Happy Birthday

This man, I love him so much. The best compliment that I ever received was when he asked to marry me. This man that I love and respect wants to spend the rest of his days with me?! I'm so proud of him, proud of the man he is, the husband he is, the dad he is. Thank you for sharing your life with me. Happy Birthday honey (and hurry home).

This Man!

This man of mine is so sweet. Since before we even moved here my computer was getting really, reeeeeeeeallllllly slow. It's been making awful grinding noises and sometimes it takes several minutes to switch between open windows. Occasionally it will start to make this sound that sounds just like an airplane getting ready to take off. When our desks were in the same room (at the old house) he would sometimes hear me say, "Flight attendants, please prepare for take off."

Well, yesterday out of nowhere I received a cryptic email informing me that a couple of packages would be arriving in the mail--one today and one tomorrow. I had my suspicions but was afraid to guess. I didn't want to guess computer if he had bought me a new pair of tennis shoes, it would seem ungrateful! I could tell he kind of wanted to tell me (he would be at work when they arrive) so it only took a few questions to find out it was a new laptop. Too bad we didn't have a camera on for my reaction, it would have caught me trying to pick him up and carry him around. He held out until bedtime to tell me the best part....it's a Mac Book (of course then I couldn't sleep)! I have this dream er, plan to go back to school for graphic design and the Mac Book will be SWEET for that!!!! He gave me a sweet reason why he did it too, but I wont put it for fear of embarrassing him.

And the little package that arrives today....an iPod touch. Eeek. What a good man!

I think it was good for me to be gone for three weeks. One day over email we had this conversation:

Me: Have you hung our new painting?

B: Not yet, I really haven't had much time, I've had to get groceries, cook my own dinner, do laundry...

Me: Man, you need a wife!

B: I know, when are you coming home?!

He knows just what to say to make me feel appreciated, ha.

Super Super Awesome

My sister that is. Why you ask? Here is a little hint. I'm making one of these.

Do you know who else is Incredibly Awesome!? My husband, I'm going to have the best birthday, ever.

More to come.

2*0*0*9

Well, I didn't scrapbook. I actually went to bed early but we had a bit of a rough night. Sleeping kids, fireworks, and loud music (where was that coming from!?) aren't a good mix. I felt like I had a newborn since I got out of bed no less then five times last night. My hunky hubby got up with them this morning though and let me sleep in. He also spent a good deal of time outside with them yesterday. He's a good dad.

Last night as I was cooking dinner this was the family room scene. But, to keep it real, my mom-in-law called two minutes later and she heard screeching in the background.

I am doing some cooking today. Homemade chicken stock simmering on the stove. It will be used for a chicken and veggie stew and a chicken spaghetti and there is Beef stew cooking away in the kitchen now too. I'll freeze some and share some with a special lady we know. The girls are playing in the basement. I think I'll get crafty during their nap.

I gave the people in our village a bit of a show today. I went to the grocery in yoga pants, knee high polka dot boots, an orange coat and green ear muffs (or as Kendall calls them 'ear muscles'). I actually think it was kind of cute but when Brian saw me he said, "Oh brother" and I admit I got a few second glances.

Merry Christmas

This morning I had an email in my inbox from Brian letting me know about a special rebate going on this at a local store:

The next line said, "They open at 8". I love that he knew I would immediately want to know what time they opened.

Tonight I will be working on my first page of the December Daily album. Here is the picture that pretty much sums up our day (okay it's three pictures that I put into one). I'm going to try out this bad boy for the first time right now and print this.

Set Our Circus Down

Tonight we got home from a GREAT photo shoot (I may show pictures later, or I may save them for gifts) kind of late and I COULD NOT find Kate's paci. After some frantic searching I tried my luck and just put her down without it. Now it's almost two hours later and I still haven't heard a single peep out of her....she went to sleep....without crying. What have I been waiting for? I realize I'm not out of the woods yet but still, I'm estatic!



I found these Tim McGraw song lyrics in my Inbox tonight, from a very cute and sweet husband of mine. I love that man.

