Every Day's A New Adventure

January!

2012-02-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

January is my least fav month. Just a whole lot of nuthin, cold, and nuthin. So we had to amuse ourselves otherwise! January is my least fav month. Just a whole lot of nuthin, cold, and nuthin. So we had to amuse ourselves otherwise! The kids play and play. It is fun to see them play with each other instead of near each other. Nick works and I pinterest (is that a verb?). Anyway, we are all doing great and moving forward.

We love our Robbie. His personality makes us laugh every day. He is really in to Superheroes (he has jammies for the characters and many times the jammies turn into day-wear), minions and books. This is him watching a move and having a snack.

Do do da do!

Ami and her BFF's at school. Ami is so amazing. She is reading, writing and doing great.

This is Ami doing gymnastics. She's been doing it since this fall and is loving it. Her favorite thing to do is backward rolls.

Chocolate Gingerbread House

2012-02-06T11:12:00.000-08:00

Someone gave my Mom a Gingerbread house kit. Fun, I thought. So, I opened the box and there were molds instead of gingerbread. Bring on the chocolate! It was SO fun and it turned out great.

Kids Side

Mom's Side

The House!

Munchin' on the House!

The Wreckage.

Christmas 2011!

2012-02-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

One of our family traditions is making candy at Christmas time. We always go overboard and it is great. The kids love to help, especially when it comes time to dip the chocolates!

Making Peanut Butter Truffles. Well, Ami and I made the truffles and Robbie ate the liquid chocolate.

Hi.

Christmas Morning! We had Christmas in Bern! We had a blast. Grandpa took the kids out every day on the snow machine and we visited and visited with everyone. It was great!

Checkin' out the Loot!

Christmas!

Emily's Baby Shower

2012-02-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

My friend Emily was having a baby (well she's had it now) but we used it as an awesome excuse to have a little reu! Jaclyn did the food and decorations and I did the cupcakes (she definetely did most of the work but she did crazy amazing).

Baby boy cupcakes

Katrina, Emily, Me, Jaclyn

Family Pix!

2012-02-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Ami is 5 1/2 and Robbie is 2 1/2. They are totally crazy and we love them!

Ami, Rachel, Robbie, and Nick

Ami and Robbie!

Sunflower cupcakes and misc stuff up to Christmas.

2012-02-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

Yeah, yeah yeah. I'm behind. But, I'll do my best to catch up. Wahoo!

For my aunt's birthday, I decided to make sunshiny sunflower cupcakes. The pictures are kinda blurry but you'll get the idea. They are super fun.

I like to help with the festival of trees every year so I made some fun cookies for the bake sale. I love them! Melted Snowmen!

Halloween!

2011-11-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Halloween was SO busy. We went trick or treating at a community event, trick or treating to the library, a trunk or treat event and actual trick or treating (Ami would've gone all night...but the Idaho wind got to her. He he.)

Superheroes! Spidaman and Firestar!

Da da da da!

On Halloween. Watch out. They are coming to save the day!

Trunk or treating. I was Catwoman, and Nick was Captain America. Nick's costume
was CRAZY AMAZING. But, I didn't take a picture. Slacker and my mother-in-law is going to hurt me.
But it was fun.

Pumpkin Carving

2011-11-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Yea for pumpkin carving!! We had a great time and yes, power tools were involved. Go team.

Cute, yes. Kinda dangerous. Yes. What is he plotting...

Not afraid of the guts this year baby!

Um yeah.

Pumpkin or gourd? We don't know. But it did give an excuse for the drills and saws to come out.

Fall Foods

2011-11-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

I love doing fun stuff with food. Halloween always inspires me to be kinda goofy. Here are some fun foods that we have done.

Angry Birds Pizza. He he. :)

Owl Meatball.

Pumpkin Cupcake for School Carnival

Another view of pumpkin cupcake.

Scaredy Cat Cupcake for School Carnival.

Sometimes you have to giggle.

2011-11-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my kids make me laugh (alright more than sometimes, most of the time). But this morning was particularly funny. We are battling this ....cold that is going around. Soo we all have 'froggy' voices and coughs. The kids were sitting on the couch when Robbie went to say something. It came out scratchy and Nick told him, "Ops! Looks like a frog is in your throat!" Robbie's eyes got big, and Ami as the all knowing older sibling says, "It's okay bud. I'll get it. Pretend my finger is a fly and the frog will jump out to get it. No frog problem." Robbie then says. "Kay!" He hops down off of the couch and proceeds to jump around the room, like a frog, saying "Robert! Robert! Robert!" (His interpretation of 'ribbit.') Needless to say granola about came out my nose.

Gotta love 'em.

New Fav.

2011-09-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Having a bad day? I have your solution. Not too long ago I was feeling down and out. I had a bar of chocolate that my husband gave to me in jest. It was a Lindt chocolate bar with chili pepper in it. Gross you say? I was desperate. So I broke off a square and popped it in my mouth. I didn't taste any pepper until the chocolate was gone and then felt a little tingle on my tongue. Honestly my whole day was brightened. It was fun, new and very delicious. I highly recommend it for any occasion.

First day of Kindergarten

2011-09-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Ami was SO excited for school. I was excited for her. No tears on either of our parts.

Robbie had new shoes and a back pack too. It took a while to convince him that he wasn't getting out of the car. Funny how we can't leave him in nursery but he was set for kindergarten.

Ahh, cute kids.

Here she is! Ready for the big day and hopping with excitement.

We celebrated and had a picnic afterwards at the park.

Swimming lessons!

2011-09-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

The last part of July and the beginning of August was filled with swimming lessons. The kids had a great time and improved SO much. Ami gained some confidence and her fear of the water diminished significantly. Robbie is a natural fish. No fear. At the end of the lessons he was able to jump in the water and float to the top and naturally float. They did so great.

Ami started floating on her back. She is awesome!

Robbie, the nut, begged and begged to go down the water slide. His teacher finally relented and he had a scream.

I don't know what was more fun for him. Playing in the water or playing in the locker room. He's 2.

The Wedding!

2011-09-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of August, my brother Joe got married. It was a busy week but it ended up great. The wedding dinner was a huge success, of course, and the reception was beautiful. It was held in my grandparents' orchard. I did the wedding cake and admittedly it was fun. I was kinda stressed that Elsha wouldn't like it but she did and it worked out great.

The kids of course had fun dressing up and running mad through the orchard.

Ami had a princess dress, and she duly played the part. Her Aunt Becki even did her hair so she felt very fancy.

