And these were all he had

on his feet. See story below for details!

The Long Slog Home

I saw him off in the distance in the neighbor's backyard. When there is no snow, there is a path marked with stones that the kids can use to go from yard to yard. So I don't know what Ronan was thinking trying to cross this after our 3rd snowstorm in as many weeks.

He looked like something out of Little House on the Prairie walking home from school over the Kansas plains after a sudden storm.

Determined, I will give him that. What hat? Zip my coat? Gloves? I am in 4th grade. Too cool for such things.

Finally, he made it safely home. He tied up his horse in the barn and came in to momma who had some soup in the cast iron pot over the fire.

Yo, Second Snow Day

Two snow days in two weeks? Wow. The kids will be in school until the 4th of July at this rate. Of course, the high school senior is being oh-so-smug that he gets out of school in May and won't need to make up any days this year. The brothers didn't appreciate that. This is dad, umm, yes in shorts and boots and exposed leg taking the dog out to play this morning. Can't explain the attire, ever.

Ronan asked for this. "Bury me in snow...please!" I was inside and missed all of it, but I guess it looks like he's having fun.

This is what I was doing. I wanted to re-create those chocolate dipped/mini m&m pretzels they sell at the candy stores for big bucks. It worked pretty well, but next time I think the pretzels should be bigger. These were the "thins" and they didn't hold the candy terribly well. However, they taste great!

Then I made apple and pear crisp. I have made it so many times that I could do it in my sleep. Always a hit, another A+ recipe from
the Barefoot Contessa. Can you tell I was hiding inside today? Kept thinking about going out, but then the wind would blow and I just kept cooking.

Tonight's Dinner

It's January, it's FREEZING, we all needed a little chocolate fix, no matter that it bumps up against the dinner hour. Hey, I took them out for Chinese at lunch so they have had all of their nutritional requirements for the day. And if you want to see happy kids, I promise you they are pretty darn happy.

Oh, just so there is no confusion. This is "new" Easter candy, 3 months early that came out this week, not "old" Easter candy which would be 9 months old.

Lucky is the wife

who gets to look at this charming face everyday.

Handsome, dashing, British, he gets better with age.

Glad you won again, Colin. You were the best looking boy at the party.

A fresh scent

If you've had enough of pine, cinnamon, vanilla frosting and sugar cookie candles like I have...I recommend trying the new Slatkin & Co. candles at Bath & Body Works. They are selling the mini-size right now 3/$5.00 so it's a nice inexpensive way to try them and not feel like you had to spend ten or twenty bucks on something you might not like after the 2nd hour. These burn 10-15 hours each, not bad for $1.66. Plus they smell so great. My favorite right now is Caribbean Escape.

Yo, Snow

Ah the "Storm Team" forecasters live for this. They love to predict and are giddy with anticipation. Well, on this January day, they were completely right! We got buried! This is right outside the back door.

Without any trouble, Ronan sinks right in.

I am standing in the street, taking this one. Must be 4 feet of snow where the plows pushed it along the street. I always think my house looks every bit the same at it must have in 1930 or 1950 in the snow. It is at least that old and just has a nostalgic vintage look and I envision other generations of kids running around in the snow right in the same front yard.

Little brother, watch out for big brother 'cause he is not stopping with his electric Toro power shovel!

Left with no choice...

Snow Day already called for tomorrow. Inches and inches and inches...perhaps feet even? So all we are left with is Grandbabs homemade hot fudge sauce begging to be warmed up. Bring on the sundaes! Because we are left with no choice but to eat our way through the next 24 hours ; )

Sweet Pizza

Hmm...was trying to figure out how to do something "sweet" with the pizza dough I had leftover.

So I divided it up into small balls, rolled it out pretty thin, brushed on melted butter and lots of cinnamon sugar.

I baked it really hot just like I would a regular pizza, on the pizza stone at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Oh and I brushed some more melted butter and cinnamon sugar on the top.

Everyone loved them this Sunday morning and I like to think they are slightly more healthy than a donut. Or at least they are from my own kitchen and gosh, they might have cost me a whopping 2 dollars to make!!

The Divine Miss M & I

Just for fun. Just for 25 years of hearing..."did anyone ever tell you..." "oh my gosh, who is it?"..."that singer"..."you look JUST like her!..."

And I say, yes. Weekly, yes. In the grocery story, yes. In the Mall, yes. In the doctor's office, yes. In the shoe store, yes. Everywhere, yes. When I was 20, yes. When I was 40, yes.

Yes! I look just like Bette Midler! The Queen! The Divine Miss M!

So whether you call it a crazy mixed up gene pool (from what my mother tells me I am supposed to have only Scottish and Irish blood in me, while the Divine Miss M is of Jewish heritage) or whether it's just the cheekbones and eyes and smile came out...so similar...who knows? Someday you will see me on Regis and Kelly on Celebrity Look-A-Like week and I will be the victor. I will walk away with the big prize! Wish me luck.

Group Activities

Knowing full well that although we technically live together, we will not actually see each other until June...anticipating the Monday after vacation slipping back into the vortex of activities and work, school stuff and band, fundraisers and high school graduation, college admissions letters and how to pay for it, I grabbed the bull by the horns and told them to carve out some time for all of us to hang out.
I considered taking the tree down a family activity as well.

This was the Flinch card game. It's really fun once you get the hang of it. There was a certain 9 year old who had his feelings hurt over not winning and could not be convinced it's basically a game of chance. The hurt feelings became an over-reaction which cracked us all up. We are a hard-hearted bunch and it did not make Ronan feel any better. But we did laugh over his over-reaction until we cried. I know, we are all mean. Then we all had to say we were sorry.

The next day brought pizza and bowling. Again, much more fun then even I expected. The Flatbread Pizza in Davis Square, Somerville is attached to a cute vintage bowling alley. All funky and modern and clean inside with a great organic menu. There was nothing not to like. My Bloody Mary was perfection.

All smiling and I don't think anyone's faking. I don't think. It was nice seeing you guys again. We'll catch up again in June ; )