Sometimes this road, it just keeps winding
Round and round and back again
But you've always kept me smiling
Over every hill, round every bend
Baby you're the one smiling with me when the sun comes up
I got the wheel, you got the map and that's enough

And we go rolling down this highway
Chasing all our crazy dreams
I've gone your way and you've gone my way
And everywhere in between
One of these days we'll find a piece of ground
Just outside of some sleepy little town
And set this circus down

Sometimes I lie awake just thinking
Of all the horizons we have seen
And as another day is sinking
I thank God you're here with me '
Cause baby you're the one laughing with me when the sun goes down
Living on faith and holding on tight to the love we found

And we go rolling down this highway
Chasing all our crazy dreams
I've gone your way and you've gone my way
And everywhere in between
One of these days we'll find a piece of ground
Just outside of some sleepy little town
And set this circus down

And set this circus down
Maybe one of these days, gonna set this circus down
Set this circus down

For Brian

Isn't it fun to spin in circles?

I got home yesterday after spending a few very long days searching for the perfect new home. We saw about 25 houses in two days (18 of them in one day). We started negotiations on a house and actually walked away from it today just because we couldn't feel positive that it was the best decision for our family. I was bummed a bit today but we are thinking more strongly about the house that we saw first when we went up one month ago! Brian is going back to look at it again tomorrow.

I didn't really feel up to blogging but Brian mentioned that he missed his girls and that he was hoping for some new pictures on the blog. I understand what it feels like to miss these little monsters so bad that your heart hurts so as soon as he said that I popped the camera card into the computer. These are for you B. We miss you too.

I hate when people don't update their blogs

We have a LOT going on right now and not really things I can blog about just yet, but very soon I'll update you on the exciting changes occurring at the Chick household. In the meantime I took this picture of my hunky hubby tonight.

Oh, I've also had a couple of kitchen successes that I'll add here soon too (Corn Chowder & an Italian Risotto that was delicious!)

Say What?

So Brian has been out of town since last Thursday. Despite the distance he still surprised me with a couple of 'awesome husband' moments. Yesterday flowers were delivered because it was the anniversary of my baptisim. So sweet. He came home today and on the way home he stopped at the Ralph Lauren outlet and bought each of his girls something. I got a pink Polo shirt and khaki capris. Tonight I tried them on and studied them in the full length mirror for awhile. They are an odd length. I think that they should be a little shorter so that they aren't mistaken as just too short pants. Well, I came downstairs to model them for Brian and he said, "Are they pants for fat people?" Suddenly the sweet husband was no more and I give him the evil eye as we locked eyes and stared at each other for a full three seconds then we both realize that he meant to say something else ("Are they pants for short people?") then there was uncontrollable laughter.

Dear Brian,

You better tell that pilot to fly fast, Kate is on the verge of walking. I think that she would have walked sooner had I pointed out to her that she could. Tonight I was sitting on the floor and I just put her on her feet and let go and she just stood there for about 15 seconds laughing until she laughed so hard she fell over. You know how when you hold her she pretends like she is shy sometimes and burrows her head in your chest? Well, when I stand her up she tries to do that so she'll take a step and then when she leans her head forward to burrow into my chest it makes her fall forward....all while cracking up in her 'old man laugh'. Pretty darn cute. We miss you, come home soon.

Today's Story

Well, Lorie beat me to the post about our dancing night. Find the story and pictures here.

Look what my hubby brought home tonight! Obviously he wants me to have a muffin top.

Something else that is cool. Check out this very cool Everyday Life photo book that Ali Edwards designed for Shutterfly. It's a super classy scrapbook for people that don't have the time to scrapbook. I love it, I think that the everyday life photos are brilliant, read the list of everyday photos she has. I printed it off and have already started taking them. Here is one, it has my Mandarin Orange Spice tea and a scrapbook page that I'm working on.

Bloggity Mood

I guess I just haven't been in a blogging mood lately. Friday night was our five year anniversary. I got royally spoiled: an entire new outfit to wear on our date, two super sweet cards, a dozen roses, and diamond earrings. Crazy crazy sweet. We went to a Japanese steakhouse and Jennie watched the kids for us. So much fun.

Today is Brian's birthday and Kate also got dedicated at church (but we failed to take a family picture!). Brian's ideal day included all of his favorite foods (veggies and dip, cucumber salad, Beef Stroganoff and lemon Italian ice) some couch time, and football games. I must note that his favorite foods are vastly different from mine. My favorite foods more closely resemble Buddy Elf's: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.

