For the Car

A long time ago, I saw a little sewn garbage holder for the car on a crafty blog. It was really cute and I thought it would be a good idea to have in front of Ethan's seat in our car. He's always saying something like, "Mom, I finished my snack and threw the wrapper on the floor." But when I went to look for the pattern, I couldn't find it anywhere. Soooooooo, I made this one up. Not like it's hard or anything though, just a few straight lines of sewing and boning to hold the bag open. I'll have to let you know later if it actually works in keeping my car a little less messy . . .

Today

I’m feeling a little down about my house in Washington still being on the market. I’m wondering if someone will ever buy it and I’m having nightmares of the overgrown yard.

Ethan pooped in his diaper (again) and laughed. When I told him it wasn’t funny he said, “It’s not funny to you, but it’s funny to me!” And then he laughed again. I’ve tried everything with that kid. Nothing works . . .

I made up a recipe for dinner and the only person who really liked it was Madeline. What a gem, she likes almost EVERYTHING!

I ate some cookies that my mother-in-law made, and they were good.

Watches

I’ve been in love with these for a couple of months now. When my mom learned how to make them, I was thrilled. She made the black one for me, and I made the other three this week. I would totally be making more if I had more cool beads lying around my house, but for now, these will have to do. Projects like this always make me happy because they take very little time, but the end result is great!

A Happy Miracle

Last month, there were a lot of things Madeline couldn't do. She couldn't sit herself up from either tummy or back, she couldn't pull herself up to standing, and she definitely couldn't cruise, stand, or walk. The doctors were just about to make me take her to get evaluated and put her in physical therapy. It was a little stressful to think about, but not anymore! It was like a light switched on in her head and now she can do all the things she couldn't! What a blessing! This is a HUGE accomplishment to have come so far in such a short amount of time. Take a look:

Father's Day Pics

Here's my cute hubby and my cute kids:
Todd laughing at Ethan trying really hard not to tell what the present it . . .

Me with my Daddy. I love you Dad!

Cute Daddy Pictures

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd post some of my favorite pictures of Todd with the kids.
I am stealing this idea from my sister-in-law Emily's Blog. These pictures have always been my favorites:

Newborn Ethan's Favorite Spot

Ethan's first time walking on AM/PM Beach, Sudden Valley, Washington

Ice Skating with Daddy

Looking at Madeline in the NICU

Adoring her Daddy

I love you Todd! Thanks for being a wonderful father to our kids!

Necktie Cupcakes

Happy Father's Day!!!


These cupcakes were a fun little project!

Cereal

Cereal is a food group in our house! All four of us love cereal and eat is several times a day. For breakfast without question (ask Ethan and he’ll tell you that pancakes are for dinner), for snacks, and for an after dinner filler. My favorite cereal is Cinnamon Life and has been for over 10 years, though I usually like to mix my cereal. My current favorite mix is Cinnamon Life, Rice Krispies, and Multigrain Cheerios. It’s a fantastic texture and taste combo. Sometimes I’ll get four or five kinds of cereal in my bowl at once. My kids love to mix cereal too. Perhaps that is why our kitchen table looks like this every single morning:

Three kinds of milk and nine (give or take) kinds of cereal. This doesn’t even count the seven or eight boxes of sugar cereal kept high on the top shelf that Todd eats.

Key Lime Cheesecake with Mango Ribbons

Maybe your Dad would like a slice of this on Sunday:

Dad, I'm bringing you some soon!!!

Key Lime Cheesecake with Mango Ribbons
From The Gourmet Cookbook

For Crust:
1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs (from 9 full sheets)
3 TBLS sugar
½ stick (4 TBLS) unsalted butter, melted

For Filling:
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup plus 2 TBLS sugar
¾ cup strained key lime juice
½ cup sour cream
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ TBLS flour
¼ tsp salt
3 large eggs

For Topping:
2 large, firm but ripe mangos
1 TBLS key lime juice
½ cup very cold heavy cream
1 TBLS sugar

Special Equipment: a 9- to 9 ½-inch springform pan; a mandoline or other adjustable blade slicer, such as a Japanese Benriner

Make the crust: Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together crumbs, sugar, and butter in a bowl with a fork until well combined. Press evenly onto bottom and one third of the way up sides of pan. Bake crust for 8 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325.

Make the filling: Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Beat in sugar. Reduce speed to low, add lime juice, sour cream, and vanilla, and mix until smooth. Mix in flour and salt until just incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl with a spatula as needed. Add eggs and mix just until incorporated. Pour filling into crust. Put cheesecake on a baking sheet with sides and bake until just set in center, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely. (cake will continue to set as is cools.)

Make the topping: Peel mangoes. Leaving fruit whole, slice mangos lengthwise very thinly with slicer. Halve wider slices lengthwise. Gently toss mango slices with lime juice. Beat cream with sugar in a small bowl at medium speed until it just holds stiff peaks. Spread over top of cheesecake. Bending and curling mango slices, arrange them decoratively over cream.

Sad

I was leaning over the kitchen counter reading something with Madeline in my arms when she reached over, grabbed my camera strap, and flung my camera (which had the external flash hooked on) onto my tile kitchen floor. My camera had been inside the case, but apparently if it’s not zipped up inside, it isn’t safe. I went hysterical, let’s be honest. The external flash busted off and into pieces, the batteries popped out and flew through the air, and the lens cap rolled across the floor. Did I mention that I went hysterical? It would be one thing if it was just a camera, but to me, it isn’t just a camera. It’s my favorite hobby, one of my greatest joys, and a part of me. And expensive.
My reaction made Madeline start sobbing too. Luckily my mom was visiting, so she took Madeline while I went to my camera. The external flash is broken. The pop-up flash on my camera is broken too. My camera still works and I’m grateful to say that my lens didn’t break, so I guess it could be worse. But I’m still very sad. Despite it all, my thoughts quickly turned back to Madeline. I love her with all my heart and I’m grateful that it was my camera and not her that cracked into pieces on my kitchen floor this morning. Some things can’t be replaced.

Ethan's New Bike

We bought Ethan a bike this past weekend! He's never had one before; never even had a trike, so he was very excited. At first he had no idea how to pedal, but he caught on quick. He still spends quite a bit of time looking at his feet, which means we have to steer, but he'll be a champion bike rider in no time! He loves it and I'm so happy he finally has a bike!

Flag Day Breakfast

We enjoyed going to a Flag Day Breakfast this morning with my parents. At the breakfast, they honored the firefighters and Ethan and Madeline got to spend some time by the fire trucks.

Ethan also got to help hold up the HUGE American flag during the National Anthem.

We all had fun, despite the rain! What a great country we live in!

A PB&J Miracle

Ethan ate a peanut butter and jam sandwich for lunch today!

If that doesn't seem significant to you, click here and keep in mind that NOTHING about his lunch menu has changed since that post. UNTIL TODAY! This is the first sandwich Ethan has ever eaten. Ever. And guess what? He liked it! Duh! What kid wouldn't!?!

He's liked peanut butter for a little over a year, bread for only a few months, and jam for the last couple months. It took until today to convince him all three were good together. Phew! I have hope now that he won't have to have, "just my normal lunch" forever!

Such a BOY

Ethan: Mom, will you play with me?
Me: Sure . . . how about we stand all your people on the table and they can have a dance party!?
Ethan: I know! How about we stand all my people on the table and I can crash them and knock them over with my dump truck!!!

A Perfect Spot for Reading

Ethan found the perfect spot for reading today, hiding in the closet. . .

Well, almost perfect, except that your mom finds you and brings the camera . . .

Hello, Freight Train!

And Madeline finds you too and tries to take your book.
But with a face like hers, even Ethan can't stay mad for long:

Air Show

Today we went to Hill Air Force Base to watch the Air Show. It was really cool!

We got to watch guys jump from an airplane:

The National Anthem was sung while they floated down

Ethan flew a helicopter





Tons of airplanes did cool loop-d-loops and spiral things and vertical hovering maneuvers!

Ethan also got to climb into big planes with Mimi and Bapa

And he really liked the Monster Truck too! Not sure why it was there, but we liked it!


Ethan had a blast, but when the really loud planes flew by, this is how he looked:

And Madeline would clap her hands and point!

It was a really awesome show! And a great day!

June Recipe

Pasta with Roasted Summer Vegetables and Basil

From Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food

4 yellow summer squash (about 2 pounds total), sliced 1 inch thick crosswise, halved if large
2 pints grape tomatoes (about 4 cups)
2 medium red onions, halved and sliced ½ inch thick
4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
¼ cup olive oil
coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces short pasta, such as campanelle or fusilli
2 TBLS butter
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1 cup torn fresh basil leaves

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Divide squash, tomatoes, onions, and garlic between two large rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast without tossing until tender and starting to brown. 30-40 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain, and return to pot.
3. Add vegetables, butter, Parmesan, and basil to pasta; season with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine.

Delicious. Easy. Summer.

What Day it is Today

The first thing out of Ethan's mouth this morning: "Mom! It's the first day of June today . . . it's May Zero!!!"

It made me chuckle.