Catch Up: Out with the Old...

Note: I was looking through old blog posts and realized that I never published this.

Moving to Germany has been time consuming, stressful and very physically demanding. We basically sold almost all of our worldly possessions. We sent one moving cube to Delaware with our heirlooms. We are arriving with only suitcases. Here are some pictures of the process:

Packing up the important things

Visits from family. Note the piles in the back for the yard sale.

I took so many pictures for posting on Craigslist. Here is our couch. It found a home with Lisa. I really miss it. It wasn't really beautiful, but it was the most comfortable couch ever!

I know I should have taken pictures of the yard sale and the boxes and the pod, but honestly, I was exhausted physically and emotionally.

Coming up next: Trip to the East Coast

For Lilly

While Vi was here, she was pretty sick. Later, it turned out to be an ear infection. She slept a lot. This picture is for Lilly, who was in disbelief that her daughter fell asleep standing up on our couch. Isn't she just so cute?

Violet Visits

I'm way behind on my blogging. A few weeks back, Violet came to visit while Clark and Lilly were house hunting in Miami. Unfortunately, poor girl got pretty sick. Here are some pictures from the beginning of her stay.

You Can Call Me "Suzanne"

So, I think this picture accurately shows the moment in which I completely morphed into my mother.

That is my arm holding Violet up, and yes, that is the fountain in the Newport Beach Temple. You might remember this post about my mother. Next thing you know, my hair is going to turn red and curly... wait, I think that might already be starting!

Catch-up: Mother's Day Cuteness

Easter 2010

We had a great Easter this year. Clark, Lilly & Violet came from Irvine. On Saturday, we took the girls to an egg hunt. They really enjoyed it. Later in the day, we went downtown and went shopping and then went to dinner at Fresco. On Sunday, the Easter bunny brought the girls candy, books and toys. Scott & Lisa came over for a ham dinner. It was a lovely weekend!

Violet's First Birthday and Props to Lilly

It was Violet's first birthday! She is so big, grown up and sweet. She is such a smart girl. She says so many words and is an amazing parrot. While we were there she said the following words: Eliza, Violet, soft, George, cracker and shababababa.

The girls are getting along so well. Eliza was so excited to see Violet and vice versa. They played (in general) so well together.

Can you believe that Lilly made this cake?

It was banana cake and sooo... good. Here's the kicker though. This was Lilly's FIRST attempt at piping!!!! She had to go and buy the supplies. Impressive, huh?

Snakes, School, Stuff...Ssssss....

I know the week isn't over yet, but it has been exciting so far. Here is the report:

Sunday: 1 p.m. church is a killer! Eliza loves Nursery though. She had a great day at actual church, but afterwards, it was rough. She didn't want to take a nap and was so cranky. Our friends Ryan & Whit came over for dinner.

Monday: We had family home evening with our neighbors. They have a snake. Eliza proved that she is indeed my child. She couldn't wait to pet him. In fact, the hard part was keeping E from sticking her fingers in its eyes or mouth. Before you start calling child services, it was a ball python, which is the golden retriever of the herpetological world. I'm so proud though!

Tuesday: Eliza started preschool. She "luffs" school! Two of our neighbors also attend, and they were so sweet and helped her adjust. She's made tons of friends already. Here is a picture of her with her teacher.

Don't you like her "model" pose? She's so funny!

Wednesday: It was Violet's first birthday!! Can you believe it!?! We are so excited to attend her party. Eliza has been singing "Happy Birthday" all week.

Thursday: School day again! Eliza was so excited this morning. She didn't even bother to tell me bye. She was too busy.

We are going to Orange County for V's birthday this weekend! Can't wait!

Cousin Sisters

This is Violet and Eliza.

Violet LOVES Eliza.

Eliza tolerates Violet sometimes.

Hopefully, they will grow to love each other ALL the time.

Sweet Vi-o-let

Clark, Lilly & Violet visited this weekend. They were life savers. I am sick, and Claron is industriously working on his orals (for TOMORROW!!!). It was great to see them, and Violet is SO big (and absolutely adorable)!

Catch-up: Father's Day

Now that it is September, it is finally time to write about Father's Day. We had a lovely Father's Day this year.

Eliza made a tie for Claron in nursery at church the week before.

Claron had donuts for breakfast before church.

Claron's dad and Clark, Lilly & Violet came to visit, and the girls wore matching dresses to church.


The whole crew after church.

We had a great day. A funny aside from that day... Eliza is very territorial about her chair. Violet found a work around though.... Camouflage!

Catch-up: Scott's Awesome Birthday Party

After our Memorial Day BBQ, Scott was hanging out, and we were all playing Dr. Mario (Man, do I love Dr. Mario!). Anyway, Scott mentioned that his birthday was coming up and that he was sure it was going to be super lame. So, I asked him what his ultimate birthday would be like. Surprisingly, he said that he would love to have a party with a bouncy house and a pinata.

The weeks past, and I decided to give Scott his party but to make it a SURPRISE. So, I invited friends, made a menu, ordered the bouncy house, made a cake and picked up the pinata. Lisa and I collaborated to get Scott to our house and man, was he surprised!

The bouncy house was SO MUCH FUN! If you ever see a bouncy house for sale, call me! I think the big kids loved it more than the babies. Beating the pinata was fun, but the adults didn't really want the candy. I made Scott a lemon cake with strawberries, cream cheese filling and a vanilla buttercream icing. He happily decorated his own cake wreck.

It was a great day. Here are the pics:

Kate!

We are in Delaware for Claron's family reunion. My sis-in-law, Chrissee, always gets awesome pictures done of her daughter, Taryn. So, while we were all here, she asked her photographer, Kate to do family photos. Here are some of what she put up. You can find the rest here. She hasn't put them all up yet.