Tuesday, July 29, 2008

new toy

Adrien with his Grandma



Adrien went to his Grandma's house this past weekend. We dropped him off early Saturday morning. Isabella had an early doctor appointment in town and we were getting new tires for the car. To say that he had a blast would be a gross understatement. Grandma C had a work picnic to go to that day and the company** that she works for really cares about their employees. So, there was a jumpy house, a park, a lake, food and all sorts of fun involved. Not to mention that he was with Grandma C, Guy and Uncle Alex, who are three of his favorite people.
Saturday, Scott, Isabella and I went to a little cafe concert here in town that our neighbor was performing at. Here is the quicky post I did on that. We had a good time and Isabella was sure enjoying her time with us. Especially with Scott. I don't know quite what it is about him, but all babies have a thing for him. He has baby magic. Our kids are affected by it the most, when he walks in the room, I no longer exist. As jealous as I get sometimes (I mean who stays with them all day after all?!) it is nice to be able to be alone for a moment.
Sunday, we met Grandma C in the middle at a park. She had all sorts of goodies for the kids! Adrien got a new toy dump truck that is so awesome that both he and Isabella are fighting for it. Isabella received a very cute lil' Big Bird animal that she loves. That teething block is the best right now because she has almost all of her teeth coming in now. (No Joke!) She has some coming in on both the tops and bottoms and on both sides. It's crazy.



Isabella attacking Scott
Relishing her only childness for the day


With Grandma at the Park

Sunday, July 27, 2008

New stuff on Etsy




I added my second item to the shop today! It is a beautiful little sun bonnet hat for baby girls. Isabella did a very good job of modeling it for me, unfortunately she absolutely refused to look at the camera so they are all side shots. Except for this one on top here, this is the only face shot. But still very cute.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Music

Tonight, Adrien spent the night with Grandma C and Scott, Isabella and I headed to a cafe in Mount Vernon for a little concert by our Neighbor. We weren't really expecting much, but you have got to check these guys out!!

The first: Micah Kelley, was awesome. His music was calming and soulful with beautiful lyrics.

The Second: Levi Ware (the nieghbor) he has a very folky sound that is quite unique. I like his song "outshine"

anyway click thier names for the websites, they are very good and worth a listen!

Friday, July 25, 2008

children's games

It is so funny to read about how kids do not play together until they are about 3. Adrien and Isabella play all the time. They interact, they say things to each other, they chase each other and giggle and scream. It is very endearing and very scary all at the same time. Adrien is so much bigger than her and he is not an easy going kind of kid. He loves rough housing and full throttle chasing after people and screaming and jumping and rolling around. He's a boy, what do you expect right? Well lately he has taken to pushing around tables and chairs. He pushes them everywhere no matter who is in the way. Izzy has rather unfortunately taken a few tables in the rear because of this, but what really gets her is when he hits her fingers. She hates that.
On the bright side though, when they are playing together, nicely, they love it. You can see that they love each other. It's so cool! Here are a few pictures messily taken during a play session with the both of them.




Doesn't she look like June?

Speaking of June, a letter came the other day from her and the kids thought that they needed to read it too.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Carne Asada and Marshallows

Ok, before you say gross, the first was our new recipe of the week and the second is the recipe I am sharing tonight. I would be sharing the Carne Asada recipe because it was so good but our computer lost all of our bookmarks the other day. Very sad.

Anyway the Carne Asada was our new recipe of the week. To update anyone who doesn't know yet, Scott and I have been trying to do one new recipe a week because we have been stuck in a food rut for a while. We keep eating the same things over and over and over again. Last week it was Indian Flat Bread Tacos. Those were not only delicious but beautiful as well. This week Scott chose a carne asada recipe. The man has a thing for Mexican or other wise similar ethnic dishes. But this was pretty good.


I have also been slowly making a few more things homemade around here. I figure that it is good for the kids and good for Scott who eats just about anything. I recently learned how to make marshmallows and though it would be better if I could get my hands on a standing mixer, they did turn out quite delicious.

