Thumbprints

Doesn't every mother dream of making Christmas cookies with their kids -- music in the background, better crocker aprons on - a dab of flour to the face. Well after a disastrous attempt at traditional "Christmas Cookies" last year with my then three year old, I re-visted my plan of attack.

This year we tried SIMPLE and few ingredients, quick bake time, no rolling/sprinkles/frosting/cookie cutters. Thumbprints it is! And what a success it was. Perhaps the massive amounts of Baileys I put in my coffee helped! Ha --just joking- plain old skinny latte for me!

Betty Crocker Thumbprint Cookies
Mix together
1/2 c shortening
1/4 c brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Sift together
1 c sifted flour (lets not kid ourselves i did not sift and they turned out just fine)
1/4 tsp salt

Roll into 1" balls. Dip in slightly beaten egg whites. Place about 1" apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Quickly press thumb gently on top of each cookie. Return to oven and bake 8 minutes longer. Cool. Place in thumbprints jelly/confectioner sugar icing/hershey kisses.

I think Santa will like them.

let it snow let it snow let it snow

*The littlest snow blower

It is snowing like it's never gonna stop! I don't know how much we have gotten but I am betting it is at least a foot! This is for sure the most snow I can remember seeing in my life.

I better let Santa know that I have made an amendment to my Christmas List. I would now like a snow blower :)

poor thing... he can't get up and I was taking pics instead of helping him!

apparently...

you can't cut his hair without a MAJOR freak out but you can give him three shots to the arm and he doesn't even blink.

Last weekend we took the kids to get Christmas haircuts...if you live in the greater Philadelphia suburban area, you probably heard crying in the distance on Saturday, that was Thomas. Jack was an angel and loves getting his hair cut and I guess to be "different" Thomas flipped out. Even with a lollipop in hand.

Thomas' stats:
Height: 34 in (75-90%)
Weight: 26.15 (50-75%)
Noggin: 20.25 (>95%) .... he's got a big manipulating brain in there...

You know your in trouble when the doctor tells you so. After just telling him how crazy thomas' antics are, it was time to get his shots. Crazy T just sat there and basically said, "bring it, nurse Judy, your silly shots don't scare me, (but don't even think about touching my locks... then you'll see me cry like the 18 month old I really am!).

19 month olds should...

come with a prescription for Xanax. I'm just sayin.

Fa la la la la

All of our Christmas activities fell into this week! So now we will be bored until Christmas Ha! As if... i have 1000 errands to run, presents to buy, already gifts to return! Hmmm that raises a good point, are they "gifts" if they aren't technically given yet? Discuss amongst yourselves. And lets face it life in this nut house is very rarely boring.
A few pics from Santa Brunch. I wasn't sure how Jack felt about the big guy in red this year. There was a little apprehension in the car, but he powered through. Shook his hand, sat on his lap, took a pic... thomas, not so much.

I mean do you want to eat them up or WHAT!? Say I won't use this on their rehearsal dinner invite :) (oh wait, am I jumping the gun!? They're just so cute I can't help it!)

i stuck

regretfully, Thomas is giving up his AM nap. I have had it too good for too long. I wish that giving up the morning nap meant as long or longer PM naps but no such luck... his PM naps are getting shorter and shorter. GRRRR. Better add that to my Christmas list. Cleaning lady, part time job, and longer naps for Thomas. :)

I digress. The point of this post was that he had me laughing outloud today as I attempted to squeeze one more morning nap out of him to get started on my Christmas cards. I did the whole ritualistic routine, and shut the door hoping for at least 30 minutes of quiet Christmas card stuffing. After about 5 books dropped I hear him yelling, "I stuck, I stuck!" (or what I know to be his word for stuck- i am sure any stranger would think it was just gibberish). For the love of all things holy, what has he gotten himself into NOW!

I go up thinking his arm is stuck in the crib or something but no. What I find is a happy thomas standing at his crib smiling his charismatic smile chanting, "i stuck, i stuck" (as in I am stuck in my crib and can't get out to play with you mommy!). Yes, my dear child, you are "stuck" and you are going to be "stuck" for about 15 more minutes too! ha.

clearly catching up...

I'm clearly catching up on a list of blog posts that is in my head. A few pics from our family photo shoot.... which just so happened to coincide with Christmas Cards. How convenient that it was someone ELSE's responsibility to get a decent picture of my kids. Remember the debacle known as Christmas Card Photo Attempt '09. Pretty sure it resulted in EVERYONE crying.

Kristen Chase Photography took the pics. She was so awesome with the kids (and adults... you know, my third child, AJ, has trouble being serious sometimes...) We will definitely use her again.

not sure what he is learning at school these days...

but we were just talking about favorite foods and Jack just told me Santa's favorite food is beer. I like his style, but whatever happened to cookies. Interesting....

melting...

oh my gosh...nothing quite melts your heart quite like a preschool Christmas program. It gets me every year!


My buddy just sang his little heart out. His school does such a nice program where the AWESOME librarian reads the story of Jesus' birth and each sweet little class sings a song during the telling of the story. JRPs class sang a song about the shepherd. I am sure I will post video. All the kiddos looks so sweet in their Christmas best. His class did such a great job and he is always so excited to see us in the crowd. Thomas ate about 7 rice krispie treats to keep him quiet during the program, but you do what you gotta do!

sneak peak

a sneak peak at the dining room (budget) makeover.

I'm figuring we should get it done by somewhere around this time next year! ha!

The perfect day...

