Easiest chocolate chip muffins!

Had to post these coz they are a favorite! Not too sweet and super easy.
Since I use a mini muffin pan, I go for the mini chocolate chips..

Another Birthday!

Well I just has another birthday. I don't like the whole getting older thing but I did have an enjoyable day with my family & friends. I spent the morning with some friends then Joe met Maria and I for lunch. Then I had ribs taken out for supper for Joe to bbq.. now normally Joe does a really good job with the bbq... However this was not one of those times! I had been out at my exercise class and as I was driving home I got the following messages..

"We have a major problem with dinner"

"I suspect the ribs are inedible"

"Because they are on fire!!!!!!!!!"

I'll post the picture one if these days! But ut was an enjoyable birthday regardless!

Yes finally a music program...

So my sister at least will be happy to know that Maria and I are starting a music class this friday. Its a class of about 10 kids and their parent/caregiver, plus the teacher of course. We'll be doing some sort of interactive music songs and instrumental activities as far as I can tell. I'll let you know in a few days how it goes!

Here's the webpage for the international group http://www.musictogether.com/Home
And here's the local one where we'll be! http://www.creatingsomething.com/

Merry Christmas and Holy cow its a new year!

Well merry Christmas to all and thanks for the Christmas cards! We had a good holiday, slightly hectic but not as much as normal and slightly sick tho Christmas day we survived with no puking! (Maria had a stomach bug the week before Christmas but seemed better until the day after Christmas.. All better now THANKFULLY!)

Here are a few pictures from the holiday.

Some Christmas crafts Maria and a couple of her cousins did together.

Helping set out luminaries

House all decorated on Christmas Eve.

Apparently this Santa was friendly..
even if he was more expensive...

Yes she is trying to run away from Santa....

Maria's fist Ballet recital

Last week Maria got to be in her first ballet recital. Obviously Christmas themed, she was a snowflake and did tap dancing to "Let it snow".

She enjoyed it and was as good as any 4 year old dancing in a recital!

This is from the dress rehearsal, she is second from the left.

Tamales

A New Mexican Christmas tradition is making tamales. You make them by spreading masa (dough in Spanish) onto corn husks. Then you add some pork and red chile to the center and roll it up! After they're all rolled up you steam them for an hour or so until cooked and then unroll the husk and (usually) add more red chile before eatting! We make these yesterday with most of Joe's family.
Maria got a taste of them for the first time and tho she didn't love it she ate it with few complaints! Hers didn't have the chile.

Masa and meat/chile mix

All rolled up

Mine and a little one for Maria

Wow, almost December!

So its been a while since I posted any news. Its been a busy time with good and bad events.

After getting home from our Canada visit we decided (well I decided.. Joe gave me a dirty look and then reluctantly agreed) it was time to put new flooring in most of our house. We've had the house over 7 years and have been planning to do it for oh about 7.5 years! It looks really nice.

This isn't the finished picture because I apparently haven't taken one yet! Little Maria absolutely loves to clean the floor for me tho... either with the swiffer seen above or with her knees..

The bad event was, as most people reading this will know, my sister-in-law passing away Nov. 10th due to complications from a surgery she had. Saying its been hard on the family I think is an understatement even if we all look ok on the surface.

Also, we just had thanksgiving at my house, which was yummy and the company was good!

Not to forget little Maria turning 4! Its hard to believe how she's developed into such an amazing little person over the past 4 years. Obviously, being her mother I think she's the most amazing kid ever! Hahaha! She never fails to make me laugh, smile and raise my eyebrows in amazement every single day.

We had a pinata at her party.... poor thing never stood a chance... the pinata I mean... Maria's face is priceless!!!

And somewhere in here we managed to get a few family pictures taken! We skipped the inside studio this year and tramped our way through the fall leaves to get some really nice pictures.

Now its time to get ready for Christmas and a new year....