My Lil' Pastry Chefs

My little 9-year old sister convinced me that I absolutely, positively needed one of those coupon books her school was having her sell for a fundraiser. I dislike these books. So many coupons and yet they are usually for places I never visit. I thought I would support the cause anyway.
I was flipping through it last week and found a coupon to Little Pastry Chefs, a cute little bakery over by my parent's home. It was a buy one get one free so I thought it would be a fun activity for Chloe and Naomi...and maybe Beckham.
The girls picked out their cakes and colors of frosting and they decorated like professionals. We got a cupcake for Mr. Beckham, however, he was much more excited about the frosting (a man after my own heart...).
They did such a good job and it was so cute that they each complimented each other during the whole process...
"Chloe, that looks awesome!"
"Naomi, I love those colors you picked!"

They have a summer camp schedule and I think I may be signing them up for some fun summer classes!

Mother's Day Gift

I hate (okay, dislike very strongly) pushing people on swings. I don't know why, but I do. Chloe's favorite thing to do in the entire world, other than dressing up, is to swing. She could stay on a swing for hours...that is, if there were someone who would be willing to push her for that long. 

Last night we went to my parent's home for Mother's Day. As with every trip to my parent's house came Chloe's request(s) for me to push her on the swing. I usually find excuse after excuse, but yesterday I didn't mind. I began pushing her and after a few pushes, she told me to stop pushing her. I was surprised that she had grown tired of her favorite activity so quickly.

To my amazement (and hers!), she began pumping herself on the swing! Back and forth...back and forth. I ran into the house to grab my camera and when I returned...back and forth. She was still going! She just giggled and smiled. She just kept telling me how big she was. Maybe a small feat to some, but to Chloe and me, it was big.

It was a great Mother's Day gift.

Rock Stars

When I was 19, my favorite singer in the entire world, Martina McBride, came to Vegas. 

I knew all of her songs. I knew how many kids she had (names and ages!). I knew her concert schedule. Okay, I stalked her a little. 

Anyway, when I found out she was coming to Vegas I, of course, bought tickets. But her visit to Vegas this time also included a meet and greet CD signing at a local mall. 

Seriously? I could meet her in real life???

No question. I cleared my schedule. My Mom and I ran to Tower Records to purchase clean, 

in-the-wrapper CDs of her latest album so that it would be perfect for her to sign. We waited in line for our turn. The closer I got, the worse I smelt. Ridiculous amounts of sweat. This person for whom I had become slightly obsessed with was sitting a few feet away from me. I was completely star struck.

When I reached the front of the line and I approached the signing table, I panicked. All of the clever things I had rehearsed to say to her slipped my mind. She asked my name. I told her. My mind raced. I need to say something!

And then it happened.

"Martina, you are such an awesome singer!" I blurted out.

Are you kidding me? You are such an awesome singer??? Did I just say that out loud? As if she didn't already know that.  

Fast forward to this past weekend.

As a photographer, I find myself constantly researching other photographers and their work. I have kind of become sort of obsessed with a few of them. One of my favorites is a woman by the name of Cheryl Muhr and I spent this past weekend in Dallas at one of her workshops. She only allows a limited amount of people to attend each workshop and so I felt like I was just hanging out with her. From the moment I saw her, however, I was star struck. She was famous to me. I felt like I knew everything about her (I've got to work on that stalker-ish side of me!). 

She is amazing. Not just her work, but as a person.

At the end of the workshop, I wanted to thank her and so I approached her and she reached out and gave me a hug. My heart started to race. I wanted to say something. I wanted to thank her. I wanted to praise her. Instead...well...

"Cheryl, you are such an awesome photographer!" I said.

Are you kidding? Is that the best that I could come up with? 

Amy Smith, Amy Leavitt, Me, Cheryl Muhr, Jennie Slade

Point of the story? 

If I ever call you awesome, it's not just some lame attempt at complimenting you. I reserve that word for those who I think are rock stars!

Check out my photography blog to view some of my favorite images from the weekend!

Sweet Sunday

When life gives you lemons, make lemon bars! They are SO YUMMY! Chloe and I had fun making these today and they are so easy!

