Games we play

I've been secretly waiting for the time when the boys were both interested in playing card games.  I come from a family of intense game playing.  My Grandpa Keith taught all of us how to play cards at a very young age.  My mom's second favorite question to ask is: what game do you want to play?   While I was waiting for my wedding to begin I played cards with my cousins.  We like to play games.

Until now, Keith has been too young and wily to play games.  Now we have officially broken the seal.  Candyland has been replaced with UNO, complete with Mom and Dad strategy consultations (To play the high counters or hold them for the perfect moment... that is the question.) 

we love family game night day!

Happiness is....

Happiness is a fat 3 month old.  Even though we are battling yet another cold, this one invited his good friend dry cough.  lovely.

Happiness is also homemade ricotta! I haven't purchased ricotta in months.  Frankly, it is expensive and gross.  But I love cheese, especially fresh cheese.  When I realized how easy it is to make ricotta, the cheese heavens parted.  There are lots of recipes out there.  I used one from Hide the Cheese.  Now it is your turn.....

 First things first.  Get a nice big stock pot and scrub it with cold water.  This will prevent the milk from scorching.  Scorching is bad, I have proof positive of that.... observe.

Next, gather the gang.  Half a gallon of whole milk (I have also used low fat combined with half and half), salt and vinegar.  You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar.  I use white vinegar because I need a lemon tree.

Now plan on babysitting some milk.   You want to bring the milk and a 1 tsp. of salt to a simmer.  Don't boil it, get it going to about 180 degrees.  It will be nice and frothy.

 

 Now for the science experiment, add 3 TBS of vinegar to the mixture.  It will start separating....

 Simmer it for a couple of minutes and at that point you might realize that you forgot to get your strainer, bowl and cheesecloth out.  Quick! Grab a bowl and a strainer.  The cheesecloth makes it easier and cleaner but you don't have to have it.

 And then you get this little pile of love.

 I recommend spooning some into your mouth while the cheese is still warm. 

 If you are making a pasta dish, cook the pasta right in the leftover liquid (is this whey?).  Yum. 

 At this point, the baby starts to fuss and Super Dad comes through to close.  By the time you are done feeding her, this delish is in the oven. 

Super cheese!!! 

Happiness is.....

Happiness is meeting Goofy.  TWICE!

Happiness is the Build a Mini section at the Lego Store.

Happiness is pretending you are Darth Maul.

And that is Keith.

Bring on Spring!

There is a certain Boy Energy that accompanies Spring.  Lots of movement, lots of singing and dancing, lots of running and jumping, lots of boy.  It is a recipe for a dinner picnic in the park!  Keith wouldn't stand still long enough for me to actually take his picture... proving the point.

Living in the "BEFORE"

Do you remember that old HGTV show "Before and After"?  It was great.  The host had a mustache that could have had a show of its own.  That wasn't what we liked about the show (however amusing), we just liked to see the pay-off..... old and dingy turns new and fancy.  Maybe this is the same reason I like a good makeover movie (almost watched Devil Wears Prada last night!).....

If you spend any time at all (or perhaps hours on end whilst your husband is at work) on decorating blogs you have been exposed to plenty of "before and after" shots.  In fact one of my favorite sites is "Better After"  a blog devoted to all of the great Before and After stories in the blogging universe.  This is the kind of stuff that inspires me (and makes me feel kind of small and insignificant).

Here's the problem (you have to have a problem, it's part of telling a story): our house is a BIG, FAT before.  And not in a crazy tartan wallpaper, dark wood paneling, hunter green carpet kind of a way.  More in a beige on beige, blah tract home kind of a way.  I know, you had this problem too and you painted it.  Good for you.  My problem is bigGER.  There is not enough valspar to deal with this issue(z).

On Wednesday, we stripped Serenity of the Christmas Clutter (tree is still up, just bare and dry).  Yesterday we went to Home Goods (where I have been known to spend hours on end) to look for a new something for over the fireplace.  We didn't find anything that made us jump up and down so we left empty-handed.  This is quite mature of us since we have been known to grab whatever is available in the moment only to hate it a year later.

