Hello Friends

Hello People of the West!

How are you?

I'm swell.

So much has happened in the last month.

Brooke's Birthday

We moved

Grandma came to Town

Tristan's Birthday

Allergies

Unpacking

Fathers Day

Swim Lessons

Painting Furniture

Ben's Birthday

Did I mention Unpacking?

4th of July

More Allergies.

It's been amazing, with slightly itchy eyes and a sore throat.

The thing is I can't find my camera battery charger.

... It's in a box somewhere.

The thing is, we are running out of boxes.

And I am forced to capture events via phone

or friends

or not at all.

(Which has been oddly therapeutic.)

Simply enjoying the party instead of trying to capture moments proving we enjoy it.

But then at the end of the day, I miss the pictures.

I think a back up battery and charger are in order.

Until then I will share the bits and pieces others have provided for me.

If you come visit, I will take you here and it will be good.

Sooooo good.

Happy Friday

Yesterday we took dinner to friends who just had their very first baby.

I thought a little birthday cake was in order.

Isn't she just precious?

I want one...

.

.

Someday.

Happy Friday

It was just that. A very Happy Friday.

Sunshine... Warm Sunshine.

Gymnastics for Brooke. (She was in Heaven)

Pilates at the Gym.

Did I mention the Sunshine?

The Park (with the little swing)

New pillows.

Mango Lemonade Popsicles.

Totally April-Fooled Kiki.

Lisa Bread.

Musical Grey's Anatomy on Hulu.

The Queen.

Homemade facial Scrub. (Oatmeal and Baking Soda worked fantastic)

the Professor brought home Key Lime Pie.

Like I said, It was a Happy Friday.

This and That

Hi. It's been a while.

It's been a long, eventful two weeks.

Let me explain,

There is no time.

Let me sum up,

"Buttercup is going to marry Humperdink in a little less than half an hour..."

No,

Wrong series of events.

Since we spoke last.

I turned 28.

Went to the Zoo with my family and had an excellent time.

Had the best cupcake of my life.

(True story)

Bought pretty things at Anthropologie for my Birthday.

Almost pulled out of building the house. :(

Ben gave his first midterm.

(it was harder than he thought)

Figured out a way to keep the house. :)

(fingers crossed they accept our new terms)

Ate more cake, and fondue

ooooh the fondue.

Had dinner with friends, twice.

Attended a Valentines Party for the girls

(Jocelyn helped make Valentines and cookies)

Hosted by the divine Jessica.

And finally... got a dog.

His name is Strider

Future King of Gondor

We know...

We're nerds.

We love him,

and he has only peed on the carpet twice.

Little Loves Love to Hate 5

"No Babies on the Table"!

Actually, it's more like "No Big Girls on the Table".

I say this twenty-five times a day... easy.

Do you see her giving me "the eye"?

She knows the rules

But she knows she is delicious enough to get away with it.

Sneaky Pirate.

PS

I love to cook. I really really do.

I think I am pretty good at.

I don't have my name on the menu like Jason does here.

Way to go brother!

But I feel a sense of peace and accomplishment in making delicious food.

I like to make it pretty too. I am a fan of garnish, even if it is uncessary.

But not parsley... who eats that stuff anyway?

It should have color, eat a rainbow of colors they say.

I do. I think it tastes better.

I have plans for a small garden in the new house.

Herbs for sure and a few fun fruits and veggies.

Boysenberries growing slightly wild down one of the fences.

Its going to be fabulous.

I pretty want my husband and children to think I am the best cook in the world.

I don't think it's too much to ask?

Truly divine Carrot Cake I make for Easter.

They have a hard time waiting till it's cut.

I don't blame them.

You would too.

~Thankful~ Day 13 part 2

Post 13 was a lie...

sort of..

I am grateful for mustaches and they do rock, but that's not what I was thankful for yesterday.

I was thankful for this restaurant.

It was fabulous. Garlic fries were out of this world. (though I might be tasting garlic for a week. My apologies to everyone I speak with face to face)

But they had a kid area. In the corner of this grown up pub-type restaurant they had built two little half walls and filled it with toys. Best dinning experience with kids ever!

I have no photographic evidence. Too busy eating and playing.

We will most defiantly be eating there again.

