29 & THAT ONE TIME I BAKED A CAKE, JUST FOR HIM.

For years, I listened to my sister Shalice rave about these cakes her sister-in-law, Courtney, would make at the "Rich family dinners." The Riches are Shalice's in-laws and are famous in our family for their cooking and intricate desserts that are served every Sunday! I always had to listen while salivating and could only imagine what these meals and desserts tasted like. But then, a few months before Daron's birthday, Courtney came out with her own site, Cake by Courtney, where she dishes on the recipes and tricks she uses to make these cakes. I was thrilled! I immediately knew I wanted to tackle one of these incredible cakes for Daron's birthday. 

The one I chose ended up being a little intense. I had to order specialized ingredients off of Amazon and it had quite a few steps. Two days before the big day, I was getting quite nervous. The kids and I had been sick so no one had been sleeping. I kept re-reading the directions on how to make the cake but certain parts sounded like jibberish to me. I called my friend who lives an hour and a half away to come help me. She had a prior engagement but said she would try and work something out. The morning of she texted me and said she wouldn't be able to make it. I thought I was going to cry but was so grateful she even tried. Best friends do crazy, nice stuff like that. 

Two hours later, I randomly got a call from my mom telling me she would stop by in the evening because she had something in San Diego.

I had been saved! I couldn't believe it.

Not only did she stay and help me bake the cake, she folded my laundry and cleaned my house so that I could stay sane. We started the cake at 7 and finished at 3 o' clock in the morning(!!!!!) Then, Naomi woke up at 5. Mom life! 

The day of Daron's birthday was crazy. We had a really busy day and somehow Carter managed to turn the house into shambles. I was a total zombie running on two hours of sleep BUT I was determined to have the house clean, with 29 balloons, presents and a birthday cake waiting for Daron when he got home.

If this day sounds a little torturous it's because it was! {insert crying laughing emoji} To top it off, Daron's flight was delayed so he got home even later than anticipated. I mustered the energy to stay awake for him, but when he walked through the door we were both dead tired. Luckily, we pushed through and opened his gifts because I knocked his socks off with an unexpected present and we both got a second wind!

After presents, I surprised him with his cake. I cheesily sang to him and then we shared a slice. Moments after we finished, we busted up laughing. Here we were, staring at this ginormous, very decadent, 6-layered cookies and cream cake that had no one to eat it but us. 

Note to self: bake a cake when you are having a party!

Fortunately, the weekend made up for the actual birthday. Daron gets one half day on a Friday each month. Usually, he doesn't end up taking them but this one happened to land on his birthday weekend so he made sure he did. We had a fun lunch together as a family and then we left the kids home for dinner and massages. I also set up a surfing date with one of Daron's friends for Saturday morning and he had his most successful surfing experience yet! 

There were a few hiccups but hey, I'd call 29 a success!

**Only one more year of his 20's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!** 

LAST YEAR OF HIS TWENTIES!

Today is Daron's 29th birthday. In honor of this being his last year in his 20's, I thought I'd share a few things about Daron that you may not know...

1. He has a gift of picking out the perfect size Tupperware for any and all leftovers.
2. He's a natural with babies.
3. The times he is goofy are rare. But if you are lucky enough to witness it, you will never forget it. 
4. He was shot in the chest with a flare gun when he was 10.
6. He thought about being a chiropractor before choosing the real estate field.
7. He can handle the most awkward conversations without feeling uncomfortable.
8. He is a self-proclaimed fly swatter. No need for those icky fly swatters in this house. We have Daron here who, according to him, "knocks them unconscious in mid air!" 
9. He Loves any and all documentaries that have to do with physics. 
10. He can't remember his embarrassing moments. None of them. In fact, he has very little memory of anything bad that has happened to him ever. Who gets that lucky?
11. He likes to make google maps. For fun. 
12. He would garden all day if he could.
13. He has a home remedy for every illness.
14. Sometimes, he unintentionally sounds like a professor in his text messages. When we were first dating, I would read aloud his text messages to my friends asking what certain words meant. 
15. He is the best Dad any kid could ask for.

