Memorial Day Weekend :)

Had an awesome, albeit short, trip up to the lake this weekend.

Maggie is a pig in poop up there.  

 It may be kiddie heaven.  Huge yard, swingset, sand, water.  I mean really, what's not to like??? 

She could spend the whole day just wading in and out, and throwing stones into the lake.

I looove it when she yells "I troe tones"  It's the cutest thing ever!

I didn't manage a family shot, but snagged an amazing pic of my two favorite people.

<3

The next morning we went for a quick boat ride.

Here's Mags rocking Babci's sunglasses lol

And attempting the drive the boat with Dziadziu (she was mildly obsessed with honking the horn)

Last, I can't forget Maggie and her Uncle Steve striking a pose for the camera.  So stinking cute!

Beauts

Can't believe these gorgeous peonies came from our backyard.  LOVE when they bloom each year.

:)

Family Fun Day

Road Trip.....

to Warwick Farmer's Market!

Love this place!  We've been waiting for the farmer's market to start for the season, and were so excited when we had a beautiful day for our first trip up.  There are vendors selling produce, pastries, jewelry, artwork, and KIELBASA.  Yup, some of my favorite things lol.

We took a quick lap around to scope things out, then headed around back onto the main street to do some window shopping.

That's my girl pointing out the jewelry she wants ;) 

A really cute bridge connects the main street with the farmer's market.  Mags loved looking over at the river, and running back and forth from one side to the other.

After all that running, we were ready for some snacks... 

Yes, those are pickles on a stick!  And Maggie LOVED it!

After salty, come sweet.  Organic fruit pops!  Mags got her strawberry banana fix

Delish!

We ended up buying a loaf of parmesan-pepper bread, a link of kielbasa, and a pretty pair of earrings.  I could have left with a lot more, but someone was getting a little utchey-skutchy...

So we hopped back in the car and stopped at Pennings Orchard, which happens to have a tiny area with chickens, goats and some play equipment.

We had a great time :)

Mags was so tuckered out, she passed out on the way home.

Can't wait to go up there again!!

The Garden gets its Groove back

I know, I know, that's a might impressive looking garden I've got going on.

Well, don't you worry, I've got BIG plans.....

I decided to expand into a U shape this year.  I figured it would be easy to reach all the goodies with this shape.  ;)

I used some more scrap wood from a pile behind the shed to put along the edges, and my honey trimmed it all up to size.  We bought the trellis at Lowe's for my baby sugar snap peas.

Still not done planting. 

 But so far, I've put in the sugar snap peas, 2 varieties of lettuce, basil, parsley, jalapenos, and scallions.

I'm planning on getting some cherry and plum tomatoes, cucumbers, and maybe some peppers.  

It's been a rainy few days, so once everything clears up, I can finish planting and take some more "After" pics.

I'm handy and I know it.....

Tim was studying.  Seems like he's always studying.

And Maggie's new trampoline was just sitting there in a bazillion pieces, calling my name.

I chanted "I can do it" a few times, grabbed my big girl panties, and got busy.

Maggie was helping me move all the pieces around.  It was really the cutest thing ever.  

She just kept repeating "I help mommy, I help"

It was hard.   I was sweating.  

But it was worth it because... I DID IT!

And nothing says happy like a 2 year old jumping her heart out in a mommy-built trampoline  :)

Obsessed.  And the best part is, I can lay in the hammock right next to the trampoline and she's happy as a clam jumping around in there while I'm horizontal.  That my friends, is GOLDEN.

Growth

My babies are growing :)

Almost time to transplant them into the garden....

poor babygirl...

Poor Magpies was in the hospital for pnumonia this past week.  What a horrible, stressful experience.
Feeling so helpless when your baby is hurting is torture.

Ciocia Nene snuggling with a sleepy Mags

Thankfully, we only spent one night there, and Maggie was discharged around dinnertime the next day.  She's already feeling SO MUCH better, the antibiotics have worked wonders!  Hoping she will be back to her old self in a few days.

Fiesta...

I've been meaning to post some of my "tried and true" recipes that I tend to make often.

Today I made Rachael Ray's Chicken Fiesta Bake ... I've made this so many times!  It's easy and yummy and lasts two nights, which is always a plus.  Of course, I tweak the recipe a bit, so here is my version...

1 pound ground chicken
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 box frozen corn, defrosted
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with chiles
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 medium onion
3 cloves of garlic

Preheat oven to 350.  Cook the rice.  Meanwhile, cook ground turkey in saute pan with 1 Tbsp EVOO for about 5 minutes over medium heat.  Add salt and pepper.
Add chopped onion and minced garlic.  Cook until onions are soft and translucent.
Add drained black beans, corn, and tomatoes with their juices.  Continue to cook until warmed through.

Add the cooked rice to the chicken mixture and combine.
Pour the mixture into a 13X9 casserole dish, and top with the cheddar cheese.
Place in the oven to melt and brown the cheese, about 20 minutes.

Ta-da!  A recipe is always a winner if T, Mags, and I all like it and it's easy enough to throw together on a weeknight.  ;)

Ole!

We had a Cinco De Mayo Party!

Can you tell that Maggie had an AMAZING time hanging with her Uncle Bian and Uncle Teeve??

Can we say "pig in sh*t"???

Because that's what comes to mind...

Pure bliss   :)

Thin Is In....

My sugar snap peas have taken off- so it's time to thin them out and put them in their own pots.

Every year, T turns over the garden for me around Mother's Day.  In a few weeks, I'll be able to plant my little guys (pot and all) in our backyard garden. 

Now each one has its own little home ;)