Guess what I saw yesterday???

Those of you who are lucky enough to live within driving distance of one of these babies will have no appreciation for the significance of this statement. Well, actually you might, because you know how good it is. But considering that I live on the EAST COAST and only get to go to Cafe Rio once in a blue moon, instead having to resort to making copycat recipes at home in order to fuel my ill-fated addiction to Shredded Pork Salads, this is an unbelievably major announcement for us here. I had heard rumors of it back in the summer but didn't want to believe anything for fear of having my fragile hopes dashed to smithereens. But yesterday, my friends, I saw this sign (well, actually one just like it because I didn't have my camera to take a good picture with, so I stole one off the world wide web) with my own two eyes, and I am here to testify to the truthfulness of the statement myself--it's really coming!!!

The newest Cafe Rio will be opening in Olney, MD in April 2011 (as in next month), and I plan on being one of the first ones there to witness this historic occasion, thank-you-very-much. If you'd like to join me, let me know and we'll make a date of it... YAHOO!!!

UPDATE: I just read online that it will open on April 27th at 10:30. Why a Wednesday I'm not sure, but... those of you who've expressed an interest, I will get in touch with you and we will make a plan!

What C's been up to lately...

I'm super tired tonight (don't I say that every time?), but I wanted to put up some pictures of Caroline... I've been getting requests (aka threats from family members) for some recent shots, so here's what I have. They're not fancy like the cute ones so many of you have--we still haven't gotten a new camera--and many of these pix were taken by either Bennett or Ethan, but I guess that just goes to show 1: how cute the subject is, so it doesn't really matter what kind of camera took the pix, and 2: how cute the subject is, so it doesn't really matter who took the pictures :o)

Caroline started eating solid foods about a month ago. These pix are from the first night she tried solids--Jer fed her some peas I put through the baby food grinder. The sequence is hilarious... and look how great the peas go with her bib!!!

OK, I'm ready. Give it to me, Dad!

 Hmmm, what is this stuff? I can't decide what I think of it...

OK, I've decided. YUCK!

What are you people trying to do to me???

Caroline turned 6 months old on Valentines Day. These pix are from that night...

Her new favorite thing to do is roll around the room until she can find something to put in her mouth. Needless to say, we have to clean up a lot more often...

She is super ticklish, especially when she's tired. She does this gut-wrenching giggle that is almost on the verge of crying, like "Stop it some more!" It's so cute :o)

"TA-DA!"

 I tried to get one of the 3 kids, what was I thinking?

Seriously, everyone's looking at the camera except the 9-year old!!!

OK, now he's the only one looking...

"Wow, this quilt is much more fun to look at than the photographer!"

"Who, me? Are you talking to me?"

"OK, now I'm mad. Just get this thing over with!"

 (At this point, I just gave up trying...)

And my personal favorite from the night:

Yes, Anne--she has a scratch on her nose :o)

Happy Valentines Day...

I just posted about our favorite Valentines Day tradition over at my recipe blog. Check it out HERE...

Here's a little hint:

5 months already???

So OK, I know I totally reek at blogging consistently, and this post will not really count because it won't be that long because I'm exhausted and need to go to bed, and I haven't even posted yet about my baby brother's incredible wedding in November or our fun trip to Utah for Christmas or our yummy sushi, calamari & tempura dinner on New Years Eve or our daunting (read: psycho) plans/goals for 2011, BUT... I cannot let this day pass without just saying something about the JOY we've been feeling in our family for 5 months today.

The novelty has not worn off: we all still race to be the first in her room when she wakes up in the morning, we all still ooh and aahhh over every little thing she does (probably annoying to others--sorry!), and we are all just full to overflowing with love and gratitude for this precious little angel that has brought healing to our hearts and our home. When Jer told me he didn't get me much for Christmas (we are saving up for a treadmill), I told him, "Babe, my Christmas morning came at 3:25 on August 14th. You couldn't give me anything better than that!" And it's true... Sorry for the nauseating sap tonight, folks, I'm sure it has nothing to do with fatigue :o) but it's how I'm feeling and I wanted to document it. I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows me, loves me, and gives me challenges to help me grow, but also gives me blessings that far outweigh those challenges. I never could have dreamed my heart could hold so much...

Photos courtesy of Jen Anderson

Fall is flying by...

Wow, Halloween was almost 2 weeks ago and the trees here are now almost entirely devoid of leaves... I hate how quickly my favorite season comes and goes! I'm also finding that it's hard to document things very well when I have a baby in tow. I'm more concerned about making sure she's fed and happy than I am about making sure I have the camera--and using it! But I got a couple cute shots of my favorite boys doing some of their favorite things this fall... And you haven't seen much of them on this blog in a while, so enjoy!

