Afternoon with the Princesses

Today was our big Princess day. Beginning with the Princess Fantasy Faire, the kids got to hear stories told by some of the princesses. Then they made crowns and learned princess etiquette as well as some new dances. Zander was a real trouper and didn't mind one bit. Of course Natalie couldn't have been more excited to see the princesses.
She was a little star struck and shy at first, but she soon warmed up to everything. There was a beautiful May pole dance in addition to the other dances they learned.

As soon as the Faire was over it was off to California Adventure for our lunch at Ariel's Grotto. Our reservations were for outdoor seating, as the inside was already filled up all week. I prayed for nice weather and although it was a little breezy, the sun was out and it looked like the rain that was forecasted wasn't going to give us any trouble. By the time we got to our table, the wind picked up a bit, but fortunately, we all had jackets.

When I made the reservations, I mentioned Ariel was her favorite princess...this really paid off, as Natalie got to spend extra special time with Ariel. When she first came to our table, she took Natalie aside for a little dance. The two twirled around and I just knew Natalie was having the time of her life...again, totally could have cried...but then who would take the pictures, right? Before we left in the morning, I asked Natalie if she wanted to draw a picture for Ariel. She got right on it and as a result, got extra hugs from her favorite mermaid. Ariel told her she was going to keep it in her special treasure chest and reminded Natalie to eat all her seaweed (veggies)...after that, the green beans were gone. Every last one.
The autograph books really came in handy and we got 5 princesses autographs all in one sitting. Much better than waiting in line for them!
When I made the reservations, I also mentioned we were celebrating Natalie's birthday (even though it was really in December) They brought out a dish of ice cream w/ a candle for Natalie, but had a hard time lighting it due to the wind. Ariel helped Natalie blow it out. Just as we finished our lunch the wind really picked up, by the time we left the restaurant, it started to rain...The timing couldn't have been better. We walked back to our hotel for some much needed rest.

Later that night we returned for the parade and went on the It's a Small World ride...then we called it a night. It was truly a magical day!

We're Back...Come see our photos!

We had a great trip and I have lots to share. Every day this week, I will share a little glimpse into our Disneyland vacation. Along the way, I will pass along tips that made our trip great.

Planning
Before we left, I did extensive research. I learned that reservations for character dining as well as the major sit down restaurants (like Blue Bayou) were made a month in advance. I also went to the Disney website and found out which rides/attractions would be closed and made a list of all the different things we wanted to see/do. (just a note for those w/ small kids...expect this list to be cut significantly!!!) Dan and I made a tentative schedule of the things we wanted to do each day. This was SO helpful in getting my head around everything. Some days we had to work around show times and meal reservations, so it was invaluable to know ahead of time how to plan our flex-time at the parks. We also planned it so we spent 2 days at the parks, then took a day off and then had our last day on Friday when all the special plays and parades were running. The day off in between was a much needed break for us and the kids.

Packing
Before we left, I tried to think of everything we would need to make our trip more enjoyable. So, besides clothing...here are some things that came in handy:
Glow sticks for night time fun (Walmart sells them for .88...much cheaper than anything you will find at DL), Disney tummy ticklers juice bottles, 12 pack of colored Sharpies for autographs (colors coordinate w/each character), autograph books, crayons and paper/coloring books, fruit snacks (for the kids to chew when the plane takes off), neat sheet ground cover for sitting on during parades and fireworks, disposable cameras for the kids, extra memory card for my digital camera, quarters and pennies (for all the squished penny machines), disposable ponchos (.88 at Walmart), lots of clean socks, colorful bandanna to tie around stroller for easy identification, pretty princess dress for Natalie, Disney character clothes for the boys, small backpack for bringing snacks and stuff to the park, sun screen and lots of patience.

