The Baggetts

Bringing in the New Year

2012-01-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

What can I say, Savannah never disappoints. Ever.

We chose the days leading up to the New Year to explore the town and

I enjoyed every minute with my family.

Leanna and I were able to escape for a bit and peruse the shops downtown

including the Paris Market, of course!

Oh, I must give credit to my lovely sister Leanna for taking all the

wonderful pics that I stole from her blog! Thanks!

Christmas this year

2012-01-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was truly magical!

Family, good food, presents and laughter were all accounted for as we celebrated the season of giving.

We spent time with Charlie's family for Christmas Eve and spent Christmas night with my sister's family in Atlanta. I got everything I wanted and needed for this Christmas and I couldn't be happier.

I am very grateful for my Savior this season. I am grateful for the trials this last year, the growth that was experienced and the joy and blessings that followed. I am closer to my Savior, closer to the scriptures, closer to my husband and closer to my child.

I hope everyone had a memorable Christmas this year!

holiday baking

2011-12-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

Is there anything better than holiday baking?

The mixing, the rolling, the cutting, the baking and the decorating!

I have been using this same great sugar cookie recipe for years now and if any of you are prepared for hours of kitchen labor, here's the recipe...

Sugar COOKIES

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla with a hand mixer.

Make sure to SIFT the flour, baking powder, and salt and hand mix the entire mixture.

Cover and chill overnight.

p.s the harder the dough the easier it is to roll out.

Now, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out dough on floured surface. Use the flour liberally on your hands and rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking. Cut into shapes and place one inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

p.s I always set the timer for five minutes and usually the cookies are perfectly soft.

Some ovens need to bake one minute longer but I wouldn't exceed 6 minutes or they will burn!!!

the tree is up!

2011-12-14T06:07:00.000-08:00

We have been busy, busy, busy the last week 1/2 which contributed to the lack of attention on my blog!

We were asked to watch a family for a week and we had a fabulous time! Going from a family of 3 to a family of 7 was quite the event as we drove kids to seminary, mutual, school, piano lessons and dance lessons. Little Charlie loved having 4 additional siblings for a week and had so much fun with them.

On a holiday note,

the tree is up, the ornaments are dangling and

we are counting down days till Christmas!

weekend plans

2011-12-02T05:57:00.001-08:00

[image]

We have a few plans for the weekend which include...

getting a Christmas tree

holiday decorating

visiting with Leanna and Azzie

some holiday shopping

doing some laundry of course!

visiting St. Nick

2011-11-29T18:55:00.001-08:00

We went to an outdoor mall in Louisiana and had to visit Santa, of course!

All the cousins crowded around Santa and voiced their Christmas wishes.

It was the perfect family activity for the day after Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T11:16:00.001-08:00

...this picture sums it right up!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family.

Little C loved playing with his cousins as they danced, watched movies, played wii, played in the backyard and ate treats together. Makes me wish they lived closer to us.

It was a crazy Thanksgiving with our family as well as a few families from Luke's ward, just like the Thanksgivings I remembered from my childhood!

I feel so grateful for my family, they bring so much happiness in my life!

our weekend

2011-11-21T07:13:00.001-08:00

Our weekend was full of colored pencils and coloring books.

We spent time with family eating home cooked meals, playing monopoly deal (of course), and watching LOST after the little one fell asleep.

Yes, the hubs and I got his mom and brother into the show and it's so fun watching it over again!

It was a nice weekend and we are looking forward to our Thanksgiving holiday with my family in a few days! I love this time of year!

the end of our day includes...

2011-11-18T07:09:00.001-08:00

barnum's animal crackers

2011-11-17T05:38:00.000-08:00

Charlie III eats animal crackers because...

a. he loves animals

b. he loves sugar

and

c. he loves snacks

puzzles

2011-11-16T05:52:00.001-08:00

We went to a toddler story time yesterday and enjoyed every minute!

We read books, sang and danced, watched a short movie and made a craft.

Quite eventful for a story time!

Charlie usually can't wait to get to the children's section in the library where

he can play with the wooden puzzles afterward. He is pulling me all the way to the small tables to get first dibs on the puzzles! He means business when it comes to puzzles!

I'm getting some ideas for Christmas, I love Melissa and Doug puzzles as well as these vintage puzzles!

plans for Thanksgiving

2011-11-14T05:55:00.001-08:00

image

This year we will spend time with family in Louisiana for Thanksgiving!

Little Charlie will see all of his cousins on the Dellenbach side which include Ella, Logan, Lydia and of course, Azzie. I'm looking forward to cooking, baking and shopping with my momma and sisters!

visiting The Biltmore

2011-11-09T05:22:00.000-08:00

We visited the beautiful Biltmore Estate yesterday.

The estate is nestled in the hills of Ashville, NC with lush landscaping,

lakes and large pastures for horses and cows.

We had a great time touring the home, even though the little one had enough after the first hour!

We stopped by the market cafe for lunch and finished the tour of the basement and outdoor gardens.

Such a great experience to take a peak into the lives of the Vanderbuilt family.

stop for cocoa

2011-11-08T04:38:00.000-08:00

We made it to Greenville, SC yesterday afternoon and have loved every minute here.

We settled into our apartment and joined the in-laws for dinner at Trio and hot cocoa at Starbucks.

We walked around downtown the rest of the evening before stopping by the grocery store to stock up on some food. I love the downtown feel here and all the nice people we run into.

Everyone seems so happy here, a lot of laughs and smiles being exchanged from strangers.

The "South" is a special place indeed.

weekend plans

2011-11-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

I"m looking forward to a relaxing weekend before we head to South Carolina for a few days!

Remember last year? Can't wait to visit downtown again!

October birthdays

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

:: October birthday boys... Charlie (Oct. 25th), Jon (Oct. 22nd) ::

:: the wee ones playing with grandma and grandpa ::

:: Charles Sr. and Charles III ::

:: Moira with baby Rylan ::

party for Charlie

2011-11-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Little Charlie's birthday on General Conference Sunday. It was simple, simple, simple!

We invited our family, good friends Mitch and Angie and even had the ward missionaries over!

