Sharing Bananas

Lola met a new buddy today. I was babysitting for a friend from work. I wasn't sure how they'd do since Lola hasn't been around children very much. But we didn't have any problems.They greeted each other quite happily then hopped on the couch for some Kung Fu Panda time, which seemed to mesmerize both of them.

They followed each other around the house for a while. Lola even helped Amelia eat her bananas when I wasn't looking.  Amelia is still wobbly with her walking and each time she tumbled, Lola came running up to the rescue. 

They played for a while but pretty soon they were tucked in comfy with a teddy bear and a blanket. I think Lola would like a permanent little playmate around here. Maybe it's time to start thinking about that..........

And by "that" I mean a KITTEN!

Dear Laundry

Oh laundry, how much you've grown in the past two months. It seems you're getting along well with the boy clothes that have taken your space in the hamper. Although I"m not sure I'm getting along well with their  hanging needs .Of course I was never that good of hanging with you either. I know you like your freedom of laying every which way, strewn out upon the couch, as do I. But I"m afraid you're going to have to go into the closet soon. People frown upon leaving you in baskets and apparently you don't look as smooth when you leave the house. So here's to another Jason Mraz marathon as we dance our way into order and neatness until I see you again. Don't worry I'm sure it won't be long and we'll do it all over again. 

Relentless

After listening to KLOVE 95.3 for a while and getting a push from a wonderful friend, I've decided to choose my "word" for 2011.
The "word" is a way of doing New Years resolutions without doing New Years resolutions. The idea behind it is that each year we all make resolutions with good intentions. Things we want to try, things we want to do, things we want to be better at. Most of the time, we fizzle out by February. They challenged us to give up resolutions and instead adopt a "word" that would describe what you want to come out of this year. Something you want to strive towards, something you want to define you for 2011. They suggested you think about it, pray about it, and carefully choose your "word". After an uplifting email from a great friend, not mentioning any names, Amy Oglesby, I got very excited to pick my "word." I took a bubble bath, and did some praying. Before I even started the word, relentless, was on my mind. I wasn't sure why, it seemed like a weird word for this. I decided to pray more about it and still..relentless was it. So I googled the definition and came up with this.....
Relentless:
1. unyieldingly severe, strict, harsh   (Yikes! was my first thought)
2. determined, unmoving (okay this is better)
3. showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace
4. steady and persisent


I had sent Amy an email before this saying how yet again, I've slacked on my daily reading and praying. It seems as I think about the past few years my word would be "floater" I"ve lived in a few different places, with different churches, different friends and because of that I"ve just floated along. So many times I"ve started a new bible study, a new prayer time and so many times, it's fizzled out. I believe its time for me to be steady and persisitent, unyielding, and strict. 
Relentless in praise and worship, relentless in making time for God, relentless in my love for others. There is no room for fizzling out, and no room for stopping or giving up. 
This is my word. 
Relentless. 

Becoming an old lady

I have a scrapbooking/sewing room in my house. Although I haven't used it for any purpose besides storage, I did decide to get a project started that I"ve wanted to get going for a long time now. Painting and getting my room all set up....

 Although my room isn't quite put back together, I got out my quilt kit that mom got me for Christmas the year before this one (I know-I'm a slacker) and got to work. After cutting the first piece of fabric wrong because I'm not smart enough to use my ruler mat, the rest went pretty smoothly. I have sewn together the top. Its a mix of 6 different natural colored fabrics in a random design layout. Lola thinks it will be a great quilt for cuddling. She's been jumping on it since I started the project. Pictures of the finished project will follow...

Dominican Republic

After a lot of debating, Kyle and I decided to go all out for our honeymoon, book an expensive spa resort and head to warmer weather. As far as the weather goes, we could not have chosen a better place and time. We stayed at Zoetry Agua (which we would recommend to anyone). We had an awesome time relaxing, reading, getting massages, and playing in the ocean.....

It was also my first time riding in a plane! It was actually pretty fun. Although I don't think I want to do that too often. Once in a while would be okay. It would be better if I didn't have to pee every 5 minutes. Poor aisle guy. 

I've got more vacation time scheduled for June. I don't think we'll be going anywhere tropical, but I hope we have as much fun as this trip.

Adventures in Cooking

I like to cook. More than cooking, I like to eat.

Mondays are my day off when I have time for myself. So Mondays are my cooking days.

Tonight I sat down on the couch and chatted with my sister on the phone while I peeled an entire bag of potatoes for soup. Usually I look for recipes in my cookbooks, magazine articles I've saved, or online. But tonight I was feeling adventurous, so I decided to make my own soup recipe. Two finger cuts, one pot boiled over, and a messy counter top later, I was eating Cheddar Bacon Potato Soup and a Kiwi-Pineapple Smoothie. Recipes by: Jill Campbell.
Both of which turned out great, making tonight's kitchen adventure a success!

Trick or Treat!

Our first Halloween:

3 p.m. Kids knock on the door. We panic- 

           Jill: Oh crap! I don't have any candy yet!!

           Kyle: It's only 3pm! 

           Jill: Don't answer the door! 

           Kyle: You know they can hear you right?

           Jill:  Oh wait! I've got some Hershey's bars!

           Kyle: Too late-they're already gone.

           Jill: Let's go get candy STAT!

4 p.m. Kids knock on the door-we're ready this time!

           Jill: You get the door. I"m nervous!
           Kyle: What? They're kids!

           Jill:  Just open the door!

           Kyle: Howdy!! (yes i know-howdy? ugh) Go ahead and grab a handful there!

           Kids: ALRIGHT!! (as they grab 10 pieces of candy)

           Jill: Oh my gosh Kyle-don't give out all the candy to the first ones! It's only 4pm!

           Kyle: Well I didn't know they'd be so greedy!

          Jill: Well what if we run out? 

          Kyle: You could put an "out of candy" sign on the door. 

          Jill: Ugh. I"ll just give them quarters. 

         

Kyle's favorite Trick or Treaters were 2 kids from the Scary movies with the white faces. They tilted their heads when Kyle  opened the door just like in the movie. haha. 

My favorite was a little wolverine who didn't come to our door but was across the street skipping in his huge muscular wolverine costume with metal claws. 

Lola of course liked them all!