Day 60: glorious laundry!

I have never been more excited to do laundry. These puppies came today and I love them! After doing laundry coin op or sharing for the lasts many years, having our own machines in our own house feels so heavenly!! Especially because the kids go through so much laundry. I really never thought I would be so excited about a washer and dryer, but I guess I am an official homemaker now and it feels perfect!

Day 59: desi's chatting

This little guy is starting to talk away. The most common ones so far are:
Mama
Dada
Baba
Baby
Sis
He is also pulling up on everything and is so crazy fast at crawling. He also looks at me with the most adorable dreamy look as though I'm the prettiest girl he's ever seen. Love my sweet little desi q!

Day 58: first Sunday

We had our first Sunday in our new ward and it was wonderful. It is a bit smaller, let's go with intimate. Everyone was really friendly and there are a handful of kids both Desmond and hazel's ages. I still miss my friends in other wards whose names I cannot even list, but I am excited for this new chapter. My parents came into town yesterday to help us move in/paint/watch kids so we could paint a few things and it was a huge lifesaver. I am most excited about these fabulous lockers we are working on for the kids room (color is prettier than the pics).

Day 57: a the best husband award goes to...

I woke up this morning to this amazing breakfast in bed. Mind you this is after waking up early with this kiddos on the first Saturday after starting his new job. Could I be any luckier?!

Day 56: day in with the kiddos

Hazel finally has her very own toys back after being without them for 6 months and it is like they are all new. I unpacked and hazel and desi rediscovered all their toys and entertained themselves, well mostly.

Day 55: we got a washer!

After several days and about 8 trips/stores, we found a fantastic washer. It is spacious and I could not be more delighted! It's like Christmas in February! This is a first for me and can't wait to do my first few loads when it comes Tuesday. I feel ever so blessed!

Day 54: I'm nesting!!

An no I'm not prego, but I am so excited to outfit our new place. I came across these today and thing they would be lovely in our front room if we had any tables to put them on, one thing at a time. Three of the rooms in our new place have no lights at all so I am on the hunt.

Day 53: our very own place

Did I mention Brandon got a new job with Marmot and we are moving to Rohnert Park, CA? We started to move in yesterday and the drive from Roseville is breathtaking. I will show more pics of our place and the gorgeous country side later. I was on the hunt for better lighting ( almost no overhead lighting) and a washer and dryer (I feel more confused now than when I started). Hopefully I will figure those things out by the end of the week.

Day 52: and I am back!

Normally when Desi wakes me up before 7am I get a little grumpy, buy who could be mad at a sweet face like this?! I really missed this little guy!!

Day 51: on my own

Eliza headed to the airport quite early Monday morning just after breakfast, so I spend most of the day on my own. Before I needed to go to the airport for my 4 pm flight I finished reading a my second book on the beach, laid out, swam, watched a few shows, and got ready and packed. I then headed to the airport and had some lunch at bubba gumps (yay for free wifi!) and was on my way home. There was far too much turbulence for my taste, but I made it all in one piece and only felt like vomiting. It was nice to have some quiet, but mostly was looking forward to seeing Brandon and the kids. Brandon came into the airport and had a armful of beautiful flowers, man, I am so dang lucky!!'

Day 50: cancun shopping...

On our last full day, Eliza and I stated longer than the rest of the group and went closer into the city, the rest of the trip we were down on the Mayan peninsula and we ended up 20 minutes out of downtown cancun and right on the water. Shopping in Mexico is far from what I remember and no matter how much we haggled, the prices didn't get lower. The guys were very insistent that everything way high quality, not Chinese. How racist of them. We were also given every deal you could imagine including the sisters, weekend, and rainy day deals yet somehow all the prices were the same. One guy even had the nerve to charge Eliza $175 for a single plate, seriously. I felt defensive, annoyed, and taken advantage of. I ended up spending $20 or so on a handful of little things (maracas, wooden toys, bobbing head ladybug, and goodies) for the kids. I tried to bring back habanero hot sauce for Brandon after passing up a real leather whip, but the customs people wouldn't let me bring it through. Oh well. That night we went for a dip in the ocean in the dark and ate at two tasty restaurants (Mexican and Thai food). It was the perfect end to our weekend of tropical relaxation!!

