Mom and I finally got our calendars coordinated to take some old rings up to the jewelry shop and have this lovely created.
Showing posts with label Birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birthday. Show all posts
Saturday, October 11, 2014
New pretty
Mom and I finally got our calendars coordinated to take some old rings up to the jewelry shop and have this lovely created.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
My Second Child
Today my son Keith turns 25. Of course my mind goes back to the day of his delivery, but I also consider how his arrival impacted our family. Every parent wonders about how life will change with their first child, but number two? How different can that be?
With my first pregnancy I was able to focus on every little nuance and change in my body. I sang to the baby and we had long talks. Baby number two I had a toddler running around. My conversations were now two-sided and highly focused on cookies. I'm sure I sang but to the little tyke in front of me not the one rumbling around inside me. And when the baby arrived again all of our focus was on the older child so she wouldn't feel slighted and making sure she wouldn't hurt him as she played... or walked past.
Fortunately our once only-child, readily accepted the screaming baby and the new routines necessary for two children.
The immediate change was of course in us as parents. No more could we hyper-focus on one child, we had to be fair and figure out how to spend equal time with each. "Equal" wasn't ever possible. Their needs were different. Out of necessity we couldn't let either child just do whatever at their whim. Feeding, diapering, bedtimes had to be implemented on a schedule, not that either child could be forced but it eventually came to be. Since we could no longer hyper-focus on the needs of one child we learned to mellow out. Things dropped on the floor weren't rushed to the sink to be sanitized but quickly wiped off and handed back to a child ready to burst into full squawk. Not that I ever kept a perfectly clean house, but my standards lowered even further. Toys scattered every room and we blindly stepped over each one. It was just easier. In fact "it was just easier" became our approach to a lot of things.
For the first child, she had to change as well. No longer was she the focus of the family. She had to share her parents, her room, her toys, and sometimes her food. Okay, she never shared her food but that didn't stop little fingers from trying to abscond a morsel or two. Sharing is a necessary skill among siblings and she was getting a crash course.
For the new baby, he never was the center of anyone's universe. In some ways that makes me sad. Fortunately, his mellow temperament made this a non-issue. He just goes with the flow. If something is not available then he will drift to something that is available. That's not to say he hasn't perfected the art of tormenting his sister into tantrums. He is very good at provoking and finds immense humor in it. There is an evil glint in his eyes despite looking oh-so innocent, "who me?"
Pride for many parents arrives with the mile-stone accomplishments of their children - graduations, promotions, acknowledgments, sports. For me, my pride came early on just watching my children. There was something special sitting on the porch as they romped and played in the yard. They played WITH each other.
If I ever tried to help things along it only destroyed the fragile magic they had woven. I could hear the same thing from other rooms as I was cleaning. They were keeping each other occupied and having fun. I can still hear the squeals and giggles that would come to a complete halt as soon as they noticed me watching. I learned to stand back and enjoy the show from a distance. Even when they fought if I left them to their own devices they would soon be laughing again.
Many years later this dynamic duo easily accepted a third child into the fold. They interact with him differently that they do each other. When Ian was little, he had a second set of parents, an ever watchful set of guardians to help him in any way necessary. That's not to say big brother didn't torment him too, but there was a line that was never crossed because he was "little". Only recently has Ian grown to be the same size as his brother and bigger than his sister that they now treat him as an equal, but it's still not the same way Keith and Amanda treat each other. Keith and his little brother are now friends and actually choose to hang out. I'm blown away every time I hear Keith is coming to the house to play games or watch a movie with a punk teenaged kid still in high school.
Today Keith has two beautiful children of his own and he is the most hands-on father I have ever seen. His children light up when he enters the room. He plays with them and rough-houses, but he also disciplines them. I can't even explain my pride in seeing him as a father. He dumbfounds me. I watch him awestruck.
