Dec 29, 2011

The EVE of Christmas Eve

I had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Being just so tired, prego, and running around constantly...so heading to the Mission Inn Festival of Lights on Christmas Eve Eve really helped. I left feeling so happy and full of "Holiday Cheer"!

Some of the fun things we did:
Simple Simon's, Fake Snow, Horse Drawn Carriage Ride,  Donuts, Candied Nuts, Scary Elf pictures, real Reindeer, Candy store, act like babushka's (yes my family is sometimes strange, but it makes for fun).
Isn't this like the best (The Christmas Story) classic picture or what?  I love my nephew Ryan & my Ella together, they are hilarious!  (PS there was a CREEPY elf statue in the background, so we think they both were afraid).
Adorable kids (Asher, Ella & Ryan) on the 1 horse open sleigh ride.
Silly faces in front of the Gingerbread house

Asher literally lookin' up to his Nana
Boppie & Ella petting the cute dogs on the street
Ella all bundled up, LOVING having Ryan all to her self and holding hands, she just adores him!
Enjoying the candy shop (IF only this was true!)


Cousins on the sleigh ride
Ella enjoying the SMELL of the carriage ride
Nana & Ella enjoying the fake snow
It was so dark, that until I took of picture of Asher's cowboy boots (he insisted on wearing) did we realize that he had them on the wrong feet ALL NIGHT...LOL
Some of the lights at Mission Inn
Babushka Nana
Lil' babushka Asher

Dec 28, 2011

Thanksgiving Weekend & Top Shot

So WAY back when (OK, just over Thanksgiving weekend, just seems like forever ago) we went to Utah to stay with Ned's sister Amy. Every other year we switch with our families, so this year was Broberg year, BUT we lucked out that my parents actually went to visit my mom's dad in Mesquite, NV. so they spent a few days with us and we had such a blast this year. Besides our usual: Cafe Rio, Swigs, shopping, and other family fun, we also did:

ZION NATIONAL PARK
Ned & his dad hiked Angels Landing (& got a great picture, which I don't have, of a Condor) while the rest of us did various little hikes.
View from Angels Landing
The kiddos in Zion having a blast in a beautiful National Park!
and

TOP SHOT DAY
Ned got a new gun for Christmas (yes early) a handgun and we both were never huge hand gun lovers, but let me tell you, if you have never shot a hand gun, then you cannot judge. It was one of the funnest things I have ever done. I think I want a pink hand gun now...ha ha ha

We set up shaving can's and target's all over the dessert riverbed and cliffs (which is only about 10 minutes from my sister in-laws house and had a blast).  I have to say my mom and I (the only girls there) didn't do too bad ourselves!

After shooting we happened to find a little bat that was behind one of the cliff's and then Ned caught a tarantula.  Yeah I HATE spiders, so he put it all over him: shirt, hands, head...I'm sure just to please me.
My bro-in-law Matt, Mom, and hubbie
My target
My father in law, Scott, super hunter
Isn't he SO CUTE!!!!!!
Our tarantula friend 
Desert bat (head facing down)

Dec 22, 2011

Merry Christmas from the Broberg's

SO we never got around to Christmas Cards this year, so sorry, and this is the best I am gonna be able to do this year.

Family Update/Newsletter:
Obviously the biggest family news is that we are expecting our 3rd baby on March 13th 2012. We know the date because like my other 2 he will be a scheduled c-section.  We are so excited for this baby boy to join our family.  Ella is still NOT happy and in a little bit in denial that it was not a baby girl.  But I think Daddy & Asher are SUPER excited for another guy around...there are enough girls with Ella & I anyway.

NED:
Ned is still working for a non-profit company in San Bernardino County as a therapist (mostly working with children and their families).  He completed his 3,000 hours back in May, but due to California having 1 (YES ONE) person to review hours he still has not received his "official" MFT license, although we are awaiting the news any day now.  Then he has to pass the state test and he will be a licensed MFT. It has been a LONG road (college, masters, hours, and lots of low pay working) to get us to this point, so we are ever so anxious for this to happen.

HEIDI:
STILL adjusting to being a stay at home mom since January of last year.  Enjoying AND struggling through the ups and downs of motherhood and having a kid in school now (seems weird still).  I was volunteering in Ella's class, but it was too much with Asher & being pregnant.  So now just staying busy at home and still TRYING to workout (although I think it wont be much the next few months).

