Happy Birthday Bree!

Yesterday we celebrated Bree's 2nd birthday (her actual birthday is this Wednesday, April 2nd). Chad and I had planned that our kids would only get parties for their 'big' birthdays (8th, 16th, etc.) but I just can't resist throwing a party! I have a penchant for event-planning. Besides, Bree's friends just happen to be the kids of my friends, so it's also a party for mom too. I went with a Winnie the Pooh theme, and even expanded my repertoire to cake decorating! A friend of mine had given me a stand-up bear cake pan, and with a little help from Wilton's online instruction sheet, it turned out beautiful and delicious! (note the toddler-sized finger marks in the photo!)

Slip 'n' Slide

I realize that I've been on a video-clip trip lately, but I think they are so much more expressive for all those who don't get to see Bree 'IRL.' This video was taken at my parents house today--it's been gorgeous here, and my parents have worked so hard on their gorgeous yard/lawn; we enjoyed some time out in the sun. We her adoring parents think that Bree is just so cute, and I'm doing my best to capture that on film! (I'm sure I'll get some video of Mason one of these days--he's cute too, but mostly he just lays around, which doesn't make for interesting video!)

Easter

Easter this year has been so much fun. Yesterday we met with a bunch of our friends and their kids to have an egg-hunt/picnic at a nearby park (parks may be few in Globe, but this is one nobody knows about, so we had it all to ourselves!). My friend Amy and I went early to hide candy-filled eggs. Bree had fun finding them (she was singing the 'Clean-Up' song as she gathered eggs), but got bored after finding five. Eventually she discovered the candy inside, and her pretty white shirt was soon smeared with melted chocolate (March 22nd was a very warm day!).

We enjoyed hot dogs compliments of Chad's BBQ skills, potato salad, fruit salad, brownies, etc.--yumm. There was actually quite a large crowd--25 people including the babies. I think everyone had fun, and Chad actually surprised me today by saying how much he appreciates my "party planning" skills. He may grumble during the preparation stages, but he always has fun in the end.

This morning Bree woke to find her Easter Basket filled with candy ("can-cane") and a few small toys. I based my selection of her Easter candy on mess-potential. A chocolate bunny rated way too high on the messy scale, but luckily I found chocolate bunny 'suckers.' Anyone who knows Bree knows she is a sucker for a sucker. (I call the expression in this photo her 'Popeye' face) She devoured one this morning with virtually no mess! This is something a mother can truly appreciate, as she didn't need an additional bath before church. Right now Bree is really into "pretty dresses" so she loved wearing the Easter dress my mom got for her. She's even getting better at letting me do her hair, since she loves looking at her pretty reflection in the mirror. Mason slept through most of the festivities, but he looked cute in his new outfit too. I just can't believe how big their both getting--it seems so recently that Bree was a tiny baby on Easter.

Strong Boy

Mason is getting bigger and stronger every day--he lifts his head up constantly and even sits up in the Bumbo baby seat all by himself for a short time.

Pool Party!

Last Saturday my cousin had his mission farewell in the form of a pool party at his place. I love Arizona for the fact that you can have a pool party in March! (of course the pool was heated!) I thought Bree would have a blast swimming with 'Papa,' but she was a little apprehensive, and she only lasted a few whimpering minutes. But, the party was still a success for everyone, since there were cousins galore, popsicles, a neat see-saw, and the glorious trampoline! Our little jumper just loved that! I enjoyed seeing all my mom's family, and introducing everyone to little Mason.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Yesterday our Cookie Group met like we do every Wednesday. This week I ventured out with a new recipe in an attempt to recreate the taste of the Chocolate Melting Cake on the cruise Chad and I went on. It turned out delectably delicious! And I have to say, aside from the weekly dose of sugar and/or chocolate, I am loving the weekly dose of girlfriend time. Whatever else is or isn't going on in my life in a given week, I can always look forward to Wednesday and some much-needed girl talk and cookies.

Here's the EASY recipe (courtesy of Recipezaar):

Chocolate Lava Cake

8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 sticks unsalted butter
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Spray the bottom and sides of 15 4-oz ramekins (or 8 10-oz ramekins, like we did).
3. In double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter (or gradually in the microwave, checking every 30 sec).
4. Whisk until thoroughly melted.
5. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar and flour until just blended. Gradually whisk the chocolate into the egg mixture until combined.
6. Evenly divide the mixture between the prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet for 10-12 minutes (or 15-18 for larger ramekins) until the tops are firm and the edges are set. (The centers might look slightly soft) Remove from oven.
7. Let cool a minute, then run a knife around the edges to loosen and turn out onto plates. Serve immediately with ice cream.

Big Girl Bed!

I think the video speaks for itself!

A Great Blessing

Mason has been such a blessing in our lives, and today he received a Priesthood blessing from his father. It was almost a surreal experience today, to listen to Chad promise our second child wonderful blessings: the knowledge that our Heavenly Father loves him, the ability to grow in knowledge and spirituality, to go on a mission, to find a perfect companion to marry one day. It's been less than two years since he blessed Bree, and today I'm sitting here marveling at the fact that I have a 'family of four'. I don't know why that should strike me so, but today I'm overwhelmed with all of my blessings, especially my beautiful family.

Ongoing Obession...

So, here's the latest update on the casting for Twilight the movie which has begun production in Portland, Oregon. Here's the beautiful Cullen family:Robert Pattinson will star as Edward, Peter Facinelli as Carlisle, Elizabeth Reaser as Esme, Jackson Rathbone as Jasper, Nikki Reed as Rosalie, Ashley Greene as Alice, and Kellan Lutz as Emmett. Most of these are unknowns to me (some of them have been on shows I never watch), which I prefer, especially in the case of a novel-turned-movie. Several of the other characters have been cast--check out MTV Movies for some photos and interviews. I also check author Stephenie Meyer's website occasionally to see what's up. Can't wait for the next and final installment of the Twilight book series, Breaking Dawn to be released at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2008!

Bag-Tag!

I've been bag-tagged by my amazing friend Mackenzie , so here goes!

Rules:

1. You have to show your bag.

2. Show all the contents in the bag without cleaning anything out!

3. Bag Tag 5 other people.

This is my diaper bag. Sadly, this is the only bag I have right now. Yep, that's right--no purse. It's all in here:

Contents: (in no particular order)

4 size 4 diapers, 5 newborn diapers, travel container of baby wipes, sandwich bag of tissues, travel pack of tissues (we all have constant runny noses apparently), a burp cloth, 4 breast pads, 2 maxi pads (oh, the glamorous postpartum life), toddler sun glasses, baby hat, 3 snack containers (one with goldfish, one with Apple Jacks, and one empty), one bottle cap (but no bottle), travel Purell, diaper rash cream, changing pad, infant Tylenol, 3 pacifiers, one suction bulb for sucking snot out of little noses, roll of Tums, small bottle of ibuprofen, Mary Kay brochures and business cards, Beauty Blotters (for shiny skin), lip balm, eye drops, gum, wallet, check book, lip case (with lip pencil, lipstick, and 2 lip glosses), note pad (containing various ongoing shopping/wish lists), powder compact, hand cream, and 3 pens.

So that's it--my life in a bag!

So who's next? I bag-tag Jaime, Tara, Emily, and Melissa. Have fun!