You've Come A Long Way Baby!

M. was invited to a neighbor's birthday party, a roller skating party last Friday. She was invited to this exact party last year. The difference was that last year she was recently out of a body cast and surgery and still using a walker. I would have skipped the party but M. REALLY wanted to go. Of course we left in tears. Well this year would be different!! M. learned to skate the day before her accident (how ironic) and had not been roller skating since. She was so excited for the party and really did a fine job of "skating". It is like riding a bike, once you fall off, you get right back on. She did fall a few times but found her groove and had a ball! What a difference a year makes!

The best gift yet!

It is now Jan. 4, 2010 and I am planning on cooking dinner for my family tonight. It will be the first time I have cooked since maybe Dec. 17th! I really do not like to cook, bake, yes, cook, NO! Don't worry, my family has not starved. We did eat out a fair amount but the biggest gift to me was that my sweet husband has cooked lots! And he confessed to really liking it! Now we are getting somewhere! He has made beef tenderloin, lamb chops with a fabulous orzo side dish with pine nuts, spinach and tomatoes, and then over the weekend beef short rib sliders! We just went to a spin class at noon then came home and had left over sliders for lunch and they were terrific! So I am so thankful for his online recipe hunting, shopping (I probably haven't been in a grocery store in 2 weeks either), preparing and cooking our wonderful meals for the past 2 weeks! Great New Year Gift!

The 24 hour playdate!

M. got invited to spend the might with one of her bestest friends on Sunday. They do not go to school together so it is a treat when they get together! They picked her up at 5pm, ate their Christmas dinner (long story) and had a ball. On Monday, the mom calls to say they are headed to the Lazy 5 Ranch for the afternoon and could M. come? Of course I said!! I was in the middle of cleaning M's room- really cleaning, where you throw away all junk that has accumulated, all "junk" that is certainly a treasure to your child. Well as you can see the girls had a great time!!! She was returned home about 6pm on Monday! Great day for us both!

PS. We had that same bestest friend over on Wednesday for a 20 hour playdate that include the Chipmunk Squeakquel and a sleepover too.

It was LOVE at first taste!

Had coffee the day after Christmas at my sister-in-law's and I could never go back! It was so yummy and so fun to make! We bought our own on December 27 and have made MANY cups since! It came with 72 k-cups and I went online and bought 100 more last night (I wasn't wired from the caffeine or anything). Even the girls are making coffee all day and night! Crazy good!

Holiday Bliss

Sleeping late, extra time with family, less (sort of) to do on a schedule, holiday music, leisurely walks with the dogs and much more! I have really enjoyed this holiday break from school and other activities. I have seen more of my girls and they have had more time with their sisters. We got karaoke for Wi and that has been a blast! We stayed up until 11 on Christmas Eve singing our hearts out with our neighbors!! Had our traditional "Indian" feast on Christmas Eve and drove around to see the holiday lights. Santa came and left lots of loot-all well received by my three!! We have read lots and seen several movies in the theaters (yipee!) and I have cooked almost none (double yipee!!) so life is good! Looking forward to 6 more days of family time!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

Highly unusual for our city but snow was predicted yesterday AND it actually came! Got the wake up call from the schools at 5:30 am to tell me all schools would dismiss 3 hours early that day. (could have waited to tell me that, don't you think?) So 2 out of 3 went to school, and came home 3 hours early. The snow started at 12:47 pm according to M., who was home with a cold. It kept on snowing for about 12 hours! We got about 4 inches with the hopes of more today. Fun times playing in the snow last night and sledding today! I love the snow!

Melt, Spread, Crack

What do you do with a sick child at home the last week of school before Christmas break? Do all your holiday baking for neighbors and friends! Okay, it wasn't exactly baking but you get the idea! I had 12 pounds of white chocolate, 6 pounds of crushed peppermint, 48 little bags and tags and plenty of time. So. . . we melted the chocolate, stirred in the peppermint, spread the mixture on cookie pans, refrigerate, crack it into pieces, bag it and voila. . . PEPPERMINT BARK! It took hours yesterday but my youngest and I made 48 gift bags of peppermint bark to share with our neighbors and friends! And today, since she is STILL home, we will deliver it all! Yipee! Check that one off!