Swim Lessons

Addi and Bubba have both been doing great this summer in swim lessons. Von has finally gotten past the crying stage and has been improving so much lately. Here is a little video taken with my phone...

Summertime

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end. Finally the weather has warmed up and school is about to start. I think I am more excited about it than Addi. It cannot start soon enough. We did manage to squeeze in a couple of beach days amongst the clouds and 60 degree temperatures we have been having.
This was Von's first beach day since he has been able to walk. He was a little terrified of the waves.
It was actually really cold this day. I hid underneath beach towels the entire time we were there and was still cold. It was in the middle of nap time, so Von snuggled up to Ian to take a little rest.
We were their with the Blad's and Ebmeyer's. The kids (and dads) worked hard on their castle.
Another day we went down to Corona Del Mar to the tide pools with Kori, Lori, Brooke and their kids.
Addi girl. Can I please have her abs?
I love how Von tries so hard to be with the big kids. He just doesn't quite make it.
Bubba
The older kids were able to maneuver around the rocks really well. Von, not so much. And he did NOT want me to help him.
Once again, just a few steps behind.
And then last Saturday, Ian had to "work," and I got to go with him. We headed out to Catalina on an 82 foot yacht for lunch.
The boat is pretty amazing. We went with a group of doctors and their wives and a few people Ian works with.
Ian and I recovering from a good meal on the top deck.

Muffin Tops

I found this recipe on epicurious.com after our friend's Jason and Richelle gave us some fresh blueberries that they picked on their trip up in Oregon. They are definitely blog-worthy. The recipe calls for muffin-top pans, which would make them even more amazing, but I just used a regular muffin pan. Also, in the topping, I find that using only half of the flour it calls for is plenty.

For batter

• 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1 whole large egg
• 1 large yolk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups fresh blueberries (12 oz)

For topping

• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar

• Special equipment: 2 muffin-top pans, each with 6 (4- by 1/2-inch) muffin-top cups (1/2-cup capacity); or regular muffin pans

Make batter:
Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Generously butter muffin pans. Melt butter in a small saucepan over moderately low heat, then remove from heat. Whisk in milk, then whisk in whole egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined well. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, then add milk mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in blueberries gently but thoroughly. Divide batter among 12 muffin cups, spreading evenly.

Make topping and bake muffins:
Rub together all topping ingredients in a bowl with your fingertips until crumbly, then sprinkle evenly over batter in cups. Bake until golden and crisp and a wooden pick or skewer inserted diagonally into center of a muffin comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in pans on a rack 15 minutes, then run a knife around edge of each muffin top and carefully remove from cups. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Last post...

My parents have a large berry patch with Cascade, Logan and Boysenberries. The jam they make from it is amazing. The last afternoon we were there, Addi and I went up to eat some off of the vine.
And then there was the crab. There is nothing like fresh crab, eaten the day it is caught. I prefer a toasted crab sandwich. So good. That water looks pretty gross, it is because it's the water the crab is cooked in. The crab is delicioso.

Eagles and an Oreo

So, while the kids and I were hanging out outside, the eagles that live on my parent's property decided to make an appearance. This is Addi and the 40 foot bluff we are constantly trying to keep the kids away from.

And then all of a sudden, here is one of the parents with a crow. They were both diving for dinner.
And then there is Bubba with an oreo...
...and one of the baby eagles on the branch on the right side of the tree.
And then both of the parents flew overhead. Crazy.
And then later that night, one of the baby eagles, who had yet to leave it's nest yet, got stuck on one of the branches below the nest. My dad and I watched for about a half hour as both of the parents tried to coax the eagle off of the tree. I went inside, but by the morning, the baby was off of the branch, hopefully he had a safe first flight.

Corned Beef

My Grandma's corned beef gets a post of it's own. It was a special request of mine. For years and years and years, my grandparents would drive all the way to downtown Seattle to go to this little butcher shop to buy this special corned beef. So, one of the last times my mom was in Seattle, she picked up a few of them so we could have some when I was there. It was just like I remembered it. Amazing. I am so skeptical to buy or try corned beef anywhere else, because I am afraid it will not measure up to this corned beef. So we had a traditional meal of my grandma's with curried fruit and scalloped potatoes, the dishes we grew up on (and were chubby kids because of). Also, while I was there, I went searching through my grandparent's basement for some hidden treasures. And treasures I did find. I came home with a krumkake and rosette (both Norwegian pastries) iron, vintage fabric, recipes for lefse and kanekabrod, and a set of baby spoons that were my great grandma's.

Von's First Boat Ride

Addi loves the boat. Everyday, she would go check the crab and shrimp pots with my dad.
Von was not a fan of the life jacket. Once we got going, he did really well. I thought he might freak out because of the noise, (he still jumps everytime we open or shut our garage door) but he did great.
Addi driving the boat...
...and then sleeping behind the wheel. She is really sound asleep.
He was into "driving" it.
I can't believe how big she is getting. While we were there, she was in the tub and she asked me, "Mom, can I call you Alisa? I'm over calling you Mommy." She is 4 going on 14.
This is what we call the wind blown look.