Our Girls

The Big news around here is that we are having a Baby GIRL in July. I have waited to post anything on the blog because I felt so awful during the first trimester, then the gender reveal was just a month away. I must say that this pregnancy has been more challenging because I am chasing a busy 2.5 yr. old around. We were thrilled to see a healthy baby on the ultrasound and I was only mildly disappointed about it not being a boy. Most of the disappointment was selfish because I wanted to be able to make cute boy things, have a new experience, etc... All of those thing can and will happen with this little one too. I am beyond excited that all of Chloe's clothes will work for the new little one. They will be 3 yr. and 4 weeks apart, so seasons are the same. That is a huge provision for us financially! Now the name game. We had a heck of a time coming up with Chloe's name and I doubt this time will be much easier. I am always concerned about meaning of the name and Brent is concerned about how it sounds first. So I am going to start hitting up pinterest for some inspiration for fresh baby girl ideas. I am also starting to brainstorm some ideas of my own to share in this space. Chloe is terribly excited and keeps saying, "I can't wait to meet the new baby girl, I am SO excited." She has some things to learn between now and then, but will be a great big sister.

The BEST Green Beans!

I lived in China for several years. Garlic green beans was one of my favorite dishes. Over the last year I have finally perfected a recipe that has those who love Asian food and those who don't begging for more. I have never had so many people ask me for a recipe. I hope you and yours love it as much as we do!

Ingredients:

1 pkg steamable green beans
2 cloves diced garlic
2-3 TBSP olive oil
salt (pepper) to taste

Steam green beans in microwave 1 min shy of package instructions. 4 minutes in this case.

(Cleaning microwave is optional:)

 In large skillet heat oil.

Add garlic (I use trader joe's frozen garlic cubes), saute until light brown

 add green beans

 Stir to coat beans in oil and garlic, mouth watering begins now

 Put a lid on the skillet for 3 or so minutes

 Add salt (and pepper if you like it) and stir replacing lid if you want a more crispy bean like I do

(I love my thumbs!)

 Get the beans so they are brown on the edges 

Plate and get ready to eat the whole bag!

I have used fresh green beans and just steamed them to make them a bit softer before putting putting them in the skillet. I have also used the same method with broccoli. It takes a bit longer to get them a bit crispy, but also very delicious!

GREEN BEANS
1 pkg steamable green beans
2 cloves diced garlic
2-3 TBSP olive oil
salt (pepper) to taste

Steam green beans in microwave 1 min shy of pkg. instructions. In large skillet heat oil, butter. Add garlic, saute in oil, add green beans, stir. Put a lid on the skillet for 3 min, stir and continue until the green beans are crispy on the edges. Add salt (and pepper as you go) I do this with broccoli florets too! Yum.

Snow Fun!

We had our first big snow of the year. I am so thankful that it was preceded by a week of 50 and 60 degree days. Chloe had SO much fun crawling in, rolling in and throwing snow. She spent lots of time outside and ate her share of white stuff too. I have lots of fun things to write about coming up soon including an awesome tutorial and recipe for THE BEST green beans you have ever eating this side of Xi'an! (recipe by yours truly) So until I can snap some mouth watering pictures, here is the cutest snow bunny I have ever seen.

I haven't disappeared!

I haven't stopped this blog, just took about a month off. I just had gotten out of the habit of uploading photos. So here's to New Year's resolutions....HA! I am just kidding. NYR's kind of make me automatically feel like I have failed. If I am going to make some sort of change in my life I need to be inspired by something. For some people that is a calendar date, for me it is a "feeling" kind of thing. The last few months have felt kind of full. So much fun and family and a bit of travel. I have enjoyed seeing family and friends during this season. 

Chloe and I took a REALLY fast trip to Manhattan the beginning of December. It was super quick,  a little chaotic, but fun to see good friends and share a meal together. I got very few pictures and just quickly snapped this one of K and Chloe. K currently lives in Seattle, so it was a treat for them to play together. I think K inspired Chloe to slip into a princess dress for the first time. 

 This was our first snow (and last one as of Jan.8) 

We got  few inches and Brent built a tiny snowman for Chloe. We didn't have a carrot or charcoal, so we improvised and used peas, goldfish and chocolate chips. She was one happy girl!

 Christmas Eve 2011

 Christmas morning, discovering chocolate in her stocking!

 Santa brought Chloe some new shoes that she will actually wear without crying.

 A visit to K.City with cousins. They had a great time together!

 The weather was been SO beautiful that we spent 2 afternoons at the park.

 Back home and Chloe requested her very one princess dress. She since hasn't worn in because of the scratchy sleeves. This girl is SO picky about how things feel on her skin. I guess I was the same way as a kid, and kinda now too. I understand where she is coming from.

Hope all of you had a great Christmas celebrating Christ coming and living among us. 

1st Haircut

Today Chloe had her first haircut(trim). She loved being at the salon! My friend Kristy, who has a little girl Chloe's age, is a hairdresser and did a great job with her. She sat so still, letting Kristy spray her hair and comb it and then cut it, dry it and curl it. She got a full toddler make-over. She just loved being in the chair and looking at herself in the mirrors that are everywhere. She got a balloon and a sucker after the haircut too! Later in the day she was telling someone, "Look I got a haircut, isn't it pretty."I couldn't  agree more.

 

Young Padawan

This week our 2 yr. old got her first lesson in Star Wars.  It was so much fun to see her play with  a few of Brent's circa 1977 action figures. She was asking their names, who they are friends with, what they do. It helped that her BFF Aidan (who is 4 1/2) was asking a LOT of specifics about these guys. Seeing Brent enter Star Wars kid-style brought joy to my heart. I even got to share my talents of speaking Wookie to the kiddos. Chloe really doesn't like it when I speak Wookie, Aidan was intrigued and wanted to learn how to do it. It was a fun afteroon of play!

 Han Solo!

 They were all taking a nap after being in space.

 

MEOWW!!

We kept our Halloween pretty low key this year. Chloe said she wanted to be a tiger (had ears and a tail from my niece. Last minute she told me she wanted to be a cat with whiskers. Easy enough. We had ears from last year. Cutest cat I have EVER seen. She was saying, "MEOWW" in this picture. We then went to our local HY-VEE where they do trick or treating and had dinner with friends there. Then we went around our neighborhood with these 2 cute robots, our neighbors and close friends. We had a great time. Topped it off with a visit to Grandma, who passed out candy with Minnie ears, gloves and a Minnie T-shirt (forgot to take a picture). So. Much. Fun.