A&E

And We're Back...

2011-08-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

It was a busy and eventful week for us. Here are the events in no particular order.
M and M posing just before putting on a dance concert for myself and Eliot.

A picture of Madison in her baptism dress. We did a photo shoot on Sunday morning.

Madison and Mitchell making cupcakes with the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker that Madison got as an early birthday present from Aunt Julie, Uncle David and Audrey.

David, Scot and Jeremy taking a break from their hard work during the move in of Eliot's parents.

I was helping as much as I could with the move even though I was carting this Momma's girl around. Lanie was exhausted by all the unpacking.

Lanie with her newest cousin, Jack Tomsick.

Stuffed animals the kids received from their Auntie Michaela. Their prizes for helping on moving day.

First day of third grade. Everyone ready to walk to the bus stop. Too bad we missed the bus the first day. I guess we took too many pictures.

Second day of school and Madison made it on the bus.

Waiting for the bus on the second day of school. We made it to the bus stop on the second day of school with plenty of time to spare.

Madison on her first day of third grade.

Mitchell wearing his Dad's socks.

Halloween, Part One

2010-11-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

Some of the pumpkins that we carved. And we had many pumpkins to choose from.

Making Halloween sugar cookies.

Ready to go trick or treating with the Ward cousins.

Batman and Pinkie Pie Pony.

Photo opportunity after breakfasting with the witches at Gardner Village.

Fabulous Fourth!

2010-07-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

This Week in Pictures

2010-03-14T09:38:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day

2010-03-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

I know it's a little late, but I couldn't resist these cute pictures. Mitchell was in charge of holding the Jell-o treats on our way to a Valentine's brunch. He was concentrating hard and holding on tight so none of the heart shapes would slip off the plate.

The valentines that Madison made for her class. I think they turned out super cute!

The kids were dressed up for Valentine's day on Sunday.

I love it when they get along. What a great valentine for mom!

Rainy days with a chance of sun

2009-12-20T23:57:00.000-08:00

The other week we had rain and a lot of it. Afterall, it is wintertime. Eliot says we may have gotten our yearly allotment in that one week. The kids loved getting out their rain gear and I loved it too!

Between puddle jumps and sloshing around we sipped on tea and hot chocolate indoors. It was a nice change from the perpetual sunshine. I probably appreciated the rain so much because it was such a novelty. I knew the sunshine would be back shortly.

Sure enough, the first sunbeam came through the clouds on the Sunday following the rain. The first sunbeam was my future Sunbeam. I can't believe this little guy will be a Sunbeam in one more week. Since then the has rain ceased and it has been sunny and warm ever since.

Side note: Mitchell had an astronaut visit his preschool. I think that was the first astronaut I had ever seen in real life. He made a fun space hat for the occasion which he is modeling here.

The Nutcracker

2009-12-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

Before the performance...

Backstage waiting to go on. Madison was a Magical Ornament in a production of The Nutcracker.

Practicing looking surprised and scared. During the production, rats come and whisk the "Magical Ornaments" away.

Getting ready to go on stage for the finale.

Beautiful ballerina.

Lyle Jack Ward

2009-11-29T18:56:00.000-08:00

November 7, 2009

Halloween

2009-11-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

First off, my sisters came into town for a girls' trip. We had a great time! One of the highlights and actual motivation for the trip was attending Michael Jackson's "This Is It" movie together. You see, we grew up dancing to Michael Jackson music together. We got matching MJ t-shirts for the event. See above. And it was so fun watching the movie with people who I know love and appreciate MJ's talent and music like I do. It is a must see, if you like MJ. At the end of the movie we sang Michael Jackson's songs together. It was great!! Thanks to Nat and Jennie for a great week. (Another highlight was seeing The Lion King together at Broadway San Diego. Thanks for the surprise!)

Carving pumpkins just before Halloween night. You can kind of see the bow that was planned for this Jack-o-Lantern. That was of course Maddie's idea.

This is Mitchell's "scary" pirate face. He also had a pretty scary "Argh."

Just before trick-or-treating... the beautiful Monarch butterfly and the "scary" pirate. Both kids picked what they wanted to be for Halloween and had a lot of fun trick-or-treating. Overall, Halloween was a success... the kids were happy!

Thank you Ritz!

2009-09-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

I had a warped memory card and took it to Ritz Camera, they saved 825 pictures. Hooray for Ritz Camera! Here are four of the recovered photos, more to come...

Madison loves dressing up, uh, can you tell?

She also loves putting curlers in her hair at night, so it is curly in the morning. She literally skips and twirls even more often when her hair is curly.

Super cute boy on Easter morning. He is still toting around his blanket and oftentimes a car.

Madison with her curly hair on Easter morning.

What Will You Celebrate?

2009-09-23T21:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to go to Disneyland on my birthday, much to my kids' delight and much to Eliot's dismay. However, because it was my birthday my wish was granted and we ALL had a great time!