Robbie had a scream. Even though he had to wear a suit and tie it didn't slow him down. At. All.

Ami had a cute flower bouquet and Hunter improvised. They looked so cute together.

Obviously the kids weren't the only ones having fun. Grandpa joined in until he was "asked" to be in pictures.

This picture frankly scares me on so many levels. 1) What are they laughing at. 2) I think it is a glimpse into the future say, 10 years. These two already have plotted and planned. Who knows what the plans will become when they're imaginations and bodies are bigger.

I had to wait until the very last minute to do some finishing touches on the actual cake. It is definitely my favorite of all the cakes I've done. I made roses, fresias, and chrysanthemums, and then some little highlight flowers and leaves. I learned tons about flower making and had a blast.

Our family has a tradition of groomsman cakes. My bro served his mission in Japan and so we went with an Eastern theme. It turned out pretty well.

Below the wedding cake were 200 cupcakes. I highlighted some of the cupcakes with chocolate inserts. Some were squiggles and some and "J+E". The cupcakes were delicious and pretty.

Here is the finished produce with cake and cupcakes. I loved how the sunlight hits the tower. I can't wait to see the official pictures.

Here is the final cake.

4th of July in Bear Lake

2011-09-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

My Mother in Law is in the Primary Presidency, and the Bern Ward was having a float in the Paris, Idaho 4th of July Parade. SOOOO....we were in it to. The kids felt like rock stars. By the end of the parade, Ami had the princess wave down to an art.

Heading to the Parade

Family Picture!

Riding in the Parade

Aren't we cute!

Cutest Kids Ever

2011-09-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

We took some pictures of the kids while in Bear Lake. Ami is 5 and Robbie is 2. They are growing up so fast and we are loving how fun they are. Ami is smart, sensitive and gaining a great sense of humor. Robbie is hilarious. Grandpa gave him the nick name of "Puck." His vocabulary has sky-rocketed and loves to tease.

Bear Lake Adventures

2011-09-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

It seems like we go to quiet Bear Lake and party the entire time we are there. We went to the lake, played in Logan, played in Salt Lake and of course Montpelier. Hogle Zoo was super fun and even though it was crazy hot the kids had a scream.

Waiting at the Bear Cave

Are the Fries ready yet?

Ropin' lessons from Grandpa

Mwwwhhh!

Ummm, do ya think he knows that the binky takes away from the "cool factor?"

Hi!

We were celebrating Rissa's birthday and we went to the Mayan. The kids thought it was great and I hadn't been in YEARS so it brought a lot of memories.

At the Mayan Restaurant.

If you have never been to the Discovery Center at the Gateway, YOU MUST GO. It is super fun. There are gigantic play places, a life size playhouse, a waterfall, a pretend farm, a life size helicopter for the kids to play on and many many more activities. The kids could've played for HOURS.

Are you in there??

Always dramatic. Period.

We also played on horses. It was so cute to hear Robbie in this little squeeky voice saying, "I cowboy. Ye haw ye haw!"

Ye haw! Ye haw!

Bear lake is always fun. It is like a little bubble where we can play and have no worries. The kids love hanging out with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Derek and Aunt Rissa. It is a great place.

Best Frenamies

2011-09-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

My sister, Becki, and her family spent the summer in Idaho Falls. My kids were in HEAVEN. It was a play date every single day. They were either fighting of hugging. Go figure. We are all just happy that the house and Grandpa survived.

The Crew

Robbie and Tristan, a.k.a. Phineas and Ferb, plotting

Ahhhh, bethst fwiends.

Ami's Birthday and Party

2011-06-16T19:45:00.001-07:00

Ami turned 5 this year! She loves to play outside on her bike, sketch in notebooks, read and she LOVES animals of all kinds. This year she wanted a "kitty" birthday. So, we had a Hello Kitty birthday cake. She had a super fun day, but kept asking where her Virginia friends were!

Ami's 5th birthday called for a party! We decided to have a kitty themed party. We had a kitty pinata, a "pin the bow" on the kitty, a treasure hunt that ended with mouse treats filled with kitty snacks, and kitty cupcakes. She and the friends at the party had an amazing time.

Ami's First Daddy Daughter Date!

2011-06-16T19:41:00.001-07:00

Ami went on her first Daddy Daughter Date. They went to a ballet recital and loved it. Go Dad!

Robbie's Birthday!

2011-06-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

Robbie turned 2! He is growing so fast and is talking up a storm. He loves super heroes, big trucks, and is 100% boy. His favorite movie is Despicable Me. We decided a minion cake was appropriate. We love him and his sweet hugs and kisses.

Easter

2011-06-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

Easter is one of my favorite holidays (maybe because of the Cadbury eggs, but that is a different story all together!). The kids had a scream being at Grandma's and the weather even cooperated. The Easter bunny was very kind and we had a great time hunting for eggs and spending time with family.

Robbie's First Train Set

2011-06-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

My uncle Eric recently gave Robbie his first train set. He was SO excited, and has become a huge train fiend. I was hoping to avoid this interest but here we go!

The fantastic and wonderful Bern

2011-02-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

This last weekend we went to Bern, Idaho to visit Nick's parents. It turned out to be a fun and busy weekend. On Saturday, Nick's Mom picked up her Bountiful basket order and inside was a young coconut. We split it in half and put a smoothie inside. Robbie, obviously, thought it was amazing. Even after he spilt it all over his body (thus the child nakedness).

We also went to Rissa's inlaws Dairy/Sheep farm. Ami was entranced with the baby sheep. Robbie, not so much. Lazer boy (as my Dad affectionately calls him) had eyes only for the tractors. He and his cow boy boots were all over that thing.

"Um, hi. Where's the tractor?)

Bern has a plethora of SNOW. I wanted to cry, but Ami had a scream with her Aunt Rissa.

The snow man kit was very handy.

Ami could have spent all day with the lambs. She was even able to hold some that were born the night before.

Needless to say, we came back exhausted but fulfilled. Thanks Dave and Toni!

Retirement Party Cake

2011-02-28T13:08:00.001-08:00

A lady at my Mom's work was retiring, so I was asked to make a cake. We did a "Surviving Retirement" theme. It was super fun and I learned tons!

Glasses!

2011-01-05T21:49:00.000-08:00

Look at this hot mamma! Doesn't she look amazing? Disney princess glasses all the way. They even came with a princess carrying purse. Awesome.

