Today

Today was our garage sale, it was a success. Kendall was such a little trooper, the first time someone bought something of ours she watched them walk to their car and looked at me with confusion all over her face and said, "Why are they taking our stuff?" She didn't fuss once when her old toys were taken away one by one. Mostly she just sat in her mini lawn chair next to me and watched all the people. Tonight I caught her singing the song that Dani taught her.

Later she was playing really sweetly with Kate in the living room reading books. I heard her say, "Now, we put them all away so if the lady comes to look at our house and says, 'Is it clean?' she will say, 'Yes, it is!'" Gotta love that little lady of mine.

One of our garage sale-ers seemed pretty interested in our house. She lives in our neighborhood and wants to move into a bigger space (they have 5 kids). I thought it would be pretty cool if I sold my house at my garage sale!!

So She Said

Kendall: What are you doing Mom?
Me: I'm getting our dinner out of the oven.
Kendall: What is it?
Me: Chicken, and rice, and aparagus.
Kendall: Mmmmmmm, scariest?
Me: No, asparagus.
Kendall: Spasparapas?
Me: No, asparagus.
Kendall: Yummmm

Bits and Pieces

Today Mr. Lee Realtor* put a sign up in our yard. Our very first home, the house that our girls came home to. :)

Tomorrow we're getting rid of a ton of stuff at our neighborhood garage sale. I spent ALL morning pricing stuff.

Mr. Dave Moving Company* came to look through the house to make an estimate about moving us. He was a super sweet gentleman and we chatted the whole time he was here, so sweet.

Our little tomato plant started producing some E Coli free tomatoes!

Kate got super excited at breakfast time, that little muncha muncha.

I cried a little bit when I thought about moving away from this little lady. Actually, when I think about living apart from them I'm okay but when I think about the actual leaving them, the last good-bye I break down in sobs. Seriously, last night I had to get out of bed and scrub my kitchen just to stop thinking about it so I could fall asleep.

*(names changed to protect the innocent)

Movin' On Up To the East Side

So I've alluded to a big change occurring. Several hints have been left in the last month or so.

• Post about being introspective during big changes
• Sleepless nights discussing how big the world is and how small our part of it is
• One of the books on my nightstand
• A picture of the city of Paris
• And then this week's post flat out saying there are big changes happening.

So here it is: Brian accepted a new job and we are moving! First we're moving within the U.S. and will be there for 1-2 years and then we'll be living in Paris for a year! We're excited about the opportunity for our family to experience new sights, new cultures, and a new language. It will be a chance for us grow together in a frightening (of the unknown) situation and grow closer. We're very sad to leave a church that we love and friends....I've already cried a few times at the thought of leaving my friends. We realize that it will be hard and stressful and scary but also exciting and enlightening and exhilarating. It is an opportunity that we have wanted to have for a long time and really look forward to this experience with all our hearts. This whole thing has pretty much consumed me for about a month so it was hard for me to find anything else to blog about! Now we'll have sorting, packing, house hunting, traveling...to distract me but I'll try to keep up the posting.

Update your passports Chick friends and family, I expect a lot of visitors!

Our Weekend

This weekend we took a fast trip up north. Kendall received her first piano lesson (but she kept calling it a violin !?) from her Great Gram. It was a very fast trip (one I hope to repeat again very soon) but it was great to see the family there and to explore the area a little bit.

Since we spent the majority of the weekend in the car we had fast food way too much and I came home feeling gross. I have been on a vegetable filled meal kick since then. My favorite so far is the Italian Risotto, it requires a little bit of time and attention to make it but it is well worth the trouble.

This afternoon we're meeting a friend and Alex at our aquatic center. I'm not looking forward to seeing my landlocked white legs in a bathing suit but oh well.

Italian Risotto with Mushrooms and Peas

• 2T vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1g garlic clove, crushed
• 1/2 cup chopped pepper (I used orange)
• 1 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1c Arborio rice
• 3 3/4 cups hot vegetable stock
• 1cup frozen peas
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1T butter
• salt and pepper, to taste

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the pepper and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, until all the grains are well coated with oil. Pour in a ladleful of hot stock and simmer, stirring constantly, until absorbed.
3. Continue to add small quantities of hot stock, waiting for each ladleful to be absorbed before adding more. Stir frequently (non-stop) to prevent sticking.
4. When all the stock has been added and the rice is almost cooked, about 2-0-35 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan and butter, season to taste, and serve.

This would be good with ham added as well.

I hate when people don't update their blogs

We have a LOT going on right now and not really things I can blog about just yet, but very soon I'll update you on the exciting changes occurring at the Chick household. In the meantime I took this picture of my hunky hubby tonight.

Oh, I've also had a couple of kitchen successes that I'll add here soon too (Corn Chowder & an Italian Risotto that was delicious!)

Fun at the Park

We went to see Uncle John play football last week and we stopped to play at the park before his game.

Little Monkey

You know how monkeys swing their arms over their heads when they walk?

Random Randomness

Yesterday Kendall went to a birthday party at a firehouse with the Lories. It sounds like it was a fun filled day: they sat on a fire engine, watched a video, hit a pinata, ate cake...all the excitement left Kendall tuckered out so when Lorie got here I carried Kendall's car seat into the house with her still in it and just set it in the office for her to finish her nap (with her sucker still in her mouth). She woke up later and immediately smiled at me, realizing the humor of the situation. I unstrapped her and immediately started peppering her with questions about her experience, "Where did you go? Did you sit on a fire truck? Did you play with other kids?" Finally, I hit a question that broke her silence, "What did you see?" She broke out into a big grin and said one word, "Candy!" And she was right, when that pinata broke open Kendall hit the mother load. We have them arranged neatly in our ice cream glasses.

Today the girls and I got flowers for our hanging baskets.

