Trick or Treat

Saturday, October 31, 2009

It has been a while since I've made and decorated cutout cookies. In fact, I'm pretty sure I haven't made them since Easter! And that's just crazy.

So, when I found out that my brother and his fiancee were going to host a Halloween party, I figured I just had to make some festive cutouts. Especially since I made them last year. (When I made the Halloween cookies last year, that was actually my first time using royal icing!)

Add in the fact that I saw this new variation (it's chocolate!) of my favorite cookie recipe, and it was a done deal.

These cookies are so good! When I first took a taste of one, it instantly reminded me of something I had tasted before. It caused a flashback to childhood, but I couldn't quite figure out exactly what I was remembering. After my second (or third, or fourth... who's counting?) cookie, I finally figured it out.

These taste frighteningly similar to the crust on chocolate Pop Tarts. Specifically the chocolate fudge version. But they're better, because they're soft and chewy, and 'cause DUH... they're homemade.

They're so good, in fact, that it's going to be really tough to decide which version to make for Christmas cookies. Perhaps I will have to try them both, head to head in a taste-off! (It's not an easy job, but somebody's gotta do it.)
I used a combination of royal icing and candy melts to decorate these. For those of you who have asked recently for a tutorial on how I decorate my cookies... I'm sorry, but I didn't have time to stop and take photos of all of my steps yesterday. I'll plan to maybe get something up around Christmastime, but in the meantime, I can provide a few links for you. First, I use this royal icing recipe. And here's a tutorial on decorating from Brown Eyed Baker. You're welcome! ;)

Should you want to make spiderweb cookies, check out Katie's instructions for those.

Soft Chocolate Cookies
(Source: Good Things Catered)

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- powdered sugar, for rolling

Directions:
1. In bowl of stand mixer, add butter and sugars and beat until light and fluffy in texture, about 3 minutes.

2. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly.

3. Add vanilla extract, beating to combine

4. Sift in flour, cocoa powder baking powder and salt a little at a time. Be careful not to over mix, this process should take about one minute.

5. Place dough in fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to a week.

6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment.

7. Roll cookies out to 1/2 inch thickness, cut to desired shape and place on parchment.

8. Place baking sheet in oven and bake cookies for 7-8 minutes. (You want to "underbake" them by about a minute. Don't wait until they get crispy--they won't be soft and chewy!)

9. Wait until cookies are cooled completely before icing.


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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Two Eyes, Two Years

Friday, October 30, 2009

Exactly two years ago today, I had my LASIK eye surgery.

(10/31/07 - Showing off my super-cute goggles that I had to sleep in for an ENTIRE WEEK!!)

Best.Decision.Ever.

I actually have a really hard time remembering what it was like to deal with glasses/contacts, which is weird since I had them for 13 years.

But now, I can't fathom not being able to fall asleep watching TV without uncomfortable glasses on my face. When I stumble to the bathroom in the middle of the night, it's because I'm too lazy to turn the lights on, not because I can't see more than a foot in front of my face. I don't have to pry my eyes open and stick anything into them when I'm still barely awake.

I don't have to pull over on the side of the road if my contact suddenly decides to shift, or I get an eyelash in my eye while driving. When we travel, I don't have to pack a contact case or solution. I can swim without worrying about "my eyes" falling out. In fact, I can even open my eyes underwater.

In short, it's glorious.

Two years ago, I made the leap. Even though our wedding was less than eight months away, I decided that the investment was worth it. I actually applied for and qualified for a 3-year loan with a really low interest rate through the doctor's office, and the payments are $56/month. I've been putting extra money toward it for a while, so it's almost paid off, even though I am supposed to have a year left on the loan. But you know what? Honestly, I would pay $56/month for the rest of my life to not ever have to deal with contacts or glasses again.

It is worth it. So worth it.

Anyway, I just wanted to celebrate the two year anniversary of my new eyes. :) Two years ago, I wrapped up work a couple of hours early, and my boss actually drove me and dropped me off at the doctor's office. My husband (fiance at the time) met me there shortly thereafter, and the doctors proceeded to perform a procedure that completely changed my life! (And Michael got to watch the whole thing, too. He's braver than I.)

If you are interested in knowing more about my LASIK experience, I actually did a series of posts about it back on Road to the Aisle.

These three posts are especially thorough:
Road to New Eyes: The Preparation
Road to New Eyes: The Surgery
Road to New Eyes: The Aftermath

The only lingering side effect I experienced was minor dry eye, but it's really nothing. After several weeks (months? I can't remember) of using the eye drops as the doctors directed, I found that my eyes would often feel dry when I first woke up in the morning, but didn't really have any problems through the rest of the day. The morning dry eye persisted for several months, but has mostly resolved itself now. I occasionally still wake up with that feeling, but I have artificial tears eye drops and I just use them once in the morning and I'm fine. It certainly hasn't negatively affected my opinion on the surgery. I still sing its praises.

I'm always willing to share my experience, since I remember being desperate to talk to LASIK patients when I was trying to make my decision. If there are questions, please check out my posts about it all above, as I get into a lot of the details. But if there's anything any of you would like to know beyond that, feel free to ask!

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Happy Birthday, Melissa

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Today is my sister-in-law's birthday. We typically have a hard time buying for her, but this year, it wasn't bad--we even planned ahead and had it ahead of time so that we could mail it to arrive on her birthday!

Back in May, when I was shopping for Mother's Day gifts for Kara and my mom, I came across necklaces like these and thought that Melissa would enjoy one, too. So I tucked the idea away in the back of my head and I was so excited to actually order one for her.

I searched on Etsy and reviewed a number of sellers. I ultimately decided to go with Indigo Signature Designs. She was fabulous to work with, completed my order extremely quickly (ordered on Saturday, she shipped on Tuesday!), and we are really happy with the final product.

