What's Crackalackin?

I have been playing tennis regularly for the past year with a group of friends. This summer we decided we were ready for the big time (ha!) and decided to compete in the local USTA 5.0 women's doubles league this fall. (5.0 means that we are all individually ranked at 2.5...which is pretty much as low as it goes!) Last Friday was our first game. I was so nervous, my hands were shaking and I thought I was going to throw up, but we played really well and we won!! In fact all three of our doubles partnerships won their matches. Which puts us at the top of the league right now (one week in...we'll see if we can maintain that position!) Not too bad for a new team, though.

Please note, I did NOT pick these skirts, someone with considerably more adventurous fashion tastes (my friend Michele) did. Don't we look like a bunch of wild and crazy gals?

Look at these fierce ladies. We'll strike fear in the hearts of our opponents.

*Apparently "What's Crackalackin'?" is a reference to Madagascar 2...that's what the zebra says. And now, that's what I hear in my head when ever I don my nifty zebra skirt.

Good-bye Little Green Crocs

These little shoes have finally bitten the dust. They've been Oliver's favorites for a year and a half (there are some advantages to having kids who don't grow very fast), and he's had plenty of adventures in these little green shoes. I almost hated to throw them away (which I did before someone mentioned that Crocs could be recycled). So good-bye green Crocs, hello...blue Crocs. Did you really think I would give up shoes that are designed to not pick up funky feet stench?! No way! Little boys may look cherubic, but their feet still stink.

Afternoon Bath Party

   

Sometimes (ok, almost every day) by the afternoon I have just had it. I am tired. The house is a mess. I can't possibly field another request for candy or TV time (it is NON-STOP). The neighbor kids are coming and going, dripping popsicles and echoing the requests for candy or treats. The screen door is slamming. Except when it's not, and that's because Elliot's leg is stuck in the door frame. Kids are upstairs, kids are down stairs, kids are next door...but where's Elliot?!? Wandering off to find a ball or dog to play with. AHHHH!!! I've heard a quote that parenting is like having a bowling alley installed in your head. Most afternoons, that's precisely how I feel.

So, in order to keep the kids contained and maintain my sanity we have instituted Afternoon Bath Parties. The boys love it and it actually helps because it gets a jump on our evening routine...except that Elliot generally needs another bath after dinner. (See photos below).

A Face Only A Mother Could Love

           

I know that most people who are not blood relatives will probably not find these pictures cute in any way. He has spaghetti and peaches and who knows what else smeared all over himself, but I just think he is adorable. I seriously can't get over this kid. Elliot has such personality. He is just so full of life and mischief.

He is talking up a storm, albeit in an incomprehensible language of his own devising, but no matter--he chats away, pointing at things and narrating like a seasoned tour guide. And he certainly knows how to make his wishes known. There is no misinterpreting what he is after when he gets his mind set on something.

I am totally charmed by his curiosity and determination. At my gym, one of the women who works with the kids in the child care center said to me reprovingly, "That Elliot, you really have to keep an eye on him. He likes to crawl on top of the tables and he tries to put everything in his mouth." I thought to myself, "I know, isn't he wonderful!!!" and then realized that she didn't see it in quite the same light!

Happy Birthday Abby!!

  

Your nephews made you a sign this morning. It got a little messy. Elliot is a destroyer, he got paint everywhere. I put away the camera to avoid more damage so there are no pictures of the mayhem that ensued.

We were very excited to celebrate your birthday, Abby. Oliver insists that we must have a princess party for you. We will celebrate in style all day, we only wish we could see you in person.

And, in honor of Abby, who used to annoy me to no end with her noisy  banana eating (you know what I'm talking about Abs!) here are some pictures of your protege.

