California Part 1

California was a blast. Let me give you a little backstory - I got sick a few days before my trip. Body aches, high fever, headache, sore throat, etc. No problem, I thought, I still have three days to get better before my trip. It got worse and worse, so I did a strep screen at work, negative. The night before my trip it got so bad that the ER was sounding like a very nice place to be to me. Or maybe I was just delirious, I don't know. But I called my doctor, who happens to be my dear uncle, and he called some medicine in for me. The morning of the trip I woke up feeling HORRIBLE so Dad took me to the clinic to get a shot, at that point, it was pretty much an unspoken decision that I wouldn't be going to California on the 7:30 flight as scheduled, if at all. Dad and Uncle Steve quickly made that a SPOKEN decision. I went home, went to bed, woke up several hours later feeling strangely... good. Like, so good that I was scared that something was REALLY wrong because I felt so good. Dad tried in vain to change my flight to a different time, different day, different place, they absolutely would not change it for me. So he called me at about 4 pm and told me, and I told him I felt good enough to go, my fever was gone, I felt GOOD (well, compared). He probably thought insanity had gotten the best of me. I had TWENTY MINUTES before it would be time to go. I hadn't packed. I MIGHT'VE told him that I had already packed so that he wouldn't freak out... but that's all a little unclear in my head :). So I speed packed took off. And the gamble paid off.

at this point, Uncle Steve wasn't very happy with me. I don't blame him. But I took my medicine like a good girl the whole time I was out there.

flew into L.A. with Aubrey, and stayed the night at Amanda's, along with a handful of other Texans.

we went bowling to kill time on Thursday before driving up to Atascadero.

I pretty much LOSE at bowling. It's kind of funny how horrible I am.

Panvimarn Thai for lunch. YUM.

Stayed at Jon and Frieda's. She has the most gorgeous roses EVER. Lots of different colors.

Lunch with Shelley and Sara

Then Aubs and I drove out to Cayucos to see Wendy, Allison, and Liz.

I thought seriously about stealing Denny.

Duckie's in Cayucos

There's more to come... I still haven't achieved the expert blogging award. Okay, fine, I haven't even achieved the semi-okay-but-really-needs-work-blogging award. Therefore, I'm not sure how to upload all my pictures at once and you will view my trip in pieces. Wonderful.

Dinner Conversation

I had a few chuckles during dinner tonight. Sometimes, just sometimes, my family is pretty funny...

We had started out talking about Uncle Tom and Aunt Jo and about how sometimes Aunt Jo says the MOST INAPPROPRIATE things without thinking that they might be inappropriate (Or, as I personally believe, PRETENDING to not know that they are inappropriate, and then blaming everyone else for being inappropriate when they *gasp* in disbelief that she would say such a thing!). I really hope you read this, Aunt Jo, because all of us nieces and nephews have been afraid to approach you on this subject.

Laura: "Well, Mo-om, you do the same thing!"

Mom: "I do not!"

Laura: "Yeah huh. Like when you told my boyfriend's parents that all I wanted for graduation was SUNSCREEN because I burn all the time."

Kristen: Oh boy, this is gonna be a good one...
Dad: Well, I think I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the ride on this one...

Mom: "Welllll..."

Laura: "But Mom, I don't ever even burn!"

Mom: "But you're in the sun ALL THE TIME, Laura"

Laura: "Yeah, but I never burn and besides, YOU are in the sun all the time and you NEVER wear SUNSCREEN"

Kristen: Pot, Kettle.

Mom: "Well, they can just give you some and you can give it to me."

Kristen: Aw, man.. is that the end?

Laura: *Fumes floating out her ears and over her head*

Well, it wasn't QUITE the same thing as Aunt Jo's inappropriate comments, but I get Laura's point. Which started me thinking on how Laura has become... well, becoming.

For starting out her older teenage years like this -

If you never have the privilege of reading another blog post from me, it's because I've been murdered.

Oooh, the creepy glove picture...

... eating doughnuts six at a time just because we we're on vacation, to keep up with JoLynn, of course...

But now, even kids love her. I am pretty sure they love me more, though.

and she's quite gorgeous, to boot.

Laura - 2011 Graduation

Yay for Laura! I felt so privileged when my sister asked me to take her graduation pictures... 'bout fell over half dead. Okay, not QUITE... but I do feel honored. Of course, it's hard to take a BAD picture of you. Yes, I tried and tried... hoping for a blackmail operation having to do with cleaning the bathroom... but it failed. Here's a few of my favorites -

This just might be my favorite photo of the day, because I knew Stumpy's delicious fish tacos by the lake were awaiting me...

Sneak Peek

I have been furiously working the past three and a half hours to get these finished so we can order a few before the party...

A peek at what's to come... muhahahaha...

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I only post recipes that are AH-MAZ-ING, so trust me on this one. For starters, it's like the simplest, yummiest, most delicious pound cake EVER, and there should definitely be a made up adjective to describe it. Like... Scrumlicioucal. Which would be scrumptious, delicious, and fantastical. Fantastical?! Where did that come from?
Anyways, honestly, it's super fast to whip up, and perfect with strawberries and whipped cream. Mmmmm, I bet it would be good with chocolate frosting, too... I've gotta try that.

1 8oz. pkg cream cheese (room temperature)
1 1/2 c unsalted butter (three sticks, room temperature)
3 c sugar
6 eggs
3 c flour
2 tsp vanilla
See, what a simple list of ingredients. Ignore the fact that this includes 1 1/2 cups of butter, just pretend it's nutrient-packed, non-fat butter. Yep, there is such a thing.

Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Slowly add sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Slowly add flour. Stir in vanilla. Put in a greased Bundt pan. Bake @ 350 for 50 -55 minutes or until done. Let it cool for 15 min and then flip over onto a cake plate. EAT.
How great is that? Simple, right? VERY. Andddd.... sliced up strawberries and whipped cream are my favorite toppings. For homeade whipped cream, beat 2 c heavy whipping cream, 1/3 c sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla together until stiff.

Oh, Baby!

My, oh my, I love babies. I got to go up to the hospital and visit these darling twin sisters this evening, and wanted to steal them. Introducing my brand new, 8 week early, beautiful twin cousins.

This is Harper Camille -

She seems to be the more noisy one...

And this is Leighton Nicole...

Very proud parents...

Wow... they are so gorgeous...