Jack's Birthday

Jack turned 4 years old on Wednesday. Today we had a little party for him with his friends; a STAR WARS party. It turned out to be a lot of fun.

Here is the birthday cake I made. What a lot of work! I'm embarrassed to even post this picture because Melissa's cake are so gorgeous. I know it's not very professional (what do you expect from someone who uses a zip-loc bag-with-a-hole-snipped-in-the-corner in place of a pastry bag with a decorating tip?), but the kids thought it was cool, and that's what counts. [A toothpick, a glass of warm water, and a butter knife come in handy.] In case you don't have any sons under the age of 40, or aren't married to a man of that age, or if you have been living under a rock for the last 30 years and therefore are unfamiliar with "Star Wars," this cake represents the helmet of Jango Fett (or Bobba Fett, since it's impossible to get colors just right when you are dealing with frosting!), who is the coolest villain ever.... next to Darth Vader, of course. And if you are unfamiliar with Darth Vader.... well, then I just feel sorry for you.

The kids were invited (I love Evite!) to "Jedi Training," where they each received an official Padawan tunic and a training light saber. They enjoyed the light saber training, and other jedi training exercises.

And to complete their training, they had to face Darth Vader-the-Pinata (darn, I didn't get a photo of it). After eating cake and ice cream... and opening presents, they had to face..... the REAL Darth Vader. Some of the kids really freaked out at first...

....but Jay... I mean, Darth Vader, really charmed them until they were all under his spell.

After Darth Vader dueled with a few of the new Jedi Knights........ they all enjoyed a game of "Darth Vader Says."

And, of course, the big guy posed for photos.

Favorite Kitchen Gadgets - Part 2: SALAD

I make a lot of salad, which absolutely requires a lettuce knife. No more brown lettuce! Instead of buying those expensive bags of pre-washed/pre-cut lettuce that seem to contain more stem than leaf, and which seem to go bad quickly, you can pre-wash and pre-cut* your own. (Just remember to dry it and store it wrapped in slightly damp paper towels, and sealed in a zip-loc bag.) Lettuce knives are pretty cheap, and they all work the same (plastic or vinyl) so it doesn't really matter where you buy it or what brand it is. (I got mine at Target... about $3.)

Before you store all that lovely pre-washed/pre-cut lettuce that is ready to grab [so you can throw together a salad at the last minute to make your otherwise lonely pasta dish seem more like a meal instead of a poor excuse for dinner], you need to dry it off.

A salad spinner is the ONLY way to do this (it's also great for spinning other veggies you have washed and chopped for a stir-fry or something, so the water won't splatter when it hits the hot pan).
I have owned a few salad spinners, but this one is the ultimate! It is huge (Zyliss has two sizes, so make sure you get the larger one!) and super strong! I works unbelievably well. The mechanism is genius.

Now you need some great vinaigrette with yummy fresh garlic in it. I think I have owned every gadget invented for garlic. Some have worked better than others, and some not at all. I finally found a garlic press that is really nice (and way too expensive for something so simple, but I bought it anyway because I love garlic and use it a lot).

But this summer my mom introduced me to a new (to me) method, that is surprisingly easy. You probably already own one of these mini-graters. (This photo is about life-size!)Just take your clove of garlic (peel and all) and hold it by the root end, in the tips of your fingers. In the other hand, hold the grater, and shred that little clove. The skin stays together and protects your fingers, and the flesh comes out perfectly minced. (If you are worried about your fingers smelling like garlic, don't worry.... when you rinse out the grater you will be rubbing your fingers over the metal, which makes the smell disappear. I don't know how it works. It just does.)

And if you want to know how to get your kids to eat salad [and maybe even learn to like it] then read this.

*FOR BEGINNERS (or dummies, like me): I used to hate washing and cutting lettuce because it was such a pain... until my little sister (who went to culinary school) taught me the right way to do it! Don't wash and cut... cut and THEN wash. And DON'T chop off the end first, like I used to do. While the head is all still attached together, make several slices from the root to the tips, then slice in the opposite direction from the tip down, and it's ready to wash.

Now for washing; take the bowl of your salad spinner and take out the strainer and set it in the sink. Put one drop of mild dish soap (I like Method Cucumber!) in the bowl and fill it with water. Chop your lettuce, dump it in the soapy water, give it a few swishes, and then pull it out by handfuls (don't dump it because then all the junk that settled to the bottom will wash back onto the lettuce) and drop it into the strainer part of your salad spinner. Rinse with clean water (use your sink sprayer if you have one), and then put the spinner together and give it a whirl!

Favorite Kitchen Gadgets - Part 1

Whenever Jay asks me for gift suggestions, I always come up with kitchen items, and he always rolls his eyes and groans, "I'm not going to give you that. That's boring." But then I always explain that kitchen gadgets are "toys" for someone like me who spends a lot of time in the kitchen.

So, here are a few of my favorite kitchen gadgets. More to come.

