Sunday's dinner on Monday

Remember the "Parmesan Chicken" that I was looking forward to last night, but it was not edible because I forgot to plug in the crock pot - well we had it tonight and it was delicious. I used whole wheat pasta for the first time ( trying to eat healthier) - Dave didn't even notice. I think I have decided to take this cookbook on as a challenge and try one recipe or more from it per week. I may try the "Mu Shu Turkey" next. I will keep you posted. Have a good week.

Yum!!

January 2007

It has been a busy week. Work is booming and I thought I had gotten over my "cold" but I have had problems with my sinuses this weekend. Haven't felt like doing much of anything. I have a few pictures I wanted to share.

We had plantation shutters installed this week. I am very pleased. This is my sewing room looking out to the back where the pond is that Dave put in.

My sewing room looking out to the deck.

Door leading out to my herb garden.

Dave's room - he didn't want the full set on his window so we will look for a valance for the top. We also had a set placed in the kitchen window.

Dave and I went to see "Dreamgirls" Friday night - I loved it! Jennifer Hudson was brilliant, who we really liked when she was on American Idol Her voice has gotten stronger and her acting was deserving of the Global Award. I went right out and bought the CD. All the actors were excellent. We don't go to many movies but this was well worth it. Don't worry, Pam, Amy - I will go to see this again if we ever get around to having "girls day out."

Cooper and Bandit continue to get along very well. They love to play "tug of war".

Remember when we were on our Atlanta trip? I was making this - a baby's feet wash cloth. It is hard to see the details, but I will keep trying with my new camera. Amy's friend is expecting twins - a boy and a girl!! Unbelievable! They are due in May and I am loving making more baby things. And to top that, my cousin Barbara called me Friday night and her daughter Kim, who has a fifteen month old son - Jack, is expecting twins! They just found out so I don't have a lot of details, but I am so excited for them.

I haven't quite finished with the baby boy cloth, maybe you can see the foot and toes better on this one.

These are really fun to make. I have also picked out booties and hats to make for the twins.

I joined a dishcloth knit along a while back. There is a pattern on the first and the fifteenth of each month. These are two from the last month. They haven't been blocked yet. I will share the others later.

Snowflake Pattern.

This is a very pretty cloth, although you can't tell by this picture.

I was really looking forward to dinner tonight. I prepared everything from my favorite slow cooker cook book for "Parmesan Chicken" to be served over pasta and a side salad. I had set the cooking mode to "Low" but I never plugged in the cord! Oh well, it would be ready at 10:00 PM and that is with the setting on "High", so that will be tomorrow night's dinner. It's a good thing I have a husband who will settle for anything - soup, frozen dinners, Zatarain's - New Orleans Style Jambalaya with Sausage. I still wanted to eat this for dinner but didn't want to eat such a heavy dinner so late, so we have Monday night dinner.

A great cook book. Just be sure you follow directions.

Sticker Babies

I picked up Meighan and Alex from Christina's on Friday for them to spend the night with us. We gave Amy and Paul movie tickets for Christmas and a night of babysitting. They deserve a night to themselves every now and then.
The kids were really good. I only had to put Alex back in his crib twice before he decided he was tired and went to sleep. Saturday morning they were attracted to some stickies that I had on some papers and insisted on wearing them.

They have discovered the stickies - you can't hide anything from these guys.

We headed to the mall to play at one of the kid's favorite places.

They love this bear.

Outing with the twins.

We picked up the twins last Saturday so Amy could baby proof their room since Alex and Meighan are climbing out of their cribs. This really changes things. Grandma and Grandpa had to make some changes too.

The weather was so nice, temperature in the 70's so we headed to Irondbridge Park. There were so many people we thought at first it was the nice weather, but there was a celebration sponsored by a local radio station for the epiphany. There were 3 wise men, santa claus and spider man!

Toys were given to all the children. Meighan got this cute chair and a little doll and Alex got a car.

Grandpa and Meighan

Then we headed to Burger King for dinner and fun in the playground area.

We're going to the Bowl Game!

This is the parade in Atlanta on Saturday before the game.

It was a little wet at the parade, then the weather cleared - a good thing since we did a lot of walking.

Fan fare before the game.

Inside the Georgia Dome getting ready for the game!

The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Georgia Bulldogs at the Chik Fila Bowl.

This was so cool - prior to the game all these mini hot air balloons with Chic Fila Coupons and the "cows" were released from the top of the dome.

The Hokies entering the field.

The Hokies started out so well, but the bulldogs won 31 to 24. It was another great season and we had a blast.

The bands were superb as usual.

We were pooped. We drove back on New Year's Eve, got home just in time to open a bottle of champagne and celebrate.
I did a little knitting on the road. This may not look like much now but it will be so cute when finished. I will show you the completed project soon.

This is a picture of a felted Christmas Purse I am working on. I am only one fourth done on mine since I had to rip it out several times before I could get the stitches right. I will show the finished purse when completed, but it may be a while - I have two babies I need to knit some items for first.

Happy Birthday Dave

Dave's birthday is December 28. Since we were leaving early on the 28th for the Va. Tech Bowl Game in Atlanta I gave hime his gift on Wednesday night. He loved it! Dave had seen this helmet at the bookstore on the Tech campus and wanted it but didn't want to pay the price. So later that week I called the bookstore and ordered it and had it delivered to my office. It was under my desk for a month. I think he was surprised. All the guys were envious. My boss is a University of Florida fan and wants a Gator helmet.



Well, it really isn't suppose to be worn, but he had to at least try it on. Cute huh?




Happy Birthday Dave, I love you.

A few more pictures.

A "Silver Spoon" cookbook, a digital cooking thermometer, salt pig and a Le Creuset pan. I love them all!

Brian and Monica gave me a Amazon gift certificate and I found some real treasures: Nigella Lawson items that Dave looked for me locally but couldn't find. Nigella is one of my favorites to watch on the Food Channel. The pot is so versatile - a steamer and a stockpot - pretty too, a pair of salad hands and a whisk. I guess not many people get excited about cooking items but I just can't help it. Dave now says I need to get busy and cook for him. I haven't been cooking as much as I would like to, just too tired when I get home from work but my goal is to cook more for my husband in 2007.

Final photos from Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas, it was especially fun with the kids. I received a lot of cooking items which I love.

A rice cooker! I have been wanting one of these for a long time; a gift from Amy. It's even red! I have been wanting to make rice molds for those cute bento displays I have been eyeing. They say you have to use one of these to make the perfect sticky rice.

This is a perpetual calendar Amy made for me. You can't see the beautiful details, sorry for the poor shot, but there are different pictures each month and some of my favorites. The hard part of this gift is deciding whether to enjoy it at home or take it to my office - maybe Amy will give me another one - hint, hint.

February, March, April and May 2007.

June, July, August, September, October and November

I will really enjoy this in 2007! Thanks Amy for your hard work and thoughtfullness.

Ian received two Va Tech shirts.

Emmy looked cute in the poncho I made for her.

Samara in her Hokie Hat.

Matlin - so grown up. She can get her learners permit soon-hard to believe.

Kari and Samara

Dave got a Hokie watch.

And I got this beautiful ruby and diamond bracelet - totally unexpected. I love it Dave.

Meighan opening this:

Twin baby dolls.

Sami and Meighan.

Alex - so cute in his khaki pants and sweater.

We had Baked Spaghetti (Paula Deen's Recipe) - always a favorite. Not a traditional Christmas dinner, but so good.

Two scrumptious desserts - Brownie Trifle!

And the best apple pie I have ever made. The recipe is from the Knitter's Recipe Collection.

I have more picture that I want to share and will post later.