Missed My Quota

Here we are.  Less than two days before 2012 is outta here and I have totally failed to meet my goal of 50 posts this year.  I did sit down to write a post once this month. Yes, once. But I got less than one sentence into it and ran out of time.  In my defense, I was planning on writing a bunch and getting the remaining posts up this month but in the past 4-5 weeks alone, I've had a bunch of totally legitimate and great excuses.  I may try to knock out a number of posts in the next day and see how close I can get (do I get a prize if I do it?) but in the meantime, here's a list of some of the reasons why I didn't put out one measly post in December before tonight:

• I've been busy.
• Max had a pretty rough recovery from his surgery for the first couple of weeks and I was his main helper.  He didn't need me with him 24-7 but that definitely took up a good chunk of my time.
• My parents came in town for a visit.  They didn't stay with us but I spent as much time as I could with them while they were here.
• On December 4th, I went and picked up a very darling almost 10-week-old yellow lab mix that we named Sally.
• Every day since December 4th, I've felt like I have been caring for a furry newborn that can't wear diapers and needs a whole lot more attention than I remembered puppies need.
• Ran a lot of errands.
• Did lots of laundry but I was so busy with other stuff that more than anything, I excelled at falling behind in it.  Let's just say my kids had to pull things out of their hampers a time or two.  Thankfully I was on top of it just enough to make sure that we all had clean underwear the whole time.
• Got back to volunteering in the kids' classrooms the week or two before Christmas.
• Went to the dermatologist.
• Being a creature of habit, I simply had to make three batches of caramels over the couple of weeks before Christmas.  This involves standing over the stove for a good 30-40 minutes during the cooking process (which I did at midnight one night) and then cutting and wrapping each batch on my own (well over 100 caramels per batch).
• Went to Hudson's last two basketball games of the season...new season starts in January.
• Delivered goodies to neighbors and friends with Hudson's help (I drove and he ran up to each door).
• Took the kids to Temple Square and City Creek to see the lights and then out to dinner afterwards.
• Headed up and coordinated Hudson's class holiday/winter/Christmas party.
• Finished up Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, etc.
• Shoveled snow a number of times on Christmas Eve (kudos to my little bro for doing the brunt of it!) and in the days after Christmas.  On Christmas Eve I managed to slip on our horrendous sealed driveway and seriously hurt my pride and my hip.  I have a killer bruise to show for it.

To make myself feel a little better about not succeeding in my 50 post goal, here are a few of the other things that I didn't get done this month:

• Our annual Christmas card complete with a current picture (or pictures) of the kids.  I bought stamps for the cards because I happened to be at Costco one day but that's as far as I got.  Maybe New Year's cards this year?  Maybe...
• Never finished getting my neighbor/friend gifts out to everyone...still have a couple of things sitting on the kitchen counter.
• My kids didn't have ANYTHING prepared to give their friends this year.  They both have a few friends to give something to.  Maybe New Year's gifts?
• Get enough sleep.
• I haven't written an e-mail to my family since the 11th of November...I usually write at least twice a month.  The thought of catching up there makes me shudder.
• Take my kids to Zoo Lights (annual tradition)...need to put it on my must-do list for December 2013.
• Check my e-mail on a regular basis...when I finally peeked at my shopping e-mail account yesterday, I had over 900 messages.  Thank goodness I was able to delete about 99.75% of them without having to look at them.
• Not a single thank you note has been written for Christmas gifts (by me or anyone else in our house).

Now that I've succeeded in talking about how crazy busy my life has been, I have to say that I have had a lot of help over the past several weeks.  Meals were brought in by great friends and neighbors, kids were given rides to basketball practice and dance, friends came to play with the kids so that they were occupied while I got things done, a couple of people came to spend time with Max towards the beginning of his recovery so that I could get out of the house, and my hubby did everything he could to help me each day in spite of his condition.

I may be busy but I'm one lucky girl.

So Thankful, Thankful, Thankful

I can hardly believe that November is coming to a close.  It seems like this month absolutely flew by...

 

The other day I took down our Thankful Tree.  I really enjoyed looking at all of the leaves and noticing some of the things that my kids wrote down this year.  They really put some thought into what they wrote.  They aren't just thankful for toys, candy, and other such things anymore.  They listed things like piano, music, senses, friends, individual family members, food & shelter, etc.  It's neat to see them growing up that way.

 

Now, I know I've done thankful lists before but I feel like I should close out the month with one last hurrah before December hits us.  I am, after all, blessed beyond measure in so many ways (aren't we all?).  I feel like I should voice/write some of the things I'm grateful/thankful for while they're fresh on my mind.

 

I am thankful for...

• my hard working, handsome, funny and supportive husband who puts up with my malarkey and sticks around in spite of it.
• two beautiful, smart, funny, thoughtful, kind, amazing and all around awesome children who make my life worthwhile.
• incredible parents who are always there for me.
• four amazing siblings who also happen to be four of my best friends.
• wonderful in-laws both in my family and in my hubby's...I've been blessed to find great friends and family in them.
• the greatest extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins) that anyone could ever dream of or ask for.  I love them to pieces!
• my good health, strength, and physical abilities.  Five years ago these things were either not part of my life or they were being threatened.  I am so grateful that I'm able to walk, hear, and function well in general on a daily basis without my pesky health issues causing problems.
• modern medicine (it ties in with my health but I have to give it its own nod) and how it has benefited my life and the lives of my loved ones.  If it weren't for advances in the medical world over the years, many of us wouldn't be here.
• the freedoms I enjoy living in this country.  I know that the government isn't perfect and that things look pretty bad at times but I feel so blessed to live the life that I do with the freedoms we have been given here.
• the opportunity I have to stay home and be a full time mom.  I know that this is not as common as it used to be and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else
• my blog.  It may sound cheesy but I enjoy writing, even if it is just about day to day stuff.  It's therapeutic for me and is good for my soul.
• technology that allows me to easily stay in touch with and communicate with my family and friends.  It wasn't that long ago that the Internet, e-mail, and cell phones were non-existent or uncommon luxuries.
• a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and a warm bed.
• the little things in life that help me make it through the hard days...a visit or a phone call from a friend or family member, people who are good to my children and love them like I do, unexpected service or kindness from others, etc.
• my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the opportunity we have to celebrate his birth in December.  There is no greater blessing in life than His life, teachings, and atonement.

There are so many other things that I am thankful for but today, I'm especially grateful for the things that matter (and a few things that don't)...

Memories of Miles - Nice List

As I stated the other day in my post about some of Miles' naughty misdeeds over the years, the good things about him and the things he did right far outweigh the bad.  This one is going to be lengthy since I feel like I have to explain or tell a story with everything on the list so if you don't want the details, come back another day for a different post.

