These cookies were inspired by our Maui vacation. I don't take home souvenirs the typical way--I bring home tastes and flavors and food memories. These cookies will send you straight to the Islands in no time flat. Enjoy!
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup loosely packed sweetened coconut flakes
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup crushed pineapple, well drained
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 10 oz package cups white chocolate chips
1 cup med-fine chopped roasted salted macadamia nuts (about 4 1/2 ounces)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Sift first 4 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add both sugars and beat until blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then crushed pineapple and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Using spatula, stir in white chocolate chips and nuts.
For large cookies, drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing 21/2 inches apart. For small cookies, drop dough by level tablespoonfuls onto sheets, spacing 11/2 inches apart.
Bake cookies until just golden, about 18 minutes for large cookies and about 15 minutes for small cookies. Cool on sheets. Do ahead Can be made ahead. Store airtight at room temperature up to 2 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Advil
Tonight I am grateful for modern medicine and all the comfort it gives us. As crunchy as I can get when it comes to food and eating naturally, I don't eschew medicine. I try to use it as sparingly as I can but man. Sometimes you gotta hit the Advil and then the couch. Which is where I am going next.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Stuff
Today I am grateful for stuff. Even though I rail against having to clean, sort, store all this *stuff* I am blessed to have such a problem. It's a self made problem. My girls don't need all the toys we are able to give them. I am lucky I can indulge whims--both theirs and mine. I don't need all the kitchen gadgets and cook ware and serving platters and such that I cram into my cupboards. Surely I don't need to keep five different types of sugar and at least four flours on hand at all times, but it makes me happy to have a well-stocked larder.
There are bigger things. We are lucky to have a dishwasher. A washer and dryer. A television and stereo system and all the goods that come with that including a closet full of movies and albums by our favorite artists. A sewing machine. Computers. Books. Tools and crafty items. Art supplies. The little things that make life fun and a house an entertaining place to be.
We have a house. No mean feat in the South Bay where just last year only 18% of the population could afford the median home prices. And within this home we manage to fit all this stuff.
In my cleaning and organizing and dusting and washing and stepping on things and finding pockets of clutter that make me crazy moments I need to remember to step back and be grateful because I am able to have this stuff. This fluff. This cherry on top kind of life. And not everyone does.
There are bigger things. We are lucky to have a dishwasher. A washer and dryer. A television and stereo system and all the goods that come with that including a closet full of movies and albums by our favorite artists. A sewing machine. Computers. Books. Tools and crafty items. Art supplies. The little things that make life fun and a house an entertaining place to be.
We have a house. No mean feat in the South Bay where just last year only 18% of the population could afford the median home prices. And within this home we manage to fit all this stuff.
In my cleaning and organizing and dusting and washing and stepping on things and finding pockets of clutter that make me crazy moments I need to remember to step back and be grateful because I am able to have this stuff. This fluff. This cherry on top kind of life. And not everyone does.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Pie
Tonight, gratitude in pictorial form. This is how I was able to spend my afternoon while John was running errands and the girls were sleeping. Baking centers my soul. And for this, I am grateful.
Sliced and Spiced--waiting to be arranged in the crust
Mile High Apples--the recipe called for 3 1/4 pounds of sliced apples
Cinnamon Crumb Topping--I really wanted that Dutch apple complexity for these lovely apples
Out of the Oven--golden brown and smelling so fall like. *swoon*
Slice and Serve--the crumb topping cracked like creme brulee but the pie held together in perfect slabs of happiness
The apples were the ones we picked earlier this week from the tree in the backyard. They turned into pie as wonderfully as I could have hoped for. I'm so excited for next years crop.
Sliced and Spiced--waiting to be arranged in the crust
Mile High Apples--the recipe called for 3 1/4 pounds of sliced apples
Cinnamon Crumb Topping--I really wanted that Dutch apple complexity for these lovely apples
Out of the Oven--golden brown and smelling so fall like. *swoon*
Slice and Serve--the crumb topping cracked like creme brulee but the pie held together in perfect slabs of happiness
The apples were the ones we picked earlier this week from the tree in the backyard. They turned into pie as wonderfully as I could have hoped for. I'm so excited for next years crop.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Amazon.com
Tonight, as silly as it might seem, I am grateful for Amazon.com.