Yes, I got a sweet button that said "Happy Birthday to Angie" and so I got birthday "shout outs" from all the cast members. Awesome!

Waiting in line for the Peter Pan ride. Luckily I had these lollipops to keep the kids occupied.

I LOVE this "Celebrate" Dance party, almost as much as Madison... maybe even more.

Mitchell's First Day of Soccer

2009-09-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

He's got some serious "moves!"

What an attentive student!

The shirt was more like a dress, which Mitchell was unsure about, but he held it together and scored a bunch of goals.

Coach Smackey is getting the kids ready to run! Mitchell had a great time. Yay for soccer!

More of what we've been up to!

2009-08-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

Performances!

Picnics!

Padres!

What we've been up to!

2009-08-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Playing with our cousins. Mitchell with cousin Sydney.

Playing at the park. Maddie on the monkey bars.

Playing at the beach with friends as often as possible.

Learning to swim.

Thanksgiving Extravaganza!

2008-11-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

We had one of the most festive Thanksgivings this year. It started off with Madison's Pow Wow Music program a week prior to the actual Thanksgiving day. The kindergarten classes put on a wonderful performance. They were all dressed up as Native Americans. They chose their own names. Madison was Sweet Crow. They sang several songs and after the Pow Wow the parents (dressed as pilgrims) joined the children for a Thanksgiving feast!
Here are some of the kindergarten girls with their papoos backpacks. The girls looked so cute.

Madison did such a great job singing. She was trying so hard to stay in character as Sweet Crow. She had all the movements and words down. She has been continuing to sing the songs all week.

Thanksgiving morning we head to our friend's house, the Rollins, along with the Oscarsons to begin warming up our Thanksgiving feast from Claim Jumper. Surprisingly, we did end up spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen heating up the food. So here is a picture of the lady folk with our pilgrim hats (courtesy of Madison's kindergarten class) in the kitchen- me, Mary, and Erin.

All of the pilgrims are featured here. Eliot, Angie, Kenny, Erin, Mary, and Curtis.

Maddie, Ellie, and Millie coloring turkeys beforing the feast.

Eliot and Angie as pilgrims.

After the noon time meal we all headed to our separte houses for naptime. Then we reconvened at our house for dessert and gingerbread houses.

We tried to keep the kids occupied with a Christmas movie so the adults could play a game. It lasted for a little while.

Eliot and Curtis attempting to construct the gingerbread houses.

Maddie and Ellie are such cute friends!

Me and Mitchell hanging out in the front yard while the boys played some football.

It was a truly wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks to our friends who made it so fun. A special thanks to Erin for documenting the day. Now on to the next celebration!

Apple Picking in Julian

2008-10-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

First Day of Kindergarten

2008-09-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

More fun in Virginia... July 2008

2008-09-10T23:32:00.001-07:00

You can't have 4th of July without traditional sparklers. Madison writing her name with the sparkler.
Eliot roasting marshmallows with some of the cousins. FYI- S'mores taste better with dark chocolate and fresh raspberries.
Ana at Burke Lake Park with Maddie and Mitch. We were waiting for a train ride.
Me and the kiddos posed in front of the (stopped) train. Hands down best kid train ride I have ever been on. The scenery was beautiful and Ana had a great song to sing along the way. How does it go again?
Mitchell on the carousel ride at Burke Lake Park. Madison and Ana in the background. Burke Lake Park is one of our favorite spots in Virginia.

Aunt Michaela, Ana, and Madison on the hayride at Frying Farm Park. Another fun Virginia spot. The Park preserves and interprets a 1920s to 1950s farm. It was very fun and interesting.
Mom and Mitch with old barn in the background.
Mitchell was in heaven with these tractors that he could play on.
Ana and Mitch looking at some pigs in the barn. (It isn't clear whether or not the pig was wearing lipstick.)
Ana and Michaela- cute girls!

Fourth of July (Better Late than Never)

2008-09-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

After a long flight from San Diego and a late arrival into Washington D.C., Mitchell and Eliot took the opportunity to sleep in. We missed the Pancake Breakfast at the church but there were many other Independence Day activities to come.
Mitchell and Eliot with Cousin JJ and Uncle Jeremy at the Fairfax, Virginia 4th of July Parade.
Some of the cousins with Aunt Melissa and Aunt Michaela.
Some of the parade sights.

Eliot and Scot preparing homemade ice cream. Yum!
Bop Bop with the boys.
Taking the Metro into Washington D.C. for the Fireworks show.
Me pushing the boys through downtown D.C.
The whole gang getting ready for the big show!

Kate and Maddie. They are so cute together and have so much fun!
Sights from the show. It was awesome being in our Nation's Capital for the 4th of July. It was really neat to see the fireworks at the Washington Monument.
The Ward family after a very fun and exciting day!