Without further ado, here's my list of some of the great things about Miles:

• When he was young, Miles would cower and make himself dead weight as soon as he realized the water running in the tub was meant for him.   In the past few years this changed and he would hop into the tub for a bath on command.  All I had to do was point and tell him to "get in the tub" and he was there.
• While he was very friendly to pretty much anyone he met, Miles had a keen sense of good vs. bad in people. On one particular occasion, I had a few people come to give us bids on replacing some windows in the house. He was fine with every single person that came...except one. A pair of guys from one company came together and Miles did NOT approve of one of them. The entire time they were here, he growled anytime the guy talked, got even more agitated when he'd get close to me, and he didn't calm down until the guy left. We never had those men come back.
• Miles was always very careful and gentle with babies and kids alike but he really had a thing for babies. He was still a young pup when I watched a friend's infant one day. I told Miles to stay away from the baby in the car seat/carrier and placed it in the kitchen where he wasn't supposed to go (we boundary trained him). Very slowly but surely, he literally "crawled" along on his tummy, closer and closer until he was right next to the baby's carrier. He didn't bother the little boy, he just wanted to be close to it and happily laid there as long as I let him.
• He never complained or whined when getting a check-up or shots at the vet's office - he actually liked going there.  He was very stoic and would just stand there and take whatever was coming without complaint.
• Miles absolutely LOVED the UPS man and the mail carrier. He would initially bark upon hearing the UPS truck but as soon as he saw our regular UPS guy coming up the walk, he'd be whining at the front window to be let out front for a visit. The UPS man liked Miles in return and would always stop to rub/pet him and talk to him for a minute. As for the mail carrier, if Miles was able to get out front when the truck pulled up to the mailbox, he'd run out there and climb up onto the steps of the truck for a hello. I can't tell you how many times I had to call him back so that the mail carrier could continue on his/her way.
• Going along with Miles being good with babies, Hudson was born when Miles was about 3 years old. He was Hudson's personal play thing and step stool until Hudson was probably about 2 years old.  Miles never growled or did anything around either of our kids to make us worry.  If he got tired of the treatment, he'd just quietly get up and go somewhere else.
• He was concerned when he could tell that something was wrong with someone in our family.  When one of the kids or I would cry, he was quick to come and check on us or sit with us as we cried.  When someone was sick, it was obvious that he was worried and he laid low and stayed closer than usual.  He was very much in tune with what was happening within our family.
• He remembered the people who loved him (and he loved in return) and was always eager to spend time with them when they'd visit. He loved my dad, my hubby's dad, the vet, my Aunt Shivaun, the carpet cleaning guy, the UPS man (as mentioned above), my brother's girl Abby, my niece Courtney (I swear they would have married each other had species not been an issue), and a number of our kids' friends.
• Other than a short time period when he tried to make the living room couch his bed, he was always obedient about our no furniture rule and would only hop up when given the okay (which was very rare until the last few weeks of his life when we were total suckers and allowed him up on the family couch every evening).
• Miles was one smart cookie.  He was very easy to boundary train - both at our old house and here - and learned how to use a dog door with nothing more than going out and back in once.  We watched other people's dogs on a couple of occasions (one of them in particular was hailed as being the smartest dog her owner had ever met) and in spite of our showing them over and over again, neither of them ever grasped the whole dog door concept...dumb as doornails.  It drove me crazy.

I think that my need for writing therapy over Miles' passing is finished.  I only cried while typing the first post about him (I've made great progress!) and I don't feel like there's anything else I need to get out.

 

I will say that it sure was nice to have an easy topic for three posts.  Now to knock out 14 more by the end of the year...yikes.

Memories of Miles - Naughty List

You may or may not have heard of a website out there dedicated to "dog shaming".  It's for people to send in pictures of their dog wearing a sign around its neck (or with one next to them) detailing said canine's naughty deeds and therefore shaming them for their behavior.  A couple of months ago I checked the website out and got thinking of some of the naughty things that Miles did over the years.  Here are a few treasures that would have earned him a spot on the wall of shame:

• chewed on our brand new upright Baldwin piano
• chewed on the cross-beams at the base of our coffee table
• stole an entire piece of pizza from my hand as I went to take a bite (we were sitting on the ground at a park)
• went through the trash baskets in the house numerous times to retrieve candy wrappers and Go-Gurt sleeves
• possibly chewed holes in our huge Persian area rug (his younger "brother" was possibly responsible for this but we were never sure of who was to blame - my guess it it was both of them)
• snuck up onto the leather couch in the living room when he knew we weren't paying attention...that didn't last long (he only had to get caught once and he learned his lesson)
• played keep-away with a dead baby bird he found in the backyard at our old house
• happily rolled around in deer feces whenever he could find them (usually in a neighbor's back or side yard)
• found the measuring cup for his food bin had been left out and destroyed it
• ran away to explore the neighborhood and refused to come home when called
• after refusing to use the outdoor "facilities" upon arriving at the groomer, he proceeded to relieve himself on a bag of dog food just after we walked in the door

Thankfully his naughty list isn't anywhere near as long as his nice list (which will come later this week) and the majority of his misdeeds were done in his younger years.  As much as his shenanigans drove me crazy, I'm glad I have those memories to think back on and smile about now that he's gone.

Grateful: 5 Things On The 5th

If I'm going to meet my quota of 50 posts this year (and possibly out-do myself and go beyond that), I've seriously got to get it in gear.  Luckily, November and December are two of my favorite months of the year and therefore, I feel like I naturally have more to write about.  November ranks up there for three main reasons:

1. The weather is quite wonderful...not hot, sometimes warm, and seldom too cold.  That's my kind of deal.
2. Soup season starts.  I love making big pots of soup or stew or cheating and using my trusty slow cooker to do the job for me.  There's nothing like a big bowl of hot goodness paired with some fresh sourdough bread, sharp cheddar cheese, and apple slices (preferably Honey Crisp or Fuji).  My tummy loves November.
3. I positively LOVE Thanksgiving and thinking about gratitude.  I honestly have things I'm thankful for running through my mind quite regularly as the month goes along.  It's one of the reasons we have a Thankful Tree every year.

In honor of the beginning of this glorious month, I'm going to make a short list of a few things that I'm grateful for today...