Nothing says Christmas like a day in "the city!" We took Jack in for a special big boy day in New York.... we hit all the may-juh sites. Macy's, Rockefeller Center, Magnolia's (for the best cupcakes that ever did taste your lips!), FAO's and the best part was a fun afternoon with some of our best friends... and their soon to be baby "nothing".

The magic of Christmas still exists!
Before the rain.... and snow....
Ohhh my little jackster you are delish... (don't get any bigger you hear!)
Looking for Eloise at the Plaza... he might be obsessed with Star Wars but he still knows Eloise is super cool too!
I know he won't really remember this day forever... but I will.

Turkey Day recap.

Thanksgiving was such fun. My sister and her family were such gracious hosts. Here are a few of our favorite pics.
Thomas acted like a newborn all weekend and Emerson acted like an 18 month old. It was really cool. I promise. Kids table. They tried at least one bit of everything on their plates. I wish I could remember their commentary. I think the only thing they went back for more was the turkey and even that was most probably just to get the ice cream.


OH Thomas, you are so lucky you are cute and are just as sweet as you are mischievous!

It is so funny to watch Jack call Emerson cute and be gentle with her. To be honest I am just glad he knows how to be gentle :).
Nothing says Thanksgiving like a family football game!

Now it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in these parts. It doesn't look quite like Christmas yet, but it's beginning! Our Elf, Herbie, has arrived (can I get a "praise, Jesus") and Jack was GREAT the first day. I better not see diminishing returns on this elf business.

can't stop giggling.

oh.... I forgot how hard my sisters make me laugh. Cheers to a VERY Happy Thanksgiving 2009. Let the festivities begin.

i was thinking...

I was thinking my 18 month olds first multiple word use would be something like:

"love you, mommy"
"yum, this tastes great!"
"cookie please"

Nope, no such luck. He has been running around saying... drum roll please.... "NO, dat's MINE!"

and, folks, that's how you parent.

will we make the final cut?

Look what arrived down the chimney this AM for the kids....

Dear Jack and Thomas,

There are BIG doin's in the North Pole this week-- it's Elf Assignment Week. This is where the elves get assigned to live at a house for the holidays to see if the boys and girls are being naughty or nice. Herbie had such a fun time with you boys last year he really wants to come to your house again this year. Please be extra good for your Mommy and Daddy so that Herbie will come and visit again. "Extra good" means, no whining, no hitting, no talking back. Being extra nice means helping each other, doing things the first time mommy asks you and helping your friends at school.

Love,
Santa
Do they look naughty or nice to you!?

I gotta get my money's worth out of this elf business. I am hoping this encourages good behavior before Herbie arrives the day after Thanksgiving.

just another Saturday night...

beautiful fire - check
homemade pizza - check
husband that agreed to a chick flick - check!

we are beat from a busy week. I think all of our social plans for the month fell in the last three days. So I am betting I am asleep by the end of this post....

hmmm

I am on the train headed to the city for dinner with AJ and his boss. Its nice to get out of my gym clothes and leave the house without ritz crackers on me but I am afraid I have forgotten how to have adult conversations! I haven't read a newspaper in arguably 18 month (I am guessing the sale ads don't count), my version of the 'news' is perez hilton.com, I am fairly certain "the boss" doesn't give a flip who was on Sesame Street this week. Oh dear- the only current event I can think of right now is the new breast cancer screening guidelines which I am guessing are off limits ;) ha ha. At least he likes to drink nice wine- that - can handle!

heaven is...

when your 18 month old hugs and kisses you out of no where! I just want to eat him up today. (i guess he is making up for all the times he makes me ca-razy!)

hypothetically speaking...

if you were to post your child to craigslist, do you think he, i mean, they, would fall under "toys and games" or "jobs?" I'm just sayin'.

...how about "free to a good home?" Funny, I don't see that choice anywhere. Maybe I will write it in myself... just joking.

Apparently we had too much fun this weekend... lots of playing and little sleeping has lead to a hell-acious Monday. My cousin and I finished the half mari! Finished being the key word :). We were right around the time we set as our goal so happiness all around. We had wonderful hosts while in Richmond. The kids got to play with their old buddies and mom and dad even got to go to our first CD Release party to hear our 'rockstar' friend's (as jack calls him) band Louisiana Territory (check them out on itunes- good stuff). Did I mention Emerson (my niece) is to die for? Really she might be the sweetest baby that ever did live. Here's to a better Tuesday...

on vacay

I'm on vacation, oops, wait, no I'm not. My mom is here and it FEELS like I am on vacation. My kids want Nana to tuck and feed and read and play. So whats a mom to do?

did i mention she is coming back next week for the lilly sale. It's like Christmas in November!

I love stay-cations.

i need your help.

I am getting my playlist ready for the 1/2 mar-i in two weeks (well more like 1.5 at this point!) and I need your help... No, I don't need you to sign up to push me in a baby carriage to the finish line... although not a bad idea.

Please leave a comment with your favorite song(s) to help me get proverbial groove on. (Mom - no Josh Grobin suggestions- not that I don't like him, he just might make me curl up and go to sleep instead of make my way to the finish line!)

Cheers!

disgusting or funny... you decide

now that the time has changed, the sun hits our house differently and Thomas has a new game.... It's called "catch the dust particles in the sunlight!"

Gross you say??? Well I just unloaded the dishwasher and got dressed while he played this game, so gross it may be but it is free and entertaining... :)

He's walking around going "that?, that?" I know, Thomas, usually our house is SO clean you probably have NEVER seen a dust particle before...but Mommy's been sick, you know ;)

I am choosing to think this is funny and putting cleaning lady on my Christmas list.

thanksgiving wishes...