We had my chili, Becca's cornbread (which I need to get the recipe), Leanna's spinach salad and plenty of dessert for everyone! We ended the night opening gifts and playing the Dellenbach favorite... NAME game!!

I am so thankful for this child of light in my life. He makes me so, so happy and I love him dearly.

trick or treat

2011-11-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

How cute is Little Charlie in his costume?!

I had big plans to make him a darling magician costume, but let's face it, he really wanted to be a dinosaur/dragon! Since he's really into animals lately it was a perfect fit!

Hope you all had a HaPpY Halloween!

haircut

2011-10-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Can I just say how wonderful it is to have a hairdresser in the family!

I was taking notes on how she was cutting his hair and I must say, I have done it all wrong for the last 2 years!!

My poor son!

one year older

2011-10-25T06:52:00.000-07:00

last year

Happy Birthday to my hubby, Charles Owen Baggett Jr.

I have spent the last 4 years on this day with you!

You are so special and I appreciate every thing you do.

You are strong, happy, teachable, humble, forgiving and such a wonderful husband and father!

I love you Char and hope this day is special!

chili cook-off

2011-10-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

Since chili cook-offs are right around the corner for your ward trunk-or-treat or work Halloween party,

I thought I would share this great recipe!

I have incorporated a few chili recipes I found online and now I would like to introduce my chili recipe!

Chili ingredients:

2 lbs. ground beef

1/2 onion, chopped

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

2 small cans tomato sauce

1 (8 oz.) jar mild PACE picante salsa

1 chili seasoning mix packet

2 (15 oz.) cans dark red kidney beans, drained

1 (15 oz.) can light red kidney beans, drained

2 (15 oz.) cans chili beans, left in sauce

Directions:

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the ground beef and the onion and saute for 10 minutes, or until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain grease, if desired.

Add the ground black pepper, garlic salt, tomato sauce, salsa, chili seasoning mix and beans. Mix well, reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour. Serves 8 people.

ENJOY!

cousins

2011-10-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

I love when my sister Leanna and her daughter Azzie come over to play!

The kids played and played while Leanna and I made a delicious homemade chili, I will have to share the recipe in another post! It is always a treat to talk with Leanna, she is so level-headed and so inspiring. She is such a GREAT little big sister and I love her.

plans for the weekend!

2011-10-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

image

Our plans:

- spend time with Grandpa Baggett

- attend stake conference

- hopefully visit a local pumpkin patch!

I heart FALL

2011-10-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

:: little Charlie eating waffles for breakfast this morning ::

:: Our view from the breakfast table ::

I love how Georgia has SO many trees and they are all changing colors right now.

I also love having the large pond in the back, it adds to the serenity.

Happy Thursday from beautiful Georgia!

costumes

2011-10-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

image

I have been searching all over Martha Stewart for a cute costume to make for little Charlie.

I still have no clue what to do.

Maybe I will whip up something last minute, like last year and the year before!

this morning

2011-10-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Ten minutes ago little Charlie and I had a sticker war!

I lost, if you couldn't tell!

Charlie's house

2011-10-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Do you see this little boy?

His name is Charlie and he is 2 years old.

He(we) has completely taken over my in-laws home, and here is proof!

After taking these pictures tonight, I realized this is not just my in-law's house anymore, it's little Charlie's house! Since living here in Georgia, he likes to play with his cars on their hard wood floors, have art lessons in their kitchen, have his toy basket set up in their family room and loves to leave toys in random places! Such is the life of my 2 year old boy.

birthday boy

2011-09-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

Another year has come and gone and my little boy is now...

2!!!

Charlie is such a sweet, sweet boy.

He loves babies and likes kissing them on the cheek.

He loves his cousin Azzie and wants to be with her every day.

He loves reading books and going to story-time at the library.

He loves to dance.

He loves to cuddle with mommy.

He loves running around at the park with his dad.

He loves his Grandparents. So. Much.

He loves playing the drums with Uncle Nate.

He loves having his own hymn book at church.

He loves eating spaghetti or any pasta for that matter.

I will stop here, since it's a long list!

afternoon in the square

2011-09-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

the kids taking the shopping carts for a whirl in the toy shop!

Yesterday, my sister Leanna and her daughter Azzie came out to my neck of the woods for the afternoon!

I really wanted to show her the Historic Marietta square which is full of antique shops, bakeries, specialty shops, restaurants and a cute park in the middle of the square.

The kids just wanted to run around and play the whole time so after walking through a few antique shops we headed to a toy shop called Lizards and Lollipopz. The kids were pushing the little shopping carts for about 30 minutes, thankfully no other shoppers were in the shop because these kids took it over!!

We had so much fun playing at the park and I especially loved spending time with my sister.

I am so, so, so, so, so thankful she is here in Georgia and our kids can be best friends again!

Labor Day weekend

2011-09-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

Charlie helping Grandpa get the boat ready!

wonderful Tybee Island!

small pool we swam in while at the beach.

We spent our Labor Day in beautiful Savannah! Charlie's parents invited us to go on this last minute rendezvous and I'm so happy we went! I didn't have my camera most of the time so these pics sum up our weekend! We spent time downtown shopping, eating, watching fireworks, went to Tybee Island to swim, took a quick boat trip to Hilton Head Island for an afternoon, and spent a lot of time playing monopoly deal at the house! It was the perfect weekend getaway with great company!

Charlie's graduation

2011-09-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

My husband graduated! What an accomplishment.

{ mother and son }

the boys are laughing, like always!

graduation dinner at CPK

Charlie with his Aunt Reba

Charlie's graduation ceremonies were wonderful. My favorite part was a moment when a speaker asked the graduates to stand if they served a mission, knew a second language, were married, graduating with honors, graduating with a masters degree, graduating with a doctorate, etc.

Each time the speaker asked a question fewer and fewer people stood up.

Then the last question to the graduates was if they had entered the highest degree in college,

parenthood.

My husband stood proudly and I smiled at him.

Tears rolled down my face and hit the floor fast as I realized what we had done.

We had a child in college. We entered parenthood in college.

Perhaps parenthood wouldn't be presented as the highest degree in college at any other university besides BYU, but I am grateful it was acknowledged.

Parenthood is hard, in or out of college.

But, parenthood is extremely rewarding, in or out of college.

