It's Fall Time!

I was looking at our blog and catching up on friends' blogs and realized that I hadn't posted in a long time. It doesn't really feel like much has happened. Pretty much the same thing every day, but not really. We were so excited that Grandpa Daniels was able to come over Labor Day weekend. Lucky us, he has a work reason to come and visit us (especially Adam). Here's a cute picture of Adam and Grandpa playing before we put Adam to bed.

And of course, a post is not complete without a picture of just Adam. We kept all of his toys in this laundry basket and after Adam dumping it out every day and the cleaning up process taking forever (he stopped after each toy to examine it and play with it before putting it in the basket). So we bought smaller baskets. He still dumps them out, but clean-up goes a little faster. Anyways, we were sitting in the front room, I look over, and here's Adam, sitting in the basket with a few toys, just being silly. He's such a good kid. We are so blessed!!!
And for those of you who don't know yet, Adam is thrilled to tell you...
New baby is due to arrive March 4th, 2010!

Cakes and Books

So here's the latest cake that I made, for our last night of class for the course. Last week's class was canceled because the teacher had the stomach flu (poor thing). Anyways, we learned how to do lots of things and I didn't want my roses to go to waste, so I threw them on the cake along with some swirl flowers. I sent it with Brian to work this morning and within a few hours it was eaten. I'm so glad!! I still need to work on the roses...since they look like tea roses, but that's ok. I'm having fun and the next course starts next week!

And of course, what is a post without a picture of Adam? Adam loves to read books and is constantly asking for "buh?" or else "da da." Books I can give him, Dad...well, not until after work. And no, I don't really like Barney, but the book was free and Adam doesn't mind. He does love Dr. Suess (just like his dad). Adam is growing up so fast it's hard to hold on to today.

My Cake Decorating Class

This month I am happy to be taking a cake decorating class. I've been trying since March and I finally was able to find one, that actually had a teacher, and that would fit with our schedule. It is a lovely two hours every Thursday when it's just me. No Adam, no Brian, no cleaning, no dishes. Well, there's cleaning the tips and everything afterwards, and making a cake and doing those dishes...but for those two hours, it's just me and some other ladies learning how to decorate cakes. I'm having a lot of fun! This is my "first" cake for the class. I wanted to do my own design instead of the "rainbow cake" or having to buy a character pan. So, I'd say it turned out just fine! Too bad I can't eat it.

And my project before my class started was to make this little dress. Our neighbors down the street, John & Sara, have a little girl named Atleigh. She just turned two and for her birthday I made her this little dress. I think homemade gifts are fun and cheaper when you have the time to make them. I'm glad this turned out and that it fit and that they liked it. It feels really nice to have someone enjoy what you make for them. It's such a feeling of appreciation and achievement. Now I need to make the crib bedding I've been meaning to make for almost two years...and make that scrap quilt. One thing at a time...

Family Weekend

Well, we had a wonderful weekend last weekend and I haven't been able to blog about it until now. Brian's parents came into town for a few days and his brother and his family as well (the family we went to the beach with). We had so much fun!! I'm sad I really didn't get any pictures. I need to take a lesson from Grandma Hofmann and take pictures more often.

On Thursday we were excited to first welcome Brian's parents and have lunch and show them around the house. As I think about, it was really exciting for us to show them our house, as an accomplishment. I know it will be the same for my parents when they come and visit (hopefully soon). Having our parents know and see that we are doing well is rewarding.

Anyways, after spending some time with them, Scott and Melissa and co arrived and we all had a great time talking and laughing. Melissa's sister Lisa was able to come too. We're so excited for her as she prepares to serve a mission in Brazil--we wish her luck!

On Friday we all went to Bays Mtn. and enjoyed seeing all of the animals. We were even able to hear the pack of wolves howl--that was really cool. Afterwards we had lunch together and went to splash pad (a kids water park with lots of fountains) and had a blast! We all played on the playground equipment and had a "jolly good time." Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Scott, Melissa & Co. but we were so happy they were able to come!

We kept Brian's parents busy on Saturday with putting the 2nd coat of paint on the yellow room (to be a nursury eventually), took them to the ward 24th of July celebration, helped a family pack up their moving truck, ran errands, and took them to our neighborhood block party. It was a busy weekend, but so much fun!

As we had to say farewell after Sacrament meeting on Sunday, I found myself really sad that they had to leave and having to hold back tears. It was so nice to have family here. Despite how much we miss our families (and that's an incredible lot), we know that we need to be here now. And we're happy. We are so happy that Brian only has to work one job and that I can stay home with Adam and that we are developing close friendships with people here. We have been truly blessed.
Here are the three Daniels' grandsons playing the piano at our house. They had so much fun together!

The Beach!!

Our family had the wonderful opportunity to go and see Brian's brother and his family (Scott & Melissa) over the 4th of July weekend. To celebrate, we all drove to the Outer Banks (North Carolina) and we went to Ocracoke Island. It's a great little island with beautiful beaches and few enough people that you could have your own stretch of beach for the evening. We took a (long) ferry to the island and had fun just spending time with family. Here we are on the ferry as we are, uhh...I guess taxiing(??) into the harbor.

After arriving on the island, we drove to our hotel. We were planning on just a small room with two beds and a bathroom (like Scott had reserved) but to our pleasant surprise they had sold our room and upgraded us to a beautiful suite with two master bedrooms with their own baths and jetted tubs, a full kitchen/dining room, and a living room along with two balconies with lovely views of the island. After dropping off our things we all changed and headed to the beach. We had a lovely stretch all to ourselves--the weather was perfect and so was the water. Enoch and Adam were so happy to spend the evening playing in the sand that it took me multiple tries to just get Adam's attention for the picture. Thanks for indulging Mommy, Adam.


We all loved playing in the sand and the waves. Both Enoch and Adam were knocked over in the waves, but after being pulled back up, a hug, and a reassurance, they were back playing in the sand in minutes. Here's Brian, Adam, and Enoch playing in the sand together.


And what is a summer vacation without a family picture?? This was the first night we were there and between the waves and the wind, we all have lovely hair yet nobody cared because we're family and we were enjoying ourselves too much anyway.


And who can forget our lovely hosts--the Daniels. Scott, Melissa, Enoch, and Zacharias were so much fun to spend our vacation with! Thank you so much for all that you put into the trip between the planning, reservations, food, driving, etc. The picture, like I said, is on the beach that first night--it was so much fun!!


The sunset that night was amazing! Such a beautiful place and a great place to relax and have fun. The mosquitoes that attacked as we were leaving the beach were a nightmare, but aside from that it was a perfect trip! I'm wondering if they were some weird mosquito because Adam still has the bites and it has been two weeks...he seems fine and they aren't bothering him...he's tough.