Jack took his first field trip to the Great Valley Nature Center today to learn about the Lenape Indians...

This spurred conversations about Thanksgiving.

"Hey, maybe Uncle Al will let me play his Wii for Thanksgiving. That's very thankful."

Not sure what "very thankful" means, but I am fairly sure that is what you will be if Uncle Al shares his Wii with you.

How is my four year old already obsessed with video game playing... i thought this was a year 8 or 9 obsession - must be "gifted!" ha!

halloween '09

Happy Halloween from your favorite members of the Justice League


The kids had a blast. We were a little soggy but Jack totally got the clue this year that whoever goes to bed with the most candy wins! And, he told one of our neighbors who was giving out whole candy bars that he was giving him an award for the best house!

blue light special on aisle 9

i just recently bought a crock pot at Kmart and I am thinking that the 1950's housewife totally had it right! This 13 dollar crock pot can make a mean meal! I can't wait to make more. I love any meal that requires you literally dumping ingredients in a pot and leaving it for upwards of 8 hours.

This was my first crock meal:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/11/salsa-chicken-and-black-bean-soup.html

I served it over brown rice and with a little cornbread! I got a "make it again, good" review from my better half. If he only knew how long I slaved over it's preparation! :)

two reasons I laugh everyday.

Jack is a nut.

Thomas is starting to do this chinese talk. It seriously sounds like he is speaking chinese. He looks right at you and I am more than sure tells you to do something in chinese and then starts hysterically laughing. I sure wish I knew what he was making fun of me for! :)

Going going gone!

GOOOOO Phillies!

We let jack stay up a little late to watch some of the game. I was making Thomas' costume and micromanager jack was lounging on the chair and giving me instruction from a far. After all he is the most knowledgeable of all things super heroes. He was making us laugh so hard --Year 4 is so much fun.

chapel helper

Jack was the coveted "chapel helper" this week... and it was the SWEETEST thing I have ever seen. My little boy who is typically crazy as a loon all over the place sat so sweetly and was so proud holding the candle lighter. I know these pictures are terrible but I hope when this event has gotten pushed to the back of my memory I can look at them and remember the biggest smile I have ever seen when he saw us in the back of the church. I have been missing work a lot lately and days like this make me feel like being home is just right. for now.

There are many things that I love about Jack's school. His teacher is amazing. She reminds me so much of my aunt. So animated and sincere when she speaks to you and they are instilling such wonderful things in my child. As chapel helper it is his responsibility to help with the service and then as everyone walks out he has to look them in the eye and shake their hand. Do you think I could get him to do that at home? no way. no how.

at least it's not the swine.

ugh. Strep Throat has invited itself over for a playdate with everyone at our house. Now ALL of the boys have it. Jack was running around like a crazy person trying to convince me that he felt ok to go to his school Halloween party and Phillies pep rally. Mom and Er told me an unequivocal "NO" (I wouldn't have really sent him). I made all kinds of promises: Scooby Doo movies, popsicles for lunch, stay up late to watch the game... Anything to make him smile after the disappointment of missing a fun school day.

We are so pumped for a Phillies/Yanks World Series at our house! Jack will definitely be a little bi-polar as his favorite player, plays for the Yanks and his favorite team is the Phillies... I never knew I liked baseball this much... it's kinda fun. I guess I better get used to it, huh!?

Off to get my sickies down for LONG naps... did you hear that boys... LONG naps.

Can someone explain...

what in the WORLD a Bakugan is??? And why my four year old is obsessed with them?

Perhaps I should ask the older boys at the gym. Alls I can tell is that they are little balls that break open when you throw them. Seems harmless to me? I need to do some research.

I think I have successfully put the ka-bosh on the Nintendo DS Christmas Wish list item. There is NO need for a 4 year old to have a DS... even if it is used from craigslist.

since I no longer...

- suck on toys that have spent upwards of 8 hours on the gym babysitting floor...

- lick the glass doors, mirrors or parked cars

- eat off my neighbors plate at school

-touch every inanimate object that will stand still long enough between getting out of the car and getting to the classroom

- try to pick my friends noses...

aren't i too old for strep throat! Ahhhhhh. I don't remember strep throat hurting like nobody's business. But, let me tell you it does... there were definitely times in the last 24 hours that when I swallowed and felt like I had all Jack's play mobile swords lodged in my throat, that I thought I would rather be in labor (no joke, maybe I am being slightly dramatic, but i did think it!) I am not much of a medicine taker... but I think I have consumed more ibuprofen in the last two days than I have in an entire year...

Thank GOD for mom mom... She came just in the nick of time, fed and played with the boys while I took an evening rest and totally dodged the dinner/bedtime routine.

he's a big boy now

After a little apprehension... Jack just got picked up by his first "carpool!" No tears... just a "Hello, Mrs. D" big boy greeting.

I sure hope he doesn't say anything embarrassing in the car, like yesterday when I was carpool mom and he told C. he thought she looked scary at the book fair! EEK!

Cheers to me and three and a half full hours with my little man... maybe i can make some progress on this HOUSE!

tagged!

Biscuits Are Never Boring tagged me! Yay! fun, fun!

