Kung Fu Panda

Every Tuesday and Wednesday during the summer months, our local movie theater is showing free children's movies. Today was Kung Fu Panda and I took the kids. I have to admit, my stomach was a little nervous. I can handle Target and Walmart, but a movie? With all of them? I am happy to report that they did GREAT! We actually stayed and watched the entire movie. Looking forward to Happy Feet, which is showing next week!

recipe rut

I feel like I am in a food rut and only make the same ten things over and over again. To remedy this, I am going to make one or two new recipes each week...posting them here with pictures will keep me dedicated . I'll share the good and bad ones with you...let me know if you try any of them

Tonight we had Steak Sandwiches with Worcestershire Mayonnaise and Libby's corn salad

We (Matt had a say in it) picked this one because we love anything with Worcestershire (already liked it, but being in London a few years ago cinced it for me...they even had Worcestershire potato chips crisps). 

the sauce that goes on the sandwiches is so good I could almost drink it...licking the bowl isn't out of the question

This is a super easy, delicious, and quick dinner. Everyone loved it and everyone ate well. What more can you ask for in a recipe?

This salad was from a friend of a friend (Katharine's friend Libby) and once I tasted it at a dinner party, I was ready to move her to best friend status. It is wonderful and super easy.

The steak sandwich came from Cooking Light:

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 2  (8-ounce) boneless ribeye steaks, trimmed
• 1/2  teaspoon  kosher salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 2  tablespoons  fat-free mayonnaise (I used the Kraft Olive oil reduced fat mayo)
• 1  teaspoon  whole-grain mustard
• 2  teaspoons  Worcestershire sauce
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 8  (1-ounce) slices crusty whole-grain bread, toasted
• 1  cup  arugula leaves

Preparation

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle both sides of steaks evenly with salt and pepper. Add steaks to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Let steaks stand 5 minutes. Cut steaks diagonally across grain into thin slices.

Combine mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Spread about 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture on each of 4 slices of bread; divide steak evenly among bread slices. Top each serving with 1/4 cup arugula and 1 bread slice.

Libby's Corn Salad:

here is what she emailed me:

"I just use frozen corn, avocado, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes halved. Then I toss it all together with cilantro, lime juice salt and olive oil." 

I used the juice of 1 lime, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 handful of cilantro, 1 avocado, 1 small bag of frozen corn (thawed but not "cooked"), 1/2 a big ball of fresh mozzarella, and half a pint of grape tomatoes. 

Showering

It isn't easy to be a mom AND get a shower (let alone shower, blow dry, get ironed clothes, and make-up on). I find it funny when people ask me what I do with the kids when tackling this. Sometimes the kids play in the bath tub (sans water) and pretend it is a boat. Sometimes they get out all of my lotions and potions and shake the bottles up. Sometimes they climb in my bed, turn on the television, and hunker down. Then I not only have my beauty regimen to attend to, but a photo-op to contend with as well...aren't they cute?

Dress Rehearsal

she had the shoes

she had the bun in her hair

she had the leotard and tights

but she also had this...her mother

you see, we got ready for dance class and she was actually excited

too bad dance class didn't actually start today

too bad her loving mother can't seem to read a calendar

letting her wear her dance gear and listen to "Popular" from the soundtrack to "Wicked" made her forget about her mother's mix-up...

I think she makes a beautiful ballerina

Where the wild things are

these are the creatures that met me after nap time and attacked me for a snack

do I know what they are doing? other than being silly and finding this maneuver (and themselves) extremely funny, no. 

The Versatility of Boys

This is my son Sam. He is my only son and quite the project to me. 

He has a twin sister, Emma Kate.

He usually adores her.

He also has an older sister, Caroline.

As a mother and a girly-girl, I get the girls. I understand their need to wear princess dresses, stick-on earrings, and high heels. I know that they want to take their babies with them when we go to Target and I know that they like pink sprinkles on their toast and yogurt. I also can identify with them when they eat the red gummy bears first and argue over who gets the sippy cup with the dark pink lid versus the light pink lid. This all makes sense to me. Sam on the other hand is a mystery. I don't get it. I don't understand sports and the many rules involved. I don't understand how he can have fun just holding a ball or a car (but I am happy to buy them for him). I don't quite know how to play with him or always talk to him (Matthew tells me I baby him). I just sort of follow his lead.

So imagine my joy when I was in the kitchen making brownies and he asked to help. I felt like I really 'got' him. "This isn't so different" I thought. I taught him how to pour in the eggs and turn on the mixer....this is just like baking with the girls, right? Whew! I can do this! I understand having a boy. He is no mystery! Boys aren't that different. What a relief!

or so I thought...

another day, another hat

you'd hide too

if this was your choice in hats

and this was the rest of your ensemble

All in a day's work

is this what you see when you empty your dishwasher?

*note that there are only 10 sippy cups here. the norm is 12 (three milks for three meals and water for in-between meals). 

Comfort

Sam fell and was inconsolable (he wasn't hurt, just upset). I got his blanket and pacifier for him, but I gave him the wrong blanket (he prefers the dark blue one and I had grabbed the light blue one). When I came back from fixing the blanket situation, Caroline was holding (as much as you can hold someone who is only a few inches shorter and couple pounds lighter) a much calmer Sam. She is such a great sister and it is clear that he loves her (look how he is holding her hand). These are the best kinds of moments.

A GreatGrand Time

While Matt was away on his annual Myrtle Beach golf trip, I called in reinforcements. The kids and I were lucky enough to have my grandparents stay for a couple of days.  We had a great time playing in backyard, eating ice cream, doing a little shopping, and just being together.

Gigi with her greats

Emma Kate let me swaddle her and she  pretended that she was a baby. Gigi held her and sang "Rock a Bye Baby" and as soon as she would finish the song, Emma Kate would say, "again, again" and giggle. It was very sweet.

After dinner we spent time in the backyard with the sprinkler

trying to get a drink

these three love ice cream...just like their Mamma

I love this one