Knowing that my father finished his undergraduate degree from BYU with a wife and three toddlers is enough motivation to know that any thing is possible with children.

It's great what you can take from a graduation ceremony! I am so grateful for my husband and his strong love for education. I know he will do great things with what he has learned.

saying goodbye, part 2

2011-09-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

Me, Kenyle Hakes, Sis. Stone (advisor), Genny Barrett, and Kamille Fox

My Relief Society presidency for the summer of 2011.

I thought I was going to be released in May but with our ward switching stakes and splitting, my Bishop asked that I stay in for a few months to help with the transformation. I am so glad I had another chance to serve my ward in this capacity. I was even luckier to work with some amazing women too!

My presidency helped make the transformation go smoothly and we grew a lot in the few short months we served together. I believe Heavenly Father sent these women in my life at the right time and I'm forever grateful.

We had a goodbye dinner at Gloria's Little Italy in downtown Provo and had a great time!

We got to talk about things other than our Relief Society, so that was a nice change!

I miss these girls so much and miss all the sisters in our married student ward.

I am so grateful for the time I had to be in a married student ward and I will always cherish the days in Provo!

saying goodbye part 1

2011-09-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

I met up with my best friend Michelle at Gardner Village a week before we moved.

It was fun to browse through shops and window shop for an entire afternoon. We sat by the pond while our kiddies ate their lunch and watched the ducks swim by.

I already miss Michelle so much. We have been best friends since my junior year of high school. We roomed together for 2 years in college and were each others bridesmaids. It's fun that we're moms together and I'm so glad we spent one last time together before I headed to Georgia.

I love you Michelle!!

update from the South!

2011-08-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

We made it to Georgia last week and are settling in slowly but surely.
Little Charlie and his cousin are peas and carrots since reuniting and it feels good to see those two playing again.
My sister Leanna and her family live right outside of Atlanta and we have seen them 3 times already! We love living by family! We went to a family BBQ on Saturday night and had a family dinner on Sunday night!
We attended our new ward with the in-laws last week and the members were very warm and welcoming. There were several moms that came up to me following Sacrament meeting getting my name and number to invite me to mommy playgroups. We feel very loved here and very comfortable in our new town and ward.

creamy tomato soup

2011-08-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is hands down, the best tomato soup I have EVER had!
Plus, the little one slurps it right up.
Isn't he getting so big eating with a spoon!
It is on the pricier side, but I figure I can serve it for dinner one night
and serve the leftovers for lunch the next day!

I serve it with some grated Parmesan cheese on top and viola!!

moving right along

2011-08-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

favorite pastime lately
(I think the pictures show what I'm referring to!)

and he falls over!!

he wasn't too happy

love my mischievous little boy!

Did I mention we are moving?
Ah yes, moving.
Isn't moving splendid? Perhaps for those that are fortunate enough to have someone else pack up their lives.
But really, we have been taking our merry ole' time packing and doing quite a good job at that. My husband is very organized and I am warming up slowly but surely to his style and professional attempt to packing.
Charlie will take off an afternoon to devote his time to packing every thing perfectly.
While I, look for any 2 minutes or 30 seconds to spare and throw baby clothes and shoes into boxes.
See the difference?
Actually, we have been working together this last week and it has made all the difference.
Little Charlie's newborn to 2 year clothes are all packed into old diaper and wipes boxes, neatly labeled and sealed for shipment. Well, not really shipment but sort of.
Today, we opened the garage and began sifting through things we haven't used in 3 years.
Since living in my Aunt Maureen's home, we haven't had to use our wedding presents at all. Dishes, eating utensils, can openers, blenders, every thing we needed was in her kitchen.

We are about 2/3 packed which is looking good. We have 2 more weeks before we head to the South! Georgia that is!
I am beyond thrilled to move to Georgia. I LOVE Georgia. Even more, we will live close to all of Charlie's family! Plus, my sister Leanna and her family will be there too!
Things are looking up and things are moving right along!

the Graduate!

2011-07-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

[ the graduate ]

[ me and my baby ]

[ the graduate with mom and pops ]

[ the graduate and sisters ]
By the way, my baby sister Katie is pregnant!!! She's 16 weeks along!

[ side shot ]

[ convocation in the Hart building ]

[ receiving my BYU-Idaho diploma ]

[ my beautiful family, how I love them so. ]

[ So glad my husband caught this candid shot, this is the perfect representation of how I felt. ]

Well folks, I graduated!
My husband, little Charlie, my parents, Leanna, Ernesto, Azaliea, Jeremy and Katie came up to Rexburg to show their support. Commencement was in the new BYU-Idaho Center and it was quite the experience. President Kim B. Clark presided and shared a short talk to the graduates. I was so overwhelmed with emotions during that commencement ceremony.
Tears were in my eyes the entire time as I listened to the
beautiful musical numbers and the talks.

The most important thing I took away from graduation was the confirmation that God loves me. I felt His love the entire time and it lingered with me the rest of the night. I felt so special.

I am so grateful for the family and friends that helped me get to this point.
I am grateful for the many prayers that have been answered this last year.
I am so grateful for my husband who was the most supportive person in this process.
Lastly, I am grateful for my Mom going back to college with 5 kids(3 teenagers, 1 in middle school and 1 in elementary school), you are my greatest example!

class of 2011

2011-07-18T13:07:00.001-07:00

I can't believe this is really happening! My husband and I are graduating very soon!
Luckily we are graduating within a month of each other and could
send one announcement out to all our family and close friends.
That probably saved us a few bucks.
My family is coming up to Idaho for my graduation this Friday and
Charlie's family will come for his graduation in August.
I can't wait to see everyone!

Family pictures at Lake Norconian

2011-07-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

My talented cousin Lyndzee, of EPlove took our family photos at the beautiful Lake Norconian.
Many people don't know about this lake and resort nestled in Norco because it is now a prison and naval weapons base! Who would have thought?!
It was a glamorous resort for movie stars in the late 1920s and you can check out this site for more details. It was truly breathtaking.

