back to normal

I realized something this weekend. 

Something wonderful. 

For the first time in in three years, we are back to normal. 

Normal, meaning, 

together. 

As a family. All the time. 



The last two fall seasons Robby has been in school. When he wasn't in class, he was studying, working on group projects, or burying his nose in a giant and devastatingly boring book. Yes we were able to squeeze in

picnic in the fall

recipe for a picnic in the fall
what you'll need:
-mountains-handsome husband to drive you up to said mountains-adorable children to ride in car with you and said husband-dog that sheds a lot-fall colors (these include, but are not limited to, red, orange, and yellow)-warm clothes-picnic table-fire -fire pit (see above)-rocks to climb on-muddy hills to fall down-chili (note: if/when you forget to

where'd she go?

we are 12.


I'm either the world's worst blogger, or the worlds best "taking advantage of vacation-er".....
Either way, I'm back, with a hard slap in the face from reality, and we should be up and running again soon. 
Happy 2011!

Christmas was here

It came, and even quicker.... it went. Leaving us a house strewn with paper, bows, new toys, a sugar high, and a warm fuzzy feeling after reflecting on another year gone by.
the weekend went a little like this:1 happy mother in a teeny tiny kitchen prepping for a Christmas Eve feast2 crazy kids bouncing off the walls and hanging from the ceiling (and myself joining them a few times)4000 pieces of

last hurrah

The Beach House. It's the official goodbye to our summer every year. Did I just say "goodbye", and "summer" in one sentence? ouch. I'm still struggling.
But this is the perfect send off--a few days on the beach with cousins (we're up to 13!), where we do nothing but play in the sun (or snuggle in sweatshirts driking hot cocoa, if that is what Mother Nature has in store for us)....but we'll take

this weekend we......

...put the kids to bed early for a nice salmon dinner for two, courtesy of chef Robby....built a fort...dined on chocolate and orange tortes from our favorite bakery, in that very fort...watched the Time Travelers Wife which was booooooooooooooor-ing. The book was 5 bazillion times better...slept in (hooray!) ...glued sequins and lace and other sparkly bejeweled thingamabobs to Valentines...had a

New Years Eve 2009

Place: Grandmas houseTime: The girl made it to 10:30. The boy 11:15. We: played games until 3ish.Games: The boys and their nerdy xbox. The girls and my new found love for Settlers of Catan. Why have I never played this game before? Why am I still dreaming of farmland domination? Why do I some day hope to own every expansion pack. Who's the nerd now?Food: Fondue. Fondue. Fondue. too much