Needless to say, the birthday girl was thrilled, too. A name charm for each of her boys, with their birthstones dangling off of the ends. I love it!

The original design was actually slightly different, and Julie was great about accommodating my little changes.

A close-up...
It's nice that the birthstones coordinate so nicely! They look great together.

Anyway, I highly recommend Indigo Signature Designs. Have a look at her shop!

And a big ol' Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law!

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Dreyfuss

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

When I was growing up, my brothers and I spent summers 500 miles away from home, visiting my dad in Virginia.

We have a lot of family down there--grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. When we were children, my dad used to get us up in the morning before work and take us to my aunt's house so she and my older cousins could watch us for him.

At that time, the great thing was that my dad's family all lived on the same street, which snaked up a steep hill. My dad lived (and still does) at the very bottom of the hill. My aunt, uncle, and cousins lived at the very top of the hill. My grandparents' house was sandwiched in between, located just about halfway between my dad's and my aunt's.

So, we would spend the days playing with my cousins, watching TV, making up games... but mostly, we went to the pool. We'd spend entire days in my grandparents' pool. So much time, in fact, that I'd return home to New York with skin tanned so dark that it wouldn't completely fade until Christmas, and my hair turned blonde from the sun, with a green hue from chlorine.

By the time I was 14 (going on 15!), we were old enough to take care of ourselves during the day. My dad would head to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning, but my brothers and I would happily sleep in until 11:00 a.m. Still, we enjoyed spending time with our cousins, so it was our routine to wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed, and head out for my aunt's house. My dad would always swing by and pick us up from there on his way home from work.

One morning, in late July 1997, we did just that. We rolled out of bed, ate cereal, and watched a little bit of TV. There were dishes in the sink, and we knew that Dad would be pissed if we didn't wash them, so we worked together--me washing, one twin drying, the other putting away--to get them done.

As I washed, I looked out the kitchen window, from which I could see the next door neighbor's porch. I noticed their dog, Dreyfuss, lying on the porch. Judging from the empty driveway, it was clear the neighbors weren't home. Dreyfuss was normally tied to a line in their backyard, so I said to my brothers, "Oh, look. Dreyfuss must've gotten off his line." We noticed, we commented, but we did not think anything of it.

We finished cleaning up, got dressed, and called my cousin Michelle, requesting a ride. Although their house was just up the street, we always caught rides when we could, as the 90+ degree Virginia heat in July was always quite stifling. Michelle said she would be down to pick us up in 10 minutes.

We killed a few more minutes of time, and then I said, "Why don't we go outside and wait for Michelle at the end of the driveway?" My brothers agreed, so we shut off the TV and prepared to leave the house.

My brothers and I never carried keys. We never had to. We would always lock the door to my dad's house as we left, and then he would pick us up after work and bring us home, so it was never an issue.

That day, as always, I directed my brothers out the door, turned the lock on the back of the doorknob, and then pulled it shut. But that morning, just as I pulled the door shut, my eyes drifted to the top of the hill in the backyard. Up to our doghouse, where our dog, Natalie, was usually lying in the shade. She was nowhere to be found.

I said to the boys, "Is Natalie up there?" They took a closer look, and we found that no, she wasn't there. Sometimes, on days when it was going to be so hot that it would be unsafe for her, my dad would put Nat in the cool basement before he left for work. And while it was a possibility, we didn't think she was down there. For one, we hadn't heard a peep out of her.

We fell silent for a second and listened, to see if we would hear her bark. My brother ran around the side of the house to see if he could see her in the basement windows. But as far as we could tell, Natalie wasn't there. The problem was that we were now locked out of the house, and couldn't go down to the basement and check to be absolutely certain.

A few minutes later, Michelle and her youngest sister, Gini, pulled up to the end of the driveway. My brothers and I frantically told her that we thought Natalie had gotten loose and had wandered away. She said to get into the car and we'd drive around to look for her.

We drove slowly, all keeping our eyes peeled for our wild black lab. As it turned out, we didn't have to go very far. Just as we were driving past the elementary school that is right around the corner from my dad's house, we saw her dart across a couple of neighbors' lawns, with another loose dog or two following behind her. We quickly flung open the back door to the car and called her. She came running, and hopped right up into the back seat with us. We closed the door and headed home, leaving the other dogs behind. Aside from having some red mud (gotta love that southern red clay!) on her paws, she appeared to be fine.

Michelle drove us back to my dad's house, and I told the boys to go re-attach Natalie to her line. Meanwhile, Michelle and I took a couple of old towels that were in her car to wipe the red paw prints off of her vinyl seats.

Moments later, it started. The screaming.

Startled, Michelle and I looked up the small hill in our backyard to see Dreyfuss, who was an unusually large chow chow, mauling Trevor. The dog had wrestled 12-year-old Trevor to the ground, and was clearly attacking him. Understandably, Trevor was screaming.

It was horrifying.

I immediately started freaking out. Like, REALLY freaking out. I started screaming bloody murder.

We were locked out of the house. These were the days before everyone had cell phones.

We couldn't call for help.

I remember looking up and seeing Tyler standing helplessly next to the dog attacking Trevor, and watching him kick the dog in the head repeatedly, trying to get him off of his twin brother. The dog was relentless.

For a few split seconds, Michelle and I were panicked, frozen in place, unsure of what we could possibly do. And then it hit me to run to the neighbor's house. Not the neighbors who owned Dreyfuss (since I already knew they weren't home), but the ones on the other side. My dad was friends with them, and since they had a young daughter, Nancy was always home.

Screaming, Michelle and I banged on her door frantically, but although there was a truck in the driveway, it became obvious that no one was home. In the meantime, a neighbor from a few houses down, an elderly man who couldn't get around very well, came slowly around the corner, responding to the horrific screams he had been hearing. I absolutely flipped out on the guy, screaming at the top of my lungs for him to call 911, that a dog was attacking my brother.

