Planning

Mom, could you make a Diego cake for my birthday...?

Piano Lessons

Tonight Kate was frustrated while practicing piano.

She was learning a new note...G.

I overheard her saying

"I can't do it! It's too DIFFICATING!"

Adam said "Defecating."

I just laughed.

Sickies and Slumber Parties

The flu hit us HARD this year. Kate was sick first. She was sick for most of February. She had one trip to the ER and two rounds of antibiotics. Zach got it next. Very high fever, which turned into a runny nose and cough. Then an infected finger when he got a splinter of something stuck under the nail. He got a tetanus shot, two courses of antibiotics, and an inhaler to help him breathe. Then there was Adam...who usually NEVER gets sick. Well...he got pneumonia pretty bad. It was contagious, so I slept in the living room for a week. At first it was just me, then Zach joined me the next night, and Katelyn joined the third night. Our slumber parties were super fun! We watched Cake Boss seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix. Buddy Velastro taught my children how to make amazing specialty cakes...and how to curse like an Italian. Oops! No more Cake Boss for awhile!!

Now I'm happy to report that Adam is doing much better. Kate still has a cough, Zach still puts his hand in his diaper, and I'm sort of okay through it all. Just sort of coughing still, but life is good. Now lets just cross our fingers and hope that it's all over for now.

The Kitchen Chronicles

I have a new favorite website. It is a cooking blog by my friend Beth. Every time I turn on my computer, I check to see if there is a new, scrumptious recipe for me to try. If there is not, I look at the old recipes, and drool and dream about cooking them. But if there IS a new recipe, my heart goes all a'flutter, and I drink in all of the new cooking tips and techniques that Beth is so kind to share with clueless kitchen wannabe's like me.

This recipe is from Beth's first post. I don't know what to call it. It's kind of like an Asian stir fry, but not like one I've ever had before. When I was cooking it, my home started to smell like the international food court at the local specialty market. It was lovely. It was my first time cooking with ginger (unless you count gingerbread...but I don't). It smelled so good! And also my first time using Braggs Liquid Aminos, a healthy and more flavorful alternative to soy sauce.

The dinner turned out so delicious that I decided to open up Mom's Restaurant. We open the restaurant only for special occasions or fancy meals. We dim the lights, set up candles, and turn on music (tonight--The Beatles Rubber Soul). Dinner was a blast...and the leftovers were divine.

My next kitchen adventure will be homemade coconut Lara bars...once I get a new food processor. I'm very excited!!

Thank you Beth! Visit "The Kitchen Chronicles" here.

Vote for The Steelwells!!

So this guy, Joey Winters, is in our circle of friends. Actually, he's more in my husband's circle of friends and I am just friends with his cousin Jessica, who is equally awesome. Joey has a band called The Steelwells. Now, I'm picky about what I listen to, and I like to listen to The Steelwells. Their music even makes my kids dance and laugh. When I heard that they had a chance at making the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and being signed to a recording contract I was so excited! That's HUGE!! Anyway, I'm telling you this because I hope you will vote for them...every day, if you want. Rate them 5 stars to vote; you can vote once a day. They are great artists and performers...they really deserve it!

Anyway, I stole the following paragraphs from Jessica's blog. She is giving away a Steelwells CD, personalized by her cousin, and a batch of yummy cookies made by him, too. To enter the contest, visit her blog here.

"My cousin Joey is in a band and they are good. Perhaps you think you know what I'm saying, but they ARE really good. They have played at various clubs around LA and OC. They've been on a couple tours around the Western States. They're on Pandora and iTunes. They even won the OC Music Award for Best New Indie group and Best New Song. I promise they are really talented and a lot of fun. My favorite performance was House of Blues. Not so much the part where I got hit on by a drunk 19 year old (another post entirely), but the part where I got to see them on stage with a full house, smoke and lights. It was a blast.

Perhaps the best part of their band is they are not the typical "Rock Star" types. They're just regular guys who love their music. Talented regular guys I should say. Their goal is really just to earn enough to keep playing.

Here's some things you should know about Joey:

1) He's a nice guy. He likes kids and works for the school district helping kids with autism.

2) He helped me get Owen into a really great preschool.

3) I remember when he was born and have known him my whole life. He is a creative, out side the box kind of guy. I have stories, but I don't want to embarrass him.

4) He writes clean lyrics that are poetic. He likes people to be happy.

5) He makes really yummy cookies.

So I'm asking a favor. Part because I love Joey, and part because I think they deserve it. They are up for the cover of Rolling Stones Magazine. I know! Crazy exciting!! When I talked to Joey about it, he acted like it wasn't a big deal, but I think deep down he's dying about it. This pic was taken by Rolling Stones, if they win the contest. Anyway, could you vote for them?

Here's the link. Give them 5 stars. You can vote once a day if you want to. I am."