Daffodil Classic 2012

Had I known the ride had an elevation map that looked like this, I probably wouldn't have signed up.  Sneaky husband.  It was definitely the most physically challenging thing I've ever done.  Especially considering I haven't ridden a bike since last summer!  I signed Joe and I up on a whim and it didn't really hit me how far 40 miles is until driving up the day before.  Then I got really nervous.  Once we hit the first hill I really questioned whether or not I'd be able to make it.  I'm proud to say I didn't get off my bike once the entire time.  The last hill was a killer, I thought I was going to have to walk up with my bike, but I kept on powering through the pain.  I felt so proud to finish and even more proud of myself that I kept up with the guys.  I'm not as in bad of shape as I thought!  My inspiration was Liam.  Throughout the ride I kept thinking about him and how I want to be able to do physically active things and keep up with him when he's older.  I have a feeling he's going to be active....and i don't want to have to watch from the sidelines!

There were 7 of us that did the ride; me, Joe, Gil, Uncle Lenny, Aunt Sue, Jayne and David.  Sue is my hero.  She rocked it!  I hope that when I'm 62 I'm able to do something so physically demanding.  Use it or lose it, my new motto.  

Lucky Liam got to stay and play with Uncle Jack, Dylan and Srey all day and had a blast!  He was so tuckered out from his busy day he was asleep before we even got on the freeway, slept the entire drive home and for 15 hours total that night.  Then he took a 3 hour nap yesterday!

A day of firsts

We did it!  Daddy was off today so we told Liam we were going on an adventure and took off for Vancouver this morning.  I wanted to take him to Lil' Snippers for his first haircut, it's such a cute place.  I wanted to make his first haircut a fun one.  Or at least try to!  He was so happy when we walked in, they have a super fun play area and he was loving it.  And then they called his name.  I think it reminded him of being at the doctor and he freaked out.  He was so scared and started crying hysterically even though there was a fun police car for him to sit in.  It took about 10 minutes of me holding him and the lady blowing bubbles and pulling out cars for him to play with before he would let me set him inside of it.  It was all fun after that, especially when he discovered the police car had a siren and lights!  So cute.  I didn't want to totally take the baby look away so we just got it trimmed up.  A little bit at a time, baby steps!  

The first cut!.

A close-up, Costco after!  

 After Costco, we took him for his first carousel ride at Jantzen Beach.  It's free to ride all month, so I thought it would be a fun thing to do.  He loved it!  A great way to celebrate his first haircut and a fun (and free!) family outing.  It's been a long time since we've been on an outing, everything has been so busy with the house remodel/work/school.  It was a perfect day!

Oh, watermelon....how I've missed you!

 I just cut my first watermelon of the year!  That makes me one happy girl!  Our grocery bill sky rockets during watermelon season.  We are all huge watermelon lovers and they don't stick around long.  I get a bad addiction, always have to have one cut and in the fridge when they are at the store.  I think I paid almost $8 for one last year!  Liam loved it last year but only would take a small bite at a time.  I'm sure he'll devour it this year.  He's definitely a fruit lover like Joe and I.

Lots has happened since the last time I wrote.  On March 29 I hosted an Easter party for my mama friends and babies.  We had a hunt (inside because it was raining) and they loved it!  It's amazing to see how far they've come in a year.  Then that night, I spent my first night away from Liam.  Joe was off the next day and I always schedule all of my appointments around his schedule so Liam can stay with him.  Well, Joe decided he wanted to go skiing with his cousin at Crystal on Friday so he took Liam with him up to his parents, Grandpa David watched Liam in the morning, Auntie Sue for an hour or two in the afternoon and then Grandma was with him when she got home from work.  I rode the train from Kelso to Tacoma Friday afternoon and they picked me up.  It was so weird without having him here.  It really felt like my heart was breaking when him and Joe pulled out of our driveway Thursday evening.  Worst feeling ever.  I knew he was in good hands, it was just hard seeing my baby leave without me.  I was so excited to get to him the next afternoon!  He did great without me....and he was mad at me when I got there.  I could see him in the car and he was smiling at me and so happy but as soon as I got in the car he turned his head away from me and started almost yelling at me!  It was like he was super happy to have me back but wanted me to know that it wasn't alright to leave him like that.  Or at least that's what I like to think!  He was probably just mad that I came up! ;)

The picture below is Liam's first roasted marshmallow!  We were at Jack and Sue's and Jack decided to roast one for Liam and one for Dylan.  Can you tell Liam was in a slight sugar coma?!  He loved it!

