simplify the utensil drawer!

I love kitchen gadgets and for the most part I find the right tool/gadget for the job makes life easier. But my kitchen drawer was overflowing and I was digging forever and still not able to find what I was looking for. So I took everything out of the drawer and made a pile of specialty tools that I only use a few times of year like a melon baller, pineapple corer, crab forks etc Those all went into a plastic bag ( a cute basket would be great but I didn't have one on hand) and it's down in my basement pantry. Those few a times a year I need a specialty gadget I can run down there and dig through the bag instead of digging through a drawer everyday. I've noticed a big difference when I'm preparing meals and open the drawer and can immediately see what I'm looking for.

ole!

Yesterday my mom came down to watch the kids while I was at a re certification class. This is a little video of my mom and Aiden doing the Mexican Hat Dance! Sorry mom! Thanks for yesterday!

preschool update

there are 45 million kids in his class and they did the YMCA "it's a dance, mommy!" Sounds like a fun school.

first day of preschool!

Today was Aiden's first day of preschool at St.Paul's. I had to wake him for school which I am sure is the first of many mornings. He woke with a smile and was so excited to be going to school. The first day of school pictures was a bit of a fiasco with Aiden being to excited to stand still and the beautiful (but horrible for picture taking) sunlight at the front door. Can't wait to pick him up at noon and hear all about his first day!

yesterday...

this little one got her first tooth, crawled across the room and and was found almost escaping from her crib. Busy, busy.

momento bins

I'm sure this isn't a breakthrough organizing tip for most. But I think I just wanted an excuse to post this pic with Dale's high school momento's. Check him out! A few weeks ago when I was sorting, organizing and purging I found that both Dale and I had keepsakes scattered in a bunch of different places. I designated a tote bin for each member of the family. In Dale's and mine there are our high school yearbooks, childhood keepsakes, etc. Aiden has some things in his and Amelia is just starting out but the outfit she wore home from the hospital now has a designated place. Of course I labeled each bin - Aiden's memento's etc. They are stored in any easily accessible place so as I find other items throughout the house they can be quickly placed in there designated place.

FYI: I thought the word was momento but spell check said memento!

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

The roasted vegetables make the difference!

1 small chopped zucchini

1 bell pepper chopped

1 onion chopped

4 carrots sliced

1 cup frozen corn

2 tsp minced garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

salt, pepper, basil etc to taste

combine vegetable on a cookie sheet, drizzle with oil and seasonings and roast at 400 degrees for approx 30 minutes until cooked but not mushy

fresh or frozen spinach

lasagna noodles

2 jars pasta sauce ( I use Haggen brand traditional)

16 oz container of cottage cheese

1 egg

3 cups grated mozza

use no boil or cooked lasagna noodles, in lasagna pan pour one jar of sauce, lay a layer of lasagna noodles on top, place spinach in a layer on top of noodles (use a lot of fresh spinach because it really shrinks while cooking, combine cottage cheese, beaten egg and 2 cups of cheese, place mixture on top of spinach, place another layer of lasagna noodles, then roasted vegetables, pour another jar of pasta sauce, sprinkle leftover mozza cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes until cheese melted and bubbling around edges.

The picture is Amelia when she was around 4 weeks old.