man week end

Dale and Aiden had a great time in Moses Lake this week end. They arrived home yesterday with wind and sun burnt faces but twinkles in their eyes. Lots of bonding time for my guys.

silhouette ta da

I have been wanting to do this project for forever. I found the idea here. The most challenging part of the project was finding the oval frames. I finally ordered them from Joann's online. They were really fast to put together and I think I will put them up on the wall in the dining room. Looking at Amelia's picture I think I will redo with her hair in pigtails. The silhouette doesn't really capture her right now.

week end plans and web wanderings

Amelia and I are at the start of a girls week end at home. Dale and Aiden left this morning for a week end trip to Moses Lake, where there will be lots of noise {quading}, dirt and man food. Amelia and I prefer the finer things in life and the comforts of home.So we'll be having our own week end at home with play dates, shopping, crafting and running water. Actually, Amelia's only request was to play with play doh. I think I can handle that. One of the comforts of home I like a little too much is surfing the web for cuteness and I found a few things to share:
- this adorable hand print craft
- these fun signs
- a great summer kids craft list
- this ruffle goodness tutorial resource

Have a great week end!

chance to win...

a free photo shoot with my favorite photographer! Check it out here! Rebecca is an amazing photgrapher and friend. Good luck.

mother's day poem

Aiden wrote a cinquain for Mother's day. I hardly remember these poems from school but attached were the rules:


1st line- one word (title)
2nd line- two words (describe the title)
3rd line- three words (verbs:action about the title)
4th line- four words (thought or feeling about the title)
5th line- one word (noun; means the same as the title)

Of course I think the poem is totally adorable and sweet but I was a little sad to think 'busy' is one of the first words he thinks to describe me. Hopefully summer break will provide us with a slower pace and lots of quality time.

you know the economy...

is in bad shape when the dollar store is going out of business.

why is it that...

just as you're falling asleep the smoke alarm low battery starts to chirp? Glad that's a man job at our house.

amelia-isms

Amelia talked quite early and sure does talk a lot but she has really funny way of pronouncing certain words

maked- naked
smooky - spooky
badoon - balloon
benchables- vegetables
connie-quences - consequences
nerbis- nervous
Scungebob Scarepants- Spongebob Squarepants

completely adorable and I'm sure by next year at this time these pronunciations will be a distant memory.

rhubarb muffins

rhubarb muffins
1 cup fat free sour cream or plain yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 2/3 cups flour
2 cups diced rhubarb
1 1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

brown sugar cinnamon topping
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp melted butter

muffins: blend together sour cream, oil, and eggs. set aside. in another bowl, stir remaining ingredients together and combine with sour cream mixture. mix just until moistened. fill muffin tins 2/3 full

topping: combine all ingredients and spoon onto each muffin. bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
*or make in 8x8 cake pan for rhubarb cake

kitchen necessities:part deux

Recently, I have rediscovered cooking and baking and have been enjoying myself. I have found there are a few more kitchen tools/gadgets that I really do enjoy and wanted to share.
- silicone pastry brush (no more nasty bristles)
- OXO citrus juicer
- kitchen tongs that I use for everything especially reaching stuff on the top shelf :
-Pampered Chef medium scooper for cookies and mini spatula for getting those tricky brownies out of the pan

family room fix up

Remember a gazillion years ago when I wanted to spruce up the family room. I think I finally finished. It's nothing dramatic but I am happy with the few changes and additions that have been made. I was able to have a custom vinyl project done here and a fun family picture from here. Crisp white curtains, new pillows and lamp completed the room. Now onto to the kitchen...

mother's day

I had a great day being celebrated as a Mom and celebrating with the fellow Mom's in my family. I was treated to a nice brunch at Semiahmoo this morning with Dale and the kids. After a little play time at the beach we headed to Canada. I dropped Dale and the kids at my parents and went to see my sister at the hospital. Linden was having snuggle time with my sister so I enjoyed getting a close look at my new nephew. So tiny and beautiful. We had dinner at my parents and then it was time to turn around and drive home. Where did this week end go?

a little giggle.

You know when everything has been serious and stressful for awhile and then something funny happens and it's the funniest thing that's happened in forever? Yesterday, Amelia was at birthday party and they were playing 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey?' Afterward, I leaned over to Tracy and asked her what she had fed the donkey. I think it's way funnier than anyone else but it feels so good to laugh!

spinach and black bean enchiladas

Everyone loved these at our house last week! The kids didn't even notice the spinach.

1 onion chopped
1 clove of garlic minced (I'm using the dried sliced garlic from Costco, super easy and tasty)
2 shredded carrots
1 chopped red bell pepper
6 cups spinach leaves
1 cup frozen corn
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 tsp dried chili pepper flakes
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp taco seasoning ( I was out of chili powder but I think this might be why it tasted so yummy)

1 package of corn tortillas
1 can of green enchilada sauce
1 1/2 cups grated cheese (cheddar or jack)

Saute the onion and garlic in a large frying pain with a small amount of olive oil/spray. Add grated carrot, red pepper, after 3 minutes add spinach. Then add corn and black beans add spices and cook 5 more minutes. Spray 9X13 pan, scoop filling into tortillas and roll, place seam side down in baking dish, pour enchilada sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in 350degree oven for approx 30 minutes until edges bubbling and cheese melted. Serve with salsa and sour cream on the side (If you haven't had Mexican style sour cream before I highly recommend it!)

linden's blog

If you want to keep up to date on my sweet little nephew, Linden you can check out www.linden2010.blogspot.com

little linden update

Linden has been doing fairly well the past few days in the NICU. Saturday night they took him off the CPAP and he was only on room air overnight. In the morning they decided to put him back on the CPAP because he was working so hard to breathe. He needs to save his energy for growing bigger not breathing harder. I wish I could get the picture off my phone with all his breathing tubes off he looks so peaceful. For now I have pictures from Saturday when we went to visit. While Dale was visiting him he pooped for the first time (yah!) and got a new iv in his hand. Dale said his little cry sounds like a baby crocodile noise (not exactly sure what that sounds like but I'm sure it's pretty cute). Sunday, Ashleigh was discharged from the hospital which of course was very difficult but she'll going every day to see him.