Crumbs on My Kitchen Floor

Christmas 2010

2011-01-08T12:11:00.025-06:00

Above, Brendan and Leah just before their pre-school Christmas program. Both sang exceptionally well.

Asher and Kevin, Christmas Eve. Asher wasn't feeling very well and neither was I. That darn stomach flu again. Same as last year.

Leah standing in front of Grandma's lovely Christmas tree.

Brendan posing with his Grandma.

Kate and Kevin looking so happy and festive.

Christmas would not be complete without a new Thomas Friend. Welcome to the family, Molly.

And a new Thomas video to watch.

Leah on Christmas morning enjoying the Princess computer Santa brought her.

Brendan playing with his new Tidmouth Sheds.

Byron and Desi relaxing with breakfast.

We were blessed with a white Christmas.

Liam

Maddie and Leah

Brendan and Nana, ready for rain.

More Thomas the Train!

Scott, Abby, Maddie and Liam.

Brendan makes a pouty face while Aunt Emmy looks on.

Liam, you're so stinking cute!

The four grandchildren with their Nana and Grumps.

Maddie, Brendan and Leah building some tracks together. I think a fight broke out right after this.

Liam such a good baby. He doesn't even cry when he's tired as long as someone is holding him. Emily let me have more than my fair share of baby-holding time. Thanks, Em.

Looking Like Christmas...

2010-12-18T08:30:00.009-06:00

Nativity scene is set...

Ornaments have been found...

Tree is up...

Stockings are hung...

Snow is falling...

Frosty is on TV.

Happy Halloween 2010

2010-11-06T10:14:00.007-05:00

Daddy helped the kids carve a pumpkin this year. I think they did a great job!

Leah dressed as a princess, Sleeping beauty to be specific. When asked why she was also wearing a mask she said, "Because, mommy, princesses can do whatever they want.".

We lucked out and found a James (of Thomas and Friends) costume.
Waiting for trick-or-treaters to come our way.
Leah taking stock of all her loot. Brendan asked every single house if they had Smarties (pronounced "smahties"). And if they said no, he asked if they had a puppy. It was too cute.

Some cute pics and video

2010-10-24T20:19:00.004-05:00

These are pictures from nephew Liam's baptism. Above with Aunt Emmy and below with Maddie, Leah and Brendan.

Leah has a new song about penguins. Enjoy!

Baby H Quilt

2010-10-24T20:11:00.003-05:00

This is my latest quilt (well the top, anyway) for a cousin's baby. I forgot to get a picture of the finished quilt so I thought I could at least post a pic I took of the top all laid out. These are all scraps I cut into squares and rectangles and appliqued using a zigzag stitch to a plain cream colored piece of fabric. The backing and binding fabric were so cute and I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture before I sent it off to the baby shower. I hope baby H enjoys his or her new quilt!

Happy 4th Birthday, Brendan and Leah!

2010-10-24T19:49:00.009-05:00

Sadly, I got very few pictures of the kids on their birthday. The day was a little busy so I only managed to snap one of Brendan with his gifts and the one below of Brendan, Leah, Maddie and Liam. Brendan didn't want to cooperate with the picture taking so I didn't even get one with cousin Asher. Maybe next time...
So here's a trip down memory lane of birthdays past...

Age 3

Age 2

Age 1

And the original birthday

Dinner Prayers

2010-09-08T17:39:00.002-05:00

Here's how dinner prayers usually go at our house:

First, family prayer (the usual one all Catholic families say).

Second, Leah says her lunch-time prayer that they say in her daycare class with her overly dramatic enthusiasm.

Third, Brendan mumbles through his lunch daycare prayer too.

This is how it went down last night:

First, family prayer.

Second, Leah's usual daycare prayer.

And third, Brendan, head bowed, hands clasped, eyes closed says:

"Itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun and dried up all the rain. And the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again. Amen."

What do you think, GG? Is he a good candidate for the priesthood?

Brendan. Summed Up in One Conversation.

2010-08-21T20:27:00.004-05:00

I was watching a travel show about Spain today when Brendan walked into the room. His eyes widened as he pointed to the screen. "I want to do THAT!", he said, when he saw those crazy fools running from the bulls in the street. Later our dinner conversation went like this:

Brendan: "Dad, I want to chase those bulls."

Byron: "What the heck is he talking about?"

Me: "He saw people running with the bulls in Pamplona on TV."

Byron: "You want to run with the bulls?"

Brendan: "Yeah, it's DANGEROUS!"

I predict many ER visits are in store for us.

Brendan's Thomas the Train Quilt Top

2010-08-16T16:06:00.006-05:00

I'm working on a new quilt for Brendan's bed. My mom bought a 2 yard piece of Thomas the Train fabric and asked me to make something for him. So, to keep things as simple as possible, I left the whole fabric piece intact and added coordinating borders to make it a full sized bed quilt top. Instead of wrestling a quilt this large through my machine for quilting or taking it to a long arm quilter, I've decided to tie this thing. I was hoping tying it would be a quick process but it seems to be taking forever. I hope Brendan doesn't outgrow his "Thomas" phase before I can finish!

Fishing in P.J.'s

2010-08-15T19:14:00.004-05:00

We spent last weekend with some friends at Cordry Lake near Franklin, IN. The kids were so excited to fish on Sunday morning that they didn't even bother to change out of their p.j.'s before putting their life jackets on.

Brendan doesn't have a whole lot of patience for fishing yet but he did discover (several times) that his fishing rod would float if he threw it over the edge of the dock.

Leah caught this bass all by herself. Once it was out of the water, though, she didn't want anything to do with it. She swore it was going to bite her.

Here's Leah telling us about her big whopper.

St. Martin's Church Picnic

2010-08-15T18:47:00.008-05:00

We spent the last weekend in July having fun at St. Martin's Church Picnic in Yorkville, IN. I have lots of fond memories of enjoying this picnic with my mom's family growing up. My cousins and I would play the ring toss game all day to win 2 liter bottles of Big Red (aka "red pop"). Then we would eat our turtle soup and play cards and other outside games, like whiffle ball, at Grandma and Grandpa W's.

Brendan particularly enjoyed the fish pond (yes, he drank the water) while Leah liked to sample all the games.

Nothing beats jumping in a bouncy house in 95 degree weather.

Enjoying the prizes.

My Grandma W. used to make quilts for the church quilt raffle. We always knew where to find her during picnic time, at the quilt stand selling tickets! In her memory, I always buy a few chances on the quilt raffle whenever I happen upon one. I never thought I would actually win but this year I did!

Here is the quilt I won. It was hand cross-stitched and quilted by several ladies in the church. So pretty.

Meeting Baby Liam

2010-08-15T18:32:00.010-05:00

We met nephew Liam a few weeks ago. There are no pictures of Brendan with his new cousin because he was not the least bit interested. I guess until Liam is able to run, climb, and jump, Brendan is just going to ignore him.

Maddie and Leah love babies!

Leah kept saying, "He's sooo cute!".

The proud Papa.

With Aunt Aimee...

and Uncle Byron.

My sister's newest "children", Aria and Saber.

Field Trip!

2010-07-27T19:11:00.015-05:00

Brendan and Leah took a field trip a few weeks ago to the Children's Museum and I, being so lucky to have a great boss, was able to get away from work for a couple of hours to join them.

Brendan is doing what he does best here...climbing.

This camera allowed Leah to peer inside her own mouth. Fascinating!

Making a dinosaur movie.

Painting faces.

Putting on a show.

Making music in the blue room.

There is a Mark Twain-looking bust that tells stories. Leah is terrified of him!

