Christmas Cards 2010

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Goodbye, Aunt Bonnie.

Me, Aunt Bonnie and my brother, Eric.
Greely Hill, California.

It is with great sadness that I write this post, but I feel that it must be done in honor of the woman who took so much time to document the events of my family and our ancestors.

My Aunt Bonnie, my dad's sister, passed away on September 30th, at the age of 79. Her passing came as quite a shock. Despite living with Diabetes and having an issue or two here and there, she was in very good health. In fact, she was one of the most spry 79-year-olds I've ever known. She could literally dance circles around many who were half her age.

It was that enthusiasm and zest for life that I will always remember about my Aunt Bonnie. She found joy in everything and had an incredible knack for making things fun. Trips to her house were filled with adventure and my brother and I never lacked for something to do. On more than one occassion, she'd pack us some snacks and we'd play for hours on this giant log outside her house. We'd pretend that it was our fort, a rocket ship or some other creative thing that only a child's imagination can dream up. Other times we'd ride bikes, go on nature walks, have frog races, fly airplanes or try on the gazillion clothes she made for us.

My Aunt Bonnie was extremely talented -- both artistically and creatively. Each year she'd come up with the most amazing gifts -- usually something she'd made from a family heirloom. From stuffed rabbits to Pringle can Santa's -- my Aunt Bonnie had a way of making the holidays extra special. Today, as I decorate for each holiday, I find a treasure from her to display.

In addition to painting, my Aunt Bonnie could knit like nobody's business. Some of my fondest memories are of watching her work with the needles -- creating something wonderful from a simple ball of yarn. During one visit, she made outfits for my favorite teddy bear and my brother's favorite monkey. She whipped them up like they were nothing and we were in awe! Thinking of her attending her "Happy Hookers" meetings (a knitting pun she came up with) still brings a smile to my face.

My brother and I show off the clothes Aunt Bonnie
made for our favorite stuffed animals.

Visiting my Aunt Bonnie's cabin home in Greely Hill was always special. She lived there for many years with my Grandma Dorothy and my Uncle Clay, who both required full-time care due to failing health. In addition to being a care giver for my grandmother and uncle, my Aunt Bonnie was constantly doing service for the rest of her family, her community and her friends. I will always remember her as a woman of faith, who made it a point to pray daily for those in need.

Although we lived on opposite coasts, my Aunt Bonnie never felt far away. She regularly sent letters, called to say hello and made a point of being involved in my family's life. She was great at documenting our family history and made sure that each of us received treasured heirlooms from the family members who went before us.

My Aunt Bonnie was truly a remarkable woman and loved by everyone who knew her. While she will be missed dearly by those she left behind, I firmly believe that she continues to do her good works in Heaven.

I love you, Aunt Bonnie. Thank you for everything. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

Happy Bithday, Babies!

I know I talk about my babies a lot, but in reality, they aren't babies any more. As of today, they are now six-years-old and growing faster day by day.

If you've kept up with my blog, you know this doesn't make me happy. I'm the kind of person that likes a good thing to last forever, and being a mom to two sweet baby girls was/is the most fun I've ever had. And the fact that time just keeps going by faster and faster reminds me that I need to try to slow down every now and then to relish the moments -- big and small.

Six years ago I received the two biggest blessings in my life. That day brought so much anxiety, but so much joy. Looking back, I don't know how my heart or body handled it all. It definitely wasn't easy, but sooooo worth every minute. Being part of their lives is an adventure I wouldn't trade for anything. I hope Miss Independent and Little Miss never forget much I love and appreciate them.

Happy Birthday, Babies!

OH! And just in case you're wondering...

Yes, we have a big party planned for tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures and a recap.

She's coming!

Who is "she," you ask?

Wait for it...

"SHE," is my MOTHER-IN-LAW!

The good news is I love her, so it's a good thing that she's coming to visit.

The bad news is that my house isn't ready and I'm going to be up late trying to make sure it gets somewhat presentable.

It's been three months since we moved in and I still feel like I'm unpacking. Seriously, I have no idea when or if it will ever end.

Anyway...just wish me luck and stay tuned for an update about our visit with Grandma Beverly. The last time she came to visit us the girls were just eight-months old. We've seen her since, of course, but not on our turf. Boy how time flies!

