doing a new thing

skillet rosemary chicken

2012-02-22T18:47:00.002-07:00

This was dinner tonight. I’d say it’s worth a try.

Below I copied and pasted the recipe off this blog then I doctored it up slightly to include how I did it based on ingredients I had on hand.

Skillet Rosemary Chicken

*Marinate the chicken for a couple of hours before continuing with the recipe.

3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
Kosher salt
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons leaves
2 cloves garlic, smashed
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Juice of 1 lemon (squeezed halves reserved)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4-6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (6 to 8 ounces each)
Handful of baby carrots (next time I’d use brussel sprouts or asparagus)

Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.

*Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from pan; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet, place chicken over mushrooms and potatoes and drizzle with any marinade remaining in the bowl and the juice of the remaining lemon.

Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

my valentines.

2012-02-16T11:11:00.002-07:00

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16

Our Valentine’s day started with some chocolate yumminess…

Anyone else out there wake up with your kids? Like they start rustling around and you’re like, “I’m up, I’m up”… No? I long to be one of those ladies who gets up early, put on a pot of coffee, shower, have a little quiet time and eat some breakfast all before the little ones make a peep- maybe one of these days… For now, I am not a morning person and I take every last second of sleep I can get. All that to say that I am in quite the predicament when along with my desire for sleep I also really desire to make my gals a special Valentine’s morning breakfast that can (and really must) be ready in the same amount of time it takes to pour a bowl of cereal. Enter Pinterest. I came across this ‘pin’ a while back and kept it in the back of my mind for an appropriate occasion. Today was it and let me just say, YESSSS!!! I popped the cinnamon roll tube (no oven preheating or dirty cookie sheet)

and plopped four at a time in our waffle iron. They cooked in about 2 minutes- I frosted them, cut up a few strawberries and voila!

Happy girls, happy mom, chocolate faces and fingers- felt like Valentines morning to us!

By the day’s end we were blessed with many hand made Valentines, some seriously yummy dinner and dessert and lots of mentions of love among out foursome.

And I COULD NOT not include a picture of my favorite Valentine treat, courtesy of Joge. These swimsuits make me want to laugh and cry and squeal- OMG these gals of mine are precious.

Florida, here we come!

(in a few months)

february and stuff.

2012-02-13T22:29:00.002-07:00

Here’s what the first two weeks of February have been like over here:

We have ventured into the world of ‘movie night’ with Ava. The past two Fridays we’ve headed over to our neighborhood Red Box and picked out kid-friendly flicks (Rio and Kung Fu Panda 2). Add some popcorn and we call it a night. However, we all agree that movie night and well, most nights are better with caramel corn.

I’m officially addicted to bread. I was downloading my pictures and this was among them. Why? I don’t know. Just a random pic of some delicious looking grilled bread. Guess I felt like I was going to write a blog about it or something? Oh man, I think I have a problem (well I know I do, but we’ll save that boring gluten intolerant mess for another blog, another day)- but it does look pretty amazing, right? I want to grab a piece right out of this picture and slather it with butter- heat up my coffee- plop onto my favorite chair and watch some American Idol ;-) On that note- I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed my weekly J Lo style inspiration- Glad to have you back ‘Mama’!

The girls were blessed with some Face Bandit’s- made extra special in pink and just their size.

They really like them and even invented a new way of wearing them around the house. Ha! And I like how Ava’s pj’s match her Bandit and am thankful to have captured ‘the growl’ smile from Elle.

I was impressed when Kurt was able to to this with Elle…

and then he floored me with the Ava version. I really thought we had outgrown this little trick.

and…

Happy Birthday Papa!

Wishing our Papa the happiest birthday this year…

filled with love and wisdom…

and joy in the simple goodness that fills our days.

we have joy.

2012-02-09T08:58:00.002-07:00

I love joy captured on camera.

Today as I look at this picture of my 3 laughing, I appreciate the reminder that even when the whole looks dark, there can still be light in the details.

As my family is battling and grieving on many fronts, we believe that God is good, always- that He has overcome this world that we are visiting– that His plans are higher and better than anything we could imagine. We find peace in this. It is so awesome that in these days when we often find that prayers are the only things tying one moment into the next, making life livable and manageable and somehow normal, what looks like darkness is in fact creating light.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."(John 8:12)

We praise you God, that in seeking You we are filled up-our load is lessened-our hearts are free! For that and so many other things, we Sorenson’s have joy!

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear…" Isaiah 59:1, NKJV

Today, you may be facing a situation and feel like your hands are tied. Maybe the negative voices are constantly playing over and over, reminding you that it's not going to work out, or how impossible things seem. It may be true that your hands are tied in the natural, but always know that God's hands are never tied. With Him, all things are possible. He can do whatever is necessary to bring you through. His power is unlimited! Nothing is too difficult for Him!

Not only are His hands free to help you today, they are stretched out toward you, inviting you to come and find rest for your soul. It doesn't matter what you've done; it doesn't matter how you ended up in the situation you're in, God's love knows no limits. He is ready, willing and able to help you when you submit yourself to Him.

Today, I want to challenge you to look beyond your limits and consider what God can do in your life. You may not see a way, but God can make a way. No matter what may come against you, face it in faith and don't back down. His hands are never tied, and He is more than able to do the impossible in your life!

Copied from Joel and Victoria Osteen’s blog today

Technorati Tags: joy,God,laughter

energy balls. do it.

2012-02-03T09:11:00.003-07:00

I would like to thank my sweet friend a million for this recipe. When I mentioned on our play date that I was feeling the need to kick Gluten for few weeks (thanks to another sweet friend) and needed some snack ideas, she immediately emailed me a recipe that she thought would be me friendly AND kid friendly- major score.

I made sure to grab some Gluten-Free oats and the rest of the ingredients were already safe. Can I just say YUM!

So, if you’re looking for an easy snack and maybe even a fun one to get your kids to help you with (lots of good clean dumping!)- you should make some.

I think the recipe called them Granola Energy Balls… but our friend Thomas just calls them Energy Balls and we think that’s cool.

1. Ingredients:

2 cups oats
2 cups coconut flakes
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup ground flaxseed
1 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

2. Dump.

3. Mix and mix and mix.

4. Roll into balls and store in the fridge.

Believe it or not- this is the before shot. Ha Ha!

fancy nancy and a trip to the cabin.

2012-02-01T19:36:00.002-07:00

Last week Ava and I were reading this book and Ava asked ever-so-sweetly, “Mom, do you think we could make my room more fancy?” How do you say no to that? And when do I ever say no to a trip to Hobby Lobby and a craft opportunity?! That would be never, so we headed out just us two for some fabric picking fun.

Here is just a little preview of our new fancy bunting (Great fabric choices Ava-girl!). We also found the butterflies and a fancy frame! With the extra fabric scraps we made a mini-bunting for over her window. Ava is by no means done with the little facelift for her room, but I think this should hold her off for a few.

Ava and Buggy basking in the fanciness.

Elle trying to find an opportunity to jump off the bed.

This is Noelle’s seat of choice for cartoon watching. Kurt and I just laugh and laugh that our Big Baby thinks she fits on her sister’s lap. At least these two are on the same page though. Ava plops down and pat-pat-pats her lap inviting the ‘little’ one to hop on. It’s precious.

And then we headed off to the cabin for some Sorenson family fun!

This is Elle getting ready to spend some time in the “no”(snow)!

And this is where Ava’s getting-ready-for-snow picture should be, but she opted out of using her brand new Princess-light-up snow boots and snow pants and puffy jacket for some unknown reason (I think it was something about the material feeling too cold?!? huh?). So here’s another picture of Noelle.

And for our Snow Adventure…

We got warm and cozy (notice my Face Bandit- if you want one, you should check out my brother’s Etsy shop and pick one up)…

Trekked up into the mountains…

And spent a few beautiful hours snowmobiling!

The only minor set back was that this was the bathroom. I guess most people can hold it for more than two hours. Well I’m not one of them and peeing in waist deep snow, while trying not to be seen by the other 8 snowmobiles zooming by, was not my favorite part of the outing. But afterwards I have to admit, the fast, bumpy terrain was MUCH more enjoyable!

Such a fun little Colorado treat from Mom and Dad Sorenson.

The views were beautiful and the whine-less few hours was blissful.

Back at the ranch the kids had so much fun play-dough making and playing together.

Can’t wait till Rhett can join the bunch.

And as a new addition to our usual cabin-weekend, we busted out a puzzle. 750 pieces of Times Square fun.

It was like a magnet for a few in the group.

Maybe this picture can tell you who.

We were a little punchy, but proud to finish it up just as the weekend was coming to a close.

Ava was proud too. Or maybe she just saw a photo op.

I got to snuggle little Rhett all weekend. I think he likes me.

Look at Little Man in his new bib! Adorable.

I feel like remembering but not blogging.

2012-01-26T14:47:00.002-07:00

Going through the pictures on my camera I realized that there is much I don’t want to forget about these December and January days... But friends, the will to blog has abandoned me. So here are a couple pictures for you and me both in an attempt to play a little catch up, hang on tight to some memories and buy me some time to put the wind back in my sails. So here’s a bit of what’s been going on that happened to be caught on camera:

Practicing with my sewing machine… making a burp cloth or bib for every significant baby or baby-to-be in my life (if you are one of those little guys or gals and have not received yours, know that most of them are still in my possession waiting to be delivered with a hug and smooch!)

Ava’s cold weather attire (no jacket, no gloves, but hat on and ready to go! She’s so much like her dad both of them often telling me, ‘it’s not that cold.’).

A proud crochet moment. In the future I might need the reminder that rows and rows and rows eventually make a blanket.

A night out with my Mama to see Asper Kourt open for Parachute. I’d never heard of them before but as they played I felt lucky to be witnessing their show. AK did awesome too.

Celebrating my Grandpa’s 79th birthday.

Our little frog, all grins. Reminder* when nothing else works…bath.

This peanut butter pie recipe. My new go-to.

Singing with my man. The example of silliness learned from our little ones. Prayers for many many more years with him. Prayers that down the road the tables will turn and we can remind our girls to keep their silliness alive.

Enjoying the lovely shower my sis-in-law threw her sister. It was such a perfect time to celebrate a sweet new life.

On my nightstand… Heaven is for Real.

Elle’s first date with Dad. A trip to PetSmart and a shared breakfast sandwich from Einstein's. Gosh her pigtails are cute and they really disguise her mullet well. ha!

visions and resolutions for 2012.

2012-01-11T19:14:00.002-07:00

I know we’re getting a few weeks in to the new year but I didn’t want to forget some really special things we did to ring in 2012.

New Years Eve we spent the evening with the Herig side of our family and had a great time making “vision boards”. We were given a pair of scissors, a stack of magazines, a glue stick and a poster board and instructed to let our hearts be our guide. The fun (or overwhelming) part, ‘there are no rules’. We cut out pictures of things we wanted, wanted to learn, wanted to do or be, places we’d like to visit, missions we’d like to accomplish, things or ideas that inspired us… we were reminded that nothing was too big or bold.

We had so much fun vision-ing. And I have to say, even more fun sharing and hearing the visions of our loved ones for this coming year. There were some obvious ones having to do with Airplanes, Yoga, Grandbabies, Trips, Cats, Music Tours, Islands… but there were also some interesting ones that let us get into the heart of each other in a special way that otherwise we might never have been witness to.

What a great lesson: sometimes it’s easier to share your thoughts through some good old fashion show and tell. Try it with your loved ones- it’s a little window into the soul.

Kurt and I came home from this exercise and decided that if there was just one thing we’d like to focus on and make a habit of this year it was dating. Dating each other and dating our daughters. So we devised a plan where the 4 of us mix and match to each get a date with each, each month (whew, that was confusing). Saturday is date-day with our girls and we will take turns taking one out for some quality one on one. Our first date happened this last Saturday and was a girly date for me and Ave.

We had such a great time doing some of my favorite things and to make it even better they were Ava’s idea! Yay for a little one after my own heart. We headed out for a manicure each. Ava’s very first one.

And then over to Flying Star for some chatting and magazines, yummy brunch and a cookie for two!

It was just perfect. And please note Ava flashing her nails. She did this in every picture the whole day.

We think Elle’s New Years Resolution is to learn the piano. This is where we find her every time we turn around. A vast improvement from her previous ‘musical’ ambition.

Technorati Tags: new years resolutions,dates,dreams

learning in 2012.

2012-01-05T14:54:00.002-07:00

Some lessons we have learned just 5 days in to the new year.

Learning how to catch some z’s. The more passy’s the better. Not only does Noelle get so excited when we open a new 2 pack that she does this pose for us, but if we just sprinkle as many as we can find around her mattress, some of us can almost get a full nights sleep!!!

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Well, Ava has not mastered the cartwheel just yet. But we sure are having fun learning. I think I’m going to go out on a limb and say that 2012 will be the year of the cartwheel for my girl!

I learned how to set up my new sewing machine. Best Christmas Gift Ever!!! And after I read the instruction and got everything aligned, I needed a project to make sure I did it right so… I made this diaper strap to keep my diapers from turning into a rumpled mess in my purse! SCORE. This simple project has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities my new toy has to offer! I am so overwhelmed.

And just in case any of you want to learn why I am pretty sure 2012 will be the year I find my first grey hair, you can watch the video below.

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This sweet one is going to keep me young… or make me old. Jury’s out.

And I know that doesn’t look like our best parenting moment… watching this I want to jump off my chair, grab that little one and plop her in timeout for not listening. But in the moment, the first time we saw this behavior, Kurt and I turned our faces away and laughed. The second time, we pulled out the video camera to remember. And after the recording was complete we removed her from the chair that was causing such a fuss. She escaped timeout this time because, well, the naughtiness was so unexpected, deliberate, and lets face it, hilarious we thought it was more important to illustrate to you just what we’re working with over here.

december love: christmas edition

2012-01-03T13:28:00.002-07:00

What a Merry Christmas we had! I think Kurt and I would agree that the favorite Christmas movie of the season was ‘Four Christmas’s’… Have you seen it? Do you love it? (Only positive feedback please.) Anyway, that was off the subject, but I got to thinking about it and I prepared our 3 Christmas’s blog! Enjoy lots of pictures of Ava and Noelle, a couple of Kurt and me and a huge apology for our lovely family members who didn’t make it into any of the shots we took! It’s so hard to capture each moment AND live in it! So really, if you aren't in a picture it’s because I was just having so much fun talking to your face that I didn’t want to leave you to get behind the camera.

