take your pick...

Blog title ideas and their summaries for the day: (aka, not enough of a 'umph' for their very own blog)

the sleepover and other meanderings Tonight Abs and Bell are having sleepovers.  My friend and I are trading a kid for a kid.  Abs is out and on her way to a fun night away. And then we're heading out to the Zoo.  I am looking forward to it and I know you'll be expecting pictures!

the ebb and flow This week has been so relax compared to last week.  It's always funny to me how it is either crazy busy or sorta boring.  I have been having one of those sorta boring weeks. 

ideas and the follow through So many ideas circle around and circle and circle.  Waiting for the right time when the ideas will be turned into something more than mist floating through my mind.. Better make some time to follow through or they will vanish into the air. (Do you ever get a great idea, then forget about it completely? I hate that.)

crazy emma and old navy  We went back to school shopping a little yesterday.  The girls tried on a bunch of clothes and got some new stuff for school.  Abigail picked out some skinny jeans (not my personal favorite, but she loves them) and Bell thought they weren't that cute (actually they did look really cute on Abs).  And Bell...  She dislikes all pants.  Like, gets all irritated when she tries them on.  We finally found a couple of super cute dresses that she loved.  It was really fun going back to school shopping for the first time, even though by the end... let's just say, Emma was falling asleep on the way home.  So imagine her in the store.  And if you know Emma.... oh my.

the magazine  I love my monthly subscription to Vegetarian Times.  There is always so much good info and great vegetarian recipes that even my kids love.  This month they have a recipe for vegan cookies and brownies.  I can't wait to try them out.  (No eggs = less cholesterol & fat!!)  Also, they always have a section called "Carrots and Sticks" where they give kudos  ('carrots') to environmentally friendly companies and 'sticks' to ones not so good.  Last month sticks went to a beet sugar company in Canada (which, by the way... I thought all sugar was made from sugar cane?  Not the case! Unless your package says, it may be made from beets!) who uses genetically-engineered-to-be-round up-tolerant beet plants.  So, basically most sugar, unless organic, was been genetically engineered.  Kinda gross.  Anyway, wow, I really went off on that!  I didn't even mean to.  It is interesting, though, isn't it?? ANYWAY!  They had a really great article this month about why organic? ...and the produce that really should be bought organic... and the ones that it's probably OK not to.  Interesting.

my friend's yard I have been watering a friend's yard all week.  And her yard is not just a yard.  It is a paradise.  I love going there, my girls LOVE going there.  I am so impressed with all of her hard work and patience.  The yard was a barren place just a few short years ago.  I remember it.  And now, it is full of vibrant growth.  I even harvest enough berries to make some delicious muffins, lettuce for some salad, and snap peas from her garden.  And it is amazing to see how much growth can happen in such a short time under the right conditions, with the right care.  I love it. 

the blue house My friend's blue house.  I need to get a picture so you can see it's beauty.  I am excited about my new friend... and her organic farm.  And helping out at her little classroom this coming year.  And those little Hispanic sweethearts I get to love.

two and a half

...weeks.  That is what is left of summer.  And for us, it is the beginning of a whole new world.  School!  We are getting more and more excited and a little nervous.  I am feeling bittersweet freedom from homeschooling... happy (hmm....happy may be an understatement) about the release of pressure from schooling, rigid schedules, and all the pull of time that homeschooling requires... yet sad I will be sending those sweet little girls into the world already... having someone else instruct them, teach them... the influence of classmates... the challenges that lie ahead.  Plus I will just miss them.  I'll miss those girls.  And miss the fun times we had doing school. But it will be so good, too!  SO good. So, yippee!!  

Bella is nervous.  She hopes school is fun and the kids are nice.  Not like the kids on "Sharkboy and Lavagirl" who make fun of each other and are really mean.  I told her movies make everything more dramatic than it really is.  And Abs is just excited.  She'll go and it will be just normal.  Normal fun life.  And she will be telling everyone what to do by the second or third day.  

I am looking forward to spending time with Emma and Evie and I wonder what life's going to be like with 2 in school.  It's going to be a new season, that is for sure.  I wonder if I will really have lots of extra time... or if other things will just naturally replace the previous.  In my head, I will be able to get lots of stuff done... I wonder if it will really be like that.

