Life on the Road

Although we do take family portraits every year, we are not known for stuffy, formal settings.

You can see our fun portrait history, as well as last year’s very cool (in our opinion) Renaissance photos.

But we’re coming up blank with good ideas for this year.

We had a couple of ideas that had to be rejected on a cost basis – ultra-formal a la Victorian (costumed, serious), and CIA (black jacket, ear bud, shades).

The only thing we have on the table right now is “pajama party,” which isn’t a bad idea. It would take some effort/expense, though, as we don’t all actually sleep in things that would be flattering if immortalized.

Any good ideas?

Yes, last week was Marching Band Camp! And we’re all breathing a big sigh of relief that it’s over.

Nick was there every day from 8 am to 6 pm, spending a lot of time “enjoying” the lovely weather here. Typical day last week my Weather Channel desktop application told me it was “92, feels like 104″. Ack!

A little stretching and warming up:

Nick and the clarinets stepping out.

Hup, two, three, four…

They will be performing tomorrow at a big “start of school” festival the district is holding, so it’s a good thing they are getting a handle on things!

Miss J was sitting on the couch drawing on her drawing pad while I worked on the computer.

After a while, she came over to show me her latest masterpiece. She explained,

It’s Jesus, the cross, and His tomb.

I am so blown away!

It is with a heavy heart that I sit down to write. A friend of 16 years has passed on today.

Loki, reading a friend’s book manuscript

Loki came into my life while I was pregnant with Nick. She was about six months old, and had been adopted by my mom and sister. They moved into a rental that didn’t allow pets, and Loki joined our happy family as cat #2.

Together we went through the Northridge, CA earthquake in 1994. Our apartment was jut a mile from the epicenter. Loki his under the bed for a week, and was never quite the same afterwards. Someone out there ought to do reserach on Kitty PTSD.

Like the rest of the family, Loki enjoyed Christmas!

She liked to sleep in odd spots…

Of course, she just enjoyed odd spots in general.

In and on boxes:

In the RV:

Even in the shower:

Loki had as many as four feline companions at a time since then, in various combinations, as well as learning to adapt to the arrival of each of my three children.

We will miss you, Old Lady.

We took full advantage when we were offered the opportunity, as Zoo members, to get a Summer Pass for only $9.95 each that allows unlimited visits to the Miami SeaQuarium and Wannado City (separate review to follow).

Although it was really too hot and humid for human life to exist outdoors, we bravely set off for the SeaQuarium. (Seriously! We found out afterwards there was a weather advisory issued because of the heat!)

Nick always enjoyed Sea World when we lived in California, but none of us had been to an aquarium park in quite a while.

As we entered the park, we were corralled by the ubiquitous souvenir photographer (in this case with a critter-handling cohort). They snapped a group photo. Yeah, we’re all wearing red shirts on purpose – if it’s a good idea for all the little summer camp-ers, it’s a good idea for us!

Wolf then asked if he could take a picture of the kids with the bird. They whipped the kids into an arrangement, while instructing Wolf to “take it at the same time we do.”

WHOOSH! They had clicked off the shot and whisked the bird away almost before Wolf even got the camera up.

While these photos are not bad, under the circumstances, their behavior got me thinking. I may get back and review the SeaQuarium in general in another post, but this is something that’s really gotten under my skin.

Later in the day, we went and watched the sea lion show. Sea lions are typically very entertaining, and this show was no exception.

Afterwards, they led one of the stars out to a photo area on one side of the stage, where the souvenir photographer was ready to capture the moment for anyone who was interested.

We waited in line, and Papa sat in the hot seat with the littles (Nick wasn’t interested). There was a bit of unscripted horse-play, er, seal-play – the sea lion pushed Jewel off the rock every time she sat down! He must have liked her; this hadn’t happened to any of the other kids.

Having thought a lot about the scene at the entrance, I was prepared behind the lens. I got the camera set up, and focused while the family ahead of us was being photographed. I ignored the assistant giving me the canned speech about taking the picture at the same time they did, and staying behind the yellow line.

In spite of their rushing to get their picture taken and get them out, I got four shots, including this cute one:

Telling was the fact that when we went to view our photos at the sales booth at the end of the day, they had only one, very poor shot from this scene.

Obviously, they would rather take the pictures and sell them to you. That’s the whole point of the photographers being there. But it seems clear that at some point they decided they couldn’t – from a practical or customer service perspective – make people stop taking pictures.

