The Barons in Seattle

Be My Valentine

2012-02-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!

We had a great one and hope you did too!

ps- I love cute, simple Valentine-y decorations! The "kiss me" and "Be my Valentine" ones were new this year... and my new love is using scrabble tiles for cute seasonal messages!

The folks.

2012-02-10T13:47:00.000-08:00

The kiddos and I spent Thursday evening over at my parent's house. It was a fun, relaxing evening... with yummy dinner! Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us crash your house and hang out!

Five Year Check-up

2012-02-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Cooper had his five year check up this morning. He is very healthy and almost square, weighing in at 39 pounds and 41 inches tall. He had fun pumping up the blood pressure cuff himself and listening to his heart beat through the stethescope. He had one immunization today and was very brave, but broke down afterwards. He doesn't handle pain well :( I tried to cheer him up by telling him that most kids get 3-4 shots at one time (we delay and selectively immunize), but that didn't help. So, we hit Target afterwards and a new Cars race car for his collection seemed to help put the pain behind him.

He actually took his Cars collection to school this past Wednesday to share with his class. It has been fun to see what all the kids have brought in on their "collection day". Everything from crystals to Barbies!

On my own.

2012-02-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

I know there are lots of strong women out there whose husbands travel for work often. These women amaze me. Fortunately for me, my husband does not have to travel for work more than once or twice a year. When he does, he is gone for 5-6 days at the most and then he returns home to us.

I used to really stress out about him leaving. Justin and I co-parent and share all the responsibilities, so when he is gone, it adds a lot to my work load with the kids. Last week was a really rough week for me, I was PMS'ing, Piper wasn't feeling well, so she wasn't sleeping well at night, and I was just stressed out. Justin was apprehensive about flying to Atlanta this week. I think he feared for my emotional well being. Of course, he had to go anyways and leave his unstable wife behind to fend for herself with the kids :-)

This week, while it would have been nice to get a break (especially since I've been sick), has gone really smooth. Children (and mom) were fed, bathed, and where they needed to be- on time! The dishes have been done, the garbage has been taken out, and homework has been completed. I've survived. I've come out alive. And, I'm not even stressed. I've missed Justin, don't get me wrong. He is my best friend, my partner, my lover, but I've realized that I'm stronger and better at this parenting thing than I give myself credit for. It feels nice to know, for myself, that I'm capable. I guess it is time to stop doubting myself.

Five!!

2012-02-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

Cooper turned FIVE last week!

We had a small party at Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. Just cousins and family friends. It was very laid back and relaxed... just my style!

Piper and her BFF Keri saying "cheese!"

Fun for the whole Duncan Family!

Cooper with all his loot! It looks like a small toy store!

The progression of a popsicle

2012-02-08T09:55:00.001-08:00

Chloe's Bakery

2012-01-31T09:22:00.000-08:00

We gave Chloe a donut maker for Christmas and she has been putting it to good use! Last night, she made about 40 mini donuts to sell at her third grade student market*. They were glazed Funfetti (cake mix) donuts-- so yummy!! This is the recipe we used- although we decided not to frost them, they were already a total sugar rush! http://cookiesandcups.com/double-glazed-funfetti-donuts/

*All the third graders at her school earn "money" from their teachers for doing different things. They have a school bank that they can make deposits and withdrawals from and on the last day of each month, they can bring in homemade items that they've made and sell them to other students, to earn more money. They seem to have lots of fun shopping from their peers! It is a good lesson in money management and business.

Treat night!

2012-01-28T23:30:00.000-08:00

We don't have many days, especially Saturdays, when there is NOTHING on the calendar. Today happened to be one of those gloriously relaxing days! It was so nice to have nowhere that we needed to be or be needing to watch the clock to make sure we get a kid off to their scheduled activity. We had a relaxing day together, ran a few errands, played outside for a bit, had yummy meatloaf for dinner (made in my new Perfect Meatloaf pan that I got for Christmas), and then went out for a special treat of dessert at Dairy Queen! Everything was half off for "Customer Appreciation Day," which made the treats even better!

Two of the cutest!

2012-01-28T00:04:00.000-08:00

My week hasn't been all bad...

2012-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Cooper goes to preschool Monday through Thursday in the the afternoon. Chloe is also in school at this time, so that means that I get to have one on one time with my fabulous Miss Piper! I know that both she and I enjoy our alone time to hang out with no other kids around. Some days, we even luck out and get to go out to lunch with Justin, just the three of us! She revels in her alone time with us, walking between us, holding both of our hands and having our undivided attention. It is fun to watch her be her own person, without her siblings around. I'm so grateful for her and her gigantic personality!

Hanging out, chatting with me, in the front seat of the van while we waited for Cooper to get out of school yesterday!

Argh.

2012-01-25T20:31:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I developed a cold sore. Now when it comes to cold sores, I don't get them like a typical person. Mine explode into a huge nasty sore within a day. Normally, I can sense them coming and ward them off with L-Lysine supplements and Abreva before they manifest, but every once in a while I get one that is resistant to my cold sore fighting efforts. When this happens, I have to go to the doctor and get a prescription for an oral anti-viral medicine... Valtrax. Yup, the same thing you'd take for the OTHER kind of Herpes. Lucky me, right?! So, I have a lovely cold sore healing on my face. On Monday, I slipped in the snow at Cooper's preschool and ended up with a nice stiff neck and sore upper back muscles. Thankfully I have a husband that is willing to rub my back and help me take it easy (as easy as a stay at home parent of three can take it without interrupting life). Today, Wednesday, I broke a tooth. I have major anxiety about going to the dentist and now I can't put it off. While the tooth break is a whole corner of one molar, the upside is that it doesn't hurt, but the downside is that the break looks severe enough that I'll probably need a root canal on the tooth plus a crown and not just a crown alone.

It just isn't my week. It can only get better from here, right?!

Day 5 of snow!

