Doesn't this look fun? I would bring these in for preschool snacks!
Source: Family Fun Magazine
December 11, 2010
for Springtime - mark your calendars
Doesn't this look fun? I would bring these in for preschool snacks!
Source: Family Fun Magazine
Sorry!
This is becoming my online filing system of sorts. Oh well, it's my blog, right?
I know we need to get TONS of pictures up here because the little shorties who live here are getting SO big. And darn cute. And SMART. (and...all sorts of other nice and naughty things).
We'll have to make sure they hear from Santa (http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home) so we can play up the NICE.
But, I digress, actually began this post to document an idea I love from Family Fun Magazine. They have a Family Traditions column, and I love the idea of Our Own Family Holiday. The featured family includes events such as:
* Kids vs. Parents competitions (think FearFactor-ish digging for jellybean "bugs" in oatmeal, or bobbing for malted milk ball "cow eyes" in chocolate pudding pies.)
* Kids-pick-the-food menu (donuts or French toast for breakfast, out for lunch?, homemade favorite for dinner)
* Hand-crafted cards made a couple of days ahead of time with supplies on-hand
* Small gifts for the kids, family t-shirts
I know we need to get TONS of pictures up here because the little shorties who live here are getting SO big. And darn cute. And SMART. (and...all sorts of other nice and naughty things).
We'll have to make sure they hear from Santa (http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home) so we can play up the NICE.
But, I digress, actually began this post to document an idea I love from Family Fun Magazine. They have a Family Traditions column, and I love the idea of Our Own Family Holiday. The featured family includes events such as:
* Kids vs. Parents competitions (think FearFactor-ish digging for jellybean "bugs" in oatmeal, or bobbing for malted milk ball "cow eyes" in chocolate pudding pies.)
* Kids-pick-the-food menu (donuts or French toast for breakfast, out for lunch?, homemade favorite for dinner)
* Hand-crafted cards made a couple of days ahead of time with supplies on-hand
* Small gifts for the kids, family t-shirts
November 06, 2010
20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
From Matador Network.com: Words
Shared by my friend Kristen, the ultimate German translator!
We love words!
Shared by my friend Kristen, the ultimate German translator!
We love words!
November 03, 2010
Olivvy and Zach talk 7/8/10
Talking about a "Old Grandma" who passed away last March:
Mama: She's up in heaven.
Olivia: "Wif Desus and Dod?"
Zach: "Yep."
Olivia: "I wuv Desus and Dod."
Zach: "They're the best."
* * * * * *
Later, driving along 9th Street in Great Falls:
Zach: "Isn't it awesome to just pass by Wallace Marine?" (Grandpa's boat store)
Mama: She's up in heaven.
Olivia: "Wif Desus and Dod?"
Zach: "Yep."
Olivia: "I wuv Desus and Dod."
Zach: "They're the best."
* * * * * *
Later, driving along 9th Street in Great Falls:
Zach: "Isn't it awesome to just pass by Wallace Marine?" (Grandpa's boat store)
Zachism 6/15/10
Kjirsten: "What a beautiful night!"
Zach: "Yeah, there [sic] no tornadoes and a pretty sky.You see all the way up to heaven."
Zach: "Yeah, there [sic] no tornadoes and a pretty sky.You see all the way up to heaven."
October 23, 2010
Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
WARNING: This recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies, which is A.LOT. So, while they're good, maybe bring along your calculator and halve the ingredients? Just my thinking.
For the Cookies
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons coarse salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ¼ teaspoons ground ginger
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 ¼ cups packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups (14 oz.) canned solid-pack pumpkin
¾ cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Icing
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
10 Tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon evaporated milk,
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1. Make cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low. Add pumpkin, evaporated milk, and vanilla; mix until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add flour mixture; mix until combined.
3. Transfer 1 ½ cups batter to a pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch plain tip. Pipe 1 ½-inch rounds onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until tops spring back, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely.
4. Make icing: Put confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Immediately add butter to confectioners' sugar, scraping any browned bits from sides and bottom of pan. Add evaporated milk and vanilla; stir until smooth. Spread about 1 teaspoon icing onto each cookie. If icing stiffens, stir in more evaporated milk, a little at a time. Cookies can be stored in single layers in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.
