Making Our Way

We had an afternoon shower yesterday, and I heard Camden yelling to me that there was a rainbow in the sky. I think it was the brightest rainbow I've ever seen, and it was actually a double rainbow ~ if you look up above the bright one, you can just see the second one. Just as soon as they appeared, they were gone, but not before I snapped a few pictures.

We've been busy the past week, fighting off a nasty cold. Luckily, the little boys haven't gotten it too badly, but Steve has had it the worst. I was sick most of the weekend, but I think I am finally on the mend. I can't stand feeling like I just want to lay around all day - - it makes me nutty. So, I am happy to be back into my regular routine for the most part.

Steve is away for the next couple of weeks at a "simulated war exercise" ~ he's here in Idaho but is staying on base since he is working some really crazy hours during this. He called yesterday morning to say he thought he'd have a bit of free time later that day, so I got busy whipping up a bunch of food for him, picked Camden up at school, and we headed to Boise for a quick visit.

Here are my boys, playing "fort" under the conference table in Steve's office. Despite being tired, preoccupied, and stressed out, Steve didn't hesitate to humor his boys. He's good like that.

I made a carrot tea cake for our dessert ~ you can find the recipe in the most recent issue of Everyday Food Magazine. It produced a moist, spicy, delicious cake, and the recipe is definitely a keeper.

After lunch was finished, it was time for Steve to head back to work, and for the three of us to head back home.

I have Story Time this morning, so Griffin and I need to get this show on the road and get on over to the library.

A Little Romance

Steve was out of town on Valentine's Day (more on that, later) so I decided to banish the children to the family room this evening, and fix my sweetheart a fancy dinner. Needless to say, the boys were super excited to have their dinner on t.v. trays, while watching "Go Diego, Go!". I cannot begin to tell you how fabulous it was to sit and enjoy a nice meal, without having to stop once to say, "Mind your manners!" or "Eat your dinner!" After a few minutes of this pure bliss, Steve and I wondered aloud, why we haven't been doing this more often. I do believe we have had dinner like this once before, and enjoyed it just as much. So, our goal now is to have an "adults only" dinner once per week. Gives us some quality time together since we rarely (if ever) get out, we're not spending money going out to eat, and it gives me an excuse to try new recipes.

Tonight, I made a simple salad of organic greens, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and crispy-warm goat cheese rounds...delish.

For the main course, I made a Caprese Flat Pie, compliments of Katie Lee Joel. The recipe can be found here, as well as a great little video of how it is made. Katie is the wife of Billy Joel, and you may have heard of her cookbook, called The Comfort Table. I can't wait to add her book to my collection - - I think she is just wonderful. The Caprese Flat Pie looks pretty fancy, but it couldn't be any more simple. The ingredients: puff pastry, pesto, fresh mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, and some egg wash. I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never cooked with puff pastry before, but now that I have, I can't wait to use it again. Here's the finished product:

It was really tasty, and I'm already imagining a bunch of other combinations. For dessert - - some pink champagne, and a couple of squares of Lindt (hi Kirsten!) chocolate. Perfect.

After we put the boys to bed, we were discussing dinner and how much we enjoyed it, at which point Steve remarked, "It was kind of surreal!" That tells you a little bit about how often we get out (ahem...never), which is kind of sad, really. We don't have many child care options, and I don't know about you, but we aren't too crazy about spending money frivolously these days. The truth is, this is just another one of those choices we can make for ourselves...we don't need to hire a babysitter and blow a bunch of money out on the town...we can easily have a lovely evening together in the comfort of our own home and not spend a dime. I already can't wait to do this again next week!

A Boy and His Lunch Box

Meet Griffin's current obsession: a vintage Tupperware lunch box. I have always wanted a lunch box like this, and one day, I found one for a steal on Etsy. Unfortunately, I failed to read the fine print, so imagine my surprise when my coveted package arrived, and inside was the teeny-tiny toy version of my beloved plastic-ware. So, Griffin inherited it. Currently, he likes to sleep with it. He likes to have all of his meals (and snacks) served in it. It goes on car rides with us. It goes to the library. Alas, my boy is in love.

As for me, I'm still on the lookout for one (adult-sized, mind you) for myself. They seem to be a hot commodity, I tell you. I like a good challenge though, so I intend to keep on searching.