2012-01-19T17:07:00.000-08:00

We are onto day five of snow and the third cancelled day of school for the week. Fortunately, Monday was a school holiday and Tuesday, Chloe had a two-hour late start (many districts canceled that day), but they sent the kids home at 1pm because of the snow that was coming down so quickly. So while they were only at school for two hours, it means they won't have to make it up! AND, school has just been cancelled for tomorrow too. That means Chloe had two hours of school this week and Cooper had none. Lucky for us, Justin worked short days on Monday and Tuesday and had snow-days of his own yesterday and today (all paid!). Maybe we'll luck out and he'll get to be home tomorrow too, but I think that might be pushing my luck!

The kids are still loving the snow and are definitely not tired of yet. I guess that is an upside to only getting severe winter like this once every 2 years or so. Today has been filled with sledding, video games, hot chocolate, homework (gotta keep the kids busy!), and even donut making! I love having the kids home but I'm sure I'll be happy to have them off to school when Monday rolls around!

Important! End piracy, not liberty!

2012-01-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

We need to do something about internet piracy, but these two bills don't fit.From Google:Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA. The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late. Go here to sign the petition: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Phone Dump!

2012-01-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

I've seen this done on other blogs and have always thought it was a great idea, so here I go... I snap lots of pictures on my phone and I find that cell phone pics give a fun glimpse into everyday life! Here are some from the past month!

Chloe with the paper doll that she had to design and dress in traditional Swedish clothing for her school cultural/heritage report. She dressed hers for Lucia Day! 12/06/11

Piper restyled her shirt into a tube top while dining at Taco Bell! 12/13/11

Seeing the thousands of Christmas lights at our annual trek out to Woodinville Wonderland! 12/18/11

The new stockings that I finally splurged on this year! 12/24/11

Piper, on her 2nd birthday, having a pre-bed tea party at her new table! 12/27/11

Cooper ready to head to the swimming pool this past Saturday, despite the 32 degree weather! 01/14/12

The on-ramp onto 405 that we passed on our way home from church on Sunday. All those cars were stopped/sliding/stuck! 01/15/12

Cookie Time!

2012-01-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

Chloe and a troopmate selling cookies last year!

It is that time of year again- Chloe is once again selling Girl Scout Cookies! She loves being a Brownie and says that her favorite parts of being a Brownie are "helping other people, making friends, and selling cookies!"

Chloe is currently taking preorders and will have the cookies in hand, for delivery, in the middle of February! If you're local, she'll personally deliver them to you or we can mail them to you if you're out of the area! You can view the cookie selection at http://littlebrowniebakers.com/cookies/ . Chloe's personal favorite is the Do-si-dos! Cookies are $4.00 a box and Chloe will collect the money when she delivers your cookies.

Last year, she worked really hard and was able to sell enough boxes of cookies to pay part of the cost of Girl Scout day camp at Camp River Ranch in Carnation. It was her first time at camp and she LOVED it! She hopes to sell enough boxes this year to be able to attend again this summer.

Email me if you'd like to pre-order!Heading off to Girl Scout day camp, this past July!

Snow Day take two!

2012-01-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

Chloe and Cooper are not tired of the snow yet! This is good news, since there is more in the forecast! We're loving it!!

Snowy Sunday

2012-01-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Today has been a wonderful day! It snowed a little bit last night and then while we were at church this morning, it snowed about three more inches! As soon as we got home from church, the kids were stripping off their church clothes and putting on their snow gear. The snow continued to come down, it was just dumping! Piper came in after playing for about two and a half hours and Chloe and Cooper, other than taking a very quick lunch break, are still playing outside, now in the dark, and it has been well over five hours! I baked cookies and there is currently a roast in the oven... such a lovely Sunday!

Water and food coloring in spray bottles makes for fun snow art! I have green, red, blue, and purple snow through out the entire yard!

Cooper and the snowman he built with Justin. According to Cooper it just needed "a hula hoop and arms to hug me."

Piper's first snow! She loved it!!

Wisdom of the day

2012-01-14T08:49:00.000-08:00

Bowling!

2012-01-12T16:37:00.001-08:00

Cooper's preschool class had a field trip to the bowling alley this week. The kids all enjoyed bowling and Piper even joined in the fun! Check out her little shoes:

2012-01-04T23:08:00.000-08:00

I totally heart Pinterest. Check it out, if you haven't already. And, let me know if you need an invite!

http://pinterest.com/meloneeb/

Ring in the New Year!

2012-01-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Or run excitedly into freezing water to welcome the new year! On New Years Day, Justin decided to participate in the annual Kirkland Polar Bear Dip into Lake Washington. We came home from church and he quickly changed into his swimwear, before we walked down to the marina to join in the fun! It was cold and exhilerating, a spontaneous way to start 2012. Like I said, we're excited for this year!!

Cooper considered going in-- until he tested the water with his feet!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:42:00.000-08:00

2012 is going to be an amazing year! I get a smile on my face, just thinking about how wonderful it will be! Big things are happening, I hope you'll be along for the ride!

By the way- Piper turned TWO! My baby is two! She is such a ray of sunshine in our lives (and a ball of crazy energy!).

Blessed.

2011-12-30T21:48:00.000-08:00

I spent most of this month in a pretty bad funk- frustrated with this or that, cranky to my kids, stressed out at the gazillion and one things to do, and just kind of all around feeling 'bah humbug'. It made me sad that I was feeling this way, as generally, this is my favorite time of year. But this week, now that the hubub has calmed down and there is much less on my to-do list, I've slowed down and thought about how blessed I am. Blessed to have my three crazy, wild, sometimes naughty, yet incredibly delightful children. Blessed to be married to such an amazing, hard working, loving husband. Blessed to have a warm, comfortable, (albeit cozy) roof over our heads. Truley blessed. So, the next time I'm allowing myself to walk around in a funk for a month, some one please remind me to look at what I have around me and snap out of it!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Finally... Cooper's First Day!

2011-09-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Cooper started Pre-K this past Monday! He was so excited to be back to school and I'm sure it is going to be a great year! He is exhausted today, after four days in a row of school and I'm glad for Fridays off. He definately needs the rest today!