Summer Pops

2008-07-03T00:08:00.001-07:00

We went to Summer Pops on Saturday with a group of friends. We had a great time. We listened to Frank Sinatra Jr. sing Frank Sinatra accompanied by the San Diego Symphony. We picnicked while the sun set and then got cozy for the show under the stars.

What a good looking group!

We had quite a spread of delicious eats.

Mary, Angie, Erin, and Darci do a want-to-be Rockette line. Sinatra's famous New York, New York song inspired this move.

Sisters Trip

2008-06-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend in Dallas for our Swensen Sisters Trip. We stayed at the Westin Galleria which is connected to a mall. We shopped, ate, got pedicures, saw a movie(Get Smart), had Afternoon Tea at the Adolphus Hotel (see picture above), went to Sixth Floor Museum, talked, laughed and had a fabulous time!

This is the street where JFK was shot and killed. This is the view from the Grassy Knoll. What a tragic moment in history.

The grassy knoll where individuals claim they saw smoke from a firearm and some unidentified people.

Here I am standing on the spot where JFK was struck by a second bullet. See the Book Depository building in the background- where the Sixth Floor Museum is and also where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired a rifle which killed JFK.

Iddy Biddy Dance Recital

2008-06-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

Maddie and her friend Sydney ready to perform now that they have their makeup on and flowers in their hair. Madison has her arms in first position and is doing a posse.
These girls became fast friends when we moved to San Diego. They are still buddies. Maddie names all of her stuffed animals after her good friend.
The girls performed at an outdoor amphitheater. They performed their ballet dances twice and all the performers did a tap dance for the finale.
She looks like she has a little stage fright. I think she was saying "cheese" for the picture while being distracted by the other dancers.

Oh Boy, I've Got Joy

2008-06-01T22:47:00.001-07:00

Madison had her Joy School Graduation on Saturday. It was a fun party and cute to see all the kids in their caps. Madison is so grown up now. I thought it was so sweet because when she walked up to get her certificate she turned to the audience and did a curtsie. Precious!
Madison and all of her Joy School friends. They have had such a fun year together!
Madison even got a graduation picture. Wow! She was so excited and we were very happy for her and all she has learned.

Easter Best

2008-04-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I got the kids Easter outfits to wear on Easter Sunday and Mitchell was sick that day. The next week we had company, then it was General Conference, the following week I was out of town. So finally today, almost one month after Easter, I got the kids dressed in their Easter garb and took a few pictures. Better late than never, right? (BTW- I tried to get the kids pictures taken at a professional studio--"tried" is the key word. Madison has decided she really likes getting her picture taken, but Mitchell has decided quite the opposite.)

Easter Highlights and Lowlights

2008-03-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

Mitchell at the Torrey Hills Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. He wasn't feeling great on Saturday, but he was excited to see all of the eggs- over 15,000! The hunt was divided into age groups. Here he is standing in front of the 1 to 3 year-old heat.
Madison was having a hard time looking at the camera because it was so sunny. Here she is in front of the 3 to 5 year-old heat. BTW- it was very hot that day, high 70's. I have truly become a fair weathered San Diegan. Last year, I was complaining because it was too chilly at the Easter Egg hunt- probably high 60's. This year I was complaining because it was too hot. Ha! If the temperature is not perfect with a pleasant ocean breeze then I guess it is not good enough.
Mitchell fell asleep waiting for the egg hunt to begin. We tried to wake him up to participate, but he was 'over it' at that point. Also, Madison entered the hula hoop contest and won a prize. I don't think she realized she was competing, but she sure had fun!
Madison coloring Easter eggs a variety of colors. She looks so grown up in this picture! She has become quite the little lady.
What a good looking guy! Eliot is preparing, or helping prepare, Italian Dumplings. Delish! Check the recipe blog for the recipe.

Bilateral Myringotomy with Tubes

2008-03-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

Mitchell had surgery today to help with his ears. The ENT doctor put tubes in Mitchell's ears to help drain the fluid that has been perpetually present, as well as hopefully prevent future ear infections. The surgery was only 5-10 minutes long, but Mitchell had to go under general anesthesia. The whole process was textbook and Mitchell did great! He is now napping after his busy morning. Here are the pictures to document the morning's events.

We had to wake Mitchell up at 5:30 a.m. and he hadn't had anything to eat or drink since before midnight. He wasn't too happy.

As you can see, Mitchell maintained a positive outlook throughout the entire morning. I was really so impressed. He still hadn't had any food or drink. I think this was the sixth 'waiting room' we had been in.

Eliot put on a medical body suit of sorts and accompanied Mitchell to the surgery area. Eliot was there until Michell fell asleep.

Eliot is holding Mitchell after the surgery. Mitchell is snacking on a graham cracker. Eliot totally took the lead today during the whole process. I have decided that Eliot is in charge of all hospital duties from here on out. I am too much of a basket case. Eliot is the sweetest Dad you have ever seen and cool under pressure. Perfect for the job! Isn't this a cute daddy-son picture?