 

5 Things I'm Thankful For On The 5th

1. The Daylight Saving time change.  I love the change in the spring as the days grow longer and I love it in the fall since I get an extra hour of sleep in the morning (the morning is my arch nemesis).  I also actually really enjoy that it gets dark early.  Before we had children, I would intentionally leave a light or two on when leaving for work in the morning so that when I arrived home as it grew dark - or already was dark - I felt like the house was welcoming me back when I saw the front porch lights on or perhaps a lamp on in the window.  I may be a weirdy, but that was always a comforting feeling to me.
2. My family's patience with me and their forgiveness of my shortcomings. I kind of lost it a couple of times today. I was frustrated with my kids for various reasons, I got upset and lashed out when I shouldn't have, and I was mad at myself for letting said frustration get the best of me. Bless their poor hearts, in spite of what a lame mom and wife I can be at times, at the end of the day, my hubby and kids still accept me: lost marbles, overreactions and all. My children especially get big kudos on this one because all it takes with them is a simple, sincere apology and they let my misgivings go. I am one lucky lady.
3. The fabulous television show Castle.  It is, after all, Monday night.  Our TiVo box is just finishing recording tonight's episode and I can hardly wait to go and plop down on the couch.  The writers, producers, etc. of the show really nailed it...the characters (who doesn't totally love Caskett [ha ha!], Ryan, and Esposito?), the one-liners, the story lines, etc.  If you haven't seen it or if you don't like it, then you've got something seriously wrong with you.
4. Great neighbors who also happen to be great friends...  We seriously hit the jackpot in terms of neighbors.  We live next to and around some of the most friendly, generous, kind, loving, thoughtful and giving people in the world.  Everyone watches out for each other and is genuinely concerned about each other's well being.  I couldn't ask for better.  Heaven forbid we should ever have to move because nothing compares to these people!
5. A hard working husband who does SO much for our family. Max works his tail off at the office and makes it possible for me to stay home with the kiddies. In addition to bringing home the bacon, he has also always been the one to do most of the yard work. While I enjoy doing yard work (to an extent...ahem), I'm afraid that I often take for granted just how much he does. With his being somewhat unable to work in the yard as of late, I've been trying to make things easier on him and pick up the slack. Today I spent hours outside raking, blowing, sweeping, and bagging leaves. I honestly enjoy the work and the results when I do it but it really is a lot of work. He keeps our yard pristine and lets me be the pansy I am when it comes to yard work most of the time. I am blessed to be married to him.

I have so much more that I'm thankful for but a) I'm not going to list it all now because I need more writing material for future posts and b) it's time for CASTLE...

LIST: The Magic 5

I promised that I'd share a recipe soon and I just spent a good chunk of time searching the recipes that I keep on my computer.  However, I couldn't find one that I wanted to share without a picture and others were recipes that are near and dear to the people that shared them with me and therefore, I don't dare share them.  I guess I could ask permission but that involves picking up the phone and with my low blood sugar right now, I just don't dare waste the energy.  I need it to type.  My last lame excuse is: I'm really hungry right now (tends to happen when I don't eat lunch...hence the low blood sugar) and I'm afraid that if I were to type up a recipe right now, I'd be likely to head upstairs once I was done, make said recipe, and then proceed to eat the entire thing in one sitting.

That being said, I'm going to provide you with a very short list of 5 most marvelous foods.  Five foods that make the world a better place and have the power of making other foods jealous and better than they are on their own...

The Magic 5

• Avocado:  Being a California girl, liking avocado more or less runs in my blood.  Make that LOVING avocado.  Because I do.  And that scary processed stuff at the market that they call guacamole doesn't count as avocado because it's not.  It's scary processed stuff.
• Ranch Dressing:  Ranch dressing is a staple in our fridge.  And I'm not referring to the bottled stuff...yuck.  We're talking about the dressing that is made using a Hidden Valley Ranch packet, mayonnaise, and either milk or buttermilk (depending on the packet being used - we prefer the latter).  I've recently had a couple of people tell me that my ranch is the best.  Well, it's not my ranch, people.  It's Hidden Valley's.  And you're right - it really is the best.  The only thing is I make it with a bit of extra mayonnaise and a bit less milk/buttermilk than it calls for so that it's thicker.  That's all.
• Chocolate: No explanation or description needed here.
• Bacon:  I'm not normally a huge bacon fan.  No, really!  It's way too salty and I've never been a huge salt lover.  However, a while back we discovered Kirkland's low sodium bacon.  Mmmmmm.  Even my salt loving hubby prefers it.  And I don't need to drink a gallon of water after each slice.
• Cheese:  Yes, I mean cheese in general.  Parmesan.  Cheddar.  Monterey Jack.  And so forth and so on.  Like chocolate, cheese falls into the category or not needing much of an explanation.  It's beautiful and that's that.

Now that you have the list of the 5 magic ingredients, this is what you do.  Name a food.  Any food.  Then look over the list and you're pretty much sure to find that at least one of the magic 5 will make that food even better.  Let's have a few examples, shall we?...

Apples.  I love apples, especially nice, cold crisp ones.  But even better than a plain old apple slice?  An apple slice with sharp cheddar cheese on top.  Mmmmmm!  More a fan of the sweet classic of caramel apples?  Fine...add chocolate.  Double mmmmmm!

Hamburgers.  I have a very deep and meaningful love for home grilled hamburgers.  But I have a hard time eating one without some nice fresh slices of avocado on top and a slice or two of cheddar.  Tasty, tasty, tasty.  Bacon and ranch wouldn't hurt either.

Strawberries.  Yummy...one of my favorite fruits.  Made even more delicious by my dear friend chocolate (any kind will do).

Finally, turkey.  It's super great all by itself.  But what if you eat it dipped in ranch?  Better.  In a salad with avocado and cheese?  Better still.  On a sandwich with bacon, cheese, and avocado, dipped in ranch?  Best of all!

Now, I have to share one last thing.  In the middle of doing this post, my lack of energy got to be a little too much and I ran upstairs to have a "snack".  I started with a healthy serving of chocolate chips and then moved onto carrots (with ranch!).  Then cheddar cheese.  With ranch.  I polished it off with sourdough toast with butter and honey and then a few more chocolate chips.  I feel much better now.  And did you notice how skillfully I worked 3 of the Magic 5 into my late lunch/snack?  Brilliant.  But that's beside the point...

Have you ever had good cheddar cheese (i.e. Tillamook sharp or cheddar) dipped in homemade Hidden Valley Ranch?  One word: GLORIOUS.  If you haven't tried it, give it a go.  You and your thighs can thank me later.

P.S.  Will be making homemade Macaroni & Cheese in the next couple of days.  After the weight-increasing taste test, I'll post the recipe (with pictures) if it's a winner.  Which I'm sure it will be...it's from Tillamook.

LIST: Busy Little Bee

Last month I posted a whopping 8 times...that's one seriously insane record when compared to the previous months.  June hasn't been quite so lucky.  My most recent post was the 6th of this month, and that was only because I scheduled the post sometime the week before.   I know.  I can be a sneaky little devil sometimes.

