Adelaide's Birthday Picnic

Adelaide's birthday party was really fun.

Thanks to everyone who came and helped make it so memorable!

It was definitely a little risky planning an outdoor picnic party in Colorado since the weather here is so unpredictable, but the day turned out to be gorgeous.

I made lemon berry cupcakes which we placed on stands in the middle of each blanket.

The recipe can be found here.

We were lucky enough to have Melanie from You are my Fave do the charming decorations.

I love the bunting banners which now adorn Adelaide's bedroom.

We had picnic finger foods and made lemonade that was served directly out of a watermelon.

We also had blankets laid out on the grass and in each corner was a balloon weighted down by a favor bag filled with Salt Water Taffy.

These pennant flags were for everyone to wave while they sang happy birthday to miss Adelaide.

The original birthday cake I made for Adelaide was embarrassingly ugly so I made this one out of the cupcakes last minute instead.

After we all sang happy birthday I was surprised that Adelaide didn't immediately smash her cake.

She was too busy smiling at everybody.

She finally got around to eating her cake but it was a long and slow process.

Our family of three...

We've made it one year.

Happy Birthday Adelaide!

Do Fun Stuff

I love the blog Pacing the Panic Room and it's author Ryan Marshall is helping with the launch of this new album, "Do Fun Stuff." 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this album goes to fund a grant that supports SMS research. I'm pretty sure I need to buy this album, Adelaide will love dancing to this music!

Red Vine Lovers

Rick loves Red Vines to an unhealthy degree. In my weird imagination I picture a doctor being very surprised and perturbed by the results of Rick's blood test... "The findings are quite unusual, it seems like your blood is made up primarily of Red 40. How can this be? We will have to do some further testing" Obviously my daydream shows my complete ignorance of all things medical, but anyways...

We buy bulk on a quite regular basis and I know for a fact that he can eat an entire container in less than a week because I don't participate. I'm not a fan of the flavor or texture and especially the ingredients list. I wouldn't allow Adelaide to try them for the longest time, but I suppose I have loosened up a bit lately and now Rick is permitted to share.

And of course, Adelaide loves them.

(As evidenced by smears of red on her face and longing expression for more.)

Like father like daughter I suppose:)

Double the Fun

Earlier this week we watched Jack while his parents went out to celebrate their 8 year anniversary♥

Adelaide and Jack got along well as usual. He is such a sweet boy and we had a great time watching him.

My favorite part of the night was sitting them both on my lap to read a book. What cuties.

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

For Adelaide's birthday I made my Grandma's Milk Chocolate Cake.

I kept Adelaide occupied and happy during the baking process by letting her lick the whipped cream covered spatula.

I decided to make the cake with four layers

(because this allows for more whipped cream filling!)

The chocolate frosting is delicious.

Adelaide just blew out her first candle!

Milk Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

2 C Sifted Cake Flour

1 2/3 C Sugar

4 t Baking Powder

1 t Salt

5 T Cocoa

2/3 C Soft Shortening

1 1/3 C Evaporated Milk

1 1/2 t Vanilla

3 Eggs

Directions:

Sift all dry ingredients together. Beat shortening, evaporated milk and vanilla for 2 minutes. Mix dry and wet ingredients together. Add eggs and beat for 2 minutes. Pour into pan(s) and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Be careful not to over bake. Let cool for ten minutes. Put homemade whipping cream between layers and frost with chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting Recipe

4 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 t Vanilla

1/4 C Butter

1/3 C Cocoa

1/4 C Milk

Mix all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Add more milk if necessary to reach desired consistency.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Miss Adelaide!

I can't believe it has been a year already since our Adelaide was born (and look how dark her hair was). She is such a sweetheart and Rick and I have enjoyed our first year learning how to be parents on our little guinea pig of a child.

As every parent does, we just adore Adelaide. Some of the things we especially love:

Adelaide is (almost) always happy. I can't count how many times friends, family and complete strangers have told us, "I've never seen such a happy/friendly/smiley/giggly baby."

Adelaide loves to eat. Perhaps she got this trait from her parents? We thoroughly enjoy our family dinners eating and laughing together.

Adelaide is very smart. She is a problem solver and figured out early in life how to bite off the lid of a puffs container and reach her little fingers inside to come out with a handful. She is extremely inquisitive and curious.

