An Angel Visits and Other Moments

Kathy's visit last night was medicine for all of us. We had such a wonderful time seeing her and talking, and Deb, Erin and Kathy enjoyed getting to know one another better.

Erin and Kathy.

Kathy has been an angel to our family during this whole process, helping Erin and Rob when they made pre-surgery doctor visits by watching Steven, visiting in the hospital, and having lunch with Rob one day.

Sitting poolside enjoying a glass of wine and cheese and bread.

Last night while we sat in the kitchen talking she gave Erin a foot and calf massage. she is such a dear friend and so thoughtful and giving. Today Erin and I were talking and we both thought she would make such a wonderul volunteer in the Big-Sister foundation. She would be such an amazing mentor and role model for a young girl.

More of that wine and goodies.

I have alwasys known I was blessed to have Kathy in my life, and now my family feels the same way. How do you thank someone properly who has given so much of themselves to you and and then treats your family as if it is her own? I am not sure there are any words.

Erin eating Gerber Graduates Finger Foods Sweet Corn Puffs. We all decided we like them and they melt right in your mouth so they are a breeze to swallow.

OTHER MOMENTS -- This monkey is very special to our family. David had it with him when he had his major sinus surgery back in the early 90's. He passed it on to Erin when she had her first tumor surgery in 1997. She was going to send it back to her Uncle David when he had his heel surgery the beginning of June, but she was having her dizzy spells at that time and didn't venture out of the house much. Monkey is with her through this surgery and recovery as well. He is a special little guy and makes recovery just a little bit easier.

Deb checking her emails. This is where we blog from right now; the table in the motel kitchen.

My bed. Deb and I had such a time getting it together that we decided not to unfold it every night, but to just stand it up in a corner of the kitchen. It has worked well, and much easier getting the cot ready to sleep in each night.

A Mommy and Mackenzie moment.

Friday - The Kids Come For the Weekend

The first fun thing I did friday was bake Justin his favorite cookie- Triple Peanut Bars. Let's face it, they are a favorite of all of ours.



Really simple: take a roll of store-bought peanut butter cookie dough and with gloved or floured hands, press out onto a jelly roll pan sprayed with PAM. Top with 12 oz of semisweet chocolate chips then drizzle a can of sweetened condensed milk on top. Cover evening with 10 oz of peanut butter chips and 1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts.
Place in a 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes until edges are crispy and they look like above.

When cool, spread with a mixture of 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1 tablespoon milk. Keep adding milk, a little at a time, until right consistency to frost (which I prefer the look and taste of), or make it thinner and drizzle on top of cookies. Cut into bars.

Here I am with Jacob. I could just eat him up!

Justin pumkinlina. He brought it home from school and has to care for it and then create an activity for it to do. I believe he said he was going to have it fly around the classroom on a plane or something. I hope they take video!

Jacob a.k.a. Skeleton Boy. He even glowed in the dark!

Justin showing me his magic trick; a pencil staying in his hand without holding on to it. I think I may have to find a magic kit for him for Christmas.

Jacob in his Johnny Jump-Up.

Jacob teething oin his Johnny Jump-Up. He has 2 front teeth coming in!

Shawn, Theresa, David, John

I made a pot roast dinner. Actually I cooked 2 pot roasts and there is only enough leftover for David and I to have one more meal. That made me smile.

Shawn and Theresa.

Jen brought us Halloween labels for bottles of wine. This turned out dark, but the label on the wine bottle says 'Vampire Blood."

JAcob and his Daddy.

Jacob is starting to use a sippy type cup, but it is a cross between a bottle nipple and a sippy cup. He gnaws on it alot and he also tries to drink water from it. I have to admit it just throws me how fast he is growing up.

Reflecting

A friend recently told me after hearing about my niece Erin's skull based tumor surgery coming up in a few weeks that things such as this happening to such a young person makes him wonder if there really is a God. It is not always easy to see God's full plan when something like this happens. However I believe that things happen for us to learn. Not just to the person who is inflicted but those around them as well; the doctors, family, friends. I think of Erin's older brother Robin who is autistic. He is a wonderful teacher and inspriation to the doctors, family, friends and the world. We need him more than he needs us. God gave Robin to us not only to love but to learn from. Erin is facing this surgery with calm, dignity and grace. Yes, my friend, I do believe there is a God and he is awesome. I put Erin in HIS hands.

A Day In the Life of...............

Some days are just full of errands, but they still turn out to be great days.

Yesterday started with a blueberry muffin from the freezer, defrosted and warmed in the microwave, and spread with homemade Meyer Lemon Jelly. This could become addicting. (Oh oh! she says to herself.)