I find the same delight watching his children interact as I did with him and his sister. It looks like they will fight and tussle, laugh and scheme just as their dad and aunt did as children. That's not to say I don't still sit back and watch my adult children interact. It's impossible to tell how long they have been apart because their conversations and tormenting pick up from their last encounter.
Keith, like his mellow personality, brought a mellowness to our family. I never expected it, I didn't even know to look for it.
With my first pregnancy I was able to focus on every little nuance and change in my body. I sang to the baby and we had long talks. Baby number two I had a toddler running around. My conversations were now two-sided and highly focused on cookies. I'm sure I sang but to the little tyke in front of me not the one rumbling around inside me. And when the baby arrived again all of our focus was on the older child so she wouldn't feel slighted and making sure she wouldn't hurt him as she played... or walked past.
Fortunately our once only-child, readily accepted the screaming baby and the new routines necessary for two children.
The immediate change was of course in us as parents. No more could we hyper-focus on one child, we had to be fair and figure out how to spend equal time with each. "Equal" wasn't ever possible. Their needs were different. Out of necessity we couldn't let either child just do whatever at their whim. Feeding, diapering, bedtimes had to be implemented on a schedule, not that either child could be forced but it eventually came to be. Since we could no longer hyper-focus on the needs of one child we learned to mellow out. Things dropped on the floor weren't rushed to the sink to be sanitized but quickly wiped off and handed back to a child ready to burst into full squawk. Not that I ever kept a perfectly clean house, but my standards lowered even further. Toys scattered every room and we blindly stepped over each one. It was just easier. In fact "it was just easier" became our approach to a lot of things.
For the first child, she had to change as well. No longer was she the focus of the family. She had to share her parents, her room, her toys, and sometimes her food. Okay, she never shared her food but that didn't stop little fingers from trying to abscond a morsel or two. Sharing is a necessary skill among siblings and she was getting a crash course.
For the new baby, he never was the center of anyone's universe. In some ways that makes me sad. Fortunately, his mellow temperament made this a non-issue. He just goes with the flow. If something is not available then he will drift to something that is available. That's not to say he hasn't perfected the art of tormenting his sister into tantrums. He is very good at provoking and finds immense humor in it. There is an evil glint in his eyes despite looking oh-so innocent, "who me?"
Pride for many parents arrives with the mile-stone accomplishments of their children - graduations, promotions, acknowledgments, sports. For me, my pride came early on just watching my children. There was something special sitting on the porch as they romped and played in the yard. They played WITH each other.
If I ever tried to help things along it only destroyed the fragile magic they had woven. I could hear the same thing from other rooms as I was cleaning. They were keeping each other occupied and having fun. I can still hear the squeals and giggles that would come to a complete halt as soon as they noticed me watching. I learned to stand back and enjoy the show from a distance. Even when they fought if I left them to their own devices they would soon be laughing again.
Many years later this dynamic duo easily accepted a third child into the fold. They interact with him differently that they do each other. When Ian was little, he had a second set of parents, an ever watchful set of guardians to help him in any way necessary. That's not to say big brother didn't torment him too, but there was a line that was never crossed because he was "little". Only recently has Ian grown to be the same size as his brother and bigger than his sister that they now treat him as an equal, but it's still not the same way Keith and Amanda treat each other. Keith and his little brother are now friends and actually choose to hang out. I'm blown away every time I hear Keith is coming to the house to play games or watch a movie with a punk teenaged kid still in high school.
Today Keith has two beautiful children of his own and he is the most hands-on father I have ever seen. His children light up when he enters the room. He plays with them and rough-houses, but he also disciplines them. I can't even explain my pride in seeing him as a father. He dumbfounds me. I watch him awestruck.
I find the same delight watching his children interact as I did with him and his sister. It looks like they will fight and tussle, laugh and scheme just as their dad and aunt did as children. That's not to say I don't still sit back and watch my adult children interact. It's impossible to tell how long they have been apart because their conversations and tormenting pick up from their last encounter.
