Neighbor Goodies

Well, I feel like I haven't done much lately, but rest here and there. I did get to some cookie making. They are some of my favorites... Ginger cookies topped with vanilla frosting and crushed peppermint. Yum!

I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Embarrassing Moment

Have you ever said anything that you wish you could go back in time and try it all over again? I did this last weekend. I told myself I never would never assume, not even mention... but it just came out! I asked the cashier when she was expecting... and she was NOT expecting. Can we say awkward? I had to talk to her for several minutes after that while the transaction was going through too- and I felt TERRIBLE. Her response was dead, straight face- "I'm not pregnant" as she pulled her shirt down.

Oh goodness.

Oh Lollipop...

The Lollipop

You were never my friend.
I always wanted you to be my friend.
My Dad never let me.
He would not let me buy you at the store.
He would never bring you home from a trip.
He would even take you out of my Halloween bag every year.

And yet, I know you.
I savored every taste of you when I got you from a friend.
When I got you in a Brithday bag, I would eat it quickly before I returned home.
I tried to save all your wrappers that had stars on them so I could get a free one at 7- Eleven.
I even kept a few of you hidden before Dad looked through my Halloween bag.

My Dad said that I could fall and choke on you because of your stick.
I think I could pull you out of my throat because of your stick.
He said I would just keep you and rot my teeth out.
But I thought you were my sweetest friend.

I have never bought you for my daughter.
Yet she knows you oh so well.
I can count a handful of times where she has tasted you.
I think she likes you too.
The Christmas Ringer at the Store gave her one of your own today.
Yes, I think she likes you just as much.

Princess Tent

Our sweet neighbors are moving. They have 2 little girls (now 9 and 11) and we get all of their handy-me-downs. I'll miss it when they actually go. Today she shows up at the door with this: A Princess tent. Caroline isn't quite into the whole princess thing like other girls (yet), but she still loves it.

Problem: It's dirty. It has dog hair and yucky stuff on it. Any suggestions? I plan on vacuuming it. I can't just throw it in the washer. I could steam clean it- but really? What do you think?

Girls Night Out

Have you seen it?! You'll love it- if you haven't! My Mother-in-Law, Elaine and Sister-in-Law Sarah and I had a wonderful time on Saturday night! We went to the Yummy Cheesecake Factory, had dinner and shared (one of my favorite's) Keylime Cheesecake! We then saw the fantabulous play Wicked ~ The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. I loved it! I loved the storyline, the humor, the music.. it was just awesome. I would see it again in a heartbeat. What an enjoyable evening. And I would love to do it again!

77 Degrees

My brother calls it Random, but I like to call it pleasant. Last week it snowed almost 2 1/2 feet. Today, Caroline and I went to the Zoo in 77 degree weather. It was beautiful. I love the blue skies and the sun. Is it really November? (Already? This baby thing is coming up faster than I think I realize. I am 29 weeks.) Well I guess we will soon finish raking up our leaves and cleaning out our garden. Care to join us?

Clean-Up

The previous story reminds me of something that happened a few weeks ago and I want to record it for me.
We went to the Rockies baseball game with Aaron's parents. At the door we received white towels that said 'Go Rockies.' Caroline was sitting with Aunt Sarah most of the time playing with her towel and enjoying all of the action. Grandpa was four seats away. She went over and played with him a bit. He cracked open peanut shells on his leg and they ate the insides together. The peanut shells were (obviously) making a mess on his leg. So Caroline hurried to Aunt Sarah (it is not easy to walk in front of someone when you are sitting down at a baseball game- no leg room), grabbed the towel from her and scurried back. She informed Grandpa was 'dirty' and wiped his leg clean of peanut shells.
I would consider Aaron and I are clean people, but I never thought my two year old would be the same way. She always puts her toys away and cleans-up if her eating area is dirty. She loves to sweep and vacuum. Helps me dust. Helps me with the laundry. She always is helping me. And I just love her for it. (My Mother-in-Law says that Aaron was the same way when he was a kid.)