Since the only peanut butter we eat is the all-natural kind (and we eat a LOT of it) with the separated oil floating on top, this item (discovered by my mom at the incomparable Lehman's in Ohio) is a huge time-saver (and mess-saver) for me. (We go through at least a jar a week.) It is truly amazing. And to think I used to torture myself stirring that mess without this wonderful low-tech gem.
For someone who rolls a lot of dough, a tapered French rolling pin is the ultimate. I will never go back to one with handles. You have a lot more control this way, and it covers a much larger area. Now I can roll an enormous circle of dough in seconds.
When you need to slice a large bowl of strawberries, a basket of mushrooms, a can of olives, etc. (or eggs of course), this cheap little egg slicer does the trick in a jiffy. Way cool!

Pinewood Derby

Collin participated in his first Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts. He was so excited... and so was Jay.Collin decided on a police car theme, and did most of the work himself, with Jay teaching and supervising along the way. It turned out really nice.

Collin's car made it to the semi-finals, and he was pleased enough with that. (Fortunately, he didn't have high expectations going into it.)

Of course, Jack wanted a car too, so Jay bought an extra kit and made a very basic car for Jack, but he didn't spend much time on it. He asked the Cub Master if Jack's car could race a couple of times in the beginning, just for fun.

Well, wouldn't you know it, Jack's car kept winning, so they kept calling him up. He was beside himself with glee. It was hilarious to watch him. (Though it was a little embarrassing since he isn't a Cub Scout... he isn't even 4 yet!) All the boys were cheering him on, chanting, "Jack! Jack! Jack! Jack!" every time his car was racing. (Of course he thought that was great.)

He would have taken 4th place if they had actually given a 4th place award (they only gave 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), but they did give him a "Speedy Youngster" award, and he was thrilled with that. (He can't read.)

Student of the Month

Collin was selected as "Student of the Month" for January. He was so excited, especially since it was his first time, and Mary was selected in both kindergarten (last year) and 1st grade (this year). Each teacher selects one student from their class each month that has shown exemplary behavior, particularly in the area of the "Virtue of the Month," which was "Honesty" for January. Collin's teacher said that he is always honest, even when it might get him in trouble. He is a good boy and always wants to do what is right. We are very proud of him.

Rainbow

We have had a LOT of rain recently, including yesterday.

The kids were thrilled with the rainbow that appeared in the backyard above our shed. It was the highlight of their day.

For Jane Austen Fans only....

... yes, you. You know who you are. You are the ones who read this, perennially watch (and perhaps own, as I do) this, are surely tivo-ing this, and [even if you are happily married] you drool over him. (And if you didn't know who "him" was before you clicked on the link, then you, my dear, are not a true Austen fan.)

If you haven't read Shannon Hale's "Austenland" then you are in for a treat. I just finished reading it (in practically one sitting, I might add, which isn't such a tremendous feat considering it's less than 200 pages long, and is a delightful and easy read). I absolutely giggled and grinned my way through the book. If you are a true Austen fan, you won't be disappointed.... how could you not love a book that begins with a dedication reading, "For Colin Firth: You're a really great guy, but I'm married, so I think we should just be friends." Though if you are an Austen-purist, you should probably stay away.

The first time I saw the wonderful BBC (1995) version of "Pride and Prejudice," I was already engaged to my own Mr. Darcy (see photo below), so I didn't fall in love with Colin Firth... exactly. But I certainly don't mind watching him on the screen. And I know I'm not alone. It's a girl thing.
By the way, I didn't much care for the 2005 version of "P&P." It simply pales in comparison.

[On a side note, this afternoon, while downtown, Jay ran into Adam Sandler getting out of a car, surrounded by security (and people flocking to get his autograph). As Jay was talking to one of the security guards, a stranger walked up to Jay and said, "Are you Jon Cryer?" Jay tried to assure her that he wasn't, but she insisted, saying, "It's OK, I won't tell anyone." He wasn't sure what to think. I suppose there might be a SLIGHT resemblance, but I assure you Jay is MUCH taller.

P.S. "Hiding Out" was one of my favorite movies when I was in high school. ]

Cruise News

I had a good time on my trip, but I'm SO glad to be home. I missed my family tons. I just wanted to offer my appreciate to a few people.

A hearty thank you to....

-Wendy (mother-in-law) for coming up with the idea and planning the trip, and for bringing a bag of cookies to share on the airplane.

-Collin (father-in-law) for driving 6 chatty women to the airport and getting us there on time.

-Shelly (sister-in-law) for being our tour guide around Hollywood (even though we got lost).(actually, this is Renae with me in the photo)

-"The Men With Guns" (LA county sheriff deputies) for getting us back on track and making us feel safe as we waited in the Metro station at 11:30 p.m. (though later we were chased by a bum... I mean, vagrant).(Let me tell you, it's pretty intimidating to hang out with these gorgeous women!)

-Janelle (sister-in-law) for sticking with "poor-me-with-a-bum-knee-who-can't-run" when everyone else ran off when the bum... I mean, vagrant... started chasing us.

-"The Vagrant" for being too drunk (or whatever) to be able to actually hurt us.

