Watching my belly shape-shifting never gets old! Such a miracle!!! Only one month left as of today!
Perfectly cool weather temps for a rotund lady like me to not swell up and have cankles thus far in my pregnancy! Yahoo! 60-75 degrees is my happy place.
Morgan now doesn't fit snuggled up next to me on the couch because of this big belly. As we watched the Women's World Cup final last night between the USvJapan, she kept falling off and getting mad at me. I couldn't help but laugh!
I love that just about any mood Morgan's pulling can be remedied by tickling, or threatening to tickle, with "spider fingers"! Oh how I love her girly laugh!
Listening to the boys make up games and including Morgan - life is so much better w/o the tv on! Why do I forget this so easily?
McKay entertaining us with his hip-swiveling dance moves! Pure comedy!
The Italian market's incredulous cashier's reaction when I acknowledged the three munchkins fighting over treats I wouldn't buy were indeed all mine and that I was happy to add another to the brew soon. Coming from a family of ten kids has forever skewed my perception of what having a "big" family means! To me, big = over 5 kids. Perhaps it's the fact that you have to graduate from the standard minivan at that point?
At the commissary, Morgan hollered excitedly for 'vacados for "wacamole 'n ships" until they were secure in a bag going home with us. It's become a regular lunch around here along with a plate of sliced up fruit. Today was strawberries, per McKay's request. Yum!
The thought of being able to sleep on my back soon when the baby will no longer cut off circulation or limbs going numb by doing so. I'll have to ask Ryan then if he prefers the snoring pregnant lady to the hungry wipper-snapper invading his slumber. We've currently got a good rotation of musical beds going on at our house between the two of us having sleep issues!
A kind friend's hand-me-downs for Morgan and the boys. Morgan is all set for snow and rain with all those coats and boots! Yahoo!
Great deals from the yardsale site this weekend courtesy of Ryan: an almost new trampoline $50, desk for boys $15, and a standing wardrobe $15 so I can finally situate the kids' clothing and bring up the baby clothes from storage. It's about time we see what we've got!
Watching the kids buzz around Ryan as he put the trampoline together tonight.
Morgan got her songbird on during the final assembly phase belting out tunes she'll make up and words to go with them. She sings what's on her brain. She'll just repeat random phrases like "Hello Me -ah" and "E-Y-S" (abc song) or sing what she is doing. Tonight it was about going up and down the step ladder. Pretty funny stuff, she's a riot!
The happy faces of my bouncing babies!
And last but not least, our favorite Vapiano dinner re-creation tonight! Gotta love a dinner that's fresh and ready in less than 30 minutes! If you haven't been to a Vapiano's before stateside or here, it's kinda like Subway for italian food - with a bit more ambiance. You request your pizza, salad or pasta at a counter and they make it in front of you.
Our Vapiano's Rucola Ravioli
- fresh ravioli - ours was spinach ricotta but I'm tempted to try the basil ones from a local Italian store
- 1-2 tbsp butter
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp onion, finely diced
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken stock (I mix some up with a 1 tsp of "Better than Boullion" and a cup of water)
- 1 bag fresh greens, rucola and spinach work well
- cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- pine nuts, we prefer ours toasted
- salt and pepper, as desired
- for heat, one or two red hot chili peppers finely diced
Bring water for to boil for ravioli. I add a good swirl of salt and oil to my water cuz I've been told to. When it's almost to a boil, heat a saucepan on medium high heat.
Swirl olive oil and butter until melted.
Dump ravioli into boiling water. I plan to boil the ravioli for six minutes and so I set the timer when I dump them in. Now saute onions and garlic for a few minutes (add the chili peppers now if desired - a little goes a long way!). Right before taking the ravioli out, add the chicken stock to the sauted mix.
Strain the ravioli gently and then add to the sauce. Plate as soon as possible - I make each person their own plate. Top the ravioli generously with greens, sprinkle on the parmesan cheese, tomatoes, salt and pepper, and pine nuts. Enjoy!
My kids, when starving, were excited to eat it and even said "thank you, Mom" for making it! It's simple and without extreme flavors but then five minutes into the meal they got picky - as always - and ruined my zen moment. Typical. They're not fond of the ricotta spinach filling . . . or the salad greens . . . or the tomatoes - it's always something! And I begin dreaming of eating meals at a restaurant in complete peace and solitude.
And then I look through the pictures from this evening and can't wipe the grin off my face. I am blessed!
