The One Where I Cook Dinner

It's shocking, I know. I don't cook too much but I did tonight. I made Baked Potato Soup with Cornbread and Honey Butter- (half honey, half butter.) Yum. I didn't have sour cream so I left it out (well, I did have some it had been opened and expired about a month ago so I decided to throw it out.) I about doubled the amount of cheese and bacon. I also used half and half and skim milk because that's what I had. And although I had the Parsley sitting out ready to be chopped, I forgot it. I didn't miss it though.

The One Where We Start Here And End At Eternity

What do you get when you combine 1 ornery dad, 1 hyper 5-year-old, 1 grumpy-I-need-a-nap 6-month-old and 1 mom who wants to take some family photos, herself?

It's interesting but over the last year I have become more and more intolerable with those photo places at the mall, department store, whatever. The photographers aren't actual photographers and they don't do what I want. (I think the last straw was when I was with my sisters and mom and we went here for pictures. They were bad. Not cute. Not purchasable. And the whole event was a fiasco with kids not wanting to cooperate and crying babies, blah, blah, blah...) I want my pictures to look real - real life - me and my boys - our family. I want to maintain complete creative control. So, with my little back-pocket camera with a self-timer and a tripod, we ventured out. There was some whining, complaining, yelling, and many "this is taking too long." But Zach and Eli did great! The verdict? I need a new camera - a real one this time. And a new tripod. I already have my next location picked out for when I have real equipment. I would have gone there this time but I want Eli to walk for that place. And I'm not telling where I want to go next time because then you might steal my idea and then I would feel angry and mad at you. And I'm thinking it would be so much easier to have my sister come out and take them. And how much would it take to bribe Jason to pretend like he's having a good time? (Probably a lot. A whole lot.)

The quality on here isn't very good and I need to do some more photoshopping. But you get the idea. Anyway,this is what you get:

PS. I'd love to hear what kind of "real" camera you have and why you love or hate it. Christmas is coming and I need to upgrade. (Real means not a small little portable one but one that you can do lots of different things with and change the lens and so on.)

The One Where Zach Makes Cookies With Mom

I went to the store the other day and I must have been in a good mood. I decided to buy some Halloween cookie cutters, sprinkles and food coloring that Zach was wanting the last time we were there. Today we had lots of fun making and decorating cookies. We made ghosts, pumpkins and cats. Zach also found a star cutter and had to make some stars as well. He loves to roll out the dough and push the cutters in it.

These are a few that I made:
Zach made two for himself and two for his daddy. Then he made a couple more for the little girl next door.
I'm not sure why, I but I have always enjoyed buying holiday paper plates for Zach. I think they're fun and somehow make eating a little more enjoyable when you're five. And Zach and I loved these skull plates.

The One Where I Grill Pizza

I made yummy pizza tonight. Jason told me that this is the best homemade pizza he has ever had. I grilled it on my fantastic Weber grill (I got it this past July - happy birthday to me!) I start with homemade pizza dough. Let it rise a little in the fridge so it's cold. Crank up the grill nice and hot. The dough gets formed, sprayed with olive oil and thrown onto the grill. Cook for a minute, flip and add toppings. Cook until the cheese melts. I grilled the chicken yesterday with Mesquite seasoning. I used bbq sauce for Jason, pesto for me and tomato sauce for Zach. I added green peppers and mozzerella. With the plain bread I spread a little butter on it and we eat it like breadsticks. Yummy!

A close up while it cooks.

Ready to serve.

The One Where I Find Great Websites

Conduct Happiness:
Hilarious "Pea" Tees
Today is Fun:
A daily idea to entertain your kids.
Crazy 8:
Clothes for kids and babies by the Gymboree people, but cheaper.
Blurb Books:
Make your own soft or hardcover books. Pictures of your kids, a vacation, a cookbook, whatever! Think Christmas, Mother's Day gifts??
Scholastic Store:
Fun toys, books and other kid stuff.
Retail Me Not:
Find coupons, online shopping coupon codes and shopping tips for your favorite stores.

The One Where He Is Found Guilty

Have you heard? Last night OJ Simpson was found guilty on all 12 charges relating to the debacle in Las Vegas. Exactly 13 years after being acquitted for the double murder. 13 years to the day. I called my mom last night about it. Of course she was watching the news she said. The verdict interrupted regular programming. (She lives in Vegas.)

The One Where Fall Has Arrived

What is it about the Midwest that one day you have the AC going and the next you need the heat? I don't know. But I love it when it starts to get chilly because I get to start wearing my jackets and sweaters. (I like it for about a month. And then I start pining for a California beach in July.) Some day I will have so much money that I will be able to get a whole new wardrobe every season, every year. That wouldn't be a complete waste of money at all. These are a few things that I want now.

I like this because it's short sleeved - all these are short sleeved. I get hot so I hate having really hot layers and I hate taking off layers when I get somewhere and then have to haul it around, like when shopping or whatever. This one you can wear open or tie in the front.This one is cashmere. Aaah, cashmere. "Cash"mere.I like this one because it's ruched. I just like to say ruche. Try it. But don't just say it all boring-like. Roll the 'r' and say it like you mean it. Rrr-uue-shhh. See? That's fun.And I really like blazers and nice little jackets but I find them so uncomfortable. They hardly move with you and when you're trying to comfort the baby while finding a burp-cloth and grabbing your 5 year old away from whatever and answering your phone while driving in the car - don't hit the old, crazy man crossing in the middle of the road, against the light (I live by two old-folks' homes, you know)... It's just not a multitasking clothing item.