What's for dinner?

Daddy & I have a thing for thai food so last night we tried a new recipe I got from one of my magazines this month. It's Thai Chicken salad, and it was yummy.

First, for the dressing, mix together peanut butter, red wine vinaigrette, lime juice, garlic & chili-garlic sauce (use this sparingly as it is very hot). Then in a different bowl mix shredded chicken, cilantro, mint, diced red & green peppers and seeded/diced cucumber. Toss the dressing into the bowl with chicken mixture. Spread out some butter lettuce on the plate. Then top with the chicken mixture. Sprinkle with chopped cashews & crispy noodles.

This was really easy to do and relatively healthy so that's a plus. Because of the chili-garlic sauce, the dressing heat builds on itself so Daddy & I drank more water than usual but both finished a full plate of salad happily. I didn't put the dressing on the salad for the kids and they each ate a full plate of salad too.

A Great End to November

We spent Thanksgiving with lots of family who live out of town, that we seldom get to see, so that was a great start to our last weekend in November. The next day, we went with some friends to see a Christmas lights show and fireworks to start our Christmas season. From there we headed to Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa's house for another family gathering on Saturday. To top it all off, today we put away anything Thanksgiving and brought out the boxes of Christmas decorations. Although we weren't able to get it decorated yet, we found the perfect Christmas tree and the kids are just overjoyed to be helping put out and see all of the holiday decorations. It's weekends like this that are better gifts than anything you could ever buy in a store.

Ribbon Trees

This year, I went to a craft fair-type-thing with a friend of mine and took home the cutest idea. It was the perfect craft for our little girl to help me with so we made three and gave them to our three local grandmas. Unfortunately for her two grandmas who are out of state, they don't travel far very well or we'd have made five of them.
You only need 4 things and you can get all of them from your local craft store:
1) ribbon - have your toddler pick out 5-6 rolls of coordinating spools
2) a foam cone
3) a terra cotta pot
4) a box of pins
Here's what you do: Wrap the ribbon around your 3 middle fingers and cut it by your thumb & pinky finger so that you wind up with lots of pieces that are 3-4" long. Give all of the pieces to your toddler and let him/her play with them long enough that they get really mixed up (it shouldn't take long). Ask your toddler to pick a piece of fabric. They'll come to you randomly, which is what you want. Wrap the fabric in a circle and use the pin to stick it to the cone. Repeat this until the entire cone is covered in ribbon circles. If you are so inclined, use a dowel to secure the cone to the pot or a hot glue gun to adhere it. I didn't do this because I wanted it to be able to be stored more easily. That's it! Easy cheesy and it's basically the toddler's creation since they picked the ribbon and order that they were attached. I think they turned out SO cute and my little sweetheart was excited all week about giving them to her grandmas. We signed & dated the bottom of the pot for a little personalization but I suppose you could have the toddler decorate it too.

Blanket Forts

Everybody loves them. You just really can't get away with doing it to your living room unless you're under 10 years old. In this case, Daddy lucked out and got to make one for the kids...

What's bugging us

Sesame Street this week gave Mommy a great idea. There was an episode that was based primaily on bugs. Both kids were interested and the oldest talked about all the bugs she knew of for most of the day. SO...we decided to the river Sunday afternoon on a search for bugs. Daddy packed a hammer to dig into logs with and mommy & both kids had clear containers to hold their prisoners for further inspection. Try as we might however, we couldn't find a SINGLE BUG. NOT ONE. We saw two miniscule spiders for a split second a piece, but they were so small (I'm talking, as small as a tic-tac including legs) that there was no use in chasing them further into the dirt. What a disappointment.

I will have you know, that there are thousands of bugs that live along that river. When we're hiking and spending the day there on all other occasions, they are everywhere and have an uncanny ability to show themselves at the most inopportune times. They often times will not leave us alone. Perhaps it was too late in the day (shadows were falling) or too late in the season (although we were all in jeans & tees). Whatever the reason, they seem to have eluded us. We have vowed not to be defeated however and will find some around the backyard at our house for our little ones' inspection if we have to. All you bugs out there beware - we're coming for you!

What's for dinner?

