money. I spray painted a dollar with glitter paint and Gabe thought it was pretty neat that the tooth fairy left behind some of her fairy dust. I had to laugh to myself. As a kid when we lost our teeth we didn't get anywhere near a dollar per tooth. I guess, we will call it "inflation" =).
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Last week of school!
My first baby is growing up! This is his last week in kindergarten. I can't believe he is going to be a first grader. This week has been fun at school with different things going on every day. Today was "field day." They got their faces painted, ate popsicles, had a bouncy castle etc etc. I love this little guy so much and I am so proud of him.
Spiderman of course!
This post wouldn't be complete without a blurry selfie...found this on my phone =)
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Handsome Mail-man
This kid kills me. If he sees a pen and any piece of paper (even a scrap) he has to doodle on it. Some days this drives me nuts, because I feel like I am following him around picking up pieces of scribbled on paper all about the place. Then...there are the days when his doodling melts my heart and I am just so grateful for my little doodler.
On one of his last days at daycare his little girlfriend Cameron taught Gabe how to draw hearts. I could hardly stand how cute that was. In my mind I pictured the two of them sitting close together (as I often found them when I picked him up) and her teaching him how to draw hearts. SO CUTE! Anyway, since he learnt how to draw hearts he has loved writing me love notes. Today I was sitting at the computer (when I should have been packing) and he walked in all serious and said "Excuse me, is your name Natalie Maree Bentley? I have a letter to deliver." Already dying but trying not to laugh, I say as seriously as I can "Why yes I am" He then hands me an envelope with these inside before he runs out of the room grinning.
On one of his last days at daycare his little girlfriend Cameron taught Gabe how to draw hearts. I could hardly stand how cute that was. In my mind I pictured the two of them sitting close together (as I often found them when I picked him up) and her teaching him how to draw hearts. SO CUTE! Anyway, since he learnt how to draw hearts he has loved writing me love notes. Today I was sitting at the computer (when I should have been packing) and he walked in all serious and said "Excuse me, is your name Natalie Maree Bentley? I have a letter to deliver." Already dying but trying not to laugh, I say as seriously as I can "Why yes I am" He then hands me an envelope with these inside before he runs out of the room grinning.
Look at those little hearts! So clever!
My handsome little mail-man. I love the pens he stuck to his shirt. Not sure where he learned to do that, but I thought it was adorable!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Harlem Shake....Anderson/Bentley Style
A couple of months ago, we helped move my brother Jarom and it was a long day of moving and scrubbing...did I mention scrubbing and moving. Anyway, amidst all that work we needed a little play. I present the Harlem Shake....Anderson/Bentley Style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83zrFDMylM&feature=youtu.be
I had never actually heard of the Harlem Shake. We were all standing around for a minute taking a break and my brother Ben said "hey...when I say so, starting dancing and acting spastic and then when I say stop...stop" I figured, why not. So we obliged. I didn't realize that Ben had a Harlem Shake app on his phone and was filming us for that reason. It's ok though...I'll own it. We are dorks and we know it.
In the video is Me, Gabe, my youngest brother Blake and my Dad (the bald guy) =)
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83zrFDMylM&feature=youtu.be
I had never actually heard of the Harlem Shake. We were all standing around for a minute taking a break and my brother Ben said "hey...when I say so, starting dancing and acting spastic and then when I say stop...stop" I figured, why not. So we obliged. I didn't realize that Ben had a Harlem Shake app on his phone and was filming us for that reason. It's ok though...I'll own it. We are dorks and we know it.
In the video is Me, Gabe, my youngest brother Blake and my Dad (the bald guy) =)
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Spring time soccer!
Having grown up in a family where most of our time was spent playing basketball games, watching each others basketball games, at practices, coaching teams and even reffing, watching my own little guy play a sport brings me so much joy.
There is so much to be learned about being a part of a team, winning and losing, learning how to be a good sport, cheering for your peers, working at a goal, physically working your body, having a healthy mental and physical outlet, I could go on forever. Bottom line I love sports and Gabe is just so stinking cute in his little soccer outfit and watching him run around is a thrill for this Mummy!