~Thankful~ Day 3

Today I am thankful Authentic Liege Waffles

from Off the Waffle.

We have been there four times in the last six weeks and frankly I could eat one every day. In fact I am craving one now.

It by far the most amazing waffle of my existence.

It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

pumpkins at the orchard

Last Saturday we got out of the house and headed west to the local orchard.

For balloons and straw labyrinths.

Pumpkins galore.

Honey sticks, homemade microwave popcorn, jams and jellies.

Apples, Pears, and fall veggies.

Big girl pony tails and stripy tights.

Oh, We heard a rumor of free cobbler and ice cream.

It was true.

It was delicious.

Till next year...

Well maybe sooner...

I am already out of apples.

And I could really use some more cobbler.

saving grace

these cookies are helping

a lot

.

.

.

actually maybe not so much, it's slowing my running time.

.

.

.

They are the best cookies in the world!

.

.

.

I got the recipe from my Laurel Advisor when I was 16.

I knew then that I would want my kids to think that I made the best cookies in the world

.

.

.

...and I do.

Here it is

Kelly Johnson's Chocolate Chip Cookies

(with or without oatmeal, coconut, nuts etc...)

1 cup Crisco (I used butter flavored because I love butter but Crisco makes a much softer cookie)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 tbs vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour (I did 50/50 with wheat)

1 1/2 cup oatmeal

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 bag chocolate chips

or the following combination

( 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup butterscotch 1 cup coconut 1 cup pecans or walnuts)

Make the cookies like every cookie recipe you have ever made. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, I prefer 8 minutes I like them a little gooey. These however were cooked a little longer but they are still soft and chewy.

*Okay, I just realized that I forgot to add 1 tsp of baking powder, but I just made some with out it and they turned out exquisite. So I am beginning to think that baking powder is just a sham. Discuss.

tortilla chicken soup... goodbye tortilla

Enter cornbread.

Tonight I made something too good not to share.

Chicken Tortilla soup with a few changes,

like honey cornbread instead of tortillas.

It was sooo good. The kids ate it... once I was able to get them to sit down long enough.

Here is the recipe.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Recipe courtesy Danny Boome

Show: Rescue ChefEpisode: Sunday Soup for Supper

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 jalapenos, finely diced (I used only one because they scare me... use gloves)
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (I used 4 because my chicken was already cooked and I wasn't going to cook it as long)
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes (Italian stewed was all that I had in my kitchen)
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (cooked on the grill a few days earlier)
• 2 limes, juiced, plus wedges for garnish (I only used 1, it was plenty)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves (used dried ones bought at the Amish market in MD)
• 1 (8-inch) flour tortilla, grilled, cut into thin strips or (honey baked cornbread from TJs, The honey baked comes from buttering the baking pan heavly and drizzling it with honey before baking)
• 1 avocado, pitted, sliced (totally forgot to use)
• 1 cup shredded Monterrey cheese (Fancy Mexican cheese blend from Costco)
• I also added some sliced zucchini and mushrooms because I had it.

I don't have a picture because... well... it didn't last long enough.

Directions

In a large saucepan heat the vegetable oil. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Once the onions have softened add the garlic and jalepenos and cook for another minute. Pour the chicken broth, tomatoes and beans into the pot and bring to a boil. Once at a boil lower heat to simmer and add your chicken breasts. Cook the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. Once chicken is cooked remove from pot. When cool enough to handle shred it and set it aside. Add lime juice and fresh cilantro to the pot. In a serving bowl add a mound of shredded chicken. Ladle soup over chicken and top with a lime wedge, grilled tortilla strips, avocado slices and cheese.

Bon Appetite!

Birthday Festival

This party was insane on every level. We had it two days before we moved across the country. We wanted to throw a big bash to say goodbye to our dear friends in Maryland. For the last two weeks we had been living at the cousins house while they were out of town. Jeri and Lincoln came home a few days before and had all been together as one big crazy family for days. Any sane person would have bought a cake at Costco and called it a day. But that's not how we roll.

This party would not have happened without Jeri, she was AMAZING! She worked pretty stinking hard for a party that wasn't even for her own child. Major props to Ben and Lincoln for cleaning up the backyard and turning the dinosaur pinata into a dragon. (the one ordered online didn't make it on time)

And so it goes...

