New Year, New Blog

So, let's start this off with a big ol' Happy Freakin' New Year Ya'll!  As you can see, I have updated my blog which will hopefully inspire me to become more creative and post more.  That being said, here is a quick recap of 2011 so we can move on full force into Two - Oh - One - Two!

I last saw you in July and before you all exclaim simultaneously about how awesome I am at updating my blog, I just want to tell you that the last 6 months were incredibly uneventful, so that should help you understand my laziness.  Laziness = even more laziness.  It's a fact.

Anywho here is once again a quick recap:

Charlie Bear and I were in a wedding!  She was one of the flower girls but wouldn't walk down the aisle by herself.

 And we're walking...

Me and Charlie

 

 Adam looking dapper as always

   Grandma & Grandpa with the little flower girl

Then we went to Idaho for our 3rd Annual 4th of July Skiles Bash at Nate and Amanda's:

 don't be jealous, but there was a little goat petting

 waiting for the big parade!

 A little hibachi grilling with all the kids

And topped it all off with a little mexi corn.

Adam's 2nd Father's Day was a smashing success!

 Charlie & I made Adam super hero cookies!

 And burgers and fries!  Got the instructions for these from Bakerella

It was then off to the annual fishing derby!  Charlie was ready to catch her weight in fish.

 she's kinda all talk, cause she was over it before she even put her pole in.

so she wore a bucket on her head instead.  I mean, it really is the next best thing.

We also went camping in Mammoth with the whole family:

 eating lunch by the lake

 Charlie loves sandwiches

 Charlie & Adam taking a stroll

of course we had to make some olive penguins around a cheese igloo...i mean who doesn't have these camping?

Adam & Charlie made it to the top of Mammoth Mountain

In the mean time:

 some disc was played

 some ducks were fed

 we got a new dog, Lexi

 Charlie went to her first pool party

 My friend and I made an awesome Seahawks cake for her husband 

 And Charlie walked Fidel through the park, kinda

 Finally, Charlie went as the cutest duck you've ever seen for Halloween:

Even Grandma got in on the action, although our little duck was not amused.

Well friends, that's what we have been up to in the last 6 months.  I am sure 2012 will be even more fun and I can't wait to share it with you all!

I will post about Christmas and New Years soon (promise)

You Can Never Go Wrong with the Office

So if you know me then you know I love The Office.  The American version.  I put it on Netflix and watch it all day, everyday.  It provides the comforting background that is necessary for my well-being.  And what does every Office fan need, why a painted tribute of course.  I went with the quote, "Fact: Bears Eat Beets" said by Jim Halpert whilst imitating Dwight. (Side note: don't you love the word, whilst...I like to incorporate it into any conversation I can.  It provides a little sophistication, whilst also being a terrific bit of word flavor.)

Here is a quick and awesome how-to for putting your own delightful Office quote on your wall. 

 The Result (plus my new living room :)

First, print out your letters whatever size you desire, trace them onto transparencies with a black marker and cut them out.  Keep both the pieces that you cut out. 

If you can tell, I cut them out by cutting through the transparency to the letter, instead of trying to keep a complete, solid border.  You can just tape it closed as seen in the next photo.

see.  just tape it back together and it will all be okay. promise.  Do however, try your best to line up the cut exactly or you might end up with a jagged spot in you final results, but the papers thick and this was very easy to do.  Do the same thing with inside cuts too, like the inside part of the "e".

Next step, trace the letters onto your wall, start by tracing the outside of the letter first, as seen on the "e". 

Then take the inside part of the letter you cut out, match it up to your tracing and trace any inside holes.

You should end up with a delightful little tracing like this.

 Next enlist your nephew (or whomever) for a little free labor.  I made the outline of the letters a little thicker to make it easier for my nephew to stay in the lines, but you don't have too.  Just go ahead and start painting in your letters with a paintbrush and some acrylic paint. It's super fun, trust me, they will love to "color on the walls."

And there you have it.  Your very own Fact statement.  You could put whatever you want on your wall, don't be scared.  The cool thing is if you hate it, you can always paint over it.  BUT I love mine!  Next up: BEARS  BEETS  BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Charlie's 1st Birthday

I know, I know, Charlie's birthday was March 1st, but isn't it always true "better late than never"?  Well, except with infections...never is always the optimal choice.

Getting ready for the big party!  Making some last minute calls

Birthday Cake for everyone

Hooray!  Happy Birthday Charlie!

Her matching mini cake!

I really wanted her to dig in and smash it all up, but no...she was very ladylike.  Hmm...are we sure she's my child?

Fun marshmallow pops

Playing games.

Loving the presents!  Loving her BFF Alvie playing with her presents in the foreground!

Just a Quickie...

So, yes, it has been forever since I last blogged.  I am sure my loyal followers have all but abandoned me, but alas...I go on.  I am ready to reach out and share the end of last year, I shouldn't say "ready" I should say, I finally found a bit of spare time and am willing to post some photos and caption appropriately.  So here we go...a very quick recap of what's been happening as of late (notice the really long way I decided to introduce the "quick intro"...never a dull moment over here, guys):

 Waiting in line to meet Santa, she is sooo excited!

AND meeting Santa...not too fun!  She ripped his hat off, but I don't blame her, he's incredibly scary and really, who's he trying to fool?!

Christmas morning and looking so angelically at a shimmering Christmas ball

 Adam and I at a New Years party

Charlie's first b-day party!  It was her best friend Alvie's 2nd birthday!

In the meantime, a first tooth!  Actually it is a first top tooth and albeit a snaggle tooth, it is still precious!  and a little hilarious...no judgment...

And finally a delightful little bath time photo because it's so cute and, unlike her mom, Charlie loves her baths.  I'm sorry, but I still can't wrap my mind around sitting in a steaming tub of my own filth.  Not a bath lover over here, but I am so glad she loves hers.

  

Well, it's the end of my post and this is the part where I usually make a promise to keep my blog up to date and all that bull spit, but I'm not going to do that, because every time I do it seems to result in me not blogging for months, so I will just say....see you soon.

The Super Mario Birthday Cake

Long time no blog, but now that I'm working again and little Charlie is a bonafide crawler, I haven't had much spare time.  Now that my excuses are done, on to more important things, like Adam's Birthday Cake.

Last week was Adam's birthday and I threw him a little surprise party.  He had a great time, but it was the hardest thing I have ever done.  The anxiety of throwing a surprise party proved to be too much for me and minutes before we were supposed to leave, I was in the bathroom throwing up from pure anxiousness.   Crazy!  Well, once we got to the party I was able to relax and Adam was so surprised!  It was wonderful.  What else was wonderful was the awesome cake my mom and I made for Adam.  He's a huge Nintendo fan, so what better cake than a Nintendo cake.  Here is a little walk through of the  process:

 

 hills

 

my mom making the bob-ombs

 bob-ombs!

 mushrooms tops, turtle shells and flower bits

 goomba bros. & bob-ombs

 All the pieces waiting to dry and be assembled

 mushrooms!

 so happy!

 Cake assembly.  My mom made the 4 layer cake and frosted it in a wonderful sky blue.

Front of finished cake

Back of cake

yay!

close up of the cake

Not only did Adam love the cake, but it tasted awesome too!  Success!!