For the Cookies2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons coarse salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ¼ teaspoons ground ginger
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 ¼ cups packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups (14 oz.) canned solid-pack pumpkin
¾ cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Icing
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
10 Tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon evaporated milk,
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1. Make cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low. Add pumpkin, evaporated milk, and vanilla; mix until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add flour mixture; mix until combined.
3. Transfer 1 ½ cups batter to a pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch plain tip. Pipe 1 ½-inch rounds onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until tops spring back, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely.
4. Make icing: Put confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Immediately add butter to confectioners' sugar, scraping any browned bits from sides and bottom of pan. Add evaporated milk and vanilla; stir until smooth. Spread about 1 teaspoon icing onto each cookie. If icing stiffens, stir in more evaporated milk, a little at a time. Cookies can be stored in single layers in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.
October 08, 2010
Zachisms
7/15/2010
Zach: "I had so much fun with Livia when she was a kid. Ya know why?"
Me: Why?
Zach: "Because I made her laugh."
My favorite part is the old-man perspective. "...when she was a kid." Like how old is she now? How old are you, Zach?
He does often try to help his friends or Olivia when they're sad or scared or upset, making faces, or bringing them toys he thinks they might enjoy. Like the infant he practically smothered with huge stuffed animal. I kid, there, but he does have a great, big heart.
Love him.
* * * *
7/21/2010
Zach: "Mom, you know what?"
Me: What?
Zach: "I practiced writing my name and I assume I did a good job....Mom, what does 'assume' mean?"
Zach: "I had so much fun with Livia when she was a kid. Ya know why?"
Me: Why?
Zach: "Because I made her laugh."
My favorite part is the old-man perspective. "...when she was a kid." Like how old is she now? How old are you, Zach?
He does often try to help his friends or Olivia when they're sad or scared or upset, making faces, or bringing them toys he thinks they might enjoy. Like the infant he practically smothered with huge stuffed animal. I kid, there, but he does have a great, big heart.
Love him.
* * * *
7/21/2010
Zach: "Mom, you know what?"
Me: What?
Zach: "I practiced writing my name and I assume I did a good job....Mom, what does 'assume' mean?"
October 04, 2010
I Am Going Camping
Jeesh! Has another summer passed without our family officially going camping? Well, with the temperatures continuing to break record highs, maybe we still have a chance. I'd like that, though I wish we weren't quite so hot and dry. Last night we had one of those incredible neon pink sunsets granted only when forest fire smoke clouds the horizon. Terrifying beauty.
If we do make it into a tent, maybe we can Griswald-ly sing this song. It was on one of the many coloring sheets that arrive on my kitchen table from somewhere. I'm copying down the lyrics, so this sheet can become tomorrow's grocery list.
We have had some great "day camping" experiences. You know, when you don't have to pitch the tent only to a) get a few hours of fitful sleep after finally deciding who's sleeping on which stretch of lumpy ground and several hundred trips to the bathroom in the great outdoors, or b) unpitch that tent by flashlight and firelight at 11pm, while trying not to wake the kids who just got to sleep but one of whom seems to have developed a forest-fever delirium.
Oh, that's just our family? Huh.
Kay, we'll have to try again.
If we do make it into a tent, maybe we can Griswald-ly sing this song. It was on one of the many coloring sheets that arrive on my kitchen table from somewhere. I'm copying down the lyrics, so this sheet can become tomorrow's grocery list.
I Am Going Camping
(to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)
I am going camping (point to self)
Time to pack (look at watch)
My tent, my bedroll, (make tent with hands, then fold hands)
And a snack. (pretend to eat)
I'll sit by the campfire (warm hands over a fire)
Its glow so bright. (wiggle fingers for fire)
Then snooze in my tent (pretend to snore, head on hands)
'Til the morning light! (open eyes wide, forming sun over head.)
We have had some great "day camping" experiences. You know, when you don't have to pitch the tent only to a) get a few hours of fitful sleep after finally deciding who's sleeping on which stretch of lumpy ground and several hundred trips to the bathroom in the great outdoors, or b) unpitch that tent by flashlight and firelight at 11pm, while trying not to wake the kids who just got to sleep but one of whom seems to have developed a forest-fever delirium.
