Stampin' Up Cards by Amy & Leo

I realize I should probably be putting up pictures of our trip to Seattle but that requires much more organization and time than I have!

While we were in Seattle we had a Stampin' Up card making party by our own, very talented Ellen Wright! Check out her website link on the right...we made 5 superduper cute cards (Doris, H, Symantha, and Barb with our cheerleaders Mom and Joan).

Using the techniques I learned from Ellen, Leo and I made cards. His turned out way cuter than mine! He picked the colors, patterns and stamped and cut. Okay...I tied the ribbon...

Leo's


Amy's



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Homemade Ice Cream

Do you think scrambled egg flavored ice cream would be good? I don't! I'm trying to make homemade vanilla ice cream but it smells like scrambled eggs. You have to cook milk with 2 eggs and sugar until it is a thin pudding consistency. I stirred my mixture for about 45 minutes and it never turned into a thin pudding consistency it went straight to scrambling my eggs. I strained the mixture but it still smells like scrambled eggs. I'm going to put in the cream and vanilla mixture, cool it and see what happens. Sadly, Jason just bought vanilla ice cream at Trader Joe's and it taste pretty damn good. Why am I doing this?

To be continued...

Success! We have two boys that don't need training wheels

Aidan and Leo both set their minds to learning how to ride their bikes with no training wheels and we had super success!
It started out a little iffy after they first tried it on Thursday. They were whining that it was too hard, that they couldn't do it, and that they were tired. I gave them a pep talk and told them that they had to have a positive attitude, that everything they did the first time was hard and that they have to keep practicing. And once they got it, they wouldn't even have to think about it. That day, I proclaimed that they would be able to ride their bikes without training wheels by the end of the 4th of July holiday weekend!

They didn't prove me a liar! By Friday, Aidan changed his whole attitude. When I said "you guys are going to be able to ride your bikes!" Aidan yelled "yeah!!" and guess what?? they did it! Leo's attitude changed by about Sunday but we went out everyday to practice. Their bikes are a little small for them but they mastered it! And their mother and father high-fived because we achieved another huge hurtle in parenting. It's up their with potty training, reading, and eating with a fork!

The look great on their bikes!

Preschool Graduation

Friday, June 3rd was Leo's preschool graduation. We were all so excited, even Leo. At home we had been doing cheers and chants in preparation. Leo was so proud but not sure what it all meant. Aidan got to stay home from school to attend because we think it's a big deal and wanted Leo to have the support of his whole family. Aidan was excited to see Leo's school because he'd never been and has asked about it numerous times.

When we first arrived Leo was happily playing puzzles with a couple of his teachers and other students. Then it hit, they had to line up and march across the classroom and sit in front of dozens of parents and siblings. He did not like that! He cried when they were lining up and his teachers were trying to console him but he didn't like all the fan fare and attention. Still he put on the little cap and marched out, crying, and sat down in the chair. One little girl said loudly "why is leo crying?!" It was heart breaking. He was crying, and gasping for breath and he shut his eyes and sat until he was calm. I almost thought he was sleeping. I wanted go up and grab him and say "you don't have to participate in this! Who cares anyway, let's go home and have ice cream and celebrate!" When they handed out the diploma's they were supposed to walk up and shake the assistant principal's hand and take their certificate. The principle just bent down and handed Leo his. Thank goodness.

But he made it through. I'm not sure if he is better for it but he did it. Some times I don't know why we have to do these things. I guess sometimes you just don't know how they will react and other times they are important moments. I know how he and Aidan both feel about this kind of stuff. I don't like it at all.

On Sunday, Aidan had one of this last soccer games and afterwards the team and the parents went out for pizza. It was nice but those types of events are really hard for me too. I don't feel comfortable in these situations either. I think about them a lot afterwards and later I feel completely exhausted and drained. Jason is amazing. You could drop him in the middle of a room with 20 strangers and he could stay for 2 hours talking. It's really a gift. A gift, I think he gets from his mom.

I'm really not ready for Leo to go to Kindergarten. He's ready but I am not. Check back with me at the end of summer.

