life with the ladies

Overwhelmed

2011-05-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

-Jer's uncle died last week. We got the job of trying to locate his first family (two daughters and an ex-wife) that he hasn't spoken to in more than 20 years and notify them of his death. We have almost no information to work with. The funeral is Friday and we have sent a few emails but none of them have been returned. No idea if we're barking up the wrong tree or not.
-I had two funky spots removed last week, luckily they both came back with no issues. If they could heal a little faster though, that would be nice.
-Ava has an appointment with a surgeon June 9th to have a mole on her head removed. She is very nervous and of course she starts swim lessons two days later...not sure how that is going to work
-Lily had an appointment today with an ENT and it turns out she needs to have her tonsils and adenoids out. July 11 is the big day and we'll be staying for 24 hours. We're both very nervous. Even though I know it's been done millions of times I still don't like it.

Absent

2011-05-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

My computer has an issue and is possibly dead.

In other news I am kinda unstoppable when I don't have a computer. I have accomplished so much crap in the last few computer-less days.

Hmm...

A new favorite sandwich

2011-04-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

My husband told me to put this sandwich on my blog so I figured what the heck. I have no pictures, we always eat them too fast. This is nothing fancy, it's just regular stuff you might already have, but put together in a way you may not have tried.

What you need...
-some good, hearty bread, I like 7 grain from our local bakery
-a ripe pear, sliced thin
-good cheese, anything with Kraft on the label is no good. Fontina, sharp cheddar, Gouda, Havarti- whatever floats your boat
-Dijon mustard
-salted butter
-deli honey ham, sliced thin or shaved

Now make yourself a grilled cheese out of that stuff, make sure you put some cheese between each layer to help it stick while flipping. Ta-da! Done!

Party Favors

2011-04-25T07:47:00.001-07:00

The ladies had an Easter party at school last week and I was feeling crafty. Coincidentally I came across all of my old scrap booking stuff I used before switching to digital.
Start with 6" squares of paper. Roll them into tubes using a tape runner.

Select some coordinating thread. I used two different colors; one for each side. Sew one end of the tube closed, no need to back stitch, it'll hold. Fill the tubes. Flip them so you are sewing the opposite side closed, sew them and you're done.

Super fast, super easy, and cheap. Just rip the paper to get the goodies out.

Too many ideas and a trip to Joann's

2011-04-13T18:44:00.000-07:00

I should not be allowed in Joann Fabrics, I really shouldn't.

While there today I got the supplies I needed to complete the following projects:

-Two pieces of artwork for guest bedroom

-Two pillows for guest bedroom

-One wreath for the library

-Four lumbar cushions for our patio chairs

I also spray painted an outdoor table and a headboard and cleared out one measly raised bed.

I finished the wreath and one of the pieces of artwork, though I may go back and do more with it tomorrow.

I have a date with my sewing machine tomorrow, it's going to be a long one.

New favorite breakfast

2011-04-06T08:44:00.001-07:00

My family is slightly obsessed with soft boiled eggs and toast. It's a fast and easy breakfast, three minutes once the water boils, and fun to eat.

Why will my kid not let me buy her a pair of shoes?

2011-03-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

I am beyond frustrated with my second child. I have tried three times to buy her some new athletic shoes. Each pair is either ill fitting, ugly (my opinion), or not comfortable (her opinion). She said a pair of chucks was not comfortable because they were "too squishy." I even let her try on a pair of over priced, over bedazzled ones and even they were "not good." This weekend it's going down. Daddy will be attending the next shoe shopping excursion and so help me that child will have shoes of some sort on her feet when that day is finished. In stark contrast my eldest child saw a pair she liked, found her size, tried them on, declared them "perfect" and said she was ready to go. Update: At bathtime I realized the child was covered in hives. Apparently she is allergic to shoes.

Where is my tool belt?

2011-03-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

I used a pneumatic nail gun today and I liked it. Now I want one.

In other news Lily's room is now purple. The office has a new photo/book ledge. The family room is 30% painted and the downstairs hallway is 80% painted.

I have spray painted the following items and have a new appreciation for just how wonderful spray paint is.
-Lily's nightstand (purple)
-Four photo frames (black)
-One plant stand (dark grey)

Oh dear God the paint fumes

2011-03-06T17:29:00.000-08:00

It's late winter and spring is on the horizon, in my house that means painting.

Last year we painted the foyer in February and the half bath and dining room in March and here we are again back at it. I started the office/library last week while Jer was in TX and it's almost finished. The last coat on the trim will be done tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow night the tape will be down, furniture will be moved back, and wall art back up. Perhaps then my head, eyes, and throat will stop hurting.

Family room next or laundry room that is the question. I want to finish the back half of the house in the next 2 weeks. That means I have a bedroom, family room, full bath, and laundry room to paint and I will be in a paint infused haze until the end of March.

Send a respirator.

How do I love thee

2011-02-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today the girls brought home a project they made at preschool. It is a silver cupcake liner with a small "chocolate" in the middle. On the chocolate is written the question, "Why do you love your Mom and Dad?" The answer they gave is written on the bottom of the "chocolate."

Ava's answer was "Dad plays 'Epic Mickey' and Mom plays 'Angry Birds' with me.

Lily's answer was "Because Daddy fights with me and Mom cooks Brussels sprouts anytime."

What's black and white and stinky?

2011-02-24T05:08:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning ans walked downstairs and was hit with skunk smell. I turned the light on outside and slowly and noisily opened the door to let Marty out. A minute later I saw a skunk run under the car while Marty chased it out in the yard. Luckily the dog listened to me when I told him to stop and he didn't get sprayed. Still we were left with his eau de le stink wafting in through the back door.

Lily woke up shortly after and came downstairs with a crinkled up nose. This is the conversation that followed.

M: Good morning baby, kinda stinky down here huh?
L: I thought there was a skunk in my room.
M: Well, there was a skunk outside and Marty almost got sprayed. We'll have to tell Grandpa.
L: Well, I thought it was a skunk under my bed, but then I thought that was silly, so I thought it was my stinky socks on my floor.
........
M: Make sure those socks get in the laundry please.

Twins Days here we come!

2011-02-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

I am so excited.

I just booked a cabin and we are officially going to Twins Days in Twinsburg, OH. My cousin told me about it and after checking it out I told the ladies about it. They were interested and wanted to see pictures. Watching them see all of those photos of twins...their little faces lit up and they had this moment of....we are not the only ones.

I am so excited for them to feel like the norm for a change. It'll be a great end of the summer vacation before they start kindergarten.

Fancy Party

2011-02-22T13:06:00.001-08:00

This is what fancy looks like. You can't tell in the photo but believe you me those fingers are painted a sparkly lilac.

After photos in the foyer there was dancing in the library ( Taylor Swift ) followed by the coloring of castles in the family room.

It's such a fancy life.

Food For Thought

2011-02-21T05:18:00.000-08:00

Lily was sick all week last week and missed a full week of school. Ava started losing her voice on Friday and missed school as well. Needless to say we were all getting a little stir crazy and bored. The girls asked me for a "learn" no idea where this term came from but it's their way of asking to do a lesson or learning activity.

With both girls sick I thought I'd teach them about eating healthy and the food groups. I took out some back issues of Women's Day and cut out all of the food I could find; healthy and unhealthy. Then I set the dining room table for two and laid all of the cut out food in the middle of the table.

I grabbed our Internet linked Children's Encyclopedia ......
http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=Z2931&gid=113542970&title=Children%27s+Encyclopedia+IL+Reduced+Size&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch%26search%3Dchildrens%2Bencyclopedia hooked the computer up to the TV so we could use the big screen and gathered the kids. After reading the pages in the book about the food pyramid and food groups we went online and played all of the games linked to the pages we just read.

When we finished on the computer we headed to the dining room and played "Make Me a Healthy Meal." (the girls came up with that title btw) They had a blast with it. They had to put a healthy meal together using the pictures I had cut out and then tell me what each food was and where it belonged on the pyramid.

We have played this game about 20 times now and they are not sick of it yet. Of course when Daddy and I get to make the dinner it usually consists of cookies, cake, and spicy peppers much to the ladies dismay. Then the wise children help the confused parents make a healthy meal and all is right with the world.

I cannot stress enough how cool the Internet linked books from Usborne are. the girls got a few for Christmas and they are a lot of fun. One "learn" we did was about the ocean and fish. The Internet link was a site where you could create your own fish and release it into the sea to see if it would survive. Very cool stuff.

Quinoa- anybody, anybody?

2011-02-21T04:42:00.000-08:00

I had heard of Quinoa but never paid any attention to it until recently. I came across something about how complete of a food it is and I became interested. So I grabbed some at the grocery the other day and it's on the menu for tonight. I hope everyone likes it. Supposedly you can can make it in a rice cooker, so it's easy and fast.

There are millions of recipes on Allrecipes. Anybody ever made it and have a favorite way of preparing it?

The verdict...Yum! The kids loved it, the hubbs loved it, I loved it. It is indeed very similar to brown rice. The kids called it money rice because, "it looks like little pennies". It's going into the weekly line-up.

Happy Girl

2011-02-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have a moment where you just feel total happiness? Some part of you knows that you will always remember this exact moment, like a snapshot that your brain takes and files away forever.

Last Friday the ladies and I went to the mall for the day to play, shop, and meet Daddy for lunch. While we were shopping Lily fell in love with this cute little khaki hat and I fell in love with some wire rimmed aviator glasses that looked absolutely adorable on her. We found a few other things too and officially started our vacation shopping.

Later that night Lily was showing Daddy the things I bought her as I was finding new music on itunes. Somehow it turned into Friday night dance party at our house, the volume was up and we were all dancing. At some point Martina McBride "Happy Girl" was playing and Lily and I were dancing, Ava and Daddy had taken a break. Lil was wearing her new hat and sunglasses, an undershirt, and her jeans, along with a big smile.

I have a feeling that song will always make me think of that moment and I'll never forget my little girl at five years old dancing her little booty off.

Coincidence

2011-02-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

I baked a bean cake the other day and took it over to my elderly neighbor to check on her during the ice storm and visit for a few minutes.

I penguin walked over there, rang the bell. She thanked me profusely for baking for her because she was out of sweets and she invited me in. I stood in her dining room as she took the cake and bowl of chili I had made her into her kitchen. She had old pictures and newspapers all over her dining table, including her wedding photo from 1944 and a photo of her husband circa 1950.

She joined me in the dining room and said it was so nice that I stopped by and she was just reminiscing, as it was the anniversary of her husbands death. She teared up and then reminded me that last year on this day I brought her baked goods as well. Of course I had completely forgotten that but when she brought it up I remembered. She showed me some pictures and got emotional when she told me about how they had been married just three months before he went off to WWII. We talked about the war and she told me that her husband was in the battle of the bulge, my grandpa was too I said. She told me what her husband did, that he went ahead as a scout... that's what my grandpa did I said.

It was the weirdest feeling. Kind of heeby jeeby but more like ...wow. what if they knew each other? I realize that's a long shot but you just never know. I never knew my grandpa, he passed before I was born and I need to find out more information on his unit. And how weird that I've unknowingly come over to her house every year since meeting her on the anniversary of her husbands death.

Snow Days

2011-01-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

The girls were off school Monday for MLK day, Wednesday for ice, and today for cold (I guess).

That is just too much time off for us. Yesterday we did workbooks in the morning, built satellites, erupted volcanoes, and learned about the layers of the earth. We had a picnic in the foyer for lunch and did the dishes. We used Google Earth to visit all of our friends and families houses and practiced writing our first and last names. We shoveled and had a snow fight after dinner and then the girls each read a book with Daddy.

I need to think about how we will fill our time today and my God these children better be back to school on Monday or else.

Ava's new favorite food

2011-01-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

When we were at Grandma and Grandpa's after Christmas I happened upon a package of plain gnocchi in their cupboard and made them for dinner one night to go with a pork roast my mom was making. The ready made ones found in the pasta aisle are lightning fast to make. Boil water, add, cook until they float (about three minutes). I served the gnocchi with sauteed mushrooms, melted butter and Parmesan cheese. Everyone liked them but Ava went nuts for them.

I shouldn't have been surprised, she loves these http://steamykitchen.com/6515-pan-fried-pumpkin-gnocchi-browned-butter-sage.html but I only make them in the fall when I have fresh pumpkins from the patch and sage from the garden to work with.

The bummer about buying prepackaged convenience food is that a pack of gnocchi from the pasta aisle is about $3.50. If you know my husband and how much he consumes during the course of a meal you'd now that we need two packs per meal. Ouch. Needless to say, gnocchi has become a treat around here. Last night I decided to make some myself using this recipe. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Potato-Gnocchi/Detail.aspx The recipe is imperfect but it's a good jumping off point. I almost tripled the recipe and flash froze a small serving for later use when Daddy isn't around.

I served them with a knock off recipe of OG's Alfredo Sauce and they were delicious. The sweet potato flavor was barely noticeable, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. I will be making them again soon.

