Visiting Chicago

During our break between graduation and starting the new job we decided to spend a week with family in Chicago.  We enjoyed a lot of relaxation time - moving is pretty stressful.

We did go to the Children's Museum one day.  It was awesome and totally inspired me to be a better mom by providing more educational play opportunities at home.  Lily and Claire really liked it too.  Lily kept asking if we could go back.  We finally settled on playing "kids museum" at home.

Another day we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  It was really fun and the fun is even funner because its free.  We packed a picnic lunch and some snacks.  I regret the only pictures I took this whole week were of chocolate pudding faces.  The mess was pretty great.  A chocolate beard really suits Claire, don't you think?

Conference Surprise

My parents came to visit for General Conference.  It was so great to see them and be able to spend time with them.  Lily and Claire loved it too.  Claire warmed right up to my dad and began demanding that he read her stories.  My parents enjoyed being either the prince or the bad guy while playing with Lily (because she's always the princess).  Saturday was beautiful, with 70 degree weather.  My mom and I sat out on the back porch and listened to conference together while working on our little sewing/crocheting projects.

Then Sunday morning I woke up to this:

That was quite the surprise...and not a welcome one either.  I still made Jeff grill our chicken for dinner, even though it was freezing outside, and it was delicious.

Chinese Buffet

One day while my cousin Waisha was over doing laundry, we decided it would be awesome to have a Chinese-themed date night.  So Waisha and Allison invited a couple of guys over for a Chinese feast and then afterwards we watched Kung Fu Panda.

It was so fun to make all the food.  Waisha has some sweet cooking skills she's inherited/learned from her mom.

We made all my favorites too: chicken and green beans, marinated cucumbers, egg rolls, pot stickers, and eggs and tomatoes.  It was so good!  I had really missed Ting's cooking.

Claire's a Stinker

When Claire woke up from her nap today, Jeff and I went in to get her together.  We were met with an overwhelming odor.

She had pooped during her nap, removed her diaper, and made a huge mess.  Yes that's her diaper and poop in the middle of the room.

She had poop under her fingernails and she even had poop breath!  Yuck!  I immediately took Claire to the tub and Jeff had the hard job of cleaning poop off of every surface imaginable.  She's our little stinker.

Weighted Average Cost of ROCK (WACR) Performance

Jeff's MBA band performed at the annual talent show.  They did a fantastic trio of 80's rock, complete with big hair, no shirts, and tight pants.  I loved it and I'm sure you will too.

Here are the links to the YouTube videos.

Jump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbKlhcCknQ

Livin' on a Prayer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9rEjIjOlPs

Sweet Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNRa0WY6WjQ

Jeff's Birthday

Jeff is now one year older and wiser...and only one year away from being 30.  Man, he's getting old.  Good thing I decided to stay 24!

We had a small get together with family and enjoyed chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate chips - Jeff's request.  Yum!

Claire Loves Making Cookies

I decided to spend some one-on-one time with Claire while Lily was at preschool today.  We had a lot of fun making cookies together.  Claire's favorite part is trying to sneak dough when I'm not looking.  She's pretty good at it.  In the end I gave her a beater and she commenced making a big mess.