Lollipop, Lollipop!

Right after we dropped Sawyer off at preschool this morning, since Aspen was looking kind of cute in her Valentine's Day get-up, I decided to try and take a few "2 year old" pics of the girl. We crossed the Ballard Bridge and as we drove by a more industrial area near the train tracks I spotted a colorful loading dock. So, out we went to snap a few before racing around doing errands. It was 9:15am and pretty darn chilly, but she was being a good sport. Right when we crossed the street and no sooner than I got my camera out and adjusted, it got windy - and then the rain started. Soooo....our little photo sesh was super short-lived. As in ten-minutes tops. Poor child was freezing (and you can see the raindrops starting on her hair in a few frames). The only thing that got her to smile was this lollipop from Christmas that I happened to have stashed in my backpack. That lasted all of 5 minutes and then we ran for cover and finished all of our errands in a whirlwind before picking Sawyer up from his party at school. I really want to get some of her in her little birthday dress - but we are just going to have to wait for a warmer day...


...in the meantime...


I think I got a taste captured of our girl as a freshly-turned-two-year-old. I'll give it one more go when we get a nicer day :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know, I know. Valentine's Day isn't until Tuesday. But things are BUSY (can I say that again?) B-U-S-Y around here (more on that later...) and since I can't seem to fall asleep tonight I decided to post at least a little something while I have time.

Valentine's Day isn't just about chocolate and roses (though I won't turn them away). And it's not just about romance. It's kind of a silly holiday in a lot of ways - but in the right spirit it is fun to celebrate. I was single for a lot of years before I had a sweetheart to call "mine" and I had a LOT of great Valentine's Days! I think it's because I thought of the day as celebrating those you love - anyone who's day you might want to brighten with a candy heart or a little note of "I love and appreciate you in my life". Fancy dates and dinners were highly lacking...but I had fun friends and roommates who also knew how to celebrate and that made it all the better. During college, I even had a house full of my best guy friends, who were girl-friend-less at the time (minus one, I think) who went together and got me flowers on Valentine's Day! Maybe it wasn't romantic but it sure brought a big smile to my face. I think it was one of the nicest things ever (good job, boys - and I'm still in touch with every single one AND their wives and children!) 

Of course one of THE best Valentine's Days I had was when I started dating Jacob. I remember it very clearly - we had only been dating a few weeks so I didn't know if he'd do anything, and wasn't really expecting anything...but he invited me over and made me dinner after class (I was in grad school by then), a dinner by candlelight (and did you know he's an awesome cook? why, yes he is! and not just on special occasions!) Anyway, we had dinner and he surprised me with a little valentine card - of course he designed it just for me, the crafty graphic designer he is. He gave me a yummy smelling candle as well. And I surprised him with two crystal goblets and some "sparkly" to toast to some fun times ahead. Then, we went to the beach at Golden Gardens for a little walk in the moonlight...we talked and listened to music and discovered are world views were aligned in many ways. It was the beginning of something wonderful...

I don't know why I'm rambling, really. But I just want my friends and family to know - whether you have a sweetheart or not - that I LOVE YOU. I wish I could name all of you here but I don't think that would be appropriate. (I'm pretty sure most of you know who you are). I will be thinking of you this Valentine's Day. You make my life all the better and for that I thank you. I'll save my love notes to Jacob for, well, for HIM. But here, I wish you all a wonderful and joyous day celebrating the people in your life that you are grateful for - the people that you love and the people that love you. Virtual hugs from me to you this week. 

Now, go on and eat some chocolate! Happy Valentine's Day!

The Celebration

First, can I say how fast the past year went by? It flew! I can hardly believe Aspen is already TWO. For her first birthday I went aaaaallllll out with a big party, but this year, for various reasons, I wanted to keep things asap (as simple as possible). Aside from my simplistic aspirations,  the evening before I all of a sudden decided I needed to do something to help spruce up the celebration and make sure she noticed the day truly was being celebrated - so I ran out and bought 2 yards of fabric (inspired by the color of her birthday dress) and threw half of it across the table (later I will make it into something else...pjs perhaps?), and then made her a special party hat. Added a balloon chandelier and- Wa la - it was looking good! (And I can't forget, the cake - I started it at 9:30pm and finished around 2:30am. I sure hope she liked it!)

Besides my evening of sprucing things up and baking, it was a simple celebration. It was Sunday, so she wore her special birthday dress to church. I fully intend to take some pictures of her in her dress in the next couple of weeks. I kind of failed on the one year pics, so let's hope I can catch her this year! I am usually not drawn to rich, deep, colors - and she tends to look best in lighter shades, but she looked stunning in her little red dress. So, we had cake, ice-cream, and some presents at home - and three special guests: mama, daddy, and her big bro. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the dinner request: German pancakes with fresh fruit. Top that with the cake and ice-cream and it's no surprise the kids were wound up that night!

Above: waiting for cake and practicing singing "Happy Birthday". So cute!


Below: She was soooo excited, she started blowing out the candles before we even put them on the cake! She kept saying "MY birthday! Happy Birthday, Ah-pen!"

And finally, the candles. 

May all your birthday wishes come true, little one!

We love you so - you truly are like sunshine!

Here's to another great year, and many many more to come!