Too Many Tamales?

Does anyone else watch cooking shows while eating something mediocre pretending it's that tantalizing lasagna, heavenly quiche, or the crumbly fruit tart the chef is making? Well, I do and I have a favorite. Good Eats. I love that show, it's so geeky but I love the little facts and men dressed in food suits as Alton Brown explains food chemistry. (I need the visual aid) I love it, love it, love it. That man can make even grits (gross!) look delish, and I end up wanting to make everything he makes in his show. He has mind powers, I think.

About two months ago I watched one of his episodes. Tamales. I guess I never fully appreciated the art that goes into tamales because I didn't know exactly what they were. So for a couple months now I have had the ingredients sitting aside waiting for that perfect night, tamale night. And it finally happened last week!

I can't follow recipes to save my life, but I knew the basic idea was to make them vegetarian and I heard a lot of good things about adobo chili sauce. Let me just tell you, adobo sauce is the best sauce ever. I'd never lie to you! It's the honest truth! I don't know why I have not been eating it since I was a toddler. 22 years before adobo sauce is far too long for anyone to wait. Anyways I am getting side tracked. My veggie tamales took about three hours to make, 1. I was going pretty slow and 2. They do take quite a bit of time, but they were so worth it. I apologize for not having a recipe on hand to share but if I may give you some advice; don't be afraid of lard. It's truly just as "gross" as butter. Also, adobo sauce. Try it and you wont regret it.

 The only thing I am sad about is I added some vegetarian chipotle sausage in my mix *Original Field Roast Brand* (I highly recommend them) and the very first ingredient is wheat gluten. I forgot Jared can't have gluten anymore... So I pretty much ate all 30 or so tamales by myself. I tried to pretend it was just too many for little ol' me to eat, but there are NEVER too many tamales. :)

28 ... 29 Weeks!

Happy happy 

Joy joy 

Foreals.

Learning.

We are all learning to be a little more patient. 

Even though I am not the best artist in the world, (who is?!) I've learned I should draw more.

I love it.

  

Taking more pictures, but also learning to be in the moment is something I need to practice.

Forget thorns in roses. We've learned there are white spiders waiting to scare you in even the most beautiful roses.

MerDock has not learned how to fight back.
The night after this photo he got his little butt beaten up again resulting in a rather horrible face abscess. Poor guy.

I've learned the butter cups turn into spike balls after they lose their petals.

 

Jared learned how to make a bow out of a tree branch and string. 

I had to learn not to shoot the arrow (our one and only) across the property into the yard waste pile,

because chances are, you'll never see it again.

I've learned that bee-fly hybrids exist? 

 

I've learned some people see Jesus in their toast, but I see ninja turtles in shaving cream.

Also, too much cilantro is too much cilantro

even if you plan on making jars and jars of salsa...

I've learned I need to be outside more.

I've learned most people dismiss miracles for mere coincidences, and that is very hard to take in.

I've learned sometimes Jared has more faith in the little things than I do.

I've learned I make good salsa, but I want to make GREAT salsa, so I need practice.

We learned how to make vegetarian egg rolls!

'Til next time!

Scenes From The "Surprise" Baby Shower

Firstly, I would like to admit my insane love for baby booties,

in little baby pants or not. In my book, they are probably one of the cutest things of all time.

Here was our little venue. My mother set the whole thing up as a surprise in this little tea shop! 

 

Before and after.
The cucumber tomato sandwiches were my favorite by far! 

We had a mixed Jasmine tea with all the goodies in the pots,
so we had to strain it with the charming little strainer above. 

I am pretty sure the only person who remembered to do it every time was the only guy there.

Jared. 

As seen below, having a hard time lending his fancy camera to my sister to take pictures. 

Does anyone else feel extremely awkward posing for pictures?

I always feel like I look like a bit of a goob when I am doing all that posey stuff.

I consider these our modeling shots. 

Want some balloon string or cups? 

Too bad! I like the stacker cups, they're cool! You could have some string though.

 

Jared bending his paper clips from our game, into a bracelet.  

He is pretty imaginative, which will come in as a pretty useful trait when he is a dad!

See? It's the baby butt thing again.
Love me some duck butts. Hahaha

These are my two (not so little anymore) sisters. They are really growing up into lovely ladies.

Growing up their nick names were Squidly and Goo. 

I am not even telling you what I was called! 

 

She seems to be under the impression that Onyx belongs to her.
Onyx is not lacking in loving aunties, that's for sure.

 

Above is the little locket my best friend "Spiffy" gave to me for my birthday. I LOVE it!

This is their pregnancy impression. I really did not have to do much. ;)

Can you tell I am kind of excited to meet him?

Here is Jared's shower gift to me. I have been wanting an Ergo baby carrier forever! SO thankful!

Golden Gram. Mum. Me!

... and the sisters. 

I was 26 weeks then.

27 now.

Suddenly time seems to be flying!

Like Jared always says, "Be. Here. Now."