Yes, Internet shopping.
I am a recent convert. I really like brick and mortar shopping. I like interacting with people...I am in love with small family run toy stores and shop at those places when I can. I love touching objects and getting new ideas from looking at the selections. And there is something to be said about getting a feel for the quality of an item before you purchase it. So Internet shopping was not really my thing.
It started with Half.com. CD's. Movies. Text books. Easy things. Then I discovered Amazon. It was a flirtation at first. The I had Maia and shopping became a touch more...complex. And when I had two tiny infants for the Christmas season last year Amazon became a life saver.
This year, I am really trying to get a jump on my Christmas game. I have more folks to shop for (yay babies!!) and less time to get stuff together because we are spending Christmas with our out of state family, which means we need to ship presents. That double stroller takes up a whole bunch of trunk space!
Enter Amazon. I actually have a paper list running and tomorrow I think I might start an actual Amazon list. I "accidentally" signed up for Amazon Prime (the yearly subscription that gets you free two-day shipping). I hope to have shopping done by Thanksgiving...barring those few last minute items that always come up. But with two-day shipping I'll probably just Amazon those as well. The plus is no cranky kids in stores, no wandering around the mall and no subterfuge trying to disuade those same small children from believing those presents are for them. And no, you can't play with that toy for your "cousin".
So thank you Amazon.com for making what is a stressful time (shopping) a plesent time (unless you don't have what I need!!). I think I might go see what you have to offer right about now.
Yes, Internet shopping.
I am a recent convert. I really like brick and mortar shopping. I like interacting with people...I am in love with small family run toy stores and shop at those places when I can. I love touching objects and getting new ideas from looking at the selections. And there is something to be said about getting a feel for the quality of an item before you purchase it. So Internet shopping was not really my thing.
It started with Half.com. CD's. Movies. Text books. Easy things. Then I discovered Amazon. It was a flirtation at first. The I had Maia and shopping became a touch more...complex. And when I had two tiny infants for the Christmas season last year Amazon became a life saver.
This year, I am really trying to get a jump on my Christmas game. I have more folks to shop for (yay babies!!) and less time to get stuff together because we are spending Christmas with our out of state family, which means we need to ship presents. That double stroller takes up a whole bunch of trunk space!
Enter Amazon. I actually have a paper list running and tomorrow I think I might start an actual Amazon list. I "accidentally" signed up for Amazon Prime (the yearly subscription that gets you free two-day shipping). I hope to have shopping done by Thanksgiving...barring those few last minute items that always come up. But with two-day shipping I'll probably just Amazon those as well. The plus is no cranky kids in stores, no wandering around the mall and no subterfuge trying to disuade those same small children from believing those presents are for them. And no, you can't play with that toy for your "cousin".
So thank you Amazon.com for making what is a stressful time (shopping) a plesent time (unless you don't have what I need!!). I think I might go see what you have to offer right about now.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Getting Out
Today I left the house. As we do almost every day. And for this I am grateful. As much as I love my home (and I do love home, I am a homebody in my heart of hearts) I love it more when we're coming back to it and not staying there all day--day after day.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Quiet
I am grateful for the quiet time I have after the girls have gone to bed. We keep a nice night-time schedule for this very reason. I love my girls...I love them even more after I've been able to spend some time with just my thoughts. And sometimes television.
Tonight is quiet. Naps have been spotty this week and the post bedtime silence is the only I've been able to savor. So now I am going to sign off and do a little actual book reading.
Enjoy your quiet time as well.
Tonight is quiet. Naps have been spotty this week and the post bedtime silence is the only I've been able to savor. So now I am going to sign off and do a little actual book reading.
