Tabby’s party was today and it was a great success! But, I don’t think I’ve stopped moving since Friday night. Mom and Dad had the kids and Matt and I worked incessantly on Tabby’s party.
Secret Agent Party Part 1
Brain Dead
Last week I felt like I had oh-so-many things to post about. And this week it’s quite the opposite. I feel boring and just generally tired. I haven’t made it to the gym once this week (VERY VERY unlike me) but I’m giving myself a break because I’ve been going pretty hard. It’s OK to not be superwoman this week, really.
- We did clean out the “media closet,” as we refer to it, last night. Once upon a time, it was a coat closet, but we added shelves to house our ridiculous DVD collection. Then when Tabby came along, I moved our ridiculous DVD collection to a bunch of binders and moved her toys and DVDs into the closet. Last night we got rid of the remaining toys and now it houses all the DVDs (ours in binders, the kids where they can see them), a bunch of video game paraphernalia and the kid activities that can’t be in the playroom, namely anything with tiny pieces or the potential to destroy the house. It’s actually got a mostly empty shelf. Weird.
- We made IGE’s Chicken Parmesan Meatball Subs last night. They were very tasty. Ben’s having some of the meatballs for lunch today. I’m having a meatball sub for lunch today. Clearly, it is a good day.
- On the side, I steamed some green beans and mixed them with a little butter, some garlic salt and pepper and then tossed them with just a little panko and parmesan. Excellent side dish.
- I also fully intend to keep photographing and cataloging our family’s favorite recipes, but I hit a snag this week when I made Broccoli Cheese Soup and used the 2% cheddar I had in the fridge instead of the regular stuff. It got all separated and weird looking. It still tasted great, but would not have photographed well.
- We scoped out the site for T’s party last night and now I need to spend my lunch hour making up some clues for the kids to do a scavenger hunt.
- I also need to do a dry-run on making the cake. Luckily, my parents are taking the kids Friday night. That means we can have a super sexy baking date. Yep. We know how to party.
- Ben continues to be pretty freaked out by floating on his back in the water. Funny thing is, he is pretty OK with having his face in the water … I feel bad for him though and I hope we can resolve this soon, both for his sake and my wallet’s!
- Tomorrow is our company ski trip. I know it will be fun, but I’m not particularly excited at the prospect of leaving town. Again.
Tabby at 6
Yesterday got away from us, like so many days do. There, happily, is just so much living to be done that I couldn’t fit in an update on her sixness on the day of her birthday so now I will recall. Tabby spent most of her sixth birthday in one of her favorite places – kindergarten. She got to be VIP which means she got to help with the calendar, lead the line and other various honors. After school, she played with one of her new favorite toys, a set of “fashion” stencils my mom found for her that allow her to “design” clothes. I came home and she told me all about her day and then we picked up Ben from school and went to swim lessons, another highlight of any day for Tabby. Dinner was the pizza quesadillas she requested, served while watching Phineas and Ferb. She had a hedgehog cookie to finish. After dinner, she wrote a thank you note (to the sender of the hedgehog cookies), cleaned the (real) hedgehogs’ cage, opened a present from Matt and I and read a book to me. Just like that, the first day of her 7th year was done.
This day epitomizes Tabby at this age. She is doing so much and having so much fun doing it. Her enthusiasm for everything is wonderful. I can’t help but marvel, and in some ways lament, at how quickly it’s gone by. But every day, I see what an amazing, kind, thoughtful, creative, positive, and loving little girl she’s become and I’m happy. We’re so so lucky to have her in our family.
We Went to Vail
We spent a few days in our favorite home-away-from-home, Vail, in honor of Tabby’s 6th Birthday (actually tomorrow).
The weather on Friday looked like this ….
So Matt and I got a re-do on our semi-disastrous date day two weeks prior. Mom hung with the kids – who couldn’t ski in the deep powder and who didn’t want to brave the snow – and we skied our butts off.
We also had a great date lunch at The 10 which is a reservations-only restaurant at the top of the mountain. We’d never tried it before, so we treated ourselves. You get to go in and disrobe, including ski boots which is a big treat because even the most comfortable ski boots are decidedly uncomfy. Then you wear furry little slippers to lunch.
The average lunch fare on the mountain is chili and fries and pizza. And actually that’s what we had too, though upscaled versions of those with figs and lamb and stuff. It was tasty. As an after, we shared this sundae. Salted caramel ice cream, brownies, chocolate sauce and candied bacon. Mmmmmm
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mom totally spoiled the kids. They had a picnic, read a billion books, painted with water colors and skipped naps. Is it any wonder we had to beg them to go skiing the next day?
The next day was super beautiful and with tons of nice snow, so we spent the morning at the bunny hill with the kids. Over to the left of the bunny hill happened to be a little event called the US Snowboarding Open, specifically the finals.
We watched from afar as crazy talented guys, including Benji Farrow, pictured above, did their insane tricks on the half pipe.
Back on the bunny hill, it was our Benji’s big day. After some initial regression from his victories in January, he rallied beautifully and …
Took his first runs on the gopher hill, which of course, means his first ride on the chairlift! Big time big boy!!
After Ben’s excellent morning, it was still beautiful weather, so Mom took Ben home and Matt, my dad and I took Tabby up the mountain.
It was a wonderful time. Tabby gets better and better every time we take her out and she really seems to enjoy skiing and she’s so proud of her achievements.
After our ski day, Kelly joined us and we went to dinner for Tabby’s birthday. After dinner, we came home to the cake I’d baked for her and presents.
Exhausted from two days of skiing, we went to bed early and woke up even earlier to pack up and head home.
February in Instagrams
Here’s a quick look at February. It’s a lightweight, coming in at just 28 Instagrams, but I think it’s a keeper. I am loving this project and the pretty results it produces.
Favorite Ben Photo: I just love the one of him playing around with me (11).
Favorite Tabby Photo: Love the photo of her reading – it sums up beautifully where she is right now (3).
Favorite Non-Kid Photo: Not to be narcissistic, but I like the one of JUST me (23). It is rare I actually like a photo of myself and I love this one.
On to March!
A key for posterity’s sake. Continue reading “February in Instagrams”