{moment mondays} #1

i have so many creative friends that have amazing blogs that inspire me so much in so many ways... so here is my own spin off from their inspiration....hopefully i am able to keep up.

{my first MOMENT MONDAY post}

Michelene and I always talk about those "moments" in life that we will never forget of our children growing up. I try an capture as many "moment pictures" whenever possible. Many times these "moments" happen without a camera around and I try and take a mental picture. So as I begin Moment Monday I am doing it to help me remember the special moments in my life that I will never & don't ever want to forget! Sometimes just pictures, sometimes just words, sometimes both. I am so excited to create a place for me to capture these "MOMENTS" in my life and hold them forever in my heart! I will probably dig out some old pictures but for my first one I am going to use a recent "moment"

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Saturday was Eric's Grandmother's 80th Birthday! 

Happy Birthday Grandma Ruth!

Happy Birthday to my Cuzo Brian today too! 

So in honor of her birthday she wins the first {MOMENT MONDAY POST}

 pictures taken on new years eve

colton was trying to feed grandma

these are the MOMENTS

i will never forget in life...

love grandma in her full candid smile!!! 

Colton's 1st Haircut {at 15 months old}

DECEMBER 29th

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Marissa, Adrina, Letty, me and the kids had a hang out day planned... so we went over to play!

loved seeing Sweet Baby Adrina... She is getting so big and just about to crawl!

as we were playing marissa and i were making fun of colton's hair. i said ok lets do it....

so below are pictures from his FIRST haircut! He looks great...but where did my baby go. And someone tell me why I waited to cut it... so silly! 

getting ready

the first snip! 

smiley Adrina waiting for her boyfriend! 

colt checking her out! catch that glimpse! 

there is his beautiful LONG hair... my babies hair! 

ok time for Mickey on the iphone...

now onto the mirror....Letty is bringing out all the tricks!

notice the chocolate on his mouth... all the tricks! 

But LOVE his handsome little boy hair! 

Now onto Christmas time....

trying to get a shot with all three looking.... 

poor Adrina... Ashlyn thought she was her doll... 

BFF's like the mommies!

Tia Letty with all three kids... Maris and I were just chatting away... haha

Ash loved all Tia Letty's Baby Jesus' laying around... it was precious...

We had such a fun hang out day... and such a perfect FIRST HAIR CUT that I will remember forever! 

xoxo

our first overnight since becoming a mommy & daddy

one month ago...DECEMBER 27th & 28th...Eric and I went on our first overnight date KID-LESS since becoming a mommy & daddy in march of 2008... ugh I know I must sound like a horrible wife. but really it is a tough thing to do when...

{here is my list of excuses}

1. you breastfeed 2 babies 1 year each... equally 2 years.

2. I was pregnant with {colton} when ashlyn was 9 months old... and i still nursed for 3 months of my pregnancy.

3. i have a hard time leaving them anyway....

oh who am i kidding i just was not ready~ haha!

So for Christmas 2009 Ken and Michelene gave us a gift certificate to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. We were elated cause this was where we wanted to get married... only problem was that their "best room" for the reception held 185 people and we needed a venue that held 300+ so we passed and have never looked back but it is still near and dear to our hearts.

So off we went on december 27th... we scoped out the hotel trying to figure out exactly where we wanted to stay... did we want a fire pit room... ocean view... we wanted to maximize our money...

so we decided a room that overlooked the ocean and their christmas tree... we are such saps for the holidays... we love Christmas!

we rearranged the furniture and set up a little app station with a bottle water for eric and a glass of wine for me! we just relaxed and then laughed at the silence! we missed the kids already and the sun was not down... ugh oh...

we headed to dinner after we watched the sunset! 

when we came back to the room we discovered that the hotel has a spot light on the ocean so you can see it at night... we really enjoyed that! 

then we headed down to the firepits~ hung out listening to the waves, drinking our coffee, talking about our beautiful children and making plans for our future!

next day we were eager to get home but wanted to enjoy "our" time together... went for a walk on the ground before we left. 

then headed down town. we loved walking in the speciality cooking shops... another love of ours. found a perfect sandwich shop. at another uninterrupted meal. pick up coffee's. felt our first rain drop and headed home. it was amazing. i loved the time we go tot spend together. and we had perfect weather too!  

Thank you mom and dad! Our overnight was great! love you! 

and ps: ash & colt we missed you badly! 

stolen recipe & loving my family

tonight was a great night. ashley came home to share with us all her new wedding ideas. nina, ryan and madison came over. yummy burgers, corn, homemade fries and these delicious lemon bars... thanks jana... only thing that makes me sad about tonight is eric is at work. 

here are a few things about tonight i just loved....

....love the sound of cousins playing in the playroom together

....love the sounds of laughter at the kitchen table...the reason i want a big family

...love cooking and enjoying yummy food together

...enjoyed my yummy glass of wine...thanks sis (ash) for bringing it back from one of the places you looked last week

...love talking about my sis in law getting married

...love looking at georgeous wedding gowns... can't wait to go into a bridal shop again

....love remembering every AMAZING moment about MY wedding...wish i could replay the day again in real life

...love sisters (sil's)...wish i had one... i want ashlyn to have one so badly

....love the sound of my fingers typing right now and nothing else... i needed a little wind down time tonight.... 

well here is my stolen recipe... these are delish~ I have made several lemon bar recipes in my day and this definitely tops the charts! 

