All I want for Christmas is YOU! (and to not have the pat-down from TSA)

Praying

... for blue skies in Colorado, California, and Oregon this week!

Bouncer!

"...While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads..."

ummm...

we devoured this plate for lunch! A lovely way to spend this warm summer afternoon...oh wait, what's that? It's winter?

(and that delicious hunk of cheese is our Cougar Gold with sweet basil! )

Happy Birthday

I told her this was not an acceptable play, but she laid it anyway. I challenged her, she lost the challenge and threw a fit !

Happy Birthday (Yesterday) Jill! We love you and hope you enjoyed your day !

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in AZ this year! My mom and Todd were able to make it to our house, but something was definitely missing, as my Dad stayed in CO to prepare for STATE FOOTBALL FINALS!!! (Championship Game to be played this Sat. ---- GO CARDS!)

There was lots of food, lots of fun, and lots of gawking over Miss Charlie! My mom spent two weeks with us and we were so grateful for all of her help and company, and good cookin'! We are really blessed to have Grandmothers that care so much for our little girl ... it warms my heart. Thank you Mama L. and Mama J.

26th year: Day One consisted of:

Skyping with my Dad (while wearing a Birthday Girl Tiara)

Trader Joe's "Bay Blend" in my favorite new mug...

My favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake...

This perty thing...

Nail polish and Philosophy spray

and a new diaper bag!

What a way to kick off my 26th year! I got so many sweet calls, cards, and messages that filled my heart with joy! My mom made one of my favorite dishes, beef stroganoff , and then we concluded the evening with the new digitally remastered Beauty and the Beast. It was a really wonderful day and I am so excited about what this next year brings! Love you all!

Elizabeth anticipates State Championship

Photo courtesy of Denver Post

Here's an article written about the E.H.S. Football team my Dad helps coach!!!

Sweet Treats with Grammie

Charlie helped my mom and I make the first batches of fudge this holiday season! We made a batch of peanut butter fudge and also my favorite, chocolate with pecans. My brother, Jordan, and my co-workers are in for a real treat, seeing as we made TONS of it!

Charlie had her 4 month shots yesterday and did much better than at her 2 month appt.! She cried, fell asleep, and woke up to her normal smiley self! Here are her stats:

12 lbs = 25th percentile

25 inches = 75th percentile

head circumference = 50th percentile

So, we have a long skinny kiddo. Who woulda thought ??? We are having a great time with my mom here and are getting very excited about the Thanksgiving Feast, especially after watching The Pioneer Woman on Throwdown with Bobby Flay last night!

I die.

Giada saved our lives by introducing us to these little corn muffins of l.o.v.e.

Garlic Corn Muffins with Sun dried Tomatoes...try it today.

Ingredients

• 2 (8 1/2-ounce) packages corn muffin mix (recommended: Jiffy)
• 2 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2/3 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes (from an 8-ounce jar)
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 2 muffin tins.

In a large bowl combine the muffin mix, corn, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir to combine. In a small bowl whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and eggs until well blended. Add the buttermilk mixture to the muffin mix. Stir to combine. Spoon the mix into the muffin tins, filling up the cups about halfway. Bake until golden brown on top, about 15 minutes.

Rice Cereal!

Lucky Dog

Guess who got a new Serta? The one who has become second string around here since Charlie came around, that's who!

Sunday Pic

Here's the latest pic of the little peanut. Don't mind the slobbery face, we think she may be teething!

Fall in AZ

I spent a little time over at the pool on this beautiful AZ fall day! So far we love living in Gilbert and are very happy about the decision we made to move! If we had not moved, Jordan would be in TX right now and would be gone for another 2 weeks. Instead, we took a lovely walk around the neighborhood, played with Charlie, bbq'ed some dinner...etc. Happy Fall everyone!

Greetings From Charlie

Charlie After Flipping

Prepared

We now live in a community with LOTS of kiddos. We are prepared for all those punkins and princesses and ghosts and goblins...and I'm secretly hoping to see a Snooki.