Monday Inspiration

2011-09-19T10:30:00.001-07:00

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. -Theodore Roosevelt

Soccer Season has begun!!

2011-09-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

Chloe with her team, The Kirkland Cannons, after their first game today!

Cooper looking cute on the sidelines. He decided he didn't want to play today, but plans to give it another attempt next week...

Just because I can't...

2011-09-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

Get over how grown up she looks, here is Chloe this morning before school. She is so stinkin cute, I can barely stand it!

First Day Collage

2011-09-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Back To School!

2011-09-06T10:15:00.001-07:00

My baby girl started THIRD grade today! Chloe is growing up way too fast!

Showing off her feather hair extensions. These are all the rage for the elementary crowd. Six out of the eight girls on her soccer team have them. They are fun, not permanent and easy to take care of!

At school, waiting in line. It is always relieving to find a friend in line, especially on the first day!

Cooper was sad that it was Chloe's first day and not his. He doesn't start preschool for two more weeks, but he was easily cheered up with a quick stop at 7-11. Slurpee and donuts at 9am?! Suuuuuurrre.

Blackberries!

2011-08-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I never realized that there were people who *intentionally* grew blackberries. In the PNW, they are an obnoxious weed that home owners fight to keep out of their backyards and grow wildly along roadsides and in parks. Now, I realize how lucky we are here to have easy access to blackberries-- for free! We "foraged" a few pounds of blackberries this morning at an elementary school nearby. They are DELICIOUS! The majority of our bounty has already been turned into jam and we can't stop snacking on the rest!

Wisdom of the day

2011-08-27T10:43:00.001-07:00

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

We're baaaack...

2011-08-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

My posts have been so few and far between for the past year, I don't think anyone really noticed, but I've had our blog set to totally private for the past few months. I'm ready for it to be available again, so here we are!

We've been busy, busy, busy and having lots of fun. I even just turned a year older... mixed feelings on that, but I was happy for a reason to celebrate with family!

Chloe's Baptism

2011-04-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Chloe was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a wonderful day, surrounded by family. We are so proud of Chloe!

Coming Soon? An update?

2011-01-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

Yeah, yeah, I'm behind. My blogging has seriously lacked for the past, oh, year. As it turns out, kiddo number three makes it a lot more difficult to get some of the "extras", like blogging, done.

So, hopefully you'll see some new posts soon. We had a wonderful Christmas and then two days later, Miss Piper turned one! January has flown by, full of swim lessons, birthday parties, preschool, and family fun.

Don't give up on me yet!

Christmas Morning

2010-12-25T20:51:00.000-08:00

Santa came! I almost wonder if he wasn't really paying attention to how "naughty or nice" the kids had been this year... especially the naughty parts! All three kiddos got exactly what they asked Santa for. Chloe got a scooter, Cooper got a ladybug Pillow Pet, and Piper, well, she got a ride on giraffe that she didn't even know she wanted!

The adorable Baron kids!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T17:56:00.000-08:00

We invited my parents to join us for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Swedish meatballs. It was delicious and the company was wonderful!

Fun Swedish holiday decor:

Yum! (Cooper was hiding under the table and Piper was just out of frame in her high chair!)

Christmas Lights

2010-12-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

We love spending an evening right before Christmas driving around looking at lights. Through the wonders of the internet and our GPS, we're able to go see all sorts of "news worthy" displays! Here are a few favorites from this year:

And our house:

The Littlest Angel

2010-12-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

Chloe was in our ward's Christmas Nativity this past Saturday. She looked adorable and sang very well. She chose to be an angel.

Somehow she ended up on the back row... behind everyone else who was much taller than her, but we were happy when she peeked out and we were able to see her!
Next year, she is hoping to be Mary. I like that idea- then she'd be in the manger and we'd be able to see her cute face the entire time!

Baby Godzilla

2010-12-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

Piper loves to sit on/walk through/tear apart Cooper's train tracks. She is like a little Godzilla, destroying everything in her path.

She even decided to come attack me... aren't her little chicken legs funny? And by funny, I mean cute, of course!

Reindeer Food

2010-12-16T16:33:00.001-08:00

One thing off my "to do" list! These are going to Cooper's preschool tomorrow.

Holiday Fun

2010-12-13T10:48:00.000-08:00

A quick pic from our visit to see Santa:

Chloe asked Santa for a scooter, Cooper asked for a ladybug Pillow Pet, and Piper just tried not to cry!

On my to-do list:

2010-12-11T19:32:00.001-08:00

I've had these websites open in windows on the computer for a couple days, so I figured I'd post them here so I won't lose the links. Maybe you'll want to try one too...

http://tidymom.net/2010/holiday-baking-christmas-tree-peppermint-bark/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2010/12/reindeer-food-recipe-and-printable.html
http://www.justapinch.com/recipe/oreo-cookie-balls-by-shannon-smith-shannon?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d001b5a3a69b991%2C0

We're still alive and kickin'! Busy, busy, busy. Christmas is in full swing and we're gearing up for Piper's FIRST birthday! She is walking now and into just about everything... that helps explain why my to do list is only getting longer, not shorter!

And, while I'm at it, here are a few pics of the kiddos:

Chloe and Cooper supervising Justin while he put up the Christmas lights on the house

Piper loves eating (last night was teriyaki chicken, rice, and salad)! We're yet to find a food she'll reject.
Helping Grandma DD celebrate her birthday!

The Christmas tree is up and decorated. Not pictured: The large baby gate that surrounds it, to keep our climbing baby out of it!

Thanksgiving

2010-12-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. The two weeks that led up to Thanksgiving, however, were not so great. We got the flu. The real, nasty, sick as can be flu. It also snowed while we were sick, the kids didn't get to go out to play in it... I guess it'll have to snow again soon!

Chloe and Cooper:

The adorable Miss Piper:

All the beautiful ladies!

Cousin fun!