LEMON BARS

crust:
1 c. butter
½ c. powdered sugar
2 c. flour

cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add flour. press into a 9×13 pan and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden. [do not overcook].

filling:
3 eggs
2 c. sugar
8 T. lemon juice
Zest from 1 lemon
4 T. flour
1 t. baking powder

beat eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and zest completely, making sure not to over beat.  gradually add in flour and baking powder. pour filling over crust. bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes, until edges are golden brown. cooking time will vary depending on your oven, altitude, etc. let sit for about 5 minutes, then sprinkle powdered sugar [using a sifter] on top. cut once cool.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn Marie

Brooklyn Marie Centoni

January 18, 2011

12:11 am

7lbs 1 oz

19 1/2 inches

PERFECTION! 

Welcome to the world my sweet beautiful niece/cousin Brooklyn. I am so sorry that I was driving home from Las Vegas when your mommy was giving birth to you...but I came right up there once we got home and I put your cousins to bed. I couldn't wait to hold you and kiss you... I will love you FOREVER! 

Auntie Tiff love you UP TO THE MOON AND BACK!!! 

the aunties~ we love our new niece!

what a wonderful mommy you are my bestie nicole/nikki/dup. I love you! 

love grandpa ron...he is the best!

brooklyn~the newest member of our "girl gang" {ashlyn not pictured... it is 3 in the morning after all : )} 

best friends!

the centoni girls!

and Christmas Continues for the kiddies... with the Musso's Dec. 30th

NOTE: I am going to be a crazy poster with LOTS of pictures from ALL of our CHRISTMAS'... Thinking in order to stay organized I am actually going to post backwards... So if you are wondering where "your" Christmas pictures are... they are probably coming soon!
xoxo
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I love my Musso family. Our family is growing so we do not see each other on Christmas anymore but I always love our get-togethers. They mean so much cause we don't HAVE to do them... we WANT to! 

 colton holding all of his puppets... he loves them! 

now all my musso/johnston family will agree with my how special the next few pictures are... these chairs belonged to my great grandma (ashlyn's great-great grandparents) I remember sitting and playing on them when I was little and I am sure my dad remembers that as well... 

 had to change positions cause i could see myself in the reflection! haha! 

harder getting colt to sit but at least I have a few with Colton near the chairs! 

 Dani was the hit of the day! both kids wanted her! love it! 

Ashlyn playing with Uncle Don... they have a very friendly relationship! 

Reminds me of My Uncle Walt! love it! 

Mia made me a cd of her pics... I need to upload them and add them to this page too! 

NYE 2010 {ringing in 2011}

Our New Years in Pictures.... Instead of writing what we did I'll narrate as we go... beware LOTS of PICTURES!!

started off my me and lil ash making the cake for our cake pops. 

my auntie bought me this cookbook so we thought we would give them a try...

and how can you make a cake without enjoying some batter!

Eric played flag football with some old friends. We went at the very end to say hi and see the kids. By the time I got my camera out the football was over and most of the kids were gone.... Loved visiting with Carrie! I love you girl and wish we saw each other more... you are amazing! 

As we were driving to the field Ashlyn asked "Mommy do I have to sit on the bench?" I am guessing she was wondering if she had to sit on the bleachers to watch. Since that is what we do "On Papa's Field" 

Then Ashlyn and I went on a date to see Tangled! It was her first official visit to the movie theatres. She saw Toy Story 2 at the Pixar Studios and that was a blast. Then we took the kids to see Toy Story opening weekend at the drive-ins another fun experience but not the real theatre!

sorry for the blurry pics but I thought it was rude to use the flash & obviously I could not keep my hand still...

her smile once the movie was over. 

a quote to remember... Ashlyn says "Mommy can you please pause it. I have to go potty." 

needless to say we missed a part of the movie...there was no way for me to pause it!  : ) 

back to making cake pops....

stirring in the frosting! Mommies helper! 

Madison, Uncle Ryan, Auntie Nina and Great-Grandma Fullmer came over.... and out the toys came! 
the tent was a HIT! They were laughing and playing so well together... next year there will four! Cant wait to meet my Niece!
and a yummy dinner... thanks Papa & Grandma! Everything was delish! 

Ashlyn was buttering everyones bread! So funny! 

Loved this picture... Colton was trying to feed Great-Grandma. Pictures like these make me stop and think...how special this "moment" was! Love Grandma's "real" smile! 

Papa entertaining his three grandchildren while the rest of us adults eat! Thanks! 

on to our last stage of cake pops... dipping them in the chocolate! 

hanging out..... love family

Ashlyn was feeding Colt & Mady so cute! 

our two littles with their matching blankies.... 

practicing for the new year...

love that Colton's eyes are closed... do you think he thought Ash was about to hit him... poor guy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME 2011! 

about to go outside... but I don't want my jacket on! 

A New Years Kiss for Daddy! 

Colton was outside the longest... he enjoyed banging pots and pans! 

Mommy & Colt

Happy New Year to all! 

We are definitely excited for our year ahead. Lots in the works... once everything is official I'll post... but I can't wait we are soooooooooo excited! 

xoxoxo

Love, The Wittmer's