Ice Cream Friday!

Because it was Friday. And beautiful outside. And daddy was gone. And, well, just because it's yummy... we went for ice cream this afternoon. McDonald's still makes the best soft serve cones (and french fries). Hands down.

YUM!

What about me???

Mmmm... it comes out of the bottom too!

My Favorite Things!

Wanna know what my favorite attraction is in Houston? No, it's not the zoo. Or the rodeo. There is no admission fee, although it generally is expensive to visit.

My favorite place is Central Market, the mega foodie grocery store in downtown Houston. It's the most amazing speciality/butcher/seafood/wine/cheese/bakery/deli/and-so-much-more market I've ever seen! It's like Whole Foods and Fresh Market, combined and on crack. It's food nirvana. It makes my head spin.

I was downtown anyway today for my annual exam (joy) and picking out fabric for dining room chairs (talk about making your head spin). I couldn't very well leave the vicinity without going to Central Market! After all, I had only been there once before and it was with both kids, one of which (you can guess who) was getting testy and didn't want to ride in the cart any longer. This is NOT a place for a toddler on the loose.

So I entered the doors today, completely unencumbered and free to wander with the very loose mission of purchasing lunch and figuring out dinner. It's a dangerous place for someone like me. Not only is the sheer variety of ingredients overwhelming, the whole experience will test every ounce of self control you may think you have. I could spend all afternoon in there, getting lost amid the aisles of cheese (yes, aisles is plural), fresh pastas, vinegars, oils, peppers, leafy greens, mushrooms... ok, I have to stop now.

Over an hour and a dozen different meal ideas later, I left in a food-induced haze and note to self to be more organized next time. And there will be a next time. Lots of them. The reality that a store like this is in my backyard is just beginning to sink in. I may need to get a second job to support my Central Market habit but I can't wait for all the exciting meals in our future.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This morning we all had some element of green on for the holiday and Sydney was tolerating her pigtails. Perfect photo op!

Feeling bold, I decided to set up the self-timer and attempt to capture a photo of all three of us. Rarely ever am I in a photo with both of the kids. Why I decided to do it on my own is still a mystery. I get a little over zealous that way sometimes.

After a few total misses, I finally set up the camera with one hand, grabbed both kids, wiped up the spit-up.... click - ugh. Totally back-lit but there we are.

Hmmm. Better to keep this simple and just focus on the kids. Fletcher was happy with the set-up!

Sydney on the other hand...!!!

But finally, peace. Hi all! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Balloon Tiara

We love Chick-fil-A! Not only are Tuesday's "Kids Eat Free" nights but our local CFA always has something fun for the kids to do. Tonight the Balloon Man was there and he made Sydney a beautiful balloon tiara.

Here is the princess trying it on...

steady now...

dang! too much force...

maybe this will work better...

hmmm, i should have asked for a purse...

what are you looking at!

dagnabit! work with me here!

how's it look?

ah, what the hell!

Kid Wrangling

I've said before that getting multiple kids in and out of the car may be one of the toughest problem solving skills ever. It's also a physical challenge. Case in point...

I was picking the kids up from daycare this afternoon. No easy feat with a 17 month old and a 4 month old heavyweight champ. Balancing Fletcher in his car seat, Sydney on my hip and all their stuff takes great skill and grace. And mighty powerful arms. Saving a lot on a gym membership right now.

Normally I am in flip-flops or tennis shoes. Appropriate kid wrangling clothes. Today, however, I had a business lunch and was still in my business garb and 3+ inch heels, taking the difficulty level up a notch.

Sydney, being the "big" girl and mommy's helper that she's becoming, was walking herself out to the car behind me. Carrying her own school bag too. It's her new thing. Big girl. Such a good girl. Until we got outside. All of a sudden, she caught the scent of freedom and, feeling a little extra spunky, took off in the opposite direction. I grabbed her arm and squatted down to do the one-arm pick-up of a kicking and squirming toddler, all the while pitching poor Fletcher back and forth in his car seat. Thank God he was strapped in.

At this point, Sydney had thrown her bag to the ground and was wiggling so badly I was about to be left holding only her shirt. Did I say wrangling these two required grace? Yeah, whatever.

So I put her back on the ground, explaining clearly that she had to follow me to the car. She is a smart girl and complied. For about 5 steps. Then turned and ran like the wind, howling with laughter all the way. Smart and devious. And fast.

After considering my options for half a second, I abandoned Fletcher there on the sidewalk and raced (in my 3+ inch heels) after Sydney. For some of my LA campaign friends, this will bring back some fond memories of another high-heeled race I participated in on a hot day in Baton Rouge. You would be proud to know I've still got it, boys! But I digress.