So here are the rules:You Can Only Use One Word!Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!Alert them that you have given them this award!Have Fun!
1. Where is your cell phone? Heaven-only-knows


2. Your hair? Brown-going-grey


3. Your mother? selfless


4. Your father? Ice cream lover


5. Your favorite food? Mexico’sQueso


6. Your dream last night? none


7. Your favorite drink? Water/splash-o’cran


8. Your dream/goal? Happychildren


9. What room are you in? family room


10. Your hobby? Sewing


11. Your fear? 1/2marathon


12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy


13. Where were you last night? fireside


14. Something that you aren’t? organized


15. Muffins? pumpkin


16. Wish list item? kitchen


17. Where did you grow up? college


18. Last thing you did? soup


19. What are you wearing? jeans


20. Your TV? View


21. Your pets? none


22. Friends? love


23. Your life? All-i-ever-wanted


24. Your mood? content


25. Missing someone? babyemerson


26. Vehicle? explorer


27. Something you’re not wearing? socks


28. Your favorite store? jcrew


29. Your favorite color? blue


30. When was the last time you laughed? today


31. Last time you cried? weekend


32. Your best friend? many


33. One place that I go to over and over? Y


34. One person who emails me regularly? Husband


35. Favorite place to eat? restaurant


I tag... McMommy, Domestic Diva, Donges Family, PaperCourt, Summer is a Verb

you can put it on the...

BOARD! Phillies win.

I was up way to late watching the Phils game. Jack is all about it - I even let him have a 'special night" and stay up a little late. I am sure I will be paying for it all week as he asks for "special night" each night going forward (ugh). But he is so into it and knows more players than I do! And his favorite Philly is Jimmy Rollins... has the 11 shirt and everything!

and the littlest philly fan.

first

first fire of the season.

I think my parents scarred me somewhere along the line. I can specifically remember sitting around with hats on to keep warm INSIDE our house. Now, the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree- cause I am doing that to my kids.

Holding firm on the November 1st "go live" on the heat. Fires are allowed. As well as heat, IF it gets below freezing... even I have standards. :)

the T is for Trouble

... this kid has more spunk and attitude than any 18 month old I have ever met. Must be the Irish in him. He takes his 4 year old brother on ... and for the most part wins.


Sometimes I put him in his crib while I brush my teeth and the like. Only safe place for this rugrat. This is not his brightest moment. Not by a mile. (I still can't figure out how he refuses to where pants in our house where the thermostat never really gets above 60 degrees these days).

It's feeling a bit like Fall!

... which means its time to make my favorite soup!

*pic courtesy womanandhome.com

Butternut- Corn Chowder (epicurious.com)

4 ounces chilled soft fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet), cut into 1-inch-thick rounds
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
4 ounces 1/4-inch-thick slices pancetta or 4 thick bacon slices, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 2 1/4-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, coarsely chopped
4 1/2 cups canned roasted-garlic chicken broth or low-salt chicken broth
2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilies* -- i also have used a tsp of chili garlic sauce
1 16-ounce bag frozen sweet white corn (unthawed)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons minced fresh sage

Cut each cheese round into 8 wedges. Place eggs in small bowl. Place cornmeal in another bowl; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, dip cheese into eggs, then into cornmeal, turning to coat. Press cornmeal gently to adhere. Place on baking sheet. Freeze 1 hour.


Cook pancetta/bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels. Add onion to drippings in pan; sauté until just tender, about 4 minutes. Add butternut squash, broth and chilies; simmer until squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Mix in corn; simmer until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer 3 1/2 cups soup to blender; puree. Mix puree into remaining soup in pan. Season with salt and pepper. (Pancetta and soup can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover pancetta; chill. Chill soup uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Bring pancetta to room temperature before continuing.) Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add frozen cheese; brown well, about 1 minute per side.
Meanwhile, bring soup to simmer. Mix in sage. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with pancetta and cheese croutons.



I actually am too lazy to make the croutons so i just throw a big lump of goat cheese right into the soup bowl. Add a little crushed bacon and - Voila!

24

welcome to these 24 hours, ladies (and dad).... fyi, long post alert.

5:30 pm, Thursday- leave driveway for 12 hour drive to the STL (St. Louis)

5:32pm - (end of block - see previous post) - child chimes in with first "are we there yet?"

7:37pm - Phillies winning; Thomas falls asleep. Trip going splendidly, haven't even had to dip into my "treat bag", but where the "h" are we - don't people need gas out here?


8:15pm - stuck in a holler, no Phils reception, husband pissed....damn you "Wild and Wonderful" WV! I am thinking I sure hope I don't need the bathroom cause I haven't seen one for miles.


9:00pm - oldest child says, "Are we there yet?" as he finally achieves sugar low coma/sleep from Twizzlers, Scooby Doo, and Milk


10:31pm - O-H-I-O!! Yay Yay!!! Raaaaauuullll home run! Phils beating Dodgers.


12:07am - Phils still winning, excitment and convo with the hubs, apparently such great convo that Bambi wanted in.... THUD. Smack. Thud. Smack. -insert explatives--. Silence.


We hit a deer. A. big. giant. deer. Oh, snap. You know your spouse. You have your everyday voices and you have your "come running somethings on fire in the kitchen" voice, and you have your - "my dashboards lighting up with stuff that no longer works but I know your Irish so don't freak out voice." Guess which one AJ was using? Yep, the dashboard one.


We coasted for about a 1/2 mile. We coasted right off the exit ramp. By the grace of God, we were dumped into civilization. We looked around and we were on a well lit street. We looked further and saw the Fairfield Inn within walking distance (Bonus- can you say Marriott points!). AJ realizes that all kinds of fluid is leaking from the engine and using his "please don't freak out voice" says, get the kids out of the car and don't worry about anything else. WHAT!? So we grab the kids - PJs and no socks... no phone, no wallet, no COMPUTER! :) Did I mention it's like 40 freakin' degrees? Anywho we start walking to the Fairfield. Trying to keep the kids calm- oh we're just in a really big parking lot... lalala isn't this a fun adventure. (yep, super freakin' fun-can't wait to do it again....never).