When Charlie and I first got engaged I had a crazy idea about having my reception in the pavilion located right behind this last picture. We would have row boats available at the boat house but then I found out it would be impossible to get 300+ guests through the gates without background checks and i.d's! Believe me, I looked into it.
Luckily my older brother Luke is in the air force and was able to work his magic for our family to get in for family pictures. Plus it was Father's day so they were extra nice to us!

the carousel

2011-06-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

Little Charlie loved, loved, loved the carousel.
There's something about rides that go around in circles that just get to him.
He also loved dumbo, casey jr., little mermaid ride, pirates and the tiki room.

Disneyland

2011-06-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

Little Charlie with his Grandpa Greg

fun in the tiki room with my sissies!

we had to eat at pizza port... it's tradition!

We spent 3 days at Disneyland and California Adventure.
Little Charlie was such a good boy for us. He loved going on rides that went in circles like dumbo and the carousel. He stayed pretty quiet on the other rides and just watched his cousin Azaliea go crazy with excitement. He's just a mellow kid, which I love.
Little Charlie loved eating the pineapple whip by the tiki room and drinking cold water from my water bottle. He took a nap right at 12:00 and woke up around 2:00 which gave me and my husband time to go on rides together.
We had such a great time and I think little Charlie enjoyed getting to know his cousins more.

that family of mine...

2011-06-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

became one of those families that wear matching shirts to Disneyland!
But really, they were awesome shirts that Ernesto designed and it helped spotting the family amongst the thousands at the park. Soon, we were comparing our shirts to other family reunion shirts and felt pretty confident that we had the best design!! One of my favorite parts of our trip was getting little Charlie's silhouette done.
This is a long tradition of the Dellenbachs. My Granny got silhouettes for her children, my parents got silhouettes for us kids, and now it's my turn to get a silhouette of my child. Such a fun experience.
The lady in the shop was amazing and blew my silhouette making out of the water!

More pictures to come!!

piano man

2011-06-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

I love having a piano in our home. Love, love, love it.
Not only can I practice but I have been teaching my husband to play.
We have only done 3 lessons in a month but with our busy schedules that is the best we can do.
Little Charlie loves playing the piano with me or he just climbs on the bench and starts strumming along. I remember when I was pregnant with him and I would sit by the piano hoping my little baby would enjoy the music and learn to love the piano.
I think it payed off.

summer snack

2011-06-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

*** watermelon ***

My family is loving watermelon these days and it has been the
perfect go-to snack during the day.
Every time I buy a seedless watermelon I think of the skit by Jerry Seinfeld! too funny!

my youngest best friend

2011-06-08T11:26:00.001-07:00

{ Little Charlie tagging along on my strange hobby... looking at model homes!}

Is it strange that I consider my child one of my best friends?!
Because he IS.
He is always with me and I love having this constant companion each day.
I do just about everything with him each day which includes:

-cuddling in bed each morning
-eating breakfast, lunch and dinner together
-taking walks together
-go to the park together
-read books together
-taking drives together
-going swimming together {our new favorite summer activity}
-talk to each other
-learn new things together

I think a best friend helps you want to be a better person and little Charlie has done just that.
He reminds me each day of my infinite worth and my potential.
He helps me work harder to reach my goals and be more Christ-like.

I love this little child of mine and I'm so grateful that I am blessed to be his mother and friend.

my two Charlies

2011-06-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

I love my two Charlies!
They keep me on my toes every day and I love watching them interact!
They are the best of friends!

24 hour visit

2011-05-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

My parents came up to Provo on Friday afternoon and left Saturday afternoon.
They were here for 24 hours, who does that to their daughter??!

{my parents brought up some appliances for Dane and Korine's new home.}

{ Korine, baby Vaughn and my mom in front of their new home in Provo }

{ my little family with my parents + baby Vaughn! }

We then had an early dinner at Texas Roadhouse, which was still busy at 5:00pm. It's CRAZY busy there.

my cute boy peeking in on Grandma and Aunt Katie (Cubbie)!

my parents with the newlyweds... Jeremy and Katie!

the rest of the party!
We all took turns holding Vaughn so Korine could eat dinner!

Saturday was pretty busy! We helped Katie and Jeremy pack and move their life down to California. I will miss their darling home in Springville!

I can't believe my parents only visited for 24 hours but I was SO glad to see them.
I miss them already and I MISS my little sister Katie living so close to me.
I know she will be happy in California attending a music school with her husband.
It is where they need to be.

WANTED

2011-05-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

WANTED:
The little boy that sprinkled goldfish crackers into my favorite flats and then pushed the crumbs into the soles and onto the sides.
There will be a REWARD!

spiderman

2011-05-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

My cousin Lyndzee's son Jett loves dressing up in his spiderman outfit.
He either has this outfit on or a spiderman shirt... every time I see him!
Roger, Lyndzee's husband and partner in EPlove photography shot this adorable
video of Jett here.
Enjoy!

spring cleaning, better late than never

2011-05-19T22:57:00.001-07:00

I feel like everyone did their spring cleaning last month.
I guess I'm a bit behind.

It has been raining everyday and I have put off cleaning our dusty bathtub way too long!
We stored toilet paper, our bathroom trashcan and little Charlie's outgrown infant bathtub in it.
It was a lovely sight to behold, I tell you!

It was time to clean that tub and little Charlie could not have been cuter as he helped scrub the sides of the tub with water! He loves to help me when I clean and likes to mimic everything I do.
Seriously melts my heart.
He will make a fine husband one day, I tell you a fine husband indeed.

I am in love

2011-05-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

with this cookbook!
My sweet sister in law Erin bought this for me for my birthday and I haven't put it down.
Ree Drummond, the pioneer woman has a great blog about her life in the country and how she learned to be happy there. The recipes are so yummy, the few that I have tried already!
Thank you so much Erin!

goals for this summer

2011-05-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

1. I want to start running.
More importantly, I want to learn how to enjoy running! I have never enjoyed running. period.
My best friend Jessica lives here in Provo and she offered to help me this summer. Like me, she used to dread running but a few summers ago she started running with her roommate and she learned to love it. Plus, she looks so skinny now and that motivates me!
Now, I am looking for a jogging stroller on the CHEAP, so if you know of anyone selling theirs let me know!2. Sleep more.
Since starting up college again I have lost a lot of sleep.
I feel that the stresses in my life are catching up to me and I need to take a breather. Yesterday after I put Charlie down for a nap I collapsed on my bed and slept like a baby. It was so nice. Today, I did the same thing. Felt even better.
I need to do this more often, if not everyday!