The Most Interesting Thing

Caroline and I were at Michael's craft store yesterday. I told her we were getting ribbon at the store. While I was looking at the Christmas selection of ribbon, she found the dollar ribbon bins and played around it with another older lady for a few minutes. I found the ribbon I was looking for and went to get Caroline. The lady that was there, also looking at the bins, said to me...

"I saw her do the most interesting thing." She threw 2 spools of ribbon in the bottom bin, where there were only stamps. She continued, "There was ribbon just like this and she (Caroline) found them and picked them up and put them in the ribbon rack where they belong. I don't even do that at my house!" She was shocked.

Breakthrough

Yesterday at church, I dropped Caroline off at the DOOR of nursery. I told her I would be back later and off she went to play with some toys!! Wow! It only took 6 months. I or Aaron or Grandma have been in there every Sunday before yesterday for AT LEAST an hour! How nice it was to go to Sunday School and listen to the whole lesson and then Relief Society after that! I did have to peek through the window during the break to see how she was doing. I saw her choose her stickers for her Birthday present. I just hope it goes well next week too. And then I will experience the joy of doing it all over again when the baby comes in January!

Wasp Sting

Caroline and I were pulling dead flowers from our garden yesterday, before the snow hit today. She was sitting on my lap nice and calm until, what I can guess now, is that she was stung by a wasp right in between her nose and cheek-close to her eye. She bawled and bawled. We went inside and I held her in my lap until she fell asleep. Last night at dinner, we noticed the area it was stung was getting puffy. I don't know if you can tell, but she doesn't look like the same Caroline around her eye. Poor Caroline.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Guess what my amazing, smart and sweet husband did today?

He passed the BAR! Yipee!

I'm so proud of you Aaron!

Caroline's 2nd Birthday!

I know Caroline likes Lasagna. So the first time in 7 years, I attempted my Mom's lasagna again- tweaked to meet the desires of my husband. It was a meat and veggie lasagna (no cottage or ricotta cheese). I can actually say it turned out yummy. I made enough to freeze an 8x8 pan for another day.

My sweet girl in my arms. I can't believe she's two.
She loved the cake, but I think she is an ice cream lover like her Daddy.

Happy Birthday Caroline

A random shot- at least she has the right idea.

A Birthday shirt from Aunt Sarah

I can truly say that she makes me laugh everyday. She loves to play with dolls and her kitchen items. She wants me to 'come' everywhere with her. Today she noticed some things outside my bedroom door. I told her that they go downstairs. She moved all of the items to to the top of the stairs- where I usually have stuff to go downstairs. She is a big helper. Yesterday she sat her baby on her chair and backed up several feet and said 'catch' and threw a ball at her doll. I think she could use a playmate. :) I love her. I'm so glad that I get to call her mine. She brings more joy to my life than anything I could ever imagine. I feel privileged to be called her Mommy. Happy Birthday Caroline.

Highlights

Well instead of an overload like I usually do I thought I would try and highlight some areas. I uploaded the pictures backward again, so you get to hear about the trip backward!

We stayed in SLC for a few days before we headed home. It was nice to be with my Mother.

We had to make a 5 hour detour in Reno to fix our car. Our throttle sensor went out and we could no longer accelerate up hills.

Chico was fun. We got to spend time not only with Aaron's grandparents, but also extended family too. This is Aaron's second cousin Jack. So cute!

We visited the redwoods state park. On our way we stopped in Fort Bragg. This is Glass Beach. Even though all of that looks like sand- it's not. It is glass. Way cool. By the way- that is hot chocolate.
It is at least a foot deep of Glass. Smoothed out of course from the water and other elements.
We drove-thru this tree
Just North of San Francisco, where we had lots of fun finding boy clothes, was Stinson Beach. A little overcast that day- but I think someone had fun in the water.
Caroline and I

My cute orange family

San Francisco Golden Gate bridge.. as we were leaving.

Whenever Caroline sees the beach now she says 'dirty.' It was Aaron's birthday that day- he got a little wet.

