HELP!!!!

March 30, 2008

AH! I cannot find a home for my dogs. We are leaving in July and I thought we had a home but could not find an airport convenient for the family to retrieve them from. So, in case you didn't pick up on it, we are willing to fly them to a new home. If you know ANYONE who wants a labradoodle, okay 2 labradoodles. PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME!! They can only fly out of DC until the middle of May because the temps here get too hot after that. I am getting desperate. They need to go together too. Please link me to your blogs and tell all your friends. There must be one family who has a little extra love to give!

Look how cute she is...

And those pleading eyes..

They listen well, for a ball anyway :o)

LOVE to swim.

Make a great footrests.
LOVE to be LOVED!
Share their food.

Are really FANTASTIC with children!

And protective too... this is Claddagh sleeping under Max's crib.


Watching over the baby for me.


I could use any and all help. Again, they are amazing with kids, are low shedding and hypo allergenic, good at warning of danger and General actually sounds ferocious but would never hurt a person in a million years. My kids used to pull to a stand on them, actually pulling out fur, and they never got angry. Really they are GIANT lap dogs. Oh and they are completely healthy, never had ANY problems. Love to chase balls and squirrels, love to swim, lose their minds with joy in the snow... all around happy, people loving dogs. PLEASE HELP!!!!

Quick Coconut Bread Results!

March 27, 2008

Overall the quick bread was a success. The only problems were 1. two toddlers helped me make it... can you say MESS! and 2. the recipe had a minor flaw but not to worry I caught it but 3. I made an oops. So here are the details.

Fresh grated coconut, flour, sugar and salt all look amazingly similar to snow but taste and feel waaaay different. I think the only good taste for Max was the sugar, Maggie seemed to relish in tasting everything! That girl sure does know how to love life ;o)

All, however, agreed the batter was YUUUUUMMMMY!

Once in the pan Max thought we should cook on the stove and Maggie said it should go in the refrigerator... luckily Mama was around to veto and put it in the oven.
Voila!
The glitch in this process was the presence of my children. I was a little distracted by 4 tiny helper hands and somehow didn't catch one of the recipe oopses which was only 1 tsp of baking powder. Normally I would have noticed the absent bubbles in a quick bread but today I was concentrating on having fun and learning about the ingredients so we missed that part. The bread is a little, um... dense, but the taste is VERY good. I will make it again and definitely recommend it to all. Oh, and we added raisins because we love raisins.

Totally off topic but totally cute... a photo of the kids at Colleen's house over Easter. She had a small egg hunt for them in the courtyard of her building. I love Maggie3, sitting on the top step, with her princess dress, dew rag and crown! Also, I love my Maggie's Easter dress. Target for less than $20... LOVE that store!
Max on his last day of school before Spring/Easter Break. Don't ya just love the bunny ear hats they made!

***RECIPE

Quick Coconut Bread

3 C. Flour
1 C. Sugar
1 TBS. Baking Powder
1 Egg
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 C Milk
1 C. Toasted Grated Coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter and flour a loaf pan.
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Stir in coconut.
Beat egg until foamy. Add milk and vanilla to egg. Stir into dry ingredients. Mix well without beating.
Pour into loaf pan and bake 1 hour. Terrific breakfast treat sliced and toasted

**** The recipe instructions forgot to mention the sugar! I put it in with the dry after all the wet was mixed because the wet was REALLY wet with 1 1/2 cups milk.

ENJOY!

Loco for Coco...

March 25, 2008

COCONUTS!!!!

My kids were REALLY curious so we bought one. Let's just say I am NOT a coconut expert so we got out a screw driver and a hammer. I tried making some holes in the top to pour out the milk but it just dripped so I put a straw in the hole and voila! Then I took the hammer and SMASHED IT!! The kids LOVED that part. Okay, I thought it was pretty fun too :o)

Look at her eyes... so funny!

Let's just say Max is NOT a fan of the milk...

The process of opening and exploring was fun but...

the taste, not so much fun :o(

Even Maggie, who likes EVERYTHING, said "I no like it".

But do not fear - tomorrow I am making Quick Coconut Bread, which sounds REALLY yummy so maybe they will like that. I was proud of them, mostly Max, for trying it all though. He is very picky and often says no to knew things. So hurray for adventure and I'll let you know how the bread comes out.

EASTER on the HILL 2008

March 22, 2008

Happy Easter Everyone!

I had reservations about moving back into our house in the city with children. But really, it's been so much better than I could have imagined. Since we left 5 years ago there has been a child explosion and the hill has been taken over by families. The community has a small town feel. Probably because we are clustered in a small area behind the capital and limited by the Potomac, route 295 (Maryland) and a not so nice street (H Street) which is scheduled for revitalization but at this point I wouldn't spend any time there or want to live too close to it. Anyway, my point is for a city it really is a small town and they do GREAT stuff for the kids. I'm sure you all remember my post about Oktoberfest, then Hilloween, the Christmas Festivities and now EASTER! We had soooo much fun yesterday. Take a peek at the bazillions of pictures, and to be honest I have not posted them all :o

Field of eggs BEFORE the kids

This was the toddler only field. Look at all the kids and parents lining up. This view was nothing compared to the droves lining up behind me.

