Tickled.

So Josie brings home a stack of graded papers/tests today.. I start going through them and scan through her answers on a History exam. 

Question: Who wrote the Constitution of the United States?

Josie's answer: "Who? A group of men. because they wanted to."

Question: In what city did the representatives gather to write the Constitution?

Josie's answer: "Where? I think France. because they wanted to."

I think it's funny that she answered a question with a question initially. And the whole "because they wanted to" just made me laugh. Maybe I'm easily amused...




Blessings,

Sarah

Picture Perfect.

Josie has always been very into the girly-girl things, but having a big brother that she loves to keep up with, she's enjoyed playing with Star Wars & Super Hero figures, legos, light sabers as well. These pictures sum her personality up SO well! Girly outfit, complete with tutu skirt- on the floor rolling with the dogs and playing with her brothers Star Wars toys. LOVE. IT.

She has SUCH beautiful hair. The texture, thickness, color...I'm SO envious!

And this one. Again... SO her!!! My little funny face.

Blessings,

Sarah

Dreary.

It's been a dreary couple of days....just torrential downpour to drizzle..then back to downpour again. Lots of flooding going on here in the PacNW. Fortunately we aren't seeing much of that. Just wet pant legs everytime we go outside. Between the wind & the rain- your chances of getting damp are pretty high, unless you have a rain slicker that goes head to toe, literally. And we don't. I have to admit...we don't even have an umbrella! We have rain coats but the one umbrella we had broke and we never replaced it! We're just hardcore like that....don't need no stinkin' umbrellas!!

With this weather we've been tucked inside, cozying up together on the couch under blankets & quilts. Lots of movies, games, reading, being on the computer (games, blog surfing,etc). I cringe when it's time to take the dogs outside..it's such an unpleasant interruption and having to walk them in this wet mess is just NO FUN (whine). The "taking the chill off" part isn't so bad though... lots of hot coffee or tea & a quilt do the job nicely.

Food like this is commonplace around here. Chili is a family favorite. This week, I welcome it heartily!

We watched the Golden Globes together the other evening. Boy, Ricky Gervais was a big disappointment. I always anticipate a bit of cheeky banter that borders that "fine line" between funny and crude, but he was just WAY beyond that. I didn't hear much laughter from the audience either. I hope he doesn't host for a third year, or we may not watch next year. I thought the standing ovation for Michael Douglas was lovely and Robert DeNiro's award speech was..odd.

And this is just one last gratuitous picture. Of Colin Firth...see him? He's there..look hard.  It's the best I could do at capturing a pic of HIM. And it WAS him I was going after. I.. swear.......(sigh) ok. ok. I've had an on again/off again crush on Mr. Depp since 21 JUMPSTREET. The last few years I haven't found him especially handsome but there are moments still, I guess (apparently).

And with that final bit of deep, meaningful information.... I sign off!

Blessings,

Sarah

A Sweet Deal

At least one Friday a month I make some sort of homemade snack for all of the teachers at the kids' school. I've loved having the honor of doing this for them AND I earn volunteer hours as well. In the past I've made banana bread, gingerbread loaf, and double chocolate cake pops. This time I decided to use this recipe in the back of this month's Martha Stewart Living for "Anytime Oatmeal Cookies".  These are SO. GOOD. Simple but delicious and VERY easy to throw together! Bonus!







Fortunately, when I went to pick up my cookie plate, I discovered that the staff agreed- there was nothing left but crumbs! I'm thinking about what my next Friday treat should be.
Maybe a variety of scones- sweet & savory? A coffee cake? Something breakfast related for a late morning snack, perhaps? Give me some ideas! In the meantime, here's the recipe for the cookies!


ANYTIME OATMEAL COOKIES Martha Steward Living
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Salt
1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
2/3 c. packed light brown sugar
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 c. golden raisins

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. salt into a bowl. Beat butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla, then flour mixture. Mix in oats, then raisins.
2. Using a 1 1/4" ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each scoop about 2" apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 14 minutes. Let cookies cool on a wire rack. Makes about 4 dozen. 



Blessings,

Sarah

My boys.

