Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!


  • We still have candy from Halloween. I think I need to start throwing it away.
  • I've been cooking and cleaning today like we are having company or something.
  • My favorite Thanksgiving foods are sweet potatoes and dressing. Five years ago, I liked neither of these things. I was missing out.
  • My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie. Thank you, Kellie, for introducing me to this wonderfulness.
  • Last year I made Turkey Pot Pie with leftovers. So good. 
  • I was carded when buying bourbon yesterday. I guess I looked a bit startled, because then the lady acted like "everyone" looked young to her. After looking at my id, she looked a bit startled, and said "no wonder you were surprised that I asked for ID." Yes, I'm old. Thanks.
I am thankful for the above mentioned Thanksgiving foods, a clean(ish) house, kids who love books, and tree lined streets.
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Friday, November 20, 2009

Our plans



couch resting-TV watching-ginger ale drinking kind of day
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Teeth and Thankful

Ashlyn missed preschool today. We had dentists appointments for both kids, just a regular checkup for Ashlyn and a follow up for Christopher's chipped teeth. The appointments were at 10:30, but we were there for 3 HOURS! (It was an hour before we were seen.) I was most concerned about Christopher, but Ashlyn, it seems, is our dental problem child. Apparently, there were calcification problems when her canine and molars were forming IN THE WOMB. Ashlyn needs 3 root canals, 1 extraction, 1 filling, 5 crowns, and a spacer. That is 7 teeth! One of the root canals and the extraction are from the teeth she had filled last year. One of them has abcessed. I couldn't believe it as I heard the dentist talking about all of the things wrong. I started crying and had to leave the room. She had already asked me if I took any medications or had any kind of complications in my pregnancy. Now, we just have to decide if we went oral sedation or general anesthesia. Ashlyn was awesome about everything. She kept saying beforehand that her teeth didn't hurt, and she already had clean teeth, so she didn't need to be there. The hygenist explained that they were going to make her teeth sparkle like a princess. So, she was totally cooperative.

We were at the dentist so long that Christopher fell asleep in my lap. That 5 minute nap ruined his nap time for the day. We didn't get lunch until nearly 2, and dinner is going to be late. 

Now, Ashlyn has diarrhea. Lovely Wednesday.

Despite my day, or perhaps because of my day, I need to remember to be thankful.

I am thankful for a washing machine in my apartment.

I am thankful for baby teeth first. Hopefully, we will get things right with the second set.

I am thankful for a pediatric dentist who was very kind and, despite being very busy, took the time to explain everything about my children's teeth, to the point of drawing diagrams for me.

I am thankful for the couple in JoAnn's, watching my children climb on the cutting table and cart, and throwing buttons, who told me that it gets easier.

I am thankful for short ribs with polenta for dinner, hopefully they will taste as good as they looked in the picture.
And because there should be photos of cuties, here is snaggletooth




and his dancing sister.



Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Thankful

(I meant to do a thankful post each week, then I missed the second week. oops.)

I am thankful for veterans.
I am thankful for footie pajamas. Even a 4 year old looks like a baby in them.
I am thankful for help in the kitchen.

I am thankful for two kids who love me and each other.




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Sunday, November 01, 2009

Recipes

My favorite fall recipes:

Pumpkin soup I recommend more than 4 cups of pumpkin puree, though. And, I used allspice rather than cardamom, because that's what I had.

Pumpkin muffins These are actually chocolate pumpkin, but are good without the chocolate chips as well. I made them for Ashlyn's preschool without the chocolate chips, but frosted with cream cheese frosting, so not healthier. I recommend less than half a bag of chips or they overwhelm the pumpkin.

Apple Pie You MUST make this apple pie. I love it, and I don't like apple pie.

Molasses cookies I've actually never tried this one, but I'm making it this week. It looks fairly similar (or better) to the one I usually make, which is from Better Homes and Garden cookbook 1997ish version. Ginger snaps or ginger crinkles. I'd just type it out, but I don't have that cookbook with me.

oops, almost forgot
Pecan Bars Again, I don't have my recipe with me, but these look pretty similar.

Now I want to go cook or bake. Perhaps we will have pumpkin soup with molasses cookies for dessert.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Ashlyn was so excited about Halloween! She has been talking about it to EVERYONE. "I'm going to be a beagle doggie, like my doggie, Ranger."
Ashlyn painted our pumpkins. She started crying after she painted the mouth, because it was "scary." (The eyes are black, the mouth blue.) She then got over it, as she continued to paint the entire pumpkin. And, the little ones, too.
Christopher looks a bit goth with his first painting experience.

Christopher's tail kept dragging, so he would carry it.


Rather than go from house to house at night, we opted to trick or treat downtown Martinez. This was Ashlyn's third trick or treating this week. We'd already been to the parade at Todos Santos last Sunday, and her preschool class went to the city offices on Friday, where she got a huge stash of candy! (Allen has now organized Ashlyn's candy into "candy that he wants to eat" and "candy he doesn't want to eat.)
The kids also sang some Halloween songs in English and Spanish that they've been learning this month. (Notice Ashlyn is the only little girl not wearing a dress.)

Christopher probably should have dressed as a hockey player this year. Week before last was a bit rough for him. First he chipped his two front teeth. Before the week was out, he had also swallowed what we believed to be a magnet (turned out to be a penny,) and had a black eye from falling off of the bathroom counter. I'll be accepting my mother of the year award next week.

The left eye is more swollen in this picture than black.

Allen celebrated his 34th birthday last week. Ashlyn decided that he should have an eye cake. Usually he has a birthday pie, but we went with the eye cake this year.


Thursday, October 29, 2009

Rainy Day

Grandma Vicki and PawPaw bought raincoats for the kids, and they were so excited to actually get to wear them last week.


They continued to wear the boots as much possible when it wasn't raining. I had to hide the boots!