Blast from the Towers Family Cookery Past

My mom used to make clam sauce spaghetti as part of her regular recipe rundown. It is very simple to make and just really yummy. So yesterday as I was wondering what to make for the wednesday dinner get together that is what popped into mind.
I don't think I have made it in over five years and I have not a clue why because it is gooooo-oooood, and super simple. It was such a beautiful evening we ate out in the backyard.
What is it about eating outdoors that makes dinner different, there is just a different feeling sitting in the backyard and ease or a something that is just so nice.

I hope that we do that more this summer because it was good.
For dessert tisha and I ran up to get some ice cream and these are the decisions that stump me. Staring at the on sale ben and jerry's is heaven but deciding on flavors that is tough. We, I think, came back with a nice selection.

I fancied the peach cobbler, so while the rest of the family got out bowls and tried a little of each I just got a spoon and dug in.
I have been working on a puzzle over there but I finished it last week and I missed it last night.

Earlier in the day dakota, marie and I met our friends abby and sara at the park. I was so good about sun screening the girls from head to toe AND myself arms, neck and face but for some reason thought that my legs that have been in long pants for the last seven months didn't need any.....ouch. Lame lame lame me it sucks being sunburned.
Sierra met up with us at the park and then we headed to her house for some more playtime and popsicles.

Sierra, Sara and I have been friends since we were nine years old so the ease of being with them and the conversation that flows is so nice and relaxing and funny. It is fun that we have all ended up with girls as close in age as they are.
It was a beautiful day filled with beautiful people as everyday should be.

The Day after Mothers Day.

When we woke up this morning dakota asked to go to the dog park (arroyo verde) which she never does. We don't take essie as much as we used to, in fact there was a time when we were going at least three times a week, dakota would go in the ergo and we would hike and it was awesome. She no longer goes in the ergo however the last time she did was not that long ago I was about six weeks preggers, she is my little lady. Anywho... we headed off and now a days it is more about playing at the park and exploring then exercising me or the dog.
The weather was not inviting but does that really matter when you are four?
It was fun, it was like a breakfast picnic I brought our breakfast and she played while I ate, HA. We had the place to ourselves pretty much. Then we did some walking around and I proceeded to get really frustrated because the amount of trash left from the yesterday was sad.
before
So dakota and I found some sticks to use as make shift trash pokers and cleaned up what we could.
after
Why do people do that? Why is it okay just to drop your trash where you stand? It drives me nuts.
In the midst dakota refound a tree that she had played at several weeks back.
The tree is hollowed out at the bottom and she swears there are many animals that live in there sharks, snakes, spiders and who knows what else.
After the park we headed home for some painting. I feel bad we haven't gotten the paints out in a while. It was very nice I did several and I just love to sit there with her and paint away.
After she asked me to tell her about the desire (I am assuming she meant motivation/why did I paint that) of my paintings so I went through and told her about each of my paintings, what it was and why I painted it and then she did the same for me. The theme that ran through both of ours was happiness.
The rest of the day was pretty mellow, she and randy ran out to get a gift for a birthday this weekend so I got some chores done. Then it was off to kindermusik, which dakota loves.

One thing that I really wanted for mothers day was a banana split,
but it didn't happen but today it did and let me tell you I may feel a bit uncomfortable at this moment but I ate the whole thing and loved every bite!!!!!

Mothers Day

My morning started off with some sugar. Dakota knows I love my candy and sugar so she and randy got me a twix and some starburst, yummy. I hate to admit that I love that kind of junk candy but I do and I try to never buy it so it was a nice treat.
Well the huevos were a hit (at least in my eyes) and I was feeling the need for some homemade flour tortillas so I attempted to whip some up. I think they were good the texture could use some work I think I may have over cooked them, but all in all they were really yummy.
The rest of the day was really mellow. Dakota who hasn't been napping took a great nap with me, which is somewhat of a curse because as I write she is still not asleep and probably wont be for another at least half hour.
In the afternoon our friends andi, mia and ed called and said they were headed down to the circus.
I don't think I have ever been to the circus and for a long time I was flat out boycotting them because elephants and circuses are just not okay or any large animal for that matter.
But I was told the largest animals there were horses and I had already uttered the word circus and so little lady d was totally jazzed.

