Perfect Day

you know those days that are absolutely perfect and you want to remember them forever? ya, I've had a few days like that. I haven't had to work for a few days so Bryn and have gotten reaquainted. the weather has been perfect, warm and shady. we've been lazy but have accomplished so much. we've been in our perfect happy world, quiet and laid back, quality old fashioned good time together. I hope you have days like that.

At Jannae's Soccer Game

We had a great time playing in the grass with Colton and Grandma while Jannae played soccer.  I think Bryn is going to be a soccer player, she is pretty good at kicking the ball!

blah, blah, blah, an error occurred while saving.  I can't figure out how to get these pics to the blog, but I have tell you, even without pics.

 "Ah, don't worry about it.  Grandma can lick it off later!"   ~Grampa, after getting marshmallow all over his chin.  Bytheway, Grandma and Grampa were both redder than red:)

Cool Clouds

I know I don't have the coolest camera, but I have the coolest baby, and these were the coolest clouds.  The last one, Bryn is blowing the fluff of a dandelion... one of her outside favorites.

Quiet book, pages 2-3

 This page was sooo easy!  I cut felt blocks double thickness to resemble temple blocks.  Lined with interfacing, I then 'drew' lines, doors and windows with silver metallic thread with the small zig-zag setting on my sewing machine.  Moroni has two layers of white and two yellow.  I made him extra tough to withstand the little finger trauma.  I put sticky velcro on the back of each piece and on the corresponding place on my background page.  Bryn loves it!

 Bryn loves to play peek-a-boo at church too.  I made her this family tree so she can play it quietly.

Pretty simple.  Cut out trunk and tree.  Cut out flaps for pictures.  Hot glue two pieces of vinyl onto back of tree to make a window pocket for pictures.  Insert pictures and decorate tree as desired.  This one was a sewing machine rebellion.  Not a stitch (well, besides the background page).  Love the glue.

Bryn Eats

 We have discovered smoothie popsicles, and we LOVE them!  Bryn eats them really well, so I know she's getting some goodness in her, while cooling her teething gums and having a treat.  What a multitasker!

 Bryn has learned to give cheesy smiles, from her Grandpa...

 and how to lick the beater from Grandma.

details, details

Wahoo!  Here is our house!  It's about 6 miles north-east from where we currently live.  It has 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 storage rooms, large front room, downstairs family and a dining room.  I'm in love.  The house has so much character and charm.  It's a fairly old home, but very well built.  Wood flooring, shake roof, huge trees, 5 apple trees, flowerbeds, un-cracked sidewalks, and my personal favorite an in-the-wall ironing board right in the kitchen.  Not that I'm totally into ironing, but I just know the people who have lived here before worked hard and made the home fit what they needed.  They lived and loved and... I just know this house is a good one.  One with good stories, I know it has been loved.  It's on an acre (so unfortunately we have room for our beasts) with room for gardening, playing, swinging, climbing, and hiding.  There are two sheds, rose bushes, a clothesline and pole fence on the sides, and the old crinkly/decorative wired fencing on the front.  The lawn has very few weeds, and oh... I just love it!!!  I can't believe we finally have a house.  A home!!!  I'll keep you updated don't worry.  Probably to much actually:)

And Bryn... She learned to kiss, peek-a-boo, and say aloha.  She loves playing soccer and is really good at making friends.  I know she's only 10 months, but I really think she's ahead of the game!  Alright.  Blessings and peace to you!!

Hey everyone! We are moving! We just found out that the bank accepted our offer and we're moving!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure how long closing will take but... WE'RE MOVING!!!!!!

today...

Today is a good day.  By good I mean very nice, simple, calm, soothing, blessed, uplifting, good.  I woke up with the birds and sunshine (calm), went for a short run (very invigorating) before Shane left for work  Played with Bryn (blessed), took a shower (huge accomplishment to happen before 9:00 in the am).  Took Bryn grocery shopping and found great deals!  I found this oh so succulent mango for $.50.  I know some of you who don't live 800 miles from sunny weather may think that odd.  You probably buy mango at a farmers market, or hide them in neighbors' cars like we do zucchini.  But a mango in Idaho is not so common.  They put them in the exotic fruit section of the store.  Anyway.  The mango was perfect.  My tomato and turkey sandwich on a fresh bolillo roll (which i just googled and it's a Mexican version of a baguette) was perfect.  I bought dish soap, paper towels, and I am going to clean now.  That vision in my head is perfect (I know, sounds odd as I type too).  Not sure why, but it's a good day.  Really good.  I hope you are having a good day too.  Peace!

I Spy a Quiet Book page

 I finally started a Quiet Book for Bryn to take to church.  She loves books, and is starting to be noisy so...I know she's only ten months, but she needs a quiet book.  The first page was so fun!  It' an I-Spy bag, made into a page.  


