Hijacked Phone

At one point Clara figured out how much fun an iPhone can be. There were days when I would look and look for my phone and couldn't find it anywhere. And then it would dawn on me that Clara probably had it. She can be really sneaky sometimes. I then discovered the password option and used it to prevent any further hijacking problems. But not before I could prevent some rearranged apps and some additions to my photo album. She also discovered iTunes, thank goodness you need a password to buy songs!

Like I said a few weeks later I discovered some pictures in my photo album that I did not put there. It made me chuckle a little . . . she actually has a decent eye for composition and even made a backdrop!

It's That Time Again . . .

My basil is flourishing . . .

Is it crazy that I love making my own pesto? It always makes me so HAPPY!!!!!!

And the recipe is . . .

Homemade Pesto by Ian Garten (Barefoot Contessa)

makes 4 cups

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup nuts

3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)

5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups good olive oil

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Place the walnuts, pine nuts, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 30 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt,and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto if finely pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Serve, or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

*to clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

Pesto is kind of personal preference as far as taste goes. Use this recipe as a starting point to help you figure out what you are your family like.

Toy Story 3

We took the kids to see Toy Story 3 today, we actually watched it in 3D because that was the next available show. It was fun to be able to go to the movies as a family. Clara and Adam really enjoyed it, and so did Ian and I . . . just differently.

It was Ian's first movie!!

However, he is a little too young for the whole movie experience. He enjoyed it but didn't want to sit still. And considering the movie theater played 25 minutes of previews BEFORE the movie even started we didn't start off on the best foot. Ian and I spent some time in the little hallway next to the movie, and I spent $12 on popcorn and chocolate milk to buy some time. It worked but who wants to do that just to see a movie. And another thing that doesn't work so well with 2 year olds . . . 3D glasses.

Still a fun family memory!!!

Entering a Whole New World of Reading Time

Something that has always been important to me is teaching my children to love reading books. So from the beginning (for both my little ones) I have included reading stories into our bedtime routines. Clara has moved on from the bright and colorful board books to picture books. And I do enjoy some of those picture books, some are wonderfully well done and clever. I have to admit, however, that not long ago I was so over reading and re-reading some of those disney princess books. Not that there is anything wrong with them, I just wasn't interested and felt like I was forcing myself to read to Clara, and worse, rushing through the process.

And then one day I thought to myself, "Just because Clara is 5 doesn't mean she can't enjoy a good chapter book type story!" So I did a little thinking and a little research. . . Has anyone ever read "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease? It's a great resource! And I thought about one of my good friends Sarah and the love of books that her parents gave her.

So I checked out some books from the library.

We actually finished reading James and the Giant Peach a few days ago. I loved it! She loved it! And I can't wait to read some more by Roald Dahl.

Just started Stuart Little. So far, so good.

I am interested to see how this one goes. I have heard a lot of good things about this author but the book seems longer than the other two.

I am so in love with this new discovery! I am excited for the day when all my children are gathered around me sitting all together while we read some of our favorites together!

Any other suggestions?

Happy Father's Day

Clara's Dance Recital

This year Clara performed a tap number to Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". And she really did have a great time! She is the tallest in her class so she was front and center and did a great job following her choreography.

Because the song and the costume are kind of 80's, all the moms agreed that a side ponytail was needed. My dilemma was that Clara's hair doesn't hold well in a regular ponytail because it's so thin. So this is what I came up with. . .

And the whole outfit (she's holding a "phone" up to her ear, just like she did in her dance)

Ian at 2

Ian. . . .

• definitely knows what he wants and if you ask him a question he'll nod his head for yes and when he says No, it's so darn cute that you don't even mind.
• has become a picky eater! (What have I done wrong? Both my kids are . . .)
• likes his car toys, he does the classic boy thing of making engine noises when playing with them.
• favorite color is unequivocally YELLOW! (It's the first one he learned to say) Now whenever he sees anything yellow, but especially cars on the road he yells "YELLOW!!!!", and keeps yelling that until acknowledged.
• loves Clara. They are so good together. One of their favorite activities together is having dance parties, where Clara sings are shows off her dance moves from class and Ian runs in a big circle around her.
• is showing a definite preference for his left hand.
• didn't really talk much at all until the last month or two and now he his really catching up. Although he still uses the grunt and point method when talking or signing doesn't get his point across.
• loves outside. Did I mention Florida is really hot and humid in the summer? Outside is not all that fun for Mommy in the summer. Thank goodness we have a pool!
• loves his lamby. The funny thing about lamby is that when I bought it I bought about 4 so lamby wouldn't wear out before we were ready. But Ian likes as many lambies at once as he can find. It is not uncommon for him to go to bed with 3.
• loves nursery class at church. This is a long time coming. Now he doesn't even want me when I go to pick him up.
• loves songs from nursery class. Part of his bedtime routine is to sing some of his favorite songs. I let him pick which ones he wants. He can't say the words for most of them yet so he does the hand motions that he has learned that go along with them. Sometimes this works and sometimes I don't know what he wants-but we muddle through.
• is so good at showing love. He hugs and kisses and blows kisses and smiles and says "Mommy!!!!!" or "Daddy!!!!" with such enthusiasm that we are left in no doubt that he loves us.
• has a special bond with his Auntie Ana. They have been drawn together since he was a tiny newborn. He could say her name before he could say just about anything else. And they really have a great time together. I love seeing it!
• hair grows so fast he needs a haircut just about every 3 weeks, but I'm not ready to do the shaved head look thing yet (as you can see, he is overdue at the moment for a cut:)
• is SUCH a boy! Which I know is kind of a silly thing to say. But compared to Clara, who is about as girly as it gets, it's amazing to me that he is such a typical boy in so many way. Rough and tumble and physical!

We are so happy to have Ian as a part of our family. He brings pure joy into our lives.

Just for Fun

I found this gem when I uploaded the pictures from Ian's birthday~I had totally forgotten I had taken this one. My kids really love their Daddy. They have such fun together!

IanTurned 2!

Okay . . . so yes Ian actually turned 2 a couple of weeks ago. I don't know why I have been in such a blogging FUNK lately~ oh, well moving on . . .

We actually kept festivities really simple for Ian's Day. And I am so glad that we did. Because as I was getting ready to frost the cake a few hours before people were to arrive my dishwasher started leaking. It was actually more of a deluge~ seriously I think just about every towel, beach towel, hand towel, wash cloth were sopping and it kept coming. My dad came over to save me and we got it all stopped. THANKS DAD!

Everything turned out alright in the end, but like I said . . . I'm so glad I hadn't planned anything big. Just pizza, cake and ice cream, and presents (with an auntie and a couple uncles and grandpa-you were missed mom)

Aren't 2 year olds great!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BABY BOY!!!