San Diego Zoo!!!!!

This past weekend we got to go to the zoo (thanks to Aunt Donna and Uncle Steve) with Jordan and Chad. What a fun day to spend with the animals! We saw it all...pandas, polar bears, giraffes, snakes, and Katin's favorite...elephants.

If you are ever visiting Southern California the San Diego Zoo is not a place to miss. It's....what's the word I'm looking for...pristine! It's so clean and well planned....you definitely seem to enter into the world of the animal at which you're gazing. I'd go again!

We had a great day...thanks Jordan and Chad!!!

Seriously Scrumptious

I made these the other day. You'll definitely need a glass of milk. Make them! You won't be disappointed!

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

(you don't even have to use a mixer...just a good old fashioned wooden spoon!)

Recipe from Natasha via Pinterest

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup + 3 tbsp plain flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a few trays with baking paper.

In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to mix together the soft butter, brown sugar, salt and baking soda until it is completely combined. Add vanilla and mix. Then add egg and mix until creamy. Add flour. Mix. Add chocolate chips. Mix. Drop ping pong ball sized dough droplets onto lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. In my oven it's 8 minutes and 10 seconds.

What I Wore Wednesday

It's Wednesday! But boy has it been a pajama day!!! The only reason Katin got dressed was because Grandma had to take off her pj's when she had to go poo poo (yep, on the potty!) and the only reason I got dressed was because I had to take Aubrey to the doctor. Aubrey is still not dressed. And I'm pretty sure Thomas wouldn't be dressed either had it not been for work. Although, now that I think about it...all his work clothes were in the laundry. I wonder what he wore?

Now don't get me wrong...we have pajama days often. But today is Wednesday. I actually get dressed on Wednesdays. It's BSF day. It's a day where I can actually put together an outfit. Maybe next week....

Last night we ended up in the emergency room...I mean THROW ME A FREAKING BONE HERE THIS PLACE TAKES FOREVER THOMAS IS ACTUALLY GROWING A BEARD AND KATIN IS A TEENAGER room..... Let's just say it wasn't speedy. Anyway, Aubrey broke out into a full blown all over her body rash. We think now it was from her medicine she was taking for an ear infection. Poor girl...she's been through a lot of poking and prodding. I hope she'll get a break for a little while.

So as for today goes...and my not getting dressed really...I had an "aha" moment as a mommy.

I used to think....well, another thing to deal with. But it's not really another thing to deal with when you have kids. It's ALWAYS something to deal with and if there is a day where you don't deal with something...that, my friends, is an odd day. Not a day like yesterday. Or the mishap Mondays. Or the day when Aubrey pooped all over herself. Or the day when Katin literally ran into the wall. Or the day when I washed Thomas's camera lens. (yea, more on that later.)

No...those days are normal. I'll let you know when I have a not-so-normal day.

A Colorado New Year :: Part 4

Family

There is something so loving and awesome about that word "family". It makes me smile when I say it. I often get teary-eyed thinking about my family...the family here or there...because I know that wherever I am I miss someone. A lot. But I'm also confident that wherever I am I will be near family...someone.

I'm pretty sure Thomas and I have the best families around! And we are so thankful for the times we get to spend with everyone. His family or my family...it's OUR family and we love being with them! (And let's be honest, we have family in two of the most beautiful places!)

Thanks for the fun times and good memories Milburns!!

(and I have to give credit to Stephen for taking that awesome family photo above)

peek a boo!

A Colorado New Year :: Part 3

Snowshoe and Friends

Thankfully, Thomas got to become one with the mountains again...at least for a little while. He really loves those Rocky mountains...what's not to love!? I'm so glad for him that he was able to get outside and go snowshoeing with some of his family. While up in Estes Park, we were each in charge of planning an activity. To no one's surprise, Stephen and Monica planned a snowshoe adventure through the RMNP guide and all! So off they went.

We also got to spend time with some dear friends while we were in CO. What a blessing they are...all of them! It's so nice to be around such amazing men and women who love each other, love the Lord and love US! It's good to feel loved, right?! And although Katin wasn't able to see her friends who she talks about every. single. night. before bed (Emma, Addie, Brody, Chloe) her daddy got to see their daddy which is always very encouraging. We'll have to meet up in CA next time you're here!

We love the Mercers!!!

Thanks to Lindsay for hosting us...Ali, Sarah, Laura, Kim and Shaina)

We even got to see the beloved Bucknams...ALL of them!

Until Part 4 (yes, there is a part 4)....

A Colorado New Year :: Part 2

Family Sledding

We found a great sledding hill at the YMCA near our cabin so we all bundled up and grabbed the sleds and headed to the hill. It hadn't snowed in a while so the snow was a bit icy, but that made it even more fun.....faster for sure! Katin and Miriam had a great time...could have gone up and down that hill all day. But if someone were dragging me up a hill in a sled, I'd go all day too :)

Aunt Monica and Miriam

Shelby, Heather, Miriam and Monica ready to sled!

Daddy and Katin...zoom zoom...

The cousins...they went down all by themselves!

Papa and Miriam

Cool video...takes too long to upload :)

Mommy and Daddy

Shelby and I

Great memories made!

A Colorado New Year :: Part 1

Snowball and Sledding Attempt

A few days after Christmas, we boarded a plane and flew to Colorado to visit with family and friends. We miss Colorado....whenever we are there both Thomas and I feel a longing in our soul to someday return to that dry but beautiful land...that clean crisp air....that not-as-much-traffic road...that community of friends...that place that feels like home.

But, for now we are loving life here in California....our other home.

So, for part one of our trip we have "First snowball and Sledding". We spent most of our time hanging out in Boulder (where Katin found her first snowball), but for a few nights all the Milburns got together to ring in the New Year up in Estes Park. We stayed in one giant cabin and had a blast! This is where we tried sledding in the backyard where there really wasn't enough snow. Later, we found a great sledding hill...pictures to come :)