But you already know that last one, because I talk about it on here all the time.

Happy Birthday, Daron! Thanks for being my favorite person, ever. 

HALLOWEEN 2015

For Halloween this year, we attempted Tarzan, Jane, and Kerchak with his banana! I've known since last Halloween what we were all going to be but of course I didn't start trying to put things together until 3 days before. The original plan was for Carter to be Tarzan and Daron to be the gorilla but Carter quickly informed us "he would be the gorilla and daddy would be Tarzan!" Crazy how early they get their opinions, right? ha.

It's a miracle I have any documentation of our costumes. Halloween, in my opinion, is the worst day to take pictures. We are barely ready with our costumes before all the festivities begin and then to have to whip out the camera and get a picture of everyone is so daunting. But last year, I only got pictures of buzz and NO pictures of Jesse and Woody! It was such a shame. So this year, I vowed I would at least try. {Our best attempt of a picture, above.}

Like always, I'm happy I took a few pictures so we can remember. I'm especially glad I have Naomi in that banana costume documented. It was too good. People were stopping constantly to check her out. It was such a hoot!

HAPPY NOVEMBER!

We are sickies over here. Me and the kids that is. No one is sleeping, everyone is achy and sniffling. Halloween coupled with daylight savings was sort of a perfect terrible storm. When Daron was getting ready for work this morning, I was begging him to not leave me. I kept saying, "Save me!" haha.

It's not that bad. But you know, those mornings where you are like, "Nooo. How am I going to get through this day?" That's been about the past 3 days around here.

Anyway, lucky for me... it's NOVEMBER! 

Since marrying Daron and having Carter, November has quickly turned into one of my most favorite months of the year. Maybe thee favorite? I haven't decided. November 1st makes me especially happy. It marks birthday month for the boys in this family, cooler temperatures in southern California (yay!), and the start of the glorious holiday season. 

The anticipation for all of these exciting things is about the only thing helping me get through these very looooongg days. 

November, welcome! We love you!

{photo cred}

THE BEST 6 MONTHS

Our sweet Naomi turned 6 months old today. My heart is so full for this little girl. I love her so, so much. From the second she came out, I have felt connected to her. I love the slight tint of auburn in her hair, the way her nose scrunches when she smiles, how all it takes is eye contact with her to make her squeal, the way she looks at her big brother, her easy-going personality and the way she fits perfectly on my hip. 

My heart could seriously burst for her. 

At 6 months, Naomi is arching her back when I try and put her in her car seat, preferring her tummy for play, is on the move - only in the wrong direction {backwards!}, has an incredible grin on her face when I go in to get her in the morning and after her naps, does this adorable thing where, after you make eye contact with her, she squeals and hides her face into her blanket like she is kind of shy. It's the cutest!!!! She loves to feel like a big girl and is dying to sit up and stand. She reaches for her binky and puts it in her mouth when she wants and is nearly impossible to breastfeed while I am having a conversation because she is riveted on me while I talk. Every time I catch her staring at me, she starts giggling like crazy. I love this stage so much.

The other day, Carter was doing his normal; which is pressing every button on the dashboard before "I count to 3" to get him in his seat. I didn't notice that he had turned the volume way, way up. I turned on the car with Naomi on my hip so that I could cool it down before I put her in her seat and about died when the music came on. My ears hurt so bad. I immediately turned to her, expecting to comfort her but found a gigantic grin on her face. I couldn't stop laughing at that grin all the way home. It was like, "heyy, turn that stuff back up!"

She and I, we both are covered in spit up for half the day. And it's definitely not my most rested period in life, but she gets me. I can already tell she thinks I'm funny and I love her for that. The past 6 months with her have been some of the best months of my life. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be her mom.

