Archive for the ‘our family’ Category
May 7, 2012
I haven’t done one of these in a while, have I? I was suddenly inspired to take photos this weekend. Let’s see what we did. Or at least what I managed to take pictures of…
Dashie and I hit up the garden with his new tools and cart. We got the cart! Our friend Carol sent it as a belated birthday present. We love it. (Thanks Carol!)
Picked lots of favas.
I started with a little light nesting… which was attempting to remove milk stains for all of Dashiell’s newborn things. Half a day soak in OxyClean and they’re pretty good, for those of you in the same boat.
And went through the little pile of things I’ve collected from various consignment stores and online sales over the last year. And then resisted the urge to buy millions more things because it will be way more fun after we find out who’s coming to meet us.
I love watching my little guy play in his corner by himself.
Made my favorite fava bean puree + salad for a get together at our neighbors’ house on Sunday eve.
Where Dashiell learned all about popping water balloons.
The weeks are speeding up, people. I swear they are.
labels: our family, recipes + food
March 14, 2012
I was tempted to skip the birthday part altogether this year, I admit. We’ve had so much going on in the last week that it just seemed like one more not totally necessary thing to add to our list. BUT, I’m so glad we decided to have a little party after all. Dashie had fun, the bagels were delicious, the day was warm. And I made my first ever cake. Success all around!
Of course, it ended in mountains of new trucks. But what are you going to do? (Give the old ones to Goodwill, if you’re me. Ooops.)
His party last year included far more preparation and decorations, but that just wasn’t in the cards this time around.
And the cake recipe? Oh, um, yeah. Divine. Rave reviews from party goers. Shall I post it? I think so. Stay tuned.
labels: baby + kids, holidays + celebrations, our family
February 2, 2012
I’m really sucking at posting, aren’t I? I want to post more, I do! Maybe soon. How about some photos from the last week for now?
Dashie loves skateboarding with his Uncle Jordan. Or at least loves the wheels on the skateboard.
Really fun day watching Amanda try on wedding dresses with Kendra and Jillian, (the Vera Wang space was pretty great), followed by a delicious ladies lunch at Fig & Olive.
OMG you guys, I’m working on recreating a cold-marinated fennel salad with orange and cilantro. It was nearly the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Will report back.
Our contractor found an envelope of negatives from 1950 in our garage while he was demo-ing to start construction on my new office. (Yay!) They are amazing. Photos of our house when it was freshly built, with the for sale sign out front and everything. I love love love seeing the history of our neighborhood. Plus neat photos of Carol’s family (our landlord and friend). So excited for her to see them.
And the garden update… aside from a few perinneal herbs, it’s fava-only season people. I’ve never grown them before, but I decided to plant all favas for winter/spring. They’re part of the vetch family and are a great natural way to re-nitrogenate the soil before summer. (Um, also I love them.) AS IF I’m going to actually get it together to plant a summer garden this year. Maybe if I can get a few things in the ground by May.
I’m going to admit that our 3rd heatwave of the winter finally wore me down. I’m over cold weather and completely ready for spring and summer. Luckily we’re heading to Mexico for a week on the 17th. Aside from the inevitable bikini time, I’m super excited.
labels: our family, urban farming
January 4, 2012
How about a big post recapping the last few weeks? THEN I’ll really start posting again. I will.
We had a long and relaxing trip to San Diego for Christmas. Spending time with the whole family, at three different houses, and seeing friends we haven’t in a long while. Mostly I have pictures of Dashiell in his pajamas, but no one ever ties of those, right?
Early Christmas morning. He still loves to push things, more than anything else.
Adorable bear slippers from my parents (“bear shhhooos”), rivaled only by these Hanna Andersson buckaroo PJs from Brock’s mom (on super sale, btw!).
Someone spent all of Christmas day in his PJs. And found real bulldozers (boo-dah-dah!) near Brock’s dad’s house.
We got to spend a little time with this muffin, and her mom and dad. Though I was horribly sick and couldn’t hold her. Which sucked.
A gorgeous evening at the beach with Brock’s bro turned positively gloomy in the space of 10 minutes when a monster fog bank rolled in. It was kind of neat.
Dashiell loves this mushroom bowling set from our friend Carol. He doesn’t even care about the bowling part yet. Lining up the mushrooms in a row is plenty good.
Making Molly’s red lentil soup with lemon, after having it for lunch at Jora’s house last week. It’s so simple and delicious, and a big hit with Dashiell. Will be part of a weekly rotation for a while, I think.
And now we’re back, enjoying soups and homegrown broccoli and watching the winter flowers from the kitchen window, and looking forward to all the possibilities for 2012. I love this time of year. I used to find it sort of sad and depressing… so much quiet after a month of festivities and all. But now I find it more inspiring than ever. Definitely already been to the Container Store, already cleaned out toys (aye the influx of toys at Christmas!), cleaned out drawers, piled up things in the garage to craigslist. I’d love to have all of January each year just to get things in order.