Matthew has been coming home from school, getting his homework done, then working on his stop-motion videos. He's OBSESSED. Thus, the living room is always full of wooden blocks, legos, Star Wars figures, playdough and anything else he thinks will be suitable. It's actually very interesting to watch him working on these. He puts so much thought and detail into every scene. And then moves things just inches, adds something here or there and takes another shot. This process goes on for hours and hours until it's time to get ready to read and go to bed. 

Typically the dogs stay out of his way- but they have their moments where they get a little too playful and tear through the "work area" and our usually quiet boy will make gutteral noises of frustration and anger..and that's when one or both pugsters get tossed into the crate for a while. USUALLY the younger of the two. He could take a few pointers from the other..who is usually content to curl up next to the boy and wait for the occasional hug or pet between takes. 

Blessings,

Sarah

Butterfly slumber.

This little one LOVES creating a nest in her bed. Multiple blankets, pillows, dolls, books, etc. Inevitably it starts this way- all cocooned around her in bed. Then she kicks off all the covers and pushes half the treasures off onto the floor to sprawl, typically spread eagle on top of her covers. Then in the morning when I go to wake her, she's wrapped back up in a quilt, snug as a bug- back in a cocoon, though more streamlined. It's like this every night/morning. Love it.












She's spending the night with friends tonight...so I'll miss seeing her in her bed tonight.

Blessings,

Sarah

January 15, 2011

I've had multiple inquiries and requests as to WHEN I'm going to update this thing. WHY I'm not posting anymore. WHERE are all my pictures?! Well....I just haven't felt like posting! I didn't feel like I had anything worthy of posting..not much to say. Not many pics outside of my kids, etc. But I think with 2011, I will post whatever, whenever, however. Good, bad, bland...

SO... 2011 finds us very much in the same position as 2010. Some parts of it good, some not so much.

* The kids are LOVING school. Their grades are excellent, have good friends, love their teachers & campus.

* I'm thrilled that they are in school but I miss them during the day!

* I'm still looking for a job that will allow me to work while the kids are in school but be able to pick up them

   from school and be home with them in the afternoon/evenings. Between this economy and those time

   constraints, I haven't had much luck as of yet. I know something will turn up though! Just a matter of time

   and patience!

* Still listing on Ebay..not very consistently but I'm getting back at it.

* Still learning & LOVING photography. My goal for 2011 is to get my branding and marketing together

   and revamp my portfolio. Already in the works and I'm SO excited!

* REdiscovering that life is messy, full of hiccups and second chances but worth every effort.

* Realizing that I've come into my own and I need to not be afraid of that or what others think of that.

* Still need to find a good church home. Miss that fellowship and weekly affirmation of faith.

* A billion other things that I can't think of right now!

And here are a few pics that depict my days to an extent..

...the daily TO DO list. I'm obsessed with my lists. They make me happy and keep me in line (usually). And that's my camera cord, usually laying closeby to download whatever is on my camera.

The dining room table- always full of signs of life and disarray. Cups and plates not cleared as they should be, paper and writing/coloring utensils, games on the side table, fruit within easy reach for snacking... I should take a pic of the table at the same time, every day for a year... I wonder how different the pic would look?! Hmmm.... I've never tackled a 365 challenge. Maybe a thought for next year.

I drop off and pick up the kiddos most every day...it usually involves sitting in the car, in a long line, waiting to creep toward the entrance where they wait with their teachers. I usually take a magazine or a book but this last week, I've taken to calling my bff everyday to chat for a few minutes. She's usually sitting in HER car waiting in a line for HER kids, just 45 minutes away or so.. it's nice to just see how her day was and hear her voice. We're silly for not chatting more. But she gets me. She knows I'm not a phone girl for one, AND well. She just gets me and loves me anyway. And vice versa. *laugh*

And...at the end of the evening. I'm usually sitting on the couch, curled up with my laptop- checking in on Facebook (hopelessly addicted. I love that I can connect with so many people via this avenue), email, Ebay, cruising blogs, editing pics,etc.etc. These evening hours after the kids have gone to bed usually include a snack and some tv or Netflix too. As for what was in that bowl.... well. It COULD have been ice cream. Or it COULD have been nonfat Greek yogurt with a few almonds..but usually that's what I start my day with, not END it with. So I'll admit. It WAS ice cream. And it was GOOOOOOD.

More tomorrow! (..well, don't hold your breath. But don't faint when a new post shows up tomorrow either!)

Blessings,

Sarah