One more Moore

Racist?

Hmmm....the 2nd time someone who reads this blog thinks so... did you see the comments over at ohdeedoh?  Really ??? Can't a girl just throw a teepee party? I thought teepees would be cool (and it was the idea of a 4 year-old anyway.) Sheesh. Now I apparently hate  Native Americans.

Ohdeedoh!!

psst...hey remember Henry's teepee party? Well, the lovely folks at Ohdeedoh are kicking off "Kids Party Month" and have featured Henry's part-ay. You can read all about it here, and be sure to check back- I can't wait to see all their great party ideas!

It's been a crazy few days- will be back next week more regularly.

Have a lovely weekend!

Today in the courtyard...

Because I haven't taken any pictures of this growing belly since July.

Because this is our month.

Because next month I'm sure I'll have forgotten how uncomfortable I once was.

Because I love these flowers that keep falling from the trees.

Because these are the only shoes that are comfortable, and I want to remember them. 

Because I'm so excited to meet our newest little one.

Because I can't wait to witness one more duckling enjoy life as much as these two do.

(and they are so excited to meet him, too!)

Happy November! It's gonna be a good one. 

I can just feel it.

A perfectly wonderful Halloween

Chris took some friends to the airport this morning and called to say he was stopping on the way home to take the children out for breakfast. I had costumes to make, costumes that I swore up & down I would not be finishing at the eleventh hour. The day was mine (and much needed!) The boys decided to carve pumpkins when they got home and there was the inevitable overheard conversation about the 'puking pumpkin' from the patio which minutes later caused Henry to run into the house in a frenzy "I need the bag of pumpkin guts!!!"  The costumes were finished a few hours ahead of time, phew, so... what were the little ducklings you ask? I introduce you to R2D2:Henry is totally into robots right now. He'd been swaying back & forth between being Wall-e and R2d2, and in the end, R2D2 won. I was glad, R2D2 seemed so much more doable than Wall-e. And Kate, well, she went as a grumpy garden gnome (and played the part oh so well)She has been sick and grumpy for the last few days and there was no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that hat was staying on for longer than 2.5 seconds. Last minute I decided to not use the previous flowers I posted about, but ones that were much bigger, which I ended up liking a lot more. And a little basket for gathering her treats. Too bad I forgot it and left it at home. Boo on that. Good thing we had a perfectly good gnome hat that was not being used.  So there you have it, R2D2 & Grumpy Garden Gnome:I'm quite partial to them. They were troopers in their costumes. Henry loved the tights. I think next year we'll just send him out in tights & a turtleneck. He'd be happy as a clam.  After the trunk-or-treat at church we drove though some local neighborhoods and Henry got out a few time to trick-or-treat.

 I love this image so much:The little R2 silhouette, and those skinny little legs, oh I love this boy. 

Happy Halloween!

Costuming

I feel like I've been hit by a freight train. I've been sick since Saturday. Oy oy oy. Body aches, sore throat, sniffles, it's been a killer.  I'm so behind on Halloween costumes. Kate's blue felt dress had to be made twice. 18 mo's/ 2T- they are similar...or so I thought. The 2T was gigantic and so the entire dress had to be remade. I'm glad though, the smaller version is such a better fit on her. Anyway- I've never made real people clothes out of felt before, have you? Probably not, I mean why would you make real people clothes out of craft felt?? I'm very excited about Kate's costume. It's going to be adorable (and a little bit hilarious.) Henry, well he keeps changing his mind. I'm going to have to just pick one and run with it. We'll be on the hunt tomorrow for costume parts (which has been a challenge thus far.)

Cough, cough.

I'm tired and going to bed.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Sacks

Each bag is approx 5 1/2" x 3". I have (7) packages available (50 bags per package.)

You can find them here in the shoppe.

Home sweet home

We made it, oh yes we made it. We are home and getting the very last few Halloween decorations out. It's a good thing I hadn't started Henrys' yet as he has completely changed his mind as to what he wants to be. Phew, that was close. I've got just over a week to crank out two costumes, which I have a feeling are going to keep me very busy. I went to Joann this evening for some supplies and the lady at the cutting table told me I looked very tired (and when is that baby coming out??) Thanks for that. Guess what? I'm beyond tired, lady! I was going through the Halloween bins and realized I have a lot of these vintage trick-or-treat bags. So many, that I'm sure I'll never use all of them so I'm going to put them in the shoppe on Thursday. I think I have around 5 or 6 packages and each package has 50 treat bags (bags are in original packaging) I know we are getting awfully close to Halloween so I'll make sure they ship out the same day they are ordered vis first class mail. Oh, and they'll be $10 for a package of 50. I think they are pretty swell!

We are getting a kick out of this commercial. Wait for it...

Sayonara

The rock stars are loaded up and we are headed  home.

Favorite Utah moment?