So it was off to the circus for us and really it was very good. Dakota had a blast her eyes were wide the whole time.
She has had this thing for trapezes for awhile now and so we have youtubed them and today she got to see them for real and she was amazed.
A great day.

yummy

So while looking at some of the food blogs I like to salivate too I found a recipe for lemon cream scones here and if you can believe it I had all the ingredients and whipped up a batch and let me tell you if you like scones these are gooooood and easy to make. The only thing I did different was I used vanilla extract instead of lemon so the lemon was very subtle. My friend dawn once posted about a slab scone where you just roll out the dough and add some jam.
I happened to have some yummy purple plum jam so I made a couple small filled one again sooooooo good.
I have only five weeks till junebug is due and she is demanding some baked goods and so I have to oblige what kind of mother would I be neglecting the little one in my tummy?
Dakota has been making a brew of her own. She has been working on it for a few days now adding this that and the other thing. Essie really seems to enjoy it, I keep seeing her drink from it rather than her plain old water.

And randy caught dakota and i doing a little music and dance number and proceeded to ask is this what you guys do all day? The answer, 'well pretty much'

Tomorrow morning my parents and derek and tisha are coming over for some huevos rancheros. I am cooking breakfast on mothers day and totally okay with it. It may be because I am pregnant and want what I want the way I want it, well that is it really. I hope all you mommies out there have a great day just as you would like it to be.

May

Another wonderful wednesday. All in all it was really mellow. I had thought about taking the girls to the indoor play place, the clubhouse, because our time with marie is coming to an end and the girls love it, but the weather is just way too nice to be indoors playing.
So it was outside all day. In the pool out of the pool and always dress up.
Randy's dad got dakota a jeep several years ago and while it drives me a little nuts dakota and marie love it even if it is just sitting in it in the garage which is what they get from me. Sometimes I pull it allllll the way out of the garage for them to sit in and sometimes I just shut the garage and say NO!

But apparently while I was out running an errand randy busted it out plugged in the battery and off they went, I see visions of the future I am not so sure about.

After lunch popsicles were in order and there is something about sitting relaxing and having a popsicle that screams summer to me.

Then of course it was wednesday with the family and it was not my turn to cook, yay. Mom made yummy turkey enchiladas, beans, rice and salad. For dessert I made cherry dump pudding funny name but so good, so good with vanilla ice cream, so good cold the next day for breakfast, so good.
We all agreed that the two weeks felt a lot longer, what a great gift to not only live close to family but to really enjoy being around them. I can only hope that dakota will love being around her family as much as I do when she has a family of her own. If that is my future well then....I just don't know what to say, that would be....
Mom and Dad you are awesome and the fact that your kids look forward to seeing you weekly is says so much more than words ever could I love you.
While financial times may be hard I have the best life ever!

yesterday

It is warming up around here. Yesterday was our usual tuesday. But we had some fun before we set out I hung up some sheets to air out and the girls loved it, shadow dancing I had not thought about it but it is great when you do something seemingly benigh and the kiddos get to have fun
too.

Before I go any further I am sad to say I don't think we will being doing story time at the down town library anymore. I love going to story time but the readers there are really really really hit and miss and when it is a miss it is not good at all. The stories are too long and not at the level of the audience so it is hard to tell dakota to sit still and listen to the story when I know she can't get into the story. And so I have this sadness of really wanting to support the library but at the same time the reader at barnes and noble was awesome, she got the kids up and moving and read great books and was an enthusiastic when she read. My big dilemma.
We had a visit with Karni, which was great, junebug is head down engaged yay. The girls always love going and helping with the doppler and measuring.
So then we did story time and the park and then sierra picked marie up at the park and dakota and I headed home. When we got home the pool was ready and waiting for dakota and it was somewhat warm because of the sunshine.
Dakota does not like to be cold in water (see swimming lesson posts) so it was great for her. A little while later randy found this guy so dakota had some fun checking him out before putting him back.


And look my corn is sprouting yay!

Cleaning the dirt.

Dakota must be feeling my nesting that has kicked in because today she was out cleaning her house.






And I am 34 weeks. I love it I am feeling good and just in a great place. What I don't like if I can be mildly lame for a moment is the pregnancy mask I have going on, me no likey.