Life with our little family of 3...

I read a tip in a magazine recently about how to make popcorn in the microwave. I like the convenience of microwaved popcorn but I can't stand the chemicals they use in the bags. Quite frankly the smell of them makes me gag! So I was all for it! All you need is a paper bag, tape, popcorn, butter and salt to taste! Put 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in a paper bag.  Fold the top down and secure it with tape. Put the bag on it's side in the microwave.  Microwave it on high for 2-4 minutes, depending upon your oven. Make sure you watch it so it won't burn. When the popping slows, take it out.  Add melted butter and salt to taste!  Wa la! Microwaved healthy popcorn! This version is a whole lot cheaper too! We picked up 100 paper bags from Target for $1.89. We bought 8lbs of popcorn from Costco for around $11. So for $13 you have a whole lot more servings!

Emma and her friend Krista came up with a great idea...to watch a movie...outside! So Dad powered up his laptop and let them watch a movie from Netflix. They even completed their movie with popcorn and drinks!  As the temperature dropped... the blankets were piled on. They were just about to give in when the movie finally ended!  Ahh the joys of childhood! 

We have good friends who recently adopted some Nigerian Dwarf goats. They are so very cute! They are still babies that need to be bottle fed. Our friends were away for the evening and asked if Emma would be willing to feed them. She jumped on it of course! Needless to say she was hooked and is looking forward to the next time!

I'm totally borrowing the title of my post from my lovely friend Jennifer! Thanks! :-) I came across this recipe in a book that I have been using. I wasn't too sure about it since I'm not a huge egg fan. However this was really yummy! It's called Tri-Color Frittata. It's from Reader Digest's "Digest Diet". Tri-Color Frittata 4 large plum tomatoes, halved 1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 bunch scallions, cut into 1” pieces 1 pound yellow squash, cut into 1/4 “ rounds 4 large eggs 4 large egg whites 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, very finely grated 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1/8  teaspoon fine sea salt 1.       Preheat the broiler 2.       Scoop out the seeds from the insides of the tomatoes and cut the shells into 1/4 inch thick strips 3.       In a medium (10-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it shi...

Emma is in her ballet studio's production of Cinderella this year. After all the fun of The Nutcracker, she couldn't wait to do another one! It's a week of long nights and hard work, but she has so much fun! She is one of the Mystical Gnomes that counts down the time for Cinderella. In the scene below, she is counting down the time when Cinderella turns into the beautiful princess.  Emma is the second one on the left from the Fairy Godmother. Here she is counting down the time before Cinderella's dress turn back into the rags. Again she is on the left.  As they like to say at the studio... "Let the magic begin!"

For a few years Emma has been asking to get her ears pierced. We have always felt like she needed to be responsible enough to keep them cleaned in order to have them done. She has finally convinced us that she is responsible enough... so here we found ourselves this afternoon....   1...2...3   She didn't even flinch or cry! As you can see above she was very stoic. But I almost did! I think I was more nervous than she was. Plus it was a moment where I realized she is growing up. Her admiring her new fashion accessories...   

We recently took a trip to the spa for a day of pampering... ok well not we ... Gwen. A friend was in town visiting us so we took a day trip to see her son who was in Lynnwood for the afternoon. Since we were going to Lynnwood, we decided to take a trip to the American Girl store. Emma was so excited she could hardly stand it! So she gathered all her money and off we went. After walking around the entire store multiple times, she decided Gwen could use some freshening up. Last time she was there with Daddy, Gwen had her hair done. So this time she received a facial treatment.  Here she is all pretty and relaxed from her spa treatment!  But it didn't stop there! Gwen was sent home with a home spa set! So when we got home later that night, she received another spa treatment!  Hmm I wonder if Emma will send me to the spa next time! :-)