Squirrels, Sugar Cookies, and Champagne

I had an wonderful, refreshing weekend.  I've also had a busy week, which is why I haven't posted anything about the weekend until now.

But my busy week was boring.  Let's get back to the weekend. Or...maybe I'll start with last week.

You may remember from my last post, I recently became the proud owner of a cadilac of sorts.  This cadilac's virgin voyage was spent in preparation for this past weekend.  It was a special event and called for very special treats. 

I made these sugar cookies.  They make me want to dance in a large circle in front of 2118 Sunset Drive, jumping up and down singing

"Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel, Swish your bushy tail! Wrinkle up your little nose, put a nut between your toes! Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel, Swish your bushy tail!"

It's a true classic.  And so are these cookies, if I do say so myself.  I don't mean to be braggy or anything...but...they turned out pretty cute.

Those weren't the "squirrels" from the title post.  They were the sugar cookies.  The squirrels were the girls I met up with last weekend.  Girls' weekend in Chicago, with a group of wonderful ladies from my college days at Alpha Gamma Delta. The squirrel was our mascot.  The above song - and dance - was in honor of our mascot.  These are my squirrel-ly sisters.

We started our Saturday festivities with afternoon tea at Russian Tea Time in Downtown Chicago.  It was lovely, and the Jasmine Green Tea was divine.

Saturday night we celebrated at a dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon.  We go there everytime we get together in Chicago.  And by every time, I really mean "both" times. But...it is so much fun.  The show starts at 7:00...we got there at about 5:15 to get front row seats.  For the hour and 45 mintues before the show the music was relatively quiet, we ate chicken strips, mozzarella sticks, sipped on an 84 oz bucket of some crazy margarita-type drink (before switching to beer because it was so sugary-sweet we could hardly stand it), and enjoyed conversation and each others company.  And then we had front row seats.  Totally and completely worth it. 



It is true.  We do rock. 

I love these women.

This trip wasn't just any ordinary get-together, though.  This year we all turn 30!  Champagne was in order.

At some point during the trip, Rachel pointed out that we all met when we were 18.  Which means that we've been friends for 12 years.  That's the amount of time for someone to go from first grade thru senior graduation.  Holy smokes.  I'm not sure what to make of that, it just makes me think.  I'm not even sure what exactly it makes me think...it just does.  And that's all I have to say about that.

I should note that the weekend wasn't entirely complete.  A couple of VIGs (Very-Important-Girls...I just made that up.) couldn't make it. They both had good excuses. And they were missed.

I can't say enough how refreshing this weekend was.  It was fantastic to see old friends who, when we get together, it's like very little time has passed.  Of course we've all done some changing, but we're still all "us". 

And, in the always-true words of Heather: I love us.

I Just Bought a Cadillac!

No, I didn't buy a car - I bought a mixer. Not just any mixer, the Cadillac of mixers.  A Kitchen-Aid Professional 600. Color: "Caviar gloss" - it's black and a tad sparkly, maybe "shimmery" would be a good word, if it is a real word. Why "Caviar Gloss"? Not because it's sparkly, but because that's the one that was on sale: HALF OFF. I think that might be the best part.

I just got it today so I haven't used it yet...but I don't think I could be more excited if I'd actually gotten the car.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that I'd prefer this mixer to the actual car.  (I'm more of Honda Fit kinda gal...or **someday** perhaps a Honda Odyssey...I've sorta got a thing for practical cars.)

I can't wait until I get to take it on a test-drive and whip something up this weekend. I'm thinking that maybe some more sugar-cookie decorating is in my near future.

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Step One

Step one to becoming a healthier me is eating better. Ditching the Kit Kats in favor of the low-fat, low-sugar pudding made with skim milk. Ditching the sour cream & onion potato chips and picking up some pretzels. Or better yet, almonds. Or better yet, sprouted almonds. (Jenny, Can you pick me up some S.A. the next time you go to the co-op? Please and thank you.)

Step one also includes buying a GIGANTIC bag of broccoli from Sam's and partitioning them out into snack-sized bags. If it isn't convenient, I won't do it. Heck, I might not even do it if it IS convenient.

Step one also includes breaking in my new Biggest Loser Wii game.

Wait...maybe that's actually THREE steps? Heck, I'm practically there.

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In 2011, I resolve to...

• update this blog a minimum of 52 times.
• finish all of my “in-progress” craft projects (BEFORE starting something new).
• focus more on health and nutrition.
• incorporate exercise as a part of my regular routine.
• learn to consume sugar in moderation.
• go on at least three picnics this summer.
• take the girls to a zoo.
• travel out of the state.
• start a garden, even if it is just a couple of tomato plants in containers.
• purchase more locally (food and otherwise).
• read twelve non-school related books (audio books count; suggestions are welcome).
• take more pictures.
• take a yoga class.
• make baklava.
• fly a kite.
• go to a Kernels game (and while there consume no fewer than two beers, one hot dog and one soft pretzel with fake melted cheese…permission to ignore #3 listed above is pre-approved).
• send birthday cards on time.
• “play” tennis no fewer than four times.
• go golfing.
• run a 5K.
• go to the dentist…twice.
• get a massage.
• take a multi-vitamin most days.
• floss daily.
• eat at three new restaurants.
• add to this list as appropriate.
• post this list in the “2011” section of the blog, and update it with my progress.