The neighbor disappeared back around the house and the next thing I knew, Trevor's screaming stopped.

I looked wide-eyed at Michelle. I think, in that moment, we were both terrified of the worst. I remember saying, "Oh my God, what happened?!" and we both started back toward my dad's yard. It was at that moment that I saw Trevor, injured and bloody, hobbling down the hill toward Michelle's car.

Michelle immediately said, "Everyone get in the car!! We have to take Trevor to the hospital!"

She didn't have to tell me twice. I immediately took off running for the car.

But Dreyfuss met me halfway.

I distinctly remember stopping in my tracks as he came up right in front of me. I looked him straight in the eyes, and pleaded. "Good dog. Good, good dog."

Next thing I remember, I was kneeling in the front seat of Michelle's car. I remember feeling surprised to find myself there. I looked around me, and found that Trevor was in the back seat. I gave him a once-over, saw his condition. The dirt, the bites, the scrapes... the gouges. I continued to cry, and asked him if he was OK. From what I remember, he was hissing in pain, but was actually doing well, considering.

I turned to face forward again, and unfolded my legs from underneath me. And that's when I saw the blood dripping down my legs.

"Oh my God, he got me, too!" I screamed. "He bit me, too!!"

Until that moment, I had no clue that Dreyfuss had attacked me, too.

Later, I'd find out from witnesses (my cousins, and Tyler) that after meeting with Dreyfuss face to face (which I do remember), I turned to continue toward the car and Dreyfuss bit me repeatedly from behind. I'm told that I was screaming and trying to get away from him, but he kept trying to get me, and successfully bit me multiple times.

As he was puncturing the skin on my legs with his teeth, Natalie happened to run by us. My brothers hadn't gotten her back on her line before Dreyfuss had started to attack, so she was still running loose. When she passed, Dreyfuss became more interested in her than he was in me, so he followed her, allowing me to get myself safely into Michelle's car.

But Dreyfuss wasn't done. After I realized I had been bitten, sitting in the front seat of Michelle's car, I looked out the front window to see Michelle, Tyler, and Gini all standing in the bed of Nancy and Joe's truck, with Dreyfuss circling around them. He kept trying to jump up to get at them in the truck. Looking back on the incident, I find the dog's determination to be astounding.

Soon, Trevor and I saw police officers come around the side of the house to where we were in the back. They motioned to us, and I rolled down a window, just a smidge. It's like I was afraid that Dreyfuss would somehow be able to get at us through the window. They asked us what was going on. Meanwhile, Natalie approached them, as she would approach any visitor. But they didn't know which dog was dangerous, so they started spraying her with pepper spray. One of the police officers drew his weapon. I remember begging, pleading with him not to kill my dog. I was so afraid they would shoot Natalie, even though she hadn't done anything wrong.

As they continued to assess the scene, I think the police officers knew they were dealing with a very sensitive situation. Five kids here, all traumatized and needing rescue. I think they wanted to avoid shooting any dogs. I remember seeing one of them carrying a shovel to protect himself, if necessary. A shovel!

One police officer kept trying to convince Trevor and I to get out of the car so we could be taken around the front of the house to be treated by the medics. We were scared and refused. They said that the medics couldn't come to get us, because they couldn't be put in harm's way. Trevor finally agreed to get out, but I was still too scared. When they opened the back door to assist Trevor, I started freaking out, scared that Dreyfuss would somehow be able to get inside. He didn't, but Natalie did! She jumped in, and I screamed at the police officers to shut the door!

I held onto Natalie, happy that she was now safely in the car with me as well. But to add insult to injury, my face and eyes soon started burning. I said something about it to the cop, and he told me it was because Natalie's face and eyes were burning right now, too.

I had forgotten about the pepper spray.

So, not only had I witnessed my brother being viciously attacked, but I had been bitten myself, and now it was like I had been squirted in the face with pepper spray. Amazing.

After a few minutes, the police managed to convince me to get out of the car, too. I didn't know what they were going to do to Dreyfuss. I didn't know how they were going to get my cousins and other brother out of the back of that truck.

But for me, it was over.

In our front yard, I found my worried grandfather and uncle. They had somehow been notified (small town!) and had come down the hill to see what the hell was going on. I was seated on the grass, and the medics tried to relieve my burning eyes and skin with cold saline solution.

Trevor and I were loaded into an ambulance and were transported to the hospital where my dad worked, which was about 40 minutes away. These days, I don't remember much of that ride.

But when we arrived at the hospital, I remember the ambulance doors opening, and seeing my dad standing there. I immediately fell to pieces again. I just could not stop crying.

Over the next several hours, Trevor and I were treated in the ER. All of our wounds had to be flushed, cleaned, and bandaged. Trevor's injuries were a lot more extensive than mine. While I had been bitten several times on my thighs, and even once on my butt, Trevor sustained bites to all four of his limbs. The doctors told my dad that if Trevor had been even just a couple of inches shorter, the dog likely would have killed him. They said he would be OK, and I remember being tremendously relieved. Thankfully, they ended up sedating the poor boy, and I can remember laughing at some of the things he said while he was loopy. I also remember seeing my dad cry, which was alarming, just because it was so rare.

We were both released from the hospital that evening. We weren't even given stitches, because they were deep puncture wounds and had to heal from the inside out, not from the outside in.

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. Every muscle in my body hurt, but the muscles in my legs were the worst. I cannot even begin to imagine what Trevor must've felt like. We spent the next several days changing bandages, taking antibiotics, resting, and having to repeat our story.

We found out that Dreyfuss had eventually been captured by Animal Control, and he had been euthanized. His body had been sent to Richmond for rabies testing. Thankfully, those tests came back negative.

