This Week

Watching: This entertaining and surprisingly touching tale of literally reaching for the skies and never giving up on dreams, love, life.

AND

This raw and riveting unraveling of the "American dream," a marriage and 2 individuals. Kate Winslet earned her Oscar for this performance.

Listening to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9my9eQHFPY

Reading:

I'm still sufferring through New Moon. I've decided that I am far too far to not finish (like page 500 of 550), but I need a clean break before I move on. I am going finish it as soon as I get off the computer. Done!

Baking/Eating/Cooking:

Lots of comfort food. Pumpkin cream cheese and banana chocolate chip muffins, and ooey gooey, extra chocolately brownies. Popcorn at least 3 times this week...I never get sick of it. Pork chops with wild rice, roasted cauliflower and lasagna baked ziti.

1 pound ziti (or rigatoni)

1 T. olive oil

1 Large yellow onion, chopped

3/4 t. kosher salt

1/4 t. pepper

1 pound ground turkey

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 c. chopped oregano (or T. Italian spices)

2 pound jar of marinara sauce

15 oz. container low fat ricotta

1/2 c. fresh grated Parmesan

2 c. shredded mozzarella

Heat oven to 400.

Cook pasta according to directions.

Heat oil in large skillet, and add onion, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the turkey and cook until no trace of pink remains. About 7 minutes.

Add garlic, and spices and saute for 2 minutes. Add the sauce and heat through. Remove from heat. Add the ricotta and 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Once mixed, add pasta and toss. Spread the mixture in a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with mozarella and 1/4 of Parmesan. Bake until cheese melts, about 15 minutes.

You can add a package of frozen spinach thawed and drained when you add the ricotta, but I don't because although my kids love spinach, they suddenly hate this casserole when I add it. So I serve up a side of fresh, steamed spinach and everyone is happy!

I'm Feeling rested and ready for the holiday season that is upon us...dare I even say, a little festive? And a lot frustrated with Blogger...formatting is a female dog!

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for…

My new Christmas play list. I love, love, love Christmas music. I’m listening to it right now and it makes me feel light and hopeful. I wish I could post it here, but since I cannot, let me know if you want me to email the link to you.

Cashmere. I splurged and bought my very first cashmere twin set. Now I want to replace all of my fall and winter sweater sets. I better start playing the lottery…I own lots of them!

Next week is Thanksgiving. Even as I feel myself missing my Mom even more than last year, I am thankful for so much…so many. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday and it reminds me of many happy times…it reminds me of her. My Dad loves Thanksgiving too because he enjoys all of the cooking. He told me last night that he already made his delicious sausage and squash chowder. He has plans to try a Brussels sprout gratin. I love watching him in action in the kitchen because it makes him so happy to make good food for the people he loves…it reminds me so poignantly of his mother, my grandmother, who inspired so many family members in the heart of the house.

Daisies. There are 17 and counting in Miss Bit’s troop. We had our first meeting this week and the girls were beyond excited and incredibly sweet. I feel privileged to be one of the leaders even as I warn you that a snarky post on parents is certainly forthcoming soon.

My hubby is enjoying a weekend at the cabin with his Dad and 3 brothers and the only grandchild who is old enough. It is an annual tradition for them to converge on their Northwood’s cabin for hunting and cards and camaraderie.

Tonight the kids and I have a movie night. We will get in our pjs, make some popcorn and hunker down to watch Up.

My hair. Second time was a charm. I went to see Kevin again last night and I left there feeling like a million bucks, and it didn’t cost me another dollar.

Housewives of OC. Thanks to them I logged 10 miles on my treadmill so far this week!

Lego time. This week T. Bone has been hard at work building one of his Star Wars ships. He likes help and we have a little system. I supervise and help Lil Bit find the pieces for the next step and he puts them in their places. It has made me realize and appreciate how good he is at visualization. I so admire that because it is near impossible for me to look at a picture and recreate what I see.

Pizza lunch in the conference room today. It was a little morale booster planned by our resident "reverend."

Watching The Nutcracker and the Mouse King with Miss Bit Sunday morning. Now we are both really excited for our mother/daughter date with our friends next month to see the ballet.

Feed Them and They Will Come

Yesterday I threw a can of stale cashews on the patio for the animals to enjoy. I mean I know that the squirrels and chipmunks like nuts, but the real enjoyment is Tigger's and Peanut's. It's the equivalent of television for my boys. They stalked and stared and pounced and purred and then they curled up exhausted after an afternoon of entertainment.

