All about food

I never get to write about food as often as I want. These days, we try to make meals easy, quick and cheap and I haven't had a lot of time to explore and be creative. I recently made two similar meals that were delicious, easy and cheap. We had the ingredients on hand and they came out really well. I have been having fun using different proteins beyond meats and these two dishes highlight eggs as their main protein.

The first was an attempt at copying a friends meal. They had us over for brunch and the food was delicious! They have farmland up north and raise their own chickens. Let me just say, Danny and I are hooked on fresh eggs. They really do taste different and can complete a meal.

I took some roma tomatoes and made a basic sauce. Then I simply cracked a few eggs in and poached them in the tomato sauce. I served it in a bowl with some arugula and bread on the side and ta da! Simple, cheap and delicious.

 

For the next meal I decided to use up the left over bread and make egg sandwiches. We had bacon in the freezer, tons of arugula, onions (always) and more eggs. I caramelized the onions then added a little mayonnaise to the bread, layered arugula, bacon, and egg, some salt and pepper and served them as open faced sandwiches.What can go wrong when you use bacon??

This is Halloween

Caleb's first Halloween was so fun! We took him downtown to Snohomish where all the businesses open up to trick-or-treaters. Caleb didn't do any trick-or-treating, but we had fun walking around with him in his monkey costume and Maddie in her plane outfit. It was pretty busy and all the kids were so cute! How many Elsa's did we see....

The weather was terrible this year as we had a storm blowing through that weekend. Many areas were on flood watch due to large amounts of rain over the past couple of days. We didn't get many trick-or-treaters and a few of them that did come to our door were sopping wet.

Caleb in his monkey outfit downtown:

Recently we took a trip to California to visit my aunts, uncles, grandma and cousins. It was so great to see everyone. It had been several years and I am not sure when we will get a chance to go back. Caleb did well on the flight. I nursed him on the way up then he slept most of the time and was too busy when we descended to nurse but it didn't seem to affect his ears. He slept terribly once we were down there and we are not sure if it's because he was teething, new place, he wasn't comfortable, could see us...we may never figure these things out. Everyone enjoyed getting to meet him and he loved exploring a new place.

For part of our trip we traveled up to the Redwood Forrest. I can't remember how old I was when I first saw these trees, but wow! they are HUGE! and beautiful . It's hard to imagine how something so big can be on this earth. And the trees themselves are impressive- the root system is as wide as the tree is tall (we are talking hundreds of feet) and the roots intertwine themselves with nearby trees making them less susceptible to being blown over. The bark is naturally fire retardant which is part of the reason they have been around for so long and are able to grow so large.  

We spent some time in Monterrey and Carmel on the beaches and exploring the wharfs. It was fun to watch the seals play in the ocean and Caleb was excited to see the waves crashing on shore and onto his little toes.

Another Summer at an End

Time has been flying by and I have hardly noticed. We have been busy watching Caleb grow up and I have almost forgotten about blogging and recording it all.

Eating one of his favorites, parsnip fries

The biggest news, Caleb is walking, or should I say running. He walks on his own, stands up against objects, then walks away to the next best thing and lately has been working on his run. Sometimes he needs some help to get started and can't stand on his own, but he is so cute when doing it. We are really proud of him and finally remembered to get it on camera. I guess we just like to rely on memories, not pictures! But really, we need to try and take more video.

He says dada and I think mama but so much of it is babble. He talks, we listen, and sometimes think we heard a sound that resembles a word, like oomba for Roomba? He is beginning to wave and still loves his puppy. One of his favorite activities is to get on our couch and then fall off the edge into our arms. He laughs so much! Caleb is ticklish all over and giggles at everything. He loves to pull himself up on our stove (not okay) but laughs when we tell him no....he has nonstop energy. He loves to crawl up stairs, grab our hand and take us for a walk or to show us something. He will also push anything and loves to re-arrange our furniture. The house is a constant mess but Caleb is making so many memories and learning from it all.

Caleb and Danny at our nephews soccer game

Fall has been great so far! We took our traditional trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze where Caleb had a great time climbing all over the pumpkins and being pushed in the wheel barrow (and also pushing it himself). He loved grabbing the corn stalks and smiling at everyone who passed. This boy is too cute! He was scared of the farm animals. I was so excited to take him to the petting zoo since he loved the zoo in Portland so much, but he started crying when he saw the llamas. We have concluded he loves wild animals that are life threatening but is scared of cute, harmless farm animals. We have a winner.

