time for something new

i've been thinking it's time for another post, but i didn't have any pictures so there's nothing too exciting... then i remembered that i had a ton ofpictures on my camera and i just needed to upload them... SO here's some of what's new:

we now have late church on sunday (1-4 pm) so that leaves us lots of time to get into things:

(like mama's brand new mascara)

but it also leaves us lots of time to take pictures:

(these pics are all from the 24th, btw) and to be silly:

afton even had a turn at the camera, here's her view of rayna:

and rayna's view of daddy (yep, we really go all out, that's raman noodles for lunch):

but there's also lots of fun time for reading. (the 31st) this is I SPY:

one quiet afternoon (the 28th) this even happened (i just knew she was an angel!):

this one is actually a regular occurrance, rayna likes to throw her blankey down on the kitchen floor and run and slide on it, then she pretends to sleep for a minute before jumping up and doing it all over again, cute, huh? just in case you thought we were getting too calm, here's

SUPER-BINKY!!!

and her good pal

STREAKER-GIRL!!!

elaine's recipe tuesday part 1

see here if interested in the details: cook-blog-share-event
green curry (not authentic, but yummy)

1/4 onion, minced
1/4 + c. chopped mushrooms
1/2 small zucchini, diced
1/4 green bell pepper, diced
1/2-1 stalk celery, sliced thin
4 oz can diced green chilis
1 can coconut milk
dash salt
zest of 1-2 limes (can use juice for garnish)
1/4+ tsp curry powder (sorry i don't really measure that could be way off, do it to taste if you're worried)
1/2 c cooked chicken (pork would work too), shredded or diced
rice

simmer onion and mushrooms over med heat with little oil til soft. add other veggies and coconut milk, bring to simmer til veggies just starting to soften, don't want them mushy. add seasonings and meat. serve over rice. (ps, i cook the rice in chicken stock rather than just water to boost the flavor, but you don't have to). (my kids like it when i add a little green food coloring too so it's really a green sauce, but it's probably more appealing to adults plain)

garnish with peanuts, lime juice, cilantro, celery leaves, green onion, chives, etc... serves 4

just a couple random pictures :)

these make me smile.

my girls love onions. fresh onions, cooked onions, green, yellow, purple or white onions, so here we have

'onion rings'.

(ps, those are small green onions that they were eating off their fingers like other kids eat olives)

jammy time is always a favorite too. naturally rana is super-cooperative :)

smile and have a great day!

bike ride

jan 21

afton was cracking me up the other day riding her new bike... she'd watch me the entire way down the sidewalk rather than look where she's going :) but she didn't crash so i guess we're okay :) (it wasn't as bad in this video as the first few times, here she actually glances forwards a couple times)

and here is paul's favorite picture.

16th december

we went to the arboretum last month with our best friends... aren't we cute? i want [this picture] bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger!

--AFTON

christmas dresses

for everyone who missed the christmas dresses (and ps, rayna's hair is in pigtails, it's not really that straight :)