...the next top chef???...

::sigh:: Another oldie. These pictures are from Thanksgiving!!! Who.am.I?!

I'm known to do some crazy baking during Thanksgiving...it's the only time of the year when I desperately want a KitchenAid Mixer! ::sigh:: I've been wanting to do some baking with Jude...but the thought of the mess he could quite possibly create kinda stressed me out! This year...I had him pull up a little stool and get right in on the action! He first helped me make Snickerdoodles. It was Jude's job to take the cookie balls and roll them in the cinnamon/sugar. He did a really good job- actually...he was WAY quicker than I could keep up with!

















Later on, however...I had a bowl of some dry ingredients in a bowl setting out...I needed more of something or other...and I noticed that Jude isn't around...and he's terribly quiet... homeslice decided he'd help speed some things along and had the measuring spoons FILLED with the flour stuff! Thankfully he didn't make much of a mess...and honestly...it was just TOO cute! ;)

...TN...

Shameful... This post was from October...when we went to TN...I recall posting some about being in TN...but didn't ever post any pictures.

Soooo...before I post my pictures...here are my Top 10 memories of TN2010:
10. Driving to the waterfall...we drove through several counties and I was smooshed between the two carseats in the back...it.was.super.

9. Introducing Emme Ann to her Great Grandma Patt... who she gets her middle name from!

8. Watching Emme play with Remy...Jordan's dog...she's kiiiiiinda obsessed!

7. Faux-date night w /Derrick. (Thanks Aunt Liz for watching the kids!) DLo and I went to meet one of Derrick's old friends from AZ COG days...we met up at some yogurt shop and then went to Aaron's work- which was across the street- to see the studio...

6. Watching Jude play outside! Homeboy coulda lived out there!!!

5. Swinging on that porch swing! Tried to find time to do that each day!

4. DLo and his mission to set up Grandma/Grandpa Logan's new tv, bluray, and cable box....I literally think it took him the ENTIRE week!

3. Our turn around trip to Atlanta...to visit Courageous Church...Derrick has followed their pastor Shaun King ever since the earthquake in Haiti...where Pastor Shaun worked diligently to send medics and medical supplies to help with the relief. Shaun is aslo the founder of TwitChange...which has helped raise funds for different charities... TwitChange2.0 is actually going to start Jan 29th...check it out if you Twitter or whatever! ;)

2. Crashing our Hyundai rental into the ditch while going on the faux date...I thought the car was going to roll on top of me the way we were angled...but, thankfully, I got out! And wouldn't you know...Grandma and Grandpa Logan happened to be driving home and TOTALLY saw us and stopped- while Gpa went home to get his truck and drop of Gma...no less than 6 people stopped to ask how they could help...and wouldn't take "no" for an answer when we explained that our Gpa was coming back w/ a truck... Derrick and two other gentlemen push/lifted the car out while I was behind the wheel... out.rageous. And thankfully...absolutely NO damage to the car!!!

1. Finding out we are pregnant w/ 3.0!

Anywho. Enjoy the pictures:














Jude may be a pro at flying...but this was Emme's first time on a plane! She did really good...but she is definitely different from her brother- who typically passes out once the plane- and stayed away preeeetty much the entire trip! Oy! As you can see, however...she LOVED Remy!






























We had so much fun at the waterfalls...although we were probably in the car double the amount of time that we were actually at the falls! It was a nice little getaway...even if being stuck in the backseat between both car seats the ENTIRE time in a wee little miniSUV WAS about to be the death of me! ;)
















Jude LOVED playing outside...anytime he'd see his Papaw out there...he would run out there and join him! In the top picture, Papaw is showing Jude a HUGE daddylonglegs...and the bottom, he's helping to water the plants! Silly kid!























Mamaw Patt LOVED spending time with her namesake...Emme Ann is their 4th great grandchild (at the time) and their 2nd great granddaughter!

...Breaux...

#69 Be reunited w/ the Breaux Family

Oh my word... this one is WAY old...I'm talking...before Thanksgiving old. I.Fail. But...in all honesty...I had totally forgotten about my 101 in 1001 until Jaime recently updated hers! I had been SUPER obsessed with it...and then poof...it was out of my memory!

This is one of my favorite things that I've gotten to cross off. Love, Eddie, and Elijah Breaux. These are some of my FAVORITE people on the planet... (and for CERTAIN my favorite black people on the planet! bahahahaha- I bet some people cringed when I wrote that...but I can hear Love yelling "YES!" right now!) Anywho. Now that I've made people thoroughly uncomfortable!