Christmas Chaos

2011-01-05T21:36:00.001-08:00

This year for Christmas we were at the Bodily's. As were Rachel's sister Becki, and her family, and Rachel's brothers Jared and Joe. With kids and parents in toe, we numbered 12! Wowsa. 2 Grandparents, 2 uncles, 2 sets of parents and 4 kids under the age of 4. My head is still spinning! The kids had a scream playing and wore themselves out every day. Christmas morning was INSANE but very fun. This picture is just after the kids saw their Santa presents.

The picture of chaotic glory.

Ami's face speaks how we all were feeling. Is it bed time yet?

And here's trouble. As you can see, he has already feasted on the traditional Christmas breakfast of...chocolate. Love it.

Da Vinci Exhibit

2011-01-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

Ami recently went to the Museum of Idaho with her Dad and Grandparents. She had lots of adventures!

Grandma Reula's Birthday

2010-11-22T21:29:00.000-08:00

My Grandma is famous for her rose bushes. Hopefully this brought a little spring into the dead of winter. Happy Birthday Grams!

FIRST SNOW!

2010-11-22T21:23:00.001-08:00

They broke in their snow gear! It took 15 minutes to get on all of the gear and couldn't help but giggle as Robbie waddled out (Mom! I can't move my arms). Once outside, Robbie lasted about 2 minutes. Ami lasted a lot longer and had a scream. They aren't going to have a shortage of snow playing opportunities. They are thrilled. Me, not so much.

Halloween!!!

2010-11-22T21:09:00.000-08:00

And, here is the crew. Nick was a classy wolf (he he), Ami was a kitty and Robbie was a puppy. I was the Vet to keep everyone healthy. We had a scream.

And, here is the end result. I put the blurry images in so you can get the full effect of the sugar effect. I couldn't get a non-blurry picture. He he.

And the end of the sugar rush. Ha ha. I love Halloween.

Halloween Goodies

2010-11-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

Yah, I know. Late post. But who doesn't love soft warm pretzels?

I love Halloween goodies. They are so awesomely gross. These are witches fingers we made for my Mom's work party. The pretzels were delicious and would for sure make them without the icky apperance.

Ingredients.

24 Sliced Almonds

2 C Warm Water

3 Quarts Warm Water

1 Tbs Warm Water

1 Tbs Sugar

1 Tbs Active dry Yeast

Cooking Spray

5 C Flour

1 Tbs Coarse Salt

2 Tbs Baking Soda

1 Egg

Sea Salt

Pour 2 Cups of Warm water in a mixing bowl with dough hook attachment. Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Sprinkle with yeast and let proof for 5 minutes. Beat in 1 Cup of flour until combined. Then beat in the coarse salt and add 3 1/2 Cups of flour. Continue beating until dough pulls away from bowl, usually about 1-2 minutes. Add 1/2 C flour and beat for 1 minute more. If the dough is sticky, add up to 1 cup more. Transfer to a lighly floured surface and knead until smooth, 1 minute.

Coat a large bowl with cooking spray and transfer dough to bowl. Let rise for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. After boiling, add baking soda. Lightly coat pans with cooking spray. Divide the dough into quarters. Work with one quarter at a time (cover unused quarters with plastic wrap). Divide first quarter into 12 pieces. On a lightly covered surface roll the pieces into a finger form about 3-4 inches long. Pinch the dough in 2 places to form knuckles. When the 12 fingers are formed, poach for 1 minute in the boiling water. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fingers to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, blanching each set of 12 fingers before making more.

Beat egg with 1 Tbs Water. Brush pretzels with egg wash. Using a sharp knife, lightly score each knuckle about three times. Sprinkle with sea salt and position almonds on each finger. Press firmly so the almond doesn't come off. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Let them cool on a wire rack.

They are SOOO tasty and deliciously creepy!

Carving Pumpkins

2010-11-22T20:22:00.000-08:00

Ahh, carving pumpkins. Obviously, from the look of disgust and horror, Ami doesn't like the guts part. I stuck Robbie's hand in the pumpkin and he pulled out the slime. He looked at me, shrugged, threw it across the table and put the sucker (that he had in the other hand) in his mouth. Such a boy.

Both artists concentrating hard at their work.

And, the end results with the happy faces!

Grandma's 80th!

2010-11-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

GUEST OF HONOR!

Not part of the party, but...super cute.

Here is Great Grandma and Ami in front of the cake. Ami loooves birthdays and so loved being part of Great Grandma's big day was super fun.

For the cake, I really pushed my skills and tried making a bunch of different flowers with gum paste. I was reallly pleased with the results and learned oodles.

Maryland Renaissance Festival

2010-11-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is something everyone needs to go to once. We had a great time. We drove into Maryland and when we arrived I had NO idea what a big deal it was! It was a whole city in a different time!

I LOVE funnel cakes and I found out that there was such a thing as funnel cake FRIES! Needless to say I endulged.

Ami the Princess. She loved pretending the whole time. She asked us afterwards if she was "Princess of the World." Yes, sweetheart, you are.

The kids even went on Pony rides. Robbie was in HEAVEN.

And the infamous turkey leg. Yah.

Monster Cookies at Grandma's

2010-10-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

It has been an insane few months. We've gone from going to school and living in Springfield, Virginia to living in Idaho Falls, Idaho while we transition to a job. We've packed, moved, flown and settled. Whoo! Falls in Idaho Falls are, well, not gentle. We are used to the beautiful colors and slightly cooler weather of Virginia. I say this while it is 35 degrees outside and the wind howling around the windows in Idaho. Woe! Anyway, I had some retrospective time today while hanging out at my Grandma Reula's.

For as long as I can remember, right before Halloween, we have gone to my grandparents Southwick and made Monster cookies. What are Monster cookies you say? They are delicious creations with peanut butter, oatmeal, M&Ms, chocolate chips, coconut and whatever else you may have in the cupboard. Why at Grandmas and in the fall? I think the place was set at Grandma's because we were driving my parents crazy while anxiously awaiting the night of free candy. We went to Grandma's so the folks could have a respite from our pre hyperactivity. I asked my Grandma today why the fall. She shrugged, "I don't know. That's just what we've always done." Well, there ya go for traditions!

