All About Evs

I do realize that I often write about Em but rarely do I blog about Evs. I think that Evs is due some props. Ya see, he is about 10 months old and doesn't really talk as clearly as Em. Evs repertoire of words goes something like this: mama, dada, hi, and he knows what the word milk means. So, forgive me if I, more often than not, shine the spotlight on his more well versed, older brother. Today's blog is all about Evs.

What a sweet baby. He is constantly smiling with his eyes and his cute little mouth. What a sweet disposition this little one has.
He is practically constantly in motion. His nickname is "Slinky". Always bouncing, crawling or pulling up on furniture.

This past weekend we had a pirate themed birthday party for his now 3 year old brother. Evs represented pirate-wear pretty well. He can say "arrrgh"; did I forget to mention that he has that one down pat? Evs is quite fashionable, as he gets to choose from the cream of the crop of his big brother's hand-me-downs. (P.S. That's Jen from TheFoxDen holding him!)

Even though Evs is only 10 months old, I can tell that he is very strong willed and has a lot of energy. He has a very different personality from his sibling. Turns out, when Evs gets upset, he throws up. Yup, he's a puker. His brother was never a puker. In fact, Em has thrown up once. Evs, yeah, I'm pretty sure, Evs is gonna be a sleep resistant puker. We'll keep you informed on this one. Could just be a passing phase.

Ah, my little guy, I love him soooooooSoooooo much. Can't believe how lucky I am to have not one, but two amazing, sweet, gorgeous little love bugs. I suspect the teen years will bring adjectives such a "stinky" into the mix but luckily I have a decade before then. I'll keep my eyelids peeled in hopes to slow time and drink up the small,
quick,
soul-enveloping moments of their childhood.

Birthday Bliss at City Farmer's Nursery

Em's real birthday was yesterday, but we celebrated it early with a pirate party on Sunday. It was a great party filled with lots of pirates and friends. Great time. We celebrated the real deal during the day on Wednesday with a trip to a place called City Farmer's Nursery.

It is a true oasis in the city. A great escape. There we were one minute at the warehouse signing books, prints and putting the final touches on an original (the hubs had forgotten to put his signature on one) and just around the bend was kid-bliss. I'm talking goats, chickens, ducks, a horse, bunnies, koi pond, even a turtle next to the see-saw! And they give you fresh eggs for free!

I came across this place on the internet when I was searching for a fruit tree for our garden. After Em kept stopping us walk after walk and pilfering kumquats from our neighbor's tree, I decided it would be a great gift to go down to City Farmer's on his birthday and buy him a kumquat tree so we could grow his own. Unfortunately, there is currently a quarantine on all citrus in California. So even though they had citrus there at the nursery, they could not sell it until the quarantine is lifted. However, the visit to City Farmer's was gift enough.

What a great experience, it made our day. The staff is friendly and informative, incredibly welcoming. We met with Martina, Wyatt and Bill and they were so kind. You have to stop by on one of those days when you are feeling wilted, it will lift your spirits.

Arggghhhhh!

We are celebrating Em's 3rd birthday tomorrow with a pirate party! Arggghhhhh. Can't wait. Just fixin' to make the rum punch, rather, fruit punch with a bottle o'rum on the side for the adult-types. Finishing up the stuff we can do the night before and verrrry excited to try my friend Adriana's famous chili! Perfect for the cool weather we've had today. I'd better get my booty back to party planning and will hopefully post some pictures of the event soon.

Tick Tock

Has this happened to any of you? Last week the hubs, boys and I were out to dinner. Another boy about, say five-ish walked past our table and headed to the restroom all by himself. And it occurred to me, SNAP! Em is not a little baby anymore. His third birthday is coming up next week. My eyes moved from the five year old boy and I rested my gaze upon my eldest, beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy and I noticed something different, he had changed. My eyes filled up with tears as I looked at him, I couldn't stop looking at him for fear that if I did, I would miss something, some moment, maybe it would happen so fast that if I took my eyes off of him, he'd change even more, mature more. Or maybe, just maybe I was afraid that he would stop looking at me with those innocent, boyish blue eyes, full of wonder.

Mama's Making Some Dough!

You know, it just occurred to me that I haven't blogged since Tuesday! Travesty. So here I am in the middle of making homemade playdough with Em when I run short of 1/2 cup of salt! Blasted. Luckily that lovely man known as, "Hubs" was heading out for coffee with Em and took my honey do list with him. Good, good man. Love him! So, so much. Anyhow, Em and I are going to a kid-party tomorrow and we decided to make the gifts this year, instead of buying them. If you'd like the recipe too, go here.
The boys just got back home and I'd better get off my mom-butt and get back to making some dough. Ha, ha. Tomorrow I have my first ever sweater knitting class. I am so very excited. I have knit hats, scarves, dishcloths and toys, but never a sweater.
It is called the February Lady Sweater. Check it out.

