The Kreta's ~ Oceanside CA

Catching Up

2010-11-10T12:32:00.000-08:00

Well it has been quite a long time since I posted something and there are a few updates,Megan has started 6th grade this year she started a new school and has another man teacher and has TONS of homework & projects, she also has joined the volleyball team and really likes it, Megan is also getting braces on 11/17/10, she is a little nervous, but she only has to wear them 14-18 months.

Our nephew Shawn & his wife Laura are expecting a little girl on 02/14/11 & our other nephew Adam got married in July to Jasmine and has joined the Navy and is leaving for boot camp in February.

We have added to new members to our family~ bunnies, Squirt & Daisy. Megan has taken on the responsibility of cleaning and feeding them (so far).

Other then that everything is going well.

Love, Robin

Simple & Yummy Salad Recipe

2009-10-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

Fresh Mushroom & Parsley Salad

1 pound large button mushrooms, trimmed,cleaned & thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
2-ounce piece of Parmesan cheese

In medium salad bowl, mix together the mushrooms & parsley.

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil & lemon until smooth, season with salt & pepper to taste.

Add the oil mixture to the salad bowl & toss until everything is coated. Use a vegetable peeler, shave the cheese on top & serve.
**serves 4**

Update

2009-10-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

In August Megan started 5th grade, she has a man teacher and she really likes him. She has a lot more home work this year ,we are usually working on homework to 7:30-8:00 every night.
In September Megan went on her first camping trip with Aunt Eileen & Uncle John she had a really nice time (it was very hard for me to let her go for 3 days) but she really wanted to go and spread her wings.. and spread her her wings she did up over the handle bars on her bike, she came home a little scraped up but she survived :), also in September our baby turned "double digits" the big 10, she had a few friends over for a sleep over/pool party.
That's about it nothing really new or exciting, happy Fall is here (my favorite time of the year)
I can start to bake cookies & breads again and as Megan says "you can start making your vegetable soup again"!.

Take Care
Robin

Happy May

2009-05-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hello !
I've kinda been busy lately so my blogging is a little behind! Nothing really new has happened but I figured I should at least give some sort of up date!
Megan is back in school from spring break (two weeks) she had several projects she had to complete over the break & we actually got them finished early (whew!).
Nothing really new with Dennis & myself just working and puttering around the house. Dennis' brother (from Nebraska) will be in Palm Springs the last week-end in May~ so Megan & I might try to go for a visit?
Dennis & I are going to be a Great Uncle & Aunt, Dennis' nephew Shawn and his wife Laura are expecting in November~ Megan is already talking about the baby shower & babysitting.

Take Care
Robin
xoxo

Yummy Recipe

2009-05-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

*Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri*

What you will need:
12 oz. Flank Steak
2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried red-pepper flakes
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp red-wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt & pepper to taste

How to Make it:
1. To make the chimichurri sauce, mix the vinegar, water,garlic,salt,pepper flakes & black pepper, Whisk in the oil.
2. Preheat grill or grill pan on high, season steak with s&p and place on the hot grill. For medium rare grill 3 to 4 minutes each side.
3. Drizzle the steak with the chimichurri sauce.

Eat with:
A scoop of beans (pinto or black beans) & hot tortillas
****serves 2****

Cancun Vacation

2009-04-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

On March 28th we left on our long awaited vacation to Cancun we left LAX around 9:30am flew to Houston, left Houston around 4pm and arrived in Cancun around 5:45 pm and then drove to our resort which was about 30 minutes from the airport. We could not believe how beautiful the resort was... It was very very windy when we arrived and stayed that way the whole week, most of the days it was very windy & overcast but the sun did pop out every once in a while. We slept with the windows open so we could hear the ocean all night & it was just lovely to wake up and see the ocean from our bed.
Sunday we had a nice brunch at the restaurant at the villas that overlooked the ocean I can't tell how pretty it was, after breakfast we took the bus to Wal-Mart for groceries and back then we just went to the pool for a little while. On Tuesday we went a place called Market 28 it was a huge flea market, we did a little shopping, had lunch, Megan got her hair braided and Dennis had a margarita while he waited for us. Then back on the bus back to the villas and went for a little swim.
Wednesday went took a 12 hour tour of Chichen Itza, under ground swimming caves & a Mayan village. Our guide was very informative about the Mayan people and their way of life, it was very interesting that there was a scientific reason for the way everything was built & the symbolism. The saddest part was driving through the actual Mayan village to see how these people live. It was very heart breaking to see the little children, they wash their clothes & dishes in a sink outside.
They live mostly on corn (which they plant) and maybe a pig or chicken. Most of the children wind up with only a 6th grade education if they are lucky, education is taught in Spanish which the Mayan children do not speak or read.
Megan realized what lucky little girl she is to have food & clothing & education.

