For B

Today I am in awe of my husband.

Just a couple of days ago he found out about an open spot in the infamous Lotoja bike race and his mind was immediately set on competing. He didn't have to try hard to convince my brother Dave (an experienced racer himself) to be his support crew. They put their heads together, came up with a plan, multiple lists, a schedule and they were off. This was Bryce's first race. Ever. He has been a mountain biker ever since I've known him (one of our first dates in fact :) but only took up road biking this spring. He didn't officially train (though he rides 20-50 miles faithfully nearly every morning). He's never even done a century (100 miles). But today he slayed 206 miles, three states (UT, ID, WY) and a total elevation gain of 9738 feet in approximately 12 hours.

Since everything happened so fast - we weren't able to make arrangement for the family to come. But you can bet the kids and I were cheering him on from home all day. We followed the map and checked in at every feed zone stop and then made up signs depicting how many miles he had left. We are beyond proud of this determined, persistent, and strong man.

Her Loss, My Gain

We're about a week into Kindergarten and so much has happened for my little guy already. If you were dying to know, here's the latest dish: After finding a new girlfriend and then having his heart broken the next day - Max decides its best to keep me as his one and only true love. (His words.) Listen close - do you hear it? Yep, drip drop - that's my heart melting all over again. Happy Weekend.

One more thing

If I was going to give these as a little treat to my friends or neighbors, wouldn't I be so clever if I wrapped some twine around the jar and attached one of these sweet little wooden spoons on sale here?

Cake in a Jar

The kids are back in school and with my teensy amount of extra free time all I want to do is create. Somehow I had to let that side of my brain turn off when the summer camp counselor mom took its place for the last 3 months. It hasn't been but a couple of weeks since school began and I've already found myself up to my eyeballs in projects. I'm currently working on an art and photography collage wall in the family room, prepping the Halloween decos, having window seat cushions made, and of course cooking! I've been dying to try these cakes in a jar. Such a fun outdoor dinner party dessert or neighbor treat, don't you think? Just grab a spoon and eat it right out of the jar! Sadly, mine aren't nearly as adorable as Angry Chicken's, but I think next time I'll try the half pint jars simply for the cute effect. This one was poppyseed - but I imagine you could use any cake recipe you love. (Just don't fill it more than halfway. I learned this the hard way:)

We spent our laboring day...

...with a few of our favorite cousins by day.....
...and a few of our favorite rock stars by night...

A perfect finale to an absolutely awesome summer.

Spotted at bryc3

Trying to decide which is funnier: this video or watching my kids watch this video.

Be Still My Beating Heart

My baby boy just started Kindergarten.

The Rest of the Story

And being a brother isn't half bad either.

Sisters

"How wide and sweet and wild sisterhood can be."

Dorothy Knows Best

*image via flickr

My favorite kind of days are the ones when I just stay home ... when I choose to "forget" that the library books are overdue and that Max needs a haircut and new shoelaces before he starts school. The ones when I ignore the small farm of food pieces under the bar after breakfast or the piles of post-vacation laundry that need to be folded - and instead I chat on the phone with a girlfriend or my mom - or bake and clean (fun cleaning, you know - like wiping out cupboards). The best days are when the little ones are underfoot and I'm fielding silly questions like "Are "Pink Lady" apples really girls?" I have a hundred errands that aren't running themselves, twenty seven pieces of mail to sort through, nine rooms that desperately need some attention, and two little kids who still need to be dressed. But I don't care - cause we're home. And there's no place like it.

I Interupt This Regulary Scheduled Vacation Post...

...to present:

"First Day of School 2009-2010"

What I learned at Disneyland : August 09 Edition

1. Disneyland in August is reserved for only crazies - yes, we were six of them.
2. If you plan your entire day around fastpasses, you'll be surprised how much riding you can get done.
3. Sadly, all wishes made in the wishing well don't come true (Ella informed me this morning that she isn't surprised her pony hasn't showed up...)
4. If you ride the Mickey Carousel right after Grizzly Rapids, the breeze quickly dries you up.
5. Magic Mornings are so worth getting up early for...we got in nearly 10 rides before 8 a.m.
6. Not ALL two year olds love Winnie the Pooh.
7. Even if you have all the insider strategical information available on Midway Mania, Bryce is still unbeatable.
8. In three separate trips, we've graduated from a hotel off-site, to the Disneyland Hotel, to the Grand Californian. After much debate and discussion amongst all Roberts' offspring and the two parental Roberts...the Disneyland Hotel wins.
9. Three days is a'plenty.
10. It's a Small World After All (is still the best ride EVER!)

Our Not So Terrible Two Year Old...

... had a birthday.
... dressed up like a princess.
... ate a coconut cupcake. (Mom chose it, because it was white. Can you blame me?)
... kept on her darling new felt crown.
... screamed until she got a bite of Max's cupcake (She's two, remember?)
... gave kisses all around
... learned to shout, "It's my birthday!"
... left her dad and I a bit wistful after we tucked in our baby, who's not so much a baby anymore

Tweets and Links

I say potAto...you say potato.
I say concerto...she says "Daylight?"

To get a kick out of Kalli's latest musical obsession and her tweet about it, click here.

Then if you're wondering who the heck Matt and Kim are, click here.

(I dig her taste in music - she gets it from her dad).

Matt looks a little like Jimmy Fallon, don't you think?

And now since I'm talking Jimmy Fallon, have you ever seen the Dave Matthews GPS skit? Hilarity. Check it out here.

Cookie of the Week

We tried out a bar cookie recipe this week. By the end of the day the entire pan was gone so I consider them a success (yes we shared, but only a few...). These would be perfect to pack in the kids' school lunch because they're homey and hearty. Another one to add to the files.

Squirrel Bars
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour (shhh...don't tell the fam, but I used 100% wheat flour to add a little whole grain.)
1 tsp. baking powder
6 oz. chocolate chips

Mix together first four ingredients. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder. Spread mixture in a greased 9"x13" pan. Sprinkle chips on top. Bake 3 minutes at 350 degrees. Take out and marbleize. Return to oven for another 25-30 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.