Sunday, June 29, 2008

Little Chefs

The kids and I made cupcakes for Paddy-O's birthday. Cooking with kids. Unless you are anal about cleanliness, a great deal of fun. I am, obviously, not anal about cleanliness as I am still finding sprinkles around my kitchen.

So freaking cute. Widget was intent on getting as many sprinkles as possible on each cupcake so that no icing was visible. I had to shake them off before putting them on the cake plate. Sproglet made sure she had an even coating on each one before pronouncing each one "finished".

Here is the finished product. They were pretty yummy, and the kids had a blast.

I have many plans for more cooking projects including the two of them. We already do homemade pizza pretty regularly as they love rolling out the dough and topping them. I don't mind the mess so much, since we are almost guaranteed they will eat what they make.


Do you have favorite kid friendly kitchen recipes?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

I am so lame

So I realized that I have had little to say over the last week or so and feel really lame about it. I read so many interesting blogs that have interesting things to say on a daily basis and really want to say to myself "Buck up! Do something interesting today just so you can tell the blog".

But really. Then I hear myself and realize how completely inane that sounds. How about if I just tell you that life has been SOOOO interesting over the last week I just can't even describe it to you?

One very lovely thing is THIS! Sharon at Three Irish Girls had a contest and I managed to win! I never win anything! So I have some very yummy new superwash merino coming my way. Which I have been wanting to try. As you know, with the two small children - wash and wear is very important. I handwash a lot of woolies and I would like the option of throwing it in the washer - even on delicate. Especially when dirt has been ground in by those kids that come in from playing looking like street urchins.

I am thinking mittens and hat for Widget. What do you think? Any better ideas?

As for the rest - I am off to lead my VERY interesting life that I am just too busy to blog about.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Halfway through

So Paddy-O's birthday was yesterday and he is currently sleeping in for his father's day present. We have some cards etc and plans to grill out with another family late afternoon.

The kids were so cute. We made chocolate cupcakes (because that is what the Sproglet says everyone should have for their birthdays). They sprinkled them up and sang when PO got home from his business trip. The Sproglet put 3 and 7 candles on the cupcakes and we gave him his present (tickets to see Wilco in August with babysitter already lined up) and homemade cards.

Then after the kids were in bed a couple of friends came over and watched a movie while the kids slept and we went to dinner at Elaine's on Franklin where a good friend waited on us and made the event extra special. They printed out special menus just for Paddy-O with Happy Birthday printed on them. We had the fois gras which I know is totally socially UN-conscious of me, but I can't help it - once a year or so I have to have some because it is so freaking wonderful. PO had bunny, I had tuna tartare that was divine. I can't really comment on the bunny because, while I can manage to eat the goose that has been force fed (they ARE annoying animals) I can't eat the sweet little bunnies. Even though I know they are plentiful, reproduce, well, like rabbits, and come from a local farm. PO did say it was quite yummy. I had the perfect dessert - lemon cheesecake with chocolate graham crust and blueberry compote. PO had something with chocolate because that is the way he goes. Damn it was good!

Once I have the camera thing figured out I will have pictures to share on this big event. The problem with having a technologically savvy partner is that he does strange things that are too complicated for me to figure out. Like I can download the pictures to my computer but they are in raw format and I can't figure out how to make them into JPeg to upload them to the web. If anyone has any idea how to do this in iPhoto, please chime in!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Summer Knitting Goals

I am going to try to set some knitting goals with a bunch of other knitters and see if they can help to keep me on track just a little. Maybe at the same time I can start to wear away at my unfinished objects so that I don't feel so guilty every time I start to dream of something new. All of these projects are knit from stash so no new money outlays either...

1. Sydney's graduation Clapotis made from Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Sink in the colorway Rook-y.

2. A new pair of picky shorts for Booker with handpainted yarn from Selah in the Dirty Knees colorway with khaki trim.

3. Finish my first pair of socks. I can't remember the yarn as I lost the ball band. Basic socks loosely based on the Yarn Harlot's recipe. I have one sock done and I have turned the heel on the second one, so this one (hopefully) will be knocked out quickly.

4. The Confection Cowl in the Plucky Knitter's Merino/Cashmere Sport in the colorway Captain Wentworth.

5. The new Knitty has me wanting to do Spring Forward in Dream In Color Smooshy - either in Spring Tickle or Some Summer Sky. I have both in stash and I think this might make a nice second sock project.

I am not the fastest knitter, and I have 2 children under 4 that both have birthdays to plan this summer. I think this is (hopefully) a realistic yet still optimistic goal for the next few months. Actually, if truth be told, if I get 1-3 done, it will be a job well done for me and I will be pleased!

Time to stop posting and get knitting!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Lots of Birthday Issues

Is 4 and 2 already too old to have a combination birthday party? Widget doesn't actually have any friends his age so the same family and friends with families would be invited to both parties. And they are less than a month apart as well. The cost would be less to do both at once. What do you think?

And Paddy-O turns 37 on Saturday. How much does it suck to have his birthday be the day before Father's day? A lot. I am having trouble coming up with a sitter to do anything adult like that night. I guess I could put the kids to bed, pop open a bottle of bubbly and jump his bones. That might be exciting enough for him. Sad, isn't it?

Any ideas on what to do with all these freaking summer birthdays are welcome...

Monday, June 9, 2008

Hot as Stink

It has been too hot to move for the last few days here. Like over 100 and humid hot. Like Code Orange Ozone alert hot. Like can't take a deep breath outside.

And we are stir fucking crazy in the house. Nothing is worse than it being unbearably hot and having a toddler and a preschooler climbing the walls.

So this morning we attempted the park at 9. We were home by 10:30. Meltdowns all around - even trying to stay in the shade.

Yesterday I actually wasted water and sat in a chair fanning myself while spraying them with a hose as they rode their tricycles back and forth in front of me.

It is not supposed to be this hot this early. I am actually considering trying to convince Paddy-O to move us all north of here. I think I might could tolerate a snowy winter just thinking about this nasty bit of summer weather. Please remind me of this when I am complaining because it is less than 40 degrees in January.

Here it is - your moment of zen...

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Looking for a new Hooch


Two months ago, we had to put our beloved boxer, Hooch, to sleep. He had cancer and an infection and he was quite old for a boxer at 11. Our decision was made simple by his suffering. Boxers, as a breed, love to please their people. So he was quite stoic until the end. When he stopped sleeping, we knew it was time. The Mr and I were able to be with him as our very compassionate vet put him to sleep.

A friend told me to wait a year before getting another dog and I have been trying to keep her advice in mind. I just don't think I can do it, though. This home needs a dog. There is a big hole in our lives without him.

I am not going to try to find a dog like Hooch - that way leads to heartache. I can hope for another dog with a playful, hopeful spirit like his. But I am really hoping the dog that finds us is maybe a little calmer. Hooch never really got used to having his number one position usurped by 2 babies and tolerated the children only. It would be nice to have a dog that enjoys the children and that is a playmate for them.

We are looking at a couple of different rescues local to us. This one and this one. Hopefully by fall we will have a new rescued boxer to love!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Crazy Adventure

I am back from the trip that has had my "in-real-life" friends nodding while hiding a smirk and then talking about me behind my back.

Yes, I spent a long weekend with 5 other women that I only know from an internet message board. The main thing we have in common is that we were all pregnant and due with babies in August of 2006. But for some reason, as much as it may seem that I dropped my basket somewhere back there, it was one of the best times of my life.

We laughed, we cried, we drank lots of alcohol. I thought before hand that the worst that could happen is that there would be large periods of awkward silence that would make it possible for me to catch up on my sleep. The opposite happened - we talked and talked and I got less sleep than usual because I didn't want to miss a moment. It was truly magical.

I feel like I am completely rejuvenated. I am a much more patient mom today. I have so many new ideas about what I want to do with my kids (and my husband) because of the new perspective these 5 very different women from all over the country have given to my life.

So if you have been thinking that you need a weekend away to get a new outlook on your life - take it with your girlfriends. And consider doing it with the ones you have met on a message board, or blogging, or what ever your internet addiction is. I can't believe I had the courage and guts to just GO, but I am so incredibly thankful that I did.

Thanks KC moms! Lets start planning next year!