Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Happy Birthday Iris!
Our niece, Iris, turned one this week and we got a chance to celebrate with her. She and Addison are only two weeks apart so it's always so fun to get them together...and of course catch up with family.
These pigtails crack me up! She is so so cute.
I have to give props to her daddy, Mike, because he made the cake! Dads...take note. He was careful to garnish and even piped the icing....impressive....and it tasted even better than it looked!
Very excited!
Addison was just excited to have some "new" toys to play with.
Addison only got to eat crepe paper....but in two weeks...watch out!! Ok, I'm lying...I totally gave her cake. How cruel would that be?
Cute cousins
Love this one....
Friday, March 27, 2009
For her daddy
Not much has been going on around here this week...except a little sleep deprivation with that daily alarm at 4:45am. Andy has asked for some more pics of Addison so here are a few random ones. I can't believe that she's almost a year old! In a couple of weeks we'll have plenty of fun things to blog about.
This girl loves her puppy and the feeling is mutual. Harley loves to go greet her in the morning and sometimes...in between. We're working on him not sneaking into her room and waking her up from naps, in the middle of the night, etc. He's figured out how to open the door with his paw. I'm not kidding.
Weather in Houston is so bizarre. Last Friday it was beautiful and hot. Today it's crummy and cool. Which makes dressing her a bit challenging.....she's pretty much grown out of all of her 6-12 month "winter" clothes. Bring on spring!
Cracks me up. Loves eating....all of the time. I have no idea where she gets this from. Um...yeah, maybe I do.
Taking a ride on her little car. She finally figured out how to make it move on her own....but wants nothing to do with walking for now. Crawling is so much easier.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wake up call
My alarm went off at 4:45am this morning. Intentionally if you can believe it. It will be doing this for the next four weeks Monday - Friday. Am I nuts? Possibly. I signed up for boot camp. One day down, nineteen more to go.
It was funny because there were probably about 20 other women out there this morning...all ages and body types. But no one really talked to each other. Maybe they were out of breath...or maybe it was just too darn early. But I think it would be really fun to do with a friend...any takers?
The plan is for me to use this month to get in shape and hopefully complete the Woodlands triathlon the first weekend in May. I say hopefully because I haven't officially signed up for it yet. Call it procrastination, but I call it fear...or maybe both. We'll see.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
What's for dinner....or any other meal for that matter?
I usually only "cook" a couple of times a week, especially since my husband would be ok eating a sandwich every meal of his life. It's been only recently that with Addison pretty much eating "real" food now, I'm having to ask myself this question 3 times a day...at least as far as what she's eating anyways.
So....I am looking for ideas, and PLEASE share what works for your family or what your kiddos enjoy for easy, go to meals/snacks. I'm going to share a few of my favs to start out, but Addison can only eat a waffle or quesadilla so many times a day, so please add to the list!
Favorite tool I never used in my kitchen until now, but probably now use it 4 times a day....
The Pizza Cutter! This thing is perfect for cutting through waffles, sandwiches, quesadillas, to get them into perfect bite sized portion Quickly.
Breakfast: Eggo whole grain cinnamon waffle w/ a little syrup & bananas
Lunch: Quesadilla : spray pam (w/butter flavor) on a tortilla, add cheese and Fat Free refried beans, fold over and "toast" on each side of a non-stick skillet (her very favorite)
Dinner: We are having creative issues in this area...but I did recently discover Morningstar Veggie Bites (Broccoli and cheese) and she loves them!!
Dinner for Mom/Dad : easy, healthy go to and fast
Throw a couple of boneless chicken breasts in a crock pot with a can of Rotel and 1 cup of chicken broth. Cook on high for two hours and low for two hours. Done! Very good flavor....usually I serve it up with Spanish style lipton sides and if I'm feeling really adventurous and not so healthy, I top it with Chuy's creamy jalapeno sauce.
Ok, now it's your turn, please, I'm begging you....
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Date night with Adele
I could get used to this....a fabulous trip and a date all within a week! My parents had Addison spend the night and Andy and I went in town (an adventure in itself) to see Adele in a small, intimate concert. If you have not heard any of her music, you are missing out. She is absolutely amazing. After getting a Grammy for best new Artist in February, I was really surprised that she was performing at Warehouse Live (which only fits 1,500). As talented as this girl is, it's probably the last time we'll get to see her in such a small setting.