This week I plan to make the following new recipe. I am a big fan of the "A Year of Crockpotting" website and got the idea from there. Here's what I'm going to do:

Put chopped up chicken, black beans, broth, sliced mushrooms, corn, a jar of salsa, and a little cumin in a crockpot (in that order, don't mix). Let that cook on low for 6-8 hours. Use an immersible blender to blend a bit of the chicken & beans on the bottom (just to thicken the soup - don't blend it all). Stir in a little sour cream before serving and top with cheese, avocado & tortilla strips. MMMM....okay, now I have a craving for it and I HAVE to make it tonight.

Thanksgiving playdate

Our mom's group had a potluck last week for the kids. There were games to play and we made turkey headbands and hand-turkey cards. There were loads of toys to be played with, pumpkins to pound golf tees into, a sandbox and hay bales to climb on/under. Both kids had a great time.

She's gone bazzerk

Our daughter has a few language barriers she has yet to cross. One of them comes after dinner when she never fails to request "bazzerk". Luckily, this kind of bazzerk is the kind that comes with ice cream, a cookie or other treat and not a total mental breakdown. I just don't have the heart to correct her yet because "dessert" just wouldn't be the same...

Lucky Kids

Our kids are especially blessed in that they get to have so many family members around them for love and support. It takes a village, right? Well, they have SIX great-grandparents, FOUR grandparents, and way too many aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, etc to count. On Sunday they got to spend the day with one of their grandmas and they had all sorts of fun, including making edible playdoh into cookies that they got to cook and then eat...now what could be better than that?!?!

Kidding around

The kids had a great time this morning at the petting zoo, with the other "kids"...

My Little Stinky Faces

Both of our kids love books and we make it a habit to read several books to them a day. A particular favorite of the oldest is "I Love You Stinky Face" by Lisa McCourt. I walked in on the cutest scene today while putting away the laundry. Our 2-year old was "reading" the book to her brother (and her purple teddy bear). It wasn't verbatim, of course, but I think I kinda liked her version better.

"

For those of you not familiar with the book, here are the real words:

"Mama said, 'I love you, my wonderful child.' But I had a question.

Mama, what if I were a BIG, SCARY, APE? Would you still love me then? If you were a big, scary ape, I would make your birthday cake out of bananas, and I would tell you, 'I love you, my big, scary ape.'

But, Mama, but, Mama, what if I were a super smelly skunk, and I smelled so bad that my name was Stinky Face? Then I'd plunk you in a bubble bath! But if you still smelled stinky, I wouldn't mind. I'd whisper in your ear, 'I love you, Stinky Face.'

But, Mama, but, Mama, what if i were an alligator with big, sharp teeth? I'd buy you a bigger toothbrush! And if your throat hurt, I'd look inside your huge mouth. I'd tell you, ' I love you, my dangerous alligator.'

But, Mama, what if I were a terrible meat-eating dinosaur? Then I'd make you a mountain of hamburgers to eat! I'd say, ' I love you my sweet, terrible dinosaur!'

But, Mama, but, Mama, What if I were a swamp creature with slimy, smelly seaweed hanging from my body? Then I would live by the swamp and take care of you always. I'd tell you, ' I love you, my slimy swamp monster!'

But, Mama, but, Mama, what if I were a green alien from Mars, and I ate bugs instead of peanut butter? Then I would fill your lunch box with spiders and ants and the tastiest bugs you ever had! And I'd pack a note with all the bugs that said, ' I love you, little greenie. Bon Appetit!'

But, Mama, but, Mama, What if I were a one-eyed monster? Then I would look right into your one eye and say, ' I love you,' and I would sing to you until your one droopy eyelid finally closed and you fell fast asleep.

I love you, Mama. And I love you, my wonderful child.

1st and 10

We went to our first football game with the kids this Friday and it was fun but very chilly. A friend of the family was playing so it was worth the price of admission to get to see him knock heads with the other leatherheads. The kids were pretty excited at first, what with all the lights and band and noise and cheerleaders and novelty of it all, but that gave way to crankiness when they realized it wasn't getting any warmer or earlier. Then as bedtime passed they both decided in their own ways to no-so-subtly let us know it was time to go home. So we made it through the 3rd quarter, which I consider a successful evening.