So, there you have it.
My list is short, only 2 goals but I think they are both attainable.
Do any of you have goals for this summer?

birthdays galore!

2011-05-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

May 16th is a big day.
Today is my Mom's birthday and also Moira's birthday!
Happy Birthday and wish we could be with you both!

....................

One of my favorite holidays just came and went, my birthday!
My husband always makes it so special for me from beginning to end.
He brought me breakfast in bed, did the morning dishes, changed Charlie's diapers, took me up to SLC to buy my favorite candle from anthro among other things. He is such a good husband and I'm so glad we spent the entire day together!

We stopped at a park on our way back from SLC for little Charlie to run around and play!

Then we had dinner with family at CPK.

Sunday evening we had my official birthday party with family/friends.

Here's to another year full of love and happiness!

Charlie's friend Kegan

2011-05-03T00:16:00.000-07:00

{me and my boy}

Kegan and Charlie are the best of buds. Only born a month apart, they have grown up together until this point. Kegan and his parents are moving out of the country for the summer and this makes me so sad. Karen, Kegan's mom, has been a big support to me as we swap babysitting to help finish school assignments, go on date nights and do housework. Not only will Charlie miss his friend Kegan, but I will MISS Karen even more. I told Karen a while ago how funny it would be if these 2 boys reunited again in the college dorms or in the MTC!!
I know that our paths will cross again and Charlie will have his friend Kegan again!

the DODGERS

2011-04-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

We took little Charlie to his first major league baseball game!
I know it was a proud moment for my husband, who has been a dodger fan all his life.
The sun came out and we were toasting in our top deck seats!
We were only at the game for an hour then decided to head home and avoid the traffic.
Little Charlie had a great time and cheered whenever others cheer and clapped when others clapped, he was so darling!

the farmers market

2011-04-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've been to LA many times and my FAVORITE place to visit is the farmers market.
So if you're planning a trip to LA soon, please put this on the itinerary.
We walked around the shops and had brunch at the yummy French Crepe Co.
We then walked around the Grove and stood behind Mario Lopez, you know Slater from Saved by the Bell! I guess he has a tv show and reports on celebrities. I really didn't think we would be on tv but we watched his show that night and you could see our faces for about 1 second! So fun!

flying solo

2011-04-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Me and little Charlie flew down to California early last week to celebrate Easter and our 3 year wedding anniversary. My hubby had to finish finals so he flew down 2 days after.
I was expecting the worst, even though our little guy has flown more in his 1 1/2 years of life than I did in my first 20 years!
Luckily, my prayers were answered and the flight was half full and we sat next to the sweetest guy!! This guy pulled out his iphone and let Charlie play with it for 30 minutes straight and was so nice. We had a few rows behind us that were empty so I took little Char to our own row for him to stand up and play.
It was the BEST flight I have ever been on, even with a toddler in tow!!
I would still prefer to have my hubby there with me of course, but this flight made it so easy.

almost there

2011-04-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Graduation has been on my mind these last few weeks.
Probably because I will be graduating in JULY!!
To be clear, I will be completely done with my bachelors in December but I wanted to walk a semester early. Let's be honest, who wants to come to Idaho in December?? not me.

I finished up my winter semester last week and this week has been pure bliss.
I have taken a nap everyday with little Charlie,
I've gone to bed before midnight and I don't have to spend hours online.
Only 7 more classes to go!

paste

2011-04-11T21:00:00.001-07:00

tomato paste that is.
Little Charlie opened one of our many cupboards and found this can of tomato paste today.
Who would have thought it would be the new 'it' item for toddlers?!
.
He carried it around all day and even took it to the grocery store this afternoon.
I almost had to reassure the cashier that this can was from home.
He is too funny, he won't let me change his diaper unless he is holding it.
I only wish this new 'it' toy wasn't a metal can because Charlie dropped it on my foot tonight and it hurt so bad. I'm hoping tomorrow brings a softer and lighter toy than the tomato paste!
I only wish I snapped photos of him, but we'll see what tomorrow brings!

4:00 AM

2011-04-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Little Charlie woke up yesterday morning at 4:00 AM with a bunch of snot all over his adorable face. Poor thing couldn't sleep with a runny nose and needed his
mommy to make him feel better.
I can't remember the last time I woke up at 4:00 AM to tend to my baby.
It brought me back to his newborn nights where I was up with him.
Just me and my baby.

{ my little Charlie at one week }

I enjoyed the 2 hours that early morning to help blow his nose and sit with him on the couch watching cartoons. We laughed at the silly characters and right when I was starting to feel tired, little Charlie put his head on my lap and fell soundly asleep.

We both went back to our beds and slept till 9:30.
It was nice.

yellow daffodils

2011-04-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yellow daffodils graced our humble garden this morning
and I knew right where I wanted to place them in my home.
Little Charlie helped me pluck the flowers, fill up the vase with water and
left the arranging for him to decide.
He did a pretty good job if I don't say so myself.

my husband

2011-04-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

Charlie is such a wonderful husband, more than I deserve.
He is a strong spiritual leader in our home
leading family home evenings, family scripture study and prayers.
Charlie has a wonderful personality and is a natural with people.
He is very humble and only asks for things that he needs, something I can learn.
He is dedicated to his family and puts our needs first.
Charlie helps me become a better person every day and I am so grateful for him.
I love you Charlie xoxoxoxo

sometimes

2011-03-31T20:42:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I drive by this blue cottage with a red door.
Sometimes I drive the long way to visit a friend just to see it.
Sometimes I wonder why I adore it so.
Sometimes I wonder if the inside is just as darling as the outside.

Sometimes, more like every time, I say to my husband,
"this is my favorite home in Utah."

Sometimes I get a blank stare.
Sometimes I think he secretly likes it just as much as I do.

...probably not, but we will work on it!

I spy little Charlie...

2011-03-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

in Daddies closet!
We were getting ready for bed when we heard some noise coming from the closet.
We found little Charlie hiding behind the ties and belts!
We had a good laugh and had to get some pictures of our little boy!