Keith, like his mellow personality, brought a mellowness to our family. I never expected it, I didn't even know to look for it.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Cakeway
St. Louis is 250 years old!!!
To celebrate some mysterious committee has organized special events but the thing that has stuck my fancy are the birthday cakes popping up all over town... and beyond. Several people have scratched their heads over some of the placements many many many miles outside of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
We started looking for the cakes back in March. Sadly all 250 not still not out. I think they have 233 (despite their webpage saying 234).
It has been fun driving around trying to spot the cakes. So far I have seen 30. I do click a picture each time. I'll spare you the fuzzy, off center shots.
Coming to St. Louis and want to look for a cake or two? http://www.stl250.org/cake-leaderboard.aspx
I'll keep you updated as I find more.
To celebrate some mysterious committee has organized special events but the thing that has stuck my fancy are the birthday cakes popping up all over town... and beyond. Several people have scratched their heads over some of the placements many many many miles outside of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
We started looking for the cakes back in March. Sadly all 250 not still not out. I think they have 233 (despite their webpage saying 234).
It has been fun driving around trying to spot the cakes. So far I have seen 30. I do click a picture each time. I'll spare you the fuzzy, off center shots.
Coming to St. Louis and want to look for a cake or two? http://www.stl250.org/cake-leaderboard.aspx
I'll keep you updated as I find more.
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Sunday In My City - My Daughter Turns 25
Yesterday my daughter turned 25... and of course I am far too young to have a child so OLD. I suggested to another blogger to make sure to pose in pictures with your children. This issue came up recently at funeral of my friend's mother - there were only a scant few pictures of mom with either of her girls. So many of us hate having our pictures taken, but seriously swallow your pride and give your children something to put up at your funeral (if for no other reason).
My collection of intentionally posed mother-daughter pictures started quite by accident - we attended a Girl Scout event where polaroid shots were taken of each mother-daughter pair and then we crafted frames. We did this several years in a row and I treasure the shots. After that we made sure to continue the tradition of posing together if even it meant one of us had to take the picture with an extended arm. I dug through my albums and found some shots that predated the GS events. I regret not having a similar collection with my sons.
My collection of intentionally posed mother-daughter pictures started quite by accident - we attended a Girl Scout event where polaroid shots were taken of each mother-daughter pair and then we crafted frames. We did this several years in a row and I treasure the shots. After that we made sure to continue the tradition of posing together if even it meant one of us had to take the picture with an extended arm. I dug through my albums and found some shots that predated the GS events. I regret not having a similar collection with my sons.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Keith Turns 23
Last week my middle child turned 23
TwentyTHREE!
He even requested my pineapple upside-down cake.
But the star of the show was his ten month old son
TwentyTHREE!
But the star of the show was his ten month old son
Friday, May 04, 2012
Friday Fragments - May 4, 2012
It's noon and I still haven't written anything. Gah!
My son had a double header frisbee game on Sunday. He turned fifteen on Wednesday. We (I) ate pancakes twice this week when we went out to dinner - hey it's what you do when you eat at Dennys and IHOP - not HAMBURGERS, like some people. I guess their burgers are good but I will never know since I'm a breakfast food junkie. And, um, not much else is going on in my life. Oh yes there is, this afternoon I'm going to happy hour.
There you go, a quick, condensed fragmenty Friday!
My son had a double header frisbee game on Sunday. He turned fifteen on Wednesday. We (I) ate pancakes twice this week when we went out to dinner - hey it's what you do when you eat at Dennys and IHOP - not HAMBURGERS, like some people. I guess their burgers are good but I will never know since I'm a breakfast food junkie. And, um, not much else is going on in my life. Oh yes there is, this afternoon I'm going to happy hour.
There you go, a quick, condensed fragmenty Friday!
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
My Baby is FIFTEEN!
Fifteen years. How on earth can I have a child that's been on this planet for FIFTEEN YEARS? Especially since he's my youngest child?