Here's the recipe for the knock off Alfredo sauce. I use this recipe in my creamed spinach also.

8oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 c butter
Heavy cream and milk
1 Tsp garlic powder
3/4 c parm cheese

Cut cream cheese and butter into cubes and melt over medium heat in a saucepan, whisking often. When melted, add cheese and garlic along with combo of milk/cream to achieve desired thickness. Serve when warmed through.

Toothless

2011-01-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

Ava came home from school on Friday with a loose tooth. She was so excited I thought she would want to call Daddy at work right away, instead she wanted to surprise him when he got home.

All weekend we checked the progress of the tooth. On Monday I made her a tooth fairy pillow (along with ten Barbie pillows for the girls doll houses). Right before bed I told her to twist the tooth a little. She gave it a good twist and it got stuck in a weird position. There were some tears and Daddy was entrusted to put the tooth back in it's spot. Well, what do you know, the tooth fell out in his hand.

She was beaming with pride and insisted on calling all of her grandparents immediately. Grandpa asked her if the tooth fairy was a boy or a girl, I was consulted and we agreed it's a she. Ava told me that the tooth fairy is about the same size as Tinker Bell.

At tuck-in, after songs she panicked and asked if I would leave the window open so the tooth fairy could get in. I assured her that the tooth fairy can get in through the lock on her door. Luckily that was acceptable.

In the morning Lily had to remind her to check her pillow. Turns out the tooth fairy leaves a dollar bill for every tooth. Score.

Oxtails and Chestnuts

2011-01-06T05:17:00.000-08:00

Odd, I know, but read the post a few down and you'll understand.

The verdict is...drum roll please...don't waste your time with chestnuts, and oxtails are nasty. Seriously, for the $12 I spent on a package of oxtails, the $30 I spent on the roast, and the $10 or so I spent on other ingredients in the recipe it was not that good. We preferred the salt encrusted prime rib I had made another time. Oxtails are a slimy, smelly, and gross. Dealing with them at all turned my stomach.

There you have it people, you win some you lose some.

Running out of time!

2010-12-20T04:51:00.000-08:00

Gah! There is so much left to do and no time to do it!

We still need to
-Paint wrapping paper
-Build gingerbread houses
-Drive around in our jammies and look at Christmas lights while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music
-Go to Clifton Mills
-Play more charades (sp?) - If you have little kids and have not done this you need to, you will laugh the whole time.
-Finish baking and candymaking
-Deliver baked goods to neighbors

Better get cracking. I can't believe Christmas is this week!

New Territory

2010-12-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

I am done with my Christmas shopping and have moved on to baking and menu planning.

This year my parents will be coming to our house for Christmas which is a first. I have several things that I must make according to tradition. Peanut butter bon bons, coconut bon bons, PB blossoms, cut outs, and Oreo truffles to name a few. There are also a number of traditional savory things I need to prepare like raw beef and onions, a spinach breakfast dish, and rosemary Parmesan shortbread with cranberry sauce.

In my family we have no traditional Christmas eve meal or Christmas dinner meal. My mom just made what she felt like making, whether it was ham, turkey, beef, lasagna, or baked potatoes. I am still deciding on Christmas dinner (maybe ham?) but for Christmas eve we will be having prime rib.

This year I will be cooking with two new ingredients I have never used before. Chestnuts and ox tails. Not together mind you. The chestnuts are for a new cookie recipe I'm trying that is on Smitten Kitchen's website. The ox tails are used in a recipe for prime rib found on Steamy Kitchen.

Willow and Pottery? How about no?

2010-11-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

Our nine year wedding anniversary is November 23rd and we are celebrating early and going out to dinner on the 22nd all by ourselves. I am very excited to spend an hour or two alone with my hubby.

Did you know that the traditional nine year anniversary gift is willow and/or pottery? You didn't? Yeah, me neither. I'm bucking the system. Today I bought an Xbox360 Bundle with Kinect their new motion video game system. I am going to give it to Jer tonight because I can't keep secrets from him. I'm busting with anticipation and I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees it.

Oh, and now Santa has to buy Kinectimals for Ava.

Baby it's cold outside

2010-11-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

- Is it wrong that I want snowshoes for Christmas?
- I'm not actually going to ask for them because if I do we won't get enough snow for me to use them.
- Plus, my husband would need some too or else I'd have to go alone and that's no fun
- My eyes opened at 5:00am this morning.
- First thing I did was look outside to see if it had snowed, it hadn't
- Beef stew and beer bread for dinner tonight!
- I need to buy paint for my living room, I'm itching to complete another room after helping Stacey tear apart her kitchen the other day
- I'm getting very excited for the holidays
- I have a very good start on my Christmas shopping
- My children are obsessed with Mario and Luigi and all of the other characters from Super Mario Bros
- I found Luigi and Toad costumes at Meijer for $2 and they pretty much live in them when we're at home
- We decided not to give the girls Ds's at this time, too much money
- After seeing Anne's post about Hobby Lobby I am jonesing to go and buy Christmas garlands.

Beer for dinner!

2010-10-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, well, not exactly. I don't drink the stuff, I think it's nasty. However I love to cook with it. Here are two of my favorite beer based recipes and I love them together. This is probably my favorite cold weather meal. It's also great left over. I prefer the bread toasted after the first day, it's fantastic with real butter. My hubby drinks Newcastle usually but I prefer to cook with Killians Irish Red if we have it, that's what I used in the photos below.

Beef stew: Here are the veggies I like in my stew. Of course you have the obvious: carrots, potatoes, and onion, but I like a different twang. I like the peppery zip that turnips add (they're on the left, the white veggie under the carrots and potatoes). I also like the sweetness of parsnips (that's the ivory chunks in the center). Last but not least I love the meatiness and the texture of portabella mushrooms (that pile is two caps, I don't remove the ribbing because I am too lazy and I like the dark color anyway).I use plain old stew meat, pre-cut and trimmed. I mix about 1/4 cup of flour with black pepper, salt, and some Old World seasoning from Penzeys. Throw the meat in the bag and shake away until coated.

Heat some olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in a dutch oven and add the meat, brown on all sides, but don't stress about it. The butter/oil will make a roux in the bottom of the pot, mix it around a bit and add a bottle of beer and a can of tomato sauce. Stir a little to mix it all in and then add all of your veggies. Now add enough beef broth to almost cover your veggies. Give it one final stir and put on the cover. When it starts to boil turn the heat down so you've got a nice gentle simmer.

Give it a good 2-3 hours, stirring whenever you remember to. When you're ready to eat check the consistency. If it's too thick or thin you can add more broth to thin or remove some liquid to a bowl and add corn starch, mix and add the paste back into the pot, bring to a boil and stir. It'll thicken up, repeat if needed. Mine usually doesn't need any adjustments but if you're veggie amount is off you may need to. No biggie. Ta-Da! Beef stew!

Now for the bread!

I can not stress enough how easy and delicious this is. I got the recipe from Cook's Country magazine and the only thing I do differently is use a stronger beer than they suggest. The only thing bad about this recipe is that the cheese is very expensive. It's in the fancy cheese section of the grocery store and it's usually about $9 for 8oz. In our house this bread is a special treat.

Beer-Batter Cheese Bread
8 oz Gruyere cheese (1/2 shredded, and half cut into small cubes)
3 c all purpose flour
3 T sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 bottle of beer (they say light bodied, I say Killians)
4 T melted butter (they say unsalted, I say bring it)

Preheat to 375. Grease a loaf pan. Combine dry ingredients, stir in beer, and mix. Pour into loaf pan, spread to corners. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake until deep golden brown, check with a toothpick but make sure you're not in a cheese pocket, 45-50 minutes. They say cool completely. I say serve warm so the cheese is a little gooey and butter melts when you spread it.

Enjoy your beer based dinner!

Momma wants a kindle

2010-10-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Oh baby I've got it bad.

I love to read and I am especially fond of historical fiction. When I read something of that genre I am constantly on wikipedia researching people, places, and events to see how they compare with the authors portrayal in the story. This is one of the biggest reasons I want a kindle. Did you know that you can search wiki while in the middle of reading? How cool is that? So the next time I'm reading about a particular battle in the civil war or a historical figure I can check it out on wiki, see some photo's, and go back to reading.

I've entertained purchasing a kindle in the past but always thought it was too expensive. However, now there is a $139, non 3G, option. Perfect. $139 is still a chunk of change but it's not ridiculous. I have already started a wish list of all the ebooks I want.

Santa better deliver.

To DS or not to DS, that is the question

2010-10-23T03:21:00.000-07:00

Lily is a video gamer. She loves playing by herself with Ava in the background as a coach. She loves playing with friends. Her favorite however, is playing a team game with her Dad. They beat Super Mario Brothers for the Wii together and still play it often. They are now working on Super Mario Brothers Galaxy 2 for the Wii. She can hold her own when Jer and I play Smash Brothers and she can navigate any game after about 5 minutes of us helping her figure it out. She has even opened all the race tracks on Mario Kart Wii.

For Christmas this year I thought I'd give her my old DS Lite and a couple games geared for her age group as well as a Mario game that she has already played on the wii, like Super Mario Brothers.

After doing some research I found out that if you have two Ds's they can share games and communicate wirelessly. How cool is that? So my kids in the back seat or kid and husband can be playing the same game together on their little hand helds. I love it. 8 hour car rides will be much less painful.

Buuuuut... I only have one old Ds. I'll have to buy another one at $129. Ouch. And here's the thing. Ava loves to watch video games but plays them less than her sister. If I don't buy her one I run the risk of having a Christmas morning meltdown on my hands and that whole wireless function? all for nothing.

I thought about scrapping the whole DS idea but I keep coming back to it for Lily. She would love it, and it could grow with her. I know it's a toy that I will not be ready to throw out in a year due to uselessness.

I guess my Christmas budget is just going to have to stretch a little further.

Interview with a five year old - The Ava edition

2010-10-21T13:39:00.001-07:00

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Pink

Q: Favorite food?
A: Skyline (kids Psghetti Special, chocolate milk, oreos)

Q: Favorite veggie?
A: Brussels sprouts and turnips, I can't decide.

Q Least favorite food?
A: pink cabbage and also meatballs (pink cabbage = red cabbage)

Q: Favorite show?
A: Shark Tales

Q: Favorite game?
A: don't have one

Q: Favorite book?
A: Mistletoe

Q: What will you be when you grow up?
A: a vet

Q: Will you have babies?
A: Yes, only one. I will name her Daisy.

Q: Will you get married?
A: Yes, I'm going to marry Daddy

Q: Where will you live?
A: Wisconsin, I'm going to be neighbors with Grandma and Grandpa

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: Austin

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
A: Fight him

Q: What about Mom?
A: Cook

Q: What does Dad do for work?
A: Digs for dinosaur bones I think.

Q: How about Mom?
A: Takes care of us.

Q: What did Mom do before you were born?
A: I don't know, a photographer?

Interview with a 5 year old - The Lily edition

2010-10-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Q: What is your favorite color
A: purple and grey

Q: Favorite food?
A: Meatballs and spaghetti

Q: Least favorite food?
A: mac and cheese

Q: Favorite veggie?
A: Brussels sprouts

Q: Favorite show?
A: Tom and Jerry

Q: Favorite game?
A: Red game (Super Mario Bros Wii)

Q: Favorite book?
A: That Christmas mouse one. (A Magical Christmas)

Q: What will you be when you grow up?
A: A Doctor

Q: Will you have babies?
A: No

Q: Will you get married?
A: No

Q: Where will you live?
A: Ohio

Q: Who is your very best friend?
A: Johnathon (preschool friend)

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
A: Play video games

Q: What about with Momma?
A: Cook

Q: What does Daddy do for work?
A: Meet new friends

Q: How about Mom?
A: Stays home with us. And also shops.

Q: What about before you were born?
A: She married Daddy

My fast, easy, healthy soup recipe

2010-10-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

This soup is a staple in our house. I make it often during the cooler months, usually on the weekend. It's great with grilled cheese , bonus points if you add tomato slices to your grilled cheese and sprinkle the buttered side with Parmesan cheese before you grill it. If you've never tried the Parmesan cheese thing, please give it a try, you're missing out.

Here it is all prettied up, garnished with garlic infused olive oil, cracked black pepper, and shaved Parmesan cheese. It's so pretty, isn't it?

Here it is all dumped in the pot, just before I took the blender to it. If you don't have an immersion blender I highly recommend them. They make quick work of this soup and you save on dirty dishes, score.

White Bean Soup with Rosemary and Basil

2 16oz cans cannellini beans (white kidney beans), drained and rinsed

2 C chicken broth/stock

1 C your favorite marinara sauce

2 large cloves of garlic, minced (I use jarred)

5-6 leaves of fresh basil*

1 tsp minced fresh rosemary*

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

* If you don't have fresh herbs use about a tsp of Italian seasoning

Puree everything in a blender (or use an immersion blender right in the pot). Bring to a simmer. Cook 4-5 minutes. Serve with whatever garnish you choose.