ELLA:
Started kindergarten and is loving school.  She was Academic student of the month the first month of school and enjoys learning and is doing well in school. Now we just need to focus on her talking in class. I think (like her mom) she has been blessed with the "chatty girl" syndrome.
She also started playing soccer, which she has NOT enjoyed as much as mom would like her to and asked to stop and return to dance class. So maybe in a few years we will try again, but we are letting her begin dance again after the new year.  She is definitely our girly girl!  Favorite color pink, loves Barbies, wants to open a hair salon with her cousin Marissa when she grows up, and she insists on wearing skirts as often as possible...so with her possibly being our only girl, we typically let her live out her girly-ness!

ASHER:
For sure the comic relief of our family. At only 3 he DAILY cracks us up with his silly antics, his sweet words, and his crazy faces and actions (not that he doesn't have nasty faces, and naughty things to say). He is pretty much ALL BOY! He is wild, never stops, loves getting dirty. Loves pulling worms apart, catching roly-poly's, and getting his clothes as dirty as he can throughout the day. We typically in a week: go to Chick-fil-A for toddler time to do crafts, story-time at the library (he has a hard time sitting still for all the stories).  He is anxious to start school like his big sister, so more than likely will start pre-school sometime after the new year (which will be a nice break for mommy and baby anyway).  He also wants to start sports, but being only 27lbs (smaller than most his younger cousins) we have been working with doctors on maintaining and watching his weight.  He is just a tiny guy, with a big head (we tease that he is our bobble head boy) but a CUTE one!

Overall:
We just feel grateful to have our health, blessings, family, and friends. After a long year (esp. with our struggles with our little nephew William: http://williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com) we just feel grateful to have all that we do. We KNOW we are blessed and thank all our friends and family for being a part of our lives and for supporting us!

Until next year and our future endeavors!

21 questions to ask your kids

So I did the 21 questions to ask your kids:

(best was Asher's #19)

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?
Ella: "Eat your food”
Asher: "Don’t Scream"

2. What makes Mommy happy?
Ella: "Cleaning Up”
Asher: ”Me, when I love you”

3. What makes Mommy sad?
Ella: “When we cry”
Asher: “Screams”

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
Ella: When you’re funny.
Asher: Dress up like a clown.

5. What was Mommy like as a child?
Ella: A Funny Girl.
Asher: Me!

6. How old is Mommy?
Ella: 25
Asher: 4

7. How tall is Mommy?
Ella: 60
Asher: Big

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Ella: Go on the computer.
Asher: Play dress up.  You could be a witch, a Woody, A Buzz, or like Ella & Asher & Daddy costume.

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
Ella: Shopping
Asher: Drive

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Ella: Piano (????I cant play ANYTHING!!!!)
Asher: Sleep

11. What is Mommy really good at?
Ella: Typing
Asher: Going on the computer

12. What is Mommy not very good at?
Ella: Drawing
Asher: Treadmill and walking.

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
Ella: Work on the computer
Asher: Gone on the computer and type.

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
Ella: Spaghetti
Asher: Chili

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
Ella: Doing my work
Asher: Because I want to eat Pop Chips

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Ella: Hello Kitty. 
Asher: Buzz.  Because I would be a big costume Buzz.

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
Ella: Eat coconuts
Asher: Play drums.

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
Ella: We both have black shirts.
Asher: Big and strong.

19. How are you and Mommy different?
Ella: Because our hair.
Asher: Because you have bumps on you (referring to freckles, he showed me) see your sprinklers.

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
Ella: Because she always says that she loves me.
Asher: She hearts.

21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
Ella: Amy’s (referring to my sister in-laws who lives in Utah)
Asher: Chick-Fil-A or the Sushi place


Taken 12/15/11 (Asher age 3 and Ella age 5)

Dec 18, 2011

Fixing Your Broken Compact or Eyeshadow

I just today broke one of my MAC eye shadows (And every time this happens, I seriously could shed a tear) so I was so happy that I came upon this....

http://www.katrinalomidze.com/2009/06/fix-your-broken-powder-makeup.html?showComment=1324268190430#c1732707414145027190

So I cant wait to try it...and though I would share the news...