 

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

All was not lost

So, my tendency to not color in the lines is sometimes rewarded, which, I suppose, must be why I keep doing it. My brain honestly processes instructions/directions as suggested approaches to tacking the matter at hand, not rules to be followed to the letter. Good thing I didn't choose a military career. When I read/hear directions I immediately begin to think, "ok, that's great, but there must be a better/easier/different way to do this". Occasionally that is true, but there's often a good reason to stick to the plan. Also, I detest the idea that I am one who looks for shortcuts, but I guess that could be accurate... sometimes.

Anyway, all this is leading up to the fact that the mexican carnitas I crock-potted today actually were awesome. They had just the right amount of kick, despite my grave misgivings this morning. I have never before used coca-cola as an ingredient. In fact, I'm not really sure that it counts as an ingredient, but that was one of the items, along with apparently the appropriate number of unseeded chipotle peppers, that went into the crock pot. Mmmm, goodness.

Here is the recipe c/o Ali Pulley. I'll give the instructions as written.

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
3-5 lb, pork loin or pork roast
1 1/2 cans of Coca Cola (I'm so embarrassed
1 cup of sugar (yikes!)
7 oz. can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 t. dry ground mustard
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. minced garlic
1/2 cup brown sugar
[I doubled the ground mustard, cumin and garlic

Place can of chilies in a bowl and cover with coke. Once the chillies are no longer coated with adobo sauce, remove them and throw away. If you prefer HOT, leave a few chilies in. Combine all ingredients (except pork) in a blender and mix. Place pork roast in crock pot and pour sauce over the top. Cook on high 4-6 hours or low 7-9 hours. Carefully turn roast over halfway through cooking. Remove pork and shred, then throw back in an mix with juice. Use a slotted spoon to remove.

Cafe Rio Cilantro-Lime Rice
1 c. long grain rice
2 c. water
2 chicken bouillon cubes*
1 t. butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 t. lime zest
2 T lime juice
2 t. sugar
3 T fresh cilantro

In a saucepan combine rice, water, bouillon, butter, garlic and lime zest. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes, or until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat. In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro. Pour over rice.

*I think bouillon cubes are weird and should be avoided, I don't have any data to back this up...it's just a hunch that granulated chicken-flavor probably has some things in it that we shouldn't be eating. Like MSG. And preservatives. I use Better Than Bouillon organic base, which I guess is a compromise since it doesn't have any weird food additives and actually tastes pretty good. It still isn't homemade stock, but really...

PS--I just put the creamy cilantro dressing recipe here.

The Perils of Improvisation

This is just one of those days. Nothing seems to be coming together. We are all still in our pajamas (except Elliot, who Ryan dressed before he left for work.) The house is a mess and I am literally sick to my stomach. I've spent the entire morning working on this STUPID sewing project that is just getting worse and worse. It's a little hooded baby blanket from Amy Butler's Little Stitches. The design looks really simple but the directions seemed really confusing and unnecessarily complicated. So I decided to change things up a bit. I made it even simpler, or so I thought, HA! 

When will I learn to just follow the instructions?!? 

Anyway, somehow in addition to changing the pattern, I also screwed up. I measured one one of the strips wrong and rather than correct my mistake and cut another strip of the right length I decided to cut down the main panel. And then cut again. And again. Now I have essentially a doll blanket. Out of really expensive fabric. That was supposed to be a gift for my friend Kim who just had a baby. Who I'm supposed to be bringing dinner to tonight... 

Which brings me to improvisation calamity #2. So, Ryan, if you are reading this, I am really sorry. Ryan came home raving about this mexican pulled pork/carnitas dish that our friend Ali made when I was out of town. He said it was the best thing he's ever eaten. I got the recipe and I decided to make it today. It's a crock-pot recipe and makes a ton so I decided that I could make it for us and have enough to bring to our friends the Harris', too. So, I didn't exactly follow the recipe. I know, I know. I think I added too many chipotle peppers and I think it's going to be really, really spicy. Rats, rats, rats!!! Sorry, sorry, sorry!!!

I need a "do-over" on this day. Elliot just woke up from his nap so maybe we will be able to salvage the rest of the afternoon.