on being an aunt

Of all my life roles, I think being an aunt is the most fun! I get hugs and kisses and sweet, "Wuv ooo's" from two really adorable little people, but I have no daily responsibility for them. I love that Caden has cousins he gets to grow up with. While, I'd love to give these two darlings another cousin some day, I'm thrilled to be their aunt forever. I can't believe my beautiful niece is going to be SIX tomorrow, but I love that she and Caden are the same age because we get to watch a boy and a girl going through the same stages, but so differently. Those two are glued at the hip when they're together. They love and fight with each other fiercely. I also love that Caden gets a younger boy cousin to love on and teach him how to be a "boy". I love watching Jensen and Caden play because they are both full of energy and love cars and sports. On one hand I'm sad because they're far enough apart in age that they'll never be on the same team together, but happy too because they will each get the chance to be in the spotlight as their name is called over the PA system at high school football games one day. Caden adores Jensen and Tegan and so do I!

TEGAN: beautiful, fearless, loves to dance, picky eater, good big sister, smart, sassy, loves clothes and fashion, 6 tomorrow

JENSEN: adorable, fearless, all boy, eats everything!, super sweet, goofy, silly, opinionated, tells you how it is, just turned 2

my favorite nephew; this totally shows his goofy side and his no non-sense attitude side

my favorite niece; one part tomboy, one part girly girl; all pretty!

I love you so much, Tegan and Jensen! I love being your aunt Sarah! I can't wait to spend Friday nights watching you play football, Jensen and Saturday afternoons shopping and listening to your stories, Tegan! Big hugs to you both!

33

Doug celebrated his 33rd birthday on Saturday! I planned a night out with our friends, Jeremy and Melissa. We ate dinner at Bravo's Italiani in Valley Center. We'd never been there, but I'd heard it was very good. It was delicious and definitely some place we'll go back to. After dinner, we headed to Orange Leaf for dessert. It was also super yummy and now I'd like to franchise and own my own in Newton. Then we headed to the Loony Bin to see a comedy show. It was a fun night celebrating my favorite guy! I surprised Doug with a teeny tiny plastic toy gun in a gift card case, a gun cleaning kit, and a silicone lined gun sock. I think he was a bit disappointed since he doesn't own a gun that needs cleaning or stored in a sock, until I kept handing him the gift card box repeatedly all afternoon. Finally, he got the hint, shook it and found the money to put towards the gun he wants ~ a .50 caliber Thompson center-fire muzzle-loader. Please nobody ask me what that is, unless you want the very basic answer of a gun Doug can use hunting. I had to practice saying the name of it several times before I remembered! Apparently it's a good gun to have because it extends your hunting season or something like that. Honestly, I'm so happy Doug is getting something he really wants for his birthday and that I'm helping him get it, but I start thinking about other things when he starts drooling, I mean, talking about hunting, guns, and the length of whatever season it is.

 

Birthday boy! Happy 33rd, Dougie!

12 for 12 in 2011 {update #2}

update installment #2 of 12 for 12 in 2011.

1. behind and need to catch up
2. also behind and need to write down my plan
3. 3 times last week, and there were funny things, so I deem that success
4. only twice on the treadmill for 50 minutes, plus hour Zumba class
5. sadly, not much got read last week that wasn't for work; need to pick up the pace or I won't finish 2 books in January
6. did try a new recipe (well Doug did, so maybe that won't count; Fideo (recipe from Melissa, yummy!)
7. did an okay job keeping our house clean; helped BIG time that Doug was off Friday and cleaned all morning!
8. zero progress
9. took some photos of Doug on his birthday, including one of us together which is very rare and some of me in my glasses try out, and of course some of Caden being well very Cadenesque
10. sadly, no progress this week on this front, but seriously need to get a move on as it is a time sensitive craft!
11. didn't do it this week, but did brainstorm a short list of possible recipients
12. way too cold to race or even think about it!

our (not so great, but best) attempt at a picture of just the 2 of us

boot juice

One afternoon this week after romping around in the snow, Caden managed to drag himself inside to warm up, leaving his boots by the door that leads from our kitchen to the garage. Fast forward an hour or so when Caden comes barreling into the kitchen for dinner and steps squarely into a small puddle of melted snow from his boots and starts squealing. Doug quickly asks him what's wrong and Caden angrily protests, "I stepped in the boot juice!"  Instantly a new catch phrase was born at our house and all week we've been careful to avoid the "boot juice".