More Florida Pictures

2008-02-28T19:38:00.000-08:00

Maddy and Mitch posing on the Grand Staircase at the Grand Floridian. The resort was truly Grand in every way.
I got a free pair of Mickey Ears after riding the Everest Expedition Roller Coaster (very fun!) at the Animal Kingdom. We did get a little rain that day, but it was still warm and the lines were short.
Mitchell is sitting on Eliot's shoulders watching the Animal Kingdom parade. It seems like just yesterday that it was Madison who was sitting on Eliot's shoulders watching the same parade. Amazing!
Madison right at home on the beach at the Grand Floridian resort. They had a couple pools to choose from and this one was right on the sandy waterfront. We could see the Magic Kingdom from the resort, as well as Cinderella's Castle- Madison really liked that.
Our last night in Orlando. We are in Downtown Disney enjoying Ghiradelli Sundaes. We went to a really fun toy store and let the kids pick out one thing. Madison chose a "My Little Pony" and Mitchell chose Cars. (No surprise there.)

Disney World Highlights

2008-02-26T21:27:00.001-08:00

We had a fabulous time in Orlando. So great, in fact, that it was hard to return home to reality. Our days were filled with fun and relaxation! Here are some of the highlights. The scene as you walk through Magic Kingdom IS magical. I think Eliot and I can now be considered Disney Freaks (Three visits to Disney World in three years). Eliot knows all the facts about the business side of Disney and how can you not enjoy the attention to detail- it is unmatched. We also went on the "behind the scenes" tour so we got to see how Disney is able to pull all of this off. And yes, they do have an underground "city" beneath the Magic Kingdom.
Eliot and Mitchell on the Aladdin Magic Carpet ride.
The whole fam on the train ride around the Magic Kingdom.
Madison excited for the Carousel ride.
" Whose the leader of the club that's made for you and me?

M-I-C-K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E."

Madison hanging out with Princess Aurora during the Princess and Pirate Breakfast. Notice the matching outfits. And yes, Madison got a new princess dress. She picked the Sleeping Beauty dress over all the other princess. Madison hasn't even seen Sleeping Beauty, but the girl loves pink!
Eliot and the kids enjoying breakfast together.
Cinderella practices blowing kisses with Madison. The kids also got autographs from the characters in their autograph books. Minnie and Mickey were also there, as well as Captain Hook and Mr. Schmee. Mitchell was a little hesitant to get his picture taken alone with any of the characters.
Mitchell dressed up as a pirate- more or less. At least he paused for a quick "cheese."
Eliot and the kids a Magic Kingdom- ready for a day of fun!

January 2008

2008-01-15T16:28:00.001-08:00

Christmas Joys

2008-01-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

Mitchell is obsessed with cars so naturally he was completely thrilled with his 4-wheeler from Santa Claus. (aka Eliot who had his heart set on getting this for Mitchell. There was no negotiating.) Notice the stream of drool dripping down his chin. He was so excited he forgot to swallow.

Here is Madison posing quite seriously near many of her Christmas treasures. She is wearing her new bathrobe, standing next to her scooter, and displaying her glow-in-the-dark stars. (Thank you Vanna.)

Les Bois

2008-01-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the adults (Jennie, Mike, Angie, Eliot, Natalie, and Brian) after our date night at Mona Lisa Fondue in Boise. We had a blast! Special thanks to Mike's two nieces who put all seven kids, including three babies, to bed. It was definitely a memorable meal complete with a few laughs!
Madison had a blast in the snow while we were in Boise. There had a been a snow storm just prior to our arrival, which was great! We definitely wanted to see some snow because it has become a novelty for us. This is Danny and Madison sledding together.
A Swensen Sister gathering would not be complete without some serious singing. We got out the spoons for old times sake. I think we are singing our hearts out to Kelly Clarkson. It was so fun! I think the kids were a little shocked. I believe the husbands are used to it by now.
The three youngest boy cousins in their matching firetruck pajamas from Grandma Swensen. Mitchell - 19 months, Ryan - 3 years, and Wesley - 8 months. By the way, Ryan and Wesley are holding waffles. Whatever it takes to get a good picture.

Never a dull moment

2007-12-16T21:49:00.001-08:00

We have been so busy with all the activities that go along with Christmastime that I haven't had a chance to update my blog. We have had a lot of visitors, holiday parties, and other year-end activities. My only complaint is that I don't have time to do everything San Diego has to offer. Here is a look at a few things we have been up to.We decided to go with a real tree from a farm. (Thanks to all who voted.) It was a fun experience to get all bundled up to go pick out our tree. It was about 50 degrees- brrrr!

Looks like Mitchell found the perfect tree. I have decided that I really like having a real tree. I think the one we got is gorgeous and it smells great too. I think we will stick with real trees, at least for now. It is somehow refreshing!

December in San Diego. It has actually gotten quite chilly in the evenings, but afternoons are still warm. Yes, warm enough for swimming suits.