Korine's baby shower

2011-03-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

:: the spread ::

chicken salad croissants, pasta salad, fruit salad w/ dip,
tortilla chips w/ Mexi-ranch dip, veggies, cupcakes and lemonade.

:: the gifts ::

:: owl/outdoorsy themed shower ::

:: attendees ::

:: Kylee and Stefanie :: :: Marilyn and Amy ::

:: Amber and Daisy :: :: Korine, Julie and Walker ::

:: Elise, Korine, Katherine :: :: Mary Grace, Katherine, Elise ::

:: the lovely party goers ::

:: party favors ::
"take home S'more fun!"

Korine's shower turned out to be a success! It was fun to plan and carry out Korine's baby shower. Big thanks to Stefanie Hathaway for hosting the party at her place and also her delicious pasta salad and fun games! Kylee made scrumptious cupcakes and Angie made the cutest invites, so thanks ladies!
It was fun seeing many friends from my home stake and catching up on their lives. It's always a pleasure to sit and talk with Grandma Marilyn and she gave me some great advice on motherhood.

To the future mom:
Korine, if anyone is ready to be a mom, it's you! You are a nurturer, caregiver, loving and thoughtful person and you will make a wonderful mother to your little Vaughn and all future Dellenbach babies! I love you and can't wait to see Baby Vaughn!

I love my calling

2011-03-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

{ Jess, me, Anna }

I don't think I have ever blogged about my calling in the church.
I guess I never felt the urge.
However, my feelings are at the surface this week and I thought I would share.
I currently serve as a Relief Society president in my BYU student married ward.
I have had this calling since late June 2010 and I cannot be more grateful for the experiences and friendships I have made.
There are two Relief Societies in my ward and the other presidency was just released. I have loved working with these wonderful sisters and we celebrated this time of change last week at Malawi's in the Riverwoods. I have worked very closely these past 10 months especially with Jess and we have helped each other through tough and fun times as we serve the sisters and families in our ward. Most of the sisters in the other presidency will be moving out of the ward and our time to serve together has ended. I will still hold my calling till the summer and I just love the new presidency that was called last week. I know we will grow together like the last presidency and I am looking forward to serving with them.

{ here's a picture of me with the North Relief Society }
me, Jess (president), Anna, (2nd. counselor), Cami (secretary), and Amanda (1st counselor)

I thought I would introduce my AMAZING presidency!

1st Counselor: Kaitlin Ellingson

2nd Counselor: Karen Hodges (in blue)

Secretary: Kendyle Hakes

Where do I start with these wonderful sisters?
They are perfect. We work very well together and have become great friends from this calling. Kaitlin helps keep us positive and can always make us laugh even through the rough times. Karen is willing to serve at all times and I love that about her. Kendyle does SO much for our Relief Society and keeps things organized. That really is not even skimming the surface to what they have done. I love working with these woman and they have taught me so, so much.
The Lord truly sent me angels to work with and I am forever grateful.

first taste of spring

2011-03-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

The other day was bright and beautiful.
The first day I've taken Charlie out to the park this year.
The first day I took him for a stroll around our neighborhood this year.
I am so excited for the weather to warm up even more!

Charlie and his best friend

2011-03-03T23:27:00.001-08:00

Katie's Cali bridal shower

2011-03-03T23:11:00.000-08:00

I took many pictures at the shower, but one camera got lost and the others I need to retrieve from my sister's camera. So here you have it!! Katie's bridal shower in California was really fun and I enjoyed helping throw the shower for her. I was so glad that my sister Leanna was in town for the shower because I couldn't have done it without her. Usually one of us sisters were watching the kids while the other made food, decorated or what have you. It was a group effort to throw this shower! Katie is so loved by so many people in our stake and friends from school. She is so, so special to me and I'm so happy for her to jump into married life with her love. I love you cub, cub!

The Manti Temple

2011-02-10T00:20:00.001-08:00

Our friend Jessica Sorrenson went through the temple on Tuesday and I was invited to attend. She chose the Manti Temple, which is absolutely breathtaking but rather far from Provo. It snowed the night before and I thought the roads would be clear since the sun was out. WRONG... the roads after the Spanish Fork Canyon were all slush for about 45 minutes and driving only 24 mph, I was reluctant to turn around and call it a day. I am not from Utah and am VERY scared of the snow and especially slush on the roads. I said a million prayers that day and thankfully we arrived safely. Only 10 minutes too late that is. I came all that way, drove through the worst roads I've ever experienced to find out I didn't make it. I was pretty disappointed but I had other options. I ended up having one of the most spiritual experiences at the temple that day and I realized something important.
Nothing should keep me from attending the temple.
I am so grateful that we have temples to worship in. To find peace. To find direction.
To strengthen our testimonies. To find out more about our Savior Jesus Christ.

Katie's Utah bridal shower

2011-02-07T23:32:00.000-08:00

-the food-

Now, time for presents!

My little sister Katie is getting married in 3 WEEKS!! So, last weekend me and the mother of the groom threw Katie a shower mostly for her fiance's family. It was an emergency preparedness/food storage bridal shower which was my first to attend and help plan! I am so glad we went along with this theme because Katie is set for life. I am so, so happy for my baby sister and can't wait to head to California to prep for the wedding!!

New Year's Eve in Hilton Head, SC

2011-01-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

Hilton Head is absolutely beautiful!
This is supposed to be the middle of winter and the South Carolina coast is warm and full of sunshine! We spent some time with a family friend chatting and taking a walk to this lovely beach. Little Charlie loved the water and did not want to leave. He enjoyed playing with daddy in the water and being pushed in his stroller by Grandpa. I'm so glad we were able to visit Hilton Head even if it was only for a few hours and I am so grateful for Charlie's family and for the quality time we were able to spend with them. His parent's became our traveling buddies as we spent time in Savannah and Hilton Head for New Years.

Ode to Christmas

2011-01-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful in Georgia! It snowed all day and it was quite magical to have my first "white Christmas." Little Charlie was just darling all day and very much enjoyed opening up his gifts and everyone's gifts for that matter. I hope you enjoyed the video of Grandpa and little Charlie as Char opened his sing-along book! Sorry this post is about a month late, I'll try better next time!