Building a bridge. Engineers in the making?

New Addition

2010-07-14T19:00:00.001-05:00

We have a new nephew! Welcome to the world, Liam Scott.

A Concert For You

2010-07-06T17:41:00.003-05:00

Watch out, Tommy Lee! Eat your heart out, Meg White!

Quilt Along with Crazy Mom Quilts

2010-07-04T13:14:00.008-05:00

I have joined a quilt along over at Crazy Mom Quilts' blog. So far I have been able to keep up with the sewing but we'll see in six weeks if I have a completed twin size quilt top or not.

The prints in the picture above came from a jelly roll of Moda Hello Betty Retro. I love these prints so much I'm going to keep this quilt for myself. Our favorite quilt for napping (see below) is on its last leg. And that's too bad because it is hand pieced with Dresden plates and stars, has scalloped edges, and has hand quilting as well. Someone spent a lot of time making it. My mom gave it to me after she and her siblings split the last of my Grandma W.'s possessions. She said it had belonged to Grandma but no one else wanted it. Mom was quick to point out that Grandma hadn't made it (she could tell because the stitching was too uneven) but we'll probably never know who did.

Back to the quilt at hand. This is my favorite print from the line. Very 1930's inspired. I have a full yard of this that someday I'm going to make into an apron.

And here is what I have so far. Lots of seams! The more seams I have the less they match up. I'm hoping once the whole top is finished and the quilting is done you won't be able to see the mistakes as well.

Camping Brown County 2010

2010-07-04T12:49:00.013-05:00

We went camping last weekend at beautiful Brown County State Park. A great time was had by all but we spent an awful lot of time toting the kids to and from the bathroom. It was really hot this year, too. Unlike last year when were wore sweatshirts the entire weekend.

(I don't know why Brendan has his mouth open in almost all of his pictures lately.)

Leah and Maddie were best buds.

Mouth open.

Brendan spent most of the weekend rolling in the dirt, catching bugs with cousin Leo, and riding his tricycle.

The park has a small nature center.
The snakes were Brendan's favorite. Did you know parts of southern Indiana are home to rattlesnakes? (mouth open)
Again.
What a view.
Random picture of Brendan rolling out pizza crust the other day. Mouth is open here too. What's the deal?

Baby Quilts

2010-06-23T17:31:00.008-05:00

I finished these baby quilts a few days ago. The new owners are yet to be born but it won't be too long. (For at least one of them, anyway.)

The pink and red quilt was made using a jelly roll. Pre-cut strips 2.5" x 42" made piecing the top a breeze.
Quilting was a bit difficult. I quilted about 1/4" inside the seams, all the way around each rectangle. I struggled with a lot of puckering. I much prefer the grid pattern quilting on the other quilt. One of these days I'm going to try stippling.
The green quilt was made from scrap prints bought from my friend Christa. She makes the cutest purses and baby items with expensive designer fabrics and I was more than happy to use up her throw-away pieces.

The background and binding fabric are from Jo-Ann's.
I can't believe my Grandma W. used to do all this stitching by hand! Where she found the time to raise 7 children, spoil 20 grandchildren AND hand quilt, I'll never know.
Leah can't resist a pose.
My friend Karen just finished her first quilt. Check it out. Very cute and well made. She also crochets.

Happy 1st Birthday, Asher!

2010-06-21T21:40:00.015-05:00

We celebrated nephew Asher's first birthday a few weeks ago.

Getting ready to dig into his very own cake.
Brendan, ready to party. (Notice the alligator theme.)
Asher and Grandma.
Kate made this adorable alligator cake from Hello, Cupcake!. So talented, isn't she? Brendan could hardly contain his excitement.
Cupcake coma.
Chillin' with the dads.

Grandma is always so thoughtful and has something special for the kiddos every time she sees them. Here she is reading them a Care Bears book.
Asher with his uncle Byron.
And Aunt Aimee.
We tried to get a pic of the three cousins all together but as you can see, Brendan didn't want to cooperate. I love how Asher's looking at him like "What's wrong with you, dude. Sit still."
We're so glad we got to share in this very special day!

Photos by Leah

2010-06-08T18:47:00.014-05:00

Seeing the world through a child's eyes is fascinating.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

2010-06-05T11:00:00.003-05:00

This is a great alternative recipe for chocolate chip cookies, especially if you are out of eggs like we have been for at least a week (wish my hubby would hurry up and build that chicken coop in the backyard). And it's easy for the kids to help too.

I don't know where the recipe originally came from but my mom passed it along to me several years ago. The batch size is rather large so unless you want to be rolling cookies for a few hours, halve it.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

2 C. unsalted butter, softened

2 C + 3 T powdered sugar

2 t vanilla

1/2 t salt

4 1/2 C all-purpose flour

1 package (12 oz.) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter and 2 C sugar. Beat in vanilla and salt. Gradually stir in flour until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Shape into 1" balls; place 2 in. apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten cookies with the back of a fork and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 15 min. or until light golden brown. Remove to a cooling rack and dust with remaining powdered sugar.

This recipe was brought to you from a chair in the front of my house where I am having a yard sale. Needless to say, business is slow. Bye-bye remaining baby stuff (maybe, if anyone shows up).

Memorial Holiday Weekend 2010

2010-06-02T19:44:00.008-05:00

Memorial Day weekend was full of lots of activity for us this year.

We went swimming at Scott and Abby's house.

You will notice Scott owns the world's largest inflatable Cicinnati Reds baseball. Not sure what he does with that thing. Wish I had gotten a pic of Abby's very pregnant belly. We're so excited that in a few short weeks we will have a new niece or nephew! Maddie is a great swimmer.
Brendan couldn't get enough of going up and down the pool ladder.
Brendan and Maddie during a cookout at Aunt Diane and Uncle Mark's house.
Met the newest member of the family, Noah, born to my cousin Amanda.
Leah was Miss Attitude all weekend. You can still see a little bit of her Scarlet fever rash in this pic. Both kids had a nasty strep infection last week. Poor Leah had to have two rounds of antibiotics and endured about every symptom of strep throat there is. Brendan developed a rash too but his infection wasn't as bad.
Nana and Grumps seem to have endless energy for their grandchildren (thank you!). You can see Brendan is holding Bertie the Bus in his left hand here. She (or he?) had been missing since Christmas, stuck inside Grumps' subwoofer. (Our subwoofer is full of Mega Blocks, in case you were wondering.)
Good times! But busy, busy, busy!

Treasures in the Attic

2010-05-16T16:17:00.003-05:00

Look what my husband found while we were cleaning out the attic today! This little gem must be worth a fortune so I'm putting it up on Ebay. Emily, my dear sister, since the ownership of this autographed picture seems to be in question (it was in my keepsake box but your name is on the back), I'll be sure to give you a cut of the winning bid.

Now, good luck getting "How Do You Talk to an Angel" out of your head.

Finally! Leah's Quilt is Finished

2010-05-10T20:28:00.005-05:00

I don't even know how long ago I started on this quilt. I'm just so thankful that it is finally finished. Leah loves it! Goes great with her Jenny Lind bed Grandma found for her at an estate sale.
Brendan is determined to do serious bodily harm to himself by jumping on the beds. I told him he at least has to wait until Daddy gets home because it is his turn to do the emergency room run. Anyway, I don't know what kind of funky ballet move this is but he will probably hurt himself doing it one day.

