In the last week...

We have been very busy...

Looking cool in our new shades...

Visiting the Continental Divide by Loveland Ski Area...

Visiting a cool mountain stream.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yesterday morning (sigh). I have loved reading all seven of the books. I started reading number one last year and I couldn't put it down. I devoured the rest of the series. J.K. Rowling opens up a new world with Harry Potter. The seventh and final book was everything I hoped it would be. All my questions were answered. There was so much that happened in this book, I will probably have to read it again to make sure I didn't miss any thing.

If you have never given the Harry Potter books a chance, you really should. They are a fun, quick read. I will admit that I cried at the end of the book. I have so enjoyed reading these stories, it was sad to have the story finished. Thank you, J.K. Rowling for opening up such a n imaginative world and encouraging so many to read.

Cherry Girl

Blake has discovered the summer treat of cherries. Thus, the red color on my 22 month old's lips (not lipstick...just natural cherry juice). We bought some beautiful cherries at the new market by our house (love it!). Now, all she wants are cherries.

Such a big girl

Today, Blake surprised us all by going in the potty for the first time. She was so excited and clapped with glee. She got a butterfly sticker and after dinner, we went to Cold Stone and got some vanilla ice cream with sprinkles (a first!). We then went to the Tattered Cover and got a new story book about using the potty.

Yeah Blake! I am so proud of you!

Mmmmmm....

We love bananas bread at our house. I make banana bread almost every week in the autumn and winter. In the summer, our house is so hot that I try not to use our oven at all...too bad for us, we had six bananas that were ready to be made in to bread. Yum! Two loaves for us and one for Aunt Brie. I got this recipe from Andy's grandma...I have made it enough times that I have changed it a bit. Here is the recipe:

Put the oven to 300 degrees

You will bake the bread for 55 minutes

1/2 cup butter - nuked for 20 seconds to make it soft

3/4 cup sugar

2 ripe bananas

2 cups flour

a bit of cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

In a mixing bowl (I use my trusty Kitchen Aid) cream butter and sugar. Add the bananas (without the peels of course) and mix until combined. Add the bit of cinnamon (sometimes at this point I add some wheat germ too). In a small bowl mix together the flour and the baking soda. Add the flour and soda to the banana mixture. The dough will be really thick...add 1-2 tsp. of milk until it thins out a bit. Place the dough in a greased bread pan. Put in the oven on the middle rack for 55-60 minutes. You can also try adding peanut butter, chocolate chips, or oats to this dough. Enjoy!

Yes, I am a big fan of

Harry Potter. I have been anticipating Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for many many moons now. Last night, we were able to sneak off (babyless) to see the fifth Harry Potter movie. The movie followed the book very closely...the book was so sad and the movie did a great job giving the same feeling. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione) were wonderful! It is so neat to see them progress to the actors they are today. Now all I have to do is wait a few more days until the seventh and final book comes out (June 21st...but I might go pick it up on the 20th at midnight...yes, I know I'm a little strange).

Canada Oh Canada

We recently returned from a lovely week in Whistler B.C. Whistler is such a beautiful place. We stayed in an amazing house not far from Whistler village. There was so much to do...here are just a few of the things we did:

Played in the hot tub, Went to the movies, went downhill mountain biking, golfed, read, ate seafood, saw Grammy and Gramps Dunn, went shopping in the village, tried to get a cool accent, went on a canopy tour of the Whistler Rain Forest, saw some black bears, went on a walk around the neighborhood, played at the water park, read some more, saw our good friends bungee jump from a bridge, saw a shrew, went to Starbucks, ate ice cream, had so much fun.