Day 115 Thru Day 120

Day 115:

Captain Dan is retiring from Cal Fire. I made a cake for his party.

Day 116:

Apparently there's this "Man Rule" that states you must have a beer while BBQing. So Jared enjoyed a cold one while he made is some steaks.

Day 117:
April 27, 2011 was a bittersweet dsay for those of us that work in the ECC. Captain Dan has been my Captain for the last 4 and a half years. Today was his last day with Cal Fire. Though all of us are excited for him and his new adventures, we are so very sad to see him go. We had a huge party to send him off.

Day 118:

Uncle Jared and I took Tyler to Sea World while Mommy and Peyton went shopping for his "Little Slugger" Birthday party. He was squealing and laughing at the Walrus. Adorable!

Day 119:

I always have a great time putting together cake for my precious nieces and nephews.

Day 120:
Easter Baskets w/ removable liners on clearance for $2/ each? Yes please. 2 pretty white baskets are now resting comfortably in my hope chest waiting for that very special day.

Day 111 Thru Day 114

Day 111:
I started a walking group on Thursday Mornings. The first week was a good turn out. 5 ladies (including myself) and 5 kids. We walked a little over 2 miles around Oak Tree Ranch. It was a good time of chatting and laughing. I am really looking forward to the weekly meetings. Oak Tree is the perfect place to walk. No traffic, fully paved. The kids can run up ahead or stay right with us and they are safe.

Day 112:
This is Collin. He is the son of Ben. Ben is a fire fighter with Cal Fire. Collin took to me immediately and was quite sad when I left. He had some pretty funny facial expressions.

Day 113:
We had a family breakfast at Brian and Katie's the day before easter. I think little Mister really loves his Uncle Jared.

Day 114:
Jared made me dinner on Easter Sunday. Yuuuuuummmyyyy!

Whew! All caught up ;)

Day 106 Thru Day 110

Day 106:
Someone really loves the swings at the park.

Day 107:
This is my friend's dog, Mouse, she's a sweetheart.

Day 108:
I love putting stuff together for my nieces and nephews. It was especially exciting to put together Tyler's very first easter Basket

Day 109:
My neoghbor, heather, came down to my apartment to help me decorate Easter Cookies. We spent a few hours decorating (and breaking) cookies and chatting. When the Bunny ears keep breaking off, you just go with it.

Day 110:
I made these Minnie Mouse Cupcakes for my co-worker's 30th birthday. She was so excited. They were Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes.

Day 98 Thru Day 105

Day 98:
Sometimes the yarn decides not to work with you. Sometimes it decides that every 2 feet it will get all knotted up. Sometimes I just want to take scissors and cut it to pieces.

Day 99:
The new Karen Kingsbury book is out. I finished it in a day and a half. it only took me so long because I had to sleep.

Day 100:
Cinnamon Rolls for Jared and his co-workers. I am thinking it was a good day at work for them.

Day 101:
April 10-16th Marked "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week". aka Dispatcher Appreciation Week. Our Chiefs bought each shift a dozen Gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries from Shari's Berries. Oh Yum!

Day 102:
My lovely friend, Emily, sent me a "happy Spring" box full of goodies. She's awesome!

Day 103:
Best. Jellybeans. Ever.

Day 104:
Me neighbors dog, Balou, napping in my apartment. He's so darn cute.

Day 105:
Someone has a big appetite

13 Candles

Day 97:

My oldest Niece, Alissa, turned 13 on April 6th. THIRTEEN.

Lock the door, draw the blinds, dig the mote, release the guardian dragon, load the shot gun, install the additional 52 locks and throw away all of the corresponding keys... my niece is a Teenager. A TEENAGER!! How is this possible?!!? Wasn't she just born like 5 days ago? What happened to that blonde hair, blue eyed fearless little girl that used to ride in my shopping cart?.

She is now a horse riding, nail painting, giggling about boys,

Day 91 Thru Day 96

Day 91:
Another baby blanket under my belt and given to a mama to be.

Day 92:

Had a wonderful time celebrating the mommy to be, Amanda, her friends and family. So much pink at this baby shower!

Day 93:

My friend, Cory, is getting married in May. When I saw this shirt I immediately thought of him. Him and the guys at the station got a good laugh out of it. I know it is a ginormous pictute but I wanted you to see the "groom"s face on the shirt.

