Teaching Her How

It's no secret with my family that I love to make chocolate chip cookies. And, I make a pretty mean one if I do say so myself. I have memories of making this same recipe with my mom when I was about three years old, the same age the Fifi is now. She has been more and more interested in helping in the kitchen lately and I am trying to have the patience and the time to let her learn what we are up to in there. I have been working in counting and having her get things from the cupboard.

Today I let her help me, and save for that one egg that was cracked and dropped on the table instead of the bowl, she did pretty darn well. Of course, I think she might be in it more for the spoon licking at the end. I can't really blame her though. By the way, this is the proper way to stand while eating cookie dough. In case you were wondering...

Thank-Filled

My crew on Wednesday night. My mom came over and stayed the night so she could have the entire day with us on Thurday.

A. got up early and started his magic for the bird. I am so glad he likes to cook and takes care of this part of the meal!

Smoking. It came out amazing. I think the best turkey we have had yet.

The boys, ready for our walk around the 'swamp' loop.

The kids helped make the icebox cake (more like, they ate a bunch of whipping cream and cookies- but I don't blame them).

Drawing an airport for the paper airplanes to land on.

Scrabble while the kids napped.

Big smiles all around.

It was a really good day!

lazy labor day

I feel like we have been going a million miles an hour all summer long. here, there, everywhere.
Which can totally be fun, but sometimes, just being around the house soaking up each others laughter is a good thing, too.

I needed the slow, and that is just what I got..

Friday night, Andy was out of town. So the kids and I did it up right. Mac'n'cheese picinic in front of the TV watching the Lorax. Later, a dance party to Matisayhu and Mumford and Sons. Fifi did a little art and everybody slept all night.It was good stuff.

Saturday morning had a pancake start and a trip to the playground. It also may have involved a drive to In N Out, for lunch...

Later in the afternoon, A got home and we grilled some really yummy tri-tip and corn. I don't know how this was the first corn of the season, but it was so sweet and juicy, well worth the wait.

Sunday we headed over to my best friends so the guys could brew a new batch of beer. 

But first, we had to fuel up with some essentials...

 

banana bread muffins and donuts!

Monday was a sort of chore day, I went for a run in the morning, cleaned the house, and we organized the garage in search of our web cam and a few other missing pieces and parts for the house. I still can't believe we have 2800 sqft of stuff crammed into this 1300 sqft house and garage. 

We ended the evening with some good old fashion giggle time, cultivating joy is a very, very good thing.

in the kitchen

Some weeks my 366 project takes on it's own theme without me even realizing it.
This week, it was all about food and happenings in the kitchen.

pretty purple left in the bowl after eating my salad with beets.

bananas in desprate need of being transformed into muffins.

basil, making my house smell good and the pasta taste awesome.

radish tails and avocado shells.

What's been on your plate?

summer moments

little moments from our evenings and weekends together.

snacks and cars

fancy feet (her first pedi)

climbing (crazy kid)

new house, new light

water wars

The never ending pile...

self portraits with my girl.

cookies!

summer evening...

sweet summer evenings.

watering the garden
watching the sky get all dramatic and wonderful.

Have a beautiful weekend friends.

a summer's afternoon...

under glass

I am betting, when my in-laws agreed to let us live here, 

they never bargained for "happy baby" to be part of the living room decor.