Update on The Girl: a post for grandparents and far-off uncles

We took our very grown up 1 year old to the pediatrician this morning for a well-baby check. I was not surprised to learn that she is in the 10th percentile for weight (18 lbs 10 oz) and the 95th percentile for height (31 inches). What can I say? We're good at growing string beans.

I was surprised to learn that she has infections in both ears. I had been hoping to discuss her cough, which is especially bad at night and has been waking her up. The doctor explained that when you have an ear infection, lying down puts additional pressure on the ear canal and triggers coughing, almost as a reflex. He also explained that with older kids who can tell you about their pain and their hearing, it isn't necessary to use antibiotics on ear infections, and they will often clear up without any drugs. With younger ones who aren't talking yet, antibiotics are a very good idea.

Elizabeth likes the taste of her bubble-gum flavored amoxicillin. We will go back in 10 days and see how those ears are doing.

Here is a video of our low-key birthday celebration. We skipped sugary birthday treats because of her cough and runny nose, and who wants a depressed immune system anyway? Elizabeth loves her stacking rings and plays with them every day for minutes at a time. (If you know any 1 year olds, you know how busy they are and how truly impressive this is.)

Girls' Day Out

Pretty much every day is Girls' Day with Elizabeth and me, but a few weeks ago, we had a lunch date, just the two of us. (I had a coupon for a free gourmet hamburger - yummy!) As you can see, Elizabeth had fun eating crayons coloring.

Pumpkin Surprise

Here is a shot of my one fun season meal, Pumpkin Surprise. Sadly, I cannot remember if the boys' excitement at eating something cooked in a pumpkin was enough to make them taste it. Elizabeth, Mr. M, and I all gobbled it up:)



I can't find the recipe at the moment, but it came from my old friend, Tonya. My version included ground beef, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, and celery. Possibly cream of mushroom soup, possibly worcestershire sauce. When I find the recipe, I'll update this post:)

Why I Write in my Journal

Loving the sunshine, the blue sky, and the crisp air! Loving the cinnamon pinecones on my mantle! Loving my sleeping baby and folded laundry! Loving my leftover couscous! Loving life and thanking God! Overflowing with love! 

Those words were from yesterday. It's important to record the moments when you feel this much happiness and gratitude, so the next day when you are dealing with broken jam jars on the floor, sliced fingers, and poop accidents all at once, you can remember and still be okay. 

Halloween decor

Something about living in my own house awakened something new in me - the desire to craft and decorate! For Halloween, I was very low key, with just some Halloween bunting, one draped across the mantle and one across the window in our breakfast nook. I made them one night by cutting out triangles from Halloween paper and stapling them to a long black ribbon. The gals at eighteen25 were my inspiration.





Ethan carved a pumpkin, and Scott drew on his.




Next year will be wild! BWA HAA HA!

Halloween

We went to a ward Trunk or Treat on Saturday night. Incidentally, wouldn't it make more sense for them to be called Trick or Trunk? The boys collected oodles of candy, ate their 10 favorite pieces, and left the rest for the Great Pumpkin, who came in the night and left them gift certificates for new bikes in exchange for their candy!

Terrifying Treats (bwahaha!)

Check out our ghosts and other ghastly creatures! I forgot just how much I LOVE to eat Rice Krispy treats. Ethan made a pig, Scott made a mountain, and I made ghosties.

Big news

Back in May, Scott had his pre-K culmination. Part of the program was dancing. Scott refused to participate, choosing instead to stand next to a bench, while his class and teachers did the Hokey-Pokey and a few other such dances.

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago. At family home evening with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Dennis, Scott stood up on the window seat, cleared his throat, and announced , "I'm going to say something that you may find surprising. I am going to do the Chicken Dance."

Evidently, in his PE class, there is much dancing. Scott was thrilled to invite Mr. M and me to come to the family dance last weekend where each grade performed a dance routine, interspersed by spectator/performer dances, including the Chicken Dance, the Mexican Hat Dance, and the Hokey Pokey.