Lots of Love

Heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes

Valentines Day party loot

A plateful of cookies, to deliver to friends

Flowers from my love, along with a love note (yes, written on an index card)
that I will treasure forever

A plateful of these delectable beauties, from Auntie Kasey and Banzer

At long last, Camden gets to eat his cookie

Addicted

You may have noticed that my blog is a little lacking these days. The funny thing is, I have lots to write about, tons of pictures waiting to be posted, and yummy recipes to share.

The problem: Facebook. There. I said it.

I got a Facebook account a few months ago, and looked at it every now and then. However, it has recently escalated into addictive proportions. First, there were all the long-lost (and not so long-lost) high school friends to reconnect with. Then, a smattering of college friends. Then, old friends from my previous life in Belfast. Kids (who aren't kids anymore) that I use to nanny. I could go on and on. I can't explain the phenomenon of Facebook. All I can say is that it is really, really fun. My problem is that when I have a few moments during the day when I would normally sit and write a blog post, I "check" Facebook, and then 20 minutes later, someone wants a snack or there's a bickering match to break up, and my computer time is up.

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so maybe now I can get a grip. We shall see...

Homemade Marshmallows

Here's something I've been wanting to try for quite a while now...homemade marshmallows. Really, they are much easier to make than you might think. The recipe comes from the great Ina Garten (also known as the Barefoot Contessa), and is in the Barefoot Contessa: Family Style cookbook:

Barefoot Contessa's Marshmallow Recipe

3 packages unflavored gelatin

1-1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup. Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. With the mixer on low speed slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes (*my mixture was thickened at around 6-7 minutes). Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly. With a sieve, generously dust an 8 x 12-inch non-metal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out. Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. dust them with more confectioners' sugar.

Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows, depending on cut size

I definitely recommend prepping all of your ingredients ahead of time:

Make sure you give your dish a really good dusting of confectioner's sugar:

I think you really need a stand mixture to make these...the marshmallow mixture gets very thick: When it is time to remove the marshmallows from the dish, you'll need to run a knife along the edges to loosen them.

Dust a cutting board with confectioner's sugar, and flip the marshmallows out onto the board. You can cut them into squares, or use a cookie cutter to make shapes. Once cut, give all sides of your marshmallow a good coating of confectioner's.

If you want to go really crazy, try dipping half of each marshmallow in melted chocolate. These also make divine s'mores...

A Little Break

As usual, I'm not sure where the past week has gone. I have had plenty to blog about, have taken lots of pictures, but alas, have not made the time to sit down and write. I'm going to go ahead and blame some of it on the evil Facebook...unfortunately that has been taking up whatever computer time I've been allowing myself. All I can say it, I cannot believe some of the people I've been able to reconnect with...it really is pretty fun, not to mention, an easy way to keep in touch.

I turned 37 years old this week. My favorite numbers are 3 and 7, so I have a feeling this is going to be a lovely year. My husband took it upon himself to take the day off on Tuesday, so that I could enjoy a day off. He did the school shuttling, diaper-changing, peace-keeping, meal preparation, and everything else I normally do. It was heavenly. After dropping Camden off at school in the morning, he came home and informed me that I would be going to the local spa for an hour-long massage in the afternoon. It was great, and I have decided that if I ever win the lottery, I am running out to hire my own personal massage therapist. When I returned home, Steve was preparing dinner - - pork chops stuffed with shallots, feta, mushrooms, and rosemary - - they were delicious. He even made me a key lime pie (from scratch, no less). It was a really, really wonderful day. The piece de resistance came late in the evening, when Steve came to me and said, "I can see why you are frequently at the end of your rope, by the time I get home from work at night!" Everyone needs a little validation every now and then, don't they?

I made the executive decision to keep Camden home from school today, as he's been fighting a cold all week and just seems a little, well, puny this morning. He's not running a fever, but is just not himself, so I think a day of pajama-wearing is in order. Unfortunately, we will have to miss out on Music & Movement, as well as a brand new play group we are joining, but I'm pretty sure the other mothers involved do not want a snuffly 5-year-old coughing all over their children. There is always next week!

I've found myself in a bit of a funk over this article, which appeared in the Idaho Statesman yesterday morning. The information in the article is nothing I didn't already know, but for some reason, seeing it in print gets my stomach all in knots. Granted, it is not a sure thing at this point, but, as I told Steve, I've been living in denial about the possibility of another deployment. The last deployment was a bit different - - Camden was only a year old at the time it started, and now, he cannot remember it even happening. With this deployment, the boys will be 7 and 4, and it will be much different - - for them, and for Steve.