View from the top of the cave, you had to take about 100 steps
down to swim.

Megan & Dennis said the water was very cool & refreshing, there were lots of fish which was a great concern of Megan's, she did not want Dennis jumping in the water and landing on the fish.

Thursday & Friday we just hung out at the pool & beach ~Friday night we took Megan to a place called Chocolate City (she was in heaven) her and daddy ordered a chocolate fondue to share, let me tell you this was the biggest fondue platter I have ever seen, it had everything you could image to dip in chocolate and they pretty much cleaned the platter .

This guy lives (we several of his relatives) in & on the ruins on the resort property.

We had a relaxing & wonderful time,

We think we might have to return in 2011.

Take care ,

xoxo

Robin

Palm Springs Get Away

2009-01-31T13:58:00.000-08:00

We went to Palm Springs for a long weekend 01/16-01/19, and it was really nice to get away from everyday life for a few days & not have to think about anything.

We took the Tram up to the mountains on Saturday and spent most of the day there playing in the snow & having snowball fights. (this was the first time Megan saw snow & she loved it!)
Then we came down from the mountain & went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

On Sunday we spent some time at the pool & water slide and then went to Dennis' mom's house for a bbq.
It has been a hectic month, first Megan got sick with a terrible infection she was on antibiotics for 10 days.

Robin

Happy New Year

2009-01-03T16:33:00.000-08:00

We have a new year ahead of us, we have some exciting trips planned & Megan will celebrate her 10th birthday, she is very excited about turning 10 in her words "I can't believe I will be in the double digits"

In January we are planning a long week-end to Palm Springs (hopefully we can ride the Tram if it is not to windy) March we are planning a vacation to Cancun ( Megan is hoping to go horseback riding on the beach & get her hair beaded & braided??)~ In August to Carmel (just to relax & see some new & exciting sites) and hopefully Megan & I can squeeze in a trip to Michigan to visit my parents.

We had a nice time on Thanksgiving (week) we were able to see Jena baptized and on Thanksgiving was able to spend time with all the Kreta's/Zickefooses/Jones families, Ken & Wendy came in from Nebraska & Marty,Marcina,Josh & Jena from Tennessee.

Christmas was also very nice, We went to the Zickefoose's and later in the day went to my sisters.

Well that's it for now.
Robin

Celabrations

2008-09-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

September has been full of celebration's for our family.
1st ~ We welcomed a new member of the Kreta clan, Jena Kreta was born on 09/11/08 & Megan can not wait to see her at Thanksgiving, she is thrilled to have a new baby girl cousin.
2nd ~ We celebrated Megan's 9th birthday ( I can't believe she is 9 already). We went to Los Angeles for the weekend and went to the American Girl Place, she got a new doll ~ Mia and of course a few new outfits. We then walked around the Farmers Market had lunch and then back to the hotel for swimming. Dennis left Sunday morning for Colorado & a short weekend visit to Nebraska to see Ken & Wendy.
Hurray!! Fall is here, I love fall... it is my favorite season of year...

Arizona/New School Year

2008-08-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

We are back from vacation and had great time, the weather was good, the warmest it got was 104 this we could handle not like a few years ago when it was 114 (yuk).. on Tuesday Dennis went to a Padres/Diamondback game with his co-workers (Padres lost). We just hung out at the lazy river/water slide, and went shopping. We did not see one drop of rain :( and no thunderstorms at all :(....

Monday was the 1st day of 4th grade for Megan and she loves it.. :) when I picked her up from school and asked her how her day was she said "AWESOME" I love my teacher and my school, she found out that they will be taking 2 field trips this year.. 1 on a plane to Sacramento and 1 they are going to spend a night on a Pirate ship, she is very excited about this school year.

Well that's about it for now.

Arizona Vacation

2008-08-14T20:54:00.001-07:00

Well it's that time of year again, we are heading to Arizona for a nice relaxing vacation. Megan is bringing a friend and is very excited. We are hoping to get a little golf in but I think we will be mostly swimming and trying to keep cool... I am hoping for a few good thunderstorms (it is monsoon season) rain & thunderstorms .. I just love them and I do not get to see (or hear) to many of them in San Diego.

Maui Vacation

2008-08-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

We went on our long awaited Hawaiian vacation... and it was beautiful.. Dennis & Megan went parasailing, and we also went to a LUAU, once Megan saw them digging the pig out of the ground she decided she would just eat steak :).The weather was absolutely perfect, high 70's-low 80's and it was not humid at all. A wonderful time was had by all.One day we flew to Oahu and spent the day with Marilyn & Joanie, We went to Hilo Hatties for some shopping, and then on to Pearl Harbor & The Palace & The Punch Bowl. Then went to a lovely dinner @ Macaroni Grill and then Marilyn & Joanie got us back to the airport with 15 minutes to spare:).