Before San Francisco we visited my grandparents for an hour in Laguna Hills and before that we spent a day in San Diego with my Dad. We went to Sea World for Caroline.

Where did the dolphin go?

Grandpa Moses and Caroline

Caroline and the Walrus

At Sea World they have Sesame Street stuff there. Did I ever tell you that Caroline is a #1 fan? She was in love. I can't believe she hugged both Elmo and Cookie!

Where did they go again?

Before San Diego, we stopped in Mesquite NV for a couple of days and then Vegas for a night. Mandalay Bay was so much fun. Caroline loved the pools they had there.

I tried to make a long trip short. We had a great time together as a family and it was well worth it. Aaron started work last Wednesday and I think Life will never be the same.

Southwestern Colorado

Four Corners

Last stop in Colorado

First and Last in New Mexico

The beginning of our Drive-Thru in Arizona

Utah a place we would return to before our trip was over

Four states in one stop

Mesa Verde

My Favorite stop on our trip!

Click here for more history

We had to hike down to see 2 of the Cliff Dwellings. What goes down-must come up.. in this case. Here is Aaron and Caroline climbing the ladder.

This is one Cliff Dwelling

The same cliff dwelling is on the right. I just wanted to show you how crazy they were to live so high in a cliff! It keeps going down too. You can't see it from my picture angle.

Caroline wanted Aaron to do this again and again

Do you see the cliff Dwelling?

This was the largest one: Cliff Palace

The same as the first Mesa Verde picture

The Great Sand Dunes

Dad and Caroline ready to hike the Sand Dunes

At sunrise: Here we go

It was amazing to see such big sand dunes in the middle of nowhere. It was an escape. We felt like we were in a Desert.

Royal Gorge

Huge scary bridge out in the middle of nowhere

You could walk or drive (1 car at a time) on it.

Do you see the line going across the top? That's the bridge. It still makes my hands sweat.

Cautious Caroline Carefully stepping over the Cracks

We're Back!

Over 4,000 miles, 6 states and 3 1/2 weeks of traveling by car. We're home!

Details to Follow. ( I still am trying to get my life in order)

IT IS A...

BOY!

Prego Picture

Here you go ladies. My Prego picture for the day.

Well, it's that time...

I guess I'm THAT pregnant already. On Monday we have a doctor appointment and we will be able to find out the sex of the baby. So now here's your chance to guess whether it might be a girl or a boy!

Sweet girl

Here is our little lady

We went to a wedding up in Estes park. I got the nerve to attempt to curl her hair again. She slept in them all night and they turned out adorable!

A few weeks ago, something woke her up from her nap. She went straight to the bean bag and being still tired she fell asleep like this.

This was Sunday before we ran off to church.

She is growing up into a little girl. I can't believe it! She'll be two in the beginning of October!

6 Year Wedding Anniversary

Our Anniversary was on Saturday. Aaron and I dropped Caroline off at Grandma and Grandpa's house. She had a blast with them and Aunt Sarah. We did feel a little 'naked' without her all night, but I am so glad to have relatives close by. We went to dinner at The Melting Pot. It was an awesome experience. Four course meal. Fondue. Cheese. Chocolate. Yum. Then we went and saw the movie The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. There was a little more skin shown in that movie then I would have liked, but other than that it was funny. Everyone was laughing throughout the whole movie. We got the game Thurn and Taxis to have some bonding time together throughout this next year! I'm so glad I married a man who loves me so much. I love you Aaron.

Finishing up Aspen Grove

We had a family dance the night before we left. I knew I had to go for Caroline. She loves music and loves to dance. Overall it was great fun and we'll do it again or something similar in 2 years!

We were in a circle watching people dance. Is it called the mermaid when people belly flop across the dance floor? Caroline tried to imitate it later-it was funny. She tried to imitate a lot of different dances.

Caroline dancing with Collin
Another video of Caroline dancing. If you pause the music on the sidebar you will hear her scream with joy.