Wish list update

I've just been informed that m doesn't actually want a pony. Instead she wants an alpaca. This one to be specific.

Well who wouldn't?

(context: http://bluemoonranch.net/calendar/?mc_id=2)

Get along little doggies

It's a little amazing to me that m won't remember Madison at all since it was such a huge part of the rest of our lives. However, I do have admit she's taken to like in the mountains like a duck to water. Or maybe cowgirl to cow?

For the record, we didn't try to stage those shots. She had the hat on from being outside in the sun, and she just loves the cow. It's pretty awesome how well both girls rock that hat, huh?

She smiles!

So c's been in a goofy stage for a while, which means that most of the pictures we get from her are a silly smile rather than a genuine one. But all that changed when we brought out the cake last weekend...

Turns out the girl does smile...

...and it melts my heart just the way it always has

Cowgirls

So while I was back assembling the cake this past weekend, the rest of the gang went for a riding lesson/party. And apparently this happened:

Word on the street is that m did not mind it one little bit, and only threw a fit when it was time to get down.

Notice how she's totally relaxed up there with one hand on the reigns? I guess it's time to start saving for two ponies...

Sean the sheep the cake

When I asked c what she wanted for her birthday cake this year she said a sheep. I think she was thinking baa, but I decided to go a different route. Back in the day we used to watch quite a bit Sean the Sheep.

So using the patented Ellie cake technique I found a picture and made a grid...

 ... then made the grid bigger...

..add cake...

...remove paper...

...frost...

...and add cool whip wool :o)

c LOVED it.

Four!

C had a fantastic birthday weekend. Caroline came into town and we partied non stop from Friday on. Unfortunately, most of the pictures are on Norm's camera. I'll work on that.

In the meanwhile, I did get one video of C on her brand new scooter. Not bad for her first time out :o)

Starting the birthday week

Anything exciting thing about this past weekend was a great excuse to eat some cake and sing.

Turns out candles are exiting for all involved :o)

(check out m clapping at the end - might be my favorite part of this one)

Happy New Year!

As so begins 5776... May this be a year of finding our grove again and appreciating what's around.

As an effort in that direction I attended services at the local temple Monday morning. It took a little bit to get back into the swing of a reformed service, but I really like the rabbi which definitely helped. Afterwards I wasn't quite ready to jump from a state of reflection right back to the real world, so I grabbed max, changed out of heels, and we headed down to the reservoir. It was amazingly beautiful, and a perfect way to kick off the new year.

And yes, for the record I am still wearing my t-burg track sweatshirt. Just because it's a new year doesn't mean we can't still treasure our treasures :o)

Airplanes

The girls had a fantastic visit with Grammy this weekend, which included LOTs of airplanes. It's a good thing they had a chance to practice before she got here...

Blue house #2

I have a million wonderful memories of growing up in a blue house with a big back yard.

So we decided to buy the girls a blue house:

with a big back yard:

yes, we know the big back yard is mostly piles of dirt right now but
1) have patience
2) have you met my girls and dog? the piles are dirt are perfect now that I think about it.

After LOTS of back and fort with the seller, we finally got to a signed contract on Saturday. This week has been a flurry of activity lining up inspections, financing, and reading though tons of documents (according to the covenants of the neighborhood we can have up to two horses, but no chickens - good to know). Things are going to continue at crazy speed because we're scheduled to close first week of October. Wheee moving again!

The house itself is super cool. It's new, but definitely not sterile. There are all sorts of very cool touches like the stone wall and barn door that frames the entry way to the office:

and the master bedroom wood accent wall:

And I can not wait to host my first sedar cooking in this kitchen :o)

Plus, we ended up with views after all! This is from the balcony on the front of the house:

All in all we are super excited and can't wait to get settled in. Keep you fingers crossed that things go smoothly over the next month! We walk through the house with the builder tomorrow, so hopefully we can get some more personal pictures. And if anyone loves their washer and dryer let me know - those are the only appliances this place doesn't come with...

Poster child

Turns out that I'm not the only one who thinks c's love of Romeo is worth photographing :o)

Two times the facy

So today was a very special Fancy Hair Friday. Not only did we have the expected m awesome:

We also, for the first time in a long time, rocked a c braid!

Do you see it? Right there in front? I'm unreasonably excited about it, and c thought the whole thing was pretty funny.

And I wore a hoodie to work

go badgers!

Art

The girls keep the art work coming.. this week = studies in color :o)

Big hills

Last weekend Alex and I attempted our biggest hike to date. It started as the hike we had done the week before in reverse, but then a quarter mile away from the summit we saw this:

And it looked interesting:

So we said why not and headed up.  About half way up we stopped to catch our breath and the views were amazing.

And then we got to the top. I have seen some spectacular things since being out here, but this has to be one of the coolest. We were WAY up there. So high up we were looking down at the top of the chair lifts.

So high up we were looking down at the other mountains

So high up the reservoir was like a pond in the distance

Or perhaps most telling, so high up that it took us a LONG time to catch our breath. Not much oxygen up there that's for sure :o)

Next time I'm bringing my nice camera.