Sunday roast

I have been wanting to make a roast for awhile and finally found a Sunday that I would be home to do it. I had my little helper, Campbell, over and she loves to cook. We started getting the roast ready at about 1:15 and had it in the oven at about 1:45. We used Emeril's recipe with a few modifications. We put the roast in the oven and then headed to Target to get more decorations for the tree since I didnt get enough of them the day before. We also stopped at Costco and got Campbell her Christmas dress, which is just so cute! I cant wait until she wears it for her school's Christmas concert this year, she will look darling :) Our last stop was Fred Meyers where we picked up some eggnog and some black shoes for Campbell.
When we got home and she seen the roast she gave me a big hug and said, our dinner is done! It was so cute to see how excited she was to see something that she helped make. Our roast turned out soo good with just enough seasonings.
Campbell was so proud!

After dinner, we put up the Christmas tree. I bought a new one this year and it had to be put together piece by piece. It is 7.5 feet and really thick, so it took quite awhile to do. We had fun though and had a little assembly line going, Melinda was spreading the branches, Campbell handed them to me and then I put the tree together. Campbell just couldnt wait to put the star on after we were all done, the tree looked great. I cant wait to start filling it up with presents :)

"I hope everybody likes pink!"

That was Jenny's quote last night as we were placing all of our finished cookies onto the sheets. It seems that no matter how many drops of red dye that you add to the frosting, it never turns all the way red. So my brother Michael, and Campbell were happy to settle for pink :)
Campbell and I spent out Saturday afternoon going to Michael and and my sister Chelsea's basketball games. They both lost, although Chelsea's team only lost by 1 point. That was a pretty intense game. Campbell loves watching them play, she sits still the whole time and just watches and she tells me when she gets older, shes going to play too. I dont doubt that she will :)
After the games, Campbell got her hair cut by my other sister Ashley who just graduated from Gene Juarez Academy. She cut her bangs and added some layers to her hair and it looks so good!
Every year in Brier (by Bothell where my parents live) there are 2 neighborhoods that go all out and decorate their houses for Christmas. They are on the news every year and they seem to just get better and better. We drove through both neighborhoods last night and Michael and Campbell loved it. Santa was even there to give them candy canes so that was pretty neat!
We went to Costco and then to the grocery store, and then finally home to make our cookies and gingerbread houses. That didnt go over quite as planned but we decided to let them sit overnight to dry.
I baked a lot of sugar cookies and also made some snickerdoodles and some thumb print cookies with the jelly in the middle. It got hectic fo a bit but it was still fun and the kids had a lot of fun decorating them. I think I've about had my fill of Christmas cookies :)
Here are some photos of the kids decorating cookies, my big mess, and the final product :)

The Zoo.

Campbell's class took a field trip to the Woodland Park Zoo, and Campbell asked me to come with. We rode the bus down there and it was the perfect day for going to the zoo. Clear blue skies and about 70 degrees. Since so many parents volunteered, everyone got their own child and got to go around the zoo on their own. We started off with the penguins and the day/night exhibits that Campbell really wanted to visit. Once she realized there were snakes..very large snakes, she was pretty much over that. We continued on and visited the Flamingo's which were very interesting. I never realized that they sleep standing up, and on one leg!

We continued along the path and found a bunch of picnic tables where some of Campbell's friends and their parents were eating their lunch, so we stopped to join them. Afterwards the girls all wanted to get ice cream, and then we continued on to the elephants and the gorillas. My favorite animal to see was the Giraffe's. I just think they are so pretty. Campbell's favorite was the new baby gorilla. We watched him climb all over the trees and almost fall a time or two :) We had so much fun at the zoo!

1st school concert.

