Thai Peanut Slaw a la Trader Joe's.

I want to share a recipe, but I don't have a photo for you, so you will have to take my word (and B's) for it. I got the recipe from the lady at the sample table at Trader Joe's the other day.

Now, I have shopped at many different Trader Joe's throughout the years, and the current location is one of my least favorites. The parking situation is pretty good, the aisles are actually wide enough to get the carts through and there aren't horrible lines when you're erady to check out. What's the problem, then? The sample table SUCKS. Other TJ sample tables will have great new items, tasty recipes, super friendly staff, but our neighborhood store has a grumpy older woman who always has the most uninspired food. One time she offered a scoop of potato salad with a piece of hamburger bun. Huh?

Anyway, the other day, there was a new, fresher, happier girl working the table and she was offering samples of a Thai Peanut Coleslaw. It couldn't be easier to put together. B ate almost the whole bowl. The kids weren't so into it, but that's OK because it just left more for us, I mean B.

Thai Peanut Slaw a la Trader Joe's

1 bag shredded green cabbage
1/2 bag shredded carrots
1/2 c. (or so) raisins
1/2 c. (or so) peanuts
Asian Style Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette to taste (I used about half the bottle)

Mix all the ingredients together and enjoy! (I served this with grilled chicken tenders and called it a meal.)

The Home Stretch.

We are heading into the final days of our tomato season. This makes us very sad as we certainly haven't had our fill, despite the loads we got off the plants this year. I especially liked these small plum-shaped tomatoes. B didn't write down the name of the variety, so we will have to save some seeds for next year. Aren't they pretty? A bowl of perfectly ripe tomatoes from the garden that still have that fuzz on them never fails to make me warm and fuzzy inside.

To Market, To Market.

The kids and I (with friend Elise who has been visiting us this past two weeks) had an especially nice trip to the farmer's market yesterday morning. The kids were happy, cooperative, sweet and all around perfect. They are not always like this at the same time, or even usually like this, come to think of it.
C-Man hanging out at Barry's stand. He rearranged all those tomatoes. And he was in such a good mood, he didn't even rip off his dorky sun hat.
JuJu didn't take her paws off the Kettle Korn until every last kernel was eaten.
See? Happy brother and sister.
There was lots of hugging and hand-holding with these two.
They even sat quietly and listened to the music.
She even shared her strawberry lemonade...I am telling you, this never happens!

Miss Perfect Posture.

My little man laid down in my lap? Who are these kids?

33 Weeks.

Nothing too exciting to report baby-wise this week. Appointments going well, baby moving a lot, and we are zero-ing in on a few names, although nothing feels for sure. Thanks for all the great suggestions, by the way! Let me know if you have more.

Quite Possibly the World's Best Summer Beverage.

If we are talking about non-alcoholic drinks, that is. Which is my world for the time being.

This watermelonade is KILLER. First had it last summer at Lisa's house for Supper Club. We had pulled pork sandwiches and some great salads as I recall. She also provided vodka with which to spike said killer watermelonade.

Also, where can I get a beautiful drink pitcher like that? Love.

photo by roland bello for gourmet

In Case You Missed It the First Time Around (Like I Did).

I realize many, many of you have already seen this. It isn't exactly new, but it is to me. I don't watch TV (I guess it was on the Today show?) and I never open video attachments in emails (sorry, I'm bad like that). So I missed this first time around. But my friend Elise made me watch it today, and I haven't been able to lay off the replay button since. It is so sweet and it really, really, really makes me want to go to a wedding just like it.

32 (Plus) Weeks.

I took this photo a few days late. Baby continues to be super duper active, especially at night when I am *trying* to sleep. Mom and dad continue to be super duper stumped on names. Really not good considering we don't know the sex and need a girl and a boy's name, not to mention middle names. Help!

A Little Down.

Today is sort of a melancholy day. You see, we were supposed to be returning from a family vacation to France and Italy this evening. We had planned a sort of "last hurrah" type trip before the baby comes. (Travelling with three small children sounds so much harder than two, doesn't it?)

But, as you know, things got a little wonky for us this summer, so we decided to cancel the trip. It was a good decision. But still. It makes me sad to know we missed out on such a great trip. I'd like to think we are going to reschedule sometime soon. But there is that issue of the third child coming. Yeah, that.

So, I'm having a normal-ish busy Monday morning, instead of flying home from a trip. Hey, at least I'm not trying to entertain/sooth two small children in a cramped seat in coach, right??

My Boy Is Four.

I truly cannot believe it, but my boy is four.

After 24 hours of labor, three hours of pushing (yes, three) and two vacuum extraction attempts, you arrived four years ago today at about 9:30 at night. We were so happy, relieved and finally, in a way, complete.

And here you are today. This picture will always remind me of who you are: a careful, thoughtful person, who always, always looks out for his little sister.

When Left to Their Own Devices.

I thought I was so smart putting the kids out on the balcony to do some painting (rather than at the dining room table). Next thing I know, they are both naked. And looking like this:

To Say I Am Smitten With This Girl Is a Total and Complete Understatement.

She's sweet, she's fun, she's happy....what more could a mom ask for?

Week 31.

It is really hitting me how soon this baby is going to be here. Although I was almost 2 weeks late with C-Man, I was 3 weeks early with JuJu, so I have to get prepared pretty quick here. Luckily (I think), with the third, it's mostly just mental preparation that needs to be made.

A Simple Summer Salad.

I don't mean to brag, but in the last two nights, my husband has made two salads from Mark Bittman's 101 Simple Salads for the Season (a list featured in the NYT a couple of weeks ago). I especially liked the one from last night....a tomato and peach salad with red onion, cilantro and red pepper. Sweet, spicy, tangy -- it had all the good stuff. Not to mention, he used a bunch of tomatoes from our garden. Check out those beautiful green zebra heirlooms.

Nostalgia.

For some reason, I have been terribly nostalgic lately. Listening to NPR today (don't ask), I was reminded how happy this song has always made me. Reminds me of that eternally optomistic feeling of youth. Circa 15 years old. In the summertime. You know what I'm talking about, right?

Week 30 (Plus a Couple of Photos of the Kids I'm Loving).

I like these of the kids. They were taken last month on C-Man's last day of school.