Snacks I packed a whole small suitcase full of snacks. This was a suggestions I heard over and over...bring snacks into Disneyland to avoid the high prices at the park. Best suggestion ever. I brought a box of cereal, 2 boxes of dried apple snacks, about 24 fruit roll ups, animal crackers, 3 boxes of granola bars, snack sizes pouches of Teddy Grahams crackers, Wheat Thins, gummy snacks (princesses and pirates), and Papa Giki cookies found in the bulk foods section at Winco (.98). They are very filling and filled with wholesome ingredients. Because we had all these snacks, we didn't waste any time sitting down for breakfast, we ate our breakfast on the way to the park each morning and got in right when it opened. They also came in handy while waiting in line or when your kids are starving, but you won't be eating for another hour or two. By the end of the trip, we ate up every last snack and so we could use the empty suitcase to bring home our souvenirs.

DAY 1: Traveling to California









First Night at the Hotel
After we got checked in, it was about 8 pm, so we decided to walk to McDonald's for dinner. This must have been the game plan for everyone else too, because McDonald's was crowded, even at this late hour. After dinner we got the kids in their pajamas and just as we got them tucked into bed we heard the fireworks start. I walked outside and wouldn't you know it...we had a spectacular view of the whole fireworks show from our room. Although I wanted the kids to be well rested, I couldn't resist getting them out of bed to watch the fireworks. They loved it and were jumping up and down and clapping. It was a great end to a long day of traveling.

Disneyland...here we come!

As you can imagine we are very excited about our trip. We leave for the airport tomorrow around noon!!! Right now I have packing anxiety. Most of the bags are packed, but there are so many things to remember. Lots of details for this trip as Disneyland with 3 kids requires lots of advanced planning and strategy! I just checked the forcast and the weather looks great all week. I can't wait to share all our photos and adventures when we get back. Pray for safe travels for us...see you all soon!

Good-bye Reggie

When I was in college, our family dog, Caleb died. Soon after, my parents got Reggie, as a puppy.

Sadly, last night my parents had to put Reggie to sleep. Although I was mostly out of the house by the time Reggie grew up, I still have many fond memories of him. Reggie was always such a good dog (except when he ate my lipstick) and he was very good with the kids, even when they were young. The kids loved Reggie and I don't look forward to telling them about why he isn't at Grandma and Grandpa's house anymore. Here are some photos of Reggie and the kids from a camping trip to the Oregon coast back in 2004.

A little catching up

Well, I haven't blogged for a few days...I'm in limbo mode right now as our vacation is still a few days away. I started packing the clothes, but just can't do much else until the very end. I did manage to get Zander's hair cut. It looks so cute. Today I went in for a hair cut and ended up getting some layers in the front. I liked how long it was getting, but it needed some freshening up, so here it is...

The other day I weighed myself and I finally crossed over to the -20 lbs mark!!! As a reward, I bought myself a flat iron and can't believe the difference it makes with my weird bendy hair.

On Monday I had conferences with Natalie's teacher. She had nothing but good things to say about Natalie. Her teacher mentioned that Natalie is doing better than expected in her reading and she is now actively participating in discussions whereas before she didn't talk much in class.

On Tuesday, Zander had his spring program at preschool. His class dressed up like they just got out of the bath...they all looked adorable!

Brandon Finally got to go Home!!!

Yesterday I went to see Andrea in the hospital with hopes of being able to hold Brandon.
On the way I grabbed lunch for Andrea who was discharged and was no longer receiving food from the hospital. When I got there we visited for awhile then we went into the special nursery where Brandon has been spending most of his time. He has been under the lights trying to reduce his biliruben levels brought on by neonatal jaundice. He looks so cute with his "tanning" goggles on. All those cords are to help monitor his breathing.
Well, I didn't get to hold him yet. My sister Toni and I got "kicked out" of the nurses station because it's normally just for mothers and grandparents. Lame! So I left...still haven't been able to hold him, but the good news is that he is doing great and got to go home earlier this afternoon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The Lucky Shoes
Last night Natalie and Zander put out their shoes in hopes the Leprechaun would leave some gold. I had never heard of this tradition before, but recently read about it on a message board (2 peas) that I frequent. The kids totally went for it and were so excited.

