The Sweeter Side of Mommyhood

The Sweeter Side of Mommyhood

Best Ever: Guacamole

Something that's become a summer staple in our house is the creamy avocado. We've been having it sliced up in salads, blended with sour cream and garlic as a tangy sauce for salmon, and of course added as a burger or sandwich topping.  If you missed it the first time around, the avocado recipe mentioned in this post is one of my all time favorites. But nothing else beats fresh guacamole in the summertime. It's fresh and creamy with a great bite of flavor and is something I'm craving almost 24/7. Here's the only guacamole recipe you'll ever need: The Best Guacamole Ever Juice from half a lime 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1/3 cup onion, minced 1/8 cup minced hot pepper (we used ... read more

Pepper Picking and Patchwork Quilts: Part 1

This morning was an epic adventure for Lilly as she slipped on her pink gloves and marched into the garden with Daddy. Finally she could pick a vegetable!     She led the way over to the hot banana peppers we have been watching grow and waited patiently for Brandon to lift up the mesh. She tried to take a bite, then decided Mr. Hoppy might want it instead.   You should have heard Lilly, talking a mile a minute about everything else in the garden. She knows which plants are tomatoes, where the eggplants will come from (purple eggplant comes from purple flowers) and loves to see all the tiny cucumbers (which she sometimes calls pickle peppers) that are growing on the vines. Her ... read more

The Single Life

... single child life that is.  (Come on now!) Brandon and I got back to Pittsburgh Sunday night one child lighter.  My stubborn little two year old decided she was not leaving her grandparent's house.  It is so very sweet to me that she is so attached to my family. We're happy she gets to spend a few extra days with Mom Mom and Pop Pop, and Uncle Mike, Nick and Sam, but we miss her fiercely. Our visit was a rare 42 hours of uninterrupted family time that pretty much started (at 10 p.m. Friday night) in the pool and ended in the pool as well. We had no where to be and nothing to do but play in the pool with the girls and pool hop over to my Aunt Lynda's pool right next door. The girls both ... read more

Our Fourth Failure

So let me paint a picture for you: It's a warm summer's night.  You and your perfect little family are lounging together on a pretty little picnic blanket in a perfect little spot overlooking the river. The hot breeze is making your daughters hair curl up in the cutest way and the temperature is just right for your other daughter to be wearing a light summer dress, toes bare.  You smile, kindly, at all the people who are watching your cute kids with adoring eyes.  Waiting 'til dusk, you light a sparkler to the amazement of your two year old who watches with wonder and curiosity reflecting in her eyes. The conversation is light and sweet as you all curl your toes in the cool grass, waiting ... read more