{Campbell front & center}

{The Peanut herself}

{Lizzie, Ava and Cami..Cooper was having no part of a picture}

Last Thursday, Campbell and her kindergarten class, had their 1st school concert! They joined a few of the 1st grade classes to sing and it was the cutest thing. Campbell was so excited for her concert and counted down the days until Thursday making sure that we all knew what time to be there. Her class was to dress up as "peanuts" which consisted of her wearing dark clothes, and the teachers fitting them with garbage bags filled with newspaper :) They sang several songs and then the 1st graders did a little skit. Afterwards I treated the kids to some DQ. I think everyone at Campbell's school had the same idea, and Ava was not liking the long wait. We had a fun night and I am so proud of Campbell :)

Friday night crafts..

I was so excited to go home last night and paint! I had been to Ben Franklin Thursday night and got some things and then I stopped there again last night to get some more things. I bought paper mac he` pumpkins on Thursday, so I went and got Campbell a little one to paint. I also had wooden Halloween face masks to paint, 2 pumpkins and 2 ghosts.

Campbell and I started out painting our pumpkins and then the neighbor girl came over so we let her paint 1 of the masks. Then Campbell's cousins came over so they painted the other two masks. We ended up with one big painty, gluey, glittery mess, but we sure had fun :)



My finished pumpkin with candy corn glitter on the top. I thought it turned out pretty well.



After the neighbor girl went home, Campbell and Cassie cuddled up in my bed and watched Shrek 3. Cassie looks so cute with her missing front teeth :)


Campbell, Cooper and I are headed to the Seattle Aquarium and then to Pike's Place Market with Lacey. After that, we are going to the races at Monroe to watch Travis! Definitely a different race day schedule for me as I'm used to be at the track all day, but I'm excited for our fun day in Seattle!

Best of 2008

January.

Went to Ocean Shores.

Kevin & Mandi came home to visit.

Attended our racing banquet with Travis & Rachel.

Went to Jay's basketball games.

February.

Celebrated Steven's birthday.

Celebrated Valentine's Day.

Watched the Daytona 500.

Went to Phoenix/Tucson with Susi, Cindy and Chelsea.

March.

Attended a field trip with Campbell's class.

Had a girls weekend in Bellevue with Shae, Becca, Rachel, Amy and Blair.

Helped Lynsie get ready for baby Zach.

Helped host Shae's baby shower.

The first tour race got snowed out.

April.

Jenn came to visit from NC.

I went to the Rascal Flatts/Taylor Swift concert with Christy.

Went to the Apple Cup, Trav finished 3rd.

We had record breaking snow on April 18th.

Found out Justin & Becca were having a girl.

Visited the Tulip fields in Mt. Vernon.

Celebrated Cooper's 2nd Birthday.

May.

Hosted a baby shower for Lynsie.

Cadence Rae Harding was born on May 7th.

Took Campbell to a race in Yakima on Memorial Weekend.

My Sister Ashley & I drove to Phoenix and stopped in LA for a few days.

June.

Went to the road course race, Travis finished 3rd.

Had Campbell's 5th birthday party.

Went to Campbell's last day of school picnic.

Went to Vernon, BC. for a race with the Harding's.

Zachary Daniel Riehl was born on June 18th.

Went to Sonoma and had all access passes for the Cup race.

July.

Went to LA with Shelby for Jeff's race and also a girls weekend.

Went to Roseburg, OR. for Jeff's race, he finished 5th.

Took a road trip with Ashley to Montana for our birthday weekend and the Montana 200.

Received 2 Kitchen aid mixers for my birthday!

Shelby asked me to be a bridesmaid in their wedding.

Jeff won the West race at Evergreen.

August.

Went to the Idaho 200 with the Saul's.

Watched Rowdy win race after race.

Spent time in Ellensburg, Landon broke his leg :(

Found out that I was going to be an Auntie.

Took the kids to the Evergreen State Fair.

September.

Spent Labor day in Ellensburg at the Rodeo and in Yakima at the races.

Campbell started Kindergarten.

Skylee Ray Seth was born on September 8th.

Made Shelby's wedding invitations.

Celebrated Shelby's birthday.

Took the kids to the Seattle Aquarium and Pike's Place.

October.

Watched the Presidential debates.

Took my brother to the Fall Classic. Trav finished 3rd, Jay 4th.

