Update!

Well, it has been a while.  I have been really terrible at keeping up to date and I have a great excuse!  

In the past couple of months, Eden has weaned, potty trained, turned two and will be moving to a big girl (twin) bed this weekend!  With all these big milestones happening in our little home there has been little time for blogging.  

Eden has another big milestone coming up, too!  She is going to be a big sister in the late Spring! Mama has been a little sick, but the nausea seems to be getting better and hopefully the exhaustion will pass soon, too!

So, I am not making any promises, but I will try to be a better blogger!

Milestones

Well, folks, Eden is officially a big girl.  She will be 2 in a week and just last week she stopped wearing diapers!  Eden is using the potty!  She is moving to her big girl bed very soon and the transformation from baby to big will be complete!

She'll always be my baby.  This is so bittersweet...

I'm a Football Widow...

Well, that time of year is upon us once again.  It's the time of year where every Saturday (and Thursday night and truly, all the days in between), Brandon indulges in his passion.  College Football.  Seriously, he eats, breathes and lives it.  So, Daddy, Eden and I will miss you over the next few months.  See you in 2009!  I am sure you can hear about it all from his perspective over at What's Up With B?

Eden and I do try to get into it a little bit and the whole family got "geared up" for the first Husker game of the season.  Eden liked the pom-poms and may have a future as a Husker cheerleader.  You decide!

Jumping...

Twirling...

Shaking her pom-poms...

...and the big finish!

Ali shares my enthusiasm when it comes to football!

I thought I would invite you all over to check out another blog.  A friend and I have started up a sewing "bee."  We are trying to help along some gals who want to learn to sew.  Come check us out at The Sewing Bee!  Here is a pic of Eden and her buddy Evelyn being cute at the last "bee."

I am SO domestic!

I made yogurt!

This past week, I decided to try making yogurt.  I had heard how easy it is and how much money you can save making your own.  Since Eden eats her weight in yogurt about every 4 days, I knew I had to see what all the hype was about.

I tried Wednesday and failed miserably.  I think it was due to not keeping the temperature consistently warm during the incubation phase.  So, I tried again Thursday and it was a rousing success!  It is seriously, the best yogurt I have ever tasted and I don't think I can go back to store bought!!

A Flair for Fashion!

One of the things they don't tell you about having little ones is that there is a constant turnover in the wardrobe department.  I can't seem to make the girl stop growing!  We were sorting through Eden's dresser (as we do about once a month), putting away outgrown summer clothes and evaluating the fall clothing situation and Eden found this dazzling combo!  Notice the boots!  She wore them long after the coat and hat came off- with only a diaper!  In case you are wondering why she is standing in front of the microwave with a sand bucket, Eden uses this bucket to tote around food.  It has several "names" depending on the food she wants at a particular time.  She will bring the empty bucket to me and say "cheese bucket?" or as the case was in this photo..."popcorn bucket?" 

Loft Mountain- July 2008

We had our first tent camping trip of the year last weekend. It was a wonderful time with friends in the Shenandoah National Park. We drove up Friday morning (yes, in the Civic!) and arrived at Loft Mountain campground around lunchtime.

On our way up Skyline Drive, we saw this little guy crossing the road. Unfortunately, we weren't quite fast enough with the camera. We did get a shot as he slipped into the forest.

Our massive tent! Home away from home!

Brandon taking a break from building our weekend home!

Boomer wasted no time getting stung by some woodland bug. His eye and lip swelled.

Poor boy!

Evelyn taking a break!

Eden loved snuggling Cooper the great dane!

Enjoying the campfire!

This big guy came right through our campsite! No fear of humans in the park!

We chose a hike based on the description that it was easy. It was a 1.8 mile hike from Ivy Spring Overlook to Ivy Spring. It only took us a short while to decide that the hike was not going to be easy enough for the little ones and we put the toddlers in carriers. The part we weren't prepared for was the part where Boomer's knee gave out. We were only about 1/4 mile into the hike and Brandon had to take Boomer back to the car. He is still recovering. Cooper also managed to tear his pad on one of his paws.

Brandon, before he left us.

The view at an overlook while hiking.

Amy and Eden.

Playing and having lunch at Ivy Creek.

Eden was worn out on the trip home. She put her silk over her head (presumably to play hide and seek) and put her sunglasses overtop! Within minutes, she was asleep!

What a wonderful trip! I am ready to get out there again! Anyone want to go camping?

July 4th

We spent the 4th at my cousin's wedding.  It was a beautiful event at Berkeley Plantation and we really enjoyed ourselves!  Eden did too!  She loved the band and danced her little heiny off!

Little Eden all dressed up for a garden party!

The happy couple...

Casey and Jennifer Stockdon

The incredible band!

Hamburger James

Casey played a little bit with the band...

while his bride "cut the rug"!