Songbird Bedding

This is my new bedding for spring/summer...and maybe forever considering the investment! Dave is the one who picked it out and informed me he didn't like the old bedding. After he said that, I started to hate it too. Which is not like me. But for some reason after he told me it looked cheap (which it was) I couldn't help but see how bad it looked. It was like a window opened or something and I could see it clearly for the first time. There's an episode of "How I Met Your Mother" called Spoiler Alert that talks about this exact thing. It's hilarious.

In any case, I LOVE the new bedding-it makes me feel like I'm in an expensive hotel! The new sheets are from Costco and they are fabulous(and on sale now on their website). My husband certainly has good taste, if a bit feminine...Lucky, lucky ME!

Jake's Kind Heart

Jake had to write a "thank you" letter to someone who works at his school for an english assignment. This is what he wrote to an aide-type person: (I hope he doesn't mind me sharing.)

Dear Mrs. Hays,

I’m very glad that you could work in our school. When people are feeling glum you will always smile when they pass. You will brighten my day with that one small deed. Sometimes it has been the only good thing in my day. I think you are a great person and you really make my day with your kindness.

Sincerely,
Jake Newton

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What a sweet and kind boy, even at 12 years old! Middle school is not easy but he's doing it with such grace--we're so proud.

Welcome Costco!

Doesn't this look delicious? We will be feasting on this tonight because I was able to score some fresh mussels at the new Costco today. That's right, folks, we have a Costco! Those of you who know us well know that this means a great deal to us. I can officially call Colorado Springs home now. Forget about the pending "partnership" for Dave that has been long awaited, this is what makes it HOME for me. See YOUR local Costco and the following Rachael Ray recipe to make your own scrumptious Mussels in Mexican Beer. YUM-O, as Rachael Ray likes to say. I'll be serving mine with pasta, green salad, and crusty bread (from Costco, of course). Oh, happy, happy day.

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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan

4 cloves garlic, cracked away from skin and crushed

1 small onion, chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

A couple pinches of salt

2 1/2 dozen mussels, scrubbed and beards removed

1/2 bottle dark Mexican beer, such as Modelo Negro or Dos Equis

1 (15-ounces) diced tomatoes

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley or cilantro, your preference

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In a deep skillet with a cover, preheated over medium high heat, add oil, garlic, onion and jalapeno. Season with salt. Saute 2 minutes. Arrange mussels in the pan. Pour in beer and tomatoes and shake the pan to combine. Cover pan and cook 3 minutes or until mussels open. Remove from heat and spoon sauce down into shells. Garnish with parsley or cilantro. Serve immediately from the pan.

President's Weekend.

The boys had Thursday and Friday off (and tomorrow as well) for a fun, five-day weekend. Dave also had last week off ("Again?!", you might ask. Yes, again. It turns out that 11-12 weeks of vacation is A LOT.) Dave picked up this ax/pick at his requisite trip to Home Depot during the beginning of his week off. And rather than completing "the LIST" I gave him, he used this contraption at the skate park to hack away a huge slab of ice that was covering a side of the bowl he likes to carve. That's commitment. Now if I could just get him to be as engaged in my LIST...

On Thursday, Dave and the boys drove up to Monarch to snowboard/ski. The weather turned out to be very nice and they had a great time. Either Dave is toughening them up or the Newton play-till-you-drop-gene has kicked in. They returned home just before 8 p.m. and were not too tired and grumpy to tell me all about their day. Jake took pictures with his cell phone and has threatened to write his own post but we'll have to see...

Rachel and I made Valentine cupcakes (which may have helped get the boys to stay up and share stories with us), played princess and monster, read books, and Rachel enjoyed a game of hide-and-go-seek with her baby doll, "Sarah".

This is Rachel hiding from "Sarah" who is on the coffee table, counting. When I first realized what she was doing I felt a bit guilty that I was not playing with her, but then I just felt proud that she is so imaginative and self-reliant. Guilt has never been my forte...besides I did save her earlier from the dinosaurs and monsters for nearly an hour and we made chocolate sour cream cupcakes from scratch with cream cheese frosting. Yum.

Jake went camping Friday and Saturday for the Klondike Derby. The sled that he's been working on for several weeks with his troop was loaded and raced through a trail for over 3 hours! They had "challenges" to complete along the way like climbing a ladder with the sled, climbing a rope with the sled, moving a "dead horse", and navigating a scout on a stretcher while blind folded. None of their leaders could accompany them on the trail. Despite what was reported to me by the leaders as "below zero temps," Jake had a great time. He didn't mention anything about the cold! Way to go Jake.

Rachel and Ben were able to attend "Parents' Night Out" at the YMCA on Friday and Saturday nights. There are several local Y's in the area and we happened to hit two of them in one weekend. Lovely to get out and enjoy our favorite Indian restaurant! All in all, a very happy President's weekend.

Three Little Princesses

Ruby and Jane came over for a visit and guess what everyone wanted to do? That's right, play princess! They're so cute. At one point they were looking for the castle...Let's wait a bit before we start looking for Prince Charming.

Jane.

Ruby.

Where Is My Black Blouse?!

Is this insane or what? This is my ironing pile. I have ironed everything that belongs to the kids and am left with only Dave's and my items that are summery. I only just ironed all the kids' stuff because I was afraid they would outgrow all of it while I let it sit in the basement! Imagine, this pile was MUCH bigger. I need to stop buying cotton or stop caring about wrinkles. Has anyone else ever "lost" something to later find it in the ironing pile? People think I am organized, but now you all know the truth about the piles hidden in my basement. Oh, the shame! (and relief!)

Not My Baby Anymore...

Today Rachel and I went to register her for preschool starting in the fall. A big day since she's my baby, right? Well, the excitement doesn't end there.

We went to the mall to meet up with our playgroup after registration, and we did something we've been talking about for a while...we got Rachel's ears pierced. She only flinched when they did each ear, no tears, and she hasn't bothered with them since. What a BIG, brave girl! They look stunning, don't you think?

As Rachel likes to say now, "I not baby. I Rachie." Sometimes it seems like it all goes too fast...

Super Bowl Fun

We had a Super Bowl party yesterday after church but we forgot to invite anyone! It was an intimate eating fest while we watched the game and the funny, new commercials. We're big "Manning dynasty" fans so we were thrilled with the outcome(sorry, Rob!). Rachel went to bed for a late "nap" @ 5p.m. , after chowing down half a pound of shrimp, and she never got up again. Both boys went to bed with stomach aches. Is that the sign of a good Super Bowl party? Next year, you're all invited! (Don't forget the alkaseltzer.)

Tres Chic

I have been accused of dressing Rachel as if she were my very own babydoll; when she was younger that may have been true. Not true anymore. She likes to choose her own clothes and shoes--she prefers dresses and skirts--and she even insists on choosing her pajamas.

I may, with the help of her grandparents, have created a monster when it comes to clothes. She is thrilled at the prospect of new outfits and hair accessories. There are worse vices, right?