Dear Danny,

We miss you! We hope you are having fun on your big golf trip with the boys. Don't party too hard without us! But, it's ok. Me and Mister Maxwell are having a fine time, just the two of us. Tonight we ate yummy crepes, ran some errands and cleaned the house. Max took a great nap this afternoon and went down pretty easily tonight too. He was so happy all day, talking and laughing at his crazy mom (as you can see). He keeps saying "dadadada," I think he was waiting for you to come home from work. We can't wait to see you! In the mean time, we are playing with lots of friends and doing really really cool things... much cooler than a boys trip! These silly pictures should tide you over. 

We LOVELOVELOVE you!

Jess and Maxter

rub a dub dub, but not in the tub.

This is Max. Max is very mature for his age. He prefers a lovely shower with his mom or dad over a bubble bath. Max has been showering with his parents ever since they gave him sponge baths in the warm steamy goodness when he first came home from the hospital. Now, he enjoys the post shower activities as much as the shower itself: i.e. pulling open all the drawers and cupboards and finding little treasures (nail polish anyone?). Decided to snap a few of my little naked man this morning.

finding his way out of his towel

the coast is clear!

JACKPOT!!! 

plus, has there ever been a cuter little bum? We think he's going to have a b-donk-a-donk like his mum. Danny even says so. He comes from a long line of bubble-booties. 

dinner at my house

is not always fancy, sometimes takout, or may come out of the freezer. Which is why I have never posted a recipe to date! However, I do cook. I just don't always choose to. =) Anyway, when I do chose to cook, I like it to be good. Really good, and maybe even just a little gourmet (at least I want other people to think its gourmet, and I want it to taste that way!).

This is one of my go-to recipes. Fast, easy, a little bit of wow factor, and now, HEALTHY... sorta. I have been much more conscious of using whole grains since Max started eating real people food. Brown rice, whole wheat pasta, even whole grain eggos- delicious by the way. I'm not perfect at it, but I try to sneak it in where I can. Don't get me wrong. I picked up a loaf of pugliese Italian bread at Albertson's today. So here is my new and improved recipe for

whole wheat crepes

>3/4 c. milk

3/4 c. water

1 c. flour*** I used about 2/3 wheat flour, 1/3 white flour

2 tbs butter, melted 

3 eggs

pinch of salt

*a little vanilla if you want- probably leave it out if you are doing the chicken variation

mix it all up. it's no more complicated than pancakes. I think you're technically supposed to use room temp eggs, cool the melted butter, and let the whole thing sit in the refrigerator for an hour. Guess what? I have done them for years both ways. It doesn't make a lick of difference. The batter is very thin. Pour on a buttered crepe pan if you have one, if not, any flattish non-stick will do ya fine. Tilt the pan from side to side in a circular motion so the batter thinly covers the bottom of the pan. Flip it when light brown. 

Serve with whatever kind of yumminess you have on hand. I use strawberries, bananas, nutella (sinful but delicious), and homemade whipped cream (please do not ruin the yum factor and use cool whip). I love whip cream whipped myself, it's so yummy and you can control the amount of sugar you use. 

I also love this with pesto chicken, veggies, and some cheese- esp. goat cheese! Knock yourself out . Your neighbors will be impressed and you will be licking your fingers!

 

Even Max's girlfriend Heather (who is a bit on the picky side) liked them!

sorry so absent...

I have a lot going on this week! I am getting all my pictures caught up so that I have nothing to do other than focus on the WEDDING I am shooting this weekend!! AHHH! Jessica Kettle, the wedding photographer. Who knew? I am not going to lie, I am nervous. Really nervous. I know it will all turn out well, its just the anticipation of it all and the stress of the big day! Wish me luck! =) Hopefully I will think of something good to blog about soon. =)

sugar, spice, everything nice,

that's what {lily} is made of! Meet my cousin Rachel's new little one. See more here.

a good mom morning

I would just like to start by saying that every morning is not a good mom morning. For me anyway. Lots of times we wake up cranky, eat eggo's (at least whole weat!), don't nap, run errands. Or work. Or haul off to the gym. Lots of mornings are mediocre mom mornings, or once in a while, bad mom mornings. =( Not this one. This was a good mom morning,  the kind of morning that makes it worth it, that "I must be doing something right" kind of morning.

