coupon: good for one new grandbaby

My parents have been in Europe for nearly three weeks and when they arrived home the other day this "coupon" greeted them in the mail, along with Shane's law school graduation announcement and photos of the big day.

It's kind of hard to read online -- I saved it for printing on paper so it's a little small for the web. (Can you tell I'm really hooked on this painted chevron pattern..?)

We did the same thing for Shane's parents, and sent a similar coupon for "one new niece or nephew" to our siblings. A coupon for "one new great-grandbaby" was sent to my grandparents and my sister just informed me that this baby will likely be our Grandma and Grandpa Sellers' 100th great-grandchild. (I say "likely" because with so many cousins out there I wouldn't be surprised if someone else has good news they've been sitting on as well -- but still, pretty cool concept all in all.)

So there you have it -- Christian will finally be a big brother sometime around November 21 -- just in time for the holidays.

a hot & happy memorial day

Memorial Day breakfast with at local church congregation. Tribute to our veterans then and now. Time at the park with good friends (and 95-degree weather!). Afternoon naps with the air conditioner blasting. Dinner of black bean burgers, sweet potato fries, seasoned cucumbers and buttermilk onion rings. All topped off with root beer floats.

Feeling so grateful today for the nation in which we live and the men, women and their families who have sacrificed so much to preserve the freedoms we take for granted every day.

May God continue to bless America and all those working to protect her.

graduation day

On Sunday, May 15, Shane graduated from law school.

After four long years of year-round school (he worked full time by day and went to class at night, which meant he always had summer classes too), this day was definitely greeted with a sigh of relief by both of us (and probably Christian too). Shane's sister, Nancy, joined us to celebrate.

Despite Shane's insistence that the ceremony was no big deal, that any idiot can graduate from law school after getting in, and that passing the bar is the event to be celebrated, I couldn't help but tear up when I spotted him in the crowd and waved to him with Christian in my arms.

Don't let this cute little guy fool you. Christian didn't sit for one second of the diploma ceremony. We even left the building for a bit during the keynote speaker's address to get him a milkshake (I was hoping something cold might slow him down). But it was all worth it when I was able to hand him off to Shane and they picked up his diploma together.

Law school has been our entire married life. That's all we know how to do together. Guess we'll have to get some new hobbies. ;)

These pictures completely crack me up. Christian is sitting on a hippo (wish you could see it better) and he's making what he believes to be hippo sounds (and faces, supposedly).

weekend getaway

With Christian's Aunt Nancy in town for graduation, Shane and I were able to escape for a quick weekend getaway. It was short but so nice to "check out" of the craziness that is life in D.C. for a bit. The hotel we stayed at was so well hidden we felt like we were almost in an alternate universe. It was fabulous. So peaceful and calm -- and still so colonial Virginia. :)

Of course, we can't thank Nancy enough to watching Christian for us. It was such a comfort to know that he was in such good hands.

my first shabby apple dress

Got a birthday package in the mail last week from my sweet mother. Guess what was inside?

A dress from Shabby Apple. I've always wanted to order one but have never gotten up the guts (I hate having to return thing through the mail).

Don't those stripes just make you happy? And there's a bonus: pockets in the skirt!
I haven't got a picture yet of me in it but let's just imagine it'll look just as cute as it goes on the girl above, shall we?

Thanks, Mom!

(BONUS: A note came with the dress that reads, "By buying this dress, you're helping change the lives of women around the world. Shabby Apple is sharing a percentage of its profits with Unitus, an organization working to bring life-changing micro-loans to the world's working poor." Then it gives the name and details of a woman benefiting from the micro-loans.)

turning two

I've been thinking a lot lately about my little boy turning two. It's all happening so fast. This song/prayer from Mindy Gledhill really tugs at my heartstrings right now.

Hourglass

Little boy, when you speak
I can’t help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans

Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could take a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan

When you reach for the stars
Don’t forget who you are
And please don’t turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life’s an hourglass
Life’s an hourglass

Story’s read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask

happenings

Gosh, I've fallen off the blogging circuit lately. I've been a bad blog reader and writer.

