I have received some precious gifts in the past year, as my grandparents said goodbye to their homes, as they parted with items that I imagine they had pictured passing on to family. I hope to do the same thing some day.

I hope to have something that someone would want. It will probably be my grandparents' things!

My favorite has got to be a cookbook with my grandmother's name handwritten on the front cover. It is a local Legion Auxiliary cookbook, an organization I belonged to in my youth.

Her notes make me feel like I'm in on a fantastic secret. The pages with drips and slops cue me to take notice, there must be a gem near!

Vodka Slush
[you just can't find this one just anywhere, so pay attention! Mom - is this the bucket recipe you talked about that made tupperware parties extra special?!]

9 c. water
2 c. sugar
4 green tea bags
12 oz. frozen lemonade
12 oz. frozen orange juice
2 c. vodka
7-up or Sprite

Boil sugar and water. Add the tea bags. Cool 2-3 hours. Add the lemonade, orange juice, and vodka. Freeze at least 24 hrs. Serve with 7-up or Sprite. Optional - you may double the vodka.

I love that option. Sort of the kicker - just how tipsy do we want to be???


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A Day for Sweethearts

It's funny how Valentine's Day changes.

At one point in time, it was all about who got what (and I'm talking balloons and single roses, in high school...).

In college, it was all about the jewelry. And who got a pearl?!

Then I joined the cubicle world and learned quickly that it's important to get flowers delivered AT WORK. Crucial.

Now it's so low key, you'd miss it if you didn't know where to look. It was two token gifts for the kiddos. Some agreed-upon money socked away for our spring break trip. And heart-shaped mini pizzas for supper.

Romantic? No. Lovey dovey? Absolutely.

For better or worse, we run as a pack these days. The kiddos, the Hubs, and me.

A good friend used to talk about life after the kids left the house. She said that while it was lovely, I'd better make sure that I enjoy this time too. This messy, sometimes suffocating, loud time. Tantrums and all.

And I do. I do.

Friday the 13th

It is an eerie sort of day, superstitious or not. We're expecting a big winter storm and it's quiet and calm outside. Single flakes fall, the beginning of what we know is coming. Not the amounts that people further north see, but six inches of snow will have us in for the night. I anticipate a warm and quiet evening at home with a cup of cocoa to melt away the day.

I guess I'm uneasy because I'm home alone. The kids off to church (which is also daycare) for their parties today. They didn't want to miss the day, even if I'm home from work. So here I sit, a to do list as long as my arm, fretting that I want my little ducklings home in the nest with me.


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4 hours later...

Something that I don't like about myself is the way I am forever second-guessing myself. Had I kept the children home with me today, I would've felt guilty for the parties and fun they had missed. So they went off to church this morning, excited for the festive day.

Now I sit here, waiting for enough time to have passed to pick them up (our little guy is fast asleep right now, I need to wait a little bit), and I'm getting absolutely nothing done beyond fretting. Why did I send them off this morning. I should've kept them here with me. The snow is getting so deep, the drive to pick them up (which is less than one mile) is going to be tricky.

The lose-lose situations I put myself in so often frustrate me. I'm not sure where I picked up this habit of fretting over decisions I've made, but I do it all the time!

~~~~~~~~

Final update...

Relief. I decided to have Hubs go and get the kids early, whether or not we had to wake up the little man. So now we are all home. All safe. Sometimes it's best to just fix what I'm fretting over, rather than suffer through. Now they are have a nice post-Valentine party candy binge, watching their new movie, and enjoying a snowy afternoon at home.

So grateful that we are all safe and in for the weekend. The fret is now officially over.


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Pet Peeve

I have a friend who is often done listening to me before I am done talking.

Not cool.

I have actually walked away from her because she is just done.

Also: People, do not check your phone for texts, or read texts, while a friend is in the middle of a story. Or at least explain yourself. It's just NOT NICE.


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Good to Know

If you are trying to lose weight. Or thinking about trying to lose weight...

Do NOT make an angel food cake for absolutely no reason other than to eat it.

Especially if you are the only one in the house who likes angel food cake.



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What I need to do is hop up and pick up around our house.
What I want to do is go to bed and sleep for the next 12 hours.

What I need to do is hop up and do some dishes.
What I want to do is play this really addictive game on my iPod and then go to bed and sleep for the next 12 hours.


Logging off now...
Time for tidying and dishes. Needs win out again. Darnit.

Popcorn, Toast, or Scrambled Eggs

Since we've met, one or both of us have been in college. We like being students, the Husband and me.

Right now, he's working towards his doctorate. This is something that I admire him for very much. The word dissertation gives me hives. He takes it in stride, seemingly fearless about comps, dissertations, and the time that stretches ahead.

This semester he's gone Tuesdays and Thursdays until almost 8:00.

This leads to a more...ahem...casual dining experience a couple of times a week.

Tonight the little man and I are eating popcorn and peanuts. We had cinnamon toast earlier, when we got home from school. B is at a play date until after supper. When she's home I sometimes get a little fancier still and we eat cheesy scrambled eggs with our toast. There's usually fruit for dessert and we are satisfied.

It seems old fashioned of me, only feeling the need to cook a "real" dinner when the Hubs is home. It is what it is.

We miss him, but eating like we are in college too is kind of fun. I think on Thursday we might eat cheese melted on tortillas. Another no-cook supper favorite!