-The cast of "Wicked" for putting on a fantastic show.-Renae & Courtney (sisters-in-law) for being excellent, tidy cabin-mates on the ship.-The ship infirmary for dispensing medi-meclizine, which allowed me to enjoy a stormy night at sea without getting seasick.

-Shelly, for not throwing up on me when she got seasick.

-Our cabin steward, for willingly providing a large number of industrial sized plastic trash bags to serve as makeshift rain ponchos, which allowed us to traipse around Ensenada without getting TOO wet.

-The chef at the breakfast buffet for making me a delicious veggie omelet for breakfast every morning.

-Our waiter, for providing extra servings of the yummy molten chocolate cake with ice cream after we all raved about it.

-The "Gunderson Girls" (Jay's aunt Phyllis and her daughters) for their contagious laughter, funny stories, and great companionship.

-The "Brown Girls" (Courtney's mom and sisters) for teaching us to play cards and for being good sports during the name-guessing game.

-The guy at the Alltel store who helped me get a new cell phone just minutes before I left for the airport so that I could stay in touch with my family while I was away.

-And especially Jay, for taking care of the kids and house and for being such a good sport about me leaving them for a few days.

Now, it's back to real life.

Leaving on a cruise

I know I'm way behind on my blogging... I haven't even done Christmas yet, let alone New Year's. But that will have to wait because tomorrow I'm leaving on a cruise with Jay's mom and sisters. It should be fun. I'm mostly excited about going to see Wicked in LA tomorrow night!

So, today I'm busy getting ready for my trip. Whew!

Wedding Dinner Skit

I was finally able (with Jay's help) to upload the video of the skit we did for my brother's wedding dinner. See it on this post. It's about half-way down the post... click on the play button.

Christmas Books

One of my favorite Christmas books for children is "Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear." If you are familiar with the original "The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear" then you will appreciate this one all the more. It is a very sweet story that will take you by surprise.

We all know the old poem "The Night Before Christmas" but I especially love this version with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. [I grew up with a fascination for her lovely book, "A Time to Keep."] She was well into her 80's when she illustrated this one, and it shows, but it's still lovely.
My sister gave us this delightful book a few years ago, and it's been a hit. It's a fun imaginary tale of the adventures of the neighborhood snowmen when no one is looking.

And of course, Christmas wouldn't be complete without "The Grinch," as it is usually referred to around our house. I hated the live-action film with Jim Carrey (who I usually like), but I thoroughly enjoy the old animated version. However, nothing can compare to reading the wonderful words from the book!

So, grab your kids and snuggle up on the couch with a few good books.

Photo Session

Here are a few photos from the photo session we had on Saturday with Jay's family.

Mary was chosen as "Student of the Month" at school. Each teacher selects one exemplary student from their class each month. She is such a good student and takes school very seriously. We are very proud of her.

Remembrance

Today is the 6th anniversary of the death of my sweet sister, Charity. My mom and some of my sisters and I got together and read letters that family and friends wrote to Jonah about the mother who he will not know in mortality. It was a nice remembrance, but also very emotional. We visited the cemetery and left some beautiful red roses from my mother's garden.

Today is the also the 6th anniversary of the birth of my niece, Isabel. Happy Birthday cute girl!

Justice

So, I had JURY DUTY today.... M--- County Superior Court. It was quite an experience. Honestly, I wouldn't mind serving on a jury.... as long as it didn't conflict with the rest of my life. So I was hoping to be excused when I proclaimed that I am the mother of 3 young children and it would be a hardship for me to serve for more than one day... today.

It was nothing like you see on TV, which makes it seem very solemn. Everyone, from the woman handing out paper work and doing the orientation, to the Bailiff and court reporter, to the Judge, was cracking jokes right and left. They all seemed to really enjoy their job.

So, 55 of us sat in the court room answering lots of questions while the attorneys took tons of notes. The defendant, an African American man accused of transporting and selling drugs, looked respectable in his suit.

By lunch time, we still had a ways to go, and I hadn't been dismissed yet, even though I had made my case. I should have just answered yes to the question, "Do you think drugs should be legal for personal recreational use." The handful who did answer yes, were dismissed right after lunch.

When we got back into the courtroom after lunch, the attorneys all took a really long time coming back into the room, so the judge entertained us with stories and answering questions. (Seriously, he loves his job. He took the mandatory retirement at 70, and came back to work the next day at $15/hr. because he loves it!)

Then the attorneys came back into the court room and asked for a side-bar. They all left the room for another 5 minutes, after which the judge came back in and said, "Well, he plead guilty. You can all go home." Whew!

So, I got my "proof of service" paperwork and got on the shuttle to go back to the parking garage, along with the other people from my group.... and the public defender, who was excited to get to go home early too.

During the short ride, he told us that after the lunch break he asked his client if he still wanted to go through with it, and he said, "No way!" The reason? There was not one African American among the prospective jurors.

The judge also told us that the defendant will be sentenced to 5-9 years. He had prior convictions.