Day 91: Desmond's 1st Birthday

What a great day! We were overjoyed when Desmond woke up early for his birthday. Well, not necessarily when he woke up, but when AUNT EESA took him as she is still on east coast time and watched the kids while we slept in a little bit. After the 1st session of General Conference (so good!) and finishing up some preparations for Desmond's party later today, we went out to show Eliza the beautiful countryside and scenery so close to our home. We ended up in downtown Santa Rosa and couldn't resist the Chevy's smell as we walked through boutiquey streets. Here's a video of how much Desmond loved his new hat.




some more photos - he was laughing so hard I wish we caught that on tape!


Happy Birthday kiss from Hazel


Some fun "popcorn" cupcakes to go with the carnival theme (marshmallows on brownie cupcakes)


Des standing on his own! He'll be running around in no time.



stuffing his face.



this was Hazel on her first birthday:


Desmond has been loving all of the attention, cards, goodies, and love from family and friends from all over. Thank you all! We can't wait to soak in all of this next year and what it has to offer!

Day 90: Eliza is in town!!

Eliza came out for a visit and the kids are loving all the quality time with aunt eesa. We get her all to ourselves until Sunday when we meet up with more family for Harrison's Baptism. Tomorrow we'll have a mini shin dig for desi's birthday party and I am baking and cooking up a storm. I'm so excited!

Day 89: Desi is growing up!

Desi wants nothing more than to be like his hug sis. He follows her around everywhere and she can always make him laugh the most. Here they are cracking each other up in the bath. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ysm223xWA

Desi also got to see his girlfriend Ellie at the park today and she snuggled right up to him. Would you believe she is 5 month younger? I can't get enough of her cheeks!

When Brandon got home from work today he worked on getting the high chair fixed and Desmond scooted right over and reached in to help his papa. They are going to make quite a handyman pair!

Aaaand.... I got to pick up Eliza from the airport today and kick off our week of family time including Harrison's (my nephew's) baptism. I can't wait to see everyone!

Day 88: ballet

Hazel is loving her ballet class. They are prepping for a recital in June. It's really cute to see them pantomime little stories and twirl around. She loves it!

Day 87: bleah!

It was an icky day at our house and I will keep it simple and say a plumber and carpet cleaner had to come out and take care of the mess we woke up to this morning. It was quite an ordeal, but I am happy it is done and actually smells quite pleasant now. Just a fan left to air out under the carpet for the next few days. I'll spare you the pictures with more detail...

Day 86: cilantro!!

Oh California, how I love you and your fresh produce and herbs. I know I have paid $1.50 often in the Northeast for some cilantro goodness. Check this out, a bunch of $0.19!!! Thank you, I'll take 3!

Day 85: crafts and 3 year old cute mischief

It's time to make some more hair bows/flowers. I saw this one the other day and totally know how to make it.

We had some friends over tonight ad there were so many missed photo ops I am kicking myself. Hazel and her friend Riley covered themselves in shampoo and were found sitting in an empty bathtub, they also painted their hands and faces with green marker that was luckily washable. Basically they partied to their little three year old hearts out.

Day 84: Happy Birthday Ezra!!

Last night we headed to Riverbank to see the Griffin family and Hazel was so thrilled to see her cousins. Since we lived there for 5 months, it feels jut like home and the kids giggled and ran around hugging for an hour after we got there. Then today we went to Harrison's baseball game, then lunch at this tasty BBQ place, and finally played at Go Bananas. The kids LOVED all of the bounce houses and really played hard. After birthday boy Ezra got over the crowds he loved it too. Sarah took a bunch of fabulous picture of the group, but here are a few I have handy. The kids played hard and crashed within minutes into our drive back to Rohnert Park. I love sleeping kids!

