How can you not like Avacado?

David and I have a lot in common.  Sometimes it is a little bit scary how much we have become alike.  Sometimes we will be in the car, and see something and we will say the same thing at the same time.  But something I think we will never have in common is avocado.  I love avocado, and he detests it.  It is so sad, because there is nothing like a good avocado dip, or a lovely sandwich with fresh slices of avocado.   I tried to trick him the other day.  I saw Rachel Ray make a delicious burger with a avocado ranch like dressing.  I thought to myself David loves Ranch, maybe he won't even notice the avocado taste, and will ignore the beautiful light green color of the dressing.

Well no luck.  He ate it, but he looked so preoccupied with the dressing every step of the way lol.  It was such a good dressing.  It only had one avocado, with buttermilk, sour cream, and Tabasco sauce.  It was so good.  He even said it tasted good, but couldn't get over the fact that he knew avocado was in it :(  Oh, well I thought it was worth a try.  The meat in the burger was also so good.  Rachel Ray's recipe makes you cook your onions first, and then add yummy fresh thyme to it.  And it was a lot of fun picking all the spices the recipe called for from my garden.  The french fry recipe that it comes with is also sooooo good.  It is called twice backed french fries.  If you love fries you have to try it out. 

Sick Day

I am sooo sick.  Its the worst when you are sick, with little ones at home.  I just feel like a horrible mom.  All I want to do is curl up in bed, and be left alone.  But no, the day must go on.  That's okay I have seven more hours until David gets here.  I set up a little craft table for the kids, but all they want to do is lay with me in bed, watching movies.  I normally don't allow them to watch too much t.v but I think I am going to give in today : /

They keep trying to play games with me while laying in bed.  Making me feel even more guilty because I realize that they probably want to get out and play, but are stuck with me at home :(

Can you see Ariana's baby doll, she says she is sick just like me.

This is them watching t.v..  I think it's cute how Viggo lays on top of Ariana's back every once in while.  He tends to do this every time the barbie musketeers break into song. Kung Fu Panda is next so don't feel too bad for him :0)

Alergic to Watermelon?

This morning started off so well.....but it did not last.  We all got in the car and we heard Viggo start to get sick. He threw up all over.  I felt so bad.  My kids are such troupers. When they throw up they don't cry or scream they just look so confused as to why their little bodies are betraying them.  I thought at first that he may have gotten sick, because David had been sick this week.  But, he showed no symptoms.  He had no fever, diarrhea, and he didn't have those sad eyes he gets when he is not feeling too well.  That's when David said, "I think he is allergic to watermelon."  Then it dawned on me that the past few times he has had watermelon he has spit it up.  How did  I not realize it.  I guess I just thought maybe he was having a little too much.  But David was right he only had a few bites today. I have never heard of a watermelon allergy.  I am going to make an appt. with a pediatrician just in case.  But one for sure way that I know that he is not sick, is because his appetite has not gone away.  Just look at him and his ice cream.  So, glad he is not sick, but sad that he may be allergic to yummy watermelon :(

Homeade Ravioli Shells

In my quest to find a new day time talk show to replace Oprah, I ran into this wonderful recipe on t.v yesterday.  I think it was on the talk.  Anyways they had Chef Fabio Viviani on, and he made ravioli from scratch.  I was so excited, because he made it look so easy.  And guess what it was! And it is delicious!  Here it is if any of you have ever wanted to make pasta from scratch.

Fresh Ricotta Ravioli with Stewed Cherry Tomatoes

2 Cups of unbleached flour

3 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt

1 tbsp of olive oil

1 1/2 lbs of ricotta cheese ( Its about a 1/2 tbsp of ricotta per ravioli)

Cherry Tomatoes

Olive Oil

basil

In a food processor blend 2 Cups of unbleached flour, 3 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 tbsp of olive oil together until it forms a ball.  Take pasta dough and roll it out into thins sheets with a rolling pin. 

Cut ravioli out for the pasta sheet with a standard round cookie cutter.  Place approximately 1/2 tablespoons of ricotta per ravioli.  Moisten the perimeter with and water and fold ravioli into a half moon shape. Next place ravioli in boiling water until cooked and then drain. Will take 3-5 minutes.  You can tell because your ravioli will float to the top.

