Dragon's offering


Dragon at rest





Coming out to play

First cache of the year

We have been out of commission for seven long months after my sister's dog ate our GPS unit. For Christmas, Fred bought me a GPS unit! I finally got to pop it's cherry this weekend with an easy to find cache

Catching a ride. Poor Bodhi fell off a few times. I don't this so much as it was a bumpy ride as it was a human catalyst.

You want me to climb, where?

Just kidding...but I almost did. I took a good look around to find something to help me spring over the fence, when something caught my eye.

What's in the box?

Some treasures in there was a tiny dinosaur, a necklace, a one dollar coin, a bolt, a paddle ball, and some other various objects. The kids had fun sorting through what they wanted.
And we sent Senor Frog along his way. He took a long respite with the kids, but he is happy to be hop to his next destination. Follow his travels.

Happy Birthday Noella

Today Noella would have been 29. Noella had a beautiful spirit. She was a wonderful friend. And I miss her.

Just sharing

what I'm listening to right now. I love Cat Power!

Desmina's first dance class

Puppy naps

Good for the soul soup

I made this up tonight and we had it with homemade whole wheat bread.
Good for the soul broccoli soup
2 broccoli crowns
2 carrots
one leek
1 T ginger
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
1 c barley
1 c cooked white beans
water
3 c soymilk
2 T margarine
6 T flour
fave spices

Dice the vegetables in small pieces and sautee. Add beans and barley. Add enough water to cover the mix with a bit left over because barley will expand. Bring to a boil and then simmer.

In a bowl add flour and 2 cups soymilk and mix until well blended. Melt margarine in a sauce pan then add the soymilk/flour mix. It will thicken into a roux. Add one c of soymilk. Then add this to the soup that is still simmering.

Spice it up baby!

A breakfast fail=a great lunch

I attempted to make waffles this morning. I made up my own recipe using whole wheat flour, regular flour, flax seed, soy milk, baking powder, maple syrup and a pinch of salt. The batter tasted awesome! Unfortunately, the waffle maker came unplugged somewhere in the process, unbeknownst to me. I mistakenly thought that when the light comes on that means the waffle is ready. So here I am waiting...waiting...WAITING for that damn light to turn on. After changing a poopy diaper, rinsing it off, washing my hands and some more waiting I realize that light probably isn't going to turn on. This is when I make the discovery that the damn thing came unplugged. So now I just have a sticky mess to clean. Grrrr. I just turn it on to cook the rest of the waffle so that it will be easier to clean. I forget about it in a few minutes and come back to a slightly burnt waffle but it's easy to clean. By this point breakfast should be well done and over so I just put the rest of the batter away for tomorrow. Score one for breakfast tomorrow!

Kids LOVE the burnt waffle. They are fighting over it. Well at least I know that it will be a success for tomorrow.

Today on the menu for lunch is wraps, which is made with tortillas. We don't own a microwave by choice and I'm too lazy to steam them. The waffle machine is still out and so I just plug it in and warm a tortilla. Wait a second...this will make an awesome quesadilla. So I experiment with what I have on hand (mushrooms, broccoli, and beans). Yet another score for an awesome lunch!

My wordle

Composed from the first page of my blog

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2009!!!!

May your year be filled with wonder

and curiosity.

Have somebody to hold your hand through the worst and best of times.




I hope your year is filled with love

family (That's Aunt Jenny!),



and life!




Enjoy yourselves! Don't forget to cry, to laugh (at yourselves), to love.


I hope 2009 is filled with surprises.
Keep your eyes open.



Who did you kiss for the New Year?


Happy New Year!!!!

Roscoe vs the Vacuum

As soon as I get it out, he starts barking at it. It can just be sitting there and he will bark.

Let's turn it on now.

Have a Green Christmas

We are always striving to be greener. Instead of wrapping presents, we bought second hand pillow cases. Everyone got their own sack. The kids didn't seem to notice they were missing something to unwrap. If you plan it better next year, we may get fabric and ribbons to wrap. It will look prettier and more festive.



This year Santa was green too. He bought The Lorax which was printed on recycled paper.




I read it to Desmina today before her nap. She interrupted to say, "Excuse me, mommy. When you drive in the car the gas causes smog too." I was taken aback; sometimes I forget how perspective kids can be.

Random pictures from last night and today:



Getting along

Santa came! Every year he brings a holiday themed musical figurine.

With their cousin and Oma



May your Christmas be filled with love

Presents

This year is all about home made gifts. I am not as crafty as my sister-in-law, Heather, but I hope everyone enjoys their gifts anyway. I tried to put something together that touches the hearts. I never really paid attention much to TV ads, but this year a Target commercial caught my eye.

Picture a school play filled with sweet children. It's a holiday pageant. Instead of the holiday spirit the children are touting electronic equipment, toys, and mass consumerism. I was disgusted.

I understand that this is a wonderful time of the year. I get weepy eyed listening to the radio and the giveaways that the stations do for their listeners. Every one is nicer to each other. Giving presents is much more fun than receiving then. I just wanted no part in the consumerism.

The Target commercial inspired me to live life more simply than I have been. I always do try to aim for that, but sometimes I need a little reminder. So to me it meant less trips to Target and more trips to the thrift and craft stores. I am glad I did! I wouldn't have found the awesome fire truck bed.

This year Desmina is getting old enough to get more involved during the holidays. Last night we did the potluck for Winter Solstice.




Tuyen, Moe, Heather and Jenny if you're reading this stop! Unless you want your presents from the kids to be spoiled.


























Tonight we made ornaments for Christmas presents.

Mess free!
Buy a tray, put the paints in. Put a ball in. Have the kids hold on the tray and try to get the ball to one another.

Well maybe not completely mess free. It got on their shirts, so I had them take it off.

Oh and according to Desmina, it's more fun if you sing a song about rolling the ball.

The finished products:

Happy Sun-day!

To celebrate Winter Solstice, we had a potluck with sun themed food.


After reading The Shortest Day the kids decorated sun catchers to celebrate the sun's return. They all had a wonderful time.

The flames represent the light from the sun.

I don't even think I announced that it was time for cupcakes, but kids have a sixth sense for this, you know.

Happy Winter Solstice

Today is the shortest day. Let's celebrate the return of the sun to Earth.

Yell Fire!

Bodhi to the rescue!

I love good deals! We found this beauty at our local thrift store.

Bodhi slept in it last night and the night before. He went to bed without nursing, which is a big step for us! Yay Bodhi! I am proud to say that we have done this without CIO.


Roscoe loves the bed too. Last night he snuggled with Bodhi. When Bodhi climbed in bed with us after waking up, poor Roscoe searched the house for him. He wouldn't rest until he found Bodhi. After he found him he watched over him until he was sure Bodhi was safe and laid back down.

The kids moved out

It's amazing how much fun kids can have with just a cardboard box.