Christmas #1 (Christmas Eve Eve)

“There’s a deer just outside eating fruit from the orchard.” Anyone? Name that show/character/episode…a little preview of our 2nd Christmas game.

But seriously, there was a bunny just outside hopping in the leftover snow.

Elle sure loves that Rhett baby. I hope I always remember how both of these babies could be so grumpy but when they see each other they are all smiles…there’s something about someone else who speaks your language and gets you. I understand that one. Glad these two have each other.

Kurt and I got to host the dessert eating, gift opening portion of our Christmas #1. It was so sweet to watch our kids love their gifts. I think my favorite reaction goes to Brody when he opened the sleeping bag we got him. It went something like this: “OH MAN, THIS IS AWESOME. JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED.” (all the while jumping and shouting and hugging us- precious)

Well, this reaction might be a tie for best of the night. All three dudes laughing so hard about some golf comment or another. I don’t actually know what happened but I am thrilled to have these faces captured forever.

Christmas #2 (Christmas Eve)

We hosted our first Christmas event. Christmas Eve dinner. Don’t look too closely or you’ll see that every glass, size of silverware, napkin, etc. is different- wish someone had told us to register for 8 of everything. Also, please avoid noting that it is after six o’clock, the appointed dinner eating time. We did not eat for quite some time after this picture. Note to self: learn how to prepare the meat part of your dinner before you head out to 4 o’clock church service. Not the end of the world, but definitely not what I had in mind. Finished product though, pork tenderloin, bacon and cheddar smashed potatoes, brussel sprouts and asparagus, rolls and green chile cheese bread, YUM. Yay!

Only pic of Kurt and me over Christmas. Of Course.

Christmas Eve pj’s (Kurt and I got some too). Elle eating popcorn. Ava posing with a new outfit.

Seriously, best part of the night- Kurt printed up sheets of Christmas carols and we sat in the living room and sang (and played instruments) and mostly just laughed as we celebrated Jesus’ birth! Oh, and that game I mentioned earlier. We quoted Friends episodes and tried to guess who said it! No better audience for anything ‘Friends’.

Christmas #3 (Christmas Day)

Ava really, REALLY wanted to do a sleepover in Noelle’s room for Christmas. As you can see Noelle hasn’t quite gotten the hang of her toddler bed yet*(more info on the crib to bed transition at the end of the post) so we figured, it really couldn’t be a worse night’s sleep for her (or me). So we said yes. This is how I found them at the one o’clock check- this was also probably the only time they were simultaneously asleep all night long.

Santa remembered where we live. And that funny old guy got each girl a robotic creature… Skylee (left) and Snowy (right). Are you wondering if Skylee talks? walks? plays games? has a baby in an egg pop out of a hole in her tummy? Well, the answer to all of those questions is YES. Ha. And Elle’s tiger cub… Yes, he makes baby tiger sounds, lays down to go to sleep, drinks his bottle (with slurping sounds) AND burps. Awesome.

This blanket from my grandma was very exciting for me. I honestly couldn’t help myself from throwing it over my head- the gals liked that and joined me in the cave.

New slippers (and a new Cabbage Patch Baby- Harley Honor. Gotta love those CP names.)

Stocking loot. Favorite items- toothbrushes.

My 3 sweets. What a blessed Christmas we had.

Always love a baby loving the paper more than the gift inside.

And, WHAT?!?! A house for each…

Needless to say fun was had on our 3 Christmas’s. We were greatly blessed by our families. We learned some beautiful Christmas lessons this year.

As this holiday season comes to a close we are filled with gratitude for our God who came down to us. We are thankful that he will meet us right where we are. We are again in awe of his hand in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17

Crib to Bed Fiasco

*The week before Christmas Elle decided that she was absolutely NOT going to go down at bed/nap times without a fight. And for our feisty 18 month old that meant the loudest, most blown out of proportion fits you’ve ever seen or heard. For about a day I tried to let her cry it out. Eventually I would go into her room and either end up sleeping with her on the couch or in our bed. I even resorted to making her a small bed on the floor in our room. But even this was such an ordeal because I had to be touching her at all times and as soon as I’d move she was up and crying. WHAT?! So weird. The next day (running on no sleep) I resolved to just put her in her crib and let her really cry it out. I put her in. Left. Heard her start freaking out. Then THUMP-running- door opening. AHHHHH! What- she jumped out of her crib? So I put her back in- same thing again but not in any kind of controlled manor, just one leg over the side and falling to the ground. Can you say broken arm? So I put up the port-a-crib. She jumped out. So we tried to drop the crib mattress all the way to the ground. Old crib wasn’t compatible with that idea. So we took down the crib (tear) and put her mattress on the floor and flipped the doorknob to keep our little one in. She went to sleep ok but multiple times in the middle of the night I found her sleeping all over the room; on various patches of carpet, curled up against the baseboard, snuggled under her dresser. OK, not good. So we busted out Ava’s old toddler bed. We are still not sleeping through the night. She goes down ok but when she wakes up in the middle of the night, nothing will calm her except me laying with her. Ugh. So we moved in a futon and I am spending a little time each night on it. Advise please. Thanks.

Technorati Tags: christmas,prochnow,sorenson,herig,baby stuff

december love: AK supports matthew james pedrotty edition

2011-12-30T11:28:00.002-07:00

Get ready for some Asper Kourt lovin’… This was my favorite show of the year. By far. Asper Kourt is made up of such a great group of guys (never mind that my husband, brother and friends are among the members). These 5 have such great hearts and such a strong desire to give back. This holiday season was no exception and they made it their goal to find a way to help out an Albuquerque family in the biggest way they could. With just 2 short weeks to lock down a venue, get donations, set up a silent auction and rally all of their friends, family and fans to come out to the event, they made something wonderful happen.

Kurt and I have been praying continuously for some of our friends who received some devastating news over Thanksgiving this year. This sweet lady did my hair for my wedding. She and I carried our babies at the same time and were blessed respectively with two girls and two boys. I had randomly hung out alongside her future husband while in high school and she had been friends with girls that were my friends little sisters. I feel now that our paths have crossed over the past decade in such a continuous way to get us to here. When we learned their news on Facebook just a month ago, we felt led to pray. And have continued to every day since. The grace and unwavering faith these two have shown has truly moved us. God has used them and their battle to stir up our home and bring us closer to Him in such a huge way. I will forever be grateful for their influence.

(Read Mathews story at the bottom of this post)

Kelly’s Brew Pub was so wonderful. They let these guys use their venue to host their:

Asper Kourt 2nd Annual Holiday Festivus- Pedrotty Family Fundraiser

It was a magical night. Though the weather was a yucky, windy, icy mess, it was the most beautiful back-drop for this pre-Christmas show.

To say we were floored by the generosity displayed leading up to and through this event would be the understatement of 2011! Another name that needs to be added to this list is the White Family. I hope to give so freely and abundantly as the years stretch on. What an inspiration it was to watch people, some who had never even met this family, just give and give and give.

Our silent auction was a hit! Hotel rooms, gift baskets from Gardunos, Keva Juice, Starbucks, Casa Esperanza, beautiful Jewelry, holiday art… I was bidding all over the board and even had a couple bidding wars. It’s so crazy to have folks trying to spend way too much money on stuff.

It was a packed house. We were so excited and blessed that Elissa Pedrotty (Matthew’s mom) came to the show. She was so beautiful and thankful. It was heartbreaking to see her standing there smiling through her continuous tears. There are simply no words that any of us could say to address her current situation. Our prayer is that she felt the love in that room. It was definitely there. It made us wish we could do more. She is in the back of this picture with a video camera trying to capture some footage to take home to her boys.

Our little gals were home with Grandma and fast asleep during all of this but definitely there in spirit. Ava asked me to bring her donation (a Ziploc bag filled with random bills and coins from her piggy bank) to the show. We are thankful for the sweet innocence of our babes, thankful for our health, thankful for Angels who walk among us, thankful for people on our paths that prompt us to step up and do something, thankful that in the midst of turmoil and heartache, joy from our Heavenly Father is always possible. After all- He has conquered this world, right?! All praise to Him!

Below is the flyer we passed out at the show. Note, there are still two days left to buy Asper Kourt music online - all proceeds from December going to the Pedrotty family! You can also donate directly here or head in to any Wells Fargo bank and let them know you’d like to give to the Matthew James Pedrotty donation account.

Matthew James Pedrotty’s Story

Since Thanksgiving, the Pedrotty family journey has been a whirlwind of devastating news. 3 year old Matthew was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma; a rare form of cancer that occurs only in infants and children. They have learned that the tumor in his abdomen has wrapped itself around part of his spine, he has multiple tumors in his head and the cancer has metastasized to his bones. Matthew has already undergone a blood transfusion, and has started chemotherapy; this is just the beginning of the multiple treatments on his road to recovery. Through all of this, Matthew’s parents, Elissa and Kurt, have been an amazing example of faith and strength, inspiring to us all!

Catch up and stayed tuned to Matthew’s journey at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewjamespedrotty

We feel led to help this family as big as we can. We hope that in our small and seemingly insignificant way we can open some doors both for us and others to give, pray for, and bless this family however they may need!

Thank you!

Happy Holidays!

Love, Asper Kourt and Family

All online proceeds from the month of Dec. will go directly to Matthew and his family.

*www.asperkourt.com

This is an adapted excerpt from Matthew’s mom, Elissa, and her story of Matthew’s diagnosis.

“Matthew has always been a very special and lively little boy with tons of fight and lots of life. From the beginning, Matthew James kept us on our toes. At a routine O.B. appointment at around 19 weeks we were told that Matthew James had nine cysts on his brain. We were extremely worried and immediately knelt in prayer to ask for Matthew to be OK. About a week later we went to a specialist and they found no cysts on his brain. We were so grateful and felt that we would always be so blessed by this sweet little boy. Matthew means gift from God and he truly has been. He has had numerous run-ins with some bad luck but nothing could have prepared us for the news we received on November 25^th, 2011. It all started a week earlier when he and his brother were feeling sick and had both gotten ear infections. His little brother, Dilynn, immediately recovered with the antibiotics but Matthew had been complaining of leg pain with his fever spiking. The leg pain continued but nothing was revealed from some generic physical tests, so we contributed it to growing pains. As the week progressed, Matthew’s leg pain remained and his energy had declined greatly, which for Matthew is unheard of. The Friday after Thanksgiving, we were eventually forced to take Matthew to the ER. Once at the ER, after multiple negative X-rays, they decided to do an ultra sound of his abdomen even though he hadn't been complaining of any belly pain. So he and his dad went to get that done while I stayed with Dilynn. After waiting for an hour and twenty minutes, I finally looked down the hall and saw my husband holding Matthew so tightly, walking towards me and sobbing. They had found a tumor in his abdomen and worst of all, a rare cancer called neuroblastoma which they only see about 600 cases of per year”

december love: baby shower edition

2011-12-28T16:01:00.002-07:00

Just in time for Christmas, two of my favorite people came in town to share their baby bump and some Q.T. with many who love them! So very excited for this little boy’s arrival in two short months we (the Grandmas-to-be and me) just couldn’t stand the thought of not getting to shower these parents-to-be! So one short week before Christmas, we put the Christmas decorations on the shelf and had a Sunday afternoon of ‘Vintage Nautical’ Baby Shower fun. I wish I had pictures of the packed house, the present-opening joy…something to illustrate to you just how very loved this little family is and how easy they made it for us to want to ‘shower’ them for days.

This picture prompts me to say a prayer asking God to please, please let my baby bump look like this should I get a next go around. So cute!

The preparations are sometimes more impactful than the big reveal. Well, the night spent in L.A. making these cute little boats was one that I will always hold close. Laughing and crafting with R and R, probably for the last time with them as a twosome, one of those treasures that I will recall throughout the years.

How big is the belly? Answer: Not very. Pretty sure I wasn’t the only one hoping to look like Pregnant Roche.

Self Address an Envelope.

Wishes for Baby T. Such a fun way for all of us to love this boy and his parents.

Sign the Guestbook.

Ry’s favorite childhood book. A little piece of their nursery inspiration. How cool that family and friends took the time to sign something that Baby Boy will have forever.

Oh, the desserts.

So many cute touches. Thank goodness for guests of honor who put in so much work on some little details that just wouldn't have looked so cool or vintage without them.

Roche and Ryan as babies.

Gotta shout out to Kay Mae who came to my over-ambitious-decorated-sugar-cookie-making rescue. If not for her these cookies would have been plain white onesies or more likely in the trash.

I guess if you know me you know that I have to make shortbread at every opportunity.

Favorite dessert. Probably because the inspiration didn’t come from Pinterest. Probably would have felt even better if it was an original idea… it wasn’t.

Look at my sweet friend… looking so beautiful, so proud of that tiny boy she is growing, so willing to embrace it all. She is going to be such a wonderful Mom… I can’t wait.

same santa, different year.

2011-12-19T10:58:00.001-07:00

Last year we got this…

Ok, that’s fine, content baby sitting with Santa.

And this…

Fine, little girl smiling as long as Santa doesn’t touch her (and she got her gift first).

This year there was absolutely NO way either girl would get within 10 feet of this jolly old elf without Mom and Dad. So we got this:

I guess it has been a few years since I’ve had a pic with Santa. Oh and thanks Ava for smiling so sweet (you’re even touching Santa’s leg a bit!)! And thanks Noelle (not) for not even looking (I do love how cute your little pigtails look though!).

Merry Christmas Week Friends and Fam!!!

slow.

2011-12-16T13:20:00.002-07:00

We headed over to see a fun Christmas lights display last week. It was freezing. Kurt and the girls ventured out and walked around the two house spectacle. From the warmth of our car I pondered this light arrangement for 15 minutes. When Kurt jumped in, I asked him what the heck it meant. He pondered. One of us decided to talk it out…

“Ummm I don’t know- like ‘no L’…” (NOEL) And then extreme embarrassment found us. We were thankful the we were alone in the car with the gals. This is definitely something that should have stayed within the comfort and safety of our marriage. But it’s Christmas. Here’s a gift for you all. Feel free to make fun. WE. ARE. SLOW. (sometimes)

The above owl hat took so long to crochet. It was a slow and go project for sure. I had a vision. It didn’t translate exactly. But our little ‘whoo whoo’ can make anything look cute. So we’ll call it a success. I guess that’s what you get when you make something with ~~wine~~ love. I’m only kidding, kind of. Though I did spend many evenings with a glass of wine by the fire as I attempted my own hat pattern, I also did some distracted stitching (while watching The Biggest Loser, Top Chef and a variety of other wonderfully engaging reality shows) and some angry stitching ( due to various anger-inducing situations, one of which was my first attempt at Royal Icing… UGH!). I guess I’m not too surprised that the hat was less than perfect. Actually, I am pretty amazed it got done at all and is wearable. Cheers to finished crochet projects!

ooh how pretty. click.

