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Weekend Bonus

It was a truly lovely fall weekend. Our “day off” was a perfect start to it. The restaurant was a bit … seedy … but the food was awesome. I wouldn’t go there again, probably (maybe after a late night concert or something??) but I would be game for a take-away order. The Pumpkin patch was great. We found the perfect one … where we weren’t being charged $10 each to spend a half hour and then buy pumpkins. The kids had fun and we got some really great pumpkins. That evening, my mom joined us for dinner and we made some great pumpkin pasta and apple spice cake.

Saturday was our normal bevy of to-do-list items. That evening, my parents watched the kiddos while we had dinner at California Cafe. It was a very nice meal … after that we picked up Ben and took him home with us, while Tabby spent the night with Grammy and Papa. After we put Ben to bed, we had dessert and watched SGU … a new, instant fave!

Today, despite good intentions, I missed the gym (my shoes were in my car, which was at my parents’ house). So we “slept in” and then left to meet up with a bunch of people at Sunflower Farm. Despite being all kinds of crazy tired, Tabby had a fun day and crashed like a ton of bricks when she hit the car. We finished up the day with a haircut for Tabby and a long session in the kitchen, making dinner and babyfood.

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Hello October

There is a nip in the air! I had a cup of tea this morning, something I haven’t done in months. I need to dust off my ski gear and see if my jacket will fit me yet (ha!).

Tomorrow, I have my day off and I convinced my extra hard-working hubby (whose project demo’d at the White House this week) to take the day off as well. So we will be able to go on a little field trip to the pumpkin patch, check out a new restaurant and maybe head up the hill and see some fall color. And of course most importantly … be together as a family.

Then we have a weekend of absolutely NOTHING planned. Hooray. Lots of good time at home, time with friends and family, time at the gym, time to get my chef thing on, time to look at my kiddos and marvel at how cool and sweet and amazing they are. It is a little bit slower. I ♥ fall.

PS: That is what my little girl looked like about a *year* ago. Wow.

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My Enemies

I read an article the other day where it was mentioned that Paul Newman was on Richard Nixon's enemies list and that this greatly amused him.

The concept of an “enemies list” seems so incredibly humorous to me – like something Mr. Burns would have (does he have one?). So naturally, I thought to myself, Who would be on my enemies list … if I were to have one. Here's what I came up with.

1. Sarah Jessica Parker (bitch stole my baby name)
2. Michael Vicks
3. anyone who gives me unsolicited assvice vis a vis my kids
4. people who cut in line
5. Barney
6. whoever makes up the time tables for when McDonald's does and doesn't serve breakfast … I hardly ever want breakfast from there, but it's always after they've switched to lunch at some absurdly early hour
7. The RIAA/MPAA
8. Nicholas Cage … don't know why, but that guy seriously bugs me
9. mimes
10. the aliens that abduct my father-in-law
11. the “customer service” reps at any cell phone company (particularly the ones that accost you in the mall)
12. this guy (his wife is lovely too)

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Weekend Update

We had a lovely fall weekend. The weather cooperated with us admirably and we got to enjoy the activities we had planned.

Friday we went to the gym in the morning and my plans for the afternoon (namely to work on the house) were squashed when I got tag-teamed by the kids. No one wanted to nap. Everyone was cranky. But luckily my family came over and watched the kids that evening while Matt and I cleaned up.

Saturday we had a birthday party for one of Tabby’s friends to attend. It was a very fun event and Tabby talked about it the rest of the day. After that, we ran a couple of errands and beat it back home so Matt could meet a Craigslist buyer. He sold his old camera and old table saw (to two different people) as we cleaned up the house and the kiddos napped.

That evening, he and the kids went with my mom and sister to the aquarium and the aquarium restaurant while I hosted my mom’s group game night. It was a great group and we laughed a lot and drank a little and played a few games even.

Though I felt the red wine this AM, we headed off to the gym and had a great workout. We followed that up with a quick trip to the farmer’s market (honey crisp apples … yum!). The balance of the day has been spent napping, doing laundry, watching football, and cooking.

Just about perfect.

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What to Post?

I've sat down to write something out about 5x now. And always I discard it as something valuable only as a sleep aid. We are busy, but it is not really the interesting sort of busy. It is the mind-numbing whirrrr busy of routine. I like it. Things of note.

• If my dear Papa (mom's dad) was still living, he would have been 90 years old this past Tuesday. I still miss him.
• My parents celebrated their 37th (!!) wedding anniversary yesterday. Just … amazing.
• My sweet boy is 5 months old today. He is oh-so-charming. So lucky to have him!
• Tomorrow is my “day off” but as I am hosting game night and my house has been taken over by various projects, it will, in practice, be my “clean up the freaking house already day.”
• I love Glee. Also Gossip Girl. And still Top Chef. And Mad Men.
• I just finished Escape, the story of a woman trapped in the Fundamentalist Mormon Church Cult. Riveting.
• Now reading Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fisher and The Poet, by Michael Connelly. As different as possible, but both really enjoyable so far. The former, a witty collection of autobiographical stories and the later a thrilling serial murder mystery set (at least part) in Denver.
• I have Drunko Bunco tonight. Yay.
• I had awesome “Autumn Couscous” from Whole Foods today. Contains Israeli couscous, butternut squash and cranberries (among other thing).
• I ordered fall shoes for the kids today … 1 pair for Ben, 2 for Tabby (seems unfair, but she needs them more than him). She got a pair of brown Mary Janes and a pair of dark purple Cons and he got a pair of Robeez with Ugly Doll style monsters on them. Too cute! Also $120. Yikes.
• Have not taken the camera out in a loooong time. Need to … have no photos of Ben scarfing his “solids” yet. He is too cute.

