Family photo shoot

And not just any family... MY family. While we were in Utah I shot some pictures of my brother and sister-in-law and their beautiful children. They were a joy to capture!

Home!

We are frantically moving into our new home. Is there any other way to do it? Ugh. I'm exhausted, to say the least. BUT I had to sit down eventually. So here I am... for a brief moment. And I'll be back for a few more over the coming weeks.

Bebe Au Lait is giving away a nursing cover to one blogger. If I win (oh please let me win), I will host a give-away for that nursing cover here on my blog. Because I already have one. They are fab... I used mine with Sasha (wish I'd known about them sooner) and it was way easier than using a blanket, especially with an older child that just pulled blankets off (along with clothes and anything else that wasn't secured). Lol. Anyway, these nursing covers are unique because they attach to your neck and they are lightweight and fit easily in your diaper bag, unlike a bulky blanket. I just know that My Many Colored Days readers would love to win this product. So keep your fingers crossed.

By the way, Bebe Au Lait is having a smashing sale right now on Bug and Pickle body products as well as some darling burp cloths (I love the Mod one). Check it out!

Technorati tags: summer give aways,Bebe Au lait,nursing covers

Ah, it's that time of year...

The rigamaroo comes to an end and summer begins. I have a couple fun ideas to help you start it out with a bang. The first is this gift basket I put together for my daughter's teachers. The card tucked into the pocket of the red gingham apron says "Thanks for helping Adriana's 3rd grade year to really "cook"!" And it has all sorts of baking goodies inside: a cherry printed potholder set, a spatula, and of course, the apron. All found in the dollar aisle at Target, my friends!



I also have this great recipe to share with you. I attended a baby shower last weekend and was asked to bring a fruit pizza. Let me tell you, this is the best recipe I have tasted, and it belongs to my sister-in-law.

Crust ingredients:
1 c softened butter
1 c powdered sugar
1/3 c sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 c flour
2 1/2 t baking soda
2 1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 t almond extract

Filling ingredients:
16 oz. softened cream cheese (I bought whipped)
1 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
fresh fruit (recommended are peaches, strawberries, kiwi, bananas, mandarin oranges, grapes)

Orange sauce:
1/2 c sugar
1 c orange juice
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 t grated orange peel
1/4 t grated lemon peel
4 t corn starch

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325. Starting with the crust ingredients: cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, almond extract and beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Blend thoroughly. Divide mixture in half. Flour hands and press into lightly greased pizza pans or shallow pie dishes. Bake 12-15 minutes. While that is baking, slice your fruit as desired. On to the sauce: combine ingredients except for peels into a small sauce pan. Heat over medium until thick. Add peels and then let cool. Prepare the filling: whip cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Spread over cooled crusts. Top crusts with fruit, covering well. Pour cooled sauce over the fruit. Enjoy!

Now, I will be on vacation for the next 2 or 3 weeks, whichever strikes my fancy. Lol. So blogging will be minimal (if at all). However, I will be reading and judging entries into Scribbit's Write-away Contest this month. Head on over there and check out this month's topic. I'd love to read what you've got!

Technorati tags: summer,fruit pizza,recipes,teacher gifts

Rushing less

Here are Drew, Adriana, and Jonah - ages 3, 9, and 6. On this particular day it was very hot outside. But because this park is in such a beautiful area, none of us seemed to mind. After our usual snack of water and crackers, the kids leapt form the car, running for the playscape. I worked on my photography as they frolicked. They played for about 30 minutes, and then asked - as always - "Mom, can we have a race to the car?". On this day Jonah won for the first time. He was so proud. Drew always participates, his short little legs flying so fast underneath him I can hardly see them, just like a little cartoon. He always loses, and never gets upset over it. Love that about him. And who can blame him for wanting to touch every tree along the way? I had put Sasha in the car so that I could safely take this picture, but here is one of her by her cute little lonesome:



Here she is enjoying a few minutes in the swing. She doesn't like to be in it for long, but she always asks. I love to grab her ankles and tickle her tummy when she swings forward towards me. Maybe even sneak a little peck on her nose. That always makes her giggle.

I've already forgotten what they looked like as I tucked them in that night. And this was just a few days ago. It really makes me think about what I spend my time mulling over when I am with them. I want to try and internalize more of the joy I feel in each moment with them. Time is precious and I want to remember the precious times!

*Inspiration for this post came from Russell M. Ballard's talk, Daughters of God, in the April General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:

"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).

Technorati tags: Anna Quindlen,photographs,memories