August 17th

August 17^th – that is the day that will take forever to arrive. That is the day we will sign the papers to once again be homeowner's. We went out house hunting on Monday evening. I didn't really have my hopes up because we've seen so many houses and none really caught our eye. We looked at three houses that night. We both loved the first one. As soon as we got home from looking at the houses we called our realtor up and told her we would like to make an offer on the house. It is a multi-level home (4 total levels), 2 car garage, and almost 2500 sq. ft. It has 3 bedrooms upstairs and one in the basement, three living rooms, 1 full bathroom and 2 that are ¾. There are nice hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining room and one of the living rooms and a nice size deck off of the dining room. There is also surround sound in the 2 lower living rooms (selling point for Mike – hahahaha), the entire house is finished which is so nice. We've looked at so many houses that had at least one level unfinished. There is a nice shed in the backyard and enough room for a swing set. I don't think a lot of things will need to be done in the house either – there is wallpaper in the kitchen and dining room that will need to be removed and the main bathroom might need to be painted eventually. The neighborhood seems really nice too. We saw some little kids running around so I think Logan will have some kids a little older to play with. Another bonus – it is 0.7 miles from my Mom & Dad's.

Our realtor came over that night and we wrote up an offer. The next morning (Tuesday) we got a call from her. Another offer was going to be coming in that day and she wanted to know if we wanted to change ours. (We had offered them 10k below their asking point and 3k in closing costs.) We decided to change our offer, hoping that it would make them choose us. Later that afternoon Joy (our realtor) called and said their realtor had called and wanted just some general information about us. Joy told her we had recently moved back to the area and had an almost 2 year old son. I guess the seller's were trying to decide which one of us would make a good "fit" in the neighborhood. They have a larger family (4 young kids). I'm not sure what exactly made them choose us but I'm sure Logan had something to do with it. I guess he isn't just useful during tax season ;) Hahahaha!

The inspection for the home is tomorrow so as long as that goes well the only thing left to do is get our financing finished up. Then the wait begins!

Friday Funny

This video was taken when we got our first Betta fish. We now have 2 Betta's (one male, one female - in separate bowls), 2 snails (in with the male Betta), a guppy and 2 ghost shrimp (in with the female Betta). Logan still says hi to the fish almost daily and loves to give them "kisses" (by kissing the fish bowl).

Weekend (and Monday) Update

Saturday we went to the zoo with Taylor. It was Children's Day there (which we didn't know about); they had different activities for the kids to do along with prizes for them to win. Of course I didn't bring my camera with L They also had a fire truck that the kids could sit in AND they had the hoses out. Logan got to help a fireman put out a "fire" – I wish I could have gotten a picture of him holding the hose.

After the zoo we went out to lunch and then stopped and had cheesecake. It was so yummy! I had a slice of chocolate malt, Mike had caramel Oreo cookie, and Taylor had a slice of the turtle one. Next time I'm definitely getting the caramel Oreo J Once we were done with lunch we came home so Logan could nap. We were hoping to go to the waterpark once he woke up but it was raining and lightning out so the park was closed. Hopefully we can go next weekend or one night this week.

Sunday was Father's Day so we took Mike out to lunch at his favorite BBQ restaurant. After lunch we tried (unsuccessfully) to get Logan down for a nap. He simply refused to go down! It was my Grandpa's 81^st birthday on Sunday so we went to the party for a bit. Logan enjoyed running around with his cousin and playing the piano with Uncle Taylor. It was so muggy out though that we didn't stay for long.

Monday was my big day – it was my first day back to work since Logan was 2 months old! I was so nervous and worried that I wouldn't enjoy myself. I'm not sure what I was thinking though since I'll be surrounded by books. I've already got a list forming in my head of what I must buy. Some really cool things about my job:

-30% discount on merchandise

-50% discount in the café

-they have a book loan program for employees which means I can borrow any hardcover book for up to 2 weeks and as long as it's returned in good condition I don't have to buy it. I can see my reading skyrocketing already!!

-the manager has been great and so willing to give me a great schedule. For the next 3 weeks I'll be working 3 nights/week. This will help me save up some money for my upcoming trip to Cannon Beach! She has been so flexible with scheduling me on days that I would prefer and when I told her I would need a week off at the end of July she had no problem with that at all.

-Last night was mainly paperwork and reading but because of my banking experience she wants me to help count the cash drawers at the end of the night. She mentioned several times that she thinks I'm going to do great. I even helped a customer find a book last night J

That's it for my updates for now. I work on Wednesday and Friday this week – wish me luck!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Thank you for chasing me at the diesalaur park and showing me how to go down the slide.

Thank you for sharing your ice cream with me.

Thank you for letting me drink your pop.

Thank you for letting me sit in your chair at the dinner table.

Thank you for reading my favorite book again and again.....and again.

Thank you for running through the Elmo sprinkler with me and showing me how much fun the water is.

Thank you for playing in my castle with me.

Thank you for letting me help you fix things around the house.

Thank you for letting me drive my cars, trucks, tractors and boats all over you.

Thank you for being the best Daddy I could ever ask for. I love you!!

Love,

Logan

Friday Funny

Beautiful Weekend

We had a nice weekend. We spent Saturday morning at our hometown's annual celebration. Logan had a fun time watching the parade. He loved the tractors, horses, and especially the fire trucks. He wasn't too sure about it though when they threw the candy. He would just look at it and yell "Mess! Clean it up!!" So Mike got to pick up the candy for him. There were 2 little girls sitting by us that were kind enough to give Logan some of their candy too so he made a pretty good haul.

