More...please

For those of you who have seen "Oliver" or a remake of it, you are aware of the situation at the beginning of the story in which poor little Oliver (an orphan) decides to go back to the cook who serves one slop of 'mush' to each boy in the orphanage. You know the rest of the boys are very hungry still, but say nothing of it and 'mind themselves'.

Well, little Oliver troops himself back up to ask for seconds, and as he quietly says, "Please sir, I want some more," the adults in the room erupt at such an offensive and startling act.

Our stories collide as the shock of asking, "More, please," has graced our home- this time for the good! A few nights ago I was finishing the last touches of dinner, and put together a salad as a side. This salad included spinach, feta cheese, cashews and a freshly diced pear. To top it off, a sweet dressing from Brianna's.

J looks at the salad, looks at me and says, "You know, I don't think I really want much of that salad...I don't even like 2 of the things in it."(Sidenote- it seems that I will always be learning new food preferences and dislikes of my dear sweet husband that had never before made themselves known)

Me: "Oh really, like what?"

J: "Well, I don't really like pears or cashews." (Poor, poor boy! To miss out on cashews! Ha, ha, ha, more for me!)

Me: "Okay, well I'll put some on your plate and you can choose what you do and don't want to eat."

5 minutes later as dinner has commenced, I hear...

J: "Wow! I really like this salad...is there more?!"

What!?! Did I hear a request for..."more"?!?!

Yes, that was the phrase that rang true to my ears...and not only did he want more, but so did I!

Let it be known, that we have each had a similar side salad with dinner each night, sometimes by request of the J-man, and most nights have gone looking in the fridge to make seconds!

The secret of all secrets is not in making it with extra love (or even extra cashews), but can be found in this bottle...

Who know a salad dressing could have such an effect on a man?! Have you all tried this dressing...do you know of other secret dressings to please the palate?


As far as the picture of the babe...

She was just as elated as the two of us for finding such a great dressing! Not really, but she sure it fun to have around.

A New Feel

After wondering for a few months how to make this blog background a little more exciting, here is the beginning of a new look. I know I still need to find a way to make it more readable with a common background color for the text to be on, but I'm hoping to figure that out quickly! Hop to!

P.S. Now 15 minutes later I have successfully reduced the eye strain of any and all who might have checked our lovely new blog during that painful quarter of an hour. Enjoy!

What a week!

One week ago today I finally took C back to the doctor, because by now I was convinced it was more than just a cold and teething. My child does not sit still for more than 2 seconds at one time...ever, unless she sick. After a few days of watching 15-20 minutes worth or animated movies on my lap, I turned around last Friday and saw this:

Just laying around in the middle of so many toys, but not playing at all. What! So the doctor took one look in her ears and sent us home with a prescription for amoxicillan for the ear infection.

Thank heaven that within about 12-24 hours I have a totally new kiddo- one that does this to the kitchen....


Wait for it....
Wait for it...
And there you go folks- good as new! This was a first for little C- she actually was stuck for a few seconds and I think was feeling claustrophobic. I didn't even know anything was wrong until I followed the little cries to the kitchen cupboards! Ha!

Last of all, I just thought this was too cute yesterday- Another first. I guess I never really thought about the idea that a kid has to learn how to prop their head on their hand, but what a great thing to learn...I use it all the time!

Trumpet Groupies of the World Unite

Tonight J treated me out to a night with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. As you can see, after a few hours together we got pretty close and chummy...I mean look at the chill look on Wynton's face.


As close as we look, we actually spent most of the night about as far from him as possible, up in the balcony (3rd floor) of Hill Auditorium in the student-cheap-seat section. But you know what, it was perfect!

We thoroughly enjoyed the concert that was themed, Duke Ellington's Love Songs. There were some slow and sweet ballads as well as a few Rock'n and Rhythm charts. The Queen's Suite, Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, Moon Over Cuba, and Perfume Suite were a few of our favorites. To end it all, they played good ol' C Jam Blues as an encore.

Too bad there were a few too many jazz/trumpet groupies, not to mention their overly excited mothers there to greet the band after the show. I quote one of them, "Go up closer! Tell him how awesome he is! Get his autograph! Tell him where you are from! Tell him he is amazing!"

As if the guy didn't already know! We learned lots about what kind of parents we want to be with our band groupies in the years to come.

What would you do for a Klondike bar?

Let's get to the real questions at hand? What would you do for...:

Something to put in salad besides lettuce and croutons?, or something a little fancier than plain jello?, or even 3 hours back so that you wouldn't have finished almost all the brownies from the night before? How about a little foresight and preparation?

Well, it seems only appropriate to me that after attending a women's night at church (discussing food storage and emergency preparedness), J would lovingly volunteer us to make dinner for a family at church that just had a new baby a few days ago. I really am glad that he volunteered- I just wish I would have been a little more prepared that day...I consider it all my own doing! I guess if I don't want to provide for someone else to eat only greens and croutons for a salad, or plain jello and no dessert to accompany a dish in which the noodles always end up a funny texture, maybe our family shouldn't have to put up with my lack of planning either!

I've gone through monthly meal planning, weekly, the day before, and even moments before J walk in meal planning and preparation. A close friend even does a 6 week food planning and one huge day of food shopping (only to fill in along the way with fresh produce really). I've got to get back in some kind of a groove for meals.

Any suggestions that work for you?

Happy New Year with A LOT of snow!

Happy New Years Day and welcome to 2008!

We woke up today to 10.5 inches of snow on the ground (at least that's what the local news channels say)! We made a snowman, shoveled a lot of snow, and watched some good Michigan football.

Our car there on the left buried in snow...

Our Frosty was born this afternoon... (J thinks he looks like "Spalding" from Castaway)

C observing Frosty

We wish you all the best in 2008!!!