Dinner

OK, our house is a wreck. (We've got projects going on....more in a couple of weeks or so.) These pics are embarrassing, like showing our home's underwear or something. But I still managed to pull together dinner! Love, love, love summertime! These are omelettes with onions, cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, mushrooms and parmesan cheese. And blueberries, figs, clementines with more tomatos and basil on the side. Yummy!

Getting Our Groove on

The girls had a great idea that we've been trying this week. We mostly listen to our favorite few albums in the car every day. K and M came up with the suggestion that we have different theme days for our music. So far this week, we had Women Singers Day, Men Singers Day, Instrumental Day, and Radio Day. We've brainstormed a list of about 50 different days we'd like to have. Me, I'm looking forward to Musical Day. All of this means that we actually listen to all that music on my Ipod, the kids stay entertained in the car, and the music never gets old. What are your car tunes?

Our Garden

As promised here's more from the garden. These pictures are actually kind of remarkable for us because we've never been able to grow anything. Like ever. Mostly it's because of my lack of a green thumb. And our lack of a backyard. We really don't have an actual yard. Just a medium-sized patio with one large planter box and a bunch of pots. This year we are getting some real plants with edible things on them. Here is a peek:

Yes, that is an actual tomato. And basil, peas, mint, oregano, parsley, corn, and a gerbera daisy. Lots of stuff in pots because of our space problem. Still it's gratifying to look out the kitchen window and see everything growing, or grab some fresh basil to go in the evening's dinner.

Lazy Day

What a lazy summer day! M started dance summer camp and loves it. She has taken tap dancing, but this is her first experience with ballet and jazz.

K and I hung around the house, gardened, tidied up, and had a chance to talk. Did unexciting house stuff.

We did have a yummy dinner, though:

I actually made marinara sauce for the first time ever from scratch. And it turned out pretty well. I used an 11-year-old recipe that I had saved from the San Francisco Chronicle (why did it take so long to get around to making it?). It's a big recipe, so there is plenty to save in the freezer for pizzas, more pasta, bread....

The basil is homegrown in the backyard. More on this to come...we actually have things growing this year!!

Weekend Fun

I had a great weekend! Got a chance to spend time with my "little" brother who came out for a visit (his first since January!!). K and M were ecstatic to see him. M asked when he was coming every day last week. It was wonderful to spend time with my entire family. Everyone came over to our house for one homecooked meal, and we went out for a yummy Mongolian BBQ dinner the next night.

We also spent some time outside today going for a walk in a sculpture park. Being by the water, the park is really windy and most of the sculptures interact with the wind in some way. Kids liked it, and we all really liked seeing someplace different. We came here in pursuit of one of our favorite family hobbies which you can read about more here. We didn't have any luck this time, though. :(

Hope that your weekend was just as fun!

Time to Play

The weather has finally warmed up a bit, and we have had the chance to go outside and play.

Summertime is good for riding bikes (although it is not so easy for mama to keep up with the riders, especially on her camera phone!):

Summertime is good for swimming lessons (pic by M):

Summertime is good for going to the park and eating messy popsicles:

Our 4th

Had so much fun with the girls putting together our annual Fourth of July celebration. We live in the best place ever to see fireworks! You just have to walk across the street to the park and watch the show. It's fantastic especially considering it's the only city in the area that still has a fireworks show.

We had a great evening--everyone was invited, so there were lots of family and friends, yummy food, and red, white, and blue. This is a look at some of what we did to get ready:

I found the directions for these stars from here.  They are really pretty and not very difficult to make at all.  

K and M made truffles for dessert.  We followed this recipe.  They were super easy and very delicious.  Rolling them in the cocoa powder can get to be a bit messy, though.  The girls were willing helpers especially considering that they got to lick the spoon afterwards.

Excuse the terrible fireworks picture.  I have got to learn how to take these on my camera.  Hope your Fourth was full of fun and relaxation!

Roses and Princesses

M has Music summer camp in the mornings, so I have a chance to spend some time with just K. This morning we made a run to Peet's (my favorite!!) and got ourselves a cappucino and a hot cocoa. We strolled through downtown and made our way to the park. It was a lovely day and we especially liked seeing all of the roses that are in bloom. And I got a lovely pic of K.

When we returned to pick up M, I found someone else in her place!