Made invitations.

My Sister had her first Ultrasound.

Helped host Shelby's Bridal shower.

Took the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

Celebrated Dailey's 2nd Birthday.

Hosted Becky's baby shower.

Went to Vegas for Halloween and for a race.

November.

I voted.

Celebrated Cadence's 6 month birthday.

Had Shelby's Bachelorette party.

Miss Grace turned 1.

Went to Portland to visit Lynsie and Zach.

Read the book, The Last Lecture.

Found out my Sister was having a girl!

Watched Jeff & Shelby tie the knot.

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving and went shopping on Black Friday.

December.

Went to Oakland with the McKean's and stayed with the Pettit's.

Did Christmas activities.

Bought a new car.

Had a wonderful Christmas.

Went to the Tulalip Casino to celebrate Justin's Birthday.

Girls day out!

Last Monday was President's day and I didnt go to work so I decided it would be a special day for Campbell and I. I wanted to get my nails done so I took Campbell with me so she could get her nails done too. I got a pedicure and a fill, but she only wanted her nails painted. She picked a really cute color and she was so good about sitting still and letting them dry. She just kept staring at them and while she was sitting at the nail dryer, she was mouthing "I love you" to me, it was so sweet :)



After our nails, we went over to the Alderwood mall to do a little shopping. I hit up the MAC counter and then we headed to the Disney Store to get a gift for 1 of Campbell's school friends, and ofcourse something for Campbell too :)
After that we headed over to Famous Footwear, where we found the most adoreable little boots for her!

She was so proud of them and couldnt wait to wear them to school the next day. She told me that all of the boys would think she was Hannah Montana :)
She looks so cute in them, then again, there isnt anything that she doesnt look cute in :)


After our shopping we went to our favorite resturaunt, The Olive Garden, for dinner. Whenever I go on a trip, I always have a special day/night with Campbell before I go and I really enjoy that.

Seattle.

"Outings are so much more fun when we can savor them through the children's eyes."

♥♥

Yesterday was a typical 'fall' day in Seattle. It was cloudy and raining when we woke up and it didn't change all day except that it just rained harder. We had big plans yesterday and I intended to do them rain or shine :)

Campbell, Cooper and I headed to the Aquarium and Lacey met us there. I took Campbell there a couple years ago, but Cooper has never been and they were both pretty excited. Cooper was pretty funny. He loved looking at the fishes and all he kept saying was, LOOK! LOOK!...BIG! over & over & over. :) It was so cute because he would get so excited. Campbell just looked at everything quietly and stayed right by my side :) They have redone it since we were last there and it is all covered now so we didn't get wet while we were there. The coolest thing to me was watching the kids and the expressions on their faces when they saw things, especially the seals. They were pretty big and dove in and out of the water.

We stopped at the gift shop on our way out, and Cooper got a semi truck. It has a tube for the back part of the truck, and you fill it with water and then it has fish and things that float in it. He loves it and wouldn't set it down for anything.

LOOK, we even found Nemo :)

(LOOK! BIG!)

After the aquarium, we went to The Old Spaghetti Factory. I've always wanted to go to that one since I think it was the first one, and I've seen that big brick building since I was a kid. We had a fun lunch and Cooper kept entertaining us :)

Pike's Place Market was our next stop. I love going there. There is just so much going on and so many pretty things to see. Of course, buying fresh flowers is a must. We also managed to get some other things including a cute little bracelet that was made just for Campbell with her name on it. She loves it :)

This is how Cooper spent his time at the market. Yep from the time we left the car, until the time we got back to the car, he slept :)

By the end of the day, Campbell was one tired girl. At 11:00 last night she insisted she was not tired and she still wanted to paint. Then she wanted to read to me, but I looked over not even 5 minutes later, and this is what I saw. One tired girl :)

Making me smile.

