2006-2007 Blurb Book

I was recently introduced to Blurb, a bookmaking website. I know I've mentioned them before, but basically they have free software you can download to create your own book. A friend of mine (thanks Amberlynn!) made an awesome family scrapbook/blog book with it. I got so excited I talked Michael into letting me do 2006 and 2007 to make us a book. Never mind that we already had a finished scrapbook from those years. I am SOOO happy with the final product! It's gorgeous! I don't think I got a single other thing accomplished during Jessica's naps for the past while, but it's worth it. Here is a sampling. Sorry for the lousy pictures. They don't do it justice.

Pictures

Two Binkies. Jessica thought she was HILLARIOUS!

Looking our the window with her toys. Silly girl. (Oh, and yes, even though she's wearing a diaper in this pict, we're still working on the potty training thing. We found out she does just as well in diapers as in regular underwear, so this seemed like a less messy approach. She's doing awesome, but still has some progress to make. I'm so very proud of her!)

Swinging at the park. She is no longer willing to use the baby swings. She LOVES the regular kind.

This is the look I got when I went to get her out of time out. Doesn't she look sorry? :)

Putting her own cup back on the counter. She is all about being independent lately. I think "No! I can do it!" is her new mantra.

Just playing in the laundry basket.

House-sitting

This past week we spent house-sitting/babysitting for some friends. They have three little kids just older than Jessica. She was in heaven! She loved going swimming everyday in their pool and always having someone to play with. Poor thing is going to be so bored now with just me around. :)

Kyle, Jessica, Kaitlin, and Annalise

She just loves to lounge in the sunshine! :)

Pool Day!

The three of us went to the pool last night. Jessica had a BLAST! She asks every two minutes to go back to the pool and swim in the "warm water" (the hot tub). Silly thing. She did an awesome job though. Definitely not a water wimp like her mommy. She would go all the way under and not be the least bit phased. There was a couple of times she even tried to jump off the edge when we weren't looking. I'm so glad she's brave.

A little blurry, but I love this one.

This shows just how brave my little bug is.

We're In!

Michael and I just got some great news today. Well, sort of bitter-sweet, but for the most part really great. We were accepted by the University of Idaho to spend our last year of law school as visiting students! We love San Diego, but the cost was just killing us. We're both so excited for this upcoming adventure. And I'm also excited for the fact that now we can afford to take a fun vacation end of the summer. Hooray!

Snow... In June!?

No, these aren't old pictures. It seriously snowed last night. Jessica was SO excited! She has been asking to play in the snow ever since we got here. The whole "seasons" thing doesn't really click for her yet. Apparently it doesn't click for Idaho either. Hello!! It's almost summer! Oh well, I guess that's how it goes. At least it's already melted off.

FHE Opening Song

We've wanted to get this song on video for 3 months, but were never quick/motivated enough until tonight. This is one of her favorites and she makes us sing it every night, but tonight she wanted to go solo.

Another Day at the Zoo

Jessica and I LOVE going to the zoo! She asks to go pretty much every day. Thank heavens for our annual pass. I'm now totally regretting not shelling out the money in SD for a zoo pass. It may have been a lot more than the one here, but I think it really would have been worth it. We go to the Idaho Falls zoo at least once or twice a week, sometimes more. Michael was able to come with us this past Saturday when we went. It was a little chilly (when will this crazy wind end!?), but fun. Jessica loved having her Daddy along.

This monkey (top left) was being SOOO loud!
We could hear him through the entire zoo!

This peacock was showing off for us today. Jessica's peacock impression is the funniest! I'll have to get a video of it sometime.

I love when the animals are so cooperative. This guy was just sitting right next to the glass eating. Pretty fun.

Our Disney Princess

This summer Jessica has had a much larger selection of Disney movies to watch. She loves them! But she comes up with the funniest sayings from them. Here are the ones that crack me up the most:

- Princerella ~ This is how she refers to Princess Cinderella

-Sleeping Cutie ~ Sleeping Beauty

-"Oh sweet nightingale!" ~ It means like, "Oh my!" or something to her. It's from the song "Sing Sweet Nightingale" from Cinderella

-"Bi-ble, Bi-ble! It's off-a work we go!" ~ From the "Hi-Ho" Snow White song

Yum!

Michael and I went to dinner over at some friends from Michael's work last night. For dessert they made us these apple dumplings. I'm not really an apple dessert kind of a person, but these were AWESOME! I know the whole Mountain Dew thing sounds a little weird, but give them a try. You will not be disappointed.

Um, just a little FYI: peel your apples. I know, I know - obvious right? I guess I just wasn't thinking tonight. Oh well, they were still good.

Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings

Ingredients

* 2 (8 count) cans crescent rolls

* 3-4 tart apple

* 1 1/2 cups sugar

* 1/2 cup butter

* 1 teaspoon cinnamon

* 1 (12 ounce) can Mountain Dew soda

Directions
1. Spray a 13x9 baking dish or pan.

2. Peel and slice apples into 16 pieces.

3. Roll each apple slice in 1 section of crescent roll.

4. Place rolled slices in pan in two rows, put extras along side.

5. Melt butter, add sugar and cinnamon and pour over apples.

6. Pour can of Mountain Dew over all.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

8. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.