askliz.com and damma aka Grandma

Oh how I love my family! Grandma Suzi and Aunt Lizzy came to visit our little family last week, and what a blast we had! I had been looking forward to this visit forever and like all vacations, it went too fast! We had such a fun time shopping, eating "Cake Love" cupcakes, exploring DC, moving a freezer into our basement, playing with Lily, and of course watching American Idol together.

So since my sister beat me to the posting, I have to just say how grateful I am to have a sister who can sympathize, empathize, and talk to me in a straight forward and extremely helpful way. Not to mention the fact that Liz knows everything about everything! She is my source for all the current happenings in entertainment, fashion, food, movies, etc. etc. Askliz.com should be up and running soon....right Liz? Then there is my cute Mom. She can make Lily laugh so hard she gets the hiccups, and she is so ready and willing to do whatever she can to help me and make me happy. Now that I am a mother, I recognize little qualities in myself that I have inherited from my Mom...for example, the Valentine's Day breakfast was soley inspired by my Mom. She is always giving thoughtful little holiday surprises, and while I assembled my gifts I was thinking about her. It is easy to just go on with life getting used to the fact that I live far away from my family...however, whenever I visit them or they visit me I really realize how far away they truly are.

Thank you for an amazing weekend Mom and Liz! Lily is still saying "Damma and lizzy go airplane....bye bye." Oh, it breaks my heart! And yes Liz, she is still running around singing "ABCBABC!"

Snow Day...and pictures of Lily!

So today we had our first "real" snow storm! I woke up this morning and eagerly turned on the news hoping for a school cancellation. Alas, the one inch accumulation resulted in closures for every district except DC public schools (mine). I actually felt a little ripped off, and had a momentary lapse of craziness as I got into my car with Lily and thought, "It is ridiculous that I have to drive in this snow...possibly one inch today? How can they still hold school????" I guess that means I am almost a true easterner now.

After Lily's nap (yes still only one hour, but today I managed to handle it well) we headed out to experience snow! This was her first true snow experience. Here were her top 5 phrases of the day:
"Uh oh, snow!"
"Oh, mama, snow!"
"Wanna go outside!"
"Look snow!"
"Mmmmmm....snow!"
It was so fun to watch her romp around. She discovered a love for the taste of snow. I guess that means I need to start teaching her about white versus yellow snow. Thank goodness we do not have any pets!

If you have talked to me within the last, oh I'd say, year or so, you have probably heard my sob story about nap time. Let's just say, Lily isn't a stellar napper (that being said, she IS a stellar sleeper, so I really can't complain). However, on this particular day, she had a terrific 1.5 hour nap. You've gotta love that nap hair that truly says, "I slept darn well Mama!" We are working on saying "cheese" when we take pictures...but this is the result. We might need a different word. Either way, she sure is a cute little bug!

My sighting of our new President!

Sorry, no pictures tonight...am I lazy or what??? It has been almost one month since I have posted! So much has changed in these last few weeks, with the biggest being our new President! Although we live super close to all of the excitement, I regret to say that we did not mix with the crowds for the big event. No, I sat in my cute friend Kim's home with her two children, and with Lily and watched history take place. We were warm, we heard, and saw it all up close! It was a spectacular event no matter who you voted for this last election. Do I think Obama is going to change the world? Not right away. However, I do think he has a "get it done" attitude and that he will make some great strides in terms of dealing with many current hot button issues. My hope is that he will inspire others to involve themselves in their communities, to build a stronger America one neighborhood at a time.

I will share my own little Obama spotting however...and I must say, I think I was closer to him than anyone who made it to the Mall for the Inauguration. So Monday the 19th, the day before the oath, I made a trip to Walter Reed to bring Ryan his cell phone. I called Ryan before I entered the base to let him know I was on my way and he said "I don't know if you will be able to get in....Obama is here." What????? I had a strong sense of determination fill my heart to get on that base and catch a glimpse of our new President! So I got in, walked in among the many Secret Service guys and dogs, went up to the call room, chatted with Ryan, roamed the halls a bit to see if we just by chance would run into him (we didn't), then decided we would just head home.

In the hospital there is a lower lobby and an upper lobby that overlooks the lower. Lily and I were in the lower lobby and I just felt like we should wait for a few moments to see by chance we would see him. After a few minutes, I looked up to see two Secret Service guys, and then the man himself....President Barak Obama in a long black coat, holding a black briefcase. He walked calmly by, stopped briefly, and I pointed up at him and said to Lily "Lily, that is our President! That is our President!" Then he was gone.

A young enlisted man was sitting next to me. "I have been waiting here for 20 minutes" he said to me with a huge smile and tears in his eyes.

God bless our new President, and our wonderful country!

It's beginning to look a lot like....and then it's all over :(

Christmas always goes too fast! It is funny how no matter how old you are, the anticipation for Christmas seems like forever and then before you know it, it's all over. We had a wonderful little holiday here in Maryland, quiet to say the least. We began our holiday by celebrating the first night of Hanukkah on the 21st. I made a traditional Hanukkah dinner and we lit a candle on our menorah. The word Hanukkah means "re-dedication" so every night when we lit a candle, Ryan, Lily, and I would rededicate something to each other. Yes, Lily really did participate!