In the days following the attack, the story was pieced together. Natalie, who had never been spayed, was likely in heat. This explains the dogs who were following her when we first found her near the school. When my brothers took her up the hill to try to hook her back up to her line, Dreyfuss, who was probably drawn to Natalie in her state, flipped his shit and attacked my brother. He did, however, have a prior history of biting, so I'm sure that played into his behavior as well.

More than anything, though, it amazes me that both Natalie and Dreyfuss had gotten loose that day. If just one of them had remained on their lines like they were supposed to be, this likely never would have happened to us.

The neighbors were charged with "vicious dog." There is no leash law in Virginia (or at least there wasn't at the time). From that point on, they resented us for killing their dog, as if it had been our decision. Nevermind the fact that their dog could have killed my brother.

Trevor, although his physical injuries were much more severe, recovered mentally much more quickly than I did. He didn't really develop a fear of dogs, but I did. When we returned home to New York a few weeks later, I panicked and started crying when our dog, plus my mom's boyfriend's two dogs, approached me. I had loved them before, but was afraid of them after.

Months later, the following spring, I was at one of my brothers' baseball games. A lady walked up with a chow. I had a panic attack and ran to the car because it brought back too many memories. I was deathly afraid of it. I sat in the car, shaking and sobbing.

Twelve years later, I'm happy to say that we are both almost completely recovered. As recovered as we will ever be, anyway. We both have scars--Trevor's more severe than mine. On the inside of my thigh, I still have a faint outline of the teeth in Dreyfuss's lower jaw.

Out of all that I have been through, that day in July 1997 was one of the most terrible experiences of my life. Sometimes, I relive it all in my head, and today I decided to write it down. I remember the days when I couldn't tell the story without getting emotional. I'm thankful that time has been kind, and has helped dull some of the memories.

Even so, I will never be able to forget.

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Notes Left Behind

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Has everybody seen this story?

Heartbreaking, but amazing.

A 6-year-old girl was diagnosed with brain cancer. Somewhere along the line, she lost her ability to speak. Sadly, within just a few months, she had died.

And that is when her parents started finding notes--hundreds of notes--hidden all around their house. Notes that their daughter, while dying, had written and tucked away for them to find after she passed.

OH, MY HEART. 'Tis broken.

The story is here. Now, her parents have put together a book about Elena and her notes. All proceeds from the book sales benefit The Cure Starts Now.

I just can't get over the wisdom that some children have at such an early age. The fact that she would think to do this for her family... wow. What a gift.

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Pumpkin Girl

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Today we woke up to beautiful fall weather. We decided to get outdoors and enjoy it.

First, we tackled a few hiking trails in our town. The woods were really beautiful with all of the colorful leaves. I love the sound of the crunch underfoot, and just the smell of all of the foliage.

Tessa was in heaven. So many things to explore!

Check out those colors!!

After our hikes, we stopped by a local farm to pick up some pumpkins. One of our nicknames for Tessa is "pumpkin girl," so it was only appropriate for us to get photos of her in the "patch." :)


We came home, watched football, and made soup. A perfect autumn day!

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Ryanne is 1!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

It seems like just yesterday that my best friend had her baby girl. When she was about three weeks old, I drove the two hours to meet her.

Today, I drove the two hours to celebrate Ryanne's first birthday.

Michael and I arrived at the house about an hour before the party was scheduled to start. Bethany had asked me if I'd be willing to take a few photos of Ryanne, so we quickly got the birthday girl dressed in her special outfit and headed outdoors for a short photo session. Many of you have asked me to share photos from my sessions, and I'm happy to say that this time, I can! Since she's my best friend and all... :)

Although I spend a lot of time behind the lens, we had to get one with me in front of it as well...


Love, love, love this woman and her baby girl. And love this photo. But it makes me sad since we don't get to see each other often enough!

Since Ryanne isn't quite walking yet, I had to pose her in places where she could sit, or stand assisted. Although that somewhat limited what I could do, it also meant that she wasn't able to run away from me! :)
She has the most beautiful blue eyes, doesn't she?

Honestly, now...how cute is this outfit that Bethany put together? You should see this baby's closet. She has more clothes than I'd know what to do with!

Before long, it started to sprinkle a bit and we had to head inside to get a few things ready for the party. Little Ryanne was loved on by all of her family and friends, and we did all of the traditional first birthday stuff...
She smashed cake. (Though I have to say, she was very dainty about it. She didn't make a big mess at all!)

And she opened presents. Surprisingly, she was very into unwrapping the gifts. And the cards. She loves paper! (A girl after my own heart.)

It was a great day, and I loved having the opportunity to see Bethany and Ryanne.

Now, Michael and I are actually off to a 30th birthday party! I guess it's just a good day to celebrate LIFE!

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Friday Night Bites

Friday, October 23, 2009

We have quickly established a new Friday night routine for fall. Food and beer. Doesn't really get any better than that.

Except when it's homemade food, and it's pumpkin ale. Yes, my friends.

We've taken to enjoying a few pumpkin ales while making dinner. Tonight, it was pasta with meat sauce. So good.

Enjoy your weekends!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Thursday, October 22, 2009

In September, I read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. You may recall that I read and enjoyed his other award-winning novel, The Kite Runner, earlier this year.

This book truly took hold of me, and did not let go until the final words had been read. I devoured it. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a powerful read, a story that is somehow disturbing and beautiful, all at the same time. I suppose it is life's hardships that bring out the strongest in all of us, and there is no question that the women in this book are fighters. They fight for each other, their families, and themselves. One of the characters in this book makes the ultimate sacrifice for friendship and family, and reading it shook me to the core.

At the beginning of this story, we are introduced to Miriam, an Afghan girl who is the illegitimate daughter of a rich man in the city of Herat. She is raised alone by her mother in a small kolba, but she greatly loves and admires her father, who pays her weekly visits.

