Snow Days!

The past 2 days have been very snowy here.  Because I don't like to head out with the kids in inclement weather, we stayed close to home.  Well except Gracie's ballet class, which we would never miss.

Grace worked on some art projects.

Elephant puppet!

Cow puppet!

We made some granola.  I used a recipe from another blog, but I adjusted the ingredients to make it much lighter.

Step 1: Gather the ingredients.

You need all this stuff (4 cups oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/3c canola/vegetable oil,  3/4c raisins, 1c nuts, 3/4c crasins, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 2c coconut, whatever else you want to throw in.)

Step 2. Take a series of photos of your sweet daughter posing for the camera.

Don't tell dad we were using his iPad!

Step 3: Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately.

Step 4: Then combine them.

Step 5: Spread on a baking sheet and bake in a 325 degree oven for about 40 minutes, stir frequently. 

Step 6: Package it up and give it away.  If you don't, you will find yourself  standing over the tupperware container with a spoon in the bowl.  Shoveling it in your mouth.  Over and over. Until your tummy hurts.

After Andrew's nap on Monday, we headed outside to enjoy the snow.  Here is Andrew sitting in the sled the Darnieder kids enjoyed when we were little.

Here is Grace after she was told that she is too heavy for the sled.

Then we took a walk around the block.  It took FOREVER with little baby Andrew tagging along and falling down frequently.

Our lucky neighbors got a part of their sidewalk shoveled by Gracie.

Then I headed home and made mexican soup (I don't know what else to call it.  Can't call it tortilla soup since there were no tortillas). 

Check out my le creuset new dutch oven.  Just when I thought I had stolen everything I possibly could from my parents, I remembered their old set of cookware that was stashed in the basement. 

 It is awesome 70s vintage...the color fades from red to orange.

(Amy, I know you had mentioned you wanted this set.  Too bad.  Just kidding.  You can have it back whenever.  But I am not paying for shipping.  This stuff is heavy.)

Disney World! Other random stuff

This is my last post on Disney and includes somewhat random thoughts. 

One of Grace's favorites was going to Minnie's house.  It was this super cute house the kids could walk through, play with her things and sit on her furniture.

Then she went to meet Minnie.  She waiting in line with Dad but then was too scared to actually meet her.

On the first day, on our way out we caught a parade down main street.

Grace and I enjoying cotton candy.  I bribed her with this so we wouldn't have to wait in the hour long line to meet the fairies.

I told you we did everything at the Magic Kingdom, right?  Even this thing.

Grace was so good and didn't ask for a lot of stuff.  When I told her we were not going to get this doll, she just asked if she could get a picture with it. 

We caught a show where all the Princesses and Prince Charmings were dancing and singing in front of the Disney Castle. 

Andrew came on this trip too.

Here he is suggesting something to me that I find shocking.

Andrew was very into pointing at everything.

Being cool with dad.

'Tis the Season - Christmas Eve Recap

During the day on Christmas Eve the Kowalskis came over to visit and Andrew had fun with William.  Grace loves her new Cinderella doll.

Check out Andrew dressed for church...he was ready to go!

Andrew's Christmas Eve feast consisted of pretzels.

Look at the knee fat!

Grace enjoying the fire with Cinderella.

Grace with her new camera.  This was the gift she chose to bring to her first show and tell after Christmas.

I hosted Christmas Eve dinner but Katie and Brad did half the cooking.  Here they are stirring the butter.

Uncle Markie charming the children with his fancy blackberry.

Grace, in an attempt to ensure all members of her family can pose, is demonstrating for Mikey.

Attempt at a Scanlon family group shot...Everyone look at the camera!  Mikey get on Kevin's lap!  Kevin stop crushing your mom! Yoo hoo Gracie!  Oh well, we tried.

Mikey explaining something to Gracie.

Uncle Markie charming the children again by putting something down his shirt.  He claims this trick works on the ladies too.

Amy, Justin, and Mark observing the chaos. 

Grace's Artwork: Princess Series

Last week Grace brought home a stack of artwork.  All very similar. 

She has given me the titles for all of them.

"Cinderella"

"Belle"

"Jasmine"

"Sleeping Beauty"

"Mulan with the Letter G and Gracie's NAME!"

"Mulan"

As all great artist go through phases in their work, I believe Grace is currently in her "Angry Princess" phase.

*I have Grace's permission to share these, please do not reproduce.



If it ain't broke, don't fix it

Every year I am thrilled when all the Christmas paraphernalia gets marked 75% off and space is made on those shelves at your local grocery stores and Walgreens for ..... Necco Candy Hearts!!!!

Yesterday, I stopped at Walgreens and was thrilled to see them sitting there, waiting to be bought. And taken home.  And loved. 

At first I grabbed a small bag. Then I thought, "Who am I kidding?" and grabbed the 1 pounder.

I exercised a great deal of self control and waited a few hours to crack the bag open. Granted I am not sure what purpose that served, maybe I was just challenging myself.  Anyways, I grabbed a pink heart, popped it in my mouth and headed back to work.

As I was sitting there I realized, something tasted funny. Different. Just not right. You see the pink ones are my very favorite (followed by white, then purple, then green, then orange and finally the yellow - which are kind of gross but I would still eat them), so I know exactly how they should taste. 

By the way, did I mention I like candy?  I do.

So I went to grab a white one, because surely they couldn't change that minty formula. Well there were no whites to be found! Only this weird, new blue color.

Then, well I cannot really describe what happened, but I felt utter and profound disappointment. I was mad, yes, but I also felt a bit betrayed.

Don't they know how hard I tried to get my hands on these in July so I could have them at my wedding?

Don't they understand how everyone's best memories of Valentine's Day are when you open up a valentine and find a few of these little hearts in the envelope?

I took a look at the bag again...I didn't appear to buy some new variation on candy hearts (ie. wildberry skittles or peanut m&ms). These are just the basic candy hearts.  Hmmm....then I notice they tried to hide this from us by getting rid of the little see through window on the front of the bag!  Sneaky.

I flip the bag over and see that yellow is now lemon flavor and the blue is blue raspberry.  I am getting upset.  Mad.  Why are they trying to make these taste like fruit?

Then I see the little quip on the front "The Official Candy of Love" Whatever.  Not anymore.

I am hoping that this is just a mix up and the real ones are just not in stock yet. Or maybe Necco is trying to scare us, you know, to make us all appreciate the originals a little more? I am keeping my fingers crossed.

(For those of you who are still reading you really must not have anything else to do, huh?)

When I told Kevin about this he said 2 things:
1. Calm down.
2. I will get you some chalk to eat instead.

I am off to enjoy a glass of wine and a tootsie roll. If some high-up, big-time, all-powerful candy exec gets any ideas about changing the tootsie roll....well lets not even go there.

Go Pack Go!

This past Sunday, while Kevin was at the game, the kids and I watched the game.  They really got into it.

Grace showed her excitement by making toys to show the team.....

and doing various dance moves....

 and throwing candy at the players ("so they will have the energy to win")....

Andrew showed his love for the green and gold by drooling. A lot.