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Home
After several weeks of conference filled, family filled, and work filled traveling we have enjoyed settling back in to home life. The carved pumpkin and fall décor have resigned and our fresh-cut Christmas tree stands proud in our livingroom. It is perfectly cold outside and wonderfully warm inside. We are glad to lay low through Christmas and enjoy our surroundings as we experience this season for the first time with Oliver. His innocence has made us mindful of what we are imparting to him. Balancing the joy of giving and receiving with worshiping the one who came to us in the form of a baby.
He is a rowdy 10 months old, eager to crawl anywhere his chubby little legs will take him. He daily fills us with joy.
Here are a few family pics that Donna took of us in Texas. Check out our albums page for a lot more from this trip.
Ice, Ice Baby
Welcoming Winter
A Walk on the Wild Side
We never know where a walk through our neighborhood might lead. This morning it led to an eye-to-eye encounter with a bull moose. We went ahead and let him have the right away, finding an alternate route back home for ourselves.
Snow has already hit the ground here in Anchorage. Hard to believe. Fall was a beautiful week this year. Here comes winter ready or not.
So long Summer
First Fair
First Ascent
First Snow
Hangin' with the Shattenberg babes
Best 30th Birthday with Best Friends
End of the Trail
Beets Are Ugly
But boy are they good. I had no idea. I have just discovered how delicious this unsightly vegetable can be. In my mind beets were those weird, red jelly slices that are served at Thanksgiving. I have since learned those are cranberries, non the less beets remained an item I would not think twice about passing up on the vegetable aisle. By forgetting to opt out of them in our CSA box I inadvertently ended up with a drawer full this week. I went to my friend Jenny about what to do and she passed on this quick, easy, and irresistible recipe. Here it is straight from her:
Mix 1/3 C olive oil, ¼ C balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbs honey and a few chopped shallots (or red onion—I never have shallots around the house)
Peel the beets and cut them into large, bite sized pieces.
Drizzle some of your vinegar mixture over the beets, tossing to coat.
Place two large squares of foil on top of each other (so you have two layers—this will prevent the beets from leaking all over your baking sheet). Place a pile of beets in the center and then wrap the foil up around them to create a packet. I usually do more than one packet—maybe fit a total of 2 cut up beets per packet.
Place the packets on a baking sheet and cook at 400 degrees for around an hour—until the beets pierce easily w/ a fork.
They are delicious plain this way, but I love to put them in a salad w/ goat cheese, avocado, and toasted walnuts. Use the leftover vinegar mixture as dressing.
There ya have it. I hope you too will experience the joy of beets this week!
Proud Wife and Mama
Oliver's big accomplishment of the week has been sitting up on his own. He enjoys it so much and doesn't seem to mind too much when he tumples over every now and then. We are having to find news ways to entertain his growing mind and body since he can now take down his play mat with one hand and tries to destroy his mobile. Check out the movies page to hear his new found voice.
Summer Fun
Here are some pics from our latest adventures:
Kayaker's Cove
Here are some pics from our trip (you can also view them from the 'Albums' page).
Let the Travels Begin
After Portland, Oliver and I (Mandy) headed to Texas for his debut trip. Texas was Oliver's introduction to HEAT and many family and friends. He was spoiled by his grandma and grandad and loved on by his Uncle Kole, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Donna.
A highlight of the trip was a mini-reunion with my life-long friends and all of our new babies My how we have grown since our college days.
FACING MY FEARS...
A few days after Oliver was born I was struck with the fearful realization that one day we would have to get on a plane together. That day arrived and unfortunately was worse than I feared. To be fair, four out of the five flights did go remarkably well. The only tragedy was an unfortunate diaper crisis. He grew out of diapers on the flight out of Anchorage. Thankfully we had spare clothes with us.
It was the flight we took alone from Houston to Anchorage (9 hours total with a stop in Seattle) where everything came undone. And by alone I mean, without Jonathan. We certainly were not alone in the sense that it was full flight. Oliver was very uncomfortable riding in my lap since he is quite a mover and a shaker (like his father). If I wasn't walking the aisle with him or standing in the bathroom letting him kick around on the changing table, he would start to fuss. Fussing isn't so bad, except the fuss only lasted about five seconds before he would break into the most ear-piercing scream I have ever heard. People around me would jump and cover their ears, even though they had ear phones on. This crying would last anywhere from 5-15 minutes, however long it took me to wait for the fasten seat belt sign to turn off and dash over the people next to me into the aisle or back to the bathroom. I have never found so much solace in an airplane bathroom.
Gone are the days where I sit on a plane, reading a magazine with my biggest concern being lack of leg room.
Spring Showers
Happy Oliver is 11 weeks old. He is astounding us everyday with his new found voice, charming expressions, and constant engagement.
My friend Andrea was up visiting from California. She makes me laugh more than anyone I know. She and Oliver hit it off. Who do you think he is beaming for in the picture above?
Photo Shoot
Oliver is TWO MONTHS old. He is adorable...cooing, laughing, smiling, and growing more every day. He is most responsive to the faces of animals. He beams when he sees his monkey mirror in the car, the zebra above his chair, the lemur on his play mat, and his daddy. He has a thing for the wild already. We are emerging out of the newborn fog and daily becoming more acquainted with this new life. Its pretty cool.
Enjoy.
Grandmas Galore and Other Good Times
Six Weeks and Beyond
Survival
Oliver is three weeks old and counting. It is amazing how someone so small can have such a BIG impact. Every inch of our lives is impacted by Oliver. This is most felt in the wee hours of the morning when we used to participate in this wonderful ritual called sleep. I hear that somewhere down the road we may become acquainted with this old friend again.
We are grateful for all the friends that have gathered around us in this time of transition. Meals and baby-holding are most appreciated.
Here are some pics from Oliver's latest and greatest adventures:
Here is Oliver's first field trip into the gorgeous Alaska Wild with his parents. We are pretty sure he had the time of his life. This is Turnagain Arm, the part of Cook Inlet that surrounds Anchorage. He stayed cozy and warm, and fast asleep, during this adventure.
). Thanks Ingrid and Greta!Announcing...
Oliver Quincy Casurella
7 February 2008
6:37 am
8 lbs 13 oz (4 kg)
21 inches
We are so excited about this new addition to our family. It felt like a long time in coming (40 weeks and 3 days), but Oliver is finally here and well worth the wait!
His days have been full of eating and sleeping and occasionally looking around to check out this whole new world. He is truly amazing and we are so blessed by his entrance into our lives.
The transition into parenthood has been a lot of work but thankfully we have had the help of Grandma Stuart. She has been cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and helping in any way she can.
Click here to view Oliver's first album, "Operation Oliver".