Enjoy your quiet time as well.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Friends
Today is a big does of gratitude. One I feel I fail at mentioning in the moment and am figuring out ways I can express better. I am so very grateful for my friends.
The girls and I have been branching out and just about every week we have an adventure with our "pre-school friends". This is a group of women I'm fairly new to although I feel very welcomed by. They include my amazing childhood friend and her children who I am also very grateful for reconnecting with...but I digress. Most of our group have at least two children (so Stella and Elsie get some peer time too) but they all are always willing to lend me a hand with my (sometimes) special challenges.
There was the time when my double stroller wouldn't fit through the bike path gates and everyone just grabbed a baby while I pulled it through. And the times swimming when someone would hold a dripping child while I wrangled two more out of the pool. Or lunches where food is passed around. Or at the Children's Museum where I got to spend a quiet half hour playing with Stella and Elsie while Maia got to play with her friends elsewhere. Or today where Maia was watched by another mom while I held Stella and Elise on the carousel...and when Stella and Elsie were watched in the stroller while I took Maia for another ride...and again where Maia was watched on the ride while I stayed with Stella and Elise (yes, there were three carousel rides today)
I love the fact that I have so many friends willing to lend me hand. It makes going out and doing a possibility in my life. And if we weren't able to go out and play we'd all be driven stir crazy in no time flat.
Thank you, to all my friends. I love your companionship, your children, your views on life, your conversation, your ideas and your sometimes spare hands. Thank you for making all of our days that much brighter.
The girls and I have been branching out and just about every week we have an adventure with our "pre-school friends". This is a group of women I'm fairly new to although I feel very welcomed by. They include my amazing childhood friend and her children who I am also very grateful for reconnecting with...but I digress. Most of our group have at least two children (so Stella and Elsie get some peer time too) but they all are always willing to lend me a hand with my (sometimes) special challenges.
There was the time when my double stroller wouldn't fit through the bike path gates and everyone just grabbed a baby while I pulled it through. And the times swimming when someone would hold a dripping child while I wrangled two more out of the pool. Or lunches where food is passed around. Or at the Children's Museum where I got to spend a quiet half hour playing with Stella and Elsie while Maia got to play with her friends elsewhere. Or today where Maia was watched by another mom while I held Stella and Elise on the carousel...and when Stella and Elsie were watched in the stroller while I took Maia for another ride...and again where Maia was watched on the ride while I stayed with Stella and Elise (yes, there were three carousel rides today)
I love the fact that I have so many friends willing to lend me hand. It makes going out and doing a possibility in my life. And if we weren't able to go out and play we'd all be driven stir crazy in no time flat.
Thank you, to all my friends. I love your companionship, your children, your views on life, your conversation, your ideas and your sometimes spare hands. Thank you for making all of our days that much brighter.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Apples
I was avoiding kitchen duty, again, when the perfect excuse caught my eye. Apples. In our back yard we have a Pink Lady apple tree. It's a small thing but for the past two years it's produced a couple pounds of apples. Unfortunately last year most of those went to the squirrels. So when I saw those little branches laden with dusty red orbs, I knew I should just go out and harvest. Plus, way better than scrubbing pots. So out went Miss Maia and I with a basket to see what we could save. I ended up composting about half the crop for one reason or another...some were bug eaten, some bird pecked, some just withered on the branch. But right now beside me I have 3-4 pounds of good looking apples and I have heard tell of a cold front moving in this weekend, so it's going to be apple pie time.
I am so excited. For pie, first and for most. But also I'm excited at the prospect of making something from my little garden and giving Maia her first real "farm to table" experience. Living the urban life we do, and with a mom (to clarify, that would be me) who is the least competent backyard farmer ever, we haven't had many opportunities to share food that we've tended, picked, cooked and then eaten. It's an experience that I feel is really important and one I would like to encourage. I love nothing better than to eat really fresh food, and what could be fresher than our own apples? Totally organic and the distance from "grove" to table is mere steps.