I can't think of anything else. Happy almost Friday!

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13 Lucky Links

OK, so back to the model where I don't overwhelm with links. Or try not to anyhow.

• The Kitchn, one of my favorite foodie sites, is holding a “Quick Weeknight Meals” contest. Lots of good recipes to be had.
• eco friendly steam dishwasher @ Unpluggd
• how to craft a good answer to Why should we hire you?
• nerdery: how to access your home files from anywhere (am I the only one who frequently wants to do this??)
• Ohdeedoh has a great roundup of 25 DIY projects with kids
• look at these great old wooden filing drawers used as a media center … I could think of about 100 things to do with such cool looking pieces
• love these cute little anti-coloring books on Etsy
• I seriously ♥ these DIY scratch-off cards
• build a wall with star-light bricks
• a cute, artistic way to capture that first day of school
• check out this amazing color schemer that is based on a google search
• some fun restaurants to take the kiddos to
• awesome ideas for first birthday gifts

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Links for YOU

I have been busy collecting links for YOU. I hope you're grateful. hehehe

• thought this what are we having? shower was a cute idea. Try to ignore to trolls in the comments. Geez.
• I cannot believethis shirt only got 2nd place!!! LOL
• thought this landing area fortransient items was a neat idea
• the Simple Dollar has a good article on raising financially fit kids
• this safe is awesome looking, but it might defeat the purpose since I wouldn't want to hide it
• I am not in the market for a crib, but if I were, this one is gorgeous!
• fun projects for/with kids: painting with a plastic comb, making paper, DIY wrapping paper, baby photos banner, doll houses, broken-crayon monograms (these would be great teacher gifts!, reusable sandwich keepers, alphabet block magnets, attractive kiddy couch
• a primer on canning peaches
• if you're not into being a pirate, here is the run down on getting legit copies of software for less
• cuz it just wouldn't be a link post without a tree house reference: the salvaged treehouse ♥ it!
• a cute, if somewhat limited way to store hair accessories
• I am probably too old to be interested in the pugmo fitness scooter but it looks very cool!
• other than the excellent ones Ani sent me from Pampered chef, I have mostly found chip bag clips kinda useless … these are kinda interesting though
• this rainbow cake makes my teeth hurt! But it sure is pretty.
• I am thinking Ben's room might need some raingutter bookcases
• feed 10 people for around $20 … a budget dinner party for any night of the week
• Yoshihiro Moritake's entire online sketchbook is worth a look, but I especially love the great wallpapers
• teeny tiny, darling circle kitchen ♥ swoon ♥
• Budget Travel brings youthe world's weirdest hotels
• for you iphoners there is a new book coming out, the best iPhone appp
• hide your passwords in a floppy disk
• a roadtrip playlist for you AND the kids
• DIY spring tote, baking mixes, toddler beds, favor boxes, dorm room, SIGG bottle
• great organization downloads

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Slaaaacka!

I had good intentions of reviving the every-day-blogging thing when I started back to work, but much like the start-every-day-at-the-gym thing, it hasn't happened. Actually (sadly) the gym thing went better. TWO whole days, not just one.

Anyway, try try again. I like the blog. Facebook just doesn't cut it for memories of my sweet kiddos. And the camera, it must come out again soon. And it probably will.

Soooo … a recap (again).
• After a couple of very lackluster attempts to start Ben on solids (cuz we'd like him to sleep thru the night before he's 2) with rice cereal, we hit paydirt with squash! He loves the squash. Peaches also. Still not rice cereal. Still not sleeping thru the night either, but what'cha gonna do?
• Ran that 10K. Well ran/walked it. Morning was freaking freezing. Never really felt like I got into it. But it was it's own sort of sadistic fun and I'd really like to keep improving and try again. Holly friend (cuz she's a good friend) stuck it out with me even though she could have finished much more quickly. We wheezed (me) and talked (her).
• Had another family reunion. They are always a good time (with more food than you can imagine) and my kid is always just about the only very little girl. Ben made a new friend and slept in her lap for over 2 hours. Party animal that kid.
• We got Mad Men on DVD from the library. LOVE it. Lost will be going back without being watched, though, I fear. Oh well.
• Speaking of the library, they are trying to charge me $15 for a book we returned that was “chewed by a dog.” This book was like this when we checked it out, so I am a bit miffed. I always fess up when we destroy things. Karma and all.
• Back to TV … Gossip Girl starts tonight. w00t! Also, I love Glee. Love it. Almost makes up for Make it Or Break It's hiatus.
• I am attempting to cook all week out of our pantry/freezer and not hit the grocery store for food. I do have to stop by on my way home for diapers and wipes and also a bottle of EVOO which I realize is technically foodstuffs, but you can't cook anything without it and we are out for some reason.
• I have a cold working on me. Hopefully I can bash it's buggy head in before it takes ahold. Since I can't get extra sleep to help out, I am dosing up on Emergen-C.
• Loved Chasing Fire (2nd book of the Hunger Games series). Now I need something new to read. Recommendtions? And don't say Twilight. I'm not a hater, but I am on a really long wait list at the aforementioned library for the audio books.

And … I'm out.