Dinner at Fish in Midtown
My girl Adele
Sunday, March 8, 2009
1st trip sans kiddo and newlywed or nearly dead
Andy and I were lucky enough to get away to one of our very favorite places this week. We left Addison in the care of both sets of our parents (who took shifts) and dear friends who filled in in between so that we could get away Wednesday - Sunday to California.
I was so excited when I was planning the trip, but reality began to set in of leaving Addison for five days...by far the longest I"ve been away right before we left. She did wonderfully though and we were able to enjoy ourselves so much.
We got into Carmel, CA on the Monterey Peninsula Wednesday afternoon and spent the day shopping, eating, and enjoying the sunset.
Lamplighter Inn...so wonderful and lived up to its number 1 ranking on TripAdvisor.com. Just a short walk away from shops and the beach.
I failed to take a picture of the #6 attraction in Carmel that we spent much of our time at.....the Coach store. Yes, Trip Advisor listed it as one of the top cannot miss attractions...and why??? Because everything in the store was about 75% off! If this isn't a silver lining of a desperate economy, I don't know what is!
Sunset at Carmel Beach (Wed. night)
I wrote Addison's name in the sand (I was in slight withdrawel the first night) and then a dog ran across it and I thought it was perfect because we were in Harley withdrawel as well!
Wednesday night we went to the best Greek restaurant. It only held about 30 people and was owned by two brothers that kept hugging and kissing all of the ladies in the place. The food was outstanding.
When we were almost ready to leave a man came and sat down and introduced himself as Dr. Charles Harper. In 10 minutes of conversation I learned that he was newly divorced after 25 years of marriage, got married at the age of 18 and had been retired for 14 years. You do the math.
He told us that he comes in that restaurant every day to eat and reminded us that people who live in Carmel are all newlywed (the tourists) or nearly dead (the locals) (except him). "No one here works, we just get up, work out, and worry about where we're going to go eat that day". Really? People live this way? Umm...sign me up, except for the working out every day part....
Thursday Morning was very hazy, but we drove south on Hwy 1 to Big Sur. The views were absolutely breathtaking!
Hiking at Point Lobos Reserve, just south of Carmel
One of the many cool doorways in Carmel....led to a beautiful cottage house right near the beach
Thursday afternoon we hiked from Carmel Beach down and up to Pebble Beach golf course and then took a drive down and around 17 mile drive
Is this not amazing? (taken from 17 mile drive overlooking Pebble Beach)
Lone Cypress to the right
Taken at Ghost Tree. I was here over 10 years ago and took the most amazing picture at sunset. I tried to duplicate it, but we were a little bit early.
At the Lodge of Pebble Beach watching some players finish up on the 18th green. Andy didn't get to play this time, but maybe it's an excuse to come back...
Thursday night we went to the Resort at Spanish Bay to watch the sunset and have dinner. It was so chilly but they had these firepits that you could sit and eat/drink with blankets while you watched the sunset.
A bagpiper played right before sunset
Friday morning we drove from Carmel up through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate to Muir Woods. It was one of our favorite parts from our trip a few years back that we knew we wanted to do again.
Taken from Lombard St.
Across the bay looking back on the city
Muir Woods redwoods
Friday afternoon we arrived at Napa and stayed at the Inn on 1st. which is the BEST bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at. If you go to the wine country DO NOT MISS this place!!!
We were served a gormet breakfast by Jim every morning.
Saturday we met friends of Andy's from Shell's office in San Diego who were also visiting. It worked out so well because we had a driver take us around to 5 different wineries and didn't have to worry about a thing.
Joseph "Michael" Phelps winery....our first stop
I asked Andy to hold my purse and then I think he forgot he had it on while talking to Chance, but it made for a classic blackmail picture.
Since we went in March, the grapvines have all just been pruned back and it looks quite different from when we were there in the summer before.
Still beautiful though!!
Rubicon was next, which is owned by Francis Coppola. Little known fact...Nicholas Cage and Francis coppola are cousins!
Enjoying our tasting at Rubicon
What makes this time of year beautiful in Napa is the mustard that's growing everywhere. This is one of my favorite pics from the whole trip!
Vincent Arroyo winery was our 3rd and favorite one. It was a small family owned winery and we spent two hours talking with Vincent and Tedddy, tasting, eating, and of course buying lots of wine to take back!
Vincent brought us up two special bottles from his cellar to take home as a thank you. We were pretty excited and didn't want to leave, but we still had 2 to go!
August Briggs was next, but this is actually a picture of the 5th winery (which funny enough, I can't remember the name of)....a long day of tasting will do that to you!