After tragedy strikes in Miriam's life, she is forced to marry and move to Kabul. Her husband, Rasheed, is a shoe maker. Just as Miriam settles into her new life as a wife in Kabul, things change for the worse.

Years pass, and soon we are introduced to another female character, Laila, who is the young daughter of some of Rasheed and Miriam's neighbors. The families do not have a relationship with each other, but when war breaks out in Afghanistan and Laila experiences a horrific tragedy of her own, the lives of Miriam and Laila soon become connected in a way that neither would have ever expected.

I won't say much else for fear of giving away too much of the story, but I cannot stress how much I loved this book. It is perhaps the best one I have read in years, and quickly soared to the top of the list of my all-time favorites. I loved it all the way through the last page.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns affected me in a way no book has done in a really long time. When I closed it for the last time, I actually said to myself, "Wow." It's just a beautifully written, wonderfully constructed book with characters you will actually care for. I cannot recommend it enough.

As always, the comments are open to any and all comments about this book. If you have not read it, beware of spoilers! You have been warned. :)

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Chicken & Rice Wraps

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Here's another super easy, delicious, and (pretty) healthy meal to add to the rotation. And it helps give me my weekly fix of Mexican flavors. Yum.

These wraps are "designed" to be a freezer meal, so they're perfect for making in advance and popping into the freezer. When wrapped individually, these make for great lunches to bring to work, or for a quick weeknight meal.


Because of the amount of salsa used, at first I thought they were going to taste like salsa--with other ingredients mixed in. I'll admit that would still be tasty, but not exactly what I'd call a stellar meal. However, when the spices are all mixed in, these have a surprising amount of flavor... and a bit of a spicy kick, too!

Chicken and Rice Wraps
(Source: Proceed With Caution, adapted from WC Freezer Friendly Recipes)

Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 recipe taco seasoning (recipe follows) -- or use 1 packet store-bought seasoning
- 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup shredded mexican cheese blend
- tortillas

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. If freezing, scoop into tortillas and fold into a burrito shape. Wrap with foil and freeze in a freezer bag. To re-heat, unwrap from foil and microwave until heated through (about two minutes), flipping over halfway through. If eating immediately, microwave chicken mixture until heated through. Scoop into tortillas and fold into burrito shape. Cut in half and serve.

Taco Seasoning
(Source: Allrecipes, as seen on Proceed With Caution)

- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper

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In the Pool

Monday, October 19, 2009

Not the kind of pool you're thinking.

A jury pool.

I had jury duty today. I got the summons in the mail a few weeks ago, and I wasn't all that surprised by it. I knew it was likely coming soon because I got the "juror's questionnaire" a couple of months back. And when I checked the website on Friday night, I learned that I was required to report on Monday morning.

Oh joy.

So, this morning I got up 45 minutes earlier than usual, got ready, and then schlepped downtown to the Hall of Justice. I waited in a line for security, then waited in a huge line just to get into the jury room (with 300+ other people).

Once inside, however, I'm happy to report that I snagged the last seat/table with access to a power outlet, and I settled in with my laptop. I soon found out that the case I was assigned to wouldn't begin until 11:00 a.m., so I was in for at least two more hours of waiting. I made the best of it and spent my time editing photos from my session last week. And if I'm being completely honest, it was actually pretty damn awesome. I was more productive there than I've been able to be at home, that's for sure.

A little after 11:30 (yes, they were running late!), the deputy finally came down to get my group and go to the courtroom. There, I proceeded to listen for two hours as the judge and attorneys questioned the first 16 jurors (a group I was not a part of).

I alternated between actually listening and reading my book, but some of the stuff I heard made me shake my head in disbelief. Some people are just so frustratingly stupid. I cannot imagine having to deal with this crap on a daily basis. So, kudos to judges and attorneys. Maybe there's actually a good reason you're paid so much, huh?

One woman was absolutely determined to answer every question in a way that would seemingly disqualify her from being a juror. (For background purposes, the defendant was charged with DWI.) First, when the judge asked if anyone had any conflicts over the next few days that would prevent them from being a juror, she raised her hand and said she has to work tomorrow. Um, yeah. You and the WHOLE REST OF THE PLANET. The judge was all, "OK, um. Thanks for telling us that." God bless her and her restraint.

Then, when asked whether anybody had any friends or family that had been convicted of a DWI, this same woman told the judge that her ex-boyfriend had a DWI. Not only that, but her son's best friend's girlfriend (I'm not even kidding) was recently charged. She went on to completely exaggerate the effect that her son's best friend's girlfriend's DWI had on her life, and subsequently on her ability to fairly evaluate the defendant's guilt or innocence. Because you see, she was the one who saw the son's best friend's girlfriend on the news!! She had to call and tell her son what had happened!! It was so dramatic!!

Whatever, lady. I swear, I wanted them to pick her just to spite her. But alas, they took the easy way out and got rid of her annoying ass. Can't say I can blame them.

There was another guy who kept asking questions and basically said that he thought the legal BAC limit was too low, and that he didn't believe there was anything wrong with having a few drinks and driving. Alrighty then.

In the end, all of the jurors were drawn from that first group of 16, and I was released without ever having been interviewed. S'all good. My duty has been fulfilled, and I'm off the hook for eight years.

In other words, I'm safe from jury pool morons until at least 2017. HOORAY!

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Boys' Weekend

Sunday, October 18, 2009

We had the pleasure of seeing all three nephews this weekend! GAH I am just in complete love with these boys.

First, my brother came over for a bit on Friday night, and brought little Hunter to visit. We had him on the floor so he could show off his new "pushing up" skills, so I took a few quick snaps of him.

