Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Kibbles and Bits

Kibbles and bits, kibbles and bits, I'm gonna get me some Kibbles and Bits. Remember that commercial for dog food? For some reason that came to mind for a title today...lots of random, unrelated stuff.

Let's see...lots of stuff going on. Over the weekend the girls had their first official choir performance at church. I was so proud of them! The both got to stand in the front row and they knew all the words and motions. Yay! Sunday afternoon we tried to pick apples, but they U-pick was already done for the year (duh!). We enjoyed the beautiful fall day anyway. The girls rode ponies, played in the huge straw pile, listened to some music and we bought some cider. Not a total waste. Sunday evening my friend and I visited another friend at the funeral home who lost her dad. It's so sad to think that our parents aren't invincible and won't live forever. After that we got some amazing Indian food. It was my first time eating Indian and I hope it won't be the last!

This week so far we've been to the park, gymnastics, on a "leaf walk" around the neighborhood and I managed to successfully send pumpkin muffins for snack today. Of course I forgot it was brown day today, so the girls wore black and pink instead. Sigh. It was the first color day I've missed in two year of preschool, so I guess it's not so bad! LOL

Tomorrow night we are going to my grandma's place for their annual Halloween party. They love it because they can go door to door inside, so they don't need coats. Grandma lives in an independent retirement place that looks like a luxury hotel (at least to me!). Should be a good time.

A couple of new layouts:




Credits here

That's all for today - have a good one!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Comparisons can be dangerous

This morning after I dropped the girls off at school, one of the other moms approached me. Here is the conversation that followed.

Her: Are you Heidi and Gretchen's mom?
Me: Yes, that's me!
Her: Does someone else pick them up sometimes?
Me: Oh, you must have seen my mom last week. We were out of town and the girls were staying with she and my dad.
Her: Oh! Okay. I wasn't sure if you were the mom or she was the mom. She looks so young!
Me: Yup, that's my mom! She looks great, doesn't she?
Her: Yes! I can't believe she's the grandma! Oh, but I mean, you look young too, of course...

Well, you get the idea. She went on to invite us to join her family at McDonald's some day after school for lunch. Now, my mom DOES look great. She is 62 years old and people are always saying how young she looks. She's always taken good care of herself and always has her hair done, makeup on, decent looking outfit, jewelry, the whole nine yards. And then there is me, who shows up at school with no makeup, in jeans, a t-shirt and crocs, and my hair may or may not be combed. Sigh. At least one of us looks good!

So here, you be the judge. Do we look like sisters, or mother-daughter?

(and if you don't know me, please don't comment asking which one I am...I might just start crying or something!! LOL)

I should be doing housework but it's just no fun, so I'm goofing off blogging instead. But, now that I've finished this, laundry it is. Ciao!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Back to Bloggin'

We are back from Orlando! Here are some layouts I've managed to get done so far:

This was the second time we have been to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. What a treat to be able to sample so many varieties of foods! Here’s what we tried:
Dominican Republic - Monfongo (mashed yucca root topped with grilled shrimp - my favorite!)
Canada - Canadian Cheese Soup, Maple Glazed Salmon with Roasted Corn and Arugula, LaBatt’s
USA/Okalahoma - Seared Buffalo with Scalloped Wild Onions
Japan - Crispy Sukiyaki Beef Roll, Takara Plum Wine
Greece - Spanakopita, Boutari Xin Wine
Mexico - Chilaquiles
New Zealand - Lamb Slider
Germany - Spaetzle with Creamy Mushroom Ragout, Beck’s Oktoberfest Draft Bier
Sam Adams Beer Seminar,
India - Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Paratha Bread (tied for first as my favorite)
Ireland - Boxty, Honey Wine
We also got to see Sheena Easton and Starship live in concert, who were there for the festival. It felt like the 1980s all over again!


Credits:
Sunrise Lounge by Jennifer Trippetti at Scrapdish
Old Mats by Jessica Bolton
Font: KGD Christy S Script, and Printy




I learned something about myself on our trip; I find it difficult to relax. Now I don’t mean physically, because it’s easy to veg in front of the TV. I’m talking about true relaxation, where you can turn off your mind and just “be”. The afternoon I spent at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort pool was as close to true relaxation as I’ve come in a long time. The atmosphere was gorgeous, the water temperature perfect and I found a spot with just the right combination of sun and shade. While Rob was busy at the conference, I enjoyed the pool, lunch at the snack bar and time to myself.

Word art by Eve Recinella, from Frolic Some
Paper by Traci Reed, from Dare to Be
Font: Angelina




Credits: The Sam Adams beer seminar is a fun part of the Food and Wine Festival. A George
Clooney look-alike helped us sample four different beers. My favorite was the Light beer. I finally understand the difference between the hops and the barley aspects of the beer. Too bad they didn’t give us full glasses!

Template by Andrea Gold
Stitched circle by Karen Hunt
Felix kit by lauraskathi
Pop Top Poppers by Kim Jensen
Font: Angelina

We also took the girls to Cedar Point for one last time over the weekend, but I still have to scrap those pics. They were so spent by Sunday afternoon, and Heidi had a slight fever and some stomach issues. I have to remember how much they love being home and having their little routine. They were delighted to sleep in their own beds again, or I should say Heidi's bed.


That brings me to our latest parenting dilemma. The girls have been insisting on sleeping together in Heidi's bed (a full size bed) for the past several weeks now. I don't really care, and I think it's really sweet that they have a special bond and like being together. However, there was a reason we separated them in the first place. They also need time apart, and space to be alone if they want to. I hesitate to have them share a room, but they are asking for bunk beds for Christmas and want to turn one of the rooms into a play room. Any parents of twins want to weigh in on this one?