I love you to pieces, Naomi.

{Photo cred: here}

TWENTY SIX!

{Uhmm... are there people out there who look attractive under water? Because Daron and I would not know! We looked at the pictures we took of oursevles while snorkeling and died laughing. I kept asking him, "Wait... is that really us!?"}  

These pictures are from a few weeks ago when we celebrated my 26th birthday! The morning of started out nice and cozy as I sat in between my two kids and their car seats finishing the drive home from Utah. Remind me not to do that again anytime soon. The past two years, I have traveled home from a different state the morning of my birthday. I told Daron that next year, all I want for my birthday is to have breakfast in bed, my own bed. Well, that probably won't be all I want but... you know what I mean ;)

Once we made it to my parent's house, I hurriedly gave instructions to my mom who was watching Carter and Naomi and rushed to San Diego to meet Daron in time for lunch. 

We ate at the Goldfish Point Cafe and then went snorkeling in the cove. Snorkeling was amazing. Then again, anytime I'm in the ocean I feel amazing. We made our way around the cove and then Daron tried to take me to the caves. Half way there, I freaked out and made him turn around and go back with me. The ocean water got all murky so we couldn't see and something like a shark biting my head off kept rolling around in my head and I panicked. Maybe next time, Daron!

After snorkeling, we decided to go find a bigger beach to lay out at since we had extra time. We found one that was around the corner from the cove. It was the coziest little spot. We laid out for a few minutes before Daron decided he wanted to check out the snorkeling there to see if it was any good. It was! We were two giddy little kids. We had this random cove all to ourselves and the snorkeling was beautiful. The water was clearer and there were no seals or smell of their stinky poop.

We then headed home so we could change and I could feed Naomi. We made sure the kids were good with my mom and went back out for a gorgeous dinner over looking La Jolla. I'm still thinking about the restaurant's food and view. Daron and I took hours to eat and did cheesy things like held hands during dinner. Daron also got his dessert lit on fire. On purpose. I had never seen that before, sort of blew my mind. 

A day with Daron all to myself is a rare thing and was just what I needed.

{A big thanks to my mom for watching our kids. And for giving birth to me 26 years ago. Boy, do I have a whole new level of appreciation for that! Love you, Mom!}

STUFF

I'm thrilled it's Halloween this week. Naomi spent all morning in her banana costume and we are carving pumpkins tonight. Halloween always gives me butterflies because it means the whole end-of-the-year-shebang of holidays is coming which is SO exciting(!!!)

Carter had croup over the weekend. It was terrifying. I spent one night holding him until 3 in the morning when he finally was able to fall asleep. That is the first time I have been scared for my child and I didn't like it.

Naomi turns 6 months this week and Carter turns 3 in a little over 2 and these milestones are making me feel a little crazy. I don't know what it is about the 3rd birthday but I've been sentimental about it for months and almost {almost} get emotional when I think about it. I didn't feel like this when he turned 2. Maybe it's because since Naomi, time feels like it is slipping through my fingers.

Daron and I need a date. For real, though. 

Naomi is off. She's eating all the time, not as content, and hard to put to sleep. At first, Daron said, "She's teething." Then it was, "She's spoiled! We hold her too much!" and now we are to, "No, she needs solids!" Bottom line, we don't have a clue! ha! Babies sure know how to keep you on your toes.

Yesterday, Carter was helping Daron and I make Sunday dinner and we kept getting mad at him for wiping his nose and then trying to touch the food and after a frustrating moment, we told him he couldn't help. A few minutes later, we found him singing a song...

"Mom and Dad said no more helping. And no to more boogers." 

Here's to an exciting week. I can't wait to see all the neat costume ideas and watch Carter trick or treat as a gorilla and hear more songs about frustrating moments like boogers in our dinner! 

Wishing you all an early Happy Halloween and booger free dinners! ;)

{Pictures are of us swimming at my parent's house over the weekend. Always a good time.}