Apple Crumble

We had an abundance of apples that were on the verge of going bad all in the same week, so I took the opportunity to make an apple crumble.  Only problem was the weather had just turned warm and I didn't want to heat up the house just to bake dessert.  Instead I capitalized on Travis' plan to cook dinner on the BBQ and threw the crumble in a cast iron pan instead of the pyrex that I usually use.  Perfect for the BBQ and the house stayed nice and cool!

Knitted Heirlooms

Travis' great-grandmother knit his cousin these amazing goods when she was born 31 years ago.  Aunt Karen sent them to us "on loan" until Cousin Kelly is ready for them for her own future children.  Adaline was able to wear the outfit her great-great-grandmother knit three decades ago, how cool is that?  The articles are in great condition and the detail is amazing.  We have a few more sweaters that will fit Adaline when she's older, as well as a few sweaters that my great-grandmother knit for me, almost 30 years ago. 

cool weather = cute clothes

Thank goodness it was so cold in May.  I was afraid Adaline would outgrow this amazingly cute jacket Jen gave her before she even had a chance to wear it!

Artichokes in the valley?

Travis has talked about growing artichokes for a couple of years and actually planted some seeds last year.  I told him I thought it would be too hot (because I know ALLLL about growing things, right?!) Actually, my thought was the valley farmers would grow them here if they could, but they don't, so they must not like the heat.  Last year yielded some really strange looking plants, but no veggies.  But this year, with all the unusually cool weather we've been having, Travis has prevailed!

We have already consumed a few of them and they were delicious.  I'm so glad he proved me wrong :)

Our first walk

When Adaline was a little over a week old, Travis and I ventured out for our first walk.  The poor dogs had been so neglected the last few weeks of the pregnancy.  I would go for slow short walks without them, because they were just too powerful for me to handle on my own.  I was so off-balanced at the end I was terrified they would pull me over in a split second.

Since I was still recovering from the birth we were still really slow, but at least the dogs were free. It was the first time we used the Bjorn, and it was a little strange to let go of her and trust that she was safe in the contraption.  I've gotten way past that fear, and we now go for walks every morning that the weather allows (side note: how stinking crazy is this May weather?  It was warmer in March than it is now!  I know I'll regret this verbal complaint in two or three weeks when we magically jump to 80+ degrees overnight.)

Amazingly, Adaline is already big enough to face forward in the Bjorn.  

Back to March

Like I said, I had trouble with the camera in March (which I will gladly blame on sleep deprivation), but I can now post pictures of Trace and Dad's birthday party.  Two years ago, my sister went in for her scheduled c-section on our dad's birthday.  Turns out she was already in labor; Trace wanted to be just like his Papa from day one :)

Thanks to Travis for taking the pictures and figuring out how to get them off the camera!  

Picture Catch-up

Travis was able to get the pictures off the camera that were giving me trouble (I swear, that man can do anything!)  So let's catch up...It's a little embarrassing to admit I have to go all the way back to Christmas, but I think it's worth it :)

On the day after Christmas, we spent a few nights in the mountains.  There was plenty of snow on the ground, so we took the kids to a near by toboggan run.  Hayley didn't know how the kids would react to going tobogganing, but Laura LOVED it!  She wanted to go again and again.  By the end she was going by herself! 

This one is of Laura trying to make a snow angel, not of her crashing...

I love this last picture~ it's one of the few pics we have of me being pregnant.  I refused to go buy a new coat, and for most of the winter it wasn't cold enough to need to button up, but in the mountains, I was wishing I had invested in a bigger one! Maybe that's why Adaline's fingers are always cold ;P

I'm Back!

Okay....so I've been absent from blogosphere for a while now, and I'm ready to return!

Saturday, Travis and Adaline drove me to Sacramento so I could sit for my boards. This is what I've been working towards for 5 years, ever since I started my masters program.  If I pass- no WHEN I pass- I'll be recognized as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).  Basically, this means I'll hold the credentials to legally be a practitioner; I could then open my own business, be self-employed and be a consultant (although I have no immediate plans to do that- I'm quite happy at my current job!)

The last nine months or so, I've been studying whenever I could find a free moment.  After Adaline was born, I buckled down and started studying every time she went down for a nap.  I am so excited that I have now taken the test, and I can spend Adaline's nap times doing other things.  The options are endless! I only have a few more weeks of leave, but I intend to enjoy every last moment of it doing things I love.

I have so many old posts to write.  Hopefully I'll get at least one a day done :)  I've missed you guys!

AHHHH!!!

I have so many new things to post, so much to tell you, so much to show you, but things are C-A- RAY-ZEE around here!  Busy busy, busy!  I have not forgotten, and I can't wait to share, but you'll have to hold on for a couple more days.  Saturday cannot come soon enough!

I'm a groupie of Mom*tog

I stalk plenty of blogs, but this one is my new favorite.  I love how Drew posts her photography information so people like me (complete amateurs) can attempt to learn our complicated cameras.  I found this site from the logo on my friend Sarah's family pictures, and followed the link to this fantastic site.

Drew, the writer of the blog, is doing a Mother's Day Giveaway, and I've entered.
I hope I win,
I hope I win,
I hope I win!