Cherry blossoms

Ethan has been sick for the tail end of this week so we have been couped up in the apartment. We finally decided yesterday afternoon to see the famous cherry blossoms surrounding the tidal basin.

I have funny memories of doing the same thing last year, only Ethan was barely a month old then. It was the first time we had ventured out into a public place (other than church and the store) with him and I just remember being so stressed out about trying to get that child to stop screaming (he was quite colicky) and how to nurse him in public.

Yesterday was a much more relaxing stroll despite the ravenous ;) crowds. It's amazing how things have changed in just a year.

Insane weekend

I know you are all dying to read about my weekend ;-) so here is a little recap:

Friday night we decided to do what everyone else in the D.C. metro area decided to do - camp out on the Ellipse in front of the White House to get tickets for the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday. We got there at 7 p.m. and were surprised to find the entire Ellipse already surrounded by tents. We pitched ours on a grassy area to the side of the Ellipse and were really concerned that we might be camping in vain since a SS guy told us our chance of getting tickets was iffy.

But we stuck it out and the fabulous ladies in my ward (and some friends in other wards) threw me a little birthday party. After braving freezing temperatures (I finally broke down and wore my sleeping bag as a coat); camping near a skull-crushing hammer-laden crazy lady who ended up sleeping in one of our tents; fighting off attempted line-butters (don't you dare mess with me at 4:30 a.m.); and bouncing between sleep deprivation and a sugar-induced coma, we got our tickets at 8 a.m!
I got home and decided to do nothing the entire Saturday.

We woke up Sunday morning and decided that our house was the messiest it had ever been.
Sunday afternoon we were invited to a little Easter party at The Haws' home. The food was delicious, the company superb and Ethan even enjoyed the Easter egg hunt (despite his unwillingness to walk).Monday was the White House Easter Egg Roll. It was fun to be on the lawn of the White House dancing to the music of the Jonas Brothers and getting photos with Clifford, the big red dog and Grover Cleveland. We're crossing our fingers that Ethan will choose to walk by this time next year, so he will be able to participate in the actual egg roll and hunt.
At the Jonas Brothers concert
Hanging with Mr. and Mrs. Grover Cleveland

Foxy Mom Turns 24!

Today is Megan's 24th birthday and she is out doing what she does best at the Pentagon City mall. Actually, she is returning the clothes I bought her because I guess I don't know what size she wears. She is a great wife and mom. Ethan and I love her so much. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGALOS!

My helper and hinderer

My mom always told me that as a mom, your biggest fear should be silence. Silence is what clued her in to my siblings playing in flour or emptying the contents of a large bean-bag (70s-era luv sac) in the other room. This is how I found Ethan the other day after I noticed that things suddenly got real quiet. He helps me clean out his closet often.

In other Ethan news: He used to be terrified of the vacuum cleaner. I would turn it on and he would scream so loud and high I could hear it over the roar of the vacuum. I would turn the machine off and he would just glare at it.

Then Ethan got to the point where he would laugh nervously when I would turn it on. It was the kind of laugh that I make when I'm watching a scary movie like, say, "I am Legend." I try to giggle during the parts when a very lonely Will Smith attempts to find his dog in a lair of slimy, rabid humans, so I'm not scared to death. It was that kind of laugh.

He still screams when I hit the switch now, but it's a shriek of pure joy. He loves the vacuum cleaner so much now that he chases it around and crawls in front of it like it's chasing him. I think he thinks of it as his pet. I keep almost running over his little fingers and toes because he tries to touch it as I'm cleaning the carpet. When I turn it off, he slowly caresses it while making an "oooooo" sound. It's super funny but really difficult to get things done around here.

One down, three more to go

Ryan asked me to delete this post. Sorry that you weren't able to read it.

An affair to remember (and to forget a few things)

Highlights and lowlights of NYC (in no particular order):

* Taking the first road trip with girlfriends in almost four years.
* Arguing over whether the outer casing of a corn kernel can be called a husk as well.
* Walking the "runway" at Bryant Park.
* The fabulous shoes and handbags at Saks.
* The word "fabulous."
* Wishing we had the dolls and accessories at the American Girl store.
* The street hot dogs, pretzels and cashews.
* Seeing the Project Runway designs at the Hershey's store and thinking they look horrible in person.
* Trying to get my photo with the entire Empire State Building right next to the Empire State Building.
* Walking from Grand Central Station to Battery Park, then limping from Times Square to Mormon Temple.
* Realizing that I might never walk again.
* Seeing the original manuscript of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." Thanks to Julie, I know what that is.
* Trying to find Rachel in Chinatown among a throng of large African (I mean, straight off the plane from Africa) men whispering, "Coach, Chanel, Prada."
* Buying knock-off handbags in Chinatown just to be able to say that we bought knock-off handbags in Chinatown.
* Finding out that DSW in New York has the same shoes as DSW in Arlington.
* Feeling humbled at Ground Zero.
* Singing "The Scotsman" in the middle of Battery Park at the top of our lungs in an effort to get the Statue of Liberty men to dance.
* Taking my first cab ride!
* Eating the absolute best gelato "in the land" (as Julie calls it) at il laboratorio del gelato.
* Eating some OK pizza.
* Losing Rachel's cell phone somewhere in this space of time.
* Finding a dead rat on the side walk as we searched for a cab. Classic.
* Seeing the beautiful flower outfits on models of iconic models in the windows at Macy's.
*** Deciding at the last minute to jump in the same section of Macy's revolving door as Julie and Rachel.
* Tearing up in laughter after all three of us (we were a very tight sandwich) struggled to keep that revolving door going.
* Laughing until we couldn't speak anymore in bed at 1:30 a.m., remembering that cozy revolving door situation.
*** Screaming the entire way to Times Square in a petty cab (guy named Omar in bicycle with chariot behind him).
* Watching Julie jump into the arms of the Naked Cowboy.
* TBS.
* Taking my first shaky steps the next morning and realizing that I might just be able to walk again.
* Holding Ethan again only to find him reaching for Ryan.
* Knowing my husband and my son bonded during my short furlough.

When Doves Cry

Megan went to New York this weekend with her friends. I'm sure we'll get along..... somehow.

Another sad goodbye

Ryan's parents headed west yesterday after serving a 1 1/2-year Mormon mission at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center. It has been so wonderful to have them here during Ethan's first year of life. We loved seeing them so often and will miss them so much!

Walking and crashing

I watched this video after posting it and I have to admit, it's kind of a boring video. Really this is for my mom and dad, who miss seeing Ethan in action. Sorry it's sideways. I am technically inept.

Can't wait to say Happy Birthday!

Every year on March 3, Ryan's brother Jim calls to wish him a Happy Birthday. Only March 3 isn't Ryan's birthday. During that phone conversation, Ryan always tells Jim that his birthday isn't for another month and they laugh and talk about other things.
A year passes and March 3 rolls around again - and so does Jim's phone call.
We'll be looking forward to it next year.

Hot Fudge Sauce

My aunt Susan made me a beautiful book for my wedding and inside it is a recipe for Hot Fudge Sauce. I made it last night. It is so easy and it turned out to be really tasty.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients-
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cube butter
1 can evaporated milk
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter and chocolate chips in a heavy sauce pan. Add evaporated milk and powdered sugar. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Pour into quart glass bottle. Sauce will thicken as it cools. Refrigerate after using.