June 3rd was the last day of school.  Hallelujah!  Happy day!  No getting up early and getting the kids ready for the day unless I want to!  And believe me, that's seldom the case...

The next day, I got a call from my sister telling me that her mother-in-law had passed away and that they were coming in town within a couple of days for the funeral.  She was originally going to drive out with her kiddies and stay with us in later July but considering the circumstances, they decided to just stay here for an extra week+ after the funeral.  They arrived Monday the 6th and stayed until last Friday.  We had a marvy time (more on that later) and while I've fully intended to get blogging since they left, I've been very busy each day.  I'm even going to give you a glorious list of everything I've been doing over the past week or so.

MY BUSY BEE LIST

• sleeping in or just laying in bed in the morning
• making beds
• yelling at my kids
• doing my daughter's hair in a simple pony tail
• pretending that I didn't notice the 3 baskets of laundry that needed folding
• making lunch for my kids
• going to the grocery store or Costco
• sitting around doing nothing
• taking my daily shower
• taking my kids to the zoo (once)
• making dinner
• reading the news online
• avoiding moving...it's getting hot and I don't want to be sweaty
• yelling at my kids
• putting my kids to bed
• staying up way too late while sitting around AND doing nothing (epiphany: I ought to write a book on multi-tasking!)
• eating ice cream
• sleeping

 Very, very busy indeed.  Just recalling all that I've done has left me worn out!  However, in spite of my well earned exhaustion, I've decided that I'm going to take a break from my busy life and get a bunch of posts up before the end of the month.  And to my girlfriend Jen: as promised, I'll even get a recipe or two up so you can drool until you're out of that super stylish cast and able to cook again.

LIST: Other People's Blogs

I know I've complained about this before, but I have had the worst case of writer's block for the longest time now. We're, what, almost 4 months into the year and this is only my 4th post? And check out my stats: 131 posts in 2009 and only 62 in 2010. I mean, seriously. I used to come up with little stories to tell, lists to make, quote or recipes to share, etc. but lately (which apparently means the past year or so), the incredibly awesome well of brilliance that is my brain has run dry.

Now, you might be able to tell from the blog list on my sidebar (not to mention the blogs that aren't there but are in my favorites folder), I have a thing for reading other people's blogs. I check for blog updates every day and, being a total hypocrite, I get really irritated when people haven't done their part to entertain me and posted something new. I've been thinking about this lately and I've come to a conclusion...it's THEIR fault that I haven't written lately.

WHY MY BLOG & I DON'T MEASURE UP

* I've lost my creative thought process as of late. I don't know whether it's because my daughter has fried my brain by saying my name 3,493 times a day or if it's because I've failed to nurture it by simply writing (or thinking), but it's just not there.

* I forget to write down or post about the funny things my kids say.

* One word: pictures. I'm not the best photographer and other peep's pictures blow mine out of the water. Especially when they apparently have an amazing professional photographer at their disposal, catering to their every visual whim. No fair.

* Everyone else is at least one of the following in every post: witty, adventurous, cool, smart, exciting, funny, charming, crafty, or thoughtful. Not to mention any other number of qualities that make blogs read-worthy.

* I am in a major cooking rut. I haven't been trying new recipes and the ones I have are so repetitious to me that they don't seem like they're good enough to share. Either that or they're SO good that I refuse to share. Therefore, no new recipe posts.

* Along those lines, I don't take multiple (or sometimes even single) pictures of the recipes that I do share. LAME.

* Other people always come up with such interesting things to write about, share, or voice an opinion on. Let me share something with you: in my humble opinion, pretty much nothing I write falls into the category of being interesting.

* I'm not having any more babies. Whether documenting one's pregnancy, sharing baby stories, or posting billions of pics of a baby's irresistible squishy fat rolls, everyone loves baby posts. My baby is 3 1/2 and her fat rolls are gone. She's cute, but she's not a baby anymore and until my kids grow up and make me a grandma (which had better be a good 20 years from now), there will be no baby posts on this blog.

* I am far too busy reading other people's blogs and realizing how superior they are to mine to take the time and write a post of my own.

Excuses, excuses! Trust me - I know. I am, after all, the one making them.

LIST: Wishful Thinking Christmas List

Wow - I haven't done a list (let alone a post of any sort) in a very long while! Time for me to repent...

Tonight we had the kids write letters to Santa Claus. This was Claire's 1st year writing one (okay - she dictated and I wrote) and Hudson's 3rd. They were both very psyched about it and are excited to get responses from the big man in a week or two. And no, it's not me that does the return correspondence...we happen to have Santa's address and he writes back every year. Good deal.

Now, while the kids have no problem coming up with a list of the things they'd like to get on Christmas morning, I've always had a hard time coming up with anything to tell my hubby or my parents. But this year is different. I've come up with a few things that I'd really, really, really like to receive. It's not a very long list but unfortunately, I'm afraid that everything I want is more or less out of the question...

MY UNREALISTIC CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

• Uninterrupted showers for one whole year. I'd even settle for a month. No one opening the door or coming into the bathroom. No child: asking me what I'm doing, begging for a snack, letting me know that they're bored, or wanting to hang out. Oh - and no ringing phones that leave me wondering who called for the rest of the time I'm in the shower.
• Someone else to do all of my cleaning, laundry, cooking, and dishes. For free. Without prompting. Without complaining. Do you know how many projects I could finish up if I didn't have to, well, do my job as a wife and mom?!
• For my children to get along more...preferably all the time. They're pretty good but there's room for improvement. My sister and I were laughing about this one the other day because mom used to say that we could give this to her as a gift. We'd say that it didn't count and wasn't a present. She'd respond that it would be to her. Now I understand.
• For chocolate, bread, ice cream, pastries (all baked treats in general), butter, and everything else that tastes good to be completely carbohydrate, sugar, and calorie free. It would be very helpful to me as I try to shed some pounds. Very helpful indeed.
• A mute button for my kids. It seems like anytime that I'm on the phone, Max and I are trying to talk, or I have something to say to them, one or both of my kids (who were completely oblivious to my existence for the 30 minutes prior to that moment) have to start yelling, talking, asking questions, etc. I know that duct tape was invented for a reason but a mute button would be so much quicker for me and less painful for them.

I think that's about it...it's not asking all that much, is it? I'm only asking for a measly 5 things for Christmas. None of them has to be wrapped and no one has to spend a dime. Pretty please?!

