Wordless Wednesday

Sick and Tired

That's been our last two weeks.  First the girls were sick...something else that they broght home from daycare.  Some icky version of the stomach flu.  They passed it on to me, and I was stuck in bed for an unbelievable four days!  Who get that kind of sick for four days?! Luckily, two of those days were over last weekend so I only had to miss two days of school.  Then, as soon as I was feeling better from that...I developed a cough that went straight to my vocal chords and I got laryngitis for the third time in the past year.  I immediately went to the doctor, he prescribed some strong antibiotics, and I was feeling better by Friday (yesterday).  I hate being sick. 

I should have known it was coming, though.  You see, I was about three days into a new workout routine.  I got a Zumba game for my Wii.  Although my body doesn't really move that way (sober, at least), it's pretty fun...challenging, but fun.  I also have a Biggest Loser game for the Wii, and it has good workouts and yoga.  My plan was to alternate the workouts...but....well, everytime I get about three days into a new workout routine I get sick and my great plans of being back in shape get blown out the window.  Maybe I'll be able to get back on track this week.  I'll start....Monday.

Speaking of getting back in shape...the weather was a balmy 40 degrees today, so we decided to venture out.  I think this was the first time that I'd been outside longer than it takes to walk to my car since November.  I was ready for a walk.  It was still a bit chilly, so we didn't go much further than around the block the long way...but it was REALLY nice to get out of the house.

Here are the girls all bundled up for the first walk of 2011 (luckily, they are still perfectly fine with sitting in the stroller for walks.  I'm not looking forward to the day when they will want to get out and walk, too. That will totally screw up all of my walking-for-fitness plans.).  They picked out their own outfits (and so that begins...)  Please notice that Cora's hood does not match her jacket.  Also notice that Evaline's hat is on backwards (she put it on herself).

Before we went for the walk, we spent some time this morning making some bars.  I'm so happy that the girls are old enough to begin to cook with me.  Right now, they are old enough to stand steadily on the chair and mostly just cook next to me.  But they are really good at dumping flour or whatever into the bowl.  Want the recipe for these?  Check out my other blog...I should have it up sometime tomorrow (Sunday) evening.

And now I'm off to start a new book.  One of my New Year's resolutions was to get 12 "for fun" books read this year...and I have yet to finish a single one.  I'd better get cracking!  I'm starting with I am One of You Forever by Fred Chappell.  I'd never heard of it before...but it comes highly recommended from Ian.  If I finish it, I'll let you know how it goes.

Wordless Wednesday

Growing up...

The girls are getting bigger every day.  But not just bigger...older. 

Talking.  In real sentences.

Telling jokes.  Funny ones.

Potty training.  At least for Evaline.

Doing things by themselves and for themselves. For example:

Evaline wanted to put on her pants by herself this morning...

I guess Mom is still needed for some things.

Pioneer-style storms and food blogs

This is quite the storm that is sweeping the US.  According to friends on Facebook and the blogosphere, school is cancelled everywhere from New Mexico to Texas to Michigan. And of course here in Iowa as well.  We got out at noon today to get kids home before the weather hit, and the call came in at around 7pm to cancel for tomorrow. 

Ian is out shoveling snow as I type.  He's been out there for about an hour. The wind is howling, the snow is blowing, but he is shoveling.  He wants to get a head start on it so it isn't unbearable in the morning.  Ugh.  I keep checking out the window to make sure he hasn't blown away or gotten buried by an avalanche coming off the roof or something.  I suggested that he tie a rope around his waist with the other end tied to our door so that he can find his way back inside.  He said he wasn't Pa Ingalls and that he'd manage just fine. 

Speaking of snow days, it sounds like a perfect time to do some baking.

And speaking of baking, I've started a new food-related blog.  I oringinally attempted to just add another page to this blog, but it didn't work the way that I had wanted it to...so a whole new blog it is.  It's called "Sugar Cookies and Champagne".  (What can I say, my recent Chicago trip was an inspiration.)

"But Merry," you say, "you can barely keep up with this one!  How are you ever going to manage TWO?!"

I don't know.  We'll play it by ear and see how it goes.  I mostly want a place to store recipes AND photos of those recipes that I try out.  In case anyone ever reads it I'll probably write something cute along with the posts.  Pretend I'm a real blogger and stuff.

So, what will be featured on this new blog?  Oh, all kinds of recipes.  A lot of it will be sweet.  But there will be some main dishes, and other savory bits as well.  Especially stuff that works well with the girls.  Or ways that I can sneak vegetables into their bellies without them realizing it.

If you're interested, follow along.  If you're not...who cares, I wasn't talking to you anyway.  (**smile, wink**)

What do you think? (take two)

When the girls were about 3 months old, I posted a survey (to which only 3 people responded...pathetic, by the way) asking who the girls looked more like, Ian or me.  I may have had a low response rate because I think at that time, it was difficult to tell.  In fact, I think at that time Baby Ian looked most like Baby Merry and the girls didn't look like either of us...or each other, for that matter.

Well, now that we're a little older, let's give it another go.  What do you think - who do the girls look more like?  Can we tell yet?

Toddler Ian:

Toddler Merry

Toddler Cora (she wasn't really cooperating during the photo-shoot)

Toddler Evaline:

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.