My friend Amanda and I met up at the mall with our girls. The girls love to go to Rainforest Cafe! They were playing in the photo booth and Amanda started to get some money out to let the girls take pictures. I was thinking that it would be a waste of money and then Amanda said something about making a fun memory and she was so right. I love these pictures! Noelle loves looking at them and commenting on all of Audrey's faces. So cute.

Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

While on the topic of what things my kids will eat or not eat - whenever I make this soup they both eat so much of it. Natalie is a really good eater so far but still picky when it comes to vegetables. Noelle is a little pickier and then has her allergies to milk and wheat so its a little more difficult. (We hope that by four she'll be able to eat them). But they love this soup and eat everything in it. I'm considering making it once a week :).

1 lb or more Stew Meat
1 can diced tomatoes
5 cups water
3 beef bouillon cubes (I substitute a box of broth and less water)
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 onions, sliced
3 celery ribs, sliced
3 carrots, sliced
½ tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 ½ cups your choice of frozen vegetables (I usually add green beans and peas for sure and then whatever else I can find in my freezer).
1. Combine first 3 ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on High 6 hours.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on High 2 hours or more, or until meat and vegetables are tender.

Super Smoothies!

Noelle has really started to love making and drinking smoothies with me. We have one of those hand blenders and a big plastic cup and we make them multiple times a week. My cousin Lindsay gave me some ideas of what to put inside them and it makes for such a healthy treat. I thought I'd share our ingredients to add to the ones you may use and would love any recommendations.

Smoothie:
Vanilla Soy Yogurt
Juice (usually Apple)
Tofu (a big chunk of soft)
Flax seed (approx. 1 Tbsp ground)
Frozen Spinach (approx. 2 Tbsp)
Frozen Strawberries (handful)
Banana (half)
We experiment with all sorts of different frozen fruits along with strawberries (peaches, mango, blueberries, etc.)
Honey (approx. 2 tsp)
We just started adding a little frozen Acai (too much is too sour).

You can't taste any of the healthy stuff and the tofu actually gives it a really great thickness. They taste so good!
I wasn't really ready for Natalie to start drinking them (they have so many things I hadn't tried with her yet) but she wanted that cup so bad. I put it in the middle of the coffe table one day so she couldn't reach it. I went out of the room only to come back and find her sitting in the middle of the table downing that smoothie as fast as possible. She had found a nearby object to climb up on. She quickly looked up to see that I saw her and tried to keep drinking as fast as she could. So she joins in the fun now too.
Like Lindsay, we use those cool cups from the Disney store and just put our own straws in them.

Birthday Girls

We partied...opened presents...played instruments (my dad got Noelle a drumset)...

Bap Bap and Natalie did "Ta das" (little flips)...

Noelle was thrilled with her new twirly skirts and showed them off...she has three on in the picture...

Noelle was in to her presents as you can see...

Wow, I can't believe that an entire year has gone by since Natalie was born. And of course I can't imagine life without her. She is such a joy! It is so funny to see how she toddles around the house with a big grin looking for fun. I love when she comes running for me and buries her head in my shoulder, kicking her legs. My favorite thing she says, is "Ohwell" (for Noelle and in a high voice mimicking me call for her).

And Noelle, now my big girl. She is such a sweetheart. It looks like we are finally getting potty training on a right track (we'll see). It seems as though being three brings some ups and downs emotionally for her as she tries to figure life out but it also brings new interests and new abilities. It is so fun to see her get excited about new things.

Here are some pictures from their birthday party at the park. We had a really great day. I always wish that I had more time with my adult guests at the end of the day. I guess that I need to accept that birthdays are for the kids or maybe brainstorm some new birthday party options, like my friend Carly talked about on her blog (Pray Family).

Thanks to all of you who came and celebrated with us!

Easter

Grandma Julie came down for Easter weekend. It was a great weekend. We really enjoyed time with Grandma and celebrating together. Julie, my mom and I went to Rock Harbor's Good Friday service and I am always so moved, reflecting on His death. Saturday Ryan and I celebrated my birthday by going to Glen Ivy Hot Springs- woo hoo!!!!! Sunday was great enjoying church and easter eggs. Noelle still only cares about finding an egg and quickly emptying it's contents into her mouth. Maybe next year she'll actually be interested in the "hunt". Natalie just walked around pointing, mimicking mommy.

Twirl

Noelle has entered the "twirling" phase. She wants to wear a skirt or dress "that twirls" everyday. Natalie has picked up on it and this morning she began to twirl when I put a dress on her but it was too big so I took it off and she cried. I put another one on and off she went. This video was from a few days ago.

