Girl Time at My House

The boys in my house decided on a camping trip (which I politely declined on attending. After all, it is hard travelling with a baby =)) and I couldn't wait for my girl time. By that I mean hanging in my quiet house with just Juliet. I dreamed of all the sewing, scrapbooking and chick flicks (this is after I clean the house thoroughly and enjoy that it actually stays that way) that I am incredibly behind on. Well, the day they left, I woke up with yet another case of mastitis (my 6th recurrence, I believe) and so that put a damper in my plans a bit. I did watch three movies (Confessions of a Shopaholic, Revolutionary Road and He's Just Not That Into You) and make cards for a card swap. Oh, and lots of shopping. Even though I wasn't feeling great, it was amazing down time and by the end of three days, I really missed my boys.

Here's what Juliet is looking like:
And here's what my kitchen table looks like during paper crafting time:

This is the card I came up with for the card swap. I have to hand over 25 of these bad boys by tomorrow and I'm hoping I can finish them all!

On a different note, I have managed to attend a couple of girls' nights lately (Juliet didn't attend one and I paid for it dearly with a breast infection - I don't think I will be able to leave her home until she is one!!). It's so nice to catch up with friends again - I feel life has been just crazy since December!

Also, I am trying to save for a serger, so I thought I would post one of my camera lenses on craigslist. Wow, the response!! People were throwing virtual elbows to buy that bad boy. Now I have to figure out what else I can sell.

Somtimes I CAN bake good things...

Many years ago (this is pre-kids - when Colin and I actually travelled still), Colin and I visited New York City again (we lived in Queens for a few years right after we got married) and I had the single best cheesecake experience of my life. I'll admit it, I didn't understand all the craze about cheesecake until that moment. In that small, dimly lit restaurant, I ordered a plain New York cheesecake slice. It was smooth, perfectly cream cheese-y and I began to weep a bit. Ok, that last part isn't true. But, I joined the millions of people that understand the wonderfulness of cheesecake. Fast forward to a few months ago, when I found a recipe in my Food Network magazine of their version of the Cheesecake Factory's Pumpkin Cheesecake. It's supposed to be pretty identical to the much coveted but very secretive recipe. I tried it yesterday and it actually turned out! It was for my dad's birthday and here's what it looked like:

Mmmm. I could actually have just the crust itself and be pretty happy.

Here's a link to the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/almost-famous-pumpkin-cheesecake-recipe2/index.html

Eat Your Veggies, Kids!!

So, our garden has done amazing this year, thanks to my husband and brother's hard work. And I'm not mad about having fresh (and free!) organic veggies for dinner every night. Here's what the garden looked like in April: And here it is now:

Can you believe how big the squash is?! It scares me a wee bit. I think maybe it will attack me in my sleep one night. Just kidding. But I do look forward to many batches of double chocolate zucchini bread this summer. Any takers?

I've been sauteing beet greens and spinach in garlic and olive oil about every other night. I've convinced my kids that if they eat them, they will have big muscles like Papa. They are buying it so far.

Thanks, Michelle!! We LOVE the Exersaucer...

My sweet friend Michelle gave us her Exersaucer and my kids love it! ALL of them. Ok, so Juliet only likes it when someone is sitting right in front of her talking. She also loves to admire herself in the mirror.

The boys play with her every morning - so sweet.

She loves looking at the boys' faces!

Seriously, Samuel?! How does he even fit in there?

Bon Appetit? I Have a Bone To Pick With You.

Ok, right about now I am wondering why I attempt recipes out of gourmet magazines. Maybe I'm a bit masochistic. Maybe I like the feeling of defeat. Nonetheless, I found this beautiful No-Bake Raspberry Cream Pie recipe in this month's Bon Appetit and couldn't resist, especially because I had an occasion to make something special - my brother, Joel's, birthday. Here's what Bon Appetit's looked like: And here's what mine looked like:

Really? I could have, and should have, served it with a straw. There was no thickening agent or substance to this recipe, so it oozed everywhere.

Hmm. The redeeming quality of this recipe? It seems to have a good crust - I may keep the crust recipe.

At any rate, my brother seemed ok celebrating his 32nd birthday with this pie. And that's all that matters, right?

Bath Time Is Funny

Oh to be a kid again. To have no inhibitions. I ran to get the kids towels and came back to this - two bare bottoms. I will use this picture as blackmail someday:

"Look at our letters, Mama!"

Random Pics From This Week

Sometimes I have to get the kids out on a walk when I'm alone with them for long stretches of time. It's usually when I start to feel crazy from listening to them fight for hours on end. Samuel chose to ride his bike.

Juliet slept most of the time in the stroller. Except for when I pulled out the camera.

And Jude chose to ride instead of walk.

Here's Colin giving Juliet her daily bottle. She watched TV.

I heard Jude say from the other room "I eat Sissy's bubbles!" I could only assume those were the spit bubbles she's been blowing lately - sure enough.

You can actually see the string of saliva in this one. Gross.

He also played peek a boo.

I had another excuse to make this carrot cake and I let the boys have a smidge of the frosting from the beaters. Remember what a treat that was when you were a kid? It's so amazing to see their little faces light up over something so small as frosting. Come to think of it, my face still lights up over frosting. I guess it's not just a kid thing!

This is Jude's crazy sugared- up face. Scary.

I tried it.

Cloth diapering. I love it and I hate it. But do you see the picture above? It spells trouble when there is baby butt crack on an exclusively breastfed baby. I did cloth diapering for one day and I was completely overwhelmed. I can hardly keep up on laundry as it is!!

If anyone out there has suggestions on how to make it a manageable task, pass it my way.

Kate's Visit

Kate came to visit from Pittsburgh last weekend - it seems that even though we've been apart for a few years, we just picked up where we left off. That's a real sign of a long lasting friendship. If you didn't know, Kate and I met in 7th grade and even rode the bus together. Here's some pics from her visit: The boys played while Kate put on makeup - here they are telling secrets.

Jude "shooting", as usual.

Samuel showing me his muscles, as usual.

My boys have an odd fascination with makeup time - that and they don't like adults to ever be alone.

I like watching people put makeup on.

Karli and Emma.

The night I took this picture, Karli, Katie and I talked until 1 a.m., and it was so wonderful! I can't remember the last time I let myself indulge in some quality girl time into the wee hours of the morning.

I miss you already, Kate!

This website is dangerous.

I stumbled upon this website looking for Amy Butler fabric. I found it. Along with all the other eye candy they sell - it carries bright, vivid, funky fabrics. I returned to this website because I just had to buy turquoise fabric for a fellow church goer that needs a nursing cover. They also have a wonderful selection of sale fabrics. The shipping is only $4.99.

Have I mentioned my entrepreneurial idea? I'm thinking of making scrubs (cute ones made of fun fabrics) and selling them online to medical personnel that are tired of wearing plain blue. Apparently I need a serger, though - which cost hundreds of dollars. I'll be searching Craigslist for a good, used serger.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

Sometimes I like to dump the kids on our bed and run for the coffee, leaving Colin sleepy and helpless.

And other times I like to take pictures of Juliet in her sweet sunhat.