While we were in Home Goods we couldn't help but bemoan the amount of stuff we need to do to our house.    Let me tell you all about it.
OUR BEFORE
1) The Kitchen

2) The Family Room

3) The Dining Room

4) Keith's Room

5) Our Room

6) The Boys' Bathroom

I could go on but for the purposes of this post I will keep it at six.

And the AFTER.... TADA! crickets
I've got nothing.  Well, maybe nothing is an exaggeration.

I've got ideas. Because the ideas aren't hard, it's the execution of the ideas that I find so challenging.  I keep no less than five lists/compilations of my ideas.  Here's a peek at "Idea Box"

So this year we are going to do it, I have no money and no time but we are going to make it happen.  And "we" is me until June because Kevin is going to work on conquering his Masters (including a thesis!). Some of the major projects (Mr. Kitchen!  Floors, counters, remod.) will have to wait due to funding and time  but I'm going to spruce and organize and paint (grrr. I hate painting) as much as possible with the time and money I have.  I am going to be an after (in at least 6 rooms).  I will promise you that I will get distracted by a million other things that need to be spruced, organized, and painted.  I just figure that six specific project rooms in twelve months is possible, even on my schedule.

And I'm going to remember The Nester's famous advice “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful”.  

A pocketful of thankfulness

Psalm 31:19
How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

1. A husband who sorts, washes, drys, folds AND puts away ALL of the kids' laundry on his short week.
2. A son who would rather cook with me than play with his superheroes.
3. A home office that is far away from everyone else and equipped with everything I need to stay focused and happy.
4. A Momtourage that is in full effect on a regular basis these days.
5. Friends and sisters who laugh with me and commit themselves wholeheartedly to my storyline.
6. Gas for under $2
7. A job that pays the bills and is fun too.
8. Positive, encouraging K-Love
   
9. A 19 month old who is a champion sleeper and the best audience for his dad (he laughs and oh's and ah's at everything Kevin says).
10. A new job assignment for Kevin that borders on too exciting. It is like magic.
11. Too many blessings to count.
    

Happiness Is.....

being a Callahan.

We had a great time at the family reunion last weekend. Patrick's favorite parts were staying at a hotel with our whole family and playing with the Big Boys. It is always fun to catch up with the Aunts and Uncles. We are lucky to have them in our lives.

Patrick and Keith with Grandma and Pop-Pop

The Callahan Men
Cully, Logan, Dan, Sloan, Killian, Timmy, Mike
Keith, Pat, Kevin, Patrick

Some of us are Callahans by blood, some by marriage. And we are adding a new wife! Sierra is engaged to be married to Kevin's cousin Killian! So exciting!
Garnet, Sierra, Rox, Me, Gail


Patrick and Keith had SO much fun with Dan and Garnet's boys. Whoever lands these boys is very lucky. At breakfast Patrick sat next to Killian (all the way on the other side of the table from us). They were coloring and writing their names. Patrick says, "Your last name is Callahan? My last name is Callahan!!!"

Patrick was considering adoption. He loved them so much he even posed in extra pictures.

Little Kevin and Big Kevin. I can't get enough of these two together!

Happiness Is.....

FALL!

It is finally here. It blew in on Thursday with a Winnie the Pooh style blustery gust. The best things about Fall in the Callahan House....

Blankets: The boys' favorite blanket is my favorite blanket. I call it the "napping blanket" because everyone takes excellent naps under this blanket. My grandma makes a hand-tied quilt for her grandkids when they graduate from high school. My blanket is a particularly special blanket. First, my grandma made it for me while she and my grandpa were visiting. Second, my grandpa and dad tied the quilt in my mom's family room. Even my rarely impressed teenage self was smart enough to take mind-photograph of two of the most important men in my life making me a blanket. My grandpa passed away right before I left for my second year of college so the quilt has extra special meaning.
Grandma had the foresight to make the blanket big so it is perfect for napping (I thought it deserved another mention), forts, floor beds, playing hot lava, endless endless games and enjoyment. And of course this blanket plays a prominent role in the "sick bed couch" that is Patrick's number one comfort when he is sick.