Oh, that's just our family? Huh.
Kay, we'll have to try again.
September 27, 2010
Halloween Costumes
I heart these!
Could we be the space cadet family this year? Doubtful. There are waaaaay too many specificly *Star Wars* chromosomes floating through our bodies. And by "our," I mean everyone but mine. Even the BiddleDollit says she wants to be "Pin-sess Yay-yah."
We'll see what happens.
September 21, 2010
Almost A Month Has Passed...
...so I now have some perspective. And I realized that I went to three book stores on Mockingjay Day.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Right?
Huh.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Right?
Huh.
- HearthFire Books, Evergreen
- Borders Books, Lakewood
- Boulder Book Store, Boulder
Below are a few Mockingjay Moments, but to view the whole slew, click here.
September 02, 2010
Breakfast Talk
Zach: It stinks in here. Do you smell it?
Me: No. What does it smell like?
Zach: I don’t know.
Olivia: I taked a bath because my bottom sinks. (i.e. wadn’t me!)
(9/2/10)
Me: No. What does it smell like?
Zach: I don’t know.
Olivia: I taked a bath because my bottom sinks. (i.e. wadn’t me!)
(9/2/10)
June 02, 2010
Herbs
I can never remember which herbs go where, so here it is to help me.
Depending on how big your container is, here are some herb combinations that will all grow well together as companions in pots:
1) Sage, rosemary, lavender, thyme and germander.
2) Cilantro, oregano, lemon balm and basils.
3) Oregano, thyme, lemon verbena, lemon balm, parsley, cilantro.
4) Thyme, mint, basil, oregano.
5) Growing basil in the same container (or plot) as tomatoes will improve their flavor.
A few herbs, like dill and fennel, need quite a bit more room and grow better in beds. Most herbs, however, adapt very well to pots and containers. You might also consider scented geraniums, tricolor sages and trailing herbs like penny royal, prostrate rosemary or cat-mint for hanging baskets.
*Source*
Depending on how big your container is, here are some herb combinations that will all grow well together as companions in pots:
1) Sage, rosemary, lavender, thyme and germander.
2) Cilantro, oregano, lemon balm and basils.
3) Oregano, thyme, lemon verbena, lemon balm, parsley, cilantro.
4) Thyme, mint, basil, oregano.
5) Growing basil in the same container (or plot) as tomatoes will improve their flavor.
A few herbs, like dill and fennel, need quite a bit more room and grow better in beds. Most herbs, however, adapt very well to pots and containers. You might also consider scented geraniums, tricolor sages and trailing herbs like penny royal, prostrate rosemary or cat-mint for hanging baskets.
*Source*
May 08, 2010
March 18, 2010
February 26, 2010
Zachism
Zach: Daddy, let's go play marbles in the basement.
Daddy: I think you lost your marbles.
Zach: No, Livia just threw them up in the air.
I think he gets bonus points for being cute and innocent, then loses half for being a tattle-tale.
Daddy: I think you lost your marbles.
Zach: No, Livia just threw them up in the air.
I think he gets bonus points for being cute and innocent, then loses half for being a tattle-tale.
February 18, 2010
Telling
This morning, after I came downstairs having changed out of my PJs, adding some makeup and pulling back my hair, Olivia smiled at me and said,
"You yook yike a ho new puh-son."
Ha. Honesty of the babes.
* * *
Later:
Me: I like your feet, Olivia.
Olivia: Next time I want dem to be PINK.
***
Later still:
Zach: Olivia, let me tell you something. Your eyeballs have red cracks...Mommy, why do our eyeballs have red cracks?"
"You yook yike a ho new puh-son."
Ha. Honesty of the babes.
* * *
Later:
Me: I like your feet, Olivia.
Olivia: Next time I want dem to be PINK.
***
Later still:
Zach: Olivia, let me tell you something. Your eyeballs have red cracks...Mommy, why do our eyeballs have red cracks?"
February 17, 2010
Recipes
Hey!
Some of you know I love to share recipes and type recipes and organize recipes and clip recipes and think about which recipes to try next. And every once in a while I actually cook those recipes. And quite often I forget which ingredients I should have on-hand in order to get started.