Therapy

Okay, I know I'm feeling better when I start shopping for things online. I am so excited, I found the cutest dollhouse for Em's birthday! I am on a "not made in China" less plastic, no batteries required toy kick this year. I want these toys to last and I have found that the toys I donate are all made of plastic and the one's I've kept are made of fabric or wood. So that said, here is the cutest farmhouse ever built, in Germany. I bought it through this company. I think it is the perfect gift for Em and it will encourage dual play with his brother. The figures that go with the farmhouse are large enough so that little Evs won't choke on them if they are chewed on.
See for yourself...

Sick, Just SOOO Sick

Ack. I have caught the miserable cold. This is especially not fun because the Hubs is out of town for a book signing. Sick mom, sick kids, ack yuck. Fortunately things might be looking up after I eat this soup, recipe from Jennifer, via Jora at Domestic Reflections. Might I channel my inner Yo Gabba Gabba, "there's a party in my tummy, so yummy, so yummy yummy." Oh, just check it out here.

Book Signing

The Hubs had a book signing this evening. It was his first ever since our publishers delivered the gorgeous book of his works.
There were many familiar faces at tonight's event and it was so great to be able to share such a special moment with many of his collectors. Several clients had been patrons of the Hub's since his paintings were first published, so it was touching to share the moment. I wish my parents and in-laws could have been there to celebrate. But before you feel bad, don't. They are in Hawaii, lucky things!

It's Snot. What'cha Think?

I admit, I am a bit of a germaphobe. I am always trying to get my eldest son to wash his hands after we've been out and about.
I avoid having my boys play with other kids who are sick, and try to steer clear of others when we have colds. I'm not an anti-bacterial fanatic, but I do like the old frequent soap and water routine before we eat. The Hubs doesn't want me to turn our boys into mini Howard Hughes.

All of my preventative measures went down the pot of late: Em has a cold. A snotty, whiney, uncomfortable cold. The Hubs feels like he is coming down with something too, which is another reason why I try to keep our kids healthy. So that the Hubs nor I get sick. You see, the Hubs travels. A lot. His travel involves schmoozing (which he loves) and being on his feet. It is constant and unforgiving and requires one to be on their toes and feeling great. Hubs has a book signing here in town in two days and he has to travel up North for another book signing/art show. I am praying he gets over whatever it is he's coming down with.

I'm a big believer in B vitamins. I've popped my share of them whenever I feel a cold coming on and my symptoms usually dissipate relatively quickly. Trader Joe's even has a readily absorbed one that you place under your tongue. Wish I could give these to the kids when they get sick. But with kids its basically kid's motrin, fluids, rest and tissues. Which brings me to the sweet moment of the day.

A fella that we run into from time to time at our local coffee shop has a great little Yorkie named Jenny that he let's Em walk around the cafe's outdoor patio. He loves that Em can repeat any word and Em loves that he gets to walk around with a pint sized pooch. On one of Em's laps around the vicinity he sneezed and the snot went flying across his cheek. Our acquaintance quickly grabbed a tissue, wiped Em's cheek, held the tissue up to his nose and said, "Blow!" Em blew his nose with all his might and then he was off running more laps. The Snot didn't even phase our coffee shop friend.

What do you think? Does snot send you running in the opposite direction, or are you not afraid of the boogie monster?

It's a Mouthful: Honey Lavender Ricotta Ice Cream

I promised the E's that I would make ice cream this evening. I chose lavender. It is still churning but in liquid form it tasted so delicate and lovely. To borrow from my fav show, Yo Gabba Gabba...
YUMMY, So YUMMY YUMMY!
Here is the, er, scoop.
Infusing the syrup with lavender imparts a subtle floral flavor to this ice cream. Look for fresh ricotta cheese at gourmet markets, or you can make your own—go to CookingLight.com for our homemade version. It lends the ice cream wonderful richness. Garnish with lavender sprigs.

Yield
1 1/2 quarts (serving size: about 1/2 cup ice cream)

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms
3 cups fresh ricotta cheese (about 2 pounds)
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
1. Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 45 seconds or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; stir in lavender. Let stand 30 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a small bowl; discard solids. Cover and chill 1 hour.

2. Combine fresh ricotta cheese, honey, and salt in a food processor; process until smooth. With processor on, slowly add lavender syrup through the food chute. Pour mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spoon ice cream into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze 4 hours or until firm.

Nutritional Information
Calories:
190 (29% from fat)
Fat:
6.2g (sat 3.8g,mono 1.8g,poly 0.2g)
Protein:
11.5g
Carbohydrate:
23g
Fiber:
0.0g
Cholesterol:
23mg
Iron:
0.0mg
Sodium:
240mg
Calcium:
250mg
Kathy Farrell-Kingsley, Cooking Light, MAY 2008