Family Vacation 2011: Bear Lake (part II)

I had intentions of shooting some personal work while we were on vacation.  You know, early morning walks along the shore - landscapes and details.  But it turns out I was way too busy sleeping in, eating milkshakes, hanging out in the sun and playing cards to make time for photography.  So all these pictures are pretty much snapshots for the benefit of our family history.

While at Bear Lake, we celebrated Nate's 5th Birthday.  There were water balloons, cupcakes and presents!

Ellie was pretty sure water balloons were the coolest thing anyone had ever given her.

Nate received some pretty great gifts AND a birthday kiss from Eleanor.

Of course we had to take a photo of the whole group.

This vacation was so much fun - I can't wait for next year!

Aside from the hair and skin tone (give me a break, I live in NY), I think Sean and I are starting to look more and more alike as we get older. 

Sometimes it freaks me out.

Smile real big if you love Bear Lake!

Family Vacation 2011: Bear Lake (part I)

This was our second annual Hardie Family Vacation that we started doing each summer with Joe's parents and siblings.  Coming from a family that never really did extended family vacations, I happen to think this is the best tradition ever!  Last summer we kicked it off in Branson, MO which is where Joe's parents spent their honeymoon and where they took a number of trips as a family growing up.  This year the location was Bear Lake, ID.  My sister in law Mandee's family has a cabin up there and we had SO MUCH FUN!  It was definitely one of the highlights of our summer.  Here are some photos to show you what we did.

There was a lot of time spent out on the lake.

I stayed in the boat and shot photos, most everyone else enjoyed wakeboarding.

worst photo-bomb ever!  Sorry I missed your big jump, honey.

Becca and Joe working it like models in the back of the boat.

Gracie had some solid runs on the wakeboard.

After capturing one wipe-out, I finally understood the real joy of photographing water sports.

Becca still managed to look decent, even in a life vest that was 10 times too big for her.

Then it was Carl's turn - and boy did he give us a good show!

Then Dave turn a spin on the slalom, but the rest of the time he was driving the boat.

Thanks Dave!

Hands down, my favorite person to watch was my brother Sean.

He had the best wipe-outs ever and his facial expressions were priceless.

Seriously, I've never seen someone biff it on a wakeboard the way he did.

These photos make me laugh every time I see them.

There's something so great about seeing your little brother like this.

Thoughts on a less than stellar day

- Gosh, I am so tired.  Sometimes this baby growing really wears you out.

- Ellie still has a cough.  The fever is gone, but the congestion remains.  Makes me second guess my decision not to take her into the doctor a few days ago.  Hope it's not a rare tropical illness or a lingering ear infection that will rob her of her hearing.

 -Why did my husband make a dentist appointment for me today?  Sometimes I fear he cares more about my oral hygiene than my mental health.

- Trader Joe's, I love your prices - but I wish you were off of the A train instead of the 1.  I'm not sure I have the energy to make it home now.

- Bless you, woman who helped me up the subway stairs with the stroller.  I fear I would have been left to live down there forever if it hadn't been for you.  You are truly an angel.

- Probably should have ordered groceries yesterday so that I would have something to eat other than the Trader Joe's chips and hummus, which were very recently purchased for a very specific dinner menu.  Ah well, at least this lunch doesn't require clean dishes - we're a little low right now.

- Oh, Ellie, please stay content for 5 more minutes in there.  Momma just laid down for a nap and is desperately tired.

- ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME ELEANOR ROSE!?!?  This is the day you decide to remove your poopy diaper in your crib?

- Seriously?  My phone doesn't recognize the words Ellie or poopy when I try to text.  This makes it very difficult to keep Joe apprised of the day's developments.

- Feeling very torn.  Part of me wants to do everything for my family - plan the healthy meals, save the money, decorate the house, keep it clean, potty train the child.  But part of me wants it to all disappear for just one day so I can rest.  Just one day.

- Canteen empty.  Solution?  Blue's Clues marathon and Ellie's potty training M&M's from the freezer.  6pm can't come soon enough.


** Have no fear folks.  I'll be back soon with chipper updates and pictures of fun times.  But I'm totally scrapping today.  Sometimes you just have to accept that they can't all be your best days.  Can I get an Amen? **

25 in my 25th year

This picture has nothing to do with the post.

I just thought it was really funny the way I found Ellie after naptime one day.

So, I've seen this idea all over the internet and have always wanted to try it.  25 seems like an epic number - so here it is.  

My list of 25 things to do before my next birthday.