We enjoyed a visit from our Orange County cousins and we went to see the lights at the San Diego temple. From left to right: Hillary, Owen, Lilly, Madison, Mitchell, and Angie.

Madison and Lilly really loved the life-size Nativity on the San Diego Temple grounds.

Go Cougars!

2007-12-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

We went as a family to see the BYU Cougars play football against San Diego State. It was a fun game. I think there were more Cougar fans than Aztec fans. BYU won, I don't think it was much of a contest. You can't see very well, but all of us are wearing BYU attire. Rah rah rah rah rah Gooooooo Cougars!

I thought Madison looked adorable with all of her accesories. She is really into clips, jewelry, head bands (obviously), curling her hair and other girly things. Also, it was quite a feat that she is wearing jeans in this picture. I can't remember the last time she wore pants before this time. She usually only wears dresses and skirts.

Ice Skating, once every 7 years

2007-11-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Eliot and I went on a date. We went ice skating and out to dinner. I planned the evening and I was sort of trying to recreate the night we got engaged. We were engaged over the Thanksgiving Holiday 7 years ago. Needless to say, my ice skating abilities have not approved over the last 7 years.

Here we are in Washington D.C. in November 2000. We went Ice Skating on the Mall (not to be confused with a shopping mall), with the Lincoln Memorial in view. The weather was freezing and Eliot ran all over the city to buy me a scarf, which I still have. We ice skated for awhile, it was my first time ice skating ever, and then Eliot took me to dinner at Occoquan Inn. A quaint little place serving fancy fare like duck and red snapper. It was delish! On our after dinner stroll Eliot popped the question and the rest is history.

Here we are 7 years later in Coronado, California, November 2007. We went ice skating at the Hotel Del which is a famous hotel right on the beach of the Pacific Ocean. The weather was chilly (for Southern California), but after a few minutes of ice skating we were ready to shed our winter coats and scarves. We could see the Pacific Ocean from the rink and hear the ocean waves. After ice skating, we dined at the Coronado Boathouse. Another quaint place with fancy food. It was fun to remember our engagement and relive it a little. Maybe in another 7 years we will try ice skating again.

Gobble, Gobble

2007-11-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

For our pre-Thanksgiving celebration we went to the San Diego Zoo with Melissa. We had a lot of fun and San Diego Zoo is truly the best zoo I have ever been too. It is beautiful and there are many animals to see. The weather was perfect that day. We had a great time!

Melissa had the idea to find animals in the zoo that resembled each other both in looks, sort of, and characteristics. Here is what we decided...

Eliot- Polar Bear

Angie- Meerkat

Melissa- Red Panda

Madison- Pink Flamingo

Mitchell- Swamp Monkey

It was really fun to compare personality traits with each other and try to figure out which animals we resembled.

Here is our group at the world famous San Diego Zoo. November 21, 2007.

Mitchell's First Haircut

2007-11-20T21:07:00.000-08:00

This actually took place several weeks ago, before the San Diego Fires, but I am just getting to it now. It took us awhile to get Mitchell's hair cut. We knew that it would make him look so grown up. We finally had it done and we were right, he does look like a little man now instead of a baby. I guess it is okay since he is now 18 months old.

BEFORE

AFTER

Think Happy Thoughts

2007-11-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

The kids definitely inherited Eliot's love for sweets. They are partial to chocolate, however, and not just candy. Sometimes I am amazed that they are even my children because they have inherited so many "Eliot" characteristics. I guess the Ward genes are dominant.

Madison and Mitchell loved going door-to-door in our neighborhood. They looked so cute together in the Peter Pan and Tinkerbell costumes.

It was truly a fun Halloween. The kids had a great time and thus Eliot and I did too.

Find a Pumpkin...

2007-10-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

The pumpkin patch we went to had all varieties of pumpkins. The bluish pumpkins were called Fairytale Pumpkins, so naturally Madison had to have one. Here she is with the pumpkin she picked out.

The other day Madison said "I wish that I could marry Mitchell." When Eliot asked her why she wanted to marry Mitchell she responded, "I don't know, because we love each other." It was really sweet. These two have such a fun time together!

Another "like father, like son" moment. Notice how hard Mitchell is concentrating and how he is sticking his tongue out. Eliot often does the same when he is deep in concentration. Mitchell was so cute because it looked like he believed he was pushing the wagon all by himself.

Fall Apple Picking

2007-10-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

We have been apple picking every fall for several years now. It is one of our favorite things to do together as a family. We spent the afternoon in Julian, California sampling apple cider, apple pie, and carmel apples. Then we got to work and picked our own apples at an orchard just outside of town. (sidenote: this area has been evacuated today due to wildfires. We are not threatened here, near the coast, but the air quality is extremely poor. The air is dark with smoke and particles.) We picked several bags full of apples and really enjoyed ourselves. This week we did many fun things with our apples. We ate them raw, we made applesauce, we used them as stamps to make art, and we also made Grandpa Jack's Favorite Applesauce Cookies- a personal favorite of mine too. I messed up the recipe so I had to double it and ended up making about 12 dozen cookies. I was baking all day, but I have enjoyed having the cookies around- maybe a little too much. I was wishing I could take several dozen to Grandpa so that he could enjoy them too. The cookies will always remind me of him and I have been thinking about him constantly. Apple picking was a fun way to bring in the fall as it always is.