Day 49: relax!

This was day 3 in cancun and Eliza and I really lived it up. We got massages, napped on the beach, read our books, and got ready for a late dinner at the fancy french restaurant. The massage was heavenly and better than most i have experienced. Now let me give a little background on the food at the all inclusive resort was mediocre at best. Instead of simple identifiable foods, there were odd combinations that had been sitting at the buffet for far too long. Thursday ad Friday we had catered work dinners that turned out to be barely a step up from the buffet, basically buffet food plated nicely. But there were a handful of restaurants in the property that we could make a reservation at for our last day. So we went to our 9:30 reservation and the food was fantastic! I had shrimp, endive salad, French onion soup, a rack of lamb, and creme brûlée. It was ever so tasty and our waiter was perfecto! (he probably said "perfecto!" 10-20 times) I think the pics we took that night are on Eliza's phone, but it was such a great relaxing day.

Day 48: cancun day two, action packed day

Today we went zip ling, rappelling, snorkeling through underground rivers, hiked through the jungle, went offroading on a unimog, laid by the beach, had authentic mexican food and ended the day getting dressed up for an awards dinner. Eliza has done such an awesome job at work this year she won this trip and took me along. At the dinner she got recognized and I discovered my new favorite virgin drink to get at a bar, a virgin mojito. There are bars everywhere and they don't really have much to offer for us, but I saw a mojito and was intrigued. It is really just limes, mint and simple syrup smashed then add ice and soda water. I'm a fan! I have a pics from earlier today that I'll add another time, but for now, here is a pic of us at our dinner.

Day 47: cancun!!

I am the luckiest girl alive! My sister Eliza won an awards trip for work to cancun and decided to bring me. Not only that, but I have the sweetest supportive husband that is packing up everything we've been living with for the last 5 months and is watching the kids with my parents help. Got in safe and sound and loving the gorgeous sunshine!!

Day 46: I am thankful for...

I'm amazed daily by how much hazel grows up. Tonight for her prayers she went on and on about a million things she was thankful for. I think she was showing off for her grandmama (we're staying with my parents tonight). It was so stinking adorable. She went on and on about daddy, momma, her pillow, her pink purse, blue purse, green purse, black purse...etc. I don't think she actually owns any purses. She was thankful for her stories and prayers and cereal. I loved it. I remember hearing one of my Brinton nieces praying like that. They were thankful for sunshine and horses and candy. Little kids really have such a fresh and innocent perspective on life it reminds me how much I'd like to be more like a child. Here's my girl taking a little rest at target.

Day 45: happy valentines day!!

We had a little valentines cookie decorating party today. Hazel and I got to say goodbye to a few friends and enjoy some tasty treats. We also had the missionaries over for dinner and made chicken cordon bleu, asparagus with hollandaise, Caesar salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. It all felt ever so fancy. It was a beautiful low key valentines and got to snuggle with my sweetheart. I couldn't be happier!

Day 44: moving and missing

I have this overwhelming feeling of gratitude to Sarah and the whole Griffin family for sharing their home, toys, food, laundry detergent...etc (the list could continue for DAYS!) for the last five months. At the same time, I am excited to move, to start a new chapter, to walk around in my underwear, and to have a steady income. I long to give my kids some structure, heck I want the structure myself, BUT I love it here. I love that I can snuggle my nieces and nephews all the time, I love that I get to chat with my sister 12 times a day rather than once every two weeks, I love that Brandon has someone to work out with and make man jokes together, I love watching desi's older cousins just fall all over him they live him so much. It really has been amazing! I don't know how we made it 5 months with such a small level of drama.