I have known Love for...hmmm....math...math...math....8 years? I think that's about right... She started off student teaching at the school where I was a 4th grade teacher. She was known as the "mean teacher" b/c of her military "no nonsense" background... The following year...Love accepted a 5th grade position at the new school that my girlfriends and I were also transferring to. I could blog about the comedy of that whole situation...but to make a long story short- that first year, the teachers were all to sign up for a different committee... I thought I'd sign up for the safety commitee...b/c I'll be honest...it seemed like the one that would have the least amount of work! (la.zy.) But...our principal...let's call her... Priss Manica... decided that I would also be best fit in the "Multicultural Committee"...and guess who was also placed in said group? Hmmm. (I never bought the fact that Priss was "color blind"...never. Buahahahahaha) I digress. Our friendship, I'm pretty sure, started from that committee...laughing about how the "colored" girls were SO multicultural! Oy.

Our friendship grew and grew...and soon Love married the love of her life- Eddie. Eddie= quality man. For realz. We instantly loved Eddie...although he judged me and my shady stapling of bedsheets for "faux"tography backgrounds... LOL! And pretty soon...the Logans and Breauxs (do you add an s at the end?! so confusing!) were inseparable...and surely...SURELY every Friday night...you could find Eddie and DLo either 1. talking about music... or 2. playing Madden... and Kim and Love would either 1. be laughing at all the ridiculous people they work with (I will not lie...we did...alot...) or 2. passed out on the couch! buahahahahah! And Elijah...would no doubt be reenacting some Disney movie on our bed! LOL! Sure...sometimes we would be "working out" playing tennis on the Wii (I was so.certain. that Love was going to land IN the television set one day!) or sometimes the Salch family would join us for some cut-throat Scattergories (apple of my eye)... but you could be sure...that no matter what we were doing...there would be a HUGE chickfila chicken platter that the boys (ahem, DLo) would be devouring.

Then.

Then Love and Eddie decided to RUIN my life and go to Japan. JAPAN. Not even Korea... Japan. lol. ::sigh:: So... I've been patiently waiting for their 4 years there to be over... b/c even though we had great intentions to either meet half way (Hawaii anyone?!) or fly over to Japan one summer while visiting my grandparents in Korea...it just never happened...b/c well...I keep having kids!!!

But. Mr. Breaux had to come stateside...to AZ...this past November for some random drama w/ his babymama... and although it was unfortunate that Elijah's mom is...hmmm...not.smart.... we TOTALLY benefited from her retardedness!!! Eddie agreed to meet us up at Norterra for some Logan's Roadhouse (really, you didn't want Asian food???)...which was super generous of his time b/c he wasn't in town all that long...and he drove ALL the way from Gilbert or something ridiculous!

It was so wonderful introducing Eddie to our two kids...I was barely preggers w/ Jude when they left...and chat about all the things we've been up to...It was literally as if it were just any old Friday night (although it was Thursday) hangout...that 3+ years hadn't passed since we'd last seen each other. That- is true friendship! The ONLY thing that could have made it better... were if Love and Elijah could have been there too. ...but they were still in Japan. :(

I dunno if the Breaux family will be back in AZ when they are done w/ Japan...but regardless...this is a friendship that I will always treasure...
(November 2010)

...Christmas 2010 cont'd...

After our little family Christmas...we always head over to my parents house to continue the festivities. My family is so funny...Christmas last about 2.5 seconds...but the food lasts all.day.long. My mom is notorious for over cooking...and Christmas lunch consists of the most mouth-watering Korean food you can think of! After lunch...we head into the living room to open gifts. My parents and aunt/uncles usually give $$$ as their gift (no complaints here!) but now with the little LITTLE ones... there are actually prezzies to open! Jude had a fantastic time opening up his gifts...saying "ThanThan" after opening each one...and Miss Em...well...she REALLY liked the paper! :)















Jude really really REALLY loves his new Toy Story3 lunch box...he likes to hide lots of treasures in there! Emme thoroughly enjoyed the paper!
















Emme was sweet as can be...she really liked her light up bouncy ball...until her big brother jacked it from her! Thankfully, he sometimes spends his time working on his new TS3 coloring/activity book, so Emme has a small window of opportunity to play with HER toys! ;)
















It was like pulling teeth to get these two to sit and pose for a couple of pictures by the tree...I totally forgot to put Diva's hairbow on for the pictures...bummer...and Jdub would NOT look at me!!! The day ended with some fun playing outside. Jude is finally able to "drive" his car that Halmoni and Papa got him for his 2nd bday...although- he still can't figure out how to steer properly! ;)

...catching up- Christmas 2010...

Well... first of all...shout out to Jaime for hooking me up w/ her discount for CS5... I can now edit my photos on my own computer...AND b/c it's the newest version of Photoshop...I can start taking pictures in RAW again on my camera (which my CS2 couldn't read my raw files on my new camera)...

