Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Next Generation

It's so crazy to me that all these kids...

came out of us:
My best friends from high school, Lindsey and Debbie.
(at XTreme Play yesterday)

And if Katie would've been there,
we would've had 4.5 more kids in the bunch!

PS This is the Lindsey that makes all my cute headers...
including my new sexy one above.


Retired

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Daddy's Boys


I was talking to Justin and noticed Owen
quietly copying his exact sitting position.

Owen loves his dad.

6/20
So does Drew :)

Justin flew home early this morning...his classes start back tomorrow.

We get another week here...before driving back home. Trying not to think about that part yet.

But Happy Father's Day Justin! On the real day. Hope you get some good quiet study time this week!

Grandmama

6/19

A tired girl liked getting her arm tickled by Great Grandma.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Ma's Birthday

She wanted new scooters to add to her
backyard play equipment collection.


Her daughters took her out to lunch.
Missed you Tami!

We tried a new place, Ticoz, that we all enjoyed as you can see.


I really enjoyed my honkin' burrito.

But the guacammus (guacamole + hummus) was the best.
Thanks for the rec. Errin!

A birthday churro.

And a birthday cake.

Happy birthday to my awesome mama!

Summer

Watermelon and Swimming

6/15

We've been swimming pretty much every day...

Aunt Denise's (above)

Big Surf
6/16

Stapley Jr. High
We're here perfect timing to do a 2-week session.
Owen loves it.
Drew does not. He loves swimming...just not lessons.

And Karen's.

Almost

6/15

Her love for Nonnie's dog, Gracie, almost makes me want one.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

You know we drove through the night when...

Whodunnit

Wait, I aleady know.

This is the new artwork in our kitchen door frame...
a man with a pincher.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Berries

Picking strawberries and ollalieberries (some crazy combination of berries that look like blackberries) at Gizdich Farms in Watsonville.

Doesn't like to sit still for a picture,
pretends he doesn't hear me when I want to take one.

w/Keenan the awesomest kid.
Owen & Drew love him.


Risked bee stings for these.



I didn't make this...just ate it.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

About that Taxidermy Museum...

About the only thing going for this place,
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History,
is that it's free.

But I know tons of other places that are free
and don't require me to look at dead stuffed animals.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Travel Prep

6/8

For some reason we feel the need to wash the van
just so it can get splattered with bugs on our drive to...
Arizona!

Remember when we used to take vacations
other than visiting family in AZ?
I don't.
But that's okay.

I love family and I love AZ.
Even sweaty hot AZ.
And living here is like a permanent vacation for me anyway.
Not so much for Justin, though.
He really needs this break.

ps I'm still primary chorister. Bishop doesn't read my blog but I've got friends in high places that do :)

Monday, June 08, 2009

Point Pinos Lighthouse

This is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast.

It's like 5 minutes away and this is our first visit after living here 1 year (on Saturday to be exact).

I loved this place...not sure if it's because it's a major step up from the taxidermy museum we were going to visit or what. I just did.

And I'm not sure what made me more happy,
the lighthouse or this grassy field.


Apparently it didn't make him happy, though.
Too prickly.

Early



We celebrated Father's Day early since we won't be together on the real day.

Bummer that it was a Fast Sunday.

But still a good day.

Friday, June 05, 2009

You're Looking at a Future Kindergartener

Enjoying his last day of kindergarten (for this school year) ice cream cone.

Not to be sad, though cause next year he's doing it again!

Only we won't be so lucky to get Mrs. Henderson
who retired today after 39 years of teaching.
She is awesome and I'm glad I sent Owen
so young if only because he got her.

Morning reading time with Aidan.
(we stayed the first 15 minutes of every day to read together)

With Eli at the school picnic 5/29

Outside his classroom.

The playground where we stayed to play on any nice day.
(see the ocean back there? it still makes me happy every time I see it)

This is where we'll be all summer...in our alley riding bikes.
They're obsessed.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Martha & Rachel

have given me some good recipes lately.

I'd make these all again.
Followed the recipe exactly except I could only find pork shoulder with the bone-in (which was a pain to work with). And I didn't add fresh cilantro at the end. I was nervous about the milk/orange juice combo but it was really good. The lime squeezed right on the meat in my carnita was the best part.

Chicken Fajita Tostadas

I didn't use fresh salsa but it'd be even better if you did
(or use semi-fresh like Costco's pico de gallo).

BBQ Chicken Burgers with Slaw

Recommended by Katie. Loved the slaw and I don't even like slaw.

The recipe I used for my fry bread was the traditional white bread recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook:

6-7 Cups all-purpose flour
3 T sugar
1 T salt
2 T shortening
4 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 C very warm water (120-130 degrees)

1. Mix 3 1/2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt, shortening and yeast in large bowl. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour, cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.

2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Kned about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place 40-60 minutes or until double.

From there I just rolled it out, cut it w/a pizza cutter and fried it in canola oil on medium-high. Then topped w/refried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato or whatever else you want. Also it's so good sprinkled w/powdered sugar or coated w/honey.

You can fry any dough on the planet...I've tried Rhodes frozen bread dough, lots of different white doughs, and whole wheat dough. But the above recipe is my favorite.