The Much Coveted Buggy

100_4773, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Carter was very happy to play with this decrepit broken stroller frame at the park today. It's Luke's and usually Luke is not wanting anyone else to use it. No matter which child plays with it, they look like a very small elderly man using a walker.

But it's a very beloved toy, nevertheless.

We get so hung up, worrying what will be the perfect present or addition to the brightly colored plastic arsenal of toys, that we forget they like what they like. And they likey the the buggy!

Holy MouthFire, Batman!

I love the palak paneer from Trader Joe's and last weekend picked up a package of punjab choley to mix it up as a lunch for me. Made some rice and this for lunch today and OMG my mouth is on FIRE.

And I like spicy food, too. I can't say I dislike this, but I am having to take 'breathing thru my open mouth' breaks to handle it, LOL.

Yes, random blog entry, but I am eating it right now as I mess around on the computer, and my nose is even running, LOL! They mean it when they say it's 'richly spiced'!

I'm off to put some sour cream in this.

On having an obstetrical appointment with a poodle on my chest.

So, I'm waiting in the exam room, having had my BP, doppler, and weight done by the nurse, when my OB opens the door, and is hunkered over, coaxing some little wiggly thing whose shadow I see before the actual dog.

It's doing that sideways nervous shimmy thing with a lot of tail wagging, which makes me think a puppy is on the way, but my OB said, "No, she's a full grown adult pregnant with two puppies in her!" The a teeny-tiny teacup toy poodle is suddenly on my chest, LOL! Nancy (my OB) asks me to be mindful she has claws, and then proceeds to measure my belly and check out my calf, as I am having varicose vein 'issues'. All with a dog that can't be more than 4 lbs with two puppies in her on my chest, haha!

She had to bring her dog in to keep her under watch, since she could go into labor anytime and needs to deliver the 2nd puppy within a certain amount of time after the first or she'll need an emergency c-section. Carter thought it was the best part of the day by far and was telling everyone about the dog (not that anyone knows 'ga' = dog in Carter-speak).

Me so big

23 wk belly, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

This was at 23 weeks more or less. Only getting bigger! We're having another son! Two boys 2 years apart. I think I need a Tums just thinking about it.

Monkey, monkey...

Okay, the title is supposed to be sung a la the 'funky, funky... bidee bidde BOP' line in Cantaloop by Flip Fantasia.

Carter's wee little #2 birthday party is on, with a Cheeky Monkey theme. The house will be Halloween central, because Mama is not giving up her annual excuse to put up the glittery pumpkin Bun made a couple of years back, and of course my black table cloth with the ghosts! Plus, it's a perfect opportunity to take off a week for cobweb dusting! It's not dirt -- it's atmosphere. ;)

However, the back yard will be a monkey theme. I'm taking the monkey party ideas from good Old Martha and going from there. Found bouncy balls at Target with a monkey in them, and I'm going to make tee shirts with a monkey on the front (hope Paul Frank doesn't hunt me down and sue me for daring to put a monkey on something)... it'll be my own sad sack design. I can lay various color of ovals over each other in MS Paint and print it onto iron-on transfer paper like a mofo. I have delusions of crocheting something monkey to wear, too. Maybe the hat I have been meaning to do for about a year now, but never could find the exact yarns for.

Since Carter's two whole 2 yr old guests also have big sisters Bun's age, I still need to figure out what to make/give them to not leave them out.

Ugh, must go and change a poopy diaper. Carter is going through a phase where he is a Poop Denier. So, I also must chase him down. Being a Dirty Diaper Denier is not as bad as a holocaust denier, but it still stinks. ;)

Pizza Crustless Quiche. Mmmm!

Before in oven. Fresh from oven. Yum!

This is the second time I have made this and it's really quite good, especially for those who don't do crusts or doughs in their diets. The idea was Paul's; the recipe, mine.

Crustless Pizza Quiche
serves 4-6

• 1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 T pancetta cubes (Trader Joes sells them pre-diced and cheap!)
• 5-6 basil leaves, cut in chiffonade
• 1 T flour
• 5 eggs
• 1 c milk
• 1 t Italian seasoning
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/3 of a 5 oz package of thinly sliced pepperoni
• 2 small tomatoes, sliced about 1/4" thick, and allowed to sit on paper towels to absorb some of the moisture for 10 mins or so
• more mozzarella to top (maybe another 1/2 c?)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a bowl, toss basil, pancetta and cheese with flour, then place that mixture into bottom of nonstick skillet which has been sprayed with canola or olive oil spray.
3. In same bowl (less to clean!) combine eggs with milk and herbs/spices and mix well.
4. Pour that mixture slowly over the cheese mixture in the pan-don't dump fast or the cheese and whatnot might move around and not make every slice the same.
5. Top with tomatoes, pepperoni, and a little more cheese.
6. Place in oven and bake about 35-40 mins, or until a knife inserted in middle comes out clean and top is nicely browned. Allow to cool a few minutes, then slice into pizza/pie wedges.

We usually have this kind of meal with a salad, though it is technically nutritionally complete as is. Really good leftovers. I also like to put some parmesan on it, just like I would pizza.
Mange! :)

Trip to the Egyptian Museum

100_4747, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Bun's been wanting to go to this museum for months, and she had today off for school, so off we went. I only took a few photos from outside because of the no-flash rules inside, but it was as nice inside as out -- and the outside was very impressive. Bun's favorites were the mummies. Carter was fond of screeching and trying to touch things he should not (everything). We had fun, and I think we will return again.

Nerd Alert!

Gingerbread_Man_083007, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Bunny made this in school, and it's cute, no?

I had it up on the fridge for a few days, then decided to catch up on scanning and it wasn't until I looked at the cutout bit of cheekiness as a cautionary tale that I realized my daughter has put the details of the Eye of Ra on hers. Those highly stylized eyelashes? Eye of Ra. I smile proudly and also cringe inwardly for the time when she decides to suppress her nerdiness because, well, putting the Eye of Ra on your gingerbreadman is no where hear as cool as turning your own eyelids inside out or something stupid like that.

News Flash: Boys Like Dirty, Yucky Things

100_4654, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

This is from the beach about 1.5 weeks ago, a last 'hurrah' for the playgroup before the older kids have to go to Kindergarten (gasp!) everyday. A great time was had by all, and Luke and Carter found a TREASURE. Yes, a partially burnt piece of wood from someone's fire the night before was quite the find. Luke found it; Carter coveted it. Both became filthy from soot. Heidi and I looked on with disgusted faces, but, meh... we let 'em play with it anyway, cuz... um... it was easier than not letting them play with it. ;)