What's for dinner?

Although it's more of an appetizer, the dinner we're most enjoying in my house is the Chicken Wreath, made on a baking stone.

I recently made two in one night -- one for the family and one for recipe club -- and they were both a hit.

The following recipe is an altered version of a recipe from Pampered Chef.





Baking Stone Chicken Wreath

Ingredients:
1 can (10 oz.) Chunk White Chicken; drained and flaked
½ cup Red Bell Pepper; chopped
1 small bunch Broccoli; chopped
1 cup Colby-Jack Cheese; shredded
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
½ tsp. Salt
2 pkgs. (8 oz.) Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Directions:
Mix ingredients. Arrange crescent roll triangles into a circle or “sun” pattern on baking stone. Wide ends of triangles should overlap in the center with points facing toward the outside. Scoop mixture evenly onto widest end of each triangle. Bring outside points of triangles up over filling and tuck under wide ends of dough at the center of the ring. (Filling will not be completely covered.) Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

ENJOY!

Fall is here!

Miss Independent and Little Miss
October 2009

Okay, so it's not officially Fall until Tuesday, but it's close enough.

I was sorting through old photos today and came across this one from last year. We were living in Maryland and drove way out into the middle of nowhere to a pumpkin farm someone told us about. It was a drizzling day, but we figured all was well. However, when we finally arrived at the farm we were crushed to find out it was closed. It was a Chevy Chase Wally World moment for sure.

We kept driving and ended up at an Amish Farmer's Market. Despite the rain, we enjoyed picking out fresh fruits and vegetables -- including a couple of pumpkins -- as well as some yummy made-from-scratch cookies and sweet breads.

Anyway, reflecting on that day was all I needed to put me into a Fall State of Mind. I'm looking forward to things like:

• The State Fair
• The girl's birthday party
• The leaves changing colors
• The pumpkin farm
• Lower temperatures
• Caramel apples
• Trick-or-treating
• Pumpkin Pie

And so much more!

It's just about my most favorite time of the year. How about you?

I'm a Gleek and proud of it

I am now a Gleek.

I just caught up on Season 1 and am now officially ready for the premiere of Season 2, which airs next Tuesday.

I kept hearing the music and ended up buying a CD before ever watching the show (I have this thing for show tunes). I ended up liking it so much that I had to watch an episode. Within minutes, I was hooked.

It might be a little late, but that's okay. If there's one thing I've learned from Glee, it's that it's okay not to be part of the "in crowd." What's important is that I'm owning my inner diva-ness and singing with the rest of the Gleeks from now on.

If you're not a member, I would highly recommend checking it out. For me, the show has taken me back to my "I wanna be an actress" days and gets me up and moving. I can barely sit still and find myself singing and dancing -- Glee-style. And although they're not watching the show, Miss Independent and Little Miss have been enjoying a few of the tunes too. Our favorite right now is Don't Stop Believin' (by Journey). Good times!

Eclipse DVD coming in December!

I'm definitely feeling better today!

I just heard that the release date for Eclipse (on DVD) is December 4, 2010.

More information is available on Amazon.

Looks like I need to set up a viewing party!

Looking for the albino squirrel

I'm having one of those days. The kind of day where everything goes wrong -- from the minute you get out of bed, until the minute you fall asleep that night.

I hate those days.

I suppose I could take the high road and say that I'll learn something from this day.

I could remind myself that it's all worth it -- even if I can't see the reasons clearly right now.

I could think of all the things I'm grateful for, or throw myself into some act of service...

However, the only thing me and my bad attitude want to do is go back to bed and start over again. Unfortunately, life doesn't have a rewind button. Plus, it's almost 8:30 p.m.

But here's a happy thought...life does have a "do-over" button (assuming I live to see tomorrow). Each new day brings an opportunity for better things -- including better attitudes and a chance to find an albino squirrel.

Yup, you read that right -- a chance to find an albino squirrel.

Apparently there's one running around the neighborhood and my friend Amanda says if you see him, he'll bring you good luck. So I'm going to call it a day, get some rest, and then start my hunt tomorrow. Even if I don't find the albino squirrel, I bet I'll definitely find a better attitude!

Stay tuned...

