The week in review, again

If you are reading this blog then you have an interest in what we've been doing so I'll bore you with more photos.



I was taking a shower in the basement on Sunday morning and opened the shades to see these two cutie pies playing in our side yard. George claims this is where the big bad wolf lives so I'm not sre why he was even back there.



Later in the day George got dressed without any help and in the process emptied his dresser drawers onto the floor.



He also did a bit of art and colored on his tummy. (and arm, fingernail, toenail and leg)

Raise your hand if you like the movie Flash Dance!

Hey Larry, this one will make you proud.

Larry is Clay's dad. Also know as Grandpa LaLa.

So, after this big remodel that spread a thick layer of construction grit through every inch of the house Clay did the proper thing which was hiring a professional cleaning crew to come in and de-toxify our house. You know, before we move in and drop food on the floor and eat it. This is a company that advertised that they specialized in cleaning up construction/remodel sites. In my mind I imagined a crew of four buff men with leaf blowers and motorized cleaning tools. Nope. Today when the cleaning crew arrived it was three little ladies, one of them pregnant, carrying Swiffers and pink feather dusters. Okay maybe the feather dusters weren't pink but one of the ladies was 100% pregnant. Why on earth was she cleaning up our mess? Ugh. Talk about guilt. She did wear a mask but it was of the Incredible Hulk so I'm not sure it was helpful. Clay did stick around all day to make it look like he was working as well just so he'd feel a wee less guilty. (We all know that Clay was actually downloading ring tones onto his cell phone.) For our next project Clay says he'll do the clean up himself (unless there is a 7 months pregnant lady available at a good price).

Camp Robin

Right now I have four children under my watchful eye. Two of them belong to our friend Dave who is busy being a rockstar on KEXP. I'm not joking, he's doing a live gig on the radio with his band Head Like a Kite http://www.headlikeakite.com/ and it sounds great. (I tried to find it in the KEXP archives and link it here but I'm not smart enough.)

Dave, who created the band, is a very funny man. Clay went to Western with Dave and his wife Diana and the three of them started http://www.pattern25.com/ .

The reason I am mentioning all of this is because when Dave came to pick up his children he was dressed up like a pilot, I think. He even drew himself a mustache, which actually made him look like Clay's dad on his last visit. (See above photo from last summer and yes, that is George wearing a chicken costume while eating dinner.) The funniest part of it all was that Dave's gig was on the radio, not tv and not one listener could see his costume.

Back to all the kids in my backyard, they are hopping up and down making ice cream in

ziploc bags. This is one of my favorite projects leftover from my days as a camp director.

What you'll need:
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt (I used kosher salt)
1 pint-size Ziploc plastic bag (heavy duty)
1 gallon-size Ziploc plastic bag (heavy duty)
Ice cubes
How to make it:
Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
Place the small bag inside the large one and seal again carefully.
Shake until mixture is ice cream, about 5 minutes.
Wipe off top of small bag, then open carefully and enjoy!

Our children's garden, finally

We finally had time to plant our children's garden and I think I need to summarize exactly what we did. I have a hunch it is going to work.

We planted the following
8 dead strawberry plants that haven't been watered in weeks.
Handfuls of corn seeds in approximately 4 holes (This is not counting the kernels that Goldie ate.)
Carrots seeds strewn upon the sidewalk and a few in the dirt.
Bachelor buttons and pansies.
Oh yeah, and an absolutely dead tomato plant that Goldie kept pulling out of the dry potting soil.
I'll make sure to post photos as things start to "bloom".

Turkey what?

We went to Camano Island again last weekend. The new state park opened and Clay and I were interested in checking it out. Cama Beach = http://www.parks.wa.gov/camabeach/

They refurbished cabins from the 30's and practically charge rental rates from the 30's. The cabins are right on the water and so cozy with handmade quilts and rustic wood floors. George and Clay walked on the beach which is really rocky and filled with crabs, clams and other yuck. George found empty clam shells and picked them up and announced that we were going to make clam chowder with them. (He's never even tasted clam chowder or clams so we thought this was especially funny.)

Our trip was really good with the exception of both kids waking up at 4:30am Sunday morning. Clay and I tried so hard to get them back to sleep with no luck so we ventured off to Starbucks at 5 something am. The store wasn't open yet so we literally sat in the parking lot waiting.

