More pics from the Wildwood Beach quick trip last month...

We did a brief whirlwind trip down to Wildwood, NJ for Ben's Mom's family beach trip. It's getting harder and harder to make it to these types of events. There are so many demands on our schedules these days and with both kids and their schedules and our increasing lack of funds... it gets crazy around here... 

But we did make it for one good day of fun and sun and sand... Ben's cousin Ryan and his wife Stacia (HI GUYS!!) have two kids about the same ages as our kids so it's fun to get them together, albeit complete chaos... 

Olivia and Esther found these glasses under a bed in the rental house... and then proceeded to wear them around. I have to say, this last picture is probably one of my all time favorite pictures of Esther. She looks so much like me for once.

[Photos courtesy of Ryan Rush. Thanks Ryan!!!]


These next bunch of photos are from the same weekend but are courtesy of Oma. Thanks Oma!
(and sorry they're so late in the posting...)

i look like such a little kid here... a kid with blue lips...

ok, NOW it's summer... (now that it's practically over)

I did it. I manned up and made homemade ice cream for the first time. My mother bought the kitchenaid ice cream maker and has since been a tornado of frozen delicacy...

Which, while delicious, adds to my fear of attempting such gastronomical feats... if i haven't said this already, i'm going to say it now in no uncertain terms: My mother is an intense perfectionist!

Anything and everything she does makes my attempts look like dog doo... so in an effort of self preservation or perhaps pride or perhaps laziness, i simply don't do the things she does because, let's face it, if she does it a thousand times better than i ever could, i'm just going to sweet-talk her into doing it for me. this does not bode well for that dark day when she dies... which she will no doubt do with either utter grace and significance, or with a loud, enviable bang.

Ok, back to the ice cream. SO, i sucked it up (she had a prior engagement so i couldn't talk her into doing it for me) and made ice cream. and you know what?  IT WASN'T HARD AT ALL!!!!!!!!

I was nervous because the recipe i settled on (the French Vanilla recipe that came with the ice cream maker instructions (page 8 of this pdf) -- which i was going to add peaches to to make peach ice cream) required cooking. and for ice cream you're basically making a custard. I don't do custards... or puddings... or any of that wonky stuff.

But i did it. it didn't suck... i didn't burn it... i didn't have any trouble separating the yolks from the whites... and i even forgot to stir it often... and i didn't use a double boiler...

Admittedly, the peach ice cream was a bit icy but that's because i didn't have time to freeze the peaches first. But the french vanilla was ASTOUNDINGLY phenomenal. it was just like store bought, but better... and fluffy... and creamy... and oh dear god. i want more.

i'm hooked...

(i would have taken pictures but my camera sucks and next to joe's i would just feel miles worth of inadequate. Maybe i could sweet talk him into being our private photographer just for the blog... i could pay him with ice cream!!!)

Some photo error on Joe's pictures so here they are again, and more...

when i finally decide to go back to working on that book i might some day maybe possibly but probably not ever finish. Joe will be in charge of the cover art.

The past two weekends...

 we took the kids out to eat after a rainy day indoors... Esther sported goggles and rain boots... cutest thing ever!

 Asa's cheesy grin!

 Ben's idea of child appropriate drawings...

 This is me wrestling with Asa to clip his wolverine fingernails... poor kid will be traumatized... but in my defense i almost lost an eye to those ice picks!

 Typical summer evening in our undies!

This was from this past weekend. That is Olivia (Asa's and Esther's second cousin. Ben's first cousin once removed.)  -- yes it's the only picture i took from this past weekend with ben's family at the beach... why? because i'm lazy and terrible at taking pictures even when i do remember...

Backpacking Bitches

I started a new blog to plan, discuss, and eventually document this annual trip. 

I sent out invitations to people whom i have saved e-mail addresses for but i'm sure i did not get it out to everyone. The site should be viewable to everyone so feel free to give the site out to folks! But please e-mail me because i want to know who is interested!

So anyhow GO VISIT "Backpacking Bitches!!!"

First Annual All-Girl Backpacking trip!!!

Ok Lovelies!

I have been day dreaming about getting this going for years now and i think this may be the first year it is a possibility for me.

I want to start an annual all-girl backpacking trip. It will be in the fall (sept, oct, or nov). I'm trying to figure out the best way to get everyone's input on this event. Any ideas on the best online collaboration tool for this? i have no idea who, how many, or when anyone would be interested in this so it'd be good if we all had a way to discuss.

ideas?

My new imaginary boyfriend

This is Jonah Lehrer.
 http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2010/07/will_i.php

Aside from writing interesting things for various interesting publications and being a decent writer he's absolutely adorable! i want to dip him in the lemon meringue pie and put him in my pocket.

no what i mean is, "will i dip him in lemon meringue pie and put him in my pocket?"