Who knows? This could be the pie that gets me all geared up to put in a garden come late winter. So today I am grateful for those apples and the chance to share a teaching moment with Maia. Come the weekend, I think I'm going to be grateful for pie.
I am so excited. For pie, first and for most. But also I'm excited at the prospect of making something from my little garden and giving Maia her first real "farm to table" experience. Living the urban life we do, and with a mom (to clarify, that would be me) who is the least competent backyard farmer ever, we haven't had many opportunities to share food that we've tended, picked, cooked and then eaten. It's an experience that I feel is really important and one I would like to encourage. I love nothing better than to eat really fresh food, and what could be fresher than our own apples? Totally organic and the distance from "grove" to table is mere steps.
Who knows? This could be the pie that gets me all geared up to put in a garden come late winter. So today I am grateful for those apples and the chance to share a teaching moment with Maia. Come the weekend, I think I'm going to be grateful for pie.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunshine
Despite being bone-dead tired right now (like I usually am at the end of the day) I do love the hour roll back of Fall. I wish we didn't switch out of standard Time and into Daylight Savings in the first place. But that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.
I love having the sun up and shining in the morning. I feel so good to start off my day with a dose of light. Today I was up and showered and had the girls up and breakfasted and we even manged to get out the door and to preschool early. Woah. I got my grocery shopping done and even got to have a surprise lunch with John. Yay! All in all a very lovely day.
So today I celebrate that sunlight in the morning. I'm going to embrace getting up and out because that, more than anything else, sets my day up for success. I hope you are enjoying your sunshine as well.
I love having the sun up and shining in the morning. I feel so good to start off my day with a dose of light. Today I was up and showered and had the girls up and breakfasted and we even manged to get out the door and to preschool early. Woah. I got my grocery shopping done and even got to have a surprise lunch with John. Yay! All in all a very lovely day.
So today I celebrate that sunlight in the morning. I'm going to embrace getting up and out because that, more than anything else, sets my day up for success. I hope you are enjoying your sunshine as well.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
November First--A Month of Thansgiving
Today marks the beginning of NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. An exercise to get into the habit of blogging, a habit I have never really formed. I was never good at journaling in general...
In any case, I am going to give NaBloPoMo another shot. I tried it two years ago and almost made it. This year I am giving myself a theme and an easy way to accomplish my goal. I am going to find an instance everyday I am thankful for and write it down. This way I am going to have a month filled with gratitude, perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, and I hope to give my own head a positive push as we all head into the busy and often stressful greater holiday season (read: Christmas).
Today I am excited that I have reached my weight loss goal. I officially weighed in at 144.6 pounds yesterday at my meeting, a loss of over 55 pounds from when I started in January. It took me 39 recorded weeks--there might have been a week I missed while on vacation--to get here. Not bad at all. I'm excited to be in the maintenence phase and I am going to stay here for the duration. I feel great and I get such a thrill picking up a pair jeans and thinking, wait, these are way to small for me! And then realizing that those jeans are indeed mine.
Now, I just need to keep out of Maia's Halloween bucket!
In any case, I am going to give NaBloPoMo another shot. I tried it two years ago and almost made it. This year I am giving myself a theme and an easy way to accomplish my goal. I am going to find an instance everyday I am thankful for and write it down. This way I am going to have a month filled with gratitude, perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, and I hope to give my own head a positive push as we all head into the busy and often stressful greater holiday season (read: Christmas).
Today I am excited that I have reached my weight loss goal. I officially weighed in at 144.6 pounds yesterday at my meeting, a loss of over 55 pounds from when I started in January. It took me 39 recorded weeks--there might have been a week I missed while on vacation--to get here. Not bad at all. I'm excited to be in the maintenence phase and I am going to stay here for the duration. I feel great and I get such a thrill picking up a pair jeans and thinking, wait, these are way to small for me! And then realizing that those jeans are indeed mine.