Two big turkeys:

And one little girl, eating a pudding box:

Just because I like it:

2010-11-23T18:19:00.001-08:00

For your reading pleasure:

Women With More Than One Child Are Not Actually Crazy

Go ahead, click it, I dare you!

New Camera Lens?

2010-11-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

I want one, how about you?!

Go here to enter to win an awesome give away for a Tamron AF18-270 lens!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T23:19:00.001-07:00

We had a very fun Halloween and hope you did too!

Coming Soon...

2010-09-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

An update! Don't mistake my lack of blogging for a lack of fun and exciting summertime adventures, because we had an AWESOME summer!

For now, here is Chloe on her first day of SECOND grade, this past Wednesday:

And being proudly dropped off at school by her little brother and little sister:

Reminders

2010-07-13T00:08:00.000-07:00

While eating out this past weekend, an elderly couple who'd been sitting across from us, came over and starting chatting with us as they were leaving the restaurant. Our kids had been entertaining them while they ate their dinner. They went on to tell us how they had six kids of their own, they asked about the ages of our kids, and then the gentleman said, "They really are what life is all about."

Yes they are.

First Grade Graduate!

2010-06-16T15:41:00.001-07:00

Chloe had her last day of first grade today! She is growing up so fast! She is such a smart girl and really excels at reading (and socializing!).

First Day of First Grade, September 2009

Last Day of First Grade, June 2010

After school, with her teacher, Ms. Penton

Chloe chose to go the Mongolian Grill for her celebratory lunch and we invited Grandma DD along!

Pretty Baby

2010-06-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

Not that I'm biased or anything, but Piper sure is adorable!

Luau

2010-06-07T13:43:00.001-07:00

Our new ward had a Luau on Saturday evening. It was really crowded (not enough tables and chairs!), the food didn't quite go far enough, and it was so noisy and loud that we ended up taking off early because Piper was so overstimulated and freaking out. Big change from our Bellevue ward that had a really low activity level! I was too busy saving seats at a table and dealing with crying Piper while Justin was standing in the long food line, to take any pictures, but I did snap a couple in the parking lot on our way out:

Since my posts sounds super-complainy, I wanted to add that the food was good-- the scouts roasted a pig in the ground and the little bit I got to taste was delicious! And I made a tropical fruit salad that was yummy- I was supplied with the recipe and I'll most likely make it again sometime in the future. Here is the recipe:

1 pkg (4.6 oz) Vanilla Pudding (not instant) (Sugar Free pudding can be used)
1 pkg (4 oz) Tapioca Pudding
4 Tbsp Orange Juice Concentrate
2 Cans Mandarin Oranges (drained saving liquid)
2 Cans (20 oz) Pineapple Chunks (drained saving liquid)
2 bananas sliced

Combine fruits, draining liquid and saving. Measure liquid and add water to make 3 cups. In sauce pan, combine puddings and liquid. Stir in orange juice. Heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils and mix is thick and smooth. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Pour over fruit. May be served warm or cold.

Do You Coupon?

2010-06-02T16:24:00.001-07:00

We live in a high cost of living area on one income-- money can be tight. Over the past year we have dealt with a paycut (thanks economy!), health insurance premium increases with coverage decreases, loss of income from me no longer working-- and we added another kiddo to our family. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a shopper by nature. But, I'm a shopper that loves a good deal, so I found a new way to continue my shopping "hobby." Last fall I started using coupons more and while I'm not nearly as skilled as some ladies I know, I am pretty good at getting things for really cheap or free... or better yet, getting money for "buying" items. It does take planning and prep work, but its worth it! I get most of my info from a few blogs and one online forum (there are tons more out there, these are just the ones I frequent). Check 'em out, you might get hooked too!

www.slickdeals.net/forums
http://www.totallytarget.com/
http://www.frugallivingnw.com/
http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/
http://www.tightwadinutah.com/

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from our afternoon of kite flying at Gas Works Park in Seattle. Not the best quality because they are from Justin's cell phone and the sun was so bright-- not complaining about the sunshine though!

(not flying a kite in this pic-- I was sitting with Piper, but I figured I'd include my smiling face in this post!)

Chloe with the Space Needle in the background

Piper looking adorable, as always. Don't you just want to eat her up?!

Rainy Day Aquarium Visit

2010-05-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

One thing that we've enjoyed almost the entire time we've lived here in Washington is our membership to the Seattle Aquarium. Having a membership makes it easy to just pop in and stay for a little while instead of feeling like we need to "get our money's worth." This holiday weekend was a bit of a bummer, weatherwise. We decided to head down to the aquarium because it had been a couple months since we'd been. Traffic was terrible because of the Seattle Folk Life Festival going on and also the Pike Place Market Street Fair, but we figured that we'd be safe from the crowds down on the piers... boy were we wrong! We rounded the corner onto Alaskan Way and saw a gazillion taxi cabs and a huge cruise ship, the Norweigan Pearl, at the port. Uh-oh! What did this mean? That all the passengers on that ship had off loaded to see the sites of Seattle for the afternoon. The line for the aquarium was longer than I've ever seen-- it spanned about a quarter of a city block. Thank goodness for our membership and that special "members only" line that required no waiting! We didn't stay for long, only about an hour total, it was too crowded, but the kids were happy to be there after such a 'long' break!

A few pics from our rainy day escape:

Also worth noting is that this was Piper's first outing sitting in the stroller like a "big girl." I was afraid she'd be overstimulated or get stressed, but she seemed to enjoy the people watching!

Five Months Old!

2010-05-27T21:47:00.000-07:00

Time sure is flying by! I made a comment to Justin a couple of weeks ago about how I felt like we were so busy all the time and time, days, weeks, months were just passing by so quickly. In our conversation, I mentioned that I couldn't wait for things to slow back down-- but then I laughed as I realized that life isn't going to slow back down for the next twenty years or so. At least we're in it together and enjoying the ride!

Piper is five months old! She has such a cute personality and adores her brother and sister. She just lights up for them. It is really fun to watch as she becomes so much more interactive with Chloe and Cooper. Love it!!

