your opinion please...

I have decided I need a new summer dress. I would be wearing it to see 'Wicked' on Broadway and also for our 10th anniversary dinner in August. After a lot of online window shopping and a lil real life shopping I think it's between these two.
a) navy dress from J.Crew
b) black wrap dress
what do you think?

six at six

here's a few facts about my most favorite six year old boy

1) he loves cereal and would gladly eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner (sometimes he gets lucky and does have it for breakfast and dinner)
2) he loves to create things from scrap pieces of paper,boxes and tape
3) he is really into drawing these days (he froze Star Wars pictures on his DS and drew the Star Wars characters and names) instead of playing video games
4) he's really into Star Wars,lego,lizards, finger skateboards, bike riding and scootering
5) when he wants to he can be the absolute sweetest big brother
6) he is my most favorite boy

at last...

Five years ago next month we moved into this house. It took awhile but we have furnished the whole house. One of the only things missing was a coffee table for the living room. I finally found one that works!

week end at the cabin

We skipped out early on Thursday and headed to my parents cabin for the long week end. Travelling has greatly improved since last year. The caged howler monkey has been tamed! It took an obscene amount of juice boxes, goldfish and granola bars along with a few movies on the laptop but we made it with our nerves intact. We had a great week end visiting with my parents, relaxing, playing, quading and fishing.

corn dog muffins

Don't be judgin' they are good.
3 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup yellow corn meal
2 tbsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs beaten
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp melted butter
1 package of hot dogs, cut into pieces

preheat oven to 350 degrees
grease or line muffin tins
combine dry ingredients in a large bowl
combine milk, eggs, oil, and butter in med bowl; mix well
add to flour mixture, stir just until blended, add hot dogs to batter, stir
pour into muffin pans, filling 2/3 full
bake for 20 minutes or until done
*these are really yummy right out of the oven or you can freeze them and pack in kids lunches!

look mama I'm hiding...

where?
where?
where could you be?

capturing the week end - sunday edition

-Amelia was awake way too early. I remembered to take a picture of the clock awhile after I awoke.
-church
-Starbucks drive through after church quickly becoming a favorite Sunday tradition
-Target and Home Depot errands
-me bored in the car with the kids in the Home Depot parking lot. I could've taken of Amelia screaming,spitting and pinching her brother or Aiden peeing into a Starbucks cup but I thought I would spare you.
-pedicure with the girls
-scored a patio seat at Scotty Brown's with my two favorite nurses
-bellini's. mmmm.
-came home from a blissful afternoon to an empty house. napped. woke up still alone. called Dale and met up with him and the kids at Boulevard. home. bath time and bedtime. no pictures.
-stove picture repeats.

capturing the week end - saturday edition

left to right (click picture to enlarge)
-wake up 7:17. turn off pager. awesome
-Amelia has sunscreen and a breakfast cookie for breakfast
-Aiden is absorbed in his Nintendo DS
-waffles with rhubarb sauce for breakfast.yum.
-off to the gym with the kids
-stop at Haggens to pick up some picnic goodies
-hike to Clayton beach
-explore the beach and rocks
-have a picnic dinner on the beach
-Amelia singing to her lizard in the tub
-tubby time for me
-Amelia and Daddy reading a bedtime story
-drinks on the patio for the adults after the kids are in bed
-pager picture repeats r/t collage maker. I'm not on call for another 2 weeks. Wahoo!

Did I miss the memo?

That I am now a parent to a teenager (or more correctly a 6 year old that thinks he's one). I asked Aiden to run and grab my purse while I was doing some online banking. He replied " I'm trying to read a book...hello-o."

documenting the week end

Just read about this on Ali Edward's blog. Anyone in with me?

smore-ific

Last night we broke out the chimnea/fire thinga moo dobber. Amelia was very interested in the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers until her first bite. Then she decided she liked them all separate. "It's too tasty" (which means she doesn't like something). The rest of us had no problem scarfing down a few smores.

perpetual motion.

Today was National bike or walk to school/work day. It was raining when I went to bed last night and raining when I got up. I thought it would be okay to drive since we walk to school alot just not when it's raining or cold (which has been alot the past few months). Aiden had a hissy at 8:25am when I told him we would be driving and the tears started because he wouldn't be able to go to the 'celebration station' by the bike racks. I looked in the garage and my bike and the trailer were hanging from the ceiling. You know what happens when I try to get things down from the ceiling. I decided Aiden could ride his bike and I would push Amelia in the covered stroller. I put on my waterproof coat by this time is is 8:40am and the 'celebration station' closes at 8:50 with the first bell. Aiden rides his bike and I start running to keep up and make our 8:50 deadline. I am running on a full stomach, full bladder (not a good thing after two children) uphill, first thing in the morning (I sense a mother of the year award or something). We made it just in time as the first bell rang. Aiden was able to get a bottle of water, goldfish and a sticker (sooo worth it). I stopped off at my friend Jodi's to catch my breath, use the bathroom and quickly realized we would be late for Amelia's dance class. We walked back home (I'm not a sucker for punishment) and got in the car to drive to dance class. After dance class I took Amelia to get her haircut, walked all the way to the door and realized it was no longer in business (my hair place just went out of business too) got Amelia back in the car, took her to another hair place, got her haircut and headed back to Aiden's school to pick him up. I had plans to try and make breakfast cookies after school with the kids. Halfway through the recipe I realized we didn't have enough rolled oats so I loaded the kids up and headed to the grocery store. Spent $93 on rolled oats (you know how you go for one thing but then buy a bunch of stuff you didn't plan on). Drove home, finished cookies, fed kids, put Amelia down for a nap. Now I need to put away the groceries, finish last 2 loads of laundry, clean bathrooms, eat lunch, have shower and figure out dinner. I hate these days that sitting down for 15 minutes feels like an impossibility. (Typing this only took five minutes if that crossed your mind).

