December 22, 2012

Santa Visit

DSC_2691_mod We still don't know what's up with Cole's pouty face... he was pretty set on not smiling I guess. Ah, it will make for humorous memories one day. Otherwise, we had lots of fun time at the annual Winter Wonderland at work.

IMG_4452_mod Cole really enjoyed the trains.

IMG_4436_cr_mod Lauren's favorite activity was icing (and eating) a sugar cookie.

November 27, 2012

Crunch Time

DSC_2669_mod I've made significant progress (note my last update was in 2009!), but we're closing in on December 1... I still need to determine how I want to 'hang' the 'ornaments' on the tree, but I might be able to finish up a few more pockets. One down, and 23 to go.

Contentment

DSC_2632_mod Cole could literally sit and watch the Frosty Train circle the tree for hours.... Also note the sole ornament hung thus far - Lauren's newly acquired 'Rapunzel' which she purchased with her Disney Store gift card.

October 27, 2012

The Farmer's Market

We visited the Ahwatukee Farmer's Market a couple weeks ago - haven't been in a while, and it seems to have grown, with several new vendors.

IMG_4099_mod We bought a loaf of delicious ciabatta bread, an acorn squash, some tomatoes, some savory breakfast pastries, and two of these cute potted succulents.

IMG_4093_mod But what the kids enjoyed most, was playing on the playground located behind the farmer's market :)

October 26, 2012

Fresh from the Oven

DSC_2270_mod My first loaf, from my new book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. Used the basic boule 'master recipe', and it was so so easy. Haven't tasted it yet, but several reviewers say their loaves taste even better than they look. And I have more dough in the fridge :)

October 14, 2012

Mid-Sabbatical Crisis

Only 4 weeks left, and I'm actually starting to feel a bit of panic set in. So much to do, so little time. Our biggest projects - remodeling our backyard, and decorating our master bedroom - are still in the early stages, but we've been doing a lot of research. In any case, here's a look back at our 6 weeks so far. We've....

DSC_1193_mod Traveled.

DSC_1120_mod Explored.

DSC_1607_mod And explored some more.

IMG_3584_mod_cr Indulged.

DSC_1848_mod Nursed a sick cat back to health.

DSC_1662_mod Tried new recipes.

DSC_1852_cr_mod And modified some of the kids' favorites.

IMG_3921_mod Shopped.

DSC_1768_mod Played.

NikePlus Exercised.

DSC_2088_mod Baked.

DSC_1995_mod Encouraged.

IMG_3909_mod_cr And relaxed.

September 22, 2012

Healthy Pasta

We make this pasta primavera dish, from Giada's Everyday Italian cookbook, pretty often. I love flavor of the roasted veggies, and we add in plenty of fresh grated parmesan. Only drawback is the chopping.... takes me about 30 min!

DSC_1700_mod All the veggies, chopped up and ready to go. This time, used red onion, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots and mushrooms.

DSC_1715_cr_mod The final product, with plenty of the leftovers, since still can't get the kids to eat vegetables that look like vegetables..... Also, it always amazes me how much the veggies shrink during roasting!

August 9, 2012

Q & A

DSC_0738_mod
There is many a moment, when I ask the question 'Cole, do you have to go to the bathroom?' I usually ask when he's either 1) quite still, yet a little bit wriggly, or 2) hopping around like he's got ants in his pants. Here are some of the answers he's given me over the last couple months...

Q: Cole, do you have to go to the bathroom?

A: No, I'm just resting.
A: No, I'm just sliding.
A: No, I'm just dancing.
A: No, I'm just yawning.

And my personal favorite....

A: No, Mommy, I'm just smiling at you - that's not my poo-poo face.

August 4, 2012

We're Back....

DSC_0365_mod Back from the beach - had a blast (but still in need of a vacation....) Stay tuned for our 2012 SD favorites.

July 4, 2012

Catching Raindrops

IMG_3112 Happy 4th! We had a lot of fun at the annual 4th Celebration at a neighborhood park, although this year it rained - but no one seemed to mind :) Water slides, snow cones, hot dogs, hula hoop contest, and more; maybe next year we'll even decorate bikes and join the parade!

June 23, 2012

Quotables

Overheard on Fri morning, Cole to Lauren: "I don't like you telling on me, I'm telling on you!" Gotta love those baby monitors, they provide some good entertainment :)

June 18, 2012

For the Love of Nature

DSC_8612_mod Today, Lauren brought home a lovely teal colored 8.5 x 11 piece of construction paper, adorned with cicada exoskeletons (and a few drawings). Apparently she (and Cole, and maybe others) have been plucking these little molted shells off the tree bark at school - and I've heard she's amassed quite a pile. She asked if I'd like one for my project life journal, but I said I'd settle for a picture :)

June 15, 2012

Soccer Time

IMG_2945_cr Cole and Lauren are both trying soccer this summer, through the indoor league at the YCMA. Cole and I kicked around the ball last night in the back yard, he was in heaven.

May 27, 2012

Right Now | May 2012

DSC_7598_mod

Lauren (age 5): Reads her own bed-time stories. Enjoys jumping rope. Loves to hug. Is learning freestyle. Offers Cole some of her snack when he has finished his.

Cole (age 3): Loves to throw anything. Sleeps without covers. Is obsessed with sun butter. Can name over 10 types of trucks. Always asks "what are we going to do next?"