I'm thinking Joe and I might take Liam to get his first haircut tomorrow.  It's getting pretty out of control.  Maybe if we get it cut the "what a pretty girl" comments will subside?  I'm not even joking, pretty much every time I'm in public at least one person will call him a girl.  It doesn't bother me, I actually take it as a compliment!  But he wont like it when he's old enough to understand what they're calling him!  Every time I imagine him sitting in a chair and getting it cut I get a big lump in my throat though.  Ugh.  Why does everything have to be so bittersweet?

Easter came to our house!

Above are my "I'm too cheap to buy real Easter decorations" decorations.  I've never had many Easter decorations...or decorations for any holiday for that matter.  I guess I'll start getting more into decorating now that I have a little guy who loves all of the bright colors, chicks, eggs, etc.  They definitely make it more fun!  I am hosting an Easter party for my mama friends and babies this morning so I figured I better make it look a little like Easter in our house!  I google'd "free Easter printables" and found the banner and framed art.  Had the frame from Liam's party sign so I didn't even have to buy that.  Easy, easy!  Pretty proud how it turned out.  That's about as crafty as I get.  Printing off something someone else has created, cutting and stringing together to make a banner.  Amazing how something so simple makes me feel incredibly crafty though!

I'm making a quiche and everyone is bringing things.  Should be fun.  Pretty disappointed about the weather though.  I visioned us all out in the backyard, sipping Mimosa's while the kiddos hunted Easter eggs.  Ok, maybe not serious about the Mimosas (maybe we should start!), but really was hoping for nice weather.  Apparently that is way too much to ask!

Ok, better get a move on.  It'll be 10:30 before I know it!  Happy Wednesday!

Before and after. And a little something extra.

Here is a sneak peak of the new floors.  It's the best I could do without having to pull out the camera, feeling too lazy to take pictures right now.  And besides, the project still isn't done.  Joe is working on putting up all new trim board now, there are random tools everywhere, the (as you can see) oven is still up on weird stilt things, etc.  Basically, my house is a disaster and I can't take a decent picture without having random stuff in every picture!

Before

After.  And Liam's Desitin buns.  Worst diaper rash ever, trying to let him air out.  Poor baby.  Liam loves the new floor, his cars go super fast now!  Our stove/oven sticks out (even more) like a sore thumb now.  It will be the next thing to go!  

Spring is officially here.  Hear that, weather?  Time for you to check the calendar and get with the program.  Today is also my grandmas 81st birthday.  Oh, and Liam is 17 months!  Hoping for a good day!

Cornbread deliciousness

It was another stormy and dreary day here, a perfect day for a big pot of taco soup and cornbread.  I haven't had this cornbread in a long time...I forgot how much I love it!

Southwestern Cornbread
1 can creamed-style corn
2 Jiffy corn bread mixes
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 to 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
1 can chopped green chilies, drained

Mix all ingredients; bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes


Last night was my first night at home since March 8!  Liam and I moved back in yesterday, I wanted to keep him away from the craziness of our flooring project until it was (for the most part) done.  Our bathroom flooring will be installed Wednesday and then Joe, his dad and Uncle Jack will be working on getting the trim back on next weekend.  It's gone very smoothly and our floors look amazing but I'll be glad to have everything back to normal, cleaned up and done.  After this project, it sounds like we'll take about a month or so break before Joe starts his next project, a shed for the backyard.  It's never ending!  Hopefully all of these projects will add value to our house if we ever sell it.  And if not, it's still worth it.  We live here, it's nice to really love it.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to upload some pictures of the floors tomorrow!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

He loves his grandpa!

Excuse the pink bib!  We forgot his so he was using Sophie's.  He loves his grandpa so much (and grandma---both sets)!  I love this video!

 

Life.  It has been crazy!  We decided to put new floors in our house.  It's a project we've wanted to do since we moved in but it always seemed daunting.  We went to Home Depot and just happened to see a special they had running, $397 for them to do all of the installation.  Joe did all the prep work and the installers started today.  I had no idea how much work would be involved.  He's been working non-stop.  Yesterday his parents came down and moved us totally out.  Our house has nothing in it.  It's so weird!  My parents graciously opened up their house to us and our crazy little roommate--aka--Liam.  It's actually been pretty fun, kinda feel like I'm on vacation!  And Liam has loved it, too.

We went and took a peek this evening after the installers left.  It's beautiful!  It makes the house look so different, I'll post pictures after we're settled back in.