Hawaii Top 11 on Angie's Camera

2007-10-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time on our trip to Hawaii. I am certainly one who loves to travel. I love seeing new places, meeting new people, tasting new food, hearing new sounds, and all around having new experiences. Special thanks to my husband who indulges my need for all types of travel. It was an awesome way to bring in our thirties. Here's to many more years and many more experiences to come!

1. Spending time with my honey! (In this picture we were at a black sand beach.)
2. Cruising on the road to Hana with the top down!
3. All kinds of waterfalls; short ones, tall ones, fat ones, skinny ones- all very neato. (Remember that song, "Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." What does that mean anyway? We were all about chasing waterfalls on this trip.

4. Hanging out with friends and family and getting some good grub while we were at it. More specifically, sushi and steak -yum!

5. Learning to Paddle Board and not falling once.

6. Being with Darl, Michelle, and Mitchell Gleed! They were so kind and extremely hospitable.

7. Finding exotic and secluded beaches. Notice the red sand. (Also of note, some of the beaches were so secluded that many people visiting them were scantily clad, I mean very scantily clad. In other words, a whole group of nudists showed up while we were at this beach. C'mon now, that ruins it for everybody, for real!)

8. Ocean view rooms at every stop. 9. Picking breakfast out of the backyard.

10. Seeing where those yummy mac nuts come from.
11. Kayaking through Kealakekua Bay where we saw hundreds of dolphins.
(This is the infamous bay where Captain James Cook was killed.)

Big Jud's... Just eat it!

2007-09-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, Natalie and I thought about making hamburgers this size years ago. We always talked about making our huge, 'bread bowl' hamburgers. I guess Big Jud got to it first. It wasn't necessarily how I wanted to be remembered anyway.

Madison and Nathan patiently waiting for the food.

Mitchell digging into the French Fries. Very good, especially with fry sauce.

I can't imagine trying to eat the whole thing myself. It was challenging enough to eat a quarter of it.

J.A.N. Sisters

2007-09-20T12:08:00.001-07:00

I have been feeling nostalgic all day because tomorrow I am turning 30 years old. This seemingly large number has given me pause and I have been reflecting on my past. As I was looking through all of my photo albums and scrapbooks I noticed a recurring theme. In every stage of my life I have pictures with two beautiful girls on either side of me, my sisters. So today, I am going to "throw it back" sister style and give tribute to my wonderful sisters. How lucky I am to be in the middle of such fabulous ladies. They have always been there for me through the good times and bad. I have always had my sisters by my side in every way and I will forever be grateful for that blessing in my life. I love you!

Geography Lesson

2007-09-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the opportunity to host a girl at our house from Moldova. I got a call on Thursday afternoon finding out that she needed a place to stay. Rodica told me that she was from Moldova and I hate to admit it, but I had no idea were that was. In my mind I was thinking it was "somewhere over there." Anyway, I have since learned that Moldova is located between the countries of Romania and Ukraine (see map). If you don't know where those countries are then you might need to brush up on some geography. Eliot, however, did know right where Moldova was and I was quite impressed. Afterall, he did serve a mission in Ukraine. In Moldova they speak Romanian, but also some Russian. Eliot was able to communicate well with Rodica because her Russian was better than her English. It was an interesting week with Rodica and kind of nice to have my own au pair for awhile. She helped me make dinner, watched the kids, cleaned, played with Madison and entertained Mitchell. Rodica did not really want to go home and Eliot said that he could understand why. The GDP in Moldova is US $381. Rodica did not have any opportunities to return home to. Eliot and I (mostly Eliot) convinced her to return home as she was considering staying even though her Visa was going to expire. She would have had a hard time making her way in the U.S. with no money, no connections and no papers. Rodica sent word that she is now back in Moldova safe and sound. I think it was fun for everyone to have a week of cultural exchange.

Madison Marie

2007-08-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

For my first Throwback Thursday I wanted to post some pictures of Madison from years past. The picture above is of Madison when we were living in San Francisco. I love this picture because Madison looks like a girl who knows what she wants and is ready to go out and get it. The picture below is of Madison on her second birthday. We had a little Strawberry Shortcake party with a few friends. Madison insisted on wearing her Elmo slippers to her party. Madison also had her first haircut on her second birthday. Before then, she really didn't have enough hair to cut. I am not one to get mushy at birthdays (okay except when we go around and say what we love about each other), but I have to admit I have been feeling a little sentimental about Madison as I have been looking at old pictures. I can't believe Madison will be four on Sunday. She is so grown up. Time really does fly whether you are having fun or not. I guess the point is to try and enjoy each moment while you can.

