Beach Day

Our friend Kate invited us to spend the day at the beach with her and her girls and our friend Mina and her boys. Kate's friend let us use her vacation apartment that is right on the boardwalk in Ventura, and it was a perfect day. The gang. Kidding around. The apartment had a pool, so after the beach and a walk to town for lunch, the kids hopped in the pool. #504 the cute 2 bedroom apartment. View from the deck. Michael & I are not "beach people" but today it was so clear, and warm that I really got why people love to live by the ocean. It will never be for me, I would love a lake house. The weather at the beach in murder on my sinuses.

Mr. Moo Pays a Visit

We watched Hunter while Kristin went to the doctor. Emma tried to Mother him to death. Emma showing Hunter the pictures on the fridge. The dogs were very happy Hunter had lunch with us. Like a good Aunt, I let him eat mostly chips for lunch. Cousins !

Fav Photo Friday

Mr. Moo on his birth day ! Look at the chunk-a-roo only two months later. Laura, how do you get these children to pose so nice ???? Miss Bossy Boots aka. "The Pistol," and The Foreman Gregory (he is the sweetest) ! Got into the old pics again, these are just some of the pics I had saved on my computer.

Angels

There were too many Angels in Heaven. So God sent some to earth and called them Mothers ! Sounds about right don't you think !!!

The Life of Emma ...

Playing in the dirt under the bleacher at Lauren's softball game. Pushing her little cart at Ralph's (These little carts are so cute, I wish I could shop with one !)

Hearts & Hoops

Lauren's school did a fund raiser for the American Heart Association Jump For The Heart and she raised enough to go a Clippers game and she also got to stand in the fan tunnel and high-five the player on their way into the locker room !

Crazy Sock Day !

Crazy Socks Day at school ! You never know when a pair of Christmas socks will come in handy......

Kindergarten Round-up !

It was Kindergarten Round-up today, can you just image the cattle dogs rounding the incoming children up. Well there was not cattle dogs, but there was catty women, the line was very disorganized and it did not bring out the best in some people. But I survived, only had to wait about an hour and 15 minutes. And now all I have to do is wait until August to find out if we got in morning Kindergarten.

St. Patty's Day !

Mommy's goofy socks No pinches for these girls ! Lauren with her leprechaun trap (he got away again this year, but he left some shiny glitter behind).

St. Patrick's day 2009 St. Patrick's day 2009 will be so fine. All have a lucky and bright time! May your heart be filled with gold and your life full of all the good luck it can hold!

Sisters

Lauren & Emma had a sleepover on the floor in Lauren's room. Fell asleep holding hands !

Being Erica

I have been watching this great show on Soap Net, on Direct TV, it is on other cable channels also, so check it out ! http://soapnet.go.com/soapnet/show/path-showname_beingerica

Fav Photo Friday !

Math & Science Night

Lauren's school had a Math & Science Night. Sister...so cute holding hands Having fun with some friends watching bottle rockets Math Lab Watching water experiment.

Everyday Stuff

So sometimes life is just normal, not to much exciting going on and the past week or so has been like that, still busy, but normal busy.. Emma was down for a short while with a low fever. Stamps are going up again in May ! Went to the Verizon store to get a new phone, my battery was not holding a charge, so I can get a new battery for $30 or a new phone for $30. The sales gal asked me what I needed the phone for, taking pictures, texting, to which I promptly replied " Yeah, I don't care about any of that, I only care what color it is." So I left very happy with my new purple phone. Example of Emma's cutting & pasting skill. She had her parent/teacher conference and they said she was smart & sweet !

Blogging Without Obligation

Some wise thoughts from a fellow blogger: After coming across what seemed to be the 4000th or so post on someone's blog starting with "I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile." I decided it is time to rethink what makes a good blog and the expectations that have come to be part of it. I am thinking that no one should utter those words again . . .and with that thought I give you Blogging Without Obligation.

• Because you shouldn't have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.

• Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.

• Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.

• Because sometimes less is more.

• Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.

• Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.

• Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be "bloggable".

• Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won't be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .

Right in the middle of a Ordinary week..

Someone goes and gets their face busted up ! Not sure what happened, never did get a straight answer on that, fell and hit the chair??? She is invoking the 5th amendment, not making any incriminating statements about just what she was doing at the time of said accident. I was just folding laundry and heard crying, of course, just as this happens, the school calls to say Lauren has no lunch ( somehow she managed to leave her lunch money at home), so now I'm thinking I have to drive down to school with sister's face all busted up...... but the Lunch Lady said she could pay tomorrow. Thank God ! Crazy is an understatement about the state of affairs around here.

For My Fellow Bloggers.....

Very interesting ..... blog to book, I have thought many times I should print the blog out.... http://www.yourblogtobook.blogspot.com/

The Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup

Made some yummy Chicken Noodle Soup.

Ingredients

Stock:

• 1 (2 1/2 to 3-pound) fryer chicken, cut up
• 3 1/2 quarts water
• 1 onion, peeled and diced
• 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 bay leaves
• 3 chicken bouillon cubes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Soup:

• 2 cups sliced carrots
• 2 cups sliced celery
• 2 1/2 cups uncooked egg noodles
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/3 cup cooking sherry
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 cup grated Parmesan, optional
• 3/4 cup heavy cream, optional
• Seasoning salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Crusty French bread, for serving

Directions

For the stock: add all ingredients to a soup pot. Cook until chicken is tender, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. Remove and discard bay leaves and onion. You should have approximately 3 quarts of stock. When chicken is cool enough to touch, pick bones clean, discarding bones, skin, and cartilage. Set chicken aside.

For the soup: bring stock back to a boil, add carrots, and cook for 3 minutes. Add celery and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Add egg noodles and cook according to directions on package. When noodles are done, add chicken, mushrooms, parsley, sherry and rosemary. Add Parmesan and cream, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning, if needed, by adding seasoning salt and pepper. Enjoy along with a nice hot crusty loaf of French bread.

* I used dry parsley 1 1/2 tablespoons, and no mushroom (we are not mushroom people), no parm cheese or heavy cream. And the lady in the title is Paula Dean.

It is really good !!