My dog likes to bake herself.

i was in the kitchen doing the dishes this morning and something caught my eye.  my old lady dog, dixiemae, was outside sunning herself.  this is her favorite thing to do in the whole entire universe.  i've seen her lay (or is it lie? hmmm) in the sun a million times.  but this time i stood there staring out the window at her happiness for a little while.  she gets sooo hot and her tongue sticks out and luckily she is panting so you can tell she is alive.  she is on her back.  and she is smiling with her eyes closed.  when the wind blows she sits up and enjoys it hitting her face.  she can only do this a few minutes at a time.  she comes back in and cools off and then goes back outside for another dose.  she doesn't do it every day, only in very hot weather.

watching her do this, i realized that this is her thing that gives her extreme happiness.  woah.  do i have something like that?  do you?  it is something that she looks forward to and when she gets to do it, there is nothing else in the world she'd want to do.  not even come in for some cheese.  

this is a toughy.  i thought it might be sewing, but every project i start i get tired of working on.  cakes?  paintings?  hmm nah.  i love to do them, but extreme happiness?  it must be something simple.  the obvious:  hanging out with the family.  duh.  but what else?  i know what gareth's is:  tap dancing.  lilli:  dance class.  i'm talking about the thing that makes you excited.  when you know you get to do it, you have an extra spring in your step.  perhaps it was crossfit.  when i used to work out all of the time.  who knows, but i am excited to find that thing that is equal to dixie's sun tanning.  inner peace.  no thinking of every day worries.  

what is yours?  perhaps i can steal it.

So in love, we might cause barfs.

G and i had a wonderful anniversary weekend.  just splendid really.  sheesh.  we went out to dinner to the bleu olive, a nice barely lit eating establishment.  i got all dolled up and headed out for a night of silliness.  we aren't too used to being all alone when we go out.  even before lilu we usually went out as a group.  this was fun.  we giggled and tooted and held hands.  we were the couple that sat right next to each other instead of across.  we shared a weird dessert. (even though we had left over ice cream cake waiting for us in the freezer)  as our dinner ended, one thing became clear:  i missed lilli.  not too much, but enough to go and meet her instead of going home and waiting for her to get there.  she was having the time of her life with the Wurst family.  out to dinner at the macaroni grill then ski ball where they won her over 1500 tickets to redeem silly prizes.

so our celebration is over right?  wrong my friends.  the next night we cashed in on our fancy shmancy condo stay at the hilton on the landing.  this was family style.  i for sure recommend the condos over the rooms.  i stayed out on the balcony watching a fiddle contest and all the many shoppers walking down below.  it was wonderful.  lilli loved it too.  the best part?  we were right above the buckets n boards action.  sooo fun!

the main moment that sticks out is this:  a lady was walking around with a 4 monthish baby.  the exact way i used to carry lilu.  my heart melted and then i realized that i get to do that soon.  i'm having another baby!  one that i can carry!  so many people point out to me that it is tough with 2 kids (like 1 is cake)  and boy i do believe them, but it is nice to see a reminder of the good stuff.  and then i remember that gareth had a lot to do with me being pregnant so that sparked multiple text messages of gratitude.  man.  i love my family.  and sending text messages.

K.S. & R.S 4ever

need i say more?  really!  

Sweet Magnolia!

we have a brand new niece!  and she is quite the beauty... much like her mom, Amanda (g's sis).  her whole name is Magnolia Christine Warren.  but you can call her nola for short.  she arrived safe and sound after a very long labor.  what a super strong mama!

there are a couple interesting coincidences that amanda and i have.  her birthday is feb. 11th and mine is the 12th of feb.  we both got married in the month of august and had our first baby a year later in the month of august.  nola's bday is aug. 2 and lilli's is aug. 4.  i'm sure there are a couple more tidbits and i will add them after i bug gareth.  

one cute thing is that another name for the teeny one that we'd been considering is Lola.  (lilli and lola... awwww)  so we'll have to see if she looks like a Sanoii or a Lola.  just think:  cousins Nola and Lola!!  

and p.s. my eyes have been teary through this whole post.  i just love amanda too much!  

ballerinas and cowgirls!

here is what's been cookin' in the sever house this week.  besides cupcake orders from pinky dinks, i made these ballerinas for lilli to take to her dance class yesterday.  dudes, fondant is my new therapy.  i loved making these tiny gals!  i wasn't going to make lilli a cake this year but after just about everyone asked what type of cake i was doing for lilli... i had to show off something!  i guess my dream was that i could go get lilli an ice cream cake from dairy queen.... how can something be soooo delicious?  hmmm we'll have to see what lilli wants on monday....

also, i made this cute cowgirl hat!  i hope raelin likes it.  she is a super cute curly blondie of a gal!  we shall be meeting for her mama to pick it up sometime today.  

well i hope everyone has a rad weekend.  ours will be crazy.  G has 4 shows tomorrow and i have a big ol' cupcake order to do.  today my parents drop off the Nutch for a few weeks.  as soon as i get him i will be putting his hair up in pony tails and taking him shopping with me and lilli.  he weighs 4lbs and is a sweet yorkie.  stay tuned for pictures..... speaking of pictures, i am the WORST camera gal.  sorry for the inconvenience.