When I was younger, my mom and sister would plan out every second of our vacations. We had at least a half page schedule for each day. My mom can’t go somewhere and NOT see as much as possible. Both she and my sister spent months pouring over guidebooks, picking the sights they want to see, the restaurants they want to try, and the bed and breakfasts where they want to stay. I get it, I really do. Why go to New York City and not go to a couple Broadway shows, a Yankee game, the Statue of Liberty, a helicopter tour, and on and on and on? Plus, they made detailed maps so we (usually) didn’t waste time getting lost or trying to find a restaurant or a place to stay, which was helpful. It sometimes made vacations more like work than being home, though. Yeah, I was seeing great things and I don’t wish I hadn’t seen them, but by the time we were halfway through our vacations I was ready to cry from exhaustion and sensory overload. We’d get up at 7am each day to see as much as possible. I need downtime and lots of sleep and that was not in the schedule.
When I was almost 21, my grandparents took the whole family on a cruise. It was amazing. A vacation where all there is to do is eat, sleep, read, and go to a few shows? HEAVEN. I don’t even like getting off the boat for excursions. I loved it so much, I convinced Thomas we should take a cruise for our honeymoon. He loved it, too, and we went on another cruise this past February. Now that I’m one of the grownups, I finally get to have relaxing vacations! And you know what? Since it’s been almost 4 years since my last sightseeing-packed vacation, I’m kind of missing it. Maybe we need to alternate vacation styles? I don’t know how you would blend them. To me, it kind of feels like you have to pick a style – go-go-go or relaaaaaax – and do that the whole time. Because if we’re going somewhere awesome, like Europe, we should see as much as possible. I feel more comfortable relaxing when that’s what you’re supposed to be doing, so I’m not missing anything. But, pouring over guidebooks is not my thing and I don’t like the planning part of vacations. Maybe I’ll have to travel with my sister and/or mom if I want to see stuff…
What vacation style do you prefer? Does your spouse have the same preference or do you have to compromise? Do you ever mix it up?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Checking in
If you work – or even just use a babysitter occasionally – do you call to check-in every once in a while? I’m not a compulsive check-in-er. Most days when I work, even if the kids are at my mom’s - which means I could call as much as I want - I never do. I know this sounds bad, but I don’t think about them much. I mean, they’re never really off my mind and I obviously don’t forget they exist, but I don’t worry about how they’re doing. I know they’re OK. When I do think about them – maybe if I think one of them might be getting sick and I don’t know if I’ll have to stay home the next day – I obsess about it and barely get anything done. It’s easier for me if I go into work mode and try not to wonder how things are going or what they’re doing. I just concentrate on making it through the day. How about you? Does checking in on your kids ease your mind or make it harder to keep working?
Monday, November 28, 2011
Two Pumpkin Pies
I got a little ambitious for Paul's infant dedication in October and decided to roast pumpkins to make the pumpkin pie from scratch.
It was an all-day activity and lots of work, but it was also kind of fun. (I'm old and boring.) I pureed the pumpkin and used it to make the pies and a batch of pumpkin butter for the dinner after the dedication. Everyone really liked the pie (and the butter), even the people who don't normally like pumpkin pie. I told them I'd frozen some of the pumpkin so there'd be more made-from-scratch pie at Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately, I couldn't imagine Thanksgiving without the intense pumpkin-ness of pie made from a can. (The from-scratch pie had a more light, fresh taste.) So I decided to make two kinds of pumpkin pie and something that used to be one of the easiest parts of Thanksgiving became complicated.
I only had a big two-pie can of pumpkin puree, so I used half of it to make a pie. Then I got out the frozen homemade puree and made another pie. Then, to use the other half of the canned pumpkin, I made two loaves of pumpkin bread.
The pumpkin pies used to take me 20 minutes. This took 2 hours and dirtied WAY more dishes.
(The little pan in the top middle is pumpkin pie without a crust. My sister can't have gluten, so that was her pie.)