As proof for those who will never believe it, and especially for Teacher Renee and Teacher Kim, here is a brief clip of Scott doing the Hokey Pokey with Mr. M and Elizabeth (and clearly having a great time).

Porcine pursuits

Scott is in kindergarten this year. One of his recent homework assignments was to fill in the blank and draw a picture to match: " I see the _____." Typically, he focuses on pigs, but having recently learned a new word from his dad, he turned in something vastly different:


In case you can't read it, it says, "I see the swine."

The most recent assignment had an optional portion, and I truly wonder if his teacher put it in just to make Scott smile:

Finish this silly rhyming sentence. Draw a picture to match.
Can you imagine pigs wearing _______? (wigs, figs, twigs)

Remembering Catherine

There was a recent bout of stomach flu at my house. In a period of 4 hours, my three children vomited 11 times. I was grateful to be living in a house with a washer and dryer, since we moved fairly recently out of an apartment with only public, coin-operated laundry facilities. I considered what it might have been like living in an earlier time and trying to cope with such an illness: chopping wood to make a fire to boil water to do laundry or perhaps going down to the rocks by the river to scrub, waiting for the sun to dry out the sheets and the towels and the clothes. There would have been no 24-hour nurse hotline to consult, no pedialyte to dole out in spoonfuls, no internet to look for information on signs of dehydration.

In thinking about those earlier days, I found some forgotten information about one of my ancestors. Catherine Fewkes, was born in England a few years after Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and the Son. They say she was a handsome woman with dark red hair and brown eyes.

In 1845, at age 19, she married Thomas Hicken, also 19, and joined the church. Catherine sewed clothes from cloth that she wove with homespun thread that she made from flax raised by her husband.

In December 1851, she and Thomas and their 3 children crossed the Atlantic ocean to New Orleans on a small crowded ship. For the 10 week trip, they were in quarters with no heating, no ventilation, and no refrigeration for their food. The washing and plumbing facilities were likely inadequate for the 500 passengers on board. When they arrived in March of 1852, they traveled up the Mississippi River to Iowa, where Thomas worked any job to earn money to buy an outfit to cross the plains.

In the spring of that same year, the Hickens joined with the Kinsman family to buy one yoke of oxen, 2 yokes of cows and a wagon. They joined the Eli B. Kelsey Company. Because the 2 families were sharing the wagon, Catherine walked most of the way from Iowa to Utah with her children, ages 6, 3, and 2. On top of it all, she was pregnant!

When they arrived, they settled in Provo. That December, her baby, Thomas (my great-grandfather) was born in what they called a wattle house, with walls made of willows stuck in the ground and plastered with mud, with dirt floors and a dirt roof. Those years in Provo were lean. Food was scarce. Her daughter recounts that one morning when they went out, the trees were covered with a white sweet substance. They gathered it and used it as sugar. They survived on suckerfish and pigweed greens for almost one whole season. After 8 years in Provo, they moved to Heber, where they stayed.

In the 9 years after arriving in Utah, Catherine bore 3 more children, one of whom died when he was 9 months old. A year after her last child was born, and Catherine was 36, her husband took a 2nd wife, a widow with 4 children. He married her to help her and her children. As far as is known, he did not live with her. 3 years later, Catherine had to share her husband with a 3rd wife, Margaret, who was 18. Thomas, was 39. They had 5 children together.

Catherine lived only 15 years more and died in May 1879 at age 54 of a paralytic stroke. She was remembered as a faithful and kind church member.

When I think about Catherine’s life, I want to do better. I want to be better. I want to REMEMBER her and channel her strength, instead of complaining about laundry to do or the difficulties of cleaning vomit out of carpet. I want to remember how blessed I am and thank God for every moment.

Is there someone in your past or present who inspires you to be better?

