Whilst doing my weekly P90X yoga workout, I had just contorted myself into "crane", a very awkward balancing posture, when the key turned in the lock and my husband walked in the door. Here is what he saw. I didn't move. "Hi honey, how was your day?" This from me upside down. Kyle actually managed to carry on a perfectly normal conversation while...Read More

See the spottyon my body!!!!To commemorate his 5th month on this earth, August decided to break out into a rash. After discussing every conceivable explanation of rashes with my dear friend Sarah and searching the internet together (via cell phone), we narrowed it down to a plain, old viral rash. Brooklyn had something just like it when she was a baby. Head to...Read More

Today, my wonderful mom is celebrating her birthday! I love that woman so much. Today, my wonderful mom is celebrating her birthday! I love that woman so much. ...Read More

There was a time when I never sent Christmas cards. Pretty much from birth up to marriage. And then I came of age. And every year it gets harder and harder to get them together (whatever form that may take), addressed and out the door with the proper postage affixed before New Years!I think I skipped last year entirely. Not on purpose, just...Read More

Who can be a Scrooge with these cheery faces? Ok, I confess. I've been feeling a teensy bit Scroogy. Not about Christmas, per se. But about how much money I'm having to spend. And that makes me Scroogy. As if the stock market plummet doesn't hurt enough, I'm swiping my credit and debit cards like I'm playing the slots. One of my constant...Read More

A Celebration for the Rest of Us. And a tradition in the making for our family. This year on December 9, we invited 8 couples, some of our dearest friends, over to our house for dinner and well, Festivus! The second annual Festivus! Complete with a Festivus Pole, Feats of Strength (ok, really just a chili stuff your face off), Airing of Grievances...Read More

One of my best friends made a comment about the box fan in the back of our 4runner when we went to Big Cedar. Yes, it's true. We cannot sleep without a fan. We haul it with us everywhere. When we first married, it was a running joke between us. He had not grown up with a fan and I had. As a...Read More

Wearing comfy clothes in front of a raging fire reading a book or watching a movie (John Adams, in this case). No pressure. Nothing but time and my favorite people in the whole world. ...Read More

Big Cedar at Christmas is a beautiful place to be. Every building is outlined in Christmas lights, there are seasonal things everywhere proclaiming the impending arrival of the big day, the air is crisp, the fireplaces stocked with wood to burn...Christmas is in the air!! It was contagious!So much so that I got the idea to dress up my munchkins, find a pretty...Read More

I am discovering that "almost 3" is a completely foreign place. My sweet little girl is just...unexpected. Things she's always loved, she suddenly doesn't. Things she's always eaten, she suddenly won't. Things she's never done, she's doing. Attitudes are emerging that I do NOT approve of. Needless to say, the 2's were easy. The 3's may be something entirely different. We shall see.Meanwhile,...Read More

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Here is our cabin! Perfect, cozy and overlooking Table Rock Lake!Here is the Jacuzzi tub that we played in!Here's our fully decorated Christmas tree, tv and our little cabin model!This is the couch that made out into Brooklyn's bed! ...Read More

The photos that don't make it into the cards, yet are just as much a part of who we are! ...Read More

Just as I was sitting here writing some posts, I glanced over my shoulder and shared a special across-the-room-smile with Brooklyn. A few seconds later, as I turned back to the computer, I heard the pattering of tiny tennis shoes and felt her fling her body against me, pressing a kiss against my side as she squeezed me. Man, does life get any...Read More

Anna and Zach got an English bulldog puppy, and she is seriously cute. We have all fallen in love with her. And it would seem Dottie has fallen in love with Brooklyn. It could be because of all the humans Dottie encounters, Brooklyn's closest to her level. And Brooklyn is equally crazy about her. ...Read More

Man, I meant to get online last week and tell everyone I'd be away for a week! Kyle and I took the kids to Big Cedar for 4 days, 3 nights. It was a delayed anniversary trip, and a much-needed time of peace! We had so much fun and I have tons of pictures to post. My computer's been in the shop, so...Read More

Kyle and I have officially completed the first phase of P90X classic. Of the first 28 days, we only missed one day and that was this past week. Instead of doing the X Stretch, we took off that day. I have been so proud of us! And I can already seriously tell a difference. For the first three weeks, our schedule looked like...Read More

How cute am I?D'ja know I rolled over today???Yeah, I know. It's pretty important stuff. From my back to my tummy.Well, ok, I rolled from my tummy to back on Monday night, but just the once. It was kind of an accident. Sort of. I had just heard Mommy tell Uncle Josh and Aunt Lauren that I should be rolling over any day...Read More

At one point, Kyle and I contemplated just spending the whole day here at the house - just the four of us. I had grand plans to make a recipe given to me by Lynn - Crispy Skin, High-Roast Chicken with Potatoes. On a whim, I had purchased an organic, whole chicken. This, from a girl who doesn't eat much meat. I surprise...Read More

One of the distinct disadvantages of being surrounded by large, leaf-laden trees. Also, one of the advantages as well. I always think leaves look beautiful on the ground. ...Read More

I found this dollhouse by the side of the road, in someone's trash. I couldn't believe it! Maybe their kids had grown up and they had no use for it anymore, but I looked at it and thought, POTENTIAL!!!! Anyway, I painted it and we're working on getting furniture for it.Recently, it has become Brooklyn's favorite toy. She LOVES to play dollhouse. She...Read More