2011-12-08T09:36:00.002-07:00

Look at this beautiful place where we live. Now, I’m the first to say how much I hate the cold. That means anything under about 60 degrees. I’m not kidding.

But… look how pretty this cold weather looks.

And talking about pretty, let’s talk about my girls and how I thought that since they had the ‘pretty’ thing down, I could snap a quick pic of them in our backyard for a Christmas card…

It went a little like this:

“Ava, could you smile a little more umm, naturally? Elle let me see your eyes.”

Ava: “Elle stay on my back.”

“Oh man, Ave let me fix your hair- and Elle, look at me!”

Elle: Ooh a pretty crack.

“Girls, look here.”

Ava: Ooh some pretty grass. Elle: I’m outta here.

“Good one Elle. Where’s Ava?!” And wow, why didn’t I roll up the hose?

“Ava you’re so sweet! Elle, look at me.”

“Can you two please stand by each other?”

“ELLE LOOK AT ME, please.”

“Try holding her hand.”

“Oh man, Thanks for your efforts Ava girl, I think we’re done here.”

Hope you too can laugh at these. It has taken me the entire two weeks since I took them to see the humor in this event/photo-shoot. The effort involved in getting these two dressed in clean clothes, hair combed and in photographer mode was beyond ‘effort’. I absolutely could not believe that not one shot was usable (meaning: two girls looking in the general direction of the camera- no hose in the background- no shadow of the ‘photographer’). I was shocked. I put these pictures in a folder and left them to be deleted at a later date. As I clicked through them last night though, the chuckles got me. I think I’ll keep them around for the memory AND the lessons.

Lesson #1: Kids don’t care a rip about pictures.

Lesson #2: I’m not a photographer.

Lesson #3: You will eventually be able to laugh at most things that were frustrating.

Needless to say, our ‘Christmas Card’ picture was not in this bunch.

On a friend’s suggestion.

2011-12-06T16:58:00.001-07:00

I couldn’t let the opportunity for a couple shout-outs pass me by.

We are very thankful for our sweet friend who invited us to join her family as they took December to “Celebrate Christ at Christmas”. She is one of those bloggers who’s words slay you (in an “oh-em-gee that was so good” way). She writes like a poet. It is beautiful and magical. Her heart poured out on the screen. Her love for the Lord always evident. I have to admit that I am insanely jealous of her gift with words. So… Thank you Sarah for your words. They inspire. And thank you for sharing the tools so that we could start a ‘Jesse Tree’ in our home.

We have loved lighting candles, reading scripture, learning a lesson and adorning our tree each evening. I have to say, Kurt and I are learning a thing or two about our Mighty God too. Cheers!

And on a different note.

We were recently informed by a new friend about Amber Teething Necklaces for babes. Have you heard of them? And why haven’t we until now? It seems that since we heard I have seen them everywhere!

So, here’s the claim: “Among other things, amber is a natural analgesic (pain reliever) and anti-inflammatory. When amber is worn on the skin, the warmth of the skin releases trace amounts of healing oils on the skin. Commonly known as "teething jewelry," Baltic amber has been a natural and traditional European remedy for teething discomfort for hundreds of years.”

And seriously, I don’t care if it doesn’t work--- Look how cute that necklace looks on a baby neck! And if it does help- even minimally- YAY! Teething has done a number on our Noelle…

And besides teething help, it can offer: “ Pain Relief -Baltic amber contains analgesic properties and helps take the edge off of many types of discomfort associated with dental issues, headaches, joint pain, etc. Strengthens the body's immune system -In many different and subtle ways, succinic acid helps boost the body's own natural healing ability and immune system. Restoring Energy- The human body naturally produces succinic acid. The salt of succinic acid (succinate) is one of the most active substances in the processes of cellular respiration and intercellular energy creation. Succinic acid restores oxygen and energy supply to depleted cells and helps the body return to a normal, functioning state. Succinate is a raw material and a catalyst in the Krebs Cycle which is one of our main sources of energy. During the Krebs Cycle carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized for energy. Maintaining Wellness -When the human body reacts to stress, the body's cells begin to use oxygen more quickly. Oxygen plays a central role in the intercellular creation of energy, and a lack of oxygen can result in feeling lethargic. Oxygen is alkaline-forming in the blood and maintaining a slightly alkaline blood ph helps keep us healthy. Whenever the body functions in a state of low oxygen, it is much more susceptible to illness. To help break a cycle of (chronic) inflammation -Where chronic inflammation is present, disease lurks. When the body's cells are chronically inflamed the human body's immune system response is to increase production of free radicals. Chronic overproduction of free radicals results in inflammatory-related disease. Chronic inflammation is a common denominator of many seemingly unrelated diseases.”

So, visit Inspired by Finn… You know that Kurt, Ava and I are waiting patiently for ours to be delivered. We’ll keep you posted on the effects.

Being a good ‘friend’, Ava has suggested to Noelle that she get that hair out of her eyes… She even offered to help.

Noelle’s still deciding how she feels about the new do.

My ‘friend’, Boeing Health Survey, suggested that I exercise more. Hmmmm… I want to be mad that I got called out. But instead I think I will be taking their advise AND following the lead of my very buff husband and my very adorable cheerleaders.

So, I don’t have photo documentation but I am happy to report that I did work out yesterday.

best night EVER.

2011-11-30T22:00:00.001-07:00

Seriously, who doesn’t love them some Christmas decorating forced family bonding time?! This is a night that I pray continues for many, many years. Honestly, even though I can already see those years with eye-rolling and couch plopping, with complaining and not helping… I don’t care. Kurt and I love this night dang-it and you kids will too!!

For now though, with children so in awe of pretty lights, so ecstatic with the freedom to touch all of the breakable and fragile stuff, and so very easily bribed with cookies and eggnog, this decorating night left our foursome all grins.

We start our night with a Dion’s pizza. I think that when we were planning our ‘tradition’ this was a no-brainer. A well-done Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza makes any night feel festive to us.

Do you see the two ornaments on the tree? That’s how many Ava put up before she got bored and started asking for cookies. This is also about the time Kurt asked me if I was planning on helping or just organizing the Christmas decorations box all night.

“Ugh, Kurt! I was just trying to fix our star to keep it from looking like this” (above).

If you care, I did fix it AND almost fell off the chair in my demonstration attempt.

Our family event was complete with Buddy the Elf. Bigger than we’d ever see him on our “Christmas Gift”.

Love the heartwarming sweetness of that first Christmas that your baby isn’t quite a baby. Their awe and wonder at every light and sound and song reminds me just how precious this life is.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”-Isaiah 9:6

Lord, you truly are everything, EVERYTHING. We praise your beautiful name. We rest in the knowledge that you, God, are intentional. We trust your eternal plan.

Favorite shot of the night. Wonder how many years I can talk them into taking this under the tree picture?

A Baby Jesus that two little ones know by name. A shout out to our favorite ‘borrowed’ chandelier. Cookies that our Dad loves. Baileys that just tastes like coziness. What a blessed life we have.

Holding this night dear. And in true Sorenson form we did all of this before Thanksgiving. We like to be really sick of our Christmas decorations so that we are more than happy to take them down come the new year. Wishing you all some happy Christmas decorating.

thanksgiving.

2011-11-26T15:59:00.002-07:00

The Holiday Season is upon us. Gotta love when your house smells like fresh cookies multiple days a week.

Food that looks lovely and bright tastes better… you with me?

And if that’s true, then food that gets to be eaten at a table that looks as amazingly beautiful as this, tastes better too!

Snagged a picture. Our only 3 girls shot. In the bathroom.

Every time I see us I fall more in love. With him. With her. And her. With us.

Rhett Baby. Look at that precious, sleepy boy. And PLEASE take a moment to check out those shoes. I could have eaten him up for Thanksgiving.

He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m his favorite aunt.

Talking during the pic…check. Trying to hide behind Grandma’s leg…check. Laughter that exposed many extra chins and neck rolls…check. Great smiles from the whole Prochnow crew (well minus Rhett who prefers smiling when the camera isn’t pointed at him)…check. One smiling Dad and one angry Dad… check. One little girl oblivious to it all…check. Hope that one of the other family picture attempts will produce 10 smiling photogenic people…CHECK.

Feel the love. The enjoyment these two share when together is heartwarming.

Elle has just escaped the above picture. She’s thinking about how long she’ll have to wait for those two to head inside so she can have Brody's skateboard all to herself.

Now that’s some turkey carving teamwork.

Food pictures DO NOT look appetizing when taken by me, but I had to capture one yummy shot of this Thanksgiving meal before I licked my plate clean. And yes, that’s red chile on everything. Just the way I like it.

And…

No Sorenson (or Herig) Thanksgiving would be complete without a little FRIENDS Thanksgiving quotage

Monica: Mom! Dad! Ross smoked pot in college!
Mr. and Mrs. Geller: What?!
Ross: You are such a tattletale! Mom, Dad, you remember that-that time you walked in my room and smelled marijuana?
Mr. and Mrs. Geller: Yes.
Ross: Well I told you it was Chandler who was smoking the pot but it was me. I’m sorry.
Mrs. Geller: It was you?
Monica: And Dad, y’know that mailman that you got fired? He didn’t steal your Playboys! Ross did!
Ross: Yeah, well, Hurricane Gloria didn’t break the porch swing, Monica did!
Monica: Ross hasn’t worked at the museum for a year!
Ross: Monica and Chandler are living together!
Monica: Ross married Rachel in Vegas! And got divorced! Again!!!!
Phoebe: I love Jacques Cousteau!
Rachel: I wasn’t supposed to put beef in the trifle!
Joey: I wanna gooooooo!
Mrs. Geller: That’s alot of information to get in in thirty seconds! Alright Joey, if wanna leave, just leave. Rachel, no you weren’t supposed to put beef in the trifle. It did not taste good. Phoebe, I’m sorry, but I think Jacques Cousteau is dead. (Phoebe makes a sad face.) Monica, why you felt you had to hide the fact that you were in an important relationship is beyond me.
Mr. Geller: And we kinda figured about the porch swing.
Mrs. Geller: Ross, drugs? Divorced? Again?
Mr. Geller: What happened son?

Thankful for…

2011-11-24T08:50:00.002-07:00

being 2 someone’s Mama.

(Thanks Ava for smiling for the camera while holding onto Noelle’s truck as she teeter’s on the edge of the step. Thanks Noelle for your look of joy {the only look of joy out of 91 pictures} at the prospect of going over the edge on your truck.)

You two make my heart happy.

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family!

l.a. is maj.

2011-11-21T12:50:00.003-07:00

Christmas came early for this gal.

I was blessed with a whole weekend in L.A., just me, Roche, Ry and Baby Boy Turri! Not only did my sweetie insist that I take this long awaited trip to visit my dear friends, but those sweet friends of mine took care of me all weekend long! They took me to some of their favorite restaurants (Umami Burger and Aroma to name a few), some of their favorite shopping spots (The Grove- above), and set me up so comfy-cozy (complete with magazines and salt water taffy on my bedside table) in their wonderful home. The fullness you can only feel when surrounded by those who get you and love you made this weekend such a special memory that I’m sure I will always hold close. And I have to say, my heart had such peace leaving my gals for the first time, when I knew they were over the moon to be with their Dad.

Words can’t do justice to the cuteness and coziness of the Turri abode. You couldn’t help but feel the love and thought that went into every piece of décor.

Something about seeing your best girl with a baby growing in her belly gives you a new kind of perspective. It’s life and growing up and sharing milestones and a whole new level of thankfulness for those who you get to share this journey with.

We cheers’d a few times this trip… but I think we’d all agree that those drinks never tasted better than after our 3 hour registering event in Babies R Us. It gave us just the boost we needed to continue on to register at Target and then to Michaels for some craft supplies! Ahhhhh, my crafting heart was grinning that Saturday night as we made paper boats, watched Rachel Zoe and ate chips and queso… perfection.

I’d just like to thank Ry for keeping us laughing with his running fashion commentary all weekend long. And I must also say, my understanding of all things vintage is more complete after this weekend.

Though I tried to act cool, I was itching to see someone famous. On day two I was realizing that a sighting might not be in the cards for me so Roche and Ry took me on a drive through their neighborhood to see some ‘famous’ homes. So, I’m pretty sure someone special lived here…

or here…

or here. And if I’m wrong about that I know for sure that this neighborhood is used in many TV series for the exterior neighborhood shots. Score!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the nice couple that bought us a drink at The Grove on Sunday afternoon.

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And just when I let my guard down and stopped scouring the crowds for a familiar face… We walked up on Colbie Calliet sound-checking for a big show! I felt God smile that this was the famous lady he had for me to see. If you know Kurt and Ava’s music preferences these days, or more than that, their favorite song, you’d know that this sighting- and the fact that I captured ‘Brighter than the Sun’ in its entirety- was MAJ (Rachel Zoe anyone? Well, that means ‘Major’… “(Roger)Stop trying to be cool, you know it’s (baby Ralph Lauren sweater) maj”). Ha Ha!

And what else can make you feel like the luckiest girl in the world than coming home to a welcome card and flowers? My husband knows my heart better than I think either of us are aware of. Slipping into my bed on Sunday at midnight, though SO tired, I felt such gratitude for this life I have been blessed with.

Cheers to quality time with best friends, sweet baby girls to snuggle and a husband I couldn’t wait to come home to.

making my world go round.

2011-11-17T20:46:00.001-07:00

This book reminded me of why I love to read. It. Was. Awesome. And just what I needed to feel that particular joy in my heart that only a good book at the perfect time can deliver. Check it out friends. Well, if the Harry Potter/Twilight varieties of fiction move you… I promise, it will be right up your alley.

To my new BFF’s Katniss and Peeta- I’ll be seeing you tonight in Catching Fire (thanks KT for handing it over before you’ve even had a chance to read it- that’s love folks).

*side note I can hardly wait to go to bed!

Oh and these cookies (I know this ‘Witch’ doesn’t look as hot as I’m about to tell you she tastes). ABC Bakery (Albuquerque, New Mexico) frosted sugar cookies. “A tiny slice of heaven.” For real. I guess I should confess that our sweet neighbor brought one over for each of the girls on Halloween and I’m pretty sure that I ate them both. Eek. Sorry girls!

