Annie & Lailee; Domestication Earns Applause

This Really Happened:
Yesturday during Annie's nap, I decided to finally put some Halloween decorations up. I hung some pumpkins, ghosts, and bats from the window curtain rods with fishing line and then taped the rest around the house. I knew Annie would notice them (she is the most aware and observant baby in the universe) but I did not expect applause! Kid you not, when I brought her out from her nap, she saw the decor instantly, squealed with delight, and then looked right at me and applauded my efforts for a good five minutes. Domestication should always earn applause!

LAST WEEK:
Katherine came home from her mission and our little girls had another chance to play together. There were some terrific photo ops at Kris's house. L is totally leaving A in the dust when it comes to walking and eating. We can't wait for L's big party later today!

Cousins, Best Buddies, Best Pals:

L was being completely photogenic {Unlike A who had to be bribed and coaxed to look away from Sarah's little rocking chair- Annie love love loves little furniture}.

I don't want to forget these cute funny faces:

Lailee: 1 year - 6 days.

Annie: Almost 15 months

Last night I made homemade CAKEBITES {after cleaning the entire house, mopping, and baking a fabulous dinner). Results: Marginal. They look pretty, but I put too much frosting in with the cake.

fresh365

RECIPE OVERLOAD:

HOLY OH MY GOODNESS!
Thank you ALANA for just now introducing me to this killer blog.
I WILL be making these carrot quinoa muffins as soon as possible.

http://www.fresh365online.com/recipes/2011/9/27/carrot-quinoa-muffins.html

Carrot & Quinoa Muffins
makes 1 dozen

1 c cooked quinoa
1 c demerara sugar, plus 1 T for sprinkling
3/4 c whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 c butter (1 stick), melted
1/2 c greek yogurt
1 t vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1 c loosely packed grated carrots
1/4 c toasted walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a muffin tin, and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together quinoa, sugar, flours, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, mix together butter (allow to cool), yogurt, vanilla and eggs. Stir into flour bowl, mixing well. Gently fold in carrots and walnuts, until just mixed.

Divide batter evenly among muffin tin, and transfer to the oven. Bake 20-25 minutes, sprinkling 1 T demerara sugar over top during the last 5 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Also trying the black bean soup this week. Where has this blog been all my life!!!

http://www.fresh365online.com/recipes/2010/12/2/20-minute-black-bean-soup.html



20-Minute Black Bean Soup
serves 4

2 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 t ground cumin
1 t chili powder
2 15.5-oz cans black beans, drained & rinsed
15-oz can diced tomatoes in juice
1 1/2 c vegetable broth
1 t salt
1 handful chopped, cilantro
1/4 c feta cheese
10 chives, chopped

In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium. Add onion and garlic, and cook 6-8 minutes, until beginning to brown. Stir in cumin and chili powder. Add black beans, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, salt and cilantro. Bring to a boil, and allow to cook for 2 minutes. Transfer 1 c to a blender, and process until smooth. Stir back into soup. Remove from heat, and serve topped with feta and chives.

P.S. I WANT A BOON HIGH CHAIR SO BAD! Wish I could afford it.

Before and Annie After

Remember this cutie-pa-tutie? I do, and I hate her growing up so dang fast. As planned, we outfitted Miss A in the same dress and chair and took her back to the very spot we photographed her days after she was born. What a fun tradition this will be!
Annie 0 years-old:

One year later to the very day!!!

Q and A:

One year ago....... ......And exactly one year later.

Quinn looks great... And then there's me who shows up to said photo shoot looking like this:

One year ago...... .....One year later.
Let's just mention a few of the obvious what-was-I-thinking?! points:

• Bra? Really, I couldn't have traded in for something with a more supportive role?
• Hair? Slick back: honestly... frizz at this point would have been better.
• Lipstick? What am I, trying to reclaim some sort of avent guard color-out-of-the-lines in the brightest color possible?
• Shirt? Admit it, you can no longer wear 3-sizes too small and survive it Nicole!

Ugish. Big fat Ugish. I ruin the family photos again.

Thanks again Mia for perfect ones of Q and A!

Hadley Family Reunion 2011: "I'll Stand by You"

June 10th, 2011

Meree and I had our turn to put on the Hadley Family Reunion this year.
We chose: "I'll Stand by You" as the theme and it turned out to be a clever one. There were lots of pun options anyhow. If I'm going to catch up on blogging and I'm backed up since June, I'm going to have to limit my photos. Here are the few of many that made this post's cut:

We met at Temple Square, toured the childrens section of the museum and watched a film (that the volunteers stopped early because they showed us the wrong one).

Then we went to Anita's in Payson and opened the theme up with a terrific two-year slide show complete with 12 songs featuring the "Stand By You" theme.

Next Day: We played games including a stand-by-your-fort competition (I bought these awesome color-able forts on Zulily back when I had money) and competed to see whose tower would stand the tallest
(ours would have won but we ran out of time).

That afternoon we went to a park to play games involving feet (which are used for standing).







Thus continued the summer of Annie loathing the car seat.