Update

The boys returned to school today, and I thought Elizabeth was doing better. She did not throw up from last night at 8 pm, did fine all through the night, and through the morning. Unfortunately, she threw up this afternoon again, then again before dinner, and now again in bed. This makes over 48 hours that she has been vomiting.

I've been very frustrated with the pediatrician scene here. Every office I have called is not accepting new patients. Tomorrow morning, we'll take her in to pediatric urgent care.

We have spoken with the 24 hour nurse hotline 3x and also consulted Dr. Dad. She is alert and cheerful as ever when she is awake, but she has lost at least 2 lbs (10% of her body weight), her urine output has dropped, and I can tell she is tired of the vomiting. For now, she is asleep. Please keep her in your prayers.

WELCOME to the 2010 San Antonio Crudfest (cue swoopy lights)! Our scores tonight are Scott 5, Elizabeth 4, and Ethan 2!

It has been an eventful day. I woke up in time to get the boys on the bus in clean clothes. This job usually falls to Mr. M, but he is en route home from a business jaunt to Los Angeles.

On our way to take Ethan to his first choir concert of the year, Scott complained that his stomach felt weird. After we dropped off Ethan, Scott decided he would feel better if he were lying down and tried flopping sideways in his booster seat. As we drove, I suddenly heard a gurgling sound. Poor Scottie heaved all over the backseat of the car. I pulled over, punched my emergency blinkers, dumped out a plastic bag I had in the front seat, and Scott managed to do the rest of his heaving in the bag. We drove back to the concert location, where I had Scott sit on the grass while I cleaned out the back seat with baby wipes. It wasn't too bad, and I finished with 10 minutes to spare before the start of the concert. Scott was completely clean and was feeling much better.

Elizabeth was still in her babyseat, and it was time to go in. I got out with my diaper bag and closed my door. Scott was already out. Elizabeth's door was locked, as were ALL THE OTHER DOORS. "No problem, my keys are in the diaper bag," I tell myself. They are usually in the diaper bag. They are usually attached to my diaper bag. For some reason, they are not attached to my diaper bag. I can see them, sitting in the front seat of the car. AGH. I have locked my baby in the car with my keys.

I had my cell phone, but no locksmith to call. I called Shaun, to see if he could look someone up for me. I had to leave a message. I called Jessica, who was not far away, but didn't give me anyone to call. I called Dennis, who said he was on his way, but wouldn't be there very soon. Gail and Jessica showed up together about 5 minutes later.

At this point, Elizabeth is irritated. It's an overcast 91 degrees outside, and she is starting to sweat. Gail had a newspaper in her purse that we unfolded and put across the back windshield to make shade. Jessica called AAA, and amazingly, the guy showed up in less than 10 minutes. He said he got a "hot baby" call, so I'm guessing I'm not the first person to ever do this in Texas.

We made it in to the choir concert with a minute to spare. Ethan did a terrific job. The sanctuary was beautiful, very cathedral like, with a huge organ in front and stained glass windows all around. I met Ethan's choir director, who told me what a joy it was to have him in choir. Then we made sure all the other administrators would remember the whole family - as Scott threw up all over the red carpet at the exit of the sanctuary. Poor guy. Poor carpet.

Since arriving home, we've had much more vomit. The scores in the title are number of times said person has thrown up. The crud has hit and hit hard, although Ethan suggested that he only threw up because he had 4 cookies at the post-concert reception. Scott has a fever. The boys are both sleeping with low buckets on towels next to them in their beds. Elizabeth is sleeping in her pack'n'play downstairs on the tile. I've changed 2 sets of sheets, one sleeper, poured out 5 buckets of vomit, given 2 baths, and done one big load of laundry. I'm collecting for the second load.

Anyone have good ideas on removing vomit smell from carpet? I removed the chunks, blotted with numerous paper towels, and generously sprinkled baking soda over the wet places, which I will vacuum in the morning.

Before he threw up the second time, Ethan was still begging to go to school in the morning. He doesn't want to mess up his class' chance at perfect attendance. "Please? Just for a little while?"

