Sewing Success!

I got some really cute fabric for Nora a month ago and have just been looking at it for weeks wondering what to do with it. I am not a skilled seamstress so I knew it would have to be simple. I found this peasant's blouse pattern and direction online and it actually turned out pretty well! It only took me about an hour and a half (would have been less if it weren't for having to undo mistakes!) but now she's got a great little summer shirt to play in. I think with my half-off coupon at Jo-Ann's the whole shirt cost came to about $5. Yay! I have another piece of pink flower fabric and I think I'll use this same pattern but extend it into a dress. Wish me luck! :)

Morro Bay for Memorial Day

We joined some friends for a weekend on the coast. We camped just a few bushes away from the beach at Morro Strand State Beach. Nora was in heaven running around with other girls and playing in the sand. B and I were sick with a nasty cold for the first day and a half that kept us from enjoying ourselves. But after that we felt much better and were finally glad we came. :)

We decided that camping is a lot more fun as a kid when you have no responsibilities and don't have to try to pack a car full of gear. I guess we've just gotten soft in our old age, but next time I think we'll just rent a condo! :) That said, I LOVE morro bay and its perfect beaches and lovely weather. I would not mind making several day trips there this summer. Anyone want to meet me there? :)
Nora's BayWatch Tryout








Ike's first taste of rocks - he couldn't get enough of 'em!

I don't think He even eats cookies!

Driving around town the other day, we were playing the "Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar" game. You know it - it goes like this:

Nora stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

Who me?

Yes you.

Couldn't be.

Then who?

Daddy stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

Nora was getting a real kick out it.We went through all our family members, including grammas and papas with each of us taking a turn pretending to be an extended family member. Then Nora started naming her favorite fictional characters like Dora the explorer, Little Einsteins, etc.

The game ended abruptly when we asked, Then Who? and Nora answered, Jesus stole the cookies!

Hmm...I'm glad she thought to include him in our game, but I guess we need to teach her a little more about the attributes of deity! :)

We Bought a House!!!

I never thought we'd buy a house this soon out of school, but thanks to a nice little tax return this year and a really cheap bank-owned property, we did it! Since we just moved last week, I can't find my camera yet, but we've already done quite a bit of painting on the inside to make it presentable. These pictures are from before we bought it. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house with an office, a small-ish yard, and it feels huge to us! Even though we are still in boxes and there's lots of work to be done, it feels great to be in our own place.
entry way and view to kitchen

master bedroom

living roommaster bath
lovely red office
ike's room
nora's room
kids' bath

One-liners from the Time Out Corner

Most of Nora's funniest one-liners come from being put in time out. She will shout out manipulative phrases at us from down the hall as she waits out her penalty. Here are a few of my favorites:

• After hitting Ike on the head with a wooden spoon: (In a pleading voice) Mommy? Remember I'm a good girl?
  
  
• After throwing food at the table: "Heavenly Father want you to not give me a time out! Heavenly father misses me. Heavenly Father loves me!"
  
  
• N:Mom! I'm saying a prayer...I'm saying a prayer! I need you to listen!
  Me:Okay Nora you can come out now.
  N:I'm saying a prayer.
  Me:Okay. (N kneels down.) Say your prayer.
  N:Heavenly Father. Please bless me not to put fingers in baby Ike's mouth and please bless me not to be sad anymore. Amen!
  


• While carrying her down to time out: Heavenly Father wants you to be a good mommy!

Easter at Gramma's

What a treat! We got to spend Easter at my parents' house with my sister Lindsay and her family as well as my sister Briana and her beautiful new baby Claire. The festivities started with traditional egg dyeing.

Papa and his grandsons, Ike and Tyson
Nora's first chocolate bunny
Success!




Monday we headed to the Nut Tree in Vacaville for a little playtime in the sunshine.



Aunt Lindsay with baby Tyson.
Riding the train with Gramma.

I know I say I don't like animals, but these ones are pretty cute!

Yosemite!

We spent the last weekend in March with my good friend Jamie and her fam in a little town called Groveland, just outside of Yosemite. It was the first time we've every really vacationed with another family and it was definitely an experience I'd like to repeat! So fun.

This is how good of friends we are - we arrived at our condo unexpectedly wearing essentially the same outfit!
Jamie was so prepared. She brought along all the fixings for a mini easter egg hunt for the kids. It gave Nora good practice for the real thing the next Sunday ! :)

Ike chillin' in his rocking chair.

Bridal Veil Falls, I think. Very cold that morning, but gorgeous.
We didn't do any actual hiking as planned, but we took a walk up to the falls, had a picnic lunch, checked out the little indian village and just enjoyed the surrounding beauty.

Playing at the community park a few minutes from the condo.



The condo was in a gated lake community. Although the water was freezing most of our party ventured in at some point and it was just nice to be on a warm-ish beach in March!