by Alexis -

new camera

We got a new camera yesterday and I’m really excited.  It’s a Nikon D5000. This will allow me to do some creative photos that I am *hoping* to someday sell. Emma and I went on a walk today to give the camera a test drive. The below pictures are without photo editing, I’m still trying to figure it all out and it’s frustrating. Anyhoo, Emma enjoyed the walk and was super patient with a mommy who stopped every few feet.

DSC_0072.JPG DSC_0067.JPG

really frustrated about the sizes. I’m figuring out the dimensions and what they should be. Tons more picts but not enough patience right now on my side. Fist task, photo editing.

by Alexis -

Oma and Opa

Emma and I went to my Oma and Opa’s this last week. It was nice, quiet, relaxing…oh and I think I must have gained 10 lbs just from all the amazing food my Oma made! Love you guys and thank you for allowing me and Emma to come and visit.

by Alexis -

Mother’s Day

For Mother’s Day we went to downtown Portland and went to the Rose Gardens (which are beautiful!) and then down to the Saturday market that is also open Sunday. I thought that was sorta funny.

Tons of pictures comin’ your way….

Felt really wierd to be making cinnamon rolls early in the morning…but I said I would do them and so I had to. I would have liked to have had a crazy breakfast in bed…but we woke up kinda late and had to get going for the day.

They were amazing! I will always add dried cherries instead of raisins to my rolls. Sooo good.

It was such a beautiful day! I could not have asked for it to be more perfect. There was a moment when I was looking around, seeing Trav and Emma playing/exploring together, felt the sun and I thought…’this is a perfect moment’. I want to always remember those times.

Another perfect moment captured on film…or I mean on our memory card. (that phrase just doesn’t sound as good) This is a favorite picture of mine…thanks Trav for taking it. I love snuggling/tickling her.

I relly hope that she has a mischievousness about her. It would be cool to see that part pasted down. But do I really know what I’m hoping for? Probably not.

The arch was so beautiful and amazing. It was huge!!!!

They have this really cool amphitheater and there were tons of families there having picnics. We joined them. Emma liked people watching and watching the other kids going crazy. She just cared to take her shoes on and off. She’s a little shoe obsessed.

This look is priceless. I am so happy to got it on the camera. 🙂

Like I said earlier we went to the Portland Saturday Market after that.

The inner princess in me wanted him to make me a crown that was pink and purple. I could always say it was for Emma…

We ended up eating Hawaiian food. And thus feeding my obsession with Hawaii even more. I NEED to go. And soon, I don’t think I’ll ever live closer than I am now.

Moving to Europe and all, I think a lot about their culture and traditions. So when I saw these archs and then the date I laughed and took a picture. So old huh. 😉

And that was yesterday. Or at least a few hours of it. I was able to pick up a few things at the market and will take pictures/post of them today. We went to a BBQ after the downtown adventure (which they had amazing steaks! Thanks Corey!) and then saw a movie and hung out with Trav. Just the two of us, it was nice. And today I’m finishing with getting a mani. 🙂 Yay! What a treat, I never get them.

Hope you enjoy your Monday. peace out.

by Alexis -

Pondering…

I was inspired, in many ways, today by the movie Julia and Julie. It invokes many questions about what I want my blog to be about. Mostly, it’s about food. And I wonder why. I’m not even a big eater. I’ve missed many meals (as my close friends can attest to) and I don’t like chocolate.

What do I want this blog to be about? Think Alexis, think…Pondering…silence…’come on Alexis’….rolling of my eyes…frustrated sighs….I’m not sure.

I find I have many passions in life. Food (kinda- I love how it looks), photography, Emma, traveling, jewelry, and even a random scrap booking phase that will come and go in a week. I love to read mostly though. I’m a little bit of a nerd that way but what do I write about? Books I’m reading? I typically go through a book in a day, so it would be pretty pointless unless I would write a review…in which case I am not qualified to do. *sigh But blogs aren’t about qualifying either, it’s about my thoughts…

I originally, and still do, want to keep a blog going for our friends and family to be able to keep up with how we are doing , see different stages in Emma and feel like in a small way they are the fly on the wall everyone wants to be sometimes. (wow that was a long sentence)

OK, well as great as all the above thinking is…what am I going to do? The question still hasn’t been answered. What will this blog be about?! *sigh I don’t want this to be shallow. That’s the biggest concern for me. And up till now it has maintained just that…….