Some day I am going to mix it up and substitute black beans, salsa, lime juice, cumin, and cilantro and then serve it with sour cream and quesadillas. The original is so good that I never stray from it.

Apple Pie Baked in a Brown Paper Bag

2010-10-15T11:46:00.001-07:00

Picture taken straight out of the oven, I had just cut the hole into the top of the bag.

This is a recipe my mom got out of the newspaper years and years ago. They sell them at The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago, WI and it's now famous because it beat Bobby Flay's apple pie on the Food Network.

It's easy to make, there are no crazy tricks. The apple part is pretty much the same as every other apple pie recipe out there. It has a sugar cookie like top crust, though it's not really a crust and you bake it in a paper bag that's been stapled shut. The bag does not catch on fire, I promise. The first few minutes in the oven it smells like it may burst into flames but it's never happened to me. Promise. So that's it. Try one today, and if you really want the full WI experience you'll eat your slice of pie with a nice slice of extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Apple Pie Baked in a Brown Paper Bag

(Pie)

2 1/2 pounds apples

1/2 C sugar

2 T flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 unbaked pie shell

2 T lemon juice

(Topping)

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C flour

1/2 C butter

Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place in a large bowl. Mix sugar, flour, and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples. Toss to coat. Spoon into pastry shell and drizzle lemon juice over the apples. Preheat oven to 425

Make Topping: Combine sugar and flour in a bowl and cut in butter until you have fully incorporated the butter and are left with pea sized lumps. Form into a ball, divide into fourths, squish each one into a thin disk shape and cover the pie as best you can, it won't be perfect.

Slide pie into a clean brown paper bag (store logos are fine) on a cookie sheet. Fold open end over twice and secure with paper clips or staples.

Bake at 425 for one hour. After removing from the oven immediately cut away the top of the bag. If you don't it will get mushy.

How did this happen?

2010-10-05T09:35:00.001-07:00

The ladies are five years old.

It just doesn't seem right. I have been reminiscing and looking at baby photos. I'm stuck in that in-between place where it feels like yesterday and yet I can't remember a time before them either. That saying, "the days are long but the years are short" is ringing true.

Looking back I have an ache in my heart for Lily's fat rolls and chubby cheeks and for Ava's bird call laugh as well as for all of those firsts. Gone forever but thankfully caught in pictures and video.

On the other hand I see all of the bottles, diapers, sleepless nights, and baby gates that come with being a parent of twins and I am glad that we are beyond them.

So here I sit in the post baby years, feeling conflicted. Wishing on one hand that there could have been more babies for us, but on the other hand excited to start the school years and slowly get back more of myself and my husband.

Yep, I'm "that" mom

2010-09-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal you group of Mommies in perfectly pressed khaki's, full make up and snobby accents. You with your children in fancy clothes that you keep trying to adjust and make sure remain clean. You with your matching fancy coffee's and your perfectly formed circle that's close enough to the playground should little Hannah need you but not close enough that you may get dirty. I am not a bump on a log. I do not care if I look silly. I am able to laugh at myself. I love to make people laugh, even at my own expense, especially my children. I try not to take myself too seriously.

So when I am at the playground I play with my kids. I play tag and race around and pretend to be the monster or the dragon or whatever the hell my kids want me to be. And you know what? They love it. You know what else? YOUR kids love it. That's why they come over and ask if they can play with us and then end up crying when we leave. You may want to try it sometime, actually playing with your kids. It's kind of awesome. Of course you and your children may have to get a little dirty. You'll probably have to wear different shoes, too.

Once you've mastered playing with your children at parks you can move on to more crazy stuff. I suggest shopping cart races down small hills in big box parking lots, while half of the onlookers look at you like you should be in jail and the other half looks at you like they wish they could try it. Or beat boxing at the grocery store while your kids play the Quaker Oatmeal drums. Or perhaps you could let Dad in on the fun and ambush him with silly string when he gets out of the car after work. This is especially fun because he will be unarmed. However, I will let you know that silly string on a 90 degree day has a certain suck factor in the clean up department.

If none of these things interest you, playground Mommy, just go ahead and stay in your circle with your fancy coffee and snobbery. But be advised, when I say "heads up!" I'm only giving you half a second to get out of the way of the Frisbee, and if it hits you in the head I will totally laugh.

Lentils!

2010-09-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

While living in CO I purchased a cookbook which was to become one of my favorite cookbooks of all time, Southern Living Slow Cooker Recipes. In that cookbook was a recipe that normally I would have just flipped right past but for some reason caught my eye. The recipe was Spanish Style Lentils and Rice, and that recipe started my infatuation with lentils. Yeah, I know you're sitting there going, "Lentils? Seriously?" But hang on a second. They're cheap, they're good for you, and most importantly my family loves them.

So, here you go, my family's favorite lentil recipes. Try one and you may be surprised.

Spanish Style Lentils and Rice

*This is great used in place of taco meat.

1 c dried lentils

1 c uncooked brown rice

1 onion chopped

1 green pepper chopped

2 cans chicken broth

1 can ro-tel

1 tsp salt

1 tsp chili powder

½ tsp cumin

¼ tsp garlic powder

1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Soak lentils for 8 hours, drain and rinse. You really do have to check them thoroughly, they are a product that isn't messed with in any way. Occasionally you may find a rock.

Add rice and next 8 ingredients. Cook on low for 4 hours or until tender. Stir in cheese and serve immediately.

*I find that my "new" crock pot cooks too high, even on low. Watch the time on this, it will be done faster than 4 hours if you use a "new" crock pot.

Herbed Lentils and Rice

Recipe found here... http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Herbed-Lentils-and-Rice/Detail.aspx

I have made many variations of this recipe, added chicken, added ground bison, changed the swiss cheese for cheddar. Very good served with chicken, pork, or fish. Also good reheated. This is a staple in our house.

Dal Makhani

Recipe found here... http://steamykitchen.com/10989-indian-dal-nirvana.html

My kids go nuts for this! We eat this with a green salad and steamed rice, clean plates all around. Easy to prepare and cheap!

Christmas is coming, time to buy useless toys

2010-09-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

When you have children born in the few months leading up to Christmas you have the special treat of buying birthday gifts just as the Christmas toys are being put on the shelf.

Let's take a look at some of the wonderful toys introduced for the 2010 Christmas season shall we?

1. Sing-a-ma-jigs. The mouth is unnerving. My kids would probably love these. They will not be under the tree.

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-R4761-The-Sing-A-Ma-Jigs-Teal/dp/B00388L7VC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1284572594&sr=1-1

2. Squinkies. The ladies told me these are not cool and they don't want them. I'm going to try to get that in writing.

http://www.amazon.com/Blip-Toys-37004-Squinkies-Playhouse/dp/B003LQVTUK/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1284573271&sr=1-24

3. Zoobles. I like the colors, they're cute, and cheap at least. I guess LPS was getting old.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoobles-20029955-Undersea-Play-Set/dp/B0038OMQ48/ref=pd_sbs_t_3

4. Video Barbie Girl. You have to see a picture of her straight on. She should be called Tracheotomy Barbie.

http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-R4093-Barbie-Video-Girl/dp/B0037UR206/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1284573574&sr=1-16

5. Whimzy Platinum Pony Carousel Playset. So all of your little animals can ride on a bigger animal.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4109574

6. Polly Pocket Cutants. Mix an animal with an inanimate object and there you go.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4382813

7. Lalaloopsy Doll. Proof that a good gimmick and a cute toy is really all you need.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4102322

8. Baby Alive. Is it me or do you cringe while walking past them when they all start moving and making noise?

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4102267

9. Kung Zhu. Because boys need to have their own cool Zhu's

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4033531

10. No explanation needed.

http://www.reborn-baby.com/berenguer-anya-doll.html

They might be giants

2010-08-20T12:43:00.001-07:00

No seriously, my family might be giants.

Okay maybe that's a stretch ( ha!) but given my post the other day about how hard it is to find clothes for my husband and myself, and an incident at Kohls yesterday, I am beginning to wonder.

The girls and I went to Kohls for some deal hunting. I got a ton of cheap stuff. Spent $93, saved $260. I'll take it. Anyway, while we were walking and shopping Ava says Mom, my foot hurts. I look down at her foot and there is rubbed in blood all over the inside of her foot. Her new sandals gave her a blister, surprise surprise. Every pair of summer shoes she has had gives her a blister. It's not the shoes it's her. Ava has this

http://www.hopkinsortho.org/femoral_anteversion.html

and it makes her shoes rub on her feet.

The remainder of the shopping trip she sat in the stroller part of our cart with her shoes off. We went home and got her bandaged up, got some socks and real shoes on, and headed out to look for new shoes at Meijer. I found some Sketchers that I thought were cute, well-made, and not overly obnoxious. I grabbed a 12 for Ava and a 13 for Lil. As they were walking around I did the push on your toe and wiggle test. Holy Shit, these shoes are almost too small. Luckily they had the next size up for Lil, and all was well.

We ended up walking out with a size 13 for Ava and a 1 for Lil. I can't even believe how much they've grown. Their summer sandals that I bought in late Spring were a 11 and a 12. I don't think they've ever skipped a whole size.

I am not ready for them to be this big. Kindergarten is looming...

Dress your husband in corduroy and denim

2010-08-18T05:23:00.000-07:00

In the past I have been caught in the middle between clothes that I like and what I see other mommies wearing. To make matters worse I am tall and have freakishly long arms and legs, and ribs that protrude (especially on the left). Add in the fact that I don't have a million dollars to have my clothing custom made or altered and it makes shopping a bit difficult for me. I find myself scouring racks at Target looking for that one size medium T shirt that was cut wrong, with the freakishly long arms. If you've ever been shopping with me you understand.

A few years ago a friend introduced me to The Buckle; a wonderful store at the mall. After you regain consciousness from the price of a pair of jeans and try some on you will realize that your ass really is amazing. You will feel wonderful about your body and you will happily shell out $100 for a pair of "makes my ass look good" jeans. Then you'll go home and you'll gingerly tell your husband how much you just spent on a pair of jeans. After he regains consciousness, and you show him how great your ass looks, he will beg you to go and buy more. And so it goes.

I am anxious for fall. It is by far my favorite season, followed by winter. I did some shopping while B was here and I got a nice gift certificate from Jer for my birthday for The Buckle and put it to good use on new fall/winter clothes. I was showing Jer what I bought and he told me he was no longer cool enough to be seen with me.

For those who don't know my husband, he is incredibly neat and polished ALL THE TIME. The man irons everything he wears, I am not exaggerating. In fact, I bought him a fancy new iron for Father's Day and he was giddy. He will not wear a T shirt that has a wrinkle. He can't leave his shirt un-tucked, he will die, surely. Mostly he wears business casual clothing when he's not at work, button down shirts, khaki shorts. If we go fishing, camping, or hiking he can relax the standards. I tease him constantly but at least I never have to iron.

I asked Jer what kind of clothes he needed for fall so I can start shopping for him (he hates shopping, I love it, it works out well). He told me he wants cool clothes, so he can be cool like me. I thought surely I can find him something that is comparable without being silly and I hit my favorite online stores. This is going to be extremely difficult.

http://www.buckle.com/styleandtrends/outfit_detail.jsp?bmUID=iFJ13gd&N=42+2294

Can you seriously imagine Jer in this outfit and keep a straight face?

http://www.buckle.com/styleandtrends/outfit_detail.jsp?bmUID=iFJ144x&N=42+2296

Not only does my husbands personality make this a tall order, but his actual size is extremely difficult to fit. He's 6'6", 34x36 pant, and a 16 1/2 36x37 shirt. Not too mention that all of the "cool" men's styles are wrinkled and unkempt looking, if I buy him one of those shirts he will iron and starch it, tuck it in, and all will be lost.

What does your husband wear?

An experiment

2010-08-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

There was a recipe for Peking Roast in Heloise's column last week that the original Heloise printed in the 60's after obtaining the recipe from a Chinese cook at a hotel where she stayed. It struck me as so odd and slightly unsettling that I am making it tonight. Here is the recipe more or less.

Peking Roast

Buy any 3-5 lbs roast, cut makes no difference. Make small slits all over the roast and insert cloves of garlic and slices of onion into the slits. Next, place in a bowl and cover with 1 cup of vinegar, make sure the vinegar runs into all of the slits. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours. Remove from vinegar and brown on all sides until almost burnt. Then transfer to a heavy non-reactive pot and cover with two cups of strong brewed coffee and one cup water. Cook 4-6 hours on the stove top, making sure that the pot doesn't boil dry. Season with salt and pepper 20 minutes before serving.

I will let you all know how this turns out. I can't even wrap my brain around this to even have a guess as to how this will taste. But Heloise swears in the column that you could serve this to the queen of England if she should show up at your door tonight.

