Da Flu

I am playing hooky today! And it actually doesn't feel good. We have missed church the last 2 weeks because we were out of town and traveling both Sundays. Well, now our family has been stricken with the flu. As Nolan woke up on a happy note today, Reagan woke up sick so it is another day at home!

And these pictures that follow are extremely old! I started a post about 2 weeks ago and never finished it. So here you go:

We had a treadmill competition one night. Reagan likes to go fast on the treadmill, but she can't go as fast as mom and dad. So Matt and I ran as fast as we could for a minute. I can't remember how fast I went, but it was too much and I stopped after 30 seconds.

The first weekend in February, we had an overnight retreat with the Young Women in my ward! We went to a cabin up near Sonora. It was a quick getaway, but the girls bonded in that amount of time. It was good for them. (siiiiiiiideways pic)

We went and played in the snow the next day. It was like 60 degrees in the mountains and after sledding, most of the girls removed their jackets.

Its kind of funny that I am posting pics of my YW, since most of you don't even know them, but I thought the pictures themselves were really great. I love the snow spraying up into their faces and their expressions.

My kids will only eat "snacks," so we refer to mealtimes as "snack." Well, this was a real snack and one they love to have. I put surprises in their mini muffin pans. I usually search around the cupboards and fridge for random items to put in them and they love some of the things they end up with. Today the big hit was pepperoni slices.

Reagan likes to have her picture taken.

Reagan and her friend Addie putting on a show for me!

Reagan cutting off a chain on her countdown trip to Utah. Again, old picture. We got back from Utah a week ago :) We went with the Berrett's and Addie made Reagan a chain to countdown. It was a fun way to pass time till we left.

We have a tradition for Valentines Day to eat in. In the past we have ordered takeout from Chili's and ate on our nice dishes. This year I did a little extra and made stuff from home. Well, sort of made....Costco did most of the work for me! Our menu was panko-breaded shrimp for appetizer. Tomato soup with parmesan crisps (Trader Joes did the work). Spinach, feta and carmalized onion pizzas on flatbread (I did the work, with recipe credit to Our Best Bites). They were delish and Matt even loved them! That is saying quite a bit since he isn't a big fan of meals that don't contain meat. The kids got their own marinara and mozzarella cheese pizza. My inspiration for these pizzas was a recent meal at Cheesecake Factory, where I had their pear and gorgonzola pizette. Uh, yeah, to die for. I have been craving it ever since. These were a good second.

It was a good Valentines Day spend with the ones I love most :)

Some January Lovin

Wow. Today is one of those days where I remember why I live in California. Even with our school budget cuts, sucky real estate market and dramatic politics, it is nearly 70 degrees today. I registered my first born for kindergarten today. Surreal, I tell you! We had a picnic lunch outside, then both my kids took naps. Reagan has not napped forever. It has been nice. And here I am, blogging about it. The bond between bubs and sis continues to flourish. They really love each other. They fight like crazy and tears come, but in the end, the love is there.

Reagan climbed the wall at REI. This was a fun experience for her and if we had spent all day in the store, instead of just an hour, then she would have climbed over and over. I am glad I had my camera :) She was so proud of herself.

The train obsession with Nolan continues. He sleeps with his trains, he walks around all day with his trains, he plays with them. He calls them his "choo-choo's." He is normally a great sharer, but hates to share his beloved trains.

We took the kids to ride the steam train at Tilden Park. Nolan was a little scared at first, but he ended up enjoying it and the whole ride home was talk of "blah blah blah, choo-choo!"

We caught a great view on the way home from Tilden Park. This is a view of the bay bridge leading to San Francisco.

Matt scored a train table at clearance for 20 bucks at Target and it is now placed in my "formerly staged well" living room. Oh well :) The kids love playing in here and it is large. I always knew that my furniture would get pushed back for train tables and legos.

My dear friend Laura turned 30 and we kidnapped her and surprised her with a girls night out at Cheesecake Factory. It was a success and we had a great time with some equally great food! Yowza----the cheesecake is out of this world. I think I peed straight sugar for several days :)

We got new windows!!! This (along with our cheap bathroom makeover, which I will reveal another day) is the official completion of our home improvement process. Other than small projects here and there, we have upgraded it to our liking. We are spent (financially and physically) and are ready to just take it easy and build our lives and bank account back up. But don't they look nice :) Sometimes I find myself just staring off into the distance and I ask myself, "what am I staring at?" And I realize, "oh, its my windows!" They do look that good. Holla!

Last weekend a friend brought over a train set that her son never played with and she got it at a garage sale. I did not expect what she brought over to be the GeoTrax railroad set. Wow, my kids played ALL WEEKEND with it. The batteries are still going strong...

This is Nolan's smile when he says "CHEEEEEESE!"