If you can't do the math, because I sure can't and only know the child was turning fifteen for an entire year because of his endless reminders as this is the year he can get his drivers permit... that would be 1997.
1997, you know back before we were really worried about Y2K, maybe even before we ever heard of it? We were still speculating what it would be like to "party like it's 1999" - for the record it was a little over inflated and my view of that may have been due to it being a particularly crappy year personally. My my my, how things have changed since then!
But May 2nd, 1997 - it was a bright, sunny Friday morning and I was getting strapped down for an emergency C-section. I was terrified and literally shaking. He was three weeks early, a tad scrawny (half the size of either of his siblings) and needed to stay a few weeks in the NICU.
It may not have been a smooth arrival into this world, but in my heart I knew he was a fighter and would be okay. He fought and is okay.
Three weeks later I took home a still scrawny baby who had reflux and a serious case of thrush, a fungus that leaves a white coating on the tongue. The thrush went away rather quickly but the reflux remained. My friends are still scarred by the memories of handing my mini-puking machine. He was hard to sooth, hard to feed, and was a light sleeper. To this day I call him a grazer when it comes to eating, preferring to nibble through the day than commit to proper meals. His sleeping habits have improved only recently.
Despite it all, he was a happy baby. He was, and is, easily amused, incredibly inquisitive and has a healthy streak of stubbornness.
Last year he had officially sprouted taller than his sister and me. His shoulders have broadened and his face is finally losing the rounded child-like features. He's becoming furry and even has a few curly strands popping off his chin. He's blond, you can barely tell. Girls aren't exactly icky anymore, but he also hasn't succumbed to having an actual girlfriend. After his showers a lovely scent of manly cologne wafts through the house. I'm used to it now, but it was a little disconcerting the first time I smelled it from his older brother.
Basically, he's no longer a little boy. He's still young, but he's bursting at the seams to be all grown up and is doing a fine job of it.
This morning I reminded him that in 15 years he will be THIRTY. ugh. At least I will still be 28.
If you can't do the math, because I sure can't and only know the child was turning fifteen for an entire year because of his endless reminders as this is the year he can get his drivers permit... that would be 1997.
1997, you know back before we were really worried about Y2K, maybe even before we ever heard of it? We were still speculating what it would be like to "party like it's 1999" - for the record it was a little over inflated and my view of that may have been due to it being a particularly crappy year personally. My my my, how things have changed since then!
But May 2nd, 1997 - it was a bright, sunny Friday morning and I was getting strapped down for an emergency C-section. I was terrified and literally shaking. He was three weeks early, a tad scrawny (half the size of either of his siblings) and needed to stay a few weeks in the NICU.
It may not have been a smooth arrival into this world, but in my heart I knew he was a fighter and would be okay. He fought and is okay.
Three weeks later I took home a still scrawny baby who had reflux and a serious case of thrush, a fungus that leaves a white coating on the tongue. The thrush went away rather quickly but the reflux remained. My friends are still scarred by the memories of handing my mini-puking machine. He was hard to sooth, hard to feed, and was a light sleeper. To this day I call him a grazer when it comes to eating, preferring to nibble through the day than commit to proper meals. His sleeping habits have improved only recently.
Despite it all, he was a happy baby. He was, and is, easily amused, incredibly inquisitive and has a healthy streak of stubbornness.
Last year he had officially sprouted taller than his sister and me. His shoulders have broadened and his face is finally losing the rounded child-like features. He's becoming furry and even has a few curly strands popping off his chin. He's blond, you can barely tell. Girls aren't exactly icky anymore, but he also hasn't succumbed to having an actual girlfriend. After his showers a lovely scent of manly cologne wafts through the house. I'm used to it now, but it was a little disconcerting the first time I smelled it from his older brother.
Basically, he's no longer a little boy. He's still young, but he's bursting at the seams to be all grown up and is doing a fine job of it.
This morning I reminded him that in 15 years he will be THIRTY. ugh. At least I will still be 28.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Friday Fragments - March 2, 2012
Today my baby girl turns 24! Everyone help me wish her a very happy birthday!
