Dad

{1983}

Cookie Monday

...continued from last week.


I tested this recipe from Mique. The fam really liked them, including Uncle Ryan who ate way to many in one sitting. Mr. Mattos approved. Soft on the inside and just a little crispy on the outside... this one's a keeper!

Still a few more to test...


Thanks for the input everybody!

The Return of Ice Cream Sunday!

Tonight was Kevin's first softball game of the season! This year two of his brothers- Bobby and Ryan- are on the team, which is sponsored by their dad (aka Papa). They're known as 'On the Rocks', in reference to the family monument business. Of course the kids and I drove through The Dairy on the way to the game, picking up three strawberry/vanilla swirl cones. We love how the warmer weather entails more Dairy trips. The best soft-serve ever!

The brothers welcomed lots of fans in the stands. It was a great first game, resulting in a WIN! I must admit I spent more time chasing three kids around the Sports Park, ensuring no one choked on a Ring Pop, than actually watching the game. Those days are long gone.

Summer Sundays are the best, but the Spring ones aren't so bad either.

a rip-off & a bargain

The girls and I took an impromptu mall trip today. Ever since Camden laid eyes on the 2007 picture, she has been begging to "sit on the Easter Bunny's lap." Must have been Chayse's jovial expression that was so inviting.
The poor furry guy does not seem to be too popular among young mall-goers. He practically jumped out in front of us as we strolled by, waving us in. No line. Just many terrified-looking children keeping their distance.
Camden quickly began to re-think her desire to meet the over sized creature.

Chloe looks to have warmed up after two years. Stinky finally agreed to get frighteningly close just long enough to snap this photo.

This $17 poor-quality photo.
***

Pottery Barn Kids happened to be having a floor model furniture sale. They had a green little farmhouse chair, originally $70.

Marked down to $48.
Minus a $30 PB credit.

Thus a price I couldn't possibly refuse.

An $18 high-quality kids' chair.

You win some; you lose some.

P-Town!

Here is a funny Craig Ferguson monologue
all about our little town!

I'm so lucky...

...to have an electrician for a husband.
My baby's all better!

{My other baby's in tip-top shape, too.}

Kevin loves electrical tape like I love ribbon!

Wordless Wednesday

*courtesy of my Traumatized Children collection, which also includes this shot
{Easter 2007}

Cookie Monday

I'm officially on a quest to make my husband the
perfect chocolate chip cookie.
Kevin is extremely particular about desserts. Choco chip cookies must be soft & chewy, which I have yet to find/adapt a great recipe for. This evening I went with
Soft-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies
from the April issue of Everyday Food. Sounds perfect, right? They came out yummy, but too crispy on the outside and cake-like inside. Too much flour? Leavener? We'll see what next week brings.
It's a rough job, but someone's gotta do it.
Suggestions welcome.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thank you for making me the person I am today.

I love you!

xoxo

Happy Birthday Brody!

Brody is my favorite brother-in-law.

NO!... I love them all equally.
{but really, Brody, you're my favorite... wink-wink.}

I'll never forget these words and how they made us do this:

{boo-hoo.}

Love you.

xo

Cora's Playground

Cora's story is in the news here and here.

Of the 204 Etsy shops participating up until Cora's first birthday,
over 1,950 handmade items were created and sold in her honor,
totaling over $16,000!

This accounts for about half of the total amount raised to date, but around $14,000 is still needed to meet the goal. The Macs will be accepting donations for this project through the end of March, so please continue to
support our movement!

THANK YOU.

laziness.

Here are the cookies I never got around to uploading. We used light green sanding sugar, so there wasn't as much of a contrast as Marthas', but still cute... and tasty!

***

For some reason I tend to be so unmotivated to cook on Thursdays!

best pizza in town*

+

clean kitchen

=

happy mom!

And now it's off to the couch...

*macadamia nuts & coconut included on their Hawaiian(!)

Preventing Pinches

girls' shirts done in the style of Meg Duerksen

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Cookie Monday

...did not happen today.

Out of butter...

No time to shop.

Too busy hunting for little green men in our
"lucky clover patch."

Tomorrow brings plenty of green treats!

{I think we'll try these.}

Happy {SUNNY} Weekend!

headband by Joy's Hope

boobs, cont.

