One Day

One day I woke up, made breakfast, and got dressed.

Then, this fabulous girl Doris came and said, "Hey, hop in my van!" And I was all, "Okey doke!"

Then we went and picked up this other fabulous girl, Krista, too! (Why does Weston look so grumpy? Haha!)
On the drive, I tried my best to get a shot of this little one:
And, lo and behold, fate eventually brought us to this place:
Weston resorted to his usual tortilla-strip-dipping:
And guess what else? There were even more fabulous girls there, too, like Heather and Danielle!
And Lauren! (who claims she is moving next week, but I don't buy it)
And there were all these cute little children around us:
(And there was a whole other table over there!)

It was great.

Later that evening, because I had so much fun, I was like, "Hey, I'll go to Islands, just for kicks!" And guess what... fabulous girls were there, TOO (Kristie, Summer, and Lauren)!

Not to mention Sachia, Jenny, and Rebecca!

Hey, there's that Lauren girl again! (She again claimed that she would be moving. I'm sure she'll change her mind before Tuesday, though.)

And FYI, the following pictures are what happens when Sachia starts laughing really hard while waving around your camera:

(I love that Summer is the only one prepared for this picture. Kristie on the left is not quite ready.)

They were ready:

The dessert plate was ready:

And hooray!! Now Kristie is ready!

Apparently this is what my face looks like when I'm laughing hysterically. Goo!!

Later I went home, got in my pajamas, and went to bed. Overall, it was everything that a day with two eat-outs and plenty of fabulous people should be. The end.

Weston's Musical Debut

Last week, I finally got Weston on video singing his "renditions" of Twinkle Twinkle and ABCs. (He caught on much sooner than I did to the fact that they share a tune. I learned that well after Weston was born, when I started singing those songs to him. I felt like my entire childhood had been a lie.)

This video will also treat you to:
-A little bit of that classic hereditary stubbornness, well known to the parents of his parents, heh heh!
-A little bit of potholder love! (Yes, in addition to spatulas, he also loves potholders.)

FYI, I subtitled the lyrics, in case some of you aren't fluent in Westonese. Enjoy!

Mama's First Earthquake

Hey, this morning I experienced my first* earthquake!!!

Here are some tidbits of my personal reflections about it:

(1) When I was preparing to move to California 3.5 years ago, I was a little excited about the prospect of earthquakes. I knew they'd be nerve-wracking, but I also figured they'd probably be thrilling and a little fun. As it turns out, earthquakes are terrifying. TERRIFYING. There are few things more frightful than something as firm and true as the ground literally shaking and rumbling beneath you. No wonder I added them to my Be Afraid list. After the quake, I continued to lie in bed and think how quickly and easily I could die there. Rumble rumble, uh-oh, I just got smushed by the floor above us. (Haha, sorry, that's a little morbid.)

(2) The Earth is very, very powerful. We humans enjoy our ability to conquer or at least manipulate nature and/or natural processes to our liking (and believe me, I'm one of them). But earthquakes?? There is NO stopping them. There is NOTHING that we can do to prevent them. The only mitigating factor that we've discovered is how to develop more seismically sound homes, buildings, and bridges. This morning's earthquake was only a 4.4-magnitude quake, but to me it still felt extremely powerful. I can only imagine what a "big one" would actually feel like, and how helpless we would all be.

(3) Earthquakes are quick. Tim and I only had enough time to be roused from a deep sleep and to lift our heads before it was already over (at which time I asked, "Was that an earthquake?"). In my mind, I always pictured myself jumping from the bed at the slightest tremor, racing into Weston's room, pulling him from his crib, and then leaping out the window (in slow motion) while our apartment crumbles and explodes behind me. (I guess in that action-movie sequence, Tim manages to get out on his own, because he is unaccounted for, haha.) But really, during the next earthquake, I'll probably only have time to raise my head and wonder if it's an earthquake again before it ends.