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He is becoming so vocal and smiley. He "talks" to us and it doesn't take much to get a grin out of him. I just love his expressions.
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Love, love, LOVE this little guy.
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We worked a bit more on socializing Tessa with him, but MAN is she a pain in the ass. We, of course, supervise her VERY closely, but I trust that she wouldn't hurt him. It's just that she won't leave him alone, either. She wants to be all up on him, in his face, kissing him, sniffing him, etc. She acts like he's some new, never-before-seen thing, like she doesn't even know what he is. It'd be funny if it weren't so much work. Should be fun to bring home a baby when we have one some day. (NOT.)

On Saturday morning, we got up and drove down to Michael's sister's house to visit with the other two nephews. Talk about a great age... Brendan is SO.MUCH.FUN. right now. He's also exhausting, but hey, we're the ones that get to leave at the end of the day. That's the best part of being the aunt and uncle, right? :) He's using a lot of complete sentences now, talking up a storm. He repeats everything you say (totally dangerous!), and just has a funny little personality. He's hilariously awesome. And ALL boy.
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Melissa took him into the other room to get his Halloween costume on to model for the rest of us. Next thing we knew, he came FLYING around the corner into the dining room and yelled, "HEY GUYS!!" and immediately wiped out by slipping on the hardwood floor. I laughed, but half expected him to get up screaming. Nope, he laughed hysterically at himself. LOVE THIS KID.
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Michael's grandfather sent us with some little firefighter hats to give to the boys, and Brendan kept handing them out to everybody to wear. (In fact, he's at the point where he wants to share everything, which is really sweet. But I can't tell you how many times we heard him say "Here you go!" "Here you go!" all day. HA!) Even little Logan was not off the hook. And Michael was a good sport (of course).
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Lo-lo's smile melts my heart.
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Brendan is great at posing for pictures. And my goodness, how cute is he? I mean, seriously. But he also wants to see himself immediately on the camera's preview screen afterward. ("Me see? Me see!")

What's also really cute is that he's starting to use our names. He's known our names for a while, but would only use them if prompted. (While pointing, asking "Brendan, who is this?" would get you the correct answer.) But now he randomly comes up to you and addresses you by name. It's adorable. For an example... Michael was holding him shortly before we left, and he was playing with Michael's hair. I don't know why, but he does this a lot. He had his hands on Michael's head and all of a sudden he said, "Nice hair, Michael!" Honestly, I can't stand the cuteness.
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One more cute one of Logan...

Unfortunately, we won't see Brendan and Logan again until Thanksgiving. But I'm sure it'll be here before we know it!

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Journey. Not a Sprint.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Lately, during most of my "free" time, I've been working on my photography--I've even had a few more photo sessions!

My investment in this hobby (or whatever it's going to be for me) is part of the reason I've been such a poor blogger lately. Much of what I post is about what's going on in my life, but in an effort to draw some lines for myself and keep personal and "professional" separate, I don't feel like it's appropriate to share my photos here--as much as I may want to! When they're my personal photos, sure, but when they're for clients? Not so much. But I can at least tell you that I think things are going really well.

On Monday, I had a session with a precious little 14-month-old girl, and as soon as I downloaded the pics to my computer, I was doing the happy clap. Even before any editing, as I was looking through the images, it was the first session where I actually felt that I "rocked it." This is a big thing for me, as I'm my own worst critic.

Back in May/June/July, when I did a session, I'd take 200 snaps and I'd be lucky if I could find 10 images that I felt were worth keeping and editing. Now, I'm still taking tons of photos, but I actually have to narrow them down to absolute favorites, because otherwise, I'd be spending way too much time editing pics from one session. Now, it's common for me to pick out 30-40 photos that I want to edit. I love that. But I can really only edit 20-25 for the client, so I'm forced to narrow them down even further, which is hard, but a good problem to have, right?

Don't get me wrong, I am still learning every single day, but I am starting to feel more confident and comfortable with my ability. That's really been half the battle for me.

What's funny is that I look back at photos I took five months ago and cringe. At the time, I thought I was doing a good job, but now I look at them and think "Oh, they could've been SO MUCH BETTER." It's useful to look back to see how far I've come, but I have to stop doing it. I have to remember that they're memories nonetheless, and I had to start somewhere. I'm sure that five months from now, I'll look back at my current photos, and they'll make me cringe, too. The journey just never ends.

After the success of the session the other day, I suddenly had the urge to do more--quickly! I'm really hoping to squeeze in another handful of sessions before the weather really turns. The colors and light are so beautiful right now, and the wardrobe and accessories (jeans, sweaters, hats, scarves, etc.) are so adorable on little ones. But since I'm working solely with people who have heard about me through word of mouth, it's been somewhat challenging to get new subjects in front of my lens.

My other motivation is to make a little extra cash so that I can justify the camera upgrade that I so desperately want right now. CHA-CHING! Until then, I'm still plugging away with what I have. I have to keep fine-tuning the basics, because when I get a new camera with way more bells and whistles than I've had previously, it's probably going to set me back a bit because I'll have to take the time to learn it all. I'm hoping to do all of my learning in the dreary winter months so that I can hit the ground running once we thaw out again.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

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Blocked.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Every once in a while, I go through a blogging funk.

The past few weeks have been one of those times. I've managed to keep up somewhat, but I've been posting a lot of recipes and not a lot of real posts.

I just feel like I have nothing of substance to write about. Nothing to bitch about. Nothing to share.

I also feel like I don't have a lot of free time, and let's face it, being busy is not conducive to being a good blogger! We've actually been so busy that I've almost been feeling overwhelmed, but they're all things that aren't really interesting to anyone outside of our family and friends. And I've been plugging away at my photography (more on that tomorrow) whenever possible.

Anyway, if anyone out there has any questions or comments for me that might inspire a blog post, let me have 'em. :)

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Post Office Hell

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Scene: Local Post Office.