Beautiful food, beautiful girl...

Last Friday's pizza dinner was this caramelized onion, bacon, and spinach pizza, recipe courtesy of Cooking Light. So, so, soooo good! It can be somewhat labor intensive and because of that, I didn't make it for months and months, possibly years.

I couldn't choose only one or two photos of The Girl, so here is my first ever photo collage.



Come visit! We'll play and eat:)

Alive and well

Judging by our last post and our lack of recent updates, you might think the boys are wandering out in the desert somewhere or that we decided to turn back to Los Angeles and were kidnapped by aliens along the way. Not at all. We are home, in OUR home, and life is so good. I will now throw down some photos in an attempt to summarize what has been going on and to pacify my faithful readers who have been besieging me with requests.

While making up our minds on where to live and whether we'd really close on the house we were planning on, we stayed with the wonderfully generous Craig and Jessica. They are family AND friends. They piled up their kids to give Mr. M and me our own room. They fed us. They watched kids while we signed documents, etc. Now that we're in our own place, it's a real treat to live near them. Jessica took me fabric shopping (yes, I bought some!), and I've introduced her to IKEA.

Ethan and Scott started school. They LOVE their school, and they love riding the bus. It picks them up at the end of our driveway at 7 am and drops them off at 3:15 pm. It makes for a very long day for them at school and a very short time together at home before bed. Here's a video of them on the first morning that they rode the bus, in which we learn that Ethan controls the weather (he has since recanted that claim):



Mr. M is enjoying his new job. It takes 10 minutes to go from our front door to his office door, if I drop him off. He keeps pinching himself and thinking he'll wake up and this new life of ours will be a dream. He is still slugging away on that dissertation.

Uncle Shaun came to visit for a week. We all had a wild time:


I love our new house. I need to paint the garage floor, so that all the garage stuff currently in the front room can go to the garage. Ask me if the front room is tidy yet. Ask me if I've painted the garage yet. I need some motivation.

One reason my work is a bit slow is this delightful little person. She is very busy these days, as you can see:


And really, it's hard to get work done when there's someone like that around:)

Day 1: LA to AZ

(http://media.nara.gov/media/images/14/11/14-1074a.gif)

Notes to self:

1. Even if is a hot day and you think you need shade, do not park your car under a tree with birds in it.

2. You can fit 36 water bottles under the driver's side seat of a 1997 Toyota Corrolla.

3. Remember where you packed your camera so that when your kids want a picture of a saguro cactus, you are ready.

4. Quote of the day:"Hey look at all those Saguaros! It is like a Saguaro Los Angeles."

5. There are some really cool wind turbines along I-10.

6. Hotwire: Love it. $56 to stay at the Hilton.

On our way

The plan was for us to pack Wednesday, I would start to drive our Thursday and Mrs. M would fly out Friday. By Saturday, we would all be together and we would bask in planning effectiveness. Needless to say, it didn't happen that way. We discovered that we had a lot more stuff than we thought we did. Once we got to the stage that we were putting everything in boxes we felt DOOMED*! I would still be in California loading an ABF truck if it were not for the the many people helped us out. We are in debt to the Elder's quorum , family, co-workers and neighbors who assisted in packing our truck. I also should include a shout out to the ladies that helped watch our kids so we could pack.

Even with all this help we still had to pull an all-night "pack-fest" before Mrs. M's flight to Texas. When it was all said and done all our possessions were compressed into 10 linear feet plus what I could shove into our Toyota Corolla. I set off a more than 24 hours behind schedule and very much sleep deprived. For the safety conscious readers, don't worry. I didn't push myself too hard and pulled over for naps whenever I felt like I was drowsy. Any way here are some photos of our preparation for departure.

*Technically, I guess we could have used FedEx to ship us, but I didn't think it was worth pricing it.

