Germs are not ok

Not sure where my kids picked up this one, but this one has been a doozy. (Fortunately, they don't get sick very often, and I think this is the first time they've been sick this summer, so I should be greatful, right?)

The festivities started when Steve left on Tuesday to camp with a youth group- (hopefully he doesn't get this!!) and I was left to enjoy this one all by myself. Next off, coughing, crying and being cranky all day. But, the best has been at night :)

Tues: 11:00- woke up to crying, 12:00- woke up to crying, 1:00- woke up to crying... you get the picture.

Wed: 11:00- woke up to crying, 12:00- woke up to crying... oddly the same as the night before.

Ok- the sarcasm is too thick, I know! But, now I'm sick :) And, it's the only emotion I can muster.

My favorite part of day

There is nothing like evenings during the summertime- right after dinner when the sun is going down, and it's still warm, but not cold. I wish it could be like that all the time.

Yesterday at around 7 we picked the vegetables in our garden. We were surprised by how much we got:

these are our favorites. cherry tomatos are great in everything, and especially just by themselves.

we planted cucumbers this year because maddie loves them. next year, we'll only plant two, because they are out of control.

and- the tomatoes. lots of them.

i think we'll be making salsa for a while.

We also made a great zucchini soup last night that I would totally recommend. we all had 3 servingfulls. Here's the recipe:http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Zucchini-and-Rosemary-Soup-252

Really Good Idea for a Shower

My friend A decided to throw her wedding shower at a restaurant where we all learned how to make Paella. It was such a fabulous idea- I wish I would have thought of it 10 years ago!!

The guests seperate into groups and make different styles of Paella (seafood, vegetarian, meat, combo). Since Paella takes so long to cook, you stand around and chat, drink lemonade, eat o'dourves... it was so much fun. And- I think I kind of know how to make Paella now? All I need is to go to Spain and get a special pan? Hee hee.

This was our group

These were delicious, but not healthy by any stretch of the imagination. Olive oil was not spared.

Enjoying our meal after it was all done.

A couple of good friends coming and going

Last week we threw a little going away party at the Cheescake Factory for one of the "Young Women" at our church. We have known Z and Z's family for a long long time, and we don't want her to go. But, everyone has to pave their way into the real world sometime, right?

Here was the beautiful group.

(Please don't let me eat a full dessert at Cheescake Factory again. I felt sick the entire night.)

Our dear friends from the Stanford days were in town since moving away, and we had them over for dinner. Even if you never talk to good friends for a long time, your friendship is still the same when you do. We just picked up where we left off...

See the super stylish fence in the background? Well, it's days are over! The new fence is coming in next Sat!! Woo Hoo.

6 out of 5 stars

At 8:30 pm on Saturday night, I called our babysitter on a whim and asked her if she could come over so Steve and I could watch Harry Potter... and the stars aligned.

So good. Really, this is one of the better movies we've seen in a while. Why aren't all movies like this?

But on a tangential note, we were both taken a little aback by the violent previews... especially for a kids movie. It may be a sign that we're getting old, or that we are now parents, or that Hollywood is trying to up the ante, but it reminded me of a great quote I read from Michelle Pfeiffer- something like this:

"Hollywood is a bunch of men living out their adolescent fantasies."

Isn't that so true? Lots of violence, lots of sex? And, that pretty much sums up 99% of what is coming out of the movie studios. But, luckily, Harry Potter was an exception.

Fish and Furniture

Steve news: Steve got up at 4:30 (?) to drive up and go deep sea fishing with some new friends. He still isn't home, but I'm excited to get the report. Ever since we have been married, I have wanted to surprise him with a trip like this... but it wasn't until today that it became a reality.

I hope he brings home something tasty!

Alie news: I'm feeling like I have 100 things on a to do list, and can't even finish 1. On the top of my list: organize and set up our computer room. I haven't gotten anywhere. You just can't get that much done with small kids around.

I'm looking for simple/contemporary furniture, but it's sort of hard to find in my price range. I really like Design within Reach and RoomandBoard... but it's mucho $$$$. Does anyone have any ideas?

Card Reader

My cardreader broke. But, after a trip to Fry's, problem was fixed. Here's the load of stuff that I need to catch up on...

The world of "real food"

Two days ago, Emi started eating her first bites of "food." Well, not really bites, and not really food, but everyone has got to start somewhere, right?

This is for the scrapbook :)

Big Sur Camping

Last weekend we went camping to Big Sur. Our experience with camping in Cali is - make a reservation, or die. Why we had to learn this lesson again, I'm not sure, but it's ingrained in our craniums for the rest of our lives.

We left at 4:30 am on Fri morning to get one of the last first come first served campsites, and 6 hours later including the drive, and pushing/pleading/negotiating our way into a campsite, we finally staked our tent on a piece of land. Aside from the poison oak (that was everywhere, including now on Emilie's face!!! :( ), we had a good time. The views were absolutely breathtaking- we were right on a bluff overlooking the ocean, with sea lions basking on the beach and rocks.

Of course, camping with kids is not a walk in the park to say the least. I think that if you can go camping with your family (with small kids), you can pretty much survive anything. But, it's like everything in life, without a little bitter, it wouldn't be so sweet.

Here are some memorable moments:

We went tubing down the river.

Emilie relaxing.

Waiting for dinner.

The superstar campers.

Playing in the tent.

Backyard

Last week, we finished the cement work on our backyard. This was a huge milestone for us, because we basically have put the brakes on all projects on house so we don't go bankrupt! To say we are EXCITED for this backyard, is an understatement.

Imagine me singing "I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR BACKYARD!!!"

Backyard= enclosed area for kids to play in, a place where we can put our patio set and eat dinner outside for the entire summer and fall, a place to read and relax....

While the crew was doing it, all of us were pressing our noses against the glass watching them. Cement work is really awesome- it's so creative, and you can change the look of something so quickly... here's a few pics:

this is not in the right order:

smoothing out the cement and putting in the lines...

spreading the cement after it's poured.


pouring the cement in the forms...


you always need a lot of people when you pour cement because it's sets so fast...

we're doing a little sitting wall with trees/shrubs in the middle

the sitting wall forms. so cool

a view from the side of the house

another view

Our backyard is so small that we really have to use all the possible space we can in the most efficient way. Some cement, some grass, a sitting wall, a fountain, a vegetable garden, a little sitting area... next on the list is a fence.

4th of July

For the 4th, we decided to make a flag cake- gluten free of course. It was soo good, we ate it in about 2 days. I would totally make it again, but then I wouldn't stop myself from eating the entire thing. It's an Ina Garten recipe from www.foodnetwork.com-- and I just put Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten free flour instead of normal flour.

Heaven. I think it may be the best frosting I've ever had.

Hit like a train

After our vacation, we were hit like a train head on. Steve closed the doors on his company that he started six (?) years ago, and had to take care of all the assets in the building (ie cleaning room, computers, chairs, tables... complicated equipment I don't even know how to name). He left at 7 am and came back at 12am on Mon and started the same time, but came back at 2 am on Tuesday.

Urgh. Yesterday was similar, but at the end of the day, both of us coudn't even stand up to clean the mess of our house that happens at the end of a vacation and 2 days that I didn't clean or pick up a thing.

I don't have the strength to even start organizing our house, so Maddie and I went outside to see how our garden is doing.

This is what we picked! I've never grown zucchini or tomatoes, so this is super exciting for me. Now, I'm in search for a recipe so we can devour these babies in style.

Maybe they'll give us the strength to clean?