A Year In Photos? Well How About Four Months!

Well howdy friends.  How many times I've thought about the need to update this blog.  Once people started asking I figured it was time.  It has not been for a lack of wanting to, but rather a lack of time.  Although it only takes a few minutes (okay maybe closer to 30 or so!) ... I literally feel as though I've not had five minutes since probably Halloween.

We took a trip to Hawaii just before Thanksgiving and Lizzy did amazing.  She did great on the flights, awesome with the time change and LOVED the beach and the water.  Ben and I enjoyed taking her with on a such a special trip ... next time ... it will be just he and I!  Haha!

Maui

Ready for the pool - Maui

At the beach! - Maui

Learning how to use chopsticks! - Oahu

Pool at Outrigger Waikiki - Oahu



Last night in Oahu!



Thanksgiving was a blast and we hosted.  I love cooking the turkey and all the fixings.  More because I am selfish and think my turkey always tastes amazing ... but I do love seeing everyone and having the family over.  Lots of food and just a bit of leftovers ... it was delicious.

The cocktail party was a success yet again.  It turned into more of a WWU slumber party and too much alcohol was consumed by all parties (except yours truly!).  But it was a blast and below are just a few snapshots to tempt you all into coming next year.  Cheers!

I love my MU Apron!

Cody & Kelsey

Laura & Colon

Kimberly, Desirae & Megan

Sonu and Brock

Brian & Cody

From there it was a whole bunch of Christmas parties.  Our annual shindig with the Foisy's and the Karp's as well as Christmas with Tobey's, Swerk's and my side.  It was busy as ever and some year I am just going to throw my hands up and say no more.  If you want to visit you can come to our house.  As much as I love seeing everyone.  It makes for no rest and no chance to enjoy the holiday just Ben, Lizzy and I!  Maybe next year will spend Christmas morning at home ... who knows though!

Two of my favorite kiddo's - Robster & Cam Cam

No one talk about the B-O-W!!!

My family ... everyone looking good!

So I can't get the Swerk or Tobey photo's to load.  Those may come at a later date.  For now though I'm done.  I need to go spend some time with my fantastic husband.  Toodles for now!  January and February to come shortly!  Lots more photos ... toodles!

Busy, Busy Bees ...

What a busy weekend we had!  

I was out of town on business Friday through Wednesday of last week so that weekend was shot.  I had a productive show in Denver and then did a bit of territory travel and onto Michigan for a bit more.  I got back Wednesday night around midnight and was able to finally give this sweet baby girl a kiss and a hug (although she was fast asleep). Last weekend Lizzy and daddy spent the weekend together.  Who knows what they ended up doing but my daughter was happy and bathed so I was thrilled. 

Lizzy has spent the better part of this past week fighting a nasty cough/cold along with a rough bout of diaper rash.  Is that too much info?  I hope note, if not I suppose you can just skip that part!   Needless to say she was a bit cranky but we pushed through.  We did a little grocery shopping and then made a great dinner on Friday evening.  We were all spent so we cashed out earlier than usual! 

Saturday Lizzy and I woke up and headed to Target.  First we had to check out the new grocery section.  I was more than impressed as the prices matched or were cheaper than Fred Meyer!  We then headed into the kids clothing section.  Uh-oh.  I asked Ben to come along and he said he'd rather work out.  When I got home with ten Target bags in hand I told him he should have came with.  It is always better for my bank account if he is there questioning every decision!  But then again ... as I tell him ... this is why I work (or why we both work may be a better answer)! 

After shopping Lizzy crashed ... two hour nap, before lunch.  Unheard of.  We let her sleep though as we were planning on heading south to visit my dad, attend the Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival and visit with our Western friends (Cody, Kelsey, Mike and Kimberly to name a few).  My dad ended up watching Lizzy and had an absolute blast!  I was going to attempt to take her to the Tacoma Dome but I'm rather glad I didn't.  Too many people and too many trinkets and breakables!  I only ended up there for two hours and then I headed back to Cody's house to hang out with Ben and our friends to watch the UW vs Stanford game.  I was thrilled, the Huskies lost.  I was hoping my UW (Wisconsin) could pull out the win against Michigan State but no such luck. 

Sunday we hung out in the morning with my dad ... it was nice to just lounge around!  From my dad's we headed to my dear friend Lindsey's to visit and catch up briefly.  We are so excited for them to welcome baby Colby into the world!  Kaylen will make an awesome big sister!   Time for lunch so we stopped off at our favorite pizza joint, The Rock.  Lizzy picked up a purple bucket and shovel (I almost had to ask for a new one given the Husky colors! JK!).  We then headed up to St. Bernadette's in Burien to watch our pseudo family play some soccer.  My rule, if it wasn't raining we'd go, otherwise I find soccer completely boring and I'm not watching it when it is pouring sideways!  But the sun showed up and we hung out for an hour watching 5 & 6 year old's play a little bumble bee soccer.  A few of those kids were pretty awesome, including our very own Robster!  Aka our ring bearer (now that makes you feel old)!  Cameryn and Lizzy got to play and hang out (picture above).  

