Day 7 and 8

Day 7 - Best part of the day

Best part of the day is when Matt is home.

I love it when we get to spend time together as a family.

Matt really tries hard to get home to give her a bath and put her bed.

Day -8...Best part of Winter

Family.

That's probably best part of winter...

(that is, after hot chocolate, Ralph Lauren comforters,

thick novels, Trader Joe's cookies)

I think it's just safe to say that I love winter.

Cousins

A week ago or so Madeleine's cousins stopped on by on the way to DC. They were only here for a bit, but we really like seeing them. Willa is only 6 months older than Madeleine, so we're hoping they'll be friends.

The problem is Madeleine still isn't really sure what to do with other babies.

She was actually really excited to see Willa and her older brother Jonas.

But last time Madeleine saw Willa, she wasn't mobile.

In anticipation of Willa's next visit, Madeleine learned to crawl determined to keep up with Willa.

But unfortunately for Tiny, Willa had learned to walk,

and run,

and climb.

To quote one of Matt's favorite lines from an incredibly hokey movie:

Offspring: "My powers have more than doubled since we last met, Count."

Willa: "Good. Twice the pride. Double the fall."

Willa did most of the falling though.

Tiny just sat confused in the middle of floor, not really sure what to do.

Jonas thankfully gave her a bit of attention before going outside to catch fireflies.

Candid Photos

Right after we finished the 5k! 

I got 35:30...Matt got a faster time than that, but that's all I remember.

So glad that my family ran with me 2 days before we moved.

Right before we left Utah.

Madeleine with her Papa Ralph at some random rest stop.

Matt and I went on a date while we were in DC

This is from our parking spot at Tyson's Corner.

At the end of our day at the zoo, Madeleine passed out on her dad's lap. 

Great grandparents Farnsworth

Madeleine in the middle of her room, while I unpacked it.

Hanging out on the floor

Outtake.

Father's Day

Since it's Matt's first Father's Day, we celebrated all weekend.

Yesterday we went to a car show.

 I wanted the stingray to be Matt's Father's Day present, but he said we couldn't spend $17,000 on a sport car yet. Too bad...

Matt was a bit bummed that Tiny couldn't go on the bounce house yet.

Then we went to Buffalo Wild Wings. Matt wanted some and I am glad he did. They were good! Our favorite sauce was the "Wild" sauce. 

Then today we went on a picnic and flew a kite.

Matt wanted raspberries but I wanted chocolate, so we whipped up some chocolate covered raspberries.

Baby just wanted his glasses.

I think all in all this was 150x more successful than Matt's birthday, which I was grateful for.

He is a great dad. Baby loves hanging out with him.

Matt's way more patient than me at 3:30 in the morning with her than me.

Tiny Human also seems to like it when he plays legos with her, 

or when he cuddles and takes naps with her.

She really adores him, and it is completely obvious too. 

Happy Father's Day, sweetheart! We love you.

Rest of Texas

We just got home from Texas. 

The first week we were there, there was so much rain.

But once the sun came out, we were frequently at the pool.

Waving to her minions 

When we weren't, Baby hung out in laundry baskets and chewed on kitchen supplies.

Matt and I took pictures of random stuff.

"R" for Rowdy

And did a puzzle.

While Matt and I were puzzling on something, Pop would take baby on walks (giving Matt and me just time to hang out together). 

On the last day I went with them and saw all the random things Tiny experienced when we weren't around.

Makes me wonder what she saw all the other days.

And while we loved having time alone, we were always happy to see her back.

Then on Wednesday, we packed our bags and flew back home.

(Matt was so worried we get in trouble for taking a photo on the plane.

So this is the best shot we got.)

We had so much fun. Texas was the perfect break before we start getting ready for our next adventure.

T-18.
Just saying.

Texas Thus Far

Last week, Matt and I dyed my hair purple and then packed our bags to head down to Texas with Baby.

It was Tiny's 2nd flight and she was great.

This time she had fun looking out the window.

I spent the whole time looking out it too as we past over the plains.

There were some pretty amazing clouds from the recent tornadoes.

They were huge! So big that we had to weave around them for most of our flight.