My little boys and I are gearing up for a long month - - Steve is gone for four of the next five weekends, so we are going to be missing Daddy. We will be keeping busy though, so hopefully the time will fly!

Come back tomorrow, to read about my adventures in making homemade marshmallows....

Does Your Husband Dress Like This?

Seriously. Can you believe this shirt? Steve wears it all the time. In public. I'm not kidding, although I wish I was. He will proudly tell you that it is over 15 years old (obviously). Since Steve spends the majority of his waking moments in an Army uniform, I try not to tell him what to wear on the weekends. However, I think this shirt may be mysteriously vanishing in the very near future. If anyone knows where I can find a vintage Patagonia canvas shirt (in better condition than this one, of course), call me. Stat!

Meet Terri

This is my dear friend, Terri. We met almost two years ago, at a toddler music class at our local library. We had been sitting next to each other for many weeks, but for whatever reason, had kept to ourselves. Our boys had other plans though - - they loved to dance with each other and horse around every Tuesday, and finally one day, we struck up a conversation. The rest, as they say, is history.

Terri came into my life at a time when I had a new baby, hadn't quite adjusted to being a full-time, stay-at-home mother, and frankly, was feeling pretty blue. I like to think of it as divine intervention of some sort! Terri is always there for me, even though she is a busy, homeschooling mother of 3 boys, not to mention, an avid gardener, farmer (she raises goats and cows), and devoted wife to her beloved Stevan. She is wise beyond her years (I could almost be her mother, if you must know...I said almost) and has a heart as big as they come. I feel so very lucky to call her my friend.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today, my father is celebrating the 68th anniversary of his birth, on the beaches of St. Maarten in the northern Antilles. Dad, I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, and happy day! We love you and miss you more than you can possibly imagine. Happy, happy Birthday!

Chocolate Cream Pie

My sister-in-law Kasey's mother, Candy, makes the best chocolate cream pie in the world. After you eat a piece of it, you literally want to curl up into a ball and die from pure joy - - it is that good. Not only is she a wonderful cook, but she is also a wonderful person. She has always welcomed Steve, the boys and I into her family here in Idaho, and it means so much to us. One of my favorite memories is when Candy had made one of her delectable pies, and decorated the top with mini-chocolate chips. Camden wanted to pick all of the chocolate chips off the top of the entire pie and eat them, and Candy happily obliged, because that is just the kind of lady she is. We love you, Candy!

I do not have a copy of Candy's famous recipe, but I wanted to make a chocolate cream pie in the worst way yesterday, so I perused Epicurious to see what I could come up with. I settled on this recipe, and got to work. The recipe calls for a chocolate wafer cookie crust, but Candy uses a pastry crust for her pie, so I did the same. Personally, I prefer a pastry crust for a cream pie. I should tell you, making this pie is not like using a box of Jello pudding. It takes some effort, and some prep work. I promise you though, once you make a chocolate cream pie from scratch, you will never go back. The result was a rich, dense, chocolaty slice of yumminess. Not quite as good as Candy's pie, but I wasn't silly enough to expect to come close to her masterpiece. I feel the need to implore - - if you are going to go through all the trouble of making your chocolate cream filling from scratch, please, for the love of all things holy, don't spread Cool Whip over the top. Whip up some heavy cream and a bit of sugar, and do this right!

Life Is Good

Here we are, on the eve of yet another Friday, and I'm not quite sure where my week has gone. I had so many people tell me, when I was getting ready to become a stay-at-home mother, that the days would d-r-a-g by, that I would go insane with the boredom of it all. It has been nearly 2 1/2 years, and I can't say that I've been bored yet. Caring for two little boys, my husband, and taking care of my household keeps me busier than I could have ever imagined. Yes, it is challenging at times, but I feel so thankful that I am at home. If, for some reason, I found out I had to go back to work tomorrow, I think I would break out into a cold sweat. Now, I am off to spend some time with Steve, because it seems the boys are actually staying in bed tonight.

The Benefits of Having an Older Brother

Over the weekend, the boys and I were in the car at some point. As I approached a stop sign, Griffin exclaimed from the back seat, "Look, Mummy! An octagon!" I had to ask him to repeat himself because I couldn't really believe my ears. That's when Camden piped up and said, "He's telling you the stop sign is an octagon, Mummy. He learned that from me."

Smartypants.

The best part was when I relayed the story to Steve, and he said, "A stop sign is a hexagon, though." Then I reminded Steve that a stop sign is 8-sided, therefore it is in fact, an octagon. Clearly, the children get their brains from their mother.