It just doesn't seem possible than *I* could have 24 years of anything under my belt, definitely not motherhood. And yet, here it is, my oldest child has gained another year of adulthood. How can she already be twentyfour years old????
You'll have to excuse me as I devote an entire post to her, but she IS the single biggest life altering event that has ever happened to me. Graduations, jobs, finances have all impacted my life, but my daughter is the one whose arrival completely turned my world upside-down and inside-out. The sacrifices were huge, but oh so very worth it. Like any parent can tell you, the arrival of your first child shatters any and all illusions you may ever have had about your future.
24 years ago I was in labor and would be for nearly the entire day. She was due 9 days prior... mmmhmmmm think back about how long ago February 22 was, and yes it was leap year too. We joke that her late arrival was because she needed to sleep in, a condition that plagues her to this day. And oh no, she couldn't be born in the morning. This child was born at 10:22pm.
March 2, 1988 was the day that the women's final for figure skating was on TV. I had already visited the hospital the night before, walking the halls to progress the labor and sent home. By morning when labor was even and regular I was hellbent on watching the skating through to the end. I sat in my rocking chair, rocking violently through the contractions. An impatient husband paced back and forth, certain he and my mother would be delivering a baby right there in our apartment. Ha! This little girl had no intention of making an appearance any time soon.
But we didn't know that.
Sitting in labor and delivery, slowly progressing through a textbook labor, hitting every stage, other mothers came and went. A faint cry could be heard down the hall as babies made their way into the world. But not mine. Nope. She was still waiting to make a grand entrance.
By late evening I was the only one left on the floor. The staff out of boredom began placing penny bets - boy or girl, over/under 9 pounds, before or after midnight. My modesty gave way to exhaustion and I would whip the covers off my sweaty body. Finally delivery was full on ready to go. My mom got to see Amanda crown, commenting on the mass of hair on her tiny head. I'm still not so sure I wanted my mother staring at my nether regions, but she was delighted to be the first person other than the doctor to see her first grandchild and at that point I didn't give a damn. I am not nearly as curious and will wait until a swaddled baby is placed in my arms to meet my grandchildren.
I still remember her distinct cry, one I could pick out from the rest of the squawking babies with my eyes closed.
Everything after that blurs. The trip back to the apartment, the flurry of visitors including the UPS man, a first smile, moving back to Missouri, crawling, walking, talking, and before you know it a first birthday.
Time flies so fast. I don't remember each of her birthdays exactly, but several stand out in my memory. Her second birthday was the day her terrible two's started. I swear she woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day and it lasted two years straight. Pictures capture the various parties through the years. There were big celebrations and little ones. Sleepovers were common and seemed to keep the masses happy.
I'm not really sure what the celebration will be this year, but it will happen. It always does, because, dammit, birthdays are important.
Happy Birthday Amanda!
It just doesn't seem possible than *I* could have 24 years of anything under my belt, definitely not motherhood. And yet, here it is, my oldest child has gained another year of adulthood. How can she already be twentyfour years old????
You'll have to excuse me as I devote an entire post to her, but she IS the single biggest life altering event that has ever happened to me. Graduations, jobs, finances have all impacted my life, but my daughter is the one whose arrival completely turned my world upside-down and inside-out. The sacrifices were huge, but oh so very worth it. Like any parent can tell you, the arrival of your first child shatters any and all illusions you may ever have had about your future.
24 years ago I was in labor and would be for nearly the entire day. She was due 9 days prior... mmmhmmmm think back about how long ago February 22 was, and yes it was leap year too. We joke that her late arrival was because she needed to sleep in, a condition that plagues her to this day. And oh no, she couldn't be born in the morning. This child was born at 10:22pm.