A Terrific Mother's Day

2010-05-10T20:01:00.006-05:00

What a relaxing Mother's Day! Byron kept the kids busy (here with Play-Doh) and took care of all the chores so I could rest. He also made me a quiche for breakfast, the kind that has so much butter that is runs over the edge of the pan in the oven and makes the house all smokey. It was delicious. What a great husband!
The kids made me these gifts at their daycare. They have some very creative teachers. I'm always amazed at the crafts they come home with.

Leah's gift was a fill-in-the-blank description of her mom, Mad Libs style. Here is what it says (Leah's answers in quotes):

My mom is the most wonderful mom in the world. Her name is "Aimee". She's as pretty as a "ten Q's". She is "one" years old. She has "brown" eyes and "brown" hair. She weighs "3" pounds and is "biggest" feet tall. Her favorite food is "cereal". Her favorite color is "pink". I think mom is funny when she "just wants to play with me". But I know she is really mad when she "I just make bad choices". My mom is better than "ever"! I love my mom because "you are".
Brendan's cute little picture frame. (Note: pictures of Brendan at daycare are extremely rare because he never sits still long enough to take one.)
Leah's gift also included this song. Brendan said he wanted to sing me a song too. I asked what his song was called and he told me "Boo-boos". Um, Ok, that's a new one.

Thanks to my family for giving me a wonderful day!

Flashback! April 2007

2010-04-18T20:21:00.006-05:00

The R clan at Easter

Leah and Brendan with daddy just before their baptism

Brendan in his exersaucer

Pets Desi and Piper in a rare moment of friendship

Take Me With You!

2010-04-14T20:35:00.004-05:00

(Pic of Mom and Dad on their honeymoon, I think. Love the giant bell-bottoms)

My mom and dad are leaving next week for a well deserved trip to Hawaii to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary and my mom is going to keep a blog of their island adventures. So check out Ruwe Hawaii and become a follower if you want to see what they're up to. And pray that my brother can teach an old lady how to upload pictures, otherwise we are going to miss all the beautiful scenery.

P.S. A Hawaiian cruise could not sound more blissful to someone who is parenting two half-potty-trained 3 year-olds.

Is it spring already?

2010-04-11T20:12:00.010-05:00

Hmm...let's see, what have we been up to since I posted (so long ago!) in January.

We celebrated birthdays for the very young...

And the very old.

Played Princess dress-up.

Rode tricycles in the house (thanks to Nana).

Attended a baby shower for my cousin Amanda.

Finished a baby quilt.

Started on another (and another yet to be photographed).

Got all dressed up for Easter.

And made this Betty Crocker Hot Fudge Sundae Cake recipe a few times because it's my all-time favorite.

I realize this doesn't add up to much on paper but we sure are tired anyway. Hopefully I won't take so long to post next time!

The Perfect Snow

2010-01-30T12:22:00.005-06:00

This was the scene out our front door this morning.

And the backyard.
It was THE perfect snow. What's the perfect snow, you ask? Here are the qualifications:

1) not too little, not too much. about 2-6".

2) must show up on the weekend, when there are no plans to go anywhere.

3) cannot bring along its friends Rain, Sleet, and Ice.

4) has to melt within 3 days.

Officially, we got 5" in the backyard and 6" in the front. (Byron was very scientific about his measurements.) Don't know if we'll take the kids out to play, yet. We just don't get enough snow here to justify buying a new snowsuit and boots every year so the kids wouldn't be able to play long anyway. We're having plenty of fun inside though.

I love all the light we get in our south facing dining room from the sun reflecting off the snow.

Cincinnati Chili Dogs

2010-01-22T20:21:00.002-06:00

Ok, I admit it. Chili dogs are pretty gross to look at, aren't they? But my husband recently requested them for his birthday dinner, and in this house we always honor birthday dinner requests. This is a recipe I adapted from allrecipes.com. This chili is Cincinnati style which means it's just meat, tomato sauce and spices. It's an acquired taste for some people, but that's ok, we love it and hope you will give it a try.

Cincinnati Chili Dogs

(adapted from allrecipes.com Cincinnati Chili I)

3 Cups beef broth

2 lbs. ground beef (do not brown)

1/4 C chili powder

1 t cinnamon

1 t cumin

1/2 t onion powder

1/2 t salt

1/4 t garlic powder

1/4 t allspice

1/4 ground cloves

1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce

2 T cider vinegar

1 bay leaf

1 oz. unsweetened (baking) chocolate

8 hot dogs

8 hot dog buns

yellow prepared mustard

chopped raw onion

shredded cheddar cheese

hot sauce (optional)

Mix first 12 ingredients (beef broth through vinegar) in a medium pot. Stir vigorously until meat has fully broken up, almost into a paste-like consistency. Bring to a boil then add bay leaf and chocolate. Stir until chocolate melts. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, two hours or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Warm hot dogs and place in buns. Top with mustard, chopped onion, chili, cheddar cheese and hot sauce.

This chili can also be served over hot cooked spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar.

On Blogging...

2010-01-16T13:33:00.005-06:00

I hate that it's been so long since I last posted. I never thought that going back to work full time would mean giving up my blog and cooking. But that's kind of what's happened. It's rare that I cook a meal from scratch at home anymore. And when I do, I'm too tired to post a picture and recipe. I am hopeful that when things here settle down and become more routine I can get back to doing those things I love. I have managed to start a new quilt this year (and no, I haven't even finished Leah's) but I can't tell you about it now because it's a surprise!

Even though I'm not posting as often, I still enjoy reading the blogs my friends and family keep. Here are my kiddos looking at pictures of their cousin Asher, on my sister-in-law, Kate's blog.

Leah is imitating Asher in this pic, who has just learned how to stick out his tongue.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-01T21:46:00.010-06:00

Some pics from Christmas...

Brendan still has a thing for bows.

Maddie looked so cute in her little pig-tails.
Leah and Maddie had their first tea party.
Grumps taking it all in.

Leah playing Nana's new Wii with Mommy. (Note: Mario Kart makes me queasy.)
It was a Thomas the Train Christmas for Brendan. (My friend Karen gave me this sweatshirt as a hand-me-down which I wrapped up and passed off as a Santa gift. Tough economic times require creative gift giving. Thanks, Karen.)

He got Bertie the Bus from Nana and Grumps, which he promptly lost inside Grumps' sub-woofer. Bye-bye Bertie.

Leah refers to each Disney princess as "Tinkerbell". I think she's a little confused. Santa Nana brought her a "Tinkerbell" scooter.

Great times except I came down with a stomach virus Saturday night and missed the Christmas celebration with Byron's side of the family. To top it off, we got stranded on the way home by bad road conditions and had to take refuge in a bed and breakfast. The nice lady working at the inn hid her horror well when she saw us trudge in with 2 very wound up three year olds, one of whom had wet their pants in the car. And I looked like you-know-what after being up sick all night, wearing my pajamas, with no make-up on. She even gave us a discount on the the room rate. Guess she was our very own Christmas angel.

Getting Ready For Christmas

2009-12-18T17:52:00.012-06:00

Ok, so this is not the best picture of the kids with Santa but at least they weren't crying.

It was nice of a neighborhood group to host this free visit-with-Santa event. They had this oversized Nativity scene set up that Brendan became fascinated with.

He had quite the animated, though one-sided, conversation with one of the wise men.
Here is Leah posing in front of our tree right before we left for their pre-school Christmas program. She loves this Christmas outfit Grandma bought for her, even insisted on sleeping in it (shoes and all) that night. Thanks for the tights, Nana.
Brendan looked very handsome as well, but could not be persuaded to smile for the camera.
This gingerbread man was a prop in Brendan's program. Leah likes to put it on and say she's wearing "people".
Brendan made this for me at pre-school. I think it's supposed to be a reindeer. What ever it was, it was delicious. Thanks, buddy.
I must confess, however, Edy's makes my favorite Christmas treat.
This has nothing to do with Christmas. I just happen to love this pic of Leah with her Nana.