NEW CAR + ME = LOVE

It's been about a month since I kissed my old Expedition goodbye and about three weeks since I got my new car. I haven't posted about it because I've been too busy making eyes at my new vehicle and telling it how much I adore it. Believe it or not, I love it even more than I love my old car. A few of you know what I ended up getting and for those of you who don't know, you're in for a shocker. I got...a newer, prettier version of the gas-guzzling beast I had before. A 2007 Ford Expedition. Surprise, surprise. Here's a list of some of the many reasons that I L-O-V-E my new vehicle.

WHY I LOVE MY NEW(ER) CAR

• It's dark red.
• Two-tone leather interior (black & tan)...so easy to clean up and keep clean. My old Expedition had it as well but leather seats have a special enough spot in my heart to talk about it here.
• It has a lot more buttons and gadgets in general for me to play with. I have no idea how to work all of them but you can bet I'm going to have a fun time finding out.
• Heated and cooled front seats. I don't know that I'll get much use out of the heaters (I'm too warm-blooded) but I'm all over the cooling action.
• Factory DVD player, iPod/auxiliary jack, 6-disc changer, etc. In my old car, we had to have a DVD player installed and replaced my 6-disc changer with a single disc player with an iPod jack. Much nicer to have all the factory goodies in place.
• Wood trim...me likey.
• Auto fold-down/up seats. My old car also had this but after test driving and checking out a number of cars that didn't have it, I'm just that much happier that my car has this.
• Dual-zone temperature controls (in addition to rear heat & a/c like we had before). I know this isn't the newest thing out there but it's new for me in my car and it sure is nice to turn the temp up or down on my side when Max is driving and wants it at a different number.
• Side-view mirrors that aren't so ridiculously huge and sticking out so far as my old ones did. Hoping this will help me avoid crunching one on the side of the garage like I did on my old car.
• The auto-open and close tailgate. Push a button on my dash...it opens or closes. Push a button on my key fob...it opens or closes. Give the handle on the tailgate a quick pull...it opens. Push the button just inside the rear of the car...it closes. Extra handy when my hands are full or when snow or rain is coming down.
• Newer body style is a bit more "tough" or rigid looking.
• It gets slightly better gas mileage than older models. Hmmmm...what should I spend my savings of $2/month on?
• I haven't used it to run over a stroller or ram a shopping cart into another car. And my kids haven't spilled milk, tossed their cookies, or ground fruit snacks into the carpet. Yet. So aside from the 2 very minor cosmetic things I know about, it's in near perfect condition.
• My husband seems to like it (mainly its bells and whistles) as much as I do and has said that he can see us keeping it longer than we did my old one. Yes!...I'm holding him to that one.

I think that's about it off the top of my head. I'm sure I'll come up with another reason (or twelve) to add to this list later. In the meantime, I'm going to go up and tuck my car in for the night.

My Babies & Baby Animals (+ Bonus List)

Late yesterday morning, I took my kids out for a jaunt at a place called Gardner Village (you locals know the place). After eating lunch, we went to the little petting zoo they have there. Hudson and Claire were happy to be wandering around amongst the animals which included several goats (young and old), a handful of lambs, pigs and a little piglet, bunnies, etc. However, both were a bit nervous about the goats with the enormous horns. But even then, after a bit of coaxing and showing them how nice the big guys were, they warmed up. Now, I've always been a sucker for animals but SERIOUSLY, the little lambs that were wandering around were positively irresistible. Even my little Claire (who used to be afraid of all animals except our dog) was especially fond of them. I was tempted to smuggle one of them home under my shirt but I think the workers might have noticed.

In addition to lunch and the petting zoo, we stopped in a few shops (there may or may not be a decent candy store there with ultra-tasty amaretto fudge but we're not talking about that or whether I did or did not go in there to buy a 1/4 pound of said fudge and some goodies for the kids) and just enjoyed walking around the grounds. At the very end of our trip, the kids wanted to perch atop a stone wall to rest for a minute. Seeing a great photo op, I pulled out my semi-trusty pocket-sized camera (note to self: always take the big camera - it's way better) and snapped away. Believe it or not, with their movements, closing of eyes, etc., the picture below is the best one I could get of the two of them...at least the tulips cooperated.

Now, in honor of springtime and petting zoos everywhere, I give you a brief list. Here are a few of my all-time favorite baby animals that I'd totally take home and keep as pets if (a) I had a farm, (b) they didn't smell, and (c) someone else did all the dirty work and I just got to play with them and pet them.

MY FAVORITE BABY ANIMALS

• Horses/foals: Their muzzles are SO very soft and and I love their gangly legs. However, having one of these animals would also require my paying a trainer to break my baby as it grew so that I could ride it someday. Too expensive.
• Puppies (of course!): I don't care what breed of dog it is, puppies are adorable. Our neighbors got a little Shitzu puppy the other day. I'm not a big fan of small dogs but he looks like a fat, furry sausage. And my daughter is terrified of him and it's very amusing. Makes me love him even more.
• Lambs: They're just so cute. Period. If the pictures above aren't reason enough, then I don't know what your problem is.
• Ducklings and Chicks: These guys pretty much go into the same category for me..."Cute Fluffy Farm Birdies". Little duck bills are just so cute and I love the peeps of little chicks. And it doesn't hurt that chicks grow up to be chickens and produce yummy farm fresh eggs. This is one animal that if we were allowed to have them where we live, I'd already have a hen house out in back.
• Calves: Once again, gangly legs do me in every time. And I love those great big shiny noses and how it feels when they lick your hand/arm (soft, wet sandpaper).
• Tiger cubs: I know this one is totally out of the petting zoo realm but have you ever seen one of these up close? Our zoo has three right now (along with a snow leopard cub) and while they've grown quite enormous, when they were little, I just wanted to snuggle them. Granted my face would have been scratched off but still...very hard to resist. And this is coming from a non-cat-lover.
• Monkeys: Also in the non-petting zoo category but really, have you ever seen a newborn or very young Colobus monkey or Black Howler monkey? Really cute. Really cuddly looking. I'd really love to hold one.

I think I'm going to go and kidnap the neighbor's puppy now...

