VT Party

Had a visiting teaching party today and put together a little lunch for the group. Thought I would share the recipe since I'm always looking for good ones to add to my collection.
Oriental Chicken/Spinach Salad
1 Box Gemelli pasta
3 C Chicken cooked
1/4 C sesame seeds
8 C baby spinach or 1 bag
1/4 C Parsley
1/2 C Green Onions

Dressing:
1 C Olive Oil
2/3 C Rice Vinegar
6 Tbls. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 C soy sauce
1/2 tsp. pepper

Cook pasta and let cool. Mix dressing ingredients and shake well or mix in blender. Mix pasta, chicken, parsley and onion together with the dressing and refrigerate until ready to eat. Before serving add sesame seeds and spinach.

EnJoY!

Times Two

I've been tagged times two...both by my lovely cousins Christon and Rachael...I just needed one more to make this tag more legit...it's the tag of threes, so here goes:

3 JoYs:
-My family, all three of my boys keep a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
-Since having children, I find Joy in taking my time in stores with out my children...I will walk down every isle in walmart, target, the grocery, costco, whatever...so joyous!
-Hearing the dishwasher running before I go to bed...great joy in knowing I'll come downstairs to a clean kitchen...it's a better way to start my day!

3 FeArS:
-Things are going so well, I have a fear that the bottoms going to fall out...does that make sense?!
-My babies are growing up so fast...I fear the day when they no longer have that soft chubby skin and they don't want to give me a big snuggle
-That the dirty clothes are going to take over and I'll never get ahead or even catch up.

3 ObSesSiOnS/cOlLeCtIoNs:
-Putting the couch cushions back on the couch, because a certain two year old has an obsession of removing them everyday.
-Making sure all bathroom doors are closed, along with the pantry and dishwasher...Seth loves to climb into the dishwasher and play the bathroom...he can't get enough of the toilet paper.
-Checking the mail/email/blogs/phone messages...I don't know what it is about opening a nice card or wedding announcement...maybe because it's not a bill!

3 RaNdOm/SuRpRiSiNg FaCtS:
-one of my favorite times of day, is "pillow talk"-it seems to be the only time that Ben and I get to talk without interruptions...and he actually tells me about his day...I get details!
-I did something I've never done before this summer...I've planted sunflower seeds behind our garden...I hope it goes well...I'll blog pictures if it does!
-I believe the heart of a home is the kitchen and the the bed to a bedroom, so if everything else in my home is dirty, I at least make my bed and clean up the kitchen.
**note: I'm not very interesting/surprising...sorry!

Now I'm suppose to tag five bloggers, but I don't think that goes with this tag...I think it should just be three...it seems more fitting, and a lot easier on my part...so, I'm tagging: Emily, Nicky, Kari-Lynn

Sunday Night Treats!

One of the best things about Sunday is making treats after dinner, or for dinner, just depends how we feel. I was buying a wedding present at William-Sonoma on Friday and had a chance to stroll around the store while they wrapped the gift. I happened upon some animal cracker cookie mix and animal cracker cookie cutters...I couldn't help myself...it was perfect for Sunday night treats! We had some fun making our animal cookies and Maxton loved the rolling pin part and eating the dough. Even if the cookies end up a flop, I love the memories we make...that's my favorite part!

Just the beginning

Can anyone guess why I've posted this clip of Jack Johnson's concert at Blossom last night on my Blog?!? That's right folks, Ben and I went last night to his concert and we had so much fun. That's my third ever concert and it was way cooler than any others I had ever seen. My first concert was in 1991, my Mom took me to see Linda Ronstadt, and my second experience was 2000 I again went with my Mom and we saw Celine Dion.
Last night was so much fun, we did get rained on in the beginning, but after that, the weather was perfect. There were so many people and he sounded as good as if I was listening on the radio. I hope it won't take me eight years to see another concert, I hope it's just the beginning of many more live performances to come! Thanks Jack for some great tunes!

A couple of Green Thumbs...then and now

Here is Ben and Maxton last May '07 bringing the plants to the back to be planted

This year makes number two for our family garden. After we put our yard in last Spring, we waited patiently for the snow and frost to finally stop. It worked out to be Memorial Day Weekend when we were finally able to put in our seeds and plants.

Ben took stone slabs and configured a "U" shaped garden outside our morning room window in the back yard...I love to look out and see how our herbs and veggies are doing while I eat breakfast (May '07)

Picture of Maxton getting ready to plant...wish he smiled for pictures now the way he use to...I'm thinking it's a phase...any thoughts on that?!? (May '07)
This year, things were a little different for two reasons. First, our family grew an extra member that we harvested in late August of last year, and second, we weren't able to get things planted until this weekend of Fathers Day. We planted black seed lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. Seth just ate all the dirt and pulled out plants and our labels. It probably would have been easier and faster if just Ben and I had planted the garden, but that would have been no fun and the boys love to be our big helpers...for now!

Our newest little gardener...Seth...June '08
Ben hard at work, boys hard at play!

Maxton covering his brother in dirt...I love to bathe boys who really need a bath...that's a sign of a good day in my book!

Ben and Maxton telling Seth not to eat the Dirt...like he's going to stop, or understand!

Waffles

There is something to be said about a Waffle...and I'm not talking about Eggos or the ones you eat at Waffle House. The ones I'm talking about are life savers. They can make for a fun morning with all the fixin's! Waffles have a great way of making you look like you're this great cook and little miss homemaker when guest come to visit. They're great for when you need to take a meal or something over to a friends house after they've had a baby...it's the best thing ever...I know, I was on the receiving end after Seth was born and it was a true blessing. If you're in a hurry and the kids are screaming, and you don't feel or can't think to make breakfast...well, your in luck with these amazing waffles. Honestly, it's a win win situation. How, you ask?!? Well, here's my secret. Please stay with me, you obviously have to do a little leg work before it starts paying off...as with anything!