Crazy Get-ups

2009-12-09T14:30:00.003-06:00

You Want What For Christmas?

2009-11-26T22:56:00.002-06:00

Leah wants Santa to bring her an ipod for Christmas. The grow up so fast, don't they? I swear she went straight from nursery rhymes to Jack White. Rock on, Leah.

Pirates and Indians

2009-11-26T22:50:00.003-06:00

The kids made these hats at daycare. Aren't they adorable? But PLEASE, don't call Leah a Pilgrim. She will insist, rather loudly, that she is a pirate. I don't blame ya, kid. Pirates probably have way more fun.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Sick Days, Train Tracks and Quilt Bindings

2009-11-17T10:54:00.006-06:00

Leah had pink eye last week. Our first case ever, and hopefully our last. Children DO NOT like to have drops put in their eyes.

She now has a nasty cold with fever and an ear infection. She's feeling a little better today. Not well enough to go to daycare but not sick enough to lay comatose on the couch. In other words, just well enough to give me lots of trouble. Thank God for A Bug's Life.

Brendan's got a nice track going today.

I'm not feeling too well myself with a scratchy, sore throat, but I am managing to make a little progress on Leah's quilt binding. I wasn't sure how using the scraps to make bias binding would turn out but I'm really liking it so far. Too bad I have to hand stitch it all on and it's taking FOREVER!

Family News

2009-11-15T13:44:00.002-06:00

Check out my sister-in-law Abby's blog for some exciting family news.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-05T20:26:00.007-06:00

Please forgive me, I know I'm late with the Halloween pictures.

Brendan (Yoda) and Nana
Leah, as Tenderheart Care Bear
The kids on Uncle Slash's (Nick's) scary front porch.
Trick-or-Treating at their own house. Grumps dutifully handed out candy to the neighborhood kids while we were out. Leah was so tired she could barely walk up the front steps. I was very proud of Brendan for leaving his Yoda ears on the whole time.
I hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

Something, Something, Witches Brew

2009-10-24T19:32:00.002-05:00

Leah started singing a new song today that must be something she learned at daycare. We can't really understand any of the words except "witches brew", however, she's quite animated when she sings it and I wanted to capture it on video.

They are really into the whole Halloween thing at school. Today she asked everyone "What you gonna be Halloween?" and Brendan has been randomly screaming "MONSTER MASH!".

Asher's First Visit

2009-10-24T19:21:00.006-05:00

Our nephew Asher made his first visit to our house today. How cute does he look in his little tuxedo outfit?

Leah showered him with kisses and hugs, of course. I think she likes her little cousin.
Fun times with Uncle Byron.
Brendan paid little attention to our visitors. He was busy playing trains.

Perfect Fall Day

2009-10-24T19:15:00.006-05:00

Today was one of those perfect fall days. Sunny, not too hot, not too cold. What a great day to play outside!

What's Been Going On

2009-10-21T20:45:00.007-05:00

Grandma and Papa came over and brought the kids some birthday presents. Leah's got a pretty new winter coat and Brendan is enjoying his new books.
Papa tormented Leah by putting this train (James, I think) on his head.
Brendan and Leah went on their first field trip today to see The Rainbow Fish. Brendan's teacher told me he rode the bus like a big boy and enjoyed himself at the show. Leah, I was told, interrupted the show with an long, ear-splitting scream when her neighbor stole the sticker off her shirt. Such the drama queen.

I think Leah is finally potty-trained. Hooray! One down, one to go.

We tried out a new Indian restaurant on our date night last Friday. Byron finally decided to give curry another try and loved it so now we have a new place to go for date night. He then spent the rest of the evening checking the value of his baseball cards. How exciting. Apparently, he would be a millionare right now if his friend's older brother hadn't conned him out of some valuable cards when he was a kid. Oh, well.

Byron keeps his baseball cards in this safe. (I find it very funny that the only things we lock up around here are baseball cards.) He told me he would show me where he hides the safe so that if he ever dies I can sell the cards to pay the mortgage. Great! Now we can cancel that expensive life insurance policy!

I finally finished quilting on Leah's blanket. Now I just have to make and attach the binding. Leah is quickly outgrowing her crib mattress so I hope we can find her a bed and finish this quilt soon.

BRAT

2009-10-14T18:40:00.003-05:00

Brendan's on the BRAT diet today. As you can see, he loves the BRAT diet because he gets to eat all the applesauce and toast he wants. Apparently he's got a virus, and I had to go pick him up from daycare this morning. His tummy is feeling better but the fever's still there, so it looks like we'll be home again tomorrow. I must admit, it's a little embarrassing to have to miss work during only my second week.

Maple Baked Beans

2009-10-14T12:44:00.006-05:00

I cooked up a pot of baked beans over the weekend while my family was here visiting. This recipe is an altered form of Cooking Light's Vermont Baked Beans that I've made a few times. Sadly, I could not justify paying almost $1 per ounce for pure maple syrup so I substituted artificial maple pancake syrup. I think next time, though, I'm going to add maple extract and brown sugar in place of the syrup. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Maple Baked Beans

(adapted from Cooking Light)

1 lb. navy beans

4 oz. bacon, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

4 C water

1/2 C maple syrup

1 T molasses

2 T Dijon mustard

1 t salt

1/2 t hot sauce

Pour beans into a 5 quart Dutch oven and cover with a few inches of water. Place Dutch oven in refrigerator and let beans soak overnight. The next day, drain beans and set aside. Place Dutch oven on stovetop over med. heat. Add bacon and cook just until crisp. Add onion and cook until onion is soft, about five minutes. (Don't put raw bacon and onion into pan at the same time or bacon will not crisp.) Add beans and remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover Dutch oven and place in a pre-heated 325 degree oven for 1 1/2 -2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and cook an additional 1/2 hour or until beans are tender and thick. Serve with additional hot sauce, if desired.

Note: I forgot to give credit to my dad, who helped make the beans, and whose idea it was to add the molasses. Thanks, Dad!

Jump Up and Down

2009-10-12T20:42:00.002-05:00

Want to know how we entertained ourselves while my family was in town over the weekend? We sang this song and watched my niece Maddie try to jump up and down. She just can't seem to get her feet off the ground, and for some reason we find it hysterically funny to see her try.

Happy 3rd Birthday Brendan and Leah

2009-10-12T16:32:00.012-05:00

Seems like just yesterday my babies were so tiny and new.

Now they're three-years-old!

We had a small Thomas the Train theme celebration over the weekend while my family was in town to visit.

Here are the twins, and my niece Maddie, playing with their giant Thomas balloons.
I skipped the cake this year in favor of individual cupcakes. It was so much easier just to pop in these cupcake toppers, and the kids loved them.
I had a hard time keeping Leah away from the goodies until it was time to sing "Happy Birthday".

Little Miss Maddie, looking very sweet and innocent.
Pure Joy.
Also pure joy, though it's hard to tell. Brendan can't stop playing with his new train set! The only thing he ate all day on Saturday was the icing off his cupcake. He just couldn't keep himself away from his trains long enough to eat. (We were so lucky to buy the set, complete with table, used, from my cousin.)
Leah in her princess gear, a gift from Aunt Emmy.

The Princess and the Race Car Driver

2009-10-09T20:07:00.005-05:00

Grandma and Papa came over last night and brought the kids some surprises.

