8.10.2009
*más de la fiesta...
8.09.2009
*la fiesta
I've been feeling in a lazy non-blogging sort of way lately. Not helpful is how our desktop is no longer accepting new photos! So I have to use Ben's computer [until I get around to cleaning out old files], which is obviously usually occupied by him, etc. Anyway I keep meaning to post about Vera's fun second birthday party! She's been obsessed with birthdays ever since Stella's in February [on long cartrips she likes us to sing a Happy Birthday to everyone we know] and finally had her own! She had specifically even asked for chocolate milk, chocolate cupcakes and popsicles when I asked what she wanted at the party. I am a bad bad momma and instead we had lemonade, white cupcakes with raspberry whipped cream - and apples and grapes to make me feel better about all the sugar - she didn't seem to mind :) We had just 4 of our best buddies [and parents of course] over as well as our neighbor and Ben's dad. It was so much fun! Vera looved being with all her friends at once and had such a great great time. What a fun stage this is :)
** I'm going to try to get some of Grandpop's photos because mine didn't turn out so well. ... and he got some good shots - like one of our little guests licking a cupcake off the pavement and Vera running around with a gift bag as big as herself over her head, or me licking whipped cream off my fingers :)
8.06.2009
*la niña habla
8.03.2009
*paletas de coco
Coconut Popsicles
I actually usually halve this recipe and it still makes a lot, but these are the measurements from the original recipe.
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar [or a little less. also, I recently bought some agave nectar to use instead and it's really good! I use a little less than what it calls for]
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups coconut milk, homemade or canned [I've been using canned. also shaved coconut from the bulk section at w.foods]
2 cups fresh (best) or dried shredded coconut
In a saucepan, combine the milk and sugar and stir over low heat for 5 minutes [with the agave nectar, I skipped this step] to dissolve the sugar; be careful not to scald the milk. Stir in the vanilla extract and let cool to room temperature.
Combine the coconut milk or coconut water, the shredded coconut, and the milk and vanilla mixture, then pour into your molds.
*cheese and cookies
I've been craving cheese, baguette and wine for dinner for a while now and we finally did it last night. I get a nice little discount where I work so I got some extra-special yummy cheeses, which of course called for my favorite extra-special plate from Granada and a dozen or so photos. I love cheese! After finishing up at home and putting Vera to bed, I walked down and enjoyed another lovely triple-cream and glass of wine with my neighbor :)
Our dinner was nice and uninterrupted because Vera just got a new fun gift in the mail from Auntie Carol - the Melissa and Doug cookie baking set!! Such an awesome and adorable toy - already occupying some big chunks of her time. While Ben and I snacked on our dinner, she lined up her animals for fresh-baked cookies:
8.01.2009
*
.. in case you're wondering, vera is covered in ice cream, chocolate, and dirt. and whatever we had earlier for dinner.
*tahoe
This year was a lot more fun with Vera being more independent and more social. Every morning she couldn't wait to get downstairs to see her cousins ["cousins, yayyyy!"]. She knew everyone by name [a mix-up here and there], and I loved how she'd say hi Uncle George, Hi Liz, Hi Ivor, hi We-we [olivia] whenever anyone entered the room. She was definitely positively influenced by peer pressure - they got her to eat her whole dinner, hold their hands walking down the stairs, go on the "big potty", and start calling me Mom in a very 8-year-old sounding way :) She also especially loved my mom and often preferred to be held by her, not me!
... vera and tyler. she is obviously in awe of him, and was usually super shy. I loved when she finally opened up and colored with him - you could see how proud and happy she was :) ...
7.29.2009
*HAPpy DAY VE-A!!
We love you so so so much, so much we are constantly astounded how we can love you even more each day. You are a smart, bright, happy [except for your frequent tantrum-throwing], fun-loving, hopping, humming, jabbering, circle-running, demanding, polite, Elmo/Signing Time-watching, beautiful, hearty hug-giving, "do it self", Bunny-Mommy-Daddy-Horsey-Friend-loving little girl. WE LOVE YOU!
*the title is what she's been exclaiming all morning :)
7.26.2009
7.18.2009
*el champú
7.16.2009
*
I think we're getting close...? Lately she'll get out of the bathtub to go pee and yesterday she went twice of her own accord - tearing off her diaper and running to the bathroom yelling "POOOOOTTYYYYYYY!" I think when we get home from our 2 summer trips I'll attempt to implement - to steal Jenny's words - a potty-training boot camp. Any advice?
7.14.2009
*a day
One nice advantage to Ben being a student is that he is around during the day to help out with Vera. He's actually taken most of the summer off from serious studying and I've been a bit spoiled. So today, during her 2 hour nap, I went to the mall and found some cute shorts + a top [thank you you know who!] and a cute on-sale bathroom rug at Anthropologie. When I got home, Ben and Vera went on a nice long bike ride out for ice cream and the park:
Meanwhile I got to be home alone. I made popsicles [more coconut ones... I think this batch will be gooood] as well as an attempt to copy a dish from work. It tasted good but didn't look very pretty :) Either way, I really enjoyed the time by myself. I haven't had much time to cook lately and it was so nice - thank you Ben!!
Before Vera went off to bed we hung out over at our neighbors' for a bit. She truly loves these 2 and it makes us so happy to see. It also makes us realize how great it would be to live near more family!!!! [I say more because we do live near my brother, who also stopped by today. Vera showed him every possible toy and activity she loves, from Bunny to making a train with chairs to drinking tea :)]
She was a bit too wound up perhaps and didn't go to bed well, unfortunately. I guess it couldn't be all perfect :)