First, you have to invest in a Belgium waffle maker...it's the only way to go. You know, the kind where you put the batter in and flip it...the wells are bigger for butter, syrup, whip cream, fruit...you get the picture.

(This one is one that I pulled out of the freezer to feed Seth and Max)
And then you make whatever batter you're in the mood for, regular, lemon poppy seed (my favorite...however, there is a little bit more clean up that will be waiting for you once it goes through your child's digestive system...those poppy seeds pretty much come out unchanged...don't be alarmed when you open up that dipe), chocolate chip (the secret is to use mini chips...they keep your iron cleaner), pumpkin, blueberry, etc. If you're making for just you and the kids they usually only eat half a waffle, and then the best part...you freeze the rest and you've got breakfast for at least three days and a good one at that. You can pop them in the microwave or toaster or if you're really in a hurry, those kids will eat them frozen...especially if you've made chocolate chips, less mess when they stay frozen. Did I mention that they're great when the baby's teething...just put a bib around that baby and throw them a frozen waffle.

(Seth anxiously waiting for his waffle)

Now can you see how great it was when my good friend brought me over bags of waffles of all different kinds...I had breakfast for weeks, it was a life saver after bringing Seth home. It's a meal that I will never forget; no one else has every giving me food for breakfast. Think about it...your husband is usually home for dinner, he can help cook or get things going for dinner...it's breakfast when you're left in the lurch. So next time you sign up to bring over a meal for that mother who's just come home...make her a few batches of waffles...she'll never forget it!

When that company wakes up after a long day of travel the night before...they think you've bent over backwards to make them this wonderful breakfast, and you have, but you didn't have to bend over backwards. They rant and rave over how good they are, especially when you've made a few different batches. Don't worry, you won't have left overs, and if you do you're secretly excited because you know where they're going...in the freezer, to make your life so easy one morning when you can't get it together!

So, I thought I would give you a few recipes to get you started:

Regular:

2 eggs

2 cups milk

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1//2 cup oil

Beat eggs and milk until mixed. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and oil. Spray Pam on iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.

Variations:

Blueberry waffles: add 1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.

Lemon Poppy Seed: 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract, and 2 tablespoons poppy seed.

Chocolate chip Waffles:

2 cups flour

1 cup mini chocolate chips

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 2/3 cups milk

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 eggs

In large bowl, combine flour, chocolate chips, sugar baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add milk, butter and eggs; mix until moistened. Some lumps may remain. Spray Pam on iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.

(Obviously, if you have a butt load of kids, you want to double the recipe if you want to tuck away a few in the freezer)

I hope this either helps to get you out of a breakfast slump, think this was funny to read, or you think I'm totally crazy and need to just buy some Eggo waffles. To any rate, you won't be making fun of me when you've stayed the night and you wake up to the smell of warm syrup, fresh strawberries with whipping cream and the aroma of a waffle cooking on my iron...HaPpY BrEaKfAsT!

(Another Happy Camper...it's the breakfast that keeps on giving!)

Thank Goodness for Talk Radio

Let me just start off by saying Maxton is a great child. I enjoy him everyday, he brings me such joy! However, I do not like putting him to bed...it is such a battle, from the day he was born he's fought sleep. It was manageable while he was in the crib, he couldn't get out and he eventually fell to sleep. But ol' Seth kicked him out of his crib before he was two and the night time rituals have been nightmares ever since. We've tried standing outside his bedroom door and putting him right back in bed every time he got out...taking away one of his many two that he loves to sleep with, even the treasured "Banty"...we've even laid in the other twin bed (it's for Seth in a few years) until he fell asleep, but that means one of us were stuck in his room for almost an hour...this last week I've cut out his naps in hopes that he would go to sleep faster and sooner...but nothing seems to be working!
So, on Saturday, Ben had a bright idea. We all took a trip to Target and walked down their electronic isles till we found a nice new Sony alarm clock. It plays CDs, and FM/AM radio. We drove home, got the kids ready for bed and Ben set up Maxton's new alarm clock. Of course Ben would naturally have Max listening to talk radio, the Indians game to be exact. Ben set the sleep timer and we said good night with a kiss, shut the door and waited with anticipation on the other side...to our surprise, he stayed in bed. Ben shouts out with excitement, "I'm a genius!" I said, "Let not speak too soon, we need to give it a few nights."
Well, Sunday night came along...so far so good, then tonight. Ben works till 8pm on Mondays, so it's up to me to get the boys down. I got them all bathed, read a few stories, put Seth to bed in his crib, and then walked Max down to his bedroom. I turned the radio on to the Indians game for 30 minutes, shut the bedroom door and thought...if he doesn't get out of bed tonight it's the real deal. I came down stairs and kinda lost track of time as I did my own thing (a rare privilege these days) and then heard a very familiar sound...the opening of a door...I knew it, it's too good to be true...back to the ol' drawing board, as I walked up the stairs saying, "You better get back in your bed Max..." he interrupted me with, "Mommy, Baseball, NOW!" He had been in his room for 30 minutes, and the radio had turn off...this time I set that alarm clock for 90min, kissed my sweet son and shut his bedroom door for the last time tonight. Ben, you are a Genius! I didn't know what talk radio was until I married Ben. Thank Goodness for Talk Radio...Maxton is definitely his fathers child!