Amazing

I'm blogging about these lemon bars because I don't think anyone should go another day without knowing about them.

I have no desires to meet any celebrities because I imagine the conversation that Billy Corgan or whoever and I would have and it's always really, really, awkward. David Lebovitz is the exception. I'm reading his book, The Sweet Life in Paris, and I've been reading his blog since Nathaniel and I got an ice cream maker three years ago and I stumbled upon his amazing ice cream recipes. His writing is addicting: not only because it's about all my hobbies - baking, foreign languages, and France - but it also makes him seem like such an fun guy to chat with, despite his claims that he's best enjoyed at arm's length. And I admit, I love it that he's gay and he doesn't hate Mormons. Oh, and he was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse for thirteen years and has written several cookbooks, so you can always trust his recipes.

So when he tells me to put an entire lemon (minus the seeds) into my lemon squares, I do it. I don't need the comments from the blog post that say, "These lemon bars were DIVINE!" and "Finally a lemon bar that tastes like my fantasies," and "I'll never use another recipe." I just do it and feel so happy that I made something so beautiful and delicious. And that I only used one lemon that the juice of half of another lemon, instead of the four I usually need for other recipes. 

David's Lemon Squares. Mine looked just as good.

Here is the link. If you're going to make lemon bars, please just forget about your old recipe and use David's. (Yes, in my head we're on a first-name basis.)

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She Can Pray

Prayer is important. It's one of my favorite rituals - a time to stop and remember there's a lot to be grateful for, and a time to remember that God is involved in the details of our lives and is willing to help us every step of the way if we just ask. It's been really fun teaching Summer about prayer. I really wonder what exactly she thinks we're doing when we pray. Regardless, every night and before meals we pray. Sometimes we can get her to say it, feeding her the words and directing her attention to the good things in life. Sometimes, she'll say the whole prayer herself without help, which always goes: "Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Amen."

Until last night. Last night, as we sat down for dinner, I asked Summer to say the prayer. She said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for this food. Thank you for the chicken, and the tacos, and the water, and mommy. Bless our bodies. Amen."

I think she was really hungry, because tonight when I asked her to say the prayer, she said, "The ball! I get the ball and I put it in my crib."

Eh, whatever. She's cute.

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Is My Daughter Normal?

Things Summer likes:

• Onions (plain or cooked)
• Eggs over easy
• Cucumbers
• Hunks of plain butter
• Broccoli
• Zucchini
• Oatmeal (this she gets really excited about)
• Plain yogurt

Things Summer doesn't like:

• Ramen
• Mac and cheese
• Chicken nuggets (unless they're from McDonald's)
• Scrambled eggs

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The sad story of our camera and hair success!

On President's Day, we went to Idaho to hang out with Nathaniel's friends and go snowmobiling and live like cowboys. It was great fun. Nathaniel dressed Summer up in her snowsuit and she looked like a little purple marshmallow. He took pictures, and since then we haven't seen our camera. It's so sad. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to grab our camera and capture a memorable moment, like yesterday when Summer got into bright fuchsia nail polish at Forever 21 and decorated her face, hands, and tummy with it before I realized what happened.

However, we have awesome neighbors who are willing to entertain odd requests like "will you please take a picture with us and e-mail it to me?" It's not a favor I would usually ask for, but this was an important moment in our family history and I had to have photographic proof.

Summer and I were hanging out on my bed, and she started brushing out my pony tail. We were just talking, when she suddenly decided she wanted something. Eventually, she directed us to the bathroom where we keep her completely unused mini elastics. She picked up it up and said she wanted it!

I've always felt like a slightly sub-par mother (but not really) (but a teeny bit) because I never do anything with Summer's hair. Once I was determined to give her a pony tail so I captured her, held her in between my legs, and did my best. After about three minutes of intense screams and sobs (Summer's, not mine), I gave up.

Is it weird that putting a little elastic in Summer's hair in about ten seconds, with not hatred or terror but  delight and excitement from Summer, made me so happy? If I want to do her hair, I just need to put mine in an elastic and, because she's confused and has a lot to learn, Summer wants to be just like me! Yay!


Behold, Summer's hair:

Sure, it's a little crooked, but I was not about to take any chances with a re-do.

I promise I tried really hard to get Summer to smile. And yeah, I probably had too much fun with color fill and contrast. 

These pictures also make me think I should try to put myself together a little more. Maybe do something with my hair and wear something else besides black t-shirts.

Nah.

By the way, thank you so much for everything you all said about the miscarriage. I really felt a lot of love. You guys are so great.

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