I don’t think I will get an answer right here and now. I’m afraid I have to walk this out and gage day by day what I am feeling (which is hard for me to do!) and be bold. So hard to do!

Let’s see how it goes! ….Emma gives you a hug by the way. 🙂

by Alexis -

Sunday

The past few days have run on like a blur. I know I’ve done things with people, cleaned the house and even made food…but my mind seems so distracted that I’m glad I documented what I did this past weekend! It was beautiful and sunny.

I’ve recently noticed in myself how affected by the weather I am. I have a lot more energy and feel more go-getter-ish than on say a lazy cloudy day. I think between the two I would prefer a cloudy day to a sunnier one. But I’ve been warned by the elderly that as my age increases so will my desire for the sun. I have yet to see that happen, although I’ve already spent how long on this post about the sun and how it affects my mood for the better? Hmmm….carrying on….

Trav, Emma and I went for a walk on a local bike path and it was heavenly! It was great spending just family time together, people were more friendly saying ‘morning’ as we walked past each other and we had a chance to talk about whatever and not feel rushed because of a meeting to go to.

I think it was in the 70’s! *sigh so nice…(but I still like cloudy days. lol I am forever loyal to overcast days and drizzle. I think it’s the romantic whispy feel it brings with it. Snuggling with my cats…fire on…and I’m a sucker for books, blankets and hot drinks. Sorry for the de-railment of subjects)

As we were getting ready Emma HAD to choose her shoes (which is a morning ritual) and she rutinly picks out these blazing beauties. My mom got them for Emma at Target and she wears them everywhere. To bed even. And when I get her out of her bed, I find her trying to put them on/off herself- which she can’t do but it’s fun to see her get frustrated trying to do it alone. I’m mean sometimes.

You know those annoying people who say, ‘OK, now one the count of three! Ready? OK, now one, Oh shoot..OK try again, one, two THREE!’ and they seem to yell it without any effort at all and embarrass you those around you? I am that person. Here we were on the trail and I humiliated them both. But they don’t look too devastated.

I’m being nice and not blowing this bad boy up to a close up of our faces. Let’s just say it was hot, I was out of breadth and Trav was pushing the stroller at the same time- action picture!

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Later that day we had small group at our house and I was busy making food for it. God bless Potluck themed get togethers…they make my day so much easier. I made (as you see with the picture below) Bacon and cheese JoJo’s (which rocked) a fruit plate (didn’t get to take a photo of that but it was pretty) and some individual cakes for each person.

Don’t ask me why I didn’t take pictures of the dessert…I told you in the beginning I’m not thinking clearly these days. (that’s my excuse and I’m stickin’ to it)

I made a dip for them too, shown below. Picture shows ingredients. And for those of you who don’t like sour cream (*wink, I know who you are) There was BBQ sauce. Because really, BBQ sauce is FAR better than ketchup and should, in my friend Theron’s opinion, become the new condiment leaving ketchup in the dust. I would vote for that.

We had a great time and lounged on our deck (which I struggled in vain to make it cute…but really how cute can you get when you have painting materials lying around because they’re painting the whole neighborhood?!) None the less, good friends are those that look besides the ugly patched up siding and and drop cloths on bushes and hang with you because it’s a beautiful night and we want to spend time with each other talking. No better reason I think. Good friends are soothing to my soul and last night was wonderful. Everyone laughing, talking about personal struggles and being there to listen and sympathize.

Well, right now Monday afternoon, Emma’s napping and when she wakes we’re going to the library to find some murder mysteries and poetry..and maybe even a Barney book. 😉

P.S. I’m trying this new theme out and we’ll see if it sticks. Sorry about the stretching of the photos, I’m trying to fix it.

by Alexis -

emma’s 2nd birthday!

OK, I have a bit while Emma sleeps to post in pictures how my last week went. It was Emma’s 2nd Birthday and it was fun! I was also in the Easter program. I think the link for that is HERE. While my mom was here we did some fun things and hung around the house too. We tackled some overwhelming projects like cleaning out Emma’s AND my closet AND she started to organize our garage! It was a huge help.

Well, I hope you like the pictures!

This mommy and baby bunny was from Grandpa and Granma Gigi. She loved it and snuggled with it all day. 🙂

****************BIRTHDAY PARTY TIME!!!*********************************************************

The cake was an ice cream cake (cookie dough) with cake inside too! It was wonderful! It also helped that it was completely ADORABLE!