Piper, ready to play video games with Dad. She has started reaching for items we have and she gets so excited when she holds the remote control, the car keys or whatever it is she is wanting!

Piper shares a room with us and just outgrew the bassinet insert/function of our pack n play, where she'd been sleeping since she was born. She still wakes up twice a night (grrr...), so getting her in and out of the bottom of the pack n play wasn't an ideal solution longterm. We bought a 'mini crib' for her and she seems to like her new bed! She has only slept in it one night so far, but I like that she is right at my bed height and I can reach through the rails, while lying in bed, and cover her feet up or give her back her binky-- perfect!!

Here she is showing how big she had gotten in the bassinet!

And taking a nap in her new bed!

2010-05-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are." — Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Sucker.

2010-05-25T16:05:00.001-07:00

Binky sucker. Thumb sucker. Toe sucker.

Anything this girl can get into her cute little mouth sucker.

Photo Friday

2010-05-21T23:39:00.000-07:00

Its a Windy Day

2010-05-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

But we managed to squeeze in a little park time. The sun was quite warm when ever the wind would stop blowing. Cooper, Piper and I found a little neighborhood park a few blocks away... it is the perfect size for a three year old!

Cooper LOVES to swing. I pushed him for a half hour before I told him my arms were tired. I think he'd have swung for another half hour at least!

Miss Piper looking quite serious- not to mention, very bald!

Back on the recipe quest

2010-05-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

Back at the begining of March, I had posted my goal of trying at least one new recipe a week until the end of April. When we found out we had two weeks to move, all that went out the window! We're finally settled in and I'm ready to try new recipes. I've successfully tried two new recipes in the past week, one was a hit with the kids and one was not (but definately met the parents approval). Here they are:

Chuck's Favorite Mac N Cheese from Allrecipes.com
1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 (12 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until done; drain.
2.In 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture.
3.Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden.

Justin and I enjoyed this mac n cheese, the kids tolerated it, but didn't seem to like it. I do think it needs more cheese, so next time I'll probably do a pound of sharp cheddar instead of the half pound that is called for.

Tuna with Cheese-Garlic Biscuits
2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained, flaked
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken & mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained
2/3 cup milk
1 1/4 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1.Heat oven to 425°F. In ungreased 2-quart casserole, mix tuna, soup, vegetables and 2/3 cup milk. Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
2.In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, cheese and 1/2 cup milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 6 spoonfuls onto hot tuna mixture.
3.Bake uncovered 10 to 12 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Mix butter and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits.

This was a really easy, throw together casserole. Pretty much all the ingredients are things I usually have on hand and it really required no prep. My picky eaters ate it, veggies and all, which is a pretty big feat around here. The only alterations I made to the recipe was that I added salt and pepper before baking and I used one Costco can of tuna (7oz) instead of two grocery store size cans. It still had plenty of tuna. I think next time I make this, I'll add some cheddar cheese to the casserole part for a little more flavor.

Since I last posted:

2010-05-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Chloe's 7th Birthday!
Piper turned three months old.
We quickly boxed up all of our belongings and moved out of the house we'd rented for the past three years.
We moved all those boxes into a new home.
We went out of town, to Utah, for 10 days.
We came home to all of our belongings, still in boxes.
We've spent hours slowly unpacking, organizing and purging.
Chloe started at a new school.
Cooper got registered for preschool in the fall.
Piper turned four months old.
We unpacked, organized, and purged some more.

Life is busy-- but life is good.

I've been avoiding blogging because I didn't even know where to start... but now I've gotten you all caught up. Maybe I'll even post some details about some specific events. In the mean time, here are a few pictures of our adventures:

All of the cousins on the Baron side

Did I mention that the weather was pretty cruddy for half of our trip? It snowed on Easter even.

Cheering on the Sounders at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake while they played the REAL.

Loooong car ride home from vacation.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T11:45:00.001-07:00

Potato Soup

2010-03-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

I've challenged myself to cook one new recipe a week for dinner through the end of April. Last week was the chicken corn chowder and tonight I made a potato cheese soup. Yes, I like soups... a lot. The potato cheese soup was good, not too over-filling and seemed 'easy' to eat. Two thumbs up.

Potato Cheese Soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 TB olive oil
2 15oz cans chicken broth
5 small red potatoes diced with skins on
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4-1/2 cup chopped carrot
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
2 cups cheddar cheese
1tsp parsley
1/2 tsp basil

In a medium stock pot add 2 cans of chicken broth. Saute onion in small skillet on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add to chicken broth. Add potatoes, carrots and celery. Bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are tender. Meanwhile add the milk and flour in a blender and blend well. Pour into soup mixture that is boiling. Stir until thickened. Turn heat off. Add cheese, parsley and basil. Stir until cheese is all melted and mixed in.

*I added some garlic powder, salt and pepper for additional flavoring.

Sunday Afternoon

2010-03-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

I'm about a week behind... These pictures are from February 28th. After church, I had brought Piper down to my bedroom and laid her on the bed while I changed my clothes. Pretty soon, Chloe and Cooper had joined us... they just adore Piper and love her so much!

One child is a bigger spaz than the rest-- you guess who!

Three super-cute kiddos!

Sisters!

And then Justin got home... and well, Dads are just so much fun!

Web-Cam Fun

2010-03-05T22:28:00.000-08:00

We have a nifty web-cam that we've used a few times to chat with Justin's parents, but thats about it. Tonight, I came home from getting my hair fixed (the stylist didn't do a good job with the foil I got last week) and Justin showed me some fun stuff it does. So, here is my bored mug on a Friday night:

Chicken Corn Chowder

2010-03-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

After Piper was born, my friend (also my neighbor and visiting teacher) brought us homemade chicken corn chowder for dinner one night. It was delicious and even though I had never made soup before, I was inspired to ask her for the recipe! I finally got around to making it today and it was easy and DELICIOUS! I dare you to try it!