Now, I just need to keep out of Maia's Halloween bucket!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Happy Year Five
Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of my marriage to John. Five years. Three children. Millions of kisses and too much love to fit in my arms.
Tonight, John put the girls to bed so I could go out and get a quick hair cut and a pedicure. He had me dash out, dirty dishes in the sink, babies ready to sleep and toddler in play mode just so I could go and feel pretty. He always manages to make me feel like the most loved person on the planet. His concern for me, for our daughters and our extended family never ceases to amaze me. He is a rock. Dependable. Solid. Responsible. Never, ever boring. His sense of humor is wicked and his take on life is refreshing and relevant. He plays a mean game of Mario Cart and never lets me win. Because he knows I just love the chase.
I have been blessed with a partner who always kisses me when he comes home from work. I have been blessed by a man who goes to work each day and makes it a priority to have me stay home with the kids. He rarely complains and loves the food I cook for him. He is my biggest fan and cheerleader. I hope he knows that I am the same for him.
Good times, bad times (well, with him even the bad times aren't so bad) I am able to experience them all with John by my side. I thank my lucky stars every night for putting him into my crazy path nine years ago. And I am so proud to point him out to anyone we meet and say, "There is my husband."
I love you, sweets. Happy anniversary.
Tonight, John put the girls to bed so I could go out and get a quick hair cut and a pedicure. He had me dash out, dirty dishes in the sink, babies ready to sleep and toddler in play mode just so I could go and feel pretty. He always manages to make me feel like the most loved person on the planet. His concern for me, for our daughters and our extended family never ceases to amaze me. He is a rock. Dependable. Solid. Responsible. Never, ever boring. His sense of humor is wicked and his take on life is refreshing and relevant. He plays a mean game of Mario Cart and never lets me win. Because he knows I just love the chase.
I have been blessed with a partner who always kisses me when he comes home from work. I have been blessed by a man who goes to work each day and makes it a priority to have me stay home with the kids. He rarely complains and loves the food I cook for him. He is my biggest fan and cheerleader. I hope he knows that I am the same for him.
Good times, bad times (well, with him even the bad times aren't so bad) I am able to experience them all with John by my side. I thank my lucky stars every night for putting him into my crazy path nine years ago. And I am so proud to point him out to anyone we meet and say, "There is my husband."
I love you, sweets. Happy anniversary.
Monday, September 7, 2009
One
What a week. Busy doesn't even cover it. And this week is going to be even more of the same. But first, a moment to think about what is going to happen tomorrow.
Stella and Elise will be turning one.
We've all gone from me not even knowing I was in labor, to a wonderful non-eventful birth, to a week--the worst week in our lives--of being in and out of the NICU to finally having both our sweet tiny babies home with us. And then learning how to raise infants all over again. In stereo. But with breakfast.
What a year. In some ways, the best year I've had so far and in many the most challenging. Many tears were shed. Many frustrations vented. Many laughs shared. Watching Stella and Elise grow into themselves and become the creatures they are right now and knowing that this is who they are going to be as adults in many ways has been fascinating.
Watching Maia grow as a toddler, now pre-schooler, and learning how to be a "big sister" has been amazing. The three of them have wonderful complex interactions. As siblings should. I think I'm blessed at having three so close. I hope those girls are forging some good life time relationships.
I'm amazed at where our little family is. I hope this next year provides us with more of the same...but maybe less crying. ;)
Stella and Elise will be turning one.
We've all gone from me not even knowing I was in labor, to a wonderful non-eventful birth, to a week--the worst week in our lives--of being in and out of the NICU to finally having both our sweet tiny babies home with us. And then learning how to raise infants all over again. In stereo. But with breakfast.
What a year. In some ways, the best year I've had so far and in many the most challenging. Many tears were shed. Many frustrations vented. Many laughs shared. Watching Stella and Elise grow into themselves and become the creatures they are right now and knowing that this is who they are going to be as adults in many ways has been fascinating.