Max woke up happy as can be. We got up and Max had a fantastic time scooting around on his little John Deer and babbling at the top of his lungs. His antics are like nothing else. Mom and Nana (who was on the phone) got a good laugh listening to his squeals. I started making breakfast, and as soon as Max saw the bananas, he let me know he was READY to eat! He ate an entire big bowl full of organic oatmeal, made with organic soy milk, sweetened with half a banana and a couple strawberries. He love it! So did I. I always feel good when he eats a delicious nutritious meal- especially an organic one! After breakfast, we had dancing time.  It's our favorite little activity, and I have been trying to make an effort to do it more often. We dance around like crazy people to great songs, like the classic "good morning" by Gene Kelly, or "I've got rhythm" (also Gene Kelly). Max laughs and smiles as we bounce around the room with our music blasting. The windows are always all open, so I am sure the neighbors think we're nuts. Toward the end of dancing time, Max started to get all tired and snuggley. I love it when he's like that. He decided he wasn't quite ready for a nap however, so we cuddled up, read a book, nursed, and then put him in his crib, where he is still sleeping peacefully. It has been a perfect morning! I wish they could all be like this. 

If anyone is interested, here is our good mom morning playlist:

Good Morning- Debbie Renolds, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor

Free Little Bird- Lisa Loeb

I got Rhythm- Gene Kelly & MGM Children's Choir

Somewhere Over the Rainbow-  Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Under the Bamboo Tree- Judy Garland & Margaret O'Brien

the new love of my life

or at least my photography life anyway. I just took the plunge and got the new Nikon D300. I had the hardest time deciding, because as much of an impulse shopper as I am sometimes, it is really hard for me to spend my own hard earned photography cash on a big purchase. But, I am so happy I did! It is almost magic, especially because it was such a big jump from my last camera. I did it so I would be able to offer prints that are REALLY REALLY BIG. Because some people are into that. 

Also, today I had a fun little get together with some of my photographer buddies. Thanks for coming girls! You are all so inspiring and I learn so much from each of you. Sorry it was so nuts in my little house with all our kids. =) We can make a few changes for next time. 

Here is a pic I took of either Lauren or Hallie (sorry chels, I can't tell in this pic!!) just messing around with white balance. It's a little soft, but I actually really like it! Something about that binkie hanging so precariously from her little lips- so sweet. And these girls love their binkies! In case you were wondering, this pic was taken at 2500 ISO, as were the spaghetti pictures!!!! Those Nikon people were on the ball with this one. Love it!

noodle night

Last night, we had spaghetti. The kind I HATE making- hamburger meat (never use it), angel hair pasta (ok, i like that part), and RAGU SAUCE (shudder) purchased by Danny- love you for grocery shopping anyway! But, it's what Danny wanted. So we made it. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt, maybe he has a thing for crappy tomato sauce. HE WENT NUTS, plowing through a whole banana, two big ladels full of meat pieces from the sauce, and then a whole bunch of spaghetti and sauce. Top it off with a sippy cup full of soy milk, and you have one full baby Max tummy. And one veeeeery messy baby Max face....and hands.... and body.... the floor.... (you get the idea). 

ahhhh weekend.....

I love Saturday mornings. Especially this one, when my husband is still in bed, playing with our baby, who smiled the most gleeful little smile and reached for him with such excitement after his morning cuddle/nursing sesh with me. It made me melt. On the agenda today, play with Max, another shoot in SLC, a surprise party for a friend (shhh!), and off to Rexburg for a couple days. Danny gets to go boarding, Max gets to play with his cousins, and I get to meet THIS GIRL.

Yesterday was my first ever BRIDAL session! Yay! She was beautiful and such a great sport. I have been messing around with texture a little bit. WHAT DO YOU THINK?? BTW, my plateau sisters, do you recognize this girl?? Remember our little beehive, emily harris? THis is her. SHE'S GETTING MARRIED. Wierd. =)

 original

texture 1

texture 2

kinda fun, right?

there's lots more where that came from HERE.

Thanks for the yummy Valentines, Nana! I love you!

I'll love you dear,                     

I'll love you                           

Till China and Africa Meet,                     

And the river jumps over the mountain                      

And the salmon sing in the street.                     

[w h auden]                             

bump bump

Here are a few of the ones I have edited SO FAR. I forgot to burn a disc of all the pics before I left CA, so Britt e-mailed me a few that I photoshoped to print for the shower. 

the first two are my FAVORITE!