This season his cousin Andrew is on his team and also his good little buddy Tommy. Gabe is in heaven. We also love our coach, we were thrilled to be able to get him for a second season.
Go Gabe No 12!!
There is so much to be learned about being a part of a team, winning and losing, learning how to be a good sport, cheering for your peers, working at a goal, physically working your body, having a healthy mental and physical outlet, I could go on forever. Bottom line I love sports and Gabe is just so stinking cute in his little soccer outfit and watching him run around is a thrill for this Mummy!
This season his cousin Andrew is on his team and also his good little buddy Tommy. Gabe is in heaven. We also love our coach, we were thrilled to be able to get him for a second season.
Go Gabe No 12!!
Gabe for the kick in!!
And...they're off!
Get it Gabe!! Go go go!
Chilaxing at half time
Our little soccer star!
Cousins! Love these two crazy kidlets
Buddies!
Ahhh...just looking at these pictures make me giddy for tonight's game. Now we just need the weather to really warm up so I can watch him play and work on my farmers tan too. I'm so ready to ditch my winter coat! =)
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Our 10th Wedding Anniversary
Yesterday Brad and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary! Are we really old enough to have been married 10 years?! WOW. When I look back at 10 years ago and think about the fact that at the VERY young age of 21 I left my whole world (which also happened to be on the other side of the world), my friends, family, school and work to take a leap of faith and marry Brad it is still mind blowing to me even now. We have been through more in 10 years together than some people go through in a life time, but every time a stumbling block got thrown in our path, we'd cry, hold each other and pick ourselves back up and keep on moving. I can't imagine my world without Brad in it. I know that the Lord was preparing me even as a youth to meet and marry this incredible man and to make a life here in the U.S.
I am thankful every day for him and for the amazing husband and father that he is. He is my partner in life and in crime, he knows me better than anyone else. He knows my strengths, my weakness, my hopes, dreams, fears and all my secrets (that sounds way more interesting than it really is...lol). We are two peas in a pod. There is no one else I'd rather get old and wrinkly with. He is my other and better half, my best friend and best of all he is my eternal companion and that is something I hold sacred and cherish most.
We started out the day in the best way cuddling with our little man, listening to him gibber jabber and telling us stories in bed and just enjoying the fact that Daddy was home and Mummy didn't have to get up and hurry to get to work. Thursday was my last day at work (OH YYEEAAHH!) and yesterday was also Brad's Friday off. Brad had bought me some gorgeous flowers (tulips...he knows are my fave) and my favorite drink Vitamin water and he made me the fluffiest pancakes he could work up. After 10 years, I still love that Brad can make and loves to make me awesome (from scratch) pancakes. Then it was time to get Gabe ready for school. We both dropped him off and used the time alone to run some errands.
Once we picked Gabe up from school we all went to Subway for lunch (Gabe's request) and then we took advantage of the nice weather and drove down to the new outlets in Lehi for a gander. We wanted Gabe to have an opportunity to pick out some outfits for his little brother on his own. It was so fun to have him walk around the store and pick out things for the baby. Of course ever outfit he picked had animals on them =).
Once home, Brad and I sat on the porch in the sun while we visited with neighbor friends and watched Gabe and the little neighbor boy play. The weather was just too nice, being inside wasn't an option.
Gabe had been begging to do some science experiments at home, so we all went and bought the supplies for him to make his own "GOO". He had a blast making it and playing in it for a while before he went over to Nana and Papa's for a play date so Mum and Dad could go out to McGraths for an anniversary dinner.
All in all I'd say it was a perfect day. It wasn't our planned 10 year anniversary trip to Europe, but I wouldn't change anything about the changes coming our way right now and think this anniversary will still be one we will NEVER forget. Besides...Europe will be way more fun in about 5 years when we can take the boys with us =)
I am thankful every day for him and for the amazing husband and father that he is. He is my partner in life and in crime, he knows me better than anyone else. He knows my strengths, my weakness, my hopes, dreams, fears and all my secrets (that sounds way more interesting than it really is...lol). We are two peas in a pod. There is no one else I'd rather get old and wrinkly with. He is my other and better half, my best friend and best of all he is my eternal companion and that is something I hold sacred and cherish most.
