Meatballs & Roasted Veggies

My attempt at baking meatballs...I couldn't find my mom's recipe for meatballs so I grabbed and modified this one from Everyday Food. They still didn't come out round, I overcooked them, and they had too much onion. They weren't bad though.




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Skiing !!

We dropped Kelly off with my mother in law and went skiing at a local mountain with the big kids. It was my first time back skiing in about 9 years. DAMN was I scared. Joe took the kids out while I did the whole rental thing and snuck out alone for my 1st run. I had some guy and his daughter giving me a pep talk up the lift and somehow I managed to make it down quietly and secretly behind Rory and Joe. After 2-3 runs I was able to ski with Rory without Joe sticking close by. By the end of the day, I could ALMOST keep up with Shelagh. She's like Speedy Gonzales zipping all over the place. She's a nut.


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Forced into Buying Fruit Loops

Rory's school requested 100 fruit loops for a necklace project to celebrate the 100 days of school. How pissed was I that I had to buy a box of fruit loops? Shelagh, on the other hand, was pumped. I dislike waste more than sugar cereals so she got to finish the box. Joe delicately sprinkled a thin layer on top of his Rice Chex, which just cracked me up. It made her week...I might take a note from my friend, LP's grandmother, and wrap a box of sugar cereal for under the Xmas tree. It's cheap and it goes over well!!


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Rory's Eyeball

Rory had an eye dr appt today. They took a picture of the inside of his eyeball. V. Cool. He's fine, maybe slight depth perception issue but nothing to treat now.


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Sleeping Sickie

Poor Rory came down with 102 last night. This is his 2nd Valentines Day in a row staying home sick. He's miserable. We watched Star Wars the Clone Wars most recent episode together and he did his Valentines Day Lego kit. Now he is out cold. What a little angel.

My mother in law is coming over in a bit so I can sneak out for an hour to attend Shelagh's class Valentine's party. I feel bad leaving him, but Shelagh would be devastated if I didn't make it. And, trying to work...


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Girl Scout Cookies!!!

Succombing to the guilt of working, albeit part time, and not being able to really volunteer in school much for Shelagh, I volunteered to be the Daisy Girl Scout Troop Cookie Manager. I figured I could at least do it on my own time. There are 12 girls in her troop and they sold a total of 888 boxes of cookies. This past Monday was pickup day - 74 cases of cookies into mine and another mom's cars and stacked ever so nicely in my basement. Joe and I got the orders organized and they are almost all picked up now. I knew this playroom would come in handy!! And, we have blasted into all 4 boxes of our own. I don't even like them that much, but once you start...


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Morning Snack Break

Cheessseeeee!!
A quick snack break at Sbux before the ax falls. Poor Kelly is getting shots today for her 2yr Dr appointment.

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Heavy Labor Ice Picking

Beginning Final Result

Can you believe the insanity that was my driveway on Sunday???? Joe went away overnight on Saturday to Ski in Maine with a friend on Sunday. Of course the rain came and temperatures dropped that night and the next morning, while pulling the van out to bring Shelagh to a playdate, my brakes were useless and I slid down the driveway from the half-way point and landed in a snow bank. Thank you, snowbank (didn't think I'd be saying that), which otherwise is a total pain in my ass on most days lately trying to get in/out of my long driveway. I couldn't get back into the driveway when we got home so I managed to Rory and Kelly into the house in front of the TV so I could at least get some salt down before my Mother In Law showed up to sit the little kids after lunch.

The temp was up to the high 40's and I could see the ice melting and releasing from the driveway. It was an opportunity I couldn't let pass otherwise we would be in deep shit later on that night and poor Joe wouldn't have been able to get in. I grabbed the heavy metal gardening shovel and set to work. Thankfully, my neighbor brought over some dirt/gravel he picked up from the city yard to put on top and a gardening edger. The edger was my best friend. It was completely addictive. Loosen the ice from underneath, send cracks upwards to break the ice, shovel to the sunny spots to melt. Despite the fact that my MIL was coming soon, the kids hadn't eaten and were supervising themselves, and I hadn't showered or eaten yet, I kept at it until the whole driveway was done. Then, off to the Girl Scout Mother/Daughter dance with Shelagh!

And if my arms weren't jello enough, the Girl Scout cookie pickup was Monday - 74 cases from the church into my van and then from the van into my house and then sorted by order. At one point on Tuesday I could barely lift Kelly up. Not that she's so light anway! It's Thursday now and my arms are JUST feeling mostly back to normal. Seriously. Could I be wimpier?

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Muffin-Pan Potato Gratins

I made these Muffin-Pan Potato Gratins for us the other day and they were WAY yummy. The only thing I would change would be to sprinkle a bit of parmesean between the potato layers with the salt and pepper. I would also definitely double the recipe next time b/c this only made 6 and they only have thin slices of potato. You need more!!


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Snow Day #6

"I like this project, Mom. It keeps me steady", says Rory as he builds Lego PLO Koon's Jedi Starfighter. He is amazing me...this kit is for ages 7-12 and he's doing it no problem.

The final product with some help from Dad...

And Shelaghs project was Valentines Day cards:

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