Summer Salad

If you are in the mood for a fresh, summer salad and are wondering if the recipes you find on the internet for Strawberry Avocado Salad are any good, you will be pleased to find out that this one is delicious!!!
2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Teaspoons Honey
1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
Lettuce (preferrably from your local co-op or summer market)
1 Avocado
10 Strawberries, Sliced.

YUMMY!

I am one of those people...

It is true... I am now officially a Seattle girl and don't think I can ever leave. 

I am a yoga doing, baby food making, Prius owning, reusable bag carrying, clothes line drying, vegetarian, SUBARU OUTBACK driving girl!

We purchased a new Subaru Outback yesterday and I have to say, I am a huge fan!  I will miss driving the Prius on a regular basis, but am loving the extra space in the new car.  I can't wait to go to the store tomorrow to see how many bags of groceries I can fit in the family wagon!  Mine looks like the one above, only shiney black!  HOORAY!

Update on Baby Benjamin

Owen calls him Baby Benjamin and he doesn't seem to mind.  :)

UPDATE:

He is getting used to solid foods now (hooray!) and seems to have his dad's sweet tooth.  He will eat almost anything as long as it is mixed with a banana and he will NOT eat green beans. I gave them to him and he looked at me with the most confused look.  Like, "Why would you do such a thing?"  I hate green beans too, but I don't sit there crying with my mouth open refusing to even swallow the smallest amount like he did.  We ended up having to spoon the green beans out of his mouth to get him to stop crying.  The green bean episode aside, he seems to love squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, and yogurt. Peas and applesauce have their day as well as avocados.  He was not a fan of nectarines, and had a hard time stomaching the store bought baby food while we were in Iowa. I have been making his food in my lovely magic bullet and he is getting spoiled with the good stuff!  We have tried putting food in those little mesh bags, but he just turns the thing over and chews on the handle instead of the food.  Jen says mangos may be the ticket, but I haven't made my way to Trader Joe's yet to try.  Mangos are next on my list.  He is sleeping most of the night and usually wakes up about one time (which I don't mind). He loves to stretch out in the crib and I think the days of sleeping in the bouncy seat are behind us.  He is getting really big and can sit up by himself.  He still doesn't show any interest in moving around, but I am not in any hurry (although Ivy is!  She can't wait to have a partner in crime!)  He doesn't have any teeth, but is chewing on everything.  Teeth may be next on his list.  He loves Steve so much and it is so cute to see how excited he gets when Steve comes home from work. The other day, he was so excited that he just kept laughing hysterically every time he would see Steve.  I love my two boys and am lucky to have them both in my life!
 

Dear Blog.

Dear Blog,

I am sorry that I have forgotten about you.  I am sorry that Evan turned 6 months old about 3 weeks ago and I failed to tell you.  I cannot believe that so many days have passed and that you don't even know that at his 6 month check up he weighed 18 lbs and 15 oz. (73%), he was 26 1/2 inches tall (49%), and that his head was 46 cm (95%).  I really feel bad for not showing you this adorable 6 month old photo or telling you that he is really getting good at sitting!

I am sorry that I haven't told you about the fun we had when my sister and her family were visiting or about how terribly sad I am that they don't live here to do the fun things we did more often.  I am shocked that I have never shared about the day we picked strawberries at the strawberry farm because we had a really good time!  I am also a little surprised with myself that I haven't taken the time to let you in on the fact that my sisters and I actually made strawberry jam with the strawberries we picked and it turned out fabulous!

Please forgive me for not telling you about the night that I had Alysa, Max, and Owen over for a sleepover and how Owen got a little scared on his first sleepover without his mom.  Don't worry little blog, I held him and made up stories about Grandpa's farm animals and he was able to fall asleep.   Please don't judge me for waiting so long to tell you about our most recent trip to Iowa and how Evan finally got to meet Uncle Pete!  We had a really good time and Evan even went swimming for the first time ever!  He loved the water and was a natural!  Seriously, I cannot believe that I have put you on the back burner.  I am sorry.   Again, little blog, I ask you to please forgive me.  You are a wonderful little invention for keeping memories in order and I will try to pay more attention to you.  I promise.

NEW FLOOR!!

Last week, my dad called and asked if I had any projects in the house that needed tile.  (We have a client that does fabulous tile work and needed some jobs.  My dad, being the softy he is, was looking for work for the guy.)  Anyway, I looked around the house and saw this...

BATHROOM

FRONT ENTRY WAY

KITCHEN

Yes, that is pink-squared-linoleum in the bathroom and kitchen, and something even more hideous in the front entry way.  Thank you 1973!  Um, yes dad.  I have some rooms that could use tile.  So, we emptied out the rooms, met with the tile guy- gone rock star (that is a whole other story!), negotiated a price, and said goodbye to the old floor!