Of course, the world wouldn't be right if we didn't get in a good apple picking trip. This year's crop did NOT disappoint--in fact, we went back and got more! Homestead Farm's Fuji apples were to die for this year. We have outdone ourselves between apple pies, apple crisps and applesauce--we might need to take a break for a while... let's be honest, a little fiber can go a long way :o)

I remember when they could barely pick up the little pumpkins! These boys are growing up WAY too fast for me... Aren't they just precious???

After deliberating between going as Harry Potter/Lord Voldemort, Luke Skywalker/Darth Vader, and the Super Mario Bros, I am happy to say that the least scary of the 3 duos won out this Halloween. Seriously, Bennett--Voldemort? I just put my foot down on that one. He's too evil. And how in the world would I have made that costume? The kid would have needed plastic surgery...

And so, I present to you the cutest Mario and Luigi I have ever seen!!! (Just don't tell Bennett that he's wearing maternity overalls. They were the only ones I could find at the thrift store that were even remotely his size. And that's saying something. Good thing he doesn't know what the "Motherhood" tag means :o)

Luigi must have gotten his teeth knocked out by King Koopa... If that's what it takes to win, dude!

The boys got the first 2 days of November off, so we got to have some fun time with Grandma and Grandpa. My mom took us to Cox Farms, where I used to go with friends when I was little! We had such a blast--Ethan still can't stop talking about the vortex in the corn maze, and I think Bennett thought the aliens on the hayride were real. "Mom, they were playing Star Wars music! How did they know???"

My personal favorite...

Poor Caroline's Halloween aspirations just didn't work out this year. She was going to be Princess Peach to go along with Mario and Luigi, but I couldn't find a dress that would work and, honestly, she slept through most of the festivities. My cute neighbor took a picture of her all dressed up in her Halloween onesie, jeanskirt, and orange leggings, but she took it on her iPhone and I haven't asked her to send it to me yet. When I get it, I will put it up.

In the meantime, here she is as the Flying Nun :o)

The other night when I was taking off her onesie, the sleeves were in just the right position and I started cracking up and grabbed the camera. Caroline thought it was pretty funny, too...

Enjoy the last remnants of this beautiful season!!!

2 months of heaven...

(photos courtesy of Lolli--Thank you!!!)

2 month stats (just in case you care)--weight: 13 lbs (99th %), height: 24 inches (95th %)

Our sweet Caroline turns 2 months old today! She has been nothing but pure joy to our family. We are still fighting over who gets to hold and play with her... The boys tell me it's not fair that I get to stay home with her all day :o)

Bennett calls her nothing but Baby and can't stand to hear her cry. The other night she was overtired and just inconsolable, and Bennett kept coming out of bed to make sure that I hadn't abandoned her. "Mom, are you holding her?" And yesterday he cried right along with her when she got her 2-month shots.

At least 3 times a day Ethan says, "She's just so cute, Mom--I want to squeeze her guts out!" He loves to swing her in her swing, often on the highest setting :o) I have to remind him to be soft sometimes, but he just adores her and is so attentive--I can't complain...

Needless to say, we are LOVING having this sweet girl in our home.

I thought I'd note a few details to give you some insight into her personality:

Caroline is a great sleeper. She sleeps at least 6-7 hours straight at night. Heaven knew I need her to--burning the candle at both ends just trying to take care of everyone's basic needs, plus chauffering the boys to sports, scouts, and school activities wipes me out by the end of the day! I'm so grateful she will sleep for me :o)


She is the most content little girl. She will just sit and watch all of us flying around her, tracking the boys with her eyes as they run by. Tonight I made a disaster of a dinner that took 90 minutes to make, and Caroline just sat in her swing patiently waiting for me... How did I get so lucky? I promise I'm not usually so neglectful...

Caroline is starting to be more aware of and interactive with her surroundings. She will smile on cue whenever we do anything remotely entertaining, she loves to "dance" when she gets excited, and her favorite place to perform is on the changing table. Everyone runs in to be the first at "face time" with Caroline when I'm getting her ready for bed. That's evening entertainment for you...


She is so strong! From the very beginning, Caroline has been able to lift up her head and look around. When they first put her on my chest in the hospital, she looked straight up into my eyes with this look like, "Oh, hi there!" Now she sits up in the bumbo seat and "talks" to me while I'm getting ready in the morning. She is my little BFF :o)

And finally, in Jeremy's words, she is just "super stinkin' cute!"

As far as we're concerned, Neil Diamond says it best (and that's a first!):

Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I love General Conference! Especially in the fall... I just love the crisp feel in the air, and the sun coming through the window as I sit with my family to gain counsel from the prophet of God. It doesn't get much better than that!

I am so glad that the Church has finally started coming up with activities for children to do during Conference. Click HERE to go to the new website and download General Conference packets, bingo cards, and coloring pages.

