Happy Food Post

So after my cracker rant on Wednesday, I feel inclined to counter-balance things. (However, thanks for all the sweet offers for Saltines from my neighbors. The next time a craving hits I know who to call). After all, not all food has been an enemy to me this week. There were a few bright spots, starting with:

• The dinner my sweet friend Maren brought over on Tuesday, "because she wasn't going to let me say no." It included homemade rolls. Enough said.

• My friend Maureen's deluxe wheat bread, with flax seed, walnut pieces, and cracked wheat she grinds fresh herself. Trust me, the picture doesn't do it justice.

• The first early crop of Costco strawberries. Don't even know how many of these I've eaten this week. Especially yummy on top of my cereal.

• Making Valentine's Sugar cookies with my boy's this afternoon. I believe enough frosting will cure anything. And we had some fun together (instead of Mommy lying on the couch moaning).

• And, to top it off, my Mom has promised a "traditional Grandma Rose dinner" when we come on Sunday. If your last name is or ever was Rose you KNOW how happy this is.
  

Bleck.

In my house I have:

Ritz Crackers
Wheat Thins Crackers
Pepperidge Farm Sesame Stick Crackers
Cheddar Goldfish Crackers
Honey Graham Crackers

But, my stomach craves:

Plain old saltine crackers

Had I had the foresight to have bought saltine crackers at the store this week my stomach would surely crave a different variety of cracker.

And so it goes. Every night at this time of night. So if you happen to see a lady having a breakdown in the cracker aisle of Ralphs, just ignore me and keep shopping.

"We can dance, we can dance, everybody's takin' the chance"

Some friends are putting together an 80's Dance Party for Valentine's Day, so in the spirit of "returning to our younger ways," they challenged each guy to ask his date creatively. This was all unbeknownst to me when Will came home with five helium balloons filled with these puzzle pieces.

My kids went wild with excitement as I popped each one. Who knew creative dating was even more fun with toddlers? Of course, if I'd really been on the ball I would've toilet-papered a giant yes on Will's car or something, but alas, morning sickness intervened.

We also had to submit our Senior Pictures for a slide show. Now why didn't any of my friends in high school teach me how to properly pluck my eyebrows? This is just embarassing!

Now I've got to plan our outfits. I'm thinking leggings, extra long shirt with an extra wide belt, jean jacket, crimped hair, and some sort of awesome pink lace hair bow to top it off. But what kind of shoes? And any ideas for Will?

And in preparation, a totally rad playlist is being compiled. Here's just a sampling of the suggestions so far:
Friday I'm in Love - The Cure, Safety Dance - Men Without Hats, Take on Me - A-Ha, Rio - Duran Duran, Sweet Child O Mine - Guns n Roses, Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order, It's My Life - Talk Talk, Rock the Casbah - The Clash, Hazy Shade of Winter- The Bangles, Billy Jean - MJ, What I Like About You - The Romantics, Just Can't Get Enough- Depeche Mode . . . I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Any more ideas for me (I haven't submitted my list yet)?

Oh, and don't forget the slow songs!
True- Spandau Ballet
Lady In Red - Chris deBurgh
Forever Young - Alphaville
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Open Arms - Journey

When you tell a 3-year-old a secret . . .

A little conversation at the park yesterday between Luke & my friend Kelly (currently 28 weeks pregnant):

Luke (while rubbing Kelly's belly): Um, your tummy, it's kind of chubby.
Kelly: Yes it is Lukey, but there's a baby in there.
Luke: Oh. My Mom has one of those too.
Kelly: Uh . . . . .
Luke: She does! In her tummy! Tell her Mom!

Surprise!

Bollard (most likely boy) addition #3 coming in August.

(Now excuse me while I try and survive this onslaught of morning sickness that has consumed my January)

Christmas 08: Part II

Party #5: Christmas Day in San Diego
Santa was good to Ethan and Luke this year, although we learned that "Santa" is not a mind reader. After careful deliberation about which bike to give which boy, "Santa" was a very surprised when they spontaneously agreed to switch bikes minutes after seeing them on Christmas morning! We also had a good conversation with our talkative (read 3 hours) missionary David in West Virginia.


Party #6: Wells Family Party, ie: the wrapping-paper-throwing-war
Always a good time getting together with Will's Mom's extended family. And I must say, we must be getting old because the wrapping paper throwing seemed a little tamer this year (or maybe I've just learned when to conveniently exit the family room). Thanks Joselyn for the darling apron & cookbook!

Party #7: Our 8th Anniversary
Deciding not to mess with perfection, we went to the Chart House in Newport Beach again this year and had a great time. I knew then, and I definitely know now, that I married the perfect man for me. I love you Will.

And, I was so excited to get a scanner this year for Christmas, so I can post some of the pre-digital pictures from our wedding day, December 27, 2000.



Party #8: The New Year's Snow Adventure That Wasn't
We decided to head up to Big Bear for some sledding and snowman-making on New Year's Day. Apparently all of Orange County had the same idea and 20 minutes up the endless mountain traffic jam we turned around. A crestfallen Ethan exclaimed, "But I've never seen snow in my whole entire life!" Luckily we found this amusement park called Castle Park on the drive home through Riverside and 3 hours worth of rides later (thanks Papa Bill!) the boy's disappointment had disappeared. Who needs snow? Maybe next year . . .

Christmas 08: Part I

So I realize I'm a little behind in the updates, but we've just been slow getting back into the swing of things after Christmas 2008: The Year of the Parties. Ethan still can't believe we don't have somewhere festive to go every night . . . he's experiencing the post-holiday blues along with his mother.

Here's the re-cap:

Party #1: Calder Family Progressive Dinner
This is basically a way to eat three times the amount of food you normally would and ooohhh & ahhh over everyone's beautiful Christmas decorations. My Mom outdid herself with the yummiest pork tenderloin main dish yet. Ethan outdid himself by singing all of his Christmas Choir Festival numbers for the video camera. Luke outdid himself by eating six chocolates in a row from Aunt Becky's famous See's Tree. I outdid myself by stopping after drinking only two glasses of this divine creation:

Peppermint Egg Nog Punch: In very large punch bowl mash together 1 gallon Dryer's Peppermint Ice cream with one gallon egg nog. Pour 1 to 2 liters Sprite soda over ice cream mixture and stir to combine. Dollop the top generously with whip cream and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

(And, I promise this will be the last mention of Egg Nog on this blog until December 2009)

Party #2: Rose Family Christmas Day in the OC

Zoomars Petting Zoo, lunch at Ruby's Diner, seeing Bolt in 3D & the Newport Beach Boat Parade

Party #3: Papa Bollard's Birthday Party
This is the one day a year that we give in and actually go to Bill's favorite restaurant: Coco's. We like to give him a hard time about it while we eat our omelets for dinner. We had a good time doing a classic Christmas Carol sing-along with Grandpa's guitar after.

Party #4: Christmas Eve with the extended Rose Family
The most magical night one the year, especially when you have two very excited "believers" to celebrate with. (Also, it must be noted, the best food of the year too!). It wouldn't be Christmas without that bow on Grandpa's forehead too.