You know you are in Utah when:

1 GALLON OF SODA?????

Who on earth is trying to refill more than a gallon of SODA? And you know it's a problem, otherwise there wouldn't be a sign.

Oh, Utah...

Oh, you....

Bits and pieces of Fall

Me and my brother, Matt (a.k.a. one of the best substitute papa's to have around when the real one can't be there) took the children on a Sunday drive around the Alpine Loop this afternoon. I was worried we might have missed the best of it as it was a bit bare at the top, but as we rounded down to AF the colors got more & more breathtaking. As the seasons change, I've been thinking a lot about the changes our little family will be experiencing in the next few weeks. Thinking about how adding another child can split your attention even more. Thinking about how I will be able to give them all they need making sure that days aren't spent just going through the motions. I've been thinking alot about this quote:

"Above all else, children need to know and feel they are loved, wanted, and appreciated. They need to be assured of that often. Obviously, this is a role parents should fill, and most often the mother can do it best.

--Ezra Taft Benson

"Loved, wanted & appreciated often."  On the most challenging of days, I am most certain that  if all I have to give is that, I can do it.

My little ducklings make that so very easy to do.  I love them so.

Housewarming

I should have known the evening was off to a rocky start when Kate decided to climb into the bath WITH ALL HER CLOTHES AND SHOES ON. "MOM!!! Kate fell in the bath!!!" yelled Henry. I tear in there and she's happily playing with bath toys (of course.) Earlier in the afternoon I had started a batch of challah for Azucars' Housewarming Basket. I love a good challah. So it's rising, while I'm bathing the kids. I turn on the oven in hopes of warming up the place to help with the rise. Kate doesn't want to go to sleep. I briefly forget about the bread until it has risen so much, it's practically risen off the cookie sheet. I cook it anyway, but I don't hear the timer go off because I'm still trying to get Kate to sleep (read: I can't hear it over her loud shrills.) All I want is challah for the basket. Is that too much to ask? It burned. Kate, on queue, falls asleep shortly thereafter. Basically, this all means, I blame Kate. Sorry, Azucar, your freshly baked loaf of challah will have to wait.

Instead I enlisted the ever capable folks at Great Harvest Bread Co. and am delivering a saucy cinnamon sugar concoction. I'm sure you won't mind.

Congratulations on the new house (and I love the new coffee table!) 

xo

Pomplamoose

Loving Pomplamoose (thanks for the link, Alicia!) You should, too. You can find more of their music here.

Salmon on Puff Pastry

Last Sunday we went to my Aunt Ellen's house for dinner (well, we kind of invited ourselves and therefore thought it only appropriate to bring the main dish.) Ellen is a big fan of salmon and I instantly thought of this recipe that was posted by reader Brittney.

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Salmon on Puff Pastry

Ingredients

• 4 pieces of purchased puff pastry, each cut to be just larger than a piece of salmon
• 4 (4 to 6-ounce) pieces salmon
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup purchased pesto (I made from scratch using this recipe)
• 2 tomatoes, sliced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
On a foil-lined baking sheet, place the 4 pieces of puff pastry. Also place the 4 pieces of salmon, being careful to make sure they are not touching. Sprinkle each piece of salmon with 1 tablespoon of the sliced almonds. Bake for 10 minutes.

To serve, place each piece of puff pastry on a plate. Top each puff pastry with 1 tablespoon of pesto. Top the pesto with 2 slices of tomatoes each. Top the tomatoes with the salmon and serve.

We had about 6 adults and 2 kids, so we cut up roughly 8 pieces of puff pastry and put them on one baking sheet and put all the salmon on a separate baking sheet and baked at the same time. The salmon was drizzled with a little olive oil & kosher salt and pepper. This was also a good recipe for the kids because I could fed them the salmon sans the pesto, which they both liked. Also we used a big spoonful of pesto for each piece of salmon. Overall, very good. This is something you'll definitely need to plan for (do most people have salmon, puff pastry or pesto on hand?) but it was worth the planning. This would also be great for a party by making everything miniature (small pieces of salmon on puff pastry) Oh and Chris has issues with tomatoes... I know, sac-relig so we nixed them on this recipe.

Thanks, Brittney!

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I think we've made 2 or 3 other recipes from the comments, so I'll be posting those soon.

Happy cooking!