Update: The Queen of England would not be impressed. The meat was good with some soy sauce on it, otherwise too bland. If I make it again I will highly season it.

Wrong

2010-08-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

We went to National Night Out last night for the first time and had a blast. We will definitely make sure to go next year as well. We took the girls in the fire departments' smoke house which is something I did when I was a kid. They freaked a little when the smoke started which is to be expected but I think it made a big impression on them.

Free events sure do bring out everyone in town. I saw more toddlers with no shoes, dirty clothes, and Mohawks than I have all summer. I swear that I heard calls for "Sissy!" and "Pawpaw!" all evening. Next year I think the police should stand at the entrance with a list of the counties most wanted, I'm fairly sure they would nab a few meth heads.

But one thing bothered me more than the rest, so much so that I'm still thinking about it today. There was a big kid, maybe 18 or so, but just huge, that obviously had special needs of some sort. He was with what I assume was his family and being led through the crowd towering over everyone. His hair was not combed and he had on a black T shirt with huge lettering that said DORK. I suppose if my child wanted to wear a shirt that said DORK on it I would allow it, but this kid didn't look like he was verbal at all. I am still trying to figure out why you would do that to a kid with special needs.

A lesson in pronunciation

2010-05-19T04:48:00.000-07:00

according to my children...

apricot = africot
that's why = thatwise
McDonalds = Old McDonalds
Cracker Barrel = Wheel Barrel
Raspberry = Rozberry (Lily)
Grandma and Grandpa = Grampa and Grampa (Ava)
Something = someking (Ava)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

2010-04-20T09:20:00.001-07:00

or something.

Every once in awhile I go through a spurt where I am completely uninterested in the computer and all things Internet. Of course I still check my email but everything else just gets to be too much.

The weather has been beautiful and we've been outside for the better part of the day, every day for weeks. The inside of my house is low on the totem pole of stuff that's important to me right now. We completed two rooms (1/2 bath, foyer) and almost completed the dining room, now we have switched our focus to the yard.

I had 4yds of dirt delivered and regraded the backyard/side yard, and fixed a downspout issue while Jer was in TX a few weeks ago. We put in two new flower beds and edged them with brick. We had one and a half tons of flag stone delivered last week for our new patio. A neighbor offered to give us her pergola for free if we would take it down for her, so now we are working on digging the holes for that and reassembling it over the patio area. When that is up we'll lay all the stone.

I have been planting peonies, astilbe, gladiolus bulbs, dahlias, re blooming day lilies, freesia, and pink bleeding hearts. I started the spinach (which is doing nicely), and the lettuce tape (which isn't doing shit). The veggies and plants I've started from seed are doing nicely and are almost ready to transplant. I chopped out three shrubs that my neighbor and her husband have been trying to kill for years, and as payment got some plants that had grown amongst the chaos.

I need to go to Joanns and get fabric to make a cushion for the side porch swing. I also need to buy the dwarf blueberry bushes I've had my eye on since January.

So much to do, so much to do....

Advertising works

2010-03-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

My kids watch TV and I like it. Summon a policeman.

Their favorite channel is Sprout and 99% of their TV watching is that channel. Unfortunately, unlike The Disney Channel or PBS, Sprout has commercials. Most of those commercials are those infomercial product things, like The Snuggie. I knew it was becoming a problem around Christmas when we were making out Christmas lists and they both wanted The Touch and Brush on their list. It's an automatic toothpaste dispenser. I probably would have wanted one of those too at their age. Needless to say Santa didn't deliver.

Yesterday as I was cleaning the bathroom Ava came in to use the facilities. She asked what I was doing and I explained myself. She looked at me with a very serious face and proceeded to tell me that steam was the best way to clean. After a small discussion about the wonders of advertising she went back to playing Barbies, probably still thinking that steam is the best way to clean.

And me? Yeah, I just finished placing an order for two Pillow Pets. So there.

It's a pillow, and a pet. It's a pillow pet!

Bring on the commercials, I'll get my wallet.

Escape Artist Hound

2010-02-24T05:19:00.000-08:00

We were in WI for the last week due to a death in the family. Marty spent that time at the kennel.

Jer went to pick him up when we got home on Sunday and relayed the following story.

Jer- So I walked into the little office thing and nobody was there so I flipped the light switch om the wall to let them know I was waiting. I was starting to get pissed cause I had been waiting for almost five minutes and then I hear clickety clickety click coming down the hallway. I turned and here comes the hound walking from the back room, alone. He freaks out and attacks me as per usual. Nobody comes, it's just him. So I start thinking what the hell, are there cameras in here or something that they knew to let him out?

A minute later the lady comes out and takes Marty by the collar all exasperated saying "Oh you dog, come on, back in you go" and takes Marty back into the kennels. She then comes back into the office and asks me who I'm picking up. When I tell her Marty she laughs and says that he has been escaping. Somehow he gets through two gates with latches and nobody knows how he does it.

I guess nobody can keep this hound down. Maybe that bionic back is the secret. I think it has more to do with his bionic nose. After all his nose has a record. He has already broken two toilet tanks with it. It's a nose to be reckoned with, don't take it lightly. I'm pretty sure he could break your leg with that thing if you pushed him far enough. Don't let the ears fool you, he's dangerous.

Funnies

2010-02-10T05:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, more blogs and sites. This is my list of everyday funnies. When you're home all day with four year olds you need a little dose of funny to counteract the rainbows and unicorns. Please add to the list.

http://verydemotivational.com/

http://wedinator.com/

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

http://kazooisms.blogspot.com/

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

http://failblog.org/

Just sayin'

2010-02-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

You know how wonderful it is to find a great new website or blog? Maybe it's just me but when I find something new I immediately read everything on it.

I was introduced to this blog yesterday http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2010/01/plans-recycling-center-pottery-barn.html and I now have a list a mile long of all the cool shit I could build, or rather, have my husband build, on the cheap.

This is another one of my favorites. http://www.ourvictorianhouse.com/index.htm The before and after gallery just kills me.

I don't even know.

2010-01-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was online window shopping at Victoria's Secret and checking out their new swim wear and shoes (lots of their styles go up to size 11, I'm guessing for the cross dressing crowd). Anyway, I think I may try one of their long torso tankini's.

Then I looked at the bikinis. Why, you ask? Because at one point in my life before children, before infertility drugs, and before the birth control pill I could have worn every single one of them and looked HOT. And I was bored. SO I found some super cute ones that I would have bought back in the day for my former stick figure self.

Like this one

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GJ-252097&page=1&cgname=OSSWMBIKZZZ&rfnbr=1232

And this one

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GJ-252113&page=1&cgname=OSSWMBIKZZZ&rfnbr=1232

But then they got scary.

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GJ-254672&page=1&cgname=OSSWMMWLZZZ&rfnbr=5790

And then I just couldn't comprehend them anymore.

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GJ-258344&page=1&cgname=OSSWMMWLZZZ&rfnbr=5790

That last one is a topless bikini. Why? Why would you do that to yourself? It's not flattering, even to the stick figure model. And yet you know that some girl with giant boobs is going to buy that, wear it on spring break, and be in video. Honestly, if you want to show off the ladies just take your shirt off. There is no need to buy a topless bikini for $68.

Am I old? Does this make me not cool?

Project planning

2010-01-15T05:07:00.000-08:00

Spring will get here eventually and I am already planning our spring/summer projects. There's a ton of painting to do; which means at some point I will need to decide on some paint colors and stay with those decisions.

The project I'm really looking forward to is outside. We need to do some grading and rebuild some window wells and after that's done we will be re-landscaping the backyard complete with patio and walkway, fence, new play set, more vegetable and herb beds, and flowers. An outdoor fireplace might also be in order.

I am in planning and info gathering mode right now. We are going to do all of this ourselves. I am so excited to be planning something again.

So how about you? What are you plotting at the moment?

Bring on the organizational ninjas

2009-12-30T05:46:00.000-08:00

I'm kinda over the whole Christmas decoration thing. I still like the outside ones but the inside ones are getting old. I wish that I could blink my eyes and have all of it put away. I wish all the new toys had a spot to go. I wish that my floors were dust mopped and needle free. I wish that someone would come to my house and eat all of the Christmas candy and cookies I still have left so I wouldn't have to eat them myself.

A girl can dream I guess.

Christmas Food

2009-12-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

This is the first year ever that we have done our own Christmas. We've been married 8 years, together for 13. Every single year we've gone home to WI and spent the holiday at my parents house. We always have fun at home but when the girls were born I started wanting to have Christmas at our own home. Last year we weren't going to come home, but then we ended up with a crazy move to OH over the holidays and stayed with my parents yet again.

This is our year to stay home and I am loving every minute of it. My parents won't be coming, which is weird and kind of sad, but my in laws will be here and the girls are excited. I am busily trying to recreate all of the traditions I grew up with for the girls, and add new ones of our own. I am realizing that a lot of our traditions are food based. There are foods that we NEED to have or it just wouldn't be Christmas. Most of those I won't even eat but I still need to have at the table.

Snacks

-raw beef with onions, pepper, and rye bread

-herring and crackers

-summer sausage, assorted sliced cheeses, spreadable cheese, and crackers

-tiny pickles (sweet and dill)

-olives (green and black)

Cookies/Candy

-peanut butter bon bons

-cut outs

-coconut balls

Breakfast

-spinach casserole

-caramel sticky buns

What's on your table every year? And what is with the herring, anybody else have that?

Happy (Belated) St Nick

2009-12-11T15:02:00.001-08:00

Almost a week late, oh well...

The girls were very excited about St Nick this year. This is the first year that they "got it." Lily thought it was crazy that he comes to put presents in your shoes at night. They asked me which shoes to leave out, of course I replied "the biggest ones you have." That silly Daddy of ours put his flip flops out, the girls set him straight real quick.

Christmas fun

2009-12-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

A million years ago I babysat for a family who did things differently than mine. They didn't own a TV and they made popcorn on the stove top, at the time I thought they were weird. One night the mom left me instructions to have the kids make some wrapping paper. She left a bunch of paint and a roll of brown shipping paper. The kids and I had a blast and I stored that project deep in my memory.

This year I thought the girls were ready to give it a try. I bought stencils and sponge brushes to help out. We all had a great time and I think that painting our own wrapping paper will be a tradition in our house from now on.

There may or may not be some very odd things painted on Grandma and Grandpa's gifts this year. But hey, that's part of the fun.

Even more catch up

2009-12-11T05:47:00.001-08:00

We went home for Thanksgiving to celebrate Grandma Hilda's 90- something birthday. They just we found out she has breast cancer, so the family got together for a big to-do.

Leaves! This is the first year my kids have jumped in a leaf pile. Trees don't exist where we lived in CO.

We were home in October for my cousins wedding in Door County but we squeezed in a visit with my Grandma. She thought Ava's baby doll was real and she held her and played with her and talked to her the whole visit. My kids were completely weirded out.

Catch Up

2009-12-11T05:38:00.000-08:00

I am so far behind that I need a catch up post (or twelve). The ladies turned 4 on October 4th, G&G were in attendance as well as the Packard clan. The big gifts were baby dolls (Baby Do and Lily Q) and bassinets.

I loved this beard, it's gone now. What does my opinion matter anyway? Please vote the beard back.

G&G with a cooperative child.

Then we have Halloween which was almost a complete loss this year due to the piggy flu.

excused absence

2009-12-05T04:16:00.000-08:00

Alright so I've been gone for awhile, but wait, I can explain. I have a doctor's note and one from my parents.

The week before the week of Thanksgiving I was sick as a dog. So sick in fact that I went to the doctor, that's saying something. I got my z-pack and went home to recover and try to get ready to leave for WI. I completely missed Adam's birth. Total suckage. We had a great time in WI and saw lots of friends and family.

The weekend after Thanksgiving we came home with my parents in tow. Lily colored with G&G continuously. The ladies also learned just how fun it is to have an audience for their shows. Dad and I put up the outside decorations and we have most of the inside done. We're making up for being between houses last year. Pics to follow. G&G went home Thursday morning, there were lots of sad faces and some tears.

Today we're off to "the woods" aka Fulton Farms to cut down our tree. Tonight we're going to take a hike to see a lighted waterfall. Bring it, I'm ready!

Parent/Teacher conferences

2009-11-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

Today was our first ever conference. Things are good at school. This means the girls are angels at school and occasionally PITA's at home. I guess if I had to choose that's the way I'd want it anyway.

Ramblings...

-Ava counted to 13
-Lily counted to 20
-When Ava was asked to identify colors she did, in Spanish at first, then switched to English
-Lily prefers to play alone but plays well in any setting
-Neither girl knew what an ellipse was, Daddy will change that tonight mark my words. (We taught them oval)
-The girls play well together or apart, and it makes no difference to them
-Apparently Austin has broadened his horizons and Ava isn't the only chick on the block.
-I need to give them scissors.