So... because I'm able to edit my photos again... I'm updating my blog!!!! WOOT WOOT!

These updates might be a little out of order...but...I can handle that! :)

Christmas 2010
Derrick and I were so giddy this Christmas...um...wait- which Christmas have we NOT been giddy?! LOL... It's something about experiencing it with children or something...I don't know... but Christmas started at our house in Mid-November. This year, unlike last, we actually got everything up and decorated within a couple of days! Jude was really cute this year... It was the sweetest thing to hear him say "Mey Cicka!" (Merry Christmas)...and he about drove me nuts rearranging the ornaments on the Christmas tree! (We had about 3 broken ones this year!) Emme did pretty great...she'd only pull on a few...but not very often!

Anywho... Derrick was especially cute this year... we'd discussed the whole "Santa" thing before...I had grown up believing...DLo...not so much. But this year...Derrick was pretty set on getting a guitar/mic setup for Jude "from Santa"... and...I've got to say...it really was the cutest thing ever to see Jude on Christmas morning- seeing his new gee-tar and mic! Homeboy didn't even wanna open any of the OTHER presents! Silly!

Of course...our day is always so jam packed...once we do our lil family Christmas...it's off to my parents house and then off to the Logan's for their family Christmas! It makes for quite a busy and tiring day...but so.much.fun.

Here are some pictures of our Christmas:














Here's our tree Christmas morning...pre-opening! And then Jude seeing the tree and his Santa present for the first time. As you can see...he didn't need time to rehearse before his first concert!
















Daddy reads the Christmas Story each year...this year from the "bigboy" Bible (as opposed to Jude's "babybible"). Then Jude and Emme were allowed to tear into their new toys...You can see from Emme's eyes, she is ALL KINDS of ready for those snacks!!!
















I had so much fun getting stocking stuffers for Jude...but poor Emme...I mean...what exactly could I get her that would fit into her stocking, but that she wouldn't put in her mouth and choke on?! Needless to say...Emme kinda got jipped! All in good time, girlfriend!

Updated 101

So...I'm going to have to revise some of these goals... I know...kinda lame...but with having Baby Logan 3.0 coming before the deadline...I figure it is only fair to add goals that I would have with him or her! :)

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
The End Date: Oct. 5, 2012

***UPDATED 3.10.11*** (67more to go...)
1. Create this list (1.08.10)
2. Publish this list online (1.08.10)
3. Read the Bible everyday for a year (working on it @ YouVersion.com)
4. Lead someone to Christ
5. Go on a walk at least 2 times a week for a month-0/4 weeks
6. Lose 10 pounds-0/10
7. Lose 15 more lbs- 0/15
8. Drink at a gallon of water a day for a week
9. "Work out" at home 3 times a week for a month- 0/4 weeks
10.Help Derrick launch “Our Response” (2.22.10)
11. Build a well through charity: water
12. Give Derrick kisses everyday for a month (4.19.10)
13. ***for me***
14. Write a song w/ DLo
15. Bake goodies for DLo’s staff (3.02.10)
16. Get patio furniture (coming soon! yea! for tax returns!)
17. Visit my family in Korea
18. Spend NYE in Disneyland
19. Plan a cruise for our 10th Anniversary
20. Go to Sea World
21. Visit Stacy at CalTech again
22. Visit Sarah at Cornell
23. Go to a state I’ve never been to
24. Go to San Fransisco
25. Go on the Polar Express
26. Go play in the snow
27. Take trip to 3 different places in AZ- 0/3
28. Plan a trip to Disneyworld w/ the kids for 2015
29. Give birth to 2.0 (1.19.10)
30. Paint Emme's room (2.14-15.10)
31. Emme's Baekil Party (4.30.10)
32. Hang the shelves in Jude’s room (1.13.10)
33. Create a photobook for Jude's 1st year (5.02.10)
34. Start a photobook for Emme
35. Make baby food for Emme (6.09.10)
36. Take Jude to BN for booktime once a week for a month-0/4 weeks
37. Potty train Jude (02.2011)
38. Potty train Emme
39. Emme’s 1st Bday (1.19.11)
40. Sign Jude up for Preschool! ::waaaahhh!::
41. Sign Jude up for Karate lessons
42. Take Jude to his first movie (6.21.10)
43. Write a “letter” for the kids on each birthday- 0/6
44. Research private schools vs. homeschooling
45. Get rid of things the kids have outgrown
46. Buy outdoor play stuff for the kids (5.19.10)
47. Get a membership to either the zoo or the Phx Children’s Museum
48. Start our retirement fund…which is way overdue… (getting it together this week!)
49. Start a savings account
50. Start an account for the kids
51. Pay off credit cards (one down, one to go)
52. Pay off Outlook
53. Buy a new car for DLo
54. Begin cutting coupons for groceries (5.25.10)
55. Get Beazer to fix our house!!! (1.27.10)
56. Sell our House
57. Buy a NEW house
58. Get someone to "do" the back yard (4.30.10)
59. Get someone to "do" the front yard (4.30.10)
60. Get a security door (7.10.10)
61. Install screens on the house (7.10.10)
62. Get window treatments for playroom
63. and the kitchen
64. and our bedroom
65. Get new bedding for my bedroom
66. Get a new TV for our bedroom
67. Buy a new washer and dryer
68. Visit the Walthos in Canada
69. Be reunited w/ the Breaux (It was only Eddie...but I'll take it! 11.10)
70. Turn 30 (2.27.10)
71. Allow my teaching certificate to expire (2.27.10)
72. Stay at a nice resort in PHX- just to get away (7.31, 8.1.10)
73. Have a garage sale (1.09.10)
74. Get a spa treatment (2.26.11)
75. Give birth to 3.0
76. Read 50 books- 11/50 (Fire, Nightlight, Dead Until Dawn, Shiver, Linger, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Mockingjay, The Lovely Bones, Beastly, Water for Elephants, Matched)
77. Attend Eclipse midnight showing w/ my girlfriends (6.29.10)
78. No Facebook for a week (7.08.10-7.14.10)
79. Take the Mensa Test
80. Do a LOST Marathon (9.2010)
81. Watch all the Disney movies that I own
82. Purchase all the “old” Disney movies that I’d like to have
83. Go on a “Girl’s” trip (NY- 2015!!!)
84. Get a membership to Broadway Across America
85. Buy a necklace (or something) with the kids’ names on them (3.20.10)
86. Host a Superbowl Party (02.2011)
87. Create a will
88. Take a photography related class/seminar
89. Get Emme signed up for Karate or Gymnastics
90. Take the kids to their free Gymboree class
91. Sell the light kit
92. Get a new lens for my camera
93. Send my cameras in to get cleaned
94. Paint my parents house!!!
95. Buy someone a “just because” gift (3.11.10)
96. Pay for a meal or a Starbux of the car behind me in a drive thru
97. Do a Breast Cancer Walk
98. Volunteer at church (8.12.10)
99. Bring my piano over to my house from my parents house
100. Throw a Christmas party for the neighbors
101. Create a new list with the things I didn’t complete