Here's where I feel like I walked a fine line between crazy nut case and logical. As we were walking the maybe 1/4 mile to the hotel with our barefooted children, a "police man" in a Lexus stops us.

PoPo (showing badge): "Do you all need help, I am a police officer...i'm not on duty, but here's my badge"
Me: "Aj, keep walking."
AJ: "Kel, he's a police officer"
Me (thinking of the Elizabeth Smarts and Jaycee Voights): "OH, SURE HE IS... ALLLLL the police officers i know drive around white Lexus' at 12:30 at nite.... And, I think Jack has that same badge from the dollar store... (in fact, I think it is in his bag of treats!).
PoPo: How about if i call the local police and have them go to your car.
Us: Great, sounds perfect.


The kids -- who think it's morning-- and I get settled in the hotel and proceed to watch two hours of the disney channel (which by the way is on at 12-2 in the AM) while AJ goes and tends to the car sitch. You should see the deer.... We did or at least 1/2 of him.

The kids were so awesome. They were real troopers, we had no major freak outs from them. Just me :). They were troopers on the way out and troopers on the way back... Just proves how powerful twizzlers, scooby do and McDonalds Happy Meals can be.

We call her Shloopty... This was our phat (yep, that's phat with a PH) rental ride the good folks at enterprise "hooked" us up with. They're really snazzy out there in Reynoldsburg, OH. We call her Shloopty and she is THAT red.

5:30 PM, Friday - home again, home again jiggity jig. Just literally 24hours later, after driving to COLUMBUS, OH, hitting a deer, and joy riding back, we are back to our home. No visit with the cousins in ST. Lou.

As much as AJ and I have had many giggles about this experience, mostly to save us from going nutty on the fact that we drove 16 hours with 2 kids under the age of four to .... hit a deer.... I truly believe that God is present in our daily lives. Sometimes he makes himself more obvious than others. I am so thankful to Him for keeping us safe, providing an easy place to get to safety for the boys and a good samaritans like the po po to help us out and make us feel safe...

You know I'll be at Church on Sunday morning giving thanks, having a moment of silence for Bambi, and praying we don't get swine flu...

what did people do....

...on long car rides before mobile facebook???? (I can already hear my parent suggesting "read a book!?"- Gasp!-)

Apparently people in podunk Ohio don't give a hoot about the Phils game. Based on the muttering I have deciphered from my husbands rant... He finds this "aggrevating" (for lack of a better,g rated word).

The kids are being gems (natch)... Sawing logs in the back seat. I haven't even had to dip into my treat bag yet!!

Oh and never fear since the start of this post, we have found the Phils!! And they still have the lead... Wahoooo!

doesn't bode well

We weren't even out of the dang driveway before I heard my first how long till we get there. Ahhhhhhh maybe it was worth the dinero and a stop over to fly. St. Louis here we come. We might only be there for 12 hours before we turn around to go home, but here we come :)

Pray for me. Please. Pray. For. Me.

somedays...

I feel like I am one snarky comment and a bad haircut away from being Kate Gosslin. If I don't like yelling at my kids, then why does it feel like it is all I do sometimes!? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

It's feeling like a nap day here in PA!?

it's sad...

when you can say, "Yoga kicked my butt!", and mean it.

Namaste.

i must really want...

to make friends in PA. :) I have agreed to meet a new friend for Yoga tonight. I have done maybe two yoga classes in my life and I am so inflexible I can barely touch my toes. This should be funny, i mean, fun.

did i really just spend 40 dollars at the Dollar Tree?

I was pretty embarrassed at the total I rang in at the Dollar Tree today.... between the surprisingly cute Halloween decorations for our halloween playdate and compiling a goodie bag for our trip to St. Louis... I did actually manage to spend 40 bones at the Dollar Tree. 50% embarrassed; 50% proud.

we are planning for a trip westward to visit our cousins in St. Louis... sounds fun, right!? Did I mention we are driving... :) to be honest it still sounds fun to me! I am cautiously optimistic that because the kids have been in the car for long car rides from birth, that we will be ok... oh, that and a quick prayer to St. Christopher the patron Saint of safe (I think sane falls under safe, yes?) travel.

I have a corner of the guest room well stocked with snacks, coloring books, stickers, activity books, bag o' emergency goodies from Dollar Tree, this fun travel pillow, books on tape for the boys, books on tape for the mom/dad, books books books and movies movies and more movies. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to add benadryl to the pile- just in case. :)

breaking news....

Have you heard???? Obama wins the Heisman Trophy just for watching college football!

*pic courtesy sportscrack.blogspot.com

Heard it here first, folks...

**I really do try to keep my political views to myself...because I know not everyone agrees with my profound wisdom. :) But this I couldn't pass up.

public service announcement

Consider this your public service announcement for the week.

My boys are 100% boy. We get dirty at every opportunity. I try to see it as "creative" and not annoying. My mom had a special secret that Cascade (as in the dish detergent) took stains out of anything... But I think Cascade has met it's match with.... (drum roll please)....

Jack literally demolished a brand new pair of crewcuts khaki's at "the playdate" (you know the one that ended in spitting). Dirt up the front and down the back. OxiClean to the rescue- i am not lying... I feel like every house needs a bottle (or two) of this. And NO i am not getting paid for this (however, OxiClean feel free to send me some of the good stuff if you want! haha.) Literally, I sprayed it on... heard yelling and tackling from the other room and got distracted. Heard giggling from the bathroom- that was the oxiclean laughing at the grass stains that it was TOTALLY removing. Threw the pants in the laundry and Oila! good as new. It's magical, really.

