Watch out Martha

My friend Pam is a spectacular chef who has graciously agreed give me some cooking lessons. I had a wonderful afternoon learning some of her tricks.

Step One: Have pretty beverages and yummy snacks close by

Step Two: Gather and organize ingredients (Pam set everything up before I arrived. I felt like I was on a cooking show--it was fabulous)

This is the chocolate cake ready to go in the oven. While it was baking, we worked on making the pizza.

The finished products!

Disclaimer: My crust looks nothing like Pam's pizza usually looks. This proves that I really did make it myself. The pizza might look lopsided but it tasted fantastic! Can't wait for my next lesson!

Mission Accomplished

My goals for the summer were to finish a couple of scrapbook projects and organize the closet in my bedroom. I finished an "Italy" scrapbook for Yolanda K. in June and that inspired me to complete the engagement book that I've been putting together for Kaylan. Did I mention that Kaylan and Travis will be married for 2 years on the 16th? Yes, that means I've been working on their engagement book for 3 years. Yikes. It is 99% complete...just need to go through it one more time and add some finishing touches. As excited as I am for Kaylan to see the finished book, I know I will miss working on it. I get a little bit sad when a scrapbook comes to an end. Not sure why--there is always another project to start.

Probably need to thank the leaky water heater for soaking the carpet in my closet forcing me to empty the closet. It was pretty easy to organize after that.

I love that my summer goals got accomplished...with 12 hours to spare. School starts tomorrow...

Steamboat Springs

It's always difficult for me to return home after a great vacation, especially when the vacation included ALL my favorite people. My sisters, brothers, and I spent months planning a surprise trip for our Mom's 60th birthday and it was fabulous!


There was a hot air balloon festival in Steamboat. This was the view from Tree Haus Drive. It was amazing to get up close to the huge balloons and watch them take off.

Chris got everyone tickets to the Rockies game. We went the night before we drove up to Steamboat. It was so much fun to sit in the 'Rock Pile'. The game was great--we got to see several homeruns, including a grand slam.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Kaylan!

Happy Birthday to my baby sister. I will never forget the night that Mom and Dad told us that we would be getting a new baby brother or sister. Of course, Sher and I were rooting for a sister. The score was already 2-2 and we needed a tie breaker. We had no idea that this little sister was going to be anything but a follower. Kaylan's independent spirit was evident from the very beginning and it's one of the things I admire most about her. I am so thankful for my beautiful, hilarious, and clever sister. I am the luckiest.

Call of the Wild

So much to say...

so many TV shows to watch. Hmm...

How about a list of future blogs to hold over my one (possibly two) reader(s):

Spring Break in Lovely Indiana with the big cats

Mass e-mails and life altering news

Never-ending birthday

Origin and proper use of the phrase "D-U-N done!"

Stay tuned.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

I was almost 5 years old when my brother Jonathan was born. I very clearly remember the day he came home from the hospital. My pre-school carpool dropped me off around noon and I remember racing into the house. I really wanted to get to see him first--before Sheridan got home from Kindergarten. There he was, the sweetest dark-haired baby. I remember thinking that he was really long.

Jonathan was (and really still is) an adorable little brother. Big eyes, long eyelashes, and he had that great scratchy toddler voice. From just about day 1, Jonathan and Gregg were a team. One of my favorite Jonny moments is on video--we were all telling our new year's resolutions (circa 1984). Gregg said that he would only watch one cartoon a day. And Jonathan piped in "I watch cartoons every day" Cutest kid ever.

I really hope Jonathan has a son one day that is just like him.