We're Moving!?!

A few weeks ago we were driving with my mom to the Oakland Zoo. It was a Sunday afternoon, so there were a lot of open houses around. We stopped at one right around the corner from my mom's....and that off-the-cuff decision started us on the path to pack up our stuff and put our house on the market-- quite unexpectedly. We didn't end up going after that house. We love love loved it-- but there were to many structural issues to make it worth it. But we decided, along with our kind realtor's gentle urging, that it was as good of a time as any to get our house ready to sell.

Three week later our living room looks like this:

And an army of these guys (gross dust mites)--

Is making me feel like this--

I'm pretty sick. I don't think it's just the dust...but it may be part of it. I'm also running myself ragged trying to pack, getting ready for my brother's wedding, taking care of a 9-month-old, and working. So, we shall see if this was the best decision to move now. We all need a little something crazy in our lives once in a while, eh? Btw- I already found my dream house. We just hope it doesn't sell within the next month!

Fatal Paris

These are my most recent reads. My sister suggested I read Sarah's Key, a historical fiction novel set in the 1940's in France. In a series of events largely ignored by the French people, the French police, in collaboration with the German Nazis, locked up French Jews and sent them off to the gas chambers. Families were separated from each other early on in France and then taken to other concentration camps.This book tells of a young girl's journey to the camps, and what life was like after her escape. I loved the historical aspect of this novel. A whole new moment in history was opened up to me. This was a fast read too, which always makes a book enjoyable. The last 1/3 or so of the book seemed unnecessary-- the author trying to connect the past to the present with a feeble love story. Great novel, sans the romance. Just give us the real hard grit (with a little redemption at the end), please!

The Paul Auster book I picked up at the library. I read the book jacket and was hooked. Being a bit of a design aficionado- I was also intrigued by the pretty cover. I loved this book. It's a hard book to explain. It starts in 1967 when a Columbia college student meets a professor at a party. You get the sense from the beginning that this professor has a dark side, and is possibly up to no good. This eery relationship is central to the plot of the book. And, like Sarah's Key, Paris plays a starring role in this novel as well. The story ends in the present day, and you're left wondering, even as you read the final page. I don't want to say too much--but it's an oddly enjoyable book.

Read on!

Could I not bee any cuter??

Dear People. I am having so much fun being 9 months old! You wouldn't believe how wonderful the world is becoming with each passing month. I love standing now. I've stood for several seconds on my own at different times-- I get really proud of myself when I do that. I'm still not that into crawling, but I think I'll learn to crawl soon-- especially so I can play with those hard-to-reach toys. I love walking by holding onto mom or dad's hands (that's the best!).

Here I am with Grandma Ruff. We went to the zoo! At first I was confused. Why were we walking around and looking at nothing?? But I soon realized that this was a cool place indeed, and many of the animals had been sleeping. Finally we saw some animals! My favorites were the elephants, zebras, giraffes, meerkats, and monkeys. I made a special noise (a raspy growl) when I talked to the animals-- they liked that! After a bit, I began to get excited when dad reached to get me out of the stroller-- oh boy, that meant that he was about to show me a new animal. I can't wait to go back! Hopefully even more animals will be awake next time.

My daddy loves my mommy:

 My dad has a cool hat. And I have new sparkly shoes!!

Every time I go to sleep my parents make yummy food! I can't wait for the day when I get to eat this goodness.

 This pork looks delicious! Especially with the corn scallion salad. MMM, I love melon, so I know this watermelon, mint, onion salad must be the bomb!!

Okay, Grandma is a really good pie maker. I heard that if I'm a really sweet grand baby, I'll get some pie soon. But for now, only mom gets to enjoy grandma's baking. [ BTW: This strawberry rhubarb pie, was THE BEST pie grandma ruff has EVER made. Serious.] 

I couldn't wait for Halloween! This bee costume was calling my name!!! Mom just got out my 12 months clothes from the garage, so we played dress up. It's going to be hard to wait until Halloween to wear my bee costume again...I just loved it soo much! Thanks Elise and Ava for passing it down to me!!

 I really like the hat too.

Could I not BEE any cuter??

XOXO, Sadie

here comes the bride(smaid)...Part II

Okay...after I put all those dresses online, I went with a totally different one! Their wedding is going to be super casual, so I wanted to be casual as well. I loved the J Crew Dresses, but I think they were a little much for a laid back wedding in the park. This dress and sweater are from Old Navy..and the shoes Kenneth Cole. I think I'll wear gold jewelry. Oh, and I'm super excited about the baby girls- they are going to wear tutus. It's going to be so much fun! Hmmm, but since I got these at Old Navy, I think I can convince my hubby that I need a rehearsal dinner dress too! Oh how I love new dresses!