Here is the recipe, as she sent it to me:

Chicken Corn Chowder

*Plan Ahead: This recipe calls for cooked chicken.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, finely chopped, seeds and membrane removed (this is important for flavor - but doesn't add heat because the seeds and membranes are removed and it is cooked with the other veggies)
1/4 cup thinly sliced or cooked chopped ham
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14-oz.) cans chicken broth
3 tablespoons flour
3 ears of fresh corn kernels or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
4 oz. softened cream cheese
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Place olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute celery, bell pepper, onion and jalapeno until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ham; cook for another 3 minutes. Whisk the broth with the flour in a liquid measuring cup or bowl and then stir into the soup. Stir in the corn and chicken. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat. Whisk together the cream cheese and milk in a large bowl until smooth (I had a difficult time getting my cream cheese to completely whisk into the milk so my soup had some minor small lumps but next time, I'll soften the cream cheese until almost melted in the microwave). Whisk the cream cheese/milk mixture into the soup along with the salt, pepper and cheddar cheese. Simmer on low until ready to serve.

*I microwaved the cream cheese as recommended and it blended with the milk nicely.

8-Weeks Old

2010-02-23T14:02:00.001-08:00

And absolutely adorable!

Carseat Shuffle!

2010-02-23T11:11:00.000-08:00

Cooper's carseat recently expired (yes, carseats do expire. 6 years from the date of manufacture, which can usually be found on the back of the seat), so it was time to do a little carseat shuffle! Chloe moved officially out of her five-point harness and into a belt positioning booster full time. I'm a little apprehensive about this because a five point harness seems so much safer but she is almost 7 and really follows the rules about sitting properly in the seat belt, not leaning forward, sideways or doing anything that allows the shoulder belt to sit on her improperly. We had one booster that we used occassionally in Justin's car and for her friends, so we let her pick out a new booster to be used full time. She chose a cute pink one! She is excited about her new pink seat! Cooper inherited Chloe's Graco Nautilus (which I love!). It is only two years old, so it still has a long life ahead of it. He is excited about the cupholder and his new 'big boy' seat. We took advatange of the Babies R Us 'Great Trade In Event' and traded in one of the expired seats for a 25% off coupon and purchased a convertible (can be used forward and rear facing) carseat. It will be used as a secondary seat for Cooper in Justin's car until Piper is ready to move out of the infant carrier and then we'll move it to the van for her!

I'm sure this is a boring blog post to most, but I love carseat safety, so its interesting to me! :)

Chloe likes to read...

2010-02-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

Garfield books. She likes them so much, she reads them four at a time!

Cooper and Piper

2010-02-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Piper was in the playroom playing on the activity gym when Cooper decided to join her. This is the conversation that followed:

Cooper: "Oh mom, look at Piper! She hit the ladybug!"

Cooper: "Piper is soo tute!" (cute)

Cooper: "Hey mom, me have toys just like these!"
Me: "Yes you do Cooper, JUST like those."

Cooper: "How'd Piper get same toys as me?"

Me: "Well..."

And suddenly Piper was no longer 'tute' or fun to watch. Or share toys with.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T22:00:00.001-08:00

Piper is seven weeks old today!

Piper-- six weeks new!

2010-02-12T23:17:00.000-08:00

I'm a few days behind, but late is better than never, right? Piper is six weeks old! Here she is showing off her happy personality on Sunday after church.

Growing Up

2010-02-11T19:03:00.001-08:00

I was looking through files of pictures on our computer earlier and I ran across scans of Chloe's school pictures from this year and last. It is fun to look at them side by side and see how much older she looks!

Kindergarten:

First Grade:

Happy THIRD Birthday Cooper!

2010-02-10T22:33:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Cooper's birthday last week! He turned three on February 2nd. Time has flown by-- it is amazing how fast the past three years have gone by. We love Cooper so much and are glad he is part of our family- I couldn't imagine life without him!

On the day he was born:

On his first birthday:

Second birthday:

Third birthday:

Four Weeks Old!

2010-01-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Piper is four weeks old already... it seems like she was just born! She is changing, growing and developing so much every day, it is just magical to watch.

Multi-Tasking

2010-01-24T23:35:00.000-08:00

Justin and Piper getting a little XboX time in...

Sleepy baby...

2010-01-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here is Piper today, at three weeks old. She is taking an extra long nap... perhaps in an effort to make up for that really long awake period she had last night between 11:45pm and 3am?! Doesn't she look cozy? I just want to curl up and go to sleep with her...

And, all three adorable kiddos in one picture!

Cute Kids

2010-01-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Chloe making a pizza:

Cooper being Cooper:
And Piper showing off how much she has grown:

Friday Night Movie

2010-01-08T21:31:00.000-08:00

We had a movie night this evening and watched Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. It was a really cute movie.

The crew, all cozy, waiting for the movie to start:

A self portrait of Coop and I:

Piper thought the movie was boring:

Just because she is so cute...

2010-01-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

Piper and her older siblings!

2010-01-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

Chloe and Cooper came home from church today seriously Piper-deprived! The three hours was apparently too long to be away from her. Here they are showing her some love:

And apparently trying to get all three in one picture together was pushing it:

Introducing Piper Sofia Baron!

2010-01-01T23:22:00.000-08:00

She was two weeks late, but worth the wait! Piper made her fashionably late arrival into this world on Sunday, December 27th at 10:06am. She weighed in at 7lbs 3oz and measured 19.5 inches long.