Anyway, I went over to my Grandparents house today and threw the cookie ingredients together while my kids were happily playing with toys, coloring in activity books with Grandma and begging treats off of anyone who would give them something. There was some light music in the background and I was soaking this all in. I got kinda emotional. Talk about a turn of events. 30 years later, with my own kids, I'm playing in a beautifully warm house with wonderful smells and sounds all around me doing the same thing my Mom did. My kids are so lucky to know their Great grandparents and enjoy them to the fullest. It was so cute to see Ami perched on my Grandma's lap happily doing an activity book and Grandma enjoying every second of it. It truly was one of those moments that I will never forget nor will Ami.

After the cookies were done, I hurried and made lunch for everyone and then whisked Ami off to preschool. Will my Grandma ever know how much of an effect she has had on so many generations? Probably not. But I sure love and appreciate the talents, love, and personality she has passed on.

Here is the Monster cookie recipe. Make it, enjoy it and think of your Grandma!

Ingredients

3 Eggs

1 1/4 C Brown Sugar

1 C Granulated Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 1/2 C Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup Butter

1/2 C M&Ms

1/2 C Chocolate chips

1/4 C Raisins, optional

1/2 C Coconut

4 1/2 C Oatmeal

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 Tbs Karo Syrup

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray the cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the sugars and butter and mix until fluffy. Add the Eggs and mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, and peanut butter. Mix. Stir in the oatmeal and baking soda until mixed in. Add the M&Ms, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, coconut, and karo syrup.

Drop by Tablespoon on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let stand for 3 minutes after baking and transfer to a wire rack to cool. These are delicious and freeze awesome!

Crazy Amazing Blueberry Muffins

2010-08-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe for muffins and thought it looked interesting. I am a huge sucker for blueberry muffins so was excited for something new and a little bit more healthy than the normal variety. THESE ARE INCREDIBLE. I found myself licking the bowl because the batter tasted like cake batter. Here is the recipe:

1 Cup All purpose flour
1 Cup Whole Wheat flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Table Salt
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
2 Large Eggs
3/4 C Granulated Sugar
1/4 C Canola Oil
1 C Applesauce
1 1/2 tps Finely Grated Lemon Zest
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
3/4 C Buttermilk (I just used 3/4 Cup skim milk and 1 Tbs Lemon Juice)
1 1/2 C Fresh Blueberries

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400 F. Spray a standard muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk both flours, the baking powder, salt and baking soda.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and oil until the mixture is pale and slightly frothy. Whisk in the applesauce, lemon zest, and vanilla. Wih the whisk, stir in about half the flour mixture, then half the buttermilk. Repeat with the remaining flour and the remaining buttermilk, stirring until well incorporated. Gently fold in the blueberries.

Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them to the top. tap the pan on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted int he center of one of the muffins comes out clean, 20-30 minutes.

Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and then unmold. Serve warm or let cool completely and store in an airtight container room temperature for up to 3 days, or wrap individually for up to 3 months.

In Idaho!

2010-07-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Because Nick is studying for the bar, we decided to spend the majority of the time in Idaho so he could study and we could Play! And boy did we! My brother, Joe, came home from his mission so we had a big shin dig for that, the 4th of July went down and just played and played and played in the summer sun. Now, I do use the word "summer" extremelly loosely. IT WAS FREEZING. I never thought I'd have to have jackets and drink hot chocolate to watch the 4th of July parade. It was out of control but we had a scream.

Robbie instantly became Grandpa's best bud. As soon as Grandpa walked in the door each evening, Robbie hauled buns and literally leaped into Grandpa's arms and gave him big kisses.

Here is the 4th of July parade, in jackets. Brr. Ami had a great opportunity to meet 2nd cousins.

Ami played with her new BFF Hunter (Becki's son). The two were inseperable and caused mass destruction wherever they were.

Here are the two kids playing at a park.

The kids loved Grandma. She spoiled them rotten and here was the nightly ritual of reading books before bedtime.

We had soo much fun and were glad we could stay so long. Everyone spoiled us rotten.

Clarissa's Wedding

2010-07-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Clarissa got married. Preparation for the big day was crazy but well worth it. Here is Robbie in his first tux and Ami has a flower girl. They of course were the most important part (he he).

Here is the happy couple. The looked awesome and it was so fun getting to know Derek more.

The weather DID NOT cooperate with us (welcome to early June in Bear Lake) but we made the church look AWESOME!

All of the nieces adn nephews. What an awesome crew!

The reception was super fun and ended up looking amazing!

The groomsman cake was super fun. Derek grew up as a sheep rancher. It turned out so cute.

Clarissa wanted cupcakes for the wedding and lillies were her flower so we did this. I had never made lillies before so it turned out to be an adventure, but they turned out beautiful!

She also compromised and let me do a cake (I love doing wedding cakes!). It turned out great too.

There were FOR SURE some adventures during the week including battling mice and differences in home town elevation, but everyone were super helpers and we made it all happen. Congrats Riss and Derek!

Ami's Birthday!

2010-07-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMI!!!! Ami is 4! It is really hard to believe. Our travel schedule made it so Ami was able to have her birthday at Grandma Toni and Grandpa Dave's house. She was so excited to see all of the animals and be in the countryside. She told me 4 months ago that she wanted a flower cake for her birthday. So, here is the gigantic flower cake.

Ami also wanted the pinata for her family party. It was Kung Fu Panda and instead of hitting the pinata you pull the strings to let the candy out. Ami went first and happened to choose the right string. Of course. She loved it!

Ami's cousin Megan was at the party too. I don't know that Ami realized anyone was there BUT Megan. Fortunately, Megan was a super good sport and played and played and played with Ami. She even gave Ami a matching T-Shirt for her birthday. It was one of her favorites!

WE LOVE YOU AMI. YOU are brilliant, beautiful, funny and the best little girl we could ever have.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ROBBIE!

2010-07-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Robbie is ONE! He is gregarious, flirtatious and uproariously funny. He is walking now and heck on wheels. He has an enormous sweet tooth and loves trucks, wheels, cars, balls and anything manly. He waves at big trucks zipping by (even if he hears them while he is inside the house) yet won't wave bye to his Dad in the morning. We love him and his favorite person is Ami.

11 Months!!

2010-07-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. Wayyy after the fact, but we've been busy. Alright, enought whining. Here is some pictures of the goof ball.

Spring Break!

2010-04-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Nick and Ami had different Spring Breaks this year so we celebrated both. Ha ha! During Nicks we made a few little day trips. One day we went to Baltimore, Maryland. It was amazing! We went to the National Aquarium and the Port Discovery Museum. Both were awesome and we had an amazing time. The museum was crazy! Here are some examples of the cowboy room and the Egyptian tomb room! Our favorite was the Egyptian room. We spent A LOT of time there. It was super cool and I recommend the museum to anyone!