I pull up in a hurry in order to ship my Operation Baking Gals package.

I rush in at 5:03 p.m., and knowing that they technically close at 5:00, I'm relieved to see that there are still a couple of customers being helped, and nothing appears to be locked up yet. I hesitate at the door for a moment, and suddenly, a cheerful fellow customer (CFC) looks at me.

CFC: (smiles) "Go ahead!" She waves me into the door. "They're not closed up yet! They'll help you."

I smile and heave a big sigh, as I had wanted to get this package out yesterday. Unfortunately, I realized too late that the post office was closed due to the Columbus Day holiday.

As I step foot over the threshold, I am greeted abruptly by a post office worker (POW).

POW: "We close at 5:00."

Me: "I know, but I just have this package--"

POW: "Are you paying by credit card? Or cash?"

Me: "I have both. I'll use whatever is easiest for you. I just need to get this out to--"

POW: "You'll have to use the automated machine. We're closed."

I eye the two other customers being helped at the counter.

Me: "But I can't use the machine, because this package requires a customs form."

POW: "Do you have it filled out?"

Me: "No, but I've done them before, it'll only take me a few seconds. I'm trying to send a package for soldiers in Afghanistan. Can I please just--"

POW grabs a handful of customs forms, shoves them at me, and basically pushes me back out the door.

POW: "You'll have to come back tomorrow. Fill out your customs form before you get here."

Me: "But I-- Really? I just want to send this to--"

POW: "We close at 5:00."

Me: (at this point, visibly disappointed) "Well, um... OK. Is the office down the street open later?"

POW: "Nope. Everybody closes at 5:00."

I'm forced out of the doorway and he closes the gate in my face. I turn around, dejected, and Cheerful Fellow Customer (CFC) is still standing in the atrium. Her mouth drops open.

CFC: (loudly, so POW can hear) "REALLY?! Oh my God. Are you-- REALLY?!" She looks at me. "I am SO sorry. I can't even believe him. I'm just SO SORRY."

Me too, my friend. ME TOO.

End scene.

Seriously. It would've taken this guy three minutes to help me. I used to work in customer service, in a pharmacy. I know how badly it sucks when people show up right when you are trying to close and trying to go home. But you know what? We ALWAYS helped every last customer. ALWAYS. If there was a line snaking out the door at 9:00 (closing time), we stayed however long it took to help all of them, even if it meant staying until 9:20, even 9:30 sometimes. It's called good customer service.

I f-ing hate USPS. HATE. This isn't the first time I've been treated rudely, and I'm sure it won't be the last. If I truly had another choice that didn't cost a fortune (i.e. FedEx and UPS), I would use someone else.

*shakes fist* Damn you, USPS. I was trying to do a good deed. It would've been nice if you had done one, too.

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Low-Fat Pumpkin Muffins

Monday, October 12, 2009

On Saturday, we went to visit my cousin and her brand-new baby girl. I wanted to bring her food, in the form of baked goods that could easily be frozen. I didn't think she'd appreciate me bringing a bunch of junk food into the house, so I decided to bake for her like I'd want someone to bake for me--in a manner that is low-fat, but delicious.

I started by making her a loaf of low-fat zucchini bread, which is a tried and true favorite. But given that it's fall and all, I wanted to make something pumpkin, too. Pumpkin bread immediately came to mind. I have a KILLER pumpkin bread recipe that has been in my family for years, but the amount of oil and sugar used in it is ridiculous. Of course, it's wonderful because of that, but I haven't even made it in several years because I'm afraid of what it'd do to my hips. Instead, I hit Google to try to find a healthier alternative.

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I ultimately decided to bake the batter in muffin pans instead of bread pans (just for something different), and it baked up a lot more quickly as a result, which was nice. The end result was really flavorful, and is perfect for fall. My only nitpicky complaint was that they were slightly chewy, but that is to be expected with low-fat baked goods. I think it's important to note that I've often found that sweet breads like this actually taste better and have better texture if you let them sit for a day/overnight before eating them. Since I was taking these to my cousin's, I didn't have the opportunity to do that, but I'll be trying that next time! I'm sure I'll see an improvement in the chewiness department.

Anyway, if you're in the mood for pumpkin goodies without the guilt, give these guys a try!
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Low-Fat Pumpkin Muffins
(Source: Adapted from About.com)

Ingredients:
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/2 cup applesauce (no sugar added)
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 eggs
- 1 2/3 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tbsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. ginger
- 1/4 tsp. cloves
- 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray your muffin cups with cooking spray.

2. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or you can whisk by hand), mix together the sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, water and eggs and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients.

3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring well to combine. Spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full. Sprinkle a bit of extra sugar and spices on top if desired (optional).

4. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the pumpkin muffins comes out clean.

Makes about 16 muffins.
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You win some. You lose A LOT.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Today, we went to the Buffalo Bills game. I usually have the opportunity to get free tickets to one game a year, and this was it. We were cautiously excited about the game, since the Bills have been absolute crap so far this season. But we were playing the Cleveland Browns, so we figured there was at least reason to hope.

We met up with our friends Rich and Katie to tailgate.

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In addition to good friends, we had a cooler full of beer, homemade sub sandwiches, and cookies... what more could we ask for?
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We were pretty pleased with the weather, although it could've been a little bit warmer. It wasn't bad when the wind wasn't blowing, but when it was? FREEZING. I had underestimated the cold and didn't dress completely appropriately. Oh well.
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It's funny how you can see the reflection of the boys in our sunglasses. :)
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Old friends. So old that he takes it in stride when I scream at him on the phone while getting lost trying to find the street they were on for tailgating. :) (So, I don't do well when lost. Nobody's perfect!) We don't get to see each other much since we live two hours apart, but Rich and I have been good friends since junior year of college.

