By request...

Linnea asked me to post this funny picture she took of Micah. Funny!

Reading

Gavin is reading!
He has been for quite some time now but yesterday he got an award for his reading at school.
He was bubbling over with excitement when I picked him up from the bus stop. He said, "Mommy, today was a special day for me!" He wouldn't tell me why though until we got home, although he could hardly contain himself. When we got home he made me close my eyes until he pulled out his reading award and then told me to open my eyes to see it. Yay! I'm so proud of Gavin and am so excited for his reading development! I LOVE to read and Jacen and Linnea love to read and so now Gavin can join in the fun.

Gavin is reading a little book to baby Micah. So sweet! I love reading with my children and I love the excitement they feel when they learn to read all by themselves! I feel like it is one of the most rewarding experiences of being a mother. I find almost nothing as great as diving into a good book--especially reading a good book with my children. Right now we're reading Chronicles of Narnia Volume 1.

100

100th day of School

The kids were asked to bring one hundred items.
Gavin brought 100 crayons. (His class really needed new crayons so they will be donated to the class after the 100th day activities.)

This is how good

So I made the chocolate mint cookies for an after school snack and this is Gavin's face.
This is how good they are.
You too could look like this. (:

Too good

These chocolate chip Mint Cookies are really too good.

They aren't helping my goal of losing 10 lbs. either.
So, if I'm going to enjoy them and be a little plumper for it, I might as well share that joy with you.

One of my Achievement Girls made one of these for me and then gave me the recipe.
Enjoy!

3/4 c. butter, soft
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 t. peppermint extract
1 1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
Cream wet ingredients and then add dry and mix until blended.
Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet and bake about 12 minutes.
They will be pretty soft but will set as they cool.

A Break Between Storms...

Asilimar Beach
We've had several storms pass through our way.
We love the rain.
But since today was sunny, we thought we'd better be out in it.
We enjoyed a time at the beach with our friends, the Heywoods.
Gavin loves body boarding!

Micah was VERY interested in the sand! We walk along the beach and ocean several times a week but we hadn't been there to play since like October. This was the first time Micah has really played on the sand. He was amazed and tasted it a little.

I can't believe how grown up my little girl is getting! Doesn't she look like a pretty young lady?!

Sasha and Linnea

Cute Trouble

Lookeee here. I found something fun!
This is just right for me to play in and sprinkle on the floor.
(notice the drool caught in mid-air!)

Oooh, Mom is looking. I really want to play in this dirt, but should I?

But, Mom, this is so much fun!
(notice all the dirt on the floor. thank goodness for vacuums)

Pancakes

Best Buttermilk Pancakes

These are delicious! Light and fluffy and buttermilky (I know it's not a word but descriptive nevertheless) and about as easy as any mix. Plus you don't have to worry about chemicals and additives in your pancakes.

2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
3 T. sugar
2 large eggs
3 c. buttermilk
4 T. butter, melted

heat griddle to 375 degrees
whisk dry ingredients.
Mix egg and buttermilk really really well.
Add wet ingredients to dry but DON'T overmix--it should have some lumps.

Isn't this such a cute pancake mold? I previously had hearts and butterflies and flowers but those are not super boy appropriate. Well, I was shopping with Gavin and Micah at Williams-Sonoma and saw these super cute jungle animals. We had to get them.

Oh, and am I the only mom who occasionally makes pancakes for dinner when I don't know what else to make? And my kids actually eat their dinner.

Albondigas

Per requests, I am posting Albert's family recipe for Albondigas soup.

Meatball Ingredients:
1 lb. gr. meat (use very lean)
1/2 c. cooked rice
2 eggs
1/2 can tomato sauce
1/4 onion
3-4 pieces of garlic
chopped fresh mint (I like to use a lot)
blend 1/4 onion and 1/2 can of tomato sauce and garlic in the blender then add to meat mixture.

Soup Ingredients:
2 carrots
2 zucchini
1/4 t. cumin
1/2 can tomato sauce
1/4 onion
salt to taste
water (can use part chicken broth)
1 T. olive oil

Form Meatballs.
Boil water (I just fill up my medium to large size pot about 3/4 full. Add vegetables and begin to simmer. When it is at a very light boil, add meatballs while keeping the water simmering. While that is cooking, in a pan, put 1 T. olive oil. Add chopped onion and saute. Then add 1/2 can tomato sauce. Cook 2 minutes then add to soup with the cumin. Cook until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are soft.

The french bread that I made to go with it I posted on Star's Food Blog, if you want it the blog address is:
http://finemealwoman.blogspot.com/

I guess the while girl that marries the Mexican makes french bread to go with Albondigas. Albert's sister and mother probably make tortillas.
I do make tortillas, but not to go with soup.
The tortilla recipe is another post.

Lookee here

Pulling himself up to stand! His new trick! Look how proud he is--his face says it all!

Visiting Zuniga Family in Coalinga

We visited in Coalinga for New Years and saw a lot of family. Most of Albert's family had never seen Micah yet so it was fun to share him with them. It was great seeing them.Lauren and Jada (both 5 yrs.) and Micah

Emily--doesn't she look like a perfect, proper girl?

Jada and Micah

Glen (Yolanda's husband), Emily and Micah

Micah and Yolanda (Albert's sister)

Lauren and Micah and Yolanda

Treasure Hunting

So very exciting! Tide pooling is like treasure hunting!!

Micah and I are loving to just watch the life in the tide pool.

Wow! Linnea's hair and sweater are coordinating with this sea star.

Look at this lucky find! Gold in the sea!

Gavin got so wet--but it was worth it!

Gavin holding ever so still waiting for the crab to come out. And it did.

We loved the design on this big rock down by the tide pools. We live in such a beautiful world!

Lots of colorful shells and little animals inside.

Look at this tiny sea star!

Gavin found this. It's cool how the hermit crabs all lined up along this piece of seaweed.

A pretty little shell Gavin found. I also love all the colorful rocks around it.

Along the seashore trail.

It's hard to see but we like the pattern in the sand.

I'm not sure what this is. I was holding Micah and couldn't get very close. Gavin took the picture.

Spoon-lickin' good!

Albert will have something to say about me posting this picture.

When we went to Coalinga for New Years, my parents and our family went to Hanford to our favorite old fashioned ice cream parlor. We always think about Grama and how she would always want to make the 2 hour round trip just to go to this ice cream parlor. It is good!

If this is the only picture I can get of Jace, so be it.

The eyes have it.

Linnea

Grama and Linnea peeking in

Don't tell anyone! I didn't even want to post this picture because I'm so ashamed!
Micah was so intensely watching me eat my ice cream trying to get some, I didn't have the heart to deny him and gave him a bite.

Poor Poor Baby

Baby Micah is ill.
Today I will be wiping noses, nursing a lot and consoling.
Poor, poor baby.

It doesn't seem quite fair for a little baby to get sick.
They are so little and can do little to help their self.
Last night I was propped sitting up most of the night with sweet little Micah on my chest, hoping he could sleep more easily that way. He did. Hopefully he will be better soon but he's always so very sweet, sick or not.

Calling All With a Weight Loss Resolution

Most of us have at some point a New Years Resolution to lose weight. I usually do. Even when I was a size 2 I was still trying to get into better shape. Part of this is to be healthy and part of this is my vanity. If you fall into this category, check out the post on my side bar by Cardigan Empire. I love how she writes and encourages us to work toward our goals but also be happy with ourselves.

random pics