March 2, 1988 was the day that the women's final for figure skating was on TV. I had already visited the hospital the night before, walking the halls to progress the labor and sent home. By morning when labor was even and regular I was hellbent on watching the skating through to the end. I sat in my rocking chair, rocking violently through the contractions. An impatient husband paced back and forth, certain he and my mother would be delivering a baby right there in our apartment. Ha! This little girl had no intention of making an appearance any time soon.
But we didn't know that.
Sitting in labor and delivery, slowly progressing through a textbook labor, hitting every stage, other mothers came and went. A faint cry could be heard down the hall as babies made their way into the world. But not mine. Nope. She was still waiting to make a grand entrance.
By late evening I was the only one left on the floor. The staff out of boredom began placing penny bets - boy or girl, over/under 9 pounds, before or after midnight. My modesty gave way to exhaustion and I would whip the covers off my sweaty body. Finally delivery was full on ready to go. My mom got to see Amanda crown, commenting on the mass of hair on her tiny head. I'm still not so sure I wanted my mother staring at my nether regions, but she was delighted to be the first person other than the doctor to see her first grandchild and at that point I didn't give a damn. I am not nearly as curious and will wait until a swaddled baby is placed in my arms to meet my grandchildren.
I still remember her distinct cry, one I could pick out from the rest of the squawking babies with my eyes closed.
Everything after that blurs. The trip back to the apartment, the flurry of visitors including the UPS man, a first smile, moving back to Missouri, crawling, walking, talking, and before you know it a first birthday.
Time flies so fast. I don't remember each of her birthdays exactly, but several stand out in my memory. Her second birthday was the day her terrible two's started. I swear she woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day and it lasted two years straight. Pictures capture the various parties through the years. There were big celebrations and little ones. Sleepovers were common and seemed to keep the masses happy.
I'm not really sure what the celebration will be this year, but it will happen. It always does, because, dammit, birthdays are important.
Happy Birthday Amanda!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday Fragments - Thanksgiving Wrap Up
It's Black Friday - the crazy day to go out shopping and land incredible deals. We slept in. I do need to hit a certain store this morning, but I'm not rushing out to beat the crowds. My husband got me to do the 4am stand in line thing a couple of times and actually it was fun. We had a plan, each with a loaded list of must-have deals plotted out. We'll do it again in the future, I'm sure. Today, though, we will be retailers and I need to be bright eyed and bushy tailed, not groggy and bitchy from being awake since 3am.
On Wednesday I "surprised" my mom by bringing a birthday cake to her dance group at the mall (they meet every week for a little line dancing exercise). I say "surprise" because she suggested this several months ago and then she acted surprised when I showed up. To be honest, I've been so occupied with work and the shop that it never dawned on me to do anything special for her 70th birthday this year. I feel bad that I didn't come up with this on my own, so the very least I could do is comply with her less than suble request.
Tuesday night I baked her cake - a pineapple upside-down cake, isn't it pretty?
Wednesday night I baked the rest of the stuff for Thanksgiving dinner...
Spiced apples from a recipe my son found online Monday
-Slice and core several apples (I used up the ones left from last month's CSA box and they were getting soft). 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar, grated lemon rind, juice from 1 lemon, 1 cinnamon stick (I didn't have one so I just used several teaspoons of ground cinnamon) and I added a teaspoon or two of ground cloves. VERY yummy and VERY easy.
We had a second birthday to celebrate besides my mom, so I made a requested yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
Unfortuantely I didn't have any chocolate frosting on hand, so I made it from scratch. I think it needed more chocolate.
Pumpkin Pie! I love using Pillsbury pie crusts - they're easy and already rolled out AND they bake beautifully. It's taken a bit for me to master crimping the edges, but it does look homemade.
And finally, my famous baked beans. Even my kids who never eat anything with a bean in it, dig into this stuff. It's incredibly sweet and could easily sit on the dessert table.
-chopped onions, crumbled bacon (I used three strips in this batch), about two cups brown sugar, 2 cans of pork and beans (the brand doesn't matter, just don't mix brands - I've made that mistake), 1 teaspoon of barbeque sauce, 2 teaspoons of mustard, 3 or 4 tablespoons of ketchup, and several shakes of chili powder.