So...thanks to the new-fangled wifi in some stores around here, I've been able to look up recipes using my new-fangled (thanks for the fabu Mother's Day gift, fam!) iTouch. In an effort to tap every possible method of recipe categorization, I've begun to enter some of my faves (as well as the Staples Collection many of you contributed to a few years ago) to *yes, yet another!* blog:
http://staplescollection.blogspot.com/
If you have any recipes you'd like to add, shoot me a note!
Let's cook, not just contemplate!
Some of you know I love to share recipes and type recipes and organize recipes and clip recipes and think about which recipes to try next. And every once in a while I actually cook those recipes. And quite often I forget which ingredients I should have on-hand in order to get started.
So...thanks to the new-fangled wifi in some stores around here, I've been able to look up recipes using my new-fangled (thanks for the fabu Mother's Day gift, fam!) iTouch. In an effort to tap every possible method of recipe categorization, I've begun to enter some of my faves (as well as the Staples Collection many of you contributed to a few years ago) to *yes, yet another!* blog:
http://staplescollection.blogspot.com/
If you have any recipes you'd like to add, shoot me a note!
Let's cook, not just contemplate!
February 09, 2010
Olivvy-isms
"tih-daahhhhh" - said upon completion of depositing #2 into the porcelain receptacle, expecting heaps of praise and applause, and generally receiving such. (Unfortunately, not an expression that's been uttered enough of late.)
"oh-tay" - okay, too cute to correct.
There are too many of those, aren't there? The expressions that are so cute when they come out of little lips?
But I am thinking about taking O in to see the folks who came into Zach's school to do the speech, hearing and language screening. At days-away-from-three, Olivia can still be hard to understand. She struggles especially with r's, k-sounds, l's, ...and others. I try not to compare her with Zach, but it's hard not to. And I know he was much more clear at this age.
Poor Kid#2. We love her so much!
"oh-tay" - okay, too cute to correct.
There are too many of those, aren't there? The expressions that are so cute when they come out of little lips?
But I am thinking about taking O in to see the folks who came into Zach's school to do the speech, hearing and language screening. At days-away-from-three, Olivia can still be hard to understand. She struggles especially with r's, k-sounds, l's, ...and others. I try not to compare her with Zach, but it's hard not to. And I know he was much more clear at this age.
Poor Kid#2. We love her so much!
January 25, 2010
Helper Signup
In my never-ending quest to become more organized and efficient, I'm always on the lookout for tips, tricks, and tools to that end.
Here's one!
http://www.helpersignup.com
Zach's classroom mom emails out our supplies wish-list before class parties, and it is so easy! I love it.
Just thought I'd share. And hope that since I put it out here, it will not be forgotten. Now I wonder what event I'll need to initiate so I can "organize" the signup. :)
From HelperSignUp.com:
HelperSignup.com can help you organize clubs and activities of all kinds, including sports teams, exercise classes, PTAs, school groups, job fairs, scouting events, reunions, dinners, school clubs, sports clubs, holiday parties, school activities, fundraisers, school events, sports events, and much more. You can:
•Plan school events
•Schedule exercise classes
•Organize holiday parties
•Plan group meals
•Start up school clubs
•Get volunteers for sports events
•Organize scout activities
•Schedule PTA events
Think of how easily you can organize your sports event, school activity, or holiday party. Try HelperSignup.com today!
Here's one!
http://www.helpersignup.com
Zach's classroom mom emails out our supplies wish-list before class parties, and it is so easy! I love it.
Just thought I'd share. And hope that since I put it out here, it will not be forgotten. Now I wonder what event I'll need to initiate so I can "organize" the signup. :)
From HelperSignUp.com:
HelperSignup.com can help you organize clubs and activities of all kinds, including sports teams, exercise classes, PTAs, school groups, job fairs, scouting events, reunions, dinners, school clubs, sports clubs, holiday parties, school activities, fundraisers, school events, sports events, and much more. You can:
•Plan school events
•Schedule exercise classes
•Organize holiday parties
•Plan group meals
•Start up school clubs
•Get volunteers for sports events
•Organize scout activities
•Schedule PTA events
Think of how easily you can organize your sports event, school activity, or holiday party. Try HelperSignup.com today!