When we landed my grandparents were waiting for us. 

I was excited. I always like visiting this state.

After all I was born here...and even though I only lived here for 5 years, I still have some Texan pride.

(Not so much so that my house is decorated with the state and state flag everywhere.)

We passed through San Antonio and drove a while before we got to the ranch my grandparent's live on.

It has always been a fun place to visit, and I was excited for Matt to come here with me.

There are also a TON of animals at this ranch. Madeleine got to experience this first hand when Chewy the deer came up to the porch to check her out.

Then he licked her foot.

Baby with Pop

 On Monday, we drove up to Austin to visit our friends, Natashya and Andy.

We had so much fun.

Baby went swimming for the first time.

Baby's first time at the pool

We talked a lot, made pizza, went to Stein Mart (so jealous they live so close to one), tried on shoes, played video games, and probably other stuff that I can't remember. 

We also made this Hot Fudge Pie recipe.

The original blog post is really fun to read (you can read or look at pictures of it here)

Things you need

2 mixing bowls (one needs to go in the microwave)

1 stick of butter

1.5 oz of unsweetened chocolate

1 c of sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp of vanilla

1/4 c of flour

2 Tbs of milk

A tub of vanilla ice cream

(handful of nuts if you want)

What to do

Preheat oven to 350*

Spray a glass or ceramic pie or cake pan

In mixing bowl #1, melt chocolate and butter in the microwave

(I do it for 30 sec intervals so the chocolate doesn't burn...it took like 1 minute)

In mixing bowl #2, beat sugar and eggs together.

Then add the stuff from mixing bowl #1.

Stir them together well.

Add vanilla and milk.

Then mix in flour until everything is brown.

(Apparently don't over beat).

The mix should taste like tootsie rolls.

Then stick in the oven for 25 minutes.

When the top looks done, pull it out. 

(The middle will still be gooey)

Then serve with lots of ice cream.

It was really good and a bit lighter than brownies.

It only takes about 5 minutes to mix up and 25 minutes to cook.

Or as the lady said, "Should be done just as you finish dinner."

.....

While we were there, at one point I talked to Andy about how I need a new computer since Flo, my tiny computer, isn't doing too hot.

I told him I just wanted one that lasted.

He said "Oh!" and like the engineer he is rattled a long list of things I should look for.

I heard it as "lots of numbers memory...more numbers RAM...quad core processor...and a lot of other things."

The next day, Matt went to buy us a "pet" mouse. 

(keyboard mouse, if it was a real mouse, I told him I was buying a kitten or a snake)

While he was debating what he wanted, I went around the corner. 

The next thing he heard was "I found it!"

Thinking that I found a mouse, he came over, only for me to point to a computer.

"I want it," I said.

"But Michele, you don't even know what it looks like."

"Nope."

"Then why do you want it?"

"The price is right and it has the quad thing that Andy said to get."

When we got home, we told my dad about it, who was impressed by my savvy computer picking.

He couldn't believe I was the one to pick it out.

So the next day we bought it!

Presenting Matilda!

Isn't she great?

:)

(Matt is amused that Michele hasn't removed the protective plastic yet.)

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was pretty awesome. 

Matt made me breakfast.

I got chocolate and a temple envelope with the Oquirrh Mt. temple on it.

(That's where we were married.)

I was thrilled!

Then we drove down to Alpine.

To see my mom, but more importantly my siblings!!!

They are on missions. So we only get to talk to them twice a year.

We skyped with Mollie.

She looked so happy.

She thought baby was cute and looked just like the photos.

Talking to Riley was funny.

I really loved it.

Matt took pictures of baby and me outside.

She wasn't so sure about the pine cones or the dumb chickens my parents own.

But we got some good ones.

And lastly...here is a random picture of her and one of her great-grandmas.

Granny is one of my favorite people to visit.

She always has something snarky to say.

Lately the last few times we have visited she has said,

"No wonder why she can't roll over.

She can hardly move in those damn jeans."

Wise words. Don't you think?

(By the way just for the record, Madeleine can roll over (even in jeans), just not command. She's not as well trained as a dog.)