Pre-school Days Photo Book

I thought I'd test out the "Share Project" feature on Shutterfly, which allows you to share projects you create with people who don't have accounts with their Web site.

I recently created this photo book to highlight the girl's two years of Pre-school. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Click here to view this photo book larger.

Hello, Kindergarten!

Little Miss and Miss Independent
September 7, 2010

WE DID IT!

And by WE, I mean...

ME -- I DID IT!

I was able to send them off -- on time and everything.

The girls did great. They were soooo excited to get on the bus. Of course my camera battery died after two pictures (apparently I'd left it on by accident the night before), so all of my pictures came via the iPhone and some really nice neighbors.

Stinger Bee Breakfast

But despite all of that, the day was great. We started with a "Stinger Bee Breakfast" (in honor of the school mascot). I made scrambled eggs, bacon and toast and shaped everything on the plate. Although I thought it looked like a bee, the kids thought it looked more like a bat. Here's a picture so you can decide.

The table was decorated with yellow and black accents. At each place setting was a new book, some flash cards and a really cool Tervis Tumbler with a bee on it. This breakfast idea will hopefully become a tradition that we do each year on the first day of school.

So after a few pictures, we walked to the bus stop. There were tons of parents and kids waiting with anticipation. There were at least six other Kindergartner's, so the girls made some immediate friends.

When the bus arrived, both girls ran to get in line. They totally forgot about mommy and daddy and didn't even look back for a picture. I managed to capture them getting to the door, but that was it. And since they are riding a newer style bus with tinted windows, I couldn't see which seat they were in. So, I ended up blowing kisses to every kid on the bus. :)

As far as crying goes, I managed to hold it together until the bus pulled away. The walk home was hard but I made it. Overall, I think I did pretty good -- all things considering (no sleep the night before, constant anxiety, etc.). I concentrated on work until it was time to go back to the bus stop to pick them up. It was so fun when they arrived. They had a ton of stories to share and said they were excited to go back.

In a nutshell -- this worrisome mom couldn't be happier with how the day turned out. And, hopefully, from here on out, I'll be much less worrisome (yeah, right).

Thanks to everyone who called to check on me throughout the first day. Your comforting words meant so much to me.

Here's to a great school year!

Just keep swimming...

In less than ten hours my babies will be heading off to Kindergarten.

My pulse is racing and I have hundreds of thoughts in my head.

What if we don't get up in time?

What if they refuse to get on the bus?

What if I refuse to let them get on the bus?

What if they have a terrible day?

AAAGGGHHH!

Okay, deep breath. I know I will survive. I'm not the first person to go through this. There are TONS of teachers and volunteers just waiting to help make their day great.

I can do this. I can do this. I WILL do this.

Wish me luck.

I'll be up at the crack of dawn making a "First Day of School" breakfast for the monkeys, then it's off to get them ready, take pictures, put them on the bus, etc.

Stay tuned for a report on how it all goes. Assuming I survive the day...

I feel like Nemo's dad did (in Finding Nemo) on Nemo's first day of school. He was totally paranoid about every little thing and Nemo ended up getting sucked into the fisherman's net.

I guess my mantra should be, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming." like Dory suggests and all will go well.

Dear Kindergarten:

Since we're meeting each other for the first time, I thought it would be fair to warn you that I'm going to be one of THOSE parents.


You know...



The kind of parent who:

• Cries the first time they open the school doors.
• Cries when walking down the hall to her child's classroom.
• Cries when filling out paperwork.
• Cries when talking to the office staff/teacher/principal for the first time.
• Cries while taking a gazillion pictures of her babies.

You know...


The kind of parent who:

• Does all of this at Kindergarten Orientation -- BEFORE school even starts!

Yup. That's ME. I'm one of those parents!

However, in fairness, there's a reason I'm THAT kind of parent.

I am the parent of twins.

Let me rephrase.

I am the parent of ONLY twins!

I am going through this process for the first AND last time -- AT THE SAME TIME! My emotional state is working double duty because I'm sending my first and last babies out into the world -- at the very same time -- and it's killing me.

Yes, I know I didn't warn you that I would cry like a baby today. In all honesty, I didn't know I would. And, yes, I will probably do the same thing next week when school starts...

BUT, please don't judge me on these days alone.