The story of Piper's birth:

Possibly, in an effort to make up for making me go two weeks past her due date, once she decided it was time to be born, she was all about business! I woke up Sunday morning at 4:30 having regular contractions, but nothing painful. As I'd had quite a few episodes of contracting for hours only to have them peeter out, I didn't give it too much thought and got up and started making myself busy around the house. At about 5am, I noticed the contractions were getting closer together, I woke Justin and we decided to call my mom to come watch the kiddos and called our midwife to let her know. She told me to head to the hospital when I felt like I needed to and call her when we were on our way. My mom came over and we hung out for a little while as the contractions continued to get closer together. We got to the hospital at about 7:15am, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart. My water broke a bit after 8:30, at which time the contractions became quite stronger and closer together. The nurse "decided" I got to stay (I hadn't informed her that I was NOT leaving without giving birth first, no matter what her opinion was... I was two weeks over due, for goodness sake!) and we left triage and went to a room. I was in a lot of pain, asked to be checked, and was dialated to a six. Based on my loooong previous labors (48 hours and 26 hours), I figured that I had hours to go still and decided the pain was too intense to last that long! I requested an epidural and the nurse went off to page the anesthesiologist. 15 minutes later, the anesthesiologist made his arrival and started prepping my back for the epidural. Suddenly I felt tons of pressure and the urge to push... the nurse checked me again and suprigingly, I was fully dialated and baby Piper was on her way out! No wonder the contractions hurt so bad-- I had been in transition! With a smile on her face, the nurse said to me, "Unfortunately you know what this means... too late for the epidural!" I was quite aware of this before she made it a point to tell me. My midwife was on her way to the hospital from another birth, so the nurse hopped on the intercom and hollered for them to send anyone available in, because there was a baby coming quickly. Seven or eight contractions later, Piper was born!

We're all home and settling into being a family of five! Chloe and Cooper both adore Piper and want to know where she is or what she is doing at all times.

Just Born:

Taking a bath with mom to get cleaned up:

Happy Daddy:

All loaded up and ready to go home:

Trying out the swing for the first time:

Five days new, ringing in the New Year with Mom and Dad:

Laughing...

2009-12-13T23:45:00.001-08:00

At the pregnancy ticker on the side bar of the blog... I guess I've run out of time and it's decided that our baby is one day old. Ha! I wish I were so lucky! Chloe was born at 38 weeks and Cooper at 39. This stubborn little girl has now seen her due date come and go... She has to come out eventually, right?!

Pregnancy Update

2009-11-20T20:33:00.000-08:00

Well, we've made it to 37 weeks and are pretty much ready for the baby to make her arrival when ever she is ready. We've decided that November 29th would be perfect (two weeks early), maybe she'll cooperate! We had a date that we decided would be perfect for Cooper's arrival and he cooperated, maybe we'll luck out again! Probably not... :)

We had another ultrasound on Thursday to check on the baby's position- she had been breech but turned a couple days ago! And to make sure that she was growing ok since she measured small- 4lbs 3oz at 32 weeks. She had a growth spurt over the past month and measured at 6lbs 3oz! I'm just hoping she doesn't gain more than another pound and a half before she makes her debut!

The ultrasound was once again amazing to watch. She was licking and sucking on her hand. It will be interesting to see if she does it after birth-- the ultrasound tech joked that she was hungry! She even has quite a bit of hair-- I had no idea that you could see hair on an ultrasound-- just amazing! Here are a few pictures of her licking her hand. You can actually see her tongue!

As for me, I'm feeling pretty good. Pregnancy at 29 is harder than it was at 22 and 26-- yes, I was young when we had Chloe! I've never really had braxton hicks contractions with either of my other pregnancies, but I've been having them for the past two weeks and this morning they were pretty regular... and kicking my butt! I had to pick up the house, make beds and do the dishes because there was a showing (our landlord put the house up for sale-- but thats a whole other post in itself!). Apparently I've been pretty lucky not to have braxton hicks before!

So, thats the 37 week pregnancy update. Maybe we'll even decide on a name for Baby Girl Baron by the time she makes her grand debut!

October Happenings

2009-10-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

We've been busy, busy, busy this month! Here are a few highlights- all from the last week!

On Friday, October 23rd, Chloe's class put on a presentation to share their ABC books they started working on at the begining of the school year. Chloe was chosen to do the introduction and explain the project. She did such a wonderful job, speaking loudly and clearly, welcoming all the parents and telling about the books. Do we see public speaking in her future?! Way to go Chloe!

On Saturday the 24th, we went to my parent's ward Halloween party and trunk or treat. The kids had a blast with their cousins-- they were having so much fun that I couldn't get anyone to pose for decent pics!!

On Monday the 26th, we were invited to Family Home Evening at some friends' house to make caramel apples! The kids had fun decorating the apples with all sorts of yummy treats! Cooper mostly just wanted to eat the mini marshmellows!

On Thursday the 29th, I chaperoned Chloe's first grade class on their field trip to Remlinger Farms. It was cold-- 45 degrees!-- and rainy, but we had a great time! I thought the bumpy bus ride might put me into labor!

Today, Chloe had her class Halloween party and my mom watched Cooper for me so I could go help out (did I mention that she watched Cooper so I could go on the field trip too?! Thanks Grandma DD!!). The kids all had a blast doing activities and showing off their costumes.

Tonight we had our ward Halloween party. We had yummy chilli and cornbread, watched the kids parade around in their costumes and then they trunk or treated in the parking lot. We are overloaded with candy and it isn't even Halloween night yet!

Justin's 33rd Birthday!

2009-10-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

Friday was Justin's birthday! We had a yummy steak dinner followed by coconut cream pie. Here are a few pics of Justin and the kiddos!

Singing "Happy Birthday"

Justin getting a little help blowing out his candles:

Cooper stuck his finger into the pie for a quick taste!

Baby Girl Ultrasound Pics-- For Grandma Joyce!

2009-10-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

We got to see our beautiful baby girl today, via the amazing 3d/4d ultrasound technology they have nowadays! This is the first kiddo we've seen inutero like this and it is amazing! Here are some pics of Baby Girl Baron (maybe we'll decide on a name by the time she makes her arrival)!

Face Profile

We think she looks like Cooper did as a newborn!

Cooperisms

2009-10-12T13:20:00.001-07:00

Cooper started *really* talking a couple months ago and he says the funniest things. I thought I'd record a few here on the ol' blog before they slip away from me.

