mother's day

This mother's day we spent some time running in the grass outside.  Edwin found some rocks to climb and jump off of, and it was better than any playground we've been too.  He loves to jump, and be chased, and I love how sweet his blonde hair looks when it's getting too long and the wind is blowing it around.  I'll be sad when his hair starts to darken up (it's inevitable, right?)

I love being his mom so much... even when he steals my gardening shovel, or dumps out all of the bubbles, or drops his snack all over the ground but eats it anyway, and attaches himself to my leg because he wants up, or tries to squirm out of my arms because he wants down.  The most important thing I've learned from being a mom is that I get a lot of chances to do things right, so even when I make mistakes or have a hard day, I feel like I can try and do better the next time and it will be okay.  I have grown so much from this motherhood experience and I know it is making me a better, stronger, more loving and patient person.  One things for sure, being outside with my little boy is very very good for my soul.  We have a lot of sunny days ahead and I'm going to try hard not to take them forgranted. 

(and thank you, Nick, for taking pictures of us at the park!)

the longest winter ever...is finally over!!!

It's officially warm here in Wisconsin...and thank goodness!  If it weren't for the glorious sun and warmth I might be a little sad that we went straight from snow to green grass, because our very brief puddle jumping season was a blast.  Edwin loves to splash around and last weekend we headed out in search of the biggest puddles we could find.  We had to tear him away when he was finally soaked (after about 20 min.) and he threw a little tantrum because he was having so much fun.  Here are a few photos from our very, very short spring.  On to summer I guess!

Also, am I the only one whose toddler insists on playing in everyone elses yard?  He thinks he can explore wherever he pleases.  If you need me, I'll be chasing Edwin around my neighborhood while he walks up to strangers doors and says, "knock, knock, knock."  Where does he get this stuff?!

in my kitchen...curry mayo

In my recent attempts to spring clean, which mostly consists of me saying, "Edwin, lets go play in the kitchen while I try and organize, and hey put that back I just sorted that cupboard!"  I found my stack of cookbooks that have collecting dust all winter while, lets face it, I was spending way too much time searching for recipes on my computer. ;)  One of the gems I pulled off the shelf was a super discounted copy of Gourmet Today that landed in my hands at the Borders going out of business sale sometime last year...I still miss that store.  Maybe it's the overwhelming 1,000 recipes inside, or possibly the fact that "gourmet" does not necessarily happen while I'm throwing together dinner during part of an afternoon nap, but this book has not gotten nearly enough "playtime" in my kitchen.  In an attempt to change that I've recently made 2 recipes out of it - an asparagus quiche, and these grilled cheddar & fennel sandwiches with curry mayo.  Both of them were amazing, but I just happen to have my camera around while this curry mayo was happening.  I'm normally not a mayonnaise kind of girl, but I am most definitely a curry kind of girl so I thought I'd share for anyone really into mayo or really into curry.  For my husband and I it sort of made our worlds collide!

Grilled Cheddar & Fennel Sandwiches w/Curry Mayo
You can also find the original recipe here.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 baguette (I used a loaf of whole wheat oatmeal sandwich bread)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• extra-sharp Cheddar
• fennel bulb, thinly sliced (I used the mandolin blade on my food processor)

Preparation

Cook shallot and curry powder in oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring, 2 minutes, then transfer to a small bowl and stir in mayonnaise and lemon juice. Wipe skillet clean.

Cut 8 slices of bread. Spread 1 side of each slice with butter, then turn over and spread opposite side with curry mayonnaise. Cut cheese into thin slices and divide among 4 slices of bread, then top with fennel and remaining slices of bread, buttered sides up.

Heat skillet over moderate heat until hot, then cook sandwiches in 2 batches, turning over once and pressing occasionally, until browned and cheese is melted, about 7 minutes per batch.  Keep warm in a 250 degree oven or wrapped in tinfoil for reheating at a later time.  

I brought these sandwiches along with some vegetable soup to a couple of friends who recently had a baby.  It's fun to see our peers become parents and celebrate all of the new little lives!  This is definitely the season of babies!

patiently waiting...

Spring, please come soon!  We want to play at the park, and wear sandals, and run in the grass, and go for bike rides, and try and forget about this ridiculously looooong winter, and not think about how short summer is going to be before we have to do it all over again.  Please, mother nature, we need sunshine!

(a few more photos of Edwin in Palm Springs, because it makes me so happy to look at these pictures and remember how warm it was.  I think next year we are going back!)

our Palm Springs family vacation...