Just bear with me and understand that while I've had years to prepare myself, the time has gone by too quickly and I'm still not ready to let my children go. Not just yet.

Surely I'm not alone in feeling this way, Kindergarten, so I'd appreciate you empathizing with me and all of the other parents going through similar situations.

In closing, I appreciate your patience -- in advance -- for I have no idea how I will act or react during our one-time-only, year-long relationship. With that said, I say "let the madness... I mean, wonderful memory-making begin!"

Sincerely yours,
THAT Parent (at least for now)

Birthday beach trip!

The beach trip for my birthday was a great little get-away for us. Our only regret about the trip was that it didn't last longer.

I'd forgotten how much I love swimming in the ocean, searching for sea shells, eating crab legs and going to the candy store for salt water taffy.

As you can see from the picture, the girls loved the trip too, and they did everything they could to stay at the ocean as long as possible. Can't say I blame them!

To see pictures from our trip, click here.

Block Party!

Before I moved from Maryland I had a craft night with a dear friend of mine, Kelley. We made "Be Blocks," which another friend of mine (Rachele, from Arizona) dreamed up and even had published in a paper craft magazine.

If you've never heard of Gordon B. Hinckley's book, Way to Be!, I highly recommend reading it. It's a book about virtues and highlights nine ways to be happy and to make something of your life.

Here are the nine "Be's"...

1. Be Grateful
2. Be Smart
3. Be Involved
4. Be Clean
5. Be True
6. Be Positive
7. Be Humble
8. Be Still
9. Be Prayerful

Great, great book and a really quick read.

Anyway -- the blocks turned out beautiful and I'm so glad we had an opportunity to make them together. I miss you, Kelley. I'm glad you love the blocks as much as I do. And thanks, Rachele, for creating such a beautiful memento of President Hinckley's "Be's" -- I'll treasure mine forever.

In my dreams, I'm Wonder Woman

For as long as I can remember, Wonder Woman has been my hero. Like lots of little girls, I would spin around and pretend to turn into Wonder Woman. I would fly around the house in my Wonder Woman Underoos. I would watch the TV show and pretend that it was me fighting crime "in satin tights." :)


Put simply, Wonder Woman is awesome.

And so is my favorite birthday present this year.

My parents sent me this framed picture of Wonder Woman, which I'm proudly displaying in my office. So even if I can't BE Wonder Woman -- make that, even if I can't LOOK like Wonder Woman -- I can still see her every day and pretend that I am her -- out to save the world.

I can also make sure that my little girls grow up being fans too. Of course, they already are -- despite grumblings from The Man, who says the TV shows were a little violent. But what do you expect when you're fighting crime? Saving the world from a Nazi takeover ain't no picnic! Although, when you're Wonder Woman, you can make it look like a picnic. Here's to saving the world and looking great while doing it!

I'm not getting any younger...

The fact that I'm not getting any younger bugs me, but what can I do about it? It's simply a fact of life and something we each have to deal with in our own way.

My way of dealing with it this year is to go to the beach for my birthday and pretend that I'll never hit 40. Unfortunately, I only have one year left until I actually do hit 40, and then I'm afraid it's all down hill from there.

Just kidding -- I know we only get better with age, so I'll manage.

Anyway, back to the beach trip...

I begged The Man to take me and he finally agreed. It's only a three-day trip, but it's still enough time away from reality to give me the refreshing break I need. Stay tuned for pictures -- not of me in a bathing suit, but of the girls having a blast in the sand and ocean. :)

And speaking of pictures, I thought you'd enjoy this one of my Aunt Janie and me at Virginia Beach way back when. She's the hot one, who, by the way, only gets hotter with age. She gives me hope that I'll do the same.

Friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th. I remember seeing bits and pieces of that movie when I was younger and it freaked me out. For the record -- I don't like scary movies, so the fact that I saw as much as I did probably ruined me for life.

Anyway...

I'm going to have a great day because I'm not supersticious. How about you?

My brother rocks!

So my brother, the
E-man, just finished rebuilding his 1956 Buick Classic car. And while I haven't seen it in person, the pictures look absolutely amazing.

He showed it off at Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada last week and it was a huge hit. I sent him a shirt to wear that matched his car, so I felt like I was there in spirit.