Enjoying Fall

A whole week  already? It was a busy one. We went to the farm last Monday to pick some pumpkins. Henry and I had spent the whole weekend getting out our Halloween decorations (2+ bins that are still quite full!) I'm glad I have a little holiday-lover, it makes them so much more fun to celebrate.
I am panicking a little that it's almost mid-October. There are still 2 costumes to make (I'm not budging on this- their costumes have to be handmade) and with a baby who is set to arrive next month, I'm feeling like Christmas needs to be all wrapped up before his arrival as I am sure I won't want to do a thing after he's born. I drove the kids up to Utah this weekend for one last little getaway. It's chilly here. I had to go and buy them both socks yesterday. Neither of them own a single pair. We never ever wear socks. Flip-flops, salt-waters, there's just no need for them in Los Angeles. Kate was so weirded out today when I tried to put them on her. Henry resisted too, but then later could not resist putting his feet in my face after pulling his socks off "see they aren't stinky!" (I'd still rather go for the stink.)
Okay, I lied. I think Kate has 1 or 2 pair, as evidenced in the above photo of her on her first pony ride at the farm. It was chilly that day. Anyway, she loved riding on Marshmallow. Henry chose this pumpkin. Apparently it is of the 'millionaire' variety (at least that's what the lady at checkout told us...and why it was twice the cost of the other pumpkins...humph?)Kate was happy as a clam with this little one and I think it suits her perfectly. Looking forward to a fun, and hopefully relaxing, week here in Utah. Hoping baby doesn't decide to come early (what am I thinking- both babies went a week past their due date!) and still trying to justify that it's perfectly acceptable to try to pass off wearing my black stretchy straight-legged pajama bottoms as regular people pants whilst in public. At this point even the maternity clothes are getting a bit well, ahem....snug. I just need the comfort people!

Happy October!

Apple-ing

Happy October! Oh, how I love October. Fall, it's finally, finally starting to feel (and smell!) like Fall. The temperature has dropped about 15 degrees and the air is cool and crisp. Apple season is in full-swing and I'm pulling out all the stops! Yesterday, Henry & I made a Caramel Apple Pie. Yum!

He peeled and sliced all the apples himself (yay for child labor!)
A little sug sug, spices, you get the point.

Brown sugar and oat crumb topping (have you passed out yet?)

It's one of my all time favorite apple pie recipes. I'm not crazy about pie crust, so this is perfect because the crust is only on the bottom. It's good, folks. I've posted about it before, but had to do it again. Want the recipe? Here you go.

You're welcome.

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Apple Pie

• 1 Pastry crust for a deep dish 9" pie (you can make  or purchase  ready-made)
• 1/2 C Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Flour
• 1 1/2 tsp Apple Pie Spice OR Cinnamon (or allspice works great, too)
  
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 6-8 Cups Apples, sliced thinly

Crumb Topping:

• 1 C Brown Sugar
• 1/2 C rolled oats
• 1/2 C Flour
• 1/2 C Butter

Directions:

Stir together brown sugar, flour & oats. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until topping resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, flour, spice & salt. Add apples & toss to coat. Put into pie shell. Add all of the crumb mixture on top of the apples (until all the apples are covered with the mixture). You will need to press it onto the apples to make it stay. You can cover the edges of the pie with aluminum foil for the first 25 minutes to prevent burning, but I usually avoid this step and the pie turns out fine. Bake at 375 for 50-55 minutes. Allow the pie to cool for 10-15 minutes & drizzle the top with your favorite caramel. Enjoy!

******************************************************************** p.s. seems like my sister has apples on her brain as well! Click here for another delicious (and gorgeous)  apple pie or click here for her caramel covered apples!

Chicken & Apple Curry

You guys are the best- I mean, THE BEST. I can't wait to try out all the recipes (and feel free to continue adding if you have some good ones!) I'm going to post a few every week over the next while so check back for some great dinner options.

Last nights dinner was Chicken & Apple Curry, compliments of Amy @ Radseams.com

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Chicken and Apple Curry

3 T. Butter
2 small onions, chopped
2 apples- peeled and cored and finely chopped
3 T. all purpose flour
1 T. Curry powder
8 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 C. hot chicken broth
1 C. Milk
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350

Saute apple and onion in butter until tender. Add curry powder and saute 1 more min. Add flour and continue to cook 1 min. longer. Add broth and milk, stir well

Salt and pepper chicken breasts to taste and lay in a single layer in a 9x13 baking dish. Pour sauce mixture over chicken breasts and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 min, until chicken is done.

*That is how the recipe was when I found it. I made some changes. I like my curries with rice so I cut up the chicken in bite size chunks and cooked it with salt and pepper in a frying pan. I cooked the sauce in a sauce pan added more broth to make it more of a gravy and added the chicken in the sauce pan. I didn't use the oven.

Thanks, Amy!

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Since we are still a small family of 4, we only used 2 chicken breasts and sliced them up into strips before putting them into the pan, but made the full sauce recipe as stated. We also decided to serve it on rice. I added about 1 C of raisins to the curry mixture (blame our Indian neighbors upstairs, they are always talking about 'raisin rice'!)  This was a great recipe even if you have kids. We served the rice separately with steamed veggies (we did broccoli). Also, you can reserve some of the chicken and grill it up without the sauce. Kate loved the curry, Henry shys away from anything saucy (including any and all condiments.) You can also omit the chicken if you are vegetarian- the curry was soo good! We LOVED this recipe, give it a try, i'm sure you'll love it, too!

Happy Cooking!!