Overall it was a busy weekend followed by just as busy of a week.  I'm looking forward to this weekend and being home next week for the entire week!  Bring on Halloween and my little cupcake.  Pictures to come! 

Happy Fall!

Can someone please explain where the days go.  Each time I sit down to write an update I find myself wishing or rather hoping that the next time won't be a month or two down the road.  Hmmm, maybe its time to re prioritize. 

This past weekend Ben and I spent a mommy and daddy weekend away.  I had volunteered to do a demonstration for work down at a market in Bend, OR and thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Ben and I to get away and have a restful and relaxing weekend.  Or so I thought.  Ben ended up in Yakima on Thursday for a trade show (he only goes to two or three a year) and didn't feel great most of the day.  I drove down to my parents' house late Thursday evening with Lizzy so she could spend the weekend with them and I could head to the airport Friday morning and take a quick flight to Bend.  Well Ben ended up with the flu Thursday evening, drove down Friday to meet me and then I ended up catching whatever he had Friday evening.  Not exactly the best start to my romantic weekend away. 

We were able to catch a flick Friday night, Saturday I did my demo and then we both decided we needed to do something new so we headed to the Bendistillery right outside of town.  A-MAZ-ING time.  The staff was so knowledgeable and although we had both been feeling a bit under the weather the tasting of vodka and gin did surprising little to our stomachs!  After a few tastings and hearing all about the product and the production process we were hooked.  We walked out with three fifths of vodka.  Yikes.  Check it out though and like always ... buy local if you can!  www.bendistillery.com

Now back to our precious Lizster.  She is walking and talking and into pretty much everything.  She is our little monkey finding new ways to climb all over things.  We have an uncountable amount of signs we are doing now and we are learning the words to go with those signs.  Our newest are banana (we did the sign our self on Thursday morning - after probably eight months of signing the fruit!) and cracker (we did this the very first time mom and dad showed her!).  I know everyone says this about their kid but she is brilliant I tell you! 

We went through a bit of a rough patch immediately following Labor day weekend but we now officially have four new one year molars.  Her little mouth is almost entirely teeth.  We chew on our binky but we definitely do not need it.  It is used more as a teething toy than anything.  But we LOVE our bottles.  I think we are on our way to giving up the evening bottle, but she will not touch a sippy cup.  She may take a drink or two here or there ... otherwise, bottle only if you please!

Last weekend we headed to our favorite spot to pick pumpkins, Bob's Pumpkin Patch!  Ben and I were trying to figure out if this was our fourth or fifth time there.  Ben and Bob used to work together at Fastenal so it can be a bit like old home week and it is always nice to patronize those that we know!  So we took a gander at all the pumpkins.  Lizzy loved to touch and feel the big vegetables although it took her a few moments to warm up to what those fuzzy leaves were all about.  We measured her against the Bob's Pumpkin Patch height chart (should be fun to watch her grow!) and we played and raced on the John Deere bicycles.  She figured out how to push herself forward for the first time!  Mommy and Lizzy raced around the track while daddy took pictures! Unlike last year though the hay ride was probably our least favorite event.  We took a ride down to the corn maze and immediately came back up to the farm.

So we'll leave you with this ... Lizzy's list of words to date ... I can only imagine how this will change over the next few months.  Our next goal is to teach her aloha for our Hawaiian vacation in November! 

Lizzy words/expressions:

peas (please)

buh bye (bye bye)

nigh nigh (night night)

hi (hi!)

ma (milk)

nana (banana)

ma ma (mama)

da da (daddy)

baf (bath)



October 2010



October 2011

Quick Update ... Too Busy Lately!

I wish I had all the time in the world.  But alas I do not.  Or maybe I'm just discovering that time management is not my forte.  Literally within the last week I've set this as my year end goal.  Who needs a new year resolution.  I need to learn to prioritize and not get side-tracked now, not in four months.

So I'm on the train and figured it is about time for a Lizzy update!  She stood up and took a few steps on her own last night and I just now received a phone call that my daughter is walking and standing on her own accord.  She just walked from the coffee table to our bistro table if you are so inclined to know.  She is truly becoming a toddler day by day ... complete with the attitude!