This morning Natalie checked on her shoes that she left out side. She couldn't find them anywhere so she came upstairs and told me, "mom the leprechaun stole my shoes." Then Zander woke up and went down to check on his shoes and discovered that the "leprechaun" brought them inside and filled them with treats. They both got two gold chocolate coins, and a bag filled with green jelly beans and a couple mint Oreos. They had never seen this type of Oreo with the green middle and were convinced the leprechaun made them green. I love going along with all of this.

A tradition I started when Dan and I were first married is to make green food for St. Patrick's Day. Beginning with breakfast we have Green eggs and Ham with some kind of green beverage. This morning we had green milk.

For dinner I always make the traditional Irish Corned beef with cabbage and little red potatoes. Dan loves this meal and always looks forward to it. I also make my own green bread in the bread machine and serve green dessert. (usually key lime pie or lime jello w/ green whipped cream.)

Fabulous Food Friday

Party Pinwheels
I got this recipe from my friend Mishal ages ago and use it all the time for parties. This time I used Spinach Tortillas in honor of St. Patrick's day.


(2) 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1 package ranch dressing mix (powder)
1/2 cup minced red pepper (I used green)
1/2 cup minced celery
1/4 cup green onions, sliced
3-4 large tortillas

Beat cream cheese and ranch until smooth. Add veggies. I have also made these with broccoli and ham and it is such a good flavor. Roll up tortillas and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours. Slice into 1/2 inch pieces and serve.

Baby Update

Okay I am kind of known for being a worry wort, but also thought it was worth mentioning...
I just talked with Andrea earlier this evening and Brandon is still having trouble breathing when he feeds. His pediatrician said this happens sometimes and didn't seem too worried. He has improved since yesterday when he was having trouble breathing in general. However, he still spends a bit of time in the "sick" room of the nurses station where he is being monitored. At any rate, I am asking for prayer for him and for Andrea as this is her first baby... remember what that's like? Well, her first few days as a mother have been crazier than usual. Imagine waking up, knowing you must have had a baby, but there is no baby in your room. She didn't even know if it was a boy or a girl. Then to find out there are breathing complications ...meanwhile trying to comprehend everything has been challenging for her since she has been on pain killers from the C-section...I know I am rambling. I think she may be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, but it is unknown if Brandon will have to stay at the hospital or not. Thanks for your prayers.

It's a Boy!

This morning my sister Andrea gave birth to a not so little, but very handsome baby boy. Brandon Mason Cimino weighs 9 lb, 15 1/2 oz. It's a good thing Andrea had him by C-section because, not only was he breech and a big baby, but the umbilical cord was tied in a knot around his neck. He was having trouble breathing, so for the first few hours of his life he was resting under an oxygen bubble. If he was born "naturally," there's a good chance he could have died. I got to the hospital with the kids just as they were taking the oxygen apparatus off of him. I got to walk with him to Andrea's room. She is doing good...for someone who just had a major surgery. I guess the spinal block didn't work after two times, so they had to put her completely asleep. When she finally got to spend time with Brandon, he nursed for a half an hour!

We are so thankful he is healthy! Praise God!!!

All the cousins got to see their new playmate. (Hayden was being held by his Aunt).

Andrea is going to be a great mommy.

Back to my roots

Recently, I have been working on the yearbook pages for Natalie's class. It really brings me back to my high school days when I was the yearbook editor. This yearbook, however, is done entirely old-school paste-up style, so I had to cut and paste every thing by hand. I'm surprised they haven't gone digital yet. Back in high school we did a combination of digital and paste-up. Then as a journalism major our copy was printed out and pasted up and our photos were transformed into pmt's (photo mechanical transfers) in order to produce the correct line screen for quality print resolution. Then when I was a graphic design major, everything we output was digital. Anyway, enough technical mumbo jumbo. The deadline for these pages is tomorrow and I look forward to turning them in and getting a load off my mind.

Jim Gaffigan shows his love for hot pockets.

This funny moment is dedicated to my Dad who, thanks to radiation therapy, has to refrain from eating wholesome foods and must partake somewhat processed foods until his digestion returns to normal. Poor guy. Only 2 more treatments left though!