I had to throw the color version of this one in too. Doesn't she look gorgeous!?

another fave. 

this one made me laugh!

baby shower

 the invite! This is for you Chrissy. haha!  

so the whole reason for going to CA was to throw Brittany's baby shower for her little boy, due March 22nd! It was crazy to try and get it all done just a few days before the party, and poor Britt had to run all over town with me so I could buy flowers and treats and pick up all the odds and ends. Poor pregnant girl! I swear I thought she was going to go into labor at Target. Thanks to Leslie for having it in her beautiful home and for friends and fam who brought salads and helped set up! Couldn't have made it without you. Seriously.  

the fooood

the favors, cellophane bags of chocolate dipped pretzels tied with twine and the cutest little tags we made on Brittany's cricket (seriously the coolest little invention)...

which WERE given out, thankyouverymuch! Wasn't going to forget that again!

a little banner I made for Britt's baby. "mon petit" is french for my little one (or something along those lines). we chose french because Joseph's whole family is french. it will go in the baby's room after this!

the tables outside

flowers in Brittany's cute  antique bottles

one of the tabes with a pic from Britt's maternity shoot!

the cake Leslie got from this little boutique in Dana point. AMAZING!

me and Britt with Max, who was NOT having a good time at the shower. in fact he pooped up his back just as guests started arriving. just a taste of the fun he was during the trip. poor baby!

I realize this isn't the best picture of us, but you gotta love a baby bump! In this shot you get the full effect. SO cute! Only six weeks to go!

some of the guests. I was so glad to see Chrissy and Naomi, and THRILLED that my best friend since 8th grade Tracy (far left) could come up! We got to go to dinner at Pomodoro in Laguna later that night. Max threw up on me at the table. Other than that it was sooo great to catch up!

Chelsea and Niccole. THanks for all your help girls!

Max. He did this alot during the trip. =( notice he is clutching my sweater for dear life??

This morning, I was HERE

now I am not. I am at home, for better and for worse (let's just say the weather isn't quite the same as it was on my beautiful walk down to the san clemente pier this morning!). But Max and I missed Danny terribly. We are so glad to be together as a little family again! It was a fun, crazy, germ infested trip. Much more to come on Brittany's baby shower (the reason for going), her prego pics, and the details on what it feels like to be thrown up on by a one year old on multiple occasions. in public. *bonus feature* max's first trip to the ER (don't worry too much. it's our only option for out of state doc visits. gotta love insurance policies).

just for you, s.

I will seeee Easton's boogers and raise you one 

GIANT SNOT BUBBLE.

I hope you're having as great a day with your little sickies as I am with mine. =)

Max's big day

the setup

So I thought I was going to do some big elaborate theme or something. So not the case. We decided to throw a party old school. It was pretty traditional. Pizza, salad and treats, presents, cake, play. That was pretty much the  gist of it. The "theme?" It's Max's birthday? He's a baby? Really, I just picked out things that I liked, because who knows. Next year he might INSIST on a Wiggles birthday party or something [shudder].

 Max's BIG cake (he ate a different mini one with the number 1 on it). It was yellow cake with my great grandma's recipe for chocolate frosting. mmm. I was happy that I didn't totally biff the big "M."

I made this banner by covering chip board letters with fun scrap book paper, modge podging like a good 'ole relief society gal  and attaching them to some twine. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but I think this baby will making appearances at subsequent birthday parties. 

The party hats. Made by cutting half circles out of heavy duty paper (two fit perfect on a 12x12 piece of paper), rolling them into cones, attaching curly paper and elastic on the inside. Lots of scotch tape was involved. of course their were GIRL hats and BOY hats.  

a few of the guests

Poor Hadley. She got slimed by Max but was such a good sport. Sorry Haddy.

 

Uncle Jordan feeding Max some pizza. Notice the sauce all over his face. I am pretty sure that it was intentional on Jordan's part. =) Thanks to all our friends who made his day so special by coming. It was a long drive for some of you!! We appreciated it. 

the festivities

we sang. 

she blew, and we cheered and laughed (minus max).

  He did this. . .

[are you hearing the tune "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to"...]

until we gave him this

he started out just picking at the frosting, but before long...

after cake, Max  and his buddies played with some of his new toys. 

here his is riding his cool new car from his mom and dad, and wearing an AMAZING hat my neighbor Natalie made. 

Then we said goodbye and thanks to our guests.

Do you think he was TIRED??!! HAHA! Needless to say, he slept well that night. 

my boo boo of the day. I can't believe I forgot to hand out our party bags! Hadley is the only one I remembered to give one to! Some hosts we turned out to be!! I will be delivering the ones I can to neighbors etc., but I was so bummed! They were brown paper take out boxes filled with bubbles, toy cars, candy necklaces (for his girlfriends), playdough, and those old school little plastic soldiers and cowboys and indians. So cute! Such a waste. Sorry guys!

That night we let him stay up way past his bed time and the three of us all snuggled on the couch. It was such a fun day. We can't believe our baby boy is one! Happy birthday! Thanks to all our friends for their love and friendship (and party help!). You made this day so special.