ENJOY the weekend!!!

Charity Never Faileth

This is one of the best talks I have ever heard. If you have 20 minutes, I promise it will be time well-spent. What could be more healing and unifying to this world than an increase of kindness, tolerance and patience with one another?

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Mother Teresa

ISO... a new camera!

(what I have now)

Maybe it's the fact that this baby girl is changing and growing up on me as each day passes...

Maybe it's the fact that I feel like I can't take a picture that does justice to ANY of my cute kids...

Maybe it's the fact that I can't freeze time...

Whatever the reason, I want a new camera!!! And I want everyone's input on what I should get. I see all these adorable pictures on your blogs, with good lighting, kids actually looking like themselves, and non-blurry action shots... How do you do it???

Now before you go off telling to get some amazing (cough, cough--expensive) piece of equipment, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am not a photographer, and have no plans to become one. I am quite simple in my camera needs--I just want to be able to take cute pictures of babies and boys out on the soccer and baseball fields. I just know there's something better out there than what I have, and I have this feeling that someone knows just what I need. Here's my short list of criteria:

1. Portability: I want to be able to stick it in my diaper bag so that I actually use it. I know myself, and I know that if it's too big to need its own bag, I won't take it anywhere, hence no pictures and no use getting the camera in the first place...

2. Quality: I want it to be able to take good pictures! I want it to show the peachy tint of my baby's skin (not have it come off looking pasty white), I want it to catch my boys' smiles as soon as they score a goal (and not just the second after), and I want it to do the work for me. Call me crazy, or lazy...

3. Affordability: We have had lots of expenses this year, and a new camera is not exactly a necessity at this point. But if I can sell Jeremy on its features AND be able to subsidize it with some of my piano teaching money, that would soften the blow...

So, what do you think--is it possible? Am I asking too much? Does my dream camera actually exist? I need your input, people... And please feel free to tell me if you think it's just me as a photographer that needs help. Could I get what I want with a Canon PowerShot, if I just learned how to use it better? Let me know :o)

1 Month Postpartum... we are still alive :o)

Wow, it's been a busy month... School started for the boys, family has come, helped a TON, and now gone :o( and now we are on our own here at home--yikes! My camera completely STINKS at taking pictures (or is the photographer?)... Anyway, I don't have many cute pictures to share, these are just a few of the funny ones I wanted to put up tonight. Enjoy! And PS: I will be posting some better pictures of Caroline on her blessing day soon...

Am I seriously old enough to have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader? Don't answer that...

Caroline, post-bath one night, is already sick of the camera.

"Somebody help me! I'm being hugged to death!"

The 3 Mischief-Makers

Ethan: Honestly Mom, could you get mad at this face?

Caroline: Who, moi???

Bennett: Yeah, I did it. So what?

I think I'm going to be in trouble with these 3...

Bring it on--I've been waiting 5 years for this trio :o)

She's HERE!!!!

Sorry for the delay, folks--we've been having much too much fun around here! And please excuse the waaaaaay-too-close-up. Just focus on the smaller of the two faces :o)

We wanted to announce that our sweet baby girl,

Caroline Anne,

was born on Saturday at 3:25am, weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz, and measuring 21 1/2 inches long. Her first name, Caroline, means "song of joy", and Anne is my sweet sister and biggest cheerleader.

We could not be more excited that she's here. I feel like I've had more "need-to-wake-myself-up-from-this-too-good-to-be-true-dream" moments in the last few days than I have in my whole life, and that's saying something. But this one probably tops it:

It was like Christmas morning when our two boys finally walked into the hospital room on Saturday. I was so completely giddy, I could hardly stand it. The hours I spent waiting for them to come seemed longer than the ones I spent in labor... But it was so worth it, and they have been so involved and curious and helpful ever since.

We are so blessed to have them in our family, and that they're an age where they will remember all of this. Another tender mercy for waiting so long for this precious girl...

This guy is the man of the hour--and the day, and the week!

I cannot say enough about what it's meant to have him with me through all of this. Jer gets a week of paternity leave--the first time he's ever even gotten any time off when we've had a new baby. I don't think it's been much of a break for him, but I have SO enjoyed being able to sit back and watch him take over. He's a better mom than I am! We've been treated to the smells of fresh chocolate chip cookies, grilled marinated tilapia, and freshly washed floors--not together, though :o) And I have to say I've never been better hydrated in all my life! I am beyond blessed to have Jeremy by my side...

So now we're home, getting adjusted to having three kids, and I'm sure it won't be without its rough days--but for now I am just soaking in this precious time.

Our Bennett turned 9 years old yesterday (yes, it's a miracle to me that he's THAT BIG, too), and celebrated with pineapple-upside-down cake and raspberry sorbet--his choice, not ours :o) This picture isn't the greatest, but it just shows his personality so well--he cannot (and never has been able to) conceal his excitement for everything--and that's why we love him!

