holiday recap:: part 1

from the moment the kids got out of school we were on the go.  it started that weekend with the brockett family early christmas.  or what is now being called the brocket family express christmas.  any modern family fans reading this?

we went to irvine to visit with everyone, enjoy a turkey dinner and give out presents.

loved seeing kendall.  what a sweet little girl.  next year i'm sure she will be running around playing with all of the kids.

i made a queso dip: velveeta and rotel melted together in the microwave.  it was addictive and good.  i also made fresh salsa for those that were counting their calories.

the dessert table was full; pumkin pie, apple pie, banana cake, lemon meringue, cherry pie, ice cream and lots of whipped cream, oh my!

this was one of my favorite memories of the day, watching grady open up his toy story dolls action figures.  i remember the boys and sofia loving them too when they were his age.

and what does an almost 13 year old get excited about?  new ear phones for his ipod and a best buy gift card.

yeah, more legos... this was exactly what he wanted.

sofia got a set of princesses to add to her collection.  and she loves every single one of them.  she's giving them a group hug.  

 the cousins started a poker game that didn't last very long.  but i think it's becoming the family tradition at get togethers.

 posing in the godlewski's new kitchen.   they were great hosts, as always.

the very next day jordan and i headed to burbank to fly to sacramento.  jordan's best friend, owen, moved their after kindergarten and he invited jordan to his 13th birthday party.  the added bonus was that i got to fly him there (i was too nervous to let him fly alone) and visit with april for a bit.

the kids spent most of their time playing games, watching psych and hanging out in the backyard.  i enjoyed catching up with april, going for a run and experiencing their daily lives of tennis and drum lessons.  it was strange to be away from bobby and the other kids.  but i think it gave me a nice break during this busy time.  jordan stayed with them the rest of the week to go san francisco.  i flew home the next day. i've never flown by myself so that was a first for me.

wednesday the kids and i were invited to a cookie decorating party with some friends.  it was pot luck style.  love that.  then the kids decorated their gingerbread people and ate all their frosting.  hee hee.  at the end of the day we all decided that this will become a yearly event.  i would love to host it next year. everyone had so much fun.

that night we got a chance to celebrate the 2nd night of hannaukah with our friends. 

 oh do we love hanukkah... 

especially the food.  amy and anthony made us chicken, kugel, latkes and green beans.  everything was sooo good.  i don't think kugel is a traditional hanukkah dish but we were so happy they made it for us.

of course we exchanged gifts. gotta love the bff pajamas.

and these two goofballs.  it's fun sharing everyone's holiday traditions.  something so special about this time of year.

andrew and sofia missed jordan while he was away but it was a good bonding experience for these two.  they tend to have the most conflict.  they made puppets out of notebook paper, kitchen twine and cardboard to keep them busy.  pretty crafty don't you think?

jordan came home on christmas eve, just in time for my family's celebration.  no we didn't have tamales or buñuelos, which are traditional this time of year.  instead we had a turkey dinner with all the fixings.  for dessert i made these rocky road parfaits that were yummy and didn't make us feel guilty.

 the grandparents' gift was a photo calendar and a clip frame.  each of my siblings helped put the calendar together with photos of the grandkids and each family.  it turned out really cool.  i didn't get a photo of the finished product but maybe i'll do that.

i got my sister in the exchange this year.  i gave her some giada delaurentis products from target.  can you guess what this is?

i shared some of our christmas day photos already.  we had a quiet day.  my parents came over to see the kids open their santa gifts.  then bobby's dad and step mom came over for breakfast. and we ordered chinese food for dinner with his mom and stepdad.  the kids had fun playing with their presents and sharing time with their grandparents.

santa went to trader joe's this year for stocking stuffers.  the kids each got coal and a variety of holiday specialties.  i especially enjoyed the chocolate covered minty marshmallows.

we also have a new family tradition.  meet sam the elf.  

