Obsessed

Em loves trains, so we set up a small train table at Grandma and Grandpa's house. There is so much to explore in their home filled with collected treasures but the train table seems to be a favorite. Oh, did I mention the swimming pool? If we strap on a life vest, Em jumps in and swims on his own. Needless to say he capital L loves going over to his Grandma and Grandpa's. I'm so glad we live in the same town. Wish we could be so close to all of our relatives.

New Day

Okay, I've had a fairly restful night's sleep. Only up twice to feed Evs. Darn that regression! Anyhow, I've had my cup of coffee, albeit decaf, and I put a load of laundry in. My perspective is better today and the house actually looks clean, huh? Could it be the daylight, or do we really have "house fairies"? Will ponder further...

Can't Stand the Clutter

I am going crazy trying to deal with the clutter and lack of things getting picked up in my home. Two kids can wreck the house pretty easily, but I have a feeling it is partly the adults in this homestead who are at fault. Somehow no one seems to know that we do not have a "clutter fairy" who magically picks up all things left out, and throws them away, or returns them to their proper place. Items do not "levitate" back to their destination. Laundry is not miraculously washed, dried, folded and put away. Yes, I've had a really hard day. I would really like to have an estate sale where most items have a sales tag on them. I crave simplicity, cleanliness and a personal masseuse who comes bi-weekly. Ack, the clutter. Do children really need 100+ toys? I'm thinking no, they do not. So maybe if I have 3 more garage sales, we will be at peace.
That or a bigger house.
Wish me luck

Meal Plan for the Week or How to Get Rid of Canned Food in a Cluttered Pantry

Okay, I have accumulated WAAAY to much canned food since I expanded our pantry, so this week, my goal is to actually use it!
What on Earth? Yes, I will use up the Black-Eyed Peas, that I fetishize and the low sodium diced tomatoes. The 12 pack of baked beans that I purchased at Costco are history baby! Garbonzo beans, black beans, cannellini beans...ALL HISTORY!
Here is the plan. Wish me luck and stop by for dinner if you are in the 'hood...

DONE! Veggie Tacos with garbonzo's lime and avocado. Sides of black beans and rice

Hoppin' John with black-eyed peas, mustard greens, diced tomatoes and andouille sausage. Side of corn bread

Veggie Fried Rice, with edamame, red pepper, tofu and scallions

Organic Chicken Tikka-Masala. Side of rice and zucchini with lentils

Nicoise Salad, tuna, eggs, cannellini beans, olives etc... and a quinoa salad

DONE! Basil-turkey burgers, sans bun. Side of baked beans and beet salad (or roasted beets, carrots and more).

Homemade hummus, dolmas, roasted red pepper, feta in basil leaves, parsley, pita and tzatziki.

Homemade red bean ice cream

Lunch:
Carrot ginger soup
Wraps
Fruit
Crackers and cheese
leftover madness.

Flyin' High

They grow up so fast, don't they? Em had a blast getting a tour of the cockpit. The hubs was equally stoked.
When we left the plane, Em brought the pilot his hat and the pilot said, "Keep it, it's yours". Mouths agape
we said, "REALLY?" and he responded, "No, I could get fired for that, but it sounded cool".

Bay Area Bliss

>

> Back in our old city by the bay, this time with both of our boys!
> Planning on having breakfast with Fred at the Buena Vista Cafe on
> this typical San Francisco day; cool, overcast, nostalgic, perfect.
> Had dessert last night across the street from our hotel at
> Boulevard, gorgeous flavors! I was at my Mom's in E Bay & I drove
> across the Bay Bridge toward the city the other night, late, and
> My chest hurt. It was THAT beautiful.
>

Sing-a-long

Last night the Hubs, Grandpa, the boys and I went out to the new Bing Crosby's restaurant (at Fashion Valley)

and saw our dear friend David Patrone sing. He has an amazing voice and if you haven't seen him in person, you must.

Anyhow, David just got back from hiking the Appalachian Trail, he had a hernia for the last 400 miles, mind you!

What an amazing man, huh?  Check out his adventure here. He is a much better writer than I am, so read on!

Wish us luck, we are taking the fam. up to San Francisco for a little vacation and visit with Grandma B.

I'm not ready for this...

Genius

Have you ever seen the beginning of something and you just know it is going to be grande? The hubs is working on a new piece and I just know it is going to be groundbreaking. A master work. It is so exciting to see a painting in its beginning stages and just from the first thin coat of underpainting, you can tell that it is going to be magnificent. My hubs is an artistic genius and his movement of paint on canvas, of capturing light and reflection is extraordinary. See for yourself, go and google "Michael Flohr, artist".
Here is one he painted of me:

Train Trip to Solana Beach

Saturday we gathered up the troops and braved the rails with our friends and neighbors! The kids woke up early and the hubs and I grabbed what was necessary for our trip
1.) coffee
2.) bagels.
We barely made it onto the train before the doors closed and phew, we found our seats, "ALL ABOARD" called the conductor, and we were off. Adriana was waiting to greet Em at the end of the aisle and help him to his seat. Karen, Ed and Cory saved the seats and we were off on our adventure. The kids were so excited and the parents were happy to be able to have a half hour of basically uninterrupted conversation! (Amazing, I know). When we got to our stop, the beach was a short walk down the hill and we had a great morning in the surf. Em did not want to leave the beach. He howled like a professional, but when we got to the pizza place and the hubs introduced him to video games, that all changed. Pitchers of beer for the parentals and pizza down the hatch we made it back to the train and headed home just in time for naps. It was a great day indeed.