We're off...

2010-12-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

to Savannah and Hilton Head for the next few days!

This time two years ago we were in Savannah celebrating Reba's birthday, oh how we miss her this year!

see ya'll later!!

dinner at the fish market

2010-12-29T22:37:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Becca's birthday by going to the Marrieta Fish Market for dinner. I don't think they serve seafood without it being fried first! With that being said, well I don't think I should go on! Little Charlie made a new discovery... Ranch!!! It must be all toddlers that love ranch because I remember my little toddler class at kindercare and they LOVED ranch as well!

So, I don't eat seafood nor do I ever go to restaurants where seafood is the specialty. However, I was able to eat baby shrimp which is very mild. I know Charlie is hoping this will change since he LOVES seafood!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-29T21:42:00.000-08:00

Little Charlie had all eyes on him. I think everyone loves having a little boy around!

We spent Christmas Eve at Jon and Becca's home. They had homemade chili and Becca's mom Nita made trays and trays of treats. Baby Charlie was always being held by someone and he just loved all the attention! We read from the book of Luke in the New Testament right before we opened gifts. We played with the gifts we recieved including pick up sticks, watching the slinky drop off each step down the stairs, and coloring in Charlie's coloring book. It was a wonderful evening and I'm so glad we are here in Georgia with Charlie's family.

{delightful downtown} Greenville, SC

2010-12-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Downtown Greenville was charming and delightful. We made the most of the time we had.

There were many shops and restaurants lining Main street.

The town was clean as a whistle and the locals were very kind.

It looks very much like a city when you are driving from the outskirts but when you get up close, and walk down the streets it has a very quaint, small town feel.

Moira had been downtown many times and was able to give us the lowdown on what to do and what to see. We all had a great time enjoying the sites and the shops but the best part was being silly and laughing so, so hard! Moira has this 'scary' laugh that she can do impromtu, so I asked her to do it and after a few seconds we were all laughing histerically, and I'm talking loud and uncontrollably histerical!! haha, that was the best part of the day for me! Oh I love you Moira!!

Mast General Store

2010-12-23T12:41:00.000-08:00

I think I'm loving Greenville more and more every minute I spend here.

The Mast General Store was darling with nostalgic toys and gifts and old fashioned candy. There was also clothing and even more clothing but I didn't pay too much attention to that.

My hubby and I bought a few gifts for the little one and for our nieces and nephews.

I'm excited for Christmas and for New Years in Savannah!!

dining in Greenville

2010-12-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

We went to Sticky Fingers in downtown Greenville Monday night.The restaurant gives you a towel instead of a napkin, so you can only imagine the mess we made!! My favorite part about being in Greenville is being with my little family and Charlie's parents and having a mini vacation in our vacation! Yeah, it's pretty nice!

Charlie's toddler blanket

2010-12-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

Little Charlie has a gazillion baby blankets but they're all getting a bit small for him.
So together we went fabric shopping and found some fun
and colorful fabrics for his toddler blanket!! I'm so glad my friend Marianne volunteered to watch him and also my wonderful hubby so I could get this project done!!
I love how it turned out!!

I did it!!

2010-12-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

I finished my first semester back at school!!
This has been the busiest 4 months of my life and I got through it!!!
I finished my finals on Monday night, more like Tuesday morning if I think about it!
The crazy thing is, Baby Charlie had no clue I was in school because I did all my coursework while he slept... during his naps in the day and after he went down at night! I am forever thankful for naps and sleep in general, even though I haven't had much this semester.

On another note, how cute is my little boy in these pictures??!!
He loves sitting by the front door in what he thinks is a bay window seat!! so cute!

MUST SEE...

2010-12-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

I grew up going to the Messiah every Christmas where this song was sung and I would gladly sing along. In high school my choir always sang this as well during Christmas time. Many memories with "The Hallelujah Chorus" and was so glad to see people coming together to bring in the true meaning of Christmas! For all to know, you always stand when singing the Hallelujah Chorus!!

pictures with Santa

2010-12-07T08:09:00.000-08:00

{last year with Santa, Charlie was 3 months}

{ this year, 15 months }

The first year little Charlie was so happy to be held by Santa. This year, he cried!!
These pictures were taken from our ward Christmas party and we had a great time.
Thanks Kara for taking pictures of everyone!

the bazaar

2010-12-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

The Beehive bazaar that is!
Me, Katie, Jessica and little Charlie headed to the bazaar on Saturday.
You can check out the artists and products here.

I just window shopped,,, you know, didn't buy any THING.
However, I did like these two items...

{ loved this wooden camera for little Charlie from twig }
these rose studded earrings in teal, coral and blush

our dodger boy

2010-12-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

My husband grew up cheering for the LA Dodgers.
In fact, his old neighbors took Charlie to a game where they bought the baby this little outfit!
It finally fits him now and it makes my hubby so proud!!
Hopefully Charlie will still fit in the outfit in April when the season starts!

friends from home

2010-12-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

I grew up in the best ward, in the best stake back home in California. When I bumped into Carly Burch in August she told me that she wanted all of us Norco girls to get together. So we met with our kids at Chuck E Cheese for food and games and some serious catching up on our lives!!
All of the girls in the photo above are a year older than me but we were good friends growing up.
They were great examples to me and we spent a lot of time together at mutual activities, hanging at the "Mormon table" at school, birthday parties, girls camp and in young women. Everyone except Kari lives here in Utah and it was fun to see them. Some girls who couldn't make it are Nicole Sponseller, Karinne Edling, and Tammy Crawford. I hope to get together again soon!

week of moving, shopping and thanks

2010-11-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

The pictures are mumbled and jumbled together but in a nutshell this is what last week was like. My parents came up from sunny California to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and to help my sister Leanna and her family move. I spent a lot of time with my Mom and Dad as we went grocery shopping, holiday shopping, and what have you. I miss them dearly and would love to live closer to them.
Thanksgiving was beautiful and went smoothly. Usually the Thanksgiving feast back home involves over 40 people and it's crazy. We had a small, quaint feast with my parents, Leanna and Ernesto, Katie and my little family. We went around saying what we're thankful for and all of us girls started crying, as usual!! It was a rough week with my sister and her family getting ready to move to Chile. But that's for another post!