LIST: Spend, Spend, Spend

A while back, I had a poll up on the side bar of this here blog. It asked y'all to vote on ideas for lists for me to write up. The winner was "Things I Said I'd Never Do As A Parent" (see that list here) and the runner-up - and only other topic to receive any votes - was "Places Where I Like To Spend and Waste Money". Seeing as how I am apparently unable to come up with any other time-worthy lists, this is what my list-loving-self and I are giving you today:

PLACES WHERE I MOST LIKE TO USE MY AMEX

• Crate and Barrel: I have been addicted to C&B since long before my days of having my own place. I bought my 1st set of dinner plates there when I was 18. And I still have them...white plates with a pretty blue pattern of plum branches. I can't tell you how much I love this store and just about everything they carry. Plates. Table Linens. Holiday and seasonal decor. Barware. BBQ toys. Cooking and baking utensils. Heavy metal measuring cups. Dish towels. Cutting boards. All these and many, many, many more things that make my kitchen-loving world go round. You don't want to know how many of their plates, drinking glasses, serving dishes, linens, and culinary gadgets I have in my cupboards and drawers upstairs. If you really want me to, I can count them all for a future post..but I would likely end up neglecting my family for a solid three days while I tallied it all up. Final word on this store: the peeps over at C&B need to get their heineys in gear and open a store here. They'd survive their 1st year on my purchases alone.
• Gymboree: My sister-in-law got me hooked on Gymbo years ago. Such darling kids' clothes...I can't help myself. I'm happy to say that I don't ever pay full price (except maybe for socks but even then, but I buy a few so I get them for cheaper). I wait for the sales and then use a coupon on top of the existing discount to get the best deals possible. Oh - and I don't use my AMEX here. I actually use my Gymboree VISA...it gets me a discount at Gymboree and I earn a gift card a couple of times each year. And I make my husband carry a Gymboree VISA for when he goes to stores that don't take AMEX. He curses me for having this in his wallet but I love my gift cards.
• Bath & Body Works: I obsessed about their candles in a post a while back and here, I'll obsess about those and everything else this store sells. Their candles rock - you don't even have to light them to get a nice scent in a room. Just take off the lid and you're in business. My favorite lotion is their Tahiti, Sweetie cream...I use it all summer long and during the winter months, I count down the days until it's okay to smell all tropical again. I'm often tempted to ingest their antibacterial foam hand soaps while washing my hands (Grapefruit, Coconut Lime Verbena, etc.). I once did get some in my mouth on accident, though, and they don't taste nearly as good as they smell. It actually tasted horrible. All of the products that I have tried are simply fabulous. Only problem with this place is they're really good at luring you in with sales and the likes thereof.
• Costco: I don't really think that this one needs much explanation. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank them for carrying boneless leg of lamb, really high-quality salmon, fatty loaves of Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese, fun seasonal stuff (mainly Christmas and yard items), and those fantastic cook-em-yourself torillas. Oh - and most importantly, for adding those insanely delicioso braided apple strudels to their bakery selection. My thighs will never be the same. Other than my deep appreciation, all I can say is these two words: black hole (see previous post about Costco here).
• Gayle's: If you've followed my blog to any extent, you just might have noticed that I kinda like this place. And their Princess Cake (their description: three layers of vanilla genoise cake ~ layers of pastry cream, raspberry jam & whipped cream inside ~ pastel marzipan shell outside ~ sprinkled with powdered sugar ~ topped with a fresh rose. Hang on...I just started drooling. Gayle's is a darling bakery and rosticceria in Capitola, CA. Darling because of it's mis-matched chairs and vintage decor. Darling because of its brick patio. Darling because every last little morsel of food that they make is worth every last penny. Not only have they blessed this world with their Princess Cake, they also whip up tasty downtowners with sugar, perfect fresh fruit tarts, chocolate mousse, apricot croissants, hot meals (pastas, chicken, ribs, etc.), sandwiches, salads, and let us not forget, super delicious breads. Yes, you can almost break the bank in one visit (especially if you purchase a whole cake to take home). And yes, you should abstain from eating there more often than one a month for fear of gaining 50 pounds from devouring their garlic bread alone. But let me tell you...after noshing on Gayle's goodies, you'll not only be willing to gain weigh from eating there, you may well want to do so. Mmmmmmm.
• Target: I still remember the 1st time I ever heard the name of this store. My best friend Kim got a new CD player for a fabulous price and upon asking her where she got such a deal, her response was, "My mom got it at Target." I had no idea what Target was or where it was. Now I know what and where it is and there is absolutely no chance of turning back. I love Target. Very much. Especially our local Super Target. I could wander their aisles for hours on end (and I may or may not have actually done so a time or two). Cute kids clothes and shoes, home decor, toiletries, groceries, toys, entertainment...you name it, it's really quite possible that they've got it. I would explain my love for Target further but I'm fairly certain that all 6 of you who read my blog know exactly what I'm saying.
• Williams-Sonoma: Like Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma has a special place in my heart, in my kitchen, and in our magazine basket. Their catalogs are totally fantastic. They make me want to leave my very comfy life as a perfectly happy mother, wife, and cook, and instantly become filthy rich so I can purchase every last thing they dangle in front of me. I only have a handful of their items gracing my kitchen...just my all-time favorite mixing bowls, a super awesome drip-less turkey baster, some really cute colored rubber scrapers, my favorite rooster bowls (the black and white rooster is the only one I don't totally love - when I serve in these bowls, I always make sure I end up with one of the others), a number of dishcloths and dish towels, my favorite Italian serving platter and shallow bowl, and a few other things. This really doesn't sound like "a handful" but compared to how many items I would purchase if I had cash to burn, it's nothing.
• Expressionary: I can't recall how I stumbled upon this website but I really truly love it. I discovered their darling stationary just prior to having Claire and had a field day picking out note cards and personalizing them with her name. Some of the things they offer are fairly cheesy (though deep down inside I really do wish someone would get me the Maltese Folded Notes) but for the most part, I simply can't get enough of their folded notes, address labels, etc. If you're tempted to get something from them, just hold your horses and consider this: coupon codes. Get on the company's e-mail list and you'll get super marvy offers from time to time like 70% off clearance items...I seriously made out like a bandit just after the New Year with that one.
• Old Navy: Being on the tall side, I love shopping here for their special "tall" sizes. Extra length in the sleeves and body and a really fantastic 36 inch inseam on pants/jeans. I am not too freakishly tall but I do have uber-long legs. I'm only 5'9" but I have about a 34 inch inseam. If I buy pants with this measurement and they shrink up much, they become floods. Very stylish back in the '80s. But we're about 20-30 years past that style and I thank Old Navy for providing me with pants and t-shirts that are nice and long.

Honestly, I could probably add another 4 or 5 of my favorite spending haunts to this list. But I've rambled on long enough, my fingers are tired, and I have things to do...now will someone please pass my wallet?

BUMMER!