On Saturday, March 27thh was the National Kite Festival. A friend called and invited us, and I said "Sure" thinking, "Sigh. Kites? Okay. It will get the kids out and about." IT WAS AWESOME. There were kites ranging from our $4 special (thanks Clark for picking it up) to really amazing/expensive dragon kites. It was held in the Mall in the District and you looked up and there were hundreds upon hundreds of kites!! Here's a little taste, but it doesn't do it justice.

AMI'S CLASS EASTER PARTY.

I helped with Ami's preschool party. We made Easter bunny cupcakes and had flower shaped cheese with spring Ritz crackers. The kids also made easter cookies and picture frames. Everyone loved the food and fun.

And, Ami and Robbie enjoyed the cupcakes too.

This week we've been busy just doin' stuff. Tuesday, we went to the building museum, Wednesday we went to the Chik Filet play place and did shopping. Today, it was 75 degrees and sunny so we wondered around the Mall in D.C. and just ran everywhere. Ami was pooped. The World War II monument was super cool because they had a band playing American patriotic songs. It made it really special.

Robbie 10 Months!

2010-04-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

He's 10 months old!! We've started calling our growling dinosaur Stitch. He bugs his sister constantly and destroys anything she tries to build with blocks. Roley Poley and full of laughs!

9 MONTHS!

2010-03-20T20:41:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how fast the last 9 months have gone. He's crawling and on the move.

The teeth finally came in (much to all of our relief) and he also can say "Dad," "Mom," "Rob," and "ball."

Boy do we love this spitfire.

Secret 4-H Girl

2010-03-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Every year we go to the Fairfax Chocolate Festival. Usually, it is held the first weekend in February. Mother nature had other plans (a crap load of snow) thus it was moved to the first weekend in March.

ANYWAY, I entered the cake decorating contest. And, I WON. I WON! I've decided that inside every woman is a little 4-H girl at the State fair. Granted, I am a relatively ethusiastic person (ha ha) but when I saw that I had received "Best in Show" and also "Best in Taste" I started squealing like a nine year old girl and then jumping up and down.

Nick tried really hard not to be embarrassed while Ami just jumped up and down with me and Robbie just smiled because everyone else was (of course he was drooling but that goes without saying).

Here's the finished product.

Snoverkill 2010

2010-02-11T17:55:00.001-08:00

I'm an Idaho girl. Proud and true. I'm a surviver when it comes to winter. As you may have heard, Virginia is currently in the middle of a record breaking snow fall. I don't even have words to describe the last week. This area comes to an absolute standstill with an inch of snow. In December, we received about 2 1/2 feet (appx), yes I said feet, of snow. Well, last week we received 4 or 5 inches. Everyone shut down and we said, okay whatever. Well, this weekend. Ha ha, this weekend we received 27 inches in one falling. THEN, the next day, it snowed some more. THEN, the next day it snowed SOME MORE. CA-RAZY. Costco has been closed for 2 days (a Tuesday and a Wednesday). This is dire times, my friends, dire times.

Here are some fun pictures.

(Ami's snowmen after the 1st storm)

(Shoveling after the second storm)

(White out conditions, after the third storm. The hill is now taller than the car.)

Summary

2010-02-11T17:23:00.000-08:00

So, we've been beyond crazy the last few months. Because of the "Snowpocalyse," we've had a wee bit of time on our hands so I can catch up!

December: In December, we had the great opportunity to go home to Idaho. Needless to say we played and played, was spoiled by family, and played some more! Christmas was so great and it was so fun to see loved ones we haven't seen in forever. I would show pictures but many of them have me with no makeup. So, no pictures. Just use your vivid imagination.

Ami had tons of quality time with her favorite person (Aunt Sami). Here they are sledding.

January: We arrived home the second week in January and jumped right into our regular schedule.

AMI LOVES preschool. She goes Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the morning and I think is a definete sanity keeper for both of us. The preschool teachers are super experienced and love the kids. Ami is also in a ballet/tap class. She is so cute in her little tu tu and tap shoes. The class is absolute chaos, but some how they learn and are super cute! Her favorite food: Hot chocolate! Here is a picture of her making some hot cocoa.

ROBBIE is growing like crazy. He is now 8 1/2 Months old! He can roll over and is now creeping to get to the things he wants. He would much rather stand than sit, and loves to stand and hold onto the furniture. He thinks it is hilarious and giggles when he stands there. It scares me like crazy...no crawling. Awesome. Yet, he has no teeth. He still manages to eat anything he can get his hands on. Currently his fav: Chobani yogurt (a greek yogurt) and ritz crackers.

(8 Months)

NICK: Nick is in the middle of the semester and as busy as ever. He is being published in a book about international arbritration, working on school work, and most importantly looking for a job! He graduates in May and we are excited for the new part of our life!

RACHEL: I'm busy being a Mom and keeping up with the kids while trying to lose this darn baby weight! I'm spring cleaning and that is a whole new adventure.

Family Picture!

2009-11-24T20:06:00.000-08:00

My good friend Leigh agreed to take our family picture again this year, and of course, she did an AMAZING job.

Here are some of my favs.

Ami is 3 1/2 and Robbie is 6 months old!

2009-11-24T19:21:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. My kids are the cutest ever. Thanks Leigh for your amazing photography skills!

Ally's Birthday Cake

2009-11-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

I recently decorated this cake for a friend's daughter's birthday. It was super fun and although it didn't turn out like my original sketch it turned out super fun.

Thanksgiving fun

2009-11-24T18:57:00.001-08:00

We decorated hand cookies like turkeys. One is for Dad and one is (or was as the case may be) was for Ami. Which one is which?

Big Boy is 5 Months!

2009-11-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

He gets cuter and cuter. His eyes are a dark blue with green around the iris. He has the funniest sense of humor and his favorite person is his big sister Ami. He started eating solids and NEVER STOPS. We love him oodles.

Halloween Activities

2009-11-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Candy, dressing up, candy, candy...

Here is Ami carving her pumpkin. She actually put her hand in the pumpkin instead of dancing around singing "icky icky." Progress.

Ami LOVES preschool. Home is a big disappointment compared to preschool. We have been so impressed by the teachers and their love for the kids. I helped with the Halloween Party (oh I mean Harvest Festival :)) Here is Ami after the craft.