My Loves!

I have really enjoyed having this new camera. We went down to the beach on a random Monday night when Ryan got home from work. The girls just love being outside and running around.


I know so little about photography or lighting but it sure seemed like we caught it at a good time. Little Nat is so photogenic. Noelle on the other hand can only bear to standstill and look at the camera for a quick second and then she's off. I'm sure Nat will be that way soon.

I feel as though I am coming out of the fog that is pregancy and newborns. Don't get me wrong it is an absolutely wonderful time of life but not a time that I feel fully present or myself. Lately, I have been really enjoying the girls and my husband. Thankful that seasons change and for this one right now. Also thankful that God uses every season for its purpose and for good.


I love my family.

HAPPY EASTER!

Road Racing World

I've been meaning to post this for months! My brother works for Road Racing World magazine and had a story written on him. Great pictures huh?! Click on picture to read article.

More Wedding Pictures!

Noelle and her cousin Brooke with extended family: Natalie and Abby. So cute!

Me, Lindsay and Sarah

My brother and Sarah

Married!

My Family

Sarah's Wedding

My cousin Sarah is now Mrs. Adam Newcomb. She got married at the Mission Inn in Riverside March 22nd. The wedding was wonderful and Sarah was gorgeous! I was a bridesmaid and Noelle was a flower girl. She looked so sweet.

Noelle and I talked over what she was supposed to do a bunch of times but I knew the waiting up at the altar would be a little tricky. So, she headed down the aisle dropping her petals but when she got to the end, she had more petals in her basket so she headed back down the opposite way. I saw my mom at the end and thought, "Oh good, now my mom will take her away," and then, "Oh no, she's sending her back down the aisle!" So Noelle stood at the front and then stepped over Sarah's dress to come stand by me and then I was able to send her back down after the prayer. Then I'm up there and here her say, "Hi Bap Bap" and then a little while later, "It's Uncle Brian (who was standing in the back and she spotted him)." And then to my relief I watched her and my dad exit the bldg.

It was making me very anxious and I kept looking at my Aunt's face, wondering if she was annoyed. But everyone's eyes were fixed on Sarah and Adam's eyes were brimming with tears. I think we always knew Sarah was meant to be a bride and the whole night she was just radiating! And fortunately, her love of children and all that they do, made me know she will enjoy Noelle's antics in the video down the road :).

SWEETNESS

FRIENDS!

My 10 girlfriends from college got together a couple of weekends ago for a double baby shower. In the afternoon I hosted a baby shower for Kelly Arreola who is expecting a baby boy, Jack, in May. We had a fiesta themed party complete with Sopes, Margaritas and a Pinata. We always enjoy being together. It was so wonderful that the girls, coming from all over the state, could all be here. Their company always refreshes me and warms my heart. Just seeing their faces does me good.

That night we had a meet the baby shower for Erica, my dearest friend, matron of honor and roommate for 3 years in college. It was so great to finally meet sweet Elena. She is absolutely precious

I was too busy to take more pictures!

Noelle and Natalie starting to play... hooray!

The past couple of days the girls have started to up the interaction to what is starting to look much more like PLAY. It is super cute. Today, Natalie walked up to Noelle and gave her a hug it was so adorable.

Noelle is a really great big sister and although she sometimes frustrates Natalie, 9 times out of 10 she is doing something really thoughtful for her. I'm really proud of her. I pray that whatever the childhood years bring that they will have a lasting friendship and can encourage one another throughout adulthood.

There really isn't much better in this world than a baby belly laugh! Enjoy!

The Girls at 9 Months!

Tanya and Sterling

When we lived in Fresno and I worked at Patio Cafe, I met two very dear friends, Amber and Tanya. Amber lives in Clovis and Tanya now lives in Maryland. Tanya, her little boy Sterling, and one on the way came to visit us a couple of weeks ago. It was so great to have some time with them. Natalie and Sterling seems to have similar interests :).

Thanks for coming guys! Now we just have to make it out to Annapolis!

Sarah's Breakfast at Tiffany's Shower

The Cousins: Me, Sarah and Lindsay

The Sisters: Diana, Kelly and Julie

My cousin Sarah is getting married in a month and so we had a beautiful family shower in Murrieta. Sarah is a big Audrey Hepburn fan and so the theme seemed fitting. My mom, after years of being an activities director at Newport Harbor, definitely went above and beyond to make a great ambiance. Sarah seemed to really enjoy it.