10 years and still going strong. I love you Babe!
We started out the day in the best way cuddling with our little man, listening to him gibber jabber and telling us stories in bed and just enjoying the fact that Daddy was home and Mummy didn't have to get up and hurry to get to work. Thursday was my last day at work (OH YYEEAAHH!) and yesterday was also Brad's Friday off. Brad had bought me some gorgeous flowers (tulips...he knows are my fave) and my favorite drink Vitamin water and he made me the fluffiest pancakes he could work up. After 10 years, I still love that Brad can make and loves to make me awesome (from scratch) pancakes. Then it was time to get Gabe ready for school. We both dropped him off and used the time alone to run some errands.
Look at those bad boys....mmmmmm =)
My flowers
Once home, Brad and I sat on the porch in the sun while we visited with neighbor friends and watched Gabe and the little neighbor boy play. The weather was just too nice, being inside wasn't an option.
Gabe had been begging to do some science experiments at home, so we all went and bought the supplies for him to make his own "GOO". He had a blast making it and playing in it for a while before he went over to Nana and Papa's for a play date so Mum and Dad could go out to McGraths for an anniversary dinner.
Here we go....he was SO excited!
Goo-ey!
For this kid who LOVES Spiderman, this was probably the closest thing we could get to Spiderman's ultra cool webs
Mixing all the colors together to get rainbow goo!
Friday, April 5, 2013
New Family Pics
We were in need of some new family pics and so a couple of Sunday's ago, my dear friend Holly snapped some of us at home. I was thrilled with how our little last minute partly sunny, partly cloudy, snow showers at times photo shoot turned out.
This is hands down one of my faves =)
Look at my cute boys! What isn't to love about these faces?
Who really likes to be tickled? This little guy! He BEGS to be tickled. Honestly....I almost can't think of anything worse, but I am always happy to oblige =)
Ahhhh....Look at that face. I am such a lucky Mummy!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Daddy's little helper
This kid kills me. I was looking through old videos we had saved on the computer and I came across this one. This video is from last summer.
He was so proud that he was mowing (or thought he was) the lawn all by himself. When he came inside I made a huge deal out of what a fantastic job he had done and he was just beaming. I love this little boy so much!
He was so proud that he was mowing (or thought he was) the lawn all by himself. When he came inside I made a huge deal out of what a fantastic job he had done and he was just beaming. I love this little boy so much!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Mormon Messages
My brother in law recently told me about these "Mormon Messages" on lds.org. I have spent quite a bit of time once Gabe is in bed watching these videos. They are inspiring, uplifting and some days help give me that little spiritual boost I find myself needing.
http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/topics/adversity?lang=eng#2012-01-002-comfort-in-trials
http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/topics/adversity?lang=eng#2012-01-002-comfort-in-trials
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Chicks!!!
We already have a few fully grown chickens, BUT this past week Brad bought Gabe some new chicks. They are tiny and soft and adorable and Gabe absolutely LOVES them. I heard him talking to them this morning. It was so cute. The conversation went something like this:
Gabe- "Hey baby chicks...did you miss me?"
We hadn't been anywhere, but Gabe had left them and gone outside for a minute to help Dad with some important manly business. =)
I love this boy and his infectious smile.
Gabe- "Hey baby chicks...did you miss me?"
We hadn't been anywhere, but Gabe had left them and gone outside for a minute to help Dad with some important manly business. =)
I love this boy and his infectious smile.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Spring time!
I absolutely love this time of year. The snow in our yard has finally melted, the sun is out which means the neighborhood kids are starting to play outside (love that!), the streets are filled with walkers, runners and bikers, the feeling of the warm sun on my skin, NO COATS (very excited about that) or heavy layering just to go outside, birds chirping, green grass, flowers and trees budding. It just makes me feel alive and grateful to be alive.
