Yummy Pasta Mama: June 2007

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Biking Weekend ~ One of Many

Bike Man races off-road endurance mountain bike races. His races take us ALL OVER. He participates in the 6 hour races, which leaves the kids, the puppy, and I to our own devices. We tend to hang out at the trails or venture out into the neighboring communities. And sometimes I get a little inspired by the scenery (and overcome with boredom) and go a wee bit camera happy (go figure!)... here are my latest photo shoot results!

Mocha - so darn cute!

Brainiac and Mocha

Chick Magnet and Mocha chilling in the grass

Mellow Boy chilling under our sun shade

Mocha panting - awe... so cute!

The next day we went as a family to a bike trail that was built along an old railroad track. We were exceptionally excited to take the kids there. Being an old railway, there were 3 old tunnels. We chose a route that would take us through the longest one... nearly one mile long. Our boys are huge train fans. They own pretty much every Brio and Thomas piece of train and track, and they have the most monstrously large train table (thanks, Grandpa!!!). So we thought (in error, of course) that seeing a REAL tunnel and going into it would ROCK! Well, WRONG!!! The boys FREAKED OUT BIGTIME! We didn't even get a half a block into it and they cried and screamed to get out. The echo of their dismay was seriously painful to my ears (and head). I couldn't get them out fast enough! Bike Man and Brainiac did venture the whole way through and back. They loved it. Oh well! Live and learn!

Chick Magnet outside the tunnel - happy to be out of there!

Moments before the chaos and freaking out began

Brainiac and Chick Magnet on the trail

Mellow Boy and Mocha hanging out in the Burley

Chick Magnet playing in the sun rays (I LOVE THIS PHOTO! Kind of like God shining down on him...)

Bike Man's aerial view of his bike on the trail - a really cool shot, thanks to the shadow in the sunspot!

The tunnel entrance and Bike Man's pride & joy - his new 29-er (fancy, schmancy bike)

We went to Perkins for dinner. It was HOT outside, and we didn't want Mocha to suffer in the car. So we snuck him in via his "doggy purse!" He-he! No one was the wiser!

During the week, I took the kids to a farm to pick strawberries and sugar snap peas with a friend of mine. Yum! Yum! They loved it! And, boy, doesn't it ALWAYS taste better straight from the field!!! We ate nearly as much as we picked! (Oops!!!)

Chick Magnet sitting amidst the strawberries, taking his role as a picker very seriously.

Mellow Boy shows off a perfect strawberry that moments later he declared was very yummy!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Some Old Favorites

Here are some of my favorite photos over the last couple years. The following ones are of people. Maybe I'll post some of my favorite landscape/nature photos another time. Enjoy!

Brainiac

Brainiac and Mellow Boy at Cocoa Beach

Mellow Boy

Chick Magnet

Brainiac

3 Kids in the tub

Brainiac

Naturally occuring crucifix at Newport Beach

Off the Beaten Path in Sicily (Thanks, Uncle Blue Bear, for this photo)

3 kids hugging

The boys hugging

The oldest two hugging

Harry Potter Rules!

Mother and Daughter hiking

3 kids in the tub, again

Mellow Boy in front of old log home

Nature Calls!!!

My very tired boy...

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

VIOLA! I've got MUSIC!!!

I am *figuratively* jumping for joy! Not only do I have photos on my blog (which I am passionate about), but now I also have TUNAGE!!! (I am VERY passionate about MY MUSIC!!!) So PUHLEEEAZ select a station to the right (there is only one right now - a total mix of stuff I like) and push play.

I just spent 2 hours on this. Ridiculous! Now, I really should have spent 2 hours today EXERCISING!!! Oh well! This was MUCH more enjoyable! I did accomplish quite a bit today, though.

I spent 5 hours going through all of my children's clothing; packing away winter stuff, trying on summer stuff, reorganizing drawers and closets... yuck! But it feels good to have it done.

*****INTERRUPTION*******
CRAP! This music player has commercial-style plugs for it's website! CRAP! That's like, 15 wasted seconds of hearing some idiot talk! YUCK! I guess that is what you get with a free download! SORRY! I hope it plays a few songs in a row before INTERRUPTING my groove...
*****BACK TO MY BLOGGING********

Anywhooo... here is a funny little thing that Mellow Boy said last week. Let me set it up for you...

We were at a park for his last day of preschool with lots of parents and kids. Mellow Boy, myself, his teachers, and 2 other moms were standing in a circle. The adults were chatting. Mellow Boy was clinging to me instead of running around like a maniac on the playground with all the other kids - status quo for him. All of a sudden, he interrupts us ladies;

"I am not going to pick my nose!"
"Good," I reply, confused.
He elaborates, "Daddy does. He is not suppose to. I am not going to. It's gross. Why does Daddy do it, Mom?"

By this point, all the adults are cracking up as Mellow Boy looks up at me, waiting for my reply. He is not going to let this go.

"I don't know why, honey. I didn't know he picks his nose."
"He does! He really does! Especially when he is driving!" he shouts, trying to convince me that Daddy really does.
UGH! All I could do was cover my face, shake my head, and mumble "Oh my Lordie!" The laughter continues. I turn 5 shades of red.

I know it is so remarkably cliche, but kids DO say the DARNEDEST THINGS!

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Please Send Me to the Corner!!!

OMG! TWO posts in ONE DAY!!! Am I feeling alright???

I was just goofing around with my camera and took a few interesting photos. One is

a glimpse of my favorite spot in the house... the corner. This corner is known as "mom's corner"... "mom's coffee corner" ..."mom's quiet corner" ... "mom's chatting corner" ... and my favorite - Mom's "don't you dare sit in my chairs" corner! I love the Mayan Starburst Candle Lantern on the Indian trunk and the Asian-inspired revival chairs with the "Moroccean shape meets Asian fabrics" lamp sitting between them on a very simple, round, contemporary side table. Actually, I can only dream of traveling the world to collect such eclectic pieces!!! These babies were all from Target's Global Bizarre area - and most of it on sale!!! shhh! Don't tell anyone! As for the photos on the wall, they are all black and whites of my family.

Another cool picture I took is of the sunset over the home across the

street from us. I was venturing out because we are suppose to have severe storms. All we seem to be getting is a severe letdown and a few minutes of a pretty sunset...

And when I was done playing around with my camera, I began playing with Mocha the Wonder Puppy. He is now 11 weeks old. Of course, I had to grab a few pictures... I am not one to miss a photo op!!!

Mocha the Wonder Puppy sitting tall and proud

Mellow Boy and Mocha bonding

Mocha the Wonder Puppy sniffing around

Such a shy puppy!!! -----NOT!

A Day with Great Grandma

My Grandma

This week marks my grandma's 78th birthday. (Good thing she doesn't go online! She'd kick my butt for telling y'all!) Grandma lost Grandpa almost 2 years ago. It has been rough on her. But she is a real trooper! She had her aortic valve replaced a few months ago. She is getting back into her routine now, which includes, of course, rummaging on Fridays with my mom and (occasionally) me. (For all of you who have no flippin' idea what rummaging is - (I think it is a regional term) - other words for it are gargage sales, yard sales, and the like).

Grandma has 9 children, 35 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren with at least 1 on the way. Not too shabby! I would feel so BLESSED to live to see my children's children grow!!!