I feel so much better now that that’s off my chest.

check ups checked out.

2011-11-15T11:05:00.005-07:00

Ava Rae Sorenson

Birth: 18 inches

4 years: 39 3/4 inches

Birth: 6 pounds 8 ounces

4 years: 34.2 pounds

In addition to her normal check up, Ava took her first hearing and eyesight tests. She passed. It is so encouraging to look back through every doctor visit between the ages of 9 months and 3 years and remember how our girl would just cry the whole time. Scared of every doctor instrument, scared of the nurses and doctors. Too shy and overwhelmed to share how smart she was or really interact at all. This run she was social and direct. Though the shy ‘sillies’ took over a couple times, for the most part she really conducted herself so well and I finally felt like our doctor got to meet the Ava we know and love! Ava was very happy to learn that she is ready for a booster seat instead of her car seat and insisted that we head to Target after the appointment just to check out the selection. Did you know that there are boosters that come with lights and armrests that go up and down and retractable cup and snack holders? Ava did. And that’s the one she’s got her eye on.

Noelle Bryce Sorenson

Birth: 20 inches

18 months: 33 1/2 inches

Birth: 7 pounds

18 months: 27.6 pounds

Elle did pretty good and I really think most of the reason was Ava. If the doctor would come at her with some instrument to look in her ears or nose she would start clinging and crying, but if he’d show her first on Ava she would sit pretty and let him check her out. I am so thankful for that. We got through the check painlessly and even got some answers as to why she had been such a grumpy human for the previous few weeks. 4 molars. All at once. I can honestly say that since they have popped out she is a different baby. Praise God! Elle put on a good show of how active* she is and I was proud of my little monkey.

*sidenote- I guess we use the word ‘active’ to describe Elle often. Lately, when Elle is displaying what I would consider ‘bad’ or ‘crazy’ behavior, Ava will say in an extremely exasperated delivery, “Ugh, Mom, she is just so active.” I almost laugh every time. I can’t decide if it’s bad that she thinks active is kind of a negative thing. But I’d rather her not call Elle something worse. Knowing Ava though, she’ll figure it out soon.

Both girls got 3 shots. There was crying both before and after the pricks. It was sad and traumatic. It was the only 5 minutes I wished I hadn’t done this check up adventure solo. And walking out of the office carrying 60 pounds of splotchy faced girl really has a way of making you feel like you DO NOT have it together.

They did like the very sparkly band aids. And the bubble gum flavored Tylenol we picked up at Target.

And really, it wasn’t anything a little Chick-fil-A and a long nap couldn’t fix.

in a dinner rut.

2011-11-09T09:43:00.002-07:00

I was in a serious dinner rut last week. Major. Like if I made chicken pasta with broccoli one. more. time… AHHHHH! So I got inspired perusing food blogs and low and behold I found the will to try a new recipe TWICE in one week! And more shocking than that would be that both recipes were awesome! So either our dinner rut was worse than I thought or we scored big time!

* I STOLE THESE PICTURES.

Black Bean Soup

This recipe was so unbelievably easy. Used minimal ingredients. Has just the right amount of spice and flavor. And despite the unappetizing color and texture we were loving it.

I didn’t change the recipe at all but I did pan fry some diced chicken on the side that we added per bowl. We also topped our bowls with Mexi-Cheese. This is a comfort bowl. Big time. Oh and eat plenty of chips of your choice on the side, after all you are eating beans and veggies for dinner

Cajun Chicken Pasta

The Pioneer Woman strikes again. This is amazing. As I was flipping through pasta dishes I ran across this one that reminded me of one of my all time favorite pasta dishes (this is for you Albuquerque folk): Scarpas’ Red Chile Chicken Pasta. It is in a league of its own. So I set out to make this pasta for that reason alone. The finished product was not really even close the the RCCP. But it was very good in its own right. I liked that it had a fair amount of veggies and some good spicy flavor. The only change, I didn’t add all of the heavy cream the recipe called for. I just kind of eyeballed it to get the creamy without the heaviness. We’ll be making it again.

Ok friends. I know you are out there. Please share some of your yummy cold weather dinner’s! Please?

happy 23rd.

2011-11-08T09:08:00.002-07:00

When KT and Kay saw this picture they “laughed for an hour” ( Kev’s words). So he just had to make these Cookie Monster cupcakes for her birthday! I am so glad he let me help. More than I love being the go-to dessert lady, I loved spending some Q.T. with my little bro and I have to say, when creating something so simply silly- you can’t help but feel light and happy.

Nailed it.

Kay loved her ‘Ava Original’ card. We all loved the variety of embellishments she used to decorate it! Especially the straw

Kay rockin’ her new gloves. Though they weren’t a "’Dani Original’ they were created with love.

I got the fingerless glove idea from my craft idol and most of the pattern from here. I added the strap and buttons for a very Kayla-ish touch! It is so much fun, so soul satisfying and so good for my overactive brain to create gifts for those I love… So glad you were born Kay Mae! Happy Birthday!

joy.

2011-11-06T15:48:00.001-07:00

I’ll have what she’s having.

1951 was a good year.

2011-11-03T20:06:00.003-06:00

Because that was the year when our Grandma was born! What a fun and LOUD birthday dinner we had! Grandma could be found the. whole. time with a baby or child in her lap, coloring, pretending or just listening the way only a grandma can. So very loved by us all, we hope this will be a memorable year. One filled to the brim with family and fun. Learning and sharing. Excitement for this life and the years that lay ahead!

I wanted to make her something that would tell her that her birth year is important despite what age year it represents. So we rigged a way to include that great year on the inside of her cowl. And that’s me trying it on for size.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Hey Crochet Friends!!: I got the patter for this Cowl here. It was a great, easy crochet project. One that I definitely had a hard time parting with!

halloween 2011.

2011-11-01T21:58:00.002-06:00

UP anyone? Pinterest anyone?

Worth it’s weight in gold, I’m telling ya. If you only knew how much easier the pinning madness has made my life this month. But really, nothing has been more worth it so far than my “Halloween costume” search ending in the above costume for Kurt and Elle.

And it almost goes without saying that our little fairy was just beautiful. We didn’t lock down a name before the night ended, but she was a jewel’d, prom hair’d, boa’d, purse’d, fancy fancy fairy. And boy was she a beauty!

This is an apology for about 14 years in the future: Elle, I am very sorry I dressed you as a boy character. My thinking was that since we got a tiny bit of inspiration for your name from the little girl character in UP, Ellie, that you could be a kind of Ellie/Cub Scout combo. You were so SO cute and got so many compliments and I think Dad just loved dressing up as part of a pair with you. I also kind of figured you wouldn’t mind too much when I remembered that my favorite costume growing up was Peter Pan. He was a boy character…

The Herig Halloween evening went up a notch or two this year… I guess I was the only one who didn’t get the memo that it isn’t appropriate to not wear a costume anymore. Oops! Next year, I’m on it. Everyone looked so cute and festive. I love that the girls will grow up surrounded by such a fun bunch.

Trick or Treating was a hit. Ava took her time warming up to delivering the words in an audible voice, but she did get there eventually and had fun! Elle on the other hand figured it out by watching us hand out candy at PaPa JoJo’s. By the time we got to our first house she was sing songing some garble that sounded remarkably close to ‘trick or treat’ and holding out her little bag. As soon as the treasure was dropped inside she was off with a wave and a “Bye” to the next house. Hilarious, those girls of mine.

Kev lent his Newsie hat to the costume-less Halloween Scrooge. And Elle’s first taste of her loot.

Any opportunity for a squeeze. And a pic with my Ava.

Annnnnnd, the annual pumpkin carving contest…It was so much fun that the neighborhood kids remembered the ‘pumpkin house’ and how they get rallied by a bunch of grown ups to vote wisely in order to receive candy! I wasn’t even too bitter that our pumpkins lost big time; those brothers of mine did some good work this year.

So to conclude, next year everyone watch out. I will be costumed grandly and my pumpkin will blow you away Herig’s aren’t competitive … I don’t care what anyone says.

October wrap up.

2011-10-30T13:15:00.001-06:00

Kurt and I got fancy (which was the most stressful event of the fall so far). We kind of hate dressing up. I have to say though, we had fun coordinating our outfits, we loved going out just us two, we laughed about taking this picture here because approximately 10 years ago we posed in this same way doused in perfume and cologne in fancy clothes for our senior prom.

We went to a fancy wedding.

Thanks to Facebook, I discovered my cousin’s sweet wife was at the very same wedding. Where else can you see a picture of one of your ‘friends’ getting ready for an event and conclude that ABQ is just too small a place for the two of you to be heading to separate events on a Saturday night and then see her sitting there to support the gal marrying our guy. Love Facebook. Sometimes.

One of my oldest friends being married.

In honor of that we danced the night away… and just in case you didn’t know, I DON’T dance.

I made these delicious fall whoopies out of this book. We’ll call them pumpkin-chocolate heaven. (ok, well I’ll call them that)

And I guess for another year we will call Mitch’s birthday National Whoopie Pie Day. I just love that dude and his love for all desserts whoopie style.

ava rae. four years in.

2011-10-17T09:24:00.001-06:00

Isn’t she lovely? I can’t believe our princess is 4. Please enjoy a LOT of pictures and just as many of our ‘gifts’ from these celebratory days.

Our beautiful girl. Her hair. Seriously, it’s awesome.

Pinterest inspired petal shirts and headbands.

For balloons that offered hours of fun.

That Kurt ‘jumped on’ the opportunity to buy this bouncer.

Our yard. To enjoy it with family.

Sunglasses, months old, that aren’t broken or lost and make Kurt look SO cute. This picture moment.

Being brave.

That I came out later in the evening to find Kurt and he was barrel rolling back and forth over the bouncer to get the last of the air out.

The sweet Elle. Her laugh. Her new words. That she says ‘sure’ to to everything. And that ‘sure’ sounds exactly like the s-h- word for poop.

For bleach. And the tie-dyed version of her outfit.

Staging an updated version of one of our favorite pictures to see how far we’ve come this year.

Big babies. Independence. A sister who really does ‘get’ her little sis.

Kid smooches.The beautiful colors in the shot. Kay Mae for being our photographer.

That this little family is ours. The reminders that it is precious. The knowledge that we were all planned out- Kurt and I, how many children we will have, the events of our life. Moments taken to pause and soak it up.

Elle’s neck. Ava trying so hard to get a good shot for us.

Ava still sitting tight. Elle’s panza (or what we like to call her panzy--- tummy).

That during this shot Kurt and I are yelling, “Elle, SIT DOWN.” So she did.

And in this one, “Elle, LOOK AT THE CAMERA.” And mostly Ava’s face. Huh?

Pictures that are more beautiful because they aren't’ perfect. Seeing a lesson in this, that maybe life is more beautiful when it’s not perfect too.

That JoJo’s favorite ‘Ava memory’ was her birth. For the reminder from that mom of mine to shop in your closet. That a couple of days ago my mom walked in the door and I said, “Why are you so dressed up? What did you do today?” and she said, “Cooked granola and went to Costco.”

Joy in creating something pretty for my girl. Her sweet, grateful heart. Cakes baked in mason jars. That they somehow came out smelling and tasting like cotton candy.

Lots of dessert sometimes.

How Ava can look both so grown up and so young at the same time. Gifts that encourage our timid one to try and try again. Healthy fear. Being needed for support.

Finding a way. Figuring it out.

Naughty Naughty Naughty. And oh so sweet. Thank you God for this little one who keeps me on my toes. Keeps me guessing. And that there is such a soft spot in my heart for her.

Birthday breakfast. Wearing a mish mash of her new birthday things (a ‘Princess’ pin, her dog bone headband, a new outfit). A trip to Toys R Us for a birthday treat… The treat of choice ended up being a baby boy doll- anatomically correct, who babbles, drinks, pees and cries when he’s wet. That little boy, Junior (his given name by Ava), has peed all over our house.

Welcome to 4 Ava! We love you to heaven and back!

a birth story…the first one.

2011-10-14T11:23:00.002-06:00

Ava Rae Sorenson October 15, 2007 born at 1:22 p.m. 6 pounds 8 ounces 18 inches

This birth story is quite different from this one… But here goes. Just one day shy of 4 years later I feel ready to embrace our birth story for what it was. It was hard. It was scary. It was NOT what I had diligently prepared for or planned on. But, it was exactly the right story for us. I share this because I know now that even if every circumstance of that labor and birth was the same but my mental state was different I could have had a completely different experience. One with more joy than fear. More satisfaction than disappointment. So, on that note, let me share with you the semi-traumatic experience that led to the hugest, most precious blessing of my life up until age 25.

Our Ava girl had been named for months. We were anxious to meet her and were focused intently on bringing her into this world in the best way possible. After much research and a little dose of pressure, we decided that we’d like to have a natural childbirth (in our minds this meant no drugs) and that we would accomplish this using ‘Hypnobirthing’ techniques. We went to an information meeting, found a Doula we liked and hired her to come to our home every week leading up to the birth to train us in hypnobirthing and basic labor and birth facts. We truly embraced this experience. We did our homework, practiced the relaxation techniques daily, wrote up a very specific birth plan and even listened to birthing affirmations for hours in the car every day. We. Were. Ready.

Saturday October 13, 2007

I woke up with some cramping. It was minimal but felt like there was something different about how my body felt that day. Oddly enough it made me want to walk. Kurt and I headed out to Babies R Us and bought a few last minute things we’d been waiting on. We were watching Brody that afternoon, so we walked him down to the park and by that evening I was feeling less crampy and more like the uncomfortable pregnant lady I had been for the past few weeks.

That evening we headed up to the Sorenson’s for a birthday dinner. The only thing that was a little strange about this particular night so far was that I didn’t have room for dessert at the end of the meal. Seriously weird. When we got home I had ‘The’ meltdown of the century, crying and carrying on about a multitude of things though mostly that I just didn’t think I could handle being pregnant for another second and the fear that I would. After that much emotional outpouring I put in ‘Knocked Up’ (for inspiration) and fell asleep in my bed. I woke up an hour our so later to pee (ha). I walked back to my bed and felt the slightest twinge in my lower back. It was new and different. Not painful exactly. It happened once, then again about ten minutes later. I let Kurt know that I might be in labor but told him to go to sleep and I’d keep him posted. I thought probably not but we could just wait. I didn’t sleep at all the whole night. I practiced our ‘rainbow relaxation’, took two baths, did my make-up, watched friends, and basically just tried to relax, but could not fall asleep because the contractions were every five to ten minutes.