break his heart...

Last night at dinner Dale and Aiden were discussing the Jr. Sea to Ski parade. The plan is for Aiden to wear his soccer jersey and ride his skateboard. Aiden said to his Dad " that's a great idea, could you be like... four people behind me...so I look like I'm by myself?"....Ouch. I was trying not to laugh out loud and I think Dale was fighting back a tear.

can you guess?

Where Amelia (and the rest of us) are going on our summer vacation?

mothers day

I had a wonderful day/week end and I hope all my mama friends did too! I was able to have my mom here for the week end which made it even better. Saturday night Dale sent us out for dinner and afterwards we went down to watch the sunset at Boulevard. I don't know if it's the age of our kids but it's been so long since I've watched the sunset down by the water and it is a truly beautiful sight. Sunday morning my Mom and I enjoyed coffee on the deck while enjoying my new Australian mint bush that smells wonderful. Of course this morning it's pouring rain out there who knows when I'll get to enjoy it again. After church we took my Mom to Semiahmoo and enjoyed their delicious brunch. Dale attempted to fly a kite with kids and we enjoyed a lil stroll. In the afternoon we were joined by my sister and grandparents. We played our annual croquet game {(which I won by a landslide)the trick this year was drinking wine after the game not before, who knew?} We had a great Greek themed dinner and birthday cake for my grandparents for dessert. Perfectly lovely day.

projectile hot dog vomit aka night after the multicultural fair.

Gross but true. Last night we headed over to Aiden's school for their first annual multicultural fair. The food was excellent but now you know what's coming. There were some great displays and hands on activities for the kids. Aiden wrote his name in Chinese characters, got a henna spider tattoo, made a Mexican fiesta banner and danced the polka with his Grandma. Aiden's class had done an insect display that somehow tied in with multicultural theme. I still don't quite get that. We came home and tucked Aiden into bed. A few hours later he was awake and you know what happened. Poor kid he had an all American hot dog for dinner while the rest of us dined on Indian, Thai, Japanese, Filipino and Greek and he was the only one that got sick. What made it so much worse was today was his last soccer game of the season and two really fun birthday parties that had to be missed. He's back to himself now but I wasn't risking getting other peoples kids sick in time for Mother's Day.

making mud pies

A few weeks ago we had some friends over for dinner. After dinner they all went out to play in the backyard with the daddies. Awhile later I realized the kids had made their way back into the house and were playing in the basement. I found my little girl outside making mud pies in the sand box all by herself. Completely happy. I think she has logged more hours in the sandbox than Aiden has. She is completely happy to be totally filthy, squishing muck through her fingers and singing her songs. And yes that picture is her about to throw sand on me!

thank a teacher

It's Teacher Appreciation Week! Monday, Aiden brought flowers for his teacher and card that said "Think You Mrs. Roberts". I didn't have the heart to tell him he had written an i instead of an a. It's sorta cute that way,too.

spinach pesto

This was super fast, super good and healthy! Ripped off from Real Simple.

1/4 cup walnuts
2 cloves garlic
pulsed in the blender
10 cups spinach
1/3 cup olive oil
kosher salt and pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
add these to blender/ food processor, pulse until pureed. Toss with cooked pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

wonderful spring evening

Last night we loaded a picnic (stopped by Haggens) and went to Zuanich. We scored a picnic table beside the water and watched the sailboats on the sparkling water. Beautiful. Aiden brought his scooter and Amelia her trike. We cruised up and down the pathways with the kids. Dale and I taking turns hunched over helping Amelia. She can pedal a bit but she likes to be pushed. Afterwards we stopped by Mallards for our first ice cream cone of the season. Amelia tried to eat hers from the bottom up. I'm sure she's had an ice cream cone before but now I'm not so sure. We all had a little downtown culture lesson while sitting outside eating our cones. I'd love to spend more time downtown with the kids but it just doesn't seem to be a good idea. Has anyone ever tried the avocado ice cream? I heard a lot of people talking about it last night but I wasn't feeling adventurous. Are you enjoying all the wonderful pictures I took last night? Yeah me too. They would have been cute though. And technically perfect and all that jazz.