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

.75-oz unflavored gelatin (3 envelopes of Knox gelatin)
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Line 9 x 9-inch pan with plastic wrap and lightly oil it. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for about 10 minutes.



Meanwhile, combine sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil and boil hard for 1 minute.

Pour the boiling syrup into soaked gelatin and turn on the mixer, using the whisk attachment, to high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, add in the vanilla extract beat to incorporate.


Scrape marshmallow into the prepared pan and spread evenly (Lightly greasing your hands and the spatula helps a lot here). Take another piece of lightly oiled plastic wrap and press lightly on top of the marshmallow, creating a seal. Let mixture sit for a few hours, or overnight, until cooled and firmly set.


In a shallow dish, combine equal parts cornstarch and confectioners' sugar. Remove marshmallow from pan and cut into equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef's knife. Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners' sugar mixture.
Store in an airtight container.
Makes about 40 large marshmallows, depending on the size you choose to cut them.

In the garden


One thing about this new old house that we are in that is so great is that there is plenty of room to garden. The bad thing about that is that we are quite literally starting it fresh. There was some plants here before we got here, but not much. Then what we did have planted and what was planted had been ruined when they boarded up the bottom of the house.
Now, I am starting fresh again. I have been slowly finding a few things for sale at Walmart. You really can't beat $3 roses and $1 perennials. I have a bit of the side area done and now am working on the back of the house. But I have to dig up the grass that has grown all over the place to make a place for some planting. I don't mind it so much, except that the grass roots are so tightly knit that it is taking about a solid 6" of dirt with it. Which means that I am probably going to have to find some free fill dirt on Craig's list or to the bane of myself and Scott... buy some. I am hoping that I will be able to find the free stuff soon. I have found some $4 lilac bushes on sale at Lowe's that I may be able to budget in this weekend. They are done blooming for this season, but next year they will be beautiful and the smell of lilacs I just love. I have managed to pick up a few things every week and so far this is what I've got.

This was here when we moved in, but it is looking much, much healthier now. Especially considering they killed off half of it.

Baby purple basil from seed
Dahlia's

There is of course a few more things, but I have not had a chance to take pictures yet, so more will filter in here now and then.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Keeping In touch

Hi everybody!! All the family and friends from Totsites. Here's the blog, it's a bit more of what I am thinking and feeling about life than the totsite thing was, but it definitely is an easier way for me to keep you all updated on how the kids are doing and I can download pictures easier, which of course I know you guys want. So feel free to speak up and comment if there is anything you like or don't like. Or if there is something you want to know about, I can make a post about it.

Let me know what you think!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Holy Smokes

First, let me say a big THANK YOU!! To Melody over at They call me Mama because I now have a beautiful layout for my blog. I didn't know that they did blog layouts until I saw her spiffy new background and set up. Very nice! I think I like this one, but I might change my mind again.

Other than that I have discovered the joy of Sweet and Salty. I love her honesty and bluntness. This morning I saw her post about how an unknown "man" is stealing her blogs and pictures. I can't believe it! That someone would steal her thoughts and feelings is so... Depressing. This person is reposting them as his own on his blog and it's not the first time he's done it! She has now caught him twice. I mean come on man! That's pathetic!! Anyway, she is rightly furious and you can read about it here.



In other news, Isabella is getting a new tooth in. She now has three on the bottom front row. For a while I thought she was getting some in on the side, but then BAM! All of a sudden she had this other one start breaking through. So who knows what's coming in next. Adrien is so close to words I can barely stand it! I want to know what he is saying so badly!!

