Make the house smell AWESOME

Moroccan Chicken and Couscous Tagine

1 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1 1/2lbs boneless chicken, breasts or thighs

2 tbls olive oil

1 med onion, small dice

1 large carrot, small dice

1/2 red bell pepper, small dice

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

juice of one fresh lemon

1 1/4 cups couscous

1/2 cup canned chickpeas

1/4 pitted green olives, halved

1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds or pine nuts

Chopped cilantro or parsley

Mix spices together in a small bowl.  Rinse and dry chicken well then generously coat with all of the spice mix.  Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the chicken 4-5 minutes per side.  Remove to plate and cover with foil.  Add veggies to pan and saute until soft, 5-8 minutes.  Add liquids and bring to a boi.  Remove from heat and add couscous, chickpeas and olives.  Cover with tight fitting lid and let sit 5-10 minutes.  Top with nuts and cilantro.  EAT!

Mi Familia

Well, since Hank is already 2 1/2 and Siri is nearly a year, I thought that, maybe, it was about time I had some professional photographs taken of us as a family.  You know, I get around to these things eventually.  So, we called in our friend Nataraj whose is a great photographer from Madison, WI.  He had taken photos of me very pregnant with Henry and so it was natural that he finally take some of the actual children.  Please visit his website to see more of his amazing work: http://eyedance.blogspot.com/

Mississippi River Challenge

Dear Friends and Family,

My best bud, Amy, and I are going to paddle 44 miles of the Mississippi River in a canoe in July.  Why?  Because we love the river and care about its well-being.  We are also big fans of canoeing and being outside in general.  To that end, we are raising money for a wonderful nonprofit organization call Friends of the Mississippi River whose mission is to protect the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area. 

So, I ask that you please show your support for me and for the Mighty Miss-a-sip by donating some money to the River Challenge.  I promise to write you a lovely thank you note and to post pictures of our adventures.  It's tax deductible, by the way, and giving always feels good, right? 

Please click here for more information and to donate online: http://www.mississippiriverchallenge.org/profiles/8935d3bb

If you are uncomfortable giving money online, you sure can send me a check the old fashioned way :)  I have an initial fund raising goal of $500, but would love to exceed, even double, that amount!
Thanks!!

Easter and Lowell's 70th Birthday Party in Pictures

Henry and Shianne had a great time playing together!

Siri looked lovely in her Easter dress

Grampa's Boy

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

The food and cake at Brenda and Scott's house was DELICIOUS!

Siri had her first tractor ride with Grandpa Lowell.  About 5 minutes in, however, she fell asleep!

Happy Baby

Siri at 9.5 months

You shoulda seen the other kid, ma!

Miss Siri had her first visit to Urgent Care this week.  After learning to crawl on Monday, her mother stupidly set her on top of the bed Tuesday afternoon and then turned around for three seconds.  That's all it took for the young daredevil to fling herself head first onto the hardwood floor.  Completely freaked out, her mom rushed her over to the pediatricians office to be checked out.  Other than a large purple goose egg on her forehead, a chipped front tooth and what is surely a raging headache, she is fine.  The doctor assured Siri's distraught mother that "these things happen" and that "it's okay." 

She may have a colossal shiner as a result of her fall, but is looking better than expected today.  She has not been deterred by this incident and is merrily crawling about the house, singing, babbling and looking for floor detritus to eat and cats and brothers to torture, much to her mother's relief.

And it's still &%(#ing Winter

Ok, that's it.  I've had it.  Most of the snow had melted except for the six foot glaciers at the ends of the alleys.  It's rained.  It's been 50+ degrees.  And, now today, another winter storm.  No, I'm not surprised.  I've lived in Minnesota my whole life.  I'm just so friggin' sick of it!  This winter has been really, really long.  And maddening.  I didn't dare tempt fate by pulling the plastic off the windows last week like I really wanted to, but we got the storm anyway.  All of this coupled with the fact that the baby still doesn't sleep through the night makes me want to cry.  Mommy kind of hates you at 2:30am, dear.  I keep reminding myself how lucky we are and how wonderful the children are and how I have everything I ever wanted (except a career, ahem) and that the snow will eventually melt and everything will come up and grow again and we'll be able to smell the dirt and nap in the grass and watch outdoor baseball... but, today, today its still fucking winter.  And I need a nap.