After watching Ratatouille with me, Ike wanted to have a "Ratatouille drink." Obviously, the "ratatouille glass" sufficed. He was overjoyed (and oh so careful)!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Ratatouille Drink
After watching Ratatouille with me, Ike wanted to have a "Ratatouille drink." Obviously, the "ratatouille glass" sufficed. He was overjoyed (and oh so careful)!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Belated Easter Photos
What a fun morning!
Checking out who got what.
Searching for eggs
Rain can't spoil Easter!
Childhood memories
Even angels need to rest . . .Monday, April 27, 2009
Idea Book
My friend Celeste gave me this idea.
I enjoy looking through design magazines and getting ideas for my own home. However, this idea of cutting out the pictures that appeal to me, keeps me from collecting too many magazines. Here I can keep all the pictures that capture my favorite rooms and have a quick reference when I want to use an idea or two.
Thanks for the great idea, Lesteloo!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Summertime Lemonade
From the Williams-Sonoma Family Meals recipe book:
Ingredients
For the simple syrup -- 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice (I squeezed the juice out of four Costco lemons and it came to exactly the right amount. Also if you don't have a lemon juicer, Walmart sells them for $3 and I see lovely glass vintage lemon juicers in the antique stores from time to time)
4 cups cold water
ice cubes
1 lemon, thinly sliced and slices seeded
To make the simple syrup, in a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar, stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour into heatproof container, let cool completely, and refrigerate until well chilled.
To make the lemonade, pour the lemon juice into a 2 1/2 qt pitcher. Add the simple syrup to taste. If you are using a sweet lemon, such as a Meyer, you will need less syrup. Add the water. stir to blend, and then add ice. Pour into tall glasses, garnish with the lemon slices, and serve right away.
If you are like me and have a little one with just two and a half teeth, you probably have frozen strawberry puree in your freezer. I suggest adding one to two cups of freshly blended strawberry puree to make delicious strawberry lemonade! It is so good!
The recipe says that it serves six. I recommend doubling this recipe:)
Ingredients
For the simple syrup -- 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice (I squeezed the juice out of four Costco lemons and it came to exactly the right amount. Also if you don't have a lemon juicer, Walmart sells them for $3 and I see lovely glass vintage lemon juicers in the antique stores from time to time)
4 cups cold water
ice cubes
1 lemon, thinly sliced and slices seeded
To make the simple syrup, in a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar, stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour into heatproof container, let cool completely, and refrigerate until well chilled.
To make the lemonade, pour the lemon juice into a 2 1/2 qt pitcher. Add the simple syrup to taste. If you are using a sweet lemon, such as a Meyer, you will need less syrup. Add the water. stir to blend, and then add ice. Pour into tall glasses, garnish with the lemon slices, and serve right away.
If you are like me and have a little one with just two and a half teeth, you probably have frozen strawberry puree in your freezer. I suggest adding one to two cups of freshly blended strawberry puree to make delicious strawberry lemonade! It is so good!
The recipe says that it serves six. I recommend doubling this recipe:)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
If Heaven had the Internet, This is What I'd Say . . .
In the morning, he was a royal blue bathrobe with a hole in the armpit, a green thermos full of black coffee, and a morning newspaper. If you were up early enough to see him, you'd get an earful about the current events he had just read about. And if you were lucky, he'd make you breakfast just the way you liked it.
In the afternoon, he was a hard working man wearing Dickies and a flannel shirt (should it be winter). He was a large,white Izuzu truck with a wimpy horn that made him chuckle and shake his head every time he used it. He was a friend and employer to his favorite nephew.
In the evening, he was a die-hard Lakers fan and loved college basketball. He was a Fox news fanatic even though it usually fired him up. He loved to play cards (particularly Hand and Foot), and he knew how to make each family members' (and close friends) latte just the way they liked it. He was a zurburt and fish lipped kisses at bedtime. He was our evening tutor. And most of all a husband and a father and friend.