Hello, my name is... (the Lily edition)

2009-11-06T10:18:00.001-08:00

Let me introduce you to Lily's friends.

Hello, Our names are Pink Doggy (on the right) and Scratchy Pink Doggy (on the left). Lily's mom got us for Lily before she was born. She bought two thinking we would be interchangeable in the even that one of us was AWOL. Boy did Lily teach her! Lily needs both of us, all the time, especially to sleep. Usually she lays us over her face at bedtime.

Hello my name is Koala. Yep, that's my name. Nothing fancy, but they tell me I look like a Koala, so I guess it fits. Lily needs me to sleep, though usually she doesn't hold me or lay on me. I guess it's good enough that I'm in the bed.

Hello, my name is Shala The Boy Horse. Guess who came up with that one? Yep, a three year old. Lily loves me and I play with her and her Daddy at bedtime every night. Her Daddy pretends that I'm looking for apples and carrots in Lily's pockets while we tickle her.

Hello my name is Kona Koala. I'm new around here but Lily pretends that I am Koala's Baby. Why does everybody pick on me cause I'm short? I guess nobody noticed that I have claws and Koala doesn't. Psha!

Hell my name is Lily Q. Lily's Mom and Dad got me for her for her fourth birthday. Lily has been teaching me to read and telling me all about her school. Usually she lines all of us up and lectures us while she sits in a rocking chair.

Hello my name is Fiffi Fluff. I don't know why I'm on the list. Lily doesn't really play with me or care too much about me. Sometimes she just flips the F out if I'm AWOL. I usually chill in her bed, it's safer that way.

Hello, my name is... (the Ava edition)

2009-11-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

I would like you all to meet Ava's friends.

Hello, my name is Baby Do. Ava's Mommy and Daddy got me for her for her fourth Birthday. I came with the name Baby Do and Ava decided not to change it.

Hello, my name is Whossa. I am the first toy that Ava named, she made up my name on her own.

Hello, my name is Froggy Noses. I have been with Ava since she was born and Ava needs me to sleep. I got my name from Ava because I have one special corner that Ava rubs under her nose to put herself to sleep. Every night Ava hands me to her Momma and asks her to frog Ava's nose while she sings her a goodnight song. Sometimes Ava will frog Momma's nose while she sings but it makes Momma laugh.

Hello, my name is name is Patches. I am Ava's special teddy bear. She needs me to sleep and I am never far from her side, Froggy Noses and I are a great team. I make a great pillow and help protect Ava from scary things since I am a bear. Most of the time I am a boy.

Ugliest shirt ever

2009-11-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

Why I ask you? Why?

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=8793&vid=1&pid=621001

Because every woman needs rows of ruffles on her hips? Oh look! It's available in talls! Anne and I are included, lucky us. But you know, with those 3/4 length sleeves we might be able to rock it in a regular size. Granted the rows of ruffles would fall on our waists instead of our hips, but that might look extra hot.

This is what we should wear on the bottom. HOTNESS!

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=50281&vid=1&pid=676701&scid=676701012

Christmas Ideas

2009-11-02T04:53:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about the coming holidays and what Santa will be bringing. Not to mention St. Nick on December 6th.

I'm a list maker, especially when it comes to Christmas so I'll probably have several here on the blog. It's very difficult for me to be done Christmas shopping. I usually keep buying until Christmas Eve stops me, it's a sickness. Here are my ideas so far.

St Nick on December 6th:

-Trainer chopsticks

-a piece of fruit

-candy coins or real money

-book

-Christmas ornament

-some kind of small toy

Stockings:

-cheese

-fruit snacks

-playing cards

-sticker set

From Us:

Playmobil Dolphin Aquarium (to share)

Microphone with stand (to share)

Dr outfit (Lily)

Vet outfit? (Ava)

Our old computer loaded with kid software and itunes (to share)

Desks and chairs, pencil cups, paper, pencils... (each)

From Santa:

Elefun (Ava)

? game? (Lily)

Mercy Watson Book (each)

Art clips from Land of Nod (each)

I can't wait to start shopping!

Jewelry? Already?

2009-10-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to post about something that happened last Tuesday at preschool pick up.

I took the girls to school and raced to drop the dog off at the kennel. Then raced back home to pack the car. We were leaving from preschool to go to G & G's in WI.

I walk in the door to pick up the girls at school and Lily's crying because she fell on the playground. I finally get her calmed down and send both girls to go potty so we could go. Lily comes out a minute later crying again because she hit her head on the sink. I get her calmed down again and Austin (Ava's boyfriend) comes back in with his mom. Austin's mom goes on to tell me that he has a present for Ava.

Ava comes out of the bathroom and Austin gives her a little charm bracelet. She gets all excited says thank you and all that. Lily looks at Austin and asks if he has one for her too. Of course he doesn't. Lily's face falls and she starts crying. Austin's mom feels bad, apologizes, and gets the hell out of dodge.

Lily continues to cry and say heartbreaking stuff like "Austin doesn't like me" and "Nobody is my friend." All the way to the car. All I can think about is I'm going to have to listen to this for 7+ hours straight on the way to WI.

Then it hits me. The last time I was in Pinky Scout I saw some really cute charm bracelets, and they are just around the corner. So I drag my children, one happy, one sad, into the fancy schmancy children's boutique and fork out $28 for a princess charm bracelet. All the while cursing puppy love and cute little boys with curly hair.

We get back in the car and finally get on the road. Every 15 minutes I listen to Lily tell me she loves me and thank me again for buying her a charm bracelet. Seriously, every 15 minutes for 7+ hours.

The future scares me.

Oink

2009-10-28T06:39:00.001-07:00

Well, we've got the crud at our house.

I just got off the phone with the nurse at our ped office. Since Ava's symptoms are the same as H1N1 we are to assume that she has it. No Tamiflu, it's in short supply and is being saved for the sickest kids. Treat the fever, push fluids, keep them comfortable. All of the same stuff you normally do.

Ironically the first H1N1 clinic for our county is November 2nd. Too little too late.

When I was in WI last week they had different clinics on the news every night. If you stood in line in the pouring rain and 40 degree weather you got a shot. Anyone could get one. No different categories assigned to the high risk groups. Very frustrating.

I hope Ava doesn't get any sicker. Right now it's nothing more than the normal run of the mill bug. We'll see how long it takes for Lily to get it. She usually spikes high fevers so I am slightly concerned.

So for now we are just going to hibernate. The girls will miss their Halloween party at school tomorrow and ToT tomorrow night. I told them we'd have a special Halloween party here at home and I think that may be good enough. Good thing they're both scared of everything anyway and not overly fond of the holiday.

the thesis of DOOM

2009-10-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe not doom, but boredom for sure. It's done. I am so proud of my husband for finishing this blasted thing so I never have to hear about it again.

If you're brave read the title. If you feel really smart try to read the abstract. I dare you.

TAX-COGNIZANT DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW VALUATION MODEL USING FINANCING AND RISK ELEMENTS: A RETAIL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT APPROACH

ABSTRACT

An investigation of current real estate investment (REI) discounted cash flow (DCF) models and their applicability to the individual investor in small income properties exposed: a lack of relevancy to the sole proprietor, marginal applicability to analyzing the asset, and a number of inherent shortfalls in modeling cash flows. This paper constructs a tax-cognizant DCF valuation model that addresses financing structure and risk elements while overcoming classical DCF model shortfalls through determination of a minimum holding period, the mitigation of a hypersensitive terminal value, the elimination of circular logic in the discount rate, and the characterization of vacancy risk.

The paper consists of two hypotheses that substantiate the value of a tailored model. First, modeling and simulation of income property vacancy characteristics allows a more accurate assessment of a property’s after-tax cash flows and net present value by recognizing tax implications that would otherwise erroneously price profitability. Second, taxes influence investors in relatively higher tax brackets to seek both longer loan terms and longer minimum holding periods for a positive net present value (NPV); realized through both tax sheltered income and equity appreciation at the long-term capital gains rate. Evaluation of these hypotheses by comparing the classic DCF model to the tailored model yielded the following noteworthy findings. First, modeling and simulation of vacancy frequency and durations derived from market statistics produces a more pessimistic assessment of income. Second, longer rather than shorter term loans have superior value through accumulation of more tax sheltering loan interest early and in greater amounts. Third, investors in relatively higher income tax brackets enjoy greater NPV on their investments due to tax sheltering at the marginal income tax rate and asset disposition at the depreciation recapture and long-term capital gains rates. Fourth, contrary to the initial hypothesis, higher-taxed investors reach a break-even holding period sooner than investors in lower income tax brackets.

my new favorite thing

2009-10-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

While at Fairfield Commons the other day with my parents I saw a sign on the door of one of those rustic primitive shops that advertised wooden wick candles that crackle and pop like a real fire. I went in and bought two, cinnamon bun and mulled cider. They're in a mason jar and have a rusted top, very cute.

I am in love with these things! They aren't the same as a fire but they are a pretty good substitute. I think if you had several of them lit at once the effect would be pretty close.

Now I just have to find the right antique fireplace mantle to complete my master plan...

here we go

2009-10-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Time flies. Enjoy it.

Everyone told me this while I was pregnant and while my babies were tiny. I knew it was true but most of the time we were in survival mode, having twins is no easy task. I tried to enjoy them as much as I could but a month or so ago I turned my back for one second and when I turned around they were HUGE.

Preschool? Boyfriends? Reading? Hannah Montana? Nail polish? Attitude? Eye rolling?

Oh yeah, we have arrived. In a big way.

On Tuesday as I dropped off the girls at preschool Austin's (Ava's boyfriend) mom came up to me apologizing. She told me that Austin had kissed Ava on the cheek. She went on to say that they sat him down and sternly told him that it was ok to hug and hold hands but kissing was not allowed. She must have thought I would be pissed because she was falling all over herself with apologies. I laughed it off and told her it was no big deal.

I don't know what I'm going to do with that girl in 10 years. She may have to go live in a convent.

color my world

2009-09-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

I am not normal. Let's just put that out there right now so there is no question. I can not turn off my brain from creative thoughts. For some people this may be a good thing. For me it's an expensive thing. I can not leave things well enough alone. I am always thinking of ways to change the look of a space, and more importantly for me, the "feel". Yeah, how's that for kinesthetic? Oh, and I don't just stop there. It has to smell a certain way. Did I mention I'm not normal? I did? Oh, good.

My husband just got home after traveling for three weeks. While he was gone I was without the distraction of my left brain, I mean husband. In that time I have decided to paint the entire interior of our house. Since we've moved in we have only painted one room; Ava's bedroom. Of course we have now lived here more than 6 months and have started scrutinizing the previous owners painting techniques. Let's just say that I don't think they were fans of painters tape. Every room needs to be repainted, some are worse than others. The entire downstairs has been touched up with an almost but not quite matching color of paint. You'd never notice just walking through but if you stare at the walls long enough it is so obvious that it makes you crazy.

The original plan was to paint the downstairs in the closest color we could find to match. It's sort of a beigy/yellow/off white, not very dark, but definitely darker than the lightest color on the paint swatch. But then Jer left and all hell broke loose. I've been staring at paint samples for a week now and have been watching them on all walls at every time of day, deciding. Then the paint led to curtains. The curtains led to artwork. And then from somewhere I've decided to bust down a wall and open our very tiny staircase. Now, if anyone knows how to do the staircase construction that would be great, cause I sure as hell don't and I'm guessing we can't afford to have the contractor do it. Besides, If I had the money to have my contractor actually finish all of my plans his family would have to move in full time for three years in order to finish my list.

So, in order of which room you come into first as you walk in my front door my colors...

Entry: three choices are in the running. Pony tail- one step darker than what we have already, Gooseberry- very dark reddish purple, Sweet Annie- kind of a golden sage green

Dining room: Pumkiny red. I also have plans to build upholstered cornice boards for the windows with sheers underneath heavy drapes to tie back.

Living Room: Bread Basket kind of a leathery orangeish brown. I also need an area rug and completely new window treatments but haven't decided.

Side room: Belgian Chocolate. Very dark chocolate. This room needs new curtains too.

Mudroom/Laundry: I want to tear this room up. I want a heated tile floor and new bead board on the walls. The quote to do that isn't too bad but it's on the someday list. I plan on ignoring this room to the best of my ability for the next year.

Guest bedroom and bath: No decisions made yet.

Family room, stairway, hallway, and kitchen: Pony Tail

Half bath: Gooseberry or Pumpkiny red

The best thing about my problem? My husband has no opinion. He liked everything I chose and said go for it, we'll tackle it one room at a time. How great is that? I sure do like my left brain er, husband.

I might have a problem

2009-09-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

I may be addicted to a fabric softener.

Let's list the signs...

