Tea Party

Lately I have been feeling like my youngest is getting the short end of the stick since her two older siblings get to go off to school everyday. Last night I was lying in bed and I got all excited about the idea of a tea party just for her.

So, this morning, after E and I got on the bus, I spent 30 minutes prepping for a 4 year-old sized tea party.

It was so fun to see her gasping expressions when she laid eyes on all the bite-size goodies. We toasted, poured and talked. It was lovely. Everyone should have tea parties with their kids. Nothing fancy, just simple, individual fun.

O loves little cute things so I knew this would be right up her alley.

Cheese, pepperoni and apple hearts

Peanut butter/banana and cucumber/ranch sandwiches


Mini sugar cookies

Apple juice

I think we are going to make this a weekly tradition and changing up the menu will be fun. Maybe pudding tarts or fruit kabobs on toothpicks.

Washington Husky Volleyball & my Red Heels

My dear friend Melain decided that after a DISASTROUS week (more on that later, you can't imagine) I needed a night out. So, being the event finder that she is, decided that a women's volleyball game on the University of Washington campus was just the ticket.

I LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

I realized how much I miss the competitive edge to volleyball and the butterflies it induces in your stomach. We won against Stanford in 3.



We met up with some other gals after for dinner at Bucca Di Beppo for some Italian food, family style.

I decided to don my new red heels to make it a true girls night out.

Although we tried to find a fun place to finish off the night in downtown Seattle, it wasn't meant to be. The rain just would not let up. We took a hint after we walked by a little shop called HAREM and there were four men sitting on the floor inside, encased in a cloud of "incense."

We came home early at around 12:30 but I would have to say the volleyball game was the real highlight for me. I LOVE VOLLEYBALL.

Although it was a very enjoyable night, if anything, I realize how grateful for a warm home and my best friend to come home to. Thanks Melain for a fun night out and even more importantly, a reminder on how blessed I am...even for the "trials".

Bahumbug

I am the biggest holiday bahumbug, you have ever met. I dread the holiday preparations, especially the decorating. I hate carving pumpkins, cooking the turkey (I would rather order pizza and skip straight to the pie afterward) and decorating the tree. December 26th is my favorite day of the year. Everything comes down and disappears and life gets back to normal. I am a huge fan of control, routine and schedules. Type A, the color red, a control freak, uptight, anal, whatever you call it, that's me.

Lucky for me, I married a traditionalist. He LOVES carving, decorating the tree and especially turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy (at least 3 helpings).

Well, here are the kids...Rob got his way the day before Halloween with a little carving pumpkins activity. Eden did hers all by herself.

A party the kids were invited to featured enough treats to rival Willy Wonka. It was intense.

This year we took in our leftover candy (I let the kids keep 20 pieces each) to Dr Rude, a local dentist that buys candy for $2/lb the day after Halloween. This was our first time doing this but there was a line out the door. We dumped our candy in a huge barrel and after 11.5 pounds and and an extra $2 because Indy and Livs wore costumes, the kids walked out of there with $25. Eden and Livs have chosen to treat themselves to the movies and Indy wants to hit up the dollar store for toys. They also received a new toothbrush and now the dentist has our names on a mailing list...maybe to drum up a little business. He matches what $ he gives out and all the proceeds go the the Children's Hospital. What a brilliant idea!

Our Cheerleader, basketball player and fairy/angel.

a teeny-tiny obsession

I was thinking that I might have a minor obsession with cookbooks as I was cleaning out my stash. I LLLLOOOOOOVVVVEEE a good cookbook or cooking magazine. Nothing inspires me more.

I love new foods and eating something I made with my two hands. You can hear moans for miles when I sit down with a new magazine I have just received in the mail.

Dearest cookbooks,

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways...

1. You help me decide what to fix for dinner when I am lacking in creativity.

2. You keep my husband happy.

3. Opening new flavors I didn't know could be paired together.

4. You are there to send me into sweet dreams right before bed.

5. I believe mac & cheese and ramen are insulting and a waste of time.

6. I can never decide what to make when having guests over. Too many wonderful choices.

Oh, how I have missed you since I have been watching my weight. I will be back soon!

In the mean time, can everybody make this recipe for me just so I can imagine eating it?!

(Notice I have a small obsession with dessert.)

Or this!!

OR THIS!!!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

OMSI, Voodoo, the Temple & Gramma Boo Boo

Just in case you are a little confused, I am refering to our trip to Portland last weekend. Rob was headed down for a work conference and since his mom was finally home from her job in Cali, we decided to make a weekend of it. Since our Expedition has decided to spring some serious leaks, we rented a little Camry and zipped down.

Gramma Boo Boo treated us to a day at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The kids were in HEEAAAVEEENNN! (opera voice) Indy could not get his eyes off the probability board. That was what he spent most of his time doing. We sucked up balls, smashed flubber, sifted sand, floated boats, shot water rockets, electrified pie pans, experienced an earthquake, pounded golf tees, and made water jump. Olivia was naturally drawn to the sand exhibits and Eden is a sucker for trivia games. HOWEVER!! The best exhibit by far.....was the escalator and elevator loop. They must have done that 20 times or more. Next time we will just hit up the local mall and skip the entrance fee.

Featured on the Food Network was a "hip" little shop called Voodoo Doughnuts. Let me tell you, this place was a HOLE with a double capital H. I am pretty sure they just painted pink paint over the old jiffy lube signs, threw in some random car seats and called it a day. They are famous for their Bacon Maple Doughnut so of course I had to try it. (This was not on my list of foods I was allowing myself to eat, but what the heck.)

On Sunday, we made a quick trip up to the Portland Temple. We were married there in 2000 and have never taken the kids to see the grounds. It was a windy and cool day but we managed to have a wonderful time.

Almost 10 years ago, that was where it all began.

The highlight: allowing my children to feel the spirit that exists on the temple grounds and to know that because of the choices we made 10 years ago, we get to be a family for eternity.