Leah has some new princess accessories. They fit her so well.

Brendan has a new race car that zooms across the floor and makes loud racing noises.
Princess Leah and her Papa.

Work Update

2009-10-09T19:45:00.002-05:00

I've had a fantastic first week of work. It's almost as if I never left! Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and prayers. The kids are loving daycare (their "school") and can't wait to go every morning. Ok, so Brendan has a little trouble getting up at 6:15 but I know he's loving it too. Leah knew all her classmates names by day #2, my little miss social butterfly. Brendan was moved to a separate classroom from Leah after a few days since apparently Leah was doing all the talking for him. Brendan's new teacher says he is doing very well and hopefully will improve his communication skills without his overly helpful sister nearby.

Too bad I haven't had time to cook this week. I tried to roast a chicken last night but it came out underdone and I had to throw it out. Don't you hate it when that happens? I am so going to miss cooking in the afternoon while the kiddos nap.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

2009-10-04T21:37:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's off to work I go. Tomorrow is officially my first day back after having the twins. I'm a little nervous but very excited at the same time, maybe a little sad too. And I just can't get all of these questions out of my head.

After three years am I going to remember how to do my job?

Will the kids miss me? Or worse, will they do something to get kicked out of day care?

Will I ever see my stay-at-home mom/playgroup friends again?

Are my kids going to turn out ok if I'm not with them for 10 hours everyday?

But instead of worrying I guess I should just remind myself that I'm very fortunate.

Very fortunate that:

1. I was able to find a job in this economy.

2. I will be working in a familiar lab, doing a job I love, with some wonderful people I know, respect, and admire.

3. I was able to choose to be at home full time for my children during their first three years of life.

There, all better. (As Brendan would say.)

Just for laughs, here's a picture of me at work in 2005. I just realized safety glasses, plastic gloves and a lab coat don't make me look very glamorous, do they?

I've Got My Shoes On. Let's Go!

2009-10-01T15:44:00.003-05:00

Leah put her shoes on all by herself for the first time today. I'm not sure where she thought she was going dressed in only her pajama top and pull-up.

Spicy Experiments

2009-10-01T15:34:00.005-05:00

Leah decided she was going to "help" me yesterday by mixing my chili powder and garlic salt together. A little extra garlic in my chili powder won't hurt but the tainted bottle of garlic salt had to be tossed, unfortunately.

Poor Brendan was made to be the taste tester.
I'm so proud of my little scientists. I guess they do take after their mama, don't they?

Enchilada Casserole

2009-10-01T15:01:00.004-05:00

I found a great recipe for Pulled Pork Enchiladas at Life's Ambrosia, however, sometimes I just don't have the time or the space to assemble a dozen enchiladas, especially with two toddlers crowding me in the kitchen. I used some leftover pulled pork that I had in the freezer to make this quick and easy enchilada casserole.

Enchilada Casserole

(adapted from Life's Ambrosia)

2 T canola oil, divided

1 med. onion, minced and divided

1 T flour

1 14 oz. can tomato sauce

2 t chili powder

1 t garlic salt

1 t cumin

12 small corn tortillas

1-2 C pulled pork

1 4 oz. can diced green chilis

1 can refried beans

2 C shredded cheddar, co-jack, or pepper jack cheese

1-2 T chopped cilantro

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat 1 T oil in a small saucepan over med-high heat. Add half the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook about 1 minute. Stir in tomato sauce and spices and simmer over low heat for a few minutes. In a large skillet, heat 1 T oil over med-high heat and add remaining onions. Cook until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir pulled pork and green chilis into onions in skillet and turn off the heat. Grease a 7 X 11 in. baking dish. Spread a little tomato sauce mixture in the bottom of the baking dish and layer 6 tortillas evenly over the top. Spread refried beans over the tortillas and top with half the cheese. Spread pork mixture into pan and top with remaining tortillas. Pour remaining sauce over the tortillas and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 35 minutes or until browned on top. Top with cilantro.

Daddies are Just Better Sometimes

2009-09-24T22:53:00.006-05:00

Byron drew this dinosaur picture for the kids. Isn't it awesome? He also drew another one just for Leah with the flowers, rainbows and butterflies she requested. Byron's so much better at the drawing thing than I am. Brendan brought me some paper and a pencil the next morning and asked me to draw a dinosaur. When I handed back the paper with my very rudimentary drawing (all my animal drawings pretty much look the same) he started to cry. I guess he's disappointed with my lack of talent.

I also suck at Legos. (Tall skyscraper, anyone?) But no, not Byron. He came to me all excited the other day with his Lego airplane complete with propeller, wings and whatever that tail thingy is called. Ok, now you're just showing off.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

2009-09-24T22:29:00.003-05:00

I made pulled pork sandwiches using my crock pot this week. So easy! I used half for sandwiches and then froze the rest for later. The leftover pork could also be used for enchilada filling. (Those are frozen, store bought sweet potato fries in the photo. I've tried but I just can't get make them from scratch!)

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

1 4-5lb. boneless Boston butt pork roast (or pork shoulder)

salt and pepper

2 T canola oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic

1/2 C water

2 T chili powder

barbeque sauce

Trim roast of excess fat and then cut into 3 in. chunks. Season pork generously with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large pot or skillet over med-high heat. Sear pork pieces on all sides in oil (do this in two or more batches as to not crowd the pan). Remove pork and place in crock pot. Lower stove heat to medium and add onions to pan. Cook until the onions start to soften, about 5 minutes. Smash garlic cloves with the side of a knife and peel. Add garlic to pan and cook about 1 minute. Add water to pan and stir, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add onion mixture to crock pot and stir in chili powder. (Note: Can be made up to this point and kept in fridge overnight.) Cook on low 8-10 hours or until pork is very tender. Strain most of the liquid from the crock pot and discard. Shred meat with two forks and serve with barbeque sauce.

Little Bengals Fan

2009-09-20T20:11:00.002-05:00

My brother snapped this picture of my niece, Maddie, today. Looks like she's all ready to cheer on the Bengals. Even her uncle Byron, who is a huge Colts fan, had to admit how cute she looks. I wonder if they have her chanting "Who Dey" yet?

Ice Cream Crunchies

2009-09-17T15:37:00.003-05:00

This is a special treat my mom makes for us, often by request. My grandmother used to make them for her when she was a child so the recipe is OLD (just kidding, Mom). There are no pictures of this dish because it's gone already, gobbled up by my brother, sister and me. They should be eaten within a few days or the Rice Krispies get soggy. Oh, and use the most generic, yellow, vanilla ice cream you can find. Trust me, it just tastes better.

Ice Cream Crunchies

1 C dark corn syrup

1 C creamy peanut butter

6 C crisp rice cereal

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, slightly softened

Blend corn syrup and peanut butter in a large bowl. Add cereal and mix to coat. Line a 13 x 9 in. pan with waxed paper and press half the cereal mixture into the bottom of the pan. Cut ice cream container away from the ice cream and cut ice cream into slices. Layer ice cream on top of cereal mixture in pan. Press remaining cereal mixture on top of ice cream. Cover pan and freeze several hours or until firm.

EnterTRAINment Junction

2009-09-17T13:14:00.007-05:00

Nana and I spent some time with the kids yesterday at a place called EnterTRAINment Junction, billed as the world's largest indoor train display. We spent about 4 hours in the children's play area where Brendan became obsessed with a Thomas and Friends toy playset. He is going to be one happy birthday boy next month when he gets his very own set!