Maggie patiently waiting... okay, NOT! You all know Maggie, twice she already ducked under the tape and tried to grab a few. That's my girl!

Mike was standing with Maggie a few feet from me and Max was by my side. So I only got to share my wisdom with one child. What you ask could that be during an Easter Egg Hunt for toddlers... "Run Forest Run!" Seriously, there were hundreds of people behind us so I told Max not to stop for the eggs by the tape but to RUN to the middle. And he did. Such a good listener. Well, sometimes... for candy, DEFINITELY!

That's my baby in the blue and green striped jacket with the hood up.

He made out pretty well I must say.

Poor Maggie didn't get the same sage advice. I see Mike in the gray shirt (you know the guy with marine hair) looking down at what I presume to be my daughter lost in the sea of chaos!

There is my little striped jacket guy between the two trees. Not a concern in the world that he has no family nearby. Mom who? Whatever there is CHOCOLATE in these eggs!

After the egg hunt, well and a bit before, there was LOT'S of other things to do.

Like pet REAL bunnies!

Throw rings over ducky heads...
and win candy whether or not you are any good at it!
What could be more fun than throwing candy at a bulls eye then keeping said candy plus a bonus toy if you hit the bulls eye!

Fishing anyone?

Hey, that's not fish... it's candy. SCORE!

Such concentration...

I missed Maggie because she picked up the ball, chucked it without thought and STRIKE! All three pins went down :o)

The EASTER BUNNY is here, the EASTER BUNNY is here!!!!!

Max, searching for the carrot in his pocket he brought for the bunny.
So Maggie offers him her half chewed piece of candy, LOL.
The good bunny pretends to eat it.
Where are my eggs?

(This was before the egg hunt and eggs were ALL Maggie could think about)

Did I mention the FREE coffee, popcorn, juice, water, cotton candy... Seriously, I spent not one dime for this event! They also gave out tickets at the entrance for prize drawings. Two kids won really cool bikes, a family of 4 movie passes and a jar of jelly beans. I think the jelly beans were for a "guess how many" game. If it didn't get so darn cold in the winter this place would come close to San Diego. OK, there is no beach either but there are a lot of museums (all free by the way) and national monuments. You all should come visit!

Here we go again...

March 18, 2008

Some people just aren't very smart. I know, that was rude, but really... You all know we bid on the Victorian and lost it to another couple who didn't have to make a contingency offer. You also know that as much as I LOVE THAT HOUSE it was a dump. I mean I'm not kidding. The amount of work needed to make that house the beauty it was intended to be is astronomical, as in the hundreds of thousands kind. That's right not just one but possibly up to two. Anyway, the aforementioned couple apparently is not too observant and after the home inspector tallied the cost of fixing up MY HOUSE they bailed. The owners agent called my agent and we are back in the running! Crazy I know. What I don't get is how the previous couple didn't see the amount of work needed. The agents are chatting trying to make a deal as we speak. Now my current house is back on the market. We decided NOT to put the Fredericksburg house back on the market. Too many balls in the air at once. We will rent that one until further notice. AHHHH! I don't think I can take the suspense much longer!!!!! Everyone cross your fingers and toes, do a "house selling" dance and say a prayer I get the house. I know the prayer part is lame given others recent circumstances but I WANT THAT HOUSE! Okay, enough...

Maggie has taken to saying "you're welcome" at the most interesting times lately.

Teacher: Maggie you look pretty today.
Maggie: You're welcome.

In the park after stealing a ball from a much younger child who proceeds to look distressed.
Mom: Maggie I think the baby is sad you took her ball.
Maggie (to the child): Oh, you're welcome baby.
Maggie (to mom): Baby share ball with me.

Person in the street (who Maggie chatted with for 5 minutes before I came to drag her away and let the poor woman get on with her day): It's okay, she's very sweet.
Maggie: You're welcome.

Oops!

So sorry JL and all other 12 year olds at heart! MASH away... just be sure to post your results :o)

MASH etc

March 15, 2008

"Your husband's name is Mike and you have 6 children. You're a pediatrician who drives to work everyday in a Red Mazda CX-9. It's truly a wonderful life when you consider the countless romantic nights you have spent with Mike in your shack in Bogota, Colombia."

For those of you not in the know MASH is/was a game we played in school with paper but it is now on-line in an electronic version. It's silly really but when you're 12 you think it's very fun. Since Steph and Liz did theirs I had to copy. Good to know I married the right man but 6 kids, in a shack, in a third world country... NO WAY!!!! Oh, and why do we live in a shack if I'm a doc?

Okay, onto more important information, in other words reality. Tonight I told Max we were going to a St. Patrick's Day Parade tomorrow. He responded (with glee and hands a clapping), "yeah, Spongebob and Squidward will be there too!" Clearly my child watches too much t.v. and needs to spend more time in the real world.

Bad day turned good...