After a couple of hours out there, it was time to head into the stadium for the game.

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And, well, there isn't much to say about it other than IT WAS A FREAKING DISASTER.
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This photo was taken right before we left. We weren't even halfway through the third quarter. It was just so pathetic, it wasn't even worth staying for the rest of the game.

Growing up in this area, I have "known" the Buffalo Bills most of my life, and I do remember the good ol' days of the Super Bowl years. But I've only really been a true fan for about eight years, so I've never actually had the privilege of knowing what it feels like to root for a team that can play. I think this has helped me practice patience. And um, cursing. But whatever.

Anyway, the point is that I know bad when I see it. My Bills? They've been bad for years. But today? Today, they hit a new low. They are so bad that I am just about at my breaking point. They need CHANGE. They need to do something.

They need to fire their head coach. Tomorrow.

Honestly, they need to get rid of a bunch of other people (GM, coaches, players) as well, but for now, I'll settle for the head coach. YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. There are rumors that this might actually happen, but I have never known the Bills to have the guts to do something like that. But if they do, they'll likely promote from within, which couldn't possibly result in anything good happening this season. You know what, though? I DON'T EVEN CARE. I just want Jauron gone.

But if the Bills really, truly loved me, they would hire this guy:
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And, well, he just so happens to be unemployed at the moment. It's like it's destiny. There is nothing that would make me happier than to see Jon Gruden's snarling, angry, scary faces on the sidelines. Because frankly? The Bills need a kick in the ass. (For the record, I would also take Cowher. Would LOVE to take Cowher. Or, you know, pretty much anyone with a backbone.)

No more Mr. Nice Guy. PLEASE.

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Chile-Beef Stuffed Zucchini

Saturday, October 10, 2009

We actually made this meal last weekend, but I just haven't had time to post! This was our dinner on Saturday night. Since we had planned ahead, we had made extra beef when we made this recipe earlier in the week, so that we had less work to do on Saturday.

This is a really simple recipe. It's different than anything we've ever made before, and the flavors were good together. Plus, it's filling and (relatively) healthy! Not to mention a great way to use up any extra zucchini you have lying around.

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Other than using the beef from the Mexican Pizza recipe, we didn't make many changes to this recipe. We did use a fresh jalapeno rather than pickled ones, however. I'll include the recipe exactly the way we made it, but if you want the original, you can click through to Melissa's blog.

Melissa said that she thought hers came out dry, but we didn't have that problem. It may have been due to the different recipe for the beef? Not sure. If yours is dry, you can top with salsa and sour cream.
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Chile-Beef Stuffed Zucchini
(Source: Adapted from Delicious Meliscious)

Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- homemade taco seasoning
- 2 zucchini, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 1 tomato, seeded & chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
- Mexican style shredded cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Arrange the zucchini cut side up in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add 1/2 cup water to the dish, cover with foil and bake until the zucchini begins to soften, about 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the ground beef until brown; drain. Return to the heat and add the onion, taco seasoning and water. Continue to cook for several minutes, until cooked through, stirring often. Stir in the tomatoes and jalapenos.

4. Uncover the baking dish, and pour off the water. Season the zucchini with salt. Fill with the beef mixture and sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

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No Time

Friday, October 9, 2009

I apologize for the complete lack of posting this week. I haven't had time to do much of anything.

At work, I was co-chair of a HUGE event, something that we've been planning since January. The last few weeks, I've been tied up with all of the little last-minute details, projects, phone calls, e-mails, meetings. Wednesday and last night, I didn't even get home until almost 10 p.m. It was all-consuming and exhausting. I ran on adrenaline all week, as I didn't get much sleep because I kept thinking of everything I had to do. Gotta love how that happens.

But you know what? It's over.

The event was yesterday (big success!), and I think I can officially reclaim my life as my own. There are still a few wrap-up things to take care of, but the vast majority of tasks is done. No more pulling my hair out. No more taking my work home with me. No more answering e-mails at 11 p.m.

Last night, after the last guests had gone home, my co-chair and I stayed behind and had a few glasses of wine. I so needed that. When I finally walked through my door, I pretty much went straight to bed. I didn't even watch Grey's Anatomy, which says a lot (but I did catch up on it during my lunch break today, ha!).

Today, I feel like I've been hit by a truck, but at least it's Friday. I have the weekend to hopefully (FINALLY) catch up on my sleep.

And I'll hopefully (FINALLY) get back to blogging.

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Happy Birthday TnT

Monday, October 5, 2009

Last night, we got together with my family to celebrate my brothers' birthday.

I have a hard time believing that they are 25, but I guess it makes sense, given that I'm 27. *sigh* Where have the years gone? I'm glad that we've remained close and get to see each other often. I love my "little" brothers. :)

The Buffalo Bills game was on at 4:00, so we all gathered at my mom's house before it started. And, as usual, they played worse than I ever thought it was possible to play, so it was a good thing we had this little guy to keep us in good spirits:

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Hunter's lucky he's been born into an era when the Bills suck. His expectations will start low, and hey, things can only get better from here, right? Maybe they'll actually win a Super Bowl in his lifetime. But for now, he's happy with his binky and his bottle. And he looks super cute in his little jersey. :)
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He also spent some time in his new jumperoo thing that Grandma bought him...
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...even though his feet don't quite touch the floor yet. ;) Just his tippy toes!
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He christened the toys with his drool...
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...and conked out for a nap while the adults enjoyed a home-cooked meal of chicken and dumplings.
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Soon, it was time to light candles, sing "Happy Birthday," and eat cake. Lots and lots of cake. Can you say "sugar high"?
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Happy Birthday, boys. (Well, on Wednesday.) XOXO

(Want to know more about the cakes? Check here and here.)

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