A few weeks ago, Campbell and I were shopping around and we went into 'Fireworks', one of my favorite stores. There is always so many fun and unique things in there. In the kids area they have a bunch of sock monkeys and Campbell found a purple one that had magnets in the hands so you could hook the monkey to things and she really wanted it. Of course I got it for her and didn't think much about it. The next day, I noticed that she had hooked the monkey around her seat belt and I thought, how cute of her!

After the Seahawks game last Saturday night that Campbell and her cousin Cassie performed at, the kids all rode home with me. Campbell sat in the way back with her cousins Cassie and Clayton and I wasn't paying attention to anything, besides making sure she got her booster seat back there. The next day I go to clean out the car and this is what I see:

In all the chaos of trying to get everyone loaded in the car, Campbell made sure to grab her monkey and attach it to her seat belt in the way back. I couldn't help but smile when I saw that. She is such a special little girl and lately I have just been feeling like she is growing up way too fast. It's little things like this that remind me that she is still a sweet little girl :)

Two little monkeys..

In the past week I have not been home before 10 pm one time. That means that I haven't seen Campbell or Cooper in a week, well at least not for any real amount of time. So needless to say, I was happy to be home last night. I stopped by Ben Franklin after work, which I have decided is not a good place for me to go. When I go in there, my mind never stops. I start to think of a million different projects I could do. I had to tell myself, STOP. You have too many projects already :) I couldn't stop myself completely though, and besides getting the things I went in there to get in the first place, I picked up some things to make a Halloween craft. I hope to get to that soon..

When I got home, Campbell was SOO excited to see me :) She followed me right up stairs and stayed there until she had to go home and go to bed. Cooper also joined us and they jumped on the bed for awhile. I got some really cute pics of them and as they were jumping on the bed, we were doing the "two little monkeys" song. It fits them both perfectly, and they are pretty cute little monkeys! Campbell was doing "flips" on the bed and every time she would say "that's totally awesome", of course that line comes straight from Hannah Montana :) Once I finally got them off the bed, Campbell and I colored, Cooper watched a Little People Christmas movie and then Campbell did her water color book. I love spending time with them!

Mother's Day Tea

Thursday morning was the Mother's Day Tea at Campbell's preschool and Melinda and I attended. We showed up and they had all the tables set so nicely and all the kids were so excited for everyone to be there. They were all sitting at their tables while the mom's sat at the big tables and enjoyed finger sandwich's, scones, fruit and tea. It was so nice and the mom's that put it together really did a great job. Melinda and I were impressed by the tablescapes.



After tea, Campbell's class got up and sang a really cute song. They were all kind of nervous but they were so cute! The younger class sang a song afterwards and then both classes joined together for the last song.



The Mom's that set the event up, made a little recipe book and had them waiting on the tables. I picked a recipe out of it and Campbell and I made it Thursday night. They were Chocolate Oatmeal Bars and they turned out so good. I will include the recipe.

We had a great time at Campbell's school. I always enjoy watching her interact with the kids in her class.









Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Melt 2/3 Cup butter, add 1/2 cup white Karo syrup - Stir.
Add in, 3 tsp vanilla, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt and 4 cups oatmeal.
Mix well.

Place in a greased 13x9 inch pan. Press down. Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes. Watch so it will not burn, but turns a golden brown. After cooled, melt together 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup peanut butter. Spread on bars. Chill before serving.

Spring Break.

Miss Campbell was on Spring Break last week which meant sleep overs and late nights :) I remember loving that as a kid. Shae's nieces were visiting for the week since they were off too, so they invited us up to spend the night. Campbell was so excited to go to Canada. I think that she thought it was going to look different or somehow be different, but nope, still the same sky and the same grass :)




We picked up Pizza at Costco and headed up. The girls were excited to see each other. They had pizza and then made necklaces that Campbell and I got from Michael's. They did each other's hair and then made t-shirts with puffy paint. We colored Easter eggs and then played musical chairs, hide and seek, and house. By 1 am they were all so worn out and ready for bed. Campbell slept until 11 on Friday morning and even she was surprised :) The girls had so much fun, hopefully we can do it again soon!