As I write this it is raining in Wisconsin... but at least it's not snowing... and I have pictures of California to look at and lightly sun kissed cheeks to remind me of our Palm Springs get-away last week!  It was awesome and Nick and I took way too many pictures of palm trees and our baby running around the California desert.  Here are a few highlights from our trip...

Stepping off the plane we were greeted with 85 degree temps and gorgeous views of the desert mountains that surround Palm Springs.  They are very prehistoric looking and reminded us of The Flinstones.  So, of course, we taught Edwin how to say "yabadabadoo!"

One of our favorite things about the trip was getting to stay at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club!  Our room had a patio attached which was really nice for Edwin to run around in.  We also went swimming in the pool every day.  On the weekends there was a dj playing awesome music (like this song) and during the week the pool was full of kids and families.  We loved it and would definitely stay there again.

One of the big things we wanted to do on our trip was hike around Joshua Tree National Park.  But, the airline completely broke our Kelty hiking pack and it was destroyed. :(  So, we did more of a driving tour through the park and stopped to stretch our legs on a few short paths that Edwin could walk with us.  He loved running around the park and refused to hold our hands.  It was so windy at the park that his little sunhat kept blowing away!

Driving back from Joshua Tree gave us amazing views of the wind farms that are right outside of Palm Springs.  The wind picks up in the afternoons and it was sort of scary getting out of the car to take pictures because the wind was so strong and these turbines are so huge!

There was a lot to keep Edwin active and entertained on our trip!  We found a really beautiful park in Palm Desert (with ducks!) and Edwin even discovered his love of ping pong at the Ace!

And, of course, it wouldn't be a real vacation if we didn't eat tons of great food.  We stopped at the grocery store a few times for snacks, fruit, or the salad bar, but we also tried tons of great restaurants.  Our favorite was Cheeky's where Edwin devoured almond paste stuffed french toast.  We also had lots of smoothies, coconut water, and a delicious date shake at Kings Highway.  Eating on the go with Edwin went really well and he loved getting crayons and cups with straws to keep him occupied while we waited for our food.

One afternoon, Nick stayed at the hotel so I could go for a solo hike.  It was nice to get away by myself for a bit...especially because our hiking pack was broken.  I hiked Tahquitz Canyon, about 2 miles to find a desert waterfall!

We loved Palm Springs and thought it was a beautiful mix of desert & greenery.  The town itself was small enough for us to easily navigate on foot or with our rental car, was laid back, family friendly, and of course, had perfect weather every day.  Southern California really knows how to do March!

This trip felt like a really big deal.  Nick and I have been so busy these last few years with our house, careers, and now family, that we've neglected to take the time to have fun and relax.  Going to California was the perfect thing for us to do.  We got to enjoy the sunshine and scenery and see what it feels like to take a real vacation...we are already planning our next adventure!  It also felt like a really important step for us to fly with Edwin, something we were nervous to do, but in the end went totally fine and we are so glad we did it.  Til next time!

up, up, and away....

In just a couple of days we will be leaving on our first vacation in over 4 years...and our first-ever trip with the little guy.  I am so excited and nervous I can hardly stand it!  We'll be flying into Palm Springs and spending 6 days soaking up the sunshine, lounging and swimming at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, hiking around Joshua Tree National Park, and hopefully finding lots of citrus to eat.  We're going to play it by ear, but we've also thought of taking a quick day trip to San Diego to dip our toes in the ocean. 

If we're lucky, the piles of snow outside our window right now will be at least part-way melted by the time we return...wishful thinking, I know.  ;)  California, you are the light at the end of our looong winter tunnel.  See you soon!

(Above is a super quick project I made for Edwin's room this week.  I used all scrap fabric and followed this pattern for the balloon!)

my little flirt...

Sometimes after lunch we find something silly to do to fill that awkward time before nap...like work on giving kisses!  I honestly think I could write a whole blog dedicated to those extremely sweet, awkward, and slobbery baby kisses that sometimes happen with their entire mouths wide open and if you're lucky, their little arms wrapped tight around your neck.  Edwin's always been kind of a flirt, but this week he rediscovered how handsome he is and had a fun time giving himself kisses in the mirror.  And, woah, does someone need his bangs trimmed or what?!

Other silly things we do together these days are...fake sneezes, finding our belly button, and singing "eieio!"  Don't hold me to it, but this might be my favorite age.

(more of edwin's baby kisses found here & here!)