Happy Valentine's Day

Thanks to our friend Dane for taking these Valentine photographs of Abigail.

Funny Daddy, Happy Abigail

(you may want to mute the music to hear her giggles)

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Tyler!! He is a fabulous husband (as in, after I fed Abigail yesterday morning, he sent me back to bed for 2 hours while he played & laughed with her and then put her back down for her morning nap) and a terrific father (Abigail adores him and smiles every single time she sees him). He provides for our family, he serves others willingly, he loves and adores Abigail and me. He is basically absolutely wonderful.

Yummy Goodness

One of my New Year's resolutions is to try 3 new recipes each month. Doesn't matter if it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or snack--just as long as it is new. One month into the new year--and my goal is going strong. I forgot to take pictures of all of the new recipes I tried, but the 2 below are definitely keepers and repeaters.

I saw these Lemony Sunshine Cupcakes on the Ultimate Recipe Showdown.

Get the recipe here.

I read about these Quick Cinnamon Rolls in Fine Cooking. I was hesitant to try them out because they call for cottage cheese. Cottage cheese in cinnamon rolls? Don't be too quick to judge--they were absolutely deliciously soft and full of yumminess. And, from start to tasting, a mere hour.

Read about these cinnamon rolls here.

I wasn't just full of sweet experimenting though, I also tried "Lactation Bars"--an attempt to help increase my milk supply, full of wheat germ, walnuts, almonds, and flaxseed. My sister sent me a recipe for Carribean Red Beans and Brown Rice, which I tried out.

One month down, 11 more to go--so I'm off to the library to check out more cookbooks and Fine Cooking magazines.

Monday Morning Project

Do you have a favorite? I'm still deciding, but either way, I enjoyed making all of these thank you cards to have on hand, as well as to send out for wonderful and thoughtful Christmas gifts received this year. I love making cards and such. It is the "creative" side of me and a way I indulge myself with "me" time. Abigail took a long enough nap to allow me to drag out all of my card and stamp stuff down to the "craft room" also known as our dinning room, as well as to stamp and create all of the above cards. Next project: Valentine's Day cards?? Time will tell.

December in Pictures

The thing with doing one post for a whole month, especially the month of December, is that there are a whole lot of pictures. Skip around as time allows for.

December was a wonderful month--full of family and friends.
It began as Abigail met a new friend, Santa:Abigail once again proved she was a born traveler as she made it through all connections, layovers, and flights to CA like an angel.

My parents hosted the Family Christmas Party this year.Due to the early arrival of my cousin's baby, Tyler, Abigail and I were promoted to the parts of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in the Nativity.

We had a chance to visit with lots of friends.

Good friend Joseph, Julie and their cute family from our days at Duke:

Randi, Anjanette, and Debbie from home sweet home

(not pictured: Randi's husband Mike and Tyler):

Emily, from days of studying Chemistry in high school:

But mostly, our holidays were filled with family.

Ashton and Brent playing Davy Crocket:

Marble Machine Makers:

Abigail with Grandma on Christmas Morning:
Chad with the nieces and nephews (5 of the 8 staying at the house):
Abigail, opening her first Chrismtas Present.

Thanks cousin Hayley for the blocks and super cute bows!

4 Generations:

The second half of our vacation was spent in Heaven....also known as
Cambria.

The sunset:

Spencer with Brent searching for sea shells:

At the beach, watching and chasing the waves:

Happy Family on the beach:

Happy Babies (Abigail and Craig, 4 months older):

And suddenly, you realize, this is what heaven must be like:

The Sea Lions congregate on the coast near Hearst Castle to birth their babies:

Abigail finds her toes:

Happy Family walking on the ranch:

My dad walking with Kate:
My Mom with Benjamin:
The boys (most, but not all):
And this is what it is all about: FAMILY
(mom and dad with all 8 grandkids)

Pretty in Pink