Sunday October 14, 2007

Around 6 a.m. I noticed that my breathing would change during contractions. The pressure was stronger and I could not talk through or let them pass silently anymore. We definitely knew that I was in labor. Kurt was helping through most contractions by massaging my lower back. We remembered being told to walk and walk and walk once in labor. So we did. My mom met us at the park and we walked, at this point having to pause or at least slow down during contractions. When we got home Kurt called the hospital to warn them that we would be in later that day; they said to stay home as long as we could. (Side note- I felt like every time I sat down to go to the bathroom I’d have a contraction. I came to dread sitting on the toilet as the hours dragged on) By early afternoon they were consistently five minutes apart or under. We were getting antsy to know how things were progressing, so we decided to go to the hospital. Worst part so far was the car ride. Sitting down during contractions was unbearable with all of the pain in my back. The most prominent thought in my head once we parked the car was that I would have a contraction in the middle of the street and have to stop walking and a car would be coming (it didn’t happen).

Our first nurse came in to check me and hook me up to a monitor to check the contractions and make sure the baby was ok. Now for the exciting part. She did an exam to check where I was at. 2 centimeters. Yep, pretty sure I cried a little. From there we were free to walk the halls and keep this labor progressing. The contractions were very bearable and we were getting excited that we would have a new baby soon. A midwife came in to check me about two hours later and I had progressed to 7 centimeters! She seemed to think we’d meet our baby today. Even though it was getting harder I was very encouraged and excited and felt confident that I could do this for a few more hours to get to 10 centimeters. Next midwife check came about 2 hours later. The exam revealed that I was… 7 centimeters. Same as the last check. Here will mark the beginning of the end for my sanity. The midwife stuck around to watch a few contractions and she said she was pretty sure that the baby was Posterior. This means that she was flipped 180 degrees. Not in the correct position for birth. This was the reason that my contractions were focused in my back.

At this point I’d been in labor for about 24 hours and was getting a little tired. Kurt and I decided to have my water broken to speed things along and get this baby out. This turned out to be a bad idea. From the moment my water was broken the contractions went to a whole new level on the pain spectrum. I could no longer get into a position that was comfortable to relieve any pain during the contractions. In preparation for labor I had told myself that I wouldn’t be a ‘loud’ laborer. But at this point I found myself breathing loudly or moaning to get through the contractions. It was completely second nature and I really didn’t care about anything but those few minute breaks in-between contractions. Being on all fours in the bed or bending over at the waist to rest on the bed with Kurt or my mom pushing with all their might on my lower back was the only way to get through the contractions. The midwife thought a bath might help. It didn’t. Kurt sat with me beside the tub as I had the worst contractions yet. Poor guy. I would cry during the contractions and just tried to catch my breath in the off time before the next one started. They were a few minutes apart and felt like knives in my back accompanied by sharp pains in the lower front of my tummy and tingly pressure pain in my pelvis between my legs. I felt like I was being ripped in half. I could tell Kurt was getting worried, but I couldn’t even catch a break to tell him what I was going through. At this point I was scared too. This didn’t look or feel or sound like the videos we had watched in preparation. I lost faith that I could do this on my own. So, 26 hours in, tears streaming, I told Kurt that I thought I needed an epidural. He was relieved. I think he was trying to patiently wait for me to make the call. The nurses and midwife standing by were more than accepting of our decision and made quick plans to get the anesthesiologist to our room. After the fact they told us that when the baby is Posterior and the progress stalls it is a very small percentage of women who can still give birth naturally. Well, that would have been good to know YESTERDAY… Ugh. But really they were respecting our birth plan that specifically asked them not to ask us if we wanted pain management. After the decision was made it still took about 45 minutes to get the epidural (this should be noted- you have to drain a whole bag of IV fluids before they can start you up). Good thing about the epidural, once it’s in it takes just minutes for the relief to flood you. We all basked in the quiet and relief. It was two in the morning and we were all advised to get some sleep.

Monday October 15, 2007

Throughout the night the nurses continued to check on me making sure my blood pressure was good and the the baby’s heart rate was strong. They rotated me every hour or so still trying to get baby in to the correct birthing position and upping the Pitocin to get me dilated. I didn’t sleep much. Around 7:00 a.m. when the midwives and nurses were changing shifts I remember Jo waking up and me asking her to help me wash my face and put on a little make-up (haha- I have no clue why, I looked awful and the hard part was still to come). At this point I am feeling pretty low energy from no food for 30+ hours, a little dizzy and tired but also really getting excited that we will meet our Ava soon. I am thankful too that I’ve gotten a break from the contractions. Around 9 a.m. the epidural starts to wear off. I feel a little bit of the familiar contraction pressure though not bad at all and ask if that is normal. The nurses say that it’s normal and since we’re getting close to delivery it’s good if I can feel the urge to push. Around 10a.m. I am fully dilated and a nurse has me start practicing pushing. She puts her fingers right inside me and says to push against them. It is painful. It is so uncomfortable and tender that I feel near tears but I really try to push hard to get this thing done. Either a nurse or Kurt tell me each time I am having a contraction from the fetal monitor (I still can’t really tell since I’ve had the epidural and in hindsight I never do have the “urge” to push) and I try to push. I gather from the encouragement and direction that I am receiving, that I am not pushing efficiently. They keep having me try different positions, pulling on a birth bar, rope, squatting … all the while I have an oxygen mask on and am getting continually more tired (like, can’t keep my eyes open between contractions) and feeling more pain as the epidural wears off. I have been pushing for 3 hours. The baby is having decelerations as am I and I am bawling, feeling like I just can’t do this, am not cut out for this. I am discouraged. At this point they have seen the baby’s head for moments but she seems to float back up right after the contractions. Finally with a C-Section threat looming the midwife says, “would you be interested in a vacuum delivery? I can have the baby out on the next contraction?” With a fleeting thought of how very far this is from the tranquil and peaceful entrance into the world we had planned for our girl, I said “YES PLEASE!” So she took a suction cup, placed it on the baby’s head, and the next contraction told me to push- hard. She puts her foot on the bed frame and pulls with all her strength. I yell, moan, feel a weird combo of pain, relief and fear and then our baby is pulled out of me.

Kurt is told to cut her cord immediately. She is whisked away by the 7 or so doctors and nurses that have been called to our traumatic (high risk) birth. She doesn’t cry. I am straining to see her, worried about her. But she’s breathing. They say she’s fine. She’s just not a crier (which we will learn in the next 4 years is NOT true ). . Guess she was tired too. My mom rushes after to see her first grandbaby. Kurt is halfway between me and her, glancing back and forth… I ask him to please take a picture of her and show her to me. I had so envisioned holding my baby fresh out of my body. He does. He shows me. Then they bring her over. She is perfect and so much tinier than anticipated. I cry more, my first happy tears. Kurt is proud, I can tell. The intern nurse in the corner is overcome with emotions of her own after watching her first live birth. It crosses my mind briefly that I hope to someday witness birth from her vantage. As I am holding our girl for the first time, my stomach is being massaged to get the placenta to pass. It makes me so nauseous that I have to pass Ava off because I am so sure I will be sick. I ended up with a third degree tear that will need to be sewn up. I want to cry, this was not what I had prepared for.

And then…

I had my Ava back in my arms and the clouds parted. Something shifted in the world and everything leading up to this point got really dull and somehow less encompassing. This baby girl that we had prayed for and planned on and loved from afar was here. She was living and breathing and taking it all in. She was perfectly healthy. This baby who didn’t cry when she was born was so visibly at peace in my arms. I swear she looked right in my eyes from the very moment she was born. I had never felt such relief and assurance that I was in exactly the place I was supposed to be. Ava’s birth-story, her birthday and most amazingly her parents were planned from the very beginning. And finally, peace, comfort and joy found me. This was my baby, one that upon entrance into this world was already being used by the Lord to get me a little bit closer to who I was meant to me. I had been pushed to my breaking point and overcome more than I thought I could. Kurt and I were closer following these 2 days than any other events in life could have provided. We became a family of 3. And it was sweeter and more precious than anything we will experience on this side of heaven.

Kurt went as they took Ava to get bathed and measured. My mom had to bathe me, wash my hair, dress me. That epidural and fatigue was hard to shake. We headed up to our room. I was told that our girl was a peanut. Six pounds eight ounces and 18 inches long. So tiny compared to Kurt and I as babies. They wheeled her back in, both of us fresh and tired. She was a beautiful newborn. Did not look like she had endured a 38 hour labor. She looked like a little girl right away- no bows needed. We were thrilled with our prize, our gift.

In the days to come, though dulled by my constant joy and new obsession with our gal, I was adequately traumatized as I shared our birth story many times. I wished I hadn’t been so prideful that I could do this thing drug free. That I had been warned about posterior babies. Why didn’t someone tell me earlier that this might be the case for us? Or advise us that breaking waters was no guarantee to kick your body into progressing and that the contractions could get so bad so fast? Why oh why didn’t I just get all the facts, listen to my body, make my goal a birth experience that was right for me? I realize that some of this I couldn’t have known ahead of time. But to be really honest, I felt sad about how the labor and birth went down. I felt like I let myself, Kurt and Ava down. I felt judged by others who didn’t agree with epidurals (heck, I had been one of them a few days ago). I think I felt bad mostly because I had tried with everything in me to plan out (a.k.a. control) the perfect birth for my firstborn and I had failed.

Thankfully, in most less than ideal situations written into our stories, we can choose to learn from them. I vowed to be open the next time, to cut myself some slack. I looked at our perfect, alert baby and knew that the epidural didn’t affect her in the negative ways I had been warned of. I reminded myself, until it was truth in my heart, that pain in birth is not necessary to have birthed your baby proudly. You’re still a woman and a mother if you have an epidural. It is crazy hard we can be on ourselves when our pride is involved. Mostly though, God gently reminded me that He alone is in control.

I share all of these feelings because they were that, feelings. Very real ones that I struggled with following the most amazing experience of my life. I wish someone had shared a story like this with me, and so I’ll share it with you. Who knows, maybe the one who will really need to hear it will be my sweet Ava in 20+ years, after all, she might be something like her Mama and need to be reminded that it’s ok to just roll with it…

I feel blessed that I had the support of Kurt and my mom the whole time. They were strong for me and encouraging to me through it all. I can thank God for that experience because from it I feel like I have grown immensely.

One last side note: You can bet that we would do it all over again if the prize at the end was our sweet Ava Rae.

Happy 4th Birthday Eve my Love Muffin Baby!

Oh, did you realize how I didn’t mention hypnobirthing again after the 2nd paragraph… well that’s because the labor hurt too much. I didn’t use it after we got to the hospital. oops.

pinterest isn’t the only place I’m getting inspired.

2011-10-13T11:46:00.002-06:00

This statement is almost a lie. Almost. I am Pinterest obsessed as of late and I would like to thank my dear beautiful friend, I think, for inviting me I am not proud of the obsession. I am just shamelessly addicted to the pinning/repinning/perusing for hours satisfaction that it provides me. I justify it to myself and my husband with the fact that I am ‘so over’ facebook… Ha! For now.

So it is actually quite funny that this, the first thing I have spotted and followed through with, didn’t come from Pinterest.

The other day I ran across this ‘grocery list’ displayed in Anthropologie and fell in love! I snapped this pic on my phone and one week later…

This version is living in our kitchen! Though it might eventually end up with a few grocery needs and wants on it, for now we are going to use it to count our ‘gifts’.

To boldly share our gifts is bonding.

It is fun to see what my family is praising God for.

It is sweet to see my girls practice seeing life through the beauty of His grace.

It is so encouraging in those ‘I’m about to freak out’ moments, to take 5 and get some perspective.

It is necessary to read a gift from the past week or day or hour and remember that it really is all grace.

Yep, all of it. It is helping me work up to embracing those ‘ugly beautiful’ gifts too. The ones that aren’t right away apparent, that seem like missteps, annoyances, fails…

To document our gifts and see how beautiful our life is, to realize how amazingly loved and desired and cared for we are, to know beyond anything that, God is right, God is always good, God is grace, will grow our faith in huge ways. It will help us to trust that when the ‘ugly’ crops up, it is perfect grace too.

“Because eucharisteo is how Jesus, at the last supper, showed us to transfigure all things- take the pain that is given, give thanks for it, and transform it into a joy that fulfills all emptiness… to lean into the ugly and whisper thanks to transfigure it into beauty. The hard discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because HE is all good. ”

–Ann Voskanp, One Thousand Gifts

4 years old is right around the bend.

2011-10-10T09:40:00.002-06:00

Is your heart just melting right now? Like a puddle on the floor? Oh, that’s just me? These ‘sisters’ are so precious getting ready for our first 4th birthday celebration of the week. Our Sorenson and Prochnow family joined us for a celebratory bowling-pizza-cake extravaganza!

Bowling was still a hit the second time around. The ramp though just seemed to slow our little bowlers down… slowly but surely their self-launched balls made their way down the alley. It connected with pins every time (thank you bumpers!), it was met with some sort of victory dance (thanks Ava and Brody) every time, and Elle even made it halfway down the ally before being tackled (thanks, me) one time.

There couldn’t have been a more perfect ball for our girl for the occasion.

Or a more perfect excuse to snuggle this nephew of mine to sleep. (I may or may not have asked Kurt to be excused from bowling do to wardrobe issues- my ‘boot outfit’ would look so dumb with bowling shoes or the ‘skirt outfit’ would cause a tripping hazard… Kurt was less than supportive. So I looked dumb in my ‘boot outfit’. )

Elle enjoyed some arm time with one of her faves. When Uncle Em is around- that’s where you’ll find our babe.

T minus 5 days and we’re the parents of a 4 year old. wow.

Ava cheered me through the creation of her cake beginning to end. I may have been less than thrilled when comparing it to the vision in my head but Ava said, ‘Mom, it’s beautiful”, and I chose to believe her.

I love this picture. Singing. Three kids on stools. Aunt Jess’s fingers. Grandma’s smile. A comfortable kitchen. Love in the air.

Look at that bike! A bell, streamers and baby seat, oh my! Someone’s grandparents sure know their oldest granddaughter!

