fun with cousin jason.

these two were having a ball yesterday as cousin jason wheeled logan around the house.  pretty cute if you ask me.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

some logan pics {according to my phone}.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

fried apple ring dinner.

we have this tradition in the welsh family.  it is called "fried apple ring dinner" and it is delicious!  absolutely, NOT healthy - but totally delicious.  the welshes gather in janurary to celebrate my mom's birthday and carry on this family tradition.  it involves frying apple rings and then coating them in scrumptious powdered sugar and cinnamon.  we add sausage and some buttered grits and you have yourself a welsh family fried apple ring dinner.  most of the inlaws choose not to participate in this tradition, but this year jeff and my dad thought they would give it another go - SUCCESS i say!

 uncle sam, cousin meredith and cousin michael

 logan had a BALL with all of katie mae's old toys

 blair, katie mae and ellen

 cousin time

 the birthday gal!

 watching intently

 the finished product

thank you to ellen (and katie) for hosting!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

house progress.

here are few more house photos.  getting closer and closer my friends!  next step - dry wall and then cabinets!  i can't wait for the cabinets.

 exisiting dining room looking into the addition

 exisiting living room - looking into the dining room and then the addition

master bedroom and master bath

xoxoxoxoxxo

boys in the kitchen.

on sunday, we had our friend sean over for some homecooked goodness.  sean and jeff have been buddies since elementary school days.  sean also lived in dc a few years back and the boys started a tradition of gathering on sunday evenings and experimenting in the kitchen.  i was just the taste tester - so it was win win for everyone.  since moving back to houston {and sean has been back for a few years now} - we have been recreating the sunday evening tradition.  last sunday, it was bouillabaisse {a seafood stew} with a black berry cobbler {forgot to snap a pic} and it was marvelous!

in case you want to make it at home...

you will need:

1 lb of lobster
2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb of boiling potatoes
1/3 cup of finely chopped fennel fronds
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron threads
9 cups of white fish stock
3 pounds of white fish fillets {such as red snapper, grouper, or cod}
1/2 pound of small hard shelled clams {scrubbed}
1/2 pound cultivated mussels {scrubbed}
1/2 pound of large shrimp in shells

Cook lobster and let cool to handle later. Cook tomatoes, onion, garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionaly, until onion is softened.  Meanwhile, peel potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.  Stir potatoes into tomatoes with fennel fronds, bay leaf, saffron, sea salt, and pepper.  Add stock and bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until potatoes are almost tender {8 - 10 min}.

Add thicker pieces of fish and cockles to soup and simmer, covered, 2 minutes.  Stir in mussels, shrimp, lobster, including juices, and remaining fish and simmer, covered, until they are just cooked through and mussels open wide, about 5 minutes.

Serve with homemade croutons for an extra crunch!  ENJOY!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

over the weekend.

i got to see and catch up with my sweet friend, katie.  our moms set us up on a girl date when i had just moved up to dc and katie had just graduated from georgetown - almost seven years ago - crazy!  we were instant friends - constantly getting together for lovely evenings out.  she was in htown this weekend and i'm so glad we could finally catch up.  oh and did i mention that she and husband {slade} are expecting a little babe this summer!?  there was lots of baby talk when we gathered.  so fun!

 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

such a little toddler already.

dearest nug,

we blinked and now you are walking EVERYWHERE and sometimes you run, which keeps mom and dad on their tippy toes at all times.  your new favorite activity is to run into the bathroom and stick your hand in the toilet bowl, you just look back at us with the most mischievous grin on your sweet little face. 

you are smart little one as you have figured out how to open the baby gates at gram and pawpaw's house.  you have started to form MANY opinions and like to tell us with strong hand gestures that signify "NO!"  you also scrunch up that cute nose of yours when you are not so sure about something.  you continue to say "mama, dada, and bye-bye" as well as "ba" just about every time you see a baby.  other kiddos make you really happy.  you like to walk right up to them and scream in delight.  sometimes they are little taken aback by your enthusiasm.

you are enjoying blueberries and raspberries to no end.  you would eat an entire crate full in one sitting if i let you.  i hope your love of fruit continues to grow, but if you could enjoy some veggies in there too that would be great :)

everything is new and exciting to you.  you are constantly pointing at things and babbling.  i really wish we know what you were saying, but i'm sure your words will come soon.  you give the BEST hugs and you give them all the time {especially right now cause you are sick}.  we love you beyond belief sweet pea and can't wait to see what your next tricks and treasures will be!

all my love,

mama 
 

projects!

now for the fun stuff!  we picked up some jewels at our local thrift stop {love the guild shop!}  these pieces have great shapes and good lines.  afterwards, we hit up a local fabric store that was going out of business and got some ridiculous deals.  the whole outing made us very happy. 

here is the plan...

1. reupholster in this coral/geometric pattern

2. paint the wood a white {maybe white lacquer?}

going to find some professional help for this one since I would make a mess of this upholstery.

1. reupholster the seat in this ikat pattern

2. paint the wood - either a white or a teal?  

these will be our dining room chairs - we got four of them.

thoughts!?

can't wait to get started!

xoxoxoxoxo

park city, utah {round 2}.

i forgot to mention in my earlier post, that i did in fact see Patrick Dempsey on the slopes.  we were in line for the lift and he was right behind me.  we made eye contact.  and yes, he is just as dreamy in person :)  he was skiing with his wife and child, so i didn't want to disturb them, but i was very tempted to say hello. 

xoxoxoxoxox

park city, utah 2012 {round one}.

hello folks!  and happy happy new year!  sorry i have been quiet over here, but we just returned from park city, utah with the ainsworth clan.  and we had an amazing time together!  the town of park city is quite charming and adorable with a main street filled with mom and pop shops.  we participated in an art gallery walk, lots of skiing and sledding fun, home cooked soups and stews, kept cozy by the fire, lots of rounds of card games, and even some outlet shopping.  jeff and i have really been missing the cold and we sure did get our fix here {one morning we woke up to 1 degree weather!}  it was even too cold to whip out our camera - so please excuse the camera phone pictures below.  we had a fabulous time and absolutely loved being all together.

  xoxoxoxoxoxo