New phases...

I am having a hard time believing that I have neglected this space for such a long time. It's been almost a year and so much has changed. Last fall we found out we were expecting another baby and began thinking about all of the exciting, stressful, and new things experiences that would come with. And since we were busy chasing River around in the midst of all of that, time seemed to go especially fast.

We spent the winter teaching River how to ski--as much as you can teach an eighteen month old how to ski. He did really well and it became a really fun bonding activity for Colby and River to share. They would leave me home to nap, or throw up (morning sickness...) and spend the day in the snow. I welcomed the quiet house and loved getting texts full of photos and videos of their adventures.

Spring came and, before we knew it, it was May and soon we would meet our new little one. A few weeks before the birth Colby, River, and I went up to Neff's Canyon to take some photos of the bump and River. It was a really great afternoon and our last few photos of just the three of us.

When I was pregnant I felt so exhausted and my mind was so preoccupied with the amazing new life growing inside that I found it hard to make room for much else. I felt the same while I was pregnant with River. But now that we made it through the birth and are a few weeks in, I already feel that desire to flex my creative muscles--and this is the perfect space for that.

We had a friend of ours take photos of the birth and will share that soon. That was one of the best decisions we made involving this pregnancy. I am so completely thrilled to have those moments captured. Even though we didn't photograph River's birth, I still remember everything so vividly and I don't doubt the same thing would happen with this birth. But now looking through those photos I can feel it all the more vividly. They are beautiful, and I would certainly recommend doing it.

We are so in love with this new baby and are so excited to share more about life with two...

"I sometimes wake in the early morning and listen to the soft breathing of my children and I think to myself, this is one thing I'll never regret and I carry that quiet with me all day long."

Brian Andreas

listen to this - burnt toast

Have you heard this podcast from food52? It's an interesting podcast on food culture and other cooking related topics. I listened to this one today and I really enjoyed it. The hosts, Amanda Hesser and Merril Stubbs together with Phyllis Grant from dash and bella (love this blog), discuss how to go about exposing children to new foods and flavors and how to fight the dinner time battle that so many parents face.

We are starting to get to the point where we can feed River whatever we are eating for the most part. It's really exciting and I love sharing foods with him, but I feel myself picking and choosing meals that I think River is "supposed" to like. Easy, bland foods--kid foods. I really want to stay away from that way of thinking, though. I love cooking and want to make sure that I express that same love of food and cooking to him.

This was a very inspiring podcast and it makes me so excited for the years ahead when River can join me in the kitchen.

Listen here are watch below!

We talk about the beauty and chaos that is feeding our children. Together with writer Phyllis Grant—and a studio full of kids—we cover rules, haphazard recipe development, and why you should never feed eggplant to a child under the age of 9.

a city of rocks adventure

Last week we had some friends come into town to visit. Over the weekend, we decided to take a quick overnight trip to the City of Rocks. We love this place. It's so close, so it makes for a pretty quick drive, and it is like going to another planet. It's hidden behind some inconspicuous hills off of I-84, and as you get closer you start to see these amazing boulders and large rocky formations. It's great to feel so far away from everything.

We got there Friday evening and got River settled in his pack and play in the van after a little bit of crawling and scrambling around the rocks by our site. We met up with some other friends there so there were plenty of dogs to make River feel right at home. We roasted brats over the fire and made s'mores and talked. Colby pulled out the banjo and played songs while we watched the beginnings of a meteor shower and then end of lightening storm in the southern sky. Despite the strong wind gusts, Hank panting all night from the heat, and a small mouse that somehow got into the van, we slept great. We woke up with the sun and the three of us took a little hike to find some more rocks. 

After breakfast, we climbed for a few hours and then made sandwiches and drove home. We are headed there again in a few weeks and we're looking forward to the time in the city already.

river turns one

Obviously, I can't believe a year has already passed. Everyone always seems to say that it flies by and now I can see that it, it being River's life, does. We have experienced so much this year. First teeth, first army scoot, first food, first laugh, first gurgly word, first kiss, first smile, first crawl, first cry with tears, and so many more.And the coolest part is that we have years of firsts still ahead.

For River's birthday celebration we had friends over for burgers and just enjoyed celebrating all of the people that have made this year more memorable, easier, and more fun.

I made a tasty carrot cake and my parents made a few different ice creams from this delicious cookbook. It was such a great day and I am so grateful for memories like these.

Colby and I got him a few small gifts like this book and a kazoo and a recorder to go with the little banjo my parents got him. He's ready to form a one-baby band. I'd buy tickets to that.

I feel like I can't even begin to express the love I have in my heart for this little baby...but here's a song that I think can...

"When I'm With You"
 

When I hold you in my arms, Love
Something changes
It's the strangest feeling
The things that used to matter
They don't matter to me
When I see you
And you're smiling
How my heart aches
So full it is about to break
You make me believe in love

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, Baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you
When I hear you, and you're crying
It resonates, Dear
In a place I didn't know was there
You make me believe in love

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, Baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

Beautiful baby
You're sweeter than strawberry pie
Just like the morning
Your smile brings the sunshine

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, Baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, Baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

-JJ Heller

fresh tomato and caper pasta with basil and grilled salmon

We are well into summer and one of the things I love most about this season is how the heat just makes you want to eat lighter and healthier. And thank goodness for that. I love winter and all of the hearty meals that come with it, but summer is the best. We are always looking for new meals that are light, healthy, and that we think River might also like. While we were visiting family in Boise this last weekend, my sister-in-law made us something similar to this and we loved, loved, loved it. And, the best part is, River loved it too. So, as soon as we got home we wanted to make it again. We changed a few things, and added a few things, but it was still delicious. I hope you can find the perfect night to make this dish for your dinner sometime soon.

Summertime Pasta with Grilled Salmon
serves 4

You're gonna need...

1 package of fettuccine
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tablespoons. extra light olive oil
2 cups of small tomatoes, halved
1 tsp salt, or more to taste
1 tsp freshly black pepper, or more to taste
1 pound of salmon
1 cup of basil leaves, then lightly chop
3 tablespoons of capers, drained
4 cups of spinach leaves

Brown Sugar Glaze

You're gonna need...

1/2 cup of tequilla
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook using the directions. Stir occasionally. Drain pasta and move to a large bowl. Add the garlic, two tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine well. In a small saute pan heat a tablespoon of olive oil  on medium heat and toss the tomatoes for a couple minutes, just to soften them a bit, and then throw them in the pasta. Add the basil, and capers to the pasta and toss to combine.

For the salmon, mix the tequila, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Mix until combined. Place the salmon in a small casserole dish and spread the glaze over the fish. Heat your grill and once the charcoal is ready place the fish skin side down on the grill. Cook for 10 minutes.

Place a handful of spinach on each plate or shallow bowl then place some of the pasta over that. Top with a piece of the salmon and serve.

Enjoy!
recipe adapted from here