And what do you do when you just got a new bike for your birthday? Yep, ride it in the cul-de-sac the moment you wake up! That hot air balloon reminds me of the days I labored with Ava. I remember the midwife, in an attempt to encourage, saying that it was ok that she was taking her time coming out, that if it took until morning time we might just get to see hot air balloons out the window right as she was born. I loved this idea. It didn’t happen. She wasn’t born until 1:20p.m…MONDAY (after the balloon fiesta was over). But I still like that memory.

water

2011-10-07T21:02:00.002-06:00

Not a care in the world. She sees the beautiful spray of water and reaches out to touch it. She’s not thinking, "I’ll get wet”, “I’ll get cold”, “I’m not the one in control of the spray”… She’s thinking that it’s beautiful and she wants to be closer.

No worry about whether the spray will change direction from one second to the next, no fear that it will catch her unaware and knock her off her feet. She’s experiencing the joy that this moment has to offer her for as long as the offer stands.

Oh that I would take the advice of these little ones. To shed my inhibitions. To trust that He has a plan for the here and now. To stop missing it by jumping ahead. To trust that He also has a plan for the next hour and day and month and year and that he will give me what I need for those circumstances only when I need them. If I’m not equipped to deal now, why should I waste my sweet moments pondering the ‘what if’s?’

I want to hop in the water because it looks refreshing and pretty. I want to worry less about the future and live in this moment. I don’t want to leave a single ‘gift’ wrapped. I want the pure joy calling out to me in the now.

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’…” Psalm 46:10

pagosa springs fun.

2011-10-05T15:26:00.002-06:00

We headed to ‘the cabin’ last weekend for the last days of September and some seriously beautiful fall sights! The leaves were turning, we got to try out our sweatshirts in the mornings and evenings and we even got to soak up some HOT sunshine in the afternoons. It was perfection.

How sweet are my daughters? Seriously. To glance to the back seat during our 3.5 hour drive to Pagosa Springs and see our beauties like this warmed my heart for miles!

It was a knee slapping laugh-fest and an Adele song number 2 marathon for just about as long as Kurt and I could handle it. I feel the need to say though; don’t be fooled by these 2 car ride pictures. Elle got her scream on and cried for approximately one hour and in a fit of the naughties dumped 2 puzzles in her lap, squished a banana all over herself and crumbled a piece of bread and sprinkled it all around. But in the end, we made it. And you know what we did? Unloaded the car, enjoyed a beer in the mountain air and set up the trampoline.

There’s something that ‘got me’ about these two eating breakfast together right here. It might be that our baby is no longer resembling a baby, sitting so big without a high chair. It’s probably a little bit of the personalities that are shining through in these pictures. It’s a little bit of love for the trampoline out back, the grass and sunshine. Most likely though would be that their breakfasts are actually in their respective bowls and plates. I guess I like the illusion that we didn’t just clean up messes ALL WEEKEND LONG.

This is how a lot of our lives go these days. (Notice how I’m nowhere to be found…I just don’t have enough reasoning in my mind to answer Ava’s array of questions or rebut her various concerns) Kurt was trying to talk Ava into one trick or another on the tramp; one that wasn’t dangerous and that she would likely love. But until our girl is ready, the answer was and is always a firm ‘no thanks’.

Oh the fighting and fussing. And Ava sure looks cute.

This picture captures just a glimmer of my sweet girl’s ‘naughty face’. I say that with love bursting from my whole self. I could seriously live on that face. I’m on the hunt to capture it head on but until then I needed to document this and my love for it (while I still love it). This lady has some spunk, people. I feel like she’s growing up and I am feeling like my grey-hair-free days are coming to a close.

Check out how pretty! And also those beautiful turning leaves. Ava loves LOVES ‘AVT-ing’. I love when she enjoys things she was once so fearful of.

That looks about right. And in case you were wondering, Elle loved the ATV from her first ride around the block. She was lapping up the wind and laughing the whole time.

*Nerd Alert- Kurt and I had fun riding around the block a time or two but want to hear what we really loved doing? After the girls were in bed we headed out to one of our favorite bars in town, ordered a few beers (extra dark, please) and played scrabble on our tab. Yep, scrabble. When our beers were empty we headed home to play real scrabble with Mom and Dad Sorenson. Ya know, to show them our skills. It was a game-playing kind of weekend. Just what we needed!

Sorry love, you don’t scare me.

And one final birthday celebration for me. Ava and Grandma baked up some Red Velvet cupcakes, we sang and clapped and I felt loved and glad that my birthday had finally passed.

garden goodness

2011-09-28T15:09:00.003-06:00

When my sweet friend gifted us a basketful of goodies from her garden I was thrilled. Really, kind of beside myself, over the fresh veggie goodness. There were tomatoes, basil, scallions and bell peppers. I still can’t believe she picked these things out of her yard and brought them over. Gardening is major uncharted territory for me and growing things you can actually eat is like “whoa”. Big time. So anyway, I cooked up all of our favorite dishes with the beautiful veggies we had been given. And if you were wondering, the food really did taste much better with the “grown-with-love” versions of our Smith’s favorites.

Then I got to the zucchini.

I pondered that guy for many days trying to figure out how to fashion it into a form that my picky family would eat… And then I found this recipe in my trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. It was a hit. Seriously, girls can’t get enough (it’s probably the 1 cup of sugar-eek!). But still, they’re eating zucchini multiple times a day.

Zucchini Bread

ingredients

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 egg beaten

1 cup sugar

1 cup shredded, unpeeled zucchini

1/4 cup cooking oil (I didn’t have this so I used unsweetened applesauce)

1 handful of chocolate chips

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom and 12 inch up sides of an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan; set aside. In a medium bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

2. In another medium bowl combine egg, sugar, shredded zucchini, and oil. Add zucchini mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

what I’m eating and reading for fall

2011-09-26T14:30:00.001-06:00

Though I’m ready ready ready for fall weather, I am trying to soak up as much backyard time as possible. Not every day lends itself to this beautiful spread during naptime… But when the opportunity arises, here’s where you’ll find me.

Starbucks coffee- tall with toffee nut syrup and cream.

Cheese crisp- brown rice tortilla (Trader Joes- Gluten Free) with mexi-cheese, grated parm and a heavy sprinkle of pepper flakes, toasted.

And some lovely books.

Here’s what I’m reading:

So Long Insecurity By Beth Moore and the accompanying workbook- my current bible study.

This book has stopped me in my “secure” tracks. Oh man, why didn’t anyone tell me? Maybe some of you are laughing because you were on to me. Maybe you’re like, “it’s about time you figured it out.” I don’t even care, I have a long way to go and I’m determined to shed my insecurities big and small. A life without that junk is possible and within my grasp. I’m pumped! Stay tuned, and if you so desire join me friends! We were made for freedom!

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." –John 8:32

Cutting For Stone By Abraham Verghese- my fiction read.

Cause after a few minutes of the above book I need to slip away into the land of someone else’s issues for a beat. I just started but I’m really enjoying it.

What are you reading? Really, do tell…

this year

2011-09-19T09:20:00.001-06:00

For my last year of twenties I will strive…

To embrace these precious moments. Control less and Enjoy more. Cake tastes even better when it’s made with love and without cake tools.

To get dirty. Show my girls that its fun to work hard and play hard. For a chance to illustrate to them how Jesus washed us clean is a lesson that we should never pass up.

To show my loved ones that I love them. Whether through making them their whoopie pie of choice or some other way that lets them know that I know them and am willing to love them their way.

To take time with each of my tiny beauties. To ask them questions, to stockpile their answers. To come down to them instead of always trying to get them to ‘come on’,‘hurry up’, ‘come over’, to me.

To teach healthy habits through example. To embrace what I have learned about moderation and to live it. Enjoying french fries often and fruits and veggies more often.

To make more eye contact. To connect with people when I am given the chance. To listen better.

To laugh out loud. To remember that though this doesn’t come naturally to me I always feel better when I do.

To surround myself with individuals and objects that make me feel happy, comfortable and the most like me. To teach the girls the importance of making a space their own and making their lives a beautiful example of who they are and what they believe.

To invite God to fill me up with Himself that I might pour it out into others.

To focus on this relationship. To embrace it for the beautiful gift that it is. To laugh, cry and talk without fear.

To venture into territory that scares me, sets me on edge and overwhelms me. To look around once I’m there and try to see it in a new way. To learn, evolve and lean on those around me. To realize that the only way to change is to be open to it.

To take this time I have been given and count gifts as often as possible.

it’s my birthday

2011-09-16T09:08:00.005-06:00

Last year of my 20’s starts right now… I’m weirded out. Big Time. I actually don’t know what to say about this particular topic right now.

You know by now that I’m not a birthday lover… Would be fine to just roll one year to the next over a cup of coffee or a few scoops of Blue Bell- ALONE. But really, though I don’t love being the center of any kind of attention, I DO LOVE how many lovely people in my life love me so very much that they completely ignore my ‘no birthday celebration please’ requests and shower me with birthday lovin’. I think it’s possible that I will have some more birthday revelations as it unfolds but for now I’ll start with the celebrations and preparations that have already gone down.

Us Gals after a delicious meal. Teriyaki grilled chicken, roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts. This, friends, is the way to my heart. Look at these beauties.

I can’t believe they’re mine.

The CUTEST cake making duo I have ever seen.

Eyes closed, crown on, waiting patiently for my FIRST cake on my birthday eve. For someone who claims not to like the celebrations I sure do seem to have a lot of that going on… Actually I think I just figured something out. I LIKE celebrations. I DISLIKE parties. Hmmm… I’m going to think on that.

Woo Hoo! I got a Baskin Robbins Clown Face! I love that my little family remembered that I said I MUST have one of these for my day.
*note- THE FROZEN FROSTING IS AMAZING!
Oh, and Elle wants a bite, NOW!!!!!

in order to keep my purse on

2011-09-15T09:46:00.002-06:00

I must

keep

arm

up!

(Ava and Noelle @ 15 months old)

our 15 month old is totally talking

2011-09-13T09:10:00.003-06:00

Ummm not so much. Here’s a preview. We think this video is really funny. You might too, although it’s entirely possible and likely that the reason we are so tickled by it is that the subject is our too-cute-to-handle baby. As a bonus I hope to encourage you other moms out there who were made to feel badly that your one year old isn’t yet 'talking’.

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Ok fine. I’m a little bitter that she actually can say “DA” (for Dad) and something that resembles Ava. Unless of course her word for me is “BaBaBa”… in that case I’m feeling pretty good after your video, Elle girl.

And we had to document the palm-in wave. Any day now she’s gonna turn that wave right around.

Though I can’t wait to hear her sweet voice shout MAMA across the house I am really trying to enjoy the last days of semi peace and quiet… I know they are numbered. For now I am thoroughly enjoying learning her whole array of grunts.

our yard

2011-09-11T15:19:00.003-06:00

So, January 1st our plan was to have a functional backyard by May… This, we were sure, was plenty of time to do a little work ourselves, hire a landscaper to finish up and prepare a great 1st birthday BBQ bash for Elle on June 1st. Fast forward through many months, MANY too high estimates and our deadline passing by without so much as a rock being moved. Dang it! We were quickly losing hope that we’d be able to enjoy the summer months in the yard we had envisioned. And honestly, we didn’t get to enjoy a yard this summer. But as things turned out, we will be enjoying our yard all fall long! AND without the 100 degree temps!

If only these 11 pictures could do justice to the crazy, dirty, tiring, fun project that has consumed us for the past 8 weekends!

The sea of rocks. Two borrowed shovels in hand and swimsuits on (we thought we might as well get a tan), we set out to start clearing the rock away from where our deck would go. I think of myself as a pretty tough chick, but 5 shovel fulls of rock later, I thought I was going to throw up. This was also the last day we would wear our swimsuits . . . that much dirt on that much exposed body was not a pretty sight.

Deck prep. Thank goodness for weed barrier to pull the rocks away. Now we just had to dig down another 2 feet so we could start the frame for the deck. At this point our attitudes were still pretty good . . .

Framin’ her up. If only the frame was as level as it looks in this picture; more on that later. This picture symbolizes roughly 237 trips to Lowe’s s~~ometimes~~ most times for a single lag bolt (yes, I know what that is now) or a square bit.

Our Deck! I can’t believe that by picture 4 we are showing you a completed deck. Really this took us 85% of the time. By the time this part was finished we had spent about 100+ man hours, utilized the strength of our brothers and dads, involuntarily unloaded every board onto Juan Tabo, shimmed and re-shimmed E-V-E-R-Y Trex board, subjected our girls to a few too many Saturday afternoons in the blazing heat playing with rocks while Kurt and I worked, and enjoyed a beer or two or five in our deck-hole at the end of a long day. Would I do it again- Nah. Am I glad we did it? Do I feel like it was a bonding experience with my husband? Do I feel beyond proud of our ~~handiwork~~ dedication? HECK YEAH!

First day post our landscapers. Excited to see the prep work for the new sidewalk and so curious how they’re going to get all that earth out of the yard.

A few days in… Check out that mountain of earth! Ava was thrilled by this mound of dirt . . . she wouldn’t have been at all sad if this hill stuck around and sat in the middle of our grass.

Yikes! At this point I’m nervous. What a mess and how in the world is this going to come full circle? We had one little misunderstanding about the height of our wall but I think by this point everyone is back to the plan and on track.

Getting level. 5 flat bed trailers full of dirt and rock later, we could finally start seeing how our grass was going fit in. SO thankful that we contracted this out. With our two measly (borrowed) shovels, it would have been 2015 before we got to post this blog.

Finishing up. I’d been waiting the whole time for them to pretty up the wall. Can’t believe this is just two days away from a finished yard (minus the grass). We could hardly help ourselves from tidying and cleaning up each day when the workers would leave. We just couldn’t believe how close we were to being done and couldn’t believe that the workers didn’t share our enthusiasm. Guys, are you sure you don’t want to just work day and night until this job is done???

Landscapers finish. 8 days. Kurt and I prep for phase 2. Grass. Rented a rototiller, got some peat moss @ 75% off (thank you Labor Day sale!), and made 3 trips to Osuna nursery for advice. When your combined knowledge of laying sod is ZERO, you really cling to every shred of information- regardless of the source. Everyone kept saying how easy it was… thank the Lord they were right. At this point this yard thing was getting a wee bit wearing.

And we’re done! Can you believe it’s the same yard? We are still in blissful shock! Kurt is trying to think of ways to keep the checker board look of the grass and I’m dreaming of the day the lines will disappear. While we wait, we will be sitting on our deck soaking up every second of outdoor weather! I’ll admit, I did throw around the idea if bringing in heat lamps and eating Thanksgiving out here… thoughts?

fresh start

2011-09-09T21:04:00.006-06:00

Don’t you love a fresh start? The excitement of something new and clean and uncharted…it’s enough to give me a little burst of energy and joy.