Wordless Wednesday

*SPECIAL NOTE: First, these words don't count.  "Wordless Wednesday" is an idea that I am totally stealing from my good friend Katie, but, if I remember correctly, she stole it from one of her friends -  so it's all good.  The idea: I'll just post a picture, or maybe a few pictures, without commentary.  I guess I'll just leave it up to you why I found those particular photos interesting, cute, adorable, etc.  You will realize the importance of these posts this weekend when I reveal my 2011 Resolutions.  

Merry Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday! We have! :) Although, this week has been one of our busiest this year. I'm awfully glad that I have the next week off to recuperate.

The festivities started last Sunday with our Wiley family Christmas; it was great to get to see all the aunts, uncles, cousins (and their families). The girls were great - they spent most of the evening downstairs, tagging along with the older kids. My cousin's daughters volunteered to keep an eye on them...so we spent most of the time off-duty. It helped that the party was at my parents' house, so they were in familiar territory and everything was Evaline-proof (slightly higher requirements than just child-proof).

Tuesday Ian and took off work because the girls had surgery for ear tubes. Yes, BOTH girls. I'm sure I've mentioned before that they have ear infections since September. We were supposed to have surgery on the 3rd, but apparently the doctor felt it was more important to be at his child's birth. The week before surgery Cora got a major infection and Ev got a massive cold. But...all was well by Tuesday and it was a go.

We had to sit in the waiting/prep/recovery room with the door open. It was too much temptation for Ev...she tried every trick in the book to sneak out of the room. My favorite was inching to the door on her tummy, then making a (crawling) break for it. Cora followed closely behind, but wouldn't cross the threshold with more than her head. Luckily, I had my camera in hand.

Thursday we gave up pacifiers. Apparently Santa only visits little girls who don't use them. We had been good about sticking to our "only for sleeping" rule until the girls got sick this fall, then gradually the used them more and more. I explained why they could longer have them, then had the girls throw them away themselves. Eva was all about it; Cora's heart was temporarily broken. They've never asked for them since, but are still getting used to sleeping without them: nap time and early mornings are the biggest hurdles.

Christmas was good to us. On Christmas Eve day Ian and I saw the movie True Grit with my dad, Dave & Katie while my mom watched C&E. I'd highly recommend it. We spent a very nice evening with my family, and then spent most of Christmas day out at the Kozlik farm with the Petersen side.

The girls have really seemed to enjoy this Christmas...or perhaps the girls have very much enjoyed unwrapping presents. I would have thought they were too young to really "get" Santa, but after Christmas Eve with my family they kept talking about "Santa coming" (Cora) and "Santa. [is coming to our] House." (Eva) and about 6:00am we heard Cora banging on her bedroom door shouting "I'm awake! Santa! Presents! I'm awake!" And so it begins...

Final note...or rather, two more pictures worth showing:
Evaline got into her Grandma Barb's purse and found her lipstick. She was awfully sneaky and got this far before anyone noticed:

And, Cora was caring for her (and Evaline's) babies, and figured that they needed diapers (after she used the pliers from her new tool set to cut their toenails).  She ran to the drawer where we stash them downstairs and went to work:

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Fire truck! Fire truck! I want to ride in a FIRE TRUCK...!!!

These are the first three lines of the girls' favorite song.  Its officially named "The Fire Truck Song," by Ivan Ulz.  Originally it was part of a sing-along book, all the rage in, I think, the late 80s.  It has made a major comeback, however, in the classroom of the Cedar Rapids West Kindercare Twos.  Oh.  My.

During the month of September, their class did a unit on government personnel...although I'm sure that's not what they called it, I just don't what to call it right now.  They studied firefighters, the police, and the post office.  They made their own class post office and mailed each other letters.  The mailman/woman came to visit and let them wear her hat (cutest picture ever of Evaline...but I only have a hard copy.  Maybe I'll try scanning it in...).  The highlight, however, was when the fire truck came to visit.  For three months now, whenever Cora gets excited about anything, she jumps up and down (which is actually more like squatting and standing up) and sings the The Fire Truck Song.  It has been fun watching her progress from saying "FiretruckFiretruckFiretruck" to actually saying the words. 

She's made one additional progression this week however.  She's changed the words from "I want to ride in a fire truck!" to "I play in a fire truck!"  Because...she's remembering when she actually got to play in a fire truck!!

This past Saturday we took the girls on a surprise visit to the Palo Firestation, where our good friend James is a volunteer fireman.  They were in complete awe.  Evaline was more outgoing about pushing buttons, honking horns, and using the walkie-talkie; while Cora was a bit subdued and, well, awestruck, I think.  But they absolutely LOVED it...and can't stop talking (or singing) about it.

I took too many pictures.  Here's just a sample (Ok, ok, its a rather large sample...but I just wanted to share them all with you.  If you don't want to see this many photos of the girls at a fire station, then just stop looking.):

Cora's first look - full of wonder:

Evaline's first look - pretending to be a bit shy:

I'll let the rest just speak for themselves:

Ok, I'll give this one a caption - they got neat-o firemen hats to take home.  Although they wouldn't put them at the station, I've barely been able to get them off once we got home.

And...we'll cap it off with some random cute photos.  Last year the girls wanted NOTHING to do with the snow.  This year, they've had fun playing in the show that we've gotten.  Cora could stay out there all day.  Evaline is fine to take a couple laps around the yard and go inside for hot cocoa (well, if I let her have hot cocoa, I know she'd be totally in to it)...a girl after my own heart.

And...helping with the Christmas tree.  They have been surprisingly good.  Only very, very seldom to they even think, about taking ornaments off.