windy day

2010-11-17T23:54:00.000-08:00

It has been quite windy lately and the little ones love it!!
They are especially entranced with watching the leafs dance on the deck
while they eat their morning snack!
How I love these two!

baby girls

2010-11-11T21:34:00.000-08:00

{Michelle, Kurtiss and Baby Sophia}

{Jacque and Baby Betsy}

My two best friends{Michelle and Jacque} had their baby girls only weeks apart!
I am overjoyed for them and so happy we are mommies together! I already have so much love for their daughters and I cannot wait to meet them!
Congrats Jacque and Michelle!!

little rascal

2010-11-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

First task of the day,,, clean up quick oats on the floor!
I took this picture a few minutes after I started sweeping, the oats were everywhere!!!
A nickname me and my husband gave little Charlie is 'little RASCAL!'
I think you can see why!!

Well, good morning Wednesday and hope the day gets a little better!!

snapshots of Charlie

2010-11-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

The other day my sister Leanna wanted to take some snapshots of little Charlie! I happily obliged on the quite cold afternoon and Charlie just loved all the attention! Thanks Leanna!!

halloween this year

2010-11-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

{ some of Charlies' nursery friends from the ward}

The night before Halloween our ward had a party and we had a great time! We sat by the Barrier and the Jones family while we ate our chili and cornbread. Little Charlie made such a cute Charlie Brown and everyone seemed to like his outfit. However, only 2 people recognized me and my husband's characters... Linus and Peppermint Patty from the Peanuts. Perhaps it was our terrible costumes or just that no one has seen the Peanuts for over 20 years and are a bit rusty on the characters! We did not take pictures of us in our costumes because I forgot but I will describe my costume to you all. I had a green striped shirt like Peppermint Patty, I put freckles on my cheeks, made my bangs look just like hers and I even wore flip flops!! My husband wore a red shirt and carried a blanket and called it good. Oh well, maybe next year we will all go as characters that everyone is familiar with!!

you're a good man...

2010-10-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

My little one will be Charlie Brown for Halloween!
It was the easiest costume I've ever made taking about 20 minutes to cut and sew!
He wore the outfit yesterday to mommy playgroup and I thought he looked so darling!
I might be Sally, Lucy or Pepper Ann but can't decide which one to be, any thoughts?!

pizzeria 712

2010-10-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

We dined at Pizzeria 712 last night for Charlie's birthday and it was divine!
I liked the ambiance, the staff, and the food. Charlie chose to go there for 2 reasons...
others in our ward said it's the best pizza in the area, and second because he's never had it before. The prices were fair and we enjoyed every plate they served us.
Our waitress even added pita bread and hummus for the babies for free!
We later headed over to Dane's for homemade gelato and Italian cream sodas! He had a great birthday and I'm so thankful for the family members that joined us!

26 years

2010-10-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

My husband Charlie had his 26th birthday yesterday!
I love my husband so much and I'm so glad that I've been able to spend 3 of his birthdays with him so far and many more to come! He is such a wonderful husband and father and I really appreciate all that he does. It's not easy having the stress of work, going to school, being away from his family in Georgia, having a wife and baby but somehow he makes it work! Thank you honey and I love you!

while the children sleep

2010-10-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

{Charlie and cousin Azaleia sleeping together in the crib this morning}

{checking on the babies}

I watch my darling niece Azaleia every week and it is so fun for Charlie to have a playmate his size, but he still likes to play with me too! Charlie is still transitioning from 2 naps a day down to one long nap and Azaleia usually takes one long afternoon nap but I noticed both of them rubbing their eyes around 9:45 this morning and getting quite grumpy so I decided I should let them rest! They were out like a light within minutes and I had some free time on my hands!

Let me please tell you how I spent this free time...
*I curled my hair,,, haven't done that in months!
*I finished my research proposal for my English class.
*I took these pictures shown.
*I am currently writing this post.

It was nice to take a break, thank goodness for naps!!

diy: paper rosettes

2010-10-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

*I have received some questions about how to make the rosettes from Charlie's birthday party. These were so EASY to make and you don't have to use special paper either.
I used computer paper and cheap construction paper.
It took probably 3 minutes to make and assemble each one!

*I think the paper rosettes are a welcomed change from the ever fussy, time consuming tissue pom-poms that are used for every party! So here is the tutorial,
enjoy!

Michelle's baby shower!

2010-10-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

My best friend Michelle "Craig" Johnson is having a baby girl pretty soon and her family threw her a baby shower the other weekend. Erika did not disappoint!! First off, her house was decked out with the cutest Halloween decor and I just wanted to hire her as my holiday interior decorator! Anyways, back to the baby shower... Shelly got a lot of BIG gifts like a travel system(car seat, stroller), baby bouncy chair, TONS of diapers!, and even more but I can't remember. She sure is loved! Michelle married into such a warm, cozy family that made me feel welcome when I was the only non-member of the family! I sure love you Shelly and can't wait to see your little Sophia Jane!!

1st Birthday Party

2010-10-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

{ tiny vanilla cake from The Chocolate, thanks Leanna and Ernesto!}

Baby Charlie had a wonderful birthday party with family on Sunday night. We celebrated on our back patio which is perfect for entertaining. We had lasagna, garlic bread, salad, fresh boiled vegetables, winter squash, pretzel dessert and fresh homemade lemonade! We ended the night with Katie serenading us with her music and 12 rounds of the couch game in our living room!! Baby Charlie sure is one lucky boy to have such a wonderful family that loves and adores him!

Charlie's real birthday

2010-10-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

...wasn't so great. He went to the hospital first thing in the morning to have surgery(tubes in ears). He was a great sport and after the surgery he was completely normal!

He had a long nap in the afternoon and once my husband came home from school and work we headed over to a fancy toy shop called Blickenstaffs in the Riverwoods. It was darling with vintage toys and all!

It wasn't the 1st birthday I had expected but we still made it fun for him, sort of! I don't know how I can make surgery fun?!! Well, that night we had Panda Express for dinner and called it a night. Hopefully next year we can have a party on his actual birthday!