Then I drove David to Kaiser for an appointment.

This time it was with his Opthalmogist to check the pressure in his eyes. David has glaucoma. Pressure is good. Yay!

I brought him home and then I headed out again running errands and keeping appointments. I started at Walmart to pick up pint canning jars.

While there I saw these fleece pajama bottoms for Justin. He loves Spiderman. Pretty cool.

I still had a half hour before my appointment so I stopped in at Mervyn's and picked up a few more outfits for Jacob. Everything is just so cute Gram Gram can't resist!

Love these outfits. The light blue one is a velour type material. Very soft and cozy. Love the race cars on the jacket.

Is this just too cute or what?!

And look! It comes with a matching hat and socks! I can't wait to see Jacob wearing it!

Then it was on to the hair salon to spend an hour and a half with Robbie for some hair pampering. And not a moment too soon!

I stopped into the Korean market a few doors down from the salon to pick up some red onions (going to can more in wine vinegar) and fresh tomatoes to make Salsa Ranchera when I get home for gift giving. This market has great produce among many other wonderful items for speciality cooking Oriental/Asian style, and amazingly they have a large Mexican speciality foods area as well.

Produce ready to make Salsa Ranchera. This is an all-purpose Mexican tomato sauce, probably mostly known for Huevos Rancheras and it comes from the Central and Northern areas of Mexico I believe. It is a great tomato sauce base for all kinds of Mexcian dishes.

Chiles charring on the stovetop.

Tomatoes, charred serrano chiles, and garlic blended until fairly smooth.

Chopped white onion in vegetable oil sauteeing gently just until translucent, not brown.

Pou in blended tomato mixture and cook over medium high heat until the sauce has reduce some and is well seasoned. I made a qudrupal batch so it took about 20 minutes cooking time. One bacth might only take 5 minutes to cook down some.

In jars and cooling before going into the freezer. This sauce tends to sparate in the freezer, so just defrost and blend briefly before using. Exact ingredient amounts for 1 batch:

1 pound tomatoes, broiled or not

2 to 4 serrano chiles, charred

1 garlic clove, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons finely chopped white onion

1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Geronimo!!!!!

Justin having a blast jumping off the diving board.
Woooohooooo!

Justin's swim instructor says that he is the only one so far that has the swim kick down correctly. The other kids kicks are more the tread water type at this point. Go Jus!!

I Smile A Lot Because of Family and Friends Thoughtfulness

Aunt Vaden and Uncle Arlen bought this apron for me in Italy. They bring me home one most times on their travels. This one is the closest to my heart since my heritage is Italian. Thanks Vaden and Arlen!
My friend Sarah made this string bag (French market bag) for me to use as I frequent the local farmer's markets. It stretches as you place things it it, so you can carry a lot more than it appears you can. I love the color and everything about it. Thanks Sarah!
New throw pillows for the front porch furniture. Thanks to Jen and Long's!
When Ron was here, he got into the middle of our very large Meyer lemon bush and got all the lemons that were hiding in there that I couldn't get too. Deb got some as well with Justin's help. I have a lot more Meyer lemons to cook with and enjoy now. This bowl shows half of them. Thanks Ron, Deb and Justin! (I am only sorry you forgot to take some back home with you.)
My sister girlfriend Verona recently gave this to me as a just because gift. It's perfect in our kitchen-family room area. I love it so much, I think it is going to be the cover of volume two of Diane's Home Kitchen cookbbook. I smile every time I see it. Thanks Verona!

A Family Get-Together

My brother Ron and SIL Deb were out in CA visiting with their daughter Erin and her family, including her new baby girl Mackenzie. They drove down to see us on Friday and spent the night with us before flying back to Iowa this morning. Both our girls, their hubbies and the grandsons were here. It was wonderful being all together!



Jacob cooing to Gram Gram
A very hungry Justin inhaling a turkey sandwich with lettuce and red onion.

A waiting dinner table.

Jen and John.

Justin thought Grandad's wheelchair was really cool, and took quite a few spins around the house.

Ron and Deb.

Ron and I.

All the fresh ingredients to make John's famous Guacamole.

Jen doing the prep work for the guac.

Jacob flirting with Gram Gram.

Great Auntie Deb and Jacob. (Look at that red hair on Jacob!)

Grandad and his new wheels.

Auntie Theresa and Jaocb.

A happy Justin eating grilled shrimp.

Eating and talking, talking and eating......Grilled shrimp, spinach salad with dried cranberries, pecans, feta cheese and dressed with Paul Newman's Lite Raspberry Dressing, and lots of roasted garlic French bread. For dessert? Chocolate layer cake with bing cherry ice cream.