If I were the Easter bunny....

...This is what I'd put in your basket.

Basic devil's food chocolate cake recipe (with only two eggs in it. Important, because I only had two eggs left). And, topped with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting. Yummy stuff.

Scavenger Hunt

Two weeks ago, April 9 to be exact, my Facebook status read: Agh! I'm going crazy. I don't do this sahm business very well. I had just recently quit my job, and was immersed in a lifestyle of a stay-at-home-mom immediately and I wasn't really liking it all too much. May sound a little ungrateful, but I was used to contributing to the family financially. Sure, before I would spend time with Michael after work, but this 24/7 time with him was/is like a brand new job where I am my own manager, making my own priorities, to-do lists, and learning to get paid by something other than paychecks. (They say parenting reaps great reward, right).

Nancy, SAHM herself and mother of 2 adorable girls, quickly commented affirming my "stir-crazy" emotion and brainstormed the idea of a scavenger hunt. Being that we live in different states, we agreed to both take our kids for a stroll on Wednesday (yes, that would be one week ago-I'm slow), locate various items on our list, and then blog about our adventure!

To be honest, I thought about the event quite a lot leading up to Wednesday, but then on Wednesday completely forgot! Right around 5pm, I received an email from Nancy asking if I had done it. Oops! I got Michael's coat on, wrote out the list, briefly explained we were going out with a purpose and off we went.

First find from our list was "a pretty flower." Sweet! I knew exactly where to start, and we weren't even outside yet. We looked out the window from our building and saw lots of pretty flowers.

Then we crossed off that item from the list.

Before we left the apartment, I tried to define some of the words to Michael. For example, one of the items on the list was "Find something prickly." How was I going to describe prickly? Richard did that job by having Michael rub the stubble on his chin. "Oooh, prickly!" Outside, we were having difficulty finding something prickly. We finally settled on a pine cone. Yes, a very prickly pine cone.

This beautiful popcorn-blossomed tree looks white, but there is a lot of pink in it, so that counted as "something pink." "Something yellow" but it also scores us double points on the "pretty flower" hunt too.
This find was sweet. We had to find a sign with the first letter of your name on it. Little did I remember that our neighbor is a music school of course! (We have a love/hate relationship, that school and I. Especially when the drummers are there. At 8pm. On Tuesday nights. When I have to be to work at 1130pm. But, I already explained I quit that job, so I guess I'd best get over it now).
This part was actually Michael getting distracted. He saw a telephone pole, and was so infatuated with it that he hugged it and loudly proclaimed, "MOM! I LOVE THIS TREE! I WANT TO CARRY IT HOME!" Then he tried to pick it up, grunting and moaning, and eventually crying that he couldn't do it. So, we found him a stick instead.

Nancy, thanks for the great idea. I enjoyed the walk, and especially how the list prompted me to talk about what we walked by and not worrying about the distance we went, but rather just the moments we spent together outside.

RainyDay@TheBeach

We are a pretty stunning couple, I think. Although, for whatever reason we couldn't coordinate enough to look at the camera at the same time. Haha

And here's Michael with his best buddy, Ben

Reading

Michael was reading this book fairly well, before I turned the camera on--then things just got goofy.

Michael's 3rd Birthday

Michael turned three years old in February. I would've loved to invite every person I know over for his birthday celebration of cake and ice cream. But, to be honest I was worried that I invited Too many people over. At one point, we had 24 people in our apartment. 10 kids, and 14 adults. It was a mad house, but very fun.

Here's the video of us singing happy birthday to him.

Michael's commentary after watching this video just barely, was as follows: "I don't want to blow the candles. That's yucky. I don't know how." Then he dramatically laid his head down on my arms almost like he was reliving the moment. Haha

He got a Pacman birthday cake, with mini cupcakes that were the ghosts since we like playing this version of Pacman together.

For his present, Richard bought him a Prince of Persia lego set. My gift to him is changing his diaper. Still. Aren't they supposed to be magically potty-trained once they turn 3?

Potentially annoying toys

Photo courtesy of Michael-as I rock out with him. ;)

I can't get enough of his dancing though. So, they're tolerable.

Friends

What is it about having a cute kids around that makes me want to pull out the camera?

A long, long time ago (or so it seems) our friends came up for a weekend visit. Michael and Jewell played a ton, and I babysat cute Ivy (or Mini-Jewell) for an evening. They are such cute girls.

Giving Sad Jewell a hug after her parents left for the evening.

Dresses

For a very long time now I have wanted a dress. I have plenty of skirt & shirt combinations, but have yet to find a dress that I absolutely adore that has the length to cover past my upper thighs. The other weekend, while shopping I kept finding some adorable clothes, but they were either too short, pricey, immodest, etc... Richard finally said to me, "You need to find someone who you like how they dress and ask them to go shopping with you."

So, I talked to Layla. Who. Doesn't. Just. Adore. Her?

And do you know what she told me? Eshakti.com

I'm in love. Never have I found in one location, so many dresses that I absolutely love. And they allow you to enter your measurements so they can make it to fit! I was using Richard's iphone when I first navigated the site, and I kept getting up all-giddy-like and showing him dress after dress.

Okay, so here are a few of my favorites minus the purple (I would choose a different color). Which do you like the most?