Winding down in Los Angeles - TASTE

As we're preparing to leave, it seems only fitting that the weather be perfect, the sky gorgeously blue, and all our vacancies fill. Today we used up our last Groupon and tried a new restaurant for lunch, Taste. It has a location on Melrose and one in the Palisades, and we chose the Palisades to be able to say goodbye to the beach and the ocean. We took the whole family and were very pleasantly surprised by a lovely dining experience in all aspects: personable and sincere service, a comfortable ambiance, ample menu options, food that looked and tasted great, and good value.

We had some delicious fresh bread served with butter and hummus as we waited for our food to arrive. There was a lot of natural light in the restaurant, beautiful dark woods, and a comfortable, casual feel. One of my pet peeves is loud music in restaurants. Another one is feeling like you are too close to the neighboring table. Neither one applied here.

Ethan ordered the prix fix off the kids' menu. His fruit arrived first, a generous portion of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and sliced bananas. His main course was a grilled cheese sandwich on thick toasted bread with a small bowl of tomato soup; Scott opted for a cheese pizzetta. I tasted them all, and they were yummy. Mr. M had a grilled chicken sandwich with mixed greens, and I had a Kobe Beef Burger with mixed greens. Mmmmm, that beef was so delicious.

We decided to splurge for dessert, since we were celebrating life. Ethan had vanilla gelato and Scott ordered a chocolate cupcake, which arrived topped with a raspberry on a plate sprinkled with powdered sugar. He picked it up to eat with his hands, like a normal cupcake, and I suggested that it would be more polite to use his fork. He obediently picked up his fork, skewered the cupcake, and lifted the entire thing to his mouth. I couldn't contain my laughter and assured him that it would be fine to use his hands. Mr. M and I shared a chocolate brioche bread pudding, which arrived warm, topped with crème anglaise, vanilla gelato, and a beautiful raspberry.

When we were all finished, Scott exclaimed, "That cupcake was so good that my face is all dirty!" He did seem to be wearing a good deal of chocolate around his mouth.

As we walked out after paying the bill, our waitress handed Michael a small paper bag with some hummus, such a nice touch to finish a perfectly delightful afternoon.

If anyone is looking for a place to celebrate or just enjoy a meal, I highly recommend Taste. I also have a coupon for a free chocolate brioche bread pudding, which must be used by August 15th. I doubt that I'll be able to use it since we are leaving so soon. Any takers?

News

Mr. M has a new job, and we are moving to a new city! We are going to miss our friends and especially our GeroStudent here in the land of perfect weather and Trader Joe's, but we are looking forward to living in a house with a yard, breathing clean air, and letting the kids grow up with grandparents and cousins close by.

Here is the house that isn't ours quite yet, but will be soon. We hope you'll stop and visit when you're passing through Texas. (If you need more pictures, please visit this link.)

Summer fun

In the summer, we have lots of fun. The boys make up homework pages for each other. I found one yesterday, designed by Scott. There was a picture of a HUGE pig and these words:

"This pig is sick of waiting to learn how to count to one hundred. Help him."

New Zealand

To celebrate 10 years of marriage, Mr. M and I spontaneously took advantage of an amazing $399 round-trip fare from LAX to Auckland! All the details of childcare and time off worked out; Grandma M came to watch the boys and Uncle M helped a lot. Elizabeth came with us and was a fantastic traveler.

We had direct flights both ways which were about 12 hours. Easy. Elizabeth slept most of the way in the fold-down bassinets in our bulkhead seats. Here she is, modeling a bassinet:

We rented a car for freedom to toodle. Driving on the left, with the steering wheel on the right, was an exercise in mental dexterity and required CONSTANT VIGILANCE.

New Zealand is stunningly beautiful. Everywhere we went, we saw green, green, and more green. There were huge tree-like ferns, sandy beaches, volcanic islands, rocky coasts, hot pools, bubbling mud, mist-covered mountains and forests...

The above 2 pictures are from Whangarei Falls.

Tear your eyes away from this gorgeous creature and check out the bubbling mud in the background. This is at Te Puia in Rotorua.

