Katelyn was here.

My friend Emily posted awhile back "Brennan was here." A Cars DVD was in her dishwasher.

I found this yesterday on my grocery list and laughed. The FOX is so darned cute!

neighbors, sick days, infomercials, poundcakes, etc.

We don't have cable. When my kids watch TV it's either PBS Kids, Qubo, American Idol, or some random show like Dr. Oz. Of all the above, the one that totally bugs me is Qubo.

Here's a question: Which is lamer...Qubo's shows, or their commercials?

They don't have normal advertisements. It's always one of those annoying commercials trying to get you to pick up the phone and buy their junk product. (Think ShamWOW! or Snuggie.) Katelyn, on the other hand, is totally taken in by the commercials. She believes every word the announcer says. She repeats the commercials back to me and tells me I should buy her all of it...

ALL OF IT !!

Can you guess what commercial she's been watching lately? I caught her acting this out in my kitchen today. She got really excited when I offered to tape it. Her hope is that people in houses everywhere will see it. I told her "maybe", so here is...

THE FRIEND MOP!

CALL TODAY!!

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!

(you know you want it)

In other news, Adam woke up this morning with torticollis (sp?), which basically means he can't move his neck...not cool. But he stayed home from work...cool! We edited the commercial together and I doted on him. I made chocolate chip poundcake and the house smelled really good. I found bugs in my flour, but my neighbor, Lou, saved me. She had flour without bugs.

Lou is moving soon. I don't like to think about it because I already miss her. I gave her a few big slices of poundcake. She told me I am a good baker, and she meant it. She thinks I bake all the time. I really don't, but I always make it a point to share with her. That's why she thinks I do it a lot. She has only baked once in her life, and that's why she thinks I am good.

I'm trying to think of ways to convince her to stay. Any suggestions?

P.S. Now Katelyn tells me that she wants to be in commercials. REAL ones! Heaven help me!

Pasta Primavera

1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 sweet orange peppers, cored, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 pound spaghetti
3/4 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp olive oil
5 cloves garlic, sliced
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Shaved Parmesan, optional

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and green beans; cook 4 minutes. Add peppers and cook 1 more minute. Scoop out vegetables with a large slotted spoon and place in a colander. Rinse under cold water.

2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook following package directions, about 9 minutes. Drain; return to pot.

3. While pasta is cooking, place half-and-half, chicken broth, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

4. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add cooked veggies and tomatoes. Cook, stirring a few times, about 1 minute, 30 seconds. Spoon into pasta pot. Stir grated cheese into the half-and-half mixture. Add to pasta and gently stir in parsley until all ingredients are combined. Allow to stand for 5 minutes. Shave Parmesan on top, if desired.

*cover recipe from the April 2010 Family Circle magazine, pg. 129

Choo-Choo Trains and Elenant Poop

Dear Littleman,

You make me smile.

I love you!

xoxo, Mom

In preparation for potty training, I've been reading Zachary a book called "Everyone Poops". It is his favorite bedtime story. It shows grown-ups, babies and all sorts of animals pooping. Zach gets most excited about the animals. He goes on and on about the "elenant poop" and the "monkey poop" and the "ted bear poop", and Katelyn swears that a one-hump camel really makes a one-hump poop, and a two-hump camel really makes a two-hump poop. Anyway, at the zoo today I think he was just as excited with the animal poops as he was with the animals... and I'm thinking it might not be the best book for Zach to be reading. Zachary quote of the day: "Elenant, mommy! ...Poop!"

P.S. He also loves normal things. Like...choo-choo trains.

Up To Date

I have been seriously slacking on 'ye old blogge' lately, but at my mom's request I spent much of the afternoon updating, as far back as February. If you're dying to know what we have been up to (like my mom is), you COULD come and visit us more often...

...OR you can go back into the archives and check things out. You have my permission.

Here are some photos of today. We went to the arboretum with cousins.