Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Stacy Visits!

My Dear sister came to visit last week with her family.  We haven't seen Stacy and Bella in a year, and James in two years.  To say we had fun would be an understatement!

What a great visit we had.

Dinner and visiting at my house on Friday.
Breakfast at Gi Gi's and Shopping on Saturday.
Disneyland on Sunday. 

They left on Monday.

It was fun.

Bella is getting so big.  I took a few pictures at my Grandma's house that I thought I'd post right now while the kids are eating lunch.

So Grandma Kelley makes the best biscuits and gravy, and Grandpa Kelley makes the best eggs.

Breakfast at their house is such a treat.


We ate outside before the weather turned hot, disgusting, nasty, and gross.  It was really nice for a while there.  I was able to drink my coffee without sweating.  Always a plus.


The kids love Grandma Kelley's house.  We did too when we were little.  She has such a beautiful, big yard with lots of places to explore.


Doesn't Bella look pretty in her tutu?  She has gotten so big.  I can't believe it.


Her and Riley got together great, better then I was expecting.  They pretty much would have slumber partied it up every night if we let them.


That's it for my short post.  More pictures in a couple of days, or tomorrow.  Whenever I can get the Disneyland pictures edited.

I'll leave you with a teaser.



;)


Monday, August 22, 2011

30 Day Photo Challenge, Days 5-11

Let me start off by saying, I'm alone.  I think I'm the only one doing this challenge now.  I've even had a few people say that they want to do it with me.  But then they don't.

And I'm sad.

Because nobody wants to play with me.

So blogger friends, feel free to join in.  If you want to.  Here are the rules again...just in case you feel like playing.




Day 5:  A photo of whatever you please.


In case you can't tell, those are sprinkles from a Cookie Monster cupcake that the girls got at Dizzy Desserts.

I had, taken pictures of a glass of red wine with a white background, they turned out really cool.  But when I turned off my camera, they were gone.  Once again, this bonehead forgot to put a memory stick in my camera.  What is wrong with me?  It's like I have pregnancy brain.

Anyway, I took this picture as a back up.  It's not my favorite, but I like the hot pink plate in the background on the white table cloth with the bright blue sprinkles.  I like the color.

Day 6:  A photo from a low angle.


I took this one at my Grandpa's birthday party.  While we were eating dinner.  I just think it's a fun picture.  I just took it from my seat, in the middle of bites.  Because the food was so good, and I couldn't stop stuffing my face.  I was like, oh, hey, a photo from a low angle for the challenge...mmm...these ribs are delicious...mmm...one more bite....anyone have a wet nap?...snap...mmm where are my ribs...so good...hope that picture turned out okay...mmmm...:)

Day 7:  A silhouette photo.


So long story about this one.  It is Day 7, but I didn't take it until last night.  I had plans to get a picture of Riley's bike in the street with her helmet either hanging from the handlebars or laying on the street.

Well, let's just say, the sun sets behind the mountains so you can't really get a good silhouette of something so low to the ground in Corona.  Well, at least I couldn't.  I even tried a couple of spots, over a few days.  So, I knew in order to get a silhouette, it would have to be of a tree or something.

So, as we were pulling into our neighborhood last night, the sky looked so beautiful and vibrant that I thought, it's either now or never.  Tim pulled over so that I could get out of the car.  How sweet is he?  Actually he told me, get out of the car and take it.  I was just doing to take it through the window!  I'm glad he "made" me do it!

I think it's a pretty picture, mostly because of those vibrant colors. 

Day 8:  A photo of something close-up.


That's as close up as I can get with the lenses that I have.  What I really like about this one is the juice on the white board.  And it's a lemon, in case you were wondering.

And an old lemon.  Not like grossly old, just older than I'd like.  I had to do some editing to make it look a little fresher then it was.

Day 9:  A photo of something from a distance.


I took this at my Grandpa's house, when we celebrated his birthday for the second time.  I have to say, most of these pictures actually have something to do with my Grandpa!

