c and e

a couple of weeks ago, my sister, brother in law and the kids came to visit:

c being silly

so happy

getting a bath from halmuhnee

tiny fist

headless child

i love this picture, andrew took it.

tiny feet

i think it's so funny when she looks down

july 4th... a month later.

i know this is super late... but oh well!

i decided to be festive this year by making mini pies:
it's super easy. you start with ready made pie crust (i think i used pillsbury) and you fill it with whatever you want. they have canned pie filling at ralphs, or you can make your own. just add fruit of your choice, brown sugar, lemon juice, and some type of starch. on a different note, for some reason this picture makes me look like i have seven fingers...

don't be like me and use brown sugar. brush your pie crust with melted butter and WHITE sugar

i really shouldn't cook with nail polished hands... in case they chip! gross...

wow, some of them came out really deformed! but they were the perfect portions =) plus you can make them beforehand in teeny jam jars and freeze and cook them right in the jars. (use a brand like ball)

we had a bbq with corn,

kabobs,

the best salad ever! and ribs (i couldn't get a good picture of them... =( but they were good!)

afterwards, we completed the night by lighting some LEGAL fireworks and when those ran out, we watched some fireworks my neighbors were lighting


what a fun day!

madeleine

sometimes madeleine sleeps like this:

then she wakes up and gives me an accusatory look.

mozzarella sticks and pasta

in case you ever want a heart attack or clogged arteries, here's how you make mozzarella sticks:

cut some string cheese in half... (i think i used horizon brand string cheese)

you'll need some flour,

eggs

panko bread crumbs. i forgot what i mixed in here... rosemary? oregano? i don't know...

line up the bowls and start an assembly line of flour, eggs, then panko...

assemble an army...

fry them in like half an inch to an inch of oil, flip them over after a minute or so. (use canola or vegetable... not olive) i think i used grape seed oil. (make sure your oil is hot enough before putting in the cheese)

just so you don't feel too bad... eat some veggie pasta (with meat... haha)

fry up your veggies. i think here i am frying up some garlic, onions, and carrots.

next, i added ground turkey and mushrooms. oh and i think basil and parsley. (you can add broccoli, bell peppers, whatever you feel like... this day, all i had were carrots, mushrooms, and onions)

oops. i guess i stopped taking pictures. basically, after that, make your marinara sauce (canned tomatoes, tomato paste) or pour in some prego and mix it with your pasta ( i like using tri-colored fusilli. at ralph's they have this brand that makes them out of veggies)

lastly, stuff your face. and then feel guilty. and if you're like me, and lactose intolerant... swear you'll never make mozzarella sticks again.

the end.

spotty nails

decided to forgo the normal nail colors and painted them with spots!

funsies. =)

a bird day at the park...

it was so hot yesterday so i suggested we get ice cream and go to the park.
"i'm melting!!!!"

swimmers. on your marks, get set..

i dunno why, but their feet intrigue me.

tee hee... they let me get so close to them.

this pigeon was so curious and kept following me around. when i finally tried to take a picture of it, it ran away in a hurry!

my worst nightmare come true.

sorry for the over-exposed pictures. i'm too lazy to go back and fix them. =)