Day 83: library lunch playdate

We went for a little adventure today to the library, but opted for the "green" route and rode the bike with the chariot trailer. Hazel and desi loved it and desi took a lovely nap for most of our trip. We met up with Ruth and Charlotte and kids and had lunch outside and enjoyed the library for a bit. It was overcast and colder than I expected so we headed home to get warm and by the time we were a block away, it was bright and sunny so hazel convinced me to stop at the park. What a lovely idea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-WS5ZsGBI

Day 82: hazel draws "people"

Just in the last week or so, hazel has started to draw people and faces. Here are a few examples. She's always loved to draw and if I laid out a huge roll of butcher paper and gave her a handful of markers she could be entertained forever. She really is the hold of two artists. This week I got some supplies out and asked hazel if she would draw a picture of me (not shown) and she hasn't given up since. The picture in purple she just found and drew all over it and the one in orange she drew while we were at a restaurant. I'm quite impressed, but I am her mama.

Day 81: lunch date with daddy

Today we were in the neighborhood and decided to pick up Brandon and go grab some lunch. We went to Ulia's Delicatessen and had this great pulled pork sandwich with fruit/cabbage slaw on it. It was super tasty and the service was great. Desmond sat on Brandon's lap ad hazel insisted on the chair right next to Daddy. It's sweet to see how much they love their papa and want to be close to him. On our way home Hazel asked me "where's my daddy?" as though I forgot him at the last stoplight. I think she (we all) got a little spoiled having him around more this winter.

Day 80: 1900s hair

Tonight I was part of a readers theater for a Relief Society meeting. I got dressed up and did my hair all old fashioned. Is it convincing?

Day 79: pump it up!

This morning we went to this great jungle gym type place with inflatable slides and bounce houses and hazel partied to her hearts content! She was so fearless she just went for it at full speed for an hour straight ad then I could see her dramatically loose steam. We went with my new friends Charlotte and Lilly and all of their kids that are on spring break. We ran a few errands and as soon as I got home, my friend Alexis brought over a belated birthday present of the most delicious cupcakes I have possibly ever eaten! This was especially a labor of love because she is gluten free right now (her 7 month old daughter has sensitivities) and so she couldn't even sneak one! They were heavenly! The cheesecake flavor was my favorite with a thin crust and all, but the snicker doodle was a close second. Brandon was all about the red velvet. Mmmm. I was on such a high from my wonderful morning I cleaned up a storm, made fruit loop necklaces and ha an indoor Easter egg hunt with hazel all while desi slept for over 2 hours! It was a fabulous day!!!

Day 79: sleepy des

Brandon and I gave talks today in church and the Davis family let our kiddos join their pew. Somehow Dan was able to get Desi to snooze away even though he rarely sleeps in my arms anymore. Hazel also cozied up on Amy's lap and appeared so well behaved I was pleasantly surprised.

Day 78: spontaneous day trip

After what feels like an eternity of rain compared to the normal sunshiny days we are spoiled with, it cleared up a bit today, or so we thought. We looked out the window and decided we were up for an adventure to let hazel run and get a little fresh air. We thought about children's museums or the exploratorium, but then realizes six flags opens for the season today! We had been talking about getting season passes and just went for it. Hazel loved it and we can't wait to go back on our own for a date. There are almost too many cute moments to post, but here are a few. I'm sure we will go many more times this season. Hopefully desi will start walking soon and he can join us on a few more. Here's a video of Hazel loving the dolphins and then of her having a hearty laugh 2 or 3 rounds into the flying elephants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ahjD-xQ4Jc

Day 77: catch up

Today we got groceries, checked out bills, and caught up on a missed tv show. Nothing terribly thrilling, but just nice to be home sweet home. Here is one of Desmond's favorite toys while he hangs out in the car or goes for a stroller ride. He loves to shake the maracas!

Day 76: A crib for desi!!

