our Babymoon

This past Tuesday evening we returned from our 6-day Babymoon in Oahu (for those unfamiliar with the term babymoon - think honeymoon - just before the baby). We both knew we wanted to do one last trip, just the two of us, before this little baby comes into the world. What better place than Hawaii?! Neither of us had ever been so we looked into our best options and settled on Oahu.
During our time on this beautiful island we spent time on Waikiki, Alan had a private surf lesson (thanks George!), we ate some incredible food, we toured the Polynesian Cultural Center, soaked in the sun on Kailua Beach, visited Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, hiked Diamond Head, explored the North Shore and snorkeled in Haunauma Bay. Just to name a few things. We also stayed at this unbelievable hotel called the Hotel Renew. If you're looking to go to the Waikiki area anytime soon we'd highly recommend it.
It really was a very restful yet fun time for the two of us as we celebrated what God has in store for our family in the next year.

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on the road to...Hawaii!!

We're off to Hawaii for our Babymoon tomorrow morning and couldn't be more excited! Alan just finished a trimester of classes and so it's time to celebrate! We'll take plenty of pictures and will be sure to post about our time away.

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Some Belly Pics...

I always thought I would be really good at remembering to take belly pictures during pregnancy - but I've even surprised myself. Weeks have flown by and as you can see - 5 weeks passed before I got around to taking my second round of them :) Here's the baby (and mom) at 14 weeks and then at 19 weeks. And for those of you who like a little more practical/visual illustration for how big our little peanut is - see below.

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Steph's Pick - a Diaper Bag

Alright - I have a confession - the very first baby item that I purchased was a diaper bag! Upon finding out that we would be adding to our family of 2 this coming summer I immediatly started thinking "Where am I going to find a cute/stylish diaper bag!?" I feel like I'm already off to a bad start with this mom thing! I know this may be the last thing on some of your lists in preparing for the birth of your first child but for the purse-lover in me I couldn't help but think that most of the diaper bags I have seen were just not cute. Just as I wouldn't want to go through the next few year's with any ugly purse - I wasn't about to do it with an ugly diaper bag :)
So I started my search early and was recommended by a friend to check out Skip Hop's options. Which is exactly what I did. And sure enough - I found a fairly gender neutral, cute and somewhat affordable bag that I actually liked. I bought it right away. I went with the Skip Hop's Studio Diaper Tote but they have plenty of other options.
For you moms out there looking for either a new diaper bag or your very first diaper bag, I'd totally suggest a Skip Hop Bag. I also found a great article on Parents.com with some other fun idea's. Check it out for yourselves!

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on the road in...IOWA

(Disclaimer: I realize this photo I am using to portray Iowa is so over-the-top typical but I couldn't find anything that illustrated my home state any better)
This past weekend we were finally able to travel to Iowa to see our little niece, Adelyn. Both of us have been so anxious to see her and couldn't wait to spend some good quality snuggling hours with this little 4-week old! This is exactly what we did. We were there Thursday - Sunday and during that time we played (as much as a newborn can play), fed, changed diapers, ate and slept with this little punkin and her incredible mom and dad. We tried to be as helpful as possible while there and always kept in the back of our minds that we'd be traveling back to our newborn-free home in a couple of days where we'd be able to get plenty of rest (at least for a few more months). Below you'll find some photos I took of the baby and the new family.

We love you three!

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on the road in...Edmonton

Wow! I'm already officially behind. The weekend following my time in Vancouver, Alan and I were both able to travel with Family Matters to Edmonton, Alberta. This trip, together with my time in Vancouver, amounted to a total of 8 days out of 14 in Canada!!! I think they should consider granting me citizenship (especially with their 1 year maternity policy!!!).
Regardless, we were in Edmonton for a large Canadian Christian Conference called Breakforth Canada. It was a great event - a huge success for our ministry - and I'm confident thousands of people were influenced by the incredible musicians and speakers that were there.
Next up... our time in the Midwest. Stay tuned :)

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Steph's Pick & a NEW Series!

There are very few cities that I've been to that can top the beauty of this British Columbia gem - Vancouver. Although both times I've visited have been for work purposes, I have still been awed at the splendor of God's creation when looking around this city. Hugging a spectacular bay by the Pacific Ocean and ringed by stunning, snowcapped peaks, Vancouver easily ranks as one of the world's most beautiful cities. It's no wonder it was even ranked as one of the three most livable cities by the 2008 Mercer Human Resource Consulting report. There is no question why. Alan and I are right now dreaming of when we might be able to actually go to Vancouver together - maybe the 2010 Winter Olympics? Would anyone care to join us? :) Do consider Vancouver for your next get-away trip. You won't be disappointed.

On a side note: Although I will try and continue posting my "Steph's Pick" each week, I thought it might also be fun to start a NEW Series - which I'm entitling "On the Road in..." After looking at our schedules for the next 6 months we realized that we have plans to travel around 10 times (between work and pleasure). This series will help you keep up with us as we travel the country (and continent in some cases).

