so the other day...

Ricky came home from work with a little package.
A mini notebook with a love letter written inside, and this beautiful initial necklace with a lowercase "t".
These are pretty terrible photobooth pictures, but I just wanted to show it off. I love how dainty it is, and I love that it's from my best friend.

Marriage is such hard work. It really is. The longer it goes, the more comfortable you settle in, and the easier it is to be: selfish, impatient, rude, critical, demanding, and the list could go on and on forever.

Ricky continues to fall asleep with forgiveness in his heart, and wake up with hope for a new day - no matter what emotional whirlwind I've put him through.

I'm so thankful for the man He is, and the God within him.

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Love you all!

Justice House of Prayer - San Diego

Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? - Matthew 11:17a

So thankful for our little house of prayer. We must not despise small beginnings, but be thankful for the ever growing dream of God.

4 Months and he's incredible. His favorite things are: drinking milk, playing with his feet, putting his favorite toys in his mouth, sucking on my fingers, pulling my hair, and cracking up at his mom and dad. Everyday I see his personality come through more and more and this parenting things grows sweeter with time, even if it seems impossible to love him more!

He's still as blue eyed, blonde haired, and white skinned as the day he was born, and i just can't hold him without kissing his huge baby cheeks.

Oh, Amos! What a joy.

southpark walkabout, part III

 ready for an exciting evening.

love my husband. love my son.

southpark walkabout, part II

Amos loves loves loves music. He can sit at the prayer room for hours watching the live worship band. He never cries when Ricky starts playing guitar. He moans along (in perfect pitch I like to believe) as I sing to him everyday. He was beyond fascinated by the Johnny Cash cover band playing out of their backyard at the walkabout this weekend.

These are some snapshots of our neighborhood bike store, velo cult, which Ricky swoons over every time we drive by - and a pottery shop down the street.

Amos is napping, a lot I must say - I think he's in a growth spurt. I'm making orange chicken for dinner. I can't wait to update with all the recipes I concured and SLAYED last week. Tilapia with an uppercress salad, kale and white bean soup, pork chops with rosemary potatoes and squash, and a sausage and potato dish that I unashamedly will admit was my favorite.

southpark walkabout, part I

On Saturday our neighborhood had the "Southpark  Walkabout" - where all the little shops and neighborhoods stock their shelves, pass out brownies, and welcome San Diego to our hood. It was a fun evening and I got some pictures of the different places and feel of our area. 

Amos hanging out to Dad for dear life.

saturdays.

 

we found this glorious red wall two blocks from our house. i think it will be the backdrop for many future photoshoots. saturday was mostly "daddy+amos" day - as Ricky changed most of his diapers, picked out his adorable outfit, and took amos on a Costco adventure that was super uneventful. Amos slept through the entire thing.

i've been spending once a week thrift store searching - as Amos has been napping super well in our ergo carrier and gives me a chance to get out of the house. i found this lace fringe top for $2 at a store in our neighborhood. I was planning on cutting a v-neck into it and cutting the sleeves - but i kinda like the feel of it now - and got lots of compliments. on the shirt and the awesome mustard tights from a giving friend joanne! (thanks so much joanne!)

tonight we are going to our first sunday service with jhop. we have decided to add a sunday meeting with a meal, teaching, worship, and fellowship. we are so excited for our ever growing community!

amos @ the park, part I

These were from a couple of weeks ago. One thing about San Diego, you can never complain about the weather. It is just beautiful outside, and it makes time with Amos so enjoyable. Going for walks, relaxing at the park, and soon enough: BEACH TRIPS! Can't wait to make summer memories with my favorite little bud.

Just a lil bit of Amos action!

my boys are so good lookin'

skype dates with family!

oh, how i love them!!!

couscous stuffed bell peppers.

sorry i've been a little MIA lately. ricky got sick, then amos got sick, then my mom visited, then ricky got better, then amos got better - than my mom left. and more and more.

i wanted to start sharing some of my cooking adventures.
i love to cook - and now that i am a stay at home - i love it even more because i have so much time to make early meals!!!

this week was my first attempt at "menu planning"
i found 5 delicious recipes (using ground turkey, tilapia, sausage, chicken, and beans!)
and went grocery shopping for ONLY the items needed for the recipes.
some of the stuff was a bear to find (and may require a second trip to a more 'fancy' grocery store)
like: cornichons? WHATTT?!

this evening i made some couscous-stuffed peppers.
it was quick and easy, especially to cook for one - as mr. valdez has to work late this evening.
amos hung out with me in the kitchen while i worked the cookin' magic!

here's the recipe:

Brown 1/2 pound of ground beef. (I used ground turkey instead because it's better!)
Cook 1/2 cup of couscous according to package directions. (I always add a tad of butter!)
Mix the beef (or turkey), couscous, 4 sliced scallions, 1 cup crumbled Feta, and 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots; season with salt and pepper.
Stuff into 4 hollowed-out bell peppers and bake at 400 degrees F, covered, until tender, 45 to 50 minutes.

My only other variation I had is I cooked them uncovered, on accident, but they still turned out great. And the couscous was toasted on top!!!

oh and next time i may substitute the dried apricots for something else (raisins?) - apricots were too expensive!
ENJOY!