Good News All Over

I had no intention of posting anything until Monday (see yesterday's entry!), but was very happy to see this today. Pretty amazing stuff. And don't even get me started on Chesley Sullenberger...

My Brain Hurts

I have had the worst case of blogger's block, pretty much since Christmas. This week, I'm going to go ahead and blame it on the inversion. We've been trapped in a foggy, gloomy, cold-to-the-bone mess all week, and it makes me want to curl up into a ball and not move until summer. Steve has been away since last Friday, which also means I haven't been getting a lot of sleep (little boys who miss their Daddy seem to take forever to get to bed at night, and then they like to wake up at alternating times throughout the night, it seems). Steve returns from Hawaii tomorrow morning, so I'm going to take the weekend to try and get myself some vitamin D, organize my thoughts, and get back to regular blogging , come Monday. My apologies for being so incredibly boring these past few weeks.

Muffin Tin Monday (Theme: Royalty)

Today's theme is "Royalty", so I went to our bookshelf for a bit of inspiration, and found it in George and the Dragon:

The boys donned their crowns, and were ready to eat. We have a peanut butter and honey sandwich (shaped like a crown), a dragon's egg, cannon balls (malted milk balls), a cheese sword, and some trees from the Enchanted Forest. Last, but not least, we had to drink our milk from a Royal Tea Cup. This was a big hit with my little guys today! Midway through lunch, Griffin said, "Mummy! I need more tea, please!"


Head on over to Her Cup Overfloweth to see more Muffin Tins!

Sunday Sweetness

Yum. I love warm cinnamon buns on a lazy, chilly Sunday morning. They smell so good while they are baking, and taste so wonderful. The best part about fresh cinnamon buns is that they never taste the same, once they cool, so you really have to eat them all while they are warm. I made a batch for the boys this morning, but I didn't get up at the crack of dawn to measure, mix, and such. I went down to my pantry and grabbed this:

Love it. I am going to make sure that my pantry is never without a box or two from now on. Very inexpensive, quick, and delicious. While I'm sure that cinnamon buns from scratch aren't rocket science, I'm going to stick with these, thank you very much.

Right after I snapped this photo, I got one very sticky, very cinnamon-y kiss from my Griff. Good stuff.

The Binky Fairy

So I mentioned to Griffin a couple of days ago that the "Binky Fairy" would be visiting our home soon. I explained to him that he is a big boy now, and that a new baby will need his binkies, so it is time to get rid of them. Camden was way more addicted to his Binky than Griffin is, and this little scenario worked like a charm with Camden. I think he asked for his Binky (which he called "Big Red", by the way) once, and then moved on with his life. Alas, Griffin is not his brother. I don't know how many times over the past 48 hours the poor boy has asked, in his teeny-tiny little voice, "Mummy, is the Binky Lady coming to take my Binky today?" or, "Where are my Binkies? Can I have them?" I finally broke down today and reassured him that his beloved binkies were not going anywhere right now, and that he could chill. I think I will just have to resort to a stealth, unannounced, middle-of-the-night disposal of all binkies. The kid has them hidden all over the house though, so it may take a few months.

Steve Goes Skiing

Steve went on a little adventure yesterday, to Craters of the Moon National Monument. He spent 7 hours driving (round trip) for 2 hours of skiing, which would have made me a little crazy (because I am impatient like that), but for Steve it was a perfect day. He enjoys solitude, long drives, and loves cross-country skiing -- he did the 7 mile snow loop, and got some lovely photos.

Chilly!

Take a moment to read about Craters of the Moon...a really interesting place in Idaho.

Happy New Year!

I'm in a bit of denial that it is now 2009 ~ I'm still trying to figure out how 2008 sped by so quickly. I spent some time today, like a lot of people, thinking about the past year, and then I spend some time thinking about the past few years. I don't generally make New Year's resolutions, and I'm not necessarily making any this year. I am, however, going to try really hard to live my life differently. Okay, so I suppose that is a resolution of sorts. My thoughts are simple - - I plan to start putting some of the same effort toward caring for myself, in the manner that I care for my husband and children every day. I'm going to make an effort to explore my own interests. I'm going to try not to expect so much from myself. As far as self-care goes, the past couple of years have shown me that I am not getting any younger. I see it in the mirror, I feel it in my body, and I don't like it! Much to do. I'm looking forward to a happy, challenging, & healthful 2009, and I wish the same for you.