day at the beach?

it's raining cats and dogs here today, but you wouldn't know it by looking at my kiddos. They are ready for summer, so I've been informed. These will be their new beach ensembles. Funny rugrats...

a few new tunes

this is a favorite of mine lately to sing along to while I exercise or dance to with the kids in my bedroom =) It is totally every little boys dream, this video. So sweet, my little Spencer started singing along to it with me one afternoon when he was over. I about melted. Soooooo cute! He totally loves it and it makes me love it even more...



When I was a child I grew up listening to Amy Grant. In fact she was my hero, if I could have spent one day with any star, it would have been her hands down. Well, I heard this song on the radio a couple of times this week and it just took me right back, and I had to post it. She is such a beautiful soul. I listened to a tape of her bible stories every night to fall asleep for years. I still have it, but they just don't make tape players like they used to... I remember in some of my darkest days back in college. Desi was in Texas, my mom in California, my friends spread to the four winds, I was at Oregon State (no offense OSU, its not your fault I was miserable while I attended your fine institution and hence harbor a bit of distaste for my experience there) I was battling some serious inner demons and was surrounded, blessedly by a wonderful God that gave me a heaven sent roomate, Cadie Robison, and her friends, Adam, his sweet sister Amy, and Phil, who helped keep my spirits afloat. I remember I saw Amy was playing at the Holt Center in Eugene and I decided at the last minute, I would spend $40 (which I'm sure I didn't have) to see her. I arrived just before intermission and the ticket booth was long since closed and I was shut out. Well, I met this nice young man, who also without a ticket and he just took me by the elbow and walked me in with the intermission crowd. Now, maybe that was cheating since I never did pay, but I felt so blessed. I needed to be uplifted, and wow was I ever. So anyhow... Loooooo-ng story but here is the song...

what's for dinner?

My newest obsession? Bruschetta. Oh how I love thee... Delicious vine ripened tomatoes chopped up and blended with fresh garlic, shallots, basil, olive oil, and rock salt. Heavenly...



I have been really into "Giada at Home" lately. Maybe its the unbelievable views behind her of the pacific ocean through her kitchen window, and perhaps the soothing colors of her kitchen that bring me back twice a day to see what beautiful food she will create. I can tell ya one thing. The girl Loooooo-ves lemon, and adds it to almost everything. That and flat leaf italian parsley, which I've trid to like, but always tastes like bacteria to me. Don't know why? )ps: think she's also a grem-aphobe like me bc she NEVER touches the uncooked meat, ha ha) So anyways, tonight it will be

Grilled Pork and Fontina Sandwiches

Ingredients
2 (8-ounce) 1-inch thick, boneless pork loin chops
Olive oil, for drizzling
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons herbes de Provence
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil leaves
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 (1 pound) loaf ciabatta or rustic bread, ends trimmed, cut in 1/2 horizontally
4 romaine lettuce leaves, halved lengthwise
4 ounces fontina cheese, cut into (1/4-inch thick) slices
Directions
Put a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Drizzle the pork chops on both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle both sides with the herbs de Provence and grill for 10 minutes. Turn the chops over and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 160 degrees F. Transfer the chops to a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes. Slice each chop into 6 (1/4-inch thick) slices.

In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, basil, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (already made this ahead, oh man, soooooo good!)

To assemble the sandwiches: Lay the bottom half of the bread on a work surface and spread with 1/2 of the mayonnaise mixture. Add the lettuce leaves, arrange the cheese slices on the lettuce and top with the pork slices. Spread the top half of the bread with the remaining mayonnaise mixture and cover the sandwiches. Slice the loaf into 4 pieces and serve.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

laugh if you must

so I don't know if pregnancy brain is due to all the crazy hormones surging through your body or the fact that your mind is now consumed with alllllllll the possibilities and anxieties of being pregnant. So far I've left my straightener on allllllll day, oops, thank goodness it didn't burn the house down, I am a spaz and seem to lose my train of thought before I even get it rolling, I am an anxious crazy person worrying that EVERYTHING might be affecting the growing fetus (have you ever considered perfume or face lotion as a possible harm to your fetus? well I never did before either). SUCH a freak! AND to top it off I've lay awake night after night stressing on who to choose as my provider. It's seriously stressing me out. I finally decided to go back to the dr that delivered Aiden, he was nice enough and has a good rep. It is however at the baby factory of all baby factories, St Vincents in Beaverton, a whopping hour away, when the very hospital I work at, in the birth center mind you, is a mere 15 mins. I swear, maybe its the lack of caffiene that is making me crazy but holy socks my poor husband is a saint to deal with me. Yikes. I am also super impatient and totally perseverate on wierd thoughts, which include food! I think I'll be a heifer if I can't find something to curb my appetite. Desi was laughing at me as I hopped on the eliptical just now (but had to pause to type this, hello impatient) after a 50 min walk earlier. I told him I will have to step it up or it could be frightening. Lets just sat I will have to avoid alllll fried Chinese food items when we get take out as they CALL my name until they are entirely gone. SO sad and hilarious at the same time. Anyhow. That's all for now. Just an anxious, blobbby, foolio. Now back to the eliptical, lol.

surprise

so, it's a little early to share, & the little bugger looks like such an alien lol but I don't mind. Just had to see that little floating miracle everytime i log on... somebody pinch me I'm so happy...

preparation...

for the big day was NUTS!!! Up before 7, off to Globe Salon for my sister to get her hair and makeup done, my Mom and I off to Nordstrom at Fashion Show mall to get our makeup done (lucked out, the head makeup artist for Chanel just happened to be doing free make-overs, holy moly he was AMAZING!!)then back to the salon for my hair. --deep breath-- then over to the Four Seasons to check my sister in and collect the wedding dress and bridesmaid dress as well as the bouquet, finish getting ready and meet the photographer (whose photos I am DYING to see, seriously!!!!)a pit stop at the Las Vegas sign for some photo ops after the stunning staircase and courtyard photos at the hotel, then the wedding party got to head over to the wedding site for a breather while the bride and groom flew all over the city for photos at the hot spots. Finally, the moment we'd been waiting for, the WEDDING!! Mark (our amazing and wonderful step-dad (lol, that sounds funny to say, he's really Papa Mark to us) officiated the ceremony; beautiful, moving, spiritual, what else can I say but perfect. The BACK to Mandalay bay for dinner at red, white, and blue. So exhausted, children passed out on my lap. WOW, am I tired... But WHAT a great day....

waiting for the room to be ready.













Adrienne's good friend Matt and his lovely wife Lindsey took charge of photographing the dress et al (her bro is a professional, they had some skillz) so I only have a few pics and I'll wait patiently....hmmm... we'll see about that, for the rest =) but here's what I have. She was Beautiful... See for yourself.















probably my favorite picture. Desi took it, kids looking out over the pool at the Mandalay Bay, I love the refelection in the glass...

swimmin

Heaven was the amazing pool at the timeshare. Oh we spent hours there and wish we could have spent more time lounging and swimming. Can I just telaport myself there, just maybe once a week? Or maybe nightly before bed??? Sunny, breazy, weather...perfect....

Whirlwind Vegas Wedding

Guess you can't upload photos straight from the iPhone so I'll have to be patient I guess. Lots to share from our crazy destination wedding experience! Congrats to my beautiful sister and her wonderful man. We love you!!!