he came to us from the north pole (of target).  he was sent to watch over the kids and report back to santa about their behavior.  yes, it totally freaked sofia out but andrew thought it was fun to wake up each morning and find him in a different place.  those elves sure are mischievous. 

stuck in the apothecary jar 

reading a christmas book

having an m&m fight with the andre ethier action figure.

lying in our bed and watching tv.

sitting on top of the christmas presents.

it was a fun new tradition that we'll continue next year.  i've pinned quite a few suggestions about where other people have found their elves so i have a lot of ideas for next year.

are you exhausted?  i am.  and there is more to share.  

part 2: kernville, new year's eve and jordan's birthday.

take care.

2012 weekly menu: week 1

and so it starts all over.

i knew today would be hard.  it always is after having my family home for the holiday break.  the five of us hanging out together makes me so happy.  this morning i kissed them all goodbye as we got back to "normal" life.  and although i know i will enjoy some alone time, i will miss them.

this morning i am heading back to the gym for some yoga.  a good way to start off the new year, in meditation and peace.  finding balance and focus.  looking forward to it.

normal life also means getting back to some cooking.  it's been nice being out of the kitchen for a few days.  but it's time for some healthy cooking and good food.  unfortunately there is nothing exciting about my menu this week.

making this week:
monday: we ate out at our favorite mexican place
tuesday: lemon chicken pita
wednesday: bbq salmon salad
thursday: turkey chili and  cornbread
friday: pizza
weekend: not sure what the plan is yet so we'll play it by ear.


baking this week:
the last thing we need around here is more sweets or baked goods.  in fact one of my to-do's this week is to get rid of all of that stuff from the pantry and fridge.  i think i'll take this week to get an inventory of what i have and make a plan for some baking this year.


i have so many memories to share from our last two weeks.  and i am so excited to start fresh again here.  doing some planning and thinking and hoping that you will visit again.

make it a good day.

happy birthday

and if you're reading this on sunday, happy new year.
today is jordan's 13th birthday.

i can't believe he's 13.

a few years ago jordan and i were having a conversation in the car.  i seem to have the best conversations with the kids in the car.  jordan noticed some graffiti on the wall.  he asked me why people write on the wall like that.  i think i answered something like, "it's usually teenagers who have nothing better to do with their time."  he said, "but isn't that wrong?"  and i said, "yes, but sometimes teenagers do things that are wrong."  then he got really sad and said, "i worry about being a teenager and doing things that make you mad."

that is one of the many reasons that i love him so much.

i'd like to think he won't be a rebellious teenager.  at least not terribly rebellious.  i don't think he has it in him.

i think he has a lot of his mother in him.

one who didn't like to disappoint, or hurt, or cause waves.
i do hope he takes chances and discovers and tests and pushes the boundaries.
and i pray for the patience to handle that and let him become the person he is meant to be.
learning from his triumphs and his mistakes.  even if they are hard lessons to learn - for both of us.

is it possible to be cautiously rebellious?
that's what i think he'll be.

he already has a lot of the teenager in him.
he is almost as tall as me, wears a bigger shoe than bobby and has been shaving for a few months.  so this milestone birthday comes as no surprise to us.

but it's still hard to believe.

and when i look at him, at the young man he has become, i am impressed.  his confidence and good nature.  his peacefulness and adventurous spirit.  i have no doubt that although challenges are ahead for us, we will all come out of this better people.

son, you are my inspiration.  i love you beyond the limits of my heart.  thank you for shining light into my life, for your compassion and pure heart.  i treasure you.

happy birthday!