Cut Cherry tomatoes in half and sautee with fresh basil in olive oil.  Season the sauteed tomatoes with salt and pepper to your liking.  Toss together the stewed tomatoes with ravioli and then serve.  

David is sick today, so I don't think he will be having any. He is missing out on this one.  It is delicious!!! It's so easy that it makes you feel silly for ever having bought the frozen stuff.

Finally Some Good News

My brother yesterday was notified that he will be working for the Alpine Fire Department.  I am soooo proud of him.  I can't even explain how happy I am for him.  He is such an amazing brother.  And uncle too!!  This news is so exciting for us as siblings.  We have been going through a lot with my parents upcoming divorce.  You would think that because we are all much older that this would be easier, but for some reason it hasn't been.  But the plus has been that as close as we were before, we are much tighter now.  And for that I am grateful because they mean the world to me.  This news has made it feel like good things are coming our way.  Congratulations Josh!! I can't wait to hear about your first day on the job :0)

Oh my goodness, Viggo already adores you.  I can't wait for him to get to the stage when all he wants to do is talk about his uncle who is a fire fighter.

Miss Us Yet?

The kids and I are taking off to San Diego this weekend.  David won't be able to come down with us this time around.  I know that he says he is going to miss us, but I am sure part him a very "tiny part" of him must be excited about getting some alone time.  Having a couple of days off from playing Choo Choo Thomas with the kids,  and having the kids stuck to him as soon as he walks in the door, must be exciting.  In case you do miss us, I made this little collage so you can remember why you may like a little bit of alone time. We will be back soon with all this and more.  Love you!

I know that is a horrible picture of me.....but I haven't taken many pictures lately and I had this one from the other day that David came home for lunch.  Yup sweaty gym clothes, dirty gym hair, and me being silly make for one awesome picture of me : /  Maybe instead of making a collage I should have just posted that one in full size to keep him from missing us too much lol.

Soccer

David and I registered for a soccer league together.  It has been so fun playing again.  David and I are in a competition to see who can score the most goals in a season.  I don't know what the reward is, other than that we can trash talk on the field to each other.  I know we are such nerds.  Its been fun, but also a little disconcerting.  Things are just not the same, as when I was 15 even 18.  I still run, and work out, but its just not the same. I would like to blame it on the having babies, but I have seen too many women on Oprah now that have had twice as many kids as I have and are like at the top of their game.  So thank you Oprah for taking that excuse away from me.  Could it be because I am getting older?  Crazy!! Oh well back to my competition.  

David played forward in high school, and was amazing.  And to be honest if he were in better running condition this competition would just be silly.  I played outside mid, and I was just average.  I was not the stand out player, but I was fast.  I feel like as I have gotten older I play so much better.  I think its because I am not so paranoid, about not being good.  I am just playing because it is so fun.  I wish I had learned that earlier in life.  So here is hoping I get one in tonight, preferably two so I can get ahead.  David is ahead by one because I missed last weeks game.  This face is deceiving.  So kind and handsome, but underneath he is wanting to sink me in this competition we created.  Not tonight David I am making a comeback.  Get ready!!

Aren't his eyes beautiful, and I love his soft freckles!!! I always wanted freckles as little girl, and braces and glasses.  I know everything people usually don't want.  I would take the opener to soda cans and put it on the front of my teeth and pretend that they were braces. After hearing about how much David hated his braces I am glad I did not have to have any, but I would have loved to have had freckles like him and Nana.  They are just so sweet. 

Mother's Day

Mother's Day, what can I say it was perfect.  But to tell you the truth my husband is so amazing that him preparing dinner and desert, is not something out of the ordinary.  He may not have the most intricate recipes or presentation skills, but he is more than willing to make dinner once and a while.  He is not what I would consider to be the most romantic. But then again I blame the movie industry for this.  I am realizing that a guy standing outside my bedroom window with a boom box, should not be the standard by which I measure David's romantic abilities lol.  He is so thoughtful and considerate, and it has been so wrong of me to have labeled him as unromantic. He loves me too much to have ever gotten this label from me.  

