Favorite Moments (and a few favorite pics)

It's been sort of crazy last week and a half. Ken made it home safely from Milan (with some very yummy chocolate in tow) and I've been working a ton, preparing a presentation for work and writing a talk for church (which I gave last Sunday so I think I'm safe for a few years).

Here are a few of my favorite moments of the last 2 weeks:

-- on the way to dinner the other evening, Luke was doing everything he could to entertain Evie (which mainly consisted of flopping around in his car seat, yelling goofy noises, and playing an obnoxious version of peek-a-boo). However, Evie found all of this extrordinarily hilarious and was rolling with laughter -- about the loudest and longest I've ever heard her laugh.

-- I went to do an 8 or 9 mile run around the chain of lakes in Minneapolis (really, really gorgeous loop -- lots of boats, trees and great people watching). It was a beautiful day and I ended up taking a wrong turn and ended up running almost 12 miles. But I did it at a just-under 9:00 pace. And I think this means I'll be ready for the 1/2 marathon I want to do in October :)

-- cuddling with Evie. She is just the happiest, smiliest, cuddliest baby. And I've been working mostly days, so I've been able to snuggle her at night before bed. I just love baby snuggles.

-- making cookies with Luke. I made these ginger/chocolate cookies suggested by my friend Caroline (super yummy) and Luke -- who loves to cook -- was so excited to help "stir it, scrape it, make it, bake it" (a quote from "In the Night Kitchen" one of his favorite books). I didn't think he'd really like them -- they had a lot of fresh ginger in them -- but he loved them and was just COVERED in cookie dough after he finished licking the beaters. A happy, sticky, chocolaty mess.

-- starting the job search. yay, a real job!

-- shopping for proper attire for the job search. I just got this suit from Ann Taylor Loft. A little pricey, but not bad for a suit I guess. And I love it! Now I just need the shoes . . .

A few pics from the ward labor day picnic a few weeks ago. Luke and his 2 little buddies spent a solid 30 minutes throwing ice on the ground, laughing hysterically.

Thanks to Stacey for taking these great pics and letting me steal them . . .

dirty boy + eating ice == muddy, muddy mess