Saturday morning stroll.........

One reason I am in love with the city I live is this.....on any given day we can wake up and pick anything to do (that is more likely then not within walking distance.)

On Saturday we woke up early and decided a family stroll to the zoo was in order.

Here is Clara and Rhiannon meeting the "big kitty"

and learning where milk comes from....Although she has no idea what milk is or tastes like.......

I don't know if you remember back to when I first blogged about going to the zoo with my sister.  We were in the monkey house and this guy here tried to throw himself out of the cage to (I can only presume) eat Rhiannon's face off.   Well Rhiannon had just finished telling us how she wants to become the next Jane Goodall.  We walked up to the little dudes cage.  He was swinging back and forth, happy as can be.

As soon as he saw Rhiannon he jumped off his vine and stood there staring at her for a minute while sucking his thumb.  (Just like last time.)  All of a sudden he jumped towards her banging against the glass ,with his fangs bared just like last time!  I now believe he has a problem with her, especially
there were about 10 other people standing around the cage as well.

After our stroll, and Rhiannon's scare, we decided pancakes were in order.

The Mister and I ended our Saturday fun times with a karaoke party and some double date action.

Us lucky girls had the boy's full attention.  (insert sarcasm)

But at least we had each other!!!

I hope everyone's Monday is going well.  

The baby and I actually tried to go for a walk on this WINDY Monday and a tree fell across the road about three feet in front of us!  

(True story.  I took that as a sign to go back inside!!!!!!) 

(P.S. We are all very excited that tonight is Rhiannon's first softball game!)  

Art Day

The title pretty much sums it all up.  

Today is the perfect day for non stop art.

Buehrle was very excited for the art...

Rhiannons Masterpiece!  

itty bitty insomniac

Today the puppy, the baby and myself are enjoying one of the last days that we get to have a yard for a while.  I am glad it warmed up a bit before we have to move on-wards to our next adventure.

Lately the baby has decided she doesn't need to sleep anymore.  (This makes for an extremely crabby two year old....)  Every night I try and convince her a little more that sleeping is actually fun! I know I am not the only one out there who has this problem, so tell me......

How do you cure your children's insomnia?

We take silly pictures......

And long eerie walks in the fog.....  

Water Bottle Killer

Do you have a water bottle killer in your house?  Because the Mister has coined that name for me and unfortunately she has struck again........

Looks like it could be a pretty neat looking vase, huh?  Well its not.  

At one time this was my sun tea pitcher.  

Balls.

The Mister and I's wedding has come and gone.  We are trying to get everything in the household back to normal and as that starts happening I will definitely do a couple of recaps on my favorite vendors. 

 Until then here is Clara's newest achievement.  

She is bound to be a make up artist for sure!!!!!!!  

10 Days........

Ten more days till the wedding..........  

Let the wedding crafting craze begin!

30 down.....

120 more to go.....

At least my little helper is entertaining herself.........

In other huge news........ Rhiannon Made the Softball Team!!!!!

Integrating

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  I took the dog and baby to the park.  Then I noticed something that made me really sad.  Every time a little kid came up to play with Clara she ran to me and hid her face till they went away.  I need to make her comfortable with people her own size but I don't want to scare her by throwing her into a play group situation.

When and how did you introduce your tot to other children in a group setting?  

Tell me here! 

Corned Beef & Cabbage

I haven't posted in a while and I am going to blame it all on the wedding (19 more days to go!)  However I think I have everything ready as far as wedding stuff.  It is amazing at how much extra time I feel like I have now!!

That being said my blog can go on.........

I adore My Mister with all my heart and I do for many different reasons.  

Here is reason 45386 on why I love that man.

He completely understands that sometimes his girls just need some delicious hot dogs.  And fettuccine. And (the most delicious) Italian beef.  And a cup of catsup (if your name is Clara that is all you like to eat.)  On Sunday, out of the blue, he threw us all in the car and took up to Portillos to have a very fancy and delicious lunch!  After we were good and fed we headed out to the point for some Sunday Funday relaxation with this gorgeous weather we are having around these parts. 

Indiana!

The girls are channeling their inner Titanic.

Trying to take Clara down by the water.........

However she inherited her fathers sense of adventure and preferred the safety of the rocks.

Rhiannon, on the other hand, was more then happy to jump from rock to rock.

Me and My Girlies......

Corned Beef and Cabbage

MMMMMMM Tasty!!!!  I decided to try my hand at making corned beef this year.  I always love eating it but was somehow under the impression that it would be really hard to make.  Wrong!  It is easy as pie.  It took me about three 1/2 hrs so make sure you start early in the afternoon!!!!

• 3 lb beef brisket (mine came with a spice packet.  I don't know if this is normal or if it is just because St. Patrick's day is a week away.) 
• 1 head of cabbage cut however you like it
• 5-6 potatoes quartered  
• 1 bag of carrots cut however you like them
• 2 onions cut however you like them
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 garlic cloves
• beef bouillon

1. Take your meat, spice packet, and bay leaves and put them in a deep pot.  (I used my stock pot)  
2. Crush your garlic (Pictures of how to do that) and throw that in the pot too.  Since you are going to be cooking this all for quite some time I saw no need to mince the garlic.
3. Cover all of this with water and add some bouillon.  I just eyed this.  The beef is already salty so next time I don't think I am even going to add this.
4. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down and let it simmer for a good 2 1/2 - 3 hours.
5. In the meantime, cut up all of your vegetables.  
6. Once your beef is good and tender throw all of your vegetables in the pot and let it cook for about 15-30 minutes more, or until they are tender.

That is it, folks.  You literally throw it in a large pot and boil it for hours.  I have also read that this can be made in the crock pot.  If you prefer doing it that way you should put steps 1 - 3 in the crock and set on high for 3 1/2 hrs.  Then add your vegetables for another 2 - 3 hours.  Easy peasy.

If you do end up making this make sure you sleep in separate rooms!  The Mister fell asleep on the couch tonight and that is exactly where I am leaving him!

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's day?