Biggest Loser

2007-08-29T00:50:00.000-07:00

Eliot and I are going to Hawaii in about 4 weeks. We are really looking forward to the trip. We decided to have a little weight challenge between the two of us. Whoever loses the most weight between now and Sunday, September 23rd, gets to spend a specified amount of money at our favorite beach/surf shop- Hansens. Hansens has an awesome selection of sandals (over 6,000 to choose from year round), beach attire, as well as other 'must have' beach accessories. It is the perfect place to shop before a trip to Hawaii. The winner will be able to buy some fun things for our vacation. I am determined to win, but I think Eliot is also determined to win. Eliot likes Hansens more than I do. I just wanted to make the competition official by posting the details to my blog. May the biggest loser win and win big!

A day at the park, everyday!

2007-08-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

We have been going to the park just about everyday. Madison rides her bike and I pull Mitchell along in the wagon. We play for awhile and then have snacks under the shade of a tree. It has been great fun for me and the kids. It is so nice to have a park within walking distance. I see that a park within close proximity to our next home is a "must-have."

Churrascuria

2007-08-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

Dining in Old Town San Diego. An all-you-can-eat-meat Brazilian restaurant.

"Vegetarian is an old Indian word for bad hunter."

Brian indicating that we want more meat! Thanks for traveling south for a visit.

The restaurant was called Rei Do Gado Churrascuria. How do you pronounce that Dave? We had a blast with Julie and Dave while they were San Diego. Thanks for coming!

Feed the Birds

2007-08-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

Madison and Lilly feeding the ducks.

Mitchell feeding himself.
Some for me, some for the ducks, some for me...

Nice throw Madison!

Princess Maddy

2007-08-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

Madison turns four in one week. I can hardly believe how big she has gotten. We are having a Garden Birthday party on Saturday. I am really looking forward to throwing Madison a big party. She is super excited and very much looking forward to a party with friends, cupcakes, balloons, and flowers! She made this hat at her a preschool summer camp. If you ask me, I think her hat outshines all of the hats at the Del Mar races.

Cousins!

2007-08-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is a classic cousins picture. I think we will all look
back, cousins included, and cherish this photo and the
time of life when it was taken. -04August2007

From left to right: Madison (3), Mitchell (14 mos.), Clark (4),
Joel (15 mos.), Kate (6), and JJ (1).

Maddy Crocker

2007-08-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

Madison is the best little helper ever. She loves to help with anything and everything, including but not limited to laundry, cleaning the bathrooms, picking up toys, and cooking. Here she is helping me make Cherry Cheesecake Cupcakes. They were really yummy by the way! How lucky I am to have such a sweet and helpful little girl.

Baller

2007-08-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

He poses... He makes his move... He shoots... He scores!

Mitchell loves to play basketball, not only basketball but anything that involves putting a circular object into some type of container-- it doesn't matter what exactly. It is amazing how much he adores sport-like activities at such a young age. He is also really into to clapping right now. He loves it when we clap for him and he loves to show us how good he is at clapping himself.

Summertime...

2007-07-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Swinging

Eating Sweets

Building Sandcastles

Playing at the Beach

More Cruising in San Diego

2007-07-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

While Jennie and Mike were in town visiting we went on a dinner cruise on the San Diego Bay. It was a yummy dinner complete with dancing and a fireworks show. It was a fun way to celebrate Mike and Jennie's 10-year anniversary. Wow!

Lego Tribute

2007-07-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

We took this picture at Legoland in front of a Volvo XC90 made from 201,076 Lego bricks. The Lego Volvo is hollow and weighs 2,930 pounds. It took 3 Lego designers 2 1/2 months to make it. We took this picture for you mom.

Cousins in a Line

2007-07-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hey cousins- does this picture remind you of the good ol' days and our cousins pictures? We are trying to keep the "cousins in a line" picture tradition going. From left to right: Nathan, Danny, Maddy, Ryan, Mitch, Lydia, and Wes. The much needed helpers are me, Mike and Natalie.

Independence Day

2007-07-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a few quick snapshots from our Fourth of July extravaganza. We watched the fireworks from Mt. Soledad where you can see all of San Diego in 360 degrees. It was perfect for the kids because they didn't have hear the loud booming sounds but could still see some fancy fireworks. Madison even said, "I didn't even know that there were fireworks like these ones--these aren't scary fireworks." Needless to say, a good time was had by all and we were fortunate enough to have the Dildine family celebrating with us! Old Glory
Mommy and Mitch
Ryan and Maddy
Mike, Eliot, and little Liddy

"Hallowed be the day, forever bright its memory in the heart of the Nation. Sing to it, poets; shout to it, freemen; celebrate it with bonfires, parades, and triumphant assemblies"
(Daily Alta California, 4 July 1855).