Day 94:

This is Jared's moms' cat, Taz. Don't let the face fool you. he is well fed and very loved.

Day 95:

"Oh, life is so rough..."

Day 96:

April 6th was the annual Burn Institute "Give Burns the Boot" boot drive. I hung out with my brother and his crew at the intersection of Lyons Valley Road and Skyline Truck Trail. Our Intersection alone raised about $2500

Day 84 Thru Day 90

Day 84:
Katie, the kids, and Jessica came over one morning for coffee. Tyler decided his toy of choice would be these plastic breast cancer walk bracelets. Silly boy.

Day 85:
Over the weekend we celebrated the birthdays of Jimmy and Alissa. I made special cupcakes for both of them. Cupcakes for Jimmy:

Day 86: Cupcakes for Alissa. She was pretty specific with what she wanted for the flavor. Chocolate with chocolate chips in it. So I made them with her favorite color, purple, and put a chocolate cookie music note on the top.

Day 87:

Jared never ceases to amaze me. He came over to my place for a typical evening of dinner and TV but when I opened the door he had these in his hand. He got them "just because". 100 % sweet, 100% a surprise 100% Jared. I don't think I will ever get sick of fresh flowers.

Day 88:
One of my cats decided they liked the flowers too, as a snack...

They only got 2 of the 12 though ;)

Day 89:

I love that she always looks like she is smiling.

Day 90:
I went shopping for a baby shower gift on April Fools day. Jokes on me. I spent almost double what I had budgeted. When shopping for a new baby girl and being faced with hundreds of choices at Babies R Us, how can you possibly say "no" to something this cute?

Day 77 Thru Day 83

OK time to start getting caught up on my photo a day. heaven's to Betsy, how did I get so far behind? Oh that's right.. life. Well, Here goes:

Day 77:
I've been trying to eat really healthy but I was hurtin for some pizza. So I made my own healthy version at home with Flat bread, chicken, spinach, onion, feta and tomato sauce. It was delicious.

Day 78:
One of my computer montitors at work died. So, in professional fashion, my Captain put a note on it saying it was no longer working...

Day 79:

*sigh* I hate when that happens

Day 80:
Heaven in a bowl:

Day 81:
This is what the PB cups were for. I will share the recipe later.

Day 82:
 Today my oldest brother turned older  36. Wow. When did we grow up? I am so thankful for Jimmy. He's the oldest and the protector of Brian and I. He's quirky and a dork. Annoying and loving. Fun and goofy. he's my Big Brother and I love him.

Day 83:

This is Jared's perfect cupcake. He's counting the days until I make this recipe.

Day 76

This is what I did Friday afternoon. After a trip the the supply store I started baking baking baking! Friday night I braved both the Zumba class and the Biggest Winner Bootcamp at the gym. When I got home I got down to business. Here's the final product:

Day 75

I've been wanting new couches forever. I've had the same little and old love seat for the last 8 years (it was old when I got it!) and a black leather couch for probably 4 years or so. Both have served their purpose but it was time for them to retire. Jared hated the black couch. He's naturally warm so sitting on a leather couch, even during the winter, made him feel like it was the middle of summer. Poor guy.

My friend, Kristina, kept posting on facebook that they were selling their two couches. I thought about it and thought about it and thought about it. Then talked to Jared. And thought about it some more. I finally decided that the price was too good to be true and I know they are in great condition. So I dove in and bought them.

Jared and Josh loaded them into the van , while I snuggled up to baby Ben, then Jared and I unloaded them and brought them into my apartment. They fit perfectly, match my decor and are so incredibly comfortable!

Kristina warned me that if I lay down on them, there is a 99% chance I would fall asleep. Sure enough Thursday night I fell asleep on the couch until about 1 am. Guess she was right. Thank You Josh and Kristina for my lovely new couches. I love them.

Day 74

She hates him... can't you tell? ;)

Day 73

Seriously, I love this stuff. My hands get sooooooo dry during the winter and lotion just doesn't cut it. A co-worker of mine gave this to me for my birthday and it has been a godsend. It definitelt takes some time to work into your hands so they aren't greasy or what-not but once it is all rubbed in, relief. Give it a try.