Monday, July 21, 2008

hiking and jam




Friday, our second hiking carrier arrived for Isabella. I was so excited, I took it out of the box and got it all fitted for her in less than 6 minutes. I have been wanting to go hiking since we first moved to Washington and last year having a troubled pregnancy it was so out of the question. Now that I finally can go, I am stoked.
Saturday we headed up to Deception Pass, which is thankfully only about a 30 minute drive for us. It was a beautiful day, after 12 and the kids were in a great mood. All in all the whole thing turned out really well. We did a short hike from the beach area to the boat launch area and then did another loop while in the middle letting Adrien play on the beach a bit. This hike was more of a getting to know your carrier and dealing with it hike. Scott's is a bit older than mine and he doesn't like it so much. Adrien will grow out of it much faster though, so he is just going to have to suffer. Isabella loves to see everything. She was laughing and giggling and talking away. Adrien had picked out a little Hot Wheels car at the store on Friday and hadn't let go of it since, even all through the hike and the beach. It's been in the tub, outside, in the car, EVERYWHERE. He also got a new pair of sunglasses, which apparently give him super human fast powers..




Isabella had a dried apricot to chew on and she was so intent on it that she refused to breastfeed and wouldn't let go of it the whole time, either. She's kind of a chow monkey.


Yesterday I made some jam. YUMMY! It is so good. It is strawberry raspberry jam with some lemon zest. I love it and am going to make more tonight. I have a ton of strawberries and I don't want them going to waste.

Friday, July 18, 2008

juice anyone?


We had given Adrien his dinner and were getting Isabella's ready tonight when I heard a little growl from the floor. I looked down and there was Isabella munching away on Adrien's bread, fruit and macaroni and cheese. Apparently he was feeding his sister and she was loving it. Then he asked for more juice because that is the only thing that little boys want for dinner these days.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

special shift

... more like the akward shift. Scott came home last night and informed me that he would be working a night shift tonight or technically Friday morning. Wha???

Let me explain. Have you ever driven down the freeway at night, like really late at night? On one of those late nights have you happen to run into a road crew? Well, if you're out on the road tonight, can you wave to my husband for me? He's out there, putting a crane together under some super bright "day lights" in the middle of the night. His shift starts tonight at 10:30 and they move the crane in after midnight. The reason for this madness is that no freeways in WA and most other states can be shut down for road work until after midnight through 5 am. They do not want to impede the flow of traffic.

So, tonight, just before I put Adrien down at 8, Scott left. Adrien waved goodbye, sighed and curled up in my lap. If only it were that easy for me.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Indian Flat Bread Tacos

Scott and I have a tendancy to get stuck in a food rut. We will eat the same thing over and over again, only because it is simple and good. So last weekend I dug out some of my Grandmother's old cookbooks and told Scott that each week we will try at least one new thing, if not two. This week we chose Indian Flat Bread Tacos. They were so yummy! And colorful, they turned red as we cooked them. The other bonus was that Adrien ate them, which is a miracle. That kid is so hard to feed.
I accidentally tripled the amount of turmeric in the recipe, which wasn't a bad thing. We did a quick hamburger, onion, tomatoe and cheese filling. But you can do anything, I bet even some fruit would be good in it. Today I am going to make the dough and bake chips out of it. I'll let you know how that endeavor goes.
Here they are:


INDIAN FLAT BREAD TACOS

1 1/2 Cups flour

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tbsp butter


Combine the ingredients and add enough water to form a firm dough. Divide the dough into 6 balls and roll out until they are approximately 1/4" thick. Heat a pan with a bit of oil. Place a spoonful of filling into the center of rolled dough, seal with water. Cook in oil until golden brown (or red) on each side. Keep warm


So simple, yet so tasty!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Etsy



I have been looking at Etsy for a while now. It is a wonderful site for artists and creative people to sell their wares. It is even better for Moms who would still like to make a little extra cash with their creativity and stay at home with the munch kins. Finally I have set up my store. I have one item going up right now it is this laundry bag. Great for your clothes pins and it moves right along with you as you hang. Wonderful! Hope you like it and keep checking it out because I will be adding many more things very soon.

On another note, there is some gorgeous wild flowers growing in the yard right now. Tomorrow night I am going to steal the neighbors poppy from the corn field. It is THAT gorgeous... but you'll have to wait.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

book swap


I was reading this blog today, and found the coolest thing! Molly has set up a mini book swap for children's books. I can't wait! I have the perfect book in mind. I will have to get a new one though, as my children will refuse to give this one up. So head on over, check it out... you may get something that surprises you.

