Pretty in Pink but Better in Blue

Jason is at the finishing line from graduating from residency. Last weekend the surgery department hosted a family friendly brunch for all of the graduating surgery residents. The surgery department used to host a champagne lunch for the residents but after the "80 hour rule" started a few years back residents started to have children so the formal brunch was changed to a picnic at a park with a bouncy house =). The 80 hour rule means that residents can only work a maximum of 80 hours a week -- I guess that's supposed to be a break? I guess I can't complain about working 24 hours =).

Benji having fun with a stick at the graduation picnic

Anna with some of the residents in the background.

Anna and Ben seemed to think this tree was more exciting than the bounce house =)

After the picnic we came home and the kids made drums out of milk cartons and had a marching parade around the house. By the look on Anna's face she was serious!

We attempted to take some family photos but somebody looked miserable in each shot. Here are the best two:

Recognize this face?

I promised Jason I wouldn't do that again! He's back to himself now =)

Anna the Photographer

I looked at my camera the other day and saw that 257 photos were taken and I hadn't taken any! After going through the photos it was obvious who the photographer was: our little Miss Anna Joy =). She actually took some good shots and it was fun to see what items caught her eye. Here is some of her work:

Little orange kitty

Watermelon - yummy

Mr. Dragon

Anna looking down at her shoes (yes they are on backward =) )

I guess she wasn't satisfied with the first shot so she kicked them off for a better shot

Guess who?

This is a photo of the movie Cars on the TVAll of our remotes .We aren't very sophisticated -- it takes all three to watch a DVD!

Benji crying -- he probably wanted the camera!
Our neighbors driving away. They didn't know they lived across the street from the paparazzi =)
Ben caught off guard getting out of the bath

Anna's most artistic photo -- one of her own eye =)

Although looking at Anna's photos on our camera was fun I can imagine seeing our camera smashed to pieces so I went to Toys R Us and found a kiddie one for Anna. Hopefully she'll like it just the same =). If not maybe I'll trade her ... I kind of like the pink =)

One Handsome Chap

Our little Benji had his first hair cut last weekend. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera! I was worried about him getting his hair cut since he is a wiggle worm but with lots of bubbles and loud toys he sat still long enough just to have it done. We think he looks quite handsome with his new sophisticated hair style =).





Anna continues to have fun picking out her own clothes and dressing up. She thinks everyday is a perfect day for a party and for wearing her best attire. She put this little ensemble together herself: Ben's Thomas the Train hat, pink feather boa, tea party dress and aqua clogs.

Going down the slide at Grandpa and Grandma Roerkohl's

Anna dressing up with mommy's jewelry.

Viva la France!

Jason found out today he will be going to a conference right away when he starts his fellowship in July. Jason's last conference was in Vegas which wasn't too thrilling but this time he's going to Paris! Can you believe it? Sounds fishy to me that they would send him all the way to France =). I will be staying home with kids of course. Maybe we'll treat ourselves to chocolate croissants the week Jason is gone. I have a BIG feeling the croissants here just won't be the same!

View from the conference ... J/K =)

I imagine this is what they'll be doing at the conference ...

I jinxed us by saying we were all better in the last blog =( . Ben's eye infection came back in a milder form and both of the kids have colds again! How many colds can our family possibly have in a year??? The economy has been tough on our nursing department at work and I was cancelled for both of my shifts this week but it was a blessing in disguise I suppose since the kids have been sick.

Ben has been gifted with the talent of making himself a total mess out of almost nothing! I gave him a tiny piece (about 1/2 ") of a protein bar and look what he looked like when I took him out of his car seat:

My sister Angie sent us some hand me down clothes and toys and Anna was in heaven! She especially loves this pretty dress from China and a fun pirate costume:

We've been trying to eat healthier lately and it's going well. I've been taking our favorite recipes and modifying them. We both like food a lot but and I've had success making yummy things without all of the extra carbs and calories that we don't need. I predict that within a couple of months Jason is going to look like this:

If he starts to look like this I'll add the carbs and fat back in =)

Here is one of our favorite healthy dishes that tastes delicious regardless of eating healthy. It's packed full of flavor and healthy things. I made it for my dad for his birthday and for Jason's parents when they were visiting and everyone likes it. This recipe was adapted from a Barefoot Contessa recipe. I've changed it by adding more flavor and saving time:


