Monday, November 30, 2009

My Boy

16 years ago, our Christmas baby came early. And in a hurry.

16 years later, he is still always early. And in a hurry.

Happy Birthday, Alex.

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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, November 29, 2009

An Almost Rainy Day

The clouds rolled in yesterday and we quickly cleaned up the backyard in preparation for the BIG STORM.

Which, in SoCal, basically means a few scattered showers and cold (as in low 60's).
I decided to make my men-folk weep. With joy, this time.

I made some bread dough.
Sauteed some sweet italian sausage with a chopped onion, let it cool a bit and spread it on top.
Added some sliced, fresh mozzarella.
Topped that some fresh basil, though if I wasn't catering to my youngest child (who is worth catering to, btw), I would have used fresh spinach.

And then started to roll it up...
...and up.
Till it was all snug. And not 'snug as a bug' cuz that would be gross when referring to food.
Put it on a baking sheet lined with parchment and tuck the ends under.
Brush it with a beaten egg.
And plop it into the oven, right underneath some buttermilk chicken. Bake it at 375 for 30 - 40 minutes.
Pull it out and let it cool for just a bit, arming yourself with a baseball bat and dirty looks so the men-folk that take over your house don't try and eat it all right then and there.
Slice it up...
...and watch grown men (and young boys) weep with joy.

Oh...and the storm ended up blowing right over head, but that's OK.

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Saturday, November 28, 2009

All Is Quiet

Today was an unbelievably quiet day...and I am smart enough to know that days like this are few and far between, so I took full advantage of it!

I actually had grand plans of cleaning out the attic since all my menfolk are home, but that thought came and went. Quickly, I might add.

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Instead I cleaned the kitchen and swept the floors and ran to the store for milk...and then the Hallmark channel came on and I sat and watched schmaltzy (is that a word?) Christmas movies all afternoon.

Bliss.

I did make bread, which is rising now for dinner and am seriously considering making a pecan pie....though my numbers at the table are decreasing. Alex is out at the movies with the tribe and Matthew left to go practice...and then there were three. Mama and Papa and baby bear.

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This week begins the chaos...and while I would love to not have to look ahead, I have to. We've got a son hitting a milestone birthday, a basketball tournament that runs all week, a son moving back onto campus, a husband rehearsing crazy hours and concerts opening this weekend...and on top of everything, I am trying to finish up evaluations for work.

Crazy.

So today was a gift. The quiet before the storm.

And I am thankful.

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Friday, November 27, 2009

'Twas The Week Of Thanksgiving

That guy that I like so much has been on vacation this week, so aside from working a few hours here and there, we've been hanging with these boys of ours...all of whom are sleeping under one roof for the week.

Which basically means that there have been video games and food eaten at all hours of the day and night.

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I have been cooking lots, including a lovely little pasta with sausage and tomatoes and basil and peas and a sploosh of cream. So, so good.

Monday was a big day for child #2...the official opening scrimmage for basketball. The biggest thing is finding a knee brace that can hold up to his level of play that also gives him the range of motion that he needs...after 3 serious knee injuries, it's a big deal. In the meantime, I am at the orthopedist every 3 weeks or so picking up a new one...and waiting anxiously for my insurance company to catch on and cry 'uncle'.

Oh...and he's the guy with the ball.

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Hammer, hammer, hammer....it must be Christmas!
I met a few friends for happy hour and was trying to figure out how many hours I'd have to exercise to burn off a piece of this baby...calorie count is listed as 1,898. Yowza. And no, I didn't order it because in the last few years I have stopped liking chocolate.

I know.

Well, not all chocolate. I do like milk chocolate now and then, but anything rich and dark and fudgy? Nope. Oh, and since you were wondering...I don't like potatoes very much anymore either. Strange.
This flag is now packed away for another year, but makes me laugh every time I walk out my front door.

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I was trying to take a picture of my cute cat, but got my cute toes instead.

Oh, and aside from having 2 pairs of flip flops break this week, one of these shoes broke, too. Hmmm...might have to go shopping.
Thanksgiving day...antipasto, followed by a rousing game of bocci ball.
Then a 25 lb bird, of which one small bowl was left...enough for todays sandwiches. Oh, and Tyler Florence? Your roasted sweet potato/banana concoction is really good...in theory.
Our pilgrims. The one on the left is the luckiest bingo player ever. Come to think of it, so is the one on the right. Think they cheat?
We packed the house (not hard to do) and I'm kind of sure that we didn't scare anyone off...so glad you guys came over. Come again and I'll feed you.

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And THIS...this is seafoam jello salad, because you cannot have Thanksgiving without it. It's a TRA-dition.
Mother Nature (and no, I don't really believe in Mother Nature...but just play along for right now) sent us temps in the low 80's, so we bundled up (haha) and ate in the backyard.
My sister in law is ready to pop...quite literally.

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Mmmmmm...I love me some turkey dinner.

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While I'd like to take credit for this beauty, it was Costco all the way. And I will never, ever do it any other way.
Coffee by candle light. Sigh.
And then....THEN the fun began!

Bingo!

Bingo in the backyard!!

This morning, that guy that I like so much climbed up into the chaos and pulled down all the Christmas stuff...
...and spent all afternoon hanging lights on our little house.

Christmas is coming.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Very, Very Special Week

This week.

Sigh.

This week was, quite simply, splendid.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

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Figs, fresh from my very own tree. No more begging for other peoples fresh figs...mine are just a few steps away.

Figs. Fresh french goat cheese. If I could purr, I would.

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Speaking of purring...yet another bird from my loveable cat. At least this one wasn't inside my shoe, which seems to be the newest fad in cat-land. I hope it passes quickly, just like most fads do.
And then on Wednesday, my world got a whole lot brighter with the arrival of one of my most favorite women. Ever. And her most perfect daughter, who I have known since the day she was born.

Sigh.

Tammy is one of 'those' kind of people...one of those people that every once in awhile you find yourself looking around and thinking, 'oh my...she is MY friend.' I'm not kidding. And I don't once take it for granted.

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Alex and McKenzie have known each other since birth and were probably two of the most mischievous children ever to be born. And I am NOT exaggerating.
In the midst of visiting, I walked through the fog to Brian's school to watch his play.
He was an egyptian (and yes, in the craziness of life I had him wear a toga instead of a kilt...I figured no 6th grader would know the difference. And I was right.) and had to memorize a speech and in my moment of bragging here...not a stutter in sight.

That's MY baby.

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The egyptian god talking to his best friend, the mummy.

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Home to meet up with some of my very favorite peoples...by now, Chris had flown in (and Kenz had headed off to her softball tourney) and we were a foursome, out to lunch at our favorite fun spot.
Aren't they beautiful?

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We ate baked feta, which I dream about night after night.
And I had fresh tomato soup, hidden under a dome of lo-cal, lo-fat puff pastry.
And Tam...who is kind to EVERYONE, felt sorry for the plant at our table who seemed thirsty. So she took water from her own glass and shared it with the plant.

Like, who does that?

(a truly NICE person, that's who.)

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Then we drove my big white, gas guzzling car (which now has a rather expensive registration for some reason or another) onto the Balboa ferry...
...and drove across the bay.
And then my shoe broke.

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Chris and Tammy and Kenz flew out today and while still weepy, I ran into Trader Joes and found brussel sprouts, which cheered me up just a little.
And then I got sad all over again.

I just miss them so much already...but I am thankful for the time we did have!

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