Pots and Pans

I'm thoroughly disgusted with Calphalon. I loved my pots and pans, but after a short 4 years they are starting to peel. I have been very careful with them, but alas, it's time to move on. So, we're going stainless steel. I don't want to spend the money on a high end brand, but we're willing to spend a what we need to get a good set. Any suggestions? I've seen Bialetti, Ever Wear, and T-Fal sets that look good, but I can't decide. Does anyone have input on stainless steel brands?

How to Celebrate a Birthday for a 30 Year Old Kid

Today is Marcus' birthday! Happy Birthday baby!:) So, for this super husband and super dad, we went all out. To celebrate a birthday for a 30 year old kid, there are certain things one must do.

1) Have a theme. It was obvious what I must do. Superman.

One of his gifts -- I was pretty excited about this one.

2) Go to the park.

3) Make his favorite dinner -- masman chicken (mmm Thai food. This happens to look disgusting, but it's really yummy.) Make extra so he can enjoy his birthday for lunch during the week.

4) Open presents. This year Marcus did pretty well. From me he got the picture (see above) of Superman and Lois Lane, The Office Season 4, Swiss Miss Pudding for lunches. From Sammy and Callie -- Whey Protein. From his mom and dad -- money and See's candy. From my mom and dad -- a new GPS.


5) Sing a Happy Birthday solo, unless you have babies who can sing as well.

6) Take a happy family picture to wrap it all up.

Happy Birthday Baby Cakes

Afternoon In The Park

Today was such a beautiful day, finally, we decided to take part of the afternoon and go to the park. (Thanks April and Bryant for letting us use your camera for the day.)

Sammy on the swing.

We have been working very hard on trying to get Sammy to hold our hand while she walks. It's one of the goals I set with her physical therapist when we moved here. It was one of my priorities. It's just too dangerous to have her walking around all over the place, and as she grows, I won't be able to carry her everywhere. I practice as much as I can. She has been getting better and better, and today Marcus was able to see how far she's come. She walked all around the park holding our hands. What a sweet little girl! (Note: These are the cute black shoes I bought at Walmart. I love them! And she really walks well in them.)

Pine Cones!!!

Sammy loved this pole. I couldn't get her away from it! What an angel.

Callie was a little unsure about this, but she stayed on for a few seconds. Enough to get a picture anyway.

Back on the swings. Callie giggled so much! She would put her head way back as she swung to and fro and just laugh and laugh. It was so funny. She could stay on those swings all day.

Though it makes me a little nervous, don't worry...she never fell out of the swing.

Just recently we realized how big Callie is getting. She is a little girl now...shorter than most her age, but still, such a little girl. She loves her headbands, shoes, and feeding herself with a fork. She is so cute, and getting cuter everyday.

Uncle Bob

My uncle passed this morning at 3:30am. He was ready. They, the family and especially the doctors, were amazed he lived this long. They were helping him stay comfortable for the past few days, and I suppose he finally decided he didn't have to hold on any longer. My aunt, cousins, Mom and Dad all had a chance to say goodbye and his immediate family all reassured him that he could let go...that he didn't have to hold on any longer. I am sad. I am. But on Friday, while I was thinking about him, I felt peace. I'm so grateful to know that there is life after this one, and that families are eternal. I will see him again. And I'm sure my grandma and grandpa welcomed him with arms wide open.

A Girl Named Zippy

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel is hilarious and wonderfully written. A Girl Named Zippy was worth every moment spent reading it. It was refreshing to read about a happy childhood. I was particularly impressed with her parents who really supported her curiosities and fostered such creativity in a young child. Books will make me laugh, but no books have made me laugh out loud like this. I'm sure I looked like an insane person as I worked on the stair climber while reading this book...trying hard to stifle my laughs. Oh well. This is a book to put on your books-to-read-before-I-die list. It's light, funny, and all around good. 4 stars

This is for Grammy

I know this will make my mother-in-law proud, and my sister-in-law cry: last night I put curlers in Sammy's hair, and she is rainbows, sunshine, and all up in-your-face cute! The story goes that when Analisa was little, Peggy put curlers in her hair every night. No one knew that Analisa had straight hair until one day she didn't have her hair all curled up...who knew my mother-in-law was so bent on torturing her daughter for the sake of ringlets? Analisa says she remembers it and hated it, but you've never seen a cuter little girl...with the exception of my girls that is. I've been wanting to carry on with the curler toture for a long time now, so yesterday, I finally took a trip to Walmart and bought some sponge curlers. They didn't seem to bother her at all and boy does this little girl look cute. We will definitely be doing this more. We are planning on cutting Sammy's hair, but maybe we'll put that on hold until the Green's come to visit in May. They've got to see this.

All Dogs Go To Heaven

Marcus: Callie, who should say prayer? Mommy or Daddy?
Callie: Daddeee
(Marcus says prayer)
Marcus and Jenny: Amen
Marcus: Callie, say Amen.
Callie: (pause...thinking about it...) Woof

hmmmm have we already led her astray?