I'm trying to be better about updating my blog so as to be the favorite daughter.  Here's an update about the last two weeks in Jen and Adam's world:

Major Event #1:  Adam's Birthday

What a beautiful day!  Saturday the 14th was warm and sunny.  We hosted a little birthday lunch in Adam's honor with his immediate family and Collin (who was going solo while Tianna visited family in AZ).  It was my first hosting event in the new house and since it consisted of pizza and Marie Callender's pie, I'd say it was a success.  I think this may have been Adam's favorite present:

No - that's not an announcement.  I just realized that might be misleading.  We got his brother Ben a Disney Princess Diary for Christmas this year and he decided to exact his revenge.  Sigh.

Another year older.  I really can't believe that Adam used to look like this:

What a handsome sandwich! 

Major Event #2: Wende's Birthday/St Patrick's Day

I couldn't be with her on her birthday of course, but it sounded like a great day.  I really can't express how much I love and admire my big sister.  I think that about 60% of who I am comes from growing up with her playing "Carol and Diana" and "What's for Lunch," making up and acting out plays such as "The Death of the Mailman in the Kitchen," begging her to tear herself away from her book and play Barbies with me.  That's just the tip of the iceberg.  I love our relationship now and how we can talk about anything and everything and frequently do!  Happy Birthday, Kitten!  

I tried to take part in some sort of celebration for Wende and St Pat and and so we went to my friend Nicole's annual Leprechaun Frolic.  Nicole needs to do event planning.  Her parties are amazing and she doesn't lack in enthusiasm:

That about does it for major events.  The rest of the time has been spent working, doing our taxes, house cleaning inside and out, etc, etc, etc.  We just found out this morning that Adam gets to teach Gospel Doctrine and I am the new RS secretary.  Yeah, third time's a charm - I apparently didn't get it right the first two times and still need to grow in this calling.  We'll see how that goes.  I'm reading Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier again.  I love that book.  I've read it like a dozen times and it never gets old to me.  Mrs Danvers is the creepiest of housekeepers and I can relate so much to the awkward, gauche heroine without a name.  If you've never read it, do.  If you don't read, the movie isn't bad either.  I'd like to conclude this with the latest Liam pics.  He has definitely perfected his stare.  Until the next time I post - let's hope it's before April.  

                                             

 

Beware the Ides of March

That title has nothing to do with this post. My sister and I were discussing that phrase and neither on of us knew what it meant. If anyone can tell me, I'll send them a candy bar...or something like that. If anyone actually reads this blog post it will be miraculous since my dad informed me that if I wait this long between posts, no one will check my blog and I won't have any more friends and I'll be alone at 80 years old. I always thought I go my dramatic streak from my mom...hmmm. So, okay, life has changed a little bit since January. For starters, my brother and sister moved into our house with us in February. They're between gigs right now since Collin is waiting to hear from law schools. It's been great to have them. I was a little nervous, but it's so fun to see them when we come home from work, etc. Since they will most likely not be staying here for law school, it's also great that we get to spend the last few months they're around seeing them every day. Liam is another bonus - so cute. And so entertaining in church!

What else? There were some lay-offs in Adam's office to remind us that no one is invulnerable to a really bad economy. Luckily, he made it through and it doesn't look as though there will be any more in the near future. Whew!

I am excited for spring and, this is for you, Wende, am excited to celebrate Adam's AND my sister's birthdays this month. Hooray for birthdays! If anyone has any suggestions for good things to plant in your yard for a dry climate, let me know. My mother will stare at this sentence in disbelief, but I'm so excited to work in my yard! Last but not least, after a long delay....here are some pics of the new house - we still love it!


So this is what our house looks like from the back yard (I should have stood a little further back).
Note the extremely random little look out balcony from the main floor. Adam and I have decided that this will be where our kids will go for "time-out." We may also use it to host neighborhood theatricals...I'm thinking Romeo and Juliet balcony scene - sans cleavage.


And a few shots of our cute back yard. I just realized I really don't have any of the interior from after we moved in. I'll work on that...


Adam's birthday is this Saturday! It's cool that I'm younger than him...