2011

the year ...

we

celebrated 4 weddings

welcomed 2 new babies into our extended family

paid $4.09 a gallon

had 2 monte carlo nights - but never went to vegas

ate gourmet at the food trucks

said goodbye to weekday preschool with heavy hearts

went to palm springs - twice

made tortillas and fresh squeezed orange juice

made friendship bracelets

visited 5 missions

went to summer concerts

upgraded to iphone 4s

he 

got 372 points in scrabble

performed one amazing wedding ceremony

was a guest lecturer for a university

didn’t get injured in softball - did i mention that half of the games were postponed due to bad weather?

wrote something that’s the talk of the town

turned 40 with style

he 

surpassed his goal in baskets

went to yosemite and inspired us to go

went to his first rock concert

made it through 3 rounds of mock trial

took 14 seconds off his butterfly

grew 5 inches and 2 shoe sizes

he 

played a lumberjack, an oompa loompa and a bully

learned a lot about the mayans 

took the field for the cardinals

pitched two innings

went away to science camp

had a baseball birthday party

made us laugh with his wit

she 

turned 6

lost 6 teeth

got 6 shots

was a flower girl twice

amazed us on stage

started kindergarten

made friends with ease

grew up way too fast

i

put life in focus

saw my little sister get married

read a book that will stay with me forever the help

ran my first 5k

and my second

wrote 228 blog entries this year

went to chicago for one of the last tapings of the oprah show

took some cool food photos

spent time with a faraway friend

had an amazing girls’ weekend

accomplished many of my goals

what a year.

what an unforgettable year.

looking forward to 2012 and all it has in store for us.

one little word

focus
what a journey this word and i have had this year.

it is the word that helped me reach so many of my goals.
it is the word that kept me moving, growing and dreaming.
it kept me wondering and reaching.
it surprised me and challenged me.
it made me take a deep breathe.
it made me think and forced me to see things for what they are.
it was fun.
it will stay with me forever.

i especially enjoyed taking the one little word class this year.  it was a great way to keep my word present throughout the year.  i've been doing this for 4 years now and this is the first year that my word has been consistent, and a lot had to do with this class.

i am signing up again this year but focusing on my new word.

happy
i started thinking about my word a few months ago.  listening and being patient.  for a while i thought my word was going to be "intention".  but then i saw this word and i really thought about the meaning and what i want for my life in the coming year and this was it.

in 2012 i want to be happy.
simple as that.

i am happy now.  i am.  not all the time, but i have a happy life.
what i want is to be really happy.
to eat things that make me happy.
to experience things that make me happy.
to visit places that make me happy.
to be with people that make me happy.
to feel it in my soul.

i think what sealed the deal for me was reading this quote:

Source: facebook.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

i couldn't stop thinking about it.  to be happy not just for me but for others.

and then i found this:

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

my year will be filled with trying to do this.

i have been collecting quotes and synonyms and definitions.  if you follow me on pinterest you may have noticed that my quotes board has been filled with beautiful images of happiness.

this word feels right to me.  it's a simple word.  it's doable. and it can change everything.

i even have a second stage.  once i have the happiness thing down my word will transition to delight - something that gives great pleasure or joy. i have a feeling it will be a natural transition.


my sister gave me the happiness project a few years ago and it has been sitting on my bookshelf.  this is the year i read it.  maybe one chapter a month.  read it and put it into practice.

i am so excited to really be happy.
i hope you will consider having a word for your year.  it is truly life changing.
and i would love it if you would share your word here.  let's take this journey together.

wordless wednesday:: christmas

weekly menu: week 52

recipe found here

not that i have a menu to share this week.  but i had to keep these posts going throgh the last week of the year. our schedule this week is completely open.  with all of us home we are going with the flow, eating lots of leftovers and eating out too.

making this week::

monday: we had turkey noodle soup.

tuesday: cheese enchiladas, rice and salad that i didn't make for christmas.

wednesday: ??

thursday: ??

friday: ??

saturday: i think we are having halibut for new year's eve.

sunday:  jordan wants spaghetti and meatballs for his birthday.

baking this week::

i have buttermilk in the fridge that i want to use up. so i'm thinking that calls for scones with dried fruit.  

did you have something outstanding to eat for christmas?  i will be sharing our story this week, with lots of food pictures of course.  

enjoy the last week of 2011!