We ate really well: the best Thai food I've ever tasted, hot and salty fish and chips that I doused in malt vinegar (sooooo good!), a very tender filet mignon, a traditional cooked-in-the-ground meal, and lots of pineapple lumps. Here is some video commentary from one of my favorite lunches (this was on Waiheke island) :

In Rotorua, we went to a Mauri cultural night with warriors in canoes, a meal cooked in the ground, the haka, and a walk through the forest.

I felt really fierce making this face, but the photo just reminds me of what Elizabeth looked like when she had her first taste of zucchini.

We found that the people in New Zealand were exceptionally warm and very accommodating for travelers with children. There were special lines at the airport for us, special parking spaces, and lots of smiles and niceness.

The main reason that we went to New Zealand was to visit our dear friends:

Dean took us to the Bay of Islands, and we took a boat tour out to the Hole in the Rock. There were dolphins swimming with our boat!



Our boat went right through that hole!

We had a wonderful time, and I hope to return to New Zealand with the whole family someday!

Move over Michael Flatley

Squawky becomes toothy

The headline says it all. Elizabeth's first tooth has come through. We've survived a week of a gnawing girl who is more demanding, grouchy, congested, and slightly feverish , and there is surely more to come!

Overheard

Yesterday during the Sacrament (the time in our worship service when we remember Christ and take the bread and water), I heard two little voices disputing from a few rows back.

"I found Jesus!" said a happy voice.

"I found him first!" argued a sibling.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Found

A note in little boy handwriting:

To: Harvey + Snorty + Petunia
+ Ava + Elisa+ Harvy 2 +
Alex + Super Piggys
Dear Harvey + Snorty
+ Petunia + Ava +
Elisa+ Harvy 2 +
Alex + Super Piggys,
Alert! Alert!
Alert! Bad guy pigs
are taking over the
earth! Help the
comets stop them
Sinsirly, the comets
p.s. run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.p.s. April June fools!

A note in the other little boy's handwriting:

Dear harvey
Theroom is clean
You can move back
Also
i aim at the toilet now
that's why you can move
Back! Love Scott

SQUEEEEEEEE!

We just booked tickets to New Zealand in 2 weeks for $399 round trip!!! Happy 10 year anniversary to us!

More from the sewer scientist

This is older material (April 15)... a few weeks ago, there was a water main rupture nearby. Naturally, I had to take my favorite sewer scientist on a walk to see it.

Update on the teeth.

After some "serious" back and forth negotiations, Ethan decided not to put his teeth on the futures exchange. We did settle on a price for his current tooth. Instead of asking for 4 quarters, he talked me up to 5 dimes and 10 nickles. He drives a hard bargin.

I over heard him talking to Scott yesterday in his bedroom as he was counting his money. "Scott, when you start losing your teeth, we're going to be rich."

Speaking of money, for Family Home Evening tonight, we had a discussion about money. We watched one of the best instructional videos on personal finance ever made. The boys enjoyed it tremendously. They wanted to watch it twice.

After FHE I watched this other show but the kids weren't as keen on it. Ethan said it was boring until I turned it off.

E: Wait!!!!
Mr M: What? I thought you said it was boring.
E: I meant it was boring if I didn't get to see the end of it.

More Pictures of Elizabeth

This is an older video (3/30/2010) that is kind of long for a single toe grab but I don't have time to edit it. Enjoy as is.

All I want for Christmas... (or I guess in our case Mother's day)

Tooth 1: 5/2/2010


Tooth 2: 5/8/2010



I always looked forward to losing teeth and having my parents play the role of tooth fairy. Even though I knew it was make believe, I still liked the ritual. I would even write the tooth fairy notes. Even though I tried to gently coax Ethan to at least go through the motions of putting under the pillow but he would have none of it. "The tooth fairy is make believe. You are the tooth fairy."

