Update

I feel like I haven't blogged for a really, really long time....oh wait, I haven't! Okay, so here's what's been going on...

Anniversary
Kirk and I celebrated our four year anniversary on the 16th. It was celebrated in little ways all week long. Lisa was staying with us on Monday so she booted me out the door to go have lunch with Kirk. We went to Bo Ling's. It doesn't matter, anniversary or Valentine's Day, Chinese is our traditional meal out together. Guess it sort of started when he proposed, we had take out...he switched out my fortune in the fortune cookie to say "Stand Up Now", he got down on his knee, it was special. Kirk brought me flowers on Wednesday, our anniversary. On Saturday, we got a babysitter and saw The Dark Knight. We're not into extravagant gifts so this week was perfect!

Haircut
Kirk was getting a haircut so we took care of Bruce's as well. Kirk trimmed him up and did a good job.

Dragon Boat Festival
We ventured to the Plaza on Saturday to experience the Dragon Boat Festival. Unfortunately, the boat races were canceled but we chowed down on some Zong Zi (rice dumplings stuffed with pork and another stuffed with red beans). We stopped off at The Cheesecake Factory before heading home.

Walking
Bruce has really gotten confident in his cruising. So much that I would say he is walking. Not consistently, but taking unaided steps!

Day at the Farm
We enjoyed walking around DeAnna Rose Farmstead. Can one get enough of this place? I'm not so sure. It will only get more enjoyable as Bruce becomes more aware of the animals. Love it!

Nine Months

We always thought he was advanced for his age, but now we're sure (see above, Bruce is getting ready to read A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking). Haha, it wasn't until a few minutes ago while editing this photo that I realized this shot actually captured him pulling that book out. His dad would be proud. Bruce provides us with plenty of opportunities to rearrange our books as he is pulling them out daily.

Some things Bruce is doing now...pulling himself up and cruising around, is on a decent schedule sleeping at 8:00 till 7:00ish and napping at 9:00, 1:00, and 5:00, still breastfeeding and eating all types of baby food, currently has the bottom two teeth and pushing two top teeth through, babbles and says dadadada, omnomnomnom, blows out through his lips, likes books and being read to, hates getting his diaper changed (squirms around like none other), likes to be crawled/chased only to get caught and tickled, will lean over until he's in your eyesight when he's trying to get your attention, gets excited and will dance and wave his arms up and down, likes his pacifier, gets into cabinets, bookshelves, and our artificial tree, starting to throw tantrums, very smiley and happy most of the time (haha, didn't realize this comment followed "starting to throw tantrums"), loves walks in the stroller, and beginning to imitate us.


In other news, we've recently taken him to the pool for the first time. He did just fine.

Recipes

My recipe collection problems have been solved...I think. I have decided to design them in Photoshop as 5x7's then send them to Sam's to print. I have a 8.5x5.5 binder to keep them in. I'll have to use it to see if it will work well, but it seems like it is a good solution. They are cute, a bit more durable than paper, can be easily replaced without all the work of laminating. And it is off centered on purpose to leave room for the hole punches.

Kit courtesy of Michelle Coleman at Little Dreamer Designs, titled Wonderful. Don't you just love it!?!

Successful Family Home Evening

We have a little secret that has really helped us to be consistent in having Family Home Evening. A year or two ago I subscribed to LDS Living Magazine. I think I got signed up for their weekly e-mails and that is how our successful Family Home Evenings began. We don't always do the suggested activities or treats, but the thought, song (we pull this up on lds.org to sing along with), and story are always quality! It's really an ideal way for our small family to have FHE because Bruce isn't old enough to participate, but we enjoy having him there so a short and sweet evening works well for us! Even if you don't get the e-mails you can look it up here.

Oklahoma!

On Friday, I had a great time with my friend Marisa at The Theatre In The Park watching Oklahoma! I can't believe we have this kind of entertainment just within minutes of where we live, it's fantastic! Sign me up for Beauty and the Beast!

Going, going, gone!

Okay, Kirk is not balding but his haircuts have been getting shorter and shorter! I've been cutting his hair since we got married. We started off with a long 3 on the top and the latest cut is just a long, no guard. Kirk's hair is very wavy and coarse so his preference has always been short anyway. He likes this length so who knows, maybe one of these days he will say "take it all off."

Good Times

We have really been blessed with good friends. What can I say more?

David and Lisa visited over the weekend. They were in town getting pictures of Tyler taken by my super talented friend Meredith. I just saw the pictures she took and they are amazing. I felt an overwhelming gratitude for this little family and the good times we have shared.




Their visit included walking around The Legends, a visit to DeAnna Rose, playing Munchkin and Spades, and watching our boys play together.

Hive

I was so skeptical about this game. We purchased it at our favorite hobby store, Valhalla's Gate, in Columbia when we visited a few weekends ago. Kirk and I are always on the lookout for fun two player games, which this is. The box compared it to chess (I think that is what turned me off, never been a huge fan of chess though I'll admit I haven't played it much) in that your goal is to capture the opponents queen bee using your assortment of grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and spiders...each of which can move in a specific way. The fun thing about this is that the game play is different each time. I've probably won as many games as I've lost. It doesn't take a long time either.

I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

Keeping Recipes Organized

Does anyone have a system to keeping your recipes and would like to share it? I really need to get all mine together, they're on random sizes of paper in a file folder...not quite the permanent solution I'm looking for! I'm just not sure if I want them printed on 3x5s, full 8 1/2x11s, or something in between. Then there is the question of do I laminate them or design them in Photoshop and get them printed like a picture. Bah!

A Day Like Today

Today I feel just like Bruce looks in this picture...happy, content, and all fuzzy inside.