Concert Going

This weekend I had a date night......with myself.

My favorite band was playing at the amphitheater and I bought a ridiculously expensive ticket and sat in a box seat complete with food and beverage service.

I wore an outfit very similar to the below.  I wore the same shirt (just in black), the same skirt in a different stripe pattern, the exact shoes, almost the exact necklace and nail colors.  I actually had my toes and fingers painted.

I was fancy!

I love that the maxi skirt was inexpensive and also can be dressed up or dressed down.  I can wear a simple t-shirt or tank top or something more dressed up for work or even a casual date night.

Concert Going by mrspachey featuring bauble jewelry

And just for fun, here are some pictures of the band from the concert (I did not take these pictures, they are on the KGON Facebook page).

Best drummer on earth right here.  And for the first time, there was an addition of a string section.  It was awesome!

My next husband.  Don't tell Jason (or Alex's wife).

Who else can play bass and keyboards AND sing?  Find me someone that can do it as well as Geddy Lee.

And because I am a nerd, my picture and view from my seat.  I was pretty damn close to the stage.

I wish I had gotten more pictures during the show but I failed to charge my phone before I left.  All in all, I had a great time on my date.  It may have been a little weird to go to a concert myself but I am a huge fan and it was such a sacrifice : )

Delicious Delicious Pie

A few weeks ago, a friend and I picked fresh berries (strawberries and blackberries) and as I was trying to figure out what to do with my abundance of blackberries, 4th of July was coming up.

What better way to use up berries than to bake pies!  I used blackberries and blueberries and made these beauties:

I used store bought crust because I have no room to roll out pie crust in my kitchen and I am lazy.  Plus, store bought crust really does taste good.

The blackberry pie immediately disappeared.  It was amazing.  Tart, with a little bit of sweet and I really liked that the filling firmed up quite a bit.  You didn't have a gooey, oozy center - not that there is anything wrong with that.

Here are the recipes that I used (both from AllRecipes.com):

Blueberry Pie

Original recipe makes 1 pieChange Servings

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 4 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 1 tablespoon butter

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over blueberries.
3. Line pie dish with one pie crust. Pour berry mixture into the crust, and dot with butter. Cut remaining pastry into 1/2 - 3/4 inch wide strips, and make lattice top. Crimp and flute edges.
4. Bake pie on lower shelf of oven for about 50 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Blackberry Pie

Original recipe makes 1 9-inch pieChange Servings

• 4 cups fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Combine 3 1/2 cups berries with the sugar and flour. Spoon the mixture into an unbaked pie shell. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup berries on top of the sweetened berries, and cover with the top crust. Seal and crimp the edges, and cut vents in the top crust for steam to escape.
3. Brush the top crust with milk, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Eagle Fest 2013

This past weekend, we packed up the family and drove to Cathlamet, Washington where my in-laws have their boat moored.  Every year, the town and the marina put on The Bald Eagle Fest.  There is a parade, tons of vendors, food stands, games for the kids and a fireworks show.

We went last year and in some ways, it was easier last year and harder.  Easier because Calvin wasn't mobile yet and harder because I was still pumping and we have the addition of a dog this year.

I tried not caring about the kids' nap schedule, what they ate (as long as they didn't eat JUST candy all weekend) and what they played with, as long as they weren't in any danger.  After all, they wore life vests whenever they were up on deck walking around the boat.

We schlepped into town for parade on Saturday morning.  Jack was excited with the prospect of getting candy because all the trucks and floats throw candy to the crowd.  I didn't get many pictures of the parade or the weekend in general because let's be honest:  It's hard chasing after two very active boys and trying to keep them away from the water.

Here are the pictures I did take.  Enjoy!

The marina.  It was packed because a lot of yacht clubs come in for the weekend for the festivities.

Cal waiting for the parade to start

Jack and his WTF face.  Not sure what was going on here.

I love that the town is dog friendly.  We got a lot of people coming up to us to pet Beau.

The boys up on the bridge.  Papa wanted to show them how to start up the boat.

Jack and his sensitive ears

Much of the weekend was spent doing this.  Climbing the stairs and making sure no one fell.  Beau, ever the protector.

Helllooooo!  Anyone home?

After a potluck picnic with my in-laws' best friends and their kids and grandkids (did you catch all that?), we camped out up on the dike and waited for the fireworks to start.  There were 17 of us total and we had a blast talking, letting the kids play, and eating.  I snuggled with baby Clara who is 8 weeks old while her mama got to eat some dinner.  My mother-in-law bought the boys some lite sabers to play with while waiting for the fireworks.

My sweet Cal

Jack showing off his lite saber skills

The dog isn't spoiled or anything

Jack roasting his first ever marshmallow with Grammy Vicky

I love the joy and wonder in his eyes while watching the fireworks

Cal was indifferent.  He was so tired since his bedtime is usually 7:30 and it was close to 10:30 when this picture was taken.

We had a great time, although we were pooped when we got home.  The dog slept for like 18 hours straight, the kids crashed at 8:00 and didn't make a peep until the next morning at 8:00.

Isn't this what summer is about?  Family and fun adventures.  I hope we can have many more like it.

Day at the Beach

This past Saturday, Jason and I packed up the car and drove to the coast.  I love living in a state where not only the beach, but the mountain and desert are all within 2 hours of Portland.

I loaded the cooler with a picnic lunch, snacks and brought a bag of beach toys, towels and a blanket.  We set off with coffee in hand and were in Seaside, on the actual beach by 10:30.

Jack had a blast digging in the sand, walking down to the ocean with me and eating his picnic lunch (he exclaimed "This is a GREAT picnic!").  Cal on the other hand, was content to sit on the blanket or in a lap the entire time.  He didn't love the sand.  I think the texture of it bothered him.

We enjoyed the warm weather and cool breeze until about 12:00 when we then set off for the carousel and the arcade.  Once again, with the change of routine or being out of his comfort zone, Cal was cautious and didn't seem to love the carousel.  Jack loved it.  He also loved being able to play games at the arcade.

Since the boys still need to nap, we left the coast at 1:30 and let the boys nap in the car.  I am glad we didn't stay for much longer because I was getting a little red.  I am great about putting sunscreen on the kids but not great about putting it on myself.

I am excited to take the kids to the beach again.  Especially as they get older and we can stay longer without worrying about naps.

Enjoy the pictures below!

Our blanket all set up

 His pure delight in these pictures is so fun

Running ahead

We brought home a whole sand dollar

Napping with Daddy

Our picnic lunch - including lots of sand

A rare shot of the hubband

An even more rare shot of the both of us

Cal enjoying his trip to the candy store while brother and Daddy played in the arcade.

At the arcade eating his deedee (candy)

Jack collecting all his tickets