...10 AND 11...

Oh my word. Am I an awful momma or what?! It's not that I forgot her 10 month blog...I just...never wrote it. I know!!!! Awful! And now...well, now she's 11 months old. So. This blog will combine her 10 and 11 months...b/c to be honest...there would be no way for me to remember all her different achievements from a month ago! Well...I'll remember them, just not be able to remember if it happened by her 10th or 11th month...ya dig?!

Anywho.

OH MY WORD! My baby girl is almost one. ::waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!:: When did this happen?!?! When??? WHEN?!?! Ugh, gosh! Is this how it's going to be now? My babies are going to become big people in a blink of an eye?! (Don't answer that- I don't really wanna know!) Emme Ann is such a freakin' doll. I mean...for real. She is just so amazing...and beautiful...and funny...and divalicious! She can look at you with the most blank expression...like "entertain me, dood"...and then her face and eyes just brighten up into the most gorgeous smile and lights up any room!


Over the past two months...Emme has:
* started eating table foods only (byebye mushed baby stuff!)
* says "heyow?" (hello) and puts the phone to her head as if she's answering it!!!
* actually...she'll put her hand to her head too like a phone!
* gives kisses if you ask her...
* blows kisses- and the fun part is...that she blows them just like Jude did- kissing the back of her hand!!!
* steals her brothers toys away from him...
* has 10 teeth!!!
* waves bye...
* wears anywhere from 9-18month clothes!
* is weaning off the bottle!!!
* refuses to give up the binky (um...girlfriend- this is the month!)
* babbles up a STORM!
* says "adaaay" ...which DLo and I are convinced is "again"...
* gets into EVERYTHING...
* refuses to walk...I mean...I seriously thought she'd walk by 9 months b/c of how soon she crawled!
* has longer hair...although...it's still short! I can tell it's longer when I put headbands on her- her hair scrunches up more! But...if you look at my hair at age 1...we look EXACTLY the same!
* is obsessed with dogs!!!
* mimics momma when she bends her head back...or shakes her head!
* loves playing the drums or xylophone...
* bootie dances to ANY music...
* gives the BEST hugs...


Emme,
As we approach your 1st birthday...I think back to all my worries and fears about adding a new person into our family. You, my princess, have been the PERFECT addition to our family...and I'm so thankful that God brought you into our lives. Remember that momma and daddy and brother love you VERY much!
-Mommy