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by: Kara Noel Lawson

Fierce Ostrich at the Santa Ana Zoo

Auntie Sarah, being the best Auntie ever took Eli around “to animals.” We were lucky to catch this moment on film…

The Fierce Ostrich nipped Auntie Sarah!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Eli’s Birthday at the Santa Ana Zoo

We like birthdays!
Around here we use birthdays as an excuse to get together with friends. We nix the gifts (though a few friends brought some, thank you!) and just par-tay.
This year we had a double birthday party with Eli’s Best Buddy, Iris. Their birthdays are only 2 months apart so we had the party smack-dab in the middle.
(Having a double party is an awesome way to cut costs AND if you have a lot of the same friends then they don’t have to give up two Saturdays for two parties).
The favors were adorable. (Each one was under $1.00… contents included!)
See… While we (Hot Hubby) was packing the wagon to lug all our stuff to the SAZOO party area Iris’ cake was dropped.
“Oh, she won’t even notice” (We thought)
She noticed.
We told her it was the “adult cake” and that her Uncle Eric was going to get her “real cake.”
Luckily, she bought it. Luckily Uncle Eric and (hopefully soon-to-be-Aunt) Keri high tailed it to the store and bought a new cake. Iris got to put the animals on it, and all was well.The Santa Ana Zoo is an awesome place for a birthday!
REALLY!(FYI – I’m not getting paid to say that. I PAID to have the birthday there)
There are a few party areas. We were in the SAZOO area, which is the farthest walk BUT has loads of grassy area for kiddos to go wild while the adults chat. It was awesome!(The little fellows below have known each other since birth!)
We noticed Cora had a lot of extra energy.
“She’s practically bouncing off the walls… we might need to lock her in the monkey cage… ha ha ha.”
I wonder why… During the Happy Birthday Song Eli was giddy. I mean he was just glowing. It was adorable and I wish we had it on video.

Just before the party was going to wrap up I had the bright idea to get a picture with ALL the kiddos (there were 27).
I know… it is always a huge pain in the a$& to do but it’s so worth it later!
I mean who knows? One of these shots may be in a wedding slide show someday!?!
We started lining them up…
…and adding more…

…and adding more…

…and adding more…

…yep, more… (we know how to procreate… next year there will be at least 5 more!)

…GO!!!

(Notice one little guy, Noah from Mom Mode, in the front row is wearing his Eli’s Lid. Thanks Dude.)
That’s everybody… except Mia and Jacob who were asleep.
The party was quick (only an hour with the package we bought) then families got to have their own family fun at the zoo.

Included in the party package is a ticket for the train for each kiddo. The parents have to pay. It’s $3 a ticket… which I think is beyond steep! When I take the kiddos on a normal day we never go on it. It’s $9 for the 3 of us to go on 1 time. If it was $1 we would go every time… probably even twice!
(Dear Santa Ana Zoo, You should really lower the train and carousel price. Though the rides are fun, they are WAY overpriced. The carousel at Fashion Island is only $1 and the train at the Irvine Spectrum is only $2 AND you don’t have to pay to get in. Show some love during this slow economy. AND I know you would make more money… from me at least! Warmly, KN) By 3ish Cora was konked out in YaYa’s arms…

Then hot hubby and I got some fun alone birthday time with the Birthday Boy.
(If you think the fact that they are both wearing green is a coincidence, you are sadly mistaken. You know I love matching! Cora and I are both wearing pink and the kiddos are both in stripes. No matter how you slice it all outfits will “flow” in the pictures.)

Happy 3rd Birthday Eli Benjamin!
We are so proud to be your parents.
When we found out you were coming it was a total surprise and you continue to surprise us everyday with your silly sense of humor, your sweet compassion and your natural ability to be AWESOME!

(If I look tired in this picture, it’s because I was!)

by: Kara Noel Lawson

How Smoking Saved the B-day Cake

My sister smokes.

(Though I think she is trying to quit)
I hate it.
I’m not anti-smoker or anything.
(Yes I am)
We had Eli’s Bithday party at the zoo and we forgot a lighter…
Hot Hubby – “We forgot a lighter. Does anyone here smoke?”
Me – “None of our friends smoke.”
Hot Hubby & Me – “Sarah!”
The only time I have ever told her I’m thankful she smokes…
During the Happy Birthday Song Eli was glowing. It was beyond adorable!!More on the Zoo Birthday to come!!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Halloween 2009

Axl Rose and I putting on lip gloss
(I love my girl!!)

Candy swiper…We got this Trick-Or-Treating thing down.
And it’s serious business…

You can’t argue with this kind of cute! Moms and Dads get the candy tax.

Next year we are going to have candy picking training sessions so the kiddos know what candy not to pick (i.e. candy corn, dum dums, gum balls, atomic fireballs, anything sour, 3 musketeers) and what candies to pick (i.e. snickers, mr. goodbar, tiwx, starburst, milky way, skittles, peanut m&ms).

by: Kara Noel Lawson

OC Family

I’ve been busy.
(Who isn’t? Ha!)
I mean, I’ve been busy with something super fun!
(OK OK, what mom isn’t busy with somthing fun. Ha!)
Mmmmmm…
What I mean to say is…
OC Family asked lil’ ole’ me to be their craft blogger on their website!
How cool is that!?!?
Now I when I want to sew or make something awesome I can say…
“I need to work.”
.
Check out the three posts I’ve already done:
Make your own Halloween Costumes (you may have already seen this on my blog)
Eventually that awesome OC Family button in my sidebar –>>
will be a direct link to my blog at OC Family.
(button made by Marcy @ The Glamorous Life)
.
My favorite part of this whole deal-e-o is that I get to “work” with some awesome bloggers!
See…
Check out their blogs and be sure to add them to your readers. They all rock!
Promise!
Kelly @ According to Kelly
Lorna @ Calif Lorna
Arceley @ Daytripping Mom
Allison @ Green Mom
Beckey @ Hippo Brigade