I was in charge of the snack (shocker, my creativity has limits). The preschool had really specific requirements of do's and don'ts for the snack (no peanut butter, chocolate, marshmallows etc). So, we had cake bites (the spiders) and stuffed rolls (the snake). It turned out well and the kids loved it.

After snacks, crafts and games the kids had a parade. It was so fun to watch. Although Ami was a witch for Halloween, the preschool asked that the kids didn't dress up as witches etc. Super. So she was Angelina Ballerina. From the pictures, you can understand that she is kinda a cheese ball. (must get it from Nick).

The actual day of Halloween was really fun. Ami woke up "HAWAWEEENNN DAYYY! TWICK OWE TWEAT!!!" She had an amazing time. As a family, we dressed up in a Wizard of Oz theme. Ami was a witch. Robbie was a flying monkey. I was Dorothy and Nick was the cowardly lion. We took her to a few of our friends homes and then Ami went with one of her friends in our neighborhood. They were so cute. Ami was on a mission. She ran, not walked, ran from house to house. "Trick or treat. Thanks!" She made out like a bandit. "Yeah yeah yeah, lady. I'm cute, sure. I've got 4 more houses on this block. Hurry it up." (From Seinfeld HBO Standup.) If you have never heard Seinfeld's version of Halloween. Here is a link. It is a MUST. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MarBVyZVe9s You will laugh and laugh. I love Halloween.

For my Family

2009-10-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

As a tweenager I had a run in with a gigantic slug in Oregon. Slugs of various sizes have hunted me ever since. It is a family joke that the slug clan are sending slug hit men after me. This is what we found on my door step....(just north of Nick's keys).

4 Month Robbie

2009-10-06T18:06:00.001-07:00

Our little guy is so funny. He is so quick with a smile or giggle. Amelia is his favorite person and she easily makes him chuckle, which makes her giggle which makes him laugh harder and it is a down hill slope. He is growing so fast. He is now 25 inches long (5 inches growth in 4 months) and 15 pounds (7 pounds weight gain). His hair is staying steady redish and his eyes are dark blue. His little ears poke out like his Grandpa Bodilys and we love this little munchkin to pieces.

National Book Festival

2009-10-06T17:55:00.001-07:00

Every year the National Mall hosts the National Book Festival. It is AMAZING. There are tons of freebies and the kids get to meet the PBS characters. I thought our little daughter was going to kill over when she met Princess Pea from the show "Super Why." She met Clifford, the characters from "Super Why," Word Girl, characters from Word World and various other characters. She started shaking every time before she flung her body against theirs in a huge hug. Ha ha. I hope none of them were injured.

Ami has had an extreme interest in the Power Puff Girls. She just trembled and high pitched giggled when Awesome Daddy handed her this icecream.

Cox Farms

2009-10-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places in Virginia is Cox Farms in the fall. It is fun and great for the price. It has a hay ride, slides, animals and everything a kid loves. They also have free samples of the best apple cider I have ever tasted and yummy apples.

Life with a 3 year old

2009-10-06T17:27:00.001-07:00

Any mother knows that life with a three year old can be hilariously frustrating. Amelia is going to preschool now and has gotten into the "by myself!" She is also discovering the amazingness of the alphabet. She is recognizing 'A', 'B,' 'W,' and letters that she sees often. The other day we were chatting about the names in our family while playing with fridge magnets (Ami, Mamma, Dad, Sami etc). She said "Robbie!" (or as she says it Wobbie). And I said, "kay we need to look for an R magnet." "No mamma, W." She states emphatically. Ummm.. "No sweetheart Robbie starts with an R." "Wa wa wa Wobbie." Ha ha. I decided to fight another battle for the time being.

She is also becoming very cognitive of her surroundings. She watched Disney's "Tinkerbell" and went into the kitchen and made a bridge. She was "Tinkering..."

She's also become quite the master of posing. She loves playing ballerina.

Robbie at 3 Months

2009-09-08T13:16:00.001-07:00

Well, our little man is 3 months old! He is so funny with a quick smile. Ami and he have a special bond and are always talking and making each other laugh! He weighs about 15 pounds and is always hungry! We sure love him!

Candace's Birthday

2009-08-31T12:01:00.001-07:00

One of my great friends had a birthday last week. She is so busy working full time, taking care of two kids and supporting her husband while he gets his Masters degree. She needed something fun.

So, I made her a cake. It was fun to do and turned out great.

2009-08-31T11:45:00.001-07:00

August was a busy month. Nick finished his internship and had a great experience. The rest of us played and played and played. Here is Ami at a local spray park.

Nick had a few months of vacation before school started so we went to Ocean City, Maryland. We stayed at this great resort named the "Francis Scott Key Family Resort." It was super family friendly and very reasonable. Ami had a scream and Robbie endured it gracefully.

Here is Ami telling her Dad how to "put put golf." I was laughing so hard; tears were rolling down my face. Nick, unfortunately, didn't think it was that amusing.

The whole resort is pirate themed. And it had a splash park in the form of an enormous pirate ship. Here is Amelia in the splash park.

We loved our break and are slowly but surely getting back to a schedule!

Wedding Cake

2009-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

So, I was commissioned to make my first wedding cake! It turned out pretty well and I learned a lot. So that is great.

Two Months!

2009-07-31T08:57:00.001-07:00

Robbie just turned 2 months old! It has gone really fast (probably because of sleep deprivation, but hey what can ya do).

ANYWHO, here are some pictures of the little tyke.

Baby Shower Cake

2009-07-29T13:20:00.001-07:00

Some friends and I threw a baby shower for a friend in our ward. I was put in charge of the cake. Here it is. I think, so far, it is my favorite one that I have made.

Robbie Blessing

2009-07-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

We Blessed Robbie on July 12, 2009. Nick's sister Sami was able to come and we loved having her visit. She is Ami's favorite person, hands down.

Robbie was super good and didn't make a peep during the blessing. He even opened his eyes when Nick showed him to the congregation!

Snakes

2009-07-08T17:52:00.001-07:00

I hate 'em. In fact, I've had nightmares about them since I was a toddler. Anyway, the other day I was doing yard work. I went to the shed to get some insecticide and something moved and caught my eye. It was a giant snake skin. Now, you are thinking, "Rachel. Giant? Come now." Uh, yeah if 4 feet long is considered giant. Yes, yes it was. Anyway, I called Nick to see if he had picked it up on a walk and put it in there. Nope. FREAKED OUT. Needless to say, our "outside time" was done for the day. When Nick arrived home, he dispatched of it. Icky, icky, icky. I realize that at least it wasn't an actual snake and they are useful creatures with mice and rats. But bwahhhh. Icky, icky, icky. I hope our shed was just a temporary place to shed its skin and not a regular vacation destination. Icky icky icky.

