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Chris' twin brother (also known as the Brother-husband. Everyone should get one. They are so helpful) came to town last weekend from Utah on a layover to Hawaii. One afternoon, we decided to take a drive. We drove until ended up here:

 2 hours and 140 miles north of LA. We ended up in Solvang.

We went shortly after Kate was born, in June- but haven't been back since. And speaking of that Kate:

As I was looking at this photo I just noticed that the sign on the storefront behind her says Kate. It was meant to be. And the boys? Well, here's all 3 of them:
And a sure sign that Spring really is just around the corner:


Most of the shops in Solvang have storks perched on top of the roof. Do you know why?

It's for good luck, of course!

We really had such a lovely time. All the sight-seeing made our little group a bit hungry so we stopped in the next town for some grub. And you'd better believe that there was no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that we were gonna pass this place up:

Wagons on the rooftop? You kiddin' me? No further dinner discussion was necessary. Don't be fooled by the Western-motiff. That wagon place cost a pretty penny. The brother-husband said it best,
 "Someone's gotta pay for that stuffed buffalo in the lobby."

So very true.

Have a great weekend!

My sister was in Vegas for a week and so I drove up with the kids for a less-than-24-hour road trip. I remembered that I had a free night at the Bellagio Hotel that I'd been hanging onto for 3+ years (that I got back in the day when I was a working girl, and by working girl, I mean working girl).

The kids had a ball. I think they would have been fine if we never left the hotel.  I stayed here for a week when Henry was 5 months old. My Mom came down to watch and stay with him in our room while I worked and kept him close so I could come and nurse him when I had a  break. She would wheel his stroller up to one of these big windows and he would just stare out for what seemed like hours. Times have not changed.
My previous job led me to Las Vegas a lot. So much so, that I cringe everytime we even drive through it on our way to Utah. It's symbolic of long, hard days, tired feet and a job that I didn't love. Going on a vacation there has never been anything I've wanted to do. But we had such a great time. It was so good to see Vanessa and good to have a little bit of a change to our daily routines (and it doesn't hurt to stay at the Bellagio). We visited the Chinese New Year Garden (which changes every season):


and the floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain:


And while at the end of day, I still had tired feet, this time there was a new baby to nurse, and that old 5 month old baby has now grown to a near 4 year old superman.

Thanks for the photo's, sis. We miss you already!

 About a week ago, I received a fragile, liquid & perishable package (which I am still debating reporting to my local area officials) from my sister in Vermont. It was actually addressed to Henry which he was so excited about. That is until we opened the package and it contained fermenting goo in the form of Amish Friendship Bread (a second runner up to the 'presents' (aka pants) he received for Christmas.)  We followed the directions and mashed it everyday, fed it on the 14th (whoops one day late) and cooked it today.
 The whole idea of Amish Friendship Bread is that before you cook it, you separate it into 4 batches to give away to friends so that 10 days later they can make their own bread and then they divey up the batter until the AFB reaches all corners of the earth. It's not your normal bread- it's more like a banana bread. It has cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top (and on the bottom of the pan). I think my pans were too big which made for stubby little bread, but I don't discriminate. I'm a lover not a fighter.

It smelled good in the oven. At least I think it did. I couldn't tell if it was the cinnamon sugar or the roast in the crockpot. Which leads me to wonder why I haven't been cooking every single meal in that thing. Seriously. It's like the easiest thing ever. We are on day 2 of planned meals for the week. The first time I have EVER planned dinner, in advance, for a week. In 10+ years of marriage. I am so proud of myself.

It's a perfectly rainy pre-Valentines day. We had a morning trip to Target for a humidifier (coughing kids), box of legos (kicking myself for not ebaying them- have you seen the cost for a blasted box of legos?) and new booster seat which resulted in lots of "This is AWESOME!!! Thank you TARGET! Let's call everyone we know in Utah!"

 I taught a little class this week on how to make truffles. I know, I know, the amount of sugar going in & out of this house…. But, in keeping with a childhood promise to my parents that I would let my kids have candy every. single. day.' (we grew up on carob) I'm pretty much obligated. At one point there were 18lbs of truffle goo in the fridge. I actually didn't make any the night of the class, so thought I would use up the last 1 1/2 lbs. I mean they were just sitting there. Staring at me every time I opened the fridge.

White paper is milk chocolate, brown is for dark. I am all about 2 ingredient deserts. It just doesn't get any easier than that. Plus they look like they take mad skills, but in all reality a monkey could do it.

Happy Friday!

xo