I can't wait to try it on all the outfits Thomas ruined with his exceptional barfing skills month 3-12.

for the millionth time.

Dear Unknown Name/Unknown Number on my Caller ID,

You call at naptime everyday. Despite asking you everyday to take me off your distribution list, you continue to call! Everyday, I run around the house like a crazy person trying to find the phone to make it stop ringing before you wake up one of my monsters, i mean, kids. Today you caught me on the wrong day. Today I did not take my nice pill and I let you know "I have a 'you wake 'em, you take 'em policy' -- Please meet me at my house in 30 minutes for your turn taking care of my tired children." You thought I was kidding (or crazy). I wasn't. I wasn't kidding at all. My plan was to take them to run errands. It's not fun to take tired kids to run errands, so maybe you, Unknown name/Unknown number can come and watch them for me? Yes?

Oh, what's that? You are busy calling someone in California to wake up their kids... Grrrrrrr.

Please for the 10000 time take me off of your call list STAT! Before I really break out my mean mommy.

Smooches,
Mommy

this and that

- it probably doesn't say a whole lot about your cooking skills when your husband shows overwhelming excitment for (frozen) pizza night. Not that my husband has done this, I'm just sayin' ;)

- if I have said "wash your hands or your going to get swine flu" once today, I have said it 1000 times.

- Jack in his manolo's, i mean, cleats...

-tomorrow is phillies pep rally at school! Pep rally AND pretzel day! It's the little things people... the little things that make my 4 year old oh so happy!

oh my cuteness

are you melting like I was??? I think they were talking about it being a "rule" you have to skip around the garbage cans and what they were going to be for Halloween. Oh, young love...

so here's my question...

Where do you think the spiders go after I vaccum (spell check says that is how you spell vaccum - but sure looks funny to me) them up?

Are they having a little spider party in my vaccum?
Do they crawl back out and find a new corner of my house to make a web?
My vaccum isn't that powerful, so i am fairly certain that the suction isn't killing them... argument #1 for a Dyson....

I don't like you spiders, but you are a heck of a lot better than any other critter (like mice) that I can think of... so if you want me to vaccum up some beer for your vaccum spider party, I am happy to.

date day with my favorite four year old.

Jack and I had "date day" on Saturday. It was filled with (really a bunch of errand running, but it amazes me how fun it can be when you 1) call it a "date" and 2) only have one of the kids, specifically the one that can be bribed!) fun. We went to Einsteins for lunch, ran to the crazy Halloween store for the covetted Batman costume, a stop at the Learning store to make a project and shoot some suction cup bows and arrows (jacks dream- i am certain you will be seeing reference to this come Christmas time!), a jaunt to the mall for new Phillies shirts (Division champs, you know! I didn't, my husband had to tell me OOPs - updated: not division champs yet, playoff contenders! My bad! I better brush up on my baseball before my kids figure out i don't know a thing about it!) and to top it all off... a double header at the movies for Toy Story 3D! Perhaps if all my errand running ended with not one but TWO movies, I would have a better track record. I wish i had a pict of him in is little 3D glasses. Cutest thing EVER! And suprisingly enough he kept them on the whole time! We were going to end the day with this super sweet concert, but my buddy was so tired he fell asleep on the way home from the movies. I figured we would likely cause more attention to ourselves than not.

Not for nothing, but Toy Story 2 is WAY better than Toy Story 1. Just sayin'.

Always a Ying and a Yang.

We had a delightful morning chez P. We made the below to bring along for our playdate. I saw it on Hostess with the Mostess blog for a pink shower and thought it would be super cute for Halloween. Today was the perfect occasion to try it. Super easy and Jack even helped. All you need is marshmallows, lollipop sticks, those meltable candy disc things, and sprinkles. Seems like a lot of sugar to me, but the kiddos devoured them. Shocking... That's the Ying.

And for the Yang: The playdate was awesome and a great way to meet some of the other moms of kids in jack's class. It was mostly girls except for one other boy who had to leave early to pick up his brother. Jack had a great time. A great time until.... I should know better than to give a 5 minute warning... 5 minutes is long enough for something bad to happen. It should be two minutes or 1 minute or it's time to go - get your butt in the car (note to self no more 5 minute warnings). All of a sudden I hear a mom go "Jack whacked her." Well according to Jack he didn't whack her... HE SPIT ON HER! WHAT!? Who does that!? I was of course mortified. Thomas is running around like a freakin' crazy person... eating other peoples leftover food off the picnic table, spilling chex mix, trying to climb on chairs and just being a "hot mess" in general.... and now jack spits on a little girl. We're out of here. Who spits on people... if he squeezed the back of her arm, maybe, I definitely do that- we call it the "church squeeze" - the sit up and pay attention but I don't want to yell at you in public - "church squeeze" but spit? No i definitely don't spit on my children. So I am curious where he learned this... "Jack, where did you learn to spit on people." "Oh , I made it up myself!" Awesome. Please don't be so proud of your new skills. (In his defense i learned later that i think the girls might have ganged up on him and were saying, "no more jack no more jack," but please ever a good reason to spit on people. Disguting. )

Heaven help me.

its easy as cake.

As jack opened up his blueberry bar, he stated, "It's easy as cake!" He was all proud that he got it right.

I think what you meant, my friend, is that it's a piece of cake! cute none the less. bwahahahah.

advice

Dear Jack,

Perhaps you shouldn't make your mother crazy on the day she is going to buy your Halloween costume. You might end up with a Princess Dora instead of a super sweet Batman costume. I'm just sayin'.

Love,
Mom

the boys.

Thomas is getting 6 teeth. Grrrr.

*hmmm this might be the happiest he has looked in a week. Probably cause i am bribing him with a cracker.

Jack is revisitng behavior from Year Three. Grrrrrr.

*could jack be any more annoyed with my picture request... 4 going on 14.

Poor Tman.... I guess put your arm around your brother = headlock. I think since he learned how to go down one stair on his bottom yesterday (yes, we are late bloomers) next on the list is an old elbow to the stomach - so he can protect himself for the Christmas Card Pictures shoot! :)

"reunited...

...and it feels so good!" Since I now have my camera back in my hot little hands, here come the pics :). Consider that your warning.

Erin... The pics taken with AJ's phone were not worth sending but hopefully this gives you the idea of the guest room...

There just isn't money in the budget for the monogrammed headboarad that I dream of having, so I got this idea from my friends over at http://www.urbannestblog.com/. They have such CUTE nesting ideas. AJ and I nearly got divorced (joking. sort of) creating these... Because the walls were already painted, I had to tape the outline of the squares and it was not pretty - tape measure, tape measure, remeasure, retape. UGH. But it's done!

It's Fall, y'all

*pic courtesy of UTK.edu

So while the boys and I were watering our mums this afternoon, Jack and I were talking about Fall.

Me: "I love Fall, it's my favorite season, what do you love about Fall?"
Jack (without skipping a beat): "Itttt's Foootballlll time in Teeeennnnnneeesssssseeeeee (Tennessee)!"

... Really. Not because there is a slight crisp in the air, it's back to school, soccer practices, pumpkin spice lattes, butternut squash soup, halloweeen, pumpkin bars, pretty mums, candy corn, vests, jumping in the leaves. Nope, really. You have to go there already. Football time in Tennessee. Daddy will be SO proud (probably more proud than the fact that you can make your bed and write your name).

St. Anthony, St. Anthony

please come around.... something is lost and can not be found....

St. Anthony to the rescue! My camera is found! Can I get a halleluliah! I have felt like someone has cut off a limb these last few weeks...

The only thing that stinks is I think I was one night away from convincing AJ I need a fancy big girl camera. Oh well, back to the ghetto for me.

Let's run this up the old "awkward tree".

AJ: "I think that new show 'Cougar Town' is coming on...."

Me: O.M.G. YAY! Yiipeee! Yes!! I have a feeling I am going to love this show! (It's hard to blog enthusiasm, but let's say I was one step below my heading spinning off. I need a new show to love and I miss my QT with Courtney Cox since the ending of Friends.)

AJ: (staring at me)

Me: (staring at him)

Ooops, that was my out loud voice. Stupid out loud voice is always getting me in trouble.

Us: Awkward

I love Fall!

of course having friends come into town was the only excuse I needed to make some of my fall foodie favs...

I couldn't blog about it yesterday cause I was in a state of depression that they were gone. It was too quick of a visit with Sare and Em. AJ really missed his side kick Michael. It was perfect Fall weather here in PA and we packed a lot into having them out East.... play with the kids, dinner and lots o' chat and laughs on Friday, a walk in the new 'hood, coffee. We went to our friend Mare's wedding on Saturday and it was the best! So many old friends to catch up with. She looked so happy (and of course gorgeous). We had the best time... many laughs were had by all. I wish I had pictures but that silly camera is still in hiding. Out of all the couples there with kids- everyone had boys except one! It was like 10 boys to 2 girls. crazy.

Girls, we need to plan our next weekend STAT! so i can start looking forward to it...

Baked Havarti (this is embarassingly easy- so if you promise not to tell anyone then I'll give it to you)
-1 tube cresent dough (i use low fat)
-1 block havarti
- ~1/4 cup honey
- sprinkle nutmeg
- pears
Roll cresent dough into two rectangular pieces. PAM a baking sheet (make sure it has sides cause it tends to ooze). Place one rectangle down. Load it with havarti, pour honey, sprinkle nutmeg. Put second rectangle on top and seal closed making a little pouch. Bake ata 350 for about 15 minutes. Serve with sliced pears.

Butternut Squash Ravioli (thank you, rachel for introducing us to these lovelies!)
2 lb butternut squash
8 gingersnap cookies (crushed about 1/2 cup)
2 Tblsp milk
1 cup parmesan
2 Tblsp softened butter
1/2 tsp salt
12oz package wonton wrappers

1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. sage leaves

Raviolis: Stir gingersnaps in milk. Cut squash (and take the goober seeds out) lengthwise and place cute side down on greased and foiled pan. Back uncovered at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Take 1 3/4 cup of the pulp, 1/2 cheese, butter and cookies - mix. Fill wontons with mixture. To make the wontons, get a small cup of water. Put about 1tsp in the middle of wonton. With your wet finger moisten the edge of the wonton and fold over. The water makes it stick together. I made a tray ahead of time and put them in the fridge separated by layers of wax paper and covered with Saran Wrap.

Sauce: melt butter and sage in a frying pan. Brown it slowly over med heat. Be careful not to burn. (I do about 1/2 the butter and 1/2 the sage.)

To cook the wontons, boil water and cook about 6-8 at a a time for about 1-2 minutes. Drizzle brown butter sauce over them.

Roasted Tomatoes (barefoot contessa)
12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeds (not cores) removed
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 fresh basil leaves, julienned

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut sides up, in a single layer. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of olive oil and the balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with the garlic, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 2 hours until the tomatoes are concentrated and begin to caramelize. Allow the tomatoes to cool to room temperature and serve over arugula with parmesan.

how do you spell success

two kids (plus me) showered and fed. One about to be dropped off at school... and it's only 8AM! That sounds like a successful monday to me.

raise your hand

raise your hand if you like jay leno coming on at 10pm... makes me feel like a big girl. Like i can really hang and stay up for late night talk shows. To be honest I am not sure I care that it is Jay Leno (sorry Jay) i just like the talk show part of it.

Ok - off to tidy up a bit. I've got some besties coming to town tomorrow! Can't wait to see them and chat and laugh till our bellies hurt!

odorant

Does anyone else think it is funny/weird that my 4 year old wakes up and is so excited to put on his "odorant" (read: de-odorant) that he is willing to pass up his morning television allotment to do so.

Two days in a row, not "Good Morning mommy" or "You look so pretty when you just get out of bed, mommy" nope straight to- "Oh no, I almost forgot to put on my odorant!" as he runs out of the room.

Worse habits could happen, i guess. wait, is it bad for 4 year olds to put on their dads deo? hope not.

did I really just...

forget to put a coffee cup in the Tassimo when pressing the go button??? (this is rhetorical, kids. The answer is an unbelievable and, oh so embarassing, YES!)

I wish you could have been in my brain when I am getting the kids their waffles and thinking to myself, that's weird sounds like something is dripping. Hmmmm. What's even weirder was that it WAS something dripping... It was my coffee dripping all over our coffee station (yes, we love coffee that much) and on to the FLOOR! Nothing like a nice morning clean up PRE coffee.

Apparently I stayed up too late making curtains and painting... but we have guests coming and it was the perfect opportunity to put a dent in the guest room decorating!

mother nature...we are going to have words.

First soccer practice ever. Cancelled. I have only been asked 14,000 times if it is Saturday yet... how many sleeps until soccer... Can I wear my cleats to the library today...

Forecast for tomorrow. Buckets and buckets of rain. The alternative to not letting him put on all his gear and play soccer in the rain tomorrow is to lose my mind. So I think I might run my own little rainy clinic in my backyard for the disappointed four year olds.

is it cute or annoying...

When your 15 month old is "shooting webs" (as in Spiderman) out of his carseat.
My vote is cute. For now. I reserve the right to change it to annoying at anytime.

My little Pele

I didn't realize when I signed Jack up for the peewee soccer league at our Y that it was going to be World Cup Training '09. He needs all the soccer accoutrements! Add one more thing to the back to school list. Cleats, soccer shorts, shin guards, water bottle... he's four. How hard can a four year old kick a ball... are shin guards really necessary?

I started this post hours ago when the boys were sleeping and now we have purchased all of our gear. I decided based on the look on Jack's face that getting your first pair of cleats must be like getting your first pair of Manolos or Christian Louboutins. He was so excited... jumping up and down excited. Wear them out of the store and talk about "his cleats" for the next two hours excited. I drew the line at sleeping in cleats and shin guards. Mean mommy, I know.

Pics to come... I have temporarily misplaced my camera! EEK!

A weird place...

We are in a weird place this week... The pool is closed, so it is not Summer. But school hasn't started, so it is not Fall (at least to me). This week we have lots of Drs appts and back to school organizing. Jack starts soccer on Saturday and School on Tuesday! Yipppeeee! I can smell routine and structure headed our way and I LOVE IT!

I just found these kids morning routine cards on LivingLocurto.com

I think they are just the right speed for my Jackster this year. He can definitely do all except maybe number 4. But I think a solid effort wouldn't be too much to ask. She also has cute After School Routine cards as well as a number of other adorable and useful ideas.

Just call me...

Jessica Seinfeld... I bought her book a few moons ago and my then two + year old saw RIGHT through it. So I have modified some of my meals where it works and the kids don't notice.

This is what my kids ate tonight for dinner and didn't even know it....
- Carrots
- Cottage Cheese
- Sausage
- Tomato

Here's what they thought they ate
- Pasta and Red Sauce
- Strawberries (they knew that)

Tricked ya!

I've been MIA again... Lots of doin's around here! We took a jaunt to Richmond to get Jack's haircut (ridiculous, yes.)... oh AND just a coincidence that my neice arrived while we were there! YAY! Miss Emerson Grace has joined this funny farm of a family and we couldn't be happier. You know just as soon as her sweet little toes are big enough for a pedi, Aunt KayKay is going to take her to get one!

The boys and I were staying with my sister (cause that's not stressful at all when you are 10 months pregnant!) and was woken up at around 2:26AM on September 3rd to hear something to the tune of, "We are leaving for the hospital, we'll call ya later!" I had to pinch myself to make sure it wasn't a dream, but as I stumbled downstairs and saw my sister doing that uncomfortable walk I remember all too well...it really was time! And, it just so happens that my sister happens to be a birthing machine. Just a mere 2 hours after leaving the hospital she was holding that baby girl in her hands... Now no labor is easy, but man does she make it look that way. Let's not kid ourselves its painful to get to 10cm anyway you cut it, and there were fears of the not enough time for an epidural... but after all is said and done I don't think she had many complaints. And she looks annoyingly great too! I was so happy we were there and could distract my nephew while his world change just a wee bit.

We were able to be fairly productive while in Richmond as well...Got to most of our favorite eateries in our old stomping ground, saw some old friends, went to our old church. Our very good friends hosted us and all the chaos we bring along. It was so great to see them, eat drink and be merry, and let the kiddies have some playtime as well.