So, though my joy is running over at this opportunity to start again, I still find myself unsure how to proceed. Do I keep moving forward, the same blog on a new page? Do I change it up, refocus, find a new voice and a new perspective? I don’t know.

As I ponder I will leave you with just a few gifts from lately. Cause really, when I share our gifts I feel the closest to where I’m supposed to be.

A decorating project with my girls. Re-purposing old beloved jeans. Working hard on a project. Celebrating every small milestone in the process that seems SO long. Building a deck, laying sod…learning together. Butterflies that make you feel young. Responsibilities that remind you of how far you’ve come. New friends that you just know God appointed for this season. This season. Fall fashion- the buzz and the hope that I can not succumb to the “I wants”. Another year of twenties and a little less fear of the thirties. Shaved heads and curly tops. SCRABBLE. A new church. Our oldest venturing out unafraid. Our youngest, usually so independent, still not quite ready. Freedom. Love. Joy in each of these seemingly insignificant moments. A God who comes to us and gives us gifts we didn’t even know we needed.

I’ll leave you with this sweet shot of Uncle Kurt.

Pictures of our new yard coming soon.

you found us

2011-09-08T14:14:00.005-06:00

Glad you followed us over.

just tall enough

2011-08-25T04:09:00.001-06:00

...to snag a bite.

surgery

2011-08-22T03:48:00.003-06:00

I had surgery last Tuesday. Crazy huh? I will share a brief version of my story below. It’s about how my IUD went wrong and I had to get it removed. If you are interested, read on.

I started having back pain a little over a month ago. It wasn’t unbearable but it was every day. It reminded me of the cramping I’d have before my period so I didn’t pay too much attention to it. After about 2 weeks of the daily reminder and no period or relief, I called in to my midwife for a visit. In the meantime, I “Googled”. Never do this. By the time I went in for my appointment 3 weeks later I had diagnosed myself with a whole array of illnesses and complications. Most of my concern though centered on my IUD. The major red flag for me was that I could no longer feel the strings of the IUD. This is something you are told to check monthly following your period…I was one of the small percentage of women who didn’t get a period while using the IUD so I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d felt them. I knew they were there a year ago and that now they weren’t. Fast forward. I went in for my visit. My midwife couldn’t find the IUD strings or even feel the IUD when she checked me. She scheduled an ultrasound for later in the week to see if it had implanted itself in my uterus or had fallen out. Both cases she said were rare. Ultrasound- IUD imbedded pretty far inside. Next, visit with a doctor. Prep for that visit: 800 mg ibuprofen and a Vicodin an hour before and a ride to and from the appointment. Ok, now I’m nervous. Feeling loopy, met with a new doctor at that visit. Using a variety of tools and lights he tried to locate the IUD to remove it. The discomfort was minimal. Lots of cramping. Some post visit bleeding. But no luck on the removal.

Next step: surgery. A hysteroscopy to be exact. Basically the same as this doctor visit but with me fast asleep. A little over a week later having had no food or drink since midnight (having removed all of my jewelry, nail polish- including my new pedicure-, sans lotion, make-up and hair product... ugh!) and having had quite the anxious previous nights sleep, I was checked in to preop for my procedure. I got wheeled into the OR, was told I was going to get sleepy and woke up feeling pretty drunk. Slowly the world came into focus and I was told that the IUD was out! Deeply imbedded, strings wrapped around it, but out! With prescription to take it easy for a week I was out of there! I thought I should share this story because when I was told that I was in the small percentage of people that this happens to, I was struck by how shocked I was to be the exception. I always think that things will go according to the plan. I'm one who listens to those ‘risks’ that doctors share but then quickly overlooks them or throw them into the category of ‘that won’t happen to me’. Once I was in the minority though, I didn’t want to be alone. I searched out individuals who could relate, who could offer encouragement. So, I’m just throwing this experience of mine out there so that maybe someone else can find comfort in my story. It wasn’t life-threatening or dangerous. But it was annoying and frustrating and something I was really angry that I had to deal with. There is such power in shared experiences. I am thankful for all of you who have shared yours with me.

Kurt felt the need to document ‘zombie’ me throughout the day post surgery. I was stumbling around a little, slept a lot, found it much more comfortable for my spinning head to keep my eyes closed, but couldn’t help smiling that this was OVER! The grogginess lasted about 24 hours. Way longer than I expected. My mom and Ava prepared us a yummy dinner. The Turri’s brought us an ice cream treat. Kurt was home from work all day long. Besides the surgery part, it was a pretty great day! Best part though, it’s out and I feel like me again.

meet our new nephew and cousin

2011-08-20T13:36:00.002-06:00

Rhett Axel Prochnow

Born: 8-11-2011

9 Pounds 14 Ounces

Brand New. Everyone wanted to be touching him at all times.

Ava was in heaven. A real little baby. Just her size.

Crashed Out (during the day only, from what we've heard).

So tiny and perfect. What a gift!

Can't believe he's a whole week old. Keep growing sweet boy, we are so excited to know you!

adventures

2011-08-17T06:59:00.002-06:00

Blogging has not been on my radar lately. It makes me sad that I'm not getting to share all of the fun happenings in our lives. But it also make me happy that we have been staying so busy with friends, parties, house projects, little trips, and just enjoying getting through the last of this summer heat! Here is a short recap of our recent activities:

Some of our favorite friends brought us the the spray park for the very first time. What has been my deal? Why hadn't we tried it before? It was so much fun!

One of those mini-trips I was referring to... Kurt took a flight out to Phoenix to pick up his new car! We were so blessed by Great Grandma Wood to give us such a great car. Ava's words: "it's soft, it's quiet,it's bigger, and it's cool!" We agree!

And finally, our little project that has been occupying evenings, weekends and most importantly date nights! If Date Night has been this much fun working on our deck, I can't wait to experience them on a finished deck with somewhere to sit that isn't in the dirt and somewhere to set our beers that isn't on the sawhorse!

So, did anyone see this↑ situation in the Golden Pride parking lot on Juan Tabo last Saturday?

So, we headed off to Lowe's to pick up all of our Trex boards and we loaded them in the truck. We attempted driving ever so slowly home. A split second before the above picture happened I yelled for Kurt to pull over. He did and our entire load of Trex slid out on the street. So let's recap: we loaded 20 16 foot Trex boards (45 pounds each) onto our cart at Lowe's (and then rallied many men throughout the store to help us push our cart to the checkout), then loaded them into the truck. After they slid out (above) we put them back in, eventually realizing that that same thing was probably going to happen again, so we unloaded them into the street again. Finally, we figured out that we could stick them through the cab window into the truck, so we loaded them up again, got home safely and unloaded them to our backyard. That's six loads and unloads in 2 hours. Needless to say, we did NOT do any further work on the deck that day!

Happy 3rd Birthday Thomas! Happy 1st Birthday Peter!

Seeing The Bigfoot Election on the big screen in a completely packed theater was so awesome! This film that the most talented Ryan Turri shot and directed is making a serious run. It has been selected for the Albuquerque Film Festival, the White Sands International Film Festival, and the Hollywood Film Festival.

Side-note: Asper Kourt's first ever music video has also been selected for the Albuquerque Film Festival this coming weekend... If you're there be sure and check it out!

2011-08-13T09:16:00.000-06:00

welcome

2011-08-11T04:48:00.002-06:00

I was just getting ready to post this pic

but instead I get to post this one

It took me a day too long to get on the ball. I don't even care. We are so excited to welcome this new little boy bundle into our family. Thank you for being prompt little man.

P.s. your mom did an amazing job getting you here, thank her someday.

happy birthday brody

2011-08-09T06:16:00.001-06:00

Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Brody! We can't believe you're 5... We love your kind heart. We love your big laugh and silly smile. We love your gentleness with your little cousins. We love your energy and playfulness. We love your honesty. We love your hugs. We love you Brody! Prayers that your first day of 5 is totally awesome!

bowling

2011-08-08T05:03:00.002-06:00

Remember this place (or one like it)? Remember these shoes? This was a Dad original idea on a recent Saturday. It was a good one. I think I thought Ava was still too young, too small, too timid... But, the moment her shoes were handed over (a major 'she's growing up too fast' moment for me when they actually had shoes that fit her) I knew this was right up her alley ;-). She was not disappointed in the slightest and not one day has gone by since when she hasn't mentioned 'maybe we should go bowling today?' (said with her trademark "Ava shrug" ).

Umm pretty sure they didn't have these awesome bumpers or cool ball rolling contraptions when I was little. Although Ava could get the ball (though verrrrrry slowly) down the lane all be herself, she preferred the ramp.

Our bowling girls.

What a great family outing. Cheap. Cool (temperature. well, both meanings I guess). And according to Ava, "SOOOOOOOO FUN!"

I suppose I could mention that the final score was Kurt-121 Dani-71 Ava-70. Think what you will.

beautiful day: Herig-Wedding part 3

2011-07-26T03:08:00.003-06:00

Dear Mitchell and Lynley,
Your Wedding was lovely. Got that? LOVELY! It was truly perfect. For so many reasons. The venue was pure beauty. The sound of the waves, the amazing sunset, the lanterns, the white sand, the grass, the cool California air... It was peaceful. It was calming. It was beauty in its most natural and genuine form. This, my little ones, is exactly how I felt about the two of you during your wonderful ceremony. When I tell people about it I say that it was the most genuine sharing of vows I have ever witnessed. No lie. So different from the previous day during the Rehearsal toasts when you two were looking all around, taking in the sights and sounds of your friends and family, this day you had eyes only for each other. I did not see your eyes waver, and in that my heart felt peace and joy in your union. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me a front row seat. I will never forget it. You two picked and planned a fabulous wedding- each detail so undeniably you two. I loved it and I am so proud to share it here :-)
I love you guys. a lot.
Love, D

It took many to get Lynley in that pretty little number. See those laces? They aren't just for show. Mama Hardin spent many minutes lacing up her youngest daughter. Extra tight!

3 of our 4. Everything fit. We're ready to walk down the aisle. (Well, two of us are.)

Some of those views I was mentioning... and the cake. I waited all night for it and then somehow missed it. Dang! Maybe Mitch and Lyn will save me a bite of their one year anniversary cake?!?

Me and my gals. Aren't they just precious. I really wish they would have made it down the aisle ;-) Someday.

Bridal look- Head to Toe (you can't see her feet, but they are bare)!

What a special day for sisters.

Can't even imagine the day that these two will be in the same pose.

Ava tried to uphold her flower girl duties. Really hard I think. But, no go. Thank goodness for a Joge that saved her. Thank goodness she looked so cute.

The beautiful bride. She really did look the most beautiful as she walked toward her groom. Crazy how that happens.

First kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Herig. I think I might have cried.

I love love love this picture.

Dad and Daughter. Mother and Son.

Kev gave a great toast. He did not cry.

I wish I could give you all some video here of Mitch leading up to the Garter Toss. He did dance. We did laugh. Check out this video for a glimpse into what you missed.

There wasn't a ton of crying but oddly the two pics I captured of each girl's face have tears written all over them. Maybe there was actually more crying than I remember...hmmmm? Still so cute.

Lyn's big bro came through big time and had this 1927 Durant Star waiting to take the newlyweds away!

This concludes the Herig Wedding blogs.

Wishing the Herig's a lifetime of Happy!!!!!

I've waited all my life- Herig Wedding part 2

2011-07-22T03:48:00.002-06:00

Friday July 15, 2011: Rehearsal Lunch...

Let's preface this day by reminding everyone that the night before was Bachelorette Night. Some comments and actions to follow can and should be blamed on this fact alone. So lets just start by saying, it was hard to be up and presentable (and not to mention- in party planning mode) by ten thirty a.m. So, when Ryan so graciously agreed to drive us to our Rehearsal Lunch venue and Rochelle again, used her GPS skills, we thought we were good. We arrived in the general area, Seaport Village, us three ladies unloaded about 50 pounds worth of decorations and we were off (on foot) to Busters. sidenote- Jo said it was just up ahead. So,about ten minutes of walking later, dripping sweat and on the verge of dropping our centerpieces in the middle of the road, I kind of nicely asked Jo, "Do you know where it is?" to which she replied "Yes Danielle I know where it is, just not from right here." Okaaaaay. We'll call that bachelorette remnant #1. Ha Ha! Though that was funny, the point of the story is this: There are still kind people in the world. Moments away from meltdown (me) a kind stranger offered to take my box from me... about 10 feet later another group of college students stopped in their tracks and took the rest of our things and we all paraded through Seaport Village. I couldn't help from snapping a few pictures to capture my shock and joy!

Lesson: Be a kind stranger, you never know just how much you could be blessing someone!

We arrived safe and sound with plenty of time to decorate, set out the amazing starfish cookies (compliments of my uber talented cousin Janelle) and for me to change my entire outfit due to the hot and sweaty walk around Seaport Village.

Mom and Dad Herig threw a beautiful, special, huge (100 people big) and delicious Rehearsal Lunch to celebrate Mitch and Lyn.

The view would be hard to match.

So would Elle's antics. Including getting stuck by her head in the highchair and crying for one hour until she fell asleep in the corner.

With a lot of help from the above lady's husband, Kurt and I created a slideshow for our Sis and Bro. We wanted it to be special. We wanted them to feel loved. We wanted others to see what a perfect match they are. Thanks Ryan for your advise and Cheers Mitch and Lyn to a love worth waiting for!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJXtX_lKt0E&w=560&h=349]

Ava would not let the afternoon go by without a picture with each guest of honor. Even the little ones could sense that this day was the beginning of a very special weekend. The afternoon was highlighted by the many kind words offered to the bride and groom on the eve of their Big Day! It was apparent how much they are loved by their friends and family. I cried. I'd like to blame this on the Bachelorette Night (ya know, being tired and overwhelmed) but let's be honest, I cried every time I rehearsed what I would say. I had decided to keep it short and sweet- not lose it in front of a room full of people. Then I got up there and figured, if ever there was a time to cry for these 2 this is it. So I cried- not the pretty kind.