Over Labor Day weekend the first of her one year molar's finally broke through.  We also ended up with a yeast rash of sorts.  Such fun.  But we were able to enjoy lots of sun as summer as finally decided to show up here in Seattle with multiple days of 80 degrees.  It is fabulous! 

More updates to come but for now ... I'll just leave you with a cute photo!   No she is not anorexic ... just sucking in her tummy! 

Woof! Woof!

This week was a bit crazy but Ben and I are sitting here on the couch and discussing the blog so I told him I'd type if he told me what he wanted to say.  No promises on what will follow but I do appreciate that he is willing to help write this! 

Bomb, bomb, bomb.  Bomb, bomb, ba-bomb. 
Moley, Moley, Moley (I told you no promise the dude is weird!).

I heard about Jesus, he drinks wine.  I think we'd get along just fine.  (Again, weird and NO alcohol tonight).

Lizzy is beginning to talk a lot more, not necessarily in coherent words but she is signing up a storm and she started saying 'woof' this week.  We always ask what a doggy and kitty say and the 'woof, woof' is the fun one for her.  It will be relevant now that Auntie Megan and Uncle Cliff have a new puppy.  We cannot wait to meet Diesel! 

She is so close to walking, cruising around furniture and climbing up and over us while we are laying on the floor.  We are fighting our naps more and more but literally within two minutes of laying down she is out.  She officially received a cubby in the one's room this week so we are moving out of the baby room at daycare.  She is growing up so fast it is incredible.

Elizabeth, you are now 14 months old and mommy and daddy love you so very much.  We are so proud of you and just know that you make us laugh to the point of tears almost daily.  You will always be our Liz Bug, the Lizster, my pumpkin princess, our Lizard. 

My how time flies ...

July 9th 2011 - Grandma & Grandpa Muldary's House

I have every intention of writing on this blog at least one to two times a week ... in case you haven't noticed that is a far cry from what is actually happening!  So here we go, a month in a photo montage.  I suppose some people may prefer this any way.  July and the first part of August have been extremely busy.  Lots going on and finally some wonderful weather. 

4th of July we painted the entire exterior of our house.  The second weekend in July, as you saw below, we spent celebrating Mike & Kimberly's wedding as well as some much needed time on Tapps.  The next weekend was spent gearing up for Chelan, celebrating our friends Heidi & Tim's 20th wedding anniversary and car shopping.  Luckily we did find a car we loved, bring on yet another 4Runner! 

The 29th of July we left for our annual trip to Lake Chelan.  Ben's family has gone since 1954 ... needless to say there is a lot of tradition.  It is always beautiful weather, loads of time spent swimming and boating and my personal favorite wine tasting with my favorite wives!  Although we will probably never go for a full week again, it was fun but purely exhausting.  Lizzy is not quite walking but into everything and wants to go-go-go.  One of the highlights of the week was definitely her learning to crawl.  Now don't be fooled she has been scooting for probably three or four months now (I mean literally scooting on her behind) ... so we were rather excited for her to learn to crawl.  Honestly we did not expect for it to happen! 

Theme Night - It's A Jungle Out There

Everyone in their jungle gear!

Be sure to check out the photos below, more to follow and links to be sent out to those that went to Chelan.  Not as many photos as last year but still close to 900 downloaded.  Ben got his two rounds of golf in at Bear Mountain and at Desert Canyon ... I got my wine tasting in at Nefarious (thanks ladies and another thanks to Cody and Kelsey for going a second time with me!) as well Tsillian, Lake Chelan Winery and Benson. 

More to follow but right now ... I'm simply proud of myself for completely photo downloads and two loads of laundry tonight!  Haha!  Happy Tuesday everyone! 

We love horses!

Tubing for the first time!

A much needed nap for both mom and Elizabeth!

We got a spritzing safari pool for the kids to play in!

Yum-O!  S'Mores with GIGANTIC marshmallows!

Just chillaxin'

Riding horses with daddy!

Just hanging around!

Wedding and Boating!

What a fantastic weekend of weddings and boating! 

We spent Friday evening at a mansion in Auburn for Mike and Kimberly's wedding.  It was a true princess wedding complete with a flower fairy!  Naomh was the most adorable flower fairy ever.  See the pictures below.  Food was awesome, the weather stayed nice and other than getting eaten alive by mosquito's the wedding was beautiful. 

Saturday we spent the day on the lake ... FINALLY ... we got the boat out on the water.  We even took Elizabeth out for a few hours and she did amazing.  She loved standing on the seat and staring out at the water.  She helped daddy drive the boat and then ended up going swimming and loved the water.  We all thought it was freezing but she loved it. 

Love you miss Lizbug ... each and every day you amaze daddy and I more and more!  We had such a great weekend and it is so fun that Lizzy is getting old enough to do 'big people' stuff with! :)