Chicken Chili
Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 onion, grated with juice preserved
  
• 1/8 cup olive oil
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and large-diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and large-diced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 TB ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
  
• 1 (28-ounce) can pureed tomatoes (recommend Muir Glenn fire roasted organic)
  
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil leaves
• 2 roasted chicken breasts cut into 3/4 inch chunks( I buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco and it saves a lot of time)
  

Directions

In a large pot cook the onions and the onion juice in the oil over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute (don't let it burn!). Add the bell peppers and spices. Saute for about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the diced up chicken breasts and continue to simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes. Serve as is or top with fresh cilantro, sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips. If you are watching carbs and fat the chili itself is very low in carbs and fat.

Directions to roast your own chicken:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked. Let cool slightly. Separate the meat from the bones and skin and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks.

Bon appetite!

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Carrot Cake Monster

Hello all!

After several weeks of colds, the flu and eye and sinus infections I am happy to report we are all feeling much better! Jason will be beginning his last stretch of residency tomorrow with about 6 weeks of trauma surgery. We are so happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Anna has been using her imagination more and more. She likes to pretend that it's snowing when it's 90 degrees out and likes to pretend she is other people. She almost always has pretend butterflies or ladybugs in her hair or sitting on her shoulder -- this is a fun age!

Going for a walk in "the snow" so Anna had to wear her feathers to keep warm =)

Now this is a bubble bath!

Benji has been keeping us on our toes more than ever! He walks very fast now and is almost always getting himself into some sort of trouble! Lucky for us he isn't jumping out of his crib yet but I suspect he could if he wanted to. Ben's favorite thing to say is "hi, Gracie" -- Gracie is our cat. He says it to everyone, including me! Ben's new favorite food is carrot cake cupcakes. Anna and I made some a few days ago and he went crazy when he saw them.

Looks like Ben is a Cal fan in his blue and gold stripes =)

This cupcake was devoured in about 30 seconds -- sorry about putting your sister's bib on you Benji!

Benji's Carrot Cake Cupcakes:

2 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups canola oil
3 extra-large eggs, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 pound carrots, grated
1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple (I used fresh pineapple spears from Trader Joe's)
1/4 cup flax seed (optional)

Frosting (optional)

1 pound cream cheese (2 sticks), at room temp
1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temp
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 pound powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with liners or spray with non-stick spray.

Beat the sugar, oil and eggs on the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light yellow. Add the vanilla. In another bowl sift together the flour, flax seed, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Toss the raisins and walnuts with a tablespoon on flour. Fold in the carrots, pineapple and raisin mixture.

Fill the cupcakes about 3/4 full. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting: Mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment until combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth.

I adapted this recipe from a Barefoot Contessa recipe. You can make a regular cake from it to but bake it for about 50 - 60 minutes. This makes 16 cupcakes or two 8 inch round cakes.

Happy Easter - - Belated!

Happy Easter to all! Yes, we know we are quite belated but better late than never, right =). Jason was on-call on Easter so the kids and I went to Fairfield to spend time with my family after the Easter bunny dropped baskets off for the kids at our house. Anna told us she could hear the bunny hopping down our street =). Anna was excited to go to Fairield for an Easter egg hunt at her Uncle Freddie's sister's house (Auntie Ada) but we had to leave prematurely when Ben started to show signs of an eye infection. Luckily Anna didn't really know what an Easter egg hunt was so she didn't seem to mind that we left early. Plus, she thinks going to the doctor is very exciting these days so she was thrilled to go to the urgent care center with Benji dressed up in her best clothing. After being on antibiotics for a week Ben is now almost back to himself except for a runny nose. Ben shared the loved and passed his cold to Grandpa Jim on Easter and to his mommy of course =). We hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Here are some pics:

Benji and Maddie
(Ben looks good here but within hours his poor little eyes swelled up so much he didn't even look like himself =( )

Mommy and Anna (Uncle Freddie's dad and brother in the background)

Benji and Grandpa Jim

Grandpa Jim's birthday party

Benji on his little car