Leo and his preschool teachers: Ms. Alayna, Ms. Emma and Ms. Pokeress

Fun in the Sun

I wrote this post weeks ago but didn't have pictures to add so I never posted it. Well here it goes...(last week really wasn't mother's day)

We have had some really fun weekends over the last couple of week. After Easter, Jason and I went to a Nats game with Auntie Thotlady and her sister and brother-in-law who were on business travel from the midwest. They love baseball and every where they travel try to get in a game or two or three. Embarassingly enough they have been to more Nats games than we have (and we live here!!! Shameful, I know). The Nats lost. They were down 2-1 in the last inning, bases loaded, two outs, 2 strikes, 3 balls and the guys struck out! Now THAT is shameful. I'm on a diet but the half-smoke, cheese fries and 3 beers I had are not! But it was good and fun.

Our good friends Becs and Jake were brave enough to agree to watch the boys while we went to the game. The boys had a super great time. They played outside almost all day and night, made personal pizzas and loved them (even Leo), they went walking around the neighborhood with flash lights (even a head light) and played games. They were happily exhausted when we picked them up (so were Becs and Jake, I think!) and they fell asleep immediately when we got in the car. I don't think we even got a block away from their house before Leo fell asleep.

During the week DC United played the Seattle Sounders. Sorry friends and family but DC United ended their 6 game winning streak! Surprisingly, I was really wanting to see DC win and a group of Seattle fans sitting behind us were annoying the heck out of me. A couple of times, after DC scored, I wanted to turn around and yell "in your face!" but some how I found it in me to control such urges. I'm sure you are all thinking their is now way your sweet little Amy could think such things. I know, shocking isn't it?

Last weekend was Mother's Day and we had such a nice weekend. Aidan played soccer on Saturday and did really, really well. He was mad at me after the game because I kept "coaching" him during the game. I apologized afterwards and said I wouldn't do it any more but it drives me crazy, almost to the point that I can't watch. Can you "competitive"? Ha! Aunt Cindy knows because she watched his game a couple of weekends ago and she yelled just as much as I did.

After soccer we stayed out at a hotel near Dulles Airport. It was rather cheap and a wonderful way to get away from the Laundry, dust, dirty bathroons, unvacuumed floors, clutter, etc. and just be a family. We had a wonderful dinner in Reston and were reminded of when our friend Sarah had her first baby Liam almost 2 years ago!! and it seemed just like yesterday. We also went to a gelato shop which makes the best gelato in the US. Pitango. I don't know really but it seems like it. I had gianduja and cinnamon, Leo had vanilla, and Aidan had lemon and crema and Jason had vanilla too. Amazing!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Family and Friends!

Although we are not with you at Easter we are thinking about ya all so much.

Marc and Cindy are here visiting us for Easter and our friends Becs and Jake are coming over so we are getting to spend the holiday with family and great friends.

I'm cooking today. Here is le menu:

Porchetta


2 tablespoons fennel seeds
1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 5 1/2- to 6-pound boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), excess fat trimmed with thin layer left intact
6 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus additional for brushing
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth


Stir fennel seeds in small skillet over medium-high heat until slightly darker in color and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer seeds to spice mill and cool. Add kosher salt, peppercorns, and dried crushed red pepper. Grind to medium-fine consistency (not powder).


Place pork in 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Rub garlic all over pork, then coat with spice mixture. Loosely cover pork with waxed paper. Refrigerate overnight.


Preheat oven to 450°F. Brush large rimmed baking sheet with oil. Place roast, fat side up and coating intact, in center of sheet. Drizzle evenly with 2 tablespoons oil. Roast pork 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Roast pork until very tender and thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 190°F, about 3 hours 15 minutes longer. Transfer pork to cutting board; reserve baking sheet. Let pork rest 15 to 30 minutes.


Meanwhile, pour all pan juices into 2-cup measuring cup. Spoon off fat that rises to top. Place reserved baking sheet across 2 burners. Pour wine and broth onto baking sheet and bring to boil over medium-high heat, scraping up any browned bits. Boil until wine mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 4 minutes. Add degreased pan juices and whisk to blend. Pour pan sauce into small bowl (sauce will be thin).