It's also incredible to me how a warm and sunny day can lift ones mood and spirits. I took a minute today to sit outside and just feel the warmth on my skin while Gabe played on the lawn and I couldn't help but reflect on the season and all the new growth and life that comes with it. Gabe's prayers for a sibling have become more fervent of late. While it is so cute and touching that he has so much faith and is willing to continually ask for what he wants it also breaks my heart. I've felt lately as though our little family could be in for some changes, like things are stirring up and the starts may just align in our favor. I sure hope so. I'd give anything to fulfil Gabe's hopes and dreams for a sibling. =)
Sometimes, I wonder if this is a blog for prospective birth parents to read to get to know us a little better or if it is more a journal of my random ramblings. BUT...that being said, if anyone out there is reading this, I hope they would feel that they could approach us at any time with further questions. We are happy to communicate via phone, email, texting and are open to any and all questions.
Since today is so nice, I think a trip to the park is in order. For dinner....I think pizza in the park will be fun and a nice distraction.
~Nats~
801-540-8218
It's also incredible to me how a warm and sunny day can lift ones mood and spirits. I took a minute today to sit outside and just feel the warmth on my skin while Gabe played on the lawn and I couldn't help but reflect on the season and all the new growth and life that comes with it. Gabe's prayers for a sibling have become more fervent of late. While it is so cute and touching that he has so much faith and is willing to continually ask for what he wants it also breaks my heart. I've felt lately as though our little family could be in for some changes, like things are stirring up and the starts may just align in our favor. I sure hope so. I'd give anything to fulfil Gabe's hopes and dreams for a sibling. =)
Sometimes, I wonder if this is a blog for prospective birth parents to read to get to know us a little better or if it is more a journal of my random ramblings. BUT...that being said, if anyone out there is reading this, I hope they would feel that they could approach us at any time with further questions. We are happy to communicate via phone, email, texting and are open to any and all questions.
Since today is so nice, I think a trip to the park is in order. For dinner....I think pizza in the park will be fun and a nice distraction.
~Nats~
801-540-8218
Friday, February 1, 2013
A conversation with Gabe
Today after Brad and I picked Gabe from school we were driving home in the car and he asked me if I had ever heard of the Salt Lake Zoo. I said "You mean the Hogle Zoo?" To which he replied "No, mum, it's the Salt Lake Zoo and at the Salt Lake Zoo they have this fountain where you can make a wish and it will come true."
"Oh really" I said.
"Yeah but you can't ask for really big things just smaller things."
"Oh that's cool...so Gabe if you could wish for one thing, anything in the whole world, what would you wish for?"
"A baby."
Brad and I just looked at each other.
Some day kiddo, some day!
Till then, I thank God every single day that he gave me this angel. That I get to wake up each morning to this face. When I look at this face every heartache, all the loneliness, sadness, longing and dissapointment vanishes into thin air and is replaced with feelings of absolute grattiude and love.
Christmas 2012 in Disneyland!
Who has the coolest Nana and Papa?...we do! This year Brad's parents took the whole family to Disneyland for Christmas. We had a blast. Here are some shots from our trip.
Christmas morning in CA. Gabe waiting to open his presents from Santa!
Santa spoiled us this year. Gabe was thrilled with his gifts which thrilled Mummy and Daddy =)
Disneyland!!
I can't even put into words how much I love this little face
Fun with Uncle Blake- we sure do love him
Mummy, Aunty Shelbi and Aunty Shanna
Best Aunty ever- The little boys wanted to throw coins into the fountain so Aunty Shelbi obliged and grabbed some coins for the boys. Someone had to hold her pants up =)
Gabe on one of the roller coasters. He was so brave and we were so proud of him.
Not the best pic. I was trying to catch one of the little boys holding hands. I love that Gabe and Andrew are so close in age.
We took some time on one of our days in CA to go to the beach. Gabe absolutely loves the beach and had fun playing in the water and collecting shells.
Lady killer!
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family.
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