A Little Catching Up

So I have missed a couple of things I wanted to catch up on. There seems to always be so much that I want to make sure and remember while they are still fresh in my mind. This blog is and has been a place for me to record our family happenings so I can come back to them later.

This Summer, on Doctor's orders, we actually didn't do any camping or hiking :( Instead we rented a beach house in Newport on the Balboa Peninsula and sat on the beach everyday. I can't go to the beach and not get in, so I spent many hours swimming in the ocean with a big belly. We planned our little get away with a BIL and his family which was heaven for MJ. We had to find a place last minute and at one point we were really discouraged and thought it wouldn't be possible. And then we found it, the perfect little get away two short blocks from the beach (I pretty sure walking down our drive way is longer) and the perfect size for our two families. There's nothing better than getting up, eating breakfast, spending all day at the beach, eating yummy food and staying up late watching some good movies (like JAWS). And Repeat. I have loved going to the beach since I was very small. There is something so relaxing about being by the ocean and swimming in the water. The sound, the color and the smell is so soothing to me. I do think that they need to come up with a body board built for pregnant bellies (can you imagine), I did miss that this time around.

our new family portrait

Our theme for Father's Day this year was alien/monsters. I thought it was very fitting. This was the picture drawn on the card by a very talented boy. Can you see the little alien/monster in by belly? I say alien/monster with affinity and great affection of course, they are very welcome in our family. Yes I really do have one in there. A baby boy, a sweet baby ready to make his debut before the end of the year. See how he has those little horns on his head. Well I was very shocked at 16 weeks to feel a little pain in my lower tummy. I thought something must be wrong, no one had ever said that it's painful to feel the baby kick, so of course I thought there was something wrong. It felt like little jabs with a small needle or horns. When my next appointment came I asked the doctor and she just smiled. "oh you didn't know you signed up to be a punching bag?" she asked. I guess I didn't. She told me that right now it's the equivelant of someone poking you on a very sore muscle over and over again, it gets a little bruised. And then I saw it with my own eyes, the little stinker was using be like a punching bag. Cute little one, he can't help it. Now it doesn't hurt anymore, but he sure does remind me that he's in there.

By Popular Demand

I just want to apologize for being a slacker on the potato salad recipe, or being a slacker period. I know I've had many ask for it the last two months and I haven't posted. Sorry I didn't do it in time for the Fourth of July, but hopefully you can use it for Pioneer Day? This salad is very special in my family. Mike will not eat potato salad except for this one, and it’s all of our favorites. I have never measured the ingredients out since it's all in my head (same reason I haven't posted the recipe for empanadas), but this is my best guess. Read the whole recipe before you begin.

Lily's (my mom) Potato Salad

6-7 cups of salted cooked peeled potatoes (boil them whole, peel first to avoid headache)
1 ½ (about) cups of peeled chopped steamed carrots (I use four carrots and steam the whole)
¾ cup chopped green onions
¾ cups of chopped celery
6 hard boiled eggs quartered or cut in six parts lengthwise
1 cup mayonnaise (you could add more if you like)
3-4 Tblsp. mustard (I use regular and brown together)
2 cans of black olives drained
¼ - ½ cup of vinegar
Salt to taste

Boil peeled potatoes in salted water until fork penetrates, but they are still firm. Steam carrots (I steam them in the same pot above the boiling potatoes). Start hard boiled eggs at this time. When finish, I drain the potatoes and eggs, and put them all (carrots too) in the freezer until cooled. I get the other ingredients ready while the potatoes, carrots and eggs are cooling. Chop up green onions and take the whites of the onions (and green if you like) and soak in the vinegar for about 10 minutes or more. This is so the onion taste isn’t so strong and it also gives it a tangy taste. In a large bowl add potatoes (quartered lengthwise chopped in ½ inch pieces) and chopped carrots and mix with mayonnaise and mustard and salt to taste. Add green onions (with vinegar and green parts), celery, olives and mix. Add hard boiled eggs, I usually cut them smaller than quartered lengthwise). If it still seems too dry add more mayonnaise or a little milk (sometimes I use the juice from olive can). Enjoy now or later!

It might start to mush, some of the potatoes will be too soft, it's okay it's supposed to be able to clump up a little bit. It will keep for only four to five days because of the hardboiled eggs. If you have a little more or less than what the recipe calls for, don’t worry. I never make the same salad twice! You just kind of have to guess how many potatoes will make six to seven cups and I always end up with more; it still tastes fabulous. Let me know if you have any questions.