Thinly slice roast. Serve with sauce.


So, the porchetta has a special place in my heart. Not only do I heart pork, when I went to Italy I discovered the delicious goodness of porchetta. I had dinner at a friends house while I was in Rome. We went to the grocery store to pick up a few things and they had samples of porchetta. I fell in love, right then and there. The next day we went to this little sandwich shop and they made me a porchetta sandwich with arugula on a nice crispy fresh piece of bread. It really doesn't get better than that!


We also had:

Acorn Squash


1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).


Turn acorn squash upside down onto a cookie sheet. Bake in a 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven until it begins to soften, approximately 30 to 45 minutes.


Remove squash from the oven and turn onto a plate so that the flesh is facing upwards. Place butter and brown sugar into the squash, and place remaining squash over the other piece. Place squash in a baking dish (so the squash wont slide around too much) while baking.


Place squash in the 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven and bake another 30 minutes.

Spinach and Orzo Salad
Courtesy of Rebecca "Economists in the Kitchen"


1 (16 ounce) package uncooked orzo pasta
1 (10 ounce) package baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
1/2 pound crumbled feta cheese
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar


Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in spinach, feta, onion, pine nuts, basil and white pepper. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate and serve cold.


Note: This makes a ton, but the leftovers keep really well.
 

 
Scallop Potatoes: Very Good!
Courtesy of Pam Cooney
 
1 half stick Oleo or butter melted
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup (can also use cream of mushroom)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 medium onion chopped fine
2 lbs. hashbrown shredded potatoes frozen
 
Mix melted butter, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, cheese and onions together.
Pour over hashbrowns.
Toss until potatoes are well coated.
Put in baking dish (13x9, spray with cooking spray).
Top with breadcrumbs.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
 
These potatoes make the house smell delish and they taste amazing.
 

Finally, the piece de resistance Bec's almond pound cake, strawberry, vanilla pudding, whip cream trifle. It was absolutely delish!!! We also had easter cupcakes which were oh so good!
 
Happy Easter!! We love you!

10K Race and Cherry Blossoms

Before the race

This weekend we went down to Richmond because Jason was running in his first 10k (Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K). We drove down on Friday after work and school. Doris came with us but she ended up driving on her own. (We tried to get her to ride with us but she wanted to drive on her own.) It was a sad, sad, day for Doris. She couldn't get into the HOV lane and spent hours miserable on the highway. We met her 1/2 way down, about an hour away in Fredricksburg VA at the Red Robin. We got down there about 1.5 hours earlier and entertained ourselves at the Target and Five Below store (Aidan really, really wanted a basketball--who knew?!?). We had dinner and Doris' stress level went down by a thousand points. I rode with her the rest of the way and we got into Richmond at about 9:45pm. Marc and Cindy were waiting for us and they were so kind to put us all up and show us a super good time!

Jason getting ready to give five to Uncle Marc

Marc and Jason ran the race and their supporters (us!) were trying to catch them near the finish. Marc finished in 49 minutes and 19 seconds and Jason finished in (an amazing!) 59 minutes and 18 seconds! Marc came in 2,901 place and Jason came in 9,999 place. On the face of it one might think that is not so good but there were...wait for it, wait for it...41,314 registered participants!! We saw Jason about 200 yards from the finish line and when we saw him he was looking really good! He was running, and fast, and he had a smile on his face!!! He did amazing. Afterwards, he and Marck took a nap (as did Leo...to be fair he did get up really early) and Jason's knee was really aching. Today (Monday) he said it was feeling good. He even went to the gym today.

After the race

Later in the afternoon Cindy, Doris and I went to Careytown and shopped a little and when it started to rain we finished the shopping and went to Cafe Caturra for wine (great bottle of Italian Pinot Grigio) and snacks (breads and spreads). It was such a nice, nice weekend.

Right now is Cherry Blossom season so at work I took a nice little walk down to the tidal basin to see the beautiful, beautiful cherry blossoms. My new office is just about 5-7 minute walk from the basin. It's wonderful. In the second photo, you can also see how crowded the tidal basin is!