As has happened in times past, I have a serious case of writer's block right now and have for a while (hence my cheatin' by simply providing a link to something amusing from Bob Costas/Jimmy Fallon for my last post). At this particular moment, I kind of feel like complaining a bit. So tonight, I give you another list:

THINGS THAT ARE "BUMMERS" TO ME THIS EVENING

• Winter-like weather doesn't end up here until somewhere around mid to late April. In the meantime, the possibility of spring will continue to tease me with warm-ish weather days between spurts of days with snow and slush.
• I have at least 4 loads of laundry upstairs waiting to be folded.
• I have at least 2 more loads of laundry upstairs waiting to be washed, dried, and folded.
• One half of my favorite pair of black slip-on flats sustained an injury while we were in Southern California and I'm not sure that it's repairable.
• The heavy snow we got this afternoon (that is still coming down) has wiped out our satellite reception for the time being.
• Without our beloved DirecTV working, TiVo can't record American Idol and we're probably going to miss Grey's, too.
• I've had a headache almost every day for well over a week. I'm pretty sure that it's due to my going to bed too late each night but I don't really feel like changing that right now.
• My kitchen floor needs a good sweeping and mopping and my imaginary maid doesn't really exist.
• I'm afraid I might have unintentionally offended someone...they have hardly made any kind of effort in our relationship in some time but I can't figure out what I did or decide if I should approach this person about it.
• My skin is suddenly ultra-dry...again. It seemed like it was okay for a month or so and has gone back to its ugly, crackly ways.
• I am approximately 2 1/2 years behind in my scrapbooking/photo books. Haven't done anything for Hudson since he turned 3 and haven't even started on Claire.
• My deaf ear is really annoying. It's frustrating when I can't pick out a sound or voice like I used to and when I forget that I lost my hearing on that side (like when I try to switch ears on the phone or cover that ear to block out excess noise).
• I just cleaned the upstairs bathrooms three days ago and they already look like I haven't done so in weeks.
• I can't find my brown-tone framed glasses. Been missing for weeks (months?) and while I remember seeing the case, I can't find it or the specs for the life of me.
• Lastly, I don't have a Princess Cake from Gayle's sitting in my fridge upstairs...and if I did, eating a slice would most certainly make everything else listed above seem okay.

Okay, I'm done. I promise my next post won't be such a bummer to read.

LIST: Things I Was Never Going To Do As A Parent

I'm a hypocrite. A super guilty hypocrite who has eaten her own words many times. Years ago, before I had children (and even after I did), I would say things like, "I can't believe that a parent would _______!" or "I won't ever ______ when I'm a mom." Riiiiiigggght. Time for me to provide you with what a whopping three of you asked for. I'm sure I'm going to forget some things but here is a list (complete with condemning stories) of:

THINGS I SAID I'D NEVER DO AS A PARENT AND HAVE TOTALLY DONE (OR DO)

Forget to buckle my child in or fail to secure their car seat...

Once, when Hudson was only a couple of months old, we went to visit my parents. My mom and I went to the store, taking Mini Max with us. Upon finishing our errands, I put his infant carrier (into which he was strapped) in the backseat and off we went. When we got back to the house, I was horrified to find that being in the habit of just "clicking" the seat into its base, I had just set the carrier on the backseat and failed to buckle it in. Oops. I never pulled that number again (with him or Claire) but I have failed to buckle up Hudson a couple of times (one time I didn't realize it and he didn't tell me until we were doing 70 on the freeway) and I did the same with Claire once a month or two ago. Thankfully, she was kind enough to alert me before we got out of the garage.

Give my child a "dirty" pacifier off the floor...

Never had this problem with Claire (thumbs are wonderful things!) but Hudson LOVED his passies. In the beginning we were good about getting him a clean one or washing the fallen passy if he dropped it. But after about 3 times of dealing with that malarkey, we went with the 20 Minute Rule which includes such handy guidelines as:

• "If you only noticed it on the floor recently, then it couldn't have been there long."
• "When no other/clean pacifiers are within an arm's reach, the parent is obliged to use what is in front of them."
• "If there isn't any visible dog hair or dirt on it, it's clean!"
• "Licking the passy off yourself before giving it to your infant completely decontaminates it."

As far as I know, he never contracted any horrible diseases from this practice. He may have, but we're going to live in ignorant bliss on this one.

Use that whole silly "time out" system...

I think we lasted about a year - maybe 18 months? - on this one. Hudson was pretty easy going as an infant and didn't really have a lot of behavioral issues. But once he started with a bit of an attitude and the likes thereof, we immediately designated a time out spot in our kitchen. Always has been the main spot and probably always will be. We used (and still use) it with Hudson and it has become and sweet second home for Claire as well.

Let my child eat chicken nuggets and the likes thereof...

I totally stuck to my guns on this one with Hudson. He probably had a total of 3 Happy Meals in his first 3 years of life. He was happy to try anything once and liked all the good stuff - fruits, veggies, salmon, chicken & steak, etc. Then came Claire. She's the polar opposite of her brother when it comes to food. She won't try much of anything. She can love something the 1st time she eats it and then refuse to touch it ever again. Her diet consists of fruits, a handful of veggies, dairy products (yogurt, milk, cheese), and breads/grains. Sure, those things are all fantastic, but she is apparently making a go at being a vegetarian of sorts. The only dishes that she'll eat that have meat in them are: spaghetti or ravioli with meat marinara sauce, chicken and rice casserole, and chicken nuggets. No, the first two aren't all that horrible but unfortunately, she goes in phases with both of them. Chicken nuggets are the only "meat" product that she'll consistently eat. And that being the case, my 2-year-old daughter has had more Happy Meals and chicken nuggets in her life than her 5-year-old brother has had in his.

Allow my child to sleep in my bed...

To say the very least, Hudson was a rotten sleeper as an infant and toddler. At least when it came to snoozing in his crib. In the car? No problem. In our arms at church? Great! But he acted like his crib was some sort of a torture device and it seemed that no matter how many times we tried to "train" him to sleep well, the training would unravel within a few days and he was back to getting up a number of times each night. There were times when he was literally up 13-15 times. This was not exactly conducive to my getting the sleep that I needed each night. He didn't sleep in our bed all the time, but it was very much the norm for him to end up between us for a stint in the early morning hours or for the last hour or two before we had to get up in the morning. Allowing him to sleep in between us may not have been the best way to teach him a lesson (yeah...he kind of won on that one) but it allowed us some much needed rest on a regular basis.

One final note on this matter - I would like to thank Claire for not ever wanting to sleep in our bed and for being a better sleeper than her older brother. Hudson was still getting up in the night at age 3 1/2 when she started sleeping through the night around 2 months. She loved her crib and she loves her bed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Use the television or movies/DVD's as a babysitter...

No need for much of an explanation on this one. I cannot tell you how many times sitting my child (or children) in front of the t.v. has allowed me one of the following:

• a shower
• time to make a meal
• a chance to clean
• my sanity

Enough said. And if any of you claims that you haven't ever done the same, you're totally lying.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I know that there are other things that I've done in a very hypocritical manner but nothing is jumping out at me at the moment. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and make sure that my daughter is enjoying her movie...