Some Days Are Just...Well,

Heavy

That time

I thought I could not

go any closer to grief

without dying

I went closer,

and I did not die.

Surely God

had his hand in this,

as well as friends.

Still, I was bent,

and my laughter,

as the poet said,

was nowhere to be found.

Then said my friend Daniel

(brave even among lions),

"It's not the weight you carry

but how you carry it -

books, bricks, grief -

it's all in the way

you embrace it, balance it, carry it

when you cannot, and would not,

put it down."

So I went practicing.

Have you noticed?

Have you heard

the laughter

that comes, now and again,

out of my startled mouth?

How I linger

to admire, admire, admire

the things of this world

that are kind, and maybe

also troubled -

roses in the wind,

the sea geese on the steep waves,

a love

to which there is no reply?

Mary Oliver

Our Week in Walt's World

It's been awhile, but the fun and excitement we experienced during our time at Disney World has not yet begun to fade. It truly seems like only last week that we were soaking up the attractions and entertainment from sun up until long after sun down.

I have to say it again - this trip was such a beautiful blessing. Spending the 1 year anniversary of my Mom's passing in "The Happiest Place on Earth" made me well...mostly happy, but sometimes sad and often nostalgic too. I missed my Mom, but I really felt her smiling down on us. I had peace in my heart that this is just where she wanted us to be.

It was perfect timing for the kids...almost 9 and 5, that is. T. Bone was all about the thrill and adventure - no roller coaster too fast or ride too scary. Miss Bit was completely about the magic and wonder - spellbound (and often speechless) by the beauty of the princesses, and all the singing and dancing. Disney amazes me every time I go, and experiencing it all through the eyes of your children has the tendency to put parents in awe too.

We've never pulled the kids out of school for a vacation, but I'm glad that we did for this trip. We were all spoiled...we waited in very few lines. Late September is definitely the time to go. We've never stayed on the grounds either, but we are now firm believers that it's the only place to stay if you plan to maximize your time at the parks. Disney thinks of absolutely everything and they make it so convenient. All guests have to do is relax and enjoy thanks to the thousands of "cast members" (57,000 of them) who take their jobs - to make your stay pleasurable - very seriously.

Upon our arrival in Orlando, we hopped aboard the Magic Express and were shuttled to our resort. We were walking along the streets of Hollywood Studios by lunch time. (Our luggage was waiting for us when we returned later in the evening. I bet the staff would've unpacked for us if we had asked. 'No' is never uttered by cast mates. No...not ever!) We all enjoyed The Voyage of the Little Mermaid...the boys were probably more thankful for a cool reprieve than for a glimpse of Ariel's grotto. Miss Bit clapped loudly when it was over and said, "I want to see that again!" Toy Story Mania was good 4D fun for the whole family too. It was the only ride we waited in any sizable line for all week. T. Bone and I braved the Tower of Terror...it is my personal favorite. It's true what they say...the free falling of the runaway elevator is random making it all the more thrilling or terrifying depending on one's mettle. The grown man next to me kept grabbing my hand...he was that scared, but not my T. Bone...he had both his hands in the air for the duration of his virgin ride. He loves roller coasters maybe even more than his Mom and Dad! His favorite at Hollywood Studios was Rock n' Roller Coaster, which takes you from launch to loop at 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. I admit, I closed my eyes. Miss Bit simply marveled at the coasters from afar with both feet planted firmly on the ground. I cannot blame her...she is only 5! A 5 year old trooper who spent hours traipsing around the park the first day only to crash on the bus on the way home. She woke up refreshed from her 5 minute cat nap and turned into a fish in the pool. (We ended everyday with a swim before bed. It was a welcome retreat from the heat as it was in the 90s everyday.) As we tucked the kids in that first night T.Bone said, "I think this is going to be the best week of my life!" Miss Bit said, "We get to go back tomorrow...yeah!" They were asleep every night in the SAME bed (with a pillow wedged between them) within moments of their heads hitting their pillows. All week long, they said "thank you" after 'thank you."