Fun with Nana

2009-09-15T20:24:00.008-05:00

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

2009-09-09T14:18:00.002-05:00

I know, I should have posted this recipe at the beginning of summer, not the end, but I suppose there's really never a bad season for ice cream. I've been making this for the past few months and can honestly say I don't miss my beloved Edy's. The vanilla beans are a little pricey but totally worth it. I order mine (as well as most of my spices) through Penzey's.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

2 eggs

1 C sugar

1 C 2% or whole milk

2 C heavy cream

1 vanilla bean

Mix eggs and sugar in a small saucepan. Stir in milk and cream. Split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Add seeds and the bean to the saucepan. Heat mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened (about 20 min.). Strain mixture into a bowl (discarding solids) and allow to chill completely in the refrigerator. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Pack into airtight container and freeze until firm.

Hurry Winter! We Want to Wear This Hat.

2009-09-06T19:19:00.002-05:00

I picked up this hat for Leah on Friday at a cute little shop that sells clothing and accessories for little girls. This is a very dangerous store because they sell every kind of hair bow you could ever imagine, and you could easily come out of there with twice as many hair bows than your daughter will need in her lifetime. However, I was able to control myself this time and only bought a hat...with a coordinating sequined flower, of course. If there is only one good thing that could come out of cold, snowy weather, this hat would be it.

Reine De Saba (Chocolate Almond Cake)

2009-09-06T17:46:00.002-05:00

I came across this recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking via Bon Appetit magazine, and just had to make it because it is supposedly Julia Child's favorite. (Note: I have way too many magazine subscriptions so I check Bon Appetite out of the library.) This chocolate almond cake is so delicious that it is now my default chocolate cake recipe. Plus, it only makes one, eight-inch round layer so there is no waste if you're making it for a small crowd. The link to this recipe on Bon Appetite's website is broken, so here is a very similar recipe on Ochef.com (or just google it-there are tons of recipes out there). The ice cream on the side is homemade vanilla bean. I'll post a recipe for that later.

The Princess and Her Royal (Dinosaur?) Subject

2009-09-03T20:47:00.003-05:00

Leah has been playing the princess ever since she attended a birthday party on Saturday where they got to make their own crowns. (Check out this post at Baby Toolkit to find out how to make your own.) It's hard to see, but here she is with her brontosaurus that is wearing a dress that she made out of a baby blanket. What a girly-girl I have.

Stuffed Banana Peppers

2009-09-03T20:37:00.003-05:00

I had plenty of banana peppers left over from my Three Pepper Pizza so stuffed peppers they became. I split the peppers down one side, pulled off the stem and cleaned out the seeds. They were then stuffed with a mixture of cooked brown rice (about 1 cup), one chopped tomato, two finely chopped chicken sausage links, one bunch of green onions, chopped, and some salt, pepper and oregano. I covered the stuffed peppers with tomato sauce and baked in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes. Top with mozzarella cheese and return to oven to melt, if you like.

Three Pepper Pizza

2009-09-03T20:18:00.003-05:00

For this pizza I used this recipe for crust from the New York Times (subbed whole wheat flour for the AP flour with wonderful results) and this pizza sauce recipe from Cooking Light. Make your own pizza sauce and you will never use store-bought again, I promise! I pre-baked the pizza crust for 12 minutes at 450 degrees then topped with raw baby spinach, mozzarella cheese, banana peppers, red and green bell peppers, and thinly sliced red onion. The pizza was finished after about 15 more minutes of baking.

The banana peppers came from the farmer's market where I picked up a dozen for only $1. Too bad I won't be making any more trips to the market this summer. Leah got away from me while I was paying a vendor and ran right into the street. It's a miracle there was no traffic coming, otherwise we both would have been toast. Scary!

Brendan at the Library

2009-08-28T20:14:00.005-05:00

This is Brendan at the library today. He became so engrossed in this Thomas the Train book (or what he calls "toot-toot") that he read while walking around the children's section and then all the way to the car. I'm so glad he loves his books.

Going to a Tea Party

2009-08-27T19:01:00.005-05:00

Leah put my boots on today and announced that she was going to a tea party. She was able to walk in them remarkably well, and looked too cute doing it. Before you know it she'll be asking for a pair of Manolo's! The answer is "no", by the way.

Ricotta Pancakes with Cherry Sauce

2009-08-25T08:58:00.004-05:00

There's a tub of ricotta cheese in my refrigerator that I've had so long I've forgotten why I bought it in the first place. This recipe from Food Network (minus the banana syrup) proved to be a yummy way to use it up. The pancakes were light and fluffy yet creamy on the inside, but If you try this recipe add a little vanilla to the batter. The sauce I was able to hack together myself without a recipe with some cherries I happened to have in the freezer but I suppose almost any type of fruit will work. Top with whipped cream for a truly decadent breakfast.

Cherry Sauce

1-12 oz. package frozen sweet pitted cherries

1/2 C sugar

1/4 C orange juice

Simmer ingredients in a small saucepan, mashing cherries with the back of a spoon, until thick and syrupy, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

Vegetarian Chili Over Baked Potatoes

2009-08-23T19:29:00.002-05:00

The weather has been unseasonable cool this weekend so I cooked up a batch of vegetarian chili. Sometimes I like to spoon it over baked potatoes just to add some variety. Can you tell I love cilantro?

Hummus

2009-08-22T20:59:00.002-05:00

I love homemade hummus (but not the store-bought kind-yuck!) and often eat it with whole wheat pita bread for a snack or light lunch. It's also good with baby carrots but I'm not eating those until these braces come off! If you've only had the hummus you buy in the store, try making your own. It's so easy as long as you can find the tahini. My normal supermarket doesn't carry it but I was able to find a jar at a small Chinese grocery.

Hummus

1 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 T extra virgin olive oil

2 T tahini

1/2 t salt

1/2 t paprika

2-3 oz. water

Puree chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, tahini, salt and paprika until smooth in a mini food processor. Add water a little at a time until desired consistency. Sprinkle each portion with extra paprika and drizzle with a little olive oil, if desired.

Finally Quilting!

2009-08-21T19:21:00.003-05:00

Old-School Braids

2009-08-17T22:29:00.003-05:00

I loved to wear my hair in braids back in the 80's. Even spent one whole day of summer vacation teaching myself how to french braid my own hair. So I've been excited about braiding Leah's hair ever since we found out we were going to have a little girl. Good thing she loves to be groomed. Seriously, I don't know of any other child who asks to have their teeth flossed! Maybe tomorrow we'll get really girly and paint our toenails.

Car Seat Funk

2009-08-17T22:26:00.003-05:00

Had to wash Brendan's car seat cover today. Evidently he spilled some milk on it because it smelled like moldy cheese. I have a feeling by the time the twins outgrow these car seats they will have become bio-hazards and will have to be burned. No more milk in the car.

Stocking the Distraction Kit

2009-08-17T15:15:00.005-05:00

I love shopping the back to school sales to replenish the kids' art supplies for the year. I didn't need to get much since we haven't even used everything I bought last year, but I did decide to re-do my distraction kit that I keep in the diaper bag for when we are at a restaurant or waiting for the doctor.

I found these tiny calculators for only $1 each (no, my two-year-olds are not doing math but they love to press buttons), two mini composition notebooks for 50 cents each, a 24 pack of washable crayons for $2, and a vinyl pencil case to hold it all in for $1.99 (the splurge). The pencil case was necessary since my Ziplock wasn't holding up very well in the bottom of the diaper bag. The 4-pack of notebooks (60 cents) is for drawing at home.

Some other things I keep in the distraction kit are stickers and two mini rubber dinosaurs that we got free with a kids meal but I suppose matchbox cars or any other small toy would also work.