Dreams

I love dreams. I love going to sleep--because I can dream. The worst kind of dream is when I am at work, doing my job just to wake up to my alarm clock and go to work in reality. Why? I was just there! Here's a previous post of a dream I had a month before giving birth to Michael.

This post was inspired because I was reading a few journal entries I tried keeping of my dreams. The time period for these dreams was during my first year in college, with roommates, boys, and school. You know the drill.

It's hard to write down dreams, because I only remember so much, and to put it in words can even be more difficult. But, in case you are interested, here's my dream as recorded on the night of November 8, 2005.

I was at Brian's apartment watching a movie. Our hands touched as we held them for less than a second and then I had to pull my hand away. Then I was back at home. I was going to Chelsie Hansen's house. I was running funny and then I saw Steve L and his family come out of their house. I jumped on a roof to hide. I just laid flat, and Br. L saw me and everyone crowded around. Eventually I got down. Steve had just gotten a divorce and we began walking and talking about it. We ended back up at Beehive Manor (my college apt at the time) on the 3rd floor. Esme (former roomate) was with us now and was asking people if their toilets were working. 308's wasn't working. So, we spent the rest of the time there fixing it.

I just loved the randomness, and as I reread it, I could actually recall the hiding out on the roof part of that dream. I'll bet there is no way in a million years I would've remembered a bit of that dream, without writing it down.

How about the night of November 13, 2005. This one was apparently too much, I couldn't even finish writing about it.

Trent's car was stolen and was parked in Beehive parking lot and was now being towed away. He was really frustrated. And there were two dolphins in my dream. I was in the kitchen and they were there too swimming around. They were almost miniature size. I took two spoons out and we were doing tricks with them. Almost too confusing to write about. The end.

What is one of your most recent/memorable dreams? I want to read all about them!

Christmas 2010

We spent Christmas day in Utah this year. We drove. We made it. But, I did tell my mom, "I don't think we'll be making this trip again in the winter time." Nevertheless, it was a good trip. Here are a few more belated Christmas pictures. Growing up, my family always had a manger set as our "Christmas tree." My dad built it for my mom when they were first married, and we've always placed our gifts beneath it. It is a home tradition that I adore. My brother got a drum set. Very cool, although I never heard him play it once.

I was teasing my sister for eating broccoli for breakfast, but then we found Michael in there eating it with her. Whatever gets the good stuff inside of you, right?

We gave Philip our Wii for Christmas. I loved snapping pictures of all his expressions as he opened it--he wasn't sure if we were pulling his leg or not.

I kept offering to wrap gifts for anyone who needed gift wrapping. My mom kept saying how great it was to have someone to wrap the gifts for her. So, I took the liberty of wrapping up many things on her desk. How many can you find? And what do you think is inside?We also spent part of our Christmas afternoon at the Heisses for lunch, and opening a few more gifts.
Our Christmas activities seemed rather extended this year. The day after coming back to Washington, we opened the gifts under our tree. Because Richard was sleeping, I told Michael to bring the presents into our bed, because I was anxious to get them open.
I made this building blocks for Michael. First, the blocks came much smaller than I expected, but that's my bad because I asked for the wrong size. So, my original plan didn't really work as I had planned (making it a building puzzle). So, instead, I took some of my favorite scrapbook papers and created a collage of sorts, with one side spelling Michael's name. They're cute. I think I want to retry the original idea again, however.
The next weekend, we went up north to the Schenk's, for dinner, games, and more presents! Sweet surprise. And, then the next weekend, Jared brought up some gifts from his family for us. Here's Michael playing with the super deluxe airport set that they gave him. Three weekends of presents. Wow!So, I guess I can say the Christmas season is now officially over for us. Thanks to everyone for the good times, gifts & memories.

Coconut Cupcakes

Wonderful day off means time for some long awaited baking. I used a new recipe, new ingredients and I'm totally in love. Click here to salivate read more.

Some really good things:

In no particular order, here are some really good things of recent:

1. I didn't clip any coupons in December. It was nice to have a break, and not do any shopping but Christmas Shopping--done mostly online, or crafting. But, it's a new month, and I'm back in the mode and love that I have my "frugal eyes" on again (I am currently watching Mr Potato Head on Toy Story). My goal this month is not to spend more than $5 on any household products this entire month. So far, so good!

2. I was scheduled a full 40-hour work week. I've been sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, and it's really been working out great. But, I could not do it without my amazing husband who takes care of Michael for hours after I go to bed, to make sure I get sleep.

3. I just found out I don't work until 3:30am tomorrow. That's an extra hour of sleeping in for me!

4. Richard is finally wrapping up various client/freelance work, just in time to start a new school semester. This is good in many, many ways.

5. I went to Bartell's and they were still getting rid of Christmas candy. I got three bags of Junior Mints for only 25cents each. Earlier that day I was tempted to buy a small box for $3.00, but refrained. Sweet Surprises! And, today, I got some frozen pies for only 50cents each(originally $6.99!) I love knowing the manager, and when he's about to put things on clearance.

6. And, finally, Michael just went pee-pee in his potty! It's a sign that's he's finally getting it, and willing to try happily! He got Star Wars underwear for Christmas. He's been wearing them all afternoon--went to nap with them on, and stayed dry. Anyway, I am so stoked! I rewarded him with Junior Mints.