Sunday I woke up, and he and the kids had got breakfast ready for me.  Which was a sliced grape fruit.  (We have 9am church, there is really no time to make a supper yummy breakfast.)  But he knows I love fruit.  I could eat it all day.  So the grapefruit was perfect.  When we got back from church he made me a yummy fruit salad, and then he prepared a yummy chicken Cesar salad.  On hot days, there is nothing better than eating a salad.  He actually flavored the chicken so well! And then for desert he and the kids got angle cake, and added strawberries with vanilla ice cream.  Every part of the meal was catered for me.  I love that he and the kids know everything that I love.  It makes me feel so special.  I think that's one of the very cool parts of marriage and family.  You are surrounded by so much love, and then on top of that you have people caring enough to remember all the little things about you.   

Ariana and Viggo had drawn pictures for me.  I love that at the age of two Viggo, can just sit there forever doodling on a paper, till it is all filled up. Ariana's drawing has gotten so good.  Her little people look like people.  I love that she draws all of us, with little hearts above our heads.  It melts my heart. I really think that they are going to be artistic just like their dad.  I hope I don't sound like I am one of those people who tries to portray to people that my life is perfect.  Because, it is not.  Having a healthy marriage, family, and a home takes a lot of time and effort, and patience. But this is my mothers day post.  And I can't help but to boast about how lucky I am to have these three in my life.    When I reflect on how much I love being a mom, all the crazy, frustrating times just seem to disappear, and my thoughts and memories can only reflect on the good.  I hope my kids will one day feel the same about me.  Because, I am sure as a mom I am bound to make mistakes, but I hope the good I do will always outweigh the crazy lol.  I love you Viggo, Ariana, and David.  And thank you for making me feel so loved.  Its the best feeling in the world :0)

Skidmore Open House

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Skidmore. You make such a lovely couple :0)

Kid Olympics

Last Saturday the primary hosted an activity where they got to do Olympic like events.  It was a supper cute activity. Viggo did not participate, he just hung out with me.  As much as I would have loved to have seen him participate, part of me loves that he just wants to be with me.  I know that time will not last too long.  So, I don't mind that he is as my husband says " a momma's boy." 

Ariana was sooooo cute.  I wish I had pictures when we where at the activity, but I don't even bother to take my camera lately when its just me with the kids.  One reason is that its difficult to take a shot when Viggo is wanting to be in my arms, and second I feel like I get so busy taking shots, that it feels like I missed out on really getting to participate with them.

Ariana played soccer, long jump, obstacle course, and tug of war.  She looked so happy.  But, her favorite part was receiving the medal in the end.  She is so my daughter.  She kept asking me after every event who had won.  I told her that everyone got to win in the end, and that we are just here to have fun.  But, I couldn't help it and added, "but still try and do your best".  Sometimes its so hard to know how to instill the competitive spirit, without making it everything.  I want her to not care and just have fun, but I also don't want to teach her that its not important to try and do your very best.  I guess I will learn as I go along.  At the end when everyone got their medals, Ariana told me " I like that everyone got beautiful treasures, and I am so tired mom because I did really good."  She is the sweetest most caring little girl.  She is always making sure that everyone feels welcomed.  She is outgoing and so social. I don't know where that came from, because I am always rather shy at first.  Don't get me wrong she also has her stubborn side as well, yup that's from me.  And, she is so competitive but mostly with herself.  She is always striving to do better.  I know this seems funny to say, but you can tell a lot about your kids even when they are this young.  Her little spirit is a fighter.  She does not give up.  I love that about her.  I really hope this attribute will carry on with her as she keeps growing older.

David asked me to put Messi's number on Viggo's shirt, and he gave Ariana the number nine, because he said the best strikers always wear nine.

D7000

I love my new Nikon D7000!!!! I can't believe how much I love it.  The color, the sharpness, how easy it is to access everything.  Most of all I love the high ISO on it. I was feeling so limited by my D40x in dark situations.  I had a good lens, and flash, but I needed a higher ISO than 1600 to get less noise when I was shooting at outdoor night events.  I can't wait to use it on a wedding that I am shooting this weekend. I am a very happy girl. Thank you David!! Best mother's day gift ever!!!

Bike Riding

 

Trying to take advantage of the spring nights, before we get hit by the summer weather.  That means hot mornings, hot afternoons, and hot evenings, for about 4-5 months.  I will admit that it is fun going swimming at night, and getting out and not being cold.  You have to look at the positives right?  :0)