-I am washing everything in sight

-Stripping beds (even the mattress pad and the comforter inside the duvet)

-When getting dressed I only wear the things that have been freshly washed

-I only dress my kids in stuff that's freshly washed

-I've been steering my husband to clothes that are freshly washed

-My to-do list includes taking down all of my curtains and washing them

-I've taken the clean towels that get to the bottom of the cabinet and rewashed them

-Also on the to-do list - wash all the coats, sweatshirts and jackets that hang by the back door

-I went out and bought another bottle even though the original one is only half empty

-I've been trying to use the half full bottle of other fabric softener I have to use but I can't make myself do it

Warning: DO NOT BUY Downy Simple Pleasures in the Almond Cream Bliss scent to go with your All Free and Clear Small and Mighty. It is not advised, unless you really need to do laundry, then it may be a very wise idea.

looking forward

2009-09-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

I've been pushing summer out and ushering fall in. Autumn is my favorite season followed by winter, spring, and then trailing so far behind summer. I have a lot that I'm looking forward to at this point and I'm in a list making mood.

- Girls start school next Tuesday, they are thrilled

- I have no idea what I will do with myself

- This will be the second time in history that I will be alone in my house. Once Jer took them both to get a gallon of milk, it was kind of a big deal.

- Jer's b-day is 10-1

- Girls b-day 10-4

- Fall cooking, I have a big list of new recipes I want to try and of course there's the old standbys that I make every fall

- I just picked up Suzanne Collins new book "Catching Fire" book 2 of the Hunger Games series

- Jer will be done with his PITA thesis and his Master's in October. I can't wait to have him back again. He's been in school for forever and I'm over it.

- My cousins wedding in Door County, WI in October, should be beautiful up there

- All of the November babies, and baby gifts, I love buying baby gifts

- Thanksgiving, we are staying home. Maybe we'll have family in, maybe not.

- Pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, all things pumpkin

Is it too early

2009-08-28T05:03:00.001-07:00

I have fall on the brain. Everybody knows that I hate heat, and I am completely over summer. I want to pull out my sweaters, jeans, and boots and put away the spf 70. I need to turn off the air conditioning and put on the flannel sheets.

In our rummage sale organization last weekend I unearthed my fall decorations and I would have put them up right then and there if I hadn't been up to my eyeballs in other stuff. Autumn is definitely my favorite season. I'm excited to can some applesauce, pick pumpkins, and buy some baby gifts.

So, I ask you, when can I decorate? Is September 1st too early? Also, would anyone want to come to my house for an Oktoberfest party? I'm throwing around the idea. German food and beer of course, and it would be more of a bring your clan kind of thing. It would be fun to meet the families of the GW posse.

fragments

2009-08-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

for lack of a better word. I feel like I'm going in a hundred directions at once.

-Marty wagged his tail yesterday, stood up on four legs, and walked three steps. YIPPEE! He hasn't done it since then though.

-Full-on garage sale mode, seriously selling everything under the sun. Hopefully we'll make enough to buy a closet or a new back door and storm door.

-Totally over summer, bring on fall and winter. I hate hot and humid.

-Finishing up getting the girls ready for preschool. I need to buy them some shoes but before I place a big fat order on LandsEnd I need to check out Target.

-Where's a secret blog when you need one?

-Starting to think about Jer's Birthday (10-1) and the girls golden birthday(10-4). Trying to convince them of anything but another princess party.

-I may just surprise them with a party and not give them an option. I'm thinking a camping thing. Campfire cake, smores, tent to play in, sleeping bags etc.

what a difference a day makes

2009-08-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday went pretty well once I started getting into the groove. I walked him around inside the house 3 times yesterday with Lily's help. I set out small bowls of tuna in the kitchen, dining room, and living room and made him find them. We used to do this with treats all the time it's one of our favorite indoor winter games, except we usually torment him. He did great and ate a good amount of tuna also. Then after all the activity he'd worked up a thirst...win, win, win.

I became concerned around 5 because his bag wasn't filling very much and his tubing was not full like it had been. I called the vet and he walked me through how to do a sterile flush. With a little fiddling and four syringes of saline I got it moving again and his tubing was full and the bag was slowly filling.

When Jer got home we took the hound for a small walk and settled him back in to his spot while we ate dinner. I made Marty his own bowl of boiled chicken and rice. He ate like crazy and had a nice big drink.

The girls were troopers even though I didn't have much time for them they played nicely most of the day. But by dinner they were stir crazy and needed to get out, truthfully so did I. So we hit the park and ran into TP and clan. Scored some nice little school desks that were labeled "free" at the school too (anybody need one we can see if there's any left and bring them to GW).

The rest of the night went well. Kids went to bed and all that jazz. 9:30 rolls around and we start getting ready to give Marty his last dose of meds, change his bag, clean everything... and I look at his bag and tubing. It's not flowing and there's lots of air space in the tube. Crap. Alright, so I try to flush it, no good. Try again, nada. Shit.

I called the vet and the nurse puts me on hold to talk to the vet.

nurse: Dr wants to see him, go ahead and bring him in.

me: uh, we live 1 1/2 hours away, the kids are asleep..

nurse: oh. Let me talk to the dr again

me: holding and listening to all the horrible things that happen to animals that they treat at MedVet.

nurse: ok, Dr wants you to bring him in if he gets uncomfortable. Otherwise take him to your local vet in the morning or take him to a closer er vet.

me: ok, thanks

So Jer and I talk it over and decide waiting till morning isn't an option. I call an ER vet in Dayton.

me: Hi, my dog had surgery and he has a catheter in and it's blocked can you help me?

lady: hold on please

me: thinking I'm so tired I don't think I can drive, looking at husband who is falling asleep with dog who is already asleep.

vet: Hi, your dog had what kind of surgery...huh...well sure we can look at him...let us know if you're bringing him in.

After getting off the phone with the other vet I was already formulating a plan. I knew I just had to convince the husband that he was not exhausted. I motioned to Marty to start looking pitiful and cute. He layed it on thick, droopy ears, sad tired eyes, slow licks.

me: I think he needs to go to Columbus tonight

J: yeah, I think so too

me *thinking* well damn that was easier than I thought.

me: Here's what I think we should do... you take him to Columbus, drop him off, get a hotel room, go to sleep, wake up, go to work.

J: *while stroking soft hound ears and watching Marty's eyes twitch while dreaming* Ugh. Yeah I guess so. Make me some coffee and help me get ready.

They left around 11:30 last night. I went the F to bed.

This morning I talked to Marty's Dr (who I love -great Vet) and he told me he thought about Marty all night last night and wasn't very surprised to see him this morning. Then he told me some great news. The Dr removed Marty's cath because he was standing! Standing, can you believe it!? He asked if we'd mind boarding Marty for the next couple of days so he could monitor him more closely and make sure he was starting to pee on his own. He also wants to make sure he gets extra help with walking!

Yay! Such great news, it's going so much more smoothly now. And with this beacon of light at the end of the tunnel I am no longer second guessing myself. I hope this hound continues on the same track. He'll be barking at Trick or Treaters at this rate.

this is really hard

2009-08-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

We picked Marty up yesterday afternoon and were briefed on how to take care of the catheter, the meds, how to use the sling... Then the nurse went to go get him. I told the girls that Marty would look different and tried to explain what happened to him and what was going to happen.

Marty was happy to see us. The girls on the other hand are totally terrified of him. They think he looks like a dinosaur, they're afraid of his big ouchie. They actually hid behind the exam table so they weren't close to him. Talk about break your heart, both for the dog and the kids.

We got home and and got him comfortable. After dinner we took him for his first walk. OMG did I underestimate how physically hard that is. I have no idea how I'm going ot be able to do that for 15 min three times a day all while still trying to watch the girls.

The girls went to bed and we started setting up his night time meds. 4 pills. He has never had an issue taking a pill before in his life and of course he chose to not take them. We tried everything we could think of, peanut butter, cheese, hot dog, forcing, pleading. Finally I thought my husband was going to kill the dog so I called the vet. They told us to dissolve all of them and squirt them into his mouth. That worked...kinda. I'm not sure how much he actually got but whatever.

We put him in the bathroom downstairs with his cone on and passed the F out.

This morning he was better about taking his slurry of meds. Now he's locked in a baby enclosure but he's resting pretty well. We made him walk from one pen to the other but I really need to get him up and going in a little bit. It's hard to bug him when he's actually resting. He did drink a little this morning and ate a small Milkbone but no interest in anything else.

I am seriously second guessing our decision. This is really hard and I have no idea if I can do this.

they call him the million dollar hound

2009-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

How much is your pet worth to you? That's the question of the week.

We took Marty to his vet appointment yesterday at 1:00. She took one look at him and said she was very concerned. She did a couple of little tests on him and declared that he was paralyzed. At that point I lost it. I pretty much expected the worst when we took him in yesterday but I still wasn't ready to hear that.

She gave us our options: 1. Put him down 2. Take him to Columbus to the surgeon and see if they can help him 3. Get him wheels, I'm not shitting you. At this point I'm crying and laughing and thinking in my head "He'd be a wiener mobile"

The vet kept an eye on the girls for us and left us with Magoo to talk about it. After more crying on my part and calculations on my husbands part we decided we weren't ready to give up on him. To Columbus we'd go. They gave Marty a shot of pain meds and we took off with a quickness.

We went to MedVet and if you are ever in emergency vet need I'd recommend them without reservation. They were kind, understanding, and helpful as well as knowledgeable. After the surgeon examined the hound he gave us his prognosis and a course of treatment, starting with a mylogram (?), possible CT, and surgery. We signed the papers and they started immediately. No waiting, no dawdling.

We got a phone call at about 8:30 last night that the surgery went well, it was a ruptured disc, and the disc next to it was deteriorated as well. They drilled a hole into the troubled one to hopefully help it rupture away from the spinal cord when it goes out.

This morning they called and he slept well and is comfortable. He has some sensation in his back legs. Hopefully it will keep coming back as the swelling goes down and the injury heals. We should be able to get him tomorrow night.

Now of course my mind is going to recovery and what kind of things we'll need to do for him. Any input? I'm making him a bed today so that he can be comfortable on the floor. I think I'll also make a pad to go into his crate for when we pick him up tomorrow.

sick hound

2009-08-10T05:15:00.000-07:00

Marty is not well.

Friday night he had a seizure before bed, not out of the ordinary for him. Afterwards he had trouble with stairs, walked slowly and was a little off. By Saturday night he couldn't use his back end but could still wag his tail. Sunday morning early he could barely get his front half off the floor and wouldn't wag his tail anymore.

We ended up giving him an aspirin which seemed to take the edge off a little, but didn't help with his mobility. He can use his front half but not the back, he just drags himself.

I called the vet and the earliest appointment I could get today was 1:00. I'm frustrated that I can't do anything to help him and the vet I called on Saturday wasn't very helpful.

It's going to be a long day.

throw it all out

2009-08-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

I am in a mood. I think it's Anne wearing off on me. I would really like to rent a dumpster and throw half of the shit in my house out. Toys, blankets, sheets, clothes, books, baby stuff, furniture, nothing is safe! I think it's just me getting ready for winter. Instead of chucking it I'm going to try to sell all of it. If it doesn't sell it will end up somewhere else, none of it is coming back in my house.

This brings up something I say every year. My kids have too many toys. I'm sure we all say that but this time I am sticking too it. It's time to reign in the birthdays and the holidays. It's embarrassing how much money we've spent on our kids thus far. And for what? To throw it all out in a fit of organization the next year? Blech.

The hard part is that you can't control what other people buy your kids. I have a MIL that buys them lots of crappy toys. The kind that are fun for about a minute before they break or that never deliver what they claim to be able to do. Of course my kids like those which means we end up in a struggle of me wanting only quality toys and the girls wanting orange and chocolate scented dolls with giant heads, orange hair, and pet penguins.

The past few weeks I have been trying to weed out the junk toys from the nice ones. This always ends in the girls "saving" the stupidest crappiest toys from the pile. Happy meal crap they will never play with and will lose in a week is suddenly something they have to keep because it's their favorite. I have taken to throwing out stuff while they sleep.

How sad is that. A toy thief in the night.

For sale:

-SkipHop DuoDouble diaper bag barely used in red with black

-Hanna Andersson holiday dresses in size 90

-Baby monitor used once

-Hanna Andersson training unders 3pk in size XS and another 3pk of Gerber brand (girly colors)

-Hanna Anderson playdresses and leggings in size 80 or 90 (can't remember)

-Other random clothes

pittsburgh

2009-08-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a fast and fun filled weekend in Pittsburgh. It's been a long time since we've been there, I had forgotten how pretty the drive was.

Our good friends Theresa and Harry asked us to be their daughters' Godparents so we went out to baptize baby Sarah.

We decided to make it a little family vaca and spent Saturday at Idlewild park. It was a little kid paradise. The girls had a blast and we enjoyed seeing them experience the classic kiddie rides I remember from my childhood.

There was a little stage in Raccoon lagoon (kiddie Land) and Ricky the Raccoon invited kids to come up and dance with him. Ava jumped right up there and boogied. She loved it. Lily preferred to watch from my side. After the dance along was over and we were making our way to a new ride Ava said, "I love that skunk." Ava claims that dancing with Ricky was her favorite part of Idlewild.

unfair advantage

2009-07-26T05:12:00.000-07:00

Last night was simple but so much fun.

