Thursday, April 5, 2012

83 years!

Happy 83rd Birthday, Grandma Lopez!

We loved celebrating with you!









Beautiful!


I couldn't NOT include my monster shot.

This was in frustration to the seemingly
endless amount of photos we had to take in which
everyone was still or almost smiling!

Love this crazy bunch!


Wednesday, April 4, 2012



Oh, the trials of youth!

To not be able to climb all the way up to the top bunk-
let alone climb down...

Of course this was a temporary setback,
like most challenges are,
and days later,
guess who was triumphantly shouting from the top bunk
and taking swings at the ceiling fan?

Oy!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

General Conference Weekend



Conference was amazing,
and as usual,
we were all looking forward to it!

Big family breakfasts...
pj's all the live long day...
snugging on the couch...

But most importantly,
listening to living prophets and apostles!

It's a miracle,
and I'm blessed to share this with my family.

Check out the highlights here!

You won't regret it!


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Happy Birthday, Samuel!



The big 3 - 3 finally came for Samuel and
all I can say is,

"Good grief!  Thank goodness it's here!"

As much as I love celebrating how many wonderful
years he has graced this earth...
every...single...year
(because I'm older by two weeks),
he gloats about how he's a whole year younger than me!

Do your math, buddy!

Even if I have to say I'm 33
and you get to say your 32
-I'm still only two weeks older!

Anyway...
his birthday wouldn't be the same without this
annual back and forth,
and truly,

"Happy Birthday, Samuel!"

I love you, hon!

This year was a bit unconventional for us
in that I was away for the big day in Bakersfield, California.

My grandma's nephew passed away and
I drove her and my little sister down for the funeral.
It was a wonderful opporunity to visit
family that I haven't seen since I was a little girl,
and to be able to spend time with my grandma and sister
was priceless!

What to do about the homefront though?

Well the day before I left,
I baked my buns off and 
gave the girls the secret mission of carrying
on the festivities without momma!

I am so proud of those girls!

They put the finishing touches on a 
hearty lasagna dinner,
wrapped dad's gifts,
AND
served Samuel's favorite chocolate cake for dessert! 

They are wondeful little momma's!

And the boys,
they played their part well too!
Keeping daddy busy with their escapades so
the girls could finish up!
...

When I got home the next day,
there was nothing but hugs and kisses
from all but one...
Gabriel!

He refused to look at me,
or let me hold him!

He was so, so upset with me for leaving!

I apologized and
told him I was home now,
and only then did he crawl into my arms!

What a sweetie! 

I love my brood!


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Graceful Ballerinas?


My sister, Julia,
is in an advanced ballet class
and recently learned how to
be lifted gracefully as part of her routine.

The kiddos, of course,
went crazy trying to do the same thing,
and Samuel,
the unfortunate counterpart,
nearly keeled over after hefting them
time and time again.

The worst, by far,
was Isabella!

Who crumpled the moment he
touched her waist!

The best?

Gabriel!
He was a natural!

All my money is on that guy!
Maybe we'll see him in Swan Lake someday...
Though that would be a bit awkward since
he'd be the one being lifted...

Anyway,
great fun!

Tons of good pictures and
many, many laughs!


Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I know how to catch leprachauns...


Let's just say it involves...


Sugar!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Rain



Love this girl!


Iris' Mommy Time

Iris has been working hard on
chores and extra jobs around the house,
and it when it came time to cash in
for some of her hard work
she chose "Mommy Time"!

Woo-hoo!

We headed out in the pouring rain
for a bit of shopping
and for some delicious frozen yogurt.

Her concoction?

Mint yogurt, gumballs,
maraschino cherries, sprinkles...

Hmmm....

But of course,
she loved it!

...

Iris,
You are lovely, talented,
and one smart cookie!

I love spending some alone-time with you!

Thank you for choosing me to spend
and afternoon with!

I have loved every second!

xoxoXoxoO
Mom










Food-fest




In March we got a little food-crazy!

I've been itching to try
out new recipes,
new foods,
and even new
cooking tools!

...

The attempt at re-creating the
Passion Fruit Lime Bavarian
from San Francisco's Tartine Bakery...
didn't go so well.

Delicious, yes.

Perfect copy-cat recipe!

No way!

Thank goodnss the bay is not
far away!

...

Luckily classics
like chocolate chip cookies
and our all-the-way burgers with
Blue Cheese, Arugula, and
homemade BBQ sauce
never fail!

We had fun trying to eat our super-huge creations!

...

And thanks to my new birthday present,
a cast iron grill & griddle pan from the
Antique Trove...

{note}

Have you ever been? 
It's a must visit! 
Go! 
Without kids!!!

...we are going nuts with everything from
super-crisp grilled cheese sandwiches
to Korean BBQ!

I love my grill!

...

And last but not least,
dragon fruit!

You see it featured all the time on
food competitions,
and when I saw this
"secret basket" ingredient
at Winco I pounced!

The result?

Beautiful fruit-
think tropical dalmation...?
But the flavor is so, so bland!

We kicked it up with some sugar and vinegar,
but still,
this house will take plain ol' grapes anyday!

...

Happy Eating
to you too!








Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Birthday wishes...


I can't even remember
what my birthday wish was!

All I know is...

I am so blessed!

Isabella, Ava, Iris,
Owen, Gabriel...
I love you!

Samuel,

You complete me!

XoxoXoO
Me