To make the page you'll need:

• 10"x10" clear vinyl
• 2- 10"x10" coordinating prints
• 40" single fold 2" wide, bias tape made from one of your prints
• trinkets to spy (my list of trinkets and meanings can be found here)
• 1/2 bag poly pellets

 Sew the bias tape around the edge of the vinyl, raw edges to the outside, to make a frame.  Use long stitches on vinyl (less perforation for the vinyl to tear). Use interfacing to 'stick' the wrong sides together of the inside panel and back panel.  Sew window to back panel with outer pieces facing.  Leave enough space for turning inside out.  Turn, fill, and sew closed your page.  I added eyelets/grommets for my book binding.  You could also use a button hole.  I also added a pocket on the back to hold lists of things to find.  If adding a pocket, do so before interfacing to inside panel.

Chicken Posole

This was so good, I couldn't even get a picture. Totally refreshing summer soup, that even my soup-hater husband loved.

• Cook 4-6 cubed chicken breasts in 2T. of oil until no longer pink. Add 1 sliced onion, and 3 cloves minced garlic. Cook until onion is tender.
  
• Add chicken, garlic, and onion into crock-pot with 1t. oregano, 2t. salt, 1t. chili powder, a splash of lime juice, 1 can diced green chilies and chopped jalapenos (opt, but really great. I used only 1, add to your liking). Cover with chicken broth, bring to low simmer.
• When heated through, add 2 cans white hominy and 1 bunch torn cilantro. Cook 20 more minutes.
• Serve with tortilla chips and fresh lime.
  

Don't forget to turn up the Mariachi music and have fun!

I am having an incredible experience right now. Bryn woke up at 5:30 AM. She didn't really wake up, just started making noise that woke me up (can't wait til she has her own room, but today I'm grateful for the wake up call). I tried to go back to sleep (please let me remind you that my last post (meaning I was still awake past) was at 11:30, last night, ya about 6 hours ago. But I started thinking...and trying to convince myself to sleep, but my body kept nagging me... go running... go running...I don't want to... go running... I've been nonchalantly becoming a runner. I've wanted to ever since...I'm not sure, maybe since Joana, Adrien, or the one time I ran a mile in high school and threw up in front of everyone... anyway. I found a "how to become a runner (for dummies, like me)" on the I and started three weeks ago. I hate running. I talked about it last night with a co-worker. I hated running. So, I got out of bed, stole some of Joana's running pants (which super surprisingly fit) and laced up my orange shoes. And started running. I have been running one minute, walk two, repeat 6 times. Today, I ran two minutes, walk one, repeat 8 times. The last 30 seconds of the last run I decided (without my own volition, somehow my legs just did it) to sprint. My previous runs were probably slower than the walks, but I started to RUN. I looked down at my watch and instead of the 15 second pass out mark, 45 seconds had past and I was still running! It was the most incredible feeling, I was going fast! And I had this energy, that was like nothing a normal person who is not in shape should feel after a two mile excursion at 6:00 in the morning. It was amazing, magic, I have no idea how to describe it. I've never been high, but maybe... maybe I was this morning. You know what, I'm addicted. I already want to go run again, right now. Yesterday, I hated running. Today, I am a runner.

Dobos Torte

I made this eleven layer cake for fun. I have attempted three layer cakes before that turned out utterly disastrous, so of course I would reason... if you can't do three, why not try eleven! By some enchanted and uncanny twist of fate, it worked! Oh yes, it was a great day (for cooking. Shane, remember this is also the day your horses got out while you were on Trek, and Quinn and I had to get the back into the pasture without any smidgen of an idea what do do with a barbaric and uncontrollable hunk of useless flesh. Thank goodness for good neighbors, but you're still going to owe me for a while on that one my love)!

There are lots recipes for this cake, but I followed this one one from smitten kitchen. Mine is not as pretty as hers, but remember that is was from 1 to 11 in about 3 cakes:)

Jannae has moved into the basement bedroom and Bryn got to help clean it up. Get along now little vacuum, ride 'em cowgirl!

Shane is fulfilling his calling (wonderfully) at scout camp this week. I know he is an awesome leader and has lots of fun with the boys. Even though he is doing good things, it's hard to be without him. I guess that just means I'm still in love with him right?

Maybe she's trying to tell me we need to head to the beach. I'm game! I know we live in Idaho, a million miles away from a tropical paradise, but on Sunday it got to 92 degrees. For some of you that's winter, but for me, that's a scorcher, and I'm ready for a vacation. But it isn't selfish, I know that lying on the beach drinking iced lemonade, getting tan, snorkeling and swimming is fun, but I think we a need a vacation, strictly for Bryn. I just want the picture of her in a cute little swimming suit, watching the water with a blurred ocean wave coming up to the shore. But still, all about Bryn!

For the life of me, I cannot get a picture of Bryn standing while facing me, but alas. She is walking. Never crawling. Always moving. Getting faster.