After that we headed up to the lake cabin. My Mom, Dad, brother, Aunt, Uncle and 2 cousins were already up there. It was a gorgeous day by the water. Logan enjoyed looking at the fish that Grandpa, Uncle Ernie, and Hunter caught. In the afternoon it got pretty warm out so we hooked up Logan's Elmo sprinkler and he had a blast running through it. He was soaked head to toe! He went to bed that night without a single peep. Sunday we decided to have a water balloon toss fight. I'll post the video of it on Friday. I think everyone ended up pretty wet but it felt nice in the 80* weather!

7 Years

Last Sunday Mike & I celebrated our 7 year anniversary. We went to Wild Hogs – it was freakin' hilarious!! There were times during the movie that I was crying because I was laughing so hard! J After the movie we had a nice dinner at Red Lobster. Auntie Shelia was nice enough to watch Logan and he had a blast playing with the dogs and the kitty and "helping" her mow a little of the lawn.

Mike got me one of the best gifts that I could have asked for – he bought me a plane ticket! So even though I have moved out of the Seattle area I still get to go on the SSBM getaway trip with about 7 other blogging friends. I am so excited!! We will be going to Cannon Beach, OR for 4 days in July. It should be a blast! I've met 2 of the gals in real-life (Christina and Danna) and simply cannot wait to meet the others! Becca is kind enough to pick me up at the airport and let me crash at her place before I fly back home on Monday. I've already started a list of things to buy while I'm back out on the West Coast. My number one place to visit will of course be Trader Joe's. It will, I'm sure, be a trip that I will never forget! Thank you Mike for this great gift – I love you with all my heart!!

Friday Funny

This video was taken about a month ago. Listen carefully to Logan's new vocabulary - I love how he says "yellow"!!

Saysy!

Remember how I told you that my Aunt Shelia had taught Logan how to say sexy, only he pronounces it saysy. Yeah, imagine how embarrassing it would be if he were to say it to a complete stranger when they have shorts on. That is what our great little guy did to Mike while they went out to get some stuff for Mommy for Easter. I guess they were walking out of Best Buy when Logan spotted a lady wearing a skirt. He looked at her and said "saysy" – thankfully (for Mike's sake) she didn't understand/hear him so Mike was not arrested that day for lewd behavior. I thought it was hilarious and laughed and laughed and laughed. I should have known better since karma does come back around. We were out for a walk about a week later and coming towards on the walking path was an older gentleman wearing shorts that were much too short for anyone to wear. Logan repeatedly repeated "saysy, saysy, saysy" as he was coming closer and closer. We were saved yet again though since he didn't understand/hear what Logan was saying.

We have been worried with summer weather fast approaching that Logan would be repeating this incessantly but we have lucked out. He no longer feels the need to point out when someone is "showing their saysy"…….all the time. He will still point to his sexy though if you ask him too. J And for some reason the Old Navy commercial (where they're all lounging around the pool) sets him off too. He'll just watch it and say "saysy".

Working Girl

Well, it's official. I have a job – outside the home. I got the call on Thursday. Unfortunately, I don't start until the 18^th though. I decided to get a part-part-time job working in retail once again. It's a way for me to hopefully meet some people in the area and make a little bit of money. I think it will also be nice for Mike & Logan, they'll get to spend some time without Mommy around constantly. I'll be working at a bookstore (pretty much the only one) in the area. The only part I'm worried about is spending all (or more) of what I make at the job. I LOVE books, but this should also help me branch out on my reading.

I'm not sure how many hours I'll be getting right away; I don't think it will be that many during the summer. But the manager did say that I should be able to get more hours once fall and the holidays come around. I'm hoping to work 2 or 3 nights a week and a weekend every once in a while. I think this will be a nice change to our family and hopefully will make me a little more patient with Logan.

Chchchchanges

You might have noticed some new changes on the blog. I wanted to switch things up a little bit. I now have a new blog banner at the top that showcases our littleman in his finest, I also have a guest map that I hope everyone marks, and I have a new photo album on the left sidebar. I hope you all enjoy the changes – have a great day!!

June Recipes

I'm finally updating my recipes. I hope to get back into posting new recipes now that we are once again settled in a place. I hope you all enjoy the recipes!

Deluxe Sour Cream Chicken

(courtesy of allrecipes.com)

This recipe is so easy to make – cook up some bacon and throw everything in a pan and you're good to go!

18 slices bacon (1 pack)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 (16 oz.) container sour cream

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pork chops also work well)

Cook bacon over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels. Preheat oven to 350*. Place chicken in a 9x13" baking dish and cover each breast with bacon (I usually chop it up). In a large bowl combine the soup and sour cream. Mix together and pour over chicken; spread out evenly. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes.

This is great with mashed potatoes.

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

(courtesy of Philadelphia cream cheese)

This recipe is so easy to make and so, so yummy!

20 caramels

3 Tbsp. milk

½ cup pecans (or any favorite nut)

9" graham cracker crumb crust

2 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

½ cup sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

Microwave caramels and milk in small bowl on high 2 minutes or until smooth, stirring every minute. Stir in pecans; pour into crust. Refrigerate 10 minutes.

Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix until blended. Pour over caramel mixture.

Bake at 350* for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Garnish with pecan halves and caramel sauce.

Cream Cheese Cookies

Another simple recipe – only 5 ingredients!!

1 – 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

¼ cup butter or margarine, softened

1 box of cake mix (any flavor or brownie mix is good too)

1 egg yolk

¼ tsp. vanilla or almond extract

Cream together butter and cream cheese. Blend in egg yolk and vanilla. Gradually beat in cake mix. Dough will be stiff. Cover & chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets, drop dough onto sheets (teaspoon size). Bake 8-10 minutes or until firm. Cool on wire rack.