It's Official

K is going back to school.

He registered this morning ,
He starts his classes on June 1.

all I can say is
WOO to the HOO!!!

Can you tell I am SUPER excited???

p.s. He is going to become a nurse. He would like to work
in Triage/Emergency room.

Cauliflower, Green Peas and Potatoes In a Spicy Herb Sauce

I like this recipe usually in the fall or winter, nice warm feeling. And today after all this lovely snow we were hit with, I thought we needed a nice warm dinner.

I cooked this for the family I nannied for. So, I am not sure who to give credit for this recipe.
We'll just say from the kitchen of LH...(it might have come from Cooking Light)

• 1 small head cauliflower
• 3 medium sized potatoes
• 1/2 cup light vegetable oil
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 Tbs ground coriander
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1/2-1 tsp. cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 1 1/2 cups shelled fresh green peas, or 1 ten ounce package frozen peas, defrosted
• 3/4 C canned tomato puree
• 4 tsp. Kosher salt
• 3 cups boiling water
  

1. Wash cauliflower in running cold water. Break or cut it into about 1 1/2-inch pieces.

2. Peel potatoes and cut each into bite size pieces.

3. Measure out all spices and place them, and all the veggies next to the stove.

4. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a deep heavy-bottomed pan. When the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds, and fry until they turn dark brown (about 20 seconds). Add cumin powder, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne pepper all at once. Stir for a moment and immediately add cauliflower, potatoes, and fresh green peas. (If you are using frozen peas, do not add them yet). Fry, stirring constantly, until the vegetables begin to sear a bit (about 5 minutes). Add tomatoes (or puree) and continue frying until the puree thickens (about 3 minutes). Add 3 cups boiling water along with the salt. Reduce heat and simmer vegetables, covered, until they are tender and cooked through(about 15-20 minutes). If you are using frozen peas, add them now, and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Turn off heat. Check for salt add more if needed. Serve over rice.

Dear cough, cold, flu etc, season(s)

I am so tired of you visiting my home. Please don't come back for a LOOONNNGGG time!
I am tired of my kids being sick, and now I am tired of being sick. I am tired of wiping little runny noses. I am tired of finally getting rid of one ailment, only to have three more visit us. SERIOUSLY Leave us alone.
We have had our fare share. Go visit someone else (preferably not to someone who will turn
around and share it with us. Leave our friends alone too.)

xoxo,
Tired of being Sick Mommy

Lucky Enough

A few weeks ago I blogged about how I am not very lucky when it comes to winning things
(not including the time I put a nickel in a slot machine in Reno when I was 19 and then all of a sudden lights and whistles start going off JACK POT, won $250 in nickles - now that's a lot of change. Or the time I put some money on 3 on the roulette table again, under age and WON - so maybe when it comes to things I shouldn't be doing I am lucky??? hmmm won't be sharing that with my daughter any time soon!)
ANYWAY, back to my story I am not very lucky when it comes to entering contests.
(click HERE for post).
Since blogging about it I have entered many a give-a-way on blogs around the blog-o-sphere and have yet to win anything. However, my sister (LOVE HER! and not because she gets me pretty things...) But, saw the post and decided to let me pick out a little necklace just for me and just because.
And it came in the mail TODAY!!! I LOVE it.
Hooray for Good Mail!
I chose the Layers of sentiment... which is one that I had not noticed, but my sister pointed it out. I loved the little feet which made me think of little bare feet on the sand, and then the sample also had Hawaiian names on it, and well that just sealed the deal! Had to have the girls Hawaiian names put on it.

Miss M's new favorite

This cute show use to be on PBS - but has switched now to Sprout PBS (which is not free, cable only and no basic cable.) But it's cute and fun to watch. (which we get our fill in when house sitting at my sisters plus it's On Demand score!) Miss M is all about animals and wants to be a veterinarian/ballet teacher when she grows up. (Although she did just mention to me that she would like to go up into space, so maybe a future astronaut in the making. What ever she is I know she will be great.

Here's a clip of the show she L O V E S

So Glad I have Little Girls

So that I can make Cute things like this for them
AHH, and I am obsessed,
I LOVE making these hair clips!
(nothing against little boys... it's just, how sad would it be if I had little boys and made them wear all these hair clips!)

(the cute red and green polka-dots were made by my Mother-in-law SO CUTE!)

I want to point out, the dragon fly clips (under the orange bow clip) Miss M made those. She is very proud of her self. And I must say, she is mean with a glue gun!

Also, I have found time to make some of these.

Wish I would have thought to take pictures of the ones I just gave away...

It's a good feeling to have a hobby that helps me relax.
hmmm, what to pick up next. Maybe I should try that Sizzix machine I've never used.
Or how about that sewing machine I've used less than a handful of times...

Blessed, Humbled, Thankful

I have much to be thankful for, but I think that sometimes I forget about all of the big and small things I should be thankful for. Especially when things in your life are bleak. It is easy to forget
how blessed one is.

Today - as well as most days I am thankful for wonderful kind friends )family included) who bless me.