What's for dinner?

Here's a good idea for AFTER dinner. I got the idea from "A Year of Crockpotting" website (which I love, by the way). I haven't made it yet, but plan on making this warm dip this evening for dessert before we head out for a football game. It sounds so good that I can't imagine it being anything but absolutely divine.

In a small crockpot (or pan), add peanut butter, brown sugar, cream, and marshmellows (in a ratio of about 3/1/1/4)& a little vanilla. Let that cook slowly for about an hour and serve with sliced apples and/or celery.

UPDATE: We made this and it was super yummy! We had pretzels, bananas & chocolate wafer cookies to dip also. A little bit went a long way though and we have loads left over for later...which isn't such a bad thing (except for my belt notches!)

Closing in fast

Our little guy is quickly closing in on his "big" sister. Her clothes are mostly size 2T but she's lengthening out to a 3T so has a few bigger things. HE on the other hand, is quickly moving past his size 18mo clothes and into size 24mo (aka 2T). This evening we went to grandma & grandpa's for dinner and both kids were wearing size 2T clothes. I wonder now how long it will take for them to realize it too.

My brother is 7 years younger than I am and has referred to me as his "little" sister for many years. I guess since he's over 6 ft and 200 lbs I would be a bit insulted if he didn't...

Happy to be Hungry

I woke up from a nap this afternoon and was hungry! Hooorrrraaaayyy! I have eaten very little since massive vomiting occurred Sunday night (thus losing most of what I ate that day). I've had a little jello, pedialite & some crackers, while losing 8 pounds - YIPES! I have gradually begun to feel better today but was worried that even when I forced down breakfast, my tummy wasn't happy and didn't WANT me to eat. But I woke up and my tummy said "All Better!" YAY!

Clowns

We had a fun day of trick-or-treating at the downtown shops with friends before heading out to visit great-grandma and great-grandpa for the evening (and more trick-or-treating). Our little clowns took it all in stride and were pretty good. By the end of the night they were both running up to the door and saying trick-or-treat (okay, our little guy just said "teet-teet", but he's one so we'll cut him some slack). Although he doesn't have it on in the picture, we even got Daddy to wear his clown hat for most of the day. Even our pup got in on the action with her clown ruffle so we toted her along all day too.

Halloween Party

Yesterday the kids had a great time at a Halloween party with some friends. They got to draw and finger paint ghosts, scare off ghouls with bubbles, make scary masks, go in a spooky mini-maze, scoop up maggots (rice), eat some devilishly good treats, and draw shaving-cream goblins. They both had a wonderful time!

Woooo Hooooo

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got tickets for Christmas for $700! That's $500 cheaper than I could find previously. Okay, so we have to fly out of Orange County and into Seattle, but I'll take what I can get. We'll add a rental car and STILL save $300 in travel costs and get our own car to drive for the vacation. YES YES YES...it's lookin' like it's gunna be a good day...

What a wonderful world

There's not much in the world that can compare with a beautiful day with my three favorite people. We had a frost delay so we started on hole #13 on the back side, but Sunday was just such a day. I have to say, through all 15 holes the kids were great.

What's for Dinner?

We particularly like to eat fish, although we only eat it once a week or so. Last night though, I couldn't find a recipe for Dorado in any of my books that appealed to both of us, so I looked online. That's where I found a "Sweet & Tangy Tilapia" recipe.

Okay, so Dorado is a far cry from Tilapia, but the ingredients looked tasty to both of us and it took a mere 20 minutes start to finish for the meal so here's what I did:

In a measuring cup, I mixed lemon juice, butter, dijon mustard, strawberry preserves, vinegar, honey, and tarragon. I greased a cookie sheet and laid the fish on it under a broiler for 3 minutes. Then I turned the fish over and drizzled the mixture on top. I waited another 3 minutes and flipped the fish again, and drizzled again. After a final 3 minutes (9 total now for anyone counting), the fish was done and I served it with rice & vegis. A very healthy meal in no time flat, which is right up my alley.

The original recipe called for raspberry vinegar instead of the preserves & vinegar but I make due with what's in my pantry and we ate it all and I added it to my homemade cookbook to make again later.