Tuesday, February 20, 2007

What a weekend

It was the best of times....
it was the worst of times....

That famous quote was coming to my mind a few times this past weekend.

Friday was a good day.
We have a new family tradition.
Every friday we have a family party.
Regan. Alden. Lucy and me.
Something together.
We've played games, had a fondue and watched Ice Age 2.
An activity as a family.
Well this past friday we went to the zoo. And it was probably the best visit yet. The aminals were all close and we could see them easily in all the white snow. It was a great time.
Then after we went to eat out at Swiss Chalet.
(Thanks Lindsay)
It was all good.

Saturday.
I had a primary activity I was running at the church.
2 hours. Mistake. I should have only made it 1 hour.
I ran out of activity half way through.
Then at the end, everyone was gone.
Except me and Alden and Emily and her son Nate.
I was cleaning up. And realized I couldn't find Alden.
I started looking.
40 minutes.
He was lost for 40 minutes.
I was in a panic.
Complete and utter panic.
Tears. Prayer.

And finally Emily found him.
Naked.
In a closet.
Eating a muffin.

Classic Alden.
He had had a pee accident cause he couldn't get the bathroom door open, so he had taken his clothes off. So he was in the closet eating the left over snacks from the activity.
It's funny now. But on Saturday I was a bit of a mess.
So we came home.
And a little bit later.... Alden started puking.
Projecticle puking.
On the couch. the carpet.
The toy basket.
The hall.
The toliet.


Let's just say I was happy when Saturday ended.


On a completely different note, I had a fun photo shoot with my good friend Sarah.
You can see it here on my photo blog.

Peace out.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

In the Craft Room: Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day.

I love.....

1. Doing things with Alden where his personality comes out.
Yesterday we cut out hearts and I had him list things and people we love.
He made some for Lucy..... his words for her...
- princess - little mermaid - babies
He is really figuring out that girls and boys like different things.


















2. making valentine's every year with Alden.
This year, he drew a bee on the computer.
And he typed his own name.
How cute is THAT!


















3. little smiling princess Lucy.
She is so pleasant. Just so happy and fun.
A joy to have in our home.




















4. Art. i love art.
I made this to hang in Lucy's room.
It was so fun.
I am making three hearts to hang beside it, but I haven't gotten the time yet.



















5. Reg. I love Regan.
He is great and so good to me.
And I just love that we have such a good marriage.
It is a blessing I am thankful for daily.
If he'd ever let me take his picture, then I'd post one.... maybe it'll be part of his V-Day present to me this year. :)

Hope you have a day filled with love.

Monday, February 12, 2007

In the Kitchen: Banana Chiffon Cake and Other stuff

1. Banana Chiffon Cake.... mmmmmm












2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup vegetable oil
7 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large micing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl, mash bananas. Add oil, egg yolks, vanilla and 3/4 cup cold water; mix to combine. Add to flour mixture, and whisk batter until smooth.
2. In a large bowl, place egg whites and cream of tartar; using an electric mixer, beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter just until combined (do not overmix.) Pour into a 10-inch amgel-food cake pan with legs. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Invert pan onto legs over counter; let cool completely. Reinvert pan, and run a thin metal spatual around edge to release onto platter. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve.

(I added some cream cheese icing.)


2. I've been making cards with scraps and stamps.
And enjoying it too. :)












3. I've been having fun taking photos of my kids.

More on my photography blog.













Tuesday, February 06, 2007

In the Kitchen: Silly Greek Chili

I've had a few people ask me for this recipe.....
It is from the great cookbook Eat, Shrink and Be Merry. It's a great book (I'll return it soon mom!!!) So cheesey, but really good healthy TASTY recipies. This is a really light fresh tasting chili. Total yum!

Silly Greek Chili
2 tsp olive oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup chopped red onions
1 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp each ground cumin and dried oregano
1 can (19 oz) diced tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups your favorite tomate pasta sauce
1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1/3 cup crumbled light feta cheese

Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large
non stick pot. Add chicken. Cook and stir chicken until lightly bronwed, but not cooked through, about 4 minutes.
Add onions, zucchini, red pepper and garlic. Cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
Stir in chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook 1 more minute. Add tomatoes with their juice, pasta sauce, chickepas, brown sugar and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer with 15 minutes.
Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro. Ladel chili into serving bowls and top with feta cheese.

I read this book called Hope. I kinda got into it. It has 658 pages... and I read it in four days. Funny how I love to read but when I get into a book... i have to finish it. And fast. Regan kept commenting that he wished he could read his text books like that. :) I think I was reading MUCH lighter stuff!


I'll leave you with two pictures of my cute kiddios from the last few days.













Thursday, February 01, 2007

some pages to share

It's been a while since I have shared some scrapbook pages on my blog.
Things have been a bit frustrating with getting my stuff, but no need to complain.
Since today is Feb 1st and there is a new kit for Scraptivity, here are some pages i have made from the kit.