These are my kids...

They have to do whatever the other is doing. Say one of them lays down at the bottom of the stairs for absolutely no reason... Well let's all do it! Doesn't that sound fun?!

So, you can see how this could get ugly. One of them hits, well it's a domino effect isn't it? One of them screams shrilly at the dinner table, isn't it wonderfully loud if we all do?

If I could just get this moving in another direction... You know, M cleans, so P cleans, so L cleans... That's what I'm talking about...

Cranberry Turkey Wreath

I have a confession. I made my after Thanksgiving Cranberry Turkey Wreath mid-summer. And I forgot to take pictures for my blog.

I am so aggravated. I seriously usually only make this once a year. And now I won't have pictures for you until after Thanksgiving. Stink.

Dirt

Because, who doesn't love playing in the dirt. In the street. Nothings more fun, right?

This is her automatic you're-taking-a-picture-of-me face.

And this guy you couldn't pry off of his 'spiderman bike' with a crowbar.

My Dude

So Hubby has been reading my blog. And he doesn't like being called Hubby. He thinks I should refer to him as 'My Dude'.

I vehemently oppose this.

So what do you think? Vote in the comments section:

a. My Dude
b. Hubby
c. The Man
d. My Man
e. Rotten Boy

This is my girl

And this is her tree frog. She only had him for a few hours, but she carried him everywhere - even when she was swinging. Where is the girl that wanted nothing to do with frogs and bugs?

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Mmmmm. This recipe came from my neighbor. I'm told that California Pizza Kitchen, or something like that, makes something similar, but I've never eaten there nor do I think they have anything out this way - that might explain the name.

Aaaaaand, I've managed to take pictures again! Aren't you proud? I'd don't think they turned out to bad. Maybe I'm finally learning how to properly use my camera. Maybe.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

(ingredients to make 1 pizza)

Pizza Dough

12 oz. (approximately) BBQ sauce (Cookies or something sweetly similar)

1 cup shreded or diced chicken

1 small red onion

8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

I couldn't resist this picture. I like to make my pizza dough in my bread machine and I think it looks so yummy rising out of the pan like this.
I cheat and use a rolling pin (rather than throwing it up in the air - you understand), and then press it in with my floury fingers. Is that a word? Floury? Whatev...
Bake it according to the dough recipe that you're using. I bake mine at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. Just so the finished product isn't doughy.
Then, generously slather on the sauce.

Slice the onion...
Chop the chicken....
Sprinkle on the chicken.
I'm pretty specific where how I place my onions... Not too many, not too few...evenly spaced. Whatever...
Pile on the mozzarella! I'm not specific about this at all.

Bake 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the cheese on the crust is starting to brown.

Fuzzy

That's what I remember when I reflect on those first few weeks of motherhood. You know, the very first time you have to really give up any amount of sleep sacrificially - when you need it the most?

Fuzzy.

I remember being more exhausted than I had ever been in my life and thinking, 'Why doesn't anyone talk about this?' Well, I guess they do. It just doesn't mean anything to you until you've experienced it.

But I thought that about a lot of things in those early days. The first contraction that really hurt. The throwing up afterwards. The physical exhaustion just after the birth. The swelling. I could write an entire entry on the various parts and the degree to which each swelled if you want to talk about that.

I'm guessing you don't.

The net underwear. There's something else you probably don't want to hear too much about. With each new experience I thought, 'why doesn't anyone talk about this???' I just had no idea. There's no way anyone can.

I was a zombie those first few weeks. And get this. My first child was an amazing sleeper. Lucky for me, huh? She slept through the night fairly early and I felt like I just couldn't get enough sleep for months. I remember sitting up in my glider rocking and nursing with the smell of germx and sweet baby lotion filling my senses. And don't forget the ocean waves cd playing. That sound hypnotizes me even now. I instantly get sleepy. Anyway, anything to get the baby to sleep for even 2 seconds longer.

I would wake up in the glider thinking I should be in bed and vice versa. Panicking. Sheer exhaustion is the most formidable force I have ever come up against. No wonder they use it as torture.

That first transition is unlike any of the others. No other time in my life have I had such a dramatic change. But then there's this.

And this.

And this.

Oh and there's this.
And this. Do you see those lips?!
When I am talking about how hard it is to be a mother my mom often reminds me of how rewarding it is also.

Man, is it.

That smell. The feel of their weight lying on you. The first time they each stopped crying just because they finally got what they wanted - me. The times in the middle of the night when you actually choose to get up just to look at them. Or when you rock them in the night and instead of longing for your bed, you just rock and enjoy. Maybe that should be my new motto - rock and enjoy.

Just rock and enjoy.

Oh, and by the way...

Cucumber Sandwiches

This is my favorite appetizer! I love them so much when a friend asked if they could bring a snack to the church while the wedding party was getting ready (on the day of my wedding, obviously), this is what I requested. They are so easy to make (and then to make disappear).

Cucumber Sandwiches

French bread dough (I like to make my own in my bread machine and then bake it in a Pampered Chef shaped bread tube)
1 cup sour cream
dry Italian dressing mix
1 good sized cucumber (preferrably a European cucumber)
dill weed

Slice the bread about 3/4" thick. Mix dressing with sour cream. Spread on bread. Top with thinly sliced cucumber and sprinkle with dill weed. Chill till served (don't wait too long, the bread will get soggy).

Fried Zucchini

I finally managed to document one of my cooking expeditions, but I wasn't exactly using a recipe. One of those, decided to make something else 30 minutes before it's supposed to be on the table things.

So!

Fried Zucchini. Pretty simple huh?

2 medium sized zucchini

1/2 stick of butter

1 cup plain bread crumbs

3 T sea salt

1 tsp pepper

Get your butter going on a medium high heat. Then slice your zucchini fairly thinly. 1/4 of an inch?

Mix your crumbs, salt and pepper. Coat your zucchini slices lightly and throw them in the butter.

Give them 4-5 minutes and then flip. Once your butter really heats up, turn your heat down to a medium low so they don't fry too fast. Layer onto a papertowel lined plate.

We had these today with corn on the cob, peaches and hot dogs. Not THE most well-rounded meal but it hit the spot.

Enjoy!

Bed Head

I love mornings. The way the kids are all freshfaced and rumpled. I love bed head.

The light in the kitchen in the mornings is amazing too. So I decided to do a little photo shoot with Lola. And this is what I got. What are you doing, Mom? *suspicious stare*

Fine. I'm eating my breakfast, you aren't there.

I don't see you....

Hi!

What did you put in this, anyway?

What's going on back there?

Who are you and why are you so close to my food?

What?!

Stop looking at me...

Daddy!!!

'Daht!'

I'm so excited I just peed a little...

kisses....

Where are you going....so, you're just gonna take my kisses and walk away???

I knew it! You love me!

And who's this character? Drinking milk like it grows on trees... with cute chubby cheeks and a little man hair cut....

And this one. Oh no, she's not ornery.

''Take a picture of my chapstick'

'Hold still? What's that?'

Have a great day!