After a solid (albeit short) night's sleep and a quick breakfast we were off bright and early for day 2, or day 1 at Magic Kingdom. I've never been at the park waiting for the gates to open so I never even knew that a welcome parade starts the day. Where else on earth does everyday begin and end with a parade? Not to mention the numerous parades thrown in for good measure throughout each day. Miss Bit's eyes were as wide as saucers as a cast of characters, including Mickey and Minnie and several princesses, arrived on a welcome train. I admit that I even got teary eyed with excitement just like I was 5 years old again. After the countdown, we made our way up Main Street. Miss Bit went out of her way to hi 4 all of the cast members who were lining the streets wearing their Mickey hands. Daddy escorted his very own princess to Cinderella's Castle. All week long cast members would say, "Well, hello there princess," and Miss Bit would beam from ear to ear as if she was hearing her 'real' name for the first time. T. Bone and I made a mad dash far away from the castle to Space Mountain, which just happened to be closed for renovations. He was mildly disappointed to miss the opportunity to ride another roller coaster, but instead we opted to to take a turn on the Speedway. I had a heck of a time keeping a straight face...my boy actually thought he was off-roading at death defying speeds of 7 mph! He thought he had maneuvered our race car off the track, and he was desperate to get it back on before someone saw that he was breaking the rules. Later in the day, we talked Miss Bit into taking a ride on Big Thunder Mountain, which proved to be a major mistake. The runaway mining car was way too much for her, and caused her to have anxiety over every single ride and show for the rest of our stay, and this was only day 2! I still have no clue how on earth we convinced her to get on Splash Mountain minutes later. She spent the entire 10 minute lazy river ride agonizing over the 52 foot drop at the end. Lil Bit conceded that it was a little better than Thunder Mountain, but she didn't want to ride either one again. We didn't score any more points when we told her that the Haunted Mansion was a fun house. She shared a doom buggy with her Daddy and I overheard her say, "This is the worst fun house E-V-E-R! Help me cover my eyes!"Thankfully, the afternoon parade of princes and princesses lightened things up a bit. Especially, when Eric spied Miss Bit's Little Mermaid doll and then motioned for Ariel to greet her little fan. Mickey's PhilharMagic, a mischievous 4D film that brought the magic of Disney to life, was something we all agreed we wanted to see again. The kids were all "Wow!" and "Cool!" and "Oh, my gosh!" We took the obligatory turn on It's a Small World. We almost skipped it, and I'm so thankful that we didn't because it was Nanny's favorite when we were here last. She probably liked it because it was cool and calm and Lil Bit sat in her arms for the duration dazzled by the sights and the sounds. This time the kids made us chuckle. When we were passing through Mexico, Miss Bit said, "I think this is Texas." T. Bone countered, "No, I'm pretty sure it's Egypt." Geography goes to the girls! We were starting to think about heading back...beating the crowds before closing... when the castle all alit started changing from gold to pink to purple to blue, and then all of the sudden Tinkerbelle aglow came from the tippy top of the castle and went soaring through the night's sky. I got serious chills and tears listening to When You Wish Upon A Star http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK7qU1Ik2HQ as the fireworks (some heart shaped, some star shaped) exploded all around us. It was worth having to wait a bit for our boat to get home.

Day 3, we rose even earlier than the day before to attend a character breakfast at Ohana. Ohana means family...my hubby said this all week (too much Lilo and Stitch). It's still stuck in my head...just like It's A Small World otherwise known as It's a Long Ride! We "cousins" enjoyed a delicious, hearty meal. The kids were all about the Mickey shaped waffles until he showed up in person. They were both excited to see the characters, and Miss Bit was not the least bit disappointed that there were no princesses in waiting. T.Bone decided that he likes Donald, Huey, Fooey & Chewy (Donald's nephews, of course), Pluto, Goofy, Stitch, Chip and Dale and yes...Mickey. What do they all have in common? They are all boys and the are NOT princes! Lilo hand picked T. Bone to lead the parade around the restaurant after breakfast...needless to say, he turned as red as Mickey's Hawaiian shirt! We spent the scorching day at The Animal Kingdom. It's my least favorite of the parks because it's a lot like a zoo, and we have a very nice one in our proximity. Expedition Everest was our first stop. The torn and twisted track at the hands of the Yeti resulted in backwards spirals that made me thankful I didn't have to do it again so soon after breakfast. T. Bone, on the other hand, was excited to get right back in line with his Dad. (Gotta love the ride swap feature almost as much as the Fastpass.) After surviving Everest, we rode Kali River Rapids to cool off. Once was enough for me...I was soaked, but my family went again and were beyond soaked. I had to take Miss Bit in the bathroom to attempt and dry her clothes with the hand dryer. The safari through the savannah was our next stop. It's kind of like taking the zoo mobile through the zoo. How it scared Lil Bit, I still don't fully understand. T. Bone took lots of pictures mostly of mud and rocks and animals that were too far away to really turn out. Why people take pictures of animals at the zoo...I also never understand! It's Tough to be a Bug inside the impressive Tree of Life tested the limits of Miss Bits' imagination. Bugs were coming at us with giant fly swatters and big, furry spiders came plunging out of the ceiling. Festival of the Lion King was festive and well-done and not at all scary. Miss Bit picked out a sweet Nahla lion cub and still sleeps with her every night. She learned a new word on vacation...souvenir. We were going to keep it to 1 toy and 1 t shirt, and well, I just couldn't say 'no.' Somehow I rationalized it by telling myself that they (or more like, she cuz' T. Bone was very discriminating about his selections) would have been far more indulged if Nanny were with us. Finding Nemo may have been my favorite show of the trip. The puppetry was like nothing I have ever seen before. After a long, hot day, we retired to the Rain Forest Cafe for a little dinner. We were finally dry.