She got a little tired blowing out the candles. Mommy helped 🙂

This is super cool! It’s disney princess Belle and when she gets wet she changes color! Pretty cool!

My little Emma getting tired from all the excitement and people at her house.

end with emma and her man. 😉

by Alexis -

Thoughts

Spring is here and even though there are days of sun and blossoming trees, there is a part of me that is waiting and maybe even yearning for the rain. I tend to be a pretty symbolic person and I feel the desire to wash myself of all the crusted stuff that has caked itself to me during the winter months and wash it off. Negative attitudes, periods of loneliness and just tiredness of the daily grind. I want the refreshing cleansing that happens in the spring time.

Just the smell of a rainstorm coming brings me hope and excitement. And I see that it will take many ‘rainstorms’ to wash off the grime I have on me. But I welcome it and wish for it…just some thoughts.

I am signing for the Easter program to the song, I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin. I am SO excite to be able to be apart of such a special song that will reach so many people. I think it will be on utube later sometime. I’ll hope to post the link. Most people don’t now that what we are signing is not the words that people sing. We have to translate it and as we sign something like…’I confess life good’ when you’re singing, ‘ I can say it is well’. It’s a heart translation. Anyways, after we translate it and memorize the signs we then have to combine the signs to the words you are singing. So event hough it looks like we’re signing what we’re mouthing…we’re not. It’s not that easy and a bit challenging. Most people don’t know that and say, ‘You did a good job dancing’. (Dancing!? Really?! Come on, really?! *Sigh, they meant it to be a compliment. I have to remember that. 🙂 ) Anyhoo, here is the song we’re doing and the words translated. Hope you can see the differences, I think it’s fun and interesting. But that could be me being nerdy. 🙂

Can you see which paper Emma got her creative hands on? 🙂

I made quesadilla’s for lunch because I wanted to eat sour cream. Pudding is my and Emma’s special treat today. 🙂

No, I have no idea what I was thinking when this picture was taken. Maybe I was trying to look tough…didn’t really work though. 🙂

I was curious if you have heard of or like/love Missy Higgins. She is one of my most favorite singers and there’s just something about her voice that captures me. Like it’s relatable. She has a song titled, ‘The Special Two’ and there is a phrase she sings that touches me every time I hear it. I can’t remember her exact words, but it’s similar to : ‘Life will lock you up and Truth being your only key’

Amazing huh. Oh, Emma just woke up. Gotta go. We might go to the park with all the other sun deprived families in Portland who flock to patches of grass on the weekend. 🙂

by Alexis -

Nachos and haircuts

Today we had a wonderful family day! Nothing says lounging like nachos and snuggling

the sour cream and salsa is missing in the pictures. But nachos wouldn’t be complete without them.

Emma also thought Chloe looked hungry. They both would live on cheese so why wouldn’t her furry friend like nachos too?!

I had a dream last night that I was giving myself pixie bangs…so after taking a shower I thought, ‘what the heck’ so I took scissors to my hair. Pretty happy with how it turned out.

I can’t believe St. Partrick’s day is Wednesday. Not my favorite holiday but I suppose it’s an opportunity to wear green, a color I don’t wear much. I hope you have a great Sunday and that you are able to go to bed early. Heck, I hope you were able to stay snuggled in your pj’s all day today and eat brownies, cereal and watching movies.

by Alexis -

Carrots, Friends and Coloring

So this will be a complilation of things that has been in my mind.

One: I was looking through Barfoot Contessa’s book and decided that I was going to make her roasted veggies for a side to dinner last night. I do not like carrots in general but wow! They were great! Naturally sweet and salty too. Awesome.

Simply lather in olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 400’F. About 15 min was all. One helpful hint is to remember to keep everything the same size, that way things cook at the same time.

Secondly: Emma has been in heaven having some of her best friends over to play. I was able to capture some ADORABLE pictures. Kinzie and Josiah, thank you for hanging out with us!

All togther now: Awwwww!

Kids have the BEST expressions. Period. There are days when I don’t feel like myself, but then I just have to hang with Emma to get a better perspective.

Lastly: When Emma was an infant I told people that I looked forward to seeing her be creative in whatever way she wants to be. I said that if she wanted to be a tattoo artist, I would support it and be proud of her. I guess she was listening to me.

by Alexis -

My Girls

Emma thought Chloe obviously looked like she needed a snuggle from her plastic baby.

When Emma saw how I was taking pictures of Chloe she snuggled down besides her…awww my little starlet.