Bodies the Exhibition

2007-07-15T01:36:00.001-07:00

For our date night on Friday, Eliot and I went to view Bodies the Exhibition.

It was a great exhibit! I was a bit nervous going into it because I didn't know quite what to expect. There was no need to be nervous and I wasn't grossed out at all. Except for the the skin part, that was kind of creepy. It was fascinating to see all of the systems of our body and how amazing and complex they are. I would highly recommend the exhibit if you have the opportunity. It was super informative and left me feeling so blessed for our bodies, our greatest asset! PS- I got to touch and hold a real brain. It sounds wierd but it was actually very interesting.

Some Fun Body Facts:

-Most of the dust in our homes comes from dead skin cells. (Okay, that is not so fun.)

-Each square inch of human skin consists of twenty feet of blood vessels.

-Every square inch of the human body has an average of 32 million bacteria on it. (I could have done without that info!)

-Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell.

-Every drop of blood in your body travels through your heart at least once per minute.

-The heart circulates the body's blood supply about 1,000 times each day.

-The lungs are the only organ in the body that can float on water.

-It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. (Save energy, Smile more!)

-Every person has a unique tongue print.

-Only 1 in every 8 bodies donated to science is female.

We had kind of a marathon date yesterday and after the Bodies Exhibit we shopped at Nordstrom. (Eliot got some cool new duds that he looks super fly in.) We had discussed sushi for dinner, but Eliot had lost his appetite for comsuming fleshy things so we opted for Greek. We then saw Transformers the movie, which was interesting to contrast with Bodies. I mean, the Transformers ARE "more than meets the eye" AND I will admit the special effects in the movie were pretty amazing. But can the Transformers compare to our bodies? Of course not, no comparison. Not to mention, Transformers don't really exist. Kind of an odd comparison, but I couldn't help but think about our amazing bodies as I watched the Transformer film. I don't as a policy recommend movies, but I will say that I was pleasantly suprised by Transformers.

Happy Children

2007-07-13T00:35:00.000-07:00

Everytime my mom's birthday came around, or mother's day, or any special occasion that warranted a gift I would always ask my mom what she wanted. She would always reply "happy children." I would usually walk away disappointed because that was not something that could be easily gift wrapped. Now that I am a mom I realize that that is often my greatest wish too. I am certainly the happiest, most content, and at peace with the world when I see that my children are happy. That is why I like these carefree pictures of Madison. Plus, she's got some awesome moves!

Madison had gone to the Botanical Gardens that day with her best friend Sydney. They potted plants and tie-dyed napkins for an art project. That is the colorful thing she is holding in the picture. When I was younger, much younger, my best friend, Jessica Smith, and I tie-dyed napkins and tried to sell them door to door in our neighborhood. I had to chuckle about that memory. Eliot was so proud to hear that I was such a bold salesperson at such a young age. I don't think we sold many napkins, if any at all. (I do think one person bought a napkin just because they felt sorry for us.). And they were only a quarter a piece- go figure!

me in one word

2007-07-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

I tag Hankstown, both Natalie and Brian, and Eliot.

1. Where is your cell phone? nightstand
2. Relationship? married
3. Your hair? brown
4. Work? constantly
5. Your sister? thoughtful
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? short
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream car? unnessary
10. The room you’re in? bedroom
11. Your shoes? flip-flops
12. Your fears? underachieving
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? happy
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Dildines
15. What are you not good at? stopping
16. Muffin? scone
17. One of your wish list items? house
18. Where you grew up? Puyallup
19. Last thing you did? talk
20. What are you wearing? pajamas
21. What aren’t you wearing? jewelry
22. Your pet? never
23. Your computer? notebook
24. Your life? busy
25. Your mood? anxious
26. Missing? cleaning lady
27. What are you thinking about right now? everything
28. Your car? dream-car
29. Your kitchen? small
30. Your summer? ideal
31. Your favorite color? green
32. Last time you laughed? forgotten
33. Last time you cried? weeks
34. School? more
35. Love? eliot
36. Name? angie

Beach Bum

2007-07-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

I can't so much as take one step outside our house before someone stops to tell me how adorable Mitchell is. I admit, I couldn't agree more. He is such a cutie and has such a dynamic personality. Here is our little surfer boy playing at the beach and obviously having a great time!

Me and my new niece and nephew!

2007-07-12T00:40:00.000-07:00

Aunt Angie with Miss Lydia May and Wesley Brian aka 007. I am a very proud aunt. What cute kids! Thank you sisters for having such precious babies.

Cruising in San Diego

2007-07-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Meet my new beach cruiser bike BJ (Bum Jumper). Eliot surprised me and bought me my very own pink bike. We cruised up and down the coast from Pacific Beach to Mission Beach and then back again. We parked our bikes, sat on a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean and watched the sunset. We then rode our bikes to a restaurant and ate some very delicious sushi. It was a perfect evening.