(4) Tim and I are terribly ill-prepared for a disaster. As members of a church that makes emergency preparedness one of its top priorities, we are pitiful examples. In the event of a big quake, there would be NO water and NO power. I wouldn't have diapers or wipes for Weston. I probably wouldn't even have shoes to walk around in, if it happened during the night. I was chatting with a girl this morning who lived in Northridge during that big earthquake in the 1990s, and she said that it took a day or two for the American Red Cross to arrive with food, water, and supplies. So, heads up, Jean: it's time to get that 72-hour kit put together. PRONTO!

(5) On a less dire note, I wonder if animals can sense impending earthquakes the same way that they can sense thunderstorms. And what about earthworms, which actually live IN the earth?? ...Okay, I just googled it, and apparently animals might be able to. That's good enough for me; when I make my 72-hour kit, I think I'll keep a dog in there, too. (As for earthworms, it is reported that they sometimes come to the surface when there is seismic activity. But then again, earthworms are really, really stupid.)

*Okay, technically I was around for the summer 2008 earthquake, but I was driving in my car and didn't feel a thing. So, it doesn't count. :-)

If You Like Couscous, Then, Well, You Should Keep Reading

Mmmm... couscous. Do you love couscous? Just thinking about those delectable spherical granules of semolina makes my mouth water. It's so tasty and SO quick and easy to prepare. And I happen to have come across one of the best couscous recipes EVER. (And I think my opinion weighs pretty strongly here, seeing as I've probably made 2-3 couscous recipes in my life.)

But seriously, I've had this couscous salad at baby showers before, and today I made it for a farewell party (Tawni... sniff sniff...). Rumor has it that the recipe originates from a restaurant in Phoenix, but I have Laura and Niki to thank for passing it along to me. Plus, I just HAD to blog about it (and take a picture) because it reflects an actual Recipe that I prepared this week, instead of the regular Chicken Helper and frozen stir-fry that seem to dominate my kitchen (haha... but seriously).

But first, here's a warning: it's a bit on the expensive side to make!! It includes crazy things like pumpkin seeds, currants, and baby arugula. So, I'll include the original recipe below, followed by a brief blurb about my cost-cutting substitutions. Also, the recipe says that it serves 6, but that must mean 6 big portions. If you're bringing this to a potluck, then it can easily serve twice as many people, or more, if serving sizes are small.

So with no further ado...

THE COUSCOUS ARUGULA SALAD!!!
Serves 6

Dressing:
1 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves
1 cup mayonnaise
1 shallot, quartered
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste

Blend basil leaves, mayonnaise, and shallot in a food processor until smooth. Gradually blend in the buttermilk and lemon juice. Season the dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (This can be made 1 day ahead, and then covered and refrigerated.)

Salad:
1/3 cup grated Asiago cheese
1/3 cup dried currants
1/3 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
1 (10-oz) package plain couscous, cooked according to package directions (about 5 cups)
3 cups baby arugula
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2 grilled chicken breast halves, sliced
2 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 2 ears)

Toss all ingredients together with dressing.

And, voila!

Mmmm. Now, here's what I did to make it a little cheaper:

(1) Firstly, I had a lot of these ingredients on hand - mayo, lemon juice, tomatoes, etc. You probably will, too.
(2) Instead of buying buttermilk, I did the ol' lemon juice + milk substitution. Pour 1 Tbsp lemon juice into a cup measurer, and then fill the rest of the way with milk.
(3) I used dried cranberries in place of currants (because I already had them).
(4) I used pine nuts in place of pumpkin seeds. (Where do you even buy pumpkin seeds?)
(5) I went for the arugula lettuce, but you could probably easily substitute fresh spinach if it's cheaper.
(6) I skipped the chicken. (However, I must say that I've had this salad with the chicken added, and it was better.)
(7) I used canned corn (which I had) instead of buying fresh corn. (Fresh corn is probably cheaper in season, but this saved me all the time and effort of preparing it.)

So, I hope you like this recipe, too! Happy cooking!! Couscous, I heart you.