If you look closely, you can see the fridge in the living room along with the oven.  What you cannot see from the photos is the washing machine and dryer in the bedrooms with the bathroom door as well as the loads of dust piling up on EVERYTHING.  After a few days of pizza and left overs, and one day with Bob and Kathi here watching Evan and navagating the torn apart house, we now have this and I am in love with it!!!

HOORAY!!!

5 Months Old.

I can't believe that Evan is 5 months old.  I can't believe it has already been 5 months since he joined our lives.  It has been 5 short, exciting, growing months and yet I can't really remember what life was like before him.  Jen told me it would happen and I didn't believe her.  I was certain I would remember what Steve and I did Pre-E - and how simple our lives were.   I would remember how we could go on vacation on a moment's notice.  Run to the store (restaurant, gym, ice cream shop, fill in the blank) on a whim.  Do laundry, clean the house, make dinner without interruption.  How sunday nights were filled with the occasional puzzle, game, and tv show.  I was convinced that I would remember exactly how it felt and exactly how things had changed.  Ok, so I remember doing these things, but it is hard to imagine that I did them and enjoyed them without this little guy!

At 5 months, he is smiling, laughing, rolling from tummy to back, pushing himself up on his arms and tucking his little knees in while on his stomach.  He has no desire to start moving and doesn't even think about rolling from back to tummy.  Once he gets over the other direction, he just looks at us with this pleased look on his face and lays there all content.  The doctor said that he has a calm demeanor and that is totally true!  (That is when he isn't stressed out from Owen and Ivy). :)  He has tried rice cereal, but it seems to upset his tummy.  (He cries and wiggles and cries a few hours after he eats).  My friend, the internet, says that it may still be too early for his little digestive track, so we are taking solid foods nice and slow.  He wants to eat with his dad and watches EVERYTHING that Steve puts in his own mouth.  The other day he was looking longingly at Steve's coke and even tried to grab some chocolate chips out of his hand.  As you can see Steve is setting a wonderful example... :)  Soon enough little man. 

May Day! May Day!

I haven't done a post in a while where I tell you all about the wonderful additions to my life -- the glorious little purchases that have made my life better, easier, or just simply more enjoyable.  There have been a few in the past few months, but because I am a little behind... they will all go under May.  Thank you May!

1.  The first thing is this lovely little walker, jumper, music making machine.  Evan loves it!  He was getting sick of lying on the floor/couch/bed/swing/bouncy seat and was constantly wanting to stand up and look around (or so I projected onto his little thoughts because he still can't talk, you know). This little doozy was purchased for his entertainment and seems to do the trick. It plays music, revs its engine, and has bright flashy lights.  It was a little pricey, but I think it was worth it.  (especially when he scooted himself across the kitchen in it!)

2.  The next good thing was my most comfy pair of capri pants that I got at Kohl's.  Cute, denim, semi-fitted, leaning a little on the "skinny leg" style, and only $16.99!  When I tried them on, I skipped around the fitting room.  Beth and I decided that any pair of pants that makes you skip MUST be purchased.   

3.  Pomegranate Lime-ade from Trader Joe's.  SO YUMMY!  (these kinds of posts always have food in them).

4.   Little fake flowers, re-arranged, sparkled, be-dazzled and hooked on headbands, clips, and combs.  The perfect accessory to liven up any outfit.  It is amazing how a simple tee shirt and jeans can suddenly feel so cute with a little flower in your hair!  (Yes, I keep wearing them almost every day... sorry if you are sick of seeing them.)

5.  Breast milk freezer bags.  (Have I become lame that this excites me?)  Em told me about these when I first had Evan, but I resisted, thinking that the bottles I had were working fine.  Little did I know that these little bags would revolutionize Tues and Thurs nights for Steve. The bags cannot be microwaved (for the sake of the milk) or put in a pan of boiling water (for the sake of the bag), BUT they don't need to be!  The best thing about them is you can take them right out of the freezer, run them under a little hot water and you have nice warm milk in under a few min.-- ready to be poured into the bottle.  Seriously, I should have known Em would have the wonder secret!

                                                                                     

6.  New REI black rain coat.  LOVE IT.

7.  Joshua Radin.  Jen found him from a yoga class we went to.  The teacher had one of his songs on her sun salutaion cd and we were hooked!  If you haven't heard him - listen to a sample on iTunes.  Maybe try Brand New Day.  (Don't be fooled by the fact that we heard him in a yoga class... he is not all chanty and music.  He has cute lyrics and even sings a song about a vegetable car).

I am sure there were more wonderful things that have enhanced my life, but for now... we will keep it simple.  Seven simple things.