‘m on the right frolicking in the water. It was a great day and I would have loved to jump all the way in!
I also LOVED my outfit that day. So I’m going to break down it’s coolness…
Skirt: Bright yellow lace from Anthropologie only $29.95 on sale!
Top: From OC online boutique called Ruche (how appropriate!)
Boots: $22.50 at ROSS. FYI I’m obsessed with these boots. They have my heart.

Photos taken by Dana Sipper from Sipper Photography.Sipper Photography is a husband/wife team and they are AWESOME!!!
Great blog and stunning work. Their latest blog post is about their trip to New Orleans!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Happy Haunting {yummy crock pot Tortilla Soup recipe}

Blessings on this “holiday” from our family to yours!happy halloween tortilla soupSilly photo effects done at Picnik!crock pot tortilla soup

Wondering what to make tonight?
Try this EASY croc pot recipe (I got it from my friend Rachael). It is delicious! It’s really more of a stew than a soup. It’s thick so it can stand on it’s own for an easy meal.

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Makes 6-8 servings:
4 chicken breast halves (option to cube)
2 15-oz cans black beans, undrained
2 15-oz cans Mex stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
4-oz can chopped green chilies
14.5-oz can tomato sauce
tortilla chips
2 c grated cheese

1. Combine all ingredients (except chips and cheese) – I only use 2 chicken breasts for two adults, two toddlers, and there are still some leftovers.
2. Cover – cook on Low for 7-8 hours (or on med-high for 4-6 hours)
3. Just before serving, remove chicken and cut up (I cube the chicken so I don’t have to do this step) and then mix back in
4. To serve, put a handful of chips in each soup bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese, sour cream, Tabasco, avocado, etc.
5. Enjoy! Super easy!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Tanaka Farms is awesome for Picking Pumpkins

Picking Pumpkins at Tanaka Farms is a thing!Picking Pumpkins at Tanaka Farms

 

Picking Pumpkins at Tanaka Farms

Picking Pumpkins at Tanaka Farms in a tutu
Eli’s class took at trip to the Tanaka Farm Pumpkin Patch. Hot Hubby took a long lunch and we had a delightful afternoon… mostly…

The tractor ride takes you through huge beautiful fields (in the middle of OC… it’s strange) to the petting zoo…

 

Cora Jane had a bit of a “thing” for a certain goat. She wouldn’t stop hugging it which was pretty gross.

Eli had to go potty in the middle of the Corn Maze. We may or may not have watered some corn… Then you get to pick carrots, radishes, green beans and onions right out of the ground!! A few days later I put everything together for a slow cooker pot roast.
YUMMY!!

After I buckled Eli in I noticed Cora was eating a lollipop.
Where she got it… we’ll never know!!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Produce at The Swapper

How much do you think all this produce cost?
$30?
$40?
$50?
$10!!!
The box on the left was $3 the box on the right was $7.
I’m a Swapper produce veteran now… but let me tell you about my first time…
Circa October 2008 I heard through the grapevine that the OC Marketplace had great deals on produce. The one tip I got was to get there near closing time (4pm).
I arrived at 3:45pm.
There was a huge crowd of people around the produce.
Right after I joined the gaggle a seasoned veteran took me under her wing (I must have been an obvious swapper virgin). I reached for a basket. She touched my arm and said, “Wait honey.”
“OK”
The seller yelled, “Bag of grapes, $1.” The bags were huge!
I looked at my mentor
She shook her head, “Not yet.”
A few minutes later “3 bags of grapes, $1!!”
Surely it can’t get any better than that!
I was itching to start loading my basket.
“Wait” my mentor said
About 5 minutes later “5 bags of grapes, $1”
“NOW!”
It was a free for all. It was about 4:30 and the deals were crazy!!!

Moral of the Story:
Get to The Swapper at 4pm (it’s free that late in the day) and wait till the deals are crazy. Though the longer you wait the less the pickings!
I’m talking basket of strawberries for .50 cents. Bag of artichokes $1. You name it!! They want to get rid of everything because they can’t keep it for the next weekend.

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Things you should know about the OC Marketplace

There is a short list of some of the greatness of the OC Marketplace.
Or as we call it around here “The Swapper.”
1. More people drink beer at 9am than you think.
2. While you are setting up don’t tell the umbrella sales men next to your space that you sell umbrellas too, but for $5 cheaper. (They won’t talk to you for the rest of the day.) 3. Old men in designer jeans look stupid.
4. The Chocolate dipped ice cream is delish. 5. If you put trick-or-treating candy out parents will grab and go without making eye contact.
6. Very few parents enforce manners. 7. If you were looking for a place to wear your umbrella hat, you’ve found it… 8. Jack in the Crack at 5am is heaven in a bun. 9. If you look at any clothes long enough you consider buying. 10. You might meet a delightful pirate named Captain Edward James Teague. He is awesome! Check out his info here.11. I love my husband. 12. Eli’s Lids ROCKS… …and I’m thinking of some new styles inspired of The Swapper.