Dashiell has spent the last two weeks learning literally like 200 words. It’s amazing. Everyone says that one day it just clicks, but you think… huh. I don’t see that. And then one day all the sounds come together and your baby is talking. Putting two and three words together even (though they’re a little garbled much of the time), and it’s so neat.
Here’s to hoping that we all have a big year. See you soon. Promise.
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
November 28, 2011
No pictures of Thanksgiving, sadly, but I do have a few photos of little Dash playing in the snow. He (obviously) doesn’t remember the snow from last winter, so it’s a new experience all over again! And this year he can say the word, which is fun. All weekend long… “Snoow. Snoow. Snoow. Snoow. Snoow.” Every time he saw snow, which was every second we were outside. Lots of “snoows” as you can imagine.
Those are my brother’s Snoopy mittens from when he was two. Guess what? They even have a thumb hole! He was a thumb-sucker too. Maybe it’s genetic?
I even got him to smile for a few photos! Guess how? By making him say his new favorite word… “exercise!” He’s so proud of himself. Three syllables and everything.
See, because here’s what he normally looks like without a favorite word, terribly concered:
Hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend. I can’t believe it’s time to plan for Christmas! I feel so behind.
labels: our family
November 3, 2011
A week late, but hey. That’s how things are going around these parts at the moment. We had a super time, as always. The Parker is such a great place to stay as a family, (even though it might not seem to be). The grounds are huge and they have a great pool, and we always stay in a big room with two bathrooms so Dashiell can sleep in one, and we can keep the lights on in our room after he goes to bed. It’s ideal.
A few photos from the weekend. Desert light is always so beautiful.
Somebody REALLY likes swimming. Can you tell? Also, we’ve found that a Fuzzi Bunz cover (without the liner) makes a great swim diaper/bathing suit. Just in case you were wondering.
Our one complaint about Palm Springs is that the food just kind of sucks. The “nice” places are all soooo expensive for meh food, which is a major pet peeve of mine. But there’s always Cheeky’s for breakfast or lunch, which is excellent. AND new to us, next door, a pizza and salad spot (by the same owners) called Birba. We went for dinner on Saturday night and it was pretty darn delicious. Hallelujah! Highly recommend it next time you’re out that way.
labels: every trip is a honeymoon, our family
November 1, 2011
My little farmer last night. His first trip around the neighborhood, eating his loot as he goes.
The most genius thing: houses that have little kid appropriate treat options! So thankful for those people. Goldfish were dinner last night, I’m a little ashamed to say. But we had lots of fun seeing all the other people dressed up, so totally worth it.
Look how much he’s grown in a year.
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
October 10, 2011
Friday we went the pumpkin patch… twice. And then again on Saturday. And when we ran by one on Sunday, we nearly had to stop due to orders from our little boss.
It’s apparently the greatest form of free child entertainment ever invented. Who knew?!
Dash and I happened on one at the feed store on Friday morning where we’d stopped off to pick up chicken food. And it was such a hit, I decided to take him to the one at the nursery by our house in the late afternoon too.
Now every time we pass a pumpkin patch he points and yells and all but demands that we stop. It’s pretty cute. Also really awesome that a pile of squash can entertain a small human for over an hour.
I had an idea to open a pumpkin patch with a BAR. So the kids can run around climbing on pumpkins and the parents can drink beer and wine. Wouldn’t that be so perfect? Man, the Germans have it right with the biergarten, don’t they?
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
August 26, 2011
I have so many posts to share, I do. But time has not been on my side as of late. So next week. Definitely next week. In the meantime here are some things to prove that I am still here.
Succotash salad from Ms. Goin. I really thought this recipe was going to the one that proved that she is not perfect in the kitchen. But then I tossed the 4 separately prepared parts together with a simple dressing and VOILA! Delicious as usual. (Also the goat cheese was a personal addition, which I think made it even more tasty).
Our neighbors slipped fertilized eggs under their broody hen and look who popped out! Baby chicks are the cutest.
Someone is 18 MONTHS OLD. Am I the only one who can’t believe it?
The ladies of Bash Please threw a delicious little dinner party catered by Heirloom LA and I stole away with these beautiful fresh beans. I’m going to keep them for next summer’s garden.
Salsa verde – Oaxacan style. You guys, I’m now the master of both red and green salsas. OMG they are going to blow your mind when I post the recipes next week.
Hope everyone has a hot hot summer weekend. I can’t believe we’re already at the end of August.
labels: our family, recipes + food, urban farming
August 9, 2011
Look! A photo of my baby AND me! We do not have many of these, since I’m the designated family photographer. My dad took a bunch of photos of my little buddy and I on the beach one evening. Here’s one.
Very much not looking forward to a red eye home tonight, with Dashiell on our laps. Not feeling confident that he’s going to sleep for 5 hours straight, but you never know! Wish us luck.
labels: our family