Watching Maia grow as a toddler, now pre-schooler, and learning how to be a "big sister" has been amazing. The three of them have wonderful complex interactions. As siblings should. I think I'm blessed at having three so close. I hope those girls are forging some good life time relationships.
I'm amazed at where our little family is. I hope this next year provides us with more of the same...but maybe less crying. ;)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Winter Garden?
Along with everything else we have going on, the garden bug has bit me. I would like to put in a winter garden...to make our summer garden even better next year.
Now if only this heat wave would end I'd be outside behind the shed with a hoe.
Now if only this heat wave would end I'd be outside behind the shed with a hoe.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Time to Regroup and Regather
Summer is almost over. School has started up once again here and the parks are emptying out as the regular routines become reestablished.
We've been home at least as long as we were gone this summer and I am just now feeling like I can get my act together. I'm planning and thinking and deciding on the tone for our next year. Fall has always been the beginning of my year. The human-established rhythm of school eclipses the natural rhythms of harvest and planting. The sun has less influence of my daily life than the "Back to School" banners currently covering every store.
Stella and Elise are about to turn one. They are no longer infant blobs but little people with personalities and some impressive skills. Maia is three, spelling her name, drawing pictures that look like her world and holding court with strangers we meet while out and about. John and I are about to celebrate our fifth year of marriage...and soon we'll celebrate our ninth year as a couple.
Big milestones. And high time for me to take some control and shape our days and evenings into the family life we all desire and deserve. Establishing a family routine is not always easy. We've gotten started with family dinner--but we've allowed a certain amount of fluidity in that. But it's there. It's a beginning.
Preschool is going to start up, and while I feel like we're losing some of our good friends to more traditional schools, we're gaining great new ones in our non-traditional setting. I'm excited about taking on more as a teacher to my children and working with a good group of new women friends.
I've been asked to do some writing for a collabortive blog. I'm going to write about food as nourishment for home--not just for body. I am very excited to take this on. I would like to make a commitment to post at least one thoughtful essay a week. Some day, I would like to start my own food blog. Perhaps...next fall.
For now, I'm getting my ducks in a row and watching the last bits of Summer pass into our beautiful Indian Summer (I always think of this time as pre-fall) and waiting for a touch of chill in the air to signal that my new year has begun.
We've been home at least as long as we were gone this summer and I am just now feeling like I can get my act together. I'm planning and thinking and deciding on the tone for our next year. Fall has always been the beginning of my year. The human-established rhythm of school eclipses the natural rhythms of harvest and planting. The sun has less influence of my daily life than the "Back to School" banners currently covering every store.
Stella and Elise are about to turn one. They are no longer infant blobs but little people with personalities and some impressive skills. Maia is three, spelling her name, drawing pictures that look like her world and holding court with strangers we meet while out and about. John and I are about to celebrate our fifth year of marriage...and soon we'll celebrate our ninth year as a couple.
Big milestones. And high time for me to take some control and shape our days and evenings into the family life we all desire and deserve. Establishing a family routine is not always easy. We've gotten started with family dinner--but we've allowed a certain amount of fluidity in that. But it's there. It's a beginning.
Preschool is going to start up, and while I feel like we're losing some of our good friends to more traditional schools, we're gaining great new ones in our non-traditional setting. I'm excited about taking on more as a teacher to my children and working with a good group of new women friends.
I've been asked to do some writing for a collabortive blog. I'm going to write about food as nourishment for home--not just for body. I am very excited to take this on. I would like to make a commitment to post at least one thoughtful essay a week. Some day, I would like to start my own food blog. Perhaps...next fall.
For now, I'm getting my ducks in a row and watching the last bits of Summer pass into our beautiful Indian Summer (I always think of this time as pre-fall) and waiting for a touch of chill in the air to signal that my new year has begun.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
This is What Motherhood is All About
Maia came into our bedroom this morning, as she does every morning, to tell us that the sisters were awake and that I needed to get up and "Make me some breakfast".