We loved being home in Maryland this year and started the week off with a baking day! Lily and Daddy made sugar cookie dough, and Mom frosted and decorated them. We started a tradition this year of delivering cookies kind of, wherever the wind takes us. It was so fun to surprise our friends with a plate of cookies! Christmas Eve began with a brunch with friends, then a nap for Lily, dinner, a visit to the DC Temple to see the lights and hear the sister missionaries sing, then it was time to open our special Christmas Eve presents! New PJ's for all of us and a darling Curious George stuffed animal and book for Lily (thanks G & G Roberts!). We set out an apple for Rudolph and a cookie for Santa and we were off to bed.

Ryan and I are grateful Lily is still somewhat unaware of this holiday, and somewhat confined to her bedroom and we actually slept in to 7:30 am! Yes people, that is sleeping in, those with kids will understand! Santa came! Rudolph ate his apple, and surprises abounded! Lily's bright red retro kitchen was a hit. Her grin said it all "Is this mine? Can I touch it? Oh boy the doors open and close like Mommy's cabinet doors!" So precious. We unwrapped more presents and watched as our living room slowly resembled the post Christmas morning scene in the classic "A Christmas Story." For the very neat and tidy type A person inside of me I had to take many deep breaths and tell myself "It's Christmas...let it go" over and over again.

Grandma Nielsen's tasty scones and cheese souffle were next! We even had hot chocolate in her old Santa mugs. I still remember going to Grandma's house every Christmas morning and seeing her little tree all lit up, candy dishes full of chocolate dipped cashews (hand dipped), home made shortbread star cookies, and this corn puff treat that was sweeter than a tablespoon of pure sugar, her kitchen a mess with yummy food, and her dining room table full of delicious food she has made all by herself! I really miss my Grandma at this time of year, but I feel her all around me as I make her shortbread, and fry those yummy scones!


Our Christmas holiday was capped off with a huge surprise for me! Tickets to the broadway musical, "West Side Story." Ryan completely threw me a curve ball with that one. We went to the matinee yesterday, and the best part is that right before the show began, we were moved to sit in the front row! It was so incredible. We could see the sweat, and the spit I might add, and hear them breathe, and also hear some not so kind language as the Jets and Sharks were talking smack to one another! It was so wonderful though, and I was reminded of why the arts are so important. They take you to another place. For 3 hours you are transported into another time, and are surrounded by music and dancing - how bad can that be? Plus, there is always a moral to the story that can be applied to your life. It was so terrific. Bravo to the whole cast, and thanks to a wonderful husband who takes note of my comments in passing such as...."Oh West Side Story is in DC! I love that show!" I love you sweetie!

Happy New Year, and thanks to those of you who took the time to read this, my longest post yet!

Where have we been????

It really has been far too long, and my New Year's Resolution is going to be to keep up on my postings! All of our blog visitors (not like there are a million, but you know...) are probably giving up on me!

Since our bee experience, we celebrated our 8th anniversary with a fun dinner at the Hotel Tabard Inn in DC, Uncle Layne and Aunt Darcy got married (yeah! this picture is at the reception...it was beautiful, Lily was a little tired after all that partying), Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now we are gearing up for Christmas in Maryland. This year we are not going to be in Utah for the holidays. We are truly going to miss our families, but look forward to beginning some of our own traditions, and seeing what Christmas is like in DC!

Lily is growing and exploding with new words and phrases all the time! Here are her top 10:

10. I want that
9. no more
8. please and thank you
7. I wanna go in there (I'm serious, if you slur them all together)
6. Mama go work
5. Dada go work
4. it's a baby
3. Ooooo pretty (when looking at Christmas lights)
2. go outside
1. Ya ya (love you)

Ahhh...she is precious and we can't wait to celebrate this season with her! I'll update sooner I promise (I think I've said that before).

Bees!

We had the most incredible experience yesterday! Ryan's chief resident, Randy and his wife Kameha have two bee hives in their back yard, and we went over to help them work the bees. Well, actually, it was just Kameha and I and the guys watched the little kids. I was so intrigued by the whole process. Kameha is truly an expert on bee keeping, and she gave me a great education. I learned so much, and only wish I could remember everything she told me. I got down and dirty though, as you can see in the pictures. I held the bee frames, helped Kameha reverse the hives (I hope I'm getting the lingo right!), and smoked the bees. I even located the queen bee, which Kameha was quite impressed with! To top off the whole experience, Kameha and Randy gave us honey, creamed and regular that they collected from their bees earlier this year. It was so amazing to see these tiny creatures at work. They really have an important job, and those little worker bees (ALL female by the way) literally work themselves to death. It is an incredible species, and one definitely worth saving. Who knows....maybe I'll be able add the title of "bee keeper" after my name one day!

Trick or Treat Phase 2

Halloween is much more fun (and more exhausting) with a little child. We had a little Halloween party to go to last night and on the way my precious ballerina decided to have a freak out in the car seat and in her fury proceeded to pull out her beautiful and quite perfect little pony tail. I tried to include an up close picture of her perfect pre-destroyed pony tail! At that point I was really wondering how this night was going to play out! Despite my concern, the pony was fixed, the trick or treating was exciting, and she definitely didn't mind all these people dressed up like witches, monsters, farmers, or that strange person in the unknown costume, giving her candy. We walked up a street near our house called "Scary Perry." It is similar to Christmas Street in Utah, but just all spooky decorations. The whole time I was trying to shelter Lily from the "Scream" masks, the headless woman walking around, and the sounds of shrieks,chainsaws, and She is such a fast mover these days that I was not able to get that picture perfect Halloween pose. Maybe next year. Boo!