It really has been a busy January. I am not used to this, as this is normally a slow, blues-y month for me. I got a new calling as Assistant Director of Stake YW Athletics, so now I am helping with volleyball every Saturday morning, through end of February. I also was asked to be the 3rd year leader for Girls Camp this summer. Oh and we are driving out to Utah with Laura (my 30 year old friend *wink, wink*) and her kids at the end of the month. Matt's dominating in ward basketball, and he is a happy camper. So February is not slowing down either. Life is good!

Choo choo!! Look who's two!

Nolan had his 2nd birthday on January 11th. I'm gonna be all cliche and say it: I can't believe my baby is 2!! It really feels like yesterday he was just a little one, big blue eyes and all. He still has those same baby blues, but with it, a huge, guffawing laugh (just like dad), a teasing grin and oodles of personality. We love him so much.

Nolan is starting to talk quite a bit now. He echoes everything I say. When we ask him how old he is, he says "TWO!" He loves to ask for a "nack" (snack.) He loves smoked almonds from Costco, pizza, and anything with sugar. We don't give into his sugar habit very much, so he is kind of a small kid. But he packs a big punch :) He is so into trains, it is insane.

For Nolan's birthday, we kept it low key. We had his favorite food for dinner-pizza. We played all his favorite games (duck duck goose, hide and seek, redlight greenlight). Matt bought prizes for whoever won the games and Reagan threw a fit when she didn't win, so we shared the twizzlers and reese pieces.

Here is Nolan as he blowed out his candles--it was a boogar-y week for us!

Trying to get in the car portion of his shopping cart from G&G Rasmussen.

Playing with his trains! He hasn't let go of these trains.

Happy Birthday bubs!

Eight

On the 28th of December, Matt and I celebrated 8 years of marriage! We went on a traditional "date night." Our good friends watched the kids for us while we went to eat in Walnut Creek, then saw Harry Potter. It is hard to believe that we have been married for that long. Time really has flown and what a great 8 years it has been. We have shared many many happy times and even struggled through some tough times that refined us and made us even stronger. I am happy to be married to my best friend.

My sweet Matt as a toddler and I see where Nolan gets his big grin :)
A goofy missionary :)

Are you seeing a theme to these pictures? My favorite thing about Matt is how he makes me laugh...literally everyday. Sometimes he teases me and I roll my eyes at him, pretending to be annoyed. But deep down, I just love it. I love that he looks at the bright side of things and always has a positive outlook. Wow, we look young here. Many years ago, when we were dating in college.

After almost 2 years of marriage, life took us out here to Concord. Before the children, I must say we lived it up.

This is us the day after we got engaged and I am rockin my ring. I remember sitting in chemistry class in the Benson building and watching how it sparkled in the auditorium lights. Life was good :)

Thanks for an amazing 8, Matt. Love, wife

The Holidays

Our second annual Christmas just ourselves at home went by without a hitch. We ate fun food Christmas Eve (panko breaded shrimp from Costco, seriously it rocks), dad told the nativity in kids language, then had the Rasmussen traditional rice pudding with a nut. Guess who got the nut? Reagan did, of course ;) She got into the game really well, but it was funny because like most food we place in front of her these days, she didn't like the rice pudding. But we knew she had the nut, so we told her to look for it anyways. Matt and I each pretended like we had found the nut and we knew the minute she had found hers because (even though we told her to keep it a secret), she announced, "I know you guys don't have the nut--I know it!!"

She got to open the first present, then chose presents for all of us to open as well. She chose a present from my sister Lindsey, a Rosetta fairy doll. Nolan opened a present from Reagan, a Thomas Train car. And trust me, he has been playing with that car ever since. If that is all he received for Christmas, he would be the happiest kid still.

We then opened jammies, even mom and dad got some. Actually, I got a snuggie, it is so awesome.

Nolan clutching his train for dear life.

While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads, Santa came!!! Actually Santa had a rough night. He started putting together a bike and it took him about 3 hours since the directions were so awful. I'm afraid the words that came out of Santa's mouth may have landed him on his own naughty list.

Reagan woke up about 5am and we told her to go back to her room and play with the light on for another hour. I guess she made a detour because seconds later, she yelled, "A BIKE!" Thats when we knew Christmas morning was here to stay, so we got up.

Nolan bubs LOVES his basketball hoop! Good form, yes?

Playing all day long, in pajamas.

Dad with his loot. We played all day, took naps and then headed over to the Muhlestein Christmas dinner, it was really fun. All in all, a good Christmas, but I do admit to being happy about the new year. I am ready for it!

Matt got an early start to 2011.

We went to the Berrett's for more holiday fun on New Years Eve, then went home and went to bed. I didn't watch the ball drop or anything like that. It was nice. We were just so tired and like I said, I am just ready to begin a new year :):)

Dad let mom sleep in the next day and he made blueberry waffles.

Happy New Year!