She's standing by the bed and the covers are pulled down. I roll over to give John a sleepy good morning kiss and squeeze when I hear Maia speak up: "Mom. You have hair on your bum-bum. Maybe you should put on some pants."
Hmmm...maybe I should go back to my esthetician for a good waxing.
She's standing by the bed and the covers are pulled down. I roll over to give John a sleepy good morning kiss and squeeze when I hear Maia speak up: "Mom. You have hair on your bum-bum. Maybe you should put on some pants."
Hmmm...maybe I should go back to my esthetician for a good waxing.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Adventure Day
I decided to blow everyone off today and take the girls for an adventure. I know, right. Packed them up and headed to The Monterey Bay Aquarium. We have passes we have under-utilized and I could tell it was just an ocean side sort of day.
Wish I had remembered to pop the camera into the bag, but I never seem to have enough hands to operate it anyway. Too bad. We had a wonderful time, despite the fact that it was "limited mobility" day and the number of wheelchairs and walkers competing for floor space with my double-wide stroller + toddler was just frightening.
Didn't do too much by way of sitting and watching fish swim by, but we did do a whole lot of water play, running, sliding, whale naming, computer playing and starfish touching. That was just Maia. Stella and Elise fish watched, open mouthed and astounded, crawled in a "kelp forest", made new friends, crawled in a baby circle, laughed and ate snacks in the stroller. I just tried to keep up. That is waaay enough for me.
The girls all behaved like the lovely ladies they are. More times like these, I might just begin to believe I'm a good mom. ;)
Wish I had remembered to pop the camera into the bag, but I never seem to have enough hands to operate it anyway. Too bad. We had a wonderful time, despite the fact that it was "limited mobility" day and the number of wheelchairs and walkers competing for floor space with my double-wide stroller + toddler was just frightening.
Didn't do too much by way of sitting and watching fish swim by, but we did do a whole lot of water play, running, sliding, whale naming, computer playing and starfish touching. That was just Maia. Stella and Elise fish watched, open mouthed and astounded, crawled in a "kelp forest", made new friends, crawled in a baby circle, laughed and ate snacks in the stroller. I just tried to keep up. That is waaay enough for me.
The girls all behaved like the lovely ladies they are. More times like these, I might just begin to believe I'm a good mom. ;)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Back into the Swing
So. Our back porch chest freezer went out while we were on vacation. Of course. This time wasn't as bad last time, thanks to having vaccum sealed meat as opposed to butcher-paper wrapped. Still. 20 pounds of rotten hamburger and assorted steaks (all the good cuts we've been saving natch) make a healthy stink. And because we never did replace the plug on the front the drippings attracted a slew of ants. And some of those ants found their way into the house.
Good thing I did a fairly good wipe-down before leaving, otherwise I'd have gotten back in the car and driven back to Idaho. I hate ant infestations.
I'm fairly zen when it comes to most common household bugs. Mostly because killing them creeps me out more than just letting them be to a certain extent. Not ants. I go bonkers over even one...because I just know there are thousands more waiting in the wings. Yesterday I cleaned up the small trail, wiped down the counters and swept up the floor. This morning they came back. I was ready. I know the game.
Today it was ant spray on the outside of the door where they seem to be coming in. And spray on the deck by the (now clean, thanks John!) chest freezer. And pellets for good measure. Then a good deep scrub of the kitchen floor plus an airing out of the kitchen rug.
I'll finish working through the living room...gotta unpack today I think. At least I should start the process. Getting back into the rhythm of daily life is hard. But it's all worthwhile in the end.
Good thing I did a fairly good wipe-down before leaving, otherwise I'd have gotten back in the car and driven back to Idaho. I hate ant infestations.
I'm fairly zen when it comes to most common household bugs. Mostly because killing them creeps me out more than just letting them be to a certain extent. Not ants. I go bonkers over even one...because I just know there are thousands more waiting in the wings. Yesterday I cleaned up the small trail, wiped down the counters and swept up the floor. This morning they came back. I was ready. I know the game.