Lemon Bars

1 cup butter

1/2 cup powder sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups flour

Cream together and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes in a 9x13 pan.

While the crust is baking, mix these ingredients together

4 eggs (beaten)

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup lemon juice

Pour over crust and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with powder sugar...enjoy!

Easter and Stuff...

I have minor panic attacks everyday. Why? Because the Blogger people made it possible for people to track how often you update your blog. As I blog stalk my daily list, the date in which I have posted last continues to get further and further from the present date. It stresses me out. This is exactly why I didn't want to start a blog. I always feel like I am behind. 

The past month has been fun. The kids are getting so big and this Easter they really "got" it. 2 family parties, 4 Easter egg hunts and 1 family day at church later, we are all suffering from major sugar highs and have been eating chocolate bunnies for breakfast for the past week. I am hoping that we are coming to the end of the stash. (My goal is to toss whatever is left by the end of the weekend. Truth is, this will probably be accomplished by me eating what is left by midnight Sunday night).

The weather was perfect and so was the company. We went to church with Jon's side of the family and then enjoyed a bbq and egg hunt afterwards. Later that day, we met my family at a park and had a little picnic and another egg hunt.

I love Easter. I love our Savior who overcame death and for the miracle of the resurrection. With Easter comes a sense of renewal and the Spring season (well, this one is going to take some faith on my end. I haven't seen much of this yet!).  Here are some of my favorite photographs from the past couple of weeks...

Our kids LOVE taking family pictures

Beckham's 1st egg. He wanted to stop hunting after he figured out what was inside. Time to sit down and enjoy the fruits of his labor!

He LOVES to suck the flavor off of each chip before eating it. It makes for a bag a chips lasting a LONG time!

Hmmm...who is more excited???

Part of Chloe's preschool class. A meltdown is in the works even before it begins...

My babies

Again...our kids LOVE taking family pictures!

Changed My Mind

Whenever I am having a bad day or Jon feels the need to apologize for something, he always stops by the store and picks me up a pack of mint, double-stuffed Oreos...that I almost always finish 

all-by-my-self. 

I've never been a huge fan of flowers and he knows that. Something about them dying shortly after I receive them and then watching the slow and painful death and then the clean up. 

Oh, the clean up. 

But, my in-laws gave me these beautiful tulips the other day, and I think that I may be changing my mind. I think I am in love. I can't get enough of them. I stare at them. The kids and I sit and smell them. They make the house seem fresh and "springy."

So, Jon...if you are reading this, 

I changed my mind.

And since I was so enthralled with taking pictures of the flowers this morning, my kids decided that they didn't want to be left out. Beckham yells "Mommy, picture me!" every time he sees the camera.

And Chloe wanted everyone to see what she had for breakfast (Lucky Charms, if you were wondering!)

It's a Desert Out There

Last weekend I got to do this again. I am so lucky!

Even better, this time my sister, Amber, ran with me. We, along with 10 other team members ran from Prescott to Mesa, Arizona...204 miles total! 20 some odd hours later, we crossed the finish line. Exhausting and exhilarating. Good combination.

Jon and my brother-in-law, Kyle, followed us on almost the whole course. Those of you who know me know that I am afraid of the dark. Seriously. I still sleep with the hall light on at night. So, I was very scared of my night leg. 7.5 miles beginning at 11 p.m. I should add that I was well equipped with a miner's light on my head and a reflector vest. Those things didn't make things any better. What did make it better was when my sweet husband jumped out of the car and ran with me for about a mile and a half. He doesn't run. I think he actually may have put his life on the line (okay, I am a little bit dramatic...but he is home sick today with an upper respiratory infection. Bummer.). Seriously though, it made the run go by so much faster and made me forget for a little bit that I was running in the dark. 

Anyway, that is a lame recap, but that was that. If you want to see how our team did, check out our team website here. We are gearing up for our next run from LA to Dana Point, California in April. I didn't think that I would sign up for it, but they caught me at a weak point...the finish line. That's when I will agree to run any race.