Missed one!

Oh my freakin' god i totally missed one of the best things at the party!

Jessica Hopkins' (Ben's sister) Lemon Meringue Pie. It was phenomenal! Truly amazing. I won't even attempt anything of that caliber... what can i say... i'm lazy...

 (again this picture was thieved from the internet somewheres...)

My Birthday Party

First i would like to say a HUGE, MASSIVE, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, FANTASTICALLY GIGANTIC THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!  to Jessica and Eric Dymond. You guys are truly amazing, generous, sweet culinary geniuses.

So, in honor of the big 29 (yes, i've decided i'm no longer 30, i'm now 29 again), Jessica and Eric hosted my birthday party. Mostly because i'm lazy and didn't feel like having it here, and also because Jes is also turning 29 again this year and understands all the b.s. that i'm feeling over it.

Now, I'm a jerk and can't seem to remember to take pictures and because of that this is going to be a semi-lame post. But maybe i can find some stock photos of the food they made online and that will at least make you drool all over your keyboard and short circuit your computer and then you'll no longer care that i'm just not capable of taking pictures...ever...

They made:

Shrimp Spring rolls

Chicken Satay
With the most amazing peanut sauce i've ever had!

Sangria

Margaritas

deviled eggs

tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad

And Terri made a fantastic wheat-berry salad which i keep eating for breakfast. (which i couldn't find a picture of the exact kind she made...)


I'm sure one day i'll get nailed for infringing on copyrights or something but in the mean time enjoy these stock photos of the food we enjoyed.

And to all of you who could make it, Thank you for coming and watching me get tanked. You're all very sweet.

Generally speaking, and compared to other parties this year, it was a very laid-back, tame party. and perhaps just what we all needed. It was good to see you all.

I'm glad to know i'm going into my second 29th year with such good friends who love me.

Article on Parenting from Laura Socks

All Joy and No Fun

Why parents hate parenting.

 it's long but worth the read. thanks Laura Mae!
http://nymag.com/news/features/67024/

Shopping Post! - Cutest Tea Kettles EVER!

ok, so i've decided to do some random shopping posts like Rare Bird Finds or the likes do. So this week it's tea kettles because DAMN who doesn't love a freaking cute as heck tea kettle??

All of these can be found on etsy. I think if you click the picture it will take you there...

I'm an insane person...

I'm a mess.
I'm so incredibly insecure and self conscious these days. Could be just hormones. Could be that i stopped nursing Asa and the inevitable impact from that is taking hold. Namely, gaining weight. Can't keep eating like a nursing mama when i'm not... stupid love of and weakness for food.

I'm so tired.

Work is killing me. There's only so much niceness i have in me -- and it's not a lot. it's not even on the low end of average... and now it's pretty much empty. I hate being nice.

i'm going to be one of those lonely old cat ladies but i won't even be nice to the cats i'll just kick them around so i have someone to be mean to...

And now i'm 30. PPPFFTTT!!!

(think i'll get caught if i start putting wine in my coffee mug at work?)

A parenting post

Okay, so I didn't want to jinx it but I'm just too damn excited and even if it goes back to normal now we'll still have had this oasis of joy and well-restedness.

Since the wedding, which involved house guests (a family of three- the absolute cutest family EVER, hi walkers!!!!) we have been putting both kids to sleep upstairs in *gasp* the kids room. During the house guests ben and I slept up there too on the futon sofa bed thing. Well, we decided to keep it up for a bit. Now before everyone gets too syked for me, this involves ME (not, under any circumstances short of death, Ben) putting both crazy kids to sleep. It's a bit intense, like when I'm reading a book to Esther Asa is trying to climb over my face to pull the covers off her which ultimately results in a fight. But somehow we manage to break through the first stretch of restlessness with few tears and minimal whining and low and behold some crazy magic takes hold and zonks out at least Asa and then if Esther is still awake I count to twenty and rub her back and then leave her for ten to fifteen minutes and go up and do it again until she falls asleep. Now to the lot of you who are shaking your heads at this intense circus - this is a HUGE improvement. A) Asa is no longer sleeping in our bed!! B) Asa is waking up only once at night and Esther is sleeping through the night more often than not. Yes, folks Esther has finally almost started sleeping through the night (she's only 3.75 years old). And C) it no longer takes Asa an hour or more of crying, fussing, throwing himself on the floor, and pulling out his own hair and Ben's while trying to fall asleep.

So yay for us. Now if only it keeps up... And we can kick this cold we all seemed to get at the end of last week.

Sent from my iPhone

First day of the thirty-first year of my life. Total success. Thank you mom, babies, ben, and ceci!!! And and all of you who sent me birthday wishes. you're all so very sweet!!!