42 hours, 4 planes & 4 cities

SP was feted in Boston while contemplating a business move (not a geographical move) and I got to tag along (big "thanks" to G-Ma and Poppie!).  So what did I most enjoy in the five waking hours we had for free time? The shower I took that felt like I was in a warm, Hawaiian waterfall and our room service dessert!  Well, I do suppose I also enjoyed not hearing "MOOOOOOOMMM" during my absence,  especially while we sat in Detroit, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA and Washington D.C. waiting for planes (the most enjoyable delays and reroutings I've ever had (-:).

Lemon Meringue Pie (my choice and DELICIOUS!!) & Butterscotch Mouse Pudding (his choice and DIVINE!!)

Why do I leave my Christmas wreath up so long?

Last year I left it up because baby #4 was eight months old and it took me quite a while to get anything done. (-:  When I finally decided to take the wreath down last spring we discovered a robin roosting cozily right on top.  This year I intentionally (really) left it up to see if we'd have a return visit.  And we DO!  Here's our little friend (sorry, little blury, had to sneak up and take it through the front door) with babies soon to arrive I'm sure.  Going to search for a catchy tune in honor of the little guy, check the playlist to see if I had success.

Paperwork got you down?

Perhaps you'd like to try my system?

I have this file box in my pantry and as bills/report cards/medical stuff/misc. comes in, I never feel like filing it and I don't like to look at it on my counter (I've got enough there already).  So, I keep stacking it on top of my filing system until it is unbearable to stack any more on, then I take a good twenty minutes and file it all at once.  Works for me!

What to eat?

Feeling adventurous in the taste buds? I made a new recipe tonight, Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Blue Cheese and I LOVE it! Now, you need to be someone that enjoys mushrooms and blue cheese and if you do, here's the recipe for you. When you click on the link to the recipe, you'll need to scroll down the screen to find it. From my experience, I used a delicious vegetable broth, I added two huge garlic cloves and would have liked more and I used "baby bella" mushrooms and would have liked more than their 1/4 pound (maybe a 1/3). I think the dish would be great with the optional pomegranate seeds (I didn't have, but am getting tomorrow for the left overs, and it is still very tasty, more even, a few hours after being made). I also didn't have fresh parsley or mint and I think I would have liked the parsley, always freshens things up.

So, what are the bets if any kids ate this? I didn't even offer it, blue cheese you know. (-: When I make things like this I always have one of the parts of the meal that the kids will eat and hopefully fill them (or they fill it out with bread and butter) and tonight the main dish to my barley risotto with mushrooms was...cheeseburgers! What a combo.

Bon Appetit!

Spring has Sprung . . . Take Two

Thought I'd do a "take two" on the rock/daffodil arrangement since you can't really see the rocks in my last post.  Fascinating, eh?  I just thought for those that are familiar with the rocky shore of the western coast of the Keweenaw Peninsula, you might like to actually see the rocks.  I know we can't wait to get back up there this summer and explore the magnificent beaches.

Spring has Sprung...

We've got a new "two-wheel" bike rider in the family!!

I only had to run behind his bike once holding the seat.  He took right to the balancing.

Turning was tricky...

braking was tricky...

but he got that tongue out for a little extra help and...

one happy boy riding a two-wheeler!!  

And brought some daffodils inside

I love using rocks collected from the Sedar Bay camp in the U.P., in vases.  I've even used them to arrange candles in vases which makes for a neat centerpiece. 

The Detroit Historical Museum

Had a great day today exploring in Detroit.  Made use of the Museum Adventure Pass again to gain free admission into the Detroit Historical Museum.    If you're in the area and are not used to sight seeing in Detroit, you've really got to try it (especially on a Sunday).  We easily found free parking on the street within a block of the museum and this area is very well kept and secure feeling.  This museum is SOOOOO kid friendly it is a must for families.  We all had a great time.  From there we shot down Woodward, took a left on Jefferson Ave. and in no time we crossed the bridge to Belle Isle.  Lot's of great things to do there too, we hope to go back in a couple weeks for the Dossin Museum and to catch some blooming tulips.  

This train display was one of the favorites

Had to post this picture.  Harrison came running over to me very excited saying, "Mom! Mom!  Come see..."  "What is it?" I eagerly ask... "A room full of tables!!!" he says.   Hmmmm, I think.  (-:

Photo Op during our tour of streets from the 1800's

Nice profile William (-:

Everyone had fun cranking the engine and taking a drive.  At one point everyone was in the car and it sure looked like the Clampits (sp?) heading for Beverly Hills!

The Belle Isle Conservatory

Check out the conservatory at this link

William heading out to play tag/hide and seek with the kids.  These hedges are just out front of the conservatory.

Three little monkeys and a banana tree

Ah, the sweet little dears

Back to reality! (-:

Home in time for a little sip of something

The Arb

Every year I try to get us to the Arb to see the mile-long line of daffodils that snake through the park.  For the last few years I've been a bit too late and this year I was a bit too early (we saw about a sixteenth of a mile in bloom (-:).  Then we tried to fly a kite (see playlist) that was a bit nose heavy, very little wind (I thought we could run down the hill) and a ONE YEAR OLD!  Not our most successful trip but still, good fun was had playing frisbee, eating grapes and apples (thanks G-ma and Poppie) and enjoying the mild weather.

Crouching by the first daffodil of the line

Nobody was in the mood for a picture

Ready...Set....

Uh...NO GO

Ah, some good sibling bonding...