He was a simple man. Predictable and dependable. Quiet and compassionate. God-fearing and faithful.
Today we will be quietly celebrating the life of a man who once was and the spirit of a man still living. Of course, we'll be sipping on lattes in remembrance (he wouldn't have it any other way). And it just so happens that we, his daughters, will all be together today. Happy 54th birthday, Dad!
In the afternoon, he was a hard working man wearing Dickies and a flannel shirt (should it be winter). He was a large,white Izuzu truck with a wimpy horn that made him chuckle and shake his head every time he used it. He was a friend and employer to his favorite nephew.
In the evening, he was a die-hard Lakers fan and loved college basketball. He was a Fox news fanatic even though it usually fired him up. He loved to play cards (particularly Hand and Foot), and he knew how to make each family members' (and close friends) latte just the way they liked it. He was a zurburt and fish lipped kisses at bedtime. He was our evening tutor. And most of all a husband and a father and friend.
He was a simple man. Predictable and dependable. Quiet and compassionate. God-fearing and faithful.
Today we will be quietly celebrating the life of a man who once was and the spirit of a man still living. Of course, we'll be sipping on lattes in remembrance (he wouldn't have it any other way). And it just so happens that we, his daughters, will all be together today. Happy 54th birthday, Dad!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Cookbooks
After settling into the new apartment and unpacking the boxes, I realized every last cookbook I owned was packed up somewhere in our two storage units. Oops! It ended up being a rather wonderful goof since it gave me the excuse to run to Costco and search the cookbook section. As far as I'm concerned, a girl cannot have too many cookbooks and therefore needs no excuse to buy recipe books.
I found not one new cookbook but two! Seriously, Costco's prices are so great that you basically can get two for the price of one. And if you know me, you know that a bargain makes the deal all the more sweeter!
The first one I found was a Williams-Sonoma family cookbook and you just can't go wrong with anything Williams-Sonoma! The second was tucked down low, in a small stack. My sister pointed it out and I was sold just by the glorious cover:) It was a vintage styled book by the Farm Chicks AND it came with a free one year subscription to Country Living!
Anyway, I came home gleaming with my new purchases and ready to conquer the kitchen!
That very night, Bill crashed in bed next to me and I stayed up late studying how to make homemade bread and corn tortillas. And though I've only yet to cook one meal -- cheesy potato soup (from the Farm Chicks' book) and homemade bread (from Williams-Sonoma) -- it was a success. Now if only I could perfect my consistency on the outcome of my dinners . . . I have the passion for cooking, but the success rate is still rather low:)
I found not one new cookbook but two! Seriously, Costco's prices are so great that you basically can get two for the price of one. And if you know me, you know that a bargain makes the deal all the more sweeter!
The first one I found was a Williams-Sonoma family cookbook and you just can't go wrong with anything Williams-Sonoma! The second was tucked down low, in a small stack. My sister pointed it out and I was sold just by the glorious cover:) It was a vintage styled book by the Farm Chicks AND it came with a free one year subscription to Country Living!
Anyway, I came home gleaming with my new purchases and ready to conquer the kitchen!
That very night, Bill crashed in bed next to me and I stayed up late studying how to make homemade bread and corn tortillas. And though I've only yet to cook one meal -- cheesy potato soup (from the Farm Chicks' book) and homemade bread (from Williams-Sonoma) -- it was a success. Now if only I could perfect my consistency on the outcome of my dinners . . . I have the passion for cooking, but the success rate is still rather low:)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
We're in the Palace!
We've spent the last few days settling into our new apartment which Ike calls "The palace!" Ike and Kitty walked right in and made themselves at home. For the first hour or so in their new pad, they ran around exploring every corner, all while giggling with such exuberant delight. Ike asked, "This is our new house? Can we stay?" He's also a little concerned that we don't have a backyard, but I think his trip to the playground last night eased his disappointment.
