Day Off!

Aaron took the day off (he worked his 40 hours earlier in the week...what a hard worker!) so we are having a nice long weekend.

It started with Tessa waking up at 6:30 (at least an hour earlier than I expected) and guess who lost Rock Paper Scissors and got up with her. Me. But it is okay because I get to sleep in tomorrow morning! (And I took a nap this afternoon {blush} ).

It was so wonderful having Aaron home on a weekday (remember the nap I mentioned!) He watched Tessa and our friend's little girl (we were watching her so her mom could go to the eye doctor) while I got my work done. It was FABULOUS! Then we went to the Peabody Essex Museum. Salem residents get it free so we could go for just an hour or so until Tessa got to sleepy and didn't have to worry about seeing everything or wasting our money.

Easter Picture

Wonders of PhotoShop

I was worried I would be sent straight to you-know-where if I bragged about my sweet Photoshop skills on an Easter post. So I just thought I'd show you (in a separate post of course) what that picture looked like when I downloaded it from my camera.

Easter Preview

I know its not quite Easter yet (1 hour and 15 minutes remain) but I took some fun pictures with plastic eggs today.

Plastic??


Yummy Yummy Yummy


Hum...


I LOVE this! (and hey, look at my 1.5 teeth!)

Cheap Thrills

We just bought Tessa a big girl car seat...but that is not the cheap thrill (believe me!) Wonderfully, the car seat came in a box that was perfectly Tessa sized!

Financial windfall

Yes, they really, really mailed us this check.

Wild Weekends

Just a look into a recent Friday night...

Aaron's office had a field trip to Newton 2 Fridays ago and we were perplexed about how he would get home at a reasonable time (if I teach Tessa anything it will be do not drive on the 95 during rush hour!) Luckily one of Aaron's co-workers was headed to New Hampshire to play hockey so she gave him a ride and Tessa and I met them at the mall for, none other than Chick-Fil-A. Talk about riotous living!

Here is some evidence of our good time...

I ate Brussel Sprouts

According to Women's Health magazine Brussel Sprouts are the healthiest vegetable (they listed no scientific evidence...thats just what they said.) I figured since I eat so few veggies I might as well get the most bang for my buck. I googled "what do brussel sprouts taste like" and found this recipe. I love Indian food and happen to have "masala" seasoning from a previous, unsuccessful attempt to make it at home so I thought I'd try it. However I don't have all the spices it asked for so I had to modify, as usual, and for once I wrote down how I changed it. And yes, this was a successful attempt at Indian food.

Totally Americanized Brussels Sprouts Curry

15 fresh Brussels sprouts (outer leaves removed and hard bottom chopped off) - finely chopped legnthwise.
2 medium sweet potatoes - peeled, cubed and boiled.
1 large can of garbanzo beans
1/2 red onion finely sliced lengthwise
1 teaspoon meat masala (in the spice aisle maybe?)
1/2 cup coconut milk
1+ teaspoon fresh ginger (mmmmm.mmmm.mmm) or powder will do
1+ teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
1/2 teaspoons curry powder

In a big skillet heat 1 teaspoon canola (or peanut) oil. Add and toast cumin, mustard and curry. One by one add onions, garbanzo beans, brussels sprouts. Continue to add masala, coconut milk, ginger and salt. Cover and cook for a few minutes until sprouts start to wilt. Add sweet potatoes. If it is too spicy add more brussels sprouts and/or potatoes and coconut milk. Also add more coconut milk if it seems too dry. Cover and cook for 10-15 more minutes, until sprouts are just tender.

Serve over rice.


Edited to add: By the way - while I bragging about eating a vegetable Christin has a post on her blog about cooking a whole fish (yes, head included, and yes, pictures included). I am in awe, but I really don't see me doing that any time soon/ever.

I'm told this feeling will wear off

But for now I am so proud of my girl...look at all the things she can do now that she is army crawling with the best of 'em.

Inspect Cat bowl (Quincy is NOT pleased to have to share)


Help Mommy with the filing.