Side note: Last night I was looking through old picture albums...ahhhh, those were the days... I remarked to Mark that I remember events by the dresses that I wore. I can remember the dress, shoes, hair, jewelry of every dress-up event I've been to (proms, homecomings, sadie hawkins, weddings, graduations, etc...) Is that just me, or is that a girl thing? Maybe I think about it too much!

here comes the bride(smaid)...

So my brother is getting married is less than a month-- who hoo!! The engagement will be quick--they don't want to concentrate to much on the hullabaloo surrounding a wedding. I'm very excited! Sadie, along with 3 other nieces will be flower girls. So in addition to finding Sadie a cute dress to match with her cousins, I'll need to find a dress. I'm going to be a bridesmaid-- so fun! Mark's going to be a groomsman too-- so it will be fun to have the whole family stand up in support my bro and his lovely bride-to-be. The wedding is at a park, and casual. The couple envisioned the wedding party wearing bright colors, preferably green and blue hues. What do you think? Which dress is best for me? There are 8 options here. By the way, in this process I found some awesome sites- Mod Cloth and Shop Style. If you like dresses, check em out.

Green Urban Outfitters Dress

Target Sleeveless Plum

Target Chambray Yum Plum

Mod Front of the Mezzanine Dress:

Mod Cloth Good to GO Dress:

Juliet J Crew Dress

J crew Taryn Dress

p.s.

i think it's a little funny that aaron also mentioned that this new blog format looks like my house decor. yeah, it does. lots of warm colors and lots of books. i have such a perceptive (and almost married!) brother. happy thursday!

 pps. Remember this little one? She's looking a little crazy-eyed here :)

rule breaker

Admittedly, this isn't a super entertaining video...but, it's such a milestone for Sadie-- her first swim in Chicago! We loved that Sadie was more intrigued by the lap swimmer in the pool than her first swimming experience. Our little one loves people!

A few days after, mark's parent's condo association made an announcement, "No diapers in the pool!" They're special swimmer diapers, I swear!!

happy tuesday

okay. my brother didn't like my blog design...so i'm trying a new one. thx for the feedback aaron. i like books, so I thought this would work. Here's a video of Sadie cracking up mid-July. Such a silly baby! She turns 9 months this week. :)

More Windy City

In late July, we were in the Midwest for 9 days visiting the Anderson's. Part of that time we spent with Mark's extended family at the Dells in Wisconsin. It was great fun to see Sadie interact with all of her cousins. 2009 was a boon year for Anderson babies.

Cousins Lars and Sadie-hanging with grandma and grandpa.

Anderson cousin fest in the Dells.

Lars- so cool

Contenta con cousin Jules (visiting from NZ)

Love from the big cousins...they were very nurturing with Sadie

Nice Sunset in the Dells

Group Photo (one of many!). Sadie was distracted by the ducks and was reluctant to look towards the camera. I like that she was so into the ducks.

Uncle Owen with Lars, Dad with Sadie, Uncle Scott and Jules--

2009 Anderson babies, all a few months apart. Hmmm, there's a slight resemblance with the grown-ups here, eh?

Aunt Lida and Lars, Dad and Sadie-- not a couple with twins.

Sadie ready in her party dress for Aunt Claire's 30th bday!! Who-hoo Claire!!!

Gotta Say, it's nice to be back to work...I have a lot more me time, which I'm realizing I need more than ever before. I love love love vacation, and I especially love that my hubby and I are both teachers that share holidays. It's such a gift!! But, I also like having down time...and with my new schedule I am with Sadie at home for a large chunk of time daily, so that's nice.

Happy day to you!!

you spin me right round baby, right round...

Little Sadie ladie has gotten the hang of rolling over and is lovin' it! This is a clip of her rolling around in Chicago at her grandparent's:


Happy Tuesday! Hope Sadie's joy brings of spot of warmth to your day!

Sweet Sunday

Just made these...so easy and so good! I had 3+ boxes of semi-sweet chocolate in the cupboard and a visitor to host...so these cookies hit the spot, delightfully! Try 'em!

I only put in about 1 1/2 cups of walnuts


Chocolate Bliss Cookies

2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided 1/4 cup Butter, softened 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 Eggs 1 tsp. Vanilla 1/2 cup Flour 1/4 tsp.  Baking Powder 2 cups chopped PLANTERS Walnuts Make ItHEAT oven to 350°F.


CHOP 8 chocolate squares; set aside. Microwave remaining 8 chocolate squares in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min., stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add butter; stir until melted. Stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in chopped chocolate and nuts. (Note: If omitting nuts, increase flour to 3/4 cup to prevent excessive spreading of cookies as they bake.)


DROP rounded tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.


BAKE 12 to 13 min. or until cookies are puffed and shiny. Cool 1 min.; remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely