Saturday, September 11, 2010

60 Years!

Last weekend we had a great weekend with Gavin's family staying at the Gaylord Texan. It was a surprise celebration weekend for Gavin's grandparents & boy did we surprise them. Gavin's cousins, Aunt & Uncle came into town from Alabama & his other uncle from Connecticut. We then surprised Granma & Pop pop & whisked them away for the weekend. I think Mason had the most fun @ the Gaylord. He says he misses the hotel now. haha Our 2nd night there he was so worn out, he actually asked to go to bed! The boys had tons of fun running around with their 2nd cousins. Can't wait for them to come back at Christmas!




View from our room- a wedding!


Deedee & Mason checking out the trains


Laying out by the coldest pool in Texas!


Mason & Papaw enjoying the balcony.


L to R: Gavin, Maddox, Me, Chris, papaw Tony, Dee, uncle Ted, Uncle Bill, Libby & Kathryn.
Down front is Nana, Mason, Pop pop & Keira


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Going backwards

I've been so out of blogging the past 6 weeks. You could say we've been hibernating when the temps were 105*+ outside for the month if August. So what did we do? LOTS of indoor activities. I did lots of reading. How much you ask? Well I haven't picked up a book in 2 years, however in the past 6 weeks I've read 12 books. Yes 12 books. I got sucked into the Charlaine Harris vampire books. good quick reads. I am also attempting Eat Pray Love for the 2nd time .... I am getting bored with it again so that might be a fail.
Just as the temps drop out of the "screw Texas summers I'm moving the hell outta here" heat & down into the 90's (much more pleasant!) we got hit by TS Hermine yesterday. It was quite exciting.
Meet Hermine.


Hermine didn't bother me much. I only had to get out once because my niece's preschool was flooding. But that was okay because I got to wear these.


Until I found that 4/5 roads to my niece's school was closed due to flooding. It took me 35 minutes instead of 6 minutes to pick her up. Can't tell you how many cars I spotted that were stuck in flash floods. All I can say is people who think they can take on deep water with their car should not be driving... They have a reserved spot on the short bus.


More driving. More roads closed.


Bear creek turned mighty Mississippi. Promise no more paparazzi pix while driving.



Oh yes & our pool overflowed. House is fine... Garden, not so sure. Don't think my organic garden is organic anymore after chlorine water running thru it. :( hoping the amounts of rainwater seriously diluted it. We'll see soon I guess.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Watermelon Salad Recipe


WHO doesn't love watermelon??? not to mention it's the season for it! here's a super quick, fresh, easy & TASTY salad that uses watermelon. not to mention it's healthy! oh how I LOVE watermelon season!!!

Ingredients:
2 cups of cubed (bite sized) watermelon
1 cup of chopped fresh spinach *you can also do a combo of spinach & baby arugula*
1/3 cup of cubed fresh mozarella cheese
1/4 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar glaze *(1 cup of Balsamic vinegar + 1 tbsp of sugar-> boil down to a reduction)

Directions:
toss the first 4 ingredients in a bowl & mix. drizzle the last 2 ingredients over the salad & toss. serve cold.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Baby Boy

My baby isn't looking so much like a baby anymore. I've realized since he's my last baby & on the verge of becoming a full on toddler I must really relish in this last bit of babyhood. Good thing he still has those rubber band wrists & sweet baby rolls. He's been super cuddly lately & I've actually been rocking him to sleep. I haven't done that with him since he was a newborn & I would never rock Mason to sleep
at 16 months old... But I figured he wont always be this cuddly or even want to be rocked to sleep- so why not? With Mason I was always ready for him to move onto the next milestone or stage- but with Maddox I just let him be & am really enjoying this precious time with my last baby boy.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Adding to the bunch

...Bunch of projects that is!!!!!
I've been scouring craigslist for some time now looking for the perfect piece to add to our kitchen. I've been looking for a large buffet for a large empty wall & I finally found it!! Only $75 & help from my husband - this baby has tons of potential!!!!!




-- Post From My iPhone

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Pictures! Pictures!

Finally getting around to posting some pictures from our trip last month! These are the professional ones at least :) my husband knows exactly what I want for Mother's Day- a family day & awesome pictures of my boys!



















My absolute favorite!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Sunday, May 30, 2010

garden upgrade

a few weeks ago i mentioned to Gavin that next spring i wanted a raised garden bed. then i thought of this ugly flower bed we have that was just covered in ground cover. THEN i got the idea, why wait! So my wonderful father in law came over & helped me clear it out, till the ground & put in some new topsoil. I love having an in ground garden! So far I haven't killed anything!! I've planted even more since our transition. We have: Tomatos, potatoes, several varieties of Basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, lavender, citronella, chamomile, carrots, spinach, swiss chard, cilantro, parsley, chives, lettuce, radishes, watermelon, strawberries, zucchini, 2 types of bell peppers and eggplant. phew. seems like a lot, but it's a small garden. I do have big plants for next year. I will definitely plant more lettuce, spinach & swiss chard. potatoes too...actually add all my veggies to that list. I also would love to attempt blueberries next year! I also can't seem to keep the basil plants in my garden (we have 5) full enough...i keep making homemade pesto...and it's too dang good. I'm thrilled with what we have & that I have managed to keep everything alive AND growing AND producing!

Before:


During- we cleared it out completely right before the sky dumped some glorious rain on us. Boy do we need some more of that!


After the topsoil- Mason had a blast going with Papa Tony to get the top soil- he keeps talking about the tractor that dumped the dirt in the truck.


After, but during all the planting.


Man, do my plants look puny here. I fertilized right after this and I think my plants and have double over in size in the last 2 weeks if not more.


Mason had a blast with the worms!


Boys & bugs. I won't ever understand it.


I got to wear my cute new rain boots!! I love them!



Tuesday, May 11, 2010

New Recipe- Thai Chicken & Basil Stir Fry

in an attempt for all fresh & natural ingredients (allergen free too!) I came across a recipe that I tweaked just enough and it was a big hit with my family tonight. This one is definitely going in my top recipes to rotate :) I was also excited to be able to use my basil in my garden, it was starting to get a little out of control. Next time i will add even more veggies, perhaps something like bok choy or some other type of greens. some Cashews could be good too!

Ingredients:
1 pound boned, skinned chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon olive oil or grapeseed oil
1-2 tablespoon minced garlic
1-2 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper chili flakes
2/3 cup fat-skimmed chicken broth
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla) *You can also use soy sauce, however I suggest sticking with the fish sauce, not only is it allergen free, but cuts out a lot of sodium too!*
2 teaspoons tapioca starch *you can use cornstarch as a substitute*
3 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves (see notes), rinsed *this might seem like a lot, but believe me it adds so much to it! if you have thai basil even better!!*
1-2 large carrots cut length wise
1/3 of a white onion
1 bell pepper cut in thin slices
Salt

Preparation
1. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick strips 2 to 3 inches long.

2. Place a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan over high heat; when hot, add oil, garlic, ginger, chili flakes, and the chicken. Stir often until chicken is no longer pink in the center (cut to test), 3 to 4 minutes.

3. Once mostly cooked, add the veggies and let cook an additional 2 minutes or so.

3. In a small bowl, mix broth, fish sauce, and tapioca or cornstarch until smooth. Add to pan and stir until sauce is boiling, about 1 minute. Add basil leaves and stir just until barely wilted, about 30 seconds. Add salt to taste (barely needed any!) and pour into a serving bowl.

Serve over steamed white jasmine rice! Will make great leftovers too...that is if you have any!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Gumball machine fun!

The other day before we left we needed a few things at the grocery store so we ran to Krogers & then to Dee Dee's school to wish her a happy birthday. Walking in the store I saw a gumball machine that had facial hair! I thought it was funny so on the way out I decided to get one - little did I know this mustache would be entertainment for the rest of the day!













Maddox didn't want to have anything to do with it, but I was able to bribe Mason with chocolate chips ;) he wore it into Dee Dee's school and all over the school! He gave some kids & teachers so good laughs!!
Best 50 cents ever spent!


-- Post From My iPhone

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Day 2

Today we headed up to Long Beach. We went to the Aquarium of the Pacific when Mason was 15 months old & had a blast. We didn't get to last year as it was 4th of July weekend & we saw it was beyond packed. What a perfect day for it today. We got there & went to eat our lunches first on the pier. Picnic on the pier :) we even saw some seals playing in the water.
By the time we got in the aquarium most of the school kids were heading out to lunch so it died down pretty quick. What a great place. I think I love it just as much as Mason!
After, we hung around the pier for a while on a shady grassy spot & the boys just enjoyed the outside time. They love entertaining each other so we just laid back & relaxed a bit.
Came home for a short nap time before some last minute beach time followed by a yummy dinner at home :)
Whenever we're here we usually fill our time with shopping & constantly going with friends & family; but this time around it's 100% family time and taking it easy :)


Watching for seals



Love this with the faux hawk shillouette!


Seals cause squeals!


Hangin' out & enjoying the weather



Picking shells & sea glass



Mason doing what he does best- making his brother laugh!




Keeping each other busy... These 2 are becoming quick friends!


-- Post From My iPhone