What do you use to distract/occupy your little ones?

Achey Baby Arms

2009-08-15T21:54:00.002-05:00

My sister-in-law sent this picture she took last weekend when we were in town for Asher's baptism. Looking at it totally makes my arms ache to hold another baby.

Peach Ice Cream Link

2009-08-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

I got braces put on my teeth about two weeks ago so I haven't been eating (or cooking) much. It's amazing how not being able to chew will affect your appetite. I did however, make some really quick and delicious peach ice cream tonight. You can get the recipe at One Ordinary Day.

Asher's Baptism

2009-08-14T14:12:00.005-05:00

Our nephew Asher's baptism was last weekend. Asher did great and only cried a little when the holy water was poured on his head.

Byron and I are so proud to be his Godparents.
With mommy and daddy.
This church had a baptismal pool and Brendan and Leah REALLY wanted to climb in there for a swim.
BIG tantrums when they found out there would be no swimming.

Is Your Daddy Tony Soprano?

2009-08-11T15:08:00.003-05:00

Took this picture over the weekend. The looks on Brendan and Leah's faces make me think they belong in the Soprano family.

Good Thing We Have an Artist in the Family

2009-08-11T14:47:00.003-05:00

This is Leah washing one of her crayon masterpieces off of the living room wall. She asks me to draw pictures for her all the time but gets upset when what I draw does not remotely resemble the object she requested. Sorry, Sweetie; Mommy has no talent. (Thank God Brendan only asks me to "draw" letters and numbers.) Good thing I have a talented brother-in-law painter, Kevin, who may be able to help my kids should they end up having an affinity for art.

We attended Kevin's lasted exhibition Power Over Poverty, last Friday, but somehow the pictures I took got lost in transition. Here is a link to his website www.smolaart.com where you can check out his paintings. The one titled Steal Away always makes my kids point and yell "Fire!".

Football Already?

2009-08-09T21:39:00.004-05:00

I just got my first pro-football sighting of the season. Byron has some sort of game on TV (NBC) tonight. He actually left to visit a friend but I kept the game on so I can listen to commentator Chris Collinsworth's accent. He reminds me of home.

Ugh! The next six months are going to be full of game watching and fantasy football checking, not to mention the endless play-by-play texting that has to go on between my husband and his buddies. I'm sure I'm not the only NFL widow who can't get her husband's attention on a Sunday afternoon, right? I'm just thankful he doesn't have this zeal for college ball, though I'm not promising we won't see some occasional Irish action.

Guess I'd better go get started on the chips and dip.

World Breastfeeding Week

2009-08-06T15:03:00.002-05:00

Did you know this week is World Breastfeeding Week? Kudos to all the mothers out there who give their babies the best start in life (including my own mother) and to those who support them.

STELLA!

2009-08-02T22:27:00.003-05:00

Have you ever seen the Sesame Street episode where Grover does a parody of "A Streetcar Named Desire"? I tried to find the clip on Youtube but couldn't. Anyway, I think he's trying to show the difference between loud and soft by saying "Stella" repeatedly in a soft then loud voice. My kids love this bit and usually chose to act it out in inappropriate, public places. But here we were able to capture it on video at home this time.

I'm thinking we should send this to Steven Spielberg. What do you think?

Quilt Trouble

2009-08-02T22:05:00.004-05:00

Since I've been so neglectful of this project, I decided to work on Leah's quilt today but had nothing but trouble. First, I washed the batting, which apparently you are not supposed to do because it came out of the washer totally ruined.

Then I went to Jo-Ann's to buy a replacement and left my credit card at the check-out counter. When I returned to get my card, I was treated very rudely by one of their employees, and it must have been a long day with the kids (Byron golfed today) because I just let her have it. Normally I would have ignored the rude behavior then stewed about it and let it ruin the rest of my day, but instead I snapped at her, stewed, and it still ruined the rest of my day. Oh well, back to the quilt.

Lastly, I went to plug in my sewing machine tonight and noticed that the cord was broken in a few places, leaving the wires exposed. Not sure how that happened (God, I hope we don't have some kind of rodent chewing on power cords in this house) but due to my excessive fear of electricity, I decided not to use the thing. Not sure what I'm going to do next, but I promise you Leah, one day your quilt will be finished.

Tunnel O Fun

2009-08-02T21:58:00.004-05:00

You may call this a fort, but my kids call it a tunnel. After 2 hours of repeated tunnel repairs, I finally got the idea to use rubber bands to keep the blanket from collapsing.

Promptly after securing the tunnel top, my children stopped playing with it. Figures.

Brendan and the Chocolate Cupcake

2009-08-02T21:55:00.004-05:00

Just thought I'd show off Brendan's technique for eating cupcakes. He was so proud of his messy face.

Canning

2009-08-02T21:41:00.005-05:00

I decided to make and can some salsa using these tomatoes and peppers from my mother and father-in-law's garden yesterday. Twelve hours in the kitchen spent canning (minus the 1 hour grocery trip and the time it took to prepare 3 meals for my family) and this is all I got.
Six pints of salsa and six half-pints of hot sauce. No wonder canning is usually a communal event. It's all really good though and will be worth it this fall when the garden tomatoes are long gone.

In case you're wondering, I used the recipes from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. No need to poison someone with botulism because I used some random recipe from the internet.

Leah picked this zucchini from the garden. She brought it to me and said "Look Mommy, I helped Grandma pick this bikini from the garden." We all had a good laugh over that one.

Pasta With Zucchini and Spiced Chickpeas

2009-07-30T09:27:00.003-05:00

Here's another recipe that will help use up all that zucchini that is taking over your garden. I was inspired by a newspaper article yesterday morning that said my neighborhood is getting a new Middle Eastern restaurant.

Pasta with Zucchini and Spiced Chickpeas

3 T olive oil

1 med. zucchini, sliced into thin rounds

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 med. tomato, chopped

1 can chickpeas, tossed with olive oil and spices, then roasted (see Chickpea Snack for specifics)

1/2 lb. dried angel hair pasta, cooked and drained

salt (about 1/2 t) and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over med. high heat. Add zucchini and cook until a little browned, about five minutes. Reduce heat to med. low and stir garlic into zucchini. Cook about 1 minute being sure not to let the garlic burn. Add tomatoes and salt and heat through, about 2 mintutes. Add pasta and chickpeas to skillet and toss. Salt and pepper to taste.

A Little Crowded in the Kitchen

2009-07-29T09:01:00.002-05:00

Place: My Kitchen.

Time: 5:15 p.m.

Activities: Cooking dinner, drawing, puzzle piecing, reading, stickering, lounging, riding, laundry un-folding.

Zucchini-Pineapple Quick Bread

2009-07-29T08:54:00.003-05:00

Looking for a way to use up the abundance of zucchini from your garden? Try this recipe from Cooking Light for Zucchini-Pineapple Quick Bread. It's one of my favorites.

Children's Museum

2009-07-25T16:07:00.013-05:00

We made a visit to a nearby children's museum today. The kids had a blast and a 3-hour+ nap afterwards. I may have to buy a yearly pass to this place!

Playing the harp with invisible strings.

Lego play.

Building, er, destroying a house.

Leah digging up dinosaurs.

Really, I get to draw on my face?

Brendan was in heaven with this pile of letters.

This is my favorite room.

Leah saw some kids do summersaults down this mat and was trying to do the same.

Got it! With a little help from Daddy.

Brendan playing hide-and-seek with his letter D. The room really is blue.

I don't know who had more fun coming down this slide, Leah or Mommy.