For the most part I just blame an incredibly busy final semester for Shane, coupled with two family weddings out West, and a lot of craziness in between.

But hey, we've nearly there. This is Shane's last week of classes and then he has only ONE final exam left. Just ONE. And then he graduates. On May 15.

During the last month or so, here's what we've been up to:

- visiting the animals at Frying Pan Farm and the National Zoo

- running the Monument Ave 10k together down in Richmond on a GORGEOUS spring morning (our first race as a couple)

- watching/listening to LDS General Conference (and taking LOTS of notes -- wasn't it fabulous?)

- working, working and more working (the budget battle on the Hill has kept me busy and Shane's office is ALWAYS busy)

- enjoying the cherry blossoms and fabulous signs up spring all over town

- playing with some fabulous longtime friends we never get to see

- dining with cousins in town for spring break

- Shane acing a final mock trial performance (with a great assist from friend Will Wittwer)

- flying to Idaho for Kayla's big day (and forgetting the camera -- so we'll have to wait for pictures -- so sad!)

- celebrating Christian's 2nd birthday while in Idaho with yummy Cocoa Bean cupcakes (again, no camera! but, we're doing some more celebrating this week because he has yet to open any of our presents for him)

- gearing up for a California trip to spend Easter with family

stuffed peppers with orzo and basil

We tried out this recipe over the weekend and were very happy with the results. I've had stuffed peppers on the mind for some time now (peppers in almost any form make me happy, but roasted are probably my fav) and this recipe was simple enough to lure me in. Maybe that's because it had peppers and fresh basil. ;)

The recipe comes from Two Peas & Their Pod. I notice that when I discover a new cooking blog I get on a kick, sifting through their recipes for new vegetarian options so we try out a number of them in a row. I think this blog has a nice balance because the wife of the duo is a vegetarian, but they still prepare meat dishes for her husband (and kids?).

(Note: These reheat nicely -- we took them to work for lunch and they were great out of the microwave.)

Orzo Stuffed Peppers
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
1 (28 ounce can) can diced tomatoes*
4 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups orzo
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus more for sprinkling on top
1/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for sprinkling on top
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
6 sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange)

1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.

2. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for two more minutes. Stir in the spinach. Cook until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat.

3. Pour the tomatoes into a large bowl and stir in the spinach mixture. Set aside.

4. Meanwhile, bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the orzo and cook for five minutes. The orzo should be only partially cooked because it will finish cooking in the oven. Strain the orzo pasta, making sure you save the vegetable broth.

5. Stir the orzo into the tomato spinach mixture. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the basil.

6. Pour the vegetable broth into a 3-quart baking dish. Slice the tops off the peppers and remove all ribs and seeds. Cut a very thin slice from the base so the peppers will stand up in the baking dish.

7. Place the peppers in the baking dish and spoon the orzo mixture into the peppers. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40- 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle the top of each pepper with additional cheese and continue baking until the cheese is golden, about 15 minutes.

8. Remove from the oven and let peppers sit for five minutes. Serve warm.

Makes 6 stuffed peppers

*Note: We did as the recipe said and use canned tomatoes but I can't wait to try fresh, ripe tomatoes -- even something small and sweet such as grape tomatoes would probably be fabulous.

23 months

Could it be that Christian's second year on earth has flown by faster than the first?

Maybe it just feels that way because he is twice as fast as we are these days.

enabling power & lifting burdens

I didn't get to catch the whole thing (Christian was a little clingy when I dropped him off at nursery), but I have to say what I heard of Shane's Sunday School lesson was EXCELLENT. He focused in on not only the redeeming power of the atonement of Christ but also the enabling power we can ask for. The Spirit was strong as people made comments and I left feeling an increased desire to pray for strength to progress.

Then, I stumbled across this video on "Lifting Burdens" at lds.org this morning which emphasizes the some of the same principles. I thought I'd post in case any of you could use a "boost" this week.