Weekend with Grandma

We spent Saturday going for a long walk, working on our vegetable garden, and ended the day with a trip to the beach. We loved having Grandma up for the weekend!

Sister Love

Happy Mothers Day!

My Mothers Day was perfect. I started the day off with waffles with the girls. I than headed to Portsmouth for lunch and shopping with the first mother I ever met, mine. And another fabulous mother, my sister.

A Mother's Day journal that Ben started, in the place of Hallmark cards every year. This will be a cherished item of mine, full of memories written by the girls (when they can write) every Mother's Day.

I came home from Portsmouth to this in the driveway.

Late afternoon bike ride to Pine Point on the Eastern Trail. Amazing weather for a bike ride.

We left the Eastern Trail and went to get ice cream. Mackenna finished her ice cream first and helped sister eat the rest of hers.

A perfect ending to our day.

Checking In

Although I have debated officially "ending" my blog, since my life can't accommodate with keeping up with it, I haven't quite decided on that yet. I spend my days working at a busy management company, photographing nights and weekends as Maine Moments Photography (www.mainemomentsphoto.com,) and working with Ben on DIY projects around the house. And in every free moment, enjoying my most important and rewarding job as the Mom of Mackenna and Dakota. However, until I decide where I am going with this blog, I don't want to gap too long between updating with happenings of the girls. Here is a general update of the two of my girls.

Mackenna
Mackenna is an amazing 3 1/2 year old. She is strong willed, outgoing (or whatever the extreme opposite of shy is,) energetic, a creature of habit, and a caring sister. She is a total girl in all definitions of the gender. Loves princesses, dress up, accessories, fairy tales, and castles. She also loves to play with her babies and get them dressed, put them to bed, and read them stories. Her favorite books right now are any in the "David" series, Amelia Bedelia, and "Love You Forever." She loves to chant, "back and forth, back and forth, back and forth" as we read that book.

Mackenna is extremely stubborn. Most people say, she knows what she wants. Its hard to turn her away from something that she has set her mind to.

When she wakes up, she asks if its a "stay home day" or a "school day." She loves stay home days. Her routine for almost every morning is to wake up, go check on her sister, than go downstairs and have a bowl of oatmeal. If oatmeal could be an addiction, she would be diagnosed with it. Her favorite foods are hamburgers, mac and cheese, pasta, tuna fish, grilled chicken (never fried or breaded,) corn, chocolate chip pancakes with Grandma or Nana, and rice. She says that her best friends are Mommy, Daddy and Kota.  She calls Dakota her "little sweetie." When she sees Dakota after a day at Lil Folks Farm, she immediately says "I missed you, you little sweetie." She cannot wait until her sister can say Kenna, or until she can talk in general. Mackenna likes to do everything herself. Pick out her own snack, make her own lunch, brush her own hair, and create her own outfit.

At home, Mackenna loves to garden or ride her bike outside. If inside, she loves to put Frozen on and act out any scene that involves Elsa and singing. She puts clothes on her sister, and dresses her as a princess. Dakota doesn't seem to mind.

Mackenna and I have a lot of special time right now. Often times when Ben is gone for the night traveling for work, we cuddle up on the couch and watch a show together. She always wants us to be tucked under the same blanket. She always wants me to be happy. "Are you happy Mom? I want you to be happy." is a phrase we hear often.

Mackenna talks about her red hair a lot, and so does everyone else who meets her. Its fiery and bold, just like her personality. She's just started to get freckles in.

When I pick Mackenna up from school, she gives me a giant hug and says I love you mommy, I've missed you so much. Words cannot describe how much our growing relationship means to me. I'll spend forever being her mom and friend, and I only hope I can do both with balance and success.

Dakota
Little (big) Dakota is such a sweetheart. Mackenna is right. She is the goofiest 15 month old I've ever met. Loves to play. Play anything. Peekaboo, clap, hide, hand things to people. As long as you are engaging with her, even the simplest task is fun for Dakota. She is a healthy girl, near the 100th percentile for her height and weight. She has an appetite for almost any food you throw her way. She particularly likes peas, corn, kale smoothies, and fish sticks.

She doesn't do anything she doesn't feel comfortable with. Right now she is working on standing independently. We know walking will come soon. She can say Momma, Dadda, and Bye. She waves, and blows kisses. She keeps up with the big kids at daycare, and any friends Mackenna has over to play. When she sees her sister, her face lights up. She loves to snuggle on me, and sometimes lifts her head just to smile.

Her most stunning feature is her big blue eyes. People comment lately on how much of a twin she is with Ben.

Dakota loves music. Dancing, singing, or just hearing a song. She always moves to a tune. We cannot imagine our family with out little Dakota.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from The Siemens! 

We had a great day. It started off with the girls looking out the window to see if they could find the Easter bunny, and than they noticed their baskets by the hearth. It felt like a mini Christmas morning. This Easter was extra special, as we celebrated Stella's 2nd birthday at the McGuire's house.

Hmm, what do we have in here?

All dressed up for Easter!

Dakota bunny. 

All of the cousins at Stella's. Ages: 3..2..1.

These two are only nine month's apart!

Family Photo

Happy Birthday to my favorite niece. I love you Stella! 

I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you.

Baja Fish Tacos

[Recipe from OnceUponAChef.com]

For the Cabbage Slaw

• 5 cups (or one 10-ounce bag) shredded red cabbage
• 3 tablespoons minced red onion
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro

• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Chipotle Sauce

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's
• 2 tablespoons lime juice, from one lime
• 2-3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (canned), roughly chopped, plus 1-2 teaspoons sauce (see note below)
• 1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped

For the Beer Batter

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup beer

For the Fish and Tortillas

• 1-1/2 pounds skinless cod, cut into 1-inch wide x 4-inch long strips
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 12 (6-inch) soft corn tortillas, warmed
• Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

1. Toss the cabbage, red onion, cilantro, vinegar, oil and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.

1. Combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, chipotle chiles with sauce and garlic in a blender or mini food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
2. Mix the flour, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Gradually add the beer, whisking until the batter is smooth with no lumps. Set aside.
3. In a medium skillet, over medium heat, add enough oil to reach a depth of 1/2-inch. Heat the oil until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F, or when the end of a wooden spoon sizzles when dipped into the oil.

1. Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, dip the fish strips in the beer batter and coat on both sides. Let the excess batter drip off, then fry the fish in the hot oil until golden brown and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

1. 
   
3. Smear each tortilla with a generous amount of the chipotle sauce, then top with the cabbage slaw. Lay one piece of fish inside each tortilla and serve with lime wedges.
5. Note: 3 chipotle peppers and 2 teaspoons sauce will give you a spicy sauce. Use less for a milder sauce. (Ben and I like spicy food, and using 2 peppers with the sauce was just the right amount.)

We've tried a few different fish taco recipes, and this is by far the most delicious. It is the perfect blend of fresh flavors.

Snow City, Maine

In case you haven't heard, we've been dealt a large hand of snow this winter in New England. Despite the freezing temps, these girls needed some fresh air. Out we went. Brrr. I'm still thawing!

Daddy made a hill for sledding out of the snowbanks in our driveway. Ready, set... Go!

Mackenna loves the snow!