We took the girls to Kohls to let them cash in their points from the chore chart. On the way there Jer got a sampling of how hilarious the girls have been in the car lately. A month or two ago I picked up a CD entitled Rhinestone Cowboy, it's a mix of country music from the 70's. The girls LOVE the thing and make requests to hear their favorites while we're driving. There is nothing cuter than a three year old girl asking to hear "Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and then hearing her sing along.

More of their favorites:

Rhinestone Cowboy

Take This Job and Shove it

Dukes of Hazard

Here You Come Again (By Dolly Parton)

On The Road Again

They actually had Jer's size dress shirt in several colors so we bought 5. My post from the other day about how it sucks to be tall and lanky, yeah, the husband is just as bad or worse. If I see a shirt in his size that isn't $100 I buy it.

After getting home, baths, snacks, stories, and bed I challenged my husband to a Scrabble duel. He reluctantly agreed. So we opened a bottle of wine and I kicked his ass. Severely. He quit when I got to 350 points. After I gloated sufficiently he turned the tables on me and pulled out Stratego. If you've been fortunate enough to never have played Stratego let me explain. It's a war game that involves soldiers, bombs, and capturing a flag; and I suck royally.

He kicked my ass so badly that it was boring. Then he laughed at me when I lost and he asked me what strategy I used. I explained that the soldiers were evenly spaced in platoons. I claimed he had an unfair advantage since he actually knew what the hell he was doing.

are these ugly?

2009-07-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Some women are blessed with a great rack. Some women are blessed with great hair. Some women are blessed with great skin. You get the idea.

Me? I was blessed with freakishly long arms, huge feet, and crazy ass long legs. Before you say something like "I would love to have long legs" or some kind of crap, stop. It is hard to find clothes that fit me, if I do, it's usually a fluke. Like, the shirt with freakishly long arms that's on clearance because no normal armed person could wear it.

I have finally found pants that fit me. Several stores now make a 35" inseam. Buckle even has jeans that are a 37" inseam, do you know what that means? That means I can wear heels!!! Yeah baby!

I've been looking at shoes today and after going to Fashion Bug (yep, still hate that place), a shoe store here in town, and Kohls and finding only ONE pair of shoes that didn't involve laces and sporty socks I came home to my trusty computer and came upon the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I love Nordstrom. It's expensive as hell, and snooty, and I pretty much hate all the salespeople I've ever dealt with there but, they carry my size!

Now, don't go thinking that I can get any shoe in my size. Oh, no! Some shoes are only made for petite little dainty feet. Apparently making the shoe in a size 11 is impossible. What with all the extra leather and stitches, surely the shoe would implode. That or the shoe designer just thinks us big beefy footed women couldn't possibly have a use for a cute little gladiator sandal, surely we only wear cowboy boots with our coveralls out in the barn.

Gah! Can't a big footed woman get some shoe love?

Anyway. I kind of like these boots. However I'm not sure if they're cute or if I just like them because it says in the reviews on Zappos that they run big and you should size down. You know that means I'd order a size 10 right? It's kind of like finding a pair of jeans in a size 4 or something that fit you when you normally wear an 8 and you want to but them just to say they're a size 4. What, That's never happened to you? Shut up.

Ok, opinions please. I'd get them in Moss. I think I'd wear them with jeans and sweaters mostly, maybe folded up with knee highs and a jean skirt. Did I mention they'll be a size 10, not an 11.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2950256?origin=shoppingbag

new dress

2009-07-22T06:50:00.001-07:00

I have been stalking this dress since last Christmas. I didn't buy it then because I just couldn't justify the money. Now, my cousin is getting married in October and I started dress hunting. Lo and behold "the dress" was less than half price, I didn't even hesitate. I'm sure they'll wear it for Christmas this year too. Now I just have to find ivory hair bows, tights, and shoes. Maybe a purse too.

Random

2009-07-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

1. I have decided we spend too much damn money on groceries.

2. I need to spend more one on one time with each member of my family, even the dog.

3. I got the girls dresses for a wedding in October and I LOVE them. I have considered making them try them on just to see how cute they'll be. Pics may follow.

4. I am ready for fall and winter.

5. I am ready for the girls to go to preschool. I think

6. I have way too many ideas and not enough money to support them.

7. I have been planning a trip to TN and I really hope hubby will be on board. We need a little get away.

8. It sucks that my house won't clean itself. It could at least do the dishes.

9. I love school supplies.

10. I am sick of looking at summer sale stuff, bring on the fall clothes already, I've got babies to buy for.

# 9 and # 12

2009-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm starting on the list already.

I just got off the phone with a shelter for abused woman and children here in Troy. I've decided to start making blankets, stuffed animals and pillows for kids at the shelter. When we lived in CO a friend and I got a quilting bee together for the same reason and it was fun for awhile, but then it became more work for me and less work for everyone else. Also there was a question about who was actually receiving the things we made. I had had enough and stopped after that.

I'm hoping to get another group together in our new neighborhood. I like the fact that our things will go to kids who really need it right down the street in our own community. I plan to make sure every kid receives a blanket, pillow, and a book at Christmas.

So if any of you ladies from GW want to come down and tear it up with a sewing machine I'll keep you posted on dates.

for the next decade

2009-07-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

So here we are on the eve of my 30th birthday. I don't feel like 30 to be honest. I'm not really sure what I feel like but I kind of like it.

Twenty things from my twenties, in no particular order.

1. had my first drink.

2. got a tattoo

3. graduated from college

4. got my first real job

5. got engaged

6. got married

7. had one paycheck that was bigger than my husbands (thanks to giant roomful of leather furniture I sold)

8. moved from OH to MD and bought our first house

9. moved from MD to CO and bought our second house

10. went through the rigors of ttc, 2 rounds of IUI, 1 round of IVF

11. got pregnant, quit job

12. got a dog

13. got my eyebrows waxed

14. gave birth to my babies

15. made new friends

16. moved from CO to OH and bought our third house

17. became confident in my parenting

18. went on vacations with my husband

19. started a blog

20. conquered my migraines (knock on wood)

And for the next ten years...

1. relax

2. enjoy

3. be healthy

4. go to England with my family

5. go to Alaska

6. take the ladies to Disney while they are still little enough to really believe

7. buy a camper

8. figure out what I want to do with my life

9. volunteer

10. take my girls to Hershey, PA to the spa

11. go deep sea fishing

12. make time for my hobbies

13. waste less time

14. take at least one vacation a year

15. let go of guilt

16. get another tattoo

17. drink more water

18. start using sunscreen even in the winter

19. stop swearing (as much)

20. stop expending so much effort on people who don't appreciate it

21. go on a vacation alone with my hubby once a year (even for only one night)

22. take my vitamin

23. try something new as often as possible

24. don't worry about what doesn't matter

25. don't worry about what you can't control

26. get a babysitter more often

27. try to get along with my husbands family

28. take more pictures and videos of the girls

29. do more one on one time with the girls

30. take Marty for more walks and find somewhere for him to swim

take two

2009-07-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

Aright since the first batch of recommendations was well received I have another batch. Forgive me if I repeat myself, I'm not organized.

You'll have to fight over this bunch ladies, it's a grab bag.

Boy:
Aricin
Silas (let it be known that if I ever have a boy at some point in the future his name will be Silas Aricin and I don't care if you named your kid that or not)
Malcolm
Abraham
Gregory
Jonah
Isaiah
Malachi
Elias
Lang (means tall man)
Keegan (Unisex)
Tarin (Unisex)
Kale
Charlie
Hudson
Sawyer
Bryce
Carson
Reiley
Warren
Logan
Talis

Girl:
Amelia
Phoebe
Celia
Helena
Isodore (nn Issy)
Caledonia (nn Callie)
Beatrice
Stella
Rebekah
Eve
Delilah
Amelie
Josephine
Alta (means tall and lofty)
Brooke
Inna (means strong water) helps with the drowning inutero
Darcy
Matilda
Camile
Elsa/Elsie
Astrid
Carys
Sylvie
Arabella

my name recommendations for the three amigos

2009-07-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

Broken down by amigo...

Theresa:

Collin
Carter
Cole
Caleb
Callum
Caden
Mason
Mader ---Kyle's first choice I'm sure
Noah
Ian
Aaron

Anne:

Boy-
Strider
Griffin
Owen
Chase
Hayden
Finn (as in Finished, lol)
Grady
Holden
Garrett

Girl-
Sydney
Madeline
Adeline
Ainsley
Jillian
Annabelle
Gabrielle
Chastity ...ok, maybe not
Opal
Julia

Kate: I remember you have a Henry and a Sarah but for the life of me can't remember the other one...

Boy-
James
William
Oliver
Noah
Adam
Miles
Oscar
Owen
Ethan
Ian

Girl-
Claire
Eleanor
Meghan
Chloe
Emma
Kyla
Tess (means fourth)
Anna
Mabel

well I wasn't ready for that and fireworks

2009-07-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July was great. We did the parade thing with the Packards after devouring one of my mother's best recipes, sticky buns. I seriously need to not make those unless there are a lot of people around or I will eat them all. As the day went on it became more and more dreary. We decided to go to the fireworks with the ladies even though it was cold and drizzling. I am so glad we did. The girls loved them, especially Lily. Every explosion received oohs and ahhs. I think one of the best parts of motherhood is seeing things through your child's eyes for the first time.

Sunday morning Theresa called to tell me that her husband was annoying her and she needed to escape for a while. Like any good friend with in laws visiting I said I would love to go with her. She picked me up at 12:30 and we had a nice lunch at Panera and a good shopping excursion to Marshals and Target.

She dropped me off and as I opened the side door of the house I was completely surprised by all of my friends and neighbors and a 30th birthday party. I seriously had no clue and was in shock. It was great. We ate some great food and cake and played cornhole, Barbara and I are undefeated by the way.

Then I saw the invitation my husband sent out. Oh My God that guy is crazy organized! He had rules and regulations a page long. He put the fear of God into people! I guess that's a good quality for a program manager to have.

I can honestly say that was the best Birthday party I have ever had. Now I just have to actually turn 30, lol.

help with a translation

2009-06-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Conversation between Ava and Daddy this morning while brushing teeth.

A: Why do we brush teeth?
D: To keep our teeth healthy and our breath smelling good.
A: I don't like you ice cream butt, Daddy.
D: (WTF?) Be quiet.

Your guess is as good as mine.

good friends, good food, and scategories

2009-06-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

Last night was a blast. TP, KP, and KP came over for dinner and we ended up playing scategories (I forgot how much I love that game) until 11:00, that's late man, for real. B even got in on the fun and I think she had a good time. It occurred to me that we are extremely lucky to have found such great friends so quickly.

TP also delivered a special package from Anne; tri colored orzo pasta. How great is it that someone I have only met one time IRL thought about me and my need to find another supplier of specialty pasta? Amazing!

Coincidentally I made my orzo for dinner along with chicken on a stick (minus the stick - too lazy), london broil, and a hella lotta fruit. TP and KP brought some very yummy sides and an apple pie that we ate with a three year old sharp cheddar. I think everyone was pleasantly stuffed.

After a little digging I was able to find the pasta people I used to get my orzo from in CO at the farmer's market. Surprise, surprise they now have an online store!

Be advised, it's expensive and good. Proceed with caution.
http://www.pappardellesonline.com/servlet/Search?category=Dried+Flavored+Orzo+Pasta

Some of our faves are...
-Dark chocolate pasta combined with spicy thai noodles served with the thai peanut sauce. Worth every penny, not even kidding.
-Autumn harvest orzo (Chestnut, sage, and pumpkin)
-Portabella mushroom ravioli with sherry, garlic, and onion

those eyes!

2009-06-24T10:14:00.001-07:00

I always thought my girls would have my blue eyes. I'm not sure why I thought that exactly, considering my husband has hazel eyes. Of course when they were born they had blue eyes. At a year old they still had mostly blue eyes but something in them was changing. Jer kept telling me they were turning green and I'd keep telling him they were blue. So on and so on.

Sometime during their second year they really changed and have been that way ever since. Their eyes are dark blue around the outside and gradually turn green in the center. They are a perfect mix of my husband and I, and I love them.

girls just wanna have fun

2009-06-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

We had a great day yesterday.

In the morning we went and bought a plastic pool. On the way out the door an old guy was getting twine from an employee. He looked at us with our big pool and we had a little conversation about how he bought one too and his wouldn't fit in his truck. I expressed my concern for getting the damned thing into my minivan. He asked where we lived and then offered to throw it in his truck and take it home for us if it didn't fit. I love old guys, they're just swell. Turns out it did fit so we thanked him for his offer and headed home.

We spent most of the day outside "swimming" and lounging.

