A Fun Little Project

Ribbon and mini clothespins (Craft Warehouse)

Large thumbtacks (Fred Meyer)

Lots of pictures ( $0.01 prints from Snapfish)

Less than five bucks and less than 30 minutes of work.

I love it!

Good Advice

From the obituary of a 102 year old woman:

"Floss daily, give nice presents, homemade candy is delicious, speak your mind, work hard and always carry a hanky."

Start Playing With Your Food!

Some people (my mother and husband) might tell you that I like to play with my food.  Apparently, I always have and it seems I always will.  You know, stacking broccoli (surprisingly hard), playing the color game (mixing foods on your plate to test the color wheel), and the ever popular try-to-peel-the-raw-red-pepper-stick-in-one-strip-without-breaking-the-skin (impossible).

You see, I really feel that I can't be blamed for what some people may call an impolite habit.  What I'm about to tell you is shocking, but true.  When I was a kid, a large clock hung on the wall above our dining room table.  My parents would have us play this "fun game" called, "Watch the clock and see if Andrea can make it 1/5/10 minutes without talking."  That's emotional abuse, at best, I tell you.  So, what else was I to do but play with my food while sitting in joyful silence?

When you have kids, one of the many truths that nobody tells you is this: You will never again have time to sit and eat a meal, let alone play with one.  On one recent night, I got up from the table 12 times (really, I counted) to refill milk, get a peanut butter sandwich, get plain toast because the peanut butter sandwich is no longer wanted, get another napkin, get a different spoon, get up to get the other red spoon while thinking that there is no way they can possibly tell the difference, get a different cup, get two cups, get the peanut butter sandwich that is now in demand, get a towel because the milk spilled, refill milk, dump out the milk that tastes funny....  You get the picture.  Obviously there are bigger issues at hand than the fact the milk spilled.  Should I be a short order cook and let the kids boss me around?  No.  Do I have the energy to fight it by the time dinner rolls around?  Nope.

So, when you find a food that the kids will willingly eat (2 servings, none the less) and that you can play with, well, I'd say that's a win-win.

You can buy zoo pasta at World Market stores, or here. 

A Mini Recipe

I haven't been very good about posting recipes lately, but here is a quick and easy one.  When I was pregnant with Hadley, we went shopping for a rocker/glider one night.  Suddenly, I had to eat.  Right away.  Luckily there was an restaurant in the same parking lot.  I don't remember what I ordered that night, or how the food was, but Tyler and I have often reminisced about the dipping oil for the bread.  Carrabba's shut down several years ago, so I can't go taste test for comparison, but I believe this recipe comes awfully close.

Carrabba's herb oil, via cdkitchen

INGREDIENTS:

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or as needed)

PREPARATION:

Combine all ingredients, except oil, on a deep plate or bowl. Pour olive oil over.

Warning, this stuff is so addictive.   I may or may not have eaten a hunk of garlic rosemary bread with dipping oil for breakfast.  Enjoy!

Hodel, Oh Hodel, Have I Got a Match For You...

Nothing can make up for missing my kids all day while I'm at work, but an evening of total silliness sure comes close...

For some reason, since the kids were little, when I pull their shirts over their heads I am inspired to sing songs from Fiddler on the Roof...

Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match...

A cheapo wig from the Target after Halloween sale: Priceless

It seems like only yesterday he was a bouncy baby boy.  Look at him now, with his beautiful flowing locks.

Why is Blake so happy?  Look closely...

The daycare teachers tell us that Blake and Hadley are so close and play so well together that it actually causes problems.  When their classes are on the playground at the same time, Blake apparently blocks other kids from getting to Hadley and sobs if her class goes inside first.  The teachers are starting to coordinate schedules just so they don't have to deal with it.  While I'm sure this is annoying to them, it's a bit heartwarming as a mother.  

Hadley, after daycare last night:  "Mommy! Mommy!  Last time, at school, I saw a coat and a hat and gloves, and it turned around and it was Blakey!  My eyes went like this (got big) and I was so excited that I jumped and I jumped!"   

Could there be any better answer to the question, "How was your day?" 

So this was actually this morning, but it cracks me up.