January 08, 2010
Turquoise
"Turquoise"
Yes, I shared the color of my bra on Facebook (FB). It was a sports bra, so the whole sharing thing was not that exciting, imho. And the goal, according to the email message that started it, was to raise awareness of breast cancer.
I've heard some chatter about how pointless, unsuccessful, inappropriate the whole campaign was. Was it?
A FB friend posted a link to an article about how the whole color campaign was getting noticed. It makes me crazy when people knock an effort, frivolous or otherwise, to do some good. It's pretty easy to knock down someone else's efforts, and much harder to make an effort of one's own. So, I was moved enough to respond when I read the article and the comments it generated:
- Was this viral campaign more successful than the typical email forward or Facebook-generated “Post-this-if-you-believe-in…” petition? Infinitely.
- Did the women who were told not to tell "the boys” tell the boys anyway? Yes.
- Did the boys find out, and do we think maybe the originator intended for “the boys” to find out? Yes.
- Did some people actually move to action (suggesting self-breast exams, posting links to www.thebreastcancersite.com, or what have you? Yes.
- Is that better than no action? Yes.
Women are strong, supportive, synergistic creatures. And if miles separate us, and an online social networking tool can connect us, even for a few seconds, in an effort to better our lives (and our children’s lives, and even the lives of “the boys” we do know are affected as well), then might it not be a good idea to share (or *gasp!* dare I say “make up”?) the color of a piece of underclothing in order to get people thinking about a disease we could all do without?
Yes.
Yes, I shared the color of my bra on Facebook (FB). It was a sports bra, so the whole sharing thing was not that exciting, imho. And the goal, according to the email message that started it, was to raise awareness of breast cancer.
I've heard some chatter about how pointless, unsuccessful, inappropriate the whole campaign was. Was it?
A FB friend posted a link to an article about how the whole color campaign was getting noticed. It makes me crazy when people knock an effort, frivolous or otherwise, to do some good. It's pretty easy to knock down someone else's efforts, and much harder to make an effort of one's own. So, I was moved enough to respond when I read the article and the comments it generated:
- Was this viral campaign more successful than the typical email forward or Facebook-generated “Post-this-if-you-believe-in…” petition? Infinitely.
- Did the women who were told not to tell "the boys” tell the boys anyway? Yes.
- Did the boys find out, and do we think maybe the originator intended for “the boys” to find out? Yes.
- Did some people actually move to action (suggesting self-breast exams, posting links to www.thebreastcancersite.com, or what have you? Yes.
- Is that better than no action? Yes.
Women are strong, supportive, synergistic creatures. And if miles separate us, and an online social networking tool can connect us, even for a few seconds, in an effort to better our lives (and our children’s lives, and even the lives of “the boys” we do know are affected as well), then might it not be a good idea to share (or *gasp!* dare I say “make up”?) the color of a piece of underclothing in order to get people thinking about a disease we could all do without?
Yes.
January 03, 2010
Big Brrrr
Oops, I did it again.
Evergreen's New Year's day Big Brr lake plunge. Pics to come, though you can click on the News 4 slideshow and about 25 in (click on the right arrow three times), you'll see my biggest fans:
http://cbs4denver.com/slideshows/evergreen.polar.plunge.20.1400814.html
I was one of these folks:
Dozens of people took the plunge on New Year's Day at Evergreen Lake to raise money for the Driver Smart Evergreen/Conifer and the Evergreen Parks and Recreation District Special Needs Program.
http://evstudio.info/2009/12/11/big-brrr-the-evergreen-lake-plunge/
Evergreen's New Year's day Big Brr lake plunge. Pics to come, though you can click on the News 4 slideshow and about 25 in (click on the right arrow three times), you'll see my biggest fans:
http://cbs4denver.com/slideshows/evergreen.polar.plunge.20.1400814.html
I was one of these folks:
Dozens of people took the plunge on New Year's Day at Evergreen Lake to raise money for the Driver Smart Evergreen/Conifer and the Evergreen Parks and Recreation District Special Needs Program.
http://evstudio.info/2009/12/11/big-brrr-the-evergreen-lake-plunge/
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