This picture was fun, I thought about it on the way over to my Grandma's.  I knew we'd all end up on the patio out back.  We always do, and my Grandma's yard is so pretty.

Of course it's not from a long distance, but the rules didn't give me a measurement, like take a picture from a distance, from at least 250 feet away.  So there.

I like it, but it's of my family, and you all know how much I love my family.

Day 10:  A photo of whatever you please.


My Grandpa's cane.  (I told you these pictures were all about him...but you didn't believe me did you?)

I love, love, love this picture.  I don't know why either.  I think it might be that stunning brick fireplace in the background.  Or the rug under the cane.  Or just the way it's resting on the furniture.  Or maybe it's everything all wrapped up in one.  I like it.

Day 11: A black and white photo.


You might be telling yourself that you've seen this picture before.  I posted it a while back.  I thought I'd use it for the challenge.  I love this picture.

Time Lines.

Hope you enjoyed my pictures!  If you join in on the fun, let me know.  It helps you become a little more creative I think.  And you try to out-do yourself.  Which gets old around Day 5, so you stop trying to out-do yourself and just have fun with it.

Try it.  You'll like it.


Sunday, August 21, 2011

How to Make Onion Rings

First off, you have to be kind of smart to make these.  Or be completely stupid.  They are so easy and I don't know why I never made them before.

Well I do know why, they are fattening.  But delicious.  I always go for, "make them, they sound delicious."  Over, "wow, don't make those, they are so fattening."

Everything is good in moderation though right?

Anyway...get an onion, I use a yellow.

Cut it as thin or as thick as you want.  I like an in betweener.  Is that a word?  It doesn't really matter if it is or not.

I'm using it.

Once you slice your onion, soak your slices in buttermilk.


I'm not an expert, but I think you can soak them for as long as you want.  Well, not as long as you want.  But over night might be okay.  I don't know, I just do a couple of hours.

After that, warm up a lot of oil.  I mean a lot.  I did it in my Mom's iron skillet because I don't own a deep fryer.  (this is probably a good thing, or I'd fry everything, like everything.)

Mix together your batter.  I do regular flour, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper.

I know it sounds weird, but I taste my mixture.  It won't taste like it does on your onions, but you can get an idea for how seasoned they will be.


I really don't know how much of everything I put in.  But it's not a science.  


Throw your onion slices in your batter.  Coat well.  Then, throw them in your hot oil.  I heat my oil at medium high.



When they turn golden...they are good to go.


Cooks note:  Don't make enough onion rings so that you can freeze some for the next time you make something yummy that needs them on top (aka BJ's BBQ salad - which by the way I found the perfect BBQ ranch recipe to use on it) because they will be eaten if left out.  I mean, ALL OF THEM.  They are that good!

Enjoy!


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

I was going to post about the party that my Mom threw for my Grandpa on Saturday but she did such a beautiful job on it, there is nothing else to say.  Please go and read it, it's great, click here!

The only thing I will share with you about that is the bbq chicken salad I made.  Have you had the one from BJ's?  My Mom and I have been sharing this salad the last couple of times we've gone.  It's so good.  So we recreated it.

And I'm so proud to say, I made those onion rings.  So easy, and so yummy.  Next time I make them, I'll post how I did it.  I had taken a million pics when I was making them only to see that I didn't have a memory stick in the camera.  Woops. :)


Last night we were invited for a birthday glass of champagne and cake at my Grandpa's for his actual birthday.

We never decline an invite to a party.


GiGi made the girls some very yummy icecream cones while we were there.  I think it's safe to say that they enjoyed them.  And yes, that is dinner on Riley's face from home.  No, I did not clean her up after dinner.  Yes, I have given up on the mother of the year award.




My Grandpa is such a nice guy.  He always has a smile on his face, and he's always the first to give you a hug and say hello.  This man loves his family.


And knows how to celebrate a birthday!  Two pineapple upside down cakes in 4 days?  And 2 parties?  And the phone didn't stop ringing the entire time we were there with friends and family wishing him a happy birthday.


And the dining table was filled with birthday cards.