On a much lighter note. Evey time I look at this picture I think WTF on many different levels. So I will briefly explain, for the sake of remembering. I got sweaty on my walk. The spankx underwear I was wearing was giving me a stomachache. I asked Kurt to bring me a new outfit (dress, belt, shoes). I went to the bathroom to change. I realized that now I didn't have any undies. I just went with it, despite feeling very breezy in this flowy dress. Kev walks up to me and asks how big my purse is? "What? Why?" He said his friend just returned a pair of his underwear to him (why that friend had his underwear and why they were being returned at the Rehearsal Lunch oddly never came up) and he didn't know what to do with them. I asked the only pressing question, "Are they clean?" He said yes. I asked to wear them. He said sure. And that, my friends, is Bachelorette Night remnant #2!

I couldn't resist just one Friends quote for my baby brother who might just love those Friends as much as me ;-)

Chandler: You look great. I'm so glad we're having this rehearsal dinner, you know, I so rarely get to practice my meals before I eat them.

Phoebe: Okay, what did we say was your one gift to us?

Chandler: No stupid jokes. I thought that was for the actual wedding.

Phoebe: Rehearse it!

Following the Lunch we headed to the venue (where we had the pleasure of waking up each morning of wedding weekend) to rehearse. Have you ever seen such a view? Or so many handsome dudes? (Dads, Groom, and Groomsmen)

It was just begging for pictures to be taken.

There was even a hot tub on site! Our girl was loving our home last week! Kurt too. I can't remember the reason for his face in the last picture. Maybe he was remembering that we'd have to come home.

JoJo's Granola, Roche's lap, being fed morsel by chocolate morsel- Elle was in heaven!

Oh, the lanterns. Ava was delighted. "Mom, it's like Tangled!"

Everyone sat on this hill for hours- seriously hours the night before the wedding. Beautiful.

let the good times roll: Herig-Wedding part 1

2011-07-20T10:12:00.001-06:00

I'm going to cover this wedding in 3 parts. We all know I have a hard time focusing and to be honest, I really don't want to. This wedding week was fab beginning to end and I want to remember it all! So here goes with part uno:

Albuquerque International Sunport: Tuesday July 12, 2011...

The wedding we'd been anticipating for 16 months was finally upon us. WHAT!?!? Couldn't believe it was finally here and we were all smiles!

Answered prayer number one: A not full flight allowing us to bring on our car-seat and strap our baby down. Though the plan to keep her strapped in lasted about as long as it takes to unwrap a stick of gum, we felt heard nonetheless. Flying is not fun with our girl, Elle. That flight was bad. But it wasn't until the return flight that Kurt and I committed to staying grounded for at least one full year. It was straight crying take off to landing with plenty of thrashing and throwing along the way. People hated us. Wouldn't make eye contact after. It was bad. But I didn't cry and I'm proud of that.

Fast forward to day 2, aka Bachelor Party in Vegas.

Ava-"Bye Dad! Drink lots of water!" (yes she really said this, I'd probably said it about 15 times in the previous two days)

Heading out. Ready to party. great.

Sorenson and Turri boys going off duty for 24 hours (well, it ended up being more like 30- but who's counting?)

The before picture. Nobody looked quite so peppy when we saw them again. There are quite a lot of holes in our photo library regarding the Bachelor Party, but the verbal commentary has been quite amusing. Especially trying to get 17 versions to add up!

Though we don't know much about the happenings on the car ride we do know that somehow the father of the groom got talked into completing the "Hangover" vision by upgrading to this ↑ suite at Planet Hollywood. We also know that only one dude ended up sleeping in those 500 square feet...

Pool time. Mitch canon-balled into a group of young ladies. A Herig brother swim race- butterfly no less. Couldn't get an overwhelming majority on who won.

These pool pics are the last visuals I have been provided. They did have fun. They did some drinking. That's all I know.

While the boys were away we had some fun of our own! Swimming.

Walking that led to shopping that that led to crying that led to ice cream cones at 10:30 am. At Ghirardelli. And the girls weren't the only ones who indulged.

These are my sweet cousins who swooped in to man the girls when the 'Hangover" Bachelor Party ran a little longer than anticipated...

My grandpa and the babies.

Elle and Joge.

Ava and cousin Oliver.

Us girls. Roche was our lifesaver over the course of this weekend. This particular night she was solely responsible for us finding our family BBQ. GPS-ing is one of her many gifts. I will also be mentioning repeatedly how she cared for the girls day and nights throughout the wedding festivities to come. Our Turri family was priceless in getting our Sorenson family where we needed to be, loving our girls and making us laugh through it all.

And then it was our turn. HELLOOOOO Bachelorette!

Dang Bachelorette Party crasher. Jk- I loved the moment for a picture with my little bro.

Lynley and her big sis (Maid of Honor) Kelsey.

Some Lyn Lovin'.

Mitch and his Mama.

My girl and I enjoying a baby free evening. At this point though I was still hoping that Kurt had made it home from his wild night to our babies and oh so curious what went down ;-)

No bachelorette evening would be complete without some 'goodies' . There was lingerie, things that smelled good, things that vibrated, things that burned,things that tingled, a candle with a tiny spoon inside (?!), some 5-hour energy drink, and much much more. Our grandmas were there. Our mom's were there. Some out of that select group were responsible for the craziest treats. Alene's (Lyn's Mom) laugh in that pic is priceless!

Have you ever seen so much Bachelorette Love? Our group of hot women just kept filing in!

Stop #2 after our 2 hour cocktail hour was the Shout House in downtown San Diego. A dueling piano bar that offered us much more fun than we anticipated! We had reserved front row seats...

...and plenty of drinks to go around!

This lady in black was NOT from our group but another bachelorette celebrating at the next table over with her girlfriends.

The looks of sheer 'OMG' and shock coming from the ladies at this table are in response to the "Bachelorette Dance" that the 2 above bachelorettes put on for us. I will not be sharing the video. But I will say: Lyn, you've got some moves! ;-)

In true Lyn form she smiled the night away.

We all danced and sang.

Made Lyn take shots with raunchy names.

I think that I will keep a few things that happened on our girls night under wraps... let those Bachelors sweat it out.

And that concludes Herig-Wedding part ONE! Oh and Elle learned how to get that little pointer finger up in response to our , "Elle, how old are you?"

She even made a sound that I'm just sure in her little head means ONE!

aaaannnd we're off

2011-07-12T08:47:00.001-06:00

San Diego bound with just the 'necessities' for Herig-wedding week!

Does this song make anyone else feel festive? Oh, it's just me?... Well sorry in advance for those partying in our room this week ~ I might play this a time or two ;-)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wjFahULCK8&w=560&h=349]

a baby shower

2011-07-11T05:56:00.000-06:00

I was blessed to be invited to share in the baby showering of my sis-in-law Jess this weekend! If you don't know Jess, you should meet her. Her smile is huge and inviting and her heart is even bigger. As we all gathered around the living room to offer a quick prayer before we snacked and mingled, I witnessed the most amazing outpouring of love. What was in my mind surely going to be a 15 second blessing over the food turned into woman after beautiful woman praying, encouraging and loving Jess and the sweet boy in her tummy. I was pushed to tears as I listened to this diverse and unconnected group of family and friends - young and old - as they offered prayers and praise for the young mom we were all there to celebrate. My heart swelled as I looked at this sister of mine humbly accepting the esteem of so many. Jess, you are an amazing woman. A spiritual inspiration. God is using you. Using you just as you are to bring others closer to Him.

This shower was so special, filled to the brim with love and excitement over this baby. Baby P, you are a long awaited miracle in our family and we are already fighting over squeezing you.

She's got that glow, don't cha think?

So many thoughtful details...Yummy food and drink in a lovely home... Oh, and I tried a Keurig for the first time. I want one. BAD.

Jess, you did great opening your mountain of gifts! I remember sweating profusely and maybe even shedding a tear or two at my shower during gift time ;-)

Diaper cakes. I am so baffled and intrigued by them. My goal is to make one before the year is out.

Alright dude, at least 5 more weeks and you're free to join us! Can't wait!

i heart summer

2011-07-08T10:45:00.000-06:00

This picture is just begging me to document some 'gifts'... girls. summertime. hot hot hot weather. splashing. laughing. a Pop and Jo that make joy possible, always. beauty in the undone, unfinished, un-ready. setting an example. embracing roles. wet hugs. long naps. taking a moment to remember the gifts.

_________________________________________________________________________________

San Diego, we are ready for fun in the sun, ocean views, family, friends, swimming, a quick trip to Vegas, a wild night out on the town, rehearsing, eating, drinking, playing, laughing, cleaning up real nice, getting beautiful, probably some happy tears and

WEDDING TIME!!!

Photos by K. Mari Photography

diy backsplash

2011-07-06T10:39:00.000-06:00

Here's how it went:

House Hunting. See a kitchen with a glass tile backsplash. It was bright and bold and beautiful and I wanted to buy the house for that reason alone. Obsess about it. End up buying a different house. It doesn't have a backsplash. Love the new house, especially the kitchen. Still obsessed about backsplashes. Decide to save up some money and have one put in.

Many months later:

Happy hour with our friends the Sloans. Backsplash talk. Early morning Lowe's run to buy some odds and ends. See this:

Buy it. Spend Sunday DIY-ing our tile backsplash. Realize we are not handy. Grouting is hard. Learn that they write the directions the way they write them for a reason. Decide, "Oh well it looks fine" on countless occasions throughout the day. Step back. Kind of far. LOVE.

We have decided that we wouldn't do it again. It was pretty messy and a little tricky. We are so happy that we did it.

dirty girl

2011-07-03T06:41:00.000-06:00

Elle is messy. Very. The only place she is content these days is her high chair and every time she's done in there she is so unbelievably messy that she needs a rinse- head to toe. The other day, at the end of my rope with our dirty girl, I threw her in the sink. She was in love. Gross. I couldn't decide if this was OK or not but something tells me it's not a great idea. I haven't done it again since. But, every time Elle glances the sink she claws at it trying to climb in. Ha. Well, maybe I'll keep this one in my back pocket for a crazy day.

In the future we'll be sticking with this kind of bath. I think.

herig wedding: bon voyage

2011-07-01T04:51:00.000-06:00

The wedding countdown is officially on! We had a delish Bon Voyage dinner last night to send our little bro and sis off on their Pre-Moon (that's a Honeymoon before the BIG DAY) in Mexico! We are rolling quickly toward the San Diego Event and are all getting SO excited!

Have so much Cabo fun kids!

We love you!

my talented family: part 2

2011-06-28T14:12:00.000-06:00

Meet my Mom, Jocelyn Herig, a.k.a. 'JoJo' of

"JoJo's Gluten Free Granola was created for my family. Our on-the-go, active lifestyle motivated me to make a healthy and delicious snack for everyone. It's high quality ingredients provide sustained energy as well as many additional healthful benefits. Eat it at breakfast or anytime for the perfect snack. There are 2 flavors of JoJo's: "Choconola" and "Nutter Butter Berry". The ingredients include gluten free oats, almond butter or peanut butter, sliced almonds or cashews, organic agave nectar, 70% dark chocolate, a bit of cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of sea salt. It is conveniently packaged in a 4 oz. size for your purse, workout bag or lunchbox and a 12 oz. bag for the whole family or all your workout buddies! The ziploc packaging will keep it fresh and ready to go." -JoJo

JoJo's Gluten Free Granola↓

Her recent venture... selling her delicious granola to the public! If you know JoJo, you know that she has been perfecting her granola recipe for years. She has always kept her latest creation on her kitchen counter in a big jar and we all snacked and weighed in on taste, texture, ingredients, names. We likely critiqued it to death (poor Jo), but it is safe to say that these days we don't have ANYTHING left but praise. It became a staple in her home, a source of comfort in the kitchen and fame for Jo as we all brought friends over for a taste and gifted relatives with it for holidays. She has been asked begged to send huge batches to many military men overseas in the last few years and has generously sent people home with large bags full after they can't seem to get enough while visiting her home. When it got the point where there were no kinks to work out and we were all sneaking over to steal bags and bags of the granola to eat, share with friends, hoard and gift others with, she decided it might just be worth it to offer it to a larger audience. JoJo's Granola was born this summer and it's first sales venue is the Downtown Growers Market in Albuquerque!

You can find her at the Downtown Growers Market (located @Robinson Park at 8th & Central) every Saturday from 7-Noon

2 Awesome flavors, Choconola (dark chocolate granola) and Nutter Butter Berry (nut and berry granola)

Both recipes made with organic ingredients and GLUTEN-FREE

Sold in 2 convenient sizes

Have a free sample to decide which to buy when you visit her at the Market

Order it online at JoJo'sGranola.com (Coming Soon)

june in full swing

2011-06-27T04:53:00.000-06:00

Not only does June hold the date of Elle's birth, Father's Day and me and Kurt's anniversary, but my Mom and his Dad have birthdays just one day apart. June is PARTY TIME around here! We've had eating out, BBQ-ing, desserts and gifts coming out our ears and it's been fun fun FUN!

We got to celebrate JoJo and Grandpa this week!

We are so blessed with parents who are so active in our lives. They are always around to grab a quick cup of coffee or a beer. To go shopping or to Fudd's. To talk or email. We do not question for a single second that these 2 parents of ours would be, in a seconds notice, wherever we invite them to be. We love you Jo and Dad! Happy Happy Birthday!

Love, Dani and Kurt

On the food front:

I LOVE summer BBQ food! Inspired by my favorite current appetizer at Savoy, we grilled up some bread with olive oil and sea salt.

Kurt (yes Kurt!) made Hummus. Garbanzo beans, olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin and paprika on top.

I diced grape tomatoes, pecorino romano cheese, salami, baby bell peppers, red onion and kalamata olives then dressed it in this Giada De Laurentiis red wine vinaigrette.

It was good. So, if you invite us to a BBQ this summer you'll likely get to try this one ;-)

Looking for a yummy, hold on - YUMMY - dessert? Head over to Farina for some Butterscotch Budino. A delicious, not too sweet butterscotch pudding with caramel sauce and a little sea salt crunch. SOOOOO not my usual dessert craving but after my courtesy bite, I could not stop my spoon from diving in again and again. While you're there better try the Chicken Cesar Salad (a special that was so good I think I'll call in to the owner this week and beg him to put it on the menu) . . . it had the most AMAZING croutons, herb rubbed chicken and avocado. If you have room after that, maybe throw in a Carni Curate Pizza (well, if you really really like meat).

Can anyone tell I'm hungry this morning?

And...

She got it! We've got a toddling walker. One month from her first step and she pretty much prefers walking over crawling. She falls a lot. She cries a lot. But when she has a good run she is oh-so-proud of herself! :-)