From birth, my brother has amazed me with his talents. He's been taking things apart and rebuilding them as long as I can remember. I think it used to get him in trouble, but take a look at this picture and you'll see that it was well worth it.

I love you, E-man. You do great work!

An update

So I'm really bummed.

I was doing GREAT on my goal of updating my blog at least once a week, but then we moved and it's thrown me off.

Anyway -- I'm back to the grind and the world of blogging so I can continue documenting this great little life of mine.

I hope you'll come back for a visit soon, cause I got some stuff to share!

It's official!

We now have a Virginia address!

The move went well and we're finally getting settled.

It feels good to be home.

Stop moving my cheese!

Remember that book, Who Moved My Cheese?

I was required to read it when it was all the corporate rage.

The basic premise (if you haven't read it) is that "change" (or, "cheese," in this scenario) is going to happen ("move") whether we like it or not. Those of us who embrace the changes and chase after our cheese will succeed. Those of us who don't will end up lost in the maze, ultimately missing out on future opportunities.

Since I'm still employed by the company that required me to read this book, I will refrain on commenting further on why I think they really wanted us to read it, but I will say this:

At the time, I bought in to the idea of chasing after my cheese and felt like I was pretty good at doing so with a happy and positive attitude, but those days are long gone. Those were the days before I had kids -- when I could do and keep up with it all.

At this particular time in my life, my cheese is moving around like crazy. Things are changing so rapidly that I can barely keep up with what day it is. And the hardest part of all of it -- is that the old me could've handled it.

I was organized. I could keep up with a list. I could think and speak in complete sentences.

I don't know where the old me has gone, but if she's lucky, she's off on a beach somewhere enjoying some quiet time!

Don't get me wrong -- I absolutely love my life as a mother, but I'm having a hard time juggling it all. I've seriously got to pull it together and muddle through these changes the best I know how.

But it's so HARD!

Thankfully, I have the best family a girl could ask for. I have the kind of family who drives 2,700 miles to clean my house, pack boxes, watch my kids, hug me when I lose it, etc. I have no idea how I'd survive without them right now because truth be told, I'm a little "off" these days.

I'm hoping that at some point soon, the old me will meet up with the new me and come up with a new and improved me. That's the kind of change I could deal with.

For my dad

Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you and I appreciate everything you've done for me. Including driving all the way out here (with Mom) to help us move this week! I owe you so much.

I'm not ready

It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with twins.

It seems like just yesterday I was juggling two feedings at one time.

It seems like just yesterday that my babies started walking.

But it wasn't just yesterday that these things happened.

Where has the time gone?

I'm not ready.

I'm not ready to send them to Kindergarten.

I'm not ready to wave goodbye as they ride on the school bus for the first time.

I'm not ready to let them grow up.

And yet, I guess I have to be.

Friday is pre-school graduation. I'm barely ready for it. Once it's over, I have approximately two months to get myself ready for the next big step. And at the rate I'm going, it's never going to happen.

I want my babies back.

Sigh -- I know that's never going to happen, but I can still dream and relish the moments that went by way too quickly.

As you can see from the picture, my girls are growing up. And way, way too fast in my opinion. If only I could control time...

The Eclipse soundtrack is here!

I just got mine today and I love it. I am officially ready for the movie. Are you?

Eclipse Trailer #3

I don't think this trailer is as good as the last two, but I'm still excited about the premiere, which will be here in about three weeks!

Watch the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at MTV.com!

The latest photo shoot

If it seems like I've posted a lot of pictures of the girls this year on Facebook or here on the blog, it's because I have.

Miss Chasity, the girl's pre-school teacher also has her own photography business called Sugar & Spice Snapshots. So, we get lots and lots of photos taken at school, as well as some fun extras when we do a photo shoot with her. As you can see, she does great work. I especially like the quote she picked for this picture: "Our roots say we're sisters; our hearts say we're friends."

The Man turns 50!

Right off the bat I need to say that while THE MAN just turned 50, I personally am no where near that milestone myself! :)

His big day was another event to remember. The girls and I baked him a huge cake, blew up balloons, drew a giant picture and celebrated like nobody's business.

As I've said before, the girls love to throw a good party and I think you can tell by the picture that their daddy thought it was a huge success.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!