Boots: Fall means colder weather, colder weather means pants, and pants mean boots are allowable footwear! Patrick has three pairs: cowboy, rain and fake uggs. Right now the fake uggs are the boots of choice. The only disappointment (for Patrick) is Keith's fake uggs aren't the same color as Patrick's. Keith will hopefully be able to fit into Patrick's old cowboy boots, then each boy will have three pairs. By the way, why is it that girls have all of the cute clothes. I had to buy the boys boots in the girls section the same weekend I went to Old Navy to find the smallest possible section for baby and toddler boys with the same longsleeve polos and vests they have featured for the last four years!

Hoodies: Fortunately for me, Patrick's wardrobe is predominately comprised of Cousin Jack's hand-me-downs. It is great, the boys love a lot of the same things (Cars, Buzz Lightyear) and have some matching clothes (so Keith and Patrick have matching clothes since they are the same age difference as Patrick and Jack...does that make sense?). The only problem is Jack lacks the peculiar obsession with hoods that Patrick has boasted for a year now. I am guessing that the hoodie in this pic will be a prime wardrobe item this season as most of the hand-me-down sweatshirts don't have hoods. Patrick will have to make do with the six or seven hats Jack handed down!

Baking: There is something about summer that makes me want to grill everything. I hate to turn on the oven and I have no desire to take the time to sift dry ingredients. Generally speaking the KitchenAid stays in the cupboard until October or November. Tonight I baked banana bread. It didn't take long, it smells fabulous and it makes the insane wind outside seem appropriate.


I have been rather irritated by this huge push to bake bread (have you noticed?). I have seen at least four different segments on various talk shows about baking bread. The premise is: the economy is horrible, save money, bake your own bread! Here is what is annoying to me, a loaf of bread costs me $2.50. The fresh baked stuff is $1.99 ($3.99 if you want kalamata olives). Bread is not that expensive. In my mind, my time is worth at least $100 per hour (a volunteer's rate is about $18 per hour) and I know that it will take me at least four hours to make bread and clean up the mess. Meaning my loaf of bread is worth $400 (or $72) and it won't keep and Patrick will likely refuse to eat a sandwich on it.
On the other hand, I haven't made bread in a long-time because baking bread is a luxury for me (it usually takes a lot of time and butter). Eating my own fresh baked bread is even more of a luxury. So instead of thinking about saving money, I should be thinking about enjoying the luxuries of life. Sometime soon we'll bake bread, just for the sake of baking bread and eating it warm with lots of butter and homemade jam. Priceless...

Soup: I made the first pot of soup last night. I had some stuffed pasta, a cup of spinach leaves, some frozen vegetables, and a dream.... Soup is easy and comforting. Plus it combines our whole dinner (plus yummy bread of course) protein, veggies and all into one pot and one bowl. Easy clean-up and more time to cuddle under the napping blanket.

Thanks for coming to the party Fall. We hope you brought your fake uggs to go stomping around the house with us!

Happiness Is.....

A warm cinnamon roll at the BIG BIG BIG Fresno Fair. Technically the cinnamon rolls were hot, we had to wait and got two right out of the oven. Patrick and Kevin shared a frosted cinnamon roll, Keith and I had plain (just to simplify things, what with the messy toddler I was partnered with). I had a bellyache after that experience, otherwise I would have continued to eat my way through the fair.

On a non-food note:
Usually when we have a family outing or event we ask Patrick to tell us about his favorite part of the day/event. A friend of Kevin's has a daughter in FFA. She was nice enough to bring her lamb out for the boys to pet. It wasn't Patrick's idea so he wasn't having any part of touching a lamb, namely because it is "dirty." After 25 minutes of cajoling, he finally quickly touched the lamb (after I had promised he could play). Anyway, he totally hated it and was asking to leave that poor lamb behind the whole time.

What was Patrick's favorite part of the day? "The sheep!"