blogging...

I think the reason blogging has become so popular is because everyone loves to be told they are cool when they do something good, and get sympathy when things go wrong.  We all also love the sometimes instant "comments" after posting and just knowing that someone is listening (reading) and aware of what you are doing is nice.  We've all been told that we should write in a journal, right? well,  this is a way to feel like we are doing that and we get praised for it by people telling us our lives are great, sad, funny, amazing, adventurous, hilarious etc.  I used to wish my life was a movie so that people could see life the way I do-- I think this is a mild form of that and it is fun to know that there are a few people watching this flick! I love getting a peek into your lives and want to say thanks for being my inspiring family and friends- hooray for blogging!

pays to be smart...

This is where the new interns in the ED at North Shore Hosp. are broken in- rough, uh?

Dave went last year without us (we were in Utah) and this year he was able to go as a second year because his research was accepted at the Conference. So, we had another great trip on the hospital because he is cool and smart- thanks babe!

The Sagamore Hotel on Lake George

the bonfire where someone said, "you're not from New York are you?" 

"no, we're not, why?"

"we can tell by the way you roast your marshmallows!"

(everyone else stuck them straight in the flames and we were slow-roasting on the coals)

relaxing with mom.

can you say cheesey?

James had his real birthday on the trip

all James wanted for his birthday dinner was eggrolls- so he got them and there were delish!

thee hotel had free carriage rides and James got to drive cause it was his b-day

Dave presented his research and won 1 of 2 prizes awarded at the Conference- he is a good job and Zanna loved holding his "surprise" ribbon (prize)

we spent a lot of time at the Lake and the kids were little fish!

I told them to pose and this is what I got :)

hanging out on the beach

Zanna LOVES the water and just jumped in the cold lake like it was nothin'

After presenting Dave got to join us for some Daddy swimming

and on the way home we saw this... it was great ending to an awesome trip

tying the knot...

Zanna chose the design for this picture.

I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to Mike and Amanda on the big engagement and wish them the best of luck in planning a wedding in 5 weeks :)

We love you guys and are so glad we had that time at the cabin to be with you and hear your relationship history- it's a long but good one and we are very happy for you guys!

P.S. Mike is Dave's little brother and he and Amanda have been dating (off-and-on) since 7th grade!

"Slow to Anger" lesson from James

So, today Dave and I spoke in church- my topic was "Slow to Anger" (a talk by President Hinckley) and Dave's was on charity. You know how you are always given the topics that you need help with- well that was definitely the case for me, as James threw the biggest fit of his three-year-old life yesterday at Coney Island in front of a million people! He was whining, yelling, telling me "no, MOMMY!" and then as I tried to strap him in the stroller to take him away and help him fall asleep he proceeded to hit me, kick me, and fight so hard I could barely buckle the straps. I was a sweaty, frustrated mess and hated the fact that I probably looked like I was abusing him cause he was yelling so loud and would not even make eye contact with me. He was so tired and his eyes were like a wild animals by the time I finally got him in the stroller- it was awful! So, after walking the dirty streets of Coney Island area for a while he finally fell asleep and I was able to regain some composure. The first thing I thought of was my talk "slow to anger" since I really wanted to go crazy on the kid and teach him a lesson. But, luckily it didn't come to that and he had a nice long nap and was back to normal when he woke up. This week as been quite trying as a mom, and I am actually grateful that I got to speak on this topic and get some good counsel for myself.
Oh, and by the way, I will probably never go back to Coney Island again... one, because they are tearing it all down and two, because it is dirty, crowded, there is glass all over the beach and I've had my coney dog and one is enough!

James turns 3!

this is the simplest and yummiest carmel popcorn recipe:

1 stick of butter

1 cup of brown sugar

1/3 bag of miniature marshmallows

Melt altogether in the microwave, stir, pour over popcorn and stir until coated.

I usually do about a batch and half of popcorn in the the air popper- it just depends on how sticky & coated you like your carmel corn.

We ate a batch pretty quickly at our last play group- it was delicious!

(thanks to Gina and Rob from Hershey for the recipe)

the birthday surprise...

   On Saturday night I surprised Dave by taking him an a Dinner Riverboat Cruise (the Bateaux) on the Hudson and East rivers around Manhattan.  My awesome cousin Jessica took the kids for the night and we had a great time seeing the city in a whole new way. We had a delicious 3-course dinner as we passed the waterfalls, went under all the bridges and had a nice close-up of the Statue of Liberty- she really is amazing!  It was a beautiful, humid night (my hair went crazy) and so fun to just relax, dance, and celebrate. Dave was sure we were going to a show on Broadway- so I was very glad to have found something he never suspected! 

We also had a fun get together on Sunday with some friends and had birthday pie and ice cream, cookies, and lemon bars. It was a week of partying and I think I need a break until next week- james is turning 3! Fun times ahead...