Epcot (Abcot according to the kiddos) was on the agenda for day 4. As the gates opened (yes, we were there ready and waiting once again), we raced to Soarin' and let me tell ya we were not alone. It seemed like the entire crowd made a mad dash, but we were lucky to get right on the hang gliding simulation. It felt like we were really flying just above mountain peaks and crashing pipelines so it was a little too realistic for Miss Bit, but she handled it. T.Bone and the hubby enjoyed the adrenaline rush of 50 degree turns and 60 mph speeds on Test Track and an 8,000 mile journey to Mars on Mission:Space. Miss Bit and I saw The Muppets 3D, took a twirl on a Nemo ride and engaged in a little awesome Turtle Talk with Crush, and I'm pretty sure that something scared her during each experience. We met up to see Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and that had Miss Bit worrying about whether or not they would "shrink us back up" when the show was over. We didn't make it to our first country until 3:00. We could definitely have used another day at Epcot, but something tells me that the next time we visit, the kids will be much more into other cultures and countries. Who am I kidding...it was the opening weekend of The Food and Wine Festival...I could have spent my entire week there! We had a nice dinner in France. The highlight for T. Bone was getting buttered noodles with a side of french fries for dinner. Bit was pleased to have her 10th serving of chicken nuggets in 4 days and to get a visit from Remy during dessert. He was delivered to our table on a serving tray, and she found him quite adorable although not edible. I was happy with the Bordeaux. We caught most of the Illumination of the Earth show. The display of fireworks, lasers and water was very cool just like everything Disney. Disney takes everything to new levels - rides, movies, shows, parades - you name it...everything is an incredible experience.

Day 5 we returned to The Magic Kingdom to revisit favorites (tea cups, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Railroad, Mickey's PhilharMagic) and tour the rest of the park (Mickey and Minnie's houses, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tom Sawyer's Island). It was Saturday, and therefore, a little more crowded. We had a real feast americana at the Liberty Tree and then caught a little bit of the spectacular SpectroMagic parade which was such an awesome display of lighted floats and costumes. We made it back to the hotel before it started to pour. The deluge lasted just long enough for us to change into our swimming suits. We shooed the ducks to the deep end, got in for our nightly swim, and watched family after family return home looking like drowned rats.

We spent our last day at Hollywood Studios and found ourselves fighting more crowds, but being veterans and having such a smart tour guide (hubby) we strategized to get our Fastpasses and maximize our time. We were all happy to ride Toy Story Mania again. T. Bone would have spent the whole day going from Tower of Terror to Rock n' Roller Coaster. Miss Bit very much enjoyed The Beauty and the Beast musical, and I did too. We had a yummy dinner at Mama Melrose's and made a final stop at The American Idol Experience before heading home. We swam in the volcano pool until 11:00 making the most of our last night of vacation.

I think we were all ready to come home for a little rest and relaxation.

"Having Dreams is What Makes Life Tolerable"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6YqOJ2EcWE

I just finished watching Rudy with my kids. At the end of the movie, T. Bone was cheering, Miss Bit was sobbing and I was doing both...clapping and crying that is to say. She hit the nail on the head when she said, "This movie is just so happy that it's sad." Feelings as interpretted by a five year old...gotta love it. You also gotta love the shelves of old movies that you can get for free from the library.

Now we're watching America's Funniest Home Videos. We're trying to lighten things up a little around here.

nothing better to do

my hubby is long gone to the badger game.

t bone and lil bit are off playing the day away with friends.

i'm all alone in my clean, ever so quiet house.

so i'm gonna do what i do...and love best.

now my single dilemma is - where to begin?