Unfortunately, I couldn't imagine Thanksgiving without the intense pumpkin-ness of pie made from a can. (The from-scratch pie had a more light, fresh taste.) So I decided to make two kinds of pumpkin pie and something that used to be one of the easiest parts of Thanksgiving became complicated.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Quick Question Satur...uh, Sunday
Oops, I changed the title of this post right before publishing and didn't realize it then didn't make sense. Sorry! The quick question is: What went through your mind when holding your baby for the first time?
Honestly, the first thing I thought was “Holy s**t, this is an ACTUAL BABY. What have I done? I’m not qualified for this!”
My next thought was “Wow, she’s so much bigger than I thought she’d be!” People (myself included, I guess) go on and on about how tiny newborns are, so I was expecting her to be smaller. Plus, they laid her on my chest, up close to my face right away and all the screaming and wiggling made her seem bigger. I could not believe this much baby had just come out of me. Who knew there was that much room in there? (and she was only 7 lbs 1 oz!)
When Paul was born, my first thought was “It’s over? Really? He’s not in there anymore?” He came REALLY fast and for the rest of the night I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t still pregnant.
Honestly, the first thing I thought was “Holy s**t, this is an ACTUAL BABY. What have I done? I’m not qualified for this!”
My next thought was “Wow, she’s so much bigger than I thought she’d be!” People (myself included, I guess) go on and on about how tiny newborns are, so I was expecting her to be smaller. Plus, they laid her on my chest, up close to my face right away and all the screaming and wiggling made her seem bigger. I could not believe this much baby had just come out of me. Who knew there was that much room in there? (and she was only 7 lbs 1 oz!)
When Paul was born, my first thought was “It’s over? Really? He’s not in there anymore?” He came REALLY fast and for the rest of the night I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t still pregnant.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanksgiving
Another meme! Lawyerish made this one up Wendesday and, while it is a meme, it's basically what I was going to write anyway (summary of Thanksgiving).
1. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving at home or elsewhere this year? With whom will you spend Thanksgiving Day?
This was our third year of hosting both sides of the family at our house for Thanksgiving Day. We got so sick of traveling to both sides for every holiday (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas...maybe something else?) that after we bought a house, we convinced everyone to come for Thanksgiving so we wouldn't have to travel. We just do immediate families (our parents and siblings), so its not too huge. I love having one holiday a year that's both sides combined!
2. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?
Our normal breakfast or whatever we can scrounge up. This year I never got around to eating until people started showing up with the appetizers (around noon). I was starving.
3. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?
My mom loves the parade and it was always on in our house growing up. I don't really care either way. This year we DVRed it and watched it in the evening after everyone left. The ability to fast forward makes the parade much less boring.
4. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day (i.e., for the men to eat while they lounge around and watch football)?
We have appetizers around 11:30 or noon and lunch at 1:00 or 1:30. Most people obviously go light on the appetizers to save room for lunch, but not me. The appetizers, especially my aunt's corn/jalepeno/cheese dip are my favorite part of the day so I eat as much as I can.
5. What do you wear on Thanksgiving?
We've always been a jeans/nice sweater kind of family for holidays - including Christmas. (We dress up for the Christmas eve service at church, but for Christmas day we wear jeans/sweaters.)
6. What's your Thanksgiving table like -- do you use special plates/silver/glasses, etc? Do you have a centerpiece? A color scheme? Candles?
We generally use our wedding china when we host, but last year my mom bought a bunch of paper plates and cups on clearance after Thanksgiving since we knew we'd have a tiny baby this year. It was nice to not have to wash dishes, but I do prefer using the china. We use tablecloths, cloth napkins (though this year we had paper napkins that went with the plates), and tea lights in the candle holders we decorated with at our wedding. This year, my mother-in-law picked up some flowers when she ran to the store to get the cool-whip we'd forgotten (oops).
7. Do you serve buffet-style or family-style? What do you have to drink?
Buffet-style. We have long-ish counters in the kitchen and they get covered with food. There's a designated appetizer counter, lunch counter (which extends on to the stove), and dessert counter.
8. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?
We say a prayer before heading to the buffet line.
9. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?
After dinner, we usually sit around for awhile, then clean up dinner. Washing all the dishes usually makes us hungry enough to start on the pie. After we finish dessert people usually take off, which kind of bums me out. They all just...leave! This year, my sister presided over the leftover-putting-away while I fed the baby, so I didn't get a chance to force people to pack leftovers to take. Some people took pie, but other than that they left everything. We probably have enough food to host another Thanksgiving. On the one hand, SCORE. On the other...that's a lot of food. (But I'm on it.)
10. What do you do with your leftovers?
Thanksgiving bowls. Stuffing, mashed potatos, corn, and turkey all mixed together. LOVE. I get pretty bummed out when we start running out of items. Mashed potatos/corn/turkey just isn't the same. (I actually buy extra boxes of stuffing because that's my favorite part so I don't want to run out of it first.)
1. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving at home or elsewhere this year? With whom will you spend Thanksgiving Day?
This was our third year of hosting both sides of the family at our house for Thanksgiving Day. We got so sick of traveling to both sides for every holiday (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas...maybe something else?) that after we bought a house, we convinced everyone to come for Thanksgiving so we wouldn't have to travel. We just do immediate families (our parents and siblings), so its not too huge. I love having one holiday a year that's both sides combined!
2. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?
Our normal breakfast or whatever we can scrounge up. This year I never got around to eating until people started showing up with the appetizers (around noon). I was starving.
3. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?
My mom loves the parade and it was always on in our house growing up. I don't really care either way. This year we DVRed it and watched it in the evening after everyone left. The ability to fast forward makes the parade much less boring.
4. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day (i.e., for the men to eat while they lounge around and watch football)?
We have appetizers around 11:30 or noon and lunch at 1:00 or 1:30. Most people obviously go light on the appetizers to save room for lunch, but not me. The appetizers, especially my aunt's corn/jalepeno/cheese dip are my favorite part of the day so I eat as much as I can.
5. What do you wear on Thanksgiving?
We've always been a jeans/nice sweater kind of family for holidays - including Christmas. (We dress up for the Christmas eve service at church, but for Christmas day we wear jeans/sweaters.)
6. What's your Thanksgiving table like -- do you use special plates/silver/glasses, etc? Do you have a centerpiece? A color scheme? Candles?
We generally use our wedding china when we host, but last year my mom bought a bunch of paper plates and cups on clearance after Thanksgiving since we knew we'd have a tiny baby this year. It was nice to not have to wash dishes, but I do prefer using the china. We use tablecloths, cloth napkins (though this year we had paper napkins that went with the plates), and tea lights in the candle holders we decorated with at our wedding. This year, my mother-in-law picked up some flowers when she ran to the store to get the cool-whip we'd forgotten (oops).
7. Do you serve buffet-style or family-style? What do you have to drink?
Buffet-style. We have long-ish counters in the kitchen and they get covered with food. There's a designated appetizer counter, lunch counter (which extends on to the stove), and dessert counter.
8. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?
We say a prayer before heading to the buffet line.
9. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?
After dinner, we usually sit around for awhile, then clean up dinner. Washing all the dishes usually makes us hungry enough to start on the pie. After we finish dessert people usually take off, which kind of bums me out. They all just...leave! This year, my sister presided over the leftover-putting-away while I fed the baby, so I didn't get a chance to force people to pack leftovers to take. Some people took pie, but other than that they left everything. We probably have enough food to host another Thanksgiving. On the one hand, SCORE. On the other...that's a lot of food. (But I'm on it.)
10. What do you do with your leftovers?
Thanksgiving bowls. Stuffing, mashed potatos, corn, and turkey all mixed together. LOVE. I get pretty bummed out when we start running out of items. Mashed potatos/corn/turkey just isn't the same. (I actually buy extra boxes of stuffing because that's my favorite part so I don't want to run out of it first.)