Fabulous Food Friday

I had planned to post my photo along with the recipe for Thai Basil Chicken tonight, but when we had it for dinner the other night, I was so hungry, that I devoured it and totally forgot to take a photo. In it's place is a photo I snagged from Google. (I love Google).

Since my brother-in-law is from Thailand, we have had the pleasure of eating many delicious Thai meals together. This is one of my favorites.

Note: Begin cooking your rice before you make this dish and it should be ready at the same time.

Thai Basil Chicken

12-16 sweet basil leaves
1 cup hot water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound chicken, thinly sliced (I use 2 lbs)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, sliced (I use 1 onion)
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced
1 tablespoon fish sauce, available at Asian markets
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar

In a small bowl, soak sweet basil leaves in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and discard water.
In a large skillet or wok, heat 2 tablespoons oil over high heat for 1 minute. Add meat and cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until chicken begins to turn brown. Place meat aside in a bowl. Wash skillet and dry. Heat 1 tablespoon oil over high heat for one minute. Add garlic, onion and peppers and stir well. Cook, stirring frequently until peppers are soft. Add chicken, fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar and stir well. Tear basil into smaller pieces and add to the mix. Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat for 2 minutes or until heated through. Serve over rice with some sweet chili sauce on the side. Mmmmm!

Picture of the Day 03-09

Bathtime Bebe

This has got to be one of the cutest photos of Hayden I have taken.

Jog-a-thon Day

See Natalie...See Natalie Run! Look at that stride. She is a natural! Today was the jog-a-thon for the kindergartners. They got to run for 30 minutes in the gym. I volunteered to help and so I kept tally for the kids with disabilities who were running at the same time as Natalie's class. One girl is blind and is such a sweetie. (I volunteered in the disabled class and worked with her on shape recognition earlier in the year.) The other 3 boys had other disabilities and they all did great. Natalie managed to run around the gym 32 times in 30 minutes. It was fun to see all the kids start off so fast, like they just couldn't contain themselves. Then there came a point where they were all walking and stopping for water. I guess the school record was set yesterday by an older boy who ran 110 laps in an hour. I wonder if anyone pledged to donate per lap on his pledge sheet! That can really add up. I think there is still time to donate on Natalie's pledge sheet if anyone is interested.

I did a bit of running myself. Yesterday at the gym I "ran" for 45 minutes on the elliptical. I averaged a 12 minute mile. Back in the day I used to run 2 miles in that time (13 minutes). I also remember a time when I ran the quarter mile in just under a minute. Seems like yesterday, but man...it was at least 17 or 18 years ago. Is that possible?

Disney Dilema

Today I was researching some of the menus for the restaurants we have reservations for. The one that has me concerned is the Blue Bayou. It's always been too expensive, but when Dan gave me the green light to make the reservation, I was excited to finally get to eat there. Come to find out there are a lot of bad reviews for the Blue Bayou. I was a little surprised since this is a place I had always wanted to try, but the two times we've been to Disneyland it has been hard to get in to.

Anyway I posted a poll on my favorite message board and here are the results:

You can click on the "poll" and it will link you to the actual poll. Here is a negative review that has me worried. I don't want to spend all that hard earned money and be disappointed. Here is another one. You may have to scroll down a bit as there are interesting comments from other people further down on the page(s).

So what would you do? Comments welcome!

My Busy Day

My day started off at 3 in the morning when Natalie came in to let us know she wasn't feeling well. Shortly after I heard her throw up all over our floor. It took a few times, but she got it all out. Dan comforted her while I went down to the garage to get a bucket to put by her bed. When I got back up he was already mopping it up, so I helped Natalie back to bed and put a cold washcloth on her forehead and a large towel covering her pillow. I gathered all the yucky towels and our bed skirt that fell victim to the drive by puking and threw them in the washing machine. On my way upstairs I grabbed the fabreeze, but the only thing it did was made the room smell like fabreeze and vomit. It was difficult getting back to sleep with the lingering smell, but at least I knew I didn't have to get up to take Natalie to school.