Sick and Disgusting

I liked it, SP loved it and from my fickle offspring I heard, "have you seen dinner???" and "that is sick and disgusting!!"  Undeterred, I was still so sure they would like it if they tried just the fish (cod) alone that I offered anyone who ate (swallowed) a bite $5.00!!  I said that offer would not be coming around anytime too soon so they best jump at it while it's on the table (literally).  One of them got the five and another managed $2.50 after biting, chewing but not swallowing.  I couldn't find a link (it was from the Ann Arbor News food section this week) and though it was a nice dish, I'm not saving the recipe

 (you're welcome children!).

Before and After simmering for 10 minutes

A little Halloween even lingers on

I usually corral all the past holiday stuff on my dresser, bit by bit as I find it around the house, then package it up and bring it to the basement (all in due time of course (-:).  Well, I just find it funny that I've found a trick or treating bucket around still and it's waiting for it's trip to the basement right along with the Easter baskets!  

p.s. I'm excited to try a new recipe tomorrow, Lettuce-Wrapped Fish.  We'll see how well that goes over with the troops.  I don't really try to find things that I think will disgust them, I figure if they like salmon (which they all do but William, he doesn't like much though), they'll surely like a non-offensive white fish like cod.  I'll just take the lettuce off for them.  It'll be great...really...

Let the Grilling Begin!!

This sumptuous piece of salmon got the honors of "first grill of the season" tonight.  Sprinkled with kosher salt, dried dill (fresh is great too) and squeezed lemon (both before and after grilling) makes for a quick and delicious main event at dinner.

The before and after 

(please note, I do not have time to "stage" my food for photographic presentation (-:)

That cracks me up just thinking about it

Babe Ruth Watch Out! (and Tiger Woods?)

On a whim we decided to play a little "pitch" baseball instead of dragging the t-ball stand out.  And, wow, can this boy hit!!  90% of the time it was a smash of a hit right down the center (yep, right at me...thank goodness for soft baseballs).  If you have a couple minutes you should hear Babe's farewell speach over in the playlist.

Every time before he hit he'd tap the edge of the base.

Keeping his eye on the ball (I'm sure the tongue does help with the aim - you can click the picture to enlarge)

We've made contact!!

And then there's our "base-golf" star!

Real Men Eat Quiche (just not the boys)

So...Dinner...the picture doesn't even begin to portray the glorious impact this "Basic Quiche" had on our taste buds tonight.  If you check out the recipe by clicking the above link, note that I also added bits of roasted lemon chicken left over from the night before (you MUST make this chicken recipe and it's lemon "gravy" it's soooo good).  And yes, my man does eat quiche but the little boys all refused!

William's been playing with my camera and now everything is blurry!

I just love this creation!  Every time the boys make these miniature Lego people, they take their heads off and replace them with the hands from the regular size Lego people.  I'm not exactly sure why and when I asked them, they weren't really either.  One of them said they were droids (what?) and one said they're laser heads.  Okey dokey then.

Would Vegas Even Place Odds On This?

At a little playgroup this morning the boys and I planted some seeds in this biodegradable container.  At first I was VERY blase about the whole thing, then we put the seeds in, my gardening bug bit me and I thought we might actually be able to do this.  While William napped I wrapped the thing in cellophane and set it in this nice, sunny window.  (yes, it's next to a heating duct with no vent cover... William was playing with it and we can't find it ... no kidding)  I told myself we didn't have a chance of these being able to sprout here but I talked myself out of it thinking that even a 20 month old would see how nicely these were wrapped and ready to start growing.  So I decided to give it a go...wondering what my odds would be

Well? . . . How long do you think we have? . . .

2 Hours and 15 Minutes Later . . .

Nap time ended!

I'm really not even sure what to say . . . (-:

What do you think my chances are?

I aspire to organize my recipes once and for all.  I've been aspiring to that since I organized them into food groups about seven years ago (no kidding).  Then, I bought photo albums for the purpose three years ago (no kidding).  A few months ago I bought three-ring binders because I had an "even better" way to organize them.  I think I'm getting very close to being inspired to start.  

This pile is only the tip of the iceberg!

And, we're back into the swing of things

I'm just about dug out from post trip laundry/baggage/fatigue but the gang is plugging along same as ever.  

It took this boy about 3.5 seconds to put on "his" shoes when he heard dad was heading off to work this morning.  I kid you not, he goes off and does this on his own, hysterical!

You know Easter came early when they use Easter window decals to decorate snowmen.  (as an aside, I finally got what I believe to be the last of any Christmas paraphernalia down to the basement yesterday...should have the Easter things out by 4th of July)

This boy is very keen on Webkinz. (Grandma and Poppie, take note, Adam the frog has been found) (second note, between Ben and Harrison they must have about five stuffed animals named after and in honor of their two cousins, Adam and Andrew)

Whew . . . We're Back

From Where?...Philadelphia!!

(to fully appreciate this recap, click on Esquivel's "Sentimental Journey" over in the playlist, it's from one of my favorite car-trip cd's)

We decided to join SP on his conference trip to the City of Brotherly Love.  Invited Grandma and Poppie to join us and had a great time exploring many historic sights.  Well, most of us had a "great time exploring many historic sights," the littles though, were wonderful sports and real troupers with all the walking.  We were pleasantly surprised that the forecasted rain never came and that we were able to park on the street at meters for $1/hr (even right across from the Liberty Bell one time!).  Definitely a trip worth taking and very accessible for families.

Our first stop while we still had SP with us.  The Star Wars exhibit at the Ben Franklin Museum.  The kids all know about and are really into Star Wars so this was (of course) a favorite stop.

Ben improvised that pose at the last minute, perfect!

Yoda...Ben Franklin...Yoda...Ben Franklin...who do you think the kids wanted to see? (-:

At lease we hung out at one of Ben's (Franklin) path's to work.  Now, that's history. (-:

The boys were soooo into learning all they could, they even double checked if there was interesting text to read on the back of the placards.