My Other Car is a Broom...

It was Halloween. And a tradition in our household here to gather up the kiddies and their cousins and send them out to forage for candies for us...

We gathered in my (just cleaned at the last moment) garage and ate - and this is what we eat every year - vegetarian chili, hot dogs (my sis shaped them like octopus this year, um yum?)


There was also chicken and whatever chocolate the kids brought back for us.

I also did the Jello mold...


This year me and W got in on the dressing up. Thanks to C-boy's insistance.


Hope you guys had a great one!

Stay Doggie Stay!

Okay, so Oliver is a sweetie. We got a call last night asking if we want to come see a girl cockapoo that will be available in a couple of weeks. Humph. I think I'm getting attached to the little bugger, and I almost felt offended we got the phone call. As if someone was trying to take my Mr. McPoodles away. Leave him alone, he's a friend of mine.

I think he's staying, what do you think?

In the meantime I'll be doing this...
Pumpkin Carving anyone???

And I may have to make this for Halloween night...


Vampire blood-orange gelatin

Preparation time: 1 minute
Cooking time: 3 minutes
Chilling time: 10 hours
Servings: 12

--Executive chef Heather Terhune of Atwood Cafe and South Water Kitchen developed this recipe. Use one large mold or individual-sized 8-ounce ramekins.

Ingredients:
3 cups water
2 cups sugar
7 envelopes (1/4-ounce each) unflavored gelatin
4 1/2 cups blood orange or regular orange juice
2 Tbsps. orange-flavored liqueur

1. Combine 2 cups of the water and the sugar in a medium saucepan; sprinkle with gelatin. Set aside 1 minute to soften gelatin. Cook, stirring, over medium heat, until sugar and gelatin dissolve, about 3 minutes. Stir in orange juice, liqueur and remaining 1 cup of water. Pour into a lightly oiled 10-cup mold; cover. Refrigerate until firm, at least 10 hours.

2. To unmold, dip mold briefly in hot water; invert a plate over gelatin. Flip gelatin onto the plate. Decorate with plastic spiders or other Halloween-like creatures

Happy Friday!!

Dog Day

Well I was a bit skeptical of posting this but we did get the new fur baby yesterday.
Alas, it may be short-lived since we had really wanted a girl, if one becomes available soon we may sell this sweet thing and get a female instead. I know that sounds cold and unmotherly but its the facts, people. I wanted a girl. Anyway, whatever the case here is(for now anyway) Mr. Oliver McPoodle.

He's a Malti-poo, I hate that, it sounds like a gross dessert. But he's cute, no? The kids LOVE him, so if there's going to be a switcharoo it better be soon before they get attached to him. I wouldn't mind a boy except I keep hearing that girls are much easier, training wise, and I want to be sure if I'm roped in with a dog for the next 15 or so years it better be something I absolutely want.

Little Doggie Froufrou

W is on a quest for a dog. Ever since I said 'Okay, but I won't feed it, clean it, clean up after it or train it' he has been on the prowl for a puppy like nobody's business. So there are phone calls, emails and constant checking in the paper.

In Hawaii, there's a demand for little froufrou dogs so its hard to find a really good one, even if you're willing to pay premium for it. Our kids are allergic to most pets so it has to be a hypo-allergenic dog like a poodle or maltese. We saw some maltese and lahsa ahpso(sp?) dogs yesterday at the pet store, only 1699.00, what a bargain. I know we'll keep looking, but all I want is to be able to do is name it and put frilly outfits on it(and maybe paint its toenails. Lets hope its a girl.

We used to have a poodle but when I got pregnant with the boy the smell absolutely made me heave, and since we had only had it for about 6 months we decided we needed to give it to someone who wouldn't despise it. Now I regret it a bit, the couple that took her treat her like a queen and take her wherever they go. She got a better life and now we are looking at buying the same kind of dog - but at double the price since there is such a demand. Go figure.


Regardless, I'm buying the dog(that we will eventually get)one of these...

So there.

48 things you could care less about

I pinched this meme from Nonnahs...

48 THINGS YOU COULD CARE LESS ABOUT

1. FIRST NAME? Cinnamondee.

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no. not that I know of.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I am pretty emotional. Last time was on the airplane coming home from Vegas, I was so excited to see my family.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not really, it actually changes all the time.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Okay, no thanks.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes, its completely empty. I have trouble remembering things so I hope the blog will help me with this.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No, they came out at age 7.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Absolutely not. This is why W and I would never last on Amazing race as a couple. That along with my absolutely crazy bad sense of direction and my fear of weird looking food. Plus I'd also never shave my head.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I love me some granola. If W doesn't eat it all first.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Usually not(what for if you can kick them off?), but my only tie-ups are my running shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically, pretty below average. Funny, because my mom is nuts strong.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate mint. Tiny mint chips though, not the big honking pieces some ice creams have.