Ethan has been absolutely incredible during all of this. I worry a little bit that he will feel lost in the shuffle of it all, but he just in love with Caroline and wants to be part of everything that has to do with her. He is currently devouring Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, and wanted to make sure Caroline gets in on the action, too. We love our Eenie Bear so much!

At Bennett's party last night, we were finally able to meet my baby

brother's fiancee, Annabelle, for the first time!

For just getting off a long flight from Paris, being super jet-lagged and trying to understand our wacky American family, she jumped right in to the action of things, and we're SO glad she is going to be part of our family. Freddy (obviously) couldn't be happier, and we couldn't be happier with his choice.

And last but definitely not least, I need to give a HUGE shout-out to my parents, who have traveled more of the Capital Beltway in the last few days than I'm sure they care to. But they have been SO great--entertaining the boys, making meals, preparing for birthdays--I can't believe how blessed we've been to have them close these last few years.

We love you, Mom and Dad!

Well, you all know my track record of keeping this blog updated, so I'm not making any immediate promises. But I've got some really cute faces who need pictures taken, as well as a sister who's very concerned about the daily "cuteness" status of her namesake, so I should be back soon :o)

Jane Austen's Fight Club

(For some reason, I can't get the video to condense so you can see the whole thing, it's getting cut off about 2/3 of the way across. Feel free to click HERE to go YouTube and watch it in its entirety)

This is just a little taste of my extremely talented brother's sick sense of humor... Enjoy, if you can, fellow Jane Austen fans!

P.S. My brother's the blonde guy seducing the girl on the couch, and in the garden, and behind the tree... hmmm, notice a theme here???

UPDATE: This video has gone crazy... After being on YouTube for only 5 days, it hit 500,000 hits and is still climbing. Both Time Magazine and NPR have called for interviews in the last couple days. This is just cracking me up!!!

Hello Summer!

Wow, I hadn't realized how long it's been since I posted last... Sorry about that. But I guess no news is good news, right? I don't have a ton to report--things are going well! The baby is growing (meaning I am getting more and more tired--only 8 weeks left!), the boys finished school yesterday and started swim team today, and Jeremy will be done with his 3rd year of residency in less than 2 weeks. That, in and of itself, is miracle enough for me--we're over halfway done!!! I can remember when residency was this huge, looming black cloud in our future--with its long days and sleepless nights, research projects and tests, etc--and now we're over the hump. We're making it! That should be hopeful news for anyone :o)

So school is out and we are getting into the groove of summer... It's funny, summer always seems like this huge span of time--the kids are all home, and every year we find ourselves asking, what are we going to fill it with? Being the organizational nerd that I am, I feel the need to make some kind of plan so that the time isn't wasted. The school year is always chock full of homework, sports, Scouts, etc. During the summer, we finally have time to do things we want to do and learn about things we want to learn about. It's a great time to teach new housekeeping skills--you can actually take the time to teach your child how to clean a toilet or fold clothes or whatever; a great time to take that trip to the museum or explore the historical gems right in your little community; a great time to sit and read an entire chapter book with your kids... whatever you want!

I stumbled upon this great idea a few years ago that I wanted to share. Take it or leave it--I know it's not for everyone :o) Each summer, when school gets out, I decide on a "theme" for the summer and do some kind of kick-off to introduce it to the kids. During the week we learn about our subject through books and the internet, and once a week we do something related to that theme that's fun and educational (a "field trip" of sorts)!

An especially memorable year we did Summer Space School. We checked out space books from the library, I printed up Space Workbooks off of NASA's website for our "homework", we learned how to find constellations in the night sky (meaning the kids got to stay up late :o), we memorized the whole "My Very Educated Mother..." phrase, and the boys did little reports about what they learned. We went to this spot in our county where the first radio emissions from Jupiter were heard and talked to some extremely enthusiastic NASA scientists, we went to the National Air and Space Museum and the Goddard Space Center--all places we would never have time to go during the school year. It was a blast!!!!

Don't get me wrong--we still did LOTS of lounging around at the pool, hanging out with friends, library activities, free concerts and movies, etc. But the boys always ask what we're doing for summer school, so I know they look forward to it and enjoy it :o)

The great thing about "summer school" is that you can pick what you want to learn more about with your family, and you can cater it to what's available in your area. Maybe it's American History, maybe it's the Human Body or Dinosaurs, maybe it's the Scriptures or the Articles of Faith! The whole key is to make it FUN... And there are tons of ways to do it--look for ideas on the internet, at the library, etc. This is a great way to make for a memorable summer without being expensive :o)

What do you think? What do YOU do in the summertime?