Happy Halloween

Adelaide was a hot air balloon for Halloween and really got into the trick-or-treating spirit. We started out at a work trick-or-treat party where she got down the basics. Then Rick and Adelaide went out together for more while Maverick and I came home and waited for trick-or-treaters that never came.

Our little hot air balloon.

Rick was a cloud (although was often mistaken for cotton candy).

One of Maverick's first outings in his sling.

Maverick in his Halloween outfit.

Jessica was Miss Judy Little Hands from the SNL Lawrence Welks Show skits. If you aren't familiar please google a couple of them... hilarious.

Fourth of July

We had such a great time on the Fourth of July spending time with Rick's family at Flathead Lake in Montana. It was so beautiful and we enjoyed going out on the boat, relaxing, playing polish rummy, yummy food, amazing fireworks, volleyball, surfing behind the boat, going down the waterslide, and watching all the boys shave their heads (except for Rick, luckily). We hope we can make it again next summer!

Adelaide woke up with a little attitude on the Fourth.

Adelaide on the boat.

Our little fam.

The whole gang.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Arizona with Rick's family and it just so happened that my Australian family (that I lived with while studying abroad) happened to be there at the same time to celebrate this American holiday with us:) It was such a nice time to reflect on our blessings of health, family & friends.

Nicole and Gerry hosted over 40 people in their home and this was our table.

Gerry, Nicole, Rick, Emily, Aimee, Carrie, Andrew, Adelaide and Kiera.

My first time Black Friday Shopping.

Santa is Scary Part II

We already knew that Adelaide was terrified of Santa but my mom insisted that she get a picture with him and her cousin Adelaide anyways. Here it is:

Relaxed Adelaide, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas & Frightened Adelaide

I hope we haven't traumatized her for life.

Santa is Scary

Over the weekend I took Adelaide to a Christmas party so she could sit on Santa's lap. Well, apparently Santa is really scary. She super freaked out when I tried to put her on Santa's lap, but settled on a pouty face when I held her next to him for a quick picture.

She mostly resembles Rick but sometimes resembles me when she makes her sad face.

Missing my Grandparents

Two nights ago I woke up at 4:00 in the morning from a dream about my grandpa. I was in a large room with tons of people and I heard my grandpa laughing and looked over to see my dad and some other people talking with him. By the time I made it over to them my grandpa had left and then I woke up. So now I can't stop thinking about my grandpa and how much I miss him... He is one of my greatest role models and I was always impressed with how kind, wise, charitable, loving and adventurous he was. Sometimes before I make a decision I think to myself "What would Grandpa do?" and I find that always helps me take the better path. I especially think of him and my grandma around the holidays because I have so many fond memories with them during this season. The day after Christmas we would go up to the Santa Cruz mountains and chop down our Christmas trees and then head back to their house to put up their massive tree and eat Thanksgiving leftovers. On the drive down the mountain the grandkids would sit in the back of his truck alongside the tree and sing Christmas carols. We would go up to their cabin in Tahoe most winters and go sledding, eat Grandma's snow ice cream, and play games. I miss those days and I miss my Grandparents but just thinking about all this brings a smile to my face.

Me Grandpa & baby Jessica

Family of Robots

I had this amazing vision of being a family of robots for Halloween this year. Rick and his dad whipped up our costumes using boxes, paper bags and paint that dried just in time. It took about 30 seconds after we put them on to realize how impractical they were. Adelaide kept trying to pull hers off and simultaneously run away from us. Meanwhile, Rick and I would try to chase her as fast as possible in our very inflexible, uncomfortable, and toxic smelling boxes. When we did finally catch up with her we were incapable of picking her up because our boxes didn't bend that way. So basically we ditched the costumes and called it a night... Lame I know. Instead of trick or treating we put Adelaide to bed and watched Titanic on TV which threw us both into a bout of depression.



We did manage to get one picture though:)


I hope you all had adventurous Halloweens!

Halloween Countdown

We are so excited for Halloween and are really enjoying this time of year. Fall is so beautiful in Boulder. Last year we had an early snow so we didn't get the full experience of how wonderful October can be until this year.

We love counting down the days on our Halloween Calender.

Spoooky.

We have gone to a couple pumpkin patches with corn mazes.

Cute mini pumpkins.

I love the decorative squashes.

Adelaide with pumpkins.

The Unicorn Book

My Dad is very creative and made Adelaide this custom "Unicorn Book" as a gift. He illustrated the whole thing and also recorded this accompanying song:

Now Adelaide will never wonder where all the unicorns went.

Thanks Grandpa!

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!

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.