Just a Reminder!

We've moved to http://spontaneousday.blogspot.com

Moving On

Hi Everybody. This is just to let you know that I've created a new blog for us at: http://spontaneousday.blogspot.com. So, if you want the random updates on our life, that's where you're going to find them. So, if you do, please follow me! I may or may not be keeping this blog up. Haven't decided yet. : ) Bye!

Blessed.

Brittan & Grandma Brownell

Don't you just love how I'm looking in one direction, Anthony's looking the other, and our babies are gazing right at the camera? Haha! I've decided it's hard to get a good picture when more than one camera is pointed at you.

Blessed Baby

Cooking Adventures Part 2

I was making pizza last week. I almost always make my own and was trying a recipe that didn't have to rise.

Dubious?

Yes.

It was a total flop. I'll be going be going back to my tried-and-true, thank you.

Well, I figured that since Ashlynn is always under foot when I'm cooking, I might as well put her on the step stool to watch. And she did. And she enjoyed it. We made pizza pockets this week and she helped put the cheese in. But, I'm getting off on a tangent. Where was I?

Oh yes, she watched me make the stupid yeast-less pizza dough and roll it out on the pizza stone. Then I went to the pantry to get some tomato sauce for pizza sauce and I came back just in time to see my observer stuff a bunch of dough into her mouth. Hahaha! Yuck. Well, she seemed to like it, but she looked soooo guilty when I caught her.



Busted! Heehee. Like how my kitchen counter is the size of a postage stamp? Me too.

Yum yum! Yeah? See that trash can? That's where that pizza dough went. All the toppings? They got put into sandwiches. Waste not, want not!

Cooking Adventures Part 1

I made a discovery today.

All those apple recipes that tell you to peel and cut the apples? I strongly DISLIKE them. I really, really, really, really, really hate peeling apples. And every apple recipe I've tried involves several pounds of apples. I've never repeated any apple recipe I've tested because I hate peeling those stinkin' apples!!

Well, I've been meaning, for weeks now, to have a go at a really yummy-looking mini apple pie recipe and I realized that since it was healthy-ish (whole wheat, real butter, low sugar, plain yogurt, etc), I really should leave the peels on. My train of thought was that if I make mashed potatoes with the skins on (I hate peeling potatoes too) because they are good for you, then I should leave the apples peels on for the same reason. I was a little apprehensive. Who wants to waste 3 lbs of perfectly good apples? But, I was more than willing to see what would happen.

Guess what?

Decades of women have been peeling apples for NO REASON!!!

Mini apple pies are delicious AND the skins are gooooooooooooooooooooood! :) Can't even tell they're there.

I'm NEVER peeling another apple again.

The Story of the Stokke Sleepi Crib

"There's one place," a young couple once said,
"Good enough for our new baby's head:
The best crib in the land,
Only cost us twelve grand."
It stands empty--he sleeps in their bed.
-- Josh Lerman

This was us, back when we had Ashlynn. The crib is the Stokke Sleepi. It cost us a thousand bucks. Was it worth it? I'm going to say yes. It's probably the worlds most tiny, compact crib and when we were living in a small bedroom in my parent's garage last summer, it was a life saver. But, she didn't really start sleeping in it until much later. Both my babies have insisted from day one that only my bed will do. Ashlynn lost any say in that matter when she got mobile. But the crib.... I still love it because it doesn't take up much space and it is cute. No, I didn't buy the $100+ sheet sets for it. A regular crib sheet works fine because the mattress is so snug. I have yet to fix the bumper that is slightly too long and overlaps. Will we buy another one for Brittan? No. I think we'll get a regular cheap-o one, thank you very much. :) Do I recommend this crib? 100% yes, if you can stomach dishing out that kind of cash for a piece of baby furniture. Or if you have an awesome mom who will pay for half of it. ;)

Beautiful Baby Brittan

Our newest baby girl. In love. Of course. :)


Just out and really blue. They told me that is normal.

Tired but happy.

Just an ounce bigger than her big sister was at birth, but several inches shorter!!

Ashlynn and Brittan meeting for the first time. Pretty fun! Grandpa and Nana Casperson brought Ashlynn over to the hospital for a visit.

I just love this picture of Ashlynn (now 16 months old). Surrounded by the people she loves most in this world (except for Mommy & Daddy of course!): her Nana and Aunt Rachel. We're assuming that Brittan will be a fast favorite too. :)

Passed out drunk. Haha! She falls asleep eating every time.

Cute, chubby cheeks. Just a doll. Dontcha think?

Where's the food?"

Ashlynn, "helpfully" unpacking the hospital bag. :)

Can't sleep.... Guess I'll blog!

Just a couple of pictures taken in February.

This is me at the FUN baby shower Pam & Jenny threw for me. Patty did such an AWESOME job on the cake (as you can see)! Please excuse the lack of space here between this caption and the next picture. It's making me so mad, but I can't get it to stay seperated for anything! GRRRRRRRR!

Ashlynn got this little castle tent for Christmas. Her favorite furry blanket and a basket full of books make it one of her favorite places to be. I hope she has a life-long love of reading like her momma!

This is a great example of what happens whenever I give Ash something to eat that she's just not that into. Little crumbs and pieces EVERYWHERE. You'd think that someone so afraid of the vacuum would be a little more tidy......

Ashlynn loves bathtime and she loves her hooded towel (Thanks again Emily!). And I love cute, little, clean babies!

Christmas in Downtown Seattle

These are just a couple pictures from our outing in Downtown Seattle, right after Thanksgiving. We went to the Seattle Center where we saw dancers from other countries and Ashlynn chased seagulls in the park. We rode the Monorail to Westlake Center and there we got to ride on the Christmas Carousel. Then we went to the Sheraton Hotel where they were displaying amazing gingerbread house creations. Lastly, we went down to the waterfront (walked through a lit up Pike Place Market) and saw the Toy Land of Lights on one of the docks. A very fun family day. We need to do things like this more often!
Ashlynn with Daddy, waiting for the Monorail.

Mommy & Ash with our tickets for the Christmas Carousel. So excited!

She was thrilled when I set her up on that horse!

Not so thrilled when it started moving. She was so brave and didn't cry or scream even though it obviously freaked her out! *laugh*

In line at the Sheraton to see the Gingerbread houses. They were all from Christmas movies.

Can you tell that she was being a little trouble maker during the wait?

So Big!

This was taken yesterday. Ashlynn is learning how to feed herself. She's very excited about it. Can you believe that she's already 14 months old!!! When did this happen?
Excuse the boxes in the background. We're still unpacking. I'll try to get the Christmas pics up before this month is over. :) No promises though. :P