And I looked at the school calendar today, and man, these kids get some time off!  I don't want to lament the time they are NOT in school yet, but sheesh!  They get tons of days off!  And "Minimum Days"!!  They have like 2 full weeks of minimum day!  And a whole month at Christmas!!  It will be fun, though!

So, school starts August 18.  Two and a half weeks.  Crazy!!

by now...

Most of you have gotten our little update letter.  I hope you liked it.  Todd did most of the work getting it all ready... isn't he great?  If you haven't gotten it yet, it isn't cause we don't love you, it is probably just because I didn't have your complete or correct address...  Or I forgot to write your address on the envelope and it will eventually be returned to me from the post office... Or I forgot to write my return address making it lost forever.  

In other news, Abigail has started making beards and mustaches.  I think because she was making "bows" and decided to stick it on her lip, which made everyone laugh... and so she kept going.  Soon, we all had beards and mustaches.... 

Don't Waste It?

Look what I found?  Maybe there will be a "Don't Waste Your Wii" after all!  :)

Sunday Randomness

- the word random and blogs just go  together.  Isn't kind of what a blog is all about?  A place to write down all of the random thoughts that float around the brain unless we tell somebody... (so Todd is probably thankful for blogs!)

-Emma is a handful.  In case you didn't know already.

-Missionary Stories from around the World.  It's a great book.  

-Guitar Hero Aerosmith and now 2 guitars at our house means we better read "Don't Waste Your Life" again!  (I think John Piper needs to add a chapter called 'don't waste your Wii'... I am sure there's a way to do it!)

-Todd Bentley is in LA right now.  The blind see, the deaf hear.  The stroke victim can move his right arm again, the guy with the tumor is healed and accepts Jesus.  Story after story and for some reason I cannot get enough.  When God physically touches people, physically heals them through no explanation other than a miracle. I can't get enough of these testimonies.  Is this how the book in heaven will read?  If it does, I won't be able to put it down.

-My House=A Disaster.  Just so we all know.

-I miss Mike and Tina.  Oh, friends. Maybe they should move here?  

-Just one more thing I love about mac? command c. then command v.  I know pcs have it too... but I never used it... it just makes more sense on the mac. ;)

Is July...

...like the birthday party month, or what?  We have been partying for like 2 weeks straight it seems like!  We just got back from one, another today, 2 last weekend, another couple last week.  Wow, birthdays!!  But it is fun.  Today's was like a mini carnival!  The girls had a great time eating snow cones, playing games and winning prizes, jumping in the bounce house, getting their faces painted and eating popcorn!!  The best was the delicious tacos from the "Taco Guy" as we so lovingly call him.  So so so good.  Off to the next for some more fun!

200

I can't resist posting the 200th post on my blog!  Even though I don't really have much interesting to say... and I bet you guys haven't had enough of the kids pictures yet... but I just had to post.  200 blog posts!  Woo Hoo!

Hmmm... Maybe I'll tell you all about the missionary we read about tonight at the kid's bedtime devotional.  He was a guy named Jim.... and he went to Africa... He was a doctor... and the tribes living nearby had never ever heard the name of Jesus.  The tribes witch doctor came to him because of an open sore... and as the missionary was telling him about Jesus... the witch doctor cringed at His Name and ran away screaming "not that name!"... even though that name had never been spoken before in that region.... the witch doctor thought on that name for a couple weeks... later returned to Jim... who was sensitive this time, calling Jesus "the Heavenly Chief".... and the witch doctor said, "yes, but what was His Name?"...so Jim told him, Jesus!... and the witch doctor said... I want to be in this Jesus tribe.  And the whole tribe's hearts were turned toward God.  

As I was reading, the girls started singing this song.... 

Whisper His Name (Jesus)

Whisper His Name (Jesus)

Whisper His Name (Jesus) and He will answer you...

Call out His Name (Jesus)

Call out His Name (Jesus)

Call out His Name (Jesus) and He will come to you...

Shout out His Name (Jesus)

Shout out His Name (Jesus)

Shout out His Name (Jesus) and He will run to you...

Those girls are incredible.

if you're gonna have a party...

