April 9, 2012

Happy Easter

Lucas' first Easter. The Easter Bunny left eggs full of puffs and yogurt drops all over the lawn. We weren't so sure about touching the grass at first...




... but it didn't take long to get into the spirit of the "hunt."






Too excited about the eggs in the basket to finish hunting for more.




The Easter Bunny also left a basket and trucks!




and Habanero Death Dust!



Relaxed with Uncle Mat and Aunt Candace after brunch at Grandma and Grandpa Allen's.


Then off to Grandpa Tippetts' to climb and chase Chubs.



Grandma and Grandpa Bagley stopped by for dinner. Thanks for the fun Easter basket!


Thanks for the new swing, Grandma and Grandpa Allen! It's SOOO relaxing!


and Fun!



Happy Easter everyone! 
Thanks for all the fun!

March 25, 2012

Sunny Days and A Warm Gooey Easter


Something about sun shiny days really makes me want to  bake. And one of my favorite things about Easter (besides egg-shaped chocolaty goodness and bunnies plunging ears first into the peanut butter jar) is Easter breakfast. 




I love spending a lazy sunny Sunday morning visiting with my family, eating some of my favorite foods (spiral ham - yum! eggy breakfast casseroles - yum! hash browns - yum! sweet breakfast rolls - yum! yum!), chasing it down with loads of chocolate, and hunting a few Easter eggs.


Yes, I did hunt Easter eggs until I was in my late twenties. I'm talking full contact, race to find the most the fastest, stealing other peoples eggs, bragging rights for a full year Easter egg hunting.
Now that My Little Man is getting SO big, I'm so excited to share these traditions with him. Though the egg hunt may be a bit more subdued for a while. Nevertheless I can't wait!





Bryan and I went to an Italian cooking class last week at the Bosch store. It was a lot of fun and super tasty! The instructor was flighty but adorable and by the time the class was over, I was stoked to try grinding my own wheat flour. She made a super easy and yummy pizza dough that I can't wait to try.
What does that have to do with Easter you ask? Well... I think it will be perfect for making some oh so tantalizing breakfast bread. Now the only problem is deciding what kind to make.
There is the old standby favorite (and favorite for a reason)...  Cinnamon Rolls.
My moms go-to Orange Roll recipe that everyone loves.

or a new idea that has been cultivating in this little head of mine after numerous hours of Food Network playing in the background of my everyday household chores...  Salted Caramel Sticky Buns with Crumbled Brown Sugar Bacon.
How's a girl to decide? ... how about make all three!?! Sounds a bit ambitious for a novice baker with an 8 month old and a husband on the road. So we'll see how it goes.


Baking adventures to come....



March 21, 2012

A Work in Progress

My adorable little man is now 8 months old and yes I am still working on his nursery. I always had this idea that I would have my babies nursery complete and ready to go by the end of my first trimester.


...Yeah right!
I don't think I even left the couch.


 I had been planning this time for so many years I was certain I knew exactly how I wanted the oh so important room. Well needless to say, when the time came, I just couldn't decide how to decorate. Finally just 1 week before the arrival of little Lucas, I went out and bought a crib set. (giving up on the set I started making.)

So very long story short... yes... I am still working on some "finishing touches" in the nursery. And here is one of the projects I've been working on.



First pick out scrapbook paper for the fronts of your letters. And trace the letters onto your paper.


Then paint the letters to match the scrap book paper. Once the letters are dry, paint the fronts of the letters with Modge Podge or glue and attach you paper letters. Once it is dry use sandpaper to sand off any paper that hangs over the edge. I also sanded the edges to give it more of a worn look. I think next time I will cut the paper just a bit smaller than the letters and then sand the edges.
Just like that, you are done!
Can't believe it took me just short of eight months.   






February 25, 2012

Our Little Fishy

Last week we started taking Lucas to Parent-Tot classes at Swim Kids. We absolutely love it! And better yet, Lucas loves its!! He was a little sceptical at first But now I can honestly say he can't get enough. Not to mention how active he has become out of the water. After a few initial tears (yes from me too), he is off and ready to hit the lake this summer.
By his second lesson he was swimming under the water.