In adult news, Danny recently got back from a work trip in Thailand, he was gone for a week and it was a tough week for me! The trip went well for Danny. We have no family or friends in the area to help us. Our friends are "not at the kid stage" yet, so when Danny is gone, it's just me. I can't call anyone to come over real quick, meet up with, no breaks, no adults....it's exhausting. I love this kid and love spending time with him but I need some support. It has been so hard to meet people as everyone seems to already have their "group". I was told once Seattle is a tough place to meet friends because people will have a great conversation with you, but their door will never open. I never thought this was true until now. So here is to hoping we stumble upon an amazing community soon. Crossing my fingers...

We are looking forward to the holidays and continuing to introduce Caleb to our family traditions. We have our first flight to with Caleb next week and are pretty excited and pretty nervous. I am sure we are over thinking it, but with a little one who hates to sit still we can only hope for the best.  Bring on the games, toys and breaking all parenting rules we have just to get through the two and a half hour flight to California!

Growing, Growing, Growing

This little man of ours is SO MUCH FUN. Once he learned how to roll, he didn't stop. He would roll from one place to another. Now he has perfected the crawl and is in to absolutely everything. He is pulling himself up on anything that is within reach and it is so much fun (although sometimes exhausting) watching this guy grow. Caleb has also mastered the belly laugh, he is ticklish all over and sometimes he just laughs out loud on his own or at silly faces from mom and dad. The world is a big ball of curiosity to him and him and Maddie are becoming great friends. Caleb will pull at her hair and ears and she grudgingly puts up with it.

Caleb is about seven and a half months now and I have a feeling it will not be long until he is walking. He is going though a bit of a fussy phase, he has realized that mom and dad can walk away, he wants attention, and to add to add to the mix, he is teething. But, it's just a phase, or at least I hope so! I am also sure the heat we have doesn't help.

We had family pictures at Golden Gardens which were so fun. It was Caleb's first time at the beach and he loved the sand, especially grabbing fist-fulls and putting them in his mouth. The fun never stops. 

I caught Caleb getting into the dog toys! Sneaky boy.

This too Shall Pass

This too shall pass. It's a saying I never heard until I became a mother. Often referenced in light of frustrating or exhausting times, it what mothers are told to help see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have used it. But I have used it in moments of love and comfort, not just desperation.

I may be creating bad habits by letting Caleb nap on me. I may be creating a bad habit by not working harder at getting him to sleep at night. And there are others...but this too shall pass. It won't be too long until Caleb is too heavy to hold in my arms, until he sleeps through the night and doesn't need us for comfort, until he doesn't want to nap, until he will no longer need me for his meals, or until he doesn't want us when he cries. But there are parts of me that really don't mind waking up at night despite how exhausted I am. There are parts of me that don't mind changing every single diaper of his, or even the blowouts as odd as that sounds. Because....this too shall pass.

Right now I am focusing on my family. I have never taken a break from working really hard at my career, I have always volunteered for every opportunity at work, and worked towards the next promotion. In fact, since I was twelve, I have always had a job. I have never given myself a break. Partly because I needed the money (granted, at twelve I can't justify how much I really needed the money), but much of that because I have simply worked really hard to get where I wanted to go. But  now, for a little while or maybe forever, I am taking a middle seat to my career. I can never get back these moments with my family and Caleb, Danny and I will only grow older.....and this too shall pass.

Update*
I wrote this blog a few weeks back, and never got around to posting it. But Caleb is now sleeping in his crib during naps and, I was right, I do miss his warm, cuddly body. While it is nice to get things done, he isn't the best napper. I often to choose between a shower, a quick work out, clean house, nap, reading...etc. before he wakes up again.

We are ninety percent sure he will have teeth emerging soon. His nights have thrown us for a loop again. He found out how to role over in his crib (which he has been doing for a while, but now does it at night) and has become a side and tummy sleeper. That's great and all....except now he cries out when he roles to his tummy at night. As if he were saying, "dang! I didn't mean to roll...and I am too tired to roll back...mooooommmmmm? Daaaaaaad? Help"! So we stumble to his nursery and help him. This too shall pass....

He smiles and giggles when he sees mom and dad. He turns to his name and gets happy and bounces. He loves to watch us doing anything around the house and roles over and over and over. Caleb is becoming much more interested in Maddie. He pets her, stares at her, and has started talking to her. She doesn't quite feel the same toward him but will learn soon enough.

"Quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep"~ From one sleepy mama to another...

Our Happy Family

We had a wonderful laid back Easter. With just the three of us, we kept things very simple by going to to church in the morning and somehow managed to make it to the 8am service. After we got home we had brunch and took some pictures and of course stuffed our faces with Easter candy and deviled eggs.

He is beginning to look like such a little boy! All dressed up for Easter.

Danny making brunch

Our little happy family. Caleb is very excited about this.

In other news, Danny accepted a new position at work and is really enjoying it. Danny will be working as a supplier integration leader...in layman terms, he will judge the health of the supplier and either tell Boeing yay or nay to keeping them around. He will be working with suppliers in Thailand, Germany, Italy, and California. Needless to say, Caleb and I are already planning to tag along next year for Italy. In the meantime, I have told Danny to pack his suitcase full of wine, coffee, chocolate, pasta and really anything else he can find in the country.

Our next near adventure will take us to Washington, DC in October. Rumor has it, fall in DC is gorgeous and the humidity has dropped. Caleb can still fly for free and we are starting our prayers early for an easy flight. If you want to join in on those prayers, feel free, we are very welcoming.

Beyond these exciting details, life is rolling by! We are happily looking forward to the hiking season and in the market for a good backpack for Caleb (to carry him in, not make him wear....we feel we need to clarify this). Maddie will be happy to feel like a part of the family again as she has taken on the neglected second child persona. Although I secretly think she is really happy being even more lazy, as if that were possible. However, squirrel season is now upon us and Maddie has taken on her duty as backyard protector and bird chaser- it's one of the ways she works off her winter weight. It's a win win.

Until next time, enjoy!

Just Pictures

I get a picture sent to me everyday at work, this is one of my favorites!

We finally got to meet our niece, Haley. What a cutie!

Just a few pictures to share! Caleb is growing so fast and we are learning his personality everyday. He is go go go and doesn't like us to sit still if we are holding him. He loves to explore the world (in our arms) and I am sure that when he learns to crawl, he won't stop. He will learn to run, not walk and will get into everything. He is such a happy little boy and is making our lives so full of joy. His laugh is the happiest sound in the world and can make any day, even the worst day, the best day.

Lent

To touch upon this season of Lent, I love this message that Pope Francis has provided. Many times during Lent we think too often of giving up something material and it can feel more like a New Years Resolution, which is not what the season is about. To steal directly from the author of the article below, "If you want to change your body, perhaps alcohol and candy is the way to go. But if you want to change your heart, a harder fast is needed." 

What if we had no material possession to give up, what would we do? As Pope Francis states, "whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor." This message provides prospective. 

(I can't make the hyperlink work...copy and paste the address into your web browser)

Pope Francis on Lent

http://time.com/3714056/pope-francis-lent-2015-fasting/

Growing up!

Being a parent is hard work! But we are surviving. Caleb had changed everything for us. Gone are the days of staying out late, being spontaneous, going out to eat and sleep. We are figuring things out day by day since Caleb is new to this world and our world is new as well. Just when we think we have this parenting thing down, Caleb surprises us and throws us back to square one. But he makes it as easy as a baby can make this on us (let's be honest, he is still a a baby). He is such a happy baby and has just started sleeping through the night! But I miss my little cuddle bug. 

     I return to work in March and I know it will be the hardest decision I have ever made. Danny will have to throw me out of the house, lock the door and take the keys. We have hired a nanny to come to our home everyday which eases my mind and will make our mornings less stressful. I am switching to working four days a week and one day I will be at home, so I will have three day weekends and only in office three days a week. In the big picture, it's a really wonderful schedule and the best for our family. I have told my manager I will be worthless and emotional at work for a while...but she is a grandma and completely understands. 

      Caleb is three months old and has changed so much. His eyes are still very blue and his hair is an auburn almost. He is such a cutie! He can roll over from his belly to his back and pushes up very high on his hands. We think he will be an early crawler. He loves to be on the move and is such an active little guy. His smiles melt your heart and every day we are hoping to hear him laugh. Caleb is the biggest blessing to our lives and it is such a miracle how much they change from day to day- he definitely knows his mom and dad! He will smile at our voices, coo, babble and try to talk to us. We love him beyond anything imaginable.