...you may as well do it the day after Vacation Bible School!!  We did "God's Wild Kingdom" VBS which translated excellently into a Diego Safari themed party for Emma the Grace.  So after stealing props from the church (don't worry, stealing is OK if you get permission!) and wearing my cute Zebra print apron I made for the VBS "Craft Shack" workers, it all came together nicely.   And we played a game called wrap the mummy.  Everyone wanted to be wrapped!!

Party Party

Emma had a little party for her 3rd birthday.  We had it Saturday and invited some of her favorite people.  Because she has mostly only boys as friends, I thought we'd get to finally do a fun boy-themed party.  Pirate, I was thinking.  (I've always tried to talk the girls into Pirate parties with no luck!!)  ...but, no luck again!  Emma wanted a "Diego Plate Party". (Apparently that is what determines a theme!) So it was a Go, Diego, Go Party.  She had a lot of fun!  But I think by the time Sunday came around, she was a little done with all of the attention.  She needed all the attention, though.  Being the "middle" child it is not often all about her.  This time it was, and she loved it.  And was ready for it to be done when the time was right.

it's coming

I saw a notice in the window of the building near Costco, so it must be official!!!

Yea!!

she's almost 3

(on Sunday)

wandering

I have to admit it.  I am a blog wanderer.  Not that I have time to be... but as time flies by... I read on.  Click, click.  But all these blogger friends of mine have blogger friends of their own.  And some of them have pretty interesting lives!  Just kidding.  But, seriously, I randomly clicked through to this post and thought it was pretty good. I don't know who this lady is.  Or if my friend knows who this lady is.  ...Just try not to be distracted by all of the colorful advertisements and random clip art pictures (We'll talk about my love for simplicity later). The content is true... and good. Click on through... Here.

oh the feet

I was folding laundry (yes, laundry... it never ends!!) on the bed yesterday while Evie was having her bottle.  I love how she uses her little feet to help hold up the bottle!  Isn't it adorable?  Then, when the bottle was  gone, she'd already fallen asleep right there, having grabbed a washcloth I had folded as a make-shift blankie- And her 'lil legs stayed straight up even after she fell asleep.  So funny!!  

here's the pie...

so yummy... thanks, Abs.

Bath

Bath in the sink.  She was eating from her mesh-bag-self-feeder some fresh peaches.  She was a MESS.  So I threw her in the sink.  She smiled big as soon as she saw the camera.  And her toy... measuring spoons.  She tried to grab a knife, too. And then she stood up.  Then it was time to get out.  She's a cutie.... 

the Barn

This week Friday we went with some friends to the Avila Valley Barn for some summer fun.  We fed animals and picked berries.  I always love going fruit picking at the Barn.  Sweet breeze, the aroma of fresh berries, the peaceful quiet.  For a moment I felt the world slip back to simple times.

This "peafowl" is fanning it's train.... apparently to get the attention of the peacock it was courting, according to wikipedia.

Emma got an "owie" that she got a ton of sympathy for from Michael and Caleb.  It was so debilitating that she had to ride in the stroller the whole rest of the time, aside from the occasional daring step to the berry bush.  

Bella was ready for the harvest.  After picking raspberries, on our way to get some Olallieberries, we passed a corn field.  And before I could tell them not to, they were picking corn!  It was so precious that I couldn't even get upset. Even though corn is NOT one of the U-Picks at this farm, it was so incredibly sweet to me that they were ready to gather the crops.  When I tried to pay, the check out girl said "Did you pick these?  Because that is not really allowed."  Yes, I know.  I know.

Bella and her friend Katie taking a breather in the rows of berries.

Abigail gets the gold star for berry picking.  She picked so many and did not want to stop.  When we got home we took the berries she picked with her sweet little hands and made a pie.  She mixed the dough and rolled it out.  All with her sweet little hands.  And then she wanted to decorate the top with an "A" and a heart and a flower.  And although the "martha" side of me wanted to decline and instead make a picture perfect pie with a lattice top, the mom in me got the better.  So, and A and an I and a flower and a heart it was.  And she was happy, which was definitely worth the lack-of-cuteness.  And it will still be cute on the plate with a little vanilla ice cream. Yummy!