May 21, 2012

Play Day

Had the day off today, and after some morning chores and errands, and a nice lunch, got right to crafting with my mom.

bracelet_front Had seen a friend post a similar bracelet she'd made, so checked out a few tutorials, then we gave it a shot. These are inspired by the trendy Chan Luu leather wrap bracelets. Need some leather cord, beading thread, beading needle, beads of choice, a button or bead to use as a toggle, and possibly some jewely/beading glue to secure the knots. One tip is to use a binder clip or clipboard to secure the two ends of the leather cord while adding the beads.

bracelet_back They were pretty fun to make, and not bad for a few hours of work. Looking forward to making another :)

April 22, 2012

School Pics

School photos are back. They crack me up, every time.... 2011 pictures are on the left for reference.

cole_11_12 Two years in a row? I had to purchase at least one sheet, because how can you pass up that face? :)

lauren_11_12 Lauren's turned out pretty good, I was pleasantly surprised.

lauren_11_12hair But this is actually how I sent her to school. Notice the new hairdo in the school pic - a ponytail mysteriously sprouted...

April 9, 2012

Happy Easter

EggHunt_2012 Waiting patiently for the egg 'hunt' to begin. There was a 5 egg limit, but neither Cole nor Lauren managed to gather that many at first, since there were so many kids. But they scavanged up a few more when another child exceeded the limit, and had to place some eggs back in play :)

April 4, 2012

Pizzeria Bianco

PizzeriaBianco_3a

After several years of reading/hearing about the nationally acclaimed Pizzeria Bianco, we finally had the opportunity (and time) to visit. It was a Saturday, we arrived at 5pm, and began our 2 hour wait. We walked around Heritage Square for a bit, then ordered a glass of wine and goat cheese crostini at the adjacent Bar Bianco, which we enjoyed at a table just outside the restaurant. With good company and tolerable evening temps, it is actually a very pleasant wait :)

We were eventually seated just after 7pm, and we had a very polite and attentive server. We ordered a glass of wine each, the antipasto plate, which was delicious, and 2 pizzas: the Sonny Boy and the Wiseguy... They were both very good, but my fave was the antipasto plate (and the goat cheese crostini app).

I would go back again, but definitely not in the heat of the summer. Next time, we might actually try Nobuo at Teeter House, just across the brick path. The menu looked really good, and it didn't appear to have any wait :)

April 3, 2012

A Long Day

120403_sickcole
Day 2 of my vacation week started out well - a good mix of productivity and fun: eye doctor appt, Starbuck's coffee stop, grocery shopping, lunch with Stew at the newly opened My Big Fat Greek Restaurant, and off to see a matinee of The Hunger Games. But not 2 (!) minutes into the movie, I got a phone call from Cole's teacher saying that he'd woken up from his nap, and had thrown up - and needed to be picked up. And the (not so) funny thing, was that Stew had taken off the afternoon so we could go see a movie. So we left.

Poor timing, and poor Cole... He's definitely got some stomach bug or something because he's got a fever, and there were a few more vomiting episodes, including one in Stew's car (Stew is really glad he decided to take the afternoon 'off'). After a bath for Cole, and following me around the house for a short while, he told me he wanted to do a [hula-hoop] contest, and next thing I know he's asleep in the middle of the purple hula-hoop. Poor Cole :(

120403_greekrestaurant Alas, lunch was tasty (assuming I didn't ruin that for you with my talk above) - they have a $5 lunch special, with your choice of pita (I had chicken souvlaki), and fries or salad. Will definitely be back, hopefully on a less eventful day.

March 26, 2012

The Debate

Cole entertains us with a few pages from 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. But is it a cocoon or a chrysalis? :)

March 19, 2012

The Name Game

DSC_6510_mod
Casual after-dinner conversation...
 
Mommy: "Cole, what's grandma's name?"
   Cole: "Pennie."
Mommy: "What's grandpa's name?"
   Cole: "Chuck."
Mommy: "What's my name?"
   Cole: "Kwisty."
Mommy: "What's daddy's name?"
   Cole: "Honey."

March 17, 2012

Produce Aplenty

DSC_6514_mod We decided to try the organic basket this time, from Bountiful Baskets. We got oranges, apples, blueberries, pineapple, cabbage, green beans, and (not shown), carrots, artisan lettuces, green onions, celery, and bok choy. A few of the items were packaged, from Earthbound Farm. Next week I think we'll try local - considering signing up for a CSA (Love Grows Farms) with pick-up location at work (how easy is that?) Someone also recommended chowlocally.com which looks a neat option as well.

March 12, 2012

Lovies

DSC_6491_mod Waiting patiently for their owners to arrive home :)

March 6, 2012

Project Life | 2012 Week 6

PL_12WW06clVanilla greek yogurt with kashi, my favorite breakfast.

PL_12WW06A birthday party at 'My Gym' for one of Cole's classmates, the Mesa Takes Flight festival, and a stop at Habit Burger.

PL_12WW06aA fun party, complete with cupcakes from Sprinkles - yum. Check out Lauren's tail.

PL_12WW06bAn excellent quote from Cole. And a glimpse into the evening routine - added 'special' 1:1 play time into the mix a few weeks back. Each kid gets 10 min with each parent - it's actually a nice way to wind down (for all involved!)

March 4, 2012

No sand? No problem!

IMG_2157_mod Digging in the rocks is more fun anyway.

February 29, 2012

Writing Lesson

DSC_6274_mod Lauren has been working on her penmanship - which seems even a bit better than Stew's!

February 20, 2012

Project Life | 2012 Week 5

PL_12WW05cl Lauren is loving Round 2 of her ballet/tap class at the YMCA.

PL_12WW05 A hike at Telegraph Pass, dinner at IKEA, more dancing, and sun butter cookies.

PL_12WW05a Long time since I'd hiked Telegraph, very sore the next day!

PL_12WW05b Got some new art work for Lauren's room (frames and prints from Pottery Barn, and frames on clearance!), and Sushi Ken for Fri dinner (discovered Cole loves unagi!)