4th of July

I'm a little behind on event blogging. It may not happen. But Kimmy and Chris posted some great pictures from Grandpa Rob's 80th birthday party and the 4th of July. Here you go. Isn't that Anna cute?

over and over and over again

Do you ever feel like all you do, all day long, is tidy your house? Not clean, just pick up. All. Day. Long. 'Cause that's where I'm at. All. Day. Long. I think I am genetically incapable of keeping a tidy house without constantly working at it. All. Day. Long.

I know I said this, but apparently I didn't really mean it.

Any good tips or solutions?

it must be Y linked

a sampling of what Ryan comes home with when I send him to the store for detergent and batteries.

like father, like son.

sitting pretty

Anna decided she was tired of this view

Thought she'd try this

Ended up like this

growing up

Doug caught this video last time he was in town. Guess we can't keep her little forever. She'll just be "dwowin' up."

motivate

{she's picking out her own clothes these days. very stylish}

During my formative years, my parents employed the carrot more often than the stick. Today I learned that Ella is a carrot girl as well. She wants a princess sippy cup like her friend Emma from preschool. So we made a tried and true sticker chart and viola! She's helpful, obedient and kind. 

Hope it lasts.

Cutting for Stone

If you liked this book:

Listen to this interview. You can also download it for free from iTunes.  Abraham Verghese is brilliant, in a humble way, and made me want to reread all 560 pages of his book.

dinner jacket

Yesterday our friend Justin took his Orthopedic Boards. The Boards are a 'final exam' of sorts after 9 years of training. Kind of a big deal. To celebrate Justin wanted to ride to Sundance and then dine at the Tree Room. We were in. 

Ryan and Justin at the summit of the Alpine Loop

Justin somehow sweet talked the girl at the Spa to stay late (missing yoga) and let them shower. She was supposed to charge them $30 but then felt badly because she thought she was rude to them when they first got there (because they were an hour late and she was missing her yoga) so she gave it to them for free. 

Amelia and I brought clothes for Ryan and Justin to change into.

Oops.

So Justin ate in his bike shorts and a jacket we found in the car. Gave us all a good laugh, especially when he got a little warm and inadvertently unzipped his jacket. Good thing the Tree Room doesn't have a "no shirt no service" policy.

csa

Picked up my first box from our CSA. Pretty excited about it. Also excited about the new camera Ryan gave me for our anniversary. We'll see if the camera makes the picture, or if it's still mostly operator (or photoshop) dependent.


(As I'm writing this, Ella is asking me how we get to Heaven. I told her I didn't know. She told me that she thinks "We just ride up in an airplane because Heaven is in the sky.")

snowboarding on the 4th

94" base at Snowbird.
Justin, Ryan and Alex are taking advantage.

vicarious

My life is a little mundane. Preschool, swim lessons, house cleaning (or blogging when I should be house cleaning), cooking, work... not all that exciting. Luckily for me my little sister is very hip and happening.  She works for the incredibly talented Matthew Robbins and is showcasing her hands, right arm and neckline for his new book. Very cool.

Kimmy's also got a very hip friend, Noelle. Noelle is hands down the best chit chatter (for lack of a better word) I know. She could show up at a party, not know a soul, and by the end of the evening be everyone's bff. She has a gift. This latest story is one of my all time favs.

Sunday night swinging

neither here nor there

• i ♥ jamie oliver. I am so in favor of the Food Revolution. Knowing what you are eating; preferably whole, natural, unprocessed foods. Especially in our schools. I'm loving this season and going to go back and watch last season. That doesn't mean I didn't just eat a chocolate marshmallow brownie. I did. 

• Anna might be the sweetest baby in the world. I am loving this newborn period. Nursing her is a great experience, not angst ridden like it was with Ella. Having enough milk makes all the difference. 

• A baby announcements that I sent to a friend in Italy was returned to me. Apparently Lucia has moved. Thankfully this box wasn't checked: "Sorry for not having delivered this submission as the recipient is....deceased." Those Italians. Tell it like it is.

• Ryan and I had our 10 year anniversary last week. We went out for dinner to celebrate and I thought we were going here. I was a little surprised when we ended up here. And Ryan was a little surprised that I thought we were going to celebrate 10 years together at a deli. 

• The Podium Girls are one of my favorite things about professional cycling. This may be one of my favorite outfits yet. You can't fully appreciate it because the mid-calf bike jersey/pant suit with white stilettos aren't in the video, but still, it's pretty great. (No need to watch the whole thing. First 15 seconds will suffice.)                                                     The "I missed the Royal Wedding, but made the Tour de Suisse" girls weren't bad either.

• Just bought our tickets for Ben Folds. This is 2 years in a row. Feeling very hip. And a little old, because I think that possibly only people over 30 like Ben Folds.

• I've made this recipe twice, and liked it both times. I cooked it longer than it called for. 

• Ella often says, "Why were you making their mouth go like that?" Translation: What does that expression on your face mean? Why are you happy, surprised, upset? It is funniest when she says it in reference to an illustration in one of her books--"Why is Boots making his mouth go like that?"
• Happy Father's Day.  If you are Ella's Pa you got one of these, and you loved it.

Jamie's Nursery

Ava's fantastic nursery caught the eye of the world wide web. You can see the post here. Nice work, Jame!

first friend

I was searching through some old photos the other day and happened upon these pictures. Travis and I were initially friends by circumstance--our parents were friends in college and we only had each other. Then in college we became friends again, this time by choice. Our daughters are now little besties, which I love. Good friends, then and now.

"Big Trav" and "Baby Al"  We are 4 months apart. Love the accessories and the pose.

I am ET. Obviously.