Family Pictures

It is really hard getting 4 little girls to all look at the camera all at once.  And then me and Todd not being distracted is another process.  But, a friend rose to the challenge, taking some family pics for us the other night.  My new header is just one of the many of everyone doing there own thing!  So funny.  She managed to capture 1 or 2 where we're all looking and mostly smiling.  You can be watching for them sometime in the next month via USPS.

Vegetarian Times

Harissa.  Pronounced hah-REE-sah.  So, I used green chiles instead of red and Todd thought it was guacamole, which is what it looks like- but absolutely NOT what it tasted like.  It was spicy spicy.  And smokey from the fire roasting of the peppers...   And garlicy from the garlic.  Mixed with cous cous as recommended, gave a yummy after-kick.  All together with a chick pea carrot mixture- even the girls loved it.  I can't believe it, but this recipe is a keeper! (from the June issue of Vegetarian Times, which, yes, I get monthly)

Harissa:

10-12 dried red peppers or fresh fire roasted chile of your choice

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp fennel

1 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp cumin

2 tbsp olive oil

All blended together in the processor.

Ok, so now that that's done, 

"Spicy Moroccan Chickpea Tacos"

Cook some onions in oil

Add 1 tsp fennel seeds, cook 2 minutes.

Add 2 cups cooked chick peas (or a can of them),

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/4 cup raisins (OK, I left these out because I don't like how raisins expand when cooked!)

1 Tbs harissa (I added 2)

1/3 cup grape tomatoes (or whatever kind you have, or none if you don't want any)

Serve over cous cous or inside corn tortillas.

Seriously, the girls even loved this one!

laundry day is....

apparently, a day for multi-tasking between loads.  Which has led to 3 blog posts, I guess.  Wow, I lead an exciting life! ...well, on Mondays, anyway.  

Anyway.  Latest Google search.  What is harissa?  Because this recipe tonight calls for it. Curious??  It is a spicy chili sauce used in North African cooking.  Cool, hey?  I am whipping some up with the chilies I randomly got last week from the 99 cent store.  I guess it will be an adventure in cooking this evening.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

if you get TBN

...then you should check out this show. It is really good!  The girls LOVE it.

Now, back to the laundry.....

Monday after a Holiday

Even though we actually pretty much had all day Saturday to recover, I still feel a little bit of a blur and fade today.  But laundry on top of laundry calls.  And I have to use the day for laundry.  So, hopefully I will get to it today.  It's already 10.  But the weekend was a party!  We had so much fun.  Good times with good friends.  I hope you all had a great fourth.  Once again, the fog rolled in here.  So, we had some green fog, some pink fog.... but fireworks themselves were not so visible.   But the funny thing about this town- even though we have a supposed "Zero-Tolerance Policy" for illegal fireworks, as many signs warned... was that we got a great showing around the neighborhoods.  There were some pretty cool ones all around us. So that was good.  So, Monday.  Laundry.  I need to go get to it.  Have a good day!

4th

Bounce Houses, Cupcakes, Watermelon Eating Contests.... fun, fun!

it's in the air

It is smokey outside and it smells like fire.  Every summer is fire season, but in the past 6 years, for as long as we've lived here, I've never noticed.  Even last year when there were "air advisories", I didn't notice.  And even when the airplanes were flying over our house everyday making trips from the ocean to the fires.  But today, I am noticing.  Maybe because there is a fire at Big Sur and one in Goleta, fast approaching Santa Ynez.  We're sort of in between, so pretty much any way the wind blows, it blows from a fire...

Or maybe it is just fireworks and the oak from the Santa Maria style barbecues.  I am not quite sure.  The thing is that it SMELLS like a party.  Like a big giant Fourth of July party.  And since tomorrow is the 4th, and lots of people must have today off, the town is buzzing. So, it's in the air. And so tomorrow, I know it's gonna be crazy.  Crazy people having crazy parties.  Shooting off crazy fireworks.  I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday.

it's the law

Today, July 1st.  No more cell phones without headsets while driving.  I witnessed several lawbreakers today.  I resisted.  As a side note, I did text while driving in order to avoid the whole ear-shoulder-hand-against-law-thing.... which I am pretty sure was even more dangerous.