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PurVine Wine Making Tour

This weekend, our friends, John and Denise, treated our small group to a wine making tour at a local wine making establishment in the Phoenix area - PurVine. We were treated to a great wealth of knowledge by the wine-maker himself, a tour of the facilities, some great wine (so says Alan), yummy appetizers and wonderful company! We had a fabulous time and would highly suggest it for other folks living in this area.

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Steph's Pick - Taco in a Bag

Since moving to AZ, I quickly realized that we were not in the Midwest anymore. So many things I would say would cause a confused reaction by AZ residents. Specifically, I've always been accustomed to buying taco-in-a-bag at sporting activities. It is such a great alternative to the standard hotdog or burger. However, Taco-in-a-bags are no where to be found here! And no one has even heard of them. So I'm slowing introducing this great idea to friends here in the Valley and I thought it was about time to include it as my "Steph's Pick."
Now for those of you readers who cook very little - don't be scared away - this is one of the easiest things you can possibly make. It's a great meal for on-the-go (picnic or camping) or during times when you want to make something with little clean-up.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
4 (2.5 ounce) packages Doritos (my favorite) or Fritos
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 chopped fresh tomato
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS
Place ground beef in a large skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until browned. Drain excess oil. Mix in the taco seasoning and prepare according to the directions on the package. With the bags unopened, gently crush the corn chips. Snip the corners off the bags using scissors and slit open the bags along the side edge. Spoon equal amounts of the beef mixture, lettuce, tomato, Cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream into the bags on top of the crushed chips. Serve in the bag and eat using a fork.

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welcome niece, Adelyn Diane

Our niece was born this past weekend and we couldn't be more proud to announce her arrival. Adelyn Diane was born to Nick & Abby on January 12, 2009 at 5:03 pm, weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz and measuring 19 3/4 inches long! Mom, Dad and baby are all doing well and are at home adjusting to life with a newborn! We plan to visit them at the beginning of February and are already anxious for the departure day to arrive!!! Congrats Nick & Abby! We love you!

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I guess it's safe to assume that the above picture tells our story - maybe even a little bit better than we could ourselves :) Yes - you guessed it - we're pregnant and expecting our first child come July! We are currently 14 weeks along. I figured maybe the best way to tell you a little bit about this new found joy is to answer some specific questions. Let's just call it the "Top 5 Questions all Pregnant Couples are Asked"

5) When are you due? July 12th (yes - right in the middle of the 100+ degree heat in AZ - I'm sure it will be lovely)
4) Was this planned? Although always a bit of an awkward question - our answered would have to yes - kindof.
3) How have you been feeling? I was doing quite well until early December when I came down with a nasty case of the flu which launched into several weeks of a dull nausea. That has come to pass, which I'm grateful for. Not only was I nausious, but right from the beginning I was extremely tired. On most days I would come home from work just to take a 30-45 min nap and to head back in again. This was probably the most frustrating thing for me, as I'm a bit of a busy body and being hindered in my ability to physically go about my day because I was too tired was very frustrating. But all in all, it has been a great pregnancy. I can't complain.
2)) Are we going to find out if it's a girl or boy? Yes. We can't wait to find out if we're having a "little Alan" or a "little Steph." That will come in a few more weeks.
1) Do you have names picked out? Yes. We do have some idea's but will wait to seriously consider what name we'll choose until we find out the sex. However, our plan is to keep the name a secret until the little one arrives in July.

Alright - I think that's all for now.

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Steph's Pick - Personalized Gift Tags

Now I had every intention of posting this is a "Steph's Pick" far before Christmas came around but that obviously didn't happen! So I apologize in advance for giving you a bit of a belated suggestion. I also have to give credit where credit is due - my good friend, Nealy, did this very thing a couple years back which inspired me to use the idea this year.
Although I don't think really much explanation is necessary, I found this gift tag idea to be creative and very easy. Rather than buy gift tags at the store, I went through this past year's photos and printed off various ones that I cut out to personalize each gift we gave this Christmas season. Our family and friends got a good kick out of their photos and I have to admit, I had a great time chosing which photos to use.
So - the next time you have to wrap a gift, consider this personalized gift tag option. It would even work for Birthday gifts, Anniversary gifts, Baby shower gifts and the occassional "because I love you" gifts.

