Back to back but all is well

Graham is now six!

Graham had a birthday party with his almost birthday twin with a few friends at Stonefire Pizza - these were the party favors

We got to go into Graham's classroom and read a book to the class (he chose Ferdinand) and answer the kids questions about Graham - so cute and fun!

Graham loves Red Pandas and Nana delivered with this year's birthday cake!

Jason and I are refreshed (even though he worked hard, too) from our jaunt to Jamaica

All inclusive is crazy nice - no need to carry money, even tips - at least here - were prohibited and the bottomless fruity drinks are incredible

Jason squeezed in windsurfing and we snorkeled at lunch one day (we could see the hangar from the resort!) and stand-up paddle boarded 3 mornings - 1st time - it was great

We never reserved one of these but how relaxing, right?

Swim-up bar complete with underwater stools 

Our room was in the main building (below the red awning) overlooking the pool and we could even see the ocean.  This is from my post of a queen-size poster lounge bed - so luxurious.  The whole thing was like a dream.

Estelle is almost two and is breaking out of so many shells!  Talking, personality, sense of humor, physical feats…

And below are two fish items - fresh fish tacos - one of Jason's very favorite.  He's continuously honing ingredients and sauces - such an artistic connoisseur.  

Second fish is salmon with an orzo concoction - spinach and green onions and of course a trusty, crusty baguette from Breadsmith!

Then thirdly is a smoothie with - don't choke - spinach, wheat germ, flaxseed meal - and the full fat orange cream yogurt and banana make the taste!  I'm reading a book that believes fully in animal fats versus vegetable and processed fats - even olive oil to cook with - the heat changes it's makeup and isn't great for our innards.  Cold pressed, unheated olive oil IS great though.  Very provocative, interesting book with a lot of research and science for eating heart healthy from Mary (my m-i-l, thank you!).

Went to a Love and Logic conference last Saturday with Jim Fay.  Quite inspiring and wonderful.  I had a lot of takeaways and tips for raising kids - Lord knows I need all the help I can get!  The philosophy is establishing/'locking-in' empathy and taking anger/yelling out of those situations when we naturally feel the need to; and instead, speaking calmly - that kids will mirror how we act/speak.  He said that not only kids, but we all are starved for empathy.

Peace and love to you!

Slackin on the 2 posts-per-month

I better stick to one post a month.  Or maybe just the past month or two have been extra busy - and March might top it:

Auntie Kack had knee replacement surgery and we went to visit in Sauk Prairie

• She's looking and doing grrrrrreat!

We attended Juan Carlos' oath of citizenship at the federal courthouse

• Pretty awesome, congrats to JC!

My Mom and Aunt Julie went to Puerto Rico

• Hoping their having a blast!  I'm working on a surprise for my Mom's return…(I will have made 4 trips to Madison since 2/25 by Monday 3/5 - my little E has been a trooper!)

Jason left for some biz but mostly pleasure snowboarding in Utah with friends

• He said 50 inches of snow to fall while they're there!

Going to To Kill A Mockingbird at The Rep with mi amiga Maggie

• Highly, highly recommended by the Downs girls

Graham's birthday party with friends

• At Stonefire Pizza - which he is head over heals for

St. Robert's Emerald Auction Gala-type thing

• Awesome fund raising event for the school - fab food, silent and live auction, live music, etc!

Two dinners out with my girls

• My awesome playgroup Mama friends and my sporty friends (our hubbies have their monthly nights out, too!)

Graham's actual 6th birthday and then a family party the following weekend

• 6 years old - such a kid.  Happy Birthday to my sweet Graham-bo!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at First Stage 3/18

• Our neighbor is in it so we're extra pumped to see it….except…

We are going to be in Jamaica!!!  What??  Hopefully Papa can take Graham to the play...

• Unexpected and unfolded quickly - Jason is doing a job for Sandals there and they're putting him up at one of their Montego Bay resorts…I used points for my flight…Nana and Papa said yes to the job…we're doing it!  Couldn't pass it up - no costs and an exquisite place!  Wow, I'm a little in shock but incredibly excited.  Can't believe it.

A couple pictures of two sweeeeet angels and next post will be heavy on foooood…

We made a smoothie with whipped cream to celebrate Fat Tuesday - chocolate syrup, peanut butter, yogurt, flax meal, banana and graham crackers!

Graham put every one of Estelle's barrettes in Jason's hair

Still perfecting her camera smile

E has been putting a lot of things on her head - her little tots class sings a song with 'put your [blank] on your head' and she's lovin' it

Birthdays and Love

Happy Birthdays this month to special, lovely ladies - my niece Brooklyn (3), my like a niece Nev (7), mi Mama!, my auntie Kack and my dear friend Mary.  Beautiful girls, all of ya.  Love you.

Spinach Tortellini soup is so good and so easy.  Thanks for the recipe, Mom!  It's sautéed onion and garlic in a soup pot, add a box or more of chicken broth and a can or diced or crushed tomatoes, bring to a boil, add the tortellini for ~ 10 min, then lastly S&P and a bag of spinach…parm over the top is always good.