In a business-like fashion, he placed the tooth on the coffee table and asked me for 4 quarters. I didn't know what to do in the moment, so I deferred. After all, I'm really not sure what the value a maxillary central incisor is these days. I'll have to do some more research on this and get back to him. Since we still have quite of few of these to go, maybe I can buy them all now on the futures exchange. I'll see how he feels about that. :)

Video commentary on losing a tooth:

There is too much - let me sum up.

The boys love having camp-ins. This is over General Conference weekend in their bedroom, with the tent pitched toward the temple.


I didn't see the outfit in all its glory until I went to pick up Scott at the end of a birthday party. Previously, he had been wearing a red sweatshirt. (Which wasn't much better, but at least it was a solid color.)


Our little roly-poly has found her toes.


My budding scientists always wear eye protection. Who cares if they're meant for the pool?

Merry Christmas to me

Our first apartment in California was 4 blocks from an enormous Cost Plus World Market. I used to amuse myself by slowly browsing the kitchen tools, the furniture, the posters, the stylish baskets, the textiles, the imported food items. I have never seen a cuter selection of mini-cheeses, summer sausages, and spices.

When I received a gift card to World Market for Christmas 2008, I was delighted! Last night, I finally decided what I wanted :



Great prices on couscous and Wasa crackers! Plus some doodads - a round cake pan, a funnel, a sifter, a scraper for cleaning off baked-on goo, parchment paper to prevent baked-on goo, and a spoon clip so the spoon goo drips in my pot and not on my stove top.

Thank you, Santa Shaun!

Achievement, independence and self-expression

I love my children. They delight me. And I'm proud of them. Even when they drive me crazy, there is a teeny tiny part of me that revels in telling Mr. M at night HOW crazy they were.

We had parent-teacher conferences with Ethan's teacher today. He got 100% on his last two math tests for the district. He maxed out his reading fluency. And he got elected by his class to receive the Citizenship award at a special ceremony this Friday morning. He's a model pupil from what I can tell. What can I say? He's just like his mother:) Ethan is a very helpful big brother. He loves to make Elizabeth smile. Here is a clip of his efforts. Ummm, you may want to turn down the volume.



Did you notice Scott in the background stirring something at the stove? Those are eggs he is scrambling. He is such an independent guy, and he LOVES to cook. I'm trying to get him more involved in meal preparation. Scott adores both his siblings.





Elizabeth is discovering the range of her voice. She is just like her mother in some regards. When she is hungry, she totally LOSES IT! When she is fed, she is quite content. Here are some of her recent squawks:

Crustless garden vegetable quiche

I love this pan (thanks, Mom!) and I really like the quiche. It's full of vegetables and 3 cheeses: cheddar, jack, and cottage. The best part is the tangy, chewy quality of the tomatoes on top. I adapted the recipe for lazy people like me who buy normal full-fat cheese and real eggs.

Pi Day

Pi Day snuck up on me this year, and it fell on a Sunday. Miraculously, I had some delicious frozen blueberries on hand and decided to make a Blueberry Galette. Unfortunately, I was not terribly accurate in measuring the butter and the crust was extremely sticky. "No matter," thought I, "it will bake just fine." WRONG!

The crust didn't hold together enough to keep the blueberry juice from bleeding all over the baking pan and dripping onto the oven floor, sending up huge clouds of black smoke in my kitchen. After attempting some tinfoil remedies around the edge of the pan, we gave up and ate the galette half-cooked. It was like eating blueberry sugar cookie dough - delicious - but I am determined to try again. Maybe if I used a jelly roll pan that would solve my problem. Or I suppose I could just measure the butter correctly.

Here is the galette:



And here is the oven. (I have since cleaned it for the first time in 2 years. Better late than never. )

Friends from far away

One of my dear childhood friends came to visit this week. She brought her youngest, who is just a few months older than Elizabeth. We spent 2 days talking, eating, sleeping, feeding babies, changing diapers, and catching up with each other. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how much we really have in common, the deep down important things. It was really fun to put our girls together and see them interacting. Thanks for coming, Siri and Elsa!