Once inside Goldie had apple juice (she's the second child) and as I was reading the packaging I noticed it said Concentrate from Turkey on the back. I thought that was interesting, 'cause it was now 6:01am, and I said to Clay "This juice has concentrate from Turkey in it."

Then, I said "Is Turkey known for their exceptional crop of apples?" And, my ever so bright husband said "Oh I thought you meant turkey concentate from a turkey." Agh! He is really cute though.

Right now he's back to his crazy hardware boiling trick. I'll keep this brief only to let you know that he boils the hardware from our new house in Borax and then peels the paint off.

The above image is what I saw in our backyard today. Yes, he owns the respirator. I don't understand why he didn't want me to post this. I don't think anyone even reads this blog. If you do be sure and leave a comment.

Our week in review

See this cute girl? George and her touched tounges at Madrona park on Monday night.
We had popsicles and Ruby finished hers first and then licked George's tounge to try and get some of his.
Does this count as a first kiss? Rather clever strategy, Ruby.
And yes, George is sitting in a Tupperware full of water. He does this often.

The mayor of Clyde Hill is really named George Martin. We went to get Goldie a passport for that trip to Paris we wont be taking.

We went swimming in our living room 'cause it was too cold to swim outside.

Nana babysat G and G Wednesday night at her house. When we went to pick up the kids we found this young sweetie pie sleeping on the couch in a pile of popcorn. Thanks Nana! Last time she babysat I found M&M's in Goldie's carseat.

George found a worm as big as a snake. Okay, a baby snake.

Way to go Prius!

My family celebrated Father's day on Camano Island today.
Camano is about 60 miles north of Seattle and takes us about one hour door-to-door.
On our way home we stopped to fuel up. As Clay got back into the car he mention that it cost us $36 to fill up our car. One year ago we were paying around $22.
Pulling out of the gas station I made Clay drive very slowly to see what others were paying and to our horror we saw a Suburban with a tab of $153 and still pumping!
We averaged 51 mpg so the drive cost us less than $7.

Why doesn't every new car purchaser buy a hybrid? (Clay thinks I shouldn't write that as it sounds arrogant and he told me about a funny episode of South Park where the characters who drove hybrids sat around together basking in the scent of their farts.)

Which leads me straight into this new, at least new to me, concept of "people sorting" and like minded people clustering together in states, cities and communities. The book that explains it all is called The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart. Spending time with so many PLU's (People Like Us) makes the rare outsider seem wrong in all other ways. (I haven't read it yet so I don't really know what I'm talking about but maybe it helps explain why I'm quick to judge.)

By the way, my brother's girlfriend uses SPF 4 and my brother burns plastic in our fire pit at Camano. They seem like like-minded folks who found each other. Yay for clustering, I guess.

Go to sleep!

It is 10:56pm and George is still awake. Just now I was laying with him in his toddler bed "tickling" his back. I though he was almost out when he said to me in a very wide awake voice, "How do you say tickle my back in Hebrew?"
We love his school but I am stunned that he hasn't learned that phrase yet!

Art for Goldie's New Room

Hey Debbie-
Thought you'd like to see the new picture I ordered for Goldie's room.

We had one day of sun

I can't remember when it was but I know it was in the month of June.

No one I know wrote this

I didn't write the following post. It was on the mom's list serve in which I belong. Is it as weird as I think? Would you send this out to hundreds of people in your community with your name on it?

"I have a diaper rash (I dont wear diapers) and do not know how to treat it. I wore some underwear that was made of a different material and I think that is what had caused it. Now I have this huge rash. I have used Butt Paste on it but, don't know if that will help as its for babies. Any suggestions?"

Short story long and more boring with recipe

While taking a pilates class that sucked, I met a woman who had just moved to Seattle with her family. She used to do wardrobe for movies and met her husband on a movie set, unlike all our other friends who work for Microsoft.
After class I gave her "my card" suggesting that she call or email with any questions about Seattle.
Clay dislikes when I give needless background while telling a story but I want all my readers (Debbie, Nancy and maybe Julie if she hung in there) to know all the important details. She is in NY until late tonight so Clay and I invited her husband and kids over for dinner. (Her kids call my house Robin's restaurant and think I can cook well. Tee-hee.) Wanting to impress them even more, I made linguine with arugula and black pepper from Giada De Laurentii's "Everyday Pasta".
It is such an easy recipe and is most often a hit except when I screw it up by not adding enough salt or too much cheese.