Robbie at 1 Month

2009-07-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Man he's a cutie! Here is our little man at 1 month.

He has got such a personality. He is already smiling and every night, as we are putting him to sleep, he always wakes himself up by laughing! What a character.

Book Cake

2009-07-08T17:39:00.001-07:00

Ami recently had her hair cut.

My friend came and cut it (Thanks Trina) and in exchange I made a cake for Trina's book themed dinner party. It turned out awesome!

Ami's Birthday

2009-07-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ami turned 3! She was so excited. About 2 months before her birthday, she came up to me and said, "Mamma, happy day party wif fwiends, and pwesents and barbie cake for me?" Uh....suuurrre. So we had a birthday party. Here are some of the highlights.

She received a sprinkler thingy for her birthday,

so she is thoroughly enjoying it.

And...the infamous barbie cake. I thought it turned out so cute! The cupcakes were super easy too!!

Robert Joel Birch

2009-06-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

Robbie arrived! He was born Monday, May 25, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. in Fairfax, Virginia. He weighed 8.0 pounds and was 20 inches long. He is so cute and we love him lots.

He is a hearty eater and loves to sleep (except between the hours of 12:30 am and 6 am...ugg). He also has a little dimple in his left cheek (yes, the ones on his face, Dad). Mom and baby are doing very well.

Just Waiting

2009-05-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

So, everyone has been asking for an update. No, the new child has not made an appearance. I'm definetely progressing and hopefully in the next week! Thanks for all of your concern!

Spring Fling Church Activity

2009-04-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

I have to say this was the most amazing church activity I have EVER BEEN TO!

It was so organized and had such great activities.

Amelia had a scream.

And, my cake even won first prize in the cake decorating contest! I was pretty excited.

Easter Activities

2009-04-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Dying Eggs in preparation of the big day!

Easter Egg Hunt at South Run Rec Center

Meeting the Big Guy!

The Easter Bunny brought all sorts of yummy fun things!

Easter Sunday Dresses and of course the drama that went with it?

I'm 30.

2009-03-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Wow. I'm thirty. I remember when that seemed oh so far away. Now I'm thirty and almost 8 months pregnant. Whoo. Time is a crazy thing.

March Adventures

2009-03-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

We had a CRAZY March (so far anyway). First we took off to Idaho to visit with family and Nick took off to Dubai! The following are picture highlights. Enjoy.

Our trip to Idaho was SO fun. Amelia had a great time spending time with her "Grandma-grandpa" (they were combined rarely said alone). In Bern, she had a real "Farm Eieioo" Experience.

Ami even got to ride a for real horse and be a cow girl. "Ye haw" as she says.

We visited the cows and pigs.

Ami loved seeing the cows but not so much there smell. We've been potty training so our focus and really been on the project. As we were walking outside, my astute two year old said, "Ewww Mamma. Icky!" I explained that yes it stunk but that was just how cows and a farm in general smellled. She got this exasperated look on her face, "Cows wipe bums." Goll, dumb cows.

Getting Eggs from REAL chickens (who, by the way were, HUGE...I was seriously scared they were going to charge. Has anyone ever been gored by a rooster....)

Making breakfast with our fresh eggs.

So Tired. Being a helper girl is a big job.

Ami had just as much fun with her other set of grandparents in Idaho Falls. She played and played. She became very protective of "her" grandma. Becki (Rachel's sister) was visiting with her boys and Amelia had a complete melt down when "her" grandma hugged one of the boys. "My Grandma!!" Grandma had to do some quick thinking and explaining to slow the nuclear explosion. Ami loved playing with her cousins and I'm not sure Grandma and Grandpa's house will ever recover.

Dubai

Here is some pictures of Nick's trip to Dubai. He had a great experience and learned tons.

The classic view of the up and coming country.

View of a Souk.

There is one everywhere!

View of Dubai.

Dad brought Ami a belly dancing outfit!

Nick also brought me some beautiful jewlery and outfits. What a nice guy! We're glad he's home.

24 Weeks and Counting

2009-02-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of me at 24 weeks. Not too shabby. I feel HA-uge, but I think that is normal. Anyway, enjoy!

Chocolate Festival

2009-02-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

Every year Fairfax, VA has a giant Chocolate Festival. It is a blast! This was our third year and I decided to put my newly found cake decorating skills to the test. I entered a cake in the contest. It was really fun and the cake turned out great.

Week 18

2009-01-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

Well, we are almost half way through the pregnancy. Yea! And, I have to admit it is going fast.

This is a "4 D" picture. Isn't technology amazing! This is a picture of the baby crossing his arm in front of HIS face. He wasn't so camera shy at first but he got tired.

Yep, it is official. We are having a boy. Our little man was not ashamed of his physique one bit. Watch out. The technician was even laughing.

Christmas Day!

2009-01-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

New "Bob bob" pjs.

We are all about Ballerinas in our house. So, this year we had a Nutcracker Christmas (sorry about that Tim, ha ha). Anyway, Amelia got the ultimate ballerina tu tu from Santa. She even received some mirrors and a barre to practice her positions.

Candy for Breakfast. Yea for Christmas.

Activities during Christmas Break

2009-01-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

Nick's younger sister, Sami, and brother, Greg, came to visit us for the Christmas holidays. We had a great time. We really appreciated them coming. We did a bunch of stuff while they were here. These are some pictures of the highlights.

American History Museum

National Geographic Museum

Christmas Festivities

2009-01-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas tree received lots of love this year. Ami decorated it many times over as the holidays progressed. Every time we would leave or come home she would give the Christmas tree hugs. The first time we came home, after we took it down, was a big disappointment.

Every year my Mom made TONS of homemade chocolates. We've kept up the tradition. Ami had a SCREAM. And, it was fun to watch her. No worries to those of you who received treats from us; we did separate her master pieces from the ones we gave away!

Dippin' chocolates

Clean up time!

Cake Decorating Graduation

2009-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, I finally completed my goal of doing 3 of the Wilton Cake Decorating classes. We learned out to use fondant and make some really beautiful flowers in course 3. Here was my final exam cake.