Then it was time for lunch and naps. I usually try to do something fun with B when the girls are napping. Yesterday I pulled out every beauty product I could think of and we had a spa day. I gave her a mani/pedi and a facial. I have a great picture of B with a green face mask on but I promised I wouldn't put it on the internet. Lily woke up half way through our spa day and then she wanted her own mani/pedi and facial. Luckily I was able to talk her out of the color Midnight in Moscow (black raspberry) in favor of Cha Cha Ching Cherry (red).

Soon all the girls were in on it and we all ended up with fancy fingers and toes. Lily is blowing on her toes to get them to dry, in case you're wondering.

Then when Daddy got home he took us all out to eat at Applebees cause we were so fancy. Okay, so maybe it had more to do with the fact that I said I didn't want to cook, but still it was cute.

sad news

2009-06-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

I received an email yesterday from one of my best friends. (The one I posted about having a top secret pregnancy.) She lost her baby.

Understandably she is heartbroken. To make it worse, she is in California on vacation with the kids and her husband is back home in Australia. He will be joining them soon, but for now she is dealing with all of this on her own. It's times like these that I wish I had unlimited resources and could just jet off to be with her and stay as long as she needed me. Unfortunately that isn't the case so all I can do is listen when she is ready to talk and keep her in my prayers.

If we were both back in CO there would be a lot of alcohol, chocolate, and hugging. There would be a constant delivery of casseroles and brownies and wine. There would be lots of free babysitting and kid sleepovers and eventually retail therapy of some sort.

Since we are apart and I'm in WI this week the ladies and I made a little pilgrimage to Holy Hill in honor of my friend J and her angel baby. I cried like an idiot in the beautiful church and said several prayers for my friend.

J, I'm here for you when you need me and I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm baaaack

2009-06-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

In WI that is. The girls and I made awesome time and got here right after lunch.

On the agenda this trip...

-Attend cousins grad party in MN on Saturday
-Hold my new baby niece as much as her mother will let me
-Go to Johns Root Beer with the ladies
-Dinner with the IL's
-Visit my grandmother even though she will probably not know who the hell I am
-Go to Holy Hill if weather permits
-Pick up Jer's niece and return to the wonderful state of Ohio, possibly with pie.

how about a song

2009-06-04T08:56:00.001-07:00

Just to make your day, one of my favorite songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJcRoYuV2Q0

food boredom defeated

2009-06-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am officially over my period of food boredom. I think I successfully kicked it on Sunday when I made chicken on a stick and spicy thai noodles with peanut sauce. Yum. I don't think I've ever eaten that much chicken in one sitting before in my life and it was great.

Monday I made tuna cakes, spinach, and packaged noodles. The tuna cakes were great, the noodles nobody touched. Serves me right trying to take the easy way out. Ava ate two tuna cakes herself and a huge helping of spinach. I love it when my kids eat without complaint.

Tuesday we had squash casserole. I think I may be addicted. I took a picture this time just so you'd get a different image popping into your head when I say the words squash casserole. I know, I know, it doesn't sound that great right...try it. Try it and you may I say.

Dinner tonight will be Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn, and onion parm dinner rolls.

In Other News:

-Tomorrow night our friends will be here. My house is not clean. My laundry is done however, so that's something.

-My bathroom is still not painted and every time I try to make myself do it I just can't. You'd think I'd be so excited to be done with the darn thing. And I am don't get me wrong, but it's just so hard to paint something that's new and perfect. I don't want to screw it up.

-You can add another friend to my long list of good friends who are pregnant while I'm not. It's a secret so I won't name names but she doesn't live in Ohio and wasn't at GW. I am thrilled for her (and all of my other friends) but sad for us. Anybody who has dealt with infertility knows how horrible it is to not have control over your reproduction. I am happy I have my girls. I know not every couple who is infertile gets to realize their dream of having a child. But it still stings.

-Ok, when I said my laundry was done I just meant that it's clean and folded, not put away.

smarty pants

2009-05-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

This kid likes learning.

Lily asks all the time to "do learning" she really enjoys flash cards, letters, writing, math, anything you teach her. She prefers to count in Spanish over English because she says "English is too hard for me." She also prefers Spanish colors to English. I hope her preschool teachers know some Spanish.

The other day she called me over to look at what she was learning (independent study) and she showed me this.
I believe she started writing her name and then just kept going with any letter she could think of. Then she drew a person. She was very proud of herself and wanted her picture taken with her board.

We'll see if she's still so interested in learning when she actually starts school in the fall.

It's funny how different the ladies personalities are. Ava could care less about learning. She'd rather be doing something outside. Ava can't write her name yet so if she needs her name written on something Lily does it for her. I think this may also be a problem in the fall.

project

2009-05-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

We did a project yesterday. I handed out glue sticks and construction paper and cut out words and pictures from an old magazine. I put all the pieces in the middle of the table and let the girls choose. This was great fun for me considering they can't read and were choosing words strictly on color, size, and font.

This is the result.

ugly shoes

2009-05-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

I love Hanna Andersson.

If I had my way every piece of clothing my kids wore would be Hanna. I love the simplicity of the fabrics and the bright, childish, colors. I love the lack of embellishments. I do not love the prices, but I really think it's a you get what you pay for kind of a thing.

I have bought several of their dresses for myself because I'm a dress person in the summertime. Simple, cool, easy. Perfect. I also have one pair of shoes from Hanna; a pair of leopard print clogs that I love.

But these? I just don't get these. I think I'm going to buy them for Anne. Something about them screams Anne to me. Maybe it's the heel? I just can't put my finger on it. Is it the buckle?

http://www.hannaandersson.com/style.asp?from=SC%7C4%7C7%7C237%7C306%7C7%7C83%7C4&simg=15234_128

food boredom

2009-05-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

Alright Anne, here you go.

I think I need to spend a little time with my cookbooks this afternoon and get some new recipes to try. Even though this week I've tried two new ones (both were really good) I am still just bored with food. The only thing that usually gets me out of a rut like this is a trip to Whole Foods (there isn't one here) or Trader Joe's (there is one!) or a brand spanking new cookbook/ food mag.

Oddly enough the only food that sounds good is Greek, Ethiopian and German, how about that combo eh? I looked up the recipe for naan bread and it just looked like too much work. I'm pretty sure there is no Ethiopian restaurant in this part of Ohio so I think I'm pretty much SOL. German I can do but that would require a big fat trip to the grocery store and I am avoiding that place right now, same with Greek. However I am going to make a big fat Greek meal when my friends are here next week. I am going to attempt to make skordahlia, I friggin love that stuff.

Ok, so, some foods...

1. Blue Pasta Salad- I made this the other night for dinner with T&K Pack. It was well received. A friend gave me the recipe after she brought it to my house for dinner. I changed it slightly. This salad looks crazy boring but let me tell you it's got a kick. It also looks nasty as hell the next day but still tastes good (it's the avocado). You defiantely have to make it fresh. (too spicy for my kids)

2 Avocados
1 tomato (cherry or grape tomatoes work well too)
1 red onion
2 T Olive oil (I used more)
Chopped garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
4 oz Blue cheese crumbles
spaghetti

Cook, drain, and cool the spaghetti. Chop up all the junk and toss everything together. Add the avocado last and toss one more time.

2. Curry chicken salad with smoked almonds- Just make chicken salad how you normally would but add in lots of curry powder and smoked almonds. Smoked almonds are awesome by the way. Try them in a trail mix kind of situation with raisins and m&m's.

3. Chocolate frozen custard with marshmallow and peanut butter. I really don't have to explain myself here do I? Culver's two scoop sundae.

4. Zucchini Casserole- I was given this recipe by a friends Aunt. I was intrigued after hearing them rave about it and had to try it myself. My kids wouldn't eat it but Jer and I devoured it and both had it the next day for lunch. It reheats really well. I didn't add carrots cause I didn't have any and it was fab.

4 C. diced zucchini squash
¾ C. shredded carrots
½ C. chopped onion
½ C. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 C. Pepperidge Farms Stuffing Mix (cubes)
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
6 Tablespoons margarine
1 lb. Hot Sausage (Bob Evans) – or mild if you are wimpy
Cook & drain sausage, and set aside.
Sauté onion, carrots and zucchini in margarine.
Combine all ingredients and put in a pan sprayed with Pam.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes, until bubbly in the center.

5. Orzo, Parm, and Basil- this is one of those sides that is super simple, goes with everything, and looks kinda fancy. When we lived in CO there was a pasta lady at the local farmer's market and we were able to get orzo in every flavor imaginable. She had an orzo mix that was so great with this recipe: chestnut, squash, and spinach, yum. I miss her and her orzo... (my kids love this stuff btw)

1 C Orzo Pasta
2 T butter
1 can chix broth
½ C grated parm cheese
2 tsp dried basil (I always sub Oregano and it's good)
1/8 tsp black pepper

In a large skillet, sauté orzo in butter for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned
Stir in broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer for 10-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and orzo is tender. Stir in parm, basil and pepper

6. Tuna Cakes- Yeah, I know. Not exciting. But seriously the kids eat 'em up and sometimes it's nice to eat something in happy silence without the kids bitching cause they don't like it. Especially when you're having a rough kid day, ya know.

2 cans (6 oz. each) light tuna in water, drained, flaked
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup KRAFT Real Mayo Mayonnaise
(the original recipe had shredded carrots and pickle relish in it so feel free to add that weird shiz if you feel the need)

Mix everything and use an ice cream scoop and a frying pan. Easy peasy. Don't screw with them until they are ready to flip or they will fall apart on you. You're going for a grilled cheese kind of golden. If you don't have a griddle or huge ass frying pan you will have to do them in small batches. Throw a plate in the oven set to warm and just keep adding them to the plate so they don't get cold and soggy.

it's about to get crazy

2009-05-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

I was just looking over my calendar and planning out my to-do's for the week when I realized that this is the calm before the storm. I have a lot of shiz to get done -and don't want to do any of it- before this weekend.

-My SIL just informed us she's coming for a day or two starting on Saturday. I may have to bitch about this later, I'm trying to remember if my husband gave my blog to his family...

-Sometime around the 3rd of June our good friends Harry and Theresa are coming to stay with us for a couple of days. I am so excited. Theresa and I have known each other since we were born and over the last few years have gotten pretty close again.

-Then we have Strawberry Festival. One of the big reasons we picked Troy and decided to live in the Historic District. I have prepared myself with not one but TWO strawberry outfits for my kids. Why you ask? Because that's how I roll. BTW, they will not actually be dressed as strawberries. Laugh all you want. No really, it's fine. It has been my experience that if you have cute matching twins you get free shit and people let you go first a lot. Old people eat it up.

-A day or two after Strawberry Festival the girls and I head to WI and then on to MN to see my new niece Tess Amelia, I am looking forward to holding a baby again. I'm not sure what that will do for my baby fever. We'll have to wait and see I guess. Then we'll be attending my cousins graduation party and heading back to WI. Also included in that trip will be celebrating my parents birthdays and Father's Day. Any ideas as to what I should buy them?

-Here's the kicker. When we come home from WI (on the 16th of June) we will have a teenager with us. Our niece (J's Sister's daughter) will be staying with us until the fourth of July. Brenna will be 14 this year. I have a lot to say on this topic in another post. I am thrilled that she will be here with us and I'm looking forward to spending time with her. I am also hoping and praying to God that she won't turn into some crazy hormone witch while she's here. We have a lot of fun stuff planned and I hope we all still get along when it's time for her to go.

-and then I'm turning 30 on the 14th of July

frozen fruit "ice cream"

2009-05-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

This stuff is a great to make on a hot night before bedtime. It's super easy and reasonably good for you. I'm sorry I don't have any actual measurements for you, it's one of those things that you just have to make up as you go along. I have tried just about every kind of frozen fruit (peaches, strawberries, blueberries, mixtures) and all of them work except blackberries, the seeds were just too big so the texture was icky.

Start with the ingredients pictured below. Throw the bag of frozen fruit (straight from the freezer) into a food processor. Add about 1/2 cup of yogurt (you'll probably end up adding more), one teaspoon of vanilla, and a little bit of sugar. The sugar is totally personal taste, you may not even want to add any. Some fruits don't need it, other's do.

Just process until it resembles ice cream and the big chunks of fruit are gone. (Or not if that's your thing) Last night I got a little carried away with the yogurt and it ended up a little too thin.
I probably used about two tablespoons of sugar in this batch and it was plenty.

I have never tried to freeze this stuff because there is never any left. So if you try it and have success freezing it let me know.

rite of passage

2009-05-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

We took the girls fishing on Saturday. They're actually really good at casting, but we've never let them have a hook or bait. Saturday we decided we'd let them fish with us, hopefully we'd catch something and we'd let them land it.

This is what happened

Ava named the fish AK. AK as in the gun? AK as in Alaska? Who knows. They loved fishing and are already asking when we're going back again. I think soon, considering there is a box of live worms in the fridge right now.

The ladies also reached a big milestone. They took their first pee in the woods.