I'M THANKFUL FOR...(PART IV)

I've been way behind on posting the past week or so and I realized today that there isn't much time left for my Thankful Lists before the holiday hits this week. My list today is filled with some of the intangibles in my life.

I'M THANKFUL FOR...(PART IV)

• A husband who works and provides for us so that I can stay home with the kids.
• When Hudson says, "I love you, Claire." He says it on his own and so sincerely...melts my heart every time!
• Claire's thumb-sucking habit. I know it can cause problems or be difficult to break down the line but it's just so stinking cute!
• My "job" as a mom.
• That both of my kids love to hug and cuddle/snuggle.
• The days that my kids have a really hard time or I don't cope as well as I should. They make me realize how great I have it!
• The end of each evening when I really relax as I climb in bed and read before going to sleep.
• Seeing my husband interact with his daughter. Before Claire was born, Max said he'd never have a "Daddy's girl". He is gladly proven wrong on a daily basis.
• Nights when both of my kids sleep through and/or don't get up until after 7:00 in the morning.
• When either of my kids comes to me and completely unprompted tells me that they love me.
• The way Claire squeals, "Mommy!" and comes running to me with her arms out when she hasn't seen me for a little bit. It can be a quick trip to the market or a half-day away but t's the same every time.
• That my husband not only takes care of the yard but loves doing it. He's a perfectionist when it comes to that and I get to benefit from it!
• When Claire shouts out, "Great job, Huds!" when he's playing a game on the Wii.
• The knowledge that both my children and my husband love me in spite of my many faults and the times that I let them down.
• Hearing my kids call out, "Daddy! Daddy!" or "Daddy's home!" when Max's car pulls into the garage each day.
• Seeing my children becoming good friends...they've really started to enjoy playing together recently.
• The rare occasion that I get to take a little nap.
• The "mommy" phase that Hudson is going through. I think it may be due to his being sick lately but he has asked for "mommy time" almost every evening and wants to fall asleep with me next to him.
• Claire's fake or over-exaggerated laugh...the best way that I can describe it is to say it sounds like some sort of a parrot-monkey. I smile every time I hear it.
• The opportunity I have to take care of and spend time with my two amazing children each day.
• The realization of how much my parents love me and how much they have done and continue to do for me...something that no one fully understands unless or until they have children of their own.

I'll try to get one more "thankful" list posted before the big day on Thursday...

I'M THANKFUL FOR... PART III

Over the past week, I found that it was impossible to sit here and think of things I'm grateful for without the names of various vittles going through my mind. I have to say that my "one word" list was especially hard in this regard. But this time around, I'm going to let my love for food show (as if my thighs aren't proof enough). And in the end, I'll probably be embarrassed. Because chances are, this list is going to be the longest.

I'M THANKFUL FOR...

(PART III)

• Chocolate...milk or dark. Don't care which it is. I'll even take white. Just give me some.
• Marzipan.
• My mom's applesauce whole wheat bread and whole wheat raisin bread. I would gladly eat a slice of either (or both) every day for the rest of my life.
• Artichokes.
• Steamed or cooked carrots. And it doesn't hurt if they're bathed in a mixture of butter, brown sugar, and fresh ground black pepper.
• Seafood. Too general? How's this:
• - calamari
• - salmon
• - shrimp
• - mussels
• - Ahi tuna
• - halibut
• - scallops
• - crab
• - mahi mahi/dorado
• - ono
• - swordfish
• - clams
• - prawns
• - onaga/red snapper
• Princess Cake from Gayle's Bakery in Capitola. Marzipan, raspberry filling, fresh whipped heavy ream, and white cake. I just might have mentioned this treat and its glorious goodness in a previous post or two. Just might.
• Gayle's garlic bread.
• Lamb with apple mint jelly. My favorites are lamb chops and grilled boneless leg of lamb.
• Cardamom bread.
• A home-grilled burger "my way": with Mom B's marinated red onions, fresh avocado, sharp cheddar, lettuce, Clausen kosher dill pickle slices, ketchup, and mayo. It's a bit too tall to eat in a dignified manner but so yummy!
• A good lasagna or spaghetti.
• Frosted pumpkin cookies (either my homemade ones or Harvest Moons from Icing on the Cake).
• My dad's made-from-scratch chocolate mousse.
• Bratwurst with sauerkraut.
• One word: BUTTER.
• Home canned fruit - especially peaches, cherries, and apricots.
• Chocolate Showers ice cream from Loard's.
• Lettuce for a salad...iceberg, Romaine, butter, red leaf, bibb, field greens, etc. You name it - I probably like it.
• Roasted turkey with cranberry sauce.
• Cheese. Lots of cheese. Sharp cheddar, blue cheese, fresh mozzarella, brie, Gorgonzola, fresh Parmesan (the powdered stuff is a culinary sin!), goat cheese, port salut... Cheese is one of those things that makes the world go 'round.
• Brophy Brothers clam chowder. If you're ever in Santa Barbara, it's an absolute MUST!
• Asparagus.
• Breakfast foods. I love thin pancakes, French toast, crepes, waffles, etc.
• Peiking duck complete with plum sauce, green onions, and those slightly sweet "pancakes".
• A good pastry. This statement envelopes approximately 12,294 individual items. Figured I spare you that list.
• Fresh fruit - melons, peaches, berries, apples, citrus, pineapple, and so on and so forth.
• Perfectly cooked or grilled steak (aka medium rare or medium).
• Potatoes...preferably baked or mashed.
• Anything from Normandie Cafe & Bakery in Holladay.
• My in-laws recipe for ham. There's no exact science to it but man, it is tays-tee!
• Chicken Supremes. Huh? It's a most fabulous french dish that we kids made my mom make on our birthdays almost every year. Why is it so great? Four words: lemon parsley butter sauce.
• Homemade lemon bars.
• Reduced fat peanut butter (Skippy or Jif).
• Celery or Fuji apples with said peanut butter.
• Leila Randall's Pumpkin Pie Squares. It's a recipe we had in my family when I was growing up (Leila was an older lady in our stake/church back home) and it's a favorite 'round here, too. Max is the world's #1 pumpkin pie fan and he likes this...better! Recipe will follow soon.
• Root beer. No better drink to match with pizza or a home-grilled burger.
• Real sourdough bread.
• Apricot filled shortbread. Such buttery awesomeness should be illegal!
• Homemade caramels.

Honestly, the list could very easily go on. But I'll let you get back to your life and spare myself from wanting to run upstairs and make everything on the list (or hop in the car or on a plane and go buy it).

P.S. Annie...am I forgetting anything? ;)