Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Quirky Kids - Week 6

The past few weeks, I have been keeping a running list of the quirky things my kids do/say. This week was extra busy so, I will just have to pull some from the top of my head.

Sam watched a few Bond movies with Papa and Daddy and has been referring to my Mom as, "Nunny Penny". He usually calls her, "Nunny".

Sam learned how to sing "Jingle Bells". His version goes: "Jingle bells, jingle all the way. Who wants to ride in a one horse open sleigh?"

And a few pics to round things out:

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Tuesday Recipe - Tofu

I am a big fan of Tofu but can never seem to get it right at home (I'll plug for Northstar Cafe's tofu once again). I keep trying. Last night was the best I had ever had at home!

I pressed the tofu as normal (set it on paper towels, covered it in paper towels and put a heavy bowel on top to "press" the water out).

I cut it into 1 inch (aprox.) cubes.

I brushed each cube with hoisin sauce and baked them in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Flipped the cubes over and brushed them with sauce again. Baked for another 10-15 minutes.

Then, added them to my stir fry vegetables at the last minute.

This picture doesn't make it look very tasty. Apparently, I was too busy eating to take a picture of it with the veggies!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Quirky Kids - Week 5

Quirky Kids - Week 5

He’s not technically one of the kids but, I thought it was funny when Mike, my husband, said, “Sam, can you help me put Baby Jesus’ hotel back together?” He was referring to our nativity set.


We were checking out at Target and Ray was very grumpy. An older man got in line behind us and started quacking like a duck. Ray immediately stopped whining and just stared at the man in awe. Have I mentioned Ray likes ducks?


Sam was standing up on our rocking chair waving his hands in the air. When I instructed him to sit down he said, “Mommy, I’m catching Jesus. See him flying up there!”


I told Sam our friends, L & T, were coming for dinner and he got very excited. Then he asked, “Where are you going Mommy?”


I’m not sure who set up our nativity set this way (a 3 year old, a 13 year old or a 33 year old are my options). Mike and I went out to see his students production of Willy Wonka and when we got back Mary was conversing with Aliens. (I later confirmed it was in fact the three year old, Sam.)


Sam is really interested in knowing how to spell words. I “got sick” (see story below if you want) and hours later Sam asked Mike, “What does ‘chunks’ start with Daddy?”


For months I have been trying to teach Ray to say, “All done!” either with words or by waving his hands to sign it. This would be an awesome alternative the typical way he tells us he is all done: by throwing his food and plate on the floor in half a second flat. This week he started to say, “ah ma” and throw his hands up in the air!


Sam: “I’m gonna be gone for a few weeks.”

Mike: “Where ya going?”

Sam: “To preschool.”


We were at a three year olds birthday party and she is one of 11 grandchildren in her family. Her older cousins dressed her up like a princess and were playing the role of her bodyguards. (Not my kids but still quirky!)


One the way home from Preschool I was asking Sam what he had done. He told me: “Well, I told Ms. Linda to get out letter “I” and while she did I played with toys.” They have a letter each week but because they only had school on Tuesday I would imagine they were going to skip the letter this week until Sam came in…


Sam also said that (at preschool), “I was singing ABC’s really loud and Ms. Nancy told me to be quiet.” When I asked why he was told to be quiet (although I bet Ms. Nancy said something much nicer and sweeter than, “Be Quiet!”) Sam told me, “Well, all the kids were gonna sing together.” Apparently Sam got a jump start on ABC’s before the other kids!


I was trying to explain to Sam what Thanksgiving is for and he said, “It’s to go to Nunny and Papa’s house!” Later, after we had worked on it a bit, he explained to his Daddy, “It’s to go to Nunny and Papa’s house! and to tell (thank) Jesus that we have stuff.”


The other night Ray had a fever. He was having a rough time getting to sleep and obviously had some fever weirdness. When I went in to help him out he kept yelling, “Gooooo!” and head butting me (over and over again).


Warning: If you are not a fan of toilet humor stop reading here.

I was in the middle of changing Sams diaper when he said, “Quick, put a diaper on me before I fart on the couch!”


If you know myself, my Mom or my brother you may know that we do not have the greatest gag reflexes. After changing two stinky diapers from Ray and M I was already fighting the gagging then, Sam had a nasty diaper. I managed to get him cleaned up in time to run to the sink and get sick. Sam came running over asking, “Mommy, what are you doing?.. Woah! Mommy! You have black chunks!” (I had just had some coffee).


Ray finds it necessary to grunt and destroy things (i.e. rip the ornaments off the tree) while pooping.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Tuesday Recipe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

1 pound white candy bark
1 1/2 C peanut butter
1 package chocolate chips


Melt white candy bark in microwave according to package directions. Stir in peanut butter until melted and smooth. Pour mixture into a 9x13 inch pan lined with wax paper. Melt chocolate chips in microwave (30 seconds at a time). Pour melted chips over peanut butter mixture. Swirl with a spoon or knife.

So, I just made this. It's in the fridge cooling. I'll let you know how it tastes tomorrow. I just wanted to stick with my Tuesday recipe routine and I made it with 26 minutes to spare! :)

EDIT: Wednesday morning - It's good! This picture is only a portion of the candy. It made a 9x13x1 inch piece. It's very rich so, cut in to small pieces.

Monday, November 23, 2009

My Nightstand

Just for fun, here's a glimpse in to my life by showing you whats on my nightstand right now:


1.  Phone.
2.  Two bottles of massage oil (lavender and orange sandlewood).
3.  Candle.
4.  Alarm Clock  - my first/only ever alarm clock from about 4th grade.
5.  Beeswax chapstick (generic of Burts Bees that sucks!).
6.  Guilt pleasure read: Three to Get Deadly.
7.  Carmex mint chapstick (If you see this at any store please please let me know!).
8.  Roll of medical tape for my broken toe.
9.  DVD remote to play Gilmore Girls.
11.  Julie and Julia book (Has anyone read this?  I can't get in to it.)
12.  More-with-Less cookbook (a good one to check out from the library).
13.  The Art of Simple Food book (another good one to check out from the library).
14.  A lamp.

So, do a post of what's on your nightstand and put a link to it in my comments :)  No cleaning up - just take the picture or write it all down!  Who knows, there may be prizes involved...

Friday, November 20, 2009

Packages, Boxes and Bags!

For the last several years I have had all my Christmas shopping done and everything wrapped by Thanksgiving.  I don't think I'm going to make it this year since a lot of my gifts are handmade and I have a shopping day planned with my Mom and Aunt after Thanksgiving but, I did get a jump start on my wrapping yesterday. 

To Answer your questions (before you ask them):

This cute paper is from the Target $1 section.  It is the perfect size roll for wrapping boxes and I am impressed by how many things I have been able to wrap (there is still more dog paper left!). 

Yes, the boxes are nicely stacked according to their destination. 

Yes, I have a list of things that are already bought, wrapped and what I have left to buy/make. 

Yes, I am disgustingly organized. 

Yes, if you want to buy me yellow steno pads (these are what my Granmda always made her lists on) that would be fine with me.  I'd probably even make one of these cute steno pad covers for it.

Tilt your head to the left...





Things to Make

I think I need to make all of THESE!