Love, Love, Love

I pretty much loved my Valentine's Day.....weekend this year!!! Thursday night we were going to keep it pretty low key, but Erik called me at work and had tickets to the Suns game. Boo-yah!!! It was a total blast!!!! On the way to the game (we were in the bike wagon...you know, those guys in spandex that you pay to pedal you from your car to the front doors of the event...sometimes the view is better than others :), anyway, Erik said, "Oh yea, you forgot your phone", and hands me a new phone, the "cherry chocolate" which will now replace the dinosaur phone I have been using. Dang he's cute, isn't he?

Then Friday night we went out to dinner with a group of friends followed up with dessert and games at the Halbisons. Italian food, girlfriends, laughing, Erik, chocolate dessert,....really, how can you go wrong with that combo?

Then Saturday night we went with another couple to Red Lobster and the U23D IMAX movie. Can you say 1976 and going strong?

This Valentine's Day will definitely be one for the record books (or blog)! I love you babe!

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes.....

Tickets to Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes............................$99.60

Jasmine Costume...........................$37.45

Cotton candy during intermission...........$10.00

Making a five year-old princess' dream come true........priceless

First Visitors of the Year!

My dad and his wife, Myrna, came to visit us last weekend. First of all, let me just say that I'm never sure how to refer to Myrna. "Stepmom" is out of the question....sounds too much like "Cinderella and her wicked stepmom"-ish...."my dad's wife" sounds a little too distant--(refer to the first line of this post), "she's my friend" makes it sound like I don't know what to call her....so, I've decided on my "second mom". Phewie...stress! Regardless, let it be known that I adore her to pieces. She is so optimistic, friendly, kind, genuine, patient, happy,.....I could go on and on.

We went to the park, "Desert Breeze Railroad Park" to be exact and fed the ducks, rode the train, and swang--("swang" is one of those words that bug me, I wish swinged was proper English, although that doesn't sound much better). Sorry, I digress. I think that was another one of those moments where I was like, "Geez, Myrna is amazing!". She pushed Deklan for what seemed like hours on the swing. My kids call her "Grandma Myrna" and Myrna's grandkids call my dad "Grandpa Doug" or "Grandpa Dunk"--(2 year olds are so cute!). After the park we went to "In-N-Out" for lunch. YUMMY! Myrna flew home Monday afternoon and Deklan kept saying...."I want to go wiff Granma Myrna on the earrrrrrplane". Made us all melt!

Sadie had the day off from school which made it all the better. I love those moments in life when you're like, "Ahh, I get it. I know what really matters!" And I usually have those moments when I'm surrounded by my kids and I see how delighted they get doing the most ordinary, inexpensive, spontaneous things. It's simple. Bread + ducks + outdoors + grandpa and grandma = sheer joy! Kids really do have it all figured out.

Southwest Pork Kabobs

So I haven't mastered the art of photographing food...but a new year calls for some new recipes. A person can only eat chicken nuggets, pizza, tacos, spaghetti and fish sticks so many times, right? Well feast your eyes on these little beauties.....


Marinade

1/2 c. fresh orange juice
3 T. extra virgin olive oil
2 T red wine vinegar
1 T minced garlic
2 tsp. pure chile powder
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 pds. boneless pork sirloin, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pint of grape or cherry tomatoes
1 lime, cut into quarters
2 T finely chopped fresh cilantro

1. Whisk together the marinade ingredients.
2. Put the pork in a resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Press the air out and seal tightly. Turn the bag to distribute the marinade and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Remove the pork from the bag and discard the marinade. Thread the pork and tomatoes onto skewers, alternating the ingredients. Grill over Direct high heat until the pork is barely pink in the center and the tomatoes are very soft, 6-8 minutes. Top with a squeeze of lime juice and the cilantro. Serve warm. Will feed 4 adults and 2 picky eaters.

Blase'

What is wrong with me? I'm feeling blase'. Usually come January 1, my Franklin planner has made it's grand entry into the new year...addresses are up-to-date, calendar is planned, goals are written, projects are listed in order of importance, the budget is carefully projected. Not this year. Today I woke up at 5 a.m. and decided it was much too early, shut the dumb alarm off, and cuddled with my two kids who had made their way into my bed. We slept until 8:15!!! And then I decided, I didn't really need to work today anyway. We played cats. Sadie was my pink fuzzy cat and Deklan was my skinny striped cat. (Something IS WRONG with me..I hate cats!!!) Then we lazily got dressed, ate breakfast and played with our Christmas toys again. Deklan is down for a nap. Sadie is washing dishes because, "I want to do something nice for you mom!". And I'm blogging. We will go to swim lessons today at 5:30 p.m. and meet Erik there. Then we will return home to crockpot stew and cornbread. And that will be it for January 2, 2008. A wasted day? My cats will tell you different!

Dreams do come true!

I'm usually not the sappy type and I know this may generate some gagging (so take this as your fair warning). 2007 ended (obviously), leaving me ever so grateful for my amazing hubby. We had given Santa the word that the only gifts Erik and I would get this year would be contained in our stockings. Yea, right! Apparently Erik wasn't in on that conference call with Santa. But how can I be mad when he went behind Santa's back and bought me Uggs!

I wasn't too worried though about feeling like he got the shaft. I had a wonderful surprise in store for his 32nd birthday celebration. I suggested we meet after work for dinner. He picked a steak house (a nice change from my usual Macaronni Grill requests) and it was there that I gave him his birthday card. In it was the confirmation letter for our one night stay at the Arizona Grand Resort. He was surprised (a moment for the record books as I have a hard time surprising him)...and we had an incredible time. It was a birthday to be rememebered. It's strange...I used to dream back in my high school/college days about romantic getaways with my husband...and it hit me as I left work early to check in to the resort....I'm living my dreams!!!!!

Making a Comeback

Where or where has Stephanie been? Yes, it's true--life as I knew it back in April when I began my blog took a number of twists and turns and believe me I would have rather blogged than experienced 8 weeks of vertigo followed by a flooded house followed by non-stop studying in preparation to finish my master's degree.

But I'm not going to complain....despite the pitfalls, we have managed to have fun....a trip to Sea World, a girl's trip to NYC, Polar Express at the Grand Canyon, Thanksgiving in Disneyland (AMAZING!!!!), and tonight an evening at Seussical! I managed to be in six states within 2 weeks in the month of November--CRAZY!!!!! I'm happy to say that we have no more trips planned and are looking forward to a quiet Christmas in the desert.

Did I mention that Seussical was fantastic?