1. make a quilt

2. read the New Testament

3. give birth to our second child (I know, it's a gimme, but you need some of those on a list like this)

4. read 10 books

5. go to a foreign country

6. pick apples or pumpkins - something fall-ish

7. learn to watercolor

8. visit a farm

9. ride a bike (I know how - I just haven't been on one since moving to NYC)

10. donate to the Fistula Foundation

11. paint the entryway

12. make a friend

13. go sailing

14. make a website for birth photography

15. wade in the Atlantic

16. get a houseplant

17. picnic in Central Park

18. eat at Serendipity

19. sing karaoke

20. get away with Joe

21. host a post secret party

22. have a root beer float (once again, it's just been a while)

23. give away a Book of Mormon

24. get a pen pal

25. learn how to wear eye liner

Some of them are fun, some are important, some are going to be challenges for me.  All together I think it makes for a great year coming up.  

P.S. Are you as obsessed with lists as I am?  This list is a supplement to my 100 things to do before I die list, my New York bucket list, and we can't forget the New Year's resolution list.  How are your goals coming along?  Please tell me about some.

July Birthdays in review

Well, it was much earlier in the summer that Joe and I celebrated our birthdays.  But being the compulsive blogger that I am, I can't just move on without writing something about our little celebrations.

For Joe's 26th birthday we spent the afternoon touring the new section of Highline Park (along with every other person in Manhattan) and then we had delicious ice cream at Chelsea Market.  Photos below.  That evening my special gift to Joe was giving him a few free hours to rollerblade to his heart's content.

My 25th birthday was celebrated with an evening out.  We saw the last installment of Harry Potter (very rare for us to actually GO to a movie) and had dinner in Little Italy.  It was lots of fun, but sorry, no pictures.  Instead, enjoy these photos from Joe's celebratory day.

 Before we hit the Highline we saw this crazy inflatable exhibit that felt a lot like being in a nintendo game.

 Where's Waldo?  Can you find her?

I think the interesting views are the best part of Highline Park.

Ellie enjoyed picking pebbles and eating apricots.

This afternoon together was a simple but nice way to celebrate Joe's birth.

Hurricane Preparedness

Flashlights and extra batteries - check
Butt loads of clean water - check
Rice, beans, and other food storage items - double check
Slight fear of being without AC - of course
Blog posts already completed so you won't even know I'm in the dark - coming up
Long list of items to buy after the emergency to update our 72 hr. kits - you know it

We are prepared, and so we feel calm about the impending storm.

Our thoughts and prayers are with friends and neighbors - hoping everyone stays safe.

Is it wrong that part of me is looking forward to so much uninterrupted time with my two favorite people?

Bring on the candlelight and board games - we're making the most of this storm.

Wedded Bliss

4 years

1.5 children

2 degrees

6 roadtrips

3 cities

4 apartments

0 pets

millions of "I love you's"

countless kisses

a lifetime of laughter

an eternity of love

Dearest Joe, I am so blessed to share this journey with you.  Thank you for being mine and for showing me what love is every single day.  I am grateful we have forever because one life would not be enough to spend with you.  Happy Anniversary, love.  4 years into it some people may wonder, do we still have it?

Oh yes.  We do.

photos by Kelli Ward

Summer Garden Couscous Salad

You should hurry and make this recipe before summer is over.  You won't want to miss it - it's really that good.  If you want to make yourself feel extra good, try using some produce from your local farmer's market or your very own garden. Hurray for summer!

Recipe from Taste of Home

*some small instructions altered by me

1 C corn (we like to cook fresh corn first, let it cool and cut it from husk - we've also used frozen corn thawed when fresh wasn't an option)

1 C chicken broth

1 C uncooked couscous

1 medium cucumber, halved and sliced

1 1/2 C cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 C crumbled Feta

1/4 C chopped red onion

3 Tbs minced fresh parsley

3 Tbs olive oil

3 Tbs lemon juice

1 tsp dried oregano

3/4 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Cook the corn and set aside (if using frozen, just add it later with the other veggies)

In a small saucepan, bring broth to boil

Stir in couscous, remove from heat, cover and let stand 5-10 min or until water is absorbed

Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool slightly

In a large bowl combine cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, onion, parsley and corn

Stir in couscous

In a small bowl whisk the oil, lemon, and seasonings

Pour over couscous mixture, toss to coat

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until chilled

I know it looks long, but really - it's simple to make and SO worth it.  Hope you all enjoy!  Leave me a comment and let me know if you ended up making it.