P.S. Job update: I probably should've mentioned that Tim landed a freelance job (full-time but temporary) at Paramount doing theme park attraction designs. HOORAY!!! We're still hoping for something permanent, but yay for the Here and Now!

It's Birthday Season Here at TIM & JEAN, So...

Dear Tim,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FELLA!!!

I would love you forever and ever even if you looked like this all the time.

Love,

Wifey

XOXO

What a Day for a Two-Year-Old!

In the future, how can I possibly beat a birthday that included a bicycle rack, a Crazy Gorilla, a vacuum cleaner ride, a plastic microphone, and a tissue paper explosion? I do not think that it is even possible.

Anyway, here's a recap of the little guy's second birthday! Woot woot!!

The requisite birthday morning bedhead shot (an up-and-coming tradition in our family):

A brand-new birthday tradition -- the morning present (it was a tiny set of musical instruments): Tim came along to Weston's weekly music class that morning, and in addition to the regular musical activities, we sang Happy Birthday, ate sweet treats, and... oh the joy... played on the bike rack outside the church building:
I like this picture, even though Tim is making a seriously goofy face. (It says to me, "Ew, Weston, you have snot everywhere. Here, let me get you a tissue."):

In the afternoon, we visited Chuck E. Cheese's for some playtime. The first thing Weston did was run over to what he calls the "Crazy Gorilla." He is FASCINATED with this bizarre gorilla arcade game. (Basically, you put in a token and then hold the handles for as long as possible while they shake and vibrate. The longer you hold on, the more tickets you get. If you hold on the whole time, then smoke will come out of the gorilla's mouth and ears. It's the most bizarre arcade game in the history of the world.)

See the fascination?

Weston decided to mimic the gorilla:

We also "played" some Skeeball. (And by "played," I mean Weston threw the balls over and over again towards the circles, while Mommy and Daddy fetched them as they rolled back down again and fell to the floor. The balls only made it INTO the circles when Tim or I would eventually roll them. On the upside, this method of Skeeball can last 10 minutes or longer, as opposed to just a minute or so when played for real. FYI.):

Weston also got to ride on what we're assuming is a giant vacuum cleaner. Can you possibly imagine a more wondrous, magical ride than a giant vacuum cleaner? I cannot.

Weston's fascination with Crazy Gorilla is only matched by his fascination with Chuck E. Cheese's animatronic band:

Finally, we visited the prize counter. Even though we probably only earned 20 tickets that afternoon, we were able to score 80 tickets worth of prizes for Weston. (For months, I've been taking Weston to Chuck E. Cheese's to run around and play on the rides. I don't spend any money, except maybe to buy a soda because of a small feeling of guilt. But, I regularly spot random loner tickets that kids have dropped or forgotten. If I see a kid nearby, I'll give them to him/her, but if the tickets appear to be completely abandoned, I pocket them and save them up for Weston. Ta da!) And what can 80 fabulous tickets get you?? A crappy plastic microphone and a tiny lizard:

Fortunately, the crappy plastic microphone was a hit:

The entire drive back home looked like this:

When evening rolled around, it was party time!! There was delicious Costco pizza (which, in retrospect, appears to be quite greasy):

Two of our favorite buddies, Kate and Jacob, came over for the festivities, and because our kitchen table only seats 2, we ended up treating Weston to Living Room Dinner:

And then it was time for PRESENTS!!!!!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!!!

The train paraphernalia was by far the most popular with the little guy:

He also scored a sweet dump truck full of Mega Blocks (thanks K&J!!):

And did I mention that the dump truck came in a huge gift bag full of tissue paper? OHHH MAN, does this kid LOVE tissue paper:

Then it was time for cake! I'd like to thank the good people at Vons for their lovely contribution:

We sang Happy Birthday:

Weston got ready:

He nailed one candle:

And then he got the other one!! Woohoo!!

Mmmm, delicious sugary goodness:

Not many smiles... just lots of eating of cake and frosting:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KID! WE LOVE YA!!

P.S. A couple days later, the train tracks were still hot:

Hooray!