We ran into our friend Carol at church and I took this picture.

Kendall has been doing this lately:

She has also been helping to put away groceries and building towers out of daddy's special coffee boxes.

Today during Brian's "couch time" and the girl's nap time I made a little art smock for Kendall. I made it a little too small I'm afraid but it was my first, I'll have to make another soon.

Brian,

He speaks in coos and babbles

He takes his Little Bug to the playground

He sits on the floor and becomes the playground

He goes on bike rides

He gets up with Kendall on the weekend

He changes diapers

He cleans up messy hands after meals of macaroni

He plays on the floor

He works hard so that "His Girls" can all be home together

He brings home Happy Meal toys

He makes sacrifices so that we can get things he knows that I or Kendall wants

He gives up his much needed alone time to have daddy/daughter time

He and Kendall have their own special times like getting the paper and getting comfortable after work

He loves

He is loved

Happy Daddy Day to the best daddy around, we miss you

For Daddy

I haven't been very good about sending pictures to Brian so here are a few pics of what we have been doing:

Cleaning

Playing 'email' at the library

Going outside

Storytime

Church indoor playground

Having tea parties with Anna (Jennie and I found them like this at the church play area, we DID NOT set this up!)

Cheers Me Up

So Kendall and I are officially on our own now. It was so sad to drop Brian off at the airport this morning, we were all a little quiet and Kendall started crying when we pulled away from the airport without Brian. She keeps asking about him here at home too. So us girls needed a little cheering up and decided to stop at one of my all time favorite places, Whole Foods. When you are in that store you just feel like everything is well in the world. It is just so darn pretty and healthy looking and everyone is incredibly nice in there! Makes you want to eat healthy and drive a Volvo station wagon. If I picture my ideal me I'm a Whole Foods shopper driving a Volvo. We got a few special things like fully cooked sushi (to have for lunch) and Italian soda (I love these thanks to my friend Sarah and always want them when I'm pregnant). I got a French baguette to dip into my yummy sun-dried tomato vinegar and garlic oil from my super cute sister Sara. Also in the cute little cart were delicious strawberries and orzo pasta. Really the soda was the only thing that I had to buy there but I really just wanted to experience the store. Such a happy, organized, and beautiful place.

We miss you!

Just another note declaring the handy man-liness of my husband. Remember all of those "baby will be here soon and there is way too much to get done" worries? Well, they are no more. Check out what happened over this last weekend!! I'm so proud of him and all of the power tool productivity that occurred! I'm really feeling prepared now and the pre-baby stress is at an all time low. We just have a few more things to do really like organizing the changing table with baskets, getting a dust ruffle and a double stroller. The day after we got the nursery all situated I was so worried that I was going to have the baby (I was afraid that the tradition would continue). Now worries of bed rest are starting to creep into my brain. There was a girl in one of my Bible studies that had low fluid and was put on bed rest....WHAT WOULD I DO?!?!?! Does stress and worry just come with babies and pregnancies??

My Husband Rocks

Brian has been going non stop today. Dani has been offering to keep Kendall for the day anytime that we want and today we took her up on it. I took Kendall over at about 9:30ish and Brian was working by the time I came home. He cleaned the basement and then moved all of the books from the office down (two flights of stairs and about 6 million trips). I moved all of my office stuff into the guest bedroom (currently covering the bed) and then John came over to help Brian move the bookcases down. SO....we have a nursery! I even put the sheets on the crib tonight. I plan to wash them again before the baby uses them but they are there now. Before you all laugh at me for doing this so early remember that I did not get to do this with Kendall. We moved into our house and the following morning I was sent to the hospital to have a very early baby. Anyway back to the nursery, I brought out the so cute papasan that Jenn and Justin gave us for Kendall, I even pulled out all the little bitty clothes to look at. Ah, what fun. I still will need to get a couple of things: crib skirt, play mat & double stroller but we're doing well really on gear.

Kendall put on her new sunglasses from her Gram. She thinks she is such hot stuff in them. As soon as they are on she has to make sure everyone sees her! I love em! Notice that I have to keep pushing her away from me to take the picture, as soon as the camera comes out she wants to put it up to her head. Oh and we had successful night number two on the big girl bed switch-a-roo. Tomorrow will be the first time she has to have a nap in it so say some prayers for us!