Recently-ish (I know not a word) little gifts have been left for me, (on my refrigerator - or in envelopes) cards have been sent, phone calls made, e-mails and packages. And some of them anonymously. Like today for example a package came with beautiful Easter dresses in it for my girls. I was moved to tears. I don't know who you are, but thank you, thank you!
I have made several phone calls in hopes of tracking down this wonderful person - but NO ONE
will pick up their phones!

I am humbled at the out pour of love I receive. Humbled that I forget how special I really am, how lucky I am, how blessed I am.

So thank you dear anonymous friends.
Thank you!

A Dare or Pay it Forward...

Or you could say I WON something!
I accepted the Challenge from Mostess Mommy - and so now am extending
it to you...

I double dare you to accept this challenge.

This game involves a few of my favorite things: handmade goods, creativity, and gift-giving. Here are the tagging instructions: The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. Burn a cd...If I knitted, it could be that... I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Happy St. Patty's day to ya!

We had a wonderful St. Patty's day! The weather couldn't have been more beautiful!

74 degrees - we will take it ANY DAY!
We met some friends at a park and enjoyed the weather.
I made a pot roast for dinner - sorry K, no corn beef for you...

When we were getting ready to leave the park, Miss A walked into a bush and really poked her eye, of course it happens right before we take a family photo. But it turned out OK anyway.

Hope your St. Patty's day was spectacular!

(the girls enjoying the Train ride at All aboard diner)

There's Only 1 Thing 2 do 3 words 4 you...

I watched this music video on You Tube tonight.

Click HERE to watch it

Notice anything familiar in it?
Wish I would have been down town on Dec. 28
Love this song, Love Chicago, Love this video!


Then, I discovered this site HERE
you can dedicate the video and upload your own photo's to be put into the video.

This is who I would want to meet...

You know those e-mail surveys that are all about you, your favorite movie, color, or if you could have lunch with one person alive or dead who would it be?
I never know what to answer to that one. Should it be a person who had an impact in my life, or in the world. Some one who has inspired me, or some one I'm "obsessed" with...
Well after watching this You Tube video my sister shared with me. This is who I would want to meet and sing with, just like Ellen did.



Although, I think I would want to meet Ellen too. We could all sing together. Especially this song.
I am SO in the mood for a Karaoke night! Anyone else?

Happy Birthday Uncle Kandon!

Have a WONDERFUL Day, Dr. Kamae!

If Your Happy and You Know it

Check out this book!

Tonight, during story time I read If Your Happy And You Know it - the Jungle edition.

By James Warhola

The girls had so much fun, clapping, crawling, jumping, stomping, roaring and coming up with more jungle animal ideas.
Great book, fun illustrations.

I thought of so many fun things I could do with this book, hmm, I am thinking I should be a preschool teacher or something. All these creative ideas up in my head. Or maybe start an "all by myself class" out of my own home. You'd bring your kids right?

Miss A 16 months olds

it's march already!? Even though it seems as if this winter will never end. Here it is March, and little teases of spring. I refuse to wear a winter jacket any longer, and I believe Miss M feels the same.

Really nothing newish is happening in our corner of the world.
My kids, drive me right to the brink, and then do something completely adorable and I remember I do love them unconditionally!

Miss A is 16 months old. She learns something new everyday. I can't even keep up.
Her new favorite words "Uh-Oh" "Hi Dad" (to whomever she is talking with on the phone)
"aaapole" (apple) "Momah" (as if she is Italian) and don't confuse it with "Ma-Ma" (Miss M)
"shish" (Fish) she still loves "Gogs" (dogs) and "Ducks" (which are ALL birds) "ball"
loves to give high fives and loves
to hear Mommy, Daddy, Miss M make animal sounds. I think we totally amuse her.

She Loves to say her prayers.

"than...kau kau"
(thank you for the food)
"than...sish)
(thank you for Oscar)
"than...Momah, Dad, Ma Ma)
thank you for my family
"men"
(Amen)

She also HATES to take a bath - unless Miss M is with her, and then it's totally ok.

She loves to dress up, has discovered buckles/snaps. Loves to help Momah in her craft
room - a whole world behind that locked door.

She loves to pose for the camera "cheese".
Is becoming more picky with eating.
She likes Life cereal for breakfast. Or any meal.
Even if that means 10 at night.

One of the cutest things she did (if I do say so myself) was when Miss M was having a sad moment Miss A walked over to her, put her arms around her and babbled in her cute little voice comforting her sister as her sister often does to her. It amazes me how children have instincts. Miss A is a nurturer.

She wants to do EVERYTHING her sister does.

She is a monkey - so much more than Miss M ever was. Climbs everything. The table is
her favorite jungle gym. And has NO fear. Will jump from anywhere. Even if you are not
close by to catch her.

and this is the face I see when she wants on my lap when I am at the computer


Oh and she has gotten really good at throwing tantrums. At the moment it is still cute...ask me again in a few months

ballerina tantrum from Rebekeh on Vimeo.