Happy 80th Grandpa!  Cheers to many, many more!  We love you bunches!


Sunday, August 14, 2011

Posting Last Weekend This Weekend

To make room for this weekend's post!

Did that make sense?  Probably not.  Just in my own mind.


So last weekend huh?  Ours was epic.

Well that might be going a bit extreme.  It was pretty cool though.  Our little Riley Rush has learned how to swim.  I've been wanting to get this girl in swim lessons but I don't want to take her just anywhere.  I am looking for private lessons but I have no recommendations.  Blah.

But that don't matter, cause Riley taught herself how to swim.



She's pretty smart.  Tim and my Dad might have helped her a little bit.  What happened is, Riley jumped in the pool from the side, and her floaty slipped off.

Tim saw this happening and saw Riley treading water and staying afloat.  He decides to see if she goes for it.

Bang.  Bam.  Boom.

Riley decides she can swim.


We have been working with her, but she's never wanted to put her face under the water and hold her breath.  Or anything like that.  Once Riley decides she is ready to do something.  She does it.  Period.



Now that she's "swimming" though, I'm even more anxious to get her in lessons.  Anyone know of someone they could recommend in Corona?  email me.. k_rush82@yahoo.com

Thanks.

And this guy, he's pretty awesome.  And his hair is growing back...


Yes!  I love him with hair.  It's my favorite on him. 

He got in trouble with the littlest one.  She wanted to take her floaties off too.  Because she wants to be just like big sister.  But we didn't let her.



It's got to be so hard for her to see this... 


And not be able to join in.  The tears were okay.  I understand Madi.  I too am the second born.  It's just not fair sometimes.


Your time will come.

Did I mention why we were over at my Mom's house last weekend?  We were invited to a fish fry.  To eat all the fish that were caught up in Rock Creek.  We weren't the only ones invited either.


And we didn't just eat fish.  There were appetizers.



One thing I love about the pool is the appetites that my girls have when they get out.  They eat so good.  Make a Mama happy.


I'm going over to my Mom's house again today.  Tim has to work. 
Blah.

It will be so nice to just relax by the pool though, like we did last weekend.

I was fortunate enough to hear some good fishing stories from my Grandpa.  He tells a good one.


And a long one.  By the time his story was over, it was time to get out of the pool and start helping with dinner.



Well, most of us helped.  After we got dressed of course.



Don't you just love little bathing suit tan lines on toddlers?  I sure do!

My Mom is so good at having people over.  I swear.  She's kind of the best.  She works her behind off to have everything ready for dinner before anyone even gets to her house.  So when it's time for dinner, it's heating something up, and just throwing dishes together.  Like her tomatoes.  Everything was sliced, all she needed to do was spoon some pesto over them, sprinkle some cheese, and in the oven.

She needs to tell you guys about these tomatoes.  OMG.  Best.  Tomatoes.  Ever.

The spread was pretty dang yummy.  And guess where we ate...


Yep, the porkadillo.


 It was a great day.  I always love days like this.  That end around the table outside.



 It feels good to have this post done.  I've been going through the pictures everyday not wanting to edit them, or even choose which ones to edit.  It was a project!

But I think I got some good shots.  So it was worth it.

Stay tuned.  It is someone's birthday on Tuesday.  And we celebrated yesterday.


I have some pictures to share.

 Peace out folks.  I'm off to go....swimming!  I know, you already knew where I was going.  I'm addicted to my Mom's house, oh, and there are leftovers.

My type of day.

Happy Sunday!

 

Me

My Photo
I'm Kristi, the wife of one very lucky and handsome husband, and mother to two beautiful little girls. I'm honest and sarcastic, funny and easy going. I love to eat and love to hate that I love butter. And wine. And did I mention butter? I'm always learning new things, happy to lend a hand, and love my life. This is a blog of my family and the day to day crazy that we call Rush Hour. I hope while you are here that you enjoy yourself and come back often!

The Rush Family

The Rush Family

My Buddies and Me :)

Search This Blog

hit counter for blogger