Adelaide makes funny sounds. She started out with distinct pterodactyl sounds as an infant but lately has begun making human screeching and screaming sounds. She especially loves to make these quirky sounds during church or while holding an exciting toy (i.e. plastic ball).

Adelaide is a great travel companion. She has been on 17 flights during her first year and traveled to San Diego, North Carolina, San Jose, Boise, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. She was a constant flirt with the flight attendants and other passengers. She also travels great on our camping adventures and road trips.

Adelaide is a water baby. She loves bath time. She loves to swim in the pool even if the water is too cold for her parents. She loves the beach and would fearlessly crawl straight out into the ocean if left unattended. When we walk near a fountain she gets upset that I don't let her get in.

Adelaide is a great workout buddy. While I trained for my half marathon she sat in front of me in the Bob stroller for the majority of my runs. She also has been on numerous family bike rides. She sits there babbling to herself and occasionally nods off to sleep.

Adelaide is great at entertaining herself. She loves some of the typical things like her baby doll, stuffed animals and books, but her very favorites of course are recyclables, rugs, lotion and shampoo bottles, phones, cords, remotes, cameras, computers, printers, iPods and wallets.

Adelaide loves animals, especially dogs. They love her too at first, but then she overwhelms them by her squealing and French kisses.

Adelaide is a mini-Rick. She literally looks exactly like he did when he was a baby. And they have so much fun being crazy together.

Adelaide has beautiful eyes that I am constantly staring at to try to figure out their color. They are like a deep grayish blue and I love them.

Adelaide is very social. Even at the grocery store she will try to catch people's attention and once she has eye contact she will smile and be all cute while they admire her. Basically she constantly craves attention and loves to interact with anyone and everyone.

Thank you God for sending us such an adorable and wonderful baby. We love her so much and can't wait to watch her grow up in years to come.

My Version of Mix 1

Have you tried the protein drink Mix 1? I did about a year ago and have been hooked! They are delicious and perfect for an after workout drink or breakfast on the go. The only problem is that they are around $2 each and over time it really adds up, especially when you drink them as often as I like to.

That is why I was so excited when I spotted plain whey protein isolate in the bulk section of our grocery store. Now I make my own and they are almost as good as the original and far more economical.

Recipe:

one tray of ice cubes (optional)

about a cup of fresh or frozen fruit

100% Fruit Juice

EVOO- one T. or less

desired amount of protein powder

Sorry I don't have exact amounts, I am still playing around with it.

Blend until well mixed and Enjoy!

Almost Walking

but not quite.

Grandpa R. sent over an early birthday present and Adelaide loves trying to walk with it.

She has trouble turning so she just squeals when she hits a wall until one of us comes to help her redirect.

So excited about this gift!

cute chubby legs.

Concentrating.

Tubing Boulder Creek

Yes, I realize that some of us look a little weird and scary in this picture but it is the only one we have.

Last night we tubed down Boulder Creek with our friends Nick and Maria and although it was very cold it was also extremely fun. Our bums may be a little sore since the water level was low in some parts but it was totally worth it and we hope to go again soon!

New Designs

I have been working on designing jewelry lately. Check out my shop to see my latest beauties:)

adelaiderosedesigns.etsy.com

Wish I was in LG

I wish I was home for lots of reasons... to visit with friends and family, hang out at the beach, and I could meet Carol Hannah at the trunk show in Los Gatos this weekend.

Obviously I am not looking for a bridal gown, but I just love Carol Hannah and all her designs!

Lyons

Last week we headed out to Lyons for some outdoor adventure. Rick has a trail there that he likes to bike on and he mentioned that I could just "walk or run up the fire road and meet him at the top." It sounded like a great idea to both of us.

Well this fire road ended up being very steep and very rocky and very slippery and therefore very tiresome and borderline dangerous with little Adelaide in the Bob stroller. Don't get me wrong, the view from the top was beautiful, (which was a good thing because it helped me snap out of the horrible mood I was in), but it wasn't enough to make me every want to do this particular trail ever again.

To make things worse, Rick realized that I had walked up this entire 1 1/2 mile mountainside with the stroller brake on! Rick had put the brake on when we got out of the car and I didn't realize... dumb me.

I don't think we will be repeating this outing again, but it is a memory:)

Relaxing at the top.

Rick and Adelaide.

Adelaide thinking about how she doesn't want to get back into the stroller.

We saw a dear on the way down.