We made it back to California safe and sound and Hazel couldn't stop saying "daddy!" and giving him huge hugs. We stopped at ikea to get a replacement light for one of the lamps that hangs over our bedside tables. On the way we stopped by this delicious Afgan Food (think curry+lamb kabob+bbq chicken) place right on the way. If you are ever in the Oakland area I would so recommend it! After tuckering the kids out at ikea we headed home to find newly painted furniture in the kids room. Desi has never actually had a real crib, he went from a bassinet to a pack and play while we were at the Griffin house, to now finally getting his crib all painted and assembled. Well the pic is right before we got the springs and mattress in, i left the room for two minutes and he climbed in there all on his own. He looks like he is a little jailbird.

Day 75: desis crazy face

Desi did this like 4 times today. It cracked me up every time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S0_KTtayYs

We are staying and Blythe and Greg's new house today and it is wonderful. They just moved in a couple months ago and it is huge and comfy and close to family. We grabbed cafe rio for dinner and had zupas for lunch. For those who don't know what a beautiful thing that is haven't spent much time in utah. I also made a pie for pie day (3.14) today with amelia. Overall, fabulous day!

Day 74: full day

We had a full day of fun including a new drum set, a trip to the tree house museum with mam-ma, seeing chicks and ducklings, and having dinner at our friends the Johnson's. Unfortunately I didn't get a pic with the Johnson's, but it was nice to see friends we knew in NH (now living in northern UT). I am burnt out, but we are enjoying our last minute get away and feeling ever so thankful it has been beautiful weather.

Day 73: drowsy chaperone

I just had the most delightful evening out to dinner and a show! Not only that, but I got to see my lovely mother-in-law perform (one of her favorite things among teaching and her kids) in one of the silliest and most charming plays I have seen in a long time! It is hard to describe but I will say the humor is slightly reminiscent to a Steele family cult movie (thoroughly modern Millie). It knew it was silly and made fun of itself and it's ridiculous stereotypes and characters. Overall, I got to spend the evening with Amelia and lawrence, have Grandma T join us for dinner before, and see Carol in this charming show. I would highly recommend it!

Day 72: to grandmothers (aka mam-mas) house we go!

Earlier today flew with the kids on a spontaneous trip to visit my mother in law, Carol, in Utah. We got to talking last week about her upcoming play and how much my kids are changing and growing up and she decided for my birthday, we should come for a visit!! Have I mentioned how much I love birthdays?!

We wanted to have some kind of church today so we ended up at the Oakland temple (as I was flying out of that airport) and as we arrived we learned there was one Sacrament Meeting about to start for the...wait for it...Tongan ward. We debated and then just went for it. We enjoyed some beautiful songs and got to partake of the Sacrament, then wandered the temple grounds where we took a few of these pics. The kids loved spending a few extra minutes with daddy!

By the time we got all checked in and on the plane I had worn hazel down with a traditional moving walk way marathon where she jogs in circles until she is exhausted. We got a whole row so I buckled both kids in and they must win some kind of award for being so sweet. Hazel giggled and played doodle jump and desi flirted with the ladies behind us. Then they got to see mam-ma and give big hugs before passing out in the car. I would say, a very successful travel day! I can't wait for tomorrows adventures'

Day 71: and the festivities continue

Yesterday Brandon took me out for a night on the town in Healdsburg. Now, for us these days and night out consists of wandering and sampling the local food. We had late reservations and so we got appetizers at "the worst" and split a habanero sausage dog and fancy sweet potato fries. They had truffle aioli and the owner was about the sweetest lady we'd ever met and the fried were on the house as soon as she learned it was my birthday. We then wandered and shared a peppermint hot chocolate and eventually ate at Scopa. It was the best Italian I have ever experienced and I have been to Boston's north end several times among other places. We enjoyed a mozzarella plate with pepper jelly and sardines that made me second guess my preconceived notions of them. I loved it! When we got back my mom and dad had the kids both asleep and this beautiful dessert just tempting me. It was sooo delicious! We stayed up far too late and loved it.

Today we headed west to the beach by way of this fantastic lunch place with polenta out of this world! The beach here is stunning and I can't wait to go camping once it warms a little. Overall fantastic birthday weekend! Tomorrow I am headed to Utah so the festivities can keep going!