So.. this past weekend was really, really busy.

Wednesday night David & Teresa moved in.
Thursday night Cadi slept over.
Friday I baked cupcakes, prepped sandwiches, made pretzel salad and helped clean Ruth’s house (including what everyone called a speedy [but efficient!] mopping of her kitchen).

I had to get up too early on Saturday. But, I did take a nap after the party guests left!

Saturday we finished up all the food with 30 minutes to go til the party started. My mom, sisters and Esther all got started on the baby shower project (in lieu of games), decorating bibs & onesies for Naomi’s first year of life. The party went smoothly; all but 2 guests did the craft project, everyone loved the food (yay!) and Ruth got some great gifts. Including about a thousand diapers and 10 million pounds of wipes. That baby is going to have one clean bottom.

Included in the gifts, of course, was the pair of booties, bib and hat I knit for Naomi. (Pictures to come, I promise.) Instead of wrapping the gifts, I knit her a little tote purse, which turned out pretty well. I need to finish the handle and add a closure to it, but at least I finished the body part (I was a little worried Friday night about that).

Today things are back to normal; I had to go to work (sigh), Sariah and the girls went home. I think now is when the having roommates thing is going to set in, since things are “normal” and.. they are still here!

So.. this year for Easter, my sister Ruth hosted a lovely dinner that included her husband’s family and our family. There were about 20 people there, and lots of amazing food.

For dinner, I brought brussel sprout salad, which is one of my new favorite foods. I never thought I liked brussel sprouts, but this is the 2nd recipe I’ve had them with and really, they aren’t bad at all. I think it depends on how you cook them.

The recipe is fairly simple and since it includes bacon, really, you can’t go wrong.

I added apples to the recipe, and I really liked the added crunch. It’s good with or without. I used pink lady apples, since it’s what I had, but I’m curious how it would be with some sour granny smiths.

Recipe: Brussel Sprout Salad

The other thing I brought was one of my favorite desserts: Pretzel Salad. Perfect mix of salty and crunchy, sweet and creamy and delicious fruit.

I did it with strawberry, but you can really do any fruit flavors and I’m sure it would be just as tasty!

This is not only a delicious dessert, it’s also beautiful!

Recipe: Pretzel Salad

Here are a few photos from the evening:

So.. when I was younger, I remember going to an event where we all learned CPR. They stopped doing it, and then when Ruth was pregnant with Esther she found them doing it again and we all signed up. Lots of fun, informative and a great day. Last year the Hinds went again, but I took too long and they were out of space! So this year I signed up right away and I’m really glad I did. All the Sacramento family attended, and while Esther & Jared are too young to be certified, they sure learned and practiced and will be pros when they are older.

So.. one of my favorite jokes is about the basketball player who, when he found out his sister was having a baby, asked “Am I going to be an aunt or an uncle?” as if the sex of the child determined that. Aw.. no one ever said athletes were smart.

Anyway, I am going to be an aunt again, no matter how you look at it. Ruth found out yesterday the new little one is going to be a girl! I had guessed, as did most everyone, and either way we’d be happy and excited, but now comes the fun part – PINK stuff!!

I had already started planning the baby shower, and now I can get into it even more. And, I plan to make a little gift for Naomi with my new-found skill, knitting!

So.. last night for some unknown reason I couldn’t sleep. I woke up three times, the last time for at least two hours, laying there thinking about random things. And one of those random things was “if my house was on fire, what would I grab?”

I think it started off because I smelled something smokey and I just thought “uh oh is the house on fire?!?!” It wasn’t. Obviously.

But, it led to an interesting thought. Here is my list..

1) My dogs, of course.

B) If I was upstairs, I would grab my teddy bear I’ve had since I was a baby. If I wasn’t, I don’t know if I’d risk it..

3) My phone, so I could call for help. It’s always nearby anyway.

4) The blanket my sister-in-law made for me for Christmas a year ago. I also thought about the scarves my mom has made me, but they aren’t as handy to grab so I’d just have to ask her to make more. And I thought about the plates Miriam made me for Christmas this year, but again, not handy so probably not.

5) My external hard drive. All my photos are on there. And I realized, it was in my laptop bag, which was in the trunk of my car, parked in the garage. Not exactly the quickest grab. So I think I will not be leaving it there anymore, JUST IN CASE.

Anyway, I realized most of what I own is replaceable, and as much as I like them, I could live without. And I liked the feeling of realizing what matters most to me are things that bring me closer to my family.

If anyone wants to share their list, you can post in the comments or blog it and post your link. I’m curious!

This one was my favorite museum we went to. The airplanes were so cool and getting to sit in them was incredible!

I am a beautiful butterfly!

This fish loved Esther! He would come up when she’d touch the glass, but swim away really quickly!

You can’t tell, but she’s pointing at the guy driving the train behind her.

This was my favorite set of dishes on the dining car.

So.. this year is almost over and I can’t believe it. Christmas is in just a couple of days, and I’m trying to be in the Spirit of the Season. It’s hard, at times, but I think I’m doing fairly well. I put up aChristmas tree this year (first time in 3 years) – actually bought a “living” tree, one that I will plant in the yard after the holidays. Put lights up, nativities out, and I’m hosting the family Christmas Eve dinner this year. All my gifts are bought (and/or made), wrapped and shipped (if necessary). And I’m super excited to see what everyone made for our homemade gift exchange.

Sometimes it’s really hard to stay positive, to think about the things I do have, instead of the things I don’t. It’s something I’m working on. I think I’ll be working on it for the rest of my life.

But, I am so thankful for the people in my life who love me and who are there for me, no matter what. My family and friends are the greatest gift I could ever have, and my one Christmas wish is that everyone will be as blessed as I am in friendship.

Thanksgiving Day:

Day After Thanksgiving @ The Zoo: