Elaine
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Chocolate Fondue
Helen loves heading to the grocery store with Ed, and almost always she squeezes a treat out of him. Her latest adventure yielded a bunch of strawberries and some dark chocolate to melt all over them. It was a huge hit. It reminded us of a dinner party we once had with friends Helen V. and Alexander. Helen V. loved that fondue pot as much as my Helen. We need to remember to call her next time we break it out!
Elaine
Elaine
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tree Decorating
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I pulled the Christmas tree out of the basement, unwrapped the plastic that had warded off dust over the past year, and the kids set about decorating.
We have a lot of ornaments, and Connor and Helen were not about to be satisfied with hanging a number smaller than every single one of them.
Connor requested that we get a star to put atop the tree, so I showed him the Joe Namath ornament that has taken that place annually since my mom gifted the ornament to Ed several years ago. He was not impressed. However, he seems to have forgotten how displeased he was because he has neither requested I get one again, nor has he taken matters into his own hands and made one.
Merry Christmas!
Elaine
We have a lot of ornaments, and Connor and Helen were not about to be satisfied with hanging a number smaller than every single one of them.
Connor requested that we get a star to put atop the tree, so I showed him the Joe Namath ornament that has taken that place annually since my mom gifted the ornament to Ed several years ago. He was not impressed. However, he seems to have forgotten how displeased he was because he has neither requested I get one again, nor has he taken matters into his own hands and made one.
Merry Christmas!
Elaine
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Beignets!
On Thanksgiving morning, we started the day with beignet making - with mix brought straight back from Cafe du Monde. I'm thinking it might be the start of a new tradition. Now...will I remember this next year?
Elaine
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| Helen and Connor proved to be able assistants - first rolling and then cutting the dough. |
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| Connor was the more proficient of the two... |
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| but what Helen lacked in skill, she made up for with diligence and style! |
Friday, December 16, 2011
Noodles and Company Winter Mac and Cheese Dishes Get Thumbs Up
Most Fridays, Helen and I spend most of the day together. Typically, I ditch her during naptime and go volunteer at Connor's school. But other than that, we're a pair.
Sometimes, we take the opportunity to have a lunch date at some nearby restaurant (once we even went to Connor's school!).
Last Friday, we had the opportunity to taste-test the Noodles and Company "grown-up" mac-and-cheese. Two of the three (Chili Mac and Bacon Mac and Cheeseburger) have meat, so we brought some meat-eating friends along to let us know what they thought. I stuck with the Truffle Mac with Baby Portabella.
I give it the thumbs up.
Helen wasn't going anywhere near that fancy mac and cheese, but she chowed the regular macaroni with fervor! An easy two thumbs up from her.
The chili mac was rated uber-high - enough that my friend took home the leftovers and seemed excited about having them.
Noodles and Company gets food to the table fast (thank you!) and the simplicity of the menu means several choices for not-so-adventurous kids. But...they also add enough spice to the basic dishes that moms don't have to feel like they have to eat kids' food. Bonus!
Elaine
Thank you, Noodles and Company, for the lunch. We all had fun and enjoyed the meal. As disclosed in the post, our food last Friday was free. Opinions are my own (and Helen's and my meat-eating friend).
Sometimes, we take the opportunity to have a lunch date at some nearby restaurant (once we even went to Connor's school!).
Last Friday, we had the opportunity to taste-test the Noodles and Company "grown-up" mac-and-cheese. Two of the three (Chili Mac and Bacon Mac and Cheeseburger) have meat, so we brought some meat-eating friends along to let us know what they thought. I stuck with the Truffle Mac with Baby Portabella.
I give it the thumbs up.
Helen wasn't going anywhere near that fancy mac and cheese, but she chowed the regular macaroni with fervor! An easy two thumbs up from her.
The chili mac was rated uber-high - enough that my friend took home the leftovers and seemed excited about having them.
Noodles and Company gets food to the table fast (thank you!) and the simplicity of the menu means several choices for not-so-adventurous kids. But...they also add enough spice to the basic dishes that moms don't have to feel like they have to eat kids' food. Bonus!
Elaine
Thank you, Noodles and Company, for the lunch. We all had fun and enjoyed the meal. As disclosed in the post, our food last Friday was free. Opinions are my own (and Helen's and my meat-eating friend).
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Helen at School
Oh blog...how I have neglected thee. Between attending a British Pantomime, getting together with friends, holiday singing parties, the Botanical Gardens and more, I haven't found the time to post. So...I'll post a note about Helen's school. To say she is having a fantastic time this year would be an understatement. She adores both her teachers and loves playing with the other children in the class. She prefers to hang with the boys, but does play with the girls a bit.
Last week, on our way to school, Helen announced that [NEW KID] was going to be her best friend until [J - Old Best Friend who is out of town for the next 3 months] returned. I almost felt like I should warn the little dude. But apparently NEW KID also likes Helen, as his mom emailed tonight seeing if Helen was available for a playdate.
Helen's teacher often sends me snippets about her week. This one was among the funniest.
Discussion today at the snack table-
Helen: I used to live in Missouri
[Friend] says sympathetically: Oh, did you throw up?
Helen: No [Friend], I did not throw up!
Yesterday at the park:
Helen carrying a stick and something that fell from a tree: Ms. A, look I found a brachiosaurus. It doesn't have a nest, so I have to carry around its egg too.
Me: Helen, you could find a nest for it if you want.
Helen: But I didn't see ANY!
Me: Well, you could make him one.
Helen runs over and pushes a few pieces of mulch to one side and runs back
Helen: Ms A LOOK, I found a nest!
Helen was playing mom today in the classroom for a little while. Her daughters were supposed to be sleeping while Santa is coming (which happens to be [Friend2]), and Helen was laying on a playstand pretending to sleep. [Friend2] shows up and is upset that they are not asleep and says "Why are you not asleep? Hoho is here and your eyes should be closed. Hoho is mad at you now" Helen quickly wakes up from her bed and screams "Close your eyes RIGHT NOW! You should be asleep!", then quickly lays back down for Santa (or Hoho).
Her hands were filled to the max with worms today. She could not have fit one more in there. Though I love worms and what they do for our earth, that many crawling around in her hand looked like it belonged in some horror film. It was pretty funny.
I also loved her St Nicholas note to me this week. She was so sweet and proud. She told me it was written down so that I could remember what she got forever.
--For the record, Helen received some paper, some chocolates, and two containers of play-doh.
Last week, on our way to school, Helen announced that [NEW KID] was going to be her best friend until [J - Old Best Friend who is out of town for the next 3 months] returned. I almost felt like I should warn the little dude. But apparently NEW KID also likes Helen, as his mom emailed tonight seeing if Helen was available for a playdate.
Helen's teacher often sends me snippets about her week. This one was among the funniest.
Discussion today at the snack table-
Helen: I used to live in Missouri
[Friend] says sympathetically: Oh, did you throw up?
Helen: No [Friend], I did not throw up!
Yesterday at the park:
Helen carrying a stick and something that fell from a tree: Ms. A, look I found a brachiosaurus. It doesn't have a nest, so I have to carry around its egg too.
Me: Helen, you could find a nest for it if you want.
Helen: But I didn't see ANY!
Me: Well, you could make him one.
Helen runs over and pushes a few pieces of mulch to one side and runs back
Helen: Ms A LOOK, I found a nest!
Helen was playing mom today in the classroom for a little while. Her daughters were supposed to be sleeping while Santa is coming (which happens to be [Friend2]), and Helen was laying on a playstand pretending to sleep. [Friend2] shows up and is upset that they are not asleep and says "Why are you not asleep? Hoho is here and your eyes should be closed. Hoho is mad at you now" Helen quickly wakes up from her bed and screams "Close your eyes RIGHT NOW! You should be asleep!", then quickly lays back down for Santa (or Hoho).
Her hands were filled to the max with worms today. She could not have fit one more in there. Though I love worms and what they do for our earth, that many crawling around in her hand looked like it belonged in some horror film. It was pretty funny.
I also loved her St Nicholas note to me this week. She was so sweet and proud. She told me it was written down so that I could remember what she got forever.
--For the record, Helen received some paper, some chocolates, and two containers of play-doh.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Naming
I remember when Connor was younger and he named objects. His old standby was "Connor". We had Connor-fish, Connor-baby, and a bajillion other things named Connor. The only thing I can recall getting a name other than Connor is the stuffed pug that Grandma Lynn gave Connor for Christmas when he was 2, and Ed jumped in with a name before Connor could bestow a name on the animal.
When I arrived home this afternoon, Connor was at the neighbor's house playing and Helen and her babysitter were in the backyard. I asked Helen what was going on and she informed me that they were looking for "tweeter". Luckily, they had already found "ravioli". Tweeter looks like a rock to most people, but is actually a bunny. Ravioli is a brick red rock that is also a bunny - possibly Tweeter's mom, but maybe just a sibling.
Confused? So was Ed.
Maya the dog and Sylvia the blue baby (which Helen lifted from my parent's home) are sleeping with Helen tonight. Dorothy - one of the Bitty Babies that Grandma Lynn gave Helen for her 4th birthday, is downstairs this evening with her unnamed brother.
Is this a girl-boy thing, or is it random? Strangely (at least to me), Connor seems much less self-centered than Helen.
Elaine
When I arrived home this afternoon, Connor was at the neighbor's house playing and Helen and her babysitter were in the backyard. I asked Helen what was going on and she informed me that they were looking for "tweeter". Luckily, they had already found "ravioli". Tweeter looks like a rock to most people, but is actually a bunny. Ravioli is a brick red rock that is also a bunny - possibly Tweeter's mom, but maybe just a sibling.
Confused? So was Ed.
Maya the dog and Sylvia the blue baby (which Helen lifted from my parent's home) are sleeping with Helen tonight. Dorothy - one of the Bitty Babies that Grandma Lynn gave Helen for her 4th birthday, is downstairs this evening with her unnamed brother.
Is this a girl-boy thing, or is it random? Strangely (at least to me), Connor seems much less self-centered than Helen.
Elaine
Connor Finds Religion...Again
When Connor was 3, he announced he'd like to go to church. The next year, he received a bible at the County Fair - and actually refused to go to another fair unless I promised he'd get another bible.
On Friday morning, Connor requested I read Noah and the Ark to him, which is a book he and his last babysitter picked up in the "free books" section of the public library. This book goes on endlessly, and is not shortened at all for children. The first time Ed read the book to Connor, Connor looked at Ed as if he were telling a ridiculous story. Now? He was so annoyed at me that I was making pancakes for him rather than reading that he defiantly sat down on his little blue couch and started plugging through the book, only occasionally asking me what a word was. At about page four, he hailed Helen over and said to her "Helen, you need to pay attention. I'm reading a story from the REAL BIBLE! It's important." And that afternoon, he brought home the following homework paper. I am thankful for...and he had to fill in the blank. The word he filled in? "God"
Is someone trying to send his mama a message?
Elaine
On Friday morning, Connor requested I read Noah and the Ark to him, which is a book he and his last babysitter picked up in the "free books" section of the public library. This book goes on endlessly, and is not shortened at all for children. The first time Ed read the book to Connor, Connor looked at Ed as if he were telling a ridiculous story. Now? He was so annoyed at me that I was making pancakes for him rather than reading that he defiantly sat down on his little blue couch and started plugging through the book, only occasionally asking me what a word was. At about page four, he hailed Helen over and said to her "Helen, you need to pay attention. I'm reading a story from the REAL BIBLE! It's important." And that afternoon, he brought home the following homework paper. I am thankful for...and he had to fill in the blank. The word he filled in? "God"
Is someone trying to send his mama a message?
Elaine
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
NaBloPoMo Advice Column - Day 30 - Never Make a Bet With Your Wife While Drinking
I'm writing 30 thoughts in 30 days for NaBloPoMo. In no particular order, I'm giving you my worldview - as it comes up.
I wasn't sure how I was going to round this out. I had originally intended to use yesterday's post idea as the finale, but yesterday, I drew a blank, and had to use it. Then, I figured I'd sum up all the other nuggets, but that seems a little daunting at this point. Luckily, opportunity struck.
Tonight, Ed and I were out
And so he decided we'd settle the issue and said "what will you bet". So I responded "I'll bet anything, because I am right". But he didn't back down. So I said "laundry for a week". And he said "that's not fair" because he realized if he was right, he wouldn't actually win anything since I already do all the laundry (even though he's technically in charge of sheets and towels... Thank GAWD my mom visited last week and did all the towels or I might be using a dish cloth to dry my nether regions after a shower at this point). Anyway, I allowed him to name something else, which he did. Then I told him, "we can call the bet off, I am right". And he, thinking he had a prayer of winning, declined my very generous offer.
That was a huge mistake.
And...just so it is in writing, all of the laundry in the house is currently done. It must all be done next Wednesday night, in order for Ed to fulfill his (losing) end of the bet.
Elaine
(Just in case you were curious, a king sized bed is twice the width of a single bed.)
Thank you, Therese, for once again inspiring this march through November. As always, it's been a fun challenge.
Building a worldview:
Day 1: Surround Yourself With Brilliant People (though my friend Susan makes a good point that clever is pretty good, too). Day 2: Whatever, it works.
Day 3: Surround Yourself With Beauty
Day 4: When You Go Through Something New - Drag Someone With You
Day 5: No sweatpants.
Day 6: Embrace the Crazy
Day 7: Listen to Your Friends or Fight Old Fogey-dom. Get out there. Keep experiencing fun, new things.
Day 8: Don't Let Anyone Sell You Short
Day 9: Take a Lesson From Your Child
Day 10: Consume the best chocolate you can
Day 11: Help your neighbor.
Day 12: Take Breaks
Day 13: Establish a Realistic Rhythm
Day 14: Sometimes, you just have to ask.
Day 15: Loose Lips Sink Ships
Day 16: Stop Things from Going from Bad to Worse
Day 17: Understand the Price of Success
Day 18: Question Everything
Day 19: Drink Great Wine with Old Friends
Day 20: Never Be a Volunteer at a Street Show in New Orleans
Day 21: Let Your Friends Bail You Out
Day 22: Turn Trash Into Treasure
Day 23: Always Have a Dream
Day 24: Give Thanks
Day 25: Develop Your Own Sense of Style - and Own It!
Day 26: Always Have the Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Cookies on Hand
Day 27: Take Advantage of Unseasonably Warm Days
Day 28: Don't Do Too Much When You Have a Head Cold
Day 29: Trust Yourself
Day 30: Never Make a Bet With Your Wife While Drinking or You Might End up Doing Laundry for a Week
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