When I finally caught her, heaved Fletcher into the car with one arm and strapped Sydney in, all I could think was thank goodness she was on the sidewalk and not racing through the actual parking lot (terrifying thought). And thank goodness Fletcher still fits (barely) in the infant car seat. I think he may have to be old enough to file a written complaint before I stop stuffing him in there.

Kid wrangling. It's not for the meek. Or out of shape.

Grandparents Weekend!

We were so excited to host Pat's parents (affectionately known as Mamie and Papa) this past weekend.

Fletcher was still feeling kind of sickly and got lots of snuggle time with Mamie. He showed his love in return with lots of spit-up and blow-out diapers!

Sydney conned everyone into her favorite activity - transferring marbles from one bucket to another. She is the life of the party after all.

And loving on their puppy, Willie.

And just being entertaining in general.

Sad to see them go!

Do-Over!

I need a do-over! Last night I made the worst meal. Ever. For a friend I hadn't seen in almost 10 years. I was mortified.

Normally, a weekday meal for guests isn't a big deal given that both kids are in daycare during the day and I work from home which allows me to do some major multi-tasking. Normally I get the kids ready for the day, drop them off and then come home to shower, work and do whatever needs managed around the house. Normally the house would be clean and 90% of dinner made before my guest arrived.

Yesterday was not a normal day. Actually, I suppose it was. There's no such thing as "normal" anymore when you have kids. But let's just say it was not ideal conditions for hosting guests for dinner.

Before I even had a chance to take a shower, daycare called to inform me that Fletcher was throwing up. Poor little guy. Brought him home and prayed it was a fluke and he would be fine. Three changes of clothes later - for him, only 1 change for me - I realized. sadly, that indeed he was sick.

The afternoon quickly approached and I needed to get busy with dinner. Just as I began to get Fletcher settled so that I could prep, he threw up, yet again. This time, right into his car seat! Nice. Stripped him, pulled the cover off the seat (yes, you can do it with one hand while holding a baby with the other) and threw everything into the wash.

Fletcher, having purged again, was feeling better and settled down to sleep. I started to prep dinner - a recipe I had never made before but nothing overly complicated. I won't share the recipe - it is from one of my favorite chefs and I dare not disparage this chef because of my own failures. One day, when I have made it again and redeemed myself, I will share it because I'm convinced that executed properly it will be great.

The chicken was to be sauteed and then put in the oven with a creamy mushroom sauce to finish it off. My gut was telling me to butterfly the chicken and pound it out. Chicken breasts get dried out, rubbery and over-done so easily in the oven. I've NEVER had much luck baking chicken breasts. Tenderizing is the way to go. My gut told me to tenderize, but my head told me I didn't have much time to get everything done so just follow the recipe and hope for the best.

Everything was going well, chicken was browned and I was in the middle of prepping the sauce when Fletcher started having a meltdown. There's no way to stop mid-sauce so I moved him to the swing on the edge of the kitchen and did some sort of awkward aerobic move leaping from him to the stove and back. Needless to say, the sauce over-reduced and got a little too thick.

Fletcher once again settled down, giving me just enough time to do a quick surface clean in the kitchen and get the spit-up free cover back onto his car seat before we had to leave to pick up Sydney. It was at this point I realized A) I still had not showered, and B) never had time for lunch.

Got Sydney home, fed her dinner and a snack for me. I felt like things were looking up. A shower was completely out of the question but that was ok. I was presentable. HA! No sooner had this thought crossed my mind when Fletcher threw up again. All over me. Sigh. I changed again and attempted to mask the spit-up smell.

Back to dinner. The bag of salad mix I bought the day before was wilted and slimy. Thank goodness for frozen broccoli and my fool-proof roasted broccoli recipe! The chicken did, in fact, overcook. It was the worst rubber chicken dinner ever and the sauce was a thick mess. My friend is very gracious. She ate a more-than -respectable amount of that horrible chicken and never looked twice at the pile of unfolded laundry on the counter, dishes and bottles lined up near the sink or toys scattered all over the floor. Thankfully I had some wonderfully fresh Florida strawberries and shortcake for dessert. Saved the meal.

Lessons of the day. Listen to your gut. If a kid is sick, just cancel your plans. Or order take-out. Your true friends won't care. Thank you Sandie!

Side note - I am sitting here writing this and feel eyes on me. I look up and see this precious face smiling back at me. I think he's beginning to feel better.