We had such an incredible time and I can't wait to go back again. Coming home to Addison tonight though was the perfect ending to a much needed getaway.
I was so excited when I was planning the trip, but reality began to set in of leaving Addison for five days...by far the longest I"ve been away right before we left. She did wonderfully though and we were able to enjoy ourselves so much.
We got into Carmel, CA on the Monterey Peninsula Wednesday afternoon and spent the day shopping, eating, and enjoying the sunset.
Lamplighter Inn...so wonderful and lived up to its number 1 ranking on TripAdvisor.com. Just a short walk away from shops and the beach.
I failed to take a picture of the #6 attraction in Carmel that we spent much of our time at.....the Coach store. Yes, Trip Advisor listed it as one of the top cannot miss attractions...and why??? Because everything in the store was about 75% off! If this isn't a silver lining of a desperate economy, I don't know what is!Sunset at Carmel Beach (Wed. night)
I wrote Addison's name in the sand (I was in slight withdrawel the first night) and then a dog ran across it and I thought it was perfect because we were in Harley withdrawel as well!
Wednesday night we went to the best Greek restaurant. It only held about 30 people and was owned by two brothers that kept hugging and kissing all of the ladies in the place. The food was outstanding.When we were almost ready to leave a man came and sat down and introduced himself as Dr. Charles Harper. In 10 minutes of conversation I learned that he was newly divorced after 25 years of marriage, got married at the age of 18 and had been retired for 14 years. You do the math.
He told us that he comes in that restaurant every day to eat and reminded us that people who live in Carmel are all newlywed (the tourists) or nearly dead (the locals) (except him). "No one here works, we just get up, work out, and worry about where we're going to go eat that day". Really? People live this way? Umm...sign me up, except for the working out every day part....
Thursday Morning was very hazy, but we drove south on Hwy 1 to Big Sur. The views were absolutely breathtaking!
Hiking at Point Lobos Reserve, just south of Carmel
One of the many cool doorways in Carmel....led to a beautiful cottage house right near the beach
Thursday afternoon we hiked from Carmel Beach down and up to Pebble Beach golf course and then took a drive down and around 17 mile drive
Is this not amazing? (taken from 17 mile drive overlooking Pebble Beach)
Lone Cypress to the right
Taken at Ghost Tree. I was here over 10 years ago and took the most amazing picture at sunset. I tried to duplicate it, but we were a little bit early.
At the Lodge of Pebble Beach watching some players finish up on the 18th green. Andy didn't get to play this time, but maybe it's an excuse to come back...
Thursday night we went to the Resort at Spanish Bay to watch the sunset and have dinner. It was so chilly but they had these firepits that you could sit and eat/drink with blankets while you watched the sunset.
A bagpiper played right before sunset
Friday morning we drove from Carmel up through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate to Muir Woods. It was one of our favorite parts from our trip a few years back that we knew we wanted to do again.Taken from Lombard St.
Across the bay looking back on the city
Muir Woods redwoods
Friday afternoon we arrived at Napa and stayed at the Inn on 1st. which is the BEST bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at. If you go to the wine country DO NOT MISS this place!!!We were served a gormet breakfast by Jim every morning.
Saturday we met friends of Andy's from Shell's office in San Diego who were also visiting. It worked out so well because we had a driver take us around to 5 different wineries and didn't have to worry about a thing.Joseph "Michael" Phelps winery....our first stop
I asked Andy to hold my purse and then I think he forgot he had it on while talking to Chance, but it made for a classic blackmail picture.
Since we went in March, the grapvines have all just been pruned back and it looks quite different from when we were there in the summer before.
Still beautiful though!!
Rubicon was next, which is owned by Francis Coppola. Little known fact...Nicholas Cage and Francis coppola are cousins!
Enjoying our tasting at Rubicon
What makes this time of year beautiful in Napa is the mustard that's growing everywhere. This is one of my favorite pics from the whole trip!
Vincent Arroyo winery was our 3rd and favorite one. It was a small family owned winery and we spent two hours talking with Vincent and Tedddy, tasting, eating, and of course buying lots of wine to take back!
Vincent brought us up two special bottles from his cellar to take home as a thank you. We were pretty excited and didn't want to leave, but we still had 2 to go!
August Briggs was next, but this is actually a picture of the 5th winery (which funny enough, I can't remember the name of)....a long day of tasting will do that to you!
We had such an incredible time and I can't wait to go back again. Coming home to Addison tonight though was the perfect ending to a much needed getaway.