in the past 6 weeks...

we've been busy! here is a rundown of some of the highlights in no particular order (because i'm lazy) and in list form (because it's quick and easy).
in the past six weeks:

1. we witnessed snow in new jersey! better late than never, i always say and it's put me in a white christmas mood today-- hence the blupdate (i just invented that word. it means "blog update" in case you couldn't readily tell.) this is the current view out my window:

2. i celebrated my thirty-somethingth birthday. :)

3. i made the best cake ever for the 100th time (not really sure on the number, but it seems that way.) behold the toasty-coconutty goodness. (thanks jones family!)

4. i ate a LOT of said cake (another piece as a reward for blogging soon, i think) and a lot of chicken tikka masala (with loads of veggies tossed in) YUM!

5. i showed alan what this cake involves. pretended he was going to learn to make it so he can do the job next year.

6. hadley started preschool! look at the little cutie!

7. we took her first "official" first day of school photo -- she proudly tells everyone she goes "to a REAL school" (as opposed to the co-op we did with ward members last year)

8. i did a lot of grateful praying...SOMEONE pulled some strings to make this preschool thing happen.

9. i laid to rest my fears about her going from being home all day to full-day kindergarten in the fall...she'll be ready, since pirate preschool (yes, real name) is everyday.

10. i have turned into a full-time resident of my car, thanks to aforementioned daily trips to and from preschool.

11. i set a world's car-trip record a couple weeks back. it went a little something like this:

load up kids (hence referred to as LUK) drive alan to trainstation (woke up too late to bike it)

drive home

LUK drive X to school

drive home to get H's drawing she forgot that she HAS to give to miss susie

drive to H's ballet class

LUK drive home to change into yoga clothes
drive H to cricket's house so she can catch a ride to preschool with her
drive back to teach a yoga class

LUK (okay, just ruby)

drive home

LUK (again, just ruby)
go pick up H

drive home

LUK go pick up X

drive home

LUK go pick up alan

12. ruby has gotten even fatter and cuter than before (who knew it was possible)

13. ruby has gotten pretty good at playing in here: (santa brought it)

14. we took a mini and much-needed vacay to bethany beach (thanks gardeners! we needed it!)

15. alan turned into a shopping fiend at the outlets, leaving me to entertain the troops.

16. we found out that 75 cents makes a lot of fun and that the little merry-go-round packs a whallop of happy good times. :) check out the faces.

17. we ate yummy fish tacos at el dorado.

18. we promised the kids they could play mini-golf, but we all got sick on the warmest day and 6 of the 11 people at the beach house puked before we all made it home a day late.

19. alan and the kids played the coldest game of mini-golf ever after we all recovered. rubes and i stayed in the car.

20. pre-sickness, i snapped one of the only pics i've ever taken at the beach house. i get into total lazy relaxation mode and forget to take any. but here's benny, the peaceful shark...

21. we did a lot of laundry at the beach. more than should be allowed on "vacation".

22. we hosted a christmas-eve dinner and filled our little house to the brim. i think it's safe to say a good time was had by all.

23. we waited anxiously for santa....and for the official okay to come downstairs.

24. we decorated our new home for the holidays and hung our stockings by the chimney with care

25. i managed to snap a pre-christmas-morning-chaos shot...H had a new dollhouse under that huge red blanket you see at lower right...it took her a good 10 minutes to even notice it, and then only because her brother pointed it out.

26. ruby staged a full-scale revolt while we went out to eat...she made it clear she wanted solid foods and she wanted them NOW! check out the video clip HERE

27. i purchased fabric to begin making H and R THIS CUTE DRESS (sans apron) for easter.

28. hadley started reading "Bob Books". pretty easy, but still, pretty exciting.

29. we found out that xander grew 3 inches in 9 months. (and gained 10 pounds)

30. i accidentally deleted 2 pics i wanted to include in this post.