~Happy Halloween~

...from our little lady bug.

Hope you get more TREATS than TRICKS!

What a Week!

Beautiful rainbow I saw last Wed.
The packing paper from the kitchen boxes only! Good thing they do recycling in Gilbert!

If only Charlie ate solids...she'd be all over that coffee cake!

Of course it didn't take us long to find a GREAT coffee shop. They also serve the cutest cupcakes that have been featured on the Food Network and Ace of Cakes!! I have found true love.

Bathtime with Grandma Jill!!!We made steak salad and it was totally delicious!

With Jill's help we are getting settled in our new home and exploring our new town...I think we are going to be really happy here! Love to you!

Can't stop thinking about...

the Big Steak Salad from Pioneer Woman.

I need you in my life.

Home Sweet Home

I am here in Gilbert with Charlie and was able to steal Internet for now! Jordan and Wallace will be joining us this afternoon after some work obligations! We are so excited for the movers to get here and get gone so we can begin the fun of unpacking!

Last night was so strange to be in an empty house, in a town you don't know very well. It felt super lonely. Thank goodness Charlie was with me! I went to Bashas (grocery store) to get a couple things and then came home and inflated the air mattress and called it a night. Charlie was up early(4am) , like usual. So I gave her a bath and played, and now we're waiting patiently for the movers to get here with everything! Have a great WEDNESDAY!!!

In Transit

I thought I would put up a post before we leave for Gilbert. We should have Internet by Wed., but you know how that goes!

Miss Charlie has quickly become the funniest person in our household! Every day she is growing bigger and stronger and needs to be carefully watched. She has been trying to squirm out of everything. Her swing, the diaper changer, my arms, etc. She is a super active baby which is a good thing, just hard to keep up with! Our friend Claudia watched her for us on Saturday while I worked (Jordan was on a road trip) and introduced her to Baby Einstein! Charlie LOVED it! We just put her on the floor and start the dvd and she is entertained for 30 min. It really keeps her attention (more than Jersey Shore) and I don't feel guilty having her watch TV.

She is sleeping pretty well at night. Not through the night yet, but usually for a 3 hour stretch/eat/4 more hours...I'll take it! I am no longer breastfeeding...When I went back to work my supply went way down because I could not pump during the day, so I decided about three weeks ago we would be done. I'm fine with it, she's fine with it! She is now 3.5 months old and around 10 pounds --- BIG girl!

We area anxious and excited about the next chapter in our lives and would appreciate any prayers for safe travels and a peaceful transition! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL!!

Busy Weekend

Nothing but smiles from Charlie these days! 3 months old!!

Spoons at my darling friend Darlene's house

Jonnie-Lee holding baby Charlie

The heavenly/evil dessert tray I made

I am taking the opportunity to GET RID OF CRAP since we are moving

Until Jordan's replacement is named, he is covering the first games of the hockey season. This weekend took him to Rapid City, SD so Charlie and I had to entertain ourselves! We went to game night at Darlene's house on Saturday and then had dinner with Claudia and Caroline last night! It was a super busy weekend, one that makes me sad to be leaving our friends. This is going to be a rough week of "see-ya-laters" ...

Change...Should be our middle name

Long story short...

Jordan was offered great j.o.b. We're going to take it.

We are moving to Gilbert, AZ.

Jordan will work for Stretch Internet.

This will be our home. (hopefully)

It will be hotter than H.E.doublehockeysticks.

He's pumped! I'm pumped (he won't be traveling)! Charlie is double pumped!

Kristin + Charlie

Meeting for the first time
Shane and Kristin ... totally adorable!

Love her!

Good old Cracker Barrel!

Char's new party trick.

Charlie and Daddy

We had such a wonderful weekend with one of my dearest friends, Kristin. She flew in from ATL to visit her main squeeze Shane, and meet Charlie for the first time. She was the very first person Jordan and I told when we thought we might be pregnant, so she holds a special place in our hearts. We had breakfast and dinner with her on Saturday and it was in no way enough time. Needless to say, she and Charlie hit it off!