Once I got going, my day started off kind of slow. I was trying to read up on all the online tips for Disneyland and it started to get overwhelming. Dan and I came up with a basic itinerary of the shows, parades and when we wanted our meals to be and we will play the rest by ear when we get there. It was highly recommended in almost everything I read to make reservations up to 60 days before your trip for certain restaurants. So, I made reservations at Ariel's Grotto for the "Princess Celebration" lunch and also dinner at the Blue Bayou (the one that you ride past in "Pirates of the Caribbean." I was surprised that there was only outdoor seating left (for the whole week) at Ariel's Grotto. Now I am hoping that we chose a day that will be sunny and warm.

Speaking of sunny and warm...how great was our weather today! I spent the second half of my day pressure washing the front porch, setting out the planters, weeding the front flower beds, using the leaf blower around the pool area and pulling euphorbia out from under the tree in front. It is my personal mission to get rid of as much euphorbia as I can. It's such an invasive plant.

As I was making dinner I remembered tomorrow is "twin day" at Natalie's school. She missed out on pajama day today, but I know she will be going to school tomorrow as she was playing outside all day. I got on the phone to finalize the twin outfit with her friend Madison. Then a while later Sarah's mom called and so we decided they would be triplets. I made these necklaces for them to wear tomorrow. It should be a fun day.

I wanted to give you an update on the ant situation...this morning, I came across ants in three different rooms and couldn't stand it any longer...what took me so long, I don't know! But I put a phone call in to the exterminator and they will be out next week to "deal with them." Here is some interesting information the man on the phone told me for those of you who have ant issues:
Odorous ants can have up to 100 queens per nest. Those queens can lay 250 eggs every 40 days. When you put traps out to kill them and the queen notices the missing workers, this signals her to lay more eggs. Now can you see why they are such a nuisance!!!

Yesterday was a much better day!

The other day, I kind of vented about a few things. Sorry to be so glum, but it was very helpful to just get it all out. Come to find out, quite a few of you emailed me and told me you were feeling the same way last week. It must be the weather.

Yesterday, Mr. Sunshine finally came out and it was so good to see again. Early in the day, Dan and I took the kids to see the Veggie Tales premiere for "Moe and the Big Exit" at the Hollywood Theatre. It was a fun movie and the kids loved it, of course. Afterwards, we drove over to the Trader Joe's just down the street for a quick shopping trip. I love that store. So many good foods to try. On our way home, Dan called his mom and arranged for the kids to visit while we went out to lunch at Newport Bay. It was completely spur of the moment and just what I needed. I ordered my favorite hazelnut crusted halibut with ginger-honey glaze. Yum, yum. My only complaint was I wanted more...it was so good. If you ever go to Newport Bay on the Willamette River, order the macadamia nut crusted halibut...it is unbelievable!

After lunch we went to Big Lots. I was looking for some small blank, spiral notebooks to make autograph books for our upcoming trip to Disneyland. I didn't find them there or at Michael's or the Dollar tree, so I think I will check my favorite scrapbook store when I go there in a week for double punch day. While I was searching, Dan perused the sporting goods store and saw the sleds were 20% off so we got one for next year.

Now it was off to the library to check out some books on Disneyland. They only had one on the shelf, so we had a few others put on hold. Dan also got some books on the Oregon Coast and Cancun...I smell a vacation brewing!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...Friday when I was at the gym working out on the elliptical, I plugged my headphones in to the little box thingy so I could hear the tv while I worked out. Well, only a few of the stations came in on my machine, so I had to choose between "Family Feud," some kind of fighter jet show on the History channel, "Leave it to Beaver" or static on VH1. I chose the Beaver. I remember watching the re-runs when I was a kid, so it was fun to watch...but I would have rather watched Rachel Ray which wasn't coming in for some reason. I mentioned this to Dan and on Saturday, he came home with this:
My very own iPod shuffle! What a guy! Now I can download all my favorite up-beat songs, clip it on to my jacket and workout to music. I can't wait to use it at the gym. This thing is so small...have you seen them? It measures about 1" by 1 1/2." As you can see, mine is pink!