As for us, we still have one more day before the sale of our house closes. We've been going over to the old house every night to get more things and tidy it up for the new owners. It's been exhausting, but a hard days work has us sleeping ever so soundly! This morning we are having the carpets cleaned and this afternoon the kids and I are heading over to tidy up a bit more. Tonight we have a few odds and ends to load up from the garage then we'll be done!
We are still waiting to hear if we'll be able to have a pre-construction meeting with the builder this week. We'd like to have our meeting on Thursday, but it's more likely they won't be able to do it that soon. As for now, we'll just settle into apartment life . . . which is much the same as house life (just without the yard work). As long as there are two sets of chubby cheeks for me to kiss and a handsome husband who walks through the door every night, this is home.
As for us, we still have one more day before the sale of our house closes. We've been going over to the old house every night to get more things and tidy it up for the new owners. It's been exhausting, but a hard days work has us sleeping ever so soundly! This morning we are having the carpets cleaned and this afternoon the kids and I are heading over to tidy up a bit more. Tonight we have a few odds and ends to load up from the garage then we'll be done!
We are still waiting to hear if we'll be able to have a pre-construction meeting with the builder this week. We'd like to have our meeting on Thursday, but it's more likely they won't be able to do it that soon. As for now, we'll just settle into apartment life . . . which is much the same as house life (just without the yard work). As long as there are two sets of chubby cheeks for me to kiss and a handsome husband who walks through the door every night, this is home.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Hostess Gifts
My friend Jordi first educated me on the "hostess gift" concept. It's a glorious (and very friendly) gesture to let the host know how much you appreciate her efforts. So seeing as how I have a slight obsession for embroidering tea towels, I've decided to start a hostess gift shelf where I'll collect various treasures (among them lots of tea towels) to bestow upon my lovely and dear friends. Not all of my friends enjoy vintage styled things as much as I do so I would love your input with other ideas! With Easter coming up and many of us invited to share the day with friends and family, I hope you'll give your hostess a small gift to show how much you appreciate all her effort. My Easter host will be getting this set of tea towels:)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday Bag
I'm always looking for new ideas on how to express love to my family and make memories. Recently, I was inspired in the most unlikely of places -- in Target, filling up my shopping cart with Easter treats for the wee ones. I kept coming across a lot of Bill's favorite treats as well. Hmm, thinks I. And a light bulb started flashing above my head -- which with my Mommy brain, that light bulb doesn't flash very often! So into the cart goes the honey mustard pretzels, the sweedish fish, and Peeps. And voila! I've stumbled across a new tradition: the kids and I will go shopping once a month (or there about) and get a few special treats for Daddy. We'll put it in a special bag with a special love note and sneak it into the passenger seat of Bill's car. Keeping in line with the title of this post, our special gift will appear on occasional Mondays (to make that first day back to work a little sweeter)!
Copy Kat
I gave Kate her morning breakfast the other day and caught her doing what I do -- drink morning coffee and read:) So cute!Monday, April 6, 2009
Beka's Blog
If you get a chance, please head over to Beka's blog http://theanardis.blogspot.com/. Beka gave birth to her firstborn last month and has yet to regain feeling in her legs. She's got a sweet and positive outlook on her situation that will encourage you and make your heart sing and ache at the same time. Please pray that she'll get to go home soon to be with her husband and her sweet baby boy! And I know she'd appreciate any notes of encouragement.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Just Like Daddy
Ike got a new basketball the other day and hasn't stopped playing with it since. He and Daddy enjoy playing basketball together so it's nice to have an easier ball for him to handle. He thinks he's pretty special now that he is "just like Daddy!"Here he is on his way to go watch Bill's last basketball game of the church league season. He has his basket ball jersey on underneath his warm up clothes:) So funny.
Funnies
Wyatt: "Bicki, what's your name?" :)
Isaac when the sun went behind the clouds: "Hey! who turned off the sun?"
Isaac when the sun went behind the clouds: "Hey! who turned off the sun?"
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