Leah's Quilt Top is Finished

2009-07-23T19:12:00.003-05:00

I finally finished the top for Leah's quilt last night. I still have to press a few seams, piece the backing, baste, quilt and bind, so I know I'm nowhere near the end but it feels good to be partway there. Leah's already had a tantrum because I won't let her have it yet. She doesn't understand that it's not finished. Guess it probably already looks like a blanket to her. At least I know she likes it.

Brendan's Head Gash

2009-07-22T11:07:00.003-05:00

I had to make another trip to Urgent Care yesterday with Brendan. The twins were in their room, supposed to be taking a nap when I heard Brendan screaming "MESS, MESS, MESS". I ran in to find his face and neck covered in blood, and a big gash just above his eyebrow. Thankfully, my mother-in-law was able to sit with Leah while I took Brendan to the doctor. (By the way, I got smart this time and called ahead to find out which urgent care had the shortest wait!) After much screaming, crying, thrashing, and bleeding, the doctor and two nurses were finally able to glue the laceration shut. The doctor gave me strict instructions not to allow him to touch his wound for 5 days. Ha! Trying getting a two-year-old to follow instructions? He obviously must not have kids.

It wasn't apparent what exactly happened until later on that evening, but is seems they were running and jumping on their mattresses then launching themselves head first into the door. I've already removed EVERYTHING from their room that I think they could harm themselves with. No furniture, shelving, or bed frames, just a few toys and books. What's next? Taking away their mattresses and padding the walls and doors?

I had already started the week off bad by having to call poison control. We were playing in the yard Monday when Leah brought me a mushroom bearing her teeth marks. She ended up being fine but I still lost sleep over it. I'm careful to do a sweep of the yard every time we're out there for mushrooms, dead animals, dog poop, neighbor's beer bottles, etc., so I have no idea where she found it. I really am trying my best, but I just don't know if these kids are going to make it.

Brown County Pics

2009-07-21T18:51:00.013-05:00

As promised, here are some pictures from our weekend camping trip.

Byron playing a game with Leah. That's Byron's tent in the background that he bought 13 years ago at Wal-Mart for $25. We've never had any problems or leaks with it but since it's too small for a family of four, we will be buying a new one for next year.

Brendan with his Nana.

Leah with her best buddy, Leo, who is my cousin's little boy (he's almost 3). I'll re-play their conversation for you:

Leah: "Leo, you see the crocodiles?"

Leo: "Um, no, we don't have crocodiles here."

Leah: "What about aldigators?"

Leo: "Are you eating breakfast?"

Leah: "You like my Mickey Mouse chair?"

Conversations between toddlers never fail to make you laugh.

Brendan helping his daddy make breakfast.
My dad's "Easy Bake Oven".
Brendan and Byron on the trail.
This trail was a wee bit rugged for two-year-olds, but we made it.
Not without any tears, though. Leah was highly upset because we were not seeing any lions or monkeys in the "jungle".
A fun game of hot potato. That's my niece Maddie in the middle.
My brother Scott and his wife Abby made campfire pizzas using flat bread. They were delicious!
Leah was using my sister and brother-in-law's tent as a tap dancing stage.

Brown County Camping 2009

2009-07-20T10:39:00.004-05:00

I love the new Coleman ads promoting the campsite as "the original social networking site" (click here to see one). They came out just in time to get me pumped up for our first ever camping trip with the twins. I have very fond memories of my own many childhood camping trips. We had so much fun racing Big Wheels, catching cicadas, playing cards, stuffing ourselves with s'mores, and riding our bikes over every inch of the campground. I really want my kids to have the opportunity to have their own fun camping experiences, so the plan is to take them every year.

This year we spent the weekend at Indiana's beautiful Brown County State Park.

We couldn't have asked for better weather. Unseasonably cool and not one drop of rain. We all had a great time and are looking forward to next year. I hope to post some pictures tomorrow.

Here's a vintage picture I found of me at our campsite, probably around 1984. Not sure where, but most likely Brookville Lake. Don't you love my Smurf Big Wheel?

Southwestern Chicken Salad

2009-07-14T09:18:00.004-05:00

I love to make salads because they are so easy and this is one of my favorites. I like to drizzle mine with a little ranch dressing but that's optional and so is the chicken if you're a vegetarian.

Southwestern Chicken Salad

(serves about 4)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 small can corn, drained (substitute fresh if in season, no need to cook)

1 red bell pepper, cut into small pieces

juice from 1 lime

1 T olive oil

2 T chopped cilantro

1 t chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

8 C salad greens

1 C shredded carrots

cooked, chopped chicken (about 2 C)

fried tortilla strips (optional)

ranch dressing (optional)

Mix first 8 ingredients (through salt and pepper) in a bowl and set aside. Top greens with carrots, chicken, black bean mixture, tortilla strips and ranch dressing.

City Kids

2009-07-12T21:00:00.003-05:00

Leah pushed this tractor by me the other day while making a strange roaring noise. She then explained "Look, Mommy, it's a dinosaur!". Oh, Leah, we must get you to a farm.

Peach-Cherry Crisp

2009-07-12T20:44:00.003-05:00

I bought some cherries at the grocery store today because I thought they would make a good snack. But when I got home I found 4 peaches in the refrigerator that needed to be eaten right away, so I decided to sacrifice my snack and throw it all into a crisp. Thanks to Leah who was a big help pulling all the stems off the cherries. I tried to get Brendan to help too but all he wanted to do was lick the cherries and then throw them into the baking dish, stem and pit and all.

Peach-Cherry Crisp (adapted from Joy of Cooking)

4 peaches, peeled and sliced

about 2 lbs. cherries, stemmed, pitted and cut in half

1/2 C oats

1/4 C flour

3/4 C brown sugar

1/2 t salt

1 t cinnamon

1 stick cold butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a medium sized baking dish. Toss peaches and cherries together in baking dish. Mix oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut butter into oat mixture using a pastry cutter, two knives, or your fingers, until the mixture is pea-sized lumps. Sprinkle oat mixture over fruit and bake about 50 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

Backyard Happenings

2009-07-10T12:25:00.009-05:00

Potted plants are looking pretty good this year.
My favorite, Rose of Sharon.
This is the lilac bush I planted last fall. I'm hoping it will eventually cover this ugly corner of our fence.

If you look very, very, closely, you will see a bruise on Brendan's cheek in the shape of Leah's mouth. He's also sporting a matching bite bruise on his arm. Poor kid.

Quilt Progress

2009-07-08T16:26:00.002-05:00

I've made some progress on Leah's quilt. I'm still probably only 1/3 of the way finished with piecing the top but at least that's something. The problem is that I only have one or two hour chunks of time to sew. Of course when I choose to sew, something else around here doesn't get done so the house looks like you-know-what and the clean laundry has been sitting in the baskets waiting to be put away for at least 3 days, oh, and as I type this I'm defrosting some leftover soup for supper. Ah, the joys of parenting toddlers.

I decided to make a fabric change which set me back a little. I'm switching out the blue and green ticking for this white fabric. I think it will help lighten the quilt a little and make it less busy. I'm also going to use this for the backing. Too bad I already cut the ticking into strips. Luckily, I already have another project in mind to put it to good use. One thing at a time, Aimee.

Subliminal Food Messages?

2009-07-06T21:01:00.004-05:00

The kids had pretzels for a snack today and this is what I found on the table after Leah finished eating. Seriously, just like this. I didn't touch a thing before I took this picture.

Thought this picture was cute. It makes me smile when these two hug or hold hands spontaneously.