Fabulous Food Friday

If you read my post (2 entries ago) titled "in a funk," I mentioned that I didn't really make anything that fabulous this week to include in my Fabulous Food Friday, but I figured I could always post a recipe even if I don't have any photos of it, right?

As I was talking to my sister-in-law Tami tonight about what we were going to plant in our garden, she mentioned she would like to plant leeks to make my leek soup recipe. (Actually, it's my mother in law's recipe and it's very good). I planted leeks at our house in Troutdale and they came back every year. I can't wait for this rain to stop so I can get the garden ready for planting. Since we moved last spring, we really didn't have a garden, so I am really looking forward to one this year.

Leek Soup
Saute until tender:
3 cups chopped leeks
1/2 cup chopped onions
1-2 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter

Add 1 quart chicken broth and simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove vegetables with a slotted spoon and puree in blender. Add back to broth and add 1 can evaporated milk, salt and pepper to taste. Heat through.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

All this week, Natalie and Zander have been celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday in school. On Thursday Zander's teacher made "Green Eggs and Ham" for their snack and they read the book too. Today, Natalie's class made "Cat in the Hat" hats and went to a special story time in the library featuring Dr. Seuss stories.

If you are interested, there are some fun activites in honor of "the Cat in the Hat" turning 50 at this website for kids.

In a funk

I'm having trouble getting out of a slump. I don't know if I'm depressed or just tired and uninspired lately, but I just can't seem to get motivated to do much this week. I have made it to the gym a couple times, but when I am there I'm just not in to it. I think maybe I need to get to bed earlier tonight. You know how it is when you are tired...everything seems to be such a drag. I was grocery shopping until 11 pm last night. (didn't get to go until 8:30 pm when Dan got home from working at the college.) We were out of baby wipes and a few other essential groceries. I had enough of a list that I made the 25 minute trek to Walmart instead of the 8 minute drive to Safeway. (I can't bear to shop at Safeway much as their prices are SO high.) Since this was the first time in about a week that I was "away" from the house (besides the gym and school drop offs) I sort of just meandered all over the store, mindlessly looking at things like the new garden stuff and make-up.

I haven't posted a Fabulous Food Friday yet because I haven't made anything of note this week. Last night, the kids ate spaghetti-o's...yeah, you heard me...from a can. Impressive, no?

I think I am just burnt out. Between Saturday and Sunday I did 7-8 loads of laundry, mopped and vacuumed the whole downstairs, cleaned a few toilets and cleaned up the kitchen. I have tried to keep it up, but do you think it looks clean now? NOPE! All my effort and you would never know it. On top of that, all my weight loss efforts are getting me nowhere and if I hear one more person say "maybe you're just gaining muscle weight," I think I will scream. Discouraged, yes! Tired, most definitely. Ready for a girls night...absolutely. I am losing my mind!

Countdown to Disneyland!

I was 18 when I went to Disneyland for the first time and even at that age it was magical. As I walked through the park, the attention to detail really captured my imagination. I kept thinking "when I have kids we are definitely going to vacation at Disneyland." I wanted to give my kids the Disney experience while they were young enough to still believe in fairytales and everything Disney has to offer young imaginations.

When Natalie was about 3, she got wind of this place called Disneyland and asked if we could go. I'm sure she was thinking we could just get in our car and drive there in a few hours. I told her that when she turned 6 we would make a special trip to Disneyland. Well, she just turned 6 and I am excited to say we have booked our flight for spring break.

So to all you out there who have traveled to Disneyland with your children, could you PLEASE, please, please post your advice and suggestions on how to best make this a successful and memorable trip for our family. We are also planning to go to Seaworld. Thank you so much!

Picture of the Day 02-27

Zander Y's Penguins

Right across the hall from Natalie's class is a big life-size chart showing the sizes of different penguins. Zander was so excited to stand as tall as the Emperor penguin.

and the winner is...