Craftiness Gone Wild

2009-01-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

My Sister Becki had her 2nd little boy Tristan about a month ago. He is so cute and I wanted to make (yes, make) him something. I made her first son a 3 foot cross stitch growing chart. Cross stitching doesn't work with a toddler around so I decided to try my hand in sewing. I DO NOT sew. And to sew something is kinda ambitious since Becki is a MASTER quilter. In fact, sad as it was I had to go to a friends house so she could show me HOW to cut the fabric. Then after resting up for a few days some more friends came to my house with THEIR sewing machines to help me make a quilt. Sewing machines and I don't mix well. They hate me and the feeling is pretty mutual. Anyway, after much aid, frustration, and Ami learning the word "crap" we made a pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself) quilt for Tristan.

Would I do it again? Maybe.

Here is the end result.

The apple doesn't fall far from....

2008-12-04T07:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had that moment in your life when you realize you ARE your MOTHER? It can be terrifying or exhilerating.

For example, my Mom goes crazy with decorations at Christmas. The bathrooms are even full of seasonal cheer.

Nick has always made fun of my copious amounts of Christmas decorations. Well, we put all of our decorations in our spacious townhouse and realized we didn't have as many as we once thought. So, this definetely called for a trip to Michaels. Thirty dollars later and a basket full of stuff I hummed merrily home (listening to Christmas music of course!).

This morning I was happily stringing garland and poinsettias all over when it hit me. I am my Mother. I wasn't quite sure how to react. I realized it was a good thing. My Mom is one of the most creative, organized and fun people I know. She always has a smile on her face and makes everyone around her laugh.

Thanks Mom. Your influence is very prevalent in our home this time of year! It is "Christmasized."

Give your Mom a hug or a call today.

Family Pictures

2008-12-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

So, it is Christmas card season and I thought I'd let Costco do the work for me! So we had a friend take our pictures (Thanks Leigh!). She got some great pictures.

Aren't we cute!

Cake Decorating!

2008-11-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

I've always enjoyed decorating cakes and took the first Wilton class a few years ago. I finally decided to finish the remaining courses and just finished the second course (there are 4 courses). Here is my final exam cake. It was really fun!

Technology is Amazing!

2008-11-24T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the word is out and its true. We are expecting another baby on June 3, 2009. Amelia is still pretty clueless and looks at us like WE are clueless when we try and describe to her that there is a baby inside Mamma. Nonetheless, we are very excited for the new arrival. Here are some 3D ultrasound pictures we had taken today.

The kid was moving around like crazy and it was entertaining to watch the frustrated lab tech get the measurements she needed. A rebel even in the womb. Perfect.

The head is on the upper right and that baby's hands are propped up behind the head. Kickin' back. Nice.

The Incredibles.

2008-11-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

We LOVE Halloween. It is such a fun time to dress up, chat with neighbors and the guilt-free chow down on processed sugar!

Here's our costumes. (I think they rock!)

Dash (a.k.a. Amelia)

Mr. Incredible (a.k.a. Nick) and Dash

And, last but not least, Elastagirl (a.k.a Rachel)

Pumpkins

2008-11-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

We carved pumpkins for FHE. Here's the process and the final result!!

Our finished products!

Nick's finished monster.

Natural History Museum

2008-11-01T11:54:00.001-07:00

On a rainy day we decided to visit the Natural History Museum. It is such a fun place for all ages. Amelia loved it.

Here's her new BFF.

The world is such an amazing place!

Distinctive Comfort Design

2008-10-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

I've started my own business! I'm selling home decorating items at discounted prices. My Mom, Sister and I have a favorite home decor place in our home town. I found out the wholesaler and signed up with them. So, now you don't have to wait till "after holiday" sales to a pay a decent price for home decor.

Anyway, here is the blog address http://www.distinctcomfortdecor.blogspot.com/.
Log on and see the great deals. Just email me or post a comment and we can arrange payment and shipment!

Have a great one!

Annual Virginia Beach Trip

2008-10-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Every year for Nick's birthday we go camping in Virginia Beach. It is SO FUN. It is off season and still really nice. This year Nick's sister Sami was visiting so she came along. Friday and Saturday were kinda stormy but we were able to see an air show (with the Blue Angels!) and hang out. On Sunday, we went to the beach. We all had a great time.

THE COOLEST PLACE EVER

2008-10-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, some friends invited us to Cox Farms in Centreville, VA. It was AMAZING. Definetely worth the $6.00 to get in. There was a hay ride, apples, cider, pumpkins, animals and playground galore. It farm combined with an amusement park. Ami had a great time. She ran and ran. She even got to feed goats (ended up wrestling with them really) but she had fun.

Here are some pictures.

We have fallen to The Office

2008-09-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

For 4 consecutive seasons we have had friends (yes, that is you Eric and Marc) that have RAVED about the hilarity of NBC's The Office. We tried watching sporadically and it honestly didn't do anything for us. We thought it was dumb.

Well, with the summer TV season being the way it was we put Season 1 on our Queue. We watched it and thought. Hmm, that was fun.

Then we did Season 2. Crap. We're addicted. It is 11:10p.m. on a Saturday night and we are trying to think, "WHERE CAN WE GET THE THIRD SEASON THIS LATE ON A SATURDAY." Super.

Thanks...Eric and Marc. :)

Mi Casa Su Casa

2008-08-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the new place. We have so much space!

This is what you see as you enter the house.

Here is the master bedroom.

Here is Amelia's Room

The spare bedroom.

Here is the kitchen and the dining room.

Here is the living room.

Storage room/Laundry room and the Downstairs room.

And last, but not least, the Tiki Bar.

We moved!

2008-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

I hate moving. I don't know if there is anything worse then moving. We didn't even move very far, yet I loath it. Amelia wasn't quite sure what to think. The boxes were fun...at least one of us thought so.

Puh-jum

2008-08-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

Amelia is a fish. She loves to swim (or whatever toddlers do). Anyway, she has recently found it is fun to jump from the side of the pool. Her word for "jump" is "puh-jum". Yeah. Here are some pictures of her "puh-jum"-ing.

Bowling!!

2008-08-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

Nick is doing a summer associateship with a D.C. Firm. The firm had a family bowling night. It happened to be Amelia's first time bowling. She had a great time. The only thing we had to worry about was having her drop the bowling ball on someone. Nick and I bowled horribly, but Amelia had a great time!

Bees for the Nursery

2008-08-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

It was our Sunday to do snacks in nursery. And, I didn't want to bring boring pretzels or goldfish. My Mom gave me this idea. Thanks Mom!