Also, my hair is now long enough for a bun, yippee.

And finally, one of my favorite things. Summer afternoon, clean house, productive day, kids playing, dinner cooking. Life is good.

Happy Daddy Day

"I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.
"I am your calm face; you are my giggle.
I am your wait; you are my wiggle.

"...I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.
I am your dandelion; you are my first wish

"...I am your way home; you are my new path.
I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.


"I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.
I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.

"...I am your lullaby, you are my peekaboo.
I am your good-night kiss; you are my I love you."

From the book, "You Are My I Love You" by Maryann Cusimano

Danger Zone

I have been working like mad to get some Paper Chick work done for my biggest client. I love seeing my desk like this but it's starting to creep onto Brian's desk now. He's great and hasn't said a single word about it but I told him last night that I will try to corral all of my supplies back onto my desk.

While I work my little helper, the Paper Chicklet, sometimes crawls under my desk to collect snippets of trash.

And this, I love this picture. Kate likes to point to things in books.

Conversation From Today Part Two

Kendall was all snuggled in bed about to go to sleep and she says in her very loud whispering voice: "Is Kate making noises in her bed?'

Me in my obviously not loud enough whispering voice: "No, that is just Riley playing outside, he's a big kid and gets to stay up late"

Kendall: "He's a big kitty!?"

Busted

Jeanne mentioned that I have failed to give my cake recipe as promised. It is so simple it is almost embarrassing but it is pretty tasty!

1 pkg Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 can (20 oz) Pineapple Tidbits

1 small container of Cool Whip

1 prepared round angel food cake

fresh strawberries (whole or sliced) and blueberries

Prepare pudding as directed. Mix with pineapple and gently stir in whipped topping.

Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer on serving plate; top with one third of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers 2 times. Plop any remaining filling in the center of the cake (down the hole).

Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Top with berries just before serving.

Kristy, Jeanne also mentioned that you have been eating beefy beans on your blog for a very long time.

Conversation From Today:

Kendall was checking out my computer today.

Kendall pointing at the vent on the side: What does this say?

Me: It doesn't say anything, that is where the computer gets air.

K: Is that where you put the food and water?

M: Computers aren't alive so they don't eat.

K: But they do eat.

M: They do? What do they eat?

K very confidently: popcorn and mints.

'Moe' Corn

Usually Kate needs to eat dinner before the rest of us which means I have to find ways of entertaining her while we eat. Last night she kept pointing at my corn on the cob and saying, "Moe, moe, moe?" (more). Now we've found a way to keep her entertained for hours. I think I should start carrying corn cobs in my purse, ha.

Grocery Day

Today is grocery day. Getting groceries may sound like a simple task but I assure you that it is not. Usually the girls manage to make it quite difficult but today we hit the store early enough (and we had a snack and sippy cup ready). Kate sat in the infant seat and pointed, drew attention by greeting every other shopper, and gnawed on any packaging she could get her free cookie covered hands on. Kendall ran along side the cart pointing out every product packaging that contained a picture of Dora on it (no small feat) and requested a great many of the things that I wouldn't let her touch with a ten foot pole. Generally if it comes in a box I try to avoid it. After coming home from the store Kate collapsed exhausted from all the excitement (and took her third three hour nap in three days!) and Kendall helped me with grocery day activities round two: washing, chopping, and prepping a lot of our stuff. First we washed and prepared my new favorite salad: cucumber, orange pepper, tomato, spinach, fresh cooked corn, scallions all thrown into a Tupperware to lunch on for the week (perfect with the new Toasted Sesame dressing). Next we made Brian's cucumber salad, then washed the blueberries and strawberries to make a little fruit salad.

My girls eat vegetables really well so I haven't had to succumb to the new fad of hiding veggies in food (although it would probably be good for my hubby). However, if an opportunity comes where I can add them into a meal I'll still throw them in to get an extra serving or two in them. Today we made a homemade Cauliflower Mac-n-Cheese that turned out well. Next time I'll throw in either parsley or broccoli.

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

1# whole wheat pasta (I used penne)

2T butter

1 1/2 cup milk

1 cup chicken broth

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1T Dijon mustard

Pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil, add salt, then add the cauliflower and cook about 5 minutes. Remove the florets with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. In the same water, cook the pasta until al dente, then drain. Add the pasta to the cauliflower.

2. While the pasta is working, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a minute, then whisk in the milk and broth and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cheese. Whisk in the mustard and season with the pepper. Stir the cheese sauce into the pasta and cauliflower.

Brian took vacation this week, Sara and her family was in town, my car is (still) in the shop getting a new radiator, Alex graduated from high school, Kate had a fever of 104...it was a crazy week.

Today Kendall tried to brush her own hair after it was already pulled into a pony. The result was a slightly disheveled look that resembled Donald Trump.

Kate has learned to shake her head yes and no, actually this didn't happen this week but I'm just now getting around to posting about it.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

I like changes; changes are good.


Now Kate, she likes broccoli, she thinks it is good.

I Need My Camera

I don't have my camera but I still want to put the big news without a picture. Saturday night out of nowhere Kate took nine steps. Yesterday she was walking between me and Lorie off and on all day and then today she decided that this walking stuff is pretty fun and I caught her getting to a standing position in the middle of the floor (without pulling up on stuff) and walking wherever she wanted to go. She isn't an official "walker" since she still crawls the majority of the time but by this weekend that is all she will be doing I'm sure! Alex took some pictures and video yesterday so I'll have to get some from her soon.

We're so excited to have Sara, Jeff, and Mitch come for a visit. Tomorrow Sara and Mitch will get here and Jeff will arrive later in the week. We will miss you Jessy, I wish you could come too!!

Not much I can report here, we have a lot going on in the Chick household these days, I'll post when I can :)