Friday, November 25, 2011
Black Friday
In my experience, people tend to have one of two extreme opinions on Black Friday. They either think it’s awesome and are excited for it or think it sounds terrible and plan to hide at home all day. I go back and forth depending on the year. Growing up, we were two hours away from any sort of shopping area (we didn’t even have a Target), so if we really wanted to get in on Black Friday we’d have had to get up at 3 am or something to start driving. (This was back before internet shopping when people bought things in places called “stores.”)
In college, I didn’t have much money for gifts, so I continued to ignore it. Then, after I was married and had a job and disposable income, I got REALLY into it (much to my Thomas’ dismay). The biggest appeal was getting all my shopping done so I didn’t have to worry about it in December. I hounded him for the week leading up to Black Friday (What should we get your mom? Does she have this? Would she like that? Is there anything in this ad I can buy for your sister? How about this one?) The next year, he was a little more into it and we studied the ads together and made lists of what stores each of us would go to. We even had a schedule, since Meg was 6 months old and we didn’t want to take her, so someone always had to be home. (This was the year I bought 200+ jars of baby food.)
Last year, morning sickness made me pretty apathetic to everything. We halfheartedly looked through the ads on Thanksgiving night, then went to a couple stores Friday. This year was the same. I’m just so tired (two kids, hosting Thanksgiving for both sides of the family…), I can’t muster the energy required to really go for it.
Did you go shopping? Get anything good? Do you have your Christmas shopping done? Or have you not started yet?
In college, I didn’t have much money for gifts, so I continued to ignore it. Then, after I was married and had a job and disposable income, I got REALLY into it (much to my Thomas’ dismay). The biggest appeal was getting all my shopping done so I didn’t have to worry about it in December. I hounded him for the week leading up to Black Friday (What should we get your mom? Does she have this? Would she like that? Is there anything in this ad I can buy for your sister? How about this one?) The next year, he was a little more into it and we studied the ads together and made lists of what stores each of us would go to. We even had a schedule, since Meg was 6 months old and we didn’t want to take her, so someone always had to be home. (This was the year I bought 200+ jars of baby food.)
Last year, morning sickness made me pretty apathetic to everything. We halfheartedly looked through the ads on Thanksgiving night, then went to a couple stores Friday. This year was the same. I’m just so tired (two kids, hosting Thanksgiving for both sides of the family…), I can’t muster the energy required to really go for it.
Did you go shopping? Get anything good? Do you have your Christmas shopping done? Or have you not started yet?
Thursday, November 24, 2011
99 things
I found this while reading k's archives. I know doing a meme during NaBloPoMo is kind of cheating, but I really like this one. I think the rest of the NaBloPoMo-ers should do it, too, so I can see their answers! k could even do it again...
I decided to do it today, because you can only read so many people's lists of what they're thankful for, right? I'll spare you mine, because it mainly contains the usuals - family, health, home. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
99 Things I May or May Not Have Done
(Things I HAVE done are in bold.)
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (does knitting count?)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (it was closed for repairs when I was in NYC)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (the Louve was ALSO closed for repairs when I was in Paris. I must have bad timing)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (not with actual rocks, but I've been on rock-climbing walls, both indoors and out)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke (not in public, but with the Karaoke machine my grandparents bought us. I wonder how much my parents hated them for that gift?)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been inside an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (I think? I can't think of a specific instance, though.)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (in Alaska!)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalum
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (I've tried the Bible-in-a-year things several times, but never completed it)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
I decided to do it today, because you can only read so many people's lists of what they're thankful for, right? I'll spare you mine, because it mainly contains the usuals - family, health, home. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
99 Things I May or May Not Have Done
(Things I HAVE done are in bold.)
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (does knitting count?)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (it was closed for repairs when I was in NYC)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (the Louve was ALSO closed for repairs when I was in Paris. I must have bad timing)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (not with actual rocks, but I've been on rock-climbing walls, both indoors and out)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke (not in public, but with the Karaoke machine my grandparents bought us. I wonder how much my parents hated them for that gift?)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been inside an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (I think? I can't think of a specific instance, though.)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (in Alaska!)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalum
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (I've tried the Bible-in-a-year things several times, but never completed it)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
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