March 13, 2008

This morning was rough, well the time change has screwed me up all week. Maggie was the perfect alarm clock consistently waking me up at 6:45. Well that is now, of course, 7:45. School starts at 8:30 and my class at 9:00 so 45 minutes is NOT enough time to feed and dress 2 toddlers, myself, and get everyone to school. Especially since we all go to different schools. I can't wait for the day those 2 are in the same school! After school we headed to the park where the kids JUST COULD NOT BEHAVE! It was one fight after another with lot's of wailing. A lady with pretty new baby twins looks at me and said, "I am just now wondering what I have done". Okay so that was a little funny. EVERYONE thinks they are twins, which I get. Actually I sometimes just say "yes" when people ask - it's easier than the truth. Also this a.m. I found out the house we wanted is gone, sniff. I know we lost our initial bid but 8 other offers had been turned down because they "couldn't come to terms". So I was hoping the 9th would be the same and we would be lucky number 10 but no... Ah well, looks like we'll rent this place for another 2 years and then see what we can find. It's all good but I will never find another house like that dump Victorian. As I read other blogs, i.e Liz and her phone, Brandi and the 2 yr old tantrums plus lack of sleep, I realize it's not just me that's having a rough one. Also, as coincidence, Max was watching little bear and the show was about "A bad day" too funny. Max agreed saying he was having a bad luck day and kept pretending to fall or walk into furniture - NUT.

Onto the good news... Liz's friend Amy is gonna get to see her baby today!!!! And she has some legal workings in the process so let's all pray that gets worked out ASAP. For those confused Amy has a 7'ish week old son with a syndrome, probably osteogenesis imperfecta or "brittle bone" disease. When she took him to the ER out of concern the doctors had him placed with social services because he had a number of broken bones. Which would be good if he was abused but since we know he is not it's just a waiting game for test results etc and in the meantime poor Amy is without her baby. Hmmm, doesn't sound like good news but it is because she hasn't seen him for over a week!

Next piece of good news, Mrs. Fischer found out today she is having a fischette (also known as a BABY GIRL!!!!). Yeah Fischers. She is beautiful, of course, and perfectly healthy!

Last, but not least, the weather here has finally come round and we are no longer freezing to death. That combined with the longer daylight hours has made me VERY happy. The kids are happier too because they get to go to the park after naps now.

Oh, and it looks like July 30 will be our check in date for Bogota. Oye it is getting sooooo close! We filled out forms for housing, I think we have some takers for the dogs, and the passports are almost ready. Everything is moving along well...

Ah well...

March 9, 2008

The bid was not accepted. Someone else bid without a contingency so the owners of my lovely Victorian are counter offering with them. If it doesn't work out and our house sells in a few days... who knows. But on the upside we saw another house today that we really liked. Not nearly as big and no yard but REALLY, REALLY prime location on the 200 block of Tennessee Ave. Puts us half a block from a HUGE park, Max' school, Eastern Market and the metro are only 4 to 5 blocks away so it's a PERFECT LOCATION. The street is one way, small, and full of kids. So, cross your fingers our house sells soon so we will be ready to move on it before someone else does!

As for the previous post, Mike was/is a little nervous about Maggie's naked bum hanging out there. Now let me say that our blog cannot be googled or searched for from the net or blogger but you can, of course, find us by chance. Does anyone think the photo is questionable? Mike is way more cautious than I and I get that she is not clothed but it's her bum, and she's 2... What do you all think? And no one needs to agree with me, honest opinions please!

NEWS, NEWS, NEWS

March 6, 2008

But before we get to the NEWS an update on Maggie. My girl, as we all know, is a nut!!! I found it pretty darn funny when Max was sleeping with his power ranger costume on but this, well, this is freaking hysterical! When I went to wake Maggie up this is how I found her, DEAD ASLEEP. I'm talking I turned on the lights, called her name, even touched her and she didn't respond. How, I ask you, is this comfortable?!

AND, she was dressed and lying properly in her bed. You know, under the covers with a pillow.

Gotta love her! Then later in the day we had this interesting conversation:

Maggie: Mommy I like yer neckalace. Papa give it to you?

Me: Yes honey, it's a heart see... Papa gave it to me b/c he loves me.

Maggie: Papa loves me too, and Mamaw, and Pawpaw and Aunt Natalie. (Then with wide eyes about her cousin) Josh loves me too... He buy me DIAMONDS!

Diamonds are a girls best friend. Apparently she has been listening. LOL! Now she just needs to learn we don't make googly eyes over our first cousins even if they are 12 years older and REALLY handsome!

Okay, onto the news. We put a contract on the big ol' beautiful yet dump Victorian house today!!!! I really have NO idea what to think. What I do know is that EIGHT other offers have been refused. The owner is asking $650... too high if you ask me. Most offers, as far as I can tell, have been under six. Sooo, we decided it was probably worth about six and put in an offer at $610. We'll see... he has 2 other offers along with ours. The downside for us is it's a contingency contract. The good news is he is a real estate agent too and therefore understands contingencies and the fact that he can pretty much get out of it at any time. So I think as long as the offer is better than the others we have a shot. Keep your fingers crossed!