If you haven't read my previous post from earlier this afternoon, scroll down before reading on.

And now for the boobs story update:

(In the grocery store check out line; 8:15 pm...)

Checker: (to Camden) "So what did you do today, cutie pie?"
Camden: "I want Mommy wear boobs!" (pointing at the appropriate area, just to clarify)
Bag boy: (smirk, then a giggle)

Once again, thank you Camden, now my cover is really blown.

boobs.

This morning, as I got out of the shower, Camden was there to greet me, and followed me all the way to my closet...



{*these are NOT mine!}

Mommy: "Do you wanna help Mommy pick out her clothes today?"
Camden: "YEAH!"
Mommy: "Okay, what should I wear?"
Camden: (picking up my bra* off the floor) "Mommy wear BOOBS!"

Yes, Camden, after those years of nursing, Mommy no longer has boobs until she puts on her magic bra. Thanks for the reminder!

breakfast treat

This is the yummiest Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake ever. Camden asked for cake for breakfast this morning, so I figured this was a fair compromise. {Okay fine, I wanted it.} Originally adapted from an Ina recipe, I have tested it over and over until finding that this way works best for me:

Ingredients:
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups vanilla yogurt
2 1/2 cups unbleached a.p. flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the streusel:
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
For the glaze:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons real maple syrup
splash of milk

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
1. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and yogurt. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.
2. For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms a crumble. Mix in the walnuts, if desired.
3. Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a knife. Sprinkle with half the streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out, and scatter the remaining streusel on top. Bake for 45 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
4. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the cake, streusel side up, onto a serving plate. Whisk the confectioners' sugar and maple syrup together, adding a few drops of milk if necessary, to make the glaze runny. Drizzle as desired on the cake.

Go ahead, have 2 slices!

Horton Hears I'm Two!

Camden's Pink Horton Party

{Clover Patch Cake}

{Dada}

{Uncle Brody}

{Papa}

The much anticipated birthday song proved to be a little more overwhelming than expected!

***
Party Guests:

Mommy, Dada, Chloe & Chayse
Papa
Gramma & Pa

Uncle Bobby & Gaga (Amanda)

Uncle Brody
Uncle Ryan

{Mimi and Aunts Gub (Holly), Nah (Hannah), and Sis (Jenn) were so sad they live so far away}

On the Menu:

Fresh Strawberries
Elephant-Shaped Quesadillas
Tortilla Soup {for the grown-ups}

'Who' Punch
'Clover' Cake {pink marble vanilla cake with fresh strawberry mousse, vanilla buttercream, and sprinkles & lollipops galore}

Gifts Included:

3 sets of your favorite wooden food cutting toys:
Sandwiches, Fruit & Veggies, & Cookies
2 Dr. Seuss Books

'Green' Tea Set

Fresh Play-Doh: 4 Colors

Chapstick: 3 Flavors!
***

You had so much fun, playing and eating sweets in your tutu until having a total meltdown and
falling asleep sitting up.

Invites by sarah & abraham (seen here), and
Camden's Party Outfit by Polka Dot Market

Happy Birthday, Camden!

I can't believe you are two today! How did you get to be such a big girl so fast? You have changed our lives in a way you just can't imagine. We enjoy every single moment of your funny, adorable little personality. You have anxiously awaited to be sung "Ha-day toooo yoooou" for weeks now. Pink cupcakes & lollipops. Elephants galore!

Today is your day!

Look how we celebrated on this day,
two years ago:

Mommy & Daddy were so excited. You looked just like Daddy right away!

Big Sis Chloe got to watch you come into the world. She cried tears of joy in Auntie Gaga's arms.

Uncle Ryan watched as the nurse cleaned you up.

Mimi's airplane made it just in time.

A special 20th anniversary gift for Gramma & Pa.

Just a peanut in Papa's arms.

The moment Uncle Bobby fell in love.

Look how you've grown!

{newborn}

{6 months}

You acquired the nickname Stinky around this time. Someday you'll forgive us... I hope.

{1 year}

shirt by Polka Dot Market

{18 months}

{2 years}

Happy Birthday, Stinky!

We can't wait to see what fun you have in store
for us this year!