So instead they devised a strategy where they fully “cooperate” with you taking your shot simultaneously. But they are actually hustling the whole thing through so fast that, in reality, you’re not going to get the shot… so, dog gone it, you’ll have to buy theirs after all.

Except that they shot themselves in the foot. They were in such a hurry to try and keep me from getting a picture, that they didn’t wait until everyone was seated with their eyes open, and they took a stupid picture that nobody would want to buy, even if they hadn’t taken their own!

So I got the last laugh.

Here’s a couple more cute pictures *I* took of the adventure.

Jewel measuring herself against a whale tail:

Ho, the mighty shark hunter is victorious!

(Well, almost…)

It’s in Homestead, Florida.

Who knew??

Infamous, maybe?

What should one say when one is featured at Awkward Family Photos?

For us, Easter is all about celebrating the birth of Christ. But that doesn’t mean we don’t do anything fun! As usual, we had a great time dying eggs.

Jewel was most delighted with simple, bright jewel-tones (go figure!). She drew a Christian fish on the one in her right hand, and on her left hand and arm you can see where all the orange dye went (hint: NOT on the eggs!)…

Jewel's Easter Eggs

Nick did some gorgeous “tie-dye” style creations, using rubber bands around the eggs.

Nick's Easter Eggs

Wolf did some fun designs with wax prior to dying, including this Confederate flag:

Wolf's Easter Eggs

Me? I mostly wrangled R.T.

But, as always – What do you do with all those eggs once the egg hunting is over?

Lots of Easter Eggs!

My family’s favorite is a dish from my childhood – Creamed Egg on Toast.

I started with a recipe from my favorite “basics cookbook”:

Bechamel Sauce (your basic white sauce), Egg Version

• 1/4 c. butter
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 1 t. dry mustard
• 2 c. milk
• 2-3 chopped or sliced hard-boiled eggs

In a medium saucepan, melt butter.  Blend in flour, salt, pepper, and dry mustard (if you don’t have any, a squirt from the mustard bottle in the fridge works!).  Cook until mixture is smooth and bubbly; gradually add milk.  Heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly (I use a whisk).  (Be patient, this does take a while!).  Stir in eggs and allow to heat through.

For our family of 4 1/2 I make a batch double that size, with considerably more pepper (I don’t measure), and 8-12 eggs (we do chopped).

Toast enough bread to serve each adult 2 slices, and each kid 1 (obviously, you can determine for yourself how much everyone needs to eat!), then spoon the creamed egg mixture over it.

All you need is a salad or veggie, and you’re set!

A friend told me that her family chops up the toast, as well, and calls the dish “Woodchuck.” I like the toast bits idea, but I think they should work on the name.

Want some more egg recipies? Check out The Incredible Edible Egg, and The Parent Bloggers Network.

I was recently challenged to write a post about one of my kids’ unquie style.  Of course, Pretty Princess Jewel sprang immediately to mind – and in fact I recently blogged about her adorable Princess-ness, here.

She’s a little lady however she’s dressed, even if it’s her cool camo skirt and sneakers, or a Renaissance Fair costume…

…But her true nature shines through most clearly when she’s really dressing up.

I usually have trouble finding things in her size that are long enough for our standards of modesty, and I spend a lot of time taking in waists of skirts in silly sizes like 14 (she’s a 5, maybe 6).  This is, obvously, a big motivation for my learning to sew.

So I was really excited to see that the summer collection at The Children’s Place (my longtime favorite pajama store!) features a bunch of pretty skirts that are “below the knee” fit!  YAY!

A clothing line is holding a casting call for a Pretty Princess? 

Have I got a Jewel for them!

Jewel is the “Picture Princess” – just ask her!  She delights in dressing up, tea parties, and pretty clothes.  A free spirit, Jewel enjoys dancing, twirling around, and posing for pictures, while her intellectual side leads her to rhyming games, memory challenges, and fantastic feats of logic.  Her tall, slim physique, silky blonde hair and brown eyes, and adorable dimples make her truly a “picture perfect princess.”

Spring Princess

Ballet Princess

Renaissance Princess

Chck out all the little girls and girls dresses from shabby baby.  This one would be so beautiful on Jewel – I think the side ties are an adorable touch:

Thank you for considering Princess Jewel, Shabby Baby!