Two-Thousand and Ten

Happy New Year!

Funny Faces

Looking through some pictures from the last few months I made a realization. I give dirty looks without even trying.

I was actually just very intensely listening to what they had to say. Brandon needed that fort to be built just right, I needed to make sure the foundation was secure. Mikayla needed to know when she would get to hold baby Dustin, my job was to find out! So, while at first glance these look like I am making a funny face towards my beautiful niece and nephew... I am not!

It is still December?

It feels like once Christmas has passed, so should December. Or at least we should not have to work. Just a thought.

Our Christmas was great, and Maddy had a fantastic time. A few days before Christmas though I lost a very dear friend. She was someone who I had once called my best friend and only because of time and the riggers of life did we part ways. I saw her Sunday though. Her nails were perfectly painted, and her hair blown dry with make-up just so. She had a pretty blue sweater on and looked like the person I knew back before life took its toll. When I saw her Sunday, I finally saw her still- at peace.

Merry Christmas!

Santa's Message to Madelyn

P.S.

Want to have a little Christmas chuckle?

Head on over here: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/12/total-flakes.html

Candy and Door Openers

Guess what we have on Lucille Ave?

Yes an automatic garage door opener! Sometimes I get to use it (if Ray allows... hehe) and I have come to learn that it is what every New Englander needs! 38 degree mornings are nothing when your car is nicely nestled inside your house!

The door opener and (clean gutters) are all thanks to Papa (and Daddy)... They must have spent 8+ hours a few weekends ago getting the ranch ready for Winter. Maddy and mommy watched cartoons and took naps!

Over the course of this last 6 or so months that we have been homeowners there have been many "discoveries." One of these recent uncoverings was that UPS comes in the middle of night, kind of like Santa- only brown. We have not figured out why, or at what time exactly they arrive but at 9 when we go to bed our porch is empty and in the morning it has wonderful packages. I'm not complaining though- this Sunday morning we found a box full of candy from Grandpa and Grandma Wilson. A bounty of Lindt and Andes chocolates... UPS can drop off packages in my bath tub for all I care- if they are filled with candy.

Recipes for Me... and you.

Sometimes I come across a food item (*clears throat* Wheat Thins) and/or recipe that I simply must have at least once a week for several weeks. This is "my" new dish.

Ingredients:
¾ cup of Pine Nuts
1 box of Farfalle Pasta
4 cloves of Garlic- minced
½ cup Olive Oil
1 cup Spinach- cut ends.
½ cup Golden Raisins
½ lb of Prosciutto
½ cup Romano Cheese
Pepper

Toast pine nuts over medium heat until brown.

Cook Farfalle pasta in boiling water until el dente.
Drain pasta.

Sauté garlic in oil over medium heat until fragrant, add spinach. Toss until spinach is wilted.

Add raisins to boiling water, cook for 10-minutes until plump. Drain.

Slice prosciutto.

Combine pine nuts, pasta, spinach mixture, raisins, and prosciutto into a large bowl. Mix with Romano cheese and pepper.

Serve Hot.

Christmas on Lucille Avenue

Here is our Christmas.

Presents Are Fun... Wrapping, not so much.

Yesterday before daddy got home from work Maddy and I decided to wrap the presents that Santa and his reindeer had dropped off the day before for her Daddy. I was very excited at the prospect of wrapping presents with my sweet little daughter- giddy as Christmas spirit burst from every seam. I had pulled all necessities for a Christmas wrapping event down from the closet- everything set-up so we could get started- tape, check. paper, check. tags (that Grandma had sent- which is awesome because they are something that I never remember to purchase,) check. scissors, check. I rolled out the first roll and started to measure so I could meticulously cut a piece out and wrap each gift... perfectly for daddy. Once everything was lined up the fun had to end.... or start if you would like to look at it through Maddy's baby blues. She proceeded to thump and bump, trance and dance all over my freshly rolled out wrapping paper. We then played hide the tape and scare mommy with the scissors until all the gifts were clumsily wrapped in tree decorated paper. There was tape everywhere and tags that may have ended upside-down, but those gifts are probably the most lovingly wrapped gifts that I have ever been responsible for. Those are for her daddy.

My Sunshine

On a cloudy day... When it's cold outside I've got the month of May. Really, I do. I'm not sure what it is but this last month this little girl has managed to steal my heart just a little bit more. She is my best friend.

We were driving home last week from daycare and she was all snugly in her car seat playing with her Little People. I took a peak back and saw her wiggling her butt and waving her index finger from left to right, right to left singing... dadadada. This girls got soul! She's also on the move. Since California she has managed to get into a full trot (if you hold her hands.) Time to seal off the stairways.

California Dreamin'

We are home :( I wanna go back!

We had a really great time and had some REALLY great food... Filippo's not included! Here are some pictures of our trip. (In no particular order.)

Me being Paula Abdul- or Ellen?

At Madame Tussauds.

Maddy being super cute at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

I didn't see anyone sneak this picture, although very artsy. I like it.

At Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Maddy with her new Christmas doll from Auntie Christen and family.

We did need a solo face shot next to the sign!

Really cool trails that you look down on at the observatory at Griffith Park.

AND.... DISNEYLAND!
Maddy getting ready to meet Mickey....

It's A Small World... Day.

And Night.

Back to the hotel.

Also, since it is Wednesday... I'll do a Wordless one.

Fancy Paintings

Nana Pat purchased the house a fantastic painting yesterday. Take a look... Isn't it beautiful? I feel all fancy and stuff now. It was an early Christmas present and I am super excited!

Maddy is still pretty perfect. I like to tell her that she is so pretty, but that more importantly she is really smart. I pinch myself regularly, it is hard to believe I got so lucky.














We are also getting ready for our trip out West... to California! Besides that absolute fun fact that we are getting to meet Mickey we also get to see Grandma Bridget, Grandpa John, Auntie Christen, Uncle Chris, and cousins Mikayla and Brandon... Oh, and Auntie Jen and Uncle Tim! Happy Thanksgiving to me! Hopefully they have stocked up on Popsicles because I'm digging me some of those!