Okay, am I the only one left on the planet who doesn't know who won? As much as I love to watch movies and be entertained by Hollywood celebrities, it just drives me crazy...this whole notion of "let's celebrate how great we are, give ourselves little trophies and spend one week before talking about what we are wearing and one week after critiquing what everyone wore, said, or didn't say."
I mean come on people! Now, I am a celebrity junkie and admit I am intrigued by the lifestyles of the "rich and famous," but do we really need all the hoopla that surrounds all these "award" shows? It seems a bit much to me. Every year it seems to get worse. Even the mainstream media is focused more and more covering the all important who's wearing who in high end couture clothing, jewelry, shoes etc.

Can you imagine if I were interviewed about what I am wearing? It would go something like this:
Good evening Alyssa, I see you are dressed in a timeless black warm-up suit.
"Yes, I chose this ensemble because I wanted a clean look. By clean I mean, not loaded with kid goo. Also, they say black is slimming and plus it was on sale at Target...about 2 years ago. My jewelry? I am wearing a one-of-a-kind necklace hand made by the talented Zander with foam beads from the Orient (Oriental Trading that is!)" Sad but true, right?...all you moms out there, can you relate?

Another thing that is driving me crazy is all the play-by-play of the Anna Nicole Smith debacle. For heaven's sake, the poor woman is dead. And don't get me started on Britney...how many times do I have to turn on the news to hear about her shaving her head bald and going back to rehab for the third time in a week? Anyway, I'll get off my soap box. I need to get to bed anyway.

Oh, by the way, my husband just informed me that The Departed won...there now I can sleep!

Time for some spring cleaning

This weekend I have been in the mood to organize all those areas of my life that just seem to get cluttered. Last night I reorganized my pantry. After a recent trip to the grocery store, I realized there was too much clutter in the pantry to put away all the food. I feel so much better now that it's all organized again...thanks to my friend Shannon who hooked me up with all those Tupperware containers years ago.

Then today I finished organizing all the files in my computer so they are all sorted by category. Normally I don't have the patience to sit and sort through all my files, but after awhile it just gets too disorganized. Anyway, I felt like doing some mindless work and now it feels good to know where everything is. I think it has been a few years since I have really gone through and "put things away." Even though it's only a computer, it feels like a weight has been lifted... almost like cleaning a room in the house. As you see on the screen capture, I have all my files in order...hooray!

Tomorrow I think I will tackle organizing all the kids clothes. This is a big chore as I have to sort everything and weed out all the clothes the kids have out grown. I have several large bins of hand-me-downs that Hayden should fit into by now that I need to sort through...then I need to make up some boxes of out-grown clothes for consignment. I've also got a couple bins of clothes that used to fit me that I 'm hoping to be wearing again soon. Maybe I should sort those out too as I'm sure some of the styles are better off at Goodwill...Wish me luck.

Fabulous Food Friday

Grandma Swanson's Cottage Cheese Pancakes
I remember my grandma making these for us when we would visit them in Tacoma, WA. We would wake up to the smell of bacon, come down stairs and she would be making these "hotcakes" as she called them. One summer when my brother and I were staying with them I asked her for a few of my favorite recipes. I'm so glad I did...They are so yummy, I hope you like them too.

In a blender mix the following:

1 cup cottage cheese
6 large eggs
a pinch of salt
2/3 cup flour
1 tablespoon oil

Pour batter on a hot, greased grill or pan. Turn after you notice the pancakes start to look less wet on top. Serve with warm maple syrup.

Bethany House Newsletter

I am a little bit behind on my blogging because I have been busy doing a newsletter revision for Bethany House. For about 6 or 7 years now, I have been working with Bethany House, designing their newsletter. Finally after many, many revisions over the years, I think I have come up with a design that will be around for a while. For so long I just sort of threw it together using clip art and such, but this time I created everything from scratch in Illustrator so it would have a much more cohesive feel to it. I re-designed their very outdated logo too. Here it
is...the colored version anyway. The actual newsletter is printed 2 color. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge.

Dan created their website (although, now it too needs to be updated with the new look) you can see it as well as a selection of past newsletters at: www.bethanyhousenet.org

In case you are not familiar with Bethany House, they are a non-profit organization that provides a home and care for single young pregnant women in the Gresham area.