Here is the recipe.

1 pound linguine
1/2 stick of butter
1 cup very finely grated Pecorino Romano
Salt to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 cup coarsely chopped arugula
Cut up the butter into cubes and put in a large bowl to let soften.
Use a big enough bowl to toss the pasta later.
Cook pasta until al dente, stirring every so often to keep from sticking to the bottom.
Grate the Pecorino, grind the black pepper, and chop the arugula while the pasta is cooking.
Save a cup of the pasta water and set aside and drain the pasta.
Immediately put the hot pasta into the bowl with the butter, add the arugula and toss to coat. Gradually add cheese and salt and pepper. Add in some reserved pasta water as needed. The pasta water makes the pasta taste like it is bathing in a cream sauce. Yum!
Taste the pasta and add salt, if needed.

By the way, I made them other things as well, not just pasta.
Bummer Clay left our camera at the new house 'cause a picture would have been lovely. Instead I'll post a picture of my darling children.

Thanks

A few weeks ago I invited my friend Debbie and her two children to the house my parents own on Camano Island. It was just for the day as Debbie's husband was in Berlin presenting a paper that won an award on a subject I can't even spell, much less write about.
We had a great day playing on the beach and splashing about in a plastic wading pool. And, playing fireman. (This is when George sprays you with the hose.)
When Debbie left she asked her son to say thank you to my parents for inviting them. George, in a rather bold manner interrupted and said "We didn't invite you, you invited yourself."
In keeping with the tradition of Debbie "inviting" her family places she sent me the following email last week.

Subject: When are you making this?
I want to drop by unexpectedly just as you pull it out of the oven.
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/dessert/weekend-recipe-rhubarb-lavender-crumble-052014

My response-
My calendar says June 5th.

Debbie's response-
perfect ;)

My response-
You guys will come for dinner, right?

Debbie's response-
Yes. Please tell George "This time, she not only invited herself over, she set the menu."

The crumble was yummy and we also had baked chicken and the following pasta from my latest obsession, The Chocolate and Zucchini cookbook.
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2006/05/cacao_zucchini_absorption_pasta.php

Thanks Debbie and feel free to invite your family over anytime.

By the way- Debbie has an interesting blog about travel with kids and she even posted pictures of the Camano trip.
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2008/may/20/daytrip-camano-island

If it smells blame the couch

Today at my mom's house I was sitting on the floor playing with George when suddenly I smelled the most horrible smell. I, of course, thought it was my feet. My feet were fine so I smelled George's feet, bottom and mouth. Nope, not him.
I looked under her couch and there was a baby bottle that must have been under there for a least three months.
When I told my mom she said my dad has been complaining that their couch was stinky. She said he's been upset about it for over a month. In fact, he was making plans to get a new couch.
I think I just saved him about 2k.

I love you Mr. Cway

Dear Clay,
You are also a loyal reader and I love you. (Good price on the cabinets!)
Let's see how long it takes you to find this.
Leave a comment before June 7th and you'll win a special prize- wink-wink.
Me

Hey Nancy

I don't think I have many readers with the exception of my dear friend Nancy who happens to be our next door neighbor for a couple more months. Because she is so loyal and entertaining she gets her own post.

Here is what I have to say to you Nancy Jo.

Any interest in taking a cooking class with me at this cool place in Magnolia called Dish It Up?

http://www.dish-it-up.com/

They've had chefs such as Ethan Stwole and Tom Douglas teach prior classes.

I think they are $70 each and include plentiful portions of food and wine. We are ordering our new kitchen cabinets from their kitchen designer which is kind of a longer post that I don't feel like writing about.

I'll also ask Debbie, Henley, Michelle and any other readers that I have. (Translation - I have no other readers except for ex boyfriends who have googled my name and are stalking me. You know who you are.)

I know you want me to do longer posts but I simply

a) don't have time

b) don't want to

c) don't care to

I'll end this post by telling you that I left a pan of cookies in the oven for over two hours tonight. I baked cookies to bring to a dinner party and spaced the second batch. They are in the backyard if you get a craving for charcoal. I thought about leaving them on your porch and telling you they were those double chocolate cookies from the Nigella Lawson book.

Signing off,

Robin Jo

P.S. The above picture was taken 3 days after Goldie was born. That is why I am wearing maternity pants.