this week's snapshots

I have been loving the fall weather.  Yesterday, Jeremy got off early because it was so rainy (nice to spend time together, not great for job) the rainy/slow season is definitely start to set in!  Jeremy's parents agreed to watch the kids for a couple of hours, so we got to sneak away on a little date.  We went to the thrift store, sifted through some different books at Barnes and Nobles and then sat at Panera drinking some coffee and chatting for a little bit before heading back.  We haven't been on a date sans kids in months!  It was so nice to get away.  When we got home, I didn't feel like making dinner, so we splurged again and went out to Mexican.  We shared some amazing vegetable fajitas (never thought of putting squash in a fajita before - so delicious!) and the kids had some quesadillas.  We don't buy dairy other than eggs anymore, so having cheese was a super big treat for the kids.  Shea would not stop saying "Thank you!" and in his prayer at bedtime he said, "and thank you that I got to go to the..." 

turning and whispering to me: "mommy, whats type of rest-er-naut did we go to?" 

Me: "Mexican."  

Continuing in his normal voice: "and thank you that I go to go to the mexican resternaut even though it had skulls on the wall and they were scary.  amen."

ha.

But, I did feel like cooking that morning, so we had this nourishing soup for lunch!  I filled my cast iron pot with 8 cups of vegetable broth and added in a few small potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes, red lentils, and split peas and some other seasonings.  After everything was soft, I put it through the blender and added some curry powder and a little coconut milk to make this delicious bisque!  SO good.  I also made some gluten free flax meal crackers to go with it.  My first try...they were OK.  Next time I want to make them a little bit crispier.  We had the soup again today, only I cooked up some black beans in cayenne pepper sauce and added them.  sooooo good.  I am so happy it is soup season and I am looking forward to having pumpkins and other squash to make soups from soon!  Makes meal planning so much easier.  And I could eat a thick soup like this every day of my life, I think.

Shea after our first day at school, gobbling down his food.  I am amazed that he now likes celery after not wanting to touch it for so long!

I am trying to use up my fabric scraps, so I started making a rag rug.  I have never tried it before, but it's basically just crocheting a big circle out of strips of fabric instead of yarn.  I decided I am going to make it into an ottoman/beanbag type cushion for Hailey, and then I will probably make one for Shea too.  I've been wanting to make something like that for a while, but didn't want to buy heavy weight fabric for it.  This stuff is super strong, a fun texture, and I get to use up all my fun colored scraps!

And, we just got back a little while ago from my second early birthday gift....it is still wrapped in saran wrap, so the picture isn't great (plus it needs to heal up still), but I am ecstatic about the way it turned out!  Jeremy's aunt just opened up a tattoo parlor on Bainbridge Island, so she did it for free (wasn't expecting that!). It was super fun to chat with her and her assistant, as she is just starting out.  Jeremy ended up having the day off again, so he walked the kids around the island while I had it done, and afterward we went down to Blackbird Bakery (one of my favorite bakeries on Bainbridge) and got some treats for us and the kids.

That's all!  Happy weekend, ladies!