I think I just got a little emotional tonight as we were packing and Blythe asked us where we were going. The picture of blythe and hazel was a random pose on a bathroom chair as they were both like "sissies!!". It's adorable! I snuck in the kitchen tonight and made the boys (sterling and harrison) fancy valentine lunches with 5 different heart shaped things and poems to go with their applesauce and carrots. How often do aunts get to do cute things like that? I cherish these little moments, because it makes the crazy moments balance out. Love you guys! Happy valentines day!!

Day 43: the way to a man's heart is through his stomach

My dad always told me the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I think this has to do with the fancy from scratch carrot cake with cream cheese frosting my mom brought on her first date with my dad when she wasn't even asked to bring anything. A carrot cake to make even the anti carrot cake people huge fans. I took my mom's lead and made roasted potatoes and pecan crusted salmon (thanks Lydia for that recipe!) only 4 days after starting to date Brandon and considering he told me he loved me a mere week later, I would say my dad was right on. Almost daily and especially on holidays I attempt to win his heart all over again. Today I watched the kids and had warm molten chocolate cake (i'll post the recipe soon) ready for him when he woke up from a 2 hour nap. Happy Valentines day my handsome prince!! It's a little different than pre kids, but watching kids so a 2 hour nap is possible is now one of the most appreciated romantic gestures. I also made Indian food including homemade samosas, then for a late evening snack (molten lava cake was dinner :) i threw together tri tip quesadillas, salad, and fresh guac. I only got pics of the molten cake, but give Brandon gooey chocolate and anything with avocados and he is putty in my hands. Man I love him!!

P.s. I do realize I'm tooting my own horn a little today, but I got gushing appreciation, so I'm really just echoing his sentiments.

Day 42: feeding the duckies!

Today I took Hazel, Desmond, and Ezra to go feed the ducks at this little canal around the corner from our house. The ducks were quite friendly, but didn't seem to have any fear of humans so I had the kids stay in the stroller. They made it through an entire loaf of bread, which might have more to do with Hazel and Desmond being more interested in feeding themselves than the birds. It was a nice little walk/run and I got to try out my vibram 5fingers again. I love those shoes!

There was also an attempted jog this morning, but when attempting to multitask, bringing a 3 year old to a track and getting 3 miles in just doesn't work. Instead we played a little soccer (hazel is actually quite a kicker) and I got maybe 1.5 miles in. Oh well, better than nothing I suppose.

Here are the kids with the ducks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkLv3jKWSFk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 41: Pre Valentines Date Night

Got to go out with my love tonight. We played it low key and did dinner and a movie, but we must have been extra giddy tonight. We were silly and laughing and flirty and had so much fun! I love you my sweet Brandies! May we always be each others valentines and continue to fall deeper and deeper in love as the years go on!

Day 40: Big Sis and lil bro

Recently hazel is really growing into her role as big sis'. It's adorable to watch her hold Desmond's hand or give him a big squeeze. She will also come check on him when he is sad and reassure him that it will all be ok. I love it! People all told me that this stage when they really start playing together is the best and I had no idea how great it would be.

I am also pretty sure we taught des to say "sis" the other day. He at least made a great hissing sound.

Day 39: going out hair on a hat hair day

Went out tonight after having a hat on all day and this is what I came up with in the 10 minutes I had to change and get ready. What do you think? Does it work?

Day 38: Zoo Day!

Today we headed to Fresno for a Craigslist find and ended up at the zoo. It was so perfect for a few reasons.

1. It was a tuesday morning and there maybe 6 total other visitors.
2. It was the perfect size to get around in about 2 hours at a 3 year olds walking pace.
3. It was a little old school so we actually got to stand pretty close to the animals instead of a massive habitat where you can never find the animal.

Hazel loved every second of it and Desi Q was happy as can be. We thought of doing a big trip before Brandon starts his new job, but who needs that? She seriously couldn't be any more thrilled about an outing.

Here are the kiddos chillin with the talkative flamingos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRlcw_yPHY&feature=youtube_gdata_player