Dec 15, 2011

Play Dough Cookies...Who Knew

So I was thinking some chocolate chip cookies when Ned told me he had bought some cookie dough from a co-workers kid fundraiser. Well it was actually "play dough" style cookie dough, that is edible. Let me tell you this was probably one of our kids most favorite Family Night Activities we have done in a LONG time. And Ned and I had a good laugh too.  

The kids told us what they wanted to build and we worked together to build them.  We just didn't realize when we cooked them they would be about 5x the size of what we created them at. SO FUN!

This is our ELLA cookie... 


Worm Cookie (my favorite) really cute and the kids did it!

Edible Cookie Play Dough

Amazon.com Play Cookie Dough

Dec 13, 2011

My Most requested recipe: Broccoli Salad

I am not a huge veggie person, but found this to be one of my favorite creations and probably my most requested recipe, so I thought I would just put it on my blog for all to enjoy!

Ingredients:
  • 1 bunch broccoli, uncooked, washed; cut into florets (I buy the bag at Costco for like $3.99 and use about ½ the bag
  • ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled (I buy the pre-cooked bacon pieces at Costco or SAM’s Club, really good and REALLY easy) NOT BACON BITS
  • ½ cup cashews (most expensive ingredient, I buy the container, GUESS WHERE? Costco)
  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • ¼ cup red/purple onion, chopped

Dressing
  • 1 cup mayo                         
  • 1/3 cup sugar             
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (rice vinegar or other kinds work OK too)

DIRECTIONS
Step 1: 
  • Mix the broccoli, bacon, cashews, raisins and onions in large bowl.
  • In a second bowl, beat dressing ingredients together gently until smooth.
Step 2:
  • About 10 minutes before serving, toss the salad with the dressing to allow flavors to meld.
SERVE and  ENJOY!
It is really super easy and super good.  Great for party appetizers!  Most people like it and it has some kind of veggies in it too, right!?
Side Note: You can also mix together and refrigerate overnight, just don’t mix salad and dressing until right before serving.

Dec 10, 2011

Singing Da-hoo doray!

 We had fun decorating the tree this year. We got it from Costco, so it was BIG and beautiful!  And after we finished Ella asked if we could hold hands around the tree and sing "Da-hoo doary, Da-hoo doray" like from the Grinch... so WE DID!
We did not ask them to do this, it's so cute how sweet they can be to each other!







Daddy and Ella getting the star on the Christmas Tree

Dec 7, 2011

GREAT sites to shop for Christmas & other parties...

I recently had the opportunity to have a number of VERY talented, crafty people at my house for a little boutique we had recently and thought this would be a GREAT chance to do a little last minute Christmas shopping... (I know a lot of you said you were interested in getting some of these items since you missed the boutique).


Around the Roses
aroundtheroses.etsy.com
I got one for baby (they had turtles, doggies, dinos)
IF I was having a GIRL!
 Sassy Cassy’s Fashions   
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassycassysfashions
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sassy-Cassys-Fashions/267679539941284
I got one of these (boy color) for baby boy
I got a Pirate one of these for baby, but Asher stole it....

Too Sweets (Confectionery & Catering) 
(I have her menu via pdf so email me for menu & prices, GREAT for family parties & PERFECT for the holidays)
Tami Cuellar 909-319-6813
I did these for a bridal shower and they were perfect and SUPER affordable
SHE has TONS of sweet goodies & catering too! I HIGHLY recommend her!!!!

Arbonne by Tricia Morgan 
http://www.facebook.com/Arbonne.triciam
http://triciam.myarbonne.com/
I LOVE the hand scrub from her as well, if you use it, this is the BEST one...don't have a picture, but check it out!
LOVE having my brushes, this set is only $17.50
Perfect for the Holidays




Little Penelope Lane 
 http://littlepenelopelane.blogspot.com/
You have probably seen me rock a number of these lately! LOVE them for no hair doing days!
Kim’s Lil’ Bow Peep
(she has done Ella's school colors for spirit day each week!)
http://kimslilbowpeep.blogspot.com/
i got the tuxedo one for baby boy! (She has cute reversible 2 sided ones as well)