14. SHOE SIZE? Usually 6.5 sometimes 7 depending on the brand.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink, definitely.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Physically, my thighs. And I'm sure W would mention that I have very large big toes in comparison to the rest of my toes. He has nicknamed them the 'hitchhikers'.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Aunty Yoshi, and my Aunty Linda. And Clinton.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Whoever would like to.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pinstriped brown cropped pants, white tank top, black leather ballet flats.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? chocolate chip scone and sb mocha.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Big Apple Trio.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Carnation pink(cause I'm sweet like that)

23. FAVORITE SMELL? The back of C-boys neck, c-girls freshly washed hair, coffee when you first wake up, cinnamon anything, the smell of cold mornings when you first step outside, vanilla and lavender.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my sister.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes and teeth.
And for W, honestly I noticed his back(when I met him his shirt was off, I promise).

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Absolutely.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Hands down, sb mocha. Then a good chardonnay(not in the morning though, :)).

28. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch, none. To do, swimming and running(although since the trip I've been chronically absent from any exercize).

29. EYE COLOR? Dark brown.

30. HAT SIZE? Hmmmm, I guess a medium.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No. I got lasik's right before I got pregnant with the boy.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Italian, Mexican, Thai and Japanese.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Definitely happy endings. I can't stand scary movies.

34. SENSE OR SENSIBILITY? Depends on the situation.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, I love the cold and love, love Christmas.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? both

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? strawberry shortcake, dense chocolate cakes, and pumpkin pie.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? 'The Time Travelers Wife', and 'Conversations with God'.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Its one of those Jelly pads, in aqua.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Nothing. Oh wait, about 15 minutes of 'Caillou', C-boys favorite whiney kid.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The giggles of kids.'Mommy I love you'. Rain.

44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Japan.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Don't know if I have one. Drinking an amazing amount of Mocha??

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Hawaii

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Stole it from Nonnahs

If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lay with me, and just forget the world

Today is W's birthday. We had turkey bacon, eggs and scones for breakfast. It was nice, we don't usually have breakfast together on weekdays. Its usually just the kids at the table, while W works in his office and I get my breakfast at work. Funny how the really simple things can mean the most to you as you get older.

Anyway, here's to you W. Its been 17 years since that fateful day since we first met, who knew we were going to be where we are now? Every year it seems life couldn't get any better and every year I get proven wrong. You make me laugh when I'm down and make me smile when I can't find anything to smile about. You are my rock.

Happy Birthday W!

Crowns Rock

Yesterday we made crowns. c-boy wanted brown and plain. c-girl wanted red with decorations - only drawings though. In the end she also wanted to put 'rock on' on it. I was just picturing a long haired guy with his hand up in the air with three fingers up and perhaps a black faded 'AC/DC' shirt on.

Then she wanted to know how to spell 'dude'. Scary.


We did another 'girls nite out' tonight. Some shopping for overdue birthday gifts and sushi then the required Starbucks. It was so nice to get our giggle on. I love this age, she still wants to be with me and hold my hand.

Rock on.

Happy Birthday Boy

Wow, that was a weird experience yesterday.

It would have been fine too if it weren't for C-boys birthday. Poor little man, no party for you. He kept reminding me that it was his third birthday. And he wanted candles and sprinkles. Sorry baby, your cake is trapped at the closed Safeway and I can't bake you one in the oven that doesn't work.

We spent the day at my sisters, at least the kids had each other to play with. But every once in a while I got a reminder. "Mommy sprinkles and candles, yes?" I evaded the question, and he went on his merry way.

Luckily the power went on at 5 pm and my sister had cake mix, sprinkles and candles. Good thing he wasn't picky about what it looked like.

Love you C-boy, Happy Birthday.

whats up buttercup?

There are some things that have been happening since we got back.

- I can't get enough Starbucks Grande Pumpkin Latte (2 pumps flavor, non-fat, no whip please - and decaf if its after 2pm), its like yuppie crack, and all that great jazz music and velour comfortable chairs in Fall colors to lure me in. Or maybe because I know its seasonal and I will be sad when its gone. And such is my exciting life.

- My ear is huge and hurting, only the left side. W took me to the doctor yesterday, the poor soul knows how bad I am driving in town and then he had to wait about an hour and a half before I was done. Bless his heart. Anyway, the Dr doesnt know why its swollen and sore, no infection on the inside of my ear. Heh? He said it might have been anything, a blow to the head (wouldn't I have remembered that?)just a swollen gland, or infection somewhere near the lobe. Regardless, it hurts and the antibiotics have not kicked in yet if its an infection. It felt even better after c-boy grabbed my ears when I was dancing with him last night. I saw stars. Maybe it was that kind of blow to the head, I get those frequently.

- My kids have been behaving. Apparently, according to W, if we are calm all the time and firm and I stop saying 'ok?' after every suggestion I make of them the kids will be better behaved(e.g. "c-boy don't grab my ears like that, ok?" or "C-girl stop your whining, ok?"). I have to admit it seems to be working. I thought it was what I was doing all along but I'm surprised at how many times I have to supress my "ok?" There seems to be less whining and negotiating around here and less stress. Lets hope we(or I, anyway) can keep it up. The only thing there seems to be the same amount of is the fighting between the two angels. I'm thinking that will probably last the next 20 or so years anyway.