We had set up several little play stations for our nine princesses and two knights and a prince.

(The knights must have been fighting in the crusades during this picture)

The Royal Jewelers

I tried to let Jocelyn do her own thing, I may have helped a little :)

White pre-cut paper crowns from Michaels spray painted gold ($2.95 for 12), a bag of beautiful play jewels on clearance and you have your self a bunch of very happy princesses.

The Armory

What would a Royal Festival be without at an Armory? An empty deck across the yard made for the perfect "contained" fighting space. I bought three swords at Walmart (and my girls attack their father daily) and Wyatt had an arsenal that he was more than happy to share.

The Jester's Paint Shop

This was our most popular booth! As soon as I brought out the paint set the girls lined up to have their face painted (I think I will do this for every party in the future so great!) Face painting kit from Michaels (50% off coupon)

Not wanting the King to feel left out Jocelyn and Simone did a little painting of their own.

The Royal Bubblery

Lots bubble wands made from pipe cleaners and bubble juice. It was fantastic!

A View of the Party before it started. We called the Jungle Gym the Dragon's Lair (sword fights happened here too) In the back you can see the Armory, the Jesters Paint Shop and the Royal Bubblery.

I have a confession to make, last week Jocelyn got in trouble (not serious) for "decorating" the living room walls, it wasn't exactly her fault. You see she had done it once before...

We (Jeri) blew up a picture from the Princess and the frog from this website and taped the pages together. I think it was 12 pieces of paper total. The girls LOVED it!

It was announced that an Evil Dragon had come to the castle and stolen the gold, it was up to the brave princess and princes and knights to get it back.

Off we went on a Dragon Hunt

This was so easy and so fun. As the boys were setting up I lead a dragon hunt around the block. Every few steps we stopped to search for dragon clues, preform dragon dances, share our favorite colors, discuss dragon eating habits, hide from dragons flying over head and any other random thing I could think of while we were stalling. The kids got so into it, the bigger kids helping the smaller ones along the way. It really was quite precious.

It was time to slay the dragon with a flaming sword!

Wyatt's dragon slaying blow!

The treasure rained down on the the little guests to squeals of delight.

After all the slaying it was time to Feast.

And what a Feast it was...

The cake was a labor of love and a whole lot of fun!I searched for pictures on the internet of different cakes trying to find one I could make without fondant (too intimidating). The towers are sugar cones and cake cones dipped in a sugar cookie glaze several times until they were properly coated. The pictures don't really do it justice. It was really spectacular and Jocelyn tells everyone she meets about her "Seeping Booty Castle Cake".

It was late the night before and Jeri and I had a good time making signs for all the food and play stations. My favorite was "Knights of the Round Pizza."

They liked it

Those towers were the most requested Item! Everyone wanted a piece including a little sleeping beauty who had just woken up from her nap.

By this time everyone (especially the moms) were exhausted. Presents were given (and Jocelyn scored) and then it was time for goodbyes. It was such a good party and everyone had a marvelous time! Next year... she is getting a cake from Costco ;)

the end.

Acknowledgments

Jocelyn- You are our little princess of light and we love every second of you. We had so much fun planning and putting this party together for you. We LOVE you darling! Happy Birthday!

Ben- Thank you for putting up with this, being at my beck-n-call, making the pizzas and supporting me in making this wonderful party... and paying for it. I love you.

Jeri- Thank you for letting us trash your house, staying up late to help me make everything, laughing with me when the cake was growing through some "technical difficulty", Taking the pictures and being my Diana Berry.

Mom- Thank you for inspiring me as a child and sharing your wonderfully creative ideas with me through out my life.

Susan Richards- who taught a cake decorating class when I was in the fourth grade. She taught me about the crumb layer and how to make the frosting smooth.

Google- You Rock!

Lincoln- Thanks for hanging out at a kids party because I know you don't do that :)

Wyatt, Natalia, Simone- For doing everything we asked you that morning without complaining!

Catherine- For putting on a wonderful dance performance and entertaining the kids when we needed a minute and for just being wonderful in general.

Maggie- For showing up three weeks after having a baby.

Katie- For driving over an hour in traffic to be there.

Christina- for being our first friends in Maryland.

Jazmine- You were there in spirit!

We love and miss you all!

What kinda party would it be with out a few tears ;)