And finally, a little alcohol. It didn't get added to anything, although it would be fabulous in the spiced apples. I felt more than a little like Julia Childs with my glass in hand. I had a tickle in my throat warning a cold was brewing so I battled it with my own brew. Usually I seek out vodka mixed with fruit juice, but I only had a drop left so I found this in the back of the fridge. Cured me up just fine!
We made two stops for Thanksgiving - my mom's house and my mother-in-law's house. Usually I'm pretty good about taking enough small portions that I don't feel like I'm rolling out of the house, but I royally failed yesterday. Last night required a dose of Tums before I could go to sleep.
We do have some awesome leftovers for today. I don't make anything special out of leftovers, just warm up and eat.
Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
On Wednesday I "surprised" my mom by bringing a birthday cake to her dance group at the mall (they meet every week for a little line dancing exercise). I say "surprise" because she suggested this several months ago and then she acted surprised when I showed up. To be honest, I've been so occupied with work and the shop that it never dawned on me to do anything special for her 70th birthday this year. I feel bad that I didn't come up with this on my own, so the very least I could do is comply with her less than suble request.
Tuesday night I baked her cake - a pineapple upside-down cake, isn't it pretty?
Wednesday night I baked the rest of the stuff for Thanksgiving dinner...
Spiced apples from a recipe my son found online Monday
We had a second birthday to celebrate besides my mom, so I made a requested yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
Pumpkin Pie! I love using Pillsbury pie crusts - they're easy and already rolled out AND they bake beautifully. It's taken a bit for me to master crimping the edges, but it does look homemade.
And finally, my famous baked beans. Even my kids who never eat anything with a bean in it, dig into this stuff. It's incredibly sweet and could easily sit on the dessert table.
And finally, a little alcohol. It didn't get added to anything, although it would be fabulous in the spiced apples. I felt more than a little like Julia Childs with my glass in hand. I had a tickle in my throat warning a cold was brewing so I battled it with my own brew. Usually I seek out vodka mixed with fruit juice, but I only had a drop left so I found this in the back of the fridge. Cured me up just fine!
We made two stops for Thanksgiving - my mom's house and my mother-in-law's house. Usually I'm pretty good about taking enough small portions that I don't feel like I'm rolling out of the house, but I royally failed yesterday. Last night required a dose of Tums before I could go to sleep.
We do have some awesome leftovers for today. I don't make anything special out of leftovers, just warm up and eat.
Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Birthday Party Blog Hop - Other People's Birthdays
A couple weeks ago we threw a surprise party for dear friend, Ripcord. She's the youngster of the group, just now turning 40. Her husband took her out to dinner with two other couples while the rest of us loaded up on a trolley. Oh we were a sight to behold pulling up to the front of the restaurant. We had EVERYONE'S attention, EXCEPT birthday girl. She's such a dipshit.
We loaded up, took the kids to Ted Drewes for frozen custard and the tooled around town after ditching the kids (at a house with supervision - geez, we're not THAT bad of parents). We didn't cover as much of the town as hoped, but it didn't really matter with four coolers stocked with beer.
Somebody mentioned that there is a new bar with a mechanical bull and that got the birthday girl all excited, so we HAD TO GO.
She was surprised, everyone had fun, and it was not like anyone else's birthday ever! I think that makes it a success.
We loaded up, took the kids to Ted Drewes for frozen custard and the tooled around town after ditching the kids (at a house with supervision - geez, we're not THAT bad of parents). We didn't cover as much of the town as hoped, but it didn't really matter with four coolers stocked with beer.
Somebody mentioned that there is a new bar with a mechanical bull and that got the birthday girl all excited, so we HAD TO GO.
(random picture from another bar, Sybergs)
She was surprised, everyone had fun, and it was not like anyone else's birthday ever! I think that makes it a success.
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