- C-girl walked from the car to her class by herself for the first time yesterday. W always drops her off and for some reason he asked if she wanted to walk in by herself, and she didn't even look back. Why would you facilitate the growing up process? It all happens so fast, for goodness sake don't help it along. When he told me I was at my desk at work and I started to tear up like a goon. The next customer who walked in to the office would be very uncomfortable, I can tell you that much. Anyway, I don't need my girl getting any older, thank you very much. All I could think about was her locking herself in her room tying up the phone line, rolling her eyes when she talks about her uncool parents and wanting to go to out without the likes of dorky us. Then come boys, and peer pressure, oh crap, I'm getting ahead of myself I know, but, ok I'm tearing again. Shut up.

So thats whats happening around here. This weekend it will be c-boy's 3rd b-day. Yay! Nothing really planned yet! Bad, bad procrastinating mommy.

Ship Hunting

I finally got around to getting the Halloween costumes for the kids. The boy wanted to be a pirate (pirate ship to be exact, but we knew what he meant anyway) and the girl wanted to be a witch (and she specified not the 'nice' kind). So I get the witch costume and wouldn't you know it there is apparently no such thing as a size 2 year pirate costume. Great.

Anyway, now I have to improvise at the thrift store, which would be fine if I had all the time in the world. I find a big oversize white button down (with little flower buttons, as c-girl quietly pointed out)a black oversize vest (which is wedding apparel, I suppose) and some black running pants which I will zig-zag cut to look torn at the bottom. Then a black pirate hat, eyepatch, required plastic sword (which will be used to torment everyone from now until Halloween) a red sash and black boots. Good grief, that took like an hour. Why can't he be a witch like his sister?

So all this comes home with me and of course they have to try all the clothes on, and play pirates until dinner. And during dinner. And when bathtime comes and goes they want to put it back on and perhaps sleep in it. Halloween is how many days away?


W: You like your Halloween costume c-boy?
C-boy: yes, I like being pirate ship, you be pirate ship with me daddy?
W: okay, and mommy can be witch too.
C-boy: yay, daddy be pirate ship and mommy be witch!

Good luck daddy. Find your own pirate ship costume.
And by the way, thanks for signing me up there.

Vacation Part 2 (or is it 3?)

Okay, so here are some of the pictures I wanted to add but not all, apparently blogger knows that I will bore everyone to death if I put them all in...

this is c-boy day we left, he had to stay on this 2x a day during the trip, what a trooper-


water play at Seattle Childrens Center-


cafe that 'Sleepless in Seattle' was filmed, love that movie


fleurs at Whidbey Island, Langley WA



walking down to the main town in Langley

more fleurs-

the gazebo and view from the cottage-

chasing the poor, clueless birdies in Granville Island, Vancouver


and this is where blogger had enough of me, so I won't keep trying for another hour like last nite. I won't even put in the cheesy pics of me in the first Starbucks, though I'm tempted. I figure I had to get a picture of the empire that I helped build with my hard earned funds.

Take Me To That Other Place, Reach Me I Know I'm Not A Hopeless Case

Well, we're back... Good to be home, despite the fact that you could have cut the humidity with a knife as we walked through the airport terminal. Love that. Not.

Yesterday it rained hella hard so it chased some of the yucky air away.

I am having a hellava time posting pics. Blogger seems to be having a day. Or its me.

So I'll just post the couple that I could get through for now and do a part deux tomorrow. Cross fingers.


Space Needle-


Pikes Place (my fave)as long as the fishes don't hit me ...this is the view from the top of our hotel down into the market-


Hopefully tomorrow pics of Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Granville Island(actually just C-boy chasing poor birdies there) and Whidbey Island... please blogger??

I would absolutely recommend Seattle and Vancouver for the kids, so much to do and for foodies it was heaven. We returned beat and happy(and one of us I swear a size bigger, damn that Washington wine is good), hopefully in a few years we can go back and do some of the big kids stuff (hiking in the park, Science Museum, Dinner Theater) but it was action packed all the same.

Wish we could have brought the cool weather back here so it would feel like fall again. Actually from inside my office it looks cool outside, and of course soon as I step outside it feels like a freakin' steamroom. I'll just stay in here and pretend, then run like the dickens to my car and turn on the a/c so I can pretend again. Even I weird myself out.

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

Well, I'm not back from vacation yet, we're in Vancouver now to be exact. Its wonderful- and nuts cold. For me, anyway. I love this city, so trendy, urban and clean, the people are from everywhere. Hawaii is known as a 'melting pot' but here, I hear different languages all over the place. Its pretty cool. And the food is good too, as felt in my jeans of course. A Starbucks or Blendz on every corner, complementary wine tasting in the hotel every night, what's not to love.

We went to Capilano Suspension Bridge today and tomorrow to Stanley Park. I have tons of pics to share as soon as I can upload when I get home.

Right now W is in some bar with his friend and I'm here with the munchkins. Hmmm something seems amiss... Well, he watched them (in the bar) earlier when I went shopping with my friend. And we both did pretty damn good with the cc so all is well with me, I go to sleep with a new bag of clothes and he can hang out there all he wants. Love is in the air.

Friday back to Seattle and more coffee and shopping, then home bound. Did I mention this has been an excellent trip?