Today it was ant spray on the outside of the door where they seem to be coming in. And spray on the deck by the (now clean, thanks John!) chest freezer. And pellets for good measure. Then a good deep scrub of the kitchen floor plus an airing out of the kitchen rug.
I'll finish working through the living room...gotta unpack today I think. At least I should start the process. Getting back into the rhythm of daily life is hard. But it's all worthwhile in the end.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Family Dinner
We are trying to get family dinner back on track, now that we have returned from our various adventures. The babies, being almost a year, (!) can now stay up a little later and we could stand to eat a little earlier and that way we can all eat together. I really believe that at least one family meal a day is really important and if we begin now by the time the kids are in school and busy dinner will be a habit and a cornerstone of our daily lives.
Tonight was the first great experiment and now I have a better understanding of what might work and what I need to work on.
Dinner was lovely. Grilled chicken sausages, heirloom tomato and fresh Buffalo mozzerala salad, sweet corn on the cob. Perfect summertime meal. I cut fresh corn for Stella and Elise, plated everything else for the older eaters and had dinner on the table by 6:30. The corn was well met. Well, Stella ate it like nothing else, of course, Elsie liked to grab a handful and drop it off the table. Great. But still, we all had a plate of *almost* the same food and were enjoying each others company.
Maia got a bit contrary...and it cemented in me the desire to keep a family meal going. The past month or two we've been having seperate meals. I've been making Maia "toddler food" along with Stella and Elises' baby food and then a dinner for John and myself. She has been living on chicken tenders and mac 'n' cheese and if we're not careful, she'll really start refusing to eat anything else. That would kill me. Tonight she insisted she didn't like tomatoes (she eats cherry tomatoes like candy), or sausage (she loves hot dogs and meat). We made her eat half her sausage and try her tomatoes (she inhaled her "white sweet corn") and drink her milk. I know. Worst parents ever. She likes food and I don't want her to forget that fact.
Stella enjoyed the new variety of foods--from corn to sausage and then. Buffalo mozzerella! I'll get her to be a gourmet baby yet. Elsie liked--playing with her food. But enough got in that I think she'll do alright.
My goal is to have dinner on the table at 6 PM sharp. Babies in bed by 7:30 and Maia to follow by 8. That still gives John and I some evening time to be grown ups together. We'll see how it plays out, but I am going to try my darndest. Because it's important. And delicious.
Tonight was the first great experiment and now I have a better understanding of what might work and what I need to work on.
Dinner was lovely. Grilled chicken sausages, heirloom tomato and fresh Buffalo mozzerala salad, sweet corn on the cob. Perfect summertime meal. I cut fresh corn for Stella and Elise, plated everything else for the older eaters and had dinner on the table by 6:30. The corn was well met. Well, Stella ate it like nothing else, of course, Elsie liked to grab a handful and drop it off the table. Great. But still, we all had a plate of *almost* the same food and were enjoying each others company.
Maia got a bit contrary...and it cemented in me the desire to keep a family meal going. The past month or two we've been having seperate meals. I've been making Maia "toddler food" along with Stella and Elises' baby food and then a dinner for John and myself. She has been living on chicken tenders and mac 'n' cheese and if we're not careful, she'll really start refusing to eat anything else. That would kill me. Tonight she insisted she didn't like tomatoes (she eats cherry tomatoes like candy), or sausage (she loves hot dogs and meat). We made her eat half her sausage and try her tomatoes (she inhaled her "white sweet corn") and drink her milk. I know. Worst parents ever. She likes food and I don't want her to forget that fact.
Stella enjoyed the new variety of foods--from corn to sausage and then. Buffalo mozzerella! I'll get her to be a gourmet baby yet. Elsie liked--playing with her food. But enough got in that I think she'll do alright.
My goal is to have dinner on the table at 6 PM sharp. Babies in bed by 7:30 and Maia to follow by 8. That still gives John and I some evening time to be grown ups together. We'll see how it plays out, but I am going to try my darndest. Because it's important. And delicious.
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