by the ferry.....

We took our first long road trip with the pickle.   The farthest we have gone is the beach.  So we packed up the rig, loaded in the furry one and the pickle and headed north.

Pickle loved the ferry - just like his momma - the day was perfect.

Our house was steps from the ferry......

This was the view from our front room......

The views at night were amazing.  I however should really learn how to use my fancy camera so I could take better pictures.  I think you can see a little bit of what we could see every night here though. We could even see the ferry when we were laying in bed.

Unfortunately the trips was cut a couple days short because.......well its a long story but the picture below gives a clue..............

All in all a great trip.   We had great meals at home as well as yummy meals out.   We went back to some favorites - Kiichilis Bagels, Pickles Deli (the best potato soup), Village Pizza (wonderful pizza, wonderful view) and we found a new favorite mexican place Patron Mexican where we learned J loves beans - he couldn't get enough of the beans the bring at the beginning with the chips.   We also walked down to the ferry one day and took it across to have lunch and look at the lighthouse.

Fun times and good memories....

One!

As hard as it is to believe my baby is no longer a baby and is officially a toddler!

We had a baby luau for him at the beginning of the month and we could not of asked for a better day!
We had it at the house which limited the amount of people we could invite.  I wish we could of invited more and had I'd known the day would be so wonderful we could of - as people were able to spill out on the back lanai.

Anyway I digress.....

These are the cupcake toppers I made!  I had the stickers that matched the invites.  I just purchased a round paper cutter some thicker card stock and some toothpicks and viola!  

G had to make and frost the cupcakes as I was actually very sick......was able to rally the day of but the day before I was down for the count

Here is the finished product!  I also made a smaller "smash" cake for J. 

He had a ton of fun and people were very generous with their gift giving as well.  From OSU gear to books, to stuffed friends to a little rocking chair with his name on it!

I also made this!   It is a grape vine wreath with cocktail umbrellas!  Thank you Pinterest!

Thank goodness for catering and housekeepers or this day would probably not of happened.   I figure if you are having over 12 people you should cater.   The food was raved about.   We did it simple - teri chicken, mac salad, steamed rice, and pineapple.   For drinks we had water, beer, hard lemonade, and wine.   And for the littles I had apple juice packets.  Also, for the littles I did take away gifts.  I ordered beach buckets and filled them with bubbles, a mini recorder,  and two mini beach balls.   Fun to be able to give them all a little something to take home.  I know it can be hard when you are younger to see one person get all the gifts.  The take away for the adults I was going to do - pineapple relish - did not however happen but I really don't think it was expected or missed.

G asked if we were going to do this every year.....uh no......

Next year I plan something small - just family.

And for the next couple of years I plan small.   As J gets older and wants to have a little friend or friends to do something we will.   But lets face it - this was more a celebration of surviving the first year........

More tricks than treats....

We've started a new daycare and things seem to be going pretty well for the most part.  I have been waiting however for the shoe to drop.  What shoe you ask?   The "these aren't germs we are used to" shoe.    And it did.........just in time for Halloween.  Pickle has pretty much been sleeping for the last two days.  He gets up to eat - a little, and play - a little, and love on the bubba.  Today was better than yesterday but he still is a puny pickle.  We were all set for the harvest party at daycare on Wednesday.   We were taking apple juice and mini pumpkins and Nana and Grampy were going to come up.   And we had our costume all ready.   But alas on Wednesday he pretty much slept on everyone at daycare until I could get there.   We went to the doctor that afternoon and got all checked and he checked out fine.   Ears, chest, throat all clear.   No fever.   Just puny and and tired.   The only thing we could think was some kind of stomach thing.  So we have spent the last two days trying to rest and get better.  

Good news?   Pickle doesn't really know when Halloween is.  So once we get better we will put on our costume play with our pumpkin and watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  Also, mom is getting lots of good snuggles and hugs.   Nothing like a good snuggle with my pickle.......it makes up for the throw up.

Oh I failed to mention we have thrown up twice.   Once all over me and him and the family room and the kitchen.   Poor thing.   It scares them so bad at this age.   Bubba got to the kitchen floor before I did.     I know, I know, to much information.   The second bout was today right about the same time.   It was at this point I realized I wasn't going to Corvallis to watch SC play my Beavers.  A game I had been looking forward to all year that we had arranged for the babysitter a couple of months ago.   But just like there will be more harvest parties and Halloween trick or treating......there will be more games.  

So I sit here on the couch, watching the game on the big screen, and my sweet pickle sleeping on the small screen......

Here's hoping tomorrow is an even better day and that my sweet boys smile and giggle comes back......and we can see Linus disappoint poor Sally one more time......

Bucket

Here is a list of things I would like to do by the end of the year....a bucket list of sorts.

• Make this bread
• Finish folding chair re-do project
• Make Jam Butter
• Take Pickle to see Santa
• Finish reading this
• Get back into doing yoga at least 3 times a week
• Applesauce for the freezer
• 5 random acts of kindness

Only 8 things I should be able to cover that you would think....

Stay tuned....update in 2014

Dinnertime...

I'm in lacking in posting of the pickle's party (for which I was sicker than a dog) and our recent vacation because I do not have the pictures organized as of yet.   But in the meantime.....

This was a crowd pleaser for both of the boys.  Changes I made to the recipe are in green.

 

recipe here

1 pound ground beef or turkey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 red or green bell pepper, diced

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

coarse salt and fresh black pepper

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika (used regular)

1 teaspoon oregano, preferably Mexican

1/4 teaspoon cayenne or red pepper flakes, optional

1 (10-ounce) can Ro-tel tomatoes and green chiles 

1 (14 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices

1 (14 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes with juices 

1 can corn (could use fresh or frozen as well)

1 can mild green chilies (would use two next time) 

6 ounces elbow macaroni (any pasta will do)

1 + 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

coarse salt and fresh black pepper

1. Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned all the way through breaking it apart as it cooks. Remove the beef to a bowl and drain off the grease.
2. Heat the olive oil in the same pan and add the onion, pepper and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened about 6 minutes stirring often. Stir in the spices and cook 1 - 2 minutes
3. Add the ground beef back in along with the Ro-tel and diced tomatoes. Season well with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook 25 minutes, stirring often. Taste and season as needed.
4. After 25 minutes cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to the beef mixture, stir to combine then mix in the cheese. Serve with more cheese on top

You could make this and freeze it before the pasta as well.   I might do that for the future.   Would also use a chicken sausage or different meat next time.   The ground beef was what I had on had and was fine but there was room for improvement there. I also might add some tomato sauce next time for a little more saucyness.  Especially if you make this ahead of time.

Needless to say this made enough for two meals plus some for the freezer.  

Bon Appetite!

Opposites

Yesterday my baby boy turned one - so hard to wrap my head around..

The year has been full of opposites.....

This past year as flown by yet some moments have gone on forever
          Hard to believe my baby is a toddler
          Sometimes I thought the crying would never stop

Times I have felt like a champion and yet others a failure
          J loving the pasta I made for him and getting excited when he sees it
          J not wanting anything I give him and instead is feeding it to the bubba

          Panicking during his first bath when I thought he was choking
          Getting a few more toys to play with in the bath and viola! no more screaming
         

Never have I had so much joy in my life and yet never have I been more exhausted

Never have I had more colds yet never have I had more energy

I wouldn't trade any moment for anything................