fried rice.

I just had to make two bags worth of fried rice... That's 8 cups of dry rice... many many more cups when cooked.  I suggested the Olympics theme for our monthly "celebration" at work.  Chinese food was the natural progression.  I (the idiot that I am) volunteered to make fried rice.  I was given two bags of rice and cooked every grain. I'm so tired of frying rice!  But to be honest, for my first ever attempt at making fried rice, it isn't half bad.

I'm so excited:  Last night at church I got two wonderful presents.  My friend Marjo gave me some uh-mazing smelling green fig soap as a late birthday gift.  (I love late birthday presents, they make the party go on for weeks!) And I also got some fresh tomatoes from the Parkers.  Keith and Sarah brought these beautiful tomatoes to share with the parishioners of St. John.  Isn't that sweet!? As much as I love the farmer's market, I love produce from friends even more! (My mom works with Keith, they're buddies.)

Tonight I got to hang out at our new priest's home with his sweet daughter Anna Marie.  Kh. Jeanette and Fr. Nicholas are a wonderful recent addition to our parish.  And their little girl (I think she's around 1 year old) is the funniest kid, she's crazy!  We had so much fun hanging out before church while mommy and daddy went out for a quick dinner.  

So, Happy birthday to Kh. Susan's blog: Pen and Palette.  She has been blogging for a year now, and I've been a loyal fan for several months.  Her blog inspired me to venture into the world of blogging. Hers is one of my favorite blogs to check when I have a second (and I make a second for this blog, it rocks.)  Read it... that's an order. 

Here's a toast I commented on her blog after reading her birthday post:

Pen and Palette, I met you for the first time last year after our first dinner group meeting. I was a little skeptical at first, but I was told my picture was featured so I had to check it out. Pretty soon after that first visit I knew we would have a great relationship. 

Dearest Pen and Palette, you've inspired me to start my own blog, taught me, made me laugh out loud, made me cry, and made me decide that you're writer is one of my favorite people in the world. 

Thanks for being here Pen and Palette, here's to many many more birthdays! 

Another happy birthday:  Claire gave birth and now we have another sweet St. John baby.  Her name (I am in love with this name) is Zoe Anne.  How beautiful!  I can't wait to meet her, her auntie Caitlyn is already so in love! 

I need to go to bed now, I'm exhausted!  Don't let me forget to post the AMAZING new vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe I made for the first time yesterday.  I'll try to post it next time.