What time is it?

Apparently, winter has been occurring some where in the country because Punxsutawney Phil has predicted that there will be six more weeks of winter. And when you use the word 'more' that is assuming that you have had 'some'. If we've had a winter here then I have missed it! Did I nap through it?
You know how Arizona and Hawaii don't adhere to day light savings time? Maybe CA has decided to do away with Winter. We can get by with just Spring Summer and Fall.
I'm ok with that.

Ashton's Village

Yesterday we had a very modest baby shower for our dear Aston and little Henry , who is due to arrive in a few days.

We met at one of our favorite restaurants La Vache, which is a French Bistro.
Below are pictured the hostesses and the guest of honor.
Ashton received some amazing gifts and a ton of cute clothes for the little guy.
She also received vital advice and tips to help her jump into the black hole known as motherhood.
Paternal Grandmothers and Greatgrandmothers.
The food was yummy and the company even yummier!
And a great big THANK YOU to dear sweet Care who came up with the amazing Rubber Ducky Cake and cupcake favors.. Isn't she talented?

It was a wonderful brunch with family and close friends and we hope that Ashton is feeling more confident as she prepares for the cutest grandson to arrive.

When I WAS a kid...

Emma needed corn kernels for a project at school so we bought a jar of regular (not microwave) popcorn. This led to an interesting discussion about how people popped corn before microwaves. I'm embarrassed to say that my 10 year old daughter had never seen corn popped. She thought that all corn had to be put in the microwave in a sealed bag, because there was some reason you could not look at corn before it was popped. Isn't it funny what I, as a mother, didn't think about and how she has tried to make sense of the things she sees in her world?
So, we got out the oil and pan and melted the real butter and had us an amazing afternoon watching TV and eating popcorn cooked the 'old fashion way'. I had forgotten how good the real thing is. Wonder what else she/we are missing out on?

A New Member of the Family

Fraser and I went to the SD Home Show on Friday and I talked him into finally purchasing the coveted Vita Mix. I am in love! I have visions of a long and satisfying relationship with the machine. I have tried smoothies and chocolate ice cream. The smoothies were yummy but we settled for chocolate shakes with chunks of chocolate in them. I quickly named it a Blizzard and convinced Emma that was what I was going for.
I can't wait to grind wheat and quinoa for fresh flour. And apparently you can cook soup in them too. I think the KitchenAid is a little jealous though.
Anyone have any recipes that I need? Or suggestions for what I did wrong with the ice cream? Cause that is important, making fresh ice cream was the deal breaker for Fraser and I need to keep him happy. (At least for the first few months until the novelty wears off.)

My Dream Job

I always wanted to work at Legoland and build little tiny fantasy worlds. How happy would you be working on recreating the Inauguration on the Capital steps under the CA sun!

Check out the guest list:Of course the Obama family is there.




Along with the Bush Sr.s (gray hair) Clintons (both going blond for the event)Singer Aretha Franklin and the George W's ( notice they were not even given chairs) hmmmm.

And of course the woman who set his little foot on the path to greatness: Oprah.
Although I can't figure out where her seats are.(Does it look like she has called a bedroom at the White House.)

Whats an inauguration without a parade!And the first signs of change in the air: A portapotty for every American!
God Bless America
And God Bless President Obama.

Mormon's can dance, but I can't

For those of you who don't know, I am a Mormon. Being raised Mormon is, I think, very much like being Jewish. I feel my faith defines me as much as having my father's eyes and my grandmother's smile. I am so grateful for the grounding and the hope that I find in the church. Especially for the comfort and guidance it gives in these crazy times in which we live.
By the way, I don't care much for receiving flowers, always feels like such a waste of money. I would prefer a good book or a box of scotchmallows.

The calm after the storm

December has been such a crazy month I don't know if I want to blog about it to catch up or just jump to 2009 and start fresh. There is something about 'closure' (sounds so CA doesn't it?) and sharing the pictures and stories of my life. But then I kind of want the feeling you get after you've cleaned out the fridge and you've made the decision to throw out the half of bowl of rice, 2 tablespoons of wilted cilantro and something red that has grown a beard.
I love THAT feeling too.
Probably best not to make a decision at 3:16 in the morning. I'll try and sleep on it.