Jason grills some mean chicken breasts.  A lot of grilling for January and February.  This is the most mild winter - pretty nice and way out of the ordinary.  He uses barbecue sauce and sometimes with Frank's hot sauce and butter.  And I'm telling you, the vegetables - we've been heavy on the squash - zucchini and and yellow - just olive oil, S&P and grilled or roasted are SO tasty.

Another incredible pasta dish with asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes and fresh parsley and parm to top.  One of the main keys to all of Jason's pasta creations is the sauce.  He'll use combinations of wine, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, corn starch, garlic, pasta water, chicken broth and on and on.

And a Valentine's dinner - filet, those luscious grilled vegetables, twice-baked potatoes and an old favorite - 7 Deadly Zins.

Graham had Catholic Schools Week a few back and got to dress special every day - this one was 'spirit wear' and a cross if they wanted.

My Dad came for a visit while Jason was on a work trip and found a specs twin.

Graham had his last K5 basketball practice/game - he did great and had a great big smile all season.

Lots of love to you.  xoxo

February?…or April? WI?…or NC?

How mild was it 1/31/12?  Sunny, warm and totally springy.  Graham said when he stepped out Tuesday morning - 'smells like spring!'  Indeedy.

On that note, burgers and potatoes on the grill!  Fun - it's like having breakfast food for dinner - summer meal in winter.  And it happened to be mismatch day for Graham at school for Catholic Schools week - coinkeedink!

Jason made posole (I'd never heard of it) in the crock pot.  Used part of the pig from Aunt Dar and then various ingredients including hominy (I'd never had) which was so very good.  He added chipotles in adobo sauce so it was spicy but really it had such a great, great almost mild flavor.  Fresh cilantro and shredded cheese on top with a tortilla on the side.  This is what unceasingly amazes me about Jason is his ideas and creativity.  Also the foresight and prep and all of the work and thought that goes into it.

My mom was here for a visit and we had some tea and I thought it was pretty - the different colors.  So soothing and comforting - especially sharing with my Mom. ( :

Estelle is working on smiling upon request:

There's no lack of effort but the real ones are the best especially when it's with big awesome brother Graham:

Just about everyday I think about the generosity and the incredible feeling from the gift of hand-me-downs.  I love everything about it.  First, the obvious: the reuse/greenness of it, not buying new mass manufactured, money saving and convenience and more.  Secondly and more importantly is the love and thoughtfulness and generosity from the givers/lenders!

Below is a picture I took when I noticed that each winter outwear piece here is not only quality, so cute and useful but one is from Jen and Brooklyn, another is from Katie, Abby and Emily, the purple from Bridget, Josie and Isla and yet another from Mary and Evelyn.  Wow.  I love it and I love each of you girls.  We are deeply grateful.  I think you are all angels.

Geez, I always think to myself, I'll just post something quick and make it quick and readable.  Whoopsies.  Not so.

A little blip from Feb 1 from God Calling:

I can only bless glad, thankful hearts.  You must be glad and joyful.


That's a challenge for me.  It also says in so many words…we worry and fret so much and it soils our lives - we crush blessings with worry and fret.  A daily challenge.  But worth every step striving and refocusing on gladness and joy.

The Holiday Season Closes - and Happy MLK Day

Belated Happy New Year!  May the year be blessed and fulfilling…

Jason made chicken noodle soup in the crock pot for dinner last night - no picture but it was nice and soothing and a great winter day for it.

Breakfast on the weekend is nothing short of gourmet - at least in my book - whole grain blueberry pancakes and these two egg-centric (hee hee) ones to name a few:

Jason's omelets - they're so good.  The egg is cooked and baked separately and the insides are either fresh or sautéed.

This is reminiscent of a favorite breakfast we had in Mexico a few times - scrambled eggs with onions, peppers, cheese and cilantro - we put guacamole and salsa on them - wrapped in a  warm corn tortilla!  Woo hoooooo!

These two look somewhat the same - the first is more of a summer regular but always so good - we get spicy noodles and then this fresh, cold dish has avocado, walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, scallions, red pepper with evoo, balsamic v and salt and pepper and the second is a pasta creation; which Jason is phenomenal at pulling off, with zucchini, peppers, flat leaf parsley and sun-dried tomatoes:

Jason's broadened his tastes so much since I've known him - one thing that hasn't changed though is that he does not love Chinese food…however, this dish reminds me of it and we both LOVED it.  So nice -steaming hot 'wok'd' chicken and vegetables over fresh green lettuce:

And I just had to take a photo and add this beauty.  This family is enamored with mangoes and they go so fast - so we bought a case of them at Costco - here's one now:

Such a beautiful fruit inside and out - just like us all!  And so evenly sweet and creamy

To close:  excerpts from Jan. 1 in God Calling:

...Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss...

...Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all, buried, and go forward to a new and risen life…

…And for each day [God] shall supply the wisdom and the strength.

Peace and Love, HH