Boys VS Girls

Yesterday evening I was watching my children and thinking how similar and different they are. My little girl just loves to growl.. where did she get that from, one might ask? Well, she got it from her brother. They chase each other and growl and they both really love food.
The differences however between the two are amazing. Isabella is a girl. (obvious, I know) She is cute and soft and loving. She totally relishes being a baby. She likes how small she is and how she fits so nicely against me or Scott. She is definitely enjoying this time in her life.
Adrien on the other hand, was so ready to be a boy that he did everything fast and with purpose. He grew fast, weighing in now at a whopping 33 lbs and at a hieght of almost 3 1/2 ft. He is HUGE! He crawled by 7 months, walked by 9 months and was running by 10 months.
Isabella started crawling at around 8 months and she was so deliberately waiting to do it. She would move in ways that suggested she knew how to crawl, but instead would ask to be held. When she finally did crawl it was to go after a plate of food that Scott had left on the floor. And she was so fast about it.
I just can't wait to see what other little weird things they are going to do and how they are going to be different and yet similar. They amaze me everyday and I want more.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

loving summer


Today as I was hanging my laundry to dry there was a breeze. Such a nice, cool, soft breeze. I closed my eyes for just a second and relished it. I think that is one of my favorite things about summer. I was so hot and tired and then the next thing I know this breeze comes along and lifts the sheet to my face. It just felt so good.



We also have built a compost bin, out of pallets. It's great! I wasn't so sure, initially how it was going to turn out. But, we put some chicken wire on the inside to keep the nieghbor's dog out and other wandering critters. And, I made a chicken wire lid for it too. I also have a place on the other side for all my garden tools to hang when not in use. I think it will work out pretty well. The next thing we are going to be doing is planting a few roses and morning glories or clematis'. I hope I haven't quite missed the growing season on those. Unfortunately, I don't know how long this weather is going to last and I am afraid I missed tomato season, I have planted some carrots, though and maybe some corn this weekend. I am thinking about doing some potatoes as well. Next year, I am going to be so much more prepared for all of this stuff. Living here has sort of thrown me for a loop, I wasn't expecting to have a garden like this yet and it's wonderful, but challenging to be working from such an empty slate.

I love Ebay! For the past three days I have been carefully watching a Kelty Kids carrier for Adrien. Today, I won it!! It is so thrilling. On Friday, I have another one ending for Izzy. Hopefully I will get that one too. We really need some heavy duty carriers for hiking around here. We tried to go do some light hiking this past weekend at Deception Point, unfortunately it didn't work out and we ended up just hanging out at the beach and playground. That was nice too, just not exactly what we had wanted to do.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

"Dad!"

Adrien has started to use my tone when he doesn't want something that Scott is trying to give him... It's really quite funny. He looks at Scott and just simply says "Dad..!" But the tilt of the head and the look, the way he says it like he is exasperated by what he is doing... It's precious.

Last night we stayed in with the kids and had them to bed by 8:30. It was great, Scott and I played cards and happily watched as all four sides of our house slowly became surrounded by fireworks. We could see the fireworks at Edgewater Park, Burlington and so many other places. Not to mention all the private fireworks that were happening. It was beautiful. I think that next year we will just throw a party here and relax and BB Q instead of going anywhere.

In other news, Monday is my and Scott's 2 year wedding anniversary. It seems amazing to me that we have been together for almost 6 years and known each other for 8 already. To say that it is our 2 year anniversary feels like I am chipping time away from something that has meant so much to me over the years. But we aren't doing anything yet. We have some plans at the end of the month that may or may not happen, either way though we love each other and cherish every moment we've had. There are days when I get up and I just can't believe I have been so lucky to have this man in my life. He is amazing. And yes, we fight we nit pick at each other but in the end it doesn't matter. What matters is that we have two beautiful children and we love each other deeply and without boundaries.