Elizabeth from my childbirth class showed me the Learning Tower, a cool way for kids to help out in the kitchen. I think the idea is fabulous, but logistically fitting the thing in the kitchen may be somewhat difficult.
The platform is large enough for two kids and even comes with an easel attachment for art time.
With a hefty price tag of around $190, the price is a little steep, but I have found some DIY instructions online here and here.
…walking around our neighborhood.
…picking up a book I had on hold was (finally) in at the library.
…scoring some board books to try and a couple of interesting looking DVDs.
…chatting with a mom I know.
…stopping at the bank.
…dropping mail off at the library.
…picking up mail.
…finding ourselves alone at the park.
…swinging high and low.
…getting dirty.
…walking home through the alley.
…stomping our feet in puddles.
…Haven walking three blocks home.
…putting on clean clothes.
…soup for lunch.
…snuggles before naptime.
…spending naptime on the computer.
…watching hockey.
Laundry can wait. We can figure out dinner later. The house can stay dirty. I’m going to get a cup of hot tea.
We were in a Mardi Gras mood last week, dragging out the beads and cooking our favorite Cajun dishes. Which of the following dishes was absent from our celebrations.
a. Gumbo
b. Jambalaya
c. Red Beans and Rice
d. Shrimp Po Boys
The answer to last week’s question is….
b. watches
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 tsp salt (optional)
1 cup milk
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter. Sprinkle the flour over it and stir to incorporate. Cook over medium low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in the milk.
Variations:
Cream of Chicken - If you want to make a cream of chicken flavored sauce, use half broth and half milk. If you have troubles getting this to be smooth, try heating the milk or broth before adding to the flour and butter. Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat, barely simmering, for a few minutes until thick.
Cheese sauce - To make a cheese sauce, add grated cheese and stir until melted.
Cream of Celery, Mushrooms or Onion - To make a cream of something, saute 1/4 cup or so finely chopped celery, mushrooms, or onion in the butter before adding the flour and use half broth and half milk.
Recipe found on Cheap Cooking.
Haven regularly looks to see if we are wearing:
a. underwear
b. watches
c. socks
d. our wedding rings
The answer to last week’s question is….
a.
But, the Google commercial was a close, CLOSE second.
The midwife that delivered Haven (I talked about Wendy before) is heading back to Haiti working with Midwives for Haiti. Here’s a video about her efforts, where you can see Wendy in action. Want to help? A donation of $250-$300 can pay for a midwife’s salary for a MONTH.
My favorite Superbowl commercial was….
a. Milk-A-What?
b. Parisian Google
c. Betty White
d. Play Nice
The answer to last week’s question is….
d. Ordered a cake from Charm City Cakes, the bakery featured on the show, Ace of Cakes.
For the record, Kimberly’s ADORING husband did reserve the banquet space at the restaurant Zaytinya, but it did not require the preparation that the cake did. And, Kimberly did not have family members arrive from overseas, nor is she in the running for a reality show. But, that could have changed after her long birthday weekend in Vegas…
Late Friday morning the snow started, but it wasn’t until the middle of the afternoon that it really started to stick.
Saturday was a different story. The snow began to taper late in the afternoon, so we went to shovel the sidewalks, dig the truck out of the snow, clear off the camper and dust the snow off the Leland Cypresses while Haven was sleeping.
Sunday afternoon we headed out with the dogs and Haven. We chatted with the neighbors while hanging out in the middle of the streets. Even after a busted lip, Haven really seemed to enjoy herself. While Matt dug the car out, Haven explored up and down the sidewalks. With the snow as high as it is, we really didn’t have to worry about her heading into the street…snow makes great baby gates! Before heading inside we built a snowman and named him Herbert. While Haven was napping we watched as this nut in a Toyota Prius tried to navigate through the snow. Lucky for him some neighbors with shovels came to the rescue.
This morning we checked on Herbert. Looks like he might have celebrated too much after the Superbowl, because he’s looking a little tipsy. We had no idea he was a Saints fan! Early this afternoon Haven and I headed out to the post office to mail a package. I headed for the main drag, hoping for cleared sidewalks, but many weren’t cleared or had a path too narrow to fit the wagon. The wagon surprised me and was fairly easy to navigate through the snow, ice, slush and puddles.
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
The Circle Game, by Joni Mitchell
The circle game. The highs, the lows, the ups, the downs, the good, the bad. We are all players, but it’s different when it’s your turn to be on the sidelines watch the game from the bench.
Last night Matt’s great aunt died…This week my cousin became an aunt for the first time…Yesterday I found out a friend is pregnant (adding to the list of a million babies I know being born in 2010)…One relationship is flailing…Another relationships is thriving…A friend must decide whether or not to take a once-in-a-lifetime job, which will mean making personal sacrifices as well as family sacrifices.
It’s not easy, going through this circle game of life. We can only huddle together, choose defense or offense, help each other determine what’s the next play, only to get knocked back down again, then we pick ourselves up, dust each other off and do it all over again. Play after play after play. And, every now and then we give each other pats on the back and revel in the moment. Which makes it all worth playing.
As seen on Tangled and True. Wedding by Amorology Weddings. Photography by Jamie Hammond. I suggest checking out all of the pictures from this wedding!
My friend, Kimberly, turned the big 3-0 this weekend with a SURPRISE! birthday party by her adoring husband who started planning the big event a year ago! What was the first thing he worked on in preparation of her big day?
a. Reserved the banquet space at the restaurant Zaytinya. (Executive Chef Michael Isabella, was featured on Season 6 of the show Top Chef.)
b. Coordinated with family members, who live abroad, to come in for the special occasion.
c. Began negotiations with a major cable television show about doing a Vegan reality show.
d. Ordered a cake from Charm City Cakes, the bakery featured on the show, Ace of Cakes.
The answer to last week’s question is….
b. Axel F, by Crazy Frog