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a very Merry Christmas & a baby shower

This past week we had the privilege of being with our families in MN and IA to celebrate Christmas. It was such a blessing to be able to be with them during this very special time of the year. Our trip consisted of time with Dad and Ellen in MN, a road-trip to IA with Mom, Sara and Kyle, a baby shower for Baby Girl Flies (see photos below), some must needed R&R in Ankeny at Nick and Abby's home, brunch at the Machine Shed with Uncle Terry, Aunt Kathy, Gma Lebo, Todd and Rachel and the rest of the Flies clan, a fabulous dinner at Aunt Peggy's with Gma and Gpa Triggs and the Triggs family (including soon to be family, Amy Kastanek), spending the day with Gma and Gpa Folkerts in Mt. Vernon, a quick visit with HS friends, Kiri, Liz and Aaron, Christmas Eve at CBC in MV and some great home-cooking and rest with Mom and Dad Triggs. It really was a great week - and most certainly a VERY Merry Christmas!

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a P. Diddy White Out Christmas Party

Our dear friends, Mike and Michelle, hosted their 2nd annual Christmas party this past weekend. The theme was a P. Diddy White Out Party. By the picture I'm sure you can see what dress instructions were :) Mike and Michelle are great hosts -there was delicious food and drinks and great trivia games. It was a ton of fun!
The photo is of most of our small group (minus one couple).

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Steph's Pick - a White Christmas!

It's been 4 years since I moved to AZ. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I've lived in the desert that long. Although we love a ton of things about Arizona there are some things that we most certainly miss about the midwest. (Especially during this time of year.)
Specifically this past weekend as we decorated our home for Christmas I glanced out our glass door to see that the temperature was 75 degrees!!!! Can you believe it? 75 degrees just does nothing for my Christmas spirit.
Well this year we are blessed to be able to see both of our families over the holidays. We'll be in Minnesota and Iowa. And believe it or not, I'm praying for lots of snow!!! I can't wait to wear my Uggs, my winter jacket (which I only ever get out when traveling), and bundel up with a cup of hot cider and a good book. Here's to a White Christmas!!!

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Steph's Pick - a Christmas List

Ready or not - that time of year is just around the corner! Like usual, I've already been asked by a few people what I want for Christmas. Generally I have such a hard time trying to think of things that I want for Christmas. However, this year, thanks to a suggestion by my friend Michelle, I've been keeping a Christmas list in my purse for the past few months. That way anytime I come across something that I want I add it to the ongoing list. It's great! Much less stress.
That's why I thought I'd add this tip as my "Steph's Pick" for the week. Anything to help the holidays be less stressful and more joyful!

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Home from our cruise!

Well we returned safe and sound on Monday night from a great get-away weekend. As I said in my previous post, Jess and I have been talking about taking a vacation together for the past two years but just got around to doing it last weekend.
The weekend was filled with a ton of great memories - the best being the amount of rest and sleep that we got! It was unbelievable how exhausted both of us were. With an inside cabin room (no lights) you would have easily found us asleep at 9 pm each night!!!
We did have one stop - Ensenada, Mexico. Although we did get off the boat for a total of 45 or so minutes, the city itself wasn't much to write home about. The other days were spent poolside with a book in hand.
On Monday we were able to disembark around 8 am so we made arrangements to sit down at the Long Beach Starbucks while we waited for the LA traffic to die down. After waiting a couple hours we were off to UCLA to meet up with some old friends, Josh and Rochelle. While in Westwood we relaxed some more and enjoyed the last few hours of conversation before Rochelle and Jess dropped me off at LAX to fly home to Phoenix.
It really was an incredible weekend. Jess - thanks for taking time out of your crazy schedule to spend a weekend with me! You're the best!

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a cruise...

We've always talked about it - but we're finally doing it! My dear friend, Jess, and I are leaving from Long Beach, CA tomorrow morning for a short 3-day "Girls Weekend" cruise. It is sure to be a great time!!! I'll be sure to post photos as soon as we're back. Bon Voyage!!!

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Steph's Pick - Nutty Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Add this one to your holiday baking file.... mouth-watering Nutty Peanut Butter Caramel Bars. Don't they look heavenly :)

Ingredients:
8 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups pecan halves
14 ounces unwrapped caramels
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 ounces milk chocolate chips
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Beat in egg until well combined.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Pour into sugar mixture and beat until dough forms.Scoop out dough into a 15x10" baking pan and press it out to fill the pan. Scatter pecans evenly over dough. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Set on a wire rack.In a heavy small saucepan, add caramels and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.Drizzle caramel mixture over pecans. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let cool completely and cut into bars

If any of you make this treat - comment below. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. :)

(Recipe by Desert Culinary and Photo by Hostess of the Mostess & Desert Culinary)

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we're going to be an aunt and uncle!

I realize most of you know that Alan's brother, Nick and his wife, Abby are expecting in January. However, I thought I'd make the official "Flies Blend" blog announcment! Nick and Abby were in AZ this past weekend spending some time with us before the baby comes. I got a chance to take some maternity photos of the couple. These are just a few - but aren't they cute!!!
We can't wait to be an aunt and uncle. Nick and Abby - we couldn't be more excited for you two. You will be incredible parents.
(I'll post more photos of our weekend later this week)

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