LA LA Land

I am sorry for the lapse between posts.  I just got back from a very relaxing (albeit short) weekend in LA.  I am sorry to say that I didn't take one blasted picture:(  I will just have to relay it via words!  I went to visit Amy and Jadon all alone with no kids to have one last hurrah before I can't travel anymore.  I will say flying at 33 weeks was very tiring.  Sparky was bouncing all around and one of the very concerned flight attendants wouldn't even offer me anything but water.  She was very worried that I would get dehydrated.  Anyway, Amy took the day off work Friday and picked me up at LAX.  She drove to Malibu so we could get some delicious lunch.  I had fish and chips and just soaking in the view.  It was awesome!  Then we really just relaxed the rest of the day and went to bed kind of early.  On Saturday, we woke up and went to the flower market.  That was really fun to walk around and pick out flowers.  If I wasn't flying I would have bought some to bring home.  Then we went to brunch and a very fancy place.  Again, it was so nice to enjoy and meal and conversation with two lovely ladies and not be interrupted once.  We talked about a bunch of stuff that didn't include kids! After, we went to this place called Happy Feet.  This was another experience on it's own!  It is a massage place where there are no bells and whistles.  You sit in a chair and receive basically a full body massage.  You do not take any clothes off, there are no scented candles or robes.  It is basic and it costs $30!  It was the first time in a long time that I didn't feel hugely pregnant.  It was awesome and really relaxing.  Last, we went to an awesome dinner at a fancy french restaurant and enjoyed a lovely meal.  I flew home early Sunday.  I wish I could have stayed for a week but I felt really lucky to jet away and have some time to myself.  Chris of course held down the fort while I was gone.  I missed them but I needed a little get away before my whole life changes in 41 days!!!!!

Texas Sheet Cake

I have come across a new recipe (for me at least) and I just HAD to share!!!  I follow a blog about food written by a relatively new friend named Alex.  She is married to Chris' friend from dental school, Greg and I have known her for a couple of years.  They live in Seattle but she told me she had a food blog and I was instantly stalking it:)  I have never been let down by this girl.  I have made a few things she has suggested and when I saw her post about this cake I knew I HAD to try it!  I wanted to make one for a friend that needed a little pick me up recently and of course being 8 months pregnant I made on simultaneously for myself (I didn't think she would appreciate a half eaten cake!!) This cake is quick, easy, delicious and for someone who isn't 100%-completely-in-love-with-chocolate-cake, a hit out of the park! (I am picky about my chocolate cake)  Here is the link to Alex's blog and you should check in on it from time to time because it is a good one!  http://www.yumsandloves.com/

Bloomsday 2012

I have done Bloomsday for the last 5 years so when my dad suggested we walk it together I was like "sure, why not?!"  Well maybe because I am 31+ weeks pregnant and haven't been going to the gym regularly:)  He assured me we would mosey and enjoy the sights.  That was good enough for me!  Not my best time but we did it and had a lot of fun!  It was cool to not worry about time (which was 2:43) and if I had to go to the bathroom (which I did).  We had an Otter Pop after Doomsday hill and chatted like two old ladies:)  I had a blast this year with my daddy!  xo

Happy 6th Birthday Matthew!

Man, time flies!  I can't believe he is 6!  It seems like only yesterday we were living in Ohio and I felt like I was the last person on the planet who needed to have their baby.  I was 10 days past due and begging my doctor to induce me.  I went in Monday morning May 1st all ready to have the baby (I really had no birth plan but really just to have him) and 17 hours later I was so tired and mad because not only was he 10 days late, he couldn't even come on his induction date!  He was quickly encroaching on MY birthday so c-section it was!  At 12:57 am on May 2nd, 2006 Matthew Christopher Herzog came into the world weighing 8lbs 5oz.  He was the perfect baby (he really was!) and I thought "I got this motherhood thing!" :)  Well, maybe not quite down pat but I continually work at it!  He really is the sweetest, most loving boy and this morning I woke up to find him nestled between me and Chris.  Now that I know him, it really doesn't surprise me that it took surgery to get him out.  He is so independent but loves to be near us.  I am so lucky to be his mother and so happy for him on his birthday!

May 2nd, 2006

1st birthday

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

4th birthday

5th birthday

6th birthday

Busy yet very fun weekend!

Where do I begin!?  It seems like a whirlwind weekend:)  It started on Saturday with a double header soccer game (which the black bats played really well in) followed by a birthday party of a good friend.  By the time I got home on Saturday night I was pooped (exacerbated by the fact that I have been fighting this stupid cold for over a week:() But sure enough we woke up Sunday bright and early to go trout fishing with some friends...yes you read correctly, trout fishing.  I know doesn't seem like a Herzog thing to do but we are trying to broaden our horizons!!  Matthew caught a couple (I am sure with some close guidance), then it was time to go to Liv's first communion followed by baseball practice and then out to dinner with Liv's family and friends to celebrate!  She was adorable and was beaming all day!!  We managed to capture a couple of pictures of Matthew and his trout!  The crazy thing is that this week doesn't slow a bit!  We have two VIP birthdays and my parents are visiting! 

There are days when they love each other...

...and days when I question bringing a third child into this family because my other two fight so much!  I know it is just sibling stuff but man I can't stand to listen to them bicker!!  Anyway, luckily this post is about the first: them loving each other.  Last night as I was making dinner, I was watching them play outside in the gorgeous weather we have been having.  Then I noticed they were both swinging on the swing set.  Matthew had somehow linked the swings together so that they could both swing and he could pump for the both of them.  (Maggie isn't quite there yet...so hurry up and get here Mimi so you can teach her how!)  I thought I was going to cry because it was one of the cutest things I had ever seen!  I had to take photographic proof so in the future I can show them that there were days that they loved each other.  I was also proud at the problem solving skills Matthew had in thinking up a solution! 

Homemade Donuts...YUM

I made homemade donuts on Sunday and boy were they delicious!  I tad bit of work but worth every minute waiting for them to double rise.  I have always wanted to try and make donuts but what really made me do it was our friend/neighbor is very allergic to peanuts and can't eat at bakeries because there could be contamination:(  Poor guy...no 4 year old should have to deal with Hostess donuts his whole life so I was bound and determined to make the guy some safe donuts that were delicious!  I decided to try three different toppings and settled on glazed, cinnamon/sugar, and chocolate.  Chris wants me to try maple next time and I may try to fill some next time too.  They were all pretty decadent but my favorite was the glazed! Obviously not something you can do often but I figure whenever I get an order from the neighbor (and friend)...that is when I will make them!  FYI: I was told they were a hit in the Lofstedt household!  YAY!