Today we went to the midwife, whom Cooper calls the "baby doctor." She let Cooper push the button on the doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat, to which Cooper exclaimed: "There is a ghost in Mom's tummy!!"

When he says the word 'music' he mixes up the S and the C, so he says "mucis." Its not uncommon to hear Cooper say, "Turn up the mucous!" while riding in the car.

Last week, he was throwing a tantrum in Target and I told him he was being naughty. He very angrily replied to me: "Me not a naughty boy, me a busy boy."

Justin got new glasses about a month and a half ago. After two days of Justin wearing them, Cooper finally noticed. He told Justin: "Those no your glasses Daddy. You no have doctor glasses." Apparently to a two year old, they look like glasses a doctor would wear.

Beautiful Fall Weather

2009-10-06T17:47:00.001-07:00

We've had the best weather over the past few months-- we had an abnormally hot and dry summer and now we've rolled into gorgeous fall weather with crisp, clear blue skies. I love it!

The kids and I went to the park with some friends this afternoon after school. Cooper let me snap a few pictures of him playing, like a big kid, way up high, doing dangerous manuevers on playground equipment not designed for fearless, yet luckily well coordinated two year olds.

Who told my baby boy he could grow up?!

Justin and Chloe at the Sounder's Game

2009-09-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Its no secret in our house that when it comes to sports, soccer is at the top of the list. While we go to Mariner's games and enjoy being at the ballpark, we've loved having a MLS Soccer team finally in Seattle! Not only are the Seattle Sounders a kick-butt team, but the games are super fun to go to. They are loud, fast paced, up out of your seat, cheer your butt off, exciting matches and the fun that the crowd has is just infectious!

Justin took Chloe to the Sounder's VS. Chivas match on Saturday. She enjoys watching the games at home on tv, but wasn't a fan of being in the stadium at first. The crowd is LOUD and it bothered her-- until Justin bought her a horn of her own! According to Justin, she blew that horn constantly and had a blast! I think Justin was successful at converting her to becoming a Sounder's fan for life!

Not so happy about the noise:

Having fun with Dad now!

After the game, showing off her new status of 'Sounder's SuperFan'

And being picked up at the park and ride by Mom and Cooper:

A sweet Chloe moment

2009-09-20T22:04:00.001-07:00

After church, as we were eating lunch, I asked Chloe what she learned about in Primary today. She answered that they talked about prayer and got to write down three things they were thankful for and something that they want. The something she wants is toys, which was not suprising. Then she told us that she was thankful for her brother, her sister (ahhh), and her cousins. I admit it melted my heart a little to hear the part about her sister!

And then she later told us that she can't wait for her sister to get here and doesn't want anymore brothers!

Coop-Vader

2009-09-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Justin and Cooper stumbled upon this voice changing Darth Vader mask at Goodwill-- I think we've already gotten our $1.99 worth of fun out of it!

Soccer Season!

2009-09-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday marked the start of Chloe's soccer season! In true NW fashion, the months of sunshine and record-breaking lack of rainfall came to an end Friday night and it rained all night long! Chloe was not detered at all by the chilly, rainy morning and headed out to her game with a smile on her face! She had a blast and is happy to be playing soccer again!

All dry, in our front yard, ready to head out!

Starting to look a little soggy:

And afterwards-- wet, but still wearing a smile!

Thumbs up for the start of soccer!!

Imagine Childrens Museum

2009-09-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, my dear friend Emily (who is also pregnant, with a baby girl and due about a week and a half after me!), invited the kids and I to the Imagine Children's Museum in Everett with her and Blake. The kids were excited to go and had a blast. This is hands down the best children's museum that we've been to-- Chloe was excited to go back and Cooper had never been. Unfortunately, we were too busy chasing the kids from activity to activity to take many pictures, but I did manage to snap a few! Thanks Blake and Em for inviting us along!!

The First Day of First Grade!!

2009-08-31T12:15:00.001-07:00

I can't believe Chloe is a first grader! Time is just flying by! She was excited to go to school this morning and was even more excited when we got there and she was the first in line to wait at the door of her classroom! She is in a K/1 split class and after a line formed behind her, one of the kindergarteners came up and stood in front of her in the line. She was quick to tell the girl "you have to go to the back of the line" (not in a mean way) and made a motion to the end of the line with her thumb. It was pretty funny! Here are some pics from this morning:

"Ok Mom, enough pictures, lets go!"

Posing in front of her classroom door, just like her dad did as a kid! Room 33!

She was excited to see that her buddy Evan is in her class again this year!

At her desk!

Name tag on, time for mom to leave!

29 Years Old and 22 Weeks Pregnant

2009-08-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

As usual, I'm behind in what I'd like to blog about! We've been having a great summer and it has proven hard to keep up with! Instead of trying to play catch-up, I'll just go with what is current... We returned to Idaho last Friday for another mini-vacation. We had fun visiting with my grandparents, exploring the area more and just relaxing! Saturday marked my 'First Annual 29th Birthday.' We celebrated with a yummy steak dinner and homemade carrot cake! Have I mentioned how much my grandparents spoil us while we're there?! I had a great birthday- relaxing, in the company of family, and it also marked the start of my 22nd week of pregnancy!

Playing at the Beach!

2009-07-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

Last night we decided to go to a great park not far from our house. The original plan was to walk around and play at the playground, but the sandy beach was too enticing, so we hung out there and the kids played in the sand for a while! You'll also notice Cooper's evolving clothes- he kept getting wetter and wetter and by the time we left, he was just in his diaper.

Fourth of July Afternoon in Grangeville

2009-07-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

After the Border Day's Parade, we headed back out to Nana and Papa's house to relax for the afternoon! Swimming, lounging on the deck and delicious steaks made for a wonderful afternoon and evening!

